Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Making mistakes is normal, but constantly making the same mistake is foolish.

It seems that when Luo Xi was around, Ying Zhixing’s easy agreement to cooperate made sense. After Luo Xi left, Ying Zhixing’s deception and opportunism were understandable. The point now is that no matter how this person tries to win favor, he’s no longer trustworthy.

After a moment of silence, Xi Yu chuckled lightly: “Maybe wiping everyone out could lead to victory, but how you do it has nothing to do with me.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ying Zhixing furrowed his brows: “Think it over, you won’t find a more suitable companion.”

Though Xi Yu didn’t look back, he was on high alert: “I don’t need a companion. The mistake was in teaming up with you.”

Ying Zhixing didn’t say anything more. Xi Yu, still tense, quickly left the troublesome place.

What exactly is going on?

Since the night Luo Xi left, Xi Yu’s mind has been clouded. He usually wouldn’t care whether the other streamers win, but it shouldn’t be happening that he can barely remember some people, and trusting Ying Zhixing… that shouldn’t have happened either.

…

Xi Yu, in a state of confusion, walked through the bloody rain. The more he thought, the more something felt off. He clenched his fists tightly, digging his nails into his palms, just trying to calm himself quickly.

Unfortunately, the more he thought, the more uneasy he became.

—Even if his brain wasn’t functioning clearly due to exhaustion, what’s going on with this strange game? And is Luo Xi really safe after leaving?

He squinted his tired eyes. It was clear to him that the only way to increase his chances was to expose more streamers who had been turned into paper people, and collect that strange reward item.

Cloud Platform, Player Rest Area.

Luo Xi quickly took a shower to wash off the discomfort of the nutrient fluids, but he wasn’t feeling any relief inside.

His biggest concern was, of course, Xi Yu and this crumbling game.

He had been “granted amnesty” to leave simply because he completed a side mission?

That’s impossible. What happened to the prompts from Xu Tu and Bai Qi that sent him on the mission?

Besides, for such a large commercial event, even though the streamer androids are just tools, and it doesn’t matter if the planners waste energy and opportunities, wouldn’t the sudden change of rules anger the audience?

Too many questions lingered in Luo Xi’s mind. Even Lin Yuze’s “comfort” didn’t help. He stared at the note, without the courage or mood to open the computer and study the virus that could escape the Cloud Platform. Instead, he suddenly stood up from the sofa, intending to go outside and check for any news.

Unexpectedly, in the hallway that should have been quiet and empty, a few security personnel had appeared at some point.

Luo Xi remained calm: “What’s going on?”

One of the security personnel replied: “The game is not over yet. The streamers who have won ahead of time should stay in their rooms and wait for further instructions.”

Luo Xi: “I don’t want to rest.”

The security personnel smiled slightly: “It’s the rule.”

Although Luo Xi could easily take down these people with his combat power, he considered that they probably had tranquilizer guns or other defensive weapons. Furthermore, there was no need to escalate the situation. After a moment of silence, he gave up on resisting.

Just as the door was closing, Luo Xi suddenly asked: “I’m not the only one who has won ahead of time, am I?”

The security officer still wore a smile that lacked much emotion: “Of course not. It’s just that the game isn’t over yet, and you’re not allowed to communicate with each other.”

Luo Xi: “Oh, I see.”

“Take a nap. The results should be out within twenty-four hours.” The security officer personally approached and closed the door, coldly entering the password, completely locking Luo Xi inside.

Luo Xi stood behind the door, furrowing his brows. His gaze drifted and he noticed the neatly folded pajamas left on the sofa by Xi Yu, which gradually calmed his expression.

Meanwhile, Xi Yu, still struggling in the game, suddenly felt a bit of drowsiness.

The bitter wind and cold rain made his hands and feet numb. How could he possibly want to sleep?

This was abnormal.

He was relying entirely on his willpower, forcing himself to stay awake, and climbed a tall tree, quietly observing the paper people moving around.

Although his mental state wasn’t great, fortunately, his memory was still intact.

He could clearly remember what each streamer had looked like before.

Finally, when he saw a black-haired woman in purple clothes, a paper person, Xi Yu suddenly jumped down and swiftly stopped her, shouting: “Yan Ruyu, you should understand, you can’t win this game.”

The paper person, who had been moving slowly, instantly froze.

It turned around, its features more realistic than the poorly made “counterparts,” most likely because it had been destroyed by other players before.

—Xi Yu noticed that the more times these streamer-impersonated paper people were destroyed, the more they resembled their original forms, until they were called by name and exited the game.

Sure enough, the paper person moved its stiff mouth, but said nothing, and then vanished into black smoke.

Xi Yu couldn’t focus on the feeling of eliminating someone. He bent down to pick up the pieces that had fallen to the ground, then quickly fled the area.

[Streamer Yan Ruyu was eliminated by Xi Yu, weakness found.]

[Currently, there are six players remaining.]

