My Iyashikei Game

Huang Yin took a bite of the apple and realized Han Fei planned to have Shen Luo stay in the game for a long time.

“This is the first time I’ve eaten from the fruit basket I brought to the hospital.”

“Shen Luo wouldn’t mind. I didn’t say anything when he drank the coffee someone brought for me.” Han Fei thought back to the things that had happened in the plastic surgery hospital. “So many things have changed since then.”

After ensuring the wires were fine, Han Fei left the hospital. He hurried home and logged into the game. He walked out from the Happiness Neighborhood base. With all the players watching, Han Fei came to the base of Absolute Truth. The players were confused. Why would the vice president of Happiness Neighborhood come to Absolute Truth’s base? Was there something between the two guilds?

“Han Fei!” The inconspicuous Shen Luo stood at the door. He ran over when he saw Han Fei. “Why come I quit the game anymore? The atmosphere in the game feels so different than before. Everyone is so nervous and looks at me with this scary gaze.”

“You’re very gifted. No matter how hard you try to hide, eventually, you’ll be held up to the pedestal.” Han Fei shared a general update about the game with Shen Luo as he led him to the altar further from the base of Happiness Neighborhood. “I need you to do something dangerous, but only you can do this.”

Shen Luo was nervous. “What is it?”

“Whenever you clear the fourth layer of the nightmare, the fifth layer will give you a choice. There are two beds, one normal and the other haunted.” Han Fei raised two fingers.

“Don’t worry. I will choose the ghost bed.” Shen Luo promised.

“No. I need you to choose the normal bed. You only need to lie on the bed. After you make a choice, tell me everything you see and hear.” Han Fei shared his thoughts.

“Are you sure?” Shen Luo scratched his head. “Is that a good thing? I also want to help.”

“The thing you’ll do will be more valuable than the rest of the players. I hope you remember that you are special. You are the best present fate has given Dream.” Han Fei led Shen Luo to a grey building. This was a mall.

“You’re making me embarrassed.” Shen Luo shook his head. “It’s rare for people to praise me. Many people think I’m unlucky and don’t like to play with me.”

“But this time, you’ll be the hero.” Han Fei was telling the truth. He opened the door for Shen Luo. “I’ve already added you as friends in the game. When you leave the altar, you can contact me directly.”

“Okay. I will not let you down.” Shen Luo walked into the mist. Han Fei was about to leave when a hand reached out to grab Han Fei’s shoulder. Han Fei was about to attack when he saw that it was Shen Luo. “Why did you come out again?”

“You said that the choice will be available at the fifth layer. What if I can’t survive the first four layers?” Half of Shen Luo’s body was in the mist. He hadn’t cleared any layer, but the butterfly tattoo was already showing on his body.

“Trust yourself. You can do this.” Han Fei put away Rest in Peace, pushed Shen Luo back, and closed the door.

Han Fei returned to the hospital. He communicated with the spare members of Happiness Neighborhood. They handed Han Fei a list that included all the players that left the hospital altar. The list was long.

“Thank you for the hard work. Go back first. Leave the rest to me.” As more players explored the nightmare, more players would side with Dream. This was inevitable. However, Shen Luo’s appearance relaxed Han Fei slightly. Soon, he’d know what kind of power Dream would give these people who worked for him.

Han Fei’s neighbors were still in the nightmare. He didn’t want to lag behind, so Han Fei entered the hospital alone. When Han Fei was almost through the hospital lobby, vertigo came.

“30? This nightmare requires that many players?!”

Han Fei opened his eyes and heard the discussions around him. He looked around and saw thirty players gathered in a garden.

“Doesn’t a normal nightmare require only five players?”

“Is this a high-difficulty nightmare? What is your max level clearance? Damn it. Have I been dragged into the nightmare of a high-level player?”

“Everyone, calm down! The three of us are from Absolute Truth. We’ve just cleared the fifth layer so this should be the sixth layer!” The players from Absolute Truth said. Even if they might be scolded, the players had to stick together. Honestly, they were scared too. They hadn’t been in a nightmare where 30 players were needed. “Don’t panic! We need to explain our level and talent as soon as possible so we can cooperate with each other!” The three players from Absolute Truth did so.

The fatty was called Red Meat. He was Level 36. His talent was tank-related. His profession was Big Eater. He was Absolute Truth’s elite player. The female player next to him was called Xia Bing. At level 39, she was the player with the highest level there. Her talent was Living Dead. She said she was a nurse and didn’t elaborate further. The bespectacled male player next to Red Meat was called Donated to Tragedy. He was sunny. Even though he was only level 30, he had a rare supernatural talent, Ghost Words.

Absolute Truth was a top 10 guild. Their team had one player with supernatural talent and two top players.

The other players started to introduce themselves too. Eventually, everyone’s eyes focused on Han Fei. Everyone had recognized him.

“Look! Happiness Neighborhood’s Han Fei is here too!”

“Yes! I’ve seen him on the video!”

Han Fei couldn’t hide anymore. He walked out. “I have one good news and one bad news.”

“Tell us. We’re ready.”

“The bad news is we’re in the seventh layer of the nightmare. This place is very dangerous. If you’re careless, you might stay here forever. Therefore, I hope you’ll listen to orders and don’t do anything suspicious.” Han Fei smiled.

