Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 81: Return

Split personalities?

Xu Wang had prepared numerous ways to reject Chi Yingxue, ranging from sarcasm, realism, harsh scolding, to feigned politeness. Yet, he was caught off guard by this fantastical excuse.

What was more, Chi Yingxue seemed utterly serious. His expression was earnest, and his eyes were as clear as water.

“You’re really good at passing the buck…” Qian Ai, putting aside personal grudges, couldn’t help but admire the creativity. It wasn’t just about having wild ideas; it required acting skills.

Chi Yingxue ignored him, focusing only on Xu Wang.

After a long stare, Xu Wang chose caution. “We can’t trust you.”

Chi Yingxue’s emotions receded, his gaze becoming calm. “No one can see through someone else instantly. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be recruiting again today.”

Xu Wang’s eyes darkened. “Are you spying on us?”

“If you must use that term, then yes, I’m observing everyone,” Chi Yingxue admitted frankly. “I was looking for a team with a saved progress that wanted to change members, and you fit the bill.”

So he hadn’t joined any team yesterday, just waiting for today?

Xu Wang: “Why?”

“A team that can reach save points won’t be weak. Wanting to change members implies strict requirements for teammates,” Chi Yingxue explained. “I like teams with high standards and strict demands.”

Xu Wang silently turned to his teammates.

Wu Sheng spoke pragmatically. “Pursuing efficiency is a virtue.” Then he quickly embraced his true feelings. “I won’t comment on his character.”

Qian Ai expressed regret with a smile. “Unfortunately, we don’t meet his criteria.”

Kuang Jinxin, after getting Xu Wang’s nod, turned to Chi Yingxue, sharing the truth. “Our previous member left to follow his idol.”

“Idol?” Chi Yingxue frowned, seemingly unfamiliar with the term.

For matters of fandom, they turned to Qian Ai. “An idol, beloved, true love.”

Kuang Jinxin nodded vigorously. “If you’re looking for a strict team, we’re not it.”

Chi Yingxue’s eyebrows raised slightly, curious for details.

Kuang Jinxin explained earnestly, “We are a team that seeks joy in overcoming challenges.”

“……” Chi Yingxue’s expression mirrored the four of them when they first heard about his split personality.

With both sides’ intentions clear, Xu Wang took a symbolic step back, his stance evident. “We don’t know when ‘Yan Wang’ might emerge, if he truly exists. We don’t want to take that risk.”

If they couldn’t believe Chi Yingxue’s story, there was no point in discussing it further. But even if they did, it was a gamble.

Chi Yingxue looked at them for a while before speaking again. “I don’t like someone else occupying my body, so I’ve always sought a way to prevent Yan Wang from emerging.”

When he referred to “someone else”, Xu Wang saw no unnatural emotions in his eyes.

He genuinely considered “Yan Wang” a separate person, not just another side of himself.

“If I say I’ve found a way to prevent Yan Wang from emerging,” Chi Yingxue’s voice brought back Xu Wang’s attention, “would you believe me this time?”

It wasn’t a plea, but an equal inquiry.

Xu Wang realized that Chi Yingxue had never wavered in his goal.

Even after being questioned and rejected, his calmness now carried more determination, like a pine tree on a mountaintop, standing tall regardless of the storms.

The same person, yet drastically different personalities. If this was an act, Xu Wang wanted to personally award him an Oscar.

“Give us three minutes.”

Leaving these words, Captain Xu pulled his teammates aside to discuss privately.

“One definitely costs money, the other could cost lives.” Xu Wang laid out their two options, seeking collective wisdom. “What do you think?”

“How about taking a day off?” Qian Ai offered a new perspective. “Maybe tomorrow we’ll have a plethora of good options…”

He paused, feeling something odd about his own suggestion.

“Bringing in any new member has its risks. A stranger with a single personality isn’t necessarily safer than someone with split personalities we’ve encountered.” Wu Sheng glanced at Chi Yingxue, who was still waiting nearby. “His capabilities and the attitude he’s shown so far…”

Xu Wang was surprised. “You want to add him?”

Wu Sheng sighed, looking at Xu Wang. “It’s you who wants to add him.”

Otherwise, they wouldn’t even need three seconds of discussion.

“If you vote yes, I’ll follow, but if he hurts you…” Wu Sheng paused for a second. “Or any of us again, we’ll kick him out, no discussion.”

Xu Wang knew that Wu Sheng cared about his friends, but he rarely saw such a straightforward expression of it.

A wave of emotion swept through his heart, warm and joyful.

“Alright.”

Qian Ai wasn’t sure if he was being oversensitive, but he always felt that Advisor Wu’s phrase “or any of us” sounded like a polite afterthought.

But regardless, he wanted to express his position. “I vote against.”

Two votes in favor, one against.

The three companions looked at Kuang Jinxin.

“To be honest, I’m quite curious about him…” Classmate Kuang said, looking at Qian Ai’s increasingly dark face, and swallowed. “Uh, I abstain.”

Qian Ai gritted his teeth. “Don’t worry about me.”

Kuang Jinxin shook his head seriously. “I vote to abstain, but we should still add him. Since the result won’t change, why intentionally make you angrier?”

Qian Ai: “……”

This kind of honesty is what makes people angry, okay?!

“Alright, that’s settled then.” Xu Wang clapped his hands. “He’s responsible for efficiency, we’re responsible for happiness.”

When Chi Yingxue clicked to accept the invitation to join the team, he didn’t know that his role had already been unilaterally decided.

“Aren’t you going to ask what method I’ve thought of to prevent Yan Wang from appearing?” He thought this was the most important step before joining the team.

“If this method doesn’t require our intervention, then there’s no need to speak of it.” Xu Wang looked at him, speaking very clearly. “Firstly, we can’t distinguish between truth and lies, and secondly, this is your privacy. There’s no need to report it. We just want a stable outcome.”

“Ding—”

[Roster]: Chi Yingxue joined the team.

“Ding—”

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

Apart from Qian Ai, who struggled with this final opportunity for two seconds, the other four didn’t care.

The countdown to regret didn’t affect the mission line. After a few seconds, the five were automatically transmitted back to the save point, 1310.

Before the scene became clear, a voice was heard—

“Damn, they’re coming!”

Xu Wang could tell; that was Li Zijin’s voice.

But this tone… They’re treating them like Voldemort!

“Li Xia, pull her into the corridor—”

The first thing Xu Wang saw was Li Xia crazily dragging the faceless woman in white into the corridor as instructed by his team captain.

A big hole had been chiseled into the wall. Wei Menghan and his team weren’t in sight, but faint voices could still be heard from deep within the secret passage—

“Lei Zi, climb faster… I hear them…”

Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, and Kuang Jinxin stood still, some looking at the ceiling, some at the walls, pretending to understand nothing.

Chi Yingxue also didn’t move, but his eyebrows twitched slightly when he saw Han Buting’s team.

Xu Wang quickly explained to the new teammate, “Our reputation… is a bit complicated.”

Unexpectedly, Chi Yingxue smiled wryly. “My reputation isn’t great either.”

“Chi Yingxue?!” Li Zijin was at the back of his team. He was already stepping out the door, but then he heard a familiar voice, turned around, and widened his eyes.

Han Buting and Li Xia, who were busy leaving quickly, didn’t notice the change in Xu Wang’s team. But with Li Zijin’s shout, they looked back into the room from outside.

Then, they froze, looking back at Xu Wang and his team, mixing something else into their hatred.

“Quick, get rid of your ghosts.” Xu Wang waved his hands like shooing flies, feeling slightly guilty. “Sooner or later, you’ll have to add one of our former teammates, so we’re even.”

After all, it was about taking someone else’s former teammate. Whether it was unwanted or who left voluntarily, there’s always a sense of poaching.

Han Buting, Li Xia, Li Zijin: “……”

There might be a misunderstanding; the emotions mixed in their hatred were of relief.

“Whoosh—”

A beautiful flame ignited on the ceiling.

Han Buting’s team exchanged glances, and with a “bang,” they closed the door from outside. The coordination and speed were of the utmost survival instinct.

The inconspicuous door seemed like a boundary between two worlds. The fire and heat disappeared instantly, leaving only the quiet corridor and the fallen, faceless woman in white.

Han Buting used a prop to collect her, then said, “It’s not safe here. Go next door and wait.”

Today was different from yesterday. Only one ghost crawled out of the hole in the wall. The subsequent four ghosts didn’t appear at all. Wei Menghan’s team enjoyed the secret passage, while Han Buting’s team had to deal with the faceless woman first, holding onto the beautiful imagination that “the other team should have already entered the painting,” preparing to summon the four ghosts later.

As it turns out, all beautiful illusions are just that: illusions.

But that team added Chi Yingxue, which was… truly delightful.

“Haa—” The normally reserved Captain Han entered the safe 1309 and sighed towards the chandelier, feeling relieved and vindicated.

As for that phrase about adding a former teammate sooner or later, it was vague and selectively ignored.

Li Zijin also felt schadenfreude but was more puzzled. “Why did they add Chi Yingxue. Did they forget the amusement park incident?”

“Getting through the levels is more important than past grudges.” Li Xia sat down, counting the remaining yellow talismans.

Li Zijin: “But you can’t just add anyone, right?”

Li Xia: “Skills are more important than character.”

“Is this a matter of good or bad character?” Li Zijin was frustrated. “That’s a lunatic!”

Li Xia looked up, asking seriously, “Isn’t that in line with their team’s style?”

Li Zijin paused. Images of cupid, death’s gaze, poisonous mushrooms, vomiting, and original scripts flashed through his mind…

“I have no problems anymore.”

Confirmed through the soul, they were destined for each other.

……

1310. After [(Defense) Let the Storm Come in All its Fury], the room was in disarray.

“Next, we just wait for the painting to pull us in,” Xu Wang said to Chi Yingxue. “I’ll explain the specific mission line after we go in.”

From the moment he joined the team, the new teammate was automatically included in the main team’s mission line and saved by the “Owl”.

“Okay.” Chi Yingxue wiped his wet hair back, revealing a smooth and beautiful forehead.

Xu Wang appreciated the sight for a few seconds but was then patted on the shoulder by his advisor, instantly turning into shock, and continued the previous topic. “You bit them all to death?!”

Chi Yingxue was stunned for two seconds before catching up with his team captain’s leap in logic, explaining, “I was infected with the zombie virus and couldn’t control my actions.”

“You alone bit all three of them to death?” Wu Sheng confirmed the details again, very calmly, without any emotion.

“Yes.” Chi Yingxue answered.

Wu Sheng nodded. “Impressive.”

Chi Yingxue crossed his arms and laughed nonchalantly, sensing that the compliment wasn’t entirely genuine.

Xu Wang secretly sized up the new teammate, feeling that he was either genuinely magnanimous or truly indifferent. Whether it was Wu Sheng’s caution, Qian Ai’s obvious hostility, or Kuang Jinxin’s eager curiosity, Chi Yingxue saw it all but didn’t mind, nor did he show any desire to delve deeper.

This person was like the opposite of the previous Chi Yingxue, who would have stirred up everything around him, even waving to them from afar before plunging into the sea. But this one was like a climber, only looking at the mountain peak, indifferent to whether it was spring, summer, autumn, or winter around him.

The heatwave rose again with a shower of flaming petals.

In an instant, the five were in a medieval European village.

Like yesterday, the villagers hurried to the execution square, ignoring them.

“Captain, the [Stationary Box] can be used now!” Kuang Jinxin checked out of habit and was pleasantly surprised.

The teammates opened their [Stationary Box] together, and indeed, there was no gray; all icons were vibrant and complete.

Wu Sheng quickly compared the differences between the two days, and the answer was clear. “It doesn’t work with other teams. We must do the mission alone.”

Xu Wang suddenly felt wronged. “It’s not like we dragged them in yesterday…”

“They mentioned using some props yesterday,” Qian Ai vaguely remembered. “Something from the love line?”

Wu Sheng looked up, and at the small square, the wood under the cross was almost ready. “We must have missed something.”

The five headed to the execution site, familiar with the path. Xu Wang didn’t disturb his advisor’s thoughts. Instead, he took the time to give a “prelude” to the new teammate.

Of course, this time Captain Xu didn’t use an “original script” and just conveyed their experience from yesterday, not adding any extra details.

Chi Yingxue listened quietly, understanding Han Buting’s team’s rapid retreat, and could probably even guess the feelings of the other team they didn’t meet in the secret passage.

