Upon entering the central hall, the shadows around painted an eerie scene.
The sky was already quite dim.
The air was cold and damp as Zhao Yi paced forward, a strange black fog spreading ahead!
[Ghostly Fog: Neutral]
[Note: It induces fear, reducing the player's spirit value, but has no effect on you.]
***
: Here it comes! The Ghostly Fog Corridor!
: Tsk tsk, this fog has claimed many players. It reduces their spirit value, so you can't linger too long!
: I remember, deep within the fog, there's a room with a Weeping Ghost. Seems like there's some side quest there.
: Right! But it's not just one ghost there; there's a Door-Opening Ghost too. Newbies can easily die there!
: Hiss—last time Old Zhang told me he died in the Door-Opening Ghost trap at Colossus Hospital!
***
Without hesitation, Zhao Yi stepped into the Ghostly Fog Corridor.
As soon as he entered, he felt his vision obscured and concealed.
Whispers began to echo around him.
Mysterious, cryptic.
These voices had a certain mental pollution.
But clearly, they were useless against Zhao Yi.
Because,
Long ago, Zhao Yi could hear countless terrifying whispers every day!
From the moment he woke up until he fell asleep.
Never a moment of peace!
Those voices were far more extreme than the whispers he heard now!
Each carried intense malice!
Zhao Yi calmly walked through the fog.
It felt familiar.
Like returning home.
The narrow corridor twisted, about three hundred meters long.
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At the end was a staircase.
But as Zhao Yi reached halfway, a faint sobbing sound echoed in his ears...
[Side Quest Triggered: Help the Weeping Ghost Fulfill Its Wish]
Zhao Yi followed the sound, a scalpel somehow already in his hand.
He arrived at Room 1007.
The sobbing came from inside.
The paint on the wooden door was peeling, leaving mottled marks.
Zhao Yi reached out, grasped the doorknob, and tried to turn it.
It wasn't locked.
***
Everyone in the live streaming room held their breath.
They knew that once Zhao Yi opened the door...
He would die!
In those few seconds, they felt like years had passed.
Holding their breath, fully focused.
: Huh?
: Why didn't he... open the door?
: Wow! So cautious?
***
In the end, Zhao Yi chose not to push the door open.
He stepped back a few paces, his gaze falling on the door.
[Door: Extremely Dangerous]
[Note: Can be destroyed]
Simple data.
Gave Zhao Yi an idea.
He took out his scalpel, gestured at the door a couple of times.
Then suddenly plunged the knife into the wooden door!
A piercing scream erupted from behind the door!
The sound overwhelmed the Weeping Ghost's cries!
One stab after another...
No one knew how many times he stabbed.
Zhao Yi's hollow expression, combined with the perfectly timed shadows and his precise, ruthless stabbing motion, sent chills down the spines of the players watching in the live streaming room.
***
: Damn... Is this newbie a bit too fierce?
: I'm even starting to worry about the hospital director...
: Motherfucker, if I ever meet him, I'd better be careful... I think he's a madman!
Yang Tao: There's something odd about this newbie. Under the dual stimuli of the Ghostly Fog and the Weeping Ghost's cries, his spirit didn't drop at all!
: Holy shit? Really! His spirit value is still 101?!
***
Finally, Zhao Yi received another notification.
[You have slain the Door-Opening Ghost]
[Your Soul Weapon has been enhanced]
Zhao Yi looked at the scalpel in his hand.
No obvious changes.
Clearly, the enhancement was minimal.
But even a little is better than nothing.
Blood seeped through the cracks in the door, and the door before Zhao Yi had shifted from dangerous to neutral. Only then did he push it open and enter.
The Weeping Ghost was a little boy.
He cowered in the corner, trembling as he watched Zhao Yi enter with a knife in hand!
He had seen everything just now!
"Don't kill me... don't kill me!"
The Weeping Ghost screamed in terror!
His proudest attack method was completely ineffective against Zhao Yi!
Zhao Yi approached the Weeping Ghost with the knife.
Squatted down,
Reached out,
Gently patted the Weeping Ghost's head.
***
In the live streaming room, players saw this heartwarming scene and couldn't help but sigh.
Even someone so decisive and ruthless has a gentle side!
Hong Ying: His approach is correct. First intimidate the specter, then soothe it, to establish a trust relationship with the specter, which is crucial for completing the side quest!
: Whoa?! Goddess Hong Ying is here too!
: Goddess, can I have your autograph?
Hong Ying: Many skilled newbies have entered the Bone Zone this year. I just came from another live stream of a newbie Chubby Kid, who cleared the "Hunter's Game" in just forty-six minutes, breaking a three-year record!
Hong Ying: This newbie named Zhao Yi is not simple either. Let's see what this side quest is about.
***
The Weeping Ghost, whose head Zhao Yi was patting, gradually calmed down.
He was no longer as afraid as before.
"You're not here to kill me, right?"
The Weeping Ghost muttered to himself.
"I've been here so long, and finally someone has come to help me."
Zhao Yi smiled warmly, continuing to pat his head.
The Weeping Ghost completely relaxed, starting to ramble about his story—
"Back then, my mom fell seriously ill..."
Zhao Yi gripped the scalpel tighter, slowly applying pressure.
"This hospital told me they could save my mom, but it required a huge medical fee..."
Zhao Yi shifted slightly, adjusting his posture.
Perfect for exerting force.
"We've always been poor..."
The Weeping Ghost rambled, lost in past memories.
At that moment!
Zhao Yi suddenly struck!
Slash—
Crushing!
With just one strike, he severed the Weeping Ghost's head!
Immediately,
Zhao Yi continued to stab the Weeping Ghost's head frantically!
Blood splattered!
He wiped the blood off his face and exhaled.
"It's safe now." He said to himself.
Everyone: ???
***
In the live streaming room.
: ...I'm stunned!
: Skipping dialogue through physical means, impressive!
: But now, without key information, he can't complete the side quest!
: Goddess Hong Ying's analysis was in vain. This guy doesn't play by the rules!
***
While everyone chattered, Zhao Yi remained focused.
The Weeping Ghost was a medium-level threat.
This meant the ghost had some means of inflicting significant harm on him.
To ensure his own safety.
Zhao Yi decided to kill the Weeping Ghost directly.
As for the side quest, it wasn't within Zhao Yi's consideration.
The Weeping Ghost died by Zhao Yi's hand, and the blood on the scalpel became noticeably thicker.
Now, blood dripped from the tip every two or three seconds onto the floor.
After killing the Weeping Ghost, Zhao Yi searched the room.
He found a diary.
Flipping through it briefly.
It was the Weeping Ghost's diary.
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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan