Chapter 67: Before Dawn (6)

Chapter 67: Before Dawn (6)

T/N: For easier differentiation between the young maid and the middle-aged maid, Ill start referring to the young maid as the young servant starting this chapter.

At the end of the call, Tang Cuo asked Qi Hui to tell Zhou Dahai to find a way to explore the attic.

From the fact that this Zhou Dahai was trapped in a mere basement for so long and was scared to death by such a non-aggressive ghost like Yu Wangyue, it could be seen that he wasnt very reliable.

Lets sort out the character relationships and timeline first. Pulling out the cloth bag, Tang Cuo took out the items he had obtained in the study and Wangyues room.

The three sat down in a circle next to the phone. Qi Hui could still understand the first few observations that Tang Cuo made, but the more the analysis went on, the more confused he became and he had to ask questions.

Wait, you said that the young servant wants to climb into the masters bed, I can understand, but why is the dismembered corpse related to the servant?

In any case, he was a teammate and they were all in this together, so Tang Cuo patiently took out the torn piece of paper found behind the mirror in the common bathroom and the old fountain pen found in the servants room: Write down any two characters.

With much doubt, Qi Hui wrote two random characters. The writing wasnt very smooth because the tip of the pen was a bit split, which easily hooked onto the paper when he was writing.

But what did this mean?

Qi Hui carefully looked at the words on the torn piece of paper, compared them with his own and finally understood. The words on the paper looked just like those written by him, so the servant was indeed suspicious.

But what if she writes it in someone elses place? Shouldnt the servant be quite close to the lady? The lady is sick so maybe she cant write. Qi Hui asked.

But the characters seem to be unnaturally stressed on, and the writing had some odd pauses. Tang Cuo said. When a person wrote what he already had on his mind, it would look different from when someone tried to imitate someone elses writing. If the servant was helping the lady to write, there was no need to deliberately forge the ladys writing.

The servant secretly hid the old fountain pen and forged the ladys handwriting to secretly communicate with the man in the attic. Why? Because she wanted to put the blame on the lady. This was consistent with her motive of dressing up to seduce the master, but the master didnt seem to appreciate it and killed her with one shot.

Blinking his eyes, Qi Hui finally could go along with Tang Cuos deduction: Was it also deliberately arranged for the piece of paper to be found by a guest? Bad things in the house shouldnt be made known to outsiders. If they were, the lady would definitely die a miserable death.

Tang Cuo didnt answer, but whenever he tried to solve a case, he wouldnt hesitate to assume that any criminal should harbour the most sinister malice when he carried out the crime. The servant must have played a role in this whole matter, but she also underestimated the masters love for his wife.

Although that love had probably been mixed with endless hatred.

Yu Wangnians diary fell beside the servants corpse. A lot of the pages were stained with blood, but a few could still be read clearly. Tang Cuo picked up the diary, turned to one of the pages and read out softly: 24th June 1924. I hate her, but I still love her. I know that her heart may not be mine, but shell be buried with me.

Huh? Hearing this proclaim of love that sounded no different from a death threat, Qi Hui was lost for words.

Jin Cheng smiled knowingly: Do you think that 24th June 1924 is the time on your side?

Tang Cuo nodded: Yes.

Qi Hui was now even more curious about this very complex love polygon: So, in the end, between the lady and Yu Wangyue in the attic, was there a er relationship that has crossed the line?New novel chapters are published on

Jin Cheng shrugged: If not, did Yu Wangnian make his own home into an iron cage, poison his wife and lock his brother up in the attic just to make himself an An Jiahe of Republican China?

Qi Hui: An Jiahe? Who???

Tang Cuo: Do Not Respond to StrangersA Chinese drama released in 2001 about domestic violence and the abuse that a husband inflicts on his wife. An Jiahe is the name of the husband..

Upon hearing this, Qi Hui finally remembered the nightmare TV drama of his childhood. Even as a grown man now, he shuddered.

Tang Cuo took out the photo of the family and moved on: On 3rd January 1923, the four people in the mansion were alive and at least superficially happy. On 25th December 1923, Yu Wangyue died. His brother Yu Wangnian set up a worshipping hall for him in the basement, but spread the news that he had gone to study abroad to the newspapers, so it was obvious that he wanted to hide Yu Wangyues death. On 24th June 1924, a guest found the servants note inside the common bathroom and was killed.

Jin Cheng continued: In 1926, the young servant failed to seduce the master and was killed. Its reasonable to suspect that Yu Wangnian already knew that the note was forged. Even if he was irate and wasnt in his right mind when the killing happened, that was still his wifes handwriting, the person he knew best. Hed rather kill than let the story slip out, yet at the same time he wouldnt accept the servant trying to climb into his bed. It shouldnt take long for him to discover the authenticity of the handwriting.

These two reasons led to the death of the young servant. She saw Yu Wangnians diary before she died and learnt that no matter how hard she tried, she wouldnt be able to achieve her goal of being the next lady. She might have died being very angry.

Tang Cuo: The butler is Yu Wangnians confidant. Theres no doubt that he was involved in everything. The lady might also have engaged someone to help her in this Yu mansion. This person is most likely the middle-aged maid. She seems greedy for money and even steals things; since shes greedy for money, it means she can be bought easily.

Qi Hui: What does she do for the lady?

Tang Cuo: Pass the note to Yu Wangyue.

Qi Hui: But didnt you say that it was forged by the servant?

Tang Cuo raised his eyes to look at Jin Cheng and Jin Cheng understood what he meant at once. Standing between the two bosses gazing at each other, Qi Hui was completely lost.

Jin Cheng was in a good mood, so he took the initiative to explain: Didnt I mention previously? In this dimension of the year 1926, theres another piece of paper in the attic, which Lin Wan wrote to Yu Wangnian, saying that she would release him.

