Category: The Grotesque Miss’s End Story

Chapter 69: Eavesdropping

The word “kindred” reminded Luo Ling of the white reishi in Baiyan Village, sending a shiver down her spine.

However, meeting Elsa’s hopeful gaze, Luo Ling forced a smile.

“Mm… yes, we are kindred spirits. Let’s go, I’ll take you out of here.”

In a way, she and Elsa were indeed kindred spirits.

Elsa wielded the power of Grotesqueries, while Luo Ling walked the path of a Grotesquery.

In this respect, they were the same.

If other Awakened Ones discovered this… they would probably be mistaken for members of the Harbingers of Calamity.

Assuming no other organization could control Grotesqueries.

“Mm… but, what about…”

Elsa nodded, then looked timidly at the other Grotesqueries occupying her mindscape.

These Grotesqueries had been forcibly implanted into Elsa by Scientist, who used Elsa’s body as a conduit for their power.

Like Soul Torture, which had robbed Elsa of her ability to communicate normally. Her words, written or spoken, would become instruments of torture for the soul.

And every time she used Soul Torture, Elsa herself would also suffer a portion of the torment.

Even though Elsa had found a workaround, using ventriloquism to speak, only Luo Ling and Bella could hear her voice. Others would experience a soul-piercing pain upon hearing it.

Another Grotesquery, the street-like phenomenon, was still in its active phase, yet it had already taken Elsa’s legs and most of her vision.

She kept her eyes closed, relying on sensors to perceive her surroundings… but her vision was limited to black and white, devoid of color.

Only when Luo Ling saw the “Big Sister Bai” in Elsa’s eyes did she understand why Elsa had given her the codename “White Witch.”

Because Elsa’s memories after receiving the sensors were all in black and white. Everyone appeared black to her, just different shades of black.

Only “Big Sister Bai” was pure white. Luo Ling’s pale skin and hair were truly unique to Elsa.

“Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Luo Ling reassured Elsa, sensing the Grotesqueries’ rejection of her presence. They had even stopped encroaching on Elsa’s consciousness because of her arrival.

Although she didn’t understand why, it was a good thing.

“It’s true…”

Elsa looked up at the terrifying entities in her mindscape, clearly sensing their retreat.

The Grotesquery within Big Sister Bai… was it that powerful?

Even the Grotesqueries sealed within her couldn’t compare…

But Elsa’s first reaction wasn’t joy, but heartache.

She had become like this after being merged with just a few relatively weak Grotesqueries, her body plagued with ailments, unable to even speak normally.

But Big Sister Bai, who had merged with a stronger Grotesquery, could still live like a normal person… the price she had to pay must be even heavier and more cruel…

The terrifying Sister Scientist had said that humans couldn’t coexist with Grotesqueries without paying a price. Physical ailments were the least of it, soul damage was just a scratch, the true price was far more terrifying, beyond human comprehension.

If Big Sister Bai’s body and soul were unharmed, then what was her price…?

“Big Sister Bai, about my age, can live so bravely despite her situation, how can I back down?”

With this thought, Elsa’s resolve strengthened, her previously weak consciousness solidifying.

She reached out and took Luo Ling’s hand.

“Let’s go, Big Sister Bai,” Elsa whispered, stepping out of the barrier first, facing the terrifying Grotesqueries.

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling was puzzled by Elsa’s sudden strength, but seeing her recover, she breathed a sigh of relief.

The awakened blade and the active street didn’t approach. The other four dormant Grotesqueries stirred restlessly, their gazes fixated on Luo Ling.

Sensing their malice, Luo Ling didn’t delay any longer. She followed behind Elsa, step by step, leading her out of this prison constructed from her consciousness.

A young girl, hand in hand with a grotesque yet beautiful cluster of white mycelia, walked from darkness towards light.

“Is this… the Puppet Ballad?”

“But hasn’t it already been completely extinguished… returned to Silent Demise…?”

“Heh, Silent Demise.”

…

“Mm…”

Elsa opened her empty eyes, then quickly closed them again.

She looked around, and after a moment of confusion, realized she had left the subterranean cavern and returned to the familiar psychiatric hospital.

Ignoring Bella’s whimpering, Elsa, sitting on the bed, tried to recall what had happened.

Soon, a memory surfaced, and a look of anxiety appeared on her face.

“It seems… Sister Scientist came…”

No, she had finally escaped, she couldn’t go back…

Had she hurt anyone this time?

Were Big Sister Bai and Sister An Yu alright?

She seemed to have… seen Big Sister Bai somewhere else later…

Elsa racked her brain, but she couldn’t remember and could only give up with a sigh.

Luo Ling, through the Spore’s perspective, silently observed Elsa, sensing her thoughts, and pondered for a moment.

“I see, for her, everything that happened in the mindscape was like a dream. She has some memories, but only vague impressions… Is it some kind of protective mechanism?”

But as long as Elsa was okay. She had been worried that Elsa’s mind might be damaged after such an ordeal, but now it seemed that Elsa’s ability to merge with six Grotesqueries wasn’t without reason.

…Although this talent seemed cruel to Elsa herself.

Seeing Elsa struggling to move her legs, preparing to return to her wheelchair, Luo Ling decided to leave.

Just as her consciousness was about to withdraw from the Spore, she heard voices outside the ward, Ji Shinian and Liu Songyi.

“…”

“Anyway, let’s keep this under wraps for now, don’t tell the others,” Ji Shinian’s voice was heavy. “Although Gypsy Girl isn’t always reliable, she never lies about what she sees through her Star Charts.”

“I understand,” Liu Songyi replied. “Let’s go check on Xiao Qian and An Yu’s recovery first. By the way, where’s Miss Bai?”

“Shen Miaoyun said she left earlier,” Ji Shinian continued. “White Witch’s identity is still shrouded in mystery. We should remain cautious when dealing with her.”

Hmm?

They were talking about her…

Luo Ling’s interest was piqued. Eavesdropping was human nature, and she was no exception.

As for Ji Shinian’s latter words, Luo Ling didn’t care much.

Those Other Shore types… had probably peeked at everyone secretly.

Even about Elsa, that old fox Ji Shinian probably knew. It was only because he couldn’t see through her that he said she was mysterious.

Opening the ward door, Ji Shinian looked surprised to see Elsa already in her wheelchair, diligently removing the tape from Bella.

Bella’s button eyes were leaking threads of… tears?, whimpering and saying something.

“Xiao Qian, you’ve recovered so quickly?”

Liu Songyi was also surprised. When Gypsy Girl had brought her here, her vital signs had been almost nonexistent. She had been the most seriously injured of the Baiyan Village team.

Elsa nodded at them, then picked up the freed Bella, who continued chattering.

“Oh my god, you’re the best, Boss! I knew I picked the right person to follow! That white-haired girl… that pretty little girl with white hair, oh wait, that disgusting, ugly, dirty, stupid old hag is so hateful!”

Bella seemed to sense Luo Ling’s consciousness and quickly removed her from her insults.

“That’s great, I thought you would be unconscious for half a month like last time.”

Liu Songyi breathed a sigh of relief. He had found Xiao Qian and practically treated her like his own daughter.

He had been glad Xiao Qian hadn’t participated in the operation against Performer. Otherwise… it would have been a disaster for everyone.

But after Gypsy Girl briefly explained the situation, he realized… the Baiyan Village commission, even without Performer’s intervention, had been far more dangerous than their own operation.

And Liu Songyi had been the one in charge of the Baiyan Village investigation. He was now filled with guilt, wondering why he hadn’t noticed the danger earlier.

…Actually, it was normal that he hadn’t noticed. Liu Songyi and his team had gone too early, when the villagers of Baiyan Village probably hadn’t been completely transformed into Meat Puppets yet, and the corpse-filled subterranean cavern was likely still small.

Elsa hesitated for a moment, then gestured with her hands, and Bella said,

“She’s asking where Big Sister Bai and Sister An Yu are.”

Bella and Elsa were connected; Bella knew what Elsa wanted to say and could convey it, but she usually refused to be obedient. Now, after being dealt with by Luo Ling and Gypsy Girl, she was finally behaving.

“An Yu…”

Liu Songyi looked towards the corner, saw the canvas shoes still there, and sighed.

Still withdrawn.

It was understandable, after what had happened.

