Chapter 3, Morgue

I kicked out, "You really talk too much, are you going or not?"

I took out the compass, looked at it, and turned it a few times. "Why don't you place your hands on the gap of this floor tile and see?"

"What place is that?" I asked while observing the changes in the compass, and I noticed the needle moved slightly.

At this moment, Lu Fei noticed the cold spirit in my hand and asked, "Since we can't go down anyway, little trickster, why don't you tell me where you got this treasure from?"

I looked up at everyone and said, "I really didn't expect there to be a hole under this morgue. Fortunately, I was clever; otherwise, I would have missed it. So, who dares to go down and take a look?"

"Alright, then let's just make the opening a bit larger; it will be more convenient for us to go down," I said. After that, I used the cold blade to clear away the wooden debris beside us, and soon a large hole, about one and a half meters square, appeared before us. From within the hole, a whistling sound could be heard, which was somewhat eerie, prompting us to instinctively move aside.

No, no, no, I said, is it still not acceptable?

After walking around this morgue several times, I found no abnormalities; all the freezer cabinets were locked, and Wang Yuqing did not dare to open them casually. Who would want to look at corpses for fun? Just when we thought we would return empty-handed, my foot stepped on a floor tile, and I felt that the sound was off. I went back and stepped on it a few more times, and the adjacent tiles sounded the same, appearing somewhat hollow. I crouched down to observe carefully, and indeed, these few tiles were slightly different from the others, as if there was emptiness beneath them. Moreover, these tiles were old, and there were gaps between them, not tightly fitted.

This time I have learned my lesson, no longer acting so recklessly. I first used a flashlight to carefully examine the inside, and only then did I see what was there. Indeed, it was a specimen of a human skeleton, very close to the entrance, and from the gap in the door, it looked as if it were about to pounce. I let out a sigh of relief, turned around, and nodded to the people behind me, "Come in, there is nothing frightening inside apart from that skeleton specimen."

I tried the doorknob, and surprisingly, the door was also latched. I was unsure whether it was forgotten to be locked or for some other reason. However, with a strong twist of the handle, I was able to open it. The door was quite heavy, and I had to exert all my strength to push it open little by little. Just as the door opened, a gust of cold wind rushed in, causing everyone to shiver. I shone my flashlight inside, and suddenly, a pale white skeleton lunged at me. Just as the door opened, a gust of cold wind rushed in, causing everyone to shiver. I shone my flashlight inside, and suddenly, a pale white skeleton lunged at me.

It is evident that they are all somewhat afraid, but driven by their pride, no one speaks up to suggest leaving; they are all holding on. I cleared my throat twice and said, "In fact, there is nothing to fear about a corpse; it merely resembles a sleeping living person. Rest assured, I will go in and take a look first."

Luffy was also very interested and unconsciously reached out his hand, but accidentally got cut by the blade. "Ah, such a fast sword. Looking at this short sword, it should be an antique. Based on its shape and craftsmanship, it might very well be from the Spring and Autumn or Warring States period. Little trickster, where did you get this from?"

I covered my face and said with a sense of grievance, "I was just making a comparison, I didn't mean it literally"

"If you had said earlier that you saw a skeleton, it would have been better; it scared us half to death," Lu Fei continued to explain when he saw that I did not quite understand. "The skeleton you saw is one we have all seen; it is a specimen from the laboratory building, and anyone who has entered the White Building knows about it"

I shook my head and said, "It's hard to say; after all, a compass is just a tool. It might just be a gust of wind, who knows? It's not a big deal! Shall we continue?"

At this moment, as I calmed down, I recalled what I had just seen, and a trace of doubt arose in my heart. "It is strange, why can I not feel any negative energy? Can a ghost without negative energy still be considered a ghost? But how can that thing be explained?"

As soon as the light is turned on, all the furnishings and environment of the room become clear at a glance. This room is quite large, and various experimental apparatuses are arranged according to categories, with the most conspicuous being the skeleton specimen. It would not be entirely accurate to say that this is a morgue; strictly speaking, it should be referred to as a storage room.

"So, should we lift this floor tile to take a look?" Wang Yuqing glanced around and said, "But where can we find the tools at this moment?"

Upon entering the morgue, the temperature dropped sharply, and we instinctively rubbed our hands together, huddling close to one another. Lu Fei sometimes assisted the teacher in preparing experimental equipment, so he had been to this basement a few times and was relatively familiar with the place, thus he simply turned on the lights. Since this area is underground and essentially fully sealed, we were not afraid of being discovered.

"Morgue?" I had an expression of disbelief, "How could there be such a place here?" However, upon further reflection, it was actually quite normal. Those studying medicine, biology, and archaeology—who among them does not have to deal with corpses? This is their laboratory, so it is not surprising that there is a morgue equipped for storing bodies used in experiments.

"So, so, so, still wandering the martial world, you are just a con artist in this realm. I was foolish enough to think you actually had some skills!" Wang Yuqing said with a look of disdain.

