After selecting the card, Xie He glanced at the one in his hand, which read: [R Card (Prop) - Beer Bottle Cap.]
[Function: This is a beer bottle cap that can be used to cap beer bottles.]
The audience was filled with disbelief:
[Hahaha, why would a survival game need a beer cap? Hahaha, help! It says "Prop Card" first, but everyone else's prop cards are snake whips, spirit talismans, boomerangs, and magic wands, okay? A beer cap?! I almost thought I'd wandered into the wrong movie set?!
...
Xie He's tone was languid: "It's not like it can't be used."
He silently put the card away.
The room reeked of blood. Liao Mingze had been completely drained by the evil ghost, devoured, leaving only glaring drag marks on the floor.
The evil ghost hastily wiped the blood from its mouth, looked up at Xie He, its throat bobbing, and asked in a hoarse voice, like Yu You's, "Brother, are you going to deal with me now?"
Xie He looked at the evil ghost without changing his expression.
The evil ghost initially mingled among the players, presumably to reduce their suspicion and make it easier to attack them.
But a few days ago, "Yu You" had treated him quite well, and Xie He had indeed briefly considered "Yu You" a teammate.
Will the evil ghost make its move, or will it hold back?
Xie He wasn't sure if the other party was friend or foe, so he decided to test the waters first: "It's up to you, to reincarnate or continue being a vengeful ghost here."
The vengeful ghost hesitated for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "Can I really reincarnate? I've already eaten so many people..."
Xie He looked at him naturally, his tone languid: "I've never died. You can try, you'll only know after you die."
The vengeful ghost: "..."
It remained silent for a long time, as if it had finally mustered the courage, before asking Xie He for a lollipop and then instructing him to recite the incantation for the cross.
"..."
Xie He was somewhat surprised.
He had already prepared for the other party to attack, even having prepared the cross for suppressing ghosts; he was already 100% certain of victory. He hadn't expected the other party to give up on life. Perhaps it was because the mistress, whom the vengeful ghost most wanted to kill, was already dead.
Xie He followed the evil ghost's command: "The three paths are complete, the three and five are formed, the sun and moon are together, emerging from the secluded realm, entering the darkness. Those who see me are blind, those who hear me are deaf, those who dare to plot against me will suffer calamity, I am fortunate while they are inauspicious..."
It was a warding-off-evil incantation he had overheard outside the mistress's room. The cross within the evil ghost grew increasingly translucent, its dazzling white light piercing through the ghost's skin and rapidly cracking into streaks of pure white.
The room shook violently, all the light bulbs flickering, dust falling from the ceiling as if it were about to collapse at any moment.
In the dizzying chaos, a little boy's voice pierced through the air.
The evil little boy: "That day, I chose to follow you. Actually, it was out of curiosity."
Xie He narrowed his eyes.
“I see an evil ghost dwelling within you.” The little boy’s voice was childish, his breath slightly nasal. “It’s awful, like a flame burning your heart. You may be able to suppress it now, but it is also you, a part of you. You will eventually become it.”
“I foresee that one day, not long from now, you will become an evil ghost…”
Dark clouds surged across the sky like the end of the world, the heavens a somber, oppressive indigo.
The boy was nailed to a cross, his pale wrists bound by cold iron chains, hanging limply, his entire being as still as death.
Blood dripped from his robes.
His black hair was whipped by the wind, and he casually raised his eyes.
“He’s awake! He… he’s awake!!” The people before him, holding torches, stared wide-eyed in terror as they approached!
The boy gave a curt laugh, his eyes now a chilling red, laced with a sticky malice.
Lightning ripped through the murky yellow dust of the sky, churning the air. Countless cards swirled rapidly around him, his entire body enveloped in a chilling black aura.
Beneath his pale skin, countless golden runes swirled, yet none could suppress him any longer!
He smirked, his smile exaggerated and unrestrained. In the dim light, his deep voice, like the most malevolent poppy, exploded: "The game, now, begins—!!!!"
Then, amidst the tolling of death knells, came his long, drawn-out, maniacal laugh.
"Aa..."
"You were bound there, but no one could get close to you. Cards fluttered before you, bones piled high, blood flowed like a torrent, and not a blade of grass grew."
The desolate scene of corpses strewn across the land melted into the little boy's eyes. Inside the room, he continued, "At that moment, I felt that we were the same kind of people."
"I really wanted to see how you would get through this challenge. I even wanted to see that day come."
All of this was transmitted to Xie He's ears; Xia Gu and the audience couldn't hear it.
Xie He leaned lazily against the blind box, chuckling listlessly, "You mean I'll become an evil ghost? That's pretty cool. Thanks for letting me know, go on your way."
The little boy: "..."
"Ah, time's almost up."
The little boy was silent for a moment, then his eyes suddenly brightened as he remembered something else, "Right, right, the barbecue was delicious today..."
If consciousness doesn't dissipate with death, it will forever remember this day: the autumn breeze through the window, the cumin-scented barbecue skewers before him, the smoky aroma of human life. The demon's face twisted more and more, its entire body folding up at a visible speed, like a folding chair that had been kicked.
The last layer of human skin was peeled away, leaving behind a clot of crimson blood from an abortion.
After a few twitches, it transformed into a doll that looked remarkably like a little boy.
