Chapter 62 Shengjing Entertainment: A cute but brainless Northeastern...
Shi Yu noticed the words in the broadcast: "All trainees will enter the mini-exam stage in five minutes." Why not just tell the trainees to gather at a certain venue in five minutes?
How do they get onto the small test stage?
Could this small test stage be located in another dimension that can be directly teleported to?
It's no wonder Shi Yu thought that way, because the previous hospital instance had different scenes for day and night, so who knows if this instance will be the same? Moreover, the broadcast will start at 11:55 PM, and five minutes later you will enter the mini-exam stage, which will be exactly 12 AM five minutes later. This time is perfect for ghosts.
Shi Yu guessed that this "mini-test" might be different from the daytime performance.
The rules state that the 2V2 stage PK will be conducted by dormitory, which also illustrates the importance of choosing roommates.
Time was running out, so Shi Yu asked Yun Yi, "What are we going to perform?" He prepared in advance, "I'm not good at singing or dancing, but I can play the piano. If you want to dance, I can accompany you."
The dormitory was brightly lit. Yun Yi glanced at Shi Yu's soft yet vivid face under the lamplight and said, "I think you'll be fine on the platform as long as you don't wear a mask."
Shi Yu didn't react at first.
When he finally realized what was happening: "..."
Since they were just acquaintances, Yun Yi didn't dare to go too far with his jokes. His next sentence restored his seriousness: "Have you noticed that the voice on the radio isn't Jerry's anymore?"
“I sneaked out at night and found that there were no staff members in the stadium, not even security guards. Since there were no staff members, who sent out the notice for the mini-test? Plus, it was at midnight... I feel that this mini-test may not be a simple performance.”
"There's one more thing," Yun Yi continued, "The announcement didn't tell us to gather at the venue, but instead said we'd be entering the mini-exam stage in five minutes. Where is the mini-exam stage? How do we get in? None of that was said, so I'm wondering if the mini-exam stage is in some kind of space? And if it uses some kind of force to pull us in?"
Yun Yi's idea coincided with Shi Yu's.
Yun Yi is a veteran player, and if even a veteran player thinks this way, then this guess is most likely correct.
Shi Yu said, "It sounds a bit unbelievable, but since it's midnight, it seems normal for something supernatural to happen?"
Yun Yi nodded: "So it's definitely not a normal performance, we'll just have to improvise."
Shi Yu: "Mm."
Players couldn't see the live stream chat, but the screen was already filled with comments confirming that the two men's assumptions were correct.
[Yun Yi's words may be rough, but the principle is sound—yes, that's right! Yu Yu only needs to show that face to win!]
[It's a 2v2 stage battle, which really highlights the importance of choosing roommates! It's your loss that you didn't choose Yun Yi, but thankfully no one else did, otherwise Yun Yi wouldn't be able to be with Shi Yu.]
The mini-exam is definitely different from the daytime performance. It's more thrilling and exciting, since the performance pleases the mindless NPCs, while the mini-exam pleases our clever and witty audience!
[Aaaaaaah, this is my favorite quiz segment! Pick me, pick me, pick me!!!]
[Seriously, could you please not have the audience seats randomly selected? Why not have an auction like for surprise guest appearances? This is especially unfair to unlucky viewers like us!]
Yes, I don't mind spending a little money. It's really frustrating for fans like us who are just as unlucky as our idols to never win a prize.
So, is there an auction for a special guest spot in this instance? We're already planning to crowdfund to get Shen Su in.
...
An interface popped up in front of Shen Su, who was waiting in the live stream outside the game:
[Would you like to participate in the lucky draw for a spot in the mini-exam stage audience experience?]
【whether】
Shen Su clicked "yes" without hesitation.
We regret to inform you that you have not won the prize.
Shen Su: "..."
At this moment, Qin Ke sent him a message: You're watching the live stream of that Shengjing Entertainment instance, right? I just checked my inventory and found an item. I don't have much use for it, but you definitely need it! You're welcome, bro!
Your friend Qin Ke has gifted you an item: [Big Cat Trial Voucher]
Shen Su slowly typed out a question mark: ?
But when he clearly understood the function of the prop.
He realized he really needed it.
Item Name: [Big Cat Trial Voucher]
Item Description: This item comes from the Shengjing Entertainment instance.
Item Function: After use, it can transform into a tiger in the Grand Entertainment dungeon's mini-exam stage and cooperate with players to complete a stage performance.
Attack methods: pouncing, licking, etc.
.
Five minutes are up.
