The killing continued.
Throat burning, Wen Shi coughed several times, attempting to soothe his airway.
After around five minutes of the agonizing screams, the secret passage regained its silence.
The bride came up to Wen Shi, and the paper knife looked sharper in the lantern light. Wen Shi stayed alert, keeping his eyes on her, afraid he might be the next one targeted.
The real bride pulled a paper from her skin like extracting a blood vessel.
She held a paper representing the cooperation, with the word 'good' written in bloody letters, which now looked horrifying.
The real bride seemed to be about to tear up this paper.
She killed quite a few monsters, and now she was becoming somewhat bloodthirsty.
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Wen Shi spoke calmly and elegantly, "The castle master wants to defy your will and forcibly imprison your soul, which I believe is unethical."
The real bride remained indifferent. Her hand holding the knife dropped slightly.
Wen Shi's voice became hoarse, "Let's cooperate, I can help you."
The monster alliance, now half destroyed, had no future. He needed to find a new place for himself.
This statement sounded as fantastical as plucking stars from the night sky, but Wen Shi said it sincerely, "You only need to support from the sidelines, just like before, when I helped you divide the monsters into two waves."
"Support?" the real bride coldly questioned the term.
Wen Shi's tense nerves eased slightly. Although the player was weak, NPCs could only achieve their goals through players as intermediaries, indicating he had the qualification to negotiate.
"Help me steal some treasures from the castle master's collection," Wen Shi whispered, "The ones I can use."
For the first time, a look of bewilderment appeared on the real bride's face, probably not expecting someone daring enough to target the Earl's possessions.
Wen Shi also clarified his contribution, "As long as you help me, I'll call some friends to assist in stealing the frame. Without the captive container, you'll be much safer."
The existence of the frame was equally the real bride's lifelong enemy.
Wen Shi was just as skilled in plotting schemes as Luo Xiao, but the difference was that he preferred risk-free deals and wouldn't waste points and items like Luo Xiao when something happened.
The instance was now forced to split into three factions. With only him as a player, the game couldn't continue, so they would definitely recruit more players.
Now, Wen Shi skillfully made it seem like it was his achievement with his twisting words.
"What's there to hesitate about?" Wen Shi's persuasive language was far superior to the monster Catherine. "We cooperate, and the castle master bears all the trading costs. If we fail, you won't lose anything, and you can vent your frustration by killing me. On the other hand, the castle master will suffer some hidden losses, so either way, you win."
Wen Shi's tone became more sincere and touching. "I'm doing all of this for your own good."
The real bride felt that something was amiss but couldn't find any flaws in his impeccable reasoning.
She sensed that this human was cunning. Killing him might be the best option.
However, Wen Shi added fuel to the fire at this moment. "Are you feeling sorry for the castle master's possessions?"
A paper knife flew through space and slashed towards Wen's shoulder. Though he evaded quickly, the blade still grazed the surface of his skin, causing blood to flow instantly.
When he summoned the Wandering Corpse, Wen Shi had already lost some health points, and now he received another cut, forcing him to quickly purchase and consume four bottles of potions to alleviate the injury.
Seeing his points plummet by eighty, he genuinely felt the pain this time.
Though the tactic of provocation was foolish, it proved effective.
The demons couldn't be angered. Even a slight rage would drive them to kill, but it was enough to firm their resolve.
The blood from his earlier shoulder injury splattered on Wen Shi's mouth corner. As he wiped it away, noticing he didn't receive a second attack, he slowly revealed a chilling smile.
The real bride finally sheathed her knife, turned, and walked away. Wen Shi followed closely, holding his shoulder.
The points spent on potions weren't wasted. They worked well to stop the bleeding, but unfortunately, the pain persisted. When his brain nerves throbbed in sync, he returned to the study.
The remaining half of the monsters had disappeared without a trace, clearly hiding somewhere. They couldn't bother the real bride in a short time, and she didn't pay them any attention. Tilting her head back, she raised her palm, drawing all the flowing blood back into her body.
