"You're lying."
"In the future you foresee, the one who survives simply isn't me."
Li Mo's expression was cold, his gaze sharp as he stared at the Notebook, yet his rebuking voice was utterly calm, betraying no hint of anger.
"Setting aside whether I can survive triggering five instant-death rules in rapid succession."
"Even if I survive by sheer luck, I definitely won't be human."
"That human skin on the Pagoda Tree has always wanted to possess me. Last time, just a glance nearly erased my sense of self. If not for the Misfortune Ghost protecting my consciousness in my sea of awareness, I might still be 'Li Mo,' but absolutely not me."
The human skin hanging on the Pagoda Tree triggered a possession rule upon eye contact.
Li Mo couldn't imagine placing that skin on his own face, keeping the skin's eye sockets constantly aligned with his own eyes. Who would the survivor truly be?
Perhaps a Li Mo made of human skin, or a Human Skin Ghost inheriting his memories and consciousness.
But neither would be him.
As for turning on the light and standing under the tree – that must be the prerequisite for seeing the skin on the Pagoda Tree. It wasn't visible during the day. Only after 9 PM could one see that Bizzare Pagoda Tree. Turning on a light revealed the miserable human skin hanging at its top.
The only difference from that day was triggering the look-back rule. Before his initial encounter with the hanging skin, Li Mo heard someone call his name from behind. Out of experience and habit, he hadn't looked back. This time, why did the Notebook want him to look back?
"What else are you hiding from me? The content above is no different from suicide for the current me. Heh, perhaps I should bury you under the Pagoda Tree first. What do you think?" Li Mo threatened.
The threat seemed effective; new content immediately appeared in the Notebook.
Although... the new content was even stranger.
[My name is Li Mo. Tonight, I will encounter the most complete Bizzare entity I have ever met in my history. To survive, I must trust her unconditionally.]
"..."
Li Mo stared incredulously at the latest sentence appearing in the Notebook. It was hard to imagine this coming from the cunning first page.
Telling him to unconditionally trust a complete Bizzare entity? Was this a joke?
Wait, the most complete Bizzare entity I have ever met in my history...
Li Mo began searching his memories, filtering out relatively complete Bizzare entities: Pardofelis, Bizzare Kiana, Bizzare Mei...
Among them, Kiana was undoubtedly the most powerful and most complete. From her Authority down to her consciousness and personality, the contamination was thorough. She lacked reason; her arrival in complete form meant his own death. Bizzare Kiana would devour his body after his death. Forcibly summoning her was no different from suicide.
So, it definitely wasn't Bizzare Kiana. Who else could it be?
Mei wasn't complete, and limited by the duration of her contamination, her power was also very restricted. Furthermore, she was currently confined in Elysia's room and wouldn't come to his side.
The same applied to Pardofelis. Neither she nor Mei had any reason to come to this world. Even if they did come, Li Mo wouldn't listen to them. Their decision-making was inferior to his own. Li Mo had his own judgment and wouldn't easily follow others.
"In my history... perhaps it's a new Bizzare entity. If I meet it tonight, that counts as 'in my history'," Li Mo seized upon the phrasing loophole.
Reading between the lines, that complete Bizzare entity posed no threat to him; it might even be on his side, offering advice. Only this could explain why Li Mo should listen to her.
But the more complete a Bizzare entity, the deeper its contamination, and the more twisted and deformed its former personality and consciousness would be. Was he supposed to entrust his life to a highly contaminated Bizzare entity?
"Do you have anything else to add?"
[...]
"There won't be a second chance."
[...]
The Notebook remained silent, its subsequent pages falling quiet along with it.
"You're smart. Until I meet that complete Bizzare entity, I won't discard you for now."
"However, if I don't hold out hope for her, you'd better prepare to slumber eternally underground as fertilizer."
"I'm not joking with you. If I die, you'll be my burial offering."
Li Mo closed the Notebook.
The Notebook refused to reveal more, indicating further details would interfere with its plan. It was guiding Li Mo down an increasingly narrow path. Saying more might expose alternative paths to survival before Li Mo. Once confirmed Li Mo was on the narrow path, silence was the Notebook's best option.
The Room's door could be opened from the inside by ghosts. After opening it earlier, Li Mo hadn't closed it. So, without waking the sleepers, he walked straight in.
Then he went over to Changle's side.
The reason was simple: get money.
Taking the inn by force was easy, but it would inevitably cause trouble. Everyone in town was a ghost, meaning the innkeeper and staff were also ghosts. Although they acted perfectly normal during the day, they revealed their true nature at night.
If Li Mo forcibly evicted them during the day, it was uncertain whether they would return at night harboring resentment and hatred based on daytime memories, unless they left willingly.
But Li Mo didn't think a merchant would willingly hand over the business they'd run their whole life just because of force.
The best way was to follow worldly customs: barter, using a high amount of generally accepted currency to buy this inn, the only place capable of hiding the presence of the living. The seller happy, Li Mo happy.
