Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Xi Yu listened to Luo Xi’s words and blinked: “Xipo said to meet her at midnight to ask about the new mission. If we don’t go, we’ll bear the consequences—so you mean… you’re not planning to show up?”

“Is there a problem?” Luo Xi asked back, then shrugged: “Anyway, you just listen to the mission for me. I’ll go retrieve the corpse later. I guess others won’t try to stop me.”

“But I’m afraid Ying Zhixing and Mu Yuan might think the same,” Xi Yu said uneasily.

Luo Xi snorted: “You think those two really trust their so-called teammates? After all, the mission involves life and death. If they don’t hear it with their own ears, they’ll definitely be suspicious.”

Xi Yu couldn’t refute that. After a brief silence, he finally nodded.

Luo Xi continued: “What we need to do now is just make sure no one gets there first.”

“Shouldn’t we go into the village to gather more information?” Xi Yu frowned slightly. “And there’s another possibility—the corpse might be destroyed once it enters the lake. Ziye only appears on the first night.”

Luo Xi smiled lightly, sitting cross-legged at ease: “No need. Don’t waste effort when there’s no purpose. Isn’t it better to rest here?”

Xi Yu still remembered his first game, how Luo Xi had appeared elusive in that dungeon. She didn’t seem very proactive at first but eventually became the savior.

He thought for a moment, then slowly relaxed. He wanted to talk about something beyond the game, but remembering they were always being watched by the audience, he fell silent.

Not far from the pile of rubble, the blood-red lake was as calm as a mirror. Looking closely, it gave the illusion of a vast black abyss.

Meanwhile, Su Ziyan was wandering around the village with Zhishan. Having a companion to boost courage meant she didn’t panic over the sudden appearances and disappearances of the paper figures.

Zhishan, however, was anxious and kept asking if Su Ziyan heard anything.

Su Ziyan patiently continued walking, then suddenly whispered, “Mu Yuan.”

Zhishan immediately fell silent.

Su Ziyan peeked around the corner and indeed saw Mu Yuan and two others disappear at the end of the alley.

He quickly gestured for Zhishan to follow him quietly, tailing behind to eavesdrop.

Though streamers often revealed complex human nature, their conversations were usually simple, mostly about how to safely pass the levels.

At this moment, Mu Yuan was analyzing: “That female corpse, Ziye, is crucial. The story background now makes no sense.”

Zhao Zhusheng agreed: “Yeah, the story is about selecting one from twelve candidates, and that one must die badly. It’s impossible to figure out how to defeat six other streamers.”

“So it’s best to only listen halfway to the NPC’s words. Who knows what tricks are hidden inside,” Mu Yuan said casually. “Our urgent problem now is to find a way to eliminate Xi Yu and Luo Xi. As long as they’re around, we’re never safe.”

Wang Lou nodded: “At present, the so-called punishment is irresistible. We just need to make sure they can’t complete their mission.”

Mu Yuan sneered: “Even if they do, swapping out the deliverable isn’t impossible.”

Zhao Zhusheng gladly agreed: “Okay, we’ll think of a plan tonight. But that guy surnamed Su with Luo Xi is a bit troublesome. Why are his ears so sharp?”“Su Ziyan belongs to the experimental type of androids, usually specially studied by the Human Research Institute to break certain human limits, and their lifespan is generally very short,” Mu Yuan replied disdainfully. “Moreover, God is fair: as long as one ability is enhanced, other abilities cannot maintain their original state. Don’t you think his intelligence is problematic? Not worth fearing.”

Zhao Zhusheng immediately laughed out loud.

Su Ziyan silently leaned against the mottled cement wall, as if hearing something, but his expression showed no pride or joy.

Zhishan looked at him curiously and asked, “What happened? Do they have a conspiracy?”

Su Ziyan nodded, then gave an embarrassed smile: “Hey, no specific plan, it’s still about scheming to make Brother Luo and Brother Xi Yu fail their missions. Let’s head back first.”

Zhishan agreed but, due to a girl’s unique sensitivity, couldn’t help asking, “Really nothing else? You don’t seem very happy.”

Su Ziyan finally snapped out of it and said loudly, “Of course not, who’s happy playing this kind of game?”

Though Zhishan knew he wasn’t telling the truth, she didn’t insist and quietly said, “Anyway, as long as you can keep going, don’t overthink it.”

Su Ziyan silently looked at her.

There could only be one champion, and in the end, it would only be awarded to the best streamer.

People like them, who think “better to live miserably than die well,” had little hope.

But people always dedicate themselves fully to pursuits with slim chances of success—that’s something no one can change.

Xi Yu actually listened to Luo Xi well. To guard the corpse that had sunk somewhere unknown, he really didn’t go into the village. Even when Su Ziyan and Zhishan returned, he was still sitting on the pile of stones, gazing at the red lake.

Su Ziyan quietly calmed himself all the way. After meeting them, he was much more normal and waved to report, “I followed them. Regardless, Mu Yuan has no clear goal now; he just feels the NPC and story have tricks and can’t be trusted. He’s also scheming how to swap out the items you need to deliver at night, so you’d be dragged by A Gu to the sacrificial ceremony.”

Luo Xi snorted with amusement, “Really want him to wake up.”

Su Ziyan sat down tiredly and asked, “So what should we do now? Although the paper figures in the village are still active, I really don’t know what to ask them. I’m totally clueless.”

Luo Xi raised an eyebrow and answered, “I think sleeping now is best.”

Su Ziyan usually just followed Du Li around randomly, but now that he was clinging to a new ‘big leg,’ although he didn’t understand her rhythm, he wasn’t very nervous, more like a ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ attitude. He immediately sat in a corner: “Alright, I barely slept last night anyway. Xipo kept nagging.”

“Oh?” Luo Xi suddenly got interested, “What did she nag about? Our room was pretty quiet.”

Su Ziyan recalled, “Nothing much, seemed like she was muttering to those paper figures, complaining that we weren’t scared enough or something.”

“Not scared enough... those paper figures only appear sensing negative emotions,” Luo Xi rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Looks like whether the whole Yinqiao Village needs a bride is still unknown. What’s most needed is our fear.”

Su Ziyan laughed while pounding his leg: “If it was a natural human, they’d probably have lost their soul by now. But streamers have seen everything, I guess the NPC’s hopes will be dashed.”

Xi Yu, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke: “Not necessarily, everyone has fears, just different things they’re afraid of.”

Su Ziyan always felt Xi Yu and Luo Xi were like superheroes and asked curiously, “Really? Brother Xi Yu, then what are you afraid of?”

Xi Yu looked at him with clear eyes, then after a moment smiled faintly: “Afraid you’ll nag endlessly.”

After saying that, he looked again at the calm lake surface, hiding the turbulent emotions that always unconsciously surged inside.