The Third Bride, whom Wen Wen and the others were about to visit, lived in the estate's Western Courtyard. In the story of the "Ghost Bride" they had learned, spine-chilling sobs always drifted from the Western Courtyard. Of the three courtyards, it was the one that worried them most.
After all, people living in the Real World had more or less seen films or read stories about ghost brides and weeping female ghosts. Ghost creatures who were already dead yet continued to weep day and night seemed to harbor unimaginable obsessions and resentment, making them naturally more dangerous to approach.
But when the Players reached the entrance to the West Courtyard, they heard no crying. Only after pushing open the courtyard gate and walking up to the room did they hear soft sobs. The quiet crying was nothing like the chilling sounds in horror films. It sounded more like an ordinary person expressing her sorrow.
Whether in the East Courtyard, the North Courtyard, or the West Courtyard, whenever they interacted with these brides, they forgot that everything in the estate might be an illusion meant to deceive humans. They even found themselves drawn back into the past by the brides' accounts and sobs, returning to the night when all three had been forced into the estate.
Knock, knock.
Wen Wen stepped forward and softly knocked on the tightly shut door.
"Bride, are you asleep?"
"Who is it?" a young woman asked anxiously from inside, her voice thick with tears.
"The steward arranged for us to look after the brides. He was worried you might still be awake and hungry, so he had the kitchen prepare some meat soup." Remembering that the steward had described the West Courtyard bride as particularly timid, Wen Wen softened her voice as much as she