Buying an inn certainly wasn't cheap. Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo, new to this world, would be considered resourceful if they could scrape together any money, but buying an entire inn was practically impossible.
But Changle was different. She was a princess of the dynasty. Surely she didn't come for an audience with the Immortal empty-handed? Li Mo had previously seen the operatives carrying large bundles.
They contained few rations; most were likely gifts for the Immortal. Items from the imperial court, even the cheapest ones, would be enough to support a commoner comfortably for years, even decades. Not to mention items carefully selected to please the Immortal – they must be priceless jewels.
"Wake up."
Li Mo crouched down and shook Changle's shoulder.
"Mmm... How dare you... make this princess sleep on the floor... When I get back... I'll definitely..." Changle mumbled deliriously, weakly pushing Li Mo away.
"..."
He didn't wake Changle, but the two operatives beside her instantly snapped awake. Seeing it was Mingyue waking their master, however, they chose not to move.
That's right, playing dead.
Let alone Li Mo just waking Changle, even if he got handsy, the operatives were powerless. In their few brief encounters, Mingyue had become progressively more terrifying each time.
In the operatives' eyes, the opponent wasn't human at all, in every aspect, every sense. If it came to a death match, the two of them probably wouldn't last a second. With such a disparity in strength, there was no need for a fight. They weren't stupid.
Trying to stop Mingyue now might instead provoke him, putting Princess Changle in danger. Assessing the situation was one of the operatives' essential skills. Protecting their master and obeying orders were their only considerations.
Of course, if death was truly required, they wouldn't flinch.
Li Mo remained silent, quickly withdrawing his hand.
Changle's head lolled, swaying back and forth. Viscous saliva trickled from the corner of her mouth, dripping down her cheek onto her delicate collarbone. Li Mo just watched dryly. Waited until the drool mostly stopped, then shifted direction and continued shaking Changle's fragrant shoulder.
"When you get back, you'll do what to me? Execute my nine generations?" Li Mo asked coldly. The phrase "Nine Clans Elimination Game" (九族消消乐 - Jiǔzú Xiāoxiāolè, a dark internet meme referencing the severe historical punishment of executing nine degrees of kinship) somehow popped into his mind.
Instantly, Li Mo's dangerous words reached Changle's ears. She startled awake, eyes wide, nonsensically saying, "Nine generations... No, I didn't!"
"Your mouth," Li Mo reminded her.
Only then did Changle realize her improper state, hastily wiping the moisture from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve. Changle's face showed both grievance and indignation; she didn't know how to face Mingyue.
"What did I say just now?" Changle asked worriedly.
"You were talking in your sleep. Sounded very unhappy about my decision to make you sleep on the floor. Said you'd have my nine generations executed when you return to the palace," Li Mo stated flatly, adding fuel to the fire.
Although it wasn't that serious, Li Mo wanted to give Changle a warning, make her feel guilty. This would make it easier for her to hand over the valuables.
"I, I was joking! Mingyue, you wouldn't take it seriously, right... I really didn't mean that! You brought me safely up the mountain, protected me all night from demons, I'm very grateful, really!"
"Changle remembers this kindness clearly! Changle is definitely not ungrateful! When I return to the palace, I will repay this drop of kindness with a gushing spring!" Changle explained hastily, afraid Mingyue would kill her or throw her out if displeased.
Without the Room's protection, she, an ordinary martial artist, couldn't survive the demon-infested night.
Changle's eagerness was within Li Mo's expectations.
Li Mo said unhurriedly, "Who knows? I've seen too many people make grand promises, only to turn hostile once things are settled."
Changle immediately replied, "I'm really not that kind of petty person!"
Li Mo: "Is that so? Fine. I don't need you to repay me afterward. You can clear your debt to me right now."
"Next, I will make a request of you. As long as you accept, you owe me nothing, and I will do my utmost to keep you alive until tomorrow."
"I have no proof for my words. Believe me if you wish. If you don't, I will use other means to make you believe."
"I never go back on my word."
Li Mo stepped forward, placed a hand on Changle's shoulder, and leaned close to her ear: "And you don't have the qualification to refuse." If she dared refuse, Li Mo was prepared to beat a confession out of her, torturing her a bit to make Changle reveal the treasure's location.
Changle pressed herself tightly against the wall, her heart racing violently. Head lowered, she didn't dare look Mingyue in the eye. Her throat moved as she swallowed several times. This kind of thing... Is it really okay? In this place? At this time?
"I, I want to think about it," Changle blushed, clutching her dress tighter.
"But I don't have the patience," Li Mo's voice was cold, the hand on her shoulder pressing harder. He needed to settle this before nightfall; he didn't have time for Changle's petty games.
Changle turned her head, glancing towards Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo asleep on the wooden bed, her eyes flickering, casting a pleading look. But no one responded. Mingyue's forceful attitude and actions panicked Changle.
