《Beyond Realms》 Chapter 1: Key This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Chapter 2: Set off The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Chapter 3: Investigation Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Chapter 4: Real? Fake? So¡­ Lilith was certain that the Jiang who had fled was the real Jiang. Not because of her unusual behavior, as she''d suggested to Seraphina. Her suspicion of the Jiang on the sofa arose the moment she saw the duplicate on the stairs. It wasn''t because she had discerned the truth, but because, in Lilith''s view, fleeing was the natural human response to encountering an exact duplicate of oneself. The fleeing Jiang''s reaction had been entirely realistic. So, where had that Jiang gone? She was now alone and in extreme danger¡­ "Ms. Graves, could you help me investigate something? I suddenly remembered something crucial I need to do," Lilith said apologetically, smiling at Seraphina. Seraphina was stunned; she hadn''t fully recovered from the revelation that "Jiang" might be a ghost, when she heard Lilith''s request. She looked at Lilith in surprise and nodded involuntarily. "Please¡­" Lilith leaned closer, whispering a few words. Seraphina''s expression grew increasingly strange, but she nodded, her gaze fixated on Lilith. "See you at 6:00 PM." Lilith waved, turning to walk towards a corner; Seraphina''s face paled. Because the place she was heading towards¡­ was the emergency staircase. ... The staff break room, restroom. Zhang Wen''s hair was dishevelled; her face was wet; the sink was full of water. She was listlessly splashing water, letting it flow everywhere. "Wen¡­" Zhang Wen stopped, turning to look, then smirked. "Little Nathaniel." Nathaniel was her colleague, but not an ordinary one. This twenty-year-old had been pursuing her for almost a month. But¡­ Nathaniel didn''t know some things, such as Zhang Wen''s long-term affair with Magnus Crowe. "What is it?" Zhang Wen turned away, ignoring him. "Wen¡­ actually¡­ I¡­" Nathaniel¡¯s face was pale but excited. "I saw¡­ something about the boss''s wife¡­" Zhang Wen stiffened, turning to glare. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Nathaniel''s expression was strange, a mixture of fear and excitement. "I¡­ I know¡­ Wen, I know it''s useless telling you this, but¡­ Wen, remember¡­ I like you, more than anyone!" Nathaniel left. Zhang Wen silently watched his back until he disappeared around the corner. Then, she bent down, her arm stiff as she lifted the water and splashed it on her face. She looked impassively into the water, at her blurry reflection. But¡­ the reflection wasn''t her face! It was another woman¡­ her face swollen and pale, her eyes filled with hatred¡­ Zhang Wen''s lips twisted; she seemed to go mad, reaching towards the face in the water. "Ravenna, don''t be afraid. Sister will avenge you¡­ Sister will definitely avenge for you¡­" ... Vivienne was a waitress. Juliette was her colleague. "The landlady''s been missing for almost a week, and they still haven''t found her¡­" Vivienne murmured, washing her face. Many people didn''t know that the As You Wish Motel waitresses had a two-and-a-half-hour break; as long as they didn''t cause trouble, they could do whatever they wanted¡ªa remarkably generous benefit. Most people used the break for lunch. Vivienne and Juliette were among them. Hearing Vivienne, Juliette scoffed. "Honestly, it''s better she''s missing. That menopausal hag was so vicious, always taking out her childlessness on everyone. The boss said if you get on her bad side, expect a verbal lashing. Now that she''s gone, everyone''s got peace and quiet." "Psst¡­ don''t talk bad about people behind their backs¡­" Vivienne whispered, holding up a finger. "You''re too soft," Juliette said, grabbing her towel and entering her room. "I''m going for a nap. See you later." Vivienne watched her disappear, shaking her head. Then, she glanced at the mirror on the wall above the sink and saw a dark shadow slip into Juliette''s room. She quickly rubbed her eyes and glanced at Juliette''s room again. There was no movement. "Am I¡­ too tired?" Vivienne muttered, feeling a sudden chill. She quickly gathered her things and went home. "Ugh¡­ strange." Juliette tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Moreover, it was September, a time of crisp autumn weather in Sentinel City, yet she felt intensely cold. She turned off the fan and even put on a light blanket, but the bone-chilling cold persisted. Juliette pulled the blanket tighter, then noticed something wrong. "Who wet my blanket?" She sat up, pulled back the covers, and examined her bedding. The blanket and sheets were completely soaked! "Damn it! Who did this?! Who threw water on my bed?! I''ll kill whoever it is!" Juliette, a woman in her thirties with a fiery temper, shouted at the wall, unsure at whom she was directing her rage. But as she stepped onto the floor, a "plop" sound echoed. Juliette looked down, her eyes widening. What¡­ was this? Why¡­ was the room filled with water? "Did a pipe burst?" Juliette looked around, searching for the source of the water. But she couldn''t find it anywhere. Juliette became increasingly uneasy. Something''s wrong¡­ I need to get out of here! This thought struck Juliette, but as she moved, she discovered something even stranger. The water under her feet felt unusually heavy! Although the water wasn''t deep, only reaching her ankles, it felt impossibly heavy! Juliette panicked; fear, like a wildfire, consumed her. "What¡­ what''s happening?! Help! Can anyone hear me?! Help me!" Her sharp cry should have carried far, perhaps even throughout the motel. But¡­ at that moment, the world was eerily silent. Juliette trembled violently; water dripped from her thighs. This utterly bizarre situation pushed her to the brink of collapse. Then, a drop of water fell onto her forehead, startling her. She instinctively looked up at the ceiling. Instantly! Her eyes widened; the blood drained from her face; she gasped, unable to utter a sound¡­ ... Calm down, calm down¡­ Jiang repeated to herself. She wasn''t cowardly; her childhood experiences had forged a fearless personality. But that didn''t mean she didn''t feel fear. She clearly remembered making the office look ransacked before heading to the restroom on the top floor. But¡­ when she emerged, she was horrified to see her duplicate standing beside Seraphina! Intense fear assaulted her, nearly suffocating her. Jiang covered her mouth, watching Seraphina and "Jiang" enter the elevator. What should I do¡­? That was clearly a ghost! What about Seraphina? Did the ghost attack her? What should I do¡­? Jiang was in profound agony and torment. She covered her head, dejectedly sitting in the corner, her heart a tangle of complex emotions. "Damn it!" Jiang clenched her fist, punching the wall, making a decision. Warn them¡­ she had to warn them! 11:00 AM was their meeting time; if they didn''t realize "Jiang" was an imposter, everyone would die! Even if they couldn''t distinguish the real from the fake, suspicion was enough¡­ With fierce determination, Jiang looked at the dark emergency staircase and entered. Everything unfolded as she expected. But also unexpectedly. Jiang successfully sowed fear and suspicion, but she herself was in grave danger! When "Jiang," along with the others, turned to look at the emergency staircase, the undisguised malice was visible only to Jiang¡­ She fled in terror. "I''ve done all I can¡­" Jiang leaned against the wall of the fourth-floor staircase, a wave of despair washing over her. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air! "What¡­ what''s happening?! Help! Can anyone hear me?! Help me!" Juliette''s sharp cry, from somewhere on the first floor, penetrated the walls and reached Jiang''s ears. "Who¡­ screamed?" The scream''s terror and despair were chilling; Jiang''s immediate reaction was¡ªflee! Get away from the fourth floor! Not for any particular reason, but¡­ it seemed only she could hear the scream! Logically, such a scream should have caused an uproar in the motel, but everything remained eerily calm, as if nothing had happened. Jiang gritted her teeth, about to leave, when she heard a sound. "Click¡ªClick¡ªClick¡ª" Slow, distinct footsteps echoed from the stairs below, growing louder! Jiang''s pupils constricted; goosebumps covered her body. It''s coming, it''s coming for me! Jiang didn''t hesitate; she''d planned to conserve her energy, avoiding strenuous activity.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. But now, she couldn''t afford to worry about that. The approaching footsteps sounded like a death knell, the feeling of imminent death overwhelming Jiang. This terrifying sensation disrupted all her plans; when she stopped, she was breathless, collapsing against the wall. She had reached the sixth floor, only to return. The motel''s layout was such that the staircase was at the end of a narrow hallway on the left, and the two elevators were at the end on the right. Jiang was now next to the elevator on the sixth floor, having raced from the staircase to the elevator. "¡­Should¡­ I abandon it?" Jiang stared at the top of the stairs at the end of the hallway; the pitch-black space seemed like a gateway to hell. Thankfully¡­ the ghost didn''t seem to have followed. Jiang finally exhaled¡­ But at that moment, a sound echoed from the elevator behind her! "Ding¡ª" The sharp chime made Jiang tense; she looked up¡ªthe fifth floor! Someone had taken the elevator to the fifth floor! Who was it? Was it a person? A flurry of thoughts raced through Jiang''s mind; she struggled to regain her composure. No¡­ this won''t do¡­ I need to hide! Jiang slapped her head, forcing herself to remain calm; she looked around, searching for a place to hide. Finally¡­ she spotted a storage room. Jiang slipped into the storage room without hesitation, ignoring the musty smell, closed the door, and hid among the cleaning supplies. The storage room was a small, cramped space tucked into a corner, barely large enough for one person. Fortunately, Jiang wasn''t tall or large. Human willpower to survive is formidable, as demonstrated by Jiang''s current state. Despite her intense fear, she controlled her breathing and remained still, making no unnecessary noise. The darkness of the storage room gnawed at Jiang''s mind. Each minute felt like an eternity. One minute¡­ Three minutes¡­ Five minutes¡­ Jiang felt her pulse, counting the time approximately. Although her rapid heartbeat was unreliable due to her intense anxiety, it served as a distraction, mitigating some of her fear. At that moment, the nearby elevator chimed! "Ding¡­" Someone had arrived on the fifth floor! What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? Jiang clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. The storage room door didn''t close completely; a small gap allowed a faint light to seep through. No one knows I''m here¡­ perhaps they think I''m the ghost? Jiang''s thoughts became chaotic; she even resented her decision to warn everyone. If she hadn''t been so self-important, perhaps she wouldn''t have been targeted¡­ Now, all Jiang could do was pray "he" wouldn''t come here, wouldn''t open the storage room. "Please¡­ don''t open the door¡­ please, don''t open the door¡­" Jiang''s silent plea ended; her eyes widened in terror. Because footsteps echoed from the elevator. "Click, click, click¡­" Closer, closer¡­ "he" was near! Overwhelmed by fear, Jiang covered her mouth; tears streamed down her face; despair filled her heart! "Click, click." The footsteps stopped. Through the gap in the door, Jiang saw a blurry, dark figure. "He" seemed to be looking at her malevolently. It''s over¡­ Jiang''s composure shattered; her eyes were filled with despair¡­ ... Lilith had been pondering a question. Why hadn''t the shapeshifting ghost attacked? "He" had clearly had numerous opportunities to target isolated individuals, yet hadn''t. The most peculiar case was Harrison''s encounter. Harrison seemed to have been deliberately led to Zhang Wen''s room¡­ Therefore, Lilith decided to gamble. Her actions might seem reckless and unbelievable, but perhaps¡­ things were simpler than she thought. ¡­ Legend says that when facing death, memories flash before one''s eyes like a whirlwind. Jiang felt she was experiencing this now. Her parents'' divorce in childhood, her busy father''s neglect, her association with unsavory friends. Jiang knew she wasn''t attractive and that her so-called friends were likely after her money. But she didn''t care. What she cared about was her father''s attention¡­ She even hoped that seeing her downfall, he would beat her severely¡­ But Jiang was disappointed. Her father hadn''t noticed her changes. He was always generous with money, seemingly showering her with affection through financial support¡­ However, while money and love might be equated in society, this wasn''t true in a familial relationship. Jiang became increasingly reckless and defiant. Until Jiang''s birthday, she realized she had truly become bad¡­ She no longer held any expectations for her successful, materialistic father; perhaps she no longer had expectations for anyone. She only trusted herself. After receiving her father''s hurried birthday message, Jiang sneered, opening her door. An empty room; not a home. But¡­ opening the door, Jiang stepped into a space filled with gray fog¡­ From terror to acceptance of death. Jiang had thought she was accustomed to this, but it was self-deception. She was terrified of dying¡­ She didn''t want to die in this cursed fog; she had much left to live for. But¡­ all this would vanish under the gaze from that doorway¡­ Jiang closed her eyes in despair; she heard the storage room door open. She bowed her head, knowing it was futile. "Creak¡ª" The door opened. A beam of light shone in. But instead of the expected horror, a familiar voice echoed. "Miss Jiang." It was Lilith! Jiang looked up; it was Lilith, opening the storage room door! At that moment, Jiang felt as if she had encountered a savior¡ªor rather, for her, Lilith was a savior! No one knew how terrified and anxious she was, but in this desperate situation, Lilith had appeared! "Come on, Miss Jiang." Lilith extended her hand, long and slender. Jiang stared, still reeling from the sudden shift in her emotions. She instinctively reached out and took Lilith''s hand. Cold. Her hand was icy cold¡­ Jiang trembled, then was gently pulled from the storage room by Lilith. "You''re in extreme danger, Miss Jiang," Lilith said, observing her. Jiang felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. It felt strange; she hadn''t felt this shy in years. "You¡­ came looking for me?" Jiang looked up at Lilith, her expression softened. Lilith smiled faintly, remaining silent. "Let''s go. I''ll take you to the first floor." Lilith said, turning and leading her to the elevator, pressing the button. "Ding¡­" The elevator was waiting on the sixth floor and opened. Standing before the elevator, with the long hallway behind them, a sudden chill, dampness, and discomfort filled the air the moment the elevator doors opened, causing Jiang to instinctively recoil. But Lilith didn''t seem to notice, still smiling at her. "Don''t delay, Miss Jiang. This place isn''t safe." Although she knew Lilith was right, Jiang hesitated to enter the elevator. It was an inexplicable feeling, making her deeply uncomfortable. But¡­ Lilith stepped into the elevator, pressing the button, waiting for her. Under her gaze, Jiang hesitated, then¡­ stepped forward. "Wait!" Suddenly! A distant call echoed. The voice came from the end of the hallway, near the staircase! "Wait," although a simple word, sounded like a death sentence to Jiang. Because she had just heard that voice! Jiang abruptly turned, looking towards the end of the hallway. A pretty young woman stood there¡ªLilith! Another Lilith! A chill shot down her spine; Jiang didn''t even glance back at the Lilith in the elevator, taking several strides into the hallway. "Click." The Lilith in the elevator stepped out, leaning forward, anxiously looking at Jiang. "Miss Jiang! What are you doing? Don''t trust her! Come here!" Her urgency was palpable; one foot was wedged in the elevator door; her expression was far from calm. However, the other Lilith, who had run from the staircase, remained silent, calmly watching Jiang and the elevator, her expression unchanging. The truth was apparent at a glance. But for Jiang, choosing wrong meant being killed by a powerful ghost! Killed in the fog-world! What should I do¡­? Who is real? Who is fake? Jiang leaned against the wall, glancing from left to right. The Lilith by the elevator was sweating, while the Lilith by the staircase remained calm and impassive, her gaze not shifting between the two. "Miss Jiang, if you don''t come, I''m leaving!" The Lilith by the elevator seemed impatient; she retracted her foot, and simultaneously, the Lilith by the staircase took a step towards Jiang! Thump-thump¡­ Thump-thump¡­ Thump-thump¡­ Jiang''s heart pounded like a drum; blood rushed to her head; bloodshot eyes darted back and forth! Who is real, who is fake? "I''m going!" The Lilith by the elevator issued a final warning; her foot retracted, as if she was about to leave. Jiang''s heart lurched; she made her decision! She ran towards the Lilith by the staircase! Lilith felt a strange, subtle emotion at Jiang''s choice¡ªthe first time someone had recognized her. This feeling¡­ was peculiar. Especially when Jiang unhesitatingly grabbed her sleeve and hid behind her. This strange feeling intensified¡­ After careful consideration, Lilith realized it was¡­ the joy of trust. And¡­ it felt good. Lilith looked down at her, remaining silent, then glanced at the elevator. Good. Jiang had made the right choice; the Lilith by the staircase was the real Lilith. The one in the elevator now had undisguised malevolence in its eyes. Then¡­ the elevator doors closed. Watching the figure disappear, Jiang finally exhaled. She had also seen the "Lilith"''s eyes; she was now certain the person beside her was the real Lilith. But¡­ a blush crept onto Jiang''s cheeks; she hadn''t expected the real Lilith to come to her rescue. Especially at such great risk. However, if Jiang knew Lilith''s true motives, she might be disappointed. Saving her was secondary; the primary reason was to confirm Lilith''s hypothesis. And now, Lilith was certain. "He" had retreated again. Before two humans, "he" had once again chosen to withdraw. This meant the shapeshifting ghost, for some reason, was incapable of killing! Perhaps because of its ability to shapeshift, it had lost other supernatural powers, its strength on par with a human. Or perhaps "it" had some restriction preventing it from attacking humans. In any case, this was good news¡ªa great opportunity for Lilith to take greater risks. At this thought, Lilith''s expression brightened. She looked down at Jiang, asking, "Elevator or stairs, Miss Jiang?" Jiang glared at her. "Stairs." Lilith nodded, turning towards the stairs. For her, the elevator and stairs were the same; she was certain the ghost posed no threat. She even regretted not opening the door to "him" when she first woke up; she might have obtained valuable information. At this thought, Lilith felt a pang of regret. Despite this, if given the same opportunity at dawn, she would make the same decision. Observing Lilith''s pensive expression, Jiang was struck by a realization. Even now, she couldn''t believe this newcomer had actually come to rescue her. But¡­ only newcomers and fools would do such a thing in the fog gathering¡­ However, Jiang didn''t dislike fools; it was their self-sacrificing foolishness that made everyone in the fog gathering feel human, alive¡­ ... Harrison was watching someone. Or rather, a waitress. He had received startling information from Lilith: Ravenna was dead. And had become a ghost, hiding under Lilith''s bed. So¡­ where were Magnus Crowe''s wife, Lillian Pearl, and Ravenna''s husband? Had they both disappeared mysteriously? And Magnus Crowe, due to it being Sunday, hadn''t appeared at the motel. Mysteries swirled in Harrison''s mind, but he wasn''t trying to solve them all; he just needed to survive. This was valuable wisdom gleaned from the fog gathering. Never speculate; wait for the deadline. Don''t delve too deep, getting lost in the fog. Both could lead to quick death. Therefore, searching in different directions was the best strategy. Through his investigation, Harrison had learned Ravenna''s husband''s name, Ding Peng, and the waitress assigned to them, Nathaniel. Ding Peng was Magnus Crowe''s younger brother; Nathaniel was specifically assigned to look after Ding Peng and his wife. But¡­ Nathaniel seemed suspicious. "Nathaniel¡­ Nathaniel, should we call the police? This will be exposed sooner or later. If¡­ if¡­" Harrison hid around a corner, overhearing a low male voice in the hallway. It seemed to be¡­ about calling the police? "Mind your own business," Nathaniel said, his eyes dark as he looked at the thin man. "Consider it unseen. We''ll get paid. If you interfere¡­" "But¡­ but¡­" the thin man stammered, terrified. He wore the same uniform as Nathaniel, apparently another motel employee. Nathaniel impatiently glared at him. The thin man, Wang Sheng, was a timid, conflict-averse individual. "The¡­ the landlady''s been there for almost a week. With this heat, the smell should have been discovered by now, but¡­ but why¡­" Wang Sheng seemed to remember something, stammering. "No¡­ it''s not¡­ the landlady turned into a ghost?" "Enough!" Nathaniel shoved Wang Sheng against the wall, shouting, "What ghost?! Shut your mouth! Later¡­ we get paid, and we leave. We keep what we saw to ourselves!" Wang Sheng, timid and indecisive, didn''t dare to say anything more. Nathaniel released him. He frowned at his hand. "Why is your shoulder wet?" Wet? Wang Sheng turned to look; his shoulder was indeed wet. He scratched his head, confused. "I¡­ I don''t know. Maybe there''s a leak in the ceiling?" He instinctively looked up at the ceiling. His eyes widened; his face paled! The ceiling was soaked, and¡­ Wang Sheng clearly saw¡­ the wet patches forming a distinct, pale female face! Terrified, Wang Sheng collapsed to the floor, his face devoid of color, his fingers trembling as he pointed at the ceiling, screaming, "Ghost¡­ ghost! There''s a ghost!" Wang Sheng''s sudden, shrill scream startled not only Nathaniel but also Harrison, who was hiding nearby, causing him to break into a cold sweat. Nathaniel, bolder than Wang Sheng, looked up at the ceiling after his initial shock. The white wall above was indeed damp, but the wet patches seemed unremarkable. Nathaniel glared at Wang Sheng. "Stop your damn yelling!" Wang Sheng rubbed his eyes and cautiously looked at the ceiling again. But this time, the damp patches were unremarkable; there was no face. "But¡­ I clearly saw¡­" "Shut up!" Nathaniel interrupted, grabbing Wang Sheng by the collar, his expression ferocious. "If you keep this up, I''ll make sure you join her in the water tank." Water tank? Harrison, hiding nearby, knew something important; Nathaniel and Wang Sheng''s argument had ended. Harrison glanced around, a thought striking him. He silently left. Water tank¡­ The motel''s water tank was on the top floor. Should he investigate? Or¡­ should he wait until the 6:00 PM meeting to tell everyone? After a moment''s hesitation, Harrison made his decision. He would go and investigate. It was risky, but it could reveal the identity of the deceased. Besides, from the moment they entered this world, they''d been in constant danger. Waiting passively for death was worse than taking the initiative; perhaps he could find a solution. Besides, it was only the first day; the full horror of the ghost wasn''t yet clear¡­ With this in mind, Harrison hurried towards the elevator; it was descending from the sixth floor. He hesitated, standing before the elevator. Then, the elevator arrived. "Ding¡­" The doors opened, and as Harrison was about to enter, he saw someone inside. "Ms. Hollow?" Harrison was surprised; he thought Lilith was leaving the motel to investigate. "Hello, Mr. Harrison," Lilith smiled faintly. "I thought you were going out with Ms. Graves?" "I remembered something and decided to come back," Lilith explained. Harrison was relieved. "That''s great! I also discovered something. Shall we go together?" He instinctively reached for Lilith''s wrist. A chill! Harrison recoiled, startled; just as he was about to voice his suspicion, Lilith replied, "Oh? Then let''s go together." Lilith''s agreement quelled Harrison''s suspicion; he quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button for the sixth floor. Harrison explained his plan and the information he''d just overheard. From the secretive waitresses to the hidden water tank. Lilith listened impassively, showing no reaction. The