IALWFIEG ARC1 c1~14~[COMPLETED]

I’m A Little White Flower In An Escape Game

我在逃生游戏做小白花 ☆ 

☆ 1

In the bustling streets of Washington, D.C., car horns blared without interruption as people came and went. At the city’s centre stood Washington MedStar Georgetown Hospital Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the most famous and authoritative hospital in the United States. 

“Beep beep beep ——” Suddenly, a sharp and urgent mechanical beep broke the quiet, empty hospital ward. 

Following the sound, a man’s impatient and irritable voice called out for the nurse and the doctor to come quickly. “Softie is in trouble! If she dies, I want all of you to be buried with her!” His tone was cold and high-handed, shattering the peaceful atmosphere. However, the fatigue and despair in his voice hinted at the heartache he felt. 

Two nurses quickly walked over after hearing the commotion outside the hallway. When the door was pushed open, one of the nurses raised her head and glanced at the door number: Room 339.

It was the hospital room where Miss Bai Ruan Ruan (白软软), the lover of Nan Gong Jue Ao (南宫桀骜), the CEO of the Nangong Group, was staying.

A month ago, Miss Bai donated her kidney and cornea to Nan Gong Jue Ao’s ex-wife, Miss Lin of the infamous Lin Group, on the third day after her abortion. A month later, the Lin Group was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Miss Lin committed suicide by jumping off a building a few days ago.

The high-profile dispute between the two prominent families was lamentable. The love and death drama in Room 339 made countless young nurses sigh secretly. Who could have thought Bai Ruan Ruan, who had finally seen the light after enduring so much hardship, would be diagnosed with incurable leukaemia?

Thinking of this, the young nurse sighed and quickly walked in, rushing to the bedside.

Nan Gong Jue Ao’s beloved Bai Ruan Ruan was lying on the hospital bed. She had a small and delicate face, round and black eyes, pale skin, and a slender and weak body, looking all frail and helpless and arousing sympathy. Due to the loss of her eye corners, her once-beautiful eyes were now lifeless, and her lips had lost their natural colour. Her once-luxuriant hair was now tangled and scattered on the pillow. Her entire body emitted a strong, sickly odour.

The young nurse’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She knew Bai Ruan Ruan was beyond cure and on the brink of death.

“Softie, hold on. Think about our future together. We can still have children, and I will marry you!” A handsome but dishevelled man tightly held the girl’s hand, continuously begging, “This is the best hospital in the world. They will save you. You will survive!”

The ruthless CEO, a formidable force outside, now appeared like a wounded beast, powerless and crying mournfully.

“It’s no use, Jueao… I knew this day would come long ago…”

Bai Ruan Ruan coughed painfully twice and weakly reached out a hand to touch Nan Gong Jue Ao’s face. A tear rolled down the corner of her eye, and her lifeless pupils displayed a heart-wrenching sadness. “Nan Gong Jue Ao, I’m sorry. I love you…” As she begged forgiveness, she could no longer stay by his side.

“Softie——!”

【Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully cleared the B-level difficulty world  《The CEO’s Thirty-Nine-Day Quest for Love》. Your White Lotus Flower rating is A. You completed five random tasks and earned a total of 3,000 points. The settlement will be made after leaving the world!】 

【Would you like to leave this world immediately?】 

“Yes.”

Amidst the man’s heart-wrenching roar, Bai Ruan Ruan contentedly closed her eyes and pressed the death button.

【Pleasant cooperation, Host. Looking forward to our next meeting.】 

With the mechanical sound of the system, her soul was taken away from this world and returned to the real world.

It turned out that Bai Ruan Ruan was not a native character of that world but an ordinary person from the 21st century who was bound to the 【White Lotus System.】 Her real name was Ruan Bai (阮白), and Bai Ruan Ruan was a false name given to her by the system.

After an accident, Ruan Bai found herself bound to the White Lotus System. Her task was to play the role of a white lotus in various worlds and complete different scenarios. At the same time, the system evaluated her performance and awarded points based on her acting skills. The higher her score, the more points she could earn. In addition to using points to redeem items from the system store, each point could also be exchanged for 100 Chinese yuan in real life.

Ruan Bai was very poor, losing her parents at a young age and relying solely on the system for her livelihood. Her grandparents’ health was deteriorating, and she needed money to care for them. The White Lotus System was now her only source of money.

After completing four performances with high levels of acting, she received an unprecedented A-level evaluation. However, she did not show much excitement when she looked at the points in her hand.

“3000 points, minus 1000 needed to buy props in the next world, the rest can only be exchanged for 200,000… it seems like it’s still not enough,” Ruan Bai calculated. After paying off the debt she owed earlier, she only had a few tens of thousands left. Her grandmother recently fell seriously ill, and they had to buy back the old house they had sold. This little money was not enough.

Looking at the balance in her hand, Ruan Bai couldn’t wait to conquer the new world plot again. If she remembered correctly, after clearing a world, if her performance rating could reach S-level, the system would reward her 10,000 points, which would be one million yuan when exchanged. Even if it was only A-level, 200,000 yuan would be enough for her to spend until graduation.

【Recently, it seems there are no world suitable for you to go to…】 The voice of the White Lotus System hesitated, seeming to be selecting an appropriate location: 【 Host, do you have any requirements for the world? For example, one that does not consume too much physical energy or is not too dangerous.】 

“No, any world is fine,” Ruan Bai replied confidently. “System, please choose for me.”

Although she looked thin and small, she was pretty strong and could carry three water buckets without any issue. At first, those scenarios had scared her, but she had since overcome her fear and entrusted herself to the system.

Ruan Bai had experienced even the most bizarre plot: being eight months pregnant, drawing eight hundred millilitres of blood, and immediately having to switch hearts for the CEO’s lover after a miscarriage.

At first, she would tremble with fear and cry, thinking that she would probably die in this other world. She even wrote a farewell letter to her grandparents. She entrusted it to the system, making it swear to deliver it to them. But after spending so much time in these worlds, Ruan Bai has begun to doubt the natural structure of the human body.

【Doesn’t require much physical strength and isn’t too dangerous… Ah, here we go! There happens to be a world missing a host!】 the system announced. A few seconds later, the system made a cheerful notification sound.

【The B-level difficulty world  《Survive the Mermaid Village》 has been located. Will the Host proceed immediately?】 

“–Yes!” Ruan Bai replied without hesitation.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, doubts filled her mind. The name  《Survive the Mermaid Village》 was strange… But before she could express anything, the system’s notifications came one after another:

【Ding! The Host has confirmed without error. After scanning and testing, host Ruan Bai has opened the fifth world.】 

【Data import has begun… Import complete.】 

【This world is relatively dangerous. We will not be responsible for any deaths. Please be careful, Host.】 

【The mission world is starting – five, four, three, two, one!】 

——— Translator’s Notes ——— 

Ruan Bai 阮白 

Ruǎn = ruan, a four-stringed Chinese lute; 

Bái = white / snowy / pure / bright / empty / blank / plain / clear 

Bai Ruan Ruan 白软软  

Bái = white / snowy / pure / bright / empty / blank / plain / clear 

Ruan = soft / flexible 

MC’s nickname Softie

ARC 1: 《Mermaid Village》 c2~14 

☆2

When Ruan Bai opened her eyes again, she was no longer in her dormitory. She was sitting on a bus that seemed to be travelling towards an unknown destination. The cabin was dark and gloomy, with the silhouettes of seven or eight passengers faintly visible. A sea of white mist engulfed everything outside the window, obscuring any view of the outside world. 

The bus continued moving forward slowly, and the constant shaking made Ruan Bai uncomfortable, causing her to cough and feel unwell. Looking around at her surroundings, Ruan Bai was surprised. It was the first time she had been transported to such a place. In her previous worlds, she had either become a pure and innocent female waitress working in a bar or she woke up lying on a vast bed next to a black business card. 

Thinking of the name of this world and how it differed from the other worlds she had experienced, Ruan Bai guessed that this might be an unconventional white lotus world? She looked down and found that her clothing had changed from the usual white dress to simple, practical, short-sleeved long pants. The shoes on her feet were actually a pair of sneakers! 

How could this be!? 

Without hesitation, Ruan Bai immediately opened the system store and spent 9.9 points to exchange for several sets of elegant and graceful white dresses and a pair of white flat shoes. At the same time, she quickly untied her hairband, skillfully let her hair fall loosely on her shoulders, and tied it up into a simple and cute lopsided ponytail. 

In any case, earning points was the key. She couldn’t lose her innocent and pure white lotus image at any time! After these adjustments, the other people on the bus gradually woke up. 

Ruan Bai quietly glanced around and found fifteen people on the bus beside her, ten men and five women, mostly aged between teens and thirties. What perplexed her was the simplicity of everyone’s appearance, with no one in a sharp suit or a woman with legs for days, a slender waist, and fiery red lips. The people here seemed plain, lacking any distinguishable features that would make them stand out from the crowd. 

A young girl, who looked like a student, noticed something was amiss and screamed, “What’s going on? Why am I here?”

Immediately, the others began to stir.

“—I was sleeping at home…”

“—What kind of place is this!?”

Three or four young men and women were crying and screaming, running around like they had gone mad.

What kind of spectacle was this? Ruan Bai looked at the group of people shouting and yelling and saw that others were cool and collected, leaving her increasingly puzzled.

Not only did she not see the male lead and the vicious female lead, but now she was lumped together with a group of strange people. What was the system up to?

But if she heard correctly, someone seemed to have been brought here while sleeping at home…

Wait a minute, could this be a reality show!?

Ruan Bai’s first experience was a script sponsored by a rich entertainment company. She also participated in such unexpected reality show activities. … Although she performed very poorly at that time and only scored a C in the final evaluation.

After understanding everything, Ruan Bai suddenly became enlightened.

These people running around were probably participating in their first reality show. They were unprepared for it, while the calm and collected others had probably already figured out the situation. As for why some people looked rather ordinary and didn’t meet the standards of the entertainment industry, it was also easy to understand. Some reality shows invite outstanding people from other industries as guests. They don’t necessarily have to be picked from the entertainment industry.

She did not spot the director or any camera-wielding crew members, indicating that this could be a fully covert shoot, aiming to capture the most authentic reactions from the guests.

Ruan Bai smiled with poise to maintain her image and retook her seat, hoping her earlier hair-styling mishap would not make it into the final cut.

Perhaps she performed too well as a bespectacled man with an air of refinement approached her. He sat beside her and sighed, “I never expected so many newcomers this time. It’s quite chaotic, and who knows if any trouble will arise.”

Was he complaining? As a “white lotus” character, badmouthing must be avoided at all costs, especially on a reality show. Did he think she would take the bait?

“Perhaps they were just startled. Softie was afraid at first, too.” Ruan Bai narrowed her eyes and put on a look of confusion mixed with innocence. “Also, big brother, how could you say such things about them? It’s too much. Aren’t we a team? We should help each other out.”

After experiencing several worlds, Ruan Bai fully grasped the preferences of these non-playable characters (NPCs). The more foolish or ignorant she sounded, the more they liked her, and the higher her score would be. She was confident that after saying this, the man in front of her would feel ashamed and apologise profusely, falling deeply in love with her for being so pure, genuine, and adorable.

The bespectacled man remained silent momentarily before apologising and hastily departing, much to Ruan Bai’s confusion. As she pondered his sudden departure, a mocking chuckle sounded from behind her, quickly followed by a stranger’s voice.

“Do you not know that this is a game of survival?” The man drawled slowly, his tone both haughty and aloof.

Startled, Ruan Bai spun around to face the source of the voice, only to find a man in his early twenties towering over her with an air of superiority. He was strikingly handsome with pale skin, jet-black hair, a straight nose, and long, finely-arched eyebrows. His eyes were a deep shade of black, and his thin lips were pursed in a cold, detached manner, exuding an air of indifference.

It appeared that this man had been observing her exchange with the bespectacled man, though to what extent, Ruan Bai couldn’t be sure. As she turned to face him, the man flashed a wry grin and introduced himself as Gu San.

“Are you new here?” he inquired. “Why don’t you join my group? I can explain the rules of the game to you.”

“My name is Bai Ruan Ruan,” Ruan Bai replied eagerly, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of making a new acquaintance. “I am indeed new here and know nothing about this game. Could you please explain it to me?”

With her experience of traversing through four different worlds, she had learned that the more attractive a man was, the more likely he was to be the male lead or the second male lead. The appearance of these male and second male leads would trigger all sorts of random missions, which also meant that her points would skyrocket. She couldn’t let this opportunity slip away!

“The Escape Game, as the name suggests, is just a game.” Gu San was unsure of Ruan Bai’s thoughts, so he gave a brief introduction, “As a player, all you need to do is follow the tasks that are released, clear the game, and you’ll survive.”

Clear the game to survive?

Ruan Bai looked at Gu San and around her, testingly asking, “What if I fail the game?”

“Then, of course, you’ll die.” Gu San said indifferently.

Die?

Ruan Bai was slightly startled.

This reality show’s setting was really… odd?

