Chapter 106, Side Quest: Hide and Seek...
After the man died, those present did not speak, but simply sat there in silence.
The electronic speaker started playing.
Currently, nine mission participants are still alive.
The crowd fell even more silent, and a sense of fear crept into their ears at the electronic announcement.
Even so, things still happen.
Tick-tock!
Tick-tock!
There was a dripping sound.
It stands out in the quiet restaurant.
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that it was coming from blood dripping from the ceiling.
A pool of blood had already formed on the floor, and blood was still dripping from the ceiling into the restaurant.
The butler and maid had disappeared sometime during the day, leaving only the taskers behind.
The restaurant was eerily quiet; you could hear everyone breathing.
"It looks like blood seeping from upstairs," someone whispered.
"Shall we go up and take a look?" someone suggested.
"No, I don't want to go, I want to go back to my room," one of the girls said with a look of fear on her face.
She took a few steps back, then quickly ran back to her room.
Of the remaining eight people, five more left one after another.
Xu Yi's gaze swept over the man who had bumped into her when she entered the manor that day. He didn't seem to care about these things, but Xu Yi knew that he had been paying attention to her all along.
The murderous intent in his gaze was well hidden, but since he was facing Xu Yi, who seemed to have a cheat code, Xu Yi was able to catch the emotion in his eyes.
She didn't know that man; she had never even seen him before.
Now the other party wants to kill her.
Thinking about how Zhao Chang transferred the pain of the strange world onto himself, Xu Yi suspected that this person knew Zhao Chang.
It couldn't be that Zhao Chang knew he couldn't bear the pain for her, so he sent someone to kill her.
The idea flashed through Xu Yi's mind, and she shook her head in denial.
It's not that I think Zhao Chang is incapable of doing such a thing, it's just that I think dungeons are random, and Zhao Chang probably doesn't have the ability to freely traverse dungeons.
But this man, he definitely knows Zhao Chang.
When Xu Yisuo was searching, there were only three people left in the restaurant.
Xu Yi herself, a girl named Gao Lin who suggested going up to check the situation, and a young man. The three of them took candles from the dining table and went upstairs to a locked room.
The lock was just hung up for show; it wasn't actually locked securely.
Xu Yi and Gao Lin exchanged a glance, but instead of touching the lock, they took a step back.
They all remembered a rule without prior arrangement.
Rule Three: Please do not touch the locked rooms without permission. Those are the master's bedrooms, and he does not like other people's presence on his territory. If you are discovered doing so, the owner of the manor will be very angry.
Remembering rule number three, no one moved.
“Let’s go back. It might be a trick to lure us into pushing open this door,” Xu Yi said.
The other girl strongly agreed, "I think so too. Otherwise, why would something like this happen today when nothing happened yesterday? If we push open this door, we'll end up like that man, eaten by the monster hiding in the house."
Rules are meant for them to use to protect themselves.
Gao Lin followed Xu Yi away, but the young man stared at the golden lock hanging on the door for a long time, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes.
However, both Xu Yi and Gao Lin planned to leave, and although he was unwilling, there was nothing he could do.
As I walked downstairs with the candle in hand, I still couldn't resist asking one more question.
"Do you think that lock is made of pure gold?"
Then he looked around and thought, "Since the master is a nobleman, he must be very rich. Could there be some priceless treasures in his bedroom?"
“If you’re not afraid, then go ahead. Even if I’m not smart, I won’t go and fight for someone else,” Xu Yi said.
Xu Yi saw through the other party's intentions, and he looked somewhat annoyed. He sneered at Xu Yi and then turned and left.
Xu Yi ignored him, looked at the trembling girl beside her, and said, "Thank you for what happened earlier."
While she was lost in thought, this kind girl chose to stay and keep her company.
"You're welcome. I just think that two girls together are relatively safer."
"Well, thank you anyway. As of now, everything seems fine. Go back and rest. My name is Xu Yi. If you encounter any danger, just shout my name and I'll help you."
Gao Lin nodded, her face pale. The way that person looked at her when he left made her feel very uncomfortable.
"That person just now?"
"His greed will ultimately destroy him."
Even if Gao Lin hadn't said she would come up to take a look, he would have eventually come anyway.
Xu Yi hadn't made a move, so he probably stayed behind on purpose to trick Xu Yi into coming up with him to check the situation.
If she were alone, that man was probably thinking of using her as a scapegoat to buy himself a chance to escape if he encountered danger.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated.
Gao Lin took two steps and then turned back to look at Xu Yi, "Aren't you scared?"
"I'm not afraid," Xu Yi said calmly.
Gao Lin stared at her for a while before turning back. She would look back every few steps. Xu Yi stood there watching her until she went inside, then turned away and went back to her own room.
In the middle of the night, everyone clearly heard the electronic voice.
Currently, there are eight survivors on the mission.
Another person has died?
Xu Yi thought of something and immediately got up, took the candle, and went to the top floor.
The gold lock hanging on the door of the manor owner's room fell to the ground, and the door was pushed open a crack, allowing a glimpse of what was inside.
