Chapter 24
A small child with rosy lips and pearly white teeth suddenly appeared in a B-level horror instance.
The child looked about three or four years old, with toddler proportions, wearing ordinary light blue pajamas printed with stars, barefoot, his skin fair and delicate.
His hair was an unusual light golden color, curly, his eyes like shining black gems, his voice slightly teary and nasal.
“Found it!”
Xing Nuo looked at the familiar castle he had lived in for two or three years, blinked his tear-filled eyes, his face full of joy.
As expected, he just had to keep walking to find his way home!
The veteran players were already on high alert. Seeing the child approaching, they all instinctively took a step back.
The female newcomer, however, still confused, asked Xing Nuo:
“Little one, what are you doing here?”
Xing Nuo stopped in front of the group of strangers, tilted his head, his eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of fear.
“Zaizai…looking for Dad.”
Perhaps worried there were bad people among them, he quickly pointed to the castle at the end of the path.
“Zaizai’s home…there…Dad waiting…for Zaizai.”
Unbeknownst to him, the players were far more terrified upon hearing the castle was his home.
Could this be…the instance boss?!
Even the female newcomer sensed something was amiss. She gave a nervous laugh and quickly stepped back, not daring to ask any more questions.
Xing Nuo pursed his lips and stared at the strangers with his clear, innocent eyes, making them break out in a cold sweat.
A female player with a buzz cut took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
Just as she was about to try and glean some information, the child spoke.
“I…going back now.”
Xing Nuo had been out for a long time. If he didn’t return soon, his dad would be worried.
He walked down the dirt path towards the castle.
The buzz-cut player, watching Xing Nuo’s small figure, was reminded of her little cousin. Without thinking, she blurted out:
“Wait, little one, the dirt road is difficult to walk on. I have some shoes.”
The moment she spoke, she regretted it.
How could she be so careless, calling out to the little monster?!
But Xing Nuo had already turned around. He curled his small, bare toes and looked at the cool-looking older sister.
Xing Nuo had been walking for a long time. His feet were damp, and the skin on his toes was scraped and red.
This dirt road was rough, with many small stones; he really needed a pair of shoes.
He nodded and said politely:
“Thank you…sister.”
The buzz-cut player was stunned for a moment, then scratched her head, thinking this little monster was quite polite.
Despite the little monster’s harmless appearance, her fear didn’t subside.
She took out a pair of prop shoes, walked over, and stiffly placed them at Xing Nuo’s feet.
Xing Nuo thanked her again and stepped into the shoes, which were several sizes too big.
The next second, the shoes shrunk, fitting Xing Nuo perfectly.
Xing Nuo gasped in surprise, lifted his foot, and touched the magical shoes.
“Not…big…anymore.”
He took a couple of steps, then smiled and thanked the older sister again.
“Thank you…sister…come…play…at my house…sometime~”
Hearing the little monster’s invitation, the buzz-cut player quickly waved her hand dismissively, not daring to say anything, afraid of offending him.
Xing Nuo waved at the strangers, turned around, and continued walking down the dirt path.
The others watched him leave, exchanging relieved glances.
The castle looked close, but the walk was longer than expected.
Xing Nuo had only covered about half the distance after walking for a long time.
His hair was damp with sweat, clinging to his forehead. He wiped his face and sat down on a large rock, panting.
He looked up at the castle and clenched his fists.
Zaizai would reach home soon!
When he got home, Dad would definitely reward him with a delicious little cake for being so brave!
Motivated, Xing Nuo stood up. After only a few steps, he heard a commotion behind him.
“Holy crap! This thing is chasing us!”
“We shouldn’t have stayed there! Who knew those vines could attack?!”
“Run! Run!”
The players, having been attacked by monstrous vines, caught up to Xing Nuo, their faces and clothes covered in dirt, looking dishevelled.
Some of the slower ones had even been injured, blood oozing from their wounds.
Xing Nuo turned around, his eyes widening in surprise at their disheveled state.
“You…what happened?”
The buzz-cut player was about to warn him about the monstrous vines, but when she turned around, there was no sign of them.
“Where are the vines?”
