Chapter 67: Fortune Arrival Inn (Part Two)

Chapter 67: Fortune Arrival Inn (Part Two)

What is happening?

Both the Chaoyang Guild and the Professional League have clearly detailed the process, where “the players meet the Heaven Master, who gives them a paper figure”. The Chaoyang Guild even elaborately described how the Heaven Master operates after the paper figure is handed over.

Why isn't this Heaven Master NPC here now? Has he gone out?

Of course, this is also possible; in the same instance, even if players adopt the same strategy, NPCs might respond differently. Generally, the main storyline of the instance remains fairly constant most of the time.

But this isn't right... If the NPC is not here, the players can’t possibly just wait here stubbornly because indeed ghosts will come knocking if they don't return to the Fortune Arrival Inn at night.

But to stay at the Fortune Arrival Inn, you must have the paper doll gifted by the Heaven Master.

Therefore, the Heaven Master must be here; otherwise, if the players can't find her on the first day, it would mean certain death.

...Could there be another way to safely get through the first day without the paper doll?

But now the sky is growing dark, even if there is such a strategy, how would players have time to find it?

"Something is wrong with this instance." Nie Shuangshuang whispered to the veteran players around her, then made a decisive move.

No matter, first get through the first day.

She immediately started searching the room, quickly finding a stack of paper figures on the table, and then activated her personal skill.

[Skill: 3D Printer·Rare (Downgraded) (Downgraded)]

[Description: Great news! Great news! High-tech printing technology is here! No need for 998! No need for 98! Just have the necessary materials, and take the 3D printing technology home! Are you still envious of others' vast variety of props? Are you still envious of the immense power of others' props? Then keep envying!]

[Note: The 3D printer has limited replication effects, please don't have too high expectations for a single printing skill!]

[Function: Replicate the items you see. Although the replicated items have significantly reduced effects, they are still useful at certain special times, right?]

[Special Note: This skill has been downgraded due to [forced transfer], please use cautiously.]

[Special Note: This skill has been downgraded due to [forced transfer out], the replicated items now have a time limit (48 hours), please use cautiously.]

[Special Note: Due to [downgrade], the use of materials has increased, please use cautiously.]

Holding a small paper figure she found on the Heaven Master’s table in her right hand, Nie Shuangshuang's left hand transformed into a 3D printer. Using her own flesh and blood as materials, another stack of paper figures gradually materialized on her hand.

Nie Shuangshuang placed the duplicated paper figures back on the table, picked up the original ones, and distributed one to each player.

"Drip three drops of blood respectively on the forehead, the chest, and the lower abdomen of the paper figure," she instructed.

Nie Shuangshuang sliced her fingertip with a nail, squeezing out three drops of blood to anoint the paper figure.

Initially flat and lifeless, the paper doll absorbed the trio of blood droplets and began to swell within Nie Shuangshuang's grasp, gradually growing features and digits, as if breathed to life.

— just like an organism gradually developing organs within a human womb.

Ultimately, the palm-sized paper doll descended, metamorphosing into a toddler resembling Nie Shuangshuang, complete with fiery red hair, seemingly around two to three years old.

The little girl wore a blood-red, traditional Chinese jacket, yet her face remained as white as paper, making her large, pitch-black eyes seem particularly ominous.

She stretched her arms towards Nie Shuangshuang.

"Mother, hug," she uttered.

Nie Shuangshuang embraced the paper doll child.

The doll felt as light as a sheet of paper and three drops of blood. Though devoid of breath and warmth, the soft embrace of its arms felt undeniably eerie.

The veteran players, no strangers to this phenomenon, swiftly mimicked the action, soon giving rise to four more paper dolls.

The brave newcomers followed suit, although their faces bore paleness surpassing that of the paper dolls, betraying their unease.

A tremulous voice questioned, "Do we... do we have to hold them like this?"

Nie Shuangshuang shot them a glance, remarking, "These dolls are fragile, made of paper. If they perish, you won't be able to enter Fu Lai Inn and will meet your end. Decide for yourselves."