Gao Lin also rushed over, and her face paled even more when she saw the gold lock lying on the ground. "Was it that person from earlier?"
"It must be him."
Hearing the commotion, the others peeked out. Three people came over, while others closed their doors and went back to their rooms, unconcerned that it was none of their business.
They stood at the door, none of them thinking of pushing open the door to the manor owner's bedroom.
If their scent lingers in the house, the manor's owner will kill them.
But the door slowly opened by itself.
Standing at the entrance, you can only see a part of it, but even that is enough to amaze everyone.
Roses are everywhere you look.
Pure gold roses were placed everywhere, and even some of the furniture was carved with roses.
The carpet in the room also has a rose pattern.
Even the chandelier on the ceiling is shaped like a crystal rose.
Xu Yi retreated.
Gao Lin glanced at her and then followed her back to her room.
Of the remaining three, one looked at the scene in the room for a moment, struggled, and then turned around and went back into the room.
The other two stared at each other for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.
Not long after, an electronic voice broadcast a message.
Currently, there are seven surviving mission participants.
Upon hearing the announcement, Xu Yi knew that one of the last two people to leave last night had ultimately succumbed to temptation.
The door to the owner's bedroom on the top floor was wide open, but no one wanted to go in and take a look.
Although one can only glimpse a corner of its extravagance, once one steps inside, it is an endless abyss.
They valued their lives more than any treasure.
Everyone ate breakfast absentmindedly.
The butler's smile hadn't faded since they entered the manor. His eyes, however, were somewhat vacant as he slowly scanned the group, giving the impression of selecting prey.
But upon closer inspection, they discovered that the butler wasn't looking at any of them.
Well, the eerie world is always a bit strange.
Seeing nothing wrong, the crowd turned their attention away.
After finishing her meal, Xu Yi strolled around the rose garden downstairs, while the others preferred to stay in their rooms rather than come out.
She stared at the vibrant, luscious roses, lost in thought.
These roses are even more vibrant than when I first arrived.
There's someone behind you.
Xu Yi turned around abruptly and saw the man behind her.
He seemed not to have expected Xu Yi to turn around suddenly, and his outstretched hand froze in mid-air.
Xu Yi stared intently at the man named Dong Jiang in front of her.
Was he trying to push her into the rose garden?
Just like the last time I deliberately bumped into her.
"We haven't met before, have we?" Xu Yi asked.
Seeing Xu Yi staring straight at him, Dong Jiang looked around nervously. Not seeing anyone else, his expression shifted, and his face gradually became ferocious.
"Why did you want to hurt me? You deliberately bumped into me before, and now you want to push me in. There must be a reason."
Dong Jiang laughed and said, "If you want to know, go ask those ghosts. They might tell you the reason."
"Xu Yi," Gao Lin called out from not far away.
Upon seeing someone come out, Dong Jiang's expression changed again. He glanced at Xu Yi unwillingly, then turned and ran back.
Gao Lin came running over.
What did he just say to you?
Xu Yi shook her head. "He ran away without saying a word. This person is very strange."
Gao Lin was a little confused, but she still took a few steps back. "You should stay away from these roses. I get a little scared when I see them."
This reminded Gao Lin of when she first arrived here, someone had been dragged into the flowerbed and used as fertilizer for these roses.
She was afraid that if she got too close, she would be dragged in too.
Xu Yi didn't say anything, but also took two steps back.
From the day he arrived in this instance, Dong Jiang's gaze towards her was off; just now, he really wanted to push her into the rose bushes.
Xu Yi really couldn't remember ever seeing Dong Jiang.
This further confirmed his previous suspicion that Dong Jiang knew Zhao Chang.
She just couldn't understand why knowing Zhao Chang would lead to her being killed. Was there something she didn't know about this?
Xu Yi felt she should find an opportunity to ask Dong Jiang why he was so determined to kill her.
"Let's go back and have dinner," Gao Lin said to Xu Yi.
"You go first, I'll be there in a bit."
Gao Lin nodded and went back first.
Xu Yi stood there for a while before going back, where she encountered the butler holding a bouquet of flowers.
"Hello, Miss Xu Yi." The butler greeted her politely with a smile.
He looked very different from the butler at the restaurant; the one in front of him looked more like a living person.
Seeing the flowers in the butler's hand, Xu Yi said, "Hello, Mr. Butler, could I have a suitable weapon?"
"certainly."
The butler took a palm-sized dagger from his pocket and handed it to Xu Yi. Xu Yi looked at the dagger, not understanding what it could be used for, but still accepted it.
During the meal, she looked at Dong Jiang, but he avoided her gaze.
Blood started dripping from the ceiling again, and the smell of blood in the restaurant became much stronger.
The blood pooled together and started bubbling.
Everyone was so shocked that they dropped their knives and forks, staring in horror at the bubbling thing.
An alarm suddenly sounded, and a familiar electronic voice came through.
[Side quest in the instance: Hide and Seek. This game lasts half an hour. If the hiding player is found by the manor owner's pet before the game ends, they will become the seeker's food. If the hiding player is not found by the manor owner's pet by the end of the game, they win.]