For a moment, dirty, sordid, unbearable images flooded her mind. She bit her lip tightly, hands and legs trembling. A huge sense of humiliation tensed Changle's delicate body, then she completely relaxed. Fine.
"You two, leave," Changle said to the operatives. The operatives exchanged glances, sighed, and helplessly walked out of the Room, closing the door tightly behind them.
"Looks like you agree." Mingyue's lukewarm attitude angered Changle. Why did he look so indifferent? "Hmph! Do I have the right to refuse?" Changle clenched her fists, letting out a final indignant cry.
"Of course not."
"Then what else is there to say? Remember, my actions now only represent myself, not the entire imperial family."
Li Mo paused for a second. Does she think giving me the gifts meant for the Immortal is disrespectful, so she needs to distance herself from the imperial family? She has some backbone. "Mm."
"Hehe..." Changle let out a desolate laugh, lamenting Mingyue's hypocrisy. His companions were still in the room, yet he was so eager to possess her body, to play this stimulating game. And he still maintained an expression of ignorance, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Ah well, who asked her to be a princess? This status added too much glamour; countless people coveted her body. Just unfortunate that it fell to a man she met by chance. As long as she received the Immortal's blessing, losing her body... wasn't a huge deal.
Changle knew her father, the Emperor, would cover this up.
No one would know, unless Mingyue spread it everywhere.
Haha... Three letters and six rites, ten li of red dowry, phoenix coronet and robes of rank, eight-bearer sedan chair, proper marriage ceremony... (Traditional, elaborate Chinese wedding customs) None of it, none of it...
Amidst her desolate smile, Changle slowly undid her top.
"What are you taking your clothes off for?"
"What do you think? How can I give it to you without taking them off?"
"..." Li Mo watched Changle undress calmly, his gaze never wavering. He thought the jewels must be hidden under her clothes. Until Changle's graceful body was fully revealed before Li Mo, not a single piece of jewelry appeared in his sight.
Changle said dissatisfiedly, "Are you just going to watch, doing nothing? Do you... also want to watch me take off my skirt alone?" Changle bit her lip, feeling extremely wronged. One hand covered the ample mounds on her chest, shielding the crucial parts.
Not only did she have to undress herself, but even her skirt had to be removed bit by bit under his gaze. As a princess envied by thousands, her dignity, reputation, and honor completely crumbled at this moment.
"Is the valuable stuff under the skirt?" Li Mo asked.
"What valuable stuff?" Changle suddenly realized something was wrong. She saw Mingyue's eyes held not a trace of lust, nor did his face show any lewd expression. Then why did he say those things to her?
"I want the valuable things on your person to sell for money," Li Mo stated calmly. As soon as his words fell, a blush like the rosy dawn instantly covered her entire face, extending to her ears and neck, as if dyed indelibly by crimson silk. "...!"
Changle immediately spun around, revealing her flawless, jade-like white back. Great, now he's seen the front and the back. Changle frantically picked up her clothes from the floor, heart pounding, fingers trembling uncontrollably as she clumsily redressed.
Due to extreme nervousness and embarrassment, she fumbled several times, repeatedly putting things on wrong. The clothes that usually took no time to put on now seemed incredibly cumbersome.
Fortunately, Li Mo didn't mock her, otherwise Changle probably would have wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it immediately.
After quite a while, Changle finally finished dressing. But she no longer had the face to look at Li Mo, head lowered, small hands clenched into fists, lips pressed tightly together, looking extremely wronged.
"Where's the stuff?" Li Mo didn't care about Changle's state, asking directly.
"Why didn't you say earlier it was just for money!" Changle shouted loudly, the blush still not faded from her face.
"You acted before I finished speaking. I thought you understood and were preparing to give me the valuables from your clothes." Li Mo said calmly, then changed the subject: "Then what did you think I wanted?"
"You! I, I thought..." Changle stammered, unable to speak clearly. "Hmph!" Changle stomped her foot in exasperation, venting her anger on the innocent floor. She then wanted to storm out the door but was grabbed by Li Mo.
"You haven't given me the valuables yet," Li Mo remained expressionless. But his next sentence completely shattered Changle's last shred of self-respect. "I don't care about your wishful thinking at all."
"...I! You! Fine! Fine! Fine, fine, fine!" Changle bared her teeth, hair practically standing on end. So angry, so angry, so angry, so angry, so angry, so angry!!! How could he say such cutting words with such a cold expression?!
Li Mo currently lacked emotions; he was merely stating the most objective facts, doing what was most beneficial to himself.
"In my previous room! I'll go get it for you right now!" Changle yelled at Li Mo. Only when she reacted did she realize her rude behavior might anger Li Mo. Changle cautiously looked up at Li Mo. Mm. Indeed. Worried for nothing.
"Fine, I'll go with you."
Just as Li Mo prepared to follow Changle to the adjacent room, Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo behind him were awakened by their argument.
