Chapter 123 Aberrant 13

Before nightfall, they rested in an open area two streets away from Tianzi Building.

Chen Cailing sat quietly in a corner, holding Qian tightly in her arms, not daring to make a sound. She was terrified that if these people got even slightly displeased, they might just grab them and kill them.

Seeing that they knew their place, the five people didn’t pay much attention to them.

Of the five, it was clear that Young Master Li held the central position. He sat there with a tense expression, glancing up at the sunlight above him from time to time. As the light shifted, his unease visibly grew.

Compared to him, the other four were much calmer.

The bodyguard standing behind Young Master Li had a cold, silent expression, while the other three huddled together and spoke in hushed tones.

Noticing Young Master Li’s agitation, the woman known as Sister Liu Zhi offered a reassuring smile. “Young Master Li, don’t worry. Since we dared to bring you into this instance, we’re confident we can get you out safely.”

He had already heard this kind of reassurance several times before. And though he knew these people would protect him for the sake of his family’s power, once he’d actually stepped into this hellish place and witnessed the events of the last two nights, he couldn’t help but waver.

Not long ago, he had suddenly been dragged into the Survival Game. After returning from completing his first game, his grandfather immediately arranged for him to “gain experience.”

They used a prop ticket to pull in four high-level players, entering B- and A-grade Domains. After a few runs, he racked up a ton of Survival Points to strengthen his body.

Compared to when he started, he had indeed become stronger, with greater physical power—but that was all.

Maybe it was because things had gone too smoothly for him that he hadn’t awakened any special abilities in the missions, nor obtained any suitable special items. That was probably why they’d arranged for him to venture into an S-grade Domain this time.

As an S-grade Domain that had yet to be “first-killed,” if he could manage to defeat Aberrant, he would no doubt gain a special ability and receive powerful item drops.

Liu Zhi, Baldy, and Skinny Monkey were all high-level players affiliated with his family’s forces. Plus, his eldest brother had sent a bodyguard. There shouldn’t be any problems.

Young Master Li tried to reassure himself, recalling the information he had reviewed. He asked, “The items you brought—are you sure they can restrain Aberrant? I heard the Association also sent people in last time. What if they beat us to it?”

Skinny Monkey chuckled. “The Association? Please. Those greenhorns they sent will be lucky just to get out alive.”

Liu Zhi smoothed her hair and said with a smile, “We came in fully prepared this time. Honestly, when it comes to the Monster Domain, not even the Association knows it as well as we do.”

Her tone took on a mysterious note. “I have a younger god-sister. Last time, she happened to enter the Monster Domain and discovered Aberrant’s weakness by accident.”

“Her weakness? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Young Master Li frowned.

“Don’t be so anxious, Young Master Li. I was just getting to that.”

Liu Zhi spoke slowly and deliberately. “According to the Association’s investigation, Aberrant was formed because there’s a ‘burial chamber’ in Tianzi Building—too many urns with the ashes of women who died on Red Street were stored there. After the anomaly descended, Aberrant was born. They believe she’s the amalgamation of those women’s twisted souls.”

“But in reality, Aberrant was born from the Guanyin statue enshrined in that burial chamber. She’s not like an ordinary ghost, which is why most low-grade talismans for banishing spirits are useless against her. But high-level items with Buddhist origins, from the same source as her, can seriously harm her.”

“My ability, Baldy’s item, both happen to restrain her. Add in Skinny Monkey’s item, which can trap ghosts—Aberrant won’t be a threat. When the time comes, all you need to do is, under the bodyguard’s protection, head straight to that burial chamber and smash the Guanyin statue she was born from.”

Hearing this, Young Master Li visibly relaxed. It sounded easy enough—he was even starting to look forward to it.

The five of them chatted casually, paying no attention to the two little girls in the corner. Qian leaned against Chen Cailing, her wide eyes quietly observing them, her thoughts unreadable.

The third night fell.

As Aberrant awakened, Tianzi Building rose higher, layer by layer.

Young Master Li had read the reports, but seeing it in person, the overwhelming sense of dread and twisted aura made him instinctively take two steps back. The life-saving charm hanging on his chest gave off a faint heat.

“These bottom six floors look different from the ones above. Are we really going in just like that? Did your god-sister go through this part too?” Young Master Li asked.

Of course, Liu Zhi wasn’t going to admit that her god-sister hadn’t actually experienced the bottom six floors herself, so she didn’t really know what was going on there.

“Of course we’re going in. Didn’t we bring two little scouts with us?”

Liu Zhi looked over at the two girls huddled to the side. “Go on, walk in and take a look.”

Chen Cailing had seen Tianzi Building during the day, but not at night. She had no idea the building could change like this. Just looking at the swirling gray mist and the looming black shadows inside, she knew stepping in meant certain death.

So she clutched Qian tightly and pleaded with Liu Zhi, “Big sister, we’ll die if we go in. You’re all so strong—you don’t need us to scout. Please, I’m begging you, let us go!”

“Sweet-talking won’t help, even if you call me sister. Baldy, send them in.”

“On it!” Baldy grabbed Chen Cailing and Qian and shoved them up the steps of Tianzi Building. He cracked his knuckles threateningly at Chen Cailing.

