Chapter 94: Beware of Luo Jiuyin

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Beware of Luo Jiuyin

Shi Zhile contacted Jiang Yuxing. [What is your instance mission?]

Jiang Yuxing sent a screenshot.

The screenshot showed: [Instance Mission: You are the ghost. You do not count as a player. Kill all players on the island.]

Shi Zhile instantly felt at ease.

’I guessed right. On this island, everyone has a different mission and a different role.’

The monster mentioned in the rules had never once appeared before their eyes.

’The reason the ghost mixed in with the players doesn’t count toward the player total is that he’s the instance’s designated cleaner.’

’Wang Gang and Xiao Yi’s group of four conspired to kill Hu Yaqin. This proves that players can kill other players. Perhaps their mission, like the cleaner’s, is to kill all the other players on the island.’

’Back when Guo Funing’s group of four stayed behind on the beach, was Song Chaoyun, who died at the very beginning, really killed by the monster?’

’Obviously not!’

’Of the four people on the beach, three are now dead. It’s obvious that the sole survivor, Li Haohao, is the "monster" of this instance.’

’Li Haohao moved out of Wang Gang’s cabin tonight. His next target is most likely Wang Gang.’

’Wang Gang gave the raft to Xiao Yi, so Xiao Yi will be Wang Gang’s target.’

’As for Luo Jiuyin, her target has always been me.’

’What would Lan Lan’s mission be, given that she’s semi-invisible?’

’To kill me?’

’That’s a real possibility!’

’Based on this, it’s reasonable to suspect that only one person will make it out of this instance alive.’

’If that’s the case, I’ve had enough of watching this dog-eat-dog show. It’s time for me to make a move!’

The knocking came as expected. Shi Zhile moved a huge rock to block the wooden door, then used wood to build a new, smaller cabin in the middle of her own—one just big enough for a single person.

The sound of her hammering wood gradually drowned out the sound of someone trying to break down the door. After an unknown amount of time, the noise outside disappeared.

The rest of the night was surprisingly peaceful. When Shi Zhile opened her door, braced for the impact of a falling corpse, she wasn’t the least bit surprised to find no bodies.

She opened the group chat. The number of people hadn’t changed. It seemed everyone had survived the night.

At 6:01 AM, Shi Zhile left her cabin and came face-to-face with Li Haohao, who had his hand raised, about to knock on her door.

Seeing Li Haohao looking at the small house inside her cabin, she blocked his view. "Can I help you?"

Li Haohao averted his gaze and leaned against the doorframe, affecting a relaxed, casual air. "I was wondering if you have another raft. I can trade you wood for it."

Of course, Shi Zhile had a raft. She had guessed someone would come asking for one and had built another overnight.

She didn’t say whether she had one or not, instead steering the conversation toward Xiao Yi.

"Xiao Yi has the raft. Anyway, only one player can go out to sea each day. He went out yesterday, so isn’t it only fair that you ask him for it today?"

Li Haohao snorted. "Xiao Yi made an excuse, said the raft is broken. I know he only caught one fish yesterday. There’s no way he’d be willing to hand over the raft."

"But if there’s a new raft, then his raft will *have* to be broken, of course."

He was telling Shi Zhile that him having a raft wouldn’t conflict with Xiao Yi having one, because he would make sure Xiao Yi’s raft was destroyed.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Shi Zhile’s face. "What if he goes out to sea today and runs into you?"

"He won’t. I’ll follow him to the beach. The moment he takes out his raft, I’ll smash it to pieces."

"I want to go to sea, but I wouldn’t go so far as to kill another player for the spot. Don’t forget, if a player kills another player, the dead player will turn into a monster and seek revenge."

Shi Zhile slowly relented. "I can give you the raft, but I’m only lending it for today. You must return it to me tonight. Also, I want three bottles of water in exchange."

"No way!" Li Haohao said adamantly.

"Then the deal’s off. I’ll go out to sea myself."

Li Haohao paused, then seemed to compromise reluctantly. "I really don’t have three bottles of water. How about two? I’m only trying to snatch the sea spot from Xiao Yi because I’m completely out of supplies. Otherwise, I wouldn’t go to such lengths."

Shi Zhile thought for a moment. "Deal."

Li Haohao took out two bottles of water. After taking them, Shi Zhile pulled a raft from her backpack.

She placed the raft at the doorway. Li Haohao inspected it to make sure it wasn’t damaged before putting it in his backpack and heading toward the beach.

After Li Haohao’s figure disappeared, Xiao Yi came into view.

Luo Jiuyin opened her door, but before she could speak, Shi Zhile knocked on Lan Lan’s door.

Lan Lan yawned, looking extremely tired. "Sister Zhile, do we really have to go out this early?"

Shi Zhile nodded. "The early bird gets the worm. The sooner we finish searching for chests, the sooner we can rest."

Lan Lan: "Are we going to the forest again? Sister Zhile, do you have a raft? I want to go out to sea."

"The raft is gone."

Lan Lan’s shoulders slumped. "Oh, okay."

Luo Jiuyin walked over. "I’ve already explored the surrounding area. I’ll go to the forest with you."

Shi Zhile didn’t refuse. The three of them set off for the forest, walking side by side.

When they reached the edge of the woods, Shi Zhile looked at the other two. "The forest is too big. Searching together is a waste of time. Let’s split up. Also, let’s stay in contact. Today is the fifth day, so there’s no guarantee we won’t run into other dangers."

They both nodded in unison.

Lan Lan went south and Luo Jiuyin went north. Shi Zhile headed due west, then secretly changed her route to find Lan Lan.

’I need to get those two to fight each other! How am I supposed to play this game if they’re both focused on me?’

Without Shi Zhile’s axe, Lan Lan could only miserably collect dry firewood and wooden boxes.

Lan Lan was intentionally trying to "run into" Shi Zhile, so she was also walking a diagonal path.

About half an hour later, the two finally "ran into" each other.

Lan Lan jumped up and down excitedly, holding a wooden chest she had just found. "Sister Zhile? Are you also looking for the chests that respawned today? I beat you to it, I found one first!"

Shi Zhile nodded. "It’s a good thing you were the lucky one."

"Huh?"

Lan Lan was confused.

Shi Zhile paused, then said softly, "Be careful of Luo Jiuyin."

"What’s wrong with Sister Jiu Yin?"

Shi Zhile: "She... might be the ghost, not a player."

Lan Lan’s expression turned serious for a moment, then she looked completely incredulous. "That’s impossible, right? Sister Jiu Yin has been living next door to me this whole time. If she were the ghost, I think I would have noticed something."

Shi Zhile just looked at her without explaining. Lan Lan’s expression froze.

"When... when did she become the ghost?"

Shi Zhile: "Maybe she always was."

"On the day we entered the instance, she was always in favor of staying on the beach at night. When everyone was divided, she still stuck to her answer."

"But when Guo Funing and his group of four decided to stay on the beach, she suddenly changed her mind."

"But... that doesn’t prove Sister Jiu Yin is the ghost."

Shi Zhile gave her a heavy look. "The night Li Ran was killed, he was on a video call with me. Right before his door was broken down, he smashed his way out of his own cabin and ran into Luo Jiuyin’s. It was already past eight o’clock by then, but Luo Jiuyin wasn’t inside."

"You don’t have to believe me, but it’s best not to be alone with her. And don’t expose her or question her identity to her face."

"Once the ghost’s identity is revealed, it might be the start of a massacre."