[Net King + Patterns] Ugly Fish

"Gold?" Keigo Atobe thought for a while, then shook his head again, "I'm not interested in that kind of thing." Especially, the kind that is very likely to cause disaster.

Money touches people's hearts, but it is often accompanied by fatal murderous intentions.

The disorder of the heartbeat quickly calmed down. He Atobe Keigo is not a saint, but, thinking of the ugly truth that may be hidden behind the scenes, no matter how huge the treasure is, it can't resist the chill in his bones.

You know, [greed] is one of the seven deadly sins.

Looking at him silently for a long while, Santiao Yingzi suddenly took his arm and wrapped her whole body up, with her face up, like a cozy cat purring and dawdling, kissing and licking him, murmuring vaguely , "Hehe~ Jingwu, you are so cute..."

He tasted the faint taste of alcohol on the corner of her lips...

She froze in place for a while, until her claws became more and more irregular, and she tore the person off suddenly and raised her eyes for a while, Keigo Atobe was startled and angry, "Are you drinking?!"

"Only a little bit." Santiao Yingzi narrowed her eyes with a smile, and raised a small height with her fingers, "It's sacrificial wine. It is said that if you enter the temple at night, you must take a sip, so as not to be taken away by the mountain god."

What kind of weird rule is this?Atobe Keigo gritted his teeth bitterly, staring at the cheeks that were flushed from alcohol in front of him, not knowing how to react for a while, but after a while, he heard Sanjo Sakura sigh heavily, "The sacrificial wine itself is nothing, but it is used to match the fire in the temple." Xinxiang is terrible..."

"Jingwu...I seem to be hallucinating."

"It's not your problem." Keigo Atobe replied calmly, while stepping back while protecting Sanjo Sakurako, while looking around, intending to flee, "Because I saw it too."

The road paved with stone slabs disappeared at some point. When the feet moved, the soles of the shoes and the grinding of the sand made a soft sound, which indicated that the ground was rough and uneven. The movement is far and near, and it surrounds like a snake along the mist.

The cold, greasy and sticky feeling permeates through the clothes and slowly invades the pores, bringing a shivering chill.

The next moment, the fog dissipated, and the first thing that came into view was densely packed swords, guns, swords and halberds. Many cold weapons from ancient times stood in the air, and the flickering wildfires reflected the cold light. Unseen boundaries, unilaterally ignored.

Just like in a war movie, soldiers in armor stand quietly, facing the same direction. The strange thing is that the face under the helmet is all blurred, as if swallowed by shadows, only two bright spots around the eye sockets.

……

Atobe Keigo and Sanjo Sakurako looked at each other, and they both saw surprise in each other's eyes.

After a while, the soldiers in the illusion began to move, and the scene changed suddenly, turning into a closed space. Keigo Atobe found himself standing in the middle of the passage with Sanjo Sakurako, and the flickering flames cast flickering shadows on the rough mountain wall. Soldiers in armor passed by carrying huge wooden boxes, walked silently towards the depths of the cave, and never returned.

When the last person who looked like a general passed the corner of the rock wall, there was a crackling sound from the direction of the cave entrance.

In the concussion of the collapse of the sky, Keigo Atobe held Sanjo Sakura tightly, afraid that the thin wrist held between his fingers would disappear just like that if he didn't pay attention.

When the huge dust that was raised gradually subsided, he found himself standing in front of a mountain wall that looked like it had collapsed, and the person he was holding was safe and sound, but...

There was a faint smell of blood, as well as howling and cursing from the depths of the mountain through the thick mud and rocks.

The heart-piercing cry came from far and near, Atobe Jingwu heard the reputation, but saw a sedan chair vaguely parked behind, twelve single clothes heavily soaked in mud, who had appeared inexplicably in the temple before and then suddenly disappeared The woman was struggling frantically looking at the mountain wall.

Several black shadows also in armor surrounded her, like a herd of beasts gathering together... The woman screamed miserably, the man laughed triumphantly, mixed with the damp and fishy smell wafting from the cracks in the rocks, forming a nightmarish and grotesque picture.

