Chapter 2

Chapter 1: Changming Town 1

“Run this guesthouse well, be a competent owner, or I will die.”

—Shi Zong, February 2, 2X22.

Eight months ago, Shi Zong woke up in a room on the third floor of this guesthouse and found this note placed on the bedside table.

After staring at the note for a long time, Shi Zong, with a severe headache, mustered his energy to fetch pen and paper and copied the sentence.

Then he noticed that his handwriting was exactly the same as that on the note.

So this sentence must have been written by him before he lost his memory.

Thus, his name is Shi Zong.

Later, the ID card he found confirmed this guess.

Shi Zong, male, 24 years old, owner of the Hidden Maze Guesthouse.

Apart from that, he knew nothing about himself.

However, Shi Zong quickly adapted to being a guesthouse owner and ran the inn in an orderly manner; it had already been eight months.

On this Saturday night, the soft moonlight shone through the carved wooden windows into the Hidden Maze Guesthouse.

The lights were dim, and the moonlight floated like silver silk, outlining Shi Zong’s silhouette behind the front desk, vague and tall.

He was leaning against the back of a small sofa, reading a book.

Some noise came from the lounge; six young people were playing a murder mystery game.

Yet Shi Zong looked focused and serious, seemingly undisturbed.

Having lost all memory—what school he attended, what he studied in college—Shi Zong had forgotten everything, so he had to spend time picking it up again.

Over these eight months, he devoted most of his energy to reading.

He noticed that when he read computer-related books, he felt an extremely familiar sensation.

This made him suspect he had worked as a programmer, or at least in a similar role.

After a moment, a young man named Wu Gou left the lounge and approached the front desk, softly calling Shi Zong.

Hearing the sound, Shi Zong looked up.

Like a camera slowly focusing, as he raised his head, his features gradually became clear, revealing an extremely handsome face.

Seeing this, Wu Gou was momentarily stunned. He then took out a book titled SQL Essentials and walked over, speaking softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

“Um, Boss Shi… this book is for you.”

“Thank you.”

Shi Zong held up the book The Beauty of Data Structures and Algorithms. “I’ll finish this one soon and return it. Can you wait a bit?”

Wu Gou quickly said, “Yes, yes, no problem, take your time! It doesn’t matter how long you read!

“But you learn so fast. It’s only been a week. Even if I listen carefully in class, I only understand half, barely passing.”

“Maybe I studied it before my amnesia. Now it’s just a review.”

Shi Zong smiled faintly. “Thank you for bringing me books every week.”

“No problem, it’s nothing! I should be thanking you! In that game earlier, I got MVP and the highest total score in the club, earning the annual bonus. It’s all thanks to you!

“You’re amazing. You’ve only delivered drinks here a few times, listened a little, and yet found the key to uncovering the truth. Thanks to your hint, I figured out all the steps and guessed the real culprit.”

These six murder mystery players all came from the Jinhua University Murder Mystery Club.

With limited pocket money, they couldn’t frequently go to professional game stores. So they pooled money to buy several decent second-hand boxed sets and played murder mystery every weekend.

The Hidden Maze Guesthouse had become their regular base.

It was located in the old town scenic area, surrounded by mountains and rivers, beautiful scenery, perfect for murder mystery games, especially those with a traditional aesthetic.

And the students only had to pay for food and drinks to spend an entire afternoon playing.

For Wu Gou, the Hidden Maze Guesthouse was perfect.

The only caution: if the chef took a day off, never eat Shi Zong’s cooking.

Wu Gou had once eaten Shi Zong’s fried rice.

One bite, and he pinched the area between his nose and upper lip for three minutes just to avoid fainting.

Later, he learned Shi Zong couldn’t cook well because he had no sense of taste.

This made him feel a mix of sympathy and curiosity toward Boss Shi.

During the murder mystery game earlier, Wu Gou had gone to the bathroom.

Passing the front desk, he muttered about a clue he didn’t understand. Shi Zong, overhearing it, casually explained it, and Wu Gou figured out the culprit, winning MVP and the bonus.

