Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 76: Tacit Understanding

Beijing time: 01:05.

From 1301 to 1829, then back to 1074.

The teammates spent most of their time hanging out in the corridor. Qian Ai walked to the point of questioning life. “Five minutes of puzzle-solving, one hour of walking…”

Even the [(Defense) Transparent Dream Team] couldn’t hold on. Five minutes ago, its time expired, and it called it quits unilaterally.

Fortunately, they reached 1074.

The least tired among them was Captain Xu. He was immersed in “Letter Memoirs” the whole way. By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing in front of room 1074, embodying the saying, “Close your eyes, and when you open them, it’s dawn.”

His teammates were waiting for him to speak. Xu Wang quickly switched back to “challenger mode”, grabbed the doorknob, and gently pressed.

The door was locked.

Looking left and right, ensuring no colleagues were nearby, Xu Wang gently knocked on door 1074.

As the knock sounded, the lock clicked open by itself.

A dim, strange light shone from inside the door.

The five cautiously entered the room, staying alert and quiet throughout.

Inside, it was pitch black, with no sight of bedding, decorations, or windows—like entering a dark cave, illuminated only by a bright spot in the center. It was a crystal ball on a table, emitting a cold light. Behind the table was a gypsy with her face covered in a veil. The cold light of the crystal ball reflected her snake-like eyes, making it mysterious and eerie.

“Hello…” Xu Wang, leading the team, stood at the entrance, trying to muster a friendly smile, and waved at the woman.

The gypsy lifted her gaze, sweeping it over the five people, remaining silent.

“Can she understand?” Qian Ai murmured softly, then raised his voice a bit. “Nice to meet you!”

Xu Wang: “……”

Kuang Jinxin: “……”

Qi Shan: “Um, what the captain said seems to be in English too…”

“Do you know the girl from room 1829?” Wu Sheng got straight to the point. “We’re helping her find someone to communicate with.”

The gypsy placed her hands on the crystal ball. After a few seconds, a black mist appeared in it.

“Evil spirit.” These were the first words she said as she raised her head.

Her voice was low and husky, not like she was having a conversation but more like chanting a mysterious and ancient spell.

The atmosphere became more oppressive.

“Is there a connection between the evil spirit and the communicator?” Xu Wang asked the key question.

The gypsy didn’t follow up, instead continuing to look at the crystal ball. “The evil spirit is in this castle, day after day, burning with the flames of vengeance. Hatred keeps it alive, and jealousy drives its paranoia. The only way to avoid the evil spirit—”

She slowly lifted her gaze back to them. “Deception.”

Kuang Jinxin: “Deceive the evil spirit?”

The gypsy shifted to his face, finally responding, “Yes. Use a decoy to deceive the evil spirit, let the fires of hell burn the decoy, and you can safely avoid it.”

Kuang Jinxin asked, “What about the decoy then?”

The gypsy woman said, “Endure the pain.”

Kuang Jinxin frowned. “That’s unfair…”

The gypsy woman gently stroked the crystal ball, and the black mist inside slowly dissipated. “Only those who are willing can become a decoy and deceive the evil spirit.”

Kuang Jinxin had no response.

Willingness leaves no room for others to comment.

“What if we don’t want to avoid it?” Wu Sheng suddenly asked.

The gypsy woman paused. A hint of confusion glazed her eyes. Clearly, this was outside her “divination scope”.

Xu Wang spoke for his advisor, clarifying, “We want to eliminate the evil spirit. How do we do that?”

“No, wait.” Qian Ai squeezed between them. “Calm down, you two. No matter how you spin this, this plot looks like it did a 360° to the horror line. We can’t steal someone else’s mission…”

Wu Sheng shook his head. “You need to look beyond the surface.”

Xu Wang looked deeply at him. “Lao Qian, this is about love.”

Qian Ai: “……”

The world is full of dog food. Why must it be eaten in a haunted house?!

Feeling heartbroken, Qian Ai moved away from the two, seeking comfort from Classmate Kuang, only to find him chatting with Classmate Qi.

…Five people walking together instantly highlight the single ones.

Covering his broken heart, Qian Ai couldn’t help but eavesdrop with one ear.

Kuang Jinxin: “This love story is not good.”

He wasn’t sure what was discussed earlier, but this was what Qian Ai heard.

“Game storylines are like this,” Qi Shan said, like an experienced gamer. “They have to be torturous to show depth of feelings.”

“It’s not about torture,” Kuang Jinxin said. “It’s okay for the decoy to be willing, but does the one who avoids the evil spirit know?”

Qi Shan couldn’t follow. “Does it matter?”

“Yes.” Kuang Jinxin nodded seriously. “If the one who avoids the evil spirit also loves the decoy, they wouldn’t agree to let the other suffer.”

