Chapter 18: Nourishing the Blade with Blood, Toying with Human Hearts

Chapter 18: Nourishing the Blade with Blood, Toying with Human Hearts

As Long Yuan stared at him, Ji Yan swallowed the last bite of his bread and was about to speak when a voice sounded from behind: "Once the door opens, follow me and don’t stray more than 10 steps away."

"The fog outside is thick. If you get lost, don’t even think about returning to the apartment."

Behind them stood a bandage-wrapped supernatural entity, its body entirely swathed in bandages save for a pair of bloodshot eyes. A work badge hung from its chest, bearing the words "Apartment Manager."

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity showed no kindness toward Ji Yan and the others, its words dripping with disdain and disgust for these outsider tenants.

"How big is that 'rat'?"

Long Yuan, who had just removed his earphones, abruptly asked.

Facing Long Yuan, the Bandaged Supernatural Entity instantly changed its tone: "Ah, Mr. Long! I didn’t see you there earlier. Where have you been these past few days?"

Long Yuan yawned. "Sleeping."

"Mr. Long works tirelessly day and night for the apartment. You deserve a good rest."

The other players reacted differently to the Bandaged Supernatural Entity’s two-faced behavior. Some silently cursed the manager for being a bootlicker, while others were in awe of Long Yuan.

After all, which player could command such flattery from supernatural entities in the Eerie World?

Long Yuan yawned again. "You still haven’t answered my question."

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity replied, "The rat was discovered yesterday. It’s quite large—looks like it’s been parasitizing for a while."

"The Landlord finds these things particularly troublesome. He posted an announcement today, demanding they be eradicated within a day."

"If Mr. Long joins the cleanup, it shouldn’t be too difficult."

Ji Yan listened quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Just what kind of "rat" were they talking about?

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity took out a key and unlocked the apartment door.

"Whooosh—!!"

As the door opened, a frigid wind howled in, like the wails of countless vengeful spirits, raising goosebumps on everyone’s skin.

The group shivered violently.

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity walked ahead, its voice icy as it addressed Ji Yan and the others: "Stay close. If anyone tries to flee, the punishment will be having their legs chopped off and being thrown into the fog."

"The things in the fog eat everything."

"They prefer to take their time, and to keep their food fresh, they’ll deliberately avoid vital areas—letting you watch as they devour you."

Its laughter was laced with mockery, relishing the players’ pale, terrified expressions.

The intimidation worked. Once outside the apartment, the players clung to the Bandaged Supernatural Entity as if their lives depended on it.

Eerie chewing sounds occasionally echoed through the thick fog, accompanied by the unsettling sensation of countless eyes watching them.

Two minutes later, the cleaning squad arrived at the rear building of the Crimson Apartment under the entity’s lead.

After passing through an alley littered with rotting flesh and garbage, the team came upon a filthy, stinking drainage ditch.

The ditch was overflowing with trash, and hordes of rats—each as large as an adult tabby cat—had turned it into their paradise. Their eyes were blood-red as they gnawed on unidentified corpses.

The female players nearly fainted from terror.

The male players trembled as they clutched their cleaning tools.

Wait—were these mutated rats really not going to eat them?

"There are way too many rats here!"

"Never mind clearing it—we’d be lucky not to become food ourselves!"

Though they had braced themselves, the players couldn’t help but break down at the sight before them.

The drainage ditch stretched over twenty meters, teeming with countless rats!

"I’m only here to guide you."

"Clearing it is your job."

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity retreated to the back, its gaze indifferent, as if the matter had nothing to do with it.

Shivering in the cold wind, the players all turned their eyes to Long Yuan.

At this moment, Long Yuan had clearly become their only hope!

Noticing their desperate stares, Long Yuan’s face twisted with disgust: "I took this mission to advance the main storyline."

"I’m not here to save you worthless lot."

The other players fell silent at his words.

But since Long Yuan didn’t move, none of them dared to either.

Clearly, they were all prepared to wait it out.

Perhaps sensing this, Long Yuan changed his tone: "Unless… you’ve got something valuable on you?"

A gaunt, pale-skinned female player huddled in place: "But if we could afford anything, we wouldn’t be here in the first place."

Then, glancing down at her own body, she looked at Long Yuan: "...Unless you have… other needs? I can handle that."

"Women? Hah. In a hellhole like this, flesh is the cheapest commodity."

Long Yuan crossed his arms and sneered, shaking his head.

"Then… what do you want?" a male player asked woodenly.

Seeing he had them right where he wanted, Long Yuan clapped his hands and revealed his demand: "Your blood still holds some value."

He patted the cleaver at his waist: "This blade of mine needs fresh human blood daily. It’s not easy to maintain."

"If you take turns nourishing it for a day, I’ll complete this mission for you."

"It won’t take much—just 1000 milliliters of blood."

The moment they heard this, their faces turned deathly pale.

1000 milliliters!

Even for a healthy person, losing that much blood would be unbearable.

Let alone for them—malnourished, some already three days without food, showing signs of anemia.

Wasn’t this tantamount to killing them?

At the very back, Ji Yan watched Long Yuan’s faint smile and understood something.

Blood Nourishment for Artifacts!

Long Yuan had never intended to help them from the start.

Due to the apartment’s rules, conflict between players was forbidden. Yet his cleaver required fresh human blood to sustain it. Unable to kill or force them directly, he had used this mission to coerce these desperate players into feeding his weapon.

Even advancing the main storyline was likely just an excuse.

Losing 1000 milliliters of blood was no different from a slow death.

Ji Yan shook his head.

These people were naive—expecting a savior in the Eerie World?

Long Yuan had survived over a hundred days, nearly clearing the dungeon. Anyone with half a brain could tell he was no saint.

"Time’s running out."

"You have no way out—but I do."

"I’ve raised the Landlord’s favorability to 60%. Even if I turn back now, I’d only lose a bit of goodwill."

"Right?" Long Yuan glanced back at the Bandaged Supernatural Entity.

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity replied: "As a distinguished guest of the apartment, Mr. Long naturally enjoys such privileges."

The players exchanged glances, their faces filled with despair.

Long Yuan spat out his chewing gum, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Having survived in the Eerie World for so long, he had long since mastered the intricacies of human nature.

Only Ji Yan remained silent.

He turned to face the endless horde of rats, drew his Rusted Hatchet, and stepped forward.

A red-eyed rat saw Ji Yan approaching—not only unafraid, but baring its fangs in a vicious, almost human-devouring stance!

Ji Yan acted decisively.

With a single step forward, his blade flashed down, piercing through the rat’s body in a spray of blood.

Beg for help?

Ji Yan never begged.

These rats were a plague, impossible to eliminate one by one. If Long Yuan had a way to complete the Mission, then there had to be another method.

As for what that method was—

His Talent would surely reveal the answer!

Swinging his Rusted Hatchet, he slaughtered several rats in quick succession.

By the time he killed the seventh one, the familiar Hidden Information Panel finally appeared before his eyes...