Chapter 29

The hosts of “Winner Takes All” consist of six individuals, four men and two women: Ren Kun, He Qiang, Yuan Gaoming, Jiang Wei, Sun Yiyi, and Zhao Xing. These personalities are currently among the most popular celebrities.

The show is now in its third season, and the immense success of the previous two seasons has only increased the popularity of the hosts, leading to numerous invitations. Consequently, “Winner Takes All” has become a coveted platform for many artists seeking exposure, aiming to boost their public image and gain more fans.

This time, the invited guests also number six, with Ma Ao and He Kang among them. The others include a popular actor Gao Cai, a rising star Xia Li, a talented singer Han Lin, and a new actor Li Cheng.

Ren Kun, the most seasoned and prominent host, introduced the guests for this episode, explained the game rules, and after a brief opening, the group headed to the dressing room to change into team uniforms before officially starting the recording and entering the venue.

This time, it’s a team battle again, with six hosts and six guests forming three groups, each consisting of four members.

Ma Ao was unfortunately paired with He Kang, but fortunately, he became a member of the Red Team with Ren Kun and Yuan Gaoming.

The game rules are simple: find the key and the Treasure Box, open the box, and claim the treasure inside. The key and box are hidden somewhere in the amusement park, and they must find clues to locate the true positions of the key and box. Of course, there will be many obstacles along the way, preventing them from easily finding them.

Ren Kun, with his seniority, advised newcomers Ma Ao and He Kang, “Be careful later, don’t reveal the clues to anyone, and watch out for theft.”

Ma Ao and He Kang nodded in agreement, appearing very obedient.

“By the way, Ma Ao, I heard you’ve been to this amusement park before. You should be familiar with it, right? Where do you think things are most likely hidden?”

Ma Ao, eager to survive, said, “…Maybe in the maze or the Theater? Once you enter the maze, it’s easy to get lost, and finding things inside can take a lot of time. You might forget where you’ve been and where you haven’t. And the Theater, it’s large, with dozens of rows of seats, making it easy to hide things.”

He Kang chuckled, “You also mentioned the Ferris wheel and carousel earlier?”

Ma Ao scratched his head and said sincerely, “Yes, we can check those places too.”

He seemed genuinely sincere, as he really wanted to visit the maze, Theater, Ferris wheel, and other places to play harmless games, rather than venture into the haunted house.

Yuan Gaoming, despite being only twenty years old and looking like a child, was fearless. He often played dangerous and thrilling games, and while other guests turned pale with fright, he would jump a meter high in excitement, creating a stark contrast. Ren Kun, though not overly brave, felt as a man, there was nothing to fear.

At this moment, Yuan Gaoming found Ma Ao’s suggested locations too tame and uninteresting. “I think we should go bungee jumping, ride the roller coaster, or head to the haunted house. It’s dark in there, making it hard to spot hidden items.”

Ren Kun nodded in agreement, “The show is quite sadistic, they love scaring us. There’s a good chance they’ll hide things in the haunted house. Ma Ao, this is your forte, don’t be modest. Those two mishaps were surely accidents. Now is your chance to redeem yourself! You and Yuan Gaoming should sweep the haunted house, become the kings of the haunted house! He Kang and I will be your little ghost followers. We’ll take over the haunted house, and if other teams come in, we’ll grab them one by one, and snatch all their clues!”

Ma Ao: “…” Perhaps there was some misunderstanding? He was no longer the Ma Ao of the past.

Yuan Gaoming was thrilled at the idea of taking over the haunted house, scaring other team members, and snatching their clues. He eagerly raised both hands and feet in agreement, saying, “Great plan! Zhao Xing and Sun Yiyi are easily frightened; they’ll surely spill everything once scared.”

Ren Kun said, “Let’s find some clues first, and then head to the haunted house.”

He Kang listened with a smile, having no objections, as he was quite brave himself. He had visited haunted houses during his school days, and found them to be full of fake props. As long as he didn’t scare himself, there was nothing to fear.

The three were excited and made their decision.

Ma Ao was initially resistant, but seeing so many people entering together, he felt less scared. He could finally wash away the stigma of being called “Little Coward Ma.” Of course, if he ended up scared to death, it would prove the haunted house was truly terrifying, and crying in fear would be perfectly normal.

Moreover, he was a man on the rise, and sacrifices were necessary to see the rainbow.

He gritted his teeth: Let’s go!