elevator ascended. Two people stood in the confined space, yet a profound unease washed over Harrison¡­ A familiar feeling¡­ The atmosphere in the elevator was unsettling¡­ Once the strange thought took root, it grew rapidly amidst the fear. The unease intensified, making Harrison tremble slightly. Something''s wrong! Although Lilith wasn''t talkative, she wasn''t this silent¡­ Could¡­ she be a ghost? Harrison shivered. Then, he instinctively dismissed the thought. Impossible¡­ "he" had disguised himself as Phineas earlier; why would he target him again? Lilith, not Harrison, was the Cursed One. Even if he were extraordinarily unlucky to encounter a ghost, it was impossible to encounter two consecutively? At this thought, Harrison felt slightly reassured. Then, the elevator reached the sixth floor. No problem¡­ Lilith wasn''t a ghost. If she were, she would have attacked in the elevator¡­ Harrison''s fear subsided; he looked at Lilith''s back and exhaled. But then, he noticed a large bump on the back of Lilith''s head. Stepping out of the elevator, Harrison caught up with her. "Ms. Hollow¡­ what happened to your head?" Lilith didn''t turn, continuing to walk. "Nothing. I bumped into something." Harrison nodded, thinking nothing of it. Then, he realized something was amiss. Why was Lilith leading the way? Where was she going? Could it be¡­? Just as suspicion arose, Lilith said, "Excuse me, Mr. Harrison. I really need to use the restroom." Harrison sighed, thinking he was being overly cautious. If this continued, he would go mad. His bladder suddenly felt urgent. "No problem. I need to go too. Let''s go together." Harrison quickened his pace, smiling. They walked towards the restroom at the end of the hallway; sunlight streamed through the windows. Oddly, the bright sunlight seemed to cast a dim shadow on the wall. It was still afternoon; the sun shouldn''t be setting yet¡­ Just as Harrison thought this, Lilith stopped. Harrison looked up; they had reached the restroom. They quickly entered. The girl went to the urinals without hesitation; Lilith was even quicker than Harrison. She was already at the sink. Harrison trembled, feeling disconcerted as he watched Lilith''s back. Why¡­ wasn''t she looking at him? But¡­ this newcomer was always strange; her actions weren''t unusual¡­ Harrison found an explanation and dismissed his suspicion. After relieving himself, Harrison considered the water tank, walking towards the sink. Lilith was still splashing water on her face. Harrison paid no attention, until¡­ he noticed that the water dripping from between her fingers was red! Harrison recoiled, taking several steps back until he bumped against the wall with a soft thud. Lilith noticed the sound; she looked up, still not turning around. But this time, there was a mirror in front of Lilith. And through the mirror, Harrison saw her face. But it was¡­ a decaying woman face. In the mirror, the drastically altered face glared at him with hatred and malice. Chapter 5: Save "Drip¡­ drip¡­" Lilith, descending the stairs with Jiang, suddenly looked up, tilting her head to listen. Jiang, noticing her sudden stop, paused. "What is it?" Lilith frowned, gazing upwards. Although she couldn''t see anything, she sensed something was happening¡­ "Miss Jiang, do you hear¡­ dripping?" Lilith''s words startled Jiang; she listened carefully. Following Lilith''s lead, she heard a faint dripping sound¡­ very subtle, almost imperceptible without the motel''s unusual silence. "Something''s wrong¡­" Lilith murmured, looking at Jiang. "Go ahead, Miss Jiang. I need to go back to the sixth floor." Jiang''s face fell; she hadn''t expected Lilith to do this, but¡­ she couldn''t go alone from the dark staircase to the first floor! Besides¡­ although unspoken, Lilith provided a sense of security. This woman¡­ seemed fearless? So, Jiang didn''t hesitate. "I''ll go with you!" Lilith didn''t dissuade her; she simply nodded. "Let''s go then." They turned and began heading back to the sixth floor. ... Despair filled every corner of Harrison''s being. Before his eyes, the decaying face slowly turned. The water in the sink had overflowed¡­ The water spread towards Harrison; he retreated in terror, backing into the hallway. Harrison''s eyes widened; he vaguely saw a woman''s form in the water¡­ Who¡­ was that? "Who¡­ who are you?" Although Harrison was close to collapse, he instinctively asked. Unsurprisingly, neither "he" nor "she" answered. Then, before Harrison''s terrified eyes, the figure in the water emerged! First, a pale arm, then a head with long, tangled hair; her body was grotesquely contorted, collapsing onto the floor, boneless and limp. Harrison tried to stand, to flee. But it was too late¡­ The transformed "man" had silently blocked his escape route. And before him was the figure in the water. A desperate situation! "It''s over¡­ I''m dead¡­" Harrison trembled; his mind was a chaos. His eyes were wide open, yet he couldn''t see the woman''s face clearly. He only felt the boneless, contorted figure reach out, seizing his throat¡­ A suffocating sensation overwhelmed him; Harrison frantically kicked, trying to pry the fingers from his neck. But it was useless; Harrison felt the ice¡­ The icy cold¡­ And dampness, as if submerged underwater¡­ "Damn¡­ damn it¡­" The color drained from Harrison''s face; his veins bulged in his neck; tears and saliva flowed uncontrollably. Harrison could clearly feel his life ebbing away¡­ ... The dripping sound grew louder. Lilith quickened her pace; the distance from the fourth to the sixth floor wasn''t great, so she arrived quickly. Jiang followed closely, bracing herself¡­ ¡­for a ghostly encounter. Lilith must have discovered something to return to the sixth floor so urgently. They quickly reached the sixth floor. But¡­ the sight before them stunned Jiang. She had imagined many scenarios, but not this? Harrison, the thirty-something office worker, was desperately strangling himself at the top of the stairs! His eyes were bloodshot, yet he continued to tighten his grip! Veins bulged in his hands; he was trying to suffocate himself! "Help!" Lilith''s shout cut through Jiang''s confused thoughts and rising fear; she instinctively obeyed. Lilith forcefully pried Harrison''s fingers apart while shouting his name. "Mr. Harrison? What''s wrong, Mr. Harrison?" Jiang quickly arrived and joined Lilith; they pulled at Harrison''s fingers from opposite sides, but it was useless! It was unbelievable how strong Harrison was! Lilith knew her own strength; at Industry City Psychiatric Hospital, she had consistently trained her body. While not as strong as a professional athlete, she possessed significantly more strength and speed than an average person. Yet¡­ this strength wasn''t enough to pry Harrison''s fingers apart! Lilith stared at him; Harrison seemed trapped in a nightmare, unresponsive to calls; his face was turning blue; he was about to strangle himself to death! For some reason, this bizarre scene felt familiar to Lilith, yet she couldn''t recall it. This was unusual; Lilith rarely forgot things, yet she couldn''t place this uncanny familiarity. "No¡­ no!" Jiang gasped, "We can''t pry his fingers apart!" She was using all her strength, but the sight before her was terrifying and despairing; Harrison''s body seemed controlled by another, exhibiting superhuman strength, intent on killing himself! "Get out of the way!" Lilith said abruptly. Jiang moved aside; as she did, she saw a blur, then a solid strike to Harrison''s elbow! "Crack¡ª" Jiang''s eyes widened in disbelief as Lilith, elegant and composed, had swiftly broken Harrison''s elbow joint with a kick! Harrison''s right elbow was grotesquely twisted; the sight was excruciating. Before Jiang could react, Lilith struck again! "Snap¡ª" Harrison''s left arm also broke! Although brutal, Harrison''s life was saved! His arms were twisted at unnatural angles, broken by Lilith''s powerful kicks; finally, Harrison''s grip loosened. Only then did Jiang understand Lilith''s actions. She looked at Lilith, who remained calm, stroking Harrison''s face, trying to wake him. Jiang herself didn''t realize the emotion in her eyes¡ªawe¡­ similar to the feeling of encountering a ghost¡­ ... Harrison woke up in pain. Along with the intense pain came a wave of relief. I''m still alive?! His arms hung limp, grotesquely twisted at unnatural angles, as if forcibly broken. The reality was much as he had suspected. But¡­ he was alive; that was enough. Harrison struggled to articulate his emotions; thankfully, Lilith didn''t give him time to dwell on it. "Mr. Harrison, what did you find?" Lilith''s tone was calm but unusually urgent. Her voice reminded Harrison of their shared predicament; he understood who his savior was. Without hesitation, fueled by his recent terror, he said, enduring the pain, "Let''s go. To the roof! There''s something hidden in the water tank on the roof!" Lilith nodded; she and Jiang supported him on either side, heading towards the stairs. The elevator didn''t go to the roof, but the stairs did. ... "Huff¡­ huff¡­" Adrian tried to suppress his breathing, but still made a slight sound. His throat felt torn and raw. His body was covered in wounds, but his pale face was far more alarming. Death¡­ someone had died! Since separating, Adrian had heard three screams! Besides Victoria, who had died inexplicably, the others¡­ Flora Bloom, Victor Weston, and Julian Falkner! Julian was a veteran of the fog gathering! He had survived countless terrifying tasks, returning safely each time, but this time¡­ he was dead. Dead in this nameless mansion; they didn''t even know the year! No¡­ something was wrong. Hiding behind a wardrobe, Adrian desperately tried to think. "Do not open your eyes when you see a mirror. Do not look back when you hear a call¡­" The riddle clearly stated two taboos; following them should have been enough¡­ Could¡­ the riddle contain a hidden trap? Adrian held his head, analyzing each word. Mirrors¡­ calls¡­ Opening eyes¡­ turning around¡­ Why couldn''t they look in mirrors? Was it because the mirrors reflected the¡­ entities? Possibly¡­ No! A sudden insight struck Adrian; the riddle contained a trap, but it wasn''t a lie; it simply¡­ omitted information! Why couldn''t they look in mirrors? Because they might see the entities reflected! So¡­ besides mirrors, what else could reflect images? Adrian finally recalled a fleeting thought from Victoria''s death. Victoria hadn''t looked in a mirror, yet she had died mysteriously. Why? Adrian finally understood¡­ Victoria had an instinctive habit, common to many¡ªwhen speaking, she liked to look into the other person''s eyes! In a conversation, looking into someone''s eyes was polite, but Victoria did it habitually; she always looked into the other person''s eyes while speaking!If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. This habit might have been related to her profession, but it was too late now¡­ It was the eyes! No¡­ it was anything that could reflect an image! They couldn''t look into anything reflective! Adrian finally understood the key, but¡­ including himself, only four remained alive! He had to warn them¡­ otherwise, the others would likely die too! Adrian''s expression shifted rapidly. He wasn''t a saint; the people in the fog gathering weren''t all benevolent; for survival, he''d witnessed countless vile acts; human nature was unreliable in such a place. As Lu Xun once wrote, "Downstairs, a man is dying; next door, a phonograph is playing; opposite, a child is being abused. Upstairs, two people are laughing hysterically; there''s the sound of cards being played. On a boat in the river, a woman is weeping for her dead mother. Human joys and sorrows are not interlinked; I only find them noisy." Human joys and sorrows are not interlinked¡­ At this thought, Adrian seemed to abandon his plan to leave the wardrobe. But almost instantly, he emerged from the shadows, searching in the darkness. Yes¡­ human joys and sorrows are not interlinked; indifference and self-preservation are innate human traits. But¡­ Adrian preferred to believe human indifference stemmed from "powerless concern," not cold-blooded selfishness. Adrian felt he now fully understood the riddle''s meaning; by paying close attention, he could help others without endangering himself. Hopefully¡­ Meanwhile. Lucas was hiding with a newcomer, Cassandra. Under extreme fear, people typically react in two ways: psychological collapse and despair, or frantic hysteria. Cassandra was clearly the latter. After witnessing various unimaginable horrors, she seemed to have completely lost her mind. If Lucas hadn''t covered her mouth, she would have screamed and acted recklessly. "Calm down! Listen to me, we can survive!" Lucas''s low voice was a final attempt to control Cassandra''s emotions; if she continued like this, he would abandon her. Thankfully, Cassandra seemed to hear the word "survive"; the frantic look in her eyes softened slightly; she looked at Lucas, finally showing some composure. Lucas pulled her along; they hid in a bedroom on the second floor. Pitch-black night outside; no stars or moon visible; the wind rustled through the nearby trees, as if something was scraping its teeth in the darkness. Lucas held his head; despite saying "we can survive," a desperate thought haunted him: only one person might survive¡ªAdrian. The Cursed One, Adrian! But¡­ at least he was still alive. "Listen¡­" Lucas stood up to speak to Cassandra when she suddenly covered his mouth. Cassandra''s expression was terrified; she pointed towards the door, then her mouth, frantically shaking her head. Lucas understood; he fell silent. Then¡­ he heard it. "Swish¡ª" "Swish¡ª" Something¡­ was approaching! It sounded as if something was being dragged; it slowly passed the bedroom. Lucas suppressed his fear, peering out through the crack in the door. His pupils constricted! Flora Bloom! It was Flora Bloom''s corpse! Lucas frantically covered his mouth. At that moment! Flora''s eyes flickered; she seemed to have seen the eyes in the crack. Intense light filled her eyes; her blood-filled mouth opened and closed; she was begging! She was begging Lucas to save her! Flora''s will to live was so intense; she wasn''t dead yet! She still had a breath left! But¡­ the truly despairing event occurred¡­ The eyes in the crack¡­ disappeared. He abandoned her¡­ he abandoned her¡­ Unthinkable resentment and despair filled her being; she hadn''t been like this. Vibrant, beautiful, popular¡­ these words described Flora''s life. But¡­ all changed the day she opened that door. Everything changed. Lucas cautiously moved away from the crack, shaking his head at Cassandra. Although Flora''s desperate plea had moved him, he didn''t believe he could save her. Everyone knew what dragged her away. It was a ghost. An insurmountable ghost! No priests, monks, temples, gods, or Buddhas could help! Skeptics had tried: bringing amulets, hiding in temples, but¡­ this world seemed devoid of gods and demons, only terrifying spirits formed from pure malice! Their sole purpose was to drag the living into their hell! But from the moment they entered the fog gathering, they were already in hell. Lucas sneered; his heart was filled with bitter despair and resentment. The fog gathering had existed for an unknown time, silently claiming countless brilliant minds and beautiful faces. Flora was one more; her absence wouldn''t be missed. In the face of death, all were equal. Therefore, although Lucas felt something, it was more sorrow than guilt or anxiety. He looked out at the black night; his eyes were calm. He knew he was slightly more intelligent than average but not a genius. He didn''t know when the ghost would find him and kill him here¡­ ... As You Wish Motel. Harrison''s face was pale; sweat plastered his hair to his forehead; he occasionally glanced at Lilith. He had learned the whole story from Jiang. Including Lilith hearing the dripping, then returning to pry his fingers apart, ultimately breaking his arms to save his life. Although Lilith had saved him, Harrison found that Lilith''s calm demeanor sent a chill down his spine. "That''s what happened. The two waitresses seemed to have witnessed the murder; according to them, the body is hidden in the water tank." Harrison recounted what he knew. The three of them stood on the roof; the door had been opened by Jiang, who seemed adept at opening unfamiliar locks. Before them were three large blue water tanks, four meters tall, with lids on top. Lilith''s gaze shifted between the three tanks; she said nothing. She had been silent and pensive since leaving the sixth floor. Jiang was talking to Harrison; Lilith had only listened. It wasn''t disinterest; she''d noticed something peculiar. The ghost''s method of killing. It was strange. Why would a ghost care about the method of killing? Mysterious, bizarre, terrifying, inexplicable¡ªthis was how ghosts usually killed. But¡­ the scene with Harrison had given Lilith a bold hypothesis. Strangling himself, seemingly in a frenzy¡­ combined with Harrison''s account. She saw a woman in the water and a completely transformed man, indicating¡­ at least three dead people, likely one man and two women. The missing persons were¡­ Magnus Crowe''s wife, Lillian Pearl; Magnus Crowe''s brother, Ding Peng; and¡­ Ding Peng''s wife, Ravenna. Now¡­ all three seemed to have become ghosts¡­ "What a wonderful place. Even after death, they become ghosts¡­" Lilith''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Harrison felt uneasy; Jiang looked at Lilith in surprise. Lilith was too unusual¡­ although she acted normally, she was too normal for the fog gathering. Normal¡­ was abnormal. Would a normal person seek out ghosts? Would a normal person approach a ghost? Would a normal person return to investigate a ghostly sound? Even¡­ her expression remained unchanged when she broke Harrison''s arms. Jiang found Lilith increasingly strange; she showed no fear, and even when smiling, Jiang sensed no genuine amusement. Lilith finally sensed the awkward atmosphere caused by her behavior, but she felt helpless. She considered herself not unkind, but¡­ she found it difficult to experience the four basic human emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, and fear. As for the nuances of these basic emotions¡ªcontentment, joy, delight, exhilaration, elation, anger, irritation, rage, disappointment, regret, sorrow, grief, surprise, fear, terror, horror¡ªshe found them even harder to experience and observe. It seems I need to be more expressive in the future. Lilith mused. This was necessary to alleviate everyone''s unease. Although disguising herself wasn''t difficult, she didn''t want to waste time. But an emotionless face was unnerving; Lilith understood their concern. "Miss Jiang, step on my shoulders to climb up," Lilith said, examining the three water tanks. The four-meter-tall tanks were inaccessible without a ladder; Lilith wanted to check them herself but couldn''t ask a woman to step on her. Harrison was too injured. Hearing Lilith, Jiang felt relief, as if a weight had been lifted. Regardless of Lilith''s peculiarities, she knew he had saved her and Harrison; that was enough. Even if he were insane, a crazy person who saved others in a crisis was far superior to a self-righteous moralist. Harrison also recovered, his gaze complex, but trusting Lilith implicitly. "I''ll stand by the door and listen for any sounds," Harrison volunteered. Lilith nodded. Jiang took a deep breath, approaching Lilith, who was now crouching. "I weigh 43 kilograms. Is that okay?" Lilith nodded again, patting his shoulder. "No problem." Jiang removed her shoes and carefully stepped onto Lilith''s shoulders, but¡­ she underestimated Lilith''s strength. Although Lilith''s physique was unremarkable, her body was exceptionally toned. "Ah¡­" Jiang gasped; the shoulder she was stepping on suddenly rose, Lilith effortlessly straightening up. She''s so strong¡­ A strange thought flashed through Jiang''s mind. "Almost there, Miss Jiang?" Lilith''s voice brought Jiang back to the present; she grabbed the edge of the water tank''s lid, pulling herself up. Jiang wasn''t a newcomer; for survival, those in the fog gathering would train their bodies after their first encounter; sometimes, a little extra speed was the difference between life and death. Therefore, Jiang was reasonably fit. She slowly climbed; her right hand grasped the lid, applying pressure. The lid wasn''t locked; with minimal effort, a gap appeared. Jiang swallowed, cautiously peering into the tank. It''s cold¡­ And dark¡­ Besides that, nothing seemed unusual. But, just as Jiang thought this, the water in the tank began to churn! Almost instantly, a pale corpse rose from the depths! Jiang''s eyes widened; she suppressed her fear and nausea as she looked. It was a woman. An enormous woman! Or rather, an enormous corpse! A wave of nausea washed over Jiang; she only glanced at it before her stomach churned violently. The corpse was highly decomposed; her lips were ashen. Her chest and stomach were swollen, distended as if filled with water; her limbs were bloated and thick. Strangely, this repulsive, decaying corpse was odorless. "Put me down!" Jiang shouted urgently. Lilith didn''t know what she had seen, but hearing the urgency in her voice, quickly lowered her. Jiang scrambled down, not even bothering to put on her shoes, rushing to the side. Lilith and Harrison looked at her. She leaned over, retching violently. Since she hadn''t eaten anything, only stomach acid came up. After finally regaining her composure, she said, her face pale, "It''s a female corpse. I don''t know who it is; it''s completely bloated." Lilith showed no reaction, but Harrison vomited violently. He remembered their breakfast. Did this cursed motel use water from the tank? "Miss Jiang, was there only one corpse?" Lilith asked seriously. Jiang nodded in confirmation. Lilith looked at the other two tanks. "Then¡­ I''ll trouble you once more." Jiang shook her head; Lilith was the one being troubled. Suppressing her nausea, she again stepped onto Lilith''s shoulders and looked into the second tank. Unlike before, this corpse wasn''t suddenly revealed; Jiang saw it floating in the water. "Mr. Harrison! It''s him! The disfigured ghost you described!" Jiang carefully examined the male corpse, her voice rising when she saw his face. Earlier, Harrison had said he was stopped by two ghosts; one disguised as Lilith, but the other''s true form was a disfigured man with a mangled face. After Lilith helped Jiang down, she felt much better; although still nauseous, she wasn''t vomiting. Only one tank remained; if another female corpse were found, things would become clear. Jiang smoothly climbed onto Lilith''s shoulders and opened the final tank. Despite being prepared, the sight before her was completely unexpected. "Huh? There''s nothing in here!" Jiang checked again. But¡­ there was truly nothing. The dark tank was filled with water; no corpses or objects were visible. Something''s wrong. Lilith''s mind raced; her deductions must be flawed. Things¡­ weren''t as simple as she thought? Lilith helped Jiang down; after putting on her shoes, she and Harrison exchanged glances. They couldn''t understand Lilith''s sudden change in demeanor; such a shift in expression was unbelievable. She could remain impassive even when encountering a ghost. "Ms. Hollow, is there a problem?" Harrison, after a moment''s hesitation, asked. Lilith, gathering her thoughts, nodded. Looking at them, she said, "There are three ghosts, but only two bodies. One is missing." Jiang and Harrison exchanged glances, both confused. One body was missing; what did that mean? Seeing their confusion, Lilith explained, "Our goal is to find the ghost''s weakness: the cause of death, the murder weapon, and its greatest fear. But two bodies were found in the water tanks, suggesting they were killed by the same person, or one was discovered after being dumped, the killer then mimicking the crime and disposing of a second body." Both understood her meaning. A third body, a missing female corpse! Who had killed her? How had she died? Even following Lilith''s second hypothesis, a killer was still missing! Seeing Jiang and the weakened Harrison lost in thought, Lilith remained silent. But she had another, unspoken, suspicion. Why? Why had all three deceased become ghosts? Was it something about this place, or was this a rule of the fog gathering? If it was this place, then surely more than three people had died on this land! So¡­ was the As You Wish Motel inherently cursed, or had something changed, turning the deceased into spirits? Lilith frowned; if her thoughts were known to the others, she would be labeled insane. Because¡­ she was investigating the origin of the ghosts! "Regardless, we''ve found two bodies; things are simpler now. Finding the killer and forcing them to reveal the murder