Chapter 182: Mirror Image and Secret Realm

The moonlight was rich.

Deep in the slums, abandoned open space.

It was still as dead silent as before.

The ripples rippling in the space subsided quietly, and the solidified black-haired figure had also disappeared from the spot along with those smoothed folds.

"Drip, drop."

Scarlet blood gushed out from the throat wound uncontrollably, almost gathering into a small pool of blood on the ground.

The blonde elf, however, seemed not to feel any pain, still maintaining that weird and distorted standing posture, his face was dead and cold and stiff.

Raised his head slightly.

The unfocused, dull eyes reflected the full silver moon in the center of the sky.

Staring at the bright moonlight floating gently like gauze above the field.

There was no communication.

Or perhaps it was something ordinary people couldn't perceive.

Just like a faint breeze that passed in a flash.

When the elf withdrew his gaze, the soft moonlight like gauze and mist also dissolved into the depths of the night.

Tap—

It was the light sound of moving steps.

In the same staggering posture as when he came, the blonde elf turned around, as if wanting to leave.

But just after taking one step, the two slender and thin lower legs of the blonde elf shattered into broken bones and flesh and mud, completely collapsing.

Just like a robot running with an error, the elf's body fell to the ground in an extremely stiff posture.

That kind of sticky language like a decree from another world was not something an adventurer who was not good at physical fitness could bear.

The blonde elf lay paralyzed on the ground, and blood-colored light marks like lava appeared on the surface of his skin at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It wouldn't take long, a few seconds later, this corpse that had been completely overdrawn and on the verge of collapse would turn into a pool of blood mud that was difficult to identify its original appearance.

He just lay there quietly.

Face to the sky, eyes grey and dull, without the slightest movement.

But the next second.

On the other side of the field, the flesh and blood of the Beastification Syndrome patient Baku, which had been dismembered by invisible forces.

Were rolled up silently, gathered into a blood-colored stream, winding and flowing, flowing through the air.

Circling and merging into the elf's body.

The cracks on the surface of the skin receded rapidly, the disintegrated legs recovered slowly, the neck that exploded to reveal the vertebrae also recovered...

He didn't care about the "Beastification Syndrome" curse in it, nor did he care about the faint moonlight that entered the body along with the blood and broken flesh.

From beginning to end, it was that stiff expression without any emotional ups and downs.

With golden hair strands stained with blood water sticking to his cheeks, the elf got up rawly, as if nothing had happened.

Walked toward the shadow of the dilapidated bungalow on the side.

Staggering, disappeared into the night.

The cold night wind whistled past.

On the field, only a few claw marks left during the battle, two or three brown manes stuck in the stone cracks,

and a pale bear skeleton remained.

It was difficult to describe Xia Nan's feelings at this moment in words.

Normally, whether it was the so-called "transmigration", or the "time travel" in various works of the previous life, more or less, there was always a process of change.

It could be the star trails retreating rapidly behind him, or sudden dizziness, losing consciousness.

Even if it was himself, before transmigrating to this world, he at least heard the sound of a few car whistles and tires rubbing against the road.

But right now, what happened to him.

Was like waking up from a dream, the "blink of an eye" in the physical sense, the instantaneous change of surrounding scenery.

The weird and powerful blonde elf, the bright and gentle moonlight, the brown bear's fur, meat, and bones, and even the blurry outline of the dilapidated houses in the distance...

Dissipated in an instant.

Replacing it was the suddenly bright and spacious environment, the neat shelves leaning against the wooden wall, and even the faint rot in the original air was replaced by some kind of familiar incense.

The sudden change of space made Xia Nan subconsciously take a step back.

"Creak."

Thick leather boots landed on the wooden floor, making a crisp sound.

Realizing that he had regained control of his body.

Xia Nan bent down suddenly, supporting his knees with both hands, panting heavily.

The veins on his neck stood out, and his forehead was already covered with sweat at some point.

The terrifying pressure he had endured in the few minutes just now erupted in an instant.

"What the hell is... that thing!?"

The exaggerated and weird performance displayed by the other party was completely not the ability that an ordinary adventurer who had not reached the "Transcendence" level should possess in his cognition.

Recalling the picture of the elf seeming not to adapt to his own body, and even walking in an exceptionally awkward way.

Xia Nan even doubted whether the one standing in front of him just now was still the elf himself he had encountered in the Association dozens of days ago.

But no matter what, what could be determined was.

Everything that happened in this short half of the night was highly related to that 【Sheep-Deer Statue】.

