Chapter 66: Werewolf Community 03

Chapter 66: Werewolf Community 03

Qin Fei stood in the elevator, staring at the stone in his hand with a peculiar expression.

A line of instructions floated in the air above the stone.

"Camp Heart (Red): Crush the Camp Heart to switch camps."

(Note: Current item status - Unusable)

The prompt didn't specify how to make the item usable. Qin Fei pondered for a moment before slipping it back into his pocket.

He didn't have an immediate need for it and had ample time to explore its functions.

He proceeded to examine his attribute panel. Below the text indicating he was on the Red team, there was a smaller line detailing the camp mission.

"Current Camp Mission: Find the ghost hiding within the werewolf community. Identifying a ghost earns one point, killing a ghost earns two points."

(Note: Incorrect identification will not deduct points, but the system guarantees you won't enjoy the consequences of such a mistake.)

This threat seemed even worse than the prospect of losing points.

Qin Fei gazed at the words on the attribute panel with an enigmatic expression.

A ghost...?

He recalled the scene at Wang Mingming's living room, the splattered blood and scattered body parts, as well as the twisted, rope-like necks of Wang Mingming's parents.

Qin Fei dismissed the attribute panel and refocused his attention on the elevator.

The narrow elevator descended slowly, its walls adorned with various advertisements and a persistent electronic speaker playing music in the background.

No different from the ordinary elevators Qin Fei had experienced in the real world.

Beauty treatments, hair transplants, home cleaning services... Qin Fei's gaze swept past these flyers before finally settling on a notice posted in a corner of the elevator.

It was a pink sheet of paper with black typewritten text.

"Call for Summer Volunteers in the Werewolf Community"

Starting from July 1st, our community will be hosting a group of 28 visitors for a one-month provincial travel program. We are currently seeking volunteers within the community.

Volunteer responsibilities include:

1. At 7:30 AM on July 1st, greet and guide the visiting tour group to the Activity Center located in the southwest of our community.

(Note: Beds have been prepared in advance. Detailed arrangements can be found inside the Activity Center.)

2. Demonstrate kindness and enthusiasm by warmly accommodating the tourists for the following two weeks, serving as a bridge for communication between the visitors and the community.

(Important Note in bold: This hosting event is a crucial factor in our community's bid for the city's Civilized Community Award. We encourage everyone to actively participate!)

July 1st.

28 participants.

Out-of-town travel group.

Qin Fei's eyes flickered, a guess forming in his heart.

The journey to the ground floor from the fourth was a blink of an eye.

With a gentle "ding," the elevator arrived at the first level and the doors slowly opened.

Wang Mingming's building was situated right in the center of the community. On the left side of the ground floor lobby was the werewolf community's property management center.

A large crowd had gathered right in front of the property center. The moment Qin Fei stepped out of the elevator, the cacophony of noise almost engulfed him.

Qin Fei paused, observing them from a few meters away.

It was clearly a group of players, as Qin Fei recognized more than one familiar face among them.

Lin Ye.

San Tu, Ghost Fire.

And... Butterfly, along with his puppets.

Isn't this coincidence a bit too much?

With thousands of participants in a tournament, how could they all converge here?

Qin Fei's eyes flickered, and that feeling of being targeted by the system resurfaced from the depths of his heart.

At this moment, the players were standing in small groups, all wearing identical red-and-white striped T-shirts.

On their heads were yellow sun hats with an ugly font embroidery across them:

"Jincheng Travel Agency Exclusive."

Jincheng Travel Agency.

This somewhat familiar name caught Qin Fei's attention.

However, this time, there was no tour guide or anyone resembling one among the crowd.

Qin Fei counted the number of people present—precisely twenty-eight.

The system didn't disclose the total number of players participating in the instance dungeon.

However, based on the available information, Qin Fei had undoubtedly drawn a minority status.

Whether it was good or bad remained to be seen.

As it was an R-rated instance dungeon, the disparity among players was tremendous. Despite their identical attire, one could easily distinguish the difference between high and low-level players merely from their demeanor.

Moreover, there seemed to be a few complete newcomers who were entering the instance dungeon for the first time.

— Qin Fei could tell because an old man with wrinkles was standing there, loudly shouting,

"Where is this? Who are you all!?"

