Chapter 177: Unknown Energy

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Unknown Energy

She was met with silence.

"Why aren’t you protecting Jiang Yu?" she continued to ask. "Why are you here watching the show instead?"

Wen Yuchu still didn’t make a sound.

"Chuyi?"

Wen Yuchu looked over and gasped for air. "Could it be that I’m *not* him?!"

Shi Zhile’s eyes flashed. "I’d say that’s impossible. The ’Chu’ in both your names is too much of a coincidence."

"There’s also a ’Yu’ in the names."

Shi Zhile was speechless.

Before his denial, she truly hadn’t considered he might be Jiang Yuxing. But thinking back on his expression, like he was just watching a good show from start to finish, it all made sense.

He was afraid of being implicated if she died. Yet, he was also afraid she couldn’t clear the instance unless she killed someone. That must be why he’d entered the instance using someone else’s identity—to watch the spectacle unfold.

After figuring it out, Shi Zhile felt an even stronger urge to go mad.

She gathered all the surrounding bones together and, under a certain someone’s incredulous, disbelieving gaze, began to assemble them.

Soon, a complete hand skeleton was pieced together.

Watching Shi Zhile continue to dig for bones, Wen Yuchu...

Oh, no!

It was Jiang Yuxing who narrowed his eyes.

He tentatively reached out, wanting to touch the bones, but the thought of the curse’s power made him pull his half-extended hand back.

His current body truly belonged to a game player. If he died, he would be completely kicked out of this instance.

If Shi Zhile went mad and killed herself, he would die, and the game would collapse.

He couldn’t risk it!

Besides, after last night, he was already cursed. If the curse worsened, this body wouldn’t be far from death.

What he found most unexpected was that, even as the instance’s creator, he couldn’t use the game’s energy to erase the curse brought by the black fog.

Now, this instance had completely escaped the game’s control. It was violating the established rules and was being governed by another, unknown energy.

More and more bones were being dug up, some large, some small. Perhaps because they had just been unearthed, the bones emanated a dense, sinister aura that continuously assailed Jiang Yuxing.

A long, slender leg bone came flying at his face. As Jiang Yuxing dodged to the side, his palm pressed down on one of the bones in the sand.

The moment he made contact, a black fog shot toward his forehead. He twisted aside to evade it, but the fog, as if it had gained sentience, turned back and drilled violently into his temple.

His surroundings went pitch black. The clamor of slaughter roared in his ears—screams of agony mixed with laughter, filling his entire mind.

Soon, the laughter turned into pleas for mercy. The cacophony gradually faded, replaced by one stern rebuke after another.

"Get out!"

"You little bastard, stealing another’s nest!"

"What the hell is this thing? It’s even glowing on its head. That’s a new one."

"Old pals, stop sleeping. Time to get up and stretch our legs."

"Sigh... These young’uns are nothing but trouble! It’s tough on us old bones."

The words had barely faded when he felt as if he’d been punched hard. A kick to the stomach followed, then another to his ass.

A dense flurry of fists and feet rained down on him. The pain grew stronger as his consciousness grew weaker, and in the next moment, he lost it completely.

Shi Zhile was still focused on digging her pit. The deeper she dug, the more bones she found.

There were skulls and ribs. Some bones were broken in two, others bore slash marks.

She piled them together and covered the heap with her jacket.

Just then, a hand tapped her shoulder. Shi Zhile froze, then violently grabbed the hand and, with a heave, executed a shoulder throw.

She dusted off her hands and stood up, only to find the person she had thrown standing perfectly straight, a look of both disgust and gratification in his eyes.

The face was still Wen Yuchu’s, but her intuition told her the driver inside the body had been switched out.

"You’re strong, but your form is sloppy.

Grabbing the wrist makes it easy for them to break free. You should use your forearm to pin their arm at the wrist. Use your other hand to press down on their shoulder. Then, turn quickly, pulling their arm down as you dip your head, and use the power from your legs to throw them."

"Tsk, what’s the use of teaching her that? Teach her how to hold a knife, how to cut someone down, how to kill in a single strike.

Little girl, a dagger is most effective with a reverse grip. Slitting a throat does the most damage, and it’s easy and saves energy."

"Go on, go on. Little girls are meant to be doted on. All this fighting and killing is too violent. Girlie, Grandpa will teach you how to fire a cannon. You can blow those little bastards to bits without getting a drop of blood on you."

"Your cannon needs a whole crew to operate. Learn to shoot a gun with me. It’s easier..."

Shi Zhile was speechless.

She stared blankly at "Wen Yuchu," watching his mouth open and close nonstop, a different voice speaking each time.

"Um..."

"So, who do you want to learn from?"

The cacophony of voices spoke in unison, their gaze falling directly on Shi Zhile.

At a single glance, Shi Zhile was instantly covered in goosebumps.

What kind of eyes were those?

World-weary!

Resolute!

Sharp!

Unfathomable!

Yet they also revealed an inexpressible loneliness and kindness.

Shi Zhile took a deep breath and, braving the immense pressure, took a step forward. "We’ll learn it all.

My sister and the others are at sea. When they get back, each of us can learn one thing.

There are other people from Huaxia. We aren’t the only ones in this instance. As soon as this space is unlocked, I can bring them all here."

The eyes lit up. "Really?"

Shi Zhile replied, "Really! Seniors, you gave your all for Huaxia, shedding blood and sweat. This junior would never lie to you."

"This junior’s abilities are limited. The more I learn, the more I feel I’m not up to the task. I also want you seniors to teach us more."

"Clever girl, to have guessed our identities."

"This girlie’s got a quick mind. She didn’t just guess it now. Back by the stone statues, her little eyes were darting all over the place, obviously sizing people up. She figured it out back at the altar."

"You’ve got some nerve to talk. Who was it that was sent running by a little girl?"

"It was me, it was me! So what? Such a cute little doll, so quiet and gentle and frail. Didn’t want her to get scared by all that."

Shi Zhile felt a bit awkward. It was as if she’d gone back to her childhood, being taken for a walk by her grandfather. A group of old men would have praised her just like this, calling her smart and cute with every other word, until it became embarrassing.

She looked out toward the sea. After a moment, the outline of a large ship finally appeared.

"Seniors, they’re here."

All eyes turned to watch as the large ship slowly approached the shore.

Shi Zhiyi ignored the intense gaze from the shore and waved from the deck. "Lele, over here! I’m making you fish soup today!"

Shi Zhile called back in acknowledgment, then shouted, "Base Chiefs, hurry over! Everyone, come here! There’s something very important I need to tell you all."

The ship docked. Wen Bai and Jiang Jing were the first to disembark, followed by Shi Zhiyi, Base Chief Wei Zhan, and the others.

Bringing up the rear, Base Chief Ye had a wary expression on his face, but Shi Zhile had no time for them.

Once everyone had gathered, Shi Zhile looked to the upright figure of the "senior" beside her.

"Seniors, will he be listening in? Are we safe right now?"

"He," of course, referred to Jiang Yuxing.

"Don’t worry. It’s safe!"

Relieved, Shi Zhile slowly began to recount what had happened.