Chapter 149: Ghost Doll

Chapter 149: Ghost Doll

As if to verify what netizens had said, the opposing team soon spotted Lu Yan's presence. They all halted, their eyes filled with uncertainty and surprise, clearly not expecting to see anyone else in the Contaminated Zone besides themselves.

The leading man, wary and cautious, gripped his sidearm inconspicuously, demanding in a deep voice, "Who are you? What are you doing in the Contaminated Zone?!"

Both Lu Yan and Xiao Zhao were dressed in black, their faces completely covered. If it weren't for the assortment of live-streaming equipment they carried, one might easily mistake them for wanderers.

Lu Yan lifted his hood, revealing eyes that were unusually deep in the night. Despite wearing a mask, he couldn't hide his sharp aura. Seeing that these people wore uniforms, he didn't want any trouble and explained, "Sorry, we're here to do an exploration live-stream in the Contaminated Zone, just trying to make a living."

The man glanced at their attire. "You live in Devil City?"

Lu Yan nodded.

Upon hearing this, the man's brows furrowed, his tone turning more serious. "Go back immediately. We're about to clear out the wanderers on Blackstone Street. Civilians aren't allowed in the Contaminated Zone, and we won't be responsible for any accidental injuries!"

A young man behind him said coldly, "Captain, why waste words on these fools? They don't know what death is. Let them stay; when the wanderers come out, they'll have their share of suffering!"

Before Lu Yan could respond, Xiao Zhao couldn't help but retort angrily, "Who are you calling fools?! The Contaminated Zone isn't your property. We can come and go as we please. When the wanderers emerge, it's uncertain who will suffer!"

Although the ability users didn't say anything, their faces betrayed a hint of disdain. To them, these two ordinary people seemed to be risking their lives for views. Devil City was already a place where people died daily, yet there were still those eager to court death.

The young man glanced at Xiao Zhao and sneered, "Fine, when the wanderers swarm out, you better have the guts to stay."

Xiao Zhao was about to speak up but was subtly restrained by Lu Yan. "Since you're clearing out the wanderers, we won't cause any trouble. We'll just gather some footage from the outskirts and head back. We won't step into Blackstone Street."

Sky City and Devil City usually kept to themselves. This team of ability users was likely acting on orders from higher-ups, performing routine duties. Whether or not civilians would be affected wasn't within their concern.

Hearing this, Captain Shi Xuan didn't bother with them anymore and issued his command, "Move out!"

Lu Yan watched as the group of ability users swiftly ran into the Contaminated Zone, disappearing in a blink. He and Xiao Zhao found a stable spot to stand on, making it easier to film.

Xiao Zhao whispered, "Brother, why are you being so polite to them? We still need to hunt wanderers today. By giving them our position, where will we go?"

Lu Yan aimed the camera at the entrance of Blackstone Street, adjusting the focus. "No rush. We can enter after they leave. There are plenty of wanderers; we won't run out."

Devil City's nights always seemed eerily quiet. The chilling wind blew through the surroundings, causing branches to sway and casting grotesque shadows on the ground. Perhaps due to the strong wind, the abandoned Ferris wheel in the amusement park suddenly began to turn slowly. It moved like an extremely old man, each creaking movement sounding rusty and grating to the ear.

"Creak..."

"Creak..."

Lu Yan subconsciously frowned, feeling an ominous premonition.

Xiao Zhao, cold and frightened, clung tightly to Lu Yan's arm. "Brother, did you hear that? It sounds like screams coming from inside Blackstone Street. It's creepy."

Lu Yan didn't hear any screams. Instead, he heard a faint children's rhyme emanating from the amusement park, ethereal and eerie in the dead of night:

"My home is deep in the distant forest...

The moon is high, birds fly...

If you come to visit, remember the way...

Bring a small pair of scissors, and a small comb,

To help me tie my pigtails...

Mom swings you on the swing, Dad cooks you meat soup...

I'll hold your hand, let's play hide-and-seek...

Under the cabinet, in the pillow, I watch you on the wall...

Blackstone Street, No. 16, if you don't come, I'll find you..."

Accompanied by the innocent-sounding rhyme, a small figure suddenly appeared nearby. It was a little girl hugging a doll. Her hair was messy, her face obscured, and her red dress, dulled by dirt, seemed darker. She was skipping towards them.

In the empty Contaminated Zone, this scene was peculiar. Both Lu Yan and Xiao Zhao instinctively took a few steps back, chills running down their spines. Their expressions changed, and the audience watching online was even more terrified. Netizens typed frantically:

"Where did this brat come from in the middle of the night? Could she be a wanderer?!"

"I've seen it all now, there are actually such young wanderers."

"QAQ So scary, waaah! Husband, let's run! Don't risk our lives!"

