Chapter 27: The Coffin-Depois de obter os poderes de um fantasma maligno, eu desisti de tudo(Um dia, um mês.)

Wen Su’s anger dissipated quickly. It was not out of magnanimity, but because the sight that met her eyes as the boat rounded the corner filled her with such terror that she had no time to consider anything else.

No sooner had the boat cleared the bend than four figures suddenly appeared. They walked in pairs, carrying a coffin. It was a black casket, hoisted by the four of them. Most importantly, their pace perfectly matched the speed of the boat. It was as if they were stalking the three people aboard.

It was not just their boat; in the distance, other vessels were faintly visible, each accompanied by a corresponding group of four pallbearers walking along the opposite bank. In other words, every boat was tethered to a coffin.

"Ah!"

Li Yanshu, startled by the sight of the casket, let out a soft exclamation. Though faint, the sound was piercing to the terrified Wen Su.

"Don't panic! It’s just a coffin. It’s meant to scare people—that’s all. As long as you aren’t afraid, nothing will happen," Wen Su said, even as she silently edged closer to Huan Xiao, squeezing in beside her.

The boat swayed gently, heightening Wen Su’s fear; she gripped Huan Xiao’s hand tightly. Seeing this, Huan Xiao asked, "Wen Su, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Once you get used to being scared, it’s no big deal," Wen Su insisted, though her hand trembled like a Parkinson’s patient, and her face betrayed no sign of fear.

Beside them, Li Yanshu shivered and whispered, "Wen Su, that coffin is so eerie."

"It’s just an ordinary coffin. Don’t be afraid of it. As long as we don’t disturb what’s locked inside, we’ll certainly leave safely." Wen Su gripped the side of the boat, eyeing the coffin intently.

Huan Xiao, however, was curious about the pallbearers. Despite the cool, biting breeze, the four figures on the bank had their heads and faces wrapped in cloth, leaving only their eyes exposed. They were bundled up as if it were the dead of winter. They had appeared out of thin air, which suggested they might be supernatural, yet Huan Xiao could detect no ghost aura upon them—though the coffin itself reeked of it.

Furthermore, the pallbearers cast shadows. Could they be living people? If so, why were they dressed so heavily? Were they not hot?

Suddenly, Wen Su’s expression shifted, turning deathly pale. She pointed toward the coffin, her voice trembling with horror.

"I saw it... I saw my own photo on it!"

"Could it be... is that coffin meant for me? Am I already dead?"

Wen Su’s eyes grew unfocused, and she seemed to be slowly accepting the idea that she had already passed away.

Li Yanshu, who had been frantically rowing to outpace the pallbearers, saw that Wen Su’s mind had been ensnared. Terror-stricken, she abandoned the oars and grabbed Wen Su by the shoulders, shaking her violently.

"Wen Su! Wen Su! Wake up!"

"Come back to your senses! You’re still alive!"

Seeing Li Yanshu’s desperate efforts, Huan Xiao joined in, shaking her as well. "Wen Su, we are still on the boat. We are all alive."

But such efforts were of little use against the illusions gripping Wen Su. She remained unresponsive and even began to lean over, intent on jumping into the river.

It was not just their boat; the same scene was unfolding on the vessels ahead. The rowers had stopped, distracted by the erratic behavior of their companions.

"What do we do? Xiao Huan, we can't wake her!"

Li Yanshu felt a sense of despair. She had viewed Wen Su as the backbone of their survival in this game; if something happened to her, she didn't believe she and Huan Xiao could make it to the end. Wen Su had left such a deep impression on her in such a short time that Li Yanshu was convinced only Wen Su could lead them to safety.

Huan Xiao, calmer than Li Yanshu, replied, "The other boats are in the same state. We have no immediate solution, but we can restrain her. The game wouldn't present a situation with no way out. Perhaps a turning point will appear soon."

Even if it didn't, it wouldn't matter much; she didn't really need companions. She only hoped that if Wen Su were to die, the boat wouldn't sink simply because it was lighter by one person.

Seeing Huan Xiao’s composure, Li Yanshu’s own panicked heart unexpectedly steadied. She nodded. "Alright, I'll do as you say."

Li Yanshu then used her small frame to pin Wen Su down, determined not to let her jump into the river.

*Splash.*

Nearby, the sound of people falling into the water echoed. Huan Xiao looked over and saw that people had already jumped from four or five other boats. Upon entering the water, those individuals regained their senses and began to splash about in a panic, begging their teammates to pull them back up. As Huan Xiao had anticipated, the boats that lost a member began to sink.

At that moment, they faced a choice. They could pull their drowning companions up, or leap into boats occupied by only two people to become their third member. But whether out of sentiment or a failure to think ahead, they all reached out to pull their companions back into the boats.

"Xiao Huan, I can’t hold her much longer! Help me!"

Li Yanshu was in tears. Wen Su continued to struggle, trying to throw herself into the river, and the violent movements made the wooden boat rock dangerously. If this continued, they would not only fail to save Wen Su, but both of them would end up in the river as well.

"Yanshu, let her go," Huan Xiao decided.

Li Yanshu couldn't believe it and shouted at her, "No! We can't lose Wen Su! We'll die!"

"Let her jump. Once she regains her senses, we can pull her back up."

Huan Xiao’s words left Li Yanshu conflicted. "Is there really no other way?"

Seeing this, Huan Xiao offered another option. "The people on the other boats regained their senses after falling into the water. You could try scooping up some river water and feeding it to her, or splashing it on her."

"That could work! Xiao Huan, you're so smart. You go scoop up the water; let’s save Wen Su!" Li Yanshu’s eyes lit up.

But Huan Xiao shook her head, indicating she couldn't.

"Why? Saving Wen Su is good for all of us. Why are you refusing, Xiao Huan?"

Seeing Wen Su slipping from her grasp, Li Yanshu urged, "Xiao Huan, please, just go!"

"Yanshu, have you considered that the river water is also dangerous? I gave you a suggestion out of kindness, but that doesn't mean you can force me to risk my life."

Huan Xiao’s gaze was cold. Protected by her own ghost aura, she was actually in no danger; she simply didn't want to. As for the boat sinking, she wasn't afraid of that either; her aura would allow her to float on the surface.

"But we have to save Wen Su! If you won't do it, what will happen to her?" Li Yanshu asked, as if it were obvious.

Huan Xiao tilted her head, failing to understand, and repeated her previous suggestion: "Then let her jump, and pull her back up."