He appeared extremely frightened, tugging at his clothes in a panic. "What purpose do you have for bringing me here??"

Beside him stood a few others who seemed just as bewildered and helpless as he was.

Though they didn't react as strongly as the elderly man, they were equally confused. A thin girl with twin braids was softly weeping.

The scene was exceptionally chaotic.

An experienced player attempted to communicate with the flailing elderly man, but the latter seemed highly resistant to his surroundings, repelling the gamer forcefully, almost violently: "Get away! Don't touch me, you kidnappers!"

This person was far too agitated!

The veteran gamer spat irritably into the air, no longer bothering with the elderly man.

They entered an R-rated instance dungeon on their first try.

It was uncertain whether this guy was fortunate or unfortunate.

"What on earth is this place?"

None of the newbies dared to speak up, but eventually, the twin-tailed girl, having wiped away her tears, asked softly.

To be honest, the seasoned players weren't particularly eager to respond.

But this was, after all, a team competition. At this point, they didn't know which faction each other belonged to. What if these newbies were on their side?

If they all remained silent now, and the newcomers ended up dead, what would happen to their own team, left without any members?

Though it was highly likely that the newbies wouldn't be of much use.

Still, the living were always better than the dead.

Another seasoned player resigned herself to the task and stepped forward. This time, she deliberately avoided the emotionally unstable old man and spoke directly to the girl with twin braids.

"Did any of you hear the system prompt just now?"

The newcomers gathered around, and even the elderly man, after some hesitation, joined them.

Hearing the experienced player's question, they all nodded in unison.

"My name is Cui Ran. This is a survival horror live stream..."

Cui Ran tried to condense a great deal of information into a concise explanation for the newcomers.

"...In short, this place is extremely dangerous, and death lurks at every turn." She lowered her voice, as if issuing both a warning and a threat.

Qin Fei noticed that Cui Ran hadn't informed the newcomers that losing in the team battles wouldn't cost them their lives.

After summarizing the key points, Cui Ran cleared her throat and donned a friendly smile to conceal her scheming gaze. "Now, you can open your attribute panels and check your factions and missions."

—Up until this point, all players only knew about their own faction's information.

They were unaware of the factions of those around them or what missions the opposing factions had.

Cui Ran was a young woman in her twenties, with a delicate and refined appearance. Her skin was evenly tanned, and her long, straight brown hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her clear and resounding voice easily won over the favor of the new players.

Seeing the new players checking their attribute panels, she casually asked, "So, how is it? Did you see anything?"

A crew-cut male player nodded vigorously in response. "Yes, yes, I saw it! It says I'm in the Red Team and I have to catch... a ghost??"

His voice faded, and his expression turned fearful.

The moment he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as if several wolves were glaring at him fiercely!

The male player shivered and turned around.

Those gazes faded away as the veteran players behind him bowed their heads, lost in their own thoughts.

"Cui Ran, what about you? Which faction are you in?" He pressed his lips together, eager to extract more information, then smiled warmly at the girl with twin braids sitting before him.

Yet, her eyes flickered.

She evaded Cui Ran's question, choosing to remain silent.

Silence flowed through the air, but the smile on Cui Ran's face remained unchanged.

She took a half-step back, rejoining the ranks of the seasoned players as if she hadn't noticed the resentful gazes directed at her back.

Everyone on the Red Team now despised Cui Ran with a passion.

They couldn't understand why, after educating the newcomers, she had to stir up trouble for no reason?

Initially, both the Red and White Teams stood on equal footing, with their respective information unknown to each other.

The Red Team was curious about the White Team's knowledge, and vice versa.

Everyone could have employed methods like "writing anonymous notes on paper, mixing them up, and then circulating them" – ways that wouldn't reveal individual players' affiliations while still allowing communication between them.

But now, all of that had been ruined by those two idiots.

The Red Team players' gazes were like knives, silently slicing across Cui Ran and the male newbie who was clueless about the situation.

They were incredibly frustrated, but for the sake of not exposing their identities, they couldn't say anything.

Looking at Cui Ran's demeanor, she seemed to be on the White Team, right? Otherwise, how could she maintain such a calm expression after the bald man revealed the Red Team's mission?

