Bai Wu wasn’t exactly lying; he truly despised cheaters, whether it was Yan Zhao or Cain, both were targets he planned to take down.
The television did not respond.
Seven hundred years ago, a husband sealed his wife inside a television. The combination of the owner’s grudge and the object used for Spirit Possession transford into a terrifying urban legend of the apartnt.
Unlike other urban legends, the rule of "believe it to see it" heavily constrained it. It was unable to move and could only be active within various television sets.
Nevertheless, many bizarre phenona still led many to believe in the existence of this urban legend.
As long as it continued to create paranormal phenona within the television sets, its influence would grow stronger and stronger.
Quite a few "scumbags and sluts" in this apartnt complex had been scared by the television. In reality, everything was an illusion. Those who died at the hands of the TV ghost, although appearing to have different causes of death, were all literally scared to death.
Before their death, most had committed acts of betrayal against their other halves, much like the husband from seven hundred years ago in the urban legend.
The husband had stuffed his wife into the television and cavalierly continued living his previous life.
But one morning, waking up early, he saw his deceased wife in the television preparing breakfast for him. Everything inside the TV looked incredibly real.
He didn’t even have ti to question how the obviously cracked television suddenly appeared intact...
In the television screen, the new "lady of the house" was hugging the male protagonist from behind. The new lady only showed her back in the TV screen, the sa woman whom the man had cheated with.
He could never see the woman’s face, only the silhouette of her embracing him from behind.
Until finally, the woman in the television turned around, giving the husband a fright.
She had no face. Maggots wriggled and nibbled at her flesh.
anwhile, the other wife just happened to bring over a dish filled with eyes, ears, a mouth, and a nose at that mont.
She gazed at him composedly with tender eyes, as if everything was as peaceful as before. Yet, the whole program was pervaded by an eerie ghostliness.
Of course, this scene was all an illusion. The man was so terrorized that he thought to smash the television and retrieve the corpse. But when he actually attempted to do so...
He discovered that there was no corpse inside the TV.
And he couldn’t leave the television, as though his body were trapped in so kind of black mire, struggling in vain.
Afterward, many others experienced the sa fate. Anyone who committed an act of betrayal against their half would receive strange programs, then die at their most fearful mont.
But none of this had any effect on Bai Wu.
Bai Wu said,
"All of you urban legends are actually centered around fear. Whether it’s the trafficked woman, elevator demon, or Living Puppet, under the derivative rule of ’believe it to see it,’ your greatest weapon is fear. But I have no fear. I am inviting you to join . This place is no longer inhabited."
Since this TV legend was aware of his deeds, Bai Wu had to approach it pragmatically:
"I want the other urban legends to rely on . But I’m not fixated on a perfect ending. If you really don’t cooperate, I can give up on you, and you know what giving up on you ans. You’ve lived for seven hundred years; I hope you can continue living in another manner, not led astray by laughter, losing your self."
"Lastly, I do as I say. I will punish those with heinous behaviors."
This ti, Bai Wu didn’t even take out that axe. As the laughter intensified, the urban legend, wanting to maintain its self, had only one path to choose.
"Do we have a deal?"
With no response, Bai Wu wasn’t in a hurry, patiently waiting for the urban legend to ponder.
Of course, if more than five minutes passed by, he would not hesitate to smash down with the axe.
Eventually, before Bai Wu could act, the television screen shattered.
The stench of rot had long dissipated over seven hundred years, but a powerful resentnt spilled out from the broken screen of the television set.
In that mont, every television screen in the entire apartnt complex shattered, and all the resentnt within the fourteen-story building converged.
Bai Wu picked up one of the fragnts and collected it as so sort of evidence.
Then a note appeared in his vision.
"Your smooth talking works even on married won. It has attached itself to you ahead of ti. But I must condemn you, you fickle-hearted rogue. The nights are so dark, like the hearts of dog n. You actually hope this little thing can replace ? Foolish man!"