“Miss Bai should be fine, she’s already been discharged,” Liu Songyi lowered his voice. “As for Xiao Yu, she needs some time to recover… It’s best not to disturb her for now.”

Elsa nodded. She had already seen An Yu hiding in the corner. Having experienced the Baiyan Village incident herself, she understood An Yu’s feelings. Anyone would break down after such an ordeal.

“I’ll explain the situation in the group chat later. Baiyan Village… the police are currently wrapping things up, classifying it as a missing persons case.”

Liu Songyi rubbed his temples. He had just recovered from his injuries and had been busy dealing with these matters for the past two days, almost causing his old wounds to reopen.

A missing persons case?

Luo Ling, who was eavesdropping, raised an eyebrow.

Oh right, ordinary people couldn’t see Grotesqueries… In their eyes, the entire village of Baiyan Village had probably vanished overnight.

But the corpses underground would be more difficult to deal with. Those weren’t Grotesqueries. An entire village turning into rotting corpses overnight would be big news anywhere.

“Mm, this matter is far from over. I’ve recovered quite a bit and can participate in the next operation.”

Ji Shinian nodded, his expression grim, as if he had received some disturbing news from Gypsy Girl.

“But Xiao Qian, you should rest first. You’ve just been through a major battle. We’ll handle the other matters.”

Liu Songyi smiled at Elsa, then left the ward with Ji Shinian. Luo Ling faintly heard Liu Songyi pleading with Ji Shinian not to involve Elsa.

But unfortunately, that was impossible.

Luo Ling could guess what Gypsy Girl had said, most likely about the Harbingers of Calamity.

Although Performer was dead, the more dangerous Scientist and Artist were on their way to Jiangcheng County, and according to Performer’s memories, they were both High-Order Awakened Ones.

…The entire Patient Exchange Group didn’t have a single High-Order Awakened One. Although Order didn’t entirely represent strength, in most cases, there was a difference between Awakened Ones of different Orders.

Therefore, Elsa, who had a deep connection to the Harbingers of Calamity, couldn’t escape this matter.

It seemed there was nothing more to eavesdrop on, and Luo Ling withdrew her Spores.

Looking around, it was completely dark now. Perhaps because winter was approaching, nightfall came earlier these days.

“Buzz, buzz~”

Just then, her phone vibrated.

Luo Ling picked it up and saw a private message from Liu Songyi.

[Ancient Martial Artist: Miss Bai, if you’re not asleep yet, please reply.]

[White Witch: I’m not asleep yet. What’s the matter?]

[Ancient Martial Artist: About the Baiyan Village incident, I need you to write a report… I apologize, this should have been An Yu’s job, but you’ve seen her condition.]

[White Witch: I can, but I’ve never written one before.]

[Ancient Martial Artist: I’ll send you a template, just fill it in.]

[Ancient Martial Artist: Qingshan Psychiatric Hospital Exchange Group Commission Report Template.doc]

[Ancient Martial Artist: If you have any questions, feel free to ask.]

Luo Ling received the file and opened it, her scalp tingling.

This report template… was very thorough, but also excessively detailed.

And what was with this… corporate vibe? She was still a high school student, she hadn’t even gone to university yet.

Forced into the adult world prematurely…

Oh right, there was one more thing. Since Liu Songyi, this busy man, had finally found some free time, she should ask him about Ji Ying.

Luo Ling had a vague memory of seeing Ji Ying at the end of that chaotic battle in the subterranean cavern, consuming Performer’s head.

The other illusions had faded after the battle, but Ji Ying’s sorrowful gaze remained clear in her memory.

[White Witch: Brother Liu, can I ask you something related to the police department?]

[Ancient Martial Artist: As long as it’s not classified information, yes.]

[White Witch: I’m looking for a female police officer named Ji Ying. Also, about the pursuit of her on October 17th… if it’s convenient, could you tell me the details?]

[Ancient Martial Artist: Ji Ying? I don’t recall anyone by that name, but I can check for you. As for October 17th, there were no pursuit operations. I’m the deputy captain of the criminal investigation unit, I would remember something like that.]

[Ancient Martial Artist: However, if this is information related to a Grotesquery, I hope you can discuss it with us in detail later.]

The latter part of his reply wasn’t surprising to Luo Ling, since it had been a controlled operation, but the first part…

“Even her identity as a police officer was a disguise?”

Luo Ling sighed. The more she thought about it, the less she understood this mysterious “guide” who had appeared and disappeared so suddenly.

So far, besides Ji Ying and herself, no one knew about the Puppet Ballad. Even Performer had only thought there was a Dangerous Grotesquery of Sequence 100 or so lurking in Jiangcheng County.

Completely unaware… that it was just an “egg” spawned by the Puppet Ballad.

In that case, how did Ji Ying know about the Puppet Ballad, and its abilities in such detail?

If it weren’t for Ji Shinian indirectly confirming Ji Ying’s existence and her status as a High-Order Awakened One, Luo Ling would have thought she was a figment of her imagination.

“Let’s write this commission report first. Hiss… there’s a reward distribution section? Gypsy Girl said the commission reward had already been given to the exchange group…”

In that case, she would shamelessly write down fifty percent!

After all, she had contributed the most in the Baiyan Village incident.

As for the details…

Mm, she would omit some parts and simply say she had defeated the opponent with her mysterious power.

After Luo Ling’s careful editing, besides the battle itself and the Puppet Ballad, almost all the details of the Baiyan Village incident were truthfully recorded.

There was no point in hiding them. Elsa and An Yu had been present, and the evidence at the scene was clear; it would be impossible to conceal everything.

As Luo Ling wrote, a tiny eye opened inconspicuously on her fingertip.

Its black and red pupil twitched uneasily.

Chapter 68: Kindred Spirits

The heavy, oppressive atmosphere of the laboratory, constructed from Elsa’s memories, was suffocating, suggesting that her life here… hadn’t been pleasant.

But Elsa should be here somewhere, right?

Luo Ling searched for a while, but the entire laboratory, besides the sealed containers, was empty, even the exit was blank.

“Could Elsa be inside one of the containers?”

With this thought, Luo Ling began checking them one by one.

Almost all the containers were empty, perhaps because the memory’s owner hadn’t seen their contents. Finally, in a smaller container tucked away in a corner, she found a figure.

…Was it Elsa?

A small infant floated in some kind of nutrient solution, countless tubes connected to its body, a bloodstained, sinister-looking blade also connected to it.

A label on the container caught Luo Ling’s eye, and a chill ran down her spine.

“Grotesquery Sequence Number 262, Nightmare: Soul Torture…”

The blade was a Grotesquery…

Luo Ling had never seen an object-type Grotesquery before. She hadn’t expected to see one in Elsa’s memories.

According to Ji Shinian, Sequence 262 was about the limit of what a Mid-Order Awakened One could handle. Anything higher required a High-Order Awakened One.

Unless, like Performer, they possessed the power of a Grotesquery.

In Performer’s memories, the Meat Puppets in Baiyan Village were equivalent to Grotesqueries below Sequence 300, far weaker than this blade.

Yet, even so, Luo Ling and An Yu couldn’t handle even one of them normally.

And such a Grotesquery had been implanted into a small infant.

Even more terrifying, in the memories Luo Ling could see, this was the weakest and most controllable Grotesquery within Elsa…

She couldn’t imagine how terrifying the other Grotesqueries merged with her were, the unimaginable price that would be paid if they awakened.

“Harbingers of Calamity…”

Using Grotesquery merging as a means, aiming to walk the paths of Grotesqueries, seeking the path to godhood… a group of mad seekers.

There were at least a hundred similar containers in this laboratory, meaning there were about a hundred infants and children like Elsa undergoing Grotesquery merging experiments.

And there were likely more labs like this, because judging from the layout, this was just a storage room for the containers.

And out of all these infants and children, only Elsa had survived.

The other poor children had probably died on the “path to godhood”…

Compared to Scientist’s atrocities, Performer, who had only refined her own child into a Grotesquery, seemed almost… kind. Of course, both were horrific acts.

The cruelty of the Harbingers of Calamity far exceeded Luo Ling’s imagination.

“But where is Elsa’s consciousness now?”

This was just a frozen memory fragment. Luo Ling’s consciousness continued deeper.

Following the threads of memory, delving into Elsa’s secrets, Luo Ling grew increasingly silent.

