Translator: CinderTL
Jiang Cheng had witnessed Wu's terrifying power firsthand. The man was utterly arrogant, and this was the first time Jiang Cheng had ever seen anything capable of instilling such fear in him.
So, the so-called ticket corresponds to this bus, Jiang Cheng mused. Just as I suspected—a bus.
The bus bore faint traces of rust, looking as if it had been pulled straight from a museum. But Jiang Cheng knew this situation was far more complex than it appeared.
His earlier display of resolve had intimidated A Zhe, the Red-Clad Woman, and the others. Now, everyone looked to him, waiting for him to take charge.
"Get on the bus," Jiang Cheng said softly.
The female student shuddered, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the vehicle. "G-get on the bus? But this thing looks like it's about to..."
"Just listen to him," A Zhe said through gritted teeth. As the oldest and most experienced among them, he understood the situation perfectly. The bus was clearly meant to pick them up, matching the ticket depicted on the invitation's backdrop.
Pretending otherwise would be foolish self-deception.
With that, A Zhe cautiously approached the bus.
Creak...
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the bus door slowly creaked open. It sounded as if it hadn't been opened in ages—the rusty hinges groaned loudly, their piercing screech carrying far into the night wind.
From their perspective, the bus's interior was shrouded in a thick fog, revealing only vague, blurred outlines.
A Zhe boarded first, followed by the black car driver, the writer, and the female student. Just as the Red-Clad Woman steeled herself to climb aboard, a hand suddenly grabbed her from behind.
Startled by the abrupt action, she turned to see Jiang Cheng's face.
Setting aside the stories he told, he was actually quite handsome, especially when he was serious.
"You're injured. Stay behind me," Jiang Cheng said softly.
The Red-Clad Woman's dim eyes instantly lit up. She opened her mouth to speak, but Jiang Cheng silenced her with a look.
Clutching his arm and standing behind him, she suddenly felt safe, like a small boat sheltered in a harbor.
"You two get on too," Jiang Cheng said, gesturing with his chin toward Fatty and Huai Yi, who were craning their necks to peer into the fog-shrouded interior, unable to see anything.
Once Fatty and Huai Yi had disappeared inside, Jiang Cheng released the Red-Clad Woman's arm. He then stepped through the door, followed closely by her.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the interior of the bus came into view.
The interior was undeniably that of a bus, with rows of seats lining both sides.
The seats were old-fashioned wooden benches, arranged in clusters of two or three, stretching back into the endless darkness.
A strange mist filled the bus, limiting visibility to about three meters and obscuring both the front and rear.
Fatty and Huai Yi, who had boarded earlier, stood near the front, while A Zhe and the others positioned themselves further back, leaving a noticeable gap between the groups. The tension in the air was palpable.
Seeing the Doctor shield the Red-Clad Woman behind him, Huai Yi couldn't suppress a look of envy, jealousy, and resentment. He whispered conspiratorially to Fatty, "Who would have thought Brother Jiang would abandon us for a woman—and a feminine ghost at that!"
He continued, "Brother Fugui, no offense, but I'm used to being abandoned. But you guys are all Crimson brothers. Doesn't this sting?"
Fatty shot him a scornful glance. "Shut up. If even you can figure it out, do you think he's an idiot?"
"Supernatural events are crawling with deadly traps. Being the first or last to board is equally dangerous. Don't try to push the Doctor's limits with your reckless stunts—you'll only look foolish."
Jiang Cheng hadn't noticed Fatty and Huai Yi muttering to each other. After boarding the bus, he shook off the Red-Clad Woman, carefully surveyed the interior, and then settled into a seat.
It didn't really matter where he sat, as every single seat was empty.
Seeing Jiang Cheng sit down, Fatty and Huai Yi immediately joined him, sitting obediently beside him.
The Red-Clad Woman seemed eager to sit near Jiang Cheng as well, but when she realized he was completely ignoring her, she reluctantly returned to A Zhe and the others.
Even then, she kept staring at Jiang Cheng's back, as if waiting for him to call her over.
As everyone's anxiety mounted, the bus lurched into motion. The sound of the old vehicle starting up was far louder and more dramatic than they had anticipated.
Even more unsettling, amidst the engine's roar and the grinding of gears, they faintly heard a woman's sobbing, along with anguished howls that seemed to rise from the depths of the abyss.
The cacophony was chaotic and muddled, making it impossible to pinpoint the source within the bus or even to determine if it was a hallucination.
Yet judging by the terrified expressions on everyone's faces, it was clear they had all heard it.
The bus windows were made of an unknown material. Just as the interior had been blurred when viewed from the outside, looking out from within offered only a hazy, indistinct view.
Jiang Cheng couldn't find any handles or latches to open the windows.
When he touched the glass, it felt as cold as ice. Lightly tapping it with his knuckles, he felt no vibration whatsoever.
The window was thick and incredibly sturdy—that was Jiang Cheng's first impression.
Earlier, he had considered whether he could break the window or jump out if danger arose inside the vehicle. Now, that escape route seemed firmly sealed.
Apart from the initial shudder when the vehicle started, Jiang Cheng felt almost no bumps or jolts.
This was highly unusual, given their bare wooden seats without any cushioning. Even on the smoothest road, such a ride wouldn't be this stable.
Yet he could distinctly feel the vehicle moving forward, never slowing.
Could this vehicle have veered off the visible highway and entered some unseen road? The thought took root in Jiang Cheng's mind.
Suddenly, a dreadful premonition about the vehicle's destination gripped him. It felt as if they were being dragged down a path of no return.
"Doctor," Fatty's voice suddenly rang out, tinged with confusion. "Do you feel it? Something's different about this car."
"It's like... the fog is closer to us," Huai Yi said, visibly uncomfortable.
If the visibility had been three meters just moments ago, it had now dwindled to less than two.
Ding—
Gluggle—
A faint sound came from beneath Fatty's feet. He glanced down and spotted a rusted bolt rolling out from somewhere, bumping against his shoe.
"This car's really falling apart. If we keep driving like this, I'm afraid it'll completely disintegrate," Fatty grumbled, bending down to pick up the bolt.
But as he bent over, his fingers brushing against the rusted metal, something caught his eye in his peripheral vision. Instantly, his body froze, then began to tremble uncontrollably.
(End of the Chapter)
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