“Chapter 66: Fortune Guest Inn (Part One)”

"Chapter 66: Fortune Guest Inn (Part One)"

"Jie Fangcheng? Who is that?"

"Nie Shuangshuang went through his memory once, confirming that he had never heard this name before."

"So, are you saying you are very skilled? How many times have you cleared? What tier are you in the leaderboard? What personal skills do you possess? Which guild do you belong to? Have you cleared any major dungeons?" Nie Shuangshuang rattled off a series of questions in rapid succession.

Her speech pace was too fast, hence Jie Fangcheng chose to respond to the most clearly heard statement: "Very skilled."

Saying so, he even gave himself a big thumbs up.

"?" Nie Shuangshuang looked bewildered, turning to glance at Auntie Li who was standing nearby.

Auntie Li too was unsure of this young man's background, recalling only the incident when Jie Fangcheng was deceived by members of the Yue Du Guild last time.

He must be a newcomer, she presumed...

But seeing Jie Fangcheng responding so confidently, exhibiting a straight thumbs-up, Auntie Li couldn't bear to dent his ego, hence she vaguely commented, "Young man, you certainly have a lot of energy."

Hearing Auntie Li's words, Nie Shuangshuang realized that even Auntie Li probably wasn't aware of this guy's background.

"Hey! Want to spar?" Nie Shuangshuang, being impatient, immediately adopted a fighting stance.

Jie Fangcheng was munching on a pancake roll, setting it aside only after finishing his bite.

"Bring it."

His demeanor was too relaxed and overly confident, causing Nie Shuangshuang to instantly heighten her guard, pushing off her foot with a force akin to a released arrow, swiftly creating distance between them.

She then retrieved an oddly shaped fan from her possession, lightly fanning it towards Jie Fangcheng.

After all, it was just a sparring match, not a real fight. The fan whipped past his ear, its fine edges grazing by, before embedding into the ground beside, creating a series of noises. The originally flat ground crumbled as if it had been sapped of all moisture, collapsing inwards.

Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn!"

Just this level of skill? She had already assumed a combat stance and unleashed a series of moves, yet the person opposite seemed to have not even registered her actions, remaining motionless at his original position.

Jie Fangcheng appeared irritated, "I thought we were sparring? Why did you run?"

Nie Shuangshuang: "?? I was just testing you and you couldn't even keep up! And you claim to be skilled??"

Jie Fangcheng looked even more exasperated: "We are fighting, not racing, why are we comparing speed here?"

Nie Shuangshuang, wordlessly retracting her fan, said, "According to your logic, if you are not fast enough, how could you outrun the bosses in the dungeons? If you can't outrun the bosses, how can you clear the dungeons?"

"In the game, each boss is fiercer than the last. If you can't outrun them, your life would be forfeited. How could someone as slow as you possibly be considered skilled?"

"In this game, those who run fast are not necessarily big shots, but all big shots are definitely fast. It's an unwritten rule."

Nie Shuangshuang's words left Jie Fangcheng with no room to rebut.

He also sighed deeply, admitting, "Can't outrun them."

Nie Shuangshuang stared at him.

This person's manner of speaking is both modest and arrogant... strangely, it wasn't off-putting.

Nie Shuangshuang studied his face and pondered, "You wish to venture into this dungeon too? Fair enough."

Initially, Nie Shuangshuang had contemplated finding another companion for the expedition, aiming to have a backup plan in place.

In truth, when it comes to level-one dungeons, barring encounters with excessively powerful bosses, she could handle the situation at her current level.

She had reviewed the strategies for the "Fortune Arrival Inn" dungeon. While the NPC's (Non-Player Characters) were fairly strong, actual fighting wasn't exactly necessary; a confrontation with the boss wasn't obligatory.

Under such circumstances, having an additional member wouldn't be an issue. Moreover, Jie Fangcheng's appearance held a significant advantage within this dungeon, making him a sort of insurance for the mission.

If this were before last year's nationwide dungeon craze, she would have even dared to bypass purchasing dungeon shards, entering directly with Aunt Li.

But that's not feasible anymore.

Nie Shuangshuang gazed at Jie Fangcheng, "I can guide you through, but I have a condition."

"What condition?"