The questioner silenced, gritting their teeth before reluctantly cradling the doll in their arms.

Gradually, the remaining novices each produced and hesitantly embraced their own paper dolls, overcoming their evident trepidation.

As most of the novices now held a doll, the area resounded intermittently with the innocent cries of "Mother, Father" from the small figures. Just as Nie Shuangshuang nodded approvingly at the newcomers' generally good performance, her peripheral vision caught a solitary figure sitting not far away.

Nie Shuangshuang turned her head.

Jie Fangcheng appeared unfazed by any potential hazards within the room, comfortably seating himself atop the table where Nie Shuangshuang had earlier found the paper dolls.

The table was somewhat tall, his dangling legs swinging leisurely as they couldn't touch the ground, his hands idly fidgeting with items on the table.

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."

Nie Shuangshuang shouted, "Jie Fangcheng!!"

Jie Fangcheng jolted in response, dropping the brush in his hand. It clattered onto the table, leaving a smear of ink across a paper doll.

"What's the matter?" Jie Fangcheng asked, puzzled.

What's the matter??

What's going on???

Nie Shuangshuang is furious!

She began ranting furiously, "What are you doing?? Why are you sitting on the table? If there's no chair, you sit on the table??? And you're fiddling with a pen! What are you doing with the pen??"

"Ah..."

Jie Fangcheng hesitated for a moment, picked up the pen, and offered it to her: "Would you like to try?"

Nie Shuangshuang: "!!"

Nie Shuangshuang grabbed the brush abruptly, but she applied too much force, causing it to snap in her hand.

Jie Fangcheng broke into a cold sweat: "Aren't you being too violent?"

Nie Shuangshuang felt like she was about to explode.

She was already known for her hot temper. After acquiring the personal skill [3D Printer], her friends would often joke that this skill suited her best, saving her from the nagging of the guild leader every time she broke some prop.

But with the downgrade of her skill and the loss of her past glory, Nie Shuangshuang had considerably mellowed down.

Now, having accidentally damaged a prop again, she was stunned for a moment. Hearing Jie Fangcheng label her as violent, a surge of anger rose violently within her.

"Believe it or not, I can be even more violent!" Nie Shuangshuang yelled.

"I believe, I believe," Jie Fangcheng nodded hastily, resembling a pecking chick.

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."

"What kind of person is this!" Nie Shuangshuang was rendered speechless with anger, "What's wrong with you? Why aren't you preparing your doll?"

Jie Fangcheng looked troubled and hesitant: "Do we really need to bring a doll? Isn't it bad?"

Nie Shuangshuang shouted angrily: "Yes! Do it now!!"

Jie Fangcheng could only reluctantly bring out a paper doll.

Nie Shuangshuang always felt he was slow. This person always seemed to do everything leisurely and in a scattered manner, but at this moment, she saw a blur before her eyes. Compared to other players whose dolls grew slowly after receiving three drops of blood, the paper doll in Jie Fangcheng's hands expanded like popcorn. Nie Shuangshuang even heard a "pop" sound, and a doll appeared in his arms.

The dolls of the players resembled them to a certain extent due to the connection of bloodlines, but the doll in Jie Fangcheng's hands looked nothing like him.

The doll had silver hair, a white left eye, and a black right eye that resembled obsidian, appearing somewhat eerie when it silently observed the others.

The doll quietly observed the other players, then turned its head to look at Jie Fangcheng.

The troubled expression on Jie Fangcheng's face remained unchanged.

This paper doll is a kind of witchcraft. The "dolls" in the hands of the players are not real dolls, but a small portion of soul power separated from their souls. For ordinary people, this bit of soul power wouldn't form a self-consciousness, only maintaining the appearance of a doll.

But Jie Fangcheng…

The "doll" in his arms hesitated for a moment, whispering to him, "Brother, you know the drill, I am going to go idle now."

