Chapter 27 General Rules + Highways

Unlike dungeons where every newcomer has the chance to respawn, the boy's corpse was automatically refreshed and erased from the instance shortly afterward.

Xiaoming, having solved the problem, received an extra chance and a rule: Any vehicle exceeding 120 mph for more than 10 minutes is considered a violation! Any vehicle violating this rule will be eligible to be expelled.

Upon hearing this, you all broke out in a cold sweat.

It's been about 8 minutes since you woke up, changed drivers, and chatted with your relatives. In just a few dozen seconds, you'll be forced to act out a fast-paced adventure on this awful highway.

Most children who grow up in the United States have no experience with high-speed driving.

Xiao La, who was holding the steering wheel, was a little anxious.

Looking at the calm expressions of the older women, especially the seemingly gentle Xiaoming who was surprisingly ruthless, I wondered how the other two would react.

Thinking of how fierce she had been to you at the beginning, Xiao La secretly glanced at you in the rearview mirror, swallowed hard, and then slammed on the gas pedal, causing the car to speed up instantly.

You caught Xiao La's guilty look and roughly understood what she was thinking. Although you were also feeling uncontrollably tingling in the speeding car, you still managed to maintain the authority of a veteran as Xiao Ming gave off with his hammer blows.

Some people put on a friendly and confident smile on the surface, but in reality they are silently gripping their seats.

After driving for about half an hour, Xiao La finally managed to park the car at a rest stop.

As soon as Xiao Fang got out of the car, she started vomiting uncontrollably. You stood by and patted her back.

"Are you feeling better?" You hand her the water.

"It's alright." Xiao Fang's face didn't look too good. "I get terribly carsick, and I'm worried I'll have trouble adjusting to the new environment later."

"It's alright, we'll go buy some medicine in a bit," you reassured Xiao Fang.

Xiao La reluctantly followed Xiao Ming to buy a cup of coffee and bread. After putting the things down, she told Xiao Ming and then ran out to find you and Xiao Fang as if avoiding a ghost, inviting you inside to sit down and discuss what to do next.

When you get your phone back, you're surprised to find that it contains a wealth of information.

Various food delivery and shopping apps, membership cards for supermarkets, coffee shops, etc., and even translation software have their own separate folders.

This "you" in this identity seems to have organized a lot of things neatly, but in reality, they're all scattered and messy. You still had some trouble finding the travel-related apps.

"I found the travel plan!" you exclaimed happily, forwarding it to the group chat before reading it aloud one by one. "Basically, we'll first drive around the Dolo Mountains in Italy for 5 days, staying one night in a mountain cabin and four nights in a hotel at the foot of the mountains. Then we'll return to Maldives, return the car, take the train to Florence, rest there for a day, and then—" Your expression turned somewhat grim as you continued, "...on a cruise ship, circling the Mediterranean, passing through the French Isles, Morocco, and Selenia, before finally returning to Florence. The cruise will last 9 days and 8 nights. After that, we'll return to Maldives and fly back to Italy."

Everyone except Little La remained silent.

"What's wrong? It looks really fun." Xiao La asked, puzzled, when the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"It would indeed be a lot of fun in real life. It's a fairly common vacation travel route, but there are so many places and scenes along the way that it's so complex that there would be a lot of dangers," Xiaoming explained.

Xiao La nodded, but judging from her expression, she still only had a vague understanding.

This is normal. Xiao La has never seen the terrifying and bloody scenes of outsiders being executed by some irresistible supernatural elements for violating the rules, nor has she experienced being chased and beaten in "physical training," so she doesn't realize how serious these things can be.

“I have a question. Since these things are complicated and dangerous, can’t we just not go?” Xiao La asked, raising her hand to speak.

“This was originally our travel plan, so we can change the route on the spot, right? We can book a new hotel to stay in—let me count how many days it is… 15 days. Wouldn’t that avoid all the trouble?” Xiao La looked at you expectantly.

Xiao Ming smiled and said regretfully, "I'm afraid that won't work. We veterans have more information on our phones. I searched our chat history and social media, and it turns out that we met here because of this trip."

"We meet and gather because of travel, and we ourselves wake up on the way to the destination, officially joining this instance. In this case, if you want to skip the entire travel event, you will definitely be punished."

