Chapter 69 Let’s take a bath together! (VI)

The sound of dripping water gave Zhao Anyi goose bumps all over his arms.

He lowered his voice and asked uncertainly: "... Could it be that Principal Dou has come out?"

Lu Zhongnian did not answer, but stared intently into the depths of the bathhouse and shook his head.

Then he made a gesture - signaling Zhao Anyi to keep quiet and go with him to take a look.

Zhao Anyi swallowed hard, followed Lu Zhongnian, and walked inside tremblingly.

The sound of water obviously did not come from Area 1, so they walked straight to Area 2, always treading lightly.

The slippers stepped carefully on the tiled floor covered with a layer of mist, making almost no sound.

They stopped in the aisle of Area 2 and listened for a while. After confirming that the sound was not coming from there, they turned around and walked towards Area 3.

The sound of water is always splashing.

That "person" seemed to be washing very leisurely.

The closer he got to Area 3, the more nervous Zhao Anyi became. His muscles were all tense and his nerves were stretched as tight as a string.

And the moment they stepped into Area 3, the sound of water suddenly stopped.

In an instant, the entire bathhouse fell into silence so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

"..." Zhao Anyi looked at Lu Chongnian again, his heart beating very fast.

Lu Chongnian always remained extremely calm.

His black eyes swept over the 16 compartments in Area 3. He raised his hand, motioning Zhao Anyi to wait there, and then he slowly walked inside.

Lu Zhongnian observed the seam at the bottom of the curtain in each compartment.

The cracks looked almost identical, with the same dim light in each crack. The feet of the person bathing inside could not be seen through any of the cracks. In fact, every crack was dry, with no water seeping out.

If they had not heard the dripping sound with their own ears, they would probably have thought that the bathhouse was empty at this moment, just like when Fu Xiaoju and Mu Yu entered two rounds ago.

But the question is...how could there be an extra "person"?

If it wasn’t Principal Dou, nor that NPC Lao Li, then would it be... a monster?

Lu Zhongnian walked slowly to the end, silently glanced at the compartments on both sides of him, turned around, and shook his head at Zhao Anyi.

Can't tell which compartment has the problem.

When he slowly walked back, Zhao Anyi became a little bolder and walked inside, wanting to help see what it was all about.

However, courage came and went quickly. As soon as the two of them passed each other, Zhao Anyi felt a little exhausted again.

He quickly turned around and wanted to follow Lu Zhongnian away.

At this moment, a loud "splash" of water suddenly came from the compartment on his left, which was very close.

Zhao Anyi was so frightened that he jumped to the right.

The ground was slippery and he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a dull thud. The towel and soap in his hands also fell out!

——Damn! Damn, damn!

Zhao Anyi immediately started cursing in his heart. He wanted to get up quickly, but after swiping his hands on the ground for a long time, he found that he couldn't get up!

——His head seemed to be sucked to the tile floor, and he could only stand upside down with his head on the ground and his feet facing the air!

Lu Zhongnian was stunned, and quickly walked over and reached out to pull him, but he couldn't.

Zhao Anyi is like a radish growing in the ground. It is impossible to pull it out because it is too big and too deep.

Zhao Anyi was about to cry, how could this happen? !

He struggled and accidentally turned to the side of the compartment where the sound of water was coming from. He saw something from the gap and his eyes widened in horror.

The next second, the sound of water stopped again.

Both of them froze their bodies at the same time.

They stared at the compartment.

...A purple pointed corner protruded from the side of the curtain of this compartment.

“……!!”

Zhao Anyi's eyes were bloodshot and he wanted to escape but couldn't. Lu Chongnian stood in front of him and stared at the scene.

The sharp corners continued to extend, and the curtain was gradually lifted...it was actually a thick and long tentacle!

The whole body was purple-red, the surface was slippery and wrinkled, and there were white suction cups as big as washbasins scattered all over... The tentacles became thicker and thicker, and the curtain was lifted wider and wider, and the vision became clearer and clearer, and they saw -

A giant octopus nearly three meters tall was silently stretching itself out in this small compartment.

