Translator: CinderTL
"I don't know," Wang Qi replied truthfully.
"This time, the clues related to the mission are scarce, and Yuan Xiaoyi concealed the most crucial part," Huai Yi added, his expression grave.
"Mm," Jiang Cheng nodded. "She didn't mention any rules this time."
In previous missions, Yuan Xiaoyi had always mentioned the rules of the corresponding Urban Legends, which had helped them avoid many dangers.
But not this time. Because this time, they were facing the Urban Legend of the Heart-Corroding Demon itself.
The last survivor, Jiang Yanran, was hiding here.
How could it possibly reveal information to them?
As they walked and talked, the atmosphere wasn't as heavy as they had expected.
Back at the dormitory building, Jiang Cheng took out his phone and sent Yuan Xiaoyi a message, reassuring her not to overthink things and that they would definitely rescue Jiang Yanran tonight.
He also cautiously inquired about any taboos related to the swimming pool.
Unfortunately, after a long wait, there was no reply. Fatty comforted him, saying, "It's okay, Doctor. We'll just be extra careful ourselves. We'll be fine."
Back in the dormitory, night had fallen completely. The deathly silence descended, as if everything on campus had simultaneously perished.
None of them showed any intention of sleeping. It wasn't that they weren't tired; they were all stubbornly staying awake. Fatty's eyes were bloodshot.
After tonight, who knew how many more of them would be gone?
"Get some rest," Jiang Cheng said. "We'll take turns."
He was speaking to Fatty and Huai Yi, clearly intending for them to rest first and then switch with him and Wang Qi.
At least that's what Fatty thought.
Fatty finally gave in. He glanced at Jiang Cheng, then at Wang Qi sitting on the wooden chair, before hesitantly nodding. "Alright, you..." He opened his mouth, then paused. "You have to wake me up, though. I sleep like the dead."
"We will," Wang Qi replied.
Once Fatty and Huai Yi had settled down to sleep, only Jiang Cheng and Wang Qi remained awake in the dorm. The atmosphere in the room immediately grew heavy.
In the dim light, Wang Qi gazed at Fatty's bed.
Fatty was sleeping on his side, only his back visible. His blanket was pulled high, covering him up to his chin.
With each breath, his body rose and fell evenly.
He was asleep.
"Was he always like this?" Jiang Cheng asked, turning to look at Wang Qi's profile. "Carefree and well-fed, able to eat and sleep soundly."
The man seemed lost in thought, staring intently at Fatty. Only after a few seconds did he react to Jiang Cheng's voice, but he still couldn't tear his gaze away from Fatty.
Opportunities like this were becoming increasingly rare for him.
"No," Wang Qi replied flatly. "Our family was poor back then, and there were so many of us. We were often hungry, and any treat we got was fiercely fought over."
"But he wasn't like that. Number 10 was better behaved than any of us. He always got the most treats."
"He'd share his food with the younger children, saying he wasn't hungry. He'd even make funny faces to make us laugh."
"Every time he left home and came back, he'd bring us gifts," Wang Qi paused, his voice trembling. "Everyone got one. Whenever he left, we'd all wait for him to return."
"Until one day, he left... and never came back," Wang Qi choked, biting his lip. "We waited and waited, but he never returned. Some people said he'd forgotten us, forgotten our home."
"He hasn't forgotten you, and he hasn't forgotten that home! I can vouch for that," Jiang Cheng straightened up, speaking with formal conviction. "He still thinks of you all. It's just that his memory is damaged. He remembers he has a family, but he can't remember where they live."
"He remembers he has family and that they're waiting for him, but he thinks he hasn't done well in life and doesn't want to burden them."
Wang Qi covered his face, his shoulders trembling slightly. "He's still the same Number 10. He hasn't changed. I knew he hadn't forgotten us. When I showed him the gift he gave me, he recognized it immediately and said he'd once given the same thing to his younger brother."
"Zero," Wang Qi said, wiping his face with his hand and turning to Jiang Cheng. "There's something I want to ask you."
"Tell me," Jiang Cheng replied without immediately agreeing.
Wang Qi glanced at the sleeping Fatty, then turned back. "Let's talk outside."
Leaving the room, they walked into the corridor. "Zero Jiang Cheng," Wang Qi corrected himself. "Have you ever wondered what the point of the first four Urban Legends was?"
"Not in relation to the Heart-Corroding Demon. I mean, what was the point for me, and for people like us?" Wang Qi emphasized the word "people" heavily.
"This world, though bizarre, operates under a strange set of rules. These rules provide every participant in these missions with a chance to survive."
Wang Qi pointed at Jiang Cheng. "You are." Then he pointed at himself, his voice hoarse. "So are we."
"Me, Shen Mengyun, and Gao Yan—we're already dead, yet trapped on this bus, unable to dissipate or escape."
"Participating in this mission is your chance," Jiang Cheng said. "If you can kill us during the mission, you can leave the bus. The us you kill will then take your place, remaining on the bus until the next group boards."
"Clever," Wang Qi nodded. "So you figured this out long ago."
"When did you realize this? That you're different from us," Jiang Cheng asked.
"After we left the abandoned sports field," Wang Qi replied. "My memories are slowly returning, though it's a slow process. But I can feel it."
"You want me to let you kill Huai Yi, don't you?" Jiang Cheng took two steps back, creating distance between himself and Wang Qi.
No one wanted to remain on this eerie bus. The Abnormality on board was certainly not limited to the old woman.
Just the thought of being left alone on the bus, surrounded by a fog concealing unknown Abnormality, unable to escape or die, was enough to drive a person mad.
In the long wait, loneliness was more deadly than fear.
The only hope was the next group of people to board the bus, to use them as replacements, to water their despair with one's own hope.
Wang Qi looked at Jiang Cheng, whose expression already said everything.
He wouldn't allow such a thing to happen.
But a moment later, Wang Qi shook his head and said, "You misunderstand. I want to ask you to take care of Number 10 for me."
Jiang Cheng's retreating footsteps faltered.
"I can't get out," Wang Qi said with a twisted smile. "But Number 10 hasn't recovered his memory yet. He has little ability to protect himself. I hope you can take my place, take all our places, and look after him."
"I will," Jiang Cheng said.
"Thank you."
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (NS) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c1334. [+4]
🔑Read it 100% for FREE visit the pinned post on my p@treon to learn how!🎉
💥Translated (6) Series, (4.6K+) Chapters, (6.7M+) Words.