Chapter 11: Third Time’s the Charm
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
In the final moments before death could tighten its grip on him, Yu Sheng felt a darkness unlike anything he’d ever known. It was deep and almost alive, pressing down on him like a thick, heavy liquid. There was no way out—only the crushing weight of oblivion.
His mind began to fade, slipping away like sand through his fingers. He could feel his body failing, its life ebbing away from the terrible injuries he’d suffered. His thoughts, tied to his broken body, were on the brink of dissolving into nothing. It was, after all, the natural way of things.
But then—just as his existence was about to vanish—something stopped it. A force, or maybe just a stubborn thought, wrapped around his mind, pulling him back from the edge. In the haze of confusion, he remembered the frog that had once eaten his heart—and how he had been brought back before.
How had that even happened? What had become of him? Why was he still… alive?
These questions gnawed at him, keeping him from fully sinking into the darkness. His consciousness wavered but refused to let go completely. He needed to know—what had brought him back? What had happened after death had claimed him?
The weight of the darkness pressed harder, growing colder and rougher, like being buried alive beneath layers of stone. He could feel his soul suffocating under its pressure. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the crushing sensation lifted.
In that moment of release, a single, clear thought echoed through his mind: In dying, death itself had died.
Yu Sheng had beaten death, and now, death had fled from him. His “body” felt lighter, and he shot upward, away from the dark void that had almost swallowed him.
As he rose, he caught a glimpse of something—something on the surface of the darkness. It felt as though he was gliding over a strange layer of existence, but before he could make sense of it, his eyes snapped open.
The night air was cold, rushing in through the broken wall beside him. He was back in the ruined temple, its roof half-collapsed above him. Outside, the sky was a swirling chaos of clouds, and the valley winds howled in the distance.
Yu Sheng sat still in the corner, his mind foggy. The feeling was eerily familiar. It had happened to him before.
But this time, his recovery was quicker. Within a few breaths, he remembered everything—including the oppressive darkness that had almost consumed him.
Steadying his breath, Yu Sheng slowly pushed himself to his feet.
His body creaked and groaned as though waking from a long sleep. Strength returned to his limbs, and his thoughts cleared. He looked outside the temple to where he’d collapsed, blood pooling around him.
There was nothing there now. The beast that had attacked him was gone—or maybe it was hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike again.
Yu Sheng stood in silence for a moment before speaking aloud in his thoughts, “Irene?”
Almost instantly, a voice burst into his mind. “Yu Sheng! Oh my gosh, are you okay?!”
Irene’s voice was frantic. “You stopped responding! I kept calling and calling, but you didn’t answer! I thought you were dead! You scared me half to death! If you really died, who’d fix the TV? Are you sure you’re alright?”
Yu Sheng’s eyebrow twitched. “So, you’re only worried about the TV back home?”
There was a pause. “…Not just that. I mean, I was also worried about you being dead…”
Yu Sheng sighed, exasperation in his voice. “Really now.”
She really hesitated before saying that, he thought, shaking his head.
Clenching his jaw, Yu Sheng tried to keep calm. “What if I told you I really did die just now?”
Irene didn’t buy it for a second. “You’re talking, aren’t you? You sound fine!”
“…Yeah, just kidding,” Yu Sheng replied dryly. He paused before asking abruptly, “How long has it been?”
“Huh? How long has what been?”
“Since I said I was hanging up. How long have I been gone?”
“Um… I can’t see a clock from here, but maybe half an hour? Hard to say. I’ve been stuck in this painting for ages, so my sense of time is kinda off. The sky hasn’t changed much, so I don’t think it’s been a full night. Probably?”
Yu Sheng sighed again. “That’s pretty vague, don’t you think? There’s a big difference between half an hour and an entire night.”
There was silence for a moment before a low, almost mischievous laugh sounded nearby.
Irene immediately jumped in to explain. “That wasn’t me! That was the bear!”
Yu Sheng felt drained, both mentally and physically. He waved a hand dismissively. “I know.”
She sounded pleased. “Ah, so you believe me now?”
He didn’t have the energy to argue. It wasn’t about believing her—just hearing her voice alone made him want to give her a good talking-to.
With Irene’s babbling fading into the background, Yu Sheng stepped out of the temple once more.
He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt stronger than before. His steps were lighter, his movements more powerful, and even his senses seemed sharper.
It was like he was adjusting to this strange place—the darkness, the ruins, the ever-present malice, and the unseen eyes watching him.
Without hesitation, he walked toward the open space in front of the temple, toward the ominous forest looming on the other side, deep in the heart of the “Otherworld.”
He knew the risks. He could die again at any moment—with the next step, or in the next breath.
Irene’s voice echoed in his mind again, softer this time. “Yu Sheng… are you really okay?”
“I’m fine,” he replied, his voice steady. “I got hurt, but I’m healed now.”
“Maybe you should stay put… find somewhere safe. I’ll try to remember if I’ve heard of this ‘valley’ you mentioned.”
“You do that. I’ll keep moving.”
“Wait, what if it’s too dangero—”
“Irene,” Yu Sheng interrupted. Standing in the cold, eerie night air, he glanced at the dark forest ahead. For the first time in what felt like forever, he grinned. “Lately, I’ve felt like I’ve been… drifting.”
Irene sounded confused. “Drifting?”
“Yeah, just… wandering. But when you mentioned the ‘Otherworld’ and people accidentally stumbling into it, do you know how that made me feel?”
“How did it make you feel?” she asked cautiously.
Yu Sheng chuckled. “Happy.”
“Happy? Really?”
“Yes. Really happy.” His smile widened, and he laughed. “You said that some people accidentally open the wrong door or step on the wrong floorboard, and they end up in an Otherworld, right? And if they’re lucky, they can find a way out.”
“That’s… what I said,” Irene replied, uncertain. “But it’s not easy! Even professional investigators struggle to escape, and ordinary people usually… well…”
“Die a few times, and I’ll figure it out,” Yu Sheng muttered, half to himself.
“What was that?” Irene asked, not quite catching his words.
“Nothing,” Yu Sheng said lightly. “I’ve just found something to focus on. It’ll take time, but I’ll get out of here.”
“Well, if that makes you feel better, I’m glad! Just… don’t die again, okay? I still need you to come back and fix the TV… oh, and maybe find me a body?”
“Alright, alright,” Yu Sheng said with a laugh. “When I get back, I’ll see what I can do.”
Irene brightened. “Really? You’re a doll maker or something? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Yu Sheng paused, then sighed. “Well, I’m not exactly a professional. I’ve watched a few videos on sculpting… but my hands don’t quite match my ambitions.”
Two seconds of silence followed before Irene began cursing him loudly.
But for the first time in a long while, Yu Sheng felt at ease. He walked forward, gazing up at the towering mountains, and saw something lurking just ahead.
It was a massive creature, its body made of twisted, fused limbs. It stood by the roadside, watching him with unblinking eyes.
Yu Sheng stopped in his tracks and, without hesitation, called out to Irene. “Irene.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh… I might need to hang up again.”
“Huh?”