PCJ – Chapter 484 Frozen Time

“Ah!” Zhao Jue sighed deeply. He had initially planned to bring Zhang Jiaohua along. Zhang Jiaohua was skilled in martial arts and knew a bit of sorcery. If Zhang Jiaohua joined the adventure, the safety factor would significantly increase. But with Fu Cha Hao Yue’s words, there was no way Zhao Jue could convince Zhang Jiaohua to go.

Zhang Jiaohua himself didn’t respond to Zhao Jue and the others’ invitation. While he was curious about the so-called haunted house, he wasn’t willing to carelessly put himself in danger. Zhang Jiaohua didn’t approve of the city dwellers’ reckless pursuit of thrills. Their motives were entirely different from his intent to hone himself through life experiences. Zhao Jue and his group often sought danger without respecting life, whereas Zhang Jiaohua sought true enlightenment and sincerity from life.

Fu Cha Hao Yue regretted bringing Zhang Jiaohua to meet Zhao Jue and the others. Fortunately, Zhang Jiaohua had declined their invitation.

“Jiaohua, don’t let them persuade you. That place is truly dangerous. Those guys are so bored they actively seek out danger. One day, they’ll bring disaster upon themselves,” Fu Cha Hao Yue frowned.

Zhang Jiaohua nodded. “Don’t worry, Sister Hao Yue. I won’t do anything that pointless.”

Wu Yuan was brimming with energy every day. Early in the morning, he practiced his Zhuang Gong (post training). Afterward, he attended to the countless trivial matters involved in managing the restaurant. Though everything depended on him, the thought of having a steady income in the future gave him boundless motivation.

Moreover, a new person had joined the morning Zhuang Gong sessions—Zeng Lei.

Zeng Lei had a stronger foundation than Wu Yuan. Half an hour of Zhuang Gong was no challenge for him. Horse stance training wasn’t too difficult, either. Although Zeng Lei hadn’t systematically practiced Zhuang Gong before, his experience with military postures and rigorous martial arts in the special forces gave him an edge. However, Zhang Jiaohua’s test wasn’t limited to horse stance alone. Zhuang Gong comprised an entire set of movements that Zeng Lei had to master before he could pass the challenge.

“These days have been so hectic; I might not be able to return at night, and tomorrow’s practice might be uncertain,” Zeng Lei said worriedly.

“What happened? Another major case in your jurisdiction?” Zhang Jiaohua asked.

“Not really, just the usual shenanigans of those idle rich kids from the capital. They decided to explore some haunted house, and several of them have gone missing. The house already claimed lives during demolition, yet these people weren’t scared off. Instead, they were drawn in. Over the past few days, two or three people have disappeared. The city bureau ordered a full investigation into the haunted house disappearances. Unfortunately, the house falls within our jurisdiction, making things miserable for us,” Zeng Lei said in frustration.

“The haunted house is nearby?” Zhang Jiaohua asked curiously.

“Not exactly nearby. Our jurisdiction is quite large, and the haunted house is about ten kilometers away. How do you even know about the haunted house?” Zeng Lei asked, puzzled. Zhang Jiaohua had only recently arrived in the capital, and no one had mentioned the house to him.

“I heard about it yesterday when Sister Hao Yue and I met her friends,” Zhang Jiaohua replied.

“Hao Yue’s friends are unreliable, all a bunch of spoiled second-generation heirs. Don’t get too close to them; they’ll drag you down eventually,” Zeng Lei cautioned.

“Brother Zeng, does that Zhao Jue have feelings for Sister Hao Yue? You’d better step up, or someone might steal her away, and you’ll regret it,” Zhang Jiaohua teased.

“That’s not your concern. Just don’t mix with those people; none of them can be trusted,” Zeng Lei reminded Zhang Jiaohua repeatedly, clearly treating him as a close friend.

“Brother Zeng, could you take me with you to the haunted house?” Zhang Jiaohua asked.

“That’s not happening,” Zeng Lei shook his head firmly. “It’s too dangerous. From what I’ve gathered, it’s a highly perilous place. Regardless of whether the danger comes from supernatural forces or not, I can’t take you there. You should drop the idea.”

“If you won’t take me, I’ll go on my own,” Zhang Jiaohua insisted, curious about what the haunted house truly was.

“That’s impossible. It’s far too dangerous. Based on what I know, at least a hundred people have died there. Even after liberation, numerous confirmed deaths have occurred. Three workers died during the demolition, and four more explorers have recently gone missing. That’s seven in total. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t set foot there. But I’m obligated by duty. Why risk your life for no reason?” Zeng Lei explained.

Zhang Jiaohua shook his head. “I’m not like you. For ordinary people, the haunted house might be dangerous, but it might not be for me.”

While Zhang Jiaohua wouldn’t claim he could go anywhere unscathed, he believed he had enough skills to escape most dangers. At least for now, the danger seemed confined to malevolent entities, indicating their power was limited. Moreover, Zhang Jiaohua could sense any danger near the haunted house and retreat accordingly.

“It’s against protocol to let civilians approach the haunted house. We’re tasked with guarding the perimeter to prevent thrill-seekers from entering. If more people go missing, the pressure on the police will only increase,” Zeng Lei said.

“Then let me stay on the outskirts. If you don’t take me, I’ll find a way myself. With my abilities, I can sneak into the haunted house without being detected,” Zhang Jiaohua said determinedly.