Such suffering and terror at such a young age…

No wonder she had been able to fight so effectively in the subterranean cavern. If it weren’t for Scientist’s sudden appearance, Performer would have been defeated by Elsa before being consumed by the white reishi.

Finally, Luo Ling sensed Elsa’s faint call and her consciousness descended into a terrifying darkness.

She quickly realized where she was.

“The place where the Grotesqueries are imprisoned…?”

Luo Ling immediately saw the bloodstained blade, along with several other shadowy figures, likely other dormant Grotesqueries.

The most distinct shadow vaguely resembled a street.

A phenomenon-type Grotesquery?

…The Harbingers of Calamity were truly daring, merging all kinds of Grotesqueries into Elsa.

Surrounded by these Grotesqueries, Elsa huddled on the ground, trembling, her eyes filled with terror.

Grotesquery auras constantly assaulted her consciousness, tormenting her soul.

But a faint barrier enveloped Elsa, protecting her from the auras.

This must be Gypsy Girl’s doing, because there were several lipstick kisses on the barrier…

“No wonder Scientist said Elsa would only last for half an hour before losing control. If her consciousness collapsed in this environment, she would probably be temporarily possessed by the Grotesqueries, and the bloodstained blade and the street would manifest…”

Luo Ling shuddered. In her state at the time, she wouldn’t have survived a confrontation with these two Grotesqueries.

But she also felt a pang of sympathy. To prevent her own eruption, Elsa had endured this terrifying environment until Gypsy Girl erected the barrier in her mindscape, giving her a moment of respite.

Gypsy Girl had indeed helped, but she couldn’t free Elsa from this prison she shared with the Grotesqueries.

…Or perhaps, she could.

“I wonder if that charlatan predicted that I could save her… I doubt she couldn’t save Elsa’s consciousness herself,” Luo Ling’s lips twitched. She didn’t have a good impression of Awakened Ones on the Other Shore path. “Never mind, I’ll save Elsa first.”

Luo Ling extended her consciousness, and the surrounding Grotesqueries, sensing her presence, all closed in.

Just as Luo Ling braced herself for a difficult fight, the Grotesqueries retreated, almost as if… avoiding her?

Never mind, saving Elsa was more important. She had used Implant to enter Elsa’s mindscape, and if she stayed too long, there might be other problems.

As Luo Ling’s consciousness approached the small Elsa, she noticed Elsa trembling even more violently.

“Stay away from me… stay away…”

The barrier’s light intensified, then, sensing Luo Ling’s aura, it dimmed, offering no resistance.

“It’s me, Elsa.”

“Who… who is it…?”

“It’s me, Bai.”

“…Bai?”

Elsa stopped trembling and looked up, her face filled with terror when she saw Luo Ling.

“Sister Scientist, I’ve reached my limit! I don’t want to merge with any more Grotesqueries! I’ll do anything, I can be the Great Demon King of Slaughter, please…”

Luo Ling was silent for a moment, realizing Elsa had mistaken her for a new Grotesquery.

She sighed, reached out, and gently cupped Elsa’s tear-stained, terrified face.

“You are not the Great Demon King of Slaughter, you are the Scarlet Witch.

“And I am the White Witch. We… are partners, the best of partners.”

Elsa paused, repeating the words,

“Scarlet Witch, and White Witch…”

Finally, as if remembering something, a flicker of joy appeared on her face.

“Big Sister Bai! That’s great!

“So you’re just like me, we’re the same…”

Chapter 67: Changes

It was her sister.

Her sister had always been like this…

Luo Ling lowered her head slightly and whispered,

“Mm, I know.”

This scene reminded her of the heartwarming yet cruel moments at An Yu’s grandparents’ house in Baiyan Village.

An Yu must have felt the same way back then.

Until the very end, An Yu had tried to convince herself that her grandparents were still alive…

And now?

She… had become another An Yu.

No, no, there was no Puppet Ballad here, no white reishi, her sister was her sister.

But what if…?

…There were no “what ifs.”

Luo Ling looked up at her sister and met her gaze. Su Wan had put down her chopsticks and was watching her beloved sister intently, as always.

Could even her sister, like this, be a Meat Puppet of the Puppet Ballad?

The thought lingered, the events of Baiyan Village leaving a deep impression on her.

The best way to confirm if her sister was real was to cut her skin and see if her flesh and blood had been replaced by white mycelia.

Luo Ling had a dagger hidden on her. Her sister was right there. A few simple actions would be enough to dispel her doubts.

Draw the dagger, swing it, cut the skin, that was all it took.

“What’s wrong? Eat up. I already ate this afternoon, I’m not hungry,” her sister said with a smile, the wrinkles around her eyes not diminishing the warmth in her gaze.

“Okay.”

Luo Ling lowered her head and continued eating.

What was she thinking…?

She couldn’t be influenced by such thoughts. If she cut everyone she met to confirm their identity, she would be no different from a lunatic.

The “egg” had a purpose. It needed to hatch, to accumulate power, so it created Meat Puppets.

Only in a relatively isolated place like Baiyan Village could a large number of Meat Puppets exist. An “egg” living in the city, like Li Tianming, could only target Awakened Ones.

After all, there were too many people in the city. If it acted as recklessly as in Baiyan Village, it would have been eliminated by the city’s Awakened organizations long ago.

Calm down, the situation wasn’t that dire yet. It couldn’t be that the entire Jiangcheng County was populated by Meat Puppets.

This thought calmed Luo Ling’s anxiety. After quickly finishing her meal, she stood up to get her backpack.

“Remember to rest early, don’t study tonight,” her sister’s concerned voice echoed.

“Okay.”

Luo Ling turned, forcing a smile to reassure her sister, then hurried upstairs to her room.

“This child…”

Su Wan chuckled and shook her head.

Then she noticed something on the chair where Luo Ling’s backpack had been. She walked over, picked it up, and frowned.

“…Whose photo is this? Why is it in Xiao Ling’s bag?”

Su Wan looked up, about to take the small, passport-sized photo upstairs, but then decided against it, not wanting to disturb her sister’s rest.

“Never mind, I’ll leave it here. She’ll remember when she sees it.”

Su Wan placed the photo back on the chair and went to clear the table.

The photo was of a pretty but thin girl, her head slightly lowered, looking anxious and uneasy, her black, shoulder-length hair deliberately covering her cheeks, a faint, dark gold glint in her eyes.

…

Back in her room, Luo Ling tossed her backpack aside and instinctively looked at the full-length mirror.

The girl in the mirror looked strange, the blue scales on her temples quite noticeable. She had to comb her hair over them to hide them.

That was fine; she usually had this hairstyle at school anyway. But the dark gold glint in her eyes was more conspicuous, easily noticeable even without close inspection.

Luo Ling rubbed her eyes, but the eerie golden hue didn’t fade.

“I need to buy some colored contacts…”

Luo Ling sighed, a strange feeling settling in her heart.

Even with her looking like this, her sister hadn’t found it strange?

But thinking about it, her sister hadn’t even reacted much to her “White Witch” form, so this small change was indeed nothing significant.

“I should check on Elsa first.”

Luo Ling calmed herself, and the girl in the mirror’s hair grew longer, spreading across the floor, her face taking on a childish appearance.

Looking at the somewhat cumbersome long hair, Luo Ling thought she should tie it up next time. A change of hairstyle would be nice.

With a thought, her perspective shifted to the unconscious Elsa.

“Her breathing is steady, her aura stable, completely different from in the subterranean cavern… It seems Gypsy Girl really did intervene.”

Luo Ling continued observing, then suddenly felt a strange gaze on her. She shifted the Spore’s perspective and saw two cloth buttons staring intently at her.

…Bella.

Seeming to sense Luo Ling’s consciousness within the Spore, Bella started struggling, threads… were those tears?… leaking from her button eyes.

Luo Ling ignored Bella’s pleas and continued to examine Elsa’s condition.

Her vital signs and body were unharmed. Soul injuries weren’t something the Myriad path could heal, let alone Luo Ling, whose path was Silent Demise, the opposite of Myriad.

“To understand why Elsa is like this, it seems I have to look into her memories.”

The new ability, Read, which she hadn’t used before, Luo Ling wasn’t sure if it was safe, but she had to use it now… Since she was the one using the ability, she could simply destroy the Spore if anything went wrong.

Read: Spores take root and read the host’s information.

Luo Ling felt her consciousness being pulled into somewhere. When her vision returned, she was in a cold laboratory, surrounded by sealed containers.

