IGSB – Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Who's the Murderer? (Part 9)
When Xia Zhiyi and Jing Ruyu reached the third floor, the corridor, enveloped in a green glow, exuded a strange and gloomy aura.
They tiptoed to open the door of room 304. The room was silent; the NPCs were already asleep.
Looking towards Zhou Xiuxiu's bed, they could see a person lying there in the faint light.
Xia Zhiyi cautiously called out, “Liu Xue?”
The person on the bed stirred at the sound, lowered the blanket that was covering their head, and looked towards the door with a face full of pleasant surprise.
The heavy stone in Liu Xue's heart finally fell. She happily whispered, “You're finally back!”
Seeing that the curfew was approaching and Xia Zhiyi and Jing Ruyu still hadn't returned, she had unconsciously started to worry that something had happened to them outside, that they wouldn't be able to come back.
She was the only player left in the room, the NPCs were all asleep, and the silent, dangerous night made her feel increasingly isolated and helpless.
Thankfully, they had returned safe and sound. Thank goodness…
Seeing that Liu Xue had already taken the initiative to handle the task of getting information from the wall, they closed the door with peace of mind and returned to their own beds to lie down.
Xia Zhiyi slept with Jing Ruyu as usual.
She had no intention of sleeping on the top bunk, and Jing Ruyu had no intention of sleeping separately from her.
They had tacitly accepted the act of sharing a bed, and thanks to the environment, neither of them felt there was anything wrong with it.
When her head touched the pillow and her back rested against the bed, her tense nerves finally relaxed.
In this perilous night, they could finally take a proper breath.
In the darkness, Xia Zhiyi unconsciously looked in Jing Ruyu's direction and pursed her lips.
In truth, they hadn't come back completely unscathed.
Jing Ruyu was skilled, but she was still carrying a whole person, which was a hindrance.
Her sleeve had been torn, and her cheek had almost been scratched. The sight had made Xia Zhiyi's heart pound with fear.
But she still hadn't let go of her, not even uttering a word of fatigue.
She had said she wouldn't.
She said she wouldn't leave her behind.
This person before her, whether before or after their breakup, had always been just as good to her.
Sometimes, she even wanted to ask, was this kindness “benevolence” or “love”?
—Jing Ruyu, did you really break up with me because you didn't like me anymore?
Xia Zhiyi shifted slightly. She neither said nor asked, silently suppressing the untimely question in her heart.
After a moment, she reached out and quietly pinched Jing Ruyu's clothes, unable to resist confirming one more time, “Are you hurt?”
Her voice was a little cautious and a little nervous, afraid that she was really injured somewhere and wasn't telling her.
This voice fell into Jing Ruyu's ears, filled with a cute familiarity that made her unable to hold back a smile, her lips unconsciously curving in the darkness.
“No,” she replied softly, her voice pleasant, “don't worry.”
Warm breath brushed against skin, and an ambiguous atmosphere arose.
Xia Zhiyi was suddenly speechless, not knowing what to say.
She felt her face heating up, felt her heart pounding again—she was completely unable to resist Jing Ruyu's proximity.
“That's good.”
Her reply was slightly clumsy. After saying it, she turned to face the wall, as if afraid Jing Ruyu would discover that her heart still beat for her.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
No, I can't be like this.
Xia Zhiyi, you can't be so pathetic. You've already broken up, it's over, there's no future, so stop falling for her again!
You have to let go of this feeling—she can, so you can too!
Don't think about it anymore, don't think about it anymore…
It's all the New World's fault. If the New World didn't pull so many stunts, you wouldn't have to share a bed with your ex-girlfriend, and so closely too!
That's right!
It's all the New World's fault!!
By cursing this dog of a New World, she calmed down considerably—the New World, her personal calming tool.
Jing Ruyu watched her turn over, gazed at her back, and remained silent.
Her fingertips twitched slightly, but she did nothing. Eventually, she also turned to face the other way.
Different thoughts, sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams.
But soon, their thoughts converged on the same thing—the answer was already known, they could answer it tomorrow, and then all they had to do was find the ferry crossing, and everything would be fine.
But the thought of Zhou Xiuxiu's ordeal made their hearts heavy.
Perhaps Zhou Xiuxiu jumped from the building because she couldn't bear it anymore…
Sigh…
They sighed silently.
A girl in the prime of her life, with a bright and splendid future, who dreamed of getting into the best university and studying in the best mathematics department. All of it was destroyed by that little bastard Sun Jun's arrogance and disregard for others. It was truly upsetting.
This was an instance where knowing the answer brought no joy.
In the silence, the time turned to 11:05 PM, and the Political and Educational Office appeared right on schedule.
Outside the door, heavy footsteps fell in the long corridor, shattering the dead silence and igniting an even more terrifying atmosphere.
The monster paced outside, patrolling, tireless and ceaseless.
Liu Xue lay alone on Zhou Xiuxiu's bed, her eyes open, listening to the sounds outside.
With Xia Zhiyi and Jing Ruyu present, she wasn't lonely, and a bit of courage grew in her heart. She began to wait nervously and expectantly for the information to appear on the wall.
What kind of information would it be?
Related to the answer or to the ferry crossing for clearing the instance?
Whatever, either one would be good, as long as they got something!
Xia Zhiyi remembered the matter of the wall and also turned to face Liu Xue's direction.
