【5, 4, 3, 2… 1】
At the last countdown, Gu Zhan slammed the door to his room shut.
Nothing happened; everything returned to silence.
He could only hear the sound of his own heart pounding fiercely.
Soon after, the lights in the room went out, plunging everything into darkness.
The broadcast echoed again.
【Now, please complete your personal tasks, players. Deadline: before dawn tonight.】
【Please note, players without personal tasks should not leave their rooms. If you hear knocking, do not respond.】
“…”
Gu Zhan stood still. After about five minutes, the broadcast rang out again.
【Players with personal tasks, please leave your rooms and complete your tasks.】
After the broadcast ended, the room fell silent once more.
After that, the system made no further announcements.
Gu Zhan paced back and forth in his room, feeling unsure of what to do.
Should he wait for dawn in the room? Or go out to execute his personal task?
It must be dangerous outside, and the personal tasks were hidden.
If he guessed his task wrong and opened this door, it would mean seeking death.
But if he couldn’t complete the task…
Once time was up, he would also be trapped in this world.
No need to rush; there were still several hours until dawn.
Thinking carefully about everything he had experienced since entering the instance.
Gu Zhan sat down on the edge of the bed and began to recall what he had seen and heard during his time in the instance.
【He really is calm.】
【Does he have a personal mission?】
【I don’t know; if the person himself doesn’t know, how can we know?】
【I was using a civilian card at the time, so scared that I hid under the bed, and unexpectedly cleared the level.】
【The easiest card in this instance is the civilian card; just endure the early stages.】
【You can't say that; it’s easy to die at the beginning with a civilian card too.】
【Wait, do you hear that? It sounds like there's something outside.】
【Coming out so early, it can't be a player.】
In the room, Gu Zhan also heard the noise. He straightened up and looked toward the door.
“Pat.”
“Pat…”
The sound came repeatedly, unhurried and rhythmic, now distant, now close.
It sounded like footsteps, but it seemed stickier than footsteps, as if it were glued to the ground and couldn't be separated.
It moved quickly and soon arrived at the door of Gu Zhan's room.
The outside fell silent.
That thing… stopped.
It was right outside the door.
Gu Zhan sat up straight, staring intently at the door.
Outside, there was no more sound, but in the unseen shadow, a bit of wetness seeped through the door crack, gradually spreading into the room.
【It’s over, she’s coming in!】
【Quick, look down at the door crack! If water comes in, He is done for!】
【But even if he notice, it won’t help; the water can’t be stopped.】
【This is it, it’s all over now.】
Gu Zhan seemed to sense something and suddenly looked down at the door crack.
The wetness coming in was increasing; the carpet was soaked, forming a dark, misty patch. But the room was dark, with no lights on, so the darkness wasn't very clear.
Outside the door, a woman in red was crawling on the ground, her long black hair spread out like seaweed, pushing against the door crack as she tried to squeeze inside.
She was dripping wet all over, and the water seemed to have a life of its own, spreading in all directions.
“Drip… drip…”
The faint sound echoed in the silent corridor. Accompanied by the spread of the wetness, the door suddenly made a “click” sound and opened…
Her black hair instantly crawled up the door frame, enveloping the entire door, and the woman crawled into the room.
But unlike what was expected, the room was completely empty.
This small room was filled with the smell of living people, thick and overwhelming, making it impossible to distinguish light from heavy.
The woman turned around on the floor, ultimately deciding to crawl toward the bed. But just as she shifted her body, a sudden “bang” sounded behind her, as if something heavy had fallen.
She quickly turned around, but there was nothing.
Outside the room, Gu Zhan, who had just teleported once, stumbled as he stood on the corridor floor.
【Exciting!】
【I’ve seen many ghosts' counterattacks, but this is the first time I’ve seen a ghost get countered.】
【This female ghost is weak; she can’t even see anything.】
【Run! She’s coming after you!】
The watch's function could still be used in the instance, but the teleportation distance was much shorter.
But that was already enough.
Gu Zhan sensed there were “people” outside, so he jumped onto the cabinet behind the door. When the female ghost pushed the door open, he just happened to be in her blind spot.
