Chapter 57

Chapter 57

By the dim glow of the red moon outside the window, the collapsed bookshelves within the Yi Zhi Pavilion could be seen clearly, with torn pages scattered across the floor. Several ancient books, sealed in ice, bore brownish stains, as if once soaked in blood.

Xiyu glanced around and, seeing no one, crouched down to try to make out the writing on the pages. Unfortunately, the words were too blurry, appearing to be some historical records and poetry collections—seemingly of no use.

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind arose inside the room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

In the silence that followed, a pair of floating, dangling feet drifted to Xiyu’s side.

Xiyu, always unfazed by supernatural beings, calmly looked up and saw a middle-aged male corpse with a bluish complexion, dressed in a shabby black cotton coat. He politely stood up and asked, “Are you Mr. Fu?”

The corpse’s lips were black and decayed, with two scraggly mustaches still hanging on, looking rather ridiculous. His voice seemed to emerge from deep within his belly, carrying an unmistakable chill: “I’m not. I couldn’t possibly be.”

This guy was clearly a liar. Having already been warned by Xiao Yan, Xiyu naturally took his words as the opposite of the truth. Staring directly at the corpse, he said, “It is you. It can’t be anyone else—no, any other ghost! If you won’t admit it, then I suppose it’s no problem if I just burn this Yi Zhi Pavilion down?”

Mr. Fu floated back slightly, resentfully changing the subject: “Why are you looking for Mr. Fu, anyway?”

“I had a friend who died in an unfortunate accident. I hope to bring him back to life,” Xiyu stated bluntly. “Old Lady Yu from Shenyin Temple told me that resurrection requires Young Master Xue’s heart, but his physical body is gone. Only you would know how to restore it.”

Even though Mr. Fu was a ghost, he was so shocked by Xiyu’s straightforward talk he floated farther away, muttering as he turned around, “Impossible, impossible! Young Master Xue has long been dead, his bones vanished—there’s no way to find his heart!”

“It can definitely be found,” Xiyu pressed forward. “Please tell me how. Of course, I’m willing to pay whatever price is needed.”

Mr. Fu twisted his stiff neck with a creaking sound: “Really?”

Xiyu nodded solemnly.

“Hmm…” Mr. Fu seemed slightly swayed, floating over to another bookshelf as his attitude shifted. “The method, well, can always be found in a book... As for the price, it’s not really about that… but—you’ll need to help me recover the ancient texts I’ve lost!”

Xiyu, fully aware this was a scripted challenge, nodded calmly. “Sure. How do I find them?”

Mr. Fu raised his pitch-black eyes. In the dim library, his ashen pupils gleamed faintly red: “You really think you can find them? And if you can’t?”

This NPC was clearly full of tricks. Xiyu answered evasively, “What do you think? What happens if I do, and what happens if I don’t?”

A cold laugh echoed from Mr. Fu’s belly. “If you find them, I’ll naturally answer your question. But if you don’t…”

He suddenly lunged toward Xiyu, his chilling voice turning even colder: “Then you’ll have to stay here… and become my servant!”

Xiyu curled his lips into a smile. “Alright, fine.”Mr. Fu instantly floated farther away, tucking his bluish-black hands into his sleeves. “Follow me.”

At that moment, a system prompt sounded, informing Xiyu that this was indeed a legitimate mini-game.

[Streamer Xiyu, you have thirty minutes to find Mr. Fu’s book.]

[If you fail, you will be immediately disqualified.]

Though long dead, Mr. Fu was extremely familiar with Yi Zhi Pavilion. His flickering figure drifted up to the attic, winding past two empty, broken bookshelves before finally stopping in front of a tightly shut window.

Following behind, Xiyu looked up and vaguely saw three even more ragged corpse-ghosts crouching in the corner.

They were all shackled with heavy iron chains. Even though their bodies had completely decayed, they still couldn't escape this wretched bondage.

Mr. Fu appeared furious. He fished out a black whip from the top of a bookshelf and barked sharply, “My book was stolen by them! Help interrogate them properly and catch the thief for me!”

Xiyu remained noncommittal, smiling slightly. “Even if I pick one out as the thief, how would you know if it's true or not?”

A cold laugh echoed from Mr. Fu’s belly. “Of course I’d know.”