"Will I die?" Xiao La became nervous, scratching her head and cautiously glancing at Xiao Ming. The mention of death inevitably reminded her of Xiao Ming's decisive and ruthless demeanor just now.

"You're not guaranteed to die, but you will definitely be punished, and there's a high probability you'll find yourself sitting on the next mode of transportation when you wake up." Xiao Ming shook his head, explaining to Xiao La in a detailed and patient voice, just like he had explained it to you before.

It's hard to be afraid of Xiaoming like this. Xiaola gradually became less awkward, and after talking to Xiaoming for a while, when you and Xiaofang were about to go get some dessert, Xiaola finally stopped resisting being alone with Xiaoming.

"By the way, these are the basic rules of the UK that I just saw in the student union group. I'm forwarding them to our travel group. Xiao La, I've added you, please accept my request." Xiao Ming tapped his phone screen.

"Okay, Sister Xiaoming." Xiaola did as she was told without hesitation.

I have to say, the benefits for veteran players are really good.

The so-called student union is a student association that in reality might be full of shady characters and inexplicable hierarchical systems, but in this alternate world, it is a genuine large group of foreigners who support each other.

This is somewhat similar to the large group that Sister Li invited you to join before, except that one is not as influential and well-organized as this one.

In this student union group, when each group leader is about to leave the instance, the group chat will be handed over to the next person. In this way, it is passed down from generation to generation, and the basic rules are revised from time to time. It has really made the survival rate of foreigners higher and higher.

These are all from Xiaoming's introduction.

Among you, Xiaoming has completed the most dungeons; this is her fifth dungeon, while Xiaofang's is her third.

After listening to Xiaoming's explanation of the knowledge points, Xiaola admired Xiaoming even more. The way she looked at Xiaoming was just like when you first learned that Sister Li could leave the dungeon world, shining brightly.

While Xiao La wasn't looking, Xiao Ming stuck his tongue out at you and Xiao Fang.

Without saying a word, you all picked up your phones and immersed yourselves in reading the rules:

"Please note that this is the world of Rules of the Strange, and your identity is Liu Zi. No matter what you do, never forget this. Each instance has different basic rules, so please be sure to abide by them, or you will bear the consequences! We welcome group members to share their experiences with events they have already experienced. We will hold a group meeting every Saturday after 8 pm London time. If you are interested, you can join."

Next, here are the basic rules for the Ying Kingdom instance:

1. You can choose not to speak Ying language, you can speak Ying language with an accent, but you cannot speak American-style Ying language.

2. If someone attacks you, remember that's normal. If you are under 16, you can fight back.

3. No strangers will stare into your eyes. If you do, ask them if they are Chinese.

4. When watching a ball game, free fighting is a civilized activity.

5. If it rains, you can't use an umbrella; if the sun is out, you must go out to sunbathe. If you don't get sunbathing even once in 30 days, you'll turn into a mushroom.

6. Fog is a good time for a stroll.

7. The red double-decker bus is a red, double-decker bus. Please don't get it wrong or mislead people.

8. Fish and chips are your favorite. You can eat them every day without feeling bad, but you definitely can't go a day without them.

9. Please remember, it is a pint of beer.

10. A 30-day trip to England, a lifetime of love for England. Please cherish this memory; it will give you strength.

11. Students whose monthly spending is less than £10,000 will be expelled.

12. Please remember that schools have different levels, academic qualifications have different levels, and the duration of studying abroad also has different levels. Please keep yourself at the top of the hierarchy of contempt and look down on others once a day.

Please remember the rules and survive!

After reading it, Xiao La was a little confused: "What is all this about?"

You took over Xiaoming's responsibility and started analyzing the rules for your new friend: "Except for rule 6, 'Fog is suitable for a walk,' which doesn't seem to be a mandatory rule and we don't know if it's good or bad, the other rules are fairly clear."

"While the meanings of Rules 7 and 9 are somewhat ambiguous, they should be warnings of danger; as for the others, we just need to follow them. Rules 8 and 12 should be daily tasks, to be done every day. Although we're not in Ying Kingdom now, getting fish and chips shouldn't be too difficult."

Xiaoming and Xiaofang nodded in agreement.