…

Before heading to the haunted house, the four played some games. Since none of them were particularly timid, they chose thrilling and exciting ones like the slingshot ride, drop tower, and roller coaster. While playing, they found keys and Wooden Boxes hidden under seats or stuck in small corners, obtaining several Map Fragments-pieces of the amusement park map. Once a complete map was assembled, it should reveal the location of the true key and Treasure Box.

“Let’s go, it’s about time. They must have found quite a few map fragments too. We’ll wait for them in the haunted house.”

They weren’t worried about the timid ones not coming; the director group aimed to create drama, so they would definitely come.

The haunted house was located beneath several massive rocks, carved into a monstrous creature with a gaping mouth, standing in the dark. Although the lights flickered, it still exuded a gloomy and eerie atmosphere, especially on a winter night with the cold wind blowing, making one shiver involuntarily.

The haunted house looked even scarier at night than during the day, and Ma Ao suddenly regretted his decision. He wanted to be famous, but he also wanted to stay alive…

As they approached the haunted house, the director group pulled a surprise move: “Due to the unique situation in the haunted house, the filming crew won’t follow you inside. You’ll have to go in on your own.”

…? No filming crew?

This was a first.

Ma Ao’s heart skipped a beat, feeling even colder as if the surroundings became more dangerous! He thought there would be more people inside, including the filming crew, making it less scary. But they weren’t going in?

Compared to Ma Ao’s fear, Ren Kun and Yuan Gaoming seemed more excited. Yuan Gaoming said, “I knew the haunted house was special; the most important key must be hidden inside!”

Ren Kun said, “Yes, letting us go in alone is probably to scare us.”

He Kang said, “Let’s search carefully later, and make sure we don’t miss anything.”

Ma Ao hesitantly raised his hand, saying, “…I want to go to the restroom?”

For a moment, Ren Kun, Yuan Gaoming, He Kang, and even the director group all looked at him.

Ma Ao: “…”

…What’s the matter? Can’t he be scared and need to pee?

…

Ren Kun said, “Don’t be afraid, we’ll go together, nothing to fear.”

He Kang patted Ma Ao’s shoulder in encouragement, telling him not to be scared.

Yuan Gaoming chuckled, “I’ll lead the way, just follow me. I’ve been to many haunted houses, and although the atmosphere is scary, it’s just that. Look around a bit more, and you’ll see through it, nothing to fear.”

Ren Kun laughed, “This is your chance to redeem yourself, reclaim the title of Bold Ma! You know, there are no ghosts in this world, just people pretending to be ghosts, nothing to fear.”

He Kang said, “I saw you weren’t scared at all on the drop tower, why are you so afraid of the haunted house? What did you see before?” Although He Kang knew Ma Ao was a horror live streamer, he hadn’t watched Ma Ao’s streams, only heard about Ma Ao’s two mishaps in the haunted house, leading to the nickname “Little Coward Ma.”

Ma Ao took a deep breath, “The coffin in the haunted house is really creepy! Last time I came, I saw inside…”

“Saw what?”

“Don’t keep us in suspense, tell us.”

“Six eyes!! Bloody and spinning… It was terrifying!”

Yuan Gaoming burst into laughter, “What? That must be a prop. Haunted houses have lots of fake limbs and such, don’t scare yourself.”

Ren Kun said, “Yes, it must be a prop. You know, no supernatural beings allowed since the founding of the nation.”

Ma Ao had considered this possibility, wondering if the six eyes were a new gimmick. But it wasn’t; he had asked the haunted house manager, who said there were no fake eyes set up to scare people, though it was a good suggestion to try…

“I thought so too, but the staff said it wasn’t.”

Not??

For a moment, Yuan Gaoming, Ren Kun, and He Kang exchanged glances, showing doubt. Suddenly, it seemed a bit eerie? Ren Kun cleared his throat, taking charge, “Alright, let’s stop talking here. We’re at the entrance, let’s go in and see for ourselves. We can also help Ma Ao overcome his psychological issues.”

Ma Ao: “…” Well, thanks for that.

Anyway, whether he faced it or avoided it, he had to go through with it!

The four pushed open the wooden door with the gaping mouth.

Creak-

Inside, it was silent, with only a faint blue light glowing, dim and unclear, like clouds and mist.

Taking the first step into the haunted house, Ma Ao couldn’t help but shiver, feeling as if something was following him. He turned to look, but behind him was empty, not a single shadow.

He Kang called from ahead, “Hurry up.”

