Chapter 91.1 Crimson Sunset Expedition
Wen Shi’s expression while talking to the teenager was mixed with just the right amount of criticism, as though they were two unrelated passersby casually observing and passing judgments.
If she hadn’t seen everything herself, the girl would have argued that they were innocent.
The teenager suddenly asked, “Where did you get the museum tickets?”
“From the automatic ticket vending machine,” Wen Shi touched his nose, “usually, the system would upload transaction details to the terminal, so they could still check if they wanted to.”
Stamps were used as proof that they had been there, but the secret about swapping identities would come out sooner or later. Nevertheless, as long as they could stay safe until the end of the check-in task, nothing else really mattered.
There were more than one player and their shadows gathered around the big screen in the square. The museum caught fire in the morning, a time when most of them were still working. The only people who could go to the museum were those with the free tickets. When Wen Shi showed up confidently, the people couldn’t help but show a bit of surprise. Wasn’t he scared of getting reported?
Some had already noted down the report hotline on the screen and were wondering if they should find a spot to make a test call.
Wen Shi cut off their rosy dreams, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “The tour guide hasn’t even made a move yet, why are you all in such a hurry?”
Reporting required direct evidence, and the folks in Sunset Town were simple to the point of being blunt. Just a single clue about anyone entering the museum, and they could figure it out themselves. Snitches not only wouldn’t get a reward but might also draw anger towards themselves.
What really quashed the idea for those present was the tour guide. If something good like that were to happen, there would be no need for them to be involved in this.
As it neared six o’clock, whether they completed the quest or not, people were gradually heading to Tianchang Square.
Seeing Wen Shi, Song Yan hurried over to join them. With so many shadows in the square, he worried about an unexpected attack.
They had some prior interaction, so Wen Shi took the initiative and asked, “Have you finished the quest?”
If not, he could give some money as appropriate.
Unexpectedly, Song Yan nodded and showed him his badge.
He had gathered all five stamps, including three from high-spending scenarios. Wen Shi was somewhat surprised. At least he had some skills when he was a newbie, but Song Yan had neither skills nor items. Completing it was truly not easy.
“I was puzzled when I saw those check-in tasks in the morning. I didn’t dare to work, fearing to be fooled by the locals, so I ended up scavenging bottles,” Song Yan recounted.
Hearing this, Wen Shi’s mouth twitched. Tje newbie wormplayer was also scavenging. Their thinking was surprisingly aligned.
“But it couldn’t continue like that. After much hesitation, I decided to find you for the sake of survival.” The museum was too far away. Song Yan struggled but eventually walked there. “I was only halfway when I saw the flames from a distance.”
Worried that Wen Shi was busy with the quest, he didn’t dare to call directly. What if the phone rang and he accidentally triggered the death rule? That would be a big problem.
“Since I was already there, I decided to take a look. When I arrived, the tour guide and turtlekin were both there. I overheard investigators saying that the victim had left the House of Screams after work yesterday and then came to the museum for a part-time shift. That got me excited…” Song Yan swallowed hard. “I quickly used my last bit of change to take a cab to the House of Screams. All the staff were dead. Maybe nobody was there during the day. The back door was locked as expected. Whether you take a risk or play it safe, it’s the same result. Didn’t the tour guide paid a good sum of money yesterday? After prying the lock, I managed to steal everything and get away with it.”
At this point, Song Yan shivered slightly, “Fortunately, the entrance to the House of Screams is well-hidden, and there isn’t many people during the day.”
Wen Shi’s eyelid twitched, “And then?”
“And then I went to spend the money.”
Yu Xingzhou suddenly glanced at Wen Shi in silence.
“……” F—ck, what’s he looking at?
Song Yan scratched his head in embarrassment and looked at Wen Shi. “On the way there, I was worried that you, the big shot, might have already plundered the House of Screams. But the lock was still intact.”
Wen Shi fell silent. What kind of image did he have in others’ eyes?
That being said, robbing the House of Screams was indeed a good choice. Those creepy places liked to open at night and were safer during the day. When the ticket seller received the payment yesterday, she directly put them in the drawer, proving there was a chance they wouldn’t be taken away.
