Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 80 The Sixth Person Who Shouldn't Exist
On the day of the picnic, the sky was like a vast, spotless blue canvas, so clean that not a single cloud could be found. The brilliant sunshine poured down without reservation, waking the entire city from its slumber. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and earth, the unique aroma of a summer morning.

It was still that understated yet powerful black SUV.

Captain Anmu gripped the steering wheel firmly, a rare hint of holiday relaxation on his usually resolute face. The car stereo was playing a rock song with an 80s retro vibe, a "battle anthem" Mo Fei had escaped from Lan Ce's pile of classical music and white noise, claiming it "effectively boosts the driver's adrenaline and prevents drowsy driving."

The rousing electric guitar solo and the lead singer's screaming vocals echoed in the not-so-spacious carriage, making the whole atmosphere incredibly exciting.

Mo Fei sat in the passenger seat, like a fanatical fan at a music festival, wildly shaking his head to the rhythm and howling at the top of his lungs with his off-key voice, trying to compete with the original singer.

Sitting directly behind him, Lan Ce put on his industrial-grade professional noise-canceling headphones with a look of utter despair. He huddled in the corner of his seat, holding a thick, brick-like book, "Introduction to Quantum Chromodynamics," trying to physically isolate himself from this massive source of noise pollution.

Bai Yu and Lu Yueqi sat side by side on the other side of the back row.

Lu Yueqi was clearly participating in such a group activity for the first time, and her face was filled with barely suppressed excitement and nervousness. Like a curious child, she pressed her face against the car window, watching the city scenery rushing past outside, occasionally letting out small gasps of surprise.

Bai Yu leaned back quietly in his chair, neither reading nor looking out the window. His gaze mostly lingered on the girl beside him, who chattered incessantly like a little sparrow. He listened as she recounted amusing anecdotes from her livestreams, or urban legends she'd heard since childhood. He didn't speak much, mostly remaining a quiet listener, only occasionally responding with a soft "hmm" or a faint smile when the girl got excited.

Although his response was simple, the focus and gentleness in his eyes brought Lu Yueqi an unprecedented sense of peace and reassurance to her heart, which had always been anxious because of her "special" status.

The SUV sped towards the outskirts of the city. The scenery on both sides of the road gradually changed from a steel forest of towering buildings to vast farmlands and rolling green hills.

Finally, after nearly two hours of driving, Anmu parked the car at the end of a country road.

"We're here," he said in a low voice, turning off the engine.

Everyone pushed open the car door and got out. A fresh breeze carrying the fragrance of soil, grass, and unknown wildflowers rushed in, instantly invigorating those who lived year-round in the headquarters filled with the smell of disinfectant and metal.

What unfolded before them was a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like a paradise on earth.

A crystal-clear stream meanders from a nearby valley, its waters shimmering in the sunlight. On either side lies a flat, open meadow, covered with colorful wildflowers. In the distance, rolling green hills rise, shrouded in mist, occasionally punctuated by the clear calls of birds.

"Wow! This place is so beautiful!" Lu Yueqi exclaimed sincerely. She opened her arms and ran happily towards the riverbank like a bird that had broken free from its cage.

"Hehe, of course! This is my secret base that I've treasured for many years!" Mo Fei patted his chest proudly, and then began to "orderly" direct everyone to unload supplies from the trunk like a commander.

Soon, a huge checkered picnic blanket was laid out on the grass by the river. The barbecue grill, folding tables and chairs, and the two huge insulated boxes filled with various ingredients and snacks were all neatly arranged.

A picnic filled with laughter and joy officially began.

The division of labor is clear.

Mo Fei readily took on the responsibility of "Chief Barbecue Officer." Like a general about to go into battle, he dumped a huge pile of charcoal into the barbecue grill, then poured in half a bottle of alcohol accelerant, and finally, before anyone could react, threw in a lit lighter.

"boom--!"

A huge fireball, accompanied by a plume of black smoke, shot into the sky, nearly singeing off Mo Fei's signature buzz cut.

"Cough cough cough... It was a mistake, a complete mistake! The wind was too strong just now!" Mo Fei frantically patted the sparks off his eyebrows while stubbornly defending his "professional operation."

