chsdbacks Chapter 106 This person has no feelings.
Chapter 106 This person has no feelings.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the towering stained-glass windows of the Rose House, casting a dim and ambiguous halo over the hall.
The air was filled with the scent of old wood, cosmetics, and a faint, almost imperceptible smell of decay.
Lady Rose's voice, weary and with a barely perceptible sob, recounted the old woman's betrayal. Her voice echoed in the empty hall, sounding exceptionally clear and heavy.
Lin Bei listened quietly, his face expressionless, but something seemed to be swirling deep within his eyes. He nodded, the gesture small, yet conveying a sense of understanding.
"I see."
He muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping over the old woman huddled in the corner, her eyes darting around.
"No wonder I felt uncomfortable looking at this old woman; there was something wrong with the smell on her."
Lin Bei's thoughts drifted away involuntarily.
The world of my past life, bound by various rules, came to mind.
He had seen far too many people like this old woman. Those kinds of people were selfish to the core, always placing themselves in the position of victim, and slipping away like an eel to shift all the blame and responsibility onto others, as if the whole world owed them something.
The younger ones are jokingly called "little fairies" online and in real life, as if the whole world should revolve around them, and any slight dissatisfaction is considered an overwhelming grievance.
The older ones, like the one in front of us, have become "old turtledoves," relying on their age and seniority to act arrogantly and use their so-called "experience" and "seniority" to weave an invisible net, attempting to capture everyone and make them obey their will to satisfy their endless selfish desires.
They are skilled at PUA (Pick-Up Artist tactics), moral blackmail, and using tears and nagging as weapons to attack those who try to reason with them.
These kinds of people, regardless of age, are like buzzing flies, the most annoying presence in the crowd, radiating a suffocating negative energy wherever they go.
Ironically, in the overly packaged "civilized" society of their previous life, these people were distorted and categorized as "vulnerable groups."
Public opinion and certain so-called "protective" regulations act like layers of golden shields, protecting them within.
They used this "protection" to hurt others with impunity, while the victims often had no choice but to swallow their anger and resentment, unable to vent their frustrations, which ultimately turned into a helpless sigh or clenched teeth in the dead of night. Even now, when Lin Bei recalls that feeling of suffocation, he still feels a tightness in his chest.
"Heh," Lin Bei's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes sharp as knives as he swept over the old woman's calculating face, "but that was in her past life."
He raised his head slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the magnificent dome of the Rose House, looking out towards the era known as Taisho.
This is Japan, in the Taisho era of chaos and the survival of the fittest!
There are no sanctimonious "big sister" figures from past lives to mediate conflicts, nor are there any conciliatory "big brother" figures to advise you to be magnanimous. Here, the most primitive and naked law of the jungle prevails—might makes right! Strength is the only passport.
So, here, facing such a disgusting old turtledove, what need is there for Lin Bei to tolerate it? To follow those hypocritical rules and regulations?
An indescribable sense of irritation rose in Lin Bei's heart. The old woman's incessant nagging, her calculating eyes, and her attempts to intimidate him with her age and seniority were like fine needles pricking his nerves. His fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
However, he was not a completely unrestrained beast.
Lady Rose is still here, and so far, she has not shown any obvious malice.
Out of basic respect for her, before taking action, Lin Bei turned his head and asked Madam Rose in a calm, almost eerily calm tone:
"Can I hit her?"
Lady Rose was clearly taken aback by Lin Bei's direct and...unconventional question. Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, her long eyelashes trembling, revealing deep astonishment and uncertainty.
"You...you're going to hit her?"
Her voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"But...but...didn't you say you were someone who respects the elderly and cares for the young?"
She tried to remind him of something Lin Bei himself had said, her tone filled with confusion.
Lin Bei nodded, his expression matter-of-fact, as if stating an obvious truth.
"That's right!"
His voice remained calm.
"I have said that I am a model youth who respects the elderly and cares for the young."
He paused, his gaze falling once more on the old woman huddled in the corner, her eyes still gleaming with malice. His tone suddenly shifted, carrying an almost naive cruelty.
"But this old turtledove," he pointed to the old woman, "isn't 'young' either! She's so old she's practically a spirit."
He leaned forward slightly, looking at Madam Rose with a playful glint in his eyes, as if sharing an interesting secret.
"Besides, there's an old saying in my hometown: 'A gentleman can be deceived by his principles.'"
"It means that the more reasonable and law-abiding you are, the more those unreasonable and unruly people will dare to bully you."
He shrugged, looking helpless. "That old hag, look at her. She's obviously taking advantage of her age to try and manipulate me. She wants to control me with her twisted logic and fallacies."
Lin Bei's tone gradually rose, and the suppressed irritation finally found an outlet, turning into a cold anger.
"If I were a gentleman, I might have tolerated her bullying me like this; after all, a gentleman should maintain his composure. But I'm not!"
He suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound, and an invisible aura emanated from him, instantly enveloping the entire hall.
He grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, his smile almost ferocious: "I'm the fucking me!"
Before he finished speaking, Lin Bei's figure had already transformed into a blurry shadow, instantly traversing a distance of several meters.
The old woman, who was about to continue nagging and morally pressuring him, froze instantly, her expression turning into extreme terror!
All she saw was a shoe sole rapidly enlarging in front of her eyes.
"Ah, I'll hit you—!"
A powerful shout, accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound, rang out!
"Bang--!!!"
A dull, heart-stopping thud resounded like a heavy hammer slamming into rotten wood!
The old woman's thin, hunched body, like a worn-out ball that had been violently thrown, rose from the ground without any resistance, tracing a low but rapid parabola before crashing straight into the hard wall of the hall!
At the moment of impact, time seemed to freeze.
The wall decorations shattered instantly, and dust fell in a flurry.
The old woman's body was deeply "embedded" in the wall in an extremely strange and unnatural posture!
Her limbs were twisted, her head tilted to one side, and she looked like a grotesque specimen forcibly nailed to the wall. Spiderweb-like cracks spread rapidly across the wall surface centered on her, making a soft "crackling" sound. She hung there motionless, only a few strands of gray hair fluttering slightly in the airflow generated by the impact.
The entire hall was deathly silent. You could hear a pin drop. Even the light of the setting sun seemed dimmed in the face of this horrific violence.
Lin Bei slowly withdrew his leg, the movement so fluid as if he had merely dusted off the dust from his trouser leg.
He turned around to face Lady Rose, whose lips were slightly parted and who could barely breathe. The ferocious smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his previous calm, even with a hint of embarrassment.
"I'm sorry."
He scratched his head, his tone as sincere as a big boy who had done something wrong, "I attacked before you could even respond."
He pointed to the human-shaped indentation on the wall.
"But there's really nothing I can do about it."
He sighed, as if he were the victim.
"She's so annoying, so irritating. She chatters on and on, like a noisy old crow. What I hate most in my life are these kinds of people who take advantage of their age and try to manipulate everyone. They're like maggots that cling to you; if you don't kill them completely, they'll keep buzzing in your ear forever."
He paused, then added.
"But don't worry, I'm keeping my feet firmly planted."
He gestured towards the wall with his lip. "Don't be fooled by the fact that she's embedded in the wall now. It looks scary, but she's just unconscious. She's not dead yet. At most, she'll break a few old bones and be bedridden for a month or two. She's still alive."
Hearing Lin Bei's "casual" explanation, Madam Rose's violently heaving chest calmed down slightly. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to suppress the turbulent emotions churning within her. She looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure on the wall, her gaze complex and unreadable.
Although the old woman betrayed her, took advantage of her trust, and might even have pushed her into an abyss of no return.
But... after all, the old lady was the person who accompanied her through the longest and most difficult years in Rose House.
The old woman was always by her side.
She had received a lot of care from the old woman, even if those acts of care may have already sown the seeds of scheming. This complex bond cannot be completely severed by a simple betrayal.
Besides, the old lady is indeed very old, with most of her body buried in the earth. Even without today's incident, she wouldn't have many years left to live.
Now, this outcome… in her eyes, might actually be a relief? A compromise punishment? The old woman has received her due punishment—this horrific state, embedded in the wall, is enough to offset her crime of betrayal.
And for some reason, when the old woman was kicked away by Lin Bei's earth-shattering kick and crashed into the wall like a broken sack, a secret sense of satisfaction welled up deep in Mrs. Rose's heart!
A feeling of exhilaration that has been suppressed for many years and is finally being released!
Perhaps it was because Lin Bei did what she had always wanted to do deep down, but was unable to do due to the constraints of her status, rules, and morality. He shattered that invisible cage for her.
Now, let's turn our attention back to the center of the hall.
The remaining six managers stood frozen in place, as if under a spell. Their eyes were vacant and lifeless, their mouths slightly open, but no sound came out.
The air seemed to solidify into a gel, each breath carrying a suffocating, sticky feeling. Their gazes towards Lin Bei were no longer scrutinizing, calculating, or contemptuous, but rather as if they were looking at a utterly incomprehensible, completely insane... madman who had crawled out of the deepest abyss of hell! A lunatic who could erupt in a murderous rage at any moment!
Their hearts were roaring and screaming wildly, a silent scream that was almost tearing their reason apart:
"No! What on earth is going on?!"
"Weren't things fine just now? Even though the atmosphere was tense, at least they were still 'talking'!"
"Grandma...she didn't say anything particularly offensive! It was just the usual nagging, the same old manipulative tactics they use, right?"
"Aren't most elderly people like this? Nagging, stubborn, and thinking they've lived longer than you've lived? Isn't that the norm?"