Qi Shan: “Maybe they don’t know?”

Kuang Jinxin: “How sad would they be if they found out?”

Qi Shan: “…This love story is indeed not that great.”

Qian Ai listened to the whole process of Qi Shan being convinced. As an “experienced person”, he wasn’t surprised by the outcome.

Although his captain was eloquent, when it came to “preaching”, Kuang Jinxin was the master, silently persuasive as the wind.

Meanwhile, Advisor Wu and Captain Xu were close to making the gypsy cry, but the answer remained the same—she didn’t know which room the evil spirit was in and that it could only be avoided, not destroyed.

“Don’t you have any letters for us?” Captain Xu suddenly wondered.

The gypsy’s expression looked like she wanted to send them away.

Captain Xu sighed and whispered to Wu Sheng, “She’s like a mother to Xiao Kuang, but a stepmother to us…”

Wu Sheng consoled his captain. “You can’t compare yourself to a youth blessed by the gods.”

Captain Xu wasn’t satisfied. “Where am I lacking?”

Wu Sheng asked, “Are you seriously asking?”

Xu Wang: “…No thanks!”

That guy definitely had a stomach full of “harsh truths” waiting for him!

Wu Sheng laughed, unsure why he was happy. Ever since the love line began, he felt great. When he’s in a good mood, his mind opens up. Suddenly, he walked towards the back of the gypsy, and in a few steps, was swallowed by the darkness.

Xu Wang was startled and quickly followed, but after a few steps, the view suddenly brightened.

Wu Sheng turned on the flashlight on his phone.

Now they could see more clearly. There was no dark cave, just an empty hotel room devoid of furniture. The walls were covered with thick curtains, blocking out all light.

Looking at each other, Xu Wang nodded.

Wu Sheng immediately stepped forward and pulled the curtain halfway open!

Bright sunshine flooded in.

The light from the crystal ball was insignificant under the sun. The previously mysterious and oppressive atmosphere vanished.

“We should have done this earlier…” Qian Ai felt the relief of exiting a haunted house and hurriedly pulled the curtains fully open.

Like the room of the girl with the braided hair, behind the gypsy woman was a bright window. Through the glass, one could see the hotel’s expansive lawn and the clear blue sky…

“Ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh—”

Something flew past the window, leaving behind a series of piercing screams.

The five friends were unprepared and were momentarily stunned.

“Ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh—”

That “thing” flew back, still at the speed of light, but this time it circled around outside the window for a while before flying out of view. The friends could now make out that it was a young man riding a broom.

This scene was common in magic movies.

But the magicians in the movies definitely didn’t wear fluorescent green jackets.

The friends no longer paid attention to the gypsy. They all moved past the fortune-telling table to the window and saw clearly that there wasn’t just one broom flying outside, but five.

Their flight path resembled balloons wildly deflating.

Even so, they continued to encourage each other amidst screams—

“Hang in there—”

“Not falling is a victory—”

“My balls hurts. Ahhh—”

“You’ll get used to the pain—”

“No pain, no gain.”

“You fucking chose this line, and now you’re here giving me pep talks*?!”

*Chicken soup. It’s a metaphor referring to things (usually writings or articles) which affect motivation and make you feel good reading them, kind of like how eating chicken soup soothes the soul.

The five friends fell into an awkward silence.

Half a minute later, Xu Wang broke it. “This must be the ‘joy’ line…”

Qian Ai swallowed. “Where’s the joy?”

Kuang Jinxin said bluntly, “The brooms seem happy.”

Wu Sheng and Qi Shan: “……”

The ‘joy’ line made those who didn’t choose it feel a sense of relief from having narrowly escaped death.

After briefly observing the other team’s mission line, the friends were glad they made the right choice. They turned around to search the room more thoroughly but were startled the next second.

The gypsy had disappeared.

Only the crystal ball remained on the fortune-telling table.

Qian Ai’s scalp tingled. “Is she a fortune teller or a vampire…”

As if in response, a small flame suddenly appeared in the crystal ball.

Quickly, the flame turned into four burning numbers—1314.

Qian Ai frowned. “This room…”

Wu Sheng: “We’ve been there at the beginning.”

Xu Wang: “The writer.”

Kuang Jinxin: “Came here for inspiration.”

Qi Shan: “Wanting to write a revenge story.”

…Is there no way out for the underachievers!

The clues were clear, and the five friends immediately set out.

As they opened the door, the team opposite them did the same.

Ten friends looked at each other. One from the opposite team and Wu Sheng immediately raised their arms!

Clearly, teams that had made it this far had tactical rehearsals for sudden enemy encounters. Otherwise, multiple people activating defense stationery would waste a lot of time.

In an instant.

A white railing rose in front of the other team, encircling them like a protective barrier. On Xu Wang’s side, a majestic large wolf dog appeared, sitting in front of the five people, eyeing the other team as if challenging them to try something.

