Chapter 94 Thanks to the wife sent by the Night of Return of the Soul...
The referee had appeared silently, standing quietly in the corner observing the battle between the players, watching them kill each other.
In the past, Wu would just watch others run around fighting to the death, but now it was really uncomfortable for others to watch him.
Another snip of the scissors cut the prop on the other side. Wu Wangwang looked at the referee again, but unexpectedly the other side also looked over and spoke up. It said, "Don't think about lowering the difficulty by starting with me. The task you need to complete is exactly like this. Although the difficulty of the dungeon has already been reduced to the minimum thanks to your efforts."
If you can't even kill players, then it's not a dungeon-style dungeon.
From the moment you enter this game, using the rules to kill other players is the first lesson you learn. New players will feel the cheapness of human life in the first dungeon, while veterans should have long been used to this kind of thing.
Wu Wangwang didn't want to take action because she couldn't control how many she could kill. Normally it wouldn't matter, the referee might not be watching, but at the end of the dungeon, the referee would be watching closely, which would be troublesome. Issuing a warning would be the least of her worries; being discovered would be the end of her.
Every time Wu Wangwang makes a move, she can only rely on the scissors' own attributes to attack. Not only can the players not attack her, but it's also not easy to kill her. After all, who doesn't have a few life-saving items after playing a lot?
Thirty against ten is already unfair, and Wu Wangwang's side also has three newcomers dragging them down. Soon, their defenses began to weaken. Ling Yuanshan wiped the blood from his face. He had injured three players, but they weren't dead. They could even retreat to heal and return to full strength.
Neither side can defeat the other for the time being, and they are engaged in a war of attrition. In the early stages, they cannot achieve a decisive victory with offensive items, so they start using strange items, including substitute attacks, such as the dolls we saw before.
Items can sometimes be given repeatedly, as long as you run the same dungeon and get the same rating.
Upon discovering this, Wu Wangwang immediately asked Ling Yuanshan to tie the red thread to her hand. The two worked together seamlessly, and after the red thread was tied, Wu Wangwang even put Mei Su's dress on herself with one hand.
Seeing that the battle had reached a fever pitch, Wu Wangwang didn't care about anything else and used the same move as in the previous dungeon. She threw the scissors and stabbed them hard into a player who was trying to kill Ling Yuanshan with an item. The player couldn't believe that such a seemingly harmless item could pass through so many people and hit him.
After the scissors finished their attack, they were retrieved and returned to Wu Wangwang's hand. The player then slowly stopped breathing.
The referee was rapidly calculating the combat stats Wu Wangwang had just used. From a player's perspective, those stats were already higher than Ling Yuanshan's; otherwise, it would have been impossible to accurately kill the player hiding behind him.
However, judging from Wu Wangwang's default physical condition, that value was not something her body could withstand.
It's like a kitten suddenly unleashing the power of an adult tiger without growing any bigger—it just doesn't make sense.
Even if this is a game, you can't just fill in the numbers randomly, right?
The referee became suspicious, but the number was not enough to serve as evidence.
After one player died, the remaining twenty-nine players unleashed astonishing fighting power, using all sorts of strange items that were impossible to defend against.
A moment later, Wu Wangwang's plum-colored dress disappeared, and her heart sank. This meant that someone had used a prop on her and caused her a fatal injury.
Ling Yuanshan glanced at her worriedly, then was pulled back into the battle. He was fighting a player who had seen him before. The player knew him very well and didn't even intend to fight him head-on. Instead, he used firearms to engage in a tug-of-war, which was to keep him occupied and prevent him from helping others.
Dragging this out would actually be disadvantageous for them. Wu Wangwang was worried that the commotion would be too great and would attract other NPCs. Once they joined the battle, all the players on Wu Wangwang's side would die here.
We must fight quickly and decisively.
Wu Wangwang glanced at the referee again, thinking of the electronic flower that still hadn't bloomed last night. She hesitated for a moment, and Ling Yuanshan was suddenly grazed on the arm by an arrow, his clothes instantly turning red.
