An icy, bone-chilling wind swept through the hall, carrying with it the faint sounds of weeping and wailing that seemed to whisper directly into their ears, making their hair stand on end and freezing them in place.
The scene within the courtyard was horrifying. Charred marks were everywhere, and bloodstains that should have long dried now appeared freshly spilled, slowly dripping downward as if newly applied. Rotten, blackened flesh was scattered throughout the compound.
It was now 11 PM on the seventh day. If the young master's remains were truly here, they had to be buried before midnight tonight!
Lin Ming took a deep breath, recalling the memory of that bright, jade-like young man from his past. His gaze finally hardened with determination—he had to go!
He took the lead, flashlight in hand, and stepped inside, with his attendants following closely behind.
The one-eyed man's body tensed. He slowly exhaled a turbid breath and cautiously followed them in.
Lin Ming passed through the shattered courtyard. The surroundings were so quiet they could hear their own slightly nervous breathing.
Since piano music had been heard these past two days, the young master was most likely in the study.
Spotting the familiar yet strange window, Lin Ming recognized it amidst the charred ruins and hurriedly rushed upstairs.
With each step, the ground felt sticky beneath their feet, as if they were treading through a mixture of flesh and blood. Their footsteps grew increasingly heavy.
And time continued to slip away relentlessly.
Lin Ming and the others finally reached the second floor.
They headed straight for the study.
The sound of running footsteps added a touch of life to the mansion that had been dead silent for years.
Lin Ming stopped before the study door. It was tightly shut, with blood continuously seeping out from underneath.
"!" Lin Ming was shocked. He tried to open the door but failed.
He rammed against it again, but it had no effect, as if he were hitting solid steel.
"You all try!" Lin Ming said anxiously, directing the attendants he had brought to ram the door.
Fragments charred by fire rustled as they fell, but the door remained completely unmoved.
"All of you, step aside!" The one-eyed man drew a large machete from his back. The blade gleamed with a cold, intimidating light, clearly having claimed many lives.
He muttered incantations under his breath, gathered his energy, and swung the blade fiercely at the door.
The resulting shockwave was even more startling than a gunshot.
"Bang— Bang—"
The loud chopping sounds echoed through the silent night, startling many from their dreams.
Based on what he knew, this person was undoubtedly heaven-blessed, reincarnated into this world to enjoy blessings. His literary talent was so exquisite that calling him the incarnation of the Literary Star was no exaggeration.
Even if he faced hardships, he would safely overcome them.
In the end, he would achieve enlightenment and return to the heavens to reclaim his immortal status.
Yet now he had met such a tragic end!
Those who harmed him would surely be haunted by evil spirits, never to be reincarnated, with their descendants punished for generations!
But if he had already died, he should have returned to the heavens. Why was he still lingering in this world?
The one-eyed man could sense the growing resentment and yin energy behind this door. If they truly failed to bury him within seven days, something utterly terrifying—something outside the three realms—would likely form.
The door still wouldn't open.
And the eerie, frightening phenomena within this house were becoming increasingly apparent.
Not only did illusory wails occasionally reach their ears, but the agonizing sensation of being burned by fierce flames also vaguely manifested on their bodies.
The expressions of everyone present grew even more grim.
If they delayed any longer, they might not be able to leave at all.
Lin Ming rushed forward again, desperately knocking on the door. This man nearing thirty pleaded with heartbreaking sorrow, "Young master! Young master! It's me, Lin Ming! I'm Lin Ming! Please open the door!"
"Today is the seventh day! If the master and madam were here, they would never want to see this! So please open the door, young master!"
"Young master, I beg you, think of the master and madam..."
His words seemed to finally reach the person behind the door.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
When they saw the scene behind the door, everyone was horrified!
They witnessed a sight they would likely never forget for the rest of their lives.
The blood that had been continuously seeping out had vanished.