“Oh!” Ma Ao didn’t dare fall behind and quickly caught up.

The heavy wooden door creaked shut, sealing the haunted house into a world of its own.

…

The four walked slowly forward, Yuan Gaoming leading the way. Although uncertain if the coffin was truly terrifying, the atmosphere was well-crafted. Since entering, it felt colder, and her neck felt chilly, yet when she touched it, there was nothing.

Ren Kun hugged his arms, feeling cold too. He reached back, saying without turning, “Keep up.”

Soon, he felt an icy hand slip into his palm, and he wondered why it was so cold, like ice. But then he heard He Kang and Ma Ao’s voices a few steps away: “Coming!”

Ren Kun froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. He instinctively tightened his grip on the hand he thought he was holding-only to find it vanish into thin air. His fingers closed on nothing but air.

Wait a second. There hadn’t been any sound of footsteps nearby. No Ghost Actor had appeared. And in this pitch-black darkness, who could’ve accurately placed their hand into his?

He Kang and Ma Ao approached. He Kang said, “I think the items might be placed somewhere more obvious. Otherwise, it’s impossible to see anything in this darkness. We can’t just grope our way through the whole place.”

Ren Kun, still shaken, asked, “What were you two doing just now?”

He Kang replied, “We saw some markings on the ground and stopped to take a closer look. Turns out it was nothing.”

Ma Ao nodded, his expression serious as he scanned the surroundings. His hands clung tightly to He Kang’s clothes, not daring to relax for even a second. He didn’t notice Ren Kun’s unusual behavior at all.

Ren Kun muttered under his breath, “Then what did I just grab?” He had distinctly felt a hand-cold as stone. Goosebumps prickled his skin.

Yuan Gaoming, who was leading the group, turned back and asked, “What’s going on?”

Ren Kun hesitated before saying, “I think I accidentally held someone’s hand just now… I thought it was He Kang.”

He Kang paused, his voice steady despite the eerie surroundings. “Not me. I’ve been with Ma Ao the whole time.”

Ma Ao chimed in, “Yeah, we’ve been walking together. We were a bit farther away earlier.”

Ren Kun’s face paled. “…”

Yuan Gaoming frowned. “…”

In the oppressive darkness, the conversation sent chills down everyone’s spine. Yuan Gaoming forced a laugh to break the tension. “Stop trying to scare us, Ren Kun. We need to focus on finding the key and taking over the haunted house. We’re winning this today!”

Ren Kun swallowed hard. “…”

Maybe it was just his imagination. Yes, that had to be it.

…

The haunted house was designed to be terrifying. Skeletons littered the floor, making it easy to accidentally kick one. As they reached the first intersection, Yuan Gaoming warned, “Watch out. Something’s coming.”

Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, a faint, eerie sound echoed through the air. A Hanged Ghost suddenly dropped from above, suspended mid-air with its long hair swaying ominously.

Yuan Gaoming shrugged. “This trick never changes, no matter how many haunted houses you visit.”

He Kang chuckled. “Yeah, it’s pretty basic.”

Ma Ao, already trembling in fear, said nothing.

Ren Kun, feeling equally uneasy, remained silent.

As they continued, they encountered various ghosts-some clearly fake, others unsettlingly realistic. At one point, a cold breeze swept across their feet, as if something were trying to grab them. But none of it fazed Yuan Gaoming, who confidently located the first key.

It was hanging on the hat of a Jiangshi. Yuan Gaoming and He Kang wrestled it off the zombie-like figure without much trouble.

Yuan Gaoming laughed triumphantly. “See? I told you they’re easy to deal with.”

Ren Kun’s spirits lifted slightly. “We’ve got the key. The Wooden Box must be nearby.”

He Kang nodded. “Let’s search the area.”

Ma Ao hesitated. “…Okay, sure.”

Despite the group’s progress, Ma Ao couldn’t shake the growing sense of dread. A chilling sensation crept from his feet to the top of his head, making it hard to breathe. His face was pale, though the dim lighting concealed it.

He couldn’t voice his discomfort. If he did, it would only confirm his reputation as “Little Coward Ma.” But he was determined to prove himself. He was destined to be famous, after all.

Summoning his courage, Ma Ao stuck close to He Kang, step by step.

He Kang glanced down at the nervous figure beside him and smirked.

“Hey, I found something!” Yuan Gaoming’s voice rang out. “Come over here!”

