"Yimin Private Academy and Happiness Residental Community are separated by a block, but through the back door of Yimin Convenience Store, the two places can be directly connected. The people from that school have already started to reach out to us. If we don’t want to be put on the defensive, we also need to prepare accordingly."
Han Fei placed the teacher’s work ID on the bed and then fetched some paper and a pen. "I won’t underestimate the danger that school poses. I plan to conquer Yimin Private Academy in stages."
"First, we need to gather all the willing Owners and clear the buildings on both sides of the road. While expanding the safe zone, we will consume those evil, incurable Resentment Souls to enhance our strength."
"How do you determine if someone is evil beyond redemption?"
"Those who are willing to join us are lost but can be redeemed; those who stubbornly resist are beyond redemption," Han Fei said confidently.
"But there are so many buildings around, even if we drive away the Ghosts and Monsters temporarily, new ones will come," Wei Youfu, who had no combat ability of his own, mainly relied on Little Eight. Unfortunately, Little Eight couldn’t leave Happiness Residental Community freely. The victims of the Human-body Puzzle could not assist Han Fei outside the community, so Wei Youfu considered things more cautiously.
"As long as we are strong enough, newcomers will not be Ghosts and Monsters, but allies and food. It’s not us who should be making choices, but them." Han Fei wrote down another name on the paper separately. "There indeed exist beings in this city that are incomprehensible and unmentionable. We just need to avoid them and strengthen ourselves as much as possible before attracting their attention."
"But I still feel it’s very dangerous," Wei Youfu said, looking into Han Fei’s bright eyes, where he saw flames of ambition burning.
The Ghosts and Monsters of the Deep World were tangled in despair and pain. They had long since become unrecognizable, with only madness, brutality, and hatred remaining in their eyes. Few thought about the future like Han Fei did.
Youfu gradually recognized the difference between Han Fei and other Ghosts and Monsters. This man’s eyes always shone with a light that Fierce Ghosts could not possess—hope, the most precious and rare thing in the Deep World.
With a hint of envy in his eyes, Youfu also wanted to be someone like Han Fei, but the memories of death felt like steel needles stuck in his heart, causing pain throughout his body at the mere thought.
"The former Building Chief has already marked all the dangerous places around. We should be fine if we avoid those areas." Han Fei’s plan was clear: use Happiness Residental Community as a base, make Yimin Convenience Store a stronghold, and explore the surroundings from there.
"Once we ensure the surroundings are safe, everyone’s strength should have improved. At that time, you guys will back me up from the back alley of the convenience store. I will figure out a way to blend into the school," Han Fei planned to go out with the Owners of Happiness Residental Community. He hoped the Owners would provide him with cover, which would facilitate him in accomplishing more tasks and quickly advancing his level.
Han Fei’s Level was too low. If he hadn’t put all his Attribute Points into Physical Strength earlier, he wouldn’t have been able to lift the coffin of the Paperman Store Manager.
Now, it was still the early stages of the game. He hadn’t considered adding to his Brain Power yet. Firstly, he needed to enhance his Physical Strength to the normal level of the Deep World so he wouldn’t just run away every time he encountered a killer.
"I will first infiltrate the school to understand the situation inside, try to obtain more work IDs and student IDs, and then I will distribute these proofs to the Owners backing me up in the store. Together, we will then enter the school," Han Fei finally articulated his plan. Even if he kept hiding and leveling up, it would be hard to significantly improve his strength in a short period of time. To take control of the school, he needed to use leverage.
Indeed, Han Fei had considered many options, including waiting until he attained a Hidden Profession before entering Yimin Private Academy. However, the profession of the Midnight Butcher had to be obtained in Beast Alley, which was as dangerous as Yimin Private Academy and furthermore, it was far from Happiness Residental Community. In case of an emergency, his neighbors wouldn’t be able to come to his aid quickly.
All things considered, Yimin Private Academy was the most suitable target at this stage.
"The entire plan is divided into three stages. The first step is to ensure the safety of the convenience store and enhance our own strength. The second step, I’ll enter the school to gather information and secure more entrances into the school. The third step, we collaborate both inside and outside to open the school gates."
There was no rash impulsiveness, nor was there a paralysis from fear. Han Fei decided to start preparing for the conquest of Yimin Private Academy from tonight onwards.
He intended to find clues about Butterfly in the Deep World to help the police capture Butterfly soon, so that he wouldn’t have to live in constant fear in reality.
