Chapter Thirty-Six: The Princess and the Lady Ghost

After luring out nearly forty skeleton mages in over a dozen rounds, the haunted house was left empty. A rotting curtain, barely hanging on, separated the inner chamber, and faintly from within, I could hear a clear female singing voice. Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand those high notes—it sounded more like a ghostly wail to me.

Another chill ran down my spine. If there’s any benefit to playing this game, it’s that it’s toughening my courage; next time I watch horror films with everyone, I won’t need to cling to Xin Yu out of fear.

I used my longsword to lift the curtain, only to discover a staircase leading upward. Two pale female-shaped Night Wraiths wandered the steps.

I quickly drew one over. These level 26 monsters weren’t harder than the skeleton mages, though their shrieks sent shivers down my back.

I immediately opened my communicator and spoke to Xin Yu, “Don’t say anything—just listen to the sounds on my end!”

True to form, Xin Yu obediently stayed silent, listening to my side of the feed; I cranked the microphone volume up and focused on taking down the pitiful Night Wraith.

“How about it, Xin Yu? Things are intense over here, huh?”

Xin Yu paused for a while, then snapped, “Lin Fan, what the hell are you doing?”

I was about to laugh, but her next words left me speechless.

“You nearly made me jealous to death. That woman’s cries are so passionate and fierce…”

Speechless, I switched off the communicator and finished off the monster. Now, at last, I had to face Princess Misha, who had been tormented by the plague for three years. I wondered if she could still survive in such conditions.

I tiptoed up the stairs, cautiously peeking over the railing to check on the princess above—and the sight sent me tumbling back down!

Upstairs was no princess, but an entirely white female ghost! Her body beneath the white gauze dress had turned transparent, her face covered in sores so hideous it was unspeakable, and most terrifying of all, she had no feet!

Her whole body floated in midair. She turned and glanced at me, nearly scaring me senseless—for she truly had only one eye. The other had rotted away, leaving only a bloody strand connecting the foul eyeball to its socket.

System prompt: Due to a severe collision, your HP has decreased by 232!

Damn! I hadn’t even started and already lost over two hundred HP. Some people kill with beauty, but this ghost almost finished me off with sheer horror!

Trembling, I once again stood before the ghost, though I dared not look at her face.

“Stranger, why have you come here? Aren’t you afraid of disturbing my peaceful dreams?” The ghost’s voice was as sharp as a knife, sending chills through me.

“I’ve come only to rescue Princess Misha,” I recited my assigned dialogue.

The ghost let out a cold laugh. “So the king finally sent someone to fetch the princess? Does he still remember his daughter?”

I hesitated, feeling awkward. “I wasn’t sent by the king. Where is the princess? I must bring her home!”

“You want to bring her home? If you weren’t sent by the king, who gave you this task?”

“Healer Lance.”

“Lance... teacher?” The ghost’s voice trembled, then suddenly turned icy. “If you wish to take the princess, you must get past me first!”

“Damn, so it’s a fight after all!” I raised my sword and charged.

System prompt: You are affected by the plague, HP recovery rate reduced by 50%!
System prompt: You are affected by the ghost’s howl, movement speed reduced by 50%!
System prompt: You are affected by intimidation, attack speed reduced by 50%!
System prompt: You are affected by the ghost’s resentment, potion effectiveness reduced by 50%!

Four glaring red prompts made my heart sink, especially the last one—losing healing means burning through precious silver!

Luckily, nearly everything was reduced except my attack power, which offered a bit of comfort. An Ice Slash froze the ghost in place; a heavy blow took away 230 HP, and a combo landed another 200 damage.

The ghost’s attacks were just as brutal—each strike dealt 80 damage, almost unbearable. Even my medium healing potion, which should restore 500 HP, now only gave 250. Each potion could withstand only three of her attacks, with a ten-second cooldown, and my slowed actions left me in a desperate situation. Retreat was impossible; my only hope was to keep guzzling potions and fight on.

The potion consumption rate was staggering. When the ghost’s HP dropped below a third, eight out of my ten potions were already gone. It seemed I might not finish off this ghost after all!

The battle raged on, sword flashes flickering as we traded blows.

It was hopeless. My last two potions were gone, yet the ghost still clung to a sliver of HP, and my health bar was down to half. No, even though her health looked low, I was barely holding on—under her relentless assault, my HP would soon be empty!

Finished! Both sides were nearly drained—whose fate would be sealed?

Wait—three minutes had passed! My new skill was ready!

“Ice Slash!” flew from my blade.

The ghost was instantly frozen, stunned for three seconds!

Heavy blow, combo!

A mournful wail echoed—the ghost finally fell, but did not disappear. Two pieces of equipment and a book dropped to the floor; the ghost, barely alive, gazed at me.

Quickly, I picked up the loot and stuffed it into my pack, warily watching the ghost, forgetting entirely to sit and recover HP.

“Are you really sent by Teacher Lance to fetch the princess?” The ghost gasped, her voice weak.

“Yes—he’s found the formula to cure the princess’s plague.”

“What? He’s found the cure for my illness?” The ghost sounded astonished.

I was equally surprised. “You’re Princess Misha?”

Her voice carried a note of sorrow. “Ever since I came here, the plague has tormented me. Later, several necromancers arrived and extracted my soul, turning me into a lonely specter…”

“So, Princess, does that mean you’re… dead?” I was shocked—did this mean my quest was doomed?

“I am not dead, only my soul has left my body…”

Strange! Her soul had departed!