Chapter 23 The Shadow

Just as Lin Wan'er's figure disappeared, a shadow of a person vaguely appeared on the dilapidated wall next to her.

But there was no one nearby.

The strangeness of the shadow was not only its sudden appearance, but also that its color was even darker than the surrounding darkness, as thick as a pool of ink that couldn't be dissolved.

Even more eerie was that, as time passed, the shadow seemed to come alive, with strange ripples appearing on its surface. Although there was no movement, it gave people the illusion that it was staring at Jiang Cheng.

After a moment, a strange scene occurred. The shadow turned into a black phantom and actually walked down from the wall. The sound of leather shoes hitting the ground echoed in the empty room.

The phantom stopped in front of Jiang Cheng's body, and a pair of blood-red eyes faintly lit up, staring at his sleeping face.

The phantom reached out its hand, as if trying to imitate Lin Wan'er, and touch Jiang Cheng's forehead, but was repelled by another strange force midway.

The next second, a huge book appeared out of thin air behind the phantom. An ancient and silent aura permeated the air, and the two completely different forces were strangely intertwined at this moment.

The cold feeling gradually receded, and the phantom disappeared along with it. The sound of stepping in water faintly echoed in the silent room, gradually fading away.

"Drip."

"Drip."

Accompanied by the sound of dripping water, Pi Ruan, who was lying on the bunk, opened his eyes without warning. First, he yawned, then stretched lazily before finally sitting up from the bed contentedly.

The kerosene lamp in the room was still lit, but the flame was getting weaker, and large areas of the surrounding scenery seemed to be covered by a layer of dark gray mist, turning into blurry outlines.

Unlike ordinary mist, this layer of mist seemed to be alive, slowly wriggling.

Fu Fuhuai and Yi Du were both asleep, lying on opposite ends of the bunk, as incompatible as fire and water.

Looking down, Pi Ruan saw himself also sleeping on the bunk, his hands resting on his chest, his face peaceful.

This world was frighteningly quiet.

"Awake?" a calm voice sounded, along with the sound of pages turning. An elegant man was sitting at the table, a black-covered book spread out on it.

Pi Ruan didn't even look in the direction of the man, but said to himself, "Although it's not the first time I've seen your ability, it always feels unreal."

"It's just a dream after all. When the dream ends, everything will return to normal," Luo He said, turning his head to look at him.

"Yes, it's just a dream... that's all." Pi Ruan stared at his body lying on the bed, exhaled, then turned around, looked at Luo He, and said in a very soft but serious tone, "Number 3, you know, we are all very envious of you."

"Me?" A ripple appeared on Luo He's calm face, as if he was a little surprised.

"Yes," Pi Ruan said with a smile, "Each of us has regrets, things we want to do but don't dare to, and can't do."

"But I have them too," Luo He said.

Pi Ruan smiled even more happily, his bright eyes looking at him, filled with longing. "But at least you have the means to make up for them."

"To construct a dream for yourself, and put a period to past regrets in the dream." He shook his head. "Some people live too tired and too realistically. Actually, it's good to deceive yourself occasionally, isn't it? At least you don't have to worry about this damn fate when you die."

"Some people's fate is in their own hands, but some people's isn't. Their fate... is destined from birth."

"Like us." Pi Ruan turned his head and looked at Luo He. "Our fate is destined from birth. We are meant to be abandoned!"

Pi Ruan in the dream looked as usual, but only Luo He could feel his current unwillingness and anger. If he hadn't deliberately maintained it, Number 4's appearance would already be...

"You can ask Mr. for help," Luo He said, his expression towards Pi Ruan carrying a hint of complexity. "You can ask Mr. to awaken Number 10 in advance. You know, as long as Number 10 wakes up, the door in his body can save you!"

The door abilities on the Scarlet members varied, and some were even unbelievable and unheard of, but the most recognized, most special, and most important door was on Number 10.

It was a very rare door with no offensive ability.

More than just no offensive ability.

More precisely, it was healing.

Being around Number 10 would slow down the rate of being eroded by the door within and prevent those who possessed a door from falling into the abyss due to the erosion.

Even if Number 10 wanted to, he could even pull a disciple who was about to be completely eroded by the curse back from the abyss.

This overturned the iron rule among the disciples.

Those with a door in their bodies would never be healed, and could only absorb more and more terrifying curses to prolong the time before being eroded.

The appearance of Number 10 changed everything.

But this was not without a price. The price of healing others was Number 10 himself, who had to bear the curse on behalf of the other party.

While healing others, the door in Number 10's body was also eroding himself.

It was like using a straw to suck the other person's curse into his own body.

Using such a precious ability to save himself was something Pi Ruan, as a member of Scarlet, was reluctant to do. Even if he was willing, others would not agree.

Number 10's role was to prevent Zero from being on the verge of despair and falling into the abyss.

This was the greatest value.

It was also the core of Mr.'s plan.

As for him, Pi Ruan's smile was bleak, just a dispensable abandoned piece.

The only meaning of his existence was to take on all the risks after Zero became alert, cover Number 10 to continue lurking, and then die cleanly.

There was no better way to dispel the other party's suspicions than an enemy's clean and quick death. Afraid that the performance was not enough, he even dragged Chen Qiang along.

Stuffing the cursed scarecrow into his backpack in a not-so-clever way...

Hehe, the corners of Pi Ruan's mouth widened. Now even Number 10 and Huai Yi were beginning to suspect him. This play had reached its climax.

As an actor, he believed he was qualified.

He didn't have much time or scenes left, so he would carefully finish his last performance, so that after the play was over, someone would still remember him when the curtain closed.

"Sorry." Pi Ruan seemed to suddenly realize something, wiped his tears, and said with a smile, "I lost my composure."

Although Luo He didn't have much affection for Pi Ruan, watching his companions move towards their demise was always depressing.

"I know what you're thinking," Pi Ruan suddenly looked at Luo He. "You're thinking that it would have been better to kill Zero earlier, right?"

"That way... no one would die, and everyone would live well. When the two worlds completely merge, we people with doors will no longer be anomalies."

He suddenly changed his voice, sounding stern and solemn, "We will become the only Gods in this world."