Chapter 58

Chapter 58

The situation around him was as complicated as spider webs, but Xiyu's state of mind remained relatively simple.

Although he had lost his memory, relying on the fragmented pieces he could recall, he was sure that he and Roxi had once shared a deep bond. Even though the logic didn't make sense, feelings couldn’t lie.

So, Xiyu clearly knew: he cared about the man from his past, and he also cared about Roxi. He believed they were the same person, which is why he willingly joined this hopeless competition, staying by Roxi’s side to protect him and his friends.

But with Mo Yi’s repeated appearances and the things he said today, it really pushed Xiyu to a point where he had no defense.

But... why defend himself?

Xiyu hadn’t fully sorted through his feelings. Perhaps it was simply that he didn’t know how to face Roxi’s eyes.

As he walked quickly, feeling increasingly frustrated, Roxi finally caught up from behind, blocking his path and saying, “I told you to wait for me. Why are you running so fast?”

Xiyu kept a stiff face and stepped around him, continuing to walk.

Roxi followed quickly: “What’s wrong? Got angry just because of a few words?”

Xiyu hesitated, then finally answered, “He talks too much.”

Roxi kept walking steadily, not commenting.

Xiyu looked at his usual calm expression and couldn’t help but frown, asking impulsively, “You don’t care?”

At that moment, Roxi had no hint of a smile, but there was no anger either. He only responded with a question: “Do you think I should care?”

Xiyu pressed his lips together, his gaze dimming bit by bit. He lowered his head and walked with difficulty, saying nothing more.

At this moment, the surface of the snowfield ahead began to show subtle changes. It seemed the legendary swamp was close, and it wasn’t the right time for a heart-to-heart conversation.

Roxi took a deep breath, walked past Xiyu, and grabbed the hunting knife, using it as a makeshift pole to probe the path. He walked ahead, saying, “Stay close to me. If you accidentally step into the wetland and sink, don’t panic.”

Xiyu grumbled in response, acknowledging him.

Roxi had intended to look back at him, but thinking about the live broadcast and the fact that Bai Qi was still missing, he furrowed his brow, suppressing his restless thoughts, and refocused on the frustrating game.

Although Mo Yi’s attitude had been bad, he hadn’t lied. The temperature in the swamp area of the snowfield had clearly risen, and the entire ground was covered with wet, soggy mud—dangerous and unpredictable. It was hard to tell which step would lead to trouble.

Additionally, their skin had already been badly frostbitten in the extreme cold. Now, encountering warmth, the itch and pain added to their discomfort, making it nearly unbearable.Roxi led the way, confirming the direction with the compass again: "That's right, we’ve reached a place 100 kilometers west of Blackwater Village. Based on the map’s scale, this should be the edge of the area, and Mirror Lake should be nearby."

Xiyu tried to muster some energy, looking around at the dark, tall grass. "I keep hearing strange noises."

"After all, it's warm here, with water and plants. There are probably animals around," Roxi said, using his hunting knife to clear the way. Struggling through, he couldn't help but curse. "Soaked through, this is really a hassle!"

Xiyu couldn't help but smile bitterly. Their boots had already been thoroughly wet when they crossed the snowfield, and now with the muddy water, each step felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, exhausting them physically.

Just as he was starting to worry, something suddenly shot out from the tall grass, wrapping around his leg and squeezing into his boot.

Xiyu's sharp senses made his face change. He quickly grabbed Roxi's arm, then felt a sharp pain in his ankle.

Roxi asked, confused, "What happened?"

Xiyu frowned, whispering, "A snake..."

Roxi, who had been looking for a path, immediately turned around. He crouched and felt along Xiyu’s calf, then yanked the culprit out and sliced it into three pieces with one strike. He then said seriously, "I'll carry you. Find a place to check it."

The faint, continuous pain made Xiyu feel uneasy, but he stubbornly refused, "I’m fine. I can keep going."

"Stop pretending," Roxi swore. "If this snake is poisonous, any movement will speed up the blood circulation... then who am I supposed to save? You or Bai Qi?"

