Chapter 113

Chapter 113

While Xie Yinxue could recognize Bu Jiuzhao's true appearance in this new instance and pick him out with a glance, there was a downside: he had no idea how Bu Jiuzhao appeared to others.

However, he supposed it couldn't be too unfavorable, or Dangdang wouldn't have made such a flattering proposal.

To be honest, Xie Yinxue didn't mind assisting Dangdang, especially after recently telling Liu Buhua about his intention to be kind-hearted. Besides, traveling together would ensure Liu Buhua's safety.

However, the current situation was unique... prompting Xie Yinxue to consider declining Dangdang's request.

Yet before he could speak, Bu Jiuzhao, nonchalantly and preemptively, said, "No."

Dangdang's expression remained unchanged. Bu Jiuzhao's refusal was expected. She had noticed him, with his clear eyes and black hair, the moment they entered the instance.

He sat isolated in a corner, maintaining distance from the crowd, but their attention was inevitably drawn to him. His demeanor was cold to an extreme, making it challenging for anyone to approach. Both Mengni and Feng Jingshan had tried to strike up a conversation, only to be rebuffed.

As Dangdang observed quietly, relieved she hadn't spoken rashly, she pondered how to approach him. She had eyed him as a potential team member after losing her teammate in the last instance.

The issue was, while she wished to team up, he might not share the sentiment.

As Dangdang mulled over ways to win Bu Jiuzhao over, the guiding NPC ushered in a new batch of warriors. Instinctively, she looked in their direction. On spotting one young man's face, she froze.

For a moment, she felt like she was beholding fresh snow bathed in silvery moonlight.

The youth wasn't like Bu Jiuzhao, exuding an aloofness that seemed to push people thousands of miles away. He was so cold and distant, like frost and snow, that one couldn't approach him.

He resembled snow because, just like snow, he seemed so fragile that the slightest warmth could melt him. His silver-white battle armor clung to him, akin to the mist in deep winter settling on frosted branches, emphasizing his frailty. Yet, upon meeting him, the first thing to melt was the icy demeanor in Bu Jiuzhao's eyes.

Hence, Dangdang believed they must know each other.

Even if they didn't know each other at the moment, an inescapable bond would eventually form between them.

So, back in the Zen room, Dangdang assumed she wouldn't be teaming up with Bu Jiuzhao. Unexpectedly, she ended up in the same group with Liu Buhua—who, like the young man, had long hair and seemed close and relaxed when speaking to him. They were likely teammates in the dungeon. Even if they weren't partners, they'd watch out for each other, giving Dangdang an opportunity to join.

Thus, even after being rejected by Bu Jiuzhao, Dangdang didn't think it was the end. She turned her gaze from him to Xie Yinxue, showing a conciliatory smile and asked softly, "Do you feel the same way, Mr. Xie?"

Upon hearing this, all eyes in the elevator turned to Xie Yinxue.

Everyone awaited his response, Bu Jiuzhao included. It seemed as if his answer might influence Bu Jiuzhao's thoughts. Xie Yinxue felt like throwing the responsibility to Bu Jiuzhao, wishing he could blame him for being too dominant and thus forcing him to agree.

Xie Yinxue sighed softly, "Let's go our separate ways."

A hint of surprise flashed in Dangdang's eyes. She hadn't expected Xie Yinxue to give up the chance to act with Liu Buhua. However, she wisely didn't dwell on it and smiled, "Alright, stay safe."

"You too," Xie Yinxue replied with a smile, then turned to Liu Buhua, emphasizing, "Your safety is paramount."

Liu Buhua obediently nodded, "Alright, godfather."

The elevator had reached the first floor. Dangdang was about to step out when she was stunned by Liu Buhua's mention of "godfather". She paused, her gaze shifting between Liu Buhua and Xie Yinxue, "…godfather?"

"Yes, he's my godfather," Liu Buhua whispered to Dangdang. "When we act, our safety comes first. If we can't hunt down the Pusapocha, it's fine. My godfather won't let us die."

Dangdang noticed that when Xie Yinxue emphasized safety, he said "you both", and in Liu Buhua's last statement, he said "we" instead of "I". Although it's just a difference of one word, the meaning behind each is entirely distinct.

She looked at Xie Yinxue and Bu Jiuzhao, who had already left the elevator, and suddenly felt she might have misjudged initially. Although Xie Yinxue appeared pale and weak, in a place like "Lock Immortality" where threats abound, being able to progress this far in such a frail state indicated he might be stronger than those who appeared innately powerful.

Bu Jiuzhao, after exiting the elevator, looked pleased as he saw Liu Buhua and Dangdang walk in a different direction. He turned to Xie Yinxue, "Where to now?"

The youth briefly glanced at him, extending his hand, "Let me see your gun first."

However, as Bu Jiuzhao looked down at the young man's exposed, vulnerable, pale neck, he couldn't resist a cheeky remark, "Which gun?"

Xie Yinxue: "?"

Playing this game with him?

