Chapter 23: The Youth
Success!
A glint of triumph flashed in Ji Linmo’s eyes.
The whip just now had already shredded the wedding robe almost beyond recognition!
Ever since he discovered through the ring that the other’s wedding robe was a prop, Ji Linmo realized that Qin Feng’s existence as an NPC, despite being alive, likely depended on this intermediate item he wore—the “Moment’s Bridal Gown.”
In that instant, Ji Linmo conceived a plan.
Destroy Qin Feng’s clothes!
What right does a “ghost bride” have to continue as a bride in a horror game if he loses his bridal gown?
“Surprised that I ruined your clothes?”
Ji Linmo arched a brow at the “ghost bride.”
Though he didn’t quite understand the full effect of the “Moment’s Bridal Gown” as a prop, he was certain that if he could strip the other of this apparel, even if the ghost bride persisted, he would probably be weakened by the loss of his item.
This would be killing two birds with one stone—he could seize the chance to survive the arduous bridal night.
However, reality was seldom so obliging.
“Not good… seems I’ve misjudged.”
Ji Linmo’s brows knitted as he gazed at the youth before him.
The young man hadn’t regained his senses as expected, nor did he appear weakened by the loss of his prop. Instead, stripped down to ragged cloth, the veins at his temples throbbed with rage.
“My dear, you really are impatient.”
The youth’s tone was almost flirtatious.
The “ghost bride” looked down at the man with a chilling, menacing gaze.
He stared, unblinking, and broke into a dazzling smile.
Whoosh!
A sharp rush sliced through the air as two broad hands lunged ruthlessly for Ji Linmo’s throat.
Ji Linmo reacted swiftly, frowning as he caught the youth’s wrist in a countermove, halting the attack.
“How cruel—you tore the clothes off me, and won’t even let me lay a finger on you?”
With that, the ghost bride tightened his grip, pressing Ji Linmo down.
Now both sides had unleashed their full strength, muscles straining so hard the veins stood out on the backs of their hands.
But at the height of the struggle, the youth narrowed his peach blossom eyes and blew softly against Ji Linmo’s ear.
“Mmm… harder…!”
A sultry, mocking woman’s voice slipped from the youth’s lips.
Huh?
Ji Linmo was caught off guard. In that instant, the youth used his greater size and strength to pin him to the ground, straddling him.
“Oh? Why so gentle now? Weren’t you mighty just a moment ago?”
The youth, draped in tattered cloth, his voice seductive and teasing, looked down at Ji Linmo, who hadn’t yet recovered, eyes full of mischief as he continued to speak in a falsetto.
Ji Linmo was momentarily dazed—having this youth, in shredded rags, riding him and making such lewd noises, felt absurd enough to make his skin crawl.
“Enough!”
Ji Linmo gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.
No matter how hard he tried to pry those hands from his throat, his strength waned rapidly.
No… too much of his yang energy had been drained. His body felt as heavy and sluggish as if he’d plunged into an icy lake in the dead of winter.
He bit down, feeling his awareness tracking the ghost bride’s movements, but unable to resist any longer.
What’s going on? Wasn’t the “Moment’s Bridal Gown” only effective when worn?
The ornate red wedding gown was now little more than scraps—so why was the youth still in NPC mode?
Had he guessed wrong? Was there truly no connection between the prop and Qin Feng’s loss of self, his transformation into the “ghost bride”?
[System Alert: Warning! Player “Ji Linmo” is entering death countdown: 10, 9, 8, 7…]
“Hsss… cough, cough…”
Ji Linmo twisted desperately, gritting his teeth, reaching with all his might toward the small of the youth’s back.
Just a little more… almost…
The tattered red robe clung precariously to the youth’s thigh, like the fringe of some skirt.
The source of this fringe was a single button at the youth’s waist.
Because of this button, the bridal attire, though reduced to rags, still clung to him.
[System Alert: Warning! Player “Ji Linmo” is entering death countdown: 6, 5, 4, 3…]
“Ugh…”
His chest could no longer draw breath. Ji Linmo’s cheeks flushed a mottled red from lack of oxygen, and a low moan escaped him.
The youth, standing above, watched Ji Linmo’s agony with delight, as if savoring a treasure.
Click!
With a crisp snap, the button at the youth’s waist finally came off, wrenched free by Ji Linmo’s slender hands in the final second before death.
[“Player—Qin Feng” has been released from item “Moment’s Bridal Gown.”]
In an instant, the dazzling bridal robes dissolved into motes of light and vanished.
The youth in his bloodstained school uniform, who had been straddling Ji Linmo, stared blankly, as if all strength had left him, and collapsed limply atop Ji Linmo.
[Alert lifted! You have successfully escaped the source of danger!]
At last, Ji Linmo gulped down fresh air, coughing as he tried to steady his breath.
“Cough, cough…”
He coughed until stars danced before his eyes, but gradually felt the icy chill leaving his body.
He had survived.
Rubbing the two dark bruises on his throat, Ji Linmo looked down at the youth sprawled atop him, frowning deeply.
“He’s heavy…”
Ji Linmo tried to push him off, but he had no strength left—not even in his fingers—so he had no choice but to lie quietly on the floor.
So… tired…
Weariness washed over him, and he closed his eyes.
It was over, wasn’t it? The bridal night’s ordeal was done.
He might as well nap for a bit. The danger had passed; a brief rest would do no harm.
As darkness closed over his vision, Ji Linmo, utterly spent, drifted into sleep.
The sound of their quiet breathing rose and fell, echoing through the cold bedroom.
But the brief slumber did not last long.
When the first rays of dawn slipped through the cracks in the door, Ji Linmo’s eyes snapped open.
Years of habit had long since trained him to wake at precisely six-thirty each morning.