Ren Kun, He Kang, and Ma Ao hurried to his side. By the faint light on the ground, they saw a Wooden Box hanging on the wall behind a curtain. It was partially concealed, making it hard to spot at first glance.

This area was a small scene within the haunted house.

Inside the fenced-off space was a room setup. A makeup table stood against the wall, with a Long-haired Woman sitting motionless in front of a mirror, seemingly lost in her own reflection. Her lifeless demeanor was unsettling. The walls were adorned with skulls, and next to them was a fake window draped with white curtains. The Wooden Box was nestled among the skulls, right next to the curtain.

Yuan Gaoming volunteered immediately. “I’ll get it.” He hopped over the fence without waiting for anyone’s approval. Ren Kun called out, “Be careful!”

Yuan Gaoming waved dismissively. “Relax, it’s fine.” As he passed the makeup table, he glanced at the Long-haired Woman seated there. Though the setting was eerie, he reminded himself it was just a prop. Nothing to be afraid of. He looked away and headed straight for the box.

Ma Ao suddenly exclaimed, “I think her eyes moved!”

Yuan Gaoming froze, his heart racing. He turned back to the makeup table, but the woman remained perfectly still. “You’re imagining things. Don’t freak me out.”

Ren Kun and He Kang inspected the figure closely, patting Ma Ao on the shoulder. “You’re just spooked.”

Ma Ao grimaced. “…”

The Wooden Box wasn’t hanging very high-about a meter off the ground. Yuan Gaoming reached out and grabbed it easily. “See? Told you it was simple. Nothing to be scared of.”

He chuckled, ignoring the skulls nearby, and tried to pull the box off the wall. But it wouldn’t budge. Yuan Gaoming frowned. Was it embedded in the wall? That would be a cruel trick by the production team.

He stepped closer and tugged harder. Still, the box wouldn’t move.

Ren Kun called out, “What’s wrong?”

He Kang and Ma Ao watched him intently. Yuan Gaoming replied, “It’s stuck. I think it’s fixed to the wall. I’ll try again.” Taking a deep breath, he yanked with all his might. The box finally came loose-but before he could celebrate, he felt an even stronger force pulling it back!

What was happening?

Alarmed, Yuan Gaoming looked up. In the shadows beneath the curtain, he saw a pale, ghastly face. Two lifeless, black eyes stared directly at him, as if they’d been watching him all along. He hadn’t noticed until now.

His scalp tingled with fear.

Those pitch-black eyes seemed to pierce through him, brimming with malice. Just one glance sent shivers down his spine.

The cold, oppressive aura was almost tangible.

Yuan Gaoming tried to rationalize it. It had to be fake-a trick by the staff. But something felt off. Ghost Actors usually wore elaborate makeup to enhance the scare factor. This was a televised program; there was no way they’d skip such details.

Yet the woman before him was different. Her simple white dress and long black hair made her look human. But her presence was suffused with deathly Yin Energy, as if she were a corpse.

“…Who… who are you?”

The Long-haired Woman’s lips curled into a sinister smile, though her eyes remained devoid of warmth. The smile was filled with malice. Her mouth opened wide, as if preparing to devour him-

Yuan Gaoming panicked. He felt as though she truly intended to eat him alive. Forget the box-he needed to escape. In his desperation, he grabbed the curtain and threw it at her, hoping to shield himself. His hand brushed against her icy, lifeless face, slick with moisture. He didn’t dare linger, clutching at whatever he could and bolting back toward the group.

His sudden, frantic retreat startled Ren Kun, He Kang, and Ma Ao. They bombarded him with questions, but Yuan Gaoming was too shaken to respond. He stumbled over a sculpture, and for a fleeting moment, he thought he saw the statue smile-a subtle, eerie curve of its lips. Its eyes seemed to roll, following him…

Yuan Gaoming screamed and scrambled away, crashing through the fence and collapsing on the ground. His voice cracked as he shouted, “There’s a ghost! Run! Run!”

Ren Kun, He Kang, and Ma Ao were equally terrified. Before they could react, the curtain shifted. A chilling wind swept through, and out stepped a figure.

She wore a white dress, her long hair cascading down her back. Her face was expressionless, her entire being shrouded in Black Mist. She moved stiffly, her arms outstretched. Though her upper body appeared normal, her legs were grotesquely twisted. Her right leg spasmed unnaturally, like a broken puppet. Yet her face remained cold and emotionless as she approached, her voice echoing faintly: “Give it back… Give it back…”

Ren Kun swallowed hard. “She’s… really good at acting…”

He Kang nodded nervously. “Y-yeah…”

Ma Ao was speechless.

