“The mud figurines from Li San Hospital require the faith of the living. That’s why this figurine didn’t kill these humans but wipe away their humanity, turning humans into pets.” Big Dog thought back to what he had seen at the hospital. “I remember seeing a mud figurine with an animal head. It should be behind this.” Each mud figurine had its own special power. Gao Ming’s horizon was broadened.
“It’s fine helping others, but don’t put your own safety at risk.” After so many incidents, Gao Ming treated the big dog as his family.
“I’ll be fine.” The black fur fluttered in the shadow. The big dog appeared to be more mature than before. He sat beside Gao Ming. It was like the night putting a layer of protection on Gao Ming, “To become a Dream Ghost, one has to collect the living’s faith and will. I’ve been hiding in my own lair. Why would people put their faith in a monster like me? How can I get people’s approval?” The big dog put his head against Gao Ming, “But slowly, I realise there are many people like me in this world. They have human skin but live no different from an animal.” The fur enveloped the barking man on the ground. The big dog sent him into his resentment room. He disconnected the man’s connection to a God and became the man’s new God. “Perhaps I can become a Dream Ghost in my own way. Even though I don’t have Headmistress Yan’s noble aspirations and Boss Zhang’s bright and gentle soul, I’ve tasted all kinds of despair in the dark. None of the torture and pain swallowed me.” The barking disappeared. The poor man who had been modified by the pet company lay peacefully inside the big dog’s resentment room. His humanity had been taken away. His remaining will assimilated into the big dog. The blind man’s dark eyes glowed with some starlight. He still couldn’t see anything, but the world in his eyes had started to change.
Even with just one man’s will, the big dog’s presence strengthened. This shocked Gao Ming, “This figurine’s power matches you highly. It looks like we might not need to destroy it. Trapping it inside your resentment room might not be a bad idea.”
“My resentment room actually expanded…” Sensing the man’s soul, the big dog found a new direction, “This company has many modified souls. I want to save them before the figurine knows what’s happening, just in case it decides to kill all of its disciples.”
The living humans in the building were faith sources prepared by the figurine. Therefore, the big dog’s worry was not unfounded.
“Alright. We’ll follow your plan.” The big dog’s fur brushed past Gao Ming. He leapt into the shadow.
“This is not bad.” Gao Ming felt glad. It was like he had witnessed a close friend of his had walked out of depression. “I need to work hard on my end. I have to distract the mud figurine, so it won’t go after the big dog.”
“Did something happen to him?”
The biggest fear was the unknown. They had no idea what had happened in the dark.
“What was his name again?” Luo Dong felt a little guilty. Gao Ming took his place because Luo Dong had a family to look after.
“That place is darker than before! There’s also a chilly presence!” Yu Ruolong started to climb up the fence. The hostess felt something too. She removed her contact lenses. She bent down to pretend to tie her shoelaces, but actually, her fingers touched the blood band around her ankle. When they encountered the mutated monster on the third floor, she was not as cautious.
“Something’s wrong with the barking…” The hostess looked around. Her expression was completely different from before. “I can see a big dog!”
“Quick! We need to go!” Yu Ruohu stopped hesitating.
“What are you still waiting for?” Yu Ruolong shouted at Luo Dong. “Do you want to kill your family?”
Yu Ruolong’s casual comment seemed to pierce Luo Dong’s deepest wound. His eyes turned red as he stared at Yu Ruolong. Yu Ruolong had no idea what was wrong. He wanted to help them, so he reached out to grab Luo Dong’s son. Luo Dong had no power, but his son could sense the presence of ghosts. He mustn’t die because he was like a radar for the group.
Yu Ruolong’s fingers closed around the kid’s arm. He wanted to pull the kid to the fence when he realised something was wrong. Luo Dong’s son had no body temperature. �
“Don’t touch him!” Luo Dong was agitated. He carried his bag and shoved Yu Ruolong away roughly. The unknown danger was approaching, but the players were fighting among themselves.
The hostess, who had been looking at the big dog, turned towards Luo Dong. Her eyes wandered between Luo Dong’s family. Then, she concluded, “Is your family already dead?”
Once she said that, the duo from the Catfish Gang felt their scalps go numb.
“No wonder your son can detect the ghosts. Since that’s the truth, Midnight Horror has to reassess your situation.” The hostess took out her phone to record something. Midnight Horror was born to sow discord among horror game players. One of their missions was to recruit potential members from the horror game players. They would turn them against their former mates.
Luo Dong had experienced many anomalies, and he valued his family. This was why Midnight Horror targeted him. His family was his power and his weakness for them to control him.
The hostess came for Luo Dong, but after she figured out the truth, her assessment of Luo Dong changed. His family was already dead. That was not good for the investigation centre.
The hostess abandoned Luo Dong. Yu Ruolong and Yu Ruohu also moved away from him. Only Luo Dong and his family stood there.
Luo Dong had no idea what was in the dark. He only knew that his son was scared. The hostess and the two brothers wouldn’t let him get close to the pool. He was cornered.
“I knew this would happen.” Luo Dong shielded his son. “It has been my son who’s helping you. Look at you now. I should have left when I could.”
Gao Ming’s voice came from the dark. He had witnessed everything. His admiration for Luo Dong rose.