“Yes, that’s right. If you fail the game, you’ll die in the real world.” Seeing Ruan Bai hesitate, Gu San chuckled lightly and said, “Of course, if you don’t believe me, you can try it out. I won’t stop you.”

“— I want to quit! Let me leave; I don’t want to participate in this cursed game!”

While Gu San was explaining the situation to Ruan Bai, veteran players around them were impatiently explaining the game’s rules to the “newbies.” One of the boys showed a lot of resistance, even waving his hand to interrupt a player, shouting angrily, “Driver, stop the bus! Let me get off, let me get off!”

The nearby veteran players sneered upon hearing this. At the same time, the driver sitting in the front seat obediently changed his driving action. The next second, the bus suddenly stopped, and the rear door was opened, revealing a white fog outside.

Upon seeing this, the young man’s face was filled with joy. He ran out like a madman, followed by two other new players who couldn’t help but stand up. These people were all itching to follow suit, but Ruan Bai’s heart tightened, sensing that things were not that simple.

Sure enough, not long after, “Aaahh–” The sound was so ear-piercing as if the wails of countless lost souls directly penetrated her brain, scaring Ruan Bai to tremble.

As the scream subsided, a warm blood splatter splashed on the bus exit. The bright red colour seemed to carry a bone-chilling coldness permeating into everyone’s eyes.

After seeing this scene, Ruan Bai knew that the young man was probably dead. Gu San was not wrong; this place was really a death trap.

Everyone who wanted to follow outside sat back down. Under the cold light, everyone’s face turned pale. Among this group of people, Ruan Bai had the worst expression.

Even if she were slow-witted, she would still had sensed something was wrong from the death of the new player just now. Was this really just a reality show? Were the people around her just NPCs, or were they all like her, host bodies with their own system?

She didn’t know the answer or understand what to do. She just sat silently in her seat, waiting for the bus to reach its destination.

After an unknown amount of time, a boy suddenly shouted, breaking the silence: “Oi, we’re almost there!”

As Ruan Bai looked out the window, she saw that the thick white fog had lifted, revealing a remote and desolate village ahead. The village was sparsely populated, with a few elderly people sitting outside their homes in the sun. However, in the distance, she could see a murky black fog shrouding the entire village, giving it a sense of lifelessness.

As soon as she laid eyes on the village, a bold red text popped up in front of her: 【Destination:  《Mermaid Village》 has been reached】 

【Game Objective: Survive for 3 days and uncover the secrets of Mermaid Village】 【Game Progress: 0】 

【Game Countdown: 71 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds】 

【Number of Participating Players: 15】 

【All Players Are Now Ready. Let the game 《Survive the Mermaid Village》 begin!】 

——— Translator’s Notes ——— 

Gu San (顾三): San means “three.” It’s common for people to be referred to by their surname followed by a number, especially in online games or forums. 

The Escape Game (逃杀游戏): literally translate to “flee and kill the game.”

☆3

Exploring the Secrets of the Mermaid Village and Surviving for Three Days? 

Upon seeing the bold red letters floating before her eyes, Ruan Bai finally realised that she had been tricked by the White Lotus Flower system! What kind of reality show was this? It was all fake! 

She knew about the Infinite Horror X genre. She understood that she had somehow been transported into an Escape Game, becoming one of its players! 

Suppressing her anger, she frantically called to the system within her mind: ‘Hey? System? Are you there?’ 

After asking the question, she felt a sharp pain deep within her brain. Then, a slightly stuttering mechanical voice sounded in her ear: 

【Zi zi…Host…Zi…Hello…】 

Hearing this familiar robotic voice, Ruan Bai squinted her eyes and said, ‘Hurry up and tell me what’s going on when you come out! Don’t dawdle!’ 

While she was confident in her strength and believed she could handle danger, she was also aware of her limitations. The Escape Game vastly differed from the worlds of “CEO Domineering Love” she had experienced before. She could actually die here! 

Just as Ruan Bai was getting frustrated, her system sensed something was amiss. 

【Huh? Wait a minute; something doesn’t seem right.】 

【Click…Slk–…Click…】 

【Oh, okay, I see what happened. I accidentally tuned to the work area of the Escape Game system.】 

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope ignited within Ruan Bai’s heart. Does this mean that she has a chance to leave? However, in the next moment, the White Lotus System continued its soliloquy. 

【Well, let’s just deal with the wrong frequency. It’s still possible to get through it.】 Ruan Bai: “…” No! Wake up! How can you just make do with this kind of situation! 

As Ruan Bai’s vision faded and she almost passed out, the other players started to move.

A man in his thirties stood first, looking sternly at the others. “I assume everyone has received their respective systems and knows their tasks now?” He pointed to himself and volunteered, “Let’s unite first to complete the task and introduce ourselves. My name is Qin Yu. I have cleared this type of game instance three times before. This is my fourth time playing.” 

“I’m Wang Wen Wen, and this is my first time playing,” a high school girl who looked about sixteen stood up nervously and said. She seemed to have cried until her eyes had turned red.  

Ruan Bai remembered that she was among the group of frenzied people just now. “I’m Li Huo, and this is my second time playing,” a boy said. His demeanour was noticeably calmer and more composed now.

“I’m also playing for the second time, and my name is Wang Lu…”

Hearing the discussion among the other players, Ruan Bai couldn’t help but lift her head and ask without hope, ‘System, is there really no way for me to leave?’ Does she also have to stay here for three days like the others?

【I do apologise, dear host, but your own words confirmed your entry into this world,】 said the White Lotus Flower System without mercy. 【Now that your identity has been recorded, there’s no way to change or delete it.】 Afterwards, it added: 【Of course, even though you find yourself in an Escape Game, your score reward upon completion will be determined by your performance. Please hold on, dear host, and strive to become a weak, pitiful, innocent, and pure White Lotus Flower, no matter the circumstances.】 

Ruan Bai couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. She understood that even in an Escape Game, she had to maintain her damn White Lotus persona.

At that moment, she pinched her arm without hesitation. Her tears started flowing uncontrollably. How could a normal White Lotus Flower keep her composure in such a situation?

Ruan Bai wasn’t foolish; she knew that if she continued to speak in the same manner as she did with the bespectacled man on the bus, she would only incur the disdain of the other players.

Since that path was no longer viable, she decided to feign weakness. Although sobbing incessantly would undoubtedly irritate those around her, it would also lower their guard and even evoke some sympathy.

If this was the world she had found herself in, she had to strive to survive.

Everyone had already introduced themselves by now. It was Ruan Bai’s turn to do so. While trembling and sobbing, she forced out her name: “My name is Bai Ruan Ruan. Where am I? Can I go home?” Her eyes were swollen. Her pale face was incredibly frail-looking, which added to her pitiful demeanour.

“This is an Escape Game, and we are all hosts of the Escape Game system and players.” Perhaps seeing how much she was crying, a gentle young woman in her twenties next to her said, “Don’t worry, after completing the tasks released by the system, you can go back. The B-level world difficulty isn’t too hard.” 

She seemed to want to say something more, but her two teammates had unhappy looks on their faces, and one of them even pulled her, making her close her mouth involuntarily.

Ruan Bai saw this scene but pretended not to see it, obediently nodding her head after the introduction.

It turned out that these people were all like her, the system’s hosts.

However, the Escape Game system seemed different from her White Lotus Flower Development System.

After Ruan Bai finished introducing herself, everyone exited the car and walked toward the mermaid village, preparing to find a household to stay in.

To smoothly enter the village and explore its secrets, they told the old people they were city tourists who planned to stay in the mermaid village for three days.

Ruan Bai deeply understood the logic of “less talk, less mistake”, following them not too far away while crying softly and looking at the terrain around the mermaid village.

Surrounded by rugged mountains and dense forests lay a small village. Despite its pristine natural surroundings, the village was humble and small, comprising no more than twenty to thirty households. The inhabitants were either elderly or children, and the presence of young adults was scarce.

Fields lay on the village’s outskirts, but many lay abandoned, overrun with weeds and forlorn. A small stream flowed softly on the left side of the village, it’s trickling waters a gentle accompaniment to the peaceful ambience.

A hidden Taoist temple lay nestled among the overlapping trees on a nearby hillside. Its timeworn facade blended in with the surrounding foliage. Unless one was observant, it was easy to miss its presence.

The prospect of money had lured many villagers into agreeing to provide lodging for the newcomers. When it was their turn to choose, Gu San didn’t make a decision immediately but instead turned to Ruan Bai, lifted his chin, and asked her to choose.

Ruan Bai scanned their options and, wiping away her tears, shook her head and said, “It doesn’t matter to me; you decide.”

Gu San smiled mysteriously, his eyes shining with amusement. “Stop pretending to cry,” he said, seeing through her act.

She had played the role of four different White Lotus women across various worlds. Do you think she would admit it so readily? Puzzled, she looked at Gu San, blinked, and pretended not to understand what he was talking about.

Seeing her reaction, Gu San chuckled disdainfully, wasting no more words on her. He headed straight for the nearest household, where an elderly woman and her young grandson greeted them with curious eyes.

Ruan Bai couldn’t help but feel the villagers covertly scrutinised them as they passed by.

Eyes followed their every move as they made their way to the homestead, their cold and eerie probing gazes unnerving. Ruan Bai caught a glimpse of the villagers’ scrutiny, but as soon as she turned to meet their stare, they averted their gaze.

The elderly woman ushered them into a guest room and served a modest dinner. Gu San remained stoic throughout the meal, and Ruan Bai, wary of his mercurial temperament, opted to keep her distance. She knew that, as a despised weakling, her fate rested solely in Gu San’s hands. She couldn’t afford to rub him the wrong way. So, she held her tongue and awaited his following command, determined to survive at any cost.

Amidst the silence, they quickly finished their dinner. After the elderly woman cleared away the dishes, Gu San suddenly lifted his head and asked her, “Grandmother, which deity is worshipped in the Taoist temple over there? Is it the Sanqing Daozu?”

Like Ruan Bai, he had also noticed the temple.

The elderly woman shook her head in response and corrected them, “It’s not Sanqing; it’s the deity of the mermaid Ah Ma that’s being worshipped.” She smiled mysteriously and added, “She is the protector of our village.”

Mermaid Ah Ma? Ruan Bai recalled observing the outskirts of the village upon arrival and had noticed that the village was surrounded by mountains, with no other water sources except for a small river that flowed through the area. Aren’t mermaids supposed to live in the sea? How did this guardian deity come to be?

As the evening fell and the sky outside grew dark, the lights in the surrounding houses were turned off one by one, plunging the entire village into darkness. 

After a long day of bus travel, Ruan Bai and the others were exhausted. Having hastily finished their meal and failing to glean any helpful information, they retired to their room to rest. Though they were now alone in the same room, precautions against any possible romantic entanglements were unnecessary in these circumstances.

The room had two beds, one for each of them. Ruan Bai yawned. After washing up, she got ready to go to bed. Amid the silence, she eventually closed her eyes and drifted asleep.

However, in the middle of the night, Ruan Bai suddenly awakened. She couldn’t quite explain the feeling, but in her half-awake state, she felt like someone was staring at her. Accompanying the gaze was the sound of dripping water.

“Drip…drip-drip…”

The intensity of the other person’s gaze sent shivers down Ruan Bai’s spine, causing her to open her eyes drowsily. And then, she saw it: a woman’s face was pressed against the window from the outside.

——— Translator’s Notes ——— 

秦宇 (Qin Yu)  宇 (yǔ) means “universe” or “cosmos,

王雯雯 (Wang Wen Wen)  王 (wáng) meaning “king” or “monarch.” The two characters 雯雯 (wén wén) together are a given name and mean “charming and graceful.”

李火 (Li Huo) 李 (lǐ) meaning “plum.” The second character 火 (huǒ) means “fire,” so the name can be interpreted to mean “plum fire.”

王路 (Wang Lu) 王 (wáng) means “king” or “monarch,” and the second character 路 (lù) means “road” or “path.” So, the name can be interpreted to mean “the road of the king.”

三清道祖 (Sānqīng Dàozǔ) Refers to the Three Pure Ones in Daoism, the highest deities in the Daoist pantheon.

阿妈 (Ah Ma): In Hokkien dialect, “Ah Ma” means “grandmother.”

☆4

The woman’s face was young yet ghastly pale, swelling as if soaked in water for too long. Her round eyes were devoid of eyelids. Her thin, wide mouth pressed tightly against the glass, appearing highly deformed. 

Ruan Bai woke up in terror at the sight of her. Her breath caught, and her heart raced with such ferocity that it almost deafened her. As the woman’s gaze shifted to Gu San, Ruan Bai shut her eyes and feigned sleep, determined not to be discovered. She trembled as her pulse quickened, straining to hear anything beyond the deafening rhythm of her heart. 

“—Drip, drip…~”

Outside, the monotonous dripping of water droplets resumed, echoing in the silence. Did the woman depart, or would she return? Ruan Bai’s fingers clenched involuntarily as she focused entirely on the faint noise…

【Oh, host, you’re awake!】 Suddenly, a loud mechanical voice broke the silence. 【I was just thinking about how to wake you up; you pretended to sleep so well.】 

‘System?’ Ruan Bai thought, feeling an ominous premonition. 