Her paper-thin body instantly became plump, her icy demeanor and cold eyes became intimidating, presenting the beautiful appearance only found in paintings.
As the blood returned to her body, the temperature in the study dropped abruptly.
Wen tried tentatively, "Shall I wait for you in the room?"
Participating in theft together carried a slightly higher risk, making it easy for them to be added to the castle master's kill list under the pretext of thieves.
The real bride didn't respond to him, but she didn't reject him either.
Wen Shi went downstairs alone and returned to his room. The interior of the castle emitted a pervasive smell of decay at night. Ucertain if the monsters would seek revenge on him, Wen Shi hurried his way through.
Upon returning to his room, the first thing he did was drink water, while pressing his fingers against the sore muscles on his neck.
Wen Shi sat motionless until three in the morning when an unlocked door was pushed open, and the real bride appeared at the doorway.
He tried to force a friendly smile, greedily scanning the object in her hand. It was a small metal box, estimated to be at least two to three feet deep, and its material resembled iron plates.
A safe?
Wen Shi extinguished the unrealistic fantasy himself.
Safes weren't so small, and it seemed like it couldn't hold much inside.
The real bride replied emotionlessly, "You can use it."
Wen Shi had emphasized the need to find treasures he could use, as his strength was too weak to covet too much. Anything too powerful might cause him to lose himself as the user even before using it.
"Thank you."
Wen Shi took the small metal box.
[Safe: A storage container, an excellent choice for safeguarding your possessions]
Unless they willingly traded the item, they shouldn't be able to snatch it, so why would such a thing appear?
The small box wasn't added to the[Backpack] section of the panel but created a new[Safe] space.
If it could add a new section, it should be useful. Wen Shi was quite satisfied with this gain.
The real bride then threw over a package containing several silver coins.
[Universal Currency: Currency recognized by NPCs]
Money can make the world go round, so Wen quickly stashed the coins into the safe.
"The player accepts stolen goods from the real bride. The current faction identity changes to Undercover for the real bride in the Monster Alliance."
"Help the real bride gain freedom, and she will grant you freedom as well."
"New optional main quest."
[Main Quest (Optional): Destroy the spiritual essence of the frame
Warning: Your cooperation with the bride is quite fragile and can be destroyed at any time.]
Wen Shi checked, and the main quest for the monster alliance was still there, now with the addition of "Optional." Similar to the advanced skill selection, he only needed to complete either one.
The real bride didn't work in vain. Under the influence of the blood bride's blessing, she would feel disgust when she saw Wen Shi and had to constantly suppress her murderous intent.
Wen Shi smiled, knowing what she wanted to say, and took the initiative, "My friends are already on their way and will arrive soon."
All three factions inside the instance were listed. Would the participants be late to arrive?
*
Exit to Instance 1332.
Wen Shi's delay in coming out sparked a discussion among the group.
When only one person remained, it should be easy to break the deadlock, right?
"What's up with this newbie?"
Everyone thought Wen Shi would die early, but he lasted until the end. Just when they expected him to come out immediately, there was complete silence.
Outside the instance's exit, major guilds surrounded it, occupying the front rows. Of course, there were also some low-profile forces hidden in the shadows, hoping to extract valuable things from the newbie later on.
"I'm starting to wonder if he knows what's happening outside and is too afraid to end the game."
Once they came out, it would be a bloodbath.
A nearby player said, "With such a lineup, this life wouldn't have been wasted."
In the past, it was unimaginable to witness such a grand scene, where members of the Ten Commandments could be seen casually with just a glance.
A strong man in his thirties ahead turned to look back, abruptly ceasing the players' teasing remarks. They realized they were standing too close and might disturb him, so they quickly stepped back.
To make two seasoned players back down, one must be far from ordinary, and this person was a member of the Second Commandment.
"So noisy." The burly man carrying an axe frowned displeasedly, and no one nearby dared to provoke his bad temper.
The next moment, all the discussions almost instantly quieted down.