Then again, it wasn't a certainty.

Maybe she was just good at disguising herself.

She even deliberately asked the girl with twin ponytails, trying to prompt others to reveal more about the White Team's secrets.

Now, every member of the Red Team was extremely agitated, while the White Team players appeared thoughtful, each calculating their next move in their minds.

Qin Fei, without spending a single penny, had witnessed a free spectacle of chaos.

Even though Qin Fei was also part of the Red Team whose cover had been blown, his mood wasn't as grim as that of most of the other Red Team players.

From the reaction of the players just now, he had more or less inferred the nature of the White Team's mission, and concluded that Cui Ran's actions wouldn't significantly impact the Red Team.

Observing that the commotion over there was nearing its end, Qin Fei reached out and clenched his fist, placing it against his lips to cough softly twice.

The commotion immediately drew the attention of everyone present. In an instant, dozens of eyes, filled with surprise, curiosity, or wariness, landed on Qin Fei.

Qin Fei emerged gracefully from the shadows around the corner.

A slight commotion erupted among the opposing players. Moments later, a refined and amiable middle-aged man stepped forward, his demeanor as pleasant as a gentle spring breeze. "Hello, may I ask who you are?"

Qin Fei nodded at the man, speaking with a mild tone. "Nice to meet you all, my name is Wang Mingming."

As his words echoed, question marks popped above Lin Ye's and Ghost Fire Sanzu's heads.

Fortunately, they were quick to recompose themselves, preventing anyone else from noticing their confusion.

Qin Fei wore a soft, obedient smile on his face, complemented by his school uniform, which made him appear entirely like a gentle-mannered high school boy.

"You must be the out-of-province travel group temporarily staying in our community, right?" Qin Fei crossed his arms in front of his chest.

His words carried a hint of uneasiness on his face, revealing a subtle nervousness. "I'm a volunteer for the werewolf community, in charge of accommodating and arranging your stay during these days. Please follow me!"

Lin Ye and the others were taken aback. What was Qin Fei trying to imply?

The other players didn't recognize Qin Fei either.

Upon entering the instance dungeon, they had all instantly appeared at the entrance of the property management office, dressed in identical clothes and wearing the same hats. The group consisted of men, women, young, old, and players of varying ranks, with an even number of people.

It was only natural for everyone to assume that this travel group comprised all the players.

Influenced by their preconceived notions, they seemed to have mistaken Qin Fei for an NPC.

They immediately gathered behind Qin Fei.

Some started attempting to strike up a conversation with him.

Qin Fei's behavior was that of a typical guiding NPC, ignoring topics unrelated to his role.

He led the tour group out of Wang Mingming's apartment building.

Upon stepping outside, the players realized that the werewolf community had an excellent environment.

It was an old-fashioned neighborhood, with residential buildings that seemed to be over a decade old, all around ten stories high. The exterior walls had been renovated within the last couple of years, still appearing freshly painted and clean.

The landscaping within the community was well-maintained, with neatly trimmed and attractive plants scattered everywhere. Residents strolled along the sidewalks, their faces beaming with smiles.

Not far from Wang Mingming's building, there was a commercial street nestled between two rows of residential buildings on the first and second floors. It featured restaurants, barber shops, pet stores, massage parlors – you name it.

As it was still early, many stores on the commercial street were yet to open, giving the area a somewhat desolate appearance.

As they walked, the players craned their necks, observing intently.

Despite the system's announcement that the neighborhood was haunted according to the game rules, there was no visible sign of it at all.

Searching for "ghosts" in such an incredibly realistic place, which resembled an ordinary neighborhood in the real world, wasn't as terrifying as fleeing through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. However, it carried its own eerie discomfort that sent shivers down their spines.

This was particularly evident in the four new players, who followed closely behind Cui Ran, unwilling to be left behind even for a moment.

In truth, Qin Fei wasn't sure where the werewolf community's activity center was located.

But he did know his directions.

He chose a main road heading west and soon spotted a signpost guiding the way within the community on the roadside.

Qin Fei subtly adjusted their path according to the sign, leading the group to the entrance of the activity center in no time.

