Frightening Joke: Above the Mist

That night.

"Go ahead, what do you want to talk about?" Yu Wenxuan asked.

"This time, it wasn't a task issued by Fog Gathering; it's a trap set by Dark Abyss," Bai Yanliang said quietly.

"Evidence," Yu Wenxuan said succinctly.

"Because of Fog Gathering, have you ever thought about what the real purpose of Fog Gathering is?" Bai Yanliang asked.

"They say Fog Gathering exists to contain the fierce ghosts so that we won't lose all hope of survival," Yu Wenxuan seemed to chuckle lightly.

"Why must we not lose all hope of survival?" Bai Yanliang continued to ask.

"No one likes to watch a one-sided game. If Fog Gathering really is a game created by some so-called God out of boredom, I think He would think the same way. He wants to see a death game that is uneven yet has a glimmer of hope, one that can extract all human potential without quickly exhausting the hard-found 'contestants'.

Yu Wenxuan's response matched Bai Yanliang's thoughts.

"That's right, so this Mountain Moon Hiding completely violates the principles of Fog Gathering; it's aimed at killing us."

"So what? What do you want me to do?" Yu Wenxuan glanced at Bai Yanliang, "I don't have methods beyond reason."

Bai Yanliang was silent for a moment and said:

"Going back to the previous question, I think the purpose of Fog Gathering is for those ghosts."

"Huh?" Yu Wenxuan looked at Bai Yanliang with an expression as if looking at a madman.

"Why? Based on what?" he asked.

Bai Yanliang didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked Yu Wenxuan a question: "If, as everyone speculates, the existence of Fog Gathering is to leave a last bit of hope for humans, then why is it ghosts who play this game with humans?"

Yu Wenxuan was taken aback by his question.

Yeah, why ghosts?

If it's a game of Gods, why aren't the opponents of humans fierce beasts or mythical creatures, but rather... ghosts?

Moreover, all encountered in Fog Gathering are ghosts, even if other species are occasionally involved, it could be explained.

The fact remains, this "game" only involves ghosts and humans.

"So I was thinking, could it be that the master of Fog Gathering can only control ghosts and humans? The rules that seem to protect humans might also be, from another perspective, to stimulate all human potential and... fear."

Bai Yanliang's explanation made Yu Wenxuan fall into thought; he didn't rush to refute it and instead pondered seriously how likely Bai Yanliang's words were.

"So, you're saying the master behind Fog Gathering and the ghosts are in cahoots, and we are not just toys, but forced to risk our lives repeatedly to achieve some purpose?" Yu Wenxuan said, shaking his head slightly. "There are too many assumptions."

Bai Yanliang nodded in agreement: "This idea only fully formed after this event because right here, under that well, there's a special ghost."

Yu Wenxuan's eyes flashed slightly.

"We know that ghosts can't communicate, they're pure malice, they don't even have things like instincts, only malice drives their actions. But... in this village, a ghost was born that can communicate, that has self-awareness."

Bai Yanliang stroked his chin: "So I wonder, could there be a place with countless fierce ghosts, all without awareness, wandering aimlessly, until one day, one of the fierce ghosts, by chance, developed self-awareness, realizing who he is and understanding the concept of self."

"However, when he tried to communicate with his kind around him, he found it utterly impossible. At the moment he awakened to self-awareness, he had already transcended the shackles of his race..."

Bai Yanliang's voice grew faster and clearer: "Wandering without awareness doesn't mean much. But possessing self-awareness and living muddleheaded is a torment for any life form."

"He should be similar to the first ancient man-ape who developed self-awareness, clearly recognizing his difference from other kin. Therefore... in long-standing loneliness and repression, he had only two choices he could make."

At this point, Bai Yanliang looked at Yu Wenxuan.

"Suicide, or find himself a companion."

Yu Wenxuan chimed in.

Bai Yanliang nodded: "The sudden appearance of Fog Gathering, the sudden appearance of ghosts, was the external manifestation after he made his choice. This ghost that developed self-awareness should have chosen... to find a way to make all ghosts develop self-awareness."

"Of course, this is just my guess, after all... the ghost under the well is currently the only one we've encountered that seems to be able to communicate. Coupled with the peculiarity of this Fog Gathering task, I suspect this time was a trap set by Dark Abyss, so... Dark Abyss, the master behind Fog Gathering, and this barely communicative ghost in this village, can be connected."

"This ghost also has self-awareness, but it might not have been born by chance; I suspect it's an experiment, and the experiment is not completely successful, which is why it appeared here."

Yu Wenxuan carefully listened to what Bai Yanliang had to say, and after thinking it over, he finally nodded:

"Now, I believe your judgment."

"What do you want me to do?"

Bai Yanliang's silence was longer than usual.

"I would rather my conjecture be wrong..." His emotion still didn't fluctuate, but his tone was even lower, "I will investigate the location of Dark Abyss, and I will also find out the mastermind behind Fog Gathering. The information will be passed on to you, what you need to do is to disrupt one of their links at the critical moment."

Yu Wenxuan raised his eyebrows, looking somewhat surprised at the young man under the moonlight.

"According to your speculation, if Fog Gathering has a master, then being continuously chosen by Fog Gathering, it actually means you've been under the attention of the master of Fog Gathering, yet, knowing their connection with Dark Abyss, you still want to do this? Wouldn't your actions be completely exposed under their noses?"

"Are you worried I will die?" Bai Yanliang asked.

"Your life is your own business; I just don't want to waste the time spent conversing with you," Yu Wenxuan glanced at Bai Yanliang.

"It's alright," Bai Yanliang tugged at the corner of his mouth, it seemed like a smile, "Every time they choose me, it seems the master of Fog Gathering can't wait to take my life, but has yet to make a move in reality. If my guess is right, there might be something on me that greatly hinders his plan."

"But for some reason, he can't directly kill me. He can only use Fog Gathering..."

"So I think, besides the ones who want to eliminate me, there should also be someone who wants to protect me."

At this point, Bai Yanliang lowered his voice and said: "So... I will unrestrainedly, wantonly, under all their gazes, investigate everything."

"And you, stay in the shadows, be the shadow."

Bai Yanliang looked up at the full moon on the horizon.

Yu Wenxuan followed his gaze and scoffed:

"At least, for now, we're on the same path."