Meeting the Parents

"What if we go through the sewers, quickly dig out the body at the designated location, and then take the body back to the hotel through the sewers to slowly decipher the mystery?"

Does the fog minimize the risks?

Mia offered her advice, admitting that she didn't want to confront her "Self-Fear."

She was terrifyingly old; the moment the curtains were drawn back, a bloody gash was slashed across her body.

This idea sounds good, but upon closer examination, many problems become apparent.

Wu Wen shook her head. "It's impossible. Although the clues we have touched on the core of the incident, the graduate student's notebook did not give the detailed location of the remains. It only knows that they are in Miller Park."

Although the park is not very large, locating the "remains" is not something that can be done in a few days; it involves at least a search process exposed to the fog.

Furthermore, based on the clues, the remains are most likely the source of the fog. If we hold the remains, it's equivalent to coming into contact with the center of the fog, and the effects we experience will be at their maximum.

It would be impossible to carry the remains down the sewers, as that would inevitably disturb the dead beings inside.

This operation is extremely dangerous; we'll need to confront our Self-Fear within the fog to have any chance of retrieving the remains.

Luo Di added from the side, "It's not just about facing the fear. If the remains are the origin of the mist, we need to fully adapt to and accept the mist."

Only in this way can the remains be obtained and the rewards for this event be received.

If I'm not mistaken, the final event reward is [Fog].

Only those participants who can find the truth within the mist, accept the mist, and control the remains can obtain the [Mist], gaining this special Fear ability, and it's even possible that the Mist Man's characteristic system will be integrated into the plants.

The essence of a corner is selection; the events we are currently experiencing are themselves a selection process, and the fog that has lingered in the environment from the very beginning is the final reward given by this selection.

Luo Di's deduction slightly changed the atmosphere within the team.

Along the way, everyone experienced the changing fog, its tangible forms, and the feeling of fear.

If one can truly master this fear, not only will their strength increase significantly, but their Pituitary Plant will also inevitably advance to a higher level under the shroud of fog.

Mia, still puzzled, asked, "Accept the mist? How? Kill your Self-Fear? Kill it until the fear within the mist no longer appears?"

Luo Di shook his finger, "No... I'm afraid we can't kill him here."

The fog cannot be completely eradicated; in fact, killing will only make you more resistant and unable to integrate into it.

Based on my interaction with the Mist Man last night, I've roughly figured out the feeling of merging into the fog.

How should I put it... it's probably a kind of 'relentless pursuit'.

No matter how the mist invades, tears, and shatters your body, you still want to cling to it and maintain complete contact with it.

If you can continue like this, you'll gradually become part of it, and the fog itself will no longer pose a threat. Your Self-Fear will become insignificant, and it will actually help you stay focused.

"Oh..."

Mia seemed to understand some of what was being said, yet also seemed not to understand much. But the thought of having to fight her Self-Fear amidst the mist made her absolutely unwilling.

Luo Di wasn't too worried; he knew very well that this somewhat neurotic woman would eventually give him an answer.

His gaze fell on Wu Wen, who was leaning against the window.

The female reporter, who has always been able to make quick decisions and take immediate action, was now frozen in place, even biting her nails.

He took the initiative to get up and walk towards the other person.

Wu Wen also noticed Luo Di's approach and stopped biting her nails, even though her skin was already bleeding.

How does your "Self-Fear" manifest itself?

"Mine is family, Mia is my aging self... This is the first time I've seen you so hesitant. It must be something difficult to face, right? Something disgusting."

Luo Di reached out and wiped away a drop of liquid that remained on his cheek; it was indeed some kind of saliva, and it smelled terrible.

Wu Wen didn't hide anything, "My father, and his manner of expression should be different from your fears. He doesn't possess the means to kill, nor will he directly attack me, but rather..."

Luo Di gently raised his hand to interrupt the other person, "I think I understand. This is indeed not easy to handle. If it's just killing, you can still rely on your body to tough it out, but this kind of pure spiritual defilement is the most troublesome."

But if you can't overcome this, you're not qualified to master Thick Fog.

Wu Wen bit her lower lip. "Your deduction about the event reward is most likely correct. I can only try. If I can't do it, you and Mia can go first."

