Girl, Outskirts, Wooden House

Within minutes, all the passengers who had just gotten off the train returned to the carriage. Luo Di could even read unease, and even a little fear, on the faces of some of them.

The eight people gathered in the carriage and began a series of discussions, including the inevitable self-introductions.

Jock, a clown who is temporarily unemployed, sees an advertisement in the newspaper for a large circus in Wenslaim City that is operating long-term, and decides to try his luck there.

Douglas, who suffers from gigantism, recently developed a large amount of Hyperplastic Tissue on his body and came to Wenslaim City for treatment.

Hunter, a renowned chef, travels to Wenslaim City to participate in the annual culinary competition.

Mia, a country girl, has saved up enough money and, with a dream of becoming famous, travels alone to the big city to audition for a movie.

[Wu Wen], a reporter, came here specifically to investigate after hearing about the recent spate of missing persons cases in Wenslaim City.

[Li Beite], a travel novelist, was traveling by train to Wenslaim City for research when he encountered this unexpected situation.

The mysterious Girl was still asleep, and despite everyone's loud discussion, she remained unresponsive. After a brief examination by reporter Wu Wen, it was confirmed that she had no major health problems and might be suffering from narcolepsy.

Finally, there's Luo Di, the high school baseball player.

Although the above identities are indeed etched into everyone's brains, everyone awakened their pituitary glands in last night's dream.

The most likely conclusion is that they were all involved in a high-level Corner Event that could directly affect and alter their underlying memories.

At least for now, none of the people on the train know each other, not even the slightest recollection of each other.

Now that things have already happened, and everyone's memories all point to Wenslaim City, perhaps the only way to find the answer is to go there.

in addition,

The reason everyone quickly returned to the carriage from the outside was neither because there were any monsters outside nor because of poison gas.

Rather, it's an invisible sense of crisis.

Their pituitary gland and self-awareness can detect this inexplicable crisis, as if prolonged exposure to the outdoors will result in this unknown harm.

However, Jock, who had gone the furthest outdoors, still found a road sign, confirming that this was the Outskirts area on the outskirts of Wenslaim City, and that he should be able to reach the city soon.

After learning about this, many people on the bus were already preparing to leave.

At this point, reporter Wu Wen suddenly brought up a topic:

"Do you have any memories of the 'cross' in your brain, like someone on the cross saying something about time?"

"Three days."

Li Beite took out his novel notebook and drew a black cross on it, though he couldn't quite remember what was hanging on the cross.

The number 3 is marked next to the cross.

As this information was dictated, everyone present, including Luo Di, gradually recalled that it seemed there really was such a thing.

"The incident we're involved in only lasts for three days? If we can't achieve a certain goal, then..." Jock speculated as he popped the balloon dog he had made.

Wu Wen stood up, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and hung a black Polaroid camera around her neck. "I'm getting ready to leave."

Can I come with you?

Douglas stood up, and when he looked at Wu Wen, there was clearly something else in his eyes.

Wu Wen politely smiled and declined, saying, "I'm sorry, I prefer to act alone. Also, due to my memory being affected, I'm not sure about our relationship, so it's better if we don't cooperate for now."

Perhaps, in the real world, we are enemies to each other?

Wu Wen leaped out of the carriage and quickly disappeared into the Between the Mists with her long strides.

Looking at the woman's disappearing figure through the window, Luo Di thought there was nothing wrong with what she said. Since they couldn't be sure about their relationship, cooperating rashly might actually be more risky.

He also noticed early on that the tall, muscular man named Douglas had a strange look in his eyes when he looked at other people, especially women.

At least he won't encounter such people in real life.

Based on Luo Di's initial observations,

Jock and Wu Wen are probably on the better side, but the rest are uncertain.

The most unusual person was the sleeping Girl, the only one Luo Di felt familiar with, and even vaguely sensed as someone important. Furthermore, since she was also from the East, they might have a deep connection in real life.

Because of the "chain of suspicion" raised by Wu Wen, the people on the bus became less trusting.

Novelist Li Beite was the second to get off the train and leave.

Next was Chef Hunter, who continued eating the meat slices he carried with him on his way out.

Clown Jock who was going to apply for a job at the circus, also got up, but instead of leaving immediately, he walked towards Luo Di.

"Mr. Di, although I can't tell whether we're friends or foes in real life, my intuition tells me that you're the most reliable among these people."

You chose to stay by the sleeping Girl's side, protecting her in secret.

I'm guessing you'll continue to stay by this Girl's side, perhaps even taking her with you. To be honest, facing such an unknown predicament, acting alone is extremely dangerous.

I personally want to work with you, at least on the way to the city. That way, even if we encounter anything, we can take care of each other, right?

