Chapter 558: Chu Mo Island (24)
Chapter 558: Chu Mo Island (24)
"Hmph... He's truly renowned, isn't he..." Imitation Soul coldly replied, "...Mad Bu Jue."
"Hehe... Overpraising... overpraising..." Feng Bu Jue smiled in response.
"Why are you being so courteous to him?" Ji Bu interjected. "Besides, it was Fei Chai Shu who saw through him, right? You're just jumping on the bandwagon now!"
"Well... now that you mention it, I am curious—how exactly did you expose it?" Feng Bu Jue turned to Fei Chai Shu.
"Honestly, I also sensed something anomalous about him", Fei Chai Shu replied without loosening his grip on Imitation Soul's neck. "But before you grabbed him, I hadn't considered he was an imposter."
"Same here", Fei Chai Shu continued. "Initially, I just found this 'Tian Ma Xing Kong' suspicious, but hadn't doubted his identity... until this guy assumed the stance of Tianma Liuxing Fist."
"What?" Feng Bu Jue's eyes widened as fragmented memories flashed through his mind. Two seconds later, realization struck. "Ah... the stance was wrong."
"Huh? That's the reason?" Ji Bu followed up.
"Exactly", Fei Chai Shu confirmed. "During the Peak Conquest Tournament, I watched Tian Ma Xing Kong's Meteor Strike Fist countless times. His movements differed slightly from this imitation... The real Tian Ma Xing Kong always leads with his left hand, raised higher than his head, no matter the position."
"And the leg positioning", Feng Bu Jue added, "the right leg slightly bent backward, with more pronounced flexion than the left."
"More than just the stance", Fei Chai Shu continued, his gaze behind sunglasses sharpening on Imitation Soul's face. "Tian Ma Xing Kong's Meteor Strike Fist is irreplicable. Even searching the entire game, no one can mimic its essence."
"Come on... it's just a skill. Shouldn't it work the same whoever uses it?" Ji Bu seemed unconvinced.
"Certainly not", Feng Bu Jue sighed, patting Ji Bu's shoulder. "In Terrifying Paradise, most attack skills lack fixed damage values. It's a deliberate hidden setting." He paused. "Even identical skills manifest differently based on the user. Two players with identical levels, equipment, and proficiencies would still produce differing effects."
"Even the same person", Fei Chai Shu added, "can vary attack potency depending on minor movements, breathing rhythms, or psychological states. Not to mention how fatigue or injuries amplify these differences."
"Oh... I see!" Ji Bu finally nodded. "Even if I die tomorrow, this scenario was worth experiencing."
"Don't underestimate Tian Ma Xing Kong's single-move tactic", Fei Chai Shu continued. "His Meteor Strike Fist ranks among the game's greatest techniques. He's mastered it to perfection—shifting from D-level to A-rank destruction at will."
"No wonder... during our fight, his punches kept intensifying..." Hong Hu adjusted his glasses thoughtfully. "Can repeating a single skill really achieve this level?"
"Don't overthink it. His method is unteachable", Fei Chai Shu's expression darkened. "Everyone has unique talents. Tian Ma Xing Kong's raw stats or intellect weren't exceptional. From a Classplayer perspective, he's no prodigy—just instinct, relentless practice, and luck. Yet he won the Summit Confrontation, outshining us all. That's something no one can replicate."
"Hold on!" Imitation Soul suddenly spoke (still articulate despite the choking grip). "Since your arrival, I've secretly followed and observed you. The stance I used—mirrored Tian Ma Xing Kong's exact movements in Taunting Forest! Where's the discrepancy? My left hand was clearly raised, right leg slightly bent..."
"The body's range of motion and limb trajectories differ", Feng Bu Jue interrupted. "Like two gymnasts performing identical routines—close observation reveals subtle differences." He shrugged. "Granted, I didn't expose you. Fei Chai Shu saw through you first and acted decisively. I was just playing catch-up. You fell to his instantaneous judgment."
True enough—if not for Fei Chai Shu's resolve, Imitation Soul wouldn't have faltered so quickly. Even Feng Bu Jue and Hong Hu would've needed more clues to uncover the deception.
"Alright... I accept defeat", Imitation Soul sighed. "You exposed me faster than anyone before. Now... can we negotiate after I'm released?"
"Depends", Fei Chai Shu tightened his grip.
"I won't resist. Objectively speaking, I know I can't beat you", it said casually. "But what if I escape?"
