“Da Zai Electrical Supply Company’s Employee Residential Area (Group Horror Map): Normal danger rating. Mutation progress: 15 percent. Shadow coverage: 20 percent. Surviving players: 17. Chance of easter eggs: 1 percent.
“The faceless God has been released by the investigation centre from Li San Hospital. The twisted faith took over one after another anxious soul. Your once-familiar friends and families have turned into something else. Something important has been taken from them. You only need to do one thing: Find the faceless mud figurine and destroy it.
“There’s a chance to acquire cursed objects from Li San Hospital on this map. All the cursed objects can be traded and identified within the forum.
“When the original rules have collapsed, the new rules will be in your hands.”
After confirming the mission details, Fan Li led the team into the corridor.
“There are still 17 surviving players here. Other than us, there are other players.” Bai Shu scanned the information. Soon, the number rose to 19. “As the forum releases the mission, more and more players will show up. We need to grab the advantage…” Just as he said that, the number dropped to 18. One of them had fallen.
“How can you treat such a dangerous thing as a game?” Teacher Liu couldn’t fathom this. She just wanted to go home.
“Everyone feels scared but hiding is not our style.” Fan Li gave a friendly smile. “Sometimes, facing the danger head-on is a joy too.”
When he was a police officer, Fan Li encountered many things that made him helpless. He wanted to help people but he couldn’t. The tragedy was coming and the whole city was being turned upside-down. He wanted to grab his fate in his own hands and try his best to help others.
“Follow me. Stay in formation.” Fan Li took a deep breath and was the first to enter the corridor. He was not a rash person. He dared to walk in front because he had gained something from another anomaly. Fan Li switched on the light on his phone. His information on Dead Water Form flashed. Among the basics, his Strong Heart, Brain Power and Attachment were 1. His Strong Body was 6. The most shocking was his Yin Soul. Most people had their Yin Soul value at 0. However, Fan Li’s Yin Soul value was at 11. Without possessing a ghost tattoo, Fan Li appeared like he had swallowed a ghost.
The front door was left half-open. A torn children’s clothes dangled near the door. A light rotten scent flowed out of the room. Liu Jiaru nodded. She shrunk between Ou Yang Susu and Brother Lee. Her body trembled involuntarily. The shaking of her teammates’ shadows frightened her. If suddenly everyone turned away from her, she might lose her mind.
Fan Li had no idea what Liu Jiaru was thinking. He slowly opened the front door. The living room was in ruins. Everything was destroyed. The child’s textbooks and half-eaten food were scattered on the ground. The room doors were left ajar. However, there was no one around.
“Are you sure your student is here?” Fan Li was very kind, but that didn’t mean he was gullible. Bai Shu and Sister Zhang guarded the door while the others entered the house.
“What a mess. This place doesn’t feel like a home.” Brother Lee pinched his nose. He was sensitive towards smells.
“If not for me, our home will be messier than this.” Ou Yang Susu stood beside Lee Caicheng. They hadn’t stopped arguing. However, when they were in a dangerous location, they’d subconsciously stand close to each other.
“Be careful of the bedroom. When I first came here, Xiao Guo’s mother was in the bedroom using the mirror. The mirror relates to how she transforms into a monster.” With Teacher Liu’s warning, Fan Li signalled for the others to be quiet as he slunk into the bedroom.
“The mirror looks normal.” Fan Li studied the mirror. Other than the cracks, the mirror was insignificant.
“How is that possible?” Teacher Liu gathered her courage to approach the mirror. She looked at her reflection and winked and waved. Everything was normal. However, just as she wanted to reach out to touch the surface of the mirror, her reflection suddenly grinned.
“It’s grinning!” Teacher Liu immediately pulled her hand back. The others had no idea what she was talking about.
The landline rang. The group looked at each other strangely. It was unusual for people of their time to use landlines.
Fan Li peeled off the bedspread. There was an old red phone under it.
After sharing a look with his team, he pressed the speaker button.
Something that sounded like the scraping of fish scales came from the phone. A few seconds later, an old lady said, “Xiao Guo’s mom, our neighbourhood committee is having a new activity tonight. Why don’t you bring Xiao Guo here? Her face is so cute.
“Xiao Guo’s mom? Are you there? If you don’t come, we’ll go to your home. It’s pointless even if you block your doors and windows.”
Just as the silence was about to oppress them, Bai Shu blurted out in a hurry, “Auntie, I’m Xiao Guo’s teacher. Xiao Guo’s mother told me to come over but she is not home at the moment. I wonder if she has already left to find you.”
“Xiao Guo’s teacher?” The old lady paused. The sound of scraping became more conspicuous. A few seconds later, the old lady laughed kindly, “Then, they are probably here already. In that case… Why don’t you join us? We’re in the activity room on the fourth floor of Block 7. When you arrive, remember to knock on the door.”
The call ended. The group didn’t know what to do.
“Our goal is to destroy the faceless figurine. The figurine should be in the activity room. This is a great chance for us.” Bai Shu was both scared and excited.
“Based on current information, the neighbourhood committee probably has been taken over by the faceless figurine already. They have the advantage in numbers. We’ll be overwhelmed if we go there.” Fan Li scratched his chin. “There should be other survivors in the neighbourhood. Since all the monsters are in the activity room, we can use this opportunity to find the other survivors, and figure out more things about this place before considering what to do next.”
“You have a point.” Brother Lee nodded. He turned to Gao Ming, “Brother, what do you think?”
“This is my first time doing this. I’ll just follow your instructions.” Gao Ming was shy and didn’t like to speak.