Based on the clues, if I stay here until the end of the Third Day, I should be able to leave safely.

Although I couldn't obtain the mist, I gained other things, which is enough.

At this moment, Luo Di changed the subject, "I dreamed about you last night."

"Huh?" Wu Wen was a little confused by this sudden remark and responded somewhat awkwardly, "What do you mean? Are you saying that our recent collaboration has left a deep impression on you?"

"No... that wasn't an ordinary dream."

My family met you in my dreams, and I could sense that it wasn't entirely fictional; it might have actually happened. Perhaps you and I are friends in real life, and not just ordinary friends.

"What about the Girl with the iron bucket? She must be more important to you."

"I don't know. Last night's dream confirmed that at least our relationship exists. Maybe we've known each other since we were little... or maybe I know your family, your father."

How about we collaborate more deeply? It might help you overcome your Self-Fear.

Wu Wen immediately understood what Luo Di meant. "You mean we should have a deep spiritual connection? To face our respective fears together?"

"Not only the spirit, but also the body should be integrated as much as possible. Since Wu Wen can use water to move between various water pipes, the blood vessels in my body should be similar."

Wu Wen's gaze suddenly changed. She didn't move her feet, but her face moved closer, staring intently into Luo Di's eyes.

"You... have other motives."

"Yes."

"What?"

"When Mia and I entered the city, we met a very terrible guy, namely the novelist Li Beite, who was on the train at the time."

Assuming that person also received information about the corpse and arrived at the same time as us, it would inevitably turn into a battle for the corpse.

If you could hide inside me, perhaps you could become a winning trump card.

"Is that so? Aren't you afraid that I'll kill you from the inside just to target the remains?"

A smile crept across Luo Di's lips as he gazed at Wu Wen, "Even the Mist Man couldn't kill me..."

After a moment's thought, the latter turned and walked towards the bathroom, his hand behind his back gesturing slightly, already giving his answer.

Mia, who was struggling with her decision, noticed this scene and quickly stood up. "Hey! What are you doing? I want to join too."

As Luo Di walked toward the bathroom, he only replied, "It's not what you think, it's just a battle plan."

Click! The bathroom door closed.

Even as she said this, Mia still felt something was off, so she quickly pressed her ear to the door, wanting to hear what was going on inside.

If her assumption is correct, she will hear the collision of flesh and faint cries from Wu Wen.

In fact,

There was a sound of flesh, but it didn't sound like an impact; rather, it sounded like some kind of fleshy flow.

The sound appeared, but it wasn't Wu Wen's voice; it was Luo Di's voice.

After some mental contemplation, Mia seemed to have come up with a very strange image and gave up on opening the door.

A short while later.

The bathroom door opened, but only Luo Di came out. There was also a fishy smell, like the mixed smell of dead fish thrown into a pile of pork.

Where is Wu Wen?

Luo Di didn't respond, but walked towards the door. "Wu Wen and I are going to test the fog reaction. Mia, come find us when you've made up your mind, and remember to bring the iron bucket."

"Oh."

Luo Di did not leave the hotel and remained exposed on the street.

He simply left the hotel doors open, stood in the lobby, and gazed at the thin, gauze-like mist outside.

The moment I saw the fog

Several arms then climbed onto Luo Di's body, and his family appeared beside him.

"Luo Di, you actually brought your girlfriend home! This seems to be one of your classmates. You didn't even tell your mom beforehand. Now there's no time to go grocery shopping, so I'll just have to cut up some of your intestines."

"Bro, how did you find such a beautiful girlfriend? Tsk tsk tsk! Let me check if she's had plastic surgery. I'll peel off her face and see if she's okay, right?"

Luo Di completely ignored the interactions of his family members, even though his abdomen had been cut open and his organs were being pulled around.

This injury is far less severe than the direct removal by the Mist Man.

He stared intently at the doorway.

Staring at the middle-aged man who slowly walked in, the man looked like a highly educated person, dressed in a suit and tie, an industry elite.

But his gaze was very strange, especially when he saw his daughter mingling with a man and even engaging in physical intimacy; his face began to turn ugly.

Luo Di could smell a foul odor emanating from this man, a stench of malice, and his fists clenched without him even realizing it.

"I feel like I've seen him somewhere before, and I think I beat him up before..."