“If you already know, why do you need me to find it?” Xiyu raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion.

Mr. Fu answered irritably, “Because they can't leave Yi Zhi Pavilion! As long as we get the location of the hidden book, I can verify it right away!”

Though Mr. Fu’s nonsense sounded almost convincing, Xiyu lowered his gaze, thought for a moment, and reached out his hand. “Then lend me that whip. If I question them empty-handed, they won’t fear me.”

Mr. Fu was finally pleased and laughed heartily. “Good! Give them a good beating!”

As the whip landed in Xiyu’s hand, the three corpse-ghosts trembled in fear, shrinking into a huddle and letting out low whimpers.

Xiyu asked, “What’s the name of the book you lost?”

Mr. Fu immediately answered, “It’s—”

“I wasn’t asking you, I was asking them!” Xiyu suddenly raised his voice. “Since you’ve entrusted me to interrogate them, then stop interrupting!”

Mr. Fu, caught off guard by the sudden scolding, floated angrily to the corner and muttered with a sneer, “I’d like to see what you can do, pretty boy.”

Xiyu gave him a cold glance before turning his attention to the three corpse-ghosts again: one had disheveled hair and a withered red flower still pinned on, one had a tall and sturdy skeleton, and the last was small and thin, still bearing a childlike appearance... Could it be—they were a family of three?He knelt on one knee and questioned the youngest suspect ghost, “Little one, what book did Mr. Fu lose?”

The little ghost was very frightened and answered honestly, “...I—I can't read... Mama said... it's called ‘The Five Tales of Mirror Lake’...”

Xiyu asked again, “When was it lost?”

The little ghost replied, “The Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month... Mr. Fu was still reading it in his bedroom in the morning, then said he was going to visit his cousin in the afternoon... When he returned late at night, he said the book was missing... Wuu wuu... But we really didn’t take it…”

Even though they no longer looked human, the female ghost couldn’t help shielding the child. “We’re just poor folks, working here at the library to make a living. What would we gain from stealing a book? Please judge fairly, young master.”

“Oh.” Xiyu turned to Mr. Fu and said, “They say they didn’t steal it. I believe they’re telling the truth.”

Mr. Fu erupted in rage. “You—what kind of interrogation is that? Just a couple of words and you’re convinced? Even a yellow-haired brat could handle this better than you!”

Xiyu stood up, slowly flexing his long fingers. “I’ve never handled a case before. Please, enlighten me.”

“Ask for their alibis! If they can’t prove it, make them accuse each other! And if that fails, then apply some torture!” Mr. Fu said smugly. “They’re all lowly wretches—once they suffer a bit, they’ll spill everything!”

Xiyu nodded. “That last part, at least, is finally some truth.”

Then he quickly crouched again in front of the three ghosts. “So, when Mr. Fu went out, what were you all doing? Do you have any witnesses or evidence to prove you didn’t go into his bedroom?”

The female ghost trembled. “I—I’m just a servant woman… I do clean the master’s room… I really did dust it, but I swear I didn’t steal the book…”

The male ghost also explained gloomily, “I was downstairs tending to guests the whole time, but…”

“See! I say it was this stupid woman who stole it! Interrogate her!” Mr. Fu immediately cut in. “Get the truth about my book!”

Xiyu asked, “Oh? And what’s so important about this book anyway?”

Mr. Fu fell silent at once, drifting back a little before mumbling, “It’s… nothing important… just a miscellaneous journal…”

Unexpectedly, the little ghost spoke up, “But Mister bragged about it… Said it held all the secrets of Nightmare Island. He treasured it a lot…”

Mr. Fu immediately lunged at him. “Shut up! You’ve always been a troublemaker! I’ll beat you to death!”

To everyone’s surprise, the usually calm Xiyu lashed out with a hard whip strike that sent Mr. Fu flying, then took two quick steps and whipped him again—ruthlessly and without hesitation.

Mr. Fu, having no physical body, had his soul form torn apart and reformed again and again, letting out wailing screams: “What are you doing?! You scoundrel! Don’t forget our deal!”“Good thing I had a friend who warned me—none of your words can be trusted. Otherwise, I’d be wasting my brains right now, being played around by you.” Xiyu approached him with the whip. “If you ask me, the book wasn’t taken by them at all—it was hidden by you. No matter who I accuse, I’ll lose. There’s no other way now but to interrogate you. You were right earlier—when it comes to lowly bones, once they’ve tasted pain, there’s no secret they won’t spill!”

