Free Web NovelOn the dimly lit corridor, Lu Yibei stood before the rusty iron door, contemplating how to get the woman inside the room to come out again.
Just then, the only sound-activated light at the end of the corridor suddenly turned on, footsteps came from the stair landing leading to the second floor, and following closely behind, a slightly overweight middle-aged woman with dirty clothes appeared at the end of the corridor.
The middle-aged woman came onto the corridor, saw Lu Yibei, slightly furrowed her brow, walked over quickly, and stopped in front of her, sizing her up as if trying to see through her.
"What are you doing?"
"Hello, Older sister, I'm looking for someone named Qin Dalin, may I ask..."
Before Lu Yibei could finish speaking, the middle-aged woman's eyes suddenly became wary, and she interrupted, "Why are you looking for him?"
"I'm his relative, an elder in the family recently passed away, so I wanted to contact him." Lu Yibei's lie came out effortlessly, her calm expression not looking like a pretense.
"Relative?" The middle-aged woman's eyes turned strange, and she sneered, "I thought that gambling addict's family had already severed ties with him long ago!"
Gambling addict? Could it be that Qin Dalin was forced to live in a place like this because he lost all his money gambling?
Lu Yibei grumbled inwardly, slightly furrowed her brow, and pressed on, "Although he has those bad habits, blood is thicker than water after all!"
"Now that something like this has happened, we feel it's still necessary to contact him, so, Older sister, can you tell me where he is now?"
The middle-aged woman sized up Lu Yibei once again, rolled her eyes, and said, "It's not easy to find him."
"What do you mean by that?" Lu Yibei asked doubtfully.
"To avoid the debt collectors, during the day he's either playing cards at some card room or drinking with his shady friends somewhere, and he only comes back in the middle of the night every time." The middle-aged woman kindly explained.
Hearing this, Lu Yibei pondered for a moment and said, "Then can you tell me which room he lives in? I can go wait for him to come back."
The middle-aged woman impatiently pursed her lips, pointed upstairs, and said, "Top floor, all the way down, 401."
After she finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the outside of the building, but stopped not far away.
The middle-aged woman looked at Lu Yibei, who was staring blankly upstairs, remained silent for a moment, and then reminded her, "Little Girl, I think you're a nice person, listen to my advice, just forget about finding that gambling addict."
"Don't go into these rooms casually, and definitely don't stay here overnight, leave quickly before it gets dark."
"It's really too dangerous for a Miss like you to be hanging around here!"
What does she mean by a Miss like me? Do I look like I have a problem? Lu Yibei was startled for a moment, looked at the middle-aged woman, and asked, "Why? Are there urban legend here?"
Hearing the words "urban legend", the middle-aged woman's expression suddenly became tense, she hesitated to speak, avoided Lu Yibei's gaze, didn't answer, and hurried towards the outside of the building, quickly disappearing.
Lu Yibei looked at the long, dark corridor and pondered to herself.
Looking at her reaction, it seems like I hit the nail on the head, there might really be urban legend here.
But, since entering the building, why haven't I felt even a hint of Spiritual Energy fluctuation?
Could it be that the urban legend aren't hidden in this building, but only come here at some point after dark?
She grumbled inwardly for a while, then had a sudden idea, reached into her jacket pocket, and took out the 【fuxing copper coin】.
Will urban legend appear in this building tonight? Heads yes, tails no.
Lu Yibei silently chanted in her heart, "Ding!" and flicked the copper coin into the air. After making her prediction, she reached out, grabbed it, and held it in her palm.
"urban legend will actually appear?"
Lu Yibei murmured softly, then turned and walked towards the stairwell at the end of the corridor.
Before leaving, she wanted to scout out Qin Dalin's residence first.
Compared to the first floor, the second floor seemed more damp and gloomy, cobwebs were tangled in the corners, and the walls were mottled with some mold spots.
After going up two more floors, the situation was slightly better, but it was still very dirty and messy, with a thick layer of dust accumulated on the ground, and many footprints scattered on it.
The tracks of those footprints were not heading in the direction of Room 401, but in the completely opposite direction.
Lu Yibei followed the direction those footprints extended in and looked, suddenly noticing that at the end of the corridor, in the direction of Room 420, a door was slightly ajar. Someone behind the crack was secretly watching this way, and she could vaguely see a large dark red birthmark on her face.
Was it that woman from before? How did she get up here? Lu Yibei was startled.