All eight tentacles were attached to the walls of the compartment, thick and twisted, entangled together, like eight pythons twisted into a doughnut.

A soft, long head was supporting the shower head, with a pair of huge gray eyes on it. There seemed to be no pupils in those eyes, but there was no doubt that it was quietly staring at the two humans outside its cubicle.

The small compartment was packed full, and in the dim light, it looked like some weird giant banyan tree was stuffed inside, with its tangled aerial roots ready to burst out at any time and engulf them.

Zhao Anyi almost fainted. It might be due to cerebral congestion. Anyway, his mind was blank at the moment.

This... this is the monster in this copy...

Lu Zhongnian stared at the giant octopus.

After two or three seconds, he lowered his eyes and watched the tentacle that stretched out from the compartment silently bypass him... bypass the two of them... and come behind Zhao Anyi...

He could clearly hear Zhao Anyi's breathing becoming increasingly rapid.

Bathhouse Rule No. 7: The bathhouse floor is slippery, be careful not to slip. If you slip, do not call for help to avoid disturbing others.

Zhao Anyi kept his mouth tightly shut.

No sound... No sound...

His chest rose and fell violently.

Monsters also have to abide by the rules. If the player does not break the rules, the monsters should not be able to...

——The thick tentacles wrapped around his waist at lightning speed, tied it tightly twice, and lifted him into the air!

Lu Zhongnian's pupils suddenly contracted, and Zhao Anyi screamed instantly.

——The monster actually attacked?

The octopus monster opened its mouth and let out a sharp roar. The sound echoed throughout the bathhouse, deafening.

It swung Zhao Anyi and angrily threw him against the wall!

"Ahhhhhh!" Zhao Anyi stretched out his arms to block in front of himself, protecting his head the moment he hit the wall!

After the blow, his head was saved, but his arm seemed to be broken. He felt dizzy and his whole body was in pain.

Why?! Why did the octopus attack him?! Didn't he follow the rules?

This is different from what we agreed!!

The octopus monster failed to hit him, and then roared and threw him to the ground. Zhao Anyi felt like he was on a roller coaster. He could only scream and scream, with no room for struggle at all.

Lu Chongnian watched this scene with his body tense, thinking quickly, and suddenly thought of something, his eyes darkened.

"Senior, tell me you slipped and need help!"

Zhao Anyi hit the ground and felt like his front teeth were about to be shattered. He said dazedly, "But, but doesn't the rule say—"

——Can’t you call for help?

What on earth is going on?!

"Listen to me, shout!"

The boy's low growl gave Zhao Anyi a startle.

He didn't care and cried out loudly: "I slipped, someone help me! I slipped, someone help me! I slipped--"

The octopus monster suddenly stopped waving, and Zhao Anyi was lifted into the air.

Zhao Anyi felt pain and dizziness and was about to vomit. When he came to his senses, he was shocked - this trick actually worked?

Wait, he...he seems to understand!

"I, I slipped! I didn't mean to peek! I slipped!" he screamed heartbreakingly.

As he shouted, the tentacles wrapped around him loosened little by little.

The octopus monster's soft head moved forward, and a pair of huge gray eyes came right above him, examining him silently.

Zhao Anyi's voice dropped an octave in an instant: "...I, I really slipped! No, I wasn't peeking, I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

“…” The octopus monster raised his head with an unfathomable look.

...Zhao Anyi was put back on the ground.

…The top of his head was sucked back into the ground, and the octopus monster used its thick tentacles to straighten him up, ensuring that he could stand steadily.

Then the tentacle patted him on the back, as if to say, "Say it earlier, bro," and retracted into the compartment, and the curtain was hung again.

Zhao Anyi: “…”

He breathed rapidly and dug his hands into the ground. This time he broke through and was able to run in this position.

Lu Zhongnian picked up his towel and soap, and the two of them quickly left Area 3.

Zhao Anyi ran with both hands, and asked breathlessly: "No, didn't you say that there would be no problem with the general rules?!"

