Chapter 76 Departure

“What’s that sound?”
Tanya’s ears twitched alertly—could it be that rain had suddenly begun outside? The incessant rattling sounded just like beads tumbling onto the floor.
As the noise swelled, and Chu Ning pointed frantically behind her, an ominous feeling crept over Tanya. She had listened to rain drumming on the roof before, and there was a subtle difference now.
Tanya turned to witness a shocking scene: white insects were falling from the second floor like rain, resembling a relentless downpour from the sky itself.
Even more astonishing, the insects hitting the ground seemed invigorated, moving at a speed no slower than her own. Some, gifted beyond others, shot down from above like arrows.
“Oh hell, this must be cheating! Chu Ning, just you wait—all of this is your fault!” Tanya darted toward the front door, no longer envying the spaciousness of the villa. She sprinted with all her might toward the hope of escape, indifferent to the fact that the person she now despised most was waiting there.
Survival was her only concern; everything else could be settled later. Matters of life and death were different—if she lagged even a step, there would be nothing left but regrets.
Tanya hadn’t expected the wolf to actually arrive; she regretted not believing Chu Ning sooner. It was entirely his fault she was forced into such a ragged retreat.
She was in no mood now to gamble on whether the white insects would ignore her and rush straight for Chu Ning, the tastier prize.
She had heard plenty of fairy tales as a child, and one lesson was clear: you don’t have to outrun the pursuer, only your companion, to snatch a chance at life.
Chu Ning watched Tanya’s frantic sprint, speechless. Why did she have to make things so dramatic? Wouldn’t it be simpler to listen to him and make a swift, orderly retreat? Still, he was genuinely surprised at the power Tanya’s frail body could unleash—her speed wasn’t bad at all!
“Keep going!” Chu Ning grinned, encouraging her, patiently waiting for Tanya to reach him. It was time she learned a lesson.
As for helping Tanya escape faster, Chu Ning would not do it. He had observed the speed of the white insects; at her current pace, Tanya could easily survive. Besides, he knew his own presence would only spur the insects to chase her more fiercely.

Chu Ning was well aware of his appeal to the monsters—his existence was half-material, half-spiritual, which made him irresistible to these carnivorous insects.
This was also the root of his failed wall-passing technique. Thankfully, traversing the mirror world was his innate talent; he could barely manage to carry himself through, but the process was growing increasingly difficult.
As his body fused further, once he fully regained a physical form, this once-unbeatable ability would be lost for good.
He felt some regret—after all, it was a talent left by his former self, and to lose it without reason felt like a waste.
“It’s all his fault—why try to be human at all? Wouldn’t it be easier to stay a ghost?” Chu Ning thought gloomily, admiring Tanya’s graceful form as she sweated profusely. As for the danger behind her, Chu Ning ignored it; none of those monsters had any beauty—looking at them was a crime in itself!
Tanya, panting, reached Chu Ning, resting her hands on her knees for a moment before preparing to flee the villa again. Now was not the time to relax—the ravenous insects were still in hot pursuit.
“We need to move quickly!” Tanya forced out the words, her lungs near bursting. She promised herself this was her best sprint ever; danger truly awakened hidden potential.
“Understood. Let’s go!” Chu Ning cast one last glance at the villa, then reached for the front door. Suddenly, his hand froze, his expression shifting uncertainly as if lost in thought.
Tanya instantly sensed trouble—was this door like those in ghost stories, refusing to open at the crucial moment? Nervously, she swallowed, turning to look at the chasing insects; the scene was like a race where only the fastest would earn a morsel of flesh.
“Why am I so unlucky?” Tanya felt a surge of helplessness—this was her second time in such a predicament, both in eerie, haunted villas.
She studied the dark golden patterns carved on the door, convinced the problem lay there. It must be some kind of array, deliberately set to prevent escape.
Thinking of Wang Jinkai’s business, she recalled how he would deceive anyone, not even sparing her, a ghost. Tanya now understood why the villa was so strange: every wall, door, and sofa concealed secrets, all for the owner’s safety.
“Wait here—I’ll return soon!” With that, Chu Ning vanished, leaving Tanya alone at the door.

Tanya watched the approaching enemies warily, unable to quell her fear with Chu Ning gone. Her mind ran wild with thoughts—had Chu Ning abandoned her, fleeing ahead?
No, Chu Ning must have other matters to attend to; he would surely return!
Chu Ning did indeed have more important things to do. He had witnessed the destructive power of the white insects; if they infiltrated human society, it would be a disaster. To prevent this, Chu Ning decided to eradicate them completely.
He acted discreetly, for if a major incident occurred and humans traced the clues back to him, everything would be ruined.
Chu Ning moved swiftly; in the blink of an eye, he was back at the door. He reached out and pushed it open forcefully, thinking Tanya was loyal—she hadn’t left alone.
“No way!” Tanya stared at the door in shock. She pretended nothing had happened, recalling her earlier foolish attempts to decipher the carved patterns, hoping to break the array, but never thinking to simply push the door.
She felt truly foolish—once again, Chu Ning had outwitted her. Since meeting him, her collection of embarrassing moments had grown rapidly.
“Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and leave!” Chu Ning tugged at Tanya, snapping her out of her daze. If the white insects followed them out, it would be a disaster.
Tanya followed Chu Ning out in a daze, blinking at the scenery outside. Dawn was breaking, and after all these bizarre events, she felt as if she had been transported to another world.