Chapter 35

Chapter 35

As the twin sister's words fell, a flash of light lit up the dark room, and in an instant, the six people had changed positions.

Wang Qi was paired with Wu Junhong, Zhao Zhusheng with Lan Yu, and Xi Yu with... Luo Xi.

The atmosphere was inevitably a bit awkward.

Enduring the pain, Luo Xi sneered and asked, “Was sneaking off fun? Are you some kind of little masochist?”

Xi Yu, clutching his also bleeding stomach, frowned. “That’s what you’re mad about?”

Luo Xi: “Not mad, just think you're stupid.”

Xi Yu: “Oh.”

The twin girls anxiously stomped their feet beside them. “Stop arguing! Let’s see who’s the little sister this round!”

One second later, a pink light lit up beneath the feet of Wang Qi, Zhao Zhusheng, and Xi Yu.

Luo Xi fell silent, then gave in. “You really are a little sister.”

Having once again drawn the supposedly good role, Xi Yu didn’t hesitate and lowered his hand. “I won’t press.”

The enforcer’s chainsaw responded instantly, slashing brutally into his back, leaving Xi Yu with only three blood drops above his head.

Warm blood splashed onto the back of Luo Xi’s hand, making his eyelid twitch slightly.

Of course, everyone understood—Xi Yu’s decision was justifiable. Luo Xi had already lost two drops of blood last round from Wu Junhong. If Xi Yu pressed now and cost him another two, not only would winning be out of reach, his life might also be at risk.

Still... Luo Xi didn’t like the feeling of being sacrificed.

Wiping cold sweat from his brow through the pain, Xi Yu muttered, “Leaving the safe house… my reasons weren’t much different from yours. Same thing.”

Now wasn’t the time to dwell on right or wrong. Luo Xi subtly mouthed a reminder: “Pay attention to what the two NPCs said.”

Then he lowered his head and no longer reacted.

Xi Yu blinked, suddenly recalling what the twin sister had said earlier—that each player’s role depended on their mood.

So, there was no fixed rule here, and not much room for strategic planning either.They clearly just wanted whoever they pleased to die.

But… what exactly determined this so-called “mood”?

He couldn’t help but look up at the two little girls.

At that moment, the twin sister was already growing impatient. She tugged at her older sister’s hand and said, “Look at them—they’re already scared in just the second round.”

The older sister urged, “Hurry up and make a decision, or I’ll make it for you!”

Xi Yu’s body trembled slightly as he locked eyes with Luo Xi, then fell into deep thought.

Facing Lan Yu, Zhao Zhusheng had no reason to hesitate. Clutching the wound on his back, he slammed the button hard. The frail Lan Yu was instantly struck down by the punishing missionary’s attack, letting out a painful cry, as two of the blood droplets above her head disappeared.

Meanwhile, Wang Qi, once again assigned the “little sister” role, looked at Wu Junhong with trembling eyes. “Brother Wu, I…”

Wu Junhong was just as unscathed. He removed his glasses and wiped them on his shirt, patiently persuading, “If you take the hit, our losses are minimized. You wouldn’t betray me, right? Don’t worry—if you help me now, I’ll take hits for you later.”

In this game, being isolated spelled certain doom. Wang Qi’s lips turned pale with fear, but in the end, his conscience won out over his fear, and he gave up. “I won’t press it either.”

The twin sister immediately covered her face. “So touching! Sometimes little sisters should feel sorry for their older sisters too!”

Unfortunately, the punisher was unmoved and still took one drop of blood from Wang Qi.

Blood began to pour from Wang Qi’s waist and stomach as his breathing quickened. He stared at Wu Junhong with a pained smile. “Brother Wu…”

“Hang in there. I’ll remember this.” Wu Junhong reassured him, then said, “Let’s keep going.”

The twins glanced at each other.

The older sister announced, “In the second round, Zhao Zhusheng gets 2 points, Luo Xi and Wu Junhong each get 1 point.”

The younger sister raised her pale arm. “Round three, start!”

In an instant, the six players changed positions again. This time, Luo Xi faced Wu Junhong, Wang Qi faced Lan Yu, and Xi Yu faced Zhao Zhusheng.

Zhao Zhusheng blinked innocently, wiping her blood-covered hands on the wooden platform. She said softly, “You’re not the little sister again, are you? Will you show me mercy?”

The twin sister leaned in and asked, “Yeah, will you?”Xi Yu fell silent, frowning. “…I’m still the little sister?”

