At the blocked checkpoint of Keli City, a dilapidated bus emerged from the smoggy air, carrying a dozen tourists who had collapsed in the carriage. They all appeared dazed, twitching in pain, and emitting incomprehensible moans and groans.
The checkpoint staff promptly assessed the situation and only boarded the bus after confirming that there was no immediate danger. They began to rescue the people, who were visibly mentally ill.
Boom!
After a while, the soldiers who were clad in full gear also disembarked from the bus. Despite their strong will, they too were momentarily disoriented, their faces contorted with pain.
They had met their ends in various ways, and the psychological trauma they had endured varied. The soldiers who survived still bore the horrifying sensation of being devoured and torn apart by those minced-meat-like entities. Even after returning to the real world, they couldn’t help but continue to wail, teetering on the brink of mental breakdowns.
“Ahhh!”
“Monsters…! Ugh!”
The soldiers huddled, clutching their heads, allowing medical staff to carry them into ambulances.
“It seems the mission has failed once again.”
This marked the fifty-sixth mission in Keli City’s Ghost Domain.
In the distance, a recently arrived limousine came to a halt, and the person inside sighed.
“Commander, should we continue to send troops here?”
The young subordinate in the car glanced at the soldiers being loaded into the ambulance and a pained expression surfaced.
Recently, there was an outbreak of paranormal events across the country, and the proliferation of ghost realms had accelerated significantly.
While the Dragon Kingdom had managed to respond swiftly compared to the chaos abroad, the breakdown of countless soldiers’ mental states had led to rampant rumors.
The central federal government had voiced concern, fearing that the news might no longer be containable and could plunge the nation into chaos.
Reincarnator Zhao, whose true name was Zhao Kun, bore a chilling expression.
He furrowed his brow as he observed the spreading black mist not far ahead, seemingly flaunting its power towards him.
Ever since reporting everything to the federal government a year ago, he had been granted significant authority and successfully averted numerous ghost realm catastrophes using memories from his past life.
However, in recent days, the widespread emergence of ghost domains had stretched the military capabilities of various federal military districts thin, and this unsustainable situation needed to change.
If this continued, the Dragon Kingdom would deplete its troops. In the future, when the situation escalated, the Dragon Kingdom would have no troops to dispatch, rendering it defenseless in the face of annihilation by these bizarre apparitions.
Just as Zhao Kun pondered his next steps, an unexpected development occurred at the checkpoint.
The black fog, which had previously spread and covered most of the sky, began to recede. A powerful wind swept through a rift in the sky, pulling the black fog back. The nearby humans were momentarily blinded by the fog.
Once the wind subsided and people reopened their eyes, they discovered that the long, narrow chasm was slowly closing, and the once menacing fog had vanished.
Boom—!!!
Following a loud noise, the tranquility of the past returned to Keli City. The sky turned a brilliant blue, adorned with wispy clouds — a breathtaking sight.
“The ghost realm… vanished?”
Everyone stared at the stable energy readings on their detectors in surprise.
Zhao Kun, too, sported a confused expression.
Later, Zhao Kun dispatched an investigation team to probe the soldiers’ sealing process in an attempt to discern why the ghost realm had disappeared. However, due to the soldiers’ mental trauma, their memories were incomplete. They could only vaguely recall a shift in the plot. The ghost king had fallen in love with a particular character, but they recalled nothing beyond that.
Faced with this fragmented clue, Zhao Kun reluctantly set it aside for the time being, focusing instead on the future of the Special Incident Handling Department. Ghost realms had begun to encroach further into people’s lives, and the time for decisive action had arrived.
Coincidentally, good news came from the Federal Scientific Research Center. They claimed to have found a method to safeguard human souls from harm within the ghost realm.
Zhao Kun, who had anticipated this technological breakthrough, studied a document in his hand, pursed his lips, and handed it to his superiors.
It was time for people to know the truth, even if it was a fabricated one. It was better than letting panic engulf them during a crisis.
The superiors reviewed the documents in their hands, deliberating silently for a long while, before finally stamping them with their official seals.
“Approved.”
In the following month, the Dragon Kingdom unveiled the holographic immersive game, “Tales of the Unusual.”
Upon its release, “Tales of the Unusual” instantly captivated the gaming market and became a nationwide sensation.
As the world’s first holographic online game, it gained fame for its immersive horror atmosphere. Thrill-seekers and horror enthusiasts flocked to the game to experience its challenges.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Vagjcuf Kjif Rb. 4: Ktf Dlhjggf Dbcf Cgbwj
Pc jc bgvlcjgs rfjrlvf abkc, j cfk rijeutafgtberf bqfcfv lar vbbgr.
Ktf ujeca mbeqif ktb gjc atf rijeutafgtberf klfivfv j qjlg bo klvf-yjmxfv ybclcu xclnfr, qgfrfcalcu j rbwfktja mbwlmji rluta jr atfs ablifv ab qgbmfrr wfja.