With that, Mr. Fu received another harsh beating, panicking as he fled into the shadows and scrambled downstairs.

Xiyu chuckled coldly, then turned to ask, “Which room is this guy’s bedroom? And where does he usually hide his gold and valuables?”

The female ghost was shocked by what she’d just witnessed. After a stunned pause, she raised her rotting hand, chains clanking as she moved. “It’s the big one on the south side. He’s the most learned and wealthiest person on Nightmare Island. His whole room is full of treasures... under the bed too...”

Then she shrank back in fear. “But we really didn’t take anything! Truly, we didn’t!”

“I understand. Thank you.” Xiyu nodded and immediately rushed into the target room.

He lit Duli’s torch gently, and the light left nothing hidden.

The bedroom was still ravaged by the cold, with ancient furnishings worn down by frost. Whether it was the cabinets full of antiques or the once-elegant bed, all had been covered in ice and lost their luster, reduced to broken clutter.

After a quick glance around, Xiyu kicked down the screen without hesitation. It crashed into a cabinet, knocking off two pieces of porcelain frozen stiff atop it, which shattered against the wall.

Almost at the exact same moment, the vanished Mr. Fu reappeared in a flash, his eerie voice now trembling. “You... You’re not allowed to touch my collection!”

“You’re already dead. And really, what’s the difference between Nightmare Island and hell? What use are material possessions now?” Xiyu smirked, pulled out his dagger, and slashed through the cold, brittle bed curtains. Then he felt around by the bedside—left, right—and soon managed to pry open the floorboard under the bed.

The female ghost had been telling the truth. Beneath the board was a stash of silver and gold covered in frost.

At first, Mr. Fu panicked. But then he quickly regained his composure and sneered. “That’s right, the island’s empty—taking my gold and silver won’t help you. You’re still going to die here with us!”

Xiyu sifted through the pile and picked out a large, ornate hairpin, nodding to himself. “This would make a nice gift for Xiaoyan.”

“What?! You’ve been messing around with that girl?!” Mr. Fu was stunned. Seeing Xiyu actually take his treasure, he lunged forward in a panic. “Put that down!”

But Xiyu was ready—he lashed out again, dispersing Mr. Fu’s soul once more, then crouched on the floor, knocking and tapping as he examined the area, completely ignoring the ghost’s wailing as he tried to reform.

Persistence paid off—he finally found a floor tile that was different. He immediately struck it with his dagger, shattering the ice as he tried to pry it loose.

Mr. Fu, having lost his only defense, was powerless to resist and finally shouted, “Fine! Fine! I’ll tell you what you want to know!”

But with Xiaoyan’s warning in mind, Xiyu treated his words like air. He pried open the tile—and sure enough, inside lay a thin booklet, exactly as the little ghost had described: The Five Tales of Mirror Lake.

Mr. Fu was completely enraged. “That’s mine! It’s mine!”Xiyu ignored him and quickly flipped through the book under the torchlight. Although it was densely packed with traditional Chinese characters, it didn't slow down his astonishing reading speed.

Sure enough, the book recorded all sorts of supernatural spells and secrets. One section even had a method for suppressing evil spirits circled in cinnabar—most likely the one used on Lord Xue.

In the final pages, Xiyu was pleasantly surprised to find the method Granny Yu had mentioned for reconstructing a physical body. However, the content consisted only of a few strange lines that gave no clear instructions: The item of heartstrings, the item of hatred and resentment, the item from life, the item from death—burn them all before the grave to regain the flesh.

Seeing the confusion on his face, Mr. Fu regained his smugness. “So what if you got the book? You’ll never understand it.”

Xiyu tucked the book into his chest. “Our wager is fulfilled. I’m taking the book.”

“No! Stop right there!” Mr. Fu angrily followed after him. “I’ll tell you the secret! I’ll explain! Trust me just this once!”

Xiyu gave him a cold smile. “Don’t need your explanation. I can ask Xiaoyan.”

