Chapter 97 "The House-Viewing Man" — A Hymn to Humanity, It is Courage...
As soon as Jian Dieda opened his eyes, he found himself back in the void. Last time he came, he witnessed the true nature of the underworld, and this time the system's receptionist greeted him as well.
[“Dear Bronze Player Jane Dieda, welcome back to our company. Would you like to use the Theater Stage Host function?”]
At the same time, a gray photo of an entertainment company being set up popped up, with some Filipino text appearing on it.
【？？？】：
"Should I tell Mr. Zhong... that Uncle Jian and Aunt Hua aren't good people? Oh, no, no, I'm just a maid, but my tarot cards tell me that the building is full of vengeful spirits... Mr. Zhong is also part of their plan..."
...
By connecting the context, Jian Dieda guessed that the character must be Susanne, the nanny of King Zhong at the time.
It seems that the Shengtian Entertainment connection is indeed the key to solving the case.
The time on the task panel was almost up, so he switched accounts, and two people from other worlds arrived. The two of them even greeted the host, whom they hadn't seen in a long time.
"Wow!!!! Boss!!! You look so handsome this time!!! A Hong Kong guy!! The suit and glasses make you look so sophisticated and hot!!"
Jian Dieda held the rulebook, his temples throbbing with frustration from "A-Zhi's" loud voice. He draped his suit jacket over his arm, the chill still lingering on his fingertips.
"Bald Qiang, you are now A-Zhi."
Bald Qiang: "Okay, I'm A-Zhi. Wow!! Brother Xiang!!! You're so hot!!!"
Jane Diedda: "..."
"Pfft, Zhi, that's enough, stop fooling around."
Senior Sister "Liao Xinjie" stood smiling beside the motorcycle watching the excitement. Her black windbreaker accentuated her sleek figure, but her eyes no longer held the unrequited love of the original version. Instead, they had only one purpose: to investigate the case.
"Ah Zhi" held up a camera and leaned over, the lens pointed directly at Jian Dieda's face: "Come on, Brother Xiang, let's record the agent's condition before the ghost hunt. Why do you look so pale? Did you really experience sleep paralysis in this instance?"
Jian Dieda slapped his camera away. He took out the Buddha amulet that Granny Zhu had given him and held it in his palm. The cool touch calmed him down a little. "Enough nonsense. Same rules as before. The distribution is yours. I've been here."
In the last instance, this was something he owed the two of them.
So this time, he changed his usual approach and solemnly told them, "I only contacted you this time because I was 100% sure. I hope I didn't leave you with any bad memories last time. If I did, please forgive my hasty departure back then. Although we were just strangers, you are still very important friends to me."
The two players were stunned. They felt that Jian Dieda had become a different person. How should they put it? The host had changed from a human-machine interface to a kind-hearted real person.
...
Now that things had come to this, they first distributed story cards, and Jane Dieda also told the two of them about the story and the side quests that they hadn't completed.
Then they entered the instance using role-playing cards.
The Garley Building still stands beside Nathan Road.
The glass curtain wall reflected the gray sky, exuding a sense of deathly stillness.
A middle-aged man in a dark blue uniform also sits regularly in the security booth at the entrance.
When the other party saw Jian Dieda and his two companions, the NPC immediately came out to greet them; it was Sun Guofu. His eyes held the familiarity of an old neighbor, yet also a hint of apprehension, as he pulled Liao Xinjie aside.
Jian Dieda didn't want to waste any more time, so he handed over a pack of cigarettes and said in a familiar tone, "Uncle Guofu, we're just trying to make a living. Brother Paul is pressuring us, so I can't do anything about it."
Sun Guofu glared at him fiercely, but then took a puff of the cigarette he had lit before lowering his voice: "This building is very eerie. Someone hanged himself in the middle of the night, a family of four died tragically, and there was a fire on the fifteenth floor. When the police came to investigate, they all said it was an accident, but we who guard the building all know that it was caused by evil spirits."
[“Ding—System notification: The spirit mark has recurred.”]
Liao Xinjie, played by the deer, had a sudden thought and pretended to be visiting for the first time: "Uncle, is the resident on the fifteenth floor named Zhong Jiyao?"