It was difficult to examine the wound in the darkness, and Xiyu knew he was right. Reluctantly, he climbed onto Roxi's broad and sturdy back, who then hoisted him up and kept moving forward.

Navigating through the swamp while carrying such a burden was not something most men could endure.

Xiyu stayed quietly for a while, but then couldn't help reaching up to touch Roxi's neck, feeling beads of sweat. His already restless heart became even more chaotic. He suddenly asked, "If I really get eliminated, would you save me or Bai Qi?"

Roxi's breathing was heavier than usual, but he didn't answer.

Xiyu smiled instead, "I thought you’d say Bai Qi."

Roxi adjusted Xiyu on his back. "Do you want me to choose you?"

Xiyu was blunt: "I hope you do."

Roxi was about to say something, but Xiyu interrupted him, "But I don’t need you to. As long as you can take care of yourself, that’s enough."

"Goddamn it..." Roxi started cursing again. "You always say I’m arrogant, but I think you’re the arrogant one."Xiyu gently supported his shoulder, keeping a faint smile, and his mood finally improved, not as bad as when he had met Mo Yi.

After an hour of struggling, Roxi finally found the legendary Mirror Lake while carrying the injured Xiyu.

They didn’t need to confirm anything further. With just a fire lit, they could see the bright reflection of the lake's surface like a mirror, knowing they had arrived at the right place.

Xiyu, in pain, finally took off his wet boots by the fire and found two small bite marks on his ankle, which were slightly bruised.

Roxi returned with water, helping him clean the bloodstains. He even knelt down on one knee, holding Xiyu's calf and began to suck at the wound.

Xiyu instinctively recoiled, "It might really be poisonous. Be careful, you could get poisoned too."

Roxi yanked his leg back harshly, completely ignoring Xiyu's concerns.

The warm, dry lips on his cold calf made Xiyu feel an uncomfortable, out-of-place sensation. He silently turned his head and endured it.

"Being poisoned together would be fine. At least we'd die on the same day, same month, same year, and not have to hear your nonsense about choosing between your mother and wife if they both fall in the water," Roxi spat two mouthfuls of bloody spit onto the ground. As Xiyu’s wound began to redden, he finally sighed in relief. "It should be fine. Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Xiyu responded, "I feel uneasy inside."

Roxi paused, then asked, "Is it because of what Mo Yi said? Do you think what he said wasn't the real you, or is it because you feel embarrassed with me here?"

Xiyu pressed his lips together, and after a moment, he replied, "It’s both."

"That’s not the same," Roxi said as he wiped his knife with his sleeve, coldly scoffing. "I really can’t figure you out. Sometimes you don't hide a single word, and other times you almost suffocate others with silence."

Xiyu, already displeased, retorted, "I don’t care whether what he said is true or not, I just don’t want you to hear it."

Roxi raised his eyes, noticing that Xiyu's face had turned pale from anger, and couldn't help but smile faintly. "Actually, I don't believe a word of it. I just thought his mouth was a bit too much. I only believe what I see with my own eyes. You're not that kind of person."

Xiyu's eyes widened slightly, and the negative emotions in them began to fade.

"With the audience watching, everything you say or do feels like a performance," Roxi said, putting down the knife. "So I didn’t want to bring this up during the live stream, but I couldn't help but feel a little smug about it."

Xiyu froze for a moment. "What are you smug about?""I mean..." Roxi gradually leaned closer to him. "Do you really like me that much?"

Xiyu's throat tightened. "I..."

Roxi chuckled bitterly. "I didn’t expect someone like me to have an angel thinking about me. No wonder I’m always unlucky; it turns out all my luck is here."

Xiyu, unfamiliar with developing intimate relationships, often relied on his instincts. He responded without thinking, "Don’t say that about yourself. You're better than others."

Roxi continued with a mischievous grin, asking a question that hit home: "You can say that now, but what if one day you find out I’m not the person you’re looking for?"

Xiyu blinked slowly, his beautiful eyes not giving an immediate answer. Instead, he suddenly leaned in and gently kissed Roxi's forehead. The kiss was lighter than a butterfly resting on a petal. He then immediately straightened up and quietly stared into Roxi's eyes.