The design of this kind of old building usually has many unreasonable aspects. She had observed when she came up just now that this large building only had that one staircase.
Could it be that there are secret passages or something similar in this dilapidated building? Lu Yibei thought, and just as she was about to go forward and ask the woman, she slammed the door shut again.
"Bang—!"
Lu Yibei looked at the door that had been closed again, paused for a moment, then turned and walked towards the other end of the corridor.
She had already been given the cold shoulder just now, so she didn't plan to interact with that woman again.
Curiosity killed the cat. Anyway, she already knew where Qin Dalin lived, there was no need to complicate things.
Turning around and following the direction the middle-aged woman had pointed, Lu Yibei quickly found Room 401. After seeing the door to Qin Dalin's residence, she was slightly taken aback.
In the entire building, almost all the room doors were old and dilapidated, only Qin Dalin's door was a brand new security door, looking very sturdy at first glance.
Not only that, the security door was covered with talismans written with spells in cinnabar, and a bull's head skull engraved with strange patterns was placed in the corner of the wall.
Lu Yibei reached out and touched those talismans, felt a burning sensation at her fingertips, and immediately withdrew her hand.
She was currently in a urban legend-like state, and the talismans reacted to her, indicating that those talismans were not products of charlatans, but genuinely had a certain effect on urban legend.
"What on earth is this Qin Dalin up to? Is he being haunted by urban legend?"
"Knock knock knock—knock knock knock—!"
Lu Yibei tried knocking for a while, waited for a moment, and seeing no response, she sighed softly and exited the building.
"It seems I can only go back and make some preparations, then come back after dark."
----
A moment later.
Sitting on the bus returning to the city center, Lu Yibei suddenly seemed to remember something, her eyes lit up slightly, she took out her phone, opened the browser, and searched for Qin Dalin's address.
Typing "Hua City Power Plant Old Staff Building" into the search bar, clicking search, and scrolling back more than ten pages, several noteworthy pieces of information caught Lu Yibei's eye.
"Chen Siqi, female, 18 years old, disappeared near Hua City Power Plant Old Staff Building in June, XX18..."
"Zhang Huihui, female, 15 years old..."
"Fang Liqin, female, 17 years old..."
Lu Yibei quickly scanned through the information, her expression becoming somewhat solemn, and found that it was either news about missing persons or missing person notices.
Counting them up, over the course of three years, four or five people had gone missing in that vicinity, most of whom were women in their teens to twenties, and none of their bodies had been found.
After the night became long, in a remote and dilapidated place like that, fewer than two people went missing on average per year. Although understandable, it was still suspicious. Had the Night Watch not investigated?
No, there was no Spiritual Energy fluctuation in that area at all. Maybe the Night Watch had already been there but found nothing.
Without Spiritual Energy fluctuation, it could only be treated as an ordinary serial murder case and handed over to the police. She didn't know if that perverted killer had been caught.
Lu Yibei was thinking, and before she knew it, her phone screen had turned off, reflecting a delicate face on the black screen. In the midday sun, without makeup, she exuded a hint of charm.
Lu Yibei, "..."
No wonder that Older sister said a Miss like me shouldn't hang around that area. Was she trying to warn me about this?
Did she know something?
Lu Yibei thought, rubbing her brow, "It looks like when I go tonight, I'll have to find something to cover my face!"
She was going for Qin Dalin and didn't want to be targeted by some serial killer who preys on beautiful girls.
Unless...
Qin Dalin was that serial killer.
Such a guess suddenly popped into her mind.
Could Qin Dalin be related to these disappearances, and worried that those Misses would turn into urban legend and trouble him, which is why he plastered a bunch of inexplicable things on his door?
Assuming it was true, with Qin Dalin's suspicious behavior, he must have been investigated by the police long ago, but he was still living there, which meant he was hiding very well and hadn't revealed any flaws.
Thinking of this, Lu Yibei silently took out the copper coin from her pocket and gently tossed it into the air.
Before the coin fell, she reached out and caught it. Her eyes became solemn, her gaze shifted several times, and it was as if she was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.
"..."
After a long while.
Lu Yibei gently stroked her Coat and whispered, "Coat, can you turn into the kind of clothes that are both pure and seductive, the kind that makes people want to commit a crime just by looking at them?"
It wasn't the first time she had been bait anyway, although last time was passive, this time it was active.
Hearing her question, the Coat immediately started to writhe, looking like it was about to pull off a stunt right there.