The walls and ceiling were a cold, sterile white, different from a hospital’s, with a faint blue tinge, seemingly made of a special material.

Besides the sealed containers, there was a lab table piled with books and experimental records.

“This should be a fragment of Elsa’s memory, so this place is… Scientist’s lab?”

Luo Ling examined the lab curiously. Her perspective could move freely within this memory fragment, able to examine everything within, without restriction.

—Of course, only things the memory’s owner had seen firsthand.

For example, the books and experimental records on the lab table. Luo Ling flipped through them and found they were only covers, the pages inside blank, because Elsa had never seen their contents.

Chapter 66: Going Home

Elsa had an unclear connection to the Harbingers of Calamity, but judging from Ji Shinian’s expression and everyone’s reactions when he mentioned the organization, no one seemed to know about it.

Furthermore, they didn’t even seem to know that Elsa’s abilities came from Grotesqueries.

Perhaps Ji Shinian knew, but that old man was a cryptic Other Shore…

“About her… you’ll have to ask Brother Liu. He brought her here,” Shen Miaoyun seemed wary of Elsa. “Anyway, their matters are now your responsibility. Oh right, it’s been two days since the Baiyan Village incident. Don’t forget about it if you have other things to do.”

“Two days?”

Luo Ling’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly masked her reaction.

Shen Miaoyun didn’t notice. After explaining everything to Luo Ling, she hurried back to Ward Zero.

“…Fortunately, it’s Saturday.”

Luo Ling checked the date and time. It was almost time for school to end.

If she went back now… it wouldn’t be too late, and her sister shouldn’t be too worried.

However…

Luo Ling looked at the unconscious Elsa in the ward, then at the withdrawn An Yu in the corner, and sighed.

What a problematic team…

She was supposed to be the newbie, yet after this mission, she was the only one without any problems.

As expected, whenever Grotesqueries were involved, anything could happen.

Luo Ling suddenly recalled Ji Ying saying that even High-Order Awakened Ones could be killed by Low-Sequence Grotesqueries if they were careless.

“I’ll leave my Spores here and go home first, so Sister doesn’t worry.”

Luo Ling pulled out a strand of white hair, and before she could control it, the Spore instinctively attached itself to Elsa.

“Hmm?”

Luo Ling was slightly surprised, then realized it was because of her ability’s evolution.

Previously, she had to consciously control the Spores with her mind and perception to move them, but now she didn’t need to. She only needed to give them instructions, and they would act on their own.

This meant Luo Ling could now release a large number of Spores at once without worrying about her mind being overwhelmed.

Of course, the number of perspectives she could maintain was still limited. Too many, and her mind wouldn’t be able to handle it.

However…

“I hope using too many Spores won’t make me bald,” Luo Ling thought, touching her hair worriedly, then another thought crossed her mind. “If I do go bald, will my hair still be there when I transform back?”

A thought that even Luo Ling found absurd. She quickly dismissed it.

After leaving a Spore on both Elsa and An Yu, Luo Ling left Qingshan Hospital.

Looking back, she saw the Seer, or rather, Wang Lili, leaning against the window on the seventh floor, smiling and waving goodbye.

“Strange girl…”

Luo Ling muttered, then quickened her pace, seeing the setting sun on the horizon.

…

“You’re back?”

Opening the door to her apartment, Luo Ling heard her sister’s familiar, gentle voice. She was busy cooking in the kitchen, and two dishes and a soup were already on the table.

“Mm.”

Luo Ling placed her backpack on a chair and walked into the kitchen.

She turned on the tap, and ordinary water flowed out.

Luo Ling washed her hands carefully, feeling the familiar texture against her skin.

Reflected in the clear water were eyes with a dark gold glint, faint blue scales on her delicate cheeks, and sharp teeth peeking out from her slightly parted lips.

She spread her hands, traces of flesh and blood still clinging to her sharp fingertips.

“This is…”

Luo Ling’s breath hitched, and a sense of panic washed over her.

Wait, why did she look like this…?

Was this her demonic form?

A lingering effect from consuming the white reishi?

No… it had been much more severe at the time.

It must be… receding…

Every time she used her demonic transformation, traces of it would linger for a while, just like last time. But she hadn’t expected it to be so noticeable after two days.

It seemed that with each use, the demon’s influence on her body deepened.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Ling? Why are you spacing out?”

Her sister’s voice came from behind, and Luo Ling quickly turned off the tap.

“Nothing, just… a little tired.”

She turned her face away, afraid her sister would see her current appearance.

“Ah, you should rest more. Work and rest should be balanced. Studying is important, but so is your health,” her sister said with a smile, ruffling Luo Ling’s hair. “Go to bed after dinner and don’t study tonight.”

“…Okay.”

Luo Ling lowered her head and went to the dining table, quickly starting to eat.

She had to finish quickly before her sister saw…

“Xiao Ling, eat slowly, don’t rush,” her sister said gently.

“Mm.”

Luo Ling slowed down but kept her head lowered.

After a moment of silence, her sister’s voice turned serious.

“Xiao Ling, look up.”

Luo Ling froze but didn’t raise her head.

Had she… been noticed?

It was… so obvious.

This was her sister, the sister who had been with her for over a decade…

“Look up.”

Her sister’s voice was sterner now.

If it was her sister, she shouldn’t be afraid…

Luo Ling slowly raised her head, her eyes burning.

Her sister looked at her calmly, her tired face making Luo Ling’s heart ache, but her gaze made Luo Ling want to run away.

“Xiao Ling, why have you become like this…?”

Her sister asked softly.

Become a monster…?

Yes.

“I…”

Luo Ling wanted to tell her everything.

“Why do you look so pale? Did something happen?” Her sister reached out and touched Luo Ling’s cheek with concern. “Tell Sister what’s bothering you. Even if someone is bullying you at school, Sister will fight for you, even if it costs me my life.”

…She hadn’t noticed?

Or… couldn’t she see?

Luo Ling realized her sister’s gaze wasn’t focused on her grotesque features, but simply looking at her, her gentle eyes as if trying to melt her.

“Nothing, just… tired,” Luo Ling mumbled, avoiding her sister’s gaze.

“Nonsense,” her sister glared at her. “I watched you grow up, I know you. Something is definitely bothering you.

“Fine, I was your age once. As long as you’re not being bullied, whatever it is… if you want to talk about it, Sister will listen. But if you don’t, that’s fine too. I won’t force you.”

Chapter 65: Aftermath

The seventh floor of Qingshan Hospital was as quiet as ever. After all, this was the Exchange Group’s base of operations; ordinary patients weren’t sent here.

But at this moment, it wasn’t Group Leader Ji Shinian lying in Ward Zero, but Phantom, Yang Meili.

When Luo Ling entered, Yang Meili was staring blankly at the ceiling, her usual heavy makeup gone, making her look much more… normal.

…Luo Ling had always thought her makeup skills were questionable, almost deliberately unflattering.

Yang Meili seemed to notice Luo Ling’s entrance but didn’t react.

However, Shen Miaoyun, who had been dozing by the bedside, jumped up, flustered.

“Sister Miaoyun, where’s the Group Leader?”

Luo Ling sat down, carefully gathering her troublesome white hair.

“The Group Leader… he and Brother Liu went to escort Wu Hai home,” Shen Miaoyun whispered, glancing at Yang Meili to gauge her reaction.

Although she had been under Performer’s control at the time, it was Yang Meili who had killed Wu Hai. That was why she was now in such a distraught state.

…Killing a former comrade, no matter the circumstances, was difficult to accept.

But Yang Meili was like a statue, seemingly hearing nothing, her expression blank, her eyes vacant.

“Mm… alright,” Luo Ling nodded and asked, “Where are Xiao Qian and An Yu?”

“They’re… relatively okay for now, in the next ward,” Shen Miaoyun replied.

“Good.”

Luo Ling was about to leave when Shen Miaoyun stopped her.

“Wait, the Group Leader asked me to… explain everything to you when you woke up.”

She looked at Yang Meili with concern, then stood up, walked over to Luo Ling, and continued, “I’ll take you to them. I can explain everything on the way.”

…

“That’s roughly what happened on our side,” Shen Miaoyun said, her head lowered, her expression downcast. “I don’t know if it was fortunate or unfortunate, but I had snuck off to buy snacks… and that’s how I escaped.

