Those present who had attempted the taboos felt lingering fear, waves of retrospective dread washing over them.
They were thankful for their good luck at the time.
Number 47 took in this scene with a sweeping glance.
He then clapped his hands sharply, drawing the attention of the crowd.
"The matters of Ghost Gate Pass and ghosts are temporarily concluded. Let's continue our discussion of folk customs."
Instantly,
Everyone picked up their notebooks again to take notes, more diligently than they had ever studied in school.
Even though a large portion of them were academic slackers.
They all sat up straight, listened attentively, and recorded the key points Number 47 relayed.
Not daring to be careless or sloppy.
In fact, they never would have imagined that one day, not only would they focus on learning in a classroom, but they'd also aspire to be top students in that classroom.
Having experienced the ingestion of the Ghost Sequence,
and witnessed the various wonders of the 'roommate',
they understood that what they learned here was vastly different from school.
What they learned in school might not apply to life, but what they learned here might very well be needed in the near future—for survival, no less.
Jiang Jiuguo carefully noted down everything Number 47 said.
Soon,
a full four hours of lessons had been listened to.
Number 47 stated: "There's still much to say about taboo folk customs. I'll focus on this topic for the next few days."
"Also, I must remind you of one thing."
"The taboos I've discussed trigger the appearance of 'Ghost Gate Pass', but they are not the only methods. Some methods remain undiscovered to this day."
"The modern ghost-summoning games you know, like the Four Corners game, were actually discovered later."
"Alright, I'll escort you back."
...'Number 15' Numbered Room.
"Back already." Zhou Fengchun forced a smile. "How was your day?"
Jiang Jiuguo understood the implication in Zhou Fengchun's words.
He grinned: "It was incredibly mind-blowing."
Zhou Fengchun's expression froze for a moment, then he laughed out loud.
"You're not wrong there. The first time I heard what Number 47 had to say, it really did shatter my worldview."
Jiang Jiuguo sat down beside Zhou Fengchun.
He took out two little red flowers and waved them in front of him.
"I even got two little red flowers."
"???" A flicker of life returned to Zhou Fengchun's hollow eyes. "Damn, twenty thousand bucks in the bag. You're something else."
Watching Jiang Jiuguo fiddle with the little red flowers in his hand,
Zhou Fengchun said, "Take good care of those little red flowers. Over a year, with good performance, you can accumulate quite a few. It's better than working a regular job."
"I can see that." Jiang Jiuguo had a deep personal understanding.
After exchanging a few more words,
Zhou Fengchun suddenly remarked, "In a little while, I'll have to leave Room 15."
He informed Jiang Jiuguo that Number 35 had approached him before Jiang Jiuguo returned, saying they would prepare a separate room for him soon.
Hmm?
Jiang Jiuguo stopped playing with the little red flowers.
"Is it because you're about to undergo your final transformation?" He voiced his guess.
Zhou Fengchun gave a slight nod.
"The final transformation is crucial. If I make it through, I can go home."
When speaking of home, a warm smile appeared on his haggard, sallow cheeks.
"I heard from Number 35 that the final transformation is very difficult and can easily affect the surroundings, so those undergoing it get separate rooms."
"So, if you succeed, do you have to leave immediately?"
"According to Number 35 and their rules, yes."
Zhou Fengchun continued, "Once they turn us into ghosts, we basically have two choices: leave, or... become one of them."
Jiang Jiuguo couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
Becoming one of them—this might be one of the reasons Number 35 and the others captured people.
Destroying Ghost Gate Pass was dangerous; the organization needed to replenish its personnel.
After all, their work was special. They couldn't just recruit people from job websites. The only way to replenish their ranks, it seemed for now, was to capture people and turn them into ghosts.
Of course,
from the fact that they released those who became ghosts to go home, Jiang Jiuguo had reason to believe that their purpose in capturing people wasn't just to add fresh blood.
Zhou Fengchun spoke up at this moment.
"I don't plan on mixing with them. I want to go home, to see my precious daughter."
As he spoke, his gaze grew gentle and warm.
He had a daughter and a wife.
This was the source of his spiritual strength that had sustained him through each transformation.
"I'm telling you this because I wanted to ask if you'd like me to pass on any messages or anything to your parents after I get out."
Jiang Jiuguo had survived the first transformation of the fourth ghost sequence keystone.
Zhou Fengchun had seen several roommates; Jiang Jiuguo was the only one who showed promise of succeeding in the transformation.
