Chapter 48

Chapter 48

I'll go bring them back!

Staring blankly at Xiao Jiejie and the others, Cen Sheng experienced a momentary blank in his mind.

The noisy voices around had stopped at some point. The room was very quiet, with only the faint sound of car horns outside.

Cen Sheng pressed his chest, looking towards the male lead closest to him, "You don't recognize Rong Ye?"

Lin Junqi's brows furrowed, "What are you trying to say?"

"He is my boyfriend, and like Ji Meng, he's disappeared too!"

"And who is Ji Meng?"

Cen Sheng looked at him in shock, a foreboding feeling arising in his heart.

"We just spent half the time in this room looking for her!"

Lin Junqi's expression became even more bizarre. "This is the first time I'm hearing this name. How did you come up with such a poor lie? How long do you plan to fool me?"

The male lead's attitude towards him had softened just a moment ago. Now, their relationship had regressed to the point before they entered the inn.

Previously, Cen Sheng had complained about the poor soundproofing of the walls, finding the room too noisy. Now, the silence outside made him even more anxious.

He ate a piece of chocolate, forcing himself to calm down quickly.

Cen Sheng turned around, "How much do you remember about Ji Meng?"

He Junye looked bewildered, "Ji, Ji Meng? Who is that? Sheng brother, why are you suddenly mentioning this person?"

Xiao Jiejie remained silent, her eyes just as clueless as He Junye's.

They couldn't even remember what they were currently doing.

Despite not seeing any enemy and standing in front of three living people, an indescribable fear suddenly overwhelmed him.

Cen Sheng's back was soaked with cold sweat, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"Think carefully, why did we end up in room 302?"

"Wasn't it to retrieve the statue of Saint Mother Tongming?"

He Junye squeezed into the room and touched Cen Sheng's forehead, "Sheng brother, you look pale and are talking nonsense. Are you sick?"

"I'm fine, thank you, no need to worry."

Pressing his pale lips together, Cen Sheng pointed to the statue not far away, "Xiao He, tell me, why would that statue of the Holy Mother appear in a hotel?"

"Someone put it there."

"Who did?"

"Umm... the previous guest?"

"Who was the previous guest!"

"How would I know? You called and asked me and Xiao Jie to come over to help you with the statue. You also said after we get the statue, you'd treat us to barbecue."

Xiao Jiejie nodded in agreement.

Even Lin Junqi, usually a bystander, muttered disdainfully, "Crazy."

Cen Sheng turned to him, "You remember too, that it was my idea to come here for the Goddess statue?"

"What else would we be here for?"

"Jiejie and Xiao He are in Yangbei City, I could have just asked them to come get it. Why would I make a long journey to personally retrieve the statue?"

Lin Junqi's expression stiffened.

Xiao Jiejie and He Junye looked at each other, He Junye swearing under his breath.

They slowly began to realize that something was amiss.

Massaging his temples, Cen Sheng softened his tone, "Another question for you, Captain Lin. Do you think with my abilities, I could be a match for you?"

Glancing at the long-haired man's overly slender waist, Lin Junqi instinctively shook his head.

"Then, how could I possibly have kidnapped you from the watchtower by force?"

Lin Junqi opened his mouth but couldn’t find an answer.

"Your eagerness to return now suggests that you didn’t willingly come with me originally. I'm clearly no match for you, and the watchtower is your territory. How could I have possibly captured you by myself?"

"Lin, you're a smart man. Think about it, why are you being dragged around by me, and why haven't you forced me to send you back?"

Lin Junyi frowned, "You said it's because you have the jade bracelet. If I dared to pressure you, you threatened to... with me."

"Lin Ge, your memory is deceiving you!"

Shen Ge interrupted him, grabbing his hand and pressing it against his own chest.

"The reason you were captured by me is that I have a powerful ghost residing in my heart. Together, we ambushed and took you away. You didn't resist, not out of consideration for me, but because you feared the ghost within me!"

"The ghost in my heart vanished minutes ago. Right here in this room, right under our eyes. Lin Ge, this room is consuming people!"

Lin Junyi, being straight, was insensitive to physical contact with the same sex.

While pondering Shen Ge's words, he subconsciously felt the other's heartbeat upon touching his chest.