At the entrance, a few grandpas and grandmas were seated, fanning themselves. Upon seeing the group approach, they began chatting in Mandarin infused with local dialect.

"This must be that out-of-town tour group, huh."

"How long are they staying?"

"Sounds like they're here for half a month."

An elderly lady waved at Qin Fei, "Mingming, why are you the one bringing them here? Have you become a community volunteer?"

Qin Fei didn't expect his identity as Wang Mingming to still be effective even after leaving Wang Mingming's home.

This seemed to bring him considerable convenience. He nodded at the grandma, "Yeah, good morning."

The grandpas and grandmas muttered compliments like "Mingming is such a good child" and "the whole Mingming family has great qualities," then continued basking in the sun.

This little episode further convinced the players of Qin Fei's identity.

The community activity center was built separately in a corner of the neighborhood, consisting of two floors. The first floor was occupied by a senior activity room, a community reading room, and a residents' meeting hall.

The second floor, originally intended for some other purpose, had now been cleared out and was neatly arranged with folding beds, each equipped with bedding.

The players approached individually. Some chose their sleeping spots, while others wandered around the activity center, hoping to discover any rules or clues.

Sure enough, on the wall near the entrance, there was a poster titled "Instructions for Using the Werewolf Community Activity Center":

1. The Werewolf Community Activity Center is open 24/7.

2. There are no staff members within the Activity Center.

3. There are no restrooms inside the Activity Center.

(Note: Should you require restroom facilities, please walk 500 meters to the left and use Community Toilet No. 1.)

4. The Activity Center comprises solely of a Senior Citizens' Lounge, a Community Reading Room, and a Residents' Meeting Room. Other rooms may occasionally contain miscellaneous items; please refrain from moving them without permission.

5. Due to aged wiring, the lighting facilities in the Activity Center are suboptimal. Caution is advised after dark.

The presence of this notice serves as a clear indication:

There is something worth exploring within the Activity Center.

It's highly possible that there's a ghost.

Around ten players gathered around the rules, each mentally strategizing their next move.

Having finished reading the notices on the wall, these people moved to the back to choose their bunks.

The earlier players had already claimed their spots.

Some experienced players took out some spare, moderately valuable clothing from their personal spaces and placed them on the beds as markers. Others spread out blankets or put hats on top of the bunks.

All the beds seemed identical, so people chose rather casually, without any disputes arising.

However, the player who was the slowest was stopped when he approached the last bed.

"Hey, that's the spot I claimed just now," the one who blocked his way said.

"Huh?"

The blocked player furrowed his brow.

"But, it seems there aren't any other unoccupied beds here."

Upon hearing this, the blocker also appeared confused. He counted and realized that indeed, there were only 27 beds in the room.

He turned his head to look at Qin Fei, who stood by the door.

Before he could even ask, a player who hadn't managed to secure a bed had already answered the unspoken question, "There seems to be a foldable bed in the corner over there."

The foldable bed was still closed, folded neatly in the corner, accompanied by a large cardboard box nearby, filled with neatly stacked bedding, blankets, and pillows.

Both players then approached together, unfolding the last bed and placing it beside the others.

The issue was resolved smoothly and effortlessly.

Players in the room exchanged glances, many of them appearing perplexed.

These few were absolute newcomers or F-rated players who had just started streaming for one or two sessions. It was their first time participating in an R-rated competition, so they were still somewhat lost.

The refined middle-aged man who had conversed with Qin Fei at the property entrance stepped forward, "The accommodation issue has been sorted out. Why don't we take a stroll around the community first?"

His words were tactfully put. The so-called "stroll" was actually a suggestion for each of them to embark on their respective faction missions.

Indeed, the main reason for participating in the stream was to complete missions. Apart from that, there was nothing else for them to do.

Despite the fact that many of the lower-level players present had joined the competition with the mindset of muddling through, hoping to survive this instance without any effort and gain some extra survival time, they all understood that they needed to at least put on a show.

Otherwise, it would reflect poorly on them in the live stream. If the system were to determine their behavior as passive or unengaged, it might impose challenging maneuvers on them.

The players nodded in agreement.

At this moment, something unexpected occurred that nobody could have anticipated.

The new recruit, the elderly man who had caused a commotion in front of the property center, suddenly started to make a fuss again.

