Chapter 32 Part 2: Midnight Sacrifice

The next moment, a sudden sharp pain struck, as if something was burning.

Lou Chen, who completely hadn’t realized he had been present in a sense all along, suddenly snapped back to reality.

He struggled to float his thoughts up from the depths of the sea, trying to break free from the victim’s perspective.

Only at this moment did Lou Chen realize that he had just woken up from yet another dream.

His body had already uncontrollably, conditioned-reflexively sat up from the sofa.

He breathed slowly, silently counting numbers, trying to take back his wandering consciousness.

At the same time, he painfully pressed his temples, realizing that all the nerves in his head were completely out of sync at the same moment.

He didn’t cry out, simply because his personal tolerance far exceeded that of ordinary people.

And that tearing pain could drive a mentally weak person insane.

“I thought you would fall off the sofa.”

A familiar voice said.

“I have to say, I’m actually a bit disappointed.”

Hearing this, Lou Chen’s dim light brown eyes lit up.

He immediately looked towards the source of the voice and found Yu Ziyu leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looking at him coldly.

Without caring too much, he got off the sofa: “You’re here.

Not injured.”

“At least not in the grave.”

Yu Ziyu replied, watching him stumble towards him.

The room was empty, the corridor was quiet, and the door was only slightly ajar.

There was no sound from inside or outside the door.

Lou Chen’s expression was lit up again by his words.

He even smiled weakly: “I’m sure, this is the real you.”

A complicated expression appeared on Yu Ziyu’s face.

“Where did you go?”

Lou Chen picked up his jacket, draped it over himself, and quickly swept away the fatigue from just waking from the nightmare.

Instead, he looked at Yu Ziyu with concern, as if his matters were more important than his own.

“I know you don’t like me asking questions… but, Pride…”

“No.”

Yu Ziyu impatiently interrupted him.

“I completely didn’t go to that banquet.

Some freaks delayed my schedule, so someone took the time difference to impersonate me and come here.

He’s not a good liar and completely messed up my plan.”

Sloth’s attitude in admitting his mistake was very proper, but this couldn’t conceal the fact that he had made a mistake.

Yu Ziyu didn’t think punishing him now was a good thing; otherwise, the other bosses would find his identity even stranger—at least he had to wait until this gathering was over.

This explanation made Lou Chen look at Yu Ziyu for a long moment, until Yu Ziyu frowned and asked unceremoniously.

“What?”

“Okay.”

Lou Chen just said.

“Sounds like you were in danger.”

Yu Ziyu snorted: “If I were you, I have a suggestion.

Instead of worrying about me, you might as well worry about yourself—what kind of brain do you have that made you decide to follow Sloth’s advice and just sleep here for twenty minutes?”

“You watched me sleep for twenty minutes?”

Lou Chen said in surprise.

Completely missing the point.

He was really cute.

“Is it okay if I beat you up half an hour before the banquet starts?”

Yu Ziyu said. “Because I really want to do that right now.”

He paused, then added, “I know what happened in the game.

You know my ability, so I’ll also attend.”

Lou Chen smiled.

He reached out and grabbed Yu Ziyu’s hand: “Can you calculate the time that accurately?

Unfortunately, my brain hasn’t been eaten.

I’m sure sleeping was the best choice for us; Sloth just said it out loud—I was planning to do that anyway.

I want to tell you something.

What I just saw, I haven’t told you before.

Sometimes I see things from the monster side.”

Hearing this, Yu Ziyu gazed at him.

“What?” he asked.

“So, before this, you’ve seen me.”

“Before I met you, I often dreamed of your back.”

Lou Chen murmured, frowning, his grip on Yu Ziyu’s hand gradually loosening, falling to his side.

“That’s why I was so certain the person I was looking for was you…

But that’s not what we need to focus on now.

I’m sure Sloth, Jealousy, Gluttony, and Lust will attend.