Sure enough, the next second, the cheerful sound of the system’s prompt rang out: 

【Ding! Host, please be aware that a random task has been issued: Cry and scream, as much as possible, to show your insecurity and vulnerability!】 

【Encountering something terrible, how can a lotus-like you remain calm? Boldly express your white lotus love!】 

Ruan Bai: “..???” 

Ruan Bai was bewildered. Was the system malfunctioning? The woman outside the door hadn’t left yet. If she screamed, she would definitely attract her attention! 

【Of course, considering the dire consequences and tremendous risk, after this mission is completed, the bonus points will double to 1000!】 

A thousand points for a random task alone? Completing six such tasks in her previous world earned her an A-level rating of only 3000 points.

Ruan Bai hesitated momentarily but then decided to take the risk. This was a B-level difficulty world; if the system had assigned the task, there must be a way to fulfil it.

Facing the woman outside, she pinched her thigh fiercely, tears welling up in her eyes, and screamed loudly, “Ah, there’s a ghost–” 

The scream seemed to trigger something, causing the woman outside to pause. She twisted her mouth at Ruan Bai with a sardonic laugh, casting her a sinister look.

“Hurry, let’s go!” exclaimed Gu San, who had feigned sleep until Ruan Bai’s screams jolted him into action.

He had also been pretending to sleep, his eyes squeezed shut and his breathing shallow. When he saw Ruan Bai’s panicked expression and heard her piercing scream, he jumped out of bed and pulled her towards the door, stumbling in haste.

However, to their dismay, the previously unlocked door refused to yield, as if a supernatural force had added an extra layer of resistance, blocking their escape.

With a fierce scowl, Gu San kicked the door with all his might, but to no avail. It remained stubbornly in place, mocking their attempts to break free. Trapped, they had no choice but to face whatever lay ahead.

“This isn’t a physical attack??” Gu San quirked an eyebrow, his surprise palpable. “In a B-level world, there’s a ghost with this ability?”

Ruan Bai, unable to comprehend his remarks, asked, “Does the game’s difficulty have anything to do with physical attacks? Why would it be worse?”

Were these Escape Games populated with monsters that employed various attack types, such as psychological or chemical warfare?

Gu San appeared astonished at her ignorance. “You truly don’t know? Are you genuinely a newcomer?”

Ruan Bai: “…”

Ruan Bai confirmed with a curt nod. So he had assumed she was an experienced player? But why her? Then again, which newcomer would be as eccentric and bizarre as she was, mistaking this game for a reality show and constantly changing her appearance like a chameleon?

While they spoke, a thick mist had enshrouded the window, casting an ethereal veil over the room. Cold, damp air seeped through the gaps in the window and door, sending shivers down their spines.

“—Drip, drip, drip…tick-tock…~.”

Observing Gu San’s furrowed brow as he pounded on the door, Ruan Bai was regretful amid the chaos. She had assumed the woman would only attack her. Still, she hadn’t anticipated being locked in, involving the innocent Gu San unwittingly.

The water had already risen to their feet. A bone-chilling cold spread throughout the room, engulfing them.

Gu San pulled Ruan Bai back a few steps, avoiding the seemingly alive water on the ground. He clenched his lips, his expression colder than the weather.

The woman outside the window stared at the two trapped like caged beasts, her eyes wide open, and began laughing. However, her laughter abruptly ceased after only a couple of chuckles.

“You have legs…you are normal people…” She gazed enviously at Ruan Bai and Gu San’s legs, her face grotesquely contorted. “Why am I like this? Why am I like this?”

As she spoke the last few words, a chillingly vicious undertone crept into her words, sending a shiver down Ruan Bai’s spine.

After being asked several times, Ruan Bai instinctively shook her head, feeling she should not answer the question. Meanwhile, Gu San grew impatient with the woman’s incessant babbling.

He sneered at her enlarged pupils and receding hairline, quipping, “Did your mother braid your hair too tightly?”

The woman: “…”

Ruan Bai: “…”

In the next second, the woman flew into a rage, and the water in the room began to churn!

The woman let out an enraged scream that echoed through the room. Its high pitch was not something a human could produce. As her voice faded, the water in the room surged and coalesced like tentacles attacking Ruan Bai and their companion.

Oh no, this woman is attacking them! Will they die here? Ruan Bai dodged to the side in a panic, scanning her surroundings with rapid thought.

“Don’t be afraid. She can’t get in here. At most, she’ll use water to attack us,” Gu San said as he pulled Ruan Bai onto the table, elongating his voice in a lazy drawl. “Even if the water comes in, it’ll be slow. We can drag it out until dawn and see what she can do to us.”

Some kind of restriction must prevent the woman from entering the house. Even if she hates Gu San to death, she can only stand outside the window and glare at him.

After hearing Gu San’s words, the woman outside gave them a fierce glance, her expression becoming more resentful. However, she remained motionless, caught out by his words.

Ruan Bai thought, ‘Is he doing this on purpose? Does he want to provoke the woman outside? Is Gu San tired of living?’ Despite Gu San’s casual tone, Ruan Bai could sense his tension. They couldn’t stay up all night, so they needed to find a solution soon.

However, Gu San’s words reduced Ruan Bai’s inner fear. In a B-level world, an abnormally powerful monster must have many scruples to attack and balance the difficulty.

This was a game, not a slaughter. It will give players a chance to escape. Ruan Bai needed to carefully consider what details might help.

The woman outside was not an average person. She could be a ghost or demon; their enemies were usually gods or bodhisattvas.

In a sudden realization, Ruan Bai yelled at the woman, “Ah Ma…the mermaid Ah Ma!”

The woman’s expression changed instantly.

“—Ding Dong… Ding Dong…~.”

As Ruan Bai’s voice faded, a distant and solemn bell rang, repeatedly tolling as if warning of something. The woman looked frightened, and the water in the room began to recede.

After half a minute, the woman disappeared, much to Ruan Bai’s relief. The temperature gradually rose. The sound of cicadas on a summer night replaced the quiet outside. The danger had passed.

【Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the random task and earning 1000 points!】 Ruan Bai collapsed onto the ground, relieved to successfully complete the Escape Game mini instance. She found it more exciting than the world she had left behind.

Gu San congratulated her reluctantly: “As a newcomer, you did well and have great potential. You’re barely qualified to be my teammate.” He seemed unsurprised by the woman’s departure, as if he had known it would happen all along but never said anything.

After careful consideration, Ruan Bai realized that Gu San had remained calm and even provoked the woman during the sudden situation. He must have known how to solve it; perhaps he was testing her.

With this in mind, Ruan Bai smiled at Gu San, realizing she knew nothing as a newcomer and was not entitled to anyone’s help. She also acknowledged that the unwarranted disaster was all because of her scream.

Even though it was only to complete a random task, Ruan Bai caused trouble for Gu San. Realising this, she felt a twinge of embarrassment and lowered her head. “Gu San, I’m sorry. I’m too cowardly and disturbed, that monster,” she said.

“There’s no need to apologise. It’s not your fault,” surprisingly, Gu San didn’t ridicule her. He shook his head and calmly stated, “I woke up before you did. That woman stood motionless outside the window for a long time, staring at us. She had no intention of leaving. Even if you hadn’t called out, she would have eventually made her move.”

So that was it. Upon hearing Gu San’s words, Ruan Bai finally felt her heart relax.

But Gu San’s brow remained furrowed, showing no signs of relief.

“…Let’s go. Let’s go outside and look,” he whispered after a moment. “I had a feeling that she would choose this room. There must be a reason for it.”

☆5

“Go out now?!” exclaimed Ruan Bai, surprised. “Won’t it be dangerous?” 

Gu San wanted to go out right after the female ghost had left?

“Some experienced players have summarized a game rule called ‘danger limit’,” Gu San explained. “To allow players time to rest and adjust the difficulty, the time interval for encountering danger varies in different levels of Escape Games.”

“For instance, in this B-level world, if I face a crisis now, I will be in a protected state for the next period of time, and there will be no danger. Whereas in an S-level world, danger occurs every minute. Players must figure out how to rest by themselves.”

Ruan Bai understood everything immediately.

At that moment, the door could be easily pushed open. They tiptoed out of the room and walked to the window where the woman had stood, looking around.

And with a single glance, they spotted the problem.

On the eaves of every household in the village hung a small wooden plaque with cinnabar-written talismans.

The mermaid village in the dark night was shrouded in a dense black mist that was almost solid, and everything around became blurry in the fog. Only the rune on each wooden plaque shone like a red light in the darkness, swaying with the wind, casting a shallow red light on the street.

And outside the window of their room, there should have been a wooden plaque with such a talisman. Yet, someone had cut the rope, removing the wooden plaque and leaving only a red string hanging from the eaves.

“What are these? Can they protect us?” Ruan Bai asked, looking around and then up at the thin rope above her head. All the symbols were in red, which made her feel uneasy rather than safe. “Were we the ones to be attacked because someone cut off our window’s talisman?”

“Most likely,” Gu San replied, his voice turning cold as he examined the cut rope’s end. “And it’s probably happened within the last few days.”

The cut was fresh, without any dust, unlike an old scar.

Ruan Bai began searching the area for any signs of the culprit. She didn’t know who this person was, but perhaps they left something behind that could lead her to them.

She soon noticed a footprint beneath her feet. When the female ghost had left earlier, she took the water from inside the room but left the outside soil wet and muddy, making the footprint clearly visible.

“The footprint is small, like mine, and probably belongs to a woman,” Ruan Bai said, comparing it to her own foot. “I don’t think it’s the female ghost’s footprint.”

The female ghost seemed to hate ordinary people like them deeply, so Ruan Bai speculated that someone else must have left the footprint.

So who was the person who cut the wooden plaque to harm them? A villager or a player?

Gu San didn’t comment on her speculation. “Let’s go back,” he said lightly. “Get some rest, and we’ll check again tomorrow.”

After careful consideration, Ruan Bai thought these were probably the only clues that could be found. So she nodded and followed Gu San back to the room.

However, the moment they entered the room, Ruan Bai suddenly felt something and turned her head to look at the house not far away. She saw a ghostly white face stuck to the window, which made her hair stand on end. It was watching them.

“What’s wrong?” Gu San noticed Ruan Bai’s hesitation and asked inside the room.

Ruan Bai’s fingers trembled, and she was about to say something, but it quickly disappeared after the ghostly face glanced at her. She took a deep breath and finally swallowed her words, entering the room.

Having just completed a random task, Ruan Bai now had 1000 points in her hand. After being stared at by the ghostly face, she worried that something might happen later. Hence, she opened the system mall and prepared to exchange two life-saving items.

However, as she looked closer, she saw that everything inside was full of “beauty pills,” “pitiful face mask,” and “medicine for a weak constitution, no matter how much you eat.”

Ruan Bai hesitated and asked with difficulty, “Um, Gu San, what kind of items can be exchanged for points in your system mall?”

Gu San’s voice remained calm, “The items include dolls that can sacrifice themselves for you, invisibility symbols that conceal you from others, and mirrors that unveil the truth.”

Noticing Ruan Bai’s distressed expression, Gu San paused and asked, “Is everything okay?”

Ruan Bai replied, “It’s nothing.” Can she delete her account and start afresh?

【System: These are all fated choices, host. Heaven knows your ultimate destiny should be beautiful and pitiful, so it hasn’t granted you any useless or fake props.】 

Ruan Bai thought to herself, ‘I may not know my destiny, but I’m certain yours is me!’ She would have pounded the system for three days and nights if the system were tangible.

Unable to purchase any life-saving props and feeling drained, Ruan Bai returned to bed disappointedly and closed her eyes to sleep.

The night was dreamless.

The next day, Ruan Bai was jolted awake by a shriek. It emerged that, apart from their team, several other player teams had encountered deaths, some of them players, some of them villagers. Initially, there were fifteen players, but after one night, only twelve remained.

When Ruan Bai and Gu San hastened over, they discerned that the spirits of some of the new players were disturbed. Knowing this was a death Escape Game was one thing, but confronting death was another.

“We dozed off last night and have no recollection of what happened,” Qin Yu lamented. “Moments ago, I called him to wake up, but he didn’t budge. I assumed he was still sleeping…” 

His teammate died last night, but he didn’t exhibit much emotion. Perhaps he had grown accustomed to death.

Beside them, the new high school student, Wang Wen Wen, had slightly swollen eyes and a panicked demeanour. Her tears had just subsided, and the white-collar worker who had consoled Ruan Bai earlier was now whispering to her.

“Sob…I want to go home…I don’t want to stay here,” Wang Wen Wen choked through her tears. “What did I do wrong? Why do I have to suffer this?” 

Upon hearing this, Ruan Bai may have been infected by the despair in her tone. Her mood worsened as well. Who would willingly partake in such a twisted game if given a chance? The first night in the B-level world had already claimed three lives. If three more suns set, less than half would remain alive. The unnaturally high death toll weighed heavily on Ruan Bai’s mind.

As Gu San departed, he gave Ruan Bai a subtle nod, conveying an unspoken message. Taking advantage of the distraction, Ruan Bai slipped away and investigated the two vacant homes covertly.

