Residence Of Monsters Volume 1 Chapter 4

Please enjoy. This chapter was 9k words in total bless my soul… *collapses*

A knock sounded through the snow-white residence. The next moment, someone from inside the house came to answer.

Byriel looked at the three of them standing at the entrance, staring blankly, then his perfect eyebrows knitted, obvious mirth appearing in his eyes.

"Wow." Looking at Conglong and Feng Ping Lan who were in a mess, he smiled lightly, "We parted not a few minutes ago, and you've become quite avant-garde huh. Hehehe, could you tell me what happened earlier?"

"I got carsick, so…" Conglong mumbled softly, "This is my fault."

"I'd already warned you." Byriel laughed lightly, "Why were you so stubborn?"

Conglong lowered his head.

"Ah it doesn't matter, it'll be alright after was.h.i.+ng." Feng Ping Lan waved his hand, mediating, "When we rushed down there was a milky yellow rainbow that appeared from behind! It was so brilliant I thought that I was flying on a Firebolt1! Hahahahaha!"

Conglong's head lowered even further.

"May I borrow your bathroom?"

Byriel glanced at Feng Ping Lan, "You may. Don't dirty the floor, or Dongya won't be happy. He might ask you guys to kneel down and lick them clean, hehehe." He turned to enter the house.

"You shouldn't have asked that." Conglong sighed.

Feng Ping Lan was puzzled, "Why?"

"It won't be too good. Quetzal… won't agree to this." Conglong paused for a moment, "We don't interact much with humans, and don't usually let them into our territory either."

"Oh, okay." Feng Ping Lan nodded, "I'll remember to bring a gift next time."

Conglong rolled his eyes. "You're not getting the main point."

Feng Ping Lan followed Conglong to the second-floor bathroom. The room's simple furnis.h.i.+ngs were the same as the night before, but the dirt and dust had been cleared, not a single speck seen and s.h.i.+ning brilliantly a clean light.

"It's so clean!" Feng Ping Lan praised, "Was magic used? How did you guys clean it to this kind of level?"

"That's Dongya's work, he's an expert in cleaning."

"Good afternoon." Dongya smiled, holding a vase of fresh flowers in his hands, coming from the backyard. When he saw Feng Ping Lan, his mouth curved into a smile, "We meet again."

"Good afternoon." Feng Ping Lan smiled foolishly, "Sorry, I came here to use the bathroom. I'll be gone soon."

"Don't worry, you don't need to hurry." Dongya smiled lightly, at the same time taking out a handkerchief from his breast pocket, wiping away the mess on Feng Ping Lan's face, "Come out after thoroughly was.h.i.+ng yourself." He then looked at the floor behind Feng Ping Lan as if he was making sure of something, nodding in satisfaction.

"Thank you!"

Dongya smiled, glancing at Conglong, "You too."

"I know!" Conglong answered irritably, pulling Feng Ping Lan into the bathroom.

"He's so gentle." Feng Ping Lan couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "I didn't think there was such an amiable and good-natured demon."

Conglong grunted disapprovingly, "That's just an act. A good-natured person couldn't possibly become a general of the royal clan."

"Royal clan? General?" Feng Ping Lan heard the keywords, and curiously asked, "Are your positions in the demon world really high up?"

Realizing that he had revealed too much, Conglong angrily reprimanded, "None of your business!"

The residence's rooms had connecting bathrooms. There were only two private bathrooms, on the second and third floor respectively.

The bathroom on the second floor had already been cleaned, the floor's ceramic tiles s.h.i.+ning like crystals, reflecting the flower patterns off the gla.s.s windows.

Conglong entered the bathroom, Feng Ping Lan following behind him and undressing.

Conglong was furious, "Who gave you permission to enter!"

"We're not was.h.i.+ng together?"

"Who wants to wash with you! You can enter after I'm finished!"

"By the time you finished, the cornstarch on my body will have already hardened into cheese biscuits!" Feng Ping Lan smelled the filth on his clothes, frowning, "How much milk did you drink?"

"Go wash at the garden outside!"

"Aiya, we're all youthful boys, there are limitless possibilities if we're still undergoing p.u.b.erty, don't be shy!" Feng Ping Lan comforted while twisting the tap, loading water into the bathtub.

"What kind of c.r.a.p are you talking about!" Conglong pointed at the door, commanding, "Leave at— ugh!"

Cool water splashed onto his face, cutting off his words.

"Haha, sneak attack successful." Feng Ping Lan grasped with both hands, squeezing the column of water, once again shooting at Conglong's face.

Conglong widened his eyes, "How did you do that? You can also control water?"

"I'm not that impressive." Feng Ping Lan moved his hand under the faucet, taking some water and raising it, "Just squeeze like this."

Puxiu!

A column of water hit Conglong once more, this time at the center of his head.

"Hahahaha! You lose!"

"You're playing with water in front of a water demon?" Conglong frowned, "You dare to show off as someone with such insignificant talent!"

A flick of a finger and the faucet suddenly exploded, bursting a thick volume of water, curling as if it had come alive into a transparent dragon.

"Wow! Amazing!" Feng Ping Lan praised, but he didn't admit defeat, "Humph! Look at mine!" Both his hands pushed down, weak spurts of water sprayed two times.

"It's my turn now?" Conglong smiled coldly, finger drawing a stroke, the huge water dragon splas.h.i.+ng onto Feng Ping Lan.

Feng Ping Lan was. .h.i.t by the huge amount of water, falling into the bathtub.

Conglong put his hand on his hip in satisfaction. "Humph, so who lost and who won?"

There was no answer.

"Answer me! Human! Don't be a sore loser!"

There was still no answer.

Conglong neared the bathtub uneasily, only to see Feng Ping Lan floating up and down in the bathtub.

This was bad! An accident had occurred! Conglong hurriedly extended a hand to pull Feng Ping Lan out.

"Hey! Are you alright— ah!"

As his hand touched Feng Ping Lan's body, he suddenly pulled forwards by a force, making him fall unstably into the bathtub.

Splas.h.!.+ The water flew everywhere.