Sun Guofu's expression changed, and he abruptly stubbed out his cigarette: "How did you know? News about King Zhong has been suppressed for a long time."
Fake Ah Zhi chimed in, "Isn't the fifteenth floor the recording studio of Ruijin Records? Isn't that where Zhong Jiyao committed suicide by fire more than twenty years ago?"
Sun Guofu's face darkened further, and he waved his hand in anguish, saying, "No, it was hanging... I saw it... In the last second of the fire, I saw Zhong Tianwang suspended in mid-air above the ceiling. The company bought dirt on him, otherwise how could such an angelic person be driven to suicide..."
Then, Sun Guofu opened the back door of the building for the three of them and repeatedly told them, "Don't touch the fifteenth floor, and don't touch anything in the building."
But as soon as the three of them stepped into the elevator, a cold, musty wind rushed over them.
Ah Zhi's camera lens flickered inexplicably. The lobby had been empty for a long time, all the room doors were locked, and the glass was covered with a thick layer of dust, through which one could vaguely see the clutter piled up inside.
Jian Dieda took out the Spirit Compass he had redeemed with points, and the pointer spun wildly, pointing directly at the first customer.
"This is the scene of the first death in 1997."
He pushed up his glasses, touched the door with his fingertips, and the compass needle suddenly jerked.
“There’s a strong sense of resentment.” The female teammate took out a yellow talisman and cinnabar from her backpack and drew a line on the door. The talisman instantly turned gray. “The resentment is very strong. It was suicide. The soul was trapped here after death.”
The male teammate, holding a camera, leaned closer and suddenly exclaimed "Ah!" In the shot, a ghostly figure hanging from the rafters appeared, its tongue sticking out long.
With quick reflexes, Jian Dieda affixed the Buddhist amulet given to him by Granny Zhu to the door, and the phantom vanished with a scream.
"He's been suppressed by feng shui, preventing him from being reincarnated and from speaking."
Jian Dieda squatted down and pulled out a rusty copper coin from under the threshold. "It's a soul-suppressing coin, the same method as Ding Xirong's."
Looking at things from this perspective while browsing through skyscrapers is almost like playing Minesweeper.
The three of them took the elevator to the eleventh floor to trace the spiritual trace. The elevator creaked as it ran, and the numbers on the display screen jumped intermittently. When it reached the tenth floor, it suddenly stopped, and the door slowly opened, but it was pitch black outside.
"Don't go out!"
Jane grabbed the two players who were about to step forward, the compass needle spinning wildly. "It's a maze, press the close button!"
They quickly pressed the close button, the elevator jolted violently, and then continued upwards, stopping at the fifteenth floor.
The fifteenth floor used to be PolyGram's office area, but now it's just empty rooms with old records and recording equipment scattered around.
Jian Dieda offered to turn on the light and take a look. Soon they found a box of old cassette tapes in a locker, most of which were printed with the Shengtian Entertainment logo, exactly the same as the one he had gotten before. He picked up a tape, put it into his Walkman, and pressed play. A clear and melodious Cantonese male voice flowed out, singing "First Love".
The voice was so familiar, it overlapped with the voice of the ghost in his dream, and Jian Dieda's heart skipped a beat. Sun Guofu's words from earlier came back to mind. Jian Dieda turned off his Walkman and put the cassette tape in his pocket: "I've made a discovery."
The deer asked, "What?"
Jane Die Da said, “I realized that Chung Chi Yiu’s singing voice is actually the key to suppressing the earthbound spirits. Every time his tapes appeared, the evil spirits would retreat. So the voice is the key to communicating with these earthbound spirits in this script, because they basically lost their intelligence before they died. The emotions in the music are exactly what people of any age can hear.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the records around them suddenly rattled, and countless dark figures emerged from the corners. They were all phantom images of the record store employees from back then, each with a pale face, reaching out towards the cassette tapes.
The three retreated together, all the way to the elevator, but the shadowy figures kept in hot pursuit.
Because the spirit does not have the Heavenly King Zhong.
Jian Dieda tossed the amulet to his teammate and took out a compass while silently reciting incantations.
The compass continued to emit a faint light, which finally forced the shadowy figure back.
