Chapter 106: Bloody Mary
Yun Bilan was the first to arrive at the spin wheel.
“What are you waiting for?” She turned and looked at Wen Jianyan standing at the door, calling out loudly, “Come in!”
“…”
Wen Jianyan’s gaze swept over the mirrors in the room. He took a deep breath and reluctantly said:
“Here I come.”
He cautiously stepped inside, carefully moved forward, and finally found a spot where the mirrors couldn’t reflect him and stood there.
Yun Bilan: ???
Seeing the puzzled looks from some of his teammates, Wen Jianyan cleared his throat and calmly said, “I have severe appearance anxiety and don’t really like looking into mirrors.”
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[?]
[???]
[Appearance anxiety? Ha, what a joke!]
[Hahaha, maybe it’s because of the trauma from the previous instances!]
Teammates: “…”
You’re saying the weirdest things.
After the last person in the team entered the room, the door closed automatically with a soft “bang.”
The attention of the group shifted away from Wen Jianyan’s strange behavior.
“What is the mission to activate the Spin Wheel?” Elise asked.
“I’ll check.” Yun Bilan walked towards the massive spin wheel not far away, and her gaze fell on the small text below the button. She frowned slightly, and her expression became serious.
“What’s wrong?”
Wen Yan noticed Yun Bilan’s change in attitude and asked.
Yun Bilan took a deep breath and slowly read, “Congratulations! You’ve found the secret chamber of the Bloody Mary. Legend has it that the Duchess, who bathes in fresh blood to maintain her eternal youth, comes here every night to admire her pure and beautiful body.”
Her voice gradually became solemn, “Your mission: Prepare a bath for the Duchess.”
Everyone was shocked and looked at each other.
“Look over there!” Elise gasped, pointing towards the constructed passage in the mirror’s depths.
Everyone turned to where she pointed, and their pupils shrank involuntarily.
In the depths of the passage lay a giant bathtub, exuding a vintage Western style with exquisite gold engravings on the edges, making it look particularly luxurious.
Inside the bathtub was a lifelike mummy.
Dry, thin strands of hair hung down from the skull, and the dehydrated skin covered the distinct ribs. Its jawbone was wide open, and the dark eye sockets looked as if they were screaming in agony before dying.
“So… this mission is asking us to draw blood?”
Elise asked cautiously:
“I’m afraid it is.”
Yun Bilan approached the bathtub and visually estimated its depth, frowning even more:
“We need to draw blood from at least two people to barely cover the lower half of the Duchess.”
Everyone’s breath caught, and the atmosphere became tense.
If they had more members, they might be able to complete the task without sacrificing anyone permanently. However, with only four people on their team, it was clear that lives would have to be sacrificed for this mission.
According to the initial notice in the room, the probability of encountering this kind of mission was only 5%.
Although they had mentally prepared to some extent, no one expected that the very first task they encountered would be like this!
“Damn it!”
Yun Bilan gritted her teeth. “Our luck is just too bad.”
Wen Ya sighed and nodded, “Let’s reset.”
Thankfully, they had opened a treasure chest in the previous room, obtaining a Strawberry Candy that allowed them to reset the spin wheel’s mission. This gave them a lifeline, preventing them from resorting to violence right in the first room.
“Do you all agree?” Yun Bilan looked at everyone.
No one objected.
“Alright then, I’ll…” Yun Bilan stepped forward, about to activate the item, when suddenly Wen Jianyan, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up, “Let me do it.”
“?”
Everyone was taken aback and turned their heads to look at Wen Jianyan.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[?!]
[???!!!]
[No!! Wife!!!! Stop! Don’t be reckless!!!]
[Quick, someone hold him back! Don’t let him touch the item!!!]
[One piece of advice almost led the whole team into the gutter, and you still want to do it yourself?!]
[Cherish your life, stay away from Lucky E!]
Wen Jianyan was unaware of the frenzy happening in his live broadcast room. He looked at Yun Bilan and asked, “Is it okay?”
“…Of course,” Yun Bilan blinked her eyes. Though a bit puzzled, she had no reason to refuse.
Wen Jianyan stepped forward and took the Strawberry Candy from her hand.
According to the instructions on the candy wrapper, he peeled it open and placed the light pink candy in his mouth, savoring its sweet and sour taste that quickly filled his mouth.
The next moment, the familiar female voice from before sounded in the room:
“Ding! Congratulations on using the item: Strawberry Candy! The Spin Wheel mission has been reset!”
With a swift “whoosh,” the paper that was previously hanging under the spin wheel was retracted, and a new piece of paper was ejected.
Licking the rounded candy in his cheek, Wen Jianyan walked towards the spin wheel. His decision to reset the mission was not without consideration.
He had been reluctant to admit that his luck was really that bad, but now it was evident that he couldn’t deny it anymore.
