Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 80: Banquet Hall

The night was pitch black, with the moon hiding behind dark clouds, refusing to let even a sliver of light shine through.

On a secluded path in Anyang City, fifteen people suddenly appeared, as if out of nowhere. Some carried backpacks; others were lightly dressed, each in different attire, resembling a hastily assembled group of individual travelers.

But without exception, they all stood gasping for breath. Some were still stiff, while others were slightly recovered, yet the pain in their eyes was clearly visible.

The truth of a matter sometimes lies not in the outcome but in the process. A pain akin to death, more terrifying than death itself.

Han Buting was the first to straighten up, his expression grim. For a moment, Xu Wang thought he was really about to start a fight. But in the end, Han Buting just gave them a deep look, as if to etch them into his memory with a red pen, drawing a circle and a slash across it, before silently turning away and disappearing into the vast night with his team.

Xu Wang watched the five figures, pretending to be strong, grow smaller in the distance, feeling an inexplicable sense of pity.

The last trace of suffocating terror dissipated in the cold wind. Wu Sheng’s first action was to check his phone, which clearly showed Beijing time: 03:18.

Before the evil spirit appeared, he had checked his phone, and it was already past five o’clock…

At the roadside, just recovering, Kuang Jinxin, quick-witted, hailed a taxi and called out to Wei Menghan’s team. “You guys go first.”

Wei Menghan shook his head. “We’ll walk, to get some fresh air.”

Kuang Jinxin said earnestly, “Stop acting tough. You’re all vomiting and burning up. We should all get some rest as soon as possible.”

Wei Menghan: “……”

Kuang Jinxin’s sincere advice was too blunt, evoking a heart-wrenching sadness.

“Forget about us.” Ji Yunlei, abandoning his team captain’s usual tact, said carelessly, “We’re upset from all the trouble tonight. We’ll find some fun before going back.”

“What fun?” Qian Ai interjected, his tone curious and subtly rising, his mind racing with countless possibilities.

Ji Yunlei thought for a second and casually suggested, “Hotpot or barbecue would be fine.”

Qian Ai: “……”

For the first time in his life, Qian Ai wavered in his commitment to his food vlogging career. Because that night, he saw faith in an expressionless face.

The taxi couldn’t fit five people, so Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Qi Shan went first.

Wei Menghan led his team, bidding farewell to Xu Wang and Wu Sheng. “Prepare yourselves mentally. We’ll see you tomorrow, and it’ll be our turn to drag you into the secret passage.”

Wu Sheng welcomed the challenge. “I wish you success.”

Xu Wang wasn’t focused on the mission, still thinking about Ji Yunlei’s idea of fun. “You just threw up. Don’t eat anything too greasy. Maybe have some clay pot porridge.”

Wei Menghan shook his head. “Clay pot porridge is only good in Guangdong or Fujian.”

Xu Wang: “…Goodbye.”

Ten minutes later, Wu Sheng and Xu Wang finally hailed another taxi.

They sat in the back seat, and for two or three minutes after the car started, no one spoke.

Wu Sheng was reviewing the mission. He went through all the events, clues, NPC dialogues, and details of the night, highlighting important points and marking questions.

After finishing his review, he turned to find Xu Wang still staring out of the window, lost in thought. His gaze was serious, and his expression was grave, clearly pondering something.

Xu Wang usually didn’t focus on tactical considerations or mission strategies. When he started to think seriously, it usually meant trouble for someone.

“What bad idea are you cooking up now?” Wu Sheng asked, his tone full of disdain, but his lips curled in a smile.

Xu Wang turned to him. His gaze was fixed, as if he’d reached a conclusion. “Qi Shan knows Li Zijin.”

“Qi Shan? Li Zijin?” Wu Sheng was clueless about how these two were connected.

“Didn’t you notice Qi Shan always looking at Li Zijin?”

“……” He really didn’t. His focus had been solely on the mission, hoping to observe how NPCs pursued love and find practical methods. But all he saw was negativity and not a hint of romance.

“Forget it.” Xu Wang realized he had chosen the wrong discussion partner. His advisor’s research focus was never on the delicate realm of human emotions. “Let’s drop it.”

Wu Sheng felt a sense of frustration, as if regretting his specialized focus.

Regarding Qi Shan and Li Zijin, Xu Wang couldn’t figure out more on the way. Unexpectedly, when they returned to the hotel, Qi Shan was waiting for them in the lobby.

Xu Wang was surprised and had a premonition but didn’t show it. “Why didn’t you go back?”

Qi Shan’s hotel wasn’t this one. According to the original plan, Kuang Jinxin and Qian Ai were to get off here first, and he would travel a bit further.

“I wanted to say sorry.” Qi Shan got straight to the point.

