Metamorphosis
The next morning, the players got up one after another. They glanced at each person and nodded silently in their hearts, then they all breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that the first night was spent safely.
When they saw the breakfast on the table, they were no longer surprised. Ni Peng had been hungry last night, so he rushed to the table first when he saw the breakfast.
He Lizhou didn't go over. Seeing that He Lizhou didn't move, Peng Ningyu didn't dare to eat anything and just followed behind him like a little tail.
Mi Tao glanced at He Lizhou and said, "Generally speaking, the food prepared by the NPC will not be wrong, otherwise it will affect our completion of the mission."
He Lizhou blinked his eyelashes slightly and said nothing.
Mi Tao thought for a moment and pulled Ni Peng back from the dining table, saying, "Don't eat. Time is running out. Let's look for clues first."
Ni Peng was still holding a piece of bread in his hand, which was soft and sweet. He pleaded aggrievedly: "It doesn't matter if I eat for a little while. I didn't dare to eat last night, and now I'm starving to death."
Mitao pried open his hand, snatched the bread, threw it into the trash can, and said, "Let's go."
Two people in his team rolled their eyes and continued to eat heartily. The other one saw that Mi Tao's attitude was not right, looked at the food in his hand, hesitated for a moment, then quickly threw away his chopsticks and chased after him.
Peng Ningyu is a girl. She had consumed a lot of energy yesterday and was already hungry. Seeing that He Lizhou had been observing the two players eating without making any move, she couldn't help but move closer and asked, "Can I go eat?"
He Lizhou originally did not plan to bring anyone with him to pass the level, as it would easily affect his pace, but Peng Ningyu was quiet and obedient enough, so perhaps he could be taken along and taught, and could become an assistant in the future when he grows up.
He Lizhou shook his head and led her out of the bamboo building. "The origin of the food is unknown. It's not certain whether it was sent by someone arranged by the village chief. If you want to eat it, go find something that normal villagers eat."
After last night's research, Peng Ningyu already understood her situation.
She was a newcomer and didn't get along with Mi Tao in the team. Besides, he also wanted to bring Ni Peng with him. Peng Ningyu was a little afraid of their group, so after weighing the pros and cons, she chose He Lizhou.
He Lizhou thought about it and continued to explain to her: "The village chief cannot be trusted for the time being. You can take a look at the old Hu family yesterday. We will go to the deep jungle to see if we find food."
Peng Ningyu couldn't help but ask, "Didn't the village chief say yesterday that we couldn't go?"
"It's just that he said it, but the system didn't say it. You don't have to strictly follow it, otherwise you will get nothing."
Peng Ningyu nodded, "Okay."
The two men followed the direction that Lao Hu left yesterday and went to several houses. Some of them were covered with a thick layer of dust, some were still as clean as new, and some had obvious signs of having been used.
But without exception, there was no one in the houses.
He Lizhou took note of this and walked around the room again. It seemed that everyone's house had a locked room, and he didn't know what was inside.
Given the villagers' superstition or emphasis on it, He Lizhou guessed that the things inside might be related to the main storyline of the mission.
Go in and take a look when you have time.
The two men groped their way into the next house. Before they found the kitchen, they heard footsteps behind them, coming closer and closer, slowly. It was Lao Hu's footsteps.
He Lizhou was quick-witted and pulled Peng Ningyu over, then turned around and hid in the next room.
Then he looked into Mi Tao's eyes.
Looking around, he saw Ni Peng and another player who followed him in the room. He Lizhou remembered that his name was Li Deyu.
He Lizhou let go of Peng Ningyu and made a gesture to silence the room.
Li Deyu held the stick in his hand, his whole body tense, and looked at Mi Tao with cold sweat, waiting for his order.
Mi Tao and Ni Peng were much more relaxed, but Mi Tao looked at He Lizhou with a scrutinizing gaze.
He Lizhou brushed back his hair that was messed up by the intense movement and listened to the footsteps outside the door.
The footsteps stopped halfway and a vague conversation was heard.
"Village leader...how long have those people...been sick..."
"Soon... butterflies... eat pollen..."
He Lizhou couldn't hear clearly and frowned.
Mitao tiptoed over, put his ear to the door, and then shook his head.
He really couldn't hear it clearly, the room was too soundproof, so he mouthed, "Are there any relevant props?"
He Lizhou thought of his "props" and felt helpless, so he sighed.
No one knows where his props were put.
The conversation outside stopped, and Lao Hu said coldly: "The people have left, why are you still hiding, come out."
He Lizhou blinked, then opened the door and walked out first.
Mi Tao hid behind the door with his arms folded, observing the situation silently.
When Lao Hu saw him, he came out alone and snorted. Although his expression was not very good, he did not say anything. "Come here to find food?"
He Lizhou smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.
Mi Tao looked down and saw the tension beneath the man's relaxed appearance.
It seems that he is not so sure. Mi Tao sneered, but he still tensed his muscles and was ready to deal with the sudden attack at any time. He thought this person was so arrogant.
Old Hu put his hands behind his back and led He Lizhou to the kitchen door. He Lizhou took a look and didn't go in, so as not to get stuck while running away.
Old Hu seemed to see what He Lizhou was thinking. He curled his lips, but a hint of satisfaction quickly flashed in his eyes.
He Lizhou watched Lao Hu heating up the remaining half pot of porridge inside, "Uncle, let's go outside to collect inspiration and paint. Do you know any good scenery?"
Old Hu said unhappily, "It's not in the deep mountains or old forests anyway."
He Lizhou smiled. This was the second time that the NPC didn't allow them to go deep into the jungle. However, the meaning expressed was different. Lao Hu's words clearly meant that they could actually go to the deep jungle.
