A Psychiatrist's Bizarre Game Journey / Dream of the Mist

So we had no choice but to put it on hold.

Rubbing her sore right eye, Zhou Ke'er glanced at Xu Qingming. Unfortunately, a small portion of the evil energy remained. Perhaps because it had already begun to assimilate into her body, this portion was exceptionally difficult to absorb. However, it didn't really matter. This dose of evil energy was still within the range of what a normal human body would contain, since it was already lower than the amount of evil energy a demon exorcist would have.

The fear is that the remaining evil within Xu Qingming will continue to absorb evil from the surrounding environment... In that case, the only option is for him to join the exorcists and periodically consume the evil within his body to maintain a stable state.

Otherwise, what's the point of always being used as an experience pack by Zhou Ke'er and having to absorb it every now and then?

After a moment of silence, Zhou Ke'er finally spoke first: "I have something to tell you, but don't be afraid."

"What's with this tone of voice that sounds like a doctor telling a patient, 'Go do whatever you want to eat or do'?"

Xu Qingming looked much better than when he opened the door, and he couldn't help but joke about it.

"It's not that bad. To put it simply, if you continue like this, you'll probably turn into... uh, a kind of monster called a 'Ghost' sooner or later. As for what this monster is, I don't really know much about it either. I'll call a professional over to explain it to you later."

Zhou Ke'er answered very succinctly: "You should also be able to feel it yourself. There is a kind of energy in the surrounding air that is drilling into your body. That is evil. And if the amount of evil in your body exceeds what a normal person can bear... it may become a ghost."

"And what about you? Didn't you just absorb so much black mist... I should call it malevolent energy, right? Judging from your personality, if you left some malevolent energy unabsorbed, it's either because that part couldn't be absorbed and became fixed in my body, or because the malevolent energy in your body has reached a threshold..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingming frowned and quickly asked, "So...aren't you in danger right now too?"

"I don't know. It might be because my constitution is special, or the evil that forcibly attached itself to me at that archaeological site was special, or maybe I'm already a ghost now."

Zhou Ke'er shrugged. "So I probably won't become a ghost. Who knows? Anyway, I think that as long as I can maintain my rationality and thinking, becoming a ghost or maintaining my human identity doesn't really make any difference."

"After all, we're different. When you opened the door, you looked like you'd had seventy-two bouts of masturbation in one night and were practically dead from exhaustion. I have far more evil within me than you, but I don't feel uncomfortable at all. That's probably the difference. People's constitutions can't be generalized."

Just as Xu Qingming was about to say something, Zhou Ke'er's communication bracelet rang.

He answered the call casually, and Mu Yang's slightly disordered words, made up of nervousness, came through: "You just reported to me that there was a very dangerous ghost in your area, right? Now listen to me... First, find a place to hide, and then tell me your location... Exorcists will come to rescue you now, and evacuate the people as well."

"We just received a notification from another Green-Rank Exorcist that they encountered something surpassing a Great Ghost at your location! It's highly likely you two encountered the same Ghost, and a Ghost of this strength is probably beyond the capabilities of even Blue-Rank or Blue-Rank Exorcists. It's extremely dangerous. Your only priority is to ensure your own safety... Hello? Are you listening?"

“I’m listening. By the way, if I’m not mistaken, that ghost should still be in this building. When I came up just now, I saw him go up as well.”

Zhou Ke'er recalled the squinty-eyed man who walked into the stairwell and casually reminded him, "But I'm not sure, it could be an illusion."

After saying that, Zhou Ke'er told Mu Yang her current location.

Mu Yang responded and told Zhou Ke'er to hide quickly before ending the call.

"What do you mean? What just happened?"

Upon seeing this, Xu Qingming quickly asked.

"A very dangerous ghost just appeared here. I think the reason is probably because it sensed that the concentration of evil energy here was abnormal..."

Zhou Ke'er frowned. "But it's strange. If this is his goal, we've been here for so long, there's no way he hasn't come up yet. Could it be that after seeing me, he encountered other exorcists and assumed there were many exorcists here, so he just retreated?"

