Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Xie Yin Xue was nearing death.

However, if Xie Yin Xue didn’t wish to die, no one in this world could claim his life.

After all, Xie Yin Xue knew numerous ways to prolong his life.

Yet, isn't life and death predetermined? How can one change it so easily? Every method to extend life comes at a high price.

The method Xie Yin Xue previously used involved solving supernatural incidents for people. Once the malevolent spirits were successfully banished, the clients would share a month of their lifespan with him as payment.

It didn't reduce their lifespan, only shared... Sharing the lifespan of the client and sharing half of Xie Yin Xue's affliction.

Xie Yin Xue thought this deal was rather profitable.

After all, if clients didn't seek his services, they risked their lives. It was a win-win situation: he could live, and they wouldn't have to die, merely endure an ailment for a month.

But in the few months since he began, he'd only taken on three jobs.

First, Xie Yin Xue wasn't truly an exorcist. His exorcism techniques were self-taught, leaving him with no reputation in the exorcist community, hence, few sought his help. Of the few jobs he managed to secure, one fell through because the client felt that Xie Yin Xue, with his handsome features and gentle demeanor, didn't look like an exorcist at all but rather someone trying to scam money.

The only deal that went through was secured thanks to a personal guarantor, and since Xie Yin Xue resolved the issue effortlessly, that client felt they had been overcharged.

By heaven and earth, had someone else handled the matter, they would've undoubtedly been battered. Only before his twentieth birthday did Xie Yin Xue occasionally find his competence troublesome.

Learning from his past experiences, Xie Yin Xue decided to exude a touch of mystique when dealing with "clients" in the game – drawing from previous lessons.

Now, looking at the stunned faces of those before him, Xie Yin Xue felt satisfied, believing he nailed the aura of a reclusive master.

While Xie Yin Xue always saw himself as such, he wasn't aloof. Instead, he was amiable and approachable. However, appearing too accessible could make others doubt his capabilities.

Softening his expression yet maintaining the smile, Xie Yin Xue gently introduced himself: "I am Xie Yin Xue."

The crowd remained silent, looking at him.

After a lingering silence, Wei Dao cautiously broke the quiet: "My name is Wei Dao."

Wei Dao's introduction seemed to break the ice, and the others began introducing themselves in turn, with Liu Bu Hua, standing beside Xie Yin Xue, speaking last.

After listening once, Xie Yin Xue committed to memory everyone's names and appearances. He surveyed the group, lowered his lashes, and took a delicate sip of tea.

Wei Dao was still uncertain of Xie Yin Xue's role. Seeing him silent and apparently without the intent to lead, Wei Dao stepped forward, "Time is of the essence. Now that we've briefly gotten to know one another, let's assign rooms. After settling in, we should start looking for ingredients."

The compound had six rooms in total. Although rooms were to be assigned, familiar faces naturally grouped together. For instance, Wei Dao, Ji Tao, and Qiu Yu Xing, all old acquaintances, stayed in the east wing. The red-robed lady named Xia Duo Yi and a reticent man named Dai Yue partnered up for the left wing. All of them seemed experienced in the game.

The novices, however, huddled together. Lv Shuo, who brought a toilet, and the sports car owner Xiao Si Yu, shared the east annex room. A middle-aged woman named Gao Qiao insisted on bunking with four girls, likely from the same dorm, in the rear chamber.

As for Xie Yin Xue's lodging in the main hall, it was evident to all when the servant moved his furniture and teapot inside, and no objections arose. Surprisingly, Liu Bu Hua, dressed in a dark blue robe behind Xie Yin Xue, chose a separate room in the west annex.

If the room assignments were unexpected, Xie Yin Xue's participation in searching for ingredients within the courtyard was downright perplexing to the group.

This act implied that Xie Yin Xue, like them, was also a participant in the game.

Lv Shuo, either displaying youthful bravado or recalling the brief smile exchanged with Xie Yin Xue, mustered the courage to approach and hesitantly asked, "...Mr. Xie, are you also a player in the game?"

Xie Yin Xue softly replied, "Yes, I am."

Lv Shuo had suspected as much, reasoning that even if Xie Yin Xue wasn’t a player, he wouldn’t likely admit it outright. His curiosity piqued, he asked, "Then why do you get to stay in the main hall?"

Xie Yin Xue's smile deepened, his eyes glinting playfully, making Lv Shuo avert his gaze awkwardly. Lv Shuo's attention shifted to the pear blossom embroidery on Xie Yin Xue's shoulder.

The young man's voice, gentle as spring rain, replied, "If no one is residing in the main hall, why shouldn't I?"

"Isn't the main hall reserved for the mansion's master?" Lv Shuo peeked at Xie Yin Xue before voicing his inner question.

