A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 176

Many years ago, a mass death occurred at the old funeral home, which had a terrible impact. The dead included not only funeral home staff but also family members of the deceased who were waiting to be cremated.

Police investigations yielded no results; no evidence pointed to the perpetrator, and they couldn't even create a criminal profile. Due to the immense difficulty of the investigation and the limited technology available at the time, it was temporarily classified as an unsolved case, and the truth remains elusive to this day.

Back then, some experienced civilians believed that the case was the work of ghosts. However, they not only failed to receive official support, but were also accused of spreading rumors and had to leave Tianying to avoid the storm.

For several years in a row, deaths occurred at the funeral home, causing widespread panic. Each time, the murderer could not be found, so the Tianying Municipal Government had no choice but to close the funeral home and build a new one in another location chosen based on feng shui, in order to prevent the misfortune from happening again.

The old funeral home has been completely abandoned, and the bus routes leading to the area have been cancelled. This land has become a restricted zone, surrounded by barbed wire to prevent accidental entry. "No Entry" signs are posted on the barbed wire and on the ground to warn anyone curious about what's inside.

Even with thorough warnings, every year fearless young people come to explore, hold daring contests, and some who lose at Truth or Dare choose this place as a test of courage. Every year, people disappear from the old funeral home, their whereabouts unknown, and even their bodies have not been found.

An online influencer who came to explore once filmed a video showing an empty, abandoned crematorium where the incinerator suddenly made a sound. The ignition switch turned automatically, and flames lit up inside the furnace. Then, the influencer heard crackling sounds coming from inside the incinerator, as well as... muffled thuds from someone tapping on the inner wall of the incinerator.

While banging on it, it screamed, "It's so hot inside, let me out."

The internet celebrity was terrified and dropped his phone. The live stream was then inexplicably cut off, and his fans later discovered he had never logged on again. A month later, another group of internet celebrities who went to the funeral home to investigate opened the incinerator and found the missing internet celebrity's highly decomposed and gruesome body inside.

……

There were many ominous things about this building surrounded by barbed wire, and Saint Karina was reluctant to go inside. This place often reminded her of her deceased parents, whose remains were cremated here.

The body of the deceased female college student has not yet been found. Fearing further trouble and that the Wei father and daughter would be harassed again, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and get off the empty bus, letting Ye Shiyu transform into human form to stay by her side.

"I'm thinking about something."

Santa Karina looked at the abandoned bus stop. The ghost bus from before was gone, not even a trace remained, and there was no way to hail a taxi, ride-sharing service, or online car-hailing service nearby.

Unless you drive yourself, no normal driver would ever drive here at night, not even for three times the fare.

"How do I get back after I finish my business? It's dozens of kilometers from here to my home. How long will it take to walk there step by step..."

"Actually... I can call my family driver, it's no problem. If you need a car in the future, I can get one for you from the garage. I have more than a dozen cars registered under my name, all of which are idle."

Wei Xin, who had been consistently overlooked, spoke up.

"Thank you. Please contact the driver tonight; I really need this help."

Refusing will only make trouble snowball; pointless persistence is worthless in the face of efficiency. You can decline a free car, but you must take a ride.

The two ghosts approached the front entrance of the funeral home together.

The Tianying City Funeral Home, steeped in countless terrifying legends, appeared even more eerie under the heavy night. It was desolate and dilapidated; the barbed wire fence built on its exterior had been almost completely destroyed by explorers who had come seeking it out, and even the few intact sides were covered with reddish-brown rust spots, their texture fragile.

The once pristine white exterior walls have partially collapsed, and moss climbs up from the ground, covering them with a greenish-blue coat. The earthy smell mingles with the fresh scent of grass and trees, carried by the evening breeze, seeping through the cracks in the walls, creating a sound like a woman's mournful weeping.

The ground was littered with various kinds of garbage, broken bricks and tiles, empty beverage bottles and glass bottles, food wrappers, and some explorers had set up makeshift barbecue grills nearby, leaving behind a few tents that they hadn't taken with them.

The environment here is perfect for adventure; it has a scarier atmosphere than any Yamada Hospital. After all, Yamada Hospital's main purpose is a horror-themed amusement park, and this is a place where people have actually died.

