Chapter 47

Chapter 46: Another Person Arrives

9:30 a.m. Front desk of the Maze Inn.

Zuo Sanqiu checked out a few guests, stretched, and sighed, feeling relieved that the inn was small with few rooms, otherwise he couldn’t have managed alone.

After finishing work, he went upstairs to Shizong’s room, took the plates and bowls from breakfast to the kitchen and handed them to the maid, then returned to the front desk.

He Zhen was sitting on the small sofa in the lounge, tapping on his laptop. Seeing this, Zuo Sanqiu asked, “You’re not tired? Want me to make you a cup of coffee?”

“Trouble you,” He Zhen put down his hands and looked at Zuo Sanqiu. “How is he?”

“Fine,” Zuo Sanqiu said. “Just a bad temper, very fierce. Did you provoke him?”

He Zhen thought for a moment, then asked, “When he loses his temper, when does he calm down?”

Zuo Sanqiu blinked twice. “He usually doesn’t lose his temper.”

He Zhen: “……”

Zuo Sanqiu continued, “Really. He’s usually very steady, gentle to everyone.

“Yes, after entering a dungeon and becoming teammates, I realized he has that… side. But he’s the kind who quietly calculates without letting anyone notice. He won’t show dislike or anger on his face.

“Sometimes I talk too much and annoy him a little, he gets slightly impatient. I shut up immediately, and he doesn’t care.”

“So I’m really curious, how did you make him angry?!”

He Zhen let out a shallow sigh. “I want to know too.”

Three minutes later, Shizong came downstairs.

Seeing water still dripping from his hair, He Zhen frowned. “Why didn’t you dry your hair?”

Shizong asked back, “Why are you still here?”

He Zhen tapped on his laptop. “I’m now a guest at your inn.”

Zuo Sanqiu immediately looked at him. “Huh? When did you book a room?”

Then he felt He Zhen shoot a very intimidating look at him.

What the hell, why does the junior’s gaze scare me like this?

He then heard He Zhen say calmly, “Just booked. You handle it and check me in.”

Zuo Sanqiu: “…Oh, okay. Since we’re all familiar, should I give you a discount?”

He Zhen looked at Shizong. “What does Boss Shizong say?”

“No discount,” Shizong told Zuo Sanqiu. “Kids like him, skipping home and playing around in a hotel, clearly aren’t short on money. If we don’t extort this kind of guest, who else?”

Zuo Sanqiu: “…Oh.”

Shizong glanced at He Zhen, ignored him, and sat on the small sofa he usually used to play on his phone.

Zuo Sanqiu checked He Zhen in, then came over to ask Shizong, “What are you looking up? You’ve been on your phone searching since coming out of the dungeon.”

Shizong didn’t lift his head. “Looking up folk legends related to Emperor Song.”

“Emperor Song? One of the three kings under the Ten Yama Kings? Why search for him?”

Zuo Sanqiu didn’t understand. “Does this dungeon have anything to do with him?”

Shizong didn’t answer. After a while, shaking his head while staring at his phone, he said, “Judging from portraits, statues, and sculptures… Emperor Song is ugly.”

Zuo Sanqiu immediately said, “You don’t get it. The terrifying depictions of the Yama Kings are meant to intimidate people, to make them afraid, to prevent crime.

“It’s like why King Lanling wore a mask in battle.”

Shizong ignored him, flipped his phone in his hand, and pointed the screen toward He Zhen. “He Zhen, little friend, is Emperor Song ugly or not?”

He Zhen’s temple twitched, his jaw tightened slightly, and he replied concisely: “Ugly.”

Immediately after, Shizong’s phone rang.

Seeing the name on the caller ID, he raised his eyebrows and answered. “What is it?”

“Is it convenient to talk now?” Zhang Qijun’s voice came through the phone.

Shizong was about to respond but gestured to He Zhen and Zuo Sanqiu to stay silent, then left the inn, walking to the lake and finding a secluded spot.