“So, our mission is to deal with the evil spirit?” He needed to clarify the goal.

“For now, yes,” Xu Wang said. “But we can’t rule out new clues later.”

“Understood.” Chi Yingxue said, opening his [Stationary Box] to show Xu Wang. “This is all my stationery. Whether you prefer to combine them or use them individually, either is fine.”

Chi Yingxue’s [Stationery Box] had nine items in total. It was easy to remember after a glance, especially as the other party had no intention of limiting their time. The arm extended towards them remained still, as if saying, “Feel free to look”.

Xu Wang couldn’t quite describe his feelings.

There was definitely surprise, as the [Stationery Box] is a challenger’s lifeline, and showing it means opening one’s heart.

But Chi Yingxue’s words always gave Xu Wang a sense of “I’ve given you my things. Use them as you please.” If he truly considered them his people, there should be discussions and coordination, like what tactics I’m used to, what tactics you’re used to, how we should mesh…

Chi Yingxue raised his eyebrows slightly with a puzzled look in his eyes.

Xu Wang looked at his face and suddenly felt a bit guilty, thinking he might be too nitpicky.

“For tactical issues, consult our advisor.” Xu Wang pulled Wu Sheng over. “He’ll teach you our combat system.”

Chi Yingxue nodded to Wu Sheng. “Thanks.”

“No trouble.” Wu Sheng looked up at the sky. “But not right now.”

In the sky, light blue petals were flying towards the blazing cross.

Like yesterday, the fire beneath the cross weakened amidst the dancing petals, and the villagers scattered in all directions.

“Amy—”

Following the young man’s shout from under the tree, the girl with the torch rushed over again.

“Lao Qian.” Wu Sheng looked at his teammate. “Go keep an eye on York. Once he runs, follow him to see where he lives!”

The tactics changed abruptly, and Qian Ai was momentarily confused. “York?”

“The guy under the tree.” Kuang Jinxin remembered the name.

With many questions in mind but seeing Amy about to act recklessly, Qian Ai didn’t have time to ask and dashed towards the tree. Otherwise, York would soon run faster than a rabbit.

Just as Qian Ai reached the tree, Amy burst into flames.

After York ran away and Qian Ai followed, Amy had become a charred corpse.

With the shadow of the previous experience, the remaining three tried not to look. Chi Yingxue glanced twice with a calm expression.

Wu Sheng began explaining his thoughts. “The flow of time here is slower than outside the painting.”

With this statement, Kuang Jinxin and Chi Yingxue were still confused, but Xu Wang understood. “Because they want to give the challengers enough time to find the love line prop in here?”

“Right,” Wu Sheng said. “There’s at least four and a half hours until the evil spirit arrives. It can’t just be for us to eat a pot of poisonous mushroom soup.”

Xu Wang didn’t want to recall that part of the story. “What do you plan to do?”

“We’ll split into two groups. One group will go home with Cornina, and the other will look for clues and props in the village.”

“Reasonable division of labor, scientific tactics.”

“That’s it?”

“…How did the ‘Owl’ assign you to me!”

Satisfied, Advisor Wu rescued Cornina from the cross and then started chatting and advancing the plot.

Xu Wang tried to interject several times but couldn’t, so he just stood quietly beside, supporting his advisor with mental power.

Kuang Jinxin wanted to step forward, but seeing Chi Yingxue motionless, he turned and saw the latter watching their captain and advisor with a faint smile.

He was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

“In one sentence, they basically know what the other person wants to say.” Chi Yingxue withdrew his gaze, looking towards Kuang Jinxin. “The understanding between your captain and advisor is impressive.”

“There have been times of communication failure too. I’ve seen the captain get frustrated twice…” Kuang Jinxin responded halfway, then realizing something was off, his brow slowly furrowed, correcting himself, “It’s ours.”

Chi Yingxue titled his head slightly. “Huh?”

Kuang Jinxin looked straight into his eyes. “They are our captain and advisor.”

He emphasized the word “our” without any concealment.

Chi Yingxue understood, and his eyes and brows relaxed, showing a warm smile. “I accept the criticism and will make serious corrections.”

Kuang Jinxin looked at him somewhat confusedly, always feeling that his warmth was like mist-covered glass.

The Chi Yingxue from the amusement park was dangerous, but his emotions were tangible. Kuang Jinxin could still recall the displeasure of that Chi Yingxue when Li Zijin interrupted the fight, the inexplicable anger on the Ferris wheel, and the annoyance and anger when being taunted by his own advisor with the illusory stationery.

Wu Sheng’s conversation with Cornina this time wasn’t so formulaic. In addition to the necessary main storyline, he chatted about various things, firstly to probe the NPC’s information capacity, and secondly to wait for Qian Ai.

But until Qian Ai returned breathlessly, Wu Sheng hadn’t obtained any useful information. Cornina had very limited information provided to her, only related to the mission line itself, aside from the basic knowledge of a medieval village girl.

Hei Momo from 4/23 would exploit loopholes in the rules, Yuan Zai from 3/23’s save point would even ask, “What does the next level mean”, but Cornina didn’t show even a hint of curiosity.

Wu Sheng gave up on the idea of giving her a card.

With York’s residence confirmed, the next step was to split into two groups.

“I’ll look for clues in the village with Wu Sheng.” Xu Wang clarified the division of labor. “Lao Qian, you, Xiao Kuang, and Chi Yingxue, go home with Cornina.”

Qian Ai, still catching his breath, was startled. “The three of us?”

Xu Wang laughed. “You think you’re more suited for finding clues?”

Qian Ai: “Not really…”

“Then that settles it.” Xu Wang looked towards Kuang Jinxin. “Take care of Lao Qian. Don’t let him eat mushroom soup again.”

Kuang Jinxin immediately patted his chest. “Leave it to me!”

Qian Ai: “……”

How much of a glutton do people think I am!

Chi Yingxue complied with the arrangement, following Cornina with Kuang Jinxin.

Xu Wang quickly grabbed Qian Ai, who was lagging behind, and whispered another instruction. “Keep an eye on Xiao Kuang.”

Qian Ai followed his captain’s gaze and finally understood when he saw Chi Yingxue’s back.

“Don’t worry.” His last words were said with a sense of mission.

Watching his teammates and Cornina leave, Captain Xu wasn’t really at ease. If possible, he would feel safest going home with Cornina himself, in case Chi Yingxue tried any tricks, as he would definitely notice faster than Lao Qian.

But letting Lao Qian search for clues… That would be less reliable than leaving him to watch Chi Yingxue.

Wu Sheng knew what Xu Wang was worried about, and because he knew, he was more puzzled. “Why don’t we just take Chi Yingxue with us to look for clues—keep him close and watch him?”

Leaving Lao Qian and Xiao Kuang to go back to Cornina’s house would be safer.

“That would be too obvious in showing our distrust,” Xu Wang said. “Since you thought of it, how dull would Chi Yingxue have to be not to see it?”

“Are we supposed to pretend to be united and friendly when we’re already on guard?” Wu Sheng felt tired for him.

“This is a period of mutual assessment and adaptation,” Xu Wang stated seriously. “If we can get through it, then the unity and friendship will be genuine.”

“Is Chi Yingxue also assessing us?”

“Of course.”

Seeing Wu Sheng still unconvinced, Xu Wang didn’t bother with more words, simply concluding, “Getting along with people is an art. If everyone were as straightforward and blunt as you, we’d disperse before forming a bond.”

Wu Sheng frowned. “I do have a few friends.”

“Then cherish them.” Xu Wang turned, heading towards the first stop in their search for clues—under the tree. “You’re spared the effort, all taken care of by the other party…”

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

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.”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 79: Mushroom Soup

Captain Xu Wang attempted to alleviate the awkwardness of his wild speculation by suggesting they “save the girl”, but his teammates weren’t convinced. However, the girl on the cross looked over at them first.

Tears streaked her face, and her eyes were filled with confusion and a hint of fear.

Xu Wang confirmed that she was making eye contact with them.

“Hey.” Xu Wang didn’t shift his gaze, still staring at her while signaling the others with his hand. “She seems to be able to see us…”

The fourteen people, who had just been deceived by Xu Wang’s fictional script, were skeptical at first. But when they looked up, they indeed saw the girl looking right at them.

They glanced at each other and cautiously approached.

The girl’s eyes flickered as if silently pleading, “Save me.”

“Why are you standing there? Let’s save her.” Ji Yunlei, the tan-skinned classmate, kicked over half of the woodpile under the scaffold.

Teacher Wei looked at Feng Rang with a headache.

Dark Circles Classmate Fang was equally helpless. “I told you. I can’t keep an eye on him.”

“Keep an eye on Ji Yunlei” was a directive from the team captain, but as a mere human, Feng Rang’s success rate in supervising a teammate who was as quiet as a mountain eagle and as fierce as a tiger wasn’t high.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened.

Ji Yunlei cleared the area under the scaffold with his feet, and the others, clumsily, managed to rescue the trapped girl.

“Thank you for saving me…” The girl knelt on the ground, endlessly expressing her gratitude, her voice trembling with post-traumatic emotion. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was smudged with dirt and tear streaks, making it hard to see her features clearly.

“We’re not the ones who saved you,” Xu Wang said, removing a petal stuck in her hair. “It was this.”

The girl looked at the pale blue petal, seemingly seeing it for the first time.

Xu Wang was surprised. “Don’t you recognize it?”

He had just revised the storyline to “Unfinished Love between Human and Flower”. Was it wrong again?

The girl shook her head and responded hoarsely, “I’ve never seen a flower of this color.”

Xu Wang: “What about a boy who looks like a flower fairy?”

The girl: “……”

Wei Menghan’s team: “……”

Han Buting’s team: “……”

Someone, please throw an [(Illusory) Please Give Up Your Dream of Being a Writer] at the captain of this story line!!!

“What’s your name?” Wu Sheng approached and intervened in the conversation.

The girl: “Cornina.”

“Why did they want to burn you?”

“They said I’m a witch.”

“Did you do anything to make them suspect you?”

“No. Everything was fine yesterday, then suddenly this morning they burst into my house, insisting I’m a witch…”

“They?”

“People from the village, even though everyone was so friendly the day before…”

“What about your family?”

“I don’t have any. My parents died when I was very young.”

“The person who was burned… Her name seemed to be Amy. Did you know her?”

“She was my best friend…”

“Didn’t seem like it.”

“……”

“She said she would become an evil spirit and come back from hell to find you.”

“……”

Wu Sheng, not particularly skilled in communication, asked direct questions almost bluntly, and his responses lacked any softness or tact. However, Cornina seemed to find this procedural conversation helpful, answering what she could and remaining silent otherwise.

“The man with her under the tree—do you know him?”

“A man?”

“Under that tree, when you were being executed, they were together.”

“Amy never mentioned having a lover…”

“Do you want to go home now?”

“Yes, I have nowhere else to go.”

“Aren’t you afraid the villagers will come for you again?”

“I don’t know. I just want to sleep well. Maybe this is all just a nightmare…”

“Can we stay at your house for the night?”

“Of course, you are Cornina’s saviors.”

Cornina stood up, apparently ready to “lead the way”.

Wu Sheng nodded, turned to all his teammates, and confirmed. “Any more questions? If not, let’s continue with the plot.”

Han Buting shook his head, his eyes barely concealing a trace of “approval”.

Teacher Wei made a gesture to proceed. “Let’s go—”

Cornina led the way, with Xu Wang and Wu Sheng, the main leaders of the love line, closely following. The remaining thirteen companions lagged behind.

Since there was no concept of “unity” among them, the entire group was spread out, giving Xu Wang and Wu Sheng an opportunity to talk privately.

Of course, it was mainly Captain Xu Wang unilaterally “criticizing” Advisor Wu.

“Those questions you asked were too dry,” Captain Xu, who pursued the art of language, commented.

Wu Sheng didn’t accept the criticism. “That’s like pressing ‘Enter’ continuously in game dialogues for the fastest progression.”

Xu Wang said, “This is not a game.”

Wu Sheng: “I know.”

Xu Wang frowned. “If you don’t treat NPCs as people, how can you teach them to be human?”

Wu Sheng looked at Cornina’s figure and whispered, “I’ve never treated them as lifeless objects.”

The look in his advisor’s eyes didn’t seem like he was lying.

But what his advisor just did…

“You just mechanically followed the procedure just now,” Xu Wang said.

Wu Sheng shook his head. “This time, the situation is special.”

Xu Wang pondered for a moment. “Because it’s the world in the painting? A triple parallel space?”