As expected, the wooden signs hanging outside each residence had been deliberately cut. The evidence indicated that someone within their group was targeting her fellow players.

After confirming her suspicions, Ruan Bai returned to the others, now gathered in the quarters previously occupied by Qin Yu and his companion, silently observing the body of a fallen comrade.

Peering through the open doorway, she caught sight of the corpse sprawled on the bed, his face serene as if in slumber. But his lower extremities had been violently amputated, leaving behind a ghastly, blood-soaked wound.

Despite bracing herself, Ruan Bai couldn’t help but recoil in shock, her complexion draining colour.

As Ruan Bai emerged from the room, Gu San found an excuse to follow her outside. She could sense his suspicion and revealed her recent discoveries in a hushed tone.

“I see,” Gu San said calmly, studying the players in the room before turning to Ruan Bai. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Ruan Bai felt the weight of his words. With so many groups of villagers being killed, the possibility of saboteurs among them was all too real. But what motive could the players possibly have for turning on each other? Wasn’t their objective simply to survive?

Noticing Ruan Bai’s confusion, Gu San explained, “It’s common for there to be wolfs among the players. Did you read the mission assigned by the system when we entered the game?”

Ruan Bai nodded, remembering her mission to survive for three days and uncover the secret of the mermaid village.

“That’s right,” Gu San said. “Each player has their own set of tasks. While our missions may align, others’ objectives may differ. Some players may be tasked with targeting their fellow competitors… If my intuition is correct, there is at least one player among them whose mission is to eliminate others while keeping their identity concealed.”

Were the players really turning on each other in this twisted game?

Ruan Bai was stunned by the revelation. Looking up, she saw Gu San standing opposite her, his dark eyes fixed on the group of players in contemplation.

Donning a hat, he exuded an air of a lurking black snake, silently and surreptitiously observing its prey. Whom was he suspecting?

“We’ll set aside the issue of catching the mole for now. Our immediate task is to unveil the village’s secrets,” Gu San stated, turning to Ruan Bai. “Do the dead not terrify you?” he asked.

Ruan Bai’s countenance whitened at the sight of the lifeless bodies. Despite her apprehension, she remained motionless. Fear was inevitable in a game of survival such as this. She realized that allowing terror to consume her would only make staying alive more challenging.

She shook her head. It had only been a day, and more death awaited them.

Gu San observed her with interest. “Impressive, you possess a resolute character,” he commented, tilting his head. “I’ll leave our next course of action in your hands.”

Ruan Bai hesitantly replied, “Let’s explore the Taoist temple.”

She had a hunch that the temple, where the mermaid goddess Ah Ma was worshipped, concealed secrets waiting to be uncovered.

☆6

“Let’s go,” Gu San said, agreeing with Ruan Bai’s decision. 

They ascended towards the mountaintop, determined to investigate the central temple. The village lay far below, and a barely visible path led the way. Ruan Bai was intrigued by the multitude of footprints on the trail, all considerably larger than the average woman. 

‘Were there any strangers here last night?’ she wondered, her curiosity piqued. Turning to Gu San, she asked if any young men resided in the village, as she had not seen any since arriving the previous day.

“No,” Gu San replied briskly, having made inquiries earlier that morning. “I’ve asked around and discovered that Qin Yu and the others have no idea about the temple. Although they may be feigning ignorance.” He paused momentarily and continued, “The village consists only of the elderly and children. Moreover, only boys, no girls.” 

Ruan Bai sensed that something was amiss. She glanced back at the village, observing the barren fields and the absence of livestock, with scarcely any chickens, ducks, or fish. No one was tending the land, and self-sufficiency seemed impossible. How did the villagers survive? What did they eat? 

It dawned on her that the village must have some external support. The large footprints they had encountered earlier hinted that the village had contact with the outside world. 

Lost in thought, they arrived at the Taoist temple’s entrance, a stark contrast to the dilapidated houses below. The temple’s design was exquisite, out of place in the Mermaid Village. The steps and walls were immaculate. The entrance was adorned with a display of fresh fruits. 

As they entered, they were greeted by a statue of a benevolent female deity with a fishtail. The statue’s round, unblinking eyes were reminiscent of the woman they had met the previous night. Her long, puckered mouth gave her an eerie appearance. Ruan Bai and Gu San scoured the temple, hoping to find some answers, but the temple was small and lacked anything beyond the statue.

Ruan Bai couldn’t shake the sense that something was amiss. Wasn’t the ringing she heard last night coming from this temple? But where was the source of the sound? Her eyes landed on the statue before her. She remembered that figures like these didn’t have to be solid, did they?

Meanwhile, Gu San was stationed outside the temple, his attention focused elsewhere. Without hesitation, Ruan Bai shed her guise of a delicate lady and rolled up her sleeves, scrambling up to the side of the statue. She tapped the surface and confirmed it was indeed hollow before embracing the statue tightly.

‘System,’ she began, ‘Do I still need to pretend to be a pure and innocent lady when no one’s around?’

[As long as your actions aren’t indecent, it should be adequate,] the system replied with a hint of uncertainty. [However, host, what do you plan to do? Since last night, you haven’t taken your role as the ‘white lotus’ seriously. If you ruin your character, your evaluation level will decrease.]

Ruan Bai thought, ‘Who would have the energy to keep up appearances of purity when death looms?’ Though she was at a loss for words, she smiled sweetly and said, ‘I’m just moving something.’ 

She exerted all her strength with a deep breath and budged the statue.

Ruan Bai had always been remarkably strong, not to mention the statue turned out to be lighter than it appeared. She quickly moved it aside, revealing a black box hidden beneath the pedestal.

With a curious tilt of her head, Ruan Bai lifted the lid, revealing a blood-red bell that emitted a pungent odour. The bell lay nestled among a pile of talismans. A dim light illuminated the ominous sight of blood trickling down the bell’s dark-red surface.

The ringing from last night must have been related to this bell!

Ruan Bai reached for the bell, but her heart sank when she realized it weighed a ton, despite its small size. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t lift or move it an inch. Panic set in as she struggled.

Yet, despite her difficulty, Ruan Bai found herself drawn inexplicably to the bell as if an invisible force held her tight.

In her frenzy, Ruan Bai brushed her fingertips against the edge of the black wooden box, causing her fingers to sting. A drop of blood fell onto the bell. Suddenly, Ruan Bai fell into a daze as a fleeting light emanated from the bell.

As Ruan Bai lifted the bell, she marvelled at its sudden weightlessness. Simultaneously, a notification from the system confirmed her achievement: [Congratulations, host, for obtaining the mission item, ‘Mermaid Bell’!] 

“A mission item?” Ruan Bai exclaimed in delight. 

Unlike the point items that could be exchanged in the system store, mission items were mainly used to promote the task’s progress. She had encountered mission items before in her past missions, each with a vital role in progressing through the world. The male lead’s mother’s relics or the dolls he gifted her in their youth had paved the way for her success. The Mermaid Bell may prove to be just as useful. 

However, as she turned to leave the pedestal, the statue of the mermaid’s mother underwent a dramatic transformation. The once-smiling face had vanished. The mouth opened wide, revealing a terrifying set of razor-sharp teeth. Once peaceful, the eyes now glared at Ruan Bai with malice and anger. 

The scene was both haunting and unsettling. 

Gu San’s voice broke the eerie silence outside the temple, saying, “Bai Ruan Ruan, hurry! There are people outside!” 

Ruan Bai quickly pocketed the bell and fled with Gu San, taking a less-travelled path off the main route to avoid potential danger. As they descended the mountain, they spotted two strangers loitering near the temple. The pair appeared to be scanning the area for something or someone, but they didn’t bother to glance inside the temple. 

Ruan Bai quickly realized her suspicions were confirmed that these were not players and suspected that they were other people hiding within the mermaid village. Now the question of how long they could conceal the bell’s disappearance hung in the air. Ruan Bai clutched it tightly in her pocket, cautiously descending the mountain with Gu San. 

As they descended the mountain, the sun was already high in the sky, and hunger gnawed at Ruan Bai’s stomach. All the villagers had already eaten, but Ruan Bai and Gu San had missed lunch due to their exploration of the mermaid village. As they approached the village, they noticed that everyone had congregated at the village chief’s house, their voices hushed as they discussed something important.

Ruan Bai studied the villagers, noting their dull, lifeless expressions as if they had grown accustomed to death. However, as players walked past, she felt their envious and resentful stares from the villagers. One even locked eyes with her, baring their teeth with malice, causing Ruan Bai to feel momentarily uneasy.

Shaking off the unpleasant encounter, Ruan Bai and Gu San continued, encountering other players along the path. 

However, they were too focused on finding clues to engage in conversation. Only the white-collar worker smiled warmly at Ruan Bai. The new player, Wang Wen Wen, followed her like a shadow. Ruan Bai acknowledged the woman’s greeting with a half-hearted nod before quickly joining Gu San.

Upon reaching their temporary lodgings, they met Little Tiger, the only child in the house. Ruan Bai purchased several packs of instant noodles with two points from the system and boiled a pot for Gu San before preparing another for the young boy, who stood eagerly by her side. 

“Thanks, sister!” he exclaimed gratefully, revealing a mouthful of eight gleaming teeth.

Ruan Bai smiled warmly at him, ruffling his hair affectionately. “It’s nothing. If you’re still hungry, feel free to have more.” 

Little Tiger nodded eagerly, slurping up the noodles with relish.

Ruan Bai had been a player for a long time and had learned to make herself more amiable and approachable to NPCs. With her naturally pleasing appearance, non-threatening demeanour, and being female, she was easier to connect with than the aloof Gu San.

Little Tiger slurped his noodles as Ruan Bai engaged him in conversation, her words flowing like a soothing balm about topics children would enjoy. As she spoke, she gifted him two boxes of instant noodles, a generous gesture that made Little Tiger feel at ease. 

Gradually, he relaxed and affectionately called her “Sister Bai.”

When Ruan Bai sensed the moment was right, she casually inquired about Little Tiger’s family. “Do you have anyone else besides your grandmother?” she asked. Little Tiger replied promptly, “I have parents and an older sister. My parents visit my grandmother and me every month!”

“What about your sister?” Ruan Bai continued, curious. “I haven’t seen any other girls in this village. Are you the only one with a sister?”

“No,” Little Tiger replied hesitantly. “They all have sisters. Second Dog has three sisters. But my sister… she went to a faraway place. Grandma said Second Dog’s sister can return, but my sister can’t.”

Ruan Bai was taken aback by this revelation. Second Dog’s sister could return, but not Little Tiger’s? What did that mean? Before she could ask further, Gu San’s fake coughs interrupted their conversation. Looking up, Ruan Bai noticed Little Tiger’s grandmother’s silhouette outside. She swiftly changed the topic and started talking with Little Tiger about the latest popular children’s animated TV show.

When Little Tiger’s grandmother returned, she didn’t suspect a thing and even expressed gratitude for the instant noodles. Ruan Bai chatted with her for a while, offering condolences to the deceased villagers before pretending to nap. Then, they retired to the guest room where they had slept before, ensuring they were alone.

Ruan Bai cast a furtive glance over her shoulder before addressing Gu San in a hushed tone. “Gu San, have you found any leads?” 

Gu San pulled a pendant from his pocket and tossed it to Ruan Bai. “I found this outside the temple,” he said. 

While Ruan Bai was moving the Buddha statue, Gu San stayed outside the temple. He discovered some strands of women’s hair in the soil and dug them up, unearthing the pendant. The back of the pendant bore an inscription that read ‘Gift to my beloved mermaid girl’. Ruan Bai opened it and found a portrait of a young woman inside.

“Do you remember the woman we saw last night?” Gu San asked, crossing his arms. “She looks just like the woman in the pendant.” 

Ruan Bai scrutinized the portrait and confirmed that it was true. The woman’s facial features matched the portrait in the pendant, and there was no possibility of a mistake. Was she a mermaid?

“In this village, besides the elderly, we have never seen any women,” Gu San mused. “And judging from the age of the owner of this pendant, I speculate that those missing women are the ‘mermaids’ of the ‘Mermaid Village.’” 

Ruan Bai and Gu San arrived at the same conclusion.

On Ruan Bai’s first day in the village, she was puzzled: why was a village surrounded by mountains and without water called “Mermaid Village”? Shouldn’t mermaids live in the sea? Now, she suspected that some of the girls born in this village resembled the “mermaids” in the legend due to some genetic anomaly!

“Deformed individuals have ‘uses’ in many places,” Ruan Bai observed. “The economic source of Mermaid Village is probably dependent on these ‘mermaids.’” Little Tiger’s parents, on the other hand, had been living outside the village, likely to deal with the ‘mermaids,’ sell them, and conceal the existence of Mermaid Village.

As for the women in the village, they were probably normal and capable of giving birth to deformed offspring. Once they could no longer have children, they were left behind to care for the next generation.

“But why aren’t there any young girls here?” Ruan Bai pondered once again, realising that something was amiss. “Little Tiger’s sister cannot return, indicating that she is likely a mermaid and being taken away is normal, but if Second Dog’s sister can return, they should be normal individuals. Why aren’t they kept in the village?”

