As I sat down, the watch started beeping insistently. I clicked on it, and a huge holographic window appeared in front of me again:
{ Upcoming Scenario: Clear Dungeon Number 212 by Finding the Jade Crystal
Difficulty Level: Impossible to Clear
Time Limit: 2 Days
Primary Reward: White Cloak
Secondary Rewards: 200 LA (Level Advancement), 5000 Gold Coins, Extra Health HP
Failure Condition: Banished for one week to Ice Hell.}
[Damn foolish bastard, you are indeed unlucky to have this dungeon to clear as your first scenario]
Momo muttered, its voice filled with frustration.
"Momo, though I don't understand everything, I feel like it's going to be very tough given your reaction. But will I go with that guy, Han Yihong?" I asked, peeking outside to see if he was nearby.
[Depends, if he wants to take a foolish human like you as his companion,]
Momo replied, its tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Shut up! Go and sleep, you annoying, fussy egg," I snapped, slapping the egg. Momo disappeared with an indignant squawk, leaving me in peace.
I sat on the bed, grabbing my aching back and wincing in pain. My clothes were dusty and dirty, a stark contrast to my usual meticulous standards. Being a germaphobe, I had always maintained strict cleanliness in my life, often finding myself disgusted by many things. I sighed deeply, glancing around in hopes of finding any clean clothing.
"What are you looking around for?" Han Yihong asked as he opened the door, slamming it behind him.
"Get up! We have a scenario to clear," he said rudely, throwing a wooden box at me.
"Keep it safe. If something happens to it, I'll peel your skin off," he added harshly.
I caught the box, startled by his brusque manner, and nodded, knowing there was no room for mistakes in this dangerous world.
I hesitated, keeping the wooden box besides me, feeling awkward about my next request. "Uh, Han Yihong... do you have any spare clothes? Mine are filthy."
He looked at me with a mix of irritation and impatience. "Use the watch on your hand and open your inventory. Equip yourself with the clothes you find there," he ordered rudely.
"Right," I mumbled, quickly tapping on the smart watch. A small inventory screen appeared, and I found a set of clean clothes: a whitish pink overcoat, a white shirt, black pants, and sturdy boots..
I sighed heavily and clicked on the set of clothes. A blue gleam appeared around me as my attire changed to the new set.
I looked at myself in awe, appreciating the clean, fresh look.
"Don't just stand there," Han Yihong snapped, pulling me back to reality. "We have a scenario to clear."
Out of the blue, a door with plate number 212 materialized in front of us. It opened by itself, revealing a dark void inside. My eyes widened in awe.
"What is that, Momo?" I asked in my mind, hoping to mind link with Momo. But there was no reply—perhaps he really did go to sleep after being smacked by me. I sighed deeply and looked at Han Yihong. Before entering the door, he glanced back at me.
"It's your first scenario, right? Make sure you don't become a burden to me, and I might consider accepting you as my companion," he said sternly.
We walked side by side into the empty void. As soon as we entered, I found myself in a space where several stars gleamed, and numerous planets orbited around us.
[Participant Zhiyuan is about to enter the scenario]
My eyes ached from the bright lights, and I suddenly found myself standing next to Han Yihong in the middle of a strange setting.
It was night, and we were in what appeared to be an ancient Chinese village. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over the scene. Paper lanterns, glowing softly in shades of red and gold, lined the narrow streets, swaying gently in the night breeze. The village was bustling with activity—people dressed in traditional robes moved about, chatting and laughing, their faces illuminated by the warm lantern light. The air was filled with the sounds of music and distant laughter, and the aroma of street food wafted through the air.
"So beautiful, so peaceful," I mumbled to myself, taking in the serene and picturesque scene before me.
I looked around in awe at the picturesque scene, feeling both disoriented and captivated by the beauty of the ancient night.
My thoughts were shattered when I suddenly felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to find a group of men chasing after an old lady. Her face was pale and terrified, and she was panting heavily. The person who had grabbed my shoulder was that very old woman, desperately seeking refuge behind us.
"My child, please save me from these merciless bastards," she pleaded, her voice trembling. Blood was dripping from her nose and ears, staining her worn-out clothes. Her eyes were wide with fear and desperation, darting between us and her pursuers.
The group of men, armed with sticks and torches, closed in on us. They looked angry and determined, their faces twisted in aggression. The leader, a burly man with a scar across his face, pointed at the old woman.