Mr. Fu’s already dim face turned even gloomier. He muttered bitterly, “You’re hanging around that foolish girl? She’ll only drag you down. Everyone around her ends up dead!”

Xiyu ignored the NPC full of lies and made his way to the attic where the three ghosts were still chained. After thinking for a moment, he crouched down and used his dagger to rudely pry open the floor tile anchoring the chains. “Go on. You served him in life—you don’t have to suffer under him in death.”

The three ghosts looked at each other in disbelief for a long moment. Finally, they cautiously expressed their thanks. As they began to dissolve into dust, they dropped three familiar ice crystals with a soft crackling sound.

Xiyu picked them up and muttered, “What exactly are these things used for?”

“They’re Lord Xue’s curse, of course... Heh. You really think you saved some kind of good ghost? On this island, other than me, there aren’t many innocent ones left,” Mr. Fu muttered resentfully, still clinging to Xiyu’s shadow, refusing to leave. “Give me back the book! Give me back the whip!”

Naturally, Xiyu didn’t respond and strode out of the Yizhi Pavilion.

The moment he stepped out, the system notification echoed quietly.

[Item acquired: Mr. Fu’s Whip – Can be used to attack all ghostly entities on Nightmare Island]

[Item acquired: The Five Tales of Mirror Lake – Contains all the strange stories and secrets of Nightmare Island]

When luck comes, it truly comes flooding in…

Xiyu glanced in surprise at the unremarkable items in his hands, took a deep breath, and headed straight for the tailor’s shop.

Though he had only been gone for half a day, the shop was now marked by the horrific corpses of two streamers, clearly fallen from a great height, blood splattered everywhere.

Xiyu looked up at the undamaged ceiling and guessed they had failed to escape Xiaoyan’s corridor.Just as he was deep in thought, the female ghost timidly appeared at the door. “...What are you doing here?”

Xiyu had originally wanted to avoid her, but since her warning had helped him benefit from the Yizhi Pavilion quest, he now put on a fake smile like a shameless flirt. “Miss, thank you for the warning. I came to bring you a gift.”

Xiaoyan cautiously stepped closer. “A gift?”

Xiyu generously took out the jeweled hairpin from Mr. Fu’s collection.

Even if he was a shameless flirt, he was a good-looking one. The female ghost was clearly swayed.

“Oh... When I was alive... I never wore anything so pretty...” Xiaoyan took it and tried to stick it into her hair with her pale, stiff hands. “Does it... look strange on me?”

“It suits you perfectly,” Xiyu said, seizing the moment. “But could you tell me something else?”

Xiaoyan was distracted. “What is it?”

Xiyu took out the book. “In Mr. Fu’s Five Tales of Mirror Lake, there’s a method for recreating a physical body. I can’t understand it.”

At those words, Xiaoyan visibly trembled, retreating in fear. “Don’t look at that book—it’s full of dark sorcery! If it hadn’t existed, our island... it wouldn’t have... wouldn’t have...”

Being a stubborn young man, Xiyu chased after her into the darkness despite the dread. “But it’s really important to me. Please, I’m begging you.”

Xiaoyan hesitated, her body uncertain, her pitch-black eyes betraying no clear emotion.

Xiyu was sweating bullets inside, but outwardly he kept his composure and gently took the jeweled hairpin back from her icy hand. “Here, let me help you put it on.”

Xiaoyan, completely unaware of how terrifying she looked, actually lowered her head shyly. Once the hairpin was properly placed, she quickly backed away again. “We... we shouldn’t do this... I’m still waiting for my beloved…”

Xiyu: “……”

Xiaoyan fidgeted for a moment. “What is it that you don’t understand?”

Xiyu glanced around, making sure no one else was there, then stepped close and whispered, “The book says that to regain a physical body, one needs four items—something of heartstrings, something of resentment, something from life, and something from death. I think I understand the ‘from life’ part—probably something the person used—but the others…”

“Whose body do you want to restore?” Xiaoyan sighed. “Death is death. An empty body is meaningless.”

Xiyu frowned. “Lord Xue.”

