Chapter 95: Butterfly Paradise (17)

Chapter 95: Butterfly Paradise (17)

◎—Because he is Shi Youqing.◎

After everyone left, only three remained by the corpse.

Chen Lan was paired with Bao Huai. As the rules were still in effect, she couldn't leave with the other groups even if she wanted to help. Unsure of what to do, she could only gaze at Ding Tianjiao's corpse and sigh.

Shi Youqing had already planned the next steps and gave Bao Huai a meaningful look.

Bao Huai walked up behind her.

Sensing someone approaching, Chen Lan turned, but her vision suddenly darkened, and she passed out, unwillingly.

"I'm sorry," Shi Youqing said regretfully as he looked at her, "If you saw what I'm about to do... it might complicate things. Don't worry, I'll get you out as soon as the exit appears."

"What are you going to do?" Bao Huai asked him.

Shi Youqing shared his thoughts, "Those blood-sucking butterflies outside are afraid of these runes, set at the entrance to the giant butterfly's nest. Do you think these runes are meant to protect the lantern-bearing NPCs or the giant butterfly itself?"

Bao Huai knew he had already figured out all the problems and quietly listened.

"Players might subconsciously consider them as kin or in a hierarchical relationship, but I don't see it that way," Shi Youqing said with a smile, "Those smaller butterflies prevent outsiders from entering, not for the sake of the giant butterfly. They seem to have the role of punishing those who err, like Hao Tianshuo being sucked dry for picking a flower. One cannot enter the cocoon pavilion at will, and those who break the rules and enter are naturally sucked dry. But this relates to the rules, so the punishment is much more severe than for picking a flower. Exactly, the blood-sucking butterflies can help the giant butterfly fend off outsiders here. But without those runes to suppress them, do you think the evil giant butterfly that devours people would be punished?"

If it weren't afraid of the smaller butterflies, there would be no need to set runes in the rooms along the essential path!

After all, for both players and NPCs, the runes behind the talisman are not necessary if there is a lantern.

Therefore, the sole purpose of the runes is to prevent the smaller butterflies from entering the giant butterfly's nest.

After realizing what he was planning to do, Bao Huai's expression gradually became troubled, "Qingqing, we can't let them in."

Shi Youqing glanced at him, slightly displeased, "Why not?"

Before he could finish, Bao Huai suddenly stepped forward and embraced him tightly.

"…" Shi Youqing was stunned by his tight hold.

Bao Huai wasn't quite sure why, but although he remembered his life and everything about Shi Youqing, his memories of the deeper aspects of the game were vague. This vagueness wasn't total, as he instinctively avoided situations detrimental to Shi Youqing. For instance, those butterflies – if the creature above devoured them, it seemed to trigger an unwanted scenario...

"No matter what, I must kill it," Shi Youqing looked up at the butterfly overhead, "Don't worry, I've figured out how to control my transformation."

While the others were cutting the cocoon shells, he had been pondering his memories of each time he transformed into his true form.

Once in Cheng Ancient Town, once in the ghost story dormitory exit tunnel to rescue Yu Ze, and another time in the Offering Copy.

It seemed related to death, but he knew he had never died in those instances. In Cheng Ancient Town, the mutated monster hadn't even managed to bite him before being suppressed by his true form's aura. He couldn't even flee and was devoured by Shi Youqing; in the dormitory ghost story, his life wasn't in danger at all, though Yu Ze had nearly died; in the Offering Copy, it was the monster trying to devour him that died. It was then he had most of his consciousness and self-control in his true form.

So, the key to transforming wasn't his own death, but the death or fear of other people or monsters!

Recently, after drawing the runes, he distinctly felt a subtle power emanating outwards, indicating that the source of the rune's suppression was his true form.

Shi Youqing was beginning to understand some things, like the intentions of the man trying to capture him – the existence of an evil deity probably key to controlling the entire game's operation and even correcting bugs.

The power of an evil deity could command all evil spirits or annihilate them, build a terrifying world or destroy a chaotic one... like a □□, opening one fantastical door after another, making the game endless.

