"I haven't seen you on the seventh floor."
Liu Ruoqing's tone carried a hint of indifference.
The seventh floor was where the top-tier veterans of the All Freeloaders guild resided. Only those recognized by these veterans were qualified to move in. This created a stark contrast in status between players on the seventh floor and those below, a gap that became more pronounced as players grew stronger.
This was why many newcomers coveted Liu Ruoqing's beauty, but the longer they survived and the stronger they became, the more they feared her.
"Also..."
"I can't control what happens in the dungeon, but if you dare to cause trouble at the guild's base..."
Liu Ruoqing flashed a playful smile at Xiang Babang. His face turned from anger to pale in an instant, his clenched fists trembling, and cold sweat broke out on his back.
Liu Ruoqing turned and led Zhao Yi away. Xiang Babang sat in silence for a long time before instructing the tattooed man beside him. The latter's expression was peculiar, a sinister grin hidden beneath his icy demeanor.
"Go, and keep it clean. Don't cause me any trouble," Xiang Babang said coldly. The tattooed man nodded and left the room.
...
Bang.
The woman closed the door, rolling her eyes at Zhao Yi, who was peeling a mandarin on the sofa.
"You're quite at home."
Zhao Yi replied, "The view from the seventh floor is nice."
Liu Ruoqing plopped down on the sofa opposite Zhao Yi, crossing her legs. Her silk robe slipped, revealing a tantalizing pair of long legs.
"What's so great about it? It's the same as below."
Zhao Yi ate the mandarin, wiped his hands with a tissue, and looked at Liu Ruoqing, who was studying him with interest.
"You saved me. What do you want me to do for you?"
Liu Ruoqing propped her delicate chin with one hand, her tone playful.
"Can't it be that I just wanted to stand up for you?"
Zhao Yi laughed.
"It could be, but I don't like owing people favors. Besides, I think a woman like you must be more ruthless and cunning than most, which is why those scoundrels fear you so much."
Liu Ruoqing covered her mouth and laughed.
"You're interesting... So, guess why I saved you?"
Zhao Yi thought for a moment.
"I don't know, but it's definitely not because I'm handsome."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Liu Ruoqing rolled her eyes, poured herself a small glass of red wine, and sipped it.
"You look like someone I know."
Zhao Yi chuckled, "An ex-boyfriend?"
Liu Ruoqing blinked her big eyes, "Exactly."
Zhao Yi was taken aback.
Liu Ruoqing continued, "I still have some unresolved issues with him."
"Then why not just find him?"
"He's dead."
"How did he die?"
...
"Is Sister Liu your informant?"
Fang Bai smiled wryly, opening a beer and handing it to Zhao Yi.
"I saw you being taken away and got worried. I don't have any connections or abilities, so I went to the guild's top brass. Uncle Quan and the others seemed busy, so only Sister Liu and an old player who wouldn't open his door were on the seventh floor. Luckily, Sister Liu is kind-hearted, or you'd be in trouble!"
Zhao Yi smiled without saying anything.
After a few bites, he changed the subject.
"How many died in the new quest?"
"Six teams went, six teams died. Six people per team, thirty-six in total."
Fang Bai explained to Zhao Yi, looking a bit hesitant and worried.
"I'm not sure I dare take on this quest. It might be beyond our capabilities!"
Zhao Yi bit into a spicy lamb intestine, oil dripping from his mouth.
"How will you know if you don't try? If you guys don't go, I'll go alone."
Fang Bai glanced at Zhao Yi, feeling increasingly conflicted. He wanted to be as bold and reckless as Zhao Yi, but he couldn't bring himself to gamble with his life.
Two talent points. One life. They couldn't afford to lose!
"The bodies of the dead were left to rot at the station, in a horrific state, almost unrecognizable. It seems they suffered immense fear and pain before dying."
"The most troublesome part is that no information has come from the dungeon, and no one knows what it's like inside."
Bai Shuiji also coveted those two talent points, but the terrifying death rate of the quest made her hesitate.
Zhao Yi turned to Tian Tian and asked, "Are you going, Tian Tian?"
Tian Tian, who was busy eating, seemed not to understand what Zhao Yi was saying but agreed anyway. This girl, like before, seemed indifferent to everything around her, including her own life.
