Chapter 189

Chapter 189 -5

"I can't make out where we are in the harbor city," teammate number two suddenly commented as they roamed through the darkness.

Neither Xiao Yuan nor teammate number one responded. Although they were sure they were within the harbor city, the streets seemed peculiar. No shops were open, every door was closed, and there were no words on any signs, only pitch black. The city felt like an unfinished mold, devoid of any color or life.

Even though teammate number two had patrolled every district in the harbor city, he couldn’t determine their exact location amid the unrecognizable structures.

As they ventured further, the streets grew more generic. At first, there were some signs outside the shops, but they soon vanished, replaced by black blocks. Further along, even the storefronts disappeared, replaced by dark recesses in the walls, as if someone had started to create something but gave up midway.

"There's probably nothing left outside, right?" teammate number one suggested, "Should we stop going further? I suspect the exterior will just turn into a black backdrop."

Xiao Yuan replied, "Let's head to the backdrop and see for ourselves."

Teammate Number Two muttered, "The main city of Harbor spans several tens of kilometers from south to north..."

Yuan gave him a glance.

Silently, Teammate Number Two went to inspect a nearby shared bicycle, only to find it was a crudely constructed model, utterly unrideable.

The trio commenced their trek across Harbor. Before long, the structures beside them ceased to be buildings, devolving into colorless stacked blocks crudely resembling architectural models.

Teammate Number One could go no further and suggested a break. Without resistance, Yuan found a suitably-sized block for them to rest upon.

"Everything outside is just these blocks. Our clues probably remain back at the amusement park," suggested Teammate Number One.

Yuan murmured, "Perhaps..."

Suddenly, Yuan signaled for silence.

Without hesitation, the other two fell silent, one even touching his own ear to listen more intently.

With a puzzled look, Teammate Number One whispered, "Did I mishear?"

Teammate Number Two shook his head, "No, there's definitely another sound."

Yuan clarified, "Footsteps."

These footsteps were faint and ceased the moment they stopped speaking—clearly, they were not intended to be heard.

Rising from his makeshift block seat, a knife now inexplicably in his hand, Yuan began to approach the source of the noise, with the other two following closely.

As they turned into a side street, they immediately spotted a figure standing in the middle of their original path.

In this dark realm, the figure was cloaked in shadow, the only discernible features being the bloody streaks on its arm and the blood-coated saw in its hand—a standard saw fit for cutting large pieces of wood, approximately half a meter in length and several fingers wide. It looked more than capable of sawing through a human head.

"Is this the ghost?" Teammate Number One queried as he hastily searched his pockets for a talisman.

"Seems so," Yuan replied, his face darkening.

With a swift motion, Teammate Number One cast a talisman into the air, chanting, "Supreme Elder, heed this urgent command!"

In the absence of wind, the talisman floated gently downward, dancing unpredictably through the air.

Teammate Number One was stunned.

The shadowy figure wielding the saw lunged at them with astonishing speed!

Yuan quickly shoved Teammate Number One aside. Using the momentum, he slid backward, narrowly dodging the descending saw, simultaneously thrusting his knife towards the shadow's leg, leaving a gash.

Even though the shadowy figure lacked discernible facial features and hardly seemed human, blood still oozed from the wound.

"It can be killed," Yuan remarked with a cold smirk.

Teammates One and Two had already sprinted several meters away. Frantically using every trick up their sleeves—from throwing cinnabar to chanting spells—they soon realized that their usual tactics against specters were futile here.

The shadowy figure paid no attention to the frantic antics of the two teammates. Quickly, it identified Yuan as the primary threat: the one capable of harming it seemed far more dangerous than the other two, who merely panicked.

Yuan gripped his dagger, a subtle twitch in his eye betraying his heightened adrenaline. He knew that this battle would result in one death: either he'd leave victorious, or he'd end up in the belly of this ghostly foe.

Although the shadowy figure had a humanoid form, its physical prowess significantly surpassed that of an ordinary person, making it a formidable adversary.

After a split second of thought, the figure moved again, swinging the saw directly at Yuan!

Perhaps Yuan's first strike to its thigh had taught it a lesson, for now, it aimed for Yuan's legs. Realizing he couldn't evade by leaning back again, Yuan chose to leap, launching a kick at the shadow.

In that moment, Yuan perceived a quiver at the spot where the figure's mouth should be, as if it were grinning. He instantly sensed danger.

The shadow's speed was uncanny. As Yuan's kick extended, the figure's free hand shot out, grabbing Yuan's leg and forcefully slamming him to the ground.

The strength of the shadowy figure was overwhelming. Yuan felt his leg might be broken. However, he had little time to dwell on it as the figure, holding him down, raised its other hand. The intent was clear: to saw him apart!

Yuan now understood the origin of the blood on the figure's saw.

But he didn't relent, thrusting his dagger towards the wrist of the saw-wielding hand.

He believed his attempt would be futile due to their speed disparity. To his surprise, the shadow momentarily paused, allowing Yuan's blade to pierce its forearm.