"After you clear the dungeon, the points must be transferred to me." Nie Shuangshuang began counting with her fingers, "The shards for this dungeon cost three hundred and twenty thousand, which is a friendship price. Others have to pay four hundred thousand. The maximum points you can earn from clearing this dungeon are around forty to fifty thousand, giving them to me won't be a loss for you."

Jie Fangcheng paused, "Are you certain you want the points from this dungeon clear?"

"Quit the chatter, do we have a deal?" Nie Shuangshuang pressed.

Jie Fangcheng gave a wry smile, "Or perhaps I could just transfer fifty thousand to you upfront?"

Nie Shuangshuang immediately declined, "No, I specifically want the points from this dungeon clear."

"Isn't that a bit risky... what if the points are extremely low?"

Nie Shuangshuang asserted firmly, "Then I'll accept the outcome."

Primarily because she knew the dungeon had a strategy guide. If they managed to achieve an S-rank evaluation, the points would be at least a hundred thousand.

Xie FangCheng wasn't sure what Nie ShuangShuang was thinking, but seeing her insistence, he could only reluctantly nod: "Alright then."

Nie Shuangshuang breathed a sigh of relief, her expression stiffening momentarily after the exhale.

Possessing shards for this level-one dungeon greatly enhanced the survival rate. Coupled with her personal safeguard, anyone else would probably have hurriedly offered her a hundred thousand upfront, fearing she might retract the offer.

But now...

Nie Shuangshuang suddenly harbored a feeling of having incurred a substantial loss.

Oh well...

Being of a restless disposition, Nie Shuangshuang had already begun assisting Aunt Li in packing up the stall.

"Alright then, let's set off immediately!"

"What? So soon?"

"Venturing into a dungeon is not like paying a visit to a grave, do we really need to go back and take a bath and burn incense first?"

That’s a valid point.

Jie Fangcheng constantly felt like he had forgotten something, but on the other side, Nie Shuangshuang had already swiftly cleaned up Aunt Li's stall, subsequently waving at another stall owner selling bowl cakes not far away.

"Brother Han, could you please keep our stall at the guild for us? We're going to tackle a dungeon and will be back in a week!"

Brother Han nodded at her in acknowledgment.

Nie Shuangshuang snapped her fingers, "Let's go!"

Being more cautious, Aunt Li couldn't help but ask first, "Shuangshuang, shouldn't you brief us about this dungeon first, so we can be prepared?"

Originally, acquiring these dungeon fragments was to enable Aunt Li to gain some dungeon experience, to at least get accustomed to the mechanics of the dungeons. After all, for lifestyle players like Aunt Li, they usually rely on their life skills to earn some points for survival in the base, hardly getting the opportunity to enter dungeons aside from the national dungeons.

However, the national dungeons are random dungeons where teaming up is not possible; even if Nie Shuangshuang wanted to take her along, she couldn't.

At this moment, when Aunt Li wanted to understand the dungeon, Nie Shuangshuang very straightforwardly pulled out a stack of A4 papers and handed them over, even considerately taking out another stack, "Here, you should review these as well."

With the guide at hand, this dungeon could be said to be simple, but no matter how simple, it still was a dungeon of a horror game; it's always better to be prepared.

However, the person she thrust the papers at looked horrified, his movements noticeably more agile.

"No, no, no." Jie Fangcheng refused.

Nie Shuangshuang became furious, "Don't think that everything will be fine just because I am here! There are tasks in this dungeon that you need to complete yourself! Start reviewing it now!!"

With a pained expression, Jie Fangcheng reluctantly accepted the A4 papers.

Nie Shuangshuang grumbled angrily, "I had to call in favors to acquire these materials, you know. Outside, a single guide costs over ten thousand points! I’m letting you see it for free and you're not even willing to read it, what kind of person is this..."

Jie Fangcheng wore a painfully genuine expression, "Entering a dungeon is not akin to visiting a grave, why do I need to read papers?"

Damn it!

Nie Shuangshuang roared, "If you don't read it now, entering the dungeon would be equivalent to going to your grave! Read! Read it now!! Memorize it!! This information is worth ten thousand points!!!"

The players who hadn't left the base were all watching with sidelong glances.

