Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 91: Manual
“Ding—”
The second alert sound interrupted the discussion on the other end, as did the eye contact here.
The five companions looked at their arms together. This time, the coordinates received were for 7/23.
“Chongqing.” After a few seconds of thought, Wu Sheng matched the location with the number.
“Hot pot, skewers, hot and sour noodles…” Qian Ai, already smelling the rich aroma, was lost in endless fantasies.
“And the sky train!” Kuang Jinxin had seen videos of the light rail train passing through the high altitudes of the mountain city. It was magical and cool!
“Chongqing…” Captain Xu, who was eager to return to Beijing, felt a bit complicated.
Chi Yingxue looked at Wu Sheng, who instantly determined the location, and the other three, who trusted his judgment without doubt, feeling even more complicated… Had he missed some step of verifying the location with stationery?
As time passed, most of those who wanted to pass the challenge gathered their teams and left the banquet hall. The ones remaining were either those like them, who didn’t need to pass the challenge, or those who couldn’t gather a team or find one.
Kuang Jinxin took some delicious-looking cakes from the dining table and shared them with his friends. When he offered one to Chi Yingxue, he was rejected.
“I hate sweets.” Chi Yingxue’s refusal was simple and direct.
“Oh.” People have their own preferences. Kuang Jinxin respected that and then gave the piece meant for Chi Yingxue to the eager Qian Ai.
Qian Ai devoured the cakes quickly, wiping his mouth afterwards, and educated Kuang Jinxin, “Remember next time, even the best things should be given to those who appreciate them.”
Kuang Jinxin earnestly remembered. “Next time there’s something tasty, I’ll give you double.”
Qian Ai patted his head with satisfaction.
Chi Yingxue, uninterested in watching the deep bond between his teammates, lowered his eyes and started to unwrap the bandage on his arm. His rough movements turned the bandage into a tight knot, increasing his frustration. In a forceful pull, he tore the bandage off, irritating the newly healed skin on his arm, leaving red marks.
In the low atmosphere, a pale-colored small square cake was handed to him.
Chi Yingxue frowned and looked up.
Kuang Jinxin seriously said, “I tried it. It’s not sweet.”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
From next door, another mischievous hand reached out.
Annoying.
“Snap—”
Qian Ai’s attempt to steal cake was thwarted, leaving him with a swollen hand from the slap. Holding his struck hand, he looked pained. “Do you need to be so harsh? Are we just playing around as comrades or settling deep-seated hatreds?!”
As if he hadn’t heard, Chi Yingxue took the small square and tossed it into his mouth.
Indeed, it wasn’t sweet. There was just a faint butter taste and a hint of some unknown fruity fragrance.
Licking the cake crumbs off his thumb, Chi Yingxue felt somewhat unsatisfied and wanted to talk more with Kuang Jinxin. But when he looked up, he saw Captain Xu and Advisor Wu’s faces in front of him—one with a bright smile showing a row of white teeth, and the other with a clear, wise gaze, subtly expressing a joy and anticipation of “I think we can sit down and do some research.”
Kuang Jinxin was already taken by Qian Ai to the long dining table, happily lost in a world of cupcakes, donuts, fruit salads, and sandwiches.
Chi Yingxue discreetly shifted his gaze away from the long dining table and raised an inquiring eyebrow to the two. “?”
Captain Xu gently started. “Xiao Xue…”
Chi Yingxue smiled. “Speak. What’s, the, matter?”
Realizing that acting cute wasn’t quite suitable for the new teammate, Captain Xu immediately switched to a more serious demeanor. “I want to talk to you again about the badges.”
Upon hearing this, Chi Yingxue understood and promptly replied, “I currently have five badges. Besides the castle badge, I also have badges from levels 1, 3, 4, and 8. Except for 8/23, if guys want to collect the others, I can lead the way.”
Xu Wang was surprised by his frankness.
Wu Sheng was more concerned about the implied information in the answer. “Does the hidden location of each level’s badge never change?”