Now, after repeatedly thanking Shi Zong, Wu Gou reached out his hand. “I really have to thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Other students left after the game. You stayed to help me clean. I just want to thank you.”

Shi Zong said this gently while returning his gaze to the book.

His tone was warm, but out of Wu Gou’s sight, his eyes flickered with a moment of disgust.

At the same time, his lips pressed together, and his features suddenly took on a sharp, cold look, as if his face had changed.

But when he looked up at Wu Gou again, his gaze was gentle, like spring rain, no different from his usual public demeanor.

He politely extended his hand, shook Wu Gou’s, and handed him the book. “Thanks. I’ve finished reading it.”

“N-no… you’re welcome… I… uh, I’ll be going then.”

“Okay. See you next week.”

After everyone left, Shi Zong went to the restroom, walked to the sink, applied hand sanitizer three times to the spot Wu Gou had touched, and rubbed repeatedly.

He didn’t dislike Wu Gou, nor did he have OCD.

It was simply a reflexive aversion to anyone getting close.

Whether it was innate or caused by past experiences, he couldn’t remember.

9:15 PM.

Shi Zong finished tidying the front hall and was about to go upstairs to sleep when he heard the tassels of the door curtain at the entrance move.

A guest at this hour?

He looked up and saw a man approaching the front desk.

The man had a buzz cut, medium build, a scar at the eyebrow corner, and an irremovable aura of hostility.

Instinctively, Shi Zong knew he wasn’t here for leisure, but he still forced a business smile. “Visiting the old town? Need a room? Any requirements?”

The man showed his ID. “I’m a police officer from Xinbei District, named Chen Li. You’re suspected in a violent murder case. Come with me to the station for questioning.”

Shi Zong hadn’t killed anyone—at least not in the last six months he remembered.

Unless the murder occurred before his amnesia.

Six months ago, Shi Zong had been filmed by local government staff for a promotional video of the old town scenic area.

Through that video, with his face, he and the town became popular, boosting guesthouse business.

There were many photos of him on TikTok and Xiaohongshu.

If he were a serial killer, would the police find him half a year later?

Was this man a fraudster, or did he have another motive?

Shi Zong remained calm but secretly gripped a dagger hidden under the front desk.

Although he didn’t remember the past, he could feel his body wasn’t strong—shoulders weak, hands unable to lift.

To deal with the man in front of him, he needed another approach.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from outside the guesthouse. The door curtain’s tassels flew up, a beam of light shone in, illuminating the furniture and utensils in white.

Time seemed to pause.

As if his soul left his body, Shi Zong’s pupils uncontrollably dilated, consciousness blank.

When he regained awareness, the surroundings had changed—

He was in a room mainly in black and white.

A coffin was in the center, surrounded by wreaths, each with a mourning banner. At the front of the room was a black-and-white photo of the deceased.

The man in the photo wore an old-fashioned, high-class suit, handsome.

His mouth stretched unnaturally wide, eyes round, giving a strange impression.

The half-hearted smile was unsettling.

This was clearly a funeral hall.

Why had he suddenly come here?

Shi Zong turned to examine the surroundings and was suddenly bumped violently.

It was an elderly woman dressed in black with a small white flower in her hair.

Her face was wrinkled, like ripples on water after a stone is thrown.

She glared at Shi Zong. “Get out! You’re not welcome here!”

Shi Zong had no doubt she pushed him intentionally.

Above her head appeared text—

【Identity: NPC】

【Name: Liu Jinhua】

【Role Info: 52 years old, matriarch of the Li family, your mother-in-law】

A low, slow, mournful tune drifted in the air; bright yellow paper money scattered on the floor, fluttering with the wind.

