“Woah, this is the first time I see this. ” Standing in front of the entrander three yers of wooden floorboard: “What the hell?”

  “This is because it’s a secret for official watchers of the coffin home. And I don’t think it’s a good secret to keep any way.” Tae Kuo sighed: “This is why your friends shouldn’t e. It’s not that I’m trying to keep them out of it, it’s - things are pretty un down there.”

  Gloria fred her nostrils and nodded, faint dark mist lingered around this entrance, and an unpleasant smell crept up on her. Both she and Tae Kuo were traio hahings like this, but it won’t be good for either Sue or Turner Ouyang, not to mention the fact that poor Turner Ouyang was injured.

  “Where does this lead to?” Walking along the long, winding and narrow tunnel, Gloria asked.

  “To a deserted neighborhood.” Tae Kuo sighed: “And I suspect the reason the neighborhood was deserted was because it’s a hot spot for paranormal phenomena. And what’s worse for them, there’s no temple nearby. The unity collective used to send out harmony enforcers with special training to do sing and even exorcism. But they might have stopped doing it for certain pces.”

  “Oh? And what might be the reason for it being a hotspot?”

  “That’s what we’re here for. I’ve never dared to venture far enough inside. But judging by the things I heard, they have some kind of burial site in a not-so-close proximity. It’s not very clear how that came to be, and I ried to find out.” Tae Kuo stopped and looked down at the road before tinuing on his way: “I try not to know too much. As you uand, knowing too much be dangerous. ”

  “Is that because in order to know you’ll o ask? Or is knowing it in and of itself dangerous?” Gloria chuckled.

  “Eh, what’s the differehere’s no difference. You either have to be there or yonna know it from somewhere. And those who tell you may lie, or they may turn you in for just asking.” Tae Kuo grunted as he pulled open an ajar door in front of them, behind which was the remainder of the tunnel: “Trust me, I wish I learhat when I was younger. You know, I thought I was so cool, that I was such a rebel by asking all of these questions openly and unashamedly.”

  “What - did you get bckballed?”

  “Almost. I was expelled from the college I was in. My schorship to attend the city uy got revoked, and for a while I could only find day jobs that paid measly cash. And then my mot sick, and I had to resort to all kinds of gray area gigs ” Tae Kuo sighed: “Why’d you think I got into this kind of job, huh? ”

  “I’m so sorry, Sifu.” Gloria shook her head. This was the first time she heard of this. Maybe she just did not know enough about the Sifu’s personal history.

  “Meh, it’s in the past already. Who cares anymore?” Tae Kuo stopped while they were in the midpoint of the sed se of the tunnel: “Okay - here’s the furthest I’ve gone. You’re sure?”

  “I’m not going back.” Gloria took a deep breath.

  Bck mist filled the air before them. Traces of densed smoke floated and iwined in the air, like tendrils aacles. Along the walls, tree root like marks crawled out from the other end of the tunnel.

  And in vast trast was the floor, there was barely any signs of corruption from the same energy.

  “Why - ” Gloria poi the ground in front of her, but was not sure how to ask.

  “Salted ground with carbon and lime yered on top, spshed with blessed oil and wiae Kuo took out a small dark brown bottle of wine and chugged it down, leaving a few droplets left and smeared them on his forehead: “It only works on the ground - it’s kinda amazing how it’s been w for all these years with no one maintaining it. You want this wine? I still have otle.”

  “Nah, I’m good for now. Maybe ter. How are you sure no one’s maintaining it?” Gloria activated her Qi.

  “I wish I had Qi like that.” Tae Kuo shook his head with a wry smile: “Only when in need did one realize they haven’t been w hard enough.”

  “Eh, it’s overrated.” Gloria took a step forward. The dark mist and tendrils of smoke dissipated around her.

  “Be careful.” Tae Kuo cautioned: “I only know about what lies ahead from maps.”

  “It’s fine.” Gloria took oep at a time.

  Nothing out of the ordinary came from the rest of the way. And out of the exit, they found themselves in the backyard of another house. The house was simir in structure and interior design to Fuman Coffin Home. The only difference is that the house was pletely empty, no furniture of any kind, no decorations or even doors and windows.

  “Do you know of this pce? Looks like another coffin home.” Gloria walked through the regur hole where the door should be and looked around. The walls were darkened and covered in cracks.

  “No. The map only said about an abandoned neighborhood, no description of anything.” Tae Kuo shook his head.