Time flew by, and it was once again the moment to enter the game world.
This time, Chai Yingying teamed up with Gu Jiu’s group again, and the person she brought along was Jiang Ze.
In the previous “Ella Town” instance, Jiang Ze discovered he barely had any chance to perform. This was partly due to the unique nature of Ella Town, which limited the players’ opportunities to showcase their skills. More importantly, the young lady had planned everything so efficiently from the start that there was no room for anyone else to contribute. In a sense, it felt like they were being carried to victory.
When the team successfully cleared the instance, many players like Jiang Ze were left in a daze.
Apart from receiving the witch’s blessing, which slightly enhanced their abilities, they hadn’t had much of a chance to demonstrate their skills. There was hardly any danger involved—they just needed to follow Gu Jiu’s lead and cooperate.
Still, it was a valuable experience.
As Chai Yingying put it, teaming up with Gu Jiu was all about gaining experience. There was no need to worry about personal safety; they could place their trust in her completely. Once they became familiar with the B-level scenarios, they would be capable of handling things independently.
Gu Jiu also appreciated Jiang Ze’s efficiency. A simple instruction was all he needed to get things done, making him an easy teammate to work with when clearing instances.
When the young lady commented on how convenient he was, Jiang Ze’s expression turned slightly awkward.
Chai Yingying nudged him with her elbow. “You should be happy. There aren’t many men who can earn such praise from the young lady.”
Jiang Ze had no response to that.
—
After dinner, Gu Jiu and Lu Ji sat together on the sofa in the Moon Bay residence’s living room.
“Are you planning to enter the game world with me again?” Gu Jiu asked.
“Of course.” Lu Ji leaned against her. “Or do you not want me to join you?” His tone grew somber, as though he was upset and deeply hurt.
“That’s not it,” Gu Jiu replied. “I just feel like there’s no need for you to accompany me…”
“I want to be with you!” he interrupted. “Besides being with you, I need to collect the gray fragments in the game world. These fragments are the root cause of the abnormalities in those worlds, and they must be eliminated…”
Players entered the game world to address these abnormalities. Their role was to locate the abnormalities, weaken their strength as much as possible, and then let the main system remove them entirely.
However, this process often took time and carried the risk of unexpected complications. Lu Ji found it far more efficient to handle things himself.
When he intervened, he dealt with the abnormalities swiftly and forcefully, eradicating them and tossing them into the Sea of Rules for purification and reincarnation.
Gu Jiu wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, her eyes sparkling with delight. “So, my boyfriend is also the game world’s cleaner. That’s pretty cool.”
The term “cleaner” was a fitting description of Lu Ji’s work. Although he hadn’t explained his duties in detail, Gu Jiu had pieced together some of it and realized his actions were ultimately for the greater good.
She also discovered that her earlier assumptions about Lu Ji’s identity had been somewhat off.
He was a paradoxical figure—born under ominous circumstances, feared and monitored by demigods—yet he worked for the benefit of countless worlds. It was difficult to pin down the essence of who he truly was.
Lu Ji watched her closely, feeling a sense of relief.
His decision had been the right one. She clearly preferred him as he was now.
The truth was, his work stemmed from an inability to tolerate the gray, negative forces. They made it increasingly difficult for him to control his emotions, to the point where he might one day succumb to self-destruction and vanish from existence.
In the past, he didn’t care whether he lived or perished. What he couldn’t stand was being forced into destruction. Eventually, he couldn’t hold back and started taking action. But now, he felt that life was pretty good. Why should he bear so much negativity and allow it to lead to his own demise? He wanted to stay with Gu Jiu forever. There was no way he was going to die!
He won’t die, so let those who obstruct him perish instead.
The man harbored this dark thought, but his gaze toward her was filled with an unusual tenderness and shy affection.
As Gu Jiu slowly pieced together all of Lu Ji’s actions in the game world, she smiled and said, “Then I’ll work hard to walk ahead of you, uncovering the truths of these worlds, so you can take care of the bad things.”
Lu Ji responded happily with a soft “Mm,” his joy evident. “Ah Jiu, you’re the best.”
“Well, I can’t help it. I’m quite fond of you,” the young lady replied with a matter-of-fact tone.
Lu Ji pressed his lips together, his eyes brimming with joy.
At nine in the evening, the two entered the gray mist space on schedule.
—
[System Prompt]
[You are about to enter a B-level game scenario: Death Notice.]
[Objective: Avoid a death ending.]
[Item: Spirit Communication Card, available for purchase at 1,000 points each, unlimited quantity.]
—
Gu Jiu glanced at the Spirit Communication Card displayed in the game shop and realized its function resembled the Yin-Yang Eye. Curious, she asked, “No. 387, does the Spirit Communication Card let players see ghosts?”
[No. 387]: Not just see ghosts. Players will have to figure it out on their own.
Receiving this answer, Gu Jiu decided to buy a few cards just in case.
Knowing her boyfriend couldn’t purchase items in the game world, she figured she’d get them for him. Besides, he had handed over all his points to her—what better way to spend them?
No. 387 helped store the purchased Spirit Communication Cards in her inventory, but its tone was tinged with worry. [Miss Gu, this Death Notice scenario seems very dangerous. Please be careful.]
“Of course I’ll be careful. I still want to live a good, long life.”
Gu Jiu’s casual tone made No. 387 think she was brushing off its concern. Only she knew the truth—she had no intention of dying in the game world and leaving her boyfriend to revive her. Who knew what he might do if that happened?
Better to stay alive and well.
—
As soon as Gu Jiu entered the game world, she realized something was in her hand.
Looking down, she saw it was a touchscreen phone. Its white casing and black screen made it look like an ordinary device, even lacking a brand logo—it had the appearance of a generic, no-name product.