In fact, the personal lives of the hosts at Yuntai were not as simple as they appeared, hidden away from the cameras.

Someone like Roxi, who had made it big against the odds, often had sweet, cute people trying to cling to him for protection. He had seen all kinds of subtle flirtation and didn’t find them interesting.

Perhaps due to his distaste for the technology related to artificial humans, he even felt uncomfortable with the so-called "correct beauty."

But Xiyu was different. From the beginning, Roxi had found him pleasing, and his temperament often matched his own. It was as if Xiyu had foolishly attached himself to Roxi, constantly appearing by his side.

Living together and teaming up later was just a matter of coincidence and natural progression.

Until this moment, with that childish, playful kiss, which blossomed like a tiny flower bud, sending the pollen of ambiguity everywhere. It made Roxi’s scattered feelings suddenly fall into place, turning into an undeniable fact: he had become interested in the most luxurious thing, and had begun to expect emotions.

For an artificial human host, it was like a beggar on the street gazing up at towering skyscrapers, and in the end, it would only lead to pain.

Caught in a shameful struggle of rationality, Roxi’s heart lingered for a moment. He then mockingly scolded himself for being indecisive, and with no further thought, he directly gripped Xiyu’s injured hand firmly.

Xiyu remained quiet and focused, returning his gaze.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Unfortunately, just when their relationship seemed to be progressing, the quiet Mirror Lake suddenly began to swirl.

The two men, struck by an overwhelming sense of danger, immediately snapped out of their reverie. They quickly put on their boots, kicked out the fire, and retreated into the shadows, holding their breath.

They watched as the whirlpool grew larger and larger, looking mysterious under the crimson moonlight. The lake water surged with the whirlpool, creeping up the muddy shore and slowly pushing something out. Moments later, the water returned to calm.

Roxi frowned and crouched down to confirm. With a furrowed brow, he said, "It’s a host... and they’re dead."The three corpses on the ground were uncertain whether they had drowned or frozen to death. Their bodies were as cold as ice, their clothes soaked, but there were no other visible injuries, only some shards of ice left behind.

Xiyu took the long sword from one of the hosts' hands, tested its weight, and quietly said, "It seems the lake is not as peaceful as we imagined."

"Since we've come, we should go down and check," Roxi scoffed, "Maybe they were just foolish."

Xiyu helplessly checked the Bagua mirror. "Then let's go. It'd be troublesome if this round ends early."

Roxi nodded and naturally took his hand, walking toward the calm surface of the lake.

Just as the water was about to submerge their knees, a red glow suddenly flickered across the cold water. A young, gentle male voice echoed around them: "Mirror Lake is the heart's reflection, turning the world upside down, embellishing the six desires... May I ask why you have come?"

Xiyu responded without hesitation, "We’ve come to understand the heartstrings of Young Master Xue."

The voice chuckled softly. "Young Master Xue is dead, with no body and no heart. Please, leave."

Xiyu immediately took out the "Five Principles of Mirror Lake": "We traveled far to get here. The book says that by asking the lake, all confusion can be answered. Is this a lie?"

Before the voice could reply, Roxi interrupted with a sarcastic remark, "You're really honest. No need to follow the system's script—anyway, we want to know what Young Master Xue’s heartstrings are. Open the way."

With that, he pulled Xiyu toward the deeper water with determination.

The ethereal male voice laughed even more, with a hint of sadness, before sighing, "Fine, but the heartstring has already passed. What's the use of knowing it now?"

As soon as the voice finished, the lake’s surface suddenly illuminated brightly.

Xiyu and Roxi exchanged a glance, no longer hesitating, and immediately quickened their steps, pulling each other down into the lake.

The freezing water soon covered their heads, and the suffocating feeling was unexpectedly replaced by a warm embrace.

They didn’t know what was about to happen, nor did they dare to let go of each other’s hands. They tightly clasped their fingers together, spinning dizzily in the dazzling light beneath the water.

