Chapter 96 The Singer, Oh, Singer 29

Given that other rules are unclear, the only rule applicable right now is this one.

The singing outside the window was faint, but its general location could be distinguished. When Lin Xiangjun first woke up, the singing was roughly around Building 30 and Building 31.

The distance was about two hundred meters.

In the time it took for one song, she had walked about forty meters.

Judging by the distance, she should be downstairs at Building 32 or 33.

There was no explicit rule stating whether one could speak or communicate while the Songstress was singing, so Lin Xiangjun did not act rashly. Instead, she quietly took out earphones from her pocket and put them on herself and Zhang Minxian.

【Telepathic Earphones: Allows both parties wearing the earphones to communicate mind-to-mind. No charging required, no distance limit. Costs 100 underworld currency for every hour of use, with any fraction of an hour counted as a full hour.】

This was an item she had used to communicate with Wang Min in the previous instance, and it was extremely useful.

"Can you hear me?"

"I can hear you, Miss Lin."

"Right now, we only have one rule regarding the Songstress, which is Rule 1: we need to offer her flowers based on the color of her dress. Lean against the window, take a look, and report the color of her dress to me."

She paused, then added, "If you damage this body because of this, your bonus and a new body will still be provided."

Having received the order, Zhang Minxian happily climbed out of bed, tiptoed to the window, and quietly lifted a corner of the curtain.

The sky outside was pitch black, but not entirely so; it seemed to be mixed with a bit of deep blue or perhaps bright red, a truly bizarre color.

The window was closed, and with the sound muffled by a layer, it wasn't entirely clear.

"Miss Lin, should I open the window?"

Zhang Minxian turned her head to ask for Lin Xiangjun's opinion.

Opening the window was also a risky affair.

Although opening the window would allow her to see and hear the situation outside better, doing so, without knowing the remaining rules, was clearly suspicious of violating the rules.

"Open it."

At worst, she could just give Zhang Minxian another body.

Anyway, she had obtained five hundred paper figurine cards back then, and she still had plenty in stock.

Receiving the instruction, Zhang Minxian carefully reached out and pushed the window open.

As the window opened, the Songstress's singing became much clearer, and the pain, sorrow, and resentment in her voice could be heard distinctly.

"...Black dress, white brooch, be a good woman in the next life.

"How far is the next reincarnation, seeking the murderer at midnight to offer sacrifices to the lost souls."

At the very least, one could hear a thick, sarcastic tone from these two lines.

It was a bit like asking your mother if you could go out to play, and she sneered, "Go ahead, go play. Take your toys and snacks with you, have a good time, and don't come back until it's late."

At this point, anyone who wasn't a complete blockhead would know that you definitely couldn't go out today.

If you dared to listen to your mother and actually took your snacks and toys out to play, the sky would really fall that day.

Therefore, Hu Zhengzheng herself was indeed dissatisfied with this set of rules in Xieyou Alley.

It was just like a sane woman facing the "Three Obediences and Four Virtues"—sarcastic and disdainful.

If Hu Zhengzheng herself was disgusted by and resistant to the traditions of Xieyou Alley, then the correctness or incorrectness of many seemingly correct or incorrect rules would have to be re-evaluated.

For example, Rule 6 and Rule 12.

【6. The Songstress does not like black jackets and black pants. Do not wear such clothing. If you are wearing them, please change immediately.】

【12. You should wear black clothes, black pants, black shoes, and carry a black umbrella. Do not wear jewelry or dye your hair; this is the only way you are safe. Please note, when a brightly colored item suddenly appears on you, you must dispose of it while ensuring your attire remains tidy.】

When she first received these two seemingly contradictory rules, she initially thought Rule 6 was wrong and Rule 12 was correct.

However, now that she knew Hu Zhengzheng's attitude, Rule 6 itself might not be entirely wrong.

Lin Xiangjun's train of thought gradually became clear.

Hu Zhengzheng was disgusted by the attire of black clothes and black pants; perhaps it could even be called hatred? But these were the rules of Xieyou Alley, the foundation of the instance, and even Hu Zhengzheng herself could not fight against them.

So, even if she detested this clothing, she had to punish those who did not dress according to the rules. However, because she herself did not agree with these rules, she deliberately provided a reaction time when punishing others.

This could explain why she deliberately prolonged her movements and held back, and it could also explain the disgust revealed in her eyes.

However, Lin Xiangjun vaguely felt that something was not quite right.

She couldn't put her finger on exactly what was wrong, but she just felt uneasy, like an itch on her body that she couldn't quite scratch properly.

But what was wrong?

"Miss Lin, that woman has walked over to our building. She is wearing... a long red dress."

The singing was indeed much closer, now less than fifty meters away from her.

The six male players were in Building 39, Lin Xiangjun was in Building 40, and only those two female players were nowhere to be found.

Lin Xiangjun suddenly thought of a question.

If they didn't have much money and weren't living with the male players, they should still be living in the "unclean" houses.

Right now, only those two were living in the "unclean" houses.

Where was the difference between "unclean" and "clean"? Lin Xiangjun recalled this question.

Back then, when she rented this house, what did the Old Lady say?

"Their house isn't the cheapest in this residential complex, but his house is clean, and it's worth the price."

"There aren't many good houses left for rent in this residential complex. Spending fifty or a hundred more for peace of mind is worth it."

"This house was entrusted to me for rent by Old Gao a week ago. His child is three years old and needs care, so he and his wife went to live at their son's place, and this house became vacant."

This house was vacated because they were taking care of their grandson—a normal move. What about the "unclean" houses? Why were those houses vacated?

Did the landlord die inside? Did the house come with a soul ring?

Lin Xiangjun noted this point down, planning to go check the room rented by Cheng Shengtian and Han Xue tomorrow.

As for how to find out where they were living... she could just find an excuse to ask the Old Lady.

In the time it took for this brief thought, the singing was even closer. It felt like it was less than fifty meters away, as if... it was right downstairs.

Downstairs at her place?

That's not right!

Lin Xiangjun broke out in a cold sweat. Her muscles tensed up suddenly; she didn't know where the problem was.

Clearly, based on the previous location of the sound and the speed of her walking, Hu Zhengzheng should have been walking straight from the entrance of the alley to the end of the alley, without turning into the small paths between their buildings.

Why would she appear downstairs at her place now?

Why did she walk in only when she was in front of her?

What was different about her?

Or was it... that she had violated that as-yet-undiscovered hidden rule?