Chapter 100 – Lost Snow Mountain 03

Chapter 100 - Lost Snow Mountain 03

The newly blossomed joy withered abruptly.

The players watched the campsite with uncertainty, exchanging glances but hesitating to approach.

"He..."

Duan Nan started to speak, his voice raspy like an old, worn-out bellows.

Since he laid eyes on the camp, Duan Nan's mental state had significantly improved, and his sanity points began to rise gradually.

However, his body remained frail, his limbs weak, and his head dizzy.

"Could he be 'that'?" The only female player present, Ah Hui, continued the sentence.

Ah Hui didn't explicitly say it, but everyone understood her implication.

She was asking if the pair of legs inside the tent might belong to the deceased mentioned in the system announcement.

"It's either yes or no; we'll know once we take a look," Qin Fei narrowed his eyes.

They were on the leeward side of the slope, yet the snowfall grew even heavier.

The swirling blizzard mixed with ice shards, pelting down like shattered glass cutting through one's face.

Duan Nan's complexion turned ashen from the cold.

He was starting to experience altitude sickness. With each breath, he felt as if something was blocking his lungs, making him unsteady on his feet. He had to lean on Ding Li's shoulder for support.

As he lifted his head, he saw the young team leader in front of him had already stepped into the snowy storm.

The whirling snowflakes obscured his figure, but his silhouette stood tall and straight like a green bamboo, seemingly unfazed by the impending danger.

Step by step, he advanced.

Breaking through the wind and snow, he made his way to the tent.

With an unhurried casualness and composure, he reached out and lifted a corner of the tent.

Indeed, there was someone lying inside the tent.

To be precise, it was a young man.

Eyes tightly shut, his complexion pale, he lay on the ground dressed in the same attire as the players, his state uncertain, neither clearly alive nor dead.

Qin Fei glanced at his head, where a prominent notification bar hovered in the air.

"Y University Mountaineering Club member - Kong Siming: Affinity 10% (Huh? You say you're also a club member? You seem unfamiliar, we probably haven't crossed paths much in the four years of college)."

Qin Fei's eyes flickered slightly.

A system notification indicated that he was still alive.

This should be the guiding NPC.

Qin Fei inwardly clicked his tongue softly.

True to its status as a high-level C-class instance dungeon, danger lurks at every turn. Players might not even make it to meet the guiding NPC.

Other players followed Mi Yang and approached the tent, peering inside on their tiptoes.

The sound of footsteps and whispers roused Kong Siming. His eyelids twitched, and his eyes slowly opened.

It was unbearably cold outside, cold enough to ache in one's bones. The players all crowded into the tent, their eight sets of eyes fixed on the NPC in the center.

Winds howled fiercely outside the tent, while inside, it was eerily quiet.

Kong Siming lay supine in the tent like a lifeless puppet.

He didn't speak nor move.

Just from his bizarre appearance, the group could tell that he definitely wasn't a player.

Ding Li's eyes lit up. "Hello?"

Scanning the tent, he spotted a thermal water flask in the corner and quickly fetched it.

Twisting open the cup, considering they didn't know how long they would be stranded on this snowy mountain, his hand paused for a moment before pouring a small amount and offering it: "Have some hot water to warm yourself up."

The NPC seemed to be deaf, showing no reaction at all.

Ding Li wasn't surprised by this sight.

Most NPCs in dungeons were indifferent to players, let alone one who clearly wasn't in the right state.

He nonchalantly poured the water back into the thermos, his expression unchanged.

Qin Fei's lips twitched at his flexible attitude.

Noticing someone watching him, Ding Li looked up and saw Qin Fei. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Shall we try searching for clues around these tents first? It seems like the NPC isn't interested in engaging with us."

Perhaps the timing wasn't right, or maybe they needed specific items to trigger a response from the NPC.

In any case, they had to do something concrete; just talking wouldn't cut it.

Ah Hui, undeterred, reached out and waved her hand in front of the NPC's face, still hoping for a reaction, but to no avail.

Mi Yang shot Qin Fei a contemplative glance and nudged him with his elbow. "Why don't you give it a try?"

Though he was unsure of Qin Fei's exact abilities, Mi Yang knew that the young man possessed a unique talent, one connected to non-player characters (NPCs).

The thought of the lingering "affinity towards a specific player" in his own talent attribute bar made the back of Mi Yang's teeth itch with irritation.

