Chapter 70: Fu Lai Inn (Part 5)

Chapter 70: Fu Lai Inn (Part 5)

The dark and damp underground.

The city lord's mansion already spanned a vast area, but only when Nie Shuangshuang and Jie Fangcheng reached the basement did they realize that it was even more expansive than the upper floors of the mansion. However, in comparison to the finely constructed above-ground section of the mansion, the underground development was considerably crude.

Descending from the staircase led to a vast platform that seemed to be used for sacrificial purposes, with fresh bloodstains indicating recent use.

Surrounding the platform were scattered disorganized skeletal remains, primarily of children, seemingly the missing children from Fu Lai City, who were 'absorbed' by the city lord and the celestial master through some secret method.

Apart from this platform, signs of human excavation were evident. Looking further, narrow pathways branched out in every direction, with around forty or fifty visible at a glance, and the distant murmur of flowing water could be faintly heard.

Nie Shuangshuang frowned, "This place doesn't look like it was made for humans to reside in, rather it seems like..."

"An anthill," Jie Fangcheng added.

Whether it was the eerie, narrow, winding paths, or the 'walls' around the platform crudely carved out with an unknown tool, everything appeared very rough.

While the city lord might have enjoyed the company of musicians to enhance the mood above ground, this rudimentary environment clearly wasn't intended for his dwelling.

If the sole purpose was to perform secret rites, the platform alone would have sufficed, without the necessity of carving out so many passages.

"No matter," Nie Shuangshuang flipped her hand, forming a seal, and a swarm of flame butterflies erupted and fluttered from her hands.

【Skill: Spirit Fire Butterfly· Rare· Special· Unique (3/3) (Downgraded) (Downgraded)】

【Description: Where the Spirit Fire Butterflies flutter, could one witness the blooming of fiery roses?】

【Hint: Trust in each butterfly! They will carry the fervent flames to the most splendid places!】

【Effect: Summons the Spirit Fire Butterflies.】

【Special Skill 1: Breath of the Butterfly Dance (Sealed)】

【Special Warning: This skill has been downgraded due to [Forced Transfer]. Please use with caution.】

【Special Warning: This skill has been downgraded due to [Forced Transfer Out], and the [Heart of the Flame] has been extinguished. Please use with caution.】

【Special Warning: Due to [Downgrade], the usage restrictions of this skill have increased. Please use with caution.】

In her prime, each butterfly would serve as the sharpest of weapons, slicing through the throats of monsters.

But now, these butterflies emitted a faint glow, merely illuminating Nie Shuangshuang's face.

Nie Shuangshuang clapped her palms together.

"Go!"

The Spirit Fire Butterflies, which were lingering around her reluctantly, spun around twice before obediently flying into various dark holes, one by one.

Nie Shuangshuang explained, "The butterflies aren't aggressive, but if they encounter anything, they will bring back information."

"Oh wow," Jie Fangcheng exclaimed, gazing in the distance before turning to her with an admiring look. "You have so many skills."

Nie Shuangshuang was momentarily stunned, followed by a bitter smile in her heart.

Within her personal skill set, many had already been downgraded. At the very top of her entire skill list, her most central and strongest skill was now grayed out.

【Skill: Heart of the Flame·Seven·(9/12)(Sealed)】

Most players could only access skills up to the rare tier, but even the rarest skills could potentially be acquired in dungeons.

Only those denoted with capital numerical characters - one, two, three - couldn't be obtained from dungeons.

The guild leader's personal skill 【Heart of the Dragon】 was ranked third, and it was rumored that the president of the Chaoyang Guild held the second rank.

The guild leader speculated that the skills bearing these numbers represented the awakening of one's core personal skills.

Just like Nie Shuangshuang, ever since she acquired the seventh-ranked 【Heart of the Flame】, the skills she obtained from clearing dungeons were primarily related to fire.

If only she hadn't been forced to transfer it...

