Chapter 24: Whispers Beneath the Seat

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After Mo-Stained Dust, One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers, and Marshmallow and Cat plugged their ears, only a deep, muffled hum remained. Apart from that, everything was normal.

Marshmallow and Cat caught sight of Bai Ming’s vacant expression, and a trace of contempt curled at the corner of her mouth.

Could he really not withstand even this bit of noise? Was his Willpower attribute pitifully low?

She had heard that certain players’ background specialties weakened their Willpower.

And in the Dusk Game, an excessively low Willpower attribute was practically tantamount to suicide.

The mental pollution radiated by supernatural entities was everywhere: fear, domination, seduction—even the dungeon environment itself was filled with distorted suggestions.

Those with weak Willpower did not even possess the qualifications to stand before a supernatural entity. Madness, collapse, and even instant death were commonplace.

And now, in Marshmallow and Cat’s eyes, Bai Ming’s vacant appearance was clearly one of the symptoms of mental pollution: cognitive collapse.

That was when the dripping-wet ghostly figure slowly materialized before Bai Ming.

Marshmallow and Cat became utterly convinced that this free player, Heavenless, had already fallen.

It made sense. Free players had no resources. Of course they were weak.

Rejecting membership in a player organization for the sake of so-called “freedom”? How laughably foolish.

Crackle!

The instant the lights went out, Marshmallow and Cat removed her earplugs. A mocking curve touched her lips.

“He’s dead. He died in the freedom he yearned for.”

After saying it, even she froze for a moment.

Then a faint sense of pride rose within her. She had actually managed to say something so philosophical.

She decided to write it down and post it to her social feed as soon as she got back.

She even felt that Bai Ming had contributed such a famous line, and that he had at least died for a worthy cause.

Bang!

With a dull thud, Bai Ming sent the water ghost flying with a single punch. It slammed heavily into the carriage wall.

Marshmallow and Cat raised an eyebrow. She had not expected Heavenless to be capable of counterattacking at a time like this, so she added, “Hah. Freedom didn’t want him either, so it sent him right back to the land of the living.”

One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers gave her a strange look. “Back to the land of the living, my ass. He violated Rule One. He’s doomed.”

Indeed, Bai Ming had already left his seat to evade the water ghost.

And on a moving bus, leaving one’s seat constituted a violation.

Mo-Stained Dust was quite satisfied with Bai Ming’s fate. “I think Kitty’s line was rather interesting. Very poetic.”

Marshmallow and Cat turned her face away with feigned shyness. “I just said it offhand. It wasn’t poetic at all...”

One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers: “...”

Bang, bang, bang!

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The succession of impacts made Marshmallow and Cat turn her head. She saw Bai Ming pinning the water ghost to the floor and beating it mercilessly.

“Well, well. He can actually turn the tables? He’s got some ability after all.”

Mo-Stained Dust sneered. “Some, but not much. For a Level Three player to manage this is already something worth taking pride in.”

One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers analyzed the situation rationally. “Judging from the fact that he was affected by mental pollution, his background specialty probably trades Willpower for combat strength. Now I understand why he’s a free player.”

“He went mad a long time ago. The mental pollution during the beginner’s mission drove him insane.”

“A madman’s thought process is abnormal. Naturally, he wouldn’t join an organization.”

This was knowledge One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers had learned in his training course, and he was now applying it with great satisfaction.

Of course, he knew that excessively high Perception could also lead to abnormalities.

But Marshmallow and Cat had led him astray, and he had not considered that factor at all.

Hearing this, Mo-Stained Dust nodded in agreement. “Madmen do indeed behave that way.”

Following Mo-Stained Dust’s lead, Marshmallow and Cat leaned closer and asked, “Big Brother Mo, as a Level Six player who also possesses prohibited items, you must have encountered quite a few insane players, haven’t you?”

Mo-Stained Dust replied meaningfully, “I’ve not only encountered them. I know them very well.”

Marshmallow and Cat gazed at him admiringly. “Then you must be the executioner who specializes in putting those madmen to death!”