The red thread connecting the two of them can only save their lives; they cannot withstand any harm they suffer before they die.
Although Ling Yuanshan quickly ate a compressed energy pack to repair his wounds and rejoin the battle, the bloodstains did not disappear.
Seeing this, Wu Wangwang couldn't bear it, so she increased her magic power again and threw the scissors. This time, the scissors emitted an eerie red light from the moment they were thrown.
The referee clearly captured the numerical value; its eyes were flashing incessantly, indicating it was already reporting the error.
In order to save Ling Yuanshan's life, Wu Wangwang didn't care about anything else. She cut down twenty players one by one with her sword. Adding the original one, there were nine people left. Now their players could fight back. They immediately killed all the remaining players in one go.
But the referee didn't say anything at this moment. Wu Wangwang reminded the boss: "Boss, put the smart brain back."
Their mission is not to defeat others, but to make the world coexist again, which requires putting the AI back.
The leader quickly nodded. He didn't let go and let the AI fly on its own. Instead, he carefully took it and put it into the screen. The AI instantly connected to the control room and began to manage the rest of the world.
After the AI's control level reached the required standard, the referee announced: "Congratulations to all players for passing the level, but there will be no reward for this level because it is considered cheating."
Everyone was stunned. Lao Ba, who had a short temper, pointed at the referee and said, "Hey! We finally beat the game, and you're accusing us of cheating? Are you deliberately messing with us?"
"I didn't do this on purpose. Didn't you notice that someone's fighting ability just now completely exceeded the limits of what a human should be able to do?" the referee said as he walked up to Wu Wangwang.
The others had been fighting so hard that they hadn't noticed anything. They immediately looked at each other until they saw the referee stop in front of Wu Wangwang.
Wu Wangwang calmly raised her eyes to meet the referee's gaze, without saying a word.
Then a long knife was pressed against the referee's neck, and Ling Yuanshan appeared next to Wu Wangwang without anyone noticing: "What do you mean?"
The referee ignored the long sword at his neck and said, "Referees in other instances only manage the storyline and players. Few instances are like this one, where everything must be digitized. That's why I was able to notice the subtle differences in your data."
Yes, the reason why the judges in other instances didn't notice was because Wu Wangwang cleverly controlled the value of human use of items within the limit each time. But this was a smokescreen, because the value that humans can use is different from the value that the item can unleash.
Take Ling Yuanshan as an example. If his physical stats are only 100, the items can boost them to 200, but at least 100 of them are his own.
Wu Wangwang cleverly raised her own ability to 199, leaving only the item at 1. Although the numerical values seem the same, this 199 belongs to the Ghost Mother Goddess and is not comparable to the human's 199. Furthermore, in the game, human stats are considered base stats, and other bonuses are simply multiplication of existing stats.
In other words, the final damage caused by Wu Wangwang increasing the value in this way will be higher than that of Ling Yuanshan's 100 plus 100.
In the previous dungeon, Wu Wangwang used this trick to fool one referee after another, but in the data-driven dungeon, it is difficult to hide this situation. In addition, during the final battle, there was no way to escape. In order for the players to survive, Wu Wangwang had to increase the value again. Unexpectedly, the referee discovered this critical value.
It can only be said that the sci-fi dungeon not only counters the original character, but also her.
The other players were in shock. They couldn't understand what had happened. How could Wu Wangwang suddenly be accused of cheating?
The referee continued, "The reply from above has come down. Your holiday trip is over. We hope you had a pleasant time. But next time you do something like this, remember to ask for leave instead of secretly switching identities and running away. It will be difficult for the higher-ups to handle that."
Everyone was shocked: "The Demon Mother Goddess?"
Ling Yuanshan also turned around in surprise, unable to believe it. He naturally knew what the Ghost Mother was. Although he had never been to the corresponding instance, there must have been people who had. Once you've been there, you'll miss the joy of being unconditionally protected. All you need to do is grab a wish, and the Ghost Mother will grant it for you.
Wu Wangwang also looked at Ling Yuanshan and smiled: "It seems we have to say goodbye here, young master. Be careful when you go through dungeons in the future. I don't think anyone can protect your rear like I can."
