Chapter 1516: Chapter 914: Epilogue
Although Yang Xiao can’t be sure, at the moment, this reason seems to be the most likely, and it might also be his only chance.
He continues to try to gather information about Old Guai from the elderly at the scrapyard, but even when he offers extra money, the old man has nothing more to say.
This somewhat puts Yang Xiao’s mind at ease; after all, Old Guai is just a scavenger and an out-of-towner unfamiliar with the place, so it’s natural for the old man not to take much notice of him.
Conversely, if the scrapyard elder were to speak about Old Guai’s life with great detail, it would arouse Yang Xiao’s suspicion instead.
After everything he’d been through, Yang Xiao trusts no one now, only his own judgment.
In the Nightmare World, those players who naively believed others died a long time ago, leaving behind only the nourishment for this terrifying place.
Leaving the scrapyard, Yang Xiao walks aimlessly to the old site of the East Mountain Machinery Factory. Gazing inside through the rusty gate, he sees the ground covered in weeds, with several abandoned buildings clustered in the distance. Within that area is the burned-down Building No. 7.
Checking the time on his phone, it’s already past 2 PM. Yang Xiao makes a bold decision; he squeezes through the gap in the fence and quickly finds himself standing on the open space in front of the factory buildings.
Not far from him is Building No. 7, burned black, leaving nothing behind.
Yang Xiao looks around; it’s clear he is satisfied with the place. It’s open, with a good view, perfect for observing. Yang Xiao decides to wait here for the Source Ghost to appear.
In the following moments, Yang Xiao makes phone calls to Chen Nang and Jiang Qingluan. There’s no problem with Chen Nang—he’s guarding the apartment, where Wu Guowei and the woman are tightly tied up, and no one has come by during this time.
However, Yang Xiao calls Jiang Qingluan three times, and only on the last call does someone answer. It’s not Jiang Qingluan but Zhou Hai.
To Yang Xiao’s surprise, Zhou Hai, who used to be timid, suddenly demands the sequence of deaths of the previous teammates right after picking up the phone.
Yang Xiao immediately realizes that Zhou Hai is assessing whether he’s human or a ghost.
It’s hard to imagine this cautiousness from Zhou Hai, who seemed to have transformed into a different person after just a few hours apart.
"I can tell you, but for every one I say, you tell me the next one." The other party was probing him, so Yang Xiao reciprocates the probe.
"Okay," Zhou Hai agrees, "The first one, Su Xiaomin."
"Chen Moting," Yang Xiao replies.
"Wu Zhuo," Zhou Hai says.
"Zhou Mingxiao," Yang Xiao sighs, the image of Mr. Zhou’s face reappearing in his mind.
After this exchange, both parties confirm each other’s identity, and Zhou Hai finally breathes a sigh of relief. He quickly explains, "Chu...Chu Xi, Miss Jiang has fainted, and I’m guarding the office."
"Liu Jian has been subdued, don’t worry, there are exactly three of us here altogether." Zhou Hai spills everything, fully aware of what Yang Xiao wants to know on the other side of the call.
"Liu Jian was subdued, so what about Sun Xin?" Yang Xiao’s heart sinks, knowing the mission is at a critical juncture. If Sun Xin escapes and brings the police, they’ll be in a tight spot.
"Sun Xin...he’s dead." Zhou Hai’s voice suddenly becomes low.
"Did Jiang Qingluan kill him?" Yang Xiao realizes something must have happened in the office.
"No, it wasn’t Miss Jiang, it was...me. I accidentally killed him. I didn’t mean to, but...he ran out and made a big scene. I worry...I worry..." As Zhou Hai speaks, his emotions start to unravel, but soon he regains control, his trembling voice becoming firm again. "Chu Xi, I had no choice; even if we ran it again, I would chase him down. We’ve sacrificed too many people to get here: Mr. Zhou, Munan, Zhang...everyone...everyone can’t die in vain."
"You, Chen Nang, and Miss Jiang, your efforts must not be wasted!" Zhou Hai adds, his voice hoarse and gasping.
Hearing this, Yang Xiao feels a burden lifted from his heart. Indeed, Nightmare World is the graveyard of newcomers but also the forge where they evolve into seasoned veterans. Zhou Hai had grown significantly at this point.
Growth comes from experiences, and sometimes true growth occurs in the blink of an eye.
"Well done." Yang Xiao offers genuine appreciation to Zhou Hai, for the first time genuinely acknowledging this newcomer, speaking earnestly, "Zhou Hai, with Jiang Qingluan unconscious, you have to rely on yourself now, but I believe in you, Chen Nang believes in you. You’re a man; see you at the finish line!"
"Chu Xi, rest assured. I know you are a couple; I’ll take good care of Miss Jiang!" Zhou Hai promises like a real man.
Yang Xiao: "???"
"Wait, why is taking care of her related to me?" Yang Xiao is momentarily confused.
"Chu Xi, at this point, there’s no need to play games with me. Miss Jiang calls your name even when she’s unconscious; I’ve been there, I understand it."
"No matter what, we’re teammates, partners who have faced life and death together. I, Zhou Hai, owe you and will repay you!"
Zhou Hai almost shouts into the phone: "Chu Xi, I’m handing the last baton over to you, don’t let us down!"
Yang Xiao: "...though I don’t know why, I feel suddenly inspired."
