s really not." My brother scoffed. "It's obvious that if high-ranking officials and their sons openly promoted such a commercial project, they would have been stabbed in the back and brought down long...I thought it was a ball of fire. I've seen ghosts and corpses, so I'm not afraid anymore, but now there's this strange "Ms. Xue" around me, whose authenticity is unknown. I'm very nervous.

The ghostly apparition should have been emanating a pale green or dark blue light. The light of the flame was normal, slowly drifting over, and only then did I see it was an old-fashioned candlestick.

A terrifyingly old woman held a candlestick.

The old woman's face was like that of a corpse, sagging with age. It was covered in black and brown age spots. If she were alive, she would be at least ninety years old.

Her eyes were narrowed, with many wrinkles around them, almost completely hidden. Only a triangular slit was visible.

That gaze was impossible to describe – whether it was clouded or shrewd.

The old woman stooped and stood under the big red lantern, sizing me up. She said to Ms. Xue beside me, “This girl is prettier than you were when you were young… But her eyes are not good, she looks fierce…”

Nonsense, seeing the two of you, one old and one young, as witches, how could I possibly be tender like water

"This is Granny Xue, you asked if there are any living people here, she's the living person. She takes care of this house on a daily basis and also helps me manage my business..." Ms. Xue said leisurely.

"Doing business What kind of business are you doing Buying and selling people or kidnapping and extortion, those kinds of no-cost businesses" I gave her a withering look.

Ms. Xue raised an eyebrow, crossed her arms, and sauntered past me with a seductive air.

"In this line of work, besides the yin and yang business, are there other businesses Granny, you take this young girl to the room and have her wash up. We'll talk about it tomorrow." she instructed the old woman.

"Is...she doesn't need to be locked up" the old woman asked.

"No, she's safe here... Oh, Xia Yinluo." Mrs. Xue turned to smile at me and said slowly, "Don't blame Mom for not reminding you, if you step out of this house yourself and encounter anything strange, don't cry out for help! ~ I live in the last courtyard, I may not hear your cries for help, hihi..."

Damn, what does this mean If I step out of this house, will I be taken away by beasts

The stars were dim in the night, and the moon seemed veiled by a mist.

I heard a few hoots of owls, which cast a desolate aura over the night.

What should I do I'm not familiar with this place. If I try to escape in the darkness, I'll probably be more vulnerable. It's better to wait until dawn and see what happens then.

But it's not easy to wait until dawn, this old woman looks so scary, she looks like a monster, even demons and ghosts would stay away from her, sticking her on the door is better than any door god!

They say one's appearance reflects their heart. This old woman is frightening and eerie, she definitely isn't a good person.

"Girl, I locked you up for your own good..." The old woman held a candlestick in one hand and shielded the wind with the other, taking me step by step towards the inner courtyard.

"I don't buy it! Being locked up is for my own good I don't believe that." I scoffed.

The old woman chuckled twice: “Last time… another girl came here. She was curious and didn’t have much self-awareness, so she went out on her own and almost got killed by those inhuman things outside. Luckily, your mother arrived in time, but the girl was terrified and developed a condition. I'm afraid she'll often be plagued by nightmares…”

Another girl This place has "hosted" quite a few people, hasn't it

"You still say you're not kidnappers, how many people have you brought here" I asked, frowning.

The old woman smiled again, this time with a chilling coldness. "Here... how could ordinary people possibly enter You should ask your mother about these things later. I shouldn't say too much, it would be wrong... Ah, we old folks just try to live one day at a time. It's better to speak less and live longer, hehehe… Anyway, tonight, you'll stay here."

"So, this is where I'm staying This... is just a bare-bones shack!"

This room has nothing in it! There's only a wooden bed frame and a moldy, damp blanket!

The bed was neatly folded on the tatami mat, it had been there for quite some time, emitting a foul odor.

An old woman who looked like a corpse chuckled and said, "Little girl, do you think this is your own home Should I prepare a high bed and warm pillows for you And dress you in fine clothes and feed you delicacies Don't be greedy! It's good enough to have a roof over your head..."

She slowly turned around, looking as if she were leaving.

"Wait!" I jumped forward to stop her.

The old woman's small eyes narrowed, and she smiled, revealing a mouthful of blackened teeth, which sent shivers down my spine.

"...Blocking my way You're truly courageous. Aren't you afraid of me" she asked.

"Don't give me that! With a look like yours, who wouldn't be afraid But since you left me here, you probably won't kill me right away, will you Treat your prisoner well at least, provide some warm clothing and leave a lamp for me!"

After I finished speaking, I reached out to grab the candlestick from her hand.

In this godforsaken place, I have nothing on me. My senior sister already searched me thoroughly before and took everything away from me, even the small pouch hanging around my neck is gone.

Leave me a candlestick at least, so I can feel a little safer.

I didn't expect my action to be stopped so abruptly by the old woman!

Her wide sleeves suddenly stretched out a withered, claw-like finger. The palm was covered by the embroidered, wide sleeves, only revealing her fingertips.

Several fingers, like shackles, clamped onto my wrist. The force was so intense I almost thought I'd been slammed by a door!

“Ouch!! It hurts so much!” I hurriedly reached out to hit her.

She moved the candlestick away and smiled wickedly, "The candlestick can't give you...fire. It could burn down the house, and besides, the spikes on this candlestick could be used to harm yourself..."

What are you talking about I have a husband and family (besides that Ms. Xue), would I dare to commit suicide

She didn't pull her finger back in time, and I suddenly saw several of her fingers.

The fingers were thin and covered in black spots. The skin was dry but tightly wrapped around the bones and tendons. I felt like I had seen these fingers somewhere before.

"Be good, don't cause trouble... or you'll be the one getting hurt..." The old woman relaxed her grip, sneered, and walked out the door carrying the candlestick.

I looked out from the dusty windowpane. She stood alone, carrying a candleholder, its flame flickering and casting her face in an eerie light, making her resemble the dead.

This house is too ordinary, too dilapidated. I can't understand how Ms. Xue would live here. Doesn't she think it's lifeless and has bad feng shui Wouldn't people in her circle prefer a different place

Moreover, in a place with no lights, how could she guarantee that she looks so young by removing her makeup and taking care of her skin

I sat on the couch for a while, pulling at the quilt with disdain. It was an old cotton quilt from the past, thick and heavy, damp in winter, with a peculiar smell.

But it's cold at night, and I don't know how long until dawn. I need to conserve my energy before I can even think about escaping.

I huddled under the old quilt, dozing with my eyes half-closed. I didn't notice when dawn broke until the sound of footsteps grew closer.ime for us to return."I sighed and said, "I can't wait any longer. I've been on edge for days. I have to keep up appearances, act calm and collected, and worry about my health so as not to alarm anyon...