After she finished speaking, Wu Wangwang's face and figure disappeared little by little, and what reappeared was a tall figure with a completely black body, about two meters tall. The Ghost Mother Goddess was completely black, and she also had a black robe that was full of light and color. Her shawl and ribbons fluttered due to the flow of magic.
The referee bowed slightly, opened the dungeon portal, and prepared to send the Ghost Mother Goddess away.
The Ghost Mother took one last look at Ling Yuanshan with her dark eyes before drifting towards the passage. Then she felt her shawl being pulled, and when she turned around, she saw it was Ling Yuanshan.
Ling Yuanshan quickly snapped back to reality and grabbed the shawl. He glared at the referee and said, "Cheating has already been punished, why is she still leaving?"
The referee's blue-glowing eyes scanned Ling Yuanshan and he replied, "She should return to her place. Gods and spirits can temporarily leave their divine positions to patrol the human world, but they cannot leave their positions forever. Even if someone is willing to pretend to be a worshipped deity in the dungeon for her, a person's spirit simply cannot sustain it for too long. She must go back."
“Since someone can take her place, why don’t you just find someone else to take over? She’s been out for less than a year, but she’s worked for so many years. She should be allowed to take some annual leave, right?” Ling Yuanshan still didn’t let go.
"That's just sophistry," the referee said helplessly.
Upon hearing this, the Ghost Mother couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of her lips. She picked out the shawl that Ling Yuanshan was holding, took it off, and gave it to Ling Yuanshan, saying, "Ling Yuanshan, I wish you peace and good fortune on the nights of your return of souls in the future."
The moment the blessing took effect, the Ghost Mother entered the passage. The referee swiftly closed the passage. Ling Yuanshan rushed over to grab the Ghost Mother, but only managed to grab empty air. All that remained in his arms was a black shawl, still warm from the Ghost Mother's touch.
Ling Yuanshan gripped the shawl tightly: "Since you're leaving, why give me your blessing..."
The other players exchanged bewildered glances. They hadn't expected that the creature that had accompanied them all this way was actually a ghost from another dungeon. No wonder they had made such a smooth journey. But looking at Ling Yuanshan's expression...
Ever since they entered the instance, they could see that Ling Yuanshan took good care of Wu Wangwang, and at one point they thought they were a couple. However, neither of them admitted it directly, and Wu Wangwang was often dazed. Considering that she was an incarnation of a ghost, it was not surprising.
The believer is devoted, but the goddess is indifferent. Love between a human and a goddess is always a tragedy, especially since it seems to be Ling Yuanshan's unrequited love.
Just as the leader was trying to persuade Ling Yuanshan, Ling Yuanshan raised his long sword again and pressed it against the referee chip, asking coldly, "Will she still participate in the Night Festival instance after she goes back?"
The referee didn't answer, but instead asked, "You want to go find her? Young man, players shouldn't fall in love with special beings in dungeons."
The Ghost Mother is not a boss in the game; she does not participate in any assessments, but her blessings are always effective. This is true at the game level, making her a deity-like being within the game's universe.
The Ghost Mother isn't the only one giving buffs to players; they'll encounter other ghosts and gods in the future. Are they going to fall in love with them all?
Sayings like "falling in love with a teacher at school," "falling in love with an instructor during military training," or "falling in love with a dentist after getting a tooth pulled" are just internet memes and shouldn't be taken seriously.
"I'm only asking you, is she in the Night Festival instance?" Ling Yuanshan's longsword had already scratched the referee's metal plate.
The referee could have sent Ling Yuanshan away, but the Ghost Mother Goddess had just given him a blessing, and if things didn't go smoothly, it would be considered a resistance to the blessing. In this instance, there is no god of the same level as the Ghost Mother Goddess to oversee things, so it is difficult to neutralize the blessing.
Left with no other option, the referee could only say, "The Night Festival will definitely happen, but the Ghost Mother Goddess doesn't only exist during the Night Festival. The Return of Souls dungeon is as vast as the sea. Even if you wanted to farm her dungeon, how easy would it be? Young man, let it go." Falling in love with a deity is human nature, but one shouldn't let it lead to ruin.
