Chapter 249 How Could It Be You

Chapter 249 How Could It Be You?

Though Su Bai recognized the hidden dangers behind the phrase "the White faction is weak," he was no prophet and had no desire to assume such a role in the Nightmare World.

"You shouldn't have followed me into the Mirror World," Su Bai attempted to deflect. "As the leader of the Nameless Society, even a minor oversight could throw your subordinates into a panic, couldn't it?"

"Indeed," Feng Ling sighed, rubbing her temples in resignation. "After I snuck out last time and nearly died in the game due to memory loss, those guys found out and bound me tightly to the team contract. Now, every time I enter a Nightmare Game, I have to be accompanied by several people. If it weren't for the fact that the team contract couldn't be used while tracking Qin Yuxuan, I wouldn't have been able to come out this time."

"In fact, even though I was the one most confident in resisting Qin Yuxuan’s mental control, they still hesitated for a long time. But those guys never imagined that Qin Yuxuan’s mental control would be utterly useless in this damn game."

Feng Ling paused, then continued, "Those guys worry too much and underestimate themselves. Although the Nameless Society's Phoenix is renowned, if the Nameless Society only had one Phoenix to boast about, it wouldn't have reached its current scale. In my opinion, even without me, they would still be the strongest player team, capable of achieving many things I couldn’t do alone. So, I’m not some precious artifact."

"However, I didn’t expect the Mirror World to be this dreadful. Should we leave this place? The stench is truly unbearable." Although Feng Ling covered her nose and mouth, the bloody, decaying odor of the Mirror World had already permeated everything.

"Leave? No one can leave!"

Just as Feng Ling and Su Bai were about to exit the reception room, a voice suddenly echoed from behind. They turned to see the ghost possessing Xiao Xiaodie’s body slumped self-deprecatingly in a pile of dilapidated sofas, sneering at them.

Because the ghost’s power was suppressed by the Mirror World, even the blood threads that had bound Yue Zhengqing had vanished. However, Yue Zhengqing’s spirit had already been on the verge of collapse, and after entering the Mirror World, he quickly lost consciousness, no longer having the strength to complain.

"Just like the world outside the mirror, this reception room is the calmest place here. Humans who can’t use their powers are like ants. Sooner or later, you…"

Before the ghost could finish speaking, Feng Ling had already stepped forward and punched it squarely in the face.

"Sorry, I forgot this is Xiao Xiaodie’s body," Feng Ling said expressionlessly, withdrawing her hand.

As she turned to leave, Feng Ling picked up two relatively intact thick wooden planks from a nearby broken coffee table. They appeared to be crossbeams from the original table, about an arm’s length long, and felt quite sturdy in her hand.

"I remember you’re quite skilled with a sword... or an umbrella?" Feng Ling handed one of the wooden planks to Su Bai. Although the broken wood had some splinters, they couldn't afford to be particular in their current situation.

Su Bai smiled and took the plank without a word.

In truth, the reason Su Bai had been able to wield a longsword and a long-handled umbrella during his last encounter with Feng Ling was that when he borrowed the power of the black umbrella, it had an effect on long-handled weapons, even transforming an ordinary black umbrella into a sharp bayonet.

However, under the suppression of the Mirror World’s power, Su Bai was temporarily unable to borrow the power of the puzzle pieces, nor could he communicate with the Evil Ghost Puzzle.

Holding a stick in his hand was better than nothing.

Su Bai also glanced at the shadowy figures in the corners. Although the gelatinous-bodied ghosts looked strange and remained silent, he remembered how desperately they had tried to squeeze through the portal when it was open, only to be forced back by the flames he and Feng Ling had unleashed.

Perhaps it was the closure of the portal that had robbed these shadows of hope, sapping their fighting spirit. Even standing there, they radiated gloom and resentment. However, these ghosts did not attack Su Bai and Feng Ling. They likely shared the same thought as the ghost possessing Xiao Xiaodie’s body—that Feng Ling and Su Bai would inevitably be trapped and die in the Mirror World, and that their prolonged suffering here would be worse than dying outright.

But none of that mattered.

"Let’s leave this place first," Su Bai said as he walked to the reception room door. After seeing Feng Ling nod, he pushed open the door, and an even stronger bloody scent instantly rushed in from outside. "Even in this corrupted space, the corruption isn't uniform."

"You mean the culprit behind all this is hiding in the most corrupted area?" Feng Ling’s tone held no fear but rather a hint of determination. "Since we’re already here, we must go and see."

Hearing Feng Ling’s resolute tone, Su Bai recalled that Feng Ling, like his past self, was a player who had entered the Nightmare World and never returned to the real world. In fact, most members of the Nameless Society had taken root in the Nightmare World.

This wasn’t because they particularly liked the Nightmare World but because there was nothing left for them in the real world worth returning to.

In this life, Su Bai had something to cherish, and he chose to enter the Mirror World because of the commission from the enigmatic Mr. Administrator. As for Feng Ling, she had entered the Mirror World precisely because, as she had said, she didn’t consider herself particularly precious.

Whether it was Su Bai in his previous life or others who chose to stay in the Nightmare World long-term, before discovering that prolonged immersion under the red moon could strengthen their powers, most believed that life in the real world was more terrifying than the Nightmare World—or rather, that life in the Nightmare World held more meaning.

Such players were often contradictions: they fought tooth and nail to survive and clear levels, yet deep down, they were cavalier about their own survival. It was as if their ultimate goal wasn’t merely to survive but to repeatedly experience the adrenaline rush of being on the brink of death.

It was as if only in the moment of cheating death could they find meaning in living.

So, of course, no matter how many times Feng Ling was given the choice, she would always choose to enter the Mirror World with Su Bai.

Realizing this, Su Bai felt a pang of emotion. Perhaps life in this lifetime had been too comfortable, or perhaps the real world in this life had given him many reasons to cherish it, but he had forgotten the kind of person Miss Feng Ling of the Nameless Society truly was.

"Let’s go."

Su Bai stepped out of the reception room. Compared to what the ghost had called the "calmest place," the corridor outside was already corroded by blood, and the swirling blood energy in the air was visible to the naked eye.

In the corridor, two familiar figures lay crumpled on the ground.

On one side lay the real Xiao Xiaodie, who had completely lost consciousness. On the other side lay Qin Yuxuan, who had been dragged into the mirror later. As a mental controller, Qin Yuxuan had not completely lost consciousness in the Mirror World; his arms and head twitched sporadically.

Hearing the sound of someone leaving the reception room, the semi-conscious Qin Yuxuan struggled to shift his gaze. Through his blood-filled, blurry vision, he saw Su Bai walking step by step toward him.

"How could it be... how could it be... you..."