Global Collapse-Chapter 549 - 517: Today is also a thrilling day_1

Chapter 549: Chapter 517: Today is also a thrilling day_1

Just as Xia Jianren was anxiously speculating about Gu Mian’s fate, the fierce knocking on the door abruptly ceased.

The sound died away instantly, plunging the room into silence.

Only after they were sure no more sound was coming did the few people behind the sofa carefully poke their heads out. They saw the door panel, previously vibrating from the impact, was now still. Zhao Shuang also poked her head out from the bedroom, looking towards the front door. "What was that just now?"

Cang Yue, still shaken, turned to look at Zhao Shuang, the female protagonist of this instance. It was Zhao Shuang’s untimely interruption that had endangered everyone. Just like before, she was now asking questions again before they had confirmed it was completely safe.

If Cang Yue had encountered a player like Zhao Shuang in an instance, she would undoubtedly abandon her without hesitation.

But Zhao Shuang was an NPC in this instance. Presumably, she had never encountered such a perilous situation before, so her reaction was understandable.

Luckily, whatever was outside the door had truly left and wasn’t drawn back by Zhao Shuang’s hasty remarks.

Cang Yue sighed and, not concealing anything from Zhao Shuang, said, "It was something unclean. You mentioned you frequently have those kinds of nightmares. It’s... your... our colleagues who’ve come back..."

Zhao Shuang’s eyes widened. "Are you saying... a ghost? How is that possible?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Telling someone "your deceased colleagues have come back as ghosts" is something no normal person would believe.

"But you saw what just happened. The knocking at the door didn’t sound like it was made by a person..."

Just as Cang Yue was explaining to Zhao Shuang, Xia Jianren reached over and tugged Keke, who was standing next to the car. "Gu Mian is still outside, right? If he’s alive, he definitely would’ve heard such a loud noise from us."

Keke nodded obediently, an expression of not knowing what to say on his face.

Xia Jianren didn’t care whether Keke answered. Instead, he frowned and muttered to himself, He’s still not back. He couldn’t really be dead, could he? He seemed quite capable; he shouldn’t have died so easily.

Zhao Shuang seemed to have a hard time accepting the reality before her. Her eyes were vacant, her expression blank as she stammered, "But... even if they’ve become ghosts, why would they act like this?"

Clearly, she had also figured out the intent of whatever had been knocking earlier. The sound had carried an immense, chilling malice.

An Evil Ghost never needs a reason to kill.

The players were all certain of this. However, Zhao Shuang evidently didn’t understand this and even seemed somewhat in denial about the existence of ghosts.

At this moment, Wang Chuan stood up and quickly walked towards Cang Yue. "Regardless of our plans, I suggest we leave this place first. After all, this place is..."

Even though he didn’t finish his sentence, everyone understood what he meant.

This was the staff dormitory, where the deceased had lived—an extremely dangerous place.

"So what about her..." Xia Jianren glanced at Zhao Shuang, whispering to the other players, "If we leave, do we take her along?"

Cang Yue frowned. In such a situation, anyone without experience in the instance would be a burden. Zhao Shuang had just demonstrated this perfectly.

However, something that had just happened gave Cang Yue an idea.

"You all saw it. When that thing was knocking earlier," Cang Yue began, her brows furrowed, "it went berserk as soon as it heard Zhao Shuang’s voice. It seemed very focused on Zhao Shuang. Actually, I’m not sure if it went berserk because it heard a voice in general, or specifically because it was Zhao Shuang’s voice. Moreover, the name of this instance is ’Amnesia,’ which is closely connected to Zhao Shuang..."

"Wait a second!" Xia Jianren interrupted Cang Yue. "Didn’t you agree we wouldn’t actively investigate the instance? Why are you suddenly so keen on researching the connection between Zhao Shuang and the instance?"

