As long as you have the courage, fierce ghosts go on maternity leave.

Chapter 202: The Blood Queen’s Castle

The Blood Queen is looking for me? A sudden chill ran down Alexander’s spine.

Before he could press further, Louis had already closed his eyes, his breathing becoming steady, seemingly asleep.

Alexander couldn’t help but notice how Androgynous Louis looked, thinking it’s a shame he’s a guy.

Shaking his head vigorously, trying to rid himself of the unsettling thought, Alexander got up and headed downstairs.

Ghost Apartment, 17th floor.

Stepping around the corner of the staircase, Alexander was struck dumb by the sight before him. It was as if he’d stepped into a mirage. Instead of a hallway lined with apartment doors, a vast forest stretched out.

Towering, gnarled trees with pitch-black bark that resembled the skin of the elderly, stood twisted and deformed. Their canopies seemed long dead, yet they bore sparse, maple-shaped leaves in a deep shade of red.

As a chilling wind rustled the trees, the blood within the leaves seemed to flow as if trapped inside them, gently swirling around.

The floor area of the Ghost Apartment was large, but it was still just a building! How could it hide an endless forest? Bizarre was an understatement.

At the edge of the forest stood old, rustic-looking houses. Each had a white lantern hanging on the door. Some flickered with a soft glow while others remained dark and locked.

Creak...

A paper window on the second floor of one house opened a crack. A silhouette, appearing to be a young girl with long hair and pale-green eyes, curiously gazed at Alexander.

Just as Alexander was about to wave, a shadowy claw gripped her neck, yanking her into the darkness. Throughout the ordeal, no sound was heard.

Startled, Alexander continued to survey his surroundings.

The Blood Queen had asked him to find her, but hadn’t specified which house she resided in. Anyone on the 17th floor would be at least of the Ghost Prince tier. Without confirmation, Alexander dared not venture recklessly.

Finally, taking a deep breath, he ventured towards the red maple forest. Intuition told him the Blood Queen wouldn’t follow convention and reside within those houses; she would be in the forest.

The atmosphere in the forest was eerie to the extreme. Everywhere he looked, he saw the dark, twisted trunks of the trees. Though the blood-red leaves were sparse, their sheer number in the massive canopies made them appear almost infinite.

From outside, it seemed different, but inside the forest, looking up, the leaves formed a network that resembled entwined blood vessels sprawling across the sky.

The wind howled between the tree canopies, its voice becoming increasingly mournful.

On the ground, a similar shade of red moss blanketed the forest floor, reminding Alexander of pools of blood.

The bizarre scene made Alexander uneasy, compelling him to quicken his pace involuntarily.

Soon, through gaps in the tree canopy, the heart of the forest revealed an ancient, weathered castle.

This scene felt strangely familiar to him. It resembled the image on Black Stocking Anne’s shirt, which depicted this very forest and castle, didn’t it?

Alexander didn’t dwell on it for too long, however. Su Rong had mentioned that Anne had a good relationship with the Blood Queen.

Alexander even planned to leverage this relationship to invite the Blood Queen to work as a doctor in his clinic, so this connection wasn’t that surprising.

If there was any place in this area that could be the residence of the Blood Queen, it would undoubtedly be this castle.

Taking a step forward, Alexander headed toward the castle. Yet, although it seemed only a short walk away, and despite Alexander’s brisk pace, after three hours the castle remained distant.

Was this some mysterious formation? Whatever it was, it was undoubtedly the work of the Blood Queen.

Clearly, walking straight up to it was impossible.

After a brief hesitation, Alexander summoned his ghostly energy and declared loudly, "Chosen One Alexander seeks an audience with Her Highness, the Blood Queen!"

Creak...

From afar, the windows of the twenty-four ancient houses surrounding the forest, where lights were lit, flung open. Figures appeared, gazing at Alexander in astonishment.

"Who’s this? A chosen one daring to come here? Quite brave!"

"I think his name’s Alexander. I heard he’s Mr. Louis’ adopted brother! Thomas suffered a loss at his hands!"

"Louis? Quite the connection. But this is the Ghost Apartment, and the Blood Queen might not show respect for Louis."

"To shout outside the Blood Queen’s castle, how audacious! Just watch; he won’t leave this place. By tomorrow, the forest will have another blood leaf."

Alexander couldn’t hear the murmurs of these ghosts, but he could discern their expressions - ones of pity for a man facing impending doom.

But he wasn’t concerned. The Blood Queen wouldn’t harm him. After all, he and the Blood Queen shared a 70-point affinity.

From what he understood of his talents, this level of affinity meant they could jest and banter like friends. She definitely wouldn’t hurt him.

Ignoring the onlookers, he shouted once more, "Chosen One Alexander seeks an audience with Her Highness, the Blood Queen!"

Whoosh...

This time, as Alexander’s voice echoed, the entire forest rustled. Leaves detached from the dark branches, turning into red liquid that streamed and converged beneath him, forming a river of blood.

Was he supposed to cross it?

Alexander was taken aback, but then heard a soft, melodious voice, "Little brother, why aren’t you coming over? Don’t you miss me?"

Despite the sweet tone, Alexander felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn’t shake off the images from the Ghost Restaurant video he’d seen multiple times.

While the Blood Queen was beautiful, her skin peeling off like fish scales was haunting. Selena’s appearance made Alexander wonder if things were more complex than they seemed.

However frightening, he felt he must proceed.

Taking a deep breath, Alexander stepped forward.

In the distance, windows of the ghostly mansions closed one by one, accompanied by sighs of resignation:

"He’s doomed."

"Why is he so reckless? Doesn’t he know how terrifying the Blood Queen is?"

"Indeed, no man has ever come out alive!"

"Another blood leaf... Young ones these days are too impulsive for their own good."