The twin younger sister nodded.

The platforms beneath Luo Xi, Wang Qi, and Xi Yu suddenly lit up with pink light.

Xi Yu: “…”

Both twins crowded around Xi Yu, looking at him with eager eyes. It inevitably gave off the illusion that they were hoping he’d keep making those saint-like, self-sacrificing choices.

Xi Yu glanced over at Luo Xi from afar, then, bracing himself against the little wooden platform through the pain, asked, “Big sisters are supposed to protect little sisters, but little sisters should protect big sisters too, right?”

The twins nodded.

The older sister said, “Of course.”

The younger sister smiled. “That’s what makes you sisters.”

Xi Yu immediately turned to Zhao Zhusheng. “Then are you willing to go easy on me?”

The twin younger sister quickly moved over to Zhao Zhusheng’s side, stepping through the pool of blood he had shed and leaning in. “Yeah, are you willing to go easy on your little sister?”

Zhao Zhusheng: “…”

The twin older sister nodded. “Mhm, you and your little sister both have three drops of blood left. You should give way to him.”

Zhao Zhusheng protested, “But if he doesn’t press, he only loses 1 drop. If I don’t press, I’ll lose 2. I—”

The twin younger sister immediately slammed the button. “You’re a selfish big sister!”

Zhao Zhusheng, completely unprepared, was instantly struck by the missionary and flung off the platform. By the time he shakily propped himself up again, he was in too much pain to speak.

He had only one drop of blood left. If he got unlucky again next round, he’d be…

As Xi Yu was lost in thought, the twin older sister shook her head at him. “You’re not a good little sister.”

Then she turned her burning gaze toward the other two players who also had the “little sister” role—Luo Xi and Wang Qi.

Facing Wang Qi, Lan Yu broke down. “This isn’t fair! How can the NPCs decide for us?”The twin younger sister was unhappy. “This is our game. If I say it’s allowed, then it’s allowed.”

Luo Xi seemed to have made up his mind. He frowned and said, “I only recognize Xi Yu as my little sister. If anyone else is forced on me, I’m not responsible for them!”

As he spoke, he immediately slammed the button.

Wu Junhong, who had been completely unharmed, was instantly stabbed in the stomach by the screaming electric saw, losing two drops of blood in a flash.

Wang Qi stammered, “I—I also only… I’m only responsible for Wu Junhong…”

The moment he pressed the button, the frail Lan Yu was instantly slashed by the Punisher, losing an arm. Her agonized wail—unique to a young girl—sent chills through everyone.

Xi Yu was drenched in cold sweat, but Luo Xi’s determined gaze steadied him.

The twin younger sister immediately burst into tears. “Big sister, she only has one drop of blood left, it’s so pitiful!”

The older sister hugged her and began crying too. “It really is pitiful. Why do they have to bully big sisters and little sisters…”

Zhao Zhusheng was out of patience. “It’s your game, and you’re the ones bullying us!”

The twin younger sister shrieked and backed away, pointing at the grotesque body of the missionary. “No, it’s them—they’re the bad ones!”

“We’re not the bad ones. We just want to find big sisters and little sisters who love each other like we do.” The twin older sister’s eyes were also red as she explained.

None of the half-dead streamers said a word.

But Xi Yu had been carefully listening to their nonsense and began to suspect something: these two little devils weren’t just trying to provoke players into hurting each other. They kept insisting on protecting each other and clung together throughout the game. If the player roles were really assigned according to their mood, then could it be that, in the end, they would deliberately create a scenario where only one of two closely bonded players could survive? Maybe that’s the real sadistic twist behind the game?

As of now, the remaining blood counts were:

Xi Yu: 3

Luo Xi: 3

Lan Yu: 1

Wang Qi: 4

Wu Junhong: 3Zhao Zhusheng: 1

If the fifth round is meant to leave everyone teetering on the edge of life and death, then in the fourth round, high-HP players are bound to be assigned a poorly matched “little sister.” But with four players still holding high scores, who will they target?

While Xi Yu was lost in thought, the twin older sister had already calmed down and, still sobbing, said, “Round three: Luo Xi, Wang Qi, and Xi Yu each get 2 points.”

The younger sister wiped her eyes. “Let’s continue! Round four, start now!”

Zhao Zhusheng was dragged up from the floor by the Punisher and unceremoniously thrown onto the round platform. After a brief flicker of light, the six platforms rearranged positions.

