A week later.
Sylvia’s business engagements concluded, and she left Industry City.
After leaving the apartment that day, she didn't contact Lilith. She understood her wariness and rejection.
Therefore, Lilith had a relatively relaxed period. Today, she followed a map on her phone.
Qingyi Street, number 169.
This was the place.
Lilith put away her phone and looked at the building, incongruous with the surrounding concrete and steel environment.
“Knock knock knock…”
Lilith knocked softly on the door.
Footsteps sounded from inside.
“Who’s there?”
A young man’s mumbled voice echoed from the courtyard.
He opened the gate, revealing a youthful, handsome face.
The mumbled voice was explained; he was brushing his teeth.
“Hello, I’m inquiring about the rental advertisement.” Lilith ignored the man’s current activity.
Brushing his teeth at 1 PM seemed odd, even to Lilith.
Moreover, the young man appeared to have just woken up.
Perhaps it was some specialized profession?
Lilith thoughtfully considered.
The handsome young man’s eyes lit up at Lilith’s words; he quickly spat out some toothpaste and swallowed it.
“Yes, yes, yes! That’s me! You’re here to rent? Hahaha! Excellent taste!”
His enthusiasm surprised Lilith. Without even introducing himself, he pulled Lilith into the old building.
Given the low rent, Lilith hadn't expected much.
In fact, the low price was the main reason she’d come.
But the apartment far exceeded her expectations; not merely poor, but… exceptionally good.
A typical all-wood house, with elegant, archaic carvings on the windows. A path of blue stone slabs extended from the courtyard gate to the front door, leading to a stone table and bench under a large locust tree. Not far away was a small pond, with clear water flowing through an underground stream.
The young man closely watched Lilith’s expression—Lilith showed little emotion—so he assumed she had concerns.
He gritted his teeth. “The rent can’t be lower! Even though there are rumors of ghosts here, it’s a new era! You look young; you surely don’t believe in those baseless rumors, do you?”
Ghosts?
Lilith looked at him in surprise. She’d never heard of that.
However… she now understood the reason for the low rent.
“Look, I grew up here, lived here for over twenty-five years, and never saw a ghost. That old locust tree is gloomy, but it’s never caused any trouble,” he said.
Lilith smiled. “The rent for over a year is…”
“Oh, if you don’t want to… wait?” The man's eyes lit up. He finally understood. “You want to rent? Wonderful!”
“200 a month, 2400 a year… let’s call it 2300!”
A 100 discount was quite generous; Lilith nodded in satisfaction. A win-win situation.
“Ha! I knew you were different, not like those cowards who get scared silly by a tree!” He said this with his back to the locust tree.
Lilith followed his gaze towards the locust tree, her expression subtly shifting.
She seemed to… see something with very long hair… peering at her from within the leaves.
The young man continued chattering, but Lilith didn’t react rashly; she calmly withdrew her gaze.
“I’m Aquila Nova! There are four rooms in this courtyard. Besides mine, you can choose any of the other three!” Aquila was generous, but his words revealed that he was the sole resident of this old courtyard.
Lilith didn’t refuse. She carried her luggage to the furthest room, on the far right, away from the locust tree.
After some preparations, the room was quickly ready.
Aquila was a pleasant young man; the successful rental seemed to please him, so he decided to go out and buy some delicious food to celebrate.
Lilith sat on a bench in the courtyard, gazing thoughtfully at the old locust tree.
She hadn’t noticed before, but why… were strange things happening everywhere now?
Oh well, Aquila had lived here for many years without incident, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Just as Lilith thought this, a strange number appeared on her phone.
She looked at the unknown number and answered.
“Hello?”
“Is this Ms. Hollow?” A man’s smooth, magnetic voice responded.
“Who is this?”
A moment of silence followed.
“My name is Damian.”
Damian?
Lilith recalled the name; after Sylvia, he was one of the longest-surviving members of Fog Gathering…
Sylvia’s initial performance had been disappointing, but today, she revealed another personality. It seemed that personality was the key to her survival.
