Chapter 20: Trouble In Reality
Rip.
The first seal tore.
Rip.
The second.
Rip.
The third.
The entire apartment trembled.
Then—
The hair exploded.
An ocean of black strands erupted through every pipe simultaneously.
The killer screamed.
The livestream erupted.
The cursed woman finally escaped.
After a year.
She reached Room 201.
And found the man responsible.
The revenge was horrifying.
The audience watched in silence.
No jokes.
No comments.
No laughter.
Only screams.
Then.
Nothing.
Silence.
The hair slowly settled.
Its hatred gone.
Its purpose fulfilled.
The rooftop door opened.
Creak.
A lonely rooftop appeared.
Broken fencing.
Rusty water tanks.
Abandoned maintenance equipment.
And a single small swing.
A child’s swing.
Moving gently in the wind.
Even though there was no child sitting on it.
The hair ghost froze.
Tears appeared.
The toy rabbit in her arms trembled.
The swing moved again.
Forward.
Backward.
Forward.
Backward.
Then a small voice echoed across the roof.
"Mom?"
The hair ghost collapsed.
A little girl appeared.
Perhaps seven years old.
Her body looked faded.
Almost transparent.
Yet unlike the other ghosts—
She wasn’t angry.
She wasn’t hateful.
She simply looked lost.
"Mom?"
The woman ran forward.
The child ran forward.
They embraced.
And for the first time since entering the dungeon—
The apartment stopped shaking.
The cursed hair stopped moving.
The darkness receded.
The livestream became strangely quiet.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Even ghosts could feel it.
The sadness.
The relief.
The years of waiting finally ending.
Shen Yu rubbed the back of his neck.
Awkwardly.
"Well."
"That worked."
Lily stared at him.
"You solved a curse through emotional closure."
The hair slowly settled.
Its hatred gone.
Its purpose fulfilled.
The dungeon began shaking.
A completion event.
Yet Shen Yu noticed something strange.
The hair remained.
Not hostile.
Not violent.
Simply waiting.
Like a lost animal.
The system appeared.
Hidden Route Complete
Truth Revealed
Source Spirit Released
Then another notification.
Special Entity Available
Hair Ghost
Contract Compatibility:
High
The audience collectively lost its mind.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Not the hair ghost!"
"Anyone but it!"
Lily looked horrified.
The hair spirit looked horrified.
Even the system seemed uncomfortable.
Shen Yu however—
Looked delighted.
"Excellent."
The Tangly Ghost trembled.
The audience screamed.
"RUN!"
"ESCAPE!"
"DO SOMETHING!"
Unfortunately.
The hair spirit couldn’t.
The dungeon completion sequence had already begun.
Shen Yu opened his rewards.
SSR Combo Achieved
Reward:
Pocket of Gold
Reward:
EXP Card ×3
Reward:
Silver Dagger
Reward:
Raider Cloak
Reward:
Blink Skill Enhanced
Shen Yu immediately equipped the dagger and cloak.
His stats surged.
Attack increased.
Speed increased.
Not enough to surpass Black Wolf.
But enough.
Enough to fight him.
Enough to survive.
Enough to kill him eventually.
The thought made Shen Yu smile.
A ghost moderator posted a new announcement.
HORROR REALM NOTICE
Joint Kill Order Approved
Threat Classification:
System-Level Anomaly
Target:
Shen Yu
Silence.
Then cheers.
Thousands of ghosts celebrated.
Finally.
Justice.
Shen Yu looked at the notice.
Thought about it.
Then nodded.
"Interesting."
The audience became nervous.
Whenever Shen Yu called something interesting—
It usually ended badly for everyone else.
The livestream exploded.
Lily stared at the notice.
Then at Shen Yu.
Then at the notice again.
"..."
"...that’s actually fair."
Shen Yu looked pleased.
"Popularity is increasing."
The dungeon countdown began.
10...
9...
8...
Reality started reforming around him.
7...
6...
5...
Shen Yu’s smile slowly widened.
Because he remembered something important.
Something waiting outside.
Black Wolf.
His cheating ex-girlfriend.
The inheritance money.
The ambush.
He was no longer the same person who entered the Hair Apartment.
He was stronger.
Faster.
Better equipped.
And most importantly—
Level Five.
4...
4...
3...
2...
Lily suddenly had a horrible feeling.
"What are you smiling about?"
Shen Yu answered honestly.
"There’s someone outside who wants to kill me."
"That’s normal."
"Now I get to return the favor."
The Ghost Bride shivered.
Not because of the dungeon.
Not because of the kill order.
Not because of the ghosts.
Because she almost felt sorry for people waiting for Shen Yu.
Almost.
1...
0...
Dungeon Complete.
Extraction Initiated.
And somewhere in the real world—
Two people waiting in Shen Yu’s apartment were about to discover a terrifying truth.
The prey had returned.
But the hunter they remembered no longer existed.
