Chapter 8: The Return of Strange Tales

"You say this house is very dangerous, but isn't it just an ordinary residence?" Gao Ming had the look of someone hell-bent on courting death, which only made the investigator more anxious and frustrated.

"The former resident of 2507 committed suicide. You mustn't stay here just because the rent is cheap." The investigator's face was disfigured, his expressions unreadable, but his urgent tone made it clear that there was indeed a serious problem with room 2507.

"Why? Was Brother Zhao's death not an accident, but murder?"

"Don't ask why!" Sweat slid down his scars as the investigator pointed to his horrific face, "If you don't want to end up like me, move out quickly!"

It was obvious the investigator knew something, which only made Gao Ming more curious. "You have to give us a reason."

Being asked to move out so suddenly would make anyone reluctant.

"It's not just you, all the residents on your floor must temporarily relocate until the source of the anomaly is identified." The Disfigured Investigator had seen Gao Ming the night before and knew that Gao Ming wasn't easily fooled, "You subdued the Rainy Night Murderer, I admit you're brave, but some dangers are invisible! Those things are the main cause of the multiple homicides in the Old City Harbor Area!"

"Those things you're referring to..." Gao Ming narrowed his eyes. While most people would be scared upon seeing the investigator's face, he was rather intrigued by him.

"The more you know, the easier it is for them to latch onto you. Everything I say and do is for your own good, to protect you. I hope you can trust me." The investigator pleaded earnestly, but Gao Ming and Xuan Wen remained unmoved, "You really won't cry until you see the coffin, will you?"

Gao Ming slowly looked down. He wasn't sure if he would cry upon seeing a "coffin," but he knew Xuan Wen wouldn't, just as she wouldn't cry upon seeing capsule hotels.

"If you really don't want to move out, then you must remember clearly what I'm going to tell you next." Failing to persuade the two to leave, the investigator could only offer a warning, "Replace all the deceased's belongings in the apartment as soon as possible, and never imitate the deceased's actions or emotions, whether it's day or night."

"I can understand replacing the dead person's things, but what do you mean don't imitate the deceased?" Gao Ming was confused, "Do you mean that if we feel the same emotions in the place where he died, he will come back?"

The investigator didn't answer nor deny, and after speaking he went upstairs, seemingly to investigate something.

"This investigator from Xinhu seems to know a lot," Xuan Wen murmured as she moved closer to Gao Ming, her gaze dangerous yet alluring, "Now there's no one to disturb us."

She closed the security door, leaned in tenderly towards Gao Ming, her lips barely moving, "The game you developed can be seen as the overlap between two worlds, and you're the key that unlocks the game early. What we need to do is simple: replicate the deceased's life in his former haunted residence, stir up the same emotions he had, and completely transform into him. Then, the tenacity, malice, pain, and regrets that he left between the two worlds will come searching on their own, centered around you, forcibly triggering a ghost story."

"That sounds eerily familiar to me." The investigator's warning still echoed in Gao Ming's ears, "Sis, are you sure this is safe?"

Xuan Wen paused briefly upon being called 'Sis,' but patiently explained, "Urban horror games are the most terrifying and dangerous. Once they take full shape, fear will take root in the heart of everyone who's heard the ghost story, gnawing away at them from within. We're completely incapable of dealing with that. So, the only option before us is to trigger it early and nip it in the bud. I know this is dangerous and people might die, but if we do nothing, in the future the death toll could be tenfold, even a hundredfold higher!"

Xuan Wen made sense; even the minor distortions of family and romance games were terrifying by now. If they waited until the ghost stories completely merged with the city, Gao Ming would face an even more perilous situation.

"Some things cannot be avoided."

"Alright, I'll give it a try."

Xuan Wen guided Gao Ming as he sat in front of the living room mirror with a blank obituary photo in hand.

All the lights in the apartment were turned off, and four white candles were lit at the four corners of the room.

The flickering candlelight danced in the darkness as raindrops fell and thunder roared, with the occasional flash of lightning streaking across.

Gao Ming adjusted his breathing and closed his eyes, reflecting on everything he knew about the deceased.

Brother Zhao, whose full name was Zhao Xi, was an abandoned baby found by the old lady on the third floor next to a pile of rubbish. He never went to school and wore tattered clothes from childhood. The other children in the Sky Well Courtyard and the old lady's second son would often bully him, but he never fought back.

As he grew up, Zhao Xi worked as a porter in the Harbor District, earning tuition fees for his younger siblings. He was hardworking and never complained, supporting his family.

Despite being weary from his efforts, Zhao Xi always appeared cheerful, greeting everyone he met. Even the kids who used to bully him in the courtyard now respectfully called him Brother Zhao.

As time passed, Zhao Xi became known as the warmest person in Lijing Apartment. He never married, but if any family had troubles and he could help, he would. When his brother went to prison, it was he who took care of his stepmother and pregnant sister-in-law.

It was hard to believe that such an optimistic and strong person would choose suicide, which the neighbors found incredible. Only Gao Ming had noticed some clues early on.

Years of heavy labor had taken their toll on Zhao Xi's health, and after an injury to his leg last year, he was laid off by the factory.

Uneducated, with a disability, and in poor health, it was hard for Zhao Xi to find work. He stayed at home, only to face his sister-in-law's and stepmother's disdain and nagging.

Knowing he was an abandoned child, Zhao Xi wanted recognition and a proper family more than anyone. But no one looked up to him, and he lacked any means to relieve his emotions, holding onto his phone instead. Perhaps for him, even a phone was more understanding than his family.

The optimism, strength, and enthusiasm he displayed to the outside world were, in truth, a facade he forced upon himself. He didn't want to be "abandoned" again.

But the more he tried to think like that, the more pain he felt inside.

Losing hope, unable to change, becoming a burden—and eventually starting to despise himself.

The temperature began to drop slowly, and negative emotions surged.

Gao Ming sat in the living room as if he had returned to the night Zhao Xi killed himself.

The lights were off, and the oppressive clouds allowed not a single ray of light to penetrate. Though there was no rope around his neck, he felt his breathing become increasingly difficult. Touching his neck with his hands, an uncontrollable revulsion arose within him.

Neither windows nor doors seemed like exits, and he felt as if he were trapped in a corner forgotten by everyone. There was only himself—a helpless self.

Headache, heart palpitations, a mind that seemed broken, unable to sleep, wishing only to keep his eyes open and tear through memories.

The world in the mirror started to distort; shadows flooded the room like a tide, and regrets and tenacity seeped deep into the soul.

A familiar chill crept up his spine, and Gao Ming opened his eyes to find all the candles in the living room extinguished, the whole Room 2507 enveloped in shadow!

Looking up at the mirror, Gao Ming's pupils constricted, and the full-length mirror reflected an upside-down, twisted world.

"Bang!"

Before Gao Ming could react, a loud noise came from downstairs; he hurriedly ran to the balcony to check.

In the courtyard of Lijing Apartment, beside the entrance of Building Two, lay a twisted body with a broken neck, staring straight up at the balcony of Room 2507.