Chapter 163

The LCD monitor inside the elevator displayed Wen Renlian’s death process clearly before Jiang Luo’s eyes.

Wen Renlian could have chosen to clear the level, but instead, he chose death. Jiang Luo’s expression changed repeatedly, and it was impossible to discern his emotions.

The surveillance camera in the elevator was pointed directly at him, as if it were keenly observing the black-haired youth’s shifting expression with interest. Even though Jiang Luo knew there was a high chance that Chi You was leisurely watching him from behind, he couldn’t control his reactions.

An unsettling irritation bubbled in his chest—a complicated mix of emotions.

Wen Renlian’s death differed from the methods of the three companions who had preceded him.

However, this was the result of Wen Renlian’s own choice. Jiang Luo had no grounds to oppose or stop him. Wen Renlian must have had his reasons for doing so. At the very least, he died with a smile on his face.

But witnessing someone’s death with his own eyes left Jiang Luo feeling stifled and uneasy.

Chi You was a malicious ghost. He had grown up in an environment filled with malevolence. The darkness and pain he had once endured dragged him into the abyss, immersing him in a mire of filth.

Through this process, he understood the survival of the fittest, and this dream vividly reflected his chaotic mental world. Humanity’s struggle within the sea of bitterness and its ugliness amidst moral dilemmas were all too familiar to Chi You. Jiang Luo was becoming increasingly aware of how dangerous this world was.

Especially for kind-hearted people.

Soon, the LCD monitor showed the image of a second companion: Kuang Zheng. Perhaps Wen Renlian’s death had already prepared him mentally, as Jiang Luo quickly calmed down and focused intently on Kuang Zheng’s every move.

Like Wen Renlian, Kuang Zheng also stepped into a dream within a dream.

But unlike Wen Renlian’s, Kuang Zheng’s dream was warm and harmonious.

A small house was divided into several spaces by curtains. Jiang Luo knew that Kuang Zheng had a younger sister, but it was the first time he learned that Kuang Zheng’s father was disabled.

On the bed lay a thin, middle-aged man whose left leg was amputated at the root, and whose right leg had atrophied.

He was struggling to get out of bed while Kuang Zheng’s sister, face flushed with effort, tried to help him. On the other side of the curtain, Kuang Zheng’s mother was gently cooking.

After Kuang Zheng’s father returned from the bathroom, leaning on his crutches and sweating profusely, he stood behind his wife for a moment, his weathered face showing resilience and lightheartedness. Smiling, he said, “Making sweet pancakes this morning? Smells amazing.”

Kuang Zheng’s mother smiled faintly. “Your daughter stared longingly at a cake shop yesterday, practically drooling. I wanted to grit my teeth and buy her a cake to taste, but she adamantly refused. So I thought, why not make some sweet pancakes at home? Aren’t they also sweet treats made from flour? Should taste similar.”

Kuang Zheng’s father turned to his daughter, gently patting her head. “Yuanyuan, do you want to eat cake? At the end of the month, your brother can take you to buy one.”

Yuanyuan stared at the pancakes in the pan, swallowing hard. Her voice was tender yet understanding. “Yuanyuan doesn’t want cake; Yuanyuan wants sweet pancakes.”

The parents exchanged a glance and smiled warmly.

Though the house was dilapidated and cramped, the Kuang family kept it meticulously clean. The windows were open, allowing morning sunlight to pour in. Wildflowers in full bloom sat on the windowsill, still adorned with dewdrops.

The window curtain was a string of bells handwoven by the sister.

As the wind blew, a crisp, melodious sound echoed through the room.

Kuang Zheng’s mother placed the meal on the table, where a vase held a bouquet of vibrant forsythia flowers.

The door was left ajar to let in fresh air. Inside, the family of three smiled brightly. Poverty and the decline of life seemed defeated by their respect and earnest approach to living, leaving no trace of gloom on their faces.

Jiang Luo was momentarily lost in thought.

With such a family, it was no wonder Kuang Zheng had such an honest personality.

Kuang Zheng stood at the doorway, also smiling as he watched the scene unfold. There was a gentle look in his eyes, and his parents and sister inside the house called him to come in and eat.

He walked in, sat beside his sister, and silently ate with his head lowered. Kuang Zheng wasn’t talkative, but his hands quietly passed whatever his family needed to them.

Everything was warm and beautiful.

But Jiang Luo knew this warmth would inevitably be shattered. Sure enough, a group of people soon broke into Kuang Zheng’s house. They smashed the steaming food on the table, shoved Kuang Zheng’s parents to the ground, and tried to take his sister.

“Oh, this little girl looks nice. If we take her, she could fetch a good price. Since you can’t repay your debts, don’t blame us for taking your daughter!”

Kuang Zheng’s father curled up on the ground in pain. Upon hearing this, he grew both angry and desperate. “Our family has never owed anyone money!”

The intruders, armed with knives and axes, sneered dismissively at his words. Wandering through the house and finding nothing of value, their expressions darkened.

“Damn, what bad luck. How can this family be so poor? What a waste of time!”

“Nothing here. No wonder they dared to eat with the door open.”

“Liu-ge, should we search the next house?”

Liu-ge growled impatiently, “Take the girl, and let’s go.”

Yuanyuan cried and struggled with all her might. Kuang Zheng’s mother clung desperately to one of the men’s legs, shouting for help with all her strength, “Somebody! Please help! They’re taking our child!”

