Live Action Murder Mystery

Chapter 85.2

He could not describe what the tattoo was exactly: it looked like a flying bird, the area it occupied was not large, but its colours were enchanting and it was absolutely gorgeous.

After Proprietress Ling was done wrapping herself in a towel, she turned around to face Gu Liang: “Your rooms have a bathroom, but I don’t, so… Forget it, remember to knock a few more times before you enter next time. What did you come here for?”

Since the lady in front of him was only wrapped in a bath towel, Gu Liang turned his back around very consciously instead of facing her directly.

Gu Liang said: “I originally came to find you because I wanted to ask how I could meet a deceased lover. However, I would like to ask you another question right now.”

Proprietress Ling: “What would you like to ask?”

Gu Liang: “The tattoo on your lower back, my previous girlfriend also had one on her body in the same position, and even the tattoo is exactly the same. Why do both of you have the same tattoo on the same place of your body? Do you have any associations with each other?”

Proprietress Ling faltered for a moment before she asked: “What was the name of your previous girlfriend?”

Gu Liang: “Her name was Aileen.”

“Oh, I have an impression of her.” Proprietress Ling said, “More than half a year ago, she came here. She thought that my tattoo looked beautiful and she asked me where I had it done, so I helped her tattoo the exact same one.”

Gu Liang: “That’s it?”

Proprietress Ling: “That is all. Didn’t she only get the tattoo more than half a year ago?”

Gu Liang recalled the “chronicle” written in his script.

Certainly, during School Senior Hua’s and Aileen’s first time, it did mention this line: “You love Aileen’s waist the most. It is completely snow-white, tender, and soft, it is extremely seductive.

Since it was “completely snow-white”, it indicated that there was no tattoo on Aileen’s waist back then.

Gu Liang nodded his head before he heard Proprietress Ling say: “Okay, you can turn around. I’m fully clothed.”

Once he heard Proprietress Ling say that, Gu Liang turned his head around. Yet, he saw that Proprietress Ling was not fully clothed at all?

— Her bath towel had slid down slightly, all loose and slack, and her entire person was teeming with an ambiguous taste which aroused an irresistible and welcomed desire.

Gu Liang took a step back unconsciously with a cold gaze, brimming with defensiveness.

Towards this, Proprietress Ling blinked her eyes at him, as if she was trying to convey— I apologise, I am only trying to carry out the plot too.

But in truth, Proprietress Ling’s internal OS was: What the hell? I’m the one eating a loss in this scene. Furthermore, do I have a bad figure or is my face ugly? What are you trying to say with your hostile and confrontational expression?

On the surface, Proprietress Ling slipped into her role as she opened her mouth to say: “School Senior Hua, do you think that your previous girlfriend looks attractive, or do I look better? She’s just a female university student who barely has any experience, she couldn’t possibly compare with the eros I have, right?”

Gu Liang: “I only want to know how I can meet Aileen.”

Proprietress Ling pursed her lips into a smile as she pulled her bath towel back to its proper position. “I was merely trying to test if you were being genuine. I remember your previous girlfriend… She said that she really loved her boyfriend. If you’re so easily seduced by me, I wouldn’t let you meet her at all.”

Gu Liang offered another query, “Why did she come to this place back then?”

Proprietress Ling: “She wanted to meet her mother who had died of an illness.”

Gu Liang asked: “Did she meet her? Also… you haven’t answered my question, can I meet her?”

Proprietress Ling’s gaze became somewhat abstruse. She stared at Gu Liang for a long time before she uttered in a soft voice: “Tomorrow. I’ll tell you tomorrow. There will be a few more guests arriving tomorrow. When the time comes… I’ll tell all of you together.”

“Sure. I will be taking my leave then.” Gu Liang nodded and left Proprietress Ling’s room.

After walking out of Proprietress Ling’s room, Gu Liang heaved out a long and drawn-out exhale.

It was only because Proprietress Ling’s room was too stuffy and warm.

The atmosphere in the mountain was already ridiculously humid as it was, and yet she could take a hot bath in her wooden tub. Perhaps it was because she had stayed here for too long and had become accustomed to the blistering hot weather here, which would explain why she was not afraid of the heat in the slightest.

Upon returning to his room, Gu Liang could not stand the heat at all, so he took another shower before lying on his bed.

Although there was no air-conditioner in the room, it had an electric fan at least.

After showering and being blown by the fan for a period of time, Gu Liang finally felt refreshed.

At approximately 11 o’ clock, Gu Liang was about to sleep when he heard knocks at his door.

