Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Lately, the most popular topic on the local forums and microblogs in the capital city was the newly opened ultra-horrifying haunted house in the outskirts.

Despite its recent opening, the haunted house had already gained a formidable reputation. The site had a long history, and it was said that an entire family had perished mysteriously within its walls, which lent an eerie backdrop to the story.

Initially, when the haunted house first opened, it didn't attract much attention, despite the aggressive promotion by various online marketing accounts. In a city as vast and vibrant as the capital, there were countless amusement options, and such attractions were common in ordinary amusement parks, so it didn't really appeal to many young people.

However, a series of unexpected events followed. Suddenly, the haunted house was announced to be temporarily closed for renovations. People initially assumed it was due to safety inspections or licensing issues, but then rumors emerged that the closure was actually because a visitor had been frightened to the point of falling ill. The patient came from an incredibly wealthy family, which led to the decision to shut down the source of their anger.

This immediately piqued the public's interest, and many locals, especially the youth, shared the news, wondering what kind of haunted house could be so terrifying that it could scare someone into illness.

Some who had visited the haunted house before chimed in, attesting to its uniqueness, saying it was vastly different from the playful haunted houses found in amusement parks. They described a spine-chilling atmosphere, with some girls even claiming to have felt a cold touch on their faces as if something had gently brushed against them, though upon closer inspection, there was nothing there.

These accounts were met with skepticism by some, who dismissed them as planted stories by the haunted house to boost its publicity.

This speculation grew stronger when the haunted house reopened after renovations, and it even adopted a new name: Taicang Haunted House. Some people declared, "See, it was all just a marketing strategy."

Nonetheless, the haunted house drew plenty of curious customers, especially thrill-seeking youngsters who frequented malls and nightclubs. Many wanted to witness firsthand what made this haunted house capable of frightening a wealthy second-generation heir, while numerous bloggers attempted to debunk the exaggerated claims of unscrupulous merchants promoting the attraction online.

But the latest posts from these people had all transformed into: "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

After all, they had graduated a long time ago and didn't interact much in their daily lives. The old classmate, not knowing the full story, chuckled and guessed, "It was probably just for fun. Do you really believe he got sick after visiting a haunted house? It's most likely just a publicity stunt by the haunted house, and they didn't even mention his name."

"Ruan Shihang is sick? Is it serious?" Another classmate, hearing their conversation, approached with concern, unaware of the situation.

Huang Jue nodded. "Yes, he did fall ill, but the symptoms were sleep paralysis and hallucinations. It shouldn't be too severe."

The person was surprised. "Not severe? Could it be that he really encountered something unclean?"

Huang Jue waved his hand. "What unclean thing? It's probably just stress. Besides, you know what kind of person Ruan Shihang is. As a member of the Party, he never believes in such things."

As he spoke, a figure appeared at the entrance. Ruan Shihang, dressed in a suit, exuded an air of professionalism as he walked in. "I could hear my name from afar. Are you guys bad-mouthing me again?"

The old classmates burst into laughter upon seeing him. The classmate who had been speaking glanced at Huang Jue with concern and said, "Don't talk about him anymore. Look at yourself, why do you look so pale? Aren't you supposed to be working out every day?"

In college, Huang Jue had been roommates with Ruan Shihang. They exchanged friendly greetings before Huang Jue let out a bitter smile. "Ah, I'm not much better than him. Maybe it's just too much pressure lately. I've been having strange dreams, like people crying in front of me and stuff. And my girlfriend, we'd already planned to get married, even bought the wedding house, but suddenly she wants to break up. Sigh, forget it, no point talking about it. What's the use?"

As Huang Jue finished, he saw Ruan Shihang standing in front of him, his gaze intense as he asked, "Are you being serious?"

Confused, Huang Jue smiled awkwardly. "Just a minor issue, similar to what you experienced before. Maybe once this wave of troubles passes, things will get better."

Little did Ruan Shihang expect that upon hearing this, his expression grew even more solemn, and he pulled a chair to sit beside Huang Jue. Huang Jue became even more anxious, assuming that Ruan Shihang was displeased with his exaggerated account. After all, Ruan Shihang's materialism bordered on dogmatism. Back when they lived in the dormitory, during late-night chats about the school's various mystical legends, Ruan Shihang would often show disdain.

To Huang Jue's surprise, Ruan Shihang placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Third Brother, some matters might seem insignificant, but we mustn't take them lightly."

Huang Jue: "?"

