Chapter 27: The Extra Passenger

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Killing a ghost who was a passenger while the bus was moving—there was no punishment at all?

Or was it because the act was [impossible] to avoid?

Bai Ming temporarily pulled his thoughts away and turned his gaze toward the dead souls pouring aboard from Ghost Market Night Market Station.

The first to board was a hunched old woman carrying a bamboo basket. Maggots kept spilling from between the rotten leaves inside.

Next came a peddler carrying a shoulder pole. Two shriveled human heads swayed inside his paper lanterns, phosphorescent flames flickering in their hollow eye sockets.

The third was a faceless ghost. Beneath its bamboo hat, only writhing strands of hair could be seen, with cloudy eyeballs appearing and disappearing among them. Blood seeped from the crate on its back, and the cries of a baby came from within.

After that, all kinds of merchant ghosts boarded one after another. Carrying their wares, they soon packed the bus until there was hardly room to breathe.

Only five ghosts got off at this stop, while as many as twenty merchant ghosts boarded.

Fifteen empty seats. Fifteen targets.

As expected, influenced by the negative status afflicting Ink-Stained Dust, the merchant ghosts ignored the other passengers and lunged toward him in unison.

But this time, with Bai Ming joining the battle, the enemies were attacked from both front and rear, making the fight far easier than before.

When the last merchant ghost fell to the floor, not a single one of them had suffered even a scratch.

“Passengers, please remain seated. The next stop is Dawn Hospital Station. Passengers getting off are requested to prepare in advance.”

Once the bus started moving, Bai Ming was just about to discuss how to test the rules with One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers and the others when—

“You can try leaving your seat.”

Marshmallow and Cat’s voice trembled slightly. “It won’t… be dangerous, will it?”

“How could it be dangerous? Look at me—I’m perfectly fine.”

One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers analyzed the situation. “The boss has violated Rule 1 repeatedly without anything happening to him. He must have the ability to protect you as well.”

“Trust me. Why would I harm you? If I wanted you dead, I could simply kill you.”

Ink-Stained Dust was silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice. “Heavenless has a point. The next stop is the clearance station. If we don’t test the rules now, it’ll be too late. Cat, go and give it a try.”

Marshmallow and Cat bit her lip, finally making up her mind. “Since Big Brother Ink and Big Brother Heavenless both say so, all right. I’ll do it. Big Brother Heavenless, you have to keep me alive!”

Standing in the aisle of the rear carriage, Heavenless slowly nodded. A strange curve tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely keep you alive.”

With that, Heavenless turned his head and smiled faintly at Bai Ming.

But—

To be honest, Bai Ming felt nothing.

Because it was not his face. It was merely the skin he used in Campus Daily Life.

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When he had not heard anyone address Heavenless earlier, Bai Ming had not realized at once that they were referring to him.

He had simply assumed another ghost had appeared.

[5. If you discover that the number of passengers inside the bus has suddenly increased, do not speak.]

An extra passenger?

What a sinister rule.

Speaking would violate the rule. Staying silent meant his teammates might never see him again and would be tricked.

Bai Ming chose silence.

After all, Dawn Hospital Station was almost here. They truly needed someone to test the rules.

Marshmallow and Cat rose from her seat cautiously and stepped away.

After a while, nothing happened. Marshmallow and Cat remained completely unharmed.

“It really worked! Nothing happened at all!”

Her voice was filled with the joy of having survived a disaster.

Heavenless laughed in a deep voice. “See? Wasn’t I right? I have the power to keep you safe.”

Marshmallow and Cat’s eyes shone with admiration. “Big Brother Heavenless really is the most powerful player I’ve ever seen!”

Heavenless shifted his gaze to One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers. “You should try it too. One person isn’t enough to reveal anything. Ink-Stained Dust, you as well.”

One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers did not hesitate. “All right!”

Ink-Stained Dust agreed too.

However, Bai Ming noticed that his agreement carried a quiet confidence.

If he dared to speak up and compete with Bai Ming, it proved that he too possessed the ability to defy the rules without dying.

A mere Rule 1 was unlikely to pose much of a threat to him.

Thus, Marshmallow and Cat, One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers, and Ink-Stained Dust all left their seats and moved to the middle of the carriage.

Bai Ming deliberately shifted aside to avoid brushing against them.

Marshmallow and Cat hopped once in the middle of the carriage. “Big Brother Heavenless is amazing!”

One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers could not help exclaiming, “Is this the strength of an S-grade player? It’s incredible—not merely the strength of an individual, but the strength of an entire team!”

Ink-Stained Dust said nothing. He merely narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping faintly across Bai Ming’s position.

He was also the one standing closest to the empty seats, and he was exceedingly cautious.

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Heavenless’s smile deepened until the corners of his mouth nearly reached his ears.

“Looks like my experiment was a success.”

His voice sounded as though it had crawled up from the depths of an abyss, carrying a horrifying sort of delight.

“Now then, are you ready?”

“Ready to welcome the final destination.”

Marshmallow and Cat was still lost in her excitement and noticed nothing amiss.

“Big Brother Heavenless is awesome!”

But One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers finally realized that something was wrong. His pupils contracted sharply.

“Wait. You’re not—”

It was too late.

Countless black shadows stretched from the darkness beneath the seats. The moment they touched Marshmallow and Cat and One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers, countless pale arms emerged and began clawing frantically at them.

Ink-Stained Dust had already leaped nimbly back into his seat, watching coldly.

Heavenless cast him a glance, and a deep, inhuman laugh rumbled from his throat.

“Clever boy. But it doesn’t matter. Two prey are more than enough.”

A twisted delight flickered in his eyes as his gaze slowly turned toward the two struggling figures.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At the instant the muffled explosions rang out, Bai Ming wielded his staff and smashed the pale arms apart.

In the process, he struck Marshmallow and Cat and One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers in the legs.

For that, all he could say was: sorry.

The smile on Heavenless’s face froze.

“You actually dared to interfere! You actually dared!”

Bai Ming sneered. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Taking advantage of the chaos while Bai Ming helped them, Marshmallow and Cat and One Slash Subdues Mountains and Rivers fled back to their seats. They clutched their aching shins and took out medicine to treat their injuries.

Heavenless laughed darkly.

“Well struck. Well struck indeed. Let me show you the deepest fear of all!”

“Come out! Come out, my little darling!”

Yet nothing happened.

The carriage suddenly fell into a deathly silence as the players stared at him.

Heavenless’s face stiffened. He could only repeat himself.

“Come out! Come out, my little darling!”

Still, nothing happened.

Marshmallow and Cat’s face twisted with pain. She cursed angrily, “Is this guy an idiot or something?”

At that, Heavenless flew into a rage and screamed, “Why won’t you come out? Why? Why?!”

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