The system promptly notified: [Evil ghost's death detected. Main quest: Defeating the real evil ghost, completed.]
[Congratulations to player Xie He for gaining 100 points, current main quest progress 80%.]
Xie He read the message: "Xia Gu, I'll cover you. Pick up the doll on the ground and run back to the dorm!"
"Okay!" Xia Gu nodded blankly.
A few minutes later, the sound of locks clicking rang out, and all the blind boxes opened.
Xia Gu seized the opportunity and quickly rushed out of the blind box to pick up the doll on the ground.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
The clock ticked anxiously, and all the menacing ghost players behind him rushed out!
A ghost player's claw suddenly slashed towards his back, the oppressive shadow casting a chill down Xia Gu's spine.
Just then, Xie He swiftly swung his dagger.
The dagger flashed, its sharp blade already slicing off the ghost player's hand!!
"Agh—!!" The ghost player howled in pain, its face contorted as it lunged at Xie He. Seeing Xia Gu had already picked up the doll, Xie He grabbed Xia Gu's sleeve and ran.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
The players all roared and surged forward!
Xie He and Xia Gu quickly went to room 201.
The wall clock in the room chimed incessantly, and the door was being pounded on.
Just as Xie He picked up another boy doll in the room...
With a loud "Bang!", the door was flung open, and the mutated, blond-haired boy lunged forward. Drooling, his sharp claws slashed towards Xie He!
Xie He caught his mutated claws with his bare hand.
His dark eyes calmly met the approaching, howling ghost player.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
These creatures seemed flawless, their eyes like those of someone with cataracts from years of suffering, yet their vision was sharper than a dog's. They stared at him hungrily, drool practically dripping from their mouths!
The ghost player's strength grew with each passing moment, pinning Xie He firmly against the corner of the cabinet. Its dark form loomed down, its gaping maw about to slam in—
Thump thump thump thump!! Xie He could hear his heart pounding. He couldn't help but gasp, his Adam's apple and collarbone vibrating with each breath.
Xie He suddenly kicked the creature hard, then retaliated, grabbing the bedside lamp and smashing it over its head! "Bang!" The ghost player's head exploded, splattering white brain matter everywhere, and the entire ghost fell backward!
Xie He chuckled lazily, uttering, "Wow, bursting milk foam."
Xia Gu, struggling against a female ghost player, glanced over upon hearing the sound.
The boy in his line of sight was violent in demeanor, yet his tone remained casual, a familiar smile even playing on his handsome face. For a fleeting moment, Xia Gu saw Xie He's eyes turn bloodshot; his heart skipped a beat, a sense of fear and unease washing over him, and his whole body trembled.
Xie He swiftly tackled another ghost, then used the momentum to shove down the ghost player holding Xia Gu!
He picked up the strips of curtain that Yu You and Xia Gu had torn during the day and used them to tie all the players together. Xie He narrowed his eyes, his movements swift and efficient as he bound them securely.
"Let's go, to the courtyard," Xie He said in a low voice, his adam's apple bobbing with his words.
The footsteps were exceptionally clear in the night. He strode into the corridor, casting a long shadow in the lamplight.
Xia Gu, trembling with fear, followed Xie He, unable to resist stealing a glance back. In the dim light, the ghostly players roared at them, drool dripping from their mouths, clearly devoid of any normal human consciousness.
Black blood flowed continuously from the dagger wounds on their bodies, and black blood also trickled from their foreheads, yet they continued to roar at them… Were all those wounds inflicted by Xie He?
Xia Gu felt a chill run down his spine. He touched his arm and quickly caught up with Xie He.
The courtyard at night was filled with a dark and eerie atmosphere. Cool moonlight spread down, illuminating the ground.
Upon reaching the courtyard, Xie He, holding the meal card, gazed at the sinister house before him and said softly, “Little meal card, pour salad oil, olive oil, and pine nut oil all over this house.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the meal card flashed.
The oil dripped from the floor, resembling a calm lake under the dim moonlight. The oil at the edges condensed into droplets, which gently fell into the grass. Xie He pulled something from his pocket, something he'd found in the pocket of the player who'd been stabbed.
It was a lighter.
He looked towards the room.
The players inside had entered the game with him, eaten together, slept in the next dorm room. They were either students, already working, or had wives and children at home.
But life is unpredictable.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring—
Xie He leaned back lazily. He slid open the lighter's cap, his fingers lightly sliding the dial. A small flame lit up, casting a faint blue glow in the dark night, swaying precariously in the wind.
Perhaps, let's live for today—
Xie He's black hair fell across his forehead, the hood of his dark gray hoodie tucking it in, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
He casually tossed the lighter into the room.
With a deafening roar, flames erupted, quickly illuminating the entire night.
The ghost players howled a few times inside the house, quickly engulfed by the crackling flames. The flames surged and churned in the cold autumn wind, burning towards the sky, almost licking the pale moonlight!
Soul to soul, ashes to ashes.
The dust settled.
The departed are gone forever.
The firelight illuminated the boy's face. Black hair fell across his forehead, and his eyes held the orange-red of the firelight.
At the same time, his cell phone rang in his pocket, its clear, melodious sound echoing in the night.
Seeing the caller ID, Xie He's eyes narrowed slightly.
Author's Note:
My wife called! (/ω＼)
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