The heartbeat was fast and intense. Shen Ge appeared calm and collected, but his emotional turmoil was significant.

It didn't seem like he was lying.

A droplet of water fell on Lin Junyi's arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Looking up, he saw Shen Ge's pale face, his eyes rimmed with red. A few tears slid down his cheeks, quickly wiped away.

At this moment, even his facade of calm couldn't be maintained.

They were so close, Lin Junyi could acutely feel his sorrow.

"Both Shen Ge's reaction and his earlier words point to a single answer."

"An answer Lin Junyi is reluctant to believe."

"What the long-haired man said is true. Rong Ye and Ji Meng really exist, and their memories have been tampered with."

"Seemingly confused, Shen Ge is actually the only one who is fully lucid in this room."

"Wiping away the tears on his arm, Lin Junyi falls into silence."

"Shen Ge manages a faint smile. 'Our appointment time with the Watchtower is approaching, and this room isn't safe. Lin Ge, it's time for you to go back.'"

"'Do you still remember our agreement about cooperation?'"

"'Yes.'"

"'Can you recall the disaster involving the lives of three million people? This matter is crucial and must not be mishandled. After I send you back, remember to make a backup at the Watchtower.'"

"Lin Junyi looks at him, his gaze complex."

"'Why do you care so much about the Third Human Base? We are in two different worlds; helping me brings you no benefit.'"

"Activating the power of the jade bracelet, an invisible door appears before Shen Ge."

"Though worried, he still shows a warm smile to Lin Junyi."

"'Lin Ge, of course, you can bring me benefits. You're the only one who knows the future and has the power to change it. What I want is for those three million people to safely survive that disaster.'"

"What kind of benefit is this?"

Lin Junqi didn't quite understand.

He found this person's thoughts both ridiculous and naive. But the mocking words he had ready just couldn't be uttered.

The long-haired man looked dazed, worried about his lover yet forcibly maintaining his composure.

He gently called out 'Brother Lin', grasping Lin Junqi's arm and leading him through an invisible door.

The scene changed rapidly, and by the time Lin Junqi came to his senses, he was already in the watchtower.

His confidants were sitting on the sofa in the reception room, eagerly awaiting him.

The hand that had been holding his arm had, at some point, let go.

Lin Junqi turned back to see that both the door and Cen Sheng had disappeared.

He just left like that?

Didn't even take the opportunity while his guard was down to persuade him to join in ghost hunting?

He went through so much effort to bring him to another world, just to discuss a losing deal, giving him a chance to save the people of the third base?

His confidants crowded around him, anxiously checking his body.

Lin Junqi stood there in a daze, the image of Cen Sheng surfacing again in his mind.

At that time, he stood in front of Zhang Cai'an's bedroom window, the bright sunshine falling on him, making him appear warm and tranquil.

Perhaps he truly had no other motives, just being overly naive and kind-hearted.

Meanwhile, Cen Sheng heard the notification sound from his assistant.

[Lin Junqi believes you are not a fraudster. Although he can't understand your thoughts, he thinks you are a good-hearted fool.]

[Lin Junqi's favorability towards you +30]

[Current favorability of Lin Junqi: 20 (You have gained his trust)]

[Saintly Father Points +5]

[Current Saintly Father Role Play Level: 96]

————

Even though he achieved his goal, Cen Sheng couldn't bring himself to feel happy.

Just like Ji Meng, Rong Ye also disappeared. Apart from Cen Sheng, no one remembered him.

From the moment he entered the wall until now, it hadn't been more than ten minutes. During this time, Cen Sheng hadn't heard any sounds of fighting.

With Rong Ye's numerous skills, even if the enemy was powerful, he wouldn't be defeated without a sound.

Confirming Rong Ye's disappearance, Cen Sheng immediately opened the Saintly Father Simulator.

Partner Rong Ye's status remains critically injured. He's still alive and hasn't been instantly killed.

A dialogue box popped up under the character's illustration, revealing Rong Ye's inner thoughts.

[So boring. When can I leave? Why waste so much time on these meaningless things.]

Cen Sheng recognized every word, but combined together, he couldn't comprehend them.

Before the dialogue box appeared, he had imagined several scenarios.

Brother Rong might be unconscious, in a comatose state. He could be gravely injured, roaring in anger like a wild beast.