"Mmm... Big Brother, good morning..." Saori Tsuruyo rubbed her sleepy eyes, sitting up straight weakly, head lowered, her voice soft and mellow.
"Nothing happened last night, right? I slept like a log..." Shigure Kira stretched both hands towards the ceiling, puffing out her chest, yawning lazily like a kitten.
"Changle, go alone. I'll wait here," Li Mo amended.
Hearing this, Changle stomped her foot again and stormed out the door. Furious, she completely missed the threshold underfoot. Then, under the gaze of the three, Changle tripped over the threshold and met the ground with a deep, resounding embrace.
"..." Changle remained silent, struggling to stand up amidst the quiet, her body trembling uncontrollably. Either erupt in silence or perish in silence.
Changle clenched her fists, ran towards the next room without looking back, faint sounds of sobbing trailing behind her.
"What an embarrassing ghost. Is she really a ghost?" Saori Tsuruyo couldn't help asking the soul-searching question.
"Yeah, feels really dumb. Tripping over a doorway? Doesn't she watch where she's going?" Shigure Kira nodded in agreement.
Li Mo couldn't tell jokes, nor did he want to discuss matters related to Changle. Otherwise, if he told Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo everything that happened between him and Changle before they woke up, their evaluation would likely rise another level.
"I have important things to tell you. Remember them well."
Li Mo laid out the four items before them: the Bizarre Handgun, the Thermometer, the Bizarre Coin, and the Notebook. These were all the Bizarre items he could currently produce.
The Bizarre Handgun possessed suppressive effects—capable of restraining rather than killing.
The Thermometer was a detector, sensitive to Bizarre presences in the environment.
The Bizarre Coin had life-saving properties, though the exact mechanism was left unsaid.
Finally, there was the Notebook—a double-edged sword. Opening it pierced the soul. It did not kill immediately, but death followed soon after. Moreover, the Notebook refused to answer the questions of those it deemed worthless.
Among them, only Shigure Kira was unfamiliar with the Notebook. The two girls, however, were well-acquainted with the capabilities of the remaining items.
"Big Brother, are you going to do something dangerous again? We'll go with you too," Saori Tsuruyo said worriedly.
"No. You must stay in a safe place. This is the escape route I'm preparing for myself. If you die, then I have absolutely no chance of survival either." Li Mo glanced sideways towards the wall. Behind the wall was another room.
Changle's presence was still there, wandering around a certain area, seemingly searching for something, not having taken the chance to flee.
Shigure Kira: "What do you mean?"
Li Mo: "Next, remember every word I say. This is very important. I need your help."
Shigure Kira: "Does that even need saying? Don't you trust us?"
Saori Tsuruyo: "Captain and I will do our best."
Li Mo pondered for a while, mentally assigning the Bizzare items. The Notebook had predicted that after meeting the Immortal, he would transform into something else – perhaps physical distortion, perhaps mental distortion.
Becoming a monster, or a ghost. Either way didn't matter.
The key was the phrase: take me away, try everything possible to survive until July 15th. This implied that in that state, he might have lost judgment, perhaps even consciousness had fallen dormant, losing all ability to act.
Therefore, he needed Saori Tsuruyo and Shigure Kira to drag his burdensome self along to survive.
Li Mo: "Later, I will send you down the mountain back to the town, to a place called the Iris Moon Inn." "That is the only place below the mountain capable of hiding the presence of the living. Even if ghosts enter, their rules and abilities will be suppressed; they won't realize you are alive."
"I will use the money obtained from Changle to buy the Iris Moon Inn, making you its owners."
"What you need to do is open the inn during the day, provide food to the ghosts who enter, and record their strange behaviors."
Saori Tsuruyo suddenly raised her hand. Li Mo nodded, allowing her to interject. Saori Tsuruyo: "Big Brother, everyone in town is a Flesh Ghost. Should the food we provide be for the dead, or for the living?"
Li Mo: "You can first try mixing food for the dead with food for the living. If a customer furiously complains about raw meat or corpses, pretend you made a mistake and serve a fresh portion of food for the living."
"If the customer only eats the food for the dead, then say no more. They still follow ghost rules and require food for the dead."
"However, I lean towards them living according to human habits during the day. Remember, day or night, do not let them go upstairs."
"And do not provide lodging, no matter how much they need it, how pitiful they seem..."
Speaking here, Li Mo's gaze turned to Shigure Kira. Shigure Kira was puzzled, but suddenly, she remembered the cruel scene from her dream – flesh flying, brutal and terrifying. Shigure Kira's expression turned solemn.
She answered seriously, "I will absolutely not make the same mistake twice." "In this era, with the enhancement of the Valkyrie Battlesuit, I believe no one should be my match."
Li Mo: "Good. While serving guests, you may make eye contact with them—but do not let them realize they are dead."
"After this, I may fall into a long period of slumber. During that time, Shigure Kira, you, being more proficient with firearms, will temporarily take charge of the Bizarre Handgun. When and how to use it shall be entirely at your discretion. Remember: ghosts cannot be killed—this weapon merely suppresses."
