Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 902: Chapter 146: Startled Souls

“Greetings, Old Master Song.”

After Mr. Blind greeted him, Elder Song just nodded to Song Haoran and then asked with concern, “Mr. Blind, you mentioned earlier that it’s because he inhaled a large amount of the Mandela flower scent… How do you know this?”

Song Haoran explained at this moment: “Actually, before we came to the hospital, we detoured to take a look at the collapsed castle… Well, it was at Mr. Blind’s request. He said that if zombies and blood-sucking monsters really appeared, it would be very dangerous, and ordinary people would have a difficult time dealing with them.”

“Indeed,” Song Da said with a bitter smile at this moment, “I nearly lost my life and barely managed to kill one using the convenience of underground suppression… If I were in an open area, I would definitely be the one dead!”

Mr. Blind said calmly, “It’s fortunate that it was you, with your robust martial skills. If it were Song Er and Song San, even with favorable terrain, it would likely have been a grim situation.”

Elder Song asked at this moment, “Sir, what are your findings?”

Mr. Blind replied with a slightly grave expression, “That place emits a large amount of death energy. I had Haoran describe the surrounding terrain to me and discovered that the castle is naturally formed on a site of negative energy, which is very suitable for Corpse Refining. If it’s in the hands of certain folks along the Xiang River in China, they’d use it as a feng shui treasure for Corpse Refining, so the appearance of zombies is not surprising.”

After pausing, Mr. Blind continued, “However, the castle has collapsed, and any zombies present are likely buried deep underground and won’t surface anytime soon… But I suggest not letting the authorities casually excavate. Once the emergence of zombies occurs, it can lead to a widespread disaster due to infection.”

“I understand. I’ll contact them immediately to temporarily halt the excavation,” Song Tianyou nodded.

This place is the Song Family’s stronghold; if a wave of terror like zombies erupts, the Song Family would be the primary victims.

“During the day when the yang energy is strong, the zombies’ activity Power will weaken,” Mr. Blind added, “Tomorrow, I’ll carefully investigate the area. I ask Old Master Song to provide me with some manpower.”

“No problem, Mr. Blind. You can instruct Haoran as to how many people you need,” Elder Song readily agreed.

“Additionally, before I came, I made a brief investigation and found many Mandela flower petals in the castle, and there’s also residue of its scent,” Mr. Blind continued, “This type of Mandela flower is different from the common variety. It has slight hallucinogenic properties that can induce hallucinations, and in severe cases, coma. I believe that since the Song Family’s new young master has no external injuries, it’s likely due to the effects of this flower.”

“Is there a way to save him?” Elder Song quickly asked.

Mr. Blind replied calmly, “It’s not a serious issue. Perhaps after one or two days of sleep, he will come back to his senses. Otherwise, I can prescribe some traditional Chinese medicine to invigorate and awaken him; drinking it should resolve the problem.”

At this moment, Song Ying’s phone suddenly rang. She answered and said, “Grandpa, Uncle Wu says that Luo Qiu came back to his senses…”

Then, Song Ying murmured softly, “Wasn’t he supposed to sleep for one or two days…”

“Everyone’s constitution is different,” Mr. Blind said to Song Ying, “It’s not unusual for those in good health to awaken early; Miss Ying, you are overthinking it.”

Song Ying glanced awkwardly at her grandfather, but Elder Song just visibly relaxed and said, “Tell Uncle Wu, I’ll go up and take a look later.”

Song Ying stuck out her tongue.

At this moment, Song Tianyou suddenly said, “Song Ying, you should go directly upstairs and wait for me. I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Blind.”

Song Ying didn’t insist on staying and left quickly with a nod.

Afterwards, Song Tianyou looked at Song Haoran and said, “Haoran, for now, keep the people I asked you to select here. We may need to delay our plans to return to Hua Country. Focus on assisting the gentleman’s investigation of this matter. This is the Song Family’s stronghold, and nothing must go wrong. Understand?”

“Understood.” Song Haoran nodded solemnly.

“Sir, there are some things I would like to discuss with you privately.” Song Tianyou looked at Mr. Blind and asked softly, “May I have a word?”

“Certainly.”

…

Song Ying didn’t return immediately to Luo Qiu’s room but looked around seeing no one following her, she put on her sunglasses and suddenly walked to a back stairwell.