At this moment, a mocking and sarcastic voice came from not too far away.

"Oh, isn't this Team Leader Nie? Taking people into a dungeon again?"

Jie Fangcheng turned towards the source of the voice, then paused in astonishment.

What is this? A COSPLAY?

Although the players belong to various guilds, very few guilds provide uniform guild attire—except for the Tsukuyomi Guild, but those clearly mass-produced suits were system manufactured and available for anyone to purchase and wear.

But it was clear at a glance that the clothes worn by the four people in front of them were custom-made.

Black cloaks, with scythes sewn onto them, adorned with golden threads along the edges, meticulously crafted. However, no matter how one looked at it, they seemed out of place compared to those around, embodying a certain level of adolescent chūni tendencies.

Yet, Xie FangCheng found their attire peculiar and rather outlandish, resembling a group of eccentrics. The surrounding players exhibited a range of reactions upon seeing them, indicating that these cloaked individuals had a significant reputation.

Although Nie ShuangShuang originally roared in anger, she wasn't truly furious.

But at this moment, she glanced at the person who spoke with a tranquil expression, then turned her head away, saying, "Let's go."

Clearly unwilling to engage further.

The four cloaked figures quickly surrounded them, the leader sporting a grin that was instantly off-putting.

"Oh dear, Leader Nie, we are old acquaintances, aren't we? How come you're giving the cold shoulder to an old friend? Oh, has joining the professional league inflated your ego? Well, indeed, in the next year's National Instance, the professional league might just become the second largest guild, you know."

Nie ShuangShuang looked at him icily: "Zhou QiYi, mind your language."

"Mind what?" Zhou QiYi laughed, "Do you think that Chairman Zhang will come back from the dead and lead RongHua to reclaim second place?"

With a "clang" sound, Nie ShuangShuang grasped his neck, her legs forcefully thrusting forward, slamming him to the ground in one fell swoop.

"Keep. Your. Mouth. Clean."

Zhou QiYi only raised an eyebrow: "Leader Nie, you surely don't still consider yourself the 'Mad Rabbit' ranked twenty-seventh in the points table, do you? People whose skills have degraded—should have the awareness of the weak!"

Zhou QiYi suddenly exerted force; the skin exposed on his body abruptly turned to stone, his hands transforming into heavy stone palms. He flipped Nie ShuangShuang onto the ground with one hand, then swung his palm towards her face.

At that moment, a hand grabbed hold of Zhou QiYi's wrist.

The hand clutching his wrist appeared pallid, the fingertips being the only part tinged with a hint of color, resembling a complexion deprived of sunlight for years. At this moment, the sinews on the back of the hand became prominent with the owner's movement. Despite not seeming particularly robust, it formed a stark contrast to the now petrified wrist.

Yet, these seemingly pale and frail hands managed to halt Zhou QiYi's impending slap.

Zhou QiYi paused momentarily, then suddenly exerted more force.

...Not budging an inch.

The person restraining him didn't seem to be exerting much effort, yet made it impossible for him to even withdraw his hand.

Xie FangCheng furrowed his brows: "Who is this?"

Nie ShuangShuang picked herself up from the ground, dusting off the dirt from her clothes.

"From the Reaper's Guild."

"Oh," Xie FangCheng nodded, then inquired, "What is the Reaper's Guild?"

Zhou QiYi fumed, "You don't know the Reaper's Guild??"

Jie Fangcheng paused, "Your guild is quite famous, huh? Which one of the three buildings does it occupy?"

He even took a moment to seriously contemplate.

"The Rising Sun Guild occupies one building, the Ronghua Guild another, and the Professional Alliance takes up another. Does the Grim Reaper Guild also have one, concealed in some obscure corner between these three towering structures?"

"Damn it!!" Zhou Qiyi was livid, "Our Grim Reaper Guild ranked fourth in last year's national dungeon leaderboard!!"

"Only fourth?" Jie Fangcheng was speechless, "You made it sound as if your guild was ranked first. Us regular folks only remember the top three, you know?"

"Pfft." Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but laugh.

Zhou Qiyi glared at him intently, "You're finished."

Threatening others isn't a difficult feat, but Jie Fangcheng was indeed a master in this field.

