Chapter 361 With Gratitude

Chapter 361 With Gratitude

"So, your purpose in letting players enter this 'Rainbow City' was to warn me?"

"Not entirely." Su Xuan averted his gaze, as if his true intentions had been exposed, and spoke with a hint of evasion.

Standing on the rooftop where the dark clouds were gradually dissipating, the brightening sky cast its light upon Su Xuan's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Su Bai's. Although the body Su Xuan had crafted seemed incapable of expressing the nuanced emotions seen in the Ghost Witch's creations, a weariness was palpable in his eyes.

“When I created this ‘Rainbow City,’ I used very special wood to craft a multitude of dolls. However, apart from a select few that hold personal significance, most dolls merely utter fixed lines and perform predetermined actions.” Su Xuan furrowed his brow, seemingly recalling the intricate details of their creation. “But ever since my emotions began to spiral, these dolls, once living mechanical, repetitive lives, started to mutate, transforming into grotesque figures, and the entire city descended into chaos.”

His eyes held a trace of bewilderment, as if he were musing to himself, "This might be related to the materials I chose for the dolls. Although the trees in that forest are inexhaustible and of excellent quality, they seem highly susceptible to corruption by power. Perhaps that's why the Ghost Witch never uses that kind of wood for his dolls."

As he spoke, Su Xuan turned back to Su Bai, stating with feigned conviction, "In any case, this 'Rainbow City' needs a cleansing, so I've transformed it into a game arena."

Su Xuan spoke lightly, but Su Bai knew the process was far from simple.

The mysterious force compelling humans into nightmare games is intimately connected with, and possibly even shares an origin with, the enigmatic power that captures and experiments on the remnants of the mermaid race. In such a scenario, even if an "old friend" within that force could tip off Su Xuan, this "old friend" clearly lacked significant power or authority, perhaps even being relegated to a powerless position, forcing all actions to be carried out in secrecy.

Su Xuan, who once wielded powerful mermaid abilities, was also under the watchful eyes of those entities. It was already a challenge for him to hide peacefully in the secluded "Rainbow City"; transforming it into a new nightmare game scenario was an unimaginably perilous undertaking.

Su Bai couldn't help but glance around. Although the city was gradually receding, it felt as if the very "breathing" rhythm of the entire city had been disrupted, surely filling the human players caught within its grasp with unease and oppression.

Su Bai certainly didn't believe Su Xuan was doing this merely to dispose of mutated puppets.

Su Bai had never witnessed Su Xuan in action, yet from Su Xuan's account, it was clear that despite his persistent annoyance of the Ghost Witch, the latter seemed powerless to stop him. Much like Chi Liu in the Mirror Apartment, Su Xuan, though having abandoned the power of his original race to become something uncanny, had also gained new strength under the red moon.

In short, there was no need to trouble unfortunate human players for the task of cleaning up mutated dolls.

Su Xuan's true purpose in doing all this... must have been simply to see him and offer a warning.

“I feel much better now. The rate of mutation in ‘Rainbow City’ should also slow down. It won’t be as difficult for those humans you once knew to cope.” Su Xuan must have been observing when Su Bai and Chen Xi interacted earlier, which is how he knew that his younger brother’s old acquaintances were among the humans caught in “Rainbow City.”

"However, what I didn't expect was..."

Su Xuan's tone shifted, a flicker of surprise and relief in his eyes.

“I initially thought the Ghost Witch was a fellow devoid of much emotional fluctuation, yet upon meeting you, I sensed some of his aura clinging to you.” Su Xuan’s expression genuinely conveyed gratification. “It seems he still considers me a friend. Even without my asking, he still offered you assistance at certain times.”

Su Bai's thoughts raced, recalling the signed marriage contract, the Misty Shop, Xiao Wu, and even Yao...

The Ghost Witch had indeed provided him with immense help.

However... perhaps the Ghost Witch might see Su Xuan more as a brother-in-law than a friend.

"You just mentioned that child is... a family member who resides within your body and lends you power?" The "child" Su Xuan referred to must have been Yao, who had kicked him and tied him up earlier.

Yet, recalling the other party's "impertinence," Su Xuan showed no anger. Instead, he remarked with great emotion, "That fellow actually left behind such an exquisite doll to help you? That doll was imbued with the Ghost Witch's aura, so much so that I initially thought the Ghost Witch himself had arrived."

"..." Su Bai chose to remain silent, his gaze subtly shifting towards the distance.

For some reason, Su Bai always felt that Su Xuan might not truly want to know the actual relationship between his younger brother and the Ghost Witch.

"Actually, not long ago, I secretly visited Fog Mountain, hoping to ask the Ghost Witch to help me return to the real world, even if it was just to stand far away and catch a glimpse of you all. But I didn't expect Fog Mountain to be under lockdown, refusing all visitors."

“At the time, I was a little disappointed to be listed as an ‘irrelevant visitor,’ but I never imagined the Ghost Witch would still keep my concerns in mind.” Su Xuan’s tone held a touch of emotion. “If I get the chance next time, I must thank him in person.”

"..."

Su Bai felt that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would have many opportunities to meet in the future.

"Why was Honghuai No. 10 Middle School chosen? Both you and I only attended Honghuai No. 1 Middle School." Su Bai tried to steer the conversation away from "his brother's gratitude towards the Ghost Witch." "Why has Honghuai No. 10 Middle School become so special in this city?"

"Initially, I only learned about Honghuai No. 10 Middle School from acquaintances." Su Xuan's attention was successfully diverted. He frowned slightly, lost in thought. "Because I was so disgusted by what happened in that school, when I created this city, to maintain stability in other areas, I subconsciously hid some unpleasant emotions here. For instance, the mermaid remnants in my memory who resented me for no reason, and a certain faction that was constantly searching for experimental consumables for some inexplicable experiment."

"Later, this place naturally became an emotional dumping ground." Su Xuan's gaze swept over the school in the distance, his eyes reflecting complex emotions. "So when my emotions fluctuate, the changes here are the most severe."

He sighed softly, as if wanting to release the weight in his heart.

"But it's all right now." Su Xuan looked up at the horizon, the daylight bathing his face, his expression serene.

"What exactly is that faction experimenting with?" Su Bai finally couldn't help but ask.