Chapter Summaries

As the collapsing structure left the group hanging from Su Bai’s Blood Vine, Le Shiya revealed that she could control herself and had used the ability to resist her Somnolence. Su Bai and Wu Heng then saw the exposed Mother Tree of Life, a monstrous mass of dead branches and baby-filled fruits, as it attacked the vine and threatened everyone.

• Le Shiya told Chi Yan to grab the vines, and Su Bai’s Blood Vine caught the falling group.
• Chi Yan questioned Le Shiya about her control ability, and she admitted she had tried to make Su Bai team up with her when they first met.
• Le Shiya explained that she had used her ability to command herself not to sleep when her Somnolence flared.
• Wu Heng told Su Bai that the Red Moon Society might select test subjects for their powers and speculated that consuming the Mother Tree of Life could advance their research.
• Su Bai saw the Mother Tree of Life revealed beneath the curtain of light as its dead branches attacked the Blood Vine and shook the people clinging to it.

Su Bai and his companions watched his Strange Creature summons weaken the Weird Tree while they remained trapped behind its barrier. As the tree launched a desperate attack, Wu Heng helped Su Bai open a Light Gate that began pulling in its branches.

• Blood Vine lowered Xu Rui's group and Su Bai's companions to the ground inside the Weird Tree's isolated space.
• Tian Yue and Feng Xuelan saw Strange Creatures battling the tree, and Chi Yan explained that they were Su Bai's summons before Su Bai called them his companions and family.
• Xu Rui supported Xiang Feiyu and continued obeying the game rules while the battle weakened the tree and destroyed many of its infant-bearing fruits.
• The barrier cracked, and the tree sent branches bursting from the ground to attack Su Bai and the others.
• Wu Heng told Su Bai to take his hand, and together they manifested a Light Gate that began sucking the attacking branches inside.

Su Bai and his companions watched the Mist Shop drain the Weird Tree until its remains revealed a living sapling it had protected. Blood Epiphyllum gently bonded with the sapling, and the group returned to Hospital No. 666 as the last barrier vanished.

• The Mist Shop devoured most of the Weird Tree’s power, and Little Fire consumed its fallen crown.
• The dying Weird Tree revealed that it had preserved a living sapling from before Civilization’s collapse and pleaded for Su Bai to take it.
• Blood Epiphyllum reached out to the sapling, which responded by curling a leaf around the Blood Vine.
• Wu Heng objected that the sapling was weak, then acknowledged that its barrier might prove useful.
• The final barrier shattered, and Su Bai and the others found themselves back at Hospital No. 666.

After the Weird Tree died, Su Bai and the other players were exposed to the rest of Hospital No. 666, where their symptoms began to ease. The Administrator offered them a choice between returning to the Real World or staying in the Nightmare World, and Su Bai heard from the peculiar Administrator he had met before.

• The Weird Tree's barrier disappeared, and Blood Epiphyllum returned the sapling to the Puzzle Piece.
• Chi Yan, Xu Rui, and the other players woke up and found the Weird Tree gone and their symptoms easing.
• Su Bai realized that the other hospital buildings could still affect the players and sensed hostile attention from within them.
• The Administrator apologized for the incident and let the players choose whether to stay in the Nightmare World or return to the Real World.
• The peculiar Administrator addressed Su Bai in a teasing voice, remarking that he had done something extraordinary again.

After returning from Hospital No. 666, Su Bai learned that an eccentric director wanted him for a future private commission and asked about the payment. Back in the Real World, Wu Heng explained that the director was a hedonist and prepared to help Su Bai receive Weird Tree’s power by making him sleep through the worst of it.

• Su Bai questioned the Administrator about who had noticed him, and the Administrator said an eccentric director wanted to work with him again.
• The Administrator described the director’s planned masterpiece and promised to convey Su Bai’s desired payment when the invitation arrived.
• The Administrator sent Su Bai back to the Real World before he could respond to the transfer.
• Wu Heng asked Su Bai about the Administrator, then explained that the director did not side with the Red Moon Society or oppose it.
• Su Bai focused on receiving Weird Tree’s power, and Wu Heng said Su Bai needed to hold his Xiao Wu shell so he could sleep through the worst effects.

Su Bai prepared to endure the painful adjustment to his newly acquired power, and Wu Heng explained that holding the shop-connected Doll would let the Mist Shop help him through it. Su Bai fell into a peaceful, protective sleep in Wu Heng’s arms, until a familiar voice from the Nightmare World disturbed him.

