"Thanks for the tip, Tieling Biao Ye. But honestly, I'd still like to hear from Liu Banxian—he's the expert after all." I checked my phone; it was just before midnight, still some time before the old woman's warning about not going out after midnight. "If things get too bad, I can always escape and call the police…"
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian: "Young folks these days risk their lives for money. Well, since we crossed paths, I'll give you some advice."
"Thanks, Banxian."
The live stream's popularity had climbed to thirty - seven, and the number kept rising.
"When earth energy is strong, the house is bright, and those who live there benefit; when it's weak, the house withers, and residents lose vitality. Streamer, open the window first—I need to check the earth energy."
I did as told, using my phone to light up the window.
"No grass, no flowers, misshapen trees. Surrounded by heights, low in the center—stagnant energy, filth trapped with no escape!" Liu Banxian sent another comment a minute later: "Streamer, close the window now! Check the four corners of the bed for white rice grains or traces of red, white, or yellow paper."
I zoomed the camera in. The corners were spotless, not even a cobweb, but when I focused on the double bed, a chill crept in.
"White rice grains!" Tucked inconspicuously inside the bed legs were several wet, cold - soaked rice grains.
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian: "White rice is used to honor ancestors and pacify spirits. This room's layout is extremely ominous—more than one person must have died here. Look under the bed; there should be talismans to suppress evil. Don't get close. If there are more than four, leave immediately to save your life."
"Under the bed?" I knelt again, grabbing the bedframe, holding the camera, and sticking my head under.
"Th - this…" The cold floor seemed to freeze my body, a numbness spreading through my veins like insects crawling. The scene before me was unlike anything I'd seen—"horrifying" was the only word that came to mind.
Under the 2m x 1.5m bedboard, densely packed yellow talismans with red characters covered every inch.
Tianxian Baobao Si Yu Mousha: "Whoa, giving me trypophobia."
San Nian Er Ban Huang Jingguan: "Brother, call the police. I knew this case was off from the start."
Bie Pen Wo, Wo Hen Cuiruo: "Fuck, scared the shit out of me…"
Dizzy, I sat up, propping myself on my elbows. "Banxian, I didn't count, but there are way more than four…"
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian: "Pray for luck, young man. Most talismans bring good fortune, but these are for suppressing evil. Now that the evil energy is leaking, they've lost their power. You invited trouble the moment you entered."
"You're saying I can't escape this?"
"I want to help, but I'm in Qingcheng—far from here."
Ren Shuai Huo Hao Meizhi Ai: "You two are putting on quite a show! Let me guess, Liu Banxian is just the streamer's plant. Nice script, 9/10 for props—better than some cheap special effects."
Timor Dun Mogu: "Is this all an act? I'm twelve—don't lie to me."
Suoyi He Heifen Jihun Le: "Greedy streamer faking it for tips!"
Tieling Biao Ye: "Who you calling ignorant? Wanna fight?"
The fear ebbed as comments flooded in. I sat on the bed, lit a cigarette, but jumped up again, remembering the talismans under the bed.
"Is Anxin Inn really haunted?" I still resisted believing it. "Without proof, all this is just speculation."
My police academy training demanded a complete evidence chain before conclusions.
After another cigarette, the live stream quieted, but popularity soared to over sixty viewers.
"Call me a fraud or actor, but I'm staying tonight. 'If I die, so be it'—I refuse to be scared by myths." I gritted my teeth and lay on the bed, feeling lighter with my decision.
Tieling Biao Ye tipped 99 ghost money: "Bold! Love it—here's a tip!"
Qingcheng Shanxia Liu Banxian tipped 99 ghost money: "Wealth means nothing in life or death. Why do this, streamer?"
I had my reasons—the Underworld Show's task. Breaking the contract might mean disappearing without a trace.
No escape but forward. "I've faced cruel, cunning criminals. Why fear a ghost that might not even exist?"
"Tonight, I'll stay and seek the ghost. If it's all fake, the Underworld Show is just a group of scheming humans hiding behind superstition!"
"Yes, it's their task, but also my chance to expose them."
Fear gave way to resolve. I pointed the camera at myself: "Viewers, I'm as curious as you—do ghosts exist? Are supernatural events real? Which urban legends are fake, and which hide dark secrets? So much unknown awaits. Today is just the beginning!"
"I'll recreate the tenant's death as closely as possible, reliving that suffocating scene. From now on, I am that tenant, thinking like him, hoping to trigger the same fate—seeing something so terrifying, he died of shock!"
Death simulation, like a live drama, aids investigations but requires detailed planning and psychology. Here in this desolate inn, I'd improvise. I wasn't a psychologist, but I knew basic environmental and criminal psychology.
Timor Dun Mogu: "Streamer's vibe just changed—kinda cool now."
Xuejie Aishang Wo: "Why do I feel like something big is about to happen…"
San Nian Er Ban Huang Jingguan: "Knew you were a pro. Show us what you've got!"
"Death simulation isn't magic—it's about reconstructing scenes using the victim's personality, crime scene, motives, and psychology." I turned the camera: "The victim was a jobless local, in debt from gambling, hiding here to escape creditors. He stayed half a month with no incident, then died mid - month. What happened that day? What did he do to invite death?"
Pacing with the camera, I continued: "Half a month stuck here, broken TV, nothing to do, staring at two old, creepy faces every day…"
"Death was at night. What would a bored, restless man do? Could he have…"
I rummaged through the bed and found something under the pillow: a bright, colorful card.
Timor Dun Mogu: "What'd you find, streamer? Is it the victim's last message?!"
Ren Shuai Huo Hao Meizhi Ai: "Heh, little Timor—some mysteries are better left unspoken."
San Nian Er Ban Huang Jingguan: "Watch your language; this is too heavy for a minor."
Ren Shuai Huo Hao Meizhi Ai: "Shut up! You're probably the streamer's plant too. So robotic—watch out for no pay after the show!"
Tianxian Baobao Si Yu Mousha: "This live stream is full of secrets…"