Translator:
CatCyan_
Editor:
VirtualFrappe
Su Bai’s eyes glazed. After Sophia signaled him, he didn’t simply run away from danger. Instead, he swam towards the cave unhesitatingly, as if it was his destiny.
Maybe he was rash, or when he was a zombie, his extreme feelings were brought out to a great extent. But at least, it was what he really wanted to do right now.
So many disputes, lies and secrets, including what had happened… There were mysteries everywhere, appearing one after another.
He didn’t try to analyze everything or find out every piece of truth; that would cost too much. In this story world, Su Bai could rely on no one else except himself. To some extent, he could feel free to do everything he wanted because the highest price could only be his own death. But even if he followed procedures and be extremely cautious, there would still be no guarantee of survival. The death rate was far too high. After all, it was a group task for 20 people, which was known for its high death rate.
Su Bai had discussed with Fatty and Ego,
I don’t think we’ll end up dead if we rush right into the danger or warning.
He did say that, and he did do that; before he was capable enough to solve the problem, he’d rather go directly at it.
The purple bell was thrown right into his face; he just grabbed it.
Sophia must have tried to tell him a lot in that hint before she died, but he just couldn’t understand it. For now, the most direct and effective way was to check it out with his own eyes, even though it might be dangerous. In a story world, one could never get useful information if one was afraid of danger, let alone finish the tasks.
However, just when he stepped into the cave, there came a terrible strong countercurrent. It came out of nowhere and pushed Su Bai back with Sophia’s body.
As if everything ended here when someone entered this time.
Plop!
Su Bai had no choice but to go up immediately. The current was getting stronger and stronger, as if it was going to reverse the direction and speed of the river.
When he got above the water, he grabbed something by the shore. After he realized what he was holding onto, he smiled: it was the wooden wharf by the cabin.
He felt as if everything was set up already. Some unknown force was controlling everything and forcing him to stay with the main line of the story. In a word, it kept everyone in the range of its main storyline, and made sure no one stepped out of the
mainstream scope
.
However, such a feeling made Su Bai sick, as if he was walking with someone’s hands around his neck. Even if he wanted to struggle for life, he had to follow the route which was already drawn up by someone else.
He put the purple bell around his wrist, not knowing how to use it. Although he knew Sophia meant something by giving it to him and pleading to him, he didn’t want to bother thinking. As a matter of fact, in a story world, once there were disputes involving benefits, everything else would matter no more. Fatty and Ego were the best examples. He wasn’t even sure whether Sophia was telling something or just misleading him.
Anyway, since he was already here, he’d better face what was coming. He got ashore and went to the cabin with his clothes all wet.
The cabin’s door was closed and locked from inside. Su Bai stood in front of the door; it was quiet. Then he lifted his foot and kicked it open.
No one was in the living room. The fire had died out and there was a dark hollow hole in the fireplace.
Su Bai took a beer, opened it and took a sip. Then he held the beer, bent over and walked into the path behind the fireplace.
The path was long and winding, but Su Bai could remember the main direction in his mind. It was going deeper and deeper underground.
After he walked out of the path, he saw it was brightly lit with lights; these were not Everlasting Lamps[1], and they didn’t seem to be burning for long. Must be just lit up by the air from outside after the path was open.
In front of him was a space like a main hall, but there weren’t many furnishings, just a statue. And the statue was more like an evil wizard rather than a god. The wizard was holding two staves in his hands.
At this point, Fatty and Ego were putting their hands on the staves in front of them. Apparently, they were getting something.
Su Bai didn’t hurry to approach, or say
hi
to them. He just stood there silently between the path and the main hall, hiding his scents.
He knew what was going to happen next, so he chose this position which should be rather solid in this underground construction. Even if there was a serious collapse, it would be safe here.
From inside, there came the conversation of Ego and Fatty, and Su Bai was mentioned. Apparently, they were glad that they didn’t bring Su Bai along, because there were only two staves.
Just then, Dreadful Radio sounded in their minds, claiming that… The horror had just started!
The next moment, that statue of wizard turned into ashes, and the entire underground structure completely fell apart.
Su Bai looked up. He watched the structure changes above his head and adjusted his location clinging to the wall. At this point, Su Bai even thought of lighting up a cigarette and enjoying it. But his clothes were all wet, and so were the cigarettes in his pocket.
Next time, if there was a next time, he would definitely leave the cigarettes in the living room before he jumped into the river.
Even Su Bai could tell that this wouldn’t be the last time. After all, there was still a long way to go before he reached the real source of the river.
At last, the collapse stopped. The house had fallen down, and the underground structure was a mess. But through most of the gaps among rocks, the moonlight still could be seen; clearly, the underground structure was exposed after the collapse.
Su Bai pushed away a stone plate above his head and claimed out.
According to his memory, he started to walk to where the statue had been.
By now, the duplicates should be on the go, unless something unexpected had happened. They must have entered this world, ready to kill and replace. Su Bai couldn’t understand what was the point about all this. Those who were killed by their duplicates seemed to be themselves anyway after the reset, not replaced by the duplicates.
However, Dreadful Radio wouldn’t make any unnecessary moves; it must carry some significance. Su Bai just couldn’t see through it right now.
Plop!
Fatty lifted a rock away from himself, but his legs were pinned down and almost twisted. Though Fatty was capable, after all, he was just an enhanced Taoist; his skills could do nothing under such circumstances.
Seeing Su Bai, Fatty seemed surprised and delighted. He immediately stretched out one hand down, took out a stave and handed it over to Su Bai.
Come on, Bai, take this. I just found it. I’m stuck here; come on, give me a hand.
Fatty was wise enough to be flexible and do the right thing; he was almost perfect in dealing with people.
Su Bai walked to them with a smile and took the staff. For a moment, Fatty seemed so reluctant.
Su Bai crouched down and started to move the rocks away from Fatty’s legs.
Just then, behind Su Bai, a rock shook and floated into the air; next, it went straight at Su Bai’s head.
Bang!
Su Bai turned around and grabbed the stone with one hand as if he had already seen it coming. His palm was bleeding, but his smile didn’t change at all.
Fatty’s lips moved. He looked at the other direction with a little complaint. Why had he had to destroy their relationship utterly? And he just failed to kill him at the first strike!
Su Bai stopped pushing the stones. He walked to the other side, pushed away some rock pieces with the staff. Ego’s face appeared from below the rocks. He was almost buried. With his heavy injury, Ego couldn’t get himself out. When Su Bai came, Ego was a little nervous at first; when he saw Su Bai calmly take Fatty’s stave, he looked almost vicious.
You just took his staff like that?
Then how about mine?
You want it? Go get it!
But right now, with Su Bai standing right next to Ego’s face, Ego was pretending to be quite relieved.
It’s you, Bai! You surprised me. I thought it was something dangerous. Sorry about that… Let’s get Fatty and me out of here, it feels terrible down here.
Okay,
Su Bai said.
Then…
He wielded the staff and smashed.
Bang!
Ego’s head was smashed; his blood and brains splashed onto Fatty, who was next to him. Fatty’s lips moved and he was totally shocked.
Unbelievable!
—
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Everlasting Lamps: An everlasting lamp, sanctuary lamp, chancel lamp, altar lamp, or eternal flame is a light that shines before the altar of sanctuaries. This icon has taken on different meanings in each of the religions that have adopted it. In some traditional Chinese stories, this kind of Everlasting Lamps can keep burning even through decades even centuries. — Wikipedia
