Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 11

Regarding what Qi Liuxing had said, Zhou Qian didn’t answer for the moment and just looked towards the opposite bank of the lake.

The goddesses had completely disappeared, leaving only snow-white petals covering the ground. The Great God Epoh was peacefully asleep amidst the flowers, as if he had entered a long slumber.

At this moment, the believers probably didn’t have the time or intent to continue hurting him.

They wanted to become gods. They were eager to pick the apples.

At that moment, the 19 believers were rushing one after another across the three bridges.

The branches with apples were quite high, not something one could easily reach by simply raising their hand.

So, presumably, after these believers reached the other side of the lake, they couldn’t immediately get to them. They would have to climb trees and help each other by stepping on shoulders to get the apples.

Before they got their hands on the apples, Zhou Qian took out a spherical object from his bag.

[Item: Flash Bomb]

[Function: When thrown on the ground, it emits a flash and smoke that confuses the vision of regular enemies. Lasts for three minutes.]

This item was something Zhou Qian had acquired from Gao Shan during the scoring game.

Holding the flash spray bomb, Zhou Qian quickly walked to the head of the bridge, fiercely throwing it towards the opposite bank. Instantly, colorful fog that also flashed rose, turning the dreamy and tranquil scene into something reminiscent of a peculiar nightclub.

In front of the mobile phone screen.

Yu Xian: “Damn, my eyes are going blind from the flash. What kind of fantasy punk style is this?

“I almost had a bizarre thought that after these believers eat the apples and transform into gods, they might just start dancing right there. The scene would be too beautiful…”

“Ahem, anyway, what does Qian Ge want to do?”

Zhu Qiang analyzed for a moment. “The purpose of this item is to obscure vision. It’s hard to say how much advantage it can provide in a fight, but right now… Qian Ge probably wants to use it to slow down the believers from picking apples.”

Yu Xian: “But didn’t he say not to stop them from eating the apples?”

Zhu Qiang: “He’s coming down from the bridge. Let’s watch!”

Inside the game.

Four players gathered on the shore, and Zhou Qian finally answered Qi Liuxing’s previous question.

“The four of us, trying to stop 19 people from picking apples, have no chance of winning. Even if we try our best, some will succeed in eating them. By that time, those who have transformed will be gods, but our HP and MP will be emptied. How would we escape?”

Qi Liuxing asked, “So what do we do? Try to destroy the three bridges?”

Zhou Qian shook his head. “It won’t make much difference. The bridges were conjured by the goddesses. Don’t forget, they became gods after eating the apples. So, even if the transformed believers lose their senses, you can’t be sure they won’t make a bridge.”

Gao Shan: “So what do we do? Just wait for all 19 of them to become gods? The difference in power is too vast!”

“This game is only at level one. The method to clear it is simple. We don’t need to confront the NPCs directly.”

Zhou Qian explained, “After eating the apples, the believers will lose their senses and attack us. But if they can’t see us, how can they act? So, we just need to find a place to hide during the time they’re picking apples.”

Gao Shan couldn’t help but ask again, “That sounds easy, but where do we hide?”

Yun Xiangrong reacted quickly. “The treehouse! That’s it… The hiding place, the game told us right at the beginning!”

“We started at the treehouse area, which is far from here and relatively concealed. Even if the believers slowly search their way there, we can still play guerrilla warfare with them. We’re more familiar with the terrain over there! We just need to hold on for an hour, and then we can leave Apple Paradise and pass successfully.”

Gao Shan seemed to have an epiphany. “This flash bomb can last for 3 minutes. The believers successfully picking apples would be a matter for at least 3 minutes later. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s hurry and hide in the treehouse!”

After saying this, Gao Shan and Yun Xiangrong looked at each other, nodded, and turned to head towards the treehouse.

However, Zhou Qian suddenly spoke up, stopping them. “Wait.”

“Why are you wasting time? We only have 3 minutes!” Gao Shan said anxiously.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qian replied, “Sorry, using this flash bomb to hold them back for 3 minutes wasn’t actually to buy us time to hide. I just wanted to use these 3 minutes to persuade you to agree to my other plan.”

Gao Shan, Yun Xiangrong, and Qi Liuxing: “…”

“What I’m about to say is the main point. Not stopping the believers from eating the apples, playing hide and seek with them in the treehouse. Doing these two things, players can clear this level by just enduring. But if—”

Zhou Qian looked at the other three and said, “If it’s just like this, the gameplay is too mediocre. We can’t get any special rewards.”

“What do you mean…” Gao Shan was a bit hesitant.

Zhou Qian explained, “The pass rate for this instance is 70%. The initial scoring game is the first checkpoint. The probability of all five of us getting through without injury is too low. The usual way most likely involves 5 players going in and 4 coming out, so the survival rate for players at this stage is generally 80%. This is close to the average pass rate. This means that most people can safely get through the next escape segment and successfully pass. But don’t forget—”

“There are hidden achievements in this instance.”

