Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

Chapter 89 Undead
Li Yelai got into the detective's car and headed to the antique shop first.

I discovered that the antique shop where I had worked for four years had changed a lot.

Not only have we got two new employees, but we've also added a lot more items to the shop.

Under the curious gazes of the two employees, Li Yelai and the detective entered the shop.

The boss and Lao Zhao immediately came out to greet them.

"I'm relieved to see you all here," Old Zhao said after shaking hands with Li Yelai and the detective. "If you can handle this cleanly, I can offer an extra reward!"

He was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of the detective. He was not clear about the power levels of psionicists, but having one more was always a good thing.

"We'll do our best, of course. If anything similar happens again, please remember to call us," the detective replied with a smile, handing over a business card. This laid the foundation for future cooperation.

"When exactly did the strange situation occur?" Li Yelai asked.

"It all happens at night, appearing randomly after dark. My employees who stayed at the manor to inspect and repair the houses have seen the figure several times at different times," Old Zhao explained. "Now, some employees are a bit distracted. They refuse to leave the manor no matter what. Even when we forcibly dragged them away, they still try every means to get back into the manor."

"Is it a case of mental disturbance?" the detective pondered. "What did the original homeowner have to say?"

The original homeowner, Old Zhao, hesitated for a moment before saying, "His family was originally very well-off, but their fortunes declined. So he planned to sell the manor and make a comeback. However, it is said that his deceased grandfather once said that the house must never be sold. But he himself is completely unaware of the strange phenomena happening now."

"Has he never encountered anything similar himself?" Li Yelai asked.

"That's what he said, at least, but we don't know if it's true or not," Lao Zhao responded.

"It's possible he knew this but concealed it to sell the house," the detective analyzed. "To find out the specifics, we should go to the site and take a look."

No matter what the situation, an investigation must be conducted first.

If it is determined to be a psychic, an oddity, or even a taboo object.

Then we'll have to request official support.

"Okay, okay." Old Zhao nodded quickly.

Afterwards, the three of them got into Lao Zhao's van and headed to the new urban area.

He explained on the way that the buyer had already paid a deposit and the advance team would arrive at Border City No. 3 soon.

If this situation is not resolved by then, not only may the transaction be voided, but Lao Zhao himself will also offend the buyer.

This surprised Li Yelai and the detective. It's said that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Could a caravan from a distant metropolis really control the local merchant guild?

“I know who you are. You are probably aware of each other’s existence as well. Aristocratic families.” Old Zhao’s face was full of sorrow. “I had contact with them when I was a scavenger in the north. They have a very high status and peculiar methods. I really don’t want to offend the Yaoqingjing family.”

"The Jing family... a powerful family? From Yaoqing Giant City?" The detective frowned. Although he knew nothing about the Jing family of Yaoqing, and had never been to the North, as a detective, he naturally knew of the existence of powerful families.

They originated from the Cataclysmic Era and were among the very few strong individuals among the humans who were swallowed by the Cataclysmic Fog, managing to fight their way back to the physical world.

They brought back a wealth of psionic knowledge, and even the construction of the great city was based on the knowledge they brought.

A small number of them preserved some knowledge and traditions, and established their own families.

Because the descendants of psionicists have a higher probability of becoming psionicists themselves.

Therefore, through conscious cultivation and intermarriage, their offspring are mostly psionic beings.

Their monopoly on power and knowledge gave them considerable influence.

"The Yaoqing Jing family?" Li Yelai's expression shifted. He had learned of this family on the Ark; it was a family that had once produced a king. Now, it was said that an eighth-level spiritualist was in charge. They were a force not to be underestimated.

The intelligence from the Ark indicates that the Jing family is coming to Border City Three. The so-called large caravan actually refers to them.

No wonder they had the confidence to travel across mountains and rivers and traverse wilderness with such a huge amount of money.

Presumably, there must be some powerful psychic among the team members, right?

Li Yelai immediately picked up the communicator and relayed the information to Yin Huo.

A few minutes later, Yin Huo responded: [We know that. You continue your investigation. If you confirm the existence of the anomaly, notify us immediately. However, you can also ask a few psychics to come along. Safety first.]
[Okay, if we don't handle this well, will the Jing family come after us?] Li Yelai asked. He didn't know much about aristocratic families, but he knew they were difficult to get along with.