Ruan Shihang then retrieved a wallet from his pocket, handing over a business card. "I know a master who specializes in this field. Would you like me to introduce you?"

Huang Jue: "..."

Ruan Shihang added, "He's very skilled at exorcisms and ghost hunting. I'm one of their VIP clients."

The entire alumni gathering fell silent.

**********

With a dazed classmate by his side, Ruan Shihang approached the Wei residence with a bit of trepidation. After returning home, his illness had quickly subsided, and he no longer had those nightmares that had kept him awake. This transformation, even his family, who were steadfast materialists for generations, found miraculous. They followed the trend by burning incense at the temple, let alone Ruan Shihang himself, who had personally experienced the exorcism at the haunted house.

Therefore, despite having spent an additional one million yuan as a VIP fee on top of the original cost, Ruan Shihang didn't feel regretful. Compared to his normal life, what was money worth?

Yet, even with the VIP card in hand, he still felt a twinge of guilt. Lately, he couldn't help but think about Wei Xi, yet without a legitimate reason, he couldn't come knocking on his door.

Fortunately, Huang Jue, whom he had met at the class reunion, offered a solution to this dilemma.

Huang Jue was still bewildered. "L-Lord, what's going on? Aren't you a member of the Communist Party? Why are you suddenly into these supernatural things?"

"What's wrong with being a member of the Communist Party?" Ruan Shihang replied confidently. "This doesn't involve religious beliefs. Besides, how do you know it's supernatural? Did you even know what the VIP gift was before you started talking nonsense?"

Huang Jue asked, "What was it then?"

"It was 'An Outline of the Basic Principles of Marxism'—it's based on social science!"

Huang Jue wiped his sweat, feeling more and more skeptical with each word.

That skepticism reached its peak when they stood outside Wei's family courtyard.

The lawn within the yard had been completely uprooted, with mounds of dirt piled beside it. A mud-covered Husky wagged its tongue happily as it rolled around in the mess. The entire yard looked like a disaster area; if not for the house in front, one might have thought it was still under construction.

The characters for "Taicang Sect" were written robustly, but unfortunately, they were scribbled on a peculiar wooden board casually hung at the entrance. Upon closer inspection, Huang Jue found it increasingly resembled a door without its handle.

Ruan Shihang pressed the doorbell, and after a moment, a chilly male voice echoed through the intercom, "Who is it?"

Ruan Shihang asked, "Is this Taicang Sect?"

The man's voice paused for a moment before he yelled louder, "Dad, it's your turn."

Following that, there was a muffled and chaotic exchange of words, then the courtyard gate opened. A butler-like figure ran out, wiping his sweat, while a middle-aged man with sunglasses stood behind him, clearly agitated.

Huang Jue: "...."

He wasn't being paranoid; something was indeed off about this company!

**********

Wei Xi carried his bamboo basket downstairs and saw Ruan Shihang sitting in the living room with an unfamiliar person, both looking rather uneasy. Wei Tianyi sat on a separate sofa beside them, folded his arms, and wore an expression of great displeasure.

Wei Xi wasn't surprised at all. He glanced at the young stranger briefly before calling out, "Wanrong!"

Shu Wanrong emerged slowly from a corner, her hair perfectly styled, and carrying a Hermes Birkin bag. She looked hesitant as she said, "Little Xi, I have a spa appointment scheduled with someone...."

"You take the small red bundle inside, open it, and sprinkle the soil evenly on the ground outside the courtyard," Wei Xi instructed nonchalantly, handing over the bamboo basket. "Finish your task before you leave."

Shu Wanrong: "..."

Wei Tianyi's face was dark with the urge to scold, but in the end, it was Wei Chengshu who stepped forward silently to receive the basket. He stumbled under its weight and had to call for Manager Zhou and two maids to help him drag it out.

Wei Xi admired his disciple, turning to his second disciple behind him. "This is our sect's most diligent disciple."

Shuo Zong: "...."

Though silent, he couldn't help following the peculiar scent that drifted from the basket with his gaze. The smell was familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had encountered it before.

It was also the first time Ruan Shihang and Huang Jue had seen a woman carrying a Hermes bag while dragging a bamboo basket. They stared in astonishment until Wei Xi asked, "Did you come looking for me?"

Ruan Shihang snapped back to reality, momentarily at a loss as he faced Wei Xi. He cleared his throat and nodded, then turned his gaze to the stunningly handsome young man behind Wei Xi, pausing in surprise. "Hey? Lu Que? Why are you here too?"

