Volume One, Chapter 12: Searching Through the Calamity Inn

Lin Xi pondered for a moment, then nodded to the two people before her and Zheng Daqian by her side, signaling them to come closer to discuss the next plan.

Ding...

The sudden sound of the elevator doors opening abruptly interrupted the four, whose conversation had yet to properly begin.

Lin Xi watched as two women slowly stepped out of the elevator, walking up to them amid the astonished gazes of everyone present.

“Hello, sorry to bother you. I’m the new cleaner hired by this establishment. My name is Mu Bei.”

The two women were momentarily stunned. Zheng Daqian and the others looked at Lin Xi in confusion, unable to understand why she would suddenly approach these two peculiar figures, unsure if they were human or something else.

The cold and elegant woman cast a scrutinizing glance, slightly extending her hand to shield the woman in red heels standing to her left, and asked Lin Xi warily, “Is there something you need?”

Lin Xi clearly heard her voice, crisp as a silver bell yet as captivating as crystal ice—so much more enchanting than the harsh noise that had nearly made her nauseous when they first met during the day.

“Don’t you recognize me?” Lin Xi tested cautiously.

“Hey, handsome guy, even though you’re quite good-looking, your pick-up line is a bit outdated,” the woman in red heels retorted with displeasure, protected by the cold woman.

“Sorry, I thought you two resembled some old acquaintances of mine. I must have been mistaken. Please forgive my indiscretion,” Lin Xi’s eyes flickered as she spoke to the pair.

“Apologies, Mr. Mu Bei, but we have never met. I have avoided making friends since childhood, so I rarely know anyone. You are not among my old acquaintances,” the cold woman smiled gently as she walked forward.

As she passed by Lin Xi, the latter subtly tripped her with her foot.

The cold woman immediately wavered forward, losing her balance briefly. Lin Xi’s quick reflexes allowed her to steady the woman with a hand, feeling the warmth of her skin—just like that of an ordinary person. This discovery only strengthened Lin Xi’s suspicions.

“Be careful, miss,” Lin Xi warned.

The cold woman awkwardly withdrew her hand, thanked Lin Xi, and then returned to the seat they had occupied earlier.

Lin Xi turned and brushed past the woman in red heels, deliberately bumping into her. The woman instantly grew angry, pointing at Lin Xi and cursing, “You cad! I knew you had no good intentions. Let me tell you, we are important guests of your boss. Offend us, and don’t even think about working here tomorrow.”

Lin Xi shed her usual calm demeanor and bowed humbly to the two women, apologizing softly, claiming she had drunk too much and had no intention of offending them.

The woman in red heels was about to retort, but the cold woman covered her mouth to stop her, exchanging a glance with Lin Xi that urged him to leave quickly.

Grateful, Lin Xi glanced at the cold woman and secretly beckoned Zheng Daqian and the others, making a subtle hand gesture resembling the number eight.

After a moment’s thought, the three understood. Zheng Daqian was about to stand when Li Yu discreetly stepped on his feet twice under the table.

He looked at Li Yu in confusion, only to see her shake her head slightly.

After pondering for a moment, Zheng Daqian sat back down.

Lin Xi stepped first to the elevator, waiting quietly for it to descend from the third floor, though he did not press any button. He merely stood silently by the elevator.

The woman in red heels had already taken her seat and continued muttering curses at Lin Xi—calling him a pervert, a scoundrel who tried to hit on her and then turned into a lecherous villain, a cad, a hypocritical lunatic.

The cold woman gently stroked the red-heeled woman’s head with a fond smile, soothing her agitated companion. Under her comfort, the woman in red heels pouted and turned her face away, no longer staring at Lin Xi by the elevator, though she still grumbled quietly.

Li Yu noticed the elevator display flickering on the third floor, as if someone had opened the doors and stepped inside. She knew the time had come. Pretending to be drunk, she grabbed two bottles and swayed to her feet, with Qian Baobao rising and supporting her. Qian Baobao also carried two bottles of wine.

As the two left, Zheng Daqian, reeking of alcohol, drained the last drop from his glass, then shakily grasped four bottles and staggered toward the elevator.

The elevator doors slowly opened. The boss, clutching a scepter, exchanged a glance with Lin Xi, who hiccupped drunkenly. Zheng Daqian and the boss nearly brushed shoulders as they passed.

Once inside, Lin Xi pressed the button for the sixth floor. After a strange ride, they abruptly appeared on the sixth floor. Exchanging glances, Lin Xi pointed at the elevator, took two bottles from Zheng Daqian’s hands, and, pulling Li Yu along, hurried into the stairwell, racing down toward the fourth floor.

Unexpectedly, the stairwell was unusually safe this time. Even the corpse of Sun Kai, who had died there earlier, was nowhere to be seen.

As if anticipating this, Lin Xi showed no surprise nor hesitation. The two soon arrived on the fourth floor, which was as cozy as the second floor.

Lin Xi glanced at the elevator still stationed on the sixth floor and let out a relieved breath.

He pulled two keys from his pocket—those for rooms 404 and 444. After exchanging a look with Li Yu, he swiftly led her to room 444.

The room was warmly decorated in shades of cream and pink. While searching, Lin Xi noticed that the bed linens, curtains, and upholstery were made from highly flammable materials. The wooden furniture was also crafted from combustible composite panels.

Their careful search yielded only a strange-looking, unassembled old-fashioned lighter and two bottles of fuel placed beside it.

Finding nothing else, Lin Xi and Li Yu quickly left, their examination meticulous enough that no sign of intrusion was left behind.

After locking the door, Lin Xi tossed the key beside it, creating the illusion that it had been dropped accidentally.

They then searched room 204, uncovering nothing but a blank sheet of paper. The room was impeccably clean and tidy. The bed and furniture were solid wood, mostly assembled with mortise and tenon joints, making them easy to disassemble. The bathroom contained a most peculiar bathtub.

At first glance, Lin Xi thought it hardly resembled a bathtub—neither in material nor structure. If anything, it looked more like a large iron cauldron shaped like a tub, with a ventilation duct and a subtle space for kindling reserved along the wall.