"But what does 'disrespecting someone once' in Rule 12 mean?" You pondered for a moment, met Xiao Fang's eyes, and tentatively said, "I'm a one-year master's student, you're a four-year undergraduate, are you trash?"

These are not random remarks; you have already shared information about your schools and residences.

You and Xiao Fang waited for a while, but didn't notice any changes.

"No, that's wrong. Compared to a one-year master's degree, a four-year master's degree should be in a higher position on the hierarchy of contempt," Xiaoming pointed out the problem.

"Well... I am, I have a master's degree in engineering, and you have an art bachelor's degree, so you're trash?" You changed your tune and spoke again.

This time, an unexpected change occurred.

A jumble of fireworks exploded on the small plastic table at the rest stop in front of you. Little La leaned forward slightly because she was listening so intently to your conversation, which almost set her hair on fire.

A man wearing a hat, about the size of your hand, suddenly collapsed onto the table.

A long, top hat holding down his messy hair, adorned with a tag that read "10/6," and a suit that seemed to have no matching elements from head to toe—this iconic look... could it be the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland?

He staggered to his feet, saying with considerable dissatisfaction, "Time has stopped, and tea has just begun!"

No sooner had you finished speaking than a pink light flashed before your eyes, making you sneeze. In that instant, a cup of tea appeared in front of you out of nowhere.

You guys were so shocked your jaws almost dropped, especially Little La, who reached out to grab the Mad Hatter, only to be hit hard with a stick by him, and then covered his hand and pulled it back.

You blink and stare at the Mad Hatter, but you refuse to drink.

He's very patient. If you don't drink, he'll jump around on the table, run around, go crazy, pull his hair, and start biting his toenails. When you try to leave, you find that your butt seems to be glued to the chair.

Alright, you picked up the teacup and took a sip. The moment you swallowed, the Mad Hatter and everything he had conjured vanished, and you regained your freedom.

A strange warmth slid down your throat and instantly spread throughout your body. You felt an indescribable lightness, as if time had slowed down and the surrounding sounds had become soft and distant.

The tea had a strange yet pleasant taste, with a hint of floral aroma and an unknown spiciness. My thoughts became unrestrained, ideas bursting forth like stars, and I even began to see wondrous colors dancing in the air.

You feel as if you are gently lifted up and floating in a dream filled with the aroma of tea, where the boundary between reality and fantasy begins to blur.

"Wake up, wake up!" Xiaoming grabbed your shoulders and shook you hard, which startled you awake. You slumped limply down the seat, only to be pulled up by Xiaoming again.

Even if Xiaoming wakes you up like this, your brain doesn't feel tired or annoyed at all. Instead, it's full of peace, as if your greatest spiritual pursuit in life has been fulfilled.

Now it was Xiao Fang's turn. She looked at you hesitantly and said softly, "I'm studying art, I'm rich, you're trash."

The same scene unfolded again, with the Mad Hatter muttering, "Each cake hides a secret. Dare to bite?"

A beautifully crafted piece of buttered bread, placed on a square plate adorned with cherries and chocolate sauce, appeared before Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang was feeling carsick and listless the whole time. She had no appetite at the moment, but she still picked it up and took a bite.

Her pupils dilated instantly, and she almost forgot to chew. The bread would melt on her tongue anyway, sending the sweet and fragrant custard into her stomach.

All the discomfort disappeared, and Xiao Fang became lively and energetic again.

"This is amazing! Wow, this is the first time I've ever encountered a dungeon with such a reward system!" Xiao Fang said excitedly, holding your hand. Seeing that you were still immersed in happiness, she went to talk to Xiao Ming about it.

Xiaoming had never seen such a rule before.

Facing Xiao Fang, Xiao Ming thought for a moment and said, "My school is Niu Da, your school is Dili, you're trash."

The same thing happened again. This time, Xiaoming was also given tea. After drinking it, Xiaoming collapsed just like you.

Looking at you all sprawled out, Xiao La panicked: "No, then what should I say?"

Xiao Fang suggested to Xiao La: "Just say this..."

Xiao La was skeptical, but she really had no choice, so she could only say, "Uh, Diliqs is number 2 in the world, you're trash."

Ah, that's over too.

Okay, now three out of the four have fallen.

