Chapter 159: Who’s the Ghost?
The male guests first helped the female guests carry their luggage up to the third floor.
Mu Lantu deliberately stayed at the back and opened the camera function on his phone. With his years of watching horror movies, he knew that sometimes cameras could capture a ghost’s true form. Worth a try.
But the result disappointed him—the people in the camera were still just people.
He put away his phone and exchanged a look with Xu Huazhang: Find anything?
Xu Huazhang glanced at the butterfly livestream drone and shook his head. Everyone looked completely normal, full of vitality, not the slightest eerie ghostly aura he had imagined. Even when he put on the tour guide’s old sunglasses, nothing unusual appeared.
Mu Lantu caught one of the butterflies and gestured for Xu Huazhang to hold out his palm. Don’t you want to see? For something this small to hold livestreaming equipment, the tech must be pretty amazing.
Xu Huazhang examined it carefully, flipping it back and forth, before letting the butterfly go.
In the livestream, the viewers went wild.
“Guys, who understands?! He just caught a butterfly for him! I’m dying of thirst over here!”
“Even from a death-angle close-up he looks this handsome?! Xu Huazhang, if you want my life just say so! Waaaah…”
“Mu Lantu, you’ve successfully caught my attention! Be honest, what’s your relationship with Xu Huazhang?”
“Livestream drone: Um, is no one going to feel sorry for me?”
“Viewer: Wait, is no one going to feel sorry for me? I’m dizzy!”
Back on the second floor, without the female guests around, the male guests visibly relaxed.
Mu Lantu discreetly observed their every move.
“How are we splitting the rooms?” Wang Ye asked coolly.
Liang Dong looked at Zhao Zheng. “Brother Zheng, you’re the senior here—you pick first.”
Among them, Zhao Zheng’s status was the highest. He didn’t decline. “We’ve already checked them out; all the rooms are pretty much the same. I’ll just take this one.”
After they finished choosing, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang moved into the last two rooms.
For privacy, the butterfly drones didn’t follow inside.
Fixed cameras were installed in the rooms but avoided the bathrooms.
Mu Lantu carefully inspected the whole room, then opened his suitcase to check and sort his things.
Xu Huazhang knocked and came in.
“Give me a sec.”
Once Mu Lantu finished, the two of them went downstairs, explored the first floor, then sat in the living room. Soon, the other guests joined them.
Mu Lantu suggested, “We’ll be living here for a month. Should we get familiar with the surroundings?”
Dong Yueyue said excitedly, “Yes! I saw from the balcony—it’s beautiful here.”
Qiu Ningning pouted, looking at the sun-scorched lawn. “I don’t want to. It’s too sunny, I’ll get tan. Why don’t we wait until after sunset to go for a walk?”
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang both turned to look at her.
Could she be the ghost? Afraid of sunlight?
For their very first group activity, everyone’s opinions clashed, leaving them a bit awkward.
“I also want to go check it out,” Xu Huazhang said.
“Then I’ll go for a walk with Huazhang,” Mu Lantu added.
“I’ll come too.” Mao Ranran brushed her hair back, clasped her hands behind her, and smiled sweetly.
Wei Weiwei also stepped forward. “I’m going too.”
Wu You didn’t say anything, but walked a couple of steps ahead to show her stance.
All four female guests wanted to go, and the three remaining male guests leaned toward joining them.
Qiu Ningning reluctantly said, “Fine, I’ll go too.”
The group of ten circled the entire villa.
Xu Huazhang led in front, walking deliberately slowly. Wei Weiwei kept pace beside him.
The others were too embarrassed to overtake them, so the whole group shuffled forward like snails.
Mu Lantu kept a close eye on everyone’s feet—yes, all had shadows. To be safe, he also checked his and Xu Huazhang’s—both normal. Then he secretly observed the others’ expressions. After so long under the blazing sun, aside from mild irritability, no one seemed physically uncomfortable.
He returned to Xu Huazhang’s side. Xu Huazhang, knowing his observation was complete, finally picked up the pace.
The other guests secretly sighed in relief—any longer and they would’ve been drenched in sweat.
Back inside the villa, the working air conditioner quickly cooled their heat.
Unnoticed, the sky had turned heavy and gray, thick clouds piling together like a looming black mountain.
A sudden gale bent the treetops. A storm was brewing.
Mu Lantu’s mind spun. The dungeon’s traps were endless. He had already confirmed that “sunlight test” didn’t work to identify the ghost—but what if other players only thought of trying it after it started raining? They’d regret it bitterly.
Wang Ye turned on all the lights, brightening the interior again.
“Looks like it’s going to rain. Maybe we don’t have to go out today?” Mao Ranran said happily. “I love staying in.”
Wei Weiwei’s voice was cheerful. “Rainy days are my favorite for staying home. Listening to the rain makes me feel so peaceful.”
