Jiang Ming’s heart plunged into an icy abyss. The warmth and peace that had existed just moments ago vanished without a trace.
In that instant, he truly and deeply realized he had crossed over into a world brimming with The Weird and terror.
Faced with this reality, he understood he could only struggle and fight for survival.
Yet, even so, not a shred of regret surfaced in Jiang Ming’s mind.
Because in this world, he at least had a chance to resist, an opportunity to change his fate, to fight for the possibility of survival.
In contrast, returning to his previous life would mean being imprisoned in a sealed body, enduring the torment of loneliness, slowly devoured by the monster named solitude.
That kind of prolonged, hopeless existence was more unbearable than any horror!
Thinking of this, Jiang Ming’s gaze became unprecedentedly resolute.
He began to immerse himself fully in his current environment. All the Rules and clues collided and were analyzed in his mind, like an intricate intellectual game.
His expression shifted constantly, his inner self undergoing intense turmoil.
Finally, Jiang Ming took a deep breath, as if shedding all burdens.
A relieved smile appeared on his face as he softly uttered a single word: “Okay!”
The word seemed to possess magic. As soon as it left his lips, the surroundings instantly brightened.
The darkness that had enveloped the area receded rapidly, as if dispersed by sunlight, and the outside light streamed back into the room.
Uncle Li’s split lips and three tongues disappeared, restoring his originally kindly appearance.
“Haha, it’s still Xiao Ming who cares about this old bag of bones. Just don’t know when you can bring it to your Uncle Li.”
Just as Jiang Ming was about to say something, Uncle Li started talking to himself:
“Forget it, I won’t trouble you. Uncle Li will come to pick it up personally tomorrow.”
“You better not lie to Uncle Li, or else Uncle Li will have to spank you.”
Hearing this joking tone, Jiang Ming could only force a smile and play along:
“Haha, Uncle Li, how could I lie to you?”
Uncle Li looked very pleased. Picking up an apple from the table, he said, “Come, come, good child, have an apple.”
“No, thank you, Uncle Li. I have things to do at home, I should get going.”
“That’s fine too. You head back first. Remember to leave the door open for Uncle Li tomorrow.”
“Goodbye, Uncle Li.”
Jiang Ming turned and left. Watching his departing figure, the kindness in Uncle Li’s eyes vanished, replaced by greed and brutality!
But after a moment of internal struggle, he shook his head, picked up the half-eaten apple from the table, and took a bite. Frowning, he threw it into the trash can:
“Indeed, only fresh ones taste good. Once they dry out, they lose their flavor!”
A rustling sound came from the trash can. The room was enveloped in darkness, and Uncle Li’s figure gradually faded away.
………
Outside the door, Jiang Ming’s face was slightly pale. He took a deep look back at the door number. He had genuinely felt the aura of Death just now.
And this was only the second day, still within the golden forty-eight hours, yet The Weird was already this ferocious.
If he passed this timeframe, it wouldn’t be impossible for this Uncle Li to come to his door and kill him. Truly worthy of an S-Rank difficulty Ghost Story!
Jiang Ming shook his head, calming his agitated heart. Time was tight; he needed to handle the urgent matter first. He walked to the side, to the electrical meter box, took tools from his bag, and prepared to start stealing electricity.
Jiang Ming put on gloves, opened the meter box, observed the wiring, and after confirming, began his work.
It had been many years since Jiang Ming had done this kind of thing. He was a bit rusty at first, but as time passed, he grew more and more proficient…
Sweat poured down Jiang Ming’s face. He finally managed everything and wanted to wipe the sweat from his brow, but seeing the dirty gloves, he gave up.
Just then, a piece of paper was handed to him from the side. Overjoyed, Jiang Ming took it without thinking, wiped the sweat from his face, and didn’t forget to say thank you.
“Thank you!”
But as soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Ming froze. Fear surged over him like a tide. He felt every muscle in his body tense, almost immobile.