Ling Yuanshan got the answer he wanted, sheathed his knife, carefully folded his shawl, and said, "It's none of your business. If you had just kept quiet, we wouldn't have had to be like this. We would have had a lot of time to get through this. I'll always find a way, or she'll eventually think about staying in my world instead of what she's doing now!"
After leaving the instance, Ling Yuanshan found some extra items in his backpack. They weren't his rewards, but belonged to the Ghost Mother. Her favorite pair of scissors were lying quietly in his inventory.
On the other side, the Ghost Mother returned to the Night Sacrifice instance first. Wu Wangwang played the role very well for her. When she saw the Ghost Mother return, she asked nervously, "Your Majesty, is there something I did wrong?"
The Demon Mother shook her head: "No, you acted very well. It was I who didn't act well. Do you still wish to stay here?"
Wu Wangwang gave an affirmative answer: "Yes, I like it here. It's quiet, and no one bothers me for long periods of time. Except for the occasional player coming to make a wish, there's basically nothing to do. I enjoy this kind of quiet."
The more severely a person is injured, the more they want to stay in a silent environment for a long time, ideally with the disappearance of tinnitus, auditory hallucinations, and voices in their head.
Upon hearing this, the Demon Mother left the temple to her, allowing her to continue healing her spiritual wounds there.
For countless years, Wu Wangwang has diligently played the role of the Ghost Mother. She knows that her current peace is guaranteed by the Ghost Mother, so she tries her best to help complete the work.
Until one day, a tall man came. After entering the temple, he said gently, "I have come to find you."
Wu Wangwang was very puzzled: "Me?"
The voice was similar, but the tone was completely different. Ling Yuanshan instantly realized that this was not the Ghost Mother Goddess. His eyes turned cold, and he drew his long sword: "You are not the Ghost Mother Goddess, then who are you?"
Having played the role for so many years, this was the first time she had been discovered. Wu Wangwang was startled, and she stammered, "I...I...I am..."
They dared not deny it, nor dared they tell the truth.
But Ling Yuanshan quickly realized: "You're not Wu Wangwang herself, are you?"
Wu Wangwang was startled, her voice trembling with shock: "How...how did you know?"
Ling Yuanshan didn't answer, but asked, "Where is the Ghost Mother? Why isn't she here?"
The man was too fierce, so Wu Wangwang could only honestly answer, "She asked me to continue living here in her place. I came back once before, and then left again. I don't know where I went."
"Don't know? Didn't you ask?" Ling Yuanshan's tone became anxious.
"The Ghost Mother has great supernatural powers; she can go anywhere. How could I be qualified to ask?" Wu Wangwang replied softly.
Ling Yuanshan remained silent for a long time. He took a deep breath, then grabbed one of the black Japanese devils and said, "My wish is to be with the Demon Mother Goddess for the rest of my life."
Wu Wangwang was stunned: "What?"
Seeing that Wu Wangwang did not agree, he took out another one: "If one is not enough, then two will do. Anyway, no one outside dares to come in. If you do not agree, all ten Japanese devils will be used to fulfill my wish today. I want you to agree that I will be with the Ghost Mother Goddess for the rest of my life."
"Are you crazy? She's a goddess!" Wu Wangwang was so shocked she almost fell out of the sculpture.
Ling Yuanshan reached for the third Japanese soldier: "You just need to help me fulfill my wish. Isn't that the setting of your game? I only have this one wish, what's wrong with that?"
The rules written in the underlying code made it impossible for Wu Wangwang to refuse. Who would have thought that a player would not rely on wishes to complete the game or leave the game, but instead want to be with the game's deity?
Ling Yuanshan made it clear that he would only accept one answer. Wu Wangwang agreed under pressure, but this also meant that her authority was given by the Ghost Mother Goddess. It was very likely that although she agreed, the Ghost Mother Goddess would not agree afterward.
Ling Yuanshan ignored all of that. After receiving the answer, he used the remaining Japanese soldiers to make a wish, saying that all players in this level could clear the level together.
