Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 176: Ghost Jump

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Ghost Jump

Is it the fierce ghost? Or Bai Yanliang?

Judging by the speed, only Bai Yanliang could catch up to him just as he reached the fifth floor.

Apart from this, the fierce ghost with strange and unknown abilities might also achieve this.

The other three and Zhou Li couldn’t possibly be this fast!

"Damn it..."

Song Que cursed softly, his nerves taut as he crawled under the theater’s seats. Now... he could only hide in this projection room temporarily.

He could only pray that, no matter who it was, someone would make a noise to draw "him" away...

...

Third floor.

Everyone was gone.

Yang Mowan’s delicate eyes widened, filled with terror.

She wasn’t slow, but her stamina differed from the others.

Even fellow girl Qi Nian had much better endurance than her.

With gain comes loss; Yang Mowan, whose family condition was overly good, was raised by her parents with the belief that girls should be pampered.

If Song Que was a rich playboy, then Yang Mowan was a modern-day true noble lady.

She was proficient in music, painting, literature, and not lacking in art, except in physical strength.

Just reaching the third floor, she was already gasping, changing from running to walking.

Yet, the thought of being found by Zhou Li and facing unknown punishment filled her with dread.

Most people in Fog Gathering have grown numb to certain bizarre scary things over time.

But Yang Mowan knew she hadn’t.

She feared these unknown entities deeply and couldn’t adapt at all even now.

When Yuan Jie said he saw a completely decayed fierce ghost on the third floor, Yang Mowan felt her blood almost freeze.

She knew she had to get used to it quickly, but... she couldn’t.

Her legs grew heavier, and her heart more frantic.

Yet she didn’t dare stop because this was the third floor.

That ghost Yuan Jie spotted with binoculars appeared at a third-floor window! Though it couldn’t always stay here, the mere thought sent chills down Yang Mowan’s spine.

She quickened her pace, adjusting her ragged breathing, not daring to breathe too loudly. The surroundings were eerily silent, where even a slight sound seemed magnified infinitely, and Yang Mowan didn’t want to disturb something terrifying...

Had everyone hidden already...

Yang Mowan avoided the LED lights that illuminated a path, feeling her way forward in the gloom.

Darkness was not terrifying; it’s the single point of light in it that was frightening...

Yang Mowan didn’t want to become that single point of light.

The slight footsteps of others running were now gone.

Everyone had hidden, making Yang Mowan a bit anxious.

But truly intelligent, she knew panic was the worst thing now.

Be calm... as long as Zhou Li doesn’t find you...

If I were Zhou Li, where would I search first? And where might I overlook?

Yang Mowan hid in a third-floor sports brand store, thinking deeply.

If I were Zhou Li...

Got it!

Yang Mowan’s eyes suddenly lit up; there was a place Zhou Li would hardly think of!

The first floor, the entrance—start point!

That’s where everyone started, also subconsciously Zhou Li’s own territory.

Yang Mowan made her decision.

As for now... first, listen carefully for the bell’s position.

As long as the bell’s location was confirmed, she would return to the first floor immediately!

Moreover, Yang Mowan hadn’t forgotten they’d agreed to rotate the "ghost" every hour, and she was second.

Six hours.

Playing hide and seek in the building until six in the morning.

This task’s strangeness surpassed any of Yang Mowan’s previous experiences, and the time limit was unusually short—merely six hours.

The shortest before was at least a day...

Yang Mowan, amid this task, understood that although everyone only needed to last six hours this time, unlike before, there were no allies; hiders and seekers were in absolute opposition!

No one could be trusted, which was extremely tormenting for Yang Mowan.

Though she lacked physical strength, her mind was sharp. Usually, she came up with ideas, and everyone worked together to barely survive.

This time, she could only rely on herself.

Yang Mowan set her phone to night mode to avoid strong light while checking time.

Ten minutes had passed since the game started.

Why hadn’t there been any noise? What was Zhou Li doing?

However... just then.

Nearby, a sound that sent chills down Yang Mowan’s spine suddenly rang out.

"Ding-ring—"

Zhou Li was here!

Did he... discover me?

No... he wouldn’t, he’s just passing by; there’s no reason he’d find me...

Yang Mowan kept reassuring herself, trying to calm her pounding heart a bit.

I won’t be found, I won’t...

But quickly, the bell sounded once more.

"Ding-ring—"

Closer now!

Right across the shelf!

No! He must’ve noticed something. Should I leave first?

Yang Mowan’s composure crumbled; her breathing grew rapid.

It felt as if eerie eyes in the dark could find her wherever she hid.

Wait... is it really Zhou Li behind the shelf?

Why was that bell sound so weird? If Zhou Li were searching for people, shouldn’t the bell be consistent with their footsteps?

Humans walk, and bells should continually "ding-ring" when they move!

But the bell opposite rang just once in ages.

What kind of movement would make such an eerie bell sound?

An idea flashed across Yang Mowan’s mind—it’s jumping!

Like a zombie jumping step by step would cause such bell sounds!

Just then, another eerie "ding-ring—" sounded.

Yang Mowan, forcing fear aside, looked towards the store’s outside shelf and saw... a completely decayed head suddenly pop up from atop a shelf!

It was a ghost!

Yang Mowan’s body turned ice-cold, and goosebumps covered her instantly!

Fortunately, the skull Yang Mowan saw was facing its back towards her, it looked the other way!

The ghost was jumping! It was using this way to search for people!

It quickly sank down again; then, the bell rang once more...

Yang Mowan trembled uncontrollably; she and the fierce ghost were only separated by a shelf!

If the ghost spotted her, she’d immediately meet her doom!

But simultaneously, more questions arose—where was Zhou Li?

Why was a bell on the ghost’s foot?

Could... could Song Que be right, someone was replaced by the ghost from the start?

That someone being Zhou Li?

Thinking that, Yang Mowan was suddenly covered in goosebumps.

Where was the bell sound?

She suddenly realized the bell had vanished.

Yang Mowan fearfully glanced around, spotting through the crate gaps; although dim, she saw... a pair of blood-red eyes through the shelf’s gap!

The ghost was staring at her!