Chapter 986 952: Continuously Decreasing Meal

The situation on the fifth day has stabilized.

The malicious spirits that surged into the ancient house on the fourth day went completely out of control on the fifth day. Without the suppression from the old man in the coffin, these spirits could kill at will, and anyone inside the ancient house would be attacked as long as they stayed there.

Fortunately, a method to survive the fifth day was found.

The blood-stained rice seemed able to neutralize the attacks of the malicious spirits, allowing people inside the ancient house to survive.

The situation improved, the spirits within the ancient house disappeared and posed no more danger, leaving only a vague silhouette.

Everyone was very silent at the moment.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Because most of them had skirted the line between life and death more than once; to survive until today was extremely fortunate, but things were not over yet, and two days remained.

No one knew what unknown dangers might occur in the remaining two days.

Because of this, the survivors lacked confidence.

Seven days was an ordeal for anyone, and those lacking strong willpower might already feel like giving up.

However, Yang Jian remained calm and indifferent.

Desperation and crisis were not enough to shake his resolve; he continued to strive for survival with all his might.

Yang Jian believed that if he could endure this letter-delivering task, he would fully resolve the Ghost Post Office issue and possibly uncover more matters from the Republic of China Period.

As long as he continued along this path, he would discover a truth.

“Even if there’s danger today, it will occur around midnight, same as before. Let’s rest and adjust during this time,” said Yang Jian, sitting to one side, holding a handful of blood-stained rice in his hand.

As long as there were ghosts, the rice would reduce by one grain.

Therefore, to be prepared, everyone held onto a handful of rice to protect their lives.

So now, one had to frequently monitor the number of rice grains in hand because the ghosts consumed the rice silently, undetectable. If one forgot to replenish the rice count due to an oversight and got killed by a ghost, it would be unfortunate.

“What’s with resting? Only two days left, just endure it.” Leuk Qingqing said, her face tight with tension.

Yang Jian replied, “You might not need to sleep, but that doesn’t mean others don’t need rest.”

“We need to leave the ancient house when the funeral procession occurs tomorrow, so where do you plan to spend the seventh day, the day of resurrection?” Old Lin asked at this time.

Yang Jian pointed here: “Of course, spend it inside the ancient house. Where else can we go on the seventh day of resurrection? The old forest outside is even more dangerous. When digging the woods before, you saw the state of the old forest, buried entirely with malicious spirits; it’s practically a forbidden zone. Staying outside is undoubtedly very dangerous.”

“The seventh day in the ancient house isn’t safe either,” Old Lin remarked. “There are also many ghosts.”

“Wrong, on the seventh day, there will be very few, if any, ghosts in the ancient house,” Yang Jian stated. “My intuition tells me these ghosts will leave the house after tonight.”

“Why?” Leuk Qingqing asked.

Yang Jian replied, “Is that even a question? We have to carry the coffin away tomorrow, which means leaving the ancient house. This house will be an empty shell, without any reason for the ghosts to stay. Besides, it no longer suppresses the resurgence of supernatural forces.”

He glanced at Zhou Deng while speaking: “In such a case, what could possibly draw so many malicious spirits here?”

“Have you forgotten the seven-day experiences? Today’s spirit rampage stems from yesterday’s mourning, which follows the day before’s funeral notice. The ghosts were drawn by the white lantern… and the appearance of the white lantern was due to the old man’s death. It’s all a chain of events.”

“As long as we carry the coffin out tomorrow, the ghosts will leave one after another. Of course, some might linger, but certainly not many.”

Yang Jian’s thoughts became increasingly clear, and he even had begun to understand the seven-day arrangement.

So he became more confident in his judgment as time went on.

“You’ve made your decision. If anything truly goes wrong, we’ll all die together at worst.” Zhou Deng shrugged with indifference.

He wasn’t being careless but had faith in Yang Jian’s experience and ability. Moreover, he had no reason to sabotage himself at this point, as making a mistake would put everyone at risk, with no one exempted.

“It’s a pity that we threw Da Qiang’s body out earlier; otherwise, I could have crafted new limbs for you.” Yang Jian glanced at Li Yang, puzzled.

Li Yang’s disability was due to the lack of replacement limbs.

Before coming, he didn’t take away Huang Ziya’s crystal necklace; without using the Deceiving Ghost’s ability, even his ghost eyes couldn’t create limbs out of thin air.

“I’m not a hindrance for now, just inconvenienced in action, but I still possess supernatural power, which can be useful in critical moments.” Li Yang said, “Once this ordeal concludes and we leave, I’ll naturally recover.”

Yang Jian nodded.