“Run forward, quick! If I catch up to you, I’ll crush your skull!”

When Chen Cailing saw his expression, she realized he wasn’t joking. She was so scared she couldn’t even cry. With her face pale, she dragged Qian forward under his laughter.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Qian… we’re going to die… don’t be scared, I’ll stay with you…” she whispered, crying.

Qian looked up at her with the same fearless expression as always, which only made Chen Cailing feel worse.

She didn’t know what they were about to face. She was still so small.

Even with death looming, Chen Cailing still struggled in her own feeble way, walking very slowly as she held Qian’s hand. But once they entered the building, Qian suddenly tugged her sharply to the side.

Chen Cailing hadn’t realized how strong she was. Qian dragged her down a side corridor, running.

The round, chubby child pulled her through the gray shadows, and to Chen Cailing’s surprise, the dense crowd of silhouettes parted to let them pass, allowing them to reach the equally gray staircase without obstruction.

Chen Cailing turned back in astonishment.

The five people standing at the entrance of Tianzi Building also saw the two children reach the stairs safely. The gray figures made no move to attack.

“These gray shadows don’t seem aggressive,” Young Master Li said, visibly relieved and more at ease.

Liu Zhi chuckled softly. “Then let’s go.”

But as soon as they stepped into the building, the previously still gray fog began to churn violently.

The entrance of Tianzi Building suddenly receded far behind them, and the corridor ahead stretched infinitely. More and more gray figures stepped out from the doorway and rose from the ground, crowding around them from all sides.

Young Master Li stared at the lifeless, gray-veiled faces and instinctively retreated behind the Bodyguard.

“What’s going on?! Why are they attacking us?!”

The Bodyguard drew his knife and held it across his chest.

“Baldy, you’re up,” Liu Zhi said, pinching her nose with disdain as she stepped back—not out of fear, but disgust.

She could smell the putrid stench of rot in the air—the scent of countless deaths.

Golden light shimmered on Baldy’s fists. He threw a punch, but his face quickly showed surprise. The gray shadows were dispersed, not destroyed.

“These things aren’t ghosts,” Skinny Monkey said, hands tucked into his sleeves, ready to act.

“Agreed. Don’t bother with them. Baldy, clear a path—just move straight ahead,” Liu Zhi ordered.

Young Master Li, walking in the middle, was extremely nervous. Suddenly, he tripped and fell forward. In that moment, his hand brushed against one of the gray figures.

A buzzing filled his head, and his mind went blank.

“Young Master!” the Bodyguard shouted, his face draining of color as he watched Young Master Li turn gray and vanish before his eyes.

Liu Zhi’s expression darkened. “He’s not dead. These things have hidden him somewhere in the building. We’ll split up and search.”

Meanwhile, on the gray fourth floor, Chen Cailing, led there by Qian, watched in shock as a gray figure appeared nearby—one with Young Master Li’s face. He looked around in confusion before a gray woman burst from a room and yanked his ear hard.

Chen Cailing: “???”

She managed to find her voice. “Qian, Qian? Where are we going? We can’t stay here—this place is too dangerous.”

“I want to go home to find my mommy!” Qian said, climbing the stairs with her little legs.

“Find… Mommy?” Chen Cailing repeated blankly, and when another cluster of gray shadows appeared up ahead, she instinctively pulled Qian aside to avoid them.

After climbing through all six gray-covered floors, they finally reached a normal-looking first floor. Qian immediately spotted a familiar figure and cried out, “Mommy!”

Aberrant had only just awakened from her slumber.

At first, it didn’t feel any different from the countless other times she had awakened—until she noticed the colorful pillows and blankets covering her, which stirred something in her memory. That’s when she realized—one child was missing from her arms.

The child had slipped away again.

But Aberrant wasn’t worried. She could sense the child was safe. More importantly, she’d detected the presence of humans in her nest—strong, delicious humans.

So she immediately went out to hunt, only to bump into the runaway child.

Chen Cailing looked up at the cry of “Mommy” and froze at the sight of Aberrant—toweringly tall, eerily grotesque, with countless arms sprouting from her back. She was terrifying, yet the bright red flower patterns on her dress lent her an odd touch of childishness.

Unable to speak, Chen Cailing stood there, throat and mind both blocked, as Qian led her right up to Aberrant. She stood dumbfounded, watching their interaction.

“Mommy, mommy!” Qian shouted eagerly.

Aberrant glanced at the child holding “food,” the red lips beneath her dark hair curling into a smile.

If anyone could read her expression, it would likely be one of pride—like a cat watching its kitten catch its first mouse, or a mother seeing her child cook a meal for the first time.

So young, and already able to hunt. But of course, she wouldn’t eat the food her child brought back.

After briefly pausing in front of Qian, Aberrant disappeared again before the child could say more.

She’d originally planned to take advantage of the child’s absence to go hunt. She hadn’t expected the kid to return so quickly. If she didn’t hurry now, the child might cling to her again, and she’d miss her chance to eat.

After a chaotic week caused by her child, Mommy Aberrant had come to understand a new life skill.

Qian, ready to tattle on her mother, was dumbfounded to see her vanish the instant she appeared.

“Mommy!”