Yang Ye: “Liang Liang, it’s me.”

Gu Liang went forward to open the door before he pulled Yang Ye into the room. “You’re allowed to come? Aren’t the requirements for the characters stricter now?”

Yang Ye replied, “The system made that request mainly because it wanted to give the players a stronger sense of immersion, lest they cause misconceptions and affect the inferences. But there aren’t any players witnessing right now, so I came to find you. When I was coming over, I didn’t receive any warnings, it should be fine.”

Yang Ye supported Gu Liang and made him sit down on the bed before he took some hydrosol. “I noticed that your neck was bitten just now. Sit properly, I’ll help you apply it.”

It could not be denied that Gu Liang’s neck had been itching a little, which made him scratch it unconsciously, thus causing a red patch on his neck.

Presently, Gu Liang was sitting on the bed with the back of his neck tilted upwards, allowing Yang Ye to help him without any hindrances.

As Yang Ye applied the hydrosol on his skin, he lectured him: “Don’t scratch it, or it might leave a scar.”

Gu Liang: “So what if a man has a few scars?”

Yang Ye thought about it before he said: “I’ll feel distressed if it scars.”

Gu Liang: “Pay attention to your character design.”

Yang Ye stared at Gu Liang, looking at his chosen summer wear of short-sleeve shirts and short pants, at his reddish neck, and those raised and long legs. He could not help but become restless. “I really want to kiss you.”

Gu Liang’s countenance became a little red. Despite being bombarded with Yang Ye’s words of love for an entire month, he was not really used to it yet.

He turned around to ask Yang Ye: “Were you bitten by mosquitos? I’ll help you apply it?”

“I’m alright.” Since Yang Ye was done applying the hydrosol, he retracted his hand and looked at Gu Liang for a brief moment before he ruffled his hair. “You should sleep earlier, I’m leaving.”

Gu Liang: “Go ahead.”

In a deep voice, Yang Ye asked: “Not making me stay?”

Gu Liang: “President Gao, pay attention to your character setting.”

Yang Ye: “Will you feel afraid if you sleep alone?”

Gu Liang gazed at him: “I’ll be seeing you tomorrow in the morning. We’re eating breakfast together.”

Yang Ye: “If I wasn’t afraid that I would implicate you and drag you into the small black room, I would definitely kiss you. Who cares how many hours they will lock me up for. Not only do I want to kiss, I also want to—”

Genuinely afraid that he would continue to spout some outrageous words, Gu Liang stood up hastily and pushed him towards the door. “That’s enough, go back and sleep earlier.”

* * *

Morning of the next day.

Gu Liang, Yang Ye, and Li Xiao Yu went to eat breakfast together. When they reached the courtyard after climbing down the stone steps from the dining hall, they finally saw another new player.

It was a lady pulling her luggage, who was also dressed as a tourist.

She looked extremely frail: her chin was quite pointed, her skin was pale, and she gave people the impression that she was an absolute recluse.

As Proprietress Ling welcomed her, Gu Liang and Yang Ye were following behind to listen.

They only heard Proprietress Ling say: “You must be Recluse Wang?”

Gu Liang stilled momentarily— Sure enough, this person was a recluse; her name directly told everyone her identity.

Recluse Wang nodded her head before she was brought into the inn’s lobby by Proprietress Ling.

Gu Liang’s group went up to the third floor as well, and noted that Recluse Wang entered Room 304.

That being said, Recluse Wang became neighbours with Yang Ye and she was one door away from Gu Liang.

Hence, the five guest rooms already had four occupants, and only one room was empty.

Just as Gu Liang was wondering whether another player would reside in this room, he saw a pair of lovers checking in during the afternoon.

And between the couple, they finally met another acquaintance in the male counterpart— Chief Mei from the previous scenario.

Gu Liang thought in his heart: After the previous script ended, if they discounted Su Lan from the players that came out alive, he, Yang Ye, Li Xiao Yu, and Chief Mei had stayed in the resting area together. After staying in the resting area for a month, they had some understanding of each other.

Therefore, what was the point of card drawing act that the system was putting up? Wouldn’t it be saving itself some trouble if it directly brought the four of them to the《 Rhinoceros Shown 》scenario premise?

Similarly, Gu Liang learned that Chief Mei’s name in this instance was Tourist Jia through Proprietress Ling, and he was together with his girlfriend, who went by Girlfriend Jia.

The pair were sharing Room 303, which happened to be next door to Gu Liang.

And thus, the five guest rooms were completely occupied.