At this point, Leuk Qingqing suddenly spoke: “By the way, have you noticed? Ghosts seem to be repeatedly consuming the rice in our hands. Just now, a thin, pale, clean dead hand took a grain of rice from me, and then it appeared again to take another.”

“I also noticed; I thought it was a coincidence at first, but it wasn’t. The malicious spirits that fed previously seem… hungry again,” Zhou Deng said solemnly.

Li Yang’s expression tensed: “This means the time when a single grain of rice can satisfy the spirits has passed and a second grain is required. This was a concern I had before. This rice is clearly a consumable supernatural item, with limited duration like the Ghost Candle or Voodoo Doll.”

“Has the duration expired now?” Old Lin looked at the rapidly diminishing rice in his hand, thoughtful.

Leuk Qingqing said: “This situation isn’t particularly unique. I’ve encountered time-sensitive supernatural items before, but my main worry is something else now.”

Li Yang, Zhou Deng, Old Lin looked at her.

Although Leuk Qingqing didn’t state it outright, everyone kind of guessed what it was.

“Is three bowls of rice enough to protect all of us?” She finally spoke out the brutal truth.

If there wasn’t enough rice, anyone without it would surely be attacked by spirits, and that was indisputable.

But there were five people here, including Yang Jian.

Five people, three bowls of rice.

While it was still early and the ghosts were consuming the blood-stained rice, this might lead to something terrifying.

That is, the sixth day might arrive, but the rice might run out beforehand.

“I originally thought the blood-stained rice was driving the spirits out of the ancient house, but now it appears I was mistaken.” Yang Jian calmly surveyed the group.

Zhou Deng remarked: “If three bowls of rice aren’t enough for five people to last until the sixth day of the ancient house, then some must stop using the rice. If not, all might run out due to the number of people, thus demanding the sacrifice of one or two to save the rest, or everyone perishes together?”

“This is a topic worth considering, Yang Jian, what do you say?”

He discussed such a brutal topic, but with a slight smile, as if unconcerned.

If this were on the first day of the ancient house occurrence, there would have been a fight among the ghost handlers immediately. Fortunately, it was already the fifth day, with most dead, leaving only a few.

“Old Lin will stop using the rice first.” Yang Jian coldly suggested.

Leuk Qingqing had a noticeable change in expression.

Old Lin gave a bitter smile: “I have no objection; after using this little rice left, I won’t use any more.”

He opened his palm, revealing only a small handful of rice left, which continued to decrease over time.

The others remained silent.

Old Lin was cursed by the Eight-Tone Music Box, not destined to live long, and had been eroded by malicious spirits. It was only the Ghost Dice that kept him alive; otherwise, he’d have been torn apart by now.

Thus, rice on him was a waste.

However, things being right doesn’t change facts.

Everyone does have selfish motives. Old Lin had done his utmost and played pivotal roles many times, and now, to abandon him on the fifth day seemed exceedingly cruel.

“You should try to fight for it.”

Leuk Qingqing hesitated for a moment but still spoke, “It’s not necessarily as they say. The rice might get consumed early, and maybe there will be leftovers in the end.”

Old Lin shook his head and said, “This is the most correct choice, and indeed I won’t live long. Besides, it’s not up to you or me to decide here.”

He was indeed very reluctant, but reason told him he should recognize reality and accept it.

As long as Yang Jian is here, everyone must follow his orders, or else he will surely eliminate any unsettling factors without hesitation.

Leuk Qingqing looked at Yang Jian, seemingly displeased.

“Don’t look at me like that. Without me, everyone in this room would have died. Old Lin wouldn’t have survived until today. I just made the right choice at the right time. If you think I’m wrong, you can try to overthrow me and become the boss here. By then, the others will naturally listen to you.”

Yang Jian’s tone was very blunt, showing no regard for feelings, which made it uncomfortable to hear.

“If abandoning Old Lin will let us survive, what meaning does it have if we can’t?” Leuk Qingqing said.

Yang Jian stared at her, “Enough people have died in these seven days. I almost died here as well. You say it has no meaning? Everyone’s sacrifice has value, and that’s why we’ve survived until now.”

“If Old Lin not using rice isn’t enough, next it’ll be you who has to stop using it.”

“Why not Li Yang or Zhou Deng? One’s a cripple, the other doesn’t even count as a messenger. They definitely shouldn’t be behind me, or are you being biased on purpose?” Leuk Qingqing’s face chilled as the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

As if a disagreement would really lead to a fight.

Yang Jian looked calmly at her; “It’s simple, I don’t trust you because you disappeared for several days, not even remembering yourself, and there’s something very strange about you. Believe it or not, even if I don’t give you a single grain of rice, you won’t die here.”

