Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Indeed, no one had ventured into the front yard.

However, upon Xie Yin Xue's suggestion, everyone hesitated, showing no immediate intent to explore the front yard.

The reason was simple: Xie Yin Xue's pallid, sickly appearance was reminiscent of the enticing ghosts from horror movies, beckoning you into the abyss of death.

Chu Li, one of the four girls from the dormitory, cautiously remarked, "But didn't the steward tell us to seek him in the main hall in the front yard only if there's an emergency?"

Xie Yin Xue responded gently, "Isn't failing to find ingredients an emergency?"

In survival games like this, once NPCs lay out the rules, anyone sane would avoid breaking them. Therefore, if the steward demanded ingredients by dusk, they must procure them beforehand.

Chen Yun, supporting her roommate, inquired, "How can you be so sure the kitchen is in the front yard?"

Xie Yin Xue chuckled, bowing slightly, "My home is built around a four-sided courtyard. While this guesthouse is smaller, I'd wager the layout isn't much different."

As Chu Li seemed poised to counter, Wei Dao interjected, "Courtyard layouts are traditionally quite standard."

Previously, he had thought this group showed promise, remembering newcomers from his first game who believed they were in a prank show until witnessing a real death. Now, he felt these new players were overly cautious — not a good sign.

If everyone was this guarded, there'd be no pawns to exploit.

Hence, Wei Dao was trying to allay Chen Yun and Chu Li's concerns, hoping they'd take the lead in exploring the front yard.

Unfortunately, Chen Yun didn't bite. She shared her clovers with her roommates, leaving everyone else, including Gao Qiao who shared their room, empty-handed.

Gao Qiao, feeling a tad awkward, realized joining these girls had its downsides. Since they weren't close, expecting them to share was a stretch.

Since they couldn't find any ingredients in the inner courtyard and seeing Xie Yin Xue's approachable demeanor, Gao Qiao ventured, "Let's head on then. We should check the front yard."

Xie Yin Xue, fully aware of Wei Dao and the girls' cautiousness, unflinchingly led the way through the gateway and into the front yard.

Everyone who arrived here was ushered directly into the inner courtyard, bypassing the front one. Only when Xie Yinxue ventured into the front courtyard did she realize how contrasting the two areas were. The inner courtyard was shrouded in darkness with overcast skies threatening a downpour, while the front yard was bathed in sunshine, invigorating anyone who stood there.

As Xie Yinxue pointed out, the kitchen was located in the front courtyard, adjacent to a roughly 540-square-foot vegetable garden. It felt as if the pristine weather existed solely to nurture the fruits and vegetables within.

Observing the garden, others followed suit after Xie Yinxue, Liu Buhua, and Gao Qiao entered the front courtyard without incident. Lv Shuo exclaimed in amazement, "Wow, there really is a vegetable garden!"

Inside the garden, common ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs like onions, ginger, and garlic thrived. On the southernmost part, a basket held a variety of eggs, including century eggs. Baskets were hung on the garden's fence, seemingly for guests to select their ingredients.

Xiaosi Yu, the luxury car enthusiast, expressed disbelief: "Is this survival game really this simple?"

No sooner had he spoken, than a group of peculiarly-dressed individuals emerged from the adjacent kitchen. Dressed in white, stained with oil and bloody smears, their faces were obscured by black masks that revealed only their eyes. Those eyes scanned the newcomers with a chilling intensity. Some even held knives, still dripping blood, staining the ground a deep crimson.

Lv Shuo, with a concerned look, responded to Xiaosi Yu, "No, this doesn't seem simple at all."

Xie Yinxue did a quick headcount and noticed there were fourteen chefs, mirroring their group's number.

Considering they emerged from the kitchen, armed with kitchen knives, their roles were evident—they must be the chefs for the impending feast.

Wei Qiuyu clutched her roommate Chen Yun's arm, fear evident in her voice, "Do we need their permission to pick the ingredients?"

"They must be the chefs," Weidao posited, suggesting the game wouldn't be that easy. He cautioned everyone, "Stay alert."

Overhearing their discussions, one of the chefs chuckled, his voice raspy, akin to the whirr of a worn-out exhaust fan, "Are the guests here to select their ingredients?"

"Please, come in."

The chef opened the garden gate, gesturing them inside with a slight bow.

However, everyone instinctively turned to Xie Yinxue for guidance. Ironically, compared to the eerie chef, Xie Yinxue appeared relatively normal.

Realizing he had everyone's attention, Xie Yinxue wondered if they expected him to take the lead.

After some contemplation, Xie Yin Xue felt it was acceptable. He even hoped for some sort of danger to arise, allowing him to step in and resolve it swiftly. This would showcase his capabilities to everyone. If others encountered situations they couldn't handle, they'd surely seek his assistance. Business opportunities would surely follow.

"Indeed."

Thus, Xie Yinxue walked confidently towards the garden. Stopping at the entrance, he scanned the chefs, finally extending his hand towards a knifeless chef.