Gu Liang mulled over it. Perhaps if they considered the vagrant who was harassing the proprietress, they would have a full set of players.

By 8:30 at night, everyone had eaten their dinner.

As Gu Liang was resting in his room after taking a stroll, he heard knocks at his door.

Gu Liang opened the door. Waitress Jing was standing outside.

Waitress Jing said: “Proprietress Ling is aware that everyone came to Yellow Springs Inn, not because they are taking a vacation, but because they have other motives. She is inviting everyone to the dining hall to drink some wine as she discusses the matter with everyone. Please reach the venue by 9 o’ clock.”

Gu Liang responded with an “I understand”, before he watched Waitress Jing knock on the tourist couple’s next door.

When Waitress Jing was done knocking on Yang Ye’s door, Gu Liang went to find him before looking for Li Xiao Yu. Then, the trio went downstairs together to go to the dining hall in advance.

Going down the wooden steps to reach the second-floor lobby, they walked out of the main entrance and followed the stone steps to reach courtyard, and it was at that moment where Gu Liang saw a man wearing a chef’s hat.

Gu Liang guessed that this was Chef Huang, the person who cooked according to his own desires.

After eating the food that he made several times, he finally met the person.

Chef Huang’s expression was exceedingly strange. As he was holding a card and talking to a certain person with said card, his face was ghastly pale.

Gu Liang realised that Chef Huang should be using the [Request For Help Card].

In The Fifth Person, he had personally used that card to “telephone” Yang Ye.

“What did you say? They voted for you? You’re going to die?”

“No, don’t… hello! Say something! Please say something!”

Chef Huang’s voice sounded extremely pained and sorrowful, and by the end of it, the noises coming out from his throat was completely hoarse.

In the next instant, Chef Huang stood there dumbly, allowing the card in his hand to fall and drift to the ground.

After some time, he abruptly moved again, but he was running towards the main entrance of the entire inn directly.

Currently, the entrance to the courtyard had already been shrouded by the thick fog. Everyone was cognizant of what his actions implied and would cause if they allowed him to run towards it.

Gu Liang chased him down immediately.

Yang Ye ran faster than him, reaching Chef Huang in quick and long strides before he caught his arm in a vice-like grip and pulled him back forcibly.

Owing to the fact that Yang Ye had exerted too much strength and they had been running too fast, they fell to the ground instantaneously.

“I don’t care what you encountered, but your life is important.” Yang Ye spat out a mouthful of air, supporting Chef Huang to sit up, “Don’t take things too hard.”

“En…” Chef Huang sat on the ground silently. Even though he was looking towards Yang Ye, his gaze remained unfocused.

Gu Liang sidled up to Yang Ye. When his partner eventually stood up, he helped him pat off the dirt on his body. “Did you injure yourself somewhere?”

Yang Ye shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Frowning, Gu Liang glanced towards Chef Huang.

Gu Liang finally made sense of what he heard. It was highly likely that a player that was extremely important to the Chef Huang’s actor had been voted out as the murderer in another script, and they were on the verge of receiving the death penalty.

Chef Huang took it too hard and he wanted to accompany them in death.

However, after falling down once, Chef Huang seemed to look slightly calmer.

He sat on the ground, waist bent, not making a sound.

After a moment of scrutiny, Gu Liang was about to open his mouth to persuade him with a few words when he suddenly saw a glint of cold light entering Yang Ye’s calf.

That movement was genuinely too fast; before Gu Liang’s eyes could blink, and by the time he reacted, there was already blood on Yang Ye’s pants.

Previously, Yang Ye had been standing while Chef Huang was sitting and his hand happened to be placed beside Yang Ye’s leg.

And at that moment, Yang Ye’s eyes happened to be on Gu Liang. He never expected that Chef Huang would resort to such a tactic either, so Chef Huang succeeded with ease.

Fortunately, Yang Ye reacted in a timely manner and dodged, so his calf was only grazed instead of being completely impaled with the dagger.

“Yang Ye—!” Gu Liang ran up to his side to ascertain if the injury was serious or not. Then, he sighed out in relief before he glared in Chef Huang’s direction angrily.

But Chef Huang had taken this exact chance to run into the thick fog directly.

Upon seeing his action, Gu Liang could not help but scowl as if a familiar scene was appearing right before his eyes.

— Indeed, no one could stop someone who was determined to die.

Following closely, like the young girl Gu Liang had met when he just entered the script, Chef Huang’s body was swept up into the air once he entered the fogged area before he was smashed to the ground viciously. Then, he stopped moving.

