12,012

Compared to the swift brutality of the previous three murders, this time the creature seemed more intent on witnessing the ultimate terror that arose between Yu Xia and Zhu Fang as they were trapped in a desperate predicament.

Soon, the two were chased by the monster until utterly exhausted, leaning heavily against the wall just to keep from collapsing to the floor from sheer weakness.

Even now, they couldn’t understand why the creature had appeared so suddenly.

Though it obviously had the power to kill them both outright, the monster preferred to play a cat-and-mouse game.

It repeatedly cornered them against the wall, then glanced at them before looking up at the ceiling and walls, as if silently questioning why they didn’t try to escape upward.

Yet Yu Xia and Zhu Fang had no sudden ability to climb the slick walls.

The monster, however, seemed unsatisfied with their exhaustion. Suddenly, a small pair of scissors appeared in its hand, shimmering silver as it swung toward the two leaning against the wall.

“Ah—”

The first strike pierced Zhu Fang’s right thigh.

The monster withdrew the scissors, and blood spurted from the two fresh wounds on Zhu Fang’s leg.

She screamed in agony, the searing pain forcing a final burst of strength; unable to stand, she crawled desperately across the floor to flee.

At the same moment, the monster raised the scissors again.

“Ah—”

The second strike stabbed through Yu Xia’s mouth, entering from the left side and piercing straight through to the right.

The pain was even more excruciating than what Zhu Fang had endured; Yu Xia convulsed violently on the floor.

The monster’s face was splattered with blood, which only seemed to delight it further, prompting a chilling, eerie laugh.

“Help… help—”

Behind the monster, driven by a fierce will to survive, Zhu Fang had crawled toward the door, her right hand already grasping the handle.

But the door wouldn’t open.

No matter how hard she pushed, the lock held fast.

The monster noticed this and released Yu Xia, turning to approach Zhu Fang step by step, scissors raised.

“Please, let me go! Yes! I have money, lots of money—I’ll give it all to you…”

Cornered with nowhere left to retreat, Zhu Fang still backed away, banging against the door with desperate thuds.

Though she knew money meant nothing to this creature, she fought to struggle on.

But it was useless.

The monster’s sinister laughter grew louder as it closed in, and in Zhu Fang’s terrified eyes, she saw it raise the scissors again, aiming for her.

At that moment—

A sudden force struck the door behind them.

Yu Xia was thrown against the opposite wall, then fell, finally rolling onto the floor.

Despite the icy cold of the floor and the sharp pain from the fall, a flicker of hope sparked in Yu Xia’s heart as she called out loudly toward the newcomers: “Help me!”

Miao Ke had arrived, and naturally, Miao Guangming and Miao Jie were not far behind.

They had planned this: after discovering the creature’s return earlier that day and its possible fixation on Yu Xia, Miao Ke was to seek Shen Xiaotang’s help with divination, while Miao Guangming and Miao Jie lay in wait around the stairwell corner, just a turn away from Yu Xia’s room.

As the anguished screams from the room echoed, a vividly colored figure suddenly appeared, turning to grin toward their hiding place.

Realizing the danger, the two rushed forward but were momentarily blocked by the door.

The monster paid no heed to the intruders. After a chilling laugh, it abruptly turned back and plunged the scissors deep into Yu Xia’s left thigh.

“Ah—” Yu Xia screamed again.

“Stop!”

Young and impetuous, Miao Jie swung his Seven-Star Sword at the monster’s right hand holding the scissors.

The sword struck true, severing the monster’s right arm entirely.

Yet the scene that had played out at the third victim’s location repeated itself: the severed arm regrew before their eyes with alarming speed.

“Master…” This firsthand experience shook Miao Jie far more than before.

Miao Guangming’s expression darkened; he dared not attack further.

Fortunately, the monster once again ignored the two disciples entirely. From the moment its arm was severed to its complete regeneration, it never spared them a glance. Instead, it tilted its head and grinned broadly, staring at the pale-faced Yu Xia and Zhu Fang.

Both women looked up, eyes wide with terror and despair.

Nothing crushed hope more than witnessing the creature’s unstoppable regeneration, making it clear there was no way to kill it.

The monster shifted its gaze away from them and began scanning the room.

Miao Guangming and Miao Jie’s hearts tightened; they held their breath instinctively.

Still ignoring them, the monster’s gaze settled on the window where the curtains were tightly drawn.

It walked over, pulled back the curtains, and upon seeing the barred window, appeared quite pleased.

Then it moved.

The bars, as thick as adult fingers, were effortlessly bent off one by one.