He mechanically turned his neck, slowly looking over his shoulder. Standing beside him was a beautiful woman, smiling warmly at him.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Ming? Are you that happy to see Mom?”
Boom!
Hearing this, Jiang Ming felt as if struck by lightning. Cold sweat instantly broke out, covering his entire face.
The “Mom” beside him, seeing Jiang Ming’s reaction, smiled even more brightly, as if genuinely concerned about her son.
She took a few more tissues from her pocket, carefully wiping the sweat from Jiang Ming’s face, while softly saying:
“Xiao Ming, why are you sweating so much? Are you sick? Hurry and pack up your things, let’s go back and take some medicine!”
Her tone was gentle. As she helped Jiang Ming pack his things, she took hold of his left hand, as if truly a good mother caring for her son.
Jiang Ming’s face was expressionless. He exerted force in his wrist, but felt his hand clamped as if by pliers, completely unable to break free.
What the hell is this?!
Isn’t this only the second day?!
Why are all these demons and monsters showing up already?!
Jiang Ming internally screamed curses, but it was utterly useless.
“What’s wrong? Xiao Ming, hurry up.” “Mom” urged again, pulling Jiang Ming forward.
Jiang Ming struggled once more. Feeling the absolute disparity in strength, he took a deep breath, as if making a certain resolution.
He quickly changed his expression, forcing a smile:
“Ah, it must be too hot in the hallway. Mom, let’s go, let’s go home.”
“Mom” smiled radiantly: “Truly Mom’s good son. Let’s go.”
Though she said that, after taking two steps, “Mom” noticed Jiang Ming’s body beginning to tremble uncontrollably, as if terrified beyond measure.
The closer they got to home, the more violently Jiang Ming’s body shook. Yet “Mom” seemed indifferent to it all, merely pulling Jiang Ming along.
Finally, facing the familiar door, “Mom” gave Jiang Ming a slight push forward, gesturing for him to open the door, while her hand still gripped his wrist tightly.
Jiang Ming’s trembling hand slowly took the key from his pocket. The chilling aura emanating from beside him grew increasingly terrifying.
The fear in Jiang Ming’s heart intensified. He understood that the moment he opened this door, what awaited him next would be Death!
“Gulp—”
Jiang Ming couldn’t help but swallow. Feeling “Mom’s” grip growing stronger, he could only steel himself and slowly bring the key closer to the keyhole.
The closer the key got to the hole, the more Jiang Ming’s hand trembled…
Clink!
At that moment, seemingly from excessive fear, Jiang Ming’s hand shook, and the key fell to the ground. The sound was especially piercing in the silent corridor.
“Mom’s” gaze was immediately drawn to the fallen key. She slightly lowered her head to look.
Now!
Jiang Ming seized this split-second opportunity. The trembling in his body ceased instantly, replaced by sharpness and resolve in his eyes!
With a sudden forceful pull forward with his left hand, “Mom,” caught off guard, lurched forward.
Before she could adjust, Jiang Ming’s right leg powered up, delivering a fierce kick to her abdomen. Under this heavy blow, “Mom’s” grip on Jiang Ming’s left hand slipped significantly.
Jiang Ming pressed his advantage, delivering several more powerful kicks.
But what Jiang Ming didn’t expect was that even after such heavy blows, the few remaining fingers of “Mom’s” hand still clamped down on him like a vise.
Moreover, because of Jiang Ming’s move, the “Mom” before him seemed thoroughly enraged.
Her eyes turned blood-red, the black hair behind her flew wildly, and tentacles writhed beneath her skin, as if something was trying to burst out.
The strength in her fingers also began to increase continuously, as if trying to dig her fingers into Jiang Ming’s hand!
Of course, Jiang Ming wouldn’t just stand by and watch “Mom” completely transform into a monster without doing anything.
After all, he couldn’t handle “Mom” even without her transformation. If the transformation completed, he could only wait for death.
But if his full-force attack couldn’t deal with “Mom,” what should he do?