In some respects, it bears a great resemblance to him.

Having said that, the doll closed its eyes, truly going idle.

Jie Fangcheng tucked it under his arm, strongly desiring to go idle as well.

Nie Shuangshuang noticed that he had brought out the doll. Although she couldn't fathom why it didn't resemble him much, it was better than nothing, which somewhat eased her expression.

"It's getting late, and there's rain forecasted for today. Everyone should head home early."

On the first day, the instance dungeon would experience a downpour. If the paper dolls were not taken back to the Lucky Guest Inn in time, they would get wet and consequently perish.

Although everyone engaged in small talk when they arrived, the atmosphere became much quieter as they left, each person cradling a "doll" in their arms.

Aunt Li couldn't stop staring at the doll in her arms.

Nie Shuangshuang initially thought she was scared. After all, even though Aunt Li was a veteran player, she was more into lifestyle gaming and rarely participated in dungeons.

This doll indeed seemed somewhat creepy.

"Don't worry, Aunt Li, these dolls are non-aggressive towards players."

As mentioned in the game guides, the dolls only possess following and communication functions; they won't attack and are quite fragile, necessitating the players to protect them well.

Aunt Li nodded, her gaze fixed on the doll in her embrace.

"It's not that I'm scared, but this doll," she said with an embarrassed smile, "resembles my son when he was little."

Nie Shuangshuang was taken aback, following Aunt Li's gaze to the paper doll in her arms.

"My son looked a lot like me when he was two or three years old, but as he grew up, he became more handsome and didn't resemble me as much in his adulthood."

Nie Shuangshuang scratched her head. She had met Aunt Li last year after the national instance dungeon event. At that time, she was very downcast. Aunt Li often invited her for Jianbing Guozi, listened to her vent, and encouraged her.

Back then, Nie Shuangshuang was down on her luck. Aunt Li took her in, looked after her for a long time, becoming a motherly figure to her.

That's why, as Nie Shuangshuang gradually recovered from her grief, her relationship with Aunt Li grew extremely close.

She knew that Aunt Li had a son. As a single mother who worked as a small vendor in the real world, she had gone through many hardships to see her son through graduate school. Just as she saw him settling down with a wife, ensuring a steadily improving life, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Aunt Li chose to forgo treatment, opting to venture into the infinite game world instead.

Whenever she spoke of her son, pride was ever-present in her expression.

But this time, Aunt Li’s expression held a tinge of struggle and confusion.

"But a few days ago... I think I saw him."

"Who?"

"My son."

Nie Shuangshuang was taken aback.

"I must have mistaken," Aunt Li quickly added, "he is young and vibrant, how could he possibly... Besides, if it were really him, he would have approached me seeing that I set up a stall here every day."

That seemed plausible.

Nie Shuangshuang nodded, consoling her, "Perhaps it was someone who just resembled him a bit."

But Aunt Li's smile was somewhat strained, "Perhaps."

The group quickly returned to the Fulae Inn.

This time, the attendant didn't obstruct them but led them to their lodgings instead.

They passed through the lobby, behind which was a design known as "Four Waters Return to the Hall", where two floors of small buildings were surrounded on all four sides with a square courtyard in the center. When it rained, the water would flow from the eaves into the courtyard, a design traditionally believed to attract wealth from all directions.

At this moment, the sky was growing dark, and a distant storm seemed imminent. The courtyard, already in the dim light, looked as black as an abyss.

Each player was holding a moving paper doll, and a gust of wind made many feel a chill down their spines.

"Dear guests, please—"

The attendant led them to the eastern building, where each floor housed fourteen rooms, accommodating a total of twenty-eight people.

"The remaining two guests, please wait a moment. There are two more rooms available in the building to the west."

The players exchanged worried glances instantly.

Although the inn seemed somber and eerie, the idea of everyone staying in the same building was somewhat reassuring.

But now, with two individuals having to stay in the opposite building, no one wanted to be isolated from the group.

