Chapter 27: "The Baby Tower"
Despair hung thick in the air. Tian Mingjie's eyes burned with desperation: "Let's fight them! Killing NPCs isn't a crime in dungeons, and these bastards deserve it! Then we'll see whose luck holds out till the mistress delivers!"
Zhao Lian sneered. "Forgot about the townsfolk's shotguns? The Jins definitely have firearms too. How do you propose we fight them with just us few?"
Their items only worked against ghosts, not humans.
Amidst the suffocating silence, Li Zhi's voice cut through like clear spring water: "Then let the ghosts deal with them first. We'll handle the ghosts afterward."
All heads swiveled toward her. Li Zhi continued calmly, "The last dungeon's guide said [Ghost] is a perfectionist—every scenario has airtight logic. Hopelessness is just its sadistic flavor. It wouldn't create an unwinnable death loop; that'd be boring. There has to be a way."
She met their gazes. "I have a plan, but need everyone's cooperation."
Even Zhao Lian set aside their rivalry. "Go on."
"The Baby Tower exists for a reason—it must be key." Without elaborating, Li Zhi asked Zhao Lian, "If we team up, what are the odds you can overpower the tower guards?"
Zhao Lian's combat skills were undeniable—he could take on ten men. The issue was firearms. Still, not impossible with careful planning. He frowned. "Doable, but only after dark."
As they strategized, Tian Mingjie timidly raised a hand. "Um, Sister Zhi... I have invisibility potion. Would that help?"
Chi Yi kicked him. "Why didn't you mention this sooner?!"
Tian winced—the single-use potion had cost him all his last dungeon's points. Letting others use it pained him.
But with Li Zhi and Zhao Lian both needed for the tower mission, leaving the rest to handle Jin family NPCs seemed suicidal. Tian reluctantly presented the vial. "Now you don't both need to go! Lasts ten minutes!"
Zhao Lian scoffed, reading Tian's selfish motives instantly.
Li Zhi took the vial. "Enough for two people?"
Tian nodded. "Yes, but duration halves to five minutes."
"That'll suffice." She scanned the group. "I need one more volunteer. Since the marks trigger intermittently, if I die en route, someone must continue."
Others hesitated—approaching the tower, epicenter of ghostly resentment, might accelerate their marks' progression. Far riskier than staying.
Only Chi Yi didn't falter. "I'll go!"
Viewers were moved:
[She was terrified of ghosts last dungeon! Now volunteering for the most haunted place?! Character growth!]
[I ship them so hard!!]
[Girl power forever!!]
[Chi Yi said following Li Zhi felt safest—she's sticking to that policy lol]
[Protagonist energy! Cling to those coattails!]
[Li Zhi's mindset is unreal—planning calmly when everyone else has given up. Legend.]
...
Li Zhi gathered necessary items. In the courtyard, century-old agarwood ash mixed with rainwater and black dog blood formed the exorcism array from their master's notes.
Though ineffective against their real threat—being human shields—it provided pretext to stay near the laboring mistress.
The Jins' deception over outright capture suggested caution. As long as appearances held, they retained maneuvering room.
Of course, subduing the Jins pre-delivery would be ideal.
But arriving at the mistress's courtyard dashed those hopes—thirty armed servants stood guard. Inside, agonized screams pierced the air. Besides Master Jin and Steward Chen, a young man paced anxiously—likely the Jin heir, the mistress's husband.
Master Jin's startled glance at Steward Chen clearly asked: Why are they still alive?
Li Zhi preempted them, earnest as ever: "Master Jin, we've come to set up the exorcism array. Childbirth leaves mothers vulnerable—this will block all evil influences."
After subtle nods between master and steward, permission was granted—with strict orders to remain outside.
Li Zhi found their dynamic fascinating. Since when did household heads defer to stewards? What was Steward Chen's true role?
While others pretended to prepare the array, Li Zhi whispered to Zhao Lian: "Stall as long as possible. If compromised, take the heir hostage and barricade inside. Don't let them take the baby."
Zhao Lian smirked. "If I can't handle mere humans, I don't deserve my ranking."
"I'll return quickly."
With that, Li Zhi and Chi Yi slipped away under bathroom pretext. Steward Chen's suspicious gaze followed but didn't intervene—perhaps considering them already defeated.
Outside Jin Manor, they sprinted toward the tower. En route, a desiccated corpse came into view—the missing player, drained by blood infants.
Chi Yi's composure crumbled. Tears streamed as she ran. "Zhi Zhi... am I next? I don't want to die like that—so ugly—"
Li Zhi said, "Could be me."
Chi Yi wailed louder.
Soon, bamboo groves appeared, gilded by rare sunset warmth.
They split the potion—their shadows vanished instantly. Thankfully, co-users remained visible to each other.
Five minutes wasn't much. Darting down the path, they spotted the armed guards Zhao Lian described—shotguns at the ready, expressions forbidding.
Though invisible, they still held their breath. High fences blocked the exit save one narrow gate, guarded by two NPCs.
Chi Yi's heart hammered.
As they neared the exit, one guard suddenly turned toward them, frowning at rustling leaves.
They froze.
But footsteps on dry leaves were unmistakable. The guard approached, gun raised.
The potion granted invisibility, not intangibility.
Another step—his outstretched hand would brush them—
A sudden gust sent leaves swirling. Momentarily blinded, the guard blinked—
Li Zhi yanked Chi Yi forward, their footsteps masked by wind as they bolted through the gate.
Ahead, isolated tile-roofed huts dotted the wilderness.
And there—
Looming against the dying light stood the Baby Tower.
The potion's timer ticked. They sprinted. Whether their marks agitated the spirits or not, twilight vanished unnaturally fast. Shrieking winds whipped around them like spectral accusations.
Li Zhi sprayed confusion perfume—the gales stilled instantly.
Only faint breezes lingered, as if puzzled.
The two-meter tower now loomed before them—wider and squatter than traditional pagodas, more mausoleum than monument, reeking of decay.
Every brick bore carved talismans. The only opening—a small square hatch for discarding baby girls—was padlocked.
Li Zhi elbowed the rotting wooden cover—it gave way instantly.
Inside: pitch black, stench of charred bones and rot overwhelming.
The Tower of Accumulated Bones. Countless tiny skeletons lay within.
Testing the hatch size, Li Zhi turned—
—to find Chi Yi's horrified face.
"I'm going in," she said simply.