"This place is terrifying, do we really have to go?"

Wei Xin had been pampered by her father since childhood and had never seen such a gloomy place before. She was so scared that she trembled all over and almost immediately clung to Saint Karina's arm.

That damned scumbag who deceived her feelings has long been thrown thousands of meters away. The only person who can give her a sense of security is the bookish girl next to her, who is also quite capable.

Being able to escape from her friend who had turned into a demon, the 200,000 yuan her father paid for her labor wasn't that expensive.

"You have to go. If you don't want to be bothered by your friend anymore, don't say anything more and just follow along."

Saint Karina resisted the urge to break free from Wei Xin's grasp, stealing a glance at Ye Shiyu. Ye Shiyu held any girl who was close to his contractor in equal contempt, her disdain written all over her face.

There was a prior agreement that I was not allowed to lay a hand on the client, including saying anything provocative, so I had to swallow my pride.

I really want to reconcile them.

I long to do all sorts of things with Santa Karina in bed, exploring the profound questions of the birth and continuation of life.

I really want her to put her hand where it should go.

Ghosts, like humans, also have emotions and desires. She was born hundreds of years ago, and although she spent half of that time in slumber, she was never touched by a woman when she woke up.

Those beautiful hands, meant for his own comfort, were now draped over another woman's shoulders.

Ye Shiyu's jealousy has surged again.

Let's start by making the demolition plan, and then gradually implement it once we get home.

Those who wield the power of evil spirits will inevitably become weaker and weaker. Tonight, Saint Karina even made an exception and used a demon weapon in battle, consuming more than twice the amount of her life force and mental energy as usual.

The disposal of the body of the female college student who died under suspicious circumstances still required further effort, and a series of events were creating an excellent opportunity for her—an opportunity to fully experience the ways of the world.

Having sex with a ghost once or twice won't cause any major problems, it will just hasten your death a little. Find a solution before you die, and you can enjoy it later.

Ye Shiyu was even more eager than Saint Karina to quickly gather enough for five ghosts and pry information about a solution from the black book.

Let's be patient for now.

She used scissors to cut through the barbed wire blocking her path and cleared away the debris piled up in the way, making way for Santa Karina. Finally, she reached the main gate, where the padlock had long been broken and opened with a gentle push.

The two rusty iron doors creaked and groaned from their hinges, as if they hadn't been oiled in a long time. Wei Xin was now on edge, seeing threats everywhere, and even the slightest noise startled her.

Several furry gray objects flashing green light darted past her feet, startling her so much that she suddenly jumped up and clung to Santa Karina like a koala.

"Saint Karina, a ghost! Quick... protect me! I'm still young, I don't want to die..."

"It's just a few rats, nothing to be afraid of. The way you're yelling could scare a ghost to death. And get off me first."

He refrained from saying the second half of the sentence, "You're a bit heavy," because criticizing a girl's weight is a sign of low emotional intelligence and can easily leave a rift in future interactions.

The principle of being a professional is never to be rude to your clients. Wei Xin is much better than many difficult clients. Over the years, she has encountered many strange bosses who pay little and cause a lot of trouble, making people do the work of a dozen people for a single position.

Earning 200,000 today was relatively easy, so sacrificing a little comfort is no problem.

But you can only tap.

"I'm sorry, I was really scared just now."

Wei Xin belatedly realized how embarrassing her behavior was, her smile froze on her face, her feet returned to the ground, and she continued to hold hands.

She was even more afraid of not being able to grab someone to take her with her. Ye Shiyu was a ghost, and she dared not get too close to ghosts. Saint Karina was the only living person here besides her, and she was also the guarantee of her safety.

"It's alright. Watch your step. It looks like it just rained here. The ground is wet, and there's a lot of moss and debris, so it's easy to slip."

The only sources of illumination were two mobile phones and the lantern in Ye Shiyu's hand.

The moon was obscured by thick, gray clouds, as if afraid to peek out of the way for something terrifying. In this long-abandoned place, the electrical circuits were long since broken and obsolete; the streetlight bulbs were missing their glass, leaving only empty lampshades.

In front of the main entrance are several rows of upward-pointing steps. The funeral home is built in a hilly area with slightly undulating terrain. The most important ceremony area is located in the very center, and you can enter by stepping up the steps.