Nie Shuangshuang shook her head, her curiosity piqued, "What exactly is your personal skill?"

This person was truly extraordinarily powerful, which made her wonder if he also possessed a ranked skill.

But what skills could Jie Fangcheng possibly have?

He hadn't earned even a single point from clearing dungeons.

At this thought, Jie Fangcheng's gaze seemed to flicker for a moment.

After all, the Nie Shuangshuang standing before him was the one who wanted the points he earned from this dungeon clearance.

Returning from the dungeon clearance this time, when others asked, Jie Fangcheng had to say "zero points"... it was somewhat embarrassing.

But Jie Fangcheng's slightly sheepish expression took on a different meaning in Nie Shuangshuang's eyes.

She immediately widened her eyes, exclaiming, "Damn! If you don't want to say it, then don't, but stop beating around the bush!"

This young lady indeed had a fiery temper.

She treated Jie Fangcheng as one of her own. After all, although this guy could indeed be a bit infuriating at times, he was not the kind to be evasive, and sometimes they shared quite a few common interests.

So, although she refrained from asking other players about their personal skills and items, which is considered an unwritten rule since everyone fears encountering competition in the dungeons and naturally hesitates to share too much information with potential competitors,

Nie Shuangshuang still asked him nonchalantly, feeling that the two were good friends and siblings, with no need to mind such things.

But at this moment, this guy started being evasive again, with a face that looked like he had something to hide.

It was infuriating!

Just at this moment, messages from the Spirit Fire Butterflies came back, indicating that five butterflies had been extinguished.

Nie Shuangshuang randomly selected one of the five paths and charged in without looking back.

"Hey!" Jie Fangcheng called out to her.

Nie Shuangshuang turned her head coldly.

Jie Fangcheng asked, "You're running so fast, but if you encounter the city lord, can you beat him?"

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."

Nie Shuangshuang gritted her teeth, "If I can't beat him, can't I at least run away??"

Saying this, she walked away without looking back.

Jie Fangcheng scratched his head in place, unsure why she was angry again.

Yet within a couple of seconds, Nie Shuangshuang's face appeared once more at the cave entrance.

She looked utterly indignant, "Keep up, bro! You seriously expect me to fight the city lord alone??"

"Oh, oh, oh," Jie Fangcheng hurriedly followed.

All the way, Nie Shuangshuang grumbled incessantly. Jie Fangcheng realized she seemed angry but, as someone proficient in fighting, he had no clue how to handle her current disgruntled state.

Hence, Manager Jie decided to feign ignorance.

The two of them hurried along the road, one muttering non-stop and the other remaining silent.

The cave was very narrow, allowing only one person to walk through at a time.

With Nie ShuangShuang leading and Xie FangCheng following, although Xie FangCheng was slower, this slowness was relative.

Compared to Nie ShuangShuang, who had personal skills that had been enhanced by the system hundreds of times, he was indeed slow, even insufficiently fast compared to the dungeon's BOSS.

However, his pace was considerably faster than the fastest sprinters in the world. As they progressed, Nie ShuangShuang increasingly felt that something was amiss,

Suddenly, she halted, frowning as she looked into the seemingly endless depths of the cave.

"This is strange," Nie ShuangShuang remarked, "we have been running for so long, considering our speed, it feels like we should have exited the city by now. Isn't this cave exceptionally long?"

Xie FangCheng had no grasp of such distances; hearing her say this, he merely queried, "The city lord's residence is to the west. What lies beyond the western part of the city?"

Nie ShuangShuang's ears caught a faint sound of water, a sound that seemed to be getting closer and closer.

Her face suddenly changed, "Damn, west of the city... is a lake! We need to turn back, now!"

But it was already too late.

Initially, the sound of water was just a distant murmur, akin to that of a babbling brook.

However, it rapidly escalated, breaking through some barrier that held it back, before surging in with an abrupt force.

"Damn it!" Nie ShuangShuang exclaimed in panic, "I can't swim!"

