Chapter 37: The Eccentric Researcher and the Cursed House

“A strangely familiar eccentric.” This was Mo Ya’s first impression of Luoyi.

Whether it was his attire or his mannerisms, an air of incorrigibility clung to him.

Luoyi waved his hands, intending to pull Feng Ling into an embrace. However, this was not to be; Mo Ya stepped in front of her.

“What’s the big deal? So stingy. Fine…” Luoyi’s enthusiasm was instantly doused by Mo Ya’s action.

He brushed dust from his camouflage uniform, then picked up the shattered binoculars from the ground, his face etched with a pained expression.

As if he had recovered a priceless treasure, he carefully tucked the binoculars into his jacket. He then stood before Mo Ya once more, his eyes filled with an accusatory glint. “One hundred and fifty gold coins, and not a coin less.”

Luoyi behaved no differently than a street ruffian, though even ruffians would admit their attire couldn’t compare to his.

“What is that thing?” Mo Ya asked, his gaze fixed on the broken lenses clutched in Luoyi’s hand, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

“Hmph hmph hmph, this is my proudest invention, you see!” Upon hearing Mo Ya’s question, Luoyi instantly perked up. He darted away from the two, like an indefatigable salesman, and held up the binoculars in his hand.

“Introducing the Luoyi Brand Remote Penetration Lens! It can effortlessly pass through walls, allowing you to observe objects hidden behind them!

This is truly an essential piece of equipment for home travel, murder and robbery—no, I mean, for spying on enemy intelligence! Buy now, and for not nine hundred and ninety-eight, but just one hundred and fifty gold, you can take this masterpiece home!”

“So… you were peeping?”

Mo Ya always managed to find remarkably incisive points of entry. Behind him, Feng Ling cast a scornful glare at Luoyi, her eyes brimming with disdain.

Being stared at by two such pairs of eyes was naturally uncomfortable. Sweat beaded on Luoyi’s forehead, and he looked immensely awkward.

“Research… the affairs of a researcher, how can you call that peeping?” Luoyi’s eyes darted around as he scrambled for an excuse in his mind, completely forgetting about his demand for compensation.

“Pervert,” Feng Ling muttered softly.

This only made Luoyi feel even more flustered.

“I’m not a pervert! This is research, research! No, not that! Hurry up and hand over the gold coins; this thing is very expensive!”

Luoyi finally remembered his most crucial objective. He attempted to use this to divert the conversation.

Watching Luoyi bounce and prance before him, Mo Ya pulled a pouch of gold coins from his pocket and tossed it to him.

Luoyi, while still clutching the binoculars, fumbled to catch the coin pouch. A substantial weight settled in his hand.

“Keep the change.”

With those words, Mo Ya led Feng Ling forward, eager to leave this utterly unstimulating place. Of course, a beautiful girl’s body was certainly stimulating.

“Wait!” Luoyi hurried back, pushing the coin pouch into Mo Ya’s hands. Despite only running a few steps, Luoyi seemed utterly exhausted, gasping for breath. “Hold on, you gave too much money.”

“If it’s too much, just take it.”

Mo Ya felt no gratitude toward Luoyi for this; instead, he was struck by a hint of surprise. Was this man’s thought process somehow different from a normal person’s?

“Hmph hmph hmph, are you underestimating me, your great self? I am a proud researcher, you see, so… I will ensure these creations receive the value they deserve—no more, no less.

This is the path of magic that I, Lord Luoyi, am determined to follow.”

It wasn’t about an excess of gold coins, but simply proving the worth of his research. It was a simple and earnest desire.

A faint, imperceptible smile touched the corner of Mo Ya’s lips. Luoyi, a strange yet intriguing individual.

Thus, he did not refuse Luoyi’s request and tucked the coin pouch back into his clothes.

“Speaking of which, where are you two headed?”

The power of an unreserved personality was formidable, and Feng Ling naturally felt it. She glared at Luoyi, who clung to her and Mo Ya like a persistent worm, and pouted.

“To the mountain behind the school.”

“Huh?!” To Mo Ya’s surprise, Luoyi shrieked, looking utterly astonished.

“Are you insane? That’s the haunted house! A cursed house!”

“I know.”

“Hey, hey, hey, you know and you’re still going? Are you an idiot?” Luoyi stood before Mo Ya, his eyes filled with bewilderment.

His expression shifted erratically as he stared intently at Mo Ya.

“Perhaps.” Mo Ya replied casually, continuing his advance toward the cursed house.

For a moment, only a bewildered Luoyi remained rooted to the spot. He stared blankly at the departing pair, his mind struggling to keep up.

Luoyi clutched the one hundred and fifty gold coins in his hand and stomped his foot in frustration.

“Two idiots. Forget it, whatever happens, it’s none of my business.”

He tucked the gold coins into his jacket, then pressed his face against a tiny crack in the bathhouse wall, a look of obsession on his face.

“Heh heh heh, I, Lord Luoyi, am not one to give up so easily.”

Luoyi’s eyes widened, straining to glimpse the heavenly sight within the bathhouse. However, the gold coins in his jacket inconveniently tumbled out. Luoyi jumped like a startled bird, then looked down at the coins still spinning on the ground.

As the coins twirled on the floor, so did Luoyi’s thoughts.

“Ugh, this is such a hassle… Perhaps I should just go and check on them briefly.”

Scratching his head, he picked up the gold coins and slowly walked in the direction of the cursed house.

“Doing something with no profit again. What would Master think if he were here?”

Luoyi muttered to himself as he passed through the bathhouse entrance, drawing the attention of the manager. He had worked here for two years, watching the bathhouse business slowly decline, a silent sorrow in his heart.

“You, a face I haven’t seen before.”

“Ah, well, I’m new. I’m a handyman in the cafeteria.”

“Is that so…” The manager’s eyes held a hint of suspicion.

Luoyi plastered a wide smile on his face and slowly walked past the gate. The buildings ahead noticeably thinned out, gradually giving way to a green expanse of trees. At the end of this verdant stretch lay the cursed house.