When the female ghost entered the room, he left through the front door, teleporting away, vanishing from the ghost's sight.
However, Gu Zhan knew that the female ghost would soon come after him.
After teleporting, he didn’t stop but ran straight down the hallway.
The female ghost’s movements were not particularly agile, and after chasing for a while, she completely lost track of Gu Zhan.
She stopped in the corridor, contemplating whether it was better to chase Gu Zhan or to find someone else…
After a moment, the female ghost slowly moved in another direction…
Having shaken off the danger, Gu Zhan didn’t find an empty room to hide in; instead, he quickly moved through the corridor.
【Where is he going?】
【Could it be that he discovered his personal mission?】
Gu Zhan indeed discovered his personal mission.
To be more precise, he realized his identity.
He remembered the dream he had before entering the recall segment, one that felt like being burned by raging fire.
At that time, they still didn’t know there were two ghosts in the instance, nor did they know how the child had died.
But he dreamt of a narrow space engulfed in flames.
That was something only the dead child knew.
After entering the recall segment, he encountered that ghostly child multiple times but wasn’t killed by it.
Gu Zhan didn’t think it was just his luck.
It was more like he was inherently that ghostly child, unable to kill himself.
The ghostly child must have a mission.
What could his mission be?
Gu Zhan didn’t dare to think too much; although he was in the corridor now, he had no idea what he was supposed to do.
The female ghost behind him had completely gone quiet. Gu Zhan found a secluded corner, wanting to think clearly.
But unexpectedly, as he passed by a door, a familiar voice came from inside.
“Is that you? Gu Zhan.”
It was Sang Yue’s voice.
Gu Zhan paused slightly and realized he had unknowingly arrived at the guest room door.
Sang Yue's door was tightly closed; it seemed she had determined that she didn’t have a personal mission and had stayed in her room.
Gu Zhan hesitated, not responding.
Sang Yue asked, “Why are you outside?”
“I…” Gu Zhan started to speak but suddenly realized something, his expression changing drastically.
What is a ghost's mission?
A ghost's mission is to kill.
“…”
Gu Zhan suddenly understood.
Inside the room, Sang Yue was still asking, “Did you run into any trouble? Do you want me to come out and help?”
“No need.” Gu Zhan quickly refused.
He emphasized, “You must not come out.”
“Ah?” Sang Yue seemed to have reached the door, the doorknob turning slightly as if she was about to push it open. “Why? Why did you come out of the room?”
Gu Zhan replied, “I have a personal mission. You all don’t, so stay inside obediently. I’m leaving.”
“You have a personal mission?” Sang Yue wasn’t giving up. She twisted the doorknob forcefully, looking like she was about to come out of the room.
Gu Zhan pressed down on the doorknob to stop her from exiting.
Sang Yue felt something was wrong. “What’s going on with you?”
Gu Zhan paused for a moment and said, “Don’t come out. It’s dangerous outside. I’m leaving.”
With that, he didn’t waste any more time and walked straight away from the door.
Inside the room, Sang Yue stood by the door, one hand gripping the doorknob, her expression one of shock.
Gu Zhan had already walked far away.
He suddenly realized the choice he was about to face.
Now, there were six people trapped in this building.
Four players, including He Hui and himself, both of whom were identified as "ghosts."
Two NPCs, a mage and a butler, and Gu Zhan didn’t know which of the two was the true owner of the Black Crow Mansion, or which was the “husband” the female ghost wanted to hunt.
However, as a “ghost,” the mission was to kill.
Xiao Xiu’s mission was to kill the person who caused her death, while the ghost child... Based on the deaths of those who had died at the ghost child’s hands, Gu Zhan concluded that the ghost child didn’t have a specific target. It only hunted down isolated individuals, likely due to its lack of ability.
Thus, Gu Zhan had two options.
To look for those two NPCs.
Or... to take action against his former teammates.
This was truly...
