On a weekend night, the area around Tiansheng Bridge became increasingly prosperous.
Cruise ships sailed along the river, and on the buildings lining the banks, countless lights twinkled like a scattering of stars, resembling the Milky Way.
In the distance, a firework display filled the sky with brilliant blossoms of light, attracting many tourists who stopped to watch, lingering long after the show began.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, no one noticed when several low-profile black business buses pulled into the parking lot of Green Ti New City.
Qin Yue and the other eight members of the action group were busy adjusting their equipment.
Zhao Daxian was still wearing his pink tracksuit, leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed as if napping.
The others were dressed in black tactical uniforms equipped with multi-functional gear, black boots, and night-vision recorders on their chests. And, of course, there was the most important item.
Click.
Qin Yue skillfully removed a magazine and tucked it into her right arm pocket. In front of her, the internal communication device showed that the rest of the Special Investigation Section was online.
Ma Mingyuan appeared on the video screen, and his voice came through the earpieces:
【Xiao Qin, how are the preparations going? We’ve already coordinated with the fire and traffic police departments. If a fire breaks out in the building, they will evacuate the public immediately.】
【The support team will also enter the building for rescue operations right away. But regarding this operational plan...】
【Comrade Xiao Zhao is young, after all, and doesn't have as much experience as He Xiaoyi. So, I suggest we change it so that Zhao Daxian stays on standby while He Xiaoyi accompanies you.】
Qin Yue was personally leading the team for tonight’s operation, while Ma Mingyuan, as the deputy chief, stayed behind to monitor the situation and report progress to superiors at any time.
To be safe, Zhao Daxian, as the Action Group Leader, was to go with them, while He Xiaoyi and the others stayed on standby at the bottom of the building, ready to provide backup.
“No need. Tonight’s mission might be physically demanding.”
Qin Yue glanced at the dozing Zhao Daxian and said in a low voice, “Besides, we have team communications and real-time recording. Master He can contact me remotely if needed.”
“Furthermore, this is the action group's first mission. As the leader, he naturally needs to be at the front.”
Zhao Daxian opened his eyes and gave her a somewhat awkward look, but said nothing.
“...”
【Fine. You are the supreme commander of the operation; everything follows your lead. I’ll be back here backing you up.】
【Additionally, we’ve consulted experts in the history department of the Great Xia Academy of History. They should arrive tonight at the latest.】
【As for that 'Kuizhou Circuit' you mentioned, their response was that it’s very likely a geographical division from the ancient Song Dynasty.】
【Historical records show that during the Northern Song Dynasty, Qianli City was located within this Kuizhou Circuit.】
【The materials sent by the historians also state that according to historical records:】
【"West River Circuit was renamed Chengdu Yizhou Circuit, and the former West River Transport Commissioner Ma Liang was reassigned as the Yizhou Circuit Transport Commissioner... Fengjie Gorges Circuit was renamed Fengjie Kuizhou Circuit, and the former Fengjie Transport Commissioner, Ding Wei, was reassigned to Kuizhou Circuit..."】
“Kuizhou was the ancient name for Qianli City during the Northern Song. Combining that with the words and behavior of Target B, terms like 'demon suppressor' and 'Kuizhou Circuit Commissioner' should both be some kind of titles.”
Qin Yue nodded, following this line of thought.
“She called me a 'little demon suppressor.' She likely mistook me—or rather, personnel from an official department responsible for supernatural incidents—for what she calls a 'demon suppressor.'”
“That’s why she appeared in the building so frequently and even told me that a supernatural event would occur in Green Ti New City tonight.”
【Your reasoning is completely correct.】
Ma Mingyuan tapped the table, his expression solemn.
【Our people think so too. Since there are orders and specific job titles involved, it’s highly probable that there is a massive folk organization behind Target B.】
【The higher-ups' stance is that since the other party hasn't shown any malice for now, we should approach with caution and do our best to gather more information about these 'demon suppressors.'】
【Good luck with tonight's mission. When you get back, I’ll pay out of my own pocket to take everyone out for late-night snacks.】
Qin Yue checked the time. It was already 10:31 PM.
