Chapter 52: The Class Game (Part 18)

Most people looked at him in shock.

With the hope of survival extinguished, Ji Tongsheng broke down and stood up. “Why didn’t you choose the blue ball!”

Wasn’t he supposed to be the kindest person present?!

If he was truly kind, how could he have chosen the red ball?!

Doubts surged from all around, enveloping Yun Xueqing completely.

Fu Wuxuan’s expression darkened. “Isn’t the claim of kindness something the Goatmen said? Yun Xueqing never admitted it himself.”

Everyone present knew that Yun Xueqing had never proclaimed himself kind, but they couldn’t confront the Goatmen, so they targeted the softer option, directing their spears at Yun Xueqing.

With the last straw gone, someone broke down emotionally and shouted at Yun Xueqing, “Why didn’t you choose the blue ball! Why not the blue ball!”

Yun Xueqing faced the furious crowd with an indifferent tone. “I’m not an idiot. There’s no one here worth risking my life for.”

Not to mention it was such a certain-death gamble.

Fu Wuxuan wasn’t surprised at all. He merely gave him a meaningful glance and said lazily, “Good thing you’re not an idiot.”

Excessive kindness was cruelty to oneself—a fool’s behavior.

San Zhi, watching the drama from the side, chimed in. “Yun Xueqing, you really have a talent for being a villain. How about joining our Strategy God Heavens?”

Fu Wuxuan glanced lightly at him. “Want to die?”

San Zhi’s tone turned hostile. “Dong Jun, these are different times. You no longer have the right to speak to me like that.”

He raised an eyebrow, his smile wicked. “The current me could easily kill you… Killing the famous Dong Jun would be my honor.”

Fu Wuxuan casually reclined in his chair, posture relaxed, and commented offhandedly, “So confident.”

San Zhi let out a sinister chuckle and said no more.

The Goatmen, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. “The Second Layer of Hell is about to begin. Please prepare… Before it starts, players who failed the red-blue game, please accept your punishment.”

As soon as it finished speaking, the players who had failed the red-blue game began to mutate continuously.

Some grew horns and scales, others’ skin turned black—various types of mutation, but in the end, they all inflated like balloons. Their skin grew thinner and thinner, like soup-filled dumplings, until they burst open, splattering scarlet blood.

Jiang Yiyue, who had luckily picked a red ball, couldn’t help but scream in horror at the sight.

Among the survivors, some showed fear on their faces, while others remained expressionless, as if they had seen such scenes many times before.

Someone said impatiently, “Let’s move on to the next round.”

Fu Wuxuan looked at the debris and blood on the ground, then raised his head to gaze at the King, who had his back to them. “Your Majesty the King knows us so well and set up a trap specifically for us. So, what is your identity?”

Was the King human, or a monster?

Had the King existed from the beginning, or was he inherited from the previous challenger?

If inherited from the previous challenger, why didn’t the King leave himself but stayed here instead?

Was it greed for power, unwillingness to leave?

After all, being king in this small world allowed him to lord over everyone, but returning to reality meant facing ruined cities, ferocious Weird, and constant life-threatening crises.

No matter how you thought about it, being king seemed better.

But beyond that… could becoming king really get you out of here?

The King seated on the Pear Blossom Chair did not answer Fu Wuxuan’s question. Instead, he continued reading The Divine Comedy in his hands.

The Goatmen said sinisterly, “The Second Layer of Hell tour formally begins.”

As soon as it spoke, the scene before them changed once more.

Yun Xueqing looked around and found himself in an antique wooden room. Incense wafted faintly from not far away, complementing the bright red wedding candles, adding a festive air to the elegant space.

Yun Xueqing withdrew his gaze and walked to the copper mirror on the vanity, examining his attire.

His usual cyan robe was gone, replaced by wedding clothes embroidered with golden threads. The bright red color burned like fire, brimming with passion.

Yun Xueqing frowned, wanting to change out of this outfit, but he couldn’t find suitable clothes.

Just as he was about to retrieve something from his Storage Space, a maidservant with her hair in a flying cloud bun entered from outside. “Young Master Yun, the auspicious hour has arrived.”

Yun Xueqing looked up, roughly understanding the situation. “Who am I marrying?”

The maidservant raised her eyes in surprise but didn’t dare look directly at him, lowering her head respectfully. “Young Master Yun, it’s not marrying someone… it’s you being married off.”

Yun Xueqing: “…To a man?”

The maidservant nodded. “You are to wed the Crown Prince as his consort.”

Yun Xueqing rarely descended the mountain, but he had some knowledge of mortal marriages. “The Crown Prince?”

The maidservant nodded.

He made up a casual excuse to explain his odd behavior now.

From the maidservant, he learned that he was currently in a country called Eastern Tilt Kingdom. The Eastern Tilt Emperor was old, with two sons under his knee.

The Crown Prince, Li Chiying, wielded power, influence, and cunning methods. He was on good terms with the Grand General of Eastern Tilt, controlling part of the military and the martial officials faction. However, though strategic, he was tyrannical and cruel, with a poor reputation among the people and no popular support.