Inside the dark, dilapidated room, near the windowsill, stood a piano so thoroughly smashed and burned that its original form was unrecognizable.
And before the piano, a skeleton sat on the piano bench, posed as if playing.
But what was shockingly terrifying was that all ten finger bones of the skeleton were missing!
Under the moonlight, despite no fingertips touching the keys, everyone could clearly hear the soft, melodious piano music, making them feel drowsy almost instantly.
The flesh of the corpse had rotted away, leaving only half of the face intact, but even that was gradually disappearing.
Once midnight on the seventh day passed, it would likely turn completely into bone.
The remaining half of the face was smooth and delicate like white jade, showing no signs of the pallor or decay typical of the dead.
His eyes were gently closed. Looking only at that half-face, one might think he was merely asleep.
Lin Ming didn't even bother wiping the tears from his face before rushing into the room.
"Young master!"
The skeleton before him was indeed the young master, identical to the one in his memories. Lin Ming was overwhelmed with grief!
Damn this wretched world and heaven!
The one-eyed man, more sensitive than the others to the terrifying, icy aura, stepped forward and said gravely, "Boss Lin, there's no time for grief now! We must bury him immediately!"
"Right, right, we can't miss the deadline!" Lin Ming snapped back to awareness and quickly called for them to bring the sandalwood box that had been blessed with Buddha's light.
"Forgive me, young master, for my disrespect!" Lin Ming personally began gathering the bones.
Seeing him handle them with such care and reverence, taking considerable time, others moved to help.
But the moment someone touched the skeleton, an excruciating pain shot through him. The attendant screamed, stumbling back several steps before collapsing to the ground, his right arm trembling uncontrollably.
"We cannot touch this! Boss Lin, don't delay, hurry!" the one-eyed man urged, gripping his gun and machete tighter.
To be honest, he had heard some rumors about what had happened to this gentleman.
If he hadn't been a man of such noble character in life, given this level of resentment, they probably wouldn't even be qualified to stand here.
Lin Ming might be less affected, but for outsiders like them, it was different.
The overwhelming aura of despair and distortion made them feel as if they were in a den of death. The endless chill froze their hearts, almost stopping them completely.
"Alright!" Lin Ming also knew they couldn't afford to waste time.
But it wasn't that he didn't want to hurry—the young master's bones were unusually heavy, and handling them felt like overcoming some invisible resistance.
Not daring to relax for a moment, Lin Ming finally arranged the remains. Others carried the sandalwood box while he cradled the skull as they rushed out.
The timid neighbors who hadn't yet dispersed were peering curiously when they saw Lin Ming running out clutching something.
Taking a closer look, the remaining flesh on the face looked extremely familiar.
Even though years had passed, few who had met the Writer could ever forget him.
"Is that really..."
"Oh heavens, it's actually..."
"How did he come back..."
Lin Ming ignored them, heading straight for the main gate.
His driver had been waiting outside for some time.
"Quick! To the cemetery! Hurry!" Lin Ming got into the passenger seat, urgently urging.
The flesh on the skull in his arms had diminished further; the lower half had completely vanished, leaving only one closed eye.
The driver was terrified too. Catching a glimpse of what his boss was holding, he stomped on the accelerator, and the car shot forward like an arrow released from its bow.
They raced to the cemetery at breakneck speed.
The journey that normally took fifteen minutes somehow stretched to half an hour today, as if they had taken many detours.
If not for the strange black flag the one-eyed man produced from somewhere, it might have taken even longer.
If they didn't bury him soon, it would be too late.
Lin Ming, clutching the skull, ran toward the burial plot he had prepared for the young master.
He held his breath and sprinted with all his might, not daring to stop.
Originally, he had hoped to find the young master safe and sound—it wouldn't matter if the grave went unused.
But if something had truly happened, judging by the timing of the bloodstains and the piano music, the young master must have died then.
Calculating from that... seven days! Seven days!
The young master must be laid to rest!