Chi Yingxue hadn’t really thought about this question. When asked, his gaze gradually drifted to an unknown place, falling into memories.
After a while.
“Hard to say.” Chi Yingxue shook his head, giving the most truthful information he could. “I only found the badges from levels 3, 4, 6, and 8 once. Only the badge from level 1, I’ve found three times, with different teams. The location was the same for the first and third times, but it changed the second time.”
Captain Xu remarked, “You mentioned earlier that the badges are related to challenges after 13/23…”
“Something I overheard from a badge-seeking team I once followed.” Chi Yingxue half-joked, half-seriously sighed with a bit of regret. “If I knew it would be useful today, I should have listened more carefully.”
Captain Xu teased, “Was it really an accidental slip of the tongue, or did you intentionally eavesdrop?”
Chi Yingxue laughed, as if recalling something interesting. “I think it’s the former, but the other party firmly believes it’s the latter.”
“……” A team strictly guarding against newcomers and a newcomer who didn’t want to blend in at all, Xu Wang really didn’t know how to comment on this kind of inevitable tragedy.
At this point, the information was clear; the new teammate could only provide “related to after 13/23” and “location information of four badges”, with the latter not necessarily still valid.
Wu Sheng fell into deep thought.
Xu Wang, after pondering for a moment, flexibly switched to Plan B, scanning the entire banquet hall and, sure enough, caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd.
Chi Yingxue had been waiting for Xu Wang to ask a certain question since the beginning of the conversation. Seeing that Xu Wang was about to stand up, he couldn’t restrain himself and took the initiative. “Aren’t you going to ask?”
Xu Wang looked back at him.
[Except for 8/23, if guys want to collect the others, I can lead the way.]
These were the new teammate’s exact words.
The meaning was already clear. Xu Wang thought they had an unspoken understanding, but now it seemed that more communication was needed.
“It wasn’t you who was looking for that badge.” Xu Wang simply stated the facts without much emotional inclination.
This wasn’t the first time Chi Yingxue revealed his split personality to a new team, but this was indeed the first time he met such a calm captain.
Suddenly, he became curious. “If one day I disappear and he comes out, would you kick me out?”
Xu Wang had actually thought about this question. “If you had asked me yesterday, I might have hesitated, as the memories of the amusement park aren’t very pleasant.”
Chi Yingxue’s smile faded, asking lightly, “Changed your mind now?”
“Last night’s badge was obtained by both of you working together,” Xu Wang said softly and sincerely, looking directly into his eyes as if to see through to another soul. “From the moment he took action, he was already a member of this team.”
Chi Yingxue narrowed his eyes, observing for a long while, then understood. “He hasn’t woken up yet. He can’t hear you talking.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Xu Wang complained, glancing at him as if the affectionate captain just now was an illusion.
Chi Yingxue: “……”
This wasn’t the first time he had been honest about his split personality with a new team, but this was the first time he encountered a captain who was so proactive and already trying to connect with the other him…
“You guys continue talking. I’ll be right back.” Seeing the person Xu Wang had locked onto chatting happily with another incomplete team, looking ready to join, Xu Wang couldn’t wait any longer. He left this message and immediately stood up, to prevent the person from disappearing into a new team before he could ask his questions.
Chi Yingxue watched him stride quickly towards the mercenary named Wang Chuming, guessing his intention.
Turning back to Wu Sheng, who was still in front of him, he couldn’t figure out what there was to talk about with him.
Wu Sheng had already sorted out the clues about the badge and could finally close this matter for the time being, opening a second line of questioning. “Are you better at close combat or long-range attacks?”
Chi Yingxue: “Huh?”
Advisor Wu continued on his own. “I notice you don’t like using stationery often. Can you specify your preference for stationery?”
Chi Yingxue: “Preference?”