• Su Bai asked why Wu Heng had to use Xiao Wu’s shell, and Wu Heng explained that the Doll’s connection to the shop could help regulate Su Bai’s new power and let him sleep through the worst of the adjustment.
• Su Bai called his mother’s caregiver and Qingliu University to explain that he would be delayed, then decided there was nothing else in the Real World that needed his attention.
• Su Bai washed, changed, and lay down, and Wu Heng reached out to hold him in the Doll’s shell.
• Su Bai held Wu Heng close and fell asleep as Wu Heng promised to take care of everything.
• Su Bai dreamed of warm, clear water that soothed and protected him while Wu Heng’s distant voice reassured him.
• A familiar voice began speaking beside Su Bai’s ear, interrupting his sleep with the words, “Dear resident of the Nightmare World...”

Lu Jinyan listened to the Roasted Aroma Memory Coffee Company’s rules and learned that new hires had to work for two months, with debtors unable to leave the Nightmare Spiral Building. As the game began, he surveyed the other players and recognized Pei Zhan as a possible veteran, though he did not expect Pei Zhan to help him.

• The Administrator explained the company’s employee points, assignments, penalties, and two-month employment contract, warning that no debtor had ever escaped the building.
• Lu Jinyan tried to memorize the rules and reminded himself that he could rely only on himself in the Nightmare Game.
• The office lights came on, revealing Lu Jinyan and seven or eight other players at the company reception desk during a brief safe period.
• A bear-like player recognized Pei Zhan, whose sword and combat clothes marked him as a likely veteran player.
• Lu Jinyan chose not to depend on Pei Zhan and hoped that some of the other veteran players would not use newcomers as bait.

Lu Jinyan met the other players gathered for the Nightmare Game, including Pei Zhan, Wen Ya, and several newcomers. Shen Guanlan revealed that two more participants were sitting nearby: a cloaked figure holding a motionless person.

• Xiong Yi identified Pei Zhan as a highly ranked Candlelight Society player, and Bai Qi approached Pei Zhan for help.
• Wen Ya arrived, warned the group not to rely on others, and revealed that she preferred to clear games alone.
• Shen Guanlan, Xiong Yi, Pei Zhan, Chu Qianren, Zhou Shirong, Wen Ya, Bai Qi, and Lu Jinyan introduced themselves and discussed their experience or abilities.
• Xiong Yi suspected Lu Jinyan might be an eerie entity in disguise, but Lu Jinyan insisted that he was a real player.
• Shen Guanlan pointed out a cloaked figure holding a motionless person in the lounge, and Lu Jinyan wondered whether they were players too.

At Aromatic Memory Café, Lu Jinyan and the other players met the headless receptionist, who asked them to register their employee points. Wu Heng revealed 1000 points, while the unconscious person he carried had 0, leaving the players stunned and uncertain about what the numbers meant.

• Shen Guanlan asked the cloaked man his name, and he identified himself as Wu Heng without explaining who he carried.
• A headless receptionist arrived and told the players to show the points marked on their wrists so it could record their starting employee points.
• Shen Guanlan showed 260 points, Zhou Shirong and Bai Qi each showed 10, Chu Qianren showed 30, and Xiong Yi showed 210.
• Pei Zhan revealed 960 points, while Wen Ya showed 540, prompting the players to speculate that points reflected strength.
• The receptionist asked Lu Jinyan to show his wrist, exposing his 20 points and newcomer status.
• Wu Heng revealed 1000 points, then showed that the unconscious person in his arms had 0.

Lu Jinyan and the other Players followed the headless receptionist to learn about the vending machines, while Wu Heng stayed behind with the unconscious Su Bai. As Su Bai recovered enough to reflect on his powers, he sensed that the Vengeful Ghost Puzzle might be transforming again.

• Xiong Yi asked Wu Heng whether the person in his arms had zero points because he was injured, and Wu Heng said the person was the one he shared his life with.
• The headless receptionist led the Players toward the vending machines, while Wu Heng remained on the sofa with Su Bai.
• Su Bai regained consciousness and learned that Wu Heng had brought him into the Nightmare Game while he recovered from the effects of absorbing new powers.
• While meditating, Su Bai sensed that he was beginning to cross the boundary between himself and the Puzzle Pieces, and that the Vengeful Ghost Puzzle could transform again.
• Su Bai recognized that the wrist points did not reflect Wu Heng's true strength and smiled at Wu Heng's description of him as the one he shared his life with.

