Chapter 29: The Choice Appears Again

The arrival of Huan Xiao and the others did not change the atmosphere among the group. They remained silent, keeping a wary eye on the coffins along the riverbank. Now, the black-and-white photos of their fallen companions adorned the coffins, making them appear even more terrifying. Where there should have been one coffin per boat, several now trailed behind a single vessel. These additional pallbearers had appeared out of nowhere; no one had seen where they came from. Wrapped in black cloth, they moved like guides leading lost souls, following the boats in complete silence. Regardless of the speed of the boats, they walked with the same rhythmic cadence, looking at first glance like copies of the same person. No one dared speak to the pallbearers, and everyone tacitly pretended they were not there, even though they couldn't help but cast the occasional glance toward the shore.

"Xiao Huan, do you think I'm a horrible person? I killed Yan Shu," Wen Su asked while rowing, unable to bear the inner turmoil she had been suppressing for so long. She kept her voice deliberately low, ensuring the people in the other boats could not hear her.

Seeing Wen Su looking at her with such anxiety, Huan Xiao understood that she was seeking comfort and validation to ease her guilt. However, Huan Xiao had no desire to act as anyone’s therapist. Avoiding her gaze, she replied, "...I don't know. Actually, Yan Shu was planning to save you earlier."

"So, do you think I'm malicious?" Wen Su bit her lower lip, her expression turning pale. She hadn't wanted to kill anyone, but given the situation at the time, if Li Yan Shu had truly pushed her into the river, wouldn't she be the one lying in one of those coffins on the bank? Was it wrong to prioritize her own survival? ...But Li Yan Shu had intended to save her; was she being too excessive, too selfish? Wen Su spiraled into self-doubt and inner conflict, desperate for Huan Xiao to pull her out of the abyss of her own murderous act.

Huan Xiao turned her head away and said, "No, I don't think so." Since you've already done it, there's no point in regretting it; otherwise, you'll only end up hurting yourself and others, and potentially lose your mind. According to her reasoning, one of the two—Wen Su or Li Yan Shu—was bound to die. Why shouldn't the survivor be able to accept their good fortune with peace of mind? Watching Wen Su’s conflicted, tearful state, Huan Xiao felt exhausted.

"Xiao Huan, I’m not wrong. The Ghost Game is like this: the winner lives and the loser dies. Survival of the fittest is a normal phenomenon in this game," Wen Su said, though her face lacked any trace of confidence. She was simply trying to numb herself with these words, yet deep down, she was filled with self-reproach, already viewing herself as a heinous villain. Seeing Huan Xiao’s silence, Wen Su felt miserable, and knowing she was in the wrong, she stopped talking to her.

"Sleeping Beauty, which round of the game is this for you? Have you been in contact with any other players in the real world?" A red-haired boy nearby, unable to endure the silence, struck up a conversation with Huan Xiao. He chose to approach her because her entrance into the game had been so unique and distinctive.

Huan Xiao didn't realize he was addressing her at first, until she noticed the red-haired boy staring at her. She pointed to herself, puzzled, and asked, "Me?"

"Of course I'm talking to you. Who else here started the game while asleep?" The red-haired boy raised an eyebrow, as if it were obvious. Seeing this, the others forgot about the terrifying coffins on the shore and began clamoring to speak with her.

"Sleeping Beauty, that’s such a fitting nickname. It’s my first time seeing someone bring a bed into the game. The game must really favor you," a girl with a low ponytail teased. She knew, however, that it was just a joke; the game was filled with malice toward players, and it was a miracle if it didn't specifically target them—there was no way it would show any kindness.

"The little sister is so pretty. You must have had many suitors at school, right? Do you have a boyfriend? Should I introduce you to someone after we get out of this game?"

"Forget it, don't go ruining the poor girl."

Seeing their enthusiasm, Huan Xiao smiled and said, "I’ve participated in two games already, but I suppose I’m still a newcomer to all of you."

"That’s true. You’re quite lucky to have made it to your third round," a burly man said, his tone dripping with undisguised contempt.

"Exactly. Women are the most likely to die in these games, especially students. They’ve never seen real storms, and the moment they enter the game, they just scream and attract ghosts. It’s no wonder they die," another added. "Honestly, unless you become an Aura Master, anyone could die for no reason."

Upon learning how many games Huan Xiao had played, the others quickly lost interest in talking to her. After all, the game was a place where strength reigned supreme; a weak person, no matter how beautiful, wouldn't hold anyone's attention. The red-haired boy quickly joined their conversation, fearing he might lose his place. The burly man was an Aura Master, someone everyone wanted to curry favor with, and Huan Xiao could not be compared to him at all.

"Xiao Huan, don't look at them. You’re not on their level. Even if you have a pretty face, you’ll never step into the circle of Aura Masters," Wen Su, who was rowing, suddenly scoffed at her.

Wen Su had once relied on her own delicate, pretty looks to try and join an Aura Master’s social gathering with a friend. The result was predictable: after her "friend" subjected her to a barrage of veiled insults and sarcasm, she could never contact that person again. Eventually, Wen Su realized she had been played; the sincerity she thought she had was something others found utterly pathetic. Ever since realizing the vast chasm between Aura Masters and ordinary people, Wen Su had felt both envy and jealousy toward them. She hated anyone who could become an Aura Master and looked down on anyone who couldn't.

"Wen Su, I wasn't looking at them," Huan Xiao said, shaking her head. She reached out, pointing past the others toward the front, and said, "Look, there’s another fork in the road ahead. Three choices this time."

Ahead, three rivers came into view. The left one vanished into a forest. The middle one was straight but stretched into an endless void. The right one disappeared into a cluster of houses. The group, who had been busy flattering the Aura Master, fell silent upon hearing Huan Xiao. They exchanged glances, staring at the diverging paths, and for a moment, no one spoke.

"I think we should choose the same path to prevent any accidents or ships sinking. What do you think?" the burly man, one of the Aura Masters in the crowd, suggested.

"Brother Qiang is right, we should pick the same path."

"Absolutely. Otherwise, if one ship sinks, the others might be doomed to follow. We need to leave ourselves a way out."

"We’ll listen to Brother Qiang!"

No one offered a dissenting opinion, which made Brother Qiang nod with satisfaction. This was the benefit of being an Aura Master—no one was willing to go against you.