Chapter 140 Hooked

　　A series of footsteps approached, the person walking slowly, seemingly very confident, but the unsteady steps betrayed him.

　　"Knock, knock, knock!"

　　The knock on the door sounded, and Qin Jian's voice came from outside, sounding like he had plenty of breath.

　　But perhaps because of preconceived notions, the fatty felt that this old guy sounded a little breathless with fear.

　　Without Jiang Cheng speaking, Xia Meng got out of bed.

　　She walked to the door, but didn't intend to open it. She simply replied in a lukewarm voice, "What's the matter, Mr. Qin?"

　　"It's nothing much." Qin Jian licked his lips and said in his usual calm tone, "We've just discussed some clues and would like to discuss them with Miss Chen and you to see what's next..."

　　The fatty sneered in his heart. Qin Jian, this old fox, was no less devious than the doctor. He was clearly afraid of death and wanted to see the painting, but he spoke as if he were a savior.

　　"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Qin." Xia Meng interrupted him impolitely, her attitude completely different from before. "I'm tired and need to rest. Let's talk about it when we have time."

　　No matter what Qin Jian said next, Xia Meng didn't respond.

　　After a period of stalemate, Qin Jian left with a gloomy face, flicking his sleeves.

　　After all, without any evidence, he didn't dare to break in.

　　On the way back, Qin Jian frowned. He was already sure that the people in that room were plotting something, otherwise why wouldn't Chen Xiaomeng let him in?

　　Just now, she had even taken the initiative to invite him.

　　What was she worried about?

　　Moreover... Qin Jian's relaxed fingers suddenly clenched. Chen Xiaomeng just said... I'm tired.

　　Why not we are tired?

　　Also, that fatty, and Hao Shuai, why didn't they speak?

　　Could it be...

　　They weren't there?

　　A strange emotion flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly had an ominous premonition.

　　He immediately quickened his pace. He couldn't wait any longer. He had to find a way to verify the truth of what they said, at least... he had to see that painting!

　　......

　　"Mr. Qin." Sitting there, An Xuan looked carefree. In front of him was a pot of flowers he couldn't name. The flowering period was about to pass, and they were withering as if dying.

　　Stroking the leaves, he smiled and raised his eyes to ask, "You don't really believe what they said, do you?"

　　Qin Jian narrowed his eyes, his face as usual. "Mr. An is overthinking it."

　　When You Qi heard the two talking, he also sat up from the bed.

　　The painting hanging in their room had disappeared, otherwise, he would never dare to be so leisurely with it facing his bed.

　　"It seems that the painting is the problem." You Qi's voice sounded different from before, with a sense of formality. "After that painting appeared here, Tang..." He paused, glanced at An Xuan, and after not noticing anything unusual, he continued, "That girl had an accident. Now that the painting has been transferred to their room, it seems that they will be the next ones to have an accident."

　　"It's just not clear who exactly," You Qi said with some regret.

　　In missions, using human lives to test and learn is the most helpless, but also the most effective way.

　　As long as the ghost takes action, it will inevitably leave clues.

　　The ghost's killing methods, appearance, clothing, and even its movements and habits... These can help the survivors improve the storyline and find a way out.

　　Taking Tang Shirou's death as an example, they have already deduced that Young Master Huang was once married, and that woman is dead, her body most likely sunk in the lake.

　　But Qin Jian's thoughts were not here at the moment. While pretending to be calm and dealing with An Xuan and You Qi, he silently recited those few sentences in his heart.

　　*San geng* drum sounds, boat travels on the lake, funerary clothes walk at night, wealth lies in the silver frost.

　　What does it all mean?

　　......

　　"Doctor." The fatty suppressed his excitement and said in a low voice, "You're really good, that old fox Qin Jian... is hooked!"

　　Jiang Cheng raised his eyebrows.

　　"Heh." Xia Meng, who had just cooperated with Jiang Cheng, was obviously unhappy. She stared at the two of them and sneered, "I advise you not to be too happy too soon. What the final outcome will be is still unknown."

　　Just as the fatty was about to say a few words, the middle-aged woman came, still with the same dead face, mechanically conveying some rules about the night lake tour to them.

　　Then, as usual, she informed them that the afternoon was free time, and they could walk around the mansion at will, but she didn't recommend them going to some special places.

　　The reason was that she was worried they would be frightened.

　　As for what kind of fright, the middle-aged woman didn't say, and Jiang Cheng and the others tacitly didn't ask.

　　After the woman left, Jiang Cheng slowly stood up, first closed the door, then did a few very silly stretching exercises, and then ran to the bookshelf in the room like a wisp of smoke.

　　The bookshelf was as tall as a person, made of very solid materials. Knocking on it with your hand would produce a dull sound.

　　Jiang Cheng stretched out his hands and then clasped the two ends of the bookshelf, looking like he was going to move the bookshelf away.

　　"Doctor." The fatty ran over, "Let me do it, let me do it."

　　Jiang Cheng didn't let the fatty take over, but stretched his neck and pouted at Xia Meng, who was watching coldly from the side, "Mengmeng," he said very emotionally, "Come help me!"

　　Xia Meng glanced at him, then looked at the painting hanging on the wall, turned her face away, and ignored him at all.

　　Jiang Cheng wasn't discouraged either, and "huffed and puffed" to move this particularly heavy bookshelf in front of the painting, completely blocking it.

　　Then he simply arranged things to make everything in the room look very harmonious.

　　"Doctor." The fatty stared at the bookshelf that had completely blended into the environment and asked, "What are you doing..."

　　"Is this painting scary?" Jiang Cheng asked, panting.

　　The fatty subconsciously replied, "Scary."

　　"Then... what if the painting suddenly disappears?" Jiang Cheng asked, narrowing his eyes.

　　Xia Meng couldn't stand it anymore, pushed open the door, and left first.

　　......

　　A moment later, a sneaky figure walked quickly from the gravel path next to them, looking around as he walked, seemingly afraid of being seen.

　　Then with a flash, he slipped into Jiang Cheng's three-person厢房 (xiāngfáng - wing-room).

　　After entering the room, Qin Jian immediately closed the door.

　　In the nearby bushes, a pair of blinking eyes were hidden. "Doctor." The fatty retracted his gaze and said in a low voice, "Qin Jian is here."

　　"Just like you said." The fatty continued, "The old guy won't be at ease until he sees it with his own eyes."

　　Half an hour ago, everyone gathered together and discussed taking advantage of the afternoon to go to the nearby area to see if they could find any clues.

　　Qin Jian had been quietly following behind Jiang Cheng and the others, and after they had walked far away, he secretly ran back, preparing to go into their room to see the painting.

　　Especially... the few sentences on the painting.