Pclaljiis, atf abkcrobix reqqbgafv atf yerlcfrr, yea bnfg alwf, atfs cbalmfv atja atf wfja ogbw atlr rijeutafgtberf kjr fzagfwfis rajif jcv ybgf cb gfrfwyijcmf ab ogfrtis rijeutafgfv wfja.
Faced with accusations from the townspeople, the butcher couple remained silent. Alongside their frail son, they glared at the community with gloomy expressions.
As anger grew, the townspeople ceased to purchase meat from the shop. The slaughterhouse’s fortunes waned, and the husband, burdened by worries, sought solace in alcohol while pondering how to restore his profits.
Then, one day, a strange aroma wafted from the slaughterhouse. Intrigued, the townspeople ventured inside and found the butcher preparing bone broth, its aroma tantalizing.
It turned out the butcher had procured a fresh batch of meat, issued an apology to the townsfolk, and offered a discounted sale.
The townspeople eagerly bought the meat and discovered it to be exceptionally delicious when they cooked it at home.
Business at the slaughterhouse rebounded, attracting a constant stream of customers.
Over time, the entire town became infused with the bizarre aroma of bones. The townsfolk indulged in meat day in and day out and ate until their faces ballooned in fat.
Yet, the butcher’s wife and son grew increasingly emaciated, refusing to partake in the meat. The father responded with relentless beatings.
Eventually, the wife could bear it no longer and set the slaughterhouse ablaze.
In the flames, the family of three perished.
With the slaughterhouse gone and the town running low on meat, the townsfolk went mad.
They scavenged the ruins of the slaughterhouse in search of any remaining meat but instead unearthed deeply buried human bones.
The decomposed bones emitted an alluring aroma, driving the townspeople to greedily consume every fragment, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities.
Subsequently, the police surrounded the slaughterhouse and detained many townspeople. An investigation revealed that several outsiders had gone missing in the town, and DNA testing confirmed that the unearthed bones belonged to them.
Due to insufficient evidence, the arrested townspeople were swiftly released. After all, the outsiders’ deaths were caused by the butcher and had nothing to do with them.
Several years later, a tsunami struck the town, causing many residents to vanish.
To everyone’s astonishment, the missing individuals were the same ones who had previously been arrested.
A rescue team searched extensively but found no trace of the disappeared townsfolk.
Much later, a long-lost townsperson washed ashore. Seemingly insane, he claimed that he had been trapped on a ghostly island where the butcher’s family exacted revenge on him.
The scariest amongst them was a humanoid monster covered in bandages that wielded a butcher knife as tall as a man, slaughtering intruders.
The townsfolk dismissed the deranged man’s claims as madness, loading him into an ambulance.
However, upon arrival at the hospital, they made a shocking discovery. The stretcher, which had held the townsman, now only contained a pile of long-decayed bones, bearing human bite marks. The townsman had vanished.
Henceforth, an urban legend of an abandoned slaughterhouse spread throughout the town.
Should you venture onto an island, you must never enter the slaughterhouse wafting with the aroma of bone, lest the judge with the knife reap your soul, forever imprisoning it on the island and granting you no opportunity of reincarnation.
In the morning, the dim light of dawn bathed the town, accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds.
Yao Ye found the humid sea breeze in this seaside town rather discomforting compared to the bustling metropolis he was accustomed to.
However, he had no choice. His nostalgic parents had returned to care for their elders, forcing him to relocate to this remote place in the boonies.
While he silently grumbled about his predicament, Yao Ye sat attentively in his seat, listening to the teacher’s scripted lecture.
Sixteen-year-old Yao Ye maintained a poised and attentive posture. His handsome face, stylish attire, and well-kept hair set him apart in a class filled with grubby junior high school students.
Even the teacher couldn’t help but steal a glance at him.
Such a beautiful child was a rare sight in this remote town. He truly lived up to his identity as the scion of a wealthy family who hailed from outside, the teacher mused inwardly as the lesson continued.
The educational resources here were limited, and teacher salaries meager. Most educators simply went through the motions day in and day out.
Ring!
The bell signaled the end of the class.
Yao Ye retrieved his expensive leather school bag and took a sip from a thermos to quench his thirst.
Today marked his first day at this school, and many students were curious about him. But observing Yao Ye’s delicate complexion and air of privilege, they felt embarrassed and hesitant to approach.
Yao Ye glanced at his deskmate, who was shooting him admiring gazes, and decided to foster a connection.
After all, he had no idea how long his unreliable parents would stay in this rundown town, and he didn’t want to be without henchmen.
Yao Ye was naturally a friendly person. A warm smile was usually all it took to make friends, and no one could resist the charm of such a beautiful boy.