Wu Sheng frowned but remained silent.

Xu Wang smiled faintly, with understanding. “Let’s go upstairs to talk.”

The three of them went to Xu Wang and Wu Sheng’s standard room. Once inside, Wu Sheng sat in a corner, clearly indicating he wouldn’t join the conversation.

Although Qi Shan said he was waiting for both of them, Xu Wang was the team captain, while his role was to guard.

Xu Wang offered Qi Shan a stool and a bottle of water prepared by the hotel before sitting down himself.

Since the new teammate was straightforward, Xu Wang was too. “You want to leave the team?”

Qi Shan held the water but didn’t open it, paused for two seconds, then nodded.

Xu Wang asked, “Because of Li Zijin?”

Qi Shan was startled, then touched his nose a bit embarrassedly. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yes,” Xu Wang said honestly. “I was worried all night you would rush over to him.”

Qi Shan laughed, finally speaking his mind. “He’s my idol.”

“…” This term was new to Captain Xu, who had never been into idol-chasing.

“I’ve been a fan of several professional eSports players.” Qi Shan shared his journey of fandom. “Jumping from one to another until I settled on him…”

“Three years ago, he was just sixteen, known for his flashy playstyle, and gained fame from a single battle!”

“His talent is overwhelming—speed, awareness, reaction—all top-notch. Just a bit lacking in patience, but that can be honed…”

“Last year and the year before were his most glorious times. I followed every match, even the warm-ups, and I’ve been to live events to cheer…”

Qi Shan spoke faster, his eyes shining with fervor. Clearly, he was a die-hard eSports fan and an overage fanboy of Li Zijin.

When Xu Wang first saw Qi Shan, he only noticed his sunny and handsome appearance. Now, he understood this classmate’s soul.

“That…” Xu Wang wanted to bring the conversation back to the issue of leaving the team, but Qi Shan calmed himself first.

“He retired at the beginning of this year.” Qi Shan’s passion hadn’t fully subsided, but it was tinged with a hint of melancholy. “At nineteen, the prime age for an eSports player.”

Qi Shan smiled bitterly, as if feeling sorry for Li Zijin. “I couldn’t understand why at the time. He hadn’t encountered any issues—just didn’t perform well in the last two matches…”

Xu Wang knew he had found his answer now. And because of that, he felt even more regret for Li Zijin.

He himself had resigned, while Wu Sheng’s company hadn’t dared to take on new projects for a month. This was the erosion of the “Owl” on real life, but behind this erosion lay mental pressure. Mao Qiping, who had adapted to a life intertwined with two worlds, still showed deep fatigue when talking about reality.

Let alone the nineteen-year-old Li Zijin.

A brief silence made the atmosphere heavy. Xu Wang redirected the conversation. “Have you discussed this with their team?”

Qi Shan shook his head. “I have to leave our team first to pursue a new one. Otherwise, it would be like two-timing.”

Xu Wang joked, “Leaving us to join them immediately, this is called seamless transition, and it’s also two-timing.”

Qi Shan paused for two seconds, then laughed, admitting, “You’re right.”

“You want to stay in this level, right?” Xu Wang opened his water bottle and took a sip. Even at room temperature, the water felt cold.

Qi Shan was surprised by his sharpness. He thought the new captain was just good with words.

“This is the first level that requires a five-person team.” Xu Wang held his water bottle, looking at him. “If I were you, I would also choose to wait here.”

Unless Han Buting’s team moved forward, if they ever came back before this level, they would have to recruit new members again.

“I indeed want to stay at this level,” Qi Shan admitted his own intentions. “But if you still trust me, I will seriously complete the rest of tomorrow’s love line.”

“I believe you’ll do your best,” Xu Wang said. “But I’m afraid there won’t be any solo players or teams needing members at the next level, and we’ll still be tied together.”

Qi Shan understood his meaning, smiling unexpectedly. “Are you so confident that you’ll finish tomorrow?”

Xu Wang glanced at Wu Sheng and nodded seriously. “Our team lacks many things, but not confidence.”

One wanting to stay on 6/23, the other eager to find new teammates and build rapport, they reached an amicable agreement.

When leaving, Qi Shan pulled out a sketch from his pocket and gave it to Xu Wang. It was hastily done on A4 paper with a water pen, but Xu Wang clearly recognized himself, Wu Sheng, Kuang Jinxin, and Qian Ai.

A team sketch of four people, without Qi Shan.

“I just drew it while waiting for you on the first floor, using borrowed paper and pen. If you don’t like it, blame the tools,” Qi Shan joked.

Xu Wang took the sketch, feeling it was like a parting gift, carrying a subtle sense of ceremony.

Looking at the sketch, he asked what he had always wondered. “What about your previous team?”