Back in reality.
Black Wolf was waiting.
His ex-girlfriend was waiting.
The inheritance money conspiracy was waiting.
And now?
He finally had a chance.
The livestream ghosts watched silently.
No one laughed anymore.
No one mocked him anymore.
One ghost whispered:
"...he actually cleared it."
Another replied:
"...he wasn’t lucky."
A third answered:
"...he solved it."
Shen Yu?
He simply checked the dungeon countdown.
Thirty seconds until extraction.
He stretched comfortably.
Then grinned.
"Good dungeon."
The audience collectively shivered.
Because only Shen Yu could describe being strangled, dismembered, impaled, shredded, and murdered dozens of times as a good dungeon.
As the Hair Apartment began collapsing around them.
The next victim was waiting.
And Shen Yu was finally coming home.
The dungeon dissolved.
Reality cracked.
And the countdown reached zero.
The Hair Apartment Dungeon was complete.
But somewhere across the Horror Realm—
Ghosts were already preparing for war.
And for the first time since entering the nightmare world—
Shen Yu had become something far more dangerous than a player.
A problem.
The Hair Apartment Dungeon collapsed behind him.
The system’s voice echoed one final time.
DUNGEON CLEARED
A vortex of black light swallowed Shen Yu.
The next moment—
He was back.
Reality returned.
The familiar cracked ceiling of his apartment appeared overhead.
The smell of mold.
The worn furniture.
The thin walls.
Home.
For a brief second, Shen Yu simply stood there.
Alive.
Then he heard voices.
Outside his bedroom door.
Black Wolf was pacing impatiently.
"Almost an hour."
His voice carried through the door.
"Why isn’t Shen Yu dead yet?"
His ex-girlfriend sat nearby.
"Nighmare dungeon."
"He can’t last this long."
Black Wolf snorted.
"What is the rush?"
"Maybe he’s already torn to pieces inside."
"When the timer ends, his corpse spawns."
The woman nodded.
His ex still looked greedy.
Obsessed.
"The Bone Phoenix Crown is gold gear."
Black Wolf grinned.
"Gear is mine."
"Cash is yours."
Inside the apartment—
Shen Yu laughed softly.
Cash.
Inheritance.
Money.
These idiots still believed his parents had hidden millions somewhere.
The truth was almost funny.
There was no inheritance.
Not anymore.
Every cent had been confiscated days ago after the fraud case.
The government had taken everything.
The hidden fortune existed only inside the imagination of desperate parasites.
Black Wolf was losing patience.
Shen Yu opened the door.
The hallway became silent.
Black Wolf’s grin vanished.
His ex froze.
Neither of them had expected this.
Because Shen Yu looked completely different.
Silver equipment gleamed beneath his jacket.
The Raider Cloak shifted slightly.
The Bone Phoenix Crown rested on his head.
The aura around him felt dangerous.
Heavy.
Like someone who had walked through death too many times.
Black Wolf’s eyes widened.
"What?"
"So fast?"
His gaze locked onto the equipment.
"Silver gear."
"More than one."
"And the gold crown."
His face slowly paled.
"Who are you?"
Shen Yu smiled.
"The reckoner."
Before Black Wolf could react—
Shadows erupted.
WHOOSH!
Resentment threads exploded from Shen Yu’s hands.
Black strands wrapped around Black Wolf’s limbs.
The gang leader slammed against the wall.
"What is this?!"
"Let me go!"
The threads tightened.
Black Wolf struggled violently.
The strength of a veteran fighter surged through his body.
Yet the cursed restraints barely moved.
The rewards from Hair Apartment were far stronger than he expected.
Black Wolf’s expression finally cracked.
Fear.
Real fear.
"Don’t kill me!"
"I was wrong!"
"I’ll give you all the money!"
"Spare me!"
Shen Yu looked genuinely confused.
"What money?"
The man froze.
Then realization slowly appeared.
There was no money.
The inheritance never existed.
Everything he had done.
Everything he had planned.
Every attack.
Every betrayal.
Had been for nothing.
Black Wolf’s face became ugly.
Desperate.
Mad.
"Then die!"
His class activated.
CURSED DOLL MASTER
Dark energy exploded outward.
Dozens of twisted dolls emerged.
Human-shaped.
Child-sized.
Covered in nails and blood.
Black Wolf roared.
"Today you’ll beg for death!"
"Make him hurt!"
"Make him kneel!"
The dolls attacked.
Shen Yu didn’t move.
The first curse landed.
Then the second.
Then dozens more.
Nothing happened.
Black Wolf blinked.
"What?"
Another curse struck.
Still nothing.
Then a system notification appeared.
CURSED INFANT BIB
Gold Quality
Curse Damage Reduction: 80%
Converts absorbed curse damage into health.
The dolls continued attacking.
Green healing numbers appeared above Shen Yu.
+31
+44
+56
+72
Black Wolf stared.