“You can speak now.”

Zhang Qijun said, “My master… I mean Li Rongjing, went out of town for a performance yesterday, not in the city. But at 9:18 p.m. last night, right when I just left the game, he called me.”

Shizong nodded. “He realized you’re still alive.”

“Yes. He asked about you.”

Zhang Qijun said, “I told him you were alive, that I didn’t complete the task.”

“He asked why you didn’t die?” Shizong asked.

Zhang Qijun said, “Yes. I told him you tried to kill me, but our abilities were so mismatched that you couldn’t succeed. For a while, my abilities were weakened, which was your only chance, but the other teammates noticed, stopped you, and defended me together. After that, you had no more chances.

“In short, I told him you were unlucky, your character had no abilities. But the rest of us had special powers. The system wouldn’t let us give too detailed spoilers. He couldn’t ask for details. I should have gotten through it.”

“Good answer. That puts us in control.”

Shizong asked, “What’s his situation now?”

“He just called again, said he’ll come this morning. He also said…”

Zhang Qijun swallowed, “…he’s afraid you’d retaliate through me, so he rented me a new place with strong security and guards.”

“You’re at your own place now?”

“Yes.”

“Can you make sure there are no bugs or cameras in your house or on your phone?”

“Should be fine. This is a new rental. Li Rongjing thought the old place was too simple, never came. He only got my address today.”

“I understand. Before he arrives, go out and find an excuse to delay meeting him.

“You can say you left the dungeon with a fever to see a doctor. I’ll confirm on my side and contact you later.”

Back at the inn, He Zhen immediately walked over with Zuo Sanqiu.

He again made the shush gesture, then went to the front desk, opened the computer, and checked on last night’s guests.

Especially those who didn’t book in advance and came after 9:17 p.m.

If such guests existed, Shizong suspected it was likely sent by Li Rongjing.

Every Saturday at 9:17 p.m., the game ended precisely.

Li Rongjing called Zhang Qijun immediately to confirm his death.

After learning Zhang Qijun survived, he naturally wanted to confirm Shizong’s condition and plan the next move.

Of course, whether Shizong was dead or alive, he could ask Zhang Qijun directly.

But since he set up Zhang Qijun and had guilty intentions, he worried the other might notice or lie.

So he needed to personally confirm Shizong’s status to be at ease.

Yet Li Rongjing couldn’t directly call to see if Shizong was dead—doing so would reveal his ill intent.

So he would probably send someone to the inn to check.

If this person came and left, it would raise suspicion, so they would likely stay as a guest.

Furthermore, this person wouldn’t just check if Shizong was dead; Li Rongjing would want them to probe Shizong’s next move.

Knowing Zhang Qijun wanted to kill him, what would Shizong do? Would he kill Zhang Qijun?

Would he wait for the next dungeon to kill Zhang Qijun? In the game world, there were no legal consequences.

Or would he take the risk and act in the real world?

Would he see Zhang Qijun’s actions as the Dingjun Mountain Guild’s problem and plan to act against Li Rongjing or other guild members?

These were exactly what Li Rongjing was eager to know.

Thus, the guest Li Rongjing sent might have installed bugs or cameras in the inn.

This was why Shizong hadn’t told He Zhen or Zuo Sanqiu.

Checking the bookings, Shizong found that after 9:17 p.m., three people checked in.

The timing matched when he kicked Zuo Sanqiu out and slept alone in the room.

Shizong immediately sent a WeChat to Zuo Sanqiu, asking him to find Zhou Lü far from the inn and have someone discreetly investigate.

Even if it turned out to be unnecessary, it was better to be safe.

Zhou Lü, a true local big shot, quickly sent someone over.

The person disguised as a tourist, acting convincingly at the front desk, chatting casually with Zuo Sanqiu, revealing nothing.

During this, they used equipment to check and found a piece of chewing gum under the counter containing a bug.

