“Yi Ming Private Academy and Happiness Neighbourhood are one block apart but the convenience store offers a shortcut. The people from the school have already sent their feelers into our neighbourhood, if we do not want to get cornered, we need to come up with a plan to fight back.” Han Fei placed the teacher’s id on the bed and grabbed some paper and pen. “The danger of the school is not to be underestimated so I plan to overtake it in stages.”
“What do you mean?”
“First, we need to gather all the tenants who are willing to leave the neighbourhood to help clean up the buildings along this street. While we expand our safe zone, we can consume those spirits that cannot be saved anymore. That will increase our overall power.”
“How can we tell if someone is still saveable or not?”
“If they are willing to join us, then they can be saved; if not, they’re food.” Han Fei said firmly.
“But there are so many buildings down this street. Even if we manage to clear away the existing ghosts, new ghosts will come to take their place.” Wei Youfu had no fighting ability, he relied fully on Little Eight but Little Eight could not leave Happiness Neighbourhood. The victims could not help Han Fei outside of the neighbourhood so Wei Youfu was concerned on Han Fei’s behalf.
“As long as we have the power, the newcomers will also end up as food. We’re not the one who should be making the choices but them.” Han Fei wrote down a name on the paper. “There are indeed many inscrutable and inexplicable presences at this city. What we need to do is strengthen ourselves while making sure we do not attract their attention.”
“But I still think it’s too dangerous.” Wei Youfu looked into Han Fei’s eyes, he saw ambition and fire in them. The natives of cryptic worlds were corrupted by despair and pain, their eyes were filled with nothing but cruelty and madness. No one would even fathom the concept of future planning like Han Fei would. Wei Youfu slowly discovered the thing that was different about Han Fei. The man’s eyes glowed with a light that was impossible to find on any ghost, he carried the most precious thing in the cryptic world—hope.
With envy in his heart, Wei Youfu wished he could be more like Han Fei but the memory of death was like a steel needle pierced in his heart. The thought of it injured his soul.
“The precious manager has marked out the dangerous locales so we only need to avoid them.” Han Fei’s plan was clear. With Happiness Neighbourhood and Yi Ming Convenience Store as bases, he planned to expand his influence throughout the cryptic world. “After we clean up this street, everyone should be much stronger. Then I’ll figure out a way to sneak into the school.” Han Fei planned to make an excursion with the tenants of Happiness Neighbourhood. He wished the tenants would provide him protection as well as missions.
Han Fei’s current level was too low. If he did not add all of his acquired attribute points into stamina, he wouldn’t be able to carry the paper doll’s coffin. He was still at the beginning stage of the game. He did not consider improving his intelligence. He needed to be strong enough so that he wouldn’t have to choose flight in every situation first.
“I’ll mix into the school to scout it out and try to seek out more staff and student ids. Then I’ll place those ids at the convenience store. When the time is right, we can enter the school together.” Han Fei explained his plan. He needed his neighbours’ help to take down Yi Ming Private Academy because his level was too low. To be honest, Han Fei had considered other possibilities like going to the school only after obtaining his secret profession but he needed to go to Livestock Alley to gain that profession. The alley wouldn’t be less dangerous than the school and the place was far from the neighbourhood. Han Fei would be isolated from his friends if he decided to go there. Therefore, the best target at this moment for Han Fei was none other than Yi Ming Private Academy.
“The whole plan will be split into 3 stages, the first is to ensure the safety of this street and improve ourselves; for the second stage, I’ll infiltrate into the school to gather information and more access cards; then for the third stage, we’ll work in tandem both inside and outside of the school to bring it down.” Han Fei did not rush ahead but he did not halt due to fear either. He decided to start his work of taking down Yi Ming Private Academy that night. He needed to find clues about the Butterfly in the cryptic world and help the police capture them. Then he wouldn’t need to worry about his safety anymore in real life.
After Han Fei shared all of his plan, even though Wei Youfu still thought it was too risky, he would support Han Fei. They left Room 1044 and started to approach the other tenants. Ying Yue refused to leave her parents. If she left the aquarium for too long, the pain in her would turn her insane. Xu Qin was not home but as if expecting Han Fei would come get her, she left a bloody note on the door—I’ve sniffed something delicious, I’ll be back soon. The bloody message was horrifying but Han Fei had gotten used to her bloody ways.
Of the entire Apartment 1, only one tenant agreed to come with Han Fei and that was Weep who came hugging a ceremonial urn. It was unclear whether this was the effect of the Pied Piper, or the boy wanted to have more meals like the paper doll. In any case, Han Fei managed to convince him with a few words. With Weep and Wei Youfu, Han Fei ran to Apartment 2. After some asking around, only the tall ghost was willing to help.
“Your plan is good but it’ll be hard to put it into action.” Wei Youfu could not allow Little Eight to leave the neighbourhood. Watching the trio of Han Fei, Weep and the tall ghost, he shook his head. “Maybe we should wait for that woman from the 5th floor to come back.”
“The two of them are enough. Most of the tenants from Apartment 2 refuse to come because they only see the danger. When they realize the benefits involved, they’ll be more willing to help.” Han Fei turned to the tall ghost. “Consuming ghosts will provide lots of Yin energy, it can help increase your power and calm the pain in your heart. The tenants here will eventually learn that helping me is helping themselves.”
“I was lucky enough to be at home and saw you come back carrying the coffin. I knew you were different from others and that is why I’m willing to help.” The tall ghost’s voice was low and hoarse, he sounded mature. “Let me reintroduce myself. My real name is Lee Zai, I live in Room 2021. My younger brother is called Lee Huo. He is now living inside me, we can swap consciousness whenever we wish.”
“What special power do you have?”
“We can pollute and steal other people's luck. By the way…” Lee Huo suddenly remembered something, “There was a wandering soul that sneaked into Apartment 2 earlier. He was a patron of Lady Luck like me and my brother. We have stolen the last good luck he had and planned to ask him to become our sworn brother. But you rescued him before we could get him. Is he still around? We wish to meet him.”
“He has already departed from this world.” Han Fei ended this sad conversation and the three of them left the neighbourhood. The street was covered in darkness. They did not dare to stay outside for too long. They hurried across the street and entered Yi Ming Convenience Store. The bell rang. Han Fei looked around. The store had been cleaned but the single-eyed worker was missing. “Where’s Drake? He’s my only living employee!”
Han Fei entered the warehouse and pulled one out. “Stop playing dead, where’s Drake?”
A confused face appeared on the normal looking candle, “Who are you?”
“Huh, so you even know how to change your voice and face… That’s useful.” Han Fei identified the man through the system. Han Fei took out a lighter. “I had you look over the shop for me but you couldn’t even do that. Maybe some fire will help clear your mind.”
“How did you find me among so many candles?” The candle face panicked. “I even changed my hiding spot…”
“Stop wasting time, where’s Drake?”
“He went to the hostel next door a few hours ago and he hasn’t returned.”
“The hostel?”
“I’m not lying! A child’s crying came from the hostel earlier and I believe the child was crying for his mother. When Drake heard that, he left the shop immediately…”
“A child’s crying? Looks like something has happened to Firefly and his mother.” Han Fei stuffed the candle into his pocket. He led Weep and Lee Zai to the back alley. Han Fei greeted a few broken souls and then he slipped to the alley entrance.
Beside the convenience store, there was a small, old hostel that did not even have a sign.
“The woman who dropped the pot on me stays here as well. It’s time to make things even.”
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