Chapter 138: A Choice of Two!

Chapter 138: A Choice of Two!

The old man chuckled softly.

As his laughter echoed, it seemed as though the entire hot spring hotel joined in the mirth. The laughter bubbled up from every spring pool, making the waters churn and boil.

Unperturbed spirits suddenly ceased their tasks. Their faces twisted in terror, as if witnessing their impending doom—even though they were already dead. Perhaps it was the very expression they wore at their moment of demise.

Their faces began to melt, the reconstituted skin could no longer hold together, and blood mixed with flesh stained their intact clothes, morphing them into monsters.

And it wasn’t just inside the hot spring hotel—flesh was melting elsewhere in Dongshan Town too.

At a nearby farmhouse-styled resort, the landlady was asking her guests what they wanted for dinner and if they'd like chicken soup. She even presented a rooster for the officials from the Special Security Bureau to see.

A few college students nearby, engrossed in a card game, heard the offer and laughingly said they wanted chicken soup too.

Suddenly, the cheerful landlady froze, her eyes widening in sheer terror, as if she had seen something horrifying.

The officials from the Special Security Bureau immediately sensed something amiss. The Yuan family, skilled in body art techniques and already wary of the landlady, promptly restrained her.

"What are you doing—" The students began to ask, but their voices trailed off.

Every single one of them saw the landlady melting. Her once-warm and friendly face disappeared rapidly, dripping to the ground like tar. She then let out a terrifying scream, and as she raised her head, her molten skin was torn away, revealing the bloody insides to everyone.

A scream erupted from the student group. They dropped their cards and fled. Some, paralyzed by fear, didn’t know what to do. Clear-headed students dragged them along, rushing downstairs.

The monstrous form of the landlady seemed immensely strong. She uttered strange sounds, perhaps trying to convey something, but her melting throat distorted her words. She struggled to rise but was held down by the others.

"What... what is this?"

The Special Security Bureau officials stared in disbelief. They had never seen such a creature before. Moreover, the landlady showed no sign of malevolent aura throughout; this sudden transformation was completely unexpected.

They looked at each other, puzzled. None had seen or heard of anything like this before.

But it wasn’t just at the farmhouse resort.

The local police station in Dongshan Town had recently received numerous visitors from out of town, claiming to be from some special department.

The young officers knew this wasn’t their concern. Their priority was a rumored brawl set for the next day at Dongshan Middle School. They’d have to park a patrol car there for a couple of hours after school to prevent any incidents.

So, even with the significant events transpiring in Dongshan Town, their routine remained unchanged. Apart from the added task of organizing the files of the hot spring hotel's personnel and conducting investigations, they weren't heavily affected. Especially since all the work was handed over to a newly established task force, making it even less of their concern.

It was another peaceful day at the Dongshan Town Police Station.

A young officer who had just returned from outside greeted his superior with a smile, "A chain milk tea shop has opened in our town. Boss, aren't you going to treat us to some milk tea?"

The chief had been in Dongshan Town for a long time. Whether or not he was particularly skilled, he was undoubtedly familiar with the ins and outs of the town. Especially the Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel, a primary source of the town's tourist revenue; he knew it like the back of his hand.

The last time there was an investigation into the Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel, it was the chief who took care of the communications, making the entire process incredibly smooth—even though nothing was uncovered. Still, this wasn't perceived as his fault.

Perhaps the Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel was just too mysterious. After all, with the numerous leads the chief provided, if they couldn't find anything, it might just be the work of aliens abducting people.

"Which brand?" boomed the chief, his voice echoing across the office, "My little treasure loves drinking this—"

He suddenly stopped mid-sentence. The young officer, who had just entered, was setting down his things and looked up in confusion, "Loves drinking what?"

What met him were panicked shouts from his colleagues, the sudden opening of the special department's door, and a rush of people darting out.

The young officer didn't react, feeling as if he might be dreaming, hoping to wake up and invite the chief for that milk tea.

——

Inside the surveillance room of the Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel.

Jiang Haotian hit the enter key and laughed heartily as he sent the message.

The text read: "Rest assured, I'll make sure Shen Bu Ke Shi meets his end here. He will never bother you again."

The individual on the other end, with the username "Loving Father", responded almost immediately with a smiley emoticon, followed by two words: "Thank you."

Jiang Haotian's smile seemed especially twisted on his unusually aged face.

