Chapter 75: Qianshan

Chapter 75: Qianshan

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu

Though Ruan Nanzhu mocked him about it, Luo Qianshan really didnt dare to know this good thing.

Bottom line was, anyone who could get to this door and still seem leisurely about it, no matter how harmless they may look, was surely no saint. Just like this beautiful woman who called herself Zhu Meng before himshe was not somebody to be trifled with.

Go on, say what you actually came to discuss with us, Ruan Nanzhu spoke.

Its about the key, Luo Qianshan said. We found where it is, but His tone went a bit strained. But we cant get our hands on it.

Ruan Nanzhu, what do you mean by cant?

Luo Qianshan, straight-forwardly, were not skilled enough.

At this, Ruan Nanzhus expression was inscrutable. Not skilled enough? I think you two siblings are actually pretty good at this.

Luo Qianshan didnt make any excuses, just flipped up his palms in a what can you do gesture.

Continue. Ruan Nanzhu knew there was more Luo Qianshan wanted to say.

Luo Qianshan said, so I wanted to come and make a deal. Ill tell you the clue to the key

Here, he paused.

Ruan Nanzhu waited for him to go on. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, after all.

But when you leave here, you have to bring along me and Qianshui, was Luo Qianshans condition.

Thats it? A look of assessment appeared in Ruan Nanzhus eyes, as if he was trying to determine how much Luo Qianshan was lying about.

Thats it, Luo Qianshan spoke staunchly.

Ruan Nanzhu nodded. Tell us.

He took the deal.

The key is in that burning room, Luo Qianshan said. But the condition to getting the key is particular. You have to go in at night

At this, Lin Qiushi questioned, you two have gone inside?

Luo Qianshan shook his head. No. We only saw the key from the door. We havent gone in.

Then how do you know the keys inside? Though Luo Qianshan seemed very earnest, Lin Qiushi kept sensing something off about him. The role of the key inside the door was far too important; this man was so easily giving them its location, so were things truly as he said, or did he have some other motive?

We saw it, Luo Qianshan said. The door was open at the time

Ruan Nanzhu said, if the door was open why couldnt you go in?

Luo Qianshans expression went a bit awkward.

Because that mother and child were in there.

Silence.

Ruan Nanzhu spoke: So you came to tell us because you want us to go in? He asked, didnt you see the placard on our door?

Luo Qianshan frowned.

Ruan Nanzhu, didnt you see the number on it? Our rooms the last one. Even if this whole floor burns, were going to be the last to die.

Luo Qianshan sighed. Im not trying to send you on a suicide mission. If youre willing, we can work together.

Ruan Nanzhu, how?

Luo Qianshan, well be responsible for luring the mother and daughter elsewhere, and you guys will be responsible for getting the key.

At this, Ruan Nanzhu lifted a brow. Youre certain?

Luo Qianshan, Im certain.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

I dont believe you, was Ruan Nanzhus reply. Unless you give us a demonstration first, and show yourselves to be sincere.

Luo Qianshan was silent for a while. Its too dangerous to do, we cant give a demonstration.

Ruan Nanzhu, sorry then.

Luo Qianshan met Ruan Nanzhus eyes, and each saw in the others gazes an unchangeable obstinacy. He sighed without further attempts at persuasion, and got up from his chair. He went to the door, and just as he was leaving, he glanced back at Ruan Nanzhu.

I just want to let you know, if it really comes down to it, the last ones standing will definitely be me and Qianshui.

Ruan Nanzhu stared at him in icy silence.

See you. Luo Qianshan smiled, and left.

Ruan Nanzhu watched him go, eyebrows furrowing.

Lin Qiushi, wheres he getting that confidence from? When Luo Qianshan and Ruan Nanzhu were speaking just now, hed also used the bronze mirror to look at Luo Qianshans feet, confirming he was a live human.

Ruan Nanzhu shook his head, answering lowly, if Luo Qianshan can say that, then he definitely has his own trump card.

Lin Qiushi didnt reply.

Ruan Nanzhu, thoughtfully, if we get the chance tonight, lets go take a look inside that room.