The broadcast announcement, like a blood-drenched spike, made every streamer present feel a chill.

With only six left, why was it still going on? Was it because Luo Xi had already won and only five players could remain, or was it because they had to completely finish the mission and eliminate everyone?

So in the end, who leaves and who stays? Is it based on audience popularity?

Is the audience popularity real, or is it manipulated by cyber control, with the company holding the power?

Su Ziyan, hiding in the dark, grew more and more afraid. The fear kept him from taking any action. He could only shrink in a useless corner, leaving everything to fate.

After all, for someone like him, who had been given a second chance by the system, eliminating Xi Yu and Ying Zhixing would be considered a victory...

But is it possible?

Besides, Xi Yu had clearly been able to eliminate him just now, but had deliberately let him go.

He couldn’t repay kindness with enmity, could he?

Su Ziyan squatted wearily on the dimly lit floor of the small room, hoping that all the nightmares would end soon.

He knew very well that he was a fragile waste, but it seemed like he couldn't change himself.

Just one more piece...

Xi Yu had almost pieced together the golden item and could clearly see that it was a small, magic-casting rod in the shape of a demon-slaying staff.

According to the murals in the temple, this was a sacred item used to eliminate demons.

Maybe once it was fully assembled, it would give him the strength to fight against A Gu?

Xi Yu sighed and pondered what to do next.

At this moment, two more broadcast announcements echoed from the hellish Yinqiao Village.

[The elder of the withered tree tribe was killed by Ying Zhixing.]

[Ying Zhixing obtained a final key.]

[Ying Zhixing was eliminated by streamer Zhao Zhusheng.]

[Currently, there are five players remaining.]

Xi Yu, who had been thinking of ways to act, widened his eyes in complete disbelief.

It seemed that Ying Zhixing really did know some clues about dealing with NPCs when he teamed up with him, but how could he have been eliminated by Zhao Zhusheng?

Even if Zhao Zhusheng hadn’t turned into a paper person, there was no way he could have beaten Ying Zhixing.

...

More importantly, now, was he the only one left representing the candidates?

Fei Ling, Ma Ruofei, Zhao Zhusheng, Su Ziyan...

They hadn't been eliminated yet, right?

If these people had normal brains, they would definitely form an alliance...

So, one against four wasn’t much fun.

Xi Yu wearily knocked on his own head, trying to muster the energy to find a safer place and think if there was a way to escape.

As the number of players decreased, the rain intensified.

Xi Yu, holding a wooden stick for defense, quickened his pace.

However, the persistent fatigue and drowsiness clung to him like an evil spirit, refusing to let go.

His heartbeat accelerated, and he could even hear his own breathing clearly.

Usually, his sensitivity was high, and he wouldn't react only when danger was imminent.

But at this moment, his physical discomfort severely weakened Xi Yu’s abilities, and when the wooden stick came at him from behind, he only heard the whistling of the wind. There was no chance to roll away before being knocked down to the ground.

The attacker showed no mercy, seemingly afraid that he might get up, and landed two more blows.

Xi Yu's vision went completely black, and even his thoughts drifted far away in the chaotic rain.

It’s over...

It must have been those people. With the items in their hands, the knives stabbed at him, and he...

Was eliminated...

It was still pouring rain, and the raindrops hit the slums of the bustling city, contrasting with the cheap, dazzling neon lights, creating a different kind of beauty.

Unfortunately, Xi Yu, walking along the street, was too frustrated to appreciate it.

His beautiful and slightly melancholic appearance attracted many gazes, and some malicious individuals had already started to follow him.

Fortunately, before trouble could catch up to him, a warm hand grabbed him.

Xi Yu turned around and saw that handsome and familiar face. After a brief moment of awkwardness, he said, "What are you doing here?"

The young man smiled: "I should be asking you that. What are you doing here?"

Xi Yu said, "...Just wandering around. Didn't you say I could go anywhere I want?"

The young man sighed: "But not pretending to be a natural person and going to illegal places to find work. Do you think I wouldn’t know?"

Xi Yu fell silent again.

The young man said, "If you want a job, I can arrange one for you at Cyber, though the procedures might be a bit troublesome—"

"I don't need an arrangement. I'm not your tool." Xi Yu immediately interrupted him.

"Ah, the child is starting to rebel." The man wasn’t angry and still smiled gently: "I understand what you're upset about, but we both know what it's like for artificial humans living in this world. You can't change that just because you act cute with me."

Xi Yu furrowed his brows and said, "I’m not… Forget it, I’ll take the blame."

The man, fearing that he might run away in anger again, followed behind and said, "Don’t be like this. I didn’t say things couldn’t change forever. It’s just… everything in this world is about equivalent exchange. The harder you want something, the more effort you’ll need to put in. I want the same things you do, so I promise I’ll do everything I can to make them happen for you. But you need to give me some time, okay?"

Xi Yu turned to look into his pitch-black eyes, and because of the rain mist and the interplay of neon lights, everything seemed blurry.