"Then I'd have left already. You'd never catch me", Imitation Soul turned to Feng Bu Jue. "You've seen my kin—you know our capabilities."
Feng Bu Jue's eyes flickered. "Ao Er Deng?"
"Exactly", Imitation Soul confirmed. "Though abilities differ slightly, I can perform Instant Teleportation too."
Feng Bu Jue exchanged a glance with Fei Chai Shu, who finally released his grip.
Imitation Soul rubbed its neck theatrically. "Now... let's discuss terms, otherworld travelers."
"Name your price", Feng Bu Jue cut straight to business.
"Just two demands", it grinned, scanning the players. "First—a treasure from your inventory..." A system prompt chimed: "Treasure refers to any fine-grade item or better, excluding scenario-acquired items. Must contain magical energy."
Its true motive: recover Imprint Hand. It needed an Otherworld artifact for the ritual.
"Secondly..." Imitation Soul's tone darkened. "I want a scary story. Make it bone-chilling."
Fei Chai Shu turned to his team. "Kill it now."
"Wait!" Imitation Soul yelped.
"Let it finish", Feng Bu Jue said. "Then we'll kill it."
As an Npc, Imitation Soul sweated under pressure but continued: "Fulfill my demands, and I'll reward you. Choose one of three offers: 1) Reveal Tian Ma Xing Kong's location and open the lower passage; 2) Teleport you directly to the shrine's altar chamber; or 3) Summon Tian Ma Xing Kong here." A sinister smile spread. "Or refuse. I vanish, and you're on your own..."
“Hmm… We should discuss this before deciding,” Hong Hu replied.
“By all means,” the Imitation Soul said, gesturing with an open palm toward the group.
Feng Bu Jue wasn’t worried about the opponent escaping. He waved his teammates over, and they followed him to a corner on the opposite side of the Stone Chamber, where they began murmuring amongst themselves.
“This feels like a trap somehow…” Ji Bu blurted out. “If it can really use Instant Teleportation, why bother negotiating with us instead of just vanishing?”
“No, I think it makes sense,” Feng Bu Jue countered. “I’ve seen one of its kin before. While their appearances differ slightly, there’s no doubt they’re the same species.” He explained, “The one I encountered could indeed use Instant Teleportation, even carrying others with it. Most importantly… that creature also loved ghost stories.”
Hong Hu added, “I don’t think it’s that complicated. Put simply, this is just another plot option. When Fei Chai Shu figured out this Npc’s disguise, the plot was triggered.” He paused briefly. “Overall, this deal isn’t too bad. Hand over a single fine-grade item and tell a zero-cost story, and we get one of those three rewards.”
“I’m also in favor of accepting the deal,” Fei Chai Shu said. “But the current question is… which reward should we choose?”
“The first one…” Ji Bu immediately replied. “Choosing the second option would mean abandoning Brother Horse, right? And the third option… while it lets us reunite with Brother Horse immediately, we’d just end up back at the situation we had a few minutes ago.”
“Wrong.”
Suddenly, Feng Bu Jue declared this with the poise of a man who had everything figured out.
“Huh?” Hong Hu blinked first. “How’s that wrong? Ji Bu’s analysis makes sense.”
“Does it?” Feng Bu Jue asked. “Then let me ask—what exactly will you do once you know Brother Horse’s whereabouts?”
“Obviously, we’ll go find him,” Ji Bu replied.
“Do you know the layout of this Shrine? Or have you even seen a map of it?”
“Uh…”
Feng Bu Jue’s two questions left the other speechless. He wasn’t done yet. “Even if you had a full map of the Shrine, how could you guarantee Brother Horse would stay put and wait for you?”
“Wait a second…” Ji Bu interjected. “How do you know Brother Horse is definitely inside the Shrine? Maybe he’s somewhere else…”
“Impossible,” Feng Bu Jue cut in. “If he were elsewhere, he’d have been erased already, wouldn’t he?”
“Er… no!” Ji Bu argued. “All five of us entered the Shrine together. When we passed through the movable gate, Brother Horse was neither first nor last. He never left our sight, so the Imitation Soul couldn’t have swapped him.”
“Because the swap happened before we entered,” Feng Bu Jue said calmly.
“Then how do you know he’s definitely in the Shrine now?” Ji Bu was baffled.