The tour guide finally appeared on Tianchang Square, standing by the fountain platform and waving a flag to beckon everyone over.
Yu Xingzhou patted Wen Shi’s shoulder and said succinctly, “You taught well.”
After entering the game, Song Yan had spent some time with Wen Shi. It was impossible to say his way of thinking hadn’t been influenced by Wen Shi.
Wen Shi couldn’t deny this fact himself. He looked at the reward announcement on the big screen, caught a glimpse of Song Yan’s excited smile, and a phrase popped into his mind: a gang of fierce outlaws.
The gang of fierce outlaws walked together, instinctively heading towards the fountain. Once they stopped, Wen Shi looked up at the sky.
Without making eye contact, he could still sense the disdainful glare the tour guide was shooting at him. He wasn’t alone in feeling it—the fury in the tour guide’s eyes rivaled the flames in the museum as reported in the news.
Qian Laiye was distinctively different. When others worried about being implicated and distanced themselves from Wen Shi, he approached and struck up a conversation instead. Glancing at the time, he said, “We’re about to witness another sunset spectacle in Sunset Town.”
Wen Shi faintly perceived that this person had some hidden misanthropy and a desire for strength. This was evident from Qian Laiye’s shadow’s taunts in the library earlier.
Qian Laiye was highly perceptive, understanding what was on his mind. “Before entering the game, I was just an ordinary person. My life had no major ripples.”
He was in the same state now, feeling life had lost its meaning, and death was even more boring. He could only desperately interact with people to find a sense of belonging. Significant NPCs held authority in the game, and from the tour guide’s angry gaze, Qian Laiye could sense a kind of thrill in confronting the world.
After speaking, his breathing became slightly faster. Wen Shi forced a smile. Despite everyone being quite abnormal, when compared, he was the one who seemed normal.
“Hypocrite,” Shadow Qian Laiye took the opportunity to mock with a sharp comment.
He wanted to take action, but seeing Wen Shi reminded him of the agreement for twenty yuan, so he held back.
The clock tower across the square struck six on the dot.
No one died in this round.
The free activity segment was generally safer. Even if one couldn’t finish the check-in points, they would only lose some organs, not their lives. For safety, one just needed to avoid the activities provided by the travel agency on the badge and those special places like the museum. Except for Yu Xingzhou challenging the Sky Tower, others would rather fail to check in than try the free activities.
The tour guide systematically checked the badges. She lingered a few seconds longer beside Wen Shi. The museum’s stamp had become a collector’s item, seemingly emitting a faintly mocking light in the sunlight.
“Quite the player,” these were the three words Wen Shi had given her on the first day. The tour guide returned them word for word.
Before her voice had fully faded, the tour guide had already moved to the next person.
That player was just one check-in point away. Finally, a smile appeared on the tour guide’s face.
Balanced by the rules, the player’s body instantly stiffened. They could only watch helplessly as a tiny flying insect darted into their left eye. The insect stayed on the eyelid for several seconds, and the player’s field of vision shrank suddenly. Their left eyelid drooped, and when they could move again, the eyelid wouldn’t lift.
His left eye’s sight was taken away.
Once the size of that insect grew significantly, the tour guide placed it in a transparent container.
The entire process was soundless and bloodless, yet it sent shivers down one’s spine.
“Little Lightfly.”
The sudden murmur from the teenager caught Wen Shi’s attention. When he turned his head, the teenager said, “There’s an introduction about this kind of insect in the museum.”
When it was the next person’s turn, they forced a calm tone and asked, “Can we choose?”
The tour guide nodded.
“Left ear.”
The player who lost their eyesight earlier almost couldn’t hold back a curse. If they had known, they would have chosen as well.
After the tour guide finished checking everyone, her mood finally returned to calm. At least, today’s efforts weren’t in vain.
The travel agency took thriftiness to heart. At the end of the day’s itinerary, everyone rode the bus back together.
While waiting for the bus, the tour guide stood beside Wen Shi, wearing a half-smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “The automatic ticket vending machine display indicated that only one person bought a full ticket today.”
