PTYS Chapter 180

“It’s really a well-calculated plan. If we don’t answer correctly, we get kicked out immediately; if we answer correctly, we get a short delay before being kicked out. Basically, it means no breathing room. If we don’t make it, we die.” Su Jin took a deep breath and said helplessly.

Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but start coughing again. She endured the discomfort and said, “Now it’s just a matter of giving them their finishing touches. Without ink, what can we use to give them eyes?”

Seeing Shen Qingqiu getting more uncomfortable, Chen Kaijie and the others were almost frantic. “What can be used as dye? Charcoal? Burn the table?” Chen Kaijie grabbed the lantern to light it, but it proved futile. “Captain Xiao was right, nothing here can be burned.”

Just then, there was a noise at the door. Xiao Muyu, who was helping Shen Qingqiu, looked outside warily while holding her and retreating.

The five of them stared at the door, not daring to breathe. A foot stepped in, followed by a body that fell into the room, and then an arm and a head were thrown in.

In the courtyard outside the hall lay a broken corpse, one of the two escorts. Initially, only one had been beheaded. Now, one had an arm severed, another had a leg severed, and the body was horribly mangled, with blood trailing in, creating a gruesome scene.

The head rolled to the feet of the paper figures in the funeral procession and came to rest after bumping into one of them. The blood-red eyes, which had been open, were now closed.

Su Jin, holding onto Zuo Tiantian, leaned against Chen Kaijie. They were speechless for a long time, feeling both the horror and the sorrow of the situation. After all, these people had helped them and now were dismembered, a pitiful end.

Shen Qingqiu’s gaze fell on the severed head, then on the paper figure it had bumped into. The head was covered in blood, leaving a red mark on the white paper of the figure.

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes suddenly lit up. Overcome with emotion, she coughed violently before she could speak.

Xiao Muyu, panicking, hurriedly sat her down and patted her back, her eyes red with worry. “Don’t rush, speak slowly. Breathe deeply, take your time.”

Shen Qingqiu coughed so hard it seemed her lungs would come out. Her pale face turned unnaturally red, and Su Jin and the others’ eyes also reddened, almost crying out of helplessness.

Shen Qingqiu tried to speak but spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Qingqiu!”

“Vice-captain!”

They all turned pale, and Xiao Muyu’s face went white. She held Shen Qingqiu’s right hand tightly, trembling, her eyes red and panicked.

“I will find a way out, very soon. Hang in there, don’t fall asleep.”

Seeing Shen Qingqiu’s eyes almost closing, Xiao Muyu urgently patted her face.

Shen Qingqiu gasped a few breaths, pointed at the paper figure, and murmured, “Blood, blood will work.”

If Xiao Muyu hadn’t been so focused on Shen Qingqiu, she might have noticed the detail earlier. Hearing Shen Qingqiu now, a sudden clarity emerged from her near-collapse.

She quickly turned her head to look at the paper figure, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “I understand, it must be right!”

Xiao Muyu drew her sword and instructed Chen Kaijie, “Chen Kaijie, bring the brush.”

Chen Kaijie snapped out of his daze, hurried to get the brush, and offered his hand. “Captain Xiao, use mine.”

Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu shook their heads simultaneously. Shen Qingqiu weakly said, “Just be gentle, not much blood is needed.”

Xiao Muyu looked at her, her eyes glistening, nearly shedding tears. She nodded and cut her own arm.

The blood dripped onto the inkstone without soaking in. Xiao Muyu immediately dipped the brush in the blood and dotted the paper figure’s eyes in the funeral procession.

The fresh blood soaked into the paper, and the red dots instantly appeared. Even after lifting the brush, the eyeballs seemed to move slightly.

“It worked, it really worked!” Su Jin cried with joy, holding Shen Qingqiu in excitement.

Shen Qingqiu whispered, “Garlic cloves.”

Su Jin immediately shouted, “Everyone, eat garlic cloves.” She then handed her own to Shen Qingqiu, who, though very weak, managed to chew and swallow it, almost passing out from the strong taste.

The sound of retching echoed, blending tension with a hint of absurdity.

Xiao Muyu didn’t finish all at once. She first dotted the left eye, then the right.

Strangely, dotting the right eye was much harder. Xiao Muyu had to repeat it several times.

Once done, the paper figures’ eyes turned blood-red, scanning around. Their stiff features became lifelike, and they grinned menacingly.

“Help me up.” Shen Qingqiu struggled to her feet, quickly cutting her palm. Blood pooled in her hand.

Xiao Muyu felt heartache but knew time was of the essence.

Enduring her discomfort, Xiao Muyu also ate the black garlic. She then cleaned the brush of blood.

