Chapter 22

On the day of the assessment, Xi Yu woke up early.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out of the dormitory, he ran into Wu Zhi, who had dark circles under his eyes.

Xi Yu was stunned: "Couldn't sleep again?"

Wu Zhi scratched his head and gave him a sheepish smile.

In fact, Xi Yu could understand the deep insecurity that Wu Zhi felt, and since he didn't dislike him, he accepted being relied upon and said gently, "Let's go, we'll see what's going on."

As they walked, Wu Zhi said, "I don't know if that Section Chief Qin is reliable. What if we can't team up..."

Xi Yu replied seriously: "If not, you'll have to rely on yourself. Proceed carefully, step by step."

"Mm." Wu Zhi nodded. "I promise, next time I won't rely on you so much."

Xi Yu gave him a helpless look and was about to give him some confidence when they were suddenly stopped by someone.

A clean face, a refined smile, and an unreadable purpose—again, it was Zhao Zhusheng, the person who had tried to strike up a conversation with him in the electronic reading room.

Wu Zhi quickly stepped in front of Xi Yu, warily asking, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Zhao Zhusheng ignored him and looked at Xi Yu, saying, "I just came from the game room. They've indeed opened up the option for duo teams this time. They all say it's thanks to you."

"Not really an achievement. Forming a team doesn't increase the win rate." Xi Yu calmly replied, "Because no one knows what kind of game awaits us."

Zhao Zhusheng still gave an oddly refreshing impression: "You're right, but I really want to team up with a strong player."

It was then that Wu Zhi understood that this guy was trying to snatch a teammate. He became excited and said, "Xi Yu also wants to, but unfortunately, all the beginner streamers are the same—weak!"

"Why insult others while insulting yourself?" Zhao Zhusheng's smile disappeared, and he said seriously, "I'm the Black General in the quality inspection dungeon. The competition ended the next day, and I won big. How about it, give me a chance?"

Xi Yu nodded: "Then I wish you better luck this time."

After speaking, he took Wu Zhi and walked away quickly.

Zhao Zhusheng stood there with his arms crossed, lightly laughing, seemingly unaffected by the cold rejection.

The beginner streamers were numerous, and the company had divided them into several living areas.These guys usually treat live streaming like a form of punishment, but on the day of the beginner's assessment, the game room was packed with people, three layers inside and three layers outside. It was so crowded that even finding a dedicated nutrition pod was not easy.

Wu Zhi stood in the bustling corridor and clicked his tongue: "I thought everyone would be too busy crying to want to go."

"Although I don't know the company's confidential information, the emotional area in a humanoid's brain should be relatively simple," Xi Yu explained. "Humanoids seem to face reality easily."

Wu Zhi mumbled, "Not easy at all."

"That's because you don't know real humans. A real high school student, facing those bloody disasters, would probably not only suffer from PTSD but also have endless nightmares," Xi Yu said helplessly. "Unlike you, who eats with more enthusiasm than anyone else."

Wu Zhi curiously asked, "Brother, how do you know what real humans are like?"

Xi Yu couldn't answer.

Wu Zhi then rubbed his stomach gloomily: "I'm really hungry, I didn't even have breakfast."

"On game days, we don't need to eat. The nutrient solution can sustain our bodily functions," Xi Yu showed his bracelet to the staff from the security department and calmly said, "Wu Zhi and I are teaming up. What are our nutrition pod numbers?"

The security staff, already used to this routine, tapped a few keys on the computer and said, "Room C03, pods 067 and 068. You can leave the bracelets here. We'll give them back when you come out."

Wu Zhi leaned forward and asked, "If we don't come out, does that mean we won't get them back?"

Although they looked similar, the way the security staff looked at them was not like how they looked at their own kind. The staff member coldly replied, "We can give you new ones. Resetting the bracelets is much easier than resetting you."

Wu Zhi pouted, dissatisfied, and turned around, craning his neck to look around.

Xi Yu raised an eyebrow.

Wu Zhi complained, "Hey, that Luo Xi is really inconsiderate. We were teammates for one round, and I thought he would help us out at the last moment."

Xi Yu also looked at the streamers who were arriving one after another and thought to himself: It's already a miracle if a humanoid can last a year or two here. Moreover, the difference in levels between them is vast. Perhaps he and that strange man will never meet again?

This might be for the best. In this small world of Yuntai, struggling to survive, one should not dwell on the past or expect anything in the future.

