Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Yinhuai Village 6

On the first night in Yinhuai Village, the seven players stayed awake all night.

In this instance, they were a rare example of player unity, acting collectively, searching for clues together, brainstorming, and sharing without reservation. Despite their different personalities, they were all truly working hard.

But... even though they tried so hard and worked together for the goal of survival, the Yinhuai Village in front of them was like a mountain pressing down on everyone's heart, making people feel heavy and dare not breathe.

The lights in the room of the three female players had already been turned off, and it was pitch black.

"Um, Yi Yi, Sister Liu, are you guys asleep?" Tian Tian asked in a low voice.

"No."

"What's wrong?"

Two female voices rang out in succession, and the room fell into a brief silence again.

"It's nothing, I just can't sleep. I want to sleep, but I don't dare to." Tian Tian's voice was a little bitter.

According to the players' brainstorming, the core "main course" of this strange dungeon will be tomorrow, and there is a high probability that there will be no danger tonight. However, having said that, it is impossible to completely let down your guard and fall into a deep sleep in the dungeon.

"If you don't want to sleep, then let's talk." Liu Yanran said.

There were also many thoughts constantly switching in her mind, her brain was extremely active, and she couldn't fall asleep at all.

"Sister Xiao Liu, I want to ask, why do you think the tour guide is not a malicious NPC?" Xiang Tianyi's voice was cold.

In the dark, lying in bed, people's vigilance seems to relax involuntarily.

Liu Yanran thought for a moment and then spoke, "To be honest with you, according to some sources, the tour guide isn't a fixed NPC for this dungeon. In two other known dungeons, our tour guide has helped other players pass the dungeon."

There was a distinct sound of a quilt being lifted in the room, and the lights suddenly came on.

Xiang Tianyi's eyes were bright and sharp as he looked at Liu Yanran: "Little Sister Liu, are you from the Special Affairs Bureau?"

Tian Tian's eyes were filled with joy when she heard this: "Sister Liu, I feel that your style of doing things is very similar to that of an official. Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

Liu Yanran noticed the obvious relaxed and trusting expressions on the two people's faces. She sighed inwardly and nodded: "I am."

Xiang Tianyi and Tian Tian had already rushed to her bedside. "Sister Xiaoliu, according to you, the tour guide sent someone to look for Plaid Shirt. Is she actually here to help us?"

Liu Yanran sat up cross-legged on the iron bed and shook her head: "I'm not sure."

"I'm telling you the truth. We're also investigating the identity of the NPC tour guide Luo Qing."

Tian Tian suddenly realized: "So when you said earlier that you knew she was a real estate agent, this agent identity was the same as the tour guide's identity in other instances?"

"That's right, but I have never entered this copy." Liu Yanran said.

"I can't prove your point is wrong, but I also can't confirm that our tour guide is a benevolent NPC. After all, the player feedback we've received about her is very limited."

After hearing her words, Tian Tian and Xiang Tianyi fell into deep thought.

After a while, Xiang Tianyi spoke up, "Sister Xiaoliu, so actually, in the dungeon with the tour guide Luo Qing, the player survival rate has indeed increased. Could you tell us how much it has increased?"

"Okay." Liu Yanran said.

"In one of the four-player instances, according to the two players we contacted, all members survived when they left the instance."

"In another ten-player dungeon, seven survived. The two players assigned to Luo Qing were almost safe throughout."

“There are only these two samples at the moment.”

Tian Tian and Xiang Tianyi's expressions froze for a moment. What kind of dungeon survival rate is this?! It's astonishing!

"Sister Xiao Liu, I believe you. I have decided to temporarily withdraw my judgment of the tour guide and her husband." Xiang Tianyi made a prompt decision.

Liu Yanran was about to say something when Xiang Tianyi continued, "Don't worry, this is my personal judgment and has nothing to do with you. I originally thought that this instance would collapse for everyone, but now it seems that the tour guide is a special variable."

"With her here, maybe we can survive a few more lives."

"These two examples are not enough to serve as samples in the survey, but given the current situation, I'm willing to take a gamble."

No matter how you look at it, the plot of this copy in Yinhuai Village is a prelude to the annihilation of all members. Even if the tour guide is weird, Xiang Tianyi feels that it doesn't matter as long as she survives.

"Me too." Tian Tian raised her hand.

