Chapter 121
Chapter 121
“Impressive.” This time, Xiao Huai’s praise was entirely sincere.
Xiao Qian had gathered this many clues in a single day, and every one of them concerned the same instance.
That fact alone made his true identity highly suspicious. At the very least, any player capable of obtaining so many clues about one game in so little time had to possess either immense wealth or status.
The backs of the leaves were engraved with *Village Teacher*, the name of the game.
The two of them approached the game nebula.
Xiao Qian said lazily, “Just skim them. I’ve memorized everything. This game is simple, a standard ghost-summoning horror scenario. Most likely, the players have to exorcise the ghost and escape the mountain village. Same old routine. Easy. Brother Qian will carry you.”
Judging by his tone, he had extensive experience with the horror game and could identify its usual patterns in moments.
Xiao Huai had reached the same conclusion after reading the clues.
“Mm, I understand.” He handed the leaves back. “Let’s go.”
“All right.”
Before they entered, however, Xiao Huai stopped. “What happens if we lose?”
Before they met, Xiao Qian had said he would charge nothing if they failed to clear the game. But the system would not simply release players after a loss.
Xiao Qian smiled sheepishly, yet his confidence was absolute.
“How hard can a fourth-floor instance be? Lose? Impossible. Brother Qian’s business is built on integrity. If we lose, you can do whatever you want with me. Okay?”
The corner of Xiao Huai’s mouth lifted faintly. In a very soft voice, he said,
“Whatever I want? Now I almost hope we lose.”
Xiao Qian’s hearing was perfectly sharp, so of course he caught it. He snorted. “Relax. With Brother Qian here, you couldn’t lose no matter how recklessly you played.”
Xiao Huai did not answer, but an enigmatic smile touched the corners of his eyes.
Every instance he entered seemed to become inexplicably difficult.
He could only hope this one would be simpler. Winning without lifting a finger was a skill in itself.
The moment Xiao Huai and Xiao Qian stepped into the *Village Teacher* nebula, the system notification sounded.
[Team formation complete. Selected instance: *Village Teacher*. Game loading…]
[Esteemed player Xiao Huai, a high-ranking god has exercised special authority over you. Your team’s selected instance will be forcibly changed.]
[Loading special fourth-floor instance–*Vampires*.]
Xiao Qian froze. Because they had formed a team, Xiao Huai’s system notifications were open to the entire party, and he heard everything.
[*Vampires* loaded successfully. We wish you a pleasant game!]
Every clue he had carefully prepared became worthless paper when they appeared inside an enormous hall.
Xiao Qian saw that everyone who had appeared there looked equally stunned.
“What’s going on? Why did the instance suddenly change to *Vampires*? Where are we?”
“Does this mean all my prepared clues are useless? Damn system! What right does it have to force me into another instance?”
Every shouting player repeated the same point–
Like Xiao Huai and Xiao Qian, they had been forcibly rerouted and sent into the vampire instance *Vampires*.
As realization set in, they began confirming what they knew. “Did your systems mention a person? Is he the reason we were sent here?”
“Xiao Huai! That’s the name. The system said we were chosen as guests at Xiao Huai’s funeral and brought to *Vampires* to witness his destruction.”
“Same here. Who is this Xiao Huai? Does anyone know him or recognize him? Is he famous?”
Xiao Qian and Xiao Huai stood near the back of the crowd without a word. Xiao Huai remained calm and leisurely, as though everyone were discussing someone else.
Xiao Qian’s expression darkened slightly, but like Xiao Huai, he showed little reaction.
He was merely speechless that he had stumbled into such a one-in-ten-million disaster.
No player had lost more from their clues becoming useless than he had.
But a true top-tier game companion could display their strength with or without clues.
Clues were provided to customers mainly to set their minds at ease.
Xiao Huai yawned in boredom. When he raised his eyes, his gaze met Xiao Qian’s. “What?”
Xiao Qian raised a brow. “I heard everything.”
He meant the system notification, especially the line, “A high-ranking god has exercised special authority over you.”
“Have you offended someone?” Xiao Qian folded his arms across his chest, his expression cold. Then he added softly, “A high-ranking god.”
Xiao Huai’s gaze settled on the chandelier overhead. Its light was not particularly bright, yet it still hurt his eyes. He narrowed them slightly.
It was impossible to tell whether he was thinking or merely reacting to the glare.
“I don’t know,” he said. “But probably.”
Human society had long divided people into countless ranks. Gods would be no different: high-ranking gods, higher gods.
The disparity between gods might not be enormous, but those at the top were still stronger and also… more cruel and terrifying.
Ordinarily, high-ranking gods were interested only in top players, though that did not rule out a sudden whim to watch a newcomer’s livestream.
Xiao Huai did not know what truly defined a high-ranking god, but to him, all gods were the same.
Xiao Qian seemed to sigh softly. His brows furrowed. “That’s unfortunate. But don’t worry. I’m here.”
Xiao Huai looked at him. “You don’t sound unfamiliar with this.”
Xiao Qian’s lashes trembled. His thoughts drifted far away, and only after a long time did he nod.
“Mm.”
“What happened afterward?” Xiao Huai did not take his eyes off Xiao Qian’s face, as though determined to see through every emotion the man had hidden.
An almost imperceptible shadow entered Xiao Qian’s eyes. “He died. The so-called high-ranking god tore his body to pieces, bit by bit. His soul too.”
Xiao Huai fell silent.
Xiao Qian lifted his chin slightly. A faint smile appeared on his face, but his eyes held only mockery.
Looking at Xiao Huai, he said coldly, “The reason was ridiculous. He no longer wanted to participate in the horror game, offending the high-ranking god who had always sponsored him. So he was forcibly sent into a special instance. One made specifically for his…”
Funeral.
Xiao Qian did not finish. He did not want to place too great a burden on Xiao Huai.
The difficulty of special instances rarely matched their floor. Most became substantially harder.
But as long as it was a game, there had to be a way to clear it.
Just then, a young woman materialized in midair inside the hall. For one instant, everyone saw something like a pair of bat wings spread behind her, then disappear.
Their eyes widened slightly as they stared at her in disbelief.
The long-haired woman had pale skin and wore a pure white dress, like a saint in a church, yet a cunning smile curved her lips.
“Welcome. The gathering is almost complete. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Follower No. 3.”