Wu Sheng: “Because we’re still carrying two other teams, we can’t just act on our whims.”

Xu Wang was taken aback, not expecting Wu Sheng to be capable of such perspective-taking.

“Alright.” He admitted he hadn’t considered everything. “Indeed, we shouldn’t delay others because of our caprice.”

Wu Sheng looked at him inexplicably. “What I mean is, in front of the opponent, we must demonstrate our efficiency to the greatest extent to be cool enough.”

Xu Wang: “……”

What kind of demonic desire to win is this?!

Teacher Wei, who always walked in the rear, was at the end of his team. Kuang Jinxin, who was studying the flowers and plants along the way, and Qian Ai, who was worried about him falling behind, also fell to the back of the group.

Teacher Wei seized the opportunity to ask a question that puzzled him. “Can you reveal the criteria for choosing your team captain?”

Kuang Jinxin was still looking down, focused on searching for the “suspect savior”.

Qian Ai naturally took over the question. “Public voting, mainly looking at people’s hearts.”

Up to now, Wei Menghan still clearly remembers the unbelievable feeling when the save point was asked by the opponent’s advisor. “Isn’t your advisor’s wisdom and control enough to win your hearts?”

“He did, indeed,” Qian Ai answered without hesitation. “But he cast his vote for our team captain.”

Wei Menghan: “……”

Qian Ai thought for a moment and added, “Actually, he’s not omnipotent. You’ll know after more communication. Sometimes, we simply can’t understand what he says.”

Wei Menghan looked up at the intimate figures whispering shoulder to shoulder at the front of the team. “I see your team captain has no communication barriers with him.”

“They are, of course, fine.” Qian Ai didn’t even have to think. “They’ve shared a room for three years. It couldn’t be for nothing.”

Wei Menghan: “……”

The sudden silence made Qian Ai come back to his senses, immediately swallowing back the “back in high school…” that had reached his lips and regretting in his heart, almost revealing their team’s secrets, especially after just emphasizing in yesterday’s team meeting that for safety’s sake, they shouldn’t reveal their real identities inside the “Owl”.

“Just pretend I didn’t say anything,” Qian Ai hurriedly negotiated. “And you didn’t hear anything.”

Teacher Wei nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, I understand.”

Qian Ai scratched his head, not understanding why Teacher Wei’s eyes held a “bearing a heavy responsibility” light.

Cornina’s house was in the farthest corner of the village, some distance from the small square for executions. The neighboring houses looked okay—only Cornina’s two-story wooden house was dilapidated.

“My parents only left me this house. It’s an old one, and I really don’t have the money to hire someone to repair it…” Cornina explained somewhat embarrassedly, leading the group inside.

The house was broken but spacious enough, with a small living room, a bedroom, and a kitchen on the first floor and two bedrooms on the second floor, but there was hardly any furniture. Everything looked empty and dilapidated, especially the second floor, which obviously hadn’t been lived in for many years. The only wooden bed was covered with thick dust, and naturally, there was no bedding or blankets.

“You must be hungry. I’ll make some mushroom soup…” Cornina said as she walked towards the kitchen.

The three team captains spoke at the same time—

Xu Wang: “No need to bother.”

Han Buting: “No need.”

Wei Menghan: “Cream of mushroom soup?”

Xu Wang, Han Buting: “…”

Wei Menghan: “I was just asking…”

Cornina had already disappeared into the kitchen, which seemed like a fixed process in the mission line.

Han Buting no longer dwelled on it and asked Xu Wang, “What do you plan to do next?”

Xu Wang: “Amy said she would become an evil spirit and come back from hell to find Cornina.”

Wu Sheng added, “So what we have to do is wait here for the evil spirit to come to us.”

Han Buting had no objections to this plan, as the current storyline also didn’t suggest any other direction.

But it was too awkward for a dozen people to sit around staring at each other.

“My team members and I will go upstairs to rest. Call us if anything happens.” He led his team to the staircase, then turned back. “Except for when the mushroom soup is ready.”

Han Buting’s five-person team went upstairs.

Wei Menghan also made a decision. “There are two bedrooms upstairs. We’ll take one to conserve energy for the tough fight against the evil spirit.”

Zou Jun, Feng Rang, Ji Yunlei: “Not having mushroom soup?”

Zhu Mo: “We’ll come down when it’s time for soup.”

Zou Jun, Feng Rang, Ji Yunlei: “Oh, okay.”

Xu Wang’s team split: “…”

……

Cabin, Bedroom One.

Han Buting closed the door tightly and turned around to face the serious eyes of his teammates.

“To defeat the evil spirit, they might just finish their task.” Li Xia leaned against the window, trying to stay away from the door while lowering his voice. “Should we really help?”

Li Zijin nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Li Xia’s sentiment.

“The question now is not whether we should help,” Han Buting said calmly yet firmly, “but that we can only leave the painting if we do help.”

Li Xia raised an eyebrow. “You mean to gamble?”

Han Buting nodded. “Yes, gamble that leaving the painting isn’t the end of their mission line.”

Li Xia asked, “What if it is?”

Han Buting shrugged. “Then we accept it and try again tomorrow.”

“Why not just defeat them and then the evil spirit will let us leave the painting?” Li Zijin was unaccustomed to such roundabout tactics. “Why gamble on a 50% chance?”

Han Buting rubbed his temples, signaling Li Xia to come over.

He was already tortured by this love line—mainly the team in the love line—to the point of a mental breakdown. He really didn’t have the energy to deal with his team’s simple-minded ‘baby’.

Li Xia pulled Li Zijin over. “Without them, our chances of leaving the painting drop to zero.”

Li Zijin: “Why?”

Li Xia: “Can you use your [Stationery Box]?”

Li Zijin: “No, it’s been useless since we entered here.”

Li Xia: “Exactly.”

“But theirs is also useless. Isn’t it because the important plot hasn’t been triggered yet?” Li Zijin always thought that once the evil spirit appeared, the [Stationery Box] would be unsealed.

Li Xia: “…Next time you’re confused, just ask. Don’t make assumptions.”

Li Zijin pouted, thinking to himself that both Li Xia and the team captain were cold and unapproachable.

Li Xia saw his grumbling but didn’t bother to respond, getting straight to the point. “We catch ghosts with the yellow talismans we got from the castle. Similarly, to deal with the evil spirits here, we can only use the props obtained from the love line.”

Finally recalling, Li Zijin remembered that during the 1310 melee, the other two teams’ stationery had no effect on the ghosts. Even their own team’s stationery only played a minor role, and in the end, they had to rely on the yellow talismans from the previous room.

Thinking of this, he frowned deeply. “What weapon did they actually get? They haven’t revealed it yet?”

Li Xia calmly said, “We’ll know when the evil spirit comes.”

……

Cabin, Bedroom Two.

Zou Jun: “So that’s it?”

Feng Rang: “We’ve already entered their mission line. What else can we do?”

Zou Jun: “It’s frustrating to work for others’ benefit.”

Zhu Mo: “We also gained a save point from them.”

Zou Jun: “They also tricked us into a meal!”

Feng Rang: “That’s not entirely fair. They offered to treat us, you refused; suggested splitting the bill, you refused and insisted on paying yourself.”

Zou Jun: “Paying the bill is a matter of cultivation.”

Ji Yunlei: “Translated, that means ‘having money to burn’.”

Wei Menghan: “Do you smell something?”

Zou Jun, Feng Rang, Ji Yunlei: “Yes!”

Zhu Mo: “The mushroom soup is ready.”

……

First Floor.

Cornina brought out a big pot of mushroom soup. Its delicious aroma made everyone hungry.

Xu Wang was about to go upstairs to call the others when Teacher Wei’s team came down with a rapid “thump, thump, thump”. Their speed and timing were so fast, it made one suspect there was an intercom directly from the kitchen to upstairs.

Cornina served a bowl to everyone, and at the end, she looked around in confusion. “It seems like a few people are missing?”

“They’re missing out.” Ji Yunlei drank his soup in one gulp and handed back the empty bowl. “May I have another bowl, please?”

Cornina quickly refilled his bowl and then looked upstairs. “I’ll serve them upstairs.”

After saying this, she went back to the kitchen and soon came out with a tray and several empty bowls and started serving it herself.

Xu Wang initially wanted to stop her but thinking that “warm hospitality” was probably an important part of Cornina’s character, he let her be.

As Cornina went upstairs, Qi Shan, who had been “focused on creating”, finally completed his task.

Cornina’s house had no paper or pen, so he had to use the touch pen on his own phone, drawing on the small screen.

“It looks very much like him.” Kuang Jinxin, who had been watching the whole process quietly, even while drinking his soup, sincerely praised only after Qi Shan finished.

Qi Shan smiled. “It’s passable.”

Kuang Jinxin shook his head. “It’s professional.”

Qi Shan said, “It’s a self-taught skill, just enough to make a living.”

“Are you an artist?” Xu Wang had never asked Qi Shan about his profession, only knowing about his unfulfilled dream in esports. So, when Qi Shan said he could draw the young man under the tree, Xu Wang didn’t have much confidence.

Unexpectedly, the new teammate displayed not just “talent”, but “skill”.

The portrait sketch on the phone screen was almost identical to the young man under the tree.

“Being a true artist is out of the question.” Qi Shan laughed. “In this life, I’m just a minor artist.”

As they spoke, Cornina, who had finished serving the soup upstairs, came down.

Qi Shan quickly handed her the phone, asking, “Do you recognize this person?”

They had previously asked Cornina if she recognized the young man under the tree, but Cornina hadn’t even seen who was under the tree. So, Qi Shan thought of drawing him.

Upon seeing the portrait, Cornina was visibly stunned, clearly recognizing the person depicted.

Xu Wang’s team immediately gathered around, and even Teacher Wei’s team, who were slurping soup at the table, temporarily put down their bowls and paid quiet attention.

“This is York. He’s also from this village,” Cornina said, her cheeks flushing with a hint of red.

Even Advisor Wu could see the obvious pink bubble around her.

“Do you like him?” Xu Wang, inheriting his advisor’s style, asked very directly.

Cornina replied in a very low voice.

Xu Wang continued, “Does he like you?”

Cornina dared not look up. “I don’t know… I haven’t told him my feelings yet…”

Xu Wang frowned. Another unrequited love?

Wait, why did he think “another”…

“So you two are just ordinary friends?” Wu Sheng tried to get back to the main point.

Cornina nodded.

Wu Sheng: “What about Amy? What’s her relationship with York?”

Cornina blinked in confusion. “Them?”

Wu Sheng nodded. “When you were being executed, the two of them were having a date under the tree.”

Cornina’s eyes widened, quickly misting over with tears, looking pitiful. “No… that can’t be… Amy doesn’t like York… She even said she would help me confess…”

Xu Wang glanced at everyone in the room—I told you, it’s a love triangle!

Everyone in the room: “……”

“Clang—”

“Clang—”

Wei Menghan and Ji Yunlei collapsed unexpectedly. They were just standing there when they suddenly swayed and fell.

Zou Jun, Feng Rang, and Zhu Mo were startled and rushed over to help, only to fall themselves.

Five people were lying in disarray on the ground. Their consciousness was blurry, and their arms were flailing as if possessed.

Xu Wang was alarmed and tried to speak but suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous, his legs giving way as he collapsed.

Wu Sheng quickly caught him, his heart skipping a beat. “What’s happening?”

“Dizzy…” Xu Wang managed to say before his head turned to mush. Everything in front of him became distorted and deformed. His brain seemed to be out of control and began to move and beat on its own.

At the same time, Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin exhibited the same symptoms.

“Someone upstairs, come down and help—” Wu Sheng shouted with all his might, almost changing his tone in urgency.

Han Buting’s team quickly appeared at the stairwell, baffled by the scene but still coming down to render humanitarian aid.

Eight people lay side by side on the ground, all exhibiting remarkably similar symptoms: confusion, drifting consciousness, and flailing arms, as if something in front of them was disturbing them and needed to be driven away.

This eerie scene even gave Han Buting a chill. “What the hell happened?”

“The mushrooms are poisoned!” Wu Sheng said while trying to induce vomiting in Xu Wang by pressing on his throat.

Cornina turned pale and burst into tears. “I-I didn’t do anything. I picked the mushrooms from the outskirts…”

Wu Sheng didn’t care whether it was intentional or accidental, shouting loudly, “Qi Shan, get some salt water, as much as you can!”

