See the Law of Deception

Chapter 24 Out of Control (5)

"Let's go and take a look at the ancestral hall and altar."

They wandered around the area without finding any useful information. With time ticking away and the sacrificial ceremony approaching, they needed to find more clues.

“Perhaps we can go and visit Wang Siyuan on our way,” Lu Jinzhao said.

Wang Siyuan was the person who had been with the missing Li Haoyang before, and they seemed to know each other in real life as well.

Upon hearing this, Wei Ling glanced at Lu Jinzhao, somewhat curious: "Are you trying to ask him what Li Haoyang's zodiac sign is?"

Lu Jinzhao wasn't surprised that Wei Ling had thought of this, and she nodded: "Yes."

If the elderly person really saw Wei Ling and thought of their granddaughter, it would be normal to ask anything, even just her age. But why did they have to ask her zodiac sign?
In the real world, Lu Jinzhao wouldn't think much of it, but this is a platform, and there's also the crucial element of sacrificial rites.

She thought about it for a moment and realized this.

Ye Jingyun was a beat slow to react. She only realized what Wei Ling meant when she heard her words: "You suspect that this village uses people to sacrifice to evil spirits?"

Wei Ling clearly knew that Ye Jingyun's reaction would be slower, so she patiently explained, "It's just a suspicion. After all, it's inside the platform, so this kind of thing is quite possible, isn't it?"

"And if that's the case, then this evil spirit that's suppressed through sacrifice might have some connection to the history of this village. Perhaps finding that connection could increase our chances of survival?"

After a moment's thought, Lu Jinzhao deliberately asked, "But even if we know all that, we still won't be able to do anything about the ghosts, will we?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Ling replied without any hesitation, even in a tone that could be described as a matter of course: "That's true, but we can avoid the points that might cause the ghost to target us first. Compared to others, wouldn't that increase our chances of survival?"

really
There is no such thing as knowing the origin of the ghost, resolving the ghost's regrets, or anything else on the platform that can make the ghost disappear.

Lu Jinzhao didn't think there was anything wrong with what Wei Ling said, but Ye Jingyun's expression became a little downcast.

Not long after, they found Wang Siyuan and asked him about Li Haoyang's zodiac sign. He told them it was "Rat." They also learned some information from their questions.

"Do you know something?" he asked anxiously.

It wasn't that she was worried about Li Haoyang; even though they knew each other and had some friendship, it was mostly for her own sake.

Wei Ling shook her head and told the other party what had happened: "We are only considering this possibility."

"I see." Wang Siyuan sighed regretfully.

Upon hearing that Li Haoyang was born in the Year of the Rat, Lu Jinzhao didn't react much, but Ye Jingyun's face suddenly turned pale.

She was also born in the Year of the Rat.

"I hope Wei Ling's guess is wrong. Li Haoyang's disappearance definitely has nothing to do with the Chinese zodiac!"

"It can't be that much of a coincidence. Li Haoyang must have done something he shouldn't have."

She kept praying in her heart, but when Wei Ling wanted to take her to the altar again, she hesitated.

"Do we really have to go there? Isn't it too dangerous?"

Wei Ling turned to look at her, her gaze filled with a moment of confusion, before she suddenly understood.

"You don't want to go? Your zodiac sign is also Rat?" Ye Jingyun's expression turned ugly for a moment. Since Wei Ling had exposed her, she no longer hid it: "Yes, I'm a little afraid to go."

She and Wei Ling have already gone through two platform missions together. Although Wei Ling, the younger sister, always led her, she did contribute a lot. Moreover, they get along well in real life, so Wei Ling should consider her feelings to some extent, right?

Just as Ye Jingyun was thinking this, the girl who usually impressed her as lively and cheerful, occasionally lacking in emotional intelligence and with a sharp tongue, but very friendly to her friends, shook her head without hesitation: "No, we have to go."

"Huh?" Ye Jingyun was clearly still in shock. She hurriedly explained, "But that's too dangerous. What if it really is a matter of zodiac signs?"

“You don’t have to go, but I definitely have to go,” Wei Ling said firmly.

She said this with a smile on her face, and then comforted Ye Jingyun, saying, "It's okay, it's normal to be scared. You can wait for us in the yard, we'll come back after we've finished looking at it."

"If you're just staying alone," she said, a hint of hesitation and worry on her face.

Upon seeing this, Ye Jingyun immediately said, "Never mind, I'll go with you, but I won't go in. I'll wait for you outside."

Silly girl.
Lu Jinzhao sighed inwardly.

She had completely realized that the way Wei Ling and Ye Jingyun interacted was entirely Wei Ling's way of controlling Ye Jingyun.

With just a few words, the other person followed her lead.

However, Lu Jinzhao had no intention of meddling in other people's business.

Everyone has their own destiny. Ye Jingyun relies on Wei Ling, who is smarter than her, so she must be prepared to bear the consequences of entrusting herself to someone else.

But why is Wei Ling suddenly getting close to her? Is it because he senses that this instance might be very dangerous, and that one Ye Jingyun isn't enough, so he has to bring her along?

"This kid is something else."

The journey to the ancestral hall went smoothly, but when they arrived, the hall's doors were wide open, and the old man they had met before was sweeping inside. When he heard the noise and turned around to see Lu Jinzhao and the others, he still had a sour look on his face.

"Why are you here again?"

Wei Ling laughed: "Sir, didn't you say that we can't usually come here? I see the door is open now, and you're cleaning, so can we come and take a look?"

The old man simply refused with a dark expression: "No!"

"Grandpa, please don't be so quick to refuse." Wei Ling wasn't annoyed; she simply looked at the old man and said directly, "One of our companions has gone missing. He was born in the Year of the Rat. Do you have any leads?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell silent.

The old man, who had been somewhat angry, fell silent. He looked at Wei Ling with a probing gaze, paused for two or three seconds, and then said nonchalantly, "What clues could I possibly have? He must have run off somewhere to play by himself, didn't you see him?"

"Don't come here spouting nonsense!"

That old man.
Although she thought this to herself, Wei Ling still smiled and said, "Sir, please let us go in and take a look. What if he's inside?"

The old man didn't immediately refuse after hearing her words. Instead, contrary to his usual behavior, he looked at the three of them and asked, "Are you sure you want to come in and take a look?"

There were no lights inside the ancestral hall, only a single ever-burning lamp and the sunlight from outside, making the environment far from bright. At this moment, the old man stood in the dimly lit ancestral hall, stopping all his movements and staring straight at them. His question seemed to carry some profound meaning, causing Wei Ling, who originally wanted to go in immediately, to stop.

(End of this chapter)