Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 189: Good News

At 1:00 a.m. Beijing time, exactly one hour into the Owl, Xu Wang finally received the first message from 9/23.

“Sorry, something unexpected happened.” Han Buting’s voice was as cold as ever, making it hard to detect any emotional fluctuations, but the fact that he started with a reflection showed he understood the gravity of the situation.

“What happened?” Xu Wang’s expression became serious. Since it wasn’t a deliberate lack of response, they must have encountered a problem.

Wu Sheng, Chi Yingxue, Kuang Jinxin, and Qian Ai all turned their attention to him upon seeing this.

The Owl Jade of level 13 had been found, and now all they could do was wait.

“Okay, got it. There’s still time. Take it slow.” After the communication ended, Xu Wang looked up. “Han Buting and his team encountered a new hell.”

Qian Ai widened his eyes. “A brand-new one?”

Xu Wang: “A newly launched hell, unboxed for the first time.”

“Doesn’t that mean starting from scratch?” Kuang Jinxin asked worriedly. “Can we still find the source of fear?”

Xu Wang sighed. “Hard to say.”

It was a level without a map to begin with, only knowing that the Owl Jade was hidden in the “source of fear”, but exploring the core of an unfamiliar hell wasn’t so easy.

“What kind of hell is it?” Wu Sheng inquired.

“World War?” Chi Yingxue offered an irresponsible guess.

“You’re very close to the truth.” Xu Wang patted Xiao Xue’s shoulder. “Star Wars.”

Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, Chi Yingxue: “…”

“They are now piloting a spaceship, dealing with a fleet of some unknown force.” Xu Wang faithfully relayed the situation. “Captain Han says it’s only a matter of time before they’re shot down.”

Qian Ai cautiously asked, “Shot down, and land where?”

Xu Wang: “Disintegrate—turned into dust drifting in the universe.”

Qian Ai: “……”

Wu Sheng frowned. “Isn’t there any chance of victory?”

Xu Wang pondered for a moment. “It depends on whether Qi Shan can perform a miracle.”

The four companions looked puzzled, not understanding.

“Only Qi Shan knows how to pilot the ship.” Xu Wang spread his hands. “He’s now the captain.”

Qian Ai was astonished. “There are schools for learning to pilot spaceships now?”

“It’s said that there are many simulation spaceship games abroad, with control panels and consoles being quite similar, and Qi Shan was really into it for a while.”

Qian Ai: “Their team really is full of talent…”

Wu Sheng wondered. “If Qi Shan is piloting the ship, whose nightmare of Star Wars is it?”

Xu Wang: “Li Zijin.”

Qian Ai: “Clubs here don’t play those kinds of games, right?”

Xu Wang: “Maybe it’s a white moonlight hidden deep in his heart.”

The four companions: “…”

This glimmer of moonlight is too hardcore.

Meanwhile, 10/23 Aeroplane Chess.

[Owl: Someone used [(Offense) Poseidon’s Wrath] on you~~]

The chessboard’s water surface surged with waves, crashing against the pitted stone walls. The stained glass cracked, drenching all the friends playing Aeroplane Chess.

A young man with a buzz cut finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you guys ever going to stop?! Are we playing Aeroplane Chess here, or is it forced demolition?!”

For sixty minutes, they hardly moved a few steps on the chessboard, and the entire space was nearly destroyed by these two mad teams.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes—it was like a grand assembly of disaster-themed stationery.

And the stationery wasn’t even used on them but on the buildings and water; it wasn’t considered an attack on the challengers by the rules.

“Lao He—” Fu Wenqing couldn’t care less about his colleague, focusing on controlling the waves caused by the stationery to a suitable scale, close to but not touching his teammates, to avoid a direct attack.

The wave surged right beside He Lanshan, with a hint of purple barely visible in the water.

He Lanshan reached into the curtain of water and grasped firmly.

Just like the previous times, the Owl Jade soaked in water was slippery like an eel. In addition, the water waves weren’t stable, so it slipped away as soon as it was caught!

“Tsk!” He Lanshan voiced his frustration at another failed attempt.