He might even lose his sanity due to suddenly losing his wife, repeatedly shouting in the dialogue box, [Xiao Sheng! Xiao Sheng, Cen Sheng! Give me back Xiao Sheng——]

Although confused, it was a relief he was alright.

Assured of Brother Rong's safety, Cen Sheng could focus on two things at once.

While conversing and gathering clues with Xiao Jiejie and others, he also took the time to act as Lin Junqi.

During their argument, Cen Sheng constantly monitored Rong Ye's condition.

The content in the dialogue box continued to change, [Going to sleep now? So early? Well, it makes sense, have to wake up early tomorrow.]

[Why are you ignoring me, what did I do wrong? My wife is so cold, should I pretend to be angry? He’s so gentle, he'll surely come to coax me.]

[Why hasn’t he come over, did I say something wrong again, what exactly did I do to upset him?]

The inner thoughts quickly ended.

The dialogue box showed that the partner was in a bad mood and decided to read detective novels all night.

Brother Rong's condition seems quite good; he's neither injured nor has he lost his sanity. Cen Sheng's worries were gradually replaced by confusion.

Who was the 'wife' Rong Ye just mentioned?

Is it referring to him? But he's not by Brother Rong's side.

Overwhelmed with information, Cen Sheng paradoxically found himself calming down.

He first took down Rong Ye's character illustration and temporarily replaced it with partner Ji Meng on the main screen.

A dialogue box popped up under the illustration [zzz].

Ji Meng was asleep, and the partner's status was healthy.

The hypothesis that had just formed in Cen Sheng’s mind was instantly shattered.

Cen Sheng originally thought Brother Rong might have passed out and was dreaming. What he saw were Rong Ye's thoughts in a dream.

But Ji Meng, in a sleeping state, only had [zzz].

This indicates that the dialogue box does not display the specific dreams of a partner.

Every step after entering room 302 went beyond Cen Sheng’s expectations.

Replacing Rong Ye's character illustration back on the main screen, Cen Sheng pressed his chest in irritation.

Just because Brother Rong is safe now doesn't mean he will always be.

He might be deceived by the ghost's abilities, completely unaware that he is in danger.

Most importantly, there's an impostor Cen Sheng by his side.

If that fake tries to exploit Rong Ye's trust to launch a sneak attack...

There's no need to worry about that; given Brother Rong's intelligence, he'll likely see through the disguise soon enough.

Brother Rong and Ji Meng are in constant danger; he must find them as soon as possible.

Concealing the murderous intent in his eyes, Cen Sheng wiped away the tears that had rushed forth and continued to speak gently and softly with Lin Junqi.

After sending Lin Junqi away, Cen Sheng, with his back to Xiao Jiejie and the others, instantly turned grim and cold.

Someone dared to deceive him, even though Brother Rong has been with him all along!

He was going to destroy that shameless ghostly thing!

————

Quickly adjusting his emotions, Cen Sheng turned around, his expression once again serene.

Just now, Xiao Jiejie and the female ghost Pei Yue went to check the surveillance of the inn.

The footage showed that room 302 had been unoccupied for at least a month. Even during the peak tourist season when rooms were fully booked, room 302 remained empty.

Even the innkeeper and the cleaning lady couldn’t explain this.

They only mentioned that room 302 was too small and lacked windows, making it undesirable for most guests.

This investigation result was almost what Cen Sheng had expected.

Through several conversations, he discerned a pattern.

All chat records with Ji Meng disappeared, her social media accounts no longer existed, and her phone number had become invalid.

She had always stayed in cheap motels, yet there were no personal belongings of hers in the room, not even a single fallen hair.

Every trace of her existence had been erased by some unknown force. The only thing remaining was the Goddess statue she brought, still placed in room 302.

This force was altering the memories of Xiao Jiejie and others. But no matter how it was modified, it couldn’t bypass the Goddess statue.

Regardless of Ji Meng’s disappearance or Rong Ye’s vanishing, they all remembered that there was a statue in room 302.

The statue of the Prominent Holy Goddess seems to be unaffected by that force.

Its existence cannot be erased. Memories associated with it cannot be completely altered.

Thus, even with Ji Meng's traces erased, the hotel records still show room 302 as unoccupied for a long time.

