Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Wei Sen came into the living room. None of the other guns hanging on the wall had any bullets either.

She then went up to the second floor. Here was an even more spacious sitting room, with a long European-style table in the center. Seated neatly around it were countless women in cake dresses.

Their makeup was exquisite, their postures varied. They looked as if they were in the middle of a tea party.

The strange thing was, Wei Sen had already come upstairs, yet none of them reacted at all. The entire sitting room was as silent as death.

Wei Sen approached warily, gun in hand.

They all looked exactly like her!

Wei Sen moved closer to one of them and reached out to touch her. The woman’s skin was still smooth and elastic.

Eyes, hair, skin, everything was human, yet there was no human warmth. Instead, her body gave off a strong medicinal-herb smell that masked a faint, almost imperceptible stench of rot.

On the back of the woman’s head, Wei Sen saw traces of stitches sewn with hemp thread. Through the seams, she could vaguely make out that the inside had been stuffed full of various herbs.

There were twelve “hers” in total. Every single one had been brutally murdered by the Hunter and turned into doll-like toys!

No wonder the Hunter had used the word “again” when he saw her. No wonder he had been so arrogant in front of her.

So he had already killed twelve versions of “her” and believed this time would be no different, that she was doomed as well.

In the hand of the “her” seated at the head of the table, wearing a red rose dress, Wei Sen found a strip of cloth that had been crumpled into a ball.

It looked like a scrap torn from clothing right before death. On it were blood-red words that had long since dried:

[Little Red Riding Hood Identity Rules:

1. The Red Hoodie represents your identity. You must never take it off, or everyone will forget you!

2. You are a good and filial child. Every day, you must help Mother deliver food to Grandma, who lives alone deep in the forest.

3. Remember, when you go to Grandma’s house, you must knock on the door. Grandma will not shut you out. If Grandma refuses you entry, you may search the forest for a blue flower and place it in front of her door to let her know you came by.

4. Grandma likes living alone. No matter the reason, please do not stay overnight with her!

5. The Misty Forest is full of danger. Please be sure to deliver the food into Grandma’s hands and return home before dark.

6. If night falls while you are still in the Misty Forest, you may search for the Wolf’s eyes. They can help you see the way home at night.

7. Besides Grandma, the Hunter and the Witch also live in the forest. Remember, do not speak to the Hunter! Do not accept the Witch’s invitation!

8. You can trust Mother absolutely! Provided Mother has not entered a Berserk State.

9. When you return home, please do not push the door open and enter directly. You must shout “I’m home” three times at the door, and Mother will personally open it for you.

10. Grandma may sometimes be very stubborn, but she will not refuse to play a game with you. You may set the rules of the game. Once Grandma agrees to start playing with you, the game cannot be stopped until it ends. Also, remember that you must obey the rules of the game, or the Big Bad Wolf will eat children who break their promises!]

///Ding~ (Newbie Hint) Host’s current Story Exploration Progress is 25%!///

Wei Sen tightened her grip on the gun.

According to the seventh rule in Little Red Riding Hood’s Identity Rules, when faced with the Hunter striking up a conversation, answering meant death!

So when the Hunter had called out to her and she answered him, she had already triggered his Killing Rule!

Even if another path had been laid out right in front of her, in truth, once the Killing Rule was triggered, either path would lead to death!

There was also the third rule: If Grandma refuses you entry, you may search the forest for a blue flower and place it in front of her door to let her know you came by.

But Little Red Riding Hood did not know that the blue flower would draw the Big Bad Wolf. If she were shut outside, she really would leave the blue flower at the door.

Wei Sen secretly rejoiced that she had not refused Little Red Riding Hood entry back then. Otherwise, she would not even have known how she died.

But… why did this version of “her” have Little Red Riding Hood’s Identity Rules in her hand?

Could it be that she had successfully become Little Red Riding Hood first, only to be hunted down by the Hunter afterward?

Wei Sen could not find anything else useful or any further clues in the Hunter’s wooden cabin. There were still many mysteries that remained unsolved. With no other choice, she took the Hunting Gun, which had only one bullet left, left the cabin, and continued onward.
The sky gradually darkened, yet the forest remained deathly still.