“They disbanded,” Qi Shan said lightly. “Some wanted to go home. Others went to the Endless Sea to make money.”

Xu Wang didn’t probe further.

Qi Shan sounded indifferent, but Xu Wang understood the pain of imagining his teammates Wu Sheng, Kuang Jinxin, Qian Ai, saying, “Captain, we’re done. We want to disband.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Qi Shan asked his last question. “Why didn’t you ask me what stationery I had during the first half of the level when it was allowed?”

Asking about stationery and forming strategies was standard practice.

Xu Wang paused, feeling complex emotions. “We were waiting for you to tell us.”

They looked at each other and laughed silently.

Trust between people depends on fate, but it’s built through time and adjustment.

After sending Qi Shan off, Xu Wang collapsed into bed, physically and mentally exhausted. His head was aching, almost making him want to crumple the blanket into a ball.

Even the usually slow Wu Sheng accurately commented. “Graceful in public, heartache in private.”

“What else could I do.” Xu Wang twisted his head from under the blanket, feeling wronged. “I can’t stop someone from pursuing their dream…”

“Stopping for a day isn’t stopping for a lifetime.” Wu Sheng couldn’t stand to see him like this, almost wanting to bring Qi Shan back.

“If you met Newton, you’d change your mind faster than him.”

“First, I won’t meet Newton, and second, even if I did, I wouldn’t leave the team.”

Wu Sheng’s answer was serious, despite the joking comparison.

Xu Wang looked at him, feeling an unexpected anticipation, and asked softly, “Why?”

Wu Sheng didn’t need to think. “With Newton on the team, I wouldn’t be the brains anymore.”

Until bedtime, Captain Xu’s face remained as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Advisor Wu thought, indeed, the failure of recruitment had dealt a great blow to their captain.

Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin both dreamt in their sleep about the level, one of little people eating all over the world, the other of little people drinking tea. Essentially, they revisited the illusion of the small people in their dreams.

Waking up in cold sweat, they were informed that their new teammate had a change of heart.

On the second day of 6/23, Jin and Qian experienced “one surprise after another”.

Until the next midnight arrived, they were still somewhat dazed.

After a sense of weightlessness, the five companions appeared in Room 1310.

Neither Han Buting’s team nor Wei Menghan’s team appeared, probably still spending those two minutes trying to avoid them.

The room was as intact as ever—no secret passages, no demons or ghosts, and the oil painting hung properly on the wall.

The five were intact, but their glances at each other carried a hint of awkwardness.

The expected “Ding—” sound came.

Xu Wang looked at his arm, as expected.

[Roster]: You have 5 minutes of exemption time. Choose [Retreat] or [Kick]. Countdown begins now.

When they successfully formed a five-person team yesterday, the Owl also gave a similar prompt, but perhaps because it was their first time forming a five-person team, the instructions were more detailed, clarifying that at every level with all five members, there’s a 5-minute exemption time. Kicking or retreating after this period is considered a collective failure.

At that time, they had just teamed up with Qi Shan and didn’t pay much attention.

Little did they know it would come in handy today.

Xu Wang didn’t speak but gestured towards his arm to Qi Shan.

Qi Shan understood, giving them an apologetic look, then clicked to leave the team.

The world turned black for a moment.

The five disappeared together and soon reappeared in the banquet hall.

The guests were still mingling, the sounds of laughter and conversation unchanged.

Other challengers scattered in the banquet hall thought they had just entered from reality, some giving them a glance, others not even lifting their heads.

When they dispersed, the [Roster] notification was only audible to them amidst the noise.

The four companions received the same message: [Team members insufficient (4/5). Recruit more?]

Xu Wang instinctively looked up at Qi Shan, who was also reading the notification on his arm.

Qi Shan’s message was probably the one Sun Jiang had received before—A lonely boat never reaches the shore.

Despite the somber sentiment, Qi Shan’s eyes shone with light and direction.

Life is like that; having a direction makes everything seem bright.

Xu Wang withdrew his gaze and, along with his companions, clicked to confirm recruitment. The candidate list opened up:

6/23 Chi Yingxue [Invite]

6/23 Qi Shan [Invite]

6/23 Wang Chuming [Invite]

…Even less than yesterday.

Yesterday was a shortage. Today there’s hardly anything left.

Three choices, but two weren’t viable. Xu Wang felt a sense of destiny looking at Wang Chuming.

“Wang Chuming?” Wu Sheng didn’t sense anything particular and spoke in terms of data and facts. “He was voted out with Chen Xu yesterday.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Wu Sheng’s reminder made it seem indeed so. Joining and then leaving—it was worth pondering. Did he leave within five minutes? Or was it like Qi Shan, walking away after the save? It’s unlikely that they both encountered guiding lighthouses on their ideal paths…

This is what helplessness is: knowing it might be a trap, yet still choosing. After all, one is a possibility, the other a clear pitfall.