They had managed to bring out the Owl Jade early on, and since then, it had been elusive in the water. They dared not use [Great Yu Controls the Flood] or similar stationery for fear the Owl Jade would be carried away by the water, leaving them nowhere to cry.

“Captain Fu, we can’t leave the chess square. It’s too restrictive.” The captain of Yue’s Fourth Circle Team provided a new idea. “Let the stationery go on its own.”

Let the stationery go on its own?

Fu Wenqing paused, then understood.

“Muchen.”

Zhao Muchen knew what Fu Wenqing meant. As soon as the captain of Yue’s Fourth Circle Team finished speaking, he got it, probably needing to use his special stationery. It wasn’t about reluctance; it was just that he had kept it for so long and inevitably formed a bond with it.

But thinking about the Owl’s closure and never seeing these stationeries again, it was better to witness its true form now. After all, it carried countless romantic and beautiful fantasies…

[Owl: Someone used [(Illusory) Mermaid] on you~~]

[Poseidon’s Wrath] suddenly calmed, and beneath the rippling water, a figure flashed and dived deeper, leaving only a graceful illusion to those onshore.

Zhao Muchen held his breath, staring fixedly underwater, not daring to blink, while continuously sending the thought of finding the Owl Jade to the other side.

Fu Wenqing’s team and Yue’s Fourth Circle Team involuntarily quieted down, their tension palpable in the faint sound of water.

The buzz-cut young man and his teammates were also tense. Facing two mad teams, should they stubbornly play to the end, or escape early for safety?

Splish.

The Owl Jade emerged from the water as if thrown, bringing a small splash and landing in Zhao Muchen’s arms.

The buzz-cut young man squinted, suddenly realizing he might have overlooked something. These two teams weren’t mad; they had found a treasure worth going mad for.

What exactly was that translucent purple object…

Crack!

Without wasting a second, Zhao Muchen grabbed the Owl Jade and crushed it underfoot, his specially worn spiked shoes finally proving their worth after an hour of discomfort.

The buzz-cut young man: “……”

Not playing the game, just throwing stationery around as if it cost nothing, finally digging up the treasure, and then crushing it.

Crushed it.

This is madness—all ten of them!

Splash—

A larger splash and a wet head appeared, leaning on the edge of Zhao Muchen’s chess square, looking up at him with a smile.

A mermaid.

Zhao Muchen looked into those eyes that shone like stars, forgetting to breathe… out of anger.

Fu Wenqing, He Lanshan, and Wu Yanchao all looked away, hardly bearing to watch.

Qin Rui, just a square behind him, reached out to comfortingly pat his back. “Well, there’s always a gap between ideals and reality…”

The mermaid was beautiful, the kind that could make all the men in the world pale in comparison—handsomely beautiful.

13/23, Finance Office.

“Did we succeed?” Xu Wang couldn’t help but clench his fist in victory. “That’s great!”

“Is everyone okay?” After the joy, he asked worriedly again.

“Uh, basically,” Fu Wenqing unusually hesitated for a moment.

Xu Wang immediately sensed something was wrong and directly messaged Qin Rui, the least likely to hide anything—[Did anyone in your team get hurt?]

[Eh, how did you connect to me? No one’s hurt. Oh wait, does heartbreak count?]

[Who’s heartbroken?]

[Zhao Muchen. Ah, he’s been fantasizing about a mermaid sister. Just now, when we used it, it turned out to be a big brother, though also really good-looking…]

[Wait, wait, used?!]

[Used it to find the Owl Jade.]

[…Oh.]

[Xu Wang, were you thinking of something not suitable for children just now?]

[No!]

Decisively cutting off the communication, Captain Xu calmed himself for two seconds, just about to share the good news with his teammates, when another message came through the always ready captain’s hotline in his mind.

“Captain Xu, this is 1/23. The Owl Jade is dealt with. It’s now broken into four big pieces and two small ones. Do we need to grind it down further?”

“Uh… if you’ve got nothing better to do, go ahead.” It’s always better to be thorough.

“The first and tenth levels are also completed.” Xu Wang immediately reported the progress to his teammates.

1, 10, 12, 13 completed—nine more to go.

Wu Sheng suddenly asked, “How’s Le Xing and his team?”