“Brother Liu was the most seriously injured, but he recovered quickly thanks to his ability. Wu Hai was already dead. Zhong Bo lost his right hand. Sister Meili was actually the least injured, but as you can see…”

It was fortunate that Shen Miaoyun hadn’t been there. Except for Wu Hai, who had died on the spot, everyone else had been saved by her.

If Shen Miaoyun had been present, she wouldn’t have escaped either, and she wouldn’t have been able to heal the others… In that case, Yang Meili might have been the only survivor.

Perhaps that had been Performer’s intention.

The Qingshan Patient Exchange Group was, after all, a loosely organized group, and even their team operations weren’t very disciplined. Against a mysterious expert like Performer… the chances of defeat were high.

They just hadn’t expected such a devastating loss.

“What happened on your side?” Shen Miaoyun asked nervously. “I saw the distress signal, but you didn’t seem to receive any of my messages. The other group members who went there said they couldn’t find the place…

“In the end, it was Gypsy Girl from the Speaker who brought you three back to the hospital, but she refused to say anything, just said to ask you when you woke up.”

“The Baiyan Village incident… it’s complicated,” Luo Ling’s eyes flickered. Having consumed part of Performer’s memories, she knew the others couldn’t find Baiyan Village because of the incubation barrier. “Is Xiao Qian alright now? She… had some problems.”

Luo Ling remembered Scientist, who had appeared through Performer via psychological suggestion, saying that Elsa’s consciousness would collapse within half an hour, but for some reason, nothing had happened.

“I’m not sure, Xiao Qian is still unconscious… she’s in this ward. Gypsy Girl said she intervened, and Xiao Qian is safe for now.”

Shen Miaoyun opened the door to the ward. Elsa was lying on the bed, the small, red-haired girl’s brow furrowed, as if struggling in her sleep.

Medical equipment kept her alive, and Bella, the teddy bear, was tightly bound with tape to the bedside table. Seeing Luo Ling and Shen Miaoyun, she immediately started struggling, looking at Luo Ling with pleading eyes.

“…Gypsy Girl did that. Said she was too noisy.”

Shen Miaoyun’s eye twitched at this sight, but she also felt a sense of secret satisfaction.

Bella had insulted almost every member of the exchange group. If there were a list of the most annoying things in the group, Bella would definitely be on it.

“Did An Yu go home?”

Ignoring Bella’s pleas, Luo Ling looked around, not seeing An Yu.

“No… she’s there.”

Shen Miaoyun pointed to a corner of the ward. Luo Ling followed her finger and saw a pair of canvas military training shoes sticking out from under a table.

…An Yu was hiding under the table.

She wasn’t physically injured; Luo Ling had healed her fatal wound with Proliferation.

Although Luo Ling could make An Yu’s regenerated half collapse with a single thought, there… didn’t seem to be a need for that.

Shen Miaoyun pulled Luo Ling out of the ward and lowered her voice.

“Xiao Yu has been like this since she woke up. About Baiyan Village… are her grandparents dead?”

“Yes, everyone in Baiyan Village is dead,” Luo Ling nodded.

“Oh my god!”

Shen Miaoyun’s eyes widened in shock. She had expected the situation in Baiyan Village to be grim, but not to this extent…

“It’s understandable. Xiao Yu loved her grandparents the most,” Shen Miaoyun sighed. “The reason she joined the exchange group… was actually because her parents sent her to Qingshan Hospital, and the Group Leader discovered she was an Awakened One and recruited her.

“Mm… as for why she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, Xiao Yu used to suffer from severe autism. It seemed to have started after she moved from the countryside to the city for school. She wasn’t used to the environment and was bullied, which triggered it.”

Looking through the window at the girl huddled under the table, a flicker of pity crossed Shen Miaoyun’s eyes.

“It was the Group Leader who brought her grandparents to the hospital during her treatment that helped her gradually recover. You can imagine how important they were to her… It’s such a shame.”

Luo Ling remained silent. She had witnessed it all, the heartwarming yet cruel reality.

The more An Yu loved her grandparents, the heavier the blow and the deeper the pain she was now enduring.

“Oh right, what about Xiao Qian?” Luo Ling asked. “I’m curious… how did she join the Patient Exchange Group?”

Chapter 64: The Girl Lili

“You’re here? Please, sit.”

Seeing the white-haired girl enter, Wang Lili closed the book in her hands and gave Luo Ling a polite smile.

If Luo Ling hadn’t seen the photo beforehand, it would be hard to imagine that this quiet, composed girl was the same person as the crazed Seer in the subterranean cavern.

Luo Ling nodded slightly and sat down on the chair beside the bed.

“Gypsy Girl told me you saved me. Thank you,” Wang Lili said, looking at Luo Ling with curiosity and admiration. “She said you were a very pretty little girl, but seeing you in person, you’re even more stunning.”

“…Thank you for the compliment.”

Luo Ling nodded stiffly, still not used to being praised so directly.

However… they should have met in the subterranean cavern. Although they hadn’t spoken, it shouldn’t be… their first meeting?

“You’re wondering if we’ve met before, right?” Wang Lili seemed to see through Luo Ling’s confusion and smiled. “For me… the memories of being the Seer are quite blurry. How should I describe it? It wasn’t like a dream, but more like… fragmented, surreal impressions.

“And, I’m not actually an Awakened One. I can’t see the Grotesqueries you talk about.”

“Eh…”

Luo Ling was taken aback, but Wang Lili continued,

“I can’t see them, but the Seer can. In short, my situation… if it were in the past, I would probably be considered mentally ill.”

…Actually, she still was considered mentally ill.

A normal Awakened One wouldn’t be so… eccentric.

“Do you have any questions for me? I’ll answer them as best I can,” Wang Lili said, pointing to her head.

“But I can’t guarantee I’ll remember everything. You know, crazy people, our memories and perceptions aren’t very clear.”

Hearing this familiar excuse, Luo Ling’s eye twitched. She seemed to have forgotten something as well.

Luo Ling took a deep breath and asked in a low voice,

“I want to know, how did you know there was a Grotesquery lurking in Baiyan Village? And what did you experience there?”

“Mm… let me think. I’ll try to describe what I saw,” Wang Lili pondered for a moment, then said slowly, “I… or rather, the Seer, saw a very tempting big mushroom, jumping and bouncing around. The Seer, inexplicably, chased after it.

“After running for a while, she saw the big mushroom take root in the ground and sprout more mushrooms. The Seer thought she would wait for more mushrooms to grow, for the big mushroom to become even bigger, before picking it, but then the big mushroom suddenly attacked… I don’t remember much after that.”

What happened after that was the Seer surviving for three months in the subterranean cavern by eating the Grotesquery.

Perhaps those memories were too gruesome to remain in Wang Lili’s mind.

Judging from her description… it perfectly matched the Puppet Ballad’s four stages: spread, proliferation, absorption, and control. It also confirmed that Baiyan Village had been affected when the Seer disappeared a few months ago.

A few months…

Even Li Tianming had become a Meat Puppet over a year ago. The white reishi she had destroyed couldn’t possibly be the Puppet Ballad’s true form.

It was likely a part of the Puppet Ballad that had parasitized the white reishi. Although more powerful than Li Tianming, there was no fundamental difference between them.

It seemed there were three types of puppets controlled by the Grotesquery Puppet Ballad. The first, like Li Tianming and the white reishi, were “eggs,” able to use some of the Puppet Ballad’s abilities, but completely replaced by it.

The second type, like the Bone Doctor, the Baiyan Village villagers, and Performer, were “Meat Puppets,” their bodies completely controlled by the “egg’s” power, their consciousness trapped within their souls.

The last type, and the most troublesome… were the “Lambs,” whose numbers were uncertain. The police officers who had chased Ji Ying were like this, their consciousness influenced by the Puppet Ballad, their perceptions slightly altered.

The first two types were easy to identify and had essentially become Grotesqueries.

One just needed to cut their skin and see if their flesh and blood had been replaced by white mycelia.

The last type… only seemed to be slightly affected, making them difficult to identify, but whether they were still human or had become Grotesqueries… remained unknown.

As for Luo Ling, she wasn’t sure about her own situation, but at least she wasn’t one of these three types.

While Luo Ling was lost in thought, Wang Lili simply looked at her quietly, her clear, earnest gaze not unsettling.

In fact, both in appearance and demeanor, Wang Lili was the epitome of a school beauty.