Zhao Zhusheng faced Xi Yu, Lan Yu faced Wang Qi, and Wu Junhong faced Luo Xi.

Xi Yu ignored the subtle smile on Zhao Zhusheng’s face and deliberately asked the NPCs, “So I’m not the little sister anymore, is that it?”

The twin younger sister nodded. “Mm-hmm, because you let Big Sister get hurt.”

As she spoke, pink light lit up beneath Zhao Zhusheng, Lan Yu, and Wu Junhong.

Luo Xi nodded. “I see. Only little sisters who didn’t let their big sisters get hurt can stay little sisters. Otherwise, they’re switched?”

The twin older sister stroked her chin. “Hmm, I never said that.”

She might not have said it, but looking back over the past three rounds, it did seem to hold true.

This realization plunged Zhao Zhusheng and Lan Yu into despair.

If they pressed the button, they’d likely collapse in the next round. But if they didn’t press, with only one drop of blood left each, they’d be out of the game this round.

Though left with no real options, they still had to choose.

Zhao Zhusheng and Lan Yu each slammed the big red button in turn. Xi Yu and Wang Qi gritted their teeth and took the blow, barely managing to brace themselves against the wooden table to keep from collapsing.

Wu Junhong looked smugly at Luo Xi. “Tough luck, huh? I’ve still got three drops left. I’ve got this in the bag.”

As he spoke, he slammed the button without hesitation.

Luo Xi was seriously injured but stood tall. Even after being slashed by the Punisher’s chainsaw, he remained trembling but upright.

He suddenly let out a twisted laugh. “Really? Did you do the math? Are you sure you’re still in the top three?”Wu Junhong’s expression shifted slightly.

The twin older sister counted on her fingers, then whispered with her younger sister for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. “Round four: Zhao Zhusheng, Lan Yu, and Wu Junhong each get 2 points!”

Pain can certainly cloud the mind, but Wu Junhong had an unusually sharp memory. The moment he was reminded, he quickly worked out everyone’s current ranking:

Wu Junhong: 5

Wang Qi: 4

Zhao Zhusheng: 4

Luo Xi: 3

Lan Yu: 3

Xi Yu: 2

If... if there’s a twist in round five, he might be able to survive, but the gem...

Xi Yu had also reached this conclusion, and finally understood: the twins weren’t giving Wu Junhong good luck on purpose — they saw through his desire for the gem shards and set him up with another brutal choice: between the prize and his friends’ lives — who would he choose?

Just as Xi Yu predicted.

The twin younger sister beamed. “Round five begins. Please give the game a perfect ending!”

The platforms shifted. Luo Xi, with one drop of blood left, now faced Xi Yu, who also had one drop. Wu Junhong faced Wang Qi, and the equally critical Lan Yu was matched with Zhao Zhusheng.

Pink light shone beneath Luo Xi, Wu Junhong, and Lan Yu’s feet.

Though one of the first to fall into danger, Lan Yu now had the chance to win. She broke into both tears and laughter. Coldly eyeing the dying Zhao Zhusheng, she reached out and pressed the button.

Zhao Zhusheng, slumped over the platform, didn’t say a single word. Even after the Punisher decapitated him, a strange smile lingered on his face.

Xi Yu frowned: Was that guy really dead? What was he smiling about?

The twins smiled brightly. “Lan Yu has completed the game first and finishes with 5 points!”

Wu Junhong’s face instantly darkened.Wang Qi stood opposite him, his legs trembling. “Wu-ge, Wu-ge! You still have three drops of blood — you’re the safest! I only have two left! If you press the button, I’m done for!”

Wu Junhong spoke gently, “But... if I don’t press it, I’ll end up with 5 points, and you’ll also have 5... and then there’s them…”

He turned his head toward Luo Xi and said with certainty, “He’s at 3 points now. Someone who made it as a top streamer isn’t that naïve — he’s definitely going to press it.”

“I helped you just now!” Wang Qi dropped to his knees in front of Wu Junhong, even breaking into sobs, his expression twisted in desperation. “I don’t have a single gem. I don’t want to get reset — I’m begging you!”

Wu Junhong sighed and gently patted his short hair, saying seriously, “In this game, I’ve never seen kind people end up well.”

With that, he slowly pressed the red button.

The Punisher raised the chainsaw high and mercilessly chopped off Wang Qi’s head!