“Believers, abused gods, apples nourished by pain and godly blood… there must be a purpose behind these images. If we just leave like this, we haven’t helped anyone in this story.”

“We need to fully understand the story behind the instance to get the real hidden achievements and the most special rewards. So—”

Zhou Qian then looked towards the other side of the lake.

Three minutes were about to pass. The colorful smoke was slowly dissipating.

With an intrigued look in his eyes, Zhou Qian continued, “The system message says that after eating the apple, one will lose their sanity for a period of time. But what happens after that period? What will happen to the believers? Is Epoh just sleeping with his eyes closed the entire time?”

“So, my suggestion is to abandon the plan to hide in the treehouse. We should witness the entire storyline here, so we know how to trigger the hidden achievement.”

After Zhou Qian finished speaking, the three players were silent for a full three seconds.

The first to respond was Gao Shan. “This is too dangerous! If we play it safe, we can survive. But staying here, 4 against 20, we are very likely to be wiped out! We can’t risk our lives for a hidden reward! We… we won’t stay here. We’ll go to the treehouse!”

“But I need you,” Zhou Qian said.

On hearing this, both Qi Liuxing and Yun Xiangrong couldn’t help but chuckle.

Why should Zhou Qian assume that just because he needs them, they will risk their lives with him?

After all, the probability of getting the hidden achievement was only 10%.

Zhou Qian, seemingly oblivious to the looks from his teammates, said earnestly, “I’m currently a Rank F player, a combat weakling without any skills. That’s why I need your help.”

“You three, healer, DPS, and tank, each with your own skills. We can form a team, with me as the commander. Follow my plan, and we can surely get the hidden achievement.”

Before the others could rebut, Zhou Qian continued, “You came here for special rewards. Why are you afraid to take risks now?”

“Or let me rephrase—why did you agree to play this game in the first place? Can you achieve what you want by always playing it safe?”

Yun Xiangrong took a deep breath and looked at Zhou Qian. “This is gambler behavior.”

Zhou Qian smiled. “I am indeed a gambler. But when I win at the gambling table, it’s never due to luck but strategy and precise execution. For just a level-one instance, as long as you listen to me, achieving the hidden achievement isn’t hard.”

Yun Xiangrong pressed on. “How can you guarantee that?”

Zhou Qian replied, “Based on the special intel I got from the side quest.”

Glancing again at the other side of the lake, Zhou Qian’s expression became a bit more serious. “We don’t have much time. I can’t explain everything to you now. I’ll give you ten seconds to think. Those willing to stay, just follow my command.”

……

In front of the phone screen, both Yu Xian and Zhu Qiang shook their heads.

“What kind of intel does Qian Ge have? He has only three pills at most, which can limit the actions of only three godly believers.”

“My former boss used to paint us rosy pictures, just like Qian Ge.”

“Yeah, I know the outcome. Your company went bankrupt, and you lost your job.”

To the other players, it seemed Zhou Qian was drawing an unrealistically promising picture…

Soon, through the phone screen, the Yu Zhu duo saw the choices made by the other players.

Yun Xiangrong and Gao Shan chose the safe route, heading for the treehouse; Qi Liuxing surprisingly chose to stay.

Before turning to leave, Yun Xiangrong said to Zhou Qian, “I’ve realized how difficult it is to get a hidden achievement in such an instance. You can’t possibly succeed.”

Seemingly not hearing that at all, Zhou Qian just looked at Qi Liuxing with a smile, praising sincerely, “Truly worthy of being the highest-ranked Sword God among us!”

Qi Liuxing coldly looked at Zhou Qian. “I am indeed willing to stay and continue to explore the plot. But I won’t listen to your commands. I won’t believe a word you say anymore.”

Ah, it seems that when they played the treehouse scoring game, he had left a deep psychological shadow on this young man, hadn’t he?

As the conversation reached this point, Qi Liuxing solemnly added, “Also, being called a ‘Sword God’ or something, I’m nowhere close to that. It’s just a title gamblers use to cheer me on.”

Zhou Qian chuckled upon hearing this, only for Qi Liuxing to continue, “Once the 19 NPCs eat the apples and become gods, I’ll decide if I should flee to the treehouse and forfeit the hidden achievement based on the situation.”

“My basic attributes are all pretty good; I can fight, endure hits, and run fast. So, I am confident I can escape unscathed. But I’m not sure I can still escape safely with you slowing me down. I’m telling you this now, so don’t blame me for being heartless or unemotional later.”

“No. You’re neither heartless nor emotionless. You will save me,” Zhou Qian said confidently.

Qi Liuxing, a young man not yet 18, didn’t hide his emotions well.

He feigned indifference and sternly said to Zhou Qian, “Why do you think so? You cheated me out of my money and items, and now you expect me to save you?”

In the end, he couldn’t help but add, “Why are you so shameless?!”

For a young man who seemed to have received a good upbringing, using just the phrase “shameless” to insult someone when angered was quite restrained.

