Everyone walked together toward the barefoot doctor’s house at the east end of the village.
Noticing that Gu Jiu was following along, Fatty couldn’t help but glance at her curiously. He thought she wouldn’t come, especially since she had confidently claimed yesterday that she was “weak.”
Gu Jiu smiled and said, “I was the one who suggested Mr. Wang go see a doctor, so it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t go.”
Lin Dandan and Wang Peiping almost couldn’t hold back their laughter when they heard this.
Although Wu Yang said they could ask the barefoot doctor about the condition of Lost Soul Syndrome, in their eyes, Gu Jiu was just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse; who knew what her true intentions were?
There were three neighboring houses at the east end of the village.
“This is Granny Wang’s house,” Wu Yang pointed to a house by the river. He had come here yesterday to investigate, “The house to the left of Granny Wang’s should be the barefoot doctor’s.”
The group arrived in front of the barefoot doctor’s house. Through the fence, they could see some herbs drying in the courtyard.
“Is the doctor home?” Wu Yang called out.
With a creak, an elderly man opened the door and walked out.
He was wearing an old-style coat, his hair was gray, his face full of wrinkles, and his back was hunched. His eyes, dark and gloomy, gave people an inexplicable sense of discomfort.
“What do you need?” the old man asked.
Wu Yang replied, “My friend is injured. The village chief asked us to come to you for some medicine.”
He didn’t ask the barefoot doctor to treat the injury but instead requested medicine, which made Wang Peiping secretly relieved. Seeing the barefoot doctor’s appearance, he wouldn’t dare let him treat anyone—who knew if this person was human or a ghost.
The barefoot doctor opened the gate, letting them in.
As the group passed through the courtyard, their eyes swept over the herbs drying there. Suddenly, they noticed a peculiar herb—white and pale, with roots shaped like bones.
Seeing the strange appearance of the herb, they guessed that this must be the “Bone Ghost Herb” Lu Ji had mentioned.
“Doctor, what is this herb? It looks so strange,” Fatty asked proactively.
The barefoot doctor cast him a gloomy glance and replied impatiently, “It’s Bone Ghost Herb. That’s just how it looks. What’s so strange about it?”
It was indeed Bone Ghost Herb.
Sensing that the old man had a bad temper, everyone felt it wise to stay silent, but they had come to inquire about the Lost Soul Syndrome, so they had to muster the courage to engage him in conversation.
Wu Yang asked, “Doctor, we heard that Bone Ghost Herb is used to treat Lost Soul Syndrome. Does this village often have cases of Lost Soul Syndrome?”
“Why do you ask about this?” the barefoot doctor’s tone was unfriendly.
Relying on his chubby frame and thick skin, Fatty grinned and said, “We’re just curious.”
The barefoot doctor’s eyes swept over them with a gloomy gaze, and everyone he looked at felt uncomfortable. Just when they thought he might get angry, he suddenly smiled eerily.
“Indeed, many children suffer from Lost Soul Syndrome. Children’s souls are light and are easily lured by mountain spirits. And you outsiders, mountain spirits especially like young and lively souls!”
For a moment, everyone present stared quietly at him, not daring to even breathe.
Fatty tried to shuffle his chubby body behind his companion, showing a slightly fearful expression: Why was the old man staring at him while speaking? Was it because he was chubby, young, and energetic?
The thin guy’s skinny frame couldn’t shield his brother’s chubby body. He calmly looked at the barefoot doctor, frowning slightly.
The barefoot doctor went inside and fetched a packet of medicine for them, seeming unwilling to deal with them any longer. Impatiently, he shooed them out, telling them not to bother him if they had nothing important.
The temper of that old man was really something.
Everyone muttered to themselves and quickened their pace as they passed through the courtyard, seeing the drying Bone Ghost Herb.
Only after leaving the barefoot doctor’s house did Wu Yang and the others breathe a sigh of relief.
