Chapter 131: Death Q&A (Conclusion)
Chapter 131: Death Q&A (Conclusion)
"Correct!" Mr. You finally declared after a long pause, the score counter on the control panel ticking upward. Feng Bu Jue's total had now climbed to 120 points.
The audience erupted in cheers and applause as the sound technician blasted an upbeat soundtrack. Strobe lights from the artificial light system flickered dramatically.
"Heh heh, it seems Contestant One is hitting his stride", Mr. You chuckled. "Then...the next challenge will be Question Four!" He burned the third question card with a flourish, glanced at the new card, and flashed a sinister grin toward Feng Bu Jue. "This one is worth 120 points!"
A wave of astonished murmurs swept through the crowd. Xiao Tan and the others also looked surprised.
"Contestant One", Mr. You said, circling the four contestants with his gaze, "the four of you...your fundamental goal is survival, not competition. In Round Two, it's not important who wins—it's far more crucial who the winner chooses to bring to the Colosseum." He gestured toward the scoreboard. "Contestants Two, Three, and Four currently have zero points, twenty points, and zero points respectively. You've already secured a substantial advantage. If they all quit during Round Two, you'd solidify your first-place position."
"You're saying I don't need to risk losing all my points by continuing?" Feng Bu Jue asked.
"Ha! I'm simply analyzing the situation for you", Mr. You replied. "If you're the strategist in this group, I'm sure your teammates would gladly cooperate."
"Teammates? Heh..." Feng Bu Jue's expression shifted to a sly smirk, his voice turning colder as he leaned forward. "Since you've known all along that our goal is collective survival rather than individual victory, what sense does it make to have only the winner receive the prize? We're a team—does it really matter who takes the reward?"
"Uh...well..." Mr. You stammered, clearly avoiding a direct response.
"And what about the rule that deducts points whenever a contestant gives hints?" Feng Bu Jue continued, his tone sharp. "That restriction specifically targets team collaboration. In a true competition where contestants compete against each other, such limitations wouldn't be necessary—no one would help their rivals. So I'd like to propose a hypothesis..." He raised an arm, pointing toward the giant screen displaying the show's title. "This program called Death Q&A appears to be a game where four contestants compete for first place, but in reality, it's a team survival challenge."
He straightened in his chair, adjusting his microphone. "Each round someone enters the Colosseum, but that doesn't necessarily mean death. The Colosseum is simply a trial at the end of each round—anyone who fails to earn the highest score may enter. Put simply, even if you can't answer the questions, combat strength can still advance you to the next round." Leaning forward with his elbow on the control panel, he locked eyes with Mr. You. "So everything we've experienced so far has just been groundwork and accumulation for the final round—whether it's Round Three, Five...I don't know. But when that final round arrives, that will be the true 'Death Q&A.' And by then..." He reclined in his chair, "all these accumulated points will play some critical role we can't yet understand."
The venue fell silent, aside from occasional noises from the more vocal audience members—like the burping demon who always seemed to sneeze at dramatic moments.
Mr. You raised the microphone as a spotlight illuminated him. Stepping toward the camera, his smile grew wider. "Ladies and gentlemen, Contestant One...he..." His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper that still carried through the hushed room. "He's actually guessed the rules for Round Three... This...this is unprecedented!" Suddenly shouting, "Let's give him a round of applause and cheers!"
The audience exploded into thunderous applause, whistles, and bizarre howls—including a few werewolf-style war cries.
Mr. You waddled back to Feng Bu Jue's podium, his short legs wobbling. "Unfortunately, I still can't tell you the final round's rules."
"I know enough already", Feng Bu Jue said. "Anyway, I'll answer Question Four for 120 points."
"Here's the question!" Mr. You raised the card. "Among these four characters, who is the richest? A, Tony Stark; B, Bruce Wayne; C, Uncle Scrooge; D, Gollum."
Feng Bu Jue immediately pressed button C. Mr. You drawled, "You're choosing Uncle Scrooge?"
"Of course", Feng Bu Jue smirked. "That duck isn't in the same league as the others."
