Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Every living creature had an ugly side. When everything was going well, people could laugh off those flaws when they noticed them, perhaps cursing them a few times in private at most.
But when faced with life-or-death danger or genuine adversity, every grievance and every unsavory trait would come spilling out.
When Xu Chao first entered this instance, he had been brimming with confidence. He believed he possessed crucial information, and members of his guild made up almost half the players in the instance.
At the time, he had even imagined himself trampling over Wang Hao’s group, obtaining the special item the guild wanted, and receiving both a reward from the guild and the Vice Guild Leader’s recognition after clearing the instance.
Instead, nothing had gone his way since he arrived. Now that the instance’s difficulty had increased, the clues he knew had turned into death warrants instead.
Xu Chao was delighted that Wang Hao’s group no longer had any hope of clearing the instance, but he was also uneasy.
After all, Wang Hao’s group knew more than they did. With things as they were, one careless mistake could doom them all.
After thinking it over, Xu Chao decided that all he needed to do was stick with Zhao Peng. Zhao Peng would still need his help to deal with Liu Qian later. With so little known about the instance, the more he did, the more likely he was to make a mistake. It was better to stay put than take action.
Yu Lingling and the others all saw through Xu Chao’s calculations, which only made Zhao Peng think he was utterly hopeless.
Sun Jian believed that the Abyss Guild and Li Na were entirely to blame for forcing him into this near-certain-death predicament. Seeing Zhao Peng’s grim expression and Xu Chao’s shameless, nothing-can-touch-me attitude, he sneered inwardly. The Abyss Guild wasn’t so impressive after all.
By now, Sun Jian had completely forgotten the relief and delight he had felt when he first entered the instance and learned that three players from the Abyss Guild were present.
Yu Lingling had seen through Xu Chao’s character long ago, so his choice came as no surprise. Otherwise, she would never have deliberately pointed out the problem with the lamp oil.
“I’m going out to gather clues.”
Zhao Peng gave the smug Xu Chao one last look before leaving the tent with Yu Lingling and Tongyu. Once they were outside, he said, “From now on, I’ll do my best to keep you two safe.”
Yu Lingling and Tongyu’s greatest disadvantage was their lack of strength.
Although the puppy in Tongyu’s arms still made no sound, it could already open its eyes. Its tail even twitched from time to time. It probably wouldn’t be long before it could walk on its own.
Yu Lingling did need Zhao Peng, but not because she wanted his protection inside the instance, as he assumed. She needed him to make it out alive so the Abyss Guild wouldn’t pin the deaths of all its members on her.
“Five of you came in together. How many do you think will make it out alive?”
Zhao Peng was no fool. He immediately understood Yu Lingling’s concern. Now that they were working together, he answered frankly, “The guild’s higher-ups are watching us too. No matter how many of us survive, any deaths will only prove that we weren’t strong enough.”
Those words were meant both to reassure Yu Lingling and to be heard by the guild.
Zhao Peng glanced at Tongyu, who stood silently like a shadow. Although Tongyu couldn’t see, Zhao Peng felt that everyone had probably underestimated his strength.
“Whether or not I make it out, I invite both of you to join Abyss on its behalf.”
In other words, even if Zhao Peng died inside the instance, Yu Lingling and Tongyu would still be allowed to join the Abyss Guild as long as they survived.
Zhao Peng took out his personal guild token and handed it to Yu Lingling. “I hope we can all clear the instance safely.”
Yu Lingling glanced at it before accepting it. With just that one look, she noticed a slight difference between the token and the Abyss Guild’s emblem: it bore an additional X-shaped mark. Presumably, the symbol had something to do with the internal factions of the Abyss Guild. Zhao Peng was inviting her on behalf of the faction he belonged to.
“Let’s hope you’re right. I hope we all clear it too.”
When Zhao Peng saw Yu Lingling accept it, his smile became much more genuine.
Yu Lingling reminded him, “Your parrot is your most important companion.”
With that, Yu Lingling and Tongyu left Zhao Peng behind, walking hand in hand.
Yu Lingling suspected there was something fishy about the tent where they had first been asked to choose their companions, so she intended to take another look.
Walking beside her, Tongyu said, “The Abyss Guild is B-rank, while this dungeon is only D-rank. What kind of special item could make the Abyss Guild willing to sacrifice so many players just to obtain it?”
Yu Lingling was curious too, but she did not ask. Knowing too much would not necessarily be good for them. “It has nothing to do with us.”
Tongyu had only asked in passing. “I think Sun Yao communicated with her companion horse last night.”
Although they had not been in the same place, his Puppet Threads were attached to her, allowing him to glean some information about her condition.
Tongyu frowned slightly. “I don’t know what they said, but around midnight, there was a fluctuation of energy from Sun Yao. For a moment afterward, her blood flow and heart rate both accelerated.”
Wang Hao and the others had set something up inside their tent last night. The group of Ghost Infant creatures under Suisui’s command was too weak to get close, and judging by Xu Chao’s reaction, he had not heard anything either.
This was a crucial piece of information. It also confirmed what Tongyu had said before – that love would cause flesh to grow wildly.
Yu Lingling sighed in admiration. “Little Fish, you’re so smart. You’re getting better and better at using your skill, and you’ve even learned how to extrapolate from it.”
Tongyu looked a little embarrassed. “Really?”
“Of course.” By then, Yu Lingling had led Tongyu back to the tent where they had chosen their companions. She was not saying it simply to comfort him. Tongyu might not talk much or have a strong presence, but everything he said was crucial and important. “Those people completely wasted your true talent.”
The people Yu Lingling was referring to exchanged awkward looks.
The Special Department’s care for Tongyu had not been solely due to his Exclusive Skill. The Special Department already made a point of protecting elderly, infirm, female, and underage players, while Tongyu was both a minor and visually impaired.
Even when he entered a dungeon, a dedicated team was assigned to protect him, and most of the tasks given to him were support-oriented.
However, after seeing how Yu Lingling and Tongyu performed in this dungeon, they realized they might indeed have been overprotective. Using Tongyu’s skill solely to assess other players’ conditions was truly a waste.
A staff member who was documenting the dungeon’s events thought for a moment, then added a recommendation in the margin: Increase dungeon participation for players with support-type skills and develop new applications for their abilities.
Yu Lingling did not recklessly enter the tent. A Ghost Infant had barely peeked inside when something frightened it into fleeing back into Yu Lingling’s shadow.
Footsteps came from within the tent. A moment later, the glamorous woman they had met before stepped outside.
The woman glanced at the kitten and puppy in Yu Lingling’s and Tongyu’s arms, though her gaze lingered mainly on Yu Lingling. “Don’t let your little things run around.”
Yu Lingling had already guessed that these strange entities had long since detected the Ghost Infant creatures. They were simply too weak, and it was not yet time for the monsters of the Circus to begin hunting, so they had merely been chased away.
“I’m terribly sorry these children disturbed you, but they’re still young. You’re an adult, so please don’t stoop to arguing with them. It’s perfectly normal for children to wander around.”
They’re only children. You’re an adult, so don’t be petty with them.
That declaration left the viewers in the Livestream Room silent for a moment. They had the distinct impression that they had just encountered a pack of spoiled brats and their entitled parent.