absurd deduction game.

down?

Why is the actual path downwards after the "ghost wall" is broken?

Is there still space at the base of the clock tower?
The three people who expected the secrets and truth to be at the top of the clock tower where the "heart" was located were somewhat surprised by this, since when they entered the clock tower, they started on the first floor and did not see any space such as a basement.

Of course, it's possible that they simply didn't think about that area, and since the underground space is hidden, they overlooked it.

The path that had been opened didn't lead to the top, but Yu Xing didn't dwell on it. After all, the circular staircase was a scam, and there were no other paths to take here, so he decided to keep looking down and see if there was another way to the top.

This time, the three of them were in reverse positions. Qu Xianqing became the first one after turning around. Without hesitation, she led the two behind her into the newly opened passage.

The dark vortex slowly closed behind them, completely isolating the endlessly looping staircase.

The three of them stepped into a narrow, downward-sloping passage. Unlike the metal and bone material above, the walls here resembled some kind of hardened, dried biological tissue, with a dark red color and a surface covered with thick, tendon-like veins.

These veins were still pulsating extremely slowly, emitting a faint warmth and a strange odor...like a mixture of old blood and pheromones.

The air grew increasingly damp and stuffy, carrying a strong earthy smell and the stench of rusting metal.

The oppressive feeling from the clock tower above was much less intense here, but instead, there was an ancient and profound sense of awe, as if they were approaching some sleeping behemoth.

The passageway was unusually quiet, with only their own footsteps and breathing echoing in the narrow space.

The passage wasn't long. Judging from the size of the clock tower as observed from the outside, they walked for about two or three minutes before the view suddenly opened up ahead.

This is a relatively spacious underground space.

Yu Xing looked around, stretched out her finger and rubbed it against the wall surface. It felt soft, sticky, and even a little warm.

The scene here is less like the interior of a building and more like the thoracic cavity of a giant organism.

The space's "walls" and "dome" are made of dark red, constantly slightly writhing fleshy membranes, covered with thicker, pulsating blood vessels and structures that shimmer with faint bioluminescence like nerve bundles.

The ground was relatively flat and covered with a hardened substance similar to a cuticle.

In the center of the chamber, the most striking feature is a complex, ancient mechanical structure that is closely connected to the surrounding living tissue.

The machine was forged from an unknown, dark, and dull metal, with an ancient and twisted style, full of inhuman geometric beauty.

Gears, connecting rods, bearings and other components mesh and link together in a way that defies conventional mechanics. In many places, they have grown together with the surrounding flesh and blood vessels, and the metal surface is even covered with a thin layer of biofilm.

The core of the machine is a complex disc that rotates slowly and continuously, covered with incomprehensible symbols. It seems to be both a transfer station for the energy of this underground space and a control node connecting to the clock tower above.

However, the three of them were soon drawn to a figure standing beside the machine, with his back to them and leaning against the mechanical structure.

The figure was dressed in tattered, dark-stained common clothes, was thin, and had messy, gray hair; judging from his build, he was male.

His left arm and part of his left side had merged with the ancient machine; his skin was replaced by metal, his blood vessels and wires were intertwined, and his fingers had become tiny joysticks or interfaces, as if he were being swallowed up by the ancient machine.

Only his right hand remained in human form, hanging limply at his side.

“That is…” Qu Xianqing had a guess. They had followed Edgar’s notes and clues all the way here, so the most likely person to appear here was Edgar himself!

In the current situation, it's unclear whether "Edgar" is dead or alive; in any case, she senses no presence here similar to that of an ordinary living person.

The actor let out a slightly strange "tsk".

He tried to step forward to check, but Yu Xing stopped him: "What are you doing?"

The actor said innocently, "Of course I'm going to see if this person is dead or alive. Don't you believe me?"

Yu Xing retorted, "Haven't I made it obvious enough that I don't believe you?"

The actor chuckled, "At a time like this, what reason would I have to tamper with things? Fine, if you don't trust me, then you go and see for yourself."

