Chapter 4

Chapter 4

They had never encountered such a brazen game participant before.

Especially one who seemed gravely ill, intermittently coughing, as if he was on the brink of death.

This sentiment was shared by all players present, except for Xie Yinxue and Liu Buhua, including the veterans like Weidao.

The last audacious player Weidao encountered, whose audacity was but a tenth of Xie Yinxue's, had met a gruesome end in a previous game.

Yet, the assertive Xie Yinxue had safely exited the garden with his chosen ingredients, accompanied by the sinister-looking chef.

Lu Shuo, Xiao Siyu, Gao Qiao and the others exchanged glances, asking, "Who's next?"

Before anyone could make up their mind, they saw Xie Yinxue pat Liu Buhua on the shoulder, suggesting, "There are some cucumbers in the garden that aren't fully ripe; they'll likely taste bitter. Choose them as ingredients."

Liu Buhua obediently agreed, "Alright, godfather."

Choosing unripe cucumbers, which aren't tasty, seemed illogical. After all, Xie Yinxue himself hadn't chosen the unripe tomato. And why was Liu Buhua addressing Xie Yinxue as 'godfather'? Liu Buhua clearly looked older.

The gathered players, overhearing their conversation, were momentarily speechless.

Yet, Liu Buhua truly listened to Xie Yinxue. Without calling a chef for assistance, he quickly picked a slender unripe cucumber, handed it to one of the chefs, and left. His actions were swift, decisive, and took less than three minutes.

By the time he returned to Xie Yinxue's side, aiding his seemingly weak frame, the players were still processing what had just occurred.

"Is that all it takes?" Gao Qiao murmured, "Then, I'll give it a try."

She proceeded with caution into the garden, basket in hand. She observed the peculiar chefs stationed by the fence, who merely watched without initiating conversation unless invited by the "guests."

However, Gao Qiao took the precaution of asking a few questions, like how much and what type of ingredient to pick. The initial chef who had invited them into the garden informed her that they could choose any ingredient, in any quantity, and the chefs would adjust the dishes accordingly. Players merely needed to place their chosen ingredients in the basket.

The only stipulation was that no two players could select the same ingredient on the same day.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yun quickly instructed her roommates to dispose of the four-leaf clovers. Their gaze towards Gao Qiao turned friendlier; without her inquiry, they wouldn't have known about this rule and chosen the same ingredient, potentially risking their lives that night.

Gao Qiao didn't pay much attention to what Xie Yin Xue told Liu Bu Hua. Following her usual grocery-shopping habits, she chose a large, red pepper, handed it to the chef, and left.

Seeing that three people had successfully picked their ingredients from the vegetable garden and sensing no immediate threat from the somewhat intimidating chefs, the others slowly began to feel at ease and entered the garden one by one.

Dai Yue and Xia Duo even asked the chefs if they could go in together. After receiving an affirmative answer, they teamed up to enter the garden.

Following them, Lv Shuo, Xiao Si Yu, Wei Dao, and a group from the girls' dormitory also went in together to select ingredients.

However, after everyone had chosen their ingredients, Dai Yue, who teamed up with Xia Duo, raised a question, "Why are there only vegetarian ingredients here and no meat?"

It was a profoundly unsettling question.

After all, this was the Qin Mansion's side residence, not some temple. Would Lord Qin really only serve his guests vegetables and no meat? Yet, when the chefs emerged from the kitchen, their knives were clearly stained with blood – indicating the presence of meat inside.

"Only vegetarian ingredients are here," Dai Yue pointed out, "All we can choose are plant-based."

Wei Qiu Yu, who chose eggs as her ingredient, asked Dai Yue, "Are eggs considered vegetarian? Aren't they classified as meat? Our school cafeteria charges them as meat."

Mentioning school, Lv Shuo, who was of the same age, chimed in, "But our school's hot pot station charges for eggs as if they're vegetables."

Xia Duo smirked, folding her arms, "What's so surprising about that? Don't you know unfertilized eggs are considered vegetarian? Only fertilized eggs are non-vegetarian."