Although the probability of rolling a lethal mission next was low based on probability theory, with the inexplicable aura of bad luck surrounding him, a 5% chance was not impossible.
However, based on Wen Jianyan’s past experiences, he was always the precise target of the goddess of luck’s strikes. This time, maybe because he hadn’t actively made a choice, the precise strike turned into an area of effect damage.
It’s better to be precisely targeted.
Since it’s going to happen, might as well face it head-on!
Wen Jianyan took a deep breath and looked up to glance at his reflection in the mirror.
Well, he had been targeted more than once in the past anyway.
He gritted his teeth, revealing a wicked smile.
Come on then, who’s afraid of who!
Wen Jianyan approached and lowered his gaze to read the content of the newly ejected paper.
“Mission: Summon Bloody Mary.”
“Please let the mission participant enter the secret chamber alone, close the door, find the candles from the drawer near the bathtub, and facing the mirror, chant the name ‘Bloody Mary’ three times.”
Yun Bilan’s eyes widened slightly, “This is…”
“A solo mission.” Wen Ya took a deep breath, taking over the conversation solemnly.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Oh my goodness…]
[Oh my goodness…]
[No wonder, it’s you afterall!]
[But why do I feel like the god liar doesn’t seem surprised at all? Is it just my imagination?]
The initial rules in the starting room also mentioned this type of mission, with an even lower probability than the one before, with just a 1% chance, and yet Wen Jianyan managed to roll it…
What kind of luck is this?!?!
Wen Jianyan raised his eyes, expressionless.
Ah.
He knew it.
Wen Jianyan turned to look at the others, his attitude nonchalant. “Since that’s the case, just wait outside for me.”
“But…”
Yun Bilan took a step forward, looking somewhat conflicted.
“What ‘but’?” Wen Jianyan said nonchalantly, licking the candy in his mouth, and glancing towards the window.
The three-dimensional stairwell corridor was weaving in the air, overlapping and intertwining with each other. Not far above his head was the room where the Blondie’s group had just entered.
Even as he moved forward, Wen Jianyan never let the direction in which those people were heading leave his sight. They had just entered the room, so they shouldn’t be leaving too soon.
Turning to the other team members, Wen Jianyan pointed at the room and said, “Once I go in, keep an eye on them. Make sure to see how many of them are left and which direction they go when they come out.”
Losing track of them here would make it difficult to find them later.
The others nodded in agreement, “Understood.”
After briefing the team, Wen Jianyan took a deep breath and walked towards the room with the mirror, where the mummified corpse lay.
A faint smell of decay filled the air as the mummy lay motionless in the bathtub, still maintaining its horrifying expression with its mouth wide open, sending shivers down one’s spine.
“Creak…”
The door closed behind Wen Jianyan, blocking the worried gazes of the others.
The secret chamber was indeed a secret chamber.
The instant the door closed, all the light was shut out, and he was plunged into complete darkness.
Silence filled his ears.
Both sound and light were completely cut off, and all Wen Jianyan could hear was the sound of his own breathing.
It was as if he had been isolated from the entire world.
Being alone in such a small and pitch-black room with a mummified corpse was undeniably putting significant psychological pressure on him.
Wen Jianyan reached into his pocket and fumbled for his phone, turning on the camera.
The light illuminated the room, and the reflections from the surrounding mirrors dispersed the heavy darkness.
The young man stood alone in the pitch-black room, the flashlight from his phone being the only source of light. His different profiles were reflected in the mirrors from all directions, with each image moving synchronously.
Raising his eyes, Wen Jianyan subconsciously looked into the mirrors. His heart skipped a beat, and his breath momentarily caught in his throat.
The mummified corpse in the large bathtub behind him had somehow turned its head.
Its hollow eye sockets seemed to be looking straight at him through the mirrors, as if it were gazing directly into his soul. Its jawbone was wide open, giving an eerie impression of a sinister smile.
“…”
Damn.
Scared the heck out of me.
Wen Jianyan took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain composure.
He checked his backpack to ensure all his items were ready. Then, he deliberately avoided looking at the mummy and followed the mission instructions to open the drawer below the bathtub. As expected, he found matches and candles in the last compartment.
He inserted the candle into the candlestick on the dressing table and took out a lighter.
“Snap.”
A golden-red flame danced as the candle was ignited.
Wen Jianyan flicked away the match, and a thin wisp of white smoke rose from the extinguished match head.
He looked up and glanced at the reflection in the mirror.
Behind him, the mummified corpse lay silently in the bathtub, its withered skin tightly stretched over the bones, as if waiting for something.
The space was too narrow, giving a suffocating sense of confinement.
Wen Jianyan exhaled slowly.
In any case, the instance shouldn’t completely deny him any way out. He could only take one step at a time now.
