After ruthlessly dissecting the Game, it was time to log in.
The exchange window had also opened, and the number of Items purchased this time indicated the difficulty of this round.
Lu Qingjia glanced at them; most were supernatural Items, leading him to speculate that this would be another supernatural instance.
Since entering the Intermediate Level Game, supernatural instances had become less frequent. Including the exchange student instance, there were only three, with only one containing a slight supernatural element, but its essence was still a virtual reality online game.
He wondered what the nature of this instance would be.
Lu Qingjia had more Points than he could spend, so he didn’t need to calculate the cost. He bought all the Items he could and then entered the Game.
After the sensation of weightlessness disappeared, Lu Qingjia found himself at a banquet.
The place was crowded, the atmosphere lively and festive. A stage was set up at the front of the banquet hall, decorated with countless flowers, balloons, and lace.
A projection screen in the center displayed the words “A Hundred Years of Happiness” before the event started.
Clearly, this was a wedding banquet.
Waiters were already serving dishes, and guests around him were cracking melon seeds while chatting loudly in the bustling atmosphere. Several children were running around with balloons and candies, unsupervised by their parents.
Lu Qingjia felt a weight in his hands as Zhong Liyu, transformed into a black cat, arrived in this world a second after him, landing directly on his lap. Fortunately, the tablecloth covered him, so his sudden appearance didn’t startle anyone.
Lu Qingjia stroked the cat’s fur and rubbed its chin.
Zhong Liyu, not needing to put on airs, was so relaxed by the petting that he rolled onto his back, blissfully content.
Lu Qingjia found it amusing and was about to continue observing his surroundings when he heard a sharp, middle-aged woman’s voice: “Why did you bring a cat to a banquet? It’s like you can’t live without that damned cat for a second. How inappropriate to bring a black cat on such a joyous occasion.”
Lu Qingjia looked up and saw a somewhat plump woman, whose features still hinted at her youthful beauty.
She wore a tasteful cheongsam, jade bracelets, a gold necklace, and carried a bag worth thousands. Among the guests, she stood out as dignified.
Her features bore a striking resemblance to Lu Qingjia’s. Since this role didn’t restrict memories, Lu Qingjia immediately recognized her as his character’s mother.
However, her brow was perpetually furrowed, her eyes sharp and aggressive, and her demeanor strong-willed. She didn’t seem like someone with a good temper, and now she was glaring at Lu Qingjia with obvious dissatisfaction.
When Lu Qingjia didn’t respond, she nudged the man next to her, who had a weak presence: “Look at your son. Like father, like son. Can’t get a word out of either of you. I told you to keep an eye on him before we left. How did he still manage to bring the cat?”
The man stammered, “It’s not a big deal. Young people these days keeping cats and dogs is normal. Look, the bride even has two poodles at the wedding.”
The woman was furious: “Is that the same? Who’s as unlucky as your son?”
Lu Qingjia was in his twenties, and this instance hadn’t altered his character’s age or appearance.
Being scolded by his mother in front of everyone on such a joyous occasion was awkward, not just for him but for the onlookers as well.
The surrounding relatives and friends quickly tried to mediate—
“Let it go, who still believes in that superstition these days?”
“Right, young people treat their pets like their own children. They can’t bear to be apart for a second. Think of it as practice for when they have kids.”
“The hosts haven’t said anything, so it’s fine.”
“He’s grown up now; you should give him some face.”
After a round of soothing, the woman finally calmed down.
Lu Qingjia himself was indifferent. His real parents were scumbags, and he had inherited their coldness, compounded by his environment. If it weren’t for Old Uncle’s guidance, he would have been even more emotionally detached.
His parents died early, and Old Uncle was a gentle soul, so he had never experienced such suffocating familial pressure before.
If it were anyone else, it might have been easier to handle, but dealing with his character’s mother left Lu Qingjia unsure how to react. Too much or too little wouldn’t be appropriate.
He could only space out, petting the cat and playing dead.
Ignoring the chatter around him, Lu Qingjia resumed observing the scene and quickly identified several Players.
Two of them were acting strangely. Upon entering the Game, instead of observing their surroundings or looking for other Players, they were staring dumbfounded at their hands.
Zhong Liyu’s voice echoed in his ears: “They’re Players from the Extreme Game.”