"You..."
The realization hit him.
"You’re healing?"
Shen Yu nodded.
"Seems so."
Black Wolf nearly vomited blood.
"My curses are healing you?"
"Apparently."
The doll master felt his worldview collapse.
Years.
Years spent mastering curses.
Years becoming feared.
Years earning his reputation.
Completely countered by a baby bib.
His expression became hopeless.
Shen Yu stepped forward.
Black Wolf stepped back.
Then another.
Then another.
"Stay back!"
"Go!"
His strongest shadow doll lunged.
One silver flash.
Snake Fang Dagger.
SLASH.
The doll split apart.
Black Wolf’s face turned white.
"Shen Yu!"
"I’m wrong!"
"So wrong!"
"Spare me!"
The man dropped to his knees.
Too late.
A silver blade pierced his chest.
The scream echoed through the corridor.
His body dissolved into black particles.
Equipment dropped onto the floor.
Silver gear.
Rare items.
Dungeon resources.
Shen Yu calmly collected everything.
"Useful."
His ex-girlfriend watched the entire scene.
Frozen.
Unable to move.
The man she had abandoned.
The weak loser she mocked.
The burden she despised.
Had just erased Black Wolf effortlessly.
Her legs gave out.
"No..."
"This isn’t possible..."
Shen Yu looked at her.
She trembled.
For the first time.
She saw him clearly.
Not as a victim.
Not as an obstacle.
As something terrifying.
She crawled backward.
"There wasn’t any money?"
"No."
"Then why..."
Shen Yu answered calmly.
"Because greedy people believe what they want."
Her face turned pale.
Everything.
All of it.
Had been meaningless.
Shen Yu walked past her.
Ignoring her completely.
Which somehow hurt even more.
A new notification suddenly appeared.
CURSED INFANT BIB
Additional Effect Activated
Absorbed Cursed Energy Stored
Embryo Formation Progress Started
Shen Yu frowned.
"Embryo?"
The item pulsed.
Hungrily.
As if something inside it was growing.
Something that needed more cursed energy.
He stored it away.
That could wait.
Another matter was more important.
His family.
He walked toward the other bedroom.
A small room.
Old.
Quiet.
Poor.
When he opened the door—
A familiar voice greeted him.
"Bro?"
His little sister.
Shen Xi.
Blind since age twelve.
A rare eye disease had stolen her sight.
Weekly medication kept the condition stable.
But treatment was expensive.
Painfully expensive.
The moment she heard his footsteps—
She smiled.
"Bro, you’re back."
Then she sniffed.
Her eyes widened.
"I smell meat."
"Pork?"
Shen Yu froze.
For a moment—
He couldn’t answer.
How long had it been?
How long since she had eaten properly?
Then he remembered.
Three weeks.
Medication delayed.
Meals skipped.
Debt collectors harassing them.
The Shen’s had been drowning.
Barely surviving.
His chest tightened.
"I heard someone crying earlier."
She tilted her head.
"Was it debt collectors again?"
"No."
Shen Yu smiled softly.
"You misheard."
"TV was too loud."
She hesitated.
"They didn’t hurt you?"
"I’m fine."
He gently ruffled her hair.
"They won’t come back."
"From now on..."
His voice became firm.
"I’ll handle everything."
"I’ll pay the debts."
"You’ll get your medicine."
"Not a single dose will be missed."
His sister blinked.
Then smiled.
"My brother never talks this gently."
Shen Yu laughed.
"People change."
That evening—
He cooked.
Braised pork.
Sweet and sour ribs.
Rice.
Soup.
The smell filled the apartment.
His sister nearly cried.
"Bro..."
"What?"
"We haven’t had meat in so long."
Shen Yu looked away.
What kind of life had this family endured?
His parents arrested.
Their reputation destroyed.
Their assets seized.
Debt collectors circling constantly.
A disabled sister relying entirely on him.
No.
That ended today.
"Eat."
He smiled.
"As much as you want."
"From now on..."
"We’ll eat like this every day."
She nodded happily.
Meanwhile—
Shen Yu’s mind continued working.
Shen Yu’s eyes narrowed.
"First I’ll get stronger."
"Dungeons."
"Bounties."
"Equipment."
"Money."
Fastest path available.
Two hundred and forty thousand in debt.
Medical bills.
Living expenses.
Future threats.
Strength solved all of them.
Then—
BANG!
The apartment door shook.
BANG!
Another hit.
An angry voice echoed outside.
"HEY!"
"SHEN YU!"
"PAY YOUR DEBT!"
"KEEP PLAYING DEAD AND I’LL TEAR YOUR DOOR OFF!"
Another voice joined.
"GET OUT HERE!"
Shen Yu sighed.
His peaceful dinner had lasted exactly fifteen minutes.
He stood.
Walked to the door.
Opened it.
Three men stood outside.
Local debt collectors.
