Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Captain Situ had been busy all day repairing the defenses of the Peach Blossom Land, looking tireless but full of energy. He was directing his subordinates to burn the bodies when he saw Luo Xi return and主动 greeted him: "How's the investigation going?"

Luo Xi called him aside and replied seriously, "The Lin family is indeed hiding a corpse demon, and Xu Rou has been killed."

"Is that so?" Captain Situ paused for a moment, sighed, and said, "She was a brave girl. It seems it's still not good to have a female patrol officer."

Luo Xi wasn't in the mood to listen to the NPC's mourning and immediately explained the plot: "The corpse demon should be Lin Lan'er's brother, Lin Feng'er. After her brother was bitten, she couldn't bring herself to kill him, so she locked him in the cellar in the backyard, feeding him living people every day to keep him alive."

"I see." Captain Situ fell into thought and then sneered. "Miss Lin is not a fool. She did this because she’s waiting for Doctor Yan's antidote to save her brother."

Luo Xi frowned. "The curse of the corpse demon is unknown. How could there be an antidote?"

Captain Situ shook his head. "I'm not familiar with medicine, but ever since I came to work in Peach Blossom Land, I've heard of the Yan family's reputation. They say they've been practicing medicine for four generations, with quite a bit of medical knowledge accumulated."

Luo Xi hummed noncommittally and then asked, "In any case, my task is completed for today. The Lin family has hundreds of servants, and I can't catch Lin Feng'er on my own."

"Naturally," Captain Situ said while rubbing his hands. "Taking down the Lin family is not an easy task."

... It seemed Captain Situ, as Lin Lan'er said, had intentions on the Lin family's wealth.

Luo Xi extended his hand. "Alright, give me the steamed bun."

Captain Situ reluctantly took out a cold steamed bun wrapped in oiled paper from his chest. "If you find anyone suitable to be a patrol officer, bring them to me. With Xu Rou gone, we're a bit short-handed."

Luo Xi half-jokingly agreed, took the meager "wages" for his task, and immediately turned to leave.

Not knowing what daily tasks the other streamers were given, Xi Yu had been out for most of the day. He was using the steamed bun to persuade the surviving villagers to pawn off their limbs. Though he no longer had combat strength, his charisma and perception were great, and the task went quite smoothly.

Just as he was frowning while wrapping up the severed limbs in a corner of the street, Luo Xi suddenly leapt down from the wall, attempting to startle him.

However, Xi Yu's sharp eyes immediately spotted him, and he shook his head helplessly. "Finished?"

Luo Xi put his arm around his shoulder. "Of course, need my help?"

Xi Yu smiled slightly and replied, "I’m done too. Let's go report to Aunt Fox Four—about Xu Rou being out of the game. That’s not related to you, right?"

Luo Xi briefly recounted the events and then said, "You could say it's a bit related to me. If I had given it my all, maybe I could have saved her, but she only had a little bit of silver left, and there was no way she was going to survive today."

Xi Yu didn't fault Luo Xi's choice, only saying, "This instance is really strange."

Luo Xi raised an eyebrow. "What’s strange?"

Xi Yu said, "In the past, the game planners would have us struggle with whether to be a good guy or a bad guy. But this instance… although I don’t have all the evidence, I feel like no NPC is a good person. For the streamers to help work for the NPCs and survive is essentially no different from aiding the enemy."

The fresh severed limbs in his hands were quite convincing.

Luo Xi calmly sneered. "Actually, the reason is simple."

Xi Yu blinked.

Luo Xi said, "Don’t the audience love watching streamers struggle with the goodness and evil of human nature? The drama is like that, and so is the game live stream. But you also know that the higher-level streamers are more rational and cold-hearted, and they probably wouldn’t get too caught up in the story. So the game planners just let everyone be bad guys. Each streamer is suppressing their anger, and it’s far more interesting than just coldly scheming against each other."

After thinking about it seriously, Xi Yu agreed with his idea.

Luo Xi added, "But it doesn’t matter. Since we’re here, we have to clear the stage, otherwise, it’s a case of harming others and ourselves."Xi Yu nodded with a bitter smile: "Game tasks are usually easy to complete. From here on out, as long as we stay alert to prevent others from stealing work and money, things should go smoothly, right?"

Luo Xi raised his gaze to the fog ahead, speaking softly: "I'm afraid the fight to the death has already unknowingly started."

It was noon, and Du Li and Li Mo, who had been out looking for herbs, were both exhausted, panting for breath. The two girls, drained of energy, struggled to carry their bamboo baskets, but at least they had gathered all the food that Doctor Yan had requested.

Du Li squinted at the blurred sun and couldn't help but wipe her sweat. "Looks like we'll have to spend money on steamed buns again tonight. It's fine if we're lying down doing nothing, but after all this running around, half a bun won't make up for the energy we've burned."

"Better save some money. Once the pawn limit is used up, there will be no more silver coming in," Li Mo replied indifferently.

Du Li snorted, "I've calculated it. My silver will last until the fifth day. I'd better pawn some insignificant stuff tomorrow."

Li Mo lowered her eyelids slightly and asked softly, "Have you always been so smooth sailing? People with good luck have it so easy, they can clear the game without effort."

