Zhang Chao laughed heartily, "Yes."
Afterward.
On the way to the Weidao Division's base, Zhang Chao was not idle. He explained the haunted hotel incident to Zhang Wei:
"About three days ago, a private hotel had a male guest staying. Since it wasn't peak season, and it was a Monday, not a holiday, he was the only guest on the third floor of the hotel."
"However, after the guest checked in that night, he called the hotel front desk in the middle of the night, saying it felt like there was someone in his room."
"The hotel front desk thought it might be a thief or something, so they sent security to check. But after searching the room thoroughly, they found no one."
"Later, they reviewed the surveillance footage. No one passed by the corridor camera on the third floor before or after. The front desk thought the guest was overly sensitive and timid, so they moved him to the second floor. There were other guests on the second floor, which might have made him feel more at ease."
"However, after the move, the next day, the cleaning lady went to clean the room as usual. When she entered, she found the guest dead inside. The cause of death was being strangled alive."
As he spoke.
Zhang Chao did not forget to take out a stack of documents from his backpack and hand them to Zhang Wei.
These were the death photos of the victim in the haunted hotel incident, along with the victim's information:
"If only one guest had died, the hotel might have assumed a thief broke in to steal something, was seen by the guest, and then chose to kill them to avoid being reported to the police afterward."
Zhang Wei nodded in agreement.
Even if the surveillance didn't capture anyone, it didn't mean no one entered the guest's room. Surveillance cameras have blind spots; perhaps the thief entered through the window.
Zhang Chao continued:
"But it wasn't just one guest who died. Besides that guest, another male guest staying on the fourth floor also died."
"His condition was exactly the same as the previous guest, strangled alive."
"It was this guest's death that led the case to be classified as a supernatural event. Because not only was the death condition bizarre, but there was also a more eerie circumstance. He didn't check into the hotel alone; he was with a colleague."
"The two of them were under the same roof, yet one was strangled to death, and the other was completely unaware. It's too strange. Even if it were a man, being strangled alive would surely involve struggling, and the commotion would have been noticed by his colleague."
Zhang Wei couldn't help but shift his gaze from the photos in the file:
"It is indeed a bit strange, but not enough to be judged as a supernatural event, right? We can't rule out the possibility that the colleague who didn't die was the perpetrator."
"There should be other basis for judgment."
In response to Zhang Wei's question.
Zhang Chao nodded:
"Yes, the reason it was classified as a supernatural event, besides the guest being strangled to death while his roommate was unaware, is another crucial factor. Zhang Wei, take a look at their room numbers."
Zhang Wei looked at the room numbers of the deceased in the file.
At first, he didn't find anything strange.
But as he examined the hotel layout, Zhang Wei's eyes flickered, and he suddenly understood the situation:
"Their rooms are at the end of the corridor."
Since ancient times, there have been many taboos passed down among the people. Even today, some relatively old villages still adhere to certain folk taboos. Even some older generations now believe that these taboo behaviors can attract evil spirits.
These taboos are numerous, such as not sticking chopsticks upright in rice when eating, or not looking back when someone calls you in the middle of the night.
And among them.
There is a taboo that states... when staying in a hotel or guesthouse, one should not stay in the last room at the end of the corridor.
The rooms of these two deceased guests were indeed the end rooms on the second and fourth floors. Furthermore, according to the front desk records in the file, the first guest stayed on the third floor, which was also an end room.
It's important to note that on that day, it wasn't just their two rooms that were occupied. The second floor had quite a few guests. Yet, only the guests in the end rooms on two floors died. And the guest on the third floor, staying in an end room, even saw a 'person.'
"Now you know why it was defined as a supernatural event."
Zhang Chao smiled.
Zhang Wei nodded:
"Whether it's Feng Shui or folk beliefs, there's a saying that it's not advisable to stay in the end rooms of a hotel, as they are at the end of the corridor, receive the least sunlight, and have heavy Yin energy."
Saying that.
Zhang Wei turned his head and smiled, "So, the hotel we're staying at tonight, we're going to stay in the end rooms."
Zhang Chao grinned and nodded, "Yes, that hotel has four floors. So, including my cousin and my other colleague, we'll each take an end room on a floor. Considering we share the same surname and you're our guest, Zhang Wei, I'll give you a special choice. You pick which floor's end room you want to stay in."
Upon hearing this.
Zhang Wei replied without thinking, "I'll stay on the fourth floor. Since ancient times, the number 'four' has been considered unlucky. Coupled with it being an end room, the combination of two dangers might cancel each other out."
...
Not long after.
At the 'Seven Days Hotel,' the Weidao Division's base where Zhang Chao was located.
"Old sis, sis, Jie Jie, we're back! Come out quickly to welcome our arrival!"
As soon as he entered the hotel, Zhang Chao shouted loudly.
The next second.
Zhang Chao's eyes blurred as a figure rushed towards him and executed a shoulder throw.
Following closely behind.
The figure then cursed in Sichuan dialect, "What the hell are you shouting about, you little brat!"
To this action, Zhang Wei smiled and said to the figure:
"Sister Mei, long time no see."
Zhang Wei recognized the person's identity: it was Zhang Chao's Weidao Division's former captain, and Zhang Chao's cousin, Zhang Mei.
"Zhang Wei, long time no see. Hmm, you look good. Last time I saw you in the Northeast, your complexion wasn't as good. It seems you've also gotten much stronger, just like Wu Nian."
Zhang Mei said this with a radiant smile, her foot placed on Zhang Chao's face.
As soon as she finished speaking.
Zhang Chao, with her foot on his face and her arm around his neck, spoke first, "He's just basking in love, and let go of me!"
Regarding their playful banter.
Zhang Wei silently shifted his gaze from Zhang Chao's face upwards, looking at Zhang Mei's attire. She was wearing a miniskirt, a white tank top, and a short-sleeved jacket.
Following that.
Led by Zhang Mei, Zhang Wei toured their Weidao Division's base and met another companion who would be going to the hotel with them that night. She was also a woman, a Weidao Division member partnered with Zhang Mei.
"How is it, our base is nice, right?"
Zhang Chao said with a smile, sitting with his legs crossed in the base's lounge.
Just as Zhang Wei was about to reply.
At this moment.
Zhang Mei handed him a notebook and a form:
"Here you go, Zhang Wei. Fill out this temporary form. I know your information, so I've already filled it out for you. You just need to sign it."
"As for this notebook, I don't know if you're aware, but during ghost-catching missions, we in the Weidao Division need to write reports. This is for you to write daily diary reports, which helps the Weidao Division record supernatural archives."
"I know."
Zhang Wei took the notebook and nodded. He recalled that after the incident with Old Master Qiu, Captain Lin Tong had gone to write a report about it.
After Zhang Wei signed the form.
Zhang Mei smiled and extended her hand to Zhang Wei, "Then, welcome, Zhang Wei, to being a temporary employee of the Weidao Division for three days."
Zhang Chao also joined in the fun, extending his hand to Zhang Wei and saying, "Congratulations, Zhang Wei, on becoming the strongest temporary employee at our Weidao Division base. It's a shame we don't have Sister Bao, but we have Sister Mei."
Then, amidst the playful scuffles between Zhang Mei and Zhang Chao, they headed to the haunted hotel.
...