Chapter 21: Breaking Through the Wall, Finding Life in the Face of Death

Room 102 is my home... Although I have forgotten many things, I have always remembered that within Room 102 lies something very important to me..."

"Let me in... Let me in!"

A hoarse voice emerged from the grotesque figure of the Kanjing Ghost. It desperately gnawed at the walls of the apartment building, trying to squeeze inside, but its massive body got stuck.

The words were slurred, yet filled with pleading and unwillingness.

Ji Yan’s expression grew pensive.

It seemed the source of this grudge was inside Room 102.

Forcing this strange entity out was clearly impossible.

Then, what if they followed it and let it find the root of its resentment? What would happen?

Ji Yan thought this was worth trying—certainly better than brute force.

He turned to the players trapped in the mist, resigned to their fate. "Anyone willing to help?"

"Help with what? Long Yuan couldn’t even kill this ghost, let alone us."

"It just speeds up the damage to the wall corner whenever it’s provoked. There’s simply no way!"

Ji Yan shook his head. "Help it get inside the apartment—it’s stuck right now."

"We have to break open a hole for it!"

At that, everyone present was stunned.

Wait, we came here to clear out these rats.

And you want to help these things invade the apartment?

The bandaged ghost, watching the whole scene, stared at Ji Yan with a strange look.

"I know it sounds reckless, but this is the only way to complete the mission."

Time was running out, and he needed help.

But no one cared; they all thought he was mad.

Seeing no one willing, Ji Yan shook his head, drew out his spiked hammer, and started toward the wall, chiseling at the apartment’s corner alongside the Kanjing Ghost.

The mutated rats around the ghost, originally hostile, scattered after seeing his actions.

[Alert! Due to incorrect game operation, you damaged the dungeon map, angering the strange residents. Twelve of them have become hostile toward you!]

The warning panel popped up again.

Ji Yan ignored it.

He never had their favor anyway.

Hostility or not, he didn’t care!

Gripping the spiked hammer, Ji Yan swung it forcefully again and again.

With each chiseled piece, fresh blood seeped from the wall.

His eyelids twitched as he thought: This apartment hides some deep secrets.

Perhaps, these bleeding walls were connected to the main plot.

"He's truly lost his mind. Does he want to die even faster?"

The players behind him broke out in cold sweat.

Even the bandaged ghost couldn’t look on any longer and said, "You’re playing with fire and will get burned."

Ji Yan replied, "I have my own way to expel it."

"As long as the mission time isn’t up, I can do whatever. If I fail, I accept whatever punishment comes."

The bandaged ghost didn’t stop him because Ji Yan was right.

But it sneered coldly, "Destroying the apartment, angering the strange tenants, damaging the landlord’s property..."

"When the mission time ends, I can’t imagine how terrifying your punishment will be."

"That’s a problem for later. Don’t disturb me now."

Ji Yan shot back, causing the bandaged ghost to glare angrily and snort coldly.

Boom!

Another chunk of the wall collapsed—not dust but thick, sticky blood dripping down.

It broke through!

Ji Yan’s eyes flickered.

No joy, no fear—only tension.

The hole widened, and the Kanjing Ghost’s massive body was no longer restrained. It easily slipped inside, filthy water flowing along the first-floor corridor.

A stench spread through every room on the first floor.

"It’s really inside..."

Ji Yan followed behind. Just past the hole, he faintly heard a flood of curses from the strange tenants.

"Get out!"

"Who the hell brought this filthy thing into the apartment?"

"Disgusting! Whose bastard is this? Destroying the walls is one thing, but bringing outside rats in too!"

"It’s that bastard from Room 404—the dead drunkard’s kid. Like father, like son!"

[Alert! For helping expel residents by illegally entering the apartment, 25 strange tenants have become hostile toward you, with hostility levels of seven reaching 75%. After the mission, they will seek revenge.]

"The trouble’s only getting bigger!"

"Is there even any way to resolve this?"

Listening to the barrage of insults from all directions in the corridor, Ji Yan took a deep breath, sweat pouring down his back.

On the sixth floor,

The landlord, an old man puffing a cigarette, knew what had happened downstairs but didn’t intervene.

He muttered, "This kid seems to be courting death. Bold, indeed."

The door to Room 102 on the first floor opened.

Cheng Fang tossed out two dead rats, disgusted. "Has this dungeon caught the plague today?"

Looking up, he saw the hole in the corridor wall and the Kanjing Ghost dragging its monstrous body, filthy water dripping beneath it.

He cursed under his breath, about to slip back into his room when he spotted a familiar face.

"Aren’t you... Ji Yan?"

"What are you doing here? Fixing the hole or driving out the plague?"

Ji Yan glanced at Cheng Fang and shook his head.

"Neither."

"I helped break the wall. I also helped bring the ghost inside."

"…"

Cheng Fang’s mouth twitched. His first thought: How could he have made such a huge mess?

"If you don’t want to survive this dungeon, at least don’t drag us first-floor players down! We were just about to slack off today, but these damn rats almost exhausted us!"

Ji Yan put away the spiked hammer, wiping the grime from his face.

"I’m doing this because I want to live."

"You won’t survive, brother."

"Every tenant on the first floor wants to tear you apart. Even the charm ghost in my room has lost all goodwill for you."

"Those rats damaged her 'treasure,' and now she’s screaming to drain you dry!"

Ji Yan paid no mind.

Cheng Fang wanted to say more but suddenly shut his mouth, turning to lock himself in his room.

The stench surged.

Ji Yan turned his head.

The Kanjing Ghost, with its grotesquely swollen and disfigured face, approached him.

It stared at Ji Yan. "Why did you help me?"

Ji Yan: "Helping others doesn’t need a reason."

The ghost didn’t care for the flimsy excuse and looked toward both sides of the corridor.

"I’ve lost all memories of this apartment."

"Can you help me find the room I used to live in?"

"I know the landlord will come to evict me soon. Once I finish what I want, I’ll leave on my own."

Indeed.

This plan was workable.

Helping the resentful ghost fulfill its wish meant no violent expulsion was needed. It would leave voluntarily, and the plague would naturally dissipate.

"I’ll lead the way!" Ji Yan turned to guide the Kanjing Ghost.

Just around the corner, they saw a familiar figure—Long Yuan, who had just returned to the apartment.

Their eyes met.

Long Yuan looked stunned.

"You... how are you inside the apartment?!"

Ji Yan said nothing, but the Kanjing Ghost behind him answered.

Long Yuan immediately understood.

"You actually brought this ghost inside?!"

"You’re begging for death. Not even immortals can save you now!"

Ji Yan coolly replied, "If immortals won’t save me, I’ll save myself."

"Step aside."