A decade or so ago, the environment here was quite nice, especially the greenery, which was better than the green belts in the city center. The buildings surrounded by green trees didn't look like places for handling the remains of the deceased; from a distance on the highway, you would only think it was a sanatorium in the suburbs.

Saint Karina stepped onto the stairs, trying her best not to recall what had happened to the original owner of this body at the funeral home. It wasn't terrible, but thinking about it too much would only make her sad. Her mind would constantly remind her, "You are a solitary person," a reminder that was too painful to bear.

Wei Xin followed closely behind her, with Ye Shiyu bringing up the rear. Saint Karina felt completely at ease leaving her behind. Having such a beautiful and powerful female ghost behind her was more reassuring than having a group of bodyguards with her.

After descending the last step, the ceremonial hall, with its doors wide open, faced them.

On the wall of the hall hung a large wreath with the black character "奠" (meaning "offering sacrifice") in the center, below which lay several thin wooden coffins with transparent lids. Funeral couplets were pasted on the wall, with white characters on a black background, but the names were smeared with blood and illegible.

The white walls and ceiling were covered with dried bloodstains and black mold. In the center of the hall, under the chandelier, there was a noose, from which hung a skeleton.

It's unclear whether the skeleton is genuine or fake. It has no flesh or blood on it, and it's yellowish in color. It must have been hanging there for a long time, or it might be a prop made by someone who wanted to stage a photo.

Small film crews who can't afford to rent the Tianying Film and Television City venue will find abandoned buildings as scenes to shoot horror movies. This funeral home has been visited by many film crews, and occasionally you can catch a glimpse of abandoned camera equipment in the corner.

Wei Xin immediately closed her eyes and tugged hard at Saint Karina's sleeve. She didn't want to stay there for even a second longer and wished the driver would pull the car to the door right away.

"Let's hurry... What if the corpse in the coffin gets up? That's how it's always shown in the movies, and then... it chases after people and won't stop until it kills them..."

"The destination isn't here either. Your friend said before, 'I'm so cold, it's so dark here,' right?"

"Hmm...it's cold everywhere here."

"When it comes to truly cold and dark places in a funeral home, there is only one."

There is a map of the funeral home's layout at the entrance of the ceremonial hall. In the easternmost corner, there is a square building labeled "morgue," which is used to store the remains of the deceased who are awaiting or have already been processed, but have not yet had a farewell ceremony.

The hottest place is the incinerator, and the coldest place is definitely the morgue.

"Let's go to the morgue."

"The morgue..."

Upon hearing this word, Wei Xin couldn't move again.

The morgue is where the most corpses are. I heard that when the funeral home was abandoned, there were still dozens of unclaimed and unidentified corpses inside.

The staff were only concerned with escaping, so they obviously didn't care about the corpses. In a sense, this place was also a large mortuary, a gathering place for the resentment of countless dead, so it's normal that it's prone to being haunted.

Ye Shiyu stared at the tallest tree in the distance, lost in thought. She recalled something from a long time ago, more than six hundred years ago.

"This funeral home was once the execution ground of Tianyingdai in ancient times, and that tree and that location were a mass burial ground. After the execution, the corpses were simply wrapped in tattered mats and thrown there. Basically, no rituals were performed to help them pass on to the afterlife, and the resentment accumulated more and more."

I remember it was at the end of the fifteenth year of the Yongle reign. A wealthy young master committed a crime and was sentenced to beheading. His family, hearing that I had once been a royal chef, paid a large sum of money to have me prepare his last meal before the execution. I personally witnessed the execution and even introduced him to a renowned mortician.

Some things don't disappear with time, like vengeful spirits. Ye Shiyu could sense them still lingering near the funeral home. Anyone who chose this location must be a fool.

Before they even reached the morgue entrance, a burst of singing drifted into their ears through the night breeze.

The singing came from the morgue, whose iron gates were tightly shut.

281. Underground Palace

It was a fast-paced song in the Tower language, derived from the original work "Magic Tower Continent" by Wanpu Co., Ltd. and Gust. It was a fictional language with lyrics written in Latin letters, and its style was unique and very obscure. Wei Xin had a deep impression of it.

Every time I visit my friend's dorm, this song is always playing on repeat on her speakers.