He flashed a faint smile, "You think you can finish me off now? Care to give it a try?"

Zhou Qiyi's face turned an ugly shade.

He held the 124th position on the points leaderboard, serving as one of the vice presidents of the Grim Reaper Guild.

Everyone was well aware of the Grim Reaper Guild's strength; who would dare to provoke him normally?

This young fellow seemed unfamiliar, but his prowess appeared considerable. wonder which guild he belongs to...

"Which guild are you from?"

"Ah," Jie Fangcheng pondered for a moment, "Coincidentally, we are in the same line of business."

"What?" Zhou Qiyi looked bewildered.

Jie Fangcheng grinned, "I belong to the Underworld."

Zhou Qiyi stared at him coldly, "I'll remember you."

Jie Fangcheng turned to Nie Shuangshuang and asked, "Are you still planning to hit him? If not, I'll let him go."

Nie Shuangshuang looked refreshed and spirited.

She had had conflicts with Zhou Qiyi before while clearing the same dungeon, but at that time the Ronghua Guild was thriving, and her equipment and skills hadn't been downgraded, so Zhou Qiyi didn't dare to act recklessly.

Later, with the decline of Ronghua, individuals like Zhou Qiyi, akin to annoying flies, constantly irked people around them.

Although she didn't get the chance to personally give him a beating today, watching him suffer was indeed very satisfying!

Nie Shuangshuang turned her gaze towards Jie Fangcheng.

Even though she could get extremely irritated when conversing with this young man, watching him infuriate others was genuinely delightful!

Nie Shuangshuang shook her head, "Let him go."

Hearing this, Jie Fangcheng genuinely let go.

Zhou Qiyi wanted to curse some more, but Jie Fangcheng patted his shoulder: "Little Zhou, everyone is a protagonist in their own right. Don't turn yourself into an irritating cannon fodder, eh!"

Having said that, the three of them stepped onto the teleportation point and vanished swiftly.

Zhou Qiyi stood stunned on the spot, it took him a while to come back to his senses, and he cursed under his breath.

.

【Ding—You have entered a new dungeon: Fortune Arrival Inn.】

【Dungeon: Fortune Arrival Inn (Level 1)】

【Synopsis: The city of Fortune Arrival is recently adorned with lanterns and streamers to celebrate the hundredth day since the birth of the city lord's only child! He has sent out invitations far and wide, encouraging everyone to bring their children to partake in the grand feast. However, for some unknown reason, child disappearances have become a common occurrence in the city lately. Parents, please ensure the safety of your children!】

Content: Accompanied by gifts for the city lord and your own child, you check in at the Fortune Arrival Inn as a guest. This is the largest inn in the city. Rumour has it that the landlady possesses a kind of magical lamp oil, and as long as it burns throughout the night, it can prevent children from being taken away. Hurry and give it a try!

【Clearance Condition: Successfully attend the city lord's son's hundred-day banquet.】

【The historical highest survival rate for this instance exceeds 20%; consequently, the system will not provide additional hints.】

A flash of white light.

Xie FangCheng opened his eyes, realizing that he and a group of five or six players were seated inside a carriage.

The carriage swayed gently, with neither Aunt Li nor Nie ShuangShuang in sight.

However, judging from the noises around, there were another four or five carriages nearby, presumably where they might be.

Inside Xie FangCheng's carriage, he observed the expressions of the surrounding players— a mixture of thirty percent terror, thirty percent bewilderment, and forty percent cluelessness.

Clearly, they were all newcomers.

Xie FangCheng scratched his head: "Uh... Are all of you new here?"

A middle-aged man, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, promptly responded: "Ah, yes. How should we address you, young man?"

As he spoke, his hand was engaged in what seemed to be a conditioned reflexive action, indicating that if he had a cigarette at hand, he would have offered it by now.

"Absolutely, um... Xie FangCheng."

"Oh, oh." The middle-aged man looked at him with anticipation, ready to listen to what seemed to be a forthcoming speech.

The other four players mirrored this expectant expression.

Jie Fangcheng felt suddenly overwhelmed and extremely nostalgic for the previous instances, where there were veteran players like Qi Chanyang to guide others or everyone was experienced enough to not require any direction from him.

