Chapter 193: The Ladder

Xiao Lan and Luo search together for the mastery of the position.

They have been through quite a few playgrounds, killing the bosses in them and harvesting a little poverty value along the way.

On the way, they also felt the blocking forces getting stronger, sometimes there would be more than one boss in a playground, and there would be sudden appearances of indentured players.

Xiao Lan asks, "Where will the master be?"

Luo: "As is customary, he will stay at the end of everything."

Xiao Lan thought about it, "Like a boss at the bottom of a level in a game?"

Luo nodded, "Something like that."

Xiao Lan said, "Do you think he would have a middle-aged problem? Like must stay in high places and never detract from his villain's platitude or something like that."

Luo thought about it for a while and thought it was a real possibility.

Not only does he like to observe from on high, but he's always making plans to undermine others, which is very much in keeping with the villain's usual style.

Is his own brother actually a hidden middle-aged man?

Ahead, once again, a new playground appears.

But this playground looks odd in a few ways, and from the outside it doesn't feel difficult at all.

It just appeared silently in front of the two men and opened up the entrance, through which they had to pass in order to advance.

Xiao Lan said, "Is this a gift from the Lord especially for us?"

Luo gave Xiao Lan a look, "Be careful."

Having said that, the two stepped into the playground.

What emerges is a hotel decorated in the Art Nouveau style, the kind of style that was popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

With today's eyes, it is still exquisite and natural, with a unique aesthetic.

The hotel is lit up, the floors are covered with soft red carpets and the air is perfumed with the hotel's exclusive fragrance, a look of readiness to receive visitors.

But the reception desk was empty, not just the front desk, but everything within sight of Xiao Lan.

Xiao Lan tried to call out, "Hello, is anyone there?"

No response.

He tried ringing the front desk bell again.

But after the bell rang, there was still not the slightest response from the hotel, nor did the reception npc appear.

It is as if the hotel is an empty shell, designed to trap visitors in it.

Xiao Lan said, "Is it still a self-catering hotel."

Luo says: "It's a copy made entirely of the power of the master, but it's a half-baked one."

Xiao Lan wondered, "Made up entirely of the power of the Lord?"

Luo nodded, "This copy doesn't have my power in it, so I can't break through directly. The rules set by the master may be different from the previous copies, and there may be unknown dangers if they are half-finished, but it also means that we are close to him."

Xiao Lan: "So what do we have to do to get out?"

Luo said, "The core of the copy is the boss, after killing the boss, the copy will become unstable and it will be easier to get out then."

On hearing this, Xiao Lan raised his hand and lashed his stick directly at the surrounding wall.

To find the boss, you don't have to find the clues yourself. If you destroy the scene beyond a certain point, it is possible for the boss to deliver it to your door.

A hole was made in the wall by the force of Xiao Lan's blow.

But the hole soon healed on its own, and in a matter of seconds it was as if nothing had happened.

No hint of attracting the boss's attention, and no poverty value coming in.

Xiao Lan stared at the restored wall, "Looks like we can't force it like we did before, forget it and look for clues, there's always a way out."

The two men began walking around the empty and silent hotel, trying to find clues.

This time, not only did they have to explore everything on their own, but they had no main line to guide them by unorthodox means, and there were rules that might have changed.

As Luo said, this hotel is really different from the others.

The closed rooms along the way, even when Xiao Lan uses his ancestral door-opening skills, remain untouched, like jerry-built game models that look like they have doors but actually don't open at all.

Finally, they came to the only room that was different -

3104.

This is the only one of all the room doors that is half hidden.

It is also the only difference in the entire hotel.

The feeling was like a trap inviting the king in, but they had to step into it.

Luo asked, "Going in, sir?"

Xiao Lan said, "We probably don't have a choice, do you think we look like the kind of deadly cannon fodder in horror movies where the first wave dies after a short time?"

Luo: "......"

The statement was too big and auspicious and he wasn't very keen to take it up.

It's better to just keep smiling.

The two men pushed open the door.

"Click-" There was an oncoming flash of light, accompanied by the sound of the shutter.

Xiao Lan looks and sees an old Polaroid camera directly in front of the door.

It was it that snapped the picture just as the two men pushed through the door.

The Polaroid, however, was left alone on the table and there was no mechanism in operation.

Needless to ask, this is certainly a Polaroid with a story.