The twin older sister quickly pulled her younger sister aside, as if afraid of getting blood on her, then announced, “Wu Junhong has completed the game as well, finishing with 7 points!”

Xi Yu looked at Luo Xi.

Luo Xi nodded to him.

Xi Yu took a deep breath, then softly and pitifully said, “We’re the only ones left. You should press it — that way you can get the gem.”

Luo Xi immediately grabbed Xi Yu’s small hand. “I give up. I won’t let you die!”

Crystalline tears welled up in Xi Yu’s big, watery eyes. “If you don’t press it, you’ll die! Hurry up and press it!”

He then pulled Luo Xi’s hand toward the button, but Luo Xi quickly broke free. “No! If you die, there’s no point in me staying alive. Let’s die together!”

Watching their little performance, Lan Yu and Zhao Zhusheng were speechless: “………………”

Unexpectedly, the twin younger sister burst into tears as she moved closer. “I’m so happy to see you love each other this much!”

The twin older sister, more rational, said, “But the game still needs an ending.”

Luo Xi immediately responded, “We can’t decide. You said when the time came, you’d decide for us.”

The older sister frowned in frustration.

The twin younger sister cried even harder. “We can’t press it — if we do, sister will die!”The older sister hugged her tenderly. “This is a big sister’s responsibility.”

The younger sister shook her head. “No, a big sister’s responsibility is to stay with her little sister…”

Seeing the two kids growing sadder and sadder, Luo Xi couldn’t help but give Xi Yu another look.

Xi Yu knew that this was the only chance to break the rules — without hesitation, he threw himself at the nearby Punisher.

Completely ignoring the nauseating stench of the rotting corpse, he forcefully grabbed its arm and slashed it toward another Punisher!

Luo Xi didn’t hold back either. Though covered in blood, he leapt up onto the wooden platform and directly jumped on another Punisher, locking its neck and forcing its stiff arms to hack wildly at all the surrounding props!

Chaos broke out instantly.

Lan Yu screamed in terror and, along with Wu Junhong, scrambled and rolled into a corner to hide.

The two crying NPCs were stunned. The older sister recovered first and scolded angrily, “Stop messing around! Stop it right now!”

But Luo Xi and Xi Yu had no intention of dying at the hands of such brainless monsters — how could they possibly listen?

On the contrary, they went even more all out. With nothing else to chop, the Punishers started hacking each other without mercy, making the scene a gory mess.

The younger sister couldn’t take it anymore and let out a sharp, piercing scream: “STOP!!!”

At that moment, a powerful force yanked Luo Xi and Xi Yu back to their respective game platforms.

Unfortunately, the two Punishers were already badly “injured.” After staggering for a moment, they collapsed like broken toy blocks, leaving only their spinning chainsaws whirring erratically on the floor.

The younger sister sniffled. “We can’t decide.”

“Then forget it. The Punishers are dead anyway,” Luo Xi gasped, blood steadily dripping down and pooling beneath him.

The older sister looked at the younger one. “It’s true — the bad teachers are broken.”

Younger sister: “No one can punish them now.”

Older sister: “Then let it be. Let them stay together forever.”

The younger sister nodded and leaned against her sister. “Luo Xi and Xi Yu have completed the game. Luo Xi finishes with 3 points, Xi Yu with 2 points.”The older sister gently tidied her long hair. “In that case, the top three scorers are Wu Junhong, Lan Yu, and Luo Xi. These gemstone fragments—take good care of them.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the beautiful reward items flew into the hands of the streamers.

At the same time, a fierce wind howled through the dim dorm room. Xi Yu had just been grabbed by Luo Xi when he was flung out, not even getting the chance to say goodbye.

“Ah!”

Lan Yu, Xi Yu, and Luo Xi, who had been sucked into the game house, were immediately transported back to their original place. All of their injuries were fully healed—only their tattered clothing remained, proof that they had just gone through a life-or-death decision.

Luo Xi pulled the weary Xi Yu to his feet. “Come on, this isn’t a place we should linger.”

Lan Yu earnestly said, “Thank you both. I’ll remember the favor of this gemstone!”

Expecting others to remember your kindness is usually a luxury that can’t be forced.

Perhaps the struggle between Wang Qi and Wu Junhong just now is a more accurate picture of reality.

Xi Yu only half-listened, nodded slightly, and followed Luo Xi along the edge of the wall, leaving the corridor behind.

Left alone, Lan Yu also cautiously looked around before turning and walking away.