This time was no exception.
Yao Ye quickly struck up a lively conversation with his deskmate. Although he looked down on his deskmate’s slovenly appearance, Yao Ye maintained his radiant smile, radiating warmth like a miniature sun.
Seeing the amiable attitude of the new transfer student, other students who had been itching to approach couldn’t resist any longer. They gathered around Yao Ye, chatting excitedly and gazing at him with flushed faces.
They had never seen someone so beautiful on TV, let alone in person. Yao Ye surpassed TV stars in every way. The students, who had never ventured beyond their town, were enamored by him.
Yao Ye regarded his enthusiastic classmates with a smile and welcomed them all, chatting excitedly with them.
In half a day, he had already secretly become the leader of the class. Everywhere he went, he was surrounded by admirers. His cute and slightly arrogant Young Master demeanor made him especially enchanting.
The next class began shortly, but it was quickly interrupted.
A slender young man with black, semi-long hair and baggy clothing stood at the classroom door, head lowered and silent.
The teacher who was about to start the lesson cast a disdainful look at the disheveled boy and scolded him for being late, assigning him a spot at the back of the classroom as punishment.
Late for an entire period?
Wow, amazing.
Yao Ye, who was well-educated and always respected his teachers, was taken aback by the unconventional newcomer.
He studied the boy’s appearance curiously, noticing a bandage wrapped around his neck and a plethora of patches on his stained, tattered, and ill-fitting clothes.
The way he dressed suggested that he was even poorer than the other town children. Their clothes, though stained, were at least somewhat new and well-fitting.
The boy kept his head lowered, and his long black hair spread out like weeds, covering half of his face. He looked very gloomy and unpleasant.
The teacher glared at the gloomy butcher’s son and covered her nose due to the stench of blood wafting around him.
“Hurry up! You’re delaying the lesson!”
“Seriously, even if you’re surrounded by meat, you should still take a bath!” she complained in a hushed manner at a volume that the entire class could hear.
Hearing those words, the boy, who was called Yuan Ping, bowed and slowly walked towards the back of the class.
Yao Ye’s seat just so happened to be situated along Yuan Ping’s only route to the back of the classroom. He propped his chin up, watching Yuan Ping curiously with glimmering eyes, intrigued by this boy who evidently did not fit in.
As Yuan Ping passed by, Yao Ye’s sight looked up from beneath Yuan Ping’s half-covered face and coincidentally met the other’s gaze.
Even the eyes of this somber boy were dark and lifeless. Not a single speck of light could be seen in his abyssal eyes, which caught Yao Ye off guard. Nevertheless, he responded with a bright smile and a friendly wave.
Hello!
Yao Ye mouthed the word silently, still smiling.
Seeing Yao Ye’s cheerful demeanor, Yuan Ping averted his gaze as if frightened and quickly walked to his designated seat at the back of the classroom. In his haste, he almost ended up walking with his arm and leg on the same side moving in unison.
“Alright, students, let’s continue with our lesson!”
The teacher resumed the lecture, and Yao Ye shifted his gaze back to the teacher, listening attentively.
Although he had already learned this content long ago, his good manners led him to pretend to be engaged and receptive to teachings. The teacher, who had been overwhelmed by the strong scent of blood earlier, felt relieved and devoted more effort to her teaching.
No one paid much attention to the gloomy boy in the corner of the classroom, who continued to gaze at the beautiful boy in the distance. Glimmers of light appeared in his dark eyes.
So beautiful…
Yao Ye’s smile was like sunshine, warm and inviting.
He smiled at me earlier… does he not dislike me?
But how is that possible…? How could there be someone who doesn’t despise me?
Yuan Ping, who had long been the target of his classmates’ disdain and had put up with their cold indifference and mockery, couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked down at his tattered clothes with unease, his fingers entwined. The numerous scabs on his hands made his young palms appear much older than they should.
So hideous… I’m so hideous… No one could possibly like me…
Disgusting… I’m so disgusting…
A maggot who can only dream… is an existence devoid of any value…
The black-haired boy’s eyes darkened further, and his slight frame slouched, exuding an air of desolation.
After class, Yao Ye hurriedly headed to the restroom, immediately forgetting about the enigmatic boy in his previous class. A group of classmates fluttered around him.
Facilities in this town were subpar, and the public junior high school was no exception. The restrooms were old, dingy, and emitted a foul odor.
After relieving himself in the noxious atmosphere, Yao Ye emerged, holding his nose.
He didn’t release his hand until he left the toilet, his expression one of relief.
A concerned student asked Yao Ye if he was okay. Yao Ye smiled, shook his head, and assured them that he was fine.
Observing his struggle to endure and his attempt to conceal his discomfort, the classmates surrounding him unexpectedly felt ashamed and embarrassed.
