Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 287 Intentions

Chapter 287: Chapter 287 Intentions

"Why did you order me a cotton candy?"

Bai Yanliang looked at the cloud-like white object, feeling a bit unsure of how to eat it.

Xu Zhifei heard his tone and silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He reverted back.

"You ordered it yourself."

"Alright..."

Bai Yanliang looked at the cotton candy in front of him, speechless.

Who knew why a Western restaurant would have cotton candy? And they served it on a plate, complete with knife and fork.

The bored patrons around them were either chuckling behind their hands or secretly taking pictures with their phones. In short, all eyes were on him.

Xu Zhifei seemed to find it amusing too, resting her chin on her hand, she looked at Bai Yanliang, "Do you switch back and forth with your five-year-old self at any time?"

Bai Yanliang was a bit unsure how to answer this, "Well...it depends on willpower. If I fulfill his wish, he’ll go back and then I appear."

"So your willpower can’t beat that of a five-year-old?" Xu Zhifei’s usually cold eyes showed a hint of amusement.

Bai Yanliang twirled a bit of cotton candy with his fork and stuffed it into his mouth, "Who knows how much he is obsessed with cotton candy."

"Alright, I’m full, let’s go quickly." Bai Yanliang quickly finished off the cotton candy in front of him, "While it’s still my turn, let’s go find some trouble with Lawyer He."

"I haven’t eaten yet." Xu Zhifei interrupted Bai Yanliang with just four words.

"Waiter, wrap it up!"

...

"Do you know the purpose of multiple keys?"

Bai Yanliang asked Xu Zhifei while carrying the steak.

Xu Zhifei glanced at him and said, "Yes."

Bai Yanliang’s eyes lit up, waiting for Xu Zhifei’s answer.

Xu Zhifei’s expression darkened a bit. She seemed reluctant to bring up these matters, but Bai Yanliang didn’t notice.

"My mother was once trapped in a space similar to Fog Gathering, she called it the Abyss."

Xu Zhifei’s eyes reflected memories as she slowly spoke, "She was a senior member of the Abyss. Unlike Fog Gathering, everyone who entered the Abyss would receive a key. Later... she discovered the use of these keys, every time they are used..."

Xu Zhifei’s voice abruptly stopped.

Bai Yanliang was thinking along with her words, but this sudden halt disrupted his train of thought.

"And then? What happens every time it’s used?"

Bai Yanliang asked Xu Zhifei.

Xu Zhifei stared at the steak in his hand.

"I’m hungry."

After Xu Zhifei leisurely finished the steak, she seemed to have forgotten to continue about the keys.

Bai Yanliang’s heart felt like it was being clawed by a cat, and despite several times urging her to divulge the answer, Xu Zhifei remained silent.

"Bai Yanliang, possessing a key is already a curse." Xu Zhifei finally spoke in a low voice, "Everyone who possesses a key will meet a terrible end."

With that, Xu Zhifei walked forward and didn’t speak again.

Bai Yanliang stood where he was, watching her back.

Xu Zhifei knew more than he had anticipated.

Her mother had left her valuable knowledge, but she rarely mentioned it.

Did she not want to? Or could she not?

Bai Yanliang didn’t know.

But Xu Zhifei’s last words earlier had overturned Bai Yanliang’s assumptions about the Dark Abyss.

If what Xu Zhifei said was true, then... having many keys was not a good thing.

It was, in itself, a cursed object, an evil artifact.

The truth was indeed that using it required a huge price. A twenty-year-old could only use a key three times before aging to death.

Moreover, there was another situation, that of the key decaying.

Xu Zhifei didn’t say under what conditions the key would decay, but a decayed key would take the life of its holder, forcing them to take desperate actions.

It couldn’t grant superpowers; in essence, it wasn’t something mankind could control.

Like a child handling a powerful firearm, the sheer recoil could injure or even kill him.

Do the people of the Dark Abyss know this?

Bai Yanliang couldn’t determine for sure, but he vaguely understood why he had appeared...

As Xu Zhifei’s figure was nearly out of sight, Bai Yanliang hurried to catch up.

He didn’t know when he’d shift back to his five-year-old state, so he needed to stay close to her. If he got lost while being a child, it would be a huge problem.

Once in the car with Xu Zhifei, Bai Yanliang realized she didn’t instruct the driver to head to Qingyi Street.

Was she not planning to go find He Yige?

While Bai Yanliang wondered, he didn’t ask further.

Because he remembered, Xu Zhifei had no obligation to accompany him on dangerous exploits.

Though He Yige came with murderous intent, both he and Xu Zhifei were unharmed. Xu Zhifei’s reluctance to seek trouble was her own choice.

After all, he was the one truly at odds with the Dark Abyss.

Bai Yanren was certainly connected to the Dark Abyss; that was beyond doubt. Even if he wasn’t, Bai Yanliang wouldn’t let them go.

Not just for avenging Li Mu, but also for himself.

Being schemed against repeatedly, anyone would be furious.

But now... that blood-red key was useless, though he still had other methods.

After all, it wasn’t just keys that could kill.

The two fell into silence until the car stopped.

Xu Zhifei had come home after all.

Truthfully, Bai Yanliang now had nothing left; Xun Weimo was missing, and the Mercury Night had vanished mysteriously.

His luggage, his cat, all were gone.

Bai Yanliang stood still, not following Xu Zhifei upstairs.

He needed to do something alone.

However, just as Bai Yanliang turned to leave, Xu Zhifei suddenly turned her head and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Bai Yanliang shook his head, speaking sincerely, "I’ve troubled you these past few days. I’ve thought it over, fighting against those people is extremely dangerous, so from now on, don’t contact me."

Xu Zhifei gave him a strange look, examining him up and down, "What will you use to fight?"

Bai Yanliang tapped his temple with his index finger, flashing a confident smile, "My brain."

Xu Zhifei looked at him and said something that greatly surprised Bai Yanliang.

"I have another key in my house."

It was clear the key Xu Zhifei mentioned wasn’t just a spare.

Bai Yanliang finally understood her meaning; no wonder she quietly took a cab home...

"Bai Yanliang."

Xu Zhifei suddenly called him seriously.

"Yes."

Bai Yanliang looked into her eyes—eyes that were always cold now harbored a hint of hesitation.

"If you take that key, you’ll die mysteriously."

"Is that what you mean by a terrible end?" Bai Yanliang asked with a smile.

"..."

Xu Zhifei looked at him without speaking.

"I’m not joking."

She spoke after a long silence.

Bai Yanliang’s face also turned serious, but there was a faint yet genuine smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Neither am I."