When Wen Xishu revealed Old Zhou's crimes in public, the young Xiaoya and Ah Fei both showed expressions of disgust.
Xiaoya had completely regained herself, with no trace of the Water Ghost left.
She was glad she had sided with the right person—Teacher Wen was too amazing.
She also felt grateful that her parents truly recognized her and were willing to listen to her rather than blindly trust outsiders.
Such parents were really detestable.
The knock on the door still came.
Knock, knock.
Two knocks simultaneously resounded, with two people outside the door.
"Dad, we've come to see you. Open the door, we're bringing you eggs." The man and woman outside spoke simultaneously.
It was Old Zhou's son and daughter-in-law.
Though the old saying goes, husband and wife are like birds from the same forest, that when disaster strikes, they fly separate ways.
But this couple was very loving, always relying on each other and trusting one another unto death.
The apocalyptic environment, however, was too harsh; they died during a supermarket exploration mission.
Wen Xishu could be sure they were ghosts, as their speech was slow and their tone had no fluctuation.
Wen Xishu sighed:
"Originally, you could have lasted long… This city might soon usher in a new order."
"But because you handed most of the supplies to your so-called church…"
Though Old Zhou was very afraid, he replied:
"They didn't obey me! If only they listened to me! If they didn't carry those supplies away!! Certainly… God would come to help us!"
"I have a classmate whose teacher is a university professor, and the people working inside are volunteers, how could that be fake?"
The knock on the door sounded again, and hearing Old Zhou's words, Wen Xishu truly felt it was hopeless.
"I really want to drink blue wine." Ah Fei said angrily.
Old Zhou immediately responded:
"You folks! You don't understand, there are ghosts in this world now! Why can't there be gods?"
"I'm human! My children are dead! But I have to stay alive!"
Dr. Chen Ming found this scene amusing, he remained calm, but there was a theatrical smile in his eyes.
If Wen Xishu chose the blue wine, it would basically be intentional homicide.
After all, Wen Xishu was sure that the ones outside were ghosts. Wen Xishu had previously drunk blue wine, but that was because the ones outside were human.
Just turned into ghosts by the rule.
Old Zhou was just disgusting, but not deserving of death.
Old Zhou's children indeed died, but not by Old Zhou's hands, it was the apocalypse that killed them.
But if one drank red wine…
It must be uncomfortable internally, these ignorant parents should be left to repent in the fear of ghosts.
What choice should Wen Xishu make?
Wen Xishu was actually ready to drink the red wine, but before doing so…
He decided to try something.
He approached the door:
"Old Zhou's crimes have been exposed, even if he lives, he will live in agony and deceit."
"I believe you are familiar with the rules of the bar. Stop knocking, retreat."
"I know you detest him, but allowing him to live with this stubbornly unrepentant nature in this terrifying world punishes him much worse than death."
"I don't want to harm you, please leave. If you continue to knock, I'll assume… you are prepared to die again because of him."
Xiaoya and Ah Fei were stunned, even Chen Ming was slightly surprised, not expecting Wen Xishu to act this way.
Is this course of action viable?
Silence.
The bar suddenly quieted down.
For quite a while, there was no sound of any knocking.
Ultimately, the silence was broken by the phonograph.
"Next is a rule supplement."
As expected, the post-event announcement came, and Wen Xishu could already guess that it was an addition regarding persuading ghosts to leave.
Indeed.
"If the ghost leaves and gives up the visit, one can abstain from drinking this round and be considered to have survived successfully."
Old Zhou was relieved to have survived.
And Xiaoya, and Ah Fei actually felt the ghosts outside were very innocent, shouldn't be voted to death.
This was a win-win approach.
People like Old Zhou, shortsighted, blindly believing outsiders, would only be used in the apocalypse.
He living is more painful than him dying.
Wen Xishu was spontaneously inspired.
It's hard for people outside the door to survive because outside are all ghosts, and the people outside mostly bear grudges.
So it's nearly impossible to persuade people to leave.
But persuading ghosts to leave is plausible. As long as they aren't the irredeemable vengeful spirits.