Wu Sheng was startled; this wasn’t his defense stationery.

Xu Wang, Kuang Jinxin, and Qian Ai felt the same, having memorized the equipment list during their strategic planning.

[Owl: Someone used [(Defense) Guard Dog] on you~~]

Xu Wang was the first to turn his head, looking at Qi Shan.

Following his lead, the friends realized this was the new teammate’s stationery.

Qi Shan was uncertain if he had done the right thing. He had just been called out before, and any tactic required communication first. But in such situations, it’s all about reflex, with no time to report…

“We are on the escape line.” The person across cut straight to the point, drawing back the attention of the five.

Xu Wang reciprocated. “We are on the career line.”

Twenty eyes met, all proud and upright, creating a harmonious scene.

“We’re heading that way.” Xu Wang pointed in the direction of 1314, speaking the truth this time.

The other team sighed in relief. Though the change in their expression was subtle, Xu Wang still caught it.

“We’ll go the other way.” The other team pointed in the opposite direction.

Xu Wang nodded. “Farewell for now.”

The other team also nodded. “Until we meet again.”

Before real conflicts of interest arise, no one wants to start a fight.

Provoking a third party would be counterproductive.

One group headed east, the other west, retreating face-to-face until the other’s figure was almost indiscernible. Then they each turned around and went their separate ways.

“Impressive,” Wu Sheng complimented Qi Shan sincerely as he caught up with him.

Qi Shan, walking ahead, almost stumbled in surprise and looked at him bewilderedly. “Huh?”

Xu Wang, walking beside them, explained, “His defense hadn’t activated yet, but yours had already appeared. He thinks your reaction speed is incredibly fast, so it’s impressive.”

Qi Shan: “……”

Can one word really carry so much meaning…?

“You’ll get used to it.” Qian Ai shared his experience with the new team member. “There’s a devilish understanding between those two.”

Xu Wang and Wu Sheng: “Your choice of adjectives…”

Qian Ai: “See, here it comes!”

Sheng and Wang: “…”

Qi Shan laughed, feeling more relaxed, and let it slip. “I specifically trained my reaction speed.”

The four teammates paused and looked at him, puzzled.

Qi Shan explained, “I wanted to be a professional esports player.”

Xu Wang: “Wanted to?”

Qi Shan: “Yeah, but although you can train for speed, my awareness wasn’t up to par, so I didn’t make it. It just became a hobby.”

“Can you train for awareness?” Kuang Jinxin asked, not being a gamer and not quite understanding the field.

Qi Shan said, “You can, but those with natural talent work just as hard, so you end up having no chance.”

Kuang Jinxin nodded, indicating he understood.

Xu Wang wanted to offer some consolation, but he quickly realized that Qi Shan’s eyes lacked regret. Instead, they still sparkled brightly. He truly loved esports, so much so that even being a spectator filled him with passion and longing.

Xu Wang decided not to say more. The group, along with their watchdog, proceeded quietly and swiftly to room 1314.

Inside, an elderly man was drinking red tea and watching the wildly flying brooms outside the window.

Qian Ai, trailing behind, carefully closed the room door.

Xu Wang, leading the way, opened with, “We’re back…”

The elderly man was delighted and smiled warmly. “I was just worrying about not having someone to talk to this afternoon, with all the ghastly screaming outside…”

Xu Wang tried to restrain himself from looking outside and asked, “You mentioned before that you were working on a new story about revenge?”

The elderly man clarified precisely. “To be accurate, it’s one of the new works I’m contemplating.”

Xu Wang asked, “Can you tell us more about it?”

When they had previously visited the room, the old man wasn’t so talkative; otherwise, they would have engaged in a deeper conversation then. Xu Wang figured that it must be the selection of their mission line that had truly triggered the corresponding NPC’s in-depth storyline.

“I haven’t really fleshed out the plot yet. I just heard a legend and thought to come here to find inspiration…” the elderly man said calmly, sipping his tea.

Xu Wang eagerly asked, “What legend?”

The elderly man set down his teacup and began slowly. “The legend says that in the Middle Ages, this place was just an ordinary village. Due to the rampant Black Death, anything associated with evil magic was blamed for this terrifying disease. The primary targets were witches, but in reality, those killed were innocent girls…”

The five friends exchanged looks.

Witches?

Coincidentally, they had met one.

Not only met, but also had been “warmly hosted”…

“In this village, there was such a girl who was accused of being a witch. Soon, the villagers executed her by burning her at the stake…”

“But afterwards, real evil spirits began to appear in the village. People died or were injured, and those who were lucky enough to survive quickly moved away…”

“Over time, the village was abandoned. Later, a nobleman who owned this land, for some reason, decided to build a castle here. Once the castle was completed and the nobleman moved in, his family never had peace again…”

“Then it comes to today.” The elderly man sighed, seemingly tired, but his eyes were still ablaze with a writer’s fervent passion. “Although the castle has now become a hotel, it is said that the evil spirit still lingers within, wandering restlessly.”