[They can't cause any trouble.] Yin Huo sent a 'hahahaha' emoji: [It's not just the Void Realm creatures in the Forbidden Zone who are afraid of the Old Mad King.]
Li Yelai expressed his understanding, and it is estimated that Huang Chao, who "trampled on the bones of officials and nobles" at the end of the Tang Dynasty, would also agree!

Afterwards, Li Ye contacted Cheese: [Cheese, do you have time now?]
"If you ask me out, I'll have to put on some makeup," Cheese replied.

Ignoring Cheese's witty remarks, Li Yelai quickly explained the whole story.

They also planned to ask Cheese for help, using her ramblings and hypnotic abilities to directly extract information from the original homeowner.

The original homeowner must still have some information hidden.

"Okay, give me the address. I'll drive over." Cheese didn't refuse: "Consider this a favor you owe me."
[OK!]
The vehicle then continued driving for more than four hours before finally reaching the outskirts of the new urban area.

It was already dark.

This area was originally a mountainous region, but it has become a favorite place for wealthy businessmen.

Compared to the crowds in other urban areas, this place is indeed scenic.

Li Yelai and his group arrived at a villa located halfway up a mountain.

This is the original owner's current residence; even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse.

Everyone says that even though their family fortunes have declined, they can still buy a villa in the new city area.

At this moment, Li Yelai saw an SUV approaching from a distance; it was Cheese's car.

He immediately got out of the car and called for Cheese.

Cheese parked the car next to the van, rolled down the window, looked at Li Yelai, and laughed, "You kid, you really can't do without me."

The temperature was low today, and Cheese had donned her winter attire. She wore a beige down coat, which made her already delicate face appear even smaller and cuter. A hint of a smile played in her eyes.

"I'm counting on you this time," Li Yelai said.

Cheese nodded, then got out of the car and stood next to Li Yelai, greeting the detective.

Although Old Zhao found it strange that Li Yelai would call a girl, he still rang the villa doorbell.

A middle-aged man with an angry expression quickly emerged from the villa.

His attitude was terrible; he wouldn't even open the door, and shouted through the fence, "I've already said I don't know why this is happening in the old house! If you bother me again, I'll call the police!"

Old Zhao frowned and said, "If that's the case, then this transaction has to be canceled. We can't accept a house with such issues. We can only ask you to return the deposit."

This touched a nerve with the middle-aged man, whose expression softened considerably. He said, "But I really don't know much about this. I've never encountered anything like this before selling it to you."

Just then, he heard a crisp sound.

"[Listen to me], what do you know?" Cheese asked calmly after eating a candy. She had seen plenty of these guys spouting nonsense, so she used her ability directly.

The middle-aged man frowned, about to yell and curse, but instead uttered words he didn't want to say: "When my grandfather was still alive, I saw him running to the basement."

"What are you going there for?" Cheese asked.

"Go and meet with Grandma," the middle-aged man replied honestly.

"Your grandmother?" Old Zhao scratched his head. "According to my investigation, didn't your grandmother pass away a year after you were born?"

“But there… I definitely heard my grandfather calling my grandmother’s name through the door.” The middle-aged man found himself unable to lie and could only speak in fear: “My grandmother’s spirit resides there. My grandfather knew this, yet he still ran to the basement!”

Knowing they were spirits of the dead, why did you still try to contact them?
This surprised everyone, but it was understandable.

If you see your lover appear, even if it's a ghost, you wouldn't be able to resist going closer.

"Then, did your grandfather ever exhibit any unusual behavior?" Cheese continued, "Did he ever experience any significant personality changes or strange behavior?"

“I don’t know much about his personality, but he really liked going to the basement. He even didn’t intend to leave the basement at one point.” The middle-aged man responded, “My dad pulled him out. Later, he disappeared, and was eventually found dead on the first basement floor. He had a heart attack, and because he went to the basement alone, there was no time to save him; his body was already stiff when they found him.”

Li Yelai and the three of them, including Zhishi, seemed to be deep in thought.

Was it an accident? Or did that so-called undead spirit kill him?

Or perhaps it is something or some creature disguised as an undead?
"Then, you sold the house?" Li Yelai asked. "Didn't you say that your grandmother's spirit was in the basement? Isn't that like your ancestral grave?"