"Uh..." Jie Fangcheng was clearly vexed, struggling for words, "This is a horror game, not too bad really. Perhaps, um... you might want to listen to some other veteran players later on?"

The players looked at him, their faces marked with shock.

Unskilled at giving pep talks, Jie Fangcheng continued somewhat bluntly: "Well, everyone will get the hang of it once you clear a level. There's nothing to be afraid of, since we've all died at least once..."

The group wore expressions of anguish after listening to him.

The middle-aged man, who seemed to have been accustomed to organizing things even before his gaming life, quickly caught onto the main point: "Brother, I wanted to ask, we just arrived and completed the newbie tutorial missions, so we have a rough idea of what's going on. We're just not sure about the specific rules of the game, if there are any?"

"Oh, there are," Jie Fangcheng responded crisply. He vaguely remembered some unwritten rules mentioned by Qi Chanyang before, and recited them verbatim, adding a bit of his own perspective, "Generally, listening to the NPCs prevents you from dying, although it's not a hard and fast rule. I'd suggest selectively heeding their words, and you can disregard some of what they say. There was something else... ah yes, avoid going out at night... but actually, it's not too bad, the night doesn't necessarily pose more dangers. It depends on the situation."

The middle-aged man: "..."

The middle-aged man managed a forced smile, "Young man, you really are... really are..."

Simply beyond praise, his explanation was basically non-existent.

The middle-aged man asked again: "Generally speaking, how should we clear the instance levels?"

Jie Fangcheng was quite frank: "Generally, defeating the boss is the easiest approach."

The middle-aged man: "..."

Silence enveloped the carriage.

Everyone was momentarily at a loss for words, the more thoughtful ones were pondering whether this veteran player was really that... that what, or if he simply did not wish to share information with them?

Truth be told, Jie Fangcheng's understanding of the game was fragmented.

He had deeper insights than most players, especially after conversing with Zong Daoan, he understood the deeper layers of the game.

However, at the same time, his understanding of the game was significantly lesser than the majority of the players. He had missed the introductory missions that usually guide new players.

Coupled with the fact that Jie Fangcheng's approach to clearing levels greatly diverged from the average player's. While others were racking their brains to crack the instances and achieve clearances, Jie Fangcheng was literally tearing down walls with his stick.

What? The instance had rules??

At this moment, Jie Fangcheng seemed even more clueless than the new players around him.

The carriage was quiet, swaying for another five minutes before finally coming to a halt.

Jie Fangcheng was the first to lift the curtain and jump out. As he landed, Nie Shuangshuang was also hopping down from a carriage beside him.

This demonstrated the stark contrast between Nie Shuangshuang, a veteran player, and Jie Fangcheng.

Behind her, players exited the carriage one after another. They were evidently newbies, displaying a mix of caution and inexperience, yet maintained a semblance of order.

In total, there were five carriages and thirty players disembarked, including six veteran players.

Nie Shuangshuang is evidently well-known. As soon as she appears, the remaining three veteran players immediately greet her, implicitly forming a leadership structure around her.

In the past, Nie Shuangshuang often led her guild members into dungeons, thus she is quite accustomed to this leadership role.

She lifts her head to look at the inn in front of her.

It is a sprawling ancient edifice, standing at the easternmost part of Fulai City.

The ancient, rustic town seems a bit desolate and dilapidated, with few people on the streets despite it being just dusk.

In contrast, the Fulai Inn before them appears splendid and magnificent, with hints of a two-story building visible from the entrance.

The sudden arrival of such a large group of outsiders has drawn the attention of Fulai City's residents, who are now watching them from the streets.

Holding the game guide in her hand, Nie Shuangshuang does not linger too long.

"Let's go."

She leads the way into the inn, with the players closely following behind.

"Honored guests at the door—"

A young waiter dressed in a short uniform approached them: "How many of you are there?"

"Thirty."

The waiter paused for a moment, then realized, "Ah, esteemed guests, you are here for our city lord's eldest son's hundred-day banquet, aren't you?"

"Yes."

The waiter glanced at her and then at the players standing behind her, "Our city lord is indeed hospitable and welcomes guests far and wide, which is true. However, he also mentioned that he only welcomes those who bring young children along. It seems like something is missing for your group to stay at the Fulai Inn, doesn't it?"