"Let's go. The seventh floor is where Ding Xirong was killed, and it's also where the resentment is strongest. We have to go and take a look." Jian Dieda pressed the button for the seventh floor. This time, the elevator went smoothly. As soon as the door opened, a strong smell of gas mixed with the stench of blood hit us.
The doors to the apartments were ajar. Pushing one open, the interior was a mess, with traces of burnt charcoal still on the floor. An empty baby cradle sat in the corner. Jian Dieda had only taken two steps when he tripped over something. Looking down, he saw a long, soft strand of black hair, unlike a woman's.
[“Beep—System notification: Key clue unlocked: stroller.”]
This was exactly what Jian Dieda was looking for. At that moment, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest and coughed up blood.
"Time's up! Host, it's time to go!"
Ah-Zhi and Liao Xin-Jie quickly helped him up. The three of them didn't dare to stay any longer and hurriedly left the building, heading straight for the community hospital.
...
This dream-based evidence-gathering has ended.
In the ward, Jian Dieda appeared to be asleep, still drowsy.
A long-haired man quietly appeared on the chair beside the bed, his fingertips gently brushing across the pale cheek, a hint of heartache hidden in his eyes: "Fool, I told you not to go, yet you still dared to venture into such a dangerous place."
He had already sensed that the man looking at the house had left, but he couldn't stop the man's courage.
After a while, the departing ghost went home, and when Jane opened her eyes, she felt that there was still someone waiting for her in the darkness.
"Who's there?" He turned around abruptly and saw a long-haired man sitting on the sofa.
"It's me."
Zhong Jiyao was wearing a trench coat, his hair falling down to cover his eyebrows and eyes, and an unlit cigarette between his fingers.
Upon seeing the return of Jane Dieda's ghost, the man looked up, his eyebrows and eyes seemingly innocent, yet his gaze held a hint of mockery.
"You've slept with me for days and you still don't remember me?"
Jane looked into his eyes and said seriously, "I can't tell you what I did, but I learned about someone's story in my dream. Many people say he was a good person, so I'm going to try to help the Jiali Building again."
A strange glint of tears welled up in Zhong Jiyao's eyes. He suddenly felt an urge to gently hold this person close and hold them tightly, pressing their cold body against his warmth.
But he knew that Jane would push him away, so he could only pretend to be indifferent and say, "Okay, then I'll wait and see. I'll keep an eye on things until you're discharged."
...
Jane Dieda was immediately discharged from the hospital because his soul state seemed to be weakening.
Zhong Jiyao was waiting for him downstairs at the apartment building early in the morning. He stood in the sunlight wearing a black trench coat, but his figure was still somewhat transparent, and only Jian Dieda could see him.
"Let me help you carry your things." Zhong Jiyao took his luggage, his fingertips touching his hand, deliberately using a little force, afraid that he would get tired.
Back at the apartment, Zhong Jiyao, familiar with the place, helped him tidy up, cleaning up the beer cans scattered on the floor, and even cooked him a bowl of porridge.
"You're a ghost, and you can even cook porridge?"
"Jian Dieda asked in surprise," Zhong Jiyao raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Mike, back when I was popular, I was the dream lover of every boy and girl in Hong Kong. Is there anything I'm not good at? Anyway, I'm just killing time. Angels are so all-powerful and love the world."
As it turns out, Mr. Angel wasn't lying.
The porridge he made was soft and sweet, and Jian Dieda felt warm and cozy eating it. Watching Zhong Jiyao's busy figure, she suddenly felt that the apartment had a lively atmosphere.
After tidying up the house, Zhong Jiyao sat on the sofa and explained the feng shui layout of the Jiali Building to Jian Dieda.
In the afternoon, Jian Dieda also arranged to meet his senior, Uncle Guofu, at Rongji Tea Restaurant. The group pieced together the clues and finally pieced together the complete list of victims.
My senior sister said, "According to my father's ten methods for seeing ghosts, only sound can break through the barrier between the living and the dead, right?"
Jian Dieda nodded: "That's right, I'll prepare the piano. Senior sister, you'll be in charge of recording the stories of the wronged souls with a camera this time, as evidence. Uncle Guofu, you'll be in charge of perimeter security."