Moreover, talismanic wooden plaques hung under the eaves of the village, resentful mermaid statues, and suspicious adult men…

Undoubtedly, the secrets of Mermaid Village went beyond what they had discovered so far.

——— Translator’s Notes ——— 

TN “Xiao-Hu” (小虎) means “Little Tiger” in Chinese. “Er-Gou” (二狗) means “Second Dog” in Chinese and is a common nickname in Chinese culture.

☆7

Amid the enigma of the mermaid village, a saboteur lurked among the players, waiting to be exposed. Ruan Bai deduced that the culprit who had slashed the wooden plaques on the first night must possess intimate knowledge of the village’s inner workings, as the plaques held critical significance in the game. If apprehended, this individual could provide valuable information through interrogation, but how to identify them remained the question.

As Ruan Bai ruminated, Gu San had a sudden revelation. It proposed his plan, “I shall divulge the wooden plaque incident to select players and trade information. However, I will only entrust this to experienced players who have cleared the game.”

Gu San omitted his reason for doing so. Still, Ruan Bai understood that veteran players had greater knowledge and investigative prowess. Additionally, their ability to communicate more effectively with one another would prove vital in cracking this enigma. 

Of the remaining twelve players, the most seasoned were Qin Yu and the white-collar woman, having cleared the game thrice. 

After deliberation, Ruan Bai recommended to Gu San, “Why not inform Qin Yu?”

“I presumed you would choose the emphatic lady. She appears more approachable, does she not?” 

Ruan Bai’s response was nonchalant. “I’m not stupid,” she said with a shrug. 

Her time in society had taught her to be cautious and sceptical of others’ intentions. As a seasoned player who had already cleared the game three times, she was not easily swayed by the white-collar woman’s empty gestures of kindness, which only amounted to a few words of consolation and tears. 

To Ruan Bai, genuine kindness was demonstrated through actions, not words. She couldn’t help but wonder why the white-collar woman had not given her even any banal advice, such as not going out alone at night or avoiding solitary activities. Even a small gesture like that would have made a difference in Ruan Bai’s perception of her. 

In contrast, Gu San, though not as talkative as the white-collar woman, had taken the time to teach Ruan Bai the game rules and offer his assistance, as long as she wasn’t a burden. This act of kindness had given her a sense of security, unlike the white-collar woman’s baseless friendliness, which only made her suspicious. 

Ruan Bai recognized that she and high schooler Wang Wen Wen were vulnerable and easily manipulated in this Escape Game. With their personalities, they were bound to be used as cannon fodder or abandoned as human shields in critical moments. Ruan Bai suspected that the white-collar woman had something nefarious in mind for them. 

Without hesitation, Ruan Bai handed the mermaid bell to Gu San. “I found this in the Taoist temple,” she said, omitting the part about moving the statue.

“The sound of the bell last night may have come from this.” Gu San took the bell from Ruan Bai, examining it thoughtfully before handing it back. “This is your find; you should keep it,” he said, his eyes flicking to meet hers. “Task items can be stolen, so don’t let other players know. If you reencounter a mermaid, this bell may come in handy.” 

Ruan Bai nodded in agreement, tucking the mermaid bell away in her pocket. She and Gu San then hurried to Qin Yu’s team’s house. Unfortunately, one of the team members perished during the night, leaving only three survivors. Qin Yu’s team was packing and preparing to move to a new location. 

After explaining their intentions to Qin Yu, Gu San shared only a portion of the information they had gathered; he omitted some details but told about the wooden plank. He suggested they choose a house with protective talismans instead. 

With the mermaid bell now in Ruan Bai’s possession, calling upon the “mermaid mom” might no longer be effective. 

Qin Yu and his team experienced players who knew how to protect themselves and didn’t question Gu San’s strategy too deeply. Once they confirmed the information’s accuracy, Qin Yu shared what they had discovered. “We found a notebook belonging to a researcher who had come to investigate five years ago,” he revealed. “His research was focused on genetic diseases in humans. According to his notes, his research institute had purchased a ‘mermaid’ at a steep price. She had a human upper body and a fish lower body, covered in scales.” 

It was common for those with severe deformities to suffer from some level of intellectual disability. However, this mermaid was different from the other research subjects. She possessed a normal human memory and could recall her birthplace and the fact that she had many mermaid relatives. Intrigued by this phenomenon, the researcher went to the mermaid village to investigate how this genetic anomaly came about.

“What happened to the researcher?” Gu San asked suddenly, “Since his notebook ended up in the player’s hands… is he dead?”

It was unlikely for someone to disappear without any reason in a game like this.

Qin Yu nodded gravely. “Yes, he’s dead. His grave is in the western forest, but the villagers won’t say how he died.”

Gu San sensed that the conversation had reached a dead end in the “transaction” and decided not to push further. With a nod, he and Ruan Bai left the house.

As they stepped into the evening, the mountains were already shrouded in darkness. A chilling wind blew past, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Ruan Bai mulled over the information they had just acquired, piecing together a rough picture of what had happened in the mermaid village. First, the beginning of everything should have been the researcher bringing his own data and notes to the mermaid village deep in the mountains. A genetic condition caused some girls in the village to exhibit mermaid-like traits. The villagers exploited this by selling them off to the highest bidder, catching the attention of the research institute. But the girls, treated as commodities, were undoubtedly harbouring resentment.

Last night, Ruan Bai could easily read the resentment on the woman’s face when they met her. The pendant, inscribed with the words ‘beloved mermaid,’ piqued Ruan Bai’s curiosity. She was sure it held a story, a mystery she wanted to uncover.

The villagers would never have given the pendant to the mermaid. To them, these creatures were nothing more than sellable chickens, ducks, fish, or geese. The only possibility was that the researcher who had entered the village five years ago had given it to her.

Ruan Bai was unsure what had happened between the researcher and the mermaid or what the villagers had done to them. But she knew the researcher had died here, and the mermaids had started retaliating at night. To protect themselves, the villagers hung talismans on their doors to ward off ghosts and demons. These talismans were most likely obtained from the mermaid Ah Ma.

But even the mermaid Ah Ma seemed to hold some resentment when she took away the mermaid bell. The old woman had told Ruan Bai that this village had once worshipped the mermaids as guardian deities. This was not surprising, given that the mermaids resembled the creatures depicted in ancient mythology. Ruan Bai had read about similar stories, where tribes worshipped children with atavistic phenomena as child prodigies. Yet driven by greed, one mermaid after another was sold, leading to tragic consequences. Perhaps, their reverence for the mermaid Ah Ma had been tainted by money.

However, why did the mermaid Ah Ma still protect them if that was the case? What was the purpose of the mermaid bell? Was the mermaid girl they encountered last night deceased or alive? What had befallen her? Where had the adults and little girls from the village gone?

Furthermore, how much did the player, who acted as a saboteur, know?

One enigma after another, but they lacked enough information to untangle them for the time being. Thankfully, compared to being entirely clueless at the outset, they now had a rough direction to pursue and knew where to investigate next.

“Gu San, what’s our next move?” Ruan Bai contemplated and inquired of Gu San, “Should we visit the researcher’s grave?”

Qin Yu and the others had presumably already been there, but revisiting the site could lead to fresh revelations.

“No, the grave won’t go anywhere.” Gu San firmly declined, saying, “We can go tomorrow or the day after. We have more pressing matters to attend to now.”

He pondered, tapping his fingers and raising his eyebrows, “Do you have a guess as to when the person who will attack the players will arrive and cut the wooden plaques?”

Around six or seven o’clock in the evening, Ruan Bai speculated. As it got dark then, if they needed to switch lodgings, Qin Yu and the others could still do so an hour earlier.

“It’s nearly six now,” Gu San checked his watch nonchalantly, “Shall we go and catch them?”

Ruan Bai nodded, “You go ahead and find a hiding place. I’ll confront them alone and wait outside the house.” She couldn’t always let Gu San take the lead. This time, she would attempt to demonstrate her own value.

☆8

Gu San raised an eyebrow in surprise upon hearing Ruan Bai’s words, but he didn’t object and quickly nodded in agreement. They each played a different role, one in the light and the other in the dark, which was more convenient. If any unexpected situations arose, Gu San could also deal with them promptly. 

Seeing that Gu San had agreed, Ruan Bai ate some food before heading towards Qin Yu and the others’ lodgings. The house they were borrowing had a large haystack nearby where talismans were hung. Ruan Bai hid behind it, waiting to catch the traitor in the act. 

After waiting for about half an hour, the sky became completely dark. Several households in the area had already lit their lamps, and the temperature had gradually dropped. 

Ruan Bai’s petite figure was well-concealed, and no one could see her hiding there. She sat there, bored, while mosquitoes feasted on her skin. 

As time passed, her thoughts drifted away. She considered Gu San’s decision to have Qin Yu change their place of stay, but he didn’t suggest that they should change too. Ruan Bai guessed that Gu San wanted to continue staying in the room without talismans and expose the mermaid from last night. After all, that mermaid could speak, and if they could communicate with her, who knows what information they could extract. Moreover, Ruan Bai had the mermaid bell in her hand, so their safety was somewhat guaranteed. 

Thinking about this, Ruan Bai couldn’t help but marvel at Gu San’s boldness. If it were her, even if she had the mermaid bell, she wouldn’t dare take such a risk. She then realized that Gu San’s behaviour didn’t seem like that of a player who had only experienced two games. Perhaps he intentionally concealed the number of games he had played to avoid drawing attention to himself. 

As Ruan Bai sat alone, a woman’s voice startled her from behind. 

“—Softie, why are you here all alone… have you been mistreated?” 

Turning around, Ruan Bai saw the white-collar worker curiously sizing her up. 

The woman quickly flashed a gentle and kind smile and softly said, “I’ve heard about what happened to you. Gu San’s personality can be difficult to deal with. If you feel uncomfortable and have nowhere else to go, you can come to me.” 

Ruan Bai looked at her, puzzled, and asked, “What?” What was she talking about? 

But it didn’t take long for Ruan Bai to figure it out. Sitting alone, looking bored and lonely, it was easy to think she had been ostracized. 

However, she still felt that something wasn’t quite right. Setting aside the deeper meaning behind the woman’s words, her arrival timing was wrong. Why would she come to find her at this moment? 

Ruan Bai realized what was happening, and her heart sank. 

Quickly turning her head, she saw that the wooden sign under the eaves had been cut off without her noticing. She had been caught! 

At that moment, the person who had cut the wooden sign had yet to depart. She stood there, somewhat taken aback by Ruan Bai’s quick response. Nonetheless, she wore a composed expression and turned to Ruan Bai with a chilly, rather smug smile. 

It was Wang Wen Wen, a high school student who appeared no older than sixteen or seventeen. Perhaps she wasn’t a novice player, but like Gu San, she had concealed the number of times she had played. 

Before this, Ruan Bai had contemplated warning Wang Wen Wen, who she thought to be deceived by the white-collar worker. Observing this, Ruan Bai’s countenance darkened. She swiftly seized the white-collar worker’s arm and urged, “This place is dangerous; leave now!” 

Before the white-collar worker could respond, Ruan Bai retreated several steps and darted towards where Gu San had previously concealed himself. She screamed frantically, “Gu San! Are you there? Help——” Ruan Bai was practically shouting at the top of her lungs. 

Nevertheless, her urgent pleas appeared to fall on deaf ears, with no response. Ruan Bai comprehended that Gu San was likely in a precarious situation, either led astray by Wang Wen Wen or facing other trouble. As for Qin Yu and the others, she didn’t hope these strangers could hear her cries and extend assistance. 

Within mere seconds, Ruan Bai’s mind began to race at lightning speed. Strand by strand of detail, this predicament materialized in her mind with astonishing clarity. Undoubtedly, Wang Wen Wen was the “wolf” Gu San had been searching for. She was a knowledgeable individual who initially pretended to be a newcomer, exhibiting the same timidity and nervousness as any other new player. Wang’s ability to deceive others was remarkable. Not only did she deceive the white-collar worker but even Ruan Bai, who believed her to be a helpless and innocent young woman. Before Gu San could question her, Ruan Bai had already suspected the white-collar worker’s motives. 

Ruan Bai assumed the woman wanted to use the new player as ‘cannon fodder’ to go to dangerous places. It was clear that Wang Wen Wen had also seen through the white-collar worker’s plan. Wang used her wits and pretended innocence to get close to the white-collar worker, successfully lowering her guard. Furthermore, after learning about Gu San and Ruan Bai’s plan to catch the wolf, Wang Wen Wen knew that the white-collar worker wanted to continue fooling Ruan Bai. She used Ruan Bai as an excuse to successfully lure the white-collar worker out tonight. What a treacherous scheme! If Ruan Bai had not been taken in, she would have applauded Wang Wen Wen’s ingenuity. Unfortunately, since Wang Wen Wen dared to invite the white-collar worker over, she was either planning to expose her own identity or prepared to dispose of both of them simultaneously. 

Ruan Bai suspected the latter. 

