I paid no attention to these people.
As long as this old Qing Dynasty ghost was dealt with, the dangers these people encountered would also be implicitly resolved.
We moved forward step by step.
Wu Jing, carrying the ghost bag, followed trembling.
Soon, we arrived at the staircase entrance to the third floor on the other side.
The stairs were filled with debris, and the air was thick with a musty, foul smell that made one uncomfortable.
Lao Mo and I ascended, but remained vigilant of our surroundings.
We quickly reached the third floor.
There were several rooms on the third floor as well.
We had no idea where that old ghost was hiding.
We could only search room by room.
The first room was empty, containing nothing.
The second room had a broken chair.
The third room had some torn newspapers.
"..."
After searching several rooms without any success, we encountered a problem when we reached the fifth room.
The door to this room was locked.
I gripped the handle and shook it several times.
Seeing that it wouldn't open, I kicked it.
With a bang, the entire door was kicked open by me.
However, the moment the door was kicked open, I discovered that in the dim room, dozens of dilapidated paper figures were densely packed.
They were brightly colored, each with painted eyes.
Beneath the celestial eyes, these white paper figures seemed to be staring at us, swaying precariously in the darkness.
The scene was chilling and sent shivers down my spine.
It's important to note that in the Yin Gate, paper figures cannot have their eyes painted arbitrarily.
The legend of paper figures coming to life after their eyes are painted has also been circulating among the populace.
Yet, here, there were so many paper figures with painted eyes, exuding an eerie aura...
But besides these, there was also an altar in the center.
Incense was burning in offering.
Above it, there was a spirit tablet.
After a moment of stunned silence, Lao Mo and I fixed our gaze on the altar.
"An altar?"
I asked with surprise.
Lao Mo also found it strange:
"Aren't these all ghosts here!
Why is there an altar?
Who is it for?
Let me see what's being offered."
Saying this, Lao Mo walked forward and snatched the spirit tablet.
On the black spirit tablet, written in red ink was Aixinjueluo·Pu Sui.
"Well, still a Qing Dynasty imperial surname."
Lao Mo remarked.
Wu Jing, who was standing behind us trembling, suddenly spoke:
"M-Mister Mo, that, that innkeeper, his name seems to be Pu Sui.
Before, when I was gambling, I heard someone call him that once."
Hearing Wu Jing's words, I also looked at the spirit tablet.
So, this spirit tablet was for that old Qing Dynasty ghost.
But I didn't pay much attention to it. His surname, or anything else, was not important.
On the land of my China, who among the notable figures, historically, wasn't descended from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, or imperial families of various dynasties?
Aixinjueluo was merely the last of our imperial lineage!
Therefore, my attention was drawn more to the incense on the offering table.
Because I noticed that the incense was black.
It was different from the incense we usually saw, and after burning, the smell was also unusual.
It was foul and unlike anything I had encountered.
"Lao Mo, have you ever seen this kind of incense?"
Lao Mo casually threw the spirit tablet aside and stepped closer for a look:
"Huh! Black incense, this is the first time I've seen it.
And why does it smell so bad? Is this made of shit?"
Lao Mo said with great disdain.
"Who knows!
But there's something strange about this room.
So many paper figures, and this spirit tablet and incense, be careful."
I said seriously, scanning the white paper figures.
Back in Qing Dai's Nine Saints Manor, the maids and other servants were these white paper figures.
Though stiff, they could move and speak.
The presence of so many white paper figures here, coupled with the old ghost's disappearance, demanded my utmost caution.
However, after a few glances, I found no abnormality.
So, I decided to proceed to inspect the other rooms.
As a result, the other rooms, without exception, were all filled with such white paper figures with painted eyes.
Soon, we arrived at the last room.
Apart from these paper figures, we still found nothing.
"Damn it, it's all paper figures.
Lao Qin, I feel that as long as that old ghost isn't an idiot,
he must have escaped beforehand!
He wouldn't wait for us to catch him!"
Lao Mo exclaimed.
I shared the same thought.
The old ghost was so weak; if he were truly here, he wouldn't be a match for Lao Mo and me.
If he wasn't foolish, he would have fled.
Seeing that we found nothing but a pile of paper figures,
the ghost might have already escaped...
So, I said to Lao Mo:
"Lao Mo, check the Zhisha Luopan again."
Lao Mo nodded:
As he spoke, he took out the compass.
The result was that the pointer of the Zhisha Luopan was still swinging from side to side.
This meant that the source of the malevolent energy was still within this冥楼 (underworld building).
"Huh! How can the source still be here?
Didn't the old ghost escape?"
Lao Mo said, puzzled.
Seeing the pointer still swinging, I narrowed my eyes.
If the source of the malevolent energy was still within this冥楼,
then it could only mean one thing: the old ghost was still here.
Or perhaps, for some reason, he was unable to leave this place?
However, we hadn't found him yet.
But where could he hide?
The answer was obvious: among these paper figures with painted eyes.
I slowly turned my head to look at the paper figures in the room.
Then I said:
"If that old ghost isn't foolish, and hasn't escaped,
there's likely only one reason.
He's unable to leave here for some reason.
Since he can't leave.
And we can't find him now.
The only possibility is that he has attached himself to the bodies of these paper figures..."