Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 74: Ancient Castle
From Huainan to Anyang, the friends leisurely traveled for four days.
Their journey was stitched together by several green leather trains, experiencing what Mao Qiping called a “comfortable journey” for the first time. They dozed off on the train during the day and slept soundly in the Endless Sea at night. Occasionally, when the interval between trains was too long, they explored the local cuisine around the train stations, living a peaceful, Zen-like existence.
When they left Beijing’s Endless Sea, they traveled light, carrying only small bags with essential documents and items. Even when entering the “Owl”, they were ready to move at a moment’s notice.
To avoid damage during battles, their phones were in waterproof and shockproof cases. However, there wasn’t a good solution for laptops, so Wu Sheng didn’t bring his when leaving Beijing.
It was unclear how his company’s affairs were handled, but one thing was certain: even without his laptop, their advisor could still shine his wisdom using only his phone’s memo app.
Shortly after boarding, while Qian Ai was still exploring the train attendant’s snack cart, Wu Sheng had already listed a full page of names on his memo app, showing it to his three teammates.
Xu Wang was confused by the repeated “Top 1-5” lists. “What’s this?”
“From the time we entered the Owl until now, the leaderboard has opened six times,” Wu Sheng explained. “All six lists are here.”
Xu Wang: “……”
Kuang Jinxin: “……”
Qian Ai returned, having just bought a pack of beef jerky. “Are you showing off your memory…”
Wu Sheng, with an innocent look that said, “Do I need to show off my memory?”, selected two names on the list. “This must be Muscles’ team.”
The selected names were:
First leaderboard: Top 5 – Feng Rang, Ji Yunlei, Wei Menghan, Zhu Mo, Zou Jun (8/23)
Second leaderboard: Top 4 – Feng Rang, Ji Yunlei, Wei Menghan, Zhu Mo, Zou Jun (8/23)
The unchanged scores suggested the team didn’t rashly attempt the 9/23 challenge within a week. Due to other teams dropping, they rose in rank, indicating no new teams had emerged.
With Wu Sheng’s selection, the friends understood.
Kuang Jinxin: “The team calls him Teacher Wei…”
Xu Wang: “No wonder he responded when I mentioned Muscles*…”
*Clarity: The nickname Xu Wang gave him is [Wei Menghan] (威猛汉), which is a homophone for his actual name [Wei Menghan] (魏孟寒).
Qian Ai: “Captain, how do you always hit the mark with nicknames?”
Wei Menghan, Teacher Wei, Muscles.
“They’re not just about eating,” Wu Sheng said, exiting the memo app. “They’re strong.”
Xu Wang: “Who said they only knew about eating?”
Wei Menghan and his team would probably turn over the table full of crawfish if they heard this.
Identifying Wei Menghan’s team was just the first step. Over the next few days, the friends, led by Advisor Wu, studied new tactical arrangements for stationery.
They used 26 pieces of stationery in 4/23, leaving 23. But with rewards for clearing and breaking records, each received two sets of defense, offense, and illusory stationery, replenishing 24 pieces. So, they had 47 pieces in total to strategize with.
As the last train segment ended, they had not only recovered from the fatigue of 4/23 but were also fully revitalized.
It was early morning when they arrived in Anyang. The sun was just rising warmly, and the sky was clearing up. They started the day with spicy soup and egg-stuffed pancakes, then checked into a hotel to freshen up. At noon, they tried Anyang’s three smoked dishes*, Daokou roasted chicken, and fried skin dregs, enjoying themselves like a senior tour group.
*Famous specialty in Anyang referring to smoked chicken, smoked eggs, and smoked pig.
As night fell, their comfort faded, replaced by the tension of the unknown upcoming level.
Their coordinates were at a crossroad.
At midnight, the four arrived 200 meters away from the crossroads, waiting in the shadows.
The crossroad was empty, but they couldn’t tell how many competitors were hidden in the surrounding darkness.
All was silent; even the wind stopped.
“Hoot, hoot—”
A purple vortex formed around a manhole cover near their feet. Without hesitation, they jumped in.
The sensation of weightlessness disappeared, and their vision cleared.
Castle banquet hall.
