Chapter 247: The Ghost in the Mirror (X)

Chapter 247: The Ghost in the Mirror (X)

The girl walking with Guan Qing was unfamiliar; Zhu Ping was certain she had never seen her before.

However, with them walking so closely and Guan Qing holding such a vibrant bouquet, it was evident to any onlooker that they were a couple.

Having ventured through countless dungeons and myriad worlds, the players were quite accustomed to same-sex couples.

While they took no issue, Zhu Ping heard Qiao Qiang, from not too far off, spit out, "Damn, freaks."

He's as predictably repugnant as ever!

Zhu Ping couldn't help but think.

After sharing an embrace with the girl at the entrance, Guan Qing walked alone with her flowers into the community.

What she hadn't anticipated was the low, pointed mutter from Qiao Qiang, the supermarket owner she had only met twice, as she passed by him: "Truly nauseating."

Upon hearing these words, Guan Qing quickly raised her head as if to retort.

But the recent college graduate, always the obedient girl, simply shot Qiao Qiang a glance and continued walking towards her home, bouquet in hand.

What Guan Qing didn't realize was that behind her, Qiao Qiang's expression shifted oddly upon seeing her reaction.

This change was caught by the players who had been closely watching him.

While Guan Qing might not grasp the significance of Qiao Qiang's look, the seasoned players immediately recognized it upon seeing his eyes—they believed Qiao Qiang had taken an unsettling interest in her.

Initially, the two had a trivial disagreement, something the players wouldn't even consider a significant issue.

Who would berate a customer behind their back for a simple return?

Qiao Qiang was always narrow-minded. Realizing Guan Qing's timid nature, his malicious intent, masked beneath an honest facade, seemed to amplify.

Could it be that Qiao Qiang did something to Guan Qing later, prompting even a gentle girl like her to resort to violence?

Or perhaps it was Guan Qing's girlfriend who attacked Qiao Qiang?

Zhu Ping looked in the direction where the girl had disappeared, but she was long gone.

Just then, Ares whispered, "Qiao Qiang is about to leave."

"Go! Follow him!"

The trio quickly tailed Qiao Qiang, watching as he returned to his supermarket.

Zhu Ping and the others resumed their previous positions, continuing to discreetly observe from a corner.

Such surveillance was terribly monotonous, especially for Ares and Guan Yingying. Having spent an entire afternoon doing it, they were back to the same tedious task.

Ares couldn't help but comment, "I bet Qiao Qiang targeted Guan Qing. This dungeon gives no hints, just some random [Ghost in the Mirror]. Shouldn't we search for a mirror or something? Is there even a point in continuously watching this NPC?"

Zhu Ping understood that Ares wasn’t genuinely suggesting looking for a mirror; he just wanted to quit this stakeout.

"Go ahead," Zhu Ping allowed without resistance. As Ares was about to leave, Zhu Ping suddenly exclaimed, "Wait!"

"What's up?"

"Guan Qing? That girl's name is Guan Qing?" Until now, Zhu Ping hadn't known the female NPC's name. Only upon hearing Ares mention it did she realize the NPC shared the surname Guan.

Guan Qing, Guan Yingying.

There's also a creature in the dark fog that bears a striking resemblance to Guan Yingying.

Zhu Ping discreetly glanced at Guan Yingying, who was silently staring back at her.

When their eyes met, Guan Yingying observed Zhu Ping's reaction, remained silent, averted her gaze, and continued to watch Qiao Qiang.

Oblivious to the subtle tension between the two, Ares innocently nodded, "Right!"

Then, it dawned on him, "Guan? Hey, that's a coincidence—it's the same as your surname!"

Guan Yingying remained composed, "Yes, it is."

From Zhu Ping's reaction, Guan Yingying could almost deduce that the one who had harmed Zhu Ping, causing her to lose an arm, might have been "herself."

But she was uncertain about the nature of this "self."

At the moment, Zhu Ping seemed suspicious of her but refrained from taking any immediate action, indicating she wasn't entirely sure about the clue she had discovered.

What could that clue be?

Lost in their thoughts, Ares, after answering the question, excused himself and left to search for what he believed to be a crucial clue.

That left Zhu Ping and Guan Yingying alone, with neither uttering a word, both intently observing Qiao Qiang.

