Chapter 29: Interesting

Awake?

In the instant their eyes met, Ji Linmo’s gaze flickered with a hint of surprise.

But the next moment, the boy who had awakened on the bed moved with agility, twisting his body and slipping out from under Ji Linmo’s arm.

“Stop! Don’t run!”

Watching the boy, barefoot and fleeing in panic toward the bedroom door, Ji Linmo quickly caught up and grabbed him firmly by the collar.

“Roar!”

The instant his collar was seized, the boy let out a hoarse roar from deep in his throat, baring his teeth and snarling at Ji Linmo like a wild beast.

What’s going on here? Has he lost his mind?

Ji Linmo studied the boy before him, uncertain how to proceed.

For now, perhaps it was best to try communicating.

With that thought, Ji Linmo softened his voice, retracting the lightning whip into his inventory.

“Hey, calm down. I mean you no harm. I’m here to save you... Can you hear me, Qin Feng?”

The boy seemed not to comprehend a single word, still acting like a frightened animal, thrashing violently in an attempt to break free.

“Quiet... calm down...”

Watching the boy struggling desperately in his grasp, Ji Linmo frowned, feeling a headache coming on.

This situation was not at all what he had anticipated.

His mission was to bring the boy back to the real world safely, but if the boy had already gone mad, he would only become a burden, jeopardizing both their chances of survival in this game.

“Qin Feng, can you understand me? You’re safe now...”

Ji Linmo tried again to reach him.

But his words of comfort had no effect; instead, the boy, bloodstained in his school uniform, strained harder to escape.

“If this keeps up, we won’t get anywhere...”

Ji Linmo sighed helplessly. As he considered knocking the boy out, Qin Feng suddenly turned, bared his teeth, and bit down hard on Ji Linmo’s arm without hesitation.

“Roar—”

Ji Linmo glanced down at his arm, where two deep bite marks showed through the torn edge of his coat.

The pain, sharp even through the fabric, told him that blood was already seeping from the wound.

“Who taught you this? Do you think you’re a dog...”

Ji Linmo frowned, exasperated, yet he did not let go of the boy’s collar, simply watching him quietly.

The boy’s series of animalistic actions piqued Ji Linmo’s curiosity.

He had played many games, but never before had he seen a living person, after losing their mind, behave so completely like a puppy—from the sounds to the gestures, even the mannerisms.

He decided not to provoke the boy or force him to let go through violence.

He simply observed, waiting to see what the boy would do when faced with his lack of reaction.

After a brief silence, seeing the man unmoving, the boy paused, looked up, and met Ji Linmo’s gaze.

The moment their eyes met, the boy abruptly lowered his head again, producing a rasping sound from his throat.

Once more, he bit down fiercely on Ji Linmo’s arm, this time with greater force, shaking his head and tearing like a wild dog intent on ripping flesh from its prey.

Judging by his eyes, he wasn’t entirely devoid of consciousness.

Ji Linmo lifted his arm, studying the boy closely.

The boy’s eyes were not cold but filled with fear and timidity.

He was truly terrified of Ji Linmo.

This desperate biting seemed more like the startled response of a frightened kitten or puppy.

Ji Linmo found it somewhat amusing.

When the boy had been the “Ghost Bride,” he had never acted like this.

Now, stripped of that identity, their positions seemed to have reversed in an instant.

Ji Linmo had become the master, and the boy was the sacrificial lamb in the game.

“All right, I’ll let you go—and myself too. Run as you please.”

Ji Linmo sighed, releasing his grip on the boy’s collar.

Almost the instant he was freed, the boy let go and bolted out of the room in blind panic.

The house erupted in chaos, bottles and jars crashing to the floor in succession.

Ji Linmo, expressionless, opened a bag of snacks, selecting a few that would pass for breakfast.

He had already locked the door of Room 403.

Given the boy’s current mental state, it was unlikely he would think to open it himself.

“Hiding, are you?”

Noticing the stumbling noises had ceased, Ji Linmo, bread in mouth and breakfast packets in hand, began searching unhurriedly.

Bathroom—empty.

Living room—empty.

Bedroom—empty; after all, Qin Feng had just fled from there.

Ji Linmo surveyed the surroundings, finally letting his gaze fall upon the red wardrobe standing between the living room and bedroom.

It wasn’t large, but it was just big enough for an adult to curl up inside.

“Well, nowhere to be found... Where could you have gone?”

He spoke in a measured tone, then sat himself down before the wardrobe, eating breakfast at his leisure.

Bread and instant porridge could hardly be called delicious, but in this terrifying game, they were a rare delicacy.

Ji Linmo ate quietly. When he’d nearly finished, he stood, set the remaining food on the floor, and stretched out on the living room sofa, closing his eyes for a nap.

He didn’t know how much time passed before the faint rustling sounded from inside the wardrobe.

The boy, clad in an oversized school uniform, crawled out slowly, picked up the food from the floor, sniffed it, and began to devour it.

“He really is just like a little dog...”

Ji Linmo stifled his laughter, keeping his eyes shut.

As expected, after finishing the food, the boy, seeing Ji Linmo still with eyes closed, grew bolder and ventured further, crouching carefully as he inched toward the other food packets left on the coffee table.

Rip, rip—the sound of packaging being torn, followed by the quietest of swallowing.

“He can still open the packets? Looks like he’s not completely gone yet...”

Ji Linmo thought to himself.

Unable to resist, he opened his eyes for a peek.

The boy, disheveled, sat cross-legged in the center of the living room, head bowed in caution, gulping down bread.

He was eating in such haste that crumbs clung all around his mouth, but he paid no mind, stuffing his face as fast as he could.

“Seems he’s eaten a bit too much...”