The Horrors of the Zhou Family Compound

He had become quite popular because of this, and the others weren't fools; whether it was for money or fame, safety always came first.

Having someone around who was familiar with what had happened here would make things much safer.

The yellow-haired boy shot a pointed look at Wen Xiang Yuan before clearing his throat.

"I know the Zhou Family Compound like the back of my hand, but I don't like large crowds. If you behave well, I might take two or three of you along."

A small boy nearby immediately stepped forward. "Bro, hey bro, can you take me with you?"

The yellow-haired boy frowned. "Get lost. I only like pretty ladies."

Nan Yue raised an eyebrow. The yellow-haired boy was young, his thoughts written clearly on his face, and he likely had his eyes on Wen Xiang Yuan.

Seeing that Nan Yue and her group hadn't moved, the yellow-haired boy walked over quickly.

"What do you think? You three girls look quite fragile. If something happens, you won't even be able to outrun it. Why don't you follow me?"

Gu Xiang Kai thought to himself, ...You clearly haven't seen the speed at which these three can take someone's head off.

Nan Yue put on a look of pleasant surprise. "Really? But we still have two other companions."

The yellow-haired boy followed Nan Yue's gaze to Gu Xiang Kai, who looked like a mob enforcer, and then to Jiang Siyan, who was smiling kindly but somehow made people's skin crawl.

He compared himself to them and, feeling a bit indignant, puffed out his thin chest.

"You know, right? In paranormal explorations, height and muscle are useless. Those were the first people to get knocked out of the stream before."

Nan Yue blinked and clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Then... then please look after us. We... we have to stay with these two big brothers."

The yellow-haired boy's heart fluttered at Nan Yue's act. He had noticed Nan Yue and Wen Xiang Yuan earlier.

Wen Xiang Yuan's looks would make her the center of attention anywhere, while Nan Yue had a very unique aura that made people hesitant to approach her.

He hadn't expected this cold-looking girl to have such a soft personality.

The yellow-haired boy understood; he assumed these girls were being threatened by the two men into staying together.

It was normal; they were far too eye-catching.

To avoid looking weak in front of the girls, the yellow-haired boy tilted his head up and looked Gu Xiang Kai straight in the eye. "Scumbag!"

Gu Xiang Kai was speechless.

Gu Xiang Kai replied in a gruff voice, "Anyway, these three owe us money, so they have to follow us. Besides, it's just a haunted house. What's there to be afraid of?"

The smile on Jiang Siyan's face didn't waver. He was finding this team more and more interesting.

Hearing Gu Xiang Kai's words, the yellow-haired boy sneered. "You really don't understand anything. The matter of the Zhou Family Compound is not that simple."

"Ever since the Zhou Family Massacre, no one has left alive—not the explorers, not those looking to scavenge the family's antiques and treasures, nor those who planned to demolish the compound and rebuild it."

The yellow-haired boy's expression turned serious. "Since I was a kid, this place has been a forbidden topic. I heard that even mentioning it would bring vengeful spirits to your door."

"A wedding turned into a funeral, and forty-four people died. Anyone would be filled with overwhelming resentment after that."

Nan Yue put on a terrified expression and played along. "Then... how big was the grudge and how many people were involved to kill everyone in a single night?"

The yellow-haired boy huffed. "The grudge was definitely sky-high, but as for whether it was done by humans..."

"Everyone in the Zhou Family Compound died in a horrific manner. The servants were literally scared to death. And the way the young master and his parents died was certainly not by human hands. Only a powerful ghost could have done it."

Nan Yue stared with wide eyes as if she were enthralled by the story. "How did they die?"

The yellow-haired boy leaned in and said in a sinister tone, "They were skinned and had their eyes gouged out."

Just then, a gust of cold wind blew past, and several people huddling nearby to listen shrieked in terror.

The yellow-haired boy was very proud of this effect, though he had expected the seemingly timid Nan Yue to be so scared that she would jump into his arms.

Instead, she hadn't moved an inch.

"Anyway, I know much more. If you need anything, come find me anytime."

The yellow-haired boy didn't say anything more and turned to walk away.

As he passed Jiang Siyan, he let out a cold snort. "Hypocrite."

The smile on Jiang Siyan's face stiffened.

As soon as the yellow-haired boy left, Nan Yue, who had looked pitiful, helpless, and on the verge of tears, regained her cold expression.

"Something's not right."

Zhu Xi Ning was lazily picking at her nails on the side. "It certainly isn't. How could a young punk like him know so much about something that happened a hundred years ago?"

"Wait, 'young punk'? I suppose that's a double entendre given his hair."

Gu Xiang Kai rolled his eyes. He didn't respond to Zhu Xi Ning's joke and instead asked, "Are you saying the kid is a problem?"

Zhu Xi Ning shook her head. "He's perfectly normal. My ants didn't react to him."

Zhu Xi Ning could now use the abilities she had gained in Antswamp Village to perceive things by having her ants make close contact with a target.

If it was a ghost or monster within a mission, or something related to them—like a possessed person—the ants would react.

So, while the ants couldn't distinguish if a target was a ghost, a boss, or just an affected NPC, they could at least determine if someone was a normal human.

The yellow-haired boy was a normal human.

"Then there's something wrong with his story."

Nan Yue said calmly, "Is there an official promotion for this place? Who is spreading this story?"

While talking, they had reached the Zhou Family Compound. From ten meters away, the area was already cordoned off with caution tape, but they didn't see the security guards who were supposedly stationed outside to prevent the public from entering.

"The platform must have done it. They can even clear out security guards. Impressive."

"I saw a private blogger before who tried every possible way to get in, but they wouldn't let him."

"That's why our platform is so powerful!"

The scavengers were seeing the Zhou Family Compound for the first time, and they silently observed the estate in the night.

Calling it a courtyard was somewhat inaccurate; it looked more like a manor.

The main gate of the Zhou Family Compound alone was comparable to the prince's manors Nan Yue had seen in the palace dramas Zhu Xi Ning had shown her.

There were two massive, uniquely styled stone lion statues and a vermilion gate inlaid with gold. The pillars at the entrance were so thick they would require two people to wrap their arms around them.

"This... this is the residence of a local gentry?"

A scavenger whispered a complaint. One would think this belonged to some member of the imperial family.

Wen Xiang Yuan explained to the others, "As the saying goes, even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. In the old days, such local gentry were not to be underestimated. Often, they held more power than local officials."

"Furthermore, back then, you could buy an official title if you had the money. This Zhou family was definitely more than just a wealthy merchant in the county."

Nan Yue understood what Wen Xiang Yuan meant. With such wealth, the Zhou family could be said to have ruled the county with an iron fist.