The existence of the Goddess statue helped Cen Sheng find a loophole, convincing Xiao Jiejie and the others that he wasn't insane.

This statue might just be the breakthrough!

————

The more they investigated, the more bizarre things became. Xiao Jiejie and He Junye, frightened, clutched their Buddha amulets tightly.

This incident was too strange, and they couldn't help. Cen Sheng, seeing their plight, asked them to wait in the hallway.

The Prominent Holy Goddess statue in room 404 of Yin He Residential Area can sense the presence of ghosts.

It's unknown whether the one Ji Meng has possesses similar abilities.

The simulator's mini-map showed that Rong Ye and Ji Meng were still in room 302.

Asking Xiao Bai and Pei Yue to temporarily leave the room, Cen Sheng took out newly bought blueberries from his bag, placing them on the table as offerings.

Bowing devoutly to the statue, he whispered, "Goddess, please help me find where the ghost is in this room."

The Goddess statue remained silent and unresponsive.

It seems that not all statues have interconnected powers. Although this statue shares the same name as the one in 404, it's not the same Goddess and unfamiliar to him.

Cen Sheng asked He Junye to go downstairs to buy incense and fruits.

He bowed more devoutly several times, repeatedly mentioning Ji Meng, emphasizing that the girl who previously worshiped the statue was now in grave danger.

After much effort, the Goddess statue finally reacted. It slowly turned its head to look above Cen Sheng’s head.

Cen Sheng’s heart tightened, and he abruptly looked up.

Above his head was just empty space, with only the yellowed wall.

The wall...

Previously, Brother Rong also disappeared after entering the wall.

Could it be that the ones who attacked Ji Meng and Rong Ye were not ghosts, but creatures from “Invasion from Another World 1: The White Tide”?

Yangbei City, unlike the Technological New City, is a northern city with a dry climate, receiving rain only a few times a year.

Due to his professional habits, he subconsciously checked the room when entering; the walls of the hotel showed no signs of mold.

Moreover, Lin Junqi was present when Rong Ye disappeared.

He is a regular at the watchtower and very familiar with the creatures of the misty world. If it were indeed monsters from “Invasion from Another World,” he would definitely recognize them.

However, when they first opened room 302, there was indeed a strong musty smell.

Perhaps the walls got damp, and the hotel had renovated.

The guests in the neighboring and upstairs rooms started making noise again. The loud voices from the street once more permeated the old hotel.

The overly cramped room was filled with all sorts of sounds, annoyingly cluttering the mind.

Feeling restless, Cen Sheng opened the simulator to check on Rong Ye's character illustration.

Only after confirming that Brother Rong and Ji Meng were safe did he manage to calm down slightly.

Cen Sheng took out the hangman's hemp rope, wrapped it around Pei Yue's waist, and asked her to inspect the walls and floor.

The little ghost girl stuck her head into the walls, flying chaotically around the room in a thorough search.

"Sheng brother, the walls and the floor are quite dry."

Cen Sheng's brows furrowed slightly.

Why was the musty smell in that room so strong?

"Damn! Sheng brother, the Goddess statue has gone crazy!!!"

He Junye's cry of alarm interrupted Cen Sheng's thoughts.

The statue, which had been quietly looking up at the sky, was now frantically spinning its head as if it had gone mad.

It looked at the walls, the floor, under the bed, behind Cen Sheng, surveying every corner of the room.

As if it was trying to tell Cen Sheng that the room was full of ghosts!

Unable to suppress a shiver, Cen Sheng quickly grabbed the frightened little ghost girl and rushed out of the room.

The three people and two ghosts stood at the door, none daring to re-enter.

The Prominent Holy Goddess statue on the plastic table continued to wildly shake its head.

He Junye grimaced and muttered softly, “That looks so eerie.”

Xiao Jiejie hissed, “Are you out of your mind? Don’t say such things!”

Just as He Junye was about to apologize to the statue, Cen Sheng quickly covered his mouth, “Quiet, listen carefully.”

After listening for a while, Xiao Jiejie’s face turned pale.

He Junye also turned his head sharply, looking towards room 302 with a mix of shock and uncertainty.

Pei Yue, not understanding the situation, floated back and forth, asking questions.

“The corridor is very quiet, the soundproofing of this hotel is actually quite good. The noise from room 302 shouldn’t be that loud.”

