Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Chapter 136

刿. Xi Yu still recognized this character. Its original meaning was "to cut," and if interpreted as a punishment, it probably referred to cutting certain parts of a person’s body until death?

Unfortunately, no one had studied something this perverse, so it fell into a blind spot of knowledge.

His eyes were filled with disgust and confusion. First, he looked toward the three NPCs standing stiffly with their tools in hand, then glanced dejectedly at Luo Xi.

Luo Xi cursed under his breath, “Was the dungeon designed this poorly? Can’t get attention without this kind of garbage?”

This actually prompted Ying Zhixing to respond for once, letting out a mocking laugh: “The funniest part is that after the streamers suffer all this torture here, the broadcast might even blur it out with a mosaic.”

Fei Ling, facing the impending torture, had no energy to respond—she trembled on the ground. Meanwhile, Ma Ruofei wore a numb expression, as though he had seen through everything. He softly asked, “Do I have to draw a lot too?”

The Withered Wood Chief raised his hands in reverence to the dark sky, then solemnly replied, “No need. The mountain god is consulted once per day. Since you are both offered as sacrifices on the same day, your fates are already shared.”

At that moment, Fei Ling finally broke down into sobs: “No… Isn’t it enough that I’m dying… Why… Why…”

She may have been a little idol of Yuntai, but after all, she belonged to Yuntai—she didn’t even have basic human rights. The title of “idol” now seemed almost laughable.

Facing such a fate, one could only imagine what Fei Ling’s fans among natural-born humans were feeling.

Ma Ruofei, though also weak and full of fear, still tried to console her: “Just bear it a little longer and it’ll be over. Think about how you won’t have to stress over these competitions anymore—doesn’t that sound kind of nice?”

Fei Ling sobbed, “But they’ll reset me again. How is that any different from living an eternal hell? I’d rather truly die. I don’t want to play anymore! I don’t want to play anymore!”

She blurted these words out unconsciously, but perhaps they reflected the hidden thoughts of many other streamers. By the blood-red riverbank, all fell silent. No one even looked into each other’s eyes. One wondered—did those who sabotaged Fei Ling’s mission feel any regret? Or were they already overwhelmed by their own impending doom?

A great sorrow welled up in Xi Yu’s heart. For the first time, he desperately hoped Luo Xi’s plan would succeed—not just for the two of them, but for everyone sharing the same fate.

Just then, he spoke up: “Wait. Since this is the end anyway… Fei Ling, sing a song.”

The girl’s voice was like heaven’s music—this was, in fact, a tactic to build favor.

Perhaps something might change in Yuntai, and Fei Ling could be revived as a candidate.

Fei Ling choked back tears and looked fearfully at the Withered Wood Chief.

The chief considered for a moment, then agreed: “Don’t waste too much time.”

Only then did Fei Ling steady her breath and begin singing softly her most popular song. It had originally been an anti-war piece, but now, its longing for peace and stability became the unspoken sentiment of all the streamers.

The terrifying atmosphere by the river slowly took on a strange sense of beauty thanks to the song.

All the streamers bowed their heads, hiding the emotions the company would never allow them to show.

When the song ended, silence returned.

The NPCs, merely programs running set routines, paid no attention to the humans’ feelings. They simply carried out what they had been programmed to do.Watching Fei Ling quiet down, Agǔ washed his massive steel blade in the red water, then raised the blade and walked toward the two pitiful “sacrifices.”

Fei Ling seemed resigned, curled up motionless on the spot, letting Agǔ pick her up and violently slam her to the ground.

Xi Yu couldn’t bear to look closely and suddenly turned his back, only hearing the piercing screams behind him.

Luo Xi gently held his hand in comfort, saying nothing.

Should he be angry?

Yes. But not just anger alone.

A flame rose up in Xi Yu’s heart—a fire that had appeared when Wu Zhi fell down the stairs before, only to be extinguished by canceling the reset plan. Now it burned uncontrollably, scorching his breath.

The horrific massacre lasted about five minutes or longer.

When all fell silent, Xi Yu looked back and saw only two mutilated bodies. Fei Ling’s pink hair was scattered messily on the ground, stained and blurred by blood.

In reality, they should have been taken out of the nutrition pods in Yuntai and stored in a warehouse, right?

Xi Yu closed his eyes.

Agǔ remained expressionless, like someone tidying up scraps, picking up the body parts one by one and tossing them into the water, causing splashes.

The punishment was over. After waiting a long time, Xipo, holding a strange evening primrose flower bundle, walked up and squatted beside Ziye’s corpse, saying, “Ah, you were unlucky. You barely stood out from the candidates, but didn’t know how to cherish the chance. Fortunately, you have successors. Rest peacefully.”

With that, she struggled to stand, using her thin, withered body to drag the bamboo raft carrying the corpse, pushing Ziye steadily into the red water.

Although the bamboo raft was shabby, it still had some buoyancy and soon floated away from the shore.

Xipo breathed a deep sigh and earnestly murmured, “Great Mountain God, we are about to offer you a new bride. Please let the Yin-Yang Tree revive and continue to guard Yin Bridge Village.”

At this moment, Ziye’s body floated farther and farther away. When the bamboo raft finally broke apart, she sank into the boundless blood-red water.

Strangely, just as the raft sank, a bright crimson light immediately rose on the village’s east side—the exact spot where the Yin-Yang Tree grew.

It seemed the so-called Mountain God truly manifested, restoring that strange thing from ashes to its original state.

