There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game
Chapter 969: 781: Dark Goals

Chapter 969: Chapter 781: Dark Goals

Time rewinds to the very beginning.

When Xu Shuo arrived at Shengcheng Garden.

Pei Hong was waiting outside.

After all, it was him who called for help.

“Sorry, because you were the fastest to get here from Yangcheng, I had no other choice. Thanks for coming.” Pei Hong still managed to look relatively calm.

“How did you realize something was wrong?”

Xu Shuo glanced towards the swimming center not far away.

Over the phone, it was impossible to explain clearly. Pei Hong had only said there was an Abyssal contamination in Shengcheng Garden and that Pei Sheng was inside.

Pei Hong frowned and replied, “The item I gave him has a sensor. Just now, one of the tools was destroyed. But for now, his condition… seems to be okay.”

Since the incident at Mingzhu Fun World, he had set up a sensory device to monitor Pei Sheng’s condition at all times.

After all, last time Pei Sheng’s Talisman Paper vanished.

If Xu Shuo hadn’t detected it and informed him, he probably wouldn’t have realized it himself for a long time.

So, having a Telepathic Device was absolutely necessary.

Pei Hong pulled out a small, palm-sized lamp.

The lamp was made of a special metal, with a hollow floral-patterned cover shielding a small white candle. The candle neither dripped wax nor diminished in size—it would burn as long as the consciousness of the linked individual existed.

At this moment, the white candle’s flame was still vibrant, though part of the candle’s body had turned slightly ashen.

Judging by the glow.

Pei Sheng’s condition did seem to be fairly stable.

No wonder Pei Hong could remain this calm while waiting outside.

Xu Shuo opened the Player’s Handbook and ran a scan.

[Abyss Level: Level 3]

The current Abyss level was three. Perfect, almost as though it was tailor-made for him, a newly promoted Level 3 player.

There were still a few staff and security guards near the swimming center.

The security guards had been called by the venue’s night staff, and the staff themselves had been summoned by Pei Sheng. This clearly showed that Pei Sheng had noticed the oddities in the swimming pool by then.

And yet, that guy still didn’t come out.

“I bet he decided to tempt fate.”

“…”

Xu Shuo said flatly.

Pei Hong couldn’t argue with that.

Because it was entirely the kind of thing Pei Sheng would do.

But who could have anticipated that sneaking out in the middle of the night to take a dip in the residential complex’s swimming pool would end like this?

Pei Hong had just been getting ready to wash up and go to bed.

Then, the moment he stepped out of the bathroom, he saw the Guardian Talisman Pei Sheng always had with him shattered.

In that instant.

He had even prepared himself to explain to their parents how they’d lost a younger brother.

Thankfully, although the Guardian Talisman was gone,

the Jade Pendant that Pei Sheng always wore was still intact.

“That Jade Pendant—my friend said it’s a Level 3 artifact. Even facing a Level 4 Abyss, it should hold up for a while. Can you check how much longer he can last inside?” Pei Hong asked.

“It’s a perfect match for the contamination this time.”

Xu Shuo said as he flipped through his inventory.

Pei Hong nodded and added, “I’ve already informed the Yangcheng Security Bureau on your way here. But they seem a bit swamped. If it’s just you, what are the odds you can bring him out safely?”

Xu Shuo paused for a moment upon hearing this.

Then, keeping a calm expression, he looked over and said, “I won’t make promises. You should also avoid getting too close to that area.”

Pei Hong said nothing further after that.

Xu Shuo pulled out his staff and turned toward the center, stepping inside.

…

If it were just a person.

Xu Shuo would have confidence in getting them out.

But bringing someone out as a functioning, normal human being? That was another matter.

After all, while the Abyss to him was little more than a sticky, disgusting, pitch-black nuisance—agitating and noisy.

For an ordinary person.

Just one glance seemed enough to make them explode.

So, he couldn’t apply his own standards to others.

In fact, Xu Shuo had already braced himself to encounter a less-than-normal Pei Sheng, and was even brainstorming ways to restore him when.

Kicking open the swimming pool entrance.

He found the guy was still capable of yelling.

“Waaaah! You’re my savior!”

“But wait—why are YOU here?”

“Shouldn’t we be, like, running away?”

“Hello? Are you even real or just a hallucination?”

“We’re not running? Really?”

Xu Shuo ignored the noisy Pei Sheng, who was standing not far away, yelling as he cautiously approached but didn’t dare get too close because of earlier threats. Instead, he frowned and focused on the doorway to Pool 101, where a swarm of creatures crowded together.

Due to the world’s self-protection mechanisms,

the boundaries of the Abyssal contamination should typically be contained within the area around Pool 101.

But after Xu Shuo had just reached out and made contact earlier,

the boundary of this Abyss seemed to blur.

The pale-bodied creatures now furiously pushed and shoved each other, their shapes twisting grotesquely under pressure. Limbs resembling tentacles strained beyond the doorway and reached for the corridor outside the venue.

Soon, white tentacles began extending outward, spreading in all directions from the door.

The scene was like a writhing heap of worms, tangling and undulating, evoking a visceral disgust.

“Holy shit, that’s disgusting!”

Pei Sheng blurted out bluntly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shuo suddenly realized something, turning to glance at Pei Sheng. He inspected him from head to toe before landing his gaze on the cloud-shaped Jade Pendant hanging on Pei Sheng’s chest.

Pei Sheng blinked at him. “What are you looking at? Dude, seriously, are we not running?”

“Why would we run? The exit’s over there. I should be asking you—why are you still here?” Xu Shuo pointed to the hallway corner.

“Well… well, why aren’t you leaving if you’re so smart?” Pei Sheng mumbled.

“Take a guess. Why do you think I came here?”

“…You know these monsters?”

Pei Sheng’s eyes suddenly widened.