Xie FangCheng, who was hastily scrambling ahead, glanced back at her and remarked, "At this point, isn't it beyond the scope of swimming? Shouldn't we be considering diving?"

"Do you know how to dive?" Nie ShuangShuang queried.

Before the echo of her words could fade, a "splash" resonated from behind them, as the floodwaters finally burst in.

The item Nie ShuangShuang pulled out to stave off the surging waters couldn't withstand the immense pressure, and was swept away in an instant. The frigid lake water submerged them both within moments.

.

Meanwhile, at the city lord's mansion above ground—

A little girl in a red dress held tight to her rag doll, which had come undone during the battle, revealing the cotton stuffing inside.

Clutching the doll, the little girl in red continued to stand defiantly in front of the monster.

The creature, which had once resembled a human, now mirrored the city lord with numerous eyes sprouting from its head. Its enormous belly faced the sky, and from beneath it, a multitude of limbs, which did not belong to it, protruded grotesquely.

"Why are you so troublesome!" The little girl in red huffed in frustration, her long ponytail having come undone and splayed out.

Just as she was about to reach out once more, her hand fractured like shattered glass.

She turned her head to see that the water on the ground had washed clean the last remaining white tile.

It seemed there was no other way...

The little girl in red gripped her doll tightly.

Once they return home, she would ask Sister Nie to help mend the doll.

With a "thud", the crimson figure vanished without a trace.

Similarly, the "living beings" she had shielded behind her had long since disappeared.

The "monster" flared its nostrils, subsequently shifting its gaze in a particular direction.

It could sense them—several "living beings" were hiding over there.

Grinning wickedly, the monster mobilized the legion of limbs protruding from its abdomen, heading eastward.

In a room on the far east side of the city lord's mansion.

This place seemed to be quarters for the servants, now sheltering four figures in hiding.

Yan Chen gritted his teeth, working with his companions to barricade the door with the furniture in the room, finally allowing himself to breathe a sigh of relief.

"It's done."

"Will this do?" Xu Hanrui asked, her voice tinged with tears.

Yan Chen shot her an irritated glance. "All you know is to cry. What's the use of that? Will crying solve anything now?"

This is utterly unfortunate.

After that monster emerged, several little vengeful infants crawled out of the well one after another. When had the new players ever dealt with such entities? At the most frightening times before, they only embraced paper dolls, which not only were non-aggressive but everyone had one that bore a slight resemblance to them.

The braver players would even communicate and build a rapport with their paper dolls when they returned, hoping they were the chosen ones whose casually created paper dolls were leaders, capable of being powerful allies that would guide them to victory in future battles.

But who would have known? Yesterday, the instance was only slightly eerie in atmosphere, yet today they had to confront such nauseating and horrifying creatures. Therefore, as soon as the monster appeared, disregarding what Li Sheng and Lu Tong were saying, the novice players scattered and fled in panic, screaming all the while.

Yan Chen was also fleeing blindly, but humans have an instinct to gather in groups during times of fear. Consequently, once they had frantically reached this room, Yan Chen glanced over the players who had followed him and couldn't help but curse "unlucky" in his mind.

Not a single veteran player was present, and to make things worse, there were two women.

What could women do? Other than cry, that is—useless entities who couldn't even move a piece of furniture.

Take Nie Shuangshuang as an example; so many veteran players listened to her, but what good had that brought?

"Damn it, what's wrong with these veteran players? Talking about going directly to fight the BOSS, I thought they were really powerful! Now, not only is the BOSS not defeated, but we've also been dragged into this city lord's mansion," Yan Chen cursed bitterly.

"Exactly, what's with the bravado? If you can't win, you can't win. Dying yourself is one thing, but dragging us down with you?" someone chimed in.

At that moment, the previously silent Xie Yutong pursed her lips, then said, "If it weren't for them yesterday, we would have been dead already."

