Chapter 572: Chu Mo Island (Thirty-Seven)
Chapter 572: Chu Mo Island (Thirty-Seven)
"My goodness...", Ji Bu shuddered, muttering, "Where did this sudden wave of nausea come from?"
"Hmm... Actually, it makes sense", Feng Bu Jue replied. "After all, the Silkworm Mother is a type of larva."
"Enough. This isn't the time to geek out about natural science", Hong Hu interrupted, pointing toward the opposite direction from the Boss. "Let's just run for now!" With that, he sprinted forward.
"My stamina value is decent enough. I'll hold her off", Fei Chai Shu declared, facing the Boss as the rearguard. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up in a while."
His tone left no room for discussion—he'd already made his decision.
"Oh! Now that's what I call a justice partner. So reliable!" Tian Ma Xing Kong began spouting his typical middle school syndrome dialogue, but Feng Bu Jue yanked him away before he could finish.
Ji Bu quickly followed, shouting over his shoulder as he ran, "Whatever you're planning, stay safe out there!"
"Hmph... Seems like I'm being underestimated", Fei Chai Shu muttered once his teammates vanished into the crystal column forest. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his robe and lit one.
"Fuhh—" He exhaled a plume of smoke lazily toward the Silkworm Mother, his expression indifferent. "Escaping from this kind of situation is still easy enough for me."
"I guess you lot really don't understand..." The Silkworm Mother's childish voice chimed again. She smirked at the four fleeing players and huffed, "Hmph... Fine."
Her words had barely faded when her body trembled violently. In the next second, the invisible net in the air became visible. Instantly, the entire Crystal Labyrinth seemed shrouded beneath a veil of pinkish-white silk.
Then, she slowly lowered her massive silkworm head through the web, drawing face-to-face with Fei Chai Shu. "You... why aren't you running?"
"Fuhh— I'm buying time for my teammates", Fei Chai Shu stood defiantly, blowing a puff of smoke toward the Boss's face.
"You want to eat us, right?" He continued calmly. "Then I won't let you."
"So... you're resisting?" The Silkworm Mother giggled. "Mm, predictable. Hehe..." Her laughter grew. "I've met prey like you before... You think escaping the silk web means you've escaped, don't you? Hahahahaha..."
Fei Chai Shu detected danger in her words and tensed. "What do you mean?"
"Hehe... Look up, otherworld traveler", she rumbled. "Look at your own ignorance."
Her words sent a chill down his spine. His eyes snapped upward—and saw...
...
Eastern shores of Chu Mo Island, beyond the Crystal Labyrinth's boundaries, past a white salt flat stood a small cabin.
Screee— Creak—
A miniature tricycle rattled up to the cabin.
Riding it was a doll-sized figure, no taller than a child. Dressed in a black suit with a bright red bowtie, its pale face bore spiral-shaped red blushes, deep-set crimson eyes, and a vividly painted red mouth.
"I'd really love to pretend I'm not home", a man's voice called from inside the cabin. "But unfortunately, even through this door, we both know the other exists."
"Hehe... Long time no see, little brother", Bi Li chuckled.
"We haven't 'seen' each other yet", the "younger brother" replied. "We're just talking through a door." He raised his voice. "If you turn around and leave now, I can pretend you were never here. That'd be best for everyone."
"Come on, Bi Er", Bi Li dismounted his tricycle, struggling to climb the small three-step staircase leading to the cabin (a minor feat for most, but challenging for his short legs). "I know you're upset, but I'm here to rescue you. You have to understand—it wasn't easy getting here while barely surviving myself."
"Right. Then why not skip the rescue altogether?" Bi Er shot back. "I'm just a petty violent criminal. Even if I escaped, I'd only burden you."
"Enough, Bi Er", Bi Li cut in sternly.
"Fine." Bi Er's grumbling softened immediately.
"Hmm... Let me try something." Standing on tiptoes, Bi Li pressed against the cabin door, studying the wood grain patterns on the Door Panel.
After scrutinizing it for a solid ten points, he stepped back onto the porch and chanted loudly, "Balabing~ Balaboom~ Balabingbangboom~"
Suddenly, the Door Panel vibrated in perfect sync with his chant, producing matching clinks and clunks.
Then, with a creak—, the door swung open.
Bang! Bang!
Heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed from the pitch-black interior.
As the steps neared, a towering silhouette filled the doorway.
"Now", Bi Er's deep voice resonated nearby. "We've finally met face-to-face."
Before his words faded, a crunch sounded.
