Chapter 87: Werewolf Community 24

Chapter 87: Werewolf Community 24

What on earth is this thing??

Mi Yang stared at the two lines of text, grinding his molars in frustration.

Footsteps echoed from the stairs, and Mi Yang looked up.

Qin Fei was descending the steps with the B-Rank player Tao Zheng, followed by Wang Mingming's parents.

The elderly couple had no objections to their son suddenly wanting to take this "toy" away. After all, they had been randomly capturing toys in the neighborhood based on their whims. If their son took this one, they could simply catch a new one—no big deal.

As long as it pleased their son, why not?

Tao Zheng stepped unevenly down the stairs, his face filled with bewilderment.

He had been carried upstairs like a hog by two NPCs; he never expected to be able to walk down on his own two feet.

It was almost surreal for Tao Zheng to have escaped that nightmare-like tiny black room that had trapped him for an entire day so effortlessly. He felt as if he were dreaming.

Although Tao Zheng understood that Qin Fei's ability to come and go from the room freely must be due to the identity card he drew, the psychological shadow left by those two NPCs was too profound. Even now, seeing them behave submissively, Tao Zheng couldn't help but look at Qin Fei with awe.

A true big shot! Qin Fei truly lived up to his reputation!

Mi Yang had been particularly restless ever since Qin Fei revealed himself.

That damned favorability rating was wreaking havoc within him without any regard. Previously, even through the NPC's perspective, Mi Yang found it difficult to resist. Now, with Qin Fei standing right in front of him, Mi Yang horrifiedly realized that he had an uncontrollable urge to rush forward and fiercely kiss Qin Fei.

Mi Yang's expression cracked.

He forced himself to look away, raised his hand, and covered his eyes with force.

When he looked at Qin Fei again, his desire to kiss him hadn't lessened in the slightest.

On the contrary, it grew even stronger.

The sensation was peculiar; although it was an impulse to kiss, it bore no resemblance to the sensual entanglements typically found between adults.

It was incredibly wholesome.

Sunny.

Uplifting.

An hour ago, Miyang had found Qin Fei's handsome and delicate face particularly irritating.

Now, he found it incredibly endearing.

So endearing that Miyang couldn't bear to look directly at him. Just the thought of the nickname "Feifei" filled his chest with a lush and vibrant emotion.

That emotion could perhaps be described as affectionate tenderness.

Miyang had become a mother without any pain, leaving him with indescribable feelings.

Miyang: "I really want to spoil him."

Mi Yang was utterly helpless about his current state.

The theft had been completed, and the condition was irreversible. Mi Yang was well aware that within this instance, he would be constantly blushing and swooning over Princess Feifei without a break.

Despair!

The black-haired youth agonizingly hugged his head with both hands, squatting on the ground.

He couldn't comprehend why this was happening. This had never occurred before. Was there something poisonous about Feifei?

Tao Zheng descended the stairs and saw someone squatting in distress, instinctively observing their face.

Upon recognizing the person's appearance, Tao Zheng's mouth dropped in surprise.

He had watched last year's exhibition match, and he could even be considered half a fan of Mi Yang's.

Now that Mi Yang revealed his true appearance, Tao Zheng immediately identified him.

"Big shot Mi Yang!" Tao Zheng was somewhat delighted. Not everyone had the chance to meet their idol in an instance.

Mi Yang covered his face with both hands, his voice tinged with resentment escaping through the gaps between his fingers, "… I’m not."

He was now too afraid to even lift his gaze, fearing he might lose control and rush towards Feifei at any moment.

Tao Zheng: "?"

Were all these big shots nowadays this low-key?

It was understandable that the one who saved him downstairs remained anonymous, but why wouldn't the person he finally recognized admit it?

Worried that he might have said something wrong, causing the other party's displeasure, Tao Zheng stepped back hesitantly.

Qin Fei looked at Mi Yang in surprise.

Before they went upstairs just now, Qin Fei had thought that Mi Yang would want to follow, but he didn't.

Back then, with his composed demeanor, Qin Fei realized that Mi Yang must have been able to obtain some information remotely using his innate ability.

So, what was going on now?

Has Mi Yang managed to uncover what he was seeking?

If he did, then why does he still wear a gloomy and aggrieved expression as if he's sprouting mushrooms?

Or could it be that he's devastated by the revelation that Wang Mingming's family has no connection with the hidden mission?

Qin Fei approached and gently tapped Mi Yang's waist with the tip of his foot. "Hey."

How long does he plan on lingering in his house?

"You...?"

Upon Qin Fei's proximity, Mi Yang struggled to control his tongue once more.