【He must be the remaining ghost.】
【Leaving just like that, what a real man.】
【If that’s the case, he needs to find the butler or the mage.】
【It’s over; he’s doomed.】
【With that kind-hearted attitude, he might as well let that woman open the door.】
【Pretending to be tough; this is going to end badly.】
Gu Zhan decided against attacking his teammates and had no choice but to search for the mage and butler.
He began wandering around the corridor, nearly running into Xiao Xiu several times and also finding the room where Ma Xiaowen was located.
But after exploring the entire Mansion, he hadn’t found either the butler or the mage.
Moreover, he noticed that Xiao Xiu seemed to be wandering aimlessly around the corridor, just like him.
As the sky was beginning to brighten.
Gu Zhan stood in place for a moment, then suddenly turned and walked toward the other end of the corridor.
【What is he trying to do?】
【That’s where the female ghost is!】
【Didn’t he just escape from that direction?】
【Don’t go! The female ghost hasn’t left yet!】
Gu Zhan walked down the long corridor, turned a corner, and sure enough, saw Xiao Xiu crouched outside a door.
The door was very familiar; it was Ma Xiaowen's room.
When Gu Zhan passed by earlier, he instructed Ma Xiaowen not to come out; she should be in the room at that moment.
Xiao Xiu's method of forcibly opening doors seemed to have limitations; after opening Gu Zhan's door, she wandered around inside, seemingly searching for the mage and butler.
But now that dawn was approaching, time was running out for Xiao Xiu.
She seemed to have given up on finding the husband who killed her and was ready to grab any scapegoat to kill instead.
And Ma Xiaowen was the target she had set her sights on.
“Hey.”
Gu Zhan called out from the end of the corridor, and Xiao Xiu, who was still knocking on the door, instantly stopped.
She looked up, her face obscured by her black hair, and indeed resembled He Hui.
Gu Zhan said, “Come here; let’s discuss something.”
【???】
【He really came to find the female ghost!】
【Discussing things with a ghost? Has he gone crazy?】
【What exactly does he plan to do?】
—
There were no lights in the corridor, only moonlight streaming in from outside.
Gu Zhan stood at one end of the corridor while Xiao Xiu crouched at the other.
Silence spread between them as time passed slowly.
Suddenly, Xiao Xiu moved.
She pushed herself up and quickly crawled toward Gu Zhan.
The physical prowess of a ghost far exceeded that of a human. Gu Zhan realized that Xiao Xiu’s intentions differed from his and turned to run.
But it was too late; Xiao Xiu quickly reached his back, leaped high, and tackled him to the ground.
Gu Zhan’s watch emitted a burst of light. Xiao Xiu was illuminated by that light, appearing to be in pain as she suddenly recoiled.
However, the range of the light was too small; Xiao Xiu quickly circled around to another side and launched her attack on Gu Zhan again.
She seemed to have completely lost her sanity. With dawn approaching, unable to find the person she wanted to kill and unable to open the door of an ordinary player... she was ready to grab anyone!
And that person was right in front of her!
Xiao Xiu struck mercilessly, and soon, blood appeared on Gu Zhan’s body. Her sharp claws were about to grip his slender neck.
With such strength, if she landed a hit, Gu Zhan would surely die.
At that moment, the wall beside them suddenly trembled, its solid surface transforming into something fluid-like. A hand reached out from the wall.
In that instant, Xiao Xiu suddenly let go of Gu Zhan and leaped toward the wall.
The hand that emerged from the wall seemed caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, pausing in mid-air for a moment. But soon, it followed its original plan, grabbing Gu Zhan by the collar and pulling him into the wall.
【I didn’t expect his plan to actually succeed!】
【How did he know that those two didn’t want Xiao Xiu to kill him?】
【Damn, if this fails, won’t he really end up as Xiao Xiu’s meal?】
【Although he succeeded, I still think it’s ridiculous.】
【So dangerous.】
—
Inside the wall was surprisingly another luxurious room, its decor even more extravagant than the one outside.
The butler, dressed in a black tailcoat, sat on an ornate chair, holding a cup of red tea, smiling as he looked at Gu Zhan.
Gu Zhan was covered in blood, slumped against the wall.