Wei Qiu Yu hesitated, "So the eggs I picked..."

Dai Yue assured her, "They should be unfertilized, so they're vegetarian."

But only the chefs knew the real answer. Curiously, those once talkative chefs merely chuckled ambiguously upon hearing Dai Yue's question about the absence of meat. One by one, they returned to the kitchen, carrying the baskets of ingredients.

Only one chef remained outside.

That chef was the one with vertical pupils, whom Xie Yin Xue had invited into the garden.

He stood still beside the garden, basking in the sun as if he were one with the plants. His gaze upon the crowd was that of a predator at rest, leisurely observing his prey.

Consequently, looking into his beast-like vertical pupils, none had the courage like Xie Yin Xue to approach and strike up a conversation.

Although the wooden door of the kitchen by the vegetable garden wasn't tightly shut, revealing a deep dark slit, the overpowering smell of blood and the stench of decaying bodies constantly emanated from within. This tightened everyone's heartstrings, and thus, no one dared to venture in to see what lay inside the kitchen.

The group somberly returned to the inner courtyard.

When they had previously been in the dim and gloomy inner courtyard, it was bearable. However, after spending time in the bright and sunny outer yard, stepping back into the inner space felt like a stark contrast. It was as if they suddenly transitioned from the heat of summer to the chill of winter, instinctively raising goosebumps on their skin. Several girls from the dormitory shivered and huddled together for warmth.

Wei Dao's heart was in turmoil.

This was his third time participating in a game dungeon. Although the difficulty of the dungeons didn't necessarily increase consecutively, everything he had faced up till now seemed too simple. This didn't make Wei Dao feel at ease. On the contrary, it heightened his anxiety, suggesting that the real danger had yet to come.

Later, everyone checked the time, realizing it was already the late morning hour — less than one hour remained until the afternoon.

The ingredients have been meticulously sourced and chosen. Now, all they had to do was patiently wait for the appointed hour for the servant to deliver their meals. A brief rest would follow, and then... at midnight, they would attend the so-called "Feast of Gluttony."

Midnight is precisely the witching hour. Who in their right mind would start a banquet at such a time?

It's as if a ghost is inviting you to dine.

But until the witching hour, nobody has any clue about what's to come.

As time slowly lapsed, the visibility in the already dim courtyard dwindled. Everything seemed to be draped in a dark veil, and even the usually bright main courtyard dimmed. Yet, inexplicably, lamps lit up in the rooms of the inner courtyard. It's as if the game was signaling to everyone that only places with light were safe. Thus, everyone hurriedly retreated to their designated rooms, not daring to linger in the courtyard.

Xie Yin Xue was seated in the main room.

In fact, he was the first to enter, as his frail body could no longer support him standing for extended periods. Joining the game only temporarily halted his march towards death, yet it couldn't free him from his weakened state.

Once inside, Xie Yin Xue remained inactive, just sitting on a wooden chair he brought from outside the game—a set of ebony wood furniture he had brought from home, and his absolute favorite.

He wondered if he could take the furniture set back once the game concluded.

Lost in thought, Xie Yin Xue gently touched the pear blossom branches carved on his chair when a knock interrupted him.

Without halting his movement, he softly said, "Come in."

The visitor was Liu Bu Hua, residing in the room next to his.

"Godfather."

Upon entering, Liu Bu Hua bowed deeply to Xie Yin Xue and then approached the table, intending to refill Xie Yin Xue's tea.

"Ahem… The tea's gone cold," Xie Yin Xue coughed twice, "No need to pour more."

Liu Bu Hua obediently responded, "Yes, sir."

Xie Yin Xue inquired, "How do you feel since entering the game? Any discomfort?"

Liu Bu Hua honestly replied, "I feel normal."

"That's good," Xie Yin Xue nodded slightly.

He joined the game "Lock of Longevity" voluntarily, but Liu Bu Hua was here because of him.

Ironically, Xie Yin Xue chanced upon this game—an insight he gained from his third client. Participating in this game was the third business deal he was involved in.

