A dense darkness surged from outside, a darkness deeper than the night itself.
Zhang Yuanqing, who possessed eyes that could pierce the night, couldn't see through this terrifying yin energy. He could only vaguely discern a figure in a wedding dress, stepping leisurely across the threshold.
In that moment, Zhang Yuanqing experienced the greatest terror of his life.
This terror wasn't the dread of having his yang energy drained by the Shoulder-Clinging Vengeful Spirit, nor the panic of being chased by Zombies. It was the horror of having his emotions explode inwardly while his body remained utterly paralyzed.
Unable to resist, unable to defend himself, he was consumed by boundless despair.
The Nightwalker's abilities were utterly useless against this force, completely suppressed.
Little Goofball was so terrified he didn't even dare to cry, his chubby body trembling uncontrollably. A few seconds later, his useless Master joined him in shaking.
The darkness flooded the room as the figure in the wedding dress advanced step by step, the suffocating aura of death enveloping every corner.
Just then, the Cat King Speaker in Zhang Yuanqing's pocket blared out again, utterly oblivious to the situation:
"She came, bringing unparalleled terror. The groom sat on the edge of the bed, contemplating his plan. Though he appeared calm, he was actually terrified—"
At this point, the Cat King Speaker emitted a crackling static, as if experiencing interference. After a few seconds, the sound resumed, but the words that followed left Zhang Yuanqing utterly stunned:
"The groom appeared calm, but he was actually overjoyed. This was because the bride was strikingly beautiful, gentle, and dignified—a rare and perfect match. Yes, that's right... zzzt"
Then, it fell completely silent.
Actually overjoyed?! Are you sure that's what you meant to say? Zhang Yuanqing was overwhelmed by the absurdity of the statement. He lowered his head, afraid to look at the Ghost Bride.
Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his body trembled slightly.
Then, as he kept his head bowed, he saw a pair of embroidered red shoes stop directly in front of him.
Time ticked by, second by second. Xie Lingxi sat motionless on the edge of the bed, her delicate features framed by the wedding chamber's backdrop. At first glance, she almost looked like the bride herself.
In the old version of the guide, anyone chosen by the Ghost Bride was doomed to die. This rule likely remained unchanged in the new version. Whoever she selected was as good as dead. Xie Lingxi swallowed nervously.
She had always known the Haunted House's strategy, but she hadn't revealed it. Originally, she planned to use this knowledge as leverage after entering the Haunted House. However, after discovering Wang Tai was a Nightwalker and the mission had changed, adding stages like the betrothal gifts and Marriage Invitation, she realized the old strategy was useless.
So she never mentioned it again.
Xie Lingxi was terrified. Although she had experienced two Solo Spirit Realms and two Multiplayer Spirit Realms, encountering danger in each, especially in the Solo Spirit Realms, where every class's Solo Spirit Realm was invariably death-themed.
But her class's Solo Spirit Realm, while thrilling, had nothing to do with "horror."
Jinshui Amusement Park was Xie Lingxi's first Spirit Realm with supernatural elements, and it was utterly terrifying. This terror wasn't just about the risk of death; ghosts, by their very nature, evoke primal human fear.
I'll never watch another horror movie for the rest of my life, she vowed silently.
Time seemed to cease to exist within the bridal chamber. Amidst the endless torment, Xie Lingxi suddenly heard the Spirit Realm's notification:
[ You have completed the Haunted House (Ghost Marriage) mission. You are currently participating in the "Heart-Pounding" mission series. The series' attractions are: Roller Coaster — Underground Parking Garage — Haunted House (Ghost Marriage) — Detective Reasoning Hall. Please proceed to the fourth location within half an hour. ]
"It's over?"
Xie Lingxi froze, then a surge of intense joy washed over her, like emerging from a long, dark night. She nearly cheered aloud.
Finally, it's over. This terrifying supernatural ordeal is finally over.
Then came the second thought: Who died?