And nine times out of ten, it's a ghost story.

Luckily, the two had already seen a lot of routines and did not panic in the slightest in the face of this stance.

Xiao Lan takes a few steps forward and picks up the photo that the camera spits out.

After waiting for a while, the picture on the photo finally appeared.

Although Xiao Lan and Luo are photographed together, it is strange that they are clearly walking in one after the other, with Xiao Lan in the front holding the door open and covering part of Luo's body in the back when the shutter sounds.

In the photograph, however, the two men are standing side by side in a row.

Both men look at the camera with expressionless faces, their faces looking dead and unlucky.

Not only that, but the door to the room was still closed.

Xiao Lan turned his head to see the door still open, and it was clearly different from the one in the photo.

Suddenly, Xiao Lan felt that she saw some grey shadow out of the corner of her eye.

He turned his head quickly, only to find nothing beside him.

Xiao Lan asked Luo, "Did you see anything just now? It looked like there was some kind of grey shadow."

Luo shook his head, "No."

Xiao Lan frowned slightly, was he the only one who could see it?

Just then, the door to the room closed.

No sound was made and there was no process of closing the door; the door of the room that had been opened became closed as if it had been edited for the screen.

Luo tries to twist the door handle and the door opens smoothly.

Xiao Lan was a bit surprised by this.

According to the usual formula, wouldn't you come in and never get out? This room was different.

Is it unwilling to trap people, or has its purpose been achieved?

Or maybe it's actually more dangerous outside the door?

Xiao Lan couldn't help but look at the photograph in her hand.

Just see the photo, the two men still look expressionless, but a grey hand has been clapped on his shoulder.

Xiao Lan looked over his shoulder again, which was empty, with no one in sight.

Look at Luo in the photo again, he has nothing on his shoulders but an extra hand at his ankle.

Luo also looked at his ankle and there was nothing on it.

Xiao Lan put away the photo, which should be a key, although it looks bizarre, so let's keep it for now.

Start checking up in the room.

The carpet here is still red. Generally speaking, red carpets are rarely used in places like bedrooms, as they are more likely to attract attention and can stimulate the eye, making it difficult to calm down emotionally.

The interior continues in the same style as the hotel, looking sophisticated and vintage.

Outside the window, however, the city is dark unlike the usual playground.

A building stands, but without the slightest light coming through, it looks as if there are invisible ghosts staring out of every window.

Just then, Luo turns on the old VCR in the corner of the room.

Then the old TV came into view as well.

The image that emerges is monotonous, of the family walking into the room and being photographed as Xiao Lan and the others were.

Then they stayed in the room as if nothing had happened, about a few days passed, and then late one night unannounced they got up and hanged themselves.

The scene ends on the dangling bodies of several people.

A wind seemed to blow through the window, causing their dangling feet to sway uncontrollably, in a very regular rhythm.

Luo rewinds the image a little and points to the image of several people hanging themselves, "Here, there's a grey shadow."

Xiao Lan raises an eyebrow, "Is this ...... someone who has stayed in this room before and something is manipulating them to kill themselves?"

Luo nodded, "I think so."

At that moment, the old record player in the bedroom ran automatically and played an old song.

"Waiting for you ...... to come back ...... until the white head ...... still missing ...... "

It is a mournful love song about a woman's longing for her lover.

However, the sound quality of the old records is not good, and with years of ageing, the sound has become intermittent.

The song changes key with it and seems eerie.

As if inviting the two men, come and have a look around.

The two men looked at each other and walked straight into the bedroom.

Upon entering the bedroom, Xiao Lan's attention was drawn to the large bed in the middle.

It wasn't so much the bed that looked good, it was mainly the fact that a yellow thong and a pair of bright purple stockings that had obviously been worn were being thrown on the bed.

The bed marks are slightly less childish.

Xiao Lan commented on "This flavour ...... is chic ......"

A colourway so exciting that someone would actually wear it in the bedroom and manage to keep from laughing, and then that goes down afterwards.

It is really powerful.

Luo says: "It doesn't seem too uncommon in human civilisation."

Xiao Lan stared at him, "How do you know that?"

"......" Luo looked to the side with an innocent look on his face, as if flowers were growing on the walls.

Suddenly, Xiao Lan frowned, "Listen, there's something in the song."