The elf's sudden entry, his solidified body, the so-called "True Name" that he was forced to recite from the system note...

"When did it start?"

"Was it the encounter at Jeff's house on the day I just went to Niumu, or..."

His thoughts paused suddenly.

Xia Nan was startled.

His eyes stared straight at the familiar, empty shelves in front.

Subconsciously turned around, his gaze swept across the surroundings.

This was a small room that was not very spacious, but because of the simple and ingenious layout inside, it appeared exceptionally bright and clean.

And the wooden cabinet placed against the wall, and the small front desk close to the inner room on the other side, also showed the function of this room to a certain extent:

——A small shop selling goods.

If it was just this, it would naturally not make Xia Nan so surprised.

It was just that the memories surging in his mind were clearly telling him.

Here, it was the grocery store he had visited many times and earned three-digit gold coins by relying on various small stones—

The grocery store named "Fairy Wind"!

And at the same time, it was also the place where he first came into contact with the 【Sheep-Deer Statue】!

"I'm back in Hegu Town!?"

Xia Nan only felt that he was swallowed by a huge sense of absurdity.

If it weren't for the two pieces of armor on his body that had been melted into molten iron, and the wooden statue that had disappeared from the shelf.

He even felt that his experience during this period, from Hegu Town to Niumu, was just a hallucination caused by the statue.

Until he stared at his reflection in the window, summoned the attribute panel, carefully checked the proficiency of each combat skill, and confirmed that they were no longer in the state before departure, he felt slightly relieved.

At the same time, the reason that returned to his brain after high pressure, and the inner heart that gradually calmed down after being temporarily out of trouble, also made him notice the strangeness of the surrounding environment.

First, what could be determined was.

Right now, the location he was in was definitely the "Fairy Wind" grocery store in Hegu Town.

The layout of the shop, the decoration style, and even several details that ordinary people rarely pay attention to, were exactly the same as what he had seen before.

But...

The owner "Farilue", who wore gold-rimmed glasses and should have been sitting behind the counter, had disappeared.

There was no movement in the inner room either.

Even outside the door, the noisy street filled with adventurers coming and going day and night was left with silent silence.

Sensing something weird.

Xia Nan gripped the Decapitation Longsword tightly, his body tensed, guarding against all possible dangers.

Lightening his steps, he carefully pushed open the door of the grocery store.

"Ding-a-ling~"

The bell hanging on the wooden door rang lightly.

What came into view was a street he was very familiar with.

Straight and wide stone brick avenues, pattern stands that attracted passers-by, various shops lined up...

Xia Nan could even see from afar the Adventurer Association, which had a very high recognition, had a Mist Forest style, and looked like a huge oak tree.

It was just that, on the street that was usually bustling and noisy.

At this moment, there was no one.

Not to mention any adventurers or merchants, even a sparrow could not be seen.

A flash of caution flashed in the depths of his pitch-black eyes, and inexplicable thoughts flowed in his brain.

With the iron-grey sword tip slanted upward, he moved his steps slowly.

He did not rashly shout, just walked along the road toward the direction of the Adventurer Association.

He originally thought that after reciting the so-called "True Name", he was teleported to Hegu Town.

But looking at the situation now, it seemed to be different from what he imagined.

Just like the "mirror world" in the urban legends of his previous life, the environment was no different from reality, but there was no one.

Not knowing the way out, he planned to go to the Adventurer Association first.

After all, in his impression, the Association was the safest place in the small town.

If everything except life was copied in, then in that place where high-level professionals gathered in the real world, maybe he could find something useful to help him get out of trouble.

While pondering in his heart, Xia Nan's lightly moving steps suddenly stopped.

And what appeared in front of him was a tightly closed door.

He could vaguely see the warm orange light in the house from the crack of the door.

This was... Baishanque Tavern.

A flash of inspiration flashed in his brain, as if to confirm something.

He stepped forward slowly, carefully pushing open the door.

"Creak."

Accompanied by the sluggish sound of hinge friction.

What appeared in his line of sight was the swaying firelight in the fireplace, the glass wine glasses refracting transparent luster, the colorful tapestry swaying slightly...

And the empty wine tables where no human shadow could be seen.

Since transmigrating to this world, Xia Nan had never seen the Baishanque Tavern in such a scene.

Even on the busiest Hunting Day, it was filled with the noise of adventurers, and the tavern hall filled with the smell of wine and food.

Right now, it was so empty and quiet.

The strong contrast made him feel cold in his heart.

Taking a deep breath, Xia Nan walked straight in, followed the direction in his memory, and came to the room he had rented for a long time on the second floor.

