Chapter 248: The Ghost in the Mirror (XI)

Chapter 248: The Ghost in the Mirror (XI)

Following the direction of the light, Guan Yingying soon saw a face that was both familiar and foreign.

"It's you..."

Within the black mist, Xie Fangcheng approached with a flashlight in hand.

Seeing Guan Yingying, he too let out a sigh of relief.

"Why weren't you at the platform?"

Let's rewind twenty minutes.

After the system's notification, players began emerging from the community, obediently entering the platform to wait for the last bus that would take them back to their resting place.

The bus arrived as expected. However, once the players boarded, it didn't move, remaining stationary at the platform.

Outside the community, the dark fog spread rapidly. When Zhu Ping and another were still staking out Qiao Qiang outside the supermarket, those on the bus already noticed creatures looming within the mist.

A player with the unique skill of perception warned with a serious tone as the fog began to thicken, "There's something in the mist! Extremely powerful! Likely a mini-boss!"

A mini-boss for a Level 3 ghost mission! Need I stress its danger?

"Why aren't we moving yet?!" A player exclaimed anxiously.

As if in response to the query, a beep sounded from within the bus.

[Beep—"Dear passengers, the bus will depart in 5 minutes due to not meeting the required number of passengers. Please wait."]

Five minutes might be too long. Given the speed at which the mist is approaching, it's likely to engulf the bus in just two or three minutes.

Not meeting the passenger requirement... Does this mean they need everyone on board to set off?

Currently, there are seven on the bus. Zhu Ping and Guan Yingying were yet to arrive, and that oddly named player, Xie Fangcheng, was also absent.

"Damn it! What are they doing?! Why are they dawdling?" Someone cursed.

One decisive individual promptly jumped off the bus, seemingly intent on running back.

However, the player who disembarked soon dashed back, a look of dismay on his face: "There are creatures guarding outside."

It appeared to be a scenario restriction. Those on the bus seemed relatively safe, but the moment they step off, creatures lurk close by, ensuring their only exit is via the bus.

Didn't this imply they should have returned before the system's prompt? Doing so before the fog enveloped would have meant a safe return to the hotel, right?

With the black mist intensifying and the silhouettes of the creatures wavering closer, the players on the bus could seemingly perceive their massive forms. Yet, because the group wasn’t complete, the bus remained immobile amidst the encroaching mist, allowing the looming entities to draw nearer.

The bus offered safety, but it was clear that such protection was time-limited.

If they kept lingering here and the creatures approached, what then?

Even those who had previously remained silent now voiced their discontent: "What on earth are they doing?"

As the words hung in the air, a figure darted out from the enveloping mist, swiftly opening the bus door.

As everyone readied themselves to attack, they realized it was the belated arrival of Zhu Ping.

"Why just you? Where's the other woman?" someone inquired.

Zhu Ping wasn't sure what was on Guan Yingying's mind. Faced with the questions from the players aboard, she simply shook her head, feeling a twinge of relief.

She thought her timing was impeccable. With the intense mist outside and the creatures nearly upon them, the bus had yet to depart.

Soon, however, she realized it wasn't serendipity that brought her here; the bus couldn't leave because of her absence.

Hearing the other players recount the earlier system prompt, Zhu Ping grew anxious, "What do we do now? Should I go back for her?"

But as she spoke, a beep sounded within the bus.

[Beep—"The vehicle is about to depart. Please hold on and remain seated."]

Following this announcement, the bus indeed began to move.

Zhu Ping's anxiety peaked, "What about Guan Yingying? She's still in the community."

At her words, a few players retorted irritably, "So? Do we all wait for her? Don't you know there are creatures in the mist?"

Creatures.

At the mention of that word, Zhu Ping's heart raced, immediately picturing the creature in the mist that bore an uncanny resemblance to Guan Yingying.

But glancing at the expressions of the surrounding players, it seemed they were unaware of such a creature within the mist... Or perhaps the boundary creatures differed from those inside the fog?

As Zhu Ping pondered, her concern for Guan Yingying grew.

Left behind in the community, given the advancing state of the mist, would she also encounter these creatures?

It couldn't be, right? Guan Yingying's actions were suspicious. Knowing full well about the system's alert, she still chose to stay. Such behavior wasn't typical for a regular player.

As Zhu Ping grappled with these thoughts, the bus quickly approached the first stop.

Amid the thick fog, a faint yellow glow emanated from the bus stop sign.

Just as the players were preparing to disembark, the bus surprisingly bypassed the first stop, continuing forward.

What was going on?

Players inside exchanged bewildered glances, their faces etched with confusion.

When they had arrived, the bus paused at each stop, allowing players to alight sequentially. Some had speculated whether the night's journey would follow a similar pattern, offering a choice of disembarkation, with only one player allowed to exit at each station.

If so, departing at the first stop would undoubtedly be the wisest choice.

After all, there was a formidable presence there!

The very thought sent shivers down their spines. Having previously stayed at the hotel at the first stop, they were well aware of the power of the spirits within. Yet, throughout the afternoon, the phone line remained active.

This meant that spirits were continuously present in the hotel. Astonishingly, the player named Xie Fangcheng managed to hold his ground the entire time.

Now, the bus was taking them further and further away, with no clear destination in sight.

Anxiety ran high among the players. Yet with the oppressive fog outside, no one dared to hastily exit. They were at the mercy of the bus's journey.

Suddenly, Zhu Ping, who had been lost in thought, seemed to have an epiphany. She swiftly rose from her seat, striding towards the driver's area.

On the driverless bus, there indeed was a landline phone.