"Where are you going?! Leaving me, an old man, all alone here?!"

Some seasoned players couldn't help turning back, addressing him with a tone that was a mix of mockery and advice. "Old man, don't make a scene. Quickly search for clues. If you don't figure out the rules of this game, you'll be the first one to die."

Upon hearing this, the elderly man became even more agitated. "What? People have died here?"

It seemed as if he hadn't absorbed a single word from Cui Ran's rapid explanation earlier.

"No, no, I can't figure out what game you young folks are playing. I still need to go home and cook for my spouse," he grumbled, heading towards the staircase. "I have to go home, I really do…"

Some players attempted to stop him but were held back by their companions.

The old man seemed stubborn, unyielding, and difficult to communicate with. It was futile to try to persuade him, so they decided to let him be.

After all, he was elderly and appeared somewhat confused. Even if he were on their side, he wouldn't be of any assistance.

However, seasoned players knew well that in a scenario where the live broadcast's boundaries were clearly confined to the "neighborhood," players couldn't simply leave the area.

Attempting to forcefully depart would likely trigger a deadly consequence.

Some displayed sympathetic expressions, while the majority remained indifferent, detached from the situation.

Following the elderly man's lead, the players started filing out of the community center.

Qin Fei weighed his options—returning home immediately to verify if Wang Mingming's parents were ghosts or exploring the outside world. Eventually, he decided to join the main group of players as they headed towards the residential area.

After all, Wang Mingming's home was now Qin Fei's, and he could return anytime he wished; there was no need to rush.

Outside the community center, the sun above grew brighter by the minute.

Many players stood at the crossroads, hesitating over which direction to take.

In contrast, that elderly man didn't even glance at the road sign or ask for directions. He charged forward with single-minded determination, leaving only his departing back view for others to see.

Unlike the ignored elder, Qin Fei was exceptionally popular among the players.

From time to time, someone would attempt to strike up a conversation with him, but he would simply smile in response, ignoring them all.

"Hello, Wang Mingming. I have a question for you. Has anything unusual happened in this neighborhood recently?"

A persistent player clung to Qin Fei's side, determined not to leave until he received an answer.

Qin Fei had no choice but to respond.

He shook his head, resting his hand under his chin as if in deep thought.

"I don't think so… but then again, who knows? It's just the start of summer break, and I've only recently returned from school, so I'm not too sure."

Qin Fei had flipped through the calendar in Wang Mingming's bedroom; it was high summer in July, the peak of the vacation period.

His tone was genuine, with no hint of fabrication. Coupled with the blue-and-white school uniform he wore, his words carried a strong sense of credibility.

The player who had asked him the question wore a visible look of disappointment. "Oh, I see. Sorry to bother you then."

However, he still refused to believe that this NPC wouldn't give away any clues.

He wanted to ask more questions, but before he could open his mouth, Lin Ye, who had been trailing behind the group, suddenly pushed his way forward.

Using his elbow, Lin Ye nudged past the others and approached Qin Fei. "Wang Mingming, what are you planning to do now?"

Qin Fei looked at Lin Ye with a smile. "Right now? I'm going to have breakfast."

Lin Ye smoothly continued the conversation. "I haven't had breakfast either, and I'm feeling a bit hungry."

Then, he changed the subject. "Wang Mingming, are you a student?"

Qin Fei nodded.

Lin Ye said, "I'm also a student. I'm in my second year of high school. What about you?"

Qin Fei chuckled. "I'm in my second year of high school too."

Then, he took the initiative to invite, "You said you're hungry. Would you like to join me for breakfast? We can chat while we eat."

What's going on? Did he just strike up a conversation with an NPC?

The players who were pushed aside were collectively stunned.

This young man was really quick on his feet!

Although Wang Mingming seemed like a simple guide NPC with limited knowledge,

still, he was an NPC after all. With a few more questions, they could eventually uncover some information.

Moreover, although Wang Mingming's attitude was neutral, it was already quite rare compared to other NPCs.

The grandpas and grandmas fanning themselves at the entrance of the Activity Center had also been approached just now, but they completely ignored those who tried to ask them.

The players immediately wore envious and jealous expressions.