Chapter 562: Chu Mo Island (Twenty-Eight)
Chapter 562: Chu Mo Island (Twenty-Eight)
As the figure approached, the three finally got a clear look—it was Brother Horse.
Tian Ma Xing Kong was now covered in dust, his appearance ragged. In his hand he held a silver torch, its tip burning with eerie green flame.
"Eh?" Brother Horse quickly recognized his teammates. "It's really you lot. I figured it was you when I saw the flashlight's glow."
"Are you alright?" Fei Chai Shu asked.
"I've seen better days", Tian Ma Xing Kong replied. "I ran into some monsters and traps along the way, but my vitality loss wasn't too bad."
After a brief exchange, the four turned toward the Priest Hall.
As they walked, Fei Chai Shu and the others summarized their encounter with Feng Bu Jue, while Tian Ma Xing Kong shared his own story. Confirming Feng Bu Jue's speculation, he revealed he'd been teleported away during the same period when the four were trapped. Naturally, he knew nothing about the body switch, remaining puzzled about how he'd suddenly ended up inside the Shrine.
Before they realized it, they'd returned to the Priest Hall. Stepping through the archway, they spotted Feng Bu Jue and the Imitation Soul beside the basin-shaped altar.
Tens of minutes had passed, yet the two were still deep in conversation, clearly enjoying their chat.
"Oh, you're back quick", Feng Bu Jue noticed his teammates and ended his discussion with the Imitation Soul. "See? I told you choosing the second path was the right call. The task's done easily enough now."
"Hm... Now that you're all here..." The Imitation Soul glanced at the players, "I should probably take my leave."
"Aren't you going to chat longer?" Feng Bu Jue asked.
"Hmph... Don't take me for a fool, Mad Bu Jue", the Imitation Soul replied. "I know exactly what you're plotting. I'm just humoring you to put your mind at ease."
"Hehe... Well then..." Feng Bu Jue chuckled. "In that case, please allow me to not see you off."
"I'd prefer you didn't..." As the Imitation Soul spoke, it suddenly paused, as if recalling something. "Since you seem like a reasonable fellow, let me give you a free tip... If you encounter the 'Heart of Fear,' flee immediately. You humans stand no chance against it."
Before its last word faded, the Imitation Soul had already vanished.
"What was that about?" Ji Bu frowned. "Trying to scare us with nonsense? That Heart of Fear should be its ally, right? Why warn us?"
"Who knows?" Fei Chai Shu shrugged. "Perhaps the four guardians aren't as united as we imagined."
"Precisely", Feng Bu Jue turned to his team. "Imitation Soul getting along with Imprint Hand doesn't mean all guardians are friends. Besides, their job isn't to kill us. Giving advice makes perfect sense."
"That doesn't add up", Ji Bu countered. "Back in the Rock-Paper-Scissors Domain, if Imprint Hand had successfully stamped us all to the ground, we'd have died when the time limit hit."
"They can't interfere with system effects", Feng Bu Jue explained. "Erasure mechanics are player-specific. They have nothing to do with Chu Mo Island's rules." He spread his hands. "Think about it—if killing us was their goal, we'd be dead already."
"Hm... True enough", Hong Hu adjusted his glasses. "Take Imitation Soul for example. If it wanted us dead, it could've teleported us straight into the ghostswamp's depths. It wouldn't drown like we would."
"Don't remind me..." Ji Bu shivered. "Now that you mention it, I feel chilled..."
"By the way", Hong Hu turned to Feng Bu Jue, "what did it mean by 'I know your schemes'?"
"Oh... That", Feng Bu Jue grinned. "You think I chatted with it for fun?"
"Because you two share anti-human ideals?" Hong Hu quipped.
"To prevent another impersonation", Fei Chai Shu interjected.
"Snap!" Feng Bu Jue flicked his fingers, pointing at Fei Chai Shu. "Exactly."
Though praised, Fei Chai Shu kept his usual tone. "If we'd let Imitation Soul leave immediately after reaching the altar, it might have teleported away and impersonated Tian Ma Xing Kong again."
"I see", Hong Hu's gaze returned to Feng Bu Jue. "So you stalled it with conversation."
"Spot on", Feng Bu Jue shrugged. "Though I'll admit—Imitation Soul's intelligence is impressive. When it said 'I'm just humoring you,' it showed it'd already seen through my plan." He scratched his head. "This high-level Npc with complete wisdom and personality must be unique data. Probably on par with those troublesome foes I've met before."
"Tch, whatever", Tian Ma Xing Kong interjected. "We have a serious problem to solve first!"
"What problem?" The four turned in unison.
"I'm starving." Brother Horse's blunt reply carried undeniable authority.
The others staggered, nearly tripping over nothing.
"Now that you mention it..." Feng Bu Jue mused. "It's been nearly four hours since we entered. Even if the system considers us full when we started, we'd feel hunger by now."
Some truths hit harder when spoken. Ignoring it might work, but mentioning it made it glaring.
"Ah... Suddenly I feel weak-kneed and ravenous", Ji Bu groaned, plopping cross-legged to the floor.
"Our stamina drain was significant", Fei Chai Shu instinctively rubbed his stomach. "From Leech Forest to Taunting Forest, through ghostswamp, finally reaching the Shrine... The distance alone would take days to walk in real life."
"There's something else", Hong Hu added. "My stamina drains faster here than normal scenarios. Must be this scenario's special setting."
"Hunger, thirst, fatigue..." Feng Bu Jue licked his lips. "Real threats are finally emerging..." He sat cross-legged, looking up at Tian Ma Xing Kong. "Brother Horse, your main quest was completed when you entered, right?"
"Yep."
"Good..." Feng Bu Jue murmured. "I speculate the next main quest appears in two possible windows—either ten minutes after all players finish the previous task, or ten minutes after the previous task's three-hour timer ends." He exhaled. "Let's hope it's the latter. At least we'd have two extra hours to regroup."
"Won't be that simple", Fei Chai Shu warned. "In Team Nightmare Mode, always expect the worst-case scenario."
"True enough", Feng Bu Jue shrugged. "That's why I said 'hope'..."
"Food and water matter most", Tian Ma Xing Kong stressed. "Sitting hungry achieves nothing."
"Spoken like a hero", Feng Bu Jue grinned, turning to his team. "Anybody packed snacks?"
"Ha! None!" Tian Ma Xing Kong boomed. A hero's honesty indeed.
"Fine..." Feng Bu Jue sighed, scanning his teammates. "Who brought food or water?"
(End of Chapter)
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