Less than half an hour remained before the hour of the Rat arrived.
She gave a solemn salute, her eyes filled with determination.
“Mission will be accomplished!”
...
...
10:57 PM.
Inside the building, Qin Yue led the action team up the stairs from the underground garage to avoid being seen by others.
The team members were all elites Qin Yue had handpicked from various departments. Climbing stairs was nothing to them; they could march ten kilometers with full gear without breaking a sweat.
Zhao Daxian, on the other hand, was panting heavily by the time they reached the thirty-ninth floor.
But when he saw that Qin Yue hadn't even broken a sweat, his pride flared up. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep up with the team as they climbed to the mission site: the fifty-ninth floor.
Zhao Daxian wasn't stupid enough to think this was just a way for her to show him up.
He had read the files before coming.
In the past year, this building had reported two fire alarms.
Although each fire was discovered in time, the frequency was far too strange.
More importantly, both fires started without warning, and both occurred on the fifty-ninth floor—the same floor where people had died in the past.
The first time, a tourist's handbag caught fire when a power bank inside exploded.
The second time, a trash can in the restroom spontaneously combusted, igniting a pile of debris left there by a janitor.
What were the odds of a power bank exploding?
And what were the odds of a trash can in a restroom spontaneously combusting?
What was truly spine-chilling was that both fires had occurred exactly around 11:30 PM.
Therefore, what they were dealing with tonight was very likely a vengeful ghost capable of arson.
If the entity realized their intentions and was provoked into setting the building on fire, taking the elevator up would be no different from delivering themselves to be roasted alive in a tin can.
The fact that Zhao Daxian didn't find anything to complain about actually made Qin Yue look at him with a bit more respect.
“Synchronize watches. It is currently 10:57:56 PM... 57, 58, 59... 10:58 PM sharp.”
Qin Yue stared at her wristwatch and gave a hand signal to the team members, whispering:
“We don't have much time. Clearing the entire building would draw too much attention, so tonight we will only evacuate the occupants on the fifty-eighth, fifty-ninth, and sixtieth floors.”
“Comrades from the technical department have already taken control of the elevators. For now, no one can enter these three floors.”
“Next, pair up into five groups to inspect the rooms on this floor. Clear any potential ignition points. If you encounter civilians, evacuate them immediately.”
“Rendezvous back here at 11:25 PM. Report your status every three minutes. If you encounter an emergency, signal immediately. Is that clear?!”
“Clear!”
“Clear!”
“Clear!”
“Clear!”
The action group members responded in unison and professionally paired up. They split off in east and west directions, beginning a safety sweep of every room.
Information about the incidents on the fifty-ninth floor was available online.
As a result, no one dared to rent the space until a year ago, when someone took over the entire floor. Using the tragedy of the fire from seven years ago as a gimmick, they opened an escape room.
This behavior of profiting from blood and tragedy had actually allowed the business to make a fortune.
And the strange occurrences in the building had started right around that time.
It was hard not to suspect a connection between the two.
【5901 clear!】
【5902 clear!】
...
【5907 clear!】
【5908 clear!】
The team members reported their movements through their earpieces. For now, there were no abnormalities.
Bang!
Qin Yue kicked open the door to another room in the escape room.
By the dim, grey light inside, she managed to see the layout, and a surge of anger rose in her heart.
Charred rooms, floors that looked as if they had been ravaged by fire, deliberately aged furniture, a half-burnt door plate, curtains scorched to rags, and a fire extinguisher with only the bottom half remaining...
This was a fire-themed escape room.
The reason Qin Yue found it familiar was that the owner had modeled the scenes after the photographs taken immediately after the actual fire.
“By the Immeasurable Lord of Heaven! These people are far too bold for the sake of money! To set up something like this in a place like this... they even dare to offend ghosts!”
Even Zhao Daxian couldn't help but curse when he saw it.
“Isn't this just asking for death? After people die, they are already forced to repeat the scene of their death over and over.”
“But this owner actually went and reconstructed the scene. He really isn't afraid of shortening his life and ruining his Yin merit!”
Rate on N.U.
