In Virtual Reality 108 ☆ The Hydrangea Park (32/33)

In times of uncertainty, Xu Jin Yi's unwavering instinct was to dial the emergency hotline. In Jiang City, a place fraught with Spirit Shenanigans, this knowledge was as commonplace as drawing breath.

She found herself standing by the reception desk of 《The Library of Eternity》, her in-game phone singing out a cheerful tune. Swiftly, her call was accepted.

"Hello, Jiang City 110, Operator 5 speaking."

A capable yet unmistakably feminine voice resonated through the line. Xu Jin Yi cleared her throat and adjusted her tone before responding, "On October 15th, 2222, at 12:00 PM, there are criminal suspects making a desperate escape from Jiang City's Embroidery Sphere Park."

"What?" The operator's response was instinctual, catching her off guard.

But her years of experience at the police station weren't just for show. With a deft motion, she pressed the record button and glanced at the wall clock, confirming the date.

"Today is October 1st, 2222. This isn't a day for jests."

October 1st, 2222?

Unforeseen information cascaded over Xu Jin Yi. After a momentary shock, she regained her composure and calmly reiterated, "On October 15th, 2222, criminal suspects will appear at the west gate of Jiang City's Embroidery Sphere Park, bearing debts written in blood. This is my final warning." Her emphasis bestowed weight upon her words. "I'm saying this for the last time."

Disclosing everything to the police had crossed her mind, but time constraints and gnawing uncertainty held her back. She couldn't be certain if the police would believe her, and sharing too much left her strangely uneasy.

After careful deliberation, she opted to contact the real-life police using her in-game phone—a choice that would have been unthinkable just six months ago.

Before ending the call, the operator attempted to engage in further conversation, but Xu Jin Yi chose to remain silent after delivering the information. All the operator could hear was the monotonous ringing tone.

"..."

Although the details disclosed during this phone call were peculiar, the operator contemplated for a moment before deciding to report it to her superiors.

**

Near the western entrance of Hydrangea Park, Wang Jin Long raced with a singular purpose, his lungs straining for air as a relentless pursuit dogged his every step.

His forearms bled from the early exertion, each swing while he ran flinging a trail of blood droplets. But in this life-or-death moment, there was no room for giving up; Wang Jin Long grit his teeth and pushed through the pain with unwavering determination, eager to create as much distance as humanly possible.

A mere couple hundred meters felt like miles, his heart thundering as if it might burst from his chest, the world a distant blur.

Faster... faster...!!

Just as the garden ghost's shears were closing in on Wang Jin Long's neck, a partially withered white hydrangea flower pierced through from behind it. Its roots slashed through the air like razors, staining itself with ghostly essence as it skewered the garden ghost's chest—

The once-white hydrangea now bloomed crimson, ripping through garden ghosts back and out the front. The blood-red, pungent flower struck him with such force that it sent him hurtling past the entrance of Hydrangea Park.

As he was thrown out of the park, Wang Jin Long felt as if his head had been mercilessly clubbed with a baseball bat, an agony that tore through him.

Almost immediately, after narrowly escaping this Spirit Shenanigans, he howled in torment, collapsing to his knees.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah—!"

**

Immersed in his messages, Cao Wei Min jolted at the sound of distant cries. Swiftly stashing his device away, he stole a glance out of the car window. Raindrops, like silent witnesses, slithered down the glass, veiling the world outside in serpentine streams.

His lean form bent over the passenger seat, window rolling down with a mechanical whir, eyes locking onto the park's nearby entrance. Emerging from the misty veil, a gruesome, blood-drenched figure staggered toward him.

A deafening thud echoed as the crimson-soaked silhouette crashed against the passenger door, its trembling hand fumbling for the car handle.

"Go," the figure gasped, voice strained, "Hurry, move!"

Without a word, Cao Wei Min returned to the driver's seat, igniting the engine and racing away from the park.