Luo Di stared at the smiling middle-aged man in front of him, and after thinking for a moment, he still chose to refuse.

"I think that reporter is right. It's better to act alone for the time being... If we can meet in the city later, then we can consider whether to cooperate."

Furthermore, I personally have a sensitive feeling towards the profession of clown.

"Oh, that's frustrating~ Of all the people on the bus, I felt you were reliable. Oh well! I'll look forward to seeing you again in the city."

Here's a balloon for you before we part!

Jock blew up a red balloon on the spot and drew a smiley face on it with a marker.

Although Luo Di greeted him with a smile, he did not reach out to touch the balloon, leaving it to float alone in the air.

Jock left.

Following closely behind, Mia, the blonde girl who had been rejected by Luo Di earlier, also left with her suitcase.

She didn't extend another invitation to Luo Di, but simply waved goodbye with a bright, innocent smile, revealing her white teeth, before quickly disappearing into the Thick Fog.

that's all,

There was one last guy left on the bus, and he was also the most troublesome.

Douglas, who was nearly three meters tall, stood up and his gaze fell on the sleeping Girl, looking at her perfect face that had no flaws.

Luo Di could even see obvious structural protrusions on the surface of the other person's body.

He gripped the Metal Bat tightly.

Tentacles wriggled beneath the skin, grayness spread, and just as a conflict seemed imminent...

Snap!

Douglas actually turned around and left the carriage. His body, weighing over 400 pounds, made a loud thud as he stepped onto the tracks, and he quickly disappeared into the Between the Mists.

call...

Luo Di breathed a sigh of relief. He could sense that his opponent was very strong. If they were to fight, even if he won, he would pay a heavy price, which would be extremely disadvantageous given the unknown events they were facing.

Now that everyone had left, he approached the sleeping Girl.

"Take her luggage with you; there might be something very important inside."

The Girl's suitcase was the largest of all the passengers'. Out of curiosity, he also opened the suitcase without permission, wanting to see what was inside.

"Hmm? Wheelchair, that's good stuff!"

A folding metal Wheelchair was found inside, suggesting the Girl suffered from a medical condition. The rest of her belongings were ordinary clothes; there was no need for her to bring cosmetics—she could always buy them in the city.

Set up the Wheelchair,

Luo Di placed the sleeping Girl on it, and it fit perfectly.

He pushed the Girl to the end of the carriage and looked out into the misty outside.

Luo Di hadn't left the carriage yet and didn't quite understand what kind of feeling the "danger" those people were describing was.

"Let me try it out first and see how it feels."

The Girl remained inside the carriage.

He jumped alone.

Stepping on the railway tracks,

We walked into the woods.

Buzz!

Suddenly, a loud ringing in his ears forced Luo Di to cover one ear with one hand and shake his head violently.

After the tinnitus disappeared,

He suddenly sensed the so-called "danger," not from the outside world, but from his own body; a wriggling sensation came from his abdomen.

Quickly lift the clothing,

His abdomen was visibly bulging slightly, the bulging structure resembling a human nose. Recalling his experience last night, Luo Di was so frightened that he quickly returned to the train.

Back in the carriage, the strange feeling quickly faded, and the bulge in her abdomen disappeared.

Luo Di quickly examined his body, even going so far as to cut open his abdomen with his fingernails... but there was nothing inside, just a normal arrangement of intestines.

Just now, he clearly felt that a head was about to appear, and even heard his mother calling out.

Cold sweat trickled down his temples, but Luo Di licked it away with his tongue, quickly suppressing the fear.

"The effect disappears immediately upon returning to the carriage, but problems arise when exposed to the outdoors... If a similar sealed space as the carriage is found outdoors, could this 'abnormal state' be resolved?"

Moreover, the impact will likely differ from person to person, necessitating swift action.

Luo Di didn't linger for long.

He got off the train again and lifted the Girl down with her Wheelchair.

The fog limited visibility to within ten meters, and there weren't many plants in the woods in front of us, mostly just relatively flat roads.

Some of the people who left earlier went directly along the railway tracks, while others headed toward the forest signpost that Jock had mentioned.

Luo Di chose the latter option and indeed found the signpost in the woods.

[Wenslaim City ↑]

[Shiyin Town ←]

[Pure White Forest ↓]

"Are there any towns or villages nearby? I wonder if they'd be closer... I need to find a secluded space right away."

Luo Di had already heard the call from within his body and felt the swelling in his abdomen.

He headed towards the city center first, and if he happened to pass through any villages or towns along the way, he could stop and rest for a while.

Pushing the Girl forward through the mist, Luo Di noticed that the sleeping Girl was beginning to show an uneasy expression, with cold sweat beading on her forehead, as if she were having a nightmare.