…If it weren’t for the “Seer” persona.

“Sister Wang, do you remember… where the big mushroom first appeared?” Luo Ling looked up and asked.

The white reishi was an “egg” level puppet spawned by the Puppet Ballad, and since it was relatively recent, the connection was clearer, making it easier to investigate than Li Tianming’s case.

Perhaps through this, she could determine the location of the Puppet Ballad’s true form.

“I’ll have to think about it and confirm with Gypsy Girl—because I was already the Seer before I saw the big mushroom,” Wang Lili said slowly after a moment of thought. “Tell you what, you go deal with your group’s matters first, and when I remember, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, Sister Wang.”

Luo Ling stood up and bowed respectfully.

“Such a serious demeanor doesn’t quite suit your age,” Wang Lili said with a gentle smile. “Just call me Lili, White Witch.”

“…You can also call me Bai.”

Luo Ling felt a bit awkward being addressed by her codename.

“No, it’s different. If you are the White Witch, then you should be called White Witch.” For some reason, Wang Lili’s smile seemed to hold a hint of unreadable mystery. “Anyway, you should go back now. I won’t tell anyone about our conversation, and I won’t reveal this information to anyone… including Gypsy Girl.”

…Was it because of a premonition again?

A dull ache throbbed in Luo Ling’s temples, and she asked directly,

“Li… Sister Lili, did you see something about the future?”

“No, no, I didn’t see anything, and I can’t,” Wang Lili shook her head. “I’m just an ordinary person, not an Awakened One like you.”

Luo Ling looked at her intently, realizing she couldn’t quite see through this seemingly ordinary, quiet girl.

“In that case, thank you very much.”

Luo Ling bowed slightly and quickly left.

She remembered more details about the battle; there were still some problems she needed to address.

After Luo Ling left, Wang Lili picked up her phone, checked the date, and murmured,

“It won’t be long now…”

Chapter 63: Harbinger of Disaster

When Luo Ling opened her eyes again, she saw a familiar ceiling.

…The ceiling of Qingshan Hospital.

“Oh my, you’re awake, cutie?”

A sweet, seductive voice whispered beside her ear, and Luo Ling brushed it away without even looking.

“My, my, such a cold personality for such a cute face… You’ve wounded this older sister’s heart~”

“A kiss and a hug will make it better, mua~”

The annoying voice continued, and Luo Ling finally glanced over to see a flamboyant woman she had never met before, dressed in exotic clothing, her tanned skin faintly visible beneath a sheer veil.

Unfortunately, Luo Ling wasn’t interested.

“Tsk, why are you all so boring? How dull.” Gypsy Girl pouted, but still extended a hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m the Harbinger of Disaster of the Speaker. You can call me Gypsy Girl, or just Sister~”

“Speaker?”

Luo Ling frowned slightly, a faint memory stirring in her mind.

After her dreamless slumber, she had forgotten many things, or rather, hadn’t recalled them yet.

“That’s right, the client who issued your commission. You did an excellent job finding our little Seer, and your reward is a loving kiss, unlimited refills!”

Gypsy Girl winked at Luo Ling, who didn’t even look at her, her eyes downcast, lost in thought.

After a moment, Luo Ling asked,

“Gypsy Girl, how are An Yu, Elsa, and the Seer doing?”

She had remembered most things, but some details remained elusive, as if something was preventing her from recalling them.

Probably things she shouldn’t remember…

“I can tell you, but you have to give me a hug first!” Gypsy Girl closed her eyes and spread her arms, her ample bosom practically in Luo Ling’s face. “Come on, little girl, don’t be shy, give your sister a big hug!”

“…”

“How boring. I’ve made it so easy for you.” Gypsy Girl pouted, her seductive face taking on a pitiful expression. “So cold at such a young age, sigh~ And after I painstakingly carried you all the way back!”

Luo Ling’s eyes widened slightly. Looking down, she noticed her clothes had been changed, and she had even been bathed…

She instinctively recoiled, looking at Gypsy Girl warily.

“Pfft, relax, I’m not interested in someone your age.” Gypsy Girl chuckled. “Maybe in six or seven years, when you’re a proper high school girl… that’s more my type.”

Luo Ling, who was a high school girl, became even more wary.

“Alright, alright, just kidding. Let’s talk business,” Gypsy Girl said, sitting down gracefully. “I don’t know the specifics of your group members’ conditions, but the Seer, due to her special constitution, is doing relatively well. She just fainted for a while and is fine now. She’s in the next bed.”

Relatively… well?

Luo Ling was shocked. The Seer had survived for three months in the subterranean cavern by eating Grotesqueries, and she was… fine?

Wait, the Speaker’s definition of “fine”… might not be the same as a normal person’s.

Luo Ling remembered An Yu saying that the Speaker had made the Seer even crazier, claiming it was for her own good…

“Heh, I’m not lying. It’s just that her ability is temporarily unusable.” Gypsy Girl sighed. “She’s exited her Premonition state. Sigh, who knows when she’ll enter it again…”

What did she mean by “exited her Premonition state”… wait, could it be that she had regained her sanity?

Luo Ling had seen the Seer’s crazed state in the subterranean cavern, even witnessing through her Spores how the Seer had slapped Performer repeatedly…

Even she had been stunned, let alone Performer.

“If you don’t believe me, you can go ask her yourself,” Gypsy Girl clapped her hands and stood up. “Alright, Sister has things to do. I’ve delivered the message, and now you have to deal with your own group’s problems, so I won’t disturb you~

“Oh right, considering your outstanding performance on this commission, besides the reward the Speaker is giving your group, I have a small personal reward for you… Don’t look at me like that, it’s not kisses and hugs, although you can have those too if you want!”

Gypsy Girl smiled mysteriously, took off a bracelet from her arm, and handed it to Luo Ling.

Gypsy Girl wore similar bracelets on her wrists and ankles, jingling as she walked.

“This is…?”

Luo Ling took the bracelet, still warm from Gypsy Girl’s body heat.

“A favor,” Gypsy Girl said, placing a finger on Luo Ling’s lips. “Don’t ask how to use it, just keep it. One day… I’ll come and take it back, and then I’ll repay this favor.”

Before Luo Ling could understand, Gypsy Girl turned and left the ward, swaying her hips as she walked.

“So it’s not for me to use, but a premonition of a future crisis, and she’ll intervene to resolve it…?”

Luo Ling quickly understood Gypsy Girl’s meaning and couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Awakened Ones on the Other Shore path were so troublesome, with their premonitions and cryptic messages. Why couldn’t they just be straightforward?

However, Luo Ling decided to keep the bracelet safe. Just in case.

She casually tossed it behind her, and the bracelet disappeared into her long, white hair.

“…Eh?”

Luo Ling was taken aback, quickly reaching into her hair, then pulling out the bracelet with a puzzled expression.

“Is there… another space in my hair?”

Luo Ling was confused, but after a few tries, she confirmed it was real.

She put some of her belongings inside, then stood up and jumped around. Nothing fell out.

How magical…

Oh right, during the Baiyan Village battle, she had eaten something extraordinary…

But the details of how she had eaten it were hazy, another part of her memory she couldn’t quite recall.

“Never mind, I’ll test my new abilities later. Now… I should go check on the Seer.”

Luo Ling composed herself, and with a thought, her Spores passed through the wall, showing her the scene in the next ward.

A quiet girl with round-rimmed glasses was sitting on the bed, calmly reading a book.

Chapter 62: Dreamless

So tired.

Truly… so tired.

A heavy exhaustion washed over her; she just wanted to rest.

But horrifying images flashed through her mind, the terrifying blue demon grinning, splattering flesh and white mycelia dancing in the air.

Was this a nightmare?

Worse than a nightmare… because it was real.

The horrors she had experienced were real.

After an unknown amount of time, Luo Ling slowly opened her eyes, and the memories resurfaced, nausea and terror overwhelming her. She retched, but nothing came out.

Because this wasn’t reality. The flickering candles around her indicated she was in her mindscape, just like before.

“Forget it, I have to forget…”

Luo Ling chanted silently, desperately trying to empty her mind, to banish the horrifying images.

She couldn’t bear it any longer.

She had only managed to withstand the mental pollution because of the Puppet Ballad’s influence. Now, in her mindscape, she was facing these horrors as an ordinary girl.

When her mind finally felt empty, Luo Ling weakly raised her head.

