Chapter 73: They Pushed Themselves into the Abyss
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
“Every future is different, but for me, each one is full of unbearable pain, ultimately leading to despair,” Gao Ming confessed, his voice heavy with the weight of his premonitions. “Knowing that my fate is sealed, it’s impossible to forgive those who have tried to hasten my downfall.”
After meticulously finalizing his game design, Gao Ming sent it to Wei Dayou. He then stood silently by the window, gazing as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of twilight.
As darkness enveloped the world outside, Gao Ming gave Wan Qiu a few last-minute instructions. Then, with a black umbrella in hand, he stepped out of the room into the encroaching night.
He stealthily navigated past the building’s old, barely functioning surveillance system, making his way to Building 2. At the corridor’s entrance, he paused to retrieve a black-and-white photograph – the image of Fear Phobia.
Thanks to An An’s guidance, Gao Ming had learned the ritual to activate the memorial photo. He fixed his gaze on it, summoning every ounce of fear within him, until the ugly ragdoll began to emerge, crawling out from the confines of the photograph.
Around him, shadows began to creep and stretch, signaling the commencement of Gao Ming’s inaugural game.
Inside the building, the once-stable voice-controlled lights started to flicker erratically. The red couplets adorning the doors appeared to ooze blood, their symbols morphing into sinister smiles. Everywhere he looked, ordinary objects seemed to transform, conjuring up frightening images and associations.
These shadows, originating from a realm beyond the ordinary, began to seep into Building 2’s unsuspecting residents, spreading their eerie influence floor by floor.
Reflecting on the limitations of the Fear Phobia photo, Gao Ming realized it could cast its shadowy spell only as far as four floors. While each memorial photo’s power could be amplified through sacrifice, he had no immediate plans for such extreme measures.
Ascending the stairwell enveloped in an unsettling hush, Gao Ming pulled out another black-and-white photo – this one of Sishui Apartment. He attempted various methods to communicate with Granny within the photo, but all efforts were in vain.
In a final attempt, he combined the essence of the Flesh Immortal with his own blood and infused it into the photograph. This potent mixture finally elicited a response.
From the depths of the photo, an arm reached out, followed by the emergence of Ms. Nosy, who seemed more driven by her own inquisitive nature than by Gao Ming’s summons.
As the shadows grew denser, Gao Ming, with the aid of two memorial photographs, succeeded in pulling the entirety of Building 2 into the shadow realm.
“Ms. Nosy, I need your assistance,” Gao Ming implored, using his charm on the peculiar but not inherently malevolent woman who didn’t seem old despite her odd appearance.
“Is this your new home? Are you introducing yourself to the neighbors? Shouldn’t you bring gifts on your first visit?” Ms. Nosy asked, her talkative and gossipy nature evident.
Gao Ming instructed her to stay on the first floor and carefully explained his elaborate plan, ensuring she understood every detail.
Gao Ming made a bold move once he was confident in their understanding. For the first time, he attempted to release the Flesh Immortal completely from his heart chamber. The mere presence of this immense entity was enough to instill terror and force people to their knees.
However, when the Flesh Immortal finally detached from him, Gao Ming was overcome with a profound sense of loss, as if his vital part had vanished. Exhaustion, pain, and a flood of suppressed negative emotions began to surface, overwhelming his mind.
“We are one, and being separated for too long seems to harm us both,” he realized, grappling with the unexpected consequences of his actions.
Struggling against a surge of negative emotions assaulting his mind, Gao Ming hastily made his way to the fifth floor. Upon reaching it, he sought out An An, proposing that they engage in a brief role-playing game together.
Approximately ten minutes into their game, the building’s eerie silence was shattered by a blood-curdling scream. A door burst open, and the sounds of frantic running filled the corridor, followed by a cacophony of footsteps, shouts, and urgent knocking resonating throughout the building.
“It appears that Fear Phobia has already begun to take its toll on someone,” Gao Ming noted, observing the unfolding chaos with a detached demeanor.
Before long, the door of Zhao Xi’s apartment was met with urgent knocking. The trustworthy and straightforward Zhao Xi opened the door to find his sister-in-law Li Li, clutching a child, and his foster mother Zhao Yuan standing outside. Both wore expressions of sheer terror as if they had witnessed something profoundly horrifying.
“Zhao Xi! There’s a ghost in the building!” exclaimed the foster mother Zhao Yuan, her face drained of color. “I saw your brother return, but as he walked, he started bleeding profusely. He questioned why we didn’t save him, then his face… his flesh began to peel away!”
Zhao Xi’s own fear escalated upon hearing this, while Gao Ming remained stoic, understanding that Fear Phobia mirrors one’s deepest fears.
“Don’t listen to such nonsense. Your brother has gone insane! He broke out of prison with a knife and is now roaming the corridor!” Li Li interjected, her words heightening the horror. “He’s threatening to kill me and the child!”