Yu Xing withdrew his hand.

But just then, as if startled by their conversation, the figure they thought was long dead slowly and somewhat stiffly turned its head.

It rotates 180 degrees.

His body remained motionless, only his head was strangely turned, revealing a pale, haggard face that still bore a striking resemblance to the portrait of the author of "A Long Journey."

It was indeed him, Edgar White.

It's strange, really. His hair and skin are already showing signs of aging, but his face seems to have been frozen in time thirty years ago, showing no signs of aging at all.

His eyes were cloudy, filled with endless weariness and pain, but deep within them, a trace of human clarity and struggle, not yet completely extinguished, remained. His gaze swept over the three people, his lips moved, emitting a dry, hoarse sound, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time:

"Is the starry sky... coming to take me away?"

"No one noticed... I'm here... Who are you...?"

His voice had a metallic, friction-like quality, as if gears were turning in his throat.

“Edgar White?” Yu Xing stepped forward and confirmed.

Perhaps it was because his expression was too normal—there was no madness or malice, and even little pity. He was just calm, asking questions in the tone one would use to treat an ordinary person, a tone that was exactly what one wouldn't hear in the City of Horrors.

Edgar, however, had a different reaction.

“It’s…it’s me…” He nodded with difficulty, his gaze lingering on Yu Xing’s face, as if confirming something. “You…you weren’t sent by Him…you don’t have that…pure madness…” “That’s right, we are investigators, following the clues you buried in the Forgotten Forest thirty years ago.” Yu Xing’s voice was reassuring, a flash of crimson on her tongue effectively calming this pioneer who was one with the machine.

He reached out and took out the silver badge given to him by the archbishop, and handed it forward: "The Church of the Harvest Mother Goddess also supports us. Look, this is the badge."

Edgar gasped for breath, a glint of light flashing in his eyes before quickly fading. Speaking seemed to drain him of immense strength; his chest heaved with a cracking sound. "Quick... get... out... here... The 'Gatekeeper'... is about to awaken... It won't... allow anyone... to approach... the 'truth'..."

As if to confirm his words, the ancient mechanical structure in the center of the underground space suddenly emitted a low and dangerous hum the moment he finished speaking!
The spinning speed of the disc at the mechanical core suddenly increased, and the symbols engraved on it lit up with an ominous red light.

At the same time, the blood vessels on the surrounding fleshy walls pulsated violently, and a large amount of energy converged towards the machine!

In front of the machine, space began to distort and fluctuate, and a powerful spiritual force, mixed with extreme negative emotions such as fear, self-blame, and despair, erupted like a geyser!
These negative energies quickly coalesced, outlining a blurry human figure. The outline became clearer and clearer, eventually transforming into a figure exactly like Edgar White!

"Run!" Edgar urged desperately.

However, Yu Xing and his two companions displayed the suicidal qualities expected of legendary investigators, remaining rooted to the spot. After all, they were confident in their abilities, and the native inhabitants of the instance would not comprehend the powers of the deducers that were beyond their knowledge system.

Since we're already here, we definitely have to see what this monster looks like!
The strange figure quickly solidified.

However, this "Edgar" had empty eyes, a face distorted by extreme fear, and exuded a cold and violent killing intent.

Its body was neither flesh and blood nor machinery, but was made of pure dark energy. In its hand it held a twisted paper cutter shaped from solidified fear—the same shape as the knife Edgar once used to trim manuscripts.

The Goalkeeper—A Mirror Image of Edgar?
The system remained silent, so Yu Xing had no choice but to guess the monster's name himself.

“It…it is the culmination of all my fears…” Edgar, leaning against the machine, closed his eyes in anguish. “My fear of ignorance…the fear of the truth…the fear of being unable to protect my family…the fear of my own powerlessness…the fear of being completely assimilated by this city! And, and the starry sky, the madness the starry sky has given me…”

"It's a monster... Run, run!"