Although we don’t know that this many bosses have already appeared.”

“Although we’ve cleared the crowd in advance and sealed off the city center, we’re not sure exactly where in the city center Pride will appear.

Plus, at least these few bosses attending… things are even more difficult than I thought.”

Actually, he was still thinking about those few sentences Jealousy and Gluttony said.

They seemed to imply that they shared a common plan, a plan kept hidden from Pride.

Everything they did was to keep him here…

This might possibly be a turning point in the situation.

“These deployments are unnecessary.”

Yu Ziyu said.

“Because this is just a matter between us.”

Lou Chen snapped back to reality, realizing that Yu Ziyu had been gazing at him the whole time.

This was very unusual, because people like Yu Ziyu basically looked down on everyone.

His gaze was actually quite rare, unless something big was about to happen.

“What?”

“Do you like me?”

Yu Ziyu said thoughtfully.

“No, I should say, do you have feelings for me?

Because of this face?”

“What?”

Lou Chen was stunned for a moment.

“No, it’s not just the face.”

He belatedly realized he had said this sentence twice.

And the hesitation at the end… nothing could be more suspicious than this performance.

“Good.”

Yu Ziyu seemed to have seen something from his expression.

He lifted one corner of his mouth and smiled coldly.

“If I asked you to hold my hand right now, you wouldn’t refuse, would you?

I think this would be more convenient.”

Lou Chen felt his heart beat quickly, but he still frowned: “…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Hold my hand.”

Yu Ziyu reached out his hand towards him.

“Just accept the invitation.”

This was a very beautiful hand, close to an artist’s.

Considering Yu Ziyu’s identity as a photographer, he must be someone extremely pampered, so no wounds or rough lines could be seen on these hands.

Anyone had to admit that Yu Ziyu indeed had an irresistibly good-looking exterior.

Lou Chen looked at him for a moment, his eyes flickering, as if some anticipation, tentative emotions passed through.

He took Yu Ziyu’s hand and smiled at him.

“So this might be the last time before I die…”

Yu Ziyu impatiently clicked his tongue, reversed his grip and tightened his hold on Lou Chen’s hand, directly interrupting his words.

The next moment, a sudden change occurred.

All the scenery around them spun, as if thrown into a mixer, bringing a dizzying, nauseating feeling.

It seemed like something in the ears was screaming in pain, simply like countless ghosts howling and moaning.

Lou Chen’s feet missed the ground.

After a few minutes, he finally landed on something solid.

The strange fragrance of wood reached his nose.

Something polished flashed in his peripheral vision.

There was the musty smell of dust and rotting fruit in the air.

Lou Chen heavily landed on the floor.

Then, before he could even steady himself, Yu Ziyu had already let go of his hand.

A beam of light shone on the top of their heads.

Yu Ziyu gave him one last look, then walked away.

Lou Chen’s mind was a mess, like someone just getting off a plane after being airsick.

He shook his head.

But despite this, he also realized what had happened—he had accepted the invitation and been brought to a completely unfamiliar place.

This was the rule.

Lou Chen just hadn’t expected that he had forgotten that Yu Ziyu completely hadn’t used any tricks to mislead him.

Just as Pride said on the invitation, only those who accepted could be directly brought to the destination, like a vampire invited into a house.

And he had simply agreed.

But he didn’t understand.

Completely unclear why Yu Ziyu wanted to do this.

The moment Lou Chen was thrown to this place, he completely lost the ability to move.

He could only observe the surrounding situation within his limited field of vision.

Soon, through the style of the audience seating, he quickly recognized that this was the city center theater.

The city center.

Lou Chen’s heart sank.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at Yu Ziyu, who had his back to him.

He had left Lou Chen, who had been transported here with him, and was standing at the edge of the stage.

From a respectful person wearing a familiar mask, he took a black robe and casually draped it over himself.

Then, he turned around and buttoned the robe one by one.