Atobe Keigo's eyes widened in astonishment, looking at the atrocity that was close at hand, he wanted to step forward to stop his feet but his feet were as heavy as a rock, as if he was trapped, he could only stare stupidly at the woman's gaze projected from the gap .

Suffering terrible treatment, she never looked away from the beginning to the end, staring fixedly at the rock wall, those beautiful eyes filled with suffocating pain and hatred.

Treasures, love, loyalty and protection, under the surface, are actually betrayal, plunder, and silence... Thinking of his own speculation not long ago, Keigo Atobe only felt cold.

The hell-like scene changes like a revolving lantern, the woman's eyes are gradually dimmed, bruises and lifeless aura climb up her face like a flower, there are unknown peepers in the dark corners, those whispers can't be heard clearly, reptiles surround her from all directions...

In a trance, thunder exploded in my ears, and the blade-like lightning flashed from the sky to my feet. Keigo Atobe shivered and woke up suddenly.

The illusion disappeared without a trace, and what I saw was still the courtyard I passed by while walking. The air was old and humid, and the night was quiet under the dim light. Only a few night birds flapped their wings and flew past.

……

"It seems that both of you are a bit unlucky tonight~" With a slightly hoarse voice, there was a slight schadenfreude smile on the beautiful face.

Akiko Takahashi stood nearby at some point, with a corner of bright yellow faintly exposed on her fingertips, her phoenix eyes slanted, her eyes swept around, the eyes were shining, and she immediately acted as if nothing had happened.

Atobe Keigo stared at her for a while, then his eyes fell on her fingertips, and he narrowed his eyes.

"It turns out that you have some skills~" Santiao Yingzi chuckled suddenly, broke free from his shackles, walked forward a few steps, spread her palms upwards, and hooked her fingertips, "Amulet, give me more several."

As he spoke, he turned his head slightly, facing the dark corner where the light couldn't reach, and raised his eyebrows slightly, "According to the agreement in advance, we will act separately."

"Cut! Do you think this thing can be folded casually?" Takahashi Qiuzi clicked his tongue, and threw the thing in his hand with a face full of reluctance, while turning his head towards the corner and snorting coldly, "What are you doing hiding? Can't you see anyone?"

After a few seconds, Sakurai Cherry in black clothes separated from the shadows, her fair face looked bloodless, "Just now... rub! Give me some amulets too! Where did such a cruel ghost come from?! "

Hearing this, the other two girls twitched their lips and spoke at the same time.

"It's just an immersive illusion."

"It's just a lingering wraith."

"It's easy for you to say!" Sakurai Cherry cried out suddenly, "That kind of thing is scary even if you see it!"

"According to you..." Santiao Yingzi rubbed her chin, and glanced sideways meaningfully, "Isn't this a human?"

"Hello!" The person being questioned suddenly pulled his face into a long face, "Are you looking for death?" The murderous look against the dim lights was quite intimidating.

Atobe Keigo supported his forehead with a headache, grinded his back molars, and said viciously, "Is it time to chat now? And you are off topic, bastards!" No wonder they hit it off, one and two are so out of tune!

Then, the most important thing is——the three cherry blossoms that are obviously going to jump up and make a mess with the other two come to the front, Keigo Atobe pinches her cheek, and asks ghostly, "What's the matter beforehand?" Promised... separate actions... um~"

The ending sound raised a few degrees from bottom to top, and immediately, the person holding it in his hand laughed twice.

After staring at her for a long time, Keigo Atobe let out a long sigh, "I am with you, if you dare to act without authorization, I will let you know what it means to regret it."

……Dividing line……

The moon is dark and the night is killing, and the wind is high and the sky is set on fire.

At this moment, Keigo Atobe felt quite consistent with what that bastard Sanjo Sakurako had blurted out.

Of course, there are still essential differences. After all, he has always been law-abiding, so he just followed Sanjo Yingzi and sneaked along secluded corners.