What special qualities did this Mr. Damian possess?
“Mr. Du, it’s a pleasure. What can I do for you?” Lilith was direct; aside from necessary performances, she preferred to get straight to the point.
“It’s like this… you haven’t been in the group chat lately. We know very little about the details of the third task, so…”
Lilith realized her oversight.
It wasn't that she didn't want to share; she simply disliked the atmosphere in the group chat.
While the surface conversations were lively, the underlying tone… was overwhelmingly despairing.
They used casual interactions to mask their inner anxieties, fears, and even bizarre madness.
Lilith had noticed this on her first entry into Fog Gathering: among the diverse crowd, many were on the verge of a mental breakdown.
She recognized this because she, too, was skilled at disguising and feigning emotions.
The constant pressure of unending despair, facing a world where death loomed at any moment, would naturally lead to such a state.
However, Lilith also noticed a few who didn’t show these emotions; among them was Damian.
“I’ll compile a document and send it to you, Mr. Damian.”
Damian was slightly surprised by Lilith’s immediate compliance.
But he didn’t refuse.
“Thank you, Ms. Hollow.”
“Well, if there’s nothing else…”
“…Um!” Damian hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“Is there something else?”
“Ms. Hollow, I wanted to ask… have you… felt anything… unusual about yourself?”
Lilith was startled. Damian’s voice was low, as if he didn’t want others to overhear.
After a moment’s thought, Lilith gave a light smile.
“No, Mr. Damian.”
...
Lilith settled into the old house on Qingyi Street. While she occasionally saw strange shadows in the old locust tree, nothing else unusual happened.
Unexpectedly, Aquila’s profession turned out to be criminal investigation—but not as a regular officer; he was a forensic pathologist.
He used various technical means to conduct forensic examinations, including scene analysis, live body examinations, autopsies, symptom analysis, evidence identification, and special body examinations.
When Aquila first hesitantly told her he was a forensic pathologist, Lilith simply said, "Amazing," and showed no other reaction.
This increased Aquila's positive impression of her.
But his work was demanding; he often returned home in the early morning and woke up around 1 or 2 PM.
Overall, their cohabitation was pleasant.
Lilith sat on the bench, a book in her hands—a forensic medicine textbook borrowed from Aquila.
Thinking back, it had been over half a month since Damian’s contact. Unless something unexpected occurred…
Just then, Lilith felt a sudden tightness in her chest.
Was it time?
She distinctly felt a strange, suffocating sensation rising from her heart.
Thump-thump—thump-thump—
Lilith’s heart beat rapidly, uncontrollably fast.
This feeling…
This was… the Fog Gathering summons.
Lilith reached into her collar and pulled out a silver key.
For safekeeping, she wore it as a necklace.
This time, her limbs didn’t spasm uncontrollably.
She was tempted to resist the sensation, to see what would happen if she didn’t open the gate.
But… reason told her that wouldn’t end well.
Lilith stood, inserting the silver key into her door's keyhole.
As before, the key, seemingly incompatible with the lock, turned.
Lilith gently pushed, and the door… opened.
...
Fog Gathering was filled with chaotic mist; numerous figures stood ahead.
Lilith realized she was the last to arrive.
The previous group, excluding the deceased Samuel, even the peculiar Cassandra, had arrived much earlier.
Speaking of Samuel, Lilith had been seeking information about him this month—not just Samuel, but also the Ruyi Inn in Sentinel City.
But the results were unsatisfactory.
Samuel was reported missing; his shares in Baisheng United were rapidly dispersed.
Even stranger was the Ruyi Inn in the real world.
Lilith couldn’t find any information about it, neither in newspapers nor online. The inn, which had claimed several lives in the misty realm, seemed to have vanished; or, more accurately, it was as if the keywords related to it had been suppressed.
It still existed, but its existence at the lowest level of awareness had been obscured, even erased.
