Stepping into the old house, the thick, suffocating smell of decay mixed with the cloyingly sweet scent of aged incense and candles felt like a damp, cold tongue licking over everyone's nasal cavity and exposed skin, raising goosebumps.
How bizarre! Extremely bizarre!
The courtyard is deep and the corridors are winding.
The same dark red lanterns hung under the eaves, their dim light barely illuminating the small area.
Everywhere the player looked was covered in a thick, even layer of dust; it hardly looked like a wedding!
Tables, chairs, side tables, display shelves... all the furniture maintains a rigid, measured neatness, exuding a lifeless sense of order.
What's most unsettling is that in such an old mansion, with such thick layers of dust, players can't see a single trace of cobwebs on the beams, pillars, or corners!
It was as if even the most insignificant insects were completely rejected and devoured by this house.
Walls, pillars, lintels... everywhere you look, there are large swaths of dark red "囍" characters.
The red color was thick and dark, like a blood clot that had been congealed for a very long time, exuding an ominous aura.
They were densely packed and omnipresent, like a huge, blood-scarred net that completely covered the old house.
"The West Garden is this way..." The butler's stiff figure moved silently ahead, like a piece of moving rotten wood, his dry voice guiding the way for everyone.
The side rooms are located on both sides of the corridor.
The butler stopped in front of several rooms with brand-new, or rather, more jarringly dark red curtains hanging from them, gesturing with his withered, claw-like hand: "Distinguished guests...please...choose...your bridal chamber...and change..."
"The bridal chamber?" The freckled male player's voice trembled as he looked at the eerie red curtain, his legs trembling.
Without any hesitation, Xiao Jin walked straight to the room at the deepest part of the corridor, the one with the dimmest light, which was next to a dilapidated little garden.
The most remote location also means the least potential for being spied on and causing trouble.
Although it was dangerous, the danger also meant that Xiao Jin would obtain more clues...
She lifted the curtain, which resembled congealed blood, and her figure disappeared inside.
Liu Man's gaze lingered on Wen Baiqiu for a moment, and seeing that Wen Baiqiu casually chose a room next to Xiao Jin's, Liu Man immediately wanted to follow her.
But she had barely moved her foot—
Wen Baiqiu happened to raise his hand and lift the curtain of his room. His profile was clearly defined in the dim light. His eyes swept over Liu Man indifferently, as if he were looking at a worthless ornament.
Then, the curtain fell, blocking his view.
Liu Man froze in place, the last flicker of hope in her heart instantly extinguished by that cold gaze.
She dug her nails deep into her palms, trying to convince herself: It's just like... so what if we have the same name?
If that person were still alive, if they still remembered me, how could their eyes be so calm?
Liu Man began to deceive herself.
It must be a coincidence! Yes, it must be a coincidence!
She took a deep breath, suppressing her surging fear and doubts, and forced herself to remain calm as she chose a room diagonally opposite.
Upon entering the house, Xiao Jin immediately surveyed her surroundings.
The side room was also covered in dust, and the furniture was eerily neatly arranged. The only jarring thing was a bright red wedding dress hanging in the center of the room.
Xiao Jin noticed it immediately!
The wedding dress was so red it looked as if it had just been pulled from a pool of blood, and in the dim light it gleamed with a wet, nauseating sheen.
The wide robe and sleeves were embroidered with intricate and twisted golden dragon and phoenix patterns. The patterns did not resemble auspicious symbols, but rather some kind of struggling and entangled curse.
An indescribable chill emanated from the clothes, as if countless cold eyes were staring intently at you through the fabric.
At the same time, the cold system notification extinguished the last glimmer of hope in the hearts of some players.
[Ding—Please change into your wedding attire. Failure to do so will be considered abandonment of the main storyline.]
Abandoning the main storyline doesn't mean you can just go back...
Xiao Jin expressionlessly removed the ominous wedding dress, and A Mo slipped into her sleeve to hide.
The props were transformed into more convenient, form-fitting clothing, revealing Xiao Jin's tightly bound chest and smooth muscle lines.
She moved swiftly, without the slightest hesitation or fear, draping the striking blood-red robe over her body and fastening the intricate knotted buttons.
When Xiao Jin lifted the blood-red curtain again and walked out of the room, the few people who were idly looking around in the corridor seemed to freeze for a moment.
Under the dim red lantern light, the newcomer wore a striking bright red robe, which made the exposed skin on his neck and wrists appear even whiter and more like jade.
The wide sleeves and hem of the robe did not conceal his upright figure; instead, they outlined a strange line that lay between strength and elegance.
Her hair was as black as ink, and although it wasn't draped down, the way it fell across her chest added a touch of languidness.
A few loose strands of hair fell across Xiao Jin's smooth, full forehead. She had a high nose bridge, thin and clear lips, and a distinct jawline that revealed a cold, hard edge.
What's most captivating about her is her eyes...
His pupils were an extremely deep ink color, now reflecting the dark red of the lantern, like a cold flame burning in a deep pool. Sharp, cold, devoid of warmth.
The red wedding dress, a symbol of humiliation and misfortune, was worn by her, yet it was completely overshadowed by her overwhelming aura of killing intent, leaving only a breathtaking, blood-stained beauty and danger.
"Hiss..." Chu Yuan gasped, his tiger eyes widening as he looked Xiao Jin up and down before finally finding his voice.
His tone was filled with incredulous amazement and a hint of rough teasing: "Tsk! Xiao Jin, you little brat... you really look like a respectable man!"
Wearing such a garish red outfit, you're still so eye-catching? Be honest, back in school, didn't you attract a lot of attention with that face? How many young girls did you ruin?
His loud voice was like a boulder thrown into a still pond, instantly waking many people who had lost their senses.
Zhan Wenchen's hand, which was pushing up his glasses, paused in mid-air. A rare hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes behind the lenses, before he quickly regained his composure.
Lu Jing's eyes suddenly lit up without any attempt to hide it, like a mischievous child who had discovered a new toy, and his bright red lips parted in an almost excited arc.
He licked his sharp canine teeth with the tip of his tongue, then seemed to utter something silently...
And just as Chu Yuan called out the name "Xiao Jin"—
At the other end of the corridor, Lin Xia, an ordinary male player who had been hiding in a corner with a very low profile, suddenly raised his head!
He reduced his activities, originally just to try to avoid stepping into any deadly traps.
After all, there are so many high-level players in this dungeon, it must be very dangerous.
But at this moment, Lin Xia seemed to have been struck by lightning, her eyes wide open and her mouth agape in an exaggerated "O" shape.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com