That evening, the ghost-hunting team reunited here.
With a system notification, [“Ding—System Prompt: Namo Master's Formation Breaking Activation.”]
Jane Dieda's fingers hovered above the piano keys, and as soon as he picked them up, they began to tremble slightly.
This was not out of fear, but because an almost sacred sense of mission burned in his chest. He was about to break down the gates of hell and find out just how many tragic deaths had occurred in the Galli Building.
Zhong Jiyao stood hidden beside him, his cool hand gently covering the back of the man in the suit, offering silent and tender support.
Are you ready?
Jian Dieda didn't turn around. But Zhong Jiyao was right next to Jian Dieda at that moment, and only he could see and feel him gently touch his shoulder and whisper, "Thank you."
Zhong Jiyao smiled, his voice deep and gentle coming from the cassette tape.
"This is not only breaking the formation, but also a salvation. Your music will be the first ray of sunshine they have heard in more than 20 years. They are down there, so cold, and so eagerly waiting for you to come."
Jane Diedda took a deep breath and nodded.
He also looked at his senior sister, who was intently adjusting the camera, the lens pointed at him and the piano, as well as at the empty and desolate elevator shaft.
Uncle Guofu, dressed in uniform, stood nervously guarding the door, clutching the yellow talismans his senior sister had given him.
"Let's begin."
Jane said softly.
He turned around, and another man's fingertips, imbued with power, descended towards the sky. The melodious sound of the piano, played by the two men in a duet, filled the air. A gust of wind from heaven dispersed the mist on the building's foundation. On the black and white road, three sticks of incense lit the souls of countless ghosts. And when the first note rang out, the worshippers in the underworld also heard the sound.
"It's... the Rebirth Song... How could there be the Rebirth Song here... This isn't heaven... Could it be that God saw us suffering in this hell..."
The melody of "Song of Rebirth" flows out like a clear spring, gently caressing every dark corner of the Carrie Building.
The melody is neither as solemn as a Buddhist scripture nor as chilling as a mantra; it is more like a lullaby hummed by a mother, carrying a deep-seated compassion and peace.
Jane closed her eyes and heard the ghosts' conversation, continuing to immerse herself completely in it.
At this moment, he was no longer Jian Xiang, the house-hunting man who had traveled from another world, nor Jian Dieda, the player in reality; he was simply a messenger of light who brought warmth to the living world.
The voice in his hand is the voice of humanity, a voice full of courage, hope, and love, just as the immortal saying goes: the hymn of humanity is the hymn of courage.
When we call out the name of fear.
Fear itself no longer possesses an element of the unknown.
Even evil spirits can be driven away; this is the only way that Master Namo follows to break through hell.
"Hey, in the elevator upstairs... what's that sound?" Another faint consciousness awakened in the darkness, and then more consciousnesses were awakened, like seeds that had been dormant for millions of years sprouting from the soil to the sound of gentle music.
The plot was constantly flooding into his mind, becoming firmly intertwined with the system's tasks.
For example, the first to appear was the writer's spirit in room 303. He was hunched over, his face was distorted, his eyes were filled with unyielding hatred, and his body was shrouded in a thick, bloody aura of resentment, the stain that had been splattered on his soul when he murdered his wife.
"Get out of my way! Don't pollute my environment with your voice!"
He roared, his sharp, piercing screams filled with painful memories.
Jane Dieda didn't stop; the music became even more majestic and resolute. He seemed to see that rainy night, when the writer, driven mad by his wife's and assistant's betrayal, raised his knife not to kill, but to end his own suffering.
Therefore, his obsession lies in his inability to face his sins, let alone the world's opinion.
This is what Buddhism refers to as "attachment to self".
“I know your pain,” Jane Dieda’s voice mingled with the piano music, clear and gentle. “You have become a demon, a criminal consumed by love and hate. Let go, put down the knife in your hand, and let go of the obsession in your heart. There will always be a place in this world where you can find peace.”
The sound of the zither, like an invisible hand, gently soothed the malevolent aura emanating from the evil spirit.
The writer's hatred gradually faded, leaving only deep weariness and regret. Looking at his trembling hands, he seemed to see his assistant and a beloved person lying in a pool of blood, and murmured:
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I originally intended to... no, I deserve to die!"