"The Thermometer, the Notebook, and this Coin that draws the attention of ghosts will be entrusted to Saori Tsuruyo."
"Tonight, we will still remain in the Room. Tomorrow morning, wait for me outside the Rashomon gate."
"I will have an audience with Immortal Jingwei alongside Changle."
"The latest time is 10:30 AM. If I haven't appeared by then… return to your own world. Do not seek me out again."
"Because by then, I will already be dead."
After Li Mo finished speaking, Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo both fell silent for a long while.
Death.
For a moment, neither of them grasped that this word—death—was, in fact, the most fitting label for Li Mo. In their eyes, no matter how dire the situation or uncertain the path ahead, as long as Li Mo lived, he would always find a way to guide them toward survival.
To imagine him dying was unthinkable—unacceptable.
Yet, logic and fact both whispered otherwise.
Li Mo, who had long been ensnared in the web of supernatural events, was merely biding time. Death was inevitable.
He could not always emerge unscathed from desperation.
One misstep—eternal damnation.
Li Mo: "If there's anything else I need to add, ask quickly. Changle is coming back."
After a long pause, a voice finally broke the silence. Saori Tsuruyo: "Big Brother... the coin, thermometer, notebook... how should I use them? Is it entirely up to my judgment?"
Li Mo: "Yes. I cannot provide you with more information. But if possible, I hope you can keep this coin and not use it." "Avoid using the Notebook as much as possible, unless absolutely necessary."
Saori Tsuruyo: "Mm-hm, I understand."
While Saori Tsuruyo and Li Mo seriously discussed the plan, Shigure Kira murmured plaintively: "I don't want you to die..."
The air suddenly fell silent, until Changle walked in with her two operatives. "Hmph! Mingyue, the things you wanted are in this bag! Enough for you to live comfortably for several lifetimes!" "...You three? Why aren't you saying anything? Is it not enough?"
Li Mo quickly stepped forward and opened the bag. Gold glittered inside, shimmering with the light of wealth. But Li Mo didn't know its actual value, so he asked Changle, "Can this buy an inn below the mountain?"
Changle pouted. "There'd still be plenty left over even if you bought the entire town."
"Is this much enough? To buy one inn?" Li Mo casually reached in and grabbed a handful of jewels.
"The innkeeper would sell the inn immediately," Changle replied.
"Let's go, Shigure, Saori." Li Mo collected the Bizzare items from the table. "I will hand these over to you tomorrow morning. Now it's time to make preparations."
"Hey, where are you guys going? Down the mountain again?" None of the three paid any attention to Changle. Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo followed Li Mo as the three headed down the mountain.
But this time, Shigure Kira was also carried by Li Mo. One girl in each arm, he sprinted down the Heavenly Path at extreme speed, several times faster than their ascent last night.
Inside the room, only the two operatives remained. They looked at each other, then at Changle—confused, even bewildered—by the large pile of priceless gold and silver jewels lying unattended in the bag.
Changle stepped forward, crouched down, and gazed thoughtfully at the treasures she had brought. Whether the Immortal appreciated such offerings was uncertain. These were merely supplementary. The real gift—she had yet to present it.
She hesitated.
If she revealed it now, Mingyue might covet it, seize it, and in doing so, incur the Immortal's wrath. However... it seemed his interest lay elsewhere.
Mingyue had clearly shown no concern for wealth. If he did, why take so little? Buying an inn... Is that all? Could he truly plan to live out his days running an inn, peacefully, alongside those two striking women?
It sounded like the kind of dream many longed for—a virtuous, understanding wife, a stable midlife career, and a life free of misfortune.
But he's Mingyue.
Why would someone so composed, resilient, and formidable not seek greater glory? He had the power to carve out a name for himself, if he wished. He could achieve it all.
As for what he'd done to her before... Changle no longer minded.
She could still recommend him—strongly—before her father, the Emperor.
Even...
"What are you really thinking, Mingyue?"
Changle's voice was quiet, pensive.
"You, who suddenly emerged without leaving the faintest trace in the martial world... are you a blessing or a calamity for this era?"
She grasped a handful of jewels, letting them fall from her palm. They streamed through her fingers like sand—brilliant, fleeting.
"Hmph. Why am I thinking so much about him, anyway?"
She shook her head, dismissing the thought.
"After tonight, I'll finally meet the Immortal. That's what matters. I'll seek her blessing—for the eternal prosperity of my father's dynasty, and the peace of the nation."
Changle inhaled deeply, grounding herself in that conviction. She reminded herself, again and again, of her true purpose on this journey.
At the foot of Mount Taixuan, in the modest town below, Li Mo had already purchased the Iris Moon Inn.
It was noon. The sun stood high, its heat soaking the land. Sunlight filtered through leafy canopies, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The streets teemed with life—vendors, travelers, the everyday rhythm of the town.
