Building No. 5 Apartment (6)
Three days ago, Jiang Ji had already read this property owner’s notice.
The notice was filled with oddities and even contained several contradictory clauses, such as the first and the thirteenth:
【1. The Property Management Center is located on the seventh floor and is trustworthy. When you need assistance, you may seek help from the property staff or call the Property Center’s 24-hour service hotline.】
【13. This apartment building has six floors and only six floors. Please note, residents may only operate on the sixth floor and below.】
If Building No. 5 Apartment only has six floors, does the Property Management Center on the seventh floor actually exist?
From outside the building entrance, Building No. 5 clearly had seven floors.
Yet, the last part of Clause 13 stated: “You may only be active on the sixth floor and below.”
Combining the two rules, Jiang Xia concluded that “the seventh floor exists, but it is currently inaccessible.”
The corridor was eerily silent.
The three lowered their voices as they exchanged words.
“Do not go out when the lighting facilities are damaged.”
“The emergency exit lights are broken. To ensure your safety, please take the elevator when going up or down…” Xiao Qing read softly. She paused, then shifted her gaze to Clause 9 of the notice.
【9. Darkness is safe; you can trust the darkness.】
“Darkness… is actually dangerous, right?” Xiao Qing subconsciously looked up at the bright lights overhead.
Whether it was a trick of the light or not, the lighting here nearly illuminated every corner.
Not only did the property notice mention “darkness,” but the house rules also contained related regulations—for example, Clause 9 states “darkness is beneficial for sleep,” and Clause 8 says “turn off the lights when watching movies.”
In contrast to darkness, Clause 5 of the house rules said: “Light is good for the eyes. Flying insects are light-averse creatures. Being in the light benefits both body and mind.”
“File No. B-EZ20370518: Mother bugs dislike light and often appear with darkness,” the files note. Luo Chen said, “Darkness is not safe.”
Xiao Qing froze briefly, then recalled the record about the mother bugs in Building No. 5’s files: “That means… all rules urging humans to contact darkness are corrupted rules…”
Jiang An listened quietly for a while. “Let me interrupt—what do you mean by corrupted rules?”
Xiao Qing and Luo Chen both looked toward Jiang Xia.
Jiang Nuan silently blinked her eyelashes.
“…Earlier, we mentioned that rules are important clues for leaving the bug nest,” Luo Chen said gravely. “However, a few weeks ago, we discovered signs that the rules inside the nest have been maliciously altered.”
Jiang Nuan: “Altered by the bugs?”
Luo Chen: “Yes.”
“If the bugs can modify the rules, then how trustworthy are the rules?” Jiang Nuan’s voice was cool and low.
Xiao Qing: “Although the bugs’ power has infiltrated the rules, they still can’t change them arbitrarily. The power of order remains strong; they can only corrupt a small portion of the rules.”
“…So, we have to distinguish?” Jiang An’s tone rose slightly in a question, an inexplicable unease flickering in her heart.
Xiao Qing pursed her lips. “Yes… but don’t worry, we’ll do our best to get you out.”
Jiang An’s narrow eyes half-closed as her gaze returned to the “Property Owner Notice.”
“So… Clause 9 is part of the corrupted section.”
Luo Chen: “Ms. Jiang adapted quickly.”
“…” Luo Chen’s sudden praise made everyone smile, and Jiang Ji let out a light chuckle through his nose.
Only Luo Chen noticed that faint smile.
Xiao Qing was carefully studying the property notice.
She pointed at Clause 13, her expression grave: “Building No. 5 Apartment’s bug nest is now under our unit’s responsibility. But before we took over, a group of small private volunteer teams had already entered the building. They used the seventh floor as their base and suppressed the mother bugs on the seventh floor to some extent.”
“…However, later on, the mother bugs grew stronger. When our unit took over, we evacuated all those who could be considered human and capable of rescue.”
“Building No. 5 Apartment has seven floors. I suspect the seventh floor has already been occupied by the mother bugs. Therefore, the rules restrict activities to the sixth floor and below.”
Jiang Nuan: …
They evacuated all who could be considered human? Then why is she still here?
A thought flashed through her mind from the memo, and Jiang Xia doubted herself… Could she still be considered human back then?
She seemed… to have grown wings?
Jiang An quietly felt her back—smooth and flat, no wings.
Xiao Qing took that as a reason for Jiang Xia: “Ms. Jiang’s situation… it’s possible that at that time you were corrupted but simultaneously awakened your abilities. After we evacuated, your consciousness recovered… that’s possible.”
Jiang An: “So that’s how it is.”
Luo Chen’s gaze lingered on Clause 3 of the property notice for several seconds.
【3. The corridors are disinfected daily. Disinfection times: 11:00-15:30 and 19:00-23:30 for the 2nd, 4th, and 6th floors; 6:30-11:00 and 15:30-19:00 for the 3rd and 5th floors. The disinfectant is harmful to the body; please avoid going out during disinfection times. Otherwise, we will not be responsible for your life.】
“Ms. Jiang, did you ever step outside your door during the disinfection times listed in Clause 3?”