The chef looked first at Xie's outstretched palm and then into his eyes.

Xie Yinxue met the chef's gaze, his demeanor both humble and regal. His voice carried an undertone of command, as if such requests were second nature, "Might you fetch a basket for me?"

Everyone gasped in surprise.

The chefs' appearances were unsettling, and even the regular-looking staff earlier had not been ordered around. Everyone had carried their luggage themselves.

But Xie Yinxue's next move was even more shocking:

After the chef handed him a basket, Xie Yinxue looked into his eyes and smiled, suddenly complimenting, "You have quite beautiful eyes."

At Xie Yinxue's mention, everyone noticed that the chef's eyes were a pale gray, reminiscent of the ash left behind by burnt paper. His pupils were vertically elongated, akin to those of reptiles like snakes. To be stared at by him felt as if one were being targeted by a predator, leaving one with a cold, weighty feeling of entrapment.

Surprisingly, not only did Xie Yinxue compliment the chef's striking eyes, but he also invited him, "I've never chosen ingredients before. Would you accompany me to help determine which ones are ripest?"

The chef paused momentarily, then let out a soft chuckle, murmuring, "Of course."

Observing this, Weidao and other seasoned players felt that Xie Yinxue was no ordinary game participant. Most would instinctively avoid an NPC with such a sinister appearance. Yet, Xie Yinxue did the opposite.

Only minutes earlier in the inner courtyard, Ji Tao had informed them about the presence of the "Ferryman" NPC. Ji Tao shared this mainly to test Xie Yinxue, to see if he was a Ferryman NPC, with whom they could negotiate.

If Xie Yinxue was an NPC, one of the "old friends" the head butler spoke of, then his fearlessness around these chefs and his commands to the staff would make sense.

However, lacking Xie Yinxue's "background" and courage, and considering that even Liu Buhua, who had been closely following him, hadn't entered yet, they felt no rush. They decided to wait for Xie Yinxue to safely exit the garden before selecting their ingredients.

Thus, in the vast garden, only Xie Yinxue and the chef with the vertical pupils strolled.

Their entire tour of the garden passed uneventfully.

While reassured by the safe environment, Xie Yinxue felt somewhat disappointed. He had deliberately chosen the most foreboding-looking chef, only to find that he was merely assisting him with ingredient selection?

"Are all items within this garden usable as ingredients?" Xie Yinxue inquired nonchalantly, while casually touching an unripe tomato near his leg.

"Yes, even the soil beneath. If guests choose, we can prepare it," the chef paused, his tone implying more, "provided you can stomach it."

"After all, Master Qin invited us here to ensure the guests are fully satisfied."

Xie Yinxue felt there was more to the chef's words. He studied the taller man, needing to tilt his head slightly to meet the chef's gaze. The chef's cold, inorganic eyes, which displayed no reflection of Xie Yinxue, seemed to be filled with concealed amusement—much like Xie Yinxue's own often insincere smiles.

Nevertheless, Xie Yinxue smiled. Yet moments later, he lowered his gaze, coughing weakly. His already pale complexion grew more ghostly, making him seem frail like a winter twig, fragile and ready to snap.

But, when he looked up, his demeanor was defiant. "What if I find the dishes unsatisfactory?" he challenged.

The chef replied, "Then the fault lies with the chef."

Xie Yinxue probed further, "Wouldn't Master Qin blame you for unsatisfying meals?"

The chef didn't directly answer. Instead, he gestured to the tomato by Xie's leg, "Mr. Xie, you've been pondering for some time. Is this tomato your choice for tonight?"

"No, it's not ripe yet," Xie Yinxue responded, shaking his head, "I'll come back tomorrow. If it's ripe by then, I'll choose it."

With that, Xie Yinxue handed the empty basket to the chef, "I've made my choice for today's ingredient."

From their vantage point outside the garden, everyone was curious about Xie Yinxue's selection. But peering into the basket, they saw nothing.

The basket was empty.

What had Xie Yinxue chosen?

The gathered players weren't the only ones perplexed. Even the chef took a moment before pinching a tiny grain of rice from the basket, arching an eyebrow in surprise, "Rice?"

"This is Japonica rice, commonly known as 'Pearl Rice.' As I walked around the garden, I noticed that it has all three types—Indica, Japonica, and Glutinous. I prefer Japonica," Xie Yinxue replied, slightly furrowing his brow. With a tone implying, "You really lack knowledge," he added, "How is it that you, a chef, can't differentiate between the types of rice used in cooking?"

The chef with vertical pupils remained silent, responding with quietude.

Seeing this, Xie Yinxue arched an eyebrow, advising him as if instructing a true chef, "Cook it well. The texture of the rice significantly affects its taste. I dislike it too soft or too hard. Only perfectly cooked rice will satisfy me."

"Don't disappoint me."

Having said that, Xie Yinxue turned and left the garden without a backward glance.

Author's note:

Mr. Xie (with disdain): Ignorant.

NPC：……