Chapter Ninety-Four: The Hotel's Unforeseen Change

I was taken aback and stopped in my tracks. My master shook his head at me. I walked over and opened the door, only to see Cao Wen standing there. My master turned to look and revealed a faint smile, saying, “You’re here, Ah.”

Cao Wen didn’t reply; he was staring at his phone as he walked in and said, “Boqing, did you guys do something today?”

My master was puzzled. “Something? What do you mean?”

Cao Wen shook his head and held the phone up in front of my master, pointing to the top of the screen. “Here, take a look. Isn’t this you and Xiaoxuan?”

My master took the phone with a curious expression, scrolling up and down. He murmured, “Hey, that really is me. Isn’t this Wangfujing Snack Street?”

Cao Wen nodded and took the phone back. I walked over, equally confused, hearing Cao Wen ask, “What did you do this afternoon? How did you end up in the news? And it’s not just one article.”

I sat down beside them and leaned in to get a better look. The headline read something like: “Strongman Appears at Wangfujing Snack Street, Single-Handedly Overpowers Five-Year Fitness Enthusiast.” Cao Wen exited the page and opened another, pointing to it. “Here’s another one: ‘Man in Restaurant Berates Owner and Everyone Present With a Torrent of Abuse.’ Look at this photo—isn’t that you?”

After Cao Wen finished speaking, he placed the phone on the table. I leaned in for a closer look and sure enough, it was a picture of my master yelling at the owner, with me sitting opposite an elderly gentleman in the frame. My master gazed at the screen and suddenly smiled. “What nonsense is this? How did this even make the news?”

Cao Wen rolled his eyes at my master and said, “You think it’s nothing? Everyone in Beijing is like a hidden reporter these days; any little disturbance can make it to the headlines. So, tell me, what exactly happened?”

My master looked at Cao Wen and smiled again. Cao Wen was puzzled. “What’s so funny?”

My master shook his head. “Nothing much. This afternoon, we just took a stroll and did a good deed. It’s all clearly written there. Why are you still asking?”

Cao Wen laughed. “Well, the news can say whatever it wants. But isn’t it better to hear it straight from you, the person involved?”

My master nodded and recounted the afternoon’s events. Cao Wen’s initially shocked expression turned into one of anger. He slammed his hand on the table. “Damn, there are still people like this in society?”

My master nodded in agreement. Cao Wen continued, “I despise people like that. If I met them, I wouldn’t just scold them—I’d sue them. Disdain for the elderly? Where’s that old man now? Get him settled here and see who dares say a word.”

My master chuckled and patted Cao Wen’s shoulder. “I appreciate the good intention, but the old man has already been sent to a nursing home. Still, I worry. Since you’re in Beijing, help me look after him if you have the time.”

Without hesitation, Cao Wen thumped his chest. “No problem. Leave it to me.”

My master nodded in approval, and they began drinking tea. Cao Wen then said, “Since you’re in Beijing, I actually have something urgent to ask for your help with. If I don’t handle this soon, I won’t be able to keep my position.”

My master put down his cup and asked, “What is it? Is it that serious?”

Cao Wen smiled awkwardly. “You know how it is.” My master immediately understood and said, “Speak up. You’ve only been here a day, and you’re already giving me work. Not even a meal offer?”

Cao Wen smiled wryly and patted my master’s arm. “Hey, we go way back. I wouldn’t trust anyone else. Don’t worry, once you help me out, I’ll treat you well—whatever you want to eat or do is on me. You won’t be shortchanged.”

My master laughed heartily. “Alright, I was just joking. You took me seriously. Now, tell me what you need.”

Cao Wen nodded, straightened his chair, and explained, “Here’s the situation: We’ve been receiving complaints from residents saying that late at night, they hear footsteps in their rooms, and sometimes a cold breeze brushes their ears. Some even say they saw shadows moving when they got up to use the restroom. They thought it was just their imagination, but it kept happening for days. Many tenants have moved out because of it. Our performance has been dropping daily. Our big boss even brought in experts, but nothing worked. The problem has only worsened. I’ve been given a strict order to fix this, or else I’m out. I’ve seen what you can do, so don’t give me any nonsense.”

Cao Wen pointed at my master, who chuckled. “I’ve never played games with you. But I am curious about one thing.”

Cao Wen looked puzzled, and my master continued, “After all this, you don’t seem scared. You actually look quite calm.”

Cao Wen was taken aback and replied bluntly, “Hey, come on. You know what I’ve been through with you. Haven’t seen a pig run before? I’m used to all this. I’m just worried if this drags on, it might get worse.”

My master smiled and nodded. “I’m just teasing. Well, my apprentice’s skills are no small matter. Let him come with you to check it out.”

Cao Wen glanced at me, then at my master. Without hesitation, he nodded in agreement. I sat nearby, bewildered to be called upon, and asked, “Master, what about you? What will you do?”

“Me? I’m going to sleep. What else?”

I was stunned and said, “Oh... well, I mean, have a good rest.”

My master rolled his eyes at me. “What, you don’t want me to?”

I shook my head and sighed. Cao Wen smiled warmly. “Alright then, Xiaoxuan, you’ll be coming with me.”

I sighed resignedly and agreed. After chatting with my master a bit more, we left the room. In the hallway, I turned to Cao Wen and asked, “Uncle Cao, which floors did this happen on? Take me to have a look first.”

Cao Wen looked at me and said, “Tenth, twelfth, and sixteenth floors.”

I nodded and followed him to the elevator. Cao Wen wanted to take it up, but I refused due to my fear of elevators. In the end, Cao Wen reluctantly followed me up the stairs.

The stairwell was empty—completely deserted—with only our footsteps echoing up and down. The eerie silence gave Cao Wen goosebumps, but I felt indifferent; it was all the same to me.

After a while, we reached the tenth floor. Cao Wen said most residents there had already moved out, leaving the rooms empty. He led me to the first room where a shadow had been seen. I opened the door and fumbled for the light switch. The room lit up, but strangely, everything was normal—no flies, no strange sensations in my right arm, indicating no lingering spirits.

We moved on to the next room, and it was the same. From one end of the corridor to the other, all the rooms appeared normal, showing no signs of supernatural presence.

After checking the tenth floor, we went to the twelfth floor, which was similarly quiet and normal, except for the silence. Cao Wen grew puzzled and muttered to himself, “This can’t be right. Residents have reported these things, so why is it so quiet? Maybe the sixteenth floor is the real problem.”

Standing beside Cao Wen, I smiled faintly. “You’re right. The issue must be on the sixteenth floor. Let’s go check it out.”

Cao Wen nodded and followed me up the stairs. Once we reached the sixteenth floor, standing at the corridor’s entrance, I finally sensed something was off. I looked down the long hallway and whispered to Cao Wen, “Uncle Cao, there’s definitely something wrong here. Be careful and stay behind me.”

Cao Wen looked a little nervous but nodded and stayed close behind me.