A player promptly spoke up, "We can squeeze in a bit, two people can share a room, right?"

The attendant gave them a beaming smile, "I'm afraid that won't be possible, dear guests. Each room in our inn contains only one bed, suitable for accommodating one adult and one child."

Nie Shuangshuang felt a responsibility to look out for the newbie players, so she turned her attention to the veteran players.

"Is there anyone willing to stay in the western building? There's no danger, whether in the east or the west."

The veteran players exchanged a glance, and soon someone raised their hand.

"I'll go," said the volunteer, whose name was Lu Tonghe. He quickly added while looking at Nie Shuangshuang, "Leader Nie, you might not remember, but we've entered dungeons together before, during the [New Source Company] mission, a level two dungeon."

Nie Shuangshuang had completed dungeons over a hundred times, and she occasionally ranked in the top twenty on the scoreboards. Indeed, she couldn't remember all the players she had teamed up with in the past.

At this moment, Lu Tonghe stepped forward, primarily due to the care he had received from Nie Shuangshuang in the past. He believed Nie Shuangshuang was not someone who would lie or deceive others.

Following his lead, another individual raised their hand.

"...Xie Fangcheng?" Nie Shuangshuang furrowed her brows yet again.

This man seemed perpetually half-alive, irrespective of the situation at hand. Seeing him, Nie Shuangshuang reflexively began to get irritated, "Why are you raising your hand? Do you even understand what's going on right now?"

"To stay over there." Xie Fangcheng replied innocently.

"…" Nie Shuangshuang scrutinized him up and down, "Are you sure you want to go?"

How did he suddenly become so proactive? It wasn't like him at all.

Xie Fangcheng scratched his nose, "Well, sleeping there is as good as anywhere."

Being a bit farther from Nie Shuangshuang seemed more convenient... mainly because this girl had quite a volatile temperament. Xie Fangcheng constantly felt she might lash out at any second.

Nie Shuangshuang gave him a baffled look, apparently unaware of his inner thoughts.

However, since it was confirmed which two individuals were heading to stay on the west side, Nie Shuangshuang without further ado handed them each an old-looking black-and-white striped crystal whale.

[Item: Orca Drool (Damaged)]

[Description: Orcas are the supreme rulers of the sea, known for being social creatures. They are often referred to as the street loafers of the sea or the Huskies of the whale world. Are you curious about the taste of their drool?]

[Hint: Although it's merely the drool of an orca, the drool of the supreme ruler has its own unique charm!]

[Function: After smashing it, individuals with the [Heart of the Orca] will rush to your side. Don't worry, orcas on land don't wreck homes... right?]

[Special Hint: This item is damaged. Please use it within a 30-meter range of the owner of the [Heart of the Orca].]

"The distance here isn't even 30 meters, so if anything happens, just smash it."

The two accepted the crystal orcas. Lu Tonghe seemed somewhat thrilled, carefully wiping his hands before placing it delicately in his system backpack.

Xie Fangcheng also wiped his hands... but then he grabbed the hand of the doll he was holding and used the doll's hand to receive the orca drool.

Nie Shuangshuang: "…"

Nie Shuangshuang was infuriated, but with the NPC still nearby, she furiously glared at him instead.

Xie Fangcheng feigned ignorance. After receiving the orca drool, he used the doll's hand to place the item in the doll's pocket.

Nie Shuangshuang was furiously cursing him in her mind.

The NPC had already opened the first room on the first floor, and everyone followed him, beginning to enter their respective rooms one by one.

As they walked, the NPC continued to describe the inn's facilities and offerings.

"Our Fulae Inn is the largest and only inn in Fulae City. Due to the upcoming hundred-day celebration of the young master, we will be hosting a large number of guests. We welcome all guests, especially those with children. The city lord's mansion will cover the costs of accommodation and meals, so feel free to request anything you need during your stay. We will do our utmost to satisfy your requests. However, there is one thing."

The waiter pointed to the candle lamp on the bedside table as he spoke.