The players in the tent were momentarily taken aback by Mi Yang's words.

It seemed that this handsome young man had quite some skill.

Unconsciously, their initial perception of Qin Fei as a "vulnerable dependant" had shifted.

While they weren't yet ready to follow him blindly, they had started paying attention to his words and actions.

Ding Li lifted his glasses, which perched on the bridge of his nose, and extended his hand to Qin Fei politely. "You didn't introduce yourself earlier. What's your name?"

Qin Fei smiled slightly. "You can call me Feifei."

Mi Yang: "..."

It seemed like he was serious. This guy had quite the thick skin.

Ding Li was also taken aback by Qin Fei's unique name.

However, many high-level players tended to use false names when entering dungeons, so Ding Li didn't think too much of it, assuming that Qin Fei simply had a peculiar taste in names.

"Feifei, was Big Shot Mihyang asking you to interact with the NPC just now?"

Despite appearing like a straightforward STEM guy, Ding Li was rather articulate. His question carried a subtle curiosity that bordered on admiration, as if he was eager to learn from Qin Fei.

Behind his beer bottle-thick glasses, his eyes held a friendly scrutiny and anticipation, as if he was keen on broadening his horizons.

Qin Fei nodded honestly.

He was already seated beside Kong Siming, so there was no need for him to move. He simply turned his head and said to Kong Siming, "Hey, wake up."

Kong Siming remained motionless.

Qin Fei promptly slapped his face gently, "Hey?"

Surprised expressions appeared on the faces of those inside the tent.

To slap an NPC's face? How dare he!

They had thought that this Feifei possessed some extraordinary skills that made Lord Miyang attach so much importance to him.

But in the end, was this all there was to it?

"That...," Ding Li opened his mouth slightly, intending to remind Qin Fei not to touch NPCs casually. Even if the NPC seemed disoriented now, it wouldn't prevent him from getting angry. Guide NPCs were not to be trifled with.

However, he never expected Qin Fei's slap to take effect so swiftly.

It was like a key fitting into a lock, gears meshing together perfectly.

Kong Siming seemed to have been suddenly switched on, his eyes revealing a surge of emotional fluctuations.

Ding Li was startled and didn't know if the NPC's reaction was normal or not. He dared not say a word.

The tent fell silent, so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard. The person closest to the exit secretly unzipped the tent, and the players retreated soundlessly.

Only Mi Yang and Qin Fei remained seated, the former with a scowling face and furrowed brows, while the latter appeared nonchalant, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere around them.

Their audacity was extraordinary; they couldn't be ordinary individuals.

The players, their hearts pounding loudly, looked at Qin Fei with altered gazes.

Kong Siming lifted his head stiffly. "Who... are you?"

Qin Fei looked at him but didn't rush to answer.

A hint of panic gradually surfaced on Kong Siming's face. "Who are you, and who am I? Why am I here?"

He seemed to have undergone a significant shock, his memories muddled. Supporting himself against the ground, he struggled to sit up straight while massaging his temples.

"Ahh! Yes, I'm Kong Siming, a student from University Y who came here for mountain climbing."

"Last night, last night—something happened, and everyone ran..."

Suddenly, he lifted his head again, his eyes fixed intently on the players inside the tent.

"I don't know you. Who, exactly, are you all?"

Damn it!

All the players cursed inwardly in unison.

Was this instance quest too much of a trap?

Kong Siming had already introduced himself. Though he was an NPC, like the players, he was also a member of the Y University Mountaineering Club.

The players had received identity cards as club members within the instance. Shouldn't Kong Siming have automatically categorized them as comrades upon seeing them?

Why were they suddenly strangers to him?

Everyone's anxiety was written all over their foreheads.

"Who, exactly, are you?"

The NPC's gaze darkened, and his pupils began to dilate.

With pupils dilated and the whites of his eyes scarce, his deep, bottomless gaze held an eerie malevolence that sent shivers down one's spine.

His eyes widened to the point of seeming to tear through his cheeks, his voice cold and grim, exuding an icy chill even more profound than the howling winds outside the tent.

How terrifying. Why did he suddenly seem to be transforming into something else?

The players had no doubt that if they made a single misstep, this NPC would not spare them any mercy.

"Speak!"

"Speak, I say, AAAAAHHH—!!"

A shrill, piercing cry tore through their eardrums, exerting a powerful mental pressure on them.

Ding Li shuddered, realizing that his sanity points were plummeting once again.