“I’ll go—” Cornina, as if to prove her innocence, volunteered and ran into the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, I’ll watch her!” Before Wu Sheng could speak, Qi Shan had already defined his task and rushed to the kitchen.

Xu Wang finally vomited.

Wu Sheng patted his back while shouting at Han Buting. “What are you waiting for? Help out!”

Han Buting: “……”

Captain Han had never been so naturally commanded, whether in the “Owl” or in reality.

But could he not help? If the others went home, they wouldn’t be able to leave the painting either.

This was definitely karma to have met this team.

“What do we do?” Han Buting asked, grinding his teeth.

Wu Sheng: “Induce vomiting!”

Han Buting: “……”

Wu Sheng: “Use your fingers to induce their gag reflex…”

Han Buting: “No need to explain in such detail!”

The six companions struggled to help the eight poisoned members, finally improving efficiency.

Soon, all eight had vomited heavily. Their consciousness was still blurry, but the flailing and twitching of their fingers had lessened.

Han Buting’s team helped move the people to a clean area. “We didn’t eat the mushroom soup, but how can you be sure it’s mushroom poisoning?”

Wu Sheng gently laid Xu Wang down. “This is a classic case of Lilliputian hallucinations*, a typical hallucination from a certain type of mushroom poisoning.”

*Hallucinations that consist of vision of small people, occasionally accompanied by animals or by other objects of minute size.

Li Zijin: “Lilliputian?”

Qi Shan hurried back, carrying a nearly full bucket of salt water. “Salt water is here—”

Wu Sheng instructed everyone to help the poisoned drink the water while explaining, “It means the poisoned person feels like many tiny people are around them, making noise and provoking, so they keep waving their hands and snapping their fingers to drive them away.”

Li Zijin: “What kind of tiny people?”

Wu Sheng: “It varies from person to person. How would I know!”

Li Xia pulled the noisy Li Zijin away, forcing him to focus on helping with the salt water.

Han Buting couldn’t understand. “If you knew so clearly, why didn’t you stop them from drinking the soup?”

Wu Sheng: “The images of fresh mushrooms in my brain have significant differences in shape and color due to the angle of the photos, and it’s even harder to compare with mushrooms made into soup. It was my negligence.”

Han Buting: “……”

There was a deep sense of self-blame in the other’s eyes, but why couldn’t he understand a word he was saying!

After more than an hour of turmoil, the eight poisoned teammates finally settled down.

Two more hours passed, and they gradually regained consciousness.

Wu Sheng checked the time. It was almost six o’clock, yet they hadn’t been ejected back to reality.

Xu Wang also started to stir.

Without further thought, Wu Sheng immediately helped him up. “How do you feel?”

Xu Wang tilted his head to assess himself and swallowed twice. “Nothing much, just a sore throat.”

Wu Sheng slightly regretted being too harsh but was relieved that Xu Wang was otherwise okay. “You were poisoned by the mushrooms.”

Xu Wang was stunned. “How come you’re fine?”

Wu Sheng was somewhat exasperated. “I didn’t eat it.”

“What about them?” Xu Wang looked towards Han Buting’s team. Though they seemed worn out, their “gloomy faces” stood out among the dazed teammates.

“They probably didn’t eat it either,” Wu Sheng said.

Xu Wang was puzzled. “Didn’t Cornina specifically take it to them?”

Wu Sheng sighed. “Do you think they’re the type to be swayed by enthusiasm?”

Xu Wang nodded. “Right.”

Han Buting silently stared at the ceiling, reminding himself that murder is illegal.

The night in the village deepened, and the wind creeping through the door cracks grew colder.

Wei Menghan’s team, since waking up, were quietly sitting in the corner, not speaking or joking, immersed in the “sorrow of a foodie”.

No one noticed the faint shadow appearing on the wall behind them.

The shadow moved silently, sneaking into the kitchen along hidden corners.

Cornina was cleaning up there, having made a mess while preparing the salt water earlier.

“Ahh—”

As the fire lit up, Cornina’s scream echoed from the kitchen.

The teammates, weary from the long night and mushroom poisoning, took a couple of seconds after the scream to look at each other in shock before springing up and rushing to the kitchen!

Cornina’s skirt had caught fire, but she quickly doused herself with the remaining half bucket of water, extinguishing the flames.

When Xu Wang and the others arrived, they saw Cornina with her drenched skirt and a burning ghostly shadow on the wall.

“The witch… must… be burned to death…”

A chilling, inhuman voice reached the ears of the fifteen companions, making their skin crawl.

The ghostly shadow lunged at Cornina again!

“What are you waiting for? Use your props—” Li Zijin urged Xu Wang’s team.

Wu Sheng quickly pulled Cornina aside as the ghostly shadow hit the ground, leaving a charred mark.

“We would’ve used them if we could,” Qian Ai shouted back. “The [Stationery Box] isn’t working!”

Li Zijin: “Who said to use the [Stationery Box]. Use the props—the ones from the love line!”

Xu Wang, Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, Kong Jinxin, and Qi Shan all looked at him and said innocently, “Huh?”

Five seconds of eye contact.

Realizing that they genuinely had nothing, Li Zijin looked blankly at his own team captain.

Han Buting was surprisingly calm, as if he had eaten the poisonous mushrooms—tranquil and serene.

The ghostly shadow spread out, burning into a hellish net that ensnared the entire kitchen and everyone in it.

No amount of water helped, and the magical petals no longer appeared.

In the lethal burning, the fifteen companions heard the call of heaven—

[Owl: Dear~ I’m giving you an early holiday. Sending you home.]

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 78: Oil Painting

The faceless female ghost occupied the secret passage, and the fires of hell burned the room.

The horror line, escape line, and love line intertwined into a “sea of happiness”.

Captain Wei had no time to wonder why even the love line had to endure the torment of a sea of fire. Seeing the female ghost being driven out of the secret passage by Han Buting’s team’s exorcism ritual, he made a quick decision. “Let’s go—”

His four companions, who had been waiting for this moment, swiftly entered the passage. Zou Jun and Feng Rang were the fastest, followed by Zhu Mo and Ji Yunlei in the middle, with Captain Wei covering the rear to prevent the fierce ghost from returning.

Of course, the fierce ghost wouldn’t return; Han Buting’s team had it firmly under control, and the female ghost’s body was becoming more transparent, about to be subdued.

Facing a powerful opponent had its advantages; there was no need to clean up for others.

Xu Wang and his team rushed to the painting, concentrating hard, wishing they could discern every detail in it. However, the scene in the painting was both illusory and real; one second, you’d think it was about to come to life, the next, it was just an ordinary painting. Instead, the heatwave in the room intensified, making breathing difficult.

Should they retreat?

Each companion had the same hesitation in their heart.

But Wei Menghan had found the secret passage, and Han Buting had caught the ghost. How could they return empty-handed!

Xu Wang looked at Wu Sheng, his eyes already decisive. “Put out the fire.”

He had always been worried that extinguishing the fire would break their only clue, but now, since they didn’t want to leave, there was no other choice!

“Boom, boom—”

Thunder rumbled from the ceiling.

Wind rose with the thunder, carrying moisture.

Xu Wang was astonished. He had just finished speaking, and Wu Sheng hadn’t even moved. But this effect was exactly what he wanted Wu Sheng to use with his defense stationery.

The only explanation was that his advisor had understood his command before he gave it and had acted first.

Looking at Wu Sheng again, indeed, his eyes had “Please start praising me” written all over it.

Xu Wang wouldn’t, and prepared to deflate his self-esteem, but just as he opened his mouth, a torrential downpour came pouring down!

“Whoosh—”

This was rain.

“Fwish—”

This was wind.

“Boom, boom—”

This was thunder.

Captain Xu swallowed a mouthful of water and said nothing more. It was better to keep quiet.

The flames on the walls were extinguished in the storm, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply, making it much more comfortable.

But Han Buting’s team might not think so.

Having just subdued the female ghost, their joy was not yet put away when the downpour turned them into drenched chickens. Hairstyles ruined, demeanor destroyed, leaving no joy left and only baffled faces.

The notification sound of the indiscriminate defense stationery came belatedly in the ears of the ten companions—

[Owl: Someone used [(Defense) Let the Storm Come in All its Fury*] on you~~]

*This is a line from the short piece of revolutionary literature “The Song of the Stormy Petrel” by Maxim Gorky.

Han Buting: “……”

Li Xia: “……”

Li Zijin: “Can the names of your stationery be any longer?!”

Xu Wang brushed his hands over his face like windshield wipers, trying to keep his vision clear from the rain and convey a “sincere look”. “Each to their own line. It’s accidental harm, accidental harm.”

Han Buting gritted his teeth, not wanting to stay here for another second.

Turning to leave, a third Wei-style breakdown came from the secret passage—

“What—the—hell—”

The voice was mournful and piercing, cutting through the storm’s noise into the room, sounding more bitter than a ghost.

Han Buting stopped in his tracks and, along with his teammates, looked puzzledly at the mouth of the passage.

Wu Sheng also deactivated his defense stationery, and the wind, rain, and thunder disappeared instantly, leaving only a room full of drenched companions.

A few seconds later.

Teacher Wei emerged, falling to the ground. He didn’t care about his appearance, quickly got up, and hurriedly pulled the teammates behind him.

Ji Yunlei, Zhu Mo, Feng Rang, and Zou Jun came out of the secret passage one after another, with urgency in their movements and expressions.

The five people who returned safely immediately retreated to the corner of the room furthest from the passage.

Seeing this, Xu Wang immediately had a bad premonition and hurriedly led his team, squeezing next to Teacher Wei’s team for warmth.

Only Han Buting’s team remained in the middle of the room.

The air suddenly became quiet.

Rustling sounds came from the secret passage.

An arm stretched out without warning, pale and withered, looking like a white bone at first glance.

Han Buting gave his teammates a look, and the four companions immediately reformed the exorcism formation, with Li Xia taking out another talisman.

Teacher Wei, leaning in the corner, still couldn’t suppress his concern as a gardener. “The student with bangs covering the eyes. This is a multiple-choice question. One talisman might not be enough…”

Li Xia frowned. Before he could understand the cryptic hint, the owner of the arm tremblingly crawled out of the passage, falling to the ground.

It was an old lady so thin that she was just skin and bones.

She seemed to have hurt herself in the fall, letting out a low cry that didn’t sound human.

Struggling to stand up, the hunched old lady slowly lifted her head.

All the companions gasped, and their scalps went numb.

It wasn’t a human face, but something between a human and a cat—eerie and strange.

Qian Ai shuddered. “Cat-faced old lady…”

“Thump—”

Another thing fell out, almost knocking the old lady over.

This second ghost was no longer recognizable as human. It had eight legs supporting a woman’s head, just propped up on the ground.

Qian Ai swallowed hard. “Spider woman…”

“Thump—”

“Thump—”

The third and fourth fell out together, a little girl in red clothes and a disheveled woman with a mask.

Qian Ai’s back was already against the wall. “Little girl in red*… Slit-mouth woman…”

*I believe this one is based off of an urban legend that this movie is based off of. Supposedly, there’s a “little girl in red” wearing children’s clothing, but her face is extremely old. 

Xu Wang, Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, Qi Shan: “……”

Wei Menghan, Feng Rang, Zhu Mo, Ji Yunlei: “……”

Phoenix Eyes Zou Jun was, unfortunately, the closest to Qian Ai. “…Is this your stationery since you know so much?!”

Seeing the real thing was scary enough. Why delve deeper into it?!

“He likes to watch zombie movies from the 80s,” Kuang Jinxin kindly explained to his opponent.

Zou Jun: “……”

None of those opposite could match up with zombies!

Qian Ai: “There are also urban horror films, not limited to domestic, European, American, Japanese, Korean, Indian, or Thai productions.”

Zou Jun: “Then, why, are, you, hiding?”

Qian Ai: “Scared.”

Zou Jun: “……”

During their conversation, Han Buting’s team had already driven the dead ghost to the corner of the wall. The yellow talismans in Li Xia’s hand turned into four, and it looked like they could subdue it at any moment.

But just then, the cat-faced old lady suddenly let out a piercing howl.

In an instant, all four ghosts disappeared!

Before Han Buting’s team could react, a cold wind suddenly swept through the room!

The ten companions in the corner suddenly had a bad feeling, looking at each other—an extra face had appeared among them.

The mask-less slit-mouth woman was laughing so hard that she revealed her gaping mouth, which bore sharp teeth.

“Ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh—”

In the screams, the ten companions scattered.

