Chapter 2: The Clay Girl

His gaze was fixed intently on the mummified corpse slumped over the computer desk. Mo Jiang’s face was expressionless, but the cold sweat seeping from his forehead betrayed his true feelings. If his memory served him right, that desiccated corpse had previously been sprawled lifeless at the desk, both hands hanging loosely at its sides.

But now, one of its hands rested on the mouse! What’s more, the computer that had been running moments ago was now switched off.

Thump-thump-thump—Mo Jiang’s heartbeat quickened. It was eerie enough to inexplicably find himself transported from his own room into a chamber with a dead body, but he hadn’t expected to stumble straight into a haunted house.

“So where exactly is this place? The Underworld? Have I been murdered by Mo Qingqing’s vengeful ghost?” His mind raced with wild thoughts. Eyes wide, he stared at the corpse, not daring to move a muscle. Time seemed to blur before his vision grew hazy; he rubbed his eyes, and suddenly his view swam. Alarmed, he looked around, and a shudder ran down his spine.

The computer was on again, displaying the same office application as before.

And the corpse had now sat upright; its two withered hands were placed on the keyboard, the keys caked with congealed blood, as though it was about to type.

Fortunately, that was the extent of the corpse’s movements—it did nothing more for a long while.

“Working even in death? Was he muttering about hitting his full attendance bonus with his dying breath?” Mo Jiang cracked a dry, ill-timed joke, hoping to ease his own tension.

Since the ghost in this room hadn’t killed him immediately, it must want his help with something. Or perhaps it couldn’t kill him directly, so it was resorting to these sinister tricks.

Mo Jiang hesitated, then slowly approached the computer, keeping a safe distance as he peered at the screen.

This time, he wanted to read the novel.

He’d only glanced over it before. For an online author, their web novel was undoubtedly their greatest treasure. If the ghost here was the manifestation of this corpse, then Mo Jiang reasoned that the clues must lie within the novel.

“In a world no bigger than a small town, everyone is but a puppet—crafted of clay, wood, or stone. Yet none are aware, for under the secret control of a little witch, they argue and fight, tearing each other apart, smashing and destroying.”

Mo Jiang felt that the clue he needed was hidden in this passage, but he couldn’t grasp it.

Bang.

A sudden knock echoed from the door.

Startled, Mo Jiang jumped.

Then a girl’s voice called out, “Uncle Writer, are you there? You haven’t left your room in days—you should come out and get some sun!”

Mo Jiang hesitated, uncertain if he should respond. With a bang, the door swung open.

Sunlight spilled in—not bright, but so harsh that Mo Jiang instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes. Through the glare, he caught a blurry glimpse of a small foot in a red leather boot stepping inside, followed by a girl in a black leather dress. She ran in, spotted Mo Jiang, and broke into a sweet smile.

Only then did the sunlight soften, allowing Mo Jiang to see her clearly.

She was a beautiful little girl, though dressed far too maturely for her age.

“Stone Man, are you the one Uncle Writer said would come and help Coco?” she beamed, dimples forming on her cheeks.

Mo Jiang realized he understood her perfectly, which surprised him. Suddenly, his expression froze.

His arm had become a limb of irregular stone segments. Looking down, he saw his feet had also turned to stone—even his pajamas, now wrinkled and creased like cooled volcanic rock.

Just then, a crisp chime sounded in his ear, and a frame appeared before his vision:

Name: Mo Jiang.

Race: Formerly human, now transformed into a Stone Man by a ghost’s curse.

Strength: Level 3 (originally Level 1; strength enhanced after transformation).

Reproduction: None.

Talents: Mathematics, Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Social Studies, Physical Education.

Lifespan: 70 years, 12 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 17 seconds (continuously decreasing due to the ghost’s curse).

Exploration: Haunted House (Initial).

Map: Home of the Dead Web Author.

Task acquisition in progress—

Acquisition successful—

Task details:

Find the witch of this world; mate with her and produce offspring. Success will grant you a Level 3 Wish Fruit and allow you to leave this world.

Failure to reproduce means failure. If you wish, you may leave by sacrificing ten years of your lifespan.

Mo Jiang was dumbfounded.

But as he stared at the frame before his eyes, his gaze gradually grew brighter.

He turned his attention to the little girl. Looking now, he could faintly see traces of clay along her skin—though not obvious, at first glance it might pass for a rosy flush.

The clay girl skipped over and tugged his arm. “Stone Man, can you help Coco find her mama?”

Mo Jiang’s eyes flickered to the “Exploration” and “Map” tabs in the frame, and he nodded.

If he wanted to complete the task and escape this world, he had to find the little witch who ruled over it.

“Ghost’s curse, damn online author…” Mo Jiang cursed inwardly, shooting a resentful glare at the dried-up corpse.

“Hooray! Now Coco can surely find Mama!” the clay girl exclaimed, shaking Mo Jiang’s hand joyfully before eagerly pulling him toward the door.

He followed her outside, and as they stepped into the sunlight, it blazed so fiercely that it almost burned. Mo Jiang felt unwell, instinctively wanting to retreat indoors.

A gust of wind swept by—icy cold, yet when it brushed against him, Mo Jiang felt a comforting warmth seep through his entire body.

With that breeze, he found he could now tolerate the sunlight outside.

This made him suspicious.

He seemed to have developed an aversion to sunlight—but wasn’t that a trait of those things?

Mo Jiang glanced around. A dirt and sand road, houses with courtyard walls, and a tabby cat sunning itself atop a wall—except this was a stone cat, which looked a bit odd.

“This bizarre world… could it be the product of that absurd, grotesque witch’s tale?” Mo Jiang muttered inwardly.