episode_0030

The sheep’s body began to corrode, its flesh withering bit by bit, dissolving into nothingness.

Su Qingya stared intently, afraid the creature wouldn’t be so easily dealt with, ready to strike again if needed.

But suddenly, her trembling intensified.

She realized—the outline of the entity shrouded in black mist was changing.

No matter how she looked at it, the shape was undeniably human.

That sheep might have truly been a person!

The moment this realization struck, a wave of nausea surged through her mind, and Su Qingya shook even more violently.

Instinctively, she grasped Xu Nian beside her.

“Nian-Nian, I killed someone… I think I really killed someone!”

“Calm down!”

Xu Nian shook Su Qingya hard, but the girl remained trapped in her panicked state, unresponsive.

After calling her name several times to no avail, Xu Nian didn’t have time to hesitate.

Glancing at her own palm, she recalled a trick from TV dramas—then slapped Su Qingya across the face.

Pain could jolt someone awake.

Especially pain to the head.

Su Qingya froze, stunned by the sudden strike.

Seizing the moment, Xu Nian pressed on.

“Qingya, get a hold of yourself. That wasn’t a person you killed—it was just a monster corrupted by the anomalous. And you acted to protect us. You did nothing wrong.”

“…Just a monster corrupted by the anomalous?”

“Exactly. Look again if you don’t believe me.”

Su Qingya finally snapped back to her senses. Her gaze fell on the remains of the entity that had been devoured by the black mist—now, its silhouette did indeed resemble nothing more than a bizarre, twisted creature.

Her tension gradually eased, her fear fading bit by bit.

Xu Nian could sense it—her ability had activated.

It was a strange sensation, as if her words had woven themselves into reality, bending perception.

Was this the so-called [Mockery]?

Twisting truth through speech, deceiving others to achieve her ends.

No wonder the rules repeatedly warned against engaging with clowns or figures likely tied to [Merriment]—because they could lead you astray without you even realizing it, trapping you in the realities they spun.

Xu Nian felt her understanding of the pathways deepen. She turned back toward the corpse consumed by darkness.

In her eyes, it had always been a human corpse—unchanged from the start.

Moments ago, it had been pleading for a ticket.

Perhaps only those who lost their tickets transformed into… this.

Her mind flashed to the red-uniformed staff outside, luring visitors into parting with their tickets for a prize draw.

If they were minions of the Beasts of Merriment, did that mean turning people into animals was also one of [Merriment]’s abilities?

Losing your ticket meant losing protection, leaving you at the mercy of the Beasts’ whims.

At just a one-star Xuer, and knowing that higher-pathway entities held absolute dominance over those beneath them, Xu Nian knew she had to avoid confronting the Beasts of Merriment at all costs.

Her thoughts settled, she glanced once more at where the corpse had lain—now reduced to an unrecognizable mass of blackened residue.

Was this the power of [Terror]?

Too aggressive.

Thankfully, she and Su Qingya were back on good terms. If that ability had been directed at her… Well, she wouldn’t have stood a chance.

[Terror Value: 52%]

Xu Nian’s attention flicked back to the swinging pendulum ride overhead—still spinning, oblivious to what had happened below.

“Nian-Nian…”

“Hm? I’m here.”

“It hurts…”

Su Qingya clutched her reddened cheek, her watery, doe-like eyes fixed on Xu Nian in pitiful accusation.

Having been guided out of her earlier state, she was now fully back to her usual self—a helpless girlfriend seeking comfort.

“Did I hit you too hard? I had no choice. You looked like you were…”

Xu Nian trailed off.

Su Qingya had seemed outright possessed earlier.

Was that another pathway’s influence?

Most likely the high-tier Beast of Terror from the same pathway?

Then would she start laughing uncontrollably if she ran into a Beast of Merriment?

…Terrifying.

“I know, but still…”

Xu Nian understood immediately. Leaning in, she blew softly against Su Qingya’s stinging cheek.

“Pain, pain, go away.”

Then she pressed a gentle kiss to the reddened spot.

Su Qingya flinched slightly but didn’t pull back, savoring the tenderness.

As a fox spirit, Xu Nian’s tongue bore soft, harmless papillae—slightly atrophied but pleasantly soothing.

Just then, a young man in a blue uniform approached, his gaze settling on the pair with a faint smirk.

“Ladies, are you visitors? Need any help?”

Xu Nian quickly pulled away, shooting him an annoyed look.

Su Qingya’s eyes held not just anger but sharp suspicion.

“And you are…?”

“Me?” The worker blinked, bewildered. “I’m staff for this ride. What else would I be? I’ve been sitting right over there—didn’t you see me?”

Xu Nian and Su Qingya exchanged glances, stunned.

They hadn’t seen him. Not at all.

They’d scoured the area multiple times.

How could they have missed someone so blatant in such a confined space?

Before they could question further, the worker tilted his head.

“Wait, who are you two?”

“We’re visitors covering for the staff who was here earlier. She went to the restroom—should be back soon,” Xu Nian said smoothly.

“Covering…?” The man furrowed his brows, skepticism plain. “I’m the only one assigned to this ride. What ‘other staff’? And what’s this about ‘covering’? If you’re gonna lie, at least make it believable.”

“What?”

The girls traded another disbelieving look.

“Impossible! Then where were you earlier?”

“Like I said—right over there. Didn’t move.”

The blue-clad worker pointed toward a waiting area near the entrance, opposite the pendulum.

“You really didn’t see me?”

“No! We haven’t seen you since we got here!” Su Qingya insisted.

Xu Nian, meanwhile, was quietly analyzing—what kind of Xuer’s ability was this?

“How did you notice us, then?” Su Qingya pressed, hoping to glean clues from his perspective.

“Well… I saw you two walk in casually, then start making out. Not that I mind close relationships, but doing it here? A bit disrespectful, don’t you think?”

Embarrassment was the least of Su Qingya’s concerns now.

“And the sheep? You didn’t see a giant goat standing right there?!”

“Sheep? What sheep? This is an amusement park—we don’t have animals. Try the zoo if that’s what you’re after.”

The worker’s confusion seemed genuine, though his tone grew noticeably impatient.