Lance, looking disgusted, kept his distance from the dangerous-looking barbecue grill. He took out a set of portable kitchen utensils from his backpack that looked more precise than a scalpel, and then, with an almost experimental seriousness, began to "geometrically cut" and "artistically plate" the fruit. He even used a miniature laser rangefinder to ensure that every slice of watermelon was exactly the same size and thickness.

An Mu, like a worried old father, did not participate in any "work." He simply moved a folding chair, sat in the shade of a big tree, and watched the group of team members in front of him, who, despite their different personalities, were noisy like family, with a helpless yet doting smile on his face.

Lu Yueqi clumsily tried to skewer the meat. Her slender hands, usually used for typing or holding a microphone, were now completely stumped by a small bamboo skewer. She either skewered the meat crookedly or accidentally pricked her fingers.

"Ouch!" she cried out softly, a drop of bright red blood seeping from her pale fingertip.

A long, slender hand with distinct knuckles suddenly reached out from the side and gently grasped her injured finger.

It is Bai language.

He had reached her side without her noticing. He didn't say anything, but simply took a band-aid from his pocket, bent down, and carefully bandaged her wound.

His fingertips were icy cold, but the warmth transmitted through his skin made Lu Yueqi's heart skip a beat. Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she could almost hear her own heart pounding like a drum.

"Let me do it." Bai Yu's voice remained calm. He naturally took the meat skewers and bamboo sticks from Lu Yueqi's hands, and then, with an almost artistic elegance, began to skewer them. His movements were quick and precise; the size and spacing of each skewer seemed to have been meticulously calculated, a true blessing for those with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Soon, the first batch of grilled meat, brimming with an enticing aroma, was freshly baked thanks to Mo Fei's "wild" grilling skills.

Although some parts were slightly charred, the sizzling oil and the rich aroma of meat filling the air still made everyone's mouths water.

The group sat around the picnic blanket, enjoying the hard-won delicious food while chatting about everything under the sun.

They chatted about the bureau's most ridiculous gossip and complained about the logistics department's ever-present potato and beef stew. Mo Fei vividly recounted how he single-handedly took on a B-grade "burrowing worm" back in the day, although the story's credibility was ruthlessly refuted by Lan Ce from both "biological" and "physical" perspectives.

Even An Mu, who is usually taciturn, rarely spoke of his embarrassing experience during his first mission when he was young, in this relaxed atmosphere.

Bai Yu remained a quiet listener most of the time. But he was no longer the "isolated island" detached from the group. He would smile at Mo Fei's boasting and laugh at Lan Ce's sharp tongue. He would even secretly put the tenderest piece of meat into Lu Yueqi's bowl when no one was looking.

Sunshine, meadows, streams, delicious food, and the well-intentioned chatter of my companions…

It was all so beautiful, like an unreal dream.

Looking at the scene before him filled with laughter and joy, Bai Yu was completely filled with a feeling called "happiness".

If he could, he would give everything to protect this ordinary truth.

However, just as this warm atmosphere reached its peak, a barely perceptible sense of "disharmony" began to spread silently, like ink dripping into clear water.

Bai Yu was the first to notice something was wrong.

His incredibly sharp perception, honed by his symbiosis with Heiyan, allowed him to catch a detail that everyone else had overlooked.

It's so quiet here...

Apart from their own conversations and the sound of the flowing river, there was no other sound in this seemingly vibrant natural environment.

There were no birdsong, no insect chirps, not even the slightest rustling of leaves in the wind.

The whole world was like a movie screen with the mute button pressed, leaving only the voices of these few "protagonists".

Bai Yu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He subtly extended his senses, attempting to probe his surroundings.

However, his radar-like mental power, after spreading out, seemed to sink without a trace, receiving no response whatsoever. The surrounding space was like a giant soundproof room, completely isolating them from the outside world. A chilling coldness slowly crept up his spine.

"Come on! We've eaten and drunk our fill! Let's take a group photo!" Lu Yueqi, completely oblivious to anything amiss, enthusiastically took out her phone and suggested.

"Great! Great!" Mo Fei was the first to raise his hand in agreement.

The crowd huddled together noisily, and An Mu was forcibly pushed to the very center. Mo Fei and Lan Ce each put their arms around his shoulders, making all sorts of funny faces. Lu Yueqi stood close to Bai Yu, a shy yet incredibly radiant smile on her face.

"Three, two, one! Cheese!"

"Click——"

A group photo filled with laughter was captured.

