Free Web Novel“Lu Qingyi, Lu Qingyi!”
A soft call sounded by Lu Yibei’s ear, and the bustling scene before her eyes instantly vanished, replaced by the dilapidated three-story building she had first seen.
Following the voice, she looked at the girl, who stood at the main entrance of the small building, hands on her hips, looking at her with a pout. “Come in quickly, what are you spacing out for?”
“Let me tell you! Standing on the roadside like that, dumbfounded, is very dangerous...”
The girl continued to talk to herself as she pushed open the door and turned to walk into the ancient, rustic three-story building.
Should she go in or not? Lu Yibei looked at her back, hesitated for a few seconds, then stepped forward to follow.
Yumen Pass was full of dangers, and staying with a Night Watch Guardian, while not necessarily the safest, was certainly much safer than wandering around outside by herself.
Unless this Guardian was actually a urban legend impersonating a Guardian from within Yumen Pass, in which case, even if she didn't want to stay with her and tried to sneak away, she would probably be caught.
Moreover, from what the girl had just said, it seemed she had entered Yumen Pass much earlier than when its gates opened. This implied she must already have some understanding of the situation inside Yumen Pass.
If she could quickly familiarize herself with the situation inside Yumen Pass through her, it would also facilitate subsequent actions. Lu Yibei thought.
Passing through the building’s main door, the light before her eyes dimmed.
She walked around the silk-faced screen in front of the main entrance, and once her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she could clearly see the interior of the room, Lu Yibei was slightly startled.
Unlike the decay and desolation outside the building, everything inside the building seemed to have maintained its appearance from thousands of years ago.
In the main hall, vermilion-lacquered pillars towered, with slightly protruding ends adorned with gold-threaded cloud patterns, cranes, bats, and other motifs. Dark brown tables and chairs were neatly arranged in the vast space, almost brand new, as if the guests had never left.
Opposite the main door, a stage was set up, covered with a brightly colored carpet featuring exotic patterns. Just looking at it brought to mind images of graceful barbarian dancers performing the Hu Xuan dance on it.
Time seemed to have stopped flowing here; even the lingering scent of wine and cosmetics in the air had not dissipated. It was just unknown where the singing girls, dancing girls, and guests who once frequented this place had gone.
Prosperity and desolation, under the influence of some unknown force, converged here to form a scene of stark contrast.
Seeing this, Lu Yibei couldn't help but ask the girl, “Senior, is this place... really okay? I just feel like something isn’t quite right!”
The girl tilted her head, showing an expression of “I understand,” and waved her hand, saying, “I know what you’re thinking. Actually, when I first found this place, I also thought it was off and worried that some terrifying entity was hidden inside.”
“However, I’ve been living here for over half a month since I found it, and there hasn’t been a single problem. So, I guess there shouldn’t be any hidden threats.”
“Don’t worry! Even if there is some hidden threat, I can keep you safe.”
Under the girl’s guidance, Lu Yibei ascended the stairs on the east side of the main hall to the third floor. After passing through a short corridor adorned with paintings, vases, and potted plants, creating a picturesque ambiance, she arrived before several black-lacquered doors.
The girl stopped at the door, turned to Lu Yibei, and flashed a cheerful smile. “These rooms were probably the living quarters of those singing and dancing girls. The items inside are mostly new. Pick one?”
Hearing this, Lu Yibei paused, then, regaining her composure, shamelessly said, “Can I stay in the same room as you?”
“Uh, we’re all girls, so there’s no inconvenience. Staying together, we can look out for each other!”
“And incidentally, you can also tell me about the situation inside Yumen Pass, right?”
“...”
Although she couldn't remember how many times she had used this excuse, as long as it worked, why bother with so many details?
Just kidding, this place looked eerily strange. If it weren't for this Guardian accompanying her, she wouldn't have come in at all. Since she was in, of course, she had to stay with her!
Even if she accidentally saw something she shouldn't, if she wanted to kill her after they left, that was a future problem. For now, it was important to cling to her and save her own life. Lu Yibei thought.