Xiao Xiu was heavy-handed; he was indeed injured and had some difficulty getting up.
The butler chuckled, “Did you and Xiao Xiu put on a show?”
“Uh-huh.” Gu Zhan emitted a brief sound, offering no further response.
The butler's smile grew increasingly dangerous: “You really are bold to think of teaming up with a ghost. Aren't you afraid she'll suddenly change her mind and kill you?”
Gu Zhan leaned against the wall, blood smeared on his pale skin, his black hair hanging in strands across his forehead.
Breathing heavily, he took some time to calm down before speaking: “If I die, I die.”
“Uh-huh.” The butler mimicked him, letting out a simple sound.
He set down the red tea, rose from his chair, and slowly walked over to Gu Zhan: “You really don’t cherish your life. Dying so easily, don’t you think that’s a pity?”
He gently lifted Gu Zhan’s chin. Gu Zhan had striking features, especially when he looked at someone from above or below, exuding a cool and proud aura.
But the butler's anger intensified the more he looked, even as his smile grew more pronounced.
When his gaze fell on Gu Zhan's watch, his smile vanished.
“Damn it.”
The butler released Gu Zhan and quickly returned to the center of the room.
Gu Zhan remained against the wall and said, “Xiao Xiu should be able to find him soon. Aren’t you going to protect him?”
The butler turned his head: “When did you realize he is the husband in the story?”
Gu Zhan replied, “He’s the only one who could be.”
“Why?” The butler tilted his head, showing a hint of curiosity. “Why couldn’t it be me? After all, in your guess, I’m the owner of Black Crow Mansion, right?”
“Even if you truly are the owner of Black Crow Mansion, you definitely can’t be Xiao Xiu’s husband,” Gu Zhan said confidently.
“Why not?” The butler tilted his head, genuinely curious.
Gu Zhan, however, didn’t respond.
The butler was dying of curiosity, but Gu Zhan wouldn’t speak.
At that moment, the butler suddenly felt something, and his expression changed.
“She found him.”
The butler circled around Gu Zhan on the floor, saying, “I can’t believe Xiao Xiu would listen to you. She hates men the most; the chances of her cooperating with you are almost zero. How did you persuade her?”
Gu Zhan clutched his chest, replying, “Who knows... maybe it’s because I’m gay.”
“Gay?” The butler seemed like an antique from the last century, suddenly accepting a new term.
He paused for a moment, decided to abandon this incomprehensible word, and said, “She has found him. He certainly isn’t her match; it’s just a matter of time before he dies. According to the game rules, the moment you discover me, I will be killed by you. So, now it’s time for questions.”
“Uh-huh, a bit annoying,” the butler suddenly waved his hand.
Gu Zhan then heard a short, sharp scream near his ear, a distant sound, like it came from another world.
But immediately, the sound disappeared, and the world returned to silence, along with the weight pressing down on him lifting.
Suddenly, his body didn’t hurt anymore, all discomfort vanished, even his wavering sanityvalue was restored.
Gu Zhan moved his limbs, intrigued. What he didn’t know was that outside the Mansion, dawn was breaking, the instance was announcing the settlement, and his live stream had long since gone dark.
【What’s going on? Did the butler suddenly make a big move?】
【The screen only goes dark when someone dies; that last step didn’t seem like it was about to kill anyone.】
【Is there something we VIPs can’t see?】
【I paid; let me see! I want to see!】
【If you won’t show it, are you going to start rumors?】
“What did you do?” Once he confirmed that his body was normal, Gu Zhan asked.
“Nothing much; I just don’t like talking under others' noses,” the butler smiled, “I’ve been paying attention to you for a long time and have two sentences I want to discuss with you.”
“Paying attention to me?”
Gu Zhan’s body had recovered, but he didn’t get up, still sitting against the wall.
Although he was lower than the butler, he showed no signs of being intimidated by the butler’s presence.
The butler’s eyes seemed familiar, as if he had seen them countless times in other instances.
The cold undertone combined with pure malice, plus a sharp inquisitiveness deep within, formed the eyes Gu Zhan had fleetingly encountered many times.
The director of the mental hospital, the evil god of Haizhu Village, the black cat of Happy Town...
They were all him.
Gu Zhan suddenly clenched his fist but quickly relaxed again, asking, “Are there only a few employees in your game?”
The butler was taken aback and then laughed.
“Hahaha... Employees? That term is quite amusing.”
He walked back to the chair and sat down, smiling at Gu Zhan: “It seems you’ve long discovered my existence. According to the rules, this shouldn’t be allowed, but I find it interesting. How about we make a bet?”
Gu Zhan paused: “What do you want to bet?”
“Let’s bet... that you are more suited to become a monster.”
The butler smiled gently, and black smoke suddenly filled the room.
Gu Zhan’s watch emitted a faint glow. He frowned slightly and lunged at the butler.
This watch originated from the same source as the monster; based on Gu Zhan’s previous experience, as long as he touched it with the watch, he would be drawn inside.
But the monster disguised as the butler clearly knew the watch’s purpose better than Gu Zhan, dodging to the side in advance.
The moment Gu Zhan lunged, he seemed to feel the other party reach out from the black mist and pat him on the shoulder.
The cheerful voice echoed in his ear again: “According to the rules, you found me, which counts as your victory. However, before you leave, I still have to give you a gift.”
The black mist suddenly enveloped Gu Zhan, and at the same time, a slightly flustered voice from the system echoed in his ears: “An anomaly has been detected in player Gu Zhan's livestream. Attempting to resolve… resolving… anomaly disappeared, continuing…”
【What was that just now?】
【Can this black-screened livestream continue?】
【This seems like it's not the first time.】
【Right, it happened in Happy Town last time too; it must have been interfered with by some force.】
Gu Zhan stumbled and fell to the ground. Strangely, the injuries caused by Xiao Xiu seemed to heal in an instant.
He got up and found himself in the previous corridor, while Xiao Xiu was nowhere to be seen.
The livestream was still ongoing, and the dungeon had not ended.
“Dungeon <Black Raven Mansion> has entered the hunting phase. In the struggle against her, he has the upper hand. At this moment, the entire Mansion is transformed into his will; survive, escape until eternity…”
The system's broadcast voice reappeared, this time carrying an air of coldness.
From just this broadcast, Gu Zhan understood that this hunting phase would be difficult!
He and Xiao Xiu had teamed up, sending her to the mage… that is, the husband who killed Xiao Xiu. According to plan, Xiao Xiu should be able to kill him, while Gu Zhan would find the butler and complete his task.
Aside from them, the others should be civilians. As long as the "ghost" was dealt with, they could quietly wait for dawn.
But unexpectedly, the butler had done something, and everything changed.
Xiao Xiu actually lost.
Her husband seemed to be even stronger than before; had he absorbed Xiao Xiu's powers?
The sky appeared darker, and the lights in Black Crow Mansion grew dimmer. In the increasingly oppressive darkness, Gu Zhan suddenly realized.
The entire Black Crow Mansion was his will.
That meant anywhere within this mansion was unsafe!
He immediately turned around.
The mansion seemed to sense his thoughts, with the ground undulating beneath him.
It appeared to want to block Gu Zhan from leaving, and not far behind, heavy footsteps echoed.
Someone was chasing him!
Gu Zhan bent down and grabbed the carpet beneath him, as if climbing, escaping through the rising waves of the corridor.
Seeing him flee, the pursuer let out a furious roar and chased him at an even faster speed.
Gu Zhan ran wildly, and as he passed a familiar door, he suddenly stopped.
He knocked twice on the door, and a voice from inside answered, “Who is it?”
“Come out, it's me,” Gu Zhan called out.
Ma Xiaowen immediately opened the door, her eyes filled with confusion and blind trust. “What's going on? I clearly heard the system say my personal task was completed; why is it still dark? Why hasn’t the dungeon ended?”
Ma Xiaowen rushed to explain, and Gu Zhan suddenly felt a headache coming on.
He pressed down on her shoulders, stopping her from continuing, “Go find Sang Yue.”
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