Chapter 101: Lost in the Snow Mountain 04

Chapter 101: Lost in the Snow Mountain 04

Before the figures became clearer, the players' minds had already raced through several unpleasant speculations.

Ah Hui cautiously stepped back a few paces.

Ding Li and Duan Nan also looked alert, as if they were ready to flee at any moment.

Qin Fei: "…"

Was this how players in high-level instances behaved? What had they experienced?

Qin Fei began to worry about his future.

However, when those people truly emerged from the blizzard and approached their side of the mountain, the players collectively sighed in relief.

The newcomers were another group of players.

"One, two, three."

Ah Hui secretly counted the number of people on the other side: "A total of ten people."

Just right.

All the players were present.

It was unclear whether the system had deliberately arranged it, but unlike Qin Fei's group, who seemed easy-going and obedient, the other group of players looked anything but friendly.

"The eight over there are a team."

Ding Li whispered.

The eight players were clearly very familiar with each other. The leader had a cold expression, and beside him stood a short, thin man with a weasel-like face, his beady eyes constantly darting towards Qin Fei.

As for the other two…

Ding Li swallowed silently, the hairs on his arms standing on end.

The player on the right was extremely tall, nearly two meters, with dark, rough skin covered in scars.

He appeared to be the most dangerous among them all, dragging two massive axes through the snow, leaving a winding trail of deep footprints and drag marks that resembled snakes lurking beneath the snow.

The metal surfaces of the two axes were a dark gray, marred by dark red rust, yet the blades gleamed coldly, their sharpness evident even to the naked eye.

He had inverted triangular eyes, which had been fixed on Qin Fei since the moment he appeared before him.

His gaze was icy and sticky, carrying an unsettling probing quality.

As if he wanted to peel open the young man's skin in front of him to see what color the blood flowing within his warm body was.

Qin Fei returned the stare calmly.

The axe-wielding man smiled, baring bloody gums.

A subtle shiver ran up his spine, a natural warning from a sensitive animal sensing malice.

Qin Fei narrowed his eyes subtly.

His gaze fell upon the two blood-stained giant axes.

Mi Yang cursed softly: "Damn! It's this guy."

Qin Fei's eyes flickered: "Do you know him?"

Mi Yang furrowed his brows into a crease: "In C-level and above instance worlds, no player doesn't know him."

Jack the Ripper.

The most famous bounty hunter in high-level instance worlds.

Roaming between major guilds and private individuals, taking on various jobs involving murder and robbery.

Cold-blooded, violent, and unflinching in killing, these were Jack's trademarks.

If he set his sights on a case, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.

"Jack the Ripper." Qin Fei pondered the name carefully, "Is he after me?"

Mi Yang scoffed: "Who else could it be?"

Look at those eyes on the other side, they were almost glued to Xiao Qin's face.

Mi Yang felt a wave of irritation radiating outward from within.

Under Jack's intense gaze, Mi Yang's blood grew hotter and hotter, his hand clenched and unclenched at his side, veins bulging on the back of his hand, the skin around his knuckles taut to near transparency.

Like a wild beast whose cub was being coveted by a predator—though the cub in the nest had eight hundred tricks up its sleeve, the mother couldn't outmaneuver him.

But, the instinct to protect one's offspring didn't diminish in the slightest.

Mi Yang loosened the zipper at his collar, feeling as if his chest was on fire despite standing in the freezing snow.

Why did this blind fool have to fixate on Xiao Qin?

Mother Sheep found it hard to accept the way Jack looked at Xiao Qin, making her want to rush forward, reach out, gouge out the eyes on the other side, throw them on the ground, and crush them mercilessly.

She had to find a way to get rid of him.

Mi Yang licked his lips.

He simply couldn't bear the thought of a sinister snake lurking in the shadows, watching them.

In comparison, the person beside him was much calmer.

The young man had both hands in his pockets, a smile tugging at his lips. "I wonder how exactly he plans to kill me?"

Mi Yang felt that Qin Fei was being too nonchalant; Jack the Ripper was not someone to be underestimated.

Mi Yang calculated that even if he and his powerful ally joined forces, their chances of victory were only about fifty-fifty.

It was a fifty-fifty chance, a test of luck.

The malicious parent lowered his voice, trying to scare the child into submission with the story of the wolf.

"How will he kill you? How else but by chopping off your neck with his axe—"

Before he could finish, Jack was already advancing towards them, axe in hand, step by step.

Qin Fei didn't have time to react before Mi Yang felt a chill on his neck.

He stepped forward, blocking Qin Fei behind him.

