Chapter 151

Chapter 151

Is having companions important between life and death?

Xiyu looked at Ying Zhixing, who had thrown out an olive branch, and after a two-second silence, said: "What’s your strategy?"

Ying Zhixing said: "We should travel together. With our combined strength, we’ll be safer than those who are working alone. From the rules announced on the broadcast, it seems there’s no way forward except finding clues to kill others."

Xiyu wasn’t naive. He immediately countered: "We can’t find two clues at once, and when it comes to interests, we can’t avoid betraying each other."

In the past, Ying Zhixing had been very arrogant and aloof. After this rejection, he should have turned away, but unexpectedly, he said: "At least before the interests arrive, protecting each other is never a bad idea."

At this moment, Xiyu was also clueless about the game. After thinking for a moment, he decided that they would rely on their own abilities. Temporarily teaming up wasn’t a big deal, and he was more curious about why Ying Zhixing was so determined to cooperate with him. He then softly agreed: "Alright."

Ying Zhixing’s expression remained calm: "It’s said that Ziye appears at midnight, but now isn’t the time. We should make a move."

Xiyu said: "But all the players have been revived, and A Gu is still patrolling. It’s too dangerous to wander around."

Ying Zhixing said: "At least there’s one place without A Gu."

Xiyu thought for a moment and widened his eyes slightly: "A Gu’s home?"

"Exactly. He must be out on patrol. Let’s go look for clues." Ying Zhixing said this as he began to climb up the well wall.

Xiyu narrowed his eyes and glanced around for a moment before swiftly following.

This was his first time collaborating with a powerful stranger, and naturally, he didn’t feel safe at all. He even suspected that Ying Zhixing had ulterior motives.

But thinking of Luo Xi already having successfully won and waiting for him at the Cloud Platform, Xiyu steadied himself, climbed out of the well, and plunged into the bloody storm alongside Ying Zhixing.

Su Ziyan didn’t expect to "survive."

He had turned into a paper figure, mechanically walking through the pouring rain, yet his body showed no signs of getting wet.

Su Ziyan had of course heard the rules announced by the broadcast, but he didn’t know how to use the new rules to survive or if he would be able to return to normal on the Cloud Platform.

But now, there was truly no other way. He had long become a plaything on the human chopping block.

With such a confused state of mind, Su Ziyan walked alone for a long time.

Unfortunately, after completing his patrol, he didn’t encounter any familiar broadcasters on the street. He eventually felt disappointed and raised his paper-made hand to look at the knife in his hand.

The cold light of the weapon made Su Ziyan recall the time he was tortured and killed by Wang Lou and Zhao Zhusheng, and a flame of revenge inevitably sparked in his heart.

But is revenge more important than victory?

Su Ziyan didn’t know. Unconsciously, he wanted to tighten his grip on the paper-made hand.

Unfortunately, the body assigned by the system was not very controllable, even somewhat clumsy. Could he really eliminate those broadcasters with overwhelming combat power by continuing like this?

It made him lose confidence.

In another corner of the scene, Zhou Ze thought that after finally completing his mission, he had gotten closer to victory. However, the system suddenly reversed and announced new rules, which was a huge blow to him, especially since he was injured.

The rain poured heavier, and the rising mist turned Yin Qiao Village red.

Zhou Ze almost bumped into A Gu, who was patrolling the streets, and in a panic, he hurriedly ran into a small restaurant to hide.

Inside the restaurant, only a few paper figures sat scattered around. Their attitudes weren’t very friendly, but they didn’t actively attack either.

Zhou Ze ran out of breath, feeling lost and disoriented, unable to care about them. He immediately began rummaging around the room, searching for a more useful weapon.

A paper figure sitting at the counter slowly approached and angrily asked, "Who are you, and how dare you destroy my shop?"

Zhou Ze impatiently turned around. Just as lightning flashed outside the window, it illuminated the paper figure's horrifying and exaggerated face. He answered impatiently, "Get out of the way, or I’ll burn you."

Upon hearing this, the paper figure's voice became pitiful as it moved closer: "Don’t destroy my shop, you bad person."

Zhou Ze didn’t have the time to waste talking to an NPC.

He continued to rummage through the counter, planning to dash into the kitchen, but suddenly felt a chill at his waist. In an instant, a sharp pain struck him, leaving his mind blank.

He was stabbed…?!

He couldn’t believe it.

Zhou Ze hesitated and glared at the paper figure: "You…"

The paper figure’s eyes, crudely drawn on its face, curved in a smile as its voice remained weak: "Bad people deserve punishment, don’t they?"

Blood surged out of the wound in large amounts. It was too late to resist now.

Zhou Ze had thought that revived players would become special, that at least he could recognize them when meeting face-to-face. He never expected them to be just like the paper NPCs all over the street—unpredictable and unnoticeable.

He felt nothing but frustration, but once he lost, he lost.

Blood soaked through his clothes, and Zhou Ze finally collapsed into an unreal pain.

[Streamer Zhou Ze was eliminated by streamer Fei Ling]

[There are five victory spots left]

[The competition continues]

Xiyu had just entered A Gu’s house when he heard this unexpected broadcast.