"Bullshit. Without them, with so many of us, could we really have all been killed on the first day? Didn't you hear what that veteran player told us on the way here? The first day is usually the safest, and it's rare to have casualties."

"These veteran players brag about how many times they've cleared the game, making it seem like a big deal. I thought they were formidable, but didn't they all just run away just now? If I had their skills and items, I would have obliterated those minor monsters instantly. They're just noobs, nothing more."

Another girl couldn't stand listening anymore, "You really are... How can you be so sure that having skills and items would make you formidable after a few clearances? Moreover, do they have any obligation to protect you?"

Yan Chen remained unconvinced.

During his lifetime, he had been a recent art school graduate who had already filmed a TV series and two web dramas during his time at school. Undoubtedly, he was a rising star with a budding online following.

After entering this game yesterday, even a girl recognized him.

Although he had fallen from a great height due to an accident, with his protagonist-like appearance and a journey resembling that of a star, he held high confidence that he would become renowned and successful in this infinite game.

As for the other four individuals in this room, the two girls were rather plain-looking; the one who had cried earlier even seemed a bit chubby.

The remaining two guys, one a pathetic otaku and the other a yes-man who agreed with whatever he said, were clearly expendable cannon fodder.

At this moment, Yan Chen sneered, "Exactly, they have no duty to protect me. Likewise, I have no duty to protect you two girls either. Don't come crying to me for help later."

It seemed almost like a cue to his statement.

Outside the house, something heavy, reeking of blood, was approaching.

The five of them immediately fell silent, hiding behind the furniture near the door.

The window in the room was small, half covered by an upright table, yet the twisted and enormous shadow of a monster managed to partially seep in through it.

The shadow halted at the entrance, unmoving.

Xu Hanrui clenched her mouth tightly, holding back her cries.

In reality, she was just an average office worker, commuting daily, blessed with a loving husband, and had recently found out she was expecting a child.

Just when she was immersed in her happiness, envisioning a peaceful and joyous future, a catastrophic car accident on the highway claimed the lives of her entire family.

Her husband was gone, her unborn child was gone, and only she had entered this infinite game.

If it weren't for the lingering thought that "perhaps my husband is also in this game," Xu Hanrui would have already wished to end her life.

At this moment, the creature outside sent shivers down their spines, with Xu Hanrui trembling uncontrollably.

As she trembled, the furniture she was leaning against bumped against the wall, making a faint but distinctly audible noise in the otherwise silent atmosphere.

The other four in the room turned their gazes toward her, including the girl who had been supporting her, all wearing expressions of reproach and fear.

The creature outside seemed to have heard the sound, letting out a strange laughter that sounded both like a child and an adult woman.

The shadow began to move slowly, soon disappearing into the darkness — the creature had reached the door of their room.

"Knock, knock, knock." It knocked on the door politely, "Why are you guests hiding in the servant's room? Please, do open the door."

Xu Hanrui no longer dared to lean against the furniture behind her; she sat on the floor, her entire body trembling.

Yan Chen felt a surge of fear within him, but upon observing her reaction, he rolled his eyes in disdain.

Women are always a liability, he thought to himself.

A curse escaped under Yan Chen's breath.

This monster seems formidable, even the veteran players couldn't handle it—although Yan Chen believed that if he managed to clear the dungeon and acquired powerful skills and items, he would undoubtedly outperform them, but he had just started playing this game, hadn't he?

He, being the protagonist, couldn't possibly meet his end in such a low-level dungeon.

Outside, the monster knocked on the door a few times, yet the room remained eerily silent.

Its patience began to wear thin.

"Open up... Open up!" Its nails scraped against the door, creating a grating, piercing sound.

The monster hammered at the door frenziedly, its enormous belly swaying with its movements. The belly seemed almost translucent, suddenly showcasing countless tiny handprints pressing against it from the inside, as though numerous infants were struggling within, desperately trying to break free.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The intensity of its pounding on the door increased, the sound of cracking wood resonated within the room, and the furniture barring the door seemed on the verge of collapse.

