Meng Chun found it hard to imagine what those who enjoyed ghost stories would do if they discovered Li Meiqi couldn't even tell a basic one well.
"I'll tell you a story from 'The Ring'. Once upon a time, there was a woman named Jiaozi..."
Meng Chun breathed a sigh of relief. This was a story he had told yesterday, and as long as Li Meiqi could tell it completely, she should be able to get off stage safely.
"We've heard this one! Change it, change it!"
But as soon as Li Meiqi began, the surrounding audience grumbled, urging her to pick another.
Li Meiqi's expression was hidden by her face mask, but her slightly trembling body revealed she was terrified.
"Don't, don't rush. Then... I'll tell you a story called 'The Grudge'. The protagonist is a woman from Sakurajima, named Chiyeko..."
This was a story Meng Chun had told a few days ago. It was quite horrifying and should be enough to deal with these listeners.
"Can you even do this? Why do you keep telling us stories we've already heard? We've all told different stories. If you can't do it, you'll have to accept the punishment!" The listeners' tone grew increasingly unfriendly. Some of them had their complexions fading, turning a deathly pale.
Seeing the atmosphere turn sour, Meng Chun felt a chilling possibility dawn on him.
The listeners had heard all the stories Li Meiqi told, and those stories were all told by Meng Chun in this very office.
This meant that while Meng Chun was telling stories before, these people had also been eavesdropping, but they had never revealed themselves!
As Li Meiqi was about to be punished by the listeners for failing to tell a story, Meng Chun stood up and said, "Um, could I tell a new story for her?"
His idea was simple. Li Meiqi was the only person he could be sure was alive here, and he had an endless supply of ghost stories. If he could save Li Meiqi's life with ghost stories, it would be worth it.
Li Meiqi was so touched she couldn't speak. She hadn't expected the man she always ridiculed to stand up for her in such a situation.
Indeed, adversity reveals true character. Perhaps this man was the one truly worth entrusting her life to.
Dozens of listeners exchanged glances and then unanimously shook their heads, saying, "No, one person can only tell one story!"
Their faces turned grim as they all looked at the despairing Li Meiqi. Their refusal seemed to push her into an abyss!
"Then, how about I tell one!"
A man in a tight red suit leaped into the center, standing in front of Li Meiqi. His large blue cape billowed in the wind, making him appear incredibly imposing!
"Is that... Xiao Long Xia?"
Meng Chun stared blankly at the man who had suddenly appeared. The bright red tights, sky-blue cape, red boxer shorts worn on the outside, and a mask that only revealed his eyes and mouth – the entire ensemble was ridiculously kitschy.
He had heard rumors of Xiao Long Xia before, knowing there was a guy in Qingchuan City who acted as a vigilante, righting wrongs and helping the weak. However, Meng Chun had always dismissed "Xiao Long Xia" as a goofy clown.
But when Xiao Long Xia stood before him today, Meng Chun felt this figure was so tall, so radiant.
"Let her... finish... her story!"
Dozens of listeners stood up, their faces ashen, looking increasingly inhuman.
At this point, only ten people remained seated. Nine of them were trembling – they were Meng Chun's colleagues. He knew these were the only other truly living people.
"If I don't let her finish her story, what can you do to me?"
Xiong Ying said with a smile. The adoring gazes of these rescued individuals gave him the greatest comfort and encouragement. Compared to this, the lives he might lose seemed insignificant.
Precisely because he knew that as a 'hero', he could only be active for a short period, Xiong Ying had specially created this flamboyant battle suit and given himself the silly name, Xiao Long Xia.
Xiong Ying didn't need to be attractive or handsome; he only needed people to remember him as a hero, and that would be enough.
This was Xiong Ying's only personal wish, made after risking his life against the will of his heart.
He pointed at the bizarre listeners and said, "One, two, three... there are thirty-four with issues, and twelve without. Are you going to come at me all at once, or shall I chase you down and beat you one by one?"
The listeners exchanged glances and then tacitly walked towards Xiong Ying. Xiong Ying taunted them as he retreated, and they followed. In this manner, they left Meng Chun and the other eleven employees behind.
"You just wait here. Don't move around carelessly. There might be other dangers. I'll take you out after I deal with them." Xiong Ying's words made Meng Chun and the others, who were about to flee, stay put in the office.
Li Meiqi removed her mask and hid behind Meng Chun, saying, "Do you think Xiao Long Xia can defeat those monsters?"
"Of course, he can. He just said he'd take us out after dealing with them," Xiong Ying comforted Li Meiqi. He was surprised to gain her favor. If they survived tonight, it would be a huge gain.
"Based on Xiao Long Xia's strength, dealing with these things should be more than enough. However, he is, after all, a self-taught super-powered individual, so he might encounter some trouble."
A strange voice made Meng Chun and the others freeze. Then, their faces began to change rapidly. They counted again; there were twelve people, but only eleven employees were working overtime tonight!
So they looked in horror at the person speaking. This person was draped in a large black cloak, wearing a twisted, perverted smile. His appearance at this moment was a hundred times more terrifying than those monsters! Sudan Novels.
This person was none other than Wen Wen!
...
Upon reaching a relatively open area, Xiong Ying pressed something on his waist, and dynamic music began to play.
"Heil, heil..."
To the meaningless but incredibly catchy music, Xiong Ying leaped into the air and punched the foremost listener in the face.
When he saw these individuals, he knew they weren't human, so he didn't hold back at all.
But to his surprise, his fist sank into the person's face as if hitting cotton, sending the person flying.
The assaulted listener's entire face caved in. He reached out and fumbled at his face. After a moment, he found his eye and poked it back into place. Then, like a beast, the figure lunged at Xiong Ying.
Seeing the horrifying face, Xiong Ying gasped.
"What the hell are you guys? Even ghosts are cuter than you!"