Observe carefully.

Found that the furnishings in the room were exactly the same as when he left.

In the drawer were a few silver coins he had temporarily stored there and forgotten to take.

At the door of the room on the side of the outer corridor, there were even a few footprints stained with blood.

Xia Nan remembered very clearly that when he packed his luggage that day and planned to go out to the station to take a car to Niumu.

He happened to meet a few adventurers who came back covered in blood after finishing their mission to rest.

He remembered being complained about by the tavern owner Chaputun at the time, saying that the blood stains on the ground were very troublesome to clean.

But now...

Xia Nan frowned, noticing the suspicious points in it.

According to his impression of the cleaner in the tavern, such stains in obvious places in the corridor were basically impossible to stay until the next day.

Even if it was just a few footprints stained with blood, even if it was difficult to clean, it had been almost a month since he went out, and even if it was just sprinkled with some water and wiped casually every day, it would have been processed long ago.

It was impossible to still be like what he saw now, as if it had just been left behind.

"Could it be... the time point of this mirror world is not synchronized with the outside world?"

"But staying on the day I left Hegu Town?"

Without more clues, Xia Nan frowned and pondered for a moment, then stopped struggling.

Leaving the second floor of the tavern, he returned to the street outside.

Thinking that no matter what, he would go to the Adventurer Association first to see the situation.

The Association was located next to the Baishanque Tavern.

After taking two steps out of the door, the unique building that looked like an oak tree appeared before his eyes.

Also cold and deserted.

The reward mission wall that used to be surrounded by adventurers, and the front desk office with long queues, were left with only the breeze blowing between them.

His gaze swept across the empty hall, as if thinking of something, Xia Nan's eyes suddenly lit up.

His attention was still maintained in a state of high concentration, and he was ready for battle at any time.

But his body was walking toward the direction of the Alchemist Shop in the corner of the hall.

No matter if he could get out in the end.

If this world was really only himself, and various items were completely copied in.

Then those expensive potions on the shelves of the alchemy shop that were marked with tens or hundreds of gold coins, wouldn't they all become ownerless things?

The emotions in his heart couldn't help but fluctuate, and as he really took down a bottle of "Healing Potion" marked with fifty gold from the shelf, it reached the highest point.

At this moment, Xia Nan wished he could sweep the entire shop, and pack all the potions and take them away.

And just when his heart was floating.

A blurry pitch-black shadow in the corner of the shelf was captured by the corner of his eye.

"What potion was originally placed there?"

This was his first reaction in his heart.

Suddenly stunned, noticing some possibility.

He pinched the healing potion in his palm and walked out of the shop quickly, walking toward the stairs leading to the second floor of the Association.

Smooth all the way, without encountering any obstruction.

But just as he went up the stairs and came to the corner, looking toward the upper area he had never glimpsed before.

What came into view was only a blurry black shadow.

Hard to touch, unable to approach.

Casually pulled out the bottle stopper, and poured the whole bottle of healing potion into his mouth.

The taste was still sweet and refreshing, but the warm current that restored physical strength and healed wounds did not appear.

As if it were really just a bottle of small sweet water, losing its own therapeutic effect.

Xia Nan walked out of the Association, looking at the empty street.

Randomly found a small alley he had never been to before—shrouded in black shadow;

Walked into a clothing store he had never visited—the house was filled with black shadows;

Forcibly broke open a storage box that he didn't know what was inside—black shadow...

It was only then that he finally realized.

Right now, where he was, was not the mirror world of reality he once thought.

But Hegu Town, which he had seen from the first perspective, dominated by his memory and cognition.

Countless messy thoughts intertwined in his brain.

Xia Nan stood on the street, thinking, his gaze sweeping across the familiar scenery around him.

I don't know why, although the triggering method was completely different, and the scenes he came to had essential differences.

But at this moment, he couldn't help but think of the memory of following the half-elf team deep into the Mist Forest more than half a year ago, and finally accidentally entering the She Ku Secret Realm.

To a certain extent, the two... seemed to have similarities.

Both appeared out of thin air, with strong exotic style creations—the Oriental classical buildings scattered throughout the forest, and the weird statues that were inexplicably popular and unknown in origin;

The environment that changed suddenly—from the real world to an alien space...

And if it was really as he thought.

Just like the Gourd Vine Drop in the deepest part of the She Ku.

Within this area, there must also exist some kind of core object that could help him get out of it.

"Clatter... clatter..."

While pondering.

In his ears, was the weird sound that was subtle but clear from the end of the street.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 183 =====