"Hahahahaha! I fooled you!" Feng Ping Lan laughed loudly, and before Conglong could stand up he grabbed the body wash, pressing and holding Conglong down in the water.

Conglong steadied his body with some difficulty, sitting up in the bathtub and glaring angrily at Feng Ping Lan, "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! You've got some guts!" His hand waved upwards, and the water in the bathtub rose again, turning into a water dragon.

But it was mixed up with body soap which had created a huge amount of bubbles when it spiraled, so the snow-white thick soap covered the dragon, which did not look threatening at all.

"Wow, it's turned into a baby silkworm. Hahahahahaha!" Feng Ping Lan clapped his hands, "Can you twist it up to look like p.o.o.p as well?"

"Don't be vulgar!"

The clamorous noise sounded from the bathroom, the splas.h.i.+ng of water coming from it occasionally.

Simo who was sitting on the balcony of the third floor couldn't help but smile.

"What's the matter?" Byriel spoke.

"It hasn't been this noisy for a long while now…" Simo answered softly.

"All our problems haven't even been solved yet, and we're still in a dangerous position…" Byriel frowned, looking down at the black shadows gathering in the city below the mountain, "But, we'd like to escape from reality sometimes, hehehe."

"Feng Ping Lan… is very good…" Simo spoke tentatively, "Maybe, we can… we can temporarily…"

"Aiya." Byriel cut Simo off, the smile on his face becoming even more brilliant, "The guy who's gonna dampen our spirits has come back. Hehehe…"

Dongya walked up to the second floor, putting towels on the rack outside the bathroom, and when he heard the laughter coming out of it, he gained a gentle smiling expression.

"The towels are outside." He told them softly, then turned to go down.

As he walked halfway down the staircase, a deep silhouette appeared like a demon in front of him and the room instantly became bitingly cold and thick.

"Quetzal, you're back…" Dongya's expression was a little startled. The laughter coming from upstairs made his face become a little awkward.

"Who's that?" Quetzal asked coldly.

"That's…"

Hong!

Before he could speak, a ramming sound rang out loud. Then, soapy water flowed down from the second floor.

Quetzal looked at the water trickling down the staircase, not saying a word.

The sound of footsteps from the second floor came nearer.

"Hahahahahahaha! Conglong's a bald eagle!" Feng Ping Lan ran while laughing, then stopped as he saw the two of them.

Looking at the naked Feng Ping Lan with just a towel tied around his waist, Quetzal's chilly gaze became a few degrees colder.

"Ah, good afternoon!" Feng Ping Lan didn't seem to see the coldness in his eyes, smiling foolishly at Quetzal, "h.e.l.lo h.e.l.lo!"

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d— Quetzal!" Conglong who had hurriedly come from the back paled instantaneously the moment he saw Quetzal, looking like he had done something wrong.

Quetzal's gaze swept past Conglong, then slowly walking over to Feng Ping Lan.

Dongya and Conglong were silent, tense to the point of not breathing. The two of them looked at Feng Ping Lan with terrified eyes, worried about what was about to happen to him.

Feng Ping Lan could not feel the rigid atmosphere at all and only looked at Quetzal smiling foolishly.

Quetzal looked the same as he had in the morning, awe-inspiring and handsome, the suit that didn't seem appropriate for the occasion not feeling out of sorts on him. His smooth pale skin was as perfect as a polished stone statue, but he had the vitality that one would not have.

"Where did you go? Have you eaten?" Feng Ping Lan looked at Quetzal, expressing his concern with a smile. He glanced at Quetzal's wrist, the place he had touched in that morning.

Quetzal frowned, also remembering the memories that he did not want to relive, subconsciously putting his hand on the handle of his blade by his waist and wanting to remove that annoying feeling on his hand.

Dongya and Conglong thought that Quetzal was about to do something harmful to Feng Ping Lan, sucking a breath at the same time.

"Are you still cold?" Feng Ping Lan looked directly at Quetzal in that moment, asking, "Are you okay?"

Quetzal glanced coldly at Feng Ping Lan, his freezing cold eyes s.h.i.+ning with a hint of heat, but it wasn't very clear on whether it was of simple indignance or if it was of other unknown and unfamiliar emotions.

"Where did all this water come from!" A violent roar came from downstairs, breaking through the impa.s.se.

Dongya hurriedly opened his mouth, trying to find an explanation for Feng Ping Lan, "Quetzal, he's here because—"

"Recognize your own place." Quetzal cut off Dongya's words, warning apathetically. "Don't whittle away the remaining expectations I have for you all." With that, he turned and vanished into the shadows.

Dongya and Conglong released a sigh, and only Feng Ping Lan gave a disappointed expression.

"Why did he leave so quickly…"

"You should be happy you have another chance in living," Conglong spoke up grumpily.

Feng Ping Lan wanted to ask some more, but Morris' wrathful questions pulled his attention away.

A tall and muscular bronze-skinned figure stormed up the stairs, a firecracker-like voice following it.

"What are you doing! Why is this guy here! Who let him in! He's even dressed up like this! Is it you, Dongya? Stop showing meaningless concern towards irrelevant outsiders!"

"Morris, this isn't normal water, this is soapy water." Dongya reminded him softly.

"So what?" Morris bellowed back, at the same time stepping heavily onto the staircase, and the ceramic tiles that were covered slippery and wet soap water made him go into the opposite direction of where he intended to step, sliding backward. "—Ah!"

"So it's slippery."

The tall robust body inclined to the back, about to fall, but Morris' nimble instincts reacted, rotating in midair and landing two flights below.

But every floor was covered in soap water, so when his feet touched the ground they slipped once again, this time solidly falling onto the first floor and landing just right in a puddle of water.

Furious shouts vibrated like the rumbling of thunder. Feng Ping Lan quickly rushed down to inspect.

"Sorry sorry, it's my fault, I played too much."

Morris rebuked angrily, "Get away from us, human! This isn't where you should be!"

"Yes yes yes! I understand!"

Morris impatiently used his hand to wipe the water off his face, but his sleeve was also wet so it wouldn't dry no matter how many times he wiped it. This made Morris even more displeased, and he growled violently under his breath.