He realized this and stopped bothering Lao Hu, but Lao Hu felt uncomfortable. "Who knew there would be so many of you? I don't have enough porridge left. Divide it among yourselves!"
He Lizhou turned his head and saw that the group of greedy people who had been hiding in the house had come out, staring at the pot of porridge.
The group was extremely hungry. They gulped down the porridge and felt unsatisfied after wiping their mouths.
Ni Peng smacked his lips and savored the taste, "I haven't eaten something this normal in a long time."
He Lizhou slowly put down the spoon, stood up and rolled up his sleeves, "Uncle, let's clean up."
Lao Hu waved his hand to send the man away, "Go away, don't make trouble, hurry up and go collect the wind, remember to be careful not to trip over the bushes."
He Lizhou blinked his eyelashes slightly and smiled like a fox, as if he had received some information.
After the others left the bamboo building, Lao Hu came out of the kitchen, stared at the table where the players had just eaten, and sighed, "Two..."
He shook his head, his body seemed even more hunched than at first, and he slowly went up to the second floor and disappeared around the corner of the stairs.
…
"You two, are you going over there?"
Mi Tao pointed deep into the jungle and asked He Lizhou.
He Lizhou nodded and said, "Go and see if there are any grass roots or other things that can be dyed."
Mi Tao was a little confused, but didn't ask any more questions, "Okay."
Several people lined up and entered the narrow jungle path.
No one talked, for fear of attracting something. Only occasionally could the sounds of birds be heard, from unknown sources, echoing among the dense forest.
I don't know when the fog started, but it slowly spread around. The road ahead was sometimes clear and sometimes blurry. Every step I took was on years of rotten leaves, making a dull sound.
The road went deeper and deeper, the jungle became denser and denser, it was dark inside and there was no telling what monster would jump out at any time.
Peng Ningyu was a little scared. She looked back at He Lizhou. Seeing He Lizhou's gentle and encouraging gaze, she felt relieved. She mustered up her courage and continued walking along with Ni Peng who was leading the way in front of her.
I don’t know how long I walked, but Ni Peng suddenly shouted, and the sound echoed in the silence, which was particularly abrupt and terrifying.
Mi Tao was at the back of the team and couldn't see what was happening ahead. He could only hear Ni Peng yelling, so he immediately asked nervously, "What happened?"
Ni Peng seemed to make a gesture of dismissal and said with difficulty: "Suddenly there is a big bug!"
He Lizhou didn't know what he was thinking of, and was the first to speak up and remind them: "Don't attack them!"
Unfortunately, it was too late. As soon as he finished speaking, the huge insect's wings exploded and turned into butterflies. Butterflies with curled and thick mouthparts fluttered up and covered Ni Peng's face. Ni Peng immediately screamed in pain.
Peng Ningyu didn't know where she got the courage from, but she took a step forward with her thin body and pinched the butterfly that was clinging to Ni Peng's eyes away.
She noticed He Lizhou's unusual attitude towards these butterflies and gently pinched them open through his handkerchief.
I saw that the place where the butterfly had scraped Ni Peng's face had lost a layer of skin, revealing strands of flesh and blood, and it was obvious that he could no longer open his eyes.
Peng Ningyu was startled and subconsciously took a step back, almost falling. Fortunately, He Lizhou behind her supported her in time.
He Lizhou also saw the injury and gave Mi Tao a look. The two of them held him together and whispered, "Run!"
So this makeshift team immediately started running, and the butterfly came to its senses, flapping its wings angrily, attracting more and more butterflies.
He Lizhou ran deeper into the cave while searching for a building to hide from the butterflies.
Since the village chief and others have given a warning, it is impossible that they are unaware of the situation of the butterflies here, so there must be some buildings for hiding nearby.
There are more and more butterflies.
He Lizhou knew it without looking back, because the sound of their flapping wings alone was already catching up with the heavy breathing and messy footsteps of the group of people.
Peng Ningyu was exhausted and fell beside a pile of undulating rocks without even taking a step.
He Lizhou immediately handed the unconscious Ni Peng to Li Deyu, then took two steps back and picked up Peng Ningyu.
In just a short while, the group of butterflies had arrived in front of them, and He Lizhou also saw the true appearance of these butterflies for the first time.
These butterflies actually have human faces!
The human face is distorted, the mouthparts emit a foul smell, and the wings support the huge skeleton. It is more accurate to say that the human has turned into a butterfly rather than a butterfly with a human face.
He Lizhou didn't have time to think, he stood up holding Peng Ningyu and ran wildly without stopping for a second.
But after all, it stayed for a few seconds. The first butterfly was about to catch up with He Lizhou. Peng Ningyu couldn't help but scream, "Don't take me with you! Leave me behind! Run away by yourself!"
He Lizhou didn't have time to answer. He gritted his teeth and ran like crazy.
Mi Tao couldn't help but look back and was also horrified. Before he could think about it, he threw something out of his hand.
The thing passed He Lizhou and unfolded behind him. It turned out to be a fishing net.
However, the fishing net came in handy at this time and directly stopped the butterfly behind He Lizhou.
Mi Tao tensed up, veins popping out on his forehead, "He Lizhou, run! I can't hold on for much longer!"
Without any need for him to remind him, He Lizhou had already started running again to catch up with the front. The group had almost exhausted all their strength, and their lungs felt like they were exploding, but they still did not dare to slow down even a step.
The light in front of He Lizhou's eyes turned white and black. The condition of the others was not much better. Their speed was getting slower and slower. The group of butterflies were about to catch up with the distance they missed in a few seconds. Suddenly, Peng Ningyu grabbed He Lizhou's sleeve.
"There's construction ahead!"
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