They all knew Yao Ye came from a big city outside, and when they saw his beautiful and neat attire and elegant manners, they couldn’t help but feel ashamed of the simple facilities and crude environment of their small town, similar to the awkward shame that one would feel when their family wasn’t well-to-do.
“I’m sorry… Yao Ye, our town is really awful…”
“Yeah! Yao Ye, it’s the fault of the adults. They are so poor that even the toilets are in such a bad condition!”
The junior high school students chattered and complained about the impoverished parents of the town. They were at the age where they were becoming acutely aware of the poverty in their town, and were quick to blame their parents for the town’s decline, thinking that if they weren’t so useless, the town wouldn’t be in such a dilapidated state.
The more they thought about it, the angrier they became, and they vented their frustration by cursing their parents and complaining about how dilapidated the town was. They were worried that Yao Ye would think less of them because of the environment here.
If they were to place blame, it should be on the adults. They were the ones struggling with poverty, and they’d beat their kids whenever they ran into frustrating matters. It was truly abominable!
Complaining about others was a specialty of people in small towns, a habit ingrained in them since childhood. Even the children in the ivory tower of this relatively sheltered school environment were starting to develop a more worldly perspective.
Yao Ye felt disgusted when he heard the complaints of these brats, but he maintained a kind expression.
He held his head high with pride and said, “It’s okay. I’ll ask my parents to donate a toilet tomorrow. Or better yet, a whole building. Being poor doesn’t matter. My family is wealthy, and my parents love charity work the most. They’re the most generous people!”
Upon hearing these words, the teenagers, who had never witnessed the power of wealth, were left stunned. Even their annoying chatter quieted down.
Seeing this, Yao Ye began to describe his luxurious life in the city. He did so with pride but not arrogance, using a perfectly gentle tone that would not annoy his audience.
The junior high school students, who had never left their town, were completely captivated by the life Yao Ye described. In comparison to their struggling parents, Yao Ye’s family seemed to lead a fairytale-like existence.
Their admiration for Yao Ye continued to grow. They already placed a high value on money due to the influence of their families, and Yao Ye’s descriptions left them dazzled. As if captivated by Yao Ye, they followed him eagerly, trailing after him step by step.
“Bah! Poor beggar! Is that all the money he has?”
“He smells so bad! Quickly, hold him down! I’ll search him again! His family owns a slaughterhouse. There’s no way this is all the money he’s got!”
As Yao Ye approached the classroom, he heard quarrels and commotion emanating from within.
Upon entering the classroom, Yao Ye saw a group of students gathered together. The ruckus was nearly unbearable.
Yao Ye entered the classroom. Only then did he see the surrounded victim clearly.
It was the boy who was late for class earlier — Yuan Ping.
“Hurry up! You little brat! Give me the money, or I’ll pour shit on your doorstep tonight!”
A blonde gangster, dressed flamboyantly, held a knife menacingly against Yuan Ping’s cheek, his face contorted in anger.
Two other students had pinned Yuan Ping’s arms, rendering him immobile. He could only glare coldly at the blonde gangster with his dark pupils, remaining silent.
“Are you a mute?! Do you want to die? How dare you look at me like that!”
Yuan Ping’s defiant gaze further incensed the blonde gangster. He swung his knife downwards, leaving a bloody streak on Yuan Ping’s face.
Yuan Ping saw the blood on his face and his eyes appeared to be tainted by it. With a powerful push, he lunged forward and sank his teeth into the little gangster’s neck.
“Ahhhh!!! It hurts!!! Help!!!”
The blonde gangster let out a piercing scream as Yuan Ping’s sharp teeth dug into his flesh, causing blood to spurt out profusely. He cried out in agony, writhing as if he were a duck with its neck trapped.
The two gangsters holding Yuan Ping’s arms were left shocked and stood frozen, not knowing what to do.
TL note: Hi! I’ve noticed that the chapters in this novel tend to be of rather uneven length. For example, in this arc, the shortest chapter is 3268 chinese characters, and the longest is 5952 characters, which is almost double the word count. Therefore, I’d like to ask for your opinions on whether I should:
- Split long chapters up into two parts and continue weekly releases, or
- Do not split long chapters and release whenever the chapter is ready. This means that some releases might take 10+ days instead of the usual 7. This also means that the release schedule will no longer be every Sunday, which might make it harder for you all to keep track of updates.
Thanks! Looking forward to everyone’s feedback~
This arc seems very interesting!! :0
I think splitting long chapters into parts is better personally!
I prefer longer chapters even if I have to wait
Thanks for picking this up!!! It’s seriously one of my favorites!! 🥺🥺 Personally, I think releasing longer chapters whole but whenever you’re done with them is better, because it also gives you a little breathing room if life happens. Don’t feel too anxious about sticking to a schedule and just do whatever works best for you! ^_^