Shortly after, a nurse quietly opened the door and joined Song Ying here… The nurse looked a little nervous. Upon seeing Song Ying, she retrieved a test tube from her work uniform.

“Did anyone see you?” Song Ying asked the nurse.

The nurse replied hurriedly, “No, no one saw me. I quietly took it as per your instructions when I was drawing the patient’s blood for testing.”

“You didn’t make a mistake?” Song Ying asked in a serious tone.

“Absolutely not!”

“Very well.” Song Ying nodded, “Go back to work. I’ll have someone send you the reward later… Remember, this matter must not be known by a third person. Otherwise, you know the consequences.”

“Miss Song, don’t worry. I won’t disclose it,” the nurse replied.

Afterwards, the nurse cautiously left, and Song Ying examined the test tube in her hand—it contained Luo Qiu’s blood.

“It’s not that I don’t trust my uncle’s ability…” Song Ying murmured, “But this concerns the future of the Song Family. I have to verify it personally… If you really are a member of the Song Family, then I…”

Song Ying couldn’t quite articulate what she would do, and finally mumbled, “At worst, I’ll just treat you a bit better…”

She put the test tube into her pocket and went to a certain department in the hospital. Shortly thereafter, she exited, humming tunes happily, heading towards the advanced ward area.

…

Unfortunately, Song Ying’s good mood didn’t last long because she soon encountered a very annoying woman—Zhong Luoyue, her arch-nemesis and senior sister.

As the saying goes, enemies are particularly irritable when they meet. Song Ying glanced at Zhong Luoyue’s disheveled appearance and suddenly frowned.

Because she saw Zhong Luoyue holding a coat—it was the one Luo Qiu had been wearing.

The reason for not mistaking it is that Song Ying had personally picked out this coat… When did this coat get into Zhong Luoyue’s hands?

There’s something fishy… And, this annoying woman is probably on her way to see Luo Qiu, right?

They met at the corner of the corridor and then silently turned onto the same path.

“Congratulations, you weren’t buried. What a joy,” Song Ying said with a fake smile.

Zhong Luoyue, not one to be outdone, replied with a smile, “Yes, indeed. I did take a walk through the Ghost Gate Pass, but Yama told me that some nuisances haven’t died yet, and good people like me should live longer, so I was sent back.”

Song Ying replied happily, “That Yama must be blind.”

“Who knows?” Zhong Luoyue smiled, “He didn’t wear sunglasses, sneaky.”

Song Ying shrugged, indifferently took off her sunglasses, and then casually asked, “Do you have a friend here?”

“I do.” Zhong Luoyue suddenly handed over the coat, lowered her head shyly, “Could you help me return this coat to my friend here? By the looks of it, I can’t go in… Oh, and also relay a message for me, tell him that the time spent with him was truly thrilling, unforgettable, and blood-pumping.”

Song Ying was stunned as Zhong Luoyue directly stuffed the coat into her arms and left with her companions.

Thrilling?

Unforgettable for life??

Blood boiling???

“Hey, hey! What’s unforgettable for life? Explain it clearly! Zhong Luoyue!! Come back here!!” Song Ying chased after her, shouting, “Come back!”

Only to see Zhong Luoyue merely facing away from Song Ying, casually waving her hand.

“Damn Fox Spirit!” Song Ying suddenly grabbed her coat and slammed it against the wall.

…

Song Ying’s mood was probably quite unpleasant… but at this moment, Zhong Luoyue’s mood was quite good. This was the most delightful time she had experienced all day, even feeling like she had returned to the ordinary world.

But she knew this feeling was just an illusion, because on the way out, she happened to encounter someone she knew.

It was Natasha, who had once teamed up with her temporarily in the Dungeon Maze, and later disappeared without a trace.

At this moment, Natasha looked lost, her head lowered as if she was lost in thought. Perhaps because she was so distracted, she didn’t notice the nurse pushing an emergency bed quickly approaching from behind, and finally, she was knocked to the ground.

“Miss, do you know her?” asked the bodyguard beside her.

Zhong Luoyue shook her head, turned in another direction, and said indifferently, “I don’t know her, but I’ve seen her once at the castle… let’s go, I’m a bit tired.”

She walked past Natasha without stopping.

And Natasha, who was knocked to the ground, was helped up by someone. She still appeared lost but took the emergency bed and walked away quickly.

What on earth has happened… at this moment, Natasha’s mind was in chaos.