With a crash, a two-and-a-half-meter-tall, one-ton armor-plated humanoid shattered the doorframe. It stormed outside—a figure known as Bi Er. Entirely constructed from navy-blue unknown metal, it had a blocky head resembling mahjong tiles, a V-shaped torso, arms and legs as thick as thighs...
"You've gotten smaller than I remember, big brother", Bi Er loomed over Bi Li.
"That's because you've grown", Bi Li shrugged, carefully hopping down the steps. "Back when they locked you in here, you could still fit through that door normally."
"Oh... Right", Bi Er scratched his head. Compared to Bi Li's static face, Bi Er's screen display showed a full range of emoticon expressions.
"Many things have changed since your imprisonment", Bi Li said, reaching his tricycle. "I'll explain everything along the way."
"Fine", Bi Er replied. "So where are we going?"
"The Crystal Labyrinth", Bi Li answered.
"Huh?" Bi Er blinked. "Aren't we leaving Chu Mo Island directly?"
"Nope. I need you to help me move something", Bi Li pedaled off.
Bi Er strode after him, matching his brother's pace easily. "Heh! You dragged me out just to be your mover?!"
"Did you think I came here for casual chat?" Bi Li retorted calmly.
"Hmph..." Bi Er frowned. "Once we leave this dump, we're done for good."
"Then you'll get recaptured", Bi Li countered. "They'll build an even bigger cage for you. And worse tortures."
"Oh? And what's your offer?" Bi Er snapped. "A sixty-hour-a-week heavy physical stamina job with... let's see... compensation of motor oil?"
"Actually, I've arranged you a job", Bi Li said. "Working as a library administrator under Zhuan Jie Zun."
"What!" Bi Er's screen flashed shock. "Are you insane? That old madman will spread me on a sandwich like jam and eat me!"
"No, he won't", Bi Li assured. "We've reached an understanding. Our cooperation is ten points solid. Besides, he's far more reliable than you."
"Oh... So you've planned everything before even arriving", Bi Er's face shifted to a pouting emoji. "And I'm just supposed to accept it all?"
“Yes.” Bi Li replied. He paused, then tried his best to soften his hoarse, horror-tinged voice into something gentler. “I’m sorry, Bi Er. I can’t let you follow me… not yet, at least. Once I explain everything, you’ll understand. Our universe is on the brink of total collapse. There’s much I need to do—things of utmost importance…”
“Whatever. Even if you explain, I might not get it anyway.” Bi Er shrugged, choosing not to pry further since his elder brother clearly had his reasons. “Let’s cut to the chase. What exactly do you need me to fetch?”
Bi Li sighed. “The Silkworm Mother’s corpse.”
“What?!” Bi Er recoiled in shock. “The Silkworm Mother is dead? Who killed her?!”
“She isn’t dead… yet.” Bi Li glanced down at the peculiar little watch on his wrist—a trinket not present in his previous incarnation from the ascending tower chronicles. “But she will be… soon.”
…………
Meanwhile, within the Crystal Labyrinth…
“Hey, don’t you think we’ve run far enough by now?” Ji Bu wheezed. He’d been panting for over five minutes, trailing behind Hong Hu’s group.
“Haa… I think we’re… far enough.” Even Tian Ma Xing Kong was gasping, his stamina stats clearly too low to keep up.
“Haa… Let’s rest for now.” Hong Hu halted, seeing his teammates nearing their limits. He steadied his breathing as he spoke. “Haa… At least for now, there’s no sign they’re chasing us.”
“Aaaa—” As Hong Hu stopped, Ji Bu immediately flopped to the ground, gasping wildly. “Haa… seriously, what the hell… haa… was that glowing net in the sky?!”
“Probably the boss activating some skills,” Feng Bu Jue replied, his breathing still relatively steady.
“Is Fei Chai Shu going to be okay?” Tian Ma Xing Kong asked.
“Checking the team interface…” Feng Bu Jue opened the game menu with a flick of his wrist. “Hmm… he’s alive.”
“Don’t worry. Brother Chai’s reliable,” Hong Hu added. “With his skills, escaping should be no—”
Hong Hu’s sentence was abruptly cut off. He froze mid-sentence, his body locking like a statue. A strangled “Kaa—Gu—” escaped his throat as terror contorted his face.
“What’s wrong?!” Feng Bu Jue instantly tensed, scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes. His first thought: Hong Hu’s been paralyzed by some technique.
But before he could react, the same thing happened to the others.