After dinner, Fang Bai and Zhao Yi clinked bottles and drank two beers. During this time, Bai Shuiji changed her mind and decided to go with Zhao Yi. The events of the Butcher game made Bai Shuiji realize the importance of strength in this world.
"Good luck!" Fang Bai saw them off at the guild's base.
The three of them headed once more to the abandoned station. Entering through the station entrance, they greeted the Clown and proceeded to the platform through the ticket gate.
The dim platform was littered with broken bodies, but fortunately, many players were around to help clean up. Otherwise, the gruesome scene would be enough to scare off some timid newcomers!
Beside the platform stood a short train on the overgrown tracks, its rusty exterior bearing the marks of time.
Not far from the locomotive's door, a mysterious glowing circle shone. Most players kept their distance, seemingly wary of it. It appeared to be the dungeon's entrance.
"Don't run away! Just because many have died doesn't mean you shouldn't do the quest!"
"Two talent points!"
Four people stood near the circle, trying to recruit others. The dungeon required a minimum of five and a maximum of nine players to open, but no one was willing to join them.
Zhao Yi and his group approached, introducing themselves briefly. The four were a greasy middle-aged man with a receding hairline named Wang Xu, a quiet girl named Li Miaomiao, a muscular young man named Wen Long, and a white-haired old lady leaning on a cane named Qin Xiufang.
When they heard Zhao Yi was in the team, their expressions changed subtly. The middle-aged man even warmly chatted with Zhao Yi.
Li Miaomiao shot a look of disgust at the greasy man, seemingly repulsed by his clumsy attempt to cozy up to Zhao Yi.
"Since everyone is ready, shall we go in?" The first to speak was the old lady, Qin Xiufang.
The others exchanged glances. Wang Xu said, "Alright, given how many have died, there must be unimaginable dangers inside. We must stick together!"
He extended his hand in the middle, signaling everyone to join in. Li Miaomiao hesitated but reluctantly placed her hand on top.
"Good luck, everyone!" Wang Xu shouted, rallying them.
Then, they stepped into the circle, a white light enveloping them, and they lost consciousness...
...
Boom—
A loud thunderclap sounded, and after being shrouded by dark clouds for so long, the rain finally unleashed its fury on the ground!
Zhao Yi opened his eyes to find himself in the sixth carriage of the train. He surveyed his surroundings.
Outside, it was dark and stormy. The platform was in ruins, devoid of life except for raindrops, and the players' fragmented bodies were nowhere to be seen.
The carriage was filled with a mix of dust and rust. It was vast and empty, the lights flickering incessantly. The atmosphere was cold and deathly silent, with no other players in sight. It seemed they had been scattered.
Slowly rising, Zhao Yi moved to the aisle, ready to explore, when a creepy laugh echoed behind him.
"Hee hee hee..."
Zhao Yi heard the laugh but didn't turn around. Instead, he continued to explore ahead, collecting important items like a box of scattered pencils and an old, graffiti-covered metal pencil case.
Since the dungeon's task was to unravel these grievances, Zhao Yi needed to understand what had happened here.
"Hee hee hee..."
The eerie laugh sounded again, closer this time. It was a little girl's voice, but Zhao Yi still didn't turn around. He examined the pencil case carefully. It was sturdy, not easily deformed by a single hand... but the one Zhao Yi held was twisted from side pressure.
Zhao Yi glanced to the corner of the carriage, where a tattered backpack and a small black suitcase lay. He pondered for a moment.
Putting away the pencil case, he approached the backpack. Inside were elementary school textbooks and notebooks, covered with children's colorful doodles. They held little value.
The notebooks were neatly written, with a parent's signature on every page, indicating the child's parents cared about their child's... academics.
Zhao Yi's gaze shifted to the small black suitcase in the corner.
...
[Luggage: High-level danger]
[Note: You have enough curiosity, but... never try to open it!]
...
Zhao Yi seemed to understand something and walked directly to the suitcase. As he reached it, the eerie laugh came right behind him, almost whispering in his ear!
"Hee hee hee... Open it..."
"Open it!"
"Open it!!"
"Open it!!!"