No one knew who screamed, but certainly, no one would admit it.

The four ghosts floated erratically, appearing one moment at the entrance, another at the window, and the spider woman persistently guarding the door, preventing anyone from escaping.

Han Buting’s team was also thrown off by this turn of events, unable to trap all the ghosts as before and had to fight them one by one!

This was tough for the other two teams, who didn’t follow the horror line, as they found their stationeries were useless against these ghosts!

Xu Wang didn’t have time to judge whether the stationeries were used incorrectly or couldn’t be used across lines. He had just dodged the cat-faced old lady when he was grabbed by the ankle by the little girl in red from under the bed!

Luckily, the little girl wasn’t very strong, and Xu Wang managed to escape, but he was already in a bad state. “Why did you have to break open the wall—”

Wei Menghan, who just avoided the embrace of the slit-mouth woman, refused to take the blame. “We were following the clues to find the secret passage—”

Xu Wang: “…Is this a secret passage or a ghost portal?!”

“Whoosh—”

The still-wet, charred walls suddenly reignited.

“No way…” Xu Wang was in despair.

In the center of the painting, which was burning more fiercely than before, petals suddenly floated out.

Xu Wang was stunned.

Wu Sheng, Kuang Jinxin, Qian Ai, Qi Shan, who were scattered around the room, also noticed the anomaly.

The painting was their love line.

But there had never been such a beautiful moment in this line before.

Light blue petals fluttered in the firelight, like butterflies.

With their arrival, even the heatwave seemed to fade.

Han Buting’s team, engaged in battle, and Wei Menghan’s team, forced to fight, also noticed this change but had no time to deal with it or see the need to.

The canvas continued to release petals, and soon, a rain of fiery petals filled the entire room.

At the same moment, the witch execution scene in the painting suddenly turned into a light blue vortex!

In an instant, the fifteen companions surrounded by the petal rain were lifted into the air and, before they could react, were pulled into the painting by a strong suction force!

The chaos subsided.

The flames and petals were gone, the walls returned to their cold, charred state, and the painting hung as usual, still depicting the witch’s execution, as if nothing had happened.

Only the four ghosts remained in the room.

The little girl in red crawled out from under the bed and, along with the cat-faced old lady, the slit-mouth woman, and the spider woman, walked towards the entrance of the secret passage.

They no longer had their previous ferocity and brutality; like extras after the end of a play, they quietly crawled back into the passage, disappearing into its depths.

Room 1310 returned to tranquility.

……

In a medieval European village.

The sun had just set, leaving a faint red still lingered in the sky.

Fifteen companions, just freed from a dizzying whirl, rose up slowly or quickly, finding themselves amidst rural cottages and villagers hurrying past.

Occupying the village’s main thoroughfare, they were completely ignored by the villagers, who all rushed in one direction, faces alight with a strange fervor.

At the end of the road nearby, there was a wide open space, like a small square, now crowded with people. In the center, a tall cross stood, binding a young girl. Her lower half was obscured by the onlooking villagers, but it was obvious that firewood was piled beneath her.

This was the world inside the painting.

Since entering Room 1310, only one team had been fixated on the painting…

Han Buting and Wei Menghan, along with all their companions, narrowed their eyes and slowly turned to the culprits.

Han Buting: “Your, team’s?”

Wei Menghan: “Love, line?!”

“Cough.” Captain Xu cleared his throat, trying not to look at the ten pairs of angry eyes. “The fiery love of the past and present.”

Wu Sheng proudly said, “I chose it.”

Kuang Jinxin boasted, “I was the second vote in favor!”

Qian Ai quickly distanced himself. “I wanted to choose the career line.”

Qi Shan looked concernedly at Li Zijin’s slightly bloodied hand. “Are you hurt?”

Han Buting’s team: “……”

Wei Menghan’s team: “……”

One wrong step, and it’s a deep abyss…

Why did they have to enter the same room with these people? Why?!

Sensing the murderous intent, Captain Xu quickly spoke up again to calm his companions. “We’re in, but we can think of a way out, right?”

His last two words, accompanied by his innocent eyes, made Wu Sheng instinctively nod. “Mm.”

Han Buting, Wei Menghan: “……”

Xu Wang: “Since everyone agrees, let’s quickly go there and see what the situation is.”

Wu Sheng: “Okay.”

Xu Wang: “Let’s go!”

In a blink, Xu Wang’s team was leading the way; their speed was so fast that it seemed like they were “running away”.

“Captain…” Li Zijin couldn’t even look at those people now. A glance made him want to beat them.

Han Buting felt the same. If they had a little more time, they would have gathered all five ghosts and gotten the clues for the checkpoint.

Now, they were dragged into someone else’s mission line, the ghosts gone, and they had to join this impromptu love story.

Who could understand their plight!

But the captain couldn’t say this; he had to steady the troops’ morale. “Since we are here, let’s make the best of it.”

Li Zijin kicked a stone on the ground grudgingly and followed reluctantly.

Who could understand Han Buting’s plight?

Wei Menghan!

They just wanted to play a simple escape room game. Was it necessary to face fierce ghosts at the front and burning fires at the back?

The cat-faced old lady had already left a psychological shadow on him, and now, in front of them, they were about to burn an innocent-looking girl. His educator’s heart couldn’t take it; it was too exhausting.

Zou Jun, Zhu Mo, Feng Rang, and Ji Yunlei followed behind, one with deep furrowed brows, one sighing, one smiling, and one bewildered.

Zou Jun frowned at Zhu Mo. “You’re still happy? Have you no heart?”

“Don’t you find it interesting?” Zhu Mo grinned, his gaze drifting past Han Buting’s team to Xu Wang’s retreating figures. “Every time we meet them, there’s always a surprise.”

Ji Yunlei had been wondering all along and finally got the chance to ask. “What’s your history with that team? You speak in bits and pieces. Can someone give me the full story?”

Feng Rang put his arm around him. “Lei Zi, let me tell you…”

Soon, all three teams reached the small square.

On the way, they confirmed that the villagers indeed had no reaction to them. They could see and avoid them, but never spoke or gave them a second glance, even though their attire was completely out of place here.

Under the cross, the firewood was still being piled up; those carrying and stacking it were sweating profusely but worked with great vigor.

The girl facing execution hung her head lifelessly, her face hidden by her long hair.

“It’s different from the painting,” Han Buting said gravely. Given the situation, complaining was useless. Taking it seriously was the only way out.

“Yes.” Wu Sheng understood Han Buting’s point. “In the painting, the fire had already started.”

Xu Wang pursed his lips, becoming serious. “So, this is a moment in time just before the scene in the painting.”

“What exactly is your love line mission?” Han Buting suddenly asked.

Wei Menghan was also curious. “We can only provide maximum help if we have enough information.”

Xu Wang looked at Wei Menghan surprisingly. “You’ve never chosen the love line?”

Setting aside Han Buting’s team, Wei Menghan’s team had made it to the overall leaderboard with an 8/23 score. Could it be that every time they came here, they chose the same line? Of course, they should choose the same line—it was faster on a familiar road.

Xu Wang figured it out and was about to retract his question with a “never mind”. Unexpectedly, Wei Menghan answered, “We chose the joy line last time.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Wei Menghan: “You don’t have to look so sympathetic…”

The group found a quieter corner, not too far from the firewood pile, and stopped.

Now that everyone was in the same boat, Xu Wang had no reason to lie or hold back.

Starting with Pushkin’s sorrowful love letter, followed by the request of the girl with braided hair, the gypsy’s fortune-telling, and the legend provided by the old writer… Xu Wang shared everything about this line.

The last part was the room where everyone met, the wall catching fire, the painting emitting petals, and finally sucking people into it—Xu Wang didn’t need to explain these as the other ten companions had experienced them firsthand.

Wei Menghan: “So the fire in the room is the fire from hell? Is it a vengeful spirit?”

Xu Wang: “I think the evil spirit is probably the girl on the cross. She was innocently harmed and naturally wants revenge on the villagers.”

Feng Rang: “But there are so many villagers…”

“Or maybe it’s the person who betrayed her,” Xu Wang suggested, glancing at a large tree not far away.

Under the tree, a man and a woman were talking intimately.

Han Buting pondered for a moment, finding the story line plausible but raised a question. “What does this have to do with the girl who received the love letters?”

“I’ve been thinking about that too,” Xu Wang said. “The only reasonable explanation is that the braided girl is the reincarnation of the girl under the tree, and the boy reincarnated too.”

Wei Menghan: “So the boy is the one who wrote the love letters to the girl with braids?”

“Yes.” Xu Wang nodded. “They both betrayed the evil spirit, reincarnated, and fell in love again. How could the evil spirit let them go?”

Zhu Mo: “What about the substitute?”

Xu Wang: “The boy became the girl’s substitute, constantly burned by the hellfire of the evil spirit, so he could only communicate with the girl through letters and couldn’t show himself. Otherwise, the evil spirit would find out and burn the wrong person.”

Wei Menghan: “But didn’t you say the evil spirit wanted revenge on both of them?”

Xu Wang: “I reanalyzed it. Since it’s a love line, the evil spirit might still have feelings for the boy, so she only wants revenge on the girl, not realizing that her most beloved had become the substitute.”

Wei Menghan, Han Buting: “……”

Xu Wang: “Any more questions?”

Han Buting: “The logic is tight, and the cause and effect are reasonable.”

Wei Menghan: “Detailed and emotionally nuanced.”

Wu Sheng, Kuang Jinxin, Qian Ai, Qi Shan: “……”

Are they really on the same storyline as their team captain? How come they just walked out of a few scenes while their captain had already produced a whole movie…

“I’m not a witch—”

Suddenly, a desperate shout came from the cross.

Everyone looked up to see the flames rising.

They exchanged glances and immediately rushed towards the execution site.

They stood on the outskirts, not squeezing into the crowd of villagers, firstly because the girl on the cross was visible from there, and secondly for easy surveillance of the tree.

The man and woman under the tree were embracing each other, oblivious to the tragedy happening nearby.

“I’m not…”

The girl on the cross no longer had the strength to shout. She must have been bound there for a long time. Her lips were cracked, and her voice was hoarse.

Large tears rolled from her eyes, reddened by the firelight.

The flames grew fiercer, reaching the girl’s feet.

Some villagers shouted, “Burn her.” Initially there were just a few voices, but soon, everyone was chanting in unison.

Xu Wang wanted to save her, but when he opened his [Stationery Box], the icons were grayed out.

He was shocked. Couldn’t use stationery?

Then he smelled it. A faint scent of flowers amidst the burning smell was particularly noticeable.

Xu Wang looked up and saw familiar pale blue petals.

This time, the colorful petals flew towards the girl being executed.

They circled around her like a halo around a holy angel.

The flames that were climbing up suddenly withdrew back to the pile of wood. The wood crackled fiercely, but the flames dared not rise any higher.

The girl on the cross was bewildered.

The villagers were even more so, but soon their bewilderment turned into fear.

The fire weakened visibly; even the sound of the wood burning was softer. The fire could be less fierce, but there was no reason for it to weaken unless…

“It’s magic. This is the witch’s magic—”

Someone in the crowd yelled.

The word “magic” was enough to terrify these ignorant villagers. They dared to kill “witches” because those “witches” never resisted, let alone used such evil magic to fend off flames!

In the blink of an eye, the clearing was empty, with every household closing their doors and windows tightly, fearing being targeted by magic.

“Amy—” A young man’s urgent call came from under the tree.

The three teammates turned to look but saw the girl who had been under the tree, now holding a torch she got from somewhere, striding towards the cross!

The young man remained under the tree, wary of the magic, and didn’t dare to move, only calling out continuously. “Amy, don’t go there—”

Amy was deaf to his calls.

Her eyes were fixed only on the cross—only on the girl who was supposed to be burned, filled with only coldness.

“Witches should be burned. They don’t dare. I will…”

The girl with the torch reached the base of the cross. Not even glancing at the girl above, she bent down, and used the torch to reignite the dying flames.

The girl on the cross, barely alive, looked at her incredulously, her eyes filled with shock and sorrow. “Amy?”

“Witches should be burned…”

Amy repeated this one sentence, constantly poking the fire with the torch, maintaining the last flames almost obsessively.

A pale blue petal landed on Amy’s shoulder.

Suddenly, her torch flared up, and the flames rose high.

She was delighted and moved closer.

Without warning, a wind started on the ground.

The wind blew against Amy, and the high flames suddenly engulfed her.

In one moment, the girl trying to kill was now a human fireball.

