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

Hmm... thinking about it this way, slowing down Sion and the others' journey is the right choice. Zhou Ke'er is still useful to them, and we can't let them rush to their deaths so quickly. It's best to wait until after the players enter this world and plan their entry into the capital of the Duchy of Dragon.

Zhou Ke'er was lost in thought, unaware that she was still in the same position, almost touching Xi Ang's cheek. Her warm breath gently brushed against Xi Ang's cheek, as if carrying a faint, delicate fragrance.

Xi Ang blushed immediately and subconsciously wanted to take a few more steps forward, but after thinking about it, he didn't do so and remained in that position.

The others assumed that Xi Ang was talking to Zhou Ke'er, and since it was already dark and they couldn't see the two of them clearly, they didn't notice anything amiss.

"How about... let's stay here? If we keep going, it will get completely dark, and traveling at night is too dangerous. How about we rest here for the night?"

After walking a short distance, Xi Ang finally couldn't resist any longer. He quickened his pace, walked a few steps ahead, pointed to a small patch of grass, and spoke to the others.

It's actually just a simple gap between trees, only it happens to be a little larger. It's enough to accommodate a few people sitting, but it's definitely not enough to set up camp—but it seems that the group doesn't need to set up camp anyway.

Sagos surveyed the open space, then sighed, "There's no other way. We haven't found a suitable place to camp along the way, so we'll just have to make do here for now..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly heard a faint scream coming from afar, which seemed to be mixed with cries for help.

Everyone's eyes narrowed.

Chris asked in a low voice, "Did you hear that? I must have misheard."

Sion nodded solemnly: "That should be right... It seems we can't rest yet."

Seeing that they seemed to want to rush there, Zhou Ke'er couldn't help but frown: "Where are you going? What if it's a trap? And... even if we go, we might just lose our lives again."

Sargus waved his staff and shook his head at Zhou Ke'er with a smile.

Xi Ang smiled at Zhou Ke'er: "But I am a hero."

------------

544. On the Way (Part 3)

Zhou Ke'er did not express any further opinion, but secretly instructed her family members to go to the place where the sound came from to investigate first.

In order to continue moving forward in the now completely darkened sky, Sargus had to wave his staff, a bright flame appearing in his palm, and said to Sion, "Now we've become very obvious targets. Everyone be prepared and on your guard."

He didn't deliberately lower his voice, perhaps thinking that lighting a fire in the dark was already enough to attract attention, and whether he made a sound or not wouldn't affect the result, so he simply didn't pay attention to it.

As the crowd drew closer, the sounds became increasingly clear.

The woman's cries for help gradually turned into screams, and then suddenly and without warning, turned into laughter, emitting what sounded like maniacal laughter while muttering words of pleading for mercy.

It sounds incredibly eerie and sends chills down your spine.

Chris couldn't help but whisper unconsciously, "When I was little, my elders told me that there are two kinds of people you should never approach in the forest—one is someone who is always crying, and the other is someone who is laughing for no reason."

Xi'ang even had the mind to make a joke: "Did he say what to do when you encounter someone who is both crying and laughing?"

Chris glared at Theon, half annoyed, gripped her bow and arrow tightly, and muttered, "I'm not kidding."

Finally, after clearing away the vines blocking their path, the group finally saw the woman who had been making noise all along.

Ahead was a man-made clearing, which connected to a path that seemed to run through a forest. Several trees had been cut down around the clearing to make room for a campsite, and traces of campfires remained.

Several ornately decorated carriages sat quietly to one side of the camp. Some lay crookedly on the ground, stained with blood, and their bodies bore marks as if they had been violently struck and whipped.

At a glance, one can see many people lying scattered on the ground, not only scattered but also each person's body scattered in pieces.

Judging from their remaining clothing, they must have belonged to a wealthy merchant or nobleman. Others, resembling coachmen or servants, also met the same fate of being dismembered.

Only one woman, dressed in gorgeous clothes, remained, her hair disheveled, slumped on the grass, clutching a blood-dripping severed arm tightly in her hand, muttering, "Vera, let's tell them not to light the campfire, okay? Don't let them cut down those trees, let's run!"

