"The Eternal Commerce Guild."
When these words slipped from Liu Zhen's mouth, they finally piqued Yi Bai's interest.
"That's right, boss, the Eternal Commerce Guild! It's the most famous and trustworthy underground organization in Great Xia," Liu Zhen continued with growing enthusiasm. "As long as you have the money, you can buy almost anything here! Everything you can imagine— and some particularly rare items from the horror games too!"
Liu Zhen noticed Yi Bai's slight reaction, and his voice became even more eager, providing details about the guild.
Yi Bai, however, was focused on assessing the truth of what was being said. With his Insightful Eye, he could sense that Liu Zhen wasn't lying. The Eternal Commerce Guild certainly had the kind of influence and resources Liu Zhen claimed. Liu Zhen had also dealt with ghost coins several times in the past, further confirming the guild's capability.
It seemed clear that the guild was quite powerful. An underground organization, like a black market, that could gain the trust of so many players and facilitate ghost coin transactions was no small feat. Yi Bai understood the complexities involved in creating such a network.
"It seems the guild is backed by some 'Divine Supporters,'" Yi Bai mused inwardly. "If everything Liu Zhen says is true, then he... might have some investment potential after all."
Yi Bai's gaze on Liu Zhen shifted from indifference to more interest. A person of potential value, one who could be controlled and relied upon, was not someone Yi Bai would turn down— as long as they didn't betray him. After all, in this world, some things were unavoidable, like the need for sustenance.
Now, by "sustenance," Yi Bai wasn't referring to ordinary human food, which held no value for him. A mere indulgence, perhaps, but no more than that. The real nourishment for his kind was blood, and the harsh truth was that vampires like him could never be free of their need for it.
Hunting was always an option, but the risks were enormous. The Palace of Great Xia was no trivial organization. Their keen awareness had been evident the first time they approached him. And that was only the beginning. As an official body, they could have countless cards up their sleeves. Yi Bai knew better than to believe the human world was as simple as it appeared.
If he hunted, he'd have to do so with extreme caution— the Great Xia's surveillance system, like an ever-vigilant "Eye of the Sky," monitored everything. He had to be careful. Even the most experienced hunter could leave a trace. In this era of horror games, where constant surveillance was the norm, it was far too easy to make a mistake.
No, if there was a reliable and stable "supplier" of blood, Yi Bai would much rather use that than risk exposing himself.
He wasn't some movie cliché vampire, hunting virgins and leaving clues behind. To him, food was simply food, and what mattered was the quality of the blood, not its aesthetic value.
In the space of just a few moments, Yi Bai had come to a decision. He extended a hand and casually traced a motion across his chest. A thin, yellowed stalk of rice appeared in his grasp, wriggling like a parasite.
"I can put in a good word for you, and I'll try to save your life. But..." Yi Bai's lips curved into a faint smile. "There's a price."
As he spoke, he extended his right hand, and the stalk of rice began to slither across his palm, making its way toward Liu Zhen's trembling body. Its movement was slow, deliberate— Yi Bai was taking his time to assess Liu Zhen's sincerity.
If Liu Zhen accepted the stalk, if it burrowed into his body and stayed under Yi Bai's control, then that would be a sign that Liu Zhen was willing to submit to him, at least for the moment. If he resisted or had other plans, then…
Liu Zhen remained silent as Yi Bai's gaze remained steady. His heart raced as the rice stalk inched closer, its presence cold and foreboding. He knew this was a test— the decision to accept would seal his fate.
Finally, after a long pause, Liu Zhen let out a shaky breath and nodded.
Yi Bai took the offering: the few hundred ghost coins and a low-level protective talisman. Though neither was of much value to Yi Bai, he accepted them as a gesture of loyalty. They were now part of their deal, however small.
Once the exchange was done, Yi Bai leaned back on the swing and took a deep breath. He could feel the tension lifting from his shoulders. Liu Zhen, however, looked like he had just narrowly escaped a nightmare.
As Liu Zhen left, a wave of respect and awe was clear in his eyes. Before this moment, Yi Bai had only been a special "boss" to him, someone to be wary of. But after this encounter, Liu Zhen believed that he had attached himself to something far more powerful than he had ever imagined.
When Yi Bai's gaze shifted toward the mirror house, he knew the third round of the game was coming. It would be a challenge, and now, Liu Zhen's fate rested in his hands.
Meanwhile, the other players had noticed the shift in dynamics. Some began to make plans of their own, discussing strategies and weighing their options. But one of the new players, desperate and fearful, whispered to the others:
"Those monsters are clearly targeting us! Even if we follow the rules, we'll die for sure!"
"No! I won't die! There has to be another way!" another player cried in desperation, digging his nails into his skin.
One of the other newcomers, more composed than the rest, spoke up, "No, we should stick with him. The ghosts won't hurt him. If we follow him, we might have a chance."
The others, seeing his logic, nodded quickly and began to follow Yi Bai, hoping that aligning themselves with him might offer them a glimmer of hope.
Liu Zhen watched the scene with a smirk. He'd seen people act rashly before, but this group— this was a new level of recklessness.
He had just given Yi Bai all the relevant information, and he knew these new players had no clue. They thought they could survive by sticking to Yi Bai's side, but in reality, they were marching straight to their doom.
The Eternal Commerce Guild wasn't going to be their salvation. Not in this game.