Translator: CinderTL
"Chu Jiu!"
Banana Wolf picked up the painting from the ground, his fingers trembling. He took one last look at the gate that separated life and death before gritting his teeth and running downstairs.
The prolonged torment had left him physically and mentally exhausted, but he dared not give up. He couldn't give up.
He couldn't die. He had to carry this hope, to live for Chu Jiu, for Chen Yi, for all those who had perished.
As he rushed out of the building, the light and shadows around him shifted. He knew that Chu Jiu had completed her mission.
Before him stood three pitch-black buildings.
Peace Apartment.
But unlike before, the Peace Apartment was now shrouded in an eerie atmosphere. Dark clouds hung low, as if threatening to crush the buildings.
There was no sound coming from inside the apartment.
He slowly walked towards the apartment, pausing briefly as he passed Building No. 1. Standing below and looking up, he felt a completely different vibe.
Previously, it had merely seemed dilapidated and desolate, but now the building appeared pitch black, resembling a massive upright coffin.
Occasionally, a faint light reflected from one of the windows, like half-opened eyes, maliciously staring at any living being that approached.
Taking a deep breath, he lowered his gaze to the empty lobby. Banana Wolf felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort.
It was as if stepping inside would mean being devoured by this building that now seemed alive.
In the next second, a black shadow swiftly flashed across the lobby.
"Banana Wolf!" Weng Qing appeared like a gust of wind in front of the lobby of Building No. 1. Seemingly restrained by something, she didn't step out of the gate.
She looked anxious, her eyes filled with concern as she gazed at Banana Wolf.
"Sister Qing!" Banana Wolf's eyes lit up. He had been worried that the anomalies in the instance might have harmed Sister Qing.
He quickly ran over. "Sister Qing," he said urgently, "What's going on?"
Weng Qing grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, seemingly more nervous than he was. "Don't just stand there," she said quickly. "Come inside."
Weng Qing's first attempt to pull Banana Wolf didn't work. It was only after he confirmed the look in her eyes that he followed her into Building No. 1.
"Banana Wolf, I remember now. I remember everything," Weng Qing said, her eyes filled with palpable fear. "A terrifying being created us. He lives in—"
"Room 808, Building No. 3."
"That's right. And he has no name. His name is a taboo here. He calls himself Wu. Everyone... everyone has awakened. They've all awakened!"
Banana Wolf looked at Weng Qing's anxious eyes and felt deeply moved. He naturally understood who she was referring to.
The Ghosts.
The new Urban Legends born from those who had been killed.
Just like Liu Guo, whom Sister Qing had dealt with.
"Don't go out. You'll die if you go out!" Weng Qing grabbed Banana Wolf's hand, pleading earnestly. "Stay in my home. Don't go anywhere else. In my home, they can't enter. I won't let them harm you!"
"Thank you, Sister Qing," Banana Wolf shook his head, his tone resolute. "I must find the others."
After several attempts to persuade him, Banana Wolf reached out and hugged Weng Qing. "Please take care of yourself," he said before turning and running towards the gate.
He was heading to Room 808. If he could find Hao Shuai and the others along the way, that would be best. If not, he would hand the painting to Lin Chen himself.
He wanted to awaken the kindness she once had when she created Wu.
But the next second, a voice rang in his ears, "Banana Wolf." It was Weng Qing's voice. "Forgive me, I can't let you go to your death!"
Immediately, Banana Wolf felt his body lighten, and then he was hoisted onto Weng Qing's shoulder as she ran upstairs.
"Banana Wolf, I won't harm you. If you go, you'll only be walking to your death. No one is a match for him." Weng Qing completely ignored Banana Wolf's struggles, as in her eyes, human strength was utterly insignificant.
"Fine," Banana Wolf finally conceded. "Maybe you're right, but this item was obtained at the cost of my teammates' lives. I can stay, but they need this."
Weng Qing's eyes lit up with hope. "What do you plan to do?"
"Hang this painting at the main gate. If they're still alive, they'll take it." As he spoke, Banana Wolf placed the painting into a backpack and handed it to Weng Qing. "Sister Qing, I'll leave this to you."
Seeing the determination in Banana Wolf's eyes, Weng Qing nodded. "Don't worry, Banana Wolf."
The two of them made their way back to the main gate, and only when Weng Qing held the backpack in her hands did she finally feel at ease. The importance of this painting to Banana Wolf was self-evident.
Though she didn't want to do this, especially seeing the growing dimness in Banana Wolf's eyes, Weng Qing felt deeply distressed.
But she knew that if she let Banana Wolf go, he would surely die.
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"Banana Wolf," Weng Qing began, but Banana Wolf cut her off. "Sister Qing, there's no need to say anything. I know you mean well."
Pursing her lips, Weng Qing nodded. Then, glancing around, she changed her tone and asked, "Where should we hang the bag?"
"Over there," Banana Wolf pointed to a spot some distance away.
"Alright," Weng Qing nodded and walked toward the spot, though she felt that Banana Wolf was merely seeking some psychological comfort.
It was likely... likely that those people were already dead.
But she didn't voice it. She didn't want to see Banana Wolf's disappointment.
Secretly, she thought that after some time had passed, she would find an opportunity to go out and return to tell Banana Wolf that his companions had survived because of the painting he had sent.
Perhaps that would ease his heart.
"Is this spot okay?" Weng Qing stood on her tiptoes, trying to hang the bag higher, making it more visible.
There was no sound from behind.
Weng Qing's eyes froze, and she immediately turned around. Banana Wolf was nowhere to be seen. About a few dozen meters outside the gate, a figure was sprinting toward Building 3.
She tore open the backpack—it was empty.
Banana Wolf ran for his life, not daring to look back. He was afraid that Sister Qing would catch him and drag him back, and he was afraid of seeing her face, filled with worry and helplessness for him.
But the outcome was as he expected. He only heard Sister Qing's cries.
From some time ago, everything here had changed. All the living had disappeared, and the entire world had turned into a feast for the dead.
And that building was Sister Qing's prison—she couldn't leave.
Feeling the painting in his pocket, Banana Wolf's gaze turned resolute. Through the fabric, he could even sense the warmth emanating from the artwork.
"Wait for me," Banana Wolf murmured, his eyes gleaming as Building 3 drew closer. "Hao Shuai, Jiang Fugui, you must hold on. We will survive together!"
In the next moment, he leaped onto the steps in front of Building 3.
Let the battle begin.
(End of the Chapter)
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