Chapter 105 - Old Spirit Manor
Chapter 105 – Old Spirit Manor
[Snow White: What kind of divine unfolding is this, my goodness!
Do What You Want: Sh*t, it’s actually the small feet grandma who pointed us the way during the day! Ahh, it’s too terrifying! I’m getting goosebumps.
Freezing To Death: Oh no, oh no, I feel my scalp tingling, my heart’s racing too!
Fashion Designer: Wait a minute, drink wine, why should we drink wine? Suddenly, I had the image of emperors in ancient times giving poisoned wine.
White Peony: It can’t be. Why do I feel like this old lady doesn’t actually have any ill intentions towards anyone.. (Don’t hate if you don’t agree)
Light Blue: My intuition tells me that there’s a big conspiracy brewing!]
Everyone was so scared that they went mute, and with no one daring to take a step forward, they all just looked at each other.
The old woman stood in place like a statue, cane in hand, with the curvature of her mouth frozen in place. Using her cane to point to the direction they came from, she indicated that they should go inside.
The two sides were deadlocked, and a long time passed without anyone moving.
Finally, the good-natured old lady retracted her smile and knocked her cane heavily on the ground.
Everyone in the room, except for Xiao Chen, quivered and dared not make a sound.
The woman’s white surfussed eyeballs rolled left and right. She sneered, and her originally benevolent face began to contort. Her voice became sharp and piercing as she threatened, “Don’t offer a toast and then not drink; if you toast, you must drink! Or you’ll face the consequences!”
It felt like in the next moment, she would transform into a ferocious beast, tear everyone present to pieces, and devour them.
People could even feel the air around them gradually change due to the old woman’s emotions. Breezes seemed to gather from nowhere, blowing stronger and stronger, lifting everyone’s hair and sending shivers down their spines.
Du Chonghua immediately understood the old woman’s intent and shouted loudly, “We’ll go! We’ll go!”
At that moment, everyone in the room turned to look at Du Chonghua.
Satisfied with his answer, the old woman nodded in approval. Her once grotesque expression returned to normal, the turbulent air gradually calming down. She pointed with her cane again and spoke in a seemingly benevolent tone, “Please proceed inside.”
Du Chonghua swallowed hard as the people around him exchanged glances. They reluctantly started in that direction, and like a group of timid mice, everyone remaining close together, slowly shifting.
Xiao Chen followed behind the group, calmly observing the surroundings. His intuition told him that he might have overlooked something.
The answer he had was on the tip of his tongue, but was stuck on the crucial part, leaving him pondering.
[Fruit Lover: Damn, this old lady changes her expression way too quickly! Her whole face collapsed in an instant, and it snapped back just as quickly.
Little Yellow Duck: I’m really curious about what’s inside this old manor! I’m getting more and more nervous now!
GlamorousMakeup: Do you guys think this old lady will f*ck all the streamers over? Ahh, the more I think about it, the scarier it gets.]
Under the old woman’s guidance, even with everyone nervous, they actually managed to proceed smoothly without any strange things popping up or terrifying echoing sounds. Everything seemed calm, as if it were nothing but a slightly aged old mansion.
They turned a corner, walked straight for a few meters, and passed through several doors, making their heads spin.
Finally, the old woman’s footsteps came to a halt.
Before everyone’s eyes was another courtyard.
What was special about it was how brightly it was lit, with rows and rows of hanging red lanterns.
In the center, there was a stage for singing, and beneath it was neatly arranged, elaborately carved, sandalwood tables and chairs.
The floor was padded with red carpet, and the tables were filled with delicious food and drinks, both meat and vegetarian, all beautifully presented.
Not only that, these dishes were also steaming hot, with the variety of food being extremely rich. Even a casual plate of side dishes displayed exceptional knife skills, undoubtedly meticulously crafted by someone.
What’s worth mentioning was that there were a total of seven chairs in the room, no more, no less, as if someone had known from the beginning that seven people would arrive.
Even Du Chonghua and the rest of the group were dumbfounded; not to mention their fans, with many exclaiming in shock and confusion.
[Yam Brother: ??? Are they really here to eat and drink? Did I walk into the wrong set?
Not Thin Don’t Change Name: ??? My appetite suddenly increased a lot, this is so sinful, especially at this late hour!
Whining Ghost: Damn it, I want to eat too!
Kumquat Lemon Juice: I inexplicably feel a little sour.
Tears of the North Star: I was too naive, really! They said a banquet and there’s actually food and drinks!
Flamingo: Wait a minute, shouldn’t you peoples’ focus be on all those “double happiness” characters posted everywhere? And these red lanterns look so ominous! Is this a wedding?
I Can’t Draw Eyeliner: Just saying, I feel like the decorations kind of resemble a ghost wedding…]
Not to mention everyone else, even Xiao Chen was a bit bewildered. He stood still and looked at the red double happiness characters on the windows, tied with red ribbons. Paired with these red lanterns, it really seemed like someone was about to get married, didn’t it?
Was all of this in the original movie’s plot?
The old woman scanned over everyone and flashed a friendly and satisfied smile. She calmly said, “Guests, please take your seats!”