The gatekeeper's image let out a silent shriek, and a mental shock swept out like a storm. Wielding a terrifying paper cutter, it transformed into a black shadow and pounced on the three of them!
Its speed was extremely fast, and its movements were characterized by a crazy, ruthless, and cunning style. The blade was aimed directly at Yu Xing at the front, and the spiritual pollution contained in the blade was enough to easily tear apart the soul of an ordinary person!

The battle erupted instantly within this biological chamber-like underground space.

Before Yu Xing could summon the branches, a blood-red light suddenly appeared in Qu Xianqing's hand, and the scarlet blood sword met the dark blade shadow.

The sword clashed with the knife, producing a piercing shriek that directly impacted the soul!
She could sense that the opponent's strength and skill far surpassed those of humans, filled with a sense of destruction and madness. Each attack transcended the laws of physics, directly targeting the soul.

However, although this mirror image is powerful, its behavior pattern is based on Edgar's cognition and has certain regularity and obsession. In other words, Qu Xianqing felt that even without revealing his soul, he could win in a one-on-one fight.

But the two people beside her clearly wouldn't let her fight one-on-one. Dark moss quietly climbed up the flesh-red wall, silently, but the curse took root and spread on the wall.

The actor leaned against the moss as if against a solid wall, his hands loosely in his pockets, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Having been stopped by Yu Xing from going forward, he now stood obediently in place, the moss absorbing the life force of the flesh wall. He was somewhat slacking off, but he still put in some effort.

Branches flashed past, and the performer admired the fleeting black curse patterns on them, leaving the battlefield to Yu Xing's tentacles and Qu Xianqing's sword.

With each strike of the sword and branches against the gatekeeper, he seemed to "hear" the echoing, fearful murmurs of Edgar that once resonated within his mirrored consciousness—

"I shouldn't have been curious... I shouldn't have investigated..."

“Rail…I can’t save him…”

"Lina... I'm so sorry..."

"Mother Goddess...why are you silent..."

"Knowledge...is a curse..."

These fragmented thoughts, like poisonous thorns, accompanied by powerful mental attacks, attempted to penetrate the actor's consciousness, but he easily erased them.

At the same time, the mirror image did indeed demonstrate impressive "combat skills," with its paper cutter, like a viper's forked tongue, always finding the most tricky angle to attack.

The battle became quite intense for a time.

The gatekeeper's mirror image has no physical form, so physical attacks are limited in effectiveness. It can only be effectively killed by a battle at the soul and spiritual level. It is tireless and attacks frantically, but this is nothing to Yu Xing and Qu Xianqing.

However, they couldn't finish off this gatekeeper anytime soon.

“Its core…is connected to the machinery…to me.” Edgar’s own voice, weak and feeble, came through, pointing to the key point: “Destroy…its energy connection to the machinery…or…confront its ‘fear’…disintegrate it…”

"Either... you kill me directly..."

Edgar's right eye was filled with a string of murky tears. Logically speaking, after being trapped here for so long and assimilated into this inhuman state, his will to survive should have been very weak.

If it were anyone else here, the first thing they would do upon seeing Yu Xing and the others would be to shout something like, "Kill me and let me be free!"

But Edgar didn't seem to want to die; he left killing her as a last resort.

A glint flashed in Yu Xing's eyes. After a brief standoff, he had figured out the gatekeeper's fighting style and actively extended his senses to capture the fragments of fear revealed in the mirror attack.

Unappetizing.

Such thoughts emanated from the branches, and his hunger was no longer so pronounced. His appetite was not strong, and besides, these fears were not palatable—the Ghost Tree did not feed on fear, and the [Spirit] should prefer this.

But you can eat it if you really want to.

When the paper cutter came stabbing again with madness and despair, Yu Xing neither dodged nor avoided it. The massive branches of the tree roots shot out all at once, enveloping the gatekeeper like a cage, and began to devour it before its spirit could pass through the gaps!
The fragments of fear originating from Edgar shattered even more, and amidst a chilling chewing sound, the gatekeeper's mirror image let out a painful mental scream, its form visibly dimming! (End of Chapter)