Under the fierce flames, the headless zombie still thrashed and writhed incessantly. Even the severed arm beneath Kuang Feifan's boot seemed to sense it, shaking more violently, nearly wrenching itself free from his foot.

In a moment of desperation, a spark of inspiration flashed through Kuang Feifan’s mind. He snatched off his prayer beads and shouted to Xu Hui, “Xu Hui, throw my beads into the fire…”

Saying that, he tossed them over.

Xu Hui caught them, shooting him a questioning look.

Time was critical, so Kuang Feifan only managed to say, “This might work.”

Xu Hui frowned. After a brief moment of thought, he didn't throw the beads into the fire. Instead, he reached up, tore off the corner talisman hanging from his neck, and flung it into the humanoid flames inside the room.

Instantly, the fiercely burning fire swelled with a blinding golden light, forcing both men to squeeze their eyes shut.

Clearly, the talisman had worked. Before long, Kuang Feifan felt the pressure under his foot ease. The force shaking the severed arm weakened until it quickly stilled.

Immediately afterward, a stomach-churning stench assaulted their nostrils.

“Ugh… what is that smell…” Xu Hui covered his nose, slowly opening his eyes.

Kuang Feifan grimaced, glancing down. The severed arm had shriveled, oozing black ** from within. That foul odor was exactly what the ** emitted.

He quickly moved his foot away and peered toward the situation inside the room. Seeing that the flames seemed to be diminishing, he quickly turned back, found some cloth, and wrapped the remaining fragments of the severed arm before tossing them into the fire.

Thankfully, the floor of the building was concrete, and they were in the center of the room, which prevented the entire space from burning down.

The two slowly retreated toward the main door, eager to escape the unforgettable room.

Earlier, due to the critical nature of the situation, they had only focused on what was immediately around them, paying no attention to how their own bodies felt. But now that the tension eased, Kuang Feifan realized a dull, aching pain throbbing across his back. He remembered being scratched by claws earlier and felt a surge of worry. Standing outside the doorway, he asked Xu Hui to check his back.

Upon looking, Xu Hui couldn't help but look concerned too. The fabric on Kuang Feifan’s back was ripped open, revealing three claw marks on the skin, still weeping blood, the wounds already showing a disturbing darkening hue.

“Do you feel anything strange?” Xu Hui patted his shoulder and inquired.

Kuang Feifan shook his head. “It hurts a little, no other feeling.”

Regardless of whether it was the feared Corpse Poison, they had no immediate remedy.

Xu Hui scratched his own back while saying, “Let’s hurry back and let Bai Ru and the others take a look.”

Kuang Feifan noticed his action—Xu Hui was vigorously scratching and rubbing his own back—and couldn't help but smile. “Mine’s an external injury; it shouldn't infect you.”

Xu Hui retorted dryly, “I feel a cold, tight sensation all over my back…”

Kuang Feifan was already lifting his foot toward the stairwell when Xu Hui’s comment suddenly made him recall something. His expression shifted, and he quickly grabbed Xu Hui, urging him on, “Let’s go, quick…”

Seeing his look, Xu Hui asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

Kuang Feifan tugged him downstairs as he explained, “Did you forget the ‘marks’ on both our backs?”

Xu Hui startled as well. The small handprint on his back was not something easily forgotten, and Bai Ru had mentioned that thing possessed a strong attraction for malevolent spirits.

Could it be… there was another ghost in this building?

Soon, the two realized that there was indeed something amiss in the building.

At least, they felt like they had descended more than ten flights of stairs, yet they still hadn't reached the first floor.

“Damn it, don’t tell me this is another Wall of Illusion again… that trick is way too damn convenient for ghosts,” Xu Hui grumbled as he continued down.

Kuang Feifan managed a wry smile. His phone still showed absolutely no signal, and given the current circumstances, it seemed they had hit the jackpot again.

The only difference from previous encounters was that, besides the endless stairs, they felt no biting cold winds, nor did they hear any mournful wails.

Having descended an unknown number of floors, Kuang Feifan finally stopped, shaking his head. “No use. If we keep this up, the only result waiting for us is exhaustion.”

Xu Hui carefully surveyed the floor they were currently on, then suddenly stated, “Let’s check the next level down.”

Although Kuang Feifan found it strange, he complied. They followed the stairs down to the level below. This time, Xu Hui didn't need to say anything; Kuang Feifan noticed the problem immediately. The scenery on this floor was identical to the one above. It appeared they were trapped looping within the same level.

The moment they paused, an indescribable feeling washed over them. They both felt an unusual sense of pressure emanating from their surroundings.

“Is the ghost right here…” Xu Hui instinctively lowered his voice, scanning everywhere.

Kuang Feifan wasn't observing the environment like Xu Hui. He noticed that as Xu Hui spoke, white cold vapor drifted out of his mouth. Moreover, puffs of cold air were escaping from his own nostrils when he breathed. The surrounding temperature seemed to be dropping, yet he didn't feel cold himself.

“Do you feel cold?” Kuang Feifan asked.

Xu Hui blinked, then shook his head. He then noticed the cold vapor coming from his breath, his face showing confusion.

Just then, Kuang Feifan felt a cool gust of wind brush past him.

He turned his head to look. The wind seemed to be blowing from the room to the left of the stairwell leading downward.

He tugged at Xu Hui’s coat sleeve and nodded his head toward that room.

Xu Hui’s expression tightened. He reflexively drew his gun, but after a moment’s thought, he holstered it. Apparently, bullets didn't affect this malevolent spirit in the slightest. He muttered under his breath, “Remind me to ask Bai Ru when we get back if she has any bullets etched with talismans, just like in the novels…”

Kuang Feifan rolled his eyes. To be thinking about such things at this moment suggested Xu Hui’s adaptation to these encounters wasn't too low.

The two entered the room on the left. The layout was clear: an inner room, an outer room, plus a kitchen, balcony, and restroom. It was completely empty, save for a thick layer of dust covering the floor.

Xu Hui squatted down, shining his flashlight around. There were no distinct footprints on the ground, suggesting no one had entered since the occupants moved out some time ago.

The doors and windows in the room were already gone.

Xu Hui suddenly straightened up and whispered to Kuang Feifan, “I have an idea—can we get out through the balcony or a window?”

Kuang Feifan wasn't sure about that either. Xu Hui shone his light around again. “I’ll check the balcony; you inspect the windows in the room.”

Saying that, he headed toward where the kitchen should have been. Kuang Feifan, having no better ideas, decided to follow Xu Hui’s lead and walked into the inner room.

Once they stopped speaking, the silence inside the room returned—a deathly quiet.

At least, that’s how Kuang Feifan felt. But soon, he heard a strange sound.

“Hss… hss…”

It sounded like a snake hissing, but louder and more rapid than that.

The sound came from behind him, though it seemed to be at some distance.

Kuang Feifan whipped his head around.