He quickly covered his mouth, taking a large step back. His originally slender and sharp phoenix eyes widened in indignation, glaring fiercely at Qin Fei's face.

It was as if he wished to bore a hole through Qin Fei's visage with his glare.

Qin Fei: "?"

What's wrong with him now?

Qin Fei raised one eyebrow higher than the other, "Me?"

Mi Yang looked annoyed and slightly ashamed as he hissed softly, "What kind of spell have you put on me?!"

Qin Fei: "???"

Qin Fei thought Mi Yang was acting strange and decided to ignore him.

With the garbage collection schedule that Tao Zheng had given him in hand, he strode confidently towards the door.

Qin Fei intended to meet up with Lin Ye and the others.

Seeing Qin Fei leaving, Tao Zheng naturally didn't dare to stay any longer.

Unexpectedly, Mi Yang also subconsciously stood up.

He followed Qin Fei like a puppy, but after a few steps, he pulled himself together, pouting, and pretended to be calm as he walked out slowly.

This scene fell upon Tao Zheng's eyes, making him more convinced that Qin Fei was an unassuming powerhouse.

Even A-class celebrity players were vying for his attention!

Staring at the back of Qin Fei's head, Tao Zheng hesitated for a while. When the three of them entered the elevator together, he finally couldn't resist asking, "Big shot, can I follow you later?"

Seeing Qin Fei look up at him, Tao Zheng quickly added, "I promise to be obedient and do whatever you tell me."

He would strike where directed, never steal credit, and be a high-quality helper.

Tao Zheng was self-aware. He had spent the whole day in the black room and knew nothing about the current situation outside.

With his individual abilities, it was impossible for him to achieve any significant results if he tried to feel his way forward slowly.

Someone like Qin Fei, Tao Zheng didn't believe he wouldn't be interested in hidden missions.

Moreover, Tao Zheng was still a B-class player. His high rank wasn't just for show.

Despite having only completed one ghost-hunting mission, he could vaguely sense that the scrapyard information he had given Qin Fei was crucial.

In short, Tao Zheng's current goal was clear:

Hug the thighs of the big shots.

Even if they were eating meat, he hoped to at least sip some of the broth.

Tao Zheng had no intention of blindly wandering around and ending up with nothing but scraps to lick.

Mi Yang stood by, watching coldly as this absurd scene unfolded before him, utterly stunned.

He knew everything that had transpired in Wang Mingming's second-story black room.

He had witnessed Tao Zheng being completely swayed by a player two levels lower than him, and now, Tao Zheng seemed ready to treat every meaningless word from the other player as gospel, behaving like an obsequious bootlicker.

Recalling how Feifei had, with just a few words, compelled him to become the vanguard in the haunted building No. 14, Mi Yang found it hard to express his feelings at this moment.

This Princess...

Truly skilled in persuasion!

Mi Yang's two eyes were like they had been smeared with glue, his gaze stubbornly glued to Qin Fei.

When Qin Fei turned left, he looked left.

When Qin Fei turned right, he looked right.

This obvious abnormal behavior soon piqued Qin Fei's curiosity.

Their eyes met, and Qin Fei's gaze fell on Mi Yang.

Mi Yang immediately trembled all over.

His upper and lower lips brushed against each other, and a strange word slipped out, "Ba-"

Reacting swiftly, Mi Yang raised his hand and slapped his own mouth with a "pia."

Then, he forced a rather strained smile, "Ba-Bao... bless us, may the heavens help us clear this dungeon quickly."

Qin Fei & Tao Zheng: "?"

How could this person seem more and more abnormal?

Qin Fei stared at Mi Yang in confusion for a while.

Surrounded by his beloved's gaze, Mi Yang felt increasingly uncomfortable all over.

If he had to describe it, it was as if he was uncontrollably experiencing happiness.

Happy to the point of feeling like he was submerged in a tub of warm water, with his arm pores relaxing.

This strange sensation of forced happiness imposed by the system was bizarre. Whenever his gaze drifted towards Qin Fei, the corners of Mi Yang's mouth couldn't help but curve upward.

Yet, at the same time, that tiny shred of self-awareness left within him was frantically screaming for help! Help!

Mi Yang's heart turned cold.

Never before had he, in any instance within a dungeon, recognized so clearly and vividly that he was done for.

He was done for, completely defeated.

Now, his preferences and life were bound to this D-class player before him.

The overwhelming affection was too intense.

Mi Yang even had a premonition that if Princess Feifei asked him to die at this moment, he wouldn't have the strength to resist.

The three of them stepped out of the elevator and through the entrance of Building 12. Despite it being the height of summer outside, Mi Yang felt as if he were in the midst of an icy winter.