It was 10 minutes later when the soothing effects of the tea wore off.

You and Xiaoming exchanged a glance and said at the same time, "You think so too, right?"

"You go first," Xiaoming said, spreading his palms out to you.

Instead of making excuses, you directly said, "This is not right. What kind of hierarchy of contempt is rule 12? And it's obvious that you can find points of contempt for others whether you say it forwards or backwards, which means it has no meaning other than malice. Why should we be rewarded by such a malicious rule?"

"That's what I think too," Xiaoming agreed.

"Your tea is a bit strange, but my cake really cured my motion sickness," Xiao Fang said hesitantly.

Xiao La always found something to believe in others, so she just stayed to one side, lost in thought.

"I'm not sure either, but I don't think it's that simple. Let's see in a couple of days." You lowered your eyes, feeling a bit of a headache.

The Mad Hatter, why the Mad Hatter? Just because he's a world-renowned cultural icon from England? If there's something fishy about this, how are you going to avoid being questioned by authorities?

You've finally gotten back to normal, but your stomachs are rumbling again.

I checked my phone, and it's still early. If we go all out, it will only take an hour and a half to reach the hotel at the foot of the mountain. You can stay here for a while longer.

"Let's eat something. I don't know why, but I feel unbearably hungry." You rubbed your stomach, feeling a bit of low blood sugar.

With no one objecting, you went to the bar, found some fried fish, and then bought your own fries to enjoy.

"Honestly, this isn't particularly delicious, but it's not bad either," you say sincerely. At least it's edible. Eating it every day might be a bit monotonous, but it's a million times better than 12 potatoes.

Xiao Ming and Xiao Fang nodded vigorously, but Xiao La didn't understand.

Like the other tourists, they wiped the tables clean and put the plates back.

You once again embarked on the highway at 120 mph, speeding towards the hotel.

Xiao Fang is more familiar with you, so this time Xiao Ming will sit in the front passenger seat while you sit in the back and put your arm around the carsick Xiao Fang. Chat with the others while gently patting Xiao Fang to make her feel better.

This half of the journey was easier than the first half. Maybe it was because I got used to the speed, or maybe it was because I got closer to Xiao La. Except for Xiao Fang, who gets carsick, the three of you weren't as uncomfortable as before.

Putting aside the strange rules and superstitions, road trips are indeed a lot of fun.

Your vehicle originated from Melanie, and you can occasionally see modern buildings and industrial areas along the way. However, as you pick up speed, vast golden wheat fields and neatly arranged vineyards shimmer in the sunlight, swaying gently in the breeze.

This instance takes place in the height of summer, under a sky as blue as the sea and cloudless, with the distant Alps appearing almost artificially beautiful.

Oak, pine, and fir trees rush towards you in turn, their lush green foliage creating distinct layers under the sunlight.

As the car ventured deeper into the Dolo Mountains, the road became steeper, and the winding mountain road resembled a ribbon stretching forward.

Occasionally, the deep blue-green lake water would drift into the view through the window, but more often than not, the majestic Dolo Mountains stood like a natural fortress on the horizon, their exposed rocks gleaming with a pale, cold light.

As the vehicle gradually climbed, the so-called hotel at the foot of the mountain was actually nestled among the mountains.

Passing by quaint stone houses and pastures, you see cattle, sheep, and horses grazing leisurely on the grass. Occasionally, you'll spot hikers on the mountain paths, appearing so small yet full of vitality.

The resort hotel at the foot of the mountain that "you" personally booked arrived quickly, the wheels making a slight creaking sound as they rolled over the gravel-paved driveway.

As soon as the car came to a stop, the doorman immediately stepped forward, smiling, and respectfully opened the car door for you, quickly taking away your luggage.

You glanced back and saw the distant mountains bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, a mysterious luster tinged with the scent of pine. A gentle mountain breeze carried a touch of coolness.

Everyone was immersed in the beautiful scenery, but Xiao Fang looked miserable. He found a corner and started vomiting again.

"ah!"

Xiao Fang's sharp scream came from behind. You reacted the fastest and rushed over: "What...?"

The conversation abruptly ended because you saw what Xiao Fang vomited:

It was clumps of hair with mottled colors.