Qin Fei was almost flattered; the result of their combined innate skills was so terrifying that it allowed Mi Yang to role-play to such an extent.

"Mr. Mi Yang."

Jack called out Mi Yang's name.

This only made Mi Yang more displeased. Although Jack probably didn't know the mountain climbing rules yet, this was just an unconscious slip-up on his part, but Mi Yang was still extremely annoyed.

Mi Yang let out a cold snort through his nostrils.

Jack grinned again.

This seemed to be his signature expression, but neither Qin Fei nor Mi Yang liked seeing him smile like that.

It made them feel as if they were pieces of pork on a cutting board, at Jack's mercy.

Mi Yang nodded coolly.

Jack made no attempt to hide his intentions, his eyes never leaving Qin Fei: "This one?"

Mi Yang narrowed his eyes: "My teammate."

With those words, he drew a protective circle around Qin Fei.

Jack's eyelids twitched, his gaze darkening.

The young man in front of him wasn't entirely similar to the portrait on the wanted poster.

But with Jack's sharp eyes, he could immediately recognize that he was the person the Butterfly Guild was looking for.

To kill someone smoothly, of course, one must first understand them.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much information about Qin Fei available.

All Jack knew was that Xiao Qin was a newcomer who had only recently emerged, having just been promoted from D-level.

Most likely C-level, possibly B-level if he was lucky.

Not a combat type, not hard to deal with.

But add in a top-tier player like Mi Yang, an A-level celebrity player.

The scales would tip differently.

Jack had no intention of falling out with Mi Yang right then and there. He reined in his features, suppressing the bloodthirsty greed in his eyes.

As Jack approached, the eight-person team behind him was whispering among themselves.

All players in the instance could log onto the player forum and had seen the portrait on the wanted poster.

Qin Fei's face, coupled with Jack's attitude, gave everyone some idea of what was going on.

But not everyone was interested in the bounty.

Let alone the fact that by his side was a renowned celebrity player acting as his bodyguard.

Before they could get greedy, they had to weigh in their hearts whether they were worthy.

The opposing eight-person team consisted of six B-level players and two C-level players. The captain's nickname was Wen Ren Liming, a very imposing compound surname. It was unknown whether this was his real name in the real world.

This intelligence was shared by Duan Nan.

"This team is entirely composed of attack-type players, so although they don't have an A-level player as their leader, they are still quite well-known in fixed teams."

Duan Nan was worried.

This team was known as lone wolves, rarely interacting with other players in instances unless absolutely necessary.

Not to mention, in this snowy mountain instance, there was a dead player hiding among the player teams, creating an invisible barrier between unfamiliar players, none daring to trust each other.

But fixed teams were different; their internal structure was stable.

As long as the dead player wasn't among them, they would certainly unite against outsiders.

The current situation was crystal clear—the eight-member team formed their own faction. Although it seemed like they had reached a cooperative partnership, it couldn't compare to the established team on the other side. Their only advantage was that they had the A-rank player, Miyang, and Feifei, whose true capabilities were unknown. However, Jack the Ripper seemed to have set his sights on Feifei. The reason—well, those who understood knew! If something happened between Miyang and Feifei... The remaining six of them would undoubtedly be left to follow behind Dawn Squad and Jack, picking up scraps! Duan Nan and Ding Li exchanged a glance, lowering their voices to share their analysis. The other four players immediately wore expressions of concern. There were benefits, though. At least everyone understood that they were now tied to the same boat, fostering a sense of unity within the team. Qin Fei turned around to see six pairs of eyes intently watching Miyang and himself, determined to cling tightly to the two of them. They also glared fiercely at Jack, wishing he could be kept fifty meters away. Jack: "?"

Jack the Ripper stood not far away, looking at them with an even darker expression than before. Unlike Ding Li, Duan Nan, and the others, Qin Fei remained relaxed. Amidst the gloomy atmosphere, Qin Fei smiled after hearing their concerns. His light-colored eyes narrowed into a line, exuding confidence: "What are you afraid of? Right now, we're the ones in charge." Miyang glanced at Qin Fei in surprise, seemingly enlightened. Qin Fei's smile deepened. "Understand now? All the supplies are on us." Items such as snow goggles, wrist guards, knee pads, and trekking poles that each player had were already worn by Qin Fei and his group. The remaining ten sets were piled on the ground. However, the few folded tents, cooking utensils, sleeping bags, waterproof mats, compasses, headlamps, flashlights, and more were hidden in their personal spaces. Each person had hidden some, leaving nothing for the later arrivals. Duan Nan's eyes lit up!