weapon and method will significantly increase our chances of success," Harrison sighed; it was only the first day; the task lasted seven days; he hadn''t expected such rapid progress, nor such extreme danger! Encountering a powerful ghost on the first day, almost losing their lives, was incredibly rare. The fog gathering tasks seemed¡­ to have become significantly more challenging. This was only the third task; the third was supposed to be the easiest. Adrian had a survival task¡­ At this thought, Harrison''s expression changed. Something''s wrong! Adrian''s survival task was the second one! Could it be¡­ that the fog gathering considered Wei Tu''s time-limited task more dangerous than a survival task? "Mr. Harrison, what''s wrong?" Jiang noticed Harrison''s expression, thinking he''d discovered something. Harrison shook his head, his face pale, saying nothing. Why had the fog gathering suddenly changed so inexplicably? A newcomer as the Cursed One, a survival task as the second one, and¡­ increasingly aggressive ghosts¡­ trying to kill them on the first day¡­ What was happening¡­? At that moment, Lilith spoke. "Miss Jiang, Mr. Harrison is injured; please look after him. I suddenly remembered something¡­" Lilith''s excuse was flimsy; she¡¯d used it many times before, but her intention was clear. She was going to act alone. Jiang wasn''t foolish; she understood the implication, feeling a slight pang of disappointment. She knew Lilith acting alone was the correct decision. After these events, both Jiang and Harrison understood that Lilith couldn''t be considered an ordinary newcomer. She was perceptive, intelligent, decisive, physically capable, and most importantly¡­ she didn''t seem to fear ghosts. They couldn''t imagine a fearful expression on Lilith''s beautiful face. "Yes, I''ll take care of Mr. Harrison," Jiang said seriously. Lilith nodded, relieved. Frankly, Jiang and Harrison were somewhat of a hindrance. But¡­ Lilith didn''t dislike this burden. Didn''t humans live by shouldering burdens? Before leaving, Lilith glanced at them, saying, "Pay attention to the water." Jiang and Lilith exchanged glances, then nodded seriously. Lilith, saying nothing more, turned and left the roof. She had many questions to answer. Two bodies had been found; according to Jiang, the female corpse showed no obvious cause of death, only bloating. The male corpse''s face was severely disfigured, making identification impossible. The cause of the male''s death was questionable, but the reason for the disfigurement was clear. It was likely emotional; the killer knew the victim; they couldn''t face the victim''s features, or they intensely hated them, wanting to destroy them even in death. Or, by disfiguring the victim, they gained something¡­ The first reason was simple. If it was the second, then¡­ the absence of the person responsible was a significant problem. Although Lilith always felt something was wrong. After all, the person most deeply involved, the one still missing, was Magnus Crowe. With this in mind, Lilith pressed the elevator button. She didn''t worry about encountering ghosts; she had a general idea of how they killed. And¡­ she''d warned Harrison and Jiang. Water. It was always present during each encounter. Perhaps¡­ the ghosts used water as a medium to kill. Although her hypothesis was logical, Lilith felt something was amiss. She wasn''t omniscient; she noticed this unease but couldn''t pinpoint the problem. For now, she had no better option; in the fog gathering, humans were always at a disadvantage. Exiting the elevator, Lilith returned to the first floor. The motel was quite large. She navigated the corridors, retracing her steps from her encounter with Harrison, finding the staff break room. This was why Lilith hadn''t wanted to work with Harrison and Jiang. Harrison''s expression would be priceless if he knew Lilith was returning to the place where he''d encountered the ghost. If she recalled correctly, Harrison had said it was at the end of the hallway, near the restroom. Lilith walked, glancing upwards. Magnus Crowe, at least, treated his employees well; each had a private room on the first floor. She soon stopped before a restroom. This must be it. Although it was daytime, the lighting was poor; dim yellow lights hung in the hallway; a strange odor permeated the hallway from the moment Lilith entered. The snow-white walls were scratched with strange marks. Water, seemingly casually splashed after cleaning, lay on the floor; under the dim light, it appeared almost black, like¡­ blood. "Knock knock knock¡ª" Lilith knocked. The atmosphere was strange and dangerous. But¡­ even she had to risk her life; this was the fog gathering¡­ a deadly game; where life was hidden, only the heavens knew. Lilith was simply trying to resolve her suspicions. Safety? She couldn''t guarantee it; in such a place, who could? The door quickly opened. "You are¡­" Zhang Wen''s expression was normal; her eyes scanned Lilith. "A reporter." Lilith said, pulling out a pen and paper from her pocket¡ªleftovers from her sketching. "Didn''t a reporter come earlier¡­? Your newspaper is strange¡­" Zhang Wen looked suspicious but seemed to believe Lilith, seeing her calm demeanor. But Lilith noticed something in Zhang Wen''s words. A reporter¡­ She had said "a," not "another." She knew about the shapeshifting ghost. Without hesitation, Lilith sat at Zhang Wen''s desk, crossing her legs, holding the pen and paper. "Tell us, Miss Zhang. What do you want to tell us?" Chapter 6: Reason If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ... Chapter 7: Twin Phineas stared at the closed door, a sudden dryness in his mouth. A hallucination? The terror had been real; Phineas touched his neck; a dull ache confirmed it. It hadn''t all been a hallucination¡­ It was a warning, a stark warning! If he recklessly entered again, it would be life-threatening. He no longer cared what was hidden inside; he wouldn''t risk it. But¡­ as he turned to leave, he heard¡­ dripping. "Drip¡­" A drop of water fell from the ceiling, splattering on the floor. Phineas flinched; intense fear gripped him! Something''s wrong! "Click¡­ click¡­" Footsteps echoed from the staircase. They sounded like bare feet¡­ Who¡­ would be walking barefoot on the stairs at this hour? Phineas trembled; goosebumps erupted on his arms. The dark staircase seemed like a gaping maw, approaching him. Cold sweat broke out; he had to run! If he didn''t escape now, he would die! He didn''t hesitate, turning and running towards the elevator! Fast, he had to be fast! The footsteps grew louder. Phineas reached the elevator and frantically pressed the button. The elevator was stuck on the first floor; someone must have just left? He looked up at the slowly rising elevator, sweat pouring down his face. Then¡­ at the top of the stairs across the hallway, Phineas saw a head! "Faster! Faster!" Phineas frantically pressed the elevator button, although this didn''t increase the elevator''s speed. It was nearing 6:00 PM; the sun was setting in Sentinel City. Dim yellow light slanted onto the top of the stairs; then¡­ she appeared! Before Phineas''s horrified eyes, a pale, bloated woman, dripping with water, stood at the top of the stairs! Her wet hair trailed on the ground; her soulless eyes burned with hatred! Undisguised malice assaulted him; Phineas''s legs gave way; he almost fell. "Thump-thump-thump¡­" Phineas turned his head, frantically pressing the elevator button, his finger trembling. His pupils dilated and constricted; his throat was too tight to make a sound. This was the ultimate expression of fear! In the hallway behind him, the water on the floor began to spread. Intense terror approached. Phineas trembled; he felt terrifying eyes on his back! This malice felt like being trapped in an ice tomb. Then, the elevator inexplicably stopped on the third floor! "Damn it!" Fear had almost consumed him; this strong middle-aged man punched the elevator button, his eyes bloodshot. Phineas didn''t dare turn around; he feared the terrifying woman would be behind him! "Drip¡­ drip¡­" More water. The barefoot woman stepped through the water; wet footsteps echoed in the narrow hallway. Phineas''s eyes widened; he noticed¡­ Water was dripping from the ceiling and walls around him! Until¡­ a chilling malice pressed against his back. But at that moment, a voice echoed! "Ding¡ª" The elevator had arrived! Relief flooded Phineas; the elevator doors slowly opened before him. A familiar face appeared. "Isabella? What are you doing here?" As the question left his lips, Phineas felt a chill. His wife, Isabella, was in the elevator. But¡­ Isabella had died long ago! Intense fear seized him; Isabella extended a pale hand; a grotesque smile spread across her familiar face¡­ ... Seraphina stopped, her expression strange as she looked at the building before her¡ªthe police station. Yes, she was here to report a crime. And she was doing it at Lilith''s request. Hearing Lilith''s request, Seraphina had found him increasingly strange. This was clearly the past; the events had already happened; terrifying ghosts existed, yet he wanted to report it to the police? But¡­ regardless, she was willing to do this, grateful for Lilith''s help. The As You Wish Motel had already reported a missing person, but this time, it was murder. As for why she went to the station instead of calling, it was common sense in the fog gathering. After all¡­ in this strange world, who knew if the person on the other end of the line was human? "I want to report a crime." Seraphina entered the station, stating her purpose concisely. The officer began to record the information. "Miss, please provide details." "The As You Wish Motel, owned by Magnus Crowe, there''s been a murder." Seraphina''s words caused the officer''s expression to change; he became serious. Murder¡­ was never trivial. "A woman named Ravenna was killed at the motel. She was Magnus Crowe''s sister-in-law." "Magnus Crowe?" The officer searched, then produced a photograph, showing it to Seraphina. "Is this him?" Seraphina looked at the photograph¡ªa well-built, handsome man in his thirties¡ªand shook her head. "I''ve never met him; I can''t confirm." Then, she seemed to remember something and asked, "Has he been involved in any crimes?" The officer retrieved the photograph, shaking his head. "No, this is his brother, Ding Peng." Seraphina''s eyes widened; she grabbed the photo. "You mean¡­ they''re twins? Magnus Crowe and Ding Peng look alike?" The officer nodded, confirming. "They''re identical twins; their DNA is identical, let alone their appearances." He added, "Magnus Crowe has a clean record, but his brother, Ding Peng, is a repeat offender. Petty theft, pickpocketing, and he uses his good looks to swindle young women." Seraphina''s mind raced. Ding Peng¡­ looked like Magnus Crowe¡­ Although she didn''t know what this meant, a profound unease washed over her. Ignoring the potential risks of using a phone, she asked, "Could I use your phone?" ... At the As You Wish Motel, Lilith had obtained information. "They''re in room 406?" "Yes, sir. Another gentleman inquired a short while ago. Are you acquainted?" Lilith nodded. "Consider us so. How long ago did he leave?" The waitress glanced at the clock. "Almost an hour ago." Almost an hour¡­ Something''s wrong. Lilith thanked the waitress and was about to leave when another waitress, who was on the phone, stood up, glanced around, and called out, "Is Mr. Harrison, Miss Jiang, Ms. Hollow, or Mr. Feng here?" Lilith''s heart stirred; she approached. "I''m Lilith. It''s for me." The waitress handed her the phone, her expression uncertain; the call was from the police station. "Hello?" Lilith answered. "Lilith?" "It''s me." There was a pause, then Seraphina''s voice. "I just learned something. Magnus Crowe and his brother, Ding Peng, are identical twins!" Lilith''s eyebrows rose; many of her doubts were resolved. "Can you confirm?" "Yes!" "I understand¡­" Lilith paused, then said, "Stay at the station. I''ll handle everything here." Seraphina''s expression was strange; Lilith had hung up, telling her to stay put. Was he that confident? What a strange man. Although she muttered to herself, Seraphina couldn''t deny the intense sense of security this stranger provided; it was as if¡­ with him, even ghosts weren''t so frightening¡­ ... Something had happened to Phineas; Lilith was certain. She looked up at the ceiling, her gaze seeming to penetrate the floors. Jiang and Harrison were still on the roof; although the water tanks held decaying corpses, it was probably the safest place. Seraphina hadn''t investigated much, unaware of many things, but her sharp observation of the identical brothers was crucial. Even Lilith hadn''t noticed; it was a detail she''d overlooked. Zhang Wen had obtained Ding Peng''s help with a dubious promise, killing Lillian Pearl. Even a fool wouldn''t believe such a plan, yet¡­ Ding Peng had cooperated. This was what Lilith couldn''t understand. Why? Why would Ding Peng be so certain of inheriting Lillian Pearl''s wealth? Only after Seraphina''s call did she understand. Ding Peng had cooperated because he had his own plan! Lilith now understood everything; she looked at the waitress. "Please call Mr. Ding and tell him the police will arrive tonight and request his cooperation in investigating¡­ Ravenna''s disappearance." The waitress''s eyes widened; she looked at Lilith uncertainly. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Sir¡­ who are you?" Lilith looked at her seriously. "Criminal Investigations Division, badge number 015386. I need your cooperation." The waitress, clearly frightened, nodded rapidly and began to call Magnus Crowe. Lilith ignored her, looking towards the fourth floor, hidden behind the ceiling¡­ Phineas, who might never come down. "Help¡­ help!" A terrified scream echoed nearby. Several waitresses and Lilith turned; a thin, male waiter rushed out, his face ashen. "Wang Sheng? What''s wrong?" The waitress at the reception desk asked. "Dead¡­ dead! Xiong Ge is dead!" His eyes were filled with terror; even in the brightly lit lobby, he trembled uncontrollably. "Ah!" The women gasped, their faces a mixture of shock and fear. Lilith, having borrowed Daniel''s badge number, stepped forward. "I''m a detective. Take me to the scene." Wang Sheng, still shocked, looked at the other waitresses. Seeing them nod, he finally decided. "He''s¡­ in the restroom." Led by Wang Sheng, Lilith re-entered the staff area; the narrow hallway seemed¡­ narrower. The restroom was at the end of the hallway, dimly lit. Wang Sheng reluctantly followed Lilith, but didn''t dare disobey the "detective." After some hesitation, they entered. The sight before them horrified Wang Sheng; he retched, unable to look, but Lilith remained impassive, observing the corpse. The deceased waiter was still in his uniform; his limbs were grotesquely twisted. Most terrifying were his hands; blood dripped from Nathaniel''s fingernails. Lilith didn''t ask Wang Sheng what had happened; even if she did, the traumatized man wouldn''t be able to answer. Besides, Lilith knew this wasn''t a human crime; it was a ghost. "Where''s Nathaniel''s room? Take me there." Lilith''s serious, calm tone caused the shaken Wang Sheng to nod repeatedly. Leading Lilith to Nathaniel''s door, Wang Sheng fidgeted. "Go. Don''t let anyone enter the staff area until your boss arrives," Lilith instructed. Wang Sheng nodded frantically and hurried away. Lilith watched him go; the surrounding air seemed to grow colder. Kicking the door open, Lilith examined Nathaniel''s room. This man, along with Wang Sheng, had witnessed the hiding of the body and refused the hush money, choosing to keep silent. Lilith didn''t believe hush money could resolve this; Ding Peng had killed one person; killing two more wouldn''t be a problem; only the dead could keep secrets forever. But¡­ Ding Peng hadn''t killed him. Lilith entered Nathaniel''s room and began to search. She found a contract hidden deep within a wardrobe. Everything now made sense. ... The Fog Gathering. 6:30 PM, Sentinel City. Magnus Crowe rushed back to the motel. "Where are the detectives?" He was sweating profusely; his eyes darted around; he seemed agitated. "Boss¡­ boss, something terrible happened! Someone''s dead!" The waitress stammered, her eyes filled with fear. Magnus Crowe''s face paled; he turned and headed straight for the elevator, rapidly ascending to the sixth floor. He flung open the office door; the room was in disarray; documents were scattered everywhere. Magnus Crowe''s face was grim; he quickly moved a bookshelf, revealing a hidden compartment in the wall. Entering a code, he opened the safe; seeing the contents were still there, he finally exhaled. "This¡­ is your motive?" A calm woman voice echoed behind him. Magnus Crowe spun around; a pretty young woman stood impassively by the door. "Who are you?" "Lilith." Lilith slowly approached, her gaze scanning the man in his thirties. He was handsome and well-built, but his heart was dark. "Who killed her?" Lilith entered Crowe''s office, closing the door behind her. "What do you mean?" Magnus Crowe wiped his brow; this impassive young woman was slowly approaching, each step felt like a weight on his chest. "I said, who killed your wife?" Lilith stopped before the desk, only a desk''s width from Magnus Crowe. Her hands were in her pockets; she looked calmly at him, making no unnecessary movements. "Lillian''s death?" Crowe''s face paled; his eyes widened slightly, seemingly shocked by the news. Lilith watched his performance impassively until he realized Lilith was uninterested and stopped. "Finished?" Lilith continued to watch him. "Who are you? What do you want?!" Crowe''s eyes narrowed; he scanned Lilith, his tone hardening. "I asked about your wife, Ravenna," Lilith said, her tone cold. "Still don''t understand? Ding Peng." The man''s face changed; he drew a dagger from his waistband and lunged at Lilith! Lilith''s pupils constricted; she anticipated this; her cold composure remained; she dodged the attack, then used her right leg to kick the desk. "Crash¡ª" The desk sent Crowe reeling; before he could regain his balance, Lilith was upon him! Lilith grabbed his right wrist with her left hand, pulling him back forcefully. Simultaneously, her right fist struck his right shoulder joint. The searing pain caused Ding Peng to involuntarily release his grip; the dagger fell to the desk! His left hand, also injured, swiped at Lilith''s face; she dodged, but a long scratch appeared on her neck. Undeterred, Lilith''s right hand snatched the dagger; her left hand pressed Ding Peng''s right hand to the desk; before his horrified eyes, the dagger plunged down! "Aaah!!!" Ding Peng screamed; his right hand, pinned to the desk, was pierced by the dagger. Lilith, seemingly unfazed by his screams, pressed the dagger deeper, ensuring Ding Peng wouldn''t attempt to pull it out, before nodding with satisfaction. Looking at the pained, sweating, ashen-faced man, she said, "Now, answer me." Ding Peng''s terror was unconcealed; his right hand was pinned; agony consumed him. "Who¡­ who are you?!" "Lilith." Lilith stated her name again, impassively staring at the sweating Ding Peng. "The doctor said I have antisocial tendencies. Want to test that theory?" Ding Peng shook his head violently; he didn''t know who she was, but he knew this young woman was ruthless. "You still haven''t answered. Who killed Ravenna?" Ding Peng''s pupils constricted; he seemed to remember something terrifying. "I don''t know¡­ I really don''t know! I don''t know¡­ what it was¡­" Lilith frowned; he was a fool who wouldn''t stop until he was caught. "You killed Lillian Pearl; Nathaniel killed Magnus Crowe. Did you kill Ravenna too?" Hearing Lilith''s questions, Ding Peng seemed to find it unbelievable; how¡­ did she know everything? "What are you talking about? I don''t know!" Lilith calmly observed the increasingly frantic Ding Peng, stating her hypothesis. "You had another plan; kill your brother and take his place." Ding Peng hissed in pain, but upon hearing Lilith''s words, he calmed down. "You controlled Zhang Wen with a promissory note, helping her kill Lillian Pearl, then hiding the body in the water tank. Two waiters witnessed this; you intended to silence them, but¡­ you knew one was deeply in love with Zhang Wen, willing to do anything for her. So, you made a deal with him to kill Magnus Crowe, your brother." "Nathaniel knew about Zhang Wen and Magnus Crowe; he knew only Crowe''s death would give him a chance," Lilith continued impassively. "Perhaps it was your order, perhaps personal resentment, or both; he knocked Crowe unconscious, then¡­ beat him to death." "With Crowe and Pearl dead, you, as his brother, could easily assume his identity and inherit their wealth. But there was someone else; she didn''t know Crowe well, but she knew you¡ªyour habits, your mannerisms. So¡­ she had to die, didn''t she?" Lilith''s tone grew colder. "No!" Ding Peng, who had been bowing his head, suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "I didn''t kill Ravenna! Why would I kill her? Why¡­" "She''s the only one who didn''t reject me; the only one who comforted me; the only one¡­ who believed in me! Tell me, why did I kill her?!" "I did it all for her!" "Shut up!" Lilith grabbed Ding Peng''s hair, pulling him close, her gaze intense. "You only did it for yourself." "If you envy someone, compete with them. If you''re unhappy with your situation, change it. If you''re incapable, accept that you''re a failure. Stop making excuses. You''re trash, a parasite." Lilith''s calm tone was like sharp knives piercing Ding Peng''s heart. He wore Crowe''s face, clothes, and identity, enjoying his wealth, but¡­ he wasn''t Magnus Crowe. He was a petty criminal frequently arrested. Lilith released his hair, shifting her gaze. The safe was still open. Approaching, she saw an antique Ruyi scepter. Shaped like a long fishing rod, with a smooth, pure white body, the translucent white resembled flowing water. But¡­ upon closer inspection, Lilith noticed a faint red thread within the white jade. "This¡­ is your motive?" Lilith turned to Ding Peng. The man had remained silent, his head bowed. Hearing Lilith, he slightly raised his head. His voice was dry and hoarse. "Do you know¡­ why this place is called the As You Wish Motel?" Lilith simply watched him. Ding Peng offered a wry smile. "This is the motel''s most valuable item¡ªLillian Pearl''s family heirloom." Seeing Lilith remain silent, not even looking at the Ruyi, Ding Peng finally glanced at her. "You''re not like me." "Ravenna¡­ Ii killed her¡­" A look of anguish crossed Ding Peng''s face; Lilith saw that this pain was different from the pain of the dagger in his hand. "I stole the family heirloom; I unleashed a monster¡­" Ding Peng covered his face with his left hand, his voice trembling. Lilith finally spoke, her gaze fixed on the Ruyi. "Did Ravenna die because of it?" Ding Peng nodded, his remorse mixed with fear. "After I got it, I gave it to Ravenna for safekeeping, but¡­ she started having nightmares." From Ding Peng''s account, Lilith heard a terrifying story and finally understood why Ravenna had died under Lilith''s bed. "At first, it only appeared vaguely in her dreams, but then¡­ its form became clearer; it drew closer¡­" "Ravenna was terrified, but¡­ I thought it was just her imagination, didn''t take it seriously, until¡­ it emerged from her dream and appeared before us." Ding Peng trembled violently; the mere thought of the monster sent shivers down his spine. "It went straight for Ravenna; she fled; I¡­ I panicked, grabbed the Ruyi and ran¡­ when I finally went back, Ravenna was dead¡­ under the bed in room 405." Lilith looked at the seemingly distraught Ding Peng; a clear trace of mockery flickered in her eyes. This man''s pain and remorse weren''t for Ravenna; they were for himself. His selfishness and cowardice were ingrained; his account revealed that when faced with death, his first thought was to escape with the heirloom? Lilith was no longer interested in him. She turned and picked up the Ruyi; a chill ran down her spine upon touching it. The jade lacked warmth; it was icy cold, as if¡­ unearthed from an ancient tomb¡­ "Where¡­ are you going?" Although he was asking Lilith, his gaze was fixated on the Ruyi. Lilith paused, glancing at him, saying nothing, simply closing the office door. She had no interest in saving or lecturing this pathetic creature. Her task was to confine what had been unleashed. ... Night had fallen. Seraphina, accompanied by detectives, was on her way; she hadn''t heeded Lilith''s instructions. Jiang and Harrison were hiding on the roof, near the three water tanks; two contained decaying corpses. Harrison wasn''t concerned about his broken arms; as long as he returned to the fog gathering, even a single breath was enough to revive him. His