Those three words were like poison on a blade. Xiaoyan immediately let out a sharp shriek and darted to the corner, crouching and trembling. “No... don’t mention him... I don’t know, I don’t know anything!”Xiyu was now at a dead end and absolutely didn’t want to return to his friends with disappointing news. He had no choice but to press on. “Who exactly is Lord Xue? What really happened on Nightmare Island? What are you so afraid of?”

“So hungry… everyone was so hungry… there was really no other way…” Xiaoyan still looked lost, trembling in fear. “But it had nothing to do with me. I didn’t eat! I didn’t eat…”

Xiyu crouched down. “Then help me. I promise, if danger comes, I’ll come back to protect you.”

Even a ghost couldn’t resist the sweet words of a handsome man. Xiaoyan finally opened her mouth in a daze. “The thing from life really is something the deceased used when they were alive. As for the thing from death, it’s a kind of charm. I heard the villagers say Mr. Fu killed a centenarian and used her blood to make a terrible spell, but I’ve never seen it…”

Xiyu was stunned. “Could it be Granny Yu?”

Xiaoyan’s body twitched. “You know old lady Yu? Who exactly are you?”

Xiyu had already figured it out—the post-death item was most likely the blood charm. Fortunately, Duli had picked up an extra one. He needed to find a way to get it.

Still without an answer, Xiaoyan scratched at the ice on the floor. “The heartstring item, of course, is what the deceased loved most. And the object of resentment is naturally what the deceased hated most…”

Xiyu looked up. “Then what did Lord Xue love? What did he hate?”

“I don’t know what he loved! He had nothing when he was alive…” Xiaoyan lowered her head in fear. “Of course what he hated most were the people of Heishui Village. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have killed them all!”

Xiyu thought for a moment and took out an ice crystal. “Then… could this be the item of resentment?”

Xiaoyan was practically backed into a corner by him. She sneaked a glance and trembled even harder. “That… that’s Lord Xue’s curse… After he died… Heishui Village—no, the entire Nightmare Island was buried in snow. No matter how much we tried to make fires, it was still cold, unbearably cold… like there was ice in our bodies… so cold… so cold…”

Xiyu looked at the ghost girl with pity. He could almost imagine how painful her death must have been.

“After Lord Xue died, the villagers burned down his house… not even ashes were left…” Xiaoyan bowed her head deeply. “To be honest, someone once commissioned a new set of clothes for him, but he never came to collect it… If you give me the voucher back, I’ll give you the clothes. That should count as something from his life, right?”

Upon hearing this, Xiyu immediately handed over the voucher he had obtained from the corridor.

Xiaoyan shyly said, “We’re from different worlds—you’ll have to burn it for me.”

…Fine, he’d burn it. Why act so shy about it?

Suppressing his urge to complain, Xiyu lit the charm with a firestarter.

The pink flame instantly turned into a glowing orb and vanished.

Only then did Xiaoyan cheer up a bit and hesitantly stand up. “Thank you for your patronage.”Xiyu was unwilling to give up. “So… there’s really no way for me to figure out what the heartstring item is?”

Xiaoyan replied gloomily, “Sorry… I really don’t know how to answer that…”

“Still, thank you,” Xiyu said, then urged her, “Now hand over Lord Xue’s new clothes. I’ve got important matters to attend to and must leave Heishui Village immediately.”

Xiaoyan asked wistfully, “Then… will you come back to see me?”

Xiyu hesitated for a moment, then could only answer, “I will.”

Just a moment ago she’d been scared to death, but now Xiaoyan was suddenly cheerful again. She floated toward the stairs. “Then wait a bit. I put the new outfit in a cabinet.”

Xiyu leaned against the wall with a sigh, already worrying about where to find Lord Xue’s heartstring item.

Half a minute later, Xiaoyan floated back down cradling a white robe. On top of it were three affinity apples. She let out an eerie giggle and handed them to Xiyu. “Safe travels~”

Xiyu took them in a daze, then couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “You’re actually kind of cute.”

“Y-You can’t say things like that…” Xiaoyan instantly turned shy and vanished, leaving behind only a ghostly sigh. “It’s the middle of the night…”

Xiyu was helpless, but didn’t intend to linger. He carefully stowed the items, then braved the wind and snow, walking off into the depths of the night.

Even though no one had ever doubted Xiyu’s individual abilities, the four streamers standing watch at the stone mountain were still stunned by how much he had returned with.