Clearly, this crude method of barricade was insufficient in protecting those inside.

Yan Chen's face went through a series of changes, eventually settling into a glare directed at Xu Hanrui, who sat on the floor, too paralyzed with fear to stand up.

It's all because of this woman holding us back!

"You're such a pathetic sight in this horror game. If you hadn't trembled earlier, causing the furniture to knock against the wall, we wouldn't have attracted this monster! You better atone for this!"

After declaring this, Yan Chen reached out, firmly grabbing her by the collar of her clothing.

Xu Hanrui was hoisted up like a lamb ready for slaughter.

Xie Yutong grabbed his wrist forcefully, "What are you doing?"

"Are you damn insane?! In this situation, we're all going to die! Isn't sacrificing this worthless being to save everyone else worth it?!"

Xie Yutong's teeth chattered uncontrollably.

However, upon glancing at Xu Hanrui, he saw a reflection of his past self — timid and incompetent, not even daring to take the first step.

Back then, everyone had coldly abandoned him, leaving him alone, yet there remained one person who gently nudged him forward.

"Let go," Xie Yutong said, "Shuang Shuang and Jie Ge have gone to find the BOSS. Once they return, this minor monster will pose no threat! You're a human being, how could you even think of doing such a thing!"

"You're giving me a lesson on morals now?!" Yan Chen roared in anger, "A being like this is just cannon fodder; losing a hundred of them right at the start wouldn't be surprising at all! Stop getting in the way!"

Xie Yutong wanted to respond, but suddenly, there was a "plop" sound.

A sharp pain struck his chest.

Xie Yutong slowly lowered his head.

A gaunt hand, resembling that of a three-year-old child, pierced through his abdomen, with a substantial amount of blood dripping from the wound.

The hand opened in front of him, ferociously dragging him away like a hook, and with a loud crash, he collided with the furniture.

Xie Yutong fell into a pool of blood, his eyes closed, leaving his fate undetermined.

Everyone looked up.

A round hole appeared in both the door and the furniture, made by the creature outside.

At that moment, a head covered with eyes appeared at the door, pairs of eyes staring intently at them.

"Oh dear, it sees us."

Yan Chen felt as if his blood had turned to ice, standing frozen in place.

Actually, he experienced this kind of dread when falling from a great height.

Last night, he couldn't sleep, replaying the scenes of his potential death over and over in his mind.

Fear, terror.

At this moment, he experienced it all over again.

This is... a horror game.

A horror game where death could strike at any moment.

Even he... could die at any time.

Was he genuinely the chosen protagonist?

Yan Chen's fingers stiffened, and in the next second, from an unknown reservoir of strength, he pushed the furniture blocking the door aside and swung the door open.

Followed by another girl's scream and the remaining sycophant's roar of rage, Yan Chen threw the petrified Xu Hanrui, who couldn't even stand properly, towards the monster, and then he turned and ran.

This was it —

Sacrificing these cannon fodders to pave his path to fame and glory. After all, they were mere cannon fodders, insignificant characters who wouldn't even be granted a name in TV shows or novels.

He absolutely couldn't die!!

He was no cannon fodder! Since childhood, he has always been the center of attention, the protagonist!

Though his death was unexpected, this infinite game was merely another beginning for him!!

Let those cannon fodders die, someone as distinguished as him couldn't possibly meet his end in a mere level one dungeon—

He would be the one not to die, certainly—

"Thud."

Yan Chen moved forward a couple of steps before he belatedly felt the pain.

He looked down.

The gaunt hand that had previously appeared before Xie Yutong's abdomen was now in front of him.

That tiny hand was holding a heart that was still pulsating.

Thump.

Thud.

Splat—

Heart bursting open, a spray of fresh blood splattered across his face, Yan Chen’s eyes widened in horror.

Before death, he was still pondering—

Why... would someone like him, a protagonist, die?