A skeleton, a white skeleton! I said with certainty

That is the entrance to the basement, and also ... ... '' Wang Yuqing's words trailed off, as if she was avoiding something.

The bottom of the staircase seemed very dark, and under the dim light of the flashlight, there was a door that appeared and disappeared, further instilling a sense of fear. Perhaps due to preconceived notions, the thought of the morgue below instinctively evoked fear within us. The four of us subconsciously huddled together, drawing closer to one another.

With me leading the way, the four of us descended the stairs, and the further we went down, the colder it became, evoking a sense of late autumn transitioning into winter. Although the staircase was not long, we walked with great caution, fearing that something might suddenly emerge. However, our concerns seemed to be unnecessary, as we approached the door without any particular incidents occurring.

This has really provoked me, and I retorted defiantly: "Who says I am a fraud? That was just an accident. Just watch, I will go ahead and clear the way. If I get scared again, I will be your grandson!" After saying this, I took a deep breath and once again walked towards the morgue

I suddenly remembered that I was carrying a precious sword with me. In the absence of suitable tools, I might as well make do with what I have! I took out the cold spirit short sword that I always carry with me. As the sharp blade was drawn from its sheath, a chilling aura emanated from it, startling everyone else. Wang Yuqing looked at the cold spirit in my hand, her eyes wide with surprise, "How do you have such a fine treasure? It must be quite valuable, right?"

Luffy walked a few steps cautiously, but soon backed down again. In helplessness, he pushed me to the front. I shook my head and said with a sense of labor, "There is no other way; as Buddha said, if I do not enter hell, who will?"

That is not how I see it. If it can be broken so easily, what use is it to me? I might as well throw it away early. However, this cold blade is truly effective; prying up the floor tiles is as effortless as cutting tofu. In no time, I pried up a piece.

Wang Yuqing and the others found it very strange to see me lying on the ground, and they all turned to look at me, saying, "Little liar, is there something wrong with the ground?"

Damn, I was actually scared by a specimen. I was wondering why I didn't feel any sinister energy. I never expected that after many years of wandering the world, Hua Musheng would end up capsizing in a gutter!

The door to the morgue was also slightly ajar, and it swayed gently. I calmed my mind to seek some insight, but that strange feeling was fleeting, like a slippery loach that vanished in an instant without a trace

A strange, mournful sound accompanied by a gust of cold wind startled all of us, causing our hearts to leap violently, almost reaching our throats. Everyone alertly turned their gaze towards the source of the sound, which appeared particularly dark; the dim beam of the flashlight seemed to be absorbed by the darkness.

I placed my hand against the crack of the door and distinctly felt a chill creeping from my palm to my body, likely indicating that the wind was blowing out from here. I turned back to look at the other three, seeking their opinions one last time, "What do you think, should we go in or not"

I glanced at the eager expressions on everyone's faces and asked, "Do you really want to know?"

The chubby girl suddenly changed her expression and slapped me across the face with a loud "smack!" I was left dizzy and disoriented, and amidst the confusion, I heard the chubby girl shout, "Dare to make fun of me? I won't undress for anyone, especially not for you. If you want to take advantage of me, no way!"

I originally thought they would be taken aback, but their reaction was completely unexpected. Not only did they not cry, but they also each broke into silly smiles. What is going on? I quickly asked, "What are you all laughing at? Do I have flowers growing on my head?"

"What kind of mortuary is this, when there isn't a single corpse?" I looked around, but I did not see the bodies they mentioned.

Although puzzled, they still complied. "Ah!" the chubby girl exclaimed, "It seems like there is wind blowing out from here?"

"Nonsense, if you want to say it, just say it; if you don't want to, then forget it!" Wang Yuqing clearly wanted to know, yet pretended to be indifferent.

Wang Yuqing shot me a glance and pointed to the stainless steel cabinet against the wall, saying: "What do you know? The bodies are all in the freezer; how can they just be casually placed here?"

Luffy adjusted his glasses and said, "This is definitely not the path to the underworld. Look, there are bricks beside us. Considering the craftsmanship of these bricks, they cannot be more than 50 years old; they must have been built after the liberation. However, since it has been sealed for so long, we need to wait a while before going down. We should wait until the air inside and outside is connected, so that it will not be dangerous to descend!"

The thought of breaking into the morgue in the dead of night had already scared Lu Fei and the chubby girl to the point of nearly wetting their pants, as they persistently urged me and Wang Yuqing not to go. Seeing Lu Fei's frightened expression, I patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, you are a top student in archaeology; if you are afraid of this, what will you study in the future? Moreover, in front of women, shouldn't you at least show a bit of your masculine spirit?"

Faced with my combination of soft and hard tactics, Lu Fei finally mustered the courage, adjusted his glasses, and nervously said to me: "Little trickster, you must keep an eye on me. If I happen to encounter something I shouldn't touch, you can't just ignore me, can you?"

"Little liar, just say it directly, what exactly did you see? You made us run around aimlessly for a while." Wang Yuqing was also a bit impatient, as she had seen nothing either

"Little trickster, take it easy, don't break it apart." Luffy kept reminding me, fearing that I would damage the Hanpo.