Luo also came over and listened carefully.

Soon they all realised that interspersed with the intermittent singing were "Die ......", "All ......" and "To hell with ......".

Even the songs carry a curse on the occupants.

Another grey shadow passes by Xiao Lan.

Xiao Lan throws a direct backhand but still misses with anything.

Xiao Lan took out the photo again and looked at it.

It was during this time that another hand was added to his shoulder, and now there is a ghost hand on each shoulder.

Luo's side is similar.

Xiao Lan said, "Isn't it a bit too fast to have another hand after only a short while?"

Luo said, "Perhaps the timing rules for ghost attacks have been modified."

Both men felt the time was running out and they hadn't found a clue to the boss yet, which wasn't good.

As if in response to his words, there was a sudden knock at the door.

The knock on the door was accompanied by the voice of a man: " Xiao Lan "

The voice called out Xiao Lan's name but trailed off in a tone so long and muffled that no one in their right mind would want to go out and see it.

Xiao Lan and Luo both looked at the door and the strange grey mass under it without speaking.

The knocking continued for a while and suddenly turned into a violent slamming of the door with such force that the whole door rumbled as if it was about to be broken in.

Just then, another footstep appeared.

The man seemed to have bumped right into something outside the door and was startled, turning to make his escape when a rush of footsteps appeared in the corridor.

But the sound of hurried footsteps was only shortly followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the ground, followed by the sound of fierce fighting and struggling.

The battle did not last long before the man who was attacked lost the ability to resist.

The sound of dragging gradually moved closer to the room and Xiao Lan heard the man's voice.

"Help ......"

That's Wang Taidi's voice.

He struggled vainly on the floor, knocking over decorations in the corridor as he tried unsuccessfully to stop the dragging of the unknown ghost, the sound of nails scraping against the wall could be heard clearly on Xiao Lan's side, the sound harsh and seemingly futile.

As he passed the door to Xiao Lan's room, he rapped on it: "Is there anyone in there? Help! Help!"

The odd voice that appeared earlier said, " Xiao Lan "

He shouted, "Xiao Lan! Are you in there? Help! Help me!!!"

He rapped violently on the door again, but the rap grew feeble, accompanied by the sound of bones snapping and dragging once more.

"Save ...... me ......" Wang Taidi's voice also trailed off.

Xiao Lan's tone was calm: "What is your brother's net height? Tell me and I'll save you."

This " Wang Taidi" appears so coincidentally that rather than him accidentally bumping into the ghost, these two are simply playing a double act to trick him into opening the door.

And Wang Taidi has long since outgrown this underdog persona.

" Wang Taidi ": "......"

He couldn't answer, of course, but he said reluctantly, "Help me ...... open the door ......"

It was clear that after opening the door they would be confronted with a trap.

But Xiao Lan smiled, and he looked over at Luo and met his partner's elegant smile.

Isn't the boss what they are looking for? Since the boss has come straight to their door, why waste time looking for clues?

It's rare to find such a considerate boss.

Outside the door was a ghostly figure covered in the same grey as in the photo, who had made all the previous noises in order to lure the person inside to open the door.

A scheming smile appeared on his grim face when he saw the door open.

But the two men who opened the door smiled even wider than he did, and for a moment it was hard to know who was the ghost.

The ghostly figure was dumbfounded, and before he could react, the pitch-black blade and the black shadow had landed on him.

It was accompanied by severe beatings from the community.

All this has taught him profoundly not to knock on the doors of random strangers.

Even if you are a ghost.

The ghostly figure screams and disappears, and the playfield fluctuates, the two taking the opportunity to get out of the way of this game.

Appearing in front of you is a long flight of steps.

At the end of the staircase is a piercing Bai Guang, where the master is located.

Xiao Lan and Luo stepped up the ladder.

They did not drop their guard completely, but proceeded carefully up the steps.

The stairs are long and seemingly endless, and after walking for a long time they don't approach the Bai Guang, which is a bit of a bummer to be honest.

"Please stay, both of you." A female voice, familiar in its delicacy, rang out.

Xiao Lan looks back, but is surprised to see a familiar figure.

Tall and stocky, with an ornate high bun and heavy make-up coupled with the face of a half boar.

This is Mrs Bella.

At the moment, her eyes were blood-red and it was clear that the person manipulating the body was the being called Oti, who had somehow appeared out of nowhere not far behind the two.

