Chapter 37

Eleven o’clock at night.

As the large clock on top of the hotel struck the hour, the number of players active on the streets gradually increased.

Zhao Ziming put down his chopsticks. The strange mood he had when facing Jiang Liu was gone, replaced by a solemn expression.

“I’m not in a hurry to enter the Points Arena, but a Team-up Pass isn’t that easy to get.” He looked at Jiang Liu, his words not meant to dissuade, but to explain the mechanics of the game hall to everyone.

Like most games they were familiar with, the Lost Way Game also had many reward systems, the most widespread of which were the passes.

There were only three ways to obtain a pass: the lottery station, the game hall, and as an extra reward from an instance.

The lottery station consumed luck and could easily lower one’s rating. Apart from desperate gamblers, basically no veteran players were willing to go there.

As for the game hall—

Zhao Ziming sighed, as if he had a great aversion to the place. “The props in the game hall are divided into two types: those distributed monthly by the system, and those voluntarily put up as stakes by players.”

“Is there a difference?” Jiang Liu frowned slightly, finding it strange.

“Of course there is. The ones from the system are non-tradable, so you’re less likely to be targeted after getting one. The ones from players are usually extra rewards from instances and can be stolen.”

Zhao Ziming’s expression was a little agitated. “The Team-up Pass you’re talking about should be called a Team Kit. It allows you to specify up to five people to enter an instance together. This is a rare item, and the system won’t distribute it.”

The one he had, which bound him to Jiang Liu, was just a team-up function, only ensuring that he and one other person would enter the same game.

As he finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

In other words, not only did they have to win the bet, but they also had to make it out of the game hall safely.

Zhang Xiaochen couldn’t help but shiver. “My god, isn’t this system just pushing people to their deaths?”

He could almost imagine the scene when they appeared in the game hall. A group of A-Rank Players would be a hot commodity, a symbol of top-tier luck. If they then won a rare prop, how many people would they have to fight through to get out?

Zhao Ziming nodded vigorously. “That’s why I’ve never been in. You all have to think this through carefully.”

The hotpot restaurant was already sparsely populated, and now only their table remained. The waiter sat bored at the front desk, dozing off. It was as quiet as a haunted house.

After he finished speaking, everyone had different expressions.

While the others were considering, Zhao Ziming quietly looked at Jiang Liu. Since there were too many people, he didn’t speak, but instead secretly took out his phone and sent her a message.

[If they don’t want to go, I can help you get a Team-up Pass. If we’re bound together, we can still match into an advanced field.]

Jiang Liu knew he was genuinely considering her best interests and couldn’t help but smile.

Times had changed. The little scheme at the lottery station was a thing of the past. From a comprehensive perspective, he was indeed a good teammate.

Just as the thought arose, Zhang Xiaochen slammed his hand on the table. The action was so forceful it nearly knocked over the cup next to him. He raised his hand with a do-or-die attitude.

“What’s there to be afraid of? I’ve known you all since I got here. We know each other’s backgrounds. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Let’s do it!”

As soon as he finished, Xu Meng also bravely raised her hand. Her tone was fearful, but her expression was very determined. “Me too.”

Last time, it was luck that they were matched together. It was hard to say what would happen next time. Rather than navigating among strangers on her own, she preferred to follow Jiang Liu.

After the two of them stated their positions, the four pairs of eyes all fell on the Cheng brothers.

The two of them visibly relaxed. Cheng Da smiled a little embarrassedly. “My brother and I don’t want to be separated. Since it can only be five people, we won’t take the risk.”

Especially Cheng Ji, who had already walked through the gates of hell in his first instance. It was understandable that he wanted to be more cautious. Besides, the number limit was indeed a problem. After some discussion, the matter was settled.

The two brothers stood up, their eyes filled with gratitude as they looked at Jiang Liu. “Thank you for last time, Sister Jiang. If we have a chance to meet again, we can catch up.”

Jiang Liu smiled and nodded, offering a sincere blessing as she watched them leave. “I wish you a safe journey.”

In this game system, there was probably no better wish than to live safely.

Cheng Da’s eyes reddened again, and he nodded vigorously. “You too.”

***

They had thought that the game hall, which Zhao Ziming had described as terrifying, would be like a haunted house—if not heart-stopping, then at least gloomy and scary.

But when they arrived, Jiang Liu and the others were stunned.

A huge neon sign flashed crazily above their heads. Colorful lights flickered rhythmically, accompanied by waves of music. It was just like a video game arcade.

The staff at the entrance sat at a computer, not even looking up as they pointed to a machine. “Swipe your card.”

Jiang Liu didn’t move, instead craning her neck to look inside curiously.

Not just the outside, but the interior layout was also no different from an arcade. It was divided into many areas, some with common game machines, and others with large multiplayer games.

Colorful arrows on the floor pointed in different directions, with the names of many games written on them.

Although Zhao Ziming had never been here, he had heard a lot from Gao Yuan. He rushed forward and skillfully knocked on the counter. “Is there a Team Kit available recently?”

The person at the front desk typed on the keyboard for a moment and said without emotion, “Someone has placed a bet in the Labyrinth Game, but the game is limited to five players. You don’t have enough people.”

Zhao Ziming scratched his head and turned to look at the others behind him. “Do you know anyone else?”

