The Handkerchief Game: Horror Edition!

"Life is unpredictable, like a sausage wrapped in another sausage."

Having lost all hope in reality, Yi Bai had turned to the terrifying world of horror games—where others trembled in fear, he now placed his hopes.

He wasn't sure how to judge the man before him, but something about the elderly player gave him the distinct feeling that this man had a higher chance of surviving than the others. It was an instinct.

The children's laughter echoed through the haunted theme park, their voices carrying a sense of eerie anticipation.

"What's next? What should we play?"

"Come on, think! What's a good game?"

"Ugh, everything feels so boring now."

"I'm so tired of these games..."

"Shut up!"

A sharp, childish voice cut through the noise, silencing everyone.

Instantly, the entire park grew unnervingly quiet.

Yi Bai squinted, attempting to track the voice, but it seemed to come from nowhere. The ghostly children had hidden themselves well, and his bloodline's heightened senses couldn't detect their presence.

After all, Yi Bai had learned much since his powers had grown. One thing he knew now was that his Eye of Insight, despite being his unique ability, was still restricted by his current strength, unable to fully unleash its potential. If he could access its full power, he could immediately gather every possible detail about his target the moment they slipped up. Sadly, he wasn't there yet.

So, for now, the ghost children remained a mystery to him.

Then, the decision was made.

"We'll play the handkerchief game," the high-pitched voice declared, ringing clearly over the silence.

Without hesitation, the crowd of ghostly children materialized in front of Yi Bai and the other players—ten in total. They ranged from grotesque, snarling creatures to innocent-looking children who could've easily been mistaken for any playful soul.

Some were massive, like bloated sacks of flesh, their mere presence enough to make the ground tremble. Others were lanky and twisted, their emaciated forms contorted unnaturally.

"Hey, toys! The big sister wants to play the handkerchief game! What are you waiting for?"

The large ghost-child grunted, its voice booming with a sickening cadence. Each step it took made the ground tremble.

The tall, spindly child beside it sneered, "Hurry up and form a circle. Don't ruin the big sister's fun, or else... well, you'll be sorry!"

The mention of death sent a ripple of unease through the crowd. The ghostly children licked their lips, eyeing the players hungrily. The older players scattered, forming a loose circle, trying to comply with the bizarre instructions.

The man in his fifties, known as Huan Weng, studied each of the children intently, his expression betraying a hint of disappointment. Yet, he didn't flinch. He calmly walked over to sit next to one of the ghost children, flashing it an unnervingly gentle smile.

The other players couldn't help but notice, and their discomfort grew. The elderly man's behavior seemed alien, unsettling.

"Just some lesser ghosts... the risk here seems lower than the Third Hospital," Yi Bai muttered to himself, analyzing the situation.

The Third Hospital had been a deathtrap, an inescapable nightmare. But the children's park, despite its eerie atmosphere, felt more manageable. At least, it wasn't packed with vengeful spirits like those in the Third Hospital. Here, the threats were mostly just the children... for now.

Yi Bai felt strangely confident as he sat down beside Huan Weng. He smiled subtly, already preparing himself for the next phase of the game.

Across from him, Ye Qun and the other two seasoned players watched with tight-lipped expressions. They couldn't help but think the same thing: Another madman.

The five rookie players, on the other hand, shuffled nervously, their anxiety palpable. The ghost children, meanwhile, weren't waiting for anyone. They'd already started singing.

"Throw it away... throw it away..."

"Gently place it behind the little monster..."

"Don't tell him..."

"Quick, quick, catch him! Catch him now!"

The discordant tune sent shivers down their spines.

The children's song was absurd and eerie, their voices blending into a chilling cacophony.

Yi Bai and Huan Weng played along, joining the sing-song chant, though their voices were measured, far less fearful than those of the others.

The three old players, seasoned as they were, knew the rules: follow the game or suffer the consequences. They sang too, albeit with increasing discomfort as the strange melody grew louder and more unnerving.

But the ghost children's eyes began to change. Their innocent expressions twisted into something dark and predatory, the pleasant façade they had worn slipping away to reveal grotesque, inhuman forms. The air grew thick with tension, the children's singing taking on an almost shrieking intensity.

The three veteran players—Ye Qun and his companions—sweat began to bead on their foreheads. The children's game, which had seemed innocuous at first, was now far more sinister.

"What is going on?" Ye Qun whispered, his voice tight with panic.

None of the players knew the rules yet. The game had no instructions. And the more they sang, the more the children transformed, their faces contorting into horrific, unnatural shapes. The tension in the air was suffocating.

Suddenly, the music became a scream.

The ghost children, their once-playful nature now utterly gone, began to change. Their bodies cracked and twisted, morphing into nightmarish forms. The children's faces became grotesque, their smiles wide and manic.

Of the five rookie players, three of them lost control of their bladders, trembling uncontrollably. Only the older man, Huan Weng, remained composed—his sympathy for these lost souls far outweighing the fear that gripped the others.

Yi Bai, however, remained still, his eyes locked on the scene with calm detachment. His Eye of Insight was already scanning the situation, and the haunting melody no longer rattled him. Thanks to his special abilities and the Temptation of the Dead talent, he wasn't threatened by the ghost children, whose demeanor remained neutral and even friendly toward him.

Still, the situation was far from normal, and Yi Bai could feel the strange, oppressive weight of the game. He was ready. Ready to survive this, even if it meant playing the twisted game of the ghost children until the end.

The song continued to echo, a prelude to something far darker yet to come...