Lu Yueqi looked at the photo on her phone screen with satisfaction, preparing to save it. However, just as she was about to press the save button, her pupils suddenly contracted.

"Huh? That's strange..." she let out a soft exclamation filled with confusion.

"What's wrong?" Bai Yu immediately noticed her unusual behavior.

"N-nothing...it's nothing..." Lu Yueqi shook her head. She glanced at her phone screen again and found everything was normal; the photo only showed the smiling faces of the five of them. She smiled a little sheepishly, "Maybe I was seeing things. I think...I think I saw an extra person in the photo just now..."

Before she finished speaking, a faint, strange smell suddenly flashed through the air and disappeared.

The smell was so faint that almost everyone thought it was their imagination.

But Bai Yu's expression completely changed the moment she smelled that scent.

He was all too familiar with that smell.

That's the unique smell of "spatial corruption" that comes from the distortion of rules when nightmares invade reality!

They had unknowingly fallen into an unknown "domain"!
"Pack your things! We need to get out of here immediately!" Bai Yu's voice turned incredibly cold and heavy in an instant as he stood up abruptly.

His sudden change of heart stunned everyone.

"Old Bai, what's wrong? What happened?" Mo Fei's smile also faded. He could clearly feel the chilling killing intent emanating from Bai Yu, as cold as winter.

An Mu and Lan Ce immediately realized something was wrong. They stood up at the same time and looked around warily.

However, the surrounding scenery remained as bright and sunny as ever. Everything seemed so normal, so peaceful.

"There's no time to explain! Hurry!" Bai Yu's voice carried an uncontrollable urgency.

No one dared to be negligent any longer and immediately began to clean up the things on the ground as quickly as possible.

Within a minute, everything was put back into the car.

"Get in the car!" An Mu was the first to open the driver's side door and roared at the others.

Mo Fei, Lan Ce, and Lu Yueqi immediately jumped into the car as fast as they could.

Bai Yu was the last to get on the bus. As he closed the door, his deep eyes glanced warily at the seemingly tranquil riverbank outside the bus once more.

Anmu immediately started the engine and slammed on the gas! The black SUV roared angrily, its tires leaving two deep tracks in the grass, and it sped away from the country road it had come from in an almost desperate manner!

A suffocating silence fell over the carriage. Everyone knew they had unknowingly triggered some unknown, terrifying entity.

The off-road vehicle sped along the bumpy road.

However, something strange happened.

No matter how fast Anmu sped up, or how long they drove, the view outside the window remained the same: a country road and the rolling green hills on either side.

They seemed to be trapped in an endless loop of delusion.

"Damn it! We can't get out!" An Mu slammed his fist on the steering wheel, emitting a sharp horn blare, his usually composed face revealing his anxiety.

“It must be the Rule Twisted Nightmare.” Bai Yu’s voice was as cold as a block of ice that had never melted. “From the very first second we stepped into this place, we became its prey. It built a seemingly perfect stage for us, and then, when we relaxed, it silently pulled us all into its drama.”

Just then, An Mu, who had been silent all along, seemed to have thought of something. He suddenly looked through the rearview mirror and scanned everyone in the car with an extremely serious gaze.

His gaze swept across Mo Fei's face, then fell on Lan Ce's face, then on Lu Yueqi, and finally on Bai Yu.

Then, he began to count slowly in an almost dreamlike tone.

"One...two...three...four...five..."

His voice paused slightly when he counted to "five," and a knowing look appeared on his face.

"Captain, what are you doing?" Mo Fei was puzzled by his strange behavior.

However, An Mu did not answer him. His sharp eyes were fixed on an empty spot in the rearview mirror, and the solemn expression on his face was gradually replaced by horror and a trace of fear.

In a trembling voice filled with disbelief, he slowly counted out the last number.

"……six."

It was as if all the air in the entire carriage had been completely sucked out in that instant.

"Six?" Mo Fei was stunned for a moment. He subconsciously turned around and pointed at the people in the car one by one, "Me, Lan Ce, Captain, Lao Bai, Xiao Yueqi... Isn't that five people? Captain, are you getting old and miscounting?"

An Mu ignored him. His resolute face was deathly pale, and beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He remained fixed on the empty seat in the rearview mirror, saying each word slowly and deliberately, "That... just now... when I counted to 'six'..."

"...the person who smiled at me..."

"……who is it?"

(End of this chapter)