Shuo Zong glanced at the slightly flushed tips of Ruan Shihang's ears and decided not to bother with him.

Wei Xi was friendly towards VIPs, so after explaining his relationship with his second disciple, he glanced at the table and asked Wei Tianyi, "Why isn't there any tea or fruit?"

Wei Tianyi's face darkened completely, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Ruan Shihang, on the other hand, awkwardly waved his hands, "Oh no, oh no. Uncle is very kind. He's already asked Manager Zhou to serve us tea."

Although Wei Xi was displeased with Wei Tianyi's lack of enthusiasm, seeing that the guest didn't mind, he still sat down. After sitting, his gaze swept across the two and finally landed on the embarrassed Huang Jue, "Speak up, what happened?"

Deep down, Huang Jue still didn't quite believe in this. Moreover, the Taicang Sect that Ruan Shihang had brought him to seemed strangely peculiar. There was a young master who appeared so unexpectedly, and the atmosphere among the people in the room was also bizarre. It didn't seem any more reliable than an ordinary Taoist temple or shrine. Thus, he felt some resistance, but he was still amazed that the other party could tell at a glance that he needed help. With a smile, he said, "Just some minor issues. Perhaps it's due to too much stress lately, I haven't been sleeping well."

Wei Xi didn't comment and took a sip of the tea offered by Manager Zhou. He sized Huang Jue up indifferently before suddenly asking, "Do you want a card?"

Huang Jue thought he would be subjected to some supernatural persuasion, so when he heard such an earthly sales pitch, he was taken aback, "What?"

Wei Xi explained, "Individual cards only. Ruan Shihang's VIP discount can't be applied to you."

"..." Huang Jue was speechless, feeling as if he had entered some sort of chain hair salon. When he saw Wei Xi and his two disciples, especially the disciple named Lu Que, the sense of disorientation grew stronger. He replied with a blush, "No, that won't be necessary."

"Oh," Wei Xi looked slightly disappointed, and his attitude became somewhat sluggish, "There are at least three malevolent spirits haunting your home. Exorcising them won't come cheap. Are you sure?"

Huang Jue, who had been about to get up and leave, was startled by these words. He slowly turned his head, "You... What did you say? Three what?"

Wei Xi: "Guest ghosts. Haven't you counted them in your dreams?"

Huang Jue's entire body was drenched in sweat, with beads of perspiration rolling down his temples like water from an open faucet. He heard the sound of his own gulp and stammered, "Y-You... How did you know?"

The haunting shadows that disturbed his sleep usually appeared alone, but occasionally they appeared in groups. He had once recorded the details of his dreams after waking up, and indeed, the maximum number he could recall was three. However, he had never mentioned this to anyone.

All thoughts of fraud vanished from Huang Jue's mind as he made his way there. His heart raced wildly, wondering if there was truly something uncanny at work. How could someone guess accurately that he had seen three shadows?

Wei Xi, however, seemed oblivious to Huang Jue's astonishment. "How could I not know? You moved into a new home about a month ago, right? The dreams started after that, didn't they?"

Huang Jue's body was instantly soaked in cold sweat upon hearing this. He sat upright, cautious yet respectful. "Y-Yes, you're right. I was planning to marry my girlfriend recently, but houses in Beijing are just too expensive. We couldn't afford one. A relative took care of me and sold me a school district house at a price much lower than the market value. I finished renovating it recently and only moved in last month."

This school district house was in an excellent location, with a price nearly a third lower than the market rate. The relative had intended to buy it for his son's wedding, so Huang Jue and his parents were deeply grateful.

His moving ceremony had been simple, with only his girlfriend and parents present. Not even Ruan Shihang, his closest university dorm mate, had been informed.

Now, Huang Jue was utterly convinced. This was not something that could be guessed. His gaze towards Wei Xi shifted, akin to looking at a lifeline. After all, no one could endure over a month of poor sleep.

Trembling, he asked, "M-Master, since you can calculate this, is there any way to resolve it?"

The master maintained his initial demeanor, but in Huang Jue's eyes, their once unreliable image had transformed into a divine, aloof figure atop a high mountain. This high-altitude flower gazed down at him with disdain, slowly speaking—

"Are you really not getting our VIP membership? There's a gift for new sign-ups."

Huang Jue: "..."

Did you mean "An Introduction to the Basic Principles of Marxism"?