"Don't worry, I'm not just following the crowd on impulse, even though I don't have much IQ." She looked at the two of them.

"I just feel that the quest requirements for this dungeon require us to participate in the entire village ceremony, as well as check-in attractions and preparatory activities, right?"

"Our current fear of this dungeon ritual stems from the unknown and our speculation about the plot. However, there's always a glimmer of hope in a dungeon. I'm not a high-level player, but I've seen people survive even in S-level dungeons."

"It may sound a bit harsh to say 'try everything possible', but maybe the guide's help is our ray of hope. That's what I think." Tian Tian spoke slowly and softly.

She has no leadership skills and always follows others in dungeons. She has no intention of harming others and her courage is something she has developed little by little. Tian Tian is afraid of death, but she also always believes that there is always a way out!

Liu Yanran felt heavy-hearted as she listened to their words. She thought to herself that the change in Xiang Tianyi and Tian Tian's attitudes was certainly due to their own judgment, but more so due to her official endorsement.

This heavy trust is not only a pressure on her, but also the motivation for Liu Yanran to lead them out of the dungeon alive.

The next morning, breakfast started at 6:30, but all the players had already gathered at 6 o'clock.

Liu Yanran revealed more information to the four male players. After a night's rest, Plaid Shirt's leg injury had healed greatly and he could move around without any problems.

"Ms. Liu, oh no, Comrade Liu." Teacher He spoke after hesitating.

"Will the information you tell us violate relevant confidentiality regulations?"

They had never seen any post on the forum about what Liu Yanran said. It was obvious that the players had signed a confidentiality agreement to avoid misleading before the identity of the tour guide Luo Qing was clearly investigated.

Liu Yanran smiled brightly upon hearing this. "Nothing is more important than survival, even in the vast world. If I can get out alive, the most I can do is write a statement."

The breakfast provided in the restaurant that day was indeed very rich, with steamed buns, fried dough sticks, tofu pudding, steamed buns, steamed dumplings, locust flower rice, and especially many locust flower-related dishes.

Breakfast was a buffet, and the players didn't dare touch any food related to locust flowers. If the big locust tree was really a monster, who knew if the food would take root and sprout in their stomachs and be directly penetrated after eating it.

only--

The players saw the tour guide also eating at the buffet and enjoying the locust flower rice.

"Why don't you try locust flower rice? It's delicious. Add some chili and vinegar and it's very fragrant. It's really not a dark dish." Luo Qing recommended it to her team members.

"But these aren't fresh locust flowers now. If they were fresh, they would taste better."

Luo Qing only said it once, and seeing that the team members were not interested, she did not say more. Everyone has their own tastes, and there are some things that she dare not try.

"We are going to the back mountain with the villagers this morning. You'd better wear clothes and shoes that are convenient for movement." Luo Qing said as she glanced at the clothes of all the group members. She raised her eyebrows. Not bad, they were all wearing sneakers and clothes that looked relatively comfortable. No one wore high heels up the mountain.

At 8:20, Luo Qing looked at the seven group members who were either empty-handed or carrying backpacks and nodded with satisfaction. Very good, they have a very good sense of time. She likes to lead such small groups that are easy to take care of and can understand what people say and do what they are told.

"Everyone, please wait a moment. We, the tourists who come to visit the village, need to follow the villagers up the mountain. From now on, we will begin the first step of tonight's ceremony."

Luo Qing squeezed her microphone. "During the ceremony, the village's reception capacity is limited. Different tour groups will follow different villagers. Our group is very lucky to be with the village chief. Now let's wait for Village Chief Meng to take us up the mountain."

Listening to the tour guide's words, the players looked at each other in confusion. Other NPC groups were led by ordinary villagers, but they, the players, were in charge of the village chief. The difficulty was no surprise.

After a while, Village Chief Meng appeared in front of them. He was a man in his thirties, smiling and very kind.

As we all know, in the dungeon, the more friendly-looking the NPC is, the more likely it is that a big wave will come, not to mention that this is the village chief. No one dared to relax, and they only heard the tour guide and the village chief walking in front and chatting and laughing.

"Is this the mountain road you took yesterday?" Murphy asked the man in the plaid shirt beside him in a low voice.