The Second Prince, Li Chiyu, was full of scholarly knowledge, benevolent and caring toward the people. Because his mother was the daughter of the Prime Minister, he had the support of the head of civil officials and was favored by the literary faction. But he had flaws too—weak temperament and indecisive in actions.

The two were currently vying fiercely before the Emperor for the throne.

Yun Xueqing’s identity this time was the heir of the Marquis Mansion, of noble status. The Crown Prince marrying him was also to gain the support of the marquisate.

The maidservant glanced at him, hesitating to speak.

Yun Xueqing sensed something amiss. “What else?”

The maidservant lowered her head and whispered, “But just three days ago, the Crown Prince suddenly fell gravely ill, his life hanging by a thread.”

Yun Xueqing’s eyes darkened slightly. “So I’m being sent over to bring him good fortune?”

The maidservant’s expression was troubled. “The Empress had someone check, and they said your birth chart matches the Crown Prince’s perfectly.”

No matter how it was explained or embellished, it couldn’t change the fact that he was being sent for a fortune-bringing marriage.

A faint smile suddenly bloomed on Yun Xueqing’s cold face. “Or maybe the Crown Prince has already died, and I’m not there for good fortune but for a ghost wedding.”

Terror appeared on the maidservant’s face. “Young Master Yun, you can’t say such things recklessly!”

Yun Xueqing lowered his gaze. “You say I’m the Marquis Mansion heir, yet you call me Young Master Yun.”

“This servant deserves death!”

The maidservant knelt in fright. “Actually, Your Heirship, because of the marriage alliance with the Crown Prince, the Marquis was furious. The Madam in the mansion incited it, and they stripped you of your heir position.”

Yun Xueqing waved his hand casually, telling her to rise.

His exact identity didn’t matter. What mattered was what this Second Layer of Hell required him to do.

There were two factions: the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, competing for the throne.

He was now allying with the Crown Prince through marriage, so he should belong to the Crown Prince’s camp. Did that mean helping the Crown Prince become Emperor?

Fu Wuxuan wasn’t by his side this time. Had he been randomly assigned to the opposing camp?

If this layer involved mutual confrontation, it would be tricky—no matter what, blood would be on his hands.

But there was too little information now, too many uncertainties. He could only wait and see how things developed.

Yun Xueqing pondered that as long as he met the Crown Prince tonight, many things would become clear.

Though he was the one marrying in, the wedding was oddly held at the Marquis Mansion. And perhaps due to some unknown factors, the ceremony wasn’t grand at all—it was modest, inviting only a few familiar guests.

The scale was so small it didn’t resemble a noble heir’s wedding at all, more like a humble household tying the knot ordinarily.

Moreover, a Daoist priest was present at the wedding site, casting an eerie veil over this abnormal union.

The ceremony took place at night, and Yun Xueqing waited quietly.

Though it was a union between two men, neither was forced into women’s wedding attire.

The maidservant held the red veil awkwardly. “Young Master Yun, you don’t need women’s wedding clothes, but please cover your head with this veil for now.”

It couldn’t be the Crown Prince who covered it, as that would diminish royal dignity, so Yun Xueqing had to cover himself.

Yun Xueqing had already refused makeup, and he didn’t reject the veil now.

He was led to the hall.

Suona blared around him. None of the guests cheered or made noise; the hall that should have been lively was unusually quiet.

With the veil over his head, Yun Xueqing couldn’t see anyone. If not for sensing breaths and heartbeats, he might have suspected they were all Weird.

The matchmaker placed a red silk ribbon in Yun Xueqing’s hand. He gripped it and felt someone holding the other end.

Was it the Crown Prince he was marrying?

Though it was his first marriage, Yun Xueqing felt no tension at all.

This was all an illusion.

The ritual officer shouted in an eerily calm voice, “First bow to Heaven and Earth.”

Yun Xueqing didn’t know what to do, but his body moved as if out of control, bowing forward.

As Yun Xueqing bowed, through the red veil, he saw the bridegroom’s feet.

His toes pointed backward.

Yun Xueqing withdrew his gaze and heard the ritual officer shout, “Now, bow to each other as husband and wife.”

They bowed, and the rite was complete.

Yun Xueqing suddenly felt a burning pain on the back of his hand. Lifting it, through the veil, he saw a black Other Shore Flower branded on his fair skin.

He rubbed the back of his hand; it was slightly recessed, not like a tattoo but more like a slave mark from a branding iron.

Unsure of its meaning, he silently noted the brand on his hand.

“Escort to the bridal chamber.”

Yun Xueqing was still thinking when he heard the ritual officer’s final shout.

The observing guests finally reacted, applauding in unison—but still no one spoke or cheered. Even with the applause, it felt cold.

The red silk in his hand tugged slightly, leading him.

Yun Xueqing followed the pull into the room.

He sat waiting in the room, but the bridegroom didn’t go out to entertain guests; he stayed inside too.

Those “people” outside were indeed cold and didn’t need entertaining.

With the bridegroom present, the room’s temperature dropped several degrees.

Yun Xueqing stayed vigilant until a withered, skeletal hand reached into his veil.