Free Web NovelChapter 1900: Chapter 1079: Counterattack (2)
But the more you fear something, the more it comes. Ten minutes later, during a new round of self-checks, Watanabe Gou accidentally touched a piece of hard cardboard inside his inner pocket.
The card felt icy cold, as if it had just been taken out of a morgue, and caught off guard, he shivered.
Something like this shouldn’t have been on him. The familiar sensation instantly dragged him back to last night, to the old train ticket that Mimura Kaori had been staring at soullessly.
He slowly pulled out his hand, his movements incredibly stiff, and lowered his head slightly. To his astonishment, an old train ticket lay in the palm of his hand.
After seeing the somewhat blurry writing on the ticket’s cover, Watanabe Gou’s heart completely sank.
Youjian Mountain Station...
That’s right, it was Youjian Mountain Station! The ghostly place they had been searching for two days but couldn’t find—tonight, it had sent him an invitation, opening its doors wide for him.
Even though he was somewhat prepared, when the ghost train ticket really appeared, Watanabe Gou couldn’t help his heart from racing. An ominous aura immediately seeped through the small apartment.
Xiao Lin Zhengyan and Yamamoto Chunai naturally saw this too, but unlike the trace of relief in Yamamoto Chunai’s eyes, Xiao Lin Zhengyan didn’t feel any thrill of vengeance. He only felt that tonight might be dangerous.
Although Watanabe Gou was the one who received the ghost train ticket, the three of them were staying together tonight. Watanabe Gou’s experience of tasks far surpassed his and Yamamoto Chunai’s. Who’s to say he wouldn’t find some way to shift this misfortune onto them?
This wasn’t just him being a worrywart; he had personally witnessed similar things during the last task.
The poor guy who was shifted into the mess died horribly, having his limbs twisted by a ghost until he died of sheer agony.
The extremely horrifying scene still occasionally returned in his nightmares, alongside the echoing screams of the night. It had become his lifelong nightmare. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"Haha, it’s just a ticket, nothing to worry about. If Mimura Kaori had listened to me last night, she wouldn’t have died at all." Watanabe Gou pretended to be relaxed, lifting his head to smile and reassure the two of them: "Don’t be afraid, with me here, everyone is very safe tonight." frёewebnoѵēl.com
But despite his words, Watanabe Gou’s eyes betrayed him. His left hand, hanging by his side, was clenched tightly and trembling lightly. His bent knuckles were faintly turning white from the excessive grip.
He was very scared, extremely scared, because he knew that once the Ghost Train showed up tonight, his chances of surviving were nearly nonexistent.
There were too few clues now, and he had no idea what he would be up against or even what kind of existence the Source Ghost was.
In the Nightmare World, ignorance equaled death.
Collecting himself, Watanabe Gou picked up the ticket and handed it toward Yamamoto Chunai, casually saying, "You guys take a look at this ticket."
But neither Yamamoto Chunai nor Xiao Lin Zhengyan moved. Yamamoto Chunai even unconsciously stepped back.
Their eyes were full of caution. In their view, this ticket only symbolized death.
"I want you to look at this ticket; maybe we can find some clues!"
Watanabe Gou almost couldn’t suppress his anger. He desperately needed to transfer the curse onto one of them—that was the very reason he had come here tonight.
Five seconds later, Watanabe Gou dropped the pretense. He ordered Xiao Lin Zhengyan, who stood beside Yamamoto Chunai, "Mr. Xiaolin, tie her up. As long as you listen, tonight... no, throughout the entire task, I will look after you. You know my capabilities!"
Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Chunai panicked. Facing two big men alone tonight, she had no chance at all.
Besides, from Watanabe Gou’s tone, it was clear he was dead set on using her as a substitute death this time. That despicable bastard!
But in Yamamoto Chunai’s terrified gaze, Xiao Lin Zhengyan stepped forward—not to act against her, but to shield her, facing Watanabe Gou squarely: "Mr. Watanabe, the person chosen tonight is you. Don’t involve the innocent if you’re a man."