Even though Dong Xiang was indeed a scumbag, Zhou Qian had a slight feeling that the proportion of good people he encountered in this story seemed a bit too high.

However, real-life experience told Zhou Qian that most people in the world were untrustworthy. The only thing that truly bound everyone together was “interest”, especially substantial interest.

With that, Zhou Qian gave Qi Liuxing a meaningful look and said with a smile, “You want to stay, which means you really want the hidden reward. That means the special information I have is useful to you.”

Casting a glance at the silhouette of a couple in the distance, Zhou Qian approached Qi Liuxing in the last second of the smoke bomb’s 3-minute effect, stared into his eyes, and slowly said, “Qi Liuxing, keep me alive. I’ll help you win.”

……

Leaning against an apple tree, Zhou Qian hid himself with only half of his head peeking out, looking towards the opposite shore of the lake.

One of his legs was casually bent, giving off a somewhat carefree vibe.

Yet, his demeanor exuded a calm and relaxed aura, making people want to follow him instinctively.

Across from Zhou Qian, Qi Liuxing stood upright with a long sword in hand.

Being labeled as a “Sword God” was the highest honor for a chuunibyou* like him. He always demanded of himself to stand as straight as a sword.

*Also known as middle-second syndrome or eighth-grader syndrome, is a Japanese colloquial term typically used to describe early teens who have grandiose delusions, who desperately want to stand out, and who have convinced themselves they have hidden knowledge of secret powers.

But now, he realized Zhou Qian’s posture seemed a bit more stylish.

So, leaning against a tree, Qi Liuxing unconsciously imitated Zhou Qian’s posture, bending one leg as well.

However, he remained stoic, forcing a straight face, and gave Zhou Qian a cold look, pretending he didn’t care about what Zhou Qian was saying.

Casually taking a barrier from his bag, Qi Liuxing threw it in front of one of the crystal bridges. “This barrier can last for three minutes. If all 19 of them rush over, it might block them for a bit, buying us some time to escape.”

Zhou Qian’s attractive eyes squinted slightly. “Not bad.”

Qi Liuxing asked, “So what exactly is the special information you have?”

Zhou Qian: “Actually, whether I tell you or not, it doesn’t matter much.”

Qi Liuxing: “?”

Zhou Qian: “Because apart from those three pills, I didn’t get any special information.”

Qi Liuxing: “…?! You—!”

The fact that even this was a ruse by Zhou Qian made Qi Liuxing furious. He glared at Zhou Qian. “Are you out of your mind? You have no info?! How do you, a Rank F weakling, expect to deal with 19 divine believers? Need I remind you? Your HP is only 300! One hit from my sword might kill you!”

Zhou Qian didn’t respond.

He stared at the opposite shore and then stood upright. “Remember Believer No. 1?”

Qi Liuxing asked, “The pregnant woman?”

“Yes.” Zhou Qian nodded. “It seems everyone’s transformation rate is different. She and the two men next to her ate the apples at the same time. Now she’s transformed, but the two men haven’t.”

Qi Liuxing quickly looked across the lake and immediately spotted the pregnant woman.

She stood out in the crowd, emanating a red glow that made her impossible to ignore. At the same time, her pupils had turned white, making her eyes look vacant, as if she had lost her sanity.

Opening her mouth, she suddenly let out a roar, and then something bizarre happened.

She crouched down in pain and screamed as if she was giving birth.

A round, fleshy blob covered in blood crawled out from her body. It was connected to her by an umbilical cord, wrapped around her waist. Her hands suddenly grew sharp claws, flailing about as if searching for a target to attack.

“Fuck—”

The sight was so grotesque and eerie that Qi Liuxing, who was always trying to maintain his cool swordsman demeanor, couldn’t keep his act up. His voice involuntarily pitched up in shock. “Is this what they call becoming a god? This looks more like turning into a monstrous zombie! She’s… She’s looking for a target, right? Damn it, she’s coming this way!”

Across the lake, the transformed Believer No. 1 was indeed approaching.

With every step, she left a bloody footprint. As she walked past other followers who were either eating or trying to pick apples, she headed straight for one of the crystal bridges, which had no barricades, and slowly walked towards their side of the lake. Throughout this process, her nose twitched continuously, as if sniffing something. Her eyes darted from left to right, and her arms flailed more violently.

[Target: Believer No. 1]

[Rank: C]

[Skills: ???]

[Warning: High aggression and strong killing intent detected. Players, be cautious!]

Qi Liuxing, after accessing her data through his watch, gripped his sword tightly and prepared himself for combat.

Unexpectedly, he heard Zhou Qian asking him in a rather relaxed tone, “Hey, let me quiz you.”

Qi Liuxing looked at him incredulously. “Are you out of your mind?”

Zhou Qian casually gestured towards the lake’s other side. “The believer consumes the apple, loses her sanity, emits a red glow, and shows high aggression and strong killing intent… So why didn’t she harm other believers and instead headed straight for us?”

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The author has something to say:

The illusions spun by Qian Ge taste as delicious as the divine apples.

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