Yuntai Park. Top-level circular living area. Elite combat training room.

Although it was still early in the morning, the training area was already crowded. Senior and expert streamers filled the space, all of them combat masters, so their practice was particularly intense and thrilling.

Luo Xi was standing on a platform at the northwest corner of the training room.Across from him stood a strong man with purple hair, whose bear-like physique seemed capable of crushing his opponent, yet he was being toyed with by Luo Xi’s swordplay, turning in circles, sweat streaming down his face, with anger beginning to take hold.

"Yo, putting in so much effort for morning practice?" Miss Xu Tu walked by, leaning on the edge of the training platform and teasing him.

Luo Xi focused intently on his opponent, but spoke without hesitation: "After a few days of rest, my bones are itching."

Xu Tu chuckled: "I think it’s your heart that’s itching. What were you talking about with that little streamer when I was keeping watch for you?"

Luo Xi circled around the purple-haired man: "We talked philosophy. Are you interested?"

Xu Tu gave him a disdainful look: "I’m here to tell you that the assessment live broadcast is about to start. Don’t you want to go check it out? After all, your instructor’s certificate hasn’t expired yet."

Luo Xi turned his head: "When did I start enjoying watching newbies fight each other?"

Xu Tu cast a flirtatious glance, looking around before softly saying: "Reliable intel, this year it’s a fraud department, and little streamers are dangerous."

Luo Xi thought for a moment, then told his opponent: "I have a stomach ache. You win."

After saying that, he climbed over the guardrail and confidently walked off.

Xu Tu shook her head, then, like a gymnast, gracefully flipped over the guardrail and beckoned to the purple-haired man: "Come on, let’s play."

[Assessment Instance: No. 00013]

[Instance Name: Greedy Guesthouse]

[Activation Time: February 19, 2046]

[Online Audience: 12,471 Views]

The feeling of voluntarily lying in a nutrient pod was uncomfortable, as breathing in the mucus wasn’t a natural instinct for the human body.

Luckily, the holographic equipment connected quickly, and within seconds, Xi Yu was able to escape the suffocating sensation and smoothly enter a desolate space.

This space was, of course, the in-game world inside his mind.

Looking at the surface, the environment was undoubtedly a desert. Various weathered giant rocks and weak camel thorns scattered everywhere. The wind coming towards him had a dry, burning sensation, and aside from the wind, there was no other sound.

Xi Yu squinted his beautiful eyes and looked down at himself: an ordinary hoodie, sports pants, and desert-appropriate short boots, simple as if he were a tourist.It was strange, just as he was thinking about it, a young girl trudged over through the wind and sand.

She was dressed like a fellow traveler, holding a horn and a small flag, and she shouted at Xi Yu with difficulty: "Hey, tourist, please don’t wander off alone!"

Xi Yu snapped back to reality and approached, clearly seeing the forced smile on her face. He softly asked, "Are you a streamer too?"

The girl blinked in confusion: "What?"

Xi Yu looked at her with curiosity.

"You’re not tired and confused, are you? I’m a guide, my name is Xu Lei!" The girl said helplessly. "The terrain outside the Wasteland City is very complicated, and if you get lost, the consequences are unimaginable. I’ve already emphasized this several times, don’t wander off by yourself, okay?"

Xi Yu stayed silent for a moment before replying, "Okay."

Xu Lei smiled and brightened up: "Everyone is waiting for you ahead. Tonight we’re staying at a special guesthouse! It's underground, very comfortable!"

Xi Yu asked cautiously, "How many days are we staying?"

"Five days!" Xu Lei said. "The bus will come to pick us up for the return trip then."

Another five-day deadline. A cold light flashed in Xi Yu's eyes as he kept his gaze fixed on the guide’s agile back.

But Xu Lei didn’t react, continuing to introduce the sights along the way, then reassuring: "Don’t worry, I’ll take you to all the scenic spots. I’ve been a guide in Wasteland City for ten years, so I know it like the back of my hand!"

Xi Yu didn’t respond but, as they got closer, he spotted several figures in the distance and quickly quickened his pace.

Xu Lei, out of breath, called from behind: "Hey, tourist, don’t walk so fast! Be careful not to twist your ankle!"

The first thing upon reaching the gathering spot, of course, was to figure out who the team members were.

However, as soon as Xi Yu looked up, his brows furrowed: Four people.

