"Of course, your efforts will be rewarded. If there’s a task tonight, we’ll handle it. You can rest easy."
Yang Xiao’s side had as many as four experienced players, including soone formidable like Musa Adila, which Juan did not wish to offend, thus making a promise instantly.
Seeing the seven people on the opposite side had already made up their minds, Yang Xiao and the others could only accept this result, since if they were on the other side, they’d make the sa choice.
"It’s hard to be a good person. Next ti, whoever wants to scout can go ahead. I’m done caring." Adila spat on the ground, turned, and walked towards the nearest ditation room.
Seeing Adila choose the nearby southern ditation room, Juan and the others could only head towards the more distant northern ditation room.
Now, as night fell, shadows flickered in the pond and trees, and the dim moonlight failed to illuminate clearly.
To be cautious, they didn’t take the shortcut over the stone bridge on the pond, but rather went far away, making a big circle around the pond and woods.
Walking on the bluestone path, Yang Xiao and his group quickly arrived in front of the southern ditation room.
The ditation room was sowhat shabby, with a high foundation and three steps in front. Grass grew between the cracks of the steps, clearly neglected for so ti.
The door was the old-style double lattice design, with wrinkled door paper posted on it. A dim yellow light shone out through the crack of the door.
Moonlight penetrated through the two ancient trees in front of the door, casting specks of mottled light amidst the branches, surrounding silence.
Imam Musa signaled for everyone to halt, then walked forward alone, stepped onto the steps, stood before the lattice door, raised his hand, and softly knocked three tis.
Musa said nothing else. After knocking, he gently pushed open the door about a third of the way but didn’t go in. Instead, he stepped back, naturally tilting his body to the right, leaving the path clear in front of the door.
This scene seed like he was possessed in Shari’s eyes, "What... What’s wrong with him?"
"Shut up." Adila wasn’t in the mood to explain to the newcor—especially since her identity was still unclear.
Shari didn’t understand, but Yang Xiao knew. Musa’s move was called "knocking away the evil," knocking three tis was to inform any potential unknown presence inside that they were about to enter.
Opening the door and stepping aside was letting out a path for any entities that needed to leave.
Generally, the end rooms of hotels or long unoccupied rooms easily attract evil spirits; it’s safest to knock three tis before entering to be prepared.
After waiting about a minute by the door, Musa entered the room first, followed closely by Yang Xiao and the others.
The ditation room was extrely simple; two tables, three chairs, three beds, a large wardrobe, along with so basic living items—that was all.
The ditation room appeared to have been uninhabited for a while, as Yang Xiao detected a faint musty sll.
With Shari and Aisha’s identities unclear, Yang Xiao and the others didn’t dare take risks and tied them up tightly with hemp rope found in the wardrobe.
While tightly securing the rope, Adila complained, "What are we wasting effort for? I say, just throw the two of them out."
Upon hearing this, Shari and Aisha struggled desperately, clearly aware that being left outside overnight was extrely dangerous.
With their mouths blocked, the two could only "mmm mmm mmm" in a low growl, appearing quite pitiable.
Aisha constantly signaled with her eyes, indicating she had sothing to say. Yang Xiao walked up, tearing off the cloth blocking her mouth.
After several breaths, Aisha quickly spoke, "This isn’t fair. While it’s possible that we two have been replaced by ghosts, who can prove the three of you are alright?"
"Adila, I heard from Hutu that you were the first among us to find and rejoin the main group, but I rember you were the last to leave the lakeside. You watched the Ghost Ship for a long ti."
"Being the last to leave but the first to return, isn’t that suspicious?"
"And you, Imam, during our first eting, your physical condition was that of an ordinary old man, panting heavily after walking a stretch of mountain road. Yet sohow you were the second person to reunite at the starting point. How is that possible? How could you be faster than and Chu Xi?"
"At that ti, there was fog in the mountains, and you only had one eye."
"And you, Chu Xi."
Aisha didn’t spare Yang Xiao either, directing her suspicion towards him.
"?" Yang Xiao was sowhat puzzled about what Aisha could accuse him of.
"Yes, you seem suspicious too. Your reflexes were too quick. When the Ghost Ship erged from the fog, while I hesitated for a mont, you disappeared without a trace."
"Quick reflexes indicate my life wasn’t destined to end," Yang Xiao sneered.
"But you were only the third person to return for the eting, so where did that ti difference go?" Aisha persistently dragged everyone into suspicion.
"I know these are just guesses, but what I’m saying is, fundantally, I’m no different from all of you. You shouldn’t treat this way! I object!"
"Objection overruled!" Adila picked up the cloth, crumpled it, and shoved it back into Aisha’s mouth.
"Stop arguing, now we’re taking turns to rest. Tonight... is destined to be a sleepless night," the old Imam Musa sighed.
With all five being suspected, aning any of the four around could be a disguised ghost, Yang Xiao was definitely not going to sleep tonight.
Rest could only be taken now, as later the monks would call them to join in late-night prayers.
Uncertain how much ti passed, Yang Xiao leaned sideways against the bedside, half-asleep, when the door suddenly knocked. The visitor was a brawny monk, half a shoulder exposed, holding a Black Iron Ring Knife.
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