Chapter Fourteen: A Narrow Escape

After a flurry of gestures, the two servants reached an agreement, leaving only Zhang Da in the dark.

"You two behave yourselves. Yesterday, a great master on the verge of ascension wanted to take me as his disciple. The final stop of this bus I saw in my dream is where my master resides. Do not ruin my destiny!" Zhang Da whispered with a grim expression. The two servants had sabotaged many of his plans in the past, and he knew exactly what they were up to. He couldn't let them interfere now, so he felt compelled to reveal the news.

The two servants trembled, deciding to hold back. Being taken as a disciple by a master at the Ascension Stage was a temptation worth risking life and death for; even they were willing to gamble with their lives for such an opportunity.

Having persuaded his servants, Zhang Da couldn't help but yawn.

"Bus Route 88 has arrived. Passengers getting off at Fragrant Pavilion, please exit in an orderly fashion. Passengers boarding, please deposit one yuan. Please yield your seats to those in need. Thank you for your cooperation..."

Time ticked by. Suddenly, a familiar broadcast echoed through the bus. A man wearing sunglasses and a black leather trench coat walked in. Strapped to his back was an object wrapped in cloth, though the exposed hilt clearly indicated it was a sword.

Sensing something, the driver cast a sidelong glance at the newcomer.

Upon seeing the driver, the man shuddered. He clutched a black umbrella in one hand, pulled a green banknote from his pocket with the other to drop into the fare box, and hurriedly sat on a green seat opposite the back door.

"Bus Route 88 is about to depart. The final destination for this trip is Drowning River. Please hold onto the handrails and do not extend your heads or hands out of the windows. The next stop is the Grand Gallery. Passengers preparing to disembark, please get ready."

As the bus started moving again, the two servants became tense. Even Zhang Da noticed something off—the man who had just boarded seemed strangely familiar.

In reality, the man in the leather coat was Ye Feifan, albeit in a different guise. Sunglasses and a trench coat were the standard attire for intelligence work, and he adopted this look to avoid misunderstandings.

Ye Feifan had originally planned to sneak into the Zhang residence at night, but he felt it was too risky. Having inadvertently spotted the passing bus, he had chased after it and witnessed Zhang Da boarding, which immediately sparked a new plan.

His original intention in influencing Zhang Da’s dreams was simply to have him scout the bus route, but plans changed, and he had come up with a better idea.

Since this was called the "Death Bus," everyone on board was likely doomed; few living people would make it to the final stop.

Recognizing the old man across from him as an ominous entity, he wanted to save Zhang Da, infiltrate the Zhang family under the guise of friendship, and then take Zhang Da with him to uncover the truth behind the "Midnight Knocking." Since the Zhang family members were no saints, using them as a shield for himself would be quite convenient.

Having changed his plan on the fly, Ye Feifan had chased the bus and finally caught it at Fragrant Pavilion.

To make himself more convincing, he carried a large black umbrella, the spine of which was actually his "Strongest Novice Sword," while the sword on his back was an ordinary blade stained with black dog blood.

Ye Feifan surveyed the environment and the passengers. He felt his powers being suppressed, but he showed no emotion.

The old man across from him had a lower body made of mist. His hostility didn't seem too intense, suggesting he was driven by some lingering obsession. The truly terrifying one was the driver.

The driver was a "Red-Clad Ominous"!

One could only imagine the immense resentment required to turn a driver into a Red-Clad Ominous.

Having not heard the driver's earlier questions, Ye Feifan didn't know the reason, but he noticed dried bloodstains on the bus and blood-red handprints on the windows, resembling the handprints of small children.

Most chilling were the cracks on the windshield, which featured two bloody handprints. Every window bore similar prints, appearing as if they had been left by adults.

Servant One and Servant Two remained on high alert, feeling immense pressure from the man in the leather coat, while Zhang Da ignored him, his focus entirely on the scenery outside the window.

The night view in the rain was silent yet undeniably beautiful, possessing a dark, profound mystery that people were often drawn to.

Checking his watch, it was 12:30 AM. For ominous entities, this was the most chaotic time, yet why was there such calm before him?

Suddenly, the hair on the back of Ye Feifan's neck stood up. It felt as if something was watching him—a sensation like a viper.

The blood handprints on the windows were bleeding. Ye Feifan panicked; the scene before him proved this wasn't just a horror game, but a real death game. The ominous entities sent by the Blue Star could kill, and he could die within the game.

"Ah..."

A scream shattered the silence of the bus. Ye Feifan jumped to the back door, raising his black umbrella toward Zhang Da, ready to flee if things went south.

Feeling guilty and terrified, Zhang Da turned pale, while the two servants were equally tense, one watching the window and the other watching the passengers.

"Quiet! Please remain silent!" The driver turned his head, staring coldly at Zhang Da and the others. The cigarette in his mouth glowed red, but his gaze flickered toward Ye Feifan.

The driver was no ordinary entity. It was rare for him to drive tonight for a moment of relaxation. Except for the three people in ancient attire and the old man, Ye Feifan was the only one with a modern appearance; clearly, the driver assumed Ye Feifan knew something.

