Sacrificial Lamb (2)
“Ah!” Chen Li let out a tiny, sharp sound of fear, curling up and backing away.
Even though he recognized that terrifying eye as just a decoration on the High Priest’s mask, he still trembled uncontrollably all over.
A heavy, oppressive aura radiated from the High Priest’s body. He slowly straightened up, no longer leaning toward Chen Li. The murky eyes behind the mask were chillingly cold: “You ran off today?”
Chen Li’s blank mind finally started working, his heart pounding.
Would something bad happen if he got caught going out? Should he admit it?
No. Even if he didn’t admit it now, the servants in the courtyard would find out sooner or later. If he lied, it might only make the High Priest angrier.
So Chen Li nodded and shook his head nervously, timidly defending himself: “I just went for a walk, didn’t leave this house.”
He had no idea how much his eyes now looked like those of a pitiful little stray dog, scared of being hurt.
His naturally round eyes made it impossible for anyone to be harsh or unforgiving.
The High Priest’s reaction was especially intense and twisted. Without warning, his rough hand shot out and gripped Chen Li’s neck. He ground his teeth and snarled: “Don’t think you can seduce people with that pretty face of yours.”
Chen Li was truly stunned. He didn’t know what he had done to make the High Priest think of “seduction.”
The hand around his neck tightened more and more, growing stronger until it hurt, making it hard to breathe and setting his throat ablaze with pain.
“I-I didn’t,” Chen Li managed to whisper, his voice even weaker than a fragile kitten’s. His pale face, originally drained by fear, flushed red.
Where others might have looked embarrassed or ashamed, Chen Li somehow looked strangely alluring instead.
For a moment, the High Priest’s eyes softened with obsession. He wanted to see Chen Li show more of that almost “seductive” expression. But suddenly, as if remembering something, he stopped himself abruptly, tossing Chen Li onto the bed with a careless flick. His voice was full of disgust: “They say you met the new detective who just arrived in town today?”
Who “they” were was obvious. Chen Li hadn’t expected that before coming here, the High Priest had already asked the NPCs who worked in the mansion. That was just a test.
If Chen Li had lied just now, his neck would probably be broken by now.
Chen Li coughed painfully, struggling to lift his eyes to look at him. The pain in his throat made it impossible to speak.
The High Priest didn’t seem to want an answer anyway. He lowered his head and locked eyes with Chen Li, his gaze like staring at a pile of garbage—yet there was also something deeply conflicted hidden in it.
Chen Li’s oxygen-starved brain was too foggy to think clearly, but he vaguely felt that the look contained nothing but pure malice.
The High Priest withdrew his gaze: “Don’t forget who made you the esteemed Holy Son.”
He left with those final words, flicking his sleeves as he walked away.
He hadn’t even scolded him or forbidden him from seeing “them” again?
Chen Li instinctively looked back, and at the moment the High Priest stepped out the door, he glanced down once more at his pant leg—this time, there was no mud.
System 001 had been cursing loudly in Chen Li’s mind since just now, so furious that it wished it could burst out and slap that arrogant priest.
Chen Li comforted it: [It’s okay, I don’t hurt anymore. It just looks worse than it is.]
His skin was delicate—just a light pinch would leave a red mark. Not to mention how that NPC had seemed to go all out just now, leaving bruises that were now swollen and red.
This was the first real injury he’d suffered in the Horror Game, but Chen Li wasn’t as panicked as he thought he’d be. Instead, he started calmly analyzing: [Judging by his attitude, he’s actually not opposed to me interacting with the players.]
That was a bit strange, considering he’d ordered everyone in the mansion not to speak to him.
What was even stranger was the last thing the High Priest had said.
Chen Li felt a bit incredulous—and a little wronged.
From the tone, it seemed like the High Priest actually expected Chen Li to be grateful for becoming the Holy Son.
The sacrifice, the Holy Son, and the High Priest were all roles connected to worship. This town was clearly worshipping something, probably the core of the entire instance.
Most likely the core NPC boss.
There were too few clues at the moment. Thinking too much only made his mind messier and the fog thicker.
He sighed, almost ready to give up and sleep—but the cold sweat still clinging to his skin made him feel sticky and uncomfortable.
Just then, there was a sound outside the door, and Chen Li tensed instinctively.
Could the High Priest have come back?
Chen Li pulled the blanket over his face. The sound slowly entered the room.
Curiosity and fear began tugging at him. He distinctly felt the footsteps stop not far from where he was.
It seemed to be a human trait: the more scared you are, the more you want to take a quick look. Avoiding it only makes the fear worse.
Finally, summoning his courage, he reached out and pulled the edge of the blanket down… just a few centimeters.
Only a pair of blinking eyes peeked out. The person outside clearly didn’t expect him to suddenly look, and after a stunned two-second eye contact, they both screamed.
“Ahhhh!!!”
Chen Li’s mouth opened to say something, but he was startled by her scream and slowly closed it again, his round eyes looking like a frightened little animal caught off guard.
