Chapter 274: Distorted Thoughts

"Captain, don't just stand there watching," Lan He suggested with a smile. "Since we're free now, why don't we all go out for a meal?"

Everyone immediately agreed to his proposal, so Su Mu and the others headed to a restaurant, booked a private room, and began their meal.

Eating without drinking was naturally a dull affair. Spurred on by the alcohol, everyone's spirits soared.

Amid the intertwining goblets, Lan He suddenly walked over, drink in hand. His face flushed bright red, he clinked his glass against Su Mu's and sheepishly said, "Captain, I was in the wrong back in the Dungeon. I never should have ambushed you. I didn't expect you to be so magnanimous—not only did you let it slide, you even took me in as a teammate. Captain! I won't say anything else; my gratitude is in the drink!"

Lan He downed his drink in a single gulp. Seeing his sincere apology, Su Mu felt a deep sense of gratification and drained his own glass as well. It was just that... the lingering nausea within him only grew stronger.

The group drank with increasing enthusiasm. Glass in hand, Wen Xuan recounted his past glories, bragging about the time he single-handedly fought hundreds of nightmare monsters in the Nightmare World.

Lan He was singing and dancing, completely lost in his own little world.

Zhou Hui and Lin Nanxing, who had previously been at odds, were now gazing into each other's eyes and whispering intimately.

Su Qing's pretty face was flushed red. She sat obediently beside Su Mu, her misty eyes staring at him adoringly.

Su Mu took in everyone's antics. He truly enjoyed this warm, harmonious atmosphere; it felt like they were all one big family.

"Hey, Captain," Su Qing suddenly called out softly. "I actually think it's nice just having everyone together like this. There's no need for us to go risking our lives in the Nightmare World."

"Mhm." Su Mu nodded, a bright smile on his face. "Yeah... I really wish time could just... stop right here... forever..."

But the smile was plastered on his face like a mask, and the stiff words were forced out through gritted teeth.

"Captain, are you okay?" Su Qing asked with concern.

Su Mu turned to look at her, the identical smile still fixed on his face. "I'm fine. I just feel a bit nauseous."

If one looked closely, they would realize that even though he was smiling, the eyes behind his Tinted Glasses held no trace of a smile.

The next day, the idle group began another day of enjoyment. It was as if they had shed their identities as Nightmare Apostles and completely immersed themselves in the lives of ordinary people.

Going shopping every day, dining out, singing karaoke, hitting the clubs... Life was peaceful and beautiful.

That same night, a tipsy Su Qing used the alcohol for courage and confessed her feelings to Su Mu.

Beneath the cool moonlight, the man and woman gazed into each other's eyes.

"Su Mu, I like you. Will you go out with me?" Su Qing asked, her eyes full of expectation.

Su Mu instinctively opened his mouth. But just as the words reached his lips, the image of King Chi looking at his photo flashed through his mind. A wave of profound emotion surged in his chest, making him swallow his words. Slowly, he nodded.

Their days grew increasingly blissful. Su Qing even quit smoking, started learning how to cook, and completely transformed into a well-behaved girl.

Time trickled by day after day. Yet, immersed in all this happiness, Su Mu felt a strange, inexplicable emptiness inside. The longer these peaceful, joyful days lasted, the emptier his heart became.

That long-lost feeling of hollow boredom washed over him. It was as if a massive hole had opened in the bottom of his heart, and nothing he threw into it could ever fill the void.

"This is so boring," Su Mu muttered. He watched Su Qing bustling about in the kitchen, his heart brimming with happiness—but that very happiness quickly drained away, swallowed by the massive, empty hole.

"Why is it so boring? I finally have a peaceful, happy life, so why do I feel so bored?"

Just then, Su Qing walked over and asked gently, "What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"

Su Mu remained silent.

"Are you homesick? It's been a while since we left Star City, after all."

"Mhm, maybe it's time to head back for a visit." Su Mu didn't know where this profound emptiness was coming from. Unsure of how to fill the void, he simply wanted to toss as many things into it as possible. Perhaps returning to Star City to see his old friends would make him a bit happier.

Upon learning that Su Mu was returning to Star City, the others all voiced their desire to tag along, treating the trip like a vacation.

And so, the group set out on their journey back to Star City.

"This is my Transcendent Tier Company, the Bronze Coffin. Come on, I'll take you inside for a look around," Su Mu introduced with a smile.

Under his lead, the group entered the Bronze Coffin Company, and Su Mu soon spotted a familiar figure.

Duanmu Qing.

Duanmu Qing was currently sprawled out leisurely on a sofa, eating potato chips while watching TV. Her entire body radiated a lazy aura. Perhaps her life had been a bit too comfortable lately, as she had visibly gained some weight, and her once-slender face was now sporting a layer of baby fat.

"Mr. Su, long time no see." Upon spotting Su Mu, Duanmu Qing merely raised her eyes to give a lazy greeting before immediately ignoring him, continuing to watch TV and munch on her chips.

Su Mu was silently amused. Just as they said, names could be given wrong, but nicknames never were. Having her take on the role of Sloth in the Seven Deadly Sins was truly a perfect fit.

They continued on to the CEO's office, where they found Nangong Mengli.

Seeing that Su Mu had returned, Nangong Mengli threw herself into his arms right in front of everyone's astonished gazes. "Susu, you finally decided to come back," she pouted playfully. "I missed you to death!"

The group's expressions turned awkward, and they kept glancing toward Su Qing, whose smile had completely frozen.

"Who is she?!" Su Qing demanded, a hint of a sob in her voice.

"And who are you?" Nangong Mengli's beautiful eyes turned icy cold.

"I'm his girlfriend!"

Nangong Mengli instantly bristled. Her gaze became extremely dangerous, radiating a bone-piercing chill as she glared fiercely at Su Mu. "You got a girlfriend?"

"Mhm."

[Instant Bloom]!

Time ground to a halt. A Mithril Dagger appeared in Nangong Mengli's hand, and she slashed it ruthlessly toward Su Qing's throat.

With her life hanging by a thread, Su Qing managed to dodge, but the blade still inevitably slashed her cheek. Crimson blood flowed down her pale, delicate skin.

She looked as if she had been scared senseless. Staring blankly for a moment, she suddenly burst into bawling tears.

"What are you doing?" Su Mu demanded.

Nangong Mengli retorted coldly, "Between her and me, you can only choose one!"

Su Mu furrowed his brows. That intense wave of nausea, which hadn't surfaced for a long time, instantly surged back up. He wanted to say something, but as the words reached his lips, they uncontrollably warped into, "Can't we just sit down and talk this out?"

"Scumbag! Then you can die too!"

Nangong Mengli raised the dagger in her hand and viciously stabbed it toward Su Mu.