The dome was adorned with murals, crystal chandeliers, exquisite reliefs, and a long table filled with delicacies. In the center, guests in groups of three or five chatted lively, and waiters bustled about with trays of drinks.
The castle had a medieval vibe, but the guests wore modern clothes, as if a company had rented the place for a year-end party.
Laughter and chatter filled the air.
Xu Wang and his team stood out, but they weren’t the only ones out of place.
Looking around, they saw others like them, some in groups of four, others alone, some confused, some cautious, some thoughtful, and some blending in with the guests, eating and drinking.
Beijing time, 00:02:00.
The two-minute “Owl entry time” ended, and a voice announced the closure of the portal with a “N-in-one” prompt.
“Ding—”
The guests, mingling with their toasts and laughter, were oblivious to the distinct, strange sound, diligently fulfilling their roles as NPCs. Those clinking glasses continued, and the conversations went on.
This was the moment to identify the “challenge-takers”—those who raised their arms couldn’t escape notice.
[Roster]: Team members insufficient (4/5). Would you like to add more members?
Xu Wang and his team were prepared for this. Although Captain Yue had failed twice to break the “ten-minute curse” in the challenges and was reluctant to discuss this level, the need to add members upon entering was still reluctantly shared.
The four teammates unanimously chose “Yes”.
A list of potential members immediately appeared:
6/23 Chen Xu [Invite]
6/23 Chi Yingxue [Invite]
6/23 Deng He [Invite]
6/23 Qi Shan [Invite]
6/23 Wang Chuming [Invite]
Unlike [Report Card], [Roster] showed the current level of the players, not the levels they had completed. However, what Xu Wang didn’t expect was that, despite the banquet hall seeming full of challengers, only five were actually without a team.
And one of them was on their blacklist…
Qian Ai’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How did he manage to get to this level?”
It wasn’t a question of ability but of personality; Qian Ai couldn’t understand how any team could tolerate that guy for more than two days.
“He made it here, but he’s without a team again,” Xu Wang said, feeling complicated. Despite their hostility towards him, if they hadn’t meddled with his relationship with his teammates a month ago on 3/23, perhaps things would have worked out.
It was hard for someone like Chi Yingxue to find a team that he approved of and that didn’t disdain him.
Kuang Jinxin didn’t think too much. Upon seeing Chi Yingxue’s name, he instinctively looked around and eventually spotted the man leaning against a wall corner diagonally across from them.
Chi Yingxue was dressed normally today, in a dark coat and similarly colored pants, even appearing somewhat low-key.
Feeling the gaze on him, he suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met across the crowd of guests.
Kuang Jinxin was stunned, unsure how to react.
Chi Yingxue nodded slightly, acknowledging him from afar.
His gaze held no sign of “reunion of old acquaintances”—no hostility, murderous intent, surprise, or astonishment. His look, including the slight nod, was like that towards a stranger.
Kuang Jinxin was completely baffled. Even if they hadn’t clashed before, such politeness and courtesy weren’t Chi Yingxue’s style.
The other three teammates, unaware of this “eye contact”, focused on the list of potential members.
With only five options for addition, it meant most challengers trapped here had teams but were understaffed and couldn’t truly enter the level.
“Too many monks, not enough porridge*,” Qian Ai lamented, then reminded their captain, “Hurry up and choose, or we’ll really be left with an empty bowl.”
*(僧多粥少) Idiom referring to too many people and two few things to distribute.
As he finished speaking, two names disappeared from the list: Wang Chuming and Chen Xu.
Xu Wang, Wu Sheng: “……”
Qian Ai: “Got it. I’ll shut up.”
As Qian Ai fell silent, Xu Wang didn’t hesitate any longer. He had planned to communicate with these few individuals before choosing, but now it seemed they had to leave it to luck.
“Xiao…” Xu Wang was about to ask Kuang Jinxin for his opinion, but the prompt sounded first.
All four teammates received the same message:
[Roster]: Qi Shan requests to join your team. Do you agree?
It turned out to be a mutual selection; apart from teams actively adding members, solo players could also apply to join teams. The four teammates looked at each other, thinking it was a match made in heaven. Why wait?
“Ding—”
[Roster]: Qi Shan joined your team.