The man in the plaid shirt nodded and said, "Yes, there should be only one way for them." Thinking of what happened yesterday, his legs still felt a little weak.

"If it really doesn't work for a while, hold hands and don't separate." Teacher He said.

On the way to the back mountain, Liu Yanran paid attention to her surroundings, but... so far, it seemed that theirs was the only tour group that had set out.

Her eyes flickered as she took the initiative to step forward and ask Luo Qing, "Guide, are we the first tour group to depart? I don't see anyone else."

Luo Qing said proudly, "That's right. Because other groups were taking their time, ours was the first to arrive, and we'll be the first to experience folk customs after we get down the mountain."

As a tour guide, especially a group guide, you need to be quick, accurate and ruthless at many moments. The earlier you arrive at the tourist attraction, the better the experience you will have.

Players: ...

Shouldn't they have come out so early? It felt like they were going to be guinea pigs for the NPCs from other tour groups.

We walked all the way to the back mountain and arrived near Huaiquan. Village Chief Meng took the initiative to replace the tour guide and introduced the players.

"Huaiquan is genuine mountain spring water, not some fake water called mountain spring. Everyone in Yinhuai Village, young and old, has grown up drinking this water. It's so refreshing and sweet. In the summer, you can put a basket of fruits and vegetables in the spring water and dip it into it. It's like a natural refrigeration well!"

Because they were concerned about the daily task of checking in at scenic spots, when they arrived at Huaiquan, the seven players took out their mobile phones to take photos and completed their first check-in of the day.

"The blood of the people in our Yinhuai Village is all from Huaiquan!" Village Chief Meng said proudly.

But this sentence made the players look at each other.

Murphy and Plaid Shirt completed the check-in at Huaiquan again and nodded to the other players. Tourist attractions can be checked in repeatedly.

When we officially climbed the mountain, the group members who had not said anything on the way started to speak. One reason was that the forest was quiet, and the other was that speaking meant that the person was there.

"There are so many locust trees on the mountain. When were they planted?"

"Guide, village chief, what exactly are we going up the mountain to see?"

"I want to know what to do if I need to go to the toilet on the mountain? Should I solve it on the spot?"

Luo Qing was not surprised to feel that everyone's spirits were obviously high after going up the mountain. It was normal to get up early in the morning and not feel like talking because you are still sleepy. Now that they are about to reach the scenic spot, they are all energetic.

"Then please ask Village Chief Meng to introduce him to us."

"What are we going to see on the mountain? Everyone, please wait patiently for a while and see it with your own eyes. It's better than having someone tell you the answer in advance."

"If you need to go to the toilet, please raise your hand and tell me immediately. Don't go alone. It's easy to get lost if you are not familiar with the mountain roads."

"Oh, by the way, my phone has been repaired. Everyone remember to check the group messages in time." Luo Qing took out his white phone and gestured.

"Well, Miss Liu, you take the lead and follow Village Chief Meng. I'll go to the back row."

Luo Qing suddenly took the initiative to walk to the end of the team. The mountain road was not wide, but not narrow either. Two or three people could stand in a row.

She walked to the end of the team and happened to see Plaid and Murphy. Seeing Plaid, Luo Qing was very concerned: "How is your leg? If you can't hold on, tell me in time and you don't have to go up the mountain."

Her words immediately made the players in front turn around!

Is it possible not to go up the back mountain?

The man in the plaid shirt was also stunned for a moment, then said, "It doesn't hurt much now. It's okay. I have to go through the whole process when I come here."

He hadn't forgotten the mission requirements! If he accidentally stayed in the room to rest, he would be dead without completing the mission.

"We are entering the oldest locust tree forest on our mountain ahead. You can take some pictures." Village Chief Meng's voice rang out, and Luo Qing saw the group members taking out their mobile phones again.

All the players completed their second check-in of the day, with an unbelievable ease.

But the easier it is, the heavier the players' mood becomes.

Luo Qing was still chatting with the group members, "Is this your first time with a group?"

"That's quite a good choice. This one in Yinhuai Village is a fine folk custom route."

Luo Qing was not surprised to hear that it was the first time for the group members to "travel in a group". These seven members were well-behaved. They were never late for meetings, were not picky about meals, and paid great attention to time and arrangements, for fear of missing them. Besides, they were all outsiders and were cautious in everything they did when they first arrived.