Liu-ge kicked her angrily. “Old woman, how dare you shout?”

Kuang Zheng, pinned to the ground by two men, struggled violently, finally throwing them off. He snatched his sister back from Liu-ge’s hands.

Liu-ge sneered darkly. “Boy, are you challenging me?”

Kuang Zheng helped his parents to their feet, pushing his sister behind them. He guarded his family vigilantly, staring at the intruders. “I won’t let you hurt my family.”

Liu-ge, holding a knife, was clearly provoked. Kuang Zheng lunged at him first, wresting the knife from his hands. But just as he was about to fight back, a line of text suddenly appeared on the ceiling:

[Close the door and leave, and you will clear this level, reaching the 18th floor.]

Leave?

Kuang Zheng froze, staring blankly at the words.

Was this meant to force him to watch his family being humiliated while turning a blind eye?

He hesitated for a brief moment before continuing his actions.

Even though he knew it was fake, he couldn’t simply ignore it…

Jiang Luo closed his eyes, already able to guess Kuang Zheng’s ending.

A moment later, he opened them and saw, as expected, Kuang Zheng’s body covered in knives and axes—a gruesome image of death.

Like Wen Renlian, Kuang Zheng had also chosen death. Yet, both of them died with satisfied smiles on their faces.

Jiang Luo’s heart was already calm.

He patiently waited for Ye Xun’s appearance.

Shortly after, the events of Ye Xun entering the elevator appeared on the screen.

Ye Xun’s final outcome was the same as Wen Renlian and Kuang Zheng’s. To protect his dying mother, Ye Xun rejected the opportunity to go to the 18th floor and instead perished within the illusion.

Jiang Luo didn’t understand why Chi You was making him watch this broadcast, just as he didn’t know whether to feel angered or gratified by his companions’ unwavering adherence to their beliefs, even at the cost of their lives.

Jiang Luo pressed his lips together. Once the screen went dark, he quietly waited for his own turn to enter the dream within a dream.

Judging by the experiences of Wen Renlian to Ye Xun, what appeared in the elevator was undoubtedly the most terrifying fantasy in one’s heart. Wen Renlian had to face his resurrected stepfather, Kuang Zheng saw his beloved family being destroyed, and Ye Xun confronted his mother’s death.

From another perspective, these were also the deepest desires in their hearts.

Wen Renlian wanted to ensure his stepfather was dead beyond doubt.

Kuang Zheng wanted to protect his family. Ye Xun wished to save his mother.

So, what each of them saw was an image intertwined with fear and desire?

Jiang Luo pondered deeply, already prepared to face the image of those despicable parents.

A few seconds later, the elevator doors slowly opened.

Jiang Luo lifted his eyelids, glancing casually. But after seeing what was outside the elevator, his eyelids twitched.

What appeared before him wasn’t those despicable parents but Chi You, slumped weakly against a wall.

Chi You was just two or three meters away, sitting against the corner of the wall, his head hanging, his life or death uncertain.

His long legs almost took up most of the elevator corridor. One pale hand rested on his abdomen while the other hung limply at his side. Blood dripped from his wrist, soaking a large area of the floor.

The typically immaculate suit was now slightly disheveled. Jiang Luo could only see Chi You’s pale chin and his bloodless, thin lips. Blood seemed to bloom beneath him like a rotten flower. Yet, even in this frail state, the malevolent ghost leaning in the corner exuded an oddly contradictory allure.

His posture was disheveled but appeared elegant and captivating. Both dangerous and seductive.

It felt as if approaching the malevolent ghost would reveal that he had never truly lost consciousness. Instead, his pitch-black, eerie eyes would open, accompanied by a cold, twisted smile, waiting for someone to walk willingly into his trap.

But it also seemed like he had indeed lost consciousness, leaving him at the mercy of others.

Perhaps to suppress him, tame him, or even kill him…

Jiang Luo’s throat moved slightly, but he quickly snapped out of it.

Once he regained clarity, his expression turned odd.

If his previous speculation was correct—that the visions in the elevator were crafted from one’s greatest fears and deepest desires—what did it mean that he was seeing Chi You?

Was his greatest fear Chi You’s death?

And his deepest desire… to do as he pleased with Chi You or become his savior?

Jiang Luo: “…” A chill ran down his spine.

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

At this moment, the blood pooling beneath Chi You slowly formed a line of familiar text.

[Ignore him, close the doors, and leave. You will pass this level and reach the 18th floor.]

Jiang Luo didn’t hesitate for even a second. He immediately pressed the elevator’s close button. Afraid the doors might shut too slowly, he pressed it four or five more times.

The elevator doors slowly closed, carrying the black-haired young man to the 18th floor.

Meanwhile, the malevolent ghost leaning against the wall outside slowly lifted his head.

His tightly closed eyes opened, staring at the ascending elevator. The corners of his mouth curved slightly as his arm casually draped over his knee.

The blood beneath him gradually seeped into the floor. The malevolent ghost leisurely wiped away the blood on his hands, his eyes gleaming like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

“Not even a second of hesitation before leaving, huh?”

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[T/N: Hi everyone, I am SheWee! I will be picking up this novel from chapter 163. You can find the rest of the chapters on Novelupdates. Lol I feel like I am on a mission to complete abandoned novels, yk like with The Demon Venerable’s Wistful Desire. Anyways if the original Translator wishes to pick this up back again then I will drop the series and also remove the chapters. Thank you.]