447. Only the building where the ghost is nowhere to be found.

"You mean to say that a very dangerous monster just appeared in this building and even came face to face with you? It might even be coming for me?"

Xu Qingming was startled upon hearing this and quickly asked, "Those people you just contacted... what were they called again, the Exorcists, right? Who are they? An organization that specializes in dealing with these kinds of monsters?"

“That’s right, I only recently learned about this organization. They have much more information about this situation than we do, so I think they could very well be of help to you in your current situation.”

Zhou Ke'er nodded in response.

"No, that's not that important. We can talk about it later. The main problem right now is... that dangerous monster you mentioned! So why are you sitting here so calmly and leisurely after encountering such a terrifying monster downstairs?"

Xu Qingming was shocked. "Shouldn't you have seen me as soon as you came up and then quickly pulled me away to escape?"

"Your way of thinking is a bit off. Think about it carefully. Assuming his target is indeed you, what if he saw you suddenly run out of this building..."

Zhou Ke'er glanced at Xu Qingming, giving him a helpless look as if he were an idiot. Just then, she suddenly caught sight of a dark shadow flashing past the window, followed by a series of loud crashes as glass shattered. Good heavens, this is the twentieth floor!

Then a figure leaped out of the broken window with murderous intent, crashing onto the floor inside the room with a "bang".

Xu Qingming was so frightened that he quickly grabbed Zhou Ke'er's arm and pulled her back. "Is this the monster you were talking about? It flew in directly from outside the 24th floor of the building. This is too outrageous!"

The newcomer's hands had transformed into enormous claws, giving it a ferocious appearance; it truly resembled a monster.

"Ah...this shouldn't be it..."

Zhou Ke'er squinted and muttered under her breath—why was he so sure? Because this was the same dream realm he had encountered not long ago!

It's a pity, we've missed the chance to give her a Saproles, so we can only give her a shock here.

"Is this the target you're supposed to protect? Haven't you seen that big one yet..."

Ming Mengjing was about to ask a question as usual when she suddenly spotted Zhou Ke'er halfway through her sentence. Her eyes widened immediately. "So it's you! That wretched big devil, you actually delivered yourself to my doorstep! This time, unlike in the game, there won't be any other clueless people foolishly coming to save you! Prepare to die!"

However, despite saying this, Ming Mengjing didn't rush forward recklessly. After all, she was only a Blue-Rank Exorcist, and while she had a chance of winning against a Great Demon one-on-one, it wasn't high. Not to mention, the intelligence she had just received from above stated that this was a Demon "surpassing a Great Demon, but due to insufficient information, its rank has not yet been determined."

"I suggest you don't do that."

Zhou Ke'er sat up straight, straightened her clothes which had been disheveled by Xu Qingming's tugging, and solemnly reminded Ming Mengjing.

Xu Qingming was momentarily confused. He had been startled when he heard the other person call Zhou Ke'er a "ghost"—a monster was right next to him? But then he thought, that shouldn't be the case. It didn't make sense. Hadn't Zhou Ke'er just contacted that exorcist? Xu Qingming couldn't understand what was going on and looked at Zhou Ke'er with a puzzled expression.

"Huh? What do you mean?! You think I'm definitely going to be your loser? Are you kidding me?!"

Upon hearing Zhou Ke'er's words, Ming Mengjing's blood pressure immediately spiked, veins bulged on his forehead, and he roared, "Looking down on me? Let me tell you, even a Blue-Rank Exorcist can kill a Great Ghost!"

However, although Ming Mengjing appeared extremely irritable and angry on the surface, she was actually quite calm inside. She deliberately obscured her opponent's strength, referring to him only as a "Great Demon," in order to ascertain his true level. If he truly surpassed a Great Demon... then she would have no choice but to be pragmatic and make her escape.

"No, have you forgotten what I told you last time?"

Zhou Ke'er smiled and said to the wary Ming Mengjing, "Didn't I already tell you? I would specifically join the exorcist organization so you could be my senior and guide me in exorcising ghosts~ How come you've already forgotten about it after only a few hours? You don't take my words to heart at all, I'm so sad~"

"???"

