The Forsaken-Grade Cultivator
Chapter 39: Dear Quickie

Chapter 39: Dear Quickie

"Hold on... what if the killer is still in this room!"

Ying’s eyes widened as he came to an understanding.

Fear instantly flooded his mind, like a raging tsunami, and his body trembled like a lone fern stuck in a hurricane. He spun as he looked around wildly, scrutinising the room’s shadowy corners, the mesh of dark colours blended into his eyes, but didn’t fully register in his brain....

He couldn’t think straight, and thus was unsure of the next best course of action.

’I should run. Yes, I should escape this place... No, if the killer passed by here and didn’t kill me, then there must be a reason. Then should I hide here? Ugh, no, I still don’t know their intentions... Damn, damn it, damnit all!!’

Ying pondered frantically, faced with the situation, but he didn’t seem to be coming up with any good takes. The fear of death by.... By whatever unspeakable means the killer had used birthed uncertainty.

Which in turn created hesitation.

In fact, just imagining how utterly debilitating the pain of such a horrid death was sent shivers down his spine. Despite this being a game and all, the horror and hurt were all too real.

But then...

"T-that’s right haha, this is a game! It’s just a game, I can log out! Ha, I feel so silly for not thinking of this earlier..."

Ying face-palmed, then initiated the log out sequence.

[Are you sure you wish to log out: Y/N]

Ying’s eye twitched slightly. The game had become quite addictive to him, but he had done enough for today.... Literally.

’Y.’

[Request processing...]

’I wonder where I’ll spawn when coming back... With any luck, anywhere but here. Sigh... this counts as running away doesn’t it. After all, I lost in the end.’ Ying’s expression turned sour as he bit his lip, regretful.

’Ying.’

But... He simply couldn’t stay here any longer. He was too scared.

’It’s just a game. It’s just a game... it’s just a game, just a game, just a game, just a game. JUST. A. GAME!!’

’Ying...’

Ying griped his head tightly. He grit his teeth, seemingly locked in a confrontation with his inner demons. The tiny voice within him kept telling him to stay, to fight, to overcome..... But it was too risky.

Who knows what the consequences to his brain would be, if he died like Qing Lo.

’Ying...’

He was no stranger to the art of conflict. In fact, his childhood had been filled with it. After his parent’s untimely demise, his life became rough. His aunt and uncle adopted him, but due to a series of occurrences he ended up back in the slums.

In that horrid hell hole, without parents or guardians, everyday was a fight for his life. It was either kill, or be killed; survive, or die and let others split your rations. Then, he was still young, but he had probably seen more violence than most people had their entire lives.

But like the seasons, that era of his life had passed. He was no longer the cold-blooded monster he was back then.

’Ying...’

After all, he had made a promise...

’So why... Why here, why now... I’m not that person anymore, so shut up! Shut the hell up, I won’t break my promise!!’

’Ying...’

’No! Stop! Shut up!’

’Ying...’

"I said SHUT THE HELL UP!!" Ying finally snapped, turning his head to the right, fury blazing in his eyes at the source of the distinctive voice. But his rage didn’t last very long...

...After all, he was now looking at something as, if not more horrendous than Qing Lo’s sorry state. His blood ran cold.

’’Ying..."

It was Xian Shan – the young mistress of the Xian family.

"Shit," Ying muttered as she took in her revolting state. He stumbled, and once more ended up on his arse, but quickly scrambled back up.

Much like her renowned attendant, the young miss hadn’t been spared by the brutish murderer. Her weak body sported countless wounds, some more ghastly than others, with one particularly large one at her side.... Apparently clotted by a steel sword.

’Rising Feather...?’

The way the metal weapon stuck out of her body like a morbid appendage, the way her white bones jutted out of the gash, the way her hopeless eyes looked at his trembling frame, tears forming at their edges... It was just terrible.

In that instant, Ying forgot that he’d been locked in a battle with her, and asked out of genuine care:

"A-are... are you alright!" He stepped towards her.

He had accepted these NPCs as humans, much like himself, thus he was now prone to emotions such as empathy for them. He closed the distance. But the young miss, didn’t seem to appreciate that action of his...

"AAAAAAHHHHH!!" She screamed, "D-d-don’t come any closer! Stay away, stay away from me... I called your name, just like you asked so please, PLEASE, no more, don’t hurt me anymore I beg you!" Xian Shan cried amidst sobs, hiccups... and blood.

Ying froze, confused and sceptical. But all that disappeared as his gaze ventured upwards. Once again, he was faced with yet another surprise, but this... this, most definitely, was the greatest shock of them all.

Before him, on the grey stone wall, were words boldly written with crimson blood.

They seemed to be written in the format of a letter of sorts, but they ignited emotions which Ying didn’t even know he possessed....

...Till now that is.

"Dear Quickie,

It’s been quite the long day for you hasn’t it, I could tell, so I decided to help you take on some of the load. Like I promised all those years ago, I’ll always have your back, and you’ll always have mine..... Anyways, I hope you enjoy the present I left for you. It was really hard to make that, so appreciate it well okay?

Yours sincerely, Gambler (Smiley face)"

Ying collapsed, unable to control the stream of feelings, tears rolling down his cheeks uncontrollably.

"There is only one person... who could call me by that name... But, how is it possible. And why here, why now, how is any of this even happening.... What’s going on with this place..."

Ying mumbled amidst sobs, but his loud thoughts were interrupted by a sudden noise coming from the direction of the room door. His head turned. Someone was trying to force their way in!

’I-I need to get out of her – Hold on... Shouldn’t I already have been logged out?!’ Ying’s spine trembled as he tried initiating the log out once more.

No response.

He tried again, and again, and again... After his fourth try, a message finally popped up, but it sure as hell wasn’t the message he’d wanted to hear...

[You do not meet the requirements of the Dao! Your request to Log out has been declined!]

[You do not meet the requirements of the Dao! Your request to Log out has been declined!]

[You do not meet the requirements of the Dao! Your request to Log out has been declined!]

[You do not meet the requirements of the Dao! Your request to Log out has been declined!]

"Sh!t!" Ying yelped and tried to scramble on to his feet, possibly find some sort of hiding spot, perhaps? But it was already too late.

The door flung open and hurried footsteps rushed into the inner chambers. There were five people, but Ying cold only recognize two of them....

’Fuck.... Fuck it!’

"Senior Brother Ying... What is goi

ng on here...?" Jiang Chu muttered confusion evident in his voice.