"People rely on mirrors to understand themselves, not knowing that mirrors are the most deceiving things," the gentle male voice echoed in their ears again. "In this world, only the false is beautiful. Unfortunately, falsehood is not as firm and enduring as the truth. If you want to find Young Master Xue’s heartstrings, you must see through his true heart."

Roxi usually hated these pretentious scripts, but with the lake's water forcing him to remain silent, he could only squint in disdain.

Xiyu, floating beside him, didn’t seem to mind as much. Through the misty water, he soon saw a hidden world beneath the surface. He immediately pulled Roxi with all his strength, kicking off with his long legs and diving deeper.

This so-called Mirror Lake on Nightmare Island truly looked like a mirror.After Xiyu and Roxi kept falling, they finally broke through the faint glow at the bottom of the water, and with a twist of their bodies, they emerged from another lake's surface.

This lake appeared to be no different from the Mirror Lake, but the surrounding scenery was breathtakingly beautiful: the golden satin-like sunlight spilled over the lush green forest, framed by a sapphire blue sky and occasional birds flying by. The colors were bright and cheerful, resembling a fairy-tale world.

Xiyu swam to the shore, struggling to stand up. His body, frozen from two days in the bitter cold, felt as though it had reached paradise. He couldn’t help but smile as he wiped the clear water from his face.

However, Roxi remained calm and rational as ever. "The hints earlier were clear. The world in the Mirror Lake is false, with the heavens and earth turned upside down. It’s likely the opposite of reality. Our bodies should still be in the ice lake, and we can’t last long like this. If we linger too long in these illusions, we might end up like the corpses we saw earlier."

His reminder made Xiyu alert. He noticed their clothes had become light and dry, and when he removed his boots to check the bite marks on his ankle, there were no traces left. He muttered quietly, "It’s all an illusion. I wonder if Blackwater Village in this world is as far as we remember. Let's go."

Roxi tightly gripped his hunting knife, ready to lead the way as usual.

Unexpectedly, just at that moment, a small head peeked out from the bushes by the lake, curiously watching them.

Xiyu paused for a moment, then approached and asked, "Hello, are you someone who lives around here?"

The boy appeared to be about ten years old, with dark skin, rosy cheeks, and a pair of cute grape-like eyes. He stood up from the bushes and answered, "Yes, who are you?"

Xiyu exchanged a glance with Roxi and smiled politely. "We’re tourists who came to the island to hunt. We encountered wild animals earlier, and we lost our luggage. We heard there’s a Blackwater Village here where we can stay, so..."

The boy scratched his head. "Oh, I’m from Blackwater Village."

"Really? Can you take us there?" Xiyu smiled even more warmly, patiently coaxing, "We’re not bad people. We just need to stay for one night."

The boy had no suspicion at all. He smiled brightly and said, "Okay, wait for me to pick some fruit, and I’ll take you there."

"I'll help you pick." Xiyu quickly signaled for Roxi to follow and asked, "What’s your name?"

The boy was very cheerful. "My name is Amin!"

Roxi squinted his eyes. "Is there anyone in Blackwater Village with 'Xue' in their name?"

The boy seemed scared of him and frowned without answering.

Xiyu quickly stepped in front of Roxi. "It’s like this—he has a distant relative living on the island, and he’s just trying to ask about them."

"Ayu Xue doesn’t have any relatives!" Amin snorted in disbelief. "His mother died early, and it was Grandma Yu who picked him up."

Unexpectedly, Young Master Xue and Grandma Yu from the Hidden Temple had some connection. Thinking back to what Xiao Yan had said—Mr. Fu killed Grandma Yu to make a blood symbol—it seemed Young Master Xue had gone through something extremely tragic to become the big boss of Nightmare Island. Looking at it this way… Blackwater Village really was twisted.Roxi continued to follow behind, holding his knife with cold eyes, while Amin occasionally sneaked glances at them, looking uneasy.

Xiyu noticed and awkwardly smiled. "This brother just looks fierce, but he doesn’t mean any harm. Come on, what fruit do you want to pick? I’ll help you."