"Answer..." After the dramatic pause, Mr. You grinned. "Correct!" Feng Bu Jue's score shot up to 240 points as another wave of applause crashed through the venue.
Mr. You burned the fourth card before revealing the fifth question. "Contestant One, what if I told you Question Five is extremely, extremely difficult? Would you quit?"
"You first tell me what this question's worth", Feng Bu Jue countered, not falling for the mind games.
"This one", Mr. You's expression turned oddly serious, "is worth one thousand skill points."
The audience and guests barely reacted, but the four contestants all wore expressions of shock.
"Skill points?" Feng Bu Jue asked cautiously.
"Obviously, what else would it be?" Mr. You spread his hands with a grin toward the camera. The audience erupted into laughter.
"I'll answer", Feng Bu Jue declared firmly. "Read the question."
"Hmph." Mr. You smirked, lifting the card. "So far in Terrifying Paradise, you've only obtained one fear rating..."
"What?" Feng Bu Jue interrupted, instinctively sitting straighter.
"Problem?" Mr. You asked casually.
"What's going on here?" Feng Bu Jue tried to stand, but invisible force slammed him back into his seat.
"Who said you could stand?" Mr. You scolded like a parent. "Listen to the full question first."
At this moment, Xiao Tan, Bei Ling, and Si Yu all felt an unnameable oppressive aura. The entire stage atmosphere shifted, becoming suffocatingly tense and terrifying.
Mr. You continued reading, "So far in Terrifying Paradise, you've only obtained one fear rating. Which was it? A, Fearless; B, Courageous; C, Panic; D, Terrified."
Feng Bu Jue stared suspiciously at Mr. You before slowly pressing button A. Before Mr. You could confirm, a system prompt sounded: [You have obtained 1,000 skill points].
"You're a derivative being?" Feng Bu Jue whispered, his first instinct.
"Accusing me of being a lower-dimensional creature?" Mr. You chuckled. "Heh heh...Please, no jokes like that." He burned the card, pulling out the next. "Question Six...Correct answer grants a pass to the 'hidden world' of Terrifying Paradise." He snapped his fingers—the space between his index and middle fingers now held a black card. "Answer incorrectly, and your psionic weapon disappears."
Feng Bu Jue's mind raced. Since entering this scenario, abnormal phenomenon after abnormal phenomenon had accumulated until now, suddenly reaching a critical mass...
"Enough."
A new voice rang out.
A man in a full suit stood in the stage center, his brown hair neatly combed. He had materialized just one meter behind Mr. You.
Instantly, Mr. You's smile froze. The three guests looked like office workers caught joking when the boss walked in—posture and expressions suddenly rigid. The entire audience stared in stunned silence.
The "Fear" bomb had already been stacked up, waiting for that spark of ignition...to set the entire scene ablaze.
Ximen stood behind Mr. You, his gaze fixed on the fat man's neck. "Are you planning to talk to me with your back turned?"
"Heh...haha...no...no way." Mr. You's sweat poured like a waterfall from beneath his hat, his face a canvas of pure anxiety and dread.
Ximen shifted his gaze to the cameraman. Without a word, his mere glance sent the semi-transparent ghost writhing. A piercing death cry tore from its throat as its body erupted in blinding light, shattering like fireworks—its soul scattering into oblivion. The camera before it was obliterated in the same instant.
"Trash", Ximen declared coldly, his voice carrying effortlessly, "get out."
The monstrous spectacles in the spectator stands screamed like slaughtered pigs, scrambling toward exits in utter chaos. In moments, the area erupted in dust clouds, flesh fragments flying as doorframes splintered from the impact. Some even smashed through walls, others vanished into the ground in their panic.
Within thirty seconds, only four players, Ximen, Mr. You, and three guests remained in the studio.
"Long time no see, Brother Ximen! Haha..." He Hua Si Tuo Si attempted to break the ice.
Ximen responded indifferently, "You. How's my order coming?"
"Eh...you know, Brother Ximen, crafting the weapon to your specifications is complicated. Besides, we agreed delivery would be by the end of the 21st century—"
"But you look quite idle", Ximen interrupted.
