Chapter 12: The Ghost King's New Bride (12)

"How... how did you get that?"
The Stone Wall Wraith's one eye was bruised purple from the hammer, while the other remained wide with disbelief.
It seemed incredulous—how had Tang Mu managed to find its ultimate nemesis?
"Why do you care?" Tang Mu retorted arrogantly, still swinging the hammer in her hand. After a dozen swings, her arms grew tired, so she had someone else take over.
Other than Tang Mu, the strongest among them was Joseph.
Joseph, ever the devoted lackey, obediently took the hammer at Tang Mu’s command, maintaining his ever-adoring demeanor.
"Miss Tang, you're getting rather adept at bossing me around. Seeing how obedient I am, perhaps—"
"Less talking. Hammer it!"
"Alright."
Before the Stone Wall Wraith could protest, a dozen new lumps swelled across its body.
"Ouch, ouch! Stop! Stop hitting me!"
But Joseph paid no mind; he only listened to Tang Mu.
"I said stop! If you keep going, I’ll die for sure!"
Joseph glanced at Tang Mu.
Tang Mu said, "It’s just an E-grade wraith. It might drop E-grade items. We can put them online, start at 100,000 gold coins at least."
That made sense, so Joseph kept hammering.
Driven nearly mad with anger, the Stone Wall Wraith finally screamed, "You just want my forbidden items, right? Fine! I’ll give them to you!"
It spat out several items.
[Petrification Talisman (E)] ×3: From the Stone Wall Wraith. Using this, you can petrify and immobilize up to three wraith targets within five meters. The effect wears off after five seconds.
Friendly reminder: Don’t use it recklessly! Sometimes, it might hurt your enemies but backfire on you as well.
Tang Mu picked up the forbidden items but looked dissatisfied.
"Only three? There are four of us here!"
She pointed to herself, Xue Fen, Joseph, and the plush doll pinned to Joseph’s suit.
The Stone Wall Wraith exploded with rage. "You’re counting that stupid doll as a person? The rules say rewards are given based on living players!"
Seeing the wraith so arrogant, Tang Mu signaled Joseph to continue.

"Then keep hammering. I want it dead if that’s what it takes!"
The Stone Wall Wraith fell silent.
"Wait! Stop! I was wrong, okay?" It hurriedly spat out another Petrification Talisman. "Is that enough now, miss? I beg you, please go trouble other wraiths! It's almost 11 PM, and the Silent One is next. Its rewards are much better!"
With that, the Stone Wall Wraith fled in a hurry.
It would never dare set foot on the second floor again.
This place was no haunt for any self-respecting wraith!
As soon as it left, human bones that had been gnawed clean rained down from the walls.
When Wang Qing and Wu Hao emerged from their rooms, they happened upon Tang Mu and the others, one hand clutching braised food and water, the other wielding a hammer, savagely beating the Stone Wall Wraith.
By the time the hammering ceased, the walls returned to normal, and the skeletons embedded within clattered to the floor.
Wang Qing and Wu Hao turned pale with fright.
Others, hiding in different rooms, had also sensed the commotion and cautiously peeked out.
Sure enough, they saw that Tang Mu and her group had driven the Stone Wall Wraith away.
But many more were distracted by the sight of food and water in Tang Mu’s hands.
"Tang Mu, can you lend us some food and water? We haven’t eaten in ages..."
They were met with Tang Mu’s blunt refusal.
"Sorry, but this food and water were snatched at great risk. If you want any, go get it from the wraiths yourself."
As if they dared to rob wraiths!
These monsters were terrifying—they could kill you in seconds!
"Pretty and stingy," Wang Qing grumbled, glaring at her. "What’s the harm in sharing a little food and water? It’s not like you’ll lose a pound of flesh."
"Thanks for the compliment. I am indeed as beautiful as you say,"
Tang Mu struck a graceful pose. "But in a survival game, everyone besides your teammates is a competitor. The more of you that die, the better my odds of survival, don’t you think?"
She raised her wrist to check the time. "Ten thirty-four. The Silent One will be here soon. Enjoy the game, everyone~"
With that, Tang Mu pulled Xue Fen into Room 01.
Hardly half a second later, Joseph squeezed in with his plush doll, even locking the door behind him to keep everyone else out.

"Twenty-eight people."
"What?"
"Just now, twenty-eight people came out of their rooms. I think that’s everyone left on this ship."
So many had died in only a few hours.
"In fact, the more people die, the higher our chances of survival," Tang Mu remarked indifferently at the death toll. "When there are only five or six players left, the game will forcibly activate a protection mechanism for us. By then, you male players might not even need to worry about surviving—you could win just by waiting."
Tang Mu had never played 'Ultimate Escape' before.
But she knew its founder was the Queen of Spades.
He controlled wealth that rivaled nations, and held all the ruling rights over 'Ultimate Escape.'
But no one knew who he really was.
Tang Mu had received a special invitation to play. Before entering, she’d familiarized herself with the rules and mechanics.
At the same time, she wanted to find the Queen of Spades—a legend who sometimes entered the game, experiencing it alongside the players.
Sometimes he was an NPC, sometimes a player, sometimes even the final boss. As he proclaimed, he was a god—everywhere and invincible.
Tang Mu’s words, however, made Joseph a little uneasy.
"Don’t underestimate me. I’m a grown man. I might just clear the game on my own before it comes to that. After all, before 'Bride of the Wraith King,' I’d already survived two other horror games."
"Oh." Tang Mu’s tone was flat. "Then I wish you continued luck."
Joseph pouted. "You’re so perfunctory."
Tang Mu shrugged.
He wasn’t her teammate—her attitude was already generous enough.
"Tang Mu," said Xue Fen, "your bed seems wet. Looks like water from the River of Forgetting. That water glows faint green, unlike drinking water, which is clear and clean."
Following Xue Fen’s finger, Tang Mu narrowed her eyes and noticed the difference.
"Who could dislike you so much, Tang Mu, that they’d pour water from the River of Forgetting on your bed? And with the Silent One about to appear... won’t you be corroded right away?"