Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Xie Yinxue's choice of words was deliberate.

He didn't ask Zhu Yikun if he had done anything wrong, but rather what wrong he had done again.

Zhu Yikun, ever the shrewd man, immediately grasped the implications behind Xie Yinxue's words.

He had heard of Xie Yinxue before because, in his younger days, he had some dealings with Xie Yinxue’s master, Chen Yuqing — who once saved his life.

Chen Yuqing lived his life committed to benevolence and compassion. Even though he was from a secluded sect that practiced non-interference with the mortal world, he often intervened, enduring sacrifices to help others.

Yet, what Chen was most proud of wasn't the number of lives he saved, but that he had taken Xie Yinxue as his disciple.

Chen once remarked that Xie Yinxue was an extraordinary talent, a prodigy seen once in a century. His greatest trait was his cold detachment combined with a deep-seated empathy — unlike Chen, who was often swayed by worldly concerns.

Zhu Yikun, however, believed Chen was mistaken. In his opinion, no one could be colder-hearted than Xie Yinxue.

Any lingering hopes Zhu Yikun had held were now dashed. He no longer dared to withhold any information and lamented, "Mr. Xie, I truly didn't intend to hide the 'Ferryman' matter from you. But honestly, I don't know much about it either..."

Before he finished, Zhu Yikun cautiously glanced at Xie Yinxue, seeing no anger in his face. He continued, "All I know is that in the newbie instance I entered, four veteran players immediately advised us that to clear the game easily, we just had to find the 'Ferryman'. The guidance NPC even confirmed this. As a result, almost every newcomer pursued the 'Ferryman', neglecting the main quests. Some even mistakenly traded with the wrong entity, meeting tragic ends."

"Yet, until the end... no one identified the true 'Ferryman'."

Thus, out of the twenty participants, only the four veterans and two newcomers, including Zhu Yikun, survived.

Zhu even doubted whether the "Ferryman" NPC truly existed or was just a gimmick created by "Seeking Immortality" to thin out players.

He then attempted to flatter, "Besides, with your capabilities, whether the 'Ferryman' exists or not shouldn't be a concern, right?"

Sadly, Xie Yinxue, who had heard far too much flattery in his life, chuckled and cut to the chase, "You feared I wouldn't clear the game and might negotiate a deal with the 'Ferryman' to save my life."

However, seeking a temporary solution would only hasten one's demise instead of granting a fresh start.

"No, that's not it." Zhu Yikun hurriedly waved his hands, his face a mess of emotions. "It's not that I doubted you; I feared —"

Liu Buhua, standing beside Xie Yinxue, interjected, "He feared I wouldn't clear it."

Xie Yinxue would undoubtedly clear any challenge, but if there were an insurmountable obstacle, Liu Buhua would negotiate with the 'Ferryman' to get clues to help Xie succeed.

Thus, Liu Buhua and Zhu Yikun, whose lives were linked, would die.

"I never intended to hide it from you initially." Seeing Xie Yinxue's implacable demeanor, Zhu Yikun finally gave up all pretense, "But I didn't expect you to send Liu Buhua instead of going yourself."

His initial plan was for Xie Yinxue to replace him in the game — because he believed Xie would prioritize his own life.

But to his surprise, instead of entering himself, Xie sent Liu Buhua.

Xie Yinxue's smile faded slightly, his voice chilling, "Did you really think I'd treat Buhua like that?"

"Maybe not you, but Liu Buhua certainly would," Zhu Yikun replied, not holding back. "Even if you didn't, the Shen family behind you would force him to. To them, everyone else can die except you, something I believe you're well aware of. If I had told you about this method on day one, Liu Buhua wouldn't be in the game. Instead, someone else from the Shen family, willing to die in your stead, would be."

"They will incessantly search for the Ferryman NPC in the game to acquire clues for your passage, even if it means dying one after the other, just to pave a path to immortality for you."

Zhu Yikun let out a low, wry chuckle, "So, I never intended to keep it from you forever. Even if it wasn't you who took my place in 'Lock to Immortality,' as long as Liu Buhua entered, there would be no turning back. He's your cherished godson, the one you care most about in this world aside from the Shen family. You won't let him die."

"You're being forthright now." Xie Yinxue's laugh held an icy edge, his gaze upon Zhu piercingly cold. "This is the Zhu Yikun I'm familiar with. Still, I found your earlier obsequiousness more palatable; at least you looked more alive then."

But Zhu Yikun laughed wildly and freely, not showing a hint of the earlier fear. He seated himself by the poolside, lighting a cigarette, and addressed Xie by his full name, "Xie Yinxue, your master was right about you being a rare genius. I'd only entrust my life to you and no one else."

Xie Yinxue's gaze dropped to the tabletop, and he traced patterns with tea-dampened fingers, remarking casually, "So, I should thank you for not making a prior deal with the Ferryman and upping the game's difficulty for me."

