As the group arrived near the haunted building, it was already dusk. Although there was still some light, the air felt chilling and eerie.
"Boss, are we going in now?"
A team member asked nervously. Although they had been spirited on the way, they couldn't help but feel a bit scared upon arrival. Facing something unseen and untouchable was the most frightening.
"If you want to go in, you go first. I'm going to eat first. No matter what, I can't be a hungry ghost."
Qin Hui joked to lighten the mood.
"Always thinking about food."
Zhao Yu thought to himself, wishing Qin Hui would turn into a pig. Despite his thoughts, Zhao Yu obediently followed the others into the restaurant.
Due to the proximity of the haunted building, the restaurant was eerily quiet. If the owner couldn't sell it, he would have likely abandoned it long ago.
"Several of you, a rare sight. What would you like to eat?"
A portly middle-aged man approached them, his tone obsequious. Guests were rare, and most who came now were likely heading to the haunted building.
"Captain, this meal is paid for by the public, right?"
Qin Hui asked curiously. Leng Mu, unsure why Qin Hui was asking, nodded.
"Heh, if it's public money, then it's no problem. Boss, give me all your signature dishes."
Qin Hui said cheerfully. Was public money even considered money? The others were speechless, but they sat at a round table in the main hall. Since there were no other customers, the main hall essentially served as a private room. Despite the eerie surroundings, the thought of food stabilized everyone's mood a little. The owner was a decisive man and quickly instructed the cook to begin working. Though it was a small restaurant, the serving of dishes was quite particular. Cold dishes were served first, so the customers wouldn't get too hungry while waiting. Once the cold dishes were nearly finished, the hot dishes were served one by one. Qin Hui watched, thinking how nice it would be to open his own restaurant and eat for free every day. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group slowly headed towards the haunted building.
"Boss, this is it."
A team member said, unable to suppress his fear. They stood at the entrance of the haunted building, with gusts of cold wind occasionally blowing. Even if it wasn't cold, it felt strange.
"Alright, everyone, keep your spirits up. Form pairs. If you encounter anything, call out immediately."
Leng Mu commanded directly. The haunted building was large, and to thoroughly investigate it, the team members had to be divided for exploration. Although this increased the risk, it also greatly increased the chances of finding the truth. It was known that the members of the Dragon Patrol always had a certain casualty rate on missions; it was unavoidable. If even martial artists faltered, who else could stand at the forefront? Before the captain could finish giving instructions, three pairs of people quickly lined up. Zhao Yu had wanted to team up with Huang Qing, but before he could speak, Huang Qing had already taken a position behind Qin Hui. Clearly, Zhao Yu's resentment towards Qin Hui grew even stronger. With the three pairs formed, they began sweeping through the various floors. The haunted building had three floors, so each pair would sweep one floor. Qin Hui, along with Huang Qing, headed towards the third floor. They chose the stairs instead of the elevator.
"Qin Hui, I won't be a burden, don't worry."
Huang Qing said confidently, a Desert Eagle pistol tucked into her waist. Since witnessing the power of martial artists, Huang Qing's arrogance had diminished considerably. She had no choice; she couldn't defeat them. Qin Hui smiled without replying to Huang Qing's statement. Perhaps Huang Qing's presence could indeed uncover the secrets within the haunted building. A few minutes later, they reached the third floor. Once everyone had reached their designated floors, they reported their situations via walkie-talkie, allowing for the quickest possible support. Although Huang Qing was brave and had prepared herself mentally before coming to the haunted building, she still obediently stayed close behind Qin Hui, alert to their surroundings. They walked for nearly twenty minutes, covering the entire floor, but still found nothing.
"Strange, besides the constant cold wind, we haven't found anything."
Huang Qing was puzzled.
"It's probably still too early."
Qin Hui checked the time; it was only nine in the evening, not yet the peak time for ghosts.
"Alright."
Huang Qing, with no leads, sat down in a suitable spot with some resignation. However, just as Huang Qing sat down, something below them began to make a creaking sound. Both of them tensed up and looked down simultaneously.
"Ah!"
Huang Qing let out a scream and lunged, falling into Qin Hui's arms.
"What's happening?"
The others in the walkie-talkie panicked and asked urgently. Qin Hui frowned and replied, "It's nothing, just some skulls."
"Be careful, this haunted building is not simple."
Captain Leng Mu advised, and then everything returned to normal.
"Just some skulls, don't be afraid."
Qin Hui patted Huang Qing's back, finding it somewhat amusing. In a normal crime scene, Huang Qing wouldn't have reacted so strongly, but this was a haunted building, where everything abnormal was terrifying. Once her emotions stabilized, Huang Qing managed to calm down and reluctantly pulled away from Qin Hui's embrace.
"Here, why are there so many skulls here?"
Huang Qing asked in surprise, shining her flashlight.
"Perhaps the people who entered the haunted building before died here."
Qin Hui said nonchalantly.
"Huh? Wait, why aren't you scared as soon as you entered?"
Huang Qing asked curiously. Logically, everyone entering the haunted building would be very vigilant, but Qin Hui had remained completely calm. Qin Hui scratched his head sheepishly, not wanting to admit he had scouted the surroundings and found nothing. However, before Qin Hui could offer an explanation, a sharp scream came from the walkie-talkie. The sound was filled with fear, dread, and shock. In moments, the walkie-talkie crackled and went silent, the signal lost! Without needing to say anything, everyone knew what had happened. When Qin Hui tried to use the walkie-talkie again, he found it useless; the signal seemed to be jammed.
"What do we do?"
Huang Qing began to panic, her right hand instinctively resting on her Desert Eagle. Qin Hui furrowed his brow slightly; the situation was completely baffling. After a moment of thought, Qin Hui looked at Huang Qing with a gentle gaze. Caught in Qin Hui's affectionate stare, Huang Qing's face flushed slightly, and her heart fluttered.
"Qin Hui, you, you've thought of a way?"
Huang Qing couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, but I'll need your cooperation."
Qin Hui revealed a hint of a smug smile.