The tense and eerie feeling from earlier was truly uncomfortable.
Wang Peiping was also quite shaken. Even though he had experienced two rounds of games, he still had a natural fear of ghosts and monsters. Whenever he saw NPCs in the game world that resembled ghosts, he couldn’t help but feel afraid.
Seeing the medicine packet in Wu Yang’s hand, he shivered and said, “Brother Wu, do I really have to use this medicine?”
Wu Yang, deep in thought, paused for a moment when he heard this and said, “It’s up to you. If you think you can bear the pain, then don’t use it.”
Although he believed that when players got injured in the game world, if an NPC voluntarily offered treatment, it was unlikely that they would tamper with it.
Of course, Wang Peiping didn’t want to use it. He would rather endure the pain than use medicine that might have come from a ghost.
Lin Dandan asked urgently, “Brother Wu, what do you think of what the doctor said earlier?”
Wu Yang replied, “It seems that the ones suffering from Lost Soul Syndrome are the village children. According to the doctor, children are more prone to losing their souls. But, were their souls really taken by mountain spirits?”
What was the connection between the mountain spirits and the village curse?
Wu Yang felt that if they could figure out the relationship between the two, they might be able to find a way to escape the cursed village.
After discussing this, Wu Yang was about to suggest that everyone split up to gather more information when he saw Gu Jiu walking toward Granny Wang’s house.
Something stirred in his heart, and he chose to follow.
Lin Dandan and Wang Peiping, who usually followed Wu Yang’s lead, were willing to act with him. Seeing him move, they quickly followed. Fatty, curious about what Gu Jiu was up to, pulled his brother along to join them.
Lu Ji walked at the back with a calm expression.
Arriving at Granny Wang’s house, Gu Jiu stood in front of the gate and called out.
With the creaking sound of the door opening, a middle-aged woman came out of the house.
The houses in Qingshan Village were all wooden structures, old and worn. The opening of the doors was always accompanied by a harsh creaking noise.
Granny Wang wasn’t that old. She was small and frail, her hair neatly combed. Although her clothes were old, they were washed cleanly, and she looked very friendly, much more like a normal person compared to the barefoot doctor.
Lin Dandan observed Granny Wang, finding it hard to believe that such a normal-looking person would make dolls.
“Miss, what can I do for you?” Granny Wang asked Gu Jiu kindly.
Gu Jiu smiled back warmly, “Granny Wang, I love dolls, and I’ve heard that you make many beautiful ones. May I see your dolls?”
Her appearance was soft and gentle, like a well-behaved girl who listened to her elders—exactly the kind that elders favored.
Granny Wang was delighted to show off her dolls and happily invited them inside.
Wu Yang and the others followed mechanically, surprised that they were really going to see Granny Wang’s dolls. When Wu Yang had come to investigate yesterday, although he had heard about Granny Wang’s skill in making dolls, he didn’t attempt to enter her home to see them.
What was Gu Jiu planning to do?
Even Fatty and his brother felt a bit confused, thinking this newcomer was indeed quite bold.
Granny Wang, being a widow, had a small house with only one floor, consisting of two rooms and a dining hall.
The room with the dolls was on the left side of the main hall. As the door opened, a rush of stale air, sealed in for a long time, filled the space, making it a little difficult to breathe.
Gu Jiu frowned slightly but maintained her composure as she followed Granny Wang inside.
The others pinched their noses, taking a while to adjust to the stifling air.
The room was dimly lit, but they could still make out its layout. The entire room was filled with dolls—on the bed, the cabinets, the table, and even by the window.
An entire room dedicated to dolls.
To the unknowing, it might seem like a dollhouse.
As they entered, all the dolls in the room seemed to turn their heads in unison, staring at them, sending chills down their spines.
The dolls were about the same size as the one Gu Jiu had brought back. They had round faces, big eyes, small noses, and tiny mouths, all wearing cheerful smiles. However, their eyes had a lifelike sheen, making them appear increasingly eerie the longer one stared at them.