She eagerly pushed open the lattice door and stepped outside, scanning the surroundings. The night was hazy, lanterns hung high from the eaves, and there was no sign of movement.
But soon, footsteps sounded behind her. Xie Lingxi whirled around to see the red-haired Fire Fiend emerging from the bridal chamber.
A mixture of joy and anticipation flickered across Fire Fiend's face. "It seems either Wang Tai or the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal died."
Seeing him alive, Xie Lingxi's delicate brows furrowed imperceptibly.
In high spirits, Fire Fiend continued, "The most dangerous part is over. The Detective Reasoning Hall shouldn't be too difficult. If we make it out, we'll have achieved the S-Rank First Kill! Tsk tsk, I'm already looking forward to the completion rewards. Oh, and the walkthrough! Just that alone will keep me busy for ages."
Xie Lingxi glanced at him and said coolly, "We don't have a very clear understanding of the Haunted House walkthrough. Wang Tai knew it best. The walkthrough you write will likely be far less valuable."
Fire Fiend shrugged. "Even so, it's still valuable."
The two didn't have to wait long before hearing footsteps behind them. They turned to see...
"You?" Fire Fiend's expression flickered with surprise before quickly recovering. He scoffed. "Looks like the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal is staying here to be the groom. That coward's too timid to survive the Spirit Realm. It wouldn't be fair if he got out alive."
"Brother Wang Tai!" Xie Lingxi beamed, her smile radiant.
Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on Fire Fiend. His voice was low and serious. "We were comrades, after all. There's no need for such cold remarks."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Just get out of here already. I don't want to stay a moment longer. The sooner we leave, the sooner this mission ends, and the sooner we can all go our separate ways."
He emphasized the words "go our separate ways" with a sharp edge.
Under Zhang Yuanqing's lead, the trio moved swiftly through the inner courtyard, main hall, and outer courtyard. They encountered no further dangers and successfully escaped the haunted residence.
The three hurried out of the dark alley without stopping, their movements perfectly synchronized, as if the place had left a deep psychological scar on them all.
Ten minutes later, following the roadside signs, they found the Detective Reasoning Hall.
The white building stood tall, its triangular roof supported by thick, sturdy pillars in a classic Western architectural style.
The wrought-iron gates stood wide open, revealing a fountain in the front courtyard.
"Need to rest?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, stopping outside the gates to consult his teammates.
Xie Lingxi and Fire Fiend shook their heads.
The terror of the Haunted House had drained their mental reserves far more than their physical stamina. The ten-minute walk had been enough to calm their nerves; they didn't need further rest.
Besides, at this point, they were all eager to finish this nightmarish mission.
The trio entered the gates, skirted the fountain, and stepped into the museum-like building.
The Reasoning Hall's main hall was paved with square tiles, its domed ceiling adorned with eight magnificent crystal chandeliers that cast a brilliant, dazzling light.
Display cases lined the hall, showcasing a diverse collection of artifacts: pipes and canes, red bow ties and soccer balls, symbols of dancing figures, and a thread-bound copy of The Washing Away of Wrongs.
The pipes and canes were unremarkable, but the red bow ties... it felt like the instance was playing a joke. As a reasoning enthusiast aspiring to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become an outstanding police chief, Zhang Yuanqing was intimately familiar with these objects.
The trio's gazes swept over the display cases before quickly shifting to the center of the hall, where six red-draped statues stood.
Fire Fiend's eyes flickered as he stared at the covered statues. "What's the mission this time? Deduction? I hate these brainy tasks the most."
Xie Lingxi remained silent, deep in thought.
Zhang Yuanqing pointed at the statues and chuckled, "Isn't the puzzle already given to us?"
As his words faded, all three received a simultaneous mission prompt in their minds:
[ Ding! Welcome to the Detective Reasoning Hall! ]
[ Excess items have been removed. The Detective Reasoning Hall tests your intellect; physical conflict is strictly forbidden, with violators facing immediate elimination. Captain, please step forward and unveil the statues. ]
Xie Lingxi and Fire Fiend remained motionless, but Zhang Yuanqing strode forward and pulled back the red cloth covering the statues.