The one-eyed man checked the pocket watch he pulled out—only five minutes left!
"Hurry! Don't delay!"
Everyone rushed frantically. Strangely, when they touched the bones now, they felt no stinging pain.
A hint of relief appeared on the one-eyed man's face. "It's working! Hurry!"
They quickly arranged the bones neatly in the coffin.
Soon, the skeleton lay perfectly still inside, with only the skull left to place.
Lin Ming whispered a final farewell and was about to lower the skull into place.
Suddenly, a gust of sinister wind swept through, throwing them off balance. The skull flew from Lin Ming's hands, landing far from the coffin.
This was disastrous!
The one-eyed man understood the source of this yin wind. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Quick! Whoever's near the skull, put it in now! Otherwise, we'll all die!"
Ghostly shadows flickered, the yin wind howled, resentment surged skyward, curses entangled, corpses stirred—how could anyone survive!
Black mist filled the cemetery, obscuring their vision. Their bodies felt bound by some presence, turning icy cold and slowing their movements.
One man tremblingly felt around in the yin wind and happened upon the skull. "It's here!"
"Quick! Put it in the coffin!"
"Do it now! I'll pay you five times afterward!" Lin Ming hadn't expected this to happen. He had to ensure the young master's spirit could rest in peace.
"Oh, oh, alright—"
The man crawled and stumbled toward the coffin with the skull, guided by memory.
Just as he was about to place the skull inside...
He saw it—amid the darkness, a flawless piece of jade embedded in the skull's forehead glowed with a faint light. Its quality was exceptional, clearly priceless.
The flesh hadn't completely vanished earlier, but now, at this critical moment, the jade was revealed.
The attendant's eyes fixated on it greedily!
Desire sprouted in his heart, and for a moment, he considered prying the jade out.
Most worldly affairs ultimately boil down to profit.
Time was almost up.
The others couldn't see what was happening.
"Put it in!" someone roared. The attendant snapped back to reality and hastily placed the skull inside.
"Click—"
It was as if everything had fallen into place.
The graveyard, which had resembled a hellish prison, instantly calmed.
The dark clouds dispersed, the black mist vanished, the souls struggling to climb out of their graves disappeared, and the cool moon gently cast its light upon the tomb.
All terrifying phenomena ceased. The skeleton, missing its finger bones, lay quietly in the coffin, gleaming under the moonlight.
"Close the coffin!"
"Bury it!"
After the final handful of earth was scattered, despite the immense grief and reluctance in his heart, Lin Ming had to bid farewell to the bright, jade-like young man from his memories.
The series of events tonight had been mentally exhausting.
Lin Ming looked as if he might faint at any moment—his limbs weak, face pale, and body drenched in cold sweat.
Fearing he might collapse, his attendants supported him as they left.
He could always return to visit once he recovered.
The one-eyed man walked at the rear, his expression complex.
He placed the pocket watch, which had just struck midnight, before the tombstone.
He had truly thought they wouldn't make it, but they had somehow succeeded in the end.
They had narrowly escaped death.
May you rest in peace—
Feeling deeply relieved, the one-eyed man took one last profound look at the grave before silently turning and following the group.
Much later, the moon was once again obscured by dark clouds.
The cemetery fell back into deathly silence and gloom.
And at that moment, the pocket watch that had fallen and stopped before the tombstone trembled slightly, then began to move.
The second hand gently moved one second to the right.
Then, a pale, bony hand, stained with fresh soil, lightly picked up the pocket watch.
【Writer】Current Completion: 50%
Xiao Gui'an set down his pen.
Now he was the Writer, and the Writer was him.
"From now on, let's call him Yan Tingchen."
【Writer】wished for peace and prosperity in the world, hence he took 'Yan' as his surname.
Born into a happy, wealthy, and generous family, the reincarnation of the Literary Star, shining like a celestial body—thus, 'Tingchen' as his given name.