Zhou Ze saw this and couldn’t help but mutter something to Ying Zhixing.

Su Ziyan clearly heard and, disgusted by how they had killed Fei Ling and Ma Ruofei by such means, deliberately spoke loudly: “Brother Luo, Zhou Ze says the Yin-Yang Tree revived and will definitely have a role in the next stage.”

Luo Xi didn’t respond but glanced deeply at Su Ziyan.

Everyone said “possessing treasures invites trouble.” This kid’s ears were so sharp—how could he still recklessly proclaim such things? Which streamer wouldn’t fear being overheard? He really was asking for trouble.

Su Ziyan was unaware of his mistake and even spat defiantly.

Ying Zhixing smiled faintly: “What’s wrong? Everyone hates me for being ruthless? This is a game, with winners and losers. Those who pity them should try losing for them! If you can’t, then don’t sit on that ridiculous moral high ground, judging others.”

He rarely spoke so much at once but finally took a stand to refute, and his reasoning was hard to deny.

Still, Xi Yu felt uneasy inside. He refused to reply and, suppressing his complicated feelings, asked Xipo, “Is it over? Can we leave now?”

Xipo, praying toward the Yin-Yang Tree, waved her hand and said, “Gather in my courtyard at midnight. I will announce the second bride challenge. If you don’t show up, I won’t say it twice.”The streamers raised no objections.

Xipo smiled and took a necklace from her bosom, handing it to Agǔ: “Thank you, child. May the Mountain God always bless you.”

Agǔ gladly accepted it, glanced at it, and hung it around his neck.

All the streamers clearly saw the necklace was made by threading together all sorts of teeth—not only terrifying but disgusting!

Xi Yu felt even more nauseous and immediately signaled Luo Xi to leave. Su Ziyan and Zhi Shan quickly followed behind, clearly shaken by the recent bloodshed.

The four-person team drew a deliberate taunt from Zhao Zhusheng: “Yo, what alliance is this? The first and second households teaming up now?”

Xi Yu’s expression was hidden by a mask, but Luo Xi’s fiery temper flared because of it, and she immediately turned around, ready to fight.

“Don’t mind him.” Xi Yu stopped Luo Xi forcefully, seriously saying, “I have something important to tell you.”

Luo Xi knew how to prioritize and immediately gave a middle finger to the smiling Zhao Zhusheng, then led the way out.

Zhao Zhusheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Mu Yuan: “What should we do now? The game’s arrangement feels a bit strange.”

Though Mu Yuan had colluded with Ying Zhixing to sabotage Fei Ling and Ma Ruofei, both knew their selfish natures meant no cooperation was possible. He toyed with a boning knife he’d stolen from some kitchen and sneered, “Let’s leave this unlucky place first.”

Zhao Zhusheng naturally stuck close.

Wang Lou glanced at the situation and also quickly disappeared with Mu Yuan.

The remaining Zhou Ze and Yan Ruyu stood firmly beside Ying Zhixing. It seemed the alliance had been decided; the question was which small group would collapse first.

Though the long night had passed, Yin Bridge Village remained eerie and ghostly.

Xi Yu feared those paper figures were Xipo’s spies, so he deliberately found a pile of rubble in a remote spot outside the village and sat down, saying, “Actually, everyone could have completed the bridal dress mission last night, but the system requires someone to be eliminated. There will be stricter conditions ahead, and Ziye’s corpse will be crucial.”

Luo Xi agreed: “Right, she was a qualified bride after all. Everything about her was correct.”

Xi Yu seemed to be pondering something but didn’t say it outright. Instead, he instructed Su Ziyan: “Mu Yuan and the others will definitely think of this too. Take Zhi Shan to investigate, but don’t get too close. Luo Xi and I will wait here for you.”

Su Ziyan nodded: “Alright, but Zhi Shan looks weaker than me... why aren’t you and Brother Luo protecting me?”

Zhi Shan resisted: “Exactly, I’m afraid I can’t help much.”

“You do nothing, so why should we bring you along?” Luo Xi finally snapped at her. “Xi Yu and I have something to discuss. Don’t make me lose patience and hang you from a tree where you can’t do anything.”

Actually, Zhi Shan had never faced Luo Xi in person and only heard rumors about Ling Xue. Seeing this male streamer showed no intention to protect her, she resigned and nodded: “Fine, just don’t leave. We’ll observe around and come back.”

“Just keep him informed,” Xi Yu instructed. “Go. Those people probably haven’t gone far yet.”

Su Ziyan unusually behaved sensibly, pulling Zhi Shan along: “No worries, I’m the best at eavesdropping, and I have super good luck.”

After the two left far away, Xi Yu glanced at Luo Xi and curved his eyes: “I still don’t trust Zhi Shan. I want to tell you, we need to find a way to get Ziye’s corpse.”

Luo Xi playfully tugged Xi Yu’s long hair: “Great minds think alike.”

Xi Yu recoiled in distaste and dodged.Luo Xi put her arm around his shoulder: “Finally, some time alone together. It’s so tiring having a tagalong.”

“...” Xi Yu sighed helplessly: “Su Ziyan was your choice.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s all my fault.” Luo Xi smiled: “To make up for it, I’ll take responsibility for retrieving the corpse.”

Xi Yu: “Everyone’s watching the lake now. If you go into the water, it’ll definitely cause trouble. How will you find it?”

Luo Xi snapped her fingers: “There will always be a moment when they’re not watching.”

Xi Yu asked in doubt: “When?”

Luo Xi smiled: “Remember what Xipo told us at the end?”