Lin Qiushi nodded. During their conversation, Cheng Yixie didnt speak at all. Here though, his lips lightly parted: Theres that burnt smell on Luo Qianshan too.

What? Lin Qiushi startled.

Its on him too, though its faint, Cheng Yixie said. But I really did smell it.

With this revelation, both Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi went silent.

There was the burnt smell on Luo Qianshan too? Did he have something to do with those people burnt to death then? But Luo Qianshan was definitely human. Why would that smell be on a living person?

Was it there yesterday? Ruan Nanzhu asked Cheng Yixie.

Cheng Yixie shook his head, and answered with certainty, no.

This was very odd indeed.

Ruan Nanzhus expression was ambiguous: Maybe Luo Qianshan is telling the truth.

Lin Qiushi, hm?

Ruan Nanzhu, he really is guaranteed to be the last survivor.

They just didnt know yet what that guarantee was.

As the day ended, another evening alighted.

On their way back to their room, Lin Qiushi noticed that Xia-jie standing in the hallway, facing a wall and muttering under her breath with an expression so strained as to be scary.

Though she was quiet, Lin Qiushi still heard what she was murmuring. It was one phrase she kept repeating: dont kill me, dont kill me, dont kill me, dont kill me

Lets sleep first. In the end though, Ruan Nanzhu didnt say anything, just: Its late.

Lin Qiushi didnt force the matter either. After washing up, he got into bed.

Before sleeping however, Lin Qiushis hand went to his pocket, in which that pretty bronze mirror was placed. He thought of something, eyes darkening slightly. Quickly though, they closed, and he fell to sleep.

The next morning, Lin Qiushi bumped into Luo Qianshan in the restaurant.

At breakfast each morning, group attendance was at its max. Lin Qiushi sat in a distant corner and began checking over everybody with the bronze mirror.

Ruan Nanzhu sat beside him, eating a hard-boiled egg. He mumbled around the egg, how is it?

Lin Qiushi, not great. There were a total of seventeen people in the group. Confirmed deaths were: Xiao Yan whod burned to death, Wenjing whod broken the mirrors and died, Xiao Mian who was killed by Xia-jie, and Xia-jie whom Xiao Mian had gotten revenge on. There ought to be thirteen people left alive.

But after using the mirror on everyone around him, Lin Qiushi discovered there werent as many survivors as hed thought.

Of the thirteen, at least four had redirected feetheels in the front, toes pointing back. The way they walked was no different from everyone else, but it was precisely their normal appearances that sent a chill up the spine.

Cheng Yixies brows pinched. No wonder it stinks worse. The smell really was getting harder to bear.

As they were speaking, Luo Qianshan and Luo Qianshui happened to come in from outside.

Realizing something, Lin Qiushi guided the bronze mirror in his hand to where Luo Qianshui stood. What it reflected though, made Lin Qiushi freeze.

He even rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasnt seeing things wrong.

Two figures ought to have appeared on the mirror surface, but there was only Luo Qianshans silhouette. His head was turned to the side, and he was smiling warmly, speaking lowly to thin air.

Lin Qiushi, Luo Qianshui couldnt show up in the bronze mirror. What did that mean? She wasnt human?

Lin Qiushi didnt speak. He reached out and handed the mirror to Ruan Nanzhu, then gestured with a tilt of his chin at Luo Qianshui, indicating that Ruan Nanzhu should look at the reflection in the mirror.

Ruan Nanzhu took the mirror, and saw too the empty space beside Luo Qianshan. He murmured lowly, interesting.

Cheng Yixie saw the oddity about Luo Qianshui as well, and his brows puckered. Shes not human?

Lin Qiushi thought that he couldnt say.

If Luo Qianshui wasnt human, then was she a special case? Everyone else had flipped feet, but she couldnt be seen at all.

So what was her relationship to the human Luo Qianshan then? Could they both be NPCs from inside this door? Though this thought came to mind, Lin Qiushi still felt there was something wrong.

With their previous questions unresolved, new problems were arising.

Lin Qiushi rubbed at the bronze mirrors smooth surface, sighing lightly in his heart.

