Translated by Eve

　　Edited by Wuxian

　　"The third floor?" The ghost raised an eyebrow, "Why do you want to go to the third floor?"

　　"We want to meet the owner of this manor and ask him to let us out," Yang Yue tried his best to calm down.

　　The ghost laughed, "There's no need. If you want to leave, I am also in a position to help you," Taking a pause, he looked at Yang Yue's hard to conceal fervour before his words took a sharp turn, "However, if you want to obtain something, you must pay in exchange. If you want your freedom, then you naturally need to pay an appropriate price."

　　"What price?" Yang Yue was not disappointed. He had already been acquainted with the indifferent and miserly nature of the spirits of this manor. They would never help them for free.

　　"Leave one person here," The ghost raised his head, pointed towards Yang Yue, and then hesitated for a second before s.h.i.+fting his index finger to the nervous and confused youth by Yang Yue's side.

　　When the ghost had pointed towards himself, Yang Yue's heart couldn't help but go 'ba-dump'. However, when the finger s.h.i.+fted, his heart felt even colder and sunk even lower. This was even more unacceptable than staying behind himself.

　　Yang Yue truly did not understand why Xiao Xiao was so attractive to these ghosts. One after another came to pounce on him. Could it be that the aesthetic of humans and ghosts were different?

　　——At this moment, Yang Yue most likely had forgotten that he and his childhood friend had also 'pounced on' this person. His impression of Xiao Xiao had frozen at his original, prior image of an ordinary, average and unpopular youth.

　　"Impossible," Yang Yue's cold voice interrupted what the ghost was about to say, refusing his proposal in one breath, without giving him any leeway to change his mind, "We would never sacrifice others for our own sake!"

　　"Are you unwilling to sacrifice other people or…unwilling to sacrifice him?" The spirit flashed him a smile, seeming to see through him, voice certain, "You like him."

　　"So what," Yang Yue replied indifferently, not wanting to discuss this topic with the other, "We don't need you to permit us to leave. We just need you to tell us how to get to the staircase leading to the third floor. We can personally negotiate with the owner of this manor."

　　"Heh, this isn't the att.i.tude one should use when asking for favours~" The spirit waved its finger, "Don't harbour any wishful thinking. I know the manor's owner very well. My demand is the same as his. If you cannot accept this requirement, then even if you meet with the manor owner, you won't be able to attain permission to leave here."

　　Yang Yue's expression became increasingly gloomy upon hearing the ghost's words. However, he would not give up, "…This is our business. Before we get to that, please tell us how to get to the third floor's staircase."

　　"Not telling you~" The ghost smiled naughtily, before unfolding his two arms in an exaggerated manner, "Truly selfish, na…for the sake of the person you like, you're even willing to sacrifice the lives of others? It was only because you were lucky today, and that the little girl in the washroom has always been very obedient. She only wanted to play a game involving swings with your friends. However, what about tomorrow, ne? Or the day after that, ne? Do you think that you'll be lucky forever? Your friends will die one after another, just because you chose to refuse my proposal for the sake of protecting a single person. Don't you feel guilty?"

　　The spirit's ability to distort the truth was truly too outstanding. Clearly, it was them, the non-human ent.i.ties that were the main offenders. But under his warped words, he had turned Yang Yue, who had just been trying his best to protect his comrades, into a criminal. Although Yang Yue did feel a moment of self-despise and self-doubt, his will did not waver.

　　"I will do my utmost to protect each and every person. Meanwhile, you all are murderers!" Yang Yue tightly clenched his fists, "I will not sacrifice my comrades because of a murderer's attempt in enticing me by playing down the situation! No matter who the person to be sacrificed is!"

　　"Only, this is but an excuse to make yourself seem righteous…forget it," The spirit waved its hands, interest waning. It was obvious that it did not want to debate with Yang Yue over this matter.

　　The spirit floated off of the window sill, gracefully stepping around the room in a large circle before arriving behind Yang Yue and Xiao Xiao. In the end, he pressed his body close to Xiao Xiao and wrapped his arms around his body.

　　Yang Yue's eyes followed the ghost's every movement. Right now, he was doing his best to control himself, not letting his gaze fall on Xiao Xiao so that the others would not find out the ghost's position. This would horrify the timid youth.

　　Perceiving Yang Yue's prudent protection, a ruminating light became even more evident in the ghost's eyes. It lowered its head, as if closely examining the youth in its arms, wondering just what about him made him so worthy of being cherished like this.

　　Probably because he realized that the ghost was behind him, but Xiao Xiao turned around, alarmed. He cautiously swept a look at his surroundings, but no matter how he looked, he could not see the ghost that was but a fist away from his face and who currently had its face lowered in examination of him.

　　Yang Yue："……………………"

　　——During this sort of moment, he simply wanted to light a truck full of candles for Xiao Xiao.

　　"In any case, the one who should feel anxious is not me, after all," After sizing up Xiao Xiao, the ghost finally cast its gaze back onto Yang Yue and spoke, seeming not in the least concerned, "If worse comes to worse, I'll just kill you all and leave that child as the only survivor, in which case he can only belong to us."

　　Yang Yue could not refute its words and could only grit his teeth while glaring at the ghost who vanished into thin air after saying its piece.

　　The negotiation this time had expended all of Yang Yue's energy and had pushed him to the brink of despair. He felt powerless from head to toe and couldn't help but walk to Xiao Xiao, bringing him into a tight hug.

　　Yang Yue shut his eyes, heart weary. He seemed as if he needed Xiao Xiao's help to prop himself up, as confirmation that he was indeed still by his side, alive.

　　——Can he do it? Can he protect Xiao Xiao while in the hands of these callous and avaricious spectres? Can they escape?

　　Perhaps they would all die and Xiao Xiao would become the exclusive property of the ghosts in this manor…when he thought of how Xiao Xiao would be stuck here alone and be unable to achieve solace no matter how much he cried or screamed in fear, Yang Yue felt his chest hurt so much it became difficult to breathe.

　　"…Just…what's the matter? Was it…not successful?" The first to speak was the bespectacled youth. After a long period of silence, he finally bolstered his courage and asked.

　　"En, it was unsuccessful," Yang Yue stood up and gave everyone a bitter smile.

　　"…Then, what did it say? It wanted us to…sacrifice one of us?" The robust girl looked at Yang Yue in hesitation, "Sacrifice…who?"