“Disappeared? What’s going on? It wasn’t an illusion, was it?”
“Try using a prop. Maybe they were scared off by us?”
Xing Nuo looked at the strange people, pursed his lips, and took a couple of steps away from them.
A faint scent of blood, mixed with the floral fragrance in the breeze, drifted from the players, making him uneasy.
These strange older brothers and sisters…were so weird!
Xing Nuo took a deep breath, turned his face away, ignoring them, and continued running towards the castle.
The wind ruffled his hair, revealing his smooth, white forehead and determined eyes.
The moment Xing Nuo ran away, the players were attacked by the vines again.
A perceptive player suddenly realized what was happening and shouted:
“Run! Follow that child! The vines won’t attack us if we’re near him!”
The other players followed, running after Xing Nuo.
Xing Nuo, hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, turned around and saw the strangers chasing him, their faces contorted in fear, some screaming.
Behind them, the dirt path was covered in a cloud of dust, the flowers and vines on either side coated in grime.
Xing Nuo didn’t understand what they were doing.
But seeing their pained expressions and the way they were frantically running towards him, his heart pounded.
Zaizai seemed to have…
Encountered weirdos!
But that older sister had given him shoes earlier.
Xing Nuo’s little mind couldn’t process so much information. He gritted his teeth and continued running.
The players behind him sped up, quickly catching up.
But, unsure of the situation ahead, they didn’t dare get too close, slowing down and keeping a safe distance behind Xing Nuo.
Xing Nuo ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, his chest burning, his throat dry and scratchy.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his face. He wiped them away with his small hand, panting, but didn’t dare stop to rest.
Fortunately, he was fast, and the weirdos behind him hadn’t caught up.
Thinking this, Xing Nuo sighed in relief and, with a final burst of speed, reached the castle gates.
As they approached, the castle came into full view.
Large, ancient iron gates, the surrounding walls covered in shimmering green vines and blooming flowers.
A cobblestone path led inside, lined with beautiful roses.
The vibrant, blood-red petals, their colors incredibly saturated, swayed gently in the breeze, a scene both romantic and terrifying.
The players stopped at the magnificent gates, not daring to go further, huddling together, their breathing shallow.
Xing Nuo ran to the gate and patted the iron bars with his small hand.
“Dad, Zaizai’s back!”
He stood on tiptoe, trying to reach the door handle, but he was too short. He patted the bars and tried to squeeze his face through the gaps.
The gaps between the bars were wide, and Xing Nuo’s cheek got stuck as he looked inside, calling out for his dad.
After calling for a while with no response, he thought his dad might be sleeping, so he called for the butler.
“Butler uncle, it’s me, Zaizai’s back.”
The butler had been working in the castle since before Xing Nuo was born.
There used to be many servants in the castle, cooks, groomsmen, gardeners, nannies… each with their own duties, keeping the castle clean and tidy.
But when Xing Nuo was a little over two years old, Shen Wen, feeling that too many monster servants weren’t conducive to Zaizai’s development, had dismissed them all, leaving only the butler to manage the castle.
As if hearing the call, a butler in a tailcoat, leaning on a gold-tipped cane, slowly walked over.
As if expecting visitors, the butler’s wrinkled face stretched into a stiff smile, his voice exaggerated and theatrical.
“We have guests at the castle today!”
Xing Nuo, seeing the butler, his eyes curving into a smile, pulled his cheek free from the bars and shook his head.
“Not guest…Zaizai.”
The butler paused, looking down at the child who had mysteriously appeared here.
“You are…”
Then, he froze, his cloudy eyes widening.
“How…you have Master’s scent?!”
The butler was a high-level monster. Having served Shen Wen for so many years, he was more familiar with his master’s terrifying aura than any other monster.
Not only did this child carry a strong scent of his master, but the butler could even sense a faint blood connection between them.
What was going on?!
How could his master have a human child?!
Xing Nuo blinked, looking at the butler’s surprised expression, tilting his head, even more confused than the butler himself.
“Butler uncle…what…saying?”
He tilted his head and smiled, his eyes shining.