Wu Sheng: “Do you prefer defense, offense, or illusory stationery? Do you prefer attack or manipulative types?”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
Wu Sheng: “Don’t worry. I won’t devise any complex tactics for you. Understanding your preferences gives you more room to perform.”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
“What concerns do you have?” Wu Sheng couldn’t understand the other’s silence. “You did an excellent job with the badge-finding mission last night.” He patted his shoulder, trying to convey a reassuring strength with his determined gaze. “Keep it up. I will fulfill all your fantasies about battle.”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
……
Beijing time, Xu Wang finished his secret talk with Wang Chuming and gathered all his teammates in a safe corner to share the intelligence immediately.
“A badge manual?” Everyone, including Chi Yingxue, was hearing about this for the first time.
Xu Wang nodded, looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, and then spoke in a low voice. “Yes, this manual has hints for the badge locations of levels 1–13.”
“I knew it.” Qian Ai finally resolved his doubts. “Finding a small badge in such a large challenge, even if it can glow, you need to search for the right place. It’s not that easy to find each one.”
Wu Sheng asked, “How can we get this manual?”
Xu Wang replied, “Buy it.”
Kuang Jinxin, Qian Ai: “Buy?”
Xu Wang: “In any shop in any level in the Owl.”
Qian Ai: “With RMB?”
Xu Wang: “Yes.”
Qian Ai: “How much?”
Xu Wang: “One hundred thousand.”
Qian Ai: “…Actually, searching the ocean is also good, really.”
“Captain.” Kuang Jinxin remembered another question. “You just asked about such a secretive matter, and Wang Chuming answered?”
“I have to discuss this with you; due to the special circumstances, I used public funds,” Xu Wang said. “Intelligence fee, twenty thousand.”
Qian Ai: “Twenty thousand?!”
Xu Wang: “He hasn’t had business for a while. He’s relying on these two pieces of information for his New Year’s.”
Chi Yingxue: “Two pieces?”
Xu Wang paused, again ensuring there were no eavesdroppers, before slowly revealing the second piece of intelligence. “Thirteen badges are the key to unlocking the challenges after 13/23.”
Kuang Jinxin: “But no team has reached beyond 13/23, right?”
Xu Wang shook his head. “It’s not that no one has, but our current leaderboard only shows levels 1-13.”
Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin were both confused.
Chi Yingxue vaguely understood a bit, but it wasn’t entirely clear.
The always-quiet Wu Sheng spoke up. “High school and university.”
“Right.” Xu Wang knew his advisor would understand immediately. “The first 13 levels and the next 10 are like two completely different schools, and their report cards are independent of each other. Moreover, teams that have passed 13/23 never returned.”
“That explains why there are so many unfamiliar names on the speed rankings.” Wu Sheng finally resolved a long-standing puzzle. “Those teams that broke records might have given up later, but more likely, they’ve advanced to higher challenges.”
“If they never returned,” Qian Ai wondered, “where did Wang Chuming get his information?”
“From the endless sea.” Xu Wang sighed. “I heard it cost a pretty penny to buy.”
Qian Ai: “Definitely not cheap. He already scammed us out of twenty thousand.”
Xu Wang: “He was asking for fifty thousand.”
Qian Ai: “Captain, I knew I was right to trust you.”
Chi Yingxue: “……”
Now that the whole story was clear, Wu Sheng looked at Xu Wang, seeking the key point. “A shop? Payment?”
“Of course, I asked,” Xu Wang assured him with a look that said, “you can trust me with this matter”. “There’s a shop in this challenge, right below the banquet hall, and it accepts cash payments, but there’s an ATM.”
Kuang Jinxin: “We can withdraw money here?”
Xu Wang: “If Wang Chuming wasn’t lying.”
Qian Ai: “If he dares to take so much money and still give false information, I’ll chase him to the ends of the earth…”
Soon, the five of them arrived at the staircase leading to the basement level mentioned by Wang Chuming. It was an inconspicuous little door, which led to a dimly lit staircase extending downwards.
Xu Wang and Wu Sheng led the way, with Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin in the middle and Chi Yingxue at the back.