Ruan Nanzhu though, got up, and walked right on over to Luo Qianshan and Luo Qianshui.

Lin Qiushi startled, getting up to follow, but Ruan Nanzhu said lightly, you guys stay here. Ill go have a talk with them.

Lin Qiushi could only agree.

Cheng Yixie nodded.

Ruan Nanzhu came to Luo Qianshan and Luo Qianshuis table. Luo Qianshui had never liked Ruan Nanzhu, and this time was no exception; seeing him, she said unpleasantly, what? Youve thought it through? If you got something to say just keep standing there. Im still hungry you know.

Ruan Nanzhu didnt reply. He just watched Luo Qianshui silently.

Is something wrong? Luo Qianshan asked compassionately. In terms of personality, Luo Qianshan seemed a lot friendlier than Luo Qianshui. But Lin Qiushi actually preferred dealing with someone like Luo Qianshui, whose feelings were all clearly written across her face.

Ruan Nanzhu still wasnt speaking.

Luo Qianshui was evidently a bit spooked by Ruan Nanzhus gaze, and snapped, theres something wrong with you. Why are you staring at me She seemed to think of something, and so declared, my brother already has a girlfriend, so dont even think about it!

Luo Qianshan looked on from the side, exasperated.

Lin Qiushi wanted to laugh for some reason.

All of a sudden Cheng Yixie whispered, what are they saying?

Lin Qiushi blinked, before realizing that with a normal persons hearing, Ruan Nanzhus conversation wasnt audible from this far away.

Lin Qiushi told Ruan Nanzhu that her brother has a girlfriend, Lin Qiushi explained to Cheng Yixie, holding back laughter.

At this, humor too surfaced in Cheng Yixies eyes.

Well arent you full of yourself, Ruan Nanzhu said. What dont you get about my taste in men?

Luo Qianshui slammed her hand onto the table. The hell do you mean! My brothers incredible, how dare you not like him!

Ruan Nanzhu said, but I already have someone I like.

Luo Qianshui, who? Who do you like?!

Luo Qianshan looked as if a headache was coming on. Pardon me What is it that you came to speak to us about? Qianshui, stop talking.

Luo Qianshui clearly wanted to keep talking, but after Luo Qianshan gripped her by the arm, she ceased with a mutinous expression. But it was obvious from her gazedeep down in her heart, she already had countless objections to Ruan Nanzhus person.

I just came to chat about your offer yesterday. Ruan Nanzhu pulled out a chair, sitting down in front of Luo Qianshan like it was the most natural thing to do. I think we can work together.

Luo Qianshans eyes lit up.

But, the hint from this door has to be ours. As he spoke, Ruan Nanzhu watched Luo Qianshuis expression from his periphery. Will that be a problem?

No, Luo Qianshan said. We can agree on this point.

Ruan Nanzhu tilted his head. Are you actually related?

Yeah, why? Luo Qianshan smiled. Dont we look it?

Ruan Nanzhu, no.

Luo Qianshuis brows furrowed. How are we not alike

But before she was even finished talking, she heard Ruan Nanzhu say, light as anything: How could the dead and living be alike?

The air seemed to congeal in an instant. Luo Qianshuis eyes were wide with shock, while Luo Qianshans gaze, like nightfall, completely dimmed. He asked, what are you saying?

Exactly what I said, Ruan Nanzhu answered. Which door did your sister die in?

Luo Qianshan shot up from his chair and roared, shut up!

But Ruan Nanzhu had already gotten the answer he wanted from that reaction. He nodded. Dont be nervous, I wont use it against you. Theres just something I wanted to confirm.

Luo Qianshui watched Ruan Nanzhu, brows pinched.

Looking forward to working with you.

Ruan Nanzhu got up and left. It seemed these two really did come from outside the door, and werent NPCs from the inside. If the answer had been the latter, then there would have been no need for their group and Luo Qianshan to work together.

Authors Note:

Halfway through typing up the chapter today, my cat shut off my computer. I could only type it all up again with tears in my eyes QAQ Woe really be me.