"No matter how much you hate this world, how much you suffer, as a nurse, I shouldn't have done such a thing. What I should have done is help you love this world again. I'm really sorry!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Wen Xishu silently watched all this, certain that Xiaoya had indeed grown.
The recluse Ah Fei suddenly noticed with surprise... the ghost outside the door had suddenly changed.
She started to grow hair, grow eyelashes, and her skin even began to turn rosy.
She transformed from a fearful ghost into a delicate doll.
Those repeated apologies were like magical spells, making the child healthy and beautiful.
Wen Xishu speculated that this might mean...
The ghost had already forgiven Xiaoya.
"Sister Xiaoya, thank you. I don't have to live in pain anymore, and please don't suffer for the past any longer."
"Sister Xiaoya, goodbye."
The girl outside the door smiled.
In the next moment, everyone saw a strange scene. The little girl alternated between her pure white, hairless ghost form and her healthy appearance.
Back and forth.
Xiaoya watched this scene, somewhat confused.
Wen Xishu said:
"Anyone who dies unnaturally carries resentment, and that resentment made Tongtong into the form that people fear the most."
"But... as I said, your actions also made her feel goodwill."
"Compared to living in pain and eventually dying, perhaps ending the pain early is a form of relief too."
"Your sincere apology temporarily suppressed her resentment with gratitude."
"So, at this moment, we see both her kind ghost form and evil ghost form."
Wen Xishu was actually just guessing, but he was usually quite close to the truth.
Once she felt Xiaoya's remorse and goodwill, the resentment was temporarily subdued.
Wen Xishu knew it was time to drink the wine.
This story should end here because the resentment would soon become uncontrollable.
It was uncertain if this ghost child might again say something that would break Xiaoya's defenses.
Perhaps in the quest line to gain Aquarius favor, turning Xiaoya dark would be a bonus...
But Wen Xishu didn't like that way of playing.
Letting Xiaoya be forgiven should be the end point.
Wen Xishu decisively drank the red wine, painful memories resurfacing, but he didn't care.
[You have gained Ren Ya's favor. In the upcoming voting phase, as long as you provide slightly reasonable reasons, she will unconditionally support your choice.]
[Ren Ya's storyline is complete, Virgo favor +5.]
How interesting, the mission is not over yet, the haunted night is just beginning, and yet some guidance has been earned in advance.
Wen Xishu became interested. It really was a showdown between Virgo and Aquarius.
The phonograph spoke at this moment:
"Congratulations, you successfully repelled a fierce ghost invasion. May you also proceed smoothly in the long night ahead."
No new rules were unlocked.
All votes were unanimous, resulting in the evil ghost being killed, and indeed there was a ghost outside, which means successfully passing one round.
But no one knew how many more rounds there would be.
Xiaoya's story is simple, but what about Zhang Qiang, the recluse Ah Fei, the priest Old Zhou, and the Merchant Li Wei?
And throughout the beginning, who kept scrutinizing himself, the doctor Chen Ming?
Also, who exactly gathered everyone at the tavern?
There are still too many questions to be answered.
Just then, someone knocked on the door again.
Hardly giving everyone a moment to celebrate and catch their breath, that eerie, frightening "dong dong dong" knocking sound appeared again.
Some were scared, some were worried, only Wen Xishu appeared unusually excited.