Tears streamed down the face of the ethereal being. The evil spirit slowly reached out its hand, eventually dissipating into a wisp of soft white light, finding complete liberation.
[“Ding—System notification: The vengeful spirit of the Level 1 haunted house has been appeased; the story progress is 69%!”]
The senior sister's camera faithfully recorded everything, her eyes flashing with tension. Uncle Guofu, who had put down the yellow talisman at some point, looked on incredulously.
The elevator doors continued to ascend.
The music also transformed into the "Sutra of Crossing Over from Calamity".
As Jian Dieda's fingers continued to move, Zhong Jiyao could hear that his melody had taken on a more sorrowful and somber tone.
The spirit that had wiped out the entire family in Room 404 slowly appeared.
Inside the elevator, a young couple stood motionless, accompanied by two small, weeping figures.
Yes, they were a family of four. In life, they had hoped to live a good life in Hong Kong, but after death, they were trapped in an eternal cycle, reliving that terrifying night over and over again.
Driven insane by unemployment and high-interest loans, the husband stabbed his child with a kitchen knife, then killed his wife, and finally committed suicide.
From that moment on, his soul was forever trapped in the hour before the tragedy, and his family members had to repeatedly endure the pain of death.
"You rotten person, if you want to die, then go ahead and die. Why... why do we have to be the ones to die with you? We came all the way from Shenzhen to Tin Shui Wai, and it wasn't easy for us. We only managed to buy this apartment by working at a nightclub. Aren't we miserable enough?"
The wife's spirit loomed in the air, making accusations.
Her eyes were empty, filled with despair.
"I didn't mean to... I couldn't control myself..."
The husband's spirit keeps shirking responsibility.
Their children are heartbroken, yet no one understands or helps them.
Everyone present felt their hearts clench, truly experiencing a deep-seated despair and pain.
But at that moment, the piano music that resounded throughout the building seemed to contain an added tenacious power of life itself.
“Amen, I hear your pain,” Jane Dieda said, her voice weary but unusually firm. “It is the pressure of life and the injustice of fate that have made you lose your minds, but the child is innocent. Juan, this is not your fault or the child’s fault. It is the damned world, the twisted human heart, and this man’s problem. Get out of here and find a home of your own in the next life.”
The sound of the piano was like a warm embrace, enveloping the family of three, as if gently comforting them.
The lady of the house also heard Jane Diedda say to her,
"Don't be afraid, it's all over. You don't have to sell yourself anymore, you don't have to suffer anymore. Follow the voice, I'll take you away."
The wife's spirit gradually calmed down, looking at her children with eyes full of love and regret, and reached out to hug them tightly.
"Mom..." The child stopped crying and looked timidly at the woman.
The woman burst into tears: "I'm so sorry, my child..."
The family embraced, their resentment melting away like ice and snow. The innocent turned into warm white light, flying hand in hand into the distance, while the guilty were pulled into the deeper part of the building.
Another terrible cycle has been completely broken.
[“Ding—System notification: The vengeful spirit of the Level 3 haunted house has been appeased; the story progress is 78%!”]
Zhong Jiyao stood to the side, his eyes filled with a complex light. He seemed to see the incredible power in Jian Dieda, the courage to never give up even in the face of the deepest darkness.
Everything is ready except for breaking through the floors below the 15th floor.
At this moment, the melody abruptly shifted, becoming stirring and powerful, for it was no longer a soothing melody, but a declaration of war against evil and a revelation of the truth. Spirits from the fire disaster surged forth; they were the most numerous and the most terrifying in form. Many charred, humanoid evil spirits were burned, missing limbs, their bodies twisted, their faces covered in hideous scars. These were the victims from that time; the pain they suffered at the hands of the real estate agents was unimaginable to ordinary people.
They once held up their ID cards and cell phones in the building, pleading for help, but their screams were blocked by soundproof walls and their pleas for help were ignored. They died in endless pain and fear, their souls bound by resentment, becoming nourishment for the real estate company to make money on its IPO.
“Pain…so much pain…” “Kill us…kill us now…” “Give us justice! Give us back our lives!” Countless voices echoed, filled with resentment and despair, rushing towards Jian Dieda, wanting to repay him for his own pain tenfold.