While descending, Chi Yingxue was still pondering how Xu Wang instantly grasped the whole picture from Wu Sheng’s simple words “A shop? Payment?” It wasn’t the first time such an incident had occurred. Apart from carrying a passive-activated [(Illusory) Soul Understanding], Chi Yingxue couldn’t think of any other explanation…
Three minutes later, they reached the bottom of the stairs, where a very simple grocery store awaited them. It resembled a stall commonly seen in a vegetable market, with various items laid out haphazardly. A smiling old lady sat inside, welcoming them with her kind eyes as they appeared at the top of the stairs.
This so-called “basement level” was just a small area, enough for the grocery store and an ATM, leaving barely any room for the five of them.
“What would you like?” the old lady asked kindly. “Sugar? Fruits? Bread?”
Xu Wang stepped forward, saying clearly, “I would like to buy a badge manual.”
The old lady still smiled warmly. “Two hundred thousand. Please pay in cash.”
Xu Wang, Qian Ai: “……Wasn’t it one hundred thousand?!”
The old lady looked confused. “Hmm?”
The teammates unanimously turned to their team captain.
Captain Xu felt immense pressure. “Wang Chuming definitely said it was one hundred thousand, and it was bought in this challenge, but that was half a year ago. It’s possible that prices have soared since then…”
Qian Ai despaired. “Isn’t this price increase a bit too extreme…”
Wu Sheng sighed, asking the most practical question. “How much is left in the public funds?”
Xu Wang sighed even deeper. “I just spent twenty thousand, so there’s only one hundred and forty thousand left.”
They had been busy in the Endless Sea for a month, and this was all they had saved in the public wallet. They thought they were being economical, but now they were in debt overnight.
“Let’s pool our resources,” Qian Ai, heartbroken, suggested. “We need to buy it anyway, better sooner than later.” If they waited and the price increased further, he feared every time he saw the manual, his heart would ache.
Xu Wang: “That’s the only option.”
Fortunately, not all the cash from the Endless Sea’s treasure chest had been confiscated; some went to those who opened the chest.
Given the circumstances, they had to contribute as much as they could.
Xu Wang prepared to withdraw the public account funds from the ATM, inserting the card.
Just as he was about to insert the card, a hand suddenly appeared, blocking the slot.
Xu Wang followed the arm to its owner, Chi Yingxue. “What’s wrong?”
Chi Yingxue’s eyes held a faint question. “Public wallet?”
Xu Wang had only discussed emotions with the new teammate, planning to talk about money once their relationship was stable. Otherwise, if they disbanded tomorrow after paying today, it would be awkward to discuss refunds.
But since the new teammate brought it up, he took the opportunity to explain. “Yes, we set up a team public account for all team expenses on an AA* basis.”
*It’s a term basically meaning going Dutch (where everyone pays for their own expenses).
Chi Yingxue thought for a moment, then confirmed again. “There’s only one hundred and forty thousand left in the account?”
“Yes.” Now that they were on the topic, Xu Wang had nothing to hide.
Chi Yingxue pulled out a wallet from his pocket, inserted a card into the ATM. “I benefited from the intelligence. I’ll pay my share for the manual. It’s only fair that I contribute.”
Xu Wang was surprised by how swiftly he took action. Before he could say anything, Chi Yingxue was already entering his PIN.
The other four teammates instinctively turned away to avoid seeing the PIN.
For the next few minutes, they just heard the machine counting and dispensing money.
Finally, when everything quieted down, they turned back to see Chi Yingxue holding a stack of cash, which was quite a spectacle.
“Is that… forty thousand?” Qian Ai blinked hard, feeling his perception of money’s volume a bit blurred.
“One hundred thousand,” Chi Yingxue replied.
Xu Wang held his forehead, worried about his new teammate’s math skills. “Even adding the previous twenty thousand, the public wallet only has one hundred and sixty thousand. Each person should contribute forty thousand. Why are you taking out one hundred thousand?”
