Chapter 129: Misty Veil

Fang Tang charged toward Wang Gang again and again, only to be teleported back to his original position the moment he came within a meter, unable to ever get close.

Standing atop a mountain of bones, Wang Gang looked down at Fang Tang with disdain, his expression clearly saying: "Is that all you've got?"

Fang Tang was not impatient, though. He experimented repeatedly, convinced that the "sixth attempt" would surely succeed. He discovered that without making physical contact with an object, the "sixth attempt" ability could not be triggered.

After seven or eight attempts, Fang Tang simply stood still. Leaning on his Xia Longque blade, he looked at Wang Gang with a calm gaze. "Real Illusion—you’ve certainly mastered this perfect mutation ability. Could you find me a female companion to keep me company?"

Wang Gang: "?"

Wang Gang looked at Fang Tang with curiosity. "Giving up already?"

Fang Tang nodded. "Giving up. I can't get near you anyway. You’re a Level 8 Corruptor, and my Level 6 armor is useless against you. My only long-range attack is countered by you. It would be foolish not to give up."

"A wise choice."

Wang Gang nodded with a smile, and then his figure vanished.

"Tang-tang?"

A puzzled voice rang out. Fang Tang looked up and saw Su Mang.

After studying her for a moment, the corners of Fang Tang’s mouth curled up slightly. "Sister Su, how did you get here too?"

"We noticed you went to the stairs and didn't come back, so I came to see what happened. I saw you standing on the stairs, unmoving. I went up to call you, and then I suddenly appeared here."

Su Mang spread her hands, gestured to the surroundings, and asked, "What kind of place is this?"

"An illusion created by the Apartment's Big Boss," Fang Tang replied softly. "Even though I know it’s just affecting my senses, I can't break through it. Do you have any ideas?"

Su Mang shook her head. "This is my first time encountering something like this. Perhaps the Captain has a way."

*The Captain is trapped too,* Fang Tang thought to himself, choosing not to say it aloud.

Su Mang walked over, jumped onto the mountain of bones, and came to Fang Tang’s side. "Have you discovered anything?"

"I have. Does discovering the Big Boss count?"

Su Mang said with pleasant surprise, "Of course it counts! What does the Big Boss look like, and what are his abilities?"

"You're asking me even though you already know? Have you forgotten what your own abilities are?" Fang Tang wore a mocking, enigmatic expression.

At that moment, the Xia Longque blade let out a sharp, metallic clang, followed by a flash of cold light that swiftly swept across Su Mang’s neck.

"Tang-tang, you..."

Su Mang looked at Fang Tang in shock and fury, clutching her neck with both hands as thick blood gushed uncontrollably from between her fingers.

"Heh, you put on quite a convincing act," Fang Tang said with a faint smile, reaching out toward Su Mang.

"Creating someone I’m familiar with using an illusion—that’s a good strategy. Too bad it doesn't work on me. Is this how you’ve killed so many people? No wonder you can hold the position of Guardian despite having no powerful offensive means."

"How did you figure it out?"

Su Mang’s expression froze. Realizing she had been exposed, she stopped pretending. She wiped her blood-stained hands on her clothes—though the blood continued to spray—and a twisted smile appeared on her face.

Fang Tang shook his head. "Sister Su isn't as pretentious as you."

"Haha..."

Su Mang left behind a trail of laughter and vanished into the illusion once more.

The bones beneath his feet continued to try and engulf Fang Tang, but he remained calm and indifferent. It was just an illusion; to actually harm him, Wang Gang would have to come in person.

"Do you have a solution?" Fang Tang blinked, hoping his eyes would provide a walkthrough.

[The eyes are just eyes, what kind of solution could they have? I cannot see the borders of the illusion, nor can I break through a Corruptor's mental barrier.]

*The borders of the illusion?*

Upon seeing this, Fang Tang’s eyes lit up.

That was it. An illusion couldn't be infinitely large; it had to have an edge. What was beyond that edge?

Fang Tang broke through the engulfing bones, leaving a long shadow behind him. In the blink of an eye, he ran out of the bone-covered area and into the foggy, mist-filled space.

"Where is this?"

Fang Tang maintained his "Extreme Shadow" speed, constantly observing the surroundings. The misty space appeared harmless, yet Fang Tang felt a sense of dread, as if some terrifying entity resided within.

"He’s here..."

"Yes, he really is here."

"What a wonderful scent. How long has it been since we’ve tasted meat?"

"Hundreds of years? It's uncountable. The time we’ve spent here is so long that I’ve even forgotten what it feels like to be human."

Whispers drifted from the white mist. Fang Tang immediately grew vigilant. He brandished the Xia Longque, stirring the mist, and asked in a deep voice, "Who’s there?"

"He discovered us."

"Yes, we’ve been discovered."

"Giggle, what do you think? Should we go out and tear him apart? I miss the feeling of hand-shredded beef."

"That wouldn't be very good, would it? He is the prey the Boss brought back."

"What does that matter? The result is the same—he can't escape the fate of being a spare meal."

The whispers in the mist discussed Fang Tang without any restraint.

Hearing this, Fang Tang’s tense heart finally settled. Most fear stemmed from the unknown and death; once the motives of these beings were clear, he could find a way to deal with them.

"Everyone, could you show yourselves and have a chat?" Fang Tang cleared his throat and said loudly.

"He’s calling for us to go out. Should we answer him?"

"Answer him for what? If the Boss finds out, we'll be thrown into solitary confinement again."

"So annoying. I don't care, I want to go out and see this fresh body. After all, it’s meant to be my food."

"Number Seven has already gone. Are you guys going or not?"

The white mist churned, and a hazy figure appeared before Fang Tang.

As the figure studied Fang Tang, Fang Tang studied him in return. He was about the same height, with a build that looked masculine, though white mist covered his entire body, obscuring his face.

The man walked up to Fang Tang, poked him with a finger, then leaned his face close and sniffed forcefully.

He said with intoxication, "A wonderful body. I suggest, before the Boss comes back, why don't we just carve him up?"

"There are exactly six of us, and he has a head, two arms, two legs, and a torso—exactly six parts. How about that?"

"I want the torso. There’s more meat on the torso. I won't fight you for the rest."

"Idiot, have you never eaten chicken? The meat on the two legs is the best. I want the legs."

"What if I also want the torso?"

Watching them discuss how to partition him, Fang Tang’s eyelid twitched.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke: "Before you eat me, can you answer a few questions? I don't want to die without knowing why."

"What do you want to know?"

"Fine, go ahead and ask."

"Hurry up and ask. Only when a wish is satisfied is the meat at its most delicious."

"..." Fang Tang cursed inwardly, then smiled at the figure. "What is this place?"

"An illusionary space created by the Boss’s spirit. We’ve lived here for who knows how many years."

One of them replied impatiently.

Fang Tang raised an eyebrow and continued, "Your boss is Wang Gang? Then who are you?"