A rustling sound came from inside the door, and soon it was opened from within.
A boy, estimated to be seventeen or eighteen, stood at the threshold, peeking out timidly. He had fair skin and clear eyes, which now held a look of fear that evoked immense pity.
The three were taken aback, but only Zhu Niao showed initial confusion, followed by a smile.
She wondered why the items she brought were all absorbed upon entering this world. It turned out they had found their owner.
This person before them, though not the one she was looking for, was a wisp of spiritual consciousness separated from the person she sought. At first glance, he appeared human but lacked a soul, his body merely an illusion.
Although everyone here was an illusion, including herself, this person was different from them. His separation was more intricate.
To draw an analogy, if the real world was Tier One, their game world was Tier Two, then within this game, there existed a further separated Tier Three world.
They had all come from Tier One to Tier Two, while the boy before them had come from Tier Three to Tier Two. As for where his original body resided, that would require a thorough search.
Thinking this, Zhu Niao asked casually, "What's your name?"
The boy's voice was tender, "My name is Song Yan."
Zhu Niao subtly observed him, pondering if this was his real name or a deception.
"Why didn't you come to us?"
The boy trembled, answering fearfully, "I was scared. It was so dark outside."
Everyone was speechless.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, shall we first discuss how to get through these seven days?"
The group entered Room 444. Like other guest rooms, it was decorated in an antique style. Their group seemed out of place.
Song Yan spoke first, "Can we just hide here and survive these seven days?"
He appeared extremely frightened, yet Zhu Niao felt no fear from him. On the contrary, he seemed to anticipate the arrival of terrifying things.
He was such a peculiar personality.
Utterly fascinating.
"The game won't be that simple. We need to take the initiative, otherwise, we'll lose control," Ding Xiang said grimly and then asked, "By the way, Song Yan, what's your level?"
Song Yan shyly revealed his screen.
[Overall Rating: E]
Ding Xiang and Miss Xihongshi were instantly disheartened.
How could they possibly endure with two liabilities in the team?
Ding Xiang introduced everyone else's levels and then lowered her head dejectedly.
Song Yan immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm dragging you all down."
Zhu Niao looked up at him, smiling, "It's okay. I'm a D-level. We can look after each other."
Song Yan's expression stiffened. After a moment, he glared at her with his dewy eyes.
Zhu Niao suddenly felt a dryness in her throat.
This little thing was truly alluring.
Ding Xiang looked at Nan Jiangzi and asked, "Big shot, what should we do now?"
Nan Jiangzi looked at the instrument in his hand and then raised his head. "The game rule is to survive here for seven days peacefully. We don't know any other rules, so let's stay put for now. If anything happens, we'll adapt accordingly."
He was an S-level player, and the others naturally had no objections.
The five of them couldn't split up, so they tidied up Room 444, setting up a large communal bed, planning to sleep together.
However, the following time was quite boring.
Miss Xihongshi produced a deck of cards from somewhere and suggested they play cards to pass the time.
Nan Jiangzi was busy fiddling with his screen and paper, clearly occupied. Zhu Niao watched the person opposite her with such lively enthusiasm and chose not to join their game of "Dou Dizhu," opting to observe from the side.
The three of them started with great excitement, but as they played, the atmosphere began to feel off.
Miss Xihongshi seemed to lose almost constantly, while Ding Xiang mostly won. Song Yan had a mix of wins and losses, unremarkable.
"Damn it, I lost again!"
She accused Ding Xiang, "Are you cheating?"
Ding Xiang looked somewhat innocent.
He never usually won so consistently, so how was it that in the game, he kept winning?
"I lost again. Let's play another round!"
"One more round! I'll definitely win next time!"
"I'll deal this time."
"..."
Ding Xiang no longer wanted to play, but Miss Xihongshi was relentless, insisting on winning. She wanted to win one game and then the next, unwilling to let go.
Ding Xiang could only reluctantly oblige.
Song Yan also lost more often, but instead of getting angry, he started to smile as he played.
The others were busy, but only Zhu Niao saw the mischievous smile on his face. He also noticed Zhu Niao watching him and glared at her again, annoyed.
His soft, moist eyes fixed on her, lacking any intimidation, and instead carried a seductive allure, making Zhu Niao's resolve weaken.
This little scamp!
How could he be so good at seducing people?