"In our neck of the woods recently, there hasn't been much peace," he shared, weaving a tale of a malicious spirit rumored to be haunting the city, targeting children specifically. "It is said that once the light goes out, the wicked spirit makes its appearance. Therefore, it's imperative to keep the lamp lit at the dead of night. Unfortunately, we are running low on candles in the inn. We can provide candles for tonight, but come tomorrow, you'll have to find your own solution."

Armed with insights from the strategy guide she had, Nie Shuangshuang asked, despite already being somewhat familiar with the dynamics of this instance, "Excuse me, young sir, where might we find these candles?"

The young waiter gave a friendly smile and said, "That, dear guests, is for you to figure out."

A round of uneasy glances exchanged amongst the crowd.

Shortly thereafter, the twenty-eight players from the east side, all accompanied by children, settled into their rooms. The young waiter continued to escort Jie Fangcheng and Lu Tonghe to the guest rooms on the west side.

Lu Tonghe was a veteran player, albeit of modest abilities and ambitions. At most, he would venture into second-tier instances, often found frequenting the first-tier ones.

As the NPC went from room to room arranging accommodations for the other players, Jie Fangcheng, uninterested in following, took a seat on the corridor railing instead.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Tonghe chose to stay as well, striking up a conversation with Jie Fangcheng, who would soon be his neighbor in the western annex.

"Hello, I'm Lu Tonghe. You're Jie Fangcheng, right?"

During their earlier time in the Taoist priest's house, Nie Shuangshuang's raised voice had made sure that the majority of the players were now aware of his name.

Jie Fangcheng nodded in acknowledgement, "Hello."

"How did you get to know Team Leader Nie?" inquired Lu Tonghe.

After a thoughtful pause, Jie Fangcheng responded, "Familiarity born from conflict?"

Lu Tonghe was left somewhat puzzled, "?"

Jie Fangcheng's casual conversation with the new player hadn't escaped Lu Tonghe's notice. Comparing Jie Fangcheng, a so-called "veteran" with a mere two instance clears, with Nie Shuangshuang, a seasoned player with over a hundred clears—although her capabilities had diminished, with most of her skills and items degraded or damaged, her enhanced physical attributes from countless system boosts were still evident. She could still be considered a formidable player. And this guy... their acquaintance stemmed from conflict?

After delivering his previous statement, Jie Fangcheng candidly added, "Well, it wasn't exactly a fight. She just runs too fast."

A speechless Lu Tonghe could only muster a "..."

Lu Tonghe chose to remain silent, distancing himself slightly from Jie Fangcheng.

Soon, the NPC finished arranging accommodations for the players on the east side and then led Jie Fangcheng and Lu Tonghe to the annex on the west.

On the first floor, the NPC opened the door to the first room. Jie Fangcheng peeked inside, only to shake his head shortly after.

"Is it possible to stay on the second floor?" he inquired.

Lu Tonghe swiftly turned to look at him, visibly startled.

This newcomer truly had some tricks up his sleeve. Even he hadn't noticed anything amiss with the room, yet here was Jie Fangcheng, pinpointing an issue?

Following suit, Lu Tonghe swiftly turned his head back, mirroring Jie Fangcheng by leaning in to take a careful and meticulous look inside the room, his movements marked by extreme caution and scrutiny.

What's wrong with this room? Nie Shuangshuang and the others didn't notice anything unusual in the eastern annex; is there something different about the west side?

The NPC seemed taken aback as well: "Dear guest, is there an issue with this room?"

"It's close to a well," Jie Fangcheng stated, "Feels like it might be quite damp."

Lu Tonghe: "..."

Lu Tonghe: "!!!"

The NPC appeared somewhat speechless but quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes, the rooms on the second floor are still available."

Having said this, the NPC turned to Lu Tonghe: "Sir, would you like a room on the second floor as well?"

"Ah," Lu Tonghe hesitated for a moment.