And yet, amidst all this motion, the Iris Moon Inn—nestled quietly against Mount Taixuan—shut its doors.
For the first time in three years, it closed during the day.
"Alrighty then! You're the boss of this inn from now on!" the former innkeeper declared with a wide grin, his hands lovingly caressing the trove of treasures he'd just received.
He had never imagined that the fantasy of sudden wealth would one day find him. It was, in modern terms, like someone paying tens of millions in cash to buy the home he'd lived in for three years—one he'd grown very attached to.
His heart ached...
...for a full three seconds, before he sold it without looking back.
"You have half an hour. Use any means necessary to evict all the guests. Starting today, the Iris Moon Inn does not provide lodging, only food and drink."
"But, young master, some guests are experts from the martial world! I can't afford to provoke them..."
"Get rid of those you can first. Notify me about the rest. I will give them a 'reasonable reason' to leave," Li Mo instructed coldly.
Tempted by the huge sum of money, the owner's motivation surged. Action bar filled by 100%. Using both soft and hard tactics, he drove out most guests. Then he brought all the remaining unwilling, disgruntled guests before Li Mo.
"They all have Honkai Energy circulating within them," Shigure Kira reminded quietly.
They were all martial artists cultivating qi. They possessed a measure of strength, yes—but weak as ants, easily crushed. Most were burly men, though a few refined gentlemen exuded the air of smiling tigers. Confidence lit their faces as they curiously sized up Li Mo, who radiated a gloomy, deathly aura. They wondered what kind of cultivation method he followed, to appear more corpse than man.
"Heh! Your Excellency is quite arrogant, trying to drive us—"
Before the man could finish, Li Mo had already moved—his body flickering forward, right hand clamping tightly around the speaker's throat. The man couldn't utter another word, nor move a muscle.
Anyone truly overwhelmed by superior power knows—if the gap in strength is too vast, it feels like being caught in a vise. No resistance. No escape.
"Those who can defeat me may stay in this inn. And now..."
"Next."
Li Mo carefully controlled his strength and casually flung the man through the front door. The others turned to see the once-proud martial artist unconscious on the ground—crumpled like a stray dog.
"H-How could..."
"He's... we can't afford to provoke this man."
Most cultivators weren't fools. When a relatively renowned body cultivator was so easily defeated—without even glimpsing Li Mo's movements—fear took root.
"So the young master possesses such profound strength! No wonder, no wonder! To insist on staying here would be pure folly. I shall take my leave first."
"I'm out of here too."
"Let's go, let's go! Who can fight someone like that? Didn't even see how he moved..."
The once-confident crowd, strong in numbers, quickly scattered. Not one remained.
In truth, Li Mo had held back. If he had struck with full force, the martial artists before him would have had to "Restart" dozens, even hundreds of times to negate a single blow. But Li Mo was no reckless youth. He had no need to prove himself.
The inn was now empty—even the owner had been dismissed.
After inspecting the premises and checking with the Thermometer, they confirmed the ingredients in the inn were normal. Saori Tsuruyo noted that the town's food remained safe even after nightfall; she and Shigure Kira had consumed it during their three-month stay with no ill effects.
Once the mess left by the guests was cleared, Li Mo quietly made his way to the kitchen. He began preparing lunch for Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo.
He himself had no need for food—but they did.
And for the ten days ahead, they would need proper sustenance to endure what was coming.
"Delicious! I didn't expect Big Brother to be such a good cook too!" Saori Tsuruyo ate happily, not just because she was hungry, but because Li Mo made it, specifically for her and Shigure Kira.
"Didn't you make any for yourself?" Shigure Kira asked, puzzled, seeing Li Mo sitting silently opposite them.
Li Mo shook his head, saying faintly, "I don't need to eat. As long as you two are full."
"Oh." After the simple reply, the scene fell silent again. Shigure Kira ate while lost in thought. She remembered what Saori Tsuruyo told her before, about the things Li Mo sacrificed—Humanity and emotions. Looking at him now, it certainly seemed true. Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo weren't afraid, because they knew deep down Li Mo wouldn't hurt them. They just felt... sorry for him.
After confirming the windows and doors were locked, the three finally felt safe enough to come outside. Checking his phone, the time was 3:37 PM.
"Big Brother is amazing," Saori Tsuruyo praised.
Shigure Kira paused, then also acknowledged Li Mo: "I didn't see how you attacked just now either. What trick did you pull?"
Li Mo: "Walked over, then grabbed his throat."
Shigure Kira: "Uh... okay. Right, Gloomy Guy, that thing I said before we went down the mountain..."
Li Mo didn't let Shigure Kira finish: "It's time to go up the mountain. Eat well, drink well, sleep early tonight. Before 9 PM... go to sleep before nine."
"Before 9 PM?" Saori Tsuruyo noted the specific time Li Mo had mentioned.
