Knock, knock, knock!
The knocking on the door echoed once more. Everyone was on edge.
Who could it be?
A new problem has arrived, but the old troubles haven't ended.
Xiaoya stood behind Wen Xishu, silently declaring her position, which meant that during the upcoming voting session, she would be a supporter of Wen Xishu.
This scene also made Zhang Qiang more cautious. Wen Xishu... didn't resemble an ordinary teacher. He was too calm.
Chen Ming also greatly admired Wen Xishu's various responses when resolving the crisis at the end.
Of course, Old Zhou and Li Wei were still on Zhang Qiang's side, and the shut-in Ah Fei's stance was still unclear.
It is worth mentioning that the Water Ghost's search for a substitute was still ongoing.
Wen Xishu noticed that Xiaoya's body... was dripping more and more with water, and her clothes were becoming wet.
There was also a salty sea smell emerging from her body. Wen Xishu knew this was ominous, but for now, he couldn't find a way to stop Xiaoya from being found as a substitute.
The other eye of Xiaoya also started to show traces of water.
At this moment, if you looked at the Water Ghost, you'd find it now had two eyes and a nose. It was becoming more and more like Xiaoya.
In Xiaoya's vision, it was half real sight and half the Water Ghost's perspective.
But they didn't exist simultaneously; one moment, she'd see the scene in the bar, and the next, a view of drowning.
This was very torturous, but Xiaoya still endured in silence, trying her best to stay rational.
The most painful thing in her life had recently been resolved. She believed that if she could just get through this ordeal, things would get better.
The most troubling thing was still the knocking on the door.
It was urgent.
Knock, knock, knock, knock!
A heap of unresolved issues were met by new ones, and everyone felt extremely oppressed.
Wen Xishu looked at the monitor and noticed that the person knocking wasn't staring at the camera like the previous ghost.
He seemed different from a ghost, unaware of the camera.
Of course, this could also be a disguise by someone with intelligence.
So Wen Xishu said:
"Who are you?"
"A debt collector."
"Whose debt?"
"Whoever has the most money owes the debt."
The voice outside the door was deep, carrying a gritting tone of hatred.
"Sorry, no one here owes you a debt. It's Ghost Festival tonight; we can't open the door to suspicious people."
The person outside said:
"I'm a human, not a ghost."
Wen Xishu glanced back at everyone.
Father Old Zhou was still trembling with fear.
Li Wei's eyes were evasive, Chen Ming remained with his usual calm expression like a bystander, Ah Fei was continuously working on the computer, and Zhang Qiang had a detached smile.
Wen Xishu had a clue:
"Raise your head so I can see? There's a camera on the door."
The man outside lifted his head, finally noticing the camera, glaring fiercely at it.
His cheeks were sunken deeply with knife-like cheekbones protruding, but most unsettling were his eyes. Deep-set like two dark hollows.
Wen Xishu was very familiar with such eyes. Those were eyes filled with a thirst for revenge.
He breathed heavily; each breath was accompanied by a raspy wheeze, like a broken bellows, as if his lungs were full of holes.
Yet even in this weakened state, he still exuded a profound sense of hatred.
Wen Xishu observed silently for a moment.
The face was furious and menacing but lacked the eerie feel of the previous ghost child.
This was the hardest to judge.
Because this person looked as if he'd been severely injured, barely alive yet not dead.
It was possible he was already dead, with his ghost form retaining the appearance before death.
But it was also possible... that he was simply not dead.
Wen Xishu said:
"How did you know someone here owes you a debt?"
"How did you find this place?"
The man angrily replied:
"I've struggled through the Ghost Gate, seeking revenge, settling scores! Countless evil spirits showed me the way! My enemy is inside!"
"Li Wei! You bastard!"
This statement seemed to reveal a lot of information.
Almost everyone looked at the Merchant Li Wei, who immediately rushed over to the laptop to check the monitor. Seeing the screen, he staggered, almost falling.
But Wen Xishu was not focused on Li Wei; his attention was on "Ghost Gate."
In normal circumstances, passing through Ghost Gate would imply having survived a dangerous situation.
But in Deceit Tower, Ghost Gate might be a precise description, an actual place.
Countless evil spirits pointing the way seemed to suggest something.
Ideas began to form in Wen Xishu's mind.
Assume he was playing a game called Defend the Bar.
They were the defenders, tasked with keeping all ghosts out of the bar.
And the attackers were the ghosts.
As long as everyone insisted on voting against, like Zhang Qiang suggested, everyone would be safe.
No matter how ghosts disguised themselves, they would die...
So the ghosts had to use the rules.
They had to make real people knock on the door. Once those inside voted wrongly, the rules would turn real people into wronged souls, allowing them into the bar.
The defenders would realize... they couldn't simply vote against without thinking.
In this way, the ghosts would have a chance.
So the ghosts would likely target people who have connections with those in the bar.
These people might even be disguised by ghosts as being near death, appearing especially like ghosts when showing up tonight.
Wen Xishu guessed correctly; the person who came did have a connection with Li Wei.