Zhao Yukang had said they would reach the Owl Jade location in an hour during their first connection. Xu Wang checked his phone; it was now 1:14. An hour had passed.

Concentrating, he called out to Le Xing.

No response.

He then signaled Zhao Yukang, trying several times but to no avail.

Xu Wang opened his eyes, his heart sinking. “I can’t connect with Le Xing or Zhao Yukang.”

The four companions looked at each other while Wu Sheng frowned. “Try connecting with someone else.”

Fu Qi, Jing Jinglin, Dong Xi.

Xu Wang silently recited these three names, sending the message continuously.

Finally, Jing Jinglin and Fu Qi responded—

[Captain Xu.]

[Xu Wang?]

“How’s it going? Did you reach the location?” Xu Wang directed this question to both.

Jing Jinglin: “We’re here, digging now.”

Fu Qi: “We’re here. Don’t rush. It’s almost done.”

Xu Wang didn’t want to disturb them, but he was really worried: “I can’t get in touch with your captain or Zhao Yukang.”

Fu Qi: “The three of them went ahead.”

Xu Wang: “Three?”

Fu Qi: “And Dong Xi. All were forcibly ejected.”

Xu Wang got alarmed. “What happened?”

Fu Qi: “The electric stove exploded during a game of Fight the Landlord.”

Xu Wang: “Why is there an electric stove in Fight the Landlord?!”

Fu Qi: “Hot pot Fight the Landlord. It’s a lot of fun to play while eating. Luckily, the table couldn’t fit five, or we’d all be gone.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Jing Jinglin: “Ah—”

Fu Qi: “Fuck!”

“What happened?” Xu Wang’s face changed.

Wu Sheng’s heart tightened, and after a while, he saw Xu Wang looking over. “Fu Qi said the tour leader, and the two college students started fighting. Trouble’s brewing.”

If Fu Qi and Jing Jinglin were also forcibly ejected, that would really be the end.

The team leader is the tour guide, and during their challenge, there were two college students in the team, along with a pair of female best friends, a long-distance couple… Wu Sheng remembered clearly because he had sent them cards.

“Tell Fu Qi to throw a card.” Wu Sheng suggested.

Xu Wang swallowed hard. “Really try it?”

They indeed had each team carry a stack of the advisor’s custom-made cards 3.0, but…

“If it works, it’s a bonus. If not, no loss.” Wu Sheng, after so much research and practice without seeing results, was still not ready to leave the Owl without trying.

Xu Wang reluctantly suggested to their side. “Throw a card over there. See if you can divert their attention?”

Fu Qi, Jing Jinglin: “……”

Despite their doubts, they followed through.

“How did it go?” On this side were Captain Xu and Advisor Wu’s eager expectations.

“It worked.” Came the resigned response from Fu Qi and Jing Jinglin. “The corner of the card scratched the team leader’s face. Now we’re officially joining the fight.”

Meanwhile, 2/23, the Red-Eye Flight.

“This—this passenger. Please stop rummaging through the overhead bins.” The flight attendant was near tears yet dared not truly intervene. Several male attendants had already been magically wiped out by these ruffians, leaving her the only crew member besides the pilots.

Long Legs, Handsome, Stick Figure, and Fair Face also wanted to cry. The luggage compartment was clearly marked, right in the middle, but even after rummaging through all the luggage and prying open people’s carry-ons, there was nothing. They even got into several fights with the passengers involved.

“The location has to be here,” Fair Face said, holding the map for comparison. “If it’s not in the luggage compartment, then the only place left is…”

“Inside the plane?” Stick Figure’s heart trembled.

Long Legs frowned. “Are we supposed to dismantle the airplane?!”

In an inconspicuous seat in economy class, Ma Liuba looked out at the clouds, feeling very peaceful inside. He had planted a bomb on the plane, intending to sacrifice everyone on board for himself. He knew that some force would warn the chosen ones about the bomb in advance, and these people would prevent his sacred and great ritual.

He even looked forward to confronting them and letting them know that God cannot be defeated by mortals.

But he had been waiting, and no one had come to stop him.

God felt disappointed.