Zhou Lü’s agent gestured to Shizong, asking if

He Zhen walked up to Shizong and asked, “How have I treated you all this time, and you really can’t tell?”

Shizong shook his head. “I can’t tell.”

He Zhen spoke with a serious tone, tinged with a hint of sadness. “I’ll always stand by your side. Whatever you want to do, I’ll help you.”

Beside them, Zuo Sanqiu stared at He Zhen and couldn’t help but mutter, impressed by his junior’s acting skills.

Then he heard Shizong say, “Prove it to me.”

He Zhen said, “How do you want to deal with Zhang Qijun? If you want to take it out now, I can help you immediately.”

“How?”

“The He family has cleared their name now, but before… my father, though illegitimate, had the ability to mobilize certain resources. I can too.

“I can contact a killer right now. How about tonight?”

“If something happens, it won’t be linked to me, right?”

“No. The kidnapping and murder of He Yunsheng’s son was handled by my father through Ah Hua, and no one found out. His hands are clean. But…”

Shizong asked, “But what?”

He Zhen said, “If you kill him in the real world, you won’t be able to confirm his identity.”

Shizong said, “He probably doesn’t have an identity anyway. I just want to take him out cleanly. Don’t let anyone from Dingjun Mountain notice.”

He Zhen asked again, “And Li Rongjing? How do you want to deal with him? Zhang Qijun doing this probably wasn’t his own idea, it must be connected to Li Rongjing.”

Shizong answered, “I checked. Li Rongjing lives in a place favored by the city’s elite, with heavy security. It’s hard to act in the short term, and even if a killer succeeds, it’s easy to leave evidence for the police.

“Li Rongjing… he has an identity and a Knight badge. If there’s a chance later, we deal with him in the game and seize his identity—that’s the best strategy.

“Zhang Qijun is different. No identity, no badge. There’s no need to drag him into the game to kill him, that would just waste time and [deplete] a high-level identity-stealing item. He’s an insignificant nobody.

“Besides, he hasn’t earned much, his background is ordinary, probably can’t afford a nice place. First, have the killer you can contact check. If he’s just in an ordinary apartment… take him out immediately.

“I still have a headache and fever. If I hadn’t been seriously injured in the dungeon, I wouldn’t be this sick.”

At this, Shizong glanced at the bug hidden under the front desk.

Perhaps thinking this wouldn’t fully convince Li Rongjing, Shizong stepped closer to He Zhen, staring into his eyes. “Even though you’ve told me important secrets about the He family, your father, and yourself, I still have some doubts…

“Why are you willing to help me so openly? I don’t believe anyone does this for no reason. Tell me your motive.”

He Zhen quietly studied Shizong, his Adam’s apple moving. He then glanced toward the bug, a gesture that seemed deliberate.

He quickly withdrew his gaze, unexpectedly reached out to hold Shizong’s waist, pressing him against the front desk, and with eyes deep and inscrutable, locked onto Shizong’s.

“Still feverish?” He Zhen suddenly asked.

“Not bad. Why?” Shizong asked back.

“I thought your fever muddled your mind, so you didn’t understand what I just said.

“Of course, I’m not helping you for no reason… So, let’s say Zhang Qijun’s life is a gift from me to you. After receiving it, you return me a gift.”

“Oh?” Shizong leaned his head to ask near He Zhen’s ear. “What gift do you want?”

As if to make the scene more realistic, He Zhen raised his hand, gently touching Shizong’s cheek. He looked down at Shizong’s face, eyes landing on his lips, then froze.

The wooden windows creaked in the breeze, and the stream outside the inn swayed gently.

He Zhen’s voice was a little hoarse. “I don’t want anything else. Boss Shizong, just a kiss is enough.”

Zuo Sanqiu, who had witnessed everything, was dumbfounded.

His skin crawled, and he quietly gave a thumbs-up.

—To deceive Li Rongjing, these two are really going all out.

