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墨書 Inktalez
The tension in the air was palpable, as the crowd braced themselves for the unexpected appearance of the Zongzi. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the steps, waiting anxiously for its emergence.
As seconds ticked by, there was still no sign of the Zongzi. Aside from the lingering echo of a scream, silence enveloped the area—a deathly quiet where only the sound of breathing could be heard.
Perhaps the Eternal Zongzi was still lurking outside, while another Zongzi had appeared inside. The situation was incredibly tense; it felt like being caught between a wolf and a tiger. In some ways, hidden enemies were far more terrifying than those already revealed.
Everyone was on edge, hesitant to move forward, opting instead to huddle below without making a sound. Yet they couldn't afford to relax completely, remaining vigilant against any potential dangers that might erupt above.
After a moment passed, the upper floor fell completely silent.
Gradually, we began to lower our guard. The earlier chaos had transformed into a more peaceful atmosphere.
But the calm was short-lived.
Suddenly, a series of thuds echoed from above—not the sound of wood being struck, but rather a metallic clang that resonated ominously. The noise was eerie and low, sometimes elongated and sometimes abrupt, almost as if it were singing a haunting melody. At that moment, it felt more like a song of death.
The thuds grew louder, sounding as if they were rising from the depths of the Nine Hells. Prolonged exposure to that sound sent chills down one's spine.
Fat Ma had been fortunate this time; he returned with his arms laden with treasures, unlike the other two who had already met their fate up there.
A wave of unease washed over me, growing stronger and more tangible by the second. I glanced at the Mingqi Fat Ma had brought back; they all appeared to be crafted from bronze, most of them weapons—including one that resembled an Iron Claw.
The upper floor continued to glint with cold light. Its warning was subtle yet significant.
I asked Fat Ma to show me what he had collected. Without hesitation, he handed it over.
As I examined it closely, I noticed this small weapon could be secured to the wrist with a strap and could serve as a substitute for one's weak hands in combat. I scrutinized this iron claw intently when suddenly my mind jolted with alarm. I quickly urged Fat Ma to show me his wound.
Upon hearing the request for the Fat Ma, he looked at me in disbelief and said, "I just bandaged my wound..." Then he shifted his tone and asked, "Old Sun, when did you develop this habit again?"
I didn’t have time to joke around with Fat Ma.
I reached out and cut the bandage off Fat Ma with a knife. Just as he was about to get angry, I couldn’t care less. To verify my suspicion, I examined his wound closely. I noticed that the scratches on his arm were very much like those caused by the metal Iron Claw.
At that moment, a bold hypothesis suddenly surfaced in my mind. After rewrapping Fat Ma's wound, he was still grumbling, but when he saw my calm demeanor, he immediately stopped talking and asked, "Old Sun, is something wrong?"
The Mud Man looked at me with a steady gaze, while Zhang Tong and Old Ghost cast expectant looks in my direction.
After pondering for a moment, I didn’t keep them in suspense but lowered my voice so only we could hear. "I suspect that what’s up there isn’t a Zongzi but a living person!"
As soon as I voiced this suspicion, everyone stared at me in shock, their expressions filled with surprise. Fat Ma immediately jumped to his feet, his anger escalating far beyond what it had been during our escape. He cursed a couple of times and was ready to seek revenge.
I quickly stopped him, urging him not to alert anyone.
The others were much calmer compared to Fat Ma's explosive temper.
"Comrade Sun, how did you figure it out?" Zhang Tong asked me.
I felt a bit awkward hearing him call me Comrade Sun but didn’t correct him. Holding the Iron Claw that Fat Ma had brought down from above, I briefly explained my reasoning. Everyone quickly understood.
Fat Ma’s frustration was becoming increasingly difficult to contain.
"Damn it, are they trying to monopolize the Mingqi on the second floor? There are still plenty of good things up there," Fat Ma muttered under his breath.
I was momentarily speechless after hearing that.
"What should we do now?" Old Ghost interjected.
I didn't rush to answer but turned to ask the Mud Man instead.
The Mud Man didn't hesitate and replied directly, "Go up and knock him over!"
This suggestion perfectly suited Fat Ma's taste, and he immediately expressed his agreement.
Since we had already agreed on a plan, we made some preparations.
I, Old Ghost, and Zhang Tong stayed below while Fat Ma and the Mud Man took two Eerie Figures with them upstairs.
The Fat Ma swaggered up the stairs with a dagger in hand. The Mud Man followed closely behind, with the other two trailing like shadows.
The remaining four or five people watched the sudden ascent of these individuals, their spirits lifted as they focused intently on them.
The steps had been stained with blood, creating a gruesome line; entrails were scattered everywhere, and an exceptionally strong Blood Stench filled the air, making one feel nauseous.
Fat Ma covered his nose and cursed under his breath.
The Mud Man called out to Fat Ma and crouched down to examine the wounds on a corpse. The light illuminated a gaping wound made by an Iron Claw, confirming that Old Sun had spoken the truth.
"Be careful," the Mud Man warned Fat Ma.
Fat Ma acknowledged him and suddenly turned to ask his two companions, "Do you have any guns?"
The question came out of nowhere, leaving the three clay figures momentarily stunned, while the two Eerie Figures remained completely indifferent to them.
"Do you have a gun?" Fat Ma pressed on.
Finally, one of them nodded.
"Can I borrow it?" Seeing a glimmer of hope, Fat Ma asked with a cheeky grin.
But he was met with refusal.
"Let's go!" Fat Ma changed his tone, urging the clay figures to move quickly.
The clay figures checked around without delay and followed Fat Ma upstairs. Soon, they came across another corpse, lying in the same gruesome state.
The second floor was more complex than the first, filled with numerous Bronze Pillars. The situation here was much more intricate, with various weapons scattered about. They were all secured by iron chains to the ceiling, hanging at varying heights.
This sight startled the clay figures.
Fat Ma, on the other hand, felt a bit uneasy. Having just experienced a setback here, he was more cautious now, but his eyes were fixed on one particular direction.
In addition to the weapons, there were other Mingqi scattered around, such as porcelain items.
Fat Ma had been in such a hurry to escape earlier that he hadn’t had time to distinguish anything properly; he hastily grabbed some Mingqi and made his retreat.
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