The six identical statues each bore a nameplate on their chest: Civilian, Neutral, Neutral, Guard, Mole, Evildoer.
"We have an Evildoer in our team?" Fire Fiend exclaimed, realization dawning. "That explains why the roller coaster strategy didn't change, yet Riverlord died. Wang Tai, you were trying to warn us back then, weren't you?" He then turned to Zhang Yuanqing, his gaze filled with surprise.
"You're the Captain?"
Zhang Yuanqing turned back with a smile. "Didn't you already know?"
The Fire Fiend fell silent immediately.
At that moment, the Instance Notification echoed in the minds of the three players:
[ Ding! Captain's mission now announced: Warning! An Evildoer is hidden within the team. Ensure the team's numbers remain at 3 or more, or face punishment: current level experience will be reset to zero. Warning! Conceal your role identity. ]
[ Ding! Each team member has a unique role. The Captain must deduce their identities and affix the correct name tag to each. Misidentifying even one member will result in the failure of the "Detective Reasoning Hall" mission, leading to the annihilation of the entire Captain's faction. ]
[ Each team member has the right to defend their identity. ]
[ Complete the deduction within thirty minutes. Failure to do so will result in mission failure and the annihilation of the Captain's faction. ]
[ Two things in this world cannot be stared at directly: the sun and the human heart. Timer started: 00:30:00 ]
So that's why the hidden quest required us to conceal our identities, Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. At the same moment, as if sensing something, he noticed a new item had appeared in his Inventory.
When he opened the Inventory, most items were grayed out (unavailable), but one slot glowed with normal color, containing a stack of business cards.
He retrieved the cards—six in total—each bearing a teammate's name.
"Time's limited, so I'll start with the deceased teammates first. Any objections?" Zhang Yuanqing raised the cards, glancing at Xie Lingxi and Fire Fiend beside him.
"Agreed. This will save time," Fire Fiend approved.
Xie Lingxi nodded.
Zhang Yuanqing fanned out the cards, scanned them, and pulled out "Ashamed Father's" card. "To be safe, let's start with the most reliable clue. Ashamed Father was a Neutral, he told me himself before he died. To be honest, I didn't believe him at the time, since he was an Evil Class."
It was then that Zhang Yuanqing truly confirmed everyone had received the hidden quest.
"He was an Evil Class?" Fire Fiend exclaimed, startled. "Could he have been an Evildoer? Come to think of it, since his death, no one in our team has died without a clear reason."
"There's a reason why Evildoers don't kill," Zhang Yuanqing said. "I'll explain later. But Ashamed Father isn't an Evildoer. I secretly inquired the Spirit about him after the Underground Parking Garage mission." He stepped forward and affixed Ashamed Father's business card to one of the two Neutral statues.
[ Ding! Deduction correct. ]
Immediately, a message appeared above the statue bearing Ashamed Father's card:
[ Neutral: Your team contains one Captain and one Evildoer. You must choose your allegiance before the first mission concludes. Do not reveal your identity. ]
This was the Neutral's hidden quest.
"Choose your allegiance before the first mission concludes..." Zhang Yuanqing turned back with a smile, looking at Xie Lingxi. "So, Lingxi, you're also a Neutral. Hmm, now you're one of my people."
Xie Lingxi smiled brightly. "That's right, Brother Wang Tai. Choosing an allegiance requires caution. Back then, I didn't know who the Captain or the Evildoer was. Choosing wrong could mean death. That's why I suggested the roller coaster for the first mission. It's the simplest, with no external interference. If the strategy hasn't changed, it remains the perfect platform for the Captain and Evildoer to play their game."
"Then, based on the outcome of their game, I chose my faction. Brother Wang Tai, you're amazing for figuring out how to resolve the conflict. That's why I decided to join the Captain's faction!"
Zhang Yuanqing chuckled and stuck Xie Lingxi's business card onto the Captain's sculpture.