The monster wove them into two rough, large iron cages.

Realization struck Miao Jie cold: “Master!”

Miao Guangming was equally shocked and furious.

They watched helplessly as the creature lifted one crude cage in one hand and, with the other, grabbed Yu Xia—who was now too weak to resist, her voice hoarse with pleading—and attempted to stuff her inside.

The two exchanged a glance.

Without hesitation, they launched another attack!

Even though they knew it might be futile, and might provoke the monster’s wrath, their duty forbade them from standing by.

Both Seven-Star Swords pierced the monster’s body simultaneously, but once again, disappointment followed.

No matter where it was struck, the monster’s body regenerated almost instantly.

Miao Jie’s voice cracked with frustration: “Master, why hasn’t Miao Ke brought Shen Xiaotang here yet?”

Miao Guangming also glanced toward the door.

Their only hope now lay in Miao Ke’s timely arrival with Shen Xiaotang to divinely find the creature’s weakness.

* * *

Elsewhere—

After Miao Ke left, Shen Xiaotang was preparing to follow when a soft, furry touch brushed against her bare lower leg clad in cropped pants.

“Meow.”

Looking down, Shen Xiaotang saw the little black kitten that had followed her back to the room, rubbing against her leg and letting out a gentle, plaintive meow.

“Be good; tonight’s not a good night for you to watch.”

It seemed not only the kitten was better off avoiding what was to come.

Shen Xiaotang closed the door firmly behind her, standing in the corridor to silently cast a spell upon both her door and the adjacent one belonging to Shen Xingyan.

A weighty binding curse was woven—a spell that immobilizes anything or anyone as if burdened by a thousand pounds, impossible to lift or move.

Tonight’s scenes were not just bloody but horrifying; she didn’t want Shen Xingyan to be frightened.

She had no intention of rescuing anyone herself. Her footsteps echoed softly but deliberately in the silent night corridor.

Though slow, she met Miao Ke at the staircase entrance, who had arrived ahead.

A single floor’s distance was negligible for those with cultivation.

Yet, strangely, the surroundings fell deathly silent; corners stretched endlessly as if the corridor itself had no end.

Only with Shen Xiaotang’s arrival did Miao Ke realize something was amiss.

They were caught in a ghostly illusion.

Similar to being trapped in a ghostly maze, this was caused by spirits and malevolent entities using yin energy to confuse the mind; its strength depended on the victim’s resolve.

But once the mind cleared, it was easy to break.

Miao Ke swiftly formed a Taoist seal with her hands, chanting a spell under her breath.

Shen Xiaotang shouted, “Don’t break it! I’ll lead you out…”

But it was too late.

The spell was complete, and Miao Ke thrust her hands forward forcefully.

“Break!”

Instantly, the corridor light flared bright.

The terrified screams of Yu Xia and Zhu Fang, desperately exhausted, and the sounds of fierce struggle from inside the room emerged clearly.

“Ahhh… Help! Help—”

With the ghostly illusion lifted, everything returned to normal, but the sudden cries from Yu Xia’s room drew the attention of nearby residents.

“What’s happening?”

“What’s going on?”

“It sounds like it’s coming from Teacher Yu’s room!”

“…”

As murmurs rose, doors along the corridor began to open.

Curiosity overcame caution, and some came out of their rooms, intending to see what was wrong.

Realizing her mistake, Miao Ke quickly shouted, “Don’t leave your rooms! Go back! Hurry!”

Thanks to her earlier public appearance during the day, people still recognized her as part of the production crew and took her words as official.

Though curious, the crowd soon sensed something was terribly wrong.

“Could it be that Teacher Yu is in danger?”

“I think so! The screams sound so miserable…”

“Should we call the police?”

“The crew has already arrived; they must have reported it.”

“That makes sense…”

No, not at all.

Sun Qiang, the production manager, had been tense all day due to the earlier accident caused by Yu Xia.

He had barely made it to evening hoping to rest and recover when someone suddenly banged on his door, waking him to the news that Yu Xia was in trouble again—possibly a matter of life and death.

He hurried over, only to face a door that wouldn’t budge.

At its threshold sat Shen Xiaotang, legs crossed calmly on the floor.

As for Miao Ke—after dispersing the crowd, she had already rushed inside to help.

But to Shen Xiaotang, all their efforts seemed futile.

…

Time passed.

Long enough for police sirens to wail outside.

Those confined by Miao Ke’s orders grew restless, no longer peeking through door cracks but boldly stepping out into the hall, standing beside Shen Xiaotang.

“Click.”

Finally, the door opened.