Chapter 119: Liar

Chapter 119: The Deceiver

To Lian Xiangyu and the others, the man in the black cloak appeared suddenly beside Number Eight.

Number Eight was not short—taller than Shen Donger and even a bit taller than Lian Xiangyu—yet was effortlessly swept into the arms of the black-robed man who had materialized out of nowhere.

Shen Donger and Lian Xiangyu could only stare blankly at the scene.

Though they had indirectly heard Luolimasi's astonishing story, witnessed the top-tier scumbag Garan, and seen the terrifying blue flames and Luolimasi, who seemed to have turned into foam moments ago...

Compared to Su Bai, who was immersively participating in this single-player game, Shen Donger, Lian Xiangyu, and the other surviving players were more like ordinary spectators. They reacted to the plot's ups and downs but weren't as emotionally invested as those who experienced it firsthand. They only breathed a sigh of relief once they realized the crisis might be over.

Compared to the drama unfolding at Luolimasi Hotel, Lian Xiangyu, who had repeatedly expressed his fondness for Number Eight, was clearly more focused on the scene before him. Rather than wondering why a "mermaid" would appear in a nightmare world overrun by evil spirits, he was more concerned about the identity of the man holding Number Eight.

"What do you think their relationship is?" Shen Donger always trusted her intuition. Even though the unconscious Number Eight being held seemed unaware, the way the man carefully cradled him felt... off.

"What... what kind of relationship could it be?" Lian Xiangyu gritted his teeth so hard they might shatter. "This sneaky, shady guy... probably some unrequited admirer?"

"Are you talking about yourself?" Shen Donger was still curious. "Honestly, when I first found out Number Eight was male, I thought you had no chance at all. But now it seems you might not be completely out of luck."

"..." Lian Xiangyu's expression froze as if his heart had stopped. "What did you say?"

"That you might not be completely out of luck?"

"No, what did you say before that? 'Number Eight' is male? Are you kidding?!" Lian Xiangyu's face instantly became a spectacle of emotions. "She... she..."

"His voice is pleasant, but you can still tell it's male, right?" Shen Donger carefully observed Lian Xiangyu's dramatic expression, as if engraving it into her memory. "He also has an Adam's apple."

"No, but... she..."

"Don't worry, though. The person who suddenly appeared is also male, right? You might still have a chance." Shen Donger deliberately watched Lian Xiangyu's changing expression. "Or you could just go over and ask Number Eight about his gender?"

Shen Donger had always seen things clearly. The biggest obstacle for Lian Xiangyu wasn't Number Eight's gender but the fact that Number Eight was becoming increasingly terrifying and mysterious.

The blue flames had nearly burned down the entire hotel and the sea of roses—a power no human could possess. The man who suddenly appeared beside Number Eight also didn't seem human.

And Lian Xiangyu, even if he had begun to stand out among human players, was still just human.

Whether it was when he faced Number Eight in the garden earlier or now, watching the Number Eight he admired being held by a stranger, Lian Xiangyu didn't dare take a single step closer.

At this moment, Lian Xiangyu was in pain—a pain entirely different from being slashed by a blade, yet perhaps even more torturous. The harder he tried to use his rusty brain, the clearer it became to him—

He simply didn't dare step forward.

Even something so simple was beyond him, the self-proclaimed "chosen one."

"Useless." Watching Lian Xiangyu's expression change, Shen Donger finally felt some of her pent-up irritation ease.

She looked at the blue flames devouring the hotel and let out a relaxed sigh.

"Luolimasi... its flower language represents numbness and despair towards life and love, right? I feel like people in this world probably don't understand flower language; otherwise, they wouldn't have chosen such an unlucky name." It was Shen Donger who had mentioned the flower language of Luolimasi roses when they first entered the hotel.

"And that man is called Garan?"

"I remember there's a flower in the real world called Garan too. Another name for it seems to be the longevity flower?"

Shen Donger couldn't help but shake her head. How could the names appearing in this drama not feel ironic?

"Dear residents of the nightmare world..."

Before Shen Donger could tease Lian Xiangyu further, the familiar, almost tear-inducing voice of the administrator echoed in her ears. Judging by the expressions of Lian Xiangyu and the other players nearby, they clearly heard the same voice.

This time, the voice was different from the fake administrator's they had heard after entering the hotel. It seemed to announce that the soon-to-be-burned Luolimasi Hotel had returned to the administrator's control, once again becoming a game scenario under his dominion.

As a result, they were given the opportunity to be formally sent away from this hellish place.

While most players were overjoyed, the figure transformed from the black cat held Su Bai in his arms and watched as the human players disappeared one by one from the nearly consumed garden.

Though half of the "person's" face was hidden in the shadow of his cloak, it was clear he was tall. The lower half of his face, though pale and bloodless, was humanoid and likely quite handsome.

While holding Su Bai, the "person" seemed to do something, as Su Bai's pale, exhausted face and lips gradually regained color. Behind them, the heatwave-like blue flames continued to devour the entire hotel.

"Deceiver."

At some point, a cluster of blue flames ignited near the two figures, and a youth's upper body, formed from blue flames, materialized within the fire, directly accusing the man holding Su Bai.

"Hmm?" The man's voice was ethereal yet magnetic, compelling one to listen.

"Threatened by a terrifying anomaly, trapped in a desperate situation with no cards left, forced to sign a marriage contract with a mysterious entity? Though the situation was urgent, could you at least come up with a more plausible excuse when sneaking in your personal agenda?" Little Fire mercilessly fired off his complaints. "And it actually was a marriage contract! As expected, back when you were... doing that, I knew you had ulterior motives."

Su Bai, unconscious from exhaustion, couldn't hear the conversation filled with unknown revelations between the two. Beyond the overwhelming amount of information, it was clear that Little Fire, one of the Evil Ghost Puzzle pieces, was not unfamiliar with the man.

For the Evil Ghost Puzzle, Su Bai was the most special and important existence in the world. They could have various thoughts and do various things, but their only bottom line was to ensure Su Bai came to no harm.

So, when Little Fire conversed naturally with the man and the other puzzle pieces raised no objections, it meant the male "being" harbored not a shred of malice toward Su Bai.

"Whatever. The situation was indeed urgent, and an uneducated guy like you probably couldn't think of a better reason. Not like our Su Bai, who's about to return to school and transform into whatever... a university sage!" Little Fire proudly crossed his arms, emanating an inexplicable sense of superiority.

As he spoke, Little Fire's expression, watching the man from within the flames, turned serious and solemn.

"None of us puzzle pieces expected that you, the legendary Lord Ghost Witch, have always been... Forget it. This time, we won't let him face any danger!"

The man referred to as "Ghost Witch" glanced at the soaring blue flames behind Little Fire, which were clearly enjoying their feast, then looked down at Su Bai in his arms.

"...Control your appetite first before saying that."

"How dare you!"

"He's about to wake up. Protect him until he fully recovers. I can't stay for long; I'm not free to appear yet."

"Hmph, don't overestimate your importance. Su Bai is stronger than you think—and this strength isn't just about power." Apart from Su Bai, Little Fire seemed to dislike every "being" equally.

"I know." Under the cloak, Ghost Witch watched Su Bai, who was beginning to stir, a faint smile flickering at the corner of his mouth.

Perhaps unwilling to let Su Bai lie on the blood-soaked ground, Ghost Witch carefully handed Su Bai over to Little Fire for support. Then, illuminated by the flames, he vanished, leaving behind only a confused little kitten with golden cat-like eyes.

"Meow?"

Supported by Little Fire, Su Bai gradually regained consciousness at that moment.