Feeling the size of the clothes changing, a hint of panic flashed in Lu Yibei's eyes, and she quickly lowered her voice and growled, "Don't change now, change tonight, tonight!"
Well, when you're alive, your moral bottom line can be low, but you can't have none at all, right?
Although there weren't many people on the bus, just thinking about changing clothes in public felt too shameful. Lu Yibei thought.
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Afternoon.
Lu Yibei ran back to Happiness Community, got her guitar bag, and took all the equipment that might be used in combat with her.
When she went back, Jiang Li was not in the rental house. She was a bit worried about Jiang Li staying in the rental house alone at night and encountering the situation from last night again, so she sent her a message.
Wang Bu Liu Xing: "I have something tonight, I won't be going back, you shouldn't go back either, it's not safe alone."
Genius Mahjong Girl: "Something's happening? Take me with you? 【Heart gesture emoji】"
Wang Bu Liu Xing: "Private matter, not convenient to bring pets."
Genius Mahjong Girl: "【Smiling face emoji】"
Lu Yibei, "..." What's going on with this chill down my back?
Wang Bu Liu Xing: "I'll make you something delicious tomorrow."
Anyway, the ingredients borrowed from the neighbor's house haven't been used up yet, and there are still three large bottles of vinegar. I'll see if I can borrow some dumplings or hairy crabs later. Lu Yibei thought.
Genius Mahjong Girl: "【Heart gesture emoji】"
Okay, the expression is normal... After Lu Yibei finished arranging things with Jiang Li, she put away her phone and left Happiness Community, went to the central park, found a quiet place, and went to practice the suona.
----
Meanwhile, inside the Li family's mansion.
Li Tanghan, who ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) was confined to his room, was lying in bed, cautiously keeping an eye on the bodyguards sent by his Old Dad to keep watch, while fiddling with his phone and sending messages to someone.
For a long time.
After receiving a message from someone named 'Peeling Skin', he put down his phone, and a meaningful smile appeared on his face.
Okay, everything is arranged now!
Qin, tonight you just prepare to enjoy the big gift I've prepared for you!
----
That night, at nine twenty-two, a taxi was driving towards the old staff building of Hua City Power Plant.
No one spoke in the car, it was very quiet, only the sound of the wind outside the car window could be heard.
Through the rearview mirror, Zhang Shan secretly looked at the girl in the back seat who made him feel both familiar and scared, his mood was a bit complex.
After exchanging a few simple pleasantries with him after getting in the car today, the girl lowered her head and started playing with her phone, seemingly having no intention of telling him a story.
Today she wore an apricot-colored off-the-shoulder long-sleeved knit shirt, her delicate collarbone and fair, rounded shoulders exposed, paired with a denim mermaid skirt below, and wearing a pair of classic red and white Warrior shoes. She also wore light makeup, clearly having dressed up carefully.
Even someone like him, who had long guessed she was a Strange Tale, couldn't help but take a few extra glances.
It's just...
What is she doing at the old staff building of the power plant? I haven't heard of any urban legend incidents there!
Dressed up so nicely, is she going on a date?
That's not right either. If it's a date, going to a bar, a high-end restaurant, a night amusement park, or even a budget hotel is understandable, but why go to that kind of haunted place?
Zhang Shan thought for a moment, seeing that the journey was halfway, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Miss, aren't you going to tell a story today?"
"???"
Lu Yibei raised her head, looked at Zhang Shan's back, and a look of surprise appeared in her eyes.
Uncle Driver, you're not right!
What have you been through recently that you actually have the courage to actively inquire about urban legend incidents again?
Lu Yibei pondered for two seconds, then said expressionlessly, "Yes, if you want to hear it, I'll tell you."
The mysteriously disappeared girl, the old building hiding a secret room, the strange person with a blood-red birthmark on their face inside the old building, the serial killer who hasn't been caught, the room sealed by a talisman...
Lu Yibei felt that she might have inherited the talent of her eighteenth-rate online novel writer Old Dad, and was quite talented at telling stories.
Combining the news and missing person notices she saw online, some discoveries she made in the old staff building of the power plant during the day, and adding some fabrications, she quickly made Uncle Zhang Shan turn pale and sweat profusely.
He had heard about girls disappearing in this area, but he had never linked these disappearance cases with urban legend before.
When Lu Yibei stopped, Uncle Zhang Shan realized that the story had no ending at all, the culprit wasn't caught, and the mystery wasn't solved.