But there is clearly something wrong with Rule 7 of the bathhouse rules!

He slipped, and his vision naturally changed to from bottom to top. He was able to see the situation in the compartment through the "crack in the door" purely by accident!

According to the rules, he held his breath from beginning to end, but the copy judged his behavior as "peek".

He shouted that he had slipped, and the octopus monster let him go.

That seventh rule is clearly meant to trick players!

Lu Zhongnian looked a little solemn. He only said, "This is the first time we have encountered such a situation."

After he finished speaking, he turned his eyes and said to Zhao Anyi: "Senior, try to fall again."

Zhao Anyi: "Ah? How did you fall?"

Lu Zhongnian swung his hand and threw the soap he picked up in front of Zhao Anyi's path.

Zhao Anyi didn't see clearly, his hand pressed on the soap, and suddenly slipped, and he fell flat on his face again.

——Then he stood up!

His feet were able to stand on the ground again!

“…………” Zhao Anyi cursed this shitty copy a thousand times in his heart!

The two men rushed to area one and bumped into Lao Li who came in from the bathhouse entrance.

A skinny figure blocked the exit, holding a cloth mop in his hand, with a slightly hunched back, staring at the two of them blankly: "My two classmates, you haven't taken a shower yet."

He took a step forward, his eyes filled with an inorganic and sinister look: "...Don't waste the opportunity, come in and take a shower!"

Zhao Anyi shivered and wanted to cry again.

I almost forgot, I can’t leave the bathhouse without taking a shower!

Lu Zhongnian calmed his breath, turned his head, and asked calmly: "Senior, can you still go to District 3 now?"

"If that doesn't work, then go to Area 2. I'll watch you. Once you've showered, leave here first."

Zhao Anyi was stunned when he heard this.

Is Lu Chongnian protecting him...?

His face suddenly turned red with shame, and he turned back hesitantly, looking in the direction of Area 3.

The sound of water has started again.

He struggled and whispered, "...Do you think the monster will come out again?"

If the monsters don't appear again, then he can...

"I'm not sure," Lu Zhongnian answered frankly, "There may be some mechanism hidden somewhere we don't know about. Once it's triggered, the monster will come out again."

By that time, he might not be able to provide him with timely help like he did just now.

Lu Chongnian laid out his words very clearly, and Zhao Anyi felt even more tearful after hearing them.

He is very conflicted.

Of course, he wanted to leave this damn bathhouse as soon as possible, but leaving Lu Zhongnian alone was too cowardly...

Going to Area 2... They haven't explored Area 1 and Area 3 yet. If he goes to Area 2, Lu Zhongnian won't have enough time to explore Area 1 and Area 3 by himself...

Zhao Anyi struggled to the extreme.

Lu Zhongnian didn't rush him, but waited quietly.

Zhao Anyi clenched his hands tightly. He said to himself, I can't be so cowardly. Think about those horror movies! In almost all horror movies, the characters who are extremely cowardly have only one way to go in the end! And he is also a man, how can he rely on others for everything...

He gritted his teeth, mustered up his courage, and raised his head and said, "——I'll still go to Area 3! At worst, I can just turn on the shower, lather up, and head straight to the locker room... That's ok, right?!"

Lu Zhongnian paused and asked, "Senior, have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through!"

"...Okay." In that case, Lu Zhongnian didn't waste any more words. He glanced at the time on his phone and said, "We have 6 minutes left. Just call me if you need help later."

"good!"

The two separated on the spot and acted separately.

Lu Chongnian entered Area 1.

Zhao Anyi held his breath and strode back to Area 3 and stood still.

…

Right now.

In the third compartment on his right, there was a constant sound of water.

The dark blue curtain was drawn tightly. If I hadn't just seen the octopus with my own eyes, it would have been hard to imagine that such a huge creature could fit into such a small space.

...Zhao Anyi shrank his neck and tiptoed into the first compartment on the left.

He closed the curtain and swiped his card. The screen showed that 3 points had been deducted, and Zhao Anyi felt a little pained.