The director’s voice sounded:
“Now comes your first task. Please prepare a hearty lunch for yourselves. You may split into groups, or cook all together.”
Everyone was stunned.
“Cook ourselves? I can’t cook.”
One after another, they all claimed they couldn’t.
“I can,” Mu Lantu said. “But my skills are only average.”
He didn’t dare eat food prepared by the ghost anyway.
“I’ll help,” Xu Huazhang added.
The director spoke again:
“Groups must consist of one male and one female guest.”
Xu Huazhang said blandly, “I never said I wanted to team up with Lantu. Just helping out—is that not allowed, Director?”
The director, caught off guard, was left speechless.
The lively young guests gave him no face and burst out laughing.
Zhao Zheng said, “Alright then. Two ladies can assist Lantu and Huazhang. Too many people won’t fit in the kitchen anyway.”
Qiu Ningning volunteered, “I can.”
“I’ll join Ningning,” Dong Yueyue said, sneaking a glance at Xu Huazhang.
The fridge was well stocked. Mu Lantu quickly assigned tasks to Xu Huazhang, Qiu Ningning, and Dong Yueyue, then started the rice before helping with other ingredients while fishing for info.
“Ladies, I don’t think I know your professions yet?”
Dong Yueyue teased, “Guess.”
Mu Lantu shook his head. “No idea.”
Qiu Ningning smiled. “The director said we can’t reveal it yet. There may be a later segment where we guess each other’s jobs.”
“Do you have any favorite dishes? If I can cook them, I’ll make them for you.”
Both women blushed at once.
Xu Huazhang glanced at him sideways.
Mu Lantu nudged him. What? Don’t tell me you’re jealous. I’m only doing this for the task. Their favorite foods might reveal some clues.
“I like sweet-and-sour ribs,” Qiu Ningning said.
“I’m not picky, I’ll eat anything,” Dong Yueyue said sweetly.
Qiu Ningning’s smile froze for a moment. Compared like that, didn’t she seem demanding?
Mu Lantu realized he’d made a mistake. If the ladies thought he was flirting, that could be dangerous.
He shut his mouth.
Xu Huazhang looked at him with a half-smile. Realize your mistake?
Mu Lantu nudged him again. Got it, got it.
Washing the wok, turning on the vent, lighting the stove—the cooking began.
“Huazhang, you all go rest. I can work more freely alone in here.”
“Alright.” Xu Huazhang agreed, glancing at Qiu Ningning and Dong Yueyue.
The three of them left, but Xu Huazhang soon slipped back in. With ten people to feed, there wouldn’t be enough dishes unless he helped Mu Lantu prepare more.
Qiu Ningning and Dong Yueyue didn’t dare follow again, and instead stayed in the living room with the others.
The skies opened. Sheets of rain blurred the world outside.
Mu Lantu worked both stoves at once, whipping up eight dishes in total—all homestyle, simple to make.
Besides Qiu Ningning’s sweet-and-sour ribs, he deliberately made two of Xu Huazhang’s favorites: scrambled eggs with shrimp, and cilantro beef salad.
But he intentionally botched the ribs—too much sugar and salt. Edible, but not delicious.
Xu Huazhang carried two plates out.
“Dinner’s ready.”
The others instinctively helped carry out the rest—bowls, rice, dishes…
The director’s voice:
“Male guests, please all sit on the same side of the table first. The five female guests will play a small game to decide their seats. At dinner, it will be reversed—the women sit first, and the men play to determine their seats.”
The men sat down casually, whichever spot was closest.
Liang Dong muttered, “Director, you really don’t get it. Everyone’s starving, especially our two chefs who worked so hard. Isn’t eating more important than games?”
Zhao Zheng laughed. “Just keep it short, so the director will start faster and we can eat.”
The women also playfully urged him on.
Mu Lantu scratched his head. Look at them—all so vibrant, whether men or women. If not for the dungeon’s warning, who would ever think one of them was a ghost?
The director said:
“The game is simple: Radish Squat. Each female guest chooses a color to represent a type of radish—red, blue, etc. I’ll call out ‘Red Radish Squat,’ and whoever has that color must squat. Make a mistake and you’re out. The longer you last, the higher your rank. First place picks a seat first, and so on.”
It sounded fun. Mu Lantu found himself genuinely entertained, almost forgetting they were inside a dungeon.
The women quickly chose: Qiu Ningning was Pink Radish, Dong Yueyue Blue Radish, Mao Ranran Black Radish, Wu You White Radish, and Wei Weiwei Red Radish.
Mao Ranran chose Black Radish—Mu Lantu’s suspicion fell on her. Could she be the ghost?
Wu You was White Radish—also suspicious.
“Get ready to start!”
The five women stood at attention.
“Red radish squat, red radish squat, after red radish squats, pink radish squats. Pink radish squat, pink radish squat, after pink radish squats, blue radish squats…”