But in this instance, going solo was indeed a risky move. Although this young man seemed quite erratic, there were benefits to staying closer to him.

"Well... I'll also take a room on the second floor, then."

The NPC didn't voice any objections, simply leading them upstairs to the second floor.

Upon reaching the second floor, the young waiter opened another room. Jie Fangcheng peeked inside and with a somewhat reluctant expression remarked, "It's passable, I suppose."

After all, the setups of these rooms were identical; there wasn't much to pick and choose from.

However, having recently exited a high-achievement academy instance where he had found comfort in the villa area and had even brought the players to stay there later on, his living conditions had been genuinely pleasant.

This ancient themed instance lacked modern amenities like electric lights or fans. Even the beds were without mattresses, offering just a mat for sleeping; it felt rather makeshift.

He hoped the next instance would be set in modern times.

This was Jie Fangcheng's sole thought at the moment.

With a trace of disdain on his face, Jie Fangcheng entered the room. Before closing the door, he waved at Lu Tonghe: "Good night."

"...", Lu Tonghe could only reciprocate the gesture, replying, "Good night."

As Lu Tonghe also entered his room, the sky darkened suddenly, followed by a clap of thunder.

A drizzle began to fall, pitter-pattering softly.

After entering the room, he first placed the paper doll on the bed.

The doll was quite well-behaved, not making a fuss when placed on the bed, just staring at him unblinkingly with its shiny black eyes.

Only a short stub of a candle remained in the room, with a matchbox positioned beside the candlestick.

According to the young waiter, this candle should suffice until the witching hour – lasting from around eleven at night until dawn.

These veteran players, having undergone enhancements to their bodies, could clearly perceive the surroundings even in the night.

I wonder how the new players are faring…

Lu Tonghe sat by the window, slightly parting the sashes.

The area opposite was enshrouded in silence, but he could faintly make out a fiery figure moving about.

It was Nie Shuangshuang.

With her formidable skills and a heart warmer than her hair hue, she must be worried about the novice players entering the instance for the first time, hence she is personally ensuring and comforting each one of them.

During the previous instance where they cleared the second-level together, she had kindheartedly guided their less capable team to victory.

As Lu Tonghe kept watching, he couldn't help but feel that the red hue seemed to be spreading a bit too widely, as if there was something red beside him as well…?

Lu Tonghe turned his head in a daze.

A brilliant candle glow emanated from the window of the adjacent room. Due to the red glass, the emerging light carried a crimson hue, resembling blood.

Lu Tonghe: "???"

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Lu Tonghe silently stepped out and quickly approached Jie Fangcheng's door, knocking gently.

Shortly after, the door swung open.

Jie Fangcheng appeared somewhat bewildered: "What happened?"

Lu Tonghe looked at him earnestly: "Didn't you hear what the NPC said?? Don't light the candle until the witching hour! It only has a little bit left, just enough to last from the witching hour until sunrise! You... you!"

Jie Fangcheng scratched his head: "But it's quite dark inside."

"?? What does darkness matter? Can't you see?"

"I can barely make anything out."

It was the truth. The body that Jie Fangcheng was currently using was provided by the underworld, a far cry from his original body...

"?? You really are... really are!"

Before Lu Tonghe could finish saying "really are", Nie Shuangshuang from the building opposite noticed the flame and Jie Fangcheng standing at the doorway.

"Jie Fangcheng!!!!" Nie Shuangshuang yelled.

Jie Fangcheng let out a sigh, showing a face that seemed to say "what a hassle", and waved at Nie Shuangshuang.

With a strong kick against the railing of the second-floor corridor, Nie Shuangshuang propelled herself over, resembling a fiery ping-pong ball being shot from across the way.

Upon reaching Jie Fangcheng, Nie Shuangshuang was livid, her words pouring out like a torrent of rain: "What are you doing?? How could you light the candle?? What will you do after the witching hour?? Didn't you hear what the NPC said? Do you have any idea that there are ghosts at night??"

