Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Logically speaking, players had Items and experience. They had hovered between life and death multiple times. It was understandable if they couldn’t defeat an animal several times larger than themselves.

But this opponent was human too. He was merely taller and stronger. There was no reason a player couldn’t beat him.

Lin Zhu had seen everything clearly. After being struck twice, the male player took out an Item, but for some reason, it didn’t work.

Instead, it seemed to provoke the man. He abruptly lost control, grabbed the male player, and repeatedly struck him in the temples.

It took only a few blows to kill him.

Lin Zhu carefully reviewed the instructions in his mind. He didn’t know whether the hamster raised them specifically for this man to play with, but he had to prepare himself to be thrown outside as well.

Mice were naturally afraid of cats.

Be yourself…

If his identity belonged to the mouse family, then he couldn’t even think about resisting someone with a cat identity. Otherwise, he would be breaking the rule.

And once he broke the rule…

Lin Zhu remembered the man suddenly going berserk and the male player becoming so terrified he couldn’t even move. He had a general idea now.

Cheng Miao and Qi Jiajia’s second night at the white cat’s home was indeed far better than the previous night inside the cardboard box. Ignoring Qi Jiajia’s complaints, Cheng Miao climbed onto the bed and slept on top of the white cat.

The white cat was delighted and affectionately kissed the top of Cheng Miao’s head.

Watching Cheng Miao happily prepare to sleep, Qi Jiajia’s forehead twitched. “Do you have to get that immersed in the role?”

“Relax.” Without opening her eyes, Cheng Miao let herself sink into the cat’s soft fur. “We’re going back tomorrow.”

Qi Jiajia muttered in exasperation for a while before falling asleep too.

Qin Musong had distinguished himself today and received praise. He ate an especially lavish dinner and was now resting in the room.

Dogs had an instinct for following a leader. Ever since Qin Musong’s outstanding performance that day, the others had begun treating him as the center of the group. They occasionally offered flattering remarks and didn’t dare eat until he had finished.

Qin Musong understood that this behavior came from the instance’s rules and couldn’t be changed, so he paid it little attention.

“Today was pretty dangerous.” Ah Qiang sat across from him. He had helped disperse the crowd too, and because he had been close to the scene, he saw exactly what happened.

A hyena committed a robbery, and a wolfdog chased it with two natives. One of the men was fast enough to catch up, only for the hyena to pull out a gun and shoot him.

One native died in the line of duty. Later that evening, Qin Musong even heard that native’s wolfdog crying.

“At least we’ll be going back at noon tomorrow. I can’t stand another day in this damned place.”

Ah Qiang rolled over to rest, and Qin Musong said nothing. He had once been a soldier and had risked his life more times than he could count, so he adapted easily to this environment.

He looked up at the sky, touched his wrist, and closed his eyes as well.

When Cheng Miao awoke the next morning, she prepared herself to leave the instance at any moment. She clung to the white cat and refused to let go, then watched her leave with great reluctance.

Qi Jiajia rolled her eyes. “Our team has a cat now too. Show some dignity.”

The thought of Qiudong restored some of Cheng Miao’s spirits. After eating breakfast, the pair wandered around the room.

“For us, this instance has been pretty easy,” Qi Jiajia said as she studied the photo album on the table. “We haven’t encountered much danger.”

Cheng Miao adopted the manner of a seasoned elder. “This shows how important choices are. Different choices can change your entire life.”

Qi Jiajia scoffed. Seeing Meowmeow sitting listlessly by the window, she was in a good enough mood about leaving the instance to strike up a conversation. “Hey, why are you so down? Aren’t you back home now?”
Meowmeow’s eyes reddened. The moment she spoke, she began crying again. “Yesterday… when I came back yesterday, I saw Mimi and Miwu. They were both dead. Boohoo…”

Cheng Miao frowned and poked her head out. The ground was dry, and there had been no rain or snow. Had they truly failed to survive the night?

“Did you see how they died?” Cheng Miao straightened Meowmeow up and looked into her swollen red eyes.

“I… I saw wolves in uniforms. They had long nets. After they caught people, they beat them to death.”

Meowmeow sobbed. “I saw them beating other people. I only saw Mimi’s and Miwu’s bodies. They were piled in the wolves’ vehicle.”

Cheng Miao offered Meowmeow a few words of comfort, then pulled Qi Jiajia closer. Her brows were tightly furrowed. “Why do I feel like something is wrong?”

Qi Jiajia tilted her head in thought. “They’re culling stray cats and dogs. That happens in the real world too.”

Cheng Miao shook her head, indicating that wasn’t what she meant. “Do you remember what we heard the other natives say when we left the clinic? They said keeping humans might be banned.”

Qi Jiajia understood. She fell silent for a moment, then looked up. “It has nothing to do with us. We can’t help them or change anything. This world is inverted to begin with.”

Cheng Miao took out her phone and checked it. There were only twenty minutes left until noon, but the unease inside her remained intense.

Qin Musong had been taken to a subway station that day. He performed his assigned duties seriously, carefully watching the different animals enter and leave the station.

He suddenly sensed that the polar bear ahead was furtively concealing something inside its suit.

He glanced down at his phone. He would be leaving the instance soon. Should he interfere?

Perhaps it was the instincts of his profession. Even with this absurd journey about to end, he couldn’t bring himself to ignore it.

He didn’t draw his gun. Instead, he pulled his wolfdog toward the polar bear and used a grappling hold to seize its right paw. The wolfdog following him noticed something was wrong as well and began drawing an electric baton.

In the next instant, Qin Musong saw the polar bear pull out a gun. The black muzzle pointed directly at him.

When the hamster grabbed Lin Zhu, he was taking deep breaths and comforting himself.

Five minutes left. He only had to endure for five more minutes, and he would leave the instance.

The hamster tossed him onto the mat. Lin Zhu immediately sprang to his feet and warily watched the man in the distance wake up.

The man’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Lin Zhu. He walked over, circled him twice, then reached out and shoved him to the floor.

The man hadn’t used much force, so Lin Zhu immediately stood again. Sweat poured from his entire body as the male player’s bloodied, mangled head flashed repeatedly through his mind.

Faster. Please let time move faster.

Lin Zhu prayed silently.

The man suddenly raised his hand and dealt Lin Zhu a heavy punch.

Agony and a brief loss of vision struck together, making Lin Zhu cough up a mouthful of blood. He lay prone on the floor and waited for the stars before his eyes to fade.

The blow had sent him flying a long distance. The phone he had been gripping also flew from his hand.

With great effort, Lin Zhu opened his eyes and looked toward the phone.

12:05.

Lin Zhu’s eyes flew wide!

Time was up, but he hadn’t left the instance!