Startled by the driver, Ye Feifan cautiously sat back down. The servants breathed a sigh of relief, while the old man’s attitude remained peculiar—neither arguing nor looking back, as if none of this concerned him.

The bus continued. Zhang Da sat between his two servants, looking fearful.

What had he just seen?

Ye Feifan was curious but didn't dare ask; he was barely keeping himself alive... The next stop would surely be dangerous.

"Bus Route 88 has arrived. Passengers getting off at the Grand Gallery, please exit in an orderly fashion. Passengers boarding, please deposit one yuan. Please yield your seats to those in need. Thank you for your cooperation..."

Upon reaching the stop, Ye Feifan became nervous, muttering, "Nobody should be coming on, right?..."

The bus stopped for a minute. Five or six people boarded, two of them women.

One woman sat in front of Ye Feifan, while the other sat next to Servant One by the window. A sturdy man sat by the window next to Servant Two.

Ye Feifan gripped his umbrella handle calmly. He realized these new arrivals were all ominous entities—the deceased locals of this world.

Several radiated a violent aura, likely akin to malicious ghosts. The old man across from him trembled, suggesting these entities were stronger than him.

"Bus Route 88 is about to depart. The final destination for this trip is Drowning River. Please hold onto the handrails and do not extend your heads or hands out of the windows. The next stop is Wu Dalang’s Sesame Cake Shop. Passengers preparing to disembark, please get ready."

After traveling for a distance, Ye Feifan smiled and tapped the shoulder of the girl in front of him.

"Miss, where are you headed?"

The girl wore a green dress and looked quite beautiful, but when she turned, her pale face wore a sickly smile. A dark green aquatic weed hung from her hair. She was undoubtedly beautiful, yet there was an indescribable eeriness about her.

There was no warmth in her eyes; they were cold, yet it felt natural. It was a contradictory feeling—he didn't dislike or hate her, but felt deeply uncomfortable.

"I am going to Drowning River. Have you seen my husband?"

"Drowning River?" Ye Feifan froze. His expression stiffened, and he gave a strained laugh. "What is your husband's name, miss?"

"Have you seen my husband?" The girl in green ignored his question and repeated her query, the coldness in her eyes intensifying.

Five seconds later, seemingly realizing Ye Feifan couldn't provide an answer, she turned away.

Ye Feifan didn't bother anyone else. He felt suffocated. The system's side quest couldn't be this simple, but he didn't know where the true danger lay.

Using the time, he tried to deduce the bus's origin. Only by finding the starting point could he understand what had happened.

Zhang Da and his group had boarded at Beichen Tea Pavilion, he had boarded at Fragrant Pavilion, and they had passed the Grand Gallery. What else was on the route?

As he pondered, the bus passed Wu Dalang’s Sesame Cake Shop, a casino, a coffin shop, a furniture store, a three-way junction, and a small stone bridge. The seats were full, and the aisle was packed with people.

As the crowd grew, the terrifying atmosphere intensified. None of them had feet; their bodies floated like human-shaped balloons, their lower halves obscured by mist—it was a ghastly sight.

The bus rolled onto a stone bridge flanked by lakes. Ye Feifan’s heart tightened; if things went wrong, it looked like they were being driven into the water!

"Zhang Da, I heard from Young Master Yan that you are weak and pathetic. Is that true?" Ye Feifan knew he couldn't wait any longer. He stood up discreetly, offered his seat to an old man, and stood by the back door, looking down at Zhang Da in the middle of the back row with a sneer.

"You're courting death, boy!" Being an arrogant and impulsive young master, the provocation worked instantly. Zhang Da forgot his fear and lunged at him.

"Bus Route 88 has reached its final destination, Drowning River. Please exit in an orderly fashion. Thank you for riding this bus..."

Just as Zhang Da lunged, the broadcast played. The eyes of everyone on the bus glowed red, and they began to laugh evilly, closing in on Ye Feifan.

Ye Feifan pulled the ordinary sword stained with black dog blood from his back. A faint red light flickered on the blade, causing many to recoil in fear, buying him precious time.

He jammed the sword into the gap of the back door, pried it open with all his might, pinned the lunging Zhang Da to the floor with a kick, and dragged him out of the bus by his leg.

Splash!

Both of them fell into the water. Screams of terror echoed from the two servants inside the bus.

Without stopping, Ye Feifan quickly dragged Zhang Da to the shore.

Zhang Da was stunned. After coughing up water, he scrambled to his feet, shivering uncontrollably.

The bus veered off the road and plunged into the river. The driver’s calm, cold, and meaningful gaze watched Ye Feifan through the glass until the driver’s seat was submerged.

Drowning River!

Their teeth chattered. In the biting wind, the two youths trembled in fear.

[PS: Prosperity, Democracy, Civility, Harmony, Freedom, Equality, Justice, Rule of Law, Patriotism, Dedication, Integrity, Friendliness.]