“S-seventh layer? I just cleared the second layer. Why am I here?”

“I’m done for! My profession is a fisherman. I was just curious! There’s no river here. If I’m trapped here, I’d rather die!”

“Shush!” Xia Bing said and stared at Han Fei. “What is the good news?”

“The good news is that you’ve run into me. You should have seen my video at the pavilion. Everyone who has joined me in the nightmare has survived… other than those who have chosen to side with Dream.” Han Fei said so to calm the people. Actually, he knew the difficulty of the seventh layer. Earlier, Wu Chang was forced to use his black flame on this layer and was discovered by the altar. Even though Wu Chang powered through the level, it meant that the ghosts on this layer were as strong as Pure Hatreds. The players had no chance if they challenged them head-on.

“Bang!”

The players didn’t have much time as a loud sound came from a building at the end of the garden. A middle-aged man appeared at the door. He wore a fake branded suit and red threads knotted around his wrists. A jade pendant with a Buddha hung around his chest.

“So many people came?! Have you all seen the SOS message I sent online?” The man took out a thick envelope from his pocket. “The situation is as I’ve said on the internet. It appears like my son is cursed. There’s a ghost trying to harm him! If any of you can exorcise the ghost, this money is yours.”

“Exorcism?” Most players didn’t have this experience.

“This area is haunted. I can tell you for certain that there’s a ghost around here. I can’t kill them. I hope you can chase them away so they wouldn’t harm my kid anymore.” The middle-aged man said helplessly. It showed that he loved his kid dearly. “This is my card. If you have any progress, you can contact me.” The man then entered the crowd and passed out his cards. His name was Yao Qiang. He graduated from a popular university but hadn’t had a great life. Even though he was close to 40, he was just a small fry at a big company.

“You said that your child is cursed. Can you bring me to take a look at your son?” Han Fei had a feeling that this nightmare wasn’t that simple.

“Of course, but my child is afraid of strangers. Can you send only a few representatives with me?” Yao Qiang hadn’t finished, but the phone in his pocket vibrated. Yao Qiang glanced at the caller Id and accepted the call with a frown. “I’m not in the mood to argue with you. We’ll talk about this later!”

Han Fei narrowed his eyes when the man picked up his phone. The name of the caller on this phone was Qian.

After a brief discussion, the players chose five people to follow Yao Qiang. Han Fei was one of them. They walked past the garden and stopped before the three-story building. Yao Qiang took out a copper basin. He only allowed the players to enter the house after they washed their hands in the basin. The building looked luxurious from the outside, but the interior was aged and dusty.

“I rented this villa last year. In the past, my family lived in the city, but due to the issue with the kid, we ran to the countryside, but we still couldn’t avoid the ghosts!” Yao Qiang looked tired.

“Normally, the livelier the place, the lesser the chance of ghost appearances. Why would you come to the countryside to run away from the ghosts?” Han Fei questioned.

“No. Ghosts like the cities the most! It’s cleaner in the countryside.” Yao Qiang rebutted. He seemed to have his own system of understanding.

Han Fei didn’t say anything else. They followed Yao Qiang up the stairs.

The first floor was the most normal. The second floor was damp and dark. The third floor didn’t look like it was meant for humans. Various talismans covered the door frames. Yellow dirt and salt scattered the ground. Red threads hung on the door, and copper bells were tied to them.

Yao Qiang pushed open the door, and the bells jingled. The talismans fluttered to the ground. Yao Qiang didn’t allow the players to enter the room. He only stood at the door and pointed.

The room was oppressive. The windows were sealed up and covered in talismans. Various trophies decorated the wall on the left, and a lot of homework stood in the corner of the room. There was nothing related to entertainment in the room. There was only a study table and a bed.

“He has to study even though he’s possessed?!” All the players were confused.

Hearing the sound, the bed moved, and a pale face poked out.

“Son, don’t be scared. Dad has found some exorcists for you. Soon, you’ll return to normal!” Yao Qiang tried to console his son, but his son didn’t seem to understand him. His expression was dull, like his soul was lost. “In the past, my son, Yao Yuan, is such a good student. He is only like this because of the ghosts! You have to help me chase the ghosts away!”

Yao Qiang didn’t have a perfect life, so he placed his hope on his son. Han Fei could understand that, but Han Fei felt that the man had gone too extreme.

“Can we enter the room?” Before Yao Qiang could reject him, Han Fei had already entered the room.

Yao Yuan immediately hid under the bed. He didn’t want to see anyone.

Han Fei immediately felt a chill when he lifted the sheet. He tried to extend his hand to the child. “Don’t worry. We’re here to help you.” Han Fei had encountered all kinds of ghosts, but he still needed to communicate with Yao Yuan to know what kind of ghost was at work.

“You’re scaring him!” Yao Qiang grabbed Han Fei’s shoulders, but he couldn’t move him. “Get out!”

“Dirty things like to hide under the bed. If he keeps hiding under the bed, he’ll only attract more ghosts.” Han Fei held the frame and lifted the bed.

The light shone under the bed. The boy crawled to the corner and curled up. His face was pale, and he kept mumbling that someone would die.

“Look. He was so weak earlier, but now, he could crawl so fast.” Han Fei patted Yao Qiang’s shoulders and smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll catch that ghost for you. No matter where he’s hiding, I’ll destroy him.”