She dipped it in Shen Qingqiu’s blood and dotted the eyes of the welcoming team. The process was not simple; the second eye was especially difficult, requiring several attempts.

After completing it, each paper figure seemed to gain a soul, coming to life.

Meanwhile, the completed white paper figures began staring at the group. Amid a sudden burst of suona music, they dropped what they were holding and rushed forward.

Chen Kaijie and Su Jin also ate the garlic cloves. Though the paper figures surrounded them, they couldn’t harm them, only intimidating them.

Zuo Tiantian helped Shen Qingqiu to a corner, watching the scene cautiously.

Xiao Muyu’s hand was steady as she glanced at Shen Qingqiu, relieved to see her safe for the moment, and continued dotting the eyes.

As she progressed, the paper figures became fiercer. Three minutes felt both fleeting and eternal. With the time nearly up, Xiao Muyu had three figures left to finish.

Even though time wasn’t up yet, Chen Kaijie got kicked by a paper figure, collapsing to the ground as if struck by an iron rod.

The paper figurine was in great pain itself, stumbling and falling to the ground. They seemed to disregard this, as it appeared the order had been given with lethal intent.

Fortunately, Su Jin took out a bone whistle, took a deep breath, and started to blow it slowly.

As soon as the sound of the bone whistle started, all the paper figurines began to lose their balance, clutching their heads and shaking uncontrollably, making it impossible for them to attack.

Chen Kaijie, enduring the pain, stood up, kicked the paper figurines down, and grabbed a stick from the coffin to start smashing them.

“Let’s see you act up now, I’ll beat you to death,” he growled.

Su Jin had to blow the bone whistle in one breath, and the whistle would last as long as her breath. Her face turned red, staring intently at Xiao Muyu, blowing until her brain was deprived of oxygen and her vision blurred.

Xiao Muyu wasn’t doing well either. The paper figurines that had already had their eyes drawn were completely insane. Even though they felt great pain when they touched her, they continued to interfere with her relentlessly.

The final touch had to be applied in the eye sockets, which was significantly affecting Xiao Muyu.

Zuo Tiantian hesitated, but was ultimately pushed over by Shen Qingqiu. She rushed over, using a red string to tie up several paper figurines and pulled them tightly.

Finally, just as Su Jin was about to pass out, Xiao Muyu completed the last stroke.

Simultaneously, another gust of wind swept through, making everything chaotic again. The house shook continuously, and the candle flames flickered once more.

Xiao Muyu couldn’t afford to care about anything else. She realized Zuo Tiantian had left and shouted, “Qingqiu, Qingqiu!” She stumbled and ran towards Shen Qingqiu.

Zuo Tiantian put away the red string and hurried over.

The door was right there, but at that moment, everyone’s first reaction was to run towards Shen Qingqiu. The situation was chaotic and urgent, and getting to Shen Qingqiu first was the best option.

Shen Qingqiu struggled to stand up, blood still flowing from her palm, her hands slippery with blood, emitting a sickly sweet smell. She heard Xiao Muyu and Chen Kaijie calling her.

Just as she stood up, she felt a sharp pain in her palm as someone grabbed her hand.

However, the force and touch were not human; it was cold and hard—a paper figurine!

This realization made Shen Qingqiu’s heart sink. She was then violently pulled to the ground by a tremendous force, and the paper figurine tried to drag her away.

Already exhausted, Shen Qingqiu couldn’t react in time and was dragged nearly two meters across the rough, hard ground, her body aching painfully, feeling as if she might pass out.

“Muyu,” she whispered, her eyes unfocused yet determined. She bit her lip hard, gripping a dagger in her right hand and slashed forcefully.

The dagger cut into the paper figurine’s arm, but it fell to the ground with a clang.

Xiao Muyu, following her memory, reached the corner and found Shen Qingqiu missing. Chen Kaijie and the others had just arrived, and their blood rushed to their heads.

She turned quickly, taking a few quick steps, and screamed, “Qingqiu, where are you!”

The noise and wind drowned out Shen Qingqiu’s weak voice, but Xiao Muyu heard the sound of metal hitting the ground.

She gripped the bronze sword tightly, ignoring the bumps and obstacles, leaping forward and shouted, “You guys go ahead! I found her!”

The paper figurine froze, still reaching for Shen Qingqiu, but a sword cut through the fog, slicing its neck.

Before it could react, another sword struck its head, and the paper figurine fell to the ground.

Xiao Muyu knelt down and realized the paper figurine was Bai He Langjun’s mother. Ignoring the other one, she swung her sword to fend it off. She felt a cold, soft body—it was Shen Qingqiu.