The hand embedded in his chest withdrew, then extended again, dragging Yan Chen's corpse back like a hook.

The creature's eyes atop its head flickered incessantly, eagerly gazing at the fresh flesh and blood before it.

The corpse inched closer bit by bit. Then the skin on the monster's body split open, revealing rows of mouths underneath.

Soon, the sound of chewing could be heard.

This finally jolted awake Xu Hanrui, slumped paralyzed by the door.

Crying, she crawled backwards with the last of her strength.

She didn't want to die.

But the two people in the room behind her also seemed to wake from a dream. Immediately, the already battered door slammed shut before her eyes.

Before closing, the fate-unknown Xie Yutong was also tossed out to obstruct the monster's breaking in - like an empty rag doll trailing blood as he slid across the floor.

Xu Hanrui pounded the door, terror and despair leaving her voice faint and hoarse.

"Open the door - I'm still alive--"

The door didn't budge, even barricaded again with furniture.

Even if the people inside knew this wouldn't hold back the monster long, they still made this choice now.

Xu Hanrui's hands were coated in someone's blood. Her hopeless bloody handprints marked the door as she pounded.

How could this be...how could they do this!

That young girl inside, they had become "friends" ever since entering the instance together. Close in age, coincidentally they attended universities in the same city.

Neither of them were particularly brave, and in this terrifying atmosphere, in Xu Hanrui's heart, they were each other's crutches.

If the roles were reversed, Xu Hanrui would definitely have opened the door.

Why?!

She cried.

But no matter what she was thinking, the monster's chewing sounds ceased.

A withered little hand appeared on Xu Hanrui's shoulder.

She slowly turned her head.

The monster behind her had half of its eyes on her, and the other half on Xie Yutong, who was now in an unknown state between life and death.

In the end, it seemed to deem that it should consume Xie Yutong sooner rather than later, and thus withdrew the hand from her shoulder.

The monster crouched down, its hand reaching towards Xie Yutong.

Xu Hanrui watched it, reminded of the time in the room when Yan Chen had grabbed her clothing to hold her back.

Xu Hanrui was still trembling all over, completely drained of strength, yet in the next moment, she reached out to grasp a piece of wood lying near her foot.

It was a piece that had been knocked loose when the monster was banging on the door.

Biting her teeth hard, Xu Hanrui hurled the wood at the monster with an abrupt force. Then, summoning energy from an unknown source, she clumsily got up from the ground. Like a grasshopper with broken legs about to be thrown into a frying pan, she desperately struggled to move forward, if only a few steps more.

But it probably... wouldn't make much difference, would it?

After all, Yan Chen had run so fast just a moment ago, yet the monster's arm reached out in an instant.

Death seemed inevitable... but, she couldn't just stand by and watch someone who had helped her die right before her eyes, could she...

Xu Hanrui stumbled forward two steps before falling to the ground, but she immediately got back up.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through her shoulder.

This time, two withered little hands pierced through her shoulders, lifting her entire body into the air as if they were tentacles.

"Aaaaahhh—"

A searing pain triggered her to struggle reflexively.

The monster brought her close to its face, the myriad of eyes fixated on her, a mere fist's distance away from her own. It stared intently, seemingly curious about the source of courage this insignificant creature had to dare make such a defiant gesture just moments before.

Subsequently, the monster seemed to notice something, its gaze focusing intently on Xu Hanrui's abdomen.

A woman's hand extended from the monster's arm, gently touching her stomach.

"Child... child..." The monster murmured deliriously, "There used to be a child here... Where is the child? Why can't I see it... Is it because... it's behind the flesh?"

Xu Hanrui froze for a moment, and then, sensing what was about to happen, began to struggle frantically.

But her struggles only resulted in her legs being pierced by the withered little hands as well.

The monster continued to fixate ominously on her stomach.

"The stomach... if I slice it open, I can see the child, right?"

