292: Even ghosts go online.

The night was as dark as ink, shrouding this somewhat dilapidated area of the Western Suburbs in silence and shadows.

A solitary, old two-story brick house stood deep within a weed-choked courtyard. Its plaster was peeling and falling off, and most of its windows were broken, gaping like black holes. Under the dismal moonlight, it indeed exuded an eerie aura befitting its reputation as a "Haunted House."

Behind a thicket of low bushes several dozen meters from the house, Wei Ziqing and Wang Yu were ready. Both had changed into dark casual clothes that were easy to move in, and Wang Yu carried a small tactical backpack.

"Got everything?" Wei Ziqing made a final check, his voice kept very low.

"Yeah. High-powered flashlight, spare batteries, a basic medical kit, energy supplements, and..."

Wang Yu patted an inconspicuous small pouch on his chest. "I also brought the official Identification Badges and Temporary Contact Authorization Documents. If there really is someone inside and they're communicable, I hope these will reduce their hostility and explain our intentions."

Wei Ziqing nodded. "Good. What about those college students? The group from earlier today."

Wang Yu peered at the silent road and the scattered halos of distant streetlights, then shook his head.

"Don't see them. Maybe they haven't arrived yet, or they changed their minds? Let them be. With the two of us here, even if they do break in, we should be able to protect them."

"Besides, there's no reason to stop them now. We can't exactly say, 'There might be supernatural creatures inside, don't go,' right? Let's focus on what's in front of us first."

"True." Wei Ziqing said no more, his sharp gaze sweeping over the courtyard ahead and the high brick walls. "Let's move."

Like shadows merging into the night, the two quickly and quietly approached the perimeter wall. The brick wall wasn't too high, but its surface was slippery and covered in moss.

Wei Ziqing took a few steps back, made a short run-up, and lightly tapped his toes against the wall for leverage. His hands steadily gripped the top of the wall, and with a surge of strength from his core, he flipped over gracefully, staying low to observe the courtyard.

Wang Yu's movements were equally agile. His Clone ability seemed to grant him excellent control over his body; he reached the top of the wall with almost no sound and crouched beside Wei Ziqing.

The interior of the courtyard looked even more desolate than the outside. Knee-deep weeds rustled softly in the night wind, and the twisted branches of several dead trees reached out like ghostly claws.

The two exchanged a look, everything understood without a word. Wei Ziqing made a gesture and was the first to slide down the wall as silently as a cat, landing in the courtyard's grass and quickly taking cover. Wang Yu followed close behind.

The dilapidated wooden door was gently pulled but didn't budge; a large, rusted iron padlock hung on the outside. The two turned to the side and found a window where the glass had long since shattered, leaving only sharp, jagged edges. Wang Yu signaled for Wei Ziqing to wait. He carefully reached his arm through the hole, avoiding the glass shards, and felt around inside for a moment. A soft "click" sounded—the old-fashioned latch had been flicked open.

He gently pushed the window sash open, and dust trickled down. One after the other, the two climbed into the house without a sound.

The house was thick with the smell of dust and rotting wood. Moonlight filtered through the broken windows and cracks in the walls, outlining the decaying furniture and debris scattered on the floor. The air was almost stagnant.

Wei Ziqing looked around and whispered, "Common sense dictates... if someone were really hidden here for years without being discovered by the occasional intruder, the most likely place..." His gaze swept across the creaking floorboards, "...is the basement. Only a hidden underground space could explain why this 'Haunted House' rumor has persisted for years, yet no one has ever truly 'encountered' anything."

Wang Yu nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the dim hall. "Makes sense. And the entrance must be cleverly hidden. If it's just the two of us looking, this house is big; it'll take a lot of work."

He suddenly turned to Wei Ziqing, a sly smile appearing on his face. "Brother Wei, have you ever heard the saying... there's strength in numbers?"

Wei Ziqing was taken aback. "You mean...?"

Under Wei Ziqing's slightly surprised gaze, Wang Yu raised his right hand. The inconspicuous Metal Ring on his wrist glowed faintly, as if some restriction had been lifted. Immediately after, a small lump of slightly wriggling flesh separated from his fingertip and dropped onto the floor.

As soon as that tissue touched the ground, it seemed to be injected with a violent vitality, beginning to frantically proliferate, stretch, and take shape! In just a few seconds, a 'Wang Yu' identical to the Original Wang Yu, down to the last detail of his clothing, stood up with the same slightly mischievous smile as the Original.

But it wasn't over yet. Just as the first Clone stood firm, several more lumps of flesh separated from Wang Yu's fingertips. One, two, three... like copy-pasting, amidst a dazzling display of proliferating light and shadow, a full dozen or so 'Wang Yus' appeared in this dim and decaying living room!

"Alright!" The Original Wang Yu clapped his hands. His voice carried a slight breathlessness from using his ability, but his eyes were bright. "Now then, everyone, let's go find the 'secret entrance' together! Remember, check the floors, walls, and behind cabinets carefully for any unusual marks. Once you find it, come back and report immediately!"

"Understood!" the dozen or so Clones replied in unison, their voices echoing slightly in the empty house before they quickly scattered. They moved with agility and silence—some crouched to tap every floorboard, some felt along the baseboards, and others moved heavy, broken furniture to check behind them... their efficiency was extremely high.

Wei Ziqing watched this extraordinary scene. Although it wasn't the first time he'd known about Wang Yu's ability, seeing so many of 'him' working efficiently at the same time still made him sigh softly, "...There really is strength in numbers."

The real Wei Ziqing and Wang Yu also moved slowly through the house, carefully scrutinizing this space that was supposedly 'long-abandoned.' The smell of dust in the air was heavy, and most of the furniture was rotten, but certain details revealed inconsistencies.

Wei Ziqing walked into what seemed to be a kitchen area. The stove was covered in grease and dust, clearly unused for a long time. Subconsciously, he reached out towards an old-fashioned pull-string switch on the wall and gave it a gentle tug—

"Click."

A light bulb overhead, covered in thick cobwebs, actually flickered twice before steadily emitting a dim, yellow light! Though the light was weak, it was enough to illuminate the corner.

Wei Ziqing's eyes narrowed. He immediately turned to the sink, which was also covered in stains. After a moment's hesitation, he reached out and turned the faucet.

"Sshhh—splash..."

First came the sound of air escaping the pipes, followed by slightly murky but definitely flowing tap water splashing against the grime-encrusted walls of the sink.

"The electricity is on, and the water hasn't been cut." Wei Ziqing turned off the faucet and spoke in a low voice to the real Wang Yu, who had followed him in. His tone was certain. "In a house where no one lives, who would keep paying the utility bills? Unless..."

"Unless this place isn't really a 'vacant house' at all," Wang Yu finished his sentence, his sharp gaze sweeping over every corner of the kitchen.

Just then, a 'Wang Yu' Clone who had been searching the second floor jogged over to the Original. He had an expression as if he'd discovered a new continent; though his voice was low, his tone was full of wonder:

"Hey! Original, Brother Wei! Guess what I found? In this dump, in a small room on the second floor, there's actually a WiFi signal! The signal is quite stable! What kind of 'ghost' is so trendy that they'd live in a Haunted House and still get a web connection? They really know how to enjoy life!"

Water and electricity were normal, and there was even internet.