Translator: CinderTL
Fatty leaned against the wall, his face etched with worry. Pi Ruan stood close beside him, looking even worse than Fatty.
Zhao Xingguo found their deathly pallor unsettling. Frowning, he said, "Can't you two cheer up a bit?"
His words seemed to strike a nerve in Pi Ruan. Slowly, he let out a long sigh, and his eyes began to redden.
Seeing his distress, Huai Yi couldn't help but offer comfort. "Brother Pi Ruan, don't worry too much. If we're careful, we'll survive this."
Pi Ruan turned his gaze to Huai Yi. "Thank you, Brother Huai Yi, but you wouldn't understand how I feel. We're different."
Hearing this, Huai Yi couldn't resist asking, "How are we different?"
He had always been curious about the Jiang Cheng group, but he hadn't wanted to pry directly. If he could glean some useful information from Pi Ruan, that would be ideal.
"I own several properties, including two villas," Pi Ruan said softly. "One with a sprawling estate nestled against a mountain, and another overlooking the sea. I also have a company and a female secretary who wears a professional suit 24/7."
"Oh, right," Pi Ruan added, glancing at Huai Yi. "Some of my cards will be unlocked soon. They hold a total of less than 100 million."
Huai Yi: "..."
"Almost there," Lin Wan'er's voice called out. Her phone lay on the table, its screen emitting a faint glow.
Jiang Cheng sat up from the communal bed and nodded towards Zhao Xingguo and Fu Fu, who was hidden in the shadows. "You two, come with me."
Fatty, who had already prepared himself, stood up and glanced around in confusion. "Aren't we going too?"
As Jiang Cheng pulled on his clothes, he replied, "No need. The more people, the bigger the target."
"Then be careful," Pi Ruan said hastily, though he seemed rather pleased to be staying behind.
The night was deep, and hardly anyone was visible outside. They deliberately avoided the main road, choosing a secluded path instead.
The town wasn't large, so finding Feng Manor wouldn't be difficult as long as they kept their bearings.
As they walked through the silent alley, Zhao Xingguo's face occasionally showed worry. Not long ago, they had been trapped in a bizarre alley, barely escaping by sacrificing a teammate.
The cold moonlight bathed the town in an eerie glow. Tonight was a rare full moon.
Their footsteps echoed through the quiet alley, creating an indescribable sense of unease. It felt as if invisible figures were walking beside them, matching their pace with uncanny precision.
Another strange thing: this area was densely populated, with a gate visible every ten meters or so. Each gate was tightly shut, and not a sound came from within.
Nor was there any light.
This made Zhao Xingguo wonder if anyone actually lived here. Had everyone in the neighborhood gone to sleep, or... Zhao Xingguo's gaze sharpened. Just like the previous street, had everyone died?
He felt certain something would happen tonight.
There was no logical reason, just a gut feeling.
"We're here."
It wasn't until Jiang Cheng stopped that Zhao Xingguo realized they had reached the Feng Manor's gate. The alley they had passed earlier was close by, just a street away.
But as he looked at the gate, an unsettling atmosphere settled over everyone. This wasn't how they had left it.
On either side of the plaque bearing the words "Feng Manor," two large white lanterns hung high, each as big as a water jar's mouth.
On each lantern, a thick brush had written a single character: "奠" (mourning).
The calligraphy was bold and fluid, suggesting the writer was a master of the art. Each stroke was executed with unrestrained passion, and after gazing at it for too long, a chilling sense of dread crept into Zhao Xingguo's heart.
A night breeze swept through, causing the lanterns to sway. The words "Feng Manor" on the black plaque flickered in and out of view.
Fu Fu narrowed her eyes and was the first to move forward.
Jiang Cheng followed second.
Zhao Xingguo, finally regaining his senses, hurried after them. Being left alone here could mean dying without even knowing how.
As they approached, they noticed that the stone lions guarding the gate were draped with white paper flowers, as if a fresh snowfall had just fallen.
According to their agreement, they knocked gently, expecting someone to answer.
It was Brother Wu's friend.
Earlier, they had asked if they could avoid the main gate and have Brother Wu's friend meet them at a side entrance.
Feng Manor did have a side gate, located in a nearby alley, which they had used to enter the manor before.
But Wu Dali had refused, explaining that the area around the side gate was where the Feng Manor servants lived. Disturbing them could lead to an ugly scene.
Speaking of servants, Crippled Liu's image immediately flashed through everyone's minds.
He was too strange. Avoiding him would be ideal.
Reaching the gate, Fu Fu turned to Jiang Cheng and Zhao Xingguo, her gaze carrying a mix of inquiry and provocation.
Everyone understood her unspoken question: Who would knock?
Zhao Xingguo quickly averted his gaze, while Jiang Cheng wore a deeply embarrassed expression, muttering softly, "My luck hasn't been good lately. I wouldn't want to bring you down with me."
Dong, dongdongdong, dongdong.
With the rhythmic knocking, footsteps gradually echoed from behind the vermilion gate. The steps were light and quick, indicating caution.
A moment later, the heavy gate creaked open a crack. "Are you Brother Wu's friend?"
A man's voice emerged from within, young and slightly hoarse, whether from the wind or some other cause.
"Yes," Jiang Cheng replied, then slipped some money through the crack.
This had been agreed upon earlier.
Having received the money, the man quickly widened the gate just enough for one person to squeeze through sideways. "Hurry, make it quick!"
Once inside, by the moonlight, they could see a well-arranged courtyard with a small bamboo grove off to one side.
Standing before them was a young man with an unfamiliar face. He looked nervous, as if this was his first time doing something like this, glancing around frequently.
"Brother Wu told me everything. I can take you there, but you must remain silent," the man said quickly.
"And," he swallowed nervously, his expression turning strange as he looked at Jiang Cheng and the others. "Once we're inside, you... you can only watch from outside. Absolutely do not go in, and under no circumstances light a lamp, understand?"
"Is someone nearby?" Zhao Xingguo asked in a low voice. The moment he entered Feng Manor, he felt uneasy.
It felt as if the temperature had dropped significantly the moment they crossed the threshold.
But no one noticed the faint dripping sound that began on the steps outside the gate after it closed.
A pale white lantern swayed in the night wind. The black mourning characters on it had inexplicably turned blood red, and fresh blood continued to drip from it.
(End of the Chapter)
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