“No.”
“Do you know what form the disinfection takes?”
“Sorry, I don’t know.” Jiang Nuan hadn’t tried going out outside the specified times.
Of course, if these two officials didn’t show up soon, she might have to try going out during the forbidden times.
Luo Chen was silent for a moment, then said, “There’s still time before 23:30. I’ll go check the third floor.”
The third and fifth floors share the same disinfection times.
In Jiang Nuan’s scarce three-day memory, there was no sign of any neighbors. It seemed she was the only household in the entire building.
“I’ll come too,” Jiang An said.
“I don’t recommend it,” Luo Chen’s voice was calm. “The third floor represents the unknown. The unknown is dangerous.”
“Since you’re guests, what if you encounter property management? They might… drive you away?” Jiang Ji objected, avoiding the word “cleanse.”
“I think if there are neighbors on the third floor, it could help me recover memories,” Jiang Nuan explained honestly.
“…” Luo Chen’s long eyelashes fluttered. His deep eyes met Jiang An’s for a second before he stopped refusing.
Xiao Qing: “…I’ll accompany you.”
She absolutely would not be alone with the corrupted!
The group took the elevator down to the third floor.
Inside the elevator, rules were posted like sharp icicles hanging overhead, making it impossible to know when or if something abnormal might occur.
Xiao Qing was extremely tense. She tilted her head back, staring at the glaring white light above, swallowing hard.
Thankfully, no accidents occurred; they stopped successfully on the third floor.
Jiang Nuan was the first to step out. The third floor was no different structurally from the fifth floor—a row of doors lined up, like dark caves extending inward.
It was too quiet here; their footsteps echoed clearly against the floor.
Tap, tap, tap…
Luo Chen followed closely behind Jiang Nuan. His boots made a rhythmic sound that almost formed a pattern.
Xiao Qing pulled a square device from the bag she always carried and assembled it. Noticing Jiang Nuan’s curious gaze, she explained, “This is a small detector. It can detect living creatures.”
Jiang Nuan: “You want to check if there are other humans?”
Xiao Qing nodded.
Jiang Xia leaned over to observe the palm-sized display.
They moved slowly forward. The first three rooms were empty, but when they reached the fourth, a red shadow appeared on the screen.
The infrared imaging outlined a large sprawling shape… no matter how they looked at it, it was hard to believe the occupant was human.
Xiao Qing’s heart tightened. She exchanged a glance with Jiang Nuan. The three of them silently continued forward.
The empty corridor was searched from end to end with no sign of any living humans.
Xiao Qing bit her lip, feeling somewhat lost.
Every fallen creature’s presence here meant a person was corrupted, losing their human consciousness, and even worse, losing their life.
Luo Chen glanced at the time. “Let’s go back.”
Jiang Nuan had no objection.
She slowly followed behind Luo Chen toward the elevator, but suddenly her nose caught a strange scent, similar to the porridge her mother used to make.
The elevator doors opened slowly.
Jiang Nuan was the last to step inside. Xiao Qing pressed the close button.
Beep.
The elevator overloaded sound.
“2.” Xiao Qing quickly withdrew her hand. “What’s going on?”
Beep.
The piercing warning beep shattered the corridor’s silence.
The foul stench lingered.
It felt like a person emitting a stench was standing right next to her.
A large, heavy figure that immediately overloaded the elevator.
Beep.
Xiao Qing’s limbs grew icy.
She pressed the close button several more times.
Only the overload warning responded; the doors stubbornly remained open.
“…!” Xiao Qing’s face turned pale with fright.
Jiang Nuan furrowed her brows and stepped out of the elevator.
The cabin could hold thirteen people, but only two stood inside.
The overload warning continued.
Xiao Qing bit her lip, scalp tingling.
The unknown fear chilled her bones.
“Team Leader Luo, let’s get out…”
Luo Chen said calmly, “You go out first.”
Without hesitation, Xiao Qing stepped out.
Luo Chen was an A-rank ability user, capable of self-defense.
After Xiao Qing left, the elevator doors remained wide open, letting out an elongated beep.
Jiang Nuan looked at Luo Chen, the only person visible inside the cabin, blinking. “Didn’t expect you to be this heavy, Team Leader Luo.”
“…” Luo Chen pursed his lips, glanced at Jiang An.
He took a long stride out; the elevator still wouldn’t close.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The warning beep sounded like a dull blade slowly slicing skin.
Fear seeped into every pore. Xiao Qing’s hairs stood on end. “Is there… someone inside?!”
A hoarse female voice suddenly sounded: “1-1-3-12.”
Xiao Qing spun around sharply.
Jiang Nuan’s indifferent profile came into view.
Jiang Nuan tilted half her body, looking toward the right rear.
The two followed Jiang Nuan’s gaze toward the quietly lit corridor.
Apartment 312, which had been closed, was now mysteriously wide open…