“Unlike the last exchange student instance, which was in an Ability user society where physical mutations were common, and the Game didn’t alter their appearances due to factional reasons, the Horror Game’s exchange student instances are mostly set in ordinary human societies. To avoid discrepancies, modifications are made.”
Lu Qingjia understood. These Extreme Game Players were probably seeing their pre-mutation forms for the first time, hence the shock and novelty.
A Player caught Lu Qingjia’s gaze from afar and nodded in a friendly gesture. At least for now, there was no sign of hostility among the Players.
At that moment, the wedding emcee took the stage and announced the start of the ceremony.
The bride and groom were already in place. Lu Qingjia’s seat was close to the stage, and as the soothing music began, most people around him stopped talking. “Lu’s Mom” finally stopped her incessant chatter.
This wedding didn’t have much to boast about.
The banquet was average, from the wedding decorations to the emcee’s professionalism, the quality of the dishes, and the price of the wedding candies, all indicating an ordinary wedding for an ordinary family.
There was no undercurrent of tension; everything was mundane.
However, just as the bride and groom were about to exchange rings, a woman in a wedding dress appeared in the audience.
She shouted, “I object.”
The previously harmonious atmosphere exploded like a pot of boiling water. The bride’s parents immediately pointed at the woman and demanded, “What’s going on? Who is she?”
The groom’s face turned pale, and he stammered.
Well, his reaction pretty much confirmed there was something going on.
The woman walked up to the stage, grabbed the emcee’s microphone, and said to the groom, “Why don’t you tell them who I am?”
“We’ve been together for five years, and I’ve had three abortions. Every time I brought up marriage, you said your family hadn’t saved enough for a down payment, and that having a child would only make us suffer.”
“And what about her? Have you even known her for three months?” She then turned to the bride and sneered, “Did you know this scumbag moved out of my rented place just two weeks ago? He was still living in my room while you two were planning your wedding.”
The woman glared at the groom’s family with venomous eyes: “If it weren’t for a mutual friend who couldn’t bear to keep it from me, I’d still think my man was just having a tiff with me.”
“What are you doing here causing a scene?” The groom tried to pull her away: “Didn’t I tell you we’ve broken up? We’re adults. Is this necessary?”
The woman wasn’t easily dismissed. She sneered, “Broken up? My five years of youth, and you just say it’s over with a few words?”
“Five years! Even if it were a dog, you’d have to give it a proper farewell. You just moved out, blocked my number, and that’s it? Do you think our relationship can be summed up in a sentence?”
She then glared at the groom’s parents and sneered, “I see what you’re up to.”
“What’s so great about your son? Is he rich or exceptionally handsome? Why would I cling to him? What do I get out of it? Just a simple life?”
“If you had made it clear years ago, there are plenty of better men out there. Why would I hang myself on this crooked tree?”
“But you guys had it all figured out. While you looked down on my family’s financial status, you were happy to let your son take advantage of me. Since there wasn’t a better option, why not have a maid to serve him? After all, it’s not your son who’s losing out.”
“We talked about renting a place together, but every time the rent was due, you two would suddenly fall ill. So all his earnings went to you, while I struggled to cover our living expenses.”
“And now I hear you’ve bought a house for the wedding.” Her voice cracked with bitterness. “Where did you get the money? Don’t tell me it’s from savings. If you had any, you’d have flaunted it in front of me long ago, looking down on me even more.”
“You’ve been sucking me dry to save up for this, haven’t you?”
She turned to the bride and said, “Did you hear that? Half of the house you’re getting married in was earned by me.”
“I’ve wasted five years of my youth, slaving for your family, and now you want to kick me out? Let me tell you, it’s not happening.”
“I don’t care about the scumbag anymore, but I won’t let my house go to outsiders. I’ve been such a fool. Only after breaking it down these past few days did I realize what kind of trash I’ve been dealing with.” Her voice was filled with resentment.
“What do you mean, your house?” The groom’s parents shouted. Seeing the surrounding relatives and friends watching the spectacle, they knew they’d lost face today, but they had to salvage some dignity.
“That’s all the money my son has earned over the years and what we’ve saved. Not a single penny is yours. If you’re not satisfied, go sue us.”
The woman laughed coldly, “You old fools, you can’t even read a few words, but you were quick to prepare when it came to taking advantage of me, knowing the law can’t touch you.”