Xiyu gave them a quick rundown of what had happened and sat down tiredly. “That’s about it. I think… there’s still hope to keep Aqi from being eliminated.”

Xu Tu beamed with admiration. “Little Xiyu, you’re so reliable. Aqi and I can only repay you with our hearts now.”

“Hmph, as if you didn’t trade your looks to that ghost girl for information!” Duli spat. “Disgusting! You really do like filthy things!”

Roxi, who hadn’t spoken until now, stood up with her hunting knife in hand and walked toward Duli.

Duli caught a glimpse of her reflection on the back of the blade and stammered, “W-What are you doing?”

Roxi was blunt. “Hand over the blood charm.”

This item could be used to track down rare objects, and so far only one had been drawn. There was no way Duli wanted to give it up.

Unfortunately, both she and Su Ziyan were now in no shape to defend themselves. Looking at Roxi’s unyielding stance—it was clearly not up for discussion. Refusing might very well cost them dearly.The red eyes darted around twice, and in the end, Duli reluctantly handed over the blood charm.

Xu Tu comforted her from the side, “You’ve done us a favor. I’ll repay you for it later.”

Duli pouted, clearly skeptical. “I’m hungry. Give me the apples.”

“Later. These are items with stat bonuses,” Xiyu hesitated, frowning. “What we need to focus on now is figuring out our next move.”

Duli rolled her eyes skyward.

Roxi pondered aloud, “We’ve already got the ‘item from life’ from Xiaoyan, and the ‘item from death’ was contributed by Duli. As for the ‘item of hatred,’ we probably need to go to Heishui Village and kill all the ghost villagers to collect ice crystals. But this ‘heartstring item’... he’s already dead—how are we supposed to know what his favorite thing was?”

Su Ziyan threw out a wild suggestion, “What about asking that old lady? Could that work?”

Duli, dreading more walking, protested loudly, “Of course it won’t work! We’re out of blood charms. She’s not coming out again.”

Xu Tu frowned. “Maybe there are other NPCs in the village. If worse comes to worst, we’ll take the risk and investigate again.”

“Wait.” Xiyu, using the firelight, quickly flipped through the Five Tales of Mirror Lake booklet. “The system said this book records all the island’s oddities—maybe there’s a clue hidden in here…”

“Tear it open. Let’s all look,” Roxi instantly agreed.

Watching the three of them so full of energy, Duli collapsed to the ground in frustration and cursed, “What kind of damn game is this anyway? Barely any kills, no score, just running around doing quests nonstop—it’s driving me insane!”

Xiyu calmly said from the side, “Well, it’s a game synced with real-life humans. Maybe that’s how their games usually go.”

Duli lay near the fire, grumbling like a child, “I’m never teaming up with your alliance again—such a scam—”

Before she could finish, Roxi’s hunting knife landed in the snow, grazing the tip of her nose.

“…” Duli sat up obediently and asked, “Need help?”

Admittedly, the content in Five Tales of Mirror Lake was more substantial than they expected. It contained many curses and strange rumors. If they could actually find some of the mentioned items and experiment, they might be able to gain an edge in this fantastical world.

But at that moment, none of them had the luxury to study dark arts—they were all just hoping to stumble on even a fragment of a clue about Lord Xue, the final boss’s, heartstring item.

The night remained deep and constant—no longer, no shorter.

Time slipped by unnoticed.Just when they were about to lose all hope, Su Ziyan suddenly scratched his head and looked up. “I don’t know if this part is useful or not—‘To the west of the island lies a lake called Mirror Lake. Legend says it was formed from the Buddha’s mirror. It can reflect the sun and moon, reveal the human heart, connect the mundane and the divine, and judge the deeds of gods and demons…’”

Xu Tu immediately grew interested and grabbed the book to continue reading: “‘…When in doubt, throw yourself into the lake and ask it directly, and in the end, all will be understood.’”

Duli muttered, “That’s just encouraging people to off themselves. Only an idiot would fall for that.”

“Not necessarily. We’ll know if it’s real once we see the lake.” Xiyu sighed. “Looks like we have to make another trip. I can’t think of any other way to learn more about Lord Xue.”