Meanwhile, across the corner intersection, Zhang Rou Rou and Wheatley, both eagerly anticipating their milk tea, watched with saucer-like eyes through the transparent French windows as Brother Cao's car sped away.

The milk tea was entirely forgotten as Zhang Rou Rou yanked the leash of her well-behaved country dog and bolted toward the door.

"Hey, wait—uh!"

"Be quiet!"

A firm hand clamped over her mouth from behind, and in an instant, Zhang Rou Rou's mind plunged into a chilling montage of kidnapping scenes. The day's rain had left a chill in her heart.

Her mouth, however, remained imprisoned only momentarily—just long enough for the car to vanish from her line of sight.

Her captor released her, and in the dimly lit shop, Zhang Rou Rou recognized a familiar voice.

"Yes, Officer Cao has left with him."

Turning around, Zhang Rou Rou met the gaze of the previously genial Miss Barista, who had been concocting milk tea and chatting moments ago. Now, her expression bore a gravity that sent shivers down Zhang Rou Rou's spine. Concealed beneath a veil of long hair, she spoke into a hidden earpiece.

Zhang Rou Rou: "..."

She had a bad feeling about this.

Wheatley nuzzled her hand, his dewy eyes scanning her face. His dog-like head tilted, as if asking why she hadn't left yet.

"Zhang Rou Rou, right?" The barista cast a quick glance her way. "Yes, she's here. She's safe now."

"What do you mean?" The young girl, clutching the dog leash tightly, couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Who are you?"

Wang Ju removed her earpiece, softening her expression as she retrieved her ID from her pocket. "Jiangshi Public Security Bureau."

"— We've been keeping tabs on Wang Jin Long's movements and intentions," Wang Ju explained swiftly, her voice measured. "Today, we got an alert to apprehend him. Staying in the car was too risky. I apologize for the sudden departure, but you're safer with us."

She rested her hand on her earpiece, as if awaiting instructions from the other end.

"Alright," Wang Ju assured Zhang Rou Rou with a warm smile. "My colleague has found him. You should come with me to the police station. It's a safer place."

With that, she took off her apron and signaled for Zhang Rou Rou to follow.

"Wait, I don't get it!" Despite Wang Ju's explanation, Zhang Rou Rou clung to a nagging question. She stared at Wang Ju, panic welling up. "How did you know he'd come here today? No... Wait... There's still someone in that car!" Zhang Rou Rou's eyes widened. "Cao Wei Min is there—"

Wang Ju interjected, her tone steady. "Don't worry, Captain Cao arranged that himself."

"What?" Zhang Rou Rou wasn't naive; she quickly pieced it together. Cao Wei Min had casually sent her here to buy food, and the milk tea shop staff were from the police station... So Cao Wei Min intentionally led her here!

But why?

"Let's head back to the police station first," Wang Ju insisted with determination. "We can talk there."

**

Inside the swiftly moving vehicle, Wang Jin Long slouched against the passenger seat. A sharp pain erupted at the back of his head, intensifying as it brushed against the unforgiving headrest. The agony seared through him, casting a shadow over his vision, shrouding everything in darkness.

A hint of metallic tang lingered in the air, the unmistakable scent of blood emanating from his battered form. Cao Wei Min stole a concerned glance at him whenever the road allowed.

"Your injuries are serious; we should get you to a hospital," he urged suddenly, his voice laced with worry. "There's one nearby."

"No, I won't go!"

Wang Jin Long vehemently rejected the idea, his words strained by pain. He managed to continue, voice trembling, "Just find a small clinic on the outskirts; that'll suffice."

Cao Wei Min hesitated. "Your injuries are quite severe."

"I won't die just yet." Wang Jin Long shut his eyes and clenched his teeth, his determination undiminished. "I can't see too well at the moment. Just keep driving in any direction. If there's no clinic, locate a shady pharmacy."

Cao Wei Min nodded grimly. "Alright."

The car accelerated, but the ride remained surprisingly smooth despite the urgency.

