Chapter Thirty-One: Torment (Part One)

Eileen’s initial burst of curiosity was instantly cut in half; if ancient humans lived lives much like her own, there wasn’t much to ask about after all. “Mu Yang, so what exactly is different between the lives of ancient humans and my life now?” Eileen persisted, unwilling to give up before getting a real answer.

Mu Yang could only reply, “If I must point out a specific difference, I’d say the way humans live now is much like how you will live in the future—only without the powers you use.”

“Then how did you fight?” Hearing this difference, Eileen’s lost interest began to return.

But Mu Yang smiled and said, “That’s your second question already, so I won’t answer it.”

Hearing those words, Eileen puffed up her cheeks in annoyance. “Then what questions do you have? Hurry and ask!”

Mu Yang shook his head. “I have no questions for now.”

At those words, Eileen’s face instantly fell.

“But—” Mu Yang dragged out his words teasingly.

“But what? Money, gemstones, anything, just answer my question!” Eileen clung to a sliver of hope.

“If you come with me, I could show you firsthand what kind of world I lived in,” Mu Yang said with a mischievous grin. “Having a guide who isn’t much of a liar is a bargain, after all,” he thought to himself.

“But my mother told me not to go with humans. She says humans are all big liars, useless at everything, but always make themselves out to be so amazing,” Eileen hesitated, torn.

“If you don’t answer, I’ll just leave,” Mu Yang tried, testing her resolve.

No sooner had he spoken than a shout rang out from outside: “Enemy attack!” A clatter of hurried footsteps followed, as most of the nobles retreated from the palace.

Eileen, however, seemed entirely unperturbed. “Don’t worry about this. Something like this happens every other day. Each time, they only capture one person. The undead have been able to walk through walls for ages, and the kingdom still hasn’t found a way to stop them. All we can do is hack any ghosts we see to pieces. Judging by the commotion, they probably won’t succeed this time.”

Mu Yang’s eyelid twitched at her nonchalance. “You don’t think they’re after me, do you?”

No sooner had he spoken than it became reality. From the mirror, a long-haired woman in white emerged, drifting silently outward.

Sadako? Mu Yang’s mind exploded with questions. Was this really an undead? The woman suddenly stretched out her arms and yanked both Mu Yang and Eileen into the mirror.

Once inside, Mu Yang glimpsed scenes beyond the mirrors—beastfolk cooking, spirits gazing at their reflections, the upper halves of vampires—an array of bizarre sights.

But that was only the first impression. The next instant, Mu Yang was in trouble. His body was sliced into countless pieces by the mirror space. Yet, his undying nature allowed his body to reassemble itself at once—only to be sliced apart again, as sharply as shattered glass.

Still, Mu Yang gained something from the ordeal: the mirror realm seemed to be adapting to his presence, permitting him to move through the mirrors without resistance. As Mu Yang ceased to be rejected by the mirror space, Sadako cast him a startled look.

The mirror realm was Sadako’s exclusive power among the undead—used primarily for assassination, which is why the empire had never managed to defend against their attacks. And yet, this person she had snatched up alongside Eileen had already adapted to it. Perhaps the mutated creature researchers could extract something from this ability later.

With these thoughts, Sadako surged forward and broke out of the mirror space.

Mu Yang steadied himself after emerging and saw that Eileen beside him was perfectly unscathed, her clothes untouched. A thousand sarcastic thoughts flashed through his mind.

Before he could voice them, several zombies pinned him down. Sadako instructed the zombies, “Take him to those mad scientists among the mutants. Tell them he somehow got the mirror space to accept him. See if they can extract that ability. And don’t let him get near any mirrors, and knock him out before you bring him over—wouldn’t want him escaping.”

The zombies nodded, bit into Mu Yang’s neck to render him unconscious, and dragged him away to the laboratory. Eileen, meanwhile, was taken away personally by Sadako.

Mu Yang woke slowly to find himself surrounded by white-clad skeletons wearing white gloves, all staring at him. He could not move—he couldn’t even feel his body.

The skeletons’ jaws moved up and down in what seemed to be conversation. Taking the opportunity to look down, Mu Yan