Without hesitation, Zhu Ping picked it up and dialed the number 4444444.

Engaged.

Of course, the line would be busy if it had been kept off the hook.

What was happening on Guan Yingying's end? Regardless of Zhu Ping's mounting anxiety, the bus continued to distance them from the community until it gradually halted at the final stop.

The surroundings were shrouded in black mist, with only the dimly lit road signs visible. A player who had been counting the stops declared, "This is the eleventh stop! The same one where Xie Fangcheng got off earlier!"

Initially, players had deemed him foolish for opting to leave at the first stop. Didn't he realize that the first stop might be the most perilous? Yet, after the events of the afternoon, they grasped the truth. He wasn't naive; they had simply never encountered someone with such... an indescribable level of prowess.

Hope once again ignited in Zhu Ping's heart.

No matter where the resting place is, there should be a phone, right?

With that thought, Zhu Ping had a vague feeling that she might have forgotten something.

After everyone got off, they headed towards the only source of light. Soon, they were met with the sight of ruins.

Damn it!!!

Only at this moment did Zhu Ping suddenly remember what she had forgotten. Jie Fangcheng had mentioned that the building had collapsed, but nobody took it seriously at the time.

Now, facing the ruins, Zhu Ping hurriedly rushed over and tried to dig through with her bare hands. Instead of finding a phone, she unearthed a ghostly hand.

The ghost buried under the rubble was not entirely dead, and the hand swiftly lunged at Zhu Ping.

In a split second, Zhu Ping hastily stepped back.

A player standing nearby stared at the ruins and murmured, "Is this the resting place prepared for us in this instance?"

They've been busy for so long without eating or drinking. Even players are not made of iron.

Who would have thought? Their main base got dug up.

But seeing the ghostly hand pressed under the ruins, the players had only one thought: it's a good thing it’s ruined. If this wasn't a ruin and they had entered the hotel, whether they would live or die was uncertain.

But now without the hotel, where can they rest? While the players pondered, Zhu Ping got up.

"I'll go find Jie Fangcheng."

"How will you go?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Strange noises occasionally emanated from the surrounding dark mist, clearly monsters were lurking within.

If Zhu Ping insisted on finding Jie Fangcheng, wouldn't she be attacked by countless monsters along the way?

Zhu Ping didn't have time for further explanations. She simply said, "We're running out of time."

Not only was Guan Yingying in the community running out of time, but the other players surely couldn’t just stand here forever, right?

But Zhu Ping didn't try to convince them further, to engage in a verbal duel. She felt it was impossible to make them face the dangers within the black fog alongside her.

However, this time after she spoke, the players exchanged glances. Quickly following that, they all caught up to Zhu Ping's pace.

Someone commented with a smile, "We can't let you bear all the danger alone, can we?"

Zhu Ping paused, and before she could be moved by their words, a logical understanding dawned upon her.

They indeed didn't want to face danger. But under the current circumstances, staying behind would be riskier. It's better to venture through the black fog, find Jie Fangcheng, and seek protection.

Still, there was no need to voice such sentiments aloud. The group pressed on, inevitably encountering monsters along the way.

It was a creature, its body covered with elongated tongues, rendering its original form barely recognizable. Upon seeing them, the creature's numerous tongues cried out in unison.

"Out so late, gallivanting with so many men, where's your sense of propriety?"

"Look at what she's wearing, oh my, those exposed legs; clearly not a good girl."

"How shameless can you be, dressed like that? Who are you trying to seduce?"

"Looks like someone needs to teach you a lesson—"

This monster's remarks were unmistakably targeted. As it finished its taunts, Zhu Ping sensed trouble. True to her instincts, the monster focused its attacks solely on her.

Observing the creature's clear bias, other players hesitated at first. Realizing that the monster was formidable but could be defeated if they worked together, they all joined the fight.

By the time they'd slain this tongue-monster, Zhu Ping bore numerous deep, bone-visible wounds. She once again had to retrieve and drink a healing potion from her backpack.

Braving the black fog, they followed the direction of illuminated signposts, soon arriving at the first platform and swiftly entering a hotel.

Without pausing for reflection on why the ghosts in this hotel had curiously taken on roles as compliant waitstaff, Zhu Ping approached a snoozing Jie Fangcheng at the front desk: "Guan Yingying missed the bus."

That's all Zhu Ping said.

She wondered what price she might have to pay to persuade this expert to rescue Guan Yingying.

However, upon hearing her, Jie Fangcheng rose immediately, staff in hand, declaring, "I'll fetch her."

Before departing, he warned the ghosts, some of whom were eyeing the players hungrily, "Do not lay a finger on them."

As Jie Fangcheng left, he contemplated whether he should establish some form of authority to ensure their safety. After all, with him gone, there was no predicting what might transpire within the hotel.

The players were torn, wondering if they should join him in searching for Guan Yingying.

Zhu Ping, without hesitation, walked to the front desk and hung up the phone, causing the ghostly shadows around them to vanish.

"Thank you," said Zhu Ping.

With that concern behind him, Jie Fangcheng quickly shouldered his staff and left the hotel.

The surrounding fog grew denser. While the players couldn't discern any direction, Jie Fangcheng could. He didn't rely on sight, but rather a sense attuned to the Yin energy. Aware of his own limited speed and the urgency of the situation, he forcefully pushed off the ground—

Back in the hotel, players were drinking water when they heard a distant explosion-like sound. The ground trembled, causing the water in their glasses to spill.

"What's happening?? An earthquake in the game??" A player asked, visibly confused.