Leuk Qingqing was targeted by a woman from the Republic of China Period.

Her existence is very special, and Yang Jian has reason to believe that the woman from the Republic of China Period left some contingency or curse on Leuk Qingqing.

This is why Leuk Qingqing is particularly cared for. Perhaps even if Yang Jian himself dies here, Leuk Qingqing can survive alone.

“I…” Leuk Qingqing wanted to say something but couldn’t find a reason to argue.

Because she knew her situation, she indeed experienced occasional loss of control and memory. During that time, she felt like she was dead, scarier than sleepwalking. For example, her recent unexplained appearance in this ancient house, and her changed pair of high heels.

There was also a fragrance on her that she didn’t have before.

She didn’t like that smell; it belonged to another woman.

“Li Yang will be behind you.” Yang Jian stated very calmly.

Li Yang seemed slightly surprised but immediately nodded, indicating he understood.

Very simple.

Zhou Deng’s role was greater than his, even though Zhou Deng’s supernatural power has yet to reveal itself. Being nominated as a team leader by headquarters indicates a very special existence.

“You’re going to abandon even your teammates? Quite selfish.” Leuk Qingqing mocked.

Yang Jian coldly said; “As long as I’m alive, there’s hope to reverse everything. Can you do that?”

Leuk Qingqing furrowed her brow, somewhat unable to understand what he meant by this.

“The argument ends here, whether you agree or not, the plan is arranged this way. I’m the executor, you just need to follow my rules. Of course, you’re also permitted to refuse.” Yang Jian said.

“Let’s do it like this, it’s nothing. If something really goes wrong, we can’t just all die together. Someone has to survive.” Li Yang expressed no dissatisfaction.

If only one person could survive here, he would definitely choose Yang Jian.

With Yang Jian in Dachang City, it would not collapse.

If he survives, his family and friends would be safe.

Furthermore, Ghost Riders are bound to die eventually. Li Yang has long accepted this outcome, without any resentment or sorrow.

The ghost of the ancient house, as Leuk Qingqing said, the ghost that first consumed the rice is hungry again.

Yang Jian also saw the ghost repeatedly take rice.

It was a cold arm attached to his own body, seeming to grow together. At the same time, a mysterious dead person’s head appeared beside his shoulder.

The ghost traced Yang Jian’s arm, taking another grain of blood-stained rice from his hand, then gradually hid and disappeared…

Yang Jian checked the time.

The current time was six in the afternoon.

Six hours left until the next day.

This means the ghost can at most take two grains of rice, as the remaining time isn’t enough for the same ghost to conduct a third round of taking.

Yang Jian looked at the rice in the blue and white porcelain bowl and estimated the amount.

It seems it can last until after twelve at night.

But it was the amount in his hand. Zhou Deng’s bowl was the smallest, seemingly insufficient. Leuk Qingqing’s should be enough since Old Lin has now stopped using.

“No matter how well you calculate, it still relies on whether anything unusual happens after eleven.” Yang Jian thought to himself.

Ghosts don’t follow your calculations and time conveniently. Any anomaly will break the balance, and then it’ll completely lose control.

Surviving safely and getting annihilated instantly is just a hair’s breadth away.

Time continued to be consumed.

Old Lin didn’t die. The black dice turned crazily in front of him, and his dice game continued.

The curse of the Eight-Tone Music Box hadn’t reached its time, and he was still alive.

Even without rice to disperse nearby ghosts, Old Lin could still survive in the ancient house using this special method.

Perhaps it was his confidence in the Eight-Tone Music Box’s curse, which is why Old Lin was willing to give up the rice voluntarily.

The time reached ten at night.

The rice in everyone’s hands was dwindling.

Although a ghost only took one grain, they couldn’t withstand the dangers in this ancient house. After six in the afternoon, ghosts ate the second round of rice, so the speed of rice consumption increased rapidly after six, nearly double before. The doubled consumption added to the passage of time led to Zhou Deng’s bowl of rice almost running out.

The rice in the three bowls varied in quantity.

The amount in Yang Jian’s hand was the most, but he was consuming it with Li Yang, so it was also running low.

The amount in Leuk Qingqing’s hand wasn’t much either.

The few people’s situation seemed quite similar.

They might make it to twelve, or might not…

But everyone understood, if one person was eliminated and the remaining rice was divided, then there would be certainty of lasting through twelve.

Leuk Qingqing frequently glanced at Yang Jian, especially her eyes often wandered over the cracked long spear.

The supernatural item was very dangerous.

Leuk Qingqing knew, if Yang Jian decided to act, she would instantly be nailed to the ground, completely unable to resist.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com

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