Feng Ping Lan hurriedly picked up his towel to help Morris. As soon as he touched that rugged and st.u.r.dy body, Feng Ping Lan could not help but sigh in appreciation.

"Wow, your figure's really well-built…"

Morris sneered in disdain, "Get off! I don't need you to help me!" When he saw Feng Ping Lan's body, his eyes widened, "Where did you get this towel from! Was this the towel you used?!"

"Ah, yes." Feng Ping Lan answered blankly, "Don't worry, it isn't very wet."

"Get off!" Morris slapped off Feng Ping Lan's hand which was holding the towel, glaring at him as he stood up, gritting his teeth and warned, "Don't let me see you ever again!" With those words, he turned and stomped away.

Looking at Morris' back, Feng Ping Lan wondered, "He's a bit bad-tempered."

"Morris hates water. He also hates humans." Conglong walked down the staircase, saying snappily, "And you're the human that made him get wet."

"Oh, that's pretty bad, haha."

Conglong stared at Feng Ping Lan, and asked in part reproach and part astonishment, "How can you still laugh?"

Byriel who was sitting in the hallway of the third floor observed the whole process and laughed to the point of doubling over.

"This guy’s pretty interesting, hehehe."

"Mm…" Simo answered with a sound, continuing with the words that she hadn't finished speaking earlier, "Maybe, we can… temporarily…"

"We can what?"

"…Sign a contract with him…"

Byriel knitted his eyebrows, his eyes rolling for a while, s.h.i.+ning with a crafty and sly light. In the next moment, his lips curled into a deeply scheming smile.

"Not bad, you've done well, Simo." Byriel spoke while smiling, "You gave me a good burst of inspiration, hehehe…"

Dongya quickly washed the wet clothes and dried them. After a change of new clothes, Feng Ping Lan prepared to go back to the dorm. Dongya and Simo both came to the entrance to send him off, and Conglong went back to the bathroom to do some serious cleaning up.

"Thanks for your reception today." Feng Ping Lan laughed awkwardly twice. "Sorry for soaking the entirety of the second-floor hallway and the staircase."

"Nevermind, I hadn't cleaned that area yet, and the soapy water can be used for cleaning the floor." Dongya said gently, "Even though I want to let you stay for dinner, I didn't prepare for that, and the time isn't appropriate for it either."

"You're too kind! Thank you!" Feng Ping Lan looked at Simo, "See you tomorrow!"

Simo nodded her head slightly,  raising a hand to wave twice, then she put it back down.

"Please take care on your way back."

Feng Ping Lan prepared to go, and just when he turned to leave, he couldn't help but stop and speak hesitatingly, "Um, can I come again?"

Donya gave a warm smile, "You're always welcome."

When he went back to the room, Feng Ping Lan went to tidy up the junk left in it. Bai Li Rui came back at about four o'clock.

"How did observing the clubs go?"

"School hasn't opened yet, so there are only a few sports clubs having activities here." Bai Li Rui answered moodily. "I'll see when school reopens."

"Then why were you gone for so long?"

"I spent half of the time observing the dance club, the women's swimming club, the women's gymnastics club, and the cheerleading team's practice. Another half was spent trying to convince the club presidents to recruit me as an advisor or a manager. They were all very resolute in rejecting me."

"Why didn't you go to the women's tennis club or the women's baseball club?"

"Because they have sports equipment that can always be turned into weapons. So the archery club and the fencing club can't be considered in as well."

Bai Li Rui sat in front of his desk and took out his notebook to jot down his newly-discovered failures.

When evening had almost arrived, the flouris.h.i.+ng summer sunset dazzled brightly, bringing the last rays and warmth of the day onto the earth.

Feng Ping Lan lay in floor fanning off the heat after putting away all his things, waiting for dinnertime to come.

"Dinner, dinner." Feng Ping Lan sprawled on the tiled ground rolling about, "It’s so hot, I’m so hungry!" Rolling to the side, he collided with his own cabinet, and the stuff on it fell onto the ground.

"What are you doing…" Bai Li Rui glanced at him, only to see different types of fresh vegetables scattered by his feet, "Where did all these vegetables come from?"

"This was given to me by the auntie in the dining hall, so I can save off from spending more on food. Help me pick them up?" Feng Ping Lan sat up, taking off his s.h.i.+rt and throwing it on the desk, then going back to lying on the floor, "Ah! It's so cold! It feels like the story of 'He Laid on Ice in Search of Carp'2! Hahaha!"

"Be careful that they don't eat up your 'fish bait' in just one bite."

Bai Li Rui walked past Feng Ping Lan grumpily, gathering up all the vegetables, and just as he was about to put them back onto the cabinet the door opened. Bai Li Rui was caught in a position above a half-naked Feng Ping Lan, his arms full of carrots and bitter gourd.

"Freshmen are to gather at the hall on the first floor, at night you have to— Ah!" The senior that had entered stared blankly at the two of them in the room.

"Hi, senior!" Feng Ping Lan waved at him under between Bai Li Rui's legs, "Do you want to come in and sit for a while? You're always welcome!"

"…Go and look at the notice yourself!" The senior hurriedly threw down a pamphlet and quickly left, as if staying any longer would result in him getting dragged into a forbidden world.

"The seniors are really busy huh." Feng Ping Lan sat up to pick up the pamphlet. "What’s he in a hurry for?"

"That's probably the notice for the activities for welcoming newcomers. I heard the seniors talking about it while going through the first floor. But they're all a bunch of stupid and unhealthy activities, I'm not planning on wasting my time—"

"They're organizing it with the girls."

"—But team-building exercises are incredibly important, I would definitely attend these kinds of activities that are beneficial to our mental and physical states."

"Oh! It's a test of courage at night, that's pretty interesting." Feng Ping Lan skimmed through the pamphlet, it had all the details for the contents, time and locations for the test of courage.

Most of them were in the school compound, such as leaving their names on the blackboard of the music room and going into the science laboratory to take a photo with the skeleton in it. There were only three locations that were situated outside the school: one was under the bridge of the brook in the public park, another was at the abandoned hospital in the old community area. The last location was written with imbued letters, largely bolded, and there was even an asterisk in the header.