This third client, named Zhu Yi Kun, was a wealthy merchant. He had already cleared the game once. However, before the second round, he sought Xie Yin Xue's services to take his place.

After hearing the game's basic rules from Zhu Yi Kun, Xie Yin Xue made a decision: he would personally enter this game.

However, business must go on, so instead of him, Liu Bu Hua replaced Zhu Yi Kun.

According to the merchant, one either enters the game on the brink of death or touches someone who has already entered, answering affirmatively when the game inquires if you wish to join the "Lock of Longevity" within ten minutes of its commencement.

This is how Xie Yin Xue entered the game.

As for Liu Bu Hua, who was able to take the place of the wealthy merchant in the game, it was another brutal mercy granted by the game. Any participant can inform others about the "Lock of Longevity" game and ask them to replace you. If the substitute succeeds, both of you are safe; if they fail, both of you will die.

However, if someone is unwilling to replace you or doesn't believe in the game, they will forget everything about it the moment they hear it. No matter how many times you mention it, disbelief or reluctance results in forgetting.

And according to the "Lock of Longevity", one can attain immortality by completing the game, living eternally until the day they choose to end such a life.

How many desire immortality?

Xie Yin Xue was no exception; his longing for eternal life was more potent than anyone's.

Knowing this wish, the cunning merchant Zhu Yi Kun approached Xie Yin Xue. His offer for Xie's service was: "I can provide a genuine clue about immortality if you undertake a life-threatening task for me."

Other than his fated death, Xie Yin Xue believed nothing else in the world could threaten his life. Naturally, he accepted the deal, only to discover that Zhu Yi Kun's words held truth.

Upon entering the game, his only semblance of guilt was involving Liu Bu Hua. Xie Yin Xue sought immortality, but the game stated that only one can achieve it in the end. If he and Zhu Yi Kun shared a bond of life and death, who would gain immortality if Xie survived?

Xie Yin Xue had to eliminate such a possibility.

"Once the substitution begins, it cannot be halted. Zhu Yi Kun mentioned that towards the end of the game, there will be a chance to exit and live peacefully until the age of seventy," Xie Yin Xue said, adjusting his cuff and collar, and told Liu Bu Hua, "When that time comes, you should leave the game."

No matter what Xie Yin Xue said, Liu Bu Hua always complied, "Alright."

"Hmm," Xie Yin Xue nodded, a slight smile on his lips. "Go open the door."

"Yes."

Without delay, Liu Bu Hua moved to open the door just before a knock came from the outside.

Two servants stood outside, each holding a tray with three dishes and a soup, presumably their dinner. The servants, not too surprised to see Liu Bu Hua, greeted with smiles, "Ah, Mr. Liu is here as well. Will you dine with Mr. Xie? Shall we bring your meal here?"

The servants were respectful, resembling those who serve masters in grand manors. Engaging with them could make one momentarily forget that they were in a life-or-death game and not esteemed guests in a lavish residence as the game backdrop suggests.

Liu Bu Hua, upon hearing the servant's words, turned to Xie Yin Xue for guidance.

Without looking up, Xie Yin Xue said, "Alright, we'll eat together. Place everything here."

"Yes," the servant bowed, set the dishes on the round table, and soon brought in Liu Bu Hua's identical meal.

Xie Yin Xue leaned back, tapping the armrest of his carved wooden chair. Glancing at the dishes—both his and Liu Bu Hua's meals were the same, a tofu soup, and three dishes: stir-fried Shanghai greens, lettuce, and cabbage.

There was no rice on the table, only vegetarian dishes, likely cooked in vegetable oil.

He looked outside; the door was still open. From his vantage point, he could see Wei Dao, Xia Duo, and others with their tables set in their rooms, doors open, probably observing him.

Xie Yin Xue smirked, stopping a servant heading out and asked, "Who's the chef for tonight's meal? Can I meet them?"

Author's note:

Other players & NPCs: We've never seen anyone so brazen.

Xie Lao: Well, you're seeing one today, aren't you?