Due to the lack of sufficiently obvious environmental landmarks and the ever-present fog, Luo Di was unsure if he was walking in a straight line, and he didn't see anything related to the city along the way.

Just as he was considering whether to stop and "clean up" the Anomaly Structure in his abdomen,

Rustling sounds—plants sprouted from the inside of the sleeping Girl's ears.

The tender green plant roots wrapped around the Girl's arm, slowly lifting it and pointing in a certain direction.

Since there were no better options at hand, they chose to trust the Girl.

After running in the direction the other person pointed out for less than three minutes, I finally saw something different.

We have not arrived in the city.

Instead, a dilapidated wooden villa appeared before them, a two-story structure, with the carcass of a goat hanging upside down from the eaves using hemp rope.

Luo Di had no time to consider the dangers involved; his physical condition was in dire straits.

Not only did the family members' heads grow out completely, but they even used their tongues to lift up the clothes and chewed on Luo Di's flesh with their teeth, absorbing his nutrients.

Creak!

The unlocked wooden door was pushed open, and the old hinges made a mournful sound, as if telling the owner of the house that an outsider had arrived.

As soon as Luo Di entered the house, his condition improved, and the heads of his family members slowly began to disappear. But before they vanished, his mother uttered one last sentence:

"Today's lunch was delicious, thank you, my sweet son. I'll eat with you again next time."

Seeing that he had recovered, Luo Di breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that as long as he didn't stay outdoors for a long time, his physical ailments would subside.

Facing the entrance is a passageway, and a candle is lit on a wooden table at the corner, indicating that someone lives in this house.

Luo Di also noticed that the dilapidated country house had all its windows sealed off from the inside with various animal furs, preventing light and fog from entering.

He didn't have any further plans.

If you're unsure whether this dilapidated villa is dangerous, standing at the door and waiting for the abnormality in your body to disappear is the best option.

Then we can continue our journey to the city.

However...

The Girl raised her arm again, pointing towards the depths of the entrance, as if she wanted to push Luo Di inside, or perhaps she sensed something.

Luo Di also began to ponder:

"I am currently involved in an unknown event, which has not only affected my memory, but I also know almost nothing about the event itself."

If we can kill or capture the creatures inside this house, we might be able to obtain some useful clues beforehand.

After making his decision, he pushed the Girl forward.

After passing through the entryway, I arrived at the living room.

The campfire is lit here, providing relatively comfortable lighting.

A middle-aged man with bloodstains on his shirt stood motionless in front of the campfire, his back to Luo Di. They were even standing a little too close, so much so that the air smelled of meat.

The Girl in the Wheelchair remained where she was.

Luo Di, carrying a metal baseball bat, stepped forward alone.

Just as they were about to get close,

Click!

The sound of a cervical vertebra breaking could be heard.

The man's head snapped back, allowing him to face Luo Di "face to face" without having to turn around.

This person's face has no facial features.

Instead, it was covered with countless blood holes of varying sizes, replacing facial features and spreading across the entire face.

Hiss hiss~

Thin, bright red tendrils of flesh grew out from between the blood holes, swaying in the air.

For some reason,

Upon seeing this structure, the gray tentacles inside Luo Di's body twitched slightly.

Buzz!

The man who had been standing still suddenly ran towards Luo Di, and just as the bright red fleshy tendrils were about to touch him...

[die]

The baseball bat, raised high, swung down heavily, crushing the man from head to toe with a single blow; the wooden floorboards were smashed and dented.

However... crunch crunch~

Luo Di caught a glimpse of the hand that had landed alone on the table, and it began to move.

Not just the hands, but all the scattered pieces of flesh, eyeballs, and internal organs began to move. Similar blood holes appeared on the surface, and fleshy tendrils growing from within began to wriggle forward and quickly converge.

"Super-Fast Regeneration? No... My destruction seems to have broken the shackles of the body, allowing it to be perfected."

It's not centered around the pituitary gland, and it's not Monsters in the Corner, so what exactly is it?

Sudden,

A tickling sensation came from the back of Luo Di's hand.

The attack had caused a drop of blood to fall on the back of his hand, and tiny blood holes began to appear on the skin of his hand. Just as a strange change was about to occur, gray light began to spread.

The gray tentacles forcibly devoured these newly formed tiny Blood Tendril, filling the blood hole.

It was just a change that lasted for a moment.

Before our eyes,

Some indescribable Flesh and Blood Construct had taken shape, but Luo Di did not back down... A ray of moonlight also shone in.

P. S.: Long chapter update! I took the kids to the park today, will continue updating tomorrow.