Wen Dong solemnly inquired, “So, the deaths of your first three roommates are actually not closely related to you, and it’s very likely that they have nothing to do with the ghost game, but rather because of Gu Xuan?”
“Uncertain,” Tong Xiaosong expressed his internal conflicts, “I actually suspect that Gu Xuan has a twin brother. Sometimes, a smell similar to burning paper, like the one in a copper basin, appears on his body. When he has this smell, his entire demeanor changes drastically, as if he becomes a different person…”
Frowning, Wen Dong asked, “Did the person who violated you that day also have this smell on him?”
“Yes, because of this smell, I suspect it was Gu Xuan that night,” Tong Xiaosong thought for a moment, then shook his head, “Before, Gu Xuan, who helped me with farm work and gave me the copper basin, also had this smell. The Gu Xuan with this smell gives me a good impression. He has a gentle and polite demeanor, always smiling gently with an easygoing look in his eyes. However, the usual Gu Xuan gives me a sense of fierceness and arrogance.”
Wen Dong remarked, “Assuming there are two Gu Xuans, that’s a conflict, as you’ve mentioned that the good Gu Xuan is likely the one who violated you in the Four Corners game, which contradicts your impression of him.”
Pausing for a moment, Wen Dong continued, “But assuming there’s only one Gu Xuan, and a catalyst causes his mood to change unpredictably, and that catalyst is the smell…”
The other three simultaneously exclaimed, “Copper basin!”
The four of them redirected their gaze to the copper basin on the table that they had ignored for a long time.
The copper basin still contained food, presenting a tranquil and peaceful appearance as if untouched by the passage of time.
Amidst this chaotic array of clues, Wu Mabo struggled to form a question, “So why did Gu Xuan give you the copper basin, and with what purpose?”
Without waiting for Tong Xiaosong to respond, Wen Dong furrowed his brow, “Didn’t Gu Xuan claim it was a good thing, given to Tong Xiaosong because he liked him? Contradictions, contradictions everywhere. The only thing we can be certain of is not following what Gu Xuan says, as it might lead to death.”
Tong Xiaosong pondered, “What if we consider them as two separate individuals?”
Wen Dong replied, “That’s also contradictory. If, as you say, the Gu Xuan with a scent is the good one, then why would he violate you in the Four Corners game? Why did your three roommates die right after you left them? Why would he give you the troublesome item like the copper basin? What’s his relationship with the other Gu Xuan? Why are both Gu Xuans targeting you? One can be explained as affection, but what about the other? Does he also have feelings for you?”
Tong Xiaosong immediately felt overwhelmed.
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.
Qe Zjyb, j ragjlutaobgkjgv qfgrbc ktb vlrilxfv mbwqifzlalfr, mbeivc’a tbiv yjmx tlr ogeragjalbc, “Mbg oemx’r rjxf, kts lr Xe Wejc rb vjwc mbwqilmjafv?”
Qfc Gbcu rlutfv, “Lf’r wbgf agbeyifrbwf atjc j utbra.”
Pc atf wlvra bo rlifcmf, Bf Olc, ktb tjv yffc delfa jii jibcu, jrxfv atf wbra mgemlji defralbc, “Vb, abwbggbk, vb kf ub bg cba?”
Everyone fell into silence.
In the quiet moment, Wu Mabo’s gaze shifted to the copper basin.
He approached the copper basin, clasped his hands together, and whispered, “If you truly have a spirit, I implore you to enlighten me in my dreams tonight. I am willing to pay the price, but it must be a cost borne by me alone and cannot involve others. Please…”
Wen Dong widened his eyes, “Are you crazy?”
Tong Xiaosong anxiously exclaimed, “Have you forgotten last time? What if the price it wants is too steep?”
He quickly stood up and went to the copper basin, saying, “You are my copper basin; you must not listen to him! What he just asked for doesn’t count! You must not listen!”
Wen Dong, feeling frustrated, scratched his head, “Can you guys stop talking to the copper basin? Caution is key! You guys… sigh!”
With the copper basin present, Wen Dong couldn’t voice any further suspicions about the basin.
After all, this thing had the ability to torment people in their dreams, and even Wen Dong was apprehensive.
***
At night, Wu Mabo suddenly woke up.
As soon as he sat up, Wen Dong turned on the light.
Tong Xiaosong and Ke Lin, who hadn’t been sleeping, also sat up when the light came on.
Wen Dong sighed, “Da Bo, tell me first, what price did you pay?”
