Xingwang Hotel
Chapter 305: Reflection under the umbrella
Wen Jianyan had indeed spoken half-truths earlier.
After all, Bai Xue, as one of the top ten, was no longer at the level of an ordinary, seasoned anchor. Even though he appeared quiet and obedient, seemingly easy to control, Wen Jianyan understood that anyone who had survived in Nightmare for this long was definitely not an easygoing character.
Moreover, people like him were extremely difficult to approach, making it nearly impossible to uncover his true personality and thoughts. Under such circumstances, issuing orders would likely backfire.
On top of that, Bai Xue’s experience in handling instances was already extensive. Just like earlier when they first entered the painting, Bai Xue had shown that he knew when to give advice, rendering Wen Jianyan’s novice interference unnecessary.
Of course, the other half of what Wen Jianyan said was feigned.
Although they were temporarily on the same team, Wen Jianyan was well aware that Bai Xue’s entry into this instance had been purely accidental. For now, their interests aligned, but if Wen Jianyan became overly dependent on Bai Xue’s “medium abilities,” any unforeseen change could leave him in a dire situation.
Having spent so long in the Nightmare live broadcast room and cleared so many instances, Wen Jianyan understood well how its internal rules operated.
In a sense, danger also meant opportunity.
Only by encountering danger could one hope to uncover more information and dig deeper into the secrets within.
In high-difficulty instances like this, exploiting loopholes and evading risks would only put an anchor at a disadvantage in the later stages.
But more importantly…
The “curse” on Bai Xue made Wen Jianyan particularly uneasy.
Although he had yet to fully grasp its deeper connections, the earlier incident, when that anchor had fallen and died abruptly after entering the first painting, was far too unlikely to be mere coincidence.
This made Wen Jianyan even more cautious in his actions, avoiding unnecessary risks and crises as much as possible.
Wen Jianyan held up his umbrella, walking in the rain. He cast a discreet glance toward Bai Xue at his side.
Bai Xue walked silently next to him, half a step behind. The edge of his human-skin umbrella obscured part of his face, leaving only his lips visible—straight and cold.
Although Wen Jianyan was usually adept at reading people, perhaps because of the missing fragments of their souls and the deep influence of the instance, all the top ten in Nightmare gave him a strong sense of “alienation.” In a way, they were no longer entirely human.
Even someone like Orange Candy was no exception.
Thus, he would never act rashly without any certainty, not even now.
Shortly after stepping out into the rain, the phone in Wen Jianyan’s pocket suddenly buzzed.
He pulled out the phone.
Upon seeing the message from Blond, Wen Jianyan’s eyes darkened.
…As expected.
Though he had anticipated this result before leaving the small building, confirming it still sent a chill down his spine.
He turned his head, instinctively glancing around.
The gray-black sky hung low, fine raindrops falling steadily. The so-called “void” was nowhere to be seen, which was to be expected.
After all, their location had changed multiple times, making it impossible to pinpoint where the “guest” might appear as clearly as before.
Without Blonds vision, which could spot the void in the endless cold rain at a glance, they were left blind.
Wen Jianyan only knew that they were being “followed” by something.
But what that thing was, how many there were, where they were located, or how close they were… all of it remained unknown.
Were they still tens of meters away, or had they already closed in right behind them…?
It was impossible to sense, to explore, or to verify.
This kind of danger, looming but uncertain when it might strike, was the most terrifying of all.
The steady rain continued pouring down around them. Water splashed in the puddles on the stone-paved road, and droplets pattered on the human-skin umbrella overhead. As far as the eye could see, the scene was dim and dreary.
A strong sense of insecurity suddenly overwhelmed Wen Jianyan, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up.
“Be careful not to step in any water. Let’s move quickly.”
Wen Jianyan lowered his voice, while sharply observing his surroundings and speaking to Bai Xue.
Though they were being “followed,” they had walked for quite a while without incident. Throughout this journey, Bai Xue hadn’t warned him of any immediate danger either…
Therefore, Wen Jianyan speculated that the protection provided by the human-skin umbrella was still in effect. Though they occasionally brushed against the water, they hadn’t been fully exposed to the rain, so the “guests,” despite following them, hadn’t yet attacked.
However, this situation likely wouldn’t last much longer.
Even with the shelter of the human-skin umbrella, they couldn’t avoid getting wetter in the endless light rain…
If the “guest’s” attack required reaching a certain threshold, at this rate, it wouldn’t be long before it happened.
The two of them almost immediately quickened their pace.
This time, the distance between the location Bai Xue pointed out and where they were now was the farthest, which meant they would be walking in the rain for a longer time, and the danger would increase.
The rain pattered incessantly, splashing in the puddles on the ground. The umbrella above their heads trembled slightly in the rain, and through the dim light, the delicate texture of human skin could faintly be seen on it, creating an eerie and terrifying sight.