"Run!" Teammate Number One shouted, hurling a dark block at the shadow, which struck its head. "We can't beat it, let's find a way out!"

Seizing the opportunity, Yuan slashed a circle on the shadow's arm with his dagger and scrambled to his feet, sprinting away.

After just a few steps, cold sweat streamed down his face, the agonizing pain in his shin slowing him down. His shin was indeed fractured.

The shadowy figure didn't look at him again, instead turning his gaze towards Teammate Number One.

"Don't stop, split up, let's run in different directions! Distract him!" Teammate Number One shouted while running. After a few steps, he stopped to taunt the shadowy figure, "Come on, hit me!"

Teammate Number Two followed suit, picking up a dark block nearby and hurling it at the shadowy figure, shouting provocatively, "Hey, big dummy, come chase me!"

The shadowy figure weighed his options between the two and chose to pursue Number One.

Number One quickly signaled to Number Two. They split up only to regroup at a narrow junction. As Number One passed the junction, Number Two pushed a pile of blocks from above, aiming them at the shadowy figure.

Dazed from the impact, the shadowy figure promptly raised his saw and chased after Number Two.

Xiao Yuan, catching a breather, took a moment to rest. He found a long dark block by the road, took off a piece of his clothing to use as a makeshift splint for his broken leg, and then proceeded in the direction of the noises made by Teammates One and Two.

Although they kept running in circles, Xiao Yuan quickly caught up. But as he approached the location of their noises, he stopped abruptly, staring at a nearby residential complex.

Among the indistinct blocks in the area, this complex was conspicuously clear. Its name was even visible: "Tongfu Garden."

Xiao Yuan's expression darkened. "Damn it, it's Chi Shen again!" he cursed.

Grumbling, he ventured into Tongfu Garden. Predictably, he found a usable electric bike at the base of a building. Though everything else around seemed to be mere models, everything in this complex was functional.

Swiftly hot-wiring the bike and grabbing two sticks from the guard room, Xiao Yuan confidently set out to confront the shadowy figure.

By the time Xiao Yuan caught up, both teammates were injured. One had lost half his hand to the saw while the other limped despite no visible injuries. The shadowy figure, though battered and slightly deformed from the barrage of blocks, still relentlessly pursued them.

Xiao Yuan accelerated to maximum speed, driving directly into the shadowy figure with a thunderous crash!

Caught off-guard, the figure was thrown several meters away, his saw flying out of his grasp.

The sight of Xiao Yuan armed and on the bike boosted the spirits of Teammates One and Two. Xiao Yuan handed each of them a stick and parked the bike near the incapacitated shadowy figure.

Teammates One and Two took the figure's saw, using their sticks as levers to break it into small fragments which they promptly discarded. Their intent wasn't to use the saw as a weapon, but to prevent the figure from retrieving and wielding it.

Xiao Yuan, rather than ramming the figure again with his bike, parked it and approached the shadowy figure limping.

In the dim light, the knife in his hand gleamed like frosted glass. Holding it, he smiled.

"You're physically stronger than me. So, I have a weapon, and you're unarmed. Seems fair to me."

Yuan brandished the knife in his hand, his smile revealing teeth as sharp and cold as the blade itself.

"I've lost a leg, and you've been hit by a car. Seems fair."

He charged towards the shadowy figure.

The shadowy figure raced towards him in response.

The injured shadow moved noticeably slower. Although still faster than Yuan, Yuan had already anticipated his every move.

This was clearly someone untrained in combat, relying solely on brute force with no actual fighting technique.

And so...

As the shadowy figure threw a punch, Yuan didn't dodge. Knowing he couldn't outpace it, he took the blow to his shoulder, causing a noticeable dent. Simultaneously, the dagger in his hand pierced the figure's throat.

He then slashed horizontally, and blood spurted like a fountain from the figure's throat.

"Do ghosts... die if you stab them in the throat?" Number One and Number Two had initially wanted to help, but upon seeing this, they hesitated, both voicing the same question.

"Yes." In the silent street, every word was crisp and clear. Yuan responded to their query, "Absolutely."

Withdrawing his dagger, the shadowy figure collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat in agony.

Blood painted half the street, splattering all over Yuan, who emotionlessly raised his dagger again, delivering a few more thrusts to the figure's heart.

Before long, the shadowy figure lay lifeless.

Yuan collapsed to the ground, looking up at the sky with a relieved smile, as if he had narrowly escaped death.

Teammates Number One and Number Two approached. Although both were injured, they too began to smile. Number One asked Yuan, "Where did you get the electric scooter? Did you revisit an amusement park or something?"

Yuan shook his head, "I took it from Chi Shen's place. There's a connection here with him."

"Chi Shen did this?" Number Two asked with a shocked expression.

Yuan shook his head again, "No. But this ghost probably encountered Chi Shen and was profoundly affected by him. That's why there are references to Chi Shen's home here. He might even fear Chi Shen, given how thoroughly he's researched the area where he lives."