Tang Cuo nodded. This note was actually something that proved that the servant indeed forged the note back in 1924, because the two signatures were different. One was signed off with Your Wanwan in a deliberate attempt to be intimate, while the other was signed off with only Lin Wan.

Looking at the attitude of Lin Wans ghost towards Yu Wangyue, even if there might be feelings between them, they were mostly one-sided from Lin Wan. If they werent any romantic feelings, then it must be Lin Wans guilt.

This proves something. Tang Cuo said: Yu Wangnian covered up Yu Wangyues death, because even Lin Wan thought that the real Yu Wangyue was kept in the attic.

Qi Hui: What about the one in the attic?

Jin Cheng tilted his head and thought: A doppelganger?

Then this doppelganger must live a very sad life, Qi Hui sincerely mourned him from the bottom of his heart.

Where was Zhou Dahai?

If Yu Wangyues ghost wasnt aggressive, then the dimension where Zhou Dahai was located should be relatively safe. Even if he missed the first and second calls because he was busy searching for clues, what about the third call?

And what about the fourth call?

Something has happened to Zhou Dahai! Qi Hui quickly screamed towards the second floor.

At the same time, at Zhou Dahais dimension.

A dagger gleaming with a cold light was pressed against Zhou Dahais neck from behind. Zhou Dahais whole body went stiff and he didnt dare to look back: Who are you? A player or an NPC? What do you want?

The person behind spoke with a voice that sounded like it could evaporate into thin air any moment now, and it wasnt easy to tell his age: You dont need to know. So long as you cooperate nicely and dont act rashly, I wont kill you.

Zhou Dahai quickly raised his hands: I wont move, I promise I wont move!

This person must be a player.

Zhou Dahai thought so, but he couldnt figure out whether the person was originally from this dimension or had shifted to here from another. The information he got from Qi Hui was limited, and he still felt as though he had been trapped in a fog until now.

Behind him, where his eyes couldnt reach, the person took out a pocket watch and dropped it down from his palm. The watchs face naturally oscillated back and forth in midair, its tick, tock sound rushing into Zhou Dahais ears in a blink. He couldnt see it, but a watch suddenly appeared in his mind, its hands moving at incredible speed.

The hour hand, minute hand and second hand were turning faster and faster, so much so that he felt as though they were pulling an afterimage with each turn.

Completely dumbfounded, Zhou Dahai almost felt himself lost inside a dream, until

Ding!

The wall clock in the living room chimed loudly. It was midnight.

At this moment, he heard the eerie yet cheerful [Song of God, Lambs and Crow] coming from the piano room on the second floor. The familiar melody caused goosebumps to grow all over his body, and his brain instantly regained its senses.

He didnt understand what was going on, but all of a sudden, the dagger on his neck was no longer there.

Looking back, the person was gone.

Holy sh*t. Zhou Dahai wiped off his cold sweat.

On the other side, Qi Hui wasnt feeling great. He had no idea how many of his teammates had entered this dungeon, while Zhou Dahai, the only one whom he could contact, was likely in danger, which gave him all the heebie-jeebies.

Tang Cuo frowned as he was caught in some deep thoughts, while Jin Cheng narrowed his eyes, as if thinking of something, and his cold gaze swept through the surroundings. Seeing this, Tang Cuo cast him a questioning look.

Jin Cheng winked his eyes twice in response.

Tang Cuo understood, but Qi Hui didnt understand, so he couldnt help but feel a headache Look at where we are, how can you two still leisurely wink at each other?!

At this time, it was 56 minutes before midnight in 1926.

Qi Huis anxiety didnt last long, because Jin Cheng suddenly moved and faced the empty second floor, saying loudly: Rong Yi, dont hide, come out.

No one answered.

Jin Cheng folded his arms and asked with a smile: Are you learning from the 5-year-old bedwetting Meng Yufei to give me a sneak attack?

Qi Hui felt familiar when he heard Meng Yufeis name, and at this moment, a figure appeared at the corner of the stairs, slowly walking into the threes field of vision.

Qi Huis eyes widened, for he really didnt expect someone to actually hide there!

Rong Yi!

He remembered who it was: No. 2 on the Red List!

Qi Hui almost blurted out another f**k, but he managed to hold back.

Jin Cheng looked at Rong Yi with a smile that carried no smiling intent, glanced at the pocket watch in his hand and said: Ive been wondering who that stealthy cat is, so its you. No. 2 on the Red List and The Time Master. Isnt it unnecessary for you to act like this?

Rong Yi carried a cold expression but his coldness was different from Leng Miaos. Leng Miao was cold in both his name and his appearanceLeng Miaos name is written as . The first character lit. means cold., his coldness truly coming from within; meanwhile, Rong Yis coldness seemed to be drenched with melancholy.

He carried a downhearted look, as though all the sadness of this world rested on his shoulders. One couldnt find any hint of happiness on him.

If the other party is you, its necessary. Rong Yi opened his mouth, the lightness of his voice giving out an air of sorrow. He stopped on the stairs and didnt come down, using actions to fully express his hesitation against Jin Cheng: Lets make a deal. Among the three dimensions that have been discovered so far, except for this one, the others have all hit 12 oclock. The playing of the piano is over and the only thing we could await next is dawn itself.

Jin Cheng smiled: So?

Rong Yi: You dont know the exact timing of the remaining two dimensions, do you? If I also make the time here to hit 12 oclock, youll completely lose the chance to shift to those dimensions.

Jin Cheng asked back: Do you actually think that youll have any chance to make a move if Im here?

But right here, you cant kill me. As long as you cant kill me, I have a chance to make a move. Rong Yi said as his eyes fell on Tang Cuo: Do you think that this partner of yours can find out the timing of the other dimensions before I make my move?