Chapter 223 The Mind Controller

Chapter 223: The Mind Manipulator

While Su Bai and Zhang Yibu were having their after-hours tutoring on the first floor, players who had chosen apartments on the second and third floors also settled into their respective rooms. However, compared to the first floor, which had only two apartments, the units on the second and third floors appeared more cramped.

But the players were not actual residents. For them, the apartments served merely as temporary havens—places to rest, seek shelter, and find clothes and shoes for those who had entered the game in their pajamas.

Yue Zhengqing and Xiao Xiaodie, a couple, chose rooms on the second floor. They had no intention of separating during the game just because they held two keys; instead, they decided to go together to Room 203, which Yue Zhengqing had selected.

Just as they took out their keys and prepared to enter, Yue Zhengqing noticed the player named Qin Yuxuan also holding a key and heading toward Room 204 across the hall.

Yue Zhengqing recalled that Qin Yuxuan was merely a newcomer who had just completed his beginner's game. He was of no use to their quest to clear the game. Even if they tossed him to the ghosts as a snack, the ghosts might find him hardly worth the effort.

So, although Yue Zhengqing made eye contact with Qin Yuxuan, he had no intention of engaging with him.

"Mr. Yue!"

Just as Yue Zhengqing was about to open the door and step inside, Qin Yuxuan suddenly rushed over. His youthful face wore a shy and cautious smile, and his gaze toward Yue Zhengqing held a hint of admiration.

Yue Zhengqing found it hard to describe the feeling, but once Qin Yuxuan stood close, he found himself increasingly fond of this newcomer. The admiring look in Qin Yuxuan’s eyes also made Yue Zhengqing feel quite pleased.

"You’re Qin Yuxuan, right?" Yue Zhengqing, uncharacteristically patient, stopped in his tracks, his expression softening.

This struck Xiao Xiaodie, standing beside him, as odd. Based on her understanding of her boyfriend, he never paid any attention to newcomers who lacked ability, especially male newcomers.

"Mr. Yue, can I become a formidable player like you?" Qin Yuxuan’s expression was one of pure aspiration.

"I’m not exactly the most powerful player in this game," Yue Zhengqing replied, feeling very flattered but still hinting at something. "Miss Sang on the third floor might be even more powerful than me."

"But wasn’t it you, Mr. Yue, who initially wanted to help and guide us?" Qin Yuxuan continued with a smile. "Even though I’m just a newcomer, I know Miss Sang is a very skilled player. But in my opinion, you, Mr. Yue, have been more straightforward with us newcomers."

As he spoke, Qin Yuxuan extended his hand toward Yue Zhengqing in a friendly and admiring gesture.

Yue Zhengqing instinctively shook Qin Yuxuan’s hand, feeling quite pleased as he smiled and said, "You may be a newcomer, but you’ve got good judgment."

The moment their hands clasped, Qin Yuxuan’s eyes darkened. However, Yue Zhengqing, who was riding high on the praise, didn’t notice this. Instead, driven by some inexplicable force, he found this newcomer increasingly agreeable.

"I also think I have good judgment, so I believe... Mr. Yue, you will surely become a player more powerful than anyone else in the future," Qin Yuxuan said, giving Yue Zhengqing’s hand a firm squeeze before letting go.

"Players more powerful than Zhengqing are still uncommon..." Xiao Xiaodie instinctively began to speak but stopped when she noticed her boyfriend’s displeased expression.

"Of course, Mr. Yue’s strength wouldn’t be possible without your help, Miss Xiao," Qin Yuxuan said, turning to Xiao Xiaodie with an apologetic smile. "Even though I’m just a newcomer, I know this game is full of dangers. So... if any of us get injured during the game, I hope a skilled healer like you, Miss Xiao, would be kind enough to help us in addition to assisting Mr. Yue. We would be deeply grateful."

Qin Yuxuan extended his hand to Xiao Xiaodie.

Although Xiao Xiaodie found Qin Yuxuan’s words somewhat strange, after making eye contact with him, she felt that he might just be an ordinary player trying to survive by ingratiating himself with experienced players. She decided he likely meant no harm and eventually shook his hand.

"After all, we are fellow players in this game," Xiao Xiaodie said, even feeling a bit guilty for not being able to make any firm promises.

"I won’t disturb you two any longer," Qin Yuxuan said, withdrawing his hand. He gave Yue Zhengqing and Xiao Xiaodie a friendly smile before entering his own room.

The moment Qin Yuxuan closed the door to Room 204, the smile on his face vanished instantly.

As an experienced player, Qin Yuxuan was skilled at testing the limits of the eerie entities in the game. According to the administrator, they needed to maintain neighborly harmony in the Mirror Apartment. This meant that when relations between neighbors became less harmonious, anomalies were likely to occur in the game.

So, when Qin Yuxuan used his mind control ability on Xiao Xiaodie and Yue Zhengqing through handshakes, he only applied a subtle mental nudge. At most, it would only cause the couple to argue later—hardly a serious breach.

But...

The moment Qin Yuxuan fumbled to turn on the light in the apartment, the corner of his eye clearly caught a glimpse of a mirror on the right wall—a mirror hanging there.

Yet when he couldn’t help but turn to look, he found nothing on the right wall, let alone a mirror.

Qin Yuxuan trusted his eyes. He was certain that a mirror had appeared on the right wall just moments earlier.

"First, there should be no mirrors in the Mirror Apartment."

"Fourth, please maintain neighborly harmony. Kindness fades; malice emerges."

Qin Yuxuan still remembered the administrator’s words. If his understanding was correct, the mirror that had vanished in the blink of an eye must have been an anomaly violating the so-called "rules." And the anomaly had appeared because he had used mind control on his "neighbors"?

An excited smile suddenly appeared on Qin Yuxuan’s face. Although his actions seemed to have triggered an anomaly, the anomaly that appeared near him had quickly disappeared. In Qin Yuxuan’s view, this meant he could still use mind control on other players within certain limits and gradually test the boundaries of anomalies in this apartment.

For Qin Yuxuan, this was an extremely intriguing development.

Meanwhile, in Apartment 203, Yue Zhengqing and Xiao Xiaodie stood in the unfamiliar but tidy living room, looking at each other. Not long ago, the two had been affectionate in front of other players, but now, standing face to face, the atmosphere between them had become oddly tense.