The tug-of-war between "happiness" and "chilling cold" was tearing Mi Yang apart mentally.

His dazed state contrasted sharply with Tao Zheng's submissive yet eager demeanor.

The viewers in the live stream were still clueless at this point.

"What's going on with the boss???"

"I give up, can someone please explain the current situation?"

"Don't just stare at our leader; Butterfly and the others are coming this way!"

Indeed, Butterfly was making his way toward Building 12.

Just as Qin Fei, Tao Zheng, and Mi Yang turned the corner of the central square, the group approached the entrance to the building.

The towering trees near the kindergarten concealed their figures, so when Mi Yang reached Building 12, he only caught sight of a few vague silhouettes disappearing into the distance.

Butterfly narrowed his eyes.

The tall man wore an ominous expression.

He had already changed back into his usual outfit worn outside the instance dungeon - a golden-threaded butterfly robe that shimmered in the sunlight.

For some reason, Butterfly felt a subtle sense of danger lurking around him.

It hovered near, yet proved elusive to grasp.

Before he could ponder further, the elevator inside the building descended rapidly, its doors opening to reveal the puppet he had dispatched upstairs rushing out hastily.

"Lord Butterfly! Lord Butterfly!"

He hurriedly approached the butterfly, kneeling on one knee to report to his master,

"One of the low-ranking players sent ahead has become entangled in a mission and has yet to complete it. Furthermore..."

He paused, his eyes shimmering with excitement,

"Third Brother found a significant clue on the fourth floor of this building. Lord, please ascend for an inspection."

Significant clue.

These four words captured the butterfly's attention, distracting it from pondering the strangeness of the three figures it had just seen. It then stepped forward, entering Building 12.

...

In a deserted path near the edge of the community, Qin Fei was making his way towards the activity center.

The afternoon was waning, and the sun no longer shone with blinding intensity.

When Qin Fei arrived at the activity center, it was deserted, with all players having ventured out for their ghost-hunting missions.

Fortunately, there was a certain degree of rapport between Qin Fei and Lin Ye. Qin Fei didn't have to wait long before encountering Lin Ye returning with the San Tu Ghost Fire.

Seeing two unfamiliar faces behind Qin Fei, Lin Ye was taken aback.

Qin Fei raised his hand, signaling him to relax.

"This is our new teammate," Qin Fei introduced with a smile to the trio, "Tao Zheng, a B-level player."

A B-level player? That was on par with Xue Jiqing.

In this instance, it was considered one of the top tiers. Why would such a player choose to join them?

Curiously, Lin Ye glanced over Tao Zheng but wasn't overly astonished.

In Lin Ye's estimation, Qin Fei's charisma transcended player rankings; it wouldn't be surprising if he could attract anyone.

However, Qin Fei had introduced only one person from the two standing behind him.

Does that imply the other party isn't exactly an ally?

Lin Ye looked at Mi Yang with a hint of caution in his eyes.

Mi Yang felt incredibly wronged!

Tao Zheng's damn player agreement was worthless. High-ranking players could still find ways to tread the line of the rules even if they signed it.

Unlike him!

Now, with the heart of a doting parent, Mijiang was entirely devoted to Princess Feifei. He was confident that even if everyone in this instance betrayed that young man, he would never do anything to harm him.

Not that I don't want to, but simply because I can't.

Mi Yang raised his hand to press on the middle of someone's nose.

When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Miyang's bizarre behavior resembled that of someone mentally unstable. With an odd expression, Lin Ye glanced at him a few times and asked Qin Fei, "Have you taken care of your business over there?"

Qin Fei nodded, bringing along an uplifting piece of news: "Our new team member has obtained the identity card of a garbage station worker."

Lin Ye's eyes instantly lit up. "That's fantastic!"

The young man touched the tip of his nose, appearing somewhat abashed. "This afternoon, I still haven't found any useful information."

All possible questions have been asked, yet no fruitful insights have been gained.

In the end, the three of them decided to split up and take separate paths.

Lin Ye crouched on the commercial street, attempting to wait passively for his prey, hoping that the old lady from the dumpster would reappear.

Phantom Fire had gone to complete a mission.

As for San Tu, he was hovering behind Butterfly and Strange Wonder's two teams.

Lin Ye had waited anxiously all afternoon, and upon hearing fresh news about the dumpster, he instantly became excited.

He wanted to inquire Qin Fei about the specifics, but as he glanced at Mi Yang, he hesitated.

Qin Fei caught sight of this and gave Tao Zheng a glance.

Tao Zheng was incredibly perceptive; he immediately grasped Qin Fei's intention.