Jiang Ming quickly provided the answer. He raised his right hand, extended his middle finger and thumb, then brought the two fingers together. With a slight exertion, accompanied by a “snap,” he snapped his fingers!
Under “Mom’s” puzzled gaze, a huge vending machine materialized out of thin air, crashing heavily onto “Mom’s” face!
It was Jiang Ming’s C-Rank Talent, the Vending Machine. Jiang Ming had spent two Sanity Points to summon its physical form!
The next moment, “Mom” was struck by the massive vending machine, her body bending at a bizarre angle. Just as she tried to exert force to move the machine, Jiang Ming gave her no chance to catch her breath.
“Snap! Snap!”
“Bang! Bang!”
Accompanied by two more snaps, two more loud crashes followed. Three vending machines simultaneously pressed down on “Mom,” churning the mist. “Mom” was pinned firmly underneath!
Seizing the chance, Jiang Ming exerted force with his left hand, breaking free from her grip, but leaving three bloody, torn wounds on his left hand.
Blood flowed down. Ignoring the pain, he quickly turned, picked up the key from the ground, and prepared to open the door.
Just then, a tentacle extended from the gloom, wrapping around Jiang Ming’s hand, beginning to wrestle for control of the key.
Perhaps because “Mom” was pinned down, the tentacle’s strength wasn’t overwhelming, only slightly greater than an adult’s.
Jiang Ming finally managed to free his hand from the tentacle, stomping it under his foot.
But during this brief struggle, “Mom” was already breaking free from her restraints!
Just as Jiang Ming was about to open the door, his hair suddenly stood on end! Goosebumps covered his body! An immense sense of horror surged from behind!
Almost instinctively, two brand-new vending machines appeared stacked one behind the other behind Jiang Ming.
Boom!
The moment the vending machines landed, a tremendous impact force struck. Countless fragments and shockwaves hit the vending machines. The key flew from Jiang Ming’s hand, and he himself was sent flying a great distance by the force.
……
“Cough! Pah!”
The flung Jiang Ming coughed up a mouthful of blood, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and struggled to stand up, holding his backpack with his bleeding left hand, looking with shock and suspicion ahead.
He saw two battered vending machines pierced through the middle by several tentacles, then torn apart to both sides, finally collapsing with a crash.
Ahead, two dilapidated vending machines were torn apart under immense force, collapsing like paper scattered by a gale.
Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring vision. Yet, within this chaos, a massive figure gradually became visible.
It was a monster with a huge, dark body. Countless slimy tentacles writhed and coiled over its form, like a creature of the deep sea.
Two enormous red eyes glowed in the darkness, radiating endless terror and malevolence.
Above the monster’s eyes, “Mom’s” body hung from tentacles, like the lure of an anglerfish!
Jiang Ming strained to open his eyes wide, trying to see the monster’s full form, but he could only barely make out part of its body.
Under the faint illumination of the LED tubes that fell after the vending machines exploded and the flickering ceiling lights in the hallway, the monster’s outline appeared even more bizarre and terrifying.
Merely seeing this monster, countless insane, bloody thoughts flooded Jiang Ming’s mind.
“Eat people! I want to eat people!”
“I wonder what it feels like to pull out a heart!”
“……”
These thoughts assaulted his reason like a raging torrent, bringing unprecedented fear and unease.
Jiang Ming immediately snapped back to reality. He glanced at the Sanity Points on his panel and saw they were dropping at an astonishing rate compared to usual.
This monster was too terrifying. Uncle Li was nothing compared to it!
It seemed it hadn’t been using its full strength earlier, or perhaps it was just toying with him?
Jiang Ming silently straightened up. The monster ahead, however, showed a mocking expression in its eyes, as if ridiculing its struggling prey.
A tentacle brushed aside the garbage on the ground, picking up the fallen key. The monster brought the key before itself, preparing to savor the look of despair on this insect’s face.
At that moment, the hallway was utterly silent. Suddenly, a sound came:
“Creak~”
The door opened!
The expressions of both Jiang Ming and the monster instantly changed!