Right, they could use these items to control them. Why hadn't he thought of it himself? "Also," Qin Fei said nonchalantly, gesturing with his chin toward the only tent that hadn't been put away yet. "The guide NPC is still on our side." The later players looked fierce and menacing, not the type Kong Siming would like. Unlike them, the group appeared to be clear-eyed and naive college students, easy to get along with. Miyang & Other Six: "..."

From the sound of it, weren't you going to try to curry favor with Kong Siming?

Qin Fei indeed went to do just that. While Dawn Squad and Jack were observing the terrain and distributing supplies, Qin Fei silently slipped into the tent. Ding Li and Duan Nan seized the opportunity to approach Wen Ren Liming, handing over the mountain climbing rules and map, successfully holding them back. Inside the tent.

Kong Siming sat hugging his knees, staring blankly. Seeing Qin Fei come in, his eyes brightened, then showed fear. "F-Feifei classmate, did someone else arrive outside?" The incident from last night had turned Kong Siming into a frightened bird. Although he knew that the people talking outside were most likely members of the mountaineering club, he still didn't dare leave the tent. Qin Fei nodded. "Yes, everyone's back." "Good, good," Kong Siming muttered distractedly. Qin Fei sat next to Kong Siming and sighed as if it were nothing. "Sigh, what's with this snowy mountain anyway?" "We've been classmates for four years, but looking at them, I feel something's off about everything." Qin Fei drew circles on the ground with his finger. Kong Siming was taken aback. "What do you mean?" Qin Fei lowered his gaze, his eyes flickering with an eerie darkness. "Maybe it's because the wind is too strong and the snow is too heavy. I feel like my classmates look strange, different from usual." The young man's voice wavered. The cold wind outside the tent howled like ghosts and wolves, while snow particles continuously pelted the tent, making rustling sounds. The tent swayed gently in the wind. Danger, strangeness, and the threat of unknown death emerged from the depths of the mysterious snowy mountain, assaulting every nerve in Kong Siming's brain. This made Kong Siming involuntarily experience a false perception. He felt as if he were in the midst of gunfire, and this not-so-sturdy tent was his only shelter, confining him to a small, safe haven. Under the peculiar suspension bridge effect, Kong Siming added a bit more trust in Feifei classmate beside him. He tightly clasped his hands together and scooted closer to Qin Fei, like a frightened fledgling.

"Y University Mountaineering Club Member - Kong Siming: Affection Level 40% (This snow mountain is terrifying. All Kong Siming wants now is to leave this place, and you are the only person he trusts.)"

Qin Fei subtly curled the corner of his lips.

It was about time.

Biting his lower lip, Qin Fei looked at Kong Siming with hesitation, "Ah Ming, actually, I feel... sigh."

Kong Siming's curiosity was piqued, "What do you want to say?"

"It's nothing," Qin Fei forced a smile, barely.

The dim light in the tent cast soft and vulnerable shadows on his face.

Furrowing his brows, filled with worry, he said, "I know it's like worrying over nothing, but every time I think of that story, I get an eerie feeling."

"A story?" Kong Siming was taken aback, "What story?"

"It's the ghost story the president told us during the club activity in our sophomore year, about the snow mountain."

Qin Fei lowered his head.

"Do you remember?"

Looking at the young man before him, Kong Siming felt an inexplicable surge of tension and panic from within.

He wanted Qin Fei to stop, he was a bit scared.

But Qin Fei had already started speaking.

"One year, the mountaineering club organized an activity to climb a snow mountain. Ten people participated, including a loving couple."

"This was a famous snow mountain, many had climbed it, but perhaps their luck was too bad, this mountaineering team encountered a severe blizzard after entering the mountains for a day."

"The mountaineers were very confident; they insisted on reaching the peak, completely disregarding the extreme weather."

"The girl of the couple fell ill temporarily and was left behind to guard the camp, while the rest of the members went up the mountain."

Qin Fei's voice grew softer, carrying a strange allure.

Kong Siming had forgotten his earlier wish for Qin Fei to stop.

Now, all his attention was captivated by the words coming out of Qin Fei's mouth.

The softer Qin Fei spoke, the more focused Kong Siming became.

"The girl stayed alone in the camp, and before she knew it, three days passed, yet her companions were still nowhere to be seen."

"The girl was worried, but the blizzard had cut off communication with the base. She couldn't descend the mountain alone in such a storm. She could only wait in the camp. It wasn't until the seventh day that her teammates finally returned."

"But, nine people went up the mountain, yet only eight returned to the camp, the girl's boyfriend didn't come back."