"We're here." Village Chief Meng's loud voice rang out, and all the players stopped.

"Dear tourists and friends, this is the locust tree forest that is the lifeblood of our Meng family."

In front of me is a locust tree forest. Not all of them are towering ancient trees, there are also locust trees that don’t look very thick.

However, every player at this moment clearly saw that there were tombstones with black and white photos under these locust trees.

A tree, a grave, and a tombstone.

There are ancient locust trees everywhere, and tombs and monuments everywhere.

"Wow!!!" Luo Qing's eyes lit up. He hadn't been to Yinhuai Village for several years. The atmosphere after the renovation was different. He was so excited.

"Everyone, look, look--" Luo Xiang led the members.

Why aren't they excited at all? They're even a little scared?

"Everyone, come quickly!" the village chief greeted everyone enthusiastically. "Come, come, come. What we are doing now is the most important part of tonight's ceremony."

Hearing this, the seven players had no choice but to move forward.

The words the village chief had just said were still lingering in Liu Yanran's ears.

What does the life tree locust forest mean? This is a clue that no player found yesterday.

Is it destiny? Or is it the tree of destiny?

"Village chief, what do you mean by the tree of life?" Teacher He spoke at this moment.

Village Chief Meng's tone was filled with pride: "Our villagers have been blessed by the ancient locust tree for hundreds of years, and everyone's fate is closely related to it.

"Whenever a newborn is born, a locust tree is planted. Human life and locust trees are closely related."

Luo Qing and several other players saw Village Chief Meng climb up a locust tree with nimble movements.

"This is the tree of my life." He climbed up the tree easily and broke off a branch.

Murphy's eyes widened. The locust tree branch was not thin, but the village chief broke it with great ease. It didn't look like he broke it, but rather like it bent down on its own and fell off.

"Look, the village chief's tombstone." Zhang Wei nudged Teacher He beside him.

"Meng Qianjun." Tian Tian read out the village chief's name. There was also a photo of the village chief on the tombstone.

"Puppet! It's up there!" The man in the plaid shirt's voice trembled slightly.

Everyone saw it. Because of what Plaid Shirt said yesterday, they had already expected it, but when they actually saw it, it was still a little scary.

Especially... when a person's black and white photo is engraved on the tombstone, and this person is speaking to you alive in front of your eyes.

"You are tourists, so there are no natural life trees. But there is a naturally growing locust tree in our village. You can take a branch."

Although it is not known what the function of this locust branch is, it is obviously prepared for the evening ceremony.

Village chief Meng led them out of his own woods and into another forest.

This locust tree forest is obviously not as thick as the ancient trees. There are no tombstones below and no puppets above.

"Now, everyone may come forward." Village Chief Meng made a gesture of invitation.

The players looked at each other in confusion, wondering how to get up there or climb up?

"Everyone, go to the locust tree forest. Don't worry. Although you are not from our village, you are one once you come here. The locust tree has spirits. Whoever it chooses will have the answer to everything."

The village chief suddenly turned into a riddle man at this moment, which shocked the players. That's right, the NPC deliberately did not speak in plain language. This is the feeling of entering the plot.

Under the watchful eyes of the village chief and the tour guide, the seven players looked at each other, took a deep breath and entered the locust tree forest.

Luo Qing's beautiful eyes sparkled with anticipation. This was also the first time she had seen how the folk customs in Yinhuai Village were transformed.

The seven players entered the locust tree forest. Although there were no tombstones or dolls in sight, they still felt chilly. They did not dare to walk too far and kept a distance from each other.

"Tian Tian, ​​come closer to me." Xiang Tianyi had just finished speaking when something attacked him from behind.

"Yi Yi!" Tian Tian screamed, and saw that Xiang Tianyi, who was standing not far away from her just now, had been rolled up by the nearest locust tree.

Suddenly, something unexpected happened, and the other players who looked over were caught off guard and caught.

"Woc!"

“Oh my god!”

The locust tree's twisted branches are perfectly curved, as if stretching out long claws to wrap up each player.

The branches should be hard and the trunks should be heavy, but at this moment, the players were rolled up by the locust tree. They only felt that the branches wrapped around their bodies were full of thorns, getting tighter and tighter, making it hard for them to breathe and unable to utter a word!