This was the only explanation Lilith could conceive.
“Ms. Hollow, you’ve arrived.”
Maximus greeted Lilith; his attitude was friendly.
Damian had previously shared Lilith’s summary of the task in the group chat.
Everyone carefully reviewed the events.
Most saw the strangeness and horror; a few saw Lilith’s unconventional thought processes and reasoning.
Maximus was among them.
Maximus was outstanding, young and intelligent. Though trapped in this terrifying, bizarre place, he hadn’t completely lost hope.
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He believed he could eventually escape, breaking free from this deadly curse.
But achieving this goal alone was insufficient; Maximus had been observing those within Fog Gathering who were "qualified" to escape the curse with him.
Fortunately, though few, there were more such individuals than he’d anticipated. Several were exceptionally capable, though… they weren’t ranked at the top of Fog Gathering, mainly because they'd entered later.
In Maximus’s view, Lilith was one of them.
Although currently ranked last, her potential might surpass the vast majority at the top.
Lilith nodded in response to Maximus.
She recognized many faces, but few were familiar enough to recall their names and appearances; she knew little about her unfortunate “colleagues.”
“Lilith!” Seraphina approached.
Lilith looked at her; beside her, Jiang and Harrison were also approaching.
“We wanted to contact you in reality, but… Mr. Damian said you didn’t like being disturbed there.”
Lilith looked at Damian, shaking her head slightly. “It’s fine. I just don’t like speaking in the group chat.”
Mr. Damian had asked her a strange question last time: "Have you felt anything unusual about yourself?"
Perhaps he'd misunderstood something; or perhaps… there were things Lilith didn't know.
The group dispersed, maintaining a clear distance between individuals, even Seraphina and her companions.
Lilith recalled Liam’s warning from the last time: don’t trust anyone.
And “Ophelia Noir” had said not to trust Sylvia.
But… were there rules within Fog Gathering that Lilith didn't know?
Then, a change occurred…
Lilith and the others witnessed a door opening in mid-air, a strange figure stepping through.
Lilith recognized the door; it was… the hospital door.
She had spent ten years catatonic in a mental hospital.
“Why is there only one newcomer this time?” a doubtful voice echoed.
Liam stood silently in the distance, observing the door and the newcomer, lost in thought.
Damian stood beside him, his brow furrowed.
“Fog Gathering is becoming increasingly erratic. Newcomers becoming cursed victims, Wei Tu’s team annihilated, Adrian’s team cursed from the moment they entered Fog Gathering. And this time, Fog Gathering didn't bring the total number up to forty-nine? Only one newcomer…”
“Liam…”
Liam shook his head slightly; his expression was unreadable.
“We don’t know, and we don’t need to know. For now, our only concern is survival.”
Damian opened his mouth, speechless.
Meanwhile, the sole newcomer slowly emerged from the gray mist, appearing before them.
“Excuse me… where… is this?”
A gentle female voice drifted from the mist. She was about twenty years old, her eyes bright and clear, her upturned face still pretty, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. When she spoke, her face showed no fear, only mild curiosity.
Everyone was startled, not by her beauty, but because… she was in a wheelchair.
Her bright, gentle eyes looked questioningly at the group.
Though disabled, she possessed undeniable beauty. Her features weren't breathtaking, but the more one looked, the more captivating she became.
And, so far, this disabled girl hadn't panicked or lost control of her emotions.
Her left hand carefully gripped the wheelchair's handle, revealing an inner turmoil that belied her calm eyes.
Maximus stepped forward to offer a brief explanation, given that she was the only newcomer.
His explanation was relaxed, partly because she, while still questioning, hadn't asked many questions.
The group approved of her demeanor but didn't believe she could survive in Fog Gathering easily.
After all… her disability was a significant handicap.
Lilith looked at her and suddenly asked, “Were you in Industry City?”
The girl's eyes brightened slightly. She turned to Lilith. “Yes.”