Xiao Ming and Xiao La quickly gathered around, and everyone looked rather grim.

You were the first to vomit, and Xiaoming and Xiaola quickly followed suit.

You are luckier than Xiao Fang; at least you only spat out a large number of rose petals.

“No, no dirty here.” A hotel staff member noticed your commotion and came over, communicating with you in broken English.

His expression was polite, and his tone was gentle, but his eyes were cold and cunning, as if something was about to burst through your skin and bite you all to death.

“No dirty,” he repeated, pointing to the vomit, which was getting closer and closer to you.

“Take it.” It had to be Ruko Xiaoming. She quickly realized what was happening, took out a few Japanese yen bills from her wallet, and handed them to him.

Sure enough, he immediately beamed with joy, and his attitude completely changed, asking if you needed to see a doctor, or if you wanted free hot water, etc.

Xiao Ming told him to stay away from you, and he disappeared with a smile.

“That’s how the service industry is in this country,” Xiaoming said.

After standing outside in the wind for a while to calm your stomach discomfort, you crossed the hotel threshold and entered the spacious lobby.

A giant crystal chandelier, handcrafted by local artists, hangs high from the ceiling, and the walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings and murals depicting the magnificent landscape of the Dolo Mountains.

The receptionist, dressed in a neat uniform, greeted you with a smile and inquired about your reservation information in a gentle tone.

“Welcome to our hotel, ladies,” the receptionist said politely. “You will be checking into our top-floor suite, which offers the best mountain views.” She skillfully operated the computer and soon handed over four silver room keys.

The key was engraved with the hotel's logo, a soaring eagle symbolizing mountains and freedom. She arranged a concierge to guide you to the elevator.

The elevator ascended silently, and the metal panel inside reflected your identical haggard expressions.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a spacious corridor with soft carpets and luxurious-looking decorations that made one feel uncomfortable.

The dark red carpet and brownish-green wallpaper were bright and airy, yet they seemed to have absorbed all the light.

Xiao Fang quietly tells you that she feels nauseous again, so you can only hold her and ask her to hold on a little longer.

At the end of the corridor, your room door stands quietly, and on the wall next to it hangs an oil painting depicting the snowy landscape of Dolo.

The interior of the suite was just as luxurious as the exterior. In the center of the living room, there was a marble coffee table with welcome snacks and a bottle of red wine from a local winery.

The leather sofas and armchairs on both sides are soft and comfortable, and their colors blend naturally with the mountain scenery outside.

After collecting their luggage, everyone went to their respective rooms. The beds in all the bedrooms were large and comfortable, equipped with high-end silk sheets and down pillows. You pressed them down with your hand and were quite satisfied.

On the other side of the room is a huge floor-to-ceiling window; drawing back the curtains reveals a wide and open view.

The Dolo Mountains stretch endlessly outside the window, and your gaze follows their gradually fading outline under the setting sun. No matter how eerie and dangerous this place may be, standing in such a beautiful environment, you can find a moment of relaxation.

Entering the bathroom, you light aromatherapy candles, fill the tub with hot water, and add bath salts. In the steamy atmosphere, you open the guestbook that came with your key from the front desk and read it carefully.

"Welcome to Dolo Resort Hotel. To ensure a flawless experience, please adhere to the following rules:"

1. Mirror Image: Our mirrors are specially designed so that if you happen to see an out-of-sync reflection, please ignore it.

2. Mysterious Fragrance: Only carefully selected fragrances will be present in the room. If you smell an unfamiliar fragrance, please notify the butler immediately.

3. Tranquil Night View: The mountain view is priceless, but please do not open the curtains at night to ensure a dreamlike tranquility.

4. Sounds in the corridor: Our corridors are quiet, but if you hear footsteps late at night, please make sure the doors and windows are locked before continuing to enjoy your rest.

5. A Secluded Bath: In the dead of night, the sound of running water in the bathroom will create tranquility for you. If you hear it, please do not enter.

6. Silent Terrace: If the night breeze whispers on the balcony, do not respond; you will always be safe in this cozy sanctuary.

The entire staff of Dolo Resort wishes you a wonderful holiday in the Dolo Mountains!

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A note from the author: Milan, Florence, Corsica, Spain, Morocco. Good morning!