Zhang Wei shrank back and kicked his feet twice. He was now suspended in the air, and he felt that he was getting farther and farther away from the ground, and his vision was higher and wider.

"Wow!" Luo Qing blinked, showing great interest in the project in front of him.

"This is called flying onto the branch!" Old Meng said excitedly.

Several players were caught by the locust tree almost at the same time. After the initial shock, they found that the only person they could see in the air was the plaid shirt!

The man in the plaid shirt was looking at Zhang Wei at this moment. Zhang Wei's body was wrapped in layers of locust branches, as if he was wrapped in layers of straps, and his whole body was swaying with the locust branches hanging above him.

This shape is like...

Plaid Shirt's pupils constricted. He could see not only Zhang Wei, but also Mo Fei, Teacher He, and Tian Tian...

The locust tree branches were like ropes, hanging the six of them high up. Under the locust tree that almost covered the sky, without sunlight, they looked like hanged ghosts!

His face turned pale. He was the only one who hadn't been caught by the locust tree. What should he do? What could he do?

Could it be that the so-called ceremony was just a cover, and this is where he would be buried?

Plaid Shirt remembered the puppets hanging high in the back mountain that he saw yesterday. They looked just like what they are now!

"Hey, why is there one left?" Village Chief Meng's puzzled voice sounded, and the man in the plaid shirt secretly said something was wrong.

He wanted to run in panic, but his body was restrained and his neck was strangled, and Plaid Shirt felt desperate.

The idea that the tour guide might be a well-intentioned NPC is fake and impossible!

At this moment, the locust tree that was restraining the other six players suddenly fell down with them.

Tian Tian was still a bit dazed after landing. Was she dead or alive? The locust branch that had been wrapped around her body seemed to break automatically as she fell. The bending properties of the wrapping were gone, and it became a single locust branch like the one in the village chief's hand.

"Everyone has got it. Oh, there is only one missing. It's okay. The old locust tree in our village likes you very much." Village Chief Meng still had a smiling tone, but every player now felt a chill.

Especially when they landed and saw that Plaid Shirt was now strangled in the air by the locust tree, unable to move, the feeling just now seemed to still be in their body.

The players all looked unhappy and picked up the locust tree branches silently.

Another minute passed before the plaid shirt was taken down. His face flushed red, and he felt as if he was suffocating, unable to utter a word.

If this is just the preparation for the Moon-Worshiping Sophora japonica ceremony, then who knows what else awaits them in the evening ceremony.

"Okay, okay, we can go down the mountain now." Village Chief Meng waved his hand, and Luo Qing also called the group members.

"There are still two projects to come, so we have to hurry up."

"What do you think? The first folk custom experience - hanging high on the branches - has a very beautiful meaning, which means a successful career! It is one of the most popular experience projects!" Luo Qing said.

Looking at the tour guide's excited expression, Liu Yanran forced a smile. After this incident, even she began to doubt Luo Qing, the NPC.

The way down the mountain back to the village was particularly quiet. The players were calming down in various ways until Luo Qing took them to the first folk experience point, the Carpenter's Workshop.

"Our group has three experience projects to choose from, and the first stop is the carpentry workshop. You can come in and see if you are interested!" Luo Qing said.

"The carpentry workshop is a must, and the other two projects are optional." Village Chief Meng added.

"Oh yes, this is a must! Sophora japonica branches are used here, right?" Luo Qing said.

The Carpenter's Shop is a huge courtyard in Yinhuai Village. After the players enter, the gate is immediately closed, and a white-haired old man looks at them with a smile.

"Are you a member of Qingmei's group? Come on, come on, we've brought all the locust branches. This is your group's special performance. Come and choose one you like for the evening ceremony."

The old carpenter waved his hand and pointed to the open space in the yard, where things were piled under the black shed.

Square boxes, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, are piled up here like they're free. There are all sorts of them...

It's a coffin.

It is said that seeing a coffin brings fortune, but at this moment, none of the seven players could smile.

"What does Huaizhi do?" Xiang Tianyi tried his best to suppress his tone.

"Locust branches are, of course, used to assemble coffin boards!" The old carpenter said as a matter of course.

Just let them choose the coffin, and the coffin lid is ready. This copy is no longer being performed, right?!

Liu Yanran looked around, the tour guide, the tour guide Luo Qing was gone!