Although Mi Yang was an A-level player and half an idol to Tao Zheng, Tao Zheng was a person with clear priorities.

Since he had sought refuge under Qin Fei, he naturally had to follow his lead.

With a twist of his wrist, Tao Zheng retrieved a crystal-clear glass ball from his personal space and smashed it onto the ground with a 'pah!'

With a 'puff,' the glass ball shattered, giving birth to a massive, translucent bubble that enveloped not only Tao Zheng but also the other four people within it.

This item was called the Spatial Bubble, belonging to the same series as the protective bubble Mi Yang had once used in Ghost Building No. 14.

Unlike the protective bubble, the Spatial Bubble lacked a shield effect and could not fend off attacks. However, it could blur the figures of players inside and completely muffle any sound within the bubble.

Mi Yang could no longer hear their conversation; isolated outside, he wore a resentful expression but didn't know how to react.

"Well done," Qin Fei praised Tao Zheng's ability to read cues, almost suspecting that Tao Zheng had previously been a professional yes-man.

At Qin Fei's gesture, Tao Zheng took the lead and began to introduce the basics of the waste collection station.

"Werewolf Community's waste disposal site is a unique location with six different sites in total. Each site operates during different time periods."

Tao Zheng explained.

Qin Fei pulled out the schedule Tao Zheng had given him and laid it out before the four of them.

"Schedules for the Werewolf Community Waste Disposal Sites"

Morning 6:00~6:30 - North Gate of the Community

Morning 9:00~9:30 - Northwest Corner of the Community

Noon 12:00~12:30 - West Gate of the Community

Evening 6:00~6:30 - South Gate of the Community

Evening 9:00~9:30 - Southeast Corner of the Community

12:00 to 12:30 AM - Central Plaza of the Community

"I've only been to the two garbage stations in the northwest corner and by the west gate, where I did some basic cleaning outside. I haven't entered the interiors," Tao Zheng said.

He elaborated, "On the first morning of the instance dungeon, I encountered an NPC old lady who was in charge of the community's garbage stations. She only assigned me with the task of cleaning the exterior areas."

Although the interior of the garbage stations seemed ripe for exploration, Tao Zheng, considering it was the early stages of the dungeon, decided to proceed cautiously and not rush into things.

To his surprise, it wasn't long before he was caught by Wang Mingming's parents.

Lin Ye suddenly realized, "No wonder the different residents pointed us in various directions."

It turned out that the garbage dumps were not limited to just one location.

However, the locations pointed out by the residents were all incorrect, differing from what Tao Zheng's chart indicated.

Phantom Fire scoffed, "Brother, you truly are a player destined for the spotlight."

What kind of incredible luck was required to draw such an identity card?

Without breaking a sweat, he could access the core secrets that other players fought tooth and nail for.

Worse still, without obtaining this schedule, players would continue to wander aimlessly like headless flies even after completing all the ghost-hunting missions in the community.

Tao Zheng had essentially started the game at the finish line of others.

Tao Zheng smiled bitterly. He now knew what he had missed, but it was too late to regret.

It was almost five o'clock, meaning he could only explore three more garbage stations today at most.

There was still over an hour before the garbage station near the South Gate opened. San Tu then shared her observations from the afternoon.

San Tu said, "I followed Butterfly and the others discreetly this afternoon, and I noticed that Butterfly never took action during their missions."

Butterfly had brought three puppets, assigning two of them to complete every task.

Based on the increase in scores on the attribute panel, San Tu was certain that those two puppets were part of the White Team.

"Moreover, it's likely that the four people Xue Jiqing brought with him are also on the White Team," Ghost Fire added.

After a full day of back-and-forth on the second day, the gap between the Red and White Teams had become enormous.

"Red Team: White Team = 32:67"

With a thirty-five-point difference after just two days, it would be challenging to bridge the gap going forward.

San Tu frowned. "The score started to diverge this morning, and the gap widened even more in the afternoon. I suspect that some players have used items to switch teams."

With the widening margin between the two teams, it was inevitable that someone from the Red Team would succumb to using such an item.

As for how one obtained this mysterious item, it remained a mystery to all present.

Aside from Qin Fei, who had simply taken one from Wang Mingming's pocket at the beginning, none of the others had found a Team Core.

"After some consideration, I speculate that this item might be a random drop from the system. Players could acquire it during ghost hunting or while exploring dungeons," San Tu mused aloud.

San Tu held a reasonable suspicion: every player who had received the Red Team's Camp Heart seemed to have defected to the White Team this afternoon.

With the mighty duo of Butterfly and Xue Qijing in command, the White Team's ultimate victory had become the prevailing mindset among the players.

