Chapter 2: Villains

Chapter 2: Villains

Rules Realm Live Broadcast Hall.

This was an ethereal expanse where countless screens of varying sizes floated in mid-air, flickering on and off every minute. Sinister and bloody scenes flickered amidst the void, while innumerable translucent spirits darted between the screens, conversing in languages unique to their kind.

"Boring, all the worlds opened for experience today are so dull."

"World 0028 has been activated four times this month; I'm already tired of it."

"It's been a long time since we've seen World 0039, wasn't the last opening two years ago?"

"39? I recall that world having quite a high mortality rate. Let me check... Damn! These newbies are incredibly lucky, four of them are experienced players in an eighteen-person team, and one is even willing to lead. Won't that disrupt the game balance?"

The air rippled near the gray spirit who had spoken, as someone responded to his words, "Look closely, that one who wants to lead isn't actually an experienced player."

Through the live broadcast hall's screens, the audience could not only observe the real-time situations in each rules realm but also access the players' personal profiles, checking details such as their names and SAN values.

"What?" The gray spirit was taken aback and moved closer to the screen in front of him.

Moments later, he let out an astonished cry, "Look, there's a newbie whose Sanity value remains at 100 even ten minutes after starting their broadcast!"

Instantly, the atmosphere around them stirred.

The spirits who were about to leave with heads shaking turned back and rushed to crowd the small area in front of the screen.

*

Inside the bus, Qin Fei's mind was repeatedly echoing the familiar robotic female voice.

[Congratulations, Player Qin Fei, for achieving "Fifty Enthusiastic Views." System reward: +10 points.]

[Congratulations, Player Qin Fei, for achieving "Fifteen Consecutive Likes." System reward: +5 Sanity (valid only for this instance). Current Sanity: 100 (+5). Keep up the good work!]

Within just a dozen seconds, three notification sounds rang out, but Qin Fei had no time to check his attribute panel. His eyes were fixed on the scarred man not far ahead.

The scarred man had stopped opening the window when Qin Fei spoke and was now sneering. When he realized that the speaker was just a thin, slender young man, his disdain was obvious.

He spat roughly on the floor, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Speaking, he turned and walked towards Qin Fei.

The man with the scar was in his forties, his appearance unappealing due to his overly close-set eyebrows that gave him a menacing gaze when he looked at others. Though not tall, his every move exuded ruthlessness, instilling fear in those around him.

This was the typical air of a desperado, something Qin Fei was all too familiar with.

Not just Qin Fei, but everyone on the bus could tell that Scarface was no good guy.

Compared to the smiling Qin Fei, who appeared as gentle and vulnerable as a kitten, Scarface seemed like a predator ready to pounce – it was clear who would suffer at his hands.

In that instant, the passengers on the bus split into two factions: some watched with guarded interest, while others turned away, unable to bear witnessing what was about to unfold.

As Scarface advanced with a menacing expression, Xiao Xiao, seated beside Qin Fei, fidgeted nervously. Adrenaline surged in the tense atmosphere.

In stark contrast to Xiao Xiao's obvious agitation, Qin Fei seemed disturbingly relaxed. Unfazed by Scarface's hostile gaze, he remained seated with a light in his eyes, a subtle hint of amusement sparkling in his amber irises, making those watching feel as if they were basking in a warm spring breeze.

However, basking in a warm spring breeze was situational and dependent on the person. Qin Fei's calm demeanor clearly indicated that he didn't take Scarface seriously at all.

The scarred man's expression grew increasingly grim. With a casual sweep of his hand by his side, he surprisingly pulled out a dagger shimmering with a cold glow.

Xiao Xiao's face paled. "This is... his innate weapon."

When new players entered the instance dungeon, their weapons would be cleansed by the system; knives and such tools were absolutely forbidden from being brought in. Hence, the dagger the Scarred Man had produced could only be a system-generated innate weapon.

In the Realm of Rules, each player had the chance to possess their own innate skills or weapons, but unlocking them required a catalyst.

The vast majority couldn't even reach the threshold to access their innate ability panels. Those who could acquire an innate ability in the Beginner World were as rare as phoenix feathers, and such individuals generally became the targets of fierce recruitment by major guilds.

In the realm of the game, a player's "talents" are interconnected with their personalities, specialties, and occupations in the real world. Those capable of unlocking weapon-related talents often possess exceptional martial prowess in reality as well.

Indeed, while Xiao Xiao was leisurely eavesdropping on gossip in the heart of the Rule Center City, he had learned that many among them were utterly ruthless criminals.