"It's EXEC_VISONDANCE.PLUGINs/, and this song is also in my playlist."

Saint Karina could practically recite the lyrics of this song. It's so niche that those unfamiliar with it are completely baffled, while those who are familiar with it know exactly what it is. Only those in the world of anime and manga would know what it is, and the original owner of this body just happens to be from the world of anime and manga.

"It's Yao Qian... She's back again... Why won't she let me go? We've been classmates for so long, I've never looked down on her background, never joined others in mocking her, and never done anything to wrong her..."

Wei Xin covered her ears and crouched down, trying to stop the singing from entering. No matter how hard she tried, the melodious singing always managed to find a gap to slip in.

It wasn't the original version played on a mobile phone; the singing was melodious yet slightly immature and husky, matching the style of the "bus ghost" in his lifetime.

"Calm down. There are two possibilities: either another ghost has taken over her body, or there is a faint remnant of consciousness in the corpse, which is using this method to lure you to find her."

Ye Shiyu didn't even take out the scissors. He strolled around the funeral home leisurely, without the slightest sense of urgency.

"I haven't sensed any aggressive intent from the ghosts around me yet. They're mostly wandering spirits on the verge of death, so it's fine to ignore them. At most, they'll just scare the living. If they really had any malicious intent, you wouldn't have made it this far; you would have died as soon as you got off the bus."

Her words of comfort had no effect on Wei Xin. Her tone was neither gentle nor patient; the one who should be afraid remained afraid. Someone as slow-reacting to horror as Santa Karina didn't even blink.

The Tahrir song continued to be sung, passing through the cracks in the morgue door, acting as a guiding horn.

Santa Karina took a deep breath of the damp, cool air, then pushed the door open forcefully. The explorer had already cut the chain lock on the morgue door, without a doubt.

The temperature inside the morgue was even lower than outside, and the electronic thermometer was still working, showing an indoor temperature of -21°C. -10°C to -21°C is the optimal temperature for preserving a body; temperatures that are too low or too high are unsuitable.

The rectangular freezers were stacked up neatly, like silver coffins. Santa Karina had also been to the morgue and remembered that the light switch was on the wall to the right of the entrance.

My hand was still two centimeters away from the light switch, and a faint purple light emanated from the light tube under the ceiling.

"Zizi-"

The long-unused light bulbs lit up under everyone's gaze.

The thermometer wasn't broken, and the light bulb still worked, so there was nothing to be alarmed about. Saint Karina thought that even if a corpse in the morgue automatically pushed open the morgue drawer, woke up from its "sleep," and sang "Hop" in the morgue, she would remain calm and accept the scenario within seconds.

No matter how illogical the phenomenon, it's not worth mentioning; this is the confidence that comes from spending so much time immersed in the world of anime and manga.

Each morgue in this funeral home can hold forty bodies, for a total capacity of two hundred. The singing was coming from morgue number three, which was surrounded by other morgues.

Pulling out each of the morgue cabinets one by one requires a lot of mental fortitude and is suitable for people with forensic expertise or those working in the funeral industry. Ordinary people may lack the courage.

Wei Xin only dared to stand at the door, leaning against the door frame, and refused to take a step inside.

"I'll keep watch here. Call me if anything happens."

"Please do as you wish. Having taken your money, I'll certainly get things done. Leave the finding of the body to me."

Saint Karina never forces anyone to do anything; she satisfies her curiosity on her own.

Upon first encountering the morgue's morgue lockers, she experienced a strange feeling. It wasn't excitement or fear, but rather the anticipation of opening a blind box.

No one knows what the body inside is like, its age, gender, or appearance; all external factors are unknown.

"咚咚-"

The sound was a metallic knocking against the inner wall of the morgue. The sound was somewhere between crisp and dull, with faint murmurs mixed in with the knocking. No one touched anything, ruling out the possibility of a prank.

The murmurs were numerous and noisy, indicating that more than two people were talking. A steady female voice repeatedly murmured "cabinet number nineteen," but the person was not seen; only the voice could be heard.

Santa Karina skipped over the other morgues and put on the wool gloves she had brought from home. Touching things that had held dead people with bare hands made her feel uneasy; she didn't even feel comfortable washing her hands before eating.