Watanabe Gou was stunned by this. He hadn’t expected that cowardly guy to dare speak to him like that. But in the next second, anger bubbled up. Overcome by intense fear, Watanabe Gou dropped the act entirely. He wanted to live, and anyone who dared block his way would be taken down.
"You dare lecture me?" Watanabe Gou swung his fist, deciding not to waste words anymore. He was in no mood and had no time for it.
"Run!" shouted Xiao Lin Zhengyan to Yamamoto Chunai before charging at Watanabe Gou with his fists clenched.
He had read many books, especially loving historical ones, and understood the principle of conceding one city today and ten cities tomorrow. If he sacrificed Yamamoto Chunai today, what about next time, or the time after? Could he keep dodging?
Watanabe Gou was just a bastard. If he didn’t die, there was no chance for himself to live.
Even if he abandoned Yamamoto Chunai to survive tonight, Watanabe Gou would find him again next time there was danger, using him as a substitute death.
Mr. Chu was right; he could rely only on himself. Xiao Lin Zhengyan decided to risk it all, dragging him down even if it meant dying together.
Xiao Lin Zhengyan roared as he charged forward, perhaps scaring Watanabe Gou with his reckless attack. Caught off guard, Watanabe Gou was tackled, turning what was supposed to be a one-sided battle into chaos.
Riding on top of Watanabe Gou, Xiao Lin Zhengyan swung his fists, landing heavy blows on Watanabe Gou’s head and body.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto Chunai rushed to the door, hurriedly unlocking it. Perhaps owing to poor security in the old-style apartment, the door was not only bolted but also had a chain lock and a latch lock inside, each needing time to unlock.
But the more rushed you are, the likelier you’re to make mistakes. Yamamoto Chunai’s hands shook violently, her fingers unresponsive. While she barely managed to undo the chain and latch locks, a reversal occurred on the battlefield.
After all, Watanabe Gou was a private detective with prior military experience, far more battle-ready than an ordinary person like Xiao Lin Zhengyan. He had merely been caught by surprise earlier.
Spotting a gap in his opponent’s attacks, Watanabe Gou exerted force from his waist, throwing Xiao Lin Zhengyan off his back. As soon as Xiao Lin Zhengyan got back to his feet, he was met with a fierce and swift hook.
No ordinary person without training could withstand such a hit. Just one punch, and Xiao Lin Zhengyan felt like he was slammed by a battering ram.
His consciousness blurred as he lost his balance, his ears buzzing. Then came another punch, and he collapsed.
The enraged Watanabe Gou planned to continue his assault, determined to make the guy pay heavily.
At that moment, the door was open, and there was no one at the entrance. Yamamoto Chunai had fled amidst the chaos, but it didn’t matter anymore. As long as one stayed, it didn’t matter who.
Glaring at the fallen Xiao Lin Zhengyan, an injured Watanabe Gou was seething with rage. Initially, his target was Yamamoto Chunai, but since this guy was so bent on dying, he might as well grant his wish!
Pulling out the train ticket from his pocket, he squatted down, intending to stuff the Ghost Train Ticket into Xiao Lin Zhengyan’s pocket.
In his plan, the ticket would appear before the actual ghost train, and the extra time was his opportunity.
The recipient of the Ghost Train Ticket had the rare chance to transfer this "opportunity" to someone else.
Around 10:30, the ghost train would appear on time, and whoever had the ticket then would be "invited" onboard, heading to the Ghost Station Youjian Mountain.
As Watanabe Gou tried to place the ticket, sudden footsteps sounded behind him, light and quick. Alerted, Watanabe Gou turned his head while rising, only to catch a vague glimpse of a figure rushing forward the next second. Then a heavy blow landed on his head as if struck by a club, sending him uncontrollably backward.
"Thud! Thud!"
The silently returning Yamamoto Chunai offered no retaliation chance. Wielding an old baseball bat found in the hallway, she struck him hard twice more.
"Mr. Xiaolin, are you okay?"
