Chapter 29: Nightmare (Part 2)

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The surroundings were pitch black. Only in front of that single point of light stood a person Su Bai knew very well.

Wearing black-framed glasses, the corners of her eyes curved as if smiling at Su Bai.

Was that Jiang Yuelan?!

“Su Bai.” The person spoke, calling her name. The sound echoed through the space with a touch of ethereal emptiness.

“Jiang Yuelan, I…”

Su Bai still wanted to say more, but the voices from behind caught up once again.

Those rotten scenes, like maggots clinging to bone, flashed through her mind once more.

“Su Bai, stop running. You can’t escape…”

The bedroom that should have disappeared behind her now seemed to have grown legs. Every time she looked back, it drew one step closer.

“Jiang Yuelan” seemed to hear those voices as well. Her brows furrowed slightly, and the smile on her face gradually faded.

“Fake, all of it is fake. Sister Lan, you believe me, right?

You said before… I…”

Su Bai looked at “Jiang Yuelan” with expectation, desperately hoping the person before her would once again speak those words.

Just like she had said to her before.

But “Jiang Yuelan’s” brows were almost twisted together. The displeasure on her face was nearly overflowing.

Seeing that expression on Jiang Yuelan’s face, the last shred of hope in Su Bai vanished. An icy chill crept over her entire body.

“Jiang Yuelan” put on a smile uglier than crying. The gentleness of the past was gone completely.

“I did say that. I was willing to believe in White Iris.

But Su Bai, take a good look at yourself.” “Jiang Yuelan” paused, then spoke in an extremely distorted tone.

“You are not the White Iris I respected at all. You are not worthy of that title…”

I’m not… Su Bai lowered her head and looked at herself. Her body was long past being the radiant, beloved White Iris.

It was identical to that disgusting body on the bed in the bedroom just now.

Su Bai could no longer support her own body. She wrapped her arms around herself and collapsed to her knees on the ground.

She did not dare meet “Jiang Yuelan’s” eyes.

Because the bedroom behind her was “clearly” and “irrefutably” presenting the evidence to her.

“Jiang Yuelan” pinched her nose with disgust, as if she too had smelled those nauseating odors from earlier.

They were coming from Su Bai’s body.

“Cough, cough, cough.” Su Bai had wanted to say something, but she began coughing uncontrollably.

From her mouth, her nostrils, and every pore of her body, blackish-red filth began seeping out.

So dirty, so dirty, so dirty…

Su Bai tried hard to wipe these things off herself, yet the more she wiped, the more evenly the filth smeared across her skin.

“So ugly.”

Seeing this scene, Su Bai showed an expression of pure disgust, then turned and walked into the light without looking back.

“Don’t go… please…”

Everyone… doesn’t want you either…

Su Bai no longer had the strength to cry out, because the filth had completely surrounded her layer upon layer.

In the end the light completely submerged her.

Su Bai felt as if she were drowning, unable to breathe.

Scenes began flashing before her eyes even faster.

In front of the Association resolution hall, the people behind the long table were no longer offering congratulations. They had begun reading out Su Bai’s list of crimes one by one.

Her three teammates no longer inquired about her well-being with care. Instead they glared at her with contempt and anger.

Everyone in the interview room was no longer praising her. They were accusing and cursing her, turning the place into a public tribunal.

Countless memories surged like a tide. Endless negative emotions battered Su Bai’s mind without pause.

“Open… shatter… quickly… shackles… magic… destroy… save…”

Within the vast stream of consciousness, a faint message flickered into existence in Su Bai’s mind.

That message remained clear even amid the nearly chaotic and noisy voices.

What is this?

This was the last thread of thought in Su Bai’s consciousness. After that she no longer had the strength to resist and fainted.

“Door… open…”

That voice continued to echo through this space of consciousness.

————————————

In a large hospital closest to Chengjiang University in C City.

“Huff… huff… huff…”

On a hospital bed lay a petite black-haired girl with a bob cut, wearing a patient’s gown, an IV drip inserted in her right hand, and bandages wrapped around multiple places on her body.

It was Su Bai.

She suddenly opened her eyes and gasped for breath in large gulps.

“What is it going to be this time…?”

Su Bai looked at the unfamiliar ceiling in confusion, then glanced around.

“I’m in a hospital?”

Only then did Su Bai vaguely recall that she seemed to have encountered a rift disaster, barely escaped with her life, and was finally rescued.

So this is reality? Were those just dreams earlier?

Beside the bed, a long-haired black-haired girl sat with her arms crossed and propped on the mattress, her head buried in her arms.

One of her hands was still holding Su Bai’s.

It’s Jiang Yuelan. She’s sleeping. Has she been watching over me?

Su Bai moved her body. It was difficult, but as long as she wanted to, she could barely sit up.

She slowly shifted, wanting to pull her hand free, yet afraid of disturbing the sleeping Jiang Yuelan.

However, Jiang Yuelan seemed to sense something. She sat up and looked at Su Bai.

Her long black hair was a little messy. Her expression was exhausted, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

“Su Bai, you’re awake. That’s wonderful…” Jiang Yuelan rubbed her eyes, the joy in her voice overriding her drowsiness.

“Sister Lan, where… am I?” Su Bai asked slowly.

“In the hospital. Do you remember? You ran out and were finally saved by a magical girl.

It’s already the third day now.”

Jiang Yuelan no longer cared about much else at this moment and said anxiously, “Don’t move around just yet. I’ll go call the doctor to check on you.”

Hearing this, the hospital doctor arrived quickly and performed some examinations on Su Bai.

After the check-up, the doctor said, “There’s nothing seriously wrong. She’s recovered quite well these past few days. She should be able to be discharged in about two more days.”

“Just pay attention to her diet these two days—keep it light. Remember to use the oral medication and the external ointment.”

Jiang Yuelan nodded, listening far more carefully than Su Bai.

“Can I sit up?” Su Bai asked.

“Yes, yes. If you’re feeling well enough, you can also get out of bed and walk around a bit more.” The doctor nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then left the ward.

Su Bai shifted her body, wanting to sit up. Seeing this, Jiang Yuelan immediately stepped forward to support her.

“Huff.” Beads of cold sweat appeared on Su Bai’s forehead. Even sitting up was exhausting for her weakened body.

Just three Demonic Beasts left me in this sorry state. Heh.

Su Bai could not help but mock herself inwardly.

“Xiao Bai, have a sip of water. You’ve been unconscious for so many days without a single drop.”

Jiang Yuelan poured a small cup of water and held it out in front of Su Bai.

All kinds of daily necessities near the bed were fully stocked. It seemed someone had been living here for some time.

They’re Jiang Yuelan’s. Has she been staying with me these past few days?

Looking at Jiang Yuelan’s somewhat haggard appearance, she must have gone through quite a bit of trouble for my sake.