Long Aotian × The Brainless Cannon Fodder (4)
Lin Xi drove at top speed to take Shen Wenbai back to the Lin family home. As soon as they entered, he saw his grandmother lying on the bed with a deathly pale face.
Tears streamed down Lin Xi’s cheeks. He threw himself beside his grandmother’s bed and wept uncontrollably, crying out, “How could it come to this? How? Grandmother!”
Shen Wenbai sat on the sofa, smoking a cigarette. Deep in thought, he wiped away a stray tear and sighed to himself, “Sigh!”
“Xiao Xi, don’t be so sad.”
Lin Xi’s third uncle comforted him, saying, “Medical technology is so advanced these days. She will definitely be saved. You have to believe in science.”
“Right! You are right!” Lin Xi lifted his head, wiped his tears with the back of his hand, and forced a smile. “Where are Grandfather and the second uncle?”
“They. They.”
“They have been locked up by our rival,” Shen Wenbai interrupted.
“What do you mean?” Lin Xi looked at him in confusion.
“Exactly what it sounds like.” Shen Wenbai stood up and walked toward the stairs, explaining as he went, “It is a ghost wall, meaning humans are sending ghosts to trap humans.”
“Xiao Xi, where did you meet this person? Bringing up ghost stories in this day and age! We live in a society governed by the rule of law. How could such a thing be possible? It is all nonsense. He is a fraud.”
A flash of guilt crossed Lin Song’s eyes, and he began to try and brainwash Lin Xi.
Lin Xi did not say a word, merely watching silently as Shen Wenbai’s back disappeared around the corner. He had probably seen something.
Shen Wenbai reached a bookshelf and performed a simple maneuver, causing the door to the basement to open. He told Yuanxiao and Guagua to stand guard there while he went downstairs to find Lin Xi.
At this critical moment, he had to let Lin Xi see how reliable he, Shen Wenbai, truly was so that they could live a good life together.
“Xixi, come with me.”
“How is there a basement here?”
Lin Xi looked around. Apart from the gloomy atmosphere and the room filled with strange ornaments, it looked like an ordinary room.
Shen Wenbai pointed to the murals hanging on the wall and said, “Do you know? This mural can eat people.”
“Eat people?”
“Yes!” Shen Wenbai took a couple of puffs of his cigarette. “The so-called eating people means someone is raising ghosts inside the mural. As long as a person stares at this painting, they will be controlled and walk right into it.”
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Applause echoed from afar.
Lin Song walked into the basement, his eyes showing a touch of admiration.
“Not bad, you have some talent to see through the tricks here. However, do you think you can leave this place?” Lin Song sneered. “I have already set everything up. Today, none of you are getting out!”
“Third Uncle, why are you doing this?” Lin Xi struggled to accept the reality in front of him.
“Because I want the Lin Corporation. I am a Lin, too. Why can’t I be the heir?”
Lin Song’s eyes were filled with madness as he shrieked hysterically, “It is a pity that Mom and Dad were too biased toward the eldest brother! Grandpa clearly intended to hand the company over to me. Why are you the eldest son? I am not convinced, and I will not accept it! Since Heaven has given me a chance, I will not let it slip away.”
“You are truly insane,” Shen Wenbai said coldly. “Have you forgotten who sent the thing inside this mural to you?”
“Hah!” Lin Song laughed. “Of course I know, but so what? I do not need to thank him. Besides, the one who ends up dying will not be me. And now that I am more powerful than he is, who in this world could possibly stop me?”
“Have you ever heard a saying?” Shen Wenbai suddenly asked a strange question.
“Hmm?”
“Villains die from talking too much.”
Shen Wenbai swung a club, and Lin Song’s eyes became a bit clearer.
Lin Song clutched his head and said, “I know you are trying to stall for time, but it is useless. Last night, I invited a high-ranking monk to perform a ritual. This mural will devour every intruder!”
Lin Song picked up a flashlight and pressed the switch.
Instantly, the entire basement plunged into darkness, and the blinding light from the mural made it impossible for Lin Xi to open his eyes.
“What is this?”
“Ah!”
“Ah!”
The mural began to wail, as if thousands of wronged souls were struggling and screaming inside, filled with pain, helplessness, and despair. Lin Xi felt his eardrums aching and his head buzzing.
“Ah! Ah!” Lin Xi clutched his head with both hands, groaning in pain.
“Hahahaha, this is resentment!”
Lin Song laughed wildly. “This mural is composed of countless wronged souls. Entering here is the same as entering an endless abyss. You will be slowly tortured to death! Hahahaha!”
“Oh!” Shen Wenbai took out a pair of custom-made earplugs and put them on Lin Xi, telling him to sit in the corner while Yuanxiao and Guagua protected him.
Shen Wenbai grabbed his club and began smashing the mural. Every blow was delivered with full force. With every impact, smoke hissed from the mural as it shattered to pieces.
“This is impossible.” Lin Song was dumbfounded. That person had not said it would be like this.
“What is impossible about it? I am a master, and you are just a big idiot.” Shen Wenbai tied Lin Song up and locked him in the basement, waiting to rescue Lin Xi’s father and second uncle so they could deal with this themselves.
“Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!” Lin Song tried to speak, but his mouth was gagged.
“Stop with the mmm! mmm! What are you, a Teletubby?” Shen Wenbai carried Lin Xi bridal-style out of the basement and into the living room.
“Baby, it is my fault for not arranging things better and letting you suffer.”
“I am fine.”
Lin Xi still could not process current events. His kindly third uncle had turned into a hideous monster, and he could not understand how he had become like this.
“By the way, my father.”
“I know. I am going to save your father now.”
Shen Wenbai set off, carrying his weapon, the lightning-struck wood (jujube tree edition). Lin Xi stayed at the old house to take care of his grandmother and keep an eye on Lin Song in the basement.
Yuanxiao remained on guard there, while Guagua was responsible for guiding Shen Wenbai.
“Second Brother, we are probably not getting out of here today,” Lin Xi’s father, Lin Hai, said with a worried expression. “I tried to contact the family, but the signal will not go through at all.”
“There must be a way,” Lin Liu replied, shaking his head. “I believe fate will look after us.”
“Yes,” Lin Hai nodded in agreement.
“Eldest Brother, there is movement over there.” Lin Liu pointed into the distance.
Shen Wenbai appeared before them amidst a glowing light, his mysterious and profound demeanor adding to his imposing presence.
Guagua, who was holding the light, thought, “There is no such thing as a peaceful life. It is all just me creating the scenery and lighting.”
“Father-in-law, Second Uncle, I am here to save you. Come with me.” Shen Wenbai led the way, with Lin Hai and Lin Liu following close behind.
“Brother, is that Xiao Yan’s boyfriend?” Lin Liu whispered to Lin Hai from behind.
“Shh! Do not talk nonsense,” Lin Hai glared at him and whispered a warning.
He did not know Shen Wenbai’s identity, so he had to be careful. What if this was a trick used by the enemy? He knew his daughter best. She was headstrong and had a bad temper; the average person would not be able to put up with her.