It's not uncommon for guilds to have internal factions.

Chubby Kid Fang Bai might seem ordinary, but he's actually quite skilled at interacting with people.

And that honest-looking middle-aged man... his face appears calm, but his eyes reveal a hint of unease, as if he's not yet fully adapted to this place.

After a brief introduction among the group, they left the guild's base.

Outside was a long winding mountain road. Since the guild's base was established on a flat area in the mountains, the environment here was particularly desolate and cold.

Occasional streetlights lined the dilapidated road, but their dim, yellow light only added to the eerie atmosphere.

In the distant mountains and forests, unknown shadows occasionally flickered by.

Clearly, these dangers were beyond the current players' reach.

However, bound by the rules, they wouldn't deliberately enter low-level areas, so players were relatively safe on this road leading to the abandoned station.

In the mist at the end of the road, a few figures could occasionally be seen, all players attempting to complete the world quest.

After walking two kilometers along the road, a shabby and desolate small platform appeared in the distance. The canopy overhead was full of holes, surrounded by wild grass and mold, and the walls at the entrance were covered with sinister scratches, as if they had been given special attention by some unknown, ominous force.

The mist was cold and damp.

Players arriving here felt anything but comfortable.

On the green stone steps at the entrance stood a young man with multicolored dyed hair, smoking a cigarette, his gaze gloomy, surrounded by several underlings.

These people looked pale, some clearly having just vomited, with the ground still showing traces of it.

"Xiang Weishan, how's the situation inside?"

Fang Bai stepped forward with a sly expression.

The dyed-hair man with a murderous aura glanced at him but ignored him. However, when his gaze landed on Zhao Yi, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Oh, isn't this the top-ranked player?"

"What? You want a piece of the action too?"

Zhao Yi's presence heightened the alertness of many nearby, drawing them closer. After all, Zhao Yi's reputation as the top player was well-known here. Some had seen highlights of his live streams and knew this guy was not only strong but also somewhat... crazy.

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Having someone like him competing for rewards made them nervous.

"I know the reward is generous, and no one wants to give it up... but have you considered that this is just a guiding quest? There are many more quests and rewards ahead. If everyone gets stuck here, no one will get anything later."

"Are we going to get rich together or starve together?"

Zhao Yi flashed a friendly smile.

His words about getting rich together or starving together subtly shifted the mindset of many.

Xiang Weishan flicked away his cigarette butt, his expression changing slightly.

"Alright."

"If you want to go, I'll give you a chance."

"But let me remind you, many people have already died inside."

"Also... I can tell you the rules of the clown's game ahead."

"The clown's game requires at least three people to play rock-paper-scissors with it, taking turns. Each person plays ten times, and the loser has to cut off a finger. Winning three times out of ten is considered a victory, otherwise, the player will be thrown into the storeroom behind it, where something terrifying lurks. No one who has entered has ever come out."

"After a player fails and is killed by the clown, the next player in line continues the game, resetting and starting over!"

"Additionally, we've discovered that the clown's third and sixth moves are fixed. It will definitely play scissors on the third move and paper on the sixth."

Fang Bai curiously asked:

"If that's the pattern, shouldn't the ninth or tenth move also be fixed? Why haven't you completed the task yet?"

Xiang Weishan sneered, looking at Fang Bai as if he were an idiot.

"So, are you willing to risk your life to figure out the fixed moves for others to benefit?"

Fang Bai fell silent.

Indeed.

If the initial trial and error gave people hope and made many eager to try, the final trial and error would leave no one willing to do it.

Their initial excitement had cooled, and they were unwilling to risk their lives for others.

People are selfish.

Why should they take the hit while others enjoy the spoils?

At Xiang Weishan's signal, the underlings made way for Zhao Yi and his group. After all, someone had to take the risk. Whether Zhao Yi succeeded or not, they would benefit.

It was just a matter of how much they would gain.

After entering the station, a young man with a nose ring and earrings approached Xiang Weishan and asked:

"Boss, did you tell them the wrong thing?"

"I remember the clown's fixed moves aren't..."

Xiang Weishan glanced at him, and the young man's face twitched slightly, but he obediently took out a cigarette and lit it for him.

Xiang Weishan took a drag and looked inside the station with a sinister and vicious gaze.

"Mo Yao, are you stupid?"

"Who is he?"

"The top of the newcomer rankings!"

"Didn't you notice the way Liu Ruoqing was looking at him in the lobby earlier?"

"As long as he's alive, do you think the guild's management will let us rise?"

Mo Yao suddenly realized, looking at Xiang Weishan with a hint of fear.

This guy is truly a twisted killer, so cunning!

It's better if Zhao Yi dies!

That way, there'd be one less strong competitor for rewards and women in the future!

Heh heh...

Those rich women in the guild are strong and beautiful. If he could win their favor, wouldn't that be a meteoric rise?

...

Inside the station entrance, the darkness was filled with a pungent smell of blood.

Tian Tian hugged her ragged teddy bear, curiously looking around, while the slightly gaudy Bai Shuiji walked over to Zhao Yi and kindly reminded him:

"Brother Zhao, that guy's eyes were off. I think he might have lied."

Zhao Yi replied:

"There's something off about him."

Seeing Zhao Yi was aware, Bai Shuiji said no more.

Soon, they headed towards a brightly lit, exquisite general store not far away.

Scattered around the entrance of the store were blood-stained... fingers.

Like crawling insects, they were a chilling sight.

A clown, dressed in a comical and eerie manner, waved enthusiastically at Zhao Yi and his group.

"Welcome to the Clever Ghost General Store!"

"Are you here to shop or play a game?"

The clown was short, about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a large floral cotton jacket sewn by a grandmother, with a very friendly smile on its face.

Zhao Yi approached the counter, placing a hand on it, and asked:

"What are the benefits of playing the game?"

The clown clapped its hands happily and said:

"Oh! My dear guests, if you're willing to play rock-paper-scissors with me and win three out of ten rounds, I will provide you with unlimited free access to everything in the general store."

Zhao Yi nodded, speaking slowly:

"And if we lose?"

The clown smiled politely and said:

"If you lose, you'll have to pay a small... price."

"After all, you know—if a game loses its stakes, it becomes too boring!"

It explained the game rules, which matched Xiang Weishan's description.

"Additionally, I must emphasize... do not attempt to disrupt the game by killing me or cutting off my fingers, otherwise..."

The clown paused, revealing a chilling smile.

The door to the storeroom behind it slowly opened a crack.

Inside, countless pairs of terrifying green eyes stared greedily at the group...