Indeed, it matched the guide to the letter.

In order not to disrupt the procedure outlined in the guide, Nie Shuangshuang inquired, "We did come with young children, but somehow got separated from them. I wonder, young waiter, is there any way to find our children?"

Only then did the waiter smile and reply, "You've asked the right person. In our Fulai City, we have a powerful Taoist priest who can surely help everyone out with their troubles."

"May I know where this Taoist priest resides?"

"Upon leaving the gate, head east. She lives next to the chaotic burial ground outside the city."

Chaotic burial ground...

A new player couldn't help but take a step back.

After thanking the waiter, Nie Shuangshuang turned around and glanced at the players, explaining softly, "Without children, we can't rest at the inn. But if we don't rest at the inn, we will die. Those who want to accompany me to the chaotic burial ground, follow me."

With that, she stepped forward to leave.

The veteran players immediately followed; after all, for them, the chaotic burial ground was no longer a place to be feared.

Among the new players, those who had already accepted their demise in this horror game also promptly chose to follow.

There were also a handful who were still immersed in the grief and pain of their own deaths, but seeing the rest following Nie Shuangshuang, they hesitated for a moment before also joining the group to depart.

Twenty-eight in total.

This batch of new players isn't too bad.

This game isn't for the faint-hearted. If the mere mention of the chaotic burial ground paralyzes them with fear, they lack the mental fortitude required to survive in the game. Even if they painstakingly survive the first dungeon, these fearful newcomers won't make it through the second.

Wouldn't it be better to have died right from the start...???

Nie Shuangshuang suddenly turned around.

The players also turned back in confusion, not understanding the reason.

Behind everyone, a new player stood with a pale face, trembling all over.

Xie Yutong was a homebody, inherently socially anxious. After graduation, he didn't join a company but stayed at home and became a professional artist.

Naturally timid, he kept three dogs and two cats for company, spooked half to death by the slightest unusual noise.

Already fearful, now he had entered such a horror game... and they were heading directly to the chaotic burial ground!

Even though he knew that refusal to go would mean death, Xie Yutong's legs felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.

At this moment, he noticed someone else beside him who hadn't left either.

Xie Yutong tried to force a smile, but it looked even more miserable than crying.

"You... you're too scared to move as well, aren't you?" Xie Yutong's voice quivered with a cry, "How about we keep each other company..."

Xie Fangcheng readily agreed: "Sure."

He truly didn't want to go. To seek a Taoist priest to reclaim children sounded terribly troublesome at first hear.

It seemed simpler to challenge the game rules instead.

Having a companion made Xie Yutong feel somewhat less frightened.

Although usually reticent, he found himself speaking more at this moment.

"Earlier, an editor asked me to illustrate a horror comic, saying that genre was quite popular. I turned it down... If I knew this was going to happen, I would have agreed to gather some material... Sigh, what do you do for a living?"

"Oh, I'm a manager in the finance department."

"Ah, I see." It sounded like a fulfilling job, yet he wondered why this person seemed as frightened as himself.

Xie Yutong began speaking, unsure if he was trying to encourage Xie Fangcheng or himself: "Don't be scared. Without children... not staying at that Fulai Inn... we might not necessarily die, right?"

"Indeed."

"Do you think... the reason that veteran player mentioned that those without children would die is because there will be ghosts... ghosts coming out at night to kill us...?"

"It's a possibility."

"...How come you don't seem that scared?"

Xie Fangcheng looked at him: "Buck up, you're a ghost now, what is there to fear?"

Xie Yutong: "..."

Xie Yutong murmured to himself: "Yeah, I'm a ghost, but what does that change... Can I really be more formidable than these other ghosts...? I was already inferior when I was alive, what can death possibly change...? I'm really scared..."

Meanwhile, Nie Shuangshuang, who was initially leading the players, seriously wished to teleport to Xie Fangcheng's side and squash his head!

"Xie Fangcheng!!!" Nie Shuangshuang shouted angrily.

Xie Fangcheng gave his ears a casual rub, sighed reluctantly, his demeanor resembling a veteran office worker caught slacking off, reluctantly moving forward under the boss's reprimand.