Wei Sen realized that although the light was being swallowed little by little by the darkness, she could still see everything around her with unexpected clarity.

Even after night had fully fallen, she could still see as clearly as ever. The Wolf Eye in the bamboo basket was working.

But unlike during the day, when there was light, once darkness settled in, everything in her vision turned gray-white, as if she had stepped into an old silent film. The only thing that still held color was the sickle-shaped Blood Moon hanging in the sky.

In the silent forest, even the slightest sound could be heard with perfect clarity.

Wei Sen held up the Hunting Gun and noticed that at some point, her footsteps had become much heavier.

It was as if two of her were walking!

No, there really were two people walking. Someone was deliberately mimicking her footsteps, trying not to be discovered!

She swept her gaze around warily.

The moment she turned back, she saw a hunched Old Witch in a black robe standing right behind her, only one step away!

The Old Witch’s face was carved with deep wrinkles. Her long hooked nose looked almost like the crescent moon in the sky, and her sinister eyes were filled with shock.

Wei Sen had not noticed when this Old Witch had started following her. She had been trying to approach her without a sound!

At that thought, Wei Sen raised the gun and aimed it at the Old Witch’s face, saying nothing first.

“Little girl, how terribly rude of you!” the Witch said in a hoarse voice, as though her throat had been glued shut.

Wei Sen sneered. She was only putting on a show. In truth, she did not intend to waste her one chance at firing so easily.

After all, Little Red Riding Hood’s Identity Rules stated: Do not accept the Witch’s invitation.

As long as this old woman did not issue an invitation, there was no immediate danger for the time being.

“If you don’t want to die, stop following me,” Wei Sen said bluntly.

The Witch sighed and shook her head. “Little girl, I was just passing by. I wasn’t following you on purpose.”

A lie!

Wei Sen’s eyes darkened.

“I’m telling you, there is a Wolf in this forest at night!” the Witch said, lowering her voice as her eyes darted left and right with caution.

“Got it. You can leave now.”

The Witch froze. That casually?

“A Wolf eats people, you know!” The Witch’s eyes reflected the eerie red glow of the Blood Moon.

“Instead of worrying about me, you’d be better off going home early. I can’t guarantee my gun won’t go off by accident,” Wei Sen threatened.

The Witch grinned, her expression strange. “Little girl, don’t worry. I’m only kindly reminding you. Judging by this direction, are you heading to the Red House?”

“Red House?”

“This direction leads to Little Red Riding Hood’s home, the Red House.”

So Little Red Riding Hood’s home was called the Red House. This Old Witch knew quite a lot.

Wei Sen pondered this silently.

Seeing that Wei Sen did not answer, the Witch continued, “If you’re going to the Red House, you’ll reach it after another three or four kilometers. However…”

The look in the Witch’s eyes grew even more sinister. “No one lives on the road ahead. If you run into someone else, then they must be a Wolf in disguise!”

“How can you be sure they’re a Wolf in disguise?”

The Witch lifted a wrinkled finger and pointed at the night sky. “On the night of the Blood Moon, a Wolf takes on human form to deceive those who lose their way!”

Wei Sen remembered the third rule of the Misty Forest Rules: When a Blood Moon appears over the forest, the Big Bad Wolf will take on human form!

But wasn’t it possible that the Old Witch in front of her was also a Wolf in disguise?

“Little girl, be careful! I’m leaving now. Otherwise, if I run into a Wolf, these old bones of mine won’t be enough for it to gnaw on!”

With that, the Witch shook her head, turned around, and left with her hunched back.

She had not invited her?

Wei Sen thought in confusion as she raised the Hunting Gun and aimed it at the Witch’s departing figure.

If this Witch was a Wolf in disguise, why had she not attacked her? Why had she instead kindly told her that Little Red Riding Hood’s home, the Red House, was only another three or four kilometers away?

Wei Sen thought it over. There was only one bullet in the gun. Whether this Witch was real or fake, as long as she did not attack, Wei Sen would not waste that bullet for now.

The Witch left in another direction through the forest, her figure disappearing completely among the trees.

Only then did Wei Sen continue toward the Red House.