Wu Zhi, a beautiful and arrogant-looking girl, a regular girl with a smile on her face... and the grinning Zhao Zhusheng.

How did this guy end up in the same group as him again? What a coincidence?

Naturally, Xi Yu was filled with doubt.

Wu Zhi also looked somewhat irritated, but thankfully he followed their agreement: not to talk much in the instance, so he struggled to hold his tongue.Zhao Zhusheng was quite straightforward, waving at Xi Yu: "I didn’t expect to see you again, I thought I wouldn’t have the honor of playing a game with you."

Xi Yu suppressed all emotions and gently smiled: "Hello."

The beautiful girl immediately asked sharply: "Do you two know each other?"

Zhao Zhusheng shrugged: "We’re from the same living area."

Xi Yu glanced at Xu Lei, who was adjusting her compass by herself and not participating in the conversation.

"We tested it, she should be an NPC," Wu Zhi finally spoke up, scratching his head, "They say there are only five of us tourists, so since we’ve already met, let’s introduce ourselves."

At a time like this, as a man, Xi Yu didn’t feel it was right to be shy, so he and Zhao Zhusheng simply introduced their names.

Wu Zhi said: "I’m Wu Zhi... don’t laugh, my brain isn’t the best, but I won’t harm you guys."

The beautiful girl rolled her eyes: "I’m Qian Lu, from Area A."

The familiar-looking ordinary girl also spoke up: "Zhou Fangfang, from Area F, hello everyone."

Zhao Zhusheng took the lead: "Alright, enough with the useless introductions, what do you think the game’s objectives and rules are?"

The group, facing the barren and desolate Gobi ahead, all shook their heads.

"We should only find out when we reach the legendary guesthouse," Xi Yu glanced at Xu Lei, "Guide, are we ready to go?"

"Of course." Xu Lei pulled out a machete from her backpack and smiled as she explained: "Don’t worry, it’s getting dark soon, and there will be a lot of carnivorous ants outside Wasteland City at night. Stay close to me, I’ll keep you safe."

Qian Lu immediately asked: "Carnivorous ants? Will they eat us?"

"There is that danger," Xu Lei looked towards the setting sun, which had already disappeared: "That’s why we need to get to the guesthouse before dark, let’s go."

As the group decided to follow the guide NPC westward, the sky gradually darkened at a visible speed, shifting from a grayish-white desolation to an eerie purple.

Among the five players, Zhou Fangfang seemed the most harmless, and also the most timid.

She tightly followed the three men, whispering: "What if we enter that guesthouse and can’t get out..."

Xi Yu glanced at the guide, who was leading the way with a flag in hand, and then replied: "I haven’t found any suspicious clues. Staying at the guesthouse should be a mandatory requirement, or else we need a place to rest for five whole days."Wu Zhi, walking along, rummaged through his waist pouch and muttered, "Anyway, the accommodation can't be simple, so don't expect too much—hey, is this a gold coin?"

He suddenly pulled out a shiny object from a small bag.

Xi Yu took it, examining it. It was beautifully made, with the number "1" in Arabic numerals on the back, and a strange ant pattern with sharp fangs on the front.

Zhao Zhusheng slapped Xu Lei, the guide, on the shoulder: "Hey, is this... the currency of Wasteland City?"

Xu Lei tilted her head in confusion: "Currency? Hmm... yeah, it's money, isn't it? Although you've already paid for your travel and accommodation, it's always good to have some cash on hand."

At this, the other four players began checking their clothes in the wind and sand, and sure enough, they all found the same gold coins.

Each with eight, not one more, not one less.

Qian Lu furrowed her brows: "Better keep it safe, the game's planners won’t give us any extras."

Zhou Fangfang thought for a moment and added, "With money, we can shop, maybe even buy some items!"

"Items, huh..." Xi Yu pinched the coin, thinking to himself: "The effects of the items are hard to guess, so this situation is tricky to predict... Anyway, we'll just take it step by step. Better to be cautious."

At that moment, another gust of cold wind and sand swept through, biting and sharp, making the temperature drop several degrees from what had been a comfortable warmth.

Xu Lei, seemingly unaffected by their talk of the game, pulled out a flashlight and turned to warn them seriously: "Make sure to stay close to me. If we encounter carnivorous ants, it’ll be troublesome."

Yuntai District. Top-level circular living area. Streamer dormitory.