concern was the outcome of this task. Jiang leaned against the wall, silent, gazing at the familiar yet alien night sky, lost in thought. Darkness deepened; a chilling aura enveloped the As You Wish Motel, like the stench of decaying flesh. "Ding¡­" The elevator stopped on the fourth floor. A woman stepped out. Lilith looked at the transformed hallway; she felt no surprise. Although she''d anticipated danger, she hadn''t expected this. The ubiquitous water resembled congealed blood under the dim light. The once snow-white walls were smeared with filth. The place looked like a neglected ruin. Lilith stepped through the water; it felt unnaturally sticky. Looking down, she saw that the water had transformed into decaying faces. A terrifying, unsettling aura permeated the air; the walls and floor seemed to be decaying, emitting a nauseating odor. Room 406 was ahead; the door was open. Lilith, seemingly unfazed by the bizarre scene, walked past, holding the Ruyi. But at that moment, a drop of water fell onto Lilith''s head! Lilith looked up, her usually impassive heart stirring slightly. A pale, bloated, soulless woman was lying on the ceiling, drenched, staring at her malevolently! Simultaneously, a figure slowly emerged from the dark staircase. Seeing this figure, a mixture of terror and elation flashed in Lilith''s eyes! The figure was seven parts similar to her, a well-dressed, mature man who was smiling at her¡­ Brother¡­ The surprise in Lilith''s eyes vanished instantly; she regained her composure; she didn''t see the woman on the ceiling or the man. She continued towards room 406. The malevolent eyes on the ceiling followed her; the smiling Lucien Hollow''s face grew increasingly sinister. But¡­ Lilith was utterly confident. These two ghosts couldn''t harm her. Because the real killer¡­ was it! Lilith stopped at the door of room 406, gazing inside. There¡­ a twisted, humanoid shadow was spreading in the darkness. It moved like a boneless serpent, its grotesque form approaching Lilith. Its long, twisted limbs searched behind her; a chilling aura emanated from her back; Lilith clearly felt its presence¡­ it was death. But¡­ this only strengthened her resolve. "I don''t know who you are, but this¡­ isn''t your world." Lilith raised the Ruyi and struck deep into room 406! There¡­ a mass of twisting darkness was coalescing. When the seemingly ordinary Ruyi touched the darkness, a sudden change occurred! The grotesque creature was sucked in; not only it, but the woman on the ceiling and Lucien Hollow vanished! Yet, Lilith felt no pulling force! Her gaze remained calm as she looked at the Ruyi; it emitted a faint light, voraciously absorbing the strange energy; within moments, all the strange phenomena vanished! Lilith finally exhaled, leaning against the door, removing two hearing aids from her ears. Success! She had gambled; she had won! Magnus Crowe, Lillian Pearl, and Ravenna had become ghosts, not by coincidence. They were affected by something within the Ruyi, but they lacked the ability to kill. The real killer was the twisted, black monster! And its necessary medium was¡­ sound. Or rather, dripping water. Lilith, having just exhaled, gasped; a crimson fog surged from above her head; simultaneously, the surroundings rapidly faded in color! Lilith''s eyes flickered as she observed this; she was about to touch the now black-and-white door. The world shattered like a mirror! Figures materialized before her. She¡­ was back! ... "Welcome back." Maximus looked at the four, still slightly shaken, a hint of admiration in his eyes. The third group had only lost one member, and¡­ they''d completed the task in less than a day! Everyone looked at them anxiously; in the fog gathering, intelligent, trustworthy companions were crucial. Maximus''s words brought them back to reality, but unexpectedly, Seraphina, Harrison, and Jiang simultaneously looked at Lilith. Seraphina, her voice a mixture of relief and disbelief, exclaimed, "Lilith, you succeeded!" Lilith glanced around; everyone was inexplicably staring at her. She smiled faintly. "Just lucky." It was her! The newcomer had done it! Lilith''s expression remained unchanged, but she sensed more attention, including several scrutinizing gazes that made her want to turn away, but she held herself back. "Everyone''s back. We have one minute left. The fog gathering will eject us once the time is up. Lilith, Cassandra, congratulations on surviving. Please record this number; we''re scattered throughout the world, usually communicating by phone," Maximus recited a series of numbers. Lilith silently memorized them; she didn''t have a phone¡­ Unlike Lilith''s calm demeanor, Cassandra finally regained her composure, but she still seemed dazed. "Regarding the details of the task, we''ll discuss them in the real world. Understanding the fog gathering''s rules is crucial; frankly, the rules we know were learned through repeated near-death experiences," Maximus said, his voice tinged with weariness. The fog gathering wasn''t a system; it didn''t explain its rules or taboos; everything¡­ was learned at a terrible cost. Despite this, the fog gathering remained mysterious; no one knew¡­ what it truly was. "Right, Ms. Hollow, you''re from Industry City, aren''t you?" Maximus suddenly looked at Lilith. Lilith nodded, unsure of his meaning. Maximus smiled, glancing towards a corner. "That celebrity wants to visit your city." A celebrity? Lilith followed his gaze, vaguely seeing a female figure in the fog. "See you in a month, everyone." Maximus seemed to sense something and quickly spoke. Lilith felt the same; she finally understood his earlier analogy. They were like people forcefully pushed underwater, surfacing the moment the force was removed. Lilith felt a dizzying sensation; the two crimson lights in the fog gathering seemed to flicker, like¡­ blinking eyes. When she regained her senses, she was standing in a girl''s room. After a quick glance, she recognized it as Daniel''s daughter''s room and left. "Huff¡­" Lilith slumped onto the sofa, glancing at the wall clock. Time hadn''t moved. But she''d spent twelve hours in the fog world. The fog gathering¡­ was a strange place, like pressing pause on reality, throwing them into the past. No, time wasn''t paused in reality, only for them. Lilith took out the key, examining it quietly. She knew she was different. She hadn''t pushed open her door; she''d used a key. And this antique key was Lucien''s belonging. "Brother¡­ how many secrets did you hide¡­" Lilith held the key, feeling its icy coldness; a rare sense of bewilderment washed over her. She leaned back on the sofa, gazing at the ceiling. Although her emotional fluctuations were minimal, she was human. The strange past world, the formidable ghosts, their sudden intrusion into her life¡ªalthough Lilith hadn''t outwardly shown it, she felt profound weariness. Especially¡­ after the fog gathering; she was certain Lucien''s death wasn''t simple¡­ It wasn''t the kind of complexity she''d imagined at Industry City Psychiatric Hospital. Confused thoughts swirled; Lilith closed her eyes, savoring the peace after leaving the strange fog world. Creak¡ª The door opened. Lilith sat up, looking towards the door; she was about to greet Daniel when she realized¡­ it wasn''t him. A young university student stood there, her eyes wide with terror, staring at Lilith. They stared at each other; clearly, she had misunderstood something. "Aaah!!!" She leaned against the door, screaming. "Wait¡­" "Aaah!!!" "I am¡­" "Aaah!!!" "Please listen¡­" "Aaah!!!" Lilith gave up; this girl was incomprehensible; her vocal cords seemed only capable of screaming. "Yin¡ª!" Lilith shouted. "Uh¡­" Her throat seemed to tighten; she looked at Lilith strangely. "Who¡­ who are you? Do you know me?" Lilith sighed; communicating with little girl seemed harder than dealing with ghosts. She pointed to her luggage. "I''m a guest of your father. He went out to buy food. If you don''t believe me, you can wait for him here." Yin looked at Lilith skeptically, remaining by the door. "You''re¡­ lying. I know all my father''s friends, but I''ve never seen you! What''s your name?" Lilith realized she''d been introducing herself repeatedly. "Lilith." She sighed, repeating the name again. "My name is Lilith Hollow." Yin seemed to have heard something, repeating the words. Then, she seemed to remember something; her eyes lit up. "You''re Lilith? My father''s mysterious informant?" Informant? Lilith was surprised; Daniel had told Yin about her? What kind of identity had he given her¡­? Seeing Lilith didn''t deny it, Yin was certain. Her face lit up; she dropped her bag. "Dad said you helped him solve many cases!" Lilith finally understood her position with Daniel. Over the years, Daniel, visiting her at the psychiatric hospital, would occasionally mention unsolved cases; Lilith, bored, would offer her opinions. So, that''s how it was¡­ Chapter 8: Choice "Yes¡­ something like that." Lilith accepted the designation of informant. Yin''s eyes shone with excitement; in her mind, Lilith was like a hero in a novel or movie, fighting injustice from the shadows. "Are you on a mission?" "You could say that¡­" "Wow!" "How old are you? Are you married?" ¡°¡­¡± "Do you think I have the talent to be a detective?" ¡°¡­¡± The excited student''s misunderstanding deepened; Lilith, uninterested in conversation, was relentlessly questioned by Yin. "Can you help me with something?" Lilith suddenly spoke. Yin''s eyes lit up; she patted her chest. "Tell me!" "Go hide in your room. Your father and I need to talk," Lilith said seriously. "No problem!" Yin, thrilled to be involved in something significant, grabbed her bag and quickly hid in her room. She then pressed her ear to the door, listening intently. Lilith shook her head, sighing. This girl had been overprotected; she wasn''t mature. Just then, Daniel returned. "I went to the restaurant, but they told me I could order delivery using my phone, with a discount! So¡­" Daniel held two plastic bags, slightly speechless, then looked at Lilith. "You should get a phone too. It''s useless there, but you need one now." Yin, listening at the door, imagined Lilith ambushing enemies, her phone monitored, forced to use special codes to transmit information, and she stamped her feet in excitement. This didn''t escape Lilith and Daniel. Daniel called out, "Yin?" Yin opened the door slightly, her face peeking out. "I didn''t hear anything¡­ I didn''t hear anything at all!" "Nonsense, come eat. Why did you come home so early? No evening self-study?" Daniel asked, arranging the food. "Something happened at the dorm! Everyone had to come back!" Yin emerged from her room, excited. "Something happened?" Daniel looked at her questioningly; Lilith looked at Yin curiously. "Yes! One of our dorm assistants was attacked by a crazy student with a compass! They took her to the hospital." Crazy? The word struck a nerve with Daniel and Lilith. Daniel sat on the sofa, looking at his daughter. "What exactly happened? Do you know?" Yin glanced at Daniel, then at Lilith; seeing them both watching her, she felt a thrill. But she shook her head. "I don''t know the details. We''d just started evening self-study when we heard fighting outside, things breaking, screams for help, security guards shouting¡­ it was chaos. Then, we heard that a student went crazy, grabbed a compass, and stabbed a dorm assistant in the neck! Blood everywhere!" "No one stopped him?" Daniel frowned. "They tried! Apparently, several security guards tried to restrain him, but their clothes were torn, and they couldn''t hold him! The student was incredibly strong!" Lilith''s heart stirred; she turned to Daniel. "Uncle Daniel, I think¡­" Daniel pondered; his detective work was demanding; he was currently investigating a case and nearing a crucial point; this school violence was unlikely to fall under his jurisdiction. "Yi," Daniel said suddenly. "It''s the weekend tomorrow; something happened at your dorm; you and your assistant should buy a phone." Lilith was about to refuse, but Daniel continued, "Let Yin come with you; we can stay in touch." "Got it!" Yin, initially reluctant, grinned at the prospect of investigating the violent incident. Lilith paused, sensing Daniel''s intentions. "Thank you, Uncle Daniel." Finally, Lilith smiled; no one could detect any strain. "Let''s eat," Daniel said. The three sat around a table, appearing harmonious, but Lilith sat rigidly, showing no relaxation. Yin incessantly bombarded Lilith with curious questions, fascinated by this pretty young "informant." But Lilith only smiled, offering no answers. Daniel remained silent in agreement. After a simple meal and washing up, Lilith lay down on the sofa. She couldn''t sleep in a strange woman''s room; seeing her resolve, Daniel didn''t insist. Sleeping on the sofa wasn''t a problem; exhausted, she quickly fell asleep. Lilith''s dream was strange. She dreamt of Ravenna under the bed, the bloated Lillian Pearl, the disfigured Magnus Crowe, and the vanished Phineas. Lilith didn''t even see Phineas''s body. Life was so fragile; perhaps one day, she, too, would die silently in another world. Perhaps then, she would understand what ghosts were. Were ghosts the souls of the dead? Perhaps, the rich consciousness of humanity was a sad mistake in evolution; humanity shouldn''t exist. Because we understand ourselves too well. "Hey! Wake up!" One bizarre dream followed another; Lilith was dreaming of Lucien standing before her, saying something, when a vibrant young woman''s voice whispered in her ear. Lilith slowly opened her eyes, seeing a youthful, pretty face. She turned slightly; lazy sunlight streamed through the window; the air was fresh. The city hummed with life; amidst the concrete jungle, the occasional bird sang; vibrant wildflowers hinted at life. "What are you looking at?" Seeing Lilith staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought, Yin looked too, finding nothing unusual. Lilith smiled and shook her head, getting up from the sofa. "Nothing. I was just thinking¡­ it''s good to be alive." Urged by Yin, Lilith quickly packed her things. She was even more eager than Lilith, excited to return to the dorm. But Lilith, taking Lucien''s notebook, went to the bank first; Yin followed reluctantly. Fortunately, ATM operation hadn''t changed much in ten years; using her and her brother''s birthdays as the PIN¡ª506603¡ªthe system confirmed it. Her birthday was first. Seeing the balance, Lilith was curious; there was $4,100. $4,100 ten years ago wasn''t a fortune, but it wasn''t insignificant. Yet, she and her brother hadn''t been wealthy. Lilith pondered, withdrawing $1,000. The money felt foreign, but Yin didn''t notice; neither did Lilith. "Hurry, hurry! There''s a phone store over there!" Seeing her withdraw the money, Yin pulled Lilith towards a phone store; Lilith smiled and followed. Although she had kept abreast of societal changes, she still noticed discrepancies. Like¡­ the life-sized billboard outside the phone store. Lilith stopped, staring at it. Seeing Lilith staring, Yin followed her gaze, understanding. "You''re an Ophelia Noir fan too?" "Ophelia Noir?" Lilith frowned, carefully recalling the names from the fog gathering; there was no Ophelia Noir. She was certain her memory was accurate; she could even recite all forty-nine names, but¡­ there was a woman in the fog gathering who looked exactly like Ophelia Noir. "Hee hee¡­ speaking of which, Ophelia Noir is coming to Industry City tomorrow! I have to go see her!" Yin, clearly a fan, said, her eyes shining. Her words made Lilith thoughtful; Maximus had mentioned this; Ophelia Noir was likely her stage name. Lilith observed her carefully. Ophelia Noir was probably in her twenties, with long hair tied in a ponytail; she looked vibrant, with delicate features, minimal makeup, soft eyelashes, captivating eyes, a gentle smile, and soft brows. Someone who instantly makes a good impression. Lilith quickly assessed. While Yin gushed about Ophelia Noir, Lilith entered the store. "I need a phone¡ªthe most durable, longest-lasting one." Lilith''s request surprised the salesperson; she glanced at Lilith. Lilith smiled at her. Lilith''s appearance was appealing to many women, but to men, she was too soft, lacking typical feminine characteristics. But she showed no mercy when she acted. "Okay¡­ okay, sir! Please wait a moment¡­" The saleswoman was flustered by her smile; her cheeks flushed. Yin glared at Lilith. "Hey! You can''t smile at everyone like that!" "Why?" Lilith was genuinely puzzled; it seemed like basic politeness. "First, it looks stupid! Second, people will think you''re interested in them, you know?" "Why are you so warm? You''re not a heater." ¡°¡­¡± Lilith was speechless; she realized she wasn''t in a psychiatric hospital anymore¡­ being aloof and maintaining distance was normal. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. "I understand." Lilith nodded seriously. Yin proudly raised her chin, feeling she''d saved a man from becoming a human air conditioner. This was ironic; Lilith hadn''t even dated; she had no reason to worry about those things. The saleswoman quickly produced a black phone, meeting Lilith''s requirements. Lilith paid in cash, completing the purchase and adding a protective case. Yin quickly entered her and Daniel''s phone numbers. After handing the phone to Lilith, Yin watched with a strange expression as Lilith entered a series of numbers into the phone''s settings. A thirty-six-person chat group instantly appeared. Lilith clicked to join; her name was listed as the verification information. She was instantly accepted; the group''s size increased to thirty-seven. Lilith thought for a moment; twelve people had died in the last fog gathering. The dead had clearly been removed; otherwise¡­ hundreds of gray, permanently offline profiles would have remained. A conversation was already in progress. "So that''s it. No wonder your casualties were so heavy¡­" "Elena, don''t blame yourself. Who would have thought the curse would begin before we even entered the past?" "This is a warning. Be cautious in your words and actions after your name turns red; the task begins then¡­" Lilith read the messages, understanding their discussion. They were discussing Adrian''s group''s situation. The curse began the moment their names turned red; Lilith remembered a student calling Adrian''s name; he didn''t turn around, but the others did. "Terrifying¡­ I wonder¡­ if it were me¡­ I probably would have turned too." Silence followed the message, broken only by another message. "Cassandra, you were amazing." The message, a concise five words, came from a seemingly ordinary male profile picture; the name was Liam. "Yes! Cassandra was incredible! This is the first time we''ve defeated a ghost in a survival task!" "Amazing. I never thought an invincible ghost could be defeated." "I think¡­ it''s a rule, a rule of the fog gathering; both we and the ghosts must obey it." "It wasn''t us who defeated it, but the rules. We''re still ordinary people, without superpowers." ¡°¡­¡± Messages flooded the chat; Lilith quickly scanned them, saying nothing. Until, a friend request appeared. Sylas Winterwind. Lilith paused, then clicked to accept. Instantly, Sylas Winterwind sent a message. "Let''s meet tomorrow." She was decisive. "Time, place." Lilith replied. Sylas Winterwind frowned; Lilith had taken almost half a minute to reply; she seemed hesitant. This was unfair; Lilith was simply unfamiliar with using a phone; typing was slow. "2:00 PM, Rongqiu Tianhai, Mucuo Coffee Shop." Lilith looked at the message, turning to Yin. "Where''s Rongqiu Tianhai?" Yin glared at her; she''d just bought a phone, and he was already chatting, forgetting the main purpose? "Do you even know what our apartment complex is called?" she said irritably. "Rongyuan Residential Complex." Lilith remembered clearly. "Rongqiu Tianhai is across the street from the pedestrian mall." Lilith nodded, slowly typing. "Received." Sylas Winterwind''s eyelids twitched seeing the reply after almost a minute. Meanwhile, Lilith, flexing her stiff fingers, turned to the disgruntled Yin. "Let''s go to the dorm." ... Adrian''s group''s situation was now clear. Only Wei Tu''s and Lilith''s groups remained unknown. But¡­ Wei Tu''s group had been completely annihilated; they couldn''t provide any useful information, leaving a terrifying challenge for the fog gathering. "Hide in the mountain, retrieve the coffin from the water"¡ªthis scenario would befall everyone in six months. "Mr. Harrison, please describe your group''s experience." Harrison looked at the message, feeling uneasy. His arms were healed, but he didn''t know much about the task. Even now, he didn''t know how Lilith had dealt with the ghosts. There had been three ghosts! Seraphina knew little; only Jiang had some clues, but she hadn''t been able to share much, focusing on Harrison''s injuries. The three pieced together their account, leaving the group confused. "So¡­ Ms. Hollow helped you repeatedly, then resolved everything herself?" Maximus summarized. "¡­More or less." Jiang replied. "Yes¡­ that''s right¡­" Seraphina agreed. "Yes, Ms. Hollow¡­ was incredibly brave. She showed no fear throughout; she even¡­ sought out the ghosts." Harrison''s reply silenced the group again. A question arose in everyone''s mind: was Lilith a genius? Or¡­ insane? Liam read the messages calmly and left the group. Genius? The fog gathering had never lacked geniuses. ... Jiangbei Training Academy in Industry City was a prestigious institution, sending numerous students to top universities each year. Following yesterday''s incident, a group of reporters suddenly appeared at the academy gates. Security personnel prevented them from entering, adhering to the agreed-upon strategy of claiming ignorance. However, the news had already spread among the students. "A student suddenly went crazy and stabbed a dorm assistant in the neck with a compass." The academy didn''t intend to suppress the news permanently, but¡­ they wanted to delay its release, at least until they understood what happened. Was it a sudden illness, or a pre-existing conflict? The academy still didn''t know. The police investigation had yielded nothing. It wasn''t a lack of ability; one party was hospitalized, the other, arrested the previous night, remained silent and unresponsive, appearing almost soulless. When Lilith and Yin arrived at the academy gates, they saw numerous reporters, seemingly vying for exclusive coverage. The entrance was crowded; security personnel were trying to control the situation. Yin, anticipating this, led Lilith through a secluded side path. "Don''t tell anyone about this; it''s a student secret!" Yin warned. Lilith glanced at the hidden passage; apparently, every academy had such a secret route. The academy was large; Lilith followed Yin to the scene of the previous night''s incident. "I heard it happened in the dorm assistant''s office. Follow me!" When they arrived, the area was cordoned off; a serious-looking officer was speaking to someone in a supervisory position. "Uncle Wang!" Yin greeted sweetly. The officer turned; a smile appeared on his stern face. "Yi? What are you doing here?" "I study here!" Officer Wang clearly knew Yin, or perhaps Daniel; they seemed close. Immediately, Officer Wang noticed Lilith observing the scene thoughtfully. He frowned. "Who are you? Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in the crime scene. Leave now!" Officer Wang''s tone hardened; he was about to dismiss them. Then, Yin held up her phone. "Uncle Wang, my father wants you to take this call!" Officer Wang took the phone and put it to his ear. Whatever Daniel said, Officer Wang''s gaze kept returning to Lilith; finally, he allowed her to stay. "Strange, isn''t it?" Officer Wang''s voice suddenly sounded beside Lilith. Lilith was crouching, examining something. She nodded absently. "Yes, there are no signs of a struggle; no signs of the assistant struggling after being injured. It''s as if¡­ she was already dead." Lilith''s unusual observation startled Officer Wang; he exchanged glances with other officers, then approached the academy''s representative. "You''re right. We received a strange call last night." "A call?" Lilith turned to Officer Wang. "Yes. The caller said someone would stab them in the neck with a compass," Officer Wang said calmly, but his expression betrayed his unease. Because¡­ it was incredibly strange. The caller was the dorm assistant; she had¡­ predicted her own attack? Lilith hadn''t expected to hear this from Officer Wang. "The incident occurred at 7:05 PM, but we received the call from the assistant, Ms. Li, at 6:30 PM," Officer Wang frowned; the case was full of oddities. The assistant seemed to have known about the attack beforehand¡ªthe time, location, and method. But¡­ why hadn''t she avoided it? And although she called the police, she remained in her office until 7:00 PM, speaking to no one except the officers. What was she worried about? Was someone monitoring her every move? Making her distrust everyone? Lilith stood, walking to the office window, looking out. It was the first floor; only the empty field was visible. Officer Wang watched Lilith closely; Daniel had mentioned on the phone that Lilith had helped him solve several cases; she was intelligent, but¡­ he needed to be cautious. Then, Officer Wang''s phone rang. Everyone looked at him. "Yes, I understand." After a brief response, he hung up, his expression more serious. "Li De is dead." "His throat was pierced; blood entered his lungs; he suffocated." The academy representatives turned pale upon hearing Officer Wang. What kind of deep-seated hatred could drive a student to such brutality? Yin, fascinated by detective work, also paled upon hearing the confirmation of death. Observing from afar is easy, but participation changes everything. Especially¡­ after witnessing such a bizarre murder in this office. Even after leaving the scene, Yin remained shaken. Lilith walked ahead, unconcerned; she was pondering the strange case. Many points were suspicious. The victim''s premonition, the strange emotions, the perpetrator''s incredible strength. Although adrenaline could temporarily enhance human capabilities, this didn''t explain why several security guards were unable to subdue him. This was why Lilith was interested, requesting to see the scene. This case resembled the one from Daniel''s childhood, but¡­ it also seemed connected to Lucien''s death. "Yin." Lilith stopped, looking at Yin, who had remained silent. "Go back." Yin looked up, feeling she was being dismissed. Strangely, she saw no emotion in his eyes; Lilith''s demeanor was gentle, but¡­ she felt an underlying stillness emanating from him. This made her avoid his gaze; she felt¡­ his eyes weren''t those of a living person. "Where¡­ are you going?" She asked nervously. "To the killer''s home." Yin''s eyes lit up; she was about to say she wanted to go too, but fear welled up. She didn''t dare¡­ go to the killer''s home. Biting her lip, Yin looked down at her feet. "Hey, am¡­ am I useless?" Lilith paused, then reached out. Stroking the student''s hair, he smiled. "Instant miracles are rare. Study, work, love, even life itself¡ªthey require persistence. You might not succeed now, but with each attempt, as long as we live, we can face adversity again and again. You''ll find that your persistence will change your life." Yin shook off his hand, irritated. She looked at him again; she still saw no smile, but a seriousness that made her uneasy. "So, focus on your studies and make progress; that''s enough," Lilith said, retracting his hand. The student, feeling slightly better, angrily fixed her hair, occasionally glaring at Lilith. He wasn''t wrong, but he hadn''t told the whole truth. Some people are inherently incapable of certain things; humans are¡­ unequal. ... Lilith accompanied Officer Wang to He Baowen''s home. He Baowen was the student who had committed the assault. His family seemed well-off, judging by their apartment complex. A grim-faced middle-aged man opened the door, allowing them inside. The father remained silent, continuously smoking. He Baowen''s mother stood beside them, weeping, insisting her son was a good, obedient boy; there must be a misunderstanding. Officer Wang tried to comfort her; Lilith took the opportunity to enter He Baowen''s bedroom. She immediately noticed something strange. It was too tidy. Neatly arranged books, spotless walls, a neatly folded duvet, dust-free floors. Lilith knocked on a wall, attracting attention. "Excuse me, has anyone cleaned He Baowen''s room?" He Baowen''s mother wept again, shaking her head. "No¡­ he cleaned it himself. He''s a very tidy boy¡­" Lilith nodded, asking nothing further. The room wasn''t just tidy; it demonstrated an almost obsessive cleanliness. Everything was meticulously arranged. He Baowen seemed to be a highly self-disciplined individual. His room lacked a computer, a phone; even his desk lamp was old-fashioned. Lilith examined his books; besides textbooks, they were ordinary publications. He seemed interested in art; there were several art instruction books, showing considerable wear. But¡­ Lilith searched the entire room and couldn''t find a single artwork. Where were his drawings? Officer Wang entered, also surprised by the cleanliness. "Wow, this is cleaner than a typical teenager''s room; not even a poster," Officer Wang''s casual remark made Lilith pause. She approached the wall and touched it. "Officer Wang, we need a UV light," Lilith said seriously. Officer Wang looked at the wall, then at Lilith; although he didn''t understand, he trusted her. "Get a UV light!" While waiting for the UV light, Officer Wang noticed He Baowen''s desk, the art books; he finally understood Lilith''s meaning and admired her insight. This young woman''s thinking wasn''t clouded by external factors or emotions; she remained calm¡ªa rare quality in humans. The UV light arrived; Lilith pulled back the curtains; Officer Wang shone the light on the wall. Although they''d anticipated something, the sight before them caused them to gasp; a chilling sensation washed over them. "Thump¡ª" "Catch her!" He Baowen''s mother fainted upon seeing the drawings. No one could blame her; even the stern father paled. Because¡­ the drawings were horrifying. Under the UV light, several grotesque drawings, made with fluorescent paint, appeared on the wall; the eerie blue glow seemed to bring the images to life. No one understood why the boy''s mind had become so twisted. The wall was covered with bizarre, monstrous drawings! ... Silence filled the room; everyone''s gaze followed the UV light, confirming He Baowen''s twisted mind. He wasn''t the clean, self-controlled individual he appeared to be. He was the opposite¡ªrepressed, tormented, twisted, disturbed, and cruel! His art showed no hope, no compassion! "Huff¡­" Officer Wang exhaled, pulling back the curtains. Sunlight streamed in, somewhat dispelling the chilling eerieness. The repression was intense; despite his years of experience with bizarre cases, he''d never seen such a twisted young mind. What had he experienced? "Wait." Lilith spoke. She took the UV light from Officer Wang and shone it on the ceiling. Everyone gasped; an eerie blue glow appeared! There were drawings on the ceiling! But¡­ what were these? Everyone looked at He Baowen''s parents; they stared, disbelieving, at the ceiling. They seemed to be depicting a building; He Baowen had only sketched the outline, providing no details. But Officer Wang knew the drawing reflected the boy''s twisted emotions. What building was depicted behind the parents? "Mr. He, Ms. Gong, please explain the meaning of this drawing," Officer Wang asked seriously. "Explain? Explain what?! How would I know what he drew?! That ungrateful brat! I worked so hard to raise him!" He Baowen''s father, his face flushed, shouted, his voice coarse, veins bulging in his neck, complaining about his difficult work and He Baowen''s unwillingness to improve, his obsession with the internet. His uncontrolled outburst forced Officer Wang to act; officers restrained him. Wang then turned to Gong Lan. The nearly forty-year-old woman was dazed, staring at the ceiling. Even after Lilith turned off the UV light, she remained transfixed. After a long pause, Gong Lan spoke. "That''s¡­ the Yehua Education Center¡­ a rehabilitation center for internet addiction." Officer Wang''s face changed; he was about to speak, then fell silent. Everyone heard the woman''s hoarse voice. "Baowen was very disobedient¡­ He did everything except study. His father was busy with work; I tried to discipline him, but he wouldn''t listen. We watched him get worse¡­ something had to be done!" Despair and confusion clouded Gong Lan''s face. "Someone recommended an education center; it was very effective! Children who went there became obedient and well-behaved; everyone loved them. So¡­ we tricked Baowen into going." "Who recommended the center?" Officer Wang asked. "Li Degang. Many students went there because of him. He¡­ was a good man," Gong Lan said, her face pale. She couldn''t understand why her son would attack his benefactor; in her view, hadn''t Baowen improved? After a year at the center, he''d become disciplined, well-behaved, polite¡ªa good boy. Why¡­ Lilith watched her and the still-furious father; she''d never known her parents; her brother had raised her. But she understood parental feelings. The situation was clear: He Baowen had grown up in a dysfunctional family. His parents held traditional views, exerting excessive control over their son, treating him as a possession. They were failures in their own lives, yet blamed others. To ensure their son''s "bright" future, they had sent him to hell. Although Lilith didn''t know the inner workings of the education center, the numerous drawings on the walls revealed He Baowen''s helplessness, fear, and despair. He was the good boy his parents wanted, but his heart was screaming unheard, twisted cries. "Officer Wang, I''m leaving." Lilith said goodbye; Officer Wang nodded, looking at the couple. His position prevented him from taking action or speaking. He knew changing ingrained beliefs was difficult; for this family, it was a deeply personal matter. He Baowen had only targeted Li Degang; this was, perhaps, a remnant of kindness in his twisted mind. Chapter 9: Sylvia Winterwind ... The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Chapter 10: Broken A week later. Sylvia¡¯s business engagements concluded, and she left Industry City. After leaving the apartment that day, she didn''t contact Lilith. She understood her wariness and rejection. Therefore, Lilith had a relatively relaxed period. Today, she followed a map on her phone. Qingyi Street, number 169. This was the place. Lilith put away her phone and looked at the building, incongruous with the surrounding concrete and steel environment. ¡°Knock knock knock¡­¡± Lilith knocked softly on the door. Footsteps sounded from inside. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± A young man¡¯s mumbled voice echoed from the courtyard. He opened the gate, revealing a youthful, handsome face. The mumbled voice was explained; he was brushing his teeth. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m inquiring about the rental advertisement.¡± Lilith ignored the man¡¯s current activity. Brushing his teeth at 1 PM seemed odd, even to Lilith. Moreover, the young man appeared to have just woken up. Perhaps it was some specialized profession? Lilith thoughtfully considered. The handsome young man¡¯s eyes lit up at Lilith¡¯s words; he quickly spat out some toothpaste and swallowed it. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! That¡¯s me! You¡¯re here to rent? Hahaha! Excellent taste!¡± His enthusiasm surprised Lilith. Without even introducing himself, he pulled Lilith into the old building. Given the low rent, Lilith hadn''t expected much. In fact, the low price was the main reason she¡¯d come. But the apartment far exceeded her expectations; not merely poor, but¡­ exceptionally good. A typical all-wood house, with elegant, archaic carvings on the windows. A path of blue stone slabs extended from the courtyard gate to the front door, leading to a stone table and bench under a large locust tree. Not far away was a small pond, with clear water flowing through an underground stream. The young man closely watched Lilith¡¯s expression¡ªLilith showed little emotion¡ªso he assumed she had concerns. He gritted his teeth. ¡°The rent can¡¯t be lower! Even though there are rumors of ghosts here, it¡¯s a new era! You look young; you surely don¡¯t believe in those baseless rumors, do you?¡± Ghosts? Lilith looked at him in surprise. She¡¯d never heard of that. However¡­ she now understood the reason for the low rent. ¡°Look, I grew up here, lived here for over twenty-five years, and never saw a ghost. That old locust tree is gloomy, but it¡¯s never caused any trouble,¡± he said. Lilith smiled. ¡°The rent for over a year is¡­¡± ¡°Oh, if you don¡¯t want to¡­ wait?¡± The man''s eyes lit up. He finally understood. ¡°You want to rent? Wonderful!¡± ¡°200 a month, 2400 a year¡­ let¡¯s call it 2300!¡± A 100 discount was quite generous; Lilith nodded in satisfaction. A win-win situation. ¡°Ha! I knew you were different, not like those cowards who get scared silly by a tree!¡± He said this with his back to the locust tree. Lilith followed his gaze towards the locust tree, her expression subtly shifting. She seemed to¡­ see something with very long hair¡­ peering at her from within the leaves. The young man continued chattering, but Lilith didn¡¯t react rashly; she calmly withdrew her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m Aquila Nova! There are four rooms in this courtyard. Besides mine, you can choose any of the other three!¡± Aquila was generous, but his words revealed that he was the sole resident of this old courtyard. Lilith didn¡¯t refuse. She carried her luggage to the furthest room, on the far right, away from the locust tree. After some preparations, the room was quickly ready. Aquila was a pleasant young man; the successful rental seemed to please him, so he decided to go out and buy some delicious food to celebrate. Lilith sat on a bench in the courtyard, gazing thoughtfully at the old locust tree. She hadn¡¯t noticed before, but why¡­ were strange things happening everywhere now? Oh well, Aquila had lived here for many years without incident, so it shouldn''t be a problem. Just as Lilith thought this, a strange number appeared on her phone. She looked at the unknown number and answered. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Is this Ms. Hollow?¡± A man¡¯s smooth, magnetic voice responded. ¡°Who is this?¡± A moment of silence followed. ¡°My name is Damian.¡± Damian? Lilith recalled the name; after Sylvia, he was one of the longest-surviving members of Fog Gathering¡­ Sylvia¡¯s initial performance had been disappointing, but today, she revealed another personality. It seemed that personality was the key to her survival. What special qualities did this Mr. Damian possess? ¡°Mr. Du, it¡¯s a pleasure. What can I do for you?¡± Lilith was direct; aside from necessary performances, she preferred to get straight to the point. ¡°It¡¯s like this¡­ you haven¡¯t been in the group chat lately. We know very little about the details of the third task, so¡­¡± Lilith realized her oversight. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to share; she simply disliked the atmosphere in the group chat. While the surface conversations were lively, the underlying tone¡­ was overwhelmingly despairing. They used casual interactions to mask their inner anxieties, fears, and even bizarre madness. Lilith had noticed this on her first entry into Fog Gathering: among the diverse crowd, many were on the verge of a mental breakdown. She recognized this because she, too, was skilled at disguising and feigning emotions. The constant pressure of unending despair, facing a world where death loomed at any moment, would naturally lead to such a state. However, Lilith also noticed a few who didn¡¯t show these emotions; among them was Damian. ¡°I¡¯ll compile a document and send it to you, Mr. Damian.¡± Damian was slightly surprised by Lilith¡¯s immediate compliance. But he didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Hollow.¡± ¡°Well, if there¡¯s nothing else¡­¡± ¡°¡­Um!¡± Damian hesitated for a moment before speaking again. ¡°Is there something else?¡± ¡°Ms. Hollow, I wanted to ask¡­ have you¡­ felt anything¡­ unusual about yourself?¡± Lilith was startled. Damian¡¯s voice was low, as if he didn¡¯t want others to overhear. After a moment¡¯s thought, Lilith gave a light smile. ¡°No, Mr. Damian.¡± ... Lilith settled into the old house on Qingyi Street. While she occasionally saw strange shadows in the old locust tree, nothing else unusual happened. Unexpectedly, Aquila¡¯s profession turned out to be criminal investigation¡ªbut not as a regular officer; he was a forensic pathologist. He used various technical means to conduct forensic examinations, including scene analysis, live body examinations, autopsies, symptom analysis, evidence identification, and special body examinations. When Aquila first hesitantly told her he was a forensic pathologist, Lilith simply said, "Amazing," and showed no other reaction. This increased Aquila''s positive impression of her. But his work was demanding; he often returned home in the early morning and woke up around 1 or 2 PM. Overall, their cohabitation was pleasant. Lilith sat on the bench, a book in her hands¡ªa forensic medicine textbook borrowed from Aquila. Thinking back, it had been over half a month since Damian¡¯s contact. Unless something unexpected occurred¡­ Just then, Lilith felt a sudden tightness in her chest. Was it time? She distinctly felt a strange, suffocating sensation rising from her heart. Thump-thump¡ªthump-thump¡ª Lilith¡¯s heart beat rapidly, uncontrollably fast. This feeling¡­ This was¡­ the Fog Gathering summons. Lilith reached into her collar and pulled out a silver key. For safekeeping, she wore it as a necklace. This time, her limbs didn¡¯t spasm uncontrollably. She was tempted to resist the sensation, to see what would happen if she didn¡¯t open the gate. But¡­ reason told her that wouldn¡¯t end well. Lilith stood, inserting the silver key into her door''s keyhole. As before, the key, seemingly incompatible with the lock, turned. Lilith gently pushed, and the door¡­ opened. ... Fog Gathering was filled with chaotic mist; numerous figures stood ahead. Lilith realized she was the last to arrive. The previous group, excluding the deceased Samuel, even the peculiar Cassandra, had arrived much earlier. Speaking of Samuel, Lilith had been seeking information about him this month¡ªnot just Samuel, but also the Ruyi Inn in Sentinel City. But the results were unsatisfactory. Samuel was reported missing; his shares in Baisheng United were rapidly dispersed. Even stranger was the Ruyi Inn in the real world. Lilith couldn¡¯t find any information about it, neither in newspapers nor online. The inn, which had claimed several lives in the misty realm, seemed to have vanished; or, more accurately, it was as if the keywords related to it had been suppressed. It still existed, but its existence at the lowest level of awareness had been obscured, even erased. This was the only explanation Lilith could conceive. ¡°Ms. Hollow, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± Maximus greeted Lilith; his attitude was friendly. Damian had previously shared Lilith¡¯s summary of the task in the group chat. Everyone carefully reviewed the events. Most saw the strangeness and horror; a few saw Lilith¡¯s unconventional thought processes and reasoning. Maximus was among them. Maximus was outstanding, young and intelligent. Though trapped in this terrifying, bizarre place, he hadn¡¯t completely lost hope. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. He believed he could eventually escape, breaking free from this deadly curse. But achieving this goal alone was insufficient; Maximus had been observing those within Fog Gathering who were "qualified" to escape the curse with him. Fortunately, though few, there were more such individuals than he¡¯d anticipated. Several were exceptionally capable, though¡­ they weren¡¯t ranked at the top of Fog Gathering, mainly because they''d entered later. In Maximus¡¯s view, Lilith was one of them. Although currently ranked last, her potential might surpass the vast majority at the top. Lilith nodded in response to Maximus. She recognized many faces, but few were familiar enough to recall their names and appearances; she knew little about her unfortunate ¡°colleagues.¡± ¡°Lilith!¡± Seraphina approached. Lilith looked at her; beside her, Jiang and Harrison were also approaching. ¡°We wanted to contact you in reality, but¡­ Mr. Damian said you didn¡¯t like being disturbed there.¡± Lilith looked at Damian, shaking her head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just don¡¯t like speaking in the group chat.¡± Mr. Damian had asked her a strange question last time: "Have you felt anything unusual about yourself?" Perhaps he''d misunderstood something; or perhaps¡­ there were things Lilith didn''t know. The group dispersed, maintaining a clear distance between individuals, even Seraphina and her companions. Lilith recalled Liam¡¯s warning from the last time: don¡¯t trust anyone. And ¡°Ophelia Noir¡± had said not to trust Sylvia. But¡­ were there rules within Fog Gathering that Lilith didn''t know? Then, a change occurred¡­ Lilith and the others witnessed a door opening in mid-air, a strange figure stepping through. Lilith recognized the door; it was¡­ the hospital door. She had spent ten years catatonic in a mental hospital. ¡°Why is there only one newcomer this time?¡± a doubtful voice echoed. Liam stood silently in the distance, observing the door and the newcomer, lost in thought. Damian stood beside him, his brow furrowed. ¡°Fog Gathering is becoming increasingly erratic. Newcomers becoming cursed victims, Wei Tu¡¯s team annihilated, Adrian¡¯s team cursed from the moment they entered Fog Gathering. And this time, Fog Gathering didn''t bring the total number up to forty-nine? Only one newcomer¡­¡± ¡°Liam¡­¡± Liam shook his head slightly; his expression was unreadable. ¡°We don¡¯t know, and we don¡¯t need to know. For now, our only concern is survival.¡± Damian opened his mouth, speechless. Meanwhile, the sole newcomer slowly emerged from the gray mist, appearing before them. ¡°Excuse me¡­ where¡­ is this?¡± A gentle female voice drifted from the mist. She was about twenty years old, her eyes bright and clear, her upturned face still pretty, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. When she spoke, her face showed no fear, only mild curiosity. Everyone was startled, not by her beauty, but because¡­ she was in a wheelchair. Her bright, gentle eyes looked questioningly at the group. Though disabled, she possessed undeniable beauty. Her features weren''t breathtaking, but the more one looked, the more captivating she became. And, so far, this disabled girl hadn''t panicked or lost control of her emotions. Her left hand carefully gripped the wheelchair''s handle, revealing an inner turmoil that belied her calm eyes. Maximus stepped forward to offer a brief explanation, given that she was the only newcomer. His explanation was relaxed, partly because she, while still questioning, hadn''t asked many questions. The group approved of her demeanor but didn''t believe she could survive in Fog Gathering easily. After all¡­ her disability was a significant handicap. Lilith looked at her and suddenly asked, ¡°Were you in Industry City?¡± The girl''s eyes brightened slightly. She turned to Lilith. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do¡­ do you know me?¡± she softly asked. Lilith shook her head, looking into her eyes. ¡°Your wheelchair has the Industry City Third Hospital logo.¡± ¡°Are you from Industry City, too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Her eyes seemed to brighten at Lilith¡¯s affirmative answer. It wasn¡¯t trust; it was the peculiar feeling of a stranger encountering a compatriot. Their conversation was short-lived; the surrounding gray mist began to change. Names rapidly coalesced into form. Due to the twelve deaths last time and only one newcomer, there were thirty-eight participants this time. The rankings quickly formed. Liam, Sylvia, Damian, Lena, Dorian, Giselle¡­ six in a row, seven rows total. In the last row, two names prominently formed at the end of the thirty-six others. Lilith, Elysia Dawn. Only then did they learn the disabled girl''s name. She had a beautiful name but not a fortunate life. The group held their breath; all names had formed, signifying the start of the task selection. Only heavy breathing or labored gasps filled Fog Gathering. Lilith wasn''t particularly worried. She remembered a rule in Fog Gathering: those who were cursed ones¡­ if they successfully completed the previous task, would be automatically skipped in the next. And she had been a cursed one last time. So Lilith''s purpose this time was to observe the Fog Gathering members. Then, the name changes began. And this time, the first name to turn blood red was¡­ Liam! Before the shock subsided, five more names rapidly turned blood red! Lena, Adrian, Corbin Aldrich, Elena, Lilith, Elysia! ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°How could this be?!