[Currently surviving players: 5]
Congratulations on clearing the second dungeon: Silent Town!
The third instance is about to begin.
In the Crimson Hall, five players stood in front of a huge virtual screen, the atmosphere heavy.
Li Yuheng, hands in his pockets, leaned lazily against the wall, seemingly out of his mind, but actually having a long-distance call with Black Impermanence: [Old Black, what have you been up to lately?]
The Black Impermanence's voice carried a hint of respect: "Your Highness, I am currently processing a new batch of departed souls. They are all pitiful people who died unexpectedly before their lifespans were over."
What a coincidence! I've run into a bunch of unlucky folks here too. By the way, can I ask you something?
"Your Highness, please speak."
[Do you want an apprentice? I've found a promising talent here. He has deadpan, gray-blue eyes and a natural-born office worker vibe—perfect for learning how to seduce someone.]
The Black Impermanence's voice carried a hint of helplessness: "Your Highness, the Underworld has rules and regulations for recruiting people..."
Li Yuheng interrupted him: "Which rule my father set says the Crown Prince can't recommend talented people?"
Black Impermanence: [...]
Seeing that Hei Wuchang remained silent, Li Yuheng pressed his advantage: "Besides, aren't you always complaining about the heavy workload? Get this kid as an assistant, and I guarantee the efficiency will double."
Black Impermanence remained silent.
Li Yuheng played his trump card: [The key point is that this kid is quite handsome, no less so than the one Bai Wuchang recently took in.]
After a brief pause, Black Impermanence replied decisively: 【Okay.】
【Alright, while you're at it, you can also deal with this bunch of unlucky guys here. Okay, let me explain in detail, some of them…】
…
Li Qiyang nervously rubbed his hands together, staring at the floating divination tube in front of him, silently praying: Please don't be unlucky, please don't be unlucky...
"Players, please draw your character cards in turn," Xifeng's lifeless voice rang out.
Li Qiyang's hand trembled as he reached into the divination tube and pulled out a yellowed slip of paper.
He carefully unfolded it and his face turned pale instantly—the words "Boss's Groom" were clearly visible.
"Can I...can I draw again?" Li Qiyang stammered.
Xifeng glanced at him with his gray-blue eyes: "No."
Li Qiyang swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Um... is the boss of the third dungeon male or female?"
Xifeng said expressionlessly, "A man."
Male wife?
Li Qiyang's legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground: "..."
He had only one thought in his mind: Oh no, oh no, he's homophobic!
Or should we just restart after it dies?
Anyway, the protagonist might not even be able to successfully complete the game this time...
Run away...
Run now... or die and be done with it...
"Give it to me."
Just as Li Qiyang was falling into despair, a shadow suddenly loomed over him.
A voice as beautiful as heavenly music rang in my ears.
Li Qiyang looked up blankly and met Li Yuheng's expressionless face.
Xifeng sighed softly.
Just as Li Qiyang was wondering if he was hallucinating, Li Yuheng suddenly sprang up like a stray dog whose food had been snatched away, approaching him with a ferocious expression and squeezing out two cold words through gritted teeth: "Give it to me!"
"Oh, okay, okay!" Li Qiyang suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly handed over the note.
Li Qiyang watched as Li Yuheng took the note, and suddenly understood something; his eyes instantly welled up with tears.
So... so the master did this to save him!
The master must have sensed his fear to take on this terrifying role!
A warm feeling welled up in Li Qiyang's heart, and he was so moved that he almost cried.
Is this what it means to be a protagonist?
I'd rather sacrifice myself than let the weak be harmed!
His lips trembled as he was about to thank him, when he saw Li Yuheng's slap about to land.
?
Li Qiyang suddenly dodged to the left.
Li Yuheng smiled slightly, withdrew his hand, and suddenly switched sides of the fan.
? ?
Li Qiyang suddenly dodged to the right.
And so, Li Yuheng attacked with both hands, while Li Qiyang dodged left and right, going back and forth eighteen times.
"...Master, what's wrong?"
"Shoot the air." Li Yuheng said cheerfully and turned around.
Li Qiyang stood there, staring blankly at his departing figure.
The other three players were also baffled.
0090: [Your Highness, were you just demonstrating the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms?]
Li Yuheng thought to himself, "What, is that not allowed? I'm teaching him to be flexible and adaptable, and that dodging left and right is a basic survival skill."
0090: […You're absolutely right.]
It silently watched its young master's self-righteous demeanor, thinking to itself: "It was clearly you who forgot to tamper with the lottery when you 'made the phone call' earlier, and as a result, Li Qiyang drew the role of 'boss's groom.' Now you're unhappy and taking it out on him, aren't you?"
…
The third instance is a gloomy old Chinese house with red lanterns hanging high, yet they emit an eerie blood-red light.
The courtyard was covered with the character "囍" (double happiness), but it was all written in black ink on white paper, just like a grand ghost marriage.
The players were teleported to the gate of the ancient mansion, where the sound of the west wind echoed in the void:
[Instance Name: Ghost Wedding Banquet]
[Pass condition: Complete the wedding ceremony]
[Instance Type: Unknown]
【Friendly Reminder: Please enter the old house as soon as possible】
Li Yuheng looked down at his bright red wedding robe, then at the other players, and grinned: "Wow, it's quite festive."
The groom's attire should be worn by the leading man.
This looks better.
Li Qiyang and the other three players looked at each other, their faces pale.
Li Qiyang swallowed hard and looked down at the dark red robe he was wearing.
He was dressed as a "best man".
The other three players are "the matchmaker", "the accountant", and "the sedan chair carrier".
"Master..." Li Qiyang asked softly, "What should we do now?"
Li Yuheng straightened the large red silk flower on her chest: "Of course, we're going in to get married."
He was about to push the door open when he was stopped by the female player who was playing the role of the "wedding attendant".
She was a working woman in her early thirties. Although her face was pale, her eyes remained calm: "Wait! This instance is too strange. We need to make a plan first."
The young man playing the "accountant" pushed up his glasses: "Based on the experience of the first two instances, there's definitely a trap in this 'completing the wedding ceremony'."
The sedan chair carrier was a robust middle-aged man. He rubbed the goosebumps on his arms and didn't say anything.
Li Yuheng shrugged: "Fine, then you can hold a strategic seminar here. When the ghost bride lifts her veil and finds out the groom has run away, you can be the perfect substitutes."
Yeah, right.
Don't even think about being a substitute for a substitute for a substitute.
Don't think about anything.
He had just used all his persuasive skills to convince Shu Bai to agree to get married here with him first.
Li Yuheng pushed open the heavy vermilion door, the hinges creaking loudly.
Li Yuheng strode across the threshold, his red robe fluttering in the cold wind, his back view as dashing as if he were going to an ordinary wedding banquet.
"Master, wait for me!" Li Qiyang gritted his teeth and followed after him.
The other three exchanged glances and could only cautiously step into the old house.
The door slammed shut behind them with a dull thud.
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