Had he not suffered countless hardships, he would have been the foremost literary talent in the mortal realm.
Xiao Gui'an looked down at his hands and sighed.
The basic framework had been patched together; it was there. More details would have to be developed step by step.
Powerful ghosts and monsters were born from boundless hatred and despair. Since he aimed for perfection later, he might as well max out the potential first.
But a character solely defined by hatred and destruction wasn't enough. He needed multifaceted depth; having no room for maneuver wouldn't do.
A contemplative gleam appeared in Xiao Gui'an's eyes as he picked up his pen to add more.
This addition, Xiao Gui'an felt, could become a breakthrough point—the soft spot in the Writer's heart.
The century-old 【Ghost】waited for someone who could uncover the truth of his past.
Waited for the one who could retrieve his ten missing fingers, the one destined to form a bond with him.
The powerful, mysterious ghost would one day sever all karmic ties and return to the cycle of reincarnation.
『Host's portrayal of 【Writer】progress: 2%』
【First World】
"Xu Zisheng, what are you spacing out for?"
A young woman's puzzled voice rang out.
The handsome, seemingly good-natured brown-haired youth quickly closed the box in his hands and looked up. "What's wrong?"
Standing before him was a pretty girl with a high ponytail. "We're about to enter that world soon. Do you have all your things ready?"
"Don't worry, everything's prepared."
Xu Zisheng smiled in reply.
The girl, Lin Yimo, then shifted her gaze to the box in his hands. "What exactly is in that box? Are you really taking it into that world this time too?"
Xu Zisheng gently rubbed the edge of the wooden box with his finger.
This box was one of the rewards from his mission two rounds ago, where he achieved 100% completion and a historic S-rank rating.
Among all the rewards, this box seemed the most ordinary, yet also the most unusual.
It didn't contain a powerful ghost, a key to some ghostly artifact, or anything like that.
Instead, it held a long, pale finger bone.
Judging by its appearance, it should be a right index finger.
For some reason, he felt that bringing this finger along this time might be helpful.
Perhaps it could even unlock that hidden system mission that had always been there.
"Hurry up and put on the connection helmet! Do you want to be forcibly logged into the game? Then you'll have zero safeguards!"
Since his own home connection device had issues, Xu Zisheng had no choice but to come to Lin Yimo's house. He nodded.
He securely stored the box in his sealed space—a red mark flashing briefly on his wrist—and gently put on the helmet.
『Ding—』
『Welcome everyone to 【Absolutely Healing Horror Adventure】—』
『Detecting adventurer information, Xu Zisheng—』
『Searching for exploration instance for you—』
『Current instance confirmed: 【Hide and Seek I Don't Want to Play but Want to Play】』
『Wishing you a pleasant adventure and an enjoyable healing process—』
『Beep—』
『Detected 【???】-rank ghost item in current adventure instance. Adventurer Xu Zisheng's personal clearance difficulty elevated from 【C】-rank to 【S】-rank.
Xu Zisheng: ??!!
A crack appeared in his calm expression.
Even with some trump cards, what was with this difficulty level?
Was it because of the 'Cursed Child' mark? Targeting him again?
『Friendly reminder: Please utilize the 【???】 ghost item wisely. It may increase favorability with 【???】—』
『Good luck, Final Cursed Child—』
"Hah—"
The system behind the scenes emitted an eerie blue light. It had to maintain some flair, though it wondered just how far Xiao Gui'an could go.
Watching the Cursed Child below, whose expression shifted before finally settling into calmness, data streams surged before the system. Even though the big shot hadn't fully matured yet, he already had quite the skills.
What a bunch of brutal individuals, pushing their worlds to the brink of distortion.
They had paid a heavy price to maintain stability.
Hopefully, this wouldn't be another wasted opportunity.
And in the end, the facts would prove that Xiao Gui'an, with his unique thought processes and 100% acting skills, would deceive everyone, abruptly steering fate onto a completely different trajectory.