The evil deity's concern wasn't the players or monsters, but the survival of the entire game.

After he emerged, destroying the Cheng Ancient Town copy, those controlling the game realized this and urgently sought to lock him down and capture him!

Next, he only needed to remove the runes in those rooms, then, while the giant butterfly faced a life-threatening crisis and fear, he would recreate all the emotions from his previous transformations... He couldn't let the butterfly die without leaving any trace of information!

After hearing Shi Youqing's words, Bao Huai knew he wouldn't change his mind. After a moment of silence, he suddenly took out a rope and swiftly tied their wrists together: "I'm with you." This time, no matter what the opponent did, even if he became a part of the opponent's body, he would stick close!

"Okay."

……

Feng Bin and the others were quick. After throwing the fragments outside the cocoon pavilion, a familiar mechanical voice rang in their ears: "Congratulations to the players for completing the [Butterfly Paradise] copy. Once you take the chess piece, all rules will become invalid. For your safety, please leave through the exit as soon as possible!"

The players in the hotel didn't need their calling; they had all received the system's message. In a life-or-death situation, they didn't dawdle. Some didn't even have time to dress properly, rushing out in a panic: "Where is it? Is the exit here?"

Feng Bin knew Shi Youqing inside would take the black chess piece first to invalidate the rules, so he led everyone quickly into the cocoon pavilion. This time, they didn't split up, randomly entering an entrance and running wildly.

The NPCs heard their movements and ran over. Seeing the scene, they were dumbfounded. Several collapsed in front of the fragments, calling their children's names in despair, then, overcome with grief and anger, chased after them.

"Run faster!" Feng Bin ran, glancing back, paying attention to his surroundings. He found it strange – the blood-sucking butterflies that lined the pathway... were all gone.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"At such a time, even if they weren't blood-sucking, they shouldn't have just disappeared..."

The group finally reached the end of the run, arriving at the butterfly nest. There, next to the body of an unfamiliar man, lay a chessboard, and beside the board, a glowing exit!

Some players were almost in tears.

But someone had arrived even earlier.

The vanished Zongtu Yuan was standing in front of the chessboard, with the barely alive Lu Wei at his feet. He looked around uneasily and, upon seeing Feng Bin, gritted his teeth and asked, “Where is Shi Youqing?”

Feng Bin glanced at the ceiling, his expression shifting—the giant butterfly was gone, leaving only a pitch-black roof.

He was about to say Youqing must have already left when the man with a square face suddenly lunged forward, trying to grab the black chess piece on the board, only for his hand to pass right through it.

"What... what's happening?"

Everyone looked on in astonishment, then heard a familiar mechanical voice: "System upgrading! Ten, nine, eight, seven... three, two, one! Upgrade complete! Congratulations to all players, the new system is now implementing a settlement mechanism! The chess pieces will be automatically calculated based on player performance after clearing a level. Players are no longer allowed to snatch, steal, or cheat for chess pieces. Remember to play fair! Have fun!"

Hao Tianshuo was baffled: "What does this mean? Why the sudden upgrade? And where’s my Brother Qingqing? Did he really leave?"

"Let's get going, I feel so hot!" Li Chao shouted, "Those crazies will be chasing us soon... If you're not leaving, I'm going ahead!"

Saying this, he sprinted forward and completely disappeared at the exit.

The other players also started to move. At this moment, Hao Tianshuo, who looked up inadvertently, gasped in shock, "What is that?"

Feng Bin and Zongtu Yuan instantly looked up.

The black roof had transformed into a gigantic amber eye.

They realized then that what they thought was the roof was actually a closed eye, and that eye... was now open!

"The original giant butterfly's eye wasn’t this big... This isn't that butterfly!" Chu Wei shouted urgently, "Dangerous, get out quickly!"

As he spoke, the ground indeed began to shake, and the eye on the ceiling started to rise. Many players, thinking the giant butterfly had mutated due to the rules becoming invalid, hurried towards the exit.

But Feng Bin stood motionless, his mind flashing back to the Cheng Ancient Town copy.

"That creature back then... no, that evil deity, also had such eyes."

