Chapter 6: The Second Question

This string of question marks left the players dazed and reeling. Even the two veteran players, Zhang Bing and Qin Dan, were experiencing something like this for the first time.

“A side mission. It’s actually a side mission.” Qin Dan murmured. “I never thought that a novice instance could trigger a side mission—the kind that sometimes doesn’t even appear in Nightmare-Level instances.”

“And the reward is goodwill from ghosts. This is far rarer than items.”

Zhang Bing couldn’t stay composed either, but more worries surged up. “Is this really just a simple novice instance? These ghost goodwill rewards—the names aren’t even fully displayed. That clearly means either our exploration level of this instance world is insufficient, or the level of these special ghosts is far higher than ours. This is highly irregular.”

Qin Dan, however, was very excited. “It’s just a novice mission. The game will never produce anything beyond its rules. What’s more, this side mission doesn’t look like a high-risk one. Even if we fail to complete it, we can sell the information on the ‘forums.'”

After all, instances were repeatable. Just like selling game guides in the real world, there might be players who enter a repeating instance.

At that time, knowing the mission information beforehand would give them a massive advantage.

Even Lin Yujing showed a few traces of interest.

The three novices couldn’t fully grasp their words, but just through their performance, they realized that this side mission was an enormous stroke of luck, and that this instance was not simple at all.

Zou Zihao was especially distracted, lost in thought.

Yan Shanque tried several times to ask the veteran players questions but was each time overlooked.

Only Wei Congxin was still out of sync. “Is this ‘Mirror?’ supposed to be that Aunt Jing? Her and that Pearl… are both ghosts?”

To think he had held some goodwill towards that little young master and the female housekeeper based on their looks alone. He never imagined even their species would be incompatible.

“Madam, rest assured. We will definitely do our utmost to protect Pearl,” Qin Dan promised solemnly.

The long-skirted woman, unaware of the earth-shattering waves in their hearts, gave a slight nod and turned to leave, seemingly unconcerned whether they had listened to her words or not.

Just as she was about to reach the elevator, she suddenly stopped and beckoned. “Pearl, come here.”

Yin Luo, who had just woken from a nap and had been secretly crouching behind the wall listening to their conversation, obediently followed her away.

Side mission?

Special Ghosts?

If only he knew the content of these players’ missions. That way, he could gain more of the initiative. This entire house would become his home field.

After all, judging from their previous reactions, their missions were very likely all related to him.

What a pity.

On the other side, Qin Dan, having steadied his emotions, cleared his throat and once again cautioned, “This side mission clearly isn’t simple and is probably a long-term mission. In short, it’s obvious. We absolutely must not offend that little young master, Pearl.”

The novices nodded like chicks pecking rice.

Quite obedient.

Qin Dan felt a bit emotional. This batch of novices was considered easy to guide. Some of the truly stupid ones, even if used as pathfinding pawns, would still make you worry about blowback. “In that case, let’s assign the rooms.”

The group looked at each other, but they weren’t too panicked.

Unlike in some horror movies, the design and layout of this house had clearly been planned by a top-tier architect hired at great expense.

Even the guest rooms each faced the sun, with bright décor. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the lake view. There was no single room that felt especially gloomy, damp, or cold.

“Then let’s just pick for ourselves.” Lin Yujing was the first to speak. “I’ll take this one.”

Qin Dan looked. It was the second room in the corridor, neither the closest to the stairs nor the one at the very end. He couldn’t see anything particularly special about it for now.

He didn’t hesitate either, pointing at the fourth room. “Then I’ll take this one.”

Although the number 4 was often avoided in Chinese, this room happened to be directly below Pearl’s room on the fourth floor. If anything happened, it would be easier for him to act.

Wei Congxin hurriedly said, “Then I want the third room.”

Only being sandwiched between two senior players could soothe his cowardly heart. This was not the time to talk about humility.

Zou Zihao grew anxious. “How did you pick so fast? Then I’ll take the fifth room.”

Among these veterans, Zhang Bing seemed difficult to get along with, Lin Yujing was unreliable; only Qin Dan seemed the most dependable to him.

After just spacing out for a moment, Yan Shanque found the rooms were almost fully chosen. She immediately requested the first room without a second thought.

Zhang Bing didn’t care. “Then I’ll take the last one.”

Then he gave one final warning. “I advise you novices: you heard what the female housekeeper said. Do not be curious. Do not try to use your own head to step on landmines.”

“Do not open the door. Hear nothing, think of nothing. Just sleep!”

“Mm, mm, mm!”

And so, with a mix of tension and expectancy in the players’ hearts, night fell.

……

The long-skirted woman escorted the black-haired boy to his door, a trace of worry faintly visible on her features.

“Pearl.” She seemed to want to speak, then hesitated.

“Hm?” Yin Luo turned back. “What is it?”

The woman, dressed with an intellectual elegance, looked at him quietly. Perhaps it was the dim lighting, but her skin appeared especially pale, making her lips seem an even deeper shade of red.

“If you get scared, call my name.” She said softly. “I will come.”

Yin Luo was startled, then gently nodded. “Okay, Aunt Jing. I’ll remember.”

The long-skirted woman bent down to stroke the boy’s soft hair and said quietly, “There are many things I cannot tell you now. But you only need to remember one thing.”

“—Pearl, survive.”