Wang Yuqing saw me looking at the compass and curiously poked my arm, "Little liar, does this compass work? Did you see anything? Why did it move just now, but is not moving now?"

My face turned red all of a sudden. It's better not to mention this matter; once I do, I feel embarrassed myself. Fortunately, the chubby girl and Lu Fei did not look my way. However, I remind myself that a man must have a thick skin; otherwise, how can he attract beautiful women? "Um, beautiful lady, are you still angry? That incident cannot be entirely blamed on me; you should bear some responsibility too."

It is also a morgue! Wang Yuqing said it very softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Luffy also sensed it and nodded, saying: "The presence of wind indicates that there is an empty space below, and it is quite large. It might even lead to distant places, and there must be another inlet for the wind."

Wang Yuqing is also from the Archaeology Department. Although she is not as proficient as Lu Fei, she can still distinguish ancient bricks. She affirmed Lu Fei's judgment, and the chubby girl was relieved to know that it was not a passage to the underworld

"Even making an analogy is not acceptable," after saying this, another slap followed. "Ah!"... After enduring two blows, my handsome face was completely ruined. Looking at Luffy's lewd smile, I truly wanted to punch him a few times to vent my frustration

Wang Yuqing managed to hold back her laughter with great difficulty and whispered a few words in the chubby girl's ear. The chubby girl's face immediately turned shy, and she looked at me with affectionate eyes. I had no idea what Wang Yuqing had said to her, but suddenly I had an unsettling premonition that it was certainly not something good. Looking again, I saw Wang Yuqing gazing at me with a teasing expression, and I knew trouble was definitely brewing.

"Ghost!" The suddenly appearing skeleton startled me, causing me to step back a few paces. They saw nothing but my panicked expression, which also startled them, and they scrambled up the stairs in a hurry. I initially wanted to confirm whether what I saw was indeed a ghost, but upon seeing them run faster than rabbits, I too was frightened and ran back to the office.

What is it? I asked curiously

I gathered my courage and walked step by step towards the door leading to the basement, only to see a staircase extending downward.

Wang Yuqing glanced at me sideways, seemingly quite unconvinced, yet said nothing. On the other hand, the chubby girl was extremely nervous, holding onto Wang Yuqing's hand and murmuring, "This hole under the morgue won't lead directly to the underworld, should we hurry and leave?"

Ah? Oh! I awkwardly scratched my head, momentarily at a loss for words, and could only casually ask, "Beautiful lady, can you tell what seems off?"

Wang Yuqing snorted, "Don't get so close to me if there's nothing going on, I'm afraid someone might lose control again"

Beneath there is a layer of sand and gravel, not too thick. After casually clearing it away, I discovered another layer of wooden boards, which appear to be quite old and damp. I tried stepping on it a couple of times, and it seemed quite sturdy. I forcefully jabbed at it several times with the cold blade, and with a "crack," a hole appeared, and a rush of damp, cold air burst out, carrying a musty smell. Through this hole, I shone my flashlight and noticed that there seemed to be steps below, but the hole was too small to see clearly, and I couldn't tell how deep it was. I forcefully jabbed at it several times with the cold blade, and with a "crack," a hole appeared, and a rush of damp, cold air burst out, carrying a musty smell. Through this hole, I shone my flashlight and noticed that there seemed to be steps below, but the hole was too small to see clearly, and I couldn't tell how deep it was.

Wang Yuqing was about to explode with anger, her eyes wide open. I quickly tried to calm her down and leaned close to her ear, whispering: "Will you let me finish? Look, I am a normal man. When I see a beauty like you, as lovely as a flower and as beautiful as a celestial being, how can I not be moved? If I didn't have any reaction in that situation, could I still be considered a man? Of course, if it were a chubby girl, even if she were to strip completely, I wouldn't have the slightest interest." If I didn't have any reaction in that situation, could I still be considered a man? Of course, if it were a chubby girl, even if she were to strip completely, I wouldn't have the slightest interest.

Skull? Luffy, Wang Yuqing, and the chubby girl were first taken aback, then they all smiled wryly

Wang Yuqing couldn't help but laugh after hearing that, especially when she saw the puzzled expression on the chubby girl's face, which made her laugh even more. The chubby girl and Lu Fei, seeing us so happy, came over and asked, "Yuqing, what are you two talking about? Why are you so happy?"

"You scared me to death!" Luffy patted his chest, panting, and said, "Little trickster, didn't you say you were very powerful? How come you were so scared that you nearly wet yourself! You even claimed to be a ghost master?"

"This is a secret, and I cannot easily tell you all?" After saying this, I picked up the Hanpo and pried up the floor tiles. Lu Fei and Wang Yuqing looked on, their hearts aching terribly. For people like them who study history and archaeology, the Hanpo in my hand is an ancient artifact, one that is worth a fortune. How could they not feel pained seeing it being mistreated like this?