3/23 Doomsday City, South of the City.

A lemon-yellow Jeep sped towards the southernmost end of the city.

The car was crammed with five people, nearly squashing Ding Xiaoche into a pancake, who was still worried about the outsiders. “What kind of map are you guys using? Are you sure it’s accurate?”

“Shut up!” Yue’s Second Circle Team had always been polite to this NPC but couldn’t stand his constant nagging anymore. His incessant chatter was driving them crazy.

Ding Xiaoche didn’t want to talk too much. Meng Zhang had said that the outsiders had their own set of rules, and they just needed to cooperate. Talking too much could cause trouble. But today was different; he had lent his car countless times, and only this time did the outsiders not head to the north but to the south, which was strange.

Ding Xiaoche knew he was too kind-hearted and couldn’t change. “Hey, shouldn’t you be going to the hospital? The hospital is in the north!”

His earnest persuasion finally caught the attention of the four outsiders.

The captain of Yue’s Second Circle Second Team, who was also the driver, slammed on the brakes, turning around incredulously. “What did you say?”

Ding Xiaoche felt a bit nervous under their gaze. “I-I said, the hospital is in the north…”

The captain of Yue’s Second Circle Second Team stared at him intently. “Do you know what we’re here for?!”

Ding Xiaoche: “…Huh?”

Everyone in Yue’s Second Circle Second Team: “Pretending to be dumb now is too late!”

“NPC awakened?!” Xu Wang, upon hearing the message from 3/23, was so shocked that he jumped up.

Wu Sheng’s eyes flashed with astonishment. Kuang Jinxin opened his mouth wide, and Chi Yingxue raised an eyebrow interestedly.

“What the hell?” Qian Ai doubted he heard correctly.

“The second team said, the NPC who lent them the car knew they were going to the hospital…” Xu Wang said, still finding it hard to believe. “And knew they were looking for a vaccine…”

Wu Sheng narrowed his eyes. “Is it the same person who lent us the car before?”

“According to the second team’s description, yes. He even said his name was Ding Xiaoche…”

“Is it really an awakening? Or maybe an update to the setting?”

Xu Wang couldn’t answer—not just because he wasn’t there, but even if he was, he might not be able to judge.

Wu Sheng said, “Ask the second team how many times he has lent the car.”

A minute later.

Xu Wang brought back the second team’s inquiry result: “He said he couldn’t remember how many times, but Meng Zhang told him to keep pretending to have amnesia.”

“Meng Zhang?” Wu Sheng repeated the name, then suddenly lifted his gaze. “The god from the Three Religions Temple?”

Xu Wang nodded. “His immortal boyfriend.”

Wu Sheng couldn’t stay calm anymore. The purpose of giving NPCs cards was to free them from the constraints of the Owl, granting them a form of autonomous consciousness. If it could cause disturbances affecting or even shutting down the Owl, that would be ideal. Unexpectedly, the one who wasn’t given a card awakened on his own!

“Tell the second team to tell Ding Xiaoche the truth.” Wu Sheng stood up. “Say they’re here to shut down the Owl, and once successful, no one like them will ever disturb the city again. If he and his boyfriend can manage to get the vaccine from the hospital, maybe the entire city’s zombies can be eradicated forever.”

“Are you just giving the NPC false hope…” Qian Ai felt this was far-fetched, no matter how it was spun.

“How do we know without trying?” Wu Sheng said. “We never expected NPCs could truly awaken before this.”

“And then what?” Qian Ai still sat on the ground, looking up. “After telling Ding Xiaoche all this, what’s next?”

Xu Wang walked over and put his arms on Wu Sheng’s shoulder. The captain and advisor smiled together. “Let him bring his boyfriend over to unleash some divine power.”

7/23 Story Relay, Game Room.

“Interruption!” The game had only reached its halfway point, and Elegant Gray had used his last interruption card.

By now, the story had twisted through nearly ten scenes, currently ending with Delinquent Boy D and Handsome Senior B breaking up.

Falling in love was the work of Elegant Gray; the breakup was a joint effort by Sports Jersey and Black T-shirt.