Xie Yin Xue chuckled softly, explaining, "The steward just mentioned this is the Qin Mansion's annex, not the main residence. Hence, even if Lord Qin returns, he wouldn't stay here. This annex is meant for guests like us."

And the main hall is reserved for the most esteemed guest.

Xie Yin Xue believed he was the most distinguished person present. Why shouldn't he occupy the main hall? If this annex is located in a remote area of the Qin Mansion, it would be beneath him, Xie Yin Xue.

Lv Shuo couldn't discern Xie Yin Xue's inner thoughts regarding his choice to stay in the main hall. However, he found the young man remarkably patient, even explaining his reasoning in such a gentle manner.

But Lv Shuo was no fool. Despite appearing easy-going, he was more cautious than many newcomers. He sensed a slight coldness beneath Xie Yin Xue's warm demeanor.

Just like touched snow: it looks pristine, but can chill to the bone – best kept at a distance.

Especially since Xie Yin Xue didn't seem like a newbie nor an old hand at the game, Lv Shuo left him be and turned to find his new companion, Xiao Si Yu.

Seeing their conversation end, Liu Bu Hua, who was trailing behind Xie Yin Xue, quickly caught up and softly called out, "Godfather."

Xie Yin Xue's gaze, which had been lingering on Lv Shuo, shifted nonchalantly to Wei Dao and his group, who had been eavesdropping for a while. He whispered to Liu Bu Hua, "Lv Shuo is quite sharp. He might clear this game without my help."

"But won't that affect your business?" Liu Bu Hua sounded concerned, knowing Xie Yin Xue's days were numbered without someone to share his life force.

"Why the rush? He's just one amongst many," Xie Yin Xue replied calmly. "Did you not hear what Wei Dao mentioned? By completing the game, I can gain another month of life. For now, let's focus on the 'ingredients' the steward mentioned."

Of all, Xie Yin Xue seemed the least anxious.

Wei Dao, on the other hand, was.

They had overheard the exchange between Xie Yin Xue and Lv Shuo, but couldn't make out the conversation between Liu Bu Hua and Xie Yin Xue. More pressing was their inability to find any ingredients in the inner courtyard, nor any trace of the so-called chef.

According to the rules laid out by the steward, one was: [Guests must deliver ingredients to the chef before dusk.]

A sandglass beside the pond served as a timer. They had arrived just after noon, missing lunch. Dusk, typically dinner time, was possibly when the chef would appear to collect the day's ingredients.

"I don't see any ingredients here," Gao Qiao commented, having scoured the entire courtyard.

Out of everyone present, Gao Qiao, who had a cooking spatula when she entered, was likely the most familiar with cooking. If she couldn't locate ingredients, who could?

"We can eat clover, right?" Chen Yun chimed in, crouching by a flower bed. "I've had it as a child. It tastes a bit sour, and people in the countryside sometimes eat it in salads."

Her remark seemed to spark an idea in Xiao Si Yu, who pointed to the pansies in the flowerbed, "These should be edible too. I remember a chef garnishing my dish with them at a hotel."

"But will anyone cook Western dishes here?" Lv Shuo questioned, looking at the surrounding traditional architecture.

Xiao Si Yu: "..."

Western cuisine, like the toilet, felt out of place in this traditional setting.

Ji Tao added, "Moreover, you mentioned the pansies were used for garnish. While clover can be a salad ingredient, can your garnish really be considered an ingredient?"

Qiu Yu Xing countered, "Technically, any material used in food preparation is an ingredient. As long as it's edible, it counts."

Amid their discussion, Chen Yun had already pocketed several clovers.

The garden had an abundance of pansies but scarce clover. This posed another question: Would such a small amount suffice? If Chen Yun chose clover as an ingredient, could others choose the same?

As for Xiao Si Yu, after much contemplation, he refrained from picking the flowers, thinking there was still time. If he couldn't find anything else closer to dusk, he could always come back.

Moreover, Xiao Siyu was always cautious. He'd read numerous novels about survival games, and if picking a flower triggered a taboo that led to his death, there would be no reasoning afterward.

Thus, the search for ingredients reached an impasse.

After a moment's silence in the central courtyard, a gentle voice broke the stillness, "We haven't checked the front yard yet, have we? The kitchen's there. We should take a look."

Everyone turned to the source, spotting a young man in a pale blue robe standing by the gateway. From a distance, his features were hidden in the shade of the corridor.

Only when he stepped forward, exposing his frail frame to the dim light, did they get a clear view of his delicate but overly pale face.

Facing their stares, the young man cleared his throat slightly, a brief frown crossing his features before smoothing out. He smiled and suggested, "There might be a vegetable garden next to the kitchen."

Author's note:

Thank you, readers: You're amazing!