The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1350 823: Niu Ma: Do You Know Xia Kai?_2

Leaning against a wall, Niu Daji was fast asleep, his snores echoing loudly.

Panda cast a look of disdain at him before retrieving noise-canceling earmuffs, donning them to enter a state of meditation.

"Don't return to school today; head back tomorrow morning. It's not safe for you or the school right now."

After giving Luo Ping this advice, Liu Zheng prepared to make his way back to the restaurant.

Just as he settled into his car, a call from Niu Ma came through.

A sinking feeling washed over him; Niu Ma calling at this hour could only mean bad news.

"What's up, boss? Calling me this late."

He answered the phone, feigning ignorance.

"You're out this late too, aren't you? What, did I interrupt something by calling?"

Niu Ma's voice bore a sarcastic edge.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zheng felt a wave of relief; if Niu Ma could still manage sarcasm, then the situation couldn't be too dire.

"Boss, you're wronging me. I work diligently when you're not around; I'm still out delivering food. You're out enjoying life, what do you know of our suffering?"

He promptly voiced his protest.

"Stop with the nonsense, you must've taken some private work again, delivering someone else's order, right?"

Niu Ma had unerringly hit the mark.

"Delivery is just delivery; I never discriminate. So, boss, what's really up?"

Liu Zheng steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Do you know someone named Xia Kai?"

Niu Ma inquired.

"Xia Kai?"

He paused, a hazy image forming in his mind: a pale moon and a plump child fleeing frantically beneath its glow.

"You ran into him?"

Liu Zheng questioned.

-----------------

As Xia Kai's eyes fluttered open, a crimson structure came into view.

The building was predominantly constructed from wood, yet featured numerous exposed metal components and pipes. Luminescent eaves adorned each level, lending the edifice a distinct cyberpunk aesthetic.

He gazed upward at the entrance, where an aged plaque hung. Though its black-brown paint had largely surrendered to time, three bold characters, rendered in black and red, remained strikingly vibrant, seemingly poised to leap forth at any moment.

"Hundred Ghosts"

He whispered the words, and a sudden chill swept over him.

"Follow me inside, keep your head down, don't look around or speak out of turn, or I won't be able to save you if something happens."

Jing Shang instructed, his tone firm.

"Yes."

Xia Kai obediently lowered his gaze.

"Very good, let's go."

Jing Shang gave a nod of satisfaction and then guided him into the establishment known as Hundred Ghosts.

"Welcome. Oh, isn't it Uncle Jing Shang? What brings you here for a soak today?"

The attendant at the door greeted them with a smile.

"I don't have the extra money for that. A friend's son came to join me, so I'm thinking of recommending him to work at the bathhouse."

Jing Shang replied.

"Another human, huh."

The attendant, whose face resembled a bird's, cast a somewhat disdainful glance at Xia Kai.

"Humans are fine; they're smart, diligent, and adaptable. They might be physically weak, but that can be remedied with some training," Jing Shang stated.

"I'm not saying humans are bad, just considering the recent trouble—wasn't it caused by two new human employees? So, hiring is currently a bit sensitive."

The bird-faced attendant whispered, his voice low.

"Wasn't the ringleader a Black Mountain Goat Cub hybrid? Hardly human, right? Is Minister Da Che Lun in? Let him have a look at this kid; if it doesn't work out, I'll take him back."

Jing Shang asserted.

"He should be in his study now; come on, I'll take you up."

The bird-faced attendant offered.

"You're on duty; leaving might not be good. I can go up myself."

Jing Shang replied.

"Things are tense; better if I take you up."

Putting his head in a shake, the bird-faced attendant gave instructions to the other staff and escorted the pair to the elevators.

"Which one to take this time?"

The bird-faced attendant inquired.

Hearing this, Xia Kai covertly cast his eyes towards the three elevators before them.

Each wooden elevator door bore a carved mask: from left to right, an angry man, a weeping woman, and a laughing old man.

"Let's take the Samurai one again. Better a quick cut than crying with a woman or being forced to tell jokes."