Ever since the roller coaster incident, the girl had been remarkably well-behaved, showing him genuine goodwill.
Their "private tutoring" conversation had been a test by Zhang Yuanqing, and she had responded positively: "Sure, sure!"
[ Ding! Correct deduction. ]
Next, the Neutral's hidden quest reappeared.
Zhang Yuanqing pulled out Xishi's business card and said:
"This woman coasted through the entire mission. During the roller coaster, she agreed to keep her eyes open. She didn't lift a finger against the Autobots. Aside from being proactive about her own safety, her actions throughout the night lacked any real motivation. Therefore, I've concluded she's a Civilian.
"Fire Fiend, what do you think?"
Fire Fiend frowned. "That's too hasty. The same reasoning could apply to an Evildoer."
Zhang Yuanqing smiled. "No, it's not hasty, but I can't explain my reasons to you."
He stuck Xishi's business card onto the Civilian sculpture.
[ Ding! Correct deduction. ]
[ Civilian: Your identity is Civilian. Before the first mission ends, find the Captain and secure his protection. Do not reveal your identity. ]
Besides the reasons he had already stated, Zhang Yuanqing had two other reasons for concluding that Xishi was a Civilian:
First, during the regression that triggered his old illness, he noticed Xishi constantly probing others' identities. She first asked Xie Lingxi if she was an Official, and later hesitated between him and Riverlord on the roller coaster.
This subtle detail would have been nearly impossible to detect without his ability to regress. An Evildoer, knowing the Captain existed, would never make such obvious inquiries.
Second, in that same probing conversation, Xishi replied, "Don't respect me. Be rough, be wild."
This was actually her hinting at her Civilian status. Of course, there was also the Inquire the Soul technique.
Civilians don't need respect; they are always treated with roughness and wildness.
At the time, Zhang Yuanqing had interpreted this as her expressing dependence. It wasn't until he saw the "Civilian" identity just now that he truly understood.
"Riverlord was the first to die. Let's ignore him for now," Zhang Yuanqing said with a smile, turning to the Fire Fiend. "Brother Fire Fiend, are you a Mole or an Evildoer?"
The Fire Fiend's face darkened. "I'm a Guard," he said firmly.
"Bullshit!" Xie Lingxi rolled her eyes. "You with those thick eyebrows and big eyes look anything but trustworthy. You've been stirring up trouble from the start—a real shit-stirrer. No, wait, you're just a pile of shit."
The Fire Fiend remained calm, offering a logical defense:
"Brother Wang Tai, I truly am a Guard. I've known you were the Captain since the roller coaster ride. Think about it: if I were an Evildoer, I would have killed you just like I killed Riverlord."
"Hahaha!"
"What's so funny?" the Fire Fiend frowned.
"I'm a seasoned expert who's experienced countless Spirit Realms—a Walker with vast experience. No lie can fool me," Zhang Yuanqing said after his laughter subsided, his tone turning cold. "You seemed quite disappointed when you saw me emerge from the Haunted House earlier."
"Why would I be disappointed? I was overjoyed!" the Fire Fiend retorted angrily. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already. Doesn't that make sense?"
Xie Lingxi hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. Though she sensed the Fire Fiend was up to no good, she lacked concrete evidence and feared misleading the Captain with a rash accusation.
A single wrong choice meant the entire Captain's team would be wiped out, including her.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
"Then explain why you misled us on the roller coaster, claiming the 'close your eyes' strategy was no longer effective," Zhang Yuanqing pressed. "Don't give me that 'I was scared' nonsense. We're not rookies—a severed head wouldn't terrify you into incompetence."
The Fire Fiend took a deep breath, suppressing his fiery temper, and patiently explained:
"I admit, I misjudged the situation. I was impatient. But that was a matter of skill, not proof I wanted to kill everyone. What would I gain from that? The roller coaster was just the first mission. How could I possibly complete the subsequent tasks alone?"