Saying this, Xiyu took the little NPC's hand.

Amin immediately became happy. "I want to pick apples to take back to make snacks for Xue."

Apples again...

Xiyu still couldn’t figure out what the fruit that increased affection points was for, so he suppressed his anxious feelings and urged, "Alright, let’s hurry up. It’ll be troublesome if it gets dark."

Amin looked confused. "Brother, there’s no night on Dream Island. What are you talking about?"

...Nightmares turned into dreams, and night turned into day.

It seemed this illusion couldn’t be trusted.

Xiyu lowered his eyes and smiled. "I see now. I was ignorant."

He had originally thought that discovering another space in this harsh sandbox world would come with very serious challenges. But Xiyu and Roxi helped Amin pick a whole basket of apples, led a horse through the beautiful grasslands, and soon arrived near Blackwater Village without encountering any unexpected situations. It was truly surprising.

Before entering the village, Roxi whispered, "The more peaceful it is, the easier it is to let our guard down. After a while, we’ll definitely end up dead in the lake. No matter what, we need to leave within an hour."

Xiyu nodded. "Mm, it seems the system wants us to find out what Young Master Xue truly loves in this place that contradicts Nightmare Island."

"I hate tasks like this," Roxi grumbled.

Xiyu understood how he felt. After all, when competing with other streamers, there was still some fun to be had. But always being led by the plot and becoming nothing more than a performer was truly frustrating.

It was often said that Roxi understood the times, but in reality, he could never let go of his pride.

NPC Amin had no idea what they were discussing, and when they finally reached the outskirts of Blackwater Village, he cheerfully handed them two apples. "We’re here! I have other things to do, but if you want to stay, just go to the Yizhi Pavilion and find Mr. Fu. He’s a great person on Dream Island."

With that, the little boy quickly disappeared, carrying his basket of fruit.

The Blackwater Village in the illusion was peaceful, with wooden houses and flowering trees forming an interesting contrast. The villagers along the road were all cheerful and satisfied, making it seem like a harmonious utopia.

Xiyu knew it was fake, but the more he looked, the colder his heart felt. He immediately led the way toward the Yizhi Pavilion.The library was filled with the scent of ink, and there were several children of about ten years old flipping through storybooks inside. At the entrance, a child about three or four years old was playing with a sandbag.

Xiyu stepped forward confidently. "Excuse me, is Mr. Fu here?"

The little boy, with a mischievous look on his face, jumped up and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Mr. Fu, Mr. Fu! There are strangers here!"

Half a minute later, a middle-aged man with well-defined features and an air of composure appeared at the entrance of the library. He slightly cupped his hands. "I am Mr. Fu. You two seem unfamiliar. How may I assist you?"

Xiyu quickly repeated the story he had fabricated earlier, then smiled. "We’ll only trouble you for a day and then leave, Mr. Fu. There’s no need to worry."

"No trouble at all," Mr. Fu waved his hand. "I’ll have my servants prepare a room for you."

The deceptive villain had suddenly turned so amiable, which made Xiyu uncomfortable. A thought suddenly occurred to him, and he moved closer to ask, "Mr. Fu, have you ever read a book called The Five Sayings of the Mirror Lake?"

Mr. Fu shook his head. "Which author’s work is that? I’ve never heard of it."

Xiyu smiled faintly. "It’s just an obscure miscellany. There’s one part that I really can’t understand. That little brother Amin mentioned that you are well-read and knowledgeable. Could you perhaps enlighten me?"

Roxi, who was standing to the side, seemed to be just watching the show and casually squatted down at the door.

Mr. Fu took the old book that Xiyu handed him and flipped to the page about the resurrection of the body. The more he read, the more serious he became. Finally, he warned, "Young man, this is an evil book. Where did you get it from?"

"A friend gave it to me." Xiyu stared into his eyes. "I just can’t quite understand what ‘the heartstring item’ means. Could it be something like the thing one loves most?"

Mr. Fu stroked his goat beard and said, "This... I’ll need to think on it."

Xiyu extended his hand. "Then I’ll come back to visit you later."