The burly man with the giant axe was taken aback. Although he had a considerable reputation in the game, when did he earn such face? He managed to silence everyone simultaneously.
However, he soon realized that the reason wasn't him. Almost everyone was looking in one direction—
...
A tall, slender man came from the west, with an ordinary face and a pair of glasses perched on his high nose. However, this ordinary frame seemed to give him a certain charm, adding an indescribable taste to his regular features. The man's windbreaker wrapped around his sleek muscular figure, and his right wrist wore a black beaded bracelet. With a straight posture and an inexplicable aura, the man would still stand out even in a crowd.
People on both sides of the road made way for him.
This time, it was the burly man himself who was taken aback, his mouth wide open in astonishment, "Th-the vice leader?!"
He never expected the vice leader to personally come.
Seeing his guild's members, the tall, slender man nodded slightly, adjusted his glasses, and walked closer before looking at the projection screen.
Player 460872's number remained highlighted.
"He's been inside for several days now."
Realizing someone was talking to him, the burly man nodded in surprise, "Some say the newbie is deliberately stalling in the instance."
The tall, slender man said calmly, "Those who make such claims probably also got stuck in the instance."
"..."
"Go and find out the order of death and specific times for the players who died in the instance."
The burly man hesitated for a moment. The vice guild leader seemed to believe that these players' deaths were related to the newbie. Having been in the guild for so long, he was certain that the vice leader paid special attention to this newbie.
Veteran players often held a condescending attitude toward newbies, even if the newbies showed outstanding qualities. The burly man couldn't figure out why the vice leader was so interested, but he didn't waste any time and was ready to call someone to inquire immediately.
Just then, on the huge screen, [Night of the Horror Ancient Castle]suddenly flashed red, and a series of new numbers appeared after the participating players: Player 392752; Player 409932; Player 375183; Player 367800; Player 414782; Player 347711.
These player numbers were not unfamiliar.
"367800, isn't that Zhao Sanjie?"
In the instance, most people weren't using their real names. Code names were more important. On the leaderboard, Zhao Sanjie was given the code name 'Mad Butcher,' indicating his brutal behavior.
"'Sand Tiger Shark' Ling is also here. I heard she even harmed her own brother to survive in the instance."
The code name itself was ironic, as some sand tiger sharks would bite their siblings even inside their mother's womb.
The remaining few were no good either, with a history of notorious deeds.
"What an all-villain team."
"I guess the newbie's luck must be E." Even those who were optimistic about Wen Shi earlier couldn't help but shake their heads. This was like a second endgame.
After entering, these people will undoubtedly spare no effort to extract secrets from the newbie at any cost. Some players who had been jealous of the newbie getting attention from the big shots fell silent. They didn't dare to seek such fortune.
The selected players were informed that they would enter the instance in 300 seconds.
The countdown was now close to halfway.
[Countdown: 160 s, 159 s…]
Many factions were desperately contacting players about to enter the game, promising to buy any information related to the special 3S instance at a high price.
Among them, Zhao Sanjie was undoubtedly the most contacted. Despite his infamous reputation, his underhanded methods proved effective at times.
Three of the top ten guilds sent messages to Zhao Sanjie, which made him feel somewhat elated. However, when the prompt sound came, he readjusted his mindset and checked if he had enough supplies in his backpack.
The beam fell on Zhao Sanjie.
[Instance "Night of the Horror Ancient Castle" has been successfully loaded.
Recap: Half a month ago, you attended a gathering with old classmates. You were delighted to see so many of them after so many years.
After the dinner, everyone went together to an art exhibition where you unexpectedly encountered a Earl. He invited you all to his wedding, but you had no interest and declined the invitation. Now, almost half a month has passed, and your friends still haven't returned. Coincidentally, at this moment, you learned from your family that your family had some connections with the Earl, and for some reason, you decided to come and check it out.]
"Prompt: This instance requires choosing a faction."
[The Earl's faction welcomes you! He has been single for so long, can you bear to let him remain single forever?]