✭ You'll Definitely Scream, Limitless Scares To Behold! A Thrilling Fright! The House of Resentful Spirits Halfway Up the Mountain! ✭

Up the mountain?

Feng Ping Lan flipped to the back to look at all the pictures of the locations for the test of courage. The largest picture on it showcased an elegant snow-white residence.

"Ah!"

"What is it?"

"That last location… I think… It's not a very good place to go…"

Bai Li Rui looked at the pamphlet, "Oh, this is a really famous haunted house. You're scared?"

"Uh, I guess you could say that." Although a lot of people had trespa.s.sed that residence, including himself, at that time it was still sealed off so it had just become a creepy abandoned house in others' eyes. But now the seal had been broken, and the demons were now living in it, so it wouldn't be good it people crashed in to realize their existence.

"The rules say that two teams need to partic.i.p.ate in order to go there. There'll be at least ten people operating together, so it shouldn't be too scary." Bai Li Rui returned the pamphlet to Feng Ping Lan.

"Ten people?" That many? This was terrible!

"If you're scared, then don't choose that location." Bai Li Rui laughed lightly, "I didn't think you would be scared of such a thing."

"Uh, this… hahaha…" Feng Ping Lan could only laugh foolishly in response, "Then, are you going to choose this location, Li Rui?"

"No. It wouldn't be scary if there are these many people, this wouldn't let any females get closer to me when they get scared."

"Then that's good…" But with Bai Li Rui gone, there were still other students that would choose this location. He couldn't persuade them one by one to not go, what should he do…

After thinking for a moment, Feng Ping Lan got an idea and rushed out after grabbing his bag.

Five minutes later, the dormitory head's room.

"Senior, can you cancel this location for the test of courage?" Feng Ping Lan started off by pleading.

"Why? If you don't have a sensible reason for it we won't change the contents of this activity."

Getting definitively rejected right away made Feng Ping Lan groan mentally inside, but luckily he had prepared earlier on!

"To be honest with you, I was born different from an average person, and I can sense the will of the spiritual world…" While saying this, he closed his eyes in a cryptic manner as if he was sensing an unseen force, "Woo… Ahh… My senses tell me, this location is not propitious, if you go there you will be met with a dreadful tragedy… Woooooooah!"

Feng Ping Lan flung his head back and forth groaning, his entire body trembling as if he had been cursed, secretly bending his head to drink something he had prepared beforehand, and then quickly turning his head, "Ahhh! Gurggh! I can sense it! Cough! Gurg— The hatred of the resentful spirits are coming! Ahhhhhh!" He suddenly collapsed, arching his body, using all four of his limbs to crawl, spitting out a deep green liquid and calling out animalistic shouts.

This should be enough to convince him right?

Feng Ping Lan opened an eye to peek at the dormitory head. The dormitory head's face was incredibly unsightly.

Had he done it?

"Junior…"  The dormitory head bent down to pick up a plastic bottle, giving it to Feng Ping Lan with an ugly expression, "Your Yakult green tea fell out."

"Oh! Thanks!" Feng Ping Lan raised a hand to accept it.

Ah! Not good!

"This activity isn't compulsory, and it doesn't matter whether you want to partic.i.p.ate or not. You don't need to be concerned over every process of it." The dormitory head looked at the time, it was probably time for the activity to start, "Also, clean up the mess on the floor and lock up before you leave." With that said, he took up the today's activity's poster and left for the hall.

Feng Ping Lan sat on the floor, grabbing his head in distress.

This was bad. Plan A had failed… He could only start operating Plan B.

He took out a few tissues and wiped the green liquid of the floor, grabbed his bag and rushed to the bicycle shed to get that old pink ladies' bicycle, pedaling towards the bottom of the mountain.

Feng Ping Lan pedaled at crazy speeds with all his might, forcing the old ladies' bicycle to its limit. Twenty minutes later, the snow-white residence appeared in front of his eyes.

The residence stood alone halfway up the mountain, looking as it did the night before. But the window of the first floor lit up with a yellow light, the weeds that had filled the courtyard in the afternoon completely weeded out, and the scrawlings and moss on the outer walls had been scrubbed clean halfway through. The steel gates weren't locked as well, opened slightly.

Ah… This wasn't good…

Leaving his bicycle by the side, Feng Ping Lan ran towards the main house, knocking hard on the door that was so clean it could even be used as a mirror.

In the next moment, the door was opened by a white figure.

"Oh, good evening." Dongya was startled, but he gave a gentle smile, "Welcome in."

"G-good… morning…" Feng Ping Lan answered, gasping for breath.

"You look very tired." Dongya raised a hand to pat Feng Ping Lan's back, helping him calm down and guiding him into the house at the same time, "Do you want to drink a cup of tea?"

"Al-alright…:"

Feng Ping Lan sat on the sofa, taking deep breaths. A while later, Dongya brought out some fragrant black tea and biscuits in front of him.

"I've only finished cleaning the main house, so there's not much to see. I hope you'll forgive me."

"This is already good enough! Thank you!" Feng Ping Lan took a mouthful of the black tea and stuffed two biscuits into his mouth at the same time.  A mildly sweet flavor, the smell of mulberry, and a crispy texture filled his mouth which caused him to close his eyes in happiness and let out a complacent and satisfied sound of praise.

"Did you come here to find Conglong or Byriel? They're not here." Dongya spoke.

Feng Ping Lan came back to his senses, "Oh! This isn't the time to eat treats! We've got a situation!"

"Why is this guy here again!" A displeased roar sounded.

Feng Ping Lan turned to see Morris standing at the back.

"Hi! Good evening."

Seeing the biscuits in Feng Ping Lan's hands, Morris became even more displeased, "Why are you feeding him!"

"Morris, he is our guest, be more polite." Dongya said quietly, "So, what do you want to tell us?"

"The school arranged an activity, so later there's going to be a group of students coming here to visit for a test of courage, more or less ten people!"

Morris gave a disapproving scoff, "They're merely humans! What do we have to be scared of them!"