“But I’ll tell you this, I’ve been slaving for years, letting him save up his salary for our future, and now the house is bought without my share? Do you think it’s that easy? I’m the type to hold a grudge.”
“Letting this go is out of the question. Either you compensate me for the years I’ve spent on your son—food, clothing, housing, the cost of the abortions, and the loss of my youth, adjusted for inflation—or—”
She paused for a moment, “Now that I don’t have to support another person, I have plenty of time. I’ll visit your son and daughter-in-law’s workplace, your doorstep, and your neighborhood gate every day with red paint, big posters, and a loudspeaker.”
“You can call the police on me, but as long as they don’t kill me, I’ll keep coming back.”
She glared maliciously at the bride and groom, “You’re planning to have a child after the wedding, right?”
“My child was unlucky to have a heartless father who didn’t even give them a chance to live. Why should your child get to live happily?”
The woman had clearly lost her mind under the weight of the immense betrayal and the unacceptable sunk cost.
The bride, who had only married the groom for his reliability, never expected such a thing. Coupled with concerns about the future, she was furious and stormed out.
The groom tried to chase after her, but the woman grabbed him, “Don’t run. Your stingy family finally spent money on a wedding. Why waste it?”
The groom pushed her away, “You’re insane.”
The woman didn’t stop him as he ran out. Instead, she laughed maniacally.
She then said something cryptic to all the groom’s relatives and friends present, “But it’s for the best. It’s good that the child I carried wasn’t born to suffer.”
“A black-hearted, rotten family like yours has no business getting married and having children. Don’t ruin people’s lives.”
Most people had been treating the wedding drama as entertainment, but her words struck a chord, especially with the older generation in their forties and fifties, whose expressions visibly changed.
Lu Qingjia sensed a wave of suppressed resentment. He glanced to the side and saw ‘Lu’s Mom.’
Her face was filled with venom as she glared at ‘Lu’s Dad.’ It wasn’t just her usual temper; it was as if she had a knife in her hand and wanted to stab him to death right then and there.
With the wedding in such disarray, there was no point in continuing.
Many guests awkwardly stood up, ready to leave.
But at that moment, someone rushed in, shouting in panic, “It’s bad! The groom’s been in a car accident!”
The room erupted in chaos. The groom’s parents lunged at the woman, “If anything happens to our son, you’ll pay!”
The woman was stunned for a moment, then burst into hysterical laughter, “Hahaha… retribution! I didn’t think that bastard would die so soon.”
If she had said this earlier, as the victim, it might have been understandable. But now that the groom was the one who’d been hurt, she became the target of everyone’s wrath.
Lu Qingjia quickly stepped forward, pulled the woman away from the mob, and ignored the calls from ‘Lu’s Mom’ and ‘Lu’s Dad,’ leaving the banquet hall.
The other Players either followed the groom when he left or arrived at the scene after hearing about the accident.
The hotel was in a bustling area, and less than a hundred meters from the entrance was a busy road.
The bride’s family was nowhere to be seen, but outside the gate, the traffic at the intersection had come to a standstill, causing a jam.
A crowd had gathered, some filming with their phones, others pointing and gossiping.
Using his Ability to see through objects, Lu Qingjia spotted the groom lying in a pool of blood, his limbs twisted, among the chaos.
Someone had already called the police and an ambulance, but Lu Qingjia knew the groom was already dead.
The woman in the wedding dress wanted to go see for herself, but Lu Qingjia stopped her, “Don’t look. He’s dead.”
The woman looked at Lu Qingjia strangely, “You’re their relative, aren’t you? Why are you helping me?”
Lu Qingjia smiled, “I also think deceiving a woman’s youth is a heinous crime.”
“But you don’t need to waste the rest of your life entangled with his family. You’re still young. You’ve already wasted a few years; there’s no need to throw away your whole life.”
The woman sneered, “Easy for you to say. You weren’t the one who was bled dry for years and then kicked to the curb.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her phone pinged with a notification. She opened it and saw that her bank account had received a transfer of 1 million yuan.
She was stunned for a few seconds, then suddenly looked up at Lu Qingjia.
Lu Qingjia nodded, “This is compensation for your financial losses over the years. As for the emotional damage, he’s dead now, so hopefully that’s some comfort.”