After a brief discussion, they sent an invitation to Wang Chuming.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Half a minute.

One minute…

The recruitment invitation sank like a stone in the sea.

As they wondered, a young man in a military green coat approached with a strong, brisk walk, his presence preceding him.

The four companions looked up.

The man smiled brightly, his teeth gleaming. “Wang Chuming.”

Xu Wang understood why he didn’t accept the invitation. “Came for an on-site assessment?”

“More like letting you assess me,” Wang Chuming said cheerfully. “If it’s suitable, we team up. Joining and then leaving wastes everyone’s time.”

Xu Wang sensed the undertone and was straightforward. “We’re just ordinary people wanting to get through the levels. If you have any conditions, you can mention them upfront.”

Wang Chuming observed them, realizing why the conversation wasn’t hitting the mark. He thought they would recognize his identity instantly, but apparently, they weren’t veterans of the “Owl”.

“I’m a mercenary,” Wang Chuming stated bluntly.

Xu Wang was even more confused. “Mercenary?”

Was this about his real-life identity, or was there a special setting in the Owl?

“I get paid to help people through levels,” Wang Chuming elaborated. “From this level onwards, there are more like me.”

Xu Wang turned to his companions—so this was a thing?

Their looks reflected amazement—there were business opportunities abound if they look.

Compared to Mao Qiping’s project lists, Wang Chuming’s rates were straightforward, given the simplicity of the job. “Payment per session is a thousand, with a five-thousand bonus for successful completion. Or a monthly rate of fifty thousand—bonus not included for success. This applies to both levels and the Endless Sea. Any cash rewards from the Owl during the process are yours.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Qian Ai: “……”

Kuang Jinxin: “……”

“I’m not overcharging.” Wang Chuming smiled wryly at their silence. “A cash box can contain thousands. My fee is just a drop in the bucket.”

Qian Ai: “……”

But there are boxes with just a few hundred!

“It’s not about the money.” Xu Wang paused before saying, “We’re still looking for teammates.”

Wang Chuming shook his head. “You might find that mercenaries are more useful after all.” He paused. “Many teams ahead are just paying for progress.”

Xu Wang agreed. “It’s hard to know what’s in people’s hearts… A straightforward employment relationship is often more efficient…”

Wang Chuming raised an eyebrow.

Xu Wang was half-joking and half-serious. “But without suffering a big loss, one always harbors hopes.”

Wang Chuming nodded, understanding.

Having been in the Owl for over a year, he’d seen many teams start with enthusiasm, but few finished with the original members. It’s a long race with an unseen end; people drop out or give up.

The invitation expired, and since Wang Chuming didn’t accept, it was automatically terminated.

He moved on to chat with other teams needing members, leaving the four companions standing, feeling a bit forlorn.

Xu Wang looked at his teammates. “I regret it now.”

Kuang Jinxin was stunned. “Huh?”

Xu Wang said, “Five thousand for one time. At least just to get through this once.”

Qian Ai grimaced. “Then you should have kept Qi Shan for another day! Five thousand? You’re too whimsical with spending!”

Xu Wang: “……”

He could be criticized, but not from this angle…

“Ding—”

[Roster]: Chi Yingxue requests to join the team. Do you agree?

The four looked at their arms, simultaneously astonished.

Xu Wang, Wu Sheng, and Qian Ai thought they were hallucinating. Only Kuang Jinxin felt it was expected, typical of Chi Yingxue—unpredictable and secretive.

“Sorry, I took the liberty.” A familiar yet slightly strange voice came from behind. “Can we talk?”

They turned to face Chi Yingxue, politely smiling, dressed as unassumingly as the day before, looking like a handsome gentleman. His features were cold. Even in the Endless Sea and their two encounters in 3/23, when he smiled, it was like the moonlight.

But now, his smile was warm, like the moonlight reflected in water, carrying a human touch.

“How do you want to talk?” Xu Wang asked.

Chi Yingxue lowered his eyes, as if pondering, then looked up. “We’ve crossed paths before, haven’t we?”

“No.” Qian Ai couldn’t hold back. “If you’re going to play dumb, it’s pointless. Don’t you know what you’ve done?”

Chi Yingxue sighed. “Seems I don’t need to ask. Yan Wang caused trouble again.”

“Yan Wang?” Kuang Jinxin scrutinized Chi Yingxue, looking the same as before but feeling different. Who was Yan Wang?

Chi Yingxue took a deep breath and smiled with resignation. “I have a split personality. Yan Wang is my alter ego.”

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