Chapter 3: The Dual Threat in the Corridor

The bloodstained rope held by the woman in red was the murder weapon that caused her death, imbued with a sinister power. Whenever Wu Xian looked up, the rope would automatically loop around his neck, binding him just as it had bound her.

But when Wu Xian kept his head down, the rope was securely fastened around her own neck—and it was far sturdier than an ordinary rope.

Then...

The woman in red was caught off guard, her cervical vertebrae snapped instantly. Her body writhed desperately like a hefty catfish caught on a hook. Only then did she remember she could control the rope herself and hurriedly untied the coil lying on the ground.

“I’m going to... cough cough... eat you for a lifetime...”

Before she could finish, Wu Xian rolled aside, putting some distance between them. With a flick of his thumb against his middle finger, he snapped his fingers toward her.

A true fire curse!

The woman in red was busy righting her head. Her tongue retracted piece by piece, and just as the last segment slipped back into her mouth, her lips still parted, a bright flame darted into her gaping maw.

Her exquisitely dead face instantly twisted into an expression of terror.

“For a lifetime, for a lifetime...”

The blinding flames ignited from within her, consuming her entirely from the inside out. The fire was yellow and not very hot, sparing everything around her except herself.

She rolled and writhed in the flames, emitting silent wails. Though no sound escaped, Wu Xian felt his eardrums throb with pain.

Covering his ears, Wu Xian rose from the floor, a grin spreading across his lips.

“There really are ghosts in this blessed land, huh? Though... maybe she’s just too weak?”

If all the creatures in this blessed land were at this level, Wu Xian’s detective comrades wouldn’t have all fallen victim here. Most likely, this long-tongued hanging woman was merely a roadside monster of the blessed land.

The flames gradually died down.

In the place where she had burned, only a dark red incense stick remained. Wu Xian picked it up but did not examine it. Instead, he pressed his ear to the door, listening to the sounds outside.

“Please, save me, I am...”

The woman was still knocking, trying to deceive other residents on the floor into opening the door for her. This meant the brief fight earlier had not escalated further.

Wu Xian exhaled in relief. “Her abnormality is obvious; hopefully no fool will open the door for her…”

...

Creak.

The door to Room 405 opened.

Lu Yuzhu greeted the person at the door with joy, glad to have a companion to share her misery.

Like Wu Xian, she had witnessed brutal slaughter, but her heart was not as strong. Fear shattered her defenses, and she desperately needed someone to share her dread.

At the door stood a middle-aged woman in a black-and-white floral dress, her expression terrified. A wound on her forehead had bled down her face.

But she was alive!

Like a drowning person clutching a lifeline, Lu Yuzhu opened the door. “ComeI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.