“Ah...” Hearing this, the girl was visibly stunned, scratching the back of her head, she said, “If you don’t mind, it’s fine to stay with me. The rooms next door are all empty, and they have bed sheets and quilts. You can just go grab them yourself.”
“According to my experience, in Yumen Pass, it’s best to find a place to rest at night. If you want to do anything, wait until daytime.” freewebnøvel.coɱ
“This Yumen Pass was originally built on the frontier to suppress large God Kingdoms attempting to invade the Central Plains. Even without a master, at night, the core that originally maintained the God Kingdom’s operation, and various solidified Spells, will take effect, suppressing the Spiritual Energy circulation of all Psychic and urban legend within the pass.”
Lu Yibei, “...” There’s such a thing? Why don’t I feel anything at all? But, after following her for so long, she finally heard something useful.
As she pondered, she asked, “But Senior, why did those black shadows just now seem unaffected by the suppression? They all looked quite lively.”
Am I the same kind as those ghostly things? That doesn’t make sense!
The girl pouted, “Who knows? Perhaps they’ve been in this ghostly place for too long and have adapted? It’s like other animals can’t adapt to the filthy environment of a cesspit, but the insects born in it can thrive as if in their element.”
She paused, then added, “Oh, by the way, when I mentioned day and night earlier, I was referring to the time outside. You can’t feel the change in sky color inside Yumen Pass. You can only roughly estimate it by the intensity changes in Spiritual Energy fluctuations.”
“In short, there are many abnormal things inside Yumen Pass. I’ll tell you more slowly when you come back. For now, why don’t you go get your pillow and quilt? I’ll go lie down for a bit. You can wake me when you get back.”
After saying that, the girl pushed open the door in front of her and walked in.
“Okay!” Lu Yibei responded, took two steps forward, and pushed open the adjacent door.
Upon entering the room, she quickly scanned her surroundings. After locating the bed, she scurried over, grabbed the pillow and quilt from the bed, and headed out.
Not looking left or right, grabbing the items and leaving—this was something Lu Yibei had decided before entering the room.
However, as she passed the dressing table by the bed, perhaps her peripheral vision caught the exquisitely crafted jewelry on the table, or her attention was drawn by the fragrance wafting from the half-open cosmetic box, or perhaps, in such a highly tense environment, she instinctively wanted to check when she saw a mirror...
In any case, her gaze inadvertently swept across the bronze mirror on the dressing table.
Then... she saw the room reflected in the bronze mirror.
Ochre-lacquered pillars, layers of colorful, cloud-like gauze curtains, a screen embroidered with orchids, a hanging painting depicting landscapes... The room reflected in the mirror was almost identical to the room outside the mirror.
The only difference was that Lu Yibei saw a pair of small feet floating above her head in her reflection in the mirror, wearing a pair of pink embroidered shoes with mandarin ducks and butterflies.
It was as if someone «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» had hanged themselves there, their feet dangling exactly three inches above her head.
In the past, upon seeing such a sight, Lu Yibei would have screamed in fright and then unleashed a barrage of Paper Cicada Immortals above her head, directly tearing off the roof.
But now, the lingering effects of Human Fireworks had not yet dissipated, so she felt no fear.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t feel fear; it was just that when fear arose in her heart, it dissipated like smoke in the wind before it could affect her emotions, vanishing without a trace.
Seeing this scene, she simply raised her hand silently, touched the top of her head, and entered a brief self-questioning and answering session.
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Did I touch anything?
No!
Even if there was a urban legend or something, did it attack me?
No!
Since it didn’t attack me, does that mean it has no ill intent?
At least not for now.
Thinking this, Lu Yibei shrugged, silently put the pillow and quilt back on the bed, said, “Excuse me, I disturbed you!” and then slowly left the room.
Although that thing hadn't attacked her for now, she felt that if she casually took someone else's belongings, it was uncertain whether they would attack her.
Actually, not having a quilt and pillow was not a problem at all. She could just squeeze in with the girl. If worst came to worst, she wouldn't sleep and could just sit up all night, which was perfectly manageable.
Lu Yibei, oh Lu Yibei, you’ve truly changed, and it frightens me!