“I’ll go,” Xu Tu volunteered without fear.

Roxi thought for a moment. “Better if I go with Xiyu. Judging by the size of the island, it won’t be a short trip from Heishui Village to the western lake. We’re faster on foot.”

Xiyu replied calmly, “I’ll go alone. Don’t forget we still need to collect ice crystals from those starving ghosts.”

“Whoever goes, it doesn’t matter—I’m not going,” Duli yawned, staring hard at the apples by Xiyu’s side. “I’m seriously starving.”

Roxi ignored the loli’s whining and said decisively, “Then I’ll go. At least we’re now familiar with the area around Heishui Village. I’m not letting Xiyu map this place alone.”

“No more arguing. I’ll collect the ice crystals,” Xu Tu decided firmly. “I’m not as fast as you two anyway, and someone needs to watch Aqi’s body. The leader’s original plan makes the most sense. Let’s stick to it.”

Roxi looked at Duli and Su Ziyan.

Su Ziyan scratched his head. “I can’t fight ghosts, but I don’t mind watching the body—just as long as no one comes to steal it…”

Clearly, this guy was as unreliable as Duli. Xiyu handed the whip to Xu Tu. “Take this. The ghosts in Heishui Village won’t be able to hurt you. I think you should stay upstairs in the tailor shop. The corridor’s already been cleared, and even if other players break in, Xiaoyan will be there to hold them off.”

Xu Tu was slightly startled, then nodded.

“Be careful,” Roxi stood up and brushed snow from her legs. “Let’s head out.”

“If you’re not coming, then keep this for protection.” Xiyu handed a dagger and an apple to Duli. Without saying another word, he turned and followed Roxi back into the snowy night.

Duli blinked her red eyes in surprise, then sprawled out on the ground in a star shape. “Those two are monsters. Don’t they get tired? So stupid.”

“You’re smart. Let’s hope that if you get eliminated, someone will work this hard to change your fate,” Xu Tu shot back sarcastically, cracking the whip hard against the ground. “Get up. Help me carry Aqi and head into the village!”

Duli and Su Ziyan: “…………”

Xu Tu fully inherited Roxi’s fierce aura and glared at them. “What are you looking at? If you’re with me, then follow my lead! Move!”The wind and snow continued to rage. After enduring the ultimate fatigue and cold, Xiyu had become numb, settling into a strange calm.

He trudged along, following Roxi to the west, each step sinking unevenly into the deep snow, his eyes filled with the sight of the red snow under the blood moon.

After a long while, Roxi sighed lightly into the wind. "You've done well."

Xiyu smiled faintly.

Roxi said, "Aqi is my friend. You and I have only known each other for a few days, so honestly, it's not wrong for you not to help."

Xiyu replied, "I don’t mind. If it’s something you want to do, I’ll accompany you."

Roxi turned his back, his short hair flying wildly in the wind. "It's strange... I feel like I've been walking through the snow with you before."

Xiyu smiled. "I feel the same."

Both were artificial beings, vessels holding the bodies of natural humans, without lives or memories.

It seemed somewhat absurd to talk about such things.

Roxi knew this was being broadcasted and didn’t say anything more. He simply reached over and took Xiyu's cold hand.

They were both frozen stiff, and their grasp didn’t provide much warmth, but that touch still offered support, giving them both a little extra strength to keep going.

At that quiet moment in the vast, desolate world, the broadcast echoed across the terrifying Nightmare Island.

[Brave travelers, the ice box count has been reset.]

[Currently, the number of survivors is 437.]

[Lord Xue has retrieved 89 pieces of bone, be careful.]

The rapidly changing numbers caused Xiyu’s mood to sink.

Roxi continued walking forward and offered some comfort. "It’s okay. The ones who died weren’t careful. Those scaredy-cat streamers are already hiding. As everyone’s stamina decreases, the speed of opening the ice boxes will slow down."

"Yeah, I just didn’t expect time to pass so quickly." Xiyu smiled wryly. "I don’t even know how long we’ve been walking."

Roxi answered, "About four and a half hours."Xiyu blinked his still-clear eyes.

Roxi shrugged. "If you're worried about falling asleep, just keep counting your heartbeats. If Nightmare Island is circular, we should find it in another hour."