No, we can't escape. The carriage broke down, and we don't know where they went. Why are we the only two left? I'm so scared—why aren't you saying anything? Aren't we best friends? You said you'd always be there for me, no matter what. Why aren't you here—you're not here?

"Vera? Where did you go? Why can't I put you back together? Something's missing, a few pieces are missing, where are those missing pieces?! If I put you back together, you'll come back to me, right? Hehehehehehehe!"

The disheveled woman let out a chilling laugh as she gently placed the severed arm on the grass in front of her. There, on the grass, lay a twisted corpse, scattered in pieces but pieced together from each fragment.

The group couldn't help but exchange glances, unsure of what to do, but after all, the woman was still alive and they couldn't just leave her there.

Xi Ang swallowed hard, took two steps forward, and said, "Miss, may I ask..."

Upon hearing the sound, the woman turned around instantly, staring at Xi Ang with a ferocious expression, and sized him up for a while.

Chris was so frightened that she almost shot an arrow, but Sagos stopped her with lightning speed.

After a while, the woman's expression returned to normal. Then, as if she had forgotten everything that had just happened, she gently tilted her head and muttered softly, "Oh? Did I forget? We actually have guests at home today. Why didn't Father and Mother come to greet them? They must be out on business. Oh well, then I'll have to entertain the guests."

As she spoke, she stood up, gracefully lifted her skirt with both hands, and gave a noble greeting, saying earnestly, "I was unaware of your arrival and I apologize for not being able to greet you properly. Unfortunately, my parents are out on business, so please wait here for a moment."

As she spoke, she casually picked up a severed limb and a few pieces of flesh scattered on the ground, held them in her hands, and stepped forward as if to hand them to Xi Ang. "Please enjoy some desserts and snacks first. I wonder if any of you have any dietary restrictions? Do you prefer black tea or green tea?"

Xi Ang frowned as he looked at the mangled pieces of flesh she was holding. He didn't reach out to take them, but instead said, "Miss, you've misunderstood. We're not here as guests, and this isn't your home..."

But the woman seemed not to hear Sion's words, staring straight at him: "Not eating? Have I neglected you in some way? Or are the pastries not to your liking? Why...why...why aren't you eating?!"

As the woman spoke, her expression suddenly turned ferocious without warning. She roared and questioned Xi Ang, "I've eaten it all! You're not allowed not to eat it! Eat it! Eat it now! Hahahaha!"

As she spoke frantically, the bright red of her lips became even more striking in the light of the flames, and what lay hidden beneath that crimson was even more chilling and terrifying.

Sion immediately turned to look at Lance.

Lance nodded in understanding and immediately chanted a holy incantation, attempting to use the power of holy light to calm the other party and bring them back to their senses.

But it had no effect.

Zhou Ke'er shook her head and said softly, "It's no use. She has been thoroughly corrupted by the evil—or rather, without the support of the evil, she would be a corpse on the ground by now. There's no saving her; her life is already bound to the evil."

The woman turned her head alertly, her empty eyes fixed on Zhou Ke'er, but then a light seemed to suddenly ignite within them, a look of delighted joy on her face: "My goodness, Wei'er, what are you doing here? I thought you went out with my parents! Oh—so these are all your friends. You made new friends without telling me? I thought we had no secrets between us..."

As she spoke, her tone suddenly shifted, and her empty eyes regained their crazed gleam: "You! Didn't you promise me that I would be your only best friend? You lied to me! You've all lied to me! I know, I know, you're all dead, aren't you? I saw your corpses a long time ago. I put them together wrong, so you all became wrong too! Let me put you together again, this time I'll definitely get it right! Hahahaha!"

------------

545. On the Way (Part Four)

As she finished speaking, her face quickly became ferocious, her hands gradually lost their shape and turned into sharp blades. Behind her, there were several "poof" sounds as several vine-like things grew out and suddenly stabbed towards Zhou Ke'er.