From the space above their heads came a broadcast, gentle yet cruel.

[We regret to inform you that little Wang Qi has left us forever…]

[We regret to inform you that little Zhao Zhusheng has left us forever…]

The spacious hall with its many narrow paths was a perfect place to hide.

Panting as he sat on the carpet in the back row, Xi Yu, still shaken, said, “I was really scared the system would strictly enforce the rules.”

“Only in games with clearly defined rules. For ones like this, where the NPCs have strong character settings, you have to go along with the story,” Luo Xi said, toying with the fragment he had just received. “Though I thought the outcome would be decided by viewer voting.”

Xi Yu was surprised. “There’s voting?”

Luo Xi nodded. “Yeah, people pay to vote, to decide outcomes the system can’t determine.”

Xi Yu slowly nodded, then suddenly asked, “If you had no choice… would you have hit that button?”Luo Xi looked at him and smiled. “Don’t ask questions that pierce the heart—life’s a lot happier that way.”

Xi Yu said, “But I don’t get it. Why did you give me the safe house?”

Luo Xi answered immediately, “What’s so hard to understand? You’re weaker than me. I can play the game without relying on that thing.”

Xi Yu: “……”

Right after he said that, Luo Xi’s stomach growled loudly.

“Face hurting yet?” Xi Yu didn’t press further and shifted to sit properly. “The food in the safe house can’t be taken out. I already tried. You go in tomorrow.”

Luo Xi raised an eyebrow. “Want to go look for another game?”

Just as Xi Yu was about to agree, an unexpected announcement rang out above them again.

[We regret to inform you that little Lan Yu has left us forever…]

[The demon has finally received its meal…]

Xi Yu was shocked. “Lan Yu… died?”

“We did all we could. At least she left with a gemstone,” Luo Xi said seriously. “That ghostly nun grabs children to feed to the so-called demon. Once the demon is full, it gives hints. After we wrecked the doll yesterday and lost the safe house, wasn’t that what it said?”

Xi Yu immediately perked up his ears.

Sure enough, that spine-chilling raspy voice sounded again.

[Ah… delicious blood… my servant… well done…]

[You food should beware… I have two servants…]

[While alive… they can steal one person during the day…]

[Once dead… they can assist the Sister Nun…]

[Servants… I grant you eternal life…]

To the streamers, every one of these lines cut straight to the soul!Xi Yu widened his adorable eyes and looked at Luo Xi in shock as he concluded, “Out of twelve people, two are moles. They won’t be eliminated by death. While alive, they steal our stuff during the day. After death... do they help the nun block us? So my cat was torn up by one of the moles?”

“That’s what it means.” Luo Xi reached out and wiped the dust off the tip of his nose, chuckling, “If the mole was Zhao Zhusheng, I’ll livestream myself eating a lion!”

“…Then who’s the other one?” Xi Yu anxiously clenched his hands. “Wu Junhong?”

Luo Xi replied, “Don’t jump to conclusions. Let’s wait and see. Here, take this.”

He handed the gemstone he had just received to Xi Yu.

“So this is how you won over people like Xu Tu in the game—with small favors like this?” Xi Yu couldn’t help but ask, then shoved Luo Xi’s arm away forcefully. “I’m not worse than you!”

“Sure, your face is your main selling point.” Luo Xi scoffed.

Following his gaze, Xi Yu finally noticed the familiar fat cat sneakily peeking out from behind a chair. The game environment had completely frozen.

Luo Xi said, “Hurry up and take the gift! Don’t waste time!”

Startled by his voice, the fat cat shivered and immediately flew over to Xi Yu, pulling out two items from its pouch. “Streamer Xi Yu, your performance has been appreciated by the audience. Here’s a reward for you.”

Xi Yu dazedly took them, seeing that one was a cartoon octopus hair clip, with a note: “Wuwuwu, so cute!”

The other was a charm with the words “Bad Luck Begone” written in seal script, with a note: “Cherish your life, stay away from Luo Xi.”

Luo Xi: “……”

“…Thanks.” Xi Yu put away the seemingly useless hair clip, then suddenly said with a pitiful look, “But I’m hungry.”

He blinked his big eyes and added firmly, “So hungry I can barely walk!”

“…You really are Xu Tu’s personal disciple, aren’t you?” Luo Xi was speechless for a moment, then frowned as he examined the octopus hair clip, lowering his gaze in thought.