Not daring to waste time, he immediately turned on the shower, applied soap on his body, and started rinsing after two rubs.

He frowned and felt it carefully.

The water temperature in zone 3 is normal, neither hot nor cold, just right.

Area 1 is connected to a special space, Area 2 can hear sounds from the wall, so what will Area 3 be like?

By the way, how did Mu Yu hear the sound from Area 2?

"You have to open the curtains, take a shower and close your eyes at the same time to hear the sound." Mu Yu said to them a few minutes ago.

Zhao Anyi: “…………”

Damn, he doesn’t dare!

We’ll talk about it later, we’ll talk about it later… Let’s look at the wall first.

He glanced back at the large area of ​​white tiles behind him.

His own shadow was faintly reflected on the tiles.

The shadow was also looking at him.

After watching for a while, Zhao Anyi felt a little creepy, so he quickly turned his head, washed himself, and turned off the shower.

…Then he paused.

The entire Area 3 became quiet, with only the sound of dripping water coming from Area 1, which seemed far away.

Zhao Anyi's breathing quickened.

...Where are the monsters?

...Have you finished washing?

He stared at the dark blue curtain in front of him.

At some point, the color of the curtain seemed to become darker.

Zhao Anyi swallowed and his heart began to beat faster again.

He slowly raised his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly.

He gently lifted a corner of the curtain.

The purple octopus stood silently at his door.

Zhao Anyi: “…………”

Bro, you're here again.

*

Lu Zhongnian randomly chose a shower room in Area 1, lifted the curtain and went in.

He swiped his card, deducted one point, and turned on the shower.

The warm water flowed down, and he quickly completed the task of applying soap. After rinsing it clean, he pulled the curtain open.

On the wall of the corridor opposite Area 1, a red slogan "If you feel shy, you can close the door and wash!" is always tightly attached to the tiles.

——However, in this copy, pulling back the curtains and opening the compartments is probably the real way to find clues.

That slogan is intended to mislead players by taking advantage of their fear.

Lu Zhongnian calmly glanced at the small space outside the compartment.

——And where is the passage connecting Area 1 and the special space?

The corridor was empty, and there was no sound coming from Area 3.

Lu Zhongnian turned around and faced the snow-white tile wall behind him.

Draw the curtains, take a shower, close your eyes...

...Will the trigger conditions be the same in Zone 1?

Lu Chongnian thought deeply.

He tried closing his eyes.

One second, two seconds, half a minute passed... nothing happened.

Lu Zhongnian opened his eyes again.

He stared at the snow-white tile wall that was so close to him, thinking as he did so.

His shadow was reflected on the wall.

The shadow was also staring at him, thinking as it stared.

Gradually, Lu Zhongnian felt that... this shadow became a little strange.

This shadow looked like him, but it also looked like another him, another Lu Zhongnian who was independent and had independent thinking...

Lu Zhongnian's eyebrows jumped, he narrowed his eyes, and took a step closer.

The shadow stared at him, not moving.

He stared inquiringly and took another step closer.

The shadow seemed to retreat imperceptibly.

Lu Zhongnian immediately took the third step forward, his toes about to touch the bottom tiles——

——A second human-shaped shadow suddenly appeared on the wall!

——Someone broke into his cubicle!

Lu Zhongnian turned around quickly and found his shoulder being held down by a cold hand.

He grabbed the man's wrist, turned around suddenly, and threw him to the ground with force. There was a loud thud, and the floor tiles cracked!

It was a humanoid monster with broad shoulders, claw-like hands, naked body, and its head lowered so its face could not be seen clearly.

It was thrown to the ground without making any sound. It just quickly broke free from Lu Chongnian's hands and ran away!

Lu Zhongnian immediately ran out of the compartment, but the humanoid monster had disappeared, and the entire Area 1 became empty again!

Lu Zhongnian frowned.

"Lu Zhongnian, Lu Zhongnian!"

Zhao Anyi's urgent shout suddenly came from Area 3.

"Lu Chongnian, please stand still. I have discovered something. Please stand still and listen to me!"