"The rabbit's compass has been really useful," Xiyu said with a smile, his eyes unintentionally glancing ahead. Suddenly, he became tense. "There’s a fire up ahead."

Roxi quickly noticed as well and sneered. "Anyone who dares light a fire out here, if they’re not already dead, they're probably not someone we want to meet."

Xiyu suggested, "Let’s go take a look. If someone’s really dead, we might as well check if they have any useful items."

With that, he perked up, taking the lead and quickly advancing toward the fire.

Roxi hurried to follow, whispering, "Hey, take the knife!"

Xiyu turned around, catching the hunting knife Roxi tossed to him with a smile before lowering his body and continuing forward.

Regret. Extreme regret.

As they sneakily approached the campfire, this feeling suddenly surfaced in Roxi.

Although there was only one lone male streamer sitting by the fire, and although he seemed to be eating something that smelled delicious (enough for them to steal a bite), this was someone the unlucky Roxi did not want to see.

Xiyu, walking ahead, was surprised and stopped by the side of the stone. "…Mo Yi?"

Yes, the one eating a picnic by the fire was none other than Mo Yi, whom they hadn't seen for two days.

He looked fine and well, even with a rosy glow from eating, but the moment he saw Xiyu, he froze, immediately looking embarrassed and tossing the meat he was holding into the fire.

Having not had a proper meal for a while, Xiyu smelled the meat and naturally felt hungry, but as soon as he saw what was burning in the fire, he lost his composure for once and took a step back, questioning, "Y-You’re eating people?!"

Roxi glanced at the leg bones crackling in the fire and deliberately scoffed, "That's disgusting."

"It's just protein, a virtual simulation to deceive the brain. Why think so much about it?" Mo Yi looked uncomfortable, wiped his mouth, and said, "What do you want?"

"We’re just passing by. You eat at your own pace," Roxi didn't want to talk further and immediately pulled Xiyu to leave.

But Xiyu stopped and asked, "How long have you been here? Have you seen a lake around here?"

Mo Yi paused for a few seconds, then lifted his chin and said, "There’s one over there, hidden in the swamp. The temperature around it is high, but it’s easy to sink, so it’s hard to get to."Xiyu nodded. "Thank you."

Mo Yi furrowed his brows. "What do you need the lake for?"

Of course, Xiyu didn't answer.

"...Always doing useless things," Mo Yi cursed under his breath, then said, "I can lead the way. I’ve been there a few times when things were calm."

Roxi immediately responded, "No need, we’ll go on our own."

Xiyu was yanked forcefully by Roxi, but he didn’t resist.

Just as the two were about to leave, Mo Yi couldn't hold back his resentment any longer. He gritted his teeth and said, "I didn't expect that after the reset, you've changed so much."

Xiyu turned his head.

Mo Yi stared at their intertwined hands, sneering. "So you're with him now? Did you two sleep together?"

Xiyu felt anger bubbling up, but before he could react, Roxi had already taken two large steps forward and delivered a sharp kick to Mo Yi's shoulder. "Watch your mouth. What does this have to do with you?"

"Why wouldn't it matter? After all, I’ve slept with him too," Mo Yi’s eyes were red with rage, baring his teeth in a vicious grin like a wild animal. "Though I’m not the only one. Anyway… Xiyu is just the kind of person without a heart or soul. How well do you really know him?"

"Enough!" Xiyu suddenly lost his temper, using his hunting knife to flick Mo Yi's campfire away, sending red-hot embers and ash flying.

So far.

He was so angry that his face turned pale, pointing the knife at Mo Yi. "The old Xiyu is already dead. If you keep spouting nonsense, be careful I won't be polite."

Mo Yi laughed loudly. "How would you be impolite?"

Xiyu didn't look at Roxi’s gaze, and to everyone’s surprise, he slashed the knife across Mo Yi's chest.

Blood immediately soaked through the cotton clothes.

Mo Yi didn’t resist. Instead, he fell back onto the snow, laughing even harder. "It seems like you've really forgotten everything. You used to treat me like this too."

Xiyu finally broke down, turning his head and charging into the snow, stepping alone toward Mirror Lake.

Roxi gazed at Mo Yi for a long while before finally turning around and hurriedly following behind. "Wait for me!"