The Guide Before the Mother

When the terms "Lady of the Mirror" and "Mirror Spirit" flashed before Yi Bai's eyes, a sudden understanding filled his mind. He now understood why the powerful ghost, Hill, despite being a mere "vengeful spirit," could command so many ghost children, including the likes of the mountain spirit boy, Wan Yue, who was also a vengeful spirit.

The "Lady of the Mirror" was easy to understand—her true form might well be a mirror, the literal "mirror ghost." Hill, however, was a special spirit birthed within that mirror, with immense potential.

It was clear now. Due to this unique connection, Hill's relationship with her mother was unlike any other. They were, in a sense, one and the same—a pair of twins, each half of the whole.

At that thought, Yi Bai couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine. The situation could very well mean that what Hill saw, her mother might also see. He had already begun to perceive Hill's personality—under the extremely strict upbringing, she seemed to have a slight "yandere" tendency.

They hadn't even met face-to-face yet, but Hill's affection for him had already soared to the level of "Trust."

"If I were to directly reveal her identity, her affection would probably increase instantly, right?" Yi Bai mused. "But the problem is... the Lady of the Mirror—she must be at least a 'Blood-clad' level powerhouse. How would she feel about that?"

Yi Bai couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. Revealing Hill's identity might make her feelings even clearer, but what about the mother? If Hill's daughter was to be openly pursued in front of her, how would she react?

Yi Bai's thoughts shifted to practicality. He wasn't foolish—if a mere vengeful spirit could exhibit such power, then this mysterious figure could not be judged by common standards. He settled on calling her a "Blood-clad" figure, a fitting title for such an extraordinary entity.

And then, the question remained: how would the powerful mother feel watching her child being wooed by a stranger? Yi Bai could already guess that this would not end well.

"Still, there's no turning back now..." Yi Bai thought. "If I don't 'uncover' Hill now, it might backfire later. A yandere-type ghost girl who's obsessed with perfection, with a terrifying mother lurking behind her? This is gonna get intense!"

"You're definitely the most beautiful and perfect child among all the ghost children, Hill, aren't you?" Yi Bai smiled warmly, his voice sincere, his words carefully chosen to deepen Hill's trust.

Hill's eyes glowed even brighter at his words, a look of joy radiating from her face. Her transformation into the gothic lolita in the black princess dress, complete with a sweet smile, signaled her arrival.

As Hill appeared, Yi Bai knew the third round of the game was almost over. He and Huan Weng were already excluded from the "toy" category. The other players who failed to find Hill would face an inevitable fate.

The chilling sound of the game reached Yi Bai's ears just as the game's notifications began to ring:

"Congratulations, lucky player Yi Bai, you have successfully cleared the altered Children's Amusement Park dungeon. You may exit this dungeon and return to the real world at any time."

"Due to unexpected changes in the dungeon, survivor rewards are doubled! Each round earns you 2,000 Ghost Coins!"

"Lucky player Yi Bai is the winner of the final game! Extra reward: Mirror Shadow (Special item: creates a mirror illusion lasting for 1 hour, which can be summoned and dismissed at will)."

"Finally…" Yi Bai sighed with relief. Though he still didn't know the fates of the other players, at least he had his "Return Scroll" now. With that backup, he wasn't panicked. Now, he just had to keep raising Hill's favorability.

"Big brother, could you play the game with me too?" Hill's voice rang out, full of longing, her bright eyes impossible to refuse.

"Of course!" Yi Bai responded without hesitation. "But can Hill help me with something too?"

"What is it?" Hill's voice was light and cheerful as she asked, eager to please him.

"Could you help that guy I made a deal with also clear the game? He still has some value to me. Would you be willing to help, Hill?"

"Of course!" Hill said proudly, puffing up her chest. "The game rules were set by me, so adjusting them is no problem!"

Yi Bai smiled and showered her with praise. Hill, the lightly yandere gothic lolita, basked in the compliments, her face glowing with happiness.

As Hill's affection moved from "Trust" to "Sincere," it seemed to be on the verge of evolving into "Obsessive Adoration."

Meanwhile, Liu Zhen, pale-faced, suddenly became stunned, then erupted into wild joy. The failure prompt for the horrifying game had already echoed in his ears, like a thunderclap sentencing him to death. But to his surprise, the game was suddenly altered!

The system had just declared his failure, but now, because of an "unexpected change," it notified him that he had successfully cleared the game!

"Big Brother! The Golden, no, the Supreme Golden Thigh!!!" Liu Zhen shouted in ecstatic disbelief, his eyes gleaming with hope.

He knew he would hold onto this golden opportunity for dear life, and as he looked toward Yi Bai, he was more certain than ever: his future was tied to this powerful figure.

Similarly, Huan Weng, grateful to Yi Bai, had also survived. His unique approach had earned the recognition of the ghost children. In the ghost world, children were not always treated with the same care as human ones, but Hill had spared him.

However, Yu Quan and the other new players weren't so fortunate.

As the game ended, the new players were quickly devoured by the relentless ghost children, their screams silenced in an instant. Yu Quan, who had barely managed to protect himself with a protective charm, now found his shield flickering under the onslaught.

The cracks in his gray shield were already beginning to show.