In supernatural incidents, only short-term tasks typically mattered; time was a vague, fluid concept, with events occurring within general frames rather than fixed moments. But Li Mo had specified a precise hour. That was subtle—just like at St. Freya High School, where the Head Ghost would begin roaming at exactly 7 PM.
What does Big Brother intend to do during the ghosts' most active period? Saori Tsuruyo silently took note.
Just as before, when descending, Li Mo carried one girl in each arm, moving swiftly. What once took several hours—ascending or descending—now took less than one.
By the time they returned to the Room's entrance, they found Changle lying weakly on the bed, faint from hunger.
"Ugh... so hungry... Should have asked Mingyue to bring me something to eat..."
Faint, embarrassed growls sounded from her stomach.
Li Mo and Saori Tsuruyo exchanged a brief glance. He nodded, stepping into the already opened Room first.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Changle sat up abruptly. Her tense expression eased only upon recognizing Li Mo.
"How did you get back so quickly?" she asked, clearly surprised.
"None of your business."
"You! You... you..." Changle's voice trailed off, shifting from initial indignation to weakness, revealing an air of vulnerability. "Did you... bring anything to eat?" Changle cautiously raised her head, asking weakly.
"Yes."
Li Mo didn't mince words. He took the food Saori Tsuruyo handed him, walked over to Changle, and tossed it to her—almost like giving alms.
But there was no arrogance in his gesture. Li Mo had no such tendencies. Instead, he offered a plain reminder:
"Meat patty. It's cold, but edible."
"Th-thank you..."
Changle turned her back to the others, not wanting anyone to witness her moment of weakness.
She opened the package and began devouring the food. The meat patty was raw—yet to her, it was delicious. Her frail body trembled, her once-neatly arranged hair now tangled and neglected. Eating like this—on the floor, with bare hands—she looked utterly pitiful.
Changle was painfully aware of how pathetic she must seem. But she could no longer help it. Starvation had shattered her composure.
She had eaten only a little the day before yesterday, nothing at all yesterday, and endured until now. In three days, only a few bites had passed her lips. Hunger gnawed at her sanity. Accustomed to comfort and indulgence, she had never imagined Mount Taixuan would offer nothing—not even bark or roots that wouldn't poison her.
As she stared at the half-eaten patty, a thought surfaced—Mingyue was, in truth, a good person. Not warm, not affectionate—but reliable in critical moments.
He neither ridiculed nor mocked her. No contempt. No disgust.
For someone met by chance, he was a qualified fellow traveler.
He didn't go out of his way to help—but he also never harmed.
And as for why he hadn't treated her more kindly… Changle understood—it was because she had not yet entered his heart.
If she were truly one of his, like the two girls at his side, she would have been cared for—her safety assured, her needs considered.
Surely, going down the mountain meant they had eaten and drunk their fill...
As she reflected, a single dewdrop sent ripples across the still lake of the maiden's heart—a stirring she had never once felt in over a decade within the cold walls of the imperial court.
Evening fell. The valley began to blur, its sharp contours softening into shadow. Distant mountains and trees melted into the deepening haze of twilight. The sunset glow dimmed, and silence settled over the world.
The mountains stood tall and solemn against the dusk, steep and immutable.
Withered leaves drifted gently from above, whispering of decay. One such leaf came to rest atop Li Mo's head.
He removed it wordlessly, cradling it in his palm. His gaze lingered on it.
A strange sense of powerlessness washed over him.
This leaf—
It could be a broken tooth.
A rotting eyeball.
A severed ear.
A decaying finger...
So many grotesque possibilities.
And yet, impossibly, it was only a leaf.
"Hmph..." Li Mo turned his wrist, letting it dance in the wind, tumbling and turning.
"There's still time for me to go back."
"Obediently follow the Notebook's first suggestion. Listen to the ghost in the wall's instructions. My chances of survival would be high."
"But at what cost?"
Destroy the threshold. Release the source Bizarre Entity to spread into other worlds.
Yes, he might live—for a time. But as the Bizarre phenomenon spread, Li Mo would once again be forced to the front lines, confronting entity after entity, never resting, never stopping.
Until the day he collapsed.
Until he, too, became another murderous Bizarre.
Li Mo walked slowly back toward the Room, his feet dragging as though bound by iron weights. Every step felt heavier than the last. Yet, no matter the burden, he could not stop.
The sun was setting—its golden afterglow spilling across his lifeless, ashen skin like molten gold. Light and shadow froze in that moment, caught in eerie stillness.
The sacred and the profane twisted together in that waning light, forming a grotesque beauty that defied description.
At 8:42 PM, Li Mo arrived at the Room's entrance.
Only eighteen minutes left until 9 PM.
The door was shut tight. No movement inside.
Li Mo peered closer: two figures lay on the bed. Three more huddled in the corner. The arrangement was unchanged.
Shigure Kira had not allowed Saori Tsuruyo to follow.
Changle, the noble princess, had swallowed her pride and obeyed—choosing the floor over defiance.
His companions, this time, had not brought chaos. They had listened.