He watched intently, realizing it wasn't the eye rising, but its owner—an evil deity bending down to observe them, now straightening up.

Amidst the tremendous shaking, the eyes receded further, revealing a corner of the night sky. Feng Bin finally saw the beautiful but evil deity clearly—draped in long silver hair, gigantic in form, but now unlike during the Cheng Ancient Town incident, its body covered in a layer of black scales, surrounded by blazing flames.

"No wonder it's so hot..."

Meanwhile, a giant butterfly, gnawed upon by a swarm of smaller ones, seemed determined to perish together, crashing bloodily towards the deity.

Suddenly, countless tentacles sprouted from the black scales, seizing the incoming giant butterfly, preventing it from getting any closer. In an instant, the butterfly was reduced to a muddy pulp by the tentacles.

This wasn't a battle, but a unilateral pursuit of death.

"Youqing..." Feng Bin stood dazed, the longstanding doubts in his heart seemingly finding answers at this moment, as past events he’d been reluctant to consider flashed through his mind.

Everything had a basis now.

Why he resurrected in Cheng Ancient Town, why he could bring Yu Ze out, why...

Why every time He appeared, the copy would collapse, even destroy...

Why...

—Because He is Shi Youqing.

At the exit, only Feng Bin, Zongtu Yuan, Hao Tianshuo, and Lu Wei remained.

They all watched this scene, simultaneously thinking of Shi Youqing.

Zongtu Yuan's eyes were filled with terror.

That gigantic creature was like a proportionally enlarged Shi Youqing, except for the chilling murderous intent and the terrifying, sinister aura that enveloped it. Every strand of hair bore the unique essence of Shi Youqing!

Despite its frightfulness, Hao Tianshuo started to wail loudly: "Who turned my Brother Qingqing into this?" His voice was piercing. Desperate to catch the deity's attention, but realizing he was nothing more than an ant in its eyes, he started climbing the skeletal structure towards it, unafraid of the skulls close at hand, choking with sobs, "Brother Qingqing, I’m coming to save you—"

"Boom—"

A strand of silver hair flung him harshly to the ground at the exit.

Hao Tianshuo’s eyes rolled back as he realized he was at the exit. He frantically reached out his hand, but still disappeared into the white light.

Zongtu Yuan kept his head raised, staring fixedly at the gigantic figure.

Feng Bin, recalling Shi Youqing's recent admonition, dragged the delirious Lu Wei into the exit, then turned to Zongtu Yuan, "Stop looking, let's go!"

Zongtu Yuan remained motionless, evidently intent on witnessing Shi Youqing's return to his normal form.

Feng Bin, anxious inside, couldn't let him discover Shi Youqing's identity. He pulled out a knife and started fighting with him, "Hurry up, don't dawdle!"

"Get lost!" Zongtu Yuan, his voice hoarse, kept his gaze fixed above, "Stop meddling!"

At that moment, several NPCs rushed over, brandishing kitchen knives at them.

The ground suddenly shook, throwing off their balance. As they tried to attack again, they were engulfed by a swarm of butterflies.

It seemed the butterflies were feasting on their flesh and blood. The NPCs struggled to break free, but in vain, rolling on the ground in agonizing screams...

Seizing the opportunity while Zongtu Yuan was distracted, Feng Bin struck him hard from behind with a club.

Dizzy and collapsing heavily, Zongtu Yuan, still semi-conscious, looked up at the massive figure and murmured resentfully, "Shi Youqing..."

"That's not Youqing!" Doubting Zongtu Yuan's integrity and fearing he would cause trouble, Feng Bin shouted to correct him before dragging him into the exit.

Now, he was the only one left outside.

"I'll wait for you out here," Feng Bin, wiping the sweat off his forehead against the blazing fire, turned back to the immense figure seemingly staring blankly at the sky. His eyes red, he affirmed, "Whatever you are, I'm not afraid... please come back."

[Author’s Note]

Thanks to the little angels for nourishing with nutrient solution: zbht (Cute 0 Collector) 20 bottles; Universe Invincible Explosion 5 bottles;

Thank you very much for everyone's support, I will continue to work hard!