Cen Sheng looked towards room 303 next door, “Most importantly, when I was in the room, I could hear talking from next door. But now standing so close to the door of 303, I can't hear a single sound.”

He walked up to the door and listened against it.

Then, speaking softly to the door, he said, "I'm a detective, open up."

His skill successfully activated, and the door automatically opened. Behind it was pitch darkness, with luggage strewn about, and the room was empty.

The guests of room 303 had gone out, and there was actually no one in the neighboring room!

Cen Sheng used his 'dog nose' skill, inhaling deeply the air inside room 303.

The scent of laundry detergent, shampoo, leftover takeout, and sweaty clothes...

A mix of various odors, but notably, no musty smell!

Room 303 was also a small single room, only slightly larger than room 302.

The room was quiet, with only faint sounds from outside, not noisy.

Closing the door, Cen Sheng returned to the room rented by Ji Meng.

The Goddess statue was still wildly shaking its head, and room 302 was bustling with noises.

Cen Sheng stood in front of the table, staring at the statue for a long time.

He still didn't know how to bring Rong Ye back. But he had a way to go to Brother Rong's side.

Turning to the two people standing at the door, Cen Sheng showed a reassuring smile, "It's getting late, you guys should go and rest."

"Although the memory of treating you is manipulated and added, you've been tired for so long, you deserve a good meal. I'll send you a red packet. You killed two ghosts this time, I'll transfer money to you based on the detective's fee standards."

"No need, no need, Sheng brother, why be formal with us!" He Junye waved his hands, smiling goofily, "We even made a mistake this time, losing that Ji... Ji Meng person. We don’t feel right taking your money."

Xiao Jiejie asked blankly, "Sheng brother, aren't you coming with us?"

"I have to find Rong Ye and Ji Meng; they're still missing."

"You want to make yourself disappear?! That's too dangerous!"

"One is my lover, the other an innocent child. No matter the danger, I must go. This time, I'm not sure, I don't know their situation, and there might be no chance to come back alive. I won't take you with me this time. Keep the Buddha's blessing with you. I'll take Little Stone with me."

"No! We'll go with you..."

Leaning against the door frame, Cen Sheng pressed his finger to Xiao Jiejie's lips.

"I'm a detective, remember? Detectives prefer to work alone. You've worked hard today, Jiejie. Go back and rest well; now it's detective time."

His tone was as gentle as ever, his face wearing a relaxed smile, as if pacifying a child, yet Xiao Jiejie inexplicably felt her eyes welling up.

Sniffling, she said, "Will we forget you like we did Ji Meng and Rong Ye? Will you quietly vanish from the world, as if you were never here?"

"No." Suppressing the unease in his heart, Cen Sheng flashed a confident smile, "I'll come back with them, I promise."

————

After settling both the people and ghosts, Cen Sheng closed the door of room 302.

With the situation unclear, he didn't want them to risk accompanying him.

There might be life-threatening dangers on this journey, but in Cen Sheng's heart, dying together with Brother Rong would be the best outcome.

Cen Sheng firmly attached a note he had written in advance to the Prominent Holy Goddess statue, then bowed devoutly to the statue once more.

Having made all preparations, he turned off the lights, lay on the single bed, and took off Bai Yujing's bracelet.

Listening to the successive notification sounds in his mind, Cen Sheng closed his eyes and quietly waited for the noisy voices to resurface.

Author's note:

I'm here!

Asking for comments and support!

When I stayed in a hotel, I once stayed in an incredibly small room.

There were no windows, no chairs, just a bed.

Lying on the bed, I felt like it was a coffin, a perfect setting for a haunting.

Thank you to the little angels who cast their king-size votes or nourished me with nutrient solutions during September 21, 2023, 21:48:48 to September 22, 2023, 21:34:21~

Thanks to the little angels for nourishing with nutrient solutions: Mu Chen Zaizai Yo 88 bottles; You Guess 60 bottles; Happy Xiao Qi 20 bottles; .、47569955 10 bottles; Late Cherry Blossoms 5 bottles; Xiu Yun 4 bottles; Four Despicable 3 bottles; Xiu Qi 2 bottles; Lien, Qin Zhao, Yue Bai 1 bottle each;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!