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Gasps of disbelief echoed; Fog Gathering erupted in chaos! Not only was Liam, the longest-surviving member, chosen first as a cursed one. Even more unbelievable was that Adrian and Lilith, cursed ones in the last task, were chosen again! Did this mean¡­ the rules were broken? Even Lilith was shocked, let alone Adrian. The young woman with two doctorates stared in disbelief at her blood-red name; behind her, Elena looked strangely conflicted. She seemed both fearful and pleased, occasionally glancing at Adrian¡¯s back. Lena and Corbin, though showing little outward emotion, had lost all color from their lips, indicating inner turmoil. Elysia, the newcomer, didn''t yet understand what this meant, unaware of what awaited her¡­ The shock and commotion were brief; the second task selection quickly began. This time, the first name to turn blood red was¡­ Maximus. Maximus¡¯s expression remained unchanged; he calmly looked up, awaiting those who would join him. But¡­ another surprise occurred. This time, only one name turned red after Maximus¡¯s¡­ Caspian Vale. Maximus¡¯s eyes flickered; he searched the crowd, meeting a narrowed gaze and a faint smile. ¡°Hello.¡± Maximus nodded curtly, but a sudden shock ran through him: ¡°Caspian Vale¡­ when did he enter Fog Gathering?¡± This name was among the thirty-eight; theoretically, he wasn¡¯t a newcomer. So why¡­ was his impression so faint? Maximus wasn''t the only one with this feeling; several people only recognized Caspian after he approached. Caspian himself seemed surprised to be chosen alone at this particular moment. This was¡­ the first time they''d seen a task with only two participants. Damian''s expression grew even more serious. Fog Gathering was becoming increasingly bizarre¡­ and that was certainly not a good sign. He felt, instinctively, that something significant was about to happen. This premonition lacked a logical basis, but Damian took it seriously because¡­ such inexplicable premonitions had saved his life many times. Then, the final task selection began. The first name to turn red this time was¡­ Lucas. Lucas was startled, then stepped forward. Him again¡­ and he was the final cursed victim¡­ Then, three more names quickly turned red after Lucas¡¯s. Harrison, Evander Sterling, and¡­ Cassandra. Cassandra again? Lucas looked at her. After last time, he¡¯d tried contacting her, not with any ill intent. Because¡­ she looked so much like Louis; only a pervert would have such thoughts about their own sister. But¡­ Cassandra hadn¡¯t responded in reality, not even when the group praised her in the chat. She hadn¡¯t sent a single message. Regardless, three groups were now fully formed. Elysia silently followed Lilith¡¯s lead; after all¡­ she considered her a compatriot. Then, the familiar transformation began. Before Elysia¡¯s incredulous gaze, the remaining names scattered and coalesced into three lines of text, suspended in mid-air. ¡°One: Bloodless Heart. Survive three-day.¡± ¡°Two: Unbroken Bones, Guest from Afar. Survive seven-day.¡± ¡°Three: Who combs, mirror shows. Three-day limit.¡± Lilith memorized the text. Bloodless Heart. What did this idiom imply¡­? ¡°Begin.¡± Maximus¡¯s voice was devoid of its usual lightness. With his words, the three lines of mist scattered, becoming a thick fog that enveloped the group. Elysia¡¯s knuckles turned white; she finally felt¡­ A primal fear welling up from the depths of her soul. ... ¡°Screech¡ª¡ª¡± The sudden braking, accompanied by intense inertia, caused Lilith to stumble. Though her eyes were still closed, she sensed she was in some kind of vehicle. ¡°Damn it, drop anchor!¡± A thick regional accent barked from the front. Lilith finally regained control of her body and opened her eyes. Liam, Lena, Adrian, Corbin, Elena, Elysia, and herself were all on a long-distance bus. Besides them, there were other passengers. ¡°Get off! Everyone, get off!¡± A short, burly driver shouted from the bottom of the bus. ¡°The bus broke down! Get off now!¡± ¡°What? This is the middle of nowhere! Where are we supposed to go? The sun¡¯s almost setting!¡± A stylish young woman, clutching a Corgi, glared at the driver in dissatisfaction. ¡°What do you want me to do? If you can fix it, go ahead!¡± The passengers exchanged glances, their expressions varied. It seemed everyone on this bus¡­ was heading home. ¡°Let¡¯s just get off. It¡¯s not easy for any of us¡­¡± an old man advised. Liam and the others exchanged glances and disembarked. Elysia, with Elena¡¯s help, got off without incident. The long-distance bus was on an old mountain road. As dusk settled, the gloomy, weak sunlight cast strange and distorted shadows through the trees onto the ground. The surroundings were eerily lifeless and quiet. Soon, everyone disembarked. The driver counted the passengers. ¡°It¡¯s almost dark; we can¡¯t stay here overnight. Let¡¯s walk to the village nearby; I think there¡¯s one.¡± ¡°What? You want me to sleep in some village?¡± the young woman with the dog exclaimed. ¡°If you want, sleep on the bus! Ask if anyone wants to join you!¡± The chubby driver, angered by the woman, shouted. ¡°If you¡¯re so attached to your precious bus seat, take a plane!¡± The woman¡¯s face flushed; clutching her dog, she trembled, unable to retort. Deep in the mountains, with a broken-down bus on a remote road, not even a cell signal, if this fat driver decided to do something, it would be her fault. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. The trees, mountains, unseen insects, the dusky sky, the menacing shadows¡ªeverything seemed to take on an ominous aspect. ¡°Um¡­ driver, when will the bus be fixed?¡± the old man asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t fix it alone. That¡¯s why I¡¯m suggesting the village; at least we can find a phone signal,¡± the driver said, glaring at the woman. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to come, stay on the bus. I don¡¯t care what happens to you. Anyone who wants to come with me to the village, raise your hand!¡± Given the driver¡¯s words, everyone looked around and raised their hands in agreement. Furthermore, this deep mountain forest was ancient and primeval, with towering trees that blocked out the sun. The woods looked dark, terrifying, and mysterious. Even in daylight, it was unsettling; if it were completely dark, who knew what might happen? No one would dare spend the night on the bus. Lilith and her group had no other choice; if they didn¡¯t go to the village, Fog Gathering would consider it a negative action. What would happen then was unknown. Even the young woman with the dog didn''t object. Including Lilith¡¯s group, there were thirteen people in total. The chubby driver checked his bearings and led them into the woods. ¡°I only heard about the village from a driver who uses this route. It¡¯s supposed to be nearby, but I don¡¯t know the exact location. Keep your eyes peeled and help me look for it.¡± His words unsettled them; what if¡­ they didn¡¯t find the village before dark? They entered the woods, the light dim and shadowy. Tall trees blocked most of the sunlight; only dappled rays pierced through the branches. The damp, decaying leaves and branches made the ground uneven and treacherous; the women occasionally cried out in alarm. Navigating the terrain in a wheelchair was even more challenging for Elysia. ¡°Hey, is she your friend?¡± The chubby driver stopped, frowning. ¡°What about her?¡± Liam looked at him calmly. ¡°She¡¯s too slow. What¡¯s this place? Someone carry her; leave the wheelchair here and pick it up on the way back.¡± The chubby driver¡¯s tone held a strange, commanding air that made everyone uncomfortable. All eyes turned to Elysia, each considering the implications. Agreeing meant assuming responsibility for her throughout the task. In the real world, the men might have offered to help; despite her disability, she was beautiful and graceful. But¡­ this was Fog Gathering. The added inconvenience and burden were considerable. Liam looked directly at Elysia, but made no move. Adrian hesitated, taking a step forward, only to be gently stopped by a hand on his arm. He turned to see Elena subtly shaking her head. Corbin didn''t even look at Elysia; he was frowning, seemingly lost in thought. Elysia glanced at the group, saying nothing. She lowered her head, remaining seated in her wheelchair. The setting sun filtered through the leaves, illuminating her beauty, yet she looked¡­ like discarded refuse in the mountains. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you. Would you like that?¡± A somewhat unfamiliar voice suddenly came from behind her. Elysia turned and saw that it was Lilith, who had been walking at the rear. She looked at him; he stared back impassively, without even a polite smile. But¡­ she seemed lost in thought for a moment before nodding gently. ¡°Thank you.¡± As Lilith knelt and effortlessly lifted Elysia onto his back, Liam and the others exchanged knowing glances. Strange, but still an innocent young man. Unaware of their assessment, Lilith carried Elysia at the back of the group. Elysia leaned slightly against him, seemingly lost in thought. ¡°I have a question.¡± Lilith whispered. Elysia quickly realized he was speaking only to her. ¡°What is it?¡± Lilith slowed his pace. ¡°I want to know¡­ what¡¯s hidden in your right sleeve?¡± Lilith sensed Elysia stiffen, followed by a long silence. ¡°Nevermind; it was just curiosity.¡± Lilith didn''t press, quickly changing the subject to follow the group. ¡°Hey! Is that the village you mentioned?¡± A middle-aged man¡¯s surprised voice rang out. Following his finger, they saw a cluster of low buildings on the opposite hillside, their forms obscured by the dusky mist. Faint, shadowy figures seemed to move within the mist¡ªbut the pale fog was unsettling, like a layer of¡­ dead skin. Upon closer inspection, the village was larger than they''d anticipated. Lilith''s group stayed behind, maintaining a slight distance from the six ahead. Liam stopped, scanning the group. ¡°Two things. One, this is a survival task; the ghosts are unavoidable unless, like Cassandra, you discover hidden rules. Two, their abilities will manifest in two or more ways.¡± Everyone nodded, taking note. ¡°I spoke to them briefly. The woman with the dog is Mira; the driver is Tobias; the old man is Leopold. Of the remaining three, the man who discovered the village is Alaric; the other man and woman are a couple, Garrick and Evelyn. All six are from Eldoria City. The bus we were on was also going to Eldoria City.¡± The speaker was Lena. Her appearance was unremarkable, but her eyes were shrewd. Indeed, Lena, in her thirties, was a master of social interaction, able to quickly learn everyone''s names and backgrounds. Then, the six ahead suddenly became agitated. ¡°Woof woof woof!¡± Mira¡¯s Corgi suddenly leaped from her arms and barked fiercely at the village. ¡°Dou Dou! What¡¯s wrong, Dou Dou!¡± Mira quickly hugged it, but the dog seemed frenzied, resisting her efforts. It almost bit her when she tried to hold it back. Its fur on its neck and tail stood on end; its paws sprawled on the ground; it bared its teeth and howled at the village. Tobias and the others thought the dog was simply mad, but Lilith''s group saw its limbs trembling violently as it howled. It was terrified. What had it seen? The faint mountain mist enveloping the village suddenly stirred; a mournful wind howled, like someone weeping. The trees swayed wildly; the intertwined branches in the shadows seemed like outstretched arms, reaching towards the thirteen people outside the village. Tobias and the others didn¡¯t understand, but Liam and his group knew: ghosts were present. And a¡­ terrifyingly powerful one. The mournful dog¡¯s howls echoed through the mountains; soon, sounds came from the village¡ªthey had finally heard the dog. Before their gaze, an old man whose face resembled a cracked peach stone, emerged, supported by a young woman. ¡°Who¡­ are you¡­?¡± His voice was as old and weak as his appearance, trembling as if he might faint at any moment. ¡°Are you the village head? We¡¯re travelers; our bus broke down, and we need to rest in your village.¡± Tobias¡¯s tone was grating. The old village head showed no reaction, but another, harsher voice responded. ¡°Why should we let you rest? Get lost!¡± ¡°What the hell?!¡± Tobias glared, his face contorting. This long-distance driver clearly had a history. ¡°It¡¯s me! What do you want?!¡± A strong young man emerged, his eyebrows furrowed, staring defiantly at Tobias. ¡°Cough¡­ cough¡­ Xiao Ban, don¡¯t be impulsive.¡± The old village head, supported by the young woman, coughed violently, his voice weakening. His aged eyes scanned the group. ¡°The village has no roads; vehicles can¡¯t enter. Since you¡¯ve found your way here, come in¡­¡± ¡°Village head!¡± The young man called Xiao Ban protested. ¡°These people are strangers; let them leave!¡± Lilith suddenly turned, looking at Xiao Ban. Elysia, sensing Lilith''s movement, also glanced at Xiao Ban, thoughtfully. ¡°Nonsense!¡± The village head angrily glared at him. ¡°It¡¯s almost dark; where are they supposed to go?¡± Xiao Ban opened his mouth but said nothing more, his gaze flitting between the newcomers, especially glaring at Tobias. ¡°Please¡­ follow me.¡± The village head, supported by the young woman, led them into the village. ¡°Bi He Yan. I¡¯m the village head of this Xue Dong village. We¡­ haven¡¯t had guests in a long time¡­¡± His words made the Fog Gathering members uneasy. His phrasing was¡­ unsettling. Then, the young woman supporting him spoke. ¡°Grandpa, the ancestral rite is the day after tomorrow. Taking in so many strangers¡­¡± Ancestral rite? Several took note of the young woman''s words. The day after tomorrow¡­ wasn¡¯t that the last day of the survival task? Was this a coincidence? ¡°Stop rambling. Anyone who wants to stay here until then¡­ I¡¯m leaving tomorrow!¡± Corbin glanced at Tobias; he sensed the word "death" practically glowing above his head. ¡°Right?¡± The young woman looked at Tobias with a strange expression. ¡°I hope you¡­ can leave¡­¡± This eerie statement made everyone uneasy. But then, something even stranger appeared. Entering the village, they discovered that there weren''t any cats or dogs, not even chickens or ducks. Instead, strange cages covered with black cloth were chained to every doorway. ¡°What¡¯s this? Do you keep lions?¡± Tobias asked, casually trying to remove the black cloth from a cage by the roadside. ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡± Xiao Ban shouted. But¡­ his warning was too late. ¡°Aaah!!!!¡± ¡°Damn it! Let go!¡± Tobias¡¯s eyes widened; a grotesque woman had his finger clamped firmly in her mouth, causing him to break out in a cold sweat! The others rushed to help; Tobias kicked the woman repeatedly, but the filthy, terrifying creature wouldn''t release her grip! ¡°AAAAAH!!!¡± Tobias let out an even more agonizing scream, stumbling backward as others pulled him away. He covered his hand in terror and pain. The woman had bitten off his finger! Mira¡¯s face turned pale; she cried out in fright. ¡°Damn it! I told you not to touch it!¡± Xiao Ban roared, grabbing a handful of some kind of ash and sprinkling it on Tobias¡¯s injured finger. The chubby driver cried out in pain. Lilith and her group, however, didn''t see the fool. Their eyes scanned the houses. Each¡­ each house had a cage covered with black cloth in front of it. Could it be¡­ that each cage held a woman like that? ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t tell anyone¡­¡± The village head¡¯s voice was filled with anguish. He looked at the group, his hands trembling as he bowed. Chapter 11: First one The group exchanged uneasy glances. But the fingerless Tobias clearly wasn¡¯t interested in diplomacy. ¡°I¡¯m injured! You think you can just get away with this?!¡± He pointed at the village head, yelling. The commotion quickly spread through the village; soon, numerous doors creaked open. Emaciated, dark faces peered out from the cracks, staring at them. Even Tobias was terrified. It wasn¡¯t just his fear¡­ these villagers¡¯ faces were horrifying. Or rather¡­ bizarre. They weren¡¯t deformed or disabled, but their features were grotesquely disproportionate: unusually small eyes, impossibly large mouths¡ªan unsettling imbalance. ¡°We will compensate you¡­¡± the village head said calmly, despite Tobias¡¯s outburst. Tobias coldly snorted but didn¡¯t continue his tirade; the old man had made a public promise, giving him leverage later. ¡°Grandpa.¡± The young woman supporting the village head suddenly spoke. ¡°It¡¯s getting dark.¡± These simple words caused the village head¡¯s expression to change. He hurriedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ go inside.¡± Simultaneously, the villagers quickly closed their doors, falling silent. The village head hurried onward, as if something were chasing him. A few minutes later, just before sunset, they finally reached the village head''s house. The house was spacious, but certainly couldn''t comfortably accommodate thirteen people. ¡°I apologize, but there are only three spare rooms. Please excuse the lack of beds tonight,¡± the village head said apologetically. ¡°Tomorrow morning, if you still can¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll arrange for you to stay in other houses.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Mira immediately protested, clutching her lethargic Corgi. ¡°No! I¡¯ll pay you. You¡­ you have to give me a room to myself!¡± ¡°Damn it! I¡¯m injured, and I¡¯m not getting a room to myself, what makes you think you¡¯re so special?!¡± Tobias¡¯s face was pale; although the bleeding had stopped thanks to the ash, the pain lingered, making his already bad temper even worse. ¡°How about this? Three rooms; one for the men, one for the women, and we¡¯ll decide about the last room,¡± Leopold suggested. ¡°Village head, the seven of us are friends. Can you arrange a room for us? Beds aren''t necessary; we can chat, pass the time, and rest on the floor.¡± Lena stated her preference. Her suggestion was widely accepted, representing the six travelers'' wishes. Tobias protested, but the numbers were against him. Lilith''s group got a large room, spread out blankets, and lay down to rest, ignoring Tobias''s continued complaints. Lilith settled Elysia on a blanket; she softly thanked her, then leaned against the wall, watching the group. The room was spacious enough for seven people. However, they weren¡¯t planning on sleeping soundly. ¡°Seven of us; one-hour shifts,¡± Adrian suggested. His suggestion was practical; no one objected. Sleeping peacefully in a village known to harbor ghosts was impossible; cooperation was vital. ¡°What are your thoughts on this village?¡± Corbin, still standing, sat cross-legged and looked at the group. ¡°The village head is strange,¡± Lena said, a glint in her eyes. ¡°It takes five or six minutes to walk to the village head¡¯s house from the entrance, but it only took two minutes from when the dog started barking until the village head and his granddaughter appeared. Where were they? Why, aside from the village head, his granddaughter, and Xiao Ban, did no one else come out?¡± Lena¡¯s question reflected everyone¡¯s suspicion: something was wrong with this village. The cages covered with black cloth on every doorstep. The villagers confined to their houses¡­ ¡°The village head¡¯s granddaughter¡¯s words were strange too: ¡®It¡¯s getting dark.¡¯ Could something happen after dark that frightens them?¡± Corbin added. ¡°Ms. Hollow, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Lilith, leaning against the wall, appeared lost in thought, then heard her opinion requested. And it was Liam who asked? Lilith didn''t hesitate. Looking at the group, she shared her thoughts. ¡°The village head¡¯s granddaughter mentioned the ancestral rite; the riddle also mentioned sacrifice. I¡¯ve been thinking about ¡®Bloodless Heart,¡¯ and I think I understand it now.¡± Her words piqued their interest; had Lilith solved the riddle''s meaning? ¡°The village head said he was the head of Xue Dong village. Xue Dong¡­ blood sacrifice. I don¡¯t think this is a mere coincidence. This ghost is likely connected to the ancestral rite.¡± Lilith¡¯s interpretation was accepted. ¡°Yes, Ms. Hollow makes a good point. We should investigate the ancestral rite. It may have had accidents in the past, killing those who shouldn¡¯t have died¡­¡± ¡°Or perhaps, it was a blood sacrifice, and now¡­ the dead have returned for revenge,¡± Elena, sitting next to Adrian, calmly stated. ¡°I¡­ also have an observation.¡± A soft voice came from the corner. Everyone looked towards Elysia. ¡°Just now¡­ as I passed by, I noticed that none of the houses in Xue Dong village have windows.¡± What?! Elysia¡¯s observation initially surprised them, then sparked realization. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ why I felt such an oppressive sense of confinement in this village!¡± Corbin slapped his hand on the table, sighing. Lilith glanced at Elysia; meeting her gaze, she nodded. Windows? Why didn''t the villagers of Xue Dong have windows? ¡°Perhaps¡­ they¡¯re afraid of something peering in through the windows?¡± Corbin mused. His suggestion was alarming. If that were true, what¡­ was it that lurked outside the windows? Liam unconsciously tapped his fingers¡ªa habit during contemplation. He was the cursed victim this time, and cursed victims in survival tasks were almost certainly targeted by the ghost. Therefore, Liam¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t merely to survive three days but, like Cassandra, to find the hidden rule and then¡­ eliminate it! ... Night deepened. It was 11 PM; Elysia was on the first watch. This wasn¡¯t to burden her; rather, it was a form of protection. The lights remained on; everyone sat resting with their eyes closed, not fully asleep. Therefore, Elysia felt little pressure during her watch. Meanwhile, Tobias and the others finally settled their accommodation. The two remaining rooms were allocated¡ªone for men, one for women. Garrick tossed and turned, unable to sleep; Evelyn was his wife, and the remote, isolated village made him uneasy. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Tobias grumbled from beside him. ¡°S-sorry¡­¡± Garrick, a gentle man, quickly shrank back at Tobias¡¯s displeasure. But then, he felt a sudden urge to urinate. He couldn¡¯t hold it. Garrick climbed from the blankets, deciding to use the outhouse. The village head had mentioned it was outside, but he had to be quick and close the door; he couldn¡¯t linger. The instructions felt strange, but fear lingered in his heart. Especially¡­ after seeing the unsettling situation in the village. Which village kept so many crazed women locked in cages? But he knew this wasn''t his concern; getting the bus fixed or finding another ride back to Eldoria City was the priority. This trip home with his wife was about making money and saving face. With that in mind, Garrick calmed slightly. He cautiously opened the door, stepping into the pale moonlight. The mountain village was terrifying at night. A chilling mountain wind howled; rustling leaves were occasionally heard; the shadowy darkness under the moon looked like a gaping maw, ready to devour everything. Garrick didn¡¯t linger, hurrying to the outhouse, unbuckling his trousers. Suddenly, ¡°Click¡­¡± Footsteps sounded outside the wooden outhouse door. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Garrick involuntarily called out. Then, his eyes widened in terror. Something¡­ was wrong. How could footsteps approaching the outhouse be so faint? Could a human instantly jump from a great distance to nearby? Cold sweat beaded on Garrick¡¯s forehead. Garrick forced himself to calm down, biting his lip hard. Though fear overwhelmed him, he wanted to see who was there. Perhaps the person¡¯s steps were unusually light; he¡¯d only heard the final step? He swallowed, slowly crouching, peering under the outhouse door. A small gap existed beneath the wood¡ªnot large, but enough to glimpse something outside. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ nothing¡­ probably a stray cat, or something blown by the wind¡­¡± Garrick reassured himself, then glanced down through the gap under the outhouse door. The pale moonlight illuminated¡­ bare earth. Nothing. Everything was normal. ¡°Whew¡­¡± Garrick breathed a sigh of relief; his entire body was drenched, but¡­ nothing unusual. He¡¯d clearly scared himself. Garrick, relieved, opened the outhouse door. But¡­ The moment the wooden door opened¡­ Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. A bloodless face appeared before him. Its eyesockets were pitch-black, radiating intense malice! Garrick¡¯s pupils dilated; he couldn¡¯t react, couldn¡¯t even make a sound before he suddenly felt himself¡­ twisting. Ah¡­ How¡­ can I see my own back? His consciousness faded; Garrick¡¯s body collapsed, his eyes wide, his head grotesquely twisted 180 degrees, staring at his own back. The outhouse door softly closed in the mountain wind. ... The next morning, the group was awakened by shouting. A woman was screaming. Something had happened. Though not unexpected, a chilling dread settled over them. The ghost had¡­ acted. Corbin was the first to rush out, followed immediately by the others, who also sprang to their feet and flung open the door. Lilith was about to move when she saw Elysia sitting quietly in the corner. ¡°Come on.