Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 376: The Arrival

Chapter 376: Chapter 376: The Arrival

"Bzzzz—"

A strong ringing in the ears suddenly appeared. Song Que furrowed his brows, initially thinking it was a sudden physical discomfort, but he quickly discovered that everyone else was experiencing the same thing.

"Thump thump—"

"Thump thump—"

The heartbeat accelerated on its own accord.

"Is this... Fog Gathering?" Song Que was a bit uncertain.

The summoning of Fog Gathering first brought forth an inexplicable fear, followed by a burning sensation in the heart.

But this time... the feeling seemed somewhat different.

"Could it be the Dark Abyss..." Yu Sheng dared not meet everyone’s eyes.

"No," Feng Yiru suddenly spoke, "this is ’its’ voice. Hearing ’its’ voice means Fog Gathering is about to end."

"What is it?"

Song Que asked.

"I suggest... we first enter Fog Gathering," Yu Wenxuan stood up and smiled, "Mr. Gu, who just ’went missing,’ surely didn’t expect we would meet again so soon in Fog Gathering. How interesting."

Song Que did not oppose Yu Wenxuan’s suggestion, but after glancing around, he found that Xu Zhifei had suddenly disappeared.

"Where is Xu Zhifei?"

"Miss Xu... has already opened the door and gone in," Yu Sheng said.

"Such impatience," Yu Wenxuan said while looking at Feng Yiru, "Ladies first, Miss Feng Yiru."

Feng Yiru calmly got up and walked toward the inner door of the cafe.

...

2029.

Just as he was about to step into the Earth Cave, Bai Yanliang suddenly felt a ringing in his ears.

"Ong—"

Unlike Song Que and the others, Bai Yanliang heard it more clearly.

In the distressing ringing, there was a low howl. Bai Yanliang was sure it wasn’t a sound made by any creature on Earth.

For no apparent reason, he thought of those two gigantic red lights above Fog Gathering.

More than once, he felt that those were a pair of eyes.

But then... what kind of monster could have such enormous pupils?

Considering this question was pointless.

After all, it’s Fog Gathering, a place where strange space makes anything possible.

The current issue is... only three minutes remain, should he tell Dr. Zhou?

This thought only lingered in his mind for half a second before Bai Yanliang dismissed it.

The time flow between Wuji World and reality isn’t synchronized. Even if several days pass there, it would be just a fleeting moment in reality.

Bai Yanliang had no hesitation; this entrance to the Earth Cave could also be considered a door, right?

So then...

He attempted to step inside.

...

"Yet another rare guest."

Yu Wenxuan’s voice convinced Bai Yanliang that he indeed entered the Fog Gathering space.

The white light faded, and the outlines of people gradually became clear.

Although only a few days had passed, seeing Xu Zhifei, Yu Wenxuan, Song Que, Yu Sheng, Gu Pingsheng, and Feng Xiuxue again felt like a lifetime.

"Long time no see..."

He greeted, perhaps addressing everyone.

"You should thank her," Yu Wenxuan glanced Bai Yanliang up and down, "This woman nearly turned Ye City upside down."

Upon hearing this, Bai Yanliang turned to look at Xu Zhifei.

But she averted her gaze.

"Thank you." Bai Yanliang was unsure of what attitude to adopt towards her.

Warmth? Gratitude? Enthusiasm?

If those were needed, she wouldn’t be Xu Zhifei.

"..." Xu Zhifei turned her head, her cold gaze falling on Bai Yanliang.

She still wasn’t fond of speaking.

"I went to the Eighteenth Middle School."

Her words made Bai Yanliang’s heart tighten, "Are you alright?"

"You weren’t there," Xu Zhifei shook her head, "I picked up your cat."

Bai Yanliang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Among everyone, besides himself, he had been most worried about Allen Allan Poe.

"Is it still obedient?"

"..." Xu Zhifei thought for a moment, "Very clingy."

Allen Allan Poe? Clingy?

Could she have mistaken the cat?

In Bai Yanliang’s memory, apart from himself, the little black cat was indifferent to anyone else.

"You can choose a time to catch up privately," Yu Wenxuan was quite dissatisfied with these two chatting about trivial matters, "Mr. Bai, aren’t you curious why you didn’t execute the Qingyi Street mission and weren’t pursued by the fierce ghost?"

Bai Yanliang turned around to face Yu Wenxuan.

He had thought about it, but with little information available, he temporarily attributed not being pursued by the ghost to the magic of Xu Jian.

Perhaps hiding in the crevices of time could avoid punishment?

He had thought so, but when he stepped into the Earth Cave and instantly traveled from a decade in the future to Fog Gathering, the thought quickly vanished. The eerie power of Fog Gathering can even transcend space and time...

"Why?" Bai Yanliang did not conceal his curiosity.

"For that, you have to ask him," Yu Wenxuan nodded towards Gu Pingsheng nearby, "that doctor used some method to find someone identical to you to execute that mission in your place."

"I’m really curious, why would he go to such lengths for you?"

Yu Wenxuan’s gaze shifted back and forth between Gu Pingsheng and Bai Yanliang.

For me... to such lengths...

Bai Yanliang’s eyes slightly changed, "Mr. Gu, do you happen to know someone named Bai Yanren?"

"We all know," Song Que said, "your sister-in-law is standing right there."

Bai Yanliang’s heart trembled, turning to see Feng Xiuxue.

No... this gaze and demeanour... it’s Feng Yiru.

It seemed that during his absence, many unexpected things had transpired.

Feng Yiru and Gu Pingsheng hadn’t exchanged a single word, both gazing in silence at the sky above Fog Gathering.

"It’s almost time..."

Gu Pingsheng murmured.

Everyone raised their heads following their gaze.

The two elongated blood-red light balls were approaching closer.

"Mr. Gu, if you also want the key condensed from Fog Gathering, why not plot to kill us like the Dark Abyss did?" Yu Wenxuan raised a very constructive question.

Gu Pingsheng indeed turned to look at him.

"I am different from them." Gu Pingsheng’s voice was as calm as recounting a trivial matter.

"Oh, so you’re saying you’re a good person?"

Gu Pingsheng chuckled lightly; he seldom laughed.

His sudden laughter made him seem somewhat unfamiliar.

"Only when we die by the hands of a ghost does it have any meaning."

His voice was calm, yet the words were chilling.

"It has arrived."

Feng Yiru suddenly spoke.

Everyone turned simultaneously, looking towards where the looming gate was emerging in the void.

One by one, dark characters appeared quietly.

Gu Pingsheng, Bai Yanliang, Yu Wenxuan, Song Que, Yu Sheng, Xu Zhifei.

The six names were shrouded in darkness.

Just by looking, one could feel the deepest malice entwined around them.