"A few days ago this was just an abandoned house, and the difference now is too big, it'll make people suspicious!" He remembered Byriel saying that they didn't want to catch attention in case their enemies found out. If rumors of this abandoned house were spread out, this could be disadvantageous towards Byriel and the others.

"They're just a few kids, a little spell will chase them off." Morris humphed in disdain.

"Byriel and Simo can cast befuddlement spells and hallucination incantations, Conglong can control the water to create a rainstorm, Quetzal is expert in all sorts of spells. To them, casting a few spells to chase them off would be easy, but they are not here." Dongya spoke in distress, "At this moment, the only ones in the house are just us."

Morris cursed after hearing this.

"Um, what did you guys do before this to chase off the people trespa.s.sing this house?"

"Didn't you already experience it the night you broke the seal?" Dongya asked.

"Did I? Why didn't I realize it?"

"Because you're an idiot!" Morris reprimanded furiously, very obviously taking out his anger on him.

Dongya raised a hand, and a gust of wind came from the window to gather into his palm. He put his hand to his ear, frowning, "The wind tells me, three cars have stopped in front of by the walls in front of the entrance…"

"They're here! Turn off the lights! Hurry up and turn off the lights!"

Dongya flicked his finger, and the lights were extinguished.

In an instant, the house was enveloped in darkness. The moonlight shone through the window to reveal three pairs of eyes.

"What do we do next?"

Dongya calmly listened, "…There are two groups coming from the front and backdoor."

"Upstairs! Quickly go upstairs!"

Dongya and Morris looked at each other, silently rus.h.i.+ng towards the staircase and moving upwards.

"Is there a large cupboard? A wardrobe or a closet?" Feng Ping Lan asked.

"There is, in the third-floor master bedroom, but…"

The sound of the doors opening was followed by clamoring chatter came from the front door and the back.

"Let's quickly go there!"

Dongya hesitated for a moment, "…Alright."

Three silhouettes quickly moved towards the third floor, sneakily entering the bedroom and carefully closing the door.

The bedroom was very neat, incredibly s.p.a.cious, with an entire closet taking up one side of the walls. The room only contained a bed and a simple desk, nothing else.

In the center of that desk, a little deep brown box with golden engravings was placed there. It was the only object that looked to be someone's personal belonging.

Feng Ping Lan was the first to run across towards the closet, opening it to discover it empty. He put a foot in the cupboard, then waving at the two of them outside, "Come on and get in."

Dongya was a little hesitant, but he also joined him in the closet, squatting to Feng Ping Lan's right.

The two of them in the closet stared ar Morris, observing his every movement with expectant eyes.

"This is too ridiculous! I'd rather go down and fight them!"

"n.o.body is telling you to fight them, Morris." Dongya comforted him quietly, "This is just a makes.h.i.+ft plan, there's no need to cause more problems for us."

"Let me use my fists to tell these humans, unnecessary curiosity would bring them what sort of consequences!"

"Shh!" Feng Ping Lan a finger to his lips, using his other hand to grab Morris' wrist, pulling him into the closet and then shutting it.

Kaka. The closet closed over them.

The third floor. Two demons, one human, holding their breaths and hiding with rapt attention in a closet.

The first floor. Ten humans, sneakily looking around the house.

The sound of talking came from the first floor. With three floors and a closet between them, the three of them could not clearly listen to what they were saying.

"What are they saying?" Feng Ping Lan leaned his body to stick his ear to the ground. His bent elbow pressed down on Morris' legs, causing him to feel infuriated.

"Why do I have to—"

"Shhhhhh!" Feng Ping Lan raised his head, a finger covering his lips, "Good little kitties stay silent when they're playing hide and seek.3"

"What kitties— Argh!"

"Shh." Feng Ping Lan used his other hand to cover up Morris' mouth, completely sealing off any noise.

Morris glared furiously at Feng Ping Lan, itching to bite off the hand covering his mouth. The hand on his lips was incredibly warm, containing the fragrance of whole wheat biscuits – his biscuits!

There had never been anyone who had dared to offend him in this way… He had never expected to ever fall into this kind of circ.u.mstances— He had never thought that he and Dongya, along with a possibly brain-damaged human, would be trapped inside a small cabinet together.

Dongya raised a finger, twirling it lightly in the air twice, and a faint silvery-white wind appeared. The vortex-like wind circled to pull out a silver strand. The silver strand floated along a stream of air to thread itself through the gap of the closet.

"…This place is cleaner than expected!"

The vortex of wind that was left behind in the closet delivered an echoing message. The trespa.s.sers' conversation clearly appeared in synchronization.

"I thought it would be dirtier. Tourists or moronic little kids tend to mess around with this place."

"Those moronic little kids are you guys!" Morris cursed lowly.

"Shh!"

"That's because this place is too shady and nefarious, so n.o.body dares to come here. Tourists would rather sleep outdoors than to willing come here." A senior used a baleful intonation to explain, speaking frankly with a.s.surance, "According to the legends, they say a distinguished family lived here a hundred years ago, and one day an unidentified a.s.sa.s.sin attacked them at night. And so the entire family was met with a violent death…"

After he said this, the noises became softer, with the indistinct sound of the female students' panicked and uneasy gasps.

"We only resided here for twelve years," Dongya interjected quietly.

The male student continued to say in a low voice, "From that day onwards, this house was fraught with strange rumors, such as the sound of talking and weird shadows coming from this undoubtedly empty residence. There were a few brave people who came here to find out what actually happened, but n.o.body has managed to stay here for an entire night. Not long after coming here, they ran away in fear, and then—" after arriving at these words, he paused deliberately, using the old method of suspense.

"T-then what happened? Senior, please hurry up and tell us!" A female student protested with a panicked voice.

"The people who visited this place, other than going mad, they would commit suicide in insanity."

"Ah— How frightening!" The freshmen sounded in fear.

"Why didn't I go mad or become insane?" Feng Ping Lan foolishly turned his head to ask.

"Because your brain is too damaged to the point of not needing any more damage." Morris smiled coldly.

"So you guys really did all that stuff?" Feng Ping Lan was curious.

