After the secret marriage to my top star partner

Chapter 29.2

Editor: Princess

After running for six straight hours, Cui Zhixing’s shoes didn’t smell great. Mu Nan held it by the very edge, shaking it out with obvious disgust. Sure enough, two crumpled yellow talismans fell to the floor.

The talismans were damp, soaked with sweat. Mu Nan was certain that even if he “died” a hundred times in this game, he’d never pick them up for himself. Clearly, Cheng Han felt the same, because he didn’t even want to spare them a glance.

“Go ahead, explain.” Mu Nan pointed at the talismans, arms crossed, looking like he was waiting to hear some ridiculous excuse.

Cui Zhixing was sweating bullets. “I… I did take the talismans, but I swear I didn’t do anything to them! When I got there, they were already gone! These were just lying there, so I… I picked them up.”

Mu Nan let out a cold laugh. “If they had the talismans but still got taken, that means they’re useless. So why bother picking them up?”

“I… I wasn’t…” Cui Zhixing stammered, completely at a loss for words.

But just then, a soft click sounded behind them.

Mu Nan felt like his nerves were stretched too thin—he was getting way too sensitive to sounds. He whipped around, and sure enough, the locked door had been opened by the ghost. In the blink of an eye, it was standing right in front of them.

“Run!” This time, it was Mu Nan shouting. He bolted forward without hesitation, but then he suddenly remembered Cheng Han’s injured leg. He might not be able to run.

He skidded to a stop and turned back, only to freeze in shock. Cheng Han wasn’t running at all. Instead, he had dragged Cui Zhixing into a large office.

The ghost followed simple rules—it would always chase the closest target. So naturally, it followed them right into the office.

Then—click—both the front and back doors of the office locked from the inside.

“Cheng Han! What the hell are you doing?!” Mu Nan banged on the office door, trying to get him to open it, but Cheng Han didn’t budge.

Unlike a classroom, the office door had no windows, so he couldn’t see what was happening inside. He could only hear the sounds of a struggle, and then, complete silence.

He twisted the doorknob wildly, hoping to break the lock, but it was useless.

“Cheng Han, don’t do anything stupid!” Mu Nan didn’t even know if he was more anxious or angry. His eyes were red, his palms stinging from slamming the door. He stood outside, completely lost.

“Come out already…” His voice was barely above a whisper, like he was talking to himself.

“What are you doing?” Mu Nan had lowered his head, lost in thought, when someone suddenly patted his shoulder from behind.

“Ah!” He jumped in fright. He spun around, only to see Cheng Han standing there.

“You—you—you… how did you get out?!” He stammered in shock.

Cheng Han simply pointed at a window high up on the wall.

Mu Nan: …

Just as he followed his gaze, a piercing scream rang out from the broadcast speakers—Cui Zhixing’s death signal.

“Let’s go.” Cheng Han told him. “You get the sword ready and wait. I’ll lure her over.”

Mu Nan refused. “I’ll do it. You don’t need to run anymore.”

Cheng Han looked at him, his expression restrained, but after a moment, he nodded.

Seeing Cheng Han enter the designated room safely, Mu Nan took a deep breath, then smacked the back door hard.

Immediately, the ghost’s furious roar echoed from inside. Without hesitation, Mu Nan spun around and ran toward where Cheng Han was waiting.

This time, he didn’t sprint at full speed. He just kept a controlled pace, making sure the ghost stayed just close enough to chase him without realizing anything was off.

It was only a few dozen meters, but to Mu Nan, it felt like an eternity.

Every breath burned his lungs, and his legs felt like they were filled with lead.

Finally, the familiar room was within reach.

With all his strength, he dove into the room, collapsing onto the floor. Because he knew, that the rest was up to Cheng Han now.

Cheng Han was already in position, gripping the peachwood sword. And the moment the ghost stepped inside, he struck, stabbing it right in the torso.

A shrill, ear-piercing wail erupted. Mu Nan could feel the floor trembling beneath him as the ghost thrashed and howled in agony.

After a minute, the ghost’s struggles weakened, then ceased. The shaking ground slowly steadied.

Cheng Han still held the sword tightly, sweat dripping from his sharp brow. Mu Nan could even hear the faint drip, drip of sweat hitting the floor.

Then, he saw Cheng Han reaching a hand toward him.

“We did it… right?” Mu Nan lay on the floor, looking up at him.

Cheng Han didn’t reply. He just curled his fingers, signaling for him to grab hold.

Cheng Han’s fingers trembled slightly from sheer exhaustion. Mu Nan hesitated for a second, but it was like he was under a spell, because he still reached out and grabbed hold.

Cheng Han pulled him up from the floor, but maybe they were both too drained, as neither of them had the energy to celebrate. They just walked downstairs in silence.

Now that everything was over, they took their time. A few flights of stairs took them nearly five minutes to descend.

The entrance of the ghost school was right in front of them, the same door they had come through. Now the ghost was dead, the door was about to open, and Mu Nan and Cheng Han had won.

“Then, I’m opening it?” Mu Nan asked.

The lights were still dim, casting shadows. Cheng Han’s gaze was deep, unreadable. He stared at Mu Nan for a long time before finally nodding.

“Ahh, finally… I’m exhausted.” Mu Nan pushed the door hard, but it didn’t budge.

He shook out his aching arms, figuring he was just too tired. So he leaned in, pressing half his body weight against the door.

Clack. A sharp metallic sound rang out, the sound of a lock clicking into place.

In that instant, every drop of sweat on his body dried up and his hair stood on end. A strange, numbing chill crawled up his scalp.

He stayed in position, still leaning against the door. Then slowly, he turned his head, and in the dead silence, he could almost hear the creak of his own neck moving.

Cheng Han was now standing right behind him—when had he moved? That deep, unreadable gaze from before was gone. Now, his eyes were filled with cold-blooded killing intent.

Mu Nan opened his mouth, but his voice shook more than he expected. “You…”

“Mm.” A deep, guttural sound rumbled from Cheng Han’s throat.