Chapter 39: Bus 404 (8)

Meng Zimu curled his lip, no longer paying any attention to his twin brother.

By the time Jiang Shengsheng turned her focus back to Hang Qimo, the man had already kicked the monster out of the carriage. In the viscous darkness, a hair-raising screech erupted, followed by silence. The carriage fell into a deathly hush. The rear doors slowly slid shut, and the monster was torn to shreds by whatever lay hidden in the darkness.

Someone in the crowd let out a quiet cheer, breaking the silence. The survivors, reeling from their brush with death, embraced one another, weeping as they thanked Hang Qimo.

"Nyah, nyah, nyah, this is only the third game; don't get too happy just yet."

A grotesque voice rang out, expertly killing the mood. Seemingly oblivious to the heavy atmosphere, it continued with a giggle, "The third game ended so easily; thinking about it makes me truly unwilling to accept it. Let me think hard about what to play for the fourth game."

"Oh, right, Bus 404 has arrived at the station."

"Next stop—[Room of the Deceased]! Please do not crowd when disembarking."

Ignoring the hushed gasps of those around him, Hang Qimo walked over to the two Meng brothers. He first cast a casual glance at the NPC tucked into Meng Zimu’s arms, scanning her from head to toe.

Jiang Shengsheng, who had been quick-wittedly covered by Meng Zimu’s hat, was still wondering what was wrong with him when she heard a cold, crisp voice: "No need to return the flashlight to me. I came over to ask if you think the names of the stations on this bus route sound familiar?"

Jiang Shengsheng, who had been struggling to turn around, immediately wracked her brains to figure out where she had heard them:

[Guangjiu Abode]
[Sangju Capital]
[Room of the Deceased]

So far, Bus 404 had concluded three games and passed three or four stations. Jiang Shengsheng had a decent memory and remembered them all clearly. Her limited knowledge did not include the metaphysical concepts of the afterlife, so naturally, she did not find them problematic.

Meng Zimu and his brother, Meng Ze, exchanged a glance; they had clearly arrived at the same conclusion as Hang Qimo.

The three of them spoke in unison: "The Eighteen Layers of Hell!"

Indeed, every station where Bus 404 stopped corresponded to the name of a layer of the underworld. Startled, Jiang Shengsheng tightened her grip on the fabric of Meng Zimu’s shirt. Coming to her senses, she offered a flustered apology and hurriedly lowered her hands.

Meng Zimu, who had been pondering the theme of the dungeon, let out a soft laugh and reached out to grasp Jiang Shengsheng’s nervously fidgeting fingers. "It’s all right."

He didn't mind how his wife toyed with him; she could be even more excessive, as long as it was him.

The two men standing nearby were simultaneously drawn to their interaction. The smile in Meng Ze’s eyes faded; in the dim light, half his face was cast in shadow, his expression twisting into something momentarily distorted and hypocritical.

Never having seen a player care so much for an NPC, Hang Qimo opened his mouth in confusion. Just as he was about to interrupt them, the young girl buried against the boy’s chest turned her head. She seemed