"Actually, before entering Fog Gathering, I was always a staunch atheist."
Feng Xiuxue suddenly remarked with a sigh.
She turned her head to look at Gu Pingsheng, "Even now, I have a sense of unreality. This is clearly a material world, so why is there a space like Fog Gathering that can’t be explained, and why are there those fierce ghosts that come out of nowhere and can’t be resisted?"
Feng Xiuxue’s expression was somewhat downcast, making her look particularly pitiful.
"Doctor Gu, do you think we can really leave Fog Gathering alive?"
Feng Xiuxue’s voice held a trace of confusion, a trace of fear.
Gu Pingsheng looked at her calmly, "I understand how you feel, Miss Feng."
Then, he turned his head to look at this apartment building and said in a low voice, "I’m not a materialist, I believe that existence is reasonable, whether it’s Fog Gathering or fierce ghosts. I think that one day, their existence will be explained."
Gu Pingsheng gave a gentle smile, "As long as we try our best to live until that time, that’s enough."
Feng Xiuxue was about to continue the conversation when she saw Gu Pingsheng already stepping into the apartment. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novᴇlfire.net
She stared at Gu Pingsheng’s back and then looked up at this apartment building, which was extraordinarily eerie and cold despite being under the sunlight, and followed him inside.
If they were very interested in Li Mu’s death, that wasn’t it.
But what Li Mu left behind, the people in Fog Gathering believed no one could refuse.
After all, he was the one who had lived the longest.
Perhaps he knew some secrets, and those secrets might help escape Fog Gathering.
After entering the first floor of the apartment, Gu Pingsheng noticeably felt the chill intensify.
Feng Xiuxue quickly caught up; the two stood side by side, quietly waiting for the elevator.
Gu Pingsheng watched the electronic display; the elevator was stopped on the twenty-sixth floor and was descending floor by floor.
He glanced at the electronic display beside it; that elevator was stopped on the sixth floor, and judging by the arrow’s direction, it would continue going up.
This apartment building isn’t small, and while the two elevators aren’t insufficient, they’re not exactly ample either.
Feng Xiuxue’s spirits were still low; while waiting for the elevator, she mumbled, "I remember, the first time I entered Fog Gathering, Li Mu was there... He was an upright person, and whenever anyone was in danger, if he could help, he would mostly choose to."
Gu Pingsheng also nodded, "I have also been cared for by Li Mu."
"I don’t believe he just died like that. If there was indeed another reason for his death... I will definitely do something for him..."
Feng Xiuxue’s voice grew smaller, but Gu Pingsheng could still hear it clearly.
Gu Pingsheng didn’t respond to Feng Xiuxue’s statement.
He looked quietly at the elevator that had reached the third floor, and suddenly, a very subtle unease rose in his heart.
Gu Pingsheng glanced around; the first floor was empty, with hardly anyone present, yet he felt as though a gaze was fixated on him.
Gu Pingsheng kept it in mind, and just then, a "ding——" sounded.
The elevator doors opened.
No one was inside, as it should be.
Gu Pingsheng took a step forward, stepping into the elevator.
Following right behind was Feng Xiuxue.
However, at that moment, something unexpected happened.
"Beep—— Beep—— Beep——"
The alarm suddenly blared loudly.
Feng Xiuxue hesitated, retracting one foot, and the alarm abruptly stopped.
"Did I... exceed the weight limit?"
Gu Pingsheng felt something was off; the elevator was empty, only him and Feng Xiuxue, how could it be over the weight limit?
Was it a malfunction?
Was there an even worse situation?
Regardless, the best choice was to immediately leave this elevator.
And Gu Pingsheng was indeed doing just that.
However, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a wrinkled hand on Feng Xiuxue’s shoulder!
Then, Feng Xiuxue stumbled and fell into the elevator!
The elevator doors closed.
Feng Xiuxue and Gu Pingsheng both turned pale.
Gu Pingsheng immediately moved forward, trying to pry open the elevator doors.
The elevator hadn’t started yet; if they could force the doors open, they could still get out!
But, whether it was because of quality or some other reason,
these tightly closed elevator doors simply wouldn’t open.
Feng Xiuxue got up from the floor, her face extremely unsightly.
Unlike Gu Pingsheng, Feng Xiuxue was certain there was a ghost in this building.
This was unimaginable before, but now... ghosts in reality seemed to be increasing...
They’re unrestricted by rules, exceptionally terrifying.
But Feng Xiuxue, after all, was a victor of the previous round, confident in herself, but she still underestimated the terror of fierce ghosts in reality.
She had no idea when her opponent had approached her, but when that cold hand touched her shoulder, Feng Xiuxue felt her heart skip a few beats.
Now... she and Gu Pingsheng were trapped.
Trapped inside this elevator.
Just then, voices suddenly came from outside the elevator.
"Wasn’t this elevator shut down? Why is the screen suddenly on?"
"No idea, maybe there are maintenance workers inside."
The two young voices gave Gu Pingsheng hope.
He pounded on the elevator doors, calling out, "Is anyone there? We’re trapped in the elevator!"
Gu Pingsheng lowered his hand, quietly leaning against one side of the elevator.
Clearly, the people outside couldn’t hear his cries for help.
The noise here was completely isolated.
At this moment, Feng Xiuxue suddenly said:
"The elevator hasn’t moved, right?"
"Yeah." Gu Pingsheng nodded.
At the same time, he glanced at the elevator buttons.
However, the numbers on the buttons made his back go cold.
All the buttons turned into the number 13!
"Is this... the work of a ghost?"
The densely packed 13s were embedded on each button, neatly aligned, facing the two of them.
"So, no matter which button we press, we’ll reach the thirteenth floor?"
Feng Xiuxue also felt a bit of fear in her heart.
She was actually more afraid of confined spaces, such as... the elevator right now, rather than fierce ghosts.
But Feng Xiuxue still tried to remain calm; she knew very well the consequences of having her thoughts disrupted by fear.
The elevator was still stationary, but this was clearly not a solution, so if action was needed, what should be done?
After all, all the buttons showed 13; the thirteenth floor, could it be the fierce ghost’s lair?
In Western countries, the number thirteen seems to be a symbol of misfortune.
Because of this, some buildings specifically omit the thirteenth floor.
However, Gu Pingsheng noticed another point: previously... the elevator had come down from the twenty-sixth floor.
Now, all the elevator buttons showed numbers, but earlier, Gu Pingsheng had carefully counted the total number of buttons.
Excluding emergency call buttons, there were only twenty-five numbered buttons in total...
Which means, now there are two possibilities.
One, this building simply doesn’t have a twenty-sixth floor, with the twenty-fifth floor being its top floor.
Or two, this building does have twenty-six floors, but the elevator is no longer the original one; finding a way to reach the twenty-sixth floor could possibly bring them back to the normal world...
So... which possibility is it?