¡± She knelt and spoke. Elysia looked at her back, then shook her head. ¡°Go ahead. Taking me along¡­ is too much trouble. I¡¯ll stay in the room.¡± ¡°Hurry.¡± Lilith urged, seemingly ignoring Elysia¡¯s words. Elysia bit her lip, finally remaining silent, leaning forward, her arms around Lilith¡¯s neck. As Lilith stepped out, she saw Evelyn, the screaming woman; her husband Garrick was most likely dead. The village head approached, leaning on his cane. ¡°What¡­ happened?¡± ¡°What happened? Someone¡¯s dead! There¡¯s been murder in your village!¡± Tobias¡¯s face was ashen as he yelled. Having inexplicably lost a finger, and now with a murder among their group, even Tobias, despite his bravado, only wanted to leave this cursed place. Liam stood by the outhouse, examining the grotesque corpse lying at the entrance. Garrick¡¯s neck showed signs of strangulation. His eyes were wide, his mouth slightly open, as if he''d seen something terrifying before he died. ¡°When was he found?¡± Liam asked. ¡°Um¡­ just now. As soon as it got light¡­ the woman who went to the outhouse saw him. What a tragedy,¡± Leopold sighed. ¡°Damn it! He went out to pee last night, then I fell asleep, and he never came back. You¡¯ve got a murderer in this village! I¡¯m calling the police!¡± Tobias¡¯s face was grim as he yelled. Calling the police? Tobias was bluffing. He¡¯d tried yesterday; there was no cell signal in Xue Dong village, and the remote, mountainous location meant even if the police received a call, it would take a considerable time to reach them. ¡°Grandpa¡­ what do we do?¡± The young woman who had supported the village head emerged. Her expression was grim, but Liam and the others noticed the lack of surprise on her face. ¡°¡­Cough¡­ cough¡­ We should prepare the body for burial first,¡± the village head said after a moment of silence. The village head¡¯s word held significant weight in this village. More than the police, in fact. Many remote areas revered customs and traditions, often above the law. At the village head¡¯s call, the strange villagers, who had remained hidden in their houses, finally emerged. Their misaligned, disproportionate features gave these silent, gaunt villagers a grotesque appearance. Even stranger, there were no women among them. Besides the village head¡¯s granddaughter, all present were male. The villagers carefully adjusted Garrick¡¯s head, closing his eyes, and laid him on a wooden board. Tobias continued to rant about leaving and calling the police; Mira trembled, clutching her dog; Leopold sighed repeatedly; Alaric frowned silently; Evelyn sobbed uncontrollably; Garrick, meanwhile, lay peacefully. The village head looked at Garrick¡¯s body with a complex expression, then turned and entered his house. Liam glanced at the village head, then, turning back, nodded at Lilith and her group before following. He was clearly planning to speak to the village head himself. ¡°Meet at noon. Be careful.¡± Adrian said before heading off; Elena quickly followed. Corbin, without a word, also turned and left. Lena, however, kindly nodded to Lilith and Elysia. ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t investigate too much during the survival task; waiting for it to end is best.¡± Elysia gratefully acknowledged Lena¡¯s well wishes. Lilith, however, seemed lost in thought, ignoring Lena. Soon, the Fog Gathering members dispersed. They weren¡¯t police; Garrick¡¯s death held little interest for them. Only Tobias seemed convinced of foul play; the others sensed something was amiss. Garrick, though mild-mannered, was strong and healthy. Who could kill someone instantly without leaving any external wounds? The answer was obvious. ¡°Excuse me, miss. Is your companion¡¯s leg injured?¡± Lilith snapped out of her thoughts, looking up. The village head¡¯s granddaughter was speaking. Her gaze wasn¡¯t on Lilith but on Elysia, whom she looked at with sympathy. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I have a wheelchair you can borrow.¡± Both Lilith and Elysia were surprised. The word ¡°wheelchair¡±¡­ was odd to hear in a remote mountain village. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Despite her suspicions, Lilith smiled readily. The granddaughter nodded and left. Lilith waited with Elysia in silence. Neither spoke. Soon, she returned with a wheelchair, looking at Elysia. ¡°My mother was also disabled. She used this. Now that she¡¯s gone¡­ please don¡¯t mind.¡± Elysia repeatedly shook her head, thanking her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Thank you¡­ By the way, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Call me Bingyan.¡± She seemed reluctant to talk further, turning away after giving her name. Lilith placed Elysia in the wheelchair, watching Bingyan¡¯s back thoughtfully. ¡°What are your plans?¡± Withdrawing her gaze, Lilith asked Elysia. Elysia started, then touched the worn wheelchair. ¡°Go ahead. I can manage.¡± Lilith nodded without turning back. Elysia suddenly smiled¡ªa faint but genuine smile. She maneuvered her wheelchair towards the direction Bingyan had gone. ... Lilith stood in the village, looking up at the surrounding mountains. The mountains of Xue Dong Village differed significantly from those of Industry City. The mountains of Industry City resembled rising steamed buns; those of Xue Dong Village were like a jagged, upraised saw blade, sharp and cold within the dense mountain range. However, the vegetation wasn''t sparse; the southern exposure received little snow, suggesting the name "Xue Dong" had another meaning. Descending from a hillside, Lilith returned to the village entrance. The sky was brightening, revealing the village''s features more clearly. Aside from the village head''s house, most houses were simple, mud-brick structures with dark, low-pitched roofs. Some were even thatched with thick layers of tightly packed straw, weighted down by large, cold stones. Lilith¡¯s movements attracted attention. Three dark-skinned villagers looked down from above, appraising her. According to the village head, Xue Dong hadn¡¯t seen outsiders in a long time. Lilith glanced at the three and waved. Drawn by curiosity, a slightly taller and older villager approached, followed by the other two. As they drew closer, Lilith detected a faint smell of decay¡ªa mixture of sweat and dirt from long neglect. Their clothes were caked in dust; the original colors were indistinguishable. Moreover, their clothing was nondescript, suggesting they might own only one set and rarely, if ever, washed it. ¡°Tell me, what are those?¡± Lilith knelt, smiling gently at them. She gestured towards the cages covered in black cloth at each house entrance. The three children exchanged glances and suddenly grinned. Lilith''s eyes turned cold; she quickly stood and backed away. Where she had knelt, the smallest child swung a scythe. Seeing Lilith evade the blade, his eyes gleamed. Lilith calmly looked back at them. Their eyes shone brightly, but not with innocent clarity. No¡­ it was a different kind of purity. Not innocent goodness, but¡­ innocent malice. ¡°Clothes¡­ things.¡± The tallest child pointed at Lilith, his voice childish. They seemed to rarely speak, their speech patterns odd. Lilith shook her head, ignoring him. The child who had swung the scythe lunged again. Lilith swiftly raised her leg, delivering a side kick to his face. She showed no mercy; the kick sent the thin child sprawling, knocking out several teeth and rendering him unconscious. Lilith¡¯s actions finally conveyed her seriousness. The other two children, without a word, quickly dragged the unconscious child away. Lilith stretched her ankle, frowning. What kind of environment would raise children who readily resorted to violence? Could it be¡­ that these villagers were bandits? Lilith touched her chin; it wasn¡¯t impossible¡­ ... ¡°Damn it, this cursed place is driving me crazy¡­¡± Tobias muttered, leaving the village alone. He wasn¡¯t willing to die here; in this strange village, no one cared about the death, the men were all ugly, and the women were insane, locked in cages. Tobias had made up his mind; he¡¯d wait on the mountain road for a day; he was sure to get a ride eventually. Once he got out, he¡¯d call the police and sue the village. Lost in these thoughts, Tobias didn¡¯t notice himself wandering deeper into the forest. Only when he looked around did he realize¡­ he was lost. Trees, all identical trees, surrounded him. Then, a terrifying thought struck him. Wasn¡¯t this¡­ a maze? Tobias¡¯s eyes widened as he searched for a way out. Even in daylight, he could see the sun through the leaves. Surely, he couldn¡¯t get lost following the sun? With grim determination, Tobias stared at the sun and walked forward. But the deeper he went, the denser the forest became, and the darker it grew. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Tobias muttered in disbelief. Then, he saw someone ahead. He recognized the silhouette; wasn¡¯t that one of the other passengers? ¡°Hey? You¡¯re leaving, too?¡± The figure turned; it was Corbin. Corbin looked at the sweating Tobias, slightly puzzled. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Tobias looked at him, bewildered. ¡°Where else would I be? I¡¯m leaving the village!¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Corbin looked at him in surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the end of the village?¡± ¡°What?¡± Tobias¡¯s eyes widened; he looked up at the sun. ¡°I walked straight from the village entrance; how did I end up at the end?¡± Tobias¡¯s words shocked Corbin. Had Tobias¡­ circled back from the entrance to the end of the village? ¡°Then what are you doing here¡­¡± Tobias glanced around, but Corbin suddenly covered his mouth. ¡°Shh!¡± Corbin held Tobias tightly, whispering, ¡°Quiet! Someone¡¯s coming!¡± Even Tobias understood the gravity of the situation and nodded quickly. Corbin released him and cautiously peered forward. A man was digging under a tree, using a pickaxe. Tobias had good eyesight and saw clearly. ¡°A corpse¡­ they¡¯re burying a body!¡± Tobias whispered, his voice filled with horror. This village was deeply wrong; which normal village buries people in broad daylight? Suddenly, a sound came from behind them. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The man with the pickaxe turned and shouted. His face was visible; it was Xiao Ban! However, Corbin and Tobias remained hidden. After a few breaths, Xiao Ban seemed to remember something; his body trembled, and he fled with his pickaxe. ¡°Come out!¡± Corbin stared at the nearby tree and shouted sharply. Silence followed, then several figures emerged from behind it. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s you guys?!¡± Tobias glared at them. ¡°I said I was leaving, and you idiots kept messing with me, pretending to comfort Evelyn. Why are you here?!¡± ¡°Mr. Tobias¡­ we didn¡¯t say we wouldn¡¯t leave. But when we chased after you, we could only see your back, so¡­ we followed,¡± Leopold said, his face a picture of misery. It turned out that the group following Tobias were the other passengers. Corbin sighed in relief; despite his earlier bluster, he¡¯d been prepared to push Tobias aside and run. Everyone seemed relieved. Then, Corbin noticed something was wrong. ¡°This is bizarre¡­¡± Alaric suddenly said. ¡°We¡­ were clearly heading out of the village. How did we end up back at the end?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you follow me?¡± Tobias said. ¡°If I got lost, you would too.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Alaric frowned, puzzled. ¡°Your back disappeared quickly. After we went into the woods, we couldn¡¯t see you, so¡­ we just picked a direction and followed the sun¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Tobias doubted his ears, staring at Alaric and the others. ¡°You followed the sun?¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± Mira quickly replied, caught in his gaze. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Disbelief was written across Tobias¡¯s face. ¡°What is it?¡± Corbin quickly asked. ¡°What¡­¡± A flicker of fear crossed Tobias¡¯s eyes. ¡°I was clearly walking towards the sun¡­¡± As soon as he said it, everyone was startled, then felt a simultaneous chill. How was this possible? One person walked towards the sun; others followed the sun, yet they all ended up in the same place? The only explanation was¡­ a maze! Corbin¡¯s skin prickled. Something was wrong; they might be trapped in this village! He suddenly remembered the village head¡¯s granddaughter¡¯s words. Those words¡­ ¡°I hope you¡­ can leave¡­¡± An eerie atmosphere settled over them¡ªthis wasn''t speculation but a real, surreal phenomenon. Corbin decided to return to the village, regroup, and inform Liam and the others. The ghost¡¯s ability was clear. Disorientation. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the village,¡± Corbin swallowed, regaining his composure. But his words received no response. Corbin started; then¡­ a voice echoed. ¡°This is bizarre¡­¡± ¡°We¡­ were clearly heading out of the village. How did we end up back at the end?¡± Corbin¡¯s pupils constricted; he turned, looking incredulously at Alaric. Alaric looked puzzled and confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you follow me?¡± ¡°If I got lost, you would too.¡± Tobias repeated¡­ verbatim¡­ his earlier words. ¡°But¡­¡± Alaric frowned. ¡°Your back disappeared quickly. After we went into the woods, we couldn¡¯t see you, so¡­ we just picked a direction and followed the sun¡­¡± The same¡­ words¡­ repeated exactly! ¡°What?¡± ¡°You followed the sun?¡± Tobias¡¯s reply was identical. Corbin stumbled back, leaning against a tree, trembling. His gaze swept across the puzzled faces, his voice shaking. ¡°Why¡­ are you repeating yourselves?¡± But¡­ Corbin¡¯s question was ignored. ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± Just as before, after glancing at Mira, she trembled and repeated her answer. ¡°Stop it!¡± Corbin roared, his forehead drenched in sweat. The scene was too bizarre! ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Tobias, seemingly oblivious, continued to display his disbelief. What was happening? Why were they repeating themselves? Panic seized Corbin; fear overwhelmed him. He¡¯d faced deadly situations before, but¡­ this was the most bizarre! Wait! Corbin suddenly recalled something¡­ after Tobias said ¡°impossible,¡± he¡¯d continued¡­ as if speaking for himself? No, it couldn¡¯t be; I¡¯m normal¡­ Just as Corbin reassured himself, a strange sensation washed over him. His face contorted into a puzzled expression as he asked: ¡°What?¡± The strange feeling vanished; control returned, but his face was devoid of blood. He was certain¡­ he¡¯d encountered a ghost! ¡°What¡­¡± Tobias¡¯s voice continued. ¡°¡­I was clearly walking towards the sun¡­¡± What now¡­ what should he do? It was like a film rewinding¡­ Alaric¡¯s question, Tobias¡¯s answer, Alaric¡¯s explanation, Tobias¡¯s disbelief, Mira¡¯s reply, Tobias¡¯s shock, then his own¡­ question, Tobias¡¯s answer. The loop ended with the final exchange. Tobias¡¯s shocked expression remained, then slowly faded. But then, a doubtful voice echoed again. ¡°This is bizarre¡­¡± Alaric¡­ spoke again. ¡°We¡­ were clearly heading out of the village. How did we end up back at the end?¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Corbin finally lost control, grabbing Alaric¡¯s collar. ¡°Stop repeating yourselves!¡± But¡­ Alaric, though his collar was seized, showed no reaction, remaining puzzled and confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t you follow me?¡± ¡°If I got lost, you would too.¡± Tobias repeated himself, verbatim. Corbin¡¯s eyes were bloodshot; he released Alaric and punched Tobias in the face! Corbin didn¡¯t hold back; the blow sent Tobias staggering, his face quickly swelling. But¡­ the usually aggressive Tobias didn¡¯t react! He was like a broken record, repeating his lines. Wait¡­ calm down; he needed to stay calm! Corbin took a deep, desperate breath, trying to suppress the rising terror. This task had been strange from the start. Liam, the longest-surviving member of Fog Gathering, was chosen as a cursed victim. Two cursed victims from the last task, Adrian and Lilith, were chosen again. The total number wasn¡¯t replenished to forty-nine; only Elysia joined¡­ This task¡­ was bizarre. Though they hadn¡¯t seen a ghost yet, the surreal events were incomprehensible even to the seasoned Corbin. He knew panic was deadly, but¡­ figuring out the source of the strangeness wasn¡¯t his forte! Corbin regretted following Tobias into the woods at the edge of the village. But¡­ that was the rule of Fog Gathering; he couldn¡¯t ignore his true thoughts. Finally calming himself, Corbin made a decision. Though not as intellectually gifted as Liam, Sylvia, Damian, or Adrian, he was decisive. Once decided, he turned and ran! Yes, ran! If he couldn¡¯t stop the bizarre phenomenon, he¡¯d leave! But¡­ Corbin soon realized he¡¯d underestimated the task¡¯s difficulty and horror. The surroundings seemed to be rotating in place, showing almost no change. The familiar voices echoed again. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You followed the sun?¡± ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± ¡°Impossible¡­¡± The repetition continued; they were repeating their previous words, unaffected by his brief escape! Despair washed over Corbin. He had no options. He seemed trapped in an endless loop, constantly replaying the same conversation. Time and space in this area seemed to be isolated, inescapable. Corbin abandoned his previous plan. This¡­ was far more than simple disorientation. The ghost¡¯s power was beyond their imagination! What would Liam¡­ do in this situation? Corbin refused to give up; clinging to his last shred of hope, he searched for a way out. This ghost, which hadn¡¯t killed him directly, clearly wasn¡¯t merciful, or¡­ playing games. Fog Gathering ghosts weren¡¯t idly cruel; all their methods¡­ served to drag their victims into Hell. Therefore¡­ this time loop was its killing method! If he couldn¡¯t escape this terrifying time loop quickly, he would die; he would certainly die! Corbin¡¯s face contorted; biting his lip, he racked his brain. His gaze fell on someone. Wait¡­ him¡­ Him! It had to be him! He was the ghost! But¡­ then, a chilling gaze washed over Corbin. He turned to find Tobias, Alaric¡­ everyone staring at him impassively! ¡°What did you say? Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± A strange, alien tone, filled with malice, pierced Corbin¡¯s soul. His body froze; a pale, dead face¡­ loomed before him. ... Lilith wandered through Xue Dong village. Lena¡¯s bewilderment at this was understandable. Wandering around a village known to harbor ghosts¡ªa typical action for a newcomer after a task¡­ Lilith was unconcerned by Lena''s thoughts, even if she knew them. Exploring the village, she noticed an odd architectural pattern. Viewed from above, the buildings formed a¡­ precise inverted triangle. This observation stopped Lilith; she fell into thought. The apex of the inverted triangle was the village head''s house. But¡­ where were the other two points? Chapter 12: Tomorrow This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Chapter 13: Elysia Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Chapter 14: Secret key Elena¡¯s pupils dilated violently. The figure behind the tree slowly emerged¡­ first the legs¡­ then the body¡­ then a familiar yet alien face. Corbin! He stared impassively at Elena; fear overwhelmed her as he took a step forward. But then, Elena noticed something strange! Something was wrong¡­ The distance between her and Corbin hadn¡¯t changed! They were still five meters apart! Could it be¡­ That he was also trapped? Meaning¡­ ¡°Corbin¡± wasn¡¯t the cause of the disorientation? Elena gasped at her own deduction. But now wasn¡¯t the time to analyze this. Elena retreated, her eyes wide, afraid to blink, fearing she''d be pulled back to the tree. But Corbin was now between her and the tree. To keep the tree in sight, she¡¯d have to look at Corbin. Terror gripped Elena; Corbin¡¯s impassive face was terrifying¡­ Though once a comrade in Fog Gathering, he was¡­ a ghost! Elena couldn¡¯t determine if Corbin had become a ghost, or if a ghost had taken his form. She had two choices: call for help, or escape while ¡°Corbin¡± was trapped. Elena chose the latter. She stared intently at the tree, refusing to blink, even though her eyes burned. But¡­ after taking a step, Elena¡¯s face paled. She looked at the ground in disbelief. The ground, already cracking and decaying around Corbin, was now even worse. The old stench of rot was stronger. And now¡­ the decay had intensified; the ground, previously covered in leaves and branches, had become a crimson, viscous swamp! And Elena¡¯s step had sunk her into it. Stench, filth, acridity, nausea¡­ the stench of decay assaulted her senses. Despair filled her. She tried to pull her legs out, but they sank deeper. She was trapped! To her horror, Corbin took another step! He seemed to be stamping his feet. But Elena realized he¡¯d moved closer. Not much, but he¡¯d¡­ moved! Trapped in the swamp, unable to move, she would soon be caught! Just as despair overwhelmed her, soft footsteps echoed behind her. Elena turned and saw Lilith, her expression calm. ¡°You¡­¡± Elena¡¯s eyes widened; fear and surprise mingled; she was speechless. Seeing the swamp engulfing Elena¡¯s legs and Corbin a few meters away, Lilith understood. She was the target¡­ Lilith reached out, intending to pull Elena out. But Elena shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t touch this! Stepping in will trap you!¡± Lilith hesitated, looking at Elena¡¯s legs sinking into the swamp. ¡°I have two options; neither is guaranteed. Which do you choose?¡± Lilith said. A strange expression flickered across Elena¡¯s fearful face. This person¡­ showed no fear? Didn¡¯t she see Corbin just meters away? And¡­ she had two plans in this situation? ¡°Y-you¡­¡± Elena swallowed, feeling the swamp¡¯s pull intensify. Lilith nodded, drawing a dark, slender knife from her waist. ¡°First, I¡¯ll throw you a rope; try to pull yourself out. Second, I found a knife at the village head¡¯s house last night; I¡¯ll throw it to you; try to sever the trapped parts.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Elena stared, incredulous. Seeing the seriousness in Lilith¡¯s eyes, she shivered. She was serious¡­ Lilith looked at her and began to strip off her jacket. ¡°What¡­ are you doing?¡± Elena was stunned; seeing Lilith¡¯s actions, she was overwhelmed. Then, she understood. She twisted her jacket into a rope and threw it. ¡°Catch.¡± The makeshift rope arced through the air, caught carefully in Elena¡¯s hand, like¡­ a lifeline. Lilith wrapped the other end around her arm. ¡°I¡¯m going to pull.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Elena took a deep breath and nodded. Then, Elena felt the surprising strength of this seemingly frail woman. Unable to move, her legs trapped, she felt the pull; her legs began to rise from the swamp! Though her body was strained and uncomfortable, she was moving! Surprise flickered in Elena¡¯s eyes. No one wanted to die, especially not at the hands of a ghost. She¡¯d been on the verge of despair; she didn¡¯t know why Lilith had appeared, Or¡­ why she was willing to save her. Elena knew that self-preservation was paramount in Fog Gathering. No one would be judged for selfishness. In extreme danger, they wouldn''t hesitate to abandon a comrade to buy time. She¡¯d seen it countless times; Adrian¡¯s kindness was exceptional. Was Lilith the same? Elena watched Lilith intently; her gaze lingered. Lilith¡¯s muscles were taut, straining with effort. She wasn¡¯t as relaxed as she looked; she felt the terrifying pull of the swamp. Fortunately, Lilith¡¯s physique was strong, surpassing Elena''s by a large margin. Though strenuous, it wasn''t hopeless; Elena slowly moved, inching closer to Lilith. Lilith held her breath and called out: ¡°Hand!¡± Hearing this, Elena reached out. Lilith grabbed her hand and pulled with all her might; Elena was dragged from the swamp, finally free! Elena, still dazed, looked back at the spot where she had just fallen. The bizarre thing was, the bloodstains from her escape from the swamp had mysteriously vanished. ¡°Lilith¡­ Lilith¡­¡± For the first time, Elena called out Lilith¡¯s name, not Ms. Hollow. Perhaps she was still shaken, or perhaps there was another reason. ¡°What¡­ what should we do now?