Chapter 2: What Are You Still Waiting For?

For others, this was a blind selection.

But she knew perfectly well the difficulty behind each door.

The smaller the number on the door, the greater the danger lurking within.

Behind Door Number One was a terrifying challenge of hellish difficulty.

In her previous life, she had died at the hands of that strange being called General Ling.

If Duoduo chose Door One, she was destined for certain death!

“Daddy, Mommy…”

Were they really inside? Was she about to see her parents?

Duoduo gazed at Door Number One, her round eyes full of longing.

Her short little legs hadn’t yet stepped forward when April’s urging voice reached her ears again.

“Your parents are waiting for you at home. What are you still waiting for?”

“Mommy and Daddy are waiting for me to come home?”

Duoduo was overjoyed, scampering to Door Number One with her tiny legs pattering.

She stood on tiptoe, stretched out her chubby arms, and tried to turn the doorknob.

But she was too short—even jumping, she couldn’t reach it.

“It’s so high! Can you come down a little?” Duoduo tilted her face upward and waved at the doorknob.

The doorknob didn’t move. She pouted and looked innocently at April.

“Big sister April, could you help me?” Duoduo spoke as she lifted her little hand to demonstrate.

April’s face turned pale; she stepped back and fled in the direction of Door Forty.

“Huh? Why did big sister April run away?” Duoduo tilted her head in curiosity.

She wanted to ask the headmistress for help, but searched all around and saw no sign of Director Zhou.

With no one to help, Duoduo raised her pudgy little hand and knocked on the door.

“Daddy, Mommy, are you home? Duoduo’s here, please open the door!”

Creak…

Door Number One slowly opened, and a bright light shone through the crack.

Duoduo’s heart leaped with joy.

Daddy and Mommy really were home!

She pushed the door wider and poked her little head through the opening.

Seeing no one behind the door, she squeezed herself inside, as if afraid opening the crack any wider would let her parents slip away.

No sooner had she stepped into the room than the door slammed shut behind her.

Above the door, a wooden plaque inscribed with “Hell” swung twice.

Duoduo was startled by the loud sound of the closing door.

She glanced back at the tightly closed door and, as she returned her gaze, saw a man suddenly appear before her.

The man stood straight and tall, almost six feet in height.

He was clad in blood-stained black armor.

In the center of his chest, a rusty sword was embedded.

His lips curled slightly as he regarded Duoduo with the air of a predator inspecting its prey.

“Well, a new treat has arrived, right at my doorstep!”

To Duoduo, everything about him was black except for his pale cheeks.

Duoduo lifted her soft little face and looked at him in curiosity.

“Are you Duoduo’s daddy?”

The man toyed with the sword in his chest and considered, “I suppose you could say so.”

In this round, his role was indeed set as her father.

“Daddy, I finally found you!” Duoduo jumped up excitedly and hugged his straight legs.

The man’s hand trembled as he fiddled with the rusty sword, driving it deeper into his chest.

“Hmph…” That hurt a bit!

He was a thousand-year-old specter; even powerful magical artifacts couldn’t harm him.

Only the sword that had killed him could hurt him, causing real pain.

He let go and pushed Duoduo aside.

“I don’t like children; stay away from me.”

“Daddy, I’m not a child, I’m Duoduo. Does Daddy like Duoduo?”

Duoduo raised her small face, her round eyes brimming with anticipation.

She had found her daddy, she liked him so much—would he like her too?

“No, I don’t!” he replied bluntly.

Duoduo’s hands slipped away, her head drooping in disappointment.

Why didn’t Daddy like her?

She pouted, feeling a bit sad.

But soon she lifted her head again, smiling brightly at the man.

“It’s okay! Duoduo likes Daddy, and Daddy will like Duoduo one day!”

The man watched her changing expressions, finding her highly entertaining.

Interesting children were the tastiest!

His lips curled as he raised a hand and drew the sword from his chest.

With the motion, blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across Duoduo’s tender cheeks.

Duoduo raised her chubby hand and wiped the blood, smearing herself like a little kitten.

She glanced at the bleeding wound and scampered further inside.

“Afraid now? Too late!” The man gripped the rusty sword and followed her.

His figure was tall and imposing, his steps steady, like a grim reaper come to claim a soul.

The overhead light stretched his shadow long and thin.

Duoduo stopped in front of a small stool; the black shadow lurking like a monster in the night, swallowing her whole.

[That’s it, this child called Duoduo is doomed! She’s truly unlucky, meeting the thousand-year-old specter General Ling in the very first round.]

[This isn’t just hellish difficulty—wherever General Ling is, it’s pure hell!]

[A bloody scene is about to unfold. I’m done watching, let’s switch to another room.]

In the live broadcast for Room One, the audience had already begun mourning Duoduo in advance.

Just as they were about to exit and choose a new room, the little girl on screen suddenly climbed onto the stool.

Her plump hands gripped Lingyun’s hand and pushed the rusty sword back into his chest.

Lingyun: “?”

Lingyun was stunned, staring in disbelief at the little child before him.

This child actually dared to attack him?

“Daddy, your chest was leaking. Duoduo helped you plug it up!” Duoduo looked up at his chin and boasted, “Daddy, isn’t Duoduo amazing?”

“Amazing!”

In three years, he had eaten countless people.

But this was the first to ever dare lay hands on him—this little imp was indeed remarkable!

Lingyun lowered his head and tried to pull the sword out a little, only for Duoduo to push it back in.

“Daddy, don’t be naughty! You can’t take this out!”

Lingyun grunted in pain.

His eyes narrowed, and as he looked at Duoduo, a hint of murderous intent grew.

“Little brat, are you looking for death?”

“Daddy, I’m not a brat, I’m Duoduo. Next time, you must get Duoduo’s name right!”

Duoduo blinked and smiled sweetly.

She had a daddy now!

He was so tall, even higher than the doorknob earlier!

With her daddy around, the doorknob couldn’t bully her for being short anymore.

Watching Duoduo’s innocent face, Lingyun frowned slightly.

This little imp didn’t seem to be pretending to be foolish—she seemed truly simple!

Who arranged this? Who dared assign the mighty General Ling such a “simple-minded daughter”?

He would keep this brat as evidence and settle the score with them later!

…

April entered Room Forty and saw the wooden plaque above the door inscribed with “Easy,” her lips curling up slightly.

But as she turned her head, a burst of flame suddenly shot toward her, forcing her to crouch and barely dodge it.

“So hungry! Mommy, I’m so hungry, I want to eat her!”

A hideous little specter, about April’s height, stared at her with shining eyes.

Behind it stood an even taller spectral mother.

The mother sniffed April, making her tremble in fear.

Wasn’t this supposed to be an easy round? Why did these specters look so terrifying?

If Room Forty was this dangerous, then Duoduo must be dead by now!

“Mmm, smells delicious!” The spectral mother closed her eyes, savoring the scent, then suddenly opened her mouth wide and lunged for April’s head…