Just as everyone was urging Lu Yan to flee, a netizen with an IP address from Sky City poured cold water on the situation: [There's no escape now. You should quickly seek help from the Ability Squad. I work at the Monitoring Bureau. This isn't an ordinary attack-type wanderer, but a phantasm-type wanderer. They can't wander around freely and can only stay in a fixed area. Over time, they create their own 'ghost realm,' commonly known as an illusion. Once targeted, you'll be pulled into the illusion and must follow its rules. Otherwise, you'll be torn apart and devoured for breaking the rules.]

After a moment's hesitation, he added another comment, cautiously asking, "Brother Streamer, phantasm-type ability users are very rare. Can you live-stream the entire experience when you're pulled into the illusion? It would be invaluable video material for the Monitoring Institute. If you unfortunately sacrifice yourself, I can apply for a substantial compensation fund for you."

Be a decent human being!

This was the collective thought of all Lu Yan's fans, nearly collapsing as they furiously typed:

"You're heartless! The streamer is in grave danger, and you're still thinking about video materials! Why don't you go yourselves?!"

The netizen adjusted his glasses and explained seriously, "The Monitoring Institute once collaborated with the ability user squad to obtain first-hand video materials. However, the ability users who entered the illusion never returned. The people Brother Streamer encountered earlier should be one of the top ten ace teams in Sky City. I heard that they came to the Contaminated Zone to clear out phantasm-type wanderers, but they didn't expect..."

They didn't expect to run into Lu Yan, the unlucky one.

Seeing the comments, Lu Yan felt dizzy, almost passing out. What kind of rotten luck did he have? He had only planned to hunt a low-level wanderer today for some rewards, but how did he end up encountering the rarest phantasm-type wanderer right away? Damn it!

Just then, the system, never one to miss a spectacle, popped up. Its tone was consistently cold and deep, with a characteristic static sound:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for triggering the side quest - Ghost Doll!"

"Side Quest One: Accept the Ghost Doll's invitation to visit her home. Reward for success: 100 points. Penalty for failure: Deduct 500 points!"

"Side Quest Two: Provide complete video research materials for the Monitoring Institute. Reward for success: 100 points. No punishment for failure!"

"Side Mission Three: Survive and escape the ghost doll's illusion. Reward for success: Ability advancement. Failure will result in termination!"

Lu Yan: "…"

The system's release of so many side missions didn't indicate generosity but rather the extreme danger of this mission.

As Lu Yan watched the little girl approach him with an eerie gait through the darkness, he mustered his strength to stand straight. He turned to look at the live stream screen and asked fiercely,

"How much is the substantial compensation?"

Upon hearing this, the viewers collectively gasped, "??!"

Dude, you're really going to do it?!

The young man from the monitoring institute was delighted, his eyes shining. "Rest assured! I'll apply for the maximum amount for you!!!"

Lu Yan said nothing. With a heart as dead as ashes, he closed his eyes and raised his hand to make an "OK" gesture. "Deal!"

Thus, the most daring streamer on the internet was born.

"Tap… Tap… Tap…"

As they spoke, the little girl had already hopped her way to Lu Yan. She slowly stopped, her messy black hair covering her entire face, making her features invisible. In her arms, she held a skull doll with pigtails, her hollow eyes fixed on them.

The little girl invited them, her voice thin and sending shivers down their spines. "Brother, would you like to come to my house?"

Lu Yan swallowed hard upon hearing this, preparing to nod in agreement. However, before he could speak, Lu Xiaozhao waved his hands frantically in refusal, almost in tears. "Little sister, we don't have time; you should invite someone else…"

"Smack!"

Lu Yan slapped Lu Xiaozhao expressionlessly to the ground, then crouched down to look at the ghost doll. He forced a smile, pulling at the corners of his mouth, and said in the gentlest tone he could muster, "Of course."

As he spoke, he secretly removed his phone from its holder and discreetly handed it to Lu Xiaozhao, signaling him to start recording the live stream.

A night breeze blew the little girl's hair, making her already disheveled locks even more chaotic. Lu Yan, with his obsessive-compulsive tendencies, felt somewhat uncomfortable watching this. As he reached out to help the little girl fix her hair, he asked warmly, "Where do you live? Could you show us the way? It's my first time here, and I'm unfamiliar with the area…"

Lu Yan suddenly fell silent as a back of the head appeared before his eyes. After pushing aside the hair on the girl's face, there was still only hair.

"…"

His hand was truly reckless.

Not only did Lu Xiaozhao think so, but the viewers did too.

Lu Yan silently covered the hair back over, laughing awkwardly. "I don't know the way to your house, what should we do?"

The little girl whispered, "Follow me."

With that, she hopped forward, leading Lu Yan and the others deeper into Blackstone Street.

Lu Yan had originally assumed that the inside would be similar to the outside, just piles of chaotic ruins. However, when he dragged Lu Xiaozhao, whose legs had gone weak from fear, into Blackstone Street, a bustling commotion suddenly surged from all directions, engulfing them as if they had entered a completely different world.