Scarface is by no means someone to be underestimated.

Inside the carriage, there was an absolute silence, so profound that even the fall of a pin could be heard.

As Xiao Xiao had surmised, the dagger in Scar's hand was indeed his innate talent weapon.

Scar was a lawless rogue in the real world, known for his brutal and rampant behavior. After committing a crime, he had evaded the law for nearly a decade. It was during a gang shootout that he accidentally entered this live-stream event.

Just moments ago, less than a minute prior, Scar felt a slight warmth in his right hand. He clenched his fist, and a notification about unlocking his innate weapon resounded in his mind.

"Rogue's Dagger (Upgradable): Grants an area-of-effect Intimidation buff when used, with a 0.05% (growable) critical hit chance."

Scar didn't fully understand the situation he found himself in, but the "area-of-effect Intimidation" and "critical hit" aspects of the dagger's description piqued his interest.

And now, the young man before him, who dared to defy him, would become his first test subject.

Scar halted extremely close to Qin Fei.

He enjoyed causing harm; the sensation of a blade piercing flesh was mesmerizing, and pretty-faced boys like Qin Fei were often Scar's favorite prey.

He delighted in seeing them tremble, weep, and plead for mercy under his control, sometimes even resorting to dishonorable begging just to save their lives...

Fixating on Qin Fei's delicate, pale, yet strikingly exquisite face, a hint of lust flickered in Scar's eyes. He raised the dagger high, his gaze revealing his fanaticism.

In an instant, gasps of shock echoed from all around.

Yet, the anticipated bloody incident didn't occur. In the next instant, Scar's knife-hand froze mid-air.

In the blink of an eye, Qin Fei firmly grasped Scar's wrist.

Employing some unknown technique, Scar felt his right hand go numb, nearly causing the dagger in his hand to slip uncontrollably to the ground.

"You!" Scar's expression turned grave.

Qin Fei's strength wasn't overpowering, but the speed and accuracy of his move were formidable.

The other person's overly calm demeanor finally aroused a sense of abnormality in the man with the scar. After momentarily struggling between his urge to harm and the need to assess the situation, he reluctantly took a half-step back.

"On what grounds do you stop us from leaving the vehicle?" The man with the scar lowered his voice, his gaze sweeping over Qin Fei's face like a venomous snake.

Qin Fei seemed oblivious, his gaze slanting towards the car window, his lowered eyelashes casting a small patch of raven-black shadow upon his face.

"Listen," he said.

Outside the car window, the rhythmic thudding continued, and all heads turned toward the source of the sound.

Something outside the vehicle seemed to sense the gathering attention, and its collisions with the car's body grew more frequent, causing the vehicle to sway visibly as if it were on the verge of tipping over.

Moments later, a cry of alarm echoed, "What on earth is that?!"

Countless tiny handprints smashed against the glass from within the black fog, only to bounce back.

The cumulative sound of these impacts reverberated from all directions, creating a violent oscillation that made the cabin walls rattle, instilling fear that they might collapse at any second.

Those small hands were delicate, each about the size of an infant's palm. Their skin had a translucent quality, revealing a network of blue-white veins beneath, which sent shivers down one's spine just by looking at them.

Only then did the passengers' faces change dramatically, all taking a few steps back from the windows in unison.

Qin Fei witnessed this scene, narrowing his eyes involuntarily.

In fact, he had felt something was off earlier. The reactions of the people on the bus after they woke up were overly exaggerated, with some losing control for no apparent reason.

They were all adults, and their resilience shouldn't have been so feeble.

The same applied to those who had tried to jump out the window. Even if they hadn't noticed the small hands before, the pervasive black fog outside clearly indicated a perilous situation to anyone with sight.

Yet, those few people were strangely obsessed with leaving, which didn't align with normal human behavior in such a scenario.

Perhaps this bizarre horror live stream was affecting their minds?

It could be amplifying the more extreme aspects of their personalities, making the irritable even more violent and the weak even more helpless...

The scarred man's expression darkened. He wouldn't step out of the bus even if someone held a gun to his head, but staying inside meant submitting to Qin Fei.

His uncertainty was apparent to Qin Fei, who lifted an eyebrow and said softly, "If you open the window, can you guarantee that these things won't enter the bus?"

With one sentence, the scarred man found himself on the opposite side of everyone else in the vehicle.

Instantly, the previously indifferent passengers displayed signs of discontent, and even those who had planned to jump out the window with him frowned.

Seeing this, the scarred man gritted his teeth. "Then what do you suggest?"

