Chapter 138: Fortune Favors The Bold
In the house that players 3 and 4 are searching, there are two wooden houses, one large and one small.
The BOSSes have all been lured away, so of course they need to seize the opportunity and best complete the mission tonight.
Otherwise, once those two are done for, the BOSS will choose a new target.
Player 4, the one with Doraemon headwear, means this. They discussed and decided to split up to explore the two wooden houses, then head to the next place.
Player 4 turns on the flashlight and walks into the foyer overgrown with grass at the entrance, rummaging through a cabinet piled full of clutter.
It’s not the first time searching an abandoned house. Outside the instance, they also had to worry about a zombie suddenly jumping out and scratching off dozens of health points.
This place just looks eerie, the wind is a bit strong, and the sound of rustling leaves always makes one’s back feel cold.
Player 4 tightens his fingers, suddenly spins around. The flashlight illuminates only swaying weeds, and on the snowy ground, only his own shoe prints.
He breathes a sigh of relief, turns back, and continues walking inside. The house is a mess, with overturned old furniture and cold wind passing through the dim corridor.
Just as he reaches the kitchen, he finds an old photograph next to the bloody refrigerator. It shows a woman, half her face smiling gently, the other half obscured by brownish stains.
He just received a notification of investigation progress +2%. Outside the window frame, a figure quickly passes by, startling him.
Player 4 thinks for a moment. It seems like a teammate, but he clearly heard a woman’s laughter, somewhat like player 6, but not quite.
That voice is extremely gentle, as if a white, soft hand is hooking his mind, urging him to go see what’s going on.
It should be fine, right?
Just go take a look, the teammate is there too.
Player 4 hesitates only a moment before retreating to the foyer and following the small path along the side of the house.
He sees player 3’s figure turn the corner, cursing inwardly.
They agreed to communicate in the team channel if there’s a discovery, but instead sneaking off to meet player 6, the female player. Who knows what they’re up to behind his back, playing like this without even waiting to return to the hot spring motel.
He has to go see!
Player 4 chases after, turns the corner, and there’s nothing.
He’s puzzled when suddenly, from behind, a gentle yet eerie female voice rings out, along with the voice of his familiar teammate.
“Are you looking for me?”
“You idiot, suddenly”
Player 4 says, when a bone-chilling cold rushes from behind. His expression stiffens, he trembles, and slowly turns around.
His peripheral vision first catches the woman’s black long hair, half a face pale almost to transparency, then the other half grayish and pitted, with bloodshot eyes.
The next second, the ‘person’ in front changes. The body twists, arm bones elongate, that half intact face looks burned, but the long hair remains black and smooth, glowing demonically in the snowy night.
“Ahhhh!!!”
Player 4 screams and runs forward. Just as he lifts one foot, with a squelch, his chest goes cold. A finger much longer than a human’s pierces through his body from behind.
Health points cleared. The acceleration card he held for escaping drops unused into the white snow.
Then comes the crunching chewing sound.
Player 3 hears the miserable scream and sees the teammate’s nickname turn gray, scaring his legs weak.
What’s going on? Wasn’t the monster chasing players 1 and 2? How did it appear here?!
He doesn’t dare continue exploring inside and decisively exits the house toward the direction of the sound.
Halfway, he hears player 4’s voice again.
“Didn’t we agree one goes one way, why did you come over?”
The voice and tone sound completely natural. Player 3 is baffled, his mind starting to doubt whether he really saw the teammate’s nickname go dark, a bit unclear now.
“That sound just now”
Midway through, he suddenly widens his eyes. Didn’t the flashlight beam just sweep over his teammate’s body broken in two, and the glowing prop card?
Then who’s speaking now?
Player 3’s hair stands on end. Without hesitation, he gives up picking up that prop card and flees rolling and crawling toward the house exit.
His reaction is quick enough, and luck is good. Not far from the exit, he takes 50 health points damage and escapes.
He doesn’t dare look back the whole way, just desperately runs toward the hot spring motel. Once inside, he’s safe!
Behind, the ghoul’s blood-red eyes stare fixedly at his back.
Once the manjusaka is gathered, it will return to its home.
Meanwhile, Yu Jiang has just figured out the ghoul clone’s movement route and the positions where it will definitely spot her.
She’s squatting by the wall taking supplies from the vending machine, just needing to add a bandit headgear on her head.
As the old saying goes, fortune favors the bold!
Just the supplies in this instance have already earned a lot.
Never mind the ghoul being separated by a wall; even if it were standing in front of her, she’d grab the last beef canned food before running!
Hearing footsteps close at hand, she’s still very nervous.
This thing has a health lock cheat; it deals 30-50 health points damage per hit on her, but she can’t damage it.
Half-crouching to move is awkward, but there’s no way around it. Opening a door and coming face-to-face with the ghoul is worse; those with weak hearts could be scared to death.
Yu Jiang only turns on the flashlight briefly when she really can’t see, mostly moving in the dark. Investigation progress is only 32%.
She found some clue items from local residents. They seem to feel guilt, disgust, and fear toward the ghoul.
She’s already found the manjusaka and doesn’t plan to delay. It’s right by the backyard water well.
But the nearest door is locked from the outside and can’t be opened from inside, meaning this isn’t the correct route. She needs to find another way around.
Going around is impossible, forget finding clues. Yu Jiang directly knocks on the stuck window in the bathroom, and just like that, she’s through.
Halfway through knocking, a sudden scream breaks the silence. Yu Jiang pauses, instinctively holding her breath.
The sound seems to be nearby, the second investigation area to the right.
Yu Jiang opens the instance interface. Player 4 is already gone.
Player 3 is frantically sending messages.
“@Player 1, didn’t you say the BOSS is across from the motel? What’s going on? We encountered it in the house on the right side of the motel too.”
“Are you deliberately giving false messages to make others die, or hiding something from the start? Didn’t we agree to share clues? Player 4 died so miserably!”
“It seems to be chasing over. You can’t just let us die!”
Yu Jiang pretends not to see. She said there are clues and monsters in the house, all true info, just didn’t mention key details.
Whatever happened on their side is none of her business.
But she does need to speed up progress.
Players 3 and 4 didn’t find the manjusaka.
The other three groups, some went to the first investigation area, some toward Shi Xu’s side. They likely realized by now.
Yu Jiang jumps out the window, heads straight to the well, gathers it, and glances into the well.
Places like this always amplify fear, especially when the pitch-black water surface reflects the ghoul’s figure behind her.
Yu Jiang dodges backward, drinks a primary healing potion while running, plus Popeye’s spinach, and a qi replenishing drink.
Normal players wouldn’t consume like this except in critical moments or BOSS fights.
Only an alchemist with ample supplies can afford not to worry about cost.
