Chapter 353 The Truth Behind the Fall

Chapter 353: The Truth Behind the Fall

Five years old.

The moment Su Xuan mentioned the age of five, Su Bai instantly recalled Su Xuan's past words. Su Xuan had initially hinted that once he completed the "game," he would restore to Su Bai the true memories of his fall from the building at the age of five.

What was so special about that memory?

The memory in Su Bai's mind was indeed hazy. He only remembered plummeting from a third-story window, then landing with his brother Su Xuan, who had even shielded him in his arms. The memories preceding, during, and following the fall were all missing.

Later, all Su Bai could recall was being told by others that his brother Su Xuan had broken a finger saving him.

Yet, Su Bai had no recollection of Su Xuan's injury or bandaging, nor of his recovery and rehabilitation. He only remembered the outcome: Su Xuan's right hand missing its pinky finger.

"For certain reasons, my closest kin had long since passed away. However, in our clan's tradition, every few decades, on a special day, we return to our ancestral land to honor the deceased." Su Xuan seemed lost in thought. "I calculated that day was fast approaching. Although I knew I would encounter some unwelcome individuals there, I still wished the Ghost Witch would pull me back to my original world."

"The Ghost Witch's doll-making skills are indeed terrifyingly impressive, but their sole flaw is that his creations still lack consciousness and cannot grow independently. During my years in the real world, I underwent several adjustments to the doll's body, as a normal child couldn't go years without growing taller. The Ghost Witch's after-sales service was quite satisfactory."

"Each time I needed a body replacement, the Ghost Witch would pull me back. 'Su Xuan' occasionally vanishing for an hour or two in the real world wouldn't draw any attention. So, when I wished to return, I was pulled back just as I had been during previous body adjustments."

"While I anticipated encountering some bothersome people during the memorial, I didn't expect to be entangled by those annoying and persistent individuals, held up for over a day. This meant the 'Su Xuan' in the real world would be missing for more than a day." Su Xuan seemed to recall some unpleasant events, his expression clouding with displeasure.

"Then, something happened."

At this point, Su Xuan suddenly extended his hand toward Su Bai.

"My dear brother, witness what happened next with your own eyes."

Su Xuan's hand neared Su Bai's eyes. Before Su Bai could react, his vision went black, and he fell backward into an embrace. The embrace felt somewhat familiar, but Su Bai had no time to ponder, as he felt his consciousness detach from his body and take a few steps forward.

The next second, Su Bai was no longer on the overcast school rooftop but in a familiar small bedroom. The window by the desk was wide open, and the evening light streamed in with the breeze, filling the air with a warm, orange-red hue.

"Xiao Xuan! Xiao Bai!"

Su Bai heard his mother's voice calling from outside the window. He felt his small body move on its own, climbing onto the chair, then onto the desk, and peering out the window.

What did he see?

Against the backdrop of the sunset-painted sky, he saw his mother returning home after a long day at work. An uncontrollable surge of joy welled up within him.

Su Bai realized he was immersed in a specific memory—the memory of falling from the window five years ago. But at this moment, though he had climbed onto the desk, his movements were cautious, carefully remembering his mother's and brother's warnings about safety.

Why did he suddenly fall?

Could someone have pushed him from behind? Su Bai dismissed this possibility; he had already seen that there was no one else in the small bedroom besides himself.

Was it truly just because he was too excited to see his mother returning home?

Just then, Su Bai's joy abruptly ceased. Behind his mother, who was walking toward the house, were unmistakably non-human entities. Their faces were deathly pale, bloodless, and horrifyingly stiff, their movements eerie and zombie-like. These gaunt figures, seemingly devoid of life, followed closely behind his mother, unnoticed by anyone. Their pale arms stretched out like ghostly claws, reaching toward her.

Su Bai felt his small heart suddenly race. An intense fear rose from within, as if his five-year-old self had already sensed something extremely dangerous was about to happen.

Su Bai watched helplessly as those non-human entities drew closer to his mother, as if poised to devour her.

"Mom!"

Su Bai heard his own childish voice shouting warnings to his mother, who was completely oblivious to the danger. At the time, Su Bai didn't know why he could see those things, but he knew he couldn't let them get near his mother.

No matter how loudly Su Bai shouted, his mother, pushing open the courtyard gate and walking in, showed no reaction. She wore a gentle smile, her eyes reflecting the fatigue of a long day and her concern for her children. Yet, behind her, two ghostly creatures were silently moving closer. The most terrifying of them had a deathly pale face, hollow eyes emitting a cold, eerie light. Its gaunt body seemed made of dried branches, its movements stiff and unnatural, each step filled with a deathly stillness.

Even immersed in the memory, Su Bai felt stunned. Although he knew ghostly entities could emerge in the real world and were the source of various horror tales, he never imagined such terrifying, anomalous beings could originate there.

One of the entities covered Mother Lin Wan's ears, making her completely unable to hear her young son's desperate cries from upstairs.

And the other entity's sharp ghostly claws were about to pierce Mother Lin Wan's neck. The evening light cast an especially eerie and horrifying glow on the scene. The air seemed to freeze, the surroundings so quiet that only Su Bai's rapid breathing and heartbeat could be heard. His heart was filled with fear and panic, and his small body, overwhelmed by intense emotions, lurched forward involuntarily.

Su Bai felt everything spin around him. His small body lost balance. In that instant, though fear had already overwhelmed him, one thought remained clear in his mind—he had to stop that entity from harming his mother.

Without having time to think, his body plunged toward his mother.