“Do… do you know me?” she softly asked.
Lilith shook her head, looking into her eyes. “Your wheelchair has the Industry City Third Hospital logo.”
“Are you from Industry City, too?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes seemed to brighten at Lilith’s affirmative answer.
It wasn’t trust; it was the peculiar feeling of a stranger encountering a compatriot.
Their conversation was short-lived; the surrounding gray mist began to change.
Names rapidly coalesced into form.
Due to the twelve deaths last time and only one newcomer, there were thirty-eight participants this time.
The rankings quickly formed.
Liam, Sylvia, Damian, Lena, Dorian, Giselle… six in a row, seven rows total.
In the last row, two names prominently formed at the end of the thirty-six others.
Lilith, Elysia Dawn.
Only then did they learn the disabled girl's name.
She had a beautiful name but not a fortunate life.
The group held their breath; all names had formed, signifying the start of the task selection.
Only heavy breathing or labored gasps filled Fog Gathering.
Lilith wasn't particularly worried. She remembered a rule in Fog Gathering: those who were cursed ones… if they successfully completed the previous task, would be automatically skipped in the next.
And she had been a cursed one last time.
So Lilith's purpose this time was to observe the Fog Gathering members.
Then, the name changes began.
And this time, the first name to turn blood red was… Liam!
Before the shock subsided, five more names rapidly turned blood red!
Lena, Adrian, Corbin Aldrich, Elena, Lilith, Elysia!
“Impossible!”
“How could this be?!”
“…”
Gasps of disbelief echoed; Fog Gathering erupted in chaos!
Not only was Liam, the longest-surviving member, chosen first as a cursed one.
Even more unbelievable was that Adrian and Lilith, cursed ones in the last task, were chosen again!
Did this mean… the rules were broken?
Even Lilith was shocked, let alone Adrian.
The young woman with two doctorates stared in disbelief at her blood-red name; behind her, Elena looked strangely conflicted.
She seemed both fearful and pleased, occasionally glancing at Adrian’s back.
Lena and Corbin, though showing little outward emotion, had lost all color from their lips, indicating inner turmoil.
Elysia, the newcomer, didn't yet understand what this meant, unaware of what awaited her…
The shock and commotion were brief; the second task selection quickly began.
This time, the first name to turn blood red was… Maximus.
Maximus’s expression remained unchanged; he calmly looked up, awaiting those who would join him.
But… another surprise occurred.
This time, only one name turned red after Maximus’s… Caspian Vale.
Maximus’s eyes flickered; he searched the crowd, meeting a narrowed gaze and a faint smile.
“Hello.”
Maximus nodded curtly, but a sudden shock ran through him: “Caspian Vale… when did he enter Fog Gathering?”
This name was among the thirty-eight; theoretically, he wasn’t a newcomer. So why… was his impression so faint?
Maximus wasn't the only one with this feeling; several people only recognized Caspian after he approached.
Caspian himself seemed surprised to be chosen alone at this particular moment.
This was… the first time they'd seen a task with only two participants.
Damian's expression grew even more serious.
Fog Gathering was becoming increasingly bizarre… and that was certainly not a good sign. He felt, instinctively, that something significant was about to happen.
This premonition lacked a logical basis, but Damian took it seriously because… such inexplicable premonitions had saved his life many times.
Then, the final task selection began.
The first name to turn red this time was… Lucas.
Lucas was startled, then stepped forward. Him again… and he was the final cursed victim…
Then, three more names quickly turned red after Lucas’s.
Harrison, Evander Sterling, and… Cassandra.
Cassandra again?
Lucas looked at her. After last time, he’d tried contacting her, not with any ill intent.
Because… she looked so much like Louis; only a pervert would have such thoughts about their own sister.
But… Cassandra hadn’t responded in reality, not even when the group praised her in the chat. She hadn’t sent a single message.
Regardless, three groups were now fully formed.
Elysia silently followed Lilith’s lead; after all… she considered her a compatriot.