Ming Mengjing was completely dumbfounded. She had thought of this possibility a thousand times and never imagined it. She stood there stunned for a moment.

At the same time, Zhou Ke'er's communication bracelet rang at just the right moment. After answering, Mu Yang's voice came through: "Judging by the time, Ming Mengjing should have arrived there by now, right? How is it? Is it safe over there for now?"

As he spoke, Mu Yang deliberately lowered his voice and said, "That's right, isn't it? It's that Ming Mengjing, right? The higher-ups were afraid that you would die there before you even saw your senior, so they specially pulled Ming Mengjing out of the game pod and sent her to rescue you. How about that, not disappointed, right?"

Zhou Ke'er's lips twitched. He wasn't disappointed, but he figured when they got back, you'd get a beating.

Because Zhou Ke'er had just turned on speakerphone and hadn't turned it off, Ming Mengjing, standing next to her, could hear everything clearly.

Ming Mengjing's pupils dilated in shock as she stared at Zhou Ke'er in disbelief, blurting out, "Are you guys fucking crazy?! Why did you make me his senior? No, why did you make him an exorcist?! Have you lost your minds? Has the organization degenerated to this level?!"

"What?! Zhou Ke'er, you've turned on speakerphone?! You're not wearing headphones?!"

Mu Yang's shocked voice rang out, then he quickly tried to appear calm and explained to Yidatong: "Ahem, no, this is a decision from above, made after careful consideration, and has absolutely nothing to do with money. As for his status, well, if you're determined, even if he's from a family that supplies exorcism tools, it won't be an obstacle! Just be a good senior in your own right, that's all, goodbye!"

"Dududu..."

Zhou Ke'er waved at the colorless Ming Mengjing, "Wake up, wake up, the other person has already hung up the phone, what are you still standing there for? Come on, let me introduce myself first. From now on, I'll be your junior, please take care of me. I really don't know anything about exorcism, so I really have to rely on you a lot."

"This is completely irrelevant, you bastard!" Ming Mengjing thought to herself, her mind racing. She was talking about Zhou Ke'er's identity as a ghost, but Mu Yang inexplicably replied that he was a supplier of exorcism tools. It was all so nonsensical; she had no idea what he was talking about.

"What's going on here?"

Xu Qingming, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but ask Zhou Ke'er in a low voice.

"Huh? Do you even need to ask? Didn't I just make it clear? This person will be my senior in exorcising ghosts from now on. If you also want to join the ghost exorcist organization, you can get to know her too."

Zhou Ke'er patted Xu Qingming on the shoulder with a grin and answered seriously.

448. The ghost vanished into thin air!

"What on earth is going on? Have they gone mad? How could they let a giant monster become an exorcist?"

Ming Mengjing was still deeply immersed in disbelief and couldn't extricate herself. "Could it be... that this is actually quite normal? Because it's difficult for exorcists to contend with powerful ghosts, so they recruit willing powerful ghosts to become exorcists?... This is too surreal! Wouldn't this make the exorcist organization just like a house of cards riddled with holes?"

"Huh? Who told you I'm a monster? I'm a perfectly normal human being. That's what everyone thinks, so why are you the only one with a different opinion?"

Zhou Ke'er tilted her head, deliberately putting on a very puzzled expression, and asked innocently.

"What a joke! I saw with my own eyes that you can absorb other evils, and with the restless, overflowing evil energy emanating from your body, how could you still be human?! If a human had this much evil energy in their body, no, even just a quarter of it, they would have lost their mind and become an evil being long ago!"

Ming Mengjing stared wide-eyed, feeling that Zhou Ke'er was simply lying through her teeth and spouting nonsense.

"I'm not kidding, that's what all the other exorcists think. I'm human, you know. If you don't believe me, ask Mu Yang, Jie Jiangzuo, and Shi Mi. There's absolutely no problem with them, okay?"

