Yi Bai's face was pale as paper, his body felt as though it had been possessed by a ghost, and he lacked the strength to even move. Yet, curiously, the finger held in the Rose Countess's mouth seemed to send a strange, pleasurable sensation back to him.
It was eerie. The feeling stirred a tumult of emotions within him. He wanted to pull his finger back, but there was an inexplicable, almost reluctant desire to leave it there. The sensation was maddening, and Yi Bai could barely keep himself together.
Thankfully, the Rose Countess was startled by his words and stopped sucking his blood. She merely held his finger in her mouth, savoring the taste of the blood she had drawn.
As the flush of color gradually faded from her face, she reluctantly released his finger from her lips. The lingering allure she exuded was so intense that even in his weakened state, Yi Bai couldn't help but sit up a little straighter.
He wasn't some naïve fool, and certainly not impotent. If faced with the Rose Countess in such a seductive posture, and not feeling any form of "respect," he'd have to wonder if he was losing his mind, like that poor dead man, Kun Kun Feng.
"You know, little one, I'm starting to like you more and more," the Rose Countess purred, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Come back to my castle with me. I promise I'll fatten you up nice and plump."
Yi Bai felt a chill crawl down his spine at the thought of being taken to the vampire's lair—essentially becoming a human blood bank. Just the idea of such a grim fate made his face darken. "Madam, is this how you treat the one who could cure your condition?"
"Rose Countess, you're being unreasonable!" Lina's voice, sharp with anger, cut through the tension. She wouldn't allow her respected physician to be treated this way.
In a flash, the wings on Lina's back spread out to their full extent. Her body was lifted by an invisible force, floating into the air. Within the blood-red domain, a unique power seeped from Lina's body.
The force radiating out from her caused the furniture and papers around them to rot at an astonishing rate, as though time itself was eroding them. Even the blood-red hue of the domain began to slowly fade.
Yi Bai could only gape in shock. He hadn't expected Lina, a ghost of the Crimson Rank, to influence the Rose Countess's domain. It was common knowledge in the world of spirits that the gap between ranks was enormous. For Lina to do such a thing, it could only mean one thing—she was a special kind of ghost, one with dual identities, a being of both the outward and inward worlds.
In the world of the horrific game, humans weren't entirely helpless. Some veteran players had begun to piece together knowledge of the strange and horrifying world, and special ghosts were one such mystery.
These beings, known for their dual identities—sometimes possessing two souls or existing in both the physical and supernatural realms—were exceedingly rare. They could either be extraordinarily powerful or wield some rare ability.
Lina, it seemed, was one of these rare and powerful beings.
"It looks like the Eye of Insight isn't all-knowing after all," Yi Bai thought, realizing that he couldn't pierce the depths of Lina's hidden identity. The danger of the Horror Game world was more real than ever.
But Yi Bai's suspicion grew that perhaps the reason he couldn't see through Lina's hidden identity was due to his own weakness. The Eye of Insight was supposed to be a divine ability, but its limits were starting to show.
Clearing his mind of the complexities, Yi Bai focused on Lina again, attempting to use his Eye of Insight once more. This time, the feedback he received was different from before.
[Lina, Nurse at Third Hospital]
Race (Inner Identity): Angel of Death (A rare and terrifying type of ghost with the power to bring death and decay to the world)
Friendliness: Trust (Earning the trust of a ghost is a rare and precious thing. Treasure it.)
Strength: Semi-Blood-Rank (An unstable state—power too immense to control easily, especially in such an underdeveloped stage.)
Likes: Medical studies, desiring to become a master like Yi Bai, a healer with miraculous skills (A change brought on by a certain person.)
Weaknesses: Legs, wings (Her deathly wings, perhaps, also carry the potential for her own demise?)
Current Status: Anger (She cannot stand by while her respected physician suffers. Perhaps there is something more to it?)
The moment Yi Bai saw this information, he didn't marvel at Lina's hidden power, but instead felt a deep sense of her concern for him. Despite her crimson ghostly nature, Lina had not only become close to him but was now willing to risk her own safety to stand against the Rose Countess on his behalf.
Sometimes it wasn't about foolishness, but about simplicity and purity. This realization washed over Yi Bai.
In the death-filled world of the Horror Game, where betrayal and self-interest ran rampant, building trust was nearly impossible. Yet, for the first time, Yi Bai had formed a bond with someone—someone who didn't view him as a mere pawn, but as a friend. The terrifying fear of ghosts had started to fade, replaced by the understanding that ghosts could also be allies.
Even more so, Yi Bai felt a deep sense of appreciation. After all, it wasn't every day that a ghost, especially one like Lina, would fight for him.
"Trust me, Lina. Let me handle this, okay?" Yi Bai's voice was calm, carrying a sense of reassurance. He met her eyes, his gaze warm and gentle.
The simplicity of his words calmed her. "Alright."
Just one word from her, and Yi Bai felt the deepening trust. In an instant, the Eye of Insight reflected her feelings.
Friendliness Level: Deep Trust.
A small smile tugged at Yi Bai's lips.
The tiny favors he had done for Lina, along with his false identity as a healer, had won her goodwill, and now that goodwill had blossomed into deep trust. She was willing to protect him at any cost. In return, Yi Bai didn't want to see her suffer harm, and that same sentiment caused her trust in him to grow further.
Simple, pure, and undeniable.