Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Click!

The door opened. It was not Mr. Shen who escorted Liu Ye and the others out, but the people who had previously been locked in the cages. Mr. Shen himself had been beaten beyond recognition by Liu Ye.

“Mr. Liu Ye, although you hit us, we don’t hate you. You taught us what it means to rely on our own strength!”

The man Liu Ye had first slapped into the sky spoke with complete sincerity.

Zhang Ru and the others were speechless.

Are you sure this isn’t Stockholm syndrome?

“There’s no need to thank me. In the end, you won your own fights.”

Liu Ye was deeply moved. Now he would like to see anyone claim he was not a good person!

Zhang Ru and the others, meanwhile, were utterly exhausted.

They had indeed been strengthened inside the Chamber of Brutality, but the instant they left, their bodies returned to normal.

Now every muscle and bone ached unbearably.

“Why couldn’t Brother Liu just bring us straight through? Now my whole body hurts.” Wang Weiwei rubbed her shoulder and grimaced.

“You really are something. Without Brother Liu, who knows whether we could have made it this far? You haven’t done a thing all day except whine and complain,” Zhang Yanyan snapped.

“How can you say that about me? I was beaten! Am I not even allowed to mention it?” Wang Weiwei demanded angrily.

“Enough pointless arguing. Let’s get moving!” Zhang Ru said impatiently.

She genuinely could not understand the point of complaining after they had already escaped. What could it accomplish besides offending Liu Ye?

But Wang Weiwei grew angry with her too.

“Xiaoru, why aren’t you standing up for me? I wouldn’t be in this awful place if not for you! After everything I’ve been through, am I not even allowed to complain once?”

Zhang Ru’s expression instantly darkened. She ignored Wang Weiwei and walked over to Liu Ye.

“Brother Liu, please don’t stoop to arguing with her. She… her family spoiled her too much.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Who isn’t the little princess of their family? Tell her to come find me after we get out. I’ll straighten her out.”

Wang Weiwei was speechless.

No, thank you!

Once they escaped, she would stay as far from Liu Ye as possible. He might be powerful, but he was mentally unstable.

Besides, this world had plenty of powerful people. She refused to believe there was no one stronger than Liu Ye.

They soon reached the next floor. The lighting was dim. Ahead stood an area enclosed by towering walls. After searching for some time, they finally found a door marked **Entrance**.

They were about to push it open when they noticed a blackboard beside the doorway.

Li Wei took out a lighter. By its flame, the group examined the board.

Across the top were four large words: **The Chamber of Lies**.

A set of rules was written below.

1. Follow the correct path to find the exit.

2. Various gemstones are scattered throughout this level. Collect as many as possible. They will play an important role at the exit.

3. After arriving on this level, pass through the entrance as quickly as possible, or a Great Terror will occur.

4. White houses are safe zones. One person may use a white house to pass this level immediately and leave the Nightmare Prison. Choose who enters with care.

5. Anyone who fails a room challenge on this level will not remain here, but will be sent back to the first level.

There were only five rules. Everyone committed them to memory.

Then a noise sounded behind them.

It resembled the low growl of a monster. Goosebumps rose across the group’s skin, and they immediately pushed open the door and hurried inside.
After a wave of dizziness passed, the group came to their senses and found two doors ahead. A stone statue stood before each one.

One statue bore the words **I Speak Only the Truth**, while the other read **I Speak Only Lies**. Behind one door lay a trap. The other door led down the correct path.

Li Wei immediately grew confident.

“This is a logic puzzle. I’ve seen it online. We just ask either statue whether the door behind the other statue leads to life or death, then choose the opposite of its answer.”

As soon as he finished, Zhang Ru shook her head.

“It isn’t that simple. Don’t forget what the rule board said. The theme of this chamber is lies!”

Everyone abruptly realized the problem. If the chamber’s theme was lies, who could say whether the statues’ inscriptions-or even the stated rules-were true?

That made matters much more difficult.

“Then which one do we choose?” Zhang Yanyan scratched her head. She was terrible at problems like this.

Everyone looked at Liu Ye. When no solution remained, all they could do was pin their hopes on him.

As expected, Liu Ye did not disappoint.

“Why do we have to choose? We can just test one.”

“Test one?”

Everyone’s expression darkened. Did Liu Ye intend to make one of them try?

Then again, they had contributed almost nothing throughout the journey. It was perfectly reasonable for Liu Ye to use them as test subjects now.

But while they were deciding who should go, Liu Ye had already walked forward, selected a door at random, and opened it.

Beyond lay complete darkness. Nothing inside was visible.

“I suppose someone really does have to test it.”

Zhang Ru stepped forward. The odds were fifty-fifty. She would leave it to luck. If she chose correctly, she lived. If she chose wrong, the worst that could happen was being sent back to work on the first level.

There might be even more difficult trials ahead.

Before she could approach, however, Liu Ye took out a jade pendant.

“Airbag!”

White light flashed. Steward Wang appeared holding a bowl and chopsticks, utterly bewildered.

“You… What the-”

Before he could finish, Liu Ye kicked him through the doorway and slammed the door shut.

A moment later, heavy pounding came from the other side, followed by screams.

“Awooo! Awooo!”

The screams soon ceased. The jade pendant in Liu Ye’s hand flashed once. Liu Ye nodded and pointed to the other door.

“That one is safe.”

Everyone was speechless.

So were the two statues.

They wanted to say that was not how the game was supposed to be played, but he had indeed identified the correct path.

Li Wei rubbed his chin and muttered, “Where did he get that Fiend?”

Zhang Ru and Wang Weiwei were speechless.

They both recognized Steward Wang. Their mouths twitched. Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined he could be used like this.

They approached the safe door and opened it. A red gemstone lay beyond.

Zhang Ru picked it up. Only after waiting long enough to confirm there was no danger did she hand it to Liu Ye for safekeeping.

The group continued onward and soon reached a river.

It was extremely wide, with a violent current. Crossing under their own power would be impossible.

Fortunately, a small boat waited along the bank, with a man standing aboard.

The group exchanged glances, then walked over.

“Boatman, could you take us across the river?”