“Zaizai…bigger now…Butler uncle…don’t recognize?”
Xing Nuo hadn’t seen the butler since they moved to the human world.
He was a bit taller now, his speech more fluent, and he could walk without stumbling and tripping over small stones.
Xing Nuo considered himself a big boy now.
It was understandable that the butler didn’t recognize him.
He took a small step back, stood in front of the gate, his eyes sparkling, and smiled.
“Butler uncle…look…Zaizai…grown up!”
Xing Nuo stood on tiptoe and twirled around, showing off to the butler.
Unbeknownst to him, the butler was in a state of shock, his eyes almost popping out of his head.
That light golden, curly hair was so similar to his master’s!
However, Shen Wen’s hair was as smooth as silk, brilliantly reflecting the sunlight.
Xing Nuo’s curls were lighter in color and, slightly messy from running, made him look like a fluffy little puppy.
The butler suppressed his surprise and, still in disbelief, walked over to the gate, gesturing for the footman to open it.
As soon as the gates opened, the little cub with messy hair rushed forward and rubbed his head against the butler’s leg.
“Butler uncle…carry me~”
Xing Nuo used to dislike walking and would often act coquettishly, asking the servants or the butler to carry him.
The monster servants couldn’t refuse the little master’s requests, always clutching their chests dramatically and readily picking him up.
Seeing that Xing Nuo, even at over two years old, still couldn’t walk steadily, Shen Wen had made the difficult decision to dismiss the monster servants.
Of course, Shen Wen’s own indulgence was the biggest obstacle to Xing Nuo learning how to walk.
The butler’s wrinkled face was stiff as he looked down at the human cub, his mind blank.
He stood there for a full half-minute, frozen. Finally, under Xing Nuo’s persistent cuteness, he moved.
He handed his cane to the footman, bent down, and awkwardly picked up the little cub.
This was his first time holding a child, especially such a fragile human child.
But the child carried such a strong scent of his master that the butler, despite his suspicions, couldn’t refuse.
Outside the gates.
The human players, observing from afar, sighed in relief as they watched the child being carried away by the monster butler.
Fortunately, they had been cautious and hadn’t attacked the little monster.
Otherwise, if they had been chased to the castle by the vines, and the little monster had disappeared or died, the monster butler might have attacked them on the spot.
“It seems the first rule is to not harm the little monster,” a veteran player whispered to the others, observing the interaction between the butler and the child.
“Why do you say that?” The newcomer was still confused, not understanding how he had arrived at that conclusion.
The veteran player, surprisingly patient, explained:
“Look at their interaction. The butler monster is treating the little monster with respect, which suggests the little monster is one of the castle’s masters, holding a higher position.”
“But we followed the child all the way here, and he didn’t exhibit any monstrous aura. He seems as fragile as a normal human child.”
“If the child isn’t a monster, but is one of the castle masters, then the other monsters in the castle will definitely protect him!”
“The key to clearing this instance probably lies with the child, so we absolutely cannot harm him.”
“And before we entered, the instance rules indicated it was an exploration type. These instances are usually easy to clear as long as we find the correct rules.”
The veteran player’s analysis made the newcomer’s eyes light up.
“Senior, you’re so smart! I think you’re right. We encountered this human child as soon as we entered the instance. He must be the special little monster!”
The other players whispered amongst themselves, agreeing with this line of thought.
“Let’s follow this lead, we’ll definitely clear the instance!”
After their discussion, they continued to cautiously observe the interaction between the monster butler and the human child.
Xing Nuo, held in the familiar butler’s arms, clutched his clothes, mumbling about how tired he was from walking.
“Zaizai…walked…so long…dark…but…not afraid~”
Then, he lifted his chin and asked:
“Butler uncle…where’s Dad?”
He couldn’t wait to see his dad!
The butler’s suspicion deepened as he heard the human child ask about his master, calling Shen Wen “Dad.”
“A new batch of flowers has bloomed. Master is inspecting the other manors,” the butler explained.
Shen Wen, with his love for luxury and extravagance, owned several manors and castles, each filled with various flowers.
The flowers were in full bloom now, and Shen Wen was inspecting them, making sure no one had damaged his precious flowers.