Mr. Fu said, "Why not let me borrow the book for further reading and reference? It will make it easier for me to index it."

"Of course. If you truly figure it out, I wouldn’t mind giving it to you." Xiyu had already memorized the contents of the book, and he smiled generously before asking, "Where does Grandma Yu live?"

Mr. Fu was completely absorbed in the contents of the book. "She lives at the farthest end of the village. I’ll have a servant guide you there."

Xiyu quickly refused. "No need, thank you. You should be busy."

With that, he hurriedly pulled Roxi along and left.

As they walked, Roxi clicked his tongue in admiration. "It’s a shame you don’t become an actor."Xiyu smiled. "You hate getting involved in these plots, but I have to try harder, otherwise, it would be a waste of time."

For the first time, Roxi, treated like an unreasonable dog, didn’t know how to respond. Seeing Xiyu’s expression as if everything were only natural, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

In this illusion, it seemed that every household in the village was rich and happy, and even Grandma Yu’s house, with mushrooms and corn hanging on the fence, was no exception.

Upon reaching the destination, Xiyu peered inside and saw a kindly elderly woman with gray hair sitting in the yard. He instructed, "I’ll go check it out. You wait here, don’t scare this old lady."

Roxi, surprised, watched him enter the yard and muttered under his breath, "What, am I embarrassing you now?"

Xiyu smiled faintly and walked straight up to the elderly woman, squatting down in front of her. "Grandma, are you busy?"

Grandma Yu, who was washing vegetables and cooking, looked up in confusion. "You are…?"

Xiyu kept his pleasant smile. "I’m here to stay in the village. I came to the island at the request of a relative, to find a lost child from their family… His name is Snow."

To his surprise, this caused the NPC to get nervous. She quickly waved her hand. "A-Xue is not that. A-Xue is my grandson."

"But others said you found him." Xiyu moved to her side and comforted her. "Don’t worry, Grandma, I’m not here to take him. I just want to make sure he’s okay. I’ll leave some money so you can live comfortably."

"Everyone on Dream Island is self-sufficient. What do we need money for?" Grandma Yu sighed and shook her head. "I’m not lying to you. A-Xue’s mother died giving birth to him on a snowy day. That’s why I named him Snow, so he wouldn’t forget his mother. How could he be your child…?"

Xiyu nodded. "I see, but I’ve come so far. Could I see him? I have no ill intentions."

Perhaps because the young man in front of her looked angelic, Grandma Yu couldn’t bring herself to dislike him. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "He should be playing in the forest to the west. You can call him back for dinner."

"Thank you, I’ll be right back." Xiyu, feeling the pressure of time, quickly headed toward the door. Suddenly, he turned back and asked, "By the way, do you know what A-Xue likes? I’d like to leave him a gift."

Grandma Yu smiled. "That child likes many things. He loves good food, flying kites with his friends, and catching small animals in the forest… He’s always restless. Young man, I’ll accept your kindness for him, but he doesn’t lack anything."

Xiyu was slightly puzzled, nodded, and then left through the door.

"Looks like you’ve figured it out. In this illusion, nightmares become dreams, white is black, and good is evil." Roxi, who had been accompanying Xiyu on their journey, analyzed. "So it’s clear that Snow was born in this poor and harsh place, having a miserable childhood. How could he have any hobbies? That NPC’s words weren’t reliable at all."

"But even in misery, there are things to hold onto, otherwise, life would be even harder to endure," Xiyu pondered, then suddenly grew curious. "Aren’t you annoyed by the plot? Why are you suddenly using your brain now?"

"..." Roxi resisted the urge to pinch him, raising an eyebrow as he walked out the door. "Is that kid, by any chance, looking like you?"

Xiyu followed his gaze and indeed saw a boy with white hair squatting by the stream, seemingly busy with something.Roxi smirked. "Maybe he's your lost illegitimate child."

Xiyu shook his head helplessly and took the initiative to approach the boy, starting the conversation. "A-Xue?"

