Perhaps it was to match the character better. Xuan Wen stopped struggling. She allowed Gao Ming to pull her into the dark corridor. Building Three had no lights on. Eerieness and strangeness pervaded the place. Other than the two’s heartbeats, there was only silence. However, this oppressing atmosphere felt strangely intimate.
It didn’t matter whether the woman was the real Xuan Wen or not. Gao Ming didn’t choose to suspect her. He willingly revealed the fact that he had been tricked by the God of the Past. Gao Ming was playing an open card. If the other party was the real Xuan Wen, it didn’t matter if he told her the truth; If she was not, then she must be the killer. She would have already known everything, so it didn’t matter if he told her the truth. Gao Ming’s openness discomfited Xuan Wen. The man didn’t seem to suspect her and showed absolute trust towards her.
People who participated in the selection were all cunning and liked to hide the scars deep inside their hearts. The more they did so, the greater the damage they would suffer while they were inside Prosperity Neighbourhood. This was because their wounds would be rudely torn open by the God of the Future. Their fear would be made into reality. However, Gao Ming was an outlier. He didn’t mind sharing his pain. In fact, he shared his despair freely.
“I didn’t think you’d come here. But, I feel is also within my expectation of you.” Gao Ming held Xuan Wen’s hand. He had reconciled with all the versions of his past at Everlasting Life Apartments. All the death memories became fuel for his power. All his deaths featured Xuan Wen. It didn’t seem like he had known Xuan Wen for long, but from Gao Ming’s perspective, they had known each other for generations already. Every generation’s story was harrowing and heart-wrenching. Tragedy was by their side. They were never lovers, but they had been through hell together.
Gao Ming knew Xuan Wen’s habits and shared her thoughts. He was the person closest to Xuan Wen in this world. After sharing his experience, Gao Ming turned to Xuan Wen. He asked with concern, “What happened to you here?”
Gao Ming took away the proactivity just like that. Xuan Wen felt like she should say something. However, the God of the Future seemed to be worried about something. Just as she opened her mouth, changes occurred inside the rooms that lined the corridor. Weak light streamed out of the gaps in the doors. Gao Ming instantly guarded Xuan Wen behind him. He slowly pushed one of the doors open.
Someone seemed to have performed a bloody experiment in the living room. The subject was placed on the glass table. His body was practically broken. It was hard to imagine the torture the person had been through.
“Zuo Bo?” Among the students of Class 13, Zuo Bo shared the same ideals as Gao Ming. They got into the same university. However, Zuo Bo lost his mind during university. He was like Gao Ming, who was lost in despair. Sometimes, Gao Ming could see himself in Zuo Bo. His lips were stained with blood. Zuo Bo’s body was unrecognisable, but his face was strangely well-preserved. The torturer seemed to do that on purpose to closely observe Zuo Bo’s reaction and expression during the torture.
“Wang Jie. It’s Wang Jie…” Whenever Zuo Bo spoke, a lot of blood splurted out of his mouth. He wanted to grab Gao Ming’s arm. “He’s looking for you…”
“I’ll help you end your pain.” Gao Ming said lightly as he closed his hands around Zuo Bo’s neck. “You didn’t go mad because you saw illusions but because you saw the truth earlier than everyone else. You have suffered so long on your own. It’s time. Leave the rest to me.” Xuan Wen didn’t have time to stop him, and Zuo Bo’s neck was snapped. His head slumped on the table. Actually, he still had many things to say, but he didn’t expect such a swift ‘aid’ from Gao Ming.
“Should we track down Wang Jie to question him?” Xuan Wen looked at the corpse with pity.
“Not necessary.” Gao Ming held Xuan Wen’s hand with the same hands that strangled Wang Jie. He turned to study the clock on the wall. “Similar to Everlasting Life Apartments, every room here features a wall clock.”
“The clocks will not stop. Time flows faster here than outside. Soon, you’ll be so hungry that you’ll want to eat people.” Xuan Wen tried to shake loose, but Gao Ming held onto her tightly.
“Let’s check the next room.” They went from the third floor to the fifth floor. Each room had something Gao Ming didn’t want to see. Much evidence proved that Zhang Ding and his friends entered Prosperity Neighbourhood to save him. However, they were trapped and faced the possibility of perishing. However, that was not the worst. Inside a dark-red themed kitchen on the fifth floor, Gao Ming was greeted by a table of special dishes. Every dish was related to his ghost friend. The chef had a lot of taste and style. He even left some marks for Gao Ming.
“Situ An? Is the torture room open? Has the God of the Future let him out?”
The thing Gao Ming didn’t want to see the most was happening. Xuan Wen finally had a thin smile on her face.
The exploration continued. When they reached the room at the end of the fifth-floor corridor, Xuan Wen hesitated for a quick moment. Gao Ming caught it. He casually opened the door to Room 0909. ṟἈ₦ố฿Εṧ
The room was very clean. There was a death portrait of a wife and husband on the wall. Their plaques and urns were placed on the ceremonial table.
“The Feng Shui at Prosperity Neighbourhood is very unique. Many rich people will place their elders’ urns here, hoping that they will bless their future generations.” Xuan Wen urged. “This kind of room is very unholy. It’s meant for the dead. We should leave.”
“But people have been cleaning and living here.” Gao Ming touched the bowls of fruits on the table and the traces of incense. “Plus, this couple looks so young. At most, they are forty. In that case, their children should be younger than me. Are young people this superstitious these days?”
Gao Ming lit three incense sticks and walked around the room. Xuan Wen didn’t stop him. She stared at the clock on the wall, and her eyes slowly turned red.
“This couple appears to have a daughter.” Gao Ming found a picture book on the bedroom bed. The owner had to hold it to fall asleep.