Jing Shang mused for a moment before deciding.

"Haha, I prefer the old man's; his jokes are sometimes really funny."

The bird-faced attendant let out a crow-like laugh.

Despite his words, he still led the two towards the elevator marked with the Angry Man mask.

"Whatever you see inside, stay calm and tell yourself it's fake, all fake."

"But don't disrespect what you see, or the fake may become real."

Jing Shang cautioned Xia Kai before gently nudging him into the waiting elevator.

Xia Kai stepped first into darkness, then a brilliant light enveloped him.

Yet, the radiance was more terrifying than any darkness; he found himself in a world painted in shades of crimson, where every patch of earth pulsed with an ominous Blood Light.

Amidst this unending red expanse, a Samurai figure, entirely cloaked in black, emerged.

A blurry figure, indistinct in features and attire, stood before him, the only distinct item being the bone sword at his waist, exuding an enchanting allure.

With each advancing step, the Samurai seemed to impose an unbearable weight upon Xia Kai's heart, stifling his very breath.

"It's all an illusion, just falsehoods..."

Following Jing Shang's counsel, he desperately tried to hypnotize himself into believing it.

Yet, the reality before him was too vivid, too potent to dismiss.

"Is life merely... what?"

The Samurai finally spoke, his formidable presence initially feeling like an immense mountain before dissipating like a gentle breeze.

He cast a lingering, profound look at Xia Kai before unsheathing his sword.

A blur of steel, and Xia Kai softly slumped to the ground as the Samurai vanished into thin air.

"Ah!"

As the intense red light faded to a muted yellow, Xia Kai's belated scream finally erupted.

His hand instinctively shot to the place where the phantom slash had occurred, the searing pain eliciting another cry. "Stop screaming, you aren't dying."

Jing Shang's gruff voice cut through the air, and he lifted his shirt to reveal a distinct, bruised mark.

"Was this... a blow from the flat of the sword?"

Jing Shang quickly assessed the injury.

Without immediately answering, he pulled Xia Kai out of the elevator first.

"What exactly did you witness in there?"

He inquired.

"I'm not sure, really. I just saw some kind of Black Knight approaching me. It uttered some words, swung its sword at me, and then this happened,"

Xia Kai recounted innocently.

"What's your take on this?"

Jing Shang turned to the attendant with the bird-like features.

"Someone else also used that elevator,"

the bird-faced attendant stated with gravity.

"Should we escort him to that individual, or proceed to meet Minister Da Che Lun?"

Jing Shang asked.

"It would be best to proceed to Minister Da Che Lun. You are no longer officially part of the bathhouse staff, and reporting outside your designated channel is highly irregular,"

the bird-faced attendant contemplated before responding.

"Understood."

Jing Shang nodded, then suddenly made a grab for the top of Xia Kai's head.

However, his attempt was thwarted as Xia Kai abruptly slid back three meters, clutching an empty bottle.

"Name: Oil for the Feet (Single Use)"

"Type: Tool"

"Quality: Excellent"

"Effect: Instantly propels the user back three meters. If an obstacle is encountered, the movement ceases, and the player sustains minor damage."

"Note: Use in school is prohibited; injury results in execution, and death leads to expulsion."

"Can it be removed from the instance? Yes"

"Phew, that was close,"

Xia Kai thought with immense relief.

He felt fortunate that he had maintained his suspicion towards the seemingly affable older man; otherwise, he would have been apprehended.

Though he remained unaware of the identity of the other person or their intentions, such abrupt occurrences rarely boded well.

Furthermore, the gaze from the bird-faced attendant was undeniably familiar—it mirrored the look his own small gang gave him when they were about to betray him to the prison guards back in the animal jail.

"You believe you can simply escape? It's best you come along willingly. Once it's confirmed you have no connection to that individual, you'll be safe, and I might even request a favorable position for you from Minister Da Che Lun."

Jing Shang stated.

"Or perhaps a swift path to death?"

Xia Kai shot back with a chilling laugh.