Nie Shuangshuang wasn't sure of the ghost's strength, as it wasn't documented in the guide, but presumed that it wouldn't be weak.

Nie Shuangshuang wasn't afraid in the slightest, in this moment she was even contemplating whether to return to her room and offer him her candle. However, this young man was just... absolutely insufferable!

Jie Fangcheng couldn't be bothered to explain any further; after a brief moment of consideration, he suddenly had a flash of realization.

Subsequently, Jie Fangcheng walked straight to the vacant room next door, lifting his leg.

With a resounding “bang”, the door was kicked open.

Jie Fangcheng strolled in with composure and retrieved the candle from the vacant room.

"See, isn't this a solution?" remarked Jie Fangcheng.

Nie Shuangshuang was left dumbfounded.

Her approach to clearing levels was admittedly somewhat aggressive, but she had never envisioned someone who could be even more ruthless!

"This..." the usually verbose Nie Shuangshuang found herself lost for words at this moment, "This is allowed?"

"Of course it is." Jie Fangcheng’s gaze wandered not only to the other vacant rooms in this building but even extended to the other two buildings, his tone filled with anticipation: "With so many vacant rooms, surely there would be enough candles, right?"

Considering today's interaction with the NPC, it seemed they might need to find more candles tomorrow.

But if they have enough candles, wouldn't the search be unnecessary?

At this moment, observing Jie Fangcheng's expression, Nie Shuangshuang somehow instantly grasped his line of thought.

Oh come on!

Could this guy possibly be any more lethargic??

Could he, could he, could he??

Soon enough, the inn’s attendant who heard the commotion returned.

"Guest! What do you think you are doing?!" The attendant's face was marked with anger, "Each room’s candle has been prepared with care! What will the other guests do when they check in?? If they cause a scene, we won't intervene!"

"Oh," Jie Fangcheng nodded, showing no intention of returning the candle.

Meanwhile, Nie Shuangshuang, now with a mind bustling with activity, began to assess the feasibility of raiding the vacant rooms for candles.

According to the guide, these rooms would indeed gradually house various guest NPCs. However, these NPCs were not particularly powerful, and later in the game, players would inevitably have to confront these NPCs to acquire candles.

Because, in this city, what kind of shop would sell candles?

The shop selling funerary supplies, known as the ominous store.

The candles were to be “purchased” from the ominous store.

The players had no money; to "buy" candles, they would need to barter with items they possessed.

In the early stages, the shop owner would only request some common items.

For instance, items like coats and glasses.

However, as time progresses, his demands will steadily increase.

According to the strategy guide, at that stage, players can bring the guest NPCs for trade, utilizing them in this manner.

No one had conceived the audacious plan of confiscating all the candles from the vacant rooms on the very first day. Who would be bold enough to resort to such a brash strategy while everyone is still trying to grasp the situation?

But Jie Fangcheng dared to.

Not only did he dare, he indeed carried it out.

Nie Shuangshuang stood by, watching as the waiter kept threatening that the "other guests would be angry upon checking in," clearly without any intention of physically stopping him.

This could work!

The guest NPCs weren't very powerful, it was truly feasible to simply seize all the candles!

Nie Shuangshuang was immensely tempted at the moment.

Lu Tonghe had always been known for his steady and cautious approach to clearing levels. Seeing Jie Fangcheng act so brazenly, directly kicking doors to steal candles from empty rooms, followed by a visibly shocked and enraged Nie Shuangshuang storming in, was quite the scene. Although Nie initially yelled in anger, after witnessing the waiter's reaction, she astonishingly started enjoying the spectacle, even displaying an eager expression as she considered raiding the other rooms.

Lu Tonghe was stunned.

Lu Tonghe was bewildered.

Lu Tonghe even began to question the very essence of his existence.

Could this actually be viable?

Wasn't the most well-known unwritten rule for clearing levels "not dying by obeying the NPCs' words"?