The destination is the deepest part of the main hall of the shrine. It is said that the soul-suppressing stone is enshrined there, and the most critical music and dance of the moon sacrifice ceremony is held there every year. The witches sing and dance to please the mountain gods in exchange for good weather for the next year.

If it was just the beginning, Atobe Keigo might have believed in this local folklore, but now he doesn't think so, especially after watching the scene of hell.

Worshiping the moon, I'm afraid it's not about praying to the gods, but about repressing the soul, and what's more... The missing students of their group and the employees who died one after another are all related to this. What did Shicun see on the construction site so afraid of it?Will it be the same as what he encountered?

All the clues to the mystery, Atobe Keigo has a hunch that the answer is hidden in the Soul Requiem Stone.

According to the so-called "pre-agreement, act separately", Sakurai went to search the residences of several related people. She, who claims to be a thief, is very suitable for this kind of thing.

Takahashi Akiko was responsible for suppressing the resentful spirits who rioted here for unknown reasons. In the end, Sanjo Sakurako sneaked into the hall in person.

I don't know when the three people agreed on the plan. After knowing it, Keigo Atobe was so angry that he almost burst into anger, but he couldn't do anything about her, so he could only follow closely and refused to let her be alone.

In the deepest part of the main hall of the shrine, unlike Keigo Atobe’s imagination, there was nothing empty inside. When the door was pushed open, there was a creaking sound, and a decadent and bleak atmosphere rushed towards you.

In the darkness of night, Atobe Keigo saw that the back half of the main hall was covered by heavy curtains, and the color of the banners hanging down on the ground was old, gently rippling with the airflow.

The strange thing is that the vitality outside seems to be blocked by an enchantment, and it can't infect this place at all.

What's even more strange is that I couldn't even see a single person along the way.

"Because the whole village fell asleep early at night~" Seeming to know what he was thinking, Santiao Yingzi walked forward without turning her head, and sneered casually, "Even witches must drink sacrificial wine to stay In the incense hall."

"This place is even more forbidden on weekdays." She tore off the curtain and entered without hesitation, "I found it."

……

Atobe Keigo, who moved slower than her, had no time to stop him, hurriedly rushed forward, opened layers of cover, took a closer look, and then was startled.

A rock that was so huge that it was almost like a hill was blocked in front of the field of vision, and there was a gap in the center for some reason. With the cracks, strands of strands floated out.

Santiao Yingzi leaned in front of the crack in the rock and looked around for a while, not sure if she saw something or thought of something, before he approached, she turned and grabbed him and left, after walking a few steps she turned her head to one side and took a deep breath.

Atobe Keigo looked at her out of breath inexplicably.

After waiting for quite a while, as if finally recovering, Santiao Yingzi clutched her chest with an ugly expression, and glanced at him, her eyes were extremely surprised, "You didn't react at all to such a heavy corpse smell?"

"...!!!" Keigo Atobe suddenly felt that his hair was standing on end, and before he had time to startle, he hurriedly reached out and grabbed her arm, "What are you doing?"

"Go in." Sakurako Sanjo nodded at the gap with a natural look, "Isn't your group missing an employee? Judging by the smell..."

Oops? ? ? ——— Keigo Atobe resisted the trembling from his ankle to his back, and said angrily in a low voice, "That's also the police's business, why are you joining in the fun?!"

"But..." She looked behind him in some embarrassment, "The one who followed just now... I'm afraid he won't allow us to go back the same way~"

囧囧囧... The language of the earth couldn't express his mood at the moment, and Sanjo Sakura didn't give him a chance to find any other language family to explain the shock and anger.

Her complexion changed slightly, she flipped her wrist and threw the bright yellow paper win that Takahashi Qiuzi got from him behind him, and immediately pulled him hard, and ran into the crevice of the rock as if fleeing for her life.

The sound of the wind coiled in the back of his head, the shrill sound was mixed with an unknown roar, and the woman's voice was as irrational as a beast, but pure hatred and resentment.