The dolls were either sitting or standing, all facing the door. In the dim light, their eyes seemed to glow.
Gu Jiu looked around and exclaimed in admiration, “Granny Wang, your dolls are so beautiful.”
Granny Wang loved hearing others praise her dolls. A look of pride appeared on her face as she said, “They’re all my masterpieces, just like my children. I love these little darlings very much.”
Gu Jiu wandered around the room, acting as if she truly adored the dolls.
After looking around, she took a doll out of her coat pocket and asked, “Granny Wang, I received this doll yesterday. Is it one of yours?”
Seeing that she had carried the eerie doll with her, everyone present felt a wave of discomfort.
This newcomer really had some guts.
Granny Wang glanced at the doll in her hand and shook her head. “No, that’s not one of mine. All my dolls have a mark.”
Huh?
Hearing Granny Wang’s words, everyone was taken aback.
Gu Jiu also looked puzzled. “Granny Wang, what mark are you talking about?”
Granny Wang replied with a mysterious expression, “I can’t say. If I say it, they’ll be unhappy.”
At that moment, the previously kind and seemingly normal Granny Wang suddenly seemed off.
Lin Dandan and Wang Peiping held their breath, thinking that, as expected, none of the NPCs in the game world were truly normal. Even if they appeared normal, who knew if they were ghosts blending in with humans?
Gu Jiu didn’t press further. After looking at the dolls, she bid Granny Wang farewell.
Granny Wang seemed quite fond of her and, while seeing them out, repeatedly said, “Miss, come and visit whenever you’re free. My darlings all like you.”
What did she mean by “my darlings all like you”? Surely, she was referring to the dolls.
Lin Dandan, Wang Peiping, and Fatty all felt a shiver run down their spines. Being liked by ghosts was no good omen. However, looking at Gu Jiu, they couldn’t tell if it was ignorance or courage—she nodded obediently and said she would visit again when she had time.
Was this newcomer even aware of who was inviting her?
Did she really think this was still the real world and that Granny Wang was just a doll enthusiast?
Once they were finally away from Granny Wang’s house, Lin Dandan looked at Gu Jiu with a strange expression. “You’ve got quite the guts.”
Gu Jiu glanced at her curiously and said, “Isn’t it said that, under normal circumstances, NPCs don’t attack players?”
Lin Dandan was momentarily at a loss for words. It was true—when players searched for information, as long as they didn’t trigger a death mechanism, NPCs generally wouldn’t suddenly transform into ghosts and attack.
The game world was indeed dangerous, but as long as one knew how to avoid the threats, it was usually safe.
Although it was Gu Jiu’s first time entering a game task, she had asked Fatty a lot about his experiences in the game world yesterday and had summarized a pattern: even the NPCs and ghosts in the game world must follow certain rules.
The rules not only bind the players but also the ghosts within the game. The interaction between players and NPCs is essentially a battle of rules.
This is something that can only be discovered after experiencing several rounds of the game.
Wu Yang glanced at her in surprise, not expecting the newcomer to be so perceptive. If she managed to survive, she might go farther than anyone present in the future.
Fatty asked curiously, “Granny Wang said that the doll wasn’t made by her, so where did it come from?”
This was indeed a puzzling question.
Everyone looked at Gu Jiu’s coat pocket; earlier, she had put the doll back in her pocket.
Although Granny Wang appeared friendly, the room full of dolls gave the players a clear message that this NPC was suspicious and likely held key information that needed attention. Furthermore, since the doll in Gu Jiu’s possession wasn’t made by her, it raised even more questions.
Granny Wang was the only one in the village known for making dolls. If she didn’t make it, then who did?
Wu Yang thought for a moment and said, “Miss Gu, why don’t you ask the children who gave you the doll yesterday? Maybe you can learn something from them.”
Gu Jiu nodded, deciding to inquire further.