Half a beat later, Gu Liang went to look for Proprietress Ling to get a first-aid box so he could help Yang Ye bandage his wounds after his pants leg was rolled up.

The system broadcast rang out: “The following is a report regarding an unexpected incident! Sigh, what a mess! Why did no one stop the player when he was trying to commit suicide!”

If you truly didn’t want the players to die, why didn’t you ask the men in black to stop them?

Gu Liang’s complexion was a metallic green and he immediately opened his mouth to retort back at the system: “Are you blind? If Yang Ye didn’t stop him, his leg wouldn’t be—”

Before he could finish his words, Gu Liang’s mouth was covered by Yang Ye.

Yang Ye shook his head at him. “I’m fine. It’s not worth it to go to the small black room because of this.”

System: “Due to the suddenness of the player’s death, the system can only dispatch a NPC. This is conduct that wastes the system’s resources! When this script concludes, all of the players’ gold coins will be deducted oh!

“It is going to be 9 o’ clock exactly soon. May all the players head towards the dining hall, an important general plot will be unfolding, do not delay, oh!”

* * *

At 9 o’ clock at night, Gu Liang supported Yang Ye to the dining room.

The small and square tables that previously occupied the space were all kept and it was replaced with a large round table.

A moment later, all of the tourists settled themselves in the seats around the round table.

— School Senior Hua, Zhao Meili, and President Gao arrived yesterday.

Recluse Wang arrived this morning.

The last to arrive was the pair of lovers this afternoon, namely Tourist Jia and Girlfriend Jia.

Waitress Jing came over to serve everyone some special plum wine and set down some small dishes on the dining table. Then, she turned off the lights and lit the candles for everyone.

The candlelight was white. With the lights dimming down abruptly, the atmosphere became a little eerie.

Proprietress Ling sauntered over with an incense burner in hand.

Her steps were accompanied by the tolling of bells and her pace was a gentle sway, possessing a natural ease.

There was still an empty seat at the dining table so Proprietress Ling walked over and sat down, placing the incense burner on the table. “First and foremost, I hope that everyone can declare the reason they came here honestly. This is my rule. If you want to achieve the things you want, you have to do as I say.”

Once Proprietress Ling was done speaking, Gu Liang answered first as School Senior Hua and he said that he wanted to see his previous girlfriend.

As President Gao, Yang Ye spoke next, stating that he was here to see his wife.

Li Xiao Yu said that as Zhao Meili, she was purely here to chase School Senior Hua.

Gu Liang listened to the rest with rapt attention.

— In essence, everyone had come here for the sake of seeing the deceased relatives or friends.

Recluse Wang expressed that she was an introvert and she did not have many friends for most of her life and she only had one good friend ever since her childhood.

However, her good friend was currently dead and she was genuinely grief-stricken so she wanted to see her.

As for Tourist Jia, who was also Chief Mei from the previous script, he conveyed that he wanted to see his deceased older sister.

His older sister had taken care of him ever since he was a child. After she died, he missed her immensely and he came for the same reason.

His girlfriend, Girlfriend Jia, had accompanied him here.

Once all the guests were done with their admittance, Proprietress Ling pointed at the incense burner in her hand, saying: “The myth is not fake. It is true that everyone can see their deceased close relative here. The secret is in the incense in this incense burner. It is a rhinoceros horn incense.

“The ancients say that igniting a rhinoceros horn can illuminate the roads and pavilions in the Netherworld. In fact, rhinoceros’ horns do have the ability to interlink the yin and the yang. However, not everyone can make contact with the people within the yin after burning the rhinoceros’ horn.

“I’ve cultivated on the ghostly path. I am capable of communicating the yang and yin, which will prove useful to everyone. It is just that it expends a lot of my energy. Within a short period of time, I can only fulfil one person’s request. After tonight’s attempt, I am afraid that I have no way of using the spell to link up the yin and yang. Whether I am capable of performing the spell for the second time after three days and satisfy a second guest, will be dependent on the recovery of my body.

“Therefore, let’s draw lots to decide this. Whoever I pick will have their wish fulfilled tonight.

Proprietress Ling raised her voice, saying: “Chef Huang, I’ll be troubling you to bring over the papers and pens to distribute to everyone to allow them write their names. I’ll draw the lots afterwards.”

The original Chef Huang had already ran into the fog and committed suicide.

Therefore, who was the NPC that was going to replace him?

The wooden door was pushed open, and a person walked in.

The white candle light illuminated his face— It was Ming Yue.