"Damn! That bastard who is trying to catch fame!"

He stumbled in the dark, with hard bumps brushing against his body from time to time, but his feet were very smooth, as if someone had cleaned them up on purpose. In the narrow passage, the three cherry blossoms tightly grasped his wrist, muttering in their mouths.

"Such a big one slipped through the net, scaring labor and capital to death."

You're so in high spirits, it's hard to tell!Atobe Keigo has black lines all over his head, and too many slots make him feel stuck in his throat.

……

After groping for a while, Sanjo Sakura fell silent, her five fingers tightened slightly, and she was on guard in vain. Keigo Atobe looked past her vague outline, and saw a needle-sized light spot at the end of the darkness.

The faint and weird smell just now became stronger as the light source became bigger and bigger. It was an indescribable smell, mixed with the long-term dampness, and exuded a rancid smell like dross.

Sanjo Sakura who was walking in front seemed unaware at this moment, but Keigo Atobe couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his mouth and nose.

She noticed his actions immediately, and looked back at him with a slight apology in his eyes. He was confused and was about to ask when he heard a strange noise.

And Santiao Yingzi obviously noticed it too, she gave him a quiet look, and narrowed her eyes slightly; after listening for a long time, she pulled him again, moved her body little by little at an extremely slow speed, and leaned there past.

Ding-ding-ding-every few seconds, the sound is very regular, it sounds like digging rocks...

After some time, the two finally arrived.

At the end of the passage is a corner, and there is a dim light radiating from behind, with a human-shaped shadow reflected on the rock wall, and the shadow is dancing with tools and doing something.

Atobe Keigo pressed Sanjo Sakura behind him, and poked his head out quietly.

There is still a section of corridor behind the passage, and the inside of the stone sill is an open space, tens of meters square, and there is nothing inside. An oil lamp is placed directly opposite the door, and the person with his back to it is wearing work clothes and a helmet. , swinging the pickaxe to chisel the stone wall.

Perhaps he saw a living person, not something imaginary, Atobe Keigo mentioned the mid-empty heart and then fell, retracted his gaze and was about to turn his head, but Sanjo Sakurako turned out from behind him without warning.

He didn't hold back, but Keigo Atobe was angry and hated but could only follow her, looking back warily at the direction she came from from time to time; walking through the corridor, he stood still in front of the stone ridge, and the three cherry blossoms stared at the unsuspecting That back, looks like a smile but not a smile.

"Suizijiang~" she called that person in an affectionate voice, "How can you not listen to grandpa and run around at night? The earthquake was caused by the anger of the mountain god~"

The man's movements stopped in vain, and there was a heavy panting in the quiet space. After a while, the tightly wrapped man turned around, threw away the iron pick in his hand, and took off his helmet.

The face that was slowly exposed under the light was the girl who was in charge of reception when she first arrived, the girl who was smiling with Sanjo Sakurako, the granddaughter of the village head's family, Akiyoshi Hoko.

……

The unexpected person caused Keigo Atobe to open his eyes slightly, and Akiyoshi Hoko asked, "How did you find out?"

"Taste." Sanjo Sakura replied in a flat tone like discussing the weather.

"No matter how strong the incense is, it can't cover up the smell of your corpse. I've felt your pulse. Since you're a living person, it can only be contaminated by going in and out of certain places repeatedly."

"For example..." After a meaningful pause, Sanjo Sakura raised her hand and compared several dimly lit corners, "Where your lover is."

Can't help but look in the direction she indicated, waiting to identify what is hidden in the chaos, what is hidden in the imperceptible places, Jingwu Atobe shudders, feeling disgusted and at the same time somewhat admiring Akiyoshi tassel.

It takes audacity and cold-bloodedness to be indifferent to the corpse every night.

"Heh~" Akiyoshi Hoko didn't look at the corner, and smiled casually, "So, you doubted me from the beginning."

"It's not doubt, but affirmation." Santiao Yingzi's voice was low and erratic, as if whispering in the ignorant space, "It's like I can smell the police, it's instinct."