"And what's more! Didn't you just say you respected the elderly and cared for the young?! How could you suddenly turn around and use such a deadly attack?!"
"Don't you know the meaning of respecting the elderly and caring for the young?! Are those four words meant for dogs?!"
"They attacked without warning! This isn't a young man; this is a demon come to claim your life!"
"The old woman was so old, her body as frail as a withered branch! Who would have thought that before her portrait could even be hung on the wall, she herself would be 'hung' there first! And in such an unbelievable way!"
"Isn't this a sin?! This is simply an act of the devil!"
"The scariest thing is... you're so unpredictable, your temper changes faster than flipping through a book. One second you're reasoning with me, the next you're about to physically kill me... We... we really don't know how to communicate with you! It feels like if we say one wrong word, we'll be the next ones flying out!"
Of the remaining six, an old man with gray hair and a seemingly fiery temper was trembling violently with anger and fear.
His face flushed red, veins bulged on his forehead, his chest heaved violently, and a surge of hot blood rushed to his head.
He was closest to the old lady; they were practically living together.
Now, seeing his wife being kicked away, he couldn't hold back anymore.
The old man clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. A strong impulse drove him to take a step forward, to confront Lin Bei, to accuse him of cruelty, and to demand an explanation for the old woman on the wall whose fate was unknown!
He couldn't bear this silent terror, this humiliating feeling of being at the mercy of others!
However, just as he took the first half step, before his heel even left the ground, the other five people beside him, with amazing coordination and strength, grabbed him firmly! They not only held down his arm, but almost dragged him back!
The eyes of the other five people were filled with only one emotion at this moment—extreme terror!
Like a startled rabbit seeing an approaching hungry wolf.
While keeping a close eye on Lin Bei out of the corner of their eyes, observing even the slightest change in his expression, they used all their strength to press the impulsive and easily angered old man back into place. Their knuckles turned white from the force, and their bodies were as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
At the same time, they glared at the old man who had almost caused a major disaster with stern, almost ferocious eyes. Those eyes seemed to roar silently, conveying an unmistakable warning:
"You old bastard! What the hell do you think you're doing?! Looking for death?!"
"If you miss, go hang yourself! Don't drag us all down with you!"
"Are you blind?! Can't you see?! That kid is a complete lunatic! A madman!"
In his eyes, there are no old, weak, sick, or disabled people! No respect for the elderly or care for the young! No rules! No morality!
He wouldn't be bound by any responsibility! He wouldn't be moved by any tears! He... he's like a cold stone, a heartless killing machine!
Compassion? That's something he simply doesn't possess!
"If you really rush in and anger this fiend..."
"He only beat you up, that's one thing, we'll just help you collect your body at most!"
"But if he takes his anger out on all of us, thinks we're all in cahoots, and wants to wipe us all out... then it's all over! The dream of immortality will instantly turn into a death knell on the road to the underworld!"
That silent, death-threatening gaze was like a bucket of ice water poured over the angry old man.
His feverish mind instantly cooled down, a chill running from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. He shivered violently, his body stiffening on the spot, no longer daring to move an inch.
Their advice is correct. He shouldn't act so impulsively.
He must endure for the sake of the dawn of immortality.
Look at those lying on the ground, and then look at the one hanging on the wall; they are all cautionary tales. He cannot be like them, missing out on his long-cherished dream of immortality and failing at the last hurdle.
Moreover, they had already devised a plan—to stall for time! As long as they could hold out until sunset, the terrifying being in the underground chamber would be freed and come out to deal with the lawless Lin Bei! At that time, all the crises would be resolved, and they would still be the victors.
Although the old lady was beaten so badly by Lin Bei that she was embedded in the wall and her fate was unknown, her "deeply affectionate performance" was not entirely without value.
Her incessant nagging and manipulative tactics, while failing to sway Lin Bei in the slightest and instead provoking a furious rebuke, did objectively buy him some time. The already setting sun sank even lower, getting closer to the horizon. They only needed to delay for less than half an hour before darkness fell and their savior arrived!
However, although there is not much time left to delay, it has become increasingly difficult to decide who should step forward to continue dealing with Lin Bei, and has even become a matter of life and death!
Because the previous "predecessors" who appeared before them had vividly and cruelly demonstrated to them, through their miserable or tragic ends, just how difficult Lin Bei was to deal with:
Hard won't work.
Soft ones won't work either.
Threats won't work!
Moral blackmail is even worse! (The old lady is the most bloody example of what not to do).
At this moment, a bizarre and terrifying thought simultaneously arose in the minds of these six people:
Compared to those who collude with evil spirits and secretly plot conspiracies... this Lin Bei in front of them is far more unscrupulous and ruthless! He... he's more like a villainous demon king who doesn't hold back!