Indeed, you have obtained a decent power of rule, which you can consider as so sort of guardian spirit. It’s worth ntioning that they, like living creatures, abhor and fear certain things, and their abilities are linked to your subjective emotions and spiritual power. You will understand this in due ti.
As for the power of rule you’ve acquired, it’s called Gaze of Spite and Desire. It allows you to create illusions within a certain range through your gaze, illusions that cannot be instantly penetrated but can be dispelled.
However, you can’t use it in the High Tower, it’s attached to you, it won’t be destroyed by the tower, but you also cannot use this power within the tower.]
"It really is a force outside of keywords and sequences..."
Incapable of being instantly penetrated? This ans that this ability can at least temporarily affect the opponent.
If it were a vast battlefield, this power might play a pivotal role in turning the tide, but it might not be effective against powerful individuals.
Nevertheless, having many skills does not burden one, and Bai Wu was quite satisfied with this and looking forward to the powers of the rules from the elevator killer monster story, the living puppet tale, and the tale of the trafficker fiendess.
He looked up at the ceiling, surrounded by increasingly clear laughter.
"Looking up at the starry sky... what does that an? So far, I have only seen a little bit of news from the Peeping Tom... There’s a pair of siblings on the second floor, the sister seems to sleepwalk, and she makes so... very strange movents."
"Wait a minute... There shouldn’t be many families with sisters... I’ve already investigated one..."
Bai Wu suddenly thought of sothing, but at that mont, the laughter around him beca clearer, and he was worried about an accident occurring.
So he contacted Yan Jiu using the conch shell.
Unlike Yan Jiu, who often ssaged Bai Wu with nearly no replies, Yan Jiu always responded imdiately when Bai Wu sent ssages.
Of course, this was mainly because Bai Wu spent most of his ti outside the tower... deep in thought.
"Can you hear laughter in the school? Has anything changed around you?"
The influence of laughter could even cause the will of entities like the Semi-Evil Fallen, which are half monster stories, half rules, to be eroded. Bai Wu suddenly realized that he should have gone with Lin Rui to deal with the source of the laughter.
But neither he nor Lin Rui had anticipated that by that afternoon, the situation would have escalated to a point where they had no choice but to resolve it.
"Ah... Bai Wu, are you okay now? Lin Rui said you’re in a terrible apartnt."
"Yes, all is well, what about the school?"
"There’s a problem in the school now... Many students are affected by the laughter... Lin Rui is leading trying to find a solution to this."
"Lin Rui is leading you to solve the problem?"
Bai Wu instantly conjured an absurd idea of "the ga is too easy, bring along to up the difficulty."
At this very mont, Lin Rui too was startled; could this girl actually engage in a direct conversation with a senior?
Yan Jiu, afraid that Bai Wu would think wildly, didn’t keep him in suspense, and directly said:
"The laughter affected a lot of people... but I did not laugh... I can’t manage to laugh, so it seems like it doesn’t work on ."
Bai Wu was taken aback, could it be so? He imdiately said:
"But purely based on this, Lin Rui wouldn’t take the risk. It seems you must have attracted the attention of the master of laughter?"
"Yes... It seems very eager for to laugh, Lin Rui is trying to use to draw it out."
"Where are you now?"
"The zoo..."
Bai Wu was a bit worried whether Yan Jiu could handle it; he pointedly said:
"What about Lin Rui? Can he hold on?"
"It’s off and on."
Bai Wu was shocked; this ant Lin Rui’s rationality had already been eroded by the laughter.
"But don’t worry, really, they haven’t hurt ... Even though it’s strange, I feel like I’m quite safe."
If you were to select the strongest individual from the many masters in Baichuan school’s refuge, that would undoubtedly be Lin Rui.
But Bai Wu truly hadn’t anticipated such a developnt; Lin Rui too couldn’t resist the laughter, and Yan Jiu seemingly beca the key to stopping its source.
What had happened was irreversible, and he could not say that Lin Rui’s plan was wrong. After all, the power of laughter had exceeded everyone’s expectations; the situation had beco too dire. The entire Baichuan City might be destroyed by the laughter in an instant.