Number One and Number Two nodded, indicating that they roughly grasped Yuan's meaning.

"Thank goodness this ghost fears Chi Shen," Number One said, sitting beside Yuan and looking up at the sky, "Do you think our wounds will heal once we're out of here?"

"It's my first time in such a place too," Yuan admitted, "I'm not sure."

"I wonder what it's like outside. Have all the spirits of the harbor city been contained?"

"If we step out and face more ghosts, we might truly be finished."

"Indeed, if there are no spirits outside, I need to catch up on some sleep. We've covered half of the harbor city, haven't we? So tiring."

"There must be a way out, but how? I felt nothing when we entered, not even knowing how we got here. Will we just suddenly find ourselves outside?"

"Will the day gradually dawn?"

"Come to think of it, we've been talking for so long, yet nothing seems to change here."

Yuan's previously unfocused eyes sharpened, he stared at the sky for a moment, then declared, "Back to the amusement park."

Teammate Number Two turned to him, asking, "What's the matter?"

Yuan's face turned pale, he clenched his teeth and said, "We might've gotten it wrong. The amusement park is a safe house, a refuge from the ghost with the saw. There might still be another one outside, and we can't possibly kill a second one."

"No, wait," Yuan's voice trembled, "It's not a ghost. Like those ducks, like the old woman at the entrance, it's a creation of this world. We haven't encountered the real ghost."

Though this revelation was devastating, both Number One and Number Two were professionally trained and mentally tough. Upon hearing Yuan's words, Number Two, whose hand was still intact, quickly grabbed the nearby electric scooter, helping the more injured members onto the back, and headed towards the amusement park.

The journey was silent.

Upon reaching the park's entrance, Yuan advised, "Don't disembark. Ride around its perimeter. We've already inspected the inside of the park and found no ghost. If he created this safe house, he shouldn't be too far from it."

Number Two obediently began circling the park's boundary on the scooter.

Number One, clutching his severed hand, suddenly glanced up, noting, "Does it seem a bit brighter to you? The sky isn't as dark as before."

Yuan, now in a semi-conscious state, did not respond.

Number Two was focused on driving and paid no heed.

The amusement park was expansive, encircled by iron railings. A road separated the meticulously dilapidated park from the monotonous gray structures outside, acting as a distinct boundary.

From the outside, it appeared as though the game developers meticulously designed the park and then completely neglected the surroundings.

"It's all the same," Number Two murmured, "I see no difference."

As Number Two frantically searched the vicinity of the amusement park, Number One continued gazing at the sky and suddenly exclaimed, "It's really brightening up!"

At that moment, the electric scooter came to an abrupt halt.

Yuan jolted forward, colliding with Number One. The sharp pain roused him, and his eyes focused on the road ahead.

A little girl leaned against the outer railing of the amusement park, her eyes fixed on the spinning planes inside, her feet bouncing in eagerness.

She was so engrossed that even their arrival didn’t shift her attention.

Yuan recognized her at once. He had seen her in the files related to Chi Shen.

"Huang Lingling." Holding a knife in his hand, he approached her and called out her name.

She glanced back at him but remained indifferent, returning her gaze to the swings inside the park. She bounced on her toes, as if she herself were on a swing.

"Is it her?" Number One inquired.

"Regrettably, after all our wandering, she's the one we've been seeking," Number Two confirmed. "I've seen her too. On New Year’s Day, when Chi Shen was assisting the Zhong family, she was with him."

However, confusion clouded Number Two’s expression: "From what I saw, she didn't have this level of spectral power. Based on your descriptions, only a very powerful spirit could create such a space. But when I met her, she seemed like a minor ghost I could handle."

"What could have happened?" questioned Number One.

Number Two simply shook his head, indicating his uncertainty.

Facing Huang Lingling's indifference, Yuan didn't waste words. He raised his knife with his remaining functional hand, which trembled due to pain.

Suddenly, a brilliant light illuminated the surroundings. Just as Yuan was about to strike, Huang Lingling looked up. The yearning in her eyes vanished, replaced by a peculiar smile. Yet, she didn’t turn to face Yuan but instead looked in the opposite direction of the road.

The sun began to rise from that direction, and a figure tore through space, approaching them: it was Chi Shen.

With the sun behind him, Chi Shen walked steadily towards them. Gazing at Huang Lingling, he smiled and said, "You protected them, didn’t you?"

Huang Lingling broke into a grin and dashed towards Chi Shen, exclaiming, "Yes, I want to go to the amusement park!"

"Alright," Chi Shen replied, "To the amusement park it is."

Halfway there, Huang Lingling seemed to remember something. She waved at Chi Shen, calling out, "Wait for me."

As she approached Yuan, who still held his dagger, Huang Lingling leapt into his arms and sincerely said, "Thank you for killing him. Because he died, the sun could rise."

*

Author's Note:

Am I too weak? My hand has actually cramped...