But the die was cast. To avoid failure and to survive the final moments before darkness, even if they couldn't find the most suitable person, they had to grit their teeth and choose someone to continue arguing with Lin Bei and do everything they could to stall him!
Otherwise, no one knows whether this capricious and unpredictable jinx will suddenly lash out out of boredom, irritability, or simply because he doesn't like them, and "clean up" the rest of them as well.
Several gazes silently met, clashed, shifted blame, and pleaded in the air. Finally, all eyes focused on one person—Jasmine.
After all, she was the only one among the people who stood up earlier who wasn't "killed" by Lin Bei on the spot.
Although she was also terrified, at least she escaped unharmed, without losing any limbs or being left hanging on the wall. Her status as a "survivor" was all the more precious at that moment.
The crowd quietly analyzed the situation and speculated on the reasons: perhaps Lin Bei subconsciously had more tolerance for young women?
After all, men are always a little more polite to women, right?
Or perhaps Jasmine was the manager with the best relationship with Lady Rose. Before Jasmine colluded with the evil spirit, the two were even like sisters, and Lady Rose had always protected her. Perhaps Lin Bei refrained from harming her out of respect for Lady Rose?
Regardless of the reason, it all points to one conclusion—only if Jasmine steps in again is there the best chance of safely completing the mission and delaying it until sunset!
So, under the silent urging and pleading gazes of the crowd, Jasmine, one of the most dazzling divas of the Rose House, despite her heart pounding like a drum, filled with trepidation and deep-seated fear, her back already soaked with cold sweat, finally took a deep breath, suppressed her trembling body, and stepped forward again.
She cannot back down, otherwise she might be the next one to suffer.
This time, when she stepped forward, Jasmine immediately outlined a strategy.
Having spent many years with Lady Rose, she gradually learned from her how to charm and control men.
Although her face is now disfigured, losing the unparalleled beauty that could rival Lady Rose, her figure is in no way inferior; she remains graceful and curvaceous. Moreover, she still wears that veil! This veil cleverly conceals her disfigured face, leaving only a pair of captivating eyes and a mysterious aura.
Even in dim light, behind a hazy veil, she can still create an allure that sparks the imagination.
Jasmine quickly calculated in her mind: with her hot figure, coupled with her seductive charm and skills honed over the years, dealing with a young boy like Lin Bei who looked quite young should be a piece of cake, right? Even if it really didn't work and she couldn't truly seduce him, as long as she could attract his attention with her body, say some ambiguous words, divert his gaze, and buy him time, that should be more than enough, right?
It's much safer than sending someone else to reason with him or use psychological manipulation tactics on him!
So, without making a sound, and with a seemingly lazy and casual gesture, Jasmine slightly slipped off the thin, gossamer-white gauze hanging on her shoulder.
Her delicate, snow-white shoulders gleamed alluringly in the dim light, like the finest mutton-fat jade. She moved gracefully with lotus-like steps, her waist swaying gently, each step seemingly touching the very tip of one's heart, carrying a well-trained, deliberately slowed rhythm as she approached Lin Bei.
Her goal was clear and bold—she went straight to Lin Bei, then ignored any resistance he might have, and with an extremely natural yet strongly suggestive posture, gently and skillfully... sat in Lin Bei's lap!
A scent mixed with cheap cosmetics and the fragrance of a mature woman wafted over.
Jasmine's body was soft and warm, pressed tightly against Lin Bei. She raised her arm and lightly brushed Lin Bei's chest with her slender, nail-painted fingers.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes beneath the veil curving upwards in an attempt to convey the most alluring smile. With a deliberately sweet, almost cloyingly honey-like voice, she whispered in Lin Bei's ear:
"Little brother, don't get so angry!"
"Look at you, when you get angry, it breaks my heart."
"The older sister knew her younger brother was definitely angry and was holding back her anger."
"It's all because of those idiots. They didn't know what was good for them and angered my brother."
"But my sister is different," she pressed her body closer, her voice becoming even sweeter, "My sister only knows how to care for her little brother and only wants to make him happy."
"Little brother, look," she raised her hand, pointing to the setting sun about to sink below the horizon outside the window, "it's getting late, the sun is almost down. How about this, little brother, if you're still angry..."
She paused deliberately, lightly tapping Lin Bei's chest with her fingertip, her voice lower and more suggestive: "How about I keep you company?"
"My room is quiet and comfortable... Let me help you vent your anger...?"
"Um?"
"I promise, little brother, I'll make you feel comfortable and cool down, okay?"
Her words were like hooks, every single one brimming with sexual innuendo.
She gambled her last life, trying to use her body as a weapon to buy herself that precious, life-or-death half hour in this final moment of life and death.
The only sounds in the hall were her sweet voice echoing and the silent urging of the setting sun outside the window. Everyone's hearts were in their throats, waiting for Lin Bei's reaction—which would determine their fate.