Xing Nuo nodded vaguely, understanding he wouldn’t be seeing his dad. He sighed, his little head drooping.
“When…Dad…come back?”
Seeing the little one’s dejected curls, the butler’s non-existent heart softened.
He smiled and ruffled Xing Nuo’s hair.
“One or two days, maybe three or four.”
Xing Nuo, who could count a little, counted on his fingers and sighed again.
“So long…”
He hadn’t seen his dad for two days, and now he had to wait for two more.
He rested his chin on the butler’s shoulder and yawned.
“Sleepy…Zaizai…wants…sleep.”
Xing Nuo had been woken up in the middle of the night and had walked a long way while fighting back his fear. He was exhausted, his little legs unable to carry him any further.
He snuggled against the butler’s shoulder, his cheek squished, and closed his eyes.
Before the monster butler could say anything, he looked down and saw the little cub fast asleep in his arms.
Human cubs could fall asleep remarkably easily sometimes.
The butler looked at the child’s peaceful sleeping face, his long, dark eyelashes resting against his cheeks, a strange warmth spreading through him.
It was an emotion softer than water, as if he were soaking in a hot spring, his heart melting.
If Master had a child, it would definitely be this adorable and lovely!
No, wait. The butler sensed the familiar aura on this unfamiliar child and thought, this could actually be Master’s child!
Perhaps he had been raised elsewhere and hadn’t been brought back to the castle before!
The butler pondered this for a while, nodding to himself, gradually convinced.
He held the little cub, feeling the faint blood connection to his master, his stiff, indifferent expression softening.
As he turned to carry the little one into the castle, he remembered something and looked at the players standing by the gate.
“Oh, I almost forgot about you.”
Players: “…”
Were they that insignificant?
The butler gestured dismissively with his chin, instructing the footman behind him to let in the uninvited guests.
“Take them inside and settle them in.”
Then, holding the little one he had just decided was his little master, a smile appeared on his face.
“I have more important matters to attend to now, such as preparing a large, soft bed for the little master.”
Human cubs were so fragile. The butler believed only a mattress made of the softest feathers was suitable for the little master.
He returned to the castle, placed the little master in Shen Wen’s bedroom, and, with a serious expression, began giving instructions, determined to provide the little master with the most perfect experience.
Within just an afternoon, news spread among the castle servants –
They had a little master!
The pastry chef, clutching his chest dramatically, exclaimed:
“You haven’t seen him! The little master is as beautiful as Master, with golden hair, the most beautiful color in the world!”
The cook, a large, burly woman, tasted the creamy mushroom soup and sighed dreamily.
“Perhaps the little master will like my sweet cream soup?”
The pastry chef snorted, tilting his thin chin, his eyes filled with disdain.
“Your soup is the worst in the world! How could the little master possibly like it? My cranberry biscuits are the most delicious! The little master will definitely love them!”
The cook, indignant, put her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed, and banged on the counter with her spatula.
“Impossible!”
The two argued heatedly, their faces red, while the kitchen maids, lower in status, huddled in a corner, not daring to intervene.
In the midst of their argument, they noticed the players who had arrived earlier.
“What are you doing here?!”
The cook roared at the weak humans she could easily squash with her spatula.
The players, startled, a male player among them gave an ingratiating smile and asked tentatively:
“We heard you talking about soup. Are there any changes to tonight’s dinner menu?”
After arriving at the castle, the footman had explained the rules.
They were allowed to roam freely on the first floor, but the second floor and above were the master’s private quarters, off-limits to all players.
They had to arrive at the dining hall promptly for dinner and drink the soup meticulously prepared by the cook.
There were other, more specific rules, which the players listened to numbly, concluding that the castle master must be a monster with severe OCD.
Since they had mentioned dinner, and they couldn’t see the little monster Xing Nuo, who was napping, they decided to try and gather some information in the kitchen.
Hearing the player’s question, the cook scoffed, lifting her chin haughtily.
“Who said I was cooking for you? I only cook for Master, and now, for the little master. The rest of you monsters can forget about it!”