His movements were elegant and pleasing to the eye.

This clothing was very familiar…

Lou Chen wouldn’t forget it.

In fact, because of its style, he was immediately awakened to the memory of that mask—at their first meeting, that strange ritual, the people there were dressed like this.

“They’re heretics.”

Lou Chen looked up and murmured.

“We’re at Pride’s banquet.”

“I’m glad you still have eyes.”

Yu Ziyu turned around and glanced at him.

Behind him, someone was holding a silver tray with a carved dagger on it.

“I don’t understand.”

Lou Chen said in a low voice, frowning.

“I didn’t expect this either.

But you’ve become alert, so this is a new plan.”

Yu Ziyu said with annoyance.

“Who knows?

Anyway, I didn’t give them any hints.

But since they delivered themselves to me, how could I not use them?

I can only say that Sloth still knows how to salvage the situation.

Maybe this is why he’s lived so long.”

This kind of damage control was actually okay; it just made things more dramatic.

Really, Yu Ziyu had just wanted to politely get some points and get away.

He hadn’t thought about putting on a performance show.

But since it had come to this, he could only follow through—actually, it was quite interesting.

After all, in the Land of Desire Amusement Park, he didn’t have much time to entertain himself.

Sloth was right; his betraying him was too unbelievable.

To make the story more complete, they had come up with a new plan.

Not to mention, this time he could complete both missions [Pride] and [Savior] at once.

So, complaints aside, Yu Ziyu didn’t think he shouldn’t do this.

Lou Chen couldn’t understand a single word he was saying.

He just felt his brain filled with all kinds of doubts.

He didn’t know what this meant.

He just gazed at Yu Ziyu with those light brown eyes, as if he hadn’t done something traitorous by directly bringing him here.

“So, you’ve met Sloth.”

Yu Ziyu took the dagger, turned his head, and glanced at the black-robed figure wearing a mask.

They retreated behind the curtain.

He carried the dagger to the center of the stage and pulled a bright red chain.

With a tearing sound, two huge pieces of red silk curtain were directly pulled down, revealing the patterned background board.

Lou Chen narrowed his eyes, reluctantly focusing on these symbols.

Undoubtedly, it emitted a majestic and dark aura.

“Yes.

Not only that, I even had tea with Pride.”

Yu Ziyu finally turned back and said, giving Lou Chen a pitying glance.

“Anyway, thank you for believing in me and also for liking this face of mine.

I didn’t expect you guys to trust others so easily.”

He snapped his fingers.

The lights at the very top of the entire theater lit up.

Lou Chen only then realized that there weren’t just a few of them here… but many, many people.

They were wearing similar clothes, pairs of eyes peering out from behind masks.

They stared unblinkingly at Yu Ziyu and Lou Chen on stage, sending chills down the spine.

Their breaths stagnated, their bodies trembling slightly as they witnessed all this.

“Our audience arrived early.”

He slightly leaned down, looking into Lou Chen’s eyes, and said, “Some of the more wise players have already accepted the invitation.”

“…”

Lou Chen didn’t speak.

He just kept staring tightly at Yu Ziyu.

Yu Ziyu scanned his eyes but didn’t find the anger or betrayal he thought he would find there.

He would have preferred Lou Chen to yell and shout, not to look at him so calmly like this.

Because this kind of acting would lose the extra joy of revenge.

They looked at each other for a while.

Lou Chen’s expression was so calm, as if he was just thinking, trying to find the reason behind it.

Yu Ziyu gave up.

He casually waved his hand.

With a cracking sound, the floorboard beside Lou Chen suddenly split open.

A platform, like a stage prop, rose up.

And he directly looked away and started walking towards it.

It had obviously already been arranged.

In the very center, surrounded by lit black candles, filled with an absurd, exaggerated atmosphere.

Yu Ziyu looked at the platform that was big enough for one person to lie on.

