Chapter 42: Soul

“Oh my god, really? You’re pregnant, I’m just so...”
The words from the Xiao Ming doll trailed off.
Because the Xiao Hong doll had begun to sob.
“Honey, what are we going to do? After everything we’ve been through, in a place like this, this child should never have been born.”
Xiao Ming doll was silent for a while, then embraced the Xiao Hong doll.
“Let’s get married, Xiao Hong. We’ll hold a grand wedding right here. In front of everyone, I’ll swear to always protect you!”
Suddenly, the screen flickered and the scene changed.
It was somewhere like a corridor, where a doll in a school uniform was handing out red paper with the double happiness character.
It was the doll previously called Xiao Feng by Nie Haohao.
“Everyone, Brother Xiao Ming and Sister Xiao Hong are getting married tonight! If you’d like to join the wedding and celebrate with us, let’s put the double happiness sign on our doors!”
“How could we miss such an important occasion?”
“That’s right, it’s a rare day of joy—we have to show our support!”
One after another, the various dolls offered their congratulations, their voices brimming with happiness.
But in the hallway, several upright knives stood at a distance, watching Xiao Feng, not joining in.
Even when Xiao Feng handed them the red paper, they said nothing; once he was gone, they threw the double happiness stickers to the floor.
“A bunch of damned fools. We can barely survive, and they’re thinking of getting married?”
Rip! Rip!
The scene shifted again, and Nie Haohao held up a red sheet with three large characters—
—Wedding Money
“Hey kid! Stop! The wedding in room 403 has started, hasn’t it?”
A knife blocked Xiao Feng.
“Yes, sir. Is there something you need? I noticed your home isn’t decorated—you’re not attending, are you?”
The knife slowly approached, chuckling dryly.
“It’s not that I don’t want to go, but things are tight right now.”
“Not like you lot, helping each other out, saving up all that spirit money.”
Xiao Feng seemed uneasy and began to back away.
“Uncle, are you trying to extort me?”
“What are you saying, child? How could I possibly do that?”
As soon as he spoke, several knives surrounded Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng was quick, dashing toward the main gate.

“Let’s start with this brat! He’s got a weapon—a prop that’s protected those adulterers long enough!”
Rip! Rip!
Harsh breathing echoed from the screen.
The scene changed again, finally connecting to the one Ji Linmo had seen before.
“Please, brother! We never messed with you—just let my wife go! She’s pregnant!”
Surrounded by the knives, the Xiao Ming doll glanced back at Xiao Hong, then suddenly fell to his knees.
“Hahaha! Isn’t that better? We’ll have a baby to sell to the vending machine too!”
“Blame yourselves, you useless lot. Acting like family, throwing weddings—what a joke! You’re all dead sooner or later. Better to kill you now, trade your organs for spirit money, and give us a shot at survival.”
Xiao Ming trembled, lowering his head in despair, banging his forehead repeatedly on the ground.
“Spare my wife! It’s all my fault. Do whatever you want with me, just please...”
Suddenly, a shadow slipped through the gap between the knives, and the screen filled with smoke.
“A smoke bomb! Damn it, it’s that dwarf! Kill him!”
A tiny doll grabbed Xiao Ming’s sleeve and ran.
“Run!”
As soon as the words were out, the three dolls rushed outside, but just as they reached the elevator, a flying knife struck Xiao Hong.
White cotton burst from her body.
She stumbled and fell with a scream.
“Wife!”
Xiao Ming tried to lift her, but with the cotton spilling out, her body quickly deflated.
“Go! She can’t make it. You have to run!”
The little doll shouted.
But Xiao Ming clung to Xiao Hong, refusing to let go.
With no other choice, the little doll dashed into the elevator alone.
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry! They’re coming. If you want to die, I can’t die with you...”
The little doll looked at the couple, guilt-stricken, and knelt.
But just as the elevator doors were closing, the doll inside threw out his arm to block them, then ran out, trying to drag Xiao Ming into the elevator.
“Ah!”
A flying knife stabbed into the little doll’s leg, and the others rushed forward.
“Shorty!”

The screen flickered—the Xiao Ming doll seemed to be holding Xiao Hong, pulling the little doll into the elevator just as the doors closed.
Rip, rip!
—Final Chapter—
On a blood-red screen, two large yellow characters flashed by.
“Wu... Xiao Hong... I’m sorry. I’ve always been such a useless man...”
Xiao Ming, his body torn and cotton spilling everywhere, let out a wretched sob, clinging to the empty skin that was all that remained of Xiao Hong.
“I... I’m going to die too. I can’t beat them. They’re still looking for me...”
“But I really, really wish I could see you smile in your wedding dress one more time...”
Finishing, Xiao Ming reached out and picked up the kitchen knife he’d first used to protect himself.
“What are you doing?”
A voice flashed across the screen—
It sounded like the little doll, pinching his voice.
“Shorty, you have to go. If you stay with me, you’ll be found too.”
“I’m dying anyway. Let me try—maybe the prop I got before will work.”
“I, Wang Xiaoming, offer my soul—grant my wish, let this wedding begin again!”
Rip, rip!
The screen flashed with the number on the door: Room 202. Labored, dying breaths sounded, and the tape ended.

[Congratulations, player! You have discovered the crucial clue: ‘The Bloodstained Wedding Tape.’ Dungeon progress +20%.]
A glow flashed from the videotape.
Ji Linmo grabbed the tape and stuffed it into his pocket.

[Player quest active: ‘Hidden Side Quest: Who Am I?’]
[Time remaining: 00:35:11]
[Quest Description: It seems there are secrets lurking in this building. Who is hiding their true identity? Can you find out?]
[Current Dungeon Progress: 70/100%]
[Clues: 2/4]
“Two clues left. Judging by the last scene on the tape, it’s hinting that the next clue is in Old Master Ma’s Room 202?”