"No, no, no!" Zhang Yuanqing wagged his finger, grinning. "I never said your suggestion to open our eyes was meant to wipe out the team. What malicious intent could you possibly have? You were simply trying to identify the Captain."
The Fire Fiend's expression shifted.
Xie Lingxi, however, smiled.
"I advised you all at the time that if the roller coaster strategy remained unchanged, opening your eyes would result in total annihilation. Compared to that, having one team member die each round was the more rational choice," Zhang Yuanqing said with a hum. "But strangely, everyone voted to open their eyes."
He continued with a snort, "Of course, you weren't that foolish. Each of you had ulterior motives. One group wanted to protect themselves, while the other wanted to use the opportunity to identify the Captain, knowing he would definitely oppose it."
The Fire Fiend was rendered speechless.
Xie Lingxi's beautiful eyes curved into crescent moons. "Brother Wang Tai, you're truly amazing," she said sincerely.
She had proposed the vote herself, without aligning with either faction. She had supported opening their eyes to test the Captain's abilities and to avoid arousing suspicion from the Evildoers with strong opposition, which could have led to her elimination. Regardless of the vote's outcome, she had planned to keep her eyes closed anyway.
Xishi and Ashamed Father likely had similar intentions.
Xie Lingxi hadn't expected Brother Wang Tai to have already seen through their plans. The young girl's confidence in his subsequent deductions surged.
After a long silence, the Fire Fiend repeated his old refrain: "I'm really a good person, not an Evildoer. Otherwise, I would have killed you long ago."
"You wouldn't!" Zhang Yuanqing shook his head.
"After the roller coaster, I knew I'd been exposed. From that moment on, it was like playing with my cards face up. I had to protect myself, so when we entered the Underground Parking Garage, I repeatedly emphasized that we were all in the same boat and needed to work together.
"Fortunately, the parking garage mission required manpower. I was actually relieved at the time, knowing I'd be safe, at least initially. Later, when Xie Lingxi obtained the card allowing us to use items, I immediately volunteered to handle the Autobot task, while also revealing the deadly cost of using the Dancing Shoes.
"All of this was to make the killer wary, to make them think they could afford to wait and not rush to kill me, because I still had value they could exploit."
The Fire Fiend's face flickered between rage and calculation, as if he could no longer contain his fury. He snarled, "I should have killed you sooner! I should have killed you in the Underground Parking Garage!"
Xie Lingxi goaded, "You could still do it now."
The Fire Fiend shot her a venomous glare, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "Wang Tai, you're strong. I've lost. I admit it—I am an Evildoer."
Zhang Yuanqing scoffed, pulled out the "Fire Fiend" business card, and slapped it onto the Mole.
Xie Lingxi's face drained of color, and she let out a short gasp of surprise. "You—"
But then she saw Fire Fiend's expression twist in horror, his eyes flooding with despair and panic.
His earlier ferocity and rage had been nothing but a facade.
This... Xie Lingxi froze in shock.
[ Ding! Deduction successful. ]
[ Mole: Your identity is the Mole. Before the first mission ends, you must identify the Evildoer, help them conceal their identity, and eliminate the Captain. Once the Captain is dead, the mission is complete, and you will receive a reward item. ]
"I never said you were the Evildoer," Zhang Yuanqing spat. "You're just a fucking Mole. Trying to mislead me and sabotage my deduction?"
Fire Fiend seemed to have lost all his vitality, his gaze vacant as he murmured, "How... how did you know?"
"Because you were too obvious," Zhang Yuanqing replied, his eyes fixed on the Mole's mission description as he stroked his chin. "If I were the Evildoer, I'd do everything to blend in, avoid attention, and remain completely inconspicuous."
"So, it's clear who the Evildoer is now. My guess was right—it's the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal."
He scrutinized the dazed Fire Fiend, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"I suspected everyone in the team, testing and eliminating them one by one. In the end, I was torn between you and the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal. Even before we arrived at the Detective Reasoning Hall, I couldn't be sure which of you was the Evildoer. It wasn't until I saw the Mole's presence that everything clicked into place.