¡± Lilith didn¡¯t answer her question. Instead, she lowered her head and glanced down. Following her gaze, Elena realized that Lilith had already released her hand, but she was still clinging to her. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± Elena quickly let go, her voice barely a whisper. Lilith looked at her, but said nothing. ¡°We¡­ we should leave this place.¡± After a moment of silence, Elena found the eerie atmosphere increasingly unbearable. Corbin remained impassive, radiating a heavy aura of death. Lilith stared intently at Corbin, saying nothing. Elena, watching her, felt a sudden, inexplicable chill. A normal person¡­ how could they stare at a ghost like that? Could it be¡­ that she wasn¡¯t Lilith? This thought was quickly dismissed. If not Lilith, could she be a ghost? The fog gathering never held benevolent ghosts; if Lilith were a ghost, how could she have saved her? ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m hindering you¡­ I thought that after being stuck in the fog gathering for so long, my experience would be considerable. Never mind compared to Liam and the others, even compared to you, who just entered the fog gathering, I¡¯m far behind¡­¡± Elena felt a surge of self-directed irritation at her rambling thoughts. Lilith, finally breaking her gaze from Corbin, turned to Elena, whose emotions were clearly wavering. She said: ¡°Experience is merely a list of past mistakes.¡± Her gaze fixed on Elena: ¡°You feeling inadequate only means we¡¯ve made more mistakes than you.¡± Elena looked up, meeting Lilith¡¯s eyes. Her gaze remained calm, as if she were merely sightseeing in the fog gathering. ¡°Are¡­ are you consoling me?¡± Lilith looked away: ¡°No, I¡¯m correcting your mistake.¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s path is different. Don''t undervalue yourself. In the end, nobody achieves anything; there''s only experience.¡± Elena felt a mix of emotions at Lilith¡¯s words. Just as she was about to speak further, she noticed Lilith starting to walk forward. Though the bizarre swamp apparition had vanished, who knew when it might reappear? And she was daring to tread on that ground? Moreover¡­ she was approaching Corbin! ¡°Wait!¡± Elena exclaimed, alarmed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Finding a way.¡± Lilith didn¡¯t stop, continuing towards Corbin. ¡°But¡­¡± Elena was confused. Why would finding a way involve approaching a ghost? Elena nervously bit her lip, watching Lilith with intense anxiety. Now, she was only a meter away from Corbin! ¡°Have you noticed¡­ when we approach it, the distance is normal, but when it approaches us, the distance shrinks strangely, often only a few centimeters?¡± Lilith paused, her eyes on Corbin, but her words directed at Elena. Elena, already unnerved by Lilith¡¯s reckless actions, was startled. But after a moment¡¯s reflection, she realized it was true. ¡°This¡­ what does this mean?¡± Lilith didn¡¯t answer, but silently reached out towards Corbin. Elena trembled so violently she almost fell. Crazy! This woman was absolutely insane! If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. But¡­ the horrifying scene she¡¯d anticipated never materialized. Lilith¡¯s hand¡­ passed right through Corbin¡¯s body! ¡°As expected¡­¡± Lilith withdrew her hand, speaking thoughtfully. ¡°What¡­ what was that?!¡± Elena was completely stunned, unable to believe she¡¯d seen Lilith calmly withdraw her hand. And¡­ she continued walking forward, but the distance between her and Corbin was shrinking incredibly slowly. Corbin didn¡¯t react at all! ¡°What are you doing?¡± Elena cautiously approached her, a mixture of fear and curiosity in her voice. Lilith looked at the impassive Corbin and shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not doing anything. He¡¯s not a ghost.¡± ¡°What?¡± Elena¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Corbin. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ an illusion?¡± Lilith didn¡¯t comment, continuing: ¡°This was a hypothesis of mine, and it seems to be correct.¡± ¡°So¡­ this ghost¡¯s ability is to create illusions? Not misdirection?¡± This time, Lilith¡¯s denial was unequivocal. However, her tone was unusually serious. ¡°It¡¯s not an illusion, nor misdirection. The ghosts in this village¡­ possess abilities far beyond our imagination.¡± Elena was dazed. Could it be? Why hadn''t she noticed anything¡­? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lilith¡¯s voice startled Elena from her stupor. ¡°Go¡­ where?¡± ¡°The path. The way out.¡± Lilith smiled, adjusted her coat, and walked straight through Corbin¡¯s body. ... A sound! Adrian¡¯s face changed, and he quickly ducked behind a tree. Then, a group of people emerged from the fog before him. Adrian was startled. Those people¡­ were Liam and the others! Liam, Mira, Leopold, Alaric, Tobias¡ªthey were all here! Joy surged, but a sudden alarm bell rang in his mind. Something was wrong¡­ Liam seemed off¡­ Liam was walking forward with his head down, his movements¡­ stiff and rigid. What was wrong with him? Had he encountered something troubling? Lost in thought, Adrian didn''t notice¡­ a pale hand reaching from behind him. Just as the hand was about to touch his shoulder, Liam suddenly looked up and shouted, "Adrian?" Adrian was startled, then alarmed. Simultaneously, the hand behind him vanished. Following Liam''s shout, everyone''s eyes focused on the tree where Adrian was hiding. Knowing he''d been discovered, Adrian adjusted his breathing and walked out calmly. ¡°Why are you all here?¡± Adrian''s smile was friendly, but¡­ he was met with four pairs of vacant eyes. ¡°Ahem¡­ excellent, another one.¡± Old Man Leopold coughed, then chuckled. Adrian froze. He finally understood what was wrong¡­ ... Xue Dong Village. Li Laosi''s house. La Lao''er and Wang Gui''s corpses lay on the floor. Their eyes bulged, filled with bloodshot threads, their faces contorted in grotesque agony, as if they had suffered immensely before death. The floor was stained with filth, vomit, and blood, a terrifying sight. An unnatural darkness shrouded the entire floor. Oddly, this shadow wasn''t a clean, sharp cut, but irregular and amorphous¡ªnot like a shadow at all¡­ but more like some living creature. The room where the dead lay was silent. No sound should have been present. But then, a soft creak echoed as Li Laosi''s front door opened. A young figure stood there impassively. He looked at the horrific scene, yet didn''t even blink. He glanced around, finding no one else. ¡°There¡¯s one more¡­ the last one, heh heh¡­¡± He chuckled strangely, muttering under his breath. ¡°The Golden Willow¡­ kill them¡­ kill all the beasts in this village¡­ none in this village¡­ are innocent!¡± His mood was ecstatic, but he choked mid-sentence. He suddenly noticed a hunched figure standing where moments before there had been nothing. ¡°Village Head¡­¡± The Village Head¡¯s face was calm as he looked at the two terrifying corpses and the strangely behaving man beside them. ¡°Xiao Ban¡­ it¡¯s you.¡± The Village Head¡¯s cloudy eyes fixed on him. This young man was Xiao Ban. ¡°¡­All this¡­ it was you all along, playing tricks. Why, Xiao Ban¡­ you were such a good child¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Xiao Ban, who had been listening quietly, suddenly changed expression at the Village Head¡¯s words. ¡°My father is dead, the Golden Willow is dead, what can¡¯t I do?!¡± The Village Head fell silent, looking at the vengeful Xiao Ban. He sighed, ¡°A Liang¡­ should have been the next village head, but he shouldn¡¯t have¡­ shouldn¡¯t have helped them¡­¡± ¡°And the Golden Willow¡­ she was my daughter-in-law, but she did that¡­ If she hadn¡¯t died, this village would have been in peril¡­¡± ¡°Let it be in peril! This village shouldn¡¯t exist! You¡¯re a devil, everyone else in this village is a devil! You look normal, but what you¡¯ve done is even more vicious than theirs!¡± Xiao Ban¡¯s emotions finally erupted. Years of accumulated hatred and rage made his expression terrifying. As Xiao Ban approached, the Village Head instinctively backed away. But gradually, the Village Head noticed something wrong with Xiao Ban. ¡°Xiao¡­ Xiao Ban, on your shoulder¡­ why is there another head?¡± The Village Head asked, horrified. The head appeared strangely, without warning. Xiao Ban, seemingly transformed, sneered and approached the Village Head. ¡°Ah!¡± The Village Head, terrified, stumbled backward and fell. Xiao Ban grabbed a hoe leaning against the wall, and with its sharpest edge, he viciously hooked it into the Village Head''s left chest! Human flesh couldn''t withstand steel. With a sickening thud, the sharp hoe plunged into the Village Head''s heart. The Village Head¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, his limbs thrashing wildly in a desperate attempt to stop Xiao Ban, but¡­ the seemingly deranged Xiao Ban possessed incredible strength. He pulled out the hoe, once¡­ twice¡­ thrice¡­ Xiao Ban didn''t know how long he¡¯d been striking. When he finally regained his senses, the Village Head''s pupils had completely dilated. The Village Head died with his eyes wide open, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Xiao Ban¡­ why did he grow another head? His throat gurgled, attempting to speak, but he couldn''t. At that moment, Xiao Ban finally realized something. His face turned pale, he dropped the hoe, his mouth trembling as he collapsed. ¡°No¡­ it wasn¡¯t me¡­ I¡¯ve never killed anyone¡­ Ghost¡­ it was a ghost!¡± Xiao Ban crawled out the front door, muttering incoherently. ¡°Golden Willow¡­ was it you, Golden Willow¡­ why¡­ did you want to use my hands¡­¡± Then, Xiao Ban scrambled to his feet, not daring to look back, and fled. In Li Laosi''s house, three horrific corpses lay scattered. Even Lilith hadn''t anticipated this. The biggest problem, the person with the most secrets, the Village Head, was simply¡­ dead. ... The edge of the village forest. Adrian and Liam walked side-by-side. They were in trouble. The four people following them had fallen silent. This wasn''t a good sign. Adrian glanced back at them, finding their gazes vacant, like empty shells staring at them. ¡°We were separated while fleeing a ghost disguised as Corbin,¡± Adrian whispered. ¡°Disguised?¡± Liam actually preferred not to speak; in this place, talking was risky. Unless absolutely necessary, speaking was foolish. But now¡­ the four ambiguous figures behind them seemed to be experiencing some problem. He sensed that the ever-present malice following him had vanished. ¡°I think¡­ this ghost¡¯s ability isn¡¯t disguise¡­ or even misdirection, but¡­ something else.¡± Liam frowned. Adrian looked at him, puzzled. ¡°What else could it be? Right¡­ those four people behind you¡­ are quite eerie.¡± Liam nodded, explaining softly, ¡°They¡­ aren¡¯t people. They¡¯re waiting for us to violate a taboo. Right¡­ you absolutely must not touch them.¡± Liam suddenly realized he hadn¡¯t yet told Adrian about the problematic tree. But he didn''t dare to say the word "tree" directly, only subtly indicating it with a nod of his chin. Adrian seemed slightly puzzled, looking ahead and saying, ¡°Which one?¡± Liam sighed, about to continue explaining when he suddenly noticed¡­ Adrian was staring intently at him. His gaze was identical to the vacant stares of the four people behind them! This wasn¡¯t Adrian! ¡°Which one? What is it? Answer me.¡± Adrian pressed closer, his face inching nearer to Liam¡¯s, his expression growing more and more ferocious. Indeed¡­ it wasn¡¯t Adrian! Sweat beaded on Liam¡¯s forehead. His eyes darted around, finally landing on the tree from which Adrian had emerged. A terrified expression crossed his face. A pale, young corpse lay there. Its neck was twisted 180 degrees. Adrian¡­ had been dead the whole time. ... Time rewinds to the moment Lilith and the other two first entered the forest. A single person misjudging direction might be an accident, but three people making the same mistake simultaneously implies a problem. After realizing they were lost, Adrian first took out a small knife to mark the trees. However¡­ the moment he touched the dead branch, Adrian felt a pair of intensely black eyes fixated on him. Adrian felt a surge of alarm but dared not seek out the source of the gaze. Then¡­ Corbin appeared. He¡¯d assumed Valeria was targeting Elena¡­ but he hadn¡¯t realized he had already transgressed. ... Returning to Liam. After discovering Adrian''s corpse, Liam felt a chilling dread. Adrian was dead¡­ so Adrian before him was¡­ He dashed forward, not daring to look back, running frantically ahead! This wasn''t his first survival mission; he knew that if the tree was a taboo, a change would occur after ¡°Adrian¡¯s¡± appearance. Adrian''s death mirrored Garrick''s. Why had Garrick been killed? For going out at night? He couldn''t find the answer, but he could define a boundary: The tree mustn¡¯t be touched, nor spoken of. Dark places, or places where shadows lingered, must be strictly avoided! He was in extreme danger. Adrian, Tobias, Mira, Leopold, Alaric¡ªfive people had been replaced by ghosts. This was unprecedented. Even in survival missions, the sheer number of ghosts was extraordinary and bizarre. What unnatural change had occurred in the fog gathering? There was a key hidden detail he hadn''t found yet¡­ Five ghosts had already appeared in the forest. Moreover¡­ they were all targeting him. The cursed one in this survival mission, the truly deadly element, was his identity. If this continued, he would be the next to die. To survive, he had to find all the taboos, or¡­ exploit the rules to fundamentally eradicate them. Liam sprinted towards the sunlight, frantically strategizing. He glanced back over his shoulder, but¡­ Something far worse happened. The five figures¡­ silently stalked him, only a body-length away! They stared at Liam with unsettling smiles; without any discernible movement, they followed him. Those inhuman eyes chilled Liam to the bone. The rules¡­ the rules¡­ What taboo in Xue Dong Village couldn''t even be broken by ghosts? On Adrian''s last mission, he¡¯d survived because of Cassandra. That riddle was ¡°See the mirror, don¡¯t open your eyes; hear a call, don¡¯t turn your head¡­¡± The taboo was explicitly stated. It was only by exploiting Elena''s call that nearly everyone violated the taboo from the start¡­ And Cassandra, facing death, had wondered if ghosts also obeyed the riddle; and¡­ she had gambled correctly. The fog gathering''s riddle wasn''t solely for humans, but also¡­ ghosts. It was a rule overriding all others. This time, the riddle was ¡°Bloodless Heart¡±¡­ From any perspective, this didn''t seem like a taboo; it merely seemed to be a descriptive phrase. Sweat trickled down Liam''s forehead. His stamina was excellent. In fact, after entering the fog gathering, he¡¯d consciously trained his body; many others had done the same. But¡­ no matter how much they trained, humans were still humans. His stamina would eventually deplete. Once that happened¡­ these ghosts would¡­ Wait! Liam''s eyes lit up. He slightly slowed his pace, glancing back. They were still maintaining the same distance. But this time¡­ Liam wasn''t afraid; instead, his eyes gleamed. The ghosts were pursuing him using human methods? They hadn''t displayed any supernatural abilities, such as suddenly appearing before him¡­ Moreover, given their speed, catching or even surpassing him would be trivial, yet¡­ why were they calmly following behind him? No¡­ they''d been behind him from the start. Was it simply to exert immense psychological pressure? No¡­ something was wrong. Ghosts wouldn''t do meaningless things. So¡­ what was their purpose? Liam frantically analyzed, sensing he was close to a crucial element¡­ Following behind¡­ Why were the ghosts following behind¡­ Surveillance? Moreover¡­ Adrian and Garrick''s corpses; their heads were grotesquely twisted backward. Was this merely random, or¡­ something more? Liam¡¯s thoughts raced, and finally! A spark ignited in his mind. Right! The path to survival lay here! He abruptly stopped, turning to face the five ghosts, their malice now unconcealed. Then¡­ he walked towards them! ... The village outskirts. Elena stared blankly at the village before her. Out? She¡¯d actually escaped? ¡°Corbin¡± hadn¡¯t attacked? ¡°What¡­ what just happened¡­¡± Elena murmured, recalling Lilith walking straight towards Corbin, then¡­ passing right through him! With no other choice, Elena closed her eyes, mimicking Lilith''s actions, and charged forward with a desperate resolve. But¡­ the moment she passed through Corbin''s body, it felt like something had been broken. Though the surroundings remained unchanged, the unsettling feeling of being constantly returned to the starting point was gone. Now, she was following Lilith out of the forest! ¡°There¡¯s a saying: the most dangerous place is the safest place,¡± Lilith glanced at Elena, speaking calmly. Despite leaving the forest, Lilith didn''t relax. The sky was growing dark¡­ night was approaching. Wushen Village at night was a clear taboo; Garrick had proven this with his life. Hearing Lilith''s words, Elena finally understood, but her questioning tone was increasingly incredulous. ¡°You mean¡­ the ghosts following us are the real path?¡± Lilith nodded. ¡°From its appearance, it hasn''t tried to hide its identity as a ghost, yet it¡¯s only followed us at a steady pace, without any unnecessary actions. There¡¯s only one possibility: it wants to kill us; simply following us is enough.¡± Lilith glanced back at the forest. ¡°I still¡­ don¡¯t understand¡­¡± Elena hesitated, avoiding Lilith¡¯s gaze. Even she felt she was being rather obtuse. ¡°Normal people, knowing there''s a ghost behind them, wouldn''t confront it, let alone approach it, touch it, or pass through it. Therefore, by simply staying behind, it blocks the only escape route. Then, no matter which direction we go, we''ll eventually encounter various taboos and be killed.¡± Lilith spoke more than usual. ¡°So¡­ the path to survival is that simple¡­ The most dangerous place is the safest place¡­¡± Elena finally understood Lilith¡¯s explanation but wasn¡¯t entirely convinced it was that simple. At that moment, footsteps echoed from the forest. Simultaneously, a man''s voice rang out: ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, indeed. The most dangerous place is the safest place, but¡­ do you have the courage to reach that most dangerous place?¡± Following the sound, Elena saw the emerging figure and exclaimed joyfully, ¡°Liam!¡± Liam looked somewhat disheveled, but his spirits were high, his eyes devoid of negativity. ¡°Let¡¯s leave here first. It¡¯s getting dark,¡± Liam nodded to the two women. ¡°But¡­ Adrian hasn¡¯t come out¡­¡± Elena anxiously looked deep into the forest. They hadn¡¯t seen Adrian since they¡¯d separated. With nightfall approaching, if he couldn¡¯t get out of the forest, he was almost certainly doomed. However, reality was harsher than she imagined. ¡°No need to wait.¡± Liam¡¯s voice was low. ¡°What?¡± Elena seemed to not have heard clearly, or perhaps she couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Liam, what¡­ do you mean?¡± Liam looked at Elena. The girl''s feelings for Adrian were evident to everyone in the fog gathering. Though Adrian had maintained a polite distance, Elena had never given up. ¡°He won¡¯t be coming back.¡± Liam said gravely. Those five simple words shattered Elena¡¯s last line of defense. She went dark, almost collapsing. Lilith quickly caught her, but Elena had already fainted. ¡°Parting with life and death¡­ we experience it more readily than ordinary people in the fog gathering. It¡¯s like a child hiding around a corner, suddenly bursting out, catching people off guard,¡± Liam looked towards Wushen Village, his emotions subdued. There was hope for Elena, hope for Adrian, and for herself. Lilith lowered her head to look at Elena; tears streamed down her beautiful face. ¡°Ms. Hollow,¡± Liam suddenly turned to Lilith. ¡°You¡¯re a very rational, intelligent person, and you¡¯re very similar to someone¡­ I¡¯ve met before.¡± Lilith¡¯s eyes flickered; her heart quickened, her emotions stirred. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask¡­ who is this person similar to me?¡± Liam looked at Lilith, surprised, and smiled. ¡°I thought Ms. Hollow was exceptionally unemotional¡­ Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll talk as we walk.¡± With that, Liam led the way into the village. Lilith, carrying Elena, followed. ¡°I was ill; I¡¯ve lost most of my emotions.¡± Liam looked at her again, surprised. He could tell whether she was being genuine or disingenuous. But that very fact surprised him even more. He''d noticed Lilith from the moment she entered the fog gathering. Maximus had been right; upon entering the fog gathering, only three people showed no signs of anxiety or fear. Elysia couldn''t be counted; even astute observers could see that she was merely wearing a mask of strength. Besides Lilith, two others displayed exceptionally strong personality traits, but only because they entered the fog gathering later. Liam had assumed Lilith was similar, never imagining she lacked emotional feeling and expression due to illness. However, Lilith didn¡¯t disappoint Liam. She paused, then said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Joy, anger, love, sorrow¡ªthey¡¯re intertwined with everything else. What you think you¡¯ve lost might only be deeply buried. Perhaps¡­ you¡¯ve suppressed those emotions for some reason, but one day, they¡¯ll gradually return.¡± Lilith nodded, thanking Liam for his kindness. She appreciated his comfort, but that wasn''t what she truly desired. ¡°Mr. Liam, you mentioned meeting someone very similar to me. Could you elaborate?¡± Liam looked at Lilith in surprise. He¡¯d only made a casual remark, but Lilith seemed genuinely interested. ¡°He¡­ how should I put this¡­ he¡¯s not from the fog gathering; he¡¯s a criminal, a very dangerous one.¡± Liam simplified his explanation. Lilith was taken aback; this was completely unexpected. ¡°A criminal? Is he still alive?¡± Lilith asked. Liam nodded. He didn¡¯t understand Lilith¡¯s interest in this criminal. ¡°Not only is he alive, he¡¯s thriving. He commits unimaginable crimes periodically and has yet to be apprehended.¡± ¡°Mr. Liam is a criminal investigator?¡± ¡°Yes, a criminal investigator.¡± Lilith fell silent. Daniel, Aquila, Liam¡­ most of the people she knew were criminal investigators. ¡°Could¡­ you tell me more about him?¡± This time, Liam shook his head, refusing her request. ¡°I can¡¯t reveal too much about him. I can only tell you that he¡¯s caused immense damage. The police call him¡­ the Secret Key.¡± Lilith¡¯s heart pounded. Secret Key¡­ that title instantly reminded her of the silver key around her neck. Could this person be connected to Lucian? ... When Elena awoke again, it was completely dark. She sat up, clutching her chest; a dull ache lingered in her heart. She knew someone¡­ wouldn¡¯t be returning. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re awake. What¡¯s done is done,¡± Liam¡¯s voice sounded nearby. Elena then noticed everyone was in the room, the Village Head¡¯s house. ¡°Elena, don¡¯t grieve too much; we still need to survive,¡± Lena, a dozen years older than Elena, offered her comfort plainly. Elena looked at everyone, shook her head slightly, and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡­ always knew this day would come, either him or me.¡± Those words applied to everyone in the fog gathering. This terrifying place offered no end in sight. No one knew what it was or how to escape its curse, but¡­ even the strongest will to survive would be worn down to nothing within this endlessly horrific, bizarre place. Many had already committed suicide in the fog gathering¡­ Faced with terror and despair, they chose death. But many more dared not. In a world with ghosts, was death truly the end¡­? Perhaps weak suicide would only bring torment to their souls. ¡°Right, then¡­ let¡¯s continue. Tomorrow is the last day. The Village Head is missing; they won¡¯t dare to go out at night to look for him, so we should find clues in the morning,¡± Liam said. ¡°I found a drawer in Bingyan¡¯s house. At that moment, perhaps because I touched the drawer, I was instantly thrust into a dreamlike environment. That ghost¡­ likely possesses spatial warping abilities,¡± Elysia said, dropping a bombshell. Even the distraught Elena looked at everyone. However, this theory was simultaneously refuted by two people. ¡°Not spatial warping.¡± ¡°A chaotic void.¡± The first statement was Liam¡¯s; the second, Lilith¡¯s. Lilith''s statement surprised even Liam. Three pairs of eyes, filled with various unusual emotions, turned to her. Lilith remained firm. ¡°This village¡¯s spacetime is fractured, a fractured spacetime.¡± Chapter 15: Save Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.