Chapter 95: CH 94

Chapter 94 – Without a Key 6

Xu RenDong looked up. As Lian Qiao said, in this row of red lanterns, only the one at the stairwell was extinguished.

It’s daytime, so the lights shouldn’t be lit. But the maids did not blow out the lanterns just because it was dawn and so all the other lanterns were still lit. The sun was shining brightly and the light of the candle in the lantern was very dim due to the sunlight. At first glance, it was difficult to perceive the flickering light of the candle.

If it weren’t for Lian Qiao’s astonishing eyesight, he wouldn’t have seen that there was something different about this lantern.

Xu RenDong said: “I’ll climb up and have a look.”

The lantern was hanging high on the eaves. Even Lian Qiao, who was 1.85 meters tall, could barely reach the bottom of the lantern. Xu RenDong found a stool, climbed up the railing, reached up and took off the lantern.

The lantern was huge. He held it in his arms and climbed down cautiously. The two looked down at the lantern and saw that the red lantern was empty. It was like a big mouth, with only a brass candlestick at the bottom. There was still some solidified candle wax on the candlestick and it appeared to have been extinguished for a long time.

Just looking at this lantern, he can’t see anything unusual. Xu RenDong took down the lanterns on the left and right sides together and then discovered something strange.

It turned out that the two lanterns on the left and right were lit with candles with thick bowls. The candle was more than ten centimeters long and could burn for at least a day or two.

Obviously, the candle at the entrance of the stairs did not burn out by itself. Someone took the candle out.

“Why would you take the candle?” Lian Qiao touched his chin and was very puzzled, “Is there anything special about this candle?”

Special? Different?

This sentence made Xu RenDong suddenly enlightened: “Shi JianChuan?”

Lian Qiao also understood: “Let’s go to the ninth floor to see.” He was about to limp upstairs.

Xu RenDong stopped him and told him to wait. He ran up to the ninth floor by himself. Sure enough, the lantern on top of the stairs on the ninth floor was also extinguished. He took off the lantern and saw that the candle inside was also missing.

It seems there is something wrong with this candle.

Xu RenDong was about to go to see if the candle on top of the stairs on the eighth floor was still there but, when he turned around, he bumped into someone head-on.

Xu RenDong took two steps back subconsciously and was about to apologize when he suddenly saw that it was just anyone he bumped into but the old lady with bound feet!

The old lady with bound feet was still wearing that red dress. Her chubby figure was tightly wrapped in the red dress and looked both ridiculous and weird. It was unknown what crazy mood possessed her but, at this time, a thick layer of white powder was applied to her face like an unevenly painted earth wall. Bits of powder fell off when she grinned.

Her lips were painted bright red like blood just like her red clothes, dazzlingly vivid.

The little-footed lady was so old that it was impossible to tell her actual age. But at this time she was wearing heavy makeup and dressed like a funeral paper figurine. It was strange and shocking to see.

“Guest, aren’t you seated for the banquet yet?” The old lady stared straight at Xu RenDong, her eyes gloomy.

Xu RenDong secretly suppressed his violent heartbeat and pretended to be light and calm. He looked around, and said, “I came to see if there’s still anyone here.”

The old lady smiled and said, “Everyone is waiting for you below.”

This sentence sounded strangely uncomfortable. It was inconvenient for Xu RenDong to continue exploring in front of the old lady so he said, “Then let’s go.”

So the little old lady stretched out an arm and hooked Xu RenDong’s arm. Xu RenDong only felt that he was entangled by a wet and cold dry branch. A cold and damp feeling climbed up his arm.

Although it felt disgusting, it was too trivial to make him throw off the old woman. Xu RenDong kept his face calm and let the old lady use him as a support. They went downstairs layer by layer.

Lian Qiao should have been waiting for him on the third floor. However, when he reached the fourth floor, Lian Qiao came up to meet him: “Brother RenDong, guess what—”

His voice stopped abruptly when he saw the old lady.

Even without Xu RenDong winking at him, Lian Qiao immediately changed the subject and greeted the old lady.

The old lady chatted with him then suddenly noticed something and asked him with a sideways gaze, “This guest, where did your crutches go?”

Lian Qiao was standing against the wall and his face changed slightly when he heard this.