The torch fell to the ground.

Amy screamed in agony.

The young man under the tree, paralyzed with fear, ran away in panic, showing none of the love he professed.

Amy fell to the ground, curled up by the flames, and, with her dying breath, cursed at the girl on the cross. “Even if I die, you won’t escape. I will become an evil spirit and return from hell to find you—”

Amy died.

Burned to a crisp by the intense fire.

The girl on the cross was terrified.

The teammates who had been watching the whole scene were also silent for a long time.

Even though they had dealt with zombies in various ways on 3/23 and seen bloodshed, it still took time to adjust to such a scene.

The last spark under the cross was extinguished.

The air gradually cooled with the night’s chill.

Captain Xu Wang looked toward the cross. “Should we take that girl down…?”

Han Buting took a deep breath and said, “Is the girl on the cross the evil spirit?”

Wei Menghan followed up. “And the girl under the tree was the one with the braids?”

Li Zijin was exasperated. “So the guy who just ran away, supposedly willing to become a substitute to protect his beloved, is that it?”

Xu Wang: “Well, there seems to be a slight deviation in the story line…”

Everyone: “No more making up scripts!”

Ten teammates who were fooled and four who wasted their admiration, achieved an unprecedented unity.

---

The author has something to say:

Captain Xu doesn’t want to talk, hmph.

---

Kinky Thoughts:

Unfortunately, spider woman is too common so I can’t find what Qian Ai is referencing.

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 77: Trust

In regard to the “fair competition” proposal, Xu Wang was somewhat confident in Teacher Wei’s team, but he wasn’t sure about Han Buting’s team.

The “forceful breakout” at the amusement park and the “cupid sneak attack” at the villa made it difficult to establish a good impression between the two teams.

Moreover, the lone presence of Chi Yingxue on 6/23, following the events of 3/23, suggested that the atmosphere within Han Buting’s team was probably not great either.

The accumulated grudges were indeed a concern…

“We are on the puzzle-solving line,” Teacher Wei stated earnestly, showing a willingness for peace and cooperation.

With one side declaring their stance, Xu Wang naturally reciprocated.

“We are on the career line,” he said, his gaze sweeping across the room with a calm and confident air.

Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, Qi Shan: “……”

Lying is easy, but only their team captain could make up such stories with such sincerity, down to every hair on his head.

Han Buting pondered for a while.

Li Xia remained typically gloomy, his eyes hidden behind his bangs, making it hard to gauge his attitude.

The two unfamiliar new teammates, one with a serious and calm demeanor and the other indifferent, also showed no specific inclination.

Only Li Zijin, as lively as ever, nearly desperately signaled his disagreement to Han Buting, but the captain seemed not to notice.

Xu Wang suspected Han Buting’s criteria for choosing teammates were “silent + aloof”.

It must be hard for the energetic young Li Zijin to match the team’s “deep” vibe.

“We are on the joy line,” Han Buting finally said after careful consideration.

His words seemed to relax the tense nerves in the room, at least unconsciously.

Puzzle-solving line, career line, joy line.

True or not, at least there were no overt conflicts on the surface.

A temporary peace agreement was reached between the three teams.

Xu Wang and Dark Circles exchanged glances, seeing familiar and bright smiles on each other’s faces.

It was the joy of a successful deal.

Xu Wang was about to high-five the other team when he was suddenly pulled aside by the collar.

“That’s enough,” Wu Sheng said with an aloof face reminiscent of Han Buting’s team. “In case we end up fighting each other later, won’t it be awkward to remember this closeness?”

Xu Wang was bewildered. “Isn’t your definition of closeness a bit broad…”

“Career line captain, I don’t mean to interrupt your… intimate interaction.” Han Buting finally found a word to describe it. “But could you first help us clear up a doubt? I believe the puzzle-solving line captain has the same thought.”

Xu Wang, still rolling his eyes at Wu Sheng, turned to see that the other two teams hadn’t moved an inch, still not in “search for their own clues” mode. All eyes were quietly on them as before.

Wu Sheng released his grip on his team captain’s collar.

Captain Xu straightened his clothes and composed himself, standing dignified like a proper team captain. “Please speak.”

Han Buting: “Each team has five members. Why do you have six?”

Wei Menghan nodded, adding to Han Buting’s question. “And a team mascot.”

Xu Wang turned to look at his team.

The elderly writer smiled kindly.

Xu Wang held his forehead, having completely forgotten they had an NPC with them, and quickly pointed to the wall. “That’s the painting we mentioned.”

The previously quiet elderly man, as if waiting for this cue, immediately went forward eagerly, his cane tapping a rapid rhythm on the carpet, mirroring his inner urgency.

Once in front of the painting, the elderly man stood still, gazing intently and appreciatively.

Xu Wang, seeing the expressions of the other teams, knew no further explanation was needed and simply said, “Mission NPC.” He glanced at the dog beside Qi Shan. “This one is our defense stationery.”

Wei Menghan had no more questions and turned to his teammates. “Let’s get to work.”

His team dispersed, seemingly ready to conduct a thorough search of the room.

Han Buting also didn’t waste more time and nodded to his team.

They sat down in a circle, ready for their task.

Xu Wang, knowing his destination was the painting and seeing that the other teams had no interest in it, was naturally relieved.

However, his teammates couldn’t help but glance at Han Buting’s team as they walked towards the painting, curious about their formation.

“Are they playing poker for the joy line?” Qian Ai was already standing in front of the painting. He was genuinely worried for the other team. “It’s hard to pair up five people for a game.”

Xu Wang looked at the fire in the painting. “Five-player Fight the Landlord, three against two.”

Kuang Jinxin looked at the kissing couple under the tree. “Could it be Werewolf?”

Wu Sheng gestured at the onlookers. “No, they don’t have enough players.”

“….” Han Buting’s team, trying to focus for the 101^st time, failed.

In such a small room, could they not gossip about others unless they’re in the bathroom?!

Li Zijin resisted shouting but couldn’t stop glaring.

And just as he glared, he met Qi Shan’s gaze.

Li Zijin, unfamiliar with Qi Shan, felt uncomfortable under his stare.

Frowning in warning, Li Zijin glared back.

But Qi Shan kept looking.

Li Zijin became irritated. “Why are you staring at me—”

His outburst disrupted the meditation of his four teammates and also stunned Xu Wang’s team.

The two teams glanced at each other and searched among themselves, temporarily unsure who Li Zijin was yelling at.

Qi Shan was already focused on the painting.

“Don’t get distracted,” Han Buting advised Li Zijin tersely, wanting to avoid any unnecessary complications.

Confused and frustrated, Li Zijin reluctantly closed his eyes again and re-engaged in his team’s “mission line”.

This minor incident didn’t affect the main course of action. Han Buting’s team soon entered a focused state, and Xu Wang’s team also began earnestly searching for clues in the painting along with the elderly man.

After ten minutes, nothing happened.

Han Buting’s team still sat quietly, almost making one wonder if their mission line was “yoga meditation”.

Xu Wang’s team scrutinized the painting until their eyes hurt, but the painting remained unchanged, not even showing signs of the “burning” they had experienced before.

Wei Menghan’s team had it even tougher. While the other two teams remained “stationary”, they practically tore the room apart yet found nothing.

All three teams were at a standstill, but none were willing to give up.

The clues clearly pointed to this room.

“Forget the painting.” Xu Wang changed tactics. “Let’s search the room for other clues.”

His teammates agreed and dispersed evenly: one checked the windows, another flipped the carpet, startling Teacher Wei.

“Why are you also turning the place upside down?” Teacher Wei asked warily, his eyes questioning if this was actually their mission line.

“Our focus is really on the painting.” Xu Wang sighed. “But since the painting isn’t responding, we can’t just hang our hopes on one thing.”

Teacher Wei resonated with his words. “Strange, we also followed clues here, but now we can’t find anything either.”

While the two team captains pondered deeply, the eight team members had already begun a thorough search.

Paper Thin Zhu Mo, and Kuang Jinxin both ended up in the same corner, one knocking on the wall, the other flipping the carpet, in good spirits.

Unburdened by the same concerns as his team captain, Zhu Mo was more interested in gossip and whispered to Kuang Jinxin, “Did you guys have issues with them?”

Nodding, Kuang Jinxin honestly replied, “We met them in 3/23.”

Zhu Mo wasn’t surprised by the answer and teased quietly. “How did you make enemies? Did you trick them too?”

Kuang Jinxin, carefully inspecting the lifted carpet without looking up, replied seriously, “We beat them fair and square. We only tricked your team.”

His tone carried no hidden emotions, just a straightforward answer to the question.

Zhu Mo was caught off guard by the response, especially the unabashed honesty of the latter part, and couldn’t help but laugh.

At the bed’s side.

While Xu Wang was re-fluffing the blankets tossed by Teacher Wei’s team, he occasionally glanced at Qi Shan, who was carefully inspecting the window.

It wasn’t that Xu Wang didn’t trust his teammate, but he had observed for ten minutes that Li Zijin’s “Why are you staring at me” was indeed directed at his own teammate.

Qi Shan would glance over at Li Zijin occasionally, seemingly unintentionally. However, having stealthily watched Wu Sheng countless times in high school, Captain Xu was too familiar with this tactic and could easily discern whether it was “unintentional” or not.

His view was suddenly blocked by a figure.

Looking up, he saw Advisor Wu frowning.

“New team members don’t need to be watched like that.” Wu Sheng had been observing for ten minutes, and it seemed like their team captain was about to glue his eyes to Qi Shan.

Speechless, Xu Wang pulled Wu Sheng close, whispering in a barely audible voice only for the two of them. “His gaze at Li Zijin is off.”

Wu Sheng observed Qi Shan for a few seconds. “Looks normal to me.”

“……” Xu Wang gave up. “Forget it. Just focus on finding clues. That’s your strength.”

After a brief silence, Wu Sheng suddenly asked in a low voice, “What’s bothering you?”

Xu Wang looked at him, puzzled.

“It’s not about Qi Shan,” Wu Sheng said. “You’ve been distracted since we left 1829.”

1829 was the room of the girl with the braided hair.

There, Wu Sheng had deciphered the love letter code.

There, Xu Wang was reminded of the five letters from his home.

And he had been preoccupied with it ever since.

Xu Wang’s heartbeat suddenly became erratic, like a disco. He was surprised that Wu Sheng had been watching him and even more surprised that his distraction was so noticeable.

Worse, looking into Wu Sheng’s eyes, he couldn’t think straight. His lie-generating system was crashing.

After a long struggle, he managed a barely convincing, “I’m not distracted…”

Wu Sheng became serious and a bit stern. “I don’t care what you’re thinking about, but from now on, forget it.”

Xu Wang was startled by this response and froze for a moment.

Wu Sheng softened his tone, but his attitude remained firm. “This is both a challenge and a test. We need to be ready for any unexpected events and finish before all the other teams. Any distraction increases the risk.”

“It would be great if this were an exam hall.” Xu Wang sighed regretfully.

Wu Sheng was startled by the change.

Xu Wang gave him a disdainful look that said “stupid”. “If this were an exam hall and we were on the same team, sitting next to each other, I could just copy your answers. We’d finish in minutes and wouldn’t have to be stuck here, right?”

Wu Sheng: “……”

Reason told him he should retort.

Instinct invited him to come over for a treat.

This treat was called “Trust from Xu Wang”. The candy wrapper was colorful, too pretty to unwrap. Just looking at it could sweeten one’s heart.

Kuang Jinxin: “What is the captain and the advisor discussing?”

Qi Shan: “They’re speaking too softly. I can’t hear.”

Qian Ai: “But the atmosphere seems… harmonious?”

Qi Shan: “Why does that sound like a question…”

“Hey—” Phoenix Eyes couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Got it, got it.” Qian Ai hurriedly smoothed things over, shouting to their captain for the second time, “Captain, advisor—”

This time, they finally pulled those two out of whatever dimension they were in.

When Xu Wang looked up, he saw Han Buting’s team standing up, and Wei Menghan’s team had finished searching. The two teams were distinctly separate, but their gazes were unified, all looking towards them.

Captain Xu understood in a flash. “Ready to go?”

Qian Ai, who was about to explain, was shocked by his understanding…

Han Buting remained silent, only acknowledging with his eyes.

Wei Menghan, however, added a few more words. “We can’t delay any longer. We can’t find it here, so we’re changing locations. If we meet again later…”

Xu Wang understood. “It depends on the situation.”

