Chapter Thirty: All About Funerals for the Dead

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“I, I, I... That night, I ran straight until the rooster crowed... When the car finally stopped, I remember it so clearly—the old woman got out and said something about being very satisfied, and then the rooster crowed… and then everything went black for me.”
“Later, when the police came to check the surveillance footage, there wasn’t a single passenger on my car—I drove an empty taxi back and forth dozens of times… But my car doesn’t even have that much fuel!”
“The money I had in my hands turned out to be all yellow paper! When I realized it, all that paper had somehow caught fire and turned to ashes!”
“But the most important thing, brothers… that day, dozens of people… inexplicably became disabled… missing arms or legs, and the wounds… had bite marks… All of these people lived near Ten-Mile Slope or at Talented Scholars’ Residence…”
“The police told me not to spread this story, but I’m desperate to find a wife, so I’m risking it all—this is what happened to me, just yesterday. Oh no, the police are here, the police are here—comrades, remember my name is Huang De, thirty-five years old, and I’m looking for a wife…”
...
This was the post!
The villa complex that Murong Xingyao gifted to Lin Yi was located in Talented Scholars’ Residence—the very place mentioned in the story, where so many people had perished.
When Lin Yi first saw the name Talented Scholars’ Residence, it had already seemed strangely familiar.
Now, he remembered: right after the crimson mist first appeared, there had been a flurry of popular news threads on the forums. He had even read a post pleading for “Uncle Ying” to come save him—the incident in that post had taken place in the villas of Talented Scholars’ Residence!
This place was downright cursed!
However, what occupied Lin Yi’s mind even more was the realization that he’d spent so long chatting away with Murong Xingyao here, that he’d completely forgotten about his ex-girlfriend, Murong Yueyao. Where had she gone?
Before Lin Yi had the chance to ask, Murong Xingyao slapped his forehead, remembering that Murong Yueyao was still waiting. Hurriedly, he took out his phone and sent her a message.
From this, Lin Yi gathered that Murong Yueyao would likely be staying in Shengjing City for some time.
Soon after, the two of them hailed a cab and headed to Talented Scholars’ Residence.
That community had become infamous for two supernatural incidents.
One was the very taxi incident Lin Yi was reading about. The other involved a flying jiangshi—a drought demon. Taken together, these two events made it clear that Talented Scholars’ Residence was no ordinary place.
Originally, Lin Yi had thought that everything he had experienced since running into the yellow weasel last night—so many supernatural incidents—was more than enough for now, and that things would quiet down for a while. But it seemed trouble had found him again.
Yet Lin Yi was excited: if both of these supernatural events occurred, he would have another chance to gain experience.
A stroke of luck—truly!
The only thing that worried him was whether that flying drought demon would prove too powerful for him to handle...
Along the way, Murong Xingyao chatted and joked with Lin Yi, mainly about the prospect of starting a company together.
According to Murong Xingyao, once the company was established, Lin Yi would hold the majority of the shares, while Xingyao himself would take a smaller portion. He’d even come up with a name: The Strongman Company.
Murong Xingyao did his utmost to persuade Lin Yi to join, even saying he’d be content with just a tenth of the shares.
Really, he just wanted to show off, to let everyone know he was the rising star of the Murong family.
By the end of it, Murong Xingyao’s eyes were already lost in daydreams.
He was a chatterbox and king of wild fantasies.
But he never took that online post seriously—he thought it was just someone trying to attract attention, with little truth to it. He’d only shown it to Lin Yi for a laugh, hoping to pique his interest.
In no time, they arrived at Talented Scholars’ Residence.
Getting out of the car, Murong Xingyao led Lin Yi into the community.