Old Zhou's children might resent Old Zhou, but not to the extent of irredeemable vengefulness.
This was the logic behind Wen Xishu's actions.
Just after successfully persuading the ghosts to leave, Wen Xishu received an unexpected reward.
An invitation letter.
At that moment, he got a hint indicating he had received an invitation letter.
However, Wen Xishu did not immediately use the invitation letter; he still needed to continue with the game.
To achieve as best as possible the perfect completion of the Deceit Tower.
The game unwittingly had reached the moment of closing.
Chen Ming said:
"So, it's my turn? I'm curious if you've seen my past, Teacher Wen?"
Chen Ming smiled confidently.
He knew the existence visiting him was powerful, and his past wouldn't be easily peered into.
But next, Wen Xishu didn't hold back and directly spoke what he knew:
"Have you seen Aquarius?"
Chen Ming's smile suddenly froze. He never expected that with just one sentence from Wen Xishu, like a blade unsheathed, he immediately felt shock.
Wen Xishu sighed:
"Dr. Chen, I indeed don't know your past, but you aren't as smart as I imagined; you've disclosed quite a bit of information from the start."
"You are the planner, are you not? It's you who gathered us here."
"Next, the visitor at the door ought to be a very powerful ghost, the one you're eager to meet."
"Let me guess, it's your deceased wife, right?"
Admiration appeared in Chen Ming's eyes, he exclaimed:
"Are you truly a teacher?"
Wen Xishu nodded:
"Indeed. I do teach, though most of the time my students are in self-study sessions."
Chen Ming said:
"How did you know?"
Wen Xishu said:
"Everyone's past could be examined except yours, indicating there was a more formidable ghost aiding you."
"Throughout the process, you were the calmest and most rational, suggesting it's not your first time partaking in this opening game."
"And, you were the only one unfamiliar with the bar."
"You mentioned at the beginning you had drunk at the bar with your wife before."
"Your wife passed away, making this place you naturally reminisce about her."
"Hence I speculate, you might be the mastermind behind everything."
"The wronged soul in the bar insists that all of us will die…"
"It's likely because after being killed and becoming a ghost, he learned the rules here."
"As I explored Ah Fei's computer trying to find your past, I discovered the screen turned red. I've only seen blue screens, it was my first time seeing a red screen."
"And coincidentally, I'm very attentive to red, leading me to recall the initial red ghost. Does everyone remember?"
Ah Fei and Xiaoya naturally remembered that person who said a red ghost was approaching him at the beginning.
But the ghost… didn't kill him.
That person didn't actually die at the hands of the red-dressed ghost, but was voted to death.
"That ghost might be your deceased wife, Dr. Chen?"
Xiaoya and Ah Fei hadn't considered this turn, it sounded… absurd yet reasonable.
Dr. Chen applauded:
"You're truly remarkable. Guessing this much."
"But even if guessed, it's still lethal; everyone who arrives here is wicked."
"Wicked ones deserve to die."
Wen Xishu understood; this is the final boss battle, he likely has to confront the red-dressed ghost.
Dr. Chen picked up the blue-colored wine glass:
"Teacher Wen, you're clever, it would be a pity for someone like you to die, but since you're here, it indicates guilt."
Wen Xishu said:
"Then aren't you guilty too?"
Dr. Chen laughed:
"Me? I'm indeed guilty, but I have a mission. I am also atoning."
"The knocking will commence soon, my wife is not like the other ghosts."
"Regrettably, all of you will perish. Although Teacher Wen you possess some skills, compared to my wife, they're of no significance."
Wen Xishu didn't refute; without Three-phase Power, unable to utilize Slaughter Tower means, what could one use against Red House?
However… nearing perfect completion, Wen Xishu was untroubled.
A peculiar ring decorated with a Sagittarius emblem die had long adorned his finger.
Wen Xishu said:
"I'm about to die, huh? Didn't expect everything to be in vain, but at least, could you share the story of you and your wife."
"And, what role did Aquarius play in this?"