Chapter 138
Chapter 138
Cheng Miao’s home in the real world was in the southwestern region of Huaxia, a place rich in flowers and beautiful scenery, with a mild climate and year-round spring.
The four walked down the street. A golden snub-nosed monkey nimbly leaped in front of Cheng Miao, hanging from a branch with one hand while offering her honey with the other.
They had no appetite for a meal so soon after leaving the instance, but sweet-and-sour snacks suited them perfectly. They bought food as they went and eventually explored more than half the old town.
The town was called Niaoniao Town. It contained buildings in the styles of many ethnic groups, including bamboo houses and wooden homes with pointed roofs.
It might look like an old town, but its facilities were every bit as developed as Qiudong’s Starry City.
Hair salons, shopping centers, bars, casinos, it had everything, and customers streamed through without end.
Even after making a full circuit, the group still couldn’t find Peacock Grand Hotel.
Lin Zhu stopped and asked a little elephant by the roadside for directions. The elephant raised its long trunk and trotted over to a larger herd, speaking in a childish voice.
“Mom, they’re Sister Peacock’s guests.”
The elephant leading the herd approached with a kindly gaze. “Are you new guests? Do you have a check-in voucher?”
Cheng Miao searched her pocket, took out a pale card, and handed it to the elephant.
The elephant curled its trunk around the voucher and put it away. Four elephants emerged from the herd and knelt on their front legs.
“Climb on. We’ll take you to the dock.”
Cheng Miao’s group climbed onto the elephants and swayed gently as they rode. The ride was far steadier than expected. The elephants were clearly experienced and didn’t let their guests feel even the slightest jolt.
Along the way, Cheng Miao saw several players being dragged into the distant woods by mandrills. Perhaps sensing her gaze, the mandrills stopped and bowed to the group before continuing to drag the failed players away.
Cheng Miao said nothing. No one could change the rules of the Game.
Perhaps sensing Cheng Miao’s low spirits, the lead elephant began introducing the four to Niaoniao Town’s local customs and scenery.
Niaoniao Town was actually enormous. The old town they had just visited was only one part of it. The city resembled a tourist destination and contained many other landscapes besides the old town.
“The desert lies to the east. If you take a transit vehicle, you can travel directly to Golden Lion Grand Hotel. The desert scenery along the way is magnificent.”
“The south has beautiful lakes. A transit boat can take you to Orca Grand Hotel, but that Grand Hotel is underwater. Guests with a fear of the deep sea should choose carefully.”
“The grasslands lie to the west. You can travel all the way to White Wolf Grand Hotel. Uncle White Wolf is very nice and may even take you running across the grasslands.”
“The polar region lies to the north and leads to Polar Bear Grand Hotel. The scenery is beyond compare, with snow and auroras, but the weather is cold. Guests who dislike the cold should prepare themselves.”
Cheng Miao listened with her mouth hanging open. The Survival Inn Game was incredibly friendly to hotel enthusiasts.
Qin Musong sat expressionlessly on the elephant behind her. Inwardly, he, Lin Zhu, and Qi Jiajia rejected the idea in perfect unison.
Qin Musong, Lin Zhu, and Qi Jiajia shared a thought: Thanks, but no thanks. We don’t want to see any of those animals again for the time being.
At the dock, the elephants let the four dismount. The mother elephant said gently, “Peacock Grand Hotel is in the mountains. A small boat from here will take you there.”
Cheng Miao thanked her. The mother elephant refused a tip, so Cheng Miao bought a large basket of bananas for the young elephant.
“Honored guests, are you looking for a boat?” A slightly hoarse, elderly voice sounded behind them. Cheng Miao turned around. At some point, a small skiff had stopped behind her.
Standing aboard in a conical hat was none other than a pelican. A basket of fish rested at its feet, and it held a bamboo pole beneath one wing. It looked exactly like an old fisherman.
“Hello. We’d like to go to Peacock Grand Hotel.”
The pelican flapped its wings and made a welcoming gesture. “Ah, guests checking in at the Grand Hotel. Please come aboard.”
Cheng Miao’s group boarded the skiff. It wasn’t large, but it had more than enough room for the four of them to sit.
A small canopy stood in the middle of the boat, sheltering a low table.
After the group sat down, the pelican poked its head into the canopy. “Would the honored guests prefer express speed or normal speed?”
Cheng Miao curiously looked around the boat as she asked, “What’s the difference?”
The pelican laughed, sounding like a kindly old grandfather. “At express speed, I can deliver you to the Grand Hotel lobby in thirty seconds. At normal speed, the journey takes half an hour.”
None of them was in a hurry to return and rest. They had been separated for so long and hadn’t yet properly shared what had happened inside the instance.
“Take your time with the pole. We’re in no hurry,” Cheng Miao said with a bright smile.
“You got it!” the pelican answered, and the skiff slowly began moving.
Clattering sounds came from outside. Just as Cheng Miao’s group began to wonder what was happening, a young pelican entered the canopy carrying a small box.
It first greeted everyone with a penguin-like bow, then produced delicate Huaxia pastries from the box as if performing magic and arranged them on the low table.
Next, it carried in a stove from some unknown place, lit a fire, and set a small teapot over it.
Only after the curling fragrance of tea spread through the canopy did the young pelican withdraw. Before long, the elderly pelican’s weathered yet resonant singing drifted in from outside.
Combined with the river scenery passing before her eyes, the song made Cheng Miao feel expansive and free in both body and spirit.
Lin Zhu had eaten nothing but nuts for days. Now that pastries were in front of him, he couldn’t stop reaching for them. The plum blossom pastries were richly sweet, the hibiscus cakes were delicious, and the tea was clean and refreshing. He could have wept. He was alive again.
The four shared what had happened after they were separated inside the instance, sighing repeatedly over one another’s stories.
“I didn’t expect every choice to contain a situation of certain death.” Qin Musong frowned and took a shallow sip of tea.
Cheng Miao nibbled on a flower cake as she reviewed everything that had happened inside the instance.
There was no denying that each of them had survived through extraordinary danger and extraordinary luck.
“We should avoid temporary instances next time. There are too many uncontrollable variables.” Cheng Miao still felt lingering fear. The money might be good, but they had to be alive to spend it.
Qin Musong had the strongest mental endurance and powers of recovery among the four. He smiled and leaned back leisurely.
“If our funds are sufficient, I suggest staying longer at each of these next few inns so we can relax properly.”
Seeing the stars in Cheng Miao’s eyes despite her embarrassment, Qin Musong smiled and shook his head. “We won’t find conditions this good after we leave. Besides, the Club we need to reach isn’t going anywhere.”
Cheng Miao happily agreed. Lin Zhu and Qi Jiajia didn’t particularly care whether they left or not. If staying meant spending more time with Cheng Miao and Qin Musong, they were naturally delighted.
Listening to the vigorous fisherman’s song, the group swayed gently all the way to the Grand Hotel.
The Grand Hotel stood amid mountain forest, surrounded by lush trees. Brilliant flowers climbed over and enveloped the entire building, creating a stunningly magnificent sight.
Adorable, well-behaved red pandas stood on both sides of the lobby. The moment Cheng Miao saw them, she could no longer move.
She hurried over in two steps. Just as her hand settled on a red panda’s head, a familiar male voice sounded behind her.
“Hmph.”