Meanwhile, Duan Nan directly spat out a mouthful of blood.

The dungeon had only just begun, yet why did Duan Nan appear as if he was on the verge of death?

Ding Li was utterly alarmed.

Kong Siming's gaze was like a searchlight, scanning the players' faces, making them feel inexplicably guilty.

Unable to resist, Ding Li stammered, "I-I, we're here to—"

He wanted to say that they were also here to climb the snow mountain, passing by this campsite and finding the unconscious NPC, so they came to investigate.

In the live broadcast hall, the spirits in front of the light screen were frantically pacing back and forth.

"Stop talking, ahhhh!!!"

"Don't say that!"

In the snow mountain scenario, this NPC lying unconscious in the tent held a role equivalent to a guiding NPC.

However, unlike typical guiding NPCs, this one had a high level of involvement in the scenario's plot, playing a crucial role in many key points.

At this moment, the players' imminent decision to choose their identities was one of the crucial turning points.

"If a player feels guilty when confronted by an NPC and invents an identity as a stranger or part of a rescue team, they won't be able to gather complete information."

The Snow Mountain dungeon was highly intricate, involving survival, puzzles, and exploration. Without full information, players would face significantly greater challenges in completing it.

"Even if they manage to complete the mission by sheer luck, the points they receive at the end will be barely satisfactory."

Satisfactory was already the best-case scenario. In reality, once the wrong choice was made, players would most likely face a dead end.

Ding Li was terrified by the blank stare of the NPC, but just as he began to speak, a hand suddenly blocked his path.

Qin Fei stepped forward, smiled, and boldly corrected himself with a chuckle, "We're your classmates, Kong Siming. We're all members of the Mountaineering Club. How could you not recognize me?"

What nonsense. The game had already assigned the players their identities at the start; they couldn't simply change them on a whim.

The NPC's emotions ran high. "I've never seen you before!"

Qin Fei blinked in confusion. "How is that possible? Didn't we all come up this mountain together? We had planned for twenty of us to ascend, but alas..."

He shook his head sorrowfully.

Kong Siming appeared emotionally fragile, so Qin Fei refrained from mentioning Zhou Li's name to avoid provoking him.

His ambiguous words only made Kong Siming more convinced.

At the thought of Zhou Li's disappearance, Kong Siming shuddered on the spot.

The players, having somewhat composed themselves, exchanged subtle glances.

It seemed that Kong Siming knew some insider information about Zhou Li's disappearance.

And this information filled him with great fear.

Kong Siming swallowed, looking at Qin Fei doubtfully. "But...'

A hint of bewilderment flashed across his eyes. "I really haven't seen any of you before."

Above Kong Siming's head, the favorability meter climbed reluctantly to 11%.

Indeed, Qin Fei's words had shaken him.

With a concerned expression, Qin Fei knitted his brows and spoke with worry, "Did you experience too much shock from the previous incident? Excessive shock can easily lead to mental confusion, especially in such an extreme environment. Student Kong Siming, please don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Is... that so?

Kong Siming was still uncertain whether he should trust this person's words, but the favorability bar had already revealed his inner turmoil.

"Y University Mountaineering Club Member - Kong Siming: Favorability 20% (Although not very familiar, Kong Siming finds you amiable and wouldn't mind opening up to you.)"

The bizarre look on Kong Siming's face gradually faded, and his contorted features returned to their original shape.

He no longer resembled a monster but transformed back into a trembling, pitiful college student.

Hugging his knees, he mumbled, "It's too terrifying... Just too terrifying... If only we knew, we shouldn't have camped here, shouldn't have spent the night. We must leave, we have to get off this mountain quickly!!"

Kong Siming lifted his head, his eyes reddened with tears threatening to spill, filled with sheer terror!

How impressive!

Ding Li and his companions were astounded. Recalling how they had insultingly sized up Feifei at the start of the dungeon, they now regretted their behavior to the point of wanting to slap themselves.

Players who could rank above C-grade weren't necessarily highly skilled, but they certainly had sharp eyesight. Ding Li poured another glass of water for Kong Siming.

Surrounded by classmates, the warmth of the water soothing his throat, Kong Siming's mental state finally calmed down a bit.

Ding Li tried to casually probe, "Student Kong, did you see anything last night? We were so panicked trying to escape that we can't even remember exactly what happened."