"Xie Lingxi was right—you were like a shit-stirring stick, acting far too much like a wolf. You were the first to suggest opening our eyes, sat behind the Riverlord, relentlessly targeted Xie Lingxi, and when I hinted at danger within the team and sought you out for a conversation, you immediately feigned goodwill toward me. It was exactly the kind of overcompensation a guilty party would make—your disguise was remarkably convincing.
"That's precisely why I couldn't determine whether you or the Great Sage was the culprit. Now I understand: your entire series of actions was designed to shield the Great Sage, divert my attention as Captain, and make me actively suspect you instead."
A flicker of fear crossed the Fire Fiend's eyes. This young man's mind was too sharp.
Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Xie Lingxi, noticing her bright, worshipful gaze. Nodding in satisfaction, he continued:
"When you entered the Underground Parking Garage, you had a disagreement with the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal. He wanted to act together, but you insisted on splitting up. That's where your opinions diverged, right?"
The Fire Fiend gritted his teeth.
"After the roller coaster, you hinted that there was danger within our group. I knew my behavior had been too obvious, and you might have suspected me. Evildoers have the right to kill, and the Captain certainly does too.
"Afraid you'd kill me, I suggested to the Great Sage that he kill you in the Underground Parking Garage, but he refused. He thought it was too dangerous there and that killing you at that moment wouldn't be wise. After all, it wasn't his emotions that were threatened. That bastard completely treated me like a disposable pawn.
"Later, when I realized you hadn't killed me after we cleared the Underground Parking Garage, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then came the Haunted House, where I again suggested he kill you, but he still refused."
Zhang Yuanqing chuckled.
"Of course he wouldn't kill me. Why do you think I revealed my Nightwalker identity? In the Underground Parking Garage, I was still anxious, but once we entered the Haunted House, I knew I was absolutely safe."
"You needed a Nightwalker to protect you, and you knew the Ghost Bride would choose me. With me around, you could basically breeze through the Haunted House. Killing me would have been digging your own grave."
Nightwalkers possess a fatal attraction for Vengeful Spirits. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain who the Ghost Bride would choose as her husband.
The Fire Fiend suddenly remembered something, his voice rising sharply. "Why didn't the Ghost Bride choose you? Why?"
This was precisely what had puzzled him, the reason for his shock and disappointment when he saw Wang Tai emerge alive.
Zhang Yuanqing and Xie Lingxi burst into laughter.
The little girl crossed her arms, her expression smug. "Because we found a card in the Underground Parking Garage—a card that transfers hatred."
She had dropped the act of playing the weak, innocent girl.
"I chose to redirect the Ghost Bride's attention to the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, because I thought he was more suspicious than you," Zhang Yuanqing added with a smile.
"You..." A chill ran down the Fire Fiend's spine. From beginning to end, he and the Great Sage had been completely outmaneuvered.
Despair washed over him.
That selfish, idiotic fool probably didn't even realize how he died.
Zhang Yuanqing turned away from Fire Fiend and stuck the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal's business card onto the Evildoer statue.
[ Ding! Deduction successful. ]
[ Evildoer: Your identity is Evildoer. Caution: There is a Captain in the team who is your enemy. Find him and eliminate him. Do not reveal your identity. ]
"We won!" Xie Lingxi jumped up and down, cheering softly.
Fire Fiend glared at them venomously, sneering, "Don't celebrate too soon. I admit you're formidable, and I admit I've lost. But what does it matter? There are only three of us left. The Captain's mission is to ensure the team has at least three members. Do you dare eliminate me?
"You're smart enough to understand the true nature of the hidden quest. If an Evildoer is exposed, the consequence is elimination. The Mole also risks being 'accidentally' killed. There won't be any other punishments—what punishment could surpass death itself?
"Now, even if you expose me as the Mole, I won't face any consequences because you've already forfeited your authority as Captain. Of course, you have one last chance, but you can't kill me unless you want to wipe out all your current level's experience points."