A million yuan was enough to buy a house outright in this city. For the wealthy, it might not be much, but for the average person, it was a fortune that would take half a lifetime to save.
The woman’s resentment stemmed from years of investment gone to waste. But now that the man was dead and she had received far more money than she expected, her anger began to dissipate.
Honestly, money really did solve most problems.
In her case, she wasn’t as bitter anymore. In fact, she almost felt like laughing.
Then she said, somewhat embarrassed, “But their family’s mess isn’t your responsibility—”
Lu Qingjia shook his head, “Take it. I suspect his parents won’t let this go. You can quit your job, leave this city, and start a new life.”
“But I’m curious about what you said on stage earlier. Can you tell me more?”
The woman naturally agreed. Lu Qingjia found a private restaurant online and bought her a dress.
After she changed out of the conspicuous wedding dress, they left together.
At this point, the Players in the Game had scattered.
But Lu Qingjia wasn’t in a hurry. Given the nature of this instance, since the Players he’d seen earlier were at the banquet, they were either relatives or friends of the groom or the bride. It would be easy to contact them later.
After all the commotion, the woman was hungry, so Lu Qingjia ordered some food, and they chatted while eating.
“Actually, I only noticed because I overheard the old couple talking,” the woman said. “They’ve been in a rush to get him married and have a child, saying that once they have a child, they’ll be safe.”
“It’s been three years since the last time, and the next round is coming. As long as they don’t have a child, they won’t feel secure.”
“I found it strange. If they wanted a child so badly, why did they pressure me to abort back then?” the woman continued. “I thought back, and actually, three years ago, when I first got pregnant, they wanted me to keep the baby. In fact, they were eager.”
“But after a few days, they changed their minds and brought up the house again, saying that saving for the down payment was already a huge burden, and if we had a child now, I wouldn’t be able to work for years. His salary alone wouldn’t be enough to cover the savings, living expenses, and raising a child.”
“At the time, I believed them, but after hearing the old couple’s conversation, I started to feel something was off. I even asked his cousin and found out that around the time I was pregnant, several young men in your family died within a short span of two weeks.”
“The causes of death were all bizarre. I felt something was wrong and tried to probe him. He was clearly lying, but his words hinted that having a child would make things easier.”
The woman looked at Lu Qingjia and added, “Don’t you think there’s something off about your whole family, especially the older generation? Their marriages don’t seem happy.”
“Of course, many couples these days are just going through the motions, but your family is different. Either they’re divorced, or if they’re still together, they act like enemies.”
“You guys don’t even go back to your hometown for the New Year. You just gather as a family, and I’ve attended one of those gatherings before. It was so awkward.”
“So while I don’t know exactly what’s going on, I can say for sure there’s something wrong. But the younger generation doesn’t seem to know much about it.”
Lu Qingjia nodded, thanked the woman for the information, and left after paying the bill.
He took out his phone and saw countless missed calls, all from ‘Lu’s Mom.’
She had been calling non-stop. He had set his phone to silent earlier, but now the sheer number of calls was a bit alarming.
Lu Qingjia called her back, and as soon as the call connected, she launched into a frantic, angry tirade—
“Where did you go? Why did you get involved in their mess? Why didn’t you answer your phone? Do you know how worried I was? Do you know XX is dead? Your uncle’s family is looking everywhere for you. Where did you take that woman?”
Lu Qingjia held the phone away from his ear, waiting for her to pause before interjecting, “We split up as soon as we left. I was worried my uncle’s family might attack her and get the police involved, so I took her away.”
He distanced himself from the situation while assuring her he’d be home soon. After a lengthy lecture, she finally hung up.
Following his character’s memories, Lu Qingjia took a taxi back to his family’s neighborhood.
It was midday, and the heat was sweltering, so there weren’t many people outside.
Lu Qingjia got out of the car in the garage and suddenly felt an icy chill.
The cat in his arms let out a fierce cry, its fur standing on end, clearly agitated.
Lu Qingjia quickly soothed it, “Calm down, calm down.”
With his level of spiritual power and keen senses as a Player, how could Zhong Liyu not know that he was being haunted by something sinister?
But this time was different from any previous encounters. In the past, whenever he felt a chilling atmosphere, he knew he was in a ghostly domain.