He found unknown white flowers and thorns intricately and perfectly surrounding the edges.

It looked more like a work of art than a sacrifice.

The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

“I’ve changed my mind.

I’m going to kill Sloth.”

He murmured, a flash of scarlet passing through his eyes.

“Too pretentious.”

No one but himself could hear what he said.

Everyone could only notice Yu Ziyu raising the dagger in his hand.

But surprisingly, it wasn’t aimed at Lou Chen—

It was aimed at his own throat.

Seeing his movement, Lou Chen’s breathing became rapid.

He completely ignored the countless eyes watching them in the darkness.

Some strange images flashed through his mind, images he had no memory of at all.

His head was almost split in two by the excessively intense pain.

“What are you planning to do?

What are you doing?”

He roughly interrupted his movement with words.

“You’re not planning to hurt me, are you?”

“You’re still so self-centered.

Clearly just a spectator, but you always think of yourself as the protagonist.”

“I have no—I have no intention of joking with you.”

Lou Chen emphasized.

“What the hell is going on?

I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Since it’s Pride’s gathering, then Pride should also be present.”

Yu Ziyu shook his head, finally stopping his movement, glancing sideways at him.

“Unbelievable, you still haven’t thought of this yet.

What am I planning to do?

Of course, help welcome the arrival of the banquet’s host.”

“Why can I ‘sense’ the monsters’ emotions?

Why was my mental state once misjudged?

Why have all the bosses already appeared, but Pride alone still hasn’t shown up, until I appeared?

Haven’t you thought about these questions.”

The corners of his mouth squeezed out mocking lines.

Hearing his words, for the first time since arriving here, Lou Chen showed a helpless expression.

“You drew so many backs.

Did you ever think that the monster and the savior could be one and the same?

Like two sides of a coin.”

Lou Chen was stunned.

He suddenly thought of Old Yu, whose life was taken by Gluttony—the former minister of the Supernatural Management Bureau.

When he was alive, he had warned Lou Chen that if Yu Ziyu could hear Pride’s voice and connect his thoughts with other bosses, it was quite dangerous.

After all, they wouldn’t know what Pride was whispering to Yu Ziyu, whether his mind would waver because of it, be bewitched…

“You mean—”

“Pride has been in my head all along.

I finally understand.

Everything it told me was right.”

Yu Ziyu smiled, tapping his temple and shaking his head.

“I’m glad I chose the right path.

Next, it and I are going to share one body.”

Hearing his words, Lou Chen’s mind buzzed.

“I told you, I was waiting for someone.

He dumped this mess on me.”

He said casually, playing with the dagger in his hand.

It cut his finger, and a few drops of blood immediately slid down the edge of the blade.

“This person was fabricated by Pride.

It’s been waiting for me to understand.”

“This isn’t you.”

Lou Chen seemed to want to stand up from the floor, but that unknown force continuously pressed him down.

He stared intently at Yu Ziyu, gritting his teeth.

Anger finally burned through his eyes; the color of his pupils deepened.

“You wouldn’t want to do this.

No matter what it said to you, it was lying.”

“You just watch from over there.”

Yu Ziyu wagged his finger at him, smiling contemptuously.

He turned his head and casually glanced at the clock hanging at the very top.

Lou Chen knew what he was waiting for—the hands still had ten minutes to go before the appointed midnight hour.

“You can’t do this.”

Lou Chen stood up again, and was again pressed heavily down.

But he kept repeating this movement, as if he completely couldn’t feel the pain, just hissing through his teeth, staring intently at Yu Ziyu.

“No one gets to dictate my decisions.”

Yu Ziyu didn’t look at Lou Chen again.

He supported himself with his hand, sat on the platform, then turned over and lay down on his back.

The moment he smelled the flowers, he almost sneezed.

His face immediately darkened, almost breaking character.

But this didn’t stop him from, the moment the clock struck the hour, directly stabbing himself in the heart with the dagger.

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