Upon returning to reality, he would use his connections to investigate the identities of these two and sell their information to the Evil Classes.
Forming grudges in the Spirit Realm was common; the end of an Instance didn't mean the matter was settled.
The Fire Fiend had eliminated many who held grudges from the Spirit Realm. He was well-versed in dealing with enemies from his own faction.
Xie Lingxi froze, the joy on her face instantly vanishing.
Zhang Yuanqing remained silent. He had chosen not to exercise his authority as Captain after completing the Haunted House Instance for this very reason.
"Don't worry, there's one more person left," Zhang Yuanqing said calmly.
He affixed the final name card to the Guard.
[ Ding! Deduction successful. ]
[ Guard: Your identity is the Guard. Protect the Captain of your team and ensure they are not killed by Evildoers. If you are killed by an Evildoer (deaths due to Instance objectives do not count), all your progress will be suspended. You will be resurrected if the Captain succeeds. If the Captain fails, you cannot be resurrected. ]
Exactly as I suspected!
Zhang Yuanqing studied the information, both surprised and unsurprised.
At this point, he was certain that Riverlord had actively vied for leadership. The Guard's motivation mirrored the Mole's—both were willing to take the fall for their respective "masters."
During his initial self-introduction, Riverlord displayed a cold and aloof demeanor, bordering on sinister.
Such individuals typically operate independently and rarely seek leadership positions. Yet later, he abruptly shifted his approach, vying for dominance over Zhang Yuanqing.
This transformation clearly stemmed from some underlying motive.
It was precisely this shift that led the Evildoers to suspect him of being the Captain and target him for elimination.
In contrast, Zhang Yuanqing had always been a social butterfly, showing no such drastic change in behavior.
To return to the main point, hidden quests are, after all, just that—hidden quests. We're not long-lost siblings willing to risk our lives for each other without some guarantee of reward.
Therefore, Zhang Yuanqing wasn't surprised by the lack of volunteers.
However, for the Guard, this remained a high-stakes gamble.
The upside was that a single "death" secured victory, allowing them to bypass the subsequent dangers of the S-rank spirit realm.
The downside was the very real possibility of dying permanently.
Then again, given the S-rank spirit realm's notoriously high mortality rate, what could be worse than entering it in the first place?
Zhang Yuanqing's surprise stemmed from the Spirit Realm's ability to resurrect the dead. While this "resurrection" might be limited to the Instance, it was still astonishing.
As the "Guard" information appeared, Fire Fiend's face gradually paled.
His lips began to tremble, his pupils dilated violently, and overwhelming terror engulfed him.
The Instance Notification chimed:
[ [You have completed the "Detective Reasoning Hall" mission. You are currently undertaking the "Heart-Pounding" mission series, which includes the following attractions: Roller Coaster — Underground Parking Garage — Haunted House (Ghost Marriage) — Detective Reasoning Hall. You have now completed the entire series.] ]
Zhang Yuanqing received an additional notification, one that Xie Lingxi and Fire Fiend didn't:
[ [Ding! You have successfully led your team to complete a mission. You now have one opportunity to exercise your Captain's authority. Please designate the evildoer hidden among your teammates. The designated individual will be annihilated!
If you do not make a selection within thirty seconds, this opportunity will be forfeited.] ]
Zhang Yuanqing's expression remained unchanged as he calmly stated:
"Fire Fiend!"
In that instant, the terror in Fire Fiend's eyes exploded. "No—!"
Amidst his scream, his head separated from his neck, rolling to the ground. A fountain of blood erupted from the severed stump, spraying three meters into the air in a gruesome, crimson arc.
Fire Fiend's head lay on the ground, eyes wide and staring, his lips still moving in silent protest.
[ [Ding! Congratulations on completing the Multiplayer Spirit Realm Mission—Jinshui Amusement Park, Mission ID 6203, Difficulty Level S. Calculating rewards...] ]