In this ghostly place, upon seeing such a sight, her first thought was that a visible urban legend that didn't act erratically was better than an invisible urban legend causing trouble in the dark.
If this continues, you’ll end up killing yourself sooner or later!
After a period of self-criticism in her mind, Lu Yibei returned to the door of the girl’s room.
As soon as she pushed the door open, she heard intermittent snoring.
A bad premonition quietly surfaced in her heart. She closed the door behind her, quickly walked to the bed in the room, and found the girl.
As expected, the girl was already asleep.
She was lying spread-eagled on the bed, the quilt pushed aside. Her abdomen rose and fell evenly with her breathing, and with each rise and fall, the terrifying penetrating wound on her abdomen healed a portion at a visible speed.
After a few breaths, the once bloody wound stopped bleeding.
It was as if sleeping was her way of healing.
But... in this ghostly place, she could actually sleep!
“Damn it! Just fall asleep like that, are you a pig?” Lu Yibei observed briefly, and after confirming the girl was truly fast asleep, she cursed softly, “I’m done. Didn’t you say you’d tell me about the situation inside Yumen Pass? Are you planning to tell me in a Nightmare?”
After grumbling for a bit, she looked around, found a grand armchair, moved it to the bedside, sat down, leaned back in the chair, closed her eyes, and began to rest.
The world seemed to quiet down all at once, with only the girl’s intermittent snoring remaining in her ears.
Immersed in this quietness, Lu Yibei’s thoughts involuntarily began to turn.
It seemed she would have to wait until she woke up to ask about the situation inside Yumen Pass.
Tsk, who knows when she’ll wake up from this nap. With such a long time, will Shui Ge encounter danger?
Oh, and those Miracle Order members and Half-Guitan tribes, they probably entered Yumen Pass before me. I wonder how they are doing now... Lu Yibei thought.
————
Meanwhile, near the Yumen Pass city gate.
In the dark and cramped space, a man’s heavily suppressed but increasingly rough breathing echoed. Blood gushed from the penetrating wound on his thigh, its Fishy smell flooding his nostrils, making him dizzy.
He wanted to vomit, but he dared not open his mouth.
He felt that his oral cavity, and indeed his entire digestive tract, was occupied by some active, viscous substance. If he opened his mouth, he would be torn apart by his own internal organs, from his mouth all the way to his abdomen, just like his recently deceased companions.
It was some kind of urban legend dissolved in the air, trying to search for something within their bodies, as if a child on the first morning of the New Year found many exquisite gift boxes at home, excitedly opened them, but found nothing, and then furiously tore apart these “packaging boxes.” freewёbnoνel.com
“Ah—! Don’t come near, don’t come near!”
“Help, help!”
“miracle, miracle...”
In unseen places, wailing screams rose and fell, converging into a hysterical wave of sound that drowned out the ancient, dilapidated street.
Someone else probably died, either from the Miracle Order or the Half-Guitan tribes...
One after another, one after another...
Like withered grass blown down by the wind. The man thought.
If he could choose again, he would never participate in this operation.
Although he believed that the fragrance of the miracle flower protected every Miracle Order member at all times, and facts proved that as long as one firmly believed that the miracle flower would bloom, everything would be resolved.
Just like how nearly half of the Miracle Order members successfully passed through the city gate and entered Yumen Pass, even when advancing through the torrential Spells scattered by the ancient crossbows on the Yumen Pass city wall, maintained by solidified Spells.
But unfortunately, less than ten minutes after entering Yumen Pass, he realized that Yumen Pass was an abandoned land, a place where even the light of the miracle flower could not shine...
The man felt that if he could still get out alive, the ten minutes he had just experienced would definitely become a Nightmare he could never escape from for the rest of his life.
This place was filled with urban legend that defied common sense and understanding...
No, perhaps it would be more fitting to describe them as evil gods.
They had endless gluttonous appetites, no wisdom, no humanity, only hunger.
It was as if all the urban legend and Psychic who entered Yumen Pass were merely food, and this vast Yumen Pass was their dining table...
No one could escape their hunt!
Everything was over. The man thought, slowly closing his eyes.
Then, the sound of flesh tearing suddenly erupted in the darkness.