Xie Yinxue curled his lips into a smile, nodding slowly. "The smaller one," he murmured.

"Alright." Bu Jiuzhao arched an eyebrow, placing the submachine gun in front of Xie Yinxue.

However, upon receiving the gun, the young man cast a sly glance downward, hinting, "Is this truly the smallest one?"

"Yes," Bu Jiuzhao responded, resting the back of his hand on Xie Yinxue's chin, forcing their eyes to meet. "Focus on the gun."

Xie Yinxue's face showed a hint of resignation. "Ah, if you say so."

Then, the young man leaned slightly, his fingers tracing from the handle to the tip of the gun, pausing ever so slightly. For some reason, when Xie Yinxue executed this simple gesture, there was an intense underlying implication, as if his fingertips were caressing somewhere far more intimate.

"Have you seen enough?" Bu Jiuzhao broke the silence, his voice deeper and somewhat hoarse.

The young man met his gaze, the playful smirk deepening on his face. "The engravings on it are intriguing. Do you know what they signify?"

"I don’t," Bu Jiuzhao admitted.

"Really? Are you certain?"

The young man's voice was gentle, intimate, like a lover’s whisper. But Bu Jiuzhao was well acquainted with Xie Yinxue's wiles. He knew that whenever Xie Yinxue adopted such a tone, it was a trap. Still, he couldn't resist replying, "I truly don’t. I didn't design these scenarios. No matter my role, I am but a pawn, constrained in every move."

"Whoever did design these scenarios, they weren’t simple-minded."

Xie Yinxue nodded, his eyes returning to the silver inscriptions on the gun. "These inscriptions are in Sanskrit. Phonetically, they're 'Bi Li Duo,' meaning — the realm of the Hungry Ghosts."

Both Pusapo and Jiamo are spirits doomed to the Hungry Ghosts realm, suffering after death. In this scenario, they emerge as warriors, hunted by guns inscribed with the very term 'Hungry Ghosts'... Combining these Buddhist elements with a futuristic theme, it’s a marvel of imagination. This made Xie Yinxue even more curious about who could've possibly authored "Locking Life."

But for now, understanding the background of this scenario was paramount.

"Let's head further towards the city outskirts, somewhere away from the others," Xie Yinxue proposed, moving south. After a few steps, he turned, smiling at the deep gaze of the man behind him, "Otherwise, your identity as Jiamo will be revealed during our hunt for Pusapo."

Bu Jiuzhao smirked, responding, "Understood."

That Xie Yinxue was aware of his identity didn't surprise Bu Jiuzhao in the least. If it were otherwise, Xie Yinxue wouldn't have turned down Dangdang's suggestion for the four to join forces.

Yes, he was Jiamo, disguised among the participants.

In this scenario, his primary identity was that of a ghostly NPC, similar to Xie Yinxue in the "Gluttonous Feast" scenario. Hence, he couldn't appear with the face from the previous scenario before Liu Buhua. He had to don a new face and pretend to be a stranger to Xie Yinxue.

A quarter of an hour later, the two halted at an expansive, abandoned park.

As Xie Yinxue casually set the human bait atop the fountain pedestal, he turned to ask Bu Jiuzhao, “What does a Jiamo look like?”

Pausing momentarily in the midst of cocking his weapon, he replied after a brief delay, “Once we kill the Pushapoxia, won’t you see for yourself?”

Xie Yinxue pressed further, “Among the participants, besides you, are there any other Jiamos?”

“Yes.” Without even raising his head or hesitating, Bu Jiuzhao promptly betrayed his own kind, “But we don't recognize each other nor know the exact number.”

Gazing at the hilt of the lightsaber in his hand, Xie Yinxue deduced, “The other Jiamos are likely among the veterans.”

According to the scenario of this instance, only the “veterans” are seasoned warriors with hunting experience. It's plausible they were already dead from hunts outside the starship and replaced by Jiamos posing as them upon their return.

Consequently, the highly lethal railguns are entrusted to these veterans, empowering them to eliminate Pushapoxia. Meanwhile, rookies merely receive lightsabers potent enough for a close combat decapitation of a Jiamo.

Activating his lightsaber, Xie Yinxue tested its weight with a few swings and remarked to Bu Jiuzhao, “You outright declined Dangdang's proposal earlier. She might suspect you.”

“And if she suspects?” Bu Jiuzhao said nonchalantly with a smirk, “Unless she witnesses me turning into a Pushapoxia, would she dare kill me?”

The answer was obvious: No.

Not just Dangdang, but none of the rookies would dare—unless they personally witness a veteran reverting into a Pushapoxia. Acting rashly could result in mistakenly killing a participant, a consequence none could bear.

In this instance, direct participant-on-participant violence is strictly forbidden. Those who make it far in the game understand this taboo better than anyone.

Author's note:

Xie Lao: I don’t believe this is the least you can do.

NPC: It is.

Xie Lao: But aren’t you hiding a needle in your pants?

npc：？