Zhang Xiaochen threw up his hands, and Xu Meng shook her head.

For a moment, he was in a difficult position. He had known some companions before, but it was purely a mission-based relationship. The stake required for a Team Kit was too large; no one would be willing to take the risk.

As he was struggling, he heard the front desk clerk remind him impatiently, “If you don’t have enough people, get out. There are others waiting.”

Zhao Ziming was about to say something to smooth things over when Jiang Liu suddenly spoke up. “The person is on their way.”

There was someone? He was surprised. He turned around and saw that Jiang Liu had taken out her phone at some point and was typing without looking up, as if contacting someone.

“Who is it? I hope it’s not a drag…”

Zhao Ziming curiously leaned over. Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the three large characters on Jiang Liu’s phone screen—Yang Caisi.

The words got stuck in his throat. He nearly choked on his own saliva, coughed twice, and paled in shock. “You haven’t forgotten?”

Jiang Liu turned off her phone screen and looked up to see his ghost-like expression. “Forgotten what?”

Two question marks popped up above Zhao Ziming’s head. He stared at Jiang Liu’s calm face and asked tentatively, “Today, when we were drinking with Brother Gao, you…”

“I went to get wine and ran into Yang Caisi on her way back. What’s wrong?” Jiang Liu asked suspiciously.

She had drunk a bit too much in the afternoon to get information, but she shouldn’t have done anything out of line. It was a bit awkward to run into Yang Caisi coming back, but she didn’t seem to have pursued the matter.

Zhao Ziming laughed awkwardly. “Oh, nothing.”

So she had forgotten after all. That scared him to death.

Seeing his attitude, the doubt in Jiang Liu’s heart grew stronger. She scrutinized him, her eyes narrowing like a fox’s. “What did I do?”

A cold sweat broke out on Zhao Ziming’s head, and he gritted his teeth and lied, “You just got drunk and wanted to fight with Sister Yang.”

Jiang Liu immediately rolled her eyes.

“Impossible. I’m a very well-behaved drunk. Didn’t I even go back to the hotel by myself?”

It was true that she would black out when she drank too much, but in the past, she had always managed to get home on her own, even remembering to change into her pajamas and leave a glass of warm water out. She never did anything unrelated.

It was because of this confidence that she dared to drink so freely.

Looking at her proud expression, Zhao Ziming rubbed his nose, feeling speechless.

Yes, yes, you’re a very well-behaved drunk. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have ended up kissing someone while just going to get some wine. And you went back to the hotel? Damn it, Sister Yang carried you back, okay???

Recalling Yang Caisi’s warning gaze, Zhao Ziming still felt a lingering fear. Of course, he didn’t dare to say what was on his mind, so he just laughed and scratched his head. “Maybe I remembered wrong. I drank a lot back then, anyway.”

It was just a small interlude, and Jiang Liu didn’t pay it any mind.

Her phone chimed, and a set of footsteps approached the entrance. Yang Caisi had arrived.

Perhaps because it was her break time, she had finally changed out of her shirt and trousers and was wearing a more youthful set of shorts and a t-shirt, revealing a pair of long, fair legs.

The ends of Yang Caisi’s hair were still damp, as if she had just washed up. Her medium-length hair was tied up in a small topknot, which swayed from side to side as she walked, making her seem like a completely different person.

Without her work clothes, the advantages of her face were fully displayed. She looked as vibrant as a recent graduate, and even her cold expression seemed somewhat cute.

“I’m here,” she said succinctly, raising her hand to place her System Ring near the machine. A line of text flashed across the computer screen.

Before Jiang Liu could see it clearly, the small text disappeared. The front desk clerk, who had been ignoring them, leaned out to take a look, her tone surprised. “Sister Yang is teaming up with them?”

Yang Caisi’s reply was still concise. “Just relaxing.”

The front desk clerk hesitated. There was no specific rule that NPCs couldn’t team up with players, and these recreational facilities were also open to NPCs. She was a little unsure, but looking at Yang Caisi’s unsmiling face, she didn’t dare to ask any more questions.

Forget it, it’s just a game.

As if afraid of angering Yang Caisi, she quickly entered the information, her tone much more polite when she spoke again.

“Please swipe your cards.”

Jiang Liu ignored the dumbfounded expressions of the others behind her and likewise placed her hand near the machine.

This time, Jiang Liu’s information clearly popped up on the screen, and at the same time, a broadcast announcement was made.

“Welcome, A-Rank Player Jiang Liu, to the game hall. We wish you a pleasant game.”

Jiang Liu’s wrist paused slightly. She finally understood what Zhao Ziming meant by danger.

Normally, you could hide it, but in a place like this, your rank was basically transparent!

Just as the thought arose, a series of announcements followed.

“Welcome, A-Rank Player Zhang Xiaochen, to the game hall. We wish you a pleasant game.”

“Welcome, A-Rank Player Xu Meng, to the game hall. We wish you a pleasant game.”

“…”

After the three announcements, the clamor in the game hall paused for a moment, and at the same time—

Jiang Liu keenly felt countless probing gazes fall upon them, filled with ill intent.

Yang Caisi seemed to be getting impatient. She took a step forward diagonally, neatly blocking Jiang Liu from view, and faced the stares head-on, her cold voice urging, “Aren’t you coming?”