Dirty Things

The view was even more expansive after stepping out of the vehicle.

Cheng Shuili's boots crunched against the gravel path, making a faint, crisp sound.

She looked up at the mottled old castle, where sunlight cast eerie spots of light through the shattered stained-glass windows, adding a touch of mystery. Just as she hesitated about whether to go inside, Su Rui suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Wait." Su Rui's voice trembled, her grip firm. She said, "That shadow I saw just now... it's gone."

To be honest, the sudden way Su Rui grabbed her arm was even more frightening than the news she had delivered.

Cheng Shuili frowned, pried her hand away, and gave her a stern look before narrowing her eyes and glancing up at the window.

Indeed.

The blurry figure that had been standing at the third-floor window just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

She stood still in silence for a moment, then opened the territory description to double-check. Only after confirming that this place was absolutely safe did she feel at ease.

"It might just be an illusion caused by the light and shadows."

Cheng Shuili offered a logical guess, though her hand was very honest as it gripped her long blade.

"We have to go in and take a look eventually," Cheng Shuili said, deliberately turning her head to look at Su Rui, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Are you scared?"

Su Rui: "......"

What was there to be afraid of?

She had grown up in a martial arts hall! She had been filled with righteousness since she was a child!

Even if there were actually some dirty things here, it would be the dirty things that should be afraid of her.

She said nothing, keeping her mouth tightly shut as she took the lead and pushed open the rusted, carved iron gate. A scent mixed with mold and dust immediately rushed toward them.

Cheng Shuili raised a hand to fan the air in front of her nose, her gaze fixed on Su Rui.

This kid is really reckless; her dagger was still tucked at her waist, completely forgotten.

Even if a servant isn't a normal person, they shouldn't act like this, right? What if there was actual danger?

Cheng Shuili sighed silently. Is this why she is the boss? She really has to worry about everyone, one by one.

She stepped forward, passing Su Rui, and said faintly, "Take out your dagger."

"Oh."

Su Rui looked a bit dazed. She scanned the main hall, and although she didn't spot any danger, she obediently gripped her dagger.

Cheng Shuili was satisfied. She walked forward two steps, and the moment her boots touched the hall floor, tiny particles of dust began to dance in the sunlight.

She didn't move further, choosing instead to stand where she was and survey the long-sealed space.

The hall was even more cavernous than she had imagined.

In the center, a curved marble staircase wound upward. The exquisite carvings on the railing were damaged and incomplete, yet one could still discern the luxury of the past.

Beneath the staircase was a dried-up fountain pool, the bottom filled with dead leaves, with a broken angel statue standing in the center; only half of its wings remained.

What was quite miraculous was that a beam of sunlight hit the statue perfectly.

Cheng Shuili had originally thought the roof had a skylight, but upon looking up, she realized the light was being refracted by several strategically placed mirrors.

Cheng Shuili had only seen this kind of interior design in games, specifically inside ancient tombs, which made it feel quite ominous.

Su Rui stood behind Cheng Shuili, not having moved a single step for a long time.

And she said she wasn't scared.

Isn't this just being incredibly timid?

Cheng Shuili didn't look back, her gaze sweeping to the left.

There stood a row of decaying mahogany display cabinets against the wall. Most of the glass windows were shattered, and the collections that had originally been inside...

Moldy books, broken porcelain, and the like.

They were scattered all over the floor.

It looked as if it had been robbed.

Cheng Shuili's gaze was drawn to the portraits on the wall.

In several of the moth-eaten paintings, the faces of the figures had been slashed beyond recognition by a sharp object, leaving only hideous, jagged scars.

"It really looks like a haunted place..."

Su Rui added gloomily from behind Cheng Shuili.

Cheng Shuili: "......"

If Su Rui wasn't doing this on purpose, then she herself was the truly terrifying one.

"This side is even stranger."

Su Rui didn't know what Cheng Shuili was thinking. She had already walked to the right side of the area and pointed it out to Cheng Shuili.

Cheng Shuili followed and saw an old piano, along with a dining table that had been broken into pieces.

"It's this."

Su Rui squatted down, her fingers gently brushing across the black and white marble floor tiles.

Cheng Shuili looked down and followed her gaze. Aside from the footprints they had just made, there were several sets of blurred, old footprints leading in different directions.

Cheng Shuili's gaze followed one of the sets of footprints, finally landing behind the marble staircase.

There was a half-hidden oak door there, and the copper plaque on it read "Wine Cellar."

What made both of them tense up was that there were several fresh scratch marks on the rusted door handle, appearing particularly glaring against the dust.

"Should... should we go over and take a look?"

Su Rui's voice clearly lacked confidence.

"Of course."

Cheng Shuili replied, her voice steadier than she had expected. "After all, we're already here."

This second half of the sentence carried a hint of helplessness, the tone so natural that Su Rui felt less nervous.

"I'll open the door!"

Su Rui volunteered, slowly approaching the door. She reached out her hand...

Cheng Shuili focused her attention, gripping her long blade tightly.

Just as Su Rui's hand was about to touch the handle, a sudden sound of footsteps came from upstairs.

Both of them immediately stopped moving and turned their heads simultaneously toward the source of the sound.

"Clack, clack, clack——"

The sound was unhurried, as if someone were pacing in the empty hallway wearing high heels.

Each sound echoed clearly in the silent hall, as if stepping directly on their nerves.

Su Rui's hand froze in mid-air, her face turning pale instantly.

Cheng Shuili, however, frowned. Making this kind of noise at a time like this?

They must have studied the Art of War well... this move is called 'making a feint to the east while attacking in the west,' right?

Cheng Shuili suddenly put away her long blade, placed one hand on Su Rui's shoulder, and used her other hand to grab the old door handle directly.

The sound of footsteps rang out again.

Cheng Shuili felt even more confident now.

She exerted a little force, pressed the handle, and then suddenly stepped back and kicked the door open!

A scream suddenly rang out: "Ah! My door!"

Su Rui was startled and immediately took a step back.

Cheng Shuili shifted her gaze away. Still thinking about the door?

Better start thinking about your own life.

Cheng Shuili looked up toward the second floor; that was where the sound had come from.

She wasn't in a hurry to catch this mastermind, choosing instead to first see what was inside the wine cellar.

The interior was completely different from the outside.

The hall was old and covered in a layer of dust, but inside, it was spotless. A bed was placed against the wall, and by the window sat a neatly organized small wooden table.

A burned-down candle sat on the table.

If the candle were lit, this room would actually be quite cozy.

Cheng Shuili looked up at the second floor once more. Whatever that thing was, it was definitely up there!

She patted Su Rui's shoulder, signaling her to follow.

Cheng Shuili was now certain that the thing upstairs was definitely not a "dirty thing."

How could a dirty thing clean up a room and live in it?

There was only one thing Cheng Shuili couldn't figure out.

With so much dust on the floor... why were there no new footprints?