Even with his eyes sealed shut, Wang Jin Long sensed the temperature dropping steadily. The car must be heading toward the outskirts.

A subtle hint of moisture lingered in the air, and the high-speed journey amplified the biting chill, making every breath painful. Wang Jin Long forced his eyes open, yet the world before him remained a hazy blur, like a forgotten photograph covered in dust, forever obscuring reality.

Had he emerged victorious in that Spirit Shenanigans showdown?

Wang Jin Long couldn't say for sure.

If you claimed he'd won, well, the others hadn't died, and he'd managed to elude his pursuers. But if you argued he'd lost, he hadn't died either.

Though each breath felt laborious, and his body seemed as if a truck had rolled over it, he could unmistakably sense that he was still among the living.

Furthermore, upon closer contemplation, the very nature of this 'Spirit Shenanigans ' raised suspicions of its own.

That motley crew of 'players,' with their peculiar demeanor, displayed an uncanny familiarity with the ins and outs of Excelsior and Spirit Shenanigans. Their collective hostility toward the name 'Wang Jin Long' was also palpable.

"What happened in the park?" Cao Wei Min's voice drifted from the side, eerily composed, as if he were casually inquiring about the weather.

Wang Jin Long, mentally and physically drained, lacked his customary vigilance at this juncture. "I bumped into an old acquaintance..."

"Who? The individual from the library, the one Zhang Ruo Ruo mentioned?"

Wang Jin Long shut his eyes. "That's the one."

"So, this person is responsible for your injuries?"

"Who else could it be?" An itch clawed at his lungs, and Wang Jin Long coughed a few times, deftly shifting blame onto Excelsior in just a few sentences.

Cao Wei Min probed, "Then why did you accept his invitation?"

"...What do you think?" Wang Jin Long's eyes snapped open, his brow furrowing. "Why haven't we arrived yet—"

Abruptly, the vehicle screeched to a halt, the rain outside ceased, and the ominous clouds above dispersed. The scene before Wang Jin Long indeed resembled the outskirts, except for the encircling police cars.

"What...?" He began to speak but swiftly swiveled his head in Cao Wei Min's direction, simultaneously seizing the door handle and wrenching it open. "Cao Wei Min!!!"

"Right here."

Simultaneously, the young man who had originally occupied the driver's seat hastily unbuckled his seatbelt and agilely lunged toward the passenger seat.

Under the tremendous force, the two of them tumbled out of the car together.

Wang Jin Long's already strained muscles collided mercilessly with the ground, and the back of his head, which was not entirely lucid, met the unforgiving yellow-brown earth, causing him agonizing pain. He unleashed a torrent of profanities, some of them tinged with the accents of Northpeace City (安北市: An-bei City).

Cao Wei Min had a fleeting thought and then instinctively subdued the figure beneath him.

His hands stretched wide, firmly anchored on both sides, determined to thwart any inhuman maneuver by Wang Jin Long. Despite their months together, a lingering suspicion had gnawed at Cao Wei Min—was Wang Jin Long truly human?

"Where's the camera?!"

Seeing that he couldn't break free in a short time, he bellowed to the surroundings. In an instant, armed officers encircled them: officers brandishing cameras and smartphones.

With nobody snapping pictures, Cao Wei Min's adrenaline surged. "What are you waiting for? Take photos!!"

Flashes erupted, weaving a dazzling tapestry of light on Wang Jin Long's bewildered countenance.

"You dammned Cao Wei Min!" Realization hit him like a freight train, stoking a seething anger that momentarily eclipsed the pain coursing through his battered body.

"I don't give a damn." Cao Wei Min retorted defiantly, then cast an accusatory glare at his comrades, who were predictably blinded by the relentless flashes. "Why are you photographing me? Aim at his face! Get in close and shoot!"

The flashing lights created a disorienting haze, obscuring everyone's faces.

Amidst this relentless paparazzi-like assault, Cao Wei Min discerned a transformation in Wang Jin Long's form.