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This was a residential area comprising villas, high-rise apartments, and townhouses—three types of housing, divided into three separate areas.
The villas were in a different direction, separate from the high-rises and townhouses.
Lin Yi kept a close eye on the Divine Execution Sutra.
Although at Erlong Mountain, the Sutra had chosen to temper him by trapping him in an illusion and not appearing in time, Lin Yi doubted it would keep setting him up like that forever.
At this moment, Lin Yi envied An Miaoyi and the others, who had energy detectors in hand—capable of revealing anything. If only he had such equipment! Even if the Sutra tried to trick him, he’d have a backup plan. With an energy detector, he could probe the world with ease.
As they entered the villa district, Murong Xingyao appeared perfectly calm. Clearly, he hadn’t taken those online stories to heart at all.
“Welcome home.”
“Welcome home.”
...
It’s no wonder the lives of the wealthy are so simple and dull. As they entered the villa area, the security guards greeted them with beaming smiles and a chorus of “Welcome home.”
Inside, they frequently encountered cleaning staff.
But these weren’t just any cleaners: every one of them was a bright-eyed, attractive young woman!
All they ever said was “Welcome home,” giving the place an oddly comforting, homely feel.
Yet as Lin Yi walked on, he sensed something was amiss.
Even without any warning from the Divine Execution Sutra, the atmosphere felt anything but warm—in fact, it sent chills down his spine.
Murong Xingyao clearly felt it too. Unconsciously, he drew closer to Lin Yi.
Lin Yi found this a bit ridiculous. After all, Murong Xingyao was a martial artist; the Murong family was the sort of martial clan that only exists in novels.
By Xingyao’s own admission, he could now just about be considered an entry-level expert in the martial world.
Yet here he was, practically hiding behind Lin Yi, as if afraid to leave his side.
Though Lin Yi inwardly looked down on him a little, he was more focused on other things.
Many of the villas had mourning tents set up!
There were quite a few of them!
Just walking past a dozen villas, he saw three such tents.
Inside these tents, red lights glimmered ominously.
If it were nighttime, the sight would be downright terrifying.
Alongside the tents, the sound of funeral music drifted through the air.
It seemed the property management must have intervened, as the music wasn’t loud, but was still clearly audible.
“This, this... This is just... terrifying. How can there be so many mourning tents here...?”
The further they walked, the more unsettled Murong Xingyao became.
Fear was plain on his face.
His scalp tingled as he glanced nervously at Lin Yi.

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“Brother Lin Yi, I feel a bit guilty—I don’t think I can give you this villa after all. There’s something wrong with this place. If I’d known, I’d never have offered it to you. Wouldn’t that be harming you?”
After much deliberation, Murong Xingyao decided not to gift Lin Yi the villa.
If he really went through with it, it would be like cursing Lin Yi.
With this many mourning tents, it was obvious something was deeply wrong. Otherwise, why would so many people have died?
Wouldn’t passing off such an ill-omened house on Lin Yi be a terrible thing?
If Lin Yi ever took issue with it, there’d be no defending himself.
Hearing this, Lin Yi thought privately, “You sly dog! Trying to sabotage my perfect spot for gaining experience? I won’t let that happen.”
He quickly refused, “Don’t. At first, I didn’t want the house you were giving me, but now, I insist—let me have it. I’ll move in right away.”
The Paranormal Investigation Bureau was just a mirage for now—he hadn’t even gotten in yet. There were still tests to pass tomorrow. But this house—tonight he could start gaining experience. Lin Yi decided he wouldn’t even bother returning to his dormitory.
Murong Xingyao was stunned. What on earth was up with Lin Yi?
Was he so powerful that these so-called supernatural events meant nothing to him, or did he have some kind of masochistic streak?
Or maybe he was just too righteous, determined to slay monsters and uphold justice, so he insisted on taking the house?
In the end, after a moment’s struggle, Murong Xingyao forced a smile, “Alright, brother. As long as you like it.”
Before long, the two of them arrived at Villa No. 17.
All the villas here followed the same design, though each courtyard was unique, arranged by the owners themselves.
Next door to No. 17, Villa No. 16 also had a mourning tent.
Most of the tents were white awnings illuminated with red lanterns, but outside No. 16, the tent was a white canopy lit with cool white lights, its entrance wide open.
As they passed by, the bright red coffin inside Villa No. 16 was clearly visible.
“Wuu, wuu, wuu, wuu...”
“Wuu, wuu, wuu, wuu...”
...
There was no funeral music here, but the sound of weeping was unmistakable.
Inside, a whole family, along with friends and relatives, knelt before the coffin, burning incense, bowing, or paying their respects.
It was a miniature funeral gathering.
It was deeply inauspicious. Murong Xingyao was increasingly tempted to slap himself—why on earth did he have to offer this particular villa? He owned several properties in Shengjing City—why this one at Talented Scholars’ Residence?
He’d just been joking about the online post, and now, was the internet about to bleed into real life?
But soon, Murong Xingyao noticed something odd about Lin Yi’s expression.
As Lin Yi gazed at the funeral, he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly.