Chapter 50: Black Shadow

    Meanwhile, in room 509...

    Tang Ye was crouching on the bed with his vigilant gaze fixed on the dark shadow behind the door. In his hand was a silver necklace with a small cross pendant that was emitting faint light, enough to illuminate the space around him. Droplets of sweat trickled down his forehead, and if one looked closer, they would be able to perceive a slight tremble on his body due to the suppressed fear.

    He had just been ready to sleep when his cross pendant – which he had placed on the nightstand – started to twinkle, alerting him of another presence in the room.

    Prop: Silver Rosary

    Prop Level: Common

    Prop Usage: The light from the rosary will alert the players of the presence of supernatural beings within five meters radius. It can also be charged with the player’s energy to enhance its power in times of need. Upgrade available! Please check the Nightmare App for more details.

    Damn it! Tang Ye cursed under his breath. He had been fairly certain that his room was one of the safe zones, so that’s why he was adamant on staying in his room after curfew no matter what kind of creatures were causing a commotion outside, so how could this one still slip in?! Was it because they had completed the task and thus the nightmare creature got a sudden burst of strength?

    Tang Ye did not dare to take his gaze off for fear that the dark shadow would suddenly pounce on him. However, seconds and minutes passed— nothing happened. The dark shadow stayed in the corner where the light could not reach, with only a pair of bright ruby eyes staring straight at him.

    Unable to bear the tension any longer, he asked, "W–What do you want?"

    He could not see where the creature’s mouth was. In fact, it did not actually resemble anything other than the shadow that looked darker and denser than normal. If not for his prop and those ruby eyes, he wouldn’t have noticed this nightmare creature either for how still it was.

    But much to his surprise, it actually answered him and the voice came in the form of a young man, slightly raspy and thick as if it had not spoken for a long time,

    "Aren’t you searching for the ticket? I have one."

    Tang Ye was taken aback. Of all things, he did not expect the nightmare creature to talk about tickets. In his previous Cycle, all the NPCs acted like a mute during the day as they proceeded with their mundane life in the secluded village and only when the night came did they transform into the creatures that roamed the foggy street. But the one in front of him...

    Wasn’t it a bit too humane?

    However, the temptation of the ticket was too great for him to pass up. It was the return ticket – his one and only way to board the bus and get out of this place! He swallowed hard and asked warily, "How do I know that you really have a ticket?"

    Without a word, the shadow moved as though stretching out its hand. Tang Ye’s eyes widened when he saw the unmistakable sight of the ticket floating in midair. His eyes shone in manic greed, and he tried to reach it only for the shadow to retract its hand again, taking the ticket back.

    But that brief glimpse was already more than enough to sway him. He gazed at the shadow with bright eyes, "What kind of task do you need me to complete?"

    Those ruby eyes curved slightly as though smiling, and it whispered to the player.

    ***

    After a good night’s rest, Nian finally made up his mind to tell Tang Ye and Xinxin about the tickets which they could obtain from the nightmare creatures — not directly, of course. He did not want to attract suspicion both to himself and Jin Jiuchi. He would just give both of them a suggestion and whether they would really be able to get the ticket, it depended on their capability and will to survive.

    Right now, they only had less than 18 hours if they wanted to board the bus in time. And in case the nightmare creature only appeared at night, then it meant they had to find the ticket within two hours. Time was really tight.

    "Don’t say anything once we get there," he warned the silly husky beside him. "I will find a time to talk to them separately, so make sure that they will not discover that you have found a ticket."

    Jin Jiuchi nodded sluggishly. The small dinner he had procured from Miss Zhao had all been digested and now, his stomach was protesting again. "Nian’er, I’m hungry..." he murmured in a quiet voice, feeling so miserable that he could die.

    Nian’s expression was frosty as he gritted out, "So what? I’m hungry too. Do you think I have something you can eat?!" He shot a murderous gaze at Jin Jiuchi, challenging the man to repeat the same request from last night again.

    Jin Jiuchi had no idea why, but the jade doll seemed extra hostile and fierce to him since last night. The only time he became soft was when Jin Jiuchi took out the ticket for him to see. And God, he had known that Nian’er was pretty, but the smiling Nian’er was... he was just so...

    For the lack of words to describe, Jin Jiuchi could only run his tongue over the tip of his sharp canines while his smothering gaze dropped on the jade doll’s thin and frail neck.

    Seeing this, Nian’s purple eyes flew wide and his cheeks flushed red. Clenching his jaws tight, he hastened his steps and practically flew down the stairs toward the first floor’s dining hall where the players gathered every single day.

    ’Focus, Nian!" he chided himself severely. ’Don’t be seduced by this man’s roguish look. He’s just hungry!’ He tugged on the tip of his ponytail to cover his flushed neck, trying and failing not to recall the sensation of Jin Jiuchi biting, sucking and licking on his skin.

    When he stepped into the dining hall, Tang Ye and Xinxin were already there, but Zhi was nowhere to be found. Nian paused subtly before striding in as usual as if nothing happened.

    Tang Ye and Xinxin seemed to be discussing something very heated and interesting that they did not even notice Nian and Jin Jiuchi’s appearance. And it was not until Nian neared the table that Tang Ye caught sight of him, and his eyes immediately lit up. "Good morning, Little Brother, Brother Yang!" he greeted them enthusiastically. Nian raised a brow, sensing that there was something more to Tang Ye’s exuberant spirit. However, before he could ask anything about it, the young man continued to say,

    "Good news! I know where we can find the tickets!"

    "Finally..." Xinxin’s eyes reddened in joy. "We can get out of this place!"

    Nian abruptly halted in his tracks, and so did Jin Jiuchi who was trailing closely behind him. Shock was apparent on his face. Tang Ye found out about the method to obtain the tickets too? What were the odds that Jin Jiuchi also found one last night? Had he received it from the spider Madam Liu, or the creature who disguised himself as Zhi?

    "You... got the ticket?" Alarm bells started to ring in Nian’s mind. If Tang Ye obtained one, then it meant... the competition would shift between him and Xinxin!

    "No, no, I haven’t found one yet." Tang Ye hurried to deny. He did not think much about Nian’s shock though, thinking that the little boy was merely caught off guard by the mention of tickets. "Last night, I found a clue in my room. It’s supposed to lead us to where the tickets are!"

    He did not say how only one person would obtain the ticket in the end. After all, he needed their help to complete the task.

    "Oh?" Nian smoothed his features and showed an appropriately curious look. "What kind of clue is it?"

    Tang Ye showed the thing he and Xinxin had been looking at, and only then did Nian see that it was a newspaper clipping, similar to the one he had in his pocket.

    "Look!" Tang Ye said with his eyes curved happily. "There is a secret pathway in the kitchen. We should go there and check it out as soon as possible!"