Xie Yutong kept his head lowered, his entire being engulfed in a sensation of despair and pessimism.

At that moment, he felt a nudge, and the legs that seemed rooted to the ground staggeringly took a couple of steps forward.

"Hey, stop mumbling, let's move," said the voice urging him.

After giving that push, Xie Fangcheng proceeded towards the main troop with an unwilling wobbly stride.

Watching his retreating figure, Xie Yutong paused, then involuntarily followed for a couple of steps.

Taking these proactive steps seemed to break an invisible shackle that held him.

Xie Yutong gritted his teeth, finally catching up with the main group.

Up ahead, Xie Fangcheng finally stood beside Nie Shuangshuang.

Nie Shuangshuang was fuming, her fiery red hair seemingly about to explode in anger.

"What were you doing just now?? I asked everyone to come to the chaotic burial mound! Why didn't you come?!"

"Ah..." Xie Fangcheng wore a distressed expression, "Do we really have to raise children in this dungeon? Why didn't you mention this earlier?"

Nie Shuangshuang was livid: "What's more important, raising children or life and death? Raising children or clearing the dungeon? Raising children or keeping up with the main group?!"

Xie Fangcheng grimaced, "Not raising children seems more important..."

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."

Ahhhhhh!!!

.

Amidst the conversation, everyone finally exited through the East City gate.

It was already deep autumn, the branches along the road had all withered, and from some unknown place nearby came the calls of crows, which seemed somewhat eerie beneath the almost-drowned hues of the setting sun.

However, with the sheer number of people around, the slightly sinister atmosphere didn't instill too much fear; people still found the mind-space to chat and make acquaintances, sharing details about their individual circumstances.

Nie Shuangshuang and other veteran players walked at the forefront, merely listening in silence.

They truly were newcomers, still willing to share the reasons behind their deaths and their professions while they were alive.

Now, during Nie Shuangshuang’s self-introduction, mentioning the cause of her death was no longer feasible. She would mention her number of dungeon clears, her affiliated guild, and personal skill levels instead. She had nearly forgotten what job she held in her previous life.

After all, in a horror game, achievements from one's previous life are the least important.

This was essentially the case with most veteran players.

Just then, she heard Xie Fangcheng beside her joining the newcomers' discussion.

"Me? I used to be a manager in the finance department, in charge of accounting."

"How did I die? Ah, how should I put it... if I must say, can it be considered a workplace accident?"

"How many dungeons have you cleared?"

This question piqued Nie Shuangshuang’s curiosity as well.

Although this person had easily restrained Zhou Qiyi back at the base, players' personal skills were diverse and varied; perhaps it was some sort of defensive skill like “Immovable as a Mountain”.

But being able to use personal skills at the base indicated that this person had secured a decent rank in the national dungeons previously. After all, the personal skills and items usable at the base were rewards from the national dungeon leaderboard; ordinary dungeon rewards couldn’t be utilized at the base.

Yet, this person's name wasn't common. If it truly appeared on the leaderboard, Nie Shuangshuang should have some recollection of it.

This person moved at such a slow pace and didn't seem to have been substantially powered up by the system. It was quite bizarre, leaving her wondering just how many dungeons he had cleared...

Xie Fangcheng held up two fingers, making a gesture that resembled a "yeah".

"Twice."

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."

Nie Shuangshuang felt an itching sensation in her teeth once more.

Twice!!

How could he dare?!

Aunt Li at the side wasn't surprised by this answer and even took the time to console Nie Shuangshuang.

"Shuangshuang, since we are already in the dungeon, try to be more open-minded, ah!"

Nie Shuangshuang cast a speechless gaze towards the heavens.

Just then, a terrified exclamation of "Holy crap!" resonated amongst the players.

The crowd realized they had already arrived at the Chaotic Burial Grounds.

The vermilion hue of the setting sun had completely vanished, the sky wasn't dark yet, but a chilling pallor and desolation had begun to manifest.

The path that was previously clear and visible had disappeared, giving way to the desolation of the Chaotic Burial Grounds at the end of the road.

From afar, players with good eyesight could already see the bones scattered across the ground, with partially buried skeletons appearing at intervals.