“Brother, they’ve already broken up. Don’t drag it back.” Sports Jersey was almost pleading. It was just a game of Story Relay, and the orientations were all getting twisted. They had finally managed to break them apart, only for the opponent to interrupt. He was genuinely scared of the other player’s shocking twists.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. No reconciliation, just reminiscing.” Elegant Gray sincerely reassured, “After the breakup, Delinquent Boy D, unable to forget his old love, returns alone to the place where their fate began—that mini KTV booth…”

“Xu Wang! He’s back in the booth. Hurry and have him keep digging! Just one tile left!”

Even Sport Jersey and Black T-shirt, who had become accustomed to his shocks and the horror of shouting into thin air, were scared for the hundred and first time.

In the finance office, Captain Xu quickly helped relay the message.

On the battlefield of the story, back in the mini KTV booth, Wine Red, using his bare hands, lifted the last tile, finally revealing the purple Owl Jade!

He lifted the floor tile, then smashed it down hard.

The tile and jade shattered, breaking the peace.

“Perfect completion.” This was the first time Xu Wang was responsible for delivering good news.

Elegant Gray and the captain of the third team got up and high-fived each other joyfully across the table.

Sports Jersey: “Can we still play?”

Black T-shirt: “If we don’t play, I’m flipping the table.”

Following closely after the 7/23 Story Relay was the quick report from 8/23 Unexpected Demon.

Jing Jinglin: “The fight’s over, and the Owl Jade is smashed.”

Fu Qi: “Is that good enough? How are the other challenges doing?”

“We’ve taken care of 1, 7, 10, 12, 13. With you, that’s six levels completed.” As happy as he was, Xu Wang was still a bit worried about Le Xing, Zhao Yukang, and Dong Xi, who left with injuries.

“Hmm, not a bad pace.” Fu Qi still had the leisure to comment.

Xu Wang: “Aren’t you worried about the three teammates who were forcibly ejected?”

Fu Qi: “Hey, it’s not the first time. Dying, for us, is just like going home in this level.”

“……” Every team has its own difficult scripture to recite.

2:30 Beijing time.

Messages from 2/23 Red-Eye Flight and 6/23 Castle Hotel came one after the other, one of joy and one of concern.

The Owl Jade on the Red-Eye Flight was completely destroyed, although the cabin was also damaged. Fortunately, they managed to seal the hole with stationery. They are now trying to find the bomb’s password. Although tonight’s goal was the Owl Jade, if possible, they still wanted to avoid experiencing an explosion in mid-air.

The Happy Broom Team encountered a little trouble in the castle. The location of the Owl Jade was in the room of a save-point NPC, but the NPC would only allow them to save, not dig through walls or floors.

“That old writer?” Wu Sheng’s eyes sparkled subtly.

“Yes.” Xu Wang nodded, understanding the other’s full desire, and closed his eyes to make a constructive suggestion to the other side. “Try throwing the card I gave you to him.”

Wu Sheng had given that old man the upgraded version 2.0. Xu Wang thought, maybe it really could…

“No reaction,” came the Happy Broom Team’s reply, interrupting Captain Xu’s optimism. “Actually, I still don’t understand why we had to print so many cards to bring in…”

“Cough, it’s not important. Keep it up and stay in touch.”

Half an hour later, the Happy Broom Team succeeded, and there was also news from Yue Shuai. “The Owl Jade is smashed, and I almost got killed—no, by a ghost.”

Xu Wang laughed, deliberately saying, “It’s fine as long as the Owl Jade is destroyed.”

“Hey—” Captain Yue felt aggrieved.

Xu Wang mercilessly exposed him. “If you were really about to die, could you still chat with me so leisurely?”

“I barely escaped. That Hungry Ghost—have you guys encountered it? It’s utterly fierce…”

Some memory fragments flashed in Xu Wang’s mind, stirring something in him. “If you meet him again, don’t fight, just run.”

Yue Shuai: “You think I can’t beat him?”

Xu Wang: “He’s my friend.”

By 3:00 Beijing time, nine levels were completed, leaving four more—3/23 Doomsday City, 4/23 Moonlight Maze, 9/23 Inner Hell, 11/23 Chaotic Republic Era.

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