The surroundings were similar to last time. Except for the first door, all the others were still locked.

The unique silver door at the back, although the candle above it was still burning, was now closed.

The first door was wide open, and Luo Ling glanced inside, almost retching again.

…Beyond the first door was no longer her room, but the terrifying subterranean cavern of Baiyan Village, the scattered corpses and dismembered limbs all reproduced in perfect detail. The only difference was a crystal coffin placed in the center.

And the white-haired girl lying in the coffin had also changed. Small, delicate white reishi mushrooms bloomed around the coffin, resembling white flowers at a funeral.

The sight of the white reishi brought back unpleasant memories, and Luo Ling quickly chanted “forget” several times to dispel the nausea.

After regaining her composure, Luo Ling finally understood the situation.

“It seems that after ‘eating’ that white reishi, my Puppet Ballad has also ranked up…”

Luo Ling, fighting back her disgust, entered the first room and stood before the crystal coffin.

The girl inside was still asleep, her appearance seemingly unchanged, but the inhuman feeling was even stronger than before.

Looking at herself from this perspective… was quite strange.

At the same time, the card displaying the Puppet Ballad’s abilities appeared above the coffin.

[Silent Extinction: Puppet Ballad]
[Innate Ability: Spores — Can parasitize any being with “Spores.” The host and the “Spores” share senses and vision.]
[Skill 1: Proliferation — Spores begin to grow and can assimilate to a certain extent.]
[Skill 2: Read — Spores take root and can read the host’s “information.”]
[Skill 3: Locked (50%)]

The new ability was… Read?

Although the third ability was still locked, Luo Ling had a vague idea what it might be.

Probably Control…

At this rate, Luo Ling was no different from a host of the Puppet Ballad. She could now use her ability to create Grotesqueries like the villagers of Baiyan Village, though she couldn’t fully control them yet.

The monsters she created would likely only have the instinct to consume, like the final forms of the Baiyan Village villagers…

No, no, she would never do that.

Luo Ling steadied her mind. That was something a Grotesquery would do, and she wasn’t a Grotesquery, not its kindred spirit.

Besides this, there seemed to be other changes as well…

Luo Ling found some unfamiliar memories in her mind. After examining them, she realized they belonged to the madwoman.

In their final battle, the white reishi, to consume Luo Ling, had gathered all its power, but it hadn’t been able to fully digest the madwoman’s power, only able to control her body.

This had resulted in Luo Ling also consuming a part of the madwoman’s memories, though they were fragmented, mostly recent events.

“‘Performer’… and ‘Scientist’ and ‘Artist,’ are these the codenames of the Harbingers of Calamity members?”

“…Too bad there’s nothing about Elsa. I don’t know how she’s doing.”

“Wait, Officer Liu and the others are dead? No, they seem to be barely alive…”

“‘Egg’ and incubation barrier, so that’s what happened in Baiyan Village… Too bad we stumbled into it. Perhaps it’s because our strength wasn’t high enough to trigger the barrier’s defenses.”

The last memory fragment was the madwoman’s despair as she watched helplessly, her consciousness trapped within her body, unable to move.

Fortunately, this despair hadn’t lasted long. Luo Ling had quickly devoured the white reishi… in a way, she had saved her.

Too bad Performer could no longer express her gratitude.

“If the white reishi hadn’t tried to consume me in the end, perhaps I would have been the one who died in that battle.”

In that harrowing fight, the white reishi had wanted to consume Luo Ling, or rather, merge with her, crush her consciousness, and successfully hatch, becoming a new Puppet Ballad.

But Luo Ling’s Devour was more domineering and unreasonable. The Authority of the girl in the void had somehow plundered the Puppet Ballad’s power.

In reality, Luo Ling wasn’t an unhatched “egg,” because her power didn’t come from the Puppet Ballad’s true form. She had no connection to the Sequence Forty-Nine Grotesquery. From the beginning, the white reishi’s plan had been flawed.

That was why… Luo Ling had emerged victorious.

However, did Ji Ying really appear at the end…? Wait, it must have been a hallucination, like her sister and the others.

If that were the case, she must have eaten Performer’s head herself…

Ugh, she couldn’t think about it anymore.

Suppressing her thoughts, a wave of exhaustion washed over her, and Luo Ling leaned against the crystal coffin, feeling drowsy.

In her daze, she seemed to see the girl in the coffin open her eyes, and at the same time, she gained a strange, new perspective.

From this perspective, a blurry gray shadow floated above the crystal coffin, like a ghost.

“Mm…”

But before she could see it clearly, Luo Ling’s consciousness faded into darkness.

Finally, she could rest.

A dreamless slumber.

Chapter 61: The End

Her long, white hair spread across the carnage of flesh and bone. The girl with pale gray eyes supported her frail body, her delicate, young face devoid of emotion, like a small white flower blooming in the mire, standing alone in this human abyss where hundreds, thousands of lives had been extinguished.

An Yu, having learned the truth, was on the verge of collapse. Elsa, sealed within her own mind, was trapped in a torment of consciousness. The Seer lay unconscious in this vast tomb, and even Performer, before her final moments, had met her end in despair.

All of this stemmed from the Puppet Ballad before her, or rather… a part of the Puppet Ballad.

Viscous, white mycelia oozed from “Performer’s” orifices, her body swelling, growing larger and larger.

Her skin tore and repaired, her head bursting and regrowing, but her gaping smile only grew more grotesque.

To consume the being of its own kind before it, it abandoned the Puppet Ballad’s instinct for disguise, seeking only to reach its most powerful state.

Finally, Performer… the monster that could no longer be called “Performer,” transformed into a fleshy mass, six or seven meters tall and wide.

White mycelia pulsed from its bloated body, its pale flesh resembling a giant, decaying marshmallow, its once alluring, naked form now like a moldy cream cake left in a dumpster.

“Consume, kindred…”

The cream cake split open, its foul contents churning.

Strings of interconnected marshmallows drooped, their putrid stench washing over the pristine white flower.

Kindred spirits, devouring each other.

But…

“…Who’s your kindred spirit?”

Luo Ling tilted her small head upwards, her tiny form seemingly insignificant against the monstrous cake.

“We are not the same.”

“I am completely different from you.”

“But… I will also consume you.”

Traces of dark purple flesh clung to the corners of Luo Ling’s mouth, and a dark gold glint appeared in her cold eyes.

An unimaginable darkness consumed the pristine white. Blue scales spread across her delicate skin, her indifferent expression replaced by a heavy malice. Claws tore into the bloated pastry, pulling out thick, flowing custard.

Sharp teeth bit down, greedily chewing on the melting chocolate, the unrelenting cheese falling upon her, a demon from hell savoring its feast.

“Consume.”

This was the only thought in Luo Ling’s mind.

It had to be.

“Consume it all…”

“If I don’t consume it, it will consume me.”

“Consume it, consume it, consume it, consume it…”

“Consume, consume, consume, consume…”

She tore and bit, desperately trying to escape the encroaching terror.

“Do you still think you’re human?” Performer’s mocking laughter echoed in her ears.

It didn’t matter, she had to keep eating.

“Xiao Bai, Senior… are… are you a Grotesquery?” An Yu’s terrified voice echoed faintly in her mind.

A barely perceptible pause, but the consuming continued without hesitation.

“Big Sister Bai, you’re… so scary…”

The trembling Elsa seemed to appear before her, and Luo Ling’s movements faltered for a moment. One of her legs melted into the thick milk.

I’m… scary?

She looked down and saw blue scales covering her cheeks, sharp, terrifying teeth dripping with flesh and blood, her beautiful face twisted into a gruesome mask, a streak of eerie crimson tracing her eyelids, only one word to describe her: terrifying.

Burning, dark gold vertical pupils blazed with uncontainable terror.

This was Luo Ling, this was her.

“Xiao Ling.”

A soft, gentle, familiar voice echoed, filled with love and concern.

Her sister’s voice…

No, this was the Puppet Ballad’s trickery!

It was trying to distract her, to consume her!

Damn Puppet Ballad, it had read her memories, trying to exploit her weaknesses!

No way!

No matter what this fake sister said, she wouldn’t be fooled!

It wouldn’t stop her from consuming this thing!

“Xiao Ling, are you alright?”

“Are you hungry…?”

“Don’t eat this. Come, Sister will cook for you…”

“Don’t be afraid, Xiao Ling. No matter what you become, Sister will never abandon you.”