Without a word, Nie Shuangshuang took the lead and stepped onto this land.

The soil underfoot was moist, as if a rain had graced the area not long ago.

Tattered white banners used for guiding spirits were planted here, fluttering in sync with the wind as if beckoning the lingering souls that refused to disperse.

"Ah!" A short, sharp scream came from a player behind them, causing everyone to turn their heads, only to be met with the sight of a skull.

It seemed someone had inadvertently stepped on it, causing the skull to roll around a couple of times before finally coming to a stop, its empty eye sockets seeming to stare at the players.

The players, who a moment ago were engaged in a large social gathering, were now shivering, with the more faint-hearted covering their mouths, their eyes brimming with tears of fright.

Above them, more and more crows circled, emitting harsh and grating calls.

The newcomers slowly started to realize that this place was no longer the real world.

They had died, and entered this horrifying game in the afterlife.

"Will I have to endure this forever...?" someone cried out in tears.

Yet, many remained silent.

Everyone had an inkling of the answer deep down. Not many could calmly accept their own death, but the infinite game granted everyone a chance.

Even though this chance seemed not only faint but also exceptionally terrifying, as long as there was a sliver of opportunity, the majority wished to give it a try.

During the moment of silence that engulfed the group of players, a voice responded, "No."

Xie Fangcheng spoke up, "You can still become professional players, you know. Those who can bake can make bread, those skilled in construction can build houses. Even without delving into dungeons, you can still afford meals; hence, no need to face all these."

Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but interrupt him, "But there is the annual national dungeon."

Xie Fangcheng realized, "Oh, right."

Continuing, he asked, "I've wanted to ask since earlier, what is this national dungeon? Is participation mandatory?"

Damn it!

Nie Shuangshuang was truly impressed inwardly.

This really is a newbie who has only cleared two levels!

Aunt Li explained from the side, "The national dungeon is an event that takes place once a year in the game, lasting three days. Every player must choose a time to participate. The rewards in points and items are quite generous. Moreover, compared to the regular dungeons, the difficulty of the national dungeon is slightly reduced, and the progress of the dungeon is broadcast live on the big screen at the base."

"Oh, I see." Xie Fangcheng nodded, then asked, "What happens if one doesn't participate?"

"They will be eradicated directly."

"Wow, that fierce?"

"Yes."

"Who carries out the eradication?"

"Uh..."

"Stop chatting!" Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but interrupt.

Everyone had already reached the gate of the Heaven Master's residence. Looking at their chatter, they were just short of each having a handful of sunflower seeds.

The residence of the Heaven Master was a rectangular wooden house, which looked rather ominous from the outside, resembling a coffin.

Nie Shuangshuang reached out to knock on the door: "Hello, we are here to attend the centenary feast of the city lord's eldest son, but we have lost our child. Could you please help us find them?"

There was no response from inside the house.

This didn't quite align with what was stated in the guide...

Nie Shuangshuang furrowed her brows and knocked on the door again.

Still, no one responded.

She twitched her ears, straining to catch any sounds from inside the house, her expression gradually souring.

Nie Shuangshuang took a deep breath, placing her hand on the door, and activated her personal skill.

Click, the door opened.

The interior of the house was dark and gloomy, devoid of any slivers of light since there were no windows.

But with the many enhancements from the system, Nie Shuangshuang managed to survey the room with a single glance.

The guides she received from the Chaoyang Guild and the Professional League informed her that the Heaven Master would give each player a paper figure. They would have to drop their blood onto the paper, transforming it into a paper doll. These dolls would facilitate their wish to enter the inn.

This paper doll was their "child."

They were non-aggressive, fragile and delicate, needing protection. To survive, they required a continuously lit lamp during the night.

Maintaining the flame without it going out was a challenge, and securing a gift for the city lord's eldest son was another hurdle... but these were not the focal points.

Because the most crucial and the only step players can take in clearing this instance is to find the token of affection between the Heaven Master and the City Lord, and persuade the Heaven Master to confront the City Lord, only then can the players survive through the hundred-day banquet of the City Lord’s eldest son.

But now—

The room is completely empty.

The Heaven Master, who should have been waiting inside the house for the players to arrive... has disappeared.