Tao Zheng ventured cautiously, "So... which camp are all of you from?"

Ghost Fire replied, "We're all from the Red Team."

Tao Zheng's face fell.

He had just been rejoicing in being part of the White Team, but in an instant, he realized he was now the odd one out in this group.

Qin Fei gave a half-smile and pulled an object from his pocket, tossing it to Tao Zheng.

Tao Zheng caught it and froze when he read the item's description.

"For me?" He pointed at his own nose in disbelief.

Qin Fei's demeanor was nonchalant. "Use it if you want."

It's fine if you don't want to use it.

Tao Zheng was utterly conflicted.

The White Faction currently held a clear advantage. If he utilized this item, he would have to join the weaker Red Faction.

But if he didn't use the item...

Tao Zheng had also understood from Qin Fei's words that their team was making the fastest progress on the hidden quest within the instance dungeon.

Once the hidden quest was completed, the point ratio between the two factions would become irrelevant. The side that completed the hidden quest would emerge as the ultimate victor.

Staring at the crimson gem in his hand for a long while, Tao Zheng finally shut his eyes and steeled his heart. With a crunch, he crushed it into pieces.

Qin Fei smiled in satisfaction. This little brother he had rescued halfway through the game seemed quite loyal.

"Let's go." Qin Fei raised his hand and punctured the spatial bubble.

"Let's check out the South Gate."

Qin Fei led the group towards the activity center's exit.

After just a few steps, he paused again.

He turned to look at the people behind him.

It was understandable that Lin Ye and Tao Zheng followed him, but...

With one eyebrow raised, Qin Fei gazed deeply at Mi Yang, "Why haven't you left yet?"

As long as Mi Yang didn't leave, Qin Fei and the others couldn't speak in hushed tones.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ye instinctively looked up at Mi Yang.

The other party had an incredibly odd expression; his handsome face was flushed red, his black hair clung pathetically to his temples, and his eyes were rimmed with red, as if he was enduring some kind of torment or had been bullied by someone.

Upon hearing Qin Fei's dismissive words, Mi Yang endured the pain and stumbled away, his steps uneven as he headed into the distance.

That struggling figure seemed to turn the smooth ground beneath his feet into a swampy quagmire.

Lin Ye: "?"

So, who was this person?

...

Mi Yang was sent packing.

But he wasn't entirely gone.

In fact, it wasn't that Mi Yang didn't want to leave; he simply couldn't manage to do so.

His legs felt bound by invisible threads, a subtle force pulling him towards Qin Fei's location.

Mi Yang could barely resist, but under such intense external interference, his entire second half of the instance dungeon would inevitably be ruined.

Mi Yang also considered turning back to confront Qin Fei, openly joining their group.

But he hesitated.

What if Princess Feifei found out about his terrible condition and took advantage of him?

Mi Yang couldn't bring himself to trust his life to a stranger he had only met a few times.

Hiding behind the bushes, Mi Yang watched Qin Fei and the others gradually disappear. His heart felt like it was crawling with ants, itching with unease.

In a flash of inspiration, an idea struck him.

He couldn't travel with Princess Feifei.

However, Wang Mingming's mother should be qualified to accompany Wang Mingming, right?

The air around Mi Yang subtly distorted.

In the blink of an eye, the black-haired young man transformed into a middle-aged woman with a slightly rigid expression.

Mi Yang tugged at the hem of his garment, an undeniable smile spreading across his face.

Without hesitation, he surrendered to the mysterious force, rushing straight towards Qin Fei.

Qin Fei and Tao Zheng were strolling along the path when they were suddenly blocked by someone. Lin Ye and the others were momentarily stunned, but Qin Fei and Tao Zheng instantly recognized the person standing before them.

Fixing his gaze on the extremely familiar face, Qin Fei's expression was a mix of oddity and comprehension.

He said with a quizzical yet knowing smile, "Why are you here?"

After over an hour of torment, Mi Yang's remaining intelligence was insufficient for him to deduce the situation from subtle clues.

Looking at Qin Fei with a hesitant gaze, he used his disguise to call out the words he had held back for so long, filled with both shame and satisfaction.

"Dear son!"

Qin Fei: "...."

Contrary to Mi Yang's expectations, Qin Fei didn't show any sign of astonishment upon being affectionately called 'mom' by him. Instead, his face displayed a myriad of indescribable emotions.

He appraised the person in front of him up and down for a moment, then let out a very soft sigh.

"If you want to take advantage of me, just say it," Qin Fei sighed softly, his gaze on Mi Yang resembling that of someone examining a rare treasure. "There's no need to be so... subtle about it."

He weighed his words carefully:

"There's no need for such - elaborate measures."