Chi Yingxue explained, “Forty thousand for tuition, sixty thousand as a transfer sponsorship fee.”
Kuang Jinxin: “Transfer?”
Qian Ai: “Sponsorship?”
Xu Wang looked at his new teammate with mixed feelings. “I just want to ask one question. How did such a shiny classmate like you end up with no school willing to take you in?”
Chi Yingxue slightly curled his lips. “Perhaps they still think that money is less important than life.”
Xu Wang, Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin: “……”
Is this some kind of midnight horror story?!
“Alright, now that you’ve joined our team, even if you’re rich, you have to follow our rules,” Xu Wang said. “The cost of the badge manual will be split equally among us.”
The captain’s word was final—no objections allowed.
Under the supervision of his teammates, Chi Yingxue redeposited the extra money. While listening to the machine count the cash, he wondered if he was the first customer to use the machine’s “deposit” feature.
They handed over two hundred thousand in cash to the old lady, who counted it carefully. After she counted the last bill, all the money suddenly vanished.
At the same time, all five of them heard a “ding——”
Inside their [Stationery Box], in the hidden item compartment for storing badges, a new icon appeared in the bottom right corner. [Small Booklet].
Upon opening it, the hints for the hidden badges from levels 1–13 were revealed—
Bear’s Paw.
Land of Rampant Desire.
Waxing Crescent Moon.
Ghost in the Wall.
Water Lily.
Wu Sheng: “The hints for 4/23 and 6/23 don’t match the methods and locations where we found the badges.”
Xu Wang: “Wang Chuming said these hints change periodically as the corresponding badges are found.”
Qian Ai: “Can I apply to permanently skip the fifth level…”
Kuang Jinxin: “Qian Ge, don’t you love horror movies? Whether they’re Chinese, American, Japanese, Korean, Indian, or Thai.”
Qian Ai: “Just because I like watching them doesn’t mean I like digging into walls to find ghosts…”
“Did everyone receive the manual?” From behind the miscellaneous goods, the old lady’s caring voice came.
Xu Wang returned a painful but polite smile to the old lady. “Yes, we received it.”
Forty thousand per person!
“Good to hear.” The old lady was relieved, then reached out to an old-fashioned European-style cast iron bell next to her. “Now for the free gift.”
The teammates: “……Free gift?”
“Ding ding ding~~~”
As the bell rang out with an antique sound, the five friends felt a darkness before their eyes and their bodies lightened.
When they opened their eyes again, they were standing in front of a familiar European-style manor.
“Ding—”
[Cheat Sheet]: Welcome to the [Flying Island VIP Lounge].
“Ding—”
[Cheat Sheet]: Dear guests, I am the butler of this place, Xiao Feidao! I will guide you from now on, ensuring you are fully recharged before the next midnight arrives.
“Captain!” Kuang Jinxin looked at Xu Wang excitedly. “This is the Flying Island’s VIP Lounge!”
Qian Ai couldn’t help but pat their captain on the back. “We just saved on airfare! Haha!”
Wu Sheng was also satisfied. “Now we can focus on planning our tactics.”
Chi Yingxue was indifferent to food and accommodation, but resting comfortably was certainly better than being on the road.
Among all the teammates, only Captain Xu looked up at the sky in silence.
He wanted to return to Beijing!
This “accidental” transport to a faraway place like Chongqing—what kind of devil’s gift was this?!
……
Twenty-two hours later, the rare extended rest in Beijing time left the teammates more spirited than ever. Even the sulky Captain Xu, after a long sleep, had come to terms with it. After all, having waited ten years, another day and a half didn’t make much difference.
Regarding the challenge of 7/23, Chi Yingxue provided clear and simple information: it was a board game.
There was no map, no new world, no quest line—just each team selecting a representative to play a board game in a room with only one round table.
As for the content of the board game and whether there would be any other storylines or tasks interrupting the game, Chi Yingxue knew nothing. The only time he entered 7/23, just as he saw his team’s representative enter the game room, his body switched to his other self.
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