"Ah~ Speaking of which, you don't mind if I explain it to onlookers?" She took the time to glance at Akiyoshi Suoko with a look of resentment, and there was some strange comfort in her eyes, "I can't let people think that I There is no target."

Without waiting for Akiyoshi Hoko's reaction, Sakurako Sanjo continued: "Murosei, a young and promising urban elite, returned to this remote place with the mission of bringing prosperity to his hometown. You fell in love at first sight and began to compose music secretly."

"Then one day, before he finished his work and left, you agreed on a tryst place. You came here late at night. It should have been a wonderful time... If you didn't find out, the passage below the Soul Requiem Stone that was cracked by the earthquake."

"Compared with having a handsome and wealthy husband, you seem to prefer to be a beautiful woman with wealth."

Xu Shi was enraged by the mockery in Sanjo Sakurako's eyes, Akiyoshi Suoko hissed angrily, "If it wasn't for that idiot who decided to announce this place... I found it obviously, why should I share it with others?"

Hearing this, Sanjo Sakura laughed sarcastically, "So, have you found the gold buried here during the Warring States Period? It's pitiful to be busy for so many days."

"Of course she can't find it." A voice came out of nowhere, soft but extremely cold, "You should have thought of those buried corpses without a trace, idiot!" Takahashi Akiko's figure appeared for no reason, as if born from the air.

……

"Someone has evacuated this place a long time ago, after the most loyal samurai were suffocated to death." Without warning, Sakurai Cherry came out from the rear passage, without even looking at Keigo Atobe, who was full of astonishment, Shi Shi Ran stepped past him and entered the stone room.

Looked around, showing a slightly helpless expression in depression, "The cleaning is really clean..."

"Hehe~ Maybe she's not stupid..." Finally, Sakurako Sanjo said something else.

"Is that the one who pestered her? In order to find the lover who was buried alive in the cave." Touching his chin, he gestured to Akiyoshi Suoko's side, "The origin of the sacrifice to the moon, the resentment that had been suppressed was awakened by the blood."

"I'm afraid it's more than that. It's also strange that this area maintains the habit of living at sunset for many years. I'm afraid it has never been peaceful, but this year is particularly fierce." shoot out.

Pattern-like crimson lines outline meandering lines, forming a net that stretches slowly in the space. The dense and subtle static electricity instantly arouses skin particles, and the originally chaotic room suddenly darkens. The image howled and struggled horribly.

When the light became extremely bright and gradually calmed down, Jingwu Atobe saw Sanjo Sakura's expression change suddenly, she suddenly turned around and shot something in her hand towards him, "Get down!" Hiding deep panic.

Many transparent images dragged past Jingwu Atobe, exuding a strong smell of smell and violence, the blades of swords, guns, swords and halberds were broken, and the armor all over his body was stained with mud and black blood, as if condensing the deepest resentment, the originally loyal soldiers turned into a whole A group of ferocious and bloodthirsty ghosts.

A few pairs of dark green eyes stared at him, like a dormant hunting beast, he froze in place, as if he was afraid of those things that seemed to be violently slaughtered in the next second, his body bounced back and then retracted .

"Akiko Takahashi!" The man's high-pitched tone was like a blood-quenching blade, and he rushed over to protect him. At the same time, he looked around with great vigilance, his eyes wandering with a hint of ferocity.

"Hey! Mistress, what the hell are these things?!" Sakurai Cherry pressed against the rock wall behind her, looking quite surprised, "Hurry up and get rid of them!"

"It's really a ghost—it's something~" Takahashi Akiko deliberately lengthened the tone of a certain byte, and walked out from the countless gathered gray shadows without seeing it. When passing by, she brought out Sakurai Cherry, but she didn't seem to hear the other one. A scream of horror.

"The movement of the earth's crust caused the mountain to break, and the things that were suppressed in the hollow mountain belly were released and wandered around. In addition, the surrounding mountains are surrounded by yin and siltation, ah ~ it also caused multiple casualties." Lost, Takahashi Akiko explained leisurely.