The ceasefire agreement was set by all three parties, and naturally, a mutual heads-up was needed for its termination.

Otherwise, Han Buting and Wei Menghan could just lead their teams away.

Wu Sheng didn’t pay any attention to the changes in the situation here. Having just finished appreciating the candy wrapper, he was now in a fully energized state, with his mind running uncontrollably like a carousel, clicking and moving like a stampede of thousands of horses. From the moment he entered this situation until now, every minute, every second, every detail had been perfectly recreated.

Human aura truly exists.

Like right now.

Everyone felt the unusual flow of air. It formed the words “wisdom” and “intelligence”, swirling around him with his eyes closed.

“Don’t mind us. Our advisor is going through the files.” Qian Ai politely made way for the other teams. “You can leave this way.”

Just as the two teams were about to step forward.

Wu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes and strode forward, heading straight for the white-haired elderly man in front of the oil painting!

Han Buting and Wei Menghan’s teams naturally split apart, maintaining a safe distance, but they were too curious about Wu Sheng’s next move to leave just yet.

“Please take this.” Advisor Wu took out a small card from his pocket and forcibly handed it to the bewildered elderly man. “The questions have been improved, making it easier to start thinking.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Kuang Jinxin: “……”

Qian Ai: “……”

All this fuss just to hand out a flier?!

Han Buting held his forehead, realizing that expecting this team to break the game was wishful thinking.

“When we asked you the first time, you said you wanted to write a novel about revenge.” Wu Sheng suddenly changed the topic. “But when we found you the second time, you said revenge was just one of the novels you were thinking of?”

The elderly man holding the card slowly raised his head. There was a kind look in his eyes now, mixed with something unusual. “Yes, besides revenge, I have conceived another novel.”

Wu Sheng asked, “What’s the theme? Can you tell us?”

The elderly man replied, “Space.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Wu Sheng’s eyes. He had thought the other theme would be key to their mission, but it seemed he was wrong.

But it wasn’t bad.

Wu Sheng: “Can you be more specific?”

Elderly Man: “The recording and reading of space on a medium.”

Wu Sheng: “Can I understand it as saving?”

The elderly man smiled, his voice gentle and warm. “Do you want to save?”

Wu Sheng’s lips curled up. “Of course.”

Xu Wang, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, Qi Shan: “……”

Han Buting’s team: “……”

Wei Menghan’s team: “You guys must have chosen the VIP route…”

The elderly man tapped his cane on the carpet, and the spot where it touched instantly rippled like water.

However, the two observing teams also moved, each donning their stationery.

Qi Shan’s dog sensed the sudden change in the atmosphere, letting out a powerful bark.

Only then did Wu Sheng come back to his senses, the abrupt change in the situation catching him off guard.

Xu Wang was also confused, but seeing the situation, he roughly understood. “Can only one team save at a save point?”

Han Buting frowned, as if to ask, “You didn’t know that?”

“This level is mostly about exclusive save points.” Wei Menghan’s “friendly explanation” was much clearer, although this “friendship” might be temporarily on hold.

Xu Wang fell silent. Given the current situation, he wasn’t confident about winning against either Han Buting or Wei Menghan. Moreover, while fighting one, he had to guard against the other’s sneak attack.

Should he ally with Wei Menghan first?

As Xu Wang pondered, Wu Sheng also felt frustrated. He was too caught up in the moment, forgetting to be cautious. Having only saved once, their experience was severely lacking, and their analysis of the rules might be biased.

“In the game, everyone can use the save points.” Kuang Jinxin didn’t believe what others said and looked directly at the elderly man for confirmation. “Can you only save for one team? Why is that?”

“There is no why,” the elderly man replied. “For each mission line, only one team can save here.”

Kuang Jinxin frowned. “But our three teams have different mission lines, so why can only one team save?”

“The mission lines are different, so saving does not conflict with each other,” the elderly man explained.

Kuang Jinxin blinked.

The elderly man continued to be benevolent.

Kuang Jinxin turned to Xu Wang. “Captain, I’m a bit confused…”

Xu Wang glanced at the fully armed two teams. “It’s okay. Being confused is better than feeling awkward.”

Han Buting’s team: “……”

Wei Menghan’s team: “……”

This isn’t a VIP line. This is like buying a fast pass…

Without saying anything more, the three team captains put their hands on the elder’s cane to check, and soon the cane emitted a warm light, and the elder nodded in relief. “Different mission lines, can save.”

The cane touched the ground again, and as the ripples spread, the three teams successfully saved.

“Thank you for bringing me to see the paintings,” the elder said to Xu Wang and the others. “Now I have new inspiration and need to go back to create. You can come over for tea again when you have time.”

After speaking, the elderly man left.

The three teams: “……”

Could this exit be any more abrupt!

“Captain!” Li Zijin suddenly stared intently at the spot where they had just sat in a circle. “The Devil’s pattern!”

Han Buting was shocked and immediately led his team over, unable to believe that what they had summoned for so long had just appeared out of nowhere.

“Thump, thump.”

Zhu Mo, who had returned to the corner of the room, knocked on the wall again, confirming his intuition at the end. “Teacher Wei, this is empty.”

Ji Yunlei, the only new face in Wei Menghan’s team, rushed over first, knocked twice, and gave his teammates a confirming look. “It’s definitely here, no mistake!”

A young man in his mid-twenties, with wheat-colored skin, full of vitality, and a wild handsomeness.

Xu Wang could tell at a glance that the two from Han Buting’s team were new members, but this wheat-skin guy was definitely a regular teammate of Wei Menghan’s team, with trust built up over a long period evident in their glances and attitudes.

Wait a minute.

If both their teams had discoveries…

Xu Wang shuddered, looking sharply at his four teammates.

The four teammates nodded solemnly and directed their captain’s gaze towards the painting.

In the painting, the flames became more real.

“Boom—”

Wei Menghan and Ji Yunlei, working together, broke open the wall, and indeed, there was a secret passage.

In the dusty room, Xu Wang raised his hand honestly. “Well, since everyone has found something, we might need to start burning too…”

Han Buting, who was studying the devil’s pattern, looked up. “Burn?”

Wei Menghan turned around. “Burn what?”

The flames in the painting suddenly leaped out, igniting the walls around!

The temperature in the room instantly rose!

Wei Menghan’s team took a big step back in shock. “What the hell?”

They were asking about Xu Wang’s team’s “fire”, but as they spoke, a disheveled woman in white crawled out of the secret passage. When she climbed to the entrance of the cave, she stopped and raised her faceless head.

Wei Menghan’s scalp was about to explode. Unable to think of new words, he repeated, “What the hell—”

“Don’t block us! This is ours!”

Li Zijin rushed over first, followed closely by Li Xia, then Han Buting and the two new teammates.

Wei Menghan’s team was frightened, and Xu Wang’s team wasn’t faring much better.

The fire had already caused panic, and now a ghost too?!

Qian Ai couldn’t stand it anymore. “Aren’t you on the joy line?”

Li Zijin and Li Xia, together, affixed a talisman to the ghost’s forehead, and then, along with Han Buting, who had arrived, quickly arranged a ghost-exorcism formation.

At this point, there was nothing to hide.

Han Buting said, “We are the horror line.”

Zou Jun, or Phoenix Eyes, didn’t care about Han Buting’s line, just asking one question. “Can you get her out first and then deal with it! We need to go through the secret passage!”

Qian Ai: “Even the puzzle line needs to go through the secret passage?”

Wei Menghan gave him a knowing look, “We are in the escape line.”

Qian Ai: “……”

He didn’t understand. What about the basic trust between people?!

Wei Menghan: “Does your career line also need to enter the sea of fire?”

Qian Ai: “Oh, we are in the love line.”

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The author has a message to say:

The three team captain actors express, “What is sharing one’s heart? We don’t understand~~” (～￣▽￣)～

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

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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Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 75: Letters

With the pop-up of the task line option, the friends retreated back to the empty room 1301 they had initially left.

With the door tightly shut and the atmosphere quieted down, in the first minute, the friends either stared at their arms in deep thought or gazed at the ceiling in contemplation, with no one speaking.

Choosing one out of six wasn’t difficult, but if, among these six paths, some were as blissful as heaven and others as nightmarish as hell, then the choice had to be made carefully.

“Career line seems the safest.” Qian Ai decided first, mainly because he relied on instinct rather than logical analysis. “Who would choose the horror line? And the joy line… Are we sure it’s us who will be happy, not the NPCs?”

“Ah.” Kuang Jinxin felt a bit disappointed. “I actually wanted to choose the joy line…”

Qi Shan also felt a bit down. “The horror line could be quite thrilling…”

Qian Ai, not expecting his words to dampen the spirits of two teammates, hastily corrected himself. “I must have overthought it. The joy line surely means pure happiness!”

Qi Shan: “?”

Qian Ai: “?”

Qi Shan: “……”

Does his choice of the horror line not deserve any comforting reassurance?!

Three people, three directions. Kuang Jinxin decisively asked the leaders. “Captain, Sheng Ge, which one do you want to choose?”

Xu Wang didn’t even have to think and could answer for his advisor. “Your Sheng Ge will definitely choose the puz…”

“Love line,” Wu Sheng said. “I choose the love line.”

Xu Wang doubted his ears. He turned to look and saw Wu Sheng with a serious face.

“You can’t be serious…” Xu Wang wasn’t trying to disparage Wu Sheng, but given his teammate’s emotional intelligence, even a kiss could be brushed off as playful banter. Choosing the love line?

“To experience it,” Wu Sheng said.

Xu Wang was speechless. “This isn’t like trying an orange at the market, where you can taste a slice first.”

Wu Sheng replied, “Without tasting, you’ll never know if it’s sour or sweet.”

“You just want to taste it,” Xu Wang retorted. “Did you ask the orange for its opinion?”

Wu Sheng asked, “Then what do you suggest?”

Xu Wang rolled his eyes. “Either buy it and accept it if it’s sour or walk away and stop thinking about its sweetness.”

Wu Sheng fell silent and just looked at him.

Xu Wang suddenly felt a bit flustered, his heated brain finally cooling down.

What nonsense had he been spouting? And Wu Sheng was even playing along. What a mess.

While Xu Wang was confused, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin, and Qi Shan were even more baffled.

What’s this about sour and sweet oranges to buy or not buy? Is this how the leadership team communicates now? What are they, then, a bunch of onlooking fruits?

Xu Wang’s usual approach was to avoid confusion by circumventing it altogether. The fall he took ten years ago was painful, but since it was his own doing, he couldn’t hold a grudge. But he remembered the pain.

“I choose the puzzle line,” he declared his stance.

Kuang Jinxin confirmed again in a daze. “Captain chooses puzzle? Sheng Ge chooses love?”

Qian Ai’s expression turned grave. “Did you two get the wrong script or what?”

Anyway, everyone had made their choice, and they were completely disjointed.

Qi Shan asked, “What now? Draw lots?”

“Actually, I changed my mind…” Kuang Jinxin hesitated, raising his hand. “I choose the love line too.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Qian Ai: “What love do you know, you little brat!”

Kuang Jinxin: “Anyway, I’ve changed my mind!”

With two votes, the love line won.

The process was confusing, but the result had to be respected.

With no other choice and time pressing, Captain Xu Wang led the way, choosing the “love line”.

As the last person made their choice, a flame suddenly appeared in midair in the center of the room. Something seemed to be inside the bright flame.

As the flame weakened, the object inside became clearer, and when the last ember died, an envelope fell to the carpet.

The teammates hurriedly gathered around.

In such moments of speed, Kuang Jinxin usually couldn’t compete, but this time Wu Sheng was also behind. While Xu Wang and the others were picking up the envelope, he curiously asked, “Why did you change your mind?”

“Because you looked like you really wanted to choose love.” Kuang Jinxin’s reason was unexpectedly simple.

Wu Sheng: “……”

The straightforward gaze of his teammate felt like an infrared scanner, leaving him nowhere to hide.

“Sheng Ge, have you never been in love?” Kuang Jinxin suddenly asked in a very soft and rapid voice.

Over there, Xu Wang had already started opening the envelope.

Wu Sheng was unprepared and didn’t know how to answer.

Kuang Jinxin sighed, seemingly understanding the truth. “Sheng Ge, even if the love line here is realistic, it’s still fake. You can’t satisfy yourself by just going through the challenge…”

Wu Sheng was stunned, feeling something was off. “I’m not…”

Kuang Jinxin’s eyes were full of genuine concern. “Also, many NPCs already have their own partners. If you happen to choose one with a CP, you’ll end up being the third wheel…”

Wu Sheng: “……”

He wasn’t here for a one-night stand in the love line!