Fei Ling had eliminated Zhou Ze, who was much stronger than her…

Had the streamers who “died” earlier really become that strong?

While he was lost in thought, Ying Zhixing had already begun rummaging through the room.

A Gu’s shabby room was simply furnished, with only a broken bed and two cabinets.

Unfortunately, even after Ying Zhixing searched the place, he didn’t find anything special, let alone discovering A Gu’s weakness.

Xiyu walked up behind him and softly said, "Maybe the planners didn’t want us to make progress so easily. Let’s go."

Just as he finished speaking, an awkward figure appeared at the door—it was a paper figure dressed in red.

Its clothes were a uniform style, and its tone was somewhat displeased: "What are you doing? Are you stealing something?"

This is probably the security of Yin Qiao Village?

Xiyu remained calm and polite: "Sorry, just hiding from the rain."

The paper figure impatiently said, "Come out, this is Mr. A Gu's room."

Xiyu exchanged a glance with Ying Zhixing, suppressing his doubts, and they followed the figure outside, one after the other.

How could a cowardly paper figure be so bossy? Moreover, when they came to A Gu's place earlier, they hadn’t encountered it…

Xiyu grew cautious.

It was almost as if to confirm his suspicion, as soon as he stepped out of the room, the paper figure suddenly turned around and attacked with a dagger!

Xiyu, who had been prepared, quickly dodged. At the same time, Ying Zhixing kicked the paper figure hard. The enormous force made the awkward paper figure fall clumsily, leaving no chance for combat.

At this point, being soft-hearted would be foolish. Xiyu grabbed a lantern from the doorway, one that could not be extinguished by rain, and threw the green glowing candle onto the paper figure.

With the paper figure’s sinister laugh and flames rising, the thing, along with the dagger, quickly disappeared in smoke.

Ying Zhixing frowned and looked at Xiyu: "Could it be a streamer…"

Xiyu responded, "It's very possible. After all, there are too many paper figures in the scene, and this is the easiest way to lower our guard."

Ying Zhixing said, "But the lantern shouldn’t be a weakness for the revived. If I’m guessing right, it will respawn."

Xiyu wasn’t panicked. Instead, he picked up a shiny item that the paper figure had dropped, carefully examining it.

Ying Zhixing asked, "What is it?"

Xiyu answered, "I don’t know. It looks like golden metal."

Ying Zhixing said, "It must be useful. Let’s take it for now and leave here."

Xiyu nodded. "Yeah, let’s check the places where Xipo and the Elder of the Withered Wood Tribe are staying. If the enemy is just paper figures, they don’t seem to be our match. We just need to avoid A Gu."

Fairness is an important principle of the game. Although it may seem like players who were eliminated and then revived have an advantage, if you think about the broadcast carefully, these defeated players are clearly waiting for the elimination of others, or the victory of others, before deciding their own fate… The difficulty is obvious.

Su Ziyan pondered in the rain for a while, finally regaining some sense, and placed the knife sent by the system inside his paper clothes to avoid drawing attention.

Though his agility was gone, his superhuman hearing remained. When the sound of footsteps suddenly reached his ears, he hurriedly hid under an eaves and pretended to be an NPC.

The person who arrived turned out to be Mu Yuan.

The former champion, now in a female form, looked disheveled in the bloody rain but still stood out. She held a stick for self-defense, scanning the surroundings as she quickly walked down the street.

If he lured her over and stabbed her with the knife, would she be eliminated?

Su Ziyan was nervous. Despite the impulse inside him, as soon as he saw Mu Yuan’s eyes casually sweep past, all his courage vanished.

Mu Yuan seemed to not take the paper figure seriously, walking straight past it.

Su Ziyan breathed a sigh of relief.

But just two seconds later, Mu Yuan came back holding a roller, frowning as she walked closer.

...Was he seen through?

Su Ziyan froze.

But Mu Yuan only asked, "Do you know what the Elder of the Withered Wood Tribe and A Gu are afraid of?"

Su Ziyan's voice changed completely, quietly replying, "...What are you talking about? What’s so scary about them... They are the masters of Yin Qiao Village..."

"Oh." Mu Yuan shrugged indifferently, suddenly lifting her stick and fiercely attacking Su Ziyan!

Su Ziyan was no match for her to begin with, and now with such a useless body, he was immediately knocked to the ground, letting out a painful scream.

In fact, Mu Yuan was just venting. To her surprise, as the ugly paper figure struggled on the ground, a real, genuine knife actually fell out of its clothes!

Su Ziyan's heart sank into panic.

Mu Yuan stopped her movements, frowning and saying, "How do you have something like this... You are..."

Su Ziyan couldn’t even dare to speak loudly, his heart almost leaping out of his throat.

Mu Yuan instinctively bent down to pick up the knife. However, just as her hand touched the handle, she felt a burning pain.

She quickly recoiled and smashed Su Ziyan to pieces with the stick.

The already destroyed paper figure, along with the weapon, quickly dissipated into smoke.

Mu Yuan still frowned, and despite her wealth of gaming experience, she really couldn’t make sense of the rules of this situation.