He raised his voice. "Just wait here while the bus keeps driving, who knows where it'll take us?"

Although the bus carried a sign reading 'Shou Yin Village', nobody had any idea where that was, so it was no different from not saying anything at all.

Qin Fei adjusted his seating position.

The cramped backseat was no place for two long legs, so Qin Fei bent them and leaned back, as relaxed as if he were on a sofa in his living room. A hint of subtle malice curved the corners of his lips beneath his calm expression: "Use your little brain. What's the fastest way to find out where this vehicle is headed?"

Someone couldn't help but chuckle.

The answer was obvious. The quickest way would be to ask the driver; no one knew the route better than the driver himself.

Xiao Xiao, listening from the side, felt his heart race with fear. He was terrified that Qin Fei's arrogance might provoke the scarred man again.

But the scarred man had now become the target of everyone's animosity, and he couldn't afford to act recklessly like he did just a few minutes ago. He forced himself to suppress his anger and replied, "How can you be sure that approaching the driver won't lead to disastrous consequences?"

Qin Fei stretched out his hand and pointed to his right rear.

The scarred man turned his head and saw, not far behind him, a tall and burly man huddled on the seat, shivering uncontrollably.

This was the muscular man who had initially interacted with the driver. Since leaving the driver's side, he had been in this state, trembling all over, cold sweat dripping down his forehead, clearly terrified out of his wits.

Qin Fei said, "He made a move against the driver."

Yet the driver didn't do anything to him.

The scarred man's facial muscles twitched slightly.

That person had mentioned that the driver had no face.

After witnessing the bizarre hand outside the vehicle, the scarred man had a deeper understanding of this live-stream world. It was not only fraught with danger but also filled with creatures defying scientific logic. As for the driver...

One of the reasons why the scarred man had wanted to escape the bus was his fear of the driver. It was now utterly impossible for him to approach and ask where the bus was headed.

"Go," the scarred man gritted his teeth.

Qin Fei stood up nonchalantly. "Sure."

Indeed, the burly man seemed to be greatly frightened, but Qin Fei didn't think he would encounter the same issue.

Xiao Xiao's eyes widened suddenly. "This... Isn't this a bad idea?"

The newbies on the bus might not know, but experienced players could tell at a glance that the burly man wasn't truly terrified. He had merely come into close contact with a Dark-type NPC, affecting his SAN value.

Within the player attribute panel lies a Sanity (San) attribute, which functions akin to a player's second life in regulated game worlds. Should one's Sanity be completely depleted, the individual is driven to madness and may even undergo a total metamorphosis, fusing irrevocably with the instance dungeon.

At this point, even with reliable teammates, it is impossible to leave the world governed by rules; one can only be perpetually trapped within the live broadcast.

Xiao Xiao's throat tightened with anxiety. Although Qin Fei appeared confident, the mental influence of dark-aligned NPCs could never be underestimated. High-level players with an initial Sanity (San) score above 90 might have the capacity to resist them, but for E-grade streamers like themselves, it was certainly out of the question.

Xiao Xiao could never have imagined that Qin Fei's current Sanity value wasn't just above 90, but had skyrocketed to an absurd 105.

He had assumed that Qin Fei was driven to take the risk by the scar's provocations, unable to back down. He lowered his voice and reminded Qin Fei, "Big Shot Qin, aren't you afraid?"

Qin Fei smiled gently. "I'm not afraid."

Xiao Xiao was perplexed. "Why?"

Qin Fei: "Because I am afflicted."

Xiao Xiao: "???"

I appreciate your intention to comfort me, but it's really not necessary.

Qin Fei didn't offer much explanation; he wasn't lying. He had indeed contracted a strange illness, and it was severe.

It was unclear when exactly it started, but Qin Fei had lost his "emotions."

At first, he lost only negative emotions – fear, sorrow, regret… Gradually, even positive emotions began to fade away.

Qin Fei could keenly sense that he was turning more and more into a living corpse – a body with flesh and blood, but without a soul.

He had visited numerous hospitals in the past two years, but they were of no help. As for psychiatrists – Qin Fei himself had an immense understanding of psychology. He had yet to find a therapist who could earn his trust and break through his psychological defenses.

Qin Fei attempted self-saving, seeking all sorts of stimulation, engaging in extreme sports, watching horror movies as if they were news broadcasts.

None of it worked. It was utterly useless.

This was the primary reason why Qin Fei left his original job to compete with the neighborhood committee aunts for work.

Moving steadily towards the driver's seat, Xiao Xiao clenched his fists, mustering his courage. Despite the considerable distance between them, he followed Qin Fei step by step.