This phone didn’t belong to her; it must have been issued by the game.
She surveyed her surroundings and found herself in a desolate wilderness. The sky was dim, and faint mist drifted in the distance. Through the haze, vague human-like figures could be seen—fleeting and ghostly.
Other than herself, there were no players in sight.
Staying calm, Gu Jiu refrained from moving unnecessarily. She adeptly unlocked the phone’s screen and began to examine it.
The screen lit up instantly. Browsing through the apps, she found only basic software installed, and the phone didn’t even have a signal.
The game world wouldn’t give players a completely useless phone.
Just as she was pondering its purpose, a message popped up.
[Message]: Bride, please get on the sedan chair.
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow, considering the message carefully.
The fact that this message appeared directly on her phone suggested that the “bride” mentioned must refer to her.
As she was about to continue investigating, a faint melody drifted through the air. Startled, she snapped her head up, only to see a thick mist rolling in ahead. Within the fog, a shadowy group of figures seemed to be moving toward her.
The sound was ethereal and haunting, echoing through the desolate wilderness. It carried an eerie chill, akin to ghostly music.
Gu Jiu stood still, watching as the group emerged from the mist.
As they drew closer, she could finally make them out—a wedding procession. The participants were dressed in festive attire, beating gongs and drums, creating an appearance of vibrant celebration. But something was off. Apart from the ethereal melody, there were no other sounds. It was as if she were watching a silent play; the gongs and drums produced no noise at all.
What was even stranger was the procession itself—a parade of paper figures. These paper figures were crafted with uncanny realism, so much so that from a distance, they looked like living people.
Gu Jiu suddenly understood. No wonder there were no sounds from the drums or gongs—these were made of paper. How could paper produce sound?
The wedding procession stopped in front of her.
The music ceased, plunging the world into complete silence.
The paper figures all turned their heads toward Gu Jiu in unison. Their faces were painted with blush on their cheeks, their eyes and mouths curved into unsettling smiles. The eeriness of their expressions was amplified in the stillness.
The paper figures gestured for Gu Jiu to board the bridal sedan chair.
The chair, too, was made entirely of paper.
Naturally, Gu Jiu had no intention of getting into the chair. She began analyzing the clues provided by this strange game she seemed to be trapped in: the death notices, the hints about avoiding a fatal ending, the spiritual connection card, the phone in her hand, and the messages on it…
In an instant, she deduced that the environment she was currently in was not real.
She needed to return to the real world.
When she hesitated for too long without entering the sedan, two paper figures dressed as bridesmaids approached her. One on each side, they hoisted her into the sedan without effort, as if she weighed nothing.
Gu Jiu instinctively tried to tear the paper figures apart, but she quickly discovered that she was as powerless as an ordinary person. She couldn’t move them at all. They gripped her hands firmly and carried her like a chick being lifted, placing her inside the sedan.
Her brows furrowed deeply. Something felt terribly wrong.
The sedan began to sway as it moved forward.
Sitting inside, Gu Jiu found the sedan to be a completely enclosed space. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break it open. Despite its fragile paper-like appearance, it remained impervious to her attempts.
She had no choice but to calm herself and wait for an opportunity to act.
The haunting melody resumed.
The sedan swayed gently, accompanied by the music, lulling her into a drowsy haze. Sleep crept up on her, heavy and irresistible.
Her head drooped against the wall of the sedan with a dull thud, and she drifted off to sleep.
While she slept, the sedan came to a halt. The sealed doors opened, and the two bridesmaids leaned in. Seeing her fast asleep, they reached in and carried her out of the sedan.
Gu Jiu was taken to an ornate, grand mansion.
The mansion was lavishly decorated with festive red lanterns and banners. It was a bustling scene, filled with countless shadowy figures moving to and fro, preparing for what appeared to be a wedding.
Gu Jiu was dressed in an elaborate red wedding gown. A red veil was placed over her head, obscuring her vision. The two bridesmaids flanked her, supporting her as they led her to the wedding hall.
The world was bathed in red—red decorations, red lighting, and red shadows of people bustling about. Despite the lively scene, the entire world was eerily silent.
After completing the ceremonial bow, Gu Jiu was escorted back to the bridal chamber.
When the groom entered, Gu Jiu opened her eyes, her gaze sharp and clear—there was not a trace of confusion in her expression.
She sat there quietly until a slender, elegant hand lifted her bridal veil. Slowly, she raised her head and saw a man dressed in a strikingly vibrant red groom’s attire, styled after ancient traditions.
His face was pale, his eyebrows dark and sharp, and his somber demeanor did little to hide his strikingly noble and handsome features.
The groom smiled at her, a bashful, joyful expression lighting up his face.
Gu Jiu smiled back, but in the next instant, she slapped him hard across the face, sending his head jerking to the side.
Without hesitation, she lunged forward and began pummeling the groom mercilessly. As she beat him, she shouted, “Of all the people you could impersonate, why did you choose Ah Ji? Did you think I’d let my guard down and accept this wedding? Dream on!”
The groom cried out, “We’ve already completed the ceremony—you are my wife now!”
“Spit! Who’s your wife? Send me back right now, or I’ll beat you to death!”
“I won’t! We’re married now!” the man gritted his teeth, enduring her punches without retreating or yielding. He seemed determined not to let her go.
Gu Jiu continued to strike him.
The sound of their tussle reverberated throughout the bridal chamber. Shadows flickered outside, but whether they were people or ghosts, none dared to enter.
Finally, Gu Jiu took out the spiritual connection card. The card emitted a brilliant, dazzling light, and in an instant, everything around her vanished like morning dew under the sun.
Even the groom, who resembled “Ah Ji,” disappeared. Before he faded completely, he cast her a look of heartbreak mixed with disbelief.