Kong Siming's heart pounded wildly. Even though Qin Fei hadn't reached the scariest part yet, he was almost forgetting to breathe.

"The team members tearfully told the girl that an accident happened when they were climbing the peak, her boyfriend fell off a cliff and died. In his dying moments, he told everyone that he would return to the camp on the seventh day to take the girl away."

"To protect the girl, the team members formed a circle around her."

"At midnight, the boyfriend indeed appeared, covered in blood. With a distorted face, he rushed into the crowd and grabbed the girl's hand."

"The girl was terrified, struggling desperately. But her boyfriend told her something even more horrifying: They all died on the first day of the climb due to a mountain disaster. He was the only one alive, who desperately crawled back to the camp from the bottom of the cliff, only to witness his teammates resurrecting..."

Suddenly, Qin Fei raised his head, his sharp eyes like an eagle's, staring straight into Kong Siming's eyes, "Ah Ming, if it were you, who would you choose to believe?"

Kong Siming: I don't understand, I don't know, don't ask me!!

The pitiful NPC covered his ears and shook his head, "Feifei, don't say anymore!! Don't say anymore!"

He really didn't want to hear!

Kong Siming's courage was about to leap out of his throat in fright.

Although this ghost story wasn't the first time he heard it.

However, some stories remained equally terrifying no matter how many times you heard them.

Moreover, they were currently in a setting that perfectly matched this ghost story.

If not for the fear that loud screams might trigger an avalanche, Kong Siming would have definitely screamed his lungs out right then.

"Hold on, Feifei, you just said that you found the classmates who came back later to be strange?"

Kong Siming pinched his nose hard, "They couldn't have all turned into ghosts, could they??"

Qin Fei gave Kong Siming a meaningful smile, "Oh, how could that be possible? Ghost stories are just stories, we should believe in science."

Kong Siming, who no longer believed in science since entering this mountain, retorted, "Bullshit science! If there was real science, how could we have... how could we have..."

His words stopped abruptly. It seemed this was the game's design, not allowing players to figure out the cause of the incident right from the start.

Poor Kong Siming was already frightened out of his wits.

He clung tightly to Qin Fei, wishing he could become an accessory on the other's body, following wherever he went, to barely gain a sense of security.

Qin Fei played along perfectly, the two of them huddled together like quails, trembling.

When Wen Ren Liming entered the tent, this was the scene he saw.

Wen Ren: "?"

They had been studying the rules outside all this time, until they heard someone talking in the tent, prompting them to come and investigate.

When Qin Fei had ducked into the tent earlier, Wen Ren had assumed he was just seeking shelter from the cold and the snowstorm outside.

The rules and map were more important, and the tent had surely already been searched by those eight players, so Wen Ren wasn't in any rush to enter.

Who would have thought there was an NPC hiding inside? !?!?

Wen Ren's temples throbbed.

Those unscrupulous bastards, if there was a guiding NPC inside, why hadn't they told them?

Wen Ren frowned tightly, stepping forward to try and speak with the guiding NPC.

Then, he saw the previously normal NPC suddenly flailing his limbs as if poisoned by something unclean, looking completely deranged:

"Don't you dare come closer, don't come any closer ahh ahh ahh ahh!!!"

Wen Ren: "…"

After so many instances, this was the first time he'd encountered such an abnormal guiding NPC.

Wen Ren raised one eyebrow higher than the other. "Please calm down, I mean no harm."

Kong Siming: Calm your grandmother's leg!

"Get lost ahh ahh ahh ahh!!" Kong Siming was so frightened that tears streamed down his face.

Wen Ren felt his heart nearly stop from Kong Siming's yelling, but he couldn't give up on communicating with the NPC.

He shot Qin Fei a stern, icy glare, hoping the player would take the hint and leave.

Wen Ren could see that as long as this player was present, the NPC likely wouldn't be willing to talk to anyone else.

Qin Fei was considerate, standing up. "I'll go out then."

Kong Siming: "?"

How could your 37-degree mouth spout such cold-hearted words?!

"Feifei!!!"

Kong Siming, startled, clung to Qin Fei's leg. "Feifei, ah no, Brother, big brother, you can't abandon me!!"

Mi Yang, who had come over to check on the commotion: "…"

Ah no, what was going on?

Qin Fei had only exchanged a few words with this NPC, and they had known each other for less than an hour.

How did it look like the NPC treated him as if he were a long-lost brother now?!

Mi Yang recalled how Her Highness had found her parents in the Werewolf Community for her, and her eyes twitched uncontrollably.

What was this guy's trick, how did he manage to claim kinship everywhere he went?!?!