As the half-hour countdown began.
The pool of blood seemed to have condensed into a shape, and before anyone could see what kind of monster it was, they panicked and started running away, looking for a place to hide.
Xu Yi didn't want to be too different, so she ran away with the others.
She went back to her room.
Soon, the sound of clattering echoed down the corridor, like the sound of high heels walking.
It was accompanied by a soft humming, "Catch, catch, play hide-and-seek."
The other person kept repeating that sentence.
Suddenly, the other person stopped walking, and then Xu Yi heard a knock on the door.
"I know you're in there, come out quickly," a childish voice said.
Xu Yi suddenly remembered the dagger she had asked the butler for; perhaps it was meant to deal with the manor owner's beloved pet.
The door wouldn't open, so the monster started pounding on it frantically, yelling, "I've found you! Come out! Come out!"
Perhaps because they couldn't break it open, the other party moved to another spot and continued smashing.
Someone made a sound, followed by a sharp laugh.
The electronic voice signaled that someone had been arrested.
Currently, there are six surviving mission participants.
Currently, there are five surviving mission participants.
It seems the other party smashed everything in turn, because everyone was in a hurry and ran back to their own rooms first.
This time, they smashed Xu Yi's door.
"I know you're in there, come out now."
Xu Yi gripped the dagger tightly and looked up into the air, "Can I go out and deal with him?"
Of course.
Having received the answer, Xu Yi opened the door to the room.
But what I saw was a little boy.
He was wearing a pair of adult red high heels, his clothes were made of rose petals, and his head was covered with roses.
Even her face was covered with rose petals.
I never expected that the manor owner's pet would be such a small child, who doesn't look very old.
The other person's dark eyes were fixed on Xu Yi. Looking at Xu Yi, the other person said, word by word, "I caught you."
Xu Yi and the child exchanged a glance, then Xu Yi reached out and pulled the boy into the house, quickly closing the door behind them.
She flexed her wrists, then grabbed the child and punched him.
"Serves you right for being so unreasonable, serving you right for being so unreasonable."
The rose petals flew up all over the little boy, making him scream and yell.
"You dare hit me? You actually dared to hit me! I'm going to eat you alive!"
The little boy's eyes instantly turned red, and his teeth became sharp. He stared at Xu Yi's arm, ready to bite down, when Xu Yi shoved the dagger into his hand.
The tooth struck the dagger, knocking off a sharp tooth.
Xu Yi beat up the little boy, and several arms grew out of his body. But when he gently pinched them, those arms turned into large rose petals, making him look even stranger.
The child kept yelling, "I'm going to eat you! I'm going to eat you!"
Xu Yi plunged the dagger into the child's body.
With a loud bang, the little boy exploded into a bloody mist.
The blood disappeared after it hit the floor.
But the explosion just now scattered rose petals all over the ground.
After the rose petals fell to the ground, they suddenly faded, turning from red to white, and the edges of the petals became somewhat wilted.
Xu Yi stood there watching until the countdown ended, at which point everyone came out.
The sudden appearance of the side quest caused some panic among everyone.
Two people just died. They were killed because they were afraid to make a sound, so the manor owner's beloved pet broke into their room and killed them.
What they probably didn't expect was that their owner's beloved pet was actually a small child.
This instance is supposed to last seven days, but less than half the days have passed and half the players are already dead.
"This thing won't keep coming, will it? Can we hold out until the last day?" Gao Lin asked fearfully.
Dong Jiang stepped forward. "Where did you get your dagger?"
He looked at Xu Yi and pressed her for answers.
Rule Four.
Why didn't you tell us?
"What kind of relationship do we have? It's because you've harmed me time and time again that I have to fawn over you and care about you. Don't you even look in the mirror and see if you're worthy of me?" Xu Yi said to Dong Jiang without any politeness.
“We need to go through a copy, and any clues we have should be shared with everyone. You shouldn’t be so selfish. If you had spoken up earlier, those two people wouldn’t have died,” Dong Jiang said to Xu Yi, accusing her.
The other two young men did not directly agree with Dong Jiang's words. They stood still and did not speak, clearly indicating that they would not get involved in either side.
Only Gao Lin stood beside Xu Yi.
Gao Lin said, "That's how the rules are supposed to be, and there's no rule that you have to share with anyone."
Xu Yi shook her head at Gao Lin, then looked at Dong Jiang and asked, "You still haven't answered my question. Why did you deliberately bump into me on the first day we arrived at the manor? And that day in front of the rose bushes, did you even try to push me in?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Don't change the subject. As a dungeon quest, survival is the only goal."
She walked over to him and grabbed his neck.
"If you want to die, I can grant your wish right now. The rules of the instance don't say that quest takers can't kill each other."
Dong Jiang struggled for a moment but couldn't break free from Xu Yi's hand, and even noticed that she was gripping him tighter.
"Actually, I don't really want to know. Sending you to your death isn't out of the question. A wicked person like you who harms others behind their backs deserves to die."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