“What are you two talking about—” Captain Xu, holding the letter he took out of the envelope, called out. “Hurry over here.”

Wu Sheng and Kuang Jinxin quickly rejoined the group.

Xu Wang naturally passed the letter to his advisor.

Wu Sheng took the letter and, under the light, read the flowing words written on it—

I once loved you,

Love, perhaps,

Has not yet completely died in my soul.

But I hope it won’t bother you anymore.

I don’t want to make you sad or hurt.

I once loved you silently, without hope.

Enduring both shyness and jealousy.

I once loved you so sincerely, so tenderly.

May God bless you,

And may someone else love you, just like I did.

As Wu Sheng finished reading, Xu Wang contributed his knowledge. “It’s a love poem* by Pushkin. The first line is the title of the poem, I Once…”

*The title of the poem is I Loved You. However, various translated versions exist. The one linked in the Wikipedia is one of the English versions, while the one used in this novel, I believe the author combined the various Chinese versions into one (thus the lines and translated text don’t match up one to one like the English version).

He suddenly stopped, struggling to speak.

What kind of title is this? It sounded like a confession!

“I Once Loved You?” Qian Ai, not getting the full version, asked blankly.

“…Yes.” Xu Wang nodded.

Qian Ai admired his quick retrieval of information. He quickly guessed, “Did we study this poem in our high school Chinese class?”

Xu Wang was amused. “Which high school Chinese class teaches you love poems!” After a thought, he clarified strictly, “Elegies for deceased wives in classical Chinese don’t count.”

“……” Realizing he was off track, Qian Ai understood this was part of someone’s literary extra-curricular knowledge.

Qi Shan, hearing this, finally caught on. “You two were high school classmates?”

Qian Ai pointed to himself and Xu Wang, then to Wu Sheng, who was still looking at the letter, saying, “All three of us.”

Qi Shan looked incredulous.

Qian Ai understood his feelings. “We never expected that the Owl would plague a whole class like this.”

“That’s a bit sad.” Kuang Jinxin was still focused on the love poem. “Sheng Ge, did you figure anything out?”

His question brought back the attention of the other three teammates.

“I can’t be sure.” Wu Sheng put the letter back in the envelope. “But we can go and check.”

“Got a clue?” Xu Wang didn’t expect such a quick response. “Where to?”

Wu Sheng: “Room 1829.”

Xu Wang: “Reason?”

Wu Sheng: “The poem was written in 1829.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Wu Sheng: “Did I remember it wrong?”

Xu Wang: “Shouldn’t have… I think.”

Who remembers such dates! He still gets the dates of the Opium Wars mixed up!

Wait.

Why would a science whiz be so knowledgeable about love poems?!

Activating [Transparent Dream Team], the group left room 1301 and stealthily headed towards room 1829.

A long journey.

Walking down the corridor, the friends finally confirmed that it wasn’t just “seemingly” endless, but “actually” endless!

When passing room 1700, the door suddenly burst open with a bang!

The five immediately pressed against the corner, holding their breath, to avoid being exposed.

Inside, two teams were fighting, spilling into the corridor, and a disheveled woman in white joined the melee.

Upon closer inspection, the woman had no face.

Finally, one team was sent home by the faceless woman, while the other narrowly escaped, disappearing into the depths of the corridor.

The invisible companions watched the woman in white return to her room, feeling a chill down their spines.

The corridor returned to silence.

Qi Shan confessed sheepishly, “I feel ashamed of my naive suggestion for the horror line…”

Xu Wang laughed, about to say it was okay, but then heard Qi Shan lament. “What a pity.”

Xu Wang didn’t understand. “Hmm?”

“We should have helped that ghost lady,” Qi Shan said. “So the other team couldn’t escape either.”

Qian Ai, walking in front, turned back in confusion. “Why intervene? It’s none of our business.”

Qi Shan shook his head, analyzing it logically. “While it’s unrelated to our task, only one team can submit their papers, so we’ll eventually have to fight.”

Qian Ai frowned, thinking hard. He felt Qi Shan was right but also sensed something was off.

“We only act when we really need to compete,” Kuang Jinxin said. “Maybe by then, they’ll have been sent home by other teams.”

“The logic is sound.” Qi Shan understood his point. “But it’s better to keep control in our hands.”

Kuang Jinxin pondered this logic seriously, and since he was too earnest, the topic ended without a conclusion.

Approaching room 1829, the group somehow ended up with Wu Sheng and Qian Ai at the front, Kuang Jinxin in the middle, and Qi Shan and Xu Wang at the rear.

“Basic defense is invisibility.” Xu Wang suddenly spoke up, as if sure Qi Shan would understand. “Intermediate defense involves physical armor, and everything else is considered advanced defense.”

Qi Shan listened intently and nodded at the end. “Cool.”

Xu Wang looked at him. “Anything else you want to ask?”

Qi Shan paused, then smiled. “Is it that obvious?”

It was more than obvious to Xu Wang; Qi Shan’s curiosity was almost written on his face, yet he waited so long without asking.

“Any tactics we use later, we’ll explain clearly,” Xu Wang said seriously, putting aside his joking tone. “Likewise, if you have any tactical ideas, you must tell us. Only by working together can we become more in sync.”

Qi Shan lowered his eyes, and after a few seconds, smiled. “Understood.”

Xu Wang said no more.

Qi Shan was different from Lao Qian and Kuang Jinxin, who were genuinely naïve and gave direct reactions whether they agreed or not. Interacting with them was straightforward; you just had to speak your mind.

But Qi Shan was different.

Xu Wang could only give him a hint.

If Qi Shan had actually intervened and dealt with the team that had just escaped, would it have been wrong?

No.

But that wasn’t their team’s style.

Style is a mysterious thing, primarily guided by personality, and Xu Wang couldn’t list it out clearly.

A team is like that; when there are incompatible aspects, they need to be addressed to continue harmonizing.

He hoped Qi Shan would become a true partner.

Wu Sheng had been standing in front of room 1829 for quite a while. When he turned around, Xu Wang was still whispering with the new teammate.

Advisor Wu and the others waited patiently without saying a word.

Xu Wang finally felt as if a gaze was staring at him.

“Click—”

The door of room 1829 opened on its own, revealing a young girl with braided hair, dressed in a floral dress, with faint freckles on her face, looking pure and cute.

She stood inside the door, bending over to lift the carpet in the corridor.

Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, and Kuang Jinxin, who were already at the door, quickly stepped back.

The braided girl successfully lifted the edge of the carpet and took out a letter hidden underneath. Just as she re-entered the room and was about to close the door, Wu Sheng became visible and held the door open.

The girl turned around in surprise, seeing five men suddenly appear at the door, and asked tremblingly, “Who are you?”

Wu Sheng hesitated between introducing himself or mentioning the task line, but Xu Wang had already held up the previous envelope to the girl’s face.

The girl was stunned, comparing Xu Wang’s envelope to her own, and finally noticed the key point—the wax seal on the envelope was exactly the same.

“Are you the ones I’ve been corresponding with?” The girl’s eyes were filled with shock and disbelief, without a trace of joy.

The teammates felt emotionally wounded.

Fortunately, they had gambled right on the task line.

“We’re not,” Xu Wang said. “But we can help you find them. Can you tell us more about this?”

The letter in Xu Wang’s hand seemed to have earned enough trust, and the girl immediately invited them in, explaining the whole story.

This love line started with a letter.

The girl, experiencing the stirrings of first love, suddenly received a love letter one day. The affection in the words moved her, but she still mailed the letter back to the address on it, including a letter of her own, telling the sender that the letter was sent to the wrong address.

Soon after, she received a second letter. The sender claimed there was no mistake—the letter was meant for her. He loved her.

At first, the girl didn’t believe it, but she couldn’t bear to end the correspondence as the sender not only talked about love but also shared interesting events and even knew some of her likes, feeling like a long-time friend.

Gradually, she fell in love with him and wanted to meet him, but he never responded.

Determined, the girl went to the address on the letters—this Castle Hotel.

But with so many rooms and people in the hotel, she had no idea where to start and decided to stay temporarily. The sender’s letters began arriving at her door, appearing every three days under the carpet, where she also placed her replies.

Qian Ai: “So you came all this way here, only to continue writing letters and having a romance with the person?”

The girl with the braided hair nodded.

Qian Ai, feeling exhausted just by listening, commented, “I can’t understand this kind of romance. What kind of love is this? Why not just talk face-to-face?”

“This is called the beauty of ambiguity, you know.” Xu Wang retorted, suspecting that if Qian Ai ever fell in love, his way of showing affection would probably be, “Whatever you like to eat, brother will take you to eat.”

Wu Sheng was surprised by Xu Wang’s response.

Back in the days when they communicated through letters, Xu Wang had always complained about the “old-fashioned” method, never once mentioning the “beauty of ambiguity”.

“I’ve been here for thirteen days. Counting this unopened one, I’ve received four letters from him.” The girl handed over the letters. Her eagerness to find the person overshadowed her shyness about revealing personal details. “The earlier ones are at home. I only have these. Can you see if there’s any clue in them?”

Wu Sheng took the letters and laid them out side by side on the table.

The teammates gathered around the table to study them. The letters were mostly in a similar format: starting with a piece of love poetry, followed by some interesting events and thoughts about the girl.

Kuang Jinxin asked, “Do we still need to follow the dates of the poems?”

Qian Ai looked at Wu Sheng, inquiring, “Are these poems all from the same era?”

Wu Sheng shook his head. “No.”

Qian Ai then turned to Xu Wang, noticing something in his captain’s eyes, and immediately asked, “Captain, did you notice something?”

Xu Wang replied, “Lucky guy.”

Qian Ai: “Huh?”

“I mean, this guy is lucky,” Xu Wang said with a bit of sympathy for the girl. “Every letter says he misses her, but why not meet up? Only a naïve girl would actually come looking for him. Anyone else would have broken up already.”

“Maybe he has his reasons.” Wu Sheng suddenly defended the unseen NPC.

Xu Wang raised an eyebrow curiously. “Like what?”

Wu Sheng turned to Xu Wang. “Like, maybe he’s already dead and is now a ghost communicating with the girl.”

Xu Wang: “……”

Is this the [(Illusory) The Curse of a Single Dog]…?

Qi Shan picked up a letter, holding it against the light.

Kuang Jinxin leaned in, thinking Qi Shan had found something.

But Qi Shan placed the letter back on the table in disappointment. “There’s no hidden message revealed by the light.”

Wu Sheng kept tilting his head and pondering. When Qi Shan placed the letter back, he picked it up again, but instead of one letter, he took all four and stacked them together against the light.

Xu Wang leaned in to look with him and finally saw the pattern. “One… zero… seven… four?”

Wu Sheng said, “Yes.”

The other three teammates immediately joined in to study the letters, and finally, they understood. Regardless of the content of the letters, these four numbers always appeared in the same spot on each page. When the letters were stacked, these numbers were the only ones that perfectly aligned.

Qi Shan was genuinely impressed. “Impressive.”

Kuang Jinxin, who was used to such feats, would have been more surprised if Wu Sheng hadn’t figured it out.

Qian Ai felt a subtle sense of dissonance. This love line, once in his advisor’s hands, seemed to take on a puzzle-solving tone…

Xu Wang’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Wu Sheng casually place down the letters, looking effortlessly cool.

The joy of finding the next room number turned without warning into an indescribable anxiety.

Stacking the letters against the light…

Was Wu Sheng genuinely inspired by Qi Shan, or had he already known about this trick?

The communication between him and Wu Sheng had been real, starting with Wu Sheng’s initiative… Could it be that Wu Sheng had hidden strange codes in those few letters?!

If he did, what could they be?

The apprehension turned into anticipation, and within the anticipation, a sense of urgent, unsettled panic emerged.

Xu Wang frantically recalled those five letters. He could almost recite their content, but only almost. Who could use their brain like a scanner like Wu Sheng?

And even if he could recite them, he couldn’t simulate a comparison in his mind. It’s not just about the text; it’s about their positioning… Damn, Wu Sheng, you lunatic!

As Wu Sheng was about to return the letters to the girl, his nose tickled unexpectedly.

He resisted the urge to sneeze, his gaze accurately finding his team captain. “Are you scolding me in your mind?”

Xu Wang was startled but maintained an innocent expression. “How could I?”

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