Thriller Zone: From the Mental Hospital to the Ghostly World

Chapter 600 [Domain - Second Gate] Key

He immediately looked at the other coffin.

Under the flickering light of the streetlights, the rear of the coffin could be barely seen, and there was also a blurry shadow around the waist of the coffin.

Both coffins were locked.

“There are no gaps; the only way to open them is by unlocking them,” Chen Ji confirmed immediately.

The question is, where is the key?

With such a large team, consisting of dozens of ghosts, finding two tiny keys is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Withdrawing his hand, Chen Ji quickly scanned the four ghosts beside the coffin.

Mourning clothes have no pockets, so there's no place to hide keys, and ghosts don't have keychains hanging on their bodies.

He didn't even hear the slightest metallic clanging sound.

If the little monkey were still alive, he could have easily gained extremely keen hearing by not looking, and thus found the key.

But he doesn't even know where the little monkey is now.

With a sigh, Chen Ji retreated to Fei'er's side.

"Did you see any keys when you stole the paper money?"

Fei'er shook her head.

But the next second, she suddenly remembered something and immediately said, "There was another package tied to the wreath pillar along with the paper money."

There is still one?

Chen Ji was taken aback: "Are you sure?"

He had just been hiding behind the wreath; there was nothing on the pillar.

"Hmm. It was wrapped in a white cloth, and I don't know what was inside." Fei'er said, "I was in a hurry, so I only had time to lift it. It wasn't very heavy, and it was tied very tightly to the pillar."

"When I tried to pull the package down... I thought I heard a clattering sound inside."

Chen Ji's heart stirred.

The paper money may not be important to these ghosts, but the contents of the package are clearly the key to this mourning ritual.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have moved the package midway.

Based on Fei'er's previous observations, there were clearly metal objects inside. Could it be the key?

"Go find that package first."

This sudden clue pointed Chen Ji in the right direction; at least they no longer had to blindly search among the ghosts.

After all, the package is much more conspicuous than two sets of small keys.

soon.

The two silently moved to the front of the line.

With so many ghosts no longer blocking the way, the scene ahead of the alley came into Chen Ji's view.

It's very dark ahead.

You can barely see anything.

Only the mournful and melodious sounds of opera drifted out from the depths of darkness, guiding the procession forward.

No one knows how much longer they will have to travel this road. Chen Ji only knows one thing: so far they have been heading straight north without ever changing direction.

He increasingly wanted to know where this road would end.

Turning his gaze away, Chen Ji scanned the surroundings and quickly locked onto a figure not far away.

Its body was much bulkier than the other ghosts, with a bulge on its back. Only upon close inspection could one see that it was carrying a cloth bag the same color as the mourning clothes.

"very good."

Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief!

He had been worried that the ghosts would hide the package, or that several ghosts would gather together to guard it, but the current situation was very favorable to them.

The ghost carrying the bundle stood alone at the edge of the group, slightly separated from the main force.

At the same time, because it carries the package on its back, the opening of the strap faces backwards.

If you're careful enough, you might be able to sneak up silently and unpack the package.

"They are very slow."

"Fair said softly."

At first, the two were very cautious, but as they moved from the back of the line to the front, they both realized that the ghosts in mourning clothes were ignoring them.

Apart from a few ghosts carrying coffins and playing suonas, the other ghosts were all immersed in wailing.

Is it because ghosts can't kill them, or because they really can't see them?

Chen Ji seemed to be deep in thought.

Within minutes, the two of them got close to the ghost carrying the bundle.

Although the little monkey was gone, Chen Ji's hearing was still much better than that of a normal person. At such close range, he quickly heard a faint "ding-dong" sound.

The ghost's movements caused the keys inside the package to rattle!

Both hands quietly reached for the package.

But just then...

Chen Ji's vision suddenly went black, and he could see nothing at all!

Not only that, but the mournful wailing all around also came to an abrupt end.

It's like entering a vacuum!

Chen Ji did not panic because of the sudden change. He immediately withdrew his hand and instead reached out to touch Fei'er beside him.

He needs to determine whether the problem stems from his own actions or from the broader environmental issues.

Fortunately, the sense of touch is still there.

In the darkness, a cold paper hand touched his fingertips and squeezed them hard.

Phil encountered the same situation.

In the boundless darkness and silence, Chen Ji suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

It's hard to describe... It wasn't the familiar feeling of a ghost approaching, but rather the chilling aura emanating from the coffin, which spread throughout the entire group like a tide.

The intense silence sent chills down Chen Ji's spine.

At the same time, he found himself unable to utter a single word.

"Is it because I'm deaf, or am I mute?"

Deaf, mute, and blind—all three of the most important human senses had failed—and Chen Ji's heart sank.

This inevitably brings to mind the scene of the Three Wise Monkeys.

In this environment, Chen Ji's only remaining sense was touch. He was on high alert, fully wary of any possible touch in the darkness...

Is the group still moving?

Should they stop now, or continue moving forward?

Just as Chen Ji's brain was working at high speed, suddenly, streaks of leaping red light broke through the darkness!

That is......

"fire!"

The instant the flames appeared, the cacophony of wailing once again assaulted Chen Ji's ears.

Although his senses had returned, Chen Ji's spirit remained undiminished.

Unlike before, they now seemed to have entered a thick black fog, with only a campfire in the distance providing a faint light.

Deeper into the darkness, faint sparks could be seen.

Just like... a website?

"Chen Ji." Fei'er suddenly nudged him: "That ghost is gone."

The spot in front of them, where the ghost carrying the bundle had been standing, was now empty.

But soon, the two saw the ghost again.

It appeared prominently at the very front of the group, heading straight towards the ball of flame.

Flames... Mourning Ritual...

A strange premonition suddenly rose in Chen Ji's heart: what exactly was in that package?

Could it be a ritual prop?

The two immediately squeezed to the front of the line, staring intently at the ghost's movements.

As the package was unpacked, another "clink" sound was heard.

But what was taken out was not a key, but a handful of paper ingots.

"Oh right, this is a funeral procession, burning paper money all the way!"

Chen Ji finally understood what the braziers along the way were for.

No wonder this package was placed together with the paper money.

Paper ingots, paper houses, paper cars... After the three sacrificial items were taken out, the cloth bag was laid out on the ground, empty, with nothing inside.

There was not a trace of the key.

"impossible."

Chen Ji's gaze did not move away.

He trusted his hearing; none of the three paper offerings could possibly make a "clinking" sound.

The ghost stared at the three props in front of it, hesitated for a moment with its hand hovering in mid-air, then picked up the paper ingot and threw it into the fire.

Chen Ji's heart stirred.

He noticed a detail.

When this ghost was choosing offerings, its actual selection was limited to only two items: paper ingots and paper carts.

It casually pushed the paper house back a little...

The key was hidden inside.