The distance between them grew smaller and smaller.

Behind Qin Fei, the passengers held their breaths in nervous anticipation.

In front, the driver drove silently and calmly.

Despite the absurd spectacle unfolding behind him, the driver remained indifferent, his driving posture identical to when the passengers first regained consciousness. He seemed like a puppet or a lifeless corpse placed there without thoughts or vitality.

Qin Fei stood beside the driver and asked politely, "Sir, may I ask how much longer until we reach our destination?"

Polite, obedient, friendly.

Qin Fei adopted the expression that had always won over the neighborhood aunts, so reasonable and well-mannered that even the most nitpicky person couldn't find fault with it.

The driver ignored him, continuing to drive as if nothing had happened.

Qin Fei didn't get annoyed and tried again, "Sir, could you please tell me?"

Politeness x2.

It seemed Qin Fei's efforts were in vain. The man with the scar sneered maliciously.

Xiao Xiao looked embarrassed, but Qin Fei ignored him completely.

He asked again, "Sir, the driver?"

Politeness x3.

This time, the driver finally reacted.

Without turning his head, he stiffly removed his hand from the steering wheel. Under the watchful eyes of everyone on the bus, the driver slowly reached out and pressed a button on the dashboard.

A sharp, piercing electrical sound suddenly rang out, and through the bus's overhead speaker, a human voice began to speak intermittently.

"…You're a city office worker, and the fast-paced life has left you feeling weary and bored. During a holiday, you become intrigued by an isolated yet picturesque village in Xiangxi, a region known for its scenic beauty."

The voice was deep and resonant, like that of an old man seasoned by life, effortlessly capturing the attention of all the passengers on the bus.

"Although newspapers have reported yearly disappearances in this area, you didn't give it much thought. You paid a hefty travel fee and joined the best tour group."

Soon, the day of departure arrived, and you boarded the hostel bus with great joy, wandering through the mountains and forests. However, it was only the moment the bus came to a halt that you suddenly realized—

The broadcast cut off abruptly, leaving an unsettling silence to fill the cabin.

After a moment, amidst the crackling static of the snow, a voice that was completely different from before and indistinguishable in gender, rang out emotionlessly.

"Welcome %—— to the 'Night Wanderer in Western Hunan' tour group. In order to... *&—— ensure your personal safety and mental well-being, please take note of the following guidelines during your journey. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences yourself."

Xiao Xiao's face paled. "It's here."

The rules of this world have emerged.

Qin Fei stood with his hands hanging by his side next to the driver, blinking thoughtfully as if pondering something upon hearing the words.

"First, Xiangxi is remote and the mountain roads are difficult to travel. To avoid safety problems, please strictly follow the guide's instructions during this trip and do not travel alone."

"Secondly, there are 18 members in this tour group. Please conduct regular headcounts during the journey. If you notice an increase in the number of travelers, ignore it. A decrease in numbers is a normal occurrence. Should the count drop to six or fewer, return to the tour bus and dial the travel agency's emergency hotline for assistance. The agency will assign a new guide to the group."

"Third, you will take the bus provided by the hotel for round trip. Please do not leave your seat at will and do not stick your head or hands out of the window during the round trip. If you - remember, do not open the window! Do not open the window! It is not easy to open the window -"

The broadcast was interrupted by intense electromagnetic interference, causing Xiao Xiao's arm to prickle as if his goosebumps were fleeing en masse. Qin Fei, however, remained unperturbed.

The announcement continued.

"Four, during this journey, you will experience the most traditional customs of Western Hunan. Some of these traditions may include bloody, violent, or horrifying elements. If you find such content uncomfortable, please try to adapt and refrain from insulting or attacking the villagers.

"That concludes the essential information for all passengers. Your tour guide will provide a detailed itinerary and rules. Have a pleasant trip!"

The instant the bus's onboard announcement ceased, the vehicle came to an abrupt halt.

"We've – arrived –"

The driver spoke for the first time, his voice emerging from a face devoid of a mouth, producing a muffled and subtle echo. His voice was raspy and rough, like rusted metal scraping against a floor.

Accompanied by a screech, the front door of the bus automatically swung open.

In the veil of darkness, a faint silhouette stood outside the vehicle, holding an old electronic megaphone. The same message echoed repeatedly through it.

"The destination has been reached. Please disembark in an orderly manner—"

"Destination reached. Please alight in an orderly manner," the female voice of the system announced in Qin Fei's mind.

"Player's innate skill has been activated,"