However, it was not yet dark outside, and the mermaid ghost would not be able to come out. Ruan Bai wondered how Wang Wen Wen planned to deal with the two of them. Would she take matters into her own hands or use the few strong young men hidden in the mermaid village? Suddenly, Ruan Bai’s face changed, and the next second, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She blacked out and fell into a coma.

☆9

When Ruan Bai regained consciousness, she sensed the dampness all over her body as if submerged in water. The chill permeated her skin and travelled deep into her bones.

Biting her tongue, a sharp pain jolted her back to reality. She couldn’t afford to black out in this unknown place, especially given the gravity of the situation.

Her last thought before passing out was that Wang Wen Wen might be colluding with the adult men in the village. Her survival suggested that her suspicions were correct. Had it not been the case, she would have been dead and abandoned in the wilderness.

Ruan Bai realized she had been careless; in this game of survival, the danger wasn’t restricted to ghosts and monsters; NPCs could also pose a threat. The unidentified adult men were cloaked in mystery.

Frowning, Ruan Bai managed to pull herself up from the ground with great effort. She found herself restrained and submerged in a water pool. The water level rose high enough to cover her lower abdomen. The surrounding area was pitch-black and damp, with minimal light seeping in. She had no idea about any possible exits. The only positive was that the villagers didn’t harm her, simply dumping her there.

Perhaps because she was petite and slender, or possibly thinking she wouldn’t be able to flee that night, the rope was tied loosely, and Ruan Bai managed to break free easily. Next to her was the white-collar worker who was also bound.

The white-collar worker shed her facade of kindness and exhibited a visage full of bitterness and terror once Ruan Bai’s movements stirred her awake: “I lost to a sixteen-year-old… I was deceived by her…”

“—Want to escape from here?” Ruan Bai interrupted, but before she could finish her sentence, a hoarse woman’s voice reverberated from the surroundings, saying the same thing.

Ruan Bai’s breath caught in her throat at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. It was the voice of a third person, and it made her uneasy. The darkness of night had fallen and the peak of danger with it.

The white-collar worker, too angry to sense something was wrong, snapped back in a rage. “Otherwise, what? Of course, I want to get out. If she dared to trick me, I would make her regret it—” 

“— Well, that’s good, ” Before the woman could respond, a ghostly female voice interrupted her. “Because I also want to get out.” The tone of the voice was twisted with extreme excitement and was instantly distorted. “But I’m not a normal person. I don’t have legs… will you give me yours?”

As the woman’s voice trailed off, the white-collar worker’s rage abruptly ceased, leaving Ruan Bai to witness the frozen expression etched on her face. It was as if an invisible blade had sliced her in half, causing her lower body to vanish into the dark water.

The wound on the white-collar worker’s body emitted a strong smell of blood, spreading through the water and still carrying a hint of warmth.

At that moment, Ruan Bai finally comprehended why the villagers had spared their lives. They knew that she wouldn’t survive the night.

The “third person” began to move after taking the woman’s legs, causing the previously still water in the pool to ripple with each move.

The blood had seeped over to Ruan Bai’s side, but she dared not move or make a sound. She gritted her teeth and prayed that the stranger wouldn’t notice her presence. But before long, she felt something cold, smooth, and sticky—like the surface of fish scales—brush past her feet.

In the next second, a light, a cheerful voice whispered in Ruan Bai’s ear from behind. “—Gotcha!”

She had been discovered!

At the same time, the system prompt sounded: 

[Ding! Host, please note that a random mission has been issued – use your kindness and love to impress the enemy and escape the danger of death!] 

[In addition, the points reward is doubled due to the dangerous situation. Completing the mission successfully will earn you 1000 points!] 

Ruan Bai thought the system was crazy. It wanted her to impress this terrifying mermaid ghost who was capable of killing people?

However, even if her heart was in turmoil, Ruan Bai took a deep breath and calmly analyzed the situation.

First of all, the mermaid should be able to communicate. From the conversation she just had with the female white-collar worker and the fact that she was angered by Gu San last night, Ruan Bai realized that not only could the mermaid understand human speech, but she also had logical thinking abilities.

Ruan Bai’s first priority was to stabilize the mermaid’s emotions. Unsure of the function of the mermaid bell, she couldn’t recklessly take it out. She wondered if she could mention someone related to the mermaid instead… 

With this thought in mind, she acted quickly and declared, “I’m a researcher here to investigate this village!”

The mermaid’s movements abruptly ceased. Ruan Bai felt a slight shift in the cold breath behind her, causing her fingers to tremble slightly. She knew she had struck a chord.

However, the mermaid’s intent to kill Ruan Bai had not faded, even though she was motionless. To convince the mermaid to give up on harming her, Ruan Bai needed to say something that would pique the mermaid’s interest. But to do that, she first needed to convince the mermaid of her credibility.

Without hesitation, Ruan Bai continued speaking rapidly, “Our project focuses on human genetic diseases. Human genes are responsible for different traits in the body, and many genetic diseases are related to inbreeding…”

Ruan Bai didn’t believe that there was no inbreeding in this small village. Regardless, she took a gamble and assumed that the appearance of the mermaid was due to inbreeding. The village appeared isolated and insular, with some inhabitants who might not even be literate. They would be unfamiliar with genetic traits and other scientific jargon. Researchers usually kept their identities hidden while working. Furthermore, researchers often have peculiar habits. If the mermaid had a good rapport with the researcher, she would have heard these terms from him.

“…Du Wen Shu did mention these topics to me before. Are you his colleague?” After a long pause, the mermaid’s voice sounded faintly. 

The plan had succeeded! Ruan Bai heaved a sigh of relief, but her face still betrayed her anxiety. “There was a senior fellow who came here,” she said. “Five years ago, he sent a message to our research institute, informing us of this village. Unfortunately, he had an accident and died soon after.”

The researcher’s name was Du Wen Shu, but Ruan Bai knew little about him and feared that if the mermaid asked her any questions about him, she would give away. So, she pretended not to know him at all.

To Ruan Bai’s surprise, the mermaid interrupted her, asking, “He died?” Her voice was filled with shock and confusion. “Why did he die? How did he die?”

“He passed away five years ago,” Ruan Bai said, realizing that the mermaid’s intense reaction could be telling. “His grave is just outside the village, to the west.”

“I can’t leave the village,” the mermaid said after a long pause. The mermaid’s hand had crept up to Ruan Bai’s neck, and her voice was icy cold in the stillness: “I won’t kill you tonight. But tomorrow, you must bring me his remains. Upon finishing her words, Ruan Bai felt a stinging pain at her throat. In a split second, the mermaid’s figure vanished without a trace.

Overwhelmed with relief, Ruan Bai slumped onto the ground, wiping off the cold sweat from her forehead. She knew she had escaped the risk of death tonight.

But merely sharing the exact origins wouldn’t suffice to deter the mermaid from killing her. Thankfully, she could still serve a purpose.

However, her survival would raise suspicion from the villagers who brought her here. Plus, whether she could leave or not was another matter. If she couldn’t get Du Wen Shu’s remains, she would still die at the hands of the mermaid.

The system’s assignment was far from accomplished, and Ruan Bai couldn’t consider herself entirely safe yet.

——— Translator’s Notes ——— 

杜文书 (Du Wen Shu)

☆10

Ruan Bai had endured an unbelievable amount of hardship in an incredibly short period of time. With her mind awash with countless thoughts and emotions, she gradually felt her strength ebbing away. As she reached into her pocket, she felt the mermaid bell through the thin fabric of her clothes, its warmth a comforting presence even in the icy water.

Curling up in the frigid pool, Ruan Bai drifted into a deep slumber. She was jolted awake the following day by a searing white light. Blinking in confusion, she surveyed her surroundings and realised it was already daylight. The sun’s rays streamed through a window in the distance, revealing the place’s true nature.

It was an underground cellar with four separate pools of water. In one of them, Ruan Bai spied a little girl who looked to be about seven or eight years old. The child had a vacant expression and lay motionless in the water. Upon closer inspection, Ruan Bai saw that the girl had no legs; in their place was a grotesque mass of flesh that resembled a fishtail adorned with unsightly scales. It was far from the alluring beauty of the mermaids depicted in movies and television shows.

Ruan Bai’s intuition told her this was where the villagers kept and raised their mermaids. She made sure not to make any noise that might alert the inhabitants of her presence. Tiptoeing, she rose from the water and darted toward the door. Climbing up the stairs, she tentatively grasped the door handle.

It was locked.

Ruan Bai felt a sense of profound disappointment wash over her. She had already given up hope that Gu San would come to her rescue. But how could she escape from her captors? Would the villagers who had imprisoned her even care about her here?

Lost in thought, Ruan Bai suddenly heard faint footsteps outside the door. Startled, she hastily retied the ropes that bound her ankles and wrists, pretending to look like she had just awakened and was panicking.

The door creaked open. Two men strode in, carrying trays of food. Wang Wen Wen trailed behind them.

Surprised that Ruan Bai was still alive, the men turned to Wang Wen Wen and asked, “Nan Nan, how did she survive the clutches of the Ghost Hand?”

Ruan Bai’s survival left Wang Wen Wen dumbfounded, and she struggled to compose herself when the NPC interrogated her. “I’m not certain,” she replied, her face contorted with unease.

“Are you not her classmate? You lured them all to this cursed village,” the villager accused, “and now we’re all trapped by the Ghost Hand.” 

Wang Wen Wen deftly redirected the conversation, “How could I know? Perhaps she’s simply fortunate. She vanished here, and her companion is bound to cause trouble. Furthermore, the mermaids won’t be pleased if she persists in stirring up chaos. It might be best to dispose of her.” 

Ruan Bai inwardly sneered at Wang Wen Wen’s direct attack. She could not keep her temper in check, especially when someone was trying to kill her. Last night, she had only fallen into the other’s trap due to her carelessness. If she did not fight back, would Wang Wen Wen think she was a fool, easily manipulated without a plan? 

Without hesitation, Ruan Bai promptly exchanged 100 points for a “dumbing down” aura that only affected male NPCs. She had thought such an item would be superfluous in this game, but it had become clear that NPCs could play a crucial role in an Escape Game. 

After completing the purchase, Ruan Bai opened her mouth to speak but faltered. Eventually, she shut her eyes, exhaled deeply, and said, “I won’t be able to escape, so let me…stay here.” A bitter smile twisted her lips, and she added, “Or you can kill me. It would be a mercy.” 

Two tears slowly trickled down her pallid cheeks. Ruan Bai put on a pitiful and helpless expression, akin to a beautiful lotus floating in crystal-clear water, causing the two men present to falter.

Wang Wen Wen observed Ruan Bai’s behaviour and the sudden change in the villagers’ attitudes with confusion. She couldn’t understand what was happening and was taken aback when one of the men spoke to Ruan Bai.

“What’s wrong, little girl?” he asked, concerned. “Isn’t it better to be alive? Why seek death?”

Feeling sorry for Ruan Bai’s state, his voice softened. But Ruan Bai was not surprised by the sudden change in the villagers’ attitudes towards her. She had resorted to feigning pitifulness in real life to earn a higher ranking. For two whole years, she had diligently honed her crying skills and defeated countless scheming and seductive women in the first four worlds with this tactic.

No matter how severe the accusations against her or how strong the evidence was, she knew that as long as she played her role convincingly, everyone would believe she had a reason for her actions. And the primary reason this tactic had worked so well was that Ruan Bai had immediately recognized these two villagers as immature, straight men.

‘What do immature men like to do the most? They like to persuade women to follow the right path!’ 

“Why would I want to die? If I have to stay with Gu San, what’s the point of being alive for me?” Ruan Bai laughed softly, her voice trembling and her tears falling heavily. “I was sold like goods to that kind of place, constantly toyed with, and the humiliation and pain have made me numb. I’m dirty now; I’m no longer pure…”

She bit her lip lightly, her complexion pale and weak, and her eyes were devoid of light when she looked at the two villagers. “Even Gu San…he…” her voice trailed off at the end of her sentence, and her slender, weak body trembled as if unable to bear the shame any longer.

Wang Wen Wen was stunned. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She wondered, ‘Wait a minute, this is too much! Is she playing the victim card? Does she think we’re fools? Who would believe her?’

 However, what caught her completely off guard was that a nearby villager sighed and walked over to help Ruan Bai with a look of pity on his face!

“You can’t decide a fate like this,” he awkwardly patted her shoulder and comforted her, “Life is still beautiful. Look at how poor our village is, but we never give up hope.” The other villager nodded in agreement. “Yes, little girl. You’re so beautiful. There are plenty of people who would want to be with you. You have a good heart, and no one will care about your past.” 

Wang Wen Wen “……” 

How did they see that Ruan Bai was “kind-hearted” at first glance???? 

Unable to tolerate the conversation any longer, Wang Wen Wen directly interrupted, “She’s clearly lying! Don’t believe her; hurry up and get rid of her!” 

If Ruan Bai were to leave, her identity would be exposed, and her mission would be over! 

Ruan Bai obediently said, “Yes, you can kill me.” She turned her head, wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and said calmly, “I’m not worth much. Wen Wen, as for Gu San… I’ll trouble you to take care of him in the future.”

