Rules of Strange Tales and Extraordinary Files

Chapter 17 Speculation

He Rouyi's voice was filled with exhaustion and helplessness: "I have absolutely no way out now... A simple ancestral worship ceremony has almost destroyed my family..."

"well……"

"If a friend hadn't forwarded the chat history from your class group to me, and if I hadn't happened to know you, I really wouldn't know what to do..."

When He Rouyi finished speaking, all that remained were suppressed breathing sounds.

She was exhausted by this matter for a long time, and just when she was about to get out of the shadow, she suddenly found her sister's lifeline from Li Jiu.

Seeing that He Rouyi remained silent, Li Jiucai spoke up, "So... now that you've confirmed your sister's identity, what are you planning to do?"

"I want to save my sister," He Rouyi said resolutely, but then sighed deeply, "However, I have absolutely no clue how..."

"The information about 'Dragon Servants' in folklore is also vague. I only know that the transformation of Dragon Servants is related to the legend of Fulong Mountain. Moreover, I have no idea what the mystery is, or whether a person who has become a 'Dragon Servant' can turn back into a normal...person."

"You've already enrolled in summer camp, could you... help me think of a way? I'm begging you..."

He Rouyi's sweet voice carried a hint of pleading.

Li Jiu felt a pang of heartache upon hearing this, but he still honestly said, "I'm sorry, I cannot grant your request..."

"...Tang Mubai and I plan to leave tomorrow. This place is too eerie. We were attacked by your sister as soon as we arrived. Who knows what other strange things we'll encounter if we stay any longer..."

"However, before I leave, I can ask the receptionist for information about your sister."

"This mushroom house I'm living in now is supposedly built by the government, and just now a few guys who looked really professional went to capture your sister, maybe they have a way..."

"Well... thank you." He Rouyi's voice lowered. She understood Li Jiu, but she couldn't hide her deep disappointment.

She understood that she and Li Jiu were not related by blood, and it was unreasonable to ask Li Jiu to risk his life to stay based on just one meeting.

"beep--"

The phone call ended, and the room fell silent instantly.

Li Jiu sat on the edge of the bed, holding his phone, speechless for a long time, feeling as if a stone was pressing on his heart.

Tang Mubai slowly poked his head out from under the covers.

"Alas... what a tragic couple."

Li Jiu: "Huh???"

"I was referring to the Dragon Servant sisters." Tang Mubai lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Professor He and He Rouyi had both called, making him lose all interest in the group chat.

Li Jiu looked at him: "Have you heard about the Dragon Servant?"

Tang Mubai scoffed, "I've never heard of it. Even if I had, I would still come here to freeload off this summer camp."

"What do you mean?" Li Jiu asked in surprise. In his impression, Tang Mubai was not the kind of person who knowingly walked into danger.

Tang Mubai remained noncommittal, saying, "Think about it, if someone suddenly appeared on the street and told you that the house ahead was haunted and you shouldn't go, would you listen?"

"I can."

Tang Mubai: "..."

"Bro, how did you kill the conversation?"

Li Jiu said, "Uh... then let's pretend I don't understand."

Tang Mubai rolled his eyes helplessly: "So that's why! Actually, most people are just stubborn and curious. Aren't all those travel guides online just people who came to Fulong Mountain and made it down safely?"

"Those who have accidents or encounter strange people are probably very, very few."

Seeing that Li Jiu remained silent, Tang Mubai said, "Brother Li, think about it carefully. This is actually similar to some extreme sports. Most of the time it's safe. Only a few people who lack the ability but want to try something exciting will run into problems..."

"Of course, this might be a bit strange. After all, Professor He talked about things like feng shui and earth veins, which are all rather mysterious and unclear. There must be some taboos or something—uh, why are you looking at me like that?"

Li Jiu said in surprise, "Tang Mubai, this long-winded speech doesn't sound like something you would say."

"Hey! That's going too far!" Tang Mubai protested speechlessly. "Are you kidding me? I'm your classmate! That at least proves that, putting aside my current intelligence, I definitely wasn't worse than you in the college entrance exam, right?"

"Uh, please continue..."

"Don't laugh!!"

"I wasn't laughing, please continue."

"Okay, okay, back in my high school days..."

"I didn't mean for you to keep talking about high school!"

"Oh, you mean Fulong Mountain!" Tang Mubai said. "I think the authorities control Fulong Mountain, but they haven't imposed so many restrictions. Can you guess why?"

"Because it's impossible to completely control? Fulong Mountain is so big, even if the outer perimeter is covered with barbed wire, it won't stop those who are determined to come in and explore... Unless we turn on the electricity? But even electricity might not be completely effective, right? There will always be loopholes." Li Jiu pondered. There are always ways to deal with policies, especially in a place like this, there are always more solutions than problems.

"Guess again!"

"Guess again?" Li Jiu thought for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly, and then said, "Could it be that the authorities intend to investigate Fulong Mountain, which is why they set up so many rules? Are these rules actually the safety boundaries set by the authorities? I don't think the staff at Mushroom House have the same level of competence as ordinary staff."

Putting everything else aside, the fact that the Sichuan-Chongqing Tyrannosaurus waiter who blacklisted them from the buffet restaurant could remain so calm when he saw the dragon servants speaks volumes.

"Indeed, as the saying goes, those who have a calm mind and a flushed face are worthy of being appointed as generals." Tang Mubai nodded seriously.

Li Jiu felt that something was off about Tang Mubai's words, but he didn't pay much attention to it: "In addition, what the receptionist at the Mushroom House said was that the Mushroom House meets the highest level of disaster prevention standards set by the government. So, in the end, the Mushroom House is actually operated by the government."

Tang Mubai pondered, "Oh... in that case, Professor He was absolutely right, staying in the Mushroom House is indeed very safe... sigh, but that access control system is ridiculous. Why can others swipe their cards? It feels like they deliberately let the Dragon Servant in!"

Tang Mubai's words made Li Jiu's scalp tingle, and a flash of inspiration suddenly appeared in his mind!

"Tang Mubai, do you think the authorities might have deliberately let the Dragon Servant in?"

"If the Mushroom House is indestructible, isn't it itself a giant cage?!"

"They can't break in from the outside, and they can't get out from the inside. If the Dragon Servant comes in, it's like he's walking into a trap! The authorities can then catch him like a turtle in a jar!"

"And that watermelon!"

"Dragon servants seem to have a morbid craving for watermelons, so the Mushroom House puts watermelons in the guest rooms to detect if any dragon servants are nearby, probably similar to a mousetrap?"

Li Jiu felt that he had suddenly figured out many key points, but along with the clear thinking came a chilling feeling that crept up his spine.

If a mousetrap works, what is the bait?

watermelon?

Or...where are they?