During their time together,
he found Jiang Jiuguo to be a decent person. Combined with his own experience of transformation and capture, and holding to the principle of helping where he could, he intended to help Jiang Jiuguo.
After all, as long as he survived this time,
he could go home to see his daughter and wife.
"No need." Jiang Jiuguo declined Zhou Fengchun's kindness.
He hadn't written in the envelope Number 35 gave him. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but he was afraid that if he sent it and then didn't survive the transformation...
He desperately wanted to let his family know he was safe.
But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to put pen to paper.
Having experienced the first transformation, he was still haunted by fear. After much thought, he decided to write the letter only after surviving the next transformation.
He needed to be sure he could survive the transformation.
Otherwise, sending it would be futile.
All his parents and sister would receive would be an urn.
"Don't be in a hurry to refuse."
Zhou Fengchun could see Jiang Jiuguo's thoughts; after all, he had been through it himself.
He yawned and lay down.
"It's getting late, let's sleep. I still have some time before my next transformation. You can think it over during this period."
This time, Jiang Jiuguo did not refuse Zhou Fengchun's offer.
He also lay down.
His eyes stared fixedly at the ceiling.
Reminded by Zhou Fengchun, he calculated the timing of his own next transformation—it should be in about half a month.
The ghost sequence formula contained in the fourth ghost sequence keystone came from a powerful sequence ghost, requiring many more transformations, hence the longer cycle.
Thirteen times.
This was the number of transformations Zhou Fengchun guessed for Jiang Jiuguo.
But deep down, Jiang Jiuguo had a faint feeling... his number of transformations should far exceed thirteen.
"At least fifteen transformations."
Jiang Jiuguo sighed inwardly as he stared at the ceiling, shaking his head to dispel the unsettling thoughts before falling asleep.
Thinking about this now was useless.
It was better to exercise properly and learn more about the Ghost Sequence to prepare for the second transformation.
He decided that if he succeeded in the second transformation, he would write to his family to reassure them... In the underground structure, with no sun and no sunrise or sunset, people's sense of time became loose and inattentive.
Every day was a three-point routine.
Sleep, eat, listen to Number 47's lectures, sleep again, eat again, listen to Number 47's lectures again.
A cycle repeated day after day.
Jiang Jiuguo spent another half month or more in the underground structure.
Tonight.
Number 35 opened the 'Number 15' Numbered Room.
Jiang Jiuguo was currently writing in his diary. Number 35 didn't disturb him, instead gesturing for Zhou Fengchun to come over.
"Let's go. Your prepared separate room is ready."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Fengchun patted his backside and stood up.
Passing by Jiang Jiuguo, he stopped.
"Jiang Jiuguo, my transformation should be coming soon. If you want me to pass on a message after I get out, remember to tell me early."
"Okay..." Jiang Jiuguo had just turned his head to respond.
Suddenly.
Zhou Fengchun stumbled, nearly losing his balance.
Number 35, quick-eyed and swift-handed, caught him, his cold expression tightening. "Has the transformation started early?"
Not daring to delay in the slightest,
he immediately pulled Jiang Jiuguo out of the room.
The situation had changed.
Zhou Fengchun's transformation had begun prematurely. There was no time to take him to a separate room; they could only give him the 'Number 15' Numbered Room.
Jiang Jiuguo grabbed his diary and followed Number 35 out.
Bang!
The door closed.
Through the glass window, Jiang Jiuguo saw that Zhou Fengchun had already begun his transformation.
Eerie cadaverous spots once again appeared on his skin.
The symptoms were much more severe than last time, accompanied by manifestations of transformation never seen before.
But Jiang Jiuguo had no time to observe.
Thud.
The diary in his hand fell to the ground.
"Number 35..." Jiang Jiuguo's voice came out strained.
Number 35 seemed to sense something and looked over at Jiang Jiuguo beside him. His previously tense, cold face changed.
Was this a double booking?
Jiang Jiuguo's second transformation had also begun!
He immediately opened the adjacent room.
Without explaining to the people inside, he yanked out the two occupants and shoved Jiang Jiuguo in.
"What's going on?"
The two people from the adjacent 'Number 14' Numbered Room were confused.
Number 35 kept his eyes on Jiang Jiuguo. Compared to Zhou Fengchun, he was more concerned about the condition of the first adapter of the fourth ghost sequence keystone.
He said, "The two in Room 15 are transforming."
"Huh?" The people from Room 14 were taken aback. "Both of them?"
"Yes." Number 35 stated bluntly...