“Kaa—Aaa—” Ji Bu, sprawled on the ground, and Tian Ma Xing Kong, hands on knees, both stiffened in unison.
“What the hell is this now…?” Feng Bu Jue muttered. For all his instincts to act, he knew better than to move recklessly without understanding the situation.
After a brief, eerie silence, the three began moving—stiffly, like mechanical puppets.
Hong Hu, Ji Bu, and Tian Ma Xing Kong stood ramrod straight, their limbs jerking like malfunctioning Toy Soldiers. All three marched forward in unison, arms swinging stiffly.
“Controlled by something?” Feng Bu Jue deduced quickly. “Now… what’s the mechanism behind this control?”
As he pondered, the trio suddenly pivoted, their rigid bodies marching back toward the very place they’d just fled.
“Is it mental manipulation or physical interference?” Feng Bu Jue mused aloud, trailing them cautiously. “Judging from their unnatural movements, physical interference seems more likely.” He stroked his chin. “But if it’s physical, why am I unaffected? We were all together earlier—I saw no sign of an attack. Why did I escape unscathed?”
“Kaa—Guh—” Hong Hu strained to force out two guttural sounds, his throat convulsing as if trying to warn Feng Bu Jue.
“Save your breath. I can’t understand you,” Feng Bu Jue replied bluntly.
“Gugu—Gu—” Ji Bu and “Brother Horse” gurgled incoherently.
“You two too,” Feng Bu Jue chuckled. “Conserve your energy. This zombie speak won’t help me focus.”
But the trio kept struggling to speak, as if their lives depended on it.
“Wait a minute… Oh!” Feng Bu Jue’s eyes suddenly lit up. “You’re not trying to tell me specifics. You know you can’t speak. You’re trying to warn me—!”
The realization hit him. He stared at Hong Hu’s rigid back. “So the key is… that I’m the only one unaffected, right?”
Hong Hu responded with a frantic “Kaa-Gugugu!”
“Alright… Let me think.” Feng Bu Jue muttered. Only I’m unaffected… Only me…
Within three seconds, he had his answer.
“I see…” Feng Bu Jue dropped his defensive stance and stepped forward, muttering, “No one attacked us… Not yet, at least.” He paused. “The attack was completed long before any of you were stuck on that net.”
As he spoke, Feng Bu Jue circled to Ji Bu’s side, eyes narrowing. “There it is…” He scrutinized Ji Bu from head to toe, hunting for something.
“Found it!” Half a minute later, his eyes gleamed.
There, at the base of Ji Bu’s skull, hung an almost invisible thread of pale pink silk—a strand so fine and delicate it was nearly imperceptible. One end vanished into Ji Bu’s hair, burrowing deep into his brainstem. The other stretched upward… into the sky.
“You’ve got to be kidding…” Feng Bu Jue muttered, already drawing the Must-Break Armor Blade. “This thread must be different from the others on the net. It never fell off—it hid itself perfectly.”
Ting!
When Feng Bu Jue’s Cleaver severed the thread, the sound was like a rubber band snapping.
Instantly, Ji Bu lurched forward, collapsing to his knees. He gasped for air, drenched in cold sweat.
“Haa… haa… That was way too close!” Ji Bu panted, trembling. “Too damn horrifying!”
Feng Bu Jue didn’t respond. He moved swiftly, repeating the process on the others. Soon, all three were freed from the silken threads ensnaring their minds.
“If you’d waited ten seconds longer to intervene, my stamina would’ve hit zero…” Tian Ma Xing Kong groaned, slumping to the ground.
Hong Hu sighed. “Even if we clear this, our Terror Value rating will probably be the worst possible.”
“Oh?” Feng Bu Jue smirked. “Did you see something horrifying while you were controlled?”
“Indescribable,” Hong Hu replied.
A fitting answer.
In those two minutes of control, they’d experienced something truly horrifying. Their bodies had moved without command, their voices silenced, yet their five senses had sharpened beyond comprehension. They’d heard the faintest internal sounds—their heartbeat, their gut churning, blood rushing, lungs expanding. They’d seen every microscopic detail in the distance: cracks in crystal, fungus on surfaces, fibers in the silk net. They’d smelled things they’d never forget—their own nasal mucus, their own sweat…
“Alright then. Rest here for now. I’ll go ahead,” Feng Bu Jue said, turning to leave.
“Huh? Where are you going?” Tian Ma Xing Kong asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Feng Bu Jue’s expression darkened. He pointed to the base of his skull. “Don’t forget… Fei Chai Shu’s in the same condition as you.”
(End of Chapter)
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