When she came back to her senses, she found herself already in the hospital. They said she was found under the rubble, unconscious at the time.

After waking up, Natasha realized she was indeed safe now, and she immediately felt relieved, but everything that happened in the castle was so clear, which frightened her.

Later, Natasha discovered another thing that terrified her—the other survivors being treated with her seemed to have forgotten what happened in the Dungeon Maze.

There weren’t many survivors. Counting her, it seemed only five were found… but the other four had forgotten what occurred in the Dungeon Maze.

This made Natasha dare not reveal the truth, as she vaguely felt there seemed to be an unseen Black Hand manipulating everything…

The doctor suggested she stay in the hospital for observation for a few days, and Natasha was willing to stay in a crowded place… she was planning that if the other survivors at the hospital couldn’t remember anything in the coming days, she would also act as if she didn’t know what happened.

She didn’t want to be drawn into this terrifying event again.

Natasha stood there for a while, feeling a bit dizzy. She decided to go to the restroom to wash her face—it was already past two in the morning, and there weren’t many people in the hospital inpatient area.

In the restroom, Natasha looked in the mirror and began to slowly peel off the tape on her face.

Her face should have been scratched; Natasha remembered she had fallen to the ground in the Dungeon Maze.

As for her arm, it was also wrapped in bandages, but Natasha didn’t know when she got hurt; the nurse who bandaged her said the wound was quite deep, somewhat like a scratch.

She carefully approached the mirror, slowly peeling off the tape on her face to avoid getting it wet while washing her face… however, when the tape was slowly peeled off, Natasha was startled!

The wound on her face… had started to rot!

She then realized her lips were purplish-blue, and there was a hint of blood beneath her eyes, while her complexion was pale, almost like… like a corpse!

Terrified, Natasha approached the mirror again and used her fingers to pry open her eyelids, seeing the horrific bloodshot condition in her eye.

She was even more horrified, instantly collapsing to the ground… Natasha at the moment shivered all over, feeling hot and cold, and suddenly her breathing became difficult… she seemed to remember something and immediately unwrapped the bandage on her arm.

Only to see on her arm, the area was entirely rotten.

The terrified Natasha wanted to seek help, “Doctor…”

She screamed in terror, but suddenly at this moment, a fiery sensation spewed from her throat… it was her blood, spilling out from her body!

Her teeth, her lips were now stained with fresh blood, and she looked at the blood on her hands with utmost fear, her body spasming and collapsing to the ground.

At this moment, a cleaner opened the restroom door and saw Natasha lying on the ground.

“Miss, Miss? Are you alright?” The cleaner was startled and quickly came over to check.

But suddenly, Natasha sat up abruptly, her eyes turning white as she saw the cleaner, then immediately opened her mouth and bit forward…

…

…

When Song Ying pushed open the door to the advanced hospital room, she happened to see Gan Hong feeding water to Luo Qiu… Miss Song Ying, whose mood wasn’t good initially, immediately put on a stern face.

Uncle Wu looked at his Miss’s expression, although puzzled by her sudden change of face, being an experienced butler, Uncle Wu cleverly said at this moment, “Young Master Qiu, I will go check if the doctor has come. It’s strange, it’s been so long and still no sign of him.”

“Much appreciated.” Luo Qiu nodded.

To act like a patient, one must do so convincingly; if he suddenly became energetic upon awakening, it would doubtlessly raise suspicion, so Luo Qiu was very cooperative with Gan Hong and Uncle Wu’s care at this moment.

Song Ying frowned as she came to the bedside, sat down with a slap, and crossed her legs, “Tell me, what exactly happened?”

“Did something happen?” Luo Qiu asked curiously.

Song Ying said in irritation, “Stop pretending you don’t know! I’m telling you, you told us to wait in that room for Tu Shenyi, but then what happened? Why did we all fall unconscious?”

At this moment, Luo Qiu looked at Gan Hong, appearing innocent.

Gan Hong leaned over and whispered in Song Ying’s ear, “Miss Ying, Young Master Qiu forgot what happened after waking up. He only remembers everything before playing chess with Mister Tu in the vineyard.”

Song Ying was stunned and looked at Luo Qiu, blinking her eyes.

Luo Qiu also blinked at Song Ying’s eyes, “So did something actually happen?”

“You’re pretending!!!!” Song Ying shouted at this moment.

But just at this moment, screams suddenly came from outside the room… and they kept coming!