He mimicked Kong Siming's action of rubbing his temples, silently signaling that he too was overly shocked, with his memories muddled.

"I'm not sure," Kong Siming replied with a bitter smile.

"Didn't we agree to go up the mountain to find Zhou Li?" Kong Siming's expression was dazed, his words coming out in spurts.

"We climbed a snowy mountain all day and got lost. The paths on the mountain seemed different from the map we found in the village."

His speech was disjointed, and the players had to struggle to decipher the details.

"Then we set up camp, and even though we had someone on watch, when the incident occurred, it seemed like everyone was asleep."

Kong Siming abruptly fell silent, refusing to say another word. No matter what they asked, he only shook his head, his fear and panic palpable.

"Never mind, let's not ask anymore."

Mi Yang patted Ding Li on the shoulder.

Since they held the identity cards of classmates, there were many things they couldn't pry into. After all, Kong Siming's knowledge should have been common to them all.

Speaking too much might reveal their own inadequacies.

The players settled Kong Siming in a tent before dispersing to search for clues in the other tents, also tidying up the scattered outdoor climbing equipment on the ground.

After about ten minutes, all the tents except for the one Kong Siming was in had been folded and packed away, with their contents collected by the players.

These college students had indeed prepared extensively for their snow mountain climb.

Within the scattered backpacks left in the tents, the players discovered an abundance of headlamps, trekking poles, snow goggles, and other mountaineering accessories, as well as sleeping bags for overnight stays, waterproof mats, and cooking supplies like gas canisters, canned food, and pot sets.

With these items, at least they could be assured that they wouldn't freeze to death on the mountain.

Everyone heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Qin Fei was in charge of directing and gathering clues. Once everything had been sorted and piled onto an open space, Ding Li immediately took on the role of an uncomplaining assistant, diligently counting the items and distributing them among the players.

Mi Yang looked on at this familiar scene and sarcastically praised Qin Fei, "As expected of Her Highness the Princess, someone is always at your service wherever you go."

In the previous instance, he and Tao Zheng were at Qin Fei's beck and call, and now, in this instance, there were others eager to offer their labor.

Was his dear son really that charismatic?

Qin Fei ignored Mi Yang. Ah Hui separated any props that might relate to the storyline and placed them aside. Qin Fei immediately spotted a brown-covered notebook.

"The climbing diary of Member Number 1," Qin Fei read aloud from the cover.

Players busily equipped themselves with wrist guards, knee pads, and snow goggles while peering over to take a look.

Qin Fei opened the notebook in his hand and flipped through its pages one by one.

Rather than a climbing log, it seemed more like a personal diary, containing various entries starting from when Member No. 1 joined the climbing club during his first year of college.

After flipping through it for a while without finding any useful information, Qin Fei's slender fingers flicked the pages, gradually increasing the speed.

Ah Hui couldn't help but click her tongue. "This..."

Wouldn't he miss important details? At this pace, he wouldn't even be able to read the words clearly, right?

Qin Fei's gaze remained indifferent. "It's fine, I've memorized everything."

In truth, there was nothing worth remembering. It was all trivial details unrelated to any dungeon information.

Mi Yang stared at Qin Fei with a hint of skepticism.

To be able to remember everything while flipping through so quickly, did he have a scanner for eyes?

Indeed, Qin Fei's eyes were akin to scanners.

Not only that, they came with a search function.

He quickly sifted through the mountain of discarded information and extracted the pertinent content.

"March 9th... We decided on the destination for our graduation trip. It's the most majestic and vast snow-capped mountain at the border. Lily was really looking forward to this journey."

Lily.

This Classmate No. 1 seemed to have a close relationship with Zhou Li.

"April 8th... I've been busy with graduation-related matters lately and haven't returned to the mountaineering club much. Thankfully, the preparations for the graduation trip are almost done. The list of participants is finalized, and we're purchasing the necessary supplies."

"April 29th... I just found out that Lily's hometown is so close to the Edetan Mountains."

Based on the handwriting earlier, the "Edetan Mountains" was the destination chosen by the club members for their graduation trip.

"May 14th... Lily suddenly went missing. Last weekend, she said she needed to visit her hometown and hasn't returned to school since. Our counselor said that Lily's family called in to ask for leave, stating that she had a family matter and needed to return home early. But all of Lily's belongings are still in her dormitory. Something doesn't feel right to me."

"May 30th... Lily hasn't returned to school, and I can't reach her through the chat app. It's as if she's vanished into thin air."