“Sister, what’s worth it or not is for one to decide for themselves,” the villager interjected, visibly vexed by their quarrel. He shot Wang Wen Wen a ferocious glare before moving to untie Ruan Bai’s binds. “You’re young and have a bright future ahead of you. Why waste it on someone like Gu-whatever-his-name-is? There are plenty of men out there!”

Another villager snickered and sneered at Wang Wen Wen. “Let’s not talk about the sordid affairs of young girls. Nanny, how could you be so cruel as to lay hands on an innocent child?”

Wang Wen Wen remained silent, reflecting on how the situation had devolved into such a mess. ‘Weren’t you the ones who wanted to offer them as sacrifices to the ghosts yesterday?’ she mused, perplexed by their sudden change of heart. Were these two villagers mentally unstable?

Ruan Bai gazed at Wang Wen Wen’s contorted expression with a smug grin. Although Wang Wen Wen was at a loss for what had transpired, Ruan Bai, having traversed four different worlds and interacted with countless NPCs, knew precisely what was afoot.

Even if Wang Wen Wen hadn’t been so forceful, the villagers likely wouldn’t have heeded her words. The reason was straightforward: players like Wang Wen Wen rarely saw NPCs as sentient beings and seldom engaged with them in meaningful conversation. Their manner of speaking was often aloof and cold.

Upon Wang Wen Wen’s arrival, Ruan Bai immediately noted that this attractive sixteen-year-old girl had an unfamiliar association with two men in their twenties. Straight men typically treated younger, attractive women better. Still, Wang Wen Wen’s cool relationship with them suggested that her standing in the NPCs’ eyes was less favourable.

Ruan Bai also understood that Wang Wen Wen was assigned such a role by the game and was probably somewhat anxious and resistant to play along. However, even though NPCs were NPCs, they still had emotions like humans, and some NPCs were even brighter than players. How could these two villagers not notice Wang Wen Wen’s resistance? The villagers had a particular fondness for Wang Wen Wen because she was from their village. However, their hearts were drawn to a woman with striking beauty, a gentle demeanour, and a tragic history.

Upon hearing the system prompt in her ear, Ruan Bai’s lips curved into a smile, [Congratulations, host. You have completed the random task. You have been awarded 1000 points!] 

She contained her excitement, not wanting to arouse suspicion.

“Thank you, brothers. It was a pleasure to meet you,” Ruan Bai’s voice trembled with emotion as she held back her tears. “I, Softie, will find a way to repay your kindness.” Now that she had achieved her objective, leaving without overstaying her welcome was best. She did not wish to cause any trouble for the villagers.

Nevertheless, despite her gracious words, Ruan Bai couldn’t resist taking a subtle jab at Wang Wen Wen, “Little sister Wen Wen, don’t worry. I won’t return to Brother Gu’s side. He belongs to you alone. I am not worthy of him.”

‘What about your horse?!’ Wang Wen Wen’s youthful anger boiled over, causing her to curse, “She will only bring us trouble. Don’t let her go!”

The more Wang Wen Wen acted out, the more irritated the two villagers grew. They believed she was targeting Ruan Bai because of Gu Sancai. What harm could a weak and fragile woman, who wished for death, bring to them anyway? After considering Gu San’s handsome appearance, they did not mind Wang Wen Wen’s behaviour.

Ultimately, Wang Wen Wen, a high school girl with no physical strength, was no match for two young men in their prime. She could only glare at Ruan Bai with resentment as she was released and led out of the basement. The villagers even provided her with money and food to ensure her safe departure.

☆11

As Ruan Bai departed, she kept her guard up and engaged in idle talk. She was curious about the little mermaid living in the pond, but didn’t probe too deeply. Still, she picked up a lot of information from their chat.

She learned that mermaids had been part of the village for generations, and they were once revered as a lucky charm, a symbol of prosperity and joy for the villagers. That’s why they erected the statue of the mermaid’s mother. But times had changed, and the villagers had forsaken their belief in deities and their sympathy for mermaids who were useless and homebound.

By chance, the villagers realized that these deformed beings were worth a lot. So they decided to sell mermaids in secret. Human trafficking was not rare in their village. Most people had little qualms about it, seeing it as a necessary evil.

“We work hard for a year to grow crops that barely make three thousand yuan. But a mermaid can sell for millions,” one of the villagers said. “In this world, what doesn’t need money? You need money to get married, raise kids, buy houses, and buy cars. Without this, we couldn’t even afford clothes.” The speaker was very frank, as they figured out that Ruan Bai had been trafficked.

Ruan Bai: “……”

It appeared that the game’s narrative was firmly grounded in reality.

“Why don’t you move out of this isolated place and buy a house in the city with your money?” Ruan Bai asked. “Your kids could get a better education and go to college, instead of farming for a living.”

She was not persuaded by the villagers’ words at all. They seemed greedy for money, complaining about their situation without thinking about how to change it with effort.

“You talk like it’s easy, but it’s really not,” a villager replied, shaking his head. “We can’t read, we have our hukou here, and what’s the point of moving out? Even if we marry someone from another village and have kids, without the Mermaid Ah Ma’s blessing, we’ll still have to come back or die….”

As he spoke, he stopped short, as if he had said too much.

Not to die?

Ruan Bai’s fingers quivered at the implication of his words. Finally, she had identified what had been bothering her all along.

Wanting wealth and avoiding danger were basic human desires. Who would go back to a poor, isolated village after seeing the city life in the information age, even if it was expensive and hard outside? They could also move to some smaller towns and villages, which were convenient and cheap. Even if they had to give up something, with a mermaid’s high price, they could still live well.

But what if they are stuck here, not by choice, but by force?

Ruan Bai understood what he meant.  All the stories had formed a clear, vivid picture in her mind— Unless something changed, the number of women in this village would keep dropping fast, and no more mermaids might be born in a few years.

Unlike the little mermaids she encountered today, who were closely monitored and isolated from outsiders, the mermaids had more freedom and interactions five years ago, even though they were also treated as commodities. The deceased mermaid had once formed a friendship with Du Wen Shu and even developed a romantic crush on him.

Wang Wen Wen’s in-game persona must be the ‘child born from marrying someone from another village.’

The story unfolds thusly:

The mermaid, raised as a commodity, stumbled upon a young, elegant researcher by chance and fell madly in love with him through their interactions. She foolishly resolved to elope with him, prompting the villagers to take notice. They killed the researcher and hid his body while telling the mermaid he had left her behind. Heartbroken and hopeless, the mermaid killed herself rather than be sold as a commodity. Her spirit transformed into a wrathful entity, seeking vengeance on the villagers who had ruined her life and love.

Ruan Bai had a clearer view of the situation than the villagers who were involved in it.

Mermaid Ah Ma was not only resentful of the villagers but also cunning. She pretended to protect them with talismans but trapped them in the village, cutting them off from their accumulated wealth.

The excuses of household registration and illiteracy were just distractions like red herrings. Ruan Bai, who was not from the village, could see through them easily. The villagers were only fooling themselves. Wang Wen Wen’s motive for inviting outsiders was probably to reduce the village’s death toll and use the outsiders as scapegoats.

Ruan Bai felt a nagging sense of unease that lingered in her mind. She was glad she had not used the mermaid bell when she met her but had relied on Du Wen Shu to win her over. However, she still did not know what the mermaid bell was for or what it was.

Having achieved her goal of acquiring the desired information, Ruan Bai tactfully veered the conversation away from the dangerous territory, leaving no trace of her intentions. When the villagers escorted her out of the village, she made haste to find an excuse to leave, eager to reunite with Gu San.

Ruan Bai feared being discovered by the villagers and avoided returning to the village. She was confident that Gu San would come to the grave to investigate, so she proceeded to exhume Du Wen Shu’s remains, determined to fulfill her mission.

Ruan Bai harbored no strong opinions about the researcher, perhaps due to her negative outlook. She had observed that the mermaid had liked Du Wen Shu, but she had doubts that he reciprocated the affection. Nonetheless, Ruan Bai was not concerned about it, for her sole objective was to deliver the bones to the mermaid.

Deep within the forest lay the unremarkable burial place of Du Wen Shu, a modest mound of earth with a lone wooden marker bereft of inscriptions. Ruan Bai wasted no time, baring her arms and digging into the soft, yielding soil. After half an hour of grueling labor, she finally unearthed the remains of the deceased.

As she toiled away, a chilling voice interrupted her reverie. 

Gu San’s tone was devoid of all emotion as he addressed her, “Softie, at last, I have found you… Earlier, I was verbally accosted by the villagers, being branded a scoundrel or worse. Surely, I deserve an explanation for this?” He trailed off, his voice rising slightly, conveying a frigid, haughty demeanour.

Ruan Bai, now caked in dirt and sweat, stood in the shallow grave, her response to the unexpected confrontation being a wordless stare.

☆12

As soon as Gu San spoke, Ruan Bai’s body tensed up. How did he know about this? She tried to play it cool, forcing a smile and laughing awkwardly. “Gu San, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? Last night was pretty intense. The wolf turned out to be Wang Wen Wen, and I even had an encounter with a mermaid–“

“–Confess and you’ll receive a lighter sentence; resist, and you’ll face the consequences,” he interrupted, his tone unyielding.

“I’m sorry, boss, I was wrong!” Ruan Bai quickly cowered and reluctantly confessed. “I had no choice but to come up with a pathetic story to gain their trust.”

Ruan Bai remembered the murderous look in Wang Wen Wen’s eyes when she was in that basement. She would have been done if she had come up with something convincing.

Gu San glared at Ruan Bai from a position of superiority; his chin raised coldly. “Coming up with a story is one thing, but why must my name be dragged into it? It makes me look bad, doesn’t it?”

Ruan Bai was at a loss for words. She had only wanted to provoke Wang Wen Wen at the time. But her intuition told her that revealing this fact would mean the end of her. She didn’t want to lose her connection to Gu San, but she couldn’t come up with a plausible explanation under his scrutinizing gaze.

Gu San’s piercing gaze fixated on Ruan Bai for a prolonged moment. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled into a faint smile. “Alright, if you don’t want to say it, forget it,” he said with a meaningful tone, withdrawing his gaze. “However, many villagers now mistakenly believe that I have some sort of improper relationship with you. What should we do about it in the future?”

Ruan Bai remained silent, struggling to find the right words. This was the crux of the matter. Was she supposed to pretend to be in a relationship with this big shot, or would it be one of those ghost/animal set-ups with a sleazy man and a cheap woman? The thought alone was enough to make her blood boil.

As frustration mounted, Ruan Bai struggled to focus on the bones in her hand. Gu San, however, noticed her distress and ceased to tease her. “As for how we should act in front of the villagers, just be yourself. I’m not one to fret over such things,” he said, turning to business. “Tell me what happened last night.”

Ruan Bai breathed a sigh of relief at the change in topic. Without hesitation, she retrieved the remaining of Du Wen Shu’s remains and placed them beside her. She described the previous night’s events to Gu San, including the mermaid’s request to bring Du Wen Shu’s bones to her.

“But Gu San, I promised the villagers that I would leave the mermaid village,” she whispered, “If I ever have to go back, I might need your help.”

This was the most troublesome thing for her. The game’s setting was confined to this village, and she could not leave without putting herself in harm’s way. If she had to return, she needed a legitimate reason. At present, the only conceivable reason was somehow connected to Gu San.

Gu San grasped the gravity of the situation. After hearing Ruan Bai’s words, he raised his eyebrows and gave her a fake smile, “I will certainly cooperate with you. No need to worry.”

Ruan Bai remained silent, knowing that this issue would arise again.

Despite this, Gu San maintained a stern attitude regarding serious matters. After receiving information from Ruan Bai, he paused momentarily before uttering, “Don’t bring Du Wen Shu’s bones back just yet.”

Perhaps concerned that Ruan Bai wouldn’t comprehend, he explained, “Two players and one villager died last night. It’s no surprise that those villagers won’t sit idly by.”

The villagers were aware of Du Wen Shu and the mermaid’s past. With players unwilling to die for them and no other recourse, it was easy for them to use Du Wen Shu to subdue the mermaid.

If they discovered that Du Wen Shu’s bones had been exhumed, it would be obvious that players were responsible. This would put players in danger of facing threats from NPCs and ghosts.

“But she asked me to bring the bones,” Ruan Bai understood Gu San’s meaning but couldn’t help but question, “If she doesn’t see the bones in my hands tonight, will she attack me?”

“She never promised not to harm you aither way tonight,” Gu San pointed out.

Gu San spoke calmly, “In the game, remember never to trust the words of ghosts and monsters. Though they may honor their promises, they also love to play word games. If you believe them easily, you may not even know how you died.”

Ruan Bai sensed a hint of weight in his tone.

It was true that she might not have survived the mermaid’s grasp last night if Du Wen Shu’s death hadn’t been mentioned. But just because she claimed to be a colleague of Du Wen Shu, doesn’t mean the vengeful ghost would show any mercy. The mermaid only wanted to use her, and Ruan Bai, being naive, believed the ghost’s words.

After realizing her mistake, Ruan Bai obediently nodded and said, “Thank you, I understand.”

Ruan Bai could tell that Gu San’s advice was a precious player experience, and she was grateful for his generosity. Though she might not enter these games again, she appreciated his kindness.