He, of course, knew Chi Shen—knew him all too well.

After all, Chi Shen was their beloved team leader, guiding and protecting him, leading the way through every challenge.

He still remembered how frightened he felt when he first entered that ghost-filled space, knowing nothing. But when that man offered to guide and protect him, he followed.

He later realized that it wasn't as simple as that. That man didn't truly value his teammates.

He only protected the useful ones. Those who weren't of use perished.

Thus, he began to strive, to grow stronger. Not to remain by that man's side but to survive. Soon, he transformed into something neither living nor dead. But then, what did Chi Shen... or rather, Shen Bu Ke Shi, say?

He remarked, "This look might just be usable."

Jiang Haotian's smile was a haunting one. To them, he wasn't even considered a human being but merely a tool to clear the game.

He remembered how Chi Shen pushed many away, feeding many to the ghosts. Everyone feared Chi Shen, yet they were compelled to follow him.

Initially, there were only a few in the team. But as time went by, they encountered more and more people. He lost count of how many he'd met, but those remaining at the end were even fewer than at the start.

Only six individuals.

Chi Shen told them they were his teammates and assured them they would get out.

He once believed that too.

Until Ye Bu Zui—because in this deadly game, names held power and could be exploited by the spirits. So, they all adopted bizarre aliases. Ye Bu Zui was no exception, Chi Shen named himself Shen Bu Ke Shi, and he took the name Qing Tian Xia.

It was only now that he learned Shen Bu Ke Shi's real name. To prevent betrayal among teammates, they never knew each other's true names.

And Ye Bu Zui was the one who trusted Chi Shen the most among them.

He remembered Ye Bu Zui advising everyone to become stronger by any means and that by following Chi Shen, they could leave that cursed place, returning to the real world to live anew.

But in the end, Ye Bu Zui never made it out.

He recalled the moment he entered the exit gate, looking back one last time. In the blinding light that threatened to consume him, he saw Chi Shen walk past Ye Bu Zui and witnessed Ye Bu Zui's head fall.

It was Chi Shen who killed Ye Bu Zui!

Although he had doubts about following Chi Shen for a while, it was at that moment he realized they were merely tools for Chi Shen to clear the game.

Even after clearing the game, only Chi Shen retained a normal human appearance, still as handsome and young, basking in sunlight, with a perfect smile.

He even had a lover.

How could someone like him have all these privileges, while he was forced to hide in this dimly lit hot spring hotel, unable to even visit his parents?

He stared at Chi Shen's face on the surveillance screen. In truth, he didn't need cameras to observe the entire hotel. He had altered it, making every corner feel like an extension of his own body. Yet, using the cameras satisfied his need for control.

He couldn't confront Chi Shen head-on; he lacked the upper hand. To defeat Chi Shen, he had to find something to distract him—like the living souls seeking Chi Shen's help or, perhaps, Chi Shen's missing lover.

"Who will you choose first?" Jiang Haotian whispered to himself, seated before the computer, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

"I told you, didn't I?"

The voice of Chi Shen suddenly echoed behind him.

The elated expression on Jiang Haotian's face froze instantly. He quickly glanced at the screen that bore Chi Shen’s image, only to find it empty. Chi Shen had vanished.

"Do as you please, as long as you don't interfere with me."

Without turning, Jiang Haotian, his voice rigid, retorted, "I haven't bothered you. I’m merely in my own hotel! Gangcheng is miles away from here. It wasn't me who sought to disturb you!"

As soon as he spoke, anger flashed across his face, as if irate at himself for uttering such words. This defensive tone felt almost instinctual to him.

"No, that's not it," Jiang Haotian said, rubbing the wrinkles on his face. "Since we left that place, we've kept our distances. You sought me out this time, so don't blame me for disavowing you as my leader."

Having said that, his voice became more fluent, and he could feel mobility return to his neck. With a cold smirk, he turned and said, "Familiar with this world, aren’t you? This is MY realm!"

In the dim light of the surveillance room, with a backdrop of grayscale monitors, Chi Shen sat relaxed in another chair. He seemed more like a visitor on a break rather than someone on a ghost hunt.

Gazing at Chi Shen's eternally youthful face, Jiang Haotian's expression contorted further. Hatred, nearly tangible, brimmed in his eyes. To vent his emotions, he let out a series of cold chuckles.

Chi Shen looked at him with an amused expression, "I never imagined you’d achieve this too."