Du Li, not particularly intelligent, had always relied on her luck, but now she was feeling uneasy. She immediately answered, "Didn't I pawn something yesterday? No need to be sarcastic."

Li Mo noticed the hostility in her tone and decided to stop talking.

As they walked, Du Li realized something was off and frowned. "This isn't the way back to Yonghe Hall. Are you lost?"

Li Mo kept her expression neutral, "The small road is too isolated. I’m afraid of encountering any remaining zombie ghosts. It's safer to take the main road."

Du Li cast a few suspicious glances at her.

Li Mo quickened her pace. "We don’t have to stick together for the task. You can go any way you want, why should it matter to me?"

Du Li looked warily at the dim, narrow path and, giving in to her fear, caught up with her. "Sister, why are you so fierce when we don't even disagree? I'm just trying to remind you."

Li Mo, not wanting to engage further, walked silently to a willow tree, suddenly putting down her bamboo basket to rest.

Du Li anxiously urged, "Hey, Doctor Yan only gave us two hours to find the herbs. Can't you rest when we get back?"

"Resting when we get back means missing the show," Li Mo suddenly turned around, her face showing a strange smile.

Du Li wasn’t a fool, but she only realized the danger too late—somehow, Su Zhen, who had lost her left leg, had already appeared behind them, holding a crudely made bow crafted from willow wood.

Since neither of the girls were skilled in combat, Du Li’s first instinct was to pick up a stone to retaliate and then run.

But she forgot that she had just pawned her seemingly useless stamina that morning. The stone she threw was weak, and her fleeing steps were unsteady.

Su Zhen stood on one leg, a cold smile spreading across her face.

Du Li screamed in panic, "If you kill me, you won’t end up any better! The game doesn't encourage murder!"

Su Zhen replied, "No choice, you had so much money. Good luck runs out eventually. You should rest now."

With those cruel words, the arrow shot out immediately.

Su Zhen, still strong despite having only one leg, shot the arrow with steady precision, landing directly in Du Li’s heart!

As the girl collapsed in a heap, Su Zhen hurried over with her crutch, quickly searching Du Li's clothes and taking the 150 taels of silver.

During this process, Su Zhen was worried that Li Mo might intervene.But Li Mo, also lacking in strength, seemed uninterested in the money and just stood silently under the willow tree, watching.

Su Zhen turned around with a smile: "Thanks, I’ll go look for a job with Doctor Yan later. I believe we’ll cooperate well from now on."

As soon as she finished speaking, a few patrolling NPCs appeared from the street corner, pointing at Su Zhen and shouting, "There! Daring to commit murder in broad daylight, arrest them!"

Su Zhen remained calm, allowing them to bind her without resistance.

At this moment, the system broadcast rang out.

[In these chaotic times, no friendship remains. Broadcaster Du Li was killed by broadcaster Su Zhen.]

Blood pooled beneath Du Li’s body, and her eyes remained wide open, as though she could not die in peace.

The reason Li Mo didn’t involve herself with Su Zhen was precisely because she was afraid of making enemies. Upon hearing the broadcast, she lowered her head and continued on her way.

Just as Su Zhen was taken away by the NPCs, Luo Xi and Xi Yu suddenly appeared in front of her, their expressions serious as they surveyed the situation around them.

Li Mo couldn’t help but say, “What are you staring at me for? Su Zhen was desperate and greedy for money. It has nothing to do with me.”

Luo Xi said, "If it has nothing to do with you, how come you were conveniently next to the victim? Do you think you're Conan?"

"I work with her too. It's normal for us to be walking together. It’s just that I don’t have much money, so Su Zhen didn’t think it was worth killing me," Li Mo replied, unfazed. "Move aside, I need to hand in my task."

Xi Yu ignored her and walked over to crouch beside Du Li’s body.

Although they had never gotten along and had no mutual understanding, Du Li was still a broadcaster he had known since the second round. The once fake inn owner Lily was not the frail, unfortunate figure lying here now. Was it Su Zhen’s unscrupulousness or Li Mo’s coldness that was to blame? Perhaps neither had truly done anything wrong—they simply didn't have the energy to be kind.

In the end... it was all just another tragic spectacle set up by the company to attract attention.

Luo Xi understood Xi Yu’s feelings well. He approached and gently patted his head. "Alright, I understand that you're feeling lost, but as a broadcaster, you need to learn to face farewells. If your emotions are affected, you won't be able to change the situation and might even end up hurting yourself."

"Mm, I understand." Xi Yu nodded and softly said, "But since we knew each other, let's bury her."

Luo Xi complied without hesitation, quickly bending down and lifting Du Li’s body horizontally. "Alright, you go submit your task, and we’ll find her a peaceful resting place."

Xi Yu took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. After all, as the competition progressed, similar events would happen again and again, and he had to—one day—let the people around him achieve an unknown freedom.

With that thought, Xi Yu looked at Luo Xi with sadness and reluctance.

Luo Xi, uneasy, asked, "What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re crying for this brat? You never cried for me."

Xi Yu turned away and controlled his emotions. "Forget it, she never had the makings of a champion. The sooner she dies, the sooner she’s reborn."