Yuan Gaoming sat frozen on the ground, his eyes wide with terror.

The Long-haired Woman took another step forward, her arms still reaching out. “Please… give it back…”

Yuan Gaoming’s mind raced. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe she wasn’t a ghost but a person-a performer. But as he tried to convince himself, the woman’s foot caught on a fallen stool. Her body lurched forward-

Everyone gasped!

But instead of falling, she steadied herself mid-air, her hands seemingly gripping onto nothing. Slowly, she rose back to her feet…

The group stared in shock. She… she… she…?

The woman straightened her posture, her lips curling into a sinister grin. Her dark eyes gleamed with malice as she fixed her gaze on them.

Ma Ao couldn’t take it anymore. He screamed and bolted for the exit. Yuan Gaoming scrambled after him, tripping over himself in his haste. Ren Kun and He Kang, pale as ghosts themselves, shoved past each other in their desperate bid to escape.

They ran as fast as they could, their hearts pounding. Even from a distance, they could still see the Long-haired Woman’s twisted figure chasing after them, her voice trailing behind: “Give it back… Please… give it back…”

Give what back? Their lives?

Ma Ao, Ren Kun, He Kang, and Yuan Gaoming ran for their lives out of the haunted house. They didn’t stop until they reached the nearby plaza, confirming that the Long-haired Woman wasn’t following them. Their faces were pale, bodies trembling, and when they looked at each other, their expressions were filled with undisguised panic and fear.

Leave this place.

That was the unanimous thought in their minds.

No matter what, they were never going back into that haunted house.

However, as they ran out from the haunted house, not a single staff member appeared. Filming equipment lay scattered on the ground, but there wasn’t a soul in sight.

Ma Ao was in a complete panic. “What’s going on? Where is everyone?”

Ren Kun was equally bewildered. “I… I don’t know…”

Yuan Gaoming swallowed hard. “Could they have been eaten by ghosts?”

He Kang hesitated. “…Impossible, right?”

Yuan Gaoming questioned, “Then why is there no one here?”

Ma Ao was so scared that tears welled up in his eyes. “I told you this haunted house was cursed. Last time, I saw six eyes, and this time, I saw a real ghost!”

Ren Kun wiped his face. “There are so many people in the production team. It’s impossible for all of them to disappear.”

Their phones were with the staff during filming, so without them, they had no way to contact anyone.

Yuan Gaoming suddenly realized he was holding something. In his fear, he hadn’t noticed it before. He opened his palm and, upon seeing what it was, screamed and flung it away, frantically wiping his hand.

It was a set of dentures!

He had no idea why he was holding a set of teeth. Could it be that he accidentally pulled them from the Long-haired Female Ghost’s mouth? Otherwise, why would he have them?

Was that why she kept saying, “Give it back”? Give it back?

Or maybe the Long-haired Woman had been a ghost for so long that her body had decayed, and a touch made it fall apart…

He shivered with lingering fear.

…

Gu Feiyin reached the haunted house entrance and knocked on the door. Outside, it was eerily silent. As a dedicated ghost actor, she stopped with a serious expression.

It turned out the seniors were right; wandering outside could indeed lead to trouble.

This was her first time venturing out, and she had already lost her most precious dentures. If she had known, she wouldn’t have smiled at the esteemed guests…

Leaning on a broom, she worried about her dentures. Would they be okay? She planned to ask the kind boss later if she could retrieve them from the guests. Those dentures cost three hundred, and losing them was heartbreaking.

The Red-Dressed Ghost was laughing hysterically nearby, floating in the air, seemingly amused by something unknown.

Gu Feiyin didn’t understand her. She returned the broom to the Old Lady standing nearby. “Thank you. Without your broom, I would have been embarrassed today. Luckily, I wasn’t.”

The Old Lady: “…”

Neighbor Miss: “…”

The two of them looked at her silently, their mouths twitching slightly.

The Middle-aged Female Ghost finally calmed down, looking at Gu Feiyin with a mix of admiration and speechlessness. However, she was secretly pleased to have shaken hands with her son’s idol, Ren Kun. She decided not to wash that hand and would visit her son in a dream to let him feel his idol’s presence!

Gu Feiyin touched her missing front tooth, thinking about her unfinished work. Without her front tooth, she couldn’t smile openly, so she decided to keep her lips closed as a gesture of welcome to the guests…

Well, work was important. She should return to her post.