Driven by strong curiosity, he couldn't help but ask, "Th- Then what?"
Lu Yibei didn't answer him, but just pointed expressionlessly out the window, "Uncle, we're here."
"Ah, this..."
Zhang Shan heard half the story and his heart was itching with unbearable curiosity, but he was also worried that if he kept asking, Lu Yibei would get angry and cause himself some trouble.
He could only watch her scan the code to pay, get out of the car, pull a suona out of her guitar bag, stammeringly play a tune of 'Conan's Execution Music', and walk towards the old staff building of the power plant under the illumination of the high beams.
Could it be...
Zhang Shan suddenly understood something, his body trembled slightly, and he suddenly widened his eyes.
She dressed up carefully tonight and came to this area to use herself as bait to punish that serial killer!
I see, the end of the story is, if you do something wrong, the ghost will knock on your door, the killer will eventually be swallowed by the urban legend! The heavenly dao has good reincarnation, the righteous path... uh, the light of the underworld shines on the earth?
Wonderful, wonderful! I'll tell this next time!
Zhang Shan thought, suddenly feeling that Lu Yibei's image in his mind had become taller. He looked up again to find her figure, but found that she had already disappeared onto the dark, winding path, and the sound of the suona had also fallen silent.
He looked out the window and only then realized that the surroundings had fallen into a deathly silence. The city with its bright lights and bustling nightlife was long gone, and within a radius of one or two kilometers, the car's high beams were the only light source.
Zhang Shan, "..."
The story Lu Yibei had just told surfaced in his mind, and he suddenly felt a little panicked, a drop of cold sweat running down his slightly frosted temples.
Although the perverted killer's targets were previously all girls, what if he had too many desserts and suddenly wanted to change his taste and have a meal of old folks?
This is not a good place to stay for long!
Gotta go, gotta go.jpg
Stepping on the clutch, shifting gears, flooring the gas, launching from a standstill, the whole sequence of movements was smooth and fluid, worthy of the name'Second Car God of Hua City'.
----
Lu Yibei hid under a thick tree near the old staff building of the power plant, observing the red brick building ahead.
The sight of her peeking out half her head from behind the tree with her small mouth pursed, her eyes darting around, looked a bit cute amidst the sneakiness.
The night was dark, the sky was starless and moonless, somewhat gloomy. The black holes of windows beneath the sky looked like big mouths silently screaming for help.
Just then, the roar of an engine suddenly came from behind her. Her body couldn't help but tremble slightly. Turning her head, she saw a taxi speeding away.
"..."
Uncle Zhang Shan is still the same as before! He ran away very decisively. Lu Yibei thought.
Only when Uncle Zhang Shan's figure completely disappeared into the night did Lu Yibei withdraw her attention and seriously think about what to do to attract Qin Dalin's attention.
After all, she didn't know what standard Qin Dalin used when choosing targets.
Playing the suona is definitely not going to work. Although the sound would definitely attract attention, playing that kind of bizarre instrument in this haunted place is quite scary and might scare Qin Dalin away.
How about...
Lu Yibei thought, silently lifting her skirt hem, exposing her fair thighs, extending them from behind the tree, and swinging them on the empty street.
After waiting for a moment and seeing no movement around, she withdrew her legs and frowned.
Is this intention too obvious?
Or maybe go out and dance? Anyway, Yun Meng's memory includes dancing skills.
While Lu Yibei was thinking, a figure darted out from the darkness and came up behind her.
【He is approaching behind you】
【He raised the wooden stick in his hand】
The thought of prediction flashed through Lu Yibei's mind. She was stunned for a moment, then made a decision - 'I should cooperate with your performance and do my best.'
The next moment, a wooden stick as thick as a child's arm whistled through the air and smashed onto the back of Lu Yibei's head, breaking into two pieces with a 'bang!'
"Ah—! So painful, what..."
Before Lu Yibei finished speaking, she rolled her eyes, closed her mouth, held onto the big tree beside her, and fell to the ground.
The moment she fell, she slightly opened her eyes into a slit and glanced at the person behind her.
It was a middle-aged man, about forty years old, wearing a faded date-colored jacket. His hair was greasy and messy, his eyebrows were light, and the right side of his face seemed to have been injured by some sharp object, leaving a long scar.
So you're the one who hit me so hard just now, right? I'll remember this grudge! I'll deal with you properly later! Lu Yibei thought.