After a dizzying spin, when Yu opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark and quiet space.
The darkness was boundless, so deep that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face. All around was utter silence; neither teammates nor opponents could be seen or heard. Shi Yu tried taking a few steps forward. There were no obstacles in front of her, and a breeze brushed against her face, indicating that this was not a confined space, and that the space seemed quite large.
Is this the stage for the preliminary exam?
So what exactly is this so-called "mini-test"?
In a pitch-black stage, can the audience and judges see clearly? Or is this darkness only targeted at the players?
"Trainees Shi Yu and Yun Yi from Dormitory 201 will face off against trainees Liu Zhuangzhuang and Zhao Yang from Dormitory 202."
"The mini-test begins!"
The loudspeaker blared overhead, its hollow echo indicating the space was indeed quite large. However, the broadcast trailed off after that sentence, offering no details about the competition format or the criteria for judging the winners and losers.
They had some impression of their opponents, Liu Zhuangzhuang and Zhao Yangshiyu.
Liu Zhuangzhuang was the strong man who ranked fourth in the initial stage, breaking bricks with his bare hands and smashing large stones on his chest. Zhao Yang was also a muscular man who performed weightlifting in the initial stage, easily lifting a 100-kilogram barbell.
Shi Yu paused for a moment and then continued walking forward.
In a place where he can't see anything, he needs to know the specifics of the "stage" even more.
After walking about twenty steps, Shi Yu's hand touched an obstacle: a round, cold steel bar stuck vertically into the ground. He continued to feel around and found that there was more than one steel bar; all the steel bars in front of him were arranged in a neat and regular pattern, with no more than ten centimeters between them. It was impossible for a person to squeeze through the gaps between the steel bars.
The steel bars were welded to the ground downwards, but there was no way to reach the top.
Shi Yu realized that this might not be an ordinary stage.
He might be in an iron cage!
To test her idea, Shi Yu tried to walk around the iron cage.
The player saw only darkness around them, but the scene being broadcast in the live stream was clearly visible—it was indeed a stage, but the stage was surrounded by steel bars, so calling it an iron cage wouldn't be wrong. At this moment, in addition to Shi Yu and Yun Yi, there was also an adult Siberian tiger that was over two meters long inside the iron cage. It was still fast asleep, but Shi Yu would encounter it if he continued to move forward.
The viewers in the live stream were on tenterhooks—
【Aaaaaaah, honey, we can't go any further! This tiger will eat people! Come back!!!】
[You think everything will be fine just because you go over there? It'll still eat people when it wakes up. The cage is welded shut, there's no way it can escape. But those two strong men in room 202 could fight the tiger, they might even win.]
Waaaaah, I can't watch anymore...
After walking for a while, Shi Yu suddenly kicked something soft.
He stopped and listened intently to the sounds beneath his feet. They were the sounds of inhalation and exhalation, even and deep, not human breathing, but rather the sounds of some large beast.
Tiger? Leopard?
He understood why the area was fenced off with cages.
Because besides the players, there are other things locked up here.
So, was the purpose of the mini-test to have them confront or interact with this large creature?
Judging from the even, heavy breathing, Shi Yu knew that the big creature was still asleep. However, whether it was a tiger or a leopard, he and Yun Yi had no way to fight it.
While it was still asleep, Shi Yu opened the game panel's item inventory to see if there were any usable items, only to find that the item inventory was locked.
They were not allowed to use props on the small test stage.
Mumble, mumble.
The heavy breathing weakened.
This thing has woken up.
Shi Yu took a few steps back without making a sound, but dared not make too much noise.
A pair of eerie green eyes locked onto him in the darkness.
Shi Yu stood still, her back already breaking out in a cold sweat.
The man and the tiger faced off for a moment. The tiger lazily stretched, snorted, and strode towards Shi Yu. Shi Yu still didn't dare to move, but assumed a defensive posture.
Sudden--
A large, furry head nuzzled against Shi Yu's chest.
Shi Yu: "?"
Shi Yu was stunned.
After a long while, once he was sure the beast meant him no harm, Shi Yu tentatively reached out and touched a large cat's head in his palm. The fur was smooth, soft, and warm, and it felt quite nice to the touch.
Not only was Shi Yu stunned, but the entire live stream was also stunned—
[Huh? Why isn't the tiger fierce anymore? Where did your player-like aura go?]
【Hey tiger, where's your dignity? What are you doing?】
[Sigh, it's just an adorable but brainless golden shaded dog from Northeast China. What dignity does it need?]