Zhou Ke'er shrugged.

"They're all only at the Green Rank, how could they possibly tell! I know, you must have deliberately misled and deceived them, then used various means to fool the organization's superiors... But your wishful thinking is about to fall apart, because I'm going to report to the higher-ups right now and tell them that you're actually a Great Ghost!"

Upon hearing this, Ming Mengjing looked as if she had just realized something, and immediately said confidently.

Xu Qingming, standing to the side, was completely clueless about the situation, but he could tell that Zhou Ke'er was up to some trick again, making the other side run around in circles. It was a traditional skill of his; he just watched without saying a word.

"You're still too naive, Senior Mingmengjing. Tell me, since I've already gone to such lengths, surely there's a way to safely pass our organization's inspection? Besides, I have three exorcists recommended, and the higher-ups have already approved them. But you, Senior, are so engrossed in games that you refuse to take any juniors with you. And when the higher-ups finally assigned you a junior, you immediately assumed they were a ghost..."

Zhou Ke'er naturally addressed him as "senior" and said to Ming Mengjing with a grin, "Do you think the organization will believe your nonsense? They probably all think you're trying to shirk your responsibility of mentoring juniors and go back to playing games. Sigh, anyway, thanks to your good habits, senior, you've put yourself in a 'crying wolf' situation."

"hateful!"

After hearing Zhou Ke'er's words, Ming Mengjing was indeed fooled. Thinking about it, it did seem to make sense! If she were Zhou Ke'er's superior, she would also have to doubt herself...

In reality, Zhou Ke'er couldn't evade the organization's checks because she genuinely couldn't control the evil energy within her. Furthermore, Mu Yang had also suspected Zhou Ke'er of being strange, but was temporarily blinded by the pressure of money, thus selectively ignoring this fact. If Ming Mengjing were to bring it up, the final outcome would be quite uncertain.

"Then we'll have to strike first and finish you off right here!"

Ming Mengjing gritted her teeth and said bitterly.

"If you're so capable, then go ahead and finish me off. First of all, let's not even talk about whether you can do it. Even if you could... just because you didn't want to mentor a junior, you killed him and then framed him as a monster. Good heavens, is this something a human being could do?"

Zhou Ke'er pretended to be terrified, "This is just psychologically abnormal. If this continues, you'll definitely face criticism from others, right? They might even suspect that you've killed too many people in the game, so you feel no guilt about killing in real life. In that case, shouldn't we ban you from playing games or something? You're so pitiful."

"you!"

Looking at Zhou Ke'er's smug and irritating expression, Ming Mengjing wished she could punch him in the face.

Just then, Zhou Ke'er's communication bracelet rang again. After answering, a rustling sound came from the other end, which sounded like Mu Yang and Xie Jiangzuo passing the buck. Finally, Xie Jiangzuo cleared his throat helplessly and said, "Ah, well... it's like this, the higher-ups sent other exorcists to conduct a thorough search of the building you're in, but they didn't find the ghost you mentioned. So it's possible that it has already left, or it might be good at hiding and hasn't been discovered by us. So, in any case, we suggest you leave that building first. Exorcists should be on their way to meet you soon."

After rattling off a long string of words at lightning speed, Jie Jiangzuo took a breath and, without waiting for Zhou Ke'er to ask him anything else, said directly, "Okay, that's about it. There's nothing else. You two get along well. I won't bother you any longer. Goodbye."

Then the call ended.

"...Look, he said we should get along well."

Zhou Ke'er smiled and said to Ming Mengjing, "Then, please take care of me from now on, Senior Ming Mengjing?"

"I'll be keeping an eye on you! Once I have the evidence, you're finished! The organization will definitely send a Purple-Rank Exorcist to deal with you, so you'd better watch out and don't give yourself away!"

Ming Mengjing glared fiercely at Zhou Ke'er and said through gritted teeth.

"...So why not be more discreet?"

Zhou Ke'er sighed helplessly, and the half of the Tang sword in her hand instantly solidified completely, then swung it toward Ming Mengjing with a "whoosh".