The group exchanged glances, having just experienced many strange events, they didn’t dare defy the old woman’s wishes. They could only thicken their skin and reluctantly take their seats, each one doing so cautiously, fearing that something might go wrong.
Even Xiao Chen had a skeptical expression as he sat down. He glanced at the old woman multiple times, but she only responded with a mysterious and amiable smile.
“…………”
Xiao Chen became even more bewildered.
Once everyone sat down, a magical scene unfolded. The previously empty and desolate stage suddenly lit up, with two figures dressed in ancient costumes appearing out of thin air.
The two people on the stage wore thick and heavy makeup. Their appearances were concealed, but it still sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room, causing them to break out in a cold sweat.
What was ominous was that their feet weren’t touching the ground; both of them were clearly hovering in mid-air!
These aren’t human beings; they’re clearly ghosts!
On the stage, both actors played male roles, with a distinct contrast. One played a slender and delicate-looking youth, while the other appeared to be a sturdy and robust man.
Everyone watched the two ghosts on the stage with puzzled expressions, confused as to what kind of performance they were about to give.
It was a rather chilling scene.
“What’s your name?” The man, dressed in military attire and mounted on a horse, looked at the youth who was kneeling on the ground, wearing tattered and dirty clothes.
“I am Han Manzi,” the youth replied, raising his head.
“Would you be willing to serve me in the future? I can promise you a future of wealth and prosperity,” the man asked.
The kneeling youth visibly hesitated, locking eyes with the man for a long moment before finally nodding.
Up to this point, the performance could still be considered somewhat normal, but in the next moment, the youth was suddenly lifted off the ground by the man and cradled in his arms like a princess. The plot started to take a rather abnormal turn.
“………???”
“………???”
The six people in the room could only start questioning life.
[Swimming Circle: ???
Cheating Scammer: This, so they’re actually a pair of gays?
Eat Less Move More: Oh my, this is very intense!]
“This general’s name is Chen Qian, but you can call me Chen Zihua.” The man paused for a moment, then continued, “The name Han Manzi is too vulgar, unfit for the delicate and refined, so from now on, you shall be known as Han Zigao.”
[Donut Cutie: I have to admit, this mysterious story is really intriguing. Despite all the layers of makeup applied on the actors, the plot is still quite captivating.
Pizza Guy: Holy cow, this plot, I love it. (Inner voice: Quick, make a move on him!)]
“The fortune-teller said I have an emperor’s destiny. If I truly ascend the throne, I’ll make you my empress, and all the riches of the world will belong to you and me,” the man played with the youth’s hair.
The youth chuckled, “In ancient times, there were empresses, so there can be male empresses too. If you truly make me your empress, I won’t fear the gossip and rumors within this world.”
Xiao Chen had a numb expression on his face as he watched the two ghostly figures on the stage, performing in an overly exaggerated manner.
These two ghosts, relying solely on verbal dialogue and scene changes, casually changed into different outfits and performed the love story of Han Zigao and Chen Zihua from beginning to end.
They even ambiguously hinted at a grand harmony of life.
The performance was very stiff and rigid, to the point that it made him want to laugh.
[Charger Not Charging: I knew this plot felt familiar. Isn’t this the historical Emperor Chen Wen and Han Zigao, whose probably the only male empress in history?
Time To Sleep: ???
My Face Is So Dry: Is this for real? I’m dumbfounded; it’s actually a true story with real people?
Craving For Meat: Don’t you guys know? Although Emperor Chen Wen only lived for 44 years, and didn’t rule for long before he fell ill and died. In the year following his death, Han Zigao was executed for rebellion only at the age of 30…]
As the play concluded, the people in the room swallowed nervously. Not knowing what was coming next, their bodies were all tensed up.
The old woman just smiled, displaying a twisted and distorted smile. She opened her mouth and said, “The owner of our manor is getting married tonight and needs to choose a bride amongst you.”
After saying this, the old woman, perhaps to add a touch of intimidation, pulled out a spirit tablet from nowhere and held it in her hands.
“!”
Everyones’ eyes widened.
The old woman glanced over everyone, but her gaze landed squarely on Xiao Chen. She then revealed a sinister smile, obscuring her attempt to curry favor with the other.
“…………”
Hehehe.
[Face Cream: Damn, it’s actually a ghost wedding?
Obedient Cutie: ??? Wait a minute, according to that play just now, this manor’s owner might have a not-so-normal sexual orientation, right?
Makeup Kit: I-I-I-I, I think it might be Du Chonghua…
Sunscreen Is Important: Why do I not find it scary at all? It’s actually a bit funny?]
The old woman didn’t directly call out Xiao Chen’s name. Instead, she turned and placed the spirit tablet on the nearby table.
Calmly, she said, “Our master will choose another homeowner from all of you.”
The old woman paused, revealing a mysterious smile that was quite disturbing. Her features twisted slightly as she said, “Now you can pick up the teacups next to you. Whichever teacup contains tea leaves will be the new mistress of this manor.”
“…………”
Under the old woman’s eager gaze, Xiao Chen picked up the teacup beside him, slightly opened it, glanced inside, and then expressionlessly closed the lid.
Meanwhile, the six people next to him trembled as they reached for their teacups, their hearts pounding rapidly.
Hmm? It’s not me!
I wonder who was lucky enough to get the tea leaves~