The young maiden finally realized he wasn’t attacking her and wasn’t the terrifying ghost she’d imagined. Embarrassed, she stopped screaming: “S-Sorry, Holy Son, I didn’t expect you to still be alive.”
“What do you mean? You thought I was dead?” Chen Li asked with simple confusion in his eyes.
She was young after all. The maiden’s face flushed with embarrassment. Everyone had seen how furious the High Priest was today, and her mother had told her that this Holy Son probably wouldn’t survive the night again.
What a pity—he looked so handsome, livelier than any previous Holy Son or Holy Maiden.
But he hadn’t just survived, he seemed fine.
From her expression, Chen Li guessed some of it and casually asked: “What happened to the Holy Sons before me?”
He wasn’t really sure if it was true—he was just fishing for information based on a guess.
Sure enough, the young maiden’s expression changed. Maybe because Chen Li seemed too kind-tempered, she felt a flicker of pity: “You’d better not ask about these things.”
Chen Li’s heart sank. His gut told him the answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Probably those others had already… and next would be him?
Just as the young maiden was about to leave, Chen Li shyly called after her: “Could you bring me some hot water to wash?”
If he couldn’t wash tonight, he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
This time, the young maiden didn’t refuse. Since she was assigned specifically to attend to the Holy Son, she quickly and efficiently went to boil water.
Chen Li wanted to help at first, but after watching her move, he gave up.
He just felt like he’d get in the way.
Without the mission panel, he couldn’t follow the story or check character details—he could only act on instinct.
When the big bath bucket in the courtyard was filled, he walked over and gratefully said: “Thank you.”
The young maiden was startled: “No, no, you don’t need to thank me.”
With that, she turned and ran off.
Chen Li sighed quietly: [What kind of complicated existence am I really?]
System 001: [Host, hurry up and wash. I’ll keep watch! Not a single mosquito will get in!]
It was full of bravado.
Chen Li chuckled softly: [Thanks.]
Whether it was his imagination or not, at the moment he smiled, the wind and the chirping insects in the courtyard all fell silent for a moment—as if something terrifying had arrived.
Though it was already night and no one would pass by, the shame of bathing outside still made Chen Li hurry his movements.
He wanted to finish quickly and rest. After confirming with the system that no one was around, he quickly stripped off his clothes.
As the last piece dropped, revealing his pale, smooth skin, the wind blew clouds over the moon, sweeping away the moonlight scattered across the courtyard.
In the dark, with hot water wetting his body, the once thrilling scene was subdued—yet nothing escaped the eyes of the lurking evil.
Chen Li scooped up some water to wash his face when suddenly, his wrist was grabbed by something.
He shivered in fright: “Who’s there!?”
No one answered. The system, which had just confidently promised to keep watch, had vanished.
The strange sensation traveled up his wrist to his back, then ambiguously stroked up and down. Whether it was his imagination or not, the touch felt especially intense at the base of his spine.
Chen Li felt as if invisible tentacles had grabbed him, forcing him to arch his body. He was so distressed he wanted to cry out: “Let me go!”
But his struggling only caused tiny ripples on the water’s surface.
A cold sensation brushed his earlobe. He could feel something tormenting him, yet he couldn’t hit anything solid.
Chen Li’s initial anger gradually gave way to fear.
Could it be… that he had encountered a ghost?
Feeling the little one in his arms suddenly go stiff, the ghost behind him let out a soft, soothing hum. It reached out to gently stroke his head, lips moving from the cute, rosy ear downward—only to suddenly stop.
A brutal, glaring wound caught his eye, mixed with the faint scent of blood.
Who? Who caused this injury?
The ghost’s eyes sharpened fiercely, openly radiating murderous intent. The previously peaceful atmosphere in the courtyard instantly turned cold and deadly. The thick, almost overwhelming stench of blood seemed ready to spill out.
Behind him came the sound of cracking bones. Chen Li could sense the strange creature holding him was angry—but he couldn’t move a muscle. He stayed quiet and still, like a helpless drowning kitten, barely daring to breathe.
After an unknown length of time, a whisper suddenly brushed past his ear, and his consciousness began to blur.
Though he struggled desperately to keep his eyes open, he eventually drifted into unconsciousness.
The ghost revealed its true form at last, gently raising a hand to brush over Chen Li’s neck, tenderly erasing the wound. Then, bit by bit, it carefully dried his body.
Even though this could easily have been done with a touch of ghostly energy, it insisted on the old-fashioned way—using a towel to painstakingly dry every drop of water from the young man in its arms, from his hair to his toes. In the process, it ate countless tender tofu. Only then did it reluctantly help him change into new clothes and carry him back to bed.
Standing there watching for several minutes, the ghost muttered to itself: “Don’t be afraid. We’ll see each other again soon.”
But before that, there were some pesky little pests to deal with.
The ghost turned around, its expression suddenly darkening.
Author’s note:
Someone’s secretly bullying the little lamb again.