After a long wait, the figures of Pham Bach Kha's group of four finally appeared at the end of the hallway. The moment they met, the atmosphere between the two groups instantly grew tense due to their respective discoveries. Yashu was the first to speak; her voice remained as cheerful as ever, yet it carried a hint of contemplation:
-"How was it on your end? We just found a few things... they're quite heavy."
Wu Mengqiao narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing over the serious expressions of the three of us. Her voice dropped:
-"What kind of clue is it that makes everyone look like they've seen a ghost?"
-"The thing is... we accidentally found a hidden secret chamber right on the ceiling. Tianxia climbed up to check it." - Qing Yashu recounted, her shoulders trembling slightly as she recalled the scene - "It's only about a meter high up there, with a bed covered in dried blood, and there are even claw marks etched into the walls... Something truly horrific must have happened in that cramped space."
Hearing this, the faces of the other group visibly paled. I cut through the thick atmosphere with a question:
-"And what about you guys? Did you find anything promising?"
Tu Qinghe hesitated, a look of guilt clear on her face as if she felt her information was "lighter" in comparison:
-"Um... it's not exactly a direct clue like yours. We only managed to find the dining area and Butler Li's private room. Aside from some old belongings, we haven't seen anything strange yet."
I looked at Tu Qinghe and gave a small, reassuring nod. In fact, finding Butler Li's room at this moment was a crucial variable. In a villa riddled with secret chambers, the person who held the keys and the blueprints - the butler - was exactly the next target I was aiming for.
Pham Bach Kha finally spoke up, breaking the silence with his steady, deep voice:
-"The upper floor is the only area we haven't touched yet. I suspect the most core secrets are hidden there."
While everyone was absorbed in planning the next move, I suddenly noticed Xiao Shu standing tucked away in a corner. He cowered slightly, his eyes blinking rapidly behind his glasses, his lips parting as if to say something, only to hesitate and swallow his words. Noticing the restlessness evident on his face, I took the initiative to speak:
-"Xiao Shu, did you want to say something? Just feel free."
The group's sudden attention shifting toward him made Xiao Shu flinch. He lowered his head, his voice tiny but loud enough for everyone to hear:
-"Ah... actually, it's about Butler Li's room. Earlier, I accidentally dropped my magnifying glass right by his window sill... When I leaned down to pick it up, I caught a glimpse of an old safe inside. It looked dusty and rusted; it seems like no one has touched or pried it open in a very long time..."
He paused for a beat, swallowing hard as if still frightened:
-"I didn't dare look for long because I was afraid the butler would catch me, so I left quickly. But... that safe looked so out of place, as if it were hiding something that doesn't belong in that room at all."
In the midst of the buzz over the safe clue, a violent headache suddenly struck. It wasn't a dull ache but a sharp jolt to my nerves like a hammer blow, forcing me to collapse onto the floor, clutching my head tightly. Damn it, the old ailment had to flare up right at this moment!
The group's brief moment of excitement vanished instantly. They were struck with horror seeing me struggling to rub my temples, my face contorted in pain. Yashu and Xi Yong'an were the quickest to react; they rushed over to support my shoulders, their voices cracking with worry:
-"What's wrong? Are you okay?!"
My vision began to blur, the colors around me twisting as if the entire world were about to crumble. I bit my lip hard to keep from let out a groan, feebly waving my hand, my voice a mere whisper:
--"I'm... fine... Don't worry too much, it'll pass in a moment."
But in reality, a storm was raging inside my mind. Images of my mother came rushing back like a violent tide. The nightmare of the day she vanished appeared vividly, but this time, that gentle face suddenly became distorted and warped in a bizarre way. It all happened in just a few short seconds, but it was enough to make my brain feel like it was going to explode.
After a fierce struggle with myself, the pain gradually eased and then receded completely, leaving behind a hollow, exhausted feeling. I pressed my hands against the floor and stood up unsteadily. Although the world around me was still swaying, at least I had regained control of my body.