Xu RenDong flicked away the old lady’s hand and walked to Lian Qiao’s side, pampering and scolding in a realistic manner: “Look at you, do you have to act like a spoiled child all the time? Now look, we’ve been made a joke off.”

It appeared like a whisper between lovers but just happened to be overheard by the old lady. A look of disgust appeared on her face.

Seeing this, Lian Qiao immediately understood, hooked Xu RenDong’s neck, raised his slender fingers and said: “I just wanted you to hold me~”

“…” Xu RenDong shivered and suddenly got goosebumps.

The old lady with bound feet couldn’t stand it any longer and said dryly: “Guests, please come to the banquet with this old one.” Then she turned her head and went downstairs by herself.

The two supported each other and followed the old lady slowly downstairs. Xu RenDong recovered from his goosebumps and asked him: “Why are you not waiting for me on the third floor and running up alone?”

“Anyway, I was idle.” Lian Qiao whispered, “Guess what I found out?”

Xu RenDong thought about it and said, “Is there something wrong with the candle?” 

“Yes.” Lian Qiao leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “In the lantern facing the stairs, the candles inside are different from other lanterns. It’s a hollow circle.”

Lian Qiao clenched his fist loosely, making a circle: “It’s about this big.”

Xu RenDong said: “I was looking at the lantern on top of the stairs when I went upstairs just now. Except for the ninth floor and the third floor where we live, the lanterns on other floors are all lit. The candles inside should still be there.”

“Our lantern above the third floor stairwell was still lit last night. If it went out, we would definitely have noticed it. In other words, the candle on the third floor only disappeared today.” Xu RenDong frowned. “Did someone take it away, or did it disappear on its own?”

“I don’t know. But it’s possible…” Lian Qiao stopped before he finished speaking, as if he was stuck on some thought.

Xu RenDong turned his head to look at him, quietly waiting for his next words. However, even until the two people got to the open space in the hall, Lian Qiao did not say what he was thinking.

More than a dozen round tables have been placed in the open space, all of which are covered with bright red tablecloths and the dishes have not yet been served. There were people sitting at two of the tables and the rest of the dozen or so tables had empty stools.

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Everyone’s faces were gloomy and they remained deadly silent. After all, only 20 of the 81-person team were still alive. Who would be in the mood for a banquet at such a time?

At this time, when they saw the old lady with the heavy makeup and bound feet, everyone’s complexion changed and their eyes showed various expressions such as confusion, fear, and disgust. Only Shi JianChuan had a calm demeanor. He beckoned with a smile and let Xu RenDong and Lian Qiao sit at his table.

There were two empty seats directly beside Shi JianChuan. It was unknown if he specially reserved it for Xu RenDong and Lian Qiao, or if just no one wanted to sit with him. Xu RenDong didn’t care about this and sat down beside him with Lian Qiao.

Someone on the table asked, “What are you doing, why are you here so late?”

Xu RenDong said lightly: “My friend’s legs and feet are injured so of course he walks slowly.” He looked around, “Everyone else is here?”

Shi JianChuan smiled . He said: “All the living are here. It’s unknown if the dead are here.”

After hearing this, everyone could not help but glance around, as if the empty tables and chairs were really full of people who had just died. Full of fresh ghosts. Although the noon sun was shining straight down, everyone felt a coldness and chill down their backsides.

One person said angrily: “Why are you scaring people? Is this necessary?!”

Shi JianChuan shrugged: “It’s not like there’s never been ghosts before.”

“Don’t be noisy.” Xu RenDong spoke out to discourage the quarrel that was about to break out, “The old lady is here.”

Everyone turned around, only to find that the old lady in red with little feet was holding a glass of wine and walking between the two tables.

“It’s a great honor for all the guests to be present today.” The old lady smiled so red her lips were grinning behind her ears. The wrinkles on her face were terrifyingly deep. She raised the wine glass over her head, “I don’t have much to say so I’ll give you a toast.”

Everyone looked at each other and their eyes fell on the small wine glass in front of them. The wine was orange-yellow like amber, with a fragrant aroma that looks very attractive. But who would dare to drink the wine prepared by the old lady in red with bound feet?