The little boy immediately looked up, revealing a somewhat eerie face: it turned out not only was his hair white, but his eyebrows and eyelashes were also white, and his skin had no color, giving him the appearance of someone with albinism. His facial features were rather plain, nothing like Xiyu, who had been meticulously crafted by scientists to become an exquisite beauty. But children are naturally innocent. He looked at Xiyu, who was just as pale as he was, and suddenly smiled. "Hey, who are you? You look just like me!"

Xiyu crouched down, unable to look away from the boy’s bright, happy eyes. "I’m a guest here to stay in the village. What are you doing?"

Yu Xue proudly held up a small item in his hand. "I’m making a gift for A-Ming. His birthday is coming soon!"

"Is it a bow?" Xiyu seized the opportunity to ask. "Are you friends with A-Ming?"

Yu Xue responded with pride. "Of course! We’re sworn brothers!"

He continued to carve the wood with his small knife, looking pleased. "A-Ming’s eyes are really sharp. With my bow, he can shoot a hundred steps and still hit the target! He’s definitely going to become a great hero!"

Xiyu paused for a moment, then asked, "A-Xue, what’s the thing you like the most?"

Yu Xue answered absentmindedly. "I don’t know... I like Grandma, I like A-Ming, I like hunting, and I like eating stewed pig’s feet..."

Xiyu frowned slightly as he stood up and quietly asked Roxi, "Could the 'heartstring' item be this bow?"

Roxi folded his arms and remained silent.

As Xiyu pondered, a girl in a red shirt appeared at the village entrance. She cheerfully waved her hand. "Guests, Mr. Fu is looking for you!"

Xiyu quickly grabbed Roxi. "Let’s go. Maybe there’s a clue. Mr. Fu on Nightmare Island only tells lies, but here, he must tell the truth."

By now, the girl had come closer, her cute face blushing. "Where are you guys from? There aren’t many guests on Dream Island..."

"A place called Yun Tai," Xiyu answered casually.

The girl led the way, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Yun Tai? That sounds beautiful."

Any streamer who heard this would probably just scoff inwardly.

The girl yawned in the sunlight and then said enthusiastically, "By the way, my name is Xiao Yan. I run a tailor shop in the village. If you need new clothes, come find me, and I can make them for you."

Xiyu was momentarily stunned.Roxi chuckled, "Oh, isn't this your little ghost lover?"

Xiyu secretly punched him, though he knew that the NPC’s story was all fake, he still couldn’t help feeling uneasy. He quietly asked, "Do you... have a marriage engagement?"

"Oh my, how bold of you to ask, guest!" Xiao Yan immediately covered her face, her big, watery eyes sparkling. "I got married two years ago. My husband left the island to take the exam, and I just received his high school results a few days ago. Hehe, I’m probably going to leave here and become the wife of an official in another place."

Xiyu forced a smile. "That’s great..."

While they were chatting, Roxi noticed the dark clouds gathering at the horizon. He signaled to Xiyu, and both of them realized that their time in this mirrored world was probably running out.

There were many readers downstairs in the Yi Zhi Pavilion, but it was very quiet upstairs.

Mr. Fu sat in his simple yet elegant bedroom, holding the "Five Tales of Mirror Lake" and sighing. "This is truly an evil book... I advise you not to get involved with it, or you will gain nothing but disaster."

By now, the two could clearly feel the temperature dropping.

Xiyu looked at the NPC, who was behaving as usual, and exhaled white breath. He quickly asked, "I understand, but I really want to understand—what exactly is a 'heartstring' item?"

Mr. Fu pushed a blue plate on the table, which had a few slices of sugar-heart apples on it. Frowning, he said, "We have these magical fruits on our island. It is said that if you give them to someone you fancy, over time, you will be able to communicate with them without words, and know each other’s feelings. That’s what is called the 'heartstring.'"

Roxi observed the old man’s moving beard, then looked out the window at the snowflakes that had unknowingly begun to fall, lost in thought.

Mr. Fu said seriously, "So... the so-called 'heartstring item' is the heart of another person that resonates with the deceased. Killing one, saving one—this is not right! Moreover, once the soul has scattered, the physical body is meaningless."

