Frightening Joke: Above the Mist
Chapter 43: The Shadow

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Shadow

Bai Yanliang certainly knew there was something suspicious about Yanren’s death.

His memory had never faltered, except for that one day when there wasn’t a single image in his mind, as if... the memory had been forcibly extracted.

Since Feng Xiuxue knew about Bai Yanren’s death, it meant that she had investigated the events of that year long ago. Her sister had disappeared, and the time of her disappearance almost exactly coincided with the time of Yanren’s accident.

Bai Yanliang first considered how credible her words were.

After a moment, he came to a conclusion.

Feng Xiuxue had no need to deceive him at all.

She was probably trying to get some information from him, but unfortunately, Bai Yanliang knew even less than she did. After all, he had spent ten years in the mental asylum, completely unable to conduct any investigations.

The two of them fell into silence.

Outside the window, the traffic roared, and the crowds were bustling.

In this world, everyone has secrets; it’s just the extent and size that vary.

The two deliberately avoided some sensitive issues, such as how they entered Fog Gathering.

Bai Yanliang speculated that perhaps Feng Xiuxue also had a key, her sister’s key.

Fog Gathering was not a good place; it could claim lives at any moment.

But... now that they were already inside, there was no escape.

Maybe back then, Bai Yanren and Feng Yiru were the same.

The café was silent, with only the faint sound from the television on the wall.

"... The criminal suspect Hao Bowen committed suicide last night in the Jiangbei Branch detention center. Why did this fifteen-year-old boy turn to murder? The lack of education is gradually resulting in tragic consequences..."

Bai Yanliang suddenly lifted his head. Just as Feng Xiuxue thought he was about to say something, she saw his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the television.

Following his gaze, Feng Xiuxue’s expression gradually changed.

Though the television picture was obscured by mosaics, the glaring crimson was still shocking.

What truly changed Feng Xiuxue’s expression wasn’t this, but rather... she could see a twisted black shadow leaving the corpse, walking out of the frame!

She stood up abruptly, and the collision of tables and chairs sounded unusually loud in the quiet café.

"It’s them!"

Feng Xiuxue’s voice suddenly became sharp, but she obviously didn’t realize it. Or witnessing that scene left her mind utterly chaotic, with no room to consider anything else.

The consequence was that people in the café, either napping or chatting softly, cast their eyes on her, but seeing Feng Xiuxue, their expressions became increasingly strange, from frowning dissatisfaction to puzzled suspicion, and then to... excited surprise.

"Feng Yiru?"

"Is that Feng Yiru?"

"It really is her! How could she be here?"

Feng Xiuxue’s sudden loss of composure put her in a crisis, but fortunately, Bai Yanliang did not have the function of becoming disoriented.

He decisively pulled the still dazed Feng Xiuxue, left a few cash bills, and hurried away.

Perhaps Bai Yanliang’s movements were too quick, or perhaps the people in the café couldn’t believe their eyes. By the time everyone came to their senses, Feng Xiuxue had already been pulled away by a stranger.

They were quite sure that this guy was definitely not some famous person, nor any kind of celebrity.

Wait... why would Feng Xiuxue appear here, on a date with an unknown guy?

Gossip always spreads quickly, especially when it concerns a popular actress.

Luckily, Bai Yanliang was not much of a web surfer. Otherwise, his current complexion would certainly not look good.

...

On the bench by the street.

Bai Yanliang frowned slightly, looking at a scratch on his arm.

He hadn’t expected that when Feng Xiuxue regained her composure, the first thing she did was scratch him, and the reason was just because he held her hand?

"Did you also see the black shadow on the screen?" Bai Yanliang looked at the head-ducking, evasive Feng Xiuxue, who now seemed to be aware she was a public figure.

Feng Xiuxue nodded, sitting uneasily on the street bench like a thief.

"There are many pretty girls nowadays, no one will pay much attention to you. The more you act like this, the more you stand out."

Bai Yanliang swore he was telling the truth, but Feng Xiuxue’s glance towards him suddenly turned very unfriendly.

However, after what he said, Feng Xiuxue finally acted more normal.

"That twisted shadow, only we can see it..." Feng Xiuxue said in a low voice.

We?

Bai Yanliang thought about what she meant.

The only commonality between the two and the difference from others is Fog Gathering, meaning only those within Fog Gathering can see it.

In other words, though unnoticed, have they already been changed by Fog Gathering in some way...

That black thing obviously wasn’t a normal organism.

The footage presented by the television station must have been reviewed beforehand, but no one else could see it. They only sensed it was a normal image.

And judging by Feng Xiuxue’s meaning, she seemed to have seen such things more than once?

Bai Yanliang’s probing gaze was not disguised, and Feng Xiuxue quickly understood his meaning.

"...After my sister disappeared, I once entered her room and happened to see something similar... crawling into her mirror."

"And... Li Mu and the others also mentioned occasionally seeing such things in reality."

Is that so...

Bai Yanliang rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

What exactly are these things?

Ghosts?

No... if they were really the fierce ghosts from Fog Gathering, the world’s order would have collapsed already.

Then what are they... what kind of existence?

Bai Yanliang’s eyes grew brighter and brighter; though he couldn’t determine what the shadow was, he was certain that this thing must have some connection with the events surrounding Yanren ten years ago!

It was too similar, too many coincidences.

Bai Yanliang didn’t believe in coincidences; in his view, all coincidences were inevitable, influenced by unknown factors.

He now needed to find the causes for these coincidences.

With this thought, Bai Yanliang prepared to bid farewell.

But as soon as he stood up, Feng Xiuxue hurriedly stood up from the bench alongside him.

"I’m leaving." Bai Yanliang calmly looked at her.

"I know." Feng Xiuxue adjusted her large sunglasses, feeling they were not secure enough, she quickly lowered her head again.

"Why are you following me?"

"Who’s following you?" Feng Xiuxue glanced around, hiding most of her body behind Bai Yanliang.

"I’m going to investigate the case." Bai Yanliang looked at her speechlessly, revealing his true intention.

"Me too." Feng Xiuxue stared at Bai Yanliang, earnestly saying, "After all, something like that appeared in my sister’s room; they must be related to her disappearance."

"But..."

Bai Yanliang suddenly halted; he realized that he couldn’t refute Feng Xiuxue’s words because her aim seemed to indeed align closely with his.