The once blood-soaked figure seemed to metamorphose, fading like an antiquated photograph, the red gradually darkening until it turned a foreboding black. Wang Jin Long's face, in stark contrast, appeared eerily pale, akin to a paper cutout.

Cao Wei Min squinted, detecting a malevolent expression emerging on the monochrome canvas of Wang Jin Long's face.

Without hesitation, Cao Wei Min wrested a colleague's firearm, just as the colleague bent down to snap another picture, and ruthlessly struck Wang Jin Long's head with the gun butt!

Oh my...

The other officers who bore witness to this shocking act were all left aghast.

Don't beat him to death!

Such a ferocious blow even if it was not fatal, would surely leave him crippled, wouldn't it?

However, as they laid eyes on the person who had taken a beating and not only still managed a sly grin, but also intensified their struggle. It seemed that Cao Wei Min's blows had been too lenient.

Wang Jin Long might have appeared utterly ordinary, but beneath that mundane facade, he had undergone mysterious enhancements. Despite his human appearance, his physical prowess surpassed that of any average person.

With each passing moment, Cao Wei Min found it increasingly challenging to hold him down.

This was bad.

Gritting his teeth, he managed to force out a few urgent words, "Retreat! Everyone, fall back!"

Lieutenant Li had entrusted him with the primary responsibility for this case, and none of the other officers dared to question his authority. They promptly followed his orders and retreated.

Wang Jin Long let out a mocking chuckle, "Do you honestly believe you can outwit me?"

Cao Wei Min shot back with a hint of sarcasm, "Just listen to yourself. Did you anticipate any of this today?"

The person he had subdued hesitated for a brief moment, then his gaze darkened, "Do you know what happened in the park?"

'I may not know, but that won't stop me from pretending.'

Cao Wei Min forced a fake smile, "Given your streak of luck, you had it coming."

He clenched his fist and delivered another blow to Wang Jin Long's face. As expected, the latter winced in pain but remained conscious.

Regret flickered in the young man's eyes.

"Don't you want to save Ye Cheng Jing?"

"Is he really still alive?" Cao Wei Min retorted, his voice laden with skepticism. "I mean, after vanishing into the 'Spirit Shenanigans ' for nearly a decade, what are the odds he's alive now?"

"I truly hope he's still alive." The black and white young man's gaze dropped, and his trembling lips betrayed his anxiety. "But I know it's just wishful thinking."

Ever since the ambush beside Wang Jin Long commenced, they had poured countless resources, manpower, and money into this operation.

With mounting casualties and innocent bystanders getting caught in the crossfire, the light in the young man's eyes, who had now shed his police uniform, began to fade.

"Can anything you say even be trusted?" He sneered, his disbelief etched across his face. "Quit using your 'privileged' tongue, save your energy, and report to the police station."

"That's impossible. How could you possibly contact the police?" Wang Jin Long's voice seethed with anger. "I checked; you were definitely dismissed!"

Cao Wei Min nodded grimly. "Yes. But as a law-abiding citizen of Jiang City," he continued, locking eyes with Wang Jin Long, "isn't it only natural to seek help from the police?"

Wang Jin Long's face contorted with rage. "You son of a bitch!"

Cao Wei Min chuckled. "Let me reiterate: I have no parents. Maybe they vanished long ago. Want to dig underground and check on them?"

Anger clouded Wang Jin Long's judgment, and the loss of reason signaled a temporary surge in aggression as he attacked.

Fortunately, enough time had passed for Cao Wei Min to regain his footing. In a swift motion, he flipped over, standing tall before his adversary.

"Jiang Wen En!"

Wang Jin Long's blood ran cold as he heard the name that sent shivers down his spine, and he instinctively turned.

"Bang!"

A bullet, shimmering with an eerie electric light, pierced through his heart.

——— Translator's Notes ———

Table of Content | ☆| Next chapter>> My other Translations