"Be careful. Since the Evil Fallen around you won’t harm you, it indicates they have other expectations for you. You need to figure out what these are."
"Oh, okay."
"Your greatest enemy is no longer the Evil Fallen but the environnt itself. What you need to do is to treat everything as a kind of ga. Keep your emotions calm and composed, and do not let any negative feelings consu you."
"Understood."
"Rember, the Evil Fallen from seven hundred years ago were human too. They are not frightening. On the contrary, they have beco Evil Fallen because of fears or unresolved matters. This ans their inner selves are more fragile than that of humans."
"Good, anything else?"
Bai Wu sounded like an Evil Fallen emotion master, giving insights to a novice Evil Fallen exorcist.
Yan Jiu listened very attentively.
These insights from Bai Wu were things that even Wu Jiu had never ntioned. If possible, he did not want Yan Jiu to take risks for him.
But since it had already happened, and he did not possess Lin Rui’s ability to provide imdiate support, he could only try to relay all the information to Yan Jiu.
"You cannot feel joy, but this also ans that you have a certain advantage in maintaining your composure. Do not let negative emotions consu you, and always believe that the Evil Fallen have human weaknesses.
Learn to disguise your emotions. Rember, any deception you commit to save your life is not disgraceful. You should learn to talk to people in their own language, and to ghosts in theirs. The true essence lies in catering to their preferences."
"It wants you to laugh. You need to understand why, how strong its desire is for you to laugh, and what motivates it. Try to extract these things after encountering the source of the laughter. Then you need to decide whether to satisfy them or not."
"If you think fulfilling their desires will lead them to disregard you, then you should keep them in suspense. People are always less interested in things too easily obtained, so personally, I think you should keep them in suspense. Even if during your investigation you find that they genuinely want to amuse you, you must learn to restrain yourself."
It feels... remarkably similar to the part of theory Chengzi uses to deal with n...
Yan Jiu was struck by a sense of déjà vu, but that was all it was.
At that mont, she patted her own little head—how could she be distracted! She needed to pay attention!
Bai Wu continued to analyze a bunch of situations. Although he wasn’t involved, just through the oral reports provided by Yan Jiu, he could guess certain things:
"The essence of a circus is to bring joy. Baichuan City once suffered a seven-day catastrophe that twisted many people’s desires into terrifying powers. Perhaps they wanted to make everyone happy, and in the process of being unable to amuse others, they gradually denied their own existence.
Of course, I’m just giving you a direction; this might not be the right one. In any case, you need to find a way to empathize with them, so you can be on the sa side. Then your mission is halfway to success. But rember not to blindly please them; just show certain possibilities."
Once again, Yan Jiu felt like she was back in Chengzi’s class.
The difference, though, was that Chengzi always taught with a smile, as if she knew her advice for dealing with n wasn’t right but still hoped Yan Jiu would learn how to make herself more likable.
But Bai Wu was different; he was very serious. Bad? Nonexistent, as long as I don’t think I’m bad, it’s not bad, it’s straightforward.
Finally, after Bai Wu’s warnings, just as he was about to put the conch shell back in the storage bag, Yan Jiu said:
"Bai Wu... Have you encountered any problems over there? Do you need my help?"
Yan Jiu was still very astute. Bai Wu rembered the puzzle Yan Jiu had left behind, so this ti, he didn’t act tough and instead shared so situations he had observed with Yan Jiu.
After listening, Yan Jiu imdiately pointed out sothing Bai Wu had overlooked.
"There’s a pair of siblings on the second floor, and the sister went missing... Then there’s an eerie tale that always prompts people to look up at the stars... It’s strange..."
"What’s strange about it?"
"I’m not sure if I’m right, but it just feels odd... The brother can’t find his sister, but maybe the sister has been trying to contact her brother all along..."
"Why do you think so?"
Deviating in thought, Bai Wu suddenly beca curious about Yan Jiu’s logic.
Yan Jiu said:
"You ntioned... there were siblings on the second floor, and the brother is nad Zhao Cuican... Bai Wu, don’t you think his na matches perfectly with the stars?"