Shi Zong’s mind automatically displayed lines of text—

【Player Shi Zong, welcome to The King’s Murder Mystery Game. I am System No. 0237】

【You

【Dungeon Difficulty: F-Level; Number of Players: 6】

【Hint: Among the 6 players, there may be one true culprit】

【Your name is Jiang Wan’er. You’ve had three husbands, all of whom are deceased, so people here call you the “Black Widow”】

【Your third husband was Liu Jinhua’s second son, and your first husband was Liu Jinhua’s eldest son. She considers you the calamity who killed her two sons and hates you intensely】

Shi Zong: “……”

【Keywords for Jiang Wan’er’s character: Mary Sue, irresistible, almost all men love her】

【Her catchphrase: “Ah, I don’t know why that brother fell in love with me. I just glanced at him as I passed by, really just a glance. So many brothers love me, I’m troubled too.”】

Shi Zong: “……”

【Player Shi Zong is about to load all memories of Jiang Wan’er】

【Game Hint: Once the memory is loaded, you are Jiang Wan’er; do not OOC casually, or death is highly likely】

【P.S. If a player dies in the game, it means death in real life】

All hints then disappeared.

Shi Zong received no further information.

“Aunt Liu, aren’t you tired? I’ve prepared some bird’s nest soup for you. Eat some. Young master is gone; I know you’re heartbroken. But don’t hurt yourself!”

A delicate voice, tinged with slight sobbing, came from outside the door.

The speaker soon entered the funeral hall.

It was a young woman around twenty, with willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix-like eyes, quite pretty.

She carried a square food box, smiled at Liu Jinhua first, then looked at Shi Zong.

【Identity: NPC】

【Name: Feng Meimei】

【Role Info: 19 years old, distant cousin of the Li family young masters. She has a crush on the second young master. On the night before your wedding, she deliberately sought out the second young master, hoping he would abandon you and marry her. The second young master firmly refused, pledging lifelong loyalty to you, which deepened your feelings for him…】

Feng Meimei’s expression flickered with complexity. She set down the food box, first offered a bowl of bird’s nest soup to Liu Jinhua, then brought another bowl to Shi Zong.

Her gaze flickered, a trace of ruthlessness passing her brow.

But she quickly suppressed these emotions and smiled: “Dear sister-in-law, you must be sad too. Eat some bird’s nest soup to nourish your body.”

Earlier, at the back of Hidden Maze Guesthouse.

University student Zuo Sanqiu, nicknamed “Third,” was hiding there.

He had overheard Shi Zong and Wu Gou’s conversation; his face flushed with anger.

Recently, Zuo Sanqiu was extremely short on money.

Proud, he pretended everything was fine in front of the club members, though he had been eating pickled vegetable buns for two weeks.

The club’s annual bonus came from members’ fees at the start of each semester, not much, but it helped Zuo Sanqiu greatly.

The MVP and bonus should have been his.

But now, all of it was ruined by Shi Zong.

“I will never trust Shi Zong a second time in my life!

“Every word he says from now on, I’ll treat as nonsense!”

Silently swearing this, Zuo Sanqiu noticed the words “police” and “serial murder case.”

He pushed the window slightly, curious, peeking toward the front desk—and stumbled into a flash of white light.

Backstage makeup room, Jinshui Grand Theater.

The male dan (female-role actor) in Peking opera had his face covered in makeup.

Hearing someone approach, he turned his head. The reddish tint at the corners of his eyes flowed with his gaze, exuding natural charm.

The newcomer said: “Received news, Fifth Troupe’s Chen Li used a prop to pull a rookie into the dungeon, the dungeon is Changming Town. Chen Li assigned the role—Jiang Wan’er.”

“No way.” The assistant beside the male dan was taken aback. “Changming Town? Are you sure? Isn’t it also called A Hundred Ways Jiang Wan’er Can Die?”

Changming Town, the hardest beginner dungeon.

Jiang Wan’er is by default the story’s victim card.

“Looks like Chen Li wants him dead.”

The male dan picked up a pen, touched his eye corner while asking: “Who is this rookie?”

The newcomer said: “His name is Shi Zong, owner of Hidden Maze Guesthouse in Huangxia Ancient Town.

“Chen Li spent a fortune. Looks like he wants to take Shi Zong’s identity. Boss Li… do you think this has anything to do with ‘The Last Banquet’?”

Author’s Note:

Key point: Chapter 1 has no romance.

Also, not having read my previous novels does not affect reading this one independently.

Treat it as a new book with new characters; all mysteries will be explained later.