"Not actively investigating the instance is to avoid triggering taboos, but that doesn’t mean we should push away all clues. This one practically delivered itself to us. Besides, I have a hunch," Cang Yue’s frown deepened, "these ghosts... might have some conflict with Zhao Shuang. Perhaps even... Zhao Shuang caused their deaths!"

The rest of the players all sucked in a breath of cold air.

"If I’m right, then it would make sense why the ghost became violent upon hearing Zhao Shuang’s voice. Zhao Shuang lost her memory after October 1st, forgetting what happened that day. I suspect the way to survive this instance is tied to her memories. Players need to help Zhao Shuang regain her memory of that day and understand the truth about the car crash on October 1st. And then..."

Cang Yue paused, and Wang Chuan continued where she left off, "If things are as you suspect, then the ghosts are targeting Zhao Shuang, not us. We just need to keep our distance from Zhao Shuang..."

"No." Cang Yue refuted Wang Chuan. "Although I suspect the ghosts only have a grudge against Zhao Shuang, we all know ghosts don’t need a reason to kill. As players, we can’t assume we’re safe. I think there’s one way to prevent them from attacking us."

Xia Jianren immediately understood her. "You mean... avenge the ghosts?"

If the people in that vehicle really died because of Zhao Shuang, then as long as we help the ghosts kill Zhao Shuang, their resentment won’t be directed at us.

"But is everything really as you guessed?" Keke looked at Cang Yue.

They could also trigger a fatal trap in the instance by blindly killing Zhao Shuang.

Everyone clearly understood this, so nobody was prepared to kill Zhao Shuang at this time.

Xia Jianren couldn’t help but ask, "But didn’t we initially plan not to investigate anything proactively? Now you’re even considering that killing Zhao Shuang might be the path to survival. So, what’s next? Do we look for clues or find a place to hide?"

Cang Yue took a deep breath and, after a moment of deep thought, said, "For now, let’s leave here. And we take Zhao Shuang with us."

This was the first instance she’d participated in where death was real. She had originally planned to proceed cautiously, but the path to survival in this instance seemed so ridiculously obvious that she was reluctant to let this chance go.

Even if it wasn’t necessarily the true path to survival, it was too simple and too obvious to pass up.

"We’re still missing one person," Wang Chuan said, remembering Gu Mian, who hadn’t returned.

"Let’s not wait for him. There’s no need to stay in this dangerous place waiting," Cang Yue said, walking into the bedroom and reaching to pull Zhao Shuang from the bed. "We’re not staying here. You don’t want to stay here alone, do you?"

Zhao Shuang certainly wouldn’t dare.

She asked, somewhat bewildered, "Then where are we going?"

Cang Yue pulled her up from the bed. "Let’s get out of this building first. It’s too dangerous here."

"Okay..." Zhao Shuang agreed, fumbling for her phone on the bedside table. She stuffed it into her pocket, then reached for her ID and keys.

By now, Xia Jianren was at the door, looking out through the peephole and grumbling, We agreed not to be proactive. This is too dangerous.

"Nothing outside, right?" Wang Chuan asked from nearby.

Xia Jianren, using the faint light from the corridor window, said, "Looks clear. No one, nothing out there."

"That thing must have left. It’s not in this building anymore. Let’s go," Wang Chuan said, reaching for the doorknob. But the moment his fingers touched it, a sudden loud noise from upstairs startled everyone.

It sounded like something heavy hitting the floor, followed by footsteps—like someone walking around upstairs in shuffling slippers.

"What are they doing upstairs?" Xia Jianren let out a breath. "That scared me to death. Let’s get out of here, quick..."

"Wait a minute!" Zhao Shuang suddenly interrupted him.

Xia Jianren turned to look at Zhao Shuang. Her face was deathly pale, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Seeing her like this, Xia Jianren also felt a little panicked. "What’s wrong?"

Zhao Shuang’s pale lips trembled, and it took her a long moment to form a complete sentence. "Upstairs... Upstairs is also a dormitory! They’re all dead... How can there be someone up there?!"