A moment later, He Zhen looked deeply at Shizong and whispered by his ear, “Boss Shizong, just pretending, sorry if I offended you.”

“Mutual. Worked well together. Thanks,” Shizong whispered back, his tone fierce. “Let go of my hand!”

Ten minutes later, Shizong called Zhang Qijun for a second time by the lake.

“What’s your situation?”

“I said I was almost killed by you, seriously injured in the dungeon, so I came out with a fever and am now in the hospital. He will come pick me up soon,” Zhang Qijun said.

Shizong told him his plan.

“Now you have two choices. First, leave immediately. I might not have deceived Li Rongjing. If you go with him now, he could kill you directly.

“Second, you risk possibly being killed by Li Rongjing, but give him a chance. If he disappoints you, the guild doors here are open for you.”

Thirty minutes later.

Zhang Qijun got into Li Rongjing’s car. Both sat in the back seat.

Li Rongjing gently rubbed Zhang Qijun’s head. “Child, you’ve suffered.”

Zhang Qijun shook his head. “Not suffering. It’s just that Master…”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Can… I not go to your house?”

“But Shizong might kill you.”

Li Rongjing sighed. “This is ultimately my oversight. Though I knew he performed well in ‘Longevity Town,’ according to the intel, your character in ‘Shan Hai’ should have the ability to kill him, so I…”

“It’s my fault. I didn’t plan for him. It’s my stupidity. You’re not to blame.”

Zhang Qijun hurriedly said, “I… I want to live with Master, but… my mother is coming tomorrow. You like peace, my mother is rough, I… I’m afraid of annoying Master.

“Master need not worry about me. In a lawful society, Shizong won’t act recklessly, right?

“He may be tall, but his health isn’t good. I still practice martial roles occasionally. How could he kill me? Besides, our community security is good.

“Shizong trusts his brain most. He will surely try to trap me in the next dungeon… Once we get the system notice, we can avoid him, that’s all.”

While saying this, Li Rongjing gently placed his hand on the back of Zhang Qijun’s head repeatedly.

But his gaze was deep, hiding heavy thoughts.

When Zhang Qijun looked at him again, the depth was gone. He returned to his usual gentle demeanor and said to his disciple, whom he had raised: “My place probably wouldn’t suit you. Then we follow your wishes. But still, stay alert. I’ll have two bodyguards follow you. When your mother comes tomorrow, they can leave.”

11:30 p.m.

In the one-bedroom apartment Zhang Qijun rented.

Zhang Qijun had already fallen asleep in the living room, snoring heavily.

The two bodyguards Li Rongjing left him were stationed in the living room.

One smoked, opened the window and the balcony door lock.

“Is this helping the killer?”

His companion reminded him, “Quiet!”

The smoker said, “Why worry? Didn’t you hear him sleep like a dead pig? On stage, he looked like a fairy, that tiny waist… Offstage? Ugly as sin, snoring horribly.”

“Enough. Let’s go. Boss warned, that killer is from the He family! You know how their assassins live, right? We’re just playing a part, don’t get caught here, move!”

His companion dragged him away.

About five minutes later, Zhang Qijun sat up, opened the wardrobe, looked at the treasured costume Li Rongjing gave him, and couldn’t hold back tears.

It was the costume from performing Farewell My Concubine, sewn with real gold thread, luxurious and priceless.

Zhang Qijun once thought that if he died, this costume would be cremated with him.

But after simply packing his luggage and setting a fire in the room, he ruthlessly threw the costume in, watching it burn to ashes.

The next day, “Peking Opera Rising Star Zhang Qijun’s Residence Burns, Life Status Unknown” trended on Weibo.

Almost no one knew that Zhang Qijun was now in the backyard of the Maze Inn.

He had carried his suitcase overnight, officially joining the Longevity Guild.

Sounds of vocal exercises came from the backyard.

At the front desk, Zuo Sanqiu hummed along, shaking his head, then asked He Zhen, tapping at the