Inari Keiichi and Inari Oneji exchanged a glance, then lowered their voices: "…Isn't this idea a bit too extreme?"

"Extreme?" Beichuan Si turned his head: "Do you think there are no criminals in this world besides vengeful spirits?"

"Not to that extent, we know there are criminals in reality, but as Brother Beichuan said... it's too illogical."

The Inari siblings couldn't help but step back half a step.

Beichuan Si always seemed so frightening when he questioned...

"Logic?"

Hearing the words of the Inari siblings, Beichuan Si frowned.

Then he asked coldly: "Do you think the existence of vengeful spirits is logical?"

"…This..."

Vengeful spirits inherently defy logic; they are inconceivable.

"Reported in the news, someone proactively bit a dog to death, do you think this is logical?"

Beichuan Si asked again.

"Uh..."

The Inari siblings were speechless.

"These things are all illogical, but they happen nonetheless. What does this tell you?"

Beichuan Si continued asking.

A barrage of questions left the Inari siblings with their heads bowed.

They didn't know why they had to bow to Beichuan Si, who was also part of the special department, but keeping their heads low seemed wise at the moment.

"Because reality doesn't adhere to logic, unlike in novels where 'someone needs to do this, and this person's purpose is...', in real life, it could be just a verbal dispute, or cutting someone off in traffic, then anger surges and suddenly a murder happens."

Initially, Beichuan Si didn't want to explain these things because the Inari siblings were just high school sophomores.

But harboring evil intentions is a no-no, and being wary of others is a must.

The human heart is treacherous.

For people like the Inari siblings, who frequently deal with vengeful spirits and the deceased, it might not be bad to let them know about this in advance.

With this thought, Beichuan Si snapped his fingers and asked: "After all I've said, did you understand?"

"Yes! Yes!" The Inari siblings nodded vigorously, not daring to retort against Beichuan Si.

Especially Inari Oneji.

Hard to imagine just hours ago, this young girl was opposing Beichuan Si.

Seeing them like this, Beichuan Si nodded silently in his heart.

His explanation to them was like mentoring trainees, telling them about these matters... actually has his own considerations.

If he can train the Inari siblings... then for some minor eerie or bizarre incidents, he won't need to intervene, with them as his tools... no, rather half-trainees, the special department won't require too much of his attention.

Yes, nurturing successors in the special department, paying some attention is no big deal.

This doesn't mean in Beichuan Si's eyes there are only 'tools' and 'normal people,' but from his perspective, there are reasons for his actions.

"The second floor is about done." Beichuan Si stopped.

The entire second floor was empty, with bird corpses and droppings in some places, and overall the air wasn't particularly good.

Since the exploration of the apartment's second floor is complete…

"Let's go to the third floor." Beichuan Si said flatly.

Actually, he had a notion he wanted to verify since entering this apartment.

Now... it's the time to test his idea...

"Achoo!!!"

Gangye Yoshiko, who was guarding outside, suddenly felt a chill run through her, then sneezed heavily.

"…Did the weather suddenly turn chilly?"

She muttered softly.

...

Upon reaching the third floor, what met their eyes were pools of blood.

The blood trickled down the steps; in some places, it had semi-coagulated.

"This is..." Inari Keiichi's face changed, stepping forward.

"This is Brother Qingchuan's blood... and..."

Inari Keiichi looked up.

Cracks were everywhere in the corridor; on some walls were bright red blood stains.

This added a sinister air to the already dilapidated corridor.

Clearly, these were traces of Qingchuan Xiu Yi battling the vengeful spirit that resides here.

This means...

"That vengeful spirit... is nearby."

Inari Oneji couldn't help but look around, her sense of benevolence heightened to the maximum.

But no matter how much she tried to perceive, all she could sense was the resentment existing in this apartment, without any noticeable fluctuations of resentment.

This situation reminded Inari Oneji of what Beichuan Si had said at the beginning.

Can your goodwill detect traps hidden in the dark?

Now it seems... not only can her goodwill not detect traps, it cannot even sense any special spirits.

This left Inari Oneji feeling both disappointed and inexplicably trusting of Beichuan Si.

Did he foresee this situation?

"Brother Keiichi." Inari Oneji couldn't help but call out.

"What's wrong? Oneji?"

Inari Keiichi turned back to look.

"Can your goodwill perceive the presence of spirits?"

"...No. It's strange... perhaps this place we are in is somewhat special."

Inari Keiichi was a bit puzzled.

The two of them discussed for a while, eventually looking towards Beichuan Si in front of them, hoping he could provide the answers they sought.

"Don't develop the bad habit of relying on others." Beichuan Si lowered his voice: "Look and think for yourselves."

Look and think for yourselves...

That's what the words say...

Inari Keiichi and Inari Oneji glanced around somewhat blankly.

The two of them looked as if they weren't using their brains well.

This made Beichuan Si sigh.

He turned sideways, pointing to the hallway: "Take a closer look, what is different about the hallway."

"...Hmm..."

Inari Keiichi and Inari Oneji looked over.

The hallway was still the same hallway, dilapidated everywhere, feeling as if a little force could completely collapse it.

But besides that...

Inari Keiichi and Inari Oneji exchanged glances.

Then, like a pair of waiting salamanders, they looked at Beichuan Si.

"..." Beichuan Si.

Inari Keiichi and Inari Oneji could be considered representatives of 'having Hui Li's fate, but catching Hui Li's disease.'

Beichuan Si patted the wall with his hand, his tone calm: "Haven't you noticed? The walls and the floors... these places are covered in cracks and large holes. Look at these marks, they are mostly caused by blunt instruments."

"Speaking of blunt instruments, Liangzi's materials also noted that Qingchuan Xiu Yi's spiritual tool type is also blunt."

"Did you even look at the materials about our spiritual tools?!"

The Inari siblings looked at each other.

They hadn't even had time to look through the materials, yet Beichuan Si not only read all of it thoroughly but even checked through their individual files?

This is really...

"To understand the specifics of those whose backgrounds are unknown, this is common knowledge of common knowledge, got it?"

"Yes! We will definitely follow Brother Beichuan's advice in the future!"

Inari Keiichi and Inari Oneji even stiffened somewhat reflexively.

"..." Beichuan Si.

Beichuan Si shook his head, disinclined to pay them any mind, and continued explaining: "Why does Qingchuan Xiu Yi fixate on walls or the hallway... even the ceiling has marks made by his spiritual tool?"

He spoke while stepping forward, moving step by step.

Eventually, he led Inari Oneji and Inari Keiichi to the front of an abandoned apartment room.

This apartment room seemed rather impoverished, with nothing but a small round table, a floor mirror, and a cabinet in the living room.

Unlike the bloody and hole-ridden scene outside, this room bore no marks.

Yet, meanwhile—

"This is also your flaw."

Beichuan Si murmured to himself, causing the Inari siblings to look at him in bewilderment—

He directly inserted into the wall.

"What is he trying to do...?" the Inari siblings were just about to ask.

But in the next moment...

The walls, ceiling, floors surrounding them... no... wait...

The entire apartment building started trembling with a rumble.

Meanwhile—

The hateful and piercing shriek of the spirit awakened.

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