This...the waiter was hopping mad now! And not just Jie Fangcheng remained unresponsive, even Nie Shuangshuang was nearing the end of her patience.

"Ahem...Brother Waiter, why don't you attend to your other duties first? I'll try to persuade him," suggested Nie Shuangshuang.

So said Nie Shuangshuang.

The waiter did have a recollection of this fiery red-haired patron, who appeared to be a leader amongst the group.

Surely the door-kicking individual would heed the words of such a person, right?

"I appreciate your assistance then," said the waiter, finally taking his leave.

The moment the waiter left, Nie Shuangshuang hastily advanced to another vacant room, swiftly pulling out a piece of "eraser clay" and applied it to the lock.

The "eraser clay" wriggled and enveloped the lock, and shortly thereafter, with a "thud", the lock was opened.

Without uttering another word, Nie Shuangshuang entered and took the candle. She didn't even bother to create a counterfeit as a replacement, and upon exiting, she didn't forget to relock the door.

She didn't forget to share some insights with Jie Fangcheng.

"You're making too much noise. If these NPCs hear you, even if they don't resort to violence, they'll unleash a torrent of annoying, grating verbal onslaught. It's truly vexing!" she warned.

Nie Shuangshuang, although a chatterbox herself, clearly had a disdain for other loquacious individuals.

On this point, Jie Fangcheng agreed with her, nodding fervently like a chick pecking at grains: "Yes, that's why I usually come prepared."

"Prepared with what?"

Nie Shuangshuang was already working on prying open the second lock while speaking.

"I prepare a stick," Jie Fangcheng gestured with a swinging motion, "to hit them if they start to babble. A couple of hits usually shut them up."

"Oh?" Nie Shuangshuang seemed to have had similar experiences before. She rummaged through her system backpack for a moment before pulling out a baseball bat, "Something like this?"

Jie Fangcheng's eyes lit up: "Can I borrow it?"

"It's yours." Nie Shuangshuang handed it over, not forgetting to highlight the bat's advantages, "Though not a rare weapon and possessing average attributes, this bat is longer yet lighter than the usual ones. It doesn't slow you down much when chasing NPCs with it. And the most important part is!"

Nie Shuangshuang paused dramatically, as Jie Fangcheng inspected the attributes of the bat.

[Item: Unremarkable Baseball Bat]

[Description: Just a stick probably picked up from some ballpark, don't hold any high hopes for it, okay?!]

[Note: Nothing to note.]

[Function: No particular function.]

[Special Attribute: Self-cleaning (The sleek surface of the bat won't get dirty, which is quite normal, isn't it?)]

"It has a self-cleaning feature!!" Jie Fangcheng exclaimed in excitement.

Since meeting him, Nie Shuangshuang had never seen him exhibit such an animated expression. Most of the time, he appeared overly laid-back, choosing to sit rather than stand, or lie down instead of sit.

Seeing him so thrilled over such an ordinary bat made Nie Shuangshuang feel as though she had found a kindred spirit.

A self-cleaning function is quite significant for a weapon! Otherwise, you'd have to clean it after every fight, which was truly a hassle. Nie Shuangshuang used to have a storage ring with a half-square meter capacity, which held nothing but cleaning cloths and detergents.

It's just that previously, few agreed with her perspective.

Now, Jie Fangcheng was gently caressing the bat, stating hesitantly, "Taking someone's beloved item, isn't that a bit improper?"

"It's an old flame, doesn't matter anymore." Nie Shuangshuang grinned cheekily, pulling out a strangely designed large machete from her system backpack.

"This one is my new favorite. Not only does it have the self-cleaning feature, but it also serves as a mirror."

Saying this, Nie Shuangshuang held the machete horizontally and adjusted her hair using the reflective blade.

Jie Fangcheng tried it too. He wasn't particularly fussy about such things but knew how to play along, "Wow, it really is like a mirror. A dual-purpose blade, nice!"

He gave a thumbs up.

Lu Tonghe beside them: "..."