It was as if a light suddenly streaked through his mind.
Bai Wu was stunned... Cuican, the stars.
He fell silent for a second before cracking a smile that seed almost derisive. It was actually a very horrifying matter.
Her sister was nad Zhao Xingkong. She asked people to look up at the stars, not referring to the actual night sky but to herself.
On the show, the brother expressed his hope that he and his sister could live in peace. Now, his sister was missing, and he was deeply worried about her...
But what about the sister? Even after transforming into an Evil Fallen, she was still concerned about her brother...
All she could do was send various ssages to her brother, but the apartnt too was subject to the unattainable’s effect. It prevented the sister from ever establishing contact with her brother.
Zhao Cuican desperately searched for his sister.
And the sister, over and over again, reminded others through their text ssages to look up at the stars.
The tenant of 1-9 received many ssages, but 2-9’s Zhao Cuican remained unaware.
It seems not only the tenant of 1-9, the Peeping Tom, the husband from the television horror stories, and even the family of three killed by human traffickers received that text ssage. Yet, Zhao Cuican never did.
But not a single person told Zhao Cuican. Because it was said that people here are deaf to the tragedies that befall others.
But why look up at the stars?
A fact that tugged at Bai Wu’s heartstrings erged...
At that mont, Yan Jiu also thought of sothing.
"In the Peeping Tom’s account... the sister seed to sleepwalk and make terrifying movents in her dreams that were not human, like a spider... Could it be that she has beco an Evil Fallen..."
"Yes."
"Then she..."
Bai Wu surmised:
"The people in this apartnt, most of them harbor evil thoughts and a lot of negative emotions. She might have hurt many, and fearing one day her brother would be hard too, she ended her own life on the ceiling at ho... Sadly, the inability to die is also a form of unattainability; she eventually beca sothing between a rule and an Evil Fallen."
"She, unable to die, longed to see her brother, but she was locked away in the ceiling, just like that woman on television. She could only prove her existence through other ans."
"Most people in this building are indifferent and concerned only with themselves, which is not entirely blaworthy. However, in this post-apocalyptic world where survival is key... unity is essential, especially since they have chosen such a closely-knit living environnt. They should be helping each other even more."
The fifth horror tale had beco clear, and Bai Wu knew how to search.
He realized sothing: this was a profound lesson in what not to do for human survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
Indeed, in a true post-apocalyptic era, one must be wary of others, wary of other communities, and maintain a cold, world-weary view of humanity.
But if you live in an apartnt, seeing each other day in and day out, excessive indifference and selfishness will only lead to dire consequences.
The Living Puppet hard those who ca to steal; the ghost in the television targeted those who were treacherous, and the elevator murderer aid at those who harbored homicidal intent toward others.
It’s likely that Zhao Cuican’s sister reached out to those who were indifferent or even gloated over the misfortunes of others.
They ignored the ssages; perhaps so had a clue, but no one ever inford Zhao Cuican of the contents. In the end, as they looked up, they were killed by the horror stories.
Within these horror tales, the purely evil turned out to be the human trafficker woman, loathed by a family of three, who committed suicide, becoming an Evil Fallen.
It was sowhat ironic.
"Then... be careful," Yan Jiu whispered. "Lin Rui is urging to hurry..."
"Alright, you be careful, too. I’ll keep an eye on the conch shell. If you’re unsure about anything, contact through it, and I will remotely guide you on how to communicate with an Evil Fallen."
"Okay!"
Liu Chengzi always taught Yan Jiu how to deal with n, but Yan Jiu didn’t want to deal with them; she felt having Bai Wu was already more than enough.
But dealing with Evil Fallen was different. Though she couldn’t feel joy, she very much hoped to be of help to Bai Wu, to have played a part in the building of the refuge.
Bai Wu began searching the apartnt again, targeting the second floor.
This horror tale, however... was actually quite easy to resolve. Because unlike the rest, people in the refuge did not stay out of each other’s business.
This new environnt seed like it would suit the once-despairing sister. Bai Wu looked forward to what this mobile horror tale would bring him.
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