The cook held a relatively high position in the castle. The other servants didn’t dare offend her and quickly echoed her sentiment.
“These ants won’t live for long anyway. Calm down, Cook, don’t get angry over them.”
“That’s right, the little master is waiting for your dinner, we can’t waste it on these foolish humans!”
“Why not just swallow them tonight? They’re an eyesore in the castle anyway!”
The monsters’ suggestions made the players’ blood run cold.
As if they really wouldn’t survive the night.
The players exchanged glances, afraid of angering the monster cook, and quickly excused themselves.
Monsters roamed freely within the castle during the day, and the players couldn’t find any opportunity to investigate.
They gathered in a bedroom on the first floor, whispering amongst themselves, discussing their next move.
“The monsters are active during the day, and we can’t go upstairs. We have to wait until nightfall.”
The female newcomer, lost in thought, suddenly asked:
“If the cook isn’t making soup for us, what are we going to eat for dinner?”
A veteran player glared at her, his voice cold.
“You’re still thinking about dinner at a time like this? Exploring at night will be extremely dangerous. If we’re discovered by the monsters, we might lose our lives!”
The female newcomer wanted to say something, but seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she reluctantly closed her mouth.
There was no sun in the instance. After the daylight faded, there was no transition between day and night; it instantly turned into a dark, blood-red night.
Xing Nuo, having napped for the entire afternoon, sat up in bed, tilting his head, staring blankly at the dark sky.
He instinctively called out for his dad. Shen Wen didn’t respond, but the butler, waiting outside, entered the room.
“Little Master, you’re awake?” The butler bowed respectfully.
Xing Nuo was accustomed to this form of address. The butler and the other servants in the castle had always addressed him this way.
He nodded. Just as he was about to climb out of bed, the butler picked him up.
“How can we let you walk? Allow me to assist you.”
The butler’s old, stiff face forced a gentle smile, his tone sincere, as if letting the little master walk himself was his greatest failure as a butler.
Xing Nuo, who had been attending kindergarten in the human world and learning to do things himself, shook his head slightly.
“No…I walk…myself.”
Dad had said Zaizai needed to walk more to improve his balance!
Although he occasionally acted spoiled, Xing Nuo was full of energy after his nap. He put on the soft slippers the butler had prepared and walked steadily out of the room.
Behind him, the butler, seemingly filled with pride, tapped his cane on the floor and exclaimed dramatically:
“The little master is truly remarkable, walking on his own at such a young age.”
The footman beside him nodded, his tone sincere:
“As expected of Master’s descendant. The little master even walked all the way to the castle from the path today!”
The butler continued his exaggerated praise. Seeing Xing Nuo reach the stairs, he quickly composed himself and rushed to assist him.
In just an afternoon, the incredibly efficient butler had reorganized the entire castle.
Sharp silverware had been put away, table and cabinet corners padded with soft cloth, and thick carpets laid throughout the second floor and above.
Even two new outfits for the little master had been made in just a few hours.
Carrying the little master, who still struggled with stairs, the butler, his human skin mask smiling stiffly, introduced the castle.
“This spiral staircase leads to the living room on the first floor. On the wall hangs…”
“Dad’s…paintings!”
Xing Nuo pointed at the paintings in the hallway on the first floor, recognizing them instantly.
“This…rose…this…jasmine…”
He tilted his head, looked around, and then asked in confusion:
“Zaizai’s…painting…where?”
The sunflower painting Xing Nuo had made had always hung in the most prominent spot in the hallway, with the best lighting.
The butler, seeing that he recognized all the paintings, was puzzled.
“There’s no painting of yours here. If Little Master wishes to hang one, you can paint one.”
Xing Nuo was even more confused.
“Zaizai…painted…already…no more.”
He shook his head and quickly forgot about it.
The butler smiled, not dwelling on it, and carried the little master to the dining hall.
The spacious and luxurious dining hall could easily accommodate more than ten people. The long table was already laden with various dishes, fragrant steam rising from the plates.
With Shen Wen absent, Xing Nuo, the little master, naturally sat at the head of the table.
The butler stood respectfully behind Xing Nuo, describing the dishes and serving him.
