Chapter 39

The restaurant was quite spacious, with a long table placed right in the middle, so long that people sitting at either end could only shout to converse. A few empty plates and forks were scattered on the white tablecloth, along with three or four toppled candlesticks.

Directly above the table hung a chandelier, even larger than the one in the living room, but it was no longer lit. The lighting in the restaurant came from the wall sconces.

The wooden chairs were placed haphazardly, with a few lying on their sides, already covered in spider webs.

When Siyu Ruo Li heard the system prompt, she only paused for a second before continuing her search, her expression as cold as ice.

It was Beiling Xiaogu who spoke first, "That guy who looked pretty tough is dead."

"Tough?" Siyu Ruo Li asked, "How can you tell?"

"His level was pretty high, and he was a professional player," Beiling replied.

Siyu Ruo Li used her sword to lift a piece of the tablecloth, continuing her search as she casually replied, "Our levels will also rise, and we can also 'claim' to be professional players."

"Cousin... you're arguing with me again," Beiling squinted at Siyu Ruo Li, muttering, "Now that the professional player is dead, are you still so calm?"

At this moment, Siyu Ruo Li found a letter under the table and said only four words: "Plot item."

【Name: Ink-Stained Letter】

【Type: Plot-Related】

【Quality: Common】

【Function: Unknown】

【Can it be taken out of the script: No】

【Note: Part of the letter's content is obscured by ink stains and cannot be read.】

She extended her hand to pass the letter to Beiling Xiaogu, saying, "This thing was probably not originally under the table. It must have been reset after that 'Invincible Hero' died."

Beiling took the letter, unfolded it, and then put it into the bag hanging from her waist, licking her lips. "Hmm... If this letter is a clue to solving the main plot, one possibility is that the person carrying it will be targeted by some unknown force in the house, putting them in great danger. So..."

"So even the professional player is dead?" Siyu interjected.

"Hmm... But it's strange," Beiling said, "There were four of them, why did only the strongest one die? Could it be..."

"There's no need to speculate," Feng Bujue's voice suddenly sounded as he walked in from the doorway. "It's obvious that we are acting separately."

Siyu and Beiling both turned to look at him. Feng Bujue continued, "And from the fact that he's already dead, the 'strongest' one is questionable."

"His level is higher than yours, and he's a professional player," Siyu said to Feng Bujue, repeating what Beiling had used to convince her.

"My level will also rise, and I can also 'claim' to be a professional player. Is that strong?" Feng Bujue replied casually.

Beiling covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, almost bursting out.

Siyu Ruo Li's expression changed slightly, "How long have you been here?"

"Just arrived, what's up?" Feng Bujue said, he indeed hadn't heard their previous conversation, only catching Beiling's last sentence.

Siyu was silent for two seconds, then said, "Did you discover the side quest in the Ghost Palace?"

"Yep," Feng Bujue replied, "I found the first and fifth segments. Did you find the other two?"

Beiling shook her head, "No, we encountered quite a few traps along the way."

Siyu added, "What exactly is the Ghost Palace? Words? Or an item?"

"It's a poem," Wang Tanzi also appeared at the restaurant's entrance, with Long Ao Ming beside him.

"Good timing," Feng Bujue said, "Which segments did you find?"

"The good news is... we found two segments," Long Ao Ming said.

"The bad news is... we can't remember them," Wang Tanzi said with a look of pride rather than shame.

"Try to recite a few lines you remember," Feng Bujue said.

The two of them started babbling a few phrases.

After listening, Feng Bujue said, "It should be the second and third segments..." Then, he did something astonishing. He recited the two segments that Xiao Tan and Long found in full, asking if they were correct.

"Bro Jue... what's going on?" Wang Tanzi was shocked, "Were you secretly following us?"

"This house is based on my memories in reality. I'm actually a serial killer, and this is one of my hideouts," Feng Bujue said calmly. "The 'Ghost Palace' you saw is something I wrote on the walls when I was bored."

Wang Tanzi's jaw dropped, his eyes wide open, his mind in chaos.

Ten seconds later, Feng Bujue said to him, "You're the only one who hasn't realized it was a joke yet."

"Ha ha ha..." Long Ao Ming suddenly burst out laughing. He had quickly understood that Feng Bujue was joking, but he found it not funny. However, Wang Tanzi's reaction was truly speechless.

"Mr. Crazy, are you done with your dark jokes? Can you tell us the real situation now?" Beiling said, "You not only know the order of those segments but also remember the content. You must know the origin of the 'Ghost Palace' poem, right?"

Feng Bujue said, "The poem is from Edgar Allan Poe's short story 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' I believe this script is based on that story." He pulled a chair and sat down. "Has anyone read it?"

"No~" Except for Siyu Ruo Li, the other three responded in unison, like schoolchildren answering a teacher's question.

"Good, it's better that way. His stories aren't that great anyway," Feng Bujue said. "Poe was a high-end literary rogue, indulging in gambling and drinking, chasing older women, and marrying young girls. He spent his life criticizing others, most of his stories focus on atmosphere rather than plot, and he often resorted to cheap tricks, like fabricating a quote at the beginning of 'Ligeia' and attributing it to Joseph Glanvill. If there were search engines in the 19th century, he would have been dragged out by the critics long ago."

"You sound like a die-hard fan..." Siyu Ruo Li said coldly.

"You sound like you're jealous..." Beiling Xiaogu shot her a look of disdain.

"The more I listen, the more it sounds like you..." Wang Tanzi said.

"Bro Crazy, have some self-respect..." Long Ao Ming didn't know what to say, so he tried to advise him.

Feng Bujue stood up, maintaining a straight face, "I just know a little, it's not a big deal..."

"You can recite the poem, so stop explaining," Siyu interrupted.

"Miss..." Feng Bujue said.

"How old are you? Call me sister."

"Miss..."

"Try calling me that again."

Feng Bujue took a deep breath, "Miss Si... Actually, I have a very good memory..."

"Mr. Crazy, you really don't need to explain to me," Siyu Ruo Li's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile.

Feng Bujue was stunned for about three seconds, then turned around as if nothing had happened, "The wind today is so noisy..."

Long Ao Ming felt embarrassed, "Bro Crazy, even if you're exposed, you don't have to take it so seriously. Let's keep looking for clues."

Feng Bujue almost spat out a mouthful of blood, thinking, _You could have just said the second part, why did you have to add the first part?_

"By the way, I was just about to ask you, don't you find it strange?" Feng Bujue said seriously, "Why did we all end up in the restaurant? The structure of this house should change, and we all gathered here at the same time. Does this mean..."

Before he could finish, there was a "bang," and the only door in the restaurant closed by itself.