As it spoke, the initially gentle pair of adult woman's hands suddenly sprouted long nails, savagely slashing towards Xu Hanrui's abdomen.

At that moment, there was the sudden sound of something slicing through the air.

An oddly shaped object resembling a hairpin pierced the monster directly. Despite the wound appearing minor, the monster instantly began to howl and roll around in agony.

The next second, the four small hands controlling Xu Hanrui were swiftly pierced by a spear. As Xu Hanrui fell, before she could hit the ground, she was caught by some transparent force, quickly retreating along with the lying Xie Yutong not far away.

Auntie Li maintained her shooting posture.

She was indeed getting older, having only cleared the levels three times, and usually made her living by selling pancakes.

But no matter her age, she understood that in this place, there were no concessions for the old or the young. If she wanted to survive, she needed to possess certain survival skills.

【Skill: The Never-Disappearing Hairpin】

【Description: Is your hair messy? Do you need a hairpin to hold it up?】

【Tip: Do you often find that the hair tie you used to tie your hair has disappeared when you let your hair down? Can't find a handy tool when you need to tie your hair up? Don't worry, this is a hairpin that will never disappear!】

【Function: This is a hairpin that you don't have to worry about losing, as it can find its way back on its own. But please note, it's just a hairpin.】

【Special Tip: The hairpin used in the skill has been strengthened, extending the cooldown time for hairpin retrieval.】

【Cooldown Time: 10 minutes.】

The hairpin shooting device in Auntie Li's hand was given to her by Nie Shuangshuang. It was a bow and arrow with a low-level demon-expelling effect. When she wasn't manning her stall, she would practice archery to maintain her skill, which finally came in handy at this moment.

"Go!"

The transparent figure was Lu Tonghe. His personal skill allowed him to become transparent. Although this reduced his attack power significantly, making him unsuitable for fighting monsters, it proved effective in collaborating with Auntie Li for rescue operations.

After regrouping, Auntie Li held onto Xu Hanrui, while Lu Tonghe hoisted Xie Yutong. Together, they disappeared swiftly.

Meanwhile, the monster, which had been violently jabbed by the hairpin, recovered from its wounds after a couple of rolls. It glared malevolently in the direction where Auntie Li and the others had disappeared.

It doesn't matter, even if they have escaped now, it can gradually track them down later.

At this moment—

Aren't there still two living beings in this room?

The monster slowly turned its head, its hand landing on the door once again.

"Open up... open up!"

.

Meanwhile, Auntie Li and Lu Tonghe quickly moved the two to the easternmost part of the city lord's mansion.

Here, there was a courtyard that seemed to have been abandoned for a long time, currently gathering about a dozen players.

"How did it go?" As soon as they returned, someone came up to inquire.

Auntie Li and Lu Tonghe first settled Xu Hanrui and Xie Yutong against the wall.

Xu Hanrui was relatively fine, although she appeared to be covered in a lot of blood, the four wounds hadn't hit any vital spots.

However, Xie Yutong was now breathing more laboriously than he was exhaling.

Lu Tonghe hesitated.

He had seen many newcomers like this; only a few managed to survive past the first instance.

Of course, he had points to redeem for a recovery potion for him, but such an expenditure would likely be a sheer waste.

After all, they are just newcomers...

But before he could decide whether or not to redeem the potion, Auntie Li, without any hesitation, had already redeemed it and administered it to Xie Yutong.

Lu Tonghe couldn't help but glance at her once more.

Auntie Li spent her days setting up a stall outside the base, clearly a lifestyle player.

The vast majority of lifestyle players are quite poor. They are different from players like Lu Tonghe, who constantly tackle dungeons, guaranteeing a minimum of ten thousand points from a level one dungeon, with slight rewards adding up to thirty to forty thousand.

But lifestyle players, like Auntie Li, earn merely a dozen points for a pancake. Even selling a hundred a day yields only a thousand points, and after deducting costs, they might amass ten thousand points in a month at best. After subtracting rent and daily expenses, they barely manage to scrape by at the base.