“What ancestral grave? She died too young, and I wasn’t even close to her!” The middle-aged man said bitterly, “What if she had harmed me if she wasn’t careful? I even suspect that my grandfather’s death was related to her.”

"So, after my grandfather died, I sealed off the underground level. We lived peacefully for a few years, but I was always on edge. Later, I learned that someone wanted to buy the manor, and since we were short of money, I sold it."

Li Yelai learned the rest as well.

Old Zhao was commissioned by Yao Qingjing's family to acquire the manor. However, he accidentally opened the underground floors, causing strange phenomena to reappear.

However, it wasn't the original homeowner's grandmother who appeared, but rather the deceased relatives of the employees.

Even if there were truly undead, they wouldn't gather here in such a concentrated manner. It's probably caused by something else, though the exact cause varies from person to person.
But we'll have to check the specifics.

Then, Cheese used his ability again: "[Listen to me], in five seconds, go back to your room, forget about the question you just asked, forget about our arrival."

The middle-aged man nodded and then returned to his room.

As the door closed, he looked puzzled, unsure why he was standing there.

And outside the villa.

Li Yelai asked Cheese, "Can you confirm what's going on?"

"It's hard to say, we still lack information. We need to go to the scene and take a look." Cheese thought for a moment and then replied, "Get in the car, don't go and damage their vehicle."

Upon hearing this, Li Yelai, the troublemaker, scratched his head: "I didn't activate my abilities either, the vehicle killer wasn't triggered. You're slandering me!"

"Guess why I change cars twice a month?" Cheese raised an eyebrow.

Li Yelai had no choice but to obediently carry the big black umbrella and get into Cheese's off-road vehicle.

Soon, two cars arrived at the manor, one after the other. It was a three-story building in a Western style.

It has a sizable flower bed and a fountain.

There are several tin-roofed houses outside the manor, which belong to Lao Zhao's employees.

Their original task was to renovate the manor, but they encountered a strange situation while repairing the basement.

Currently, there are more than a dozen workers looking out from outside the fence.

The leader immediately stepped forward upon seeing Lao Zhao, his face filled with anxiety.

Upon seeing this, Old Zhao immediately asked, "What happened?"

"Four people escaped inside. We sent people in to catch them, but none of them came back," the employee supervisor said anxiously.

Some employees who had seen their relatives became obsessed with returning to the basement. Four of them, who were initially forcibly taken away, escaped during a moment of inattention. Eight people went to look for them, but none of them returned themselves.

Now that it's dark, the remaining employees are too afraid to enter the manor.

This caused Old Zhao's expression to change, and Cheese said to Old Zhao, "I need to see the map of the manor. From now on, we will take over."

"Don't you need me to send anyone to help you?" Old Zhao asked. "I still have a few skilled people here, all experienced scavengers. Sigh, where are they?"

Scavengers are skilled and are often hired as bodyguards by chambers of commerce.

But as soon as he said that, the employees all looked helpless.

The supervisor, with a long face, said, "They're all inside."

Old Zhao was stunned and speechless for a moment.

“No need. You need to make sure no one from the outside world enters the manor again. Don’t make our operation more difficult,” Cheese replied.

"Okay, sure." Old Zhao nodded repeatedly. "Please be careful."

The other employees looked on with suspicion, which is understandable.

After all, the detective seemed more mature and experienced. Li Yelai and Cheese were both too young.

Especially Cheese, a pretty little girl, can she really face those dead without being afraid?

Even the scavengers who venture into the wilderness haven't come out.

"Are the boss and his team really capable?" an employee asked in a low voice.

At this moment, Li Yelai spoke up, "Boss Zhao, if any losses are incurred during the operation..."

"Don't worry, there's no furniture here right now. Even if the walls get damaged, we can repair them." Old Zhao understood perfectly: "If anything unexpected happens, we'll reimburse you for everything."

As long as the houses aren't demolished, they can still make a profit.

"Okay, that puts my mind at ease." Li Yelai nodded, then put down the large black umbrella, took out a set of molten metal bombs from his backpack, and loaded them one by one into the large black umbrella.

Then, he lifted the large black umbrella with one hand and carried it on his shoulder. His footsteps trampled a deep hole in the grass.

The employees' lips twitched, and they silently moved a little further away from Li Yelai.

Okay, they have no problems now.

(End of this chapter)