Then, the familiar transformation began.
Before Elysia’s incredulous gaze, the remaining names scattered and coalesced into three lines of text, suspended in mid-air.
“One: Bloodless Heart. Survive three-day.”
“Two: Unbroken Bones, Guest from Afar. Survive seven-day.”
“Three: Who combs, mirror shows. Three-day limit.”
Lilith memorized the text.
Bloodless Heart.
What did this idiom imply…?
“Begin.”
Maximus’s voice was devoid of its usual lightness.
With his words, the three lines of mist scattered, becoming a thick fog that enveloped the group.
Elysia’s knuckles turned white; she finally felt…
A primal fear welling up from the depths of her soul.
...
“Screech——”
The sudden braking, accompanied by intense inertia, caused Lilith to stumble.
Though her eyes were still closed, she sensed she was in some kind of vehicle.
“Damn it, drop anchor!”
A thick regional accent barked from the front.
Lilith finally regained control of her body and opened her eyes.
Liam, Lena, Adrian, Corbin, Elena, Elysia, and herself were all on a long-distance bus.
Besides them, there were other passengers.
“Get off! Everyone, get off!”
A short, burly driver shouted from the bottom of the bus.
“The bus broke down! Get off now!”
“What? This is the middle of nowhere! Where are we supposed to go? The sun’s almost setting!” A stylish young woman, clutching a Corgi, glared at the driver in dissatisfaction.
“What do you want me to do? If you can fix it, go ahead!”
The passengers exchanged glances, their expressions varied.
It seemed everyone on this bus… was heading home.
“Let’s just get off. It’s not easy for any of us…” an old man advised.
Liam and the others exchanged glances and disembarked.
Elysia, with Elena’s help, got off without incident.
The long-distance bus was on an old mountain road. As dusk settled, the gloomy, weak sunlight cast strange and distorted shadows through the trees onto the ground.
The surroundings were eerily lifeless and quiet.
Soon, everyone disembarked.
The driver counted the passengers. “It’s almost dark; we can’t stay here overnight. Let’s walk to the village nearby; I think there’s one.”
“What? You want me to sleep in some village?” the young woman with the dog exclaimed.
“If you want, sleep on the bus! Ask if anyone wants to join you!” The chubby driver, angered by the woman, shouted. “If you’re so attached to your precious bus seat, take a plane!”
The woman’s face flushed; clutching her dog, she trembled, unable to retort.
Deep in the mountains, with a broken-down bus on a remote road, not even a cell signal, if this fat driver decided to do something, it would be her fault.
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. The trees, mountains, unseen insects, the dusky sky, the menacing shadows—everything seemed to take on an ominous aspect.
“Um… driver, when will the bus be fixed?” the old man asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t fix it alone. That’s why I’m suggesting the village; at least we can find a phone signal,” the driver said, glaring at the woman.
“If you don’t want to come, stay on the bus. I don’t care what happens to you. Anyone who wants to come with me to the village, raise your hand!”
Given the driver’s words, everyone looked around and raised their hands in agreement.
Furthermore, this deep mountain forest was ancient and primeval, with towering trees that blocked out the sun. The woods looked dark, terrifying, and mysterious.
Even in daylight, it was unsettling; if it were completely dark, who knew what might happen? No one would dare spend the night on the bus.
Lilith and her group had no other choice; if they didn’t go to the village, Fog Gathering would consider it a negative action.
What would happen then was unknown.
Even the young woman with the dog didn't object.
Including Lilith’s group, there were thirteen people in total.
The chubby driver checked his bearings and led them into the woods.
“I only heard about the village from a driver who uses this route. It’s supposed to be nearby, but I don’t know the exact location. Keep your eyes peeled and help me look for it.”
His words unsettled them; what if… they didn’t find the village before dark?
They entered the woods, the light dim and shadowy. Tall trees blocked most of the sunlight; only dappled rays pierced through the branches.
