Chapter 21: The Last Bus

"The Last Bus" is a reality-based dungeon mission. In theory, Bai Ming could rely on the power of "Nothingness" to waive the penalty and choose not to participate.

"Bai Xiaozhi, what do you think of this mission?"

After being detached from the dungeon, Bai Xiaozhi became a land-bound spirit tied to one of Bai Ming’s items. No longer restricted by the original rules, she was now privy to information regarding the Twilight Game.

"Ah, if it’s you, Bai Ming, you’ll definitely clear it."

She answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Well, that was a wasted question.

Ever since Bai Ming saved her, he had become an omnipotent hero in her eyes. To her, there was nothing he couldn't overcome.

After careful consideration, Bai Ming decided to participate. The difficulty of the Twilight Game would only continue to rise, and relying solely on real-world training had its limits. If he didn't accumulate experience points and game currency to improve his strength now, he would surely perish when faced with even tougher dungeons.

After finishing the dinner Bai Xiaozhi prepared, Bai Ming set out. He searched for internet cafes across the city and randomly selected one near a bus station. He took the subway and walked the rest of the way to rent a private room. He slept until midnight, woke up at 4:00 AM, and at 4:30 AM, pretended to head out to a barbecue stall to forage for food.

Watching Bai Xiaozhi pop her little head out from his chest, Bai Ming cautioned, "Remember, don't show yourself once we enter the dungeon. Very few people in the real world can hurt you, but the dungeon is different."

Although as a ghost, Bai Xiaozhi could not wander more than 20 meters from her sketchbook, placing the book into his system "Inventory" meant she effectively possessed an absolutely safe sanctuary.

"Got it!" Bai Xiaozhi winked playfully. "I won't be like those silly, naive heroines in short dramas who hold you back."

When Bai Ming arrived at the bus stop, the streetlights were glowing in solitude. The surrounding buildings occasionally revealed sparse flickers of light, a faint vestige of human existence.

However, in an instant, cold, eerie mist rose silently from the ground, like countless pale ghostly hands climbing upward, devouring the buildings inch by inch and severing the world into the realms of the living and the dead.

Everything fell into a deathly silence; even the wind seemed to freeze. Only the sound of Bai Ming’s breathing and his heartbeat remained in the void.

He pulled out his phone. As expected, there was no signal, and the time was frozen at 4:44.

Suddenly, two crimson rays pierced through the thick fog. A rusted, dilapidated bus slid silently out of the darkness. Those blood-colored sources of light were the bus's ghastly, glaring headlights.

On the roof, the digits "444" were painted crookedly in dark red pigment, resembling dried bloodstains. Behind the bus windows, several black shadows shifted eerily. Their silhouettes were twisted and deformed in the mist; though their features were obscured, they were all uniformly turned toward the station.

To be precise, they were staring at Bai Ming.

*Creeeeak—!*

The moment the bus doors opened, a stench like rotting flesh mixed with a bone-chilling cold rushed out.

In the driver’s seat, the entity—if it could be called that—turned its head stiffly, revealing a waxen, smooth, faceless head: "100 underworld coins for the dead, free for the living."

Bai Ming stepped into the carriage without hesitation.

On the partition door of the driver’s area, a yellowed piece of paper stained with brownish-red splotches fluttered slightly in the ghostly breeze.

[Passenger Rules for Bus Route 444]
[1. You must have your own seat on the bus.]
[2. Do not respond to any whispers coming from beneath your seat.]
[3. If the scenery outside the window suddenly stops, close your eyes immediately until the vehicle starts moving again.]
[4. When the lights inside the carriage begin to flicker, cover your ears and do not listen to the broadcast.]
[5. If you notice the number of passengers in the carriage has suddenly increased, do not make a sound.]
[6. If the bus doors open at a non-stop location, do not step out.]
[7. The last bus has no driver. If you encounter him, do not respond to anything he says.]

Damn! That’s treacherous.

If a player accidentally answered the driver, they would instantly violate the rules.

Bai Ming scanned the carriage. There were 29 seats in total, with only eight passengers currently present: an old woman with a bloated belly, a woman cradling an infant, a conjoined twin, a headless person, a pale-faced delivery rider, and two other players—a man and a woman.

Seeing Bai Ming board, the two players revealed their IDs. The man was [Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers: LV4], and the woman was [Cotton Candy and Cat: LV3]. They sat in the aisle seats on either side of the rear door, not together.

Bai Ming displayed his own ID, [No Heaven: LV3], glanced briefly at the bus route map, and headed to the back of the carriage, taking an empty seat behind [Cotton Candy and Cat].

[Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] lowered his voice: "Did you also enter at 4:44?"

Bai Ming nodded.

[Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] looked thoughtful: "The system truly is a master of time manipulation. I suspect more players will join."

[Cotton Candy and Cat] asked bluntly: "Which organization are you with, [No Heaven]? We’re from the relevant departments."

Bai Ming replied: "I’m a solo player."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of both [Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] and [Cotton Candy and Cat] turned distant.

There was a common saying in the player community: "Solo players aren't necessarily lunatics, but all lunatics are definitely solo players."

Although biased, the statement offered a glimpse into the reputation of solo players in the Twilight Game. Unlike during "Campus Daily," where [Feng Yinyin] held significant weight as a LV3 powerhouse, [Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] was already LV4 now, making the presence of another LV3 player inconsequential.

After all, the Twilight Game never required the cooperation of every member to clear a dungeon; in fact, a single black sheep could cause the whole team to fail.

[Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] said in a low voice: "If you are willing to cooperate with us, we would be happy to welcome you. But I’ll say this upfront: if you’re looking for death, don't expect us to go with you."

Bai Ming smiled: "I’m a normal person."

[Cotton Candy and Cat] scoffed: "All lunatics say they’re normal."

Bai Ming stood up: "Fine, I’m leaving."

He walked straight to the last row and sat in the window seat on the far left of the five-seat bench. From here, he had a wide view and could clearly observe the street scene.

[Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] whispered: "You went a bit too far."

[Cotton Candy and Cat] was dismissive: "Not at all. If he can't even take that, he's clearly an impulsive hothead. He’ll cause trouble sooner or later."

[Sword Suppresses the Mountains and Rivers] frowned inwardly. *Aren't you afraid of harboring resentment and inviting trouble for yourself?* But the deed was done, and he didn't want to argue with a teammate. "Watch yourself next time."

[Cotton Candy and Cat] gave a perfunctory, "Mm."

*Creeeeak—!*

The bus came to a halt once more, and the doors slowly opened.

A player with the ID [Ink Stains the Dust: LV6] stepped on board slowly.

*Snap—!*

Simultaneously, the dim lights inside the carriage were extinguished completely.

Every player felt a chill in their hearts, realizing instantly: there would be no fifth player.

The Twilight Game had now officially begun.