As Fear Phobia spread its malignant influence, more and more residents of the building were driven into a frenzy, eventually congregating on the fifth floor.
“Something’s gone horribly wrong on the first floor! A three-meter-tall ghost was looming at my door!” Wang Kui from apartment 2101 exclaimed, his agitation palpable. “I barely escaped; it almost crushed me!”
“My girlfriend, who died in a car accident, has inexplicably returned. She’s in the kitchen, boiling her own hair!” Fang Shuqi from 2409 cried out, visibly shaken.
Xiao Qiu from 2203 joined in, trembling: “My deceased family members were knocking on my door, accusing me of being unfilial. I’ve always offered them money during the Ghost Festival. Why are they haunting me now?”
“Don’t do guilty deeds, and you won’t fear ghosts knocking on your door,” An An whispered under his breath and caught the attention of the adults, causing him to quickly hide behind Gao Ming.
“Who are you? You’re not a resident of Building 2!” Wang Kui challenged Gao Ming, suspicion in his eyes. “Is that giant ghost on the first floor your doing?”
“I’m just a psychological counselor, here to assist Zhao Xi today,” Gao Ming calmly explained, picking up An An. “We have no connection to any ghosts. Have you all lost your minds?”
Li Li, eyeing Zhao Xi with a mix of blame and disbelief, remarked, “You can afford a psychological counselor? What a waste of money!”
Zhao Xi remained silent, seemingly used to such rebukes.
“It was peaceful until you two showed up,” Wang Kui muttered, gathering the neighbors into a huddle, leaving Zhao Xi and Gao Ming isolated. They appeared to be conspiring or discussing something, excluding the duo from their midst.
Gao Ming understood the underlying motives behind Wang Kui’s actions and the fearful whispers he shared with the other residents. It was all a part of the sinister game unfolding around them.
After the release of the Flesh Immortal, Gao Ming had left a chilling message written in blood from the first to the second floor, a rule of the game: “Blood debts must be paid in blood. Sacrifice one living person to me, and I will let one person leave the building.”
Both Wang Kui, from the first floor, and Xiao Qiu, from the second, had undoubtedly seen this macabre rule. Driven by the edict of ‘kill one to save one,’ they conspired to use Gao Ming and An An as the sacrificial lambs.
The pervasive influence of Fear Phobia laid bare everyone’s deepest fears and hidden motives. Wang Kui, driven by a fierce will to survive, showed no regard for the lives of Gao Ming and An An. He began plotting with his fellow neighbors, his desperation palpable.
As a result of Gao Ming’s presence, Zhao Xi found himself ostracized too. Disappointingly, even his sister-in-law and foster mother kept him in the dark about their plans.
After a period of whispered strategizing, Wang Kui emerged as the spokesperson and confronted Gao Ming and Zhao Xi: “We’ve been living here peacefully for over a decade. These horrifying events only began after your arrival. If you want to prove you’re not responsible, then lead us in destroying that giant ghost statue.”
“Aren’t you afraid?” Gao Ming asked, his demeanor calm. He was offering them a choice – to unite against the terror. If they joined forces, they could all survive.
“What’s the use in being afraid? We need to get out of here,” retorted Wang Kui, his gaze flickering nervously. “You two brought these ghosts, so you should go first.”
Zhao Xi, feeling responsible for dragging Gao Ming into this nightmare, opened his mouth to object, but Gao Ming gestured for him to stay silent. Then, turning to Zhao Xi’s family, Gao Ming said, “I understand your distrust towards me, but Zhao Xi has been part of your family for so long, helping you often. It’s fine if you don’t trust me, but don’t you trust him?”
The response from the other residents was a deafening silence. Even Zhao Xi’s foster mother and Li Li remained mute, their silence a tacit agreement to the grim plan.
“Very well, we’ll lead,” Gao Ming said, patting Zhao Xi on the shoulder. He saw the light of hope dim in Zhao Xi’s eyes. The ghosts had arrived, and those Zhao Xi had once aided were now abandoning him.
Hand in hand with An An, Gao Ming led the way downstairs, with Zhao Xi following close behind. The rest of the neighbors kept a cautious distance.
As they descended to the second floor, the blood-stained message became visible. Sensing danger, Zhao Xi attempted to alert Gao Ming, but it was too late. Several men from behind, as if acting on a premeditated plan, surged forward and violently shoved Gao Ming and Zhao Xi down the stairs, directly towards the Flesh Immortal statue.
“Sacrifice! These two are your offerings!” they shouted.
Wang Kui had never intended to fight back. He ran from the idol, his mind teetering on the brink of madness. The thought of challenging supernatural forces with mere human strength was unthinkable to him.
As Gao Ming confronted this betrayal, memories of past deaths swirled in his mind, but this time he was not overcome with sorrow or pain.
“I gave you all a chance to live, but you chose to plunge yourselves into the abyss,” Gao Ming said, his voice echoing with a mixture of resignation and disdain.