Chapter 6: The Terrifying Fiancé

Chapter 6 The Terrifying Betrothed

“Through life and death, we are bound—this vow I make with you.”

As promised, they were to remain together, regardless of life, death, or separation.

Su Bai had stumbled upon that marriage contract during a life-or-death game. For years, he’d never considered using it, nor transferring this mysterious and eerie item to other players. It was his final trump card, to be played only at the brink of death.

After all, Su Bai had never heard of anyone else possessing a similar contract. Naturally, no one knew what would happen after signing such a pact with a malevolent entity.

Would he be slowly devoured, a willing offering? Or would he be transformed into a lifeless, animated doll?

The high probability of death and the sheer unknown made the contract in Su Bai’s hands a double-edged sword. The only reason he kept it was because the residual power within it made even a seasoned player like him sense the terror of the nameless entity on the other side.

Such a seemingly useless item could only become his desperate gamble when Su Bai was staring death in the face. In the nightmare world, the more terrifying the entity, the more it valued its territory and possessions. Thus, the moment Su Bai signed the contract, forced into a death trap by an evil spirit in the game, he would be marked by the nameless entity on the other side.

If the nameless entity’s power surpassed that of the ghost confronting Su Bai, he would survive! If its power wasn't as formidable as he imagined, then… the worst outcome would simply be dying in the game, as expected.

In a moment of life or death, even a 0.1% chance was worth betting on.

The good news was, his gamble paid off! Even the mere mark left by the nameless entity through the contract was enough to repel the malevolent spirit that was about to kill him, allowing him to continue surviving in the nightmare world.

The bad news was, he had become the bound partner of that nameless entity, or rather… its betrothed?

“Through life and death, bound we are, with you I make my vow.”

When the blood-etched vow from the marriage contract echoed in Su Bai’s ears once more, he knew he could no longer ignore this voice or the presence of that eerie shop in the mist. If the voice had merely called out to him casually as before, Su Bai might have continued to ignore it, riding onward on the Route 444 Last Bus.

But now that he knew the shop’s existence was tied to that marriage contract, Su Bai could no longer pretend it wasn't there.

This was an entity powerful enough to repel a terrifying evil spirit, surpassing even Su Bai at his peak. Since it hadn't immediately killed Su Bai upon appearing, he had to respond. At this moment, Su Bai felt as though he had returned to his first days in the nightmare world—all distractions cast aside, his sole goal to survive a little longer!

If that mysterious entity didn't want him dead, responding wouldn't kill him.

But if it did, then even if Su Bai remained on the bus without responding, his current strength would still ensure his inevitable demise.

In that case, a more polite response seemed the better option.

“Commercial Street is here.” The driver’s hoarse voice sounded again, tinged with an unsettling respect. “Passengers for Community Hospital, please exit through the rear door. Have a pleasant journey.”

Hearing the driver’s announcement, Su Bai felt the bus begin to slow, shaking gently.

He suddenly understood why the bus driver had looked at him with that expression and tone, far more respectful and cautious than he remembered.

Since the shop in the mist outside and the voice in his ear were connected to that contract with the malevolent entity, it meant the contract’s effect hadn’t vanished with Su Bai’s rebirth into the past. He still bore the terrifying entity’s marriage mark!

The driver’s odd behavior and deference weren’t directed at Su Bai, but at the entity standing behind him!

The childlike voice reciting the vow echoed in his ears once more, and the child in the eerie shop outside the window continued to wave at him. Su Bai no longer hesitated. He rose from his seat in the first row and headed for the back door. He thought his movement was quiet, but it startled the whispering trio.

Why had the “special passenger,” whom they had just been discussing how to approach, suddenly stood up?

Before Wan Shasha could react, she got a clear look at the “special passenger” walking toward the rear. Just as Zhang Yibu had said, the person was wearing a somewhat old and faded high school uniform, but the clothes were drenched as if caught in a heavy rain, with mud splattered at the hem of the pants.

She remembered that not long before she entered this eerie game, Honghuai City had just experienced a heavy downpour.

A strange thought flashed through Wan Shasha’s mind, but it vanished the moment she saw the “special passenger’s” face. After all, this “special passenger” approaching them had a… well, a very handsome face.

Wan Shasha wasn’t well-read and didn’t know many fancy words. She just felt that, despite seeing all those heavily made-up men and women at the bar every day, none compared to this clean-faced, fair-skinned person. Just looking at him made her feel comfortable inside, and she wanted to go up and say a few words.

Truly, such a handsome person!

“He… I think I’ve seen him before…”

Wan Shasha faintly heard Zhang Yibu speaking from the back seat, but her eyes were fixed on the “special passenger” walking step by step toward them.

As Su Bai stood up and walked toward the rear, he also took the opportunity to get a clear look at the trio on the bus. The girl with smoky makeup and a black dress was likely Wan Shasha. The way she stared at him was something Su Bai was used to—both before entering the nightmare world and right after, he often encountered such looks. Later, however, the gazes from those around him seemed to carry more fear and avoidance.

The boy in pajamas was Zhang Yibu. He looked at Su Bai strangely, as if trying to recall something with a hint of confusion.

Su Bai also took a few more glances at Zhang Yibu. He felt like he had seen this boy somewhere before.

Then there was the burly man sitting next to the woman in the qipao, who called himself Qin Ge. His physique and vigor didn’t seem like something achieved through protein shakes and gym workouts but more like those professionally trained players with advanced advantages Su Bai had encountered before. The look Qin Ge gave Su Bai was full of caution, along with a hint of murderous intent.

After all, to the trio, he was still the “special passenger.”

And then there was the back of the bus… Su Bai was momentarily stunned seeing the bleeding ghost bride sitting upright there but quickly averted his gaze, scanning the restless trio once more.

Su Bai believed that if he continued sitting motionless in the first row, the trio would eventually muster the courage to seek communication with him. But now, his sudden standing had made them sit still with their own thoughts, none of them saying a word.

He could choose to say nothing and simply exit through the rear door. But the future, influenced by this marriage contract, was unpredictable. Su Bai had no idea what would happen after he left the bus, stepped into the mist, and entered that shop. Perhaps he would merely be a passerby in the trio’s game, or perhaps the trio would become just another small part of the countless novice players who failed to clear the game, as in Su Bai’s memory.

So, Su Bai felt he could do something before leaving the bus.

Quickly recalling his memories related to the Route 444 Last Bus, Su Bai, now at the rear door, stopped and turned around. He spoke to the still unfamiliar trio clearly and earnestly—

“Remember, whatever you do, don't get off at the final stop.”