"Hand her over, she is a murderer! She murdered her whole family just to satisfy the Beauty ghost in order to achieve immortality" he snarled, his voice filled with menace and aggressiveness.
I looked at Han Yihong, unsure of what to do, while my heart pounded in my chest. My principles had always taught me to help others in trouble. Steeling myself, I stepped in front of the elderly woman to protect her and was about to speak when suddenly Han Yihong grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him.
His other hand swiftly grasped the old woman's wrist, and before I could react, he threw her toward the pursuers. "Well! Here is your offender. Let us go," he said coldly, his voice devoid of any compassion.
The men seized the old lady, their faces twisted with satisfaction. The leader smirked at us, nodding approvingly. "Smart choice lad," he said, as they dragged the woman away.
"The lady—"
"Why did you do that? She seemed innocent," I asked, freeing my hand from his grasp.
"You are indeed very naive. Appearances can be deceiving," he smirked as he approached me, pinning me against the wall, sending chills down my spine. "Did you go through the rules of the scenario? No, right? They are all Non-Playing Characters (NPCs). Messing with them means expulsion from the scenario, which is death."
"So, if you want to survive, stop being sentimental and be more practical," he finished, his cold eyes boring into mine causing me to lower my gaze in defeat. I clenched my fist wanting desperately to punch him but I knew that I would die instead since he looked way too experienced.
He then walked away, and I sighed, following him silently until we arrived at an imposing inn. This must be the place where we were supposed to clear the scenario. The inn was enormous, boasting over 200 rooms and dwarfing even a palace in size. Despite its grandeur, it was empty and shrouded in dust. Han Yihong forcefully pushed open the creaking front door.
Inside, the innkeeper greeted us with a warm smile. "Welcome to Yingchun Inn. Please make yourselves comfortable while I prepare a room for you two gentlemen."
"I'd prefer a room separate from him," I said, frustration evident in my voice, still seething from his earlier actions and unable to tolerate his cold demeanor any longer. Han Yihong glanced at me with a smirk. "You want to stay alone? We'll see how you go about that."
We walked further into the inn and found a group of other thirty participants sitting around a round table. Each one was babbling about their experiences and worries.
"This place gives me the creeps," one murmured, looking around nervously.
"I heard the last group that stayed here never made it out," another whispered, eyes wide with fear.
"Does anyone know what the challenge is this time?" someone else asked, their voice trembling.
"All I know is that the Jade Crystal is supposed to be hidden somewhere in this inn," said a participant with a determined look.
"It's impossible to clear. We're doomed," another muttered, shaking their head.
There were two empty seats left, presumably reserved for us. We settled into them, and the other participants cast us withering looks. Their eyes were filled with frustration, clearly blaming us for being late. They were eager to leave this place and get the scenario underway, as the scenario wouldn't start until all participants were gathered.
The innkeeper arrived with a polite smile. "Dear guests, I have prepared your rooms. Your rooms are on the first and second floors, respectively. Please ensure that everyone is asleep before 8 p.m. and gather here for breakfast at 9 a.m. Remember not to venture alone at night, especially on the third floor. Thank you."
With that, he gave a courteous nod and walked away.
Han Yihong, seemingly unaffected by the innkeeper's instructions, stood up and motioned for me to follow him.
"We should get some rest," he said curtly, heading towards the stairs.
Our room was on the second floor, conveniently near the stairs leading to the third floor. As I approached my room, I noticed it was just beside Han Yihong's.
I opened the door to find a large room decorated in traditional Chinese style. The room featured wooden floors, a large wooden bed with silk bedding, and simple wooden furniture. Lanterns provided a warm, soft light, and the walls were adorned with classic scroll paintings.
Exhausted, I collapsed onto the bed and glanced at my watch: 7:59 p.m.
"Momo?" I called out loudly.
[ Yawn Yawn So, you've finally realized my worth, foolish human.]
"What is this scenario about? How should I find the Jade Crystal?" I asked, staring at the ceiling.
[ Don't worry, you'll meet the woman of your dreams in this scenario and she will guide you. Hehehe,] Momo laughed wickedly.
"Yeah, I hope she's someone beautiful. I've always had terrible luck with love," I said with a sigh.
[ That's because you're unlucky—born on Friday, August 13th,]
Momo remarked,sarcastically.