Zhu Ping, preoccupied with her suspicions, divided her attention between Qiao Qiang and Guan Yingying, who was right beside her.

Guan Yingying, clear-headed, was deep in thought.

Time ticked away, and night descended.

Although a player's physical abilities improve with experience, at the end of the day, they are still human—not immortal—and require food and rest.

As Zhu Ping contemplated the mystery surrounding Guan Yingying, she also wondered: Should they take shifts to keep an eye on Qiao Qiang? At the very least, they could take meal breaks.

Thinking of food, her thoughts involuntarily drifted to Jie Fangcheng, who was currently at the hotel.

Come to think of it, the reason players seemed less inclined to heed her guidance was somewhat related to Jie Fangcheng.

Mainly, players recognized that Zhu Ping wasn't the strongest in this dungeon. Players naturally gravitate towards those with superior abilities when seeking collaboration in a dungeon.

Typically, the lead in a dungeon tends to be the most skilled individual within.

This unspoken rule had long been ingrained in the player's approach to completing levels. However, Jiefang's situation is exceptionally unique.

He's the most skilled, yet he never intended to lead, and ironically, he's not even here.

Moreover, it's highly likely that during future dungeon adventures, he won't appear in the Xin Xin Residence either.

What can you do? The other players simply can't beat those ghosts!

Only he, stationed at the hotel, can maintain the phone line's connectivity.

Being a lone leader is truly challenging!

As Zhu Ping was lost in thought, she suddenly heard Guan Yingying whispering, "What is Qiao Qiang doing?"

Zhu Ping quickly refocused her attention on the NPC in front of her.

In the brief moment she was distracted, the NPC had risen from his lounge chair and was now browsing something on the shelf.

However, due to their viewing angle, their vision was obstructed, and they couldn't see what he had found.

They could only see him swiftly grabbing a table lamp and heading to the front desk.

Just as they were pondering the meaning behind Qiao Qiang's lamp, a system notification echoed in every player's mind.

[Ding— The "Try Before You Buy" event has ended. The last bus from Xin Xin Residence to Jiang Heng Hotel is about to depart. Passengers needing the bus should head to the bus stop promptly.]

Even though it was a summer night, Zhu Ping felt a sudden chill as if a cold gust had seeped through her clothes.

It seems searching for clues within Xin Xin Residence has a time constraint; that's a rule they must abide by.

There seemed to be a fog creeping outside, Zhu Ping was the first to rise, "Let's go."

However, Guan Yingying shook her head, "Wait a bit. I have a feeling that what's about to happen is an important clue. You go ahead; I can escape quickly with my speed."

Hearing Guan Yingying say this, Zhu Ping hesitated but eventually squatted down again, "Let's stick together."

She said so.

Guan Yingying's eyes never left Qiao Qiang, but she suddenly asked, "Are you being cautious of me?"

Zhu Ping wasn't surprised. The other was astute; she would have inevitably picked up on Zhu Ping's demeanor.

Thus, Zhu Ping hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Why?" asked Guan Yingying. Yet, Zhu Ping remained silent.

"Let's focus on Qiao Qiang for now. We need to leave soon," she urged.

Meanwhile, after placing the lamp on the counter, Qiao Qiang kept glancing outside as if waiting for someone.

The once imperceptible mist in the surroundings began to thicken with time, becoming clearly visible.

Watching the countdown timer in the system, Zhu Ping tried to persuade Guan Yingying, but she remained resolute, insisting on waiting longer.

"We need to leave now or it'll be too late!" Zhu Ping exclaimed.

Guan Yingying simply repeated, "You go ahead, I'll be fine."

Seeing that there was no changing her mind, even if Zhu Ping harbored suspicions about Guan Yingying's intentions, one couldn't risk their life in such a place!

Zhu Ping eventually departed.

Guan Yingying remained alone, crouching near the corner by the community supermarket's entrance.

She wasn't lying; though Guan Yingying wasn't particularly strong, she was indeed swift.

But that wasn't why she insisted on staying.

For some reason, an inner voice kept imploring her: she needed to prevent what was coming next.

What was about to transpire... Why did Guan Yingying feel this way?

The surrounding mist grew denser, with faint silhouettes wandering within and chilling gusts of wind whistling past.

Just when Guan Yingying was about to give up, Qiao Qiang's eyes lit up.

"Hey! That girl over there!"