“Get up, let’s go home.”

“Back to our home.”

A calloused, rough hand reached out, along with her sister’s gentle gaze.

Damn it…

This had to be fake.

She wouldn’t fall for it!

Luo Ling grabbed the hand without hesitation and bit down hard.

But at the last moment, her teeth stopped, leaving only a small, bleeding mark on the hand.

“Ah!”

Her sister cried out in pain, but then, a gentle voice, filled with love and sorrow, echoed again.

“Don’t be afraid, Xiao Ling, Sister is always here with you.”

No, you’re not my sister!

Her other leg melted.

“No matter what, Xiao Ling, Sister will always love you.”

No, no, no, no…

No…

Her lower body was gone.

A warm, comforting embrace.

Her entire body was gone.

Luo Ling looked up at the dark cavern ceiling, but all she saw was her sister gently singing her a lullaby.

The most cherished memory from her childhood.

Lost in the memory, unable to break free.

Was it real? Was it fake?

Luo Ling couldn’t tell.

But now…

“Even if you are my sister…”

“Even if you really are…”

Wisps of blood-tinged smoke escaped from her burning, dark gold eyes.

“I will… consume you!”

The blue demon leaped forward, tearing and biting, devouring half of the bloated cream cake.

The broken faces of her friends, her sister’s heartbroken expression, along with Performer’s mocking laughter, were all consumed, torn to shreds, swallowed whole.

This was the Puppet Ballad’s battle, a savage, primal struggle, a pure, instinctive consumption.

The frenzied rampage continued for an unknown amount of time. When Luo Ling finally came to her senses, tears of blood streaming down her face, she was sitting alone on the ground, holding Performer’s lifeless head in her lap, surrounded by the remnants of withered white reishi mushrooms.

“Consume…”

“It’s over, Luo Ling.”

Whose voice was that? Another hallucination from the Puppet Ballad?

Luo Ling struggled to lift her head and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face.

…Ji Ying.

How did she get here…?

No, she wasn’t real, she was a hallucination.

Definitely.

“You don’t have to eat anymore, Luo Ling,” Ji Ying said softly. “I’ll consume it for you.”

She picked up Performer’s head and calmly, methodically, began to eat.

Bite by bite, the sound of crunching bones echoed through the subterranean cavern.

When Luo Ling came to her senses again, only a strange “eye” remained in her hand, which she tremblingly put into her mouth.

Looking up, Ji Ying was gone.

“Is it… really over?”

Luo Ling wondered, dazed.

It seemed it truly was over.

She collapsed to the ground, wanting only to sleep.

Her soft, white hair spread across the ground, shimmering in the faint light of the setting sun filtering through the cavern entrance.

Like a pristine white reishi mushroom.

Chapter 60: The “Egg”

“You have to leave! I’ll hold the big mushroom back, so it can’t eat you!”

“Thanks to you saving me earlier, I can save you now!”

The dirty, terrified girl spoke with earnest urgency, seemingly genuinely concerned for Performer’s safety.

But Performer dismissed it. It was just a lunatic. If she took her words seriously… she would be the lunatic.

Ignoring the Seer’s pleas, Performer continued walking forward, her expression unchanged.

Her purpose here was to obtain this “egg,” and now this girl was trying to take it away with such a clumsy excuse…

No, the girl was a lunatic, her actions incomprehensible.

Seeing that Performer wasn’t listening, the Seer grew anxious. She put down the large white reishi mushroom she was carrying, stepped in front of Performer, and raised her hand, about to slap her again.

In the Seer’s mind, a life-saving benefactor needed a good slap to listen to reason.

But this time, before her hand could connect, Performer caught it mid-swing.

“Get lost.”

A slap sent the Seer flying several meters, crashing headfirst into a half-rotted corpse’s leg, knocking her unconscious.

“Heh…”

Performer’s mood instantly improved, finally avenging the slaps she had received.

And now…

Performer turned to the motionless white reishi mushroom on the ground, a smile playing on her lips.

“A mere dormant ‘egg,’ how could it possibly devour me? Even if it could consume my flesh, my soul remains. It’s all futile.”

Performer thought as she raised her remaining left hand, a demonic eye slowly opening on her fingertip.

Although she couldn’t perform the sacrificial ritual here anymore, she could still use the demonic eye to contain the “egg”—she couldn’t possibly carry such a large white reishi mushroom like the Seer, could she?

“His” blessing acted upon the soul; a missing limb wouldn’t affect her ability.

But the next moment, Performer’s expression changed to one of shock.

“What’s… going on?”

She suddenly noticed that the demonic eye on her fingertip had turned a pale gray, completely different from before.

Was it because her soul was damaged that the blessing was also affected?

No, impossible…

This was a projection of “His” Authority… how could it be affected by a minor injury to her soul?

Besides, after Elsa was sealed, her soul had stopped deteriorating, and she had consumed a restorative agent. Even if she wasn’t at her peak, she should still have seventy to eighty percent of her power.

And she had faced more dangerous situations before, and the demonic eye had never shown such an anomaly…

“Wait… this isn’t… damage?”

Performer examined her soul and noticed that the mark of the demonic eye had changed.

The entity that had granted her the demonic eye belonged to the Chaos path, but now, the mark on the demonic eye… was Silent Demise.

Her demonic eye had been unknowingly devoured and replaced by something else…

Could it be…?

A terrifying possibility crossed her mind.

Performer looked up. The white reishi mushroom before her remained still, seemingly just an ordinary fungus, except for its size.

“No, no…”

“This isn’t right…”

The lunatic had been telling the truth…

This “egg” was devouring her… not just her body, but her soul as well.

Performer slowly lowered her head, her movements sluggish, all sensation fading from her body, yet she moved on her own accord.

Terror finally appeared in her eyes, but it was too late.

Viscous white mycelia emerged from her severed arm, weaving and knitting, forming a new, intact arm.

Countless “mushrooms” grew within Performer’s body and soul, consuming, controlling.

Finally, all her injuries, both physical and spiritual, were healed, her body restored to its peak condition, but completely overtaken by white mycelia, only her consciousness remaining.

“Oh? Managed to kill my eldest son? Not bad, not bad.”

Her mouth moved, a sneer appearing on her lips.

But her consciousness was in agony, as if being devoured by countless ants, the pain clear and sharp, yet there was no escape through unconsciousness.

Performer watched helplessly as her body moved towards the white-haired girl, who was covered in wounds.

The Puppet Ballad’s “complete control,” in its twisted sense of humor, left the host’s consciousness intact, forcing them to watch as their body and memories were stolen and used.

Performer had spent her life acting as others, but in her final moments, she was being acted by another.

…A flawless performance.

“…”

Luo Ling looked up, her grip on the dagger loosening.

Her wounds were slowly healing, but her stamina was almost completely depleted.

The Forgotten River Child, fueled by the surrounding corpses, was practically immortal and incredibly fast. Even with her Spores, Luo Ling could barely track its movements.

…This meant she couldn’t use her demonic transformation; she would just become a target.

While Performer had been chasing the large white reishi mushroom, Luo Ling had killed the Forgotten River Child over eighty times, finally managing to strike its true form when it least expected it.

As expected of a Sacred Tool wielded by a High-Order Awakened One, even though Luo Ling hadn’t yet learned how to activate its special ability, the strike had instantly extinguished the Forgotten River Child’s life… or rather, its soul.

The ghostly shadow dissipated, leaving only a mass of disgusting, foul-smelling flesh.

Exhausted, Luo Ling looked up and saw Performer walking towards her. She smiled.

Because she could sense the dense Puppet Ballad aura within Performer, which meant…

Performer was either dead or experiencing a fate worse than death.

Either way, it was cause for celebration.

But the danger hadn’t passed.

Behind the sneering “Performer,” all the white reishi mushrooms in the subterranean cavern trembled slightly, then instantly withered and turned yellow, countless white mycelia threads emerging and flowing into “Performer’s” body.

Although the “egg” hadn’t fully awakened, it was more active than ever before.

It had consumed everything it could in the cavern, absorbing all the Meat Puppets within the incubation barrier, temporarily reviving itself through Performer’s body, with a single purpose.

To consume Luo Ling.

To consume the being that could fully awaken it… its own kind.

“You are also…”

A smile spread across Performer’s cracked lips.

“—An ‘egg.’”