“This is the cook’s specialty, prepared with a lighter flavor for Little Master. Please, try it.”
Xing Nuo ate very little, not picky about food. He would even declare Shen Wen’s strange, dark concoctions delicious.
Taking a bite of the fluffy, freshly baked bread, he smiled, swinging his little feet.
“Yummy.”
The cook’s bread was still as delicious as ever!
The cook, hiding in the corner and peeking at the little master, breathed a sigh of relief and couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride.
As expected, even the little master loved her cooking!
Xing Nuo ate only a few bites before rubbing his tummy and declaring he was full.
The butler, his wrinkled face creased with concern, was about to encourage the little master to eat more when he saw the players entering the dining hall.
“Hey, Xing Nuo, having dinner?”
The human player who had learned the little monster’s name, his forehead sweating under the butler’s deadly gaze, walked over to Xing Nuo, trying to appear casual.
Xing Nuo, a few bread crumbs still clinging to his lips, sat obediently in his chair, his clear, dewdrop-like eyes staring at the strange older people.
“Yes,” Xing Nuo replied politely. “You…doing what?”
Hearing the little human’s question, the players, unfazed, gave their prepared excuse.
“Thank you for bringing us to the castle today. Otherwise, we would have had to sleep on the streets.”
The buzz-cut player, having interacted with Xing Nuo before, made the lie sound more convincing.
“Xing Nuo, your castle is so beautiful. We were wondering if you could give us a tour?”
Unable to find any other opportunity to explore the castle, the players decided to use the little monster.
As long as they stayed close to Xing Nuo, the little master, the monsters wouldn’t dare do anything to them!
The butler, his human skin mask stiff and expressionless, glanced disdainfully at the presumptuous human ants.
“Where did these vulgar humans come from, daring to ask the little master for a tour?”
The butler, accustomed to serving only high-level monsters, scoffed.
“My little master is of noble birth and is currently dining. It’s extremely rude of you to interrupt.”
The players cursed the haughty butler monster inwardly but didn’t dare show it.
“Haha, it’s alright if it’s not convenient, we’ll just go back then.”
Just as they were about to leave, they heard Xing Nuo’s sweet, childish voice:
“Okay.”
Xing Nuo didn’t have such a rigid sense of hierarchy. The spirit of a free and brave knight seemed to be ingrained in him.
He climbed down from his chair and walked over to the buzz-cut player who had given him the shoes.
Xing Nuo looked up, his little rice teeth showing, his eyes smiling.
“Thank you…sister…for shoes…where…want…see?”
The buzz-cut player, looking at Xing Nuo’s sweet, innocent smile, the light in his eyes brighter than the stars, couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly.
This core little monster was unbelievably cute!
She quickly regained her composure and replied:
“Anywhere is fine. The castle is so grand, it’s already an honor to be able to visit.”
The castle was vast. The first floor alone had dozens of bedrooms, a spacious living room with a crystal chandelier, a dining hall that could seat more than ten people, and a long corridor filled with an air of ancient elegance.
Xing Nuo especially liked the corridor. He stood on tiptoe, admiring his dad’s paintings.
“Dad’s paintings…pretty~” His eyes were filled with pride, his chin lifted. “Zaizai…also…paint…many…many!”
The players frantically took notes, carefully recording details about the paintings.
After admiring the paintings, Xing Nuo led the players to the beautiful rose garden.
Since there was no moon in the instance, crystal orbs, used for illumination, were hung throughout the garden.
The blood-red roses bloomed brilliantly in the dark night, incredibly beautiful and alluring.
A sea of roses, swaying gently in the breeze, would have been a famous Instagram spot if not for the horrifying context of the instance.
Xing Nuo ran into the rose garden and touched the flowers his dad had planted.
“My dad…planted these!”
He stood among the roses, his dark eyes reflecting the large blooms.
“Big brothers…big sisters…come…look?”
Waving his small hand, he smiled brightly, inviting his guests to admire the roses.
But the players, their faces pale, sweat dripping down their foreheads, shook their heads frantically.
No way!
Absolutely no way!
