Chapter 22: Bai Yu, Let’s Take a Bath Together!
The old landlord spoke lightly, but the pain and struggle in his eyes said otherwise. He clearly didn’t want to dig up his daughter’s bones and treat them like this.
Sending off someone with white hair to accompany someone with black hair was already a gut-wrenching task. His daughter had lived a tortured life, and even in d*ath, she couldn’t find peace. Who wouldn’t feel heartbroken about that?
The people who died here were indeed related to the landlord, but the true culprit was still the little ghost Xiao Lian.
As the landlord put it, once these tenants entered the building, they would be influenced by Xiao Lian. No matter what, they wouldn’t leave; they had to stay here. To put it plainly, they had been bewitched by a ghost, so he had no choice but to let them remain.
The old landlord tried his best to control the situation. To prevent her from killing, he even sought out a certain master.
And it actually worked—at least Xiao Lian had killed much less over the years. The drunk who lived on the fifth floor died from natural causes.
Xiao Lian was bound to the fourth and fifth floors, and most importantly, she couldn’t ensnare the new tenants anymore.
However, that was just the landlord’s side of the story. What was the real situation? If it was really as he said, why would he still let himself live here knowing there was danger on the fourth and fifth floors?
There was more than just Xiao Lian living there; someone else was on the fourth, and the fifth floor was occupied by the ghost who had tried to k*ll her last night, someone who had lived there in life.
Zhao Mingyue kept her guard up. She always felt things weren’t so simple.
“After I imprisoned Xiao Lian’s bones, she did become much quieter. Until now, it’s her presence that keeps the other ghosts in this building from going on rampages,” the old landlord said.
Zhao Mingyue didn’t respond right away; instead, she inwardly asked Bai Yu, “Is what he said true?”
“Nine truths and one lie. He’s hiding something from you,” Bai Yu’s voice echoed in Zhao Mingyue’s mind. Since it was her first time dealing with such matters, Bai Yu decided to share a bit more.
“Most of what he said is true. The ghost killing doesn’t relate to him; he can’t control the ghost. While he has done some things that help restrain her, he’s also seeking food for her.”
“Food?”
“To put it bluntly, you are one of her meals. Got it?”
With that, Zhao Mingyue understood. “So, you mean that even though the ghost is restrained, she needs regular feeding? The tenants on the fourth and fifth floors are her backup food, right?”
“Exactly.”
After hearing Bai Yu’s answer, Zhao Mingyue had mixed feelings. Just moments ago, she almost believed the landlord was a good guy, but now she felt completely misled.
“I have one more question. Since the ghost is bound to the fourth and fifth floors, it means she can move around those levels. Why are you still renting out those rooms? Isn’t it dangerous for the tenants?”
“Uh…” The old landlord was taken aback by the question. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Xiao Lian won’t actively k*ll anymore. If I seal off the fourth and fifth floors, it would raise suspicions, causing panic. And here I am, depending on this old building to support me.”
“I… sigh, Grandpa Lin, I thought you were a good person,” Zhao Mingyue sighed, her tone filled with disappointment. “Since you don’t want to talk, I’ll say it: the tenants on the fourth and fifth floors are actually Xiao Lian’s food, right?”
At those words, the landlord’s furrowed brows relaxed. “So, you knew it all along.”
“I thought you would tell the truth.”
“Little Zhao, if I told you the truth, what would you think? What would you do?” the old landlord countered.
“I would tell everyone the truth.”
“Would that do any good? If you go out and tell people there are ghosts here, how do you think they’ll view you?”
As they spoke, the landlord slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a strand of black hair, quickly tossing it into the air.
When the hair appeared, red spiritual flames clung to it, trying to ignite it.
Just as sparks began to flare up, Zhao Mingyue felt a wave of cold wash over her, and red ghostly lights flickered in her eyes.
At that moment, a bl**d thread appeared from thin air, wrapped around the hair, and extinguished the sparks.
Bai Yu emerged behind the old landlord, who suddenly stiffened as if sensing something. His pupils shrank, and his expression became grave.
“Where are those two kids?”
Bai Yu gripped the old landlord’s neck from behind, his eyes narrowed.
This old coot was cunning, trying to summon Xiao Lian to k*ll Zhao Mingyue. That strand of hair was undoubtedly from Xiao Lian’s children.
Cold energy pierced through the landlord’s skin like silvery needles. It didn’t feel like human hands were around his throat but rather a pure hand made of cold energy—an unbearable chill that ordinary people couldn’t withstand.
“I-I don’t know…” The old landlord trembled all over, realizing just how terrifying the being behind him was.
“Is that so? Then you’ve outlived your usefulness.”
With a swift motion, Bai Yu’s hand sliced through the landlord’s back, emerging from his chest without a speck of bl**d or a shred of internal organs, not even a wound. Yet, the old landlord let out a scream like a slaughtered pig, his body going stiff with fright.
The landlord’s eyes were filled with disbelief; he never expected Bai Yu wouldn’t ask another question and would just k*ll him.
To him, Bai Yu seemed like Zhao Mingyue’s puppet. With her personality, she wouldn’t just k*ll him!
But he was only half right. Zhao Mingyue wouldn’t k*ll him, but Bai Yu would.
Withdrawing his hand, the landlord collapsed to the ground, desperately trying to look at Bai Yu, who only had eyes like black abysses.
In that moment, it clicked for him. No wonder Zhao Mingyue, a little girl, hadn’t been killed by Xiao Lian in room 506; it turned out she wasn’t a pushover either—she harbored such a powerful monster within.
“Mingyue,” Bai Yu spoke softly.
“I’m here.” Zhao Mingyue snapped back to reality, looking up.
“Let’s go home.”
“Ah, okay, okay!” Zhao Mingyue hurried over, glancing back at Lu Liangting by the door. Before she knew it, the door was slammed shut. She hesitated; she wanted to say Lu Liangting was still inside.
“That guy can’t leave right now; he’s trapped in the ghost’s memories. If he goes, it’ll be a huge problem. Don’t worry; he’ll be fine.”
Bai Yu smiled and told a little lie, his face showing no signs of hesitation. Yet, in reality, a strand of black hair was slowly burning inside, and a ghostly hand suddenly burst through the bathroom door.
“Oh, so that’s how it is! Now I can rest easy.”
“Come on, let’s go wash off all this bloody smell.” Bai Yu waved his hand and slipped into Zhao Mingyue’s shadow.
As they walked back, Zhao Mingyue’s mind was surprisingly carefree, completely brushing off thoughts of the ghost, and casually asked, “Bai Yu, can you take a bath in your current state? Should we bathe together?”
“Together?”
“Yep! I think even if one turns into a ghost, one can still look good. After all, I’m a girl, and it’s not nice to have messy hair all the time. You’re so pretty; you should dress up nicely.”
“Am I really pretty?”
“Mhm, absolutely! You’re the cutest girl I’ve ever seen, so, shall we bathe together?” Zhao Mingyue smiled, but there was a hint of the Big Bad Wolf trying to entice Little Red Riding Hood in that grin.