Lu Jinyan and the other players learned what the company’s five vending machines offered, including powerful weapons and boxes that could strengthen or grant abilities. The chapter left them eager to earn points so they could buy ability mystery boxes.

• Lu Jinyan followed the players through the office corridor, where headless humanoids worked behind glass walls.
• The headless receptionist introduced the food, clothing, and office-supply vending machines, which sold useful items for employee points.
• The headless receptionist revealed that the security weapons machine sold powerful weapons, including firearms, and that its products were unique.
• The players learned that the work ability machine sold mystery boxes that could improve existing abilities or grant new ones, with guaranteed higher-rank boxes after certain purchases.
• Lu Jinyan and the other players became fixated on earning points to buy ability mystery boxes.

The Players reached the office area of the Special Comprehensive Department, where Shen Guanlan and Wen Ya disagreed over whether to prioritize cooperation or personal gains. Su Bai woke and introduced himself, while Pei Zhan challenged Wu Heng; Su Bai then asked how they could earn 10,000 points.

• The headless receptionist showed the Players the office area and said Manager Jiao was away.
• Shen Guanlan argued that the long game and its newcomers could make teamwork and clue-finding easier, while Wen Ya urged everyone to focus on personal gains.
• Wu Heng brought the unconscious Su Bai into the office and carefully settled him on a sofa.
• Su Bai woke, explained that his physical condition had affected his points, and reassured the Players that he was recovering.
• Pei Zhan said the game suited players acting alone and challenged Wu Heng, while Su Bai asked how anyone could earn 10,000 points.

Su Bai calculated the points players could earn from different jobs and argued that cooperation might help them survive the two-month work period. The Headless Manager arrived to assign jobs, but left after Wu Heng presented their marriage contract and declared that they were married.

• Su Bai calculated how different job ranks and overtime would affect players' points, then said their prospects depended on the assignments and their ability to complete them.
• Shen Guanlan proposed that players work together, while Pei Zhan rejected the idea and Bai Qi and Xiong Yi sided with him.
• Wen Ya slapped Xiong Yi after he insulted Su Ye, warning him that he did not deserve to speak her name.
• The Headless Manager arrived to summon the new employees for individual work assignments and warned Su Bai and Wu Heng that office romance was forbidden.
• Wu Heng showed the Headless Manager a marriage contract and said that he and Su Bai were married, prompting the manager to return to his office without objecting.

The players chose assignments in the Nightmare Spiral Building while Su Bai, still weak, went to the headless manager to select his own task. The manager recognized the key attached to Su Bai’s hair tie and reacted with sudden alarm.

• The players watched Su Bai lean on Wu Heng, and Pei Zhan entered the manager’s office to choose a Grade B assignment to clean the restrooms on the forty-third floor.
• Su Bai teased Pei Zhan for failing to knock, and Pei Zhan rejected Xiong Yi and Bai Qi’s offer to help with his task.
• Wen Ya chose a Grade B assignment to collect thirty cups of special coffee and deliver them to the twenty-fourth floor, while the others selected Grade C tasks.
• Su Bai refused Wu Heng’s offer to carry him, walked into the office, and heard the headless manager declare that the building belonged to the Dream Weaver.
• Su Bai asked to choose his assignment and tied back his hair; when the key on his hair tie struck his bracelet, the manager sprang up and demanded to know about the key.

Su Bai chose an A-Rank job at the Roasted Aroma Memory Coffee Company despite Manager Jiao’s warning, while the manager enthusiastically praised him as a future pillar of the company. The job turned out to be making thirty cups of “Midnight Memories Special” coffee with the General Affairs Department coffee machine.

• Manager Jiao sensed something unusual about Su Bai and hinted that he had detected the power of an important person.
• Su Bai decided to take an A-Rank job, and Manager Jiao warned him before abruptly praising his ambition and future potential.
• Manager Jiao gave Su Bai a black clipboard and said he would assign him a challenging task to test his suitability for the company.
• Su Bai left the office with the A-Rank clipboard, and Pei Zhan and Shen Guanlan reacted with concern.
• The task appeared on the paper: Su Bai had to use the General Affairs Department Coffee Machine to make thirty cups of “Midnight Memories Special” coffee.