At this moment, Auntie Li was willing to readily redeem a potion for such a newcomer, causing Lu Tonghe to initially freeze, followed by a surge of shame in his heart.

Ever since he had ventured into the dungeons with Nie Shuangshuang, witnessing the kind of people the Ronghua Guild players were, he continually urged himself to emulate the Ronghua Guild.

But at this moment, while he, a player with at least four to five hundred thousand points, was still hesitating, others had already completed the rescue. He truly was...

Over there, Auntie Li was responding to the person asking questions.

"I didn't see them."

Aunt Li and Lu Tonghe initially went out to find Jie Fangcheng and the others, but unexpectedly, instead of finding them, they brought back two newcomers.

A veteran player voiced his dissatisfaction, “Stop rescuing these newbies, what use are they? Hurry up and find Sister Shuang and Brother Jie!”

Some of the newcomers had a flash of indignation on their faces, but they quickly suppressed it.

Although they were in greater numbers, their strength was the weakest, and they were indeed relying on the protection of the veteran players at the moment.

Lu Tonghe felt quite uncomfortable hearing this.

“New players are also human beings, let's save them if we can,” he said.

A trace of disdain flickered across the veteran player’s face.

The mortality rate of new players was extremely high; many were nothing more than one-day tourists in the instance dungeon. How could they be compared to them, the seasoned players who had cleared the dungeons multiple times?

Aunt Li remained silent, simply tending to Xu Hanrui's wounds.

Xu Hanrui thanked her tearfully, quickly recounting the events that had just occurred in a low voice.

Aunt Li patted her on the head, “Don’t worry, Shuangshuang and Xiao Jie will definitely come.”

“What if they don’t?” Someone finally couldn’t hold back, voicing their frustration, “It's all because of them, insisting on coming to the City Master's Mansion. Now, the entrance is blocked by a bunch of monsters, and we can't get out. They, however, claimed to be chasing the BOSS and have disappeared without a trace, leaving us here. The monsters might arrive at any time, and even if they haven't heard any noises, they should come up and check, right? They just disappeared in such a dangerous place!”

“Exactly, and we even addressed them as sister and brother! If they don’t have the ability, they shouldn't have taken on this task!”

“They bragged so loudly; I thought they could directly kill the BOSS upon arrival and lead us to clear the level. What do we do now?”

“What do we do?” Aunt Li stood up and looked at him solemnly, “During my first instance dungeon clear, our team had only one veteran player. That player didn't care about us newcomers at all, didn't explain any rules of the game or how to clear the instance. On the first day, over half of us newcomers died. By the second day, I was the only one left, and that was because I was good at cooking, so he was willing to take me to clear the level.”

“Yes, I told you, the first day is the safest time for players, and generally there will be no casualties. But it seems I forgot to mention, it's the veterans who are generally safe on the first day because they know the rules of the dungeon! You are here because we veterans kindly informed you of the rules! Some newcomers die on their first day in the dungeon without even knowing what happened!”

“You people — you are fortunate to encounter kind individuals like Shuangshuang and Xiao Jie during your first clear. They could have ignored you because, to them, you, no, including us veterans, are all burden with insufficient strength. But they didn’t. Yesterday, they helped you get candles, enabling you to survive till the second day. Today, they brought you to the City Master's Mansion, and before Shuangshuang left, she used her item to protect you all. Are you still not satisfied?”

“They owe you nothing!” Aunt Li said sternly, “If you die, it’s because you are weak. If you want to clear the level, find a way yourselves! If you want to survive from the monsters — don't you have hands? Don't you have feet?”

“This is a horror game, not a play pretend! Listen well,” Aunt Li’s gaze swept over each person's face, “No one is obligated to save you! If anyone speaks such words again, please leave! Find a way to clear the level on your own! It's your duty to ensure your own survival in the dungeon!”