Han Fei laid out his entire plan; although Wei Youfu felt the risks were substantial, he still expressed his support for Han Fei.
The two men left the Haunted House 1044 and began discussing with other neighbors within the building.
Ying Yue on the eighth floor had to constantly guard her parents, who had turned into goldfish. If she left the goldfish for too long or went too far, the Grudge and pain inside her would drive her mad.
Xu Qin on the fifth floor was not at home, but it seemed this elder sister-like neighbor had guessed that Han Fei would come looking for her. She had specifically left a line of blood on the door—"I smell a unique fragrance and will be back soon."
The sight of the blood on the door was spine-chilling, but Han Fei was already used to it.
They searched throughout Building Number One, and in the end, only one neighbor was willing to go out with Han Fei. That was Cry, who now stood beside Han Fei holding the Spiritual Altar.
It was unclear whether it was the influence of Child King’s ability, or that the slim little boy had tasted the sweetness of sharing the Paperman Store Manager, but Han Fei simply persuaded him with just a few simple words.
Taking Cry and Wei Youfu, Han Fei then ran to Building Number Two.
After inquiring for a long time, only the tall ghost in the hallway was willing to help.
"Your plan is perfect, but it’s hard to implement," Wei Youfu couldn’t leave the residential community with Little Eight, he looked at Cry and the tall ghost standing next to Han Fei and shook his head, "Maybe we should just wait for that woman on the fifth floor to come back?"
"With these two here, that’s enough. The owners of Building Number Two are reluctant to join because they think it’s dangerous, but once they see enough benefits and advantages, more owners will be willing to help me," Han Fei looked at the tall ghost, "Devouring ghosts and monsters will gain you a great deal of dark energy and negative energy, which can help you enhance your strength and also vent your inner pain. It’s a win-win. Eventually, the residents will understand, helping me means benefiting mutually!"
"Last night, I had the fortune to see you carrying a coffin back home, and you truly seem extraordinary. I’ll help you," the voice of the tall ghost was hoarse and deep, giving off a very mature feeling, "Let me reintroduce myself. My real name is Li Zai, resident of room 2021 in Building Number Two. I also have a brother named Li Huo, who is currently in my body. The two of us can exchange reason and strength."
"Do you have any special abilities?"
"We can contaminate and plunder other people’s luck, oh right..." Li Zai suddenly remembered something, "Previously, a wandering soul inadvertently entered Building Number Two, he was quite like us, and we took away his last bit of good fortune. We wanted to become sworn brothers with him. But later, you guys rescued him. Is that wandering soul still around? Did his soul scatter?"
"He’s already been reincarnated," Han Fei ended the melancholic topic, and the three of them walked out of Happiness Residential Community together.
The eerily quiet streets were completely engulfed by darkness, and the three did not dare stay in the open for long, hurrying across the street and entering Yimin Convenience Store.
The Soul Bell rang, Han Fei looked around — the previously messy convenience store had been cleaned up, but the one-eyed clerk was nowhere in sight.
"Where’s Yinglong? He’s my only clerk!"
Entering the storage room, Han Fei grabbed a piece from a pile of White Wax, "Stop playing dead, where’s Yinglong?"
The ordinary White Wax suddenly revealed a bewildered human face, "You must have got the wrong person."
"Both the face and voice have changed. You really have a lot of tricks, don’t you?" Han Fei used the system’s identification feature to directly locate the White Wax, then took out a lighter, "I asked you to keep an eye on all sorts of information in the store. If you can’t even do that, then I might just have to light you up."
"How did you find me among so many White Wax pieces?" the White Wax panicked, "I even changed the placement..."
"Less nonsense, where’s Yinglong?"
"A few hours ago, he went to the hotel next door and hasn’t come back since."
"I’m not lying to you! Suddenly, there was a child’s cry from the hotel, calling out for his mom, and when Yinglong heard that, he immediately rushed over."
"A child’s voice? Seems like Yinghuo and his mom ran into trouble," Han Fei pocketed the White Wax and, taking Cry and Li Zai, entered the alley behind the convenience store.
After greeting a lingering residual soul still wandering the area, he quietly made his way to the mouth of the alley.
Next to the convenience store was a small, dilapidated hotel with no sign.
"The person who threw a flower pot at me also lives here. Old grudges and new, perfect to settle them all at once."