Following his shout, Guan Yingying directed her gaze to the person he was calling out.

It was Guan Qing... No.

For a fleeting moment, Guan Qing's face seemed to transform into one that was unmistakably familiar. However, when Guan Yingying looked more closely, the face returned to that of an ordinary NPC.

Guan Qing hesitated, pointing to herself, "Are you calling me?"

"Yes!" Qiao Qiang replied with a smile, extending the table lamp he had readied at the counter. "I apologize for this afternoon. This lamp works great, I've tested it. Please, take it."

"Huh?" Guan Qing was taken aback and, not wanting to impose, quickly declined, "There's no need..."

Qiao Qiang was prepared. He showered her with apologies and praise. How could Guan Qing possibly resist?

She hesitantly accepted the lamp, "Then let me pay you for it, and I'll keep the lamp..."

No!!

Guan Yingying, watching in horror as Guan Qing took the lamp, abruptly rose to her feet. It was as if she had seen something beyond her, wanting to rush over and knock the lamp out of her hands.

But just then, her vision darkened.

A ghost, mouth agape, appeared before her. From its maw, a smaller ghost emerged, wickedly extending a long tongue, aiming to strangle Guan Yingying.

It took Guan Yingying a moment to snap back to reality. Dodging swiftly, she realized the once vague figures around her had fully materialized into ghosts circling her.

They weren't grotesque. Many faces were familiar.

Neighbors she recognized, relatives, acquaintances from the same residential area...

All faces she had encountered before her death.

Now, these expressionless visages confronted her, reaching out with long hands and extended tongues, intent on ending her life right there.

A chill ran down Guan Yingying's spine. She immediately activated her personal skill, breaking free from the still-forming ghostly circle.

Thick black fog enveloped the surroundings, making it hard to discern any direction.

Within the dark mist, there appeared to be a faint glow, perhaps the size of a pea, maybe from a bus stop sign.

Guan Yingying dashed towards the light.

But upon reaching the location, she realized it wasn't a bus stop at all.

The place radiating light was a familiar building. Atop its roof, a figure in a red dress, clutching a bouquet, teetered precariously at the edge.

Sensing Guan Yingying's arrival, the figure lowered its head, their eyes meeting.

— It was a face identical to her own.

Without a word, Guan Yingying activated her skill again, turning to flee in the opposite direction of the light.

She ran haphazardly, the ghostly figures in the mist overlapping with memories of familiar faces.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but Guan Yingying thought she heard voices beside her.

"Who would've thought, she looks so innocent, yet has such a sultry figure..."

"Stop being disgusting, you sicko..."

"Get lost! Aren't you ashamed?"

"A college student? What did college teach her?"

Harsh laughter and vile remarks filled the air, leaving Guan Yingying pale.

Suddenly, something hit her amidst the black fog, propelling her forward, causing her to fall.

She had always been composed and smart, but little did anyone know she was the one most in need of protection.

Protection that extended beyond just physical security...

The "ball" that had struck Guan Yingying rolled to a stop in front of her.

It was a mechanical eye, unblinkingly staring at her from the ground.

Guan Yingying trembled all over.

The surrounding voices became increasingly clear.

"You're in this state and you're still not ready to die? Have you no shame left?"

"If I were you, I'd jump off the building right now. How could you ever show your face again?"

"Aren't you going to end it? Huh? After all that's happened, you're still here?"

"Perish!"

Tongues stretched forth from all directions. Guan Yingying, even though gripping an instrument in her hand, went pale, her eyes vacant as she helplessly let the tongues entwine around her.

Just then—

"Guan Yingying?"

From within the murky haze, it seemed someone was calling her name.

The very next moment—

"Swipe"—

BOOM—

Something whizzed past Guan Yingying's ear, piercing straight through an entity behind her.

An inhuman scream echoed from behind Guan Yingying.

And then, both the tongues and those sounds vanished.

Guan Yingying, like someone who'd nearly drowned, stumbled and sat heavily on the ground, gasping for breath.

Slowly, she turned her head.

Behind her, a rod, like a javelin, had impaled a creature, pinning it firmly to the ground.

At that very moment, from the dark mist, a beam of light shone directly onto Guan Yingying.

Guan Yingying shielded her eyes from the blinding light.

She heard a familiar voice ask, "Hey, are you alright?"