Gray “snowflakes” continued to fall from the sky, landing on the girl’s exposed skin. Moments later, they crumbled and scattered completely, like ashes left behind after paper had burned to nothing.
Bai Tang was on her way to the target location — the Goat Tavern at No. 17 Undead Street. She raised a hand to press down on the straw hat on her head as the breeze gently lifted her loose pink hair.
Some ash had also stuck to her shoes and socks.
This was the first time since transmigrating to this world that Bai Tang had left the protective range of the general store. It was her first time directly facing the dangers from the outside world.
She lifted her head. On both sides of the road, countless malicious gazes turned toward her.
Humans were considered rare and delicious food on Undead Street.
[Warning!!!]
[Current Danger Level: 1000%. Immediate evacuation recommended! Immediate evacuation recommended!]
Her right eye’s Eye of Breaking Delusions frantically issued warnings.
Weird information windows kept popping up in her vision — Drowned Ghosts, Infant Ghosts, Flesh Gluttons, Cursed Undead…
Every single gaze was locked onto the human girl who had suddenly appeared in the middle of the street. They watched her hungrily, their numbers impossible to count.
But surprisingly, no one made a move.
They all shared the same thought: Anyone who could establish themselves on Undead Street and walk openly past them like this was definitely not someone to mess with easily.
Bai Tang walked past the crowd of bizarre creatures. Even though her heart was pounding with fear, her facial expression remained calm and indifferent.
She looked completely unbothered by everything she saw.
Bai Tang knew she was still powerless, without any real means to protect herself. The only thing she could do was stay as composed as possible.
The moment she showed even a trace of fear, the creatures who were currently wary of her would swarm forward like a tide and tear her to pieces.
Still, wariness didn’t stop some from testing her.
Suddenly, a figure appeared directly in Bai Tang’s path, standing with its back to her.
It wore a blood-red lolita dress and had black twin-tails. In its arms was a brown teddy bear missing one button eye.
Judging by height and build, it looked about the age of a kindergarten child on Earth.
[Name: Emily]
[Race: Blood Doll]
[Level: Fierce Ghost Level]
[Alignment: Chaotic Evil]
[Description: The naughtiest child on Undead Street. Simple-minded, loves candy, dolls, and playing games. She occasionally blocks the road and invites passersby to play with her. If you are unfortunately chosen, do not refuse — it will anger her.]
“Heehee~ Heehee~”
A clear, silver-bell-like laugh rang out beside her ear. Bai Tang’s footsteps halted, and her expression sank.
She had been targeted.
About fifty meters ahead stood the Blood Doll. Bai Tang could faintly see her covering her eyes with both hands, her back swaying slightly as she counted down.
“3, 2, 1, Wooden Man!”
The moment the countdown ended, the Blood Doll’s head twisted 180 degrees instantly. Her eyes locked onto Bai Tang, and her cracked mouth stretched all the way to her ears in a wide grin.
“Heehee~”
Only after confirming that Bai Tang had frozen in place did she turn her head back with slight disappointment and begin a new countdown.
“3, 2, 1…”
[‘Blood Doll’ has issued you a quest, inviting you to play the game ‘1, 2, 3, Wooden Man!’]
[Quest Completion Reward: +100 EXP, 50 Ghost Coins, Blood Doll’s Favorability.]
She wasn’t even giving her a chance to refuse? This was too unreasonable!
Bai Tang quickly recalled the game rules in her mind. Taking advantage of the moment the Blood Doll turned away, she took three big steps forward.
“Wooden Man!”
The Blood Doll turned back and looked expectantly at Bai Tang.
Unfortunately for her, Bai Tang had already planted her feet firmly. The only thing still moving was her pink hair swaying gently in the breeze.
Clearly, that didn’t count as movement according to the rules.
Failing to catch Bai Tang, the Blood Doll turned around and started counting again.
“3, 2, 1… Wooden Man!”
Bai Tang seized the opportunity to advance several more meters.
After several rounds, the distance between them shrank rapidly. Soon, only the final five meters remained.
Her stamina was draining quickly. She also noticed that as the number of empty turns increased, the Blood Doll’s countdown was getting faster and faster.
The window had now shrunk to barely one second.
“Heehee! Big Sister is so amazing~”
Once again failing to catch her, the Blood Doll did not immediately turn back to count. Instead, she stared straight at Bai Tang, who was now only five meters away.
“Big Sister is the best human at this game that Emily has ever seen! The others I met before were all so stupid and got caught by Emily very quickly.”
“Do you know where the people who lose the game go?” The Blood Doll grinned, her small deathly-pale hand rubbing her belly as her sharp tongue licked her lips. “They were all eaten by Emily~”
Was this a threat?
Bai Tang thought to herself. She was probably trying to apply mental pressure, hoping Bai Tang would eventually break down and run away in panic.
At a time like this, she could not show even the slightest movement.
Bai Tang’s expression remained unchanged. She didn’t even blink at the Blood Doll’s intimidation.
Failing to find an opening for so long, the Blood Doll turned back awkwardly and began counting again.
“Big Sister, I’m going to count now~”
“3, 2…”
Bai Tang seized the final opportunity and took a step forward to close the last distance. The moment her foot landed—
‘Heehee~’
In that instant, the situation changed abruptly.
The countdown had not yet finished, but right as her foot touched the ground, a burst of laughter rang out.
The one-eyed teddy bear that the Blood Doll had been hugging suddenly came to life. It leaped onto the Blood Doll’s shoulder, opened its bloody maw, and lunged straight at Bai Tang’s face before she could steady herself.
Bai Tang’s pupils contracted instinctively.
Bang—!
“Heehee, Big Sister you lo—”
The Blood Doll turned around excitedly, but the words died in her throat. The thrilled smile on her face froze completely.
The scene she had imagined — the human girl being pounced on and knocked down by her doll bear — did not happen.
The charging teddy bear had been caught mid-air by the girl’s hand, which was now tightly gripping its throat.
The force was so strong that the bear’s remaining button eye popped out of its socket, hanging from its face by a thin thread.
“Ugh…! Ah… wah…!”
The teddy bear struggled desperately. Its cotton hands clawed at Bai Tang’s fingers as broken roars escaped its throat. It looked like it was about to suffocate.
“Give my friend back to me right now!!!”
The Blood Doll’s originally pale cheeks cracked apart inch by inch, revealing horrifying burn-like flesh underneath. Her face twisted into a ferocious expression.
Bai Tang still did not move.
Since the game had not ended, the Blood Doll, as a participant, should still have to follow the rules. She most likely could not attack Bai Tang directly.
Sure enough, seeing that Bai Tang had no intention of letting go, the Blood Doll panicked.
“I’m sorry, Big Sister! Emily will turn around right now. Please let my friend go, okay?!”
Bai Tang’s outstretched hand was now only twenty centimeters away from the Blood Doll’s shoulder. If the other party turned away one more time, she would win.
Not hearing a response, the Blood Doll took it as consent and turned her head away.
“3, 2, 1, Woo—den—Man…”
Unlike before, this countdown was noticeably slower. A full five seconds passed by the time she finished, and her voice carried a sobbing tone.
When she turned back again, Bai Tang had already placed the teddy bear back onto the Blood Doll’s shoulder.
With a smile on her face, she extended her hand. Resting quietly in her palm was a pink candy.
“Want some candy? Next time you play a game, if you don’t pick on my kind, I’ll give it to you.”