“Is it room 1310?” Xu Wang, who had been quiet the entire time, asked directly after the elderly man finished.

The elderly man looked bewildered. “What are you talking about?”

Xu Wang honestly replied, “We saw a painting in room 1310, depicting a witch being executed, and the walls had burn marks.”

The elderly man stood up excitedly. “Quick, take me to see it!”

Xu Wang was taken aback. “Huh?”

The elderly man had already firmly grasped his hand. “Quickly, take me to room 1310—”

The five friends: “……”

Shouldn’t he be the one guiding them? What kind of twist is this, where the challengers lead the NPC!

Having no choice, Xu Wang couldn’t bear to shake off the elderly man’s grip—mainly because he couldn’t—so he led the whole team, along with the elderly man, to room 1310.

The door to room 1310 was ajar.

Xu Wang stopped abruptly in front of the door, listening intently. His teammates behind him entered a “ready for battle” state.

The room was eerily quiet, without a sound.

Xu Wang frowned and, after seeking the consent of his teammates with a glance, pushed the door open.

Inside, two teams were in a standoff.

One line stood on the left, the other on the right, tense and alert, their expressions sharp. Hearing the noise, they all turned in unison—ten faces like ten elite monsters.

Captain Xu stopped at the entrance, wishing he could cut off the leg he used to walk in just now.

Behind him, his four teammates, except for the puzzled Qi Shan, understood their captain’s complex emotions.

A chance meeting on a narrow path between two familiar teams…

On the left were Han Buting, Li Xia, and Li Zijin, along with two new teammates they hadn’t met before. On the right were Muscles, Dark Circles, Paper Thin, Phoenix Eyes, and a new teammate.

Han Buting’s trio always looked cold, but their expressions darkened further upon recognizing them.

The expressions of Teacher Wei’s team were much more varied, including surprise, astonishment, squinting, raised eyebrows, and confusion.

Deciding who to greet first was an obvious issue.

But Captain Xu had to first engage in rapid calculations.

In just four days to turn in their submission for the Moonlight Maze, if Teacher Wei’s team had gone back to the first level, they would need to clear two single-level records to catch up—a probability that was just too low. The most likely scenario was that they had saved their progress in the Moonlight Maze.

“Did you save your progress?” Captain Xu directed this opener at Teacher Wei. His smile was warm and familiar, skipping formalities to quickly bridge the distance between them.

In a standoff between two armies, suddenly a third party arrives. Wei Menghan was also glad it was a team they had a “meal’s acquaintance” with. “Yes, did you save too?”

Captain Xu seemed to ponder but was actually continuing his rapid calculations.

If they had saved their progress and entered the Moonlight Maze with the opposing team the next day, then if the other team submitted their work, they would inevitably have to return to the first level. How could they be here on 6/23? It didn’t add up.

Wait, if he could figure this out, couldn’t the top-scoring Teacher Wei as well?

Xu Wang suddenly understood.

What’s most taboo during a three-way standoff? Making enemies.

Understanding but not revealing, they could still be friends…

“Yes,” Xu Wang firmly replied. His head was spinning with logic. What a tough job for a team captain!

Wei Menghan and Xu Wang exchanged looks.

Between the two captains, a silent “exchange of glances” took place.

Wu Sheng: “……”

Is such a simple logical relationship worth such a long stare!

Equally impatient was Han Buting—

“If you want to form an alliance, please hurry up. We don’t have time to watch you cultivate feelings.”

Forming an alliance meant breaking the balance and inevitably starting a battle.

Xu Wang looked at Han Buting, then at Wei Menghan, feeling they probably didn’t want to start a battle either. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have just stood there until his team arrived.

“We just met another team in the corridor.” Xu Wang didn’t pick up on Han Buting’s cue, suddenly bringing up something seemingly unrelated.

Feng Rang, the one with dark circles who had recommended financial products to Qian Ai, immediately understood and asked, “And then?”

Xu Wang: “We exchanged information about our mission lines, so there was no conflict.”

Feng Rang: “So?”

Xu Wang: “We parted ways, happily.”

Feng Rang: “Your point is. If our mission lines don’t conflict…”

Xu Wang: “We go our separate ways.”

Feng Rang: “What if the clues are all in this room?”

Xu Wang: “Find our own. Rely on our own abilities.”

Feng Rang: “I think that’s a good idea.”

With that, the two looked at their surrounding teammates, their smiles warm and inviting. “What do you think?”

This kind of tacit understanding was likely cultivated through selling financial products and real estate.

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