[Main quest: Help the Earl successfully marry the most perfect bride.
Difficulty: Intermediate.
Current faction members: 0.
Final reward bonus: +0%]
[The Bride's Faction welcomes you! She wants to remain single, can you bear to let her be forced into marriage?]
[Main quest: Help the bride achieve the long-awaited freedom.
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced.
Current faction members: 0.
Final reward bonus: +10%]
[Monster Alliance awaits your joining.
Main quest: Elevate the status of monsters and help them find suitable vessels for survival.
Difficulty: Advanced.
Current faction members: 1.
Final reward bonus: +30%]
Zhao Sanjie frowned. The game's wicked humor was as usual, with all those flowery descriptions. It made it seem like each faction had unwelcome members.
He decisively chose the Monster Alliance.
The '1' in the Monster Alliance certainly referred to the newbie. No wonder the person couldn't leave, being in the advanced difficulty faction.
Being in the same faction would make it easy for him to approach the newbie. Zhao Sanjie revealed a cruel and sinister smile. He loved plundering things from others.
The other five players formed alliances: three chose the castle master faction, seeking stability, while the last two players were automatically assigned to the bride's faction.
As the beam of light disappeared, they stood on a path, with a magnificent castle towering in the distance.
It was the time when day and night met, and the morning breeze felt bone-chillingly cold.
The players sized each other up. Some of them recognized each other.
"Endgames are troublesome. Many things are unclear." A'Ling looked at Zhao Sanjie. "I bet a weirdo like you must have chosen the most difficult monster faction."
The audacity to call him a pervert even though she had killed her own brother. Zhao Sanjie sneered but didn't deny it. In such a situation where faction members were openly disclosed, the subsequent stages of the game would surely reveal the identities of each faction's members.
A'Ling said, "For the endgame, we need to gather information, and the quickest way is through the newbie. I have a method to force the newbie to cooperate, but we need your help."
Zhao Sanjie and Wen Shi were both in the Monster Alliance, so it would be troublesome to sabotage it.
"Alright," Zhao Sanjie raised an eyebrow, looking at the others. "The newbie's items will be mine, and we'll share the information."
A'Ling smiled meaningfully. "If there's anything remarkable, you'll have to compensate us with some points."
The other players joined the discussion one after another. Wen Shi seemed like a piece of meat on the chopping board, dissected and discussed for the best way to devour him.
"Alright," a player with six fingers spoke, "Entering the castle is a bit odd, let's be cautious."
[Night of the Horror Ancient Castle]was a standard difficulty level for an instance, and it wouldn't normally accommodate six high-level players at once.
The six of them walked towards the castle and passed by a lush tree when a dark shadow suddenly darted out.
Before that, the shadow had not revealed any signs of its presence. It was huge in size and extremely fast, wielding an iron hook. The hook ruthlessly cut through the air, tearing into the players' flesh and blood.
The whole attack happened without any warning. One player nearby was pierced in the neck muscles by the iron hook. He desperately used potions to restore his health. Unable to bear being treated as a sacrificial pawn by the others, he tried to escape, but someone pushed him towards the shadow. The iron hook went straight through his head.
The tough skull was easily crushed. The player looked up before his death, seeing the creature attacking him.
With a bushy beard covering his face, a pair of small eyes gleaming with excitement and cruelty.
"Aaron's friends must die, must die!"
Who was Aaron?
The player's head tilted, leaving with unanswered questions as he met his end.
The other fleeing players also received prompt notifications one after another:
"You have been successfully added to the assassination list of Frank Hospital's Director, A'Ao."
"Damn, what's going on?"
Looking back at the persistent scruffy man, A'Ling's face was filled with bewilderment.
What hospital director? The theme of this instance was supposed to be a castle, so why would it involve a hospital?
Not just her, people outside the game were also puzzled.
The number of the unfortunate deceased player had turned grey.
The crowd discussing when the newbie would meet their doom in the virtual world was left stunned. After a moment, someone opened their mouth, "He only just entered, less than seven minutes, right?"