Yet now, it wasn’t an external sensation but rather a coldness that seemed to spread from within, sending shivers down his spine.
But soon, Lu Qingjia understood why Zhong Liyu was so furious.
Just as he had finished calming the cat, a steel bar fell from the ceiling of the garage, plummeting straight toward Lu Qingjia’s head.
He sidestepped to avoid it, only to step on a small piece of orange peel, causing him to lose his balance.
His head was now heading straight toward some ceiling materials left here by someone’s renovation, the sharp edges directly facing his face.
A pool of sludge appeared in front of him, halting his momentum and stopping his body’s tilt.
The sludge had a certain defensive ability. While not as strong as a defensive bubble, it could easily handle ordinary objects.
Seeing that calm had been restored, Lu Qingjia retracted the sludge. Just then, the elevator next to the renovation materials suddenly opened, and a worker casually flicked a cigarette butt, which landed on the adhesive tape binding the materials.
The large bundle of casting materials, already loosely tied, now seemed to reach its breaking point, scattering everywhere.
Several of them flew toward Lu Qingjia. In front of so many people, it was inconvenient for him to use his abilities.
Instead, he swiftly reached out and held the steel pipes within his range, though this restricted his movements.
One of the pipes happened to hit a nearby motorcycle, causing the rearview mirror’s glass to shatter and fly toward Lu Qingjia at an uncanny speed.
With his body movement restricted and the glass shards speeding like bullets, letting go could endanger the workers nearby.
His physical strength was formidable, yet he was forced to reveal his abilities in front of others.
A transparent bubble enveloped his body. The glass shards struck it with the force of bullets, but fortunately, mere bullets couldn’t penetrate his defense.
Lu Qingjia neatly returned the materials to their place, and the workers, relieved, quickly apologized, “Sorry, man, we didn’t stack them properly.”
Lu Qingjia didn’t dwell on it. If this was the tone of the instance, then the cause and effect weren’t here. Even if the workers had arranged everything neatly, hazards would still arise.
Fortunately, the garage’s lighting was poor, and the transparent bubble went unnoticed, so no questions were asked.
Instead of taking the elevator, Lu Qingjia walked up the stairs to his home. As he climbed, he couldn’t help but reflect, “Just the appetizer forced me to use my abilities in front of others. This instance isn’t going to be easy.”
It was like Final Destination.
The black cat let out a couple of dissatisfied meows. Lu Qingjia stroked its back and said, “But what’s the trigger for this curse-like effect?”
“Since entering the instance, I haven’t experienced any life-threatening accidents, nor have I come into contact with any special people or items. I didn’t even go to see the groom when he died. It’s as if I was suddenly marked as a target.”
“Is this a standard treatment for all Players when they enter the Game at a certain time? Or—”
Lu Qingjia had a hunch about another possibility, but he’d need to confirm it with the other Players.
The Lu residence was on the 24th floor, but climbing a few flights of stairs was nothing to Lu Qingjia, even before he became a Player.
He opened the door to a spacious four-bedroom, two-living-room apartment. The living room was spotless, with furniture and items neatly arranged.
Lu Qingjia inspected the apartment and found nothing unusual. However, it seemed that three of the four rooms were regularly occupied, indicating that the three family members each had their own room, with Mr. and Mrs. Lu already drifting apart.
The fourth room had a distinct personal touch but was clearly unused for a long time, though it was still kept clean.
Lu Qingjia entered that room. The decor was simple, with a monochrome palette. The bookshelf was neatly filled with books, and there was a collection of tea sets.
A glass cabinet displayed dozens of miniature teacups and teapots of various shapes and materials.
The desk didn’t have a computer but instead featured an inkstone, paperweights, and a brush holder, showing a preference for traditional hobbies. The bookshelf also contained some calligraphy and Chinese painting practice sheets.
The skill level wasn’t exceptional, but it showed solid groundwork.
From the moment Lu Qingjia saw the titles of the books, his brows furrowed. As he recognized familiar traces, he quickly opened the desk drawer.
Inside, he found a photo frame.
It was the first photo he had seen since entering the apartment.
It was a family of four: Mr. and Mrs. Lu, Lu Qingjia in his high school years, and standing beside him, with a hand on his head, was a much younger version of Old Uncle.
