Du Shangjing ran as if his life depended on it.
There was not a trace of emotion in Ren Wudao’s eyes under his glasses.
But unlike Du Shangjing’s expectations, he did not chase after him to kill him.
Instead, he glanced toward the direction of the airport, then slowly retreated into the alley, disappearing into the shadows.
Ever since being singled out by Fog Gathering, Du Shangjing had not let up on his physical training.
So even though he’d lost an arm, his physical condition was still much better than the average person.
The long run left his legs feeling as heavy as lead, but he still managed to keep moving.
Soon, he darted into a mall.
Though it was completely dark outside, there were still quite a few people inside the mall.
The coming and going of people reassured Du Shangjing significantly.
Even the noise he usually detested sounded surprisingly pleasing to him now.
At this moment, a female attendant approached, glancing at the panting Du Shangjing, and asked, "Sir, do you need any help?"
Du Shangjing waved her off, about to refuse, when he suddenly looked up and asked, "Which floor of the mall has the most people?"
The attendant thought for a moment and pointed upward, "In the evening... it’s probably the clothing section."
Du Shangjing’s eyes lit up at the mention of the clothing section... that’s where he would go!
Du Shangjing was almost certain that the fierce ghost could only attack him when he was isolated, so he immediately sought out the most crowded place. As long as he stayed with the most people, it would be powerless against him!
"Sir, would you like me to lead you there?" The female attendant’s voice brought Du Shangjing back from his thoughts.
Feeling much better, Du Shangjing smiled and nodded, "Please do."
The two ascended the stairs, one after the other.
Meanwhile, behind Du Shangjing, a little girl holding her mother’s hand asked curiously, "Mom, mom... who is that brother talking to?"
"Shh..." The woman quickly hushed the girl, pulling her away in a hurry.
To her, Du Shangjing might have seemed like a madman suffering from delusions.
Du Shangjing followed the female attendant, cautiously climbing the stairs.
Second floor... third floor...
Such a tall stairway, was this mall really this high?
Watching the seemingly endless steps below, Du Shangjing felt a hint of doubt rise in his heart.
"Miss, which... floor are we going to?"
Du Shangjing stopped, tilted his head, and asked.
The female attendant also stopped when he did. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
But she neither answered nor turned around.
Du Shangjing felt a jolt in his heart; sweat started beading on his forehead.
"Se...server, what’s wrong?"
Gathering his courage, Du Shangjing gently patted her shoulder.
Yet the female attendant still did not react in any way.
Something’s wrong... very wrong...
Du Shangjing’s heart was pounding wildly. He suddenly realized the entire mall had fallen eerily silent.
Unable to bear the strange atmosphere any longer, Du Shangjing took two steps further up the stairs, moved beside the attendant, and peeked over.
That glance scared the living daylights out of him!
The female attendant stood stiffly on the steps, face deathly pale, eyes vacant. As he looked at her, a small section of her left cheek suddenly split open.
The crack rapidly widened before Du Shangjing could even react!
In the blink of an eye! Her entire face was filled with cracks!
The next moment, a piece of flesh slid off her face...
Terrified out of his wits, Du Shangjing spun around and stumbled back down the stairs!
He dashed down a dozen steps before daring to glance back.
He saw the female attendant’s body writhing in a bizarre manner.
As Du Shangjing watched, she tilted her head.
Suddenly, her head twisted 180 degrees! A hideous and terrifying face stared directly at him!
Du Shangjing’s pupils dilated in shock!
The female attendant’s hair began growing wildly, and blood started gushing from the cracks on her face, streaming swiftly down the stairs!
Du Shangjing stood rooted, completely rigid, watching as the attendant’s mouth grew wider and wider, and then... he heard the crisp sound of bones cracking.
At the same time, her body kept growing taller.
Her fingernails grotesquely elongated, glinting with a terrifying chill.
Du Shangjing’s mind went blank.
What on earth... is this creature?
That was the last thought before Du Shangjing’s life ended.
Then, darkness descended before his eyes, as a massive mouth filled with sharp teeth grew larger and larger, until... everything disappeared.
Ren Wudao walked down a long corridor.
The corridor was dark and devoid of light, forcing him to feel his way around.
The hallway sloped upwards at a slight angle.
The further he proceeded, the darker the wall colors became, and an indescribable strange smell began to permeate the air.
The atmosphere gradually grew chilly, eerie, and terrifying...
The walls started exhibiting unusual scratches, and a strange whisper seemed to echo faintly from deep within the corridor...
Ren Wudao turned a blind eye to it all.
With steady steps, he reached the end of the corridor amidst the echoes of his own footsteps.
A timeworn, decaying door stood before him. A stench of mold greeted him as he approached.
Nonetheless, Ren Wudao pushed it open without hesitation.
As soon as he entered, a voice emerged from the darkness.
Ren Wudao answered calmly.
Simultaneously, he set down the food and utensils he carried, saying, "I won’t be coming for a while."
The voice fell silent for a long time upon hearing about Du Shangjing’s death.
"You could have saved him, just like you saved me..."
Ren Wudao’s calm voice echoed in the darkness.
"How is it not the same?"
Ren Wudao exhaled subtly.
"You trusted me; he didn’t."
"Earlier, the ghost had already locked onto his position and... my position. Entering the gap with me was his last hope."
Ren Wudao paused his speech and struck a match, casting a sudden light in the pitch-black room.
The person in front of him sharply raised a hand to shield their face, "Put it out!"
Ren Wudao ignored him and looked directly at him, "You need to be like me, accustomed to the light, Li Mu..."
The person slowly lowered their arm, revealing a face now much paler and gaunter than before.
It turned out to be the supposedly deceased Li Mu according to Ren Wudao!
"Ren Wudao... What exactly are you trying to do... You brought me here, made me neither human nor ghost, just what... are you hiding?"
Faced with Li Mu’s questioning, Ren Wudao did not react.
He turned away and said calmly, "I’m leaving."