His gaze became distant, lost in memories, "We discovered this pattern together, remember? A powerful spirit can create its own world."

Jiang Haotian chuckled, "Indeed, this is the world I’ve crafted. Unlike those monsters who manifest their inner fears into cage-like realms, trapping anyone who enters until they unravel the ghost's secrets and find the key to escape."

His voice swelled with confidence, "But here, there is no key. I've reshaped the real world, turning the entirety of Dongshan Town into my domain. It’s both reality and under my control. Thus, there’s no key here!"

Watching Jiang Haotian's fervor and confidence, Chi Shen couldn’t help but laugh.

Jiang Haotian was right.

They were once teammates, and this knowledge was shared amongst them for the sake of clearing the levels.

In the latter stages of the death game, when only six of them remained, they finally discerned the rules of that ghostly place, allowing Chi Shen to ensure that none of their team was lost.

Back then, they encountered a ghost they had read about in history books. Initially, they assumed the game had simply created a level based on that ghost's life. But as they explored, they realized that the realm was shaped by the ghost's desires.

In that death game, it was one of the rare instances where the main boss of the level willingly let them leave. It was a gentle world.

In other realms, the masters of those domains despised these intruders, wishing them dead, or saw them as mere toys, playing with them in a cruel manner.

Only in that one realm, upon realizing they were living beings, posed them a question.

He still remembers the look of hope tinged with fear on that face. The spirit had asked, "Is life good for you all now? Are there still wars? Can... can we all have enough to eat?"

With a smile, Chi Shen responded, "We live in a peaceful country now, free from war, and yes, we all have enough to eat."

Tears welled up in the spirit’s eyes as he continued to ask many more questions. Some in the group were puzzled or frightened, but only Chi Shen patiently answered each one. Eventually, the spirit, laughing, opened the door to let them leave that world, saying, "Sorry to have made you suffer with me. I've always lived in the time of my death, reliving the torments I faced. But don't mourn for me. Hearing about your lives, I am content."

As they stepped out and looked back, the instruments of torture in the room started to fade. The deformed figure of the spirit began to normalize, finally resembling the image from their textbooks, waving them goodbye.

At that moment, the more sentimental Zhang Yao suddenly voiced, "I've heard that after death, spirits remain trapped in the pain they felt at their time of passing. Maybe, the worlds we traverse are either a reflection of what they held dear in life or the pain they felt before death."

Chi Shen remarked, "Or, let's call it their inner worlds."

Ye Bu Zui was the first to agree, "That's a good way to put it! Now, we have a new method to clear these levels. Instead of searching for keys or defeating bosses, we just need to find a way to convince the boss to let us out!"

At Chi Shen's mention, Jiang Hao Tian also recalled that instance. He remembered wanting to add something, but he never was as eloquent as Ye Bu Zui. His agreement came off as afterthought, and the best compliment he could muster then only earned a weary look from Chi Shen.

Subsequent realm clearances became smoother. Initially, their focus was survival—deciphering the realm’s secrets and defeating bosses. Later, they increasingly exploited the vulnerabilities of these bosses' inner worlds.

However, exploiting these vulnerabilities wasn't always as Jiang Hao Tian had imagined. While he thought it would always be about convincing the boss, Chi Shen thought otherwise.

He remembered in the very next realm, after understanding its essence, Chi Shen held a chainsaw to the boss's neck, arching an eyebrow, "Open the door, or not?"

Recalling that, Jiang Hao Tian felt a chill run down his spine, trying to sound brave, "Even if I die, if I don't let you out, you won't be able to leave!"

Chi Shen nodded, "It seems so."

He had noticed earlier that Jiang Hao Tian's powers had their limits. The Grand Springs Hotel was where he was strongest. Jiang Hao Tian was responsible for sealing the hotel's doors, not merely locking them, but sealing the very realm itself.

Hence, Chi Shen hadn’t rushed to help Zhong Yi. He felt the youth needed some trials. Therefore, he came here directly.

As Chi Shen's words lingered, he raised his hand. Dark mists coiled around it, manifesting a three-meter-long blade that seemed too massive for such a confined space. Anything touched by the blade quickly turned to ash.

Seeing the blade, Jiang Hao Tian panicked, "If you attack, don't forget there's still someone in my hands! You might coldly abandon those you bring in, but would you disregard your loved one?"

His plea was met with the cold slash of a blade.