He gazed at his reflection in the mirror and slowly chanted:
“Bloody Mary.”
“Bloody Mary.”
The young man’s fair face was illuminated by the golden-red candlelight, with the contours of his features casting deep and shallow shadows. His light-colored pupils seemed to flicker like two sparks, accompanying the dancing flame.
His voice was slightly hoarse and trembling. He repeated, “Bloody Mary.”
“Phew.”
Suddenly, a breeze with a hint of decay blew in the completely enclosed room, and in that moment, the candlelight flickered and dimmed.
As Wen Jianyan was momentarily stunned, a familiar system sound rang in his ears:
【Ding, conditions met, hidden branch activated—】
【Congratulations, the anchor triggered the scene: Chase Battle (debuff: all items ineffective)】
【Scene countdown: 03:00】
A chase battle?!
In such a small room, you want me to have a chase battle?!
And it’s in a situation where all items are ineffective…
This design is crazy!
Wen Jianyan was furious, feeling like he wanted to curse.
He quickly turned around and retreated a few steps away from the bathtub.
The next second, the eerie breeze disappeared, and after a brief flicker, the candle returned to burning.
The candlelight illuminated the room.
“Swish—”
The sound of viscous liquid flowing.
In the bathtub not far away, the crimson liquid had filled it, shimmering with dark red reflections under the candlelight.
A stunningly beautiful woman lay quietly in the blood-filled bathtub, her eyes gleaming with eerie colors. Her long, wet hair draped over her slender, white shoulders. Her body exuded a cruel and enchanting beauty that could make almost any man fall for her.
“Swish, swish—”
She slowly stood up from the bathtub.
The sticky blood flowed down her fair skin, dripping into the bathtub.
Her figure was voluptuous and alluring.
Her graceful body was reflected in the numerous mirrors, leaving people mesmerized.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[Wow! It’s a beauty, a beautiful sister!]
[Damn, her figure is just too good! I suddenly feel like replacing the anchor and completing the instance myself!]
[Wuwuwu, no, baby, close your eyes, you’re too young to see such stimulating scenes!]
Wen Jianyan’s eyes were fixed on the woman not far away; his spine was slightly arched, resembling a cat faced with danger.
He quickly glanced at the mirror on the dressing table nearby.
The reflection in this mirror was entirely different from the other mirrors.
Instead of crimson blood, the bathtub was filled with thick, pale yellow mucus, and it was filled with frog eggs. The mummified corpse’s body was gradually becoming full. However, beneath the translucent skin, one could still see densely packed granular creatures, resembling wriggling eggs.
As Wen Jianyan’s gaze moved, the live stream camera also turned to face the mirror. In the “Integrity First” live stream room, there was a moment of silence:
[…]
[…]
[…I’m sorry, I crossed a line there.]
[This blessing should still go to the anchor; I don’t want it anymore.]
Even Wen Jianyan, who was already accustomed to this instance, couldn’t help feeling a churn in his stomach.
“Do you find me beautiful?”
The woman raised her bright red lips, and her soft fingers glided over her own body. Her enchanting eyes were fixed on Wen Jianyan, like a cold-blooded predator locking onto its prey.
Wen Jianyan retreated imperceptibly.
He bumped into the mirror behind him.
There was no escape.
“Of course,” the young man stared at the woman before him. His amber-colored eyes sparkled beautifully in the candlelight, and without hesitation, he praised, “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.”
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room, the audience familiar with this instance began to sigh:
[Oh no, it’s over.]
[Aaaaaah, why did you compliment her?!]
[I thought the anchor was so brave and could survive… Sigh, what a disappointment.]
[??? Hey, can someone explain? We haven’t seen this instance before, please tell us!!]
[You can’t say she’s beautiful or not beautiful! This side quest is tricky. If you say she’s beautiful, she’ll use your blood to make herself more beautiful. If you say she’s not beautiful, she’ll use your blood to make herself beautiful. After the anchor answers, her attack speed will immediately double. In such a small room, it’s basically game over!]
[So, what should we do?]
[The best way is not to answer and try to deal with her using props…]
[Wait, didn’t you forget? The anchor got a debuff this time, and he can’t use props!]
[Damn, yeah, it’s over.]
[He’s done for.]
[He’s done for!]
Indeed, just as Wen Jianyan was about to answer, the woman’s smile slowly widened, revealing a bloody grin, “Then…”
However, before she could finish her sentence, Wen Jianyan interrupted her.
“Ah.”
The young man let out a soft sigh and shook his head, “What a pity.”
The smile froze on the woman’s face as she stared fixedly at the young man in front of her. Her gaze swept over him like a knife, and she couldn’t help but ask, “What… what’s a pity?”
The author has something to say:
Dog liar: It’s like this, we have a product…
Barrage: ?