Morris humphed in disdain, "If we were that great, we wouldn't be trapped here for twelve years…"

Feng Ping Lan looked at Dongya, and he gave him a light bitter smile in return.

He considered twelve years a very long time for him. That would mean being locked up here starting from when he was four years old.

"How old are you guys?"

"The elapsed time of the underworld pa.s.ses differently from the human world. Comparing both, the lifespans of demons are longer than humans, and if you convert it, I've already lived six-hundred and ten years of the human world. Morris is more or less about five-hundred and seventy. Conglong and Simo are a bit younger, about four-hundred fifty and four-hundred thirty. I'm not sure about Byriel."

"What about Quetzal?"

"Five-hundred and ninety."

"Age doesn't matter." Morris scoffed, reasoning arrogantly, "Before even conducting my coming-of-age ceremony, I had already become part of the royal clan's army, diving into a desolate area for reconnaissance all by myself, and in my first battle I had already defeated level-seven barbarous beasts—"

"Shh!" Feng Ping Lan put a hand to his ear, "I think they're moving!"

Being interrupted just as he was about to recount his glorious achievements, Morris was not happy at all. "Don't shh at me!"

"Be quiet, Morris." Dongya frowned.

"It's so scary… It's so dark… Feels weird here…" A timid female voice sounded through.

"I don't feel so good…" Another female voice sounded smothered, as if she was resisting her unwell state with difficulty, "Senior, when do we leave?"

"We've just arrived, it's still early." A slippery male voice laughed candidly, then suddenly raised his voice to shout at a corner of the house, "Haah! Look at that!"

"Ahhhhhh—!"

An ear-piercing series of screams continuously repeated, and the three of them squatting in the closet frowned while covering their ears. Noisy…

"Hahaha! I'm just joking! You juniors are so easily scared!"

"Senior, you went too far! You're so hateful! Shocked me to death~"  It was another ear-piercing and high-pitched coquettish protest, followed by the sound of limbs slapping together.

"There were some strange rumors that came from here, but there hasn't been anything serious that has occurred just yet." The senior opened his mouth again, "I'm guessing that they're just baseless claims. n.o.body has died here yet, and it's even more not a haunted house."

"I can let you become the first…" Morris growled.

"Show some restraint." Dongya warned gently, "They'll leave when they get bored."

Morris frowned, exercising his stiff neck, the muscles letting out a cracking sound.

"Are your muscles aching?" Feng Ping Lan put a hand on those broad and robust shoulders, pressing down twice, "Your shoulders are really rigid."

"Get your filthy hands off— uh!" An easing feeling that wasn't present before came from those shoulders, and it was as if a complicated dead knot in the stiff and sore flesh had been undone, instantaneously loosened.

"Feels good, doesn't it! Uncle Li Zhang loves these hands of mine to death, hahahaha!" As he said that, he grabbed hard twice, proving his strength.

"You let— uhhh! Uhn!" Morris gritted his teeth, restraining from groaning.

The miniature wind let out confused chattering.

"…I think I can hear some kind of weird moaning."

"Is it a ghost?"

"Sounds more like a wild cat in heat."

Dongya couldn't help but laugh lightly.

"Could it be a couple that snuck in here to have s.e.x?"

Morris became agitated, "Have s.e.x your—"

"Shhhhhh!"

The three people in the closet listened quietly, and the intruders began to chat after wandering about the first floor.

"This is so boring."

"Want some braised snacks?"

There was the sound of a rustling plastic bag.

"Okay, do you have some extra skewers?"

"Just use your hands. Be careful, the sauce is dripping. Swipe the floor with your feet first."

Hearing this, the gentle smile on Dongya's face swiftly disappeared.

"Do you have any rubbish bags?"

"Just throw it on the floor, in any case there isn't anyone living here."

The tender and warm features were like a violently raised curtain, transforming rapidly. The expression that replaced it was grave and severe.

"D-dongya? What's wrong?"

"It's over." Morris quietly exclaimed in alarm.

"Three times…"

"Ah?"

"The number of times that I washed the floor, was three times in total," Dongya said softly, but the killing intent in his eyes was so deep it made him tremble. "The first time I used plain water to clear the dust; the second time I used detergent to wipe off the filth; the third time I used plain water to cleanse it. Lastly, I waxed… I scrubbed the area on the second floor twice, and because the of the water that Conglong happened to be playing with I could rinse the floor."

"Uh?" Why was he suddenly mentioning this?

"It's taboo for others to dirty his territory. Extremely taboo." Morris explained shortly to Feng Ping Lan, then he turned to Dongya to comfort him, "Calm down, you'll summon the Demon Slayers if you harm a human…"

"Oh, I'll be careful," Dongya replied lightly, but the indignant color in his eyes had not yet diminished.

The noisy laughter continued to be heard.

"Isn't this window a bit too transparent, are you sure there's gla.s.s here? Oh, there is!"

"Your handprints left behind on the gla.s.s looks like a ghost's handprints!"

"Other people who come here later on might be frightened by your handprints, haha!"

Dongya's expression grew much graver.

The wind started to gather, and clattering noises started coming from the wooden cabinet. The ice-cold wind lowered the temperature by a few levels, making it hard to breathe.

"I wiped those windows clean this evening, three times altogether." Donya's voice became even gentler, "On the first round I used plain water, the second round I used detergent and fine sandpaper to burnish the surface that was full of scratches, and lastly I used a damp cloth to wipe it…"

"There aren't any ghosts here at all." Numerous scoffing noises of the crowd and the lively ambiance contrasted with the icy-cold atmosphere in the closet.

There's a ghost right here…

Morris and Feng Ping Lan both thought at the same time.

"Right now, the house is once again made filthy. The filth is down there, the filth of ten humans…" Dongya growled imposingly, "I will thoroughly remove them at once!"

Dongya started to mutter a spell. A silvery-white cyclone emerged from the totem on his hands, spiraling by his side.

Morris widened his eyes, reprimanding, "The Splitting-Edge Curse? Are you trying to kill those humans? Retract it at once!"

Dongya turned a deaf ear on him.

