Chapter 103

Chapter 103

He Ling dragged York to the edge of the rooftop. Terror made him tremble violently, any trace of his usual poise long gone.

“So, you’re afraid of death too?” He Ling crouched down, watching the terrified York with a haunting gaze. “I thought someone like you wouldn’t fear death at all.”

“Did you ever think about how terrified your victims were when they died because of you?”

York’s face was a mess of snot and tears as he pleaded incessantly for mercy.

The realization that this woman truly intended to kill him filled him with an unprecedented dread.

They were all insane. They didn’t care about the hospital’s rules and regulations at all.

“Please, let me go. I swear to God, I’ll never do it again,” he stammered, his voice shaking.

“I prayed to God countless times. I told Him I’d do anything if He would just bring Weichun back to life.” He Ling’s face remained expressionless, yet crystal-clear tears continued to slide from the corners of her eyes. “But God is nothing but bullshit. Praying to Him is pointless. Weichun isn’t coming back.”

A smile curled on her lips as she stared intently at York. “But fortunately, I can rely on myself to personally kill the murderer who took her life.”

Seeing this, York finally realized he was doomed today. He stopped begging and burst into laughter.

“What a joke. Why should I care if others are afraid of dying?”

“They got what they deserved!”

“Do you remember how Yi Weichun begged you when she died? She cried and pleaded for you to snap out of it, but what did you do? You ruthlessly pushed her down-”

“Agh-!”

Accompanied by York’s scream, a sharp crack echoed as He Ling dislocated his jaw with a blank expression.

“Mmph… mmph…” York began to twitch in agony.

“I know,” He Ling said, her tone calm. “That’s why I deserve to die, too.”

She stood up, hoisting the twitching York with her, and stepped to the very edge of the platform.

“What is she doing?”

Sensing something was wrong, Tu Nan tried to step forward, but Priestley grabbed her arm.

“Don’t move recklessly. This is her dream; there’s nothing you can do.”

He Ling suddenly turned back and glanced at them.

“Thank you,” she said.

He Ling turned back and, without a moment’s hesitation, threw York off the roof. With his jaw dislocated, York couldn’t even manage a loud scream.

A few seconds later, a heavy thud signaled his impact with the ground.

Standing at the edge of the roof, He Ling looked up at the sky. Her face was peaceful, her thoughts unreadable.

“Weichun, I’ve avenged you. I can finally come to see you now,” He Ling murmured. She closed her eyes as a final tear rolled down her cheek.

Then, she leapt.

“He Ling!”

Tu Nan cried out in shock, instinctively trying to run toward her, but the ground beneath her feet suddenly began to shake violently.

Priestley grabbed her. “The dream is collapsing!”

As soon as he spoke, a massive black hole tore open in the ground, sucking them both inside.

*

Tu Nan opened her eyes.

She stared at the familiar ceiling, feeling dazed for a moment.

Was that a dream, or was this reality?

She remembered everything-did that mean she had truly returned to the real world?

He Ling had finally resolved her inner turmoil, so the dream had shattered along with it?

She lifted her hand to check the time; only an hour had passed since she fell asleep. Tu Nan immediately scrambled out of bed and saw He Ling slumped over the desk, motionless, as if she were asleep.

Tu Nan walked over to her side.

He Ling’s face was pressed against her arm, only half-visible, with faint tear tracks at the corners of her eyes.

“He Ling?” Tu Nan nudged her gently. “Wake up.”
He Ling’s brow furrowed slightly as she slowly opened her eyes under the other woman’s nudging.

At first, her gaze was unfocused, but gradually, she managed to center her vision.

“Are you alright?” Tu Nan asked, keeping her voice as soft and gentle as possible.

He Ling blinked slowly. “I feel like… I just had a very… very long dream.” At the memory of the scenes within the dream, tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes again. “If only it were real.”

Tu Nan was now certain that He Ling had finally left the dream.

Looking at He Ling now, she no longer seemed as muddled and dazed as before.

“Are you referring to the part where you found Yi Weichun’s true killer?”

He Ling’s entire body jolted. She looked up at Tu Nan. “How do you know about that?”

“I was pulled into that dream as well.” Tu Nan watched her. “Do you have some kind of special item or ability?”

“So that’s what happened…” He Ling murmured to herself.

She unfastened a crystal bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Tu Nan. “My ability has nothing to do with dreaming. It was likely the effect of this bracelet.”

Tu Nan took the bracelet.

[Sleeping Beauty’s Bracelet:

A bracelet that stayed with Sleeping Beauty throughout her long slumber, possessing magical abilities.

It can perceive intense emotions. Please explore its specific functions at your leisure.]

What a perfunctory description.

It seemed the culprit was indeed this bracelet.

Tu Nan had certainly been put through the wringer because of it.

Tu Nan returned the bracelet to He Ling. “You should put it away and stop using it so recklessly.”

He Ling took the bracelet back. Recalling the dream again, she couldn’t sit still. She suddenly bolted upright, about to rush toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Tu Nan grabbed her.

“I’m going to kill York.” He Ling gritted her teeth, her eyes nearly spitting fire. “Even if it was just a dream, I can feel that it was all real. It was York who killed Weichun! I’ll make him pay in blood!”

“Calm down. This isn’t your dream anymore.”

Perhaps because she had already killed York once in the dream, He Ling was actually able to listen to reason.

If she went looking for York now, she would likely be seized before she even reached his ward.

“York must be eliminated,” Tu Nan said coldly. “But since this isn’t a dream, we must follow the Rules. Don’t worry, I will definitely help you.”

“What do you need me to do?” He Ling asked urgently. “I’ve been in this Instance for too long. My mind has already been mostly eroded by the Contamination. I’m afraid I won’t last until then…”

Tu Nan frowned. “Is there anything that can purify Contamination?”

“There are such things, but they’re precious. Ordinary people can’t get their hands on them,” He Ling said flatly. “Besides, Weichun is already dead. As long as I can avenge her, I don’t care whether I live or die.”

“If Yi Weichun were still alive, would she want to see you this despondent?” Tu Nan shook her head. “I can do my best to help you find something to clear the Contamination, but if you stay in this state, I won’t give it to you even if I do get it.”

He Ling was momentarily stunned.

If Weichun were still here…

Given her personality, she would probably frown and give He Ling a sharp rap on the head.

“Staying alive is the most important thing. No matter which one of us dies, the other has to live on strongly. Live life to the fullest, and see the parts of the world the other didn’t get to see.”

He Ling lowered her head with a bitter smile, covering her face as she began to sob quietly.

Weichun, if only you were still here.

I really… miss you so much…