"June 15th... Lily replied to my WeChat message, but only with 'hum' and 'ah.' When I suggested a video call, she declined."

"July 1st... Lily said she won't be joining the graduation trip. I can't comprehend it. I have this nagging feeling that something unpleasant has happened to her recently. Her behavior is too peculiar. I've decided to set off early and make a detour to visit her hometown village."

"July 5th... Upon hearing my plans, the club members have decided to join me. We'll arrive at the Tulun Village three days ahead of schedule."

"July 10th... Something isn't right here.

[July 10th... The villagers told us that Lily went up Mount Torormond alone yesterday. The name means 'very cold mountain' in the local language. I can't fathom why she would ascend a snowy mountain by herself. I haven't met Lily's parents, but the others showed me a photo of her before she left for the mountain. Good heavens, she was only wearing a down jacket with no other gear! I must find her; otherwise, she'll freeze to death.]

"July 11th... All club members set out with me. Mount Torormond is a small mountain, so we camped three-quarters up, allowing us to cross the snowcap the following day. Mount Edmond lies behind Torormond, so we'll head straight to the pre-booked guesthouse after descending."

"That's how we ended up on this snowy mountain," Qin Fei tapped the book cover with his knuckles.

Ah Hui's brows knitted together.

The notebook made her feel extremely uncomfortable. Judging by the circumstances, it was likely a contaminant.

In high-level instances, many items carrying crucial information or playing significant roles could induce contamination.

When Ah Hui found the notebook in the tent earlier, she only held it in her hand for a short while before experiencing dizziness and a splitting headache. She had no choice but to store the item in her personal space.

For Qin Fei to hold it with bare hands, without any isolation, and read its contents continuously for so long was unimaginable.

Just how strong was this player's mental immunity?

Aside from what the players had just read, there were two additional sheets of paper tucked within the notebook.

One was a simple map of Toromond Mountain.

It was the size of an A4 sheet, yellowed with faded ink. After the group of players held it up to examine it for a while, the map was torn in half by a swirling gust of wind.

Mi Yang's face darkened.

The other sheet was of utmost importance.

It was unclear where these club members had obtained such an item.

However, it was evident that this was a set of rules.

At the top of the paper were words stained by some substance.

"■■■■■ Mountain Climbing Guide"

Beneath the title, a striking blood-red warning caught one's attention.

(Mountains covered in snow can be perilous. Please strictly follow the guidelines in this climbing guide; otherwise, @:%www.——)

The text after "otherwise" had distorted into peculiar symbols, rendering its meaning incomprehensible.

Below that was the main content.

1. The mountainous climate is severe, with frequent blizzards. When a blizzard occurs, please seek shelter promptly.

2. Days are safe, nights are perilous. Please refrain from traveling at night as much as possible.

3. If you notice individuals around you with peculiar appearances that defy common sense, remain calm.

It must be due to your prolonged exposure to the snow, causing visual distortion.

Close your eyes and rest for a moment, and your vision will return to normal shortly.

Upon reading this rule, a chill ran down the players' spines.

Peculiar appearances that defy common sense?

Isn't that precisely how Kong Siming looked just now?

Fortunately, players above level C were seasoned, none of them lost their composure on the spot. Otherwise, who knows what state they would be in now.

4. There are no lakes on the mountain.

5. There are no "snakes" on the mountain.

6. The jungle is off-limits. Please do not enter. If you accidentally enter, withdraw immediately.

(Ps. If you find yourself unable to leave the jungle, please — @:///"%")

This line was crossed out, replaced by another red message written above it in the empty space.

"The jungle is safe, you may enter the jungle!!!"

Qin Fei frowned.

Below this was the final rule, written in bold and emphasized letters:

"7. Do not call each other's names in the mountains."

In an instant, the players' expressions turned rigid.

Their names had been exchanged countless times between them already.

None of the eight players present were spared from this rule; they all fell victim to it.

So, what would be the consequence of violating the seventh rule?

Ding Li's heart pounded wildly. Clutching his chest, he struggled to turn his head and look at his comrades.

Mi Yang wore a solemn expression, his gaze flickering back and forth between the rules and the map.

Qin Fei, on the other hand, had his head lowered, lost in thought.

The flurry of gray snowflakes blurred their vision into a haze.

In the distance, several oddly-shaped silhouettes seemed to be making their way towards them.