On both sides of the street were old-fashioned rural buildings, with new bricks and tiles, clean windows, and bright interiors due to the lamps lit because of the dark sky. The air carried the scent of food, and laughter could be heard from every household.

Yet, walking down the street, Lu Yan and Lu Xiaozhao saw no signs of living beings. They couldn't even determine where the laughter came from, only sensing that it included men and women, young and old. Listening for too long made it sound cacophonous and grating.

The little girl suddenly stopped in front of one of the buildings. Turning to look at Lu Yan, her featureless face looked particularly eerie in the darkness. "Brother, we've arrived at my home. Mom will be very happy to see you. She loves it when guests compliment her beauty. Can you praise her?"

This was her illusion, which meant they had to abide by her rules and couldn't refuse.

Seeing Lu Yan nod, the little girl reached out to knock on the door. The dull thuds sounded unsettling. "Mom, I'm back. Open the door quickly!"

After three knocks, heavy and dragging footsteps echoed from within. Soon, the security door creaked open, revealing a woman's head. Upon seeing her face, Lu Yan and Lu Xiaozhao couldn't help but inhale sharply, instinctively taking two steps back in shock.

The woman who opened the door had a hunched figure, her back curved unnaturally. Her long, thick black hair contrasted with skin as white as wall plaster. Most terrifying, however, was her face. Her mouth was on her forehead, followed by her nose, eyes, and eyebrows, all out of place as if the skin had been inverted and stuck on.

Her face couldn't be described as beautiful or ugly, but rather bizarre. Long, slender eyebrows, pitch-black eyes, and a red, luscious mouth, her features lacked any depth. Her laughter was high-pitched and thin, and her gaze towards Lu Yan and Lu Xiaozhao was like that of someone eyeing two pieces of fat meat, greedy and sinister:

"My dear baby, why did you take so long to return? Mom has been waiting for you to eat, and I'm starving…"

As she spoke, two withered, elderly hands slowly extended from behind her. Sharp, pointed nails aimed for Lu Yan and Lu Xiaozhao's crown chakras. At this critical moment, Lu Yan suddenly remembered the little girl's words and hurriedly offered praise, causing the woman's movements to freeze mid-air—

"Auntie, you're truly beautiful!!"

Even Lu Xiaozhao finally caught on, holding up the live streaming phone as he stuttered, "Auntie… y-you… you're truly a beauty beyond compare!"

Viewers angrily pounded their keyboards. "It's clearly a reversal of the natural order!"

Regardless of what the viewers thought, upon hearing these compliments, the ghost mother's twisted hands slowly retracted, and she became all smiles. Just then, a loud noise suddenly erupted from the tightly shut kitchen behind her, like a cleaver chopping fiercely on a cutting board. Lu Yan even felt that if the noise grew louder, the house might collapse:

"Thump thump thump!!"

"Thump thump thump!!"

The faces of the little girl and her mother instantly turned grim.

"Please come in."

They said.

Lu Yan keenly sensed something amiss but could only bury his doubts deep within. Together with Lu Xiaozhao, he entered the brightly lit house. Despite the warm decor, it exuded an aged feel everywhere. New corners of the walls were covered in spiderwebs, and the air carried a nauseating mix of the stench of corpses and the aroma of food.

On the living room wall hung a family portrait—a man, a woman, and a cute little girl. The photo seemed quite old, with some cracks that split the woman and child's faces into several fragments, blurring their features. The only clear image was of the man, average-looking and unremarkable.

"Eat some fruit."

The mother wore a thick set of clothes, making her movements somewhat cumbersome. She gestured for Lu Yan and Lu Xiaozhao to sit at the dining table, then served them a plate of wriggling, unidentified red objects, smiling with her distorted face. "Eat quickly, it's very fresh."

Upon seeing this, Lu Xiaozhao turned green and nearly vomited.

Lu Yan subtly pushed the plate away, maintaining his composure as he said, "Thank you, but let's wait for everyone to gather before we eat together."

Hearing this, Mother covered her mouth and let out a series of high-pitched giggles, soft yet sending shivers down one’s spine: "Dad is still simmering soup in the kitchen; he won’t be out for a while. You two can play with Guaigui in the meantime."

The little girl sat quietly across from him, swinging her legs that dangled from the chair. Despite her lack of facial features, Lu Yan felt as if she was staring straight at him: "Brother, let’s play hide-and-seek. If you can find me before dawn, I’ll take you on the swing."

"Hide-and-seek?"

Startled for a moment upon hearing this, Lu Yan reacted instinctively, "Then you should start hiding, I’ll come find you."

The house wasn’t too large; as long as she didn’t leave the premises, she shouldn’t be too hard to find.

However, the girl remained seated across from him without moving an inch. She swung her legs languidly and softly urged, "Brother, I’ve been hiding already, you should come find me soon."

In the entire house, only her voice echoed:

"I’m all hidden, you should come find me soon."