Chapter 224: A Favor for a Pill, and a Haunting Call

“Then, how about I settle the debt with supernatural photos? I can provide you with high-quality supernatural photos in the future; they just need malevolent energy infused to activate them. However, their value is unstable, and my production isn’t high,” Jia Cheng said, a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

“The price of supernatural photos fluctuates wildly in the black market depending on their content. But an original print is definitely worth far more than a copy. Still, Jia Cheng can’t possibly give you the original plates,” Mo Qingyan reminded from the side.

“It would be useless for student Xia to have the negatives anyway. Developing supernatural photos is a highly complex technique, requiring specific locations, developing agents, and even particular photo materials. Even if I gave them to you, you wouldn’t be able to develop them. Finished photos, however, are easy to use,” Jia Cheng explained.

“That’s true. If you agree, Yubing, I could act as an intermediary appraiser for you. I’m sure Jia Cheng wouldn’t object, right?” Mo Qingyan asked. Jia Cheng nodded in agreement.

“No problem. I don’t need to trouble Senior Sister Mo. Whatever Jia Cheng says is fine. After all, he can’t give them all to me at once anyway,” I replied.

Considering the ‘friendship price’ Xiao Qing got from Jia Cheng—one hundred yuan per photo development—I knew that copies of supernatural photos wouldn’t be expensive. They were, after all, single-use items. Even factoring in other costs, Jia Cheng would need to give me at least a hundred of them to match the value of that one dispelling pill.

So, arguing about the price was truly unnecessary. Carrying too many supernatural photos could also be harmful to the body. However, if they could be used simply by infusing malevolent energy, they would indeed be very helpful.

“I don’t have many things I can trade. I do have a few cursed artifacts, but their value far exceeds that of pills, and I don’t wish to sell them. Junior Sister Xia, how about I owe you a favor? You can call on me for anything you need done in the future,” Xushan offered.

‘Senior Brother Xushan is too polite. There’s no need for such formality.’

“It’s settled then. I’ll certainly trouble you if anything comes up,” I said.

Thus, two dispelling pills had garnered favors from both Jia Cheng and Xushan. I felt it was a worthwhile exchange.

Moreover, Yi Zhiqiu’s pills were surprisingly effective. Perhaps I should try to acquire more from him?

“Everyone must be sufficiently rested by now. This floor has been cleared, so there should be no more danger. Let’s split up and explore to see if there are any good finds,” Mo Qingyan suggested.

“Alright.” We each chose a room and entered to explore. The most significant difference between the rooms on the fourth floor and those on the third was that most of them hadn’t been ravaged by fire.

For instance, the room I entered hadn’t been destroyed by the blaze. It was merely somewhat smoke-stained, largely retaining its appearance from before the fire.

The appliances, furniture, and various decorations were all intact and quite ordinary. If not for the grim environment, I might even have felt a sense of warmth.

The obvious incongruity was the wedding photo hanging on the wall, and the playful pictures taken with several children. The faces of everyone in the photos had been burned away by the fire, leaving only humanoid holes. It seemed the entire family had perished in the blaze.

I searched around and eventually found the area with the deepest resentment: the telephone in the bedroom. It was a landline, still commonly used ten years ago. As I approached it, the phone suddenly rang.

Ring! Ring! Ring! The sudden ringing shattered the silence, startling me greatly. Just as I was about to turn and look for the others, the phone automatically switched to speakerphone, and a frantic voice burst forth.

Help! We’re trapped in the house, cough, cough! Please, come save us! There are three children in the house!– a man’s voice cried out.

We are working hard to extinguish the fire! Please hold on, report your room number, and we will prioritize your rescue!– a serious voice replied, likely a firefighter from back then.

It’s too late, cough, cough! The smoke is already coming in, cough, cough! I can’t breathe…– The man’s voice gradually weakened.

Sir, sir! Please hold on! Cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel, open a window to breathe! The rescue vehicle will be there immediately!– the serious voice urged loudly.

The children are already asleep, my wife is also asleep, cough, cough! I’m going to join them…– The man’s voice grew fainter and hoarser until it was no longer audible.

The rescue personnel continued to encourage the man, hoping to spark his will to survive, but he no longer responded. The call disconnected. This must have been the recorded conversation from that year, the man’s final words in life.

“Alas, how tragic,” I sighed. The fourth floor was where the fire spread most rapidly, and the firefighters simply didn’t have enough time to save anyone. Everyone on this floor had already perished.

I unplugged the phone and carried it outside. By then, Xiao Qing and Jia Cheng had already finished searching their rooms and emerged.

Jia Cheng seemed to have found nothing, while Xiao Qing held a gas mask, upon which vapor condensed. She had indeed found a cursed artifact.

However, Mo Qingyan took the gas mask, frowning. “This gas mask has been contaminated by thick smoke. Wearing it would be tantamount to suicide. A normal person couldn’t possibly use it; it can only be a collector’s item.”

Then she turned to me, her eyes lighting up. “Yubing, where did you find this telephone? This is a good item, such pure obsession and unwillingness!”

“I found it in that room. Didn’t any of you hear the man from that family?” I asked.

That room was no more than ten meters from here. Both the telephone ringing and the rescuers’ voices were quite loud earlier. It was impossible for Mo Qingyan, standing in the hall, not to have heard.

“No, I didn’t hear it. You must be careful with supernatural locations; what you hear doesn’t mean others hear, and what you see doesn’t mean others see,” Mo Qingyan warned.

“Then, only I heard his last words. There won’t be any problems, will there?” I asked, a little afraid in hindsight.

“There shouldn’t be any problem. His resentment isn’t directed at you, and you listened quietly. This kind generally won’t harm you. If you’re still uneasy, we’ll perform an exorcism ritual once we’re outside,” Mo Qingyan reassured.

Just then, Bai Yue and Xushan also emerged. Xushan spoke urgently, “Minister, in that room, I saw a Guanyin statue, but it felt a bit off, so I didn’t dare touch it.”

The room he entered had a wooden door, which had been entirely burned away by the fire. The blaze had spread directly into the home, charring everything inside to black, leaving almost nothing behind.

Yet, amidst this devastation in the living room, a sacrificial altar and a shrine stood completely unharmed, without even a trace of scorch marks. It was a Guanyin statue, made of white porcelain.

However, there was no spiritual light around the Guanyin statue. Instead, it was enveloped in a layer of bloody light. Even the compassionate expression on the statue seemed eerily unsettling to me, as if it were mocking the victims who perished in the fire.

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