[Owl: Welcome to the Castle Hotel~~]
The world went dark for a moment, then lit up again. The banquet hall, the guests, and the fellow challengers had vanished. The complete five-member team found themselves in a room at the Castle Hotel. The bed and furnishings were antique, but the telephone and notepaper on the dark brown desk revealed its “modern” identity.
Along with the four teammates, the fifth member, Qi Shan, also appeared.
Judging by the name, Xu Wang had expected a bright-eyed young boy*. But in reality, Qi Shan was in his early twenties, slightly shorter than Wu Sheng, around 1.85 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and a face that was not particularly striking but very approachable and friendly to look at—basically, a total heartthrob.
*Clarity: His name is [Qi Shan] (齐闪). The [Shan] (闪) means flash or shining, which gave Xu Wang that impression.
“Thank you for letting me join,” Qi Shan said with a dazzling smile, instantly switching from cool to sweet.
Xu Wang sincerely bonded with the new teammate. “We mainly choose based on looks.”
“Cough.” Wu Sheng cleared his throat. “Time is limited. We can build our friendship while tackling the challenges.”
Advisor Wu emphasized the word ‘friendship’.
Xu Wang, immersed in the joy of a new teammate, didn’t hear him and continued to ask Qi Shan, “Why did you choose our team?”
Wu Sheng: “……”
Lao Qian stepped forward, patting Wu Sheng on the shoulder, consoling, “Since ancient times, it’s always out with the old, in with the new.”
Wu Sheng didn’t respond and just shot him a look.
“I saw your names first among the options,” Qi Shan said. “My intuition told me it was you guys.”
Xu Wang was surprised. “Our names are pretty ordinary, right?”
“It’s hard to explain, just a feeling.” Qi Shan looked at each teammate. There was a bit of pride in his tone. “But now that I’ve seen you in person, I know I made the right choice. Without saying anything, I can match your names to your faces.”
Xu Wang was amazed. “Really?”
Kuang Jinxin and Qian Ai were also surprised.
Wu Sheng raised an eyebrow, then frowned slightly, as if he saw a charmer who used little tricks to win hearts.
Qi Shan first looked at Xu Wang. “You are Wu Sheng.”
Then at Wu Sheng. “You are Kuang Jinxin.”
Then at Kuang Jinxin. “You are Qian Ai.”
Then at Qian Ai. “You are Xu Wang.”
After speaking, Qi Shan gave a warm smile as if to say, “I told you we were destined to be together.”
The four teammates: “……”
Confused by their new member’s mix-up, they began to question their own identities…
“Xu Wang.”
“Wu Sheng.”
“Kuang Jinxin.”
“Qian Ai!”
They decided to introduce themselves properly.
Qi Shan was stunned. “Did I get all of you wrong?”
Wu Sheng responded with a clear and refreshed nod. “Don’t doubt it. You perfectly missed all the correct answers.”
In this awkward yet warm atmosphere, the ceremony of welcoming the new member came to a successful conclusion.
Like them, Qi Shan had never been to 6/23 before, but unlike them, he hadn’t skipped 5/23. When Xu Wang honestly shared that their team had set a record for a single challenge and then inexplicably jumped a level to get here, Qi Shan reciprocated by sharing what he knew.
Firstly, breaking the record for submission did indeed grant the reward of “advancing one level further”; secondly, the content of 5/23 was “Ghost House Infernal Affairs”, which involved entering a maze-like old house as a ghost and completing tasks without being discovered by various monsters, ghosts, and evil spirits.
Although Xu Wang and his team had already obtained information about the fifth level from Captain Yue, they were relieved to hear Qi Shan’s information align perfectly with Yue Shuai’s description.
Objectively speaking, accepting a new member was uncertain. A good addition meant joy for everyone—a bad one could bring unrest. As the team captain, Xu Wang didn’t take this lightly.
After a brief exchange of information, the five teammates quietly opened the room door.
Outside was a narrow, long corridor with a dark-patterned carpet, candles on the walls, and a seemingly endless row of identical doors with only the room numbers different.
“Defense?” Wu Sheng whispered.
Despite Yue Shuai not wanting to discuss this level, he still told them that although his team didn’t last ten minutes in their two attempts and didn’t know the actual task, they encountered a secret passage the first time and found a save point the second.
