Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Chen Chong greeted them. “We thought something had happened to you two.”
Lu Yuanshi had put his mask back on, while Xiao Huai had reapplied the rouge.
Zhong Jiangyuan reminded them, “Butler Yang told us to return before sunset. Apart from the Jinlemen Club, we should have time to visit a few more places. We’re planning to look around town. Want to come?”
Xiao Huai said, “I’m going to the cemetery.”
“What? Huh?” Zhong Jiangyuan was not the only one staring in astonishment. Everyone turned toward Xiao Huai.
They had no idea what he intended. How had his thoughts leaped all the way to a cemetery?
Players knew that no one would share information with the others lightly. They had no right to ask where Xiao Huai had gone or what he had done.
But given his unfathomable personality, he must have his reasons for visiting a cemetery.
Perhaps they could even coax some information out of him.
Yet in the next instant, Xiao Huai casually revealed his intentions without the slightest reservation.
He did not try to hide anything at all.
“I’m going to find someone’s grave. He was Huo Dieyi’s brother, and he may also have been the man the Young Lady of the Yang Residence loved.”
The surprise in Jiang Wenmei’s eyes deepened. It was only the second day of the game, yet Xiao Huai had already gathered so much information that had eluded the rest of them.
She could not help asking, “Um, are you a game companion?”
Some high-level big shot?
Xiao Huai looked at her. “No. I’m a newbie.”
Lu Yuanshi seemed to laugh.
Judging by the time since Xiao Huai had cleared the first level of the game, he could indeed call himself a newbie.
But his speed and efficiency had long since surpassed anything that label could describe.
“Monster rookie” might be more accurate.
Zhong Jiangyuan had grown accustomed to Xiao Huai’s talent. “Xiao Huai, can I go with you? To the cemetery, I mean.”
“Mm, of course. I don’t own the cemetery.” Xiao Huai replied lazily.
Chen Chong wore his usual foolish grin. He had just raised a hand to clap Xiao Huai’s shoulder and offer his approval when Xiao Huai automatically moved away.
Chen Chong did not mind in the least. Still laughing, he said, “Sure, sure, let’s all go! Like the saying goes, something-something can cut through gold! Unity is strength!”
He sang the last sentence.
He seemed ready to launch into that military-training anthem everyone knew.
Even behind his mask, his excitement was impossible to conceal.
The blonde woman was the most timid of them all. Forget going to a cemetery; she had been terrified just leaving the Yang Residence.
“Do we really have to go…?”
Jiang Wenmei glanced at her and repeated the old question. “Would you rather stay here alone, or come with everyone?”
The blonde woman shuddered and stammered, “I’ll come. I’ll come.”
Being left alone was always more dangerous.
Even if their destination was a cemetery, she decided she had nothing left to lose. If her luck was truly rotten enough to get her killed, she would rather die with the others.
As they left the Jinlemen Club, the waiter in the suit who had received them earlier approached.
“Please return your masks.”
They removed the masks and handed them over. When the waiter reached Lu Yuanshi and Xiao Huai, he coughed softly twice and accepted only Lu Yuanshi’s mask.
Xiao Huai made no move to surrender his.
Lu Yuanshi smiled pleasantly. The waiter did not dare say a word, much less demand its return.
Once someone accepted money, they had to learn to turn a blind eye.
Chen Chong threw an arm around the waiter’s shoulders. “Hey, buddy, do you know the way to the cemetery? A potter’s field will work too if there isn’t one.”
“Wh… what do you want to go there for?” the waiter asked in confusion.
Chen Chong said, “I, Chen Chong, have a hobby–dancing on graves.”
The waiter looked baffled. He understood the part about graves, but what did dancing on them mean?
Still, it was hardly an important matter, so he said, “Go straight west after you leave. You’ll find the cemetery there.”
“Great, thanks.” Chen Chong slapped the waiter heavily on the back twice, nearly knocking off his mask.
The waiter nodded awkwardly, cupped his hands in farewell, and hurried away.
* * *
Thick fog rolled through the cold, silent air, shrouding the cemetery. Rows of headstones were faintly visible within it.
The smell of damp earth hung in the air.
As the players reached the cemetery, a cold wind rose around them, carrying a penetrating chill.
The blonde woman wore shorts and shivered violently. To save money, she had not bought anything from the System Shop.
Jiang Wenmei walked over and casually handed her a light jacket.
“I have plenty. Put this on if you’re cold.”
Touched, the blonde woman accepted it. “Thank you.”
Chen Chong spoke up. “Hey, guys, does anyone have something that tells the time? My watch stopped.”
He raised his head toward the horizon. Dense fog blotted out the sky, preventing sunlight from penetrating and leaving everything a dim gray.
There was no way to judge when they needed to leave in order to return before sunset.
The players also noticed that after entering the cemetery, their watches had stopped and none of them could check the time.
Xiao Huai approached a grave covered in a thick layer of dust.
No one had tended it in a very long time.
It was not only one or two graves. Every grave in the cemetery lay buried beneath heavy dust.
Xiao Huai produced a flashlight. Only by shining it directly on the headstone could he barely make out the name.
The other players followed his example, taking out high-powered flashlights and illuminating the headstones.
Zhong Jiangyuan asked, “Xiao Huai, do you know that man’s name?”
Xiao Huai shook his head. “I only know his surname was Huo.”
Jiang Wenmei said, “There must be at least a thousand people buried here. Even with all seven of us searching, finding the man you want before sunset may be rather difficult.”
She paused. “Unless–unless we simply don’t return. We just don’t know whether failing to make it back on time would count as breaking a taboo rule.”
It would be a gamble. Why would people with no close connection to Xiao Huai be willing to take that risk for him?
Xiao Huai ignored her, apparently checking the system interface.
A few seconds later, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Don’t worry. I’ll certainly accomplish what I want before sunset.”
As soon as he spoke, a soft golden light washed over him.
Before everyone’s eyes, a man materialized beside Xiao Huai. He was crouched halfway down and still held half a cup of instant noodles.
The young man opened his eyes and looked at the people around him. One eye was black and the other white, an impossible sight to ignore.
The moment Lu Qian saw Xiao Huai, he grinned around a mouthful of noodles. “Hey, you finally called me. Great timing. I have to work as a game companion for a client soon. Come on, tell me. What do you need?”
Lu Qian polished off his cup of sauerkraut-flavored noodles in a few quick bites, then rose and looked around.
Everyone except Lu Yuanshi and Zhong Jiangyuan stared blankly.
Who was this man?
Why did he have a black-and-red fox tattoo on his left arm? Was he a member of Foxslayer?
How could a player simply appear inside an instance out of nowhere?
What in the world was going on?