"Understood! Understood! I'll disappear immediately! Hehe! Please proceed at your leisure, hehe..." With that, He Hua Si Tuo Si truly vanished.
"Didn't expect you'd attend such an event", Ximen turned his gaze to Arrogant.
"Hmph", she scoffed, "Mind your own business."
"This is official", Ximen replied. "Unless you have a personal matter to discuss—"
"Hmph!" Arrogant cut him off, transforming into a black smoke trail as she departed.
"You're staring", Young Master Wenyi met Ximen's gaze. "Is it illegal to observe silently?"
"You placed a bet", Ximen countered.
"High-ranking participants mostly placed bets", Wenyi feigned innocence.
"I'm the referee", Ximen stated.
"That's because no one dares challenge you. But—"
"Another but?" Ximen's voice darkened.
"Alright, alright, I'm wrong. I'll leave", Wenyi coughed, vanishing in a flash of black light.
Ximen's eyes returned to Mr. You. "Now, explain yourself."
"Uh...sir, may I ask—what exactly is happening?" Feng Bu Jue waved eagerly, his expression earnest.
Ximen glanced at him, snapped his fingers, and instantly produced a *-500 potion. Tossing it to Feng Bu Jue, he said, "You've completed the trial."
Catching the bottle, Feng Bu Jue didn't bother checking its attributes. "What's going on here? This scenario—"
"Rest assured, such incidents won't recur—at least not for now." As Ximen spoke, the players were enveloped in white light, forcibly teleported away.
...
In the login space, Feng Bu Jue initiated a group call.
"Did you all get teleported?"
"Yes", Xiao Tan replied.
"Bei Ling's voice joined, "What was that scenario?"
Si Yu's voice system activated, "It seemed the bosses had a conflict and expelled us."
Xiao Tan added, "Strange—I'm showing 0/0 for task completion, but rewards are fully listed. Is this a bug?"
"That sudden suit-clad man...his tone suggested he was a GM. We might've stumbled into a major incident", Feng Bu Jue mused.
"What now?" Xiao Tan asked.
"What 'what now'? Rewards are secured. Ask customer service? They'll know nothing. Can't complain the game was too easy..."
"Bu Jue, all our fear ratings were 'Fearless'?" Si Yu suddenly asked.
"Commander, did you cheat?" Bei Ling followed.
"Ahh...that..." Feng Bu Jue hesitated. He wasn't close to these girls—just acquaintances from the game. Could he reveal his mysterious brain condition?
But if he lied now, they might learn the truth from Xiao Tan. After a pause, he said, "No cheat. No sedatives either. I simply...don't feel fear."
Silence followed.
"Fair enough", Si Yu conceded.
"Same here. Don't worry, my lips are sealed", Bei Ling added.
"Thanks. Let's call it a day", Feng Bu Jue suggested.
"Good. I'm tired. Logging off", Xiao Tan agreed.
As the others logged out, they bid farewell, exiting the game.
...
Reverting back minutes earlier at the Death Q&A set.
Ximen loomed over Mr. You. "Who authorized bringing them into Death Q&A? Giving up on your program entirely?"
"They're just virtual projections. Not real death", Mr. You stammered.
"What were you attempting?"
"Wooly broke rules first! He let Feng Bu Jue enter the pili world at level ten, easily obtaining a psionic weapon!"
"You're claiming correction of his violation?"
Mr. You paled. Acknowledging that implied acting as a referee—a death sentence. "No! I never meant—"
"You gave him 1000 skill points, planned to seize the weapon. Thought that balanced it? Wooly discovers this, what do you suppose occurs?"
"Eh..." Mr. You choked.
"Wooly would instantly send your pawn to a first-tier derivative being's territory, stripping ten levels effortlessly."
"But...but..."
"Feng Bu Jue acquiring the weapon was justified. My ruling as referee. Your petty schemes end now." Ximen's voice froze like daggers. "System corrections complete. Wooly's backdoor eliminated. No further interference—not even for a second."
He strode to the main camera, locking eyes with the lens. "The match begins now. Anyone daring to extend a hand to this table..." His voice sliced through the air, "I'll sever it."
(End of Chapter)
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