Luo Xi, after over a year of consecutive victories, had climbed to the top of the streaming profession, and the room he had was of a luxury unimaginable to the new streamers.

Except for being unable to contact the outside world, the decor and amenities looked no different from a high-end apartment in a big city.

But no matter how beautiful the surroundings were, they could not compare to the brightness of Xi Yu's face on the projection screen.

Xu Lei's flashlight flickered, and her silver hair and bright amber eyes shone alone in the dim twilight.

Luo Xi, watching the live stream, could almost imagine it. If there were chat privileges here, the screen would surely be filled with the passionate remarks of young girls, because the most generously tipped streamers on Yuntai were usually those beautiful "human dolls." Unfortunately, Xi Yu, like everyone else, would forever be trapped in this hell, unable to hear a single compliment.

The players on the projection screen followed Xu Lei, growing further away and gradually disappearing into the depths of the Gobi.

The game had begun.Luo Xi put down the glass in his hand, found a comfortable position on the sofa, and lay back to watch.

In such a scene, if it weren't for the terrible scars all over his body, he would look just like any normal young human, without the menacing, intimidating appearance that scared other streamers.

Meanwhile, Xi Yu and the others followed the guide to their destination, only to stop at the entrance of an underground cave. The entrance was surrounded by large bamboo spikes and barbed wire, with bloodstains and some suspicious pieces of cloth hanging, fluttering in the cold night wind.

Zhou Fangfang was so scared that she took several steps back and questioned with wide eyes: "Is this... the guesthouse?"

Wu Zhi also resisted mentally and physically: "Is this a scam? Can I choose not to go in?"

Xu Lei, a bit embarrassed, planted the guide flag on her waist and explained: "Wasteland City is indeed a scenic area, but it comes with certain dangers, as clearly stated in the travel contract... and this is the only accommodation within fifty kilometers. Carnivorous ants are most active in groups at night, and when they encounter living creatures, they swarm and devour them instantly, leaving only bones! You must not wander around!"

Xi Yu crouched in front of the rough protection, wiping off the sticky red liquid. He gently sniffed and confirmed it was blood. He couldn't help but ask, "So, can this guesthouse guarantee absolute safety?"

Xu Lei stammered: "Well... it's better than outside, right? It's getting dark, delaying any longer would be dangerous!"

After speaking, the guide completely ignored the tourists and crawled into the cave first.

The five players looked at each other. Zhou Fangfang was the first to speak up: "Whatever, we shouldn't be left outside at night."

Xi Yu helplessly watched her recklessly move, then said: "You all go ahead, I'll be the last one, I'll move these protective tools around."

"I'll help you," Wu Zhi immediately said.

Xi Yu shook his head and waved, watching Qian Lu, Zhao Zhusheng, and Wu Zhi move ahead, then lightly jumped into the cave, carefully moving the bamboo spikes and barbed wire to the top of his head. Then, feeling uneasy, he dragged over a few wooden boxes from the side and finally clapped his hands, saying: "Not very secure, let's see if we can find more obstacles."

The cave smelled damp, cold, and foul. Wu Zhi hugged his arms, shivering from the unbearable cold: "So, this time we’re fighting carnivorous ants? We need to find some weapons."

"In the game, there’s only one thing players fight against," Xi Yu calmly replied: "The rules."

Upon hearing this, Qian Lu suddenly stopped, turned around, and glared with an aggressive look: "I heard there's a player with white hair who reset, used to be the top streamer in Yuntai Park a long time ago, that's you, right? The company froze you for two years and brought you back out to make money. If you have any insider information, why not share it with us?"

Wu Zhi, dissatisfied, retorted: "What nonsense are you talking about? Besides, if he had insider information, why wouldn't he keep the benefit for himself?"

In terms of physical strength and popularity, Qian Lu was no match for Xi Yu. She bit her lip in dissatisfaction and urged the other two players: "Keep an eye on this guy, don't let him use us as stepping stones."

Zhou Fangfang tried to smooth things over: "Don't say it like that..."

Qian Lu snorted coldly: "Why shouldn't I? Don’t forget, there's a 50% elimination rate."Xi Yu: "Think whatever you want. But please see clearly, there are exactly five of us now. Half of that is how many? So it’s very likely that elimination will happen among all the streamers participating in the game. Therefore, creating hatred before discovering the opposing rules is meaningless."

Wu Zhi nodded vigorously beside him.