The presence of a save point suggested they might encounter teams that had battled the previous day. As newcomers unaware of the actual task, they needed to be extremely vigilant to avoid unknown dangers.
Considering this, Xu Wang decisively nodded. “Basic defense.”
Wu Sheng promptly activated his [Stationery Box].
[Owl: Someone used [Transparent Dream Team] on you~~]
As the alert sounded in their ears, the teammates became invisible, including Qi Shan.
Qi Shan wasn’t surprised by the protective gear, but the term “basic defense” seemed like a cool code for communication.
The gear not only concealed the teammates’ appearances but also Qi Shan’s surging emotions.
Upon reaching the corridor, they saw that their room was 1301.
The corridor was silent, with the carpet muffling their footsteps and only the faint sound of burning candles in their ears.
A shadowy figure was faintly visible ahead, but before they could get a clear look, it disappeared.
The teammates reached the spot where the shadow vanished, room 1310, with its door half-open.
The room was silent, neither visible through the partially open door nor audible, not seeming like a “challenge-taker” was inside.
Although invisible, the teammates could see each other. After exchanging glances, they decided to enter.
Slipping through the wide door gap, they entered a room similar in décor and bedding to their own, but the wall color was different.
This room had unevenly charred black walls, as if burned by fire, and was in complete disarray.
However, the furnishings were brand new.
Even the oil paintings on the walls were vivid, as if freshly painted.
But the content of the paintings was cruel.
It depicted a “witch execution” from the Middle Ages: a young woman tied to a cross, with a blazing fire beneath her and an excited crowd around, as if eager to fan the flames higher.
The woman looked pained but resolute, staring at two onlookers hiding behind a nearby tree.
It was a young man and woman kissing behind a tree, using the witch’s execution fire as their bonfire for a date.
Suddenly, the “witch” in the painting slowly turned her head towards the teammates.
The five silent teammates watched as the “witch” turned from a side profile to a full face, finally locking eyes with them and giving a sinister smile.
Amidst the chilling sensation, the walls of the room suddenly burst into flames!
The heat was scorching!
“Retreat—”
Xu Wang, no longer caring about revealing their position, decisively led the team out of room 1310!
Thankfully, they didn’t encounter a crazed scenario like the door suddenly shutting behind them.
Back in the corridor, the five, sweating coldly, couldn’t tell if their fear was from escaping the inferno or the witch’s smile.
Now they knew. What entered room 1310 wasn’t a human shadow, but a ghost!
“Click—”
“Click—”
“Click—”
Room doors 1312, 1313, and 1314 opened simultaneously. A long-haired gentle girl, a gentleman in a suit, and an old man with white hair but a youthful face each peeked out. They searched the corridor but couldn’t find the invisible five. They looked at each other, asking, “What happened?”
After asking, all three looked bewildered. Then they closed their doors.
Considering that none of them seemed like aggressive NPCs, after agreeing unanimously, Wu Sheng undid the invisibility, and the five knocked on each door for a friendly exchange.
The process went smoothly, and in no time, they learned the backgrounds of the three individuals.
The long-haired girl from 1312 was here on vacation, but she couldn’t remember where her home was or how long she had been staying here.
The gentleman in 1313 was here for a business cocktail party and hadn’t encountered any problems.
The old man in 1314 was a writer, constantly working on his writing and currently brainstorming a new novel.
They gathered some information but still had no clue what the actual task of this level was.
Beijing time, 00:15:00.
After wandering cluelessly for fifteen minutes, Xu Wang’s team finally heard the dreaded voice—
[Owl: I hope you have found your direction~~]
This was followed by an update on the [Cheat Sheet]—
[Cheat Sheet]: Please select a task line for 6/23. Once chosen, it cannot be changed. Love Line/Career Line/Puzzle Line/Escape Line/Joy Line/Horror Line?
The five looked at each other.
Qi Shan’s surprise was simple—he didn’t expect to be able to choose a task line.
The other four teammates, on top of being equally surprised, had an additional layer of thought—had they just easily passed fifteen minutes and received the task prompt? What exactly had Captain Yue and his team experienced in their two “Ten Minutes Curse”…
The author has something to say:
Captain Yue, heartbroken, doesn’t want to speak… TAT
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