With a mix of threat and enticement in her tone, she said, “Where did that old lady and scarecrow who followed you go? As long as you tell me their whereabouts, I promise to wipe the slate clean.”
Wen Shi smiled gently and responded calmly, “Don’t forget, besides me, there are others who went inside for a visit.”
Since the gathering, for the first time, he met the tour guide’s gaze proactively. “A stingy tour guide suddenly digs into her pocket to give a tourist a ticket. Between the two of us, who’s more suspicious?”
The bus arrived, and Wen Shi ignored her, getting on directly.
The bus was almost empty at this time. Not wanting to interact with the tour guide too much, Wen Shi went to the last row. When the whole tour group got on, the bus became considerably crowded.
There were many people wanting to make a quick fortune. On the road, there were checks on vehicles and bags everywhere. The bus was stuck at an intersection for twenty minutes.
The sun began to set, and a small area of twilight appeared on the horizon.
Seated next to Wen Shi, Qian Laiye suddenly said, “There must be a treasure hidden in this instance.”
Wen Shi subconsciously thought about the key, but still responded with a puzzled “Hmm.”
“Beastkin evolution could be achieved through a virus, but no matter how advanced the scientific research is, it can’t take away the shadows of an entire city.” Qian Laiye opened the bus window wide and squinted at the sky. “Have you noticed that when sunset approaches, this sky really resembles a mirror?”
The town’s sunset could bring about negative feelings. Yesterday, Wen Shi was completely absorbed in that deep red light, paying no attention to anything else. Taking advantage of the lingering twilight before it covered everything, he looked out following Qian Laiye’s gaze.
Crystal clear, it gave the illusion that everyone’s reflections were in it.
Watching quietly for a while, Qian Laiye spoke softly, “I always feel like it’s capable of absorbing people’s negative emotions, then release them at sunset. Each of us was like a prisoner living in a mirror. Light, shadow, all controlled by the mirror.”
Wen Shi seemed like a philosopher lost in thought for a while before saying a single word. “Sorry.”
“You think I’m wrong?” Qian Laiye snapped back.
Wen Shi: “No, I didn’t understand.”
“……”
Wen Shi: “What prisoners, light and shadow? Sounds like some weird mumbo-jumbo.”
“Mumbo-jumbo is right.” Qian Laiye took a deep breath and wrote five words in his palm: “true spirits communicate with deities.”
The vehicle jolted heavily, the setting sun like blood. The radiant sunset finally engulfed the entire horizon.
Even shadows couldn’t bear the negative impact of the sunset. They lowered their heads, cast their gaze downward, and inevitably generated a sense of world-weariness.
Strangely, Wen Shi and Qian Laiye weren’t greatly affected this time.
They were like two children caught gossiping by the deities, detached from the rest of the world.
This feeling of detachment was definitely far from pleasant. Both of them got goosebumps, and Wen Shi was still immersed in the previous topic, his eyes wider than usual. “You mean…”
Qian Laiye nodded firmly, forming words with his lips, “In the instance controlled by a true spirit, the initial rules were set by the true spirit themselves, not the game. The true spirit’s core entity is likely something like a mirror.”
After a few seconds of silence, Wen Shi’s mouth hung slightly open, as if he had swallowed the twilight along with it. He asked a more practical question, “Why are you telling me this?”
Unsure if it was a misconception, since hearing Qian Laiye’s words, he felt uneasy all over, as if something were watching him.
“Once this concept takes hold, it becomes easy for the rules to target you. If we tell the big shots, they’d be affected, and the chances of clearing the instance would be slim.”
Qian Laiye’s thinking was quite expansive. Li Nan and Yu Xingzhou had been focused on the key and the hospital, and they hadn’t considered this aspect yet.
Also, this instance had been plagued by bugs in the early stages, to the point where many even thought it was introduced recently, with players’ lives being used to patch up the holes.
“……” Wen Shi clenched his fist silently, considering whether to give the guy a piece of his mind.
Qian Laiye said earnestly, “Knowing has its benefits. You haven’t been in many instances, and even if you know, you wouldn’t follow the typical ways of thinking that experienced players do.”
After that, the two didn’t say much more. Bathing in the sunset, each felt a tingling sensation on their scalps.
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