Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 1766: Chapter 1013: It’s Here (2)

"Mr. Yang, you’re so awesome, you’ll definitely survive. But I’m not as great as you. My family is still waiting for me to come home. My mother must be worried sick." As he spoke, Sato Shouta’s eyes reddened. He had just quarreled with his mother and hadn’t had the chance to apologize before being swept into this terrifying world.

Yang Xiao was silent for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Mr. Sato, do you want to hear the truth?" ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Of course!" Sato Shouta nodded immediately, but he vaguely sensed something was off with Yang Xiao. He was a very sensitive person.

"Mr. Sato, I have a secret. I can’t tell you now, but I promise when the time is right, I will share it with you." Yang Xiao stood up, patting the bewildered Sato Shouta on the shoulder. "It’s getting windy, let’s head back."

Before nightfall, a car sped in, stopping dozens of meters from the hotel entrance. A guy who looked like a lackey ran over, standing outside the hotel doors. He looked familiar, with scars on his face, probably one of those they fought with during the day.

When he noticed the people in the hotel lobby looking at him, he paused, bowed to everyone, and then locked the door from the outside before running off at a quick pace, got into the car, and sped away without delay.

Yang Xiao and Qingshui Cangjie shared the clues they found with everyone, which frequently made Mitsuo Takeda nod in agreement, matching his own judgments.

Currently, two critical tasks lay before them: confirming this ghost’s murder method and digging deep into Asakura Yodou’s backstory, especially how he ended up a ghost.

They need to investigate the Curse-type Grudge Eye’s origin and the true identity of the Source Ghost.

These are the only clues. Further discussion is meaningless, so everyone dispersed, returning to their respective floors.

Before leaving, Qingshui Cangjie warned everyone not to sleep tonight, especially in the latter half, predicting that this ghost would invade dreams to kill.

Besides, there’s another crucial point he emphasized: whoever encounters the ghost first tonight must open the door and let it out, as this might be a way out.

To prevent some from having thoughts they shouldn’t, Qingshui Cangjie used the ruthless methods expected of a crime boss, warning everyone that anyone who breaks the rules will face punishment.

"I have a cell phone that can directly contact those people. If anyone breaks the rules, I’ll report them for attempting to escape." Qingshui Cangjie displayed his phone, half-threatening, "You’ve all seen Sakurai Miyuki’s fate; I don’t want anyone ending up like that, so... don’t force me."

"Of course, if I’m the first to encounter the ghost tonight, I’ll also open the door and take a gamble. If I fail, you can report me too, and I won’t hold any resentment," Qingshui Cangjie declared.

Though his words were cold, Yang Xiao and the others understood it was a necessary measure. Compared to human lives, time was more critical for them.

With the ghost’s murder method unclear, using lives to test was the most effective way.

Leaving the hotel lobby on the first floor, Yang Xiao brought Sato Shouta back to the 7th floor, "Mr. Sato, will you take the first or second half of the night?"

"Mr. Yang, you choose," Sato Shouta respected Yang Xiao’s opinion more.

"Then you take the first half. I’ve been running around all day and am quite exhausted." Yang Xiao hadn’t realized he already habitually started explaining to the newcomer, Sato Shouta.

Just like that, Yang Xiao first led Sato Shouta to the service room, then chose another guest room for himself.

Yang Xiao didn’t sit on the bed as usual but on a chair, a bit away from the bed. He wouldn’t lie down on the bed all night; the deaths of the previous two nights had warned them.

Although it might not be useful, this was the best way to ensure his safety tonight.

Sitting in the chair, Yang Xiao carefully pondered Principal Suzuki’s words today, noting two points that caught his attention.

The dead in Chao Wei Village didn’t show any signs of injury before, meaning killings through Curse would leave no traces.

Additionally, before their deaths, these victims had no prior abnormal experiences; they didn’t suffer the so-called first attack. Their time of death concentrated in the latter half of the night, meaning having a nightmare equaled death.

Yang Xiao keenly sensed something didn’t add up, but with too few clues, his thoughts were tangled, and he couldn’t yet confirm the issue’s root.

This so-called first attack and Ghost Dream must have some connection, seeming more like a sorting process, but he couldn’t straighten it out.

Now he had nothing to do but wait—wait for tonight’s first attack, the first death, and pray it wasn’t him or his three companions.

Time ticked by, and in the dim stairwell, Mitsuo Takeda patrolled with a flashlight, fulfilling his night watch duty.

He had already patrolled once tonight; this was the second. With experience from the previous two nights, he was now accustomed to it.

He had just patrolled four floors and found no issues, heading towards the fifth floor on the stairwell.

As he went, his brow furrowed, pondering the same questions troubling Yang Xiao, which also perplexed this seasoned police inspector.

This hotel was too wicked. Reflecting on those who died in nightmares, he couldn’t imagine what they experienced before death.

As he contemplated, Mitsuo Takeda suddenly halted, spinning around quickly as his flashlight shone behind him.

There was nothing behind him, but he didn’t dare relax because he heard a sound—a very faint footstep.

The footsteps weren’t too close, likely not within the stairwell, sounding like they were behind the door he just opened and walked through.

Mitsuo Takeda was sure he hadn’t misheard, and it wasn’t an illusion. He’d never been prone to such hallucinations—something indeed appeared.

No teammate would prank like this, not even the foulest character, Takagawa Hideji. That could scare someone to death.

Mitsuo Takeda mustered courage, stepping down the stairs, pausing behind that door. The footsteps ceased.

He extended his hand, grabbing the door open, revealing nothing but emptiness. He peeked his head out, and the corridor was silent.

After a brief observation, Mitsuo Takeda returned to the stairwell, quickly climbing the stairs, planning to finish his patrol swiftly, but things didn’t go as planned—he heard the footsteps again, now above him.

Mitsuo Takeda reacted swiftly, pressing against the wall, head raised, shining his flashlight at the ceiling. But there was nothing.

No, not nothing—there was a string of footprints left on the white wall, small and distinct, clearly belonging to a child.

He couldn’t deny the fear now. Mitsuo Takeda had no illusions; he knew he was tonight’s first victim.

The child ghost!

Before he could steady his nerves, a knocking sound echoed above, followed by a sharp scratching noise.

It was the piercing sound of a needle against glass, repeatedly tormenting Mitsuo Takeda’s nerves.

An ordinary person would’ve collapsed or fled screaming long ago, but not Mitsuo Takeda. His strong psyche kept him rational under high pressure. freewebnøvel.coɱ

He knew being the first target tonight didn’t mean certain death, and even if it did, it wouldn’t be now.

He had to try breaking the cycle.