Few people would use this wish opportunity to include other players. By the time people get here, they've become extremely selfish, only thinking about themselves and not others. They also worry that if they make a wish out of kindness, others will slack off and take advantage of the rules to frame them. Since they won't die, why bother trying?
The human heart is the most uncontrollable thing; it's better to just protect yourself.
Wu Wangwang was shocked when someone made a wish.
After someone took her place in the Night Sacrifice instance, the Ghost Mother went to her other temples. Anyway, as long as there are places to worship ghosts and gods, she will always have her own temple.
This time, she's going to a mountain puzzle instance. Her role is to verify lies. Each player has three chances to ask her three questions and get answers as to whether the lies are true or false. These answers will be the key to solving the puzzle.
After arriving, she would occasionally think about switching to a modern-day instance, at least so she could play games.
But for some reason, she never carried it out and just hid away until one day, she heard a wish—"I want to be with the Ghost Mother Goddess for the rest of my life."
The familiar voice—who gave it is self-evident.
Wu Wangwang is just an agent. Even if she agrees to some wishes, they still don't count if the Ghost Mother doesn't agree.
However, after hearing Ling Yuanshan's words, the Ghost Mother suddenly remembered the New Year's Eve dinner she missed, and how Ling Yuanshan always tried his best to protect her, even though she was not going to die.
Perhaps out of a moment of weakness, I granted the wish.
Then, less than half a year later, Ling Yuanshan entered this instance. Without the slightest hesitation, while other players were still nervously discussing how to avoid dying, he rushed directly into the Ghost Mother Goddess Temple.
It had been a long time since I'd seen Ling Yuanshan. He had matured a lot; he had grown taller, and his once handsome face had become dashing and dignified. He looked like a reliable adult man.
"Do all the wishes I made count?" Ling Yuanshan asked, taking out the black shawl.
On the throne, the Ghost Mother Goddess lowered her arms and stepped down helplessly: "My true form is like this. What you may have fallen in love with is the skin of Wu Wangwang. Humans generally only fall in love with other humans. Even robots, you prefer those that look like humans."
Ling Yuanshan gently draped the shawl over the Ghost Mother again: "No, human love is broad. It is only natural to fall in love with a god. Even if you are just a statue, I am willing to stay with you forever."
The Demon Mother picked up the shawl and looked at it for a while, then said, "Life in the dungeon is very boring, and there's no game to play."
"Then let's sneak out, like last time. If we get caught, we can just come back," Ling Yuanshan said softly.
"Alright, then hopefully our New Year's Eve dinner won't be interrupted by games again this time." After considering for a while, the Ghost Mother nodded in agreement.
Ling Yuanshan smiled. He knew the gap between himself and the gods, but fortunately, the Night of Return of the Soul gave him the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with the gods. His life was indeed not long enough, but in his limited life, he would definitely find a way to become the most qualified lover of the Ghost Mother.
After all, the Demon Mother Goddess had granted his wish to be together for a lifetime and never be separated.
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Author's Note: [End of main text]
Ghost Mother Goddess: Secretly applying a buff, my beloved Ling Yuanshan will forever remain in this moment, his life will be as long as mine [sprinkling flowers]
Ling Yuanshan: I will be the most caring abbot of the Ghost Mother Temple! [Sprinkling flowers]
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The series is complete! Hooray!
Thank you all for following along. I started writing this story because I was obsessed with the substitute trope. As many of my readers know, even after ten years of writing, I still love this substitute trope. I can't help it, it's my favorite thing to write.
At first, I didn't plan on how long I wanted to write it. I just wanted to have some fun and then stop. But somehow I managed to write almost 500,000 words in bits and pieces. I think the romance storyline has improved, but I need to stay humble and work harder on the next book.
Let us wish the Ghost Mother Goddess and Abbot Ling Yuanshan a long and happy marriage. That concludes the main text.
Some details about the setting of the Night of Return of the Soul and subsequent daily life will be included in the side stories. Thank you for your support, muah! [kiss]
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