Morris spit, his hands flinging, and ten beastly claws that were like deep flames coming out of his fingers. "Retract the spell, Dongya. Don't make me say it a third time…"

White and black, the chilling wind and luminous flame, they were starting a confrontation in that narrow s.p.a.ce. The human that was clamped between the two demons did not feel tense at all.

Because all of his attention was attracted towards Dongya's hair.

Feng Ping Lan stared at Dongya's hair, whose little strands at the bottom of his neck had started to disperse and dance to the stream of air created by the surge of wind and flames. The white hair fluttered lightly as the wind blew, just like the sprinkle of drizzling rain, or the mad dance of snow.

What would it feel like?

Feng Ping Lan couldn't help but stretch out a hand, and lightly stroked the back of Dongya's head. His fingertips and palm were full of those soft and exquisite strands of hair, and it was amazingly smooth and silky.

This was a bad habit he had, a bad habit that he couldn't correct even though he had been reminded of countless times. He had itchy fingers and he loved touching things so he couldn't stop himself from touching anything that felt novel to him, anything that attracted his attention.

Dongya stopped his spell, turning to look at Feng Ping Lan who was touching him. But the hand that was caressing the hair did not halt their actions.

"What are you doing!" Morris realized Feng Ping Lan's actions, angrily rebuking, "Don't you notice what's happening right now? Why aren't you running away?!"

"Oh oh! Sorry. Because it looked really nice to touch, so… mm." Feng Ping Lan laughed foolishly, grabbing his head, then looking towards Dongya, "Oh that's right, um, blood is really hard to dispose of. I can help you clean the areas that they dirtied, I became section chief of hygiene twice before!"

Dongya stared at Feng Ping Lan for a moment, then sighed as if resigned, "…I guess you're correct." The bone-grinding wind stopped, and Dongya returned to his original gentle smile, "Then I'll be counting on you to help with the cleaning."

Morris was astonished. He looked disbelievingly at Dongya, then looked at Feng Ping Lan, unable to make head or tail of how this weird development had happened. But, at least he could determine that the danger had vanished.

"Is there any way to make them leave quickly?" Feng Ping Lan looked at his watch to see that the dormitory's curfew was just half-an-hour away. He hadn't partic.i.p.ated in the activity so he couldn't postpone his return, "How did you guys chase people away before this?"

"Everyone had a different responsibility. For me, it was like this…" Dongya lighted twirled his finger, evoking a strand of wind.

Thump!

The chattering noises stopped. After a long silence, someone spoke out with fear and trepidation.

"W-what was that sound?"

"I think the door closed on its own…"

"Ahhhh!"

"Why are you suddenly screaming!"

"I felt someone touch my neck! It was suddenly really cold!"

"I-it's probably just the wind…"

The chatter stopped for a moment, but before long, self-mocking laughter burst out.

"So stupid! You can get scared just like this?"

"Everybody just thought too much of it!"

Laughter and footsteps rang out once more.

Feng Ping Lan blinked, "Just like that?"

"Before this Simo could create small whispers, Conglong could let the toilet water overflow, and with Byriel's Mirage Incense he'd make the bathroom stink of blood, and make it look like there was blood. My wind and Morris' flames could create a 'ghostly fire' effect." Dongya explained awkwardly, "We had limited powers when we were sealed away, so we could only control a few spells. But it was already enough use, and the humans would terrify themselves on their own."

"Was there really? Why didn't I go through that kind of stimulating experiences?" This wasn't fair!

"Because when you came you were already bleeding, so you had already created the smell of blood yourself." Dongya helplessly explained, "The ghostly fire in the dark corners were completely ignored by you. And then you kept on singing, drowning out Simo's voice. Quetzal's Shadow Curse could touch physical bodies, but you dodged it."

What?! He didn't know that he had missed so much!

"…I'm really sorry for that. Haha."

"No worries."

"Humph…"

A clatter of footsteps ran around the first floor, then it stopped.

"It's just so boring, let's leave now."

"It's about time, so let's…"

The three people in the closet revealed an expectant expression. It looked like this silly nightmare was about to conclude.

"Then let's tour every floor before leaving."

The expectant faces fell.

No!

The sound of footsteps moved up the staircase. Up to the second floor, through the second-floor hallway, then walking up to the third floor.

"What should we do?"

"If worst comes to worst we go out and meet them!" Morris made a fist, "I've waited for this moment to come!"

"Don't worry, they're just walking around the hallways, so they shouldn't come into the rooms."

"Oh that's right, is this room inhabited by anyone?" Feng Ping Lan suddenly remembered to ask.

"…There is."

"Who is it?"

"It's—"

Before Dongya could finish speaking, an amazed voice sounded from a pretty close distance away.

"The door of this room is open!"

Then three in the closet went silent at the same time, not daring to move.

Morris clenched his teeth, looking vengefully like he was about to rush out, but Donya used a hand to block him, striving to keep him in check.

Feng Ping Lan who squatted in the center peered carefully through the gap of the closet, spotting a few figures entering the room one after another.

"It's really empty, nothing much to see. Let's go."

"Wait, there's something on the desk." A female student pointed a finger at the golden-engraved wooden box, "What's that?"

The senior picked up the box, "It feels valuable, maybe there are jewels in it!"

Just as they were about to open it, the lights were brightly lit in an instant, clearing away the cryptic and mysterious atmosphere in the house, and s.h.i.+ning upon the rude uninvited guests, leaving them nowhere to hide.

A long shadow towered over them by the door, demonically and wordlessly appearing. An intense darkness was present in the bright room, bringing about a deeply imposing threatening and pressurized atmosphere.

The ten students weren't sure of what to do, and like owls caught under a bright ray of light, their minds blank and unable to make a response.

"Who permitted you to enter?" A freezingly cold voice questioned.

They all looked a one another. A senior student opened his mouth to explain, "Uh, this is an empty house, and it wasn't locked, so we thought—"

"Who permitted you to enter?" The same question rang out once again, the threatening feeling increasing a few levels. "I want an answer."