And yet... victory still felt distant—almost unreachable.
The spread of Bizarre phenomena begins slowly. Then, it accelerates.
Contamination is a process. Within a single world, it may unfold rapidly. But across space-time, the interference takes time—delayed, dulled.
If they left this world, there would still be time... time to live.
Time to experience life, laughter, perhaps even peace.
By the time the Bizarre consumed every corner of the multiverse, decades might pass.
"Misfortune Ghost, are you there? Come out for a chat?"
Li Mo stood in the silence for a long while. No voice answered in his mind.
Right... Only when my consciousness is on the verge of collapse does the Misfortune Ghost speak—mocking, amused. In its own way, I suppose I'm never truly alone.
He exhaled softly, then continued, his voice low, as if speaking to the shadows.
"I don't know if you can hear this."
"But I'm preparing to gamble."
"I've already rejected the second path, so there's only one left: fight the Human Skin Ghost—for control of my mind."
"The Notebook said to trigger five instant-death rules simultaneously, then wear the human skin. I won't do it. The risk is too great."
"I don't know what kind of twisted logic the overlap of five fatal rules would create."
"If I simply put on the skin, you might be able to resist the Human Skin Ghost's attack. Then, we can use it as a decoy to fool Jingwei."
"But..."
"If Jingwei sees through the deception—whether or not the Skin Ghost succeeds—I will still die."
"I just don't know enough."
"In three days, I've uncovered some rules and encountered a few Bizarre Entities on Mount Taixuan, but it's not nearly sufficient."
"I know nothing of the origins of those five rules. If they dampen your strength, the Human Skin Ghost could possess me with ease... and become me."
He paused, thoughtful, then spoke again with quiet finality.
"So, the safest approach: avoid triggering other rules."
"No responding to calls, no standing beneath trees, no shining light, no injuries, no eye contact."
"Of these, I can't avoid the first three—they're required to find the skin. But I can avoid the last two."
"Last time, you saved me because I merely glanced at the skin. This time... I plan to press it directly to my face."
"I might die."
"Then, you'll be free."
Li Mo's gaze remained calm, his voice quiet as he murmured to himself like a madman—perhaps trying to convince himself, or perhaps speaking to something that was listening.
He turned, prepared to leave the Room and head toward the ancient Pagoda Tree—
Creak.
The door behind him opened.
It wasn't knocked down.
It was pushed open.
Shigure? Saori? Or Changle?
Li Mo spun around quickly, thinking his return visit had been discovered. However, something unexpected happened. Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo lay quietly asleep on the wooden bed. Changle and her two operatives slept on the cold floor in the corner. All five were asleep.
Then how did the door open?
"What time is it now?" Li Mo immediately took out his phone. 8:50 PM. Not yet 9 PM. The ghosts of Mount Taixuan weren't active yet. And the door was pushed open. It couldn't be him, nor a ghost. Was it the wind?
"No... This wooden door, however simple, can't be blown open by a light breeze. Otherwise, using it for guest rooms would be a joke." The wooden door wasn't light; only a very strong wind could force it open. But Li Mo, standing before the door, hadn't felt any stronger evening breeze at all.
"I have to go in and see." Li Mo decided. Something unusual was happening. He needed to check carefully what occurred inside the Room.
Li Mo entered the room, looking left and right, but found nothing amiss. He went to Shigure Kira's side, placing a finger under her nose. "Still breathing. Something strange tonight. Wake them up."
Li Mo shook Shigure Kira vigorously. After shaking for a long time without any reaction, he realized something was wrong. Not just Shigure Kira, but Saori Tsuruyo, Changle, and the operatives were all the same. As if in a deep sleep, they wouldn't wake even if pushed onto the floor. Li Mo blocked Shigure Kira's breathing; after half a minute, she still didn't wake.
"Wait, where's the Head Ghost?" One problem solved, another arose. As Li Mo paced the room, he noticed the empty corner where the Head Ghost was supposed to be. No one had moved it these past three days. Changle wouldn't dare, the operatives weren't that reckless, and Shigure Kira and Saori Tsuruyo were even less likely.
Then who?
Who took the Head Ghost?
What was the purpose?
Yesterday had been too calm.
Tonight, Bizarre events erupted one after another—
Each one chipping away at Li Mo's dwindling strength, testing the limits of his already fraying will.
If he left for the Pagoda Tree now, new Bizarre occurrences might erupt within the Room.
Some could be fatal—swift and merciless.
They might slaughter the sleeping occupants in an instant.
And yet…
Li Mo didn't dare send them away.
Because 9 PM was drawing near.
The hour of Bizarre revival.
When vengeful spirits roamed freely.
To be found asleep by such entities meant certain death.
They could not leave.
They could not stay without risk.
And Li Mo—
He had no time to guard them.
He was about to gamble everything—
His mind, his soul—against the Human Skin Ghost.
He would have no strength left to watch his back.
"How am I supposed to close the door!?"