Chapter 226 Do You Need Power?

Chapter 226: Do You Need Power?

The apartment chosen by the players seemed different from the initial reception room. Even with sturdy walls and door locks, they offered no defense against the terrifying aura that assailed them. Xiao Xiaodie, still frozen before the mirror above the sink, felt her mouth and nostrils once again fill with the reeking scent of blood.

This bloody odor in the apartment was unlike the sweet, metallic tang of fresh human blood. What invaded her senses was a foul stench of rot and decay, laced with a terrifying malevolence that could shatter a calm mind and ignite violent impulses.

So, as this horrifying blend of blood and malevolence pressed in from all directions, the last thread of rationality within Xiao Xiaodie—already teetering on the edge of murderous and self-destructive thoughts—seemed to snap completely.

The meager Red Moon power within Xiao Xiaodie’s body was utterly incapable of withstanding such terrifying pressure. Stiff and rigid, she could only brace herself against the sink, enduring the oppressive pain while violent thoughts surged uncontrollably through her mind.

What had she done wrong? What had she done to deserve being treated as a trophy and a slave by Yue Zhengqing?

No, she had done nothing wrong at all. Why should she allow Yue Zhengqing to treat her like this? Why did that bastard speak as if she deserved it? Why did he act so nonchalant, as if all of this was her own fault?

As Yue Zhengqing had said, he looked down on her—a mere healer ranked over two thousand. Even being with her was just a temporary plaything, a trophy to show off. Once he grew tired of flaunting her in front of those people in the real world, she, as a trophy and cheap slave, would have no value left.

By then, to Yue Zhengqing, Xiao Xiaodie would be nothing more than garbage to be discarded at will.

End it myself?

Xiao Xiaodie felt disgusted by the foolish thought that had just crossed her mind.

Even if she ended her life here, would Yue Zhengqing suffer any consequences? No, he wouldn’t lose anything. He might even happily seek out that narcoleptic girl and make her his new trophy, his new slave!

She refused to allow Yue Zhengqing to continue living so triumphantly!

But what could she do?

"Need power?"

Xiao Xiaodie heard her own voice from the mirror. Struggling under the oppressive force, she lifted her head with difficulty to look at the mirror that shouldn't have been there on the wall. Then she saw her reflection standing there, smiling at her.

"You have no power, but I can help you achieve what you desire."

The smile of the "Xiao Xiaodie" in the mirror gradually twisted into something eerie. Rationality urged Xiao Xiaodie to step back, to reject the hatred and violence within her, but those crazy, bloodthirsty thoughts surged like wildly growing trees, instantly breaking through the barrier called "reason."

At this moment, Xiao Xiaodie could only act on instinct.

"Are you willing?"

"I am willing."

Xiao Xiaodie had imagined many times in what circumstances she would gaze into her lover’s eyes and say these three words, but she never expected it to be like this.

Heh.

Let everything be destroyed.

×

Yue Zhengqing, in the living room, naturally also sensed the sudden onslaught of blood and malevolence. Covering his ears, which were buzzing under the pressure, he barely managed to withstand the terrifying force.

It wasn’t until the bathroom door opened and Xiao Xiaodie stumbled out, leaning against the wall, that Yue Zhengqing remembered she had gone into the bathroom earlier. Or rather, the words he had uncontrollably spoken earlier made him somewhat afraid to think about how Xiao Xiaodie might react.

Although Yue Zhengqing had tried to laugh it off and gloss over things with Xiao Xiaodie, he knew very well that even though he treated her as a trophy to show off, she was smart enough to understand his earlier words.

This made Yue Zhengqing feel a pang of fear.

He wasn’t afraid of the blood and malevolence, nor was he afraid of the Nightmare Game itself. Instead, he was afraid that Xiao Xiaodie might come to her senses and leave him.

Xiao Xiaodie herself wasn’t important—after all, Yue Zhengqing had no real feelings for this woman. In his plans, he would eventually tire of her, find an opportunity to let her die at the hands of ghosts to protect him, and then let her exit his life completely.

What Yue Zhengqing truly feared was a Xiao Xiaodie who had come to her senses leaving the Nightmare Game alive and breaking up with him in front of everyone!

During the time they had been together, Yue Zhengqing had proudly introduced her to everyone he knew, subtly putting her down in front of others, treating her like a maid, and even telling everyone that this aloof noblewoman, Xiao Xiaodie, was bound to him forever.

If Xiao Xiaodie really came to her senses because of his words and decided to break up with him…

Yue Zhengqing couldn’t imagine the terrifying consequences.

If Xiao Xiaodie dared to do that…

Then she must not leave this game alive.

"Xiaodie, are you okay?" Yue Zhengqing feigned concern as Xiao Xiaodie slowly emerged from the bathroom. "This apartment is so strange. Did you feel like a lot of weird thoughts popped into your head? Some of them might even be false, nonexistent—maybe fabricated by this apartment to make us turn on each other!"

"Mm." Xiao Xiaodie, who had stepped out of the bathroom, lowered her head and responded softly. She then leaned against the wall and sat down. Her voice was still sweet but sounded stiff and strained, likely affected by the oppressive force. "This apartment is really, really strange. If I were alone… if I were alone, I might not be able to leave at all."

"Yes! Yes!" Yue Zhengqing’s eyes lit up. "Xiaodie, you’re a talented healer, but in the Nightmare Game, you still need someone to protect you. Although I said some strange things earlier, those words were… were prompted by the strange power in this apartment!"

"I know. Without you, I can’t leave." Xiao Xiaodie remained seated with her head lowered. Terrifying veins now covered the ankles visible beneath her long skirt, though hidden by the dress and unnoticed.

"Yes." Yue Zhengqing let out a long sigh of relief. "It’s great that you understand."

"Thank you." Xiao Xiaodie, with her head still lowered, grinned widely, a smile no one could see.

Just then, the bloody odor and malevolence in the air dissipated once again, appearing and vanishing as suddenly as before, with no discernible reason or pattern.

As the pressure faded, Yue Zhengqing relaxed and was about to say something more when a loudspeaker sound abruptly echoed from the corridor outside their apartment—

"Residents of Hejia Apartment, please proceed to the reception room for the welcome party. To build a harmonious community, please do not be absent arbitrarily."

"Residents of Hejia Apartment, please proceed to the reception room for the welcome party. To build a harmonious community, please do not be absent arbitrarily."

The loudspeaker’s voice, like the earlier terrifying force, penetrated the apartment effortlessly and reached Yue Zhengqing’s ears. Though the words spoke of a "harmonious community," the tone was icy and devoid of any emotion.

"They’ll all go to the reception room. Let’s go too." Yue Zhengqing spoke gently to Xiao Xiaodie, even stepping forward and extending his hand.

"Mm." Xiao Xiaodie responded softly, taking Yue Zhengqing’s hand and standing up.

At that moment, Yue Zhengqing felt that his trophy's hand was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth. But considering she had just experienced that terrifying aura, it made sense that she would be this frightened.

Yue Zhengqing held Xiao Xiaodie’s hand and led her out of the apartment.