……

"Is this the time to talk about this?" Cherry Sakurai got up and patted the dust, grinding his teeth viciously, "That person...doesn't care?" The outstretched hand pointed at Akiyoshi who was left in place.

I don't know if it was Keigo Atobe's illusion. He vaguely saw a half figure beside Akiyoshi Hoko's feet tightly hugging her feet, no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't get rid of it.

"It's too late." It was Sakurako Sanjo who answered her, and Keigo Atobe noticed that the hand she was holding onto him trembled slightly, as if she was afraid of something.

In the next second, Keigo Atobe understood what she was afraid of.

Like another earthquake, the entire passage shook violently, and an indescribable sense of oppression made the air so heavy that it was difficult to breathe.

"The parts where time and space overlap each other are beginning to split."

In the shaking of the sky and the earth, Takahashi Qiuzi supported himself, raised his hand in the air, held something in the air and tore it to the two sides. After a slamming sound, the space parted like a curtain, "Go towards the light I can see, I dare not Guarantee what, everyone will live in peace."

"Cut! You are a god of death." Cherry Sakurai cursed and walked into the gray mist, walked a few steps and then turned back, her pupils were crystal-clear, and strange emotions flowed quietly in them.

The cherry-colored lips moved slightly, but in the end she didn't say anything, and she didn't turn her head back into the boundless mist.

"Sa~ it's your turn."

A huge force came from behind, Keigo Atobe only had time to hug Sanjo Sakurako into his arms, before he lost his sanity, he finally saw Takahashi Akiko glance at him, charming and meaningful.

……

A sudden bump woke him up from a light sleep, and the moment he opened his eyes, there was a low-volume complaint in his ears. He listened carefully to the content of those trivial conversations about how unsatisfactory the road conditions were.

Keigo Atobe frowned. His sleepy mind made the two people in the cab more self-forgetful, but he couldn't really open his mouth to make people shut up, so he raised his hand and rubbed his forehead. .

The fingertips touched the forehead covered with sweat, and he was shocked again.

Wait a moment!What's wrong?After waking up in vain, countless images instantly flooded into my mind, treasures, ghosts, murderers...the hellish scene hundreds of years ago...

Putting down his hand abruptly, he turned his head to look around.

"What are you doing?" Sanjo Sakura stared at him inexplicably with her eyes wide open.

Is it a dream?That was too real, Keigo Atobe closed his eyes and tried his best to calm down his rapid heartbeat. After a while, his body temperature slightly lower than ordinary people touched his temples, and Sanjo Sakura asked, "What's wrong, You're sweating."

"Where are we?" He asked shyly.

"Going back to Tokyo~ My dear, are you sleepy?" He said as if remembering something, and bared his white teeth triumphantly, "You forgot to make a bet with me before getting in the car, you said that the murderer in the resort was grandpa, I I thought it was my granddaughter, but you lost."

Smiling and smiling, staring at him with vacillating eyes, "What's the matter?" She moved her hands that fell on his temples, and put her arms around his neck to lower him down, "I have a fever, the temperature is okay ?” Her forehead was pressed against his, and there was a little worry in her eyes that were close at hand.

"Ah um~ maybe..." With a lot of thoughts, he finally swallowed all his doubts, put his arms around her behind his back and pressed her into his arms, kissed the hair on the top of her head, and closed his eyes.

As soon as she said that, he remembered that he was taking her back to Tokyo from Mount Koya, and an accident happened at the resort under construction by the Atobe Group, and the case had been cracked by the police.

Along the way, he was flipping through the organized files, and he did make a bet with Sanjo Sakurako before he started reading.

Those just now were really dreams...?

The name Takahashi Akiko said 'the overlapping part of time and space begins to split', if... uh--the space where he is in overlaps, maybe it is the part of the murder?The other two, one treasure, one wraith...

After thinking for a long time, Keigo Atobe sneered, and then put it behind him.

Forget it, there is nothing to worry about, as long as she is still there.