433: 8.33 The Real Threat

8.33 The Real Threat

For a while, nobody spoke. Lu Yizhou was content with just simply laying there with his lover in his arms. Oh how he wished he could chase the cold on her body away and blanketed her with so much warmth that it suffused her skin with blush. Unfortunately, that would never happen… because she was already dead. Both of them. Ellie and Ella.  1

So what did the system mean by giving him a side quest to 'revive the Miss'? Could he really have the power to bring someone back to life? No, wait — Lu Yizhou's eyes widened as he realized something. The system had given him a specified quest 'Play Miss Ella's favorite song' so why did it not say 'Revive Miss Ella' instead? The system did not define any names, did it mean that Lu Yizhou could revive Ella and Ellie because they were both the Miss of the Knox Family? 

Yes, that should be right. The more Lu Yizhou thought about it, the more certain he was. His eyes gleamed with determination. He would definitely find a way to revive both of them without fail! 

Here came the most important question: how?

"Just now…" Lu Yizhou carefully said. "I met Ella."

A chuckle sounded right on his neck. The caress of wintry air from Ellie's breath sent goosebumps over his body, especially now that he was literally barechested. "I know," Ellie replied with a light tone. "She told me. I can tell that she really likes you. Have you put a spell on both of us? She is really shy and withdrawn but you can make her open up to you in less than an hour."

"It's my pleasure to be Miss Ella's friend."

"Oh?" Ellie drew away to prop her head up with a palm, her long silky hair spilled over the mattress and framed her delicate face. Under the moonlight, her golden eyes twinkled in mirth as she said, teasing. "How about us? Are we friends too?"

Lu Yizhou did not roll his eyes, but it was a near thing. He deadpanned, "If that's all Milady wants from me, then this humble one will reluctantly comply."

Ellie burst out into giggles and booped his nose. "You really like to turn my words against me. How should I deal with you?"

As much as Lu Yizhou wanted to continue their banter and tease her back, there was something more important he had to ask. "Miss Ella said something strange before she disappeared, something about being trapped in this place." Lu Yizhou fixed his stare on Ellie's face and saw her smile froze before it gradually morphed into a scowl. 

"Why is she such a blabbermouth?" Ellie spat out angrily.

So that was a yes, then. Lu Yizhou held onto her wrist in case she was going to turn into black smoke and disappeared with a poof again just like last time. "Tell me. Is it only her who is trapped in this house or… is it the both of you? I have said it before, I am here to help you." Lu Yizhou's voice softened into a plea. "Tell me the truth, Milady."

Ellie grumbled under her breath. "What do you want to know?"

"About you. About Ella. About everything that has happened in this house." Lu Yizhou put on a somber look. "Someone told me that I came to this mansion ten years ago and lost a treasure. Ten years ago… was also the time you and Madam started to contract the illness. No — does the illness really exist in the first place or is that just a ruse to lure doctors into this place?"

[[Player Irene has successfully triggered a new route 'True Ending'!]] 

[[The quest background and main quest has been updated! Please check out the quest detail for more information.]]

[[Main team quest: Find out what happened to the Knox Family ten years ago. Progress: 48/100%]]

Ellie turned silent, her eyes perplexed. "How did you come to such a conclusion?"

"It's just… instinct," he said vaguely.

Lu Yizhou recalled the discoloration he had seen on Master Knox, the whiff of blood on Baines' body, the two women who were invited into the master bedroom, Madam Knox who had not appeared at all, the ghost mannequin in his bathroom and also… Ella and Ellie, the two sisters who were the polar opposite yet still supported each other in a time of need. The pieces were slowly coming together to form a messy picture. He needed more information, more about the truth that had happened ten years ago, more about what had really transpired in this household. 

Ellie pressed her lips together, clearly unsatisfied with Lu Yizhou's answer but in the end, she just heaved out a sigh. "Every once in a while, a batch of unusual doctors will arrive in this household. They carried with them a different air that I have never seen before. They acted with caution, alert to their surroundings and treated whatever happened in this house as some kind of challenge. Not only that, they also possessed weird powers that's both fascinating and funny." 

Lu Yizhou's eyes widened by a fraction. So his lover was indeed aware of the players' existence! 

Ellie continued, "Every single time, they followed the same set of actions. First, they would try to gain Father's trust. When it did not seem to work, they investigated by themselves. Eventually they would break the rules and be punished." At this point, she suddenly showed a bloodthirsty smile. "Do you know what happened to those doctors?" 

"...No," Lu Yizhou swallowed. "What happened to them?"

"Oh, they were never seen anymore!" Ellie threw her head back and laughed, yet her eyes remained cold as ever. Angry, even. "They have truly underestimated everything! They were so focused on dealing with Father and Baines that they failed to realize that the real threat had always been watching over them from the dark shadows!"

"Who?" A frown appeared on Lu Yizhou's forehead. "Who's the real threat? Who has been harming those doctors and trapping you here?" The answer came to Lu Yizhou as soon as he said it. His expression sank. "...The Madam. It's Madam, isn't it?"

Madam Knox, whom Ella had depicted as kind, gentle and affectionate through her diary. Lu Yizhou had not actually read through the whole diary but so far, he couldn't sense anything strange from the entries except that the Madam was exceptionally antagonistic toward Ellie and would cry herself weak everytime Ella mentioned her. She did not seem like someone who would be responsible for this whole mess. 

But if it wasn't her, then who else?

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