"Hmm? Making a deal with the Ferryman increases the game's difficulty?" Zhu Yikun paused, genuine confusion in his voice.

Xie Yinxue responded, "That's not important."

"Indeed, it's not." Zhu Yikun waved it off dismissively, "Those who deal with the Ferryman have such limited vision."

Liu Buhua curiously questioned, "Then how did you pass without seeking the Ferryman's deal?"

He doubted that someone like Zhu could clear it on his own.

"Isn't it just about having some money? The equipment and items of the veteran players all require a fee. I simply made some generous donations to them. Why would I need the Ferryman's aid?" Zhu Yikun took a deep drag and said with delight, "Paying to save one's life, I find it worthwhile!"

Seeing this, Liu Buhua laughed, took a cup of tea, and poured it over Zhu's face, dousing his cigarette, "My godfather can't stand the smell of smoke."

"Alright, my bad." Zhu Yikun, ever adaptable, showed no anger, even slapping himself a couple of times, "Mr. Liu, your lesson is duly noted."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhu, for clarifying things for me. It's getting late, so I won't keep you from your pleasures," Xie Yinxue, having seen enough, began to make his leave, "In a month, you'll join me in the game."

"Wait, what?" Zhu Yikun's face turned ashen, "Mr. Xie, what did you say?"

He thought he had misheard, "No! I'm not going! Isn't Liu Buhua replacing me?"

"You're not going?"

Xie Yinxue chuckled. Before he could continue, Liu Buhua took a fruit knife from the plate beside him and held it against his neck, questioning, "Are you really not going?"

Zhu Yikun, knowing Liu Buhua's unwavering loyalty to Xie, blurted out, "Alright, I'll go! Mr. Liu, please, let's talk this out."

Liu Buhua, seeing his sincerity, lowered the knife. A faint bloody mark remained on his neck, proof that his threat was genuine.

Zhu Yikun, however, couldn't muster a smile anymore, seeing them off solemnly.

Once they were in the car, Xie Yinxue handed a band-aid to Liu Buhua, sighing, "A simple threat would've sufficed. Why harm yourself?"

"It's okay, godfather. Even if my head were to fall off, it'll grow back."

Xie Yinxue looked puzzled, "…?"

Facing Xie Yinxue's bewildered expression, Liu Buhua, with a serious demeanor, nodded and said, "Just need to apply some fertilizer."

——This is seriously messed up.

Xie Yinxue handed Liu Buhua the water and the newly bought medicine, advising him, "Buhua, take the medicine first."

Liu Buhua obediently took the pill, asking while doing so, "But godfather, do you really intend to bring that Zhu Yikun guy into the game with you?"

Xie Yinxue snorted, "He enjoys while you risk your life, are you okay with that?"

Yet Liu Buhua seemed a bit hopeful, "The game can be quite fun, what if we come across a level where we can transform into flowers?"

Xie Yinxue: "..."

The medication hadn't taken effect yet; he needed to be patient with the sick.

Liu Buhua, recalling the mischief Xie Yinxue had done with the tea earlier, laughed and said, "Besides, Zhu Yikun has the bad luck charm you drew on him. How can he enjoy anything this month?"

"However unlucky he may be, it's still better than being in the game," Xie Yinxue replied with a slight arch of his eyebrow, "I can't let him have a better time than you."

"With you looking out for me in the game, I haven't suffered," Liu Buhua asked, "So, are we going to buy a new air conditioner for Ah Ji now?"

Xie Yinxue smiled gently, "Yes, once we buy it, we'll head back."

After the level ends, all game participants can rest for a full month. No one can enter the game in advance, and during this month, those with game privileges cannot die—even if they try to take their own life, they will not succeed.

It's like gaining an extra month of life; the game guarantees you live for that month.

So Xie Yinxue doesn't need to worry about Zhu Yikun being too unlucky and accidentally dying. If this guy wasn't so afraid of death, he wouldn't have been scared into forgetting this rule by Liu Buhua earlier.

Other game participants, after clearing the game, either take this month to rest and prepare for the next level or spend time with their families, making final arrangements.

But Xie Yinxue did neither—he was very busy.

The very next day, he took Liu Buhua out to meet an elderly gentleman with the surname Xiao.

"Mr. Xiao?" Liu Buhua pondered on the way, asking Xie Yinxue, "Is this the Mr. Xiao Xulin with whom you couldn't finalize a business deal before?"

Xie Yinxue nodded, "Yes, that's him."

Xiao Xulin was Xie Yinxue's second client, but the business with him ultimately fell through because his family felt Xie Yinxue was unreliable.

To be fair, Xie Yinxue's pale face and his occasional bouts of coughing up blood made it hard for those unfamiliar with him to believe that he was a master exorcist.

So, when Xie Yinxue wanted to meet Xiao Xulin again, Liu Buhua found it strange, "Didn't he distrust you?"

Author's note:

NPC: You only remember Ah Wu.

Xie Lao: Aren't you Ah Wu? Which number are you, then?

npc：？