Upon hearing this, Roxi finally confirmed his thoughts. He grabbed Xiyu without caring that the NPC was present and asked, "Do you remember when we first entered the game? Someone shot arrows at us from the shadows! I thought it was a player who had obtained a weapon..."

Xiyu blinked. "Could it have been an NPC? Could it have been A-Ming?"

Then he nodded. "That makes sense. I heard Xiao Yan mention that someone had prepared new clothes for Young Master Xue, but he never came to collect them. That person could only be A-Ming, Young Master Xue’s friend."

"Let’s not talk about this right now, we need to leave here." Roxi pulled Xiyu and ran toward the stairs. "This world is collapsing!"

Mr. Fu stood up in confusion. "Hey! Your book!"

The window, which had been quietly closed, was suddenly blown open by the wind and snow. Mr. Fu’s body trembled slightly, and the peaceful expression on his face gradually turned dark. He grabbed the "Five Tales of Mirror Lake" from the table and greedily stuffed it into his own arms.

The previous speculation was correct: entering the Mirror World indeed had a very short time limit.

As soon as they burst out of the Yi Zhi Pavilion, they looked up and saw the villagers, now corrupted, chasing after them. They immediately turned and ran towards the direction of Mirror Lake.The strong wind whipped the heavy snow across the green meadow, instantly frosting the grass and trees.

Roxi dared not slack off, gripping Xiyu's delicate wrist so tightly that it left a red mark. "We can only return if we get into the lake, or we’ll turn into water ghosts!"

Even though it was an urgent moment, Xiyu smiled instead, gathering his strength to speed up with him, saying nothing more.

The once clear sky was soon covered by dark clouds, which rapidly cracked like a shattered mirror.

As they rushed toward the small lake, the reflective sky began to reveal the horrifying truth of Nightmare Island.

The elderly Granny Yu had found an albino baby, abandoned by its mother due to its strange appearance, in the heavy snow. She named him Xue and raised him in a poor, despised village, enduring all sorts of discrimination. The only companion he had was a blind orphan, who would play with him.

The evil Mr. Fu, who used dark arts to enslave the entire village, killed Granny Yu in search of gold and silver mines. He used her blood to craft talismans to summon evil spirits.

Xue tried to avenge his grandmother but failed, and was beaten and imprisoned by Mr. Fu’s servants. The blind orphan attempted to stand up for him but was cut a few times and casually thrown into the forest, buried alive. Fortunately, he wasn’t dead and was saved by a passing monk, eventually leaving Nightmare Island.

From then on, Young Master Xue became a slave in the village, forced to do unspeakable things to survive.

Years later, Nightmare Island grew increasingly desolate and terrifying, even plagued by famine.

At that time, the blind orphan, now grown, returned, bringing gold and silver to buy Xue's freedom.

Mr. Fu, insatiably greedy, pretended to agree, but during the night, he took everything, nearly killing the orphan and throwing him into the mountains again. Upon discovering the truth, Xue collapsed, wanting to search for the orphan. But in his attempt to resist, he was mortally wounded and was driven out by Mr. Fu.

The starving villagers found the tragic corpse of Xue on the street. Instead of burying him properly, they dismembered his body and turned it into their meal. The unfortunate Xue was cruelly devoured by Blackwater Village.

After his death, a heavy snow fell on Nightmare Island, and everyone was cursed, gradually freezing and starving to death.

Terrified, Mr. Fu realized that Xue had become an evil spirit. He prevented his servants from using cruel methods to suppress his soul in the mountains. However, the island was still covered by snow day after day, and eventually, no one survived.

Running frantically to the lakeside, Xiyu and Roxi intermittently saw flashes of the past. Finally, they had learned most of the game’s background.

But they had no time to discuss it.

After all, this illusionary world had turned back into hell, with swirling wind and snow, arrows flying through the trees, making it nearly impossible to defend!

As soon as Roxi reached the water’s edge, he immediately pushed Xiyu, urging, "Dive in! Don’t worry about anything else!"

Having run so far at top speed, Xiyu’s lungs...