No one made a move and the atmosphere stiffened for a while. The old lady was not angry. She drank the wine happily and then clapped her hands, “Let’s serve the food.” Then a beautiful maid came out of the hall holding the dishes.

Before those maids approached, a fishy smell was already blowing. Xu RenDong frowned and was about to speak but found that Lian Qiao was staring straight at the tray in the maid’s hand with a strange look in his eyes.

“Lian Qiao?” Xu RenDong whispered.

Lian Qiao didn’t answer.

On the contrary, Shi JianChuan turned his head and gave Xu RenDong a thoughtful look.

The maids walked to the table one by one and put down the dishes. Xu RenDong was shocked when he saw it. He saw that all the dinner plates were full of dead fish and rotten shrimp. The white maggots wriggled and the stench made people want to vomit.

Everyone seemed to be possessed. Not only did they not show disgust but their eyes showed longing and ecstasy. Some people even couldn’t bear it and reached out to grab the rotten fish within which the maggots were twisting.

Xu RenDong frowned and was about to stop them when he heard Shi JianChuan say: “Don’t worry about them, just look after yourself.”

Xu RenDong turned his head in surprise but saw Shi JianChuan slapped Lian Qiao’s hand off the chopsticks. He said with a smile: “…and your friends.”

Xu RenDong then reacted and quickly held down Lian Qiao to stop him from eating the dishes on the table. Lian Qiao struggled for a while and asked in puzzlement: “Brother RenDong, what are you doing?”

Xu RenDong said: “There is something wrong with the dish, don’t eat it.”

Lian Qiao swallowed: “But it’s delicious…”

Xu RenDong grabbed his restless hands and said in a deep voice, “Be obedient.”

Lian Qiao stopped struggling but kept glancing at the dishes and gulping at those dead fish and rotten meat.

It seemed that Lian Qiao had been bewitched and only relied on a trace of remaining rationality to reluctantly suppress his appetite. The others were not dissuaded and were already feasting on the food. They devoured the rotten dead fish one by one and even discarded their chopsticks and directly held a fish head with their hands, biting into the  bones of the fish.

Maggots kept falling out of the fish heads. The yellow-white juice flowed down the corners of their mouths. They had long since ignored their composure and were rushing to eat, their expressions full of a drug-like intoxication.

This was not a good situation. Xu RenDong’s brain was running fast and his hands were not idle either. He took out the climbing rope from his backpack and tied Lian Qiao’s hands again.     

Lian Qiao was very unhappy about this and scolded uncharacteristically: “What are you doing? Why are you tying me up? Why don’t you let me eat?”

The knot that Xu RenDong tied was actually a live knot. This was the way Lian Qiao himself taught him. But at this time, Lian Qiao had already forgotten how to break free from the knot. He twisted and even bit his teeth, completely losing his sense of being an adult.

Just as Xu RenDong was trying to reason with Lian Qiao, Shi JianChuan’s leisurely, almost lazy voice came from the side: “Why do you need to spend all this time? Why don’t you just give him another one?”

Xu RenDong didn’t understand. “Give him what?”

Shi JianChuan asked, “Which floor’s did you take?”

Xu RenDong suddenly felt enlightened: “You took the candle from the lantern?”

Shi JianChuan heard this and his eyes showed surprise: “Didn’t you take one? Then why are you okay?”

Xu RenDong chewed on the meaning of the words and finally understood. He immediately pulled up Lian Qiao and dragged him away.

Lian Qiao struggled. The old lady in red with little feet also noticed the strangeness and ran after them: “Guest, where are you going?”

Xu RenDong casually said, “Going to the toilet. What, do you want to follow?” 

The old lady with the bound feet was stunned and then immediately smirked and said, “No, no. Take your time, guest.”

Xu RenDong dragged Lian Qiao and walked towards the stairs without looking back. Seeing what happened, Shi JianChuan followed them. The little-footed old lady frowned and stretched out her hand to stop it: “Mr. Shi, why are you leaving the table too?”

Shi JianChuan smiled and said, “I’m going to watch the fun.” 

The old lady asked, “There are so many people here, isn’t it lively enough?”

Shi JianChuan threw a glance at the gobbling crowd and said calmly, “A group of dead people, it’s boring.” 

The old lady heard the words with a strange look on her face. She didn’t stop him and just let him go.

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