"W-we're sorry!" The crowd nervously cried out in fear, bowing and retreating while spouting out apologies on their tongues, just seconds away from kneeling for forgiveness.

Quetzal looked coldly at the wooden box in the student's hands, and he raised both hands in fear and trepidation, offering the box up to him.

"Put it back."

A haughty and silent look clearly expressed that he didn't want to receive anything from those lowly hands.

"Yes!" The boy walked towards the desk trembling as if he was holding a grenade, carefully putting it down then raising both of his arms before walking back to his original position, waiting for any further orders.

"…Scram."

The party of people fled, escaping the room in battered states, escaping the residence.

"Didn't you say that it was a haunted house?"

"Didn't you say that it was a long-abandoned house that wasn't inhabited by anyone?!"

"I didn't know! Those were just legends! Maybe the owners came back!"

"I think that owner is scarier than any ghost…"

Quetzal held the wooden box up, lowering his head and holding out a hand to brush over the box's surface as if he was confirming if the box hadn't been damaged. His movements were very careful, cautious.

What was in it? Feng Ping Lan was so very curious, putting his face to the gap of the closet.

Quetzal raised his head at the same time, and at that moment, Feng Ping Lan was sure that he and Quetzal's eyes had met.

The ice-cold eyes flashed with a bit of jitteriness, and he pursed his thin lips not saying a word. The arrogant figure flung his head, leaving just like that.

Morris used a foot to kick the closet door open, heavily breathing in.

"G.o.d! They're finally gone!"

Dongya also stepped out of the closet, turning his head to look at the still-squatting Feng Ping Lan in the closet, "Thanks for your warning. You helped us a lot."

"Humph!" Morris was extremely disapproving, "This guy was absolutely useless!"

"Compared to a guy who could only complain and make attention-grabbing noises in a closet, he did help us a lot."

"Who was the one who wanted to kill someone just because the floor and windows were dirtied?" Morris glared towards the closet, "How long are you planning on staying there?!"

"Ah, that’s a bit hard—" Feng Ping Lan stood up, and just as he was about to step out of the closet he became unstable, falling onto Morris who was standing in front of it.

Realizing that he was about to fall, Feng Ping Lan subconsciously grabbed onto something to stop his fall. And so his hand hooked onto Morris' clothing, but it couldn't stop the fall.

Ss—

A crisp ripping sound, then the sound of something heavy hitting the floor.

Thump!

Morris looked at his clothes that had been torn to the point of being unable to be worn, then became agitatedly angry, "You lowly filth!"

"Sorry, my legs have become numb after squatting so long, haha…"

"Can your feet still move?" Dongya walked closer in concern.

"Wait a moment." Feng Ping Lan climbed up, looking at his watch, "Oh no, it's time for the dormitory's curfew!" He still had to ride his bike down, if he was too late his name would be written down!

Morris angrily tore off the ripped up cloth off his shoulders, flinging it onto the ground.

Dongya glanced at the torn cloth on the ground dully, then turned to speak gently to Feng Ping Lan, "Don't worry, Morris will bring you back."

"What!" Morris was furious after hearing that, "Why do I have to—"

"You have to comply." Dongya smiled, "Because I have to clean up the area, and prepare your food."

Morris was speechless. No matter how unwilling he was, he couldn't put his digestive system out as a bargaining chip.

He muttered unhappily for a while, glaring at Feng Ping Lan, gritting his teeth before kneeling in front of Feng Ping Lan.

"Ah?"

"Get on! You useless tras.h.!.+"

"Oh okay…" Feng Ping Lan moved forwards with strenuous effort, grunting for a moment before sitting on Morris' lap, a hand on those st.u.r.dy shoulders, "You can go now."

"What are you doing!" Morris stood up violently, and Feng Ping Lan who was sitting on his thighs fell onto the ground.

"Aiyo!" Feng Ping Lan cried out in grievance, "Didn't you tell me to get on?"

"I told you to get on my back! You idiot!" He didn't want to hug this kind of low life form from the front!

"Are you shy? Huhuhu, you're so pure and innocent." Feng Ping Lan's mouth sounded out strange stupid laughter, "If you really want to princess-carry me, I'd be sorry because I'll be facing your nipples throughout the entire journey— ah!"

Morris had gotten fed up with Feng Ping Lan's brain-deadness, both hands grabbing onto Feng Ping Lan and jumping off, raising him upside down and flinging him on his back, face down legs up suspended. He leaped towards the windows, his strong and st.u.r.dy legs treading on the walls, the tenacious body flying out towards the moonlit night.

"Woah!"

Dongya smiled light while waving, looking outwards at the distant figures, "I wish you a pleasant evening."

Not long after Morris left, the corner of the courtyard lit up with a golden mist, gathering into a frivolous figure.

Just as Byriel was about to enter from the backyard door, a strict voice sounded unhurriedly from the darkness.

"Where did you go?" Austere purple eyes stared at Byriel as if he had seen through a certain secret, "…What did you do?"

"I just went out to wander around for a while, and did some bonding with a new friend." Byriel smiled calmly, giving an equivocating answer, "This city is a bit more interesting than I'd originally thought. Hehehe…"

"Don't waste your time on meaningless matters."

"I consider my every action to be most benefiting towards our current plight." Byriel's resplendent smile carried some provocation, "Let's see who exactly is doing meaningless matters, who exactly is wasting their time, when the time comes, hehehe…"

TL Notes

He's referencing Harry Potter. He Laid on Ice in Search of Carp (臥冰求鯉; Wò Bīng Qíu Lí) is a story of a filial son called w.a.n.g Xiang who took care of his stepmother regardless of her dislike of him. One day she had a craving for carp, so he traveled to the frozen river, undressed, and laid on the icy surface. The ice thawed and w.a.n.g was able to catch two carps for his stepmother. The original sentence is “You have to be quiet when playing hide-and-seek.” Hide-and-seek (躲猫猫) has the character of ‘cat’ in it, so Morris thought that Feng Ping Lan was talking about cats. Section chief of hygiene (卫生股长) is one of the positions in school (Taiwanese schools, I think?). What they do, I don't know, but I highly suspect that it probably has something to do with cleaning.