Since she had already taken a stroll, she could go back to her coffin. It was safer there.

She sighed, thinking about the three hundred she would need to spend on new dentures. Could she claim it as a work expense? After all, the esteemed guest had taken them. Would the kind boss understand? She hadn’t dared to bite him for fear of offending the guest…

Just as she lay back in her coffin, the Headless Ghost rushed in, exclaiming, “Something’s wrong!”

Gu Feiyin asked, “What happened?”

The Headless Ghost replied, “Over at the Theater, an evil ghost suddenly appeared, causing chaos and trapping many people inside. It’s going to eat them!”

…

After the terrifying ghost chase, and with no sign of the production crew, the amusement park felt even more eerie and foreboding.

Ma Ao, Yuan Gaoming, Ren Kun, and He Kang decided to leave the amusement park as quickly as possible. However, the haunted house was located deep within the park, and it would take them nearly twenty minutes to reach the exit.

They couldn’t care about anything else now; they just wanted to get out of there.

Ren Kun, trying to lighten the mood, apologized to Ma Ao, admitting he should have believed him. The haunted house was indeed cursed.

Ma Ao managed a bitter smile, feeling a strange sense of relief. Finally, someone believed him. Previously, when he mentioned seeing six eyes, people called him crazy, accusing him of making excuses for his cowardice.

He wiped his face, suddenly feeling a cold breeze at his back. Shivering, he turned to look…

Ren Kun continued, “Ma Ao, I know a famous master. Let’s visit him tomorrow to get rid of any bad luck… Ma Ao? Ma Ao? Why aren’t you responding?”

Ren Kun turned back, puzzled, to find Ma Ao standing still, staring behind them. Yuan Gaoming and He Kang also turned to look, following Ma Ao’s gaze.

What they saw shocked them!

In the distance, a Long-haired Woman in a white dress floated by. She was genuinely floating, her feet not touching the ground. Her long, black hair swayed in the cold wind like a ghost, quickly disappearing from view.

Ma Ao: “…I think I’m seeing things.”

Ren Kun: “…I think I am too.”

He Kang: “…Same here.”

Yuan Gaoming: “…I’m nearsighted, didn’t see a thing.”

Ma Ao turned back, looking at Ren Kun, who looked back at him. Together, they turned to He Kang and Yuan Gaoming, whose eyes were equally blank. The four men exchanged glances, seeing the palpable fear on each other’s faces, and then, as if waking from a trance, they bolted towards the amusement park’s exit!

Ahhh, there’s a ghost, help!

…

A crowd had gathered at the Theater entrance, mostly people in work uniforms, likely staff from “Winner Takes All,” along with a few amusement park officials. They all looked panicked, as the Theater doors had inexplicably locked, and there was no word from inside. Even phone calls weren’t going through, leaving everyone in the dark.

The incident had been reported to the police, and they were waiting for rescue.

Gu Feiyin took a look but didn’t enter through the main entrance. Instead, she had the Neighbor Miss and Old Lady carry her to the back, where the Red-Dressed Ghost opened a window in the Theater’s dressing room for her to climb through.

She never expected a ghost to cause trouble in their amusement park!

Though she lacked education and qualifications, she was smart enough to know that if guests mysteriously died in the park, it would be disastrous. If the park suffered, so would her haunted house. How could she expand it then? She might even face unemployment…

With that thought, Gu Feiyin felt like devouring the troublemaking evil ghost.

She climbed through the window with the help of the Headless Ghost. Inside, the Theater was pitch black, filled with a thick, ominous aura. She licked her lips, finding the scent more enticing than the last ghost she had eaten. It had been a while, and she was ready for a treat.

The Red-Dressed Ghost had already drawn her whip. “This ghost’s aura is heavy. I sense it’s much stronger than the last Malevolent Ghost. What should we do? Can you handle it?”

Since entering the Theater, she had felt an oppressive presence, the kind that strong entities exert over weaker ones.

The Neighbor Miss and Old Lady, though silent, instinctively moved closer to Gu Feiyin. The Headless Ghost and Armless Ghost also joined, followed by a dozen others, all missing limbs, none whole.

Gu Feiyin smirked. “It should taste good, hehe.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost: “…”

The Neighbor Miss and Old Lady instinctively took several steps back.

The Headless Ghost shivered inexplicably.

Gu Feiyin followed the scent, moving forward.