They waited in silence. After what felt like an eternity, the red words from the previous night finally emerged on the blank wall.
The three of them were instantly filled with anticipation.
Liu Xue immediately began to read the words on the wall, afraid they would disappear if she read too slowly.
At this moment, the white wall was like the surface of water, with lines of the mystery floating leisurely upon it.
Each of these lines had a scratch mark over it, with the faint outline of words visible underneath.
The scratches were deep, as if carved with intense hatred, a shocking sight.
But unfortunately, not all the words were clear.
Some were blended with smeared, indelible bloodstains, pitifully revealing only a stroke here and a slash there, making it impossible to discern the overall character.
So, looking over the entire wall, Liu Xue only managed to grasp a few pieces of information that were clearly visible.
“Sun Jun,” “zi,” “happy?”, “bitch,” “go home”…
A set of phrases that made no sense to her.
Among these words and characters, only “go home” was not covered by scratches; all the others were marred.
The name “Sun Jun” was covered with several horrifying scratches, as if the person holding the knife wanted to erase him from the world, to make him disappear forever.
For some reason, Liu Xue felt very uncomfortable reading these phrases, and her mood plummeted.
Something very serious must have happened.
With this thought, her hand unconsciously tightened its grip on the blanket.
She turned her head towards Jing Ruyu's bed, preparing to signal that she had finished reading, but as she turned, the ghostly figure on the bed board above suddenly pressed down!
She instinctively covered her mouth to keep from screaming, her eyes wide as she was forced to look at the ghost, with nowhere to run.
—The Ghost King, Zhou Xiuxiu.
The Ghost King's appearance was too sudden.
Xia Zhiyi and Jing Ruyu watched as she emerged from under Ming Hui's bed board, plunged towards Liu Xue, and then mischievously stopped just inches away, forcing Liu Xue to look directly into her eyes.
Fortunately, Liu Xue was quick enough to cover her mouth first, preventing herself from making a sound that would alert the Political and Educational Office outside.
The next moment, Zhou Xiuxiu's face began to rot, oozing crimson blood until her entire face became a bloody mess, unexpectedly replaying the tragic scene from the first day.
Caught off guard, Liu Xue experienced firsthand what “visual impact” meant—she was about to vomit!
She hurriedly covered her eyes with her other hand.
If I don't look and don't make a sound, I won't meet the death conditions, and the Ghost King can't do anything to me!
Sure enough, when Zhou Xiuxiu saw her cover her eyes and mouth, she didn't do anything to her. She scoffed and slowly rose. “Daring to sleep in the Ghost King's bed, you've got some nerve.”
Liu Xue didn't dare look at her at all.
Jing Ruyu and Xia Zhiyi, however, were still observing her actions.
Xia Zhiyi even whispered a reminder, “Keep it down, don't attract the Political and Educational Office.”
Liu Xue: “…”
Jing Ruyu: “…”
Zhou Xiuxiu: “…”
Zhou Xiuxiu suddenly found it amusing. “You think I'm afraid of the Political and Educational Office?”
Has she not figured out the situation?
Why would the Ghost King be afraid of those things outside??
“I am,” Xia Zhiyi replied earnestly in a breathy voice.
What if the Ghost King's talking could also attract the Political and Educational Office? Wouldn't they all be doomed?
No, that's not allowed. Today, even the Ghost King must abide by the rules of the Political and Educational Office!
Zhou Xiuxiu: “…”
Considering her previous attempt to trick information out of her, she genuinely felt this person was quite bold at times…
Zhou Xiuxiu turned away, ignoring her. She raised her hand and gently caressed the red words on the wall, her deep eyes seeming to gaze into her own past.
“What did you see?”
She asked this inscrutable question, but without waiting for an answer, she smiled again.
“I'll be waiting for your answer. I hope you can give me a satisfactory reply.”
She left.
Her figure was like the wind, brushing past Liu Xue and passing straight through the door, leaving only the cold, eerie air she brought with her.
She really was a free Ghost King, a free soul, going wherever she pleased.
As Xia Zhiyi thought this, she silently pulled the blanket over Jing Ruyu.
Just don't bring the cold air next time, it's too freezing, my ex-girlfriend can't take it.
The room returned to calm.
The three of them lay in bed, each facing the ghost on the bed board above them.
Apparently, the Ghost King wasn't so merciful as to take the ghost on Liu Xue's bed board with her when she left.
Liu Xue closed her eyes in agony, silently pulled the blanket over her head, and prayed for morning to come quickly.
Xia Zhiyi and Jing Ruyu were much calmer.
The unknown is the most terrifying. Now that they knew the bed board ghost's attack condition, there was nothing to fear.
Xia Zhiyi even began to study their ghost.
Hmm, its skin was just a bit pale, its hair and tongue were a bit long, its eye sockets were a bit deep, it was a bit cold, and its gaze was a bit fierce…
Compared to the Ghost King with the free soul, this was nothing!
The ghost under the bed board just stared back at her.
Then it saw her give a sweet smile and say in a very, very soft voice, “Good night.”
Then she closed her eyes to sleep, looking forward to the next day.
The ghost stuck to the bed board was suddenly baffled, a hint of confusion showing on its pale face.
This person is actually saying good night to me?
I've been dead a long time and never seen anything like it…
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