Wen Jianyan fixed his gaze ahead, his steps cautious and swift.
He carefully avoided the water on the ground, making sure he didn’t step into any puddles. At the same time, he tucked his shoulder and body further under the umbrella, trying to minimize the number of times he was exposed to the rain.
It was getting closer.
In the light rain, the house Bai Xue had pointed out was getting nearer, its outline gradually becoming clearer.
The windows and door were wide open, dark and ominous, giving off a distinctly foreboding feeling.
However, in Wen Jianyan’s eyes at this moment, the seemingly gloomy house ahead appeared like a lifeline. Once under its roof, the rain would no longer be a problem. No matter what was following them, once they entered a dry place, it wouldn’t be able to find them.
At least, not for now.
Just then, Bai Xue’s cold voice came from nearby: “Umbrella.”
The suddenness of Bai Xue’s statement caught Wen Jianyan off guard.
…Umbrella?!
However, almost as soon as Bai Xue’s words fell, a chilling, icy sensation suddenly swept over him, as if a sharp blade had sliced through his skin, bringing intense pain. His back tingled, his hairs stood on end, and without needing to think much, Wen Jianyan instantly realized one thing.
Danger.
Wen Jianyan’s eyes moved, instinctively glancing at the umbrella in his hand.
His fingers gripped the lower edge of the umbrella’s handle. The dark handle stood out sharply against his cold, pale fingers, making a stark contrast in the gloomy rain.
And below his hand… the faint outline of a hand began to appear.
“?!”
Wen Jianyan’s pupils suddenly contracted.
The fingers were small, resembling those of a child, motionless and tightly gripping the umbrella handle. The skin was an abnormal, deathly pale color, with what seemed like faint post-mortem bruises beginning to show. A rancid, decaying odor slowly started to rise in the damp air.
“……”
Wen Jianyan’s finger twitched, forcibly suppressing the urge to throw the umbrella away.
His mind raced.
What was this?
The “guest”?
Impossible.
The guest inside Room 408 was the one he had brought into the Xingwang Hotel. Though their faces were unclear, Wen Jianyan knew that the person in the painting was a woman. He had never seen the guest on the first floor in person, but based on the sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway after the door handle was turned, it was most likely a larger male.
There were no children.
The only place that had a child was…
In that moment, a scene flashed through Wen Jianyan’s mind.
On the second floor of the small building, on a pitch-black canvas, four upright figures could be vaguely seen—two adults and two children. Their faces were pale and blurred, stiffly standing in place.
There were four chairs around the table.
Four umbrellas in the umbrella stand.
The umbrellas were made of human skin.
“……”
A cold sweat broke out on the back of Wen Jianyan’s neck.
The sharp, piercing sense of danger suddenly struck, almost making his heart stop.
What this meant was that the danger he was facing now had nothing to do with the “guest” following them, but was instead brought on by the human-skin umbrella in his hand.
Each umbrella was made from a person… or a ghost. With prolonged use, “it” would eventually appear.
He glanced once again at the umbrella handle.
Compared to earlier, the small pale hand below looked even clearer now, hanging in the air, motionless, gripping the umbrella as though… another figure was walking alongside him under the umbrella, as if they were walking side by side.
“……”
Wen Jianyan understood that his situation was becoming very precarious.
They were still a distance away from the next house. If he kept walking with the umbrella, “it” would definitely appear. But at the same time, this umbrella was the only thing protecting him in the rain. If he discarded it, he would be exposed to the rain immediately, essentially exposing himself to the “guest” that was following them.
Raindrops continued to fall, tapping against the umbrella overhead.
Wen Jianyan gritted his teeth, his pace not slowing. He maintained his current position, quickening his steps, and continued forward.
His heart raced furiously, pounding against his ribs, as if it might burst out of his chest.
At this point, speed was far more important than caution.
Wen Jianyan abandoned his previous careful approach, taking large strides and no longer avoiding the puddles in the stone path. He moved quickly, letting himself step into the water, the raindrops splashing up as he charged forward, straight toward the small building ahead!
A little faster, a little faster!
Not far ahead, the small building was within reach.
Wen Jianyan could almost see its half-open door.
In the rain-soaked puddles, aside from Wen Jianyan, there was another small, dark silhouette under the umbrella. It followed him like a shadow, growing increasingly clearer with each passing moment!
At the same time, in the reflection of the rain in the distance, a rigid figure took a step. The face seemed to wear a pale, deathly mask, with the corners of the mouth raised into a twisted, frozen grin.
Under the rain, a void gradually expanded.
As if it had found its direction, the figure quickened its steps, silently and swiftly approaching.
Omg so scary. Wen jiayan better hurry!
Thank you for the chapters!