The damp, decaying leaves and branches made the ground uneven and treacherous; the women occasionally cried out in alarm.
Navigating the terrain in a wheelchair was even more challenging for Elysia.
“Hey, is she your friend?” The chubby driver stopped, frowning.
“What about her?” Liam looked at him calmly.
“She’s too slow. What’s this place? Someone carry her; leave the wheelchair here and pick it up on the way back.”
The chubby driver’s tone held a strange, commanding air that made everyone uncomfortable.
All eyes turned to Elysia, each considering the implications.
Agreeing meant assuming responsibility for her throughout the task.
In the real world, the men might have offered to help; despite her disability, she was beautiful and graceful.
But… this was Fog Gathering.
The added inconvenience and burden were considerable.
Liam looked directly at Elysia, but made no move.
Adrian hesitated, taking a step forward, only to be gently stopped by a hand on his arm.
He turned to see Elena subtly shaking her head.
Corbin didn't even look at Elysia; he was frowning, seemingly lost in thought.
Elysia glanced at the group, saying nothing.
She lowered her head, remaining seated in her wheelchair.
The setting sun filtered through the leaves, illuminating her beauty, yet she looked… like discarded refuse in the mountains.
“I’ll carry you. Would you like that?”
A somewhat unfamiliar voice suddenly came from behind her.
Elysia turned and saw that it was Lilith, who had been walking at the rear.
She looked at him; he stared back impassively, without even a polite smile.
But… she seemed lost in thought for a moment before nodding gently. “Thank you.”
As Lilith knelt and effortlessly lifted Elysia onto his back, Liam and the others exchanged knowing glances.
Strange, but still an innocent young man.
Unaware of their assessment, Lilith carried Elysia at the back of the group. Elysia leaned slightly against him, seemingly lost in thought.
“I have a question.”
Lilith whispered.
Elysia quickly realized he was speaking only to her.
“What is it?”
Lilith slowed his pace. “I want to know… what’s hidden in your right sleeve?”
Lilith sensed Elysia stiffen, followed by a long silence.
“Nevermind; it was just curiosity.” Lilith didn't press, quickly changing the subject to follow the group.
“Hey! Is that the village you mentioned?”
A middle-aged man’s surprised voice rang out.
Following his finger, they saw a cluster of low buildings on the opposite hillside, their forms obscured by the dusky mist. Faint, shadowy figures seemed to move within the mist—but the pale fog was unsettling, like a layer of… dead skin.
Upon closer inspection, the village was larger than they'd anticipated.
Lilith's group stayed behind, maintaining a slight distance from the six ahead.
Liam stopped, scanning the group.
“Two things. One, this is a survival task; the ghosts are unavoidable unless, like Cassandra, you discover hidden rules. Two, their abilities will manifest in two or more ways.”
Everyone nodded, taking note.
“I spoke to them briefly. The woman with the dog is Mira; the driver is Tobias; the old man is Leopold. Of the remaining three, the man who discovered the village is Alaric; the other man and woman are a couple, Garrick and Evelyn. All six are from Eldoria City. The bus we were on was also going to Eldoria City.”
The speaker was Lena. Her appearance was unremarkable, but her eyes were shrewd.
Indeed, Lena, in her thirties, was a master of social interaction, able to quickly learn everyone's names and backgrounds.
Then, the six ahead suddenly became agitated.
“Woof woof woof!”
Mira’s Corgi suddenly leaped from her arms and barked fiercely at the village.
“Dou Dou! What’s wrong, Dou Dou!”
Mira quickly hugged it, but the dog seemed frenzied, resisting her efforts. It almost bit her when she tried to hold it back.
Its fur on its neck and tail stood on end; its paws sprawled on the ground; it bared its teeth and howled at the village.
Tobias and the others thought the dog was simply mad, but Lilith's group saw its limbs trembling violently as it howled.
It was terrified.
What had it seen?
The faint mountain mist enveloping the village suddenly stirred; a mournful wind howled, like someone weeping.