The feeling of narrowly escaping death made her drop her sword, clutching Shen Qingqiu tightly. Tears flowed down her face, falling onto Shen Qingqiu’s dazed face.

Shen Qingqiu was already in great pain, but the wetness on her face made her feel even worse. She had no strength left to speak.

Xiao Muyu quickly picked her up. The other paper figurine wasn’t done yet, so Xiao Muyu kicked it heavily, gritting her teeth and shouting, “Get lost!”

She ran out with Shen Qingqiu in her arms. The ground trembled like mountains rising from the earth.

Finally, Xiao Muyu burst out, falling to the ground with Shen Qingqiu. She quickly turned to protect Shen Qingqiu, landing heavily.

“Captain Xiao, Deputy Captain!” Chen Kaijie and the others rushed over to help Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu.

Xiao Muyu couldn’t take her eyes off Shen Qingqiu, immediately reaching out to support her. She quickly ordered Su Jin, “Treat her wounds.”

Shen Qingqiu’s eyes were open. She didn’t speak, but under the moonlight, she looked into Xiao Muyu’s eyes.

Those reddened eyes, lashes still wet with tears—it wasn’t a hallucination. Xiao Muyu had truly cried.

As her wounds were bandaged, Shen Qingqiu pointed to Xiao Muyu’s arm, her voice clearer, “You’re still bleeding.”

Xiao Muyu stared at her, eyes filled with worry, “Qingqiu, are you feeling better?”

Shen Qingqiu took a few breaths, looking into her eyes, trying to smile, “You were right. Inside, it… affected me. I feel much better now that I’m out; the cold has dissipated.”

Xiao Muyu finally relaxed. She lowered her head, as if holding back something, then gently held Shen Qingqiu’s face, wiping away the dust and blood from her lips.

Her dark eyes, still misty with unshed tears, were firmly repressed.

Shen Qingqiu saw clearly, feeling a deep ache in her heart. She touched Xiao Muyu’s eyes gently, “It’s okay now, we’re out.”

Xiao Muyu held her hand, nodding, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

Shen Qingqiu leaned against her, watching her. She had been terrified earlier. If she had died, she wouldn’t have seen her again. Now, they stood before a large gate, a deserted courtyard. The gate looked exactly like the previous house’s but was covered in dust and cobwebs, appearing abandoned for a long time, with no lanterns hanging.

Though the place looked desolate, the dim night outside and the distant lights hinted they were back in the human world.

“Captain Xiao, should we…” Su Jin began, glancing at Xiao Muyu and the house, her thoughts conflicted.

Xiao Muyu understood her meaning, but before she could answer, the system’s voice rang out.

“Congratulations to Xiao Muyu’s team for completing the third part of mission 007’s serial task, ‘Escape from Ying City,’ with a completion rate of 90%. The serial task is now concluded, with each member receiving 900 points.”

“90%?” Chen Kaijie was puzzled.

“It’s probably because we missed some clues and found the exit using the guiding incense,” Xiao Muyu explained.

Shen Qingqiu was indeed improving, the drowsiness gone. She smiled, “Thanks to you for finding it. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have achieved 90% completion.”

Xiao Muyu looked at her, “Say less, we’re heading back soon.”

Shen Qingqiu shook her head, “We still need to find those missing girls. There must be something strange about this house; we can’t leave.”

Xiao Muyu was silent. Su Jin had been worried about this. They had just escaped and didn’t know what might happen if they went back in.

They could still endure it, but Shen Qingqiu had coughed up blood and couldn’t take any more.

“Captain Xiao, stay with the Deputy Captain. I’ll go in and check,” Chen Kaijie suggested.

“I’ll go with Brother Chen. If it’s safe, you can come in,” Su Jin quickly added.

Shen Qingqiu coughed softly, “The serial task is over, so there shouldn’t be any danger. If there is, I won’t be able to escape alone. Let’s go in. What’s the point of going separately? If you get trapped, should we leave you?”

Shen Qingqiu’s words made sense, and Xiao Muyu knew the importance of the situation. Listening to Shen Qingqiu, she sounded better.

So, she crouched down and said, “Get on.”

Shen Qingqiu didn’t refuse, leaning softly against her as she carried her.

As they walked, Shen Qingqiu whispered in Xiao Muyu’s ear, “Am I heavy?”

Xiao Muyu tightened her grip, “Not at all, too thin.”

Shen Qingqiu just laughed, leaning against Xiao Muyu, who blocked the moonlight, making her face hard to see. She thought of Xiao Muyu’s recent tears, resting her head on her back and whispered, “I don’t want you to cry. It makes me feel terrible.”

Author’s note: This chapter is quite substantial. My persistence… This mission was intense; any misstep could have been fatal.