Although Bella is only a low-level boss, Xiao Lan hasn't forgotten that her opponent is undead.

Even if the attack was average, it was still quite a problem to solve, and they hadn't really fought Oti's original body at that time, so they didn't know what kind of power the other side would have.

It was also clear from this stance that the other party had come to stop the road, not to catch up.

Xiao Lan tightened his grip on the knife and was about to step forward.

Suddenly, another figure rushed into the field.

Dressed in a supermarket uniform, with greenish-grey skin and cloudy eyes.

This is Xiao Lan's first boss, Zhang Dong, and not only that, his signature XX series is also Xiao Lan's nightmare.

Instead, Zhang Dong stood in front of Xiao Lan and faced Bella, clearly wanting to take sides with her.

Xiao Lan is a bit puzzled, what is wrong with this person?

Zhang Dong turned to Xiao Lan and gave her a smile that she thought was very handsome: "You've had my autographed photo for so long, I can't let my loyal fans down."

With that, Zhang Dong rushed towards Mrs. Bella in a righteous manner.

Xiao Lan is now rummaging through the nooks and crannies of his memory.

It seems that Zhang Dong's autographed photo was dropped from his own skills at Corrieff College.

But as he was in the middle of a battle, he just shoved the prop into his parcel and left, not thinking to turn it over and throw it away afterwards.

Xiao Lan couldn't help but be a little touched: " Zhang Dong, I didn't expect you to be like this-"

Before Xiao Lan could finish her sentence, she saw Mrs Bella slap Zhang Dong and send him flying.

Zhang Dong's figure arcs through the air and disappears into the chaos.

Xiao Lan: "......"

Isn't that a little too weak a fighter? Maybe only 0.5.

But he didn't find it surprising what was going on at all.

Madame Bella flicked her fan: "Well, the obstructionist has left and it's my turn to play with you."

Yet another white mist rises, and out of it comes a familiar face to Xiao Lan - the

Gu Mo .

The girl who became the boss after her tragic death in the Rokudo Onsen.

Gu Mo whispered, "Let me see what happens when you don't run away."

With that, she led her legions of undead against Lady Bella.

The undead are at a standstill against the equally undead and seemingly endless undead.

Xiao Lan whispered, "Thank you."

Then, together with Luo, they move on.

Shortly after advancing, they encountered the landlord of the 404, stopping the way with his tenants.

This time it was the police officer and his lover from metro station 13 who got in the way.

The police officer nodded to Xiao Lan, who nodded back, and Luo nodded in greeting, without saying a word, but without saying anything.

Next came Cain, stopped by Adeline and Mrs. Hong Yue, mother and daughter.

After bidding farewell to Adeline and her daughter, Xiao Lan says to herself, "You'll be lucky to have a soulful Doraemon.

After some more progress, Bai Guang at the end is very close.

Suddenly a large area of ghosts and ghouls appeared ahead.

These ghosts are all strangers to Xiao Lan, but they look at her as if they have some deep hatred.

Xiao Lan instantly knew who they were -

The ghosts above The Endymion.

Xiao Lan, together with Luo, had overturned the lair of all the ghosts and ghouls, and this was a big feud.

Sure enough, you can't be too arrogant.

Xiao Lan was thinking that he was going to pass the game soon and that the ghosts in the playground would not be able to find him even if they were angry.

Who knew there would actually be a meeting, now wouldn't that be awkward.

Xiao Lan is ready for a big fight.

A new corridor, however, appeared before him, stretching to the end of the stairs.

This corridor seems to be in a different dimension, clearly in sight, but inaccessible to the ghosts of The Endymion.

Xiao Lan looks around, but finds no new figure.

"As my most interested reader, you seem to be able to show me more interesting things, so don't let me down." The voice that suddenly appeared sounded gentle, like a jaded scholar.

Luo is unfamiliar with this voice.

Xiao Lan had heard of it, after all, not only did he have their autographs, but he also owed them money.

The person who did not show up, but gave them a way out, was the owner of Ming Yue Pavilion - the crow.

Mr. Crow is awesome!

Also with an autograph, the treatment here is completely different from that of Zhang Dong ......

The author has something to say.

Zhang Dong, an ambush that I buried for over 100 chapters out of sheer bad taste but to no avail, hahaha