Shi Yu touched the large head that had been delivered to him, and based on its shape, bone structure, and fur, he judged that it should be an adult tiger.
The big cat let out a comfortable hissing sound as it was being petted, then lay down on the ground again. It has to be said that this big cat is a bit lazy; it had only been awake for a short while before lying down again. But this also makes it easier for Shi Yu to pet it.
Shi Yu squatted down and continued petting the big cat.
It has to be said that petting cats can be really addictive.
What's more, these are big cats that you can't pet in real life, so you have to have a blast in the game, right?
"Shi Yu?"
It was Yun Yi's voice.
Judging from the sound, Yun Yi was also in this cage. He was probably exploring the environment without making a sound, just like him. In addition, the space here is large, so neither of them noticed the other.
"I'm here."
Shi Yu responded.
"It's like we're in a cage," Yun Yi said, walking towards Shi Yu. "I haven't encountered any danger yet, have you?"
Shi Yu said, "Me too."
The big cat under its command let out an even louder hiss than before.
Yun Yi stopped in his tracks, listened intently, and asked Shi Yu, "Did you hear any strange noises just now?"
"Hmm." Shi Yu stroked the big cat's head. "It's a tiger."
Yun Yi: "??????"
You're so calm, even though it's a tiger?!
Shi Yu continued, "It's an adult tiger, very well-behaved, affectionate, and a bit lazy. It's probably a stage prop assigned to us for interactive purposes. Would you like to pet it?"
Yun Yi approached with a mixture of suspicion and wariness.
But they hadn't taken more than a few steps forward.
"hiss--"
"Roar—"
Yun Yi stopped in his tracks, not daring to move an inch.
What the hell is this?
[Hahaha, poor Yun Yi! It seems not only are NPCs obsessed with looks, but the NPC cat is too!]
[What kind of stage interactive prop is this? This is a terrifying beast meant to fight against the players! It eats people!!! But Liu Zhuangzhuang and Zhao Yang next door are doing well; although they were injured, they almost fought the tiger to a draw! Keep it up, they can win!]
[YuYu: Why fight tigers? Why must we end up with both sides suffering losses? Can't we just coexist peacefully with tigers?]
[Aww, the Northeast Golden Shaded Tiger is so cute! I want to pet one too!]
Wake up! The giant tiger you're talking about has already bitten a player's head off. Although the death here isn't real, the gory scene is still chilling.
【Aaaaaaah! Who said tigers won't touch my wife?! He pounced on her and knocked her down!!!】
...
Shi Yu didn't understand why the big cat, which had been lazily lying on the ground letting him pet it, suddenly jumped up and pounced on him.
The stage remained dark.
Yun Yi, who was not far away, did not notice this little incident and was still standing there questioning his life.
However, the big cat knocked Shi Yu to the ground but did not hurt him.
The big cat placed its two huge front paws on either side of his body, its furry, warm body pressing down on him, but not its entire weight. After all, if an adult tiger were to put its full weight on him, he might not be able to breathe. However, Shi Yu was still unable to move because of the just-right pressure from the big cat.
The big cat stared at Shi Yu with its eerie green eyes for a while, and then began to lick him. Tigers are big and have long tongues, and in one lick, Shi Yu's entire face was wet.
In the end, Shi Yu's face, hair, and neck were all covered in the big cat's saliva, and even the buttons on his shirt were licked off, revealing a patch of undulating, red chest.
After it had licked its fill, it buried its furry head in Shi Yu's neck and remained still.
Shi Yu was stunned for a moment.
He reached out again and continued to stroke the fur on the big cat's head.
During this time, Yun Yi tried to get closer again, but was roared at by the big cat once more.
Yun Yi: "..."
Fine, he won't go.
The announcement came over the loudspeaker after the quiz ended.
The large cat that was pressing down on Shi Yu vanished into thin air.
Their opponent also managed to defeat the tiger in the other cage in the last minute.
"Quick quiz time!"
"Congratulations to Dorm 201 for winning an overwhelming victory with 489 votes to 11!"
"It is regrettable that dormitory 202 will be punished with all-night training."
"Shi Yu, a trainee from Dormitory 201, has won the Tiger's favor and has gained an extra 10 points of audience favorability."
"Trainees Liu Zhuangzhuang and Zhao Yang from dormitory 202 violated the Wildlife Protection Law by severely injuring a tiger. Their audience dislike ratings each increased by 50 points."
Liu Zhuangzhuang: "?"
Zhao Yang: "?"
Wait a minute, this little test is just about confronting a tiger, how did it involve the Wildlife Protection Law?
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