“Think carefully—you only have one chance for the swap to occur,” Feng Bu Jue explained. “It had to be when all four of you were turned into imprint shadows, and I hadn’t rejoined the group yet.” He glanced at the Imitation Soul on the other side of the Stone Chamber. “That’s when it and the Imprint Hand completed the switch.” Pausing, he continued, “The method was simple. The Imprint Hand first released Brother Horse from the shadows, then the Imitation Soul grabbed him and used teleportation to send him somewhere inside the Shrine. Afterward, it returned and used its shapeshifting ability to pose as an imprint shadow, lying on the ground…”
Feng Bu Jue let out a cold snort. “Hmph… Thinking back now, these guards are far smarter than I imagined. They anticipated the Imprint Hand might lose to me, even if the odds were low. They prepared a backup plan all along.”
Hong Hu then asked, “So… you’re saying we should pick the third option?”
“If there’s no surprise twist, the third option is likely a death choice…” Feng Bu Jue narrowed his eyes. “More accurately, a party wipe option. Choosing it would leave the five of us trapped and doomed in this Stone Chamber.”
“Then…” Fei Chai Shu asked, “you’re saying the second option is better?”
“Naturally,” Feng Bu Jue replied matter-of-factly. “Remember how things were when we completed the previous task?” Without waiting for his teammates to answer, he continued, “The moment players arrive at their destination, the erasure timer on them lifts instantly, and the task is marked as 【completed】. The next task only triggers after the previous main quest’s maximum time limit has fully expired, plus a cushion period.
“In other words, choosing the second option means we four will immediately complete the current main quest and no longer face the time limit. Even when the deadline hits, as long as none of us are near the altar, we won’t be erased because our task is already ‘completed’.
“Under this premise, we only need to leave one teammate at the altar to wait. The rest can freely search for Brother Horse.
“The worst-case scenario… if we still haven’t found him after two hours, and he hasn’t reached the altar on his own, we’d only lose one member. The remaining players can still return to the ground floor and continue clearing the game.”
Feng Bu Jue took a breath before resuming, “Comparatively, the first option makes no sense. Why not start searching from the end, ensuring our own safety, rather than hunting for a moving target in an unfamiliar environment?
“Also, don’t forget to consider Brother Horse’s perspective. He entered the Shrine earlier than us, but received the second task at the same time as we did. When he got the new task, checking the team interface would’ve shown him that the four of us had already arrived at the Shrine and hadn’t been erased.
“At that point, wherever he was, he’d immediately start heading downward. He knows it’s better to head directly to the end and reunite with us rather than wandering aimlessly in this maze-like place. Chances are… he’s already quite close to the altar.
“If we choose the third option… even if it doesn’t result in a party wipe, we’ll have betrayed him. Then, as Ji Bu said, we’d end up back in the awkward situation of five people trapped in a closed space.”
After Feng Bu Jue’s speech, his teammates felt like a light had been switched on in their minds. A brief discussion later, the four quickly reached a consensus.
They swiftly returned to the Imitation Soul’s side, surrounding it like thugs cornering a helpless woman for interrogation.
“We’ve decided… the second option,” Feng Bu Jue declared.
“Oh?” The Imitation Soul’s tone carried mock surprise before shifting to sarcasm. “So, abandoning your teammates now? A bunch of heartless bastards.”
“Here’s your treasure,” Feng Bu Jue ignored the jab, pulling out the 【Mario’s Pipe Wrench】 from his satchel and handing it over. “Take it.”
This pipe wrench, once Feng Bu Jue’s primary melee weapon, was finally leaving his hands. As his level and Capability advanced, the weapon had become increasingly obsolete.
When it came to martial arts, Feng Bu Jue could now unleash extreme techniques with his bare hands alone, not to mention his possession of the 【Must-Break Armor Blade】, a flawless-grade powerhouse weapon.
As for utility tools, the 【Wjq-308 Military Shovel】 already covered nearly every function, including those of a pipe wrench.
Moreover, after the latest update, the 【Mario’s Pipe Wrench】 had become a bonded Equipment. Selling it at the auction house was no longer an option.
Feng Bu Jue had long planned to retire this piece of Equipment. However, since this pipe wrench held sentimental value—it was the first fine-grade item he’d ever obtained through an extra reward—he’d hesitated.
But right now felt like the perfect moment. Rather than feeding it to the crusher, he’d use it here to contribute to the team.
“Hmph… Then I won’t be polite,” the Imitation Soul accepted the pipe wrench, casually stuffing it into its chest cavity for internal storage.
“So… listen carefully to my ghost story,” Feng Bu Jue said next.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