Qian Lu watched as everyone ignored her, biting her lip in frustration. In the end, she had no choice but to follow them, steeling herself to walk into the seemingly unreliable guesthouse.

With the psychological preparation of the desolate Gobi and the unsightly entrance, the actually dilapidated guesthouse no longer had much of an impact on the players.

Xi Yu was the first to lean down and enter through the narrow wooden door. He first scanned the stone walls covered in cobwebs and the greasy, suspicious tables and chairs, then his gaze finally landed on the small black figure behind the counter.

The guide who had originally led them had already hidden in the corner by a broken sofa, staring blankly at a cup of hot ginger tea, showing no intention of helping them.

Xi Yu had no choice but to raise his hand and knock on the counter.

"Hey, hey——" The small black figure jumped up three feet high, then rubbed her face in a panic and said, "Are you here to stay? Welcome!"

Xi Yu raised his eyes: "Who are you?"

"I’m the owner of the Moonrise Guesthouse! You can call me Lily!" The speaker was a round-faced young girl. Her large, illogical purple eyes and small mouth made her look like a cartoon character, and her exaggerated black-and-white maid outfit made her completely out of place with the surrounding environment.

Wu Zhi curiously asked, "Isn't she just another NPC...?"

Lily tilted her head in confusion and then took out a key: "I received a reservation from the travel agency earlier. The rooms are ready and they're on the second basement floor."

Each of the five players took a key, and Xi Yu happened to be assigned the room at the farthest edge, next to Qian Lu.

Qian Lu turned her head away unkindly.

At that moment, the crackling sound of firewood and the swaying curtains in the inn all came to an abrupt stop.

Xi Yu looked around, realizing that the oppressive and crowded guesthouse living room now only had him left.

The familiar and stern system voice finally sounded, as usual, without any unnecessary words, delivering the cold mission.

[Dear streamers, welcome to the world of Wasteland City.]

[In this magical Western kingdom, many unimaginable stories are unfolding.]

[And you are now in the deep outskirts of the New Wild Gobi near the city.][Within the next five days, please decide the winner.]

[This game is ranked by points, with an elimination rate of no less than fifty percent.]

[Each 24 hours safely survived will earn you 2 points.]

[As for the rest of the rules, please make sure to search carefully inside and outside the Moonrise Guesthouse.]

Two seconds after these words were broadcast, everything returned to normal.

Xi Yu looked at his uneasy companions and noticed that Lily was still busy searching for something at the counter. He then took out a gold coin and asked, “Boss, what can I buy with this money?”

Lily's beautiful red eyes instantly lit up upon seeing the gold, and she eagerly rubbed her hands: “You can buy, you can buy. I have many good things!”

Saying this, she quickly ran out from behind the counter, lifting the dusty dark-patterned rag in the corner.

As dust filled the air, a shelf full of disgusting things was suddenly thrust into their view. Even Wu Zhi, usually insensitive, took two steps back, following the two girls: brains soaked in green liquid, eyeballs rolling around in glass jars, severed hands, squirming maggots... there was even the head of a woman with closed eyes! They were all placed haphazardly, each one appearing filthy and giving off an extremely suspicious smell.

Xi Yu was also tense, straightening his back as he said, “What is the meaning of this? Did you kill someone?”

“No, no, no! It’s the bodies left behind by the fire ants’ bites. Wasteland City doesn’t care about these poor travelers, so I had to help them find the value of their lives!” Lily proudly held up the severed hand. “It can bring good luck and let you draw the suit you want when playing cards! Just three garies!”

It seemed that "gary" was the unit for gold coins.

“I don’t need it for now.” Xi Yu picked up a gold coin. “Is this one gary?”

Lily greedily stared at it. “Yes, yes.”

Xi Yu smiled. “I only have eight, so I’ll need to spend them wisely, alright?”

Seeing that no one seemed interested, Lily reluctantly covered the cloth again. “Well then, please rest, dinner will be at seven.”

Zhao Zhusheng approached. “Is this guesthouse only for us?”

“It’s the off-season for tourism,” Lily nodded, extending her delicate little hand painted with black nails. “Don’t worry, my staff and I will serve you with all our hearts.”

Zhao Zhusheng carefully stepped back. “Thanks, I’ll go take a shower first.”

Lily smiled with her sharp little tiger teeth as she watched his back, then winked at the other players. “Feel free, treat it like home. Make yourselves comfortable.”