“Don’t mention it,” Gu San shook his head. “As a newcomer, your performance impressed me. If you’re willing, you can join our team after we’re done here. As for Du Wen Shu’s remains, since they’ve been dug up, we shouldn’t waste them. Let’s go. Next, we’ll clear the game.”

☆13

After Gu San had finished speaking, Ruan Bai appeared to have had an epiphany and tentatively asked, “Are you intending to negotiate with the villagers using these bones?”

The bones were too heavy and inconvenient to carry. Nevertheless, they could hide them somewhere else and use them as a bargaining chip to gain control over the situation.

“Smart,” Gu San exclaimed as he snapped his fingers and chuckled. He went straight to the corpse lying on the ground without further ado. After a brief search, he found Du Wen Shu’s skull and stored it in his backpack. As for the other bones, Ruan Bai and Gu San discovered a relatively hidden spot, dug a hole, and buried them while making an inconspicuous mark.

Ruan Bai followed Gu San to the village after that. Along the way, she recalled Wang Wen Wen’s identity and brought it up to Gu San, “Wang Wen Wen is the mole. We still need to find a way to control her.”

“No problem. After I discovered her identity last night, I informed Qin Yu and the others. They will handle the matter,” Gu San said calmly. “In exchange, they showed me Du Wen Shu’s notebook.”

Ruan Bai was initially curious about how Gu San had managed to survive the night, but she wasn’t concerned about him. Being a seasoned player, she believed he had plenty of ways to protect himself. Gu San seemed to have spent the night with Qin Yu and the others.

“After you disappeared, two villagers appeared,” Gu San said, breaking the silence. “They were very cautious, and I was led to another place by them. When I noticed you were gone and tried to find you again, it was too late.”

Night had already fallen, and the mermaids would soon emerge. Gu San gave up with no other option and sought refuge with Qin Yu and the others. He guessed that the mermaids’ primary target would be the villagers, so he helped restrain the house owner, sacrificing the man to allow them to escape unharmed.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m alive,” Ruan Bai said, surprised that Gu San was even bothering to explain. From her perspective, Gu San had no obligation to save her. After all, they were strangers.

“You can continue telling me about what you found out,” she quickly added. “I don’t mind hearing about it. You’ve already taught me so much, and I’m grateful.”

“Sure thing.” Gu San nodded without being overly dramatic and explained his findings to Ruan Bai.

“I took note of the contents in the notebook and found a plethora of intriguing information,” he said. “Du Wen Shu was an exceptionally talented individual, with a strong fascination for the surreal. Upon arriving in the village, he noticed a subtle yet sinister aura surrounding the area. He suspected that the villagers were up to no good and had caused grievances to many, but rather than being afraid, he ardently researched the mermaids and their goddess for an extended period of time.” He continued, “In order to test his hypothesis, he intentionally approached the mermaid and won her favor.”

Du Wen Shu had always been fascinated by mermaids. When he discovered their appearance was linked to their goddess and that there might be some magical force behind it, he naturally wanted to investigate it thoroughly. He used various tactics to make the unsuspecting mermaid fall in love with him.

“If my deduction is correct, he initially suggested eloping with the mermaid, but intentionally leaked the news. His objective was likely to test the relationship between Mermaid Ah Ma and the other mermaids. Unfortunately, his callousness enraged Mermaid Ah Ma, leading to his death at her hands, and causing the mermaid to commit suicide,” said Gu San.

“Mermaid Ah Ma killed Du Wen Shu?” Ruan Bai was deeply shocked. “I assumed the villagers were responsible…”

Gu San shook his head. “The villagers remain tight-lipped about his death, shrouding it in taboo. If they had murdered him, they would not need to keep it a secret. Furthermore, after questioning the villagers last night, I discovered the origin of the mermaid bell in your possession–“

Gu San explained the origin of the bell. It was made from the heart of the Mermaid Ah Ma, responsible for Du Wen Shu’s death. The villagers, fearing her possible revenge had taken her heart out of the statue, ground it into powder, and imbued it with Taoist symbols. Despite their precautions, how could they not feel the resentment emanating from the Mermaid Ah Ma? Even after thousands of years of worship, they had no guarantee that she would spare them.

Ruan Bai remembered discovering the bell, carefully stored in a black box with great talismans. Without the bell’s sound on the first night to save them, she would have never thought to search for it. Looking back, it was clear that the Mermaid Ah Ma had deliberately manipulated them all. She held a deep grudge against outsiders and had no reason to protect them. Using the sound of the bell, she successfully lured the mermaids away from the village, leading them to the Taoist temple to investigate. In the end, she skillfully used Ruan Bai’s hand to break the seal of the bell. She was all unwittingly abusing them!!

As Ruan Bai pieced everything together, the system prompt chimed. 【Ding! Congratulations, host, one of the mission objectives, 《Investigate the Secret of the Mermaid Village,》 has been completed!】 Though Ruan Bai was slightly stunned by this achievement, she couldn’t bring herself excited.

Gu San solemnly said, “At the end of the day, the mermaid’s killing spree must have been orchestrated by the mermaid goddess. When the mermaid goddess’s heart was sealed, she lost all her powers and had no choice but to use the mermaid to turn them into vengeful spirits through their killings. In this way, she could exact her revenge. Now that you’ve removed the mermaid bell from its seal, she will undoubtedly take action.”

Ruan Bai’s mind went blank upon hearing everything. “What should we do then? Why is the B-level world so complicated? These NPCs are too calculating!” She had previously thought the mermaid bell was a life-saving tool, but now she realized it was a death sentence!

The mermaid goddess’s power must have come from her heart; otherwise, she would not have disappeared completely after the mermaid bell was sealed. To get the mermaid bell back, the mermaid goddess would send her mermaid daughters to attack them.

“The game doesn’t have a clearly defined difficulty level,” Gu San said calmly. “The only thing that’s been graded is the level of danger.” He paused for a moment, glancing at Ruan Bai, perhaps understanding the difficulty of being a newcomer, and whispered, “You don’t have to worry, I have a way to clear the game.”

The game had hinted to them that if they could uncover the secrets of the mermaid village, they might find a way to survive. In games, there was never an absolute dead end for players.

The mermaid had turned into a vengeful spirit. She hated. She hated the villagers because she mistakenly believed they had prevented her from being with Du Wen Shu and ruined their future together. However, she didn’t know that Du Wen Shu had died at the hands of the mermaid goddess.

Gu San noted, “This is something we can use.” Before delving into Du Wen Shu’s notes, he meticulously observed many details, particularly about the mermaid girl.

Du Wen Shu utilised a variety of methods to pursue the mermaid girl. Unfortunately, as a researcher, he lacked the skills of a playboy. After presenting her with flowers twice, he ceased his attempts. He was not one for singing, nor did he possess the gift of sweet talk. However, he frequently regaled the mermaid girl with tales of the books he had read. His favourite was Stendhal’s 《Le Rouge et le Noir/The Red and the Black》.

In the book’s conclusion, the protagonist, Julien Sorel, perished on the platform of a guillotine. His lover, Mathilde, held his head and fled into the deep mountains, never to be seen again.

——— Translator’s Notes ——— 

“The Red and the Black” refers to the French novel “Le Rouge et le Noir” by Stendhal, which tells the story of a young man’s rise in society and his love affair with two women. The protagonist, Julien Sorel, is executed for attempting to assassinate a noblewoman and dies on the scaffold. The woman he loves, Mathilde de la Mole, disappears into obscurity.

☆14

In the time that remained, Ruan Bai trailed Gu San back to the village to sort out the aftermath.

Upon entering the village, she found herself at the center of attention. Many villagers stared at her with surprise, while others wore a ‘wanting to say something but holding back’ expression and a ‘displeased but unwilling to argue’ look.

Ruan Bai: “…”

She finally grasped Gu San’s previous sentiment…

She pondered how long it had been since the village had heard any juicy gossip. Why were even the elderly hiding and peering at her?

Initially, Ruan Bai had considered how to explain her appearance. Yet, it was evident that these villagers could conceive of a forty-episode soap opera by themselves…

Ruan Bai had no energy to explain herself, so she hid behind Gu San, lowered her head, and tried to diminish her presence.

Meanwhile, Gu San remained expressionless, standing before her with a wind-swept stride and a domineering aura. He was the epitome of a “scumbag,” leaving people at a loss for words.

A few young, hot-blooded men couldn’t help but rush towards Gu San, pointing their fingers and cursing: “Gu San, I suggest you let go. Don’t you know you’re committing a crime?”

“Exactly, let her go,” someone else echoed. “She’s not an object to be traded. How dare you degrade her like this?”

Gu San: “…”

Ruan Bai: “…”

It was an unprecedented encounter with a human trafficker who possessed such a strong sense of law. Gu San was caught off guard, but Ruan Bai took action before he could react. She stood up, extended her frail arms, and blocked Gu San from accusatory gazes.

“Don’t blame him, blame me!” Ruan Bai protected Gu San and pleaded with the youth, “It’s all my fault. Love made me lose my mind. Even if I end up in pieces, I have no regrets.”

Gu San, “…”

Could she say such shameless things without batting an eye? Gu San had only heard of Ruan Bai’s deeds, but now that he had seen her performance with his own eyes, he could finally understand why Wang Wen Wen had looked so conflicted that morning when he questioned her.

The youth hesitated momentarily at Ruan Bai’s tearful plea and then softened his stance.

He glared at Gu San and couldn’t help but feel sorry, “But he’s not a good person. He doesn’t deserve your devotion.”

“I…I don’t mind,” Ruan Bai shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

But she lifted her head, revealing a determined and persistent smile, “As long as he still sees me, I believe I can win him over.”

“Softie, you…” The youth was at a loss for words.

He let out a sigh and shook his head. “If he bullies you again, you must come to us,” he said firmly. 

This was the path others had chosen. There was nothing else he could say. It was a pity that a shameless man had deceived such a beautiful and innocent girl. 

Ruan Bai nodded resolutely. “I will,” she said, looking at the young man with tender eyes. “Thank you. You are so kind to me, just like a brother.”

“It’s, it’s nothing,” the young man stuttered, his face turning slightly red. “You’re very kind too.” Meanwhile, Gu San looked on with a complex expression, his thoughts a mystery.

Watching this scene unfold, all the players nearby were shocked and left speechless. They had cleared so many instances before but had never experienced this situation. Ruan Bai’s ability to fool an NPC so thoroughly, combined with her thick skin and superb acting skills, made her a game genius in some sense.

Ruan Bai followed Gu San’s lead for the rest of the game and successfully experienced what it was like to ‘lie down and win.’ They found the village chief and, using the location of Du Wen Shu’s corpse, obtained two wooden plaques with runes that could protect themselves from attacks.

When the mermaid girl found Ruan Bai that night, they told her the truth about Du Wen Shu’s death. Finally, the mermaid girl took Du Wen Shu’s skull and ran into the deep mountains without looking back. The crisis of the mermaid village was thus dispelled, and the future of the mermaid village had no more connection to the players.

As the countdown approached, Gu San gave his contact information to Ruan Bai.

“I didn’t misjudge you after all. You’re very talented,” he said, words laden with meaning. “If you’re looking for companionship, seek us out. My gaming team boasts many seasoned players who can train you.”

On the bus that day, he observed Ruan Bai calmly spouting absurdities, and he was intuited that this girl was about to surprise him.

The present gaming elites are known for their icy composure and their ability to fight, flee, and excel in all things: theft, deceit, and murder. Nowadays, the high-level players are all of this ilk.

To survive longer, players found themselves compelled to change. Whether it was Wang Wen Wen, the white-collar woman, or even Gu San himself, they all did what they had to do in times of crisis.

But Gu San felt that this judgment was too narrow at times.

The skilled always have a variety of talents, though they may have yet to utilize them in the game fully. He felt that if Ruan Bai could hone her skills, she would surpass him and all the other players by far.

“Okay, I’ll message you.” Ruan Bai jotted down Gu San’s contact information but didn’t take his words seriously.

She had no desire to risk her life. Even if the Escape Game offered copious points, she wouldn’t play it again.

After the final countdown ended, Ruan Bai’s ear received a system prompt:

【Congratulations, player. You have cleared the B-grade game world  《Escape from the Fish Village》! Due to the dangerous level of the world, your play style rating is B. You have completed two random missions and earned a total of 2500 points. The settlement will occur after leaving the world.】

Upon hearing the voice, Ruan Bai couldn’t help but shed tears of excitement. The number of points she had earned was beyond her wildest dreams. She had not suffered in vain.

But above all, she could finally put this all behind her!

However, what came next caught her off guard – the system’s tone suddenly changed midway:

【Besides, please note that your information has been imported into the Escape Game work area due to this mistake. The Escape Game system administrator has expressed great interest in you. After coordination, White Lotus system 250 will be merged into the Escape Game work area.】

Ruan Bai: “…”

Ruan Bai: “Wait, what did you say?”

What did ‘merge into the Escape Game work area’ mean? Was it what she suspected!?

【Looking forward to working with you again. Goodbye.】

Ruan Bai: “No way!!!”

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