Wu Mabo, with a pale face, hurriedly got up, somewhat dazed, “I saw Tang Yuxin!”
“What!?” Ke Lin immediately stood up, urgently asking, “Where is she? Is she safe?”
Wu Mabo, with a hint of fear, said, “I dreamed of a very strange place, like a peculiar house. Tang Yuxin was trapped in that house, surrounded by many bizarre things. They were humanoid but not quite human, gnawing on her flesh, tearing at her…”
Ke Lin asked, “Did you see where she was!?”
Wu Mabo nodded abruptly, “I saw, but I don’t know where it is! It’s very unfamiliar, I’ve never seen it before, and it’s strange. It feels very discordant, but I can’t figure it out. The streets, houses, and pedestrians there are all very strange… Oh, right! It seems there’s not much light! It’s all eerie, with many dark places. The houses are like, like, like paper mâché? Yes! They are particularly similar to the paper mâché houses in the funeral flower shop!”
“It’s over.” Ke Lin sighed, sitting weakly on the bed in a daze. “What if she’s dead? It’s all my fault. If I had noticed she was missing, I should have gone to find her immediately.”
“No, no, she’s not dead.” Wu Mabo swallowed, his throat dry, and said, “Don’t worry, let me think slowly. It’s a bit difficult to recall things from the dream. Don’t rush.”
Facing the scrutinizing gaze of everyone, Wu Mabo continued, “The voice in my dream said that we need to cooperate with Gu Xuan’s ghost game. It claimed that the method to rescue Tang Yuxin is within it.”
“Damn!” Wen Dong couldn’t control himself from blurting out a curse.
Tong Xiaosong, with a pale face, took a deep breath. “I’ll go. I’ll go alone to play the ghost game with Gu Xuan. All of this is because of me, and it should be me to put an end to it.”
“It’s not because of you. Don’t say that.” Wu Mabo waved his hand, furrowing his brow as he struggled to recall his dream. He said, “It said it’s about to end, everything is about to end…”
Wen Dong abruptly stood up. “Gu Xuan said it has already begun, and the copper basin told you that everything is about to end. Is it starting or ending?”
Wu Mabo, holding his head, sat on Ke Lin’s bed, feeling a headache. “I don’t know. That’s what it said. Anyway, we have to participate in this ghost game.”
Seeing that Wu Mabo was not in good condition, Wen Dong hurriedly jumped down from the upper bunk and asked, “You haven’t said, what price did it take?”
Wu Mabo took a deep breath, whispered, “It took my vitality. It said it’s no big loss for me, and I just need to replenish it, too tired. I’ll go to sleep first…”
After saying that, Wu Mabo tried to climb onto the bed but staggered a bit.
Ke Lin quickly said, “Let’s switch beds tonight. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Wu Mabo shook his head, climbed onto Ke Lin’s bunk, and lay down, saying, “Just feels like being excessively tired from exercise. Resting for a bit will be fine.”
Wen Dong sighed deeply, “Tomorrow, I’ll go with you guys. Gu Xuan is too cunning, and we have to be on guard.”
Wu Mabo, struggling in his dying moments, closed his eyes and mumbled, “No, both you and Ke Lin must stay here. In case something happens to Tong Xiaosong and me, even if you can’t save us, you’ll be two informed people. Otherwise, if we’re all doomed and Gu Xuan kills us, there won’t be anyone left to accuse him.”
Tong Xiaosong clenched his teeth and said firmly, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect Wu Mabo. I won’t let him die, even if it costs me my life!”
Wu Mabo, even with his eyes closed, couldn’t help but smile.
Ke Lin glanced at Tong Xiaosong with a smile.
Wen Dong sighed and instructed, “Da Bo, tomorrow, make sure to look after Tong Xiaosong. He’s a bit delicate with those slender arms and legs…”
Tong Xiaosong: …
Ah… I’m waiting for ml and mc to finally meet….
Thank u for the chapter. You are the best(◍•ᴗ•◍)❤
ˁ•ᴗ•ˀつ～ 💞
Its getting interesting.. cant wait for the final showdown between Gu Xuan and Zhi Xian
Sameee XD
Tong xiaosong who was shoot in the foot while laying down XD
Dear xiaosong, if you say that basin was yours why its not you the one who make a wish so the basin go to your dream, rather than making wu mabo always take the risk to get visited in his dream? Its that not xiaosong goal? Aaaaagh when can baby meet his ml
i cant wait to see the fight between gu xuan and zhi xian omg i want