Starting with a haunted house to create a thrilling game arena

Chapter 2: A Classic Start?

Hanjiang City.

Western suburbs.

Inside a luxuriously decorated upscale residential community.

A somber atmosphere filled the air.

A mourning tent was specially set up in the community square, and paper money was scattered on the ground, making it look like a funeral was being held.

Based on information found online, Zhang Ze located the neighborhood.

"The auction website says that the painting was purchased for 700 million by a wealthy man from Hanjiang City. This wealthy man is also a fan of horror games and horror movies."

"I usually invest in some niche indie games and art films in my own name, all of which are horror-themed."

"This wealthy man... his surname is Zhou."

Information about Zhang Ze is very limited.

To protect privacy, the auction website did not disclose any information; Zhang Ze only knew the buyer's surname.

However, upon entering the community, the sound of suona chants was heard, and in the blink of an eye, two lines of mourning couplets were seen hanging outside the mourning tent.

Outside the mourning tent.

Zhang Ze hasn't gone in yet.

Then I saw a young woman dressed in full mourning clothes, holding a death warrant in her left hand and a funeral stick in her right, and she burst into tears with a loud "Aww".

She cried her heart out, completely absorbed in the experience.

Is this the deceased's daughter?

Just as Zhang Ze was thinking this.

Immediately, a group of people dressed in mourning clothes very similar to her appeared next to the woman in mourning clothes. They held various musical instruments, beat gongs and drums, and began to wail.

Wow, what a professional team!

"Other rich guys are left with a football team, but this rich guy is left with a vocal group. If he had a few more daughters, wouldn't they be able to form a girl group and debut as a band?"

Zhang Ze muttered to himself.

However, upon entering the mourning hall...

But the person who actually stood guard over the coffin, with a blank and expressionless face, was a woman.

"Are you Lao Zhou's friend?"

"Please come in."

"The memorial service has already been held. Thank you for coming to pay your respects."

"..."

Zhang Ze's gaze fell on the memorial tablet in front of the coffin. The black and white portrait showed that the deceased was a middle-aged man with a simple appearance, who was none other than Mr. Zhou.

Mr. Zhou is indeed dead, and he died recently. It is estimated that his death is related to that murderous painting.

Zhang Zeqing cleared his throat and first adopted a mournful attitude.

He bowed deeply to the memorial tablet.

Then I lit an incense stick.

The woman saw Zhang Ze's actions but didn't suspect anything because he was so young. After all, Mr. Zhou usually liked horror movies and games and had a lot of contact with young people.

I treated them as friends I had never met.

Taking this opportunity, Zhang Ze steered the conversation toward whether Mr. Zhou had recently purchased any oil paintings.

"Old Zhou did indeed spend a lot of money to buy a painting not long ago."

"It's said to be a cursed painting, and anyone who owns it will die a violent death, but he just happened to like this kind of subject matter... Alas, I never expected that he would actually die."

The woman's expression was one of deep sorrow.

Zhang Ze's eyes flickered slightly. "May I see that painting?"

"Of course, please come in."

The woman did not reject Zhang Ze.

She probably wanted to get rid of the painting for a long time, and Zhang Ze was interested in it, so she couldn't be happier.

Zhang Ze followed the woman into the house.

Their home is a detached villa in the central part of the neighborhood.

Just as I entered the house.

Zhang Ze then smelled a strange ink odor.

Just like calligraphers who grind ink and prepare brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones before writing, the air is bound to be filled with the smell of ink.

The source of the smell was a painting hanging on the wall.

Logically speaking, the ink should have dried by now and shouldn't be emitting such a pungent smell.

More importantly, the system had warned Zhang Ze that the painting was made from the blood of the deceased…

So where does the ink come from?

Zhang Ze stared at the painting.

The painting depicts a woman, but only her body outline suggests she is a rather plump young woman. Her upper body is mostly visible, but her face is obscured, and her hands and wrists are not visible.

"If you're interested in this painting, you can take it."

"I don't care if you want money."

Zhang Ze: ?

So you can speedrun it, right?

Zhang Ze had prepared for a protracted battle. If he had to stay in the western suburbs, he would specifically book a hotel that was far away from Liwan Town and Xinhai Central Hospital.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhou agreed so readily.

He could simply move the painting back to New Century Paradise and clean it up slowly.

Even if I don't handle it well at that time.

It can also increase the strength of Chen Dachui next door.

Anyway, Chen Dachui may appear to be all alone now, but in reality, his parents have already paved the way for him.

"Then I'll take it?"

"Take it."

"You horror fans, one by one, you're all fearless. Old Zhou used to be obsessed with it too, but I never thought I'd actually suffer for it..."

Madam Zhou was clearly still grieving.

Since the deceased's widow has said so.

Zhang Ze planned to take the painting away.

However, just as I steadied the frame, I heard a child's innocent voice coming from the next bedroom:

"Don't take my sister away!!"

Zhang Ze turned his head to look.

Inside the bedroom, a little boy opened the door a crack, peeking out with one eye and staring menacingly at Zhang Ze.

"Xiao Zhou, stop fooling around."

"Your father was killed because of this painting."

Madam Zhou glared at the little boy.

"Nonsense, my sister wouldn't kill Dad."

"My older sister is so nice. She teaches me to draw every night, and there are lots of other kids who keep me company."

"If Dad really was killed by your sister, then if you give your sister to your brother, wouldn't that also kill your brother?"

Mrs. Zhou was speechless.

This logic... is actually flawless.

But she really didn't think that much about it.

Every time she entered her bedroom and saw the painting hanging on the wall, she felt a chill run down her spine.

Now that someone could help her, she didn't think much of it. But Xiao Zhou's words reminded her.

"If you have any concerns, that's okay. I'll have someone handle the painting. If you're still willing to help, I can pay you."

"Wait a minute."

Zhang Ze called a timeout.

You can get this painting and also make some money.

It's definitely a good deal.

But this opening... isn't it all too familiar?

A strange family has been left with only the wife, her husband has passed away, and there is a child who is not quite right in the head.

Shouldn't Chen Dachui have been chosen to play this pre-made dungeon?!

"Little friend, you call this painting 'older sister'?"

"Yes, she's the older sister. She came to our house a few days ago. She's very gentle and kind to me. She even taught me to draw and took me to watch cartoons."

"Look, this is the little bear I drew."

The little boy handed Zhang Ze a crumpled piece of paper.

This scene feels so familiar.

Zhang Ze made mental preparations.

When I received the painting, my heart skipped a beat.

There was indeed a problem.

The brushstrokes in this painting are very immature; it depicts...

"Boonie Bears"

In the picture, the three main characters, Xiong Da, Xiong Er, and Bald Qiang, are in the center of the picture. A child is riding on Bald Qiang's shoulder, and the child is marked with a paintbrush as Xiao Zhou.