"careful!"
Zhong Jiyao immediately transformed into his physical form and stood in front of him, but Jian Dieda did not back down.
However, his body was invaded by evil spirits, and he still suffered the backlash of karma.
Jane Dieda's nose kept bleeding, and the bleeding wouldn't stop.
The two musicians played even more powerfully and passionately, and Zhong Jiyao couldn't help but raise the cross. Its holy radiance reflected the resentment of the spirits and also shrouded the shadows in their hearts.
But the light of this cross is limited, and it is gradually being swallowed up by darkness.
“Zhong Jiyao, let go. I have to… tell them all the causes and consequences of this building incident, and who brought it upon them.”
Jane Dieda's voice echoed through the building. He covered his nose, wiped away the blood, and said...
"...Residents...I understand everything you've endured. Those murderers will pay the price! But you cannot be consumed by...resentment. Your lives should not be used only to avenge yourselves!"
The owner of the zither seemed to be proving something, and began to play again. This was full of respect for life and a call for justice, as if telling everyone that all living beings are equal and that releasing animals is a meritorious act.
They can still be freed.
At this moment, Jian Dieda revealed his true purpose: "I feel your pain. Believe me, the light will surely come, and the injustice will eventually be redressed. Now, it is time to let go of hatred and find your own peace."
Amidst the stirring yet compassionate music, the attacks from the fire spirits in the higher buildings gradually ceased, their resentment faded, leaving only bewilderment and sorrow. They began to recall their former lives and remember those forgotten, warm moments.
"Mommy..."
"My child...I miss you so much..."
"Daddy, Mommy, I don't want to die..."
As the souls murmured to themselves, countless tears streamed down their faces.
Jane Dieda's piano playing then softened, like a spring breeze and rain nourishing parched souls, guiding them to pour out their pain and resentment, and then let go of them one by one.
Ultimately, most of the spirits transformed into countless soft white lights, rising and dissipating slowly like a sky full of stars, shedding their status as earthbound spirits and gaining true freedom.
[“Ding—System notification: The vengeful spirit of the Level 5 haunted house has been appeased; the story progress is 86%!”]
Jian Dieda immediately opened the haunted house brokerage system, and the panel displayed: [Haunted house in Jiali Building cleared of hazards, 108 wronged souls released to the afterlife.]
A story card also fell down.
That day, after Jian Xiang finished filling the building with the bodies and left, Uncle Qiao had already arrived at the mansion. He was wearing a black Tang suit, his hair was gray, his face was wrinkled, but his eyes were unusually sharp, as if he could see through people's hearts.
Upon seeing the young man, he smiled, his voice hoarse: "Ah Xiang, you did a great job."
"Mr. Qiao, you're too kind. It's what I should do." Jian Xiang accompanied Uncle Qiao into the building, but when he saw Uncle Qiao take out a cassette tape, his face turned pale instantly, and he lowered his head, not daring to look at him.
Uncle Qiao, seemingly oblivious to his fear, asked, "Why did you copy the tape?"
Jian Xiang stammered and dared not speak.
Uncle Qiao suddenly spoke up: "Ah Xiang, you seem different from before. The Jian Xiang of the past was timid and only had money in his eyes. Now you have a bit of the audacity to risk your life for money."
Jian Xiang's heart skipped a beat, but he gritted his teeth and insisted, "People always change, but I will never betray you! I swear! I've already killed Ding Xirong! I'm on your side!"
Uncle Qiao suddenly grabbed his wrist with astonishing force: "That's right, some things, knowing too much can kill you."
Jian Xiang was covered in cold sweat and felt a sharp pain in his wrist, but he endured it without making a sound.
Uncle Qiao laughed, pulled him into his arms and hugged him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. He then let him leave first. Once Jian Xiang was gone, Jian Dieda saw the old man on the card and his eyes were filled with malice and perversion. "This silly kid knows quite a lot about things from over twenty years ago. Have you investigated me?"
"Since it's the Ghost Festival, why don't we find a bus and send that King Zhong who was planning to report me off on his unexpected journey?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Empty Bowl] Chapter 4! One! Breath! Read!
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