Su Bai stayed on the 44th Floor to make coffee while Wu Heng completed an S-Rank Job on the 56th Floor. When Su Bai sensed that Wu Heng’s doll had lost much of its power and found a crack in its face, he kissed him to transfer power.

• Su Bai faltered, and Wu Heng helped him back to the sofa before accepting an S-Rank Job to deliver ten cups of Midnight Memories Special to the 56th Floor.
• The Front Desk Attendant announced that employees had to finish their assignments before the countdown ended and left a map of the 44th Floor.
• Su Bai studied the coffee instructions, suspected the different varieties were like potions in different doses, and continued making regular coffee.
• The other players returned as the clock reached three, and Wen Ya described delivering coffee to ghostly employees on the 24th Floor.
• Wu Heng returned from the 56th Floor with much of the power in his doll depleted and a crack across his face.
• Su Bai grabbed Wu Heng and kissed him, intending to transfer power into the doll.

Wu Heng returned from the 59th Floor and reunited with Su Bai, who transferred power to him through a kiss. Wu Heng described how coffee restored the Strange Creatures to an orderly working state, leaving Su Bai questioning the company’s purpose.

• Wu Heng entered the General Affairs Department unharmed and kissed Su Bai in front of the other Players.
• Su Bai transferred power to Wu Heng through the kiss, which left him shaken and flustered.
• Su Bai asked Wu Heng what had happened on the 59th Floor.
• Wu Heng explained that the Strange Creatures there were unstable and that some resisted drinking coffee, but he forced them to drink it.
• Wu Heng said all the Strange Creatures began working in an orderly state after drinking the coffee.
• Su Bai connected the coffee’s effects to the Nightmare Spiral Building’s operations and wondered what the company’s purpose was.

The players began their rest period, and Wu Heng spent 1,200 points to rent dormitories for himself and Su Bai. As the players fell asleep, the headless receptionist monitored the building and injected Manager Jiao when he began forgetting Lord Dream Weaver, then said the building had to keep running even if he never returned.

• The headless receptionist offered the players dormitories for 10 points per person per day, but Wu Heng paid 1,200 points to rent them for himself and Su Bai for two months.
• The receptionist explained that players could transfer points to one another, then led Wu Heng and Su Bai away as the floor lights went out.
• An inexplicable drowsiness overcame the eight players, and they fell asleep in the General Affairs Department.
• The headless receptionist checked surveillance footage across the building while Manager Jiao told her he had sensed Lord Dream Weaver's power in a new employee.
• Manager Jiao began forgetting how long Lord Dream Weaver had been gone and what he looked like, so the receptionist injected him with a brown liquid that restored his excitement.
• The receptionist continued monitoring the building and murmured that it had to keep running, even if Lord Dream Weaver never returned.

Su Bai and Wu Heng woke after an unexplained overnight silence that seemed to halt the building’s flow of power. They joined the other Players in the General Affairs Department, where Manager Jiao and the Headless Receptionist arrived with clipboards but none were white.

• Su Bai and Wu Heng discussed how the building had gone silent and its flow of power had stopped while the lights were dimmed.
• Xiong Yi, Wen Ya, and Shen Guanlan said they had slept without remembering falling asleep or waking during the night.
• Lu Jinyan asked Wen Ya whether reports of her hostility toward Su Ye were false, and Wen Ya explained that they competed for roles but respected Su Ye’s rise.
• Su Bai and Wu Heng entered the office, where the other Players kept their distance.
• Manager Jiao and the Headless Receptionist brought in stacks of colored clipboards, leaving the Players uneasy because there were no white ones.

The players learned that the company had raised its work requirements and tied job difficulty to the floors they visited. As the players prepared to deliver coffee, Su Bai noticed Bai Qi had bought something expensive from the Weapon Vending Machine after offering to bring Pei Zhan food and water.

• Manager Jiao announced that all employees had to take B-Rank work or above, with higher floors assigned higher-ranked jobs.
• The players chose delivery tasks, and Su Bai was assigned to the forty-sixth floor with Wen Ya while Pei Zhan took the forty-ninth floor alone.
• Zhou Shirong agreed to team up with Lu Jinyan, while Bai Qi declined Chu Qianren's offer and went to buy food and water for Pei Zhan.
• Su Bai heard Bai Qi use the Weapon Vending Machine and realized she had bought an item costing at least 500 points.