The trees swayed wildly; the intertwined branches in the shadows seemed like outstretched arms, reaching towards the thirteen people outside the village.
Tobias and the others didn’t understand, but Liam and his group knew: ghosts were present.
And a… terrifyingly powerful one.
The mournful dog’s howls echoed through the mountains; soon, sounds came from the village—they had finally heard the dog.
Before their gaze, an old man whose face resembled a cracked peach stone, emerged, supported by a young woman.
“Who… are you…?”
His voice was as old and weak as his appearance, trembling as if he might faint at any moment.
“Are you the village head? We’re travelers; our bus broke down, and we need to rest in your village.” Tobias’s tone was grating.
The old village head showed no reaction, but another, harsher voice responded.
“Why should we let you rest? Get lost!”
“What the hell?!” Tobias glared, his face contorting. This long-distance driver clearly had a history.
“It’s me! What do you want?!”
A strong young man emerged, his eyebrows furrowed, staring defiantly at Tobias.
“Cough… cough… Xiao Ban, don’t be impulsive.” The old village head, supported by the young woman, coughed violently, his voice weakening.
His aged eyes scanned the group. “The village has no roads; vehicles can’t enter. Since you’ve found your way here, come in…”
“Village head!” The young man called Xiao Ban protested. “These people are strangers; let them leave!”
Lilith suddenly turned, looking at Xiao Ban.
Elysia, sensing Lilith's movement, also glanced at Xiao Ban, thoughtfully.
“Nonsense!” The village head angrily glared at him. “It’s almost dark; where are they supposed to go?”
Xiao Ban opened his mouth but said nothing more, his gaze flitting between the newcomers, especially glaring at Tobias.
“Please… follow me.” The village head, supported by the young woman, led them into the village. “Bi He Yan. I’m the village head of this Xue Dong village. We… haven’t had guests in a long time…”
His words made the Fog Gathering members uneasy.
His phrasing was… unsettling.
Then, the young woman supporting him spoke. “Grandpa, the ancestral rite is the day after tomorrow. Taking in so many strangers…”
Ancestral rite?
Several took note of the young woman's words.
The day after tomorrow… wasn’t that the last day of the survival task?
Was this a coincidence?
“Stop rambling. Anyone who wants to stay here until then… I’m leaving tomorrow!”
Corbin glanced at Tobias; he sensed the word "death" practically glowing above his head.
“Right?” The young woman looked at Tobias with a strange expression. “I hope you… can leave…”
This eerie statement made everyone uneasy.
But then, something even stranger appeared.
Entering the village, they discovered that there weren't any cats or dogs, not even chickens or ducks. Instead, strange cages covered with black cloth were chained to every doorway.
“What’s this? Do you keep lions?”
Tobias asked, casually trying to remove the black cloth from a cage by the roadside.
“Don’t touch it!” Xiao Ban shouted.
But… his warning was too late.
“Aaah!!!!”
“Damn it! Let go!”
Tobias’s eyes widened; a grotesque woman had his finger clamped firmly in her mouth, causing him to break out in a cold sweat!
The others rushed to help; Tobias kicked the woman repeatedly, but the filthy, terrifying creature wouldn't release her grip!
“AAAAAH!!!”
Tobias let out an even more agonizing scream, stumbling backward as others pulled him away. He covered his hand in terror and pain.
The woman had bitten off his finger!
Mira’s face turned pale; she cried out in fright.
“Damn it! I told you not to touch it!” Xiao Ban roared, grabbing a handful of some kind of ash and sprinkling it on Tobias’s injured finger. The chubby driver cried out in pain.
Lilith and her group, however, didn't see the fool.
Their eyes scanned the houses.
Each… each house had a cage covered with black cloth in front of it.
Could it be… that each cage held a woman like that?
“Please… don’t tell anyone…”
The village head’s voice was filled with anguish. He looked at the group, his hands trembling as he bowed.