One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers felt his stomach churn. He was on the verge of vomiting.

Unable to hold back any longer, he interrupted them. “Don’t you find it strange? Why hasn’t Heavenless died yet?”

That was right. Bai Ming was not only alive, he was wandering leisurely through the carriage, with no intention whatsoever of returning to his seat.

Marshmallow and Cat curled her lips. “He probably has some kind of life-saving item.”

Mo-Stained Dust let out a cold snort. “Lucky bastard.”

But what happened next was somewhat amiss.

Twenty minutes later, when the bus reached the fifth stop, Apartment 444, Bai Ming was still perfectly fine.

Not only that, when the residents of Apartment 444 boarded the bus, they completely ignored Bai Ming, who was standing in the front carriage, and instead rushed in unison toward the trio in the rear.

In the cramped space, no matter how sharp Mo-Stained Dust’s samurai sword was, he could not kill ten supernatural entities at once.

The three of them could only struggle desperately until the bus started moving. Then, relying on Rule One, they caused the standing entities to vanish into ashes.

As Marshmallow and Cat bandaged her bleeding wrist, she could not help shouting, “What on earth is going on? Fine, they didn’t attack him in the rear carriage, but why aren’t they attacking him in the front carriage either?”

One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers analyzed the situation calmly. “It’s probably part of the supernatural entities’ killing rules. At a stop, only those occupying seats are attacked. Those who are standing are actually safe.”

Mo-Stained Dust merely sneered. “It’s nothing but a dying struggle. Once the bus starts moving, he’ll die all the same.”

He had originally intended to finish off the insolent man himself.

But since the other party had already violated the rules, he was spared the trouble of getting his hands dirty.

“Passengers, please remain seated. The next stop is Locust Tree Grave Stop. Passengers who are getting off, please prepare in advance.”

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Marshmallow and Cat raised her chin provocatively. “Heavenless, how does it feel to be facing your time of death?”

She had already noticed Mo-Stained Dust’s loathing of Bai Ming, so she did not mind speaking so bluntly.

Bai Ming yawned lazily. “I suggest you see a neurologist. Oh, I almost forgot. You can’t go back.”

Marshmallow and Cat’s face flushed crimson. “How dare you curse me!”

Bai Ming smiled faintly. “You’re the one who called it a curse. So are you admitting there’s something wrong with your brain?”

Marshmallow and Cat trembled with rage.

After observing the situation, the players had long since discovered that they could converse freely on the bus without attracting the supernatural entities’ attention.

Thus, Marshmallow and Cat shrieked, “Heavenless, you’re practically begging to die! Big Brother Mo, teach him a lesson for me!”

After fighting side by side at Apartment 444, her relationship with Mo-Stained Dust had clearly grown closer, especially after she had “bravely” taken a blow meant for him.

Of course, it had only been a superficial scrape. If it had been a genuine serious injury, Marshmallow and Cat would never have stepped in.

Still, she had put on a convincing performance. Mo-Stained Dust had been deeply moved and promised that he would definitely take her through the dungeon.

He had even deliberately exchanged seats with One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers.

Mo-Stained Dust gently stroked the sheath of his sword. “Don’t be in such a hurry, Kitty. Why bother arguing with a man who’s about to die? It isn’t worth upsetting yourself.”

Marshmallow and Cat drew a deep breath. “Big Brother Mo is right. A dead man isn’t worth arguing with.”

One Blade Subdues Mountains and Rivers: “...”

Bai Ming let out a soft laugh. “Have you finished your romantic little performance? It’s time for the horror-movie segment. Listen—doesn’t it sound as though there’s something beneath the seats?”

Marshmallow and Cat was about to retort when she saw Mo-Stained Dust’s expression change dramatically.

The next second, she heard it too.

“I... it hurts so much...”

The sticky, icy whisper coiled around their spines like a venomous snake.

“Can someone... come in... and keep me company...”

What was even more terrifying was how horribly familiar the voice sounded.

Marshmallow and Cat suddenly remembered where she had heard it before.

She had heard it in the short videos she had filmed herself.

It was her own voice.

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