At this moment, the screen above the main hall began to display the settlement for this mission.
Mission Name: The Man-Eating Hotel
Mission Difficulty: Four stars.
Mission Completion Rate: 100%.
Mission Grade Evaluation:
– Wang Tingting: Grade B, reward experience points 400, ranking 79, rose by 62.
– Qing Li: Grade F, reward experience point 1, ranking 90, dropped by 94.
“Damn, the master is definitely being targeted. I don’t believe for a second that the master’s ability is F-grade.”
“Where’s Wen Yi? I remember he was a top-ranked expert at 14. He actually failed this mission?”
“Expert my ass. With the master here, all so-called experts have to crawl on their knees.”
Qing Li hadn’t even fully woken up yet and had already gained a group of “Li stans.”
In their eyes, Qing Li had turned into an all-powerful savior, a messiah who could lead them to survive.
At this moment, Qing Li finally woke up slowly.
She yawned, her misty eyes gradually clearing from drowsiness. The little tuft of hair on her head drooped toward the back of her head, and her messy hair looked like a bird’s nest.
Yet not a single player present dared to look at her with any contempt.
Seeing her finally awake, everyone rushed over in excitement.
“Master, you’re finally awake! I want to buy talismans—I’ll buy as many as you have!”
“Screw you! I was here first, get the hell out of the way!”
“Master, I’ll buy first. I’ll give you all my popularity points, as long as I can get your protective talisman.”
Qing Li’s hair tuft stood upright. She blinked. Fortune-Bringing Children, so many Fortune-Bringing Children!
It seemed the talismans she had previously sold had played a role during the mission, so now these players were rushing to buy more.
“Everyone, no need to rush. Line up properly, take it slow. Everyone will get one.”
Qing Li tossed the blanket aside, revealing a solemn and dignified smile. She beamed as she looked over the group of Fortune-Bringing Children before her!
The moment she finished speaking, the players surrounding her immediately formed a long line, even more orderly than a military formation.
“Master, I want ten,” the first player said excitedly.
In the previous mission, their four-person squad had fallen into a desperate situation against a vengeful ghost. If it hadn’t been for a female teammate who, out of desperation, used the protective talisman she’d bought from Qing Li, they likely would’ve been wiped out.
When they saw the vengeful ghost instantly burn to a crisp the moment it touched the talisman paper, the group finally understood — that slightly crazy little priestess was actually a true Daoist master.
She might even be their savior in the future.
Qing Li said, “Ten talismans, 1,000,000 popularity points.”
The man didn’t hesitate and directly transferred the popularity points to Qing Li.
The second player had a sinister-looking face. When he saw Qing Li, he gave a strange smile. “Little Master Qing Li, I want a protective talisman.”
Qing Li raised an eyebrow and directly refused. “Sorry, I’m not doing business with you.”
The smile on the man’s face froze. In a hoarse and cold voice, he said, “I’m willing to pay double the popularity points.”
“Sorry, I already said—I’m—not—doing—business—with—you.” Qing Li’s expression was cold, with none of the friendly smile she had shown to the other players.
“Fuck, what the hell? Me wanting to buy your talisman is giving you face. Don’t be so shameless.”
The man flew into a rage, cursing as he reached out to grab Qing Li’s collar.
Boom—
Before he could even touch Qing Li, he was kicked flying.
His body slammed into a pillar in the hall, and he instantly spat out blood.
“Anyone who dares show disrespect to our master deserves to die.”
A burly man with a face full of twisted scars stepped forward. His muscles bulged, he stood around two meters tall, and his bald head gave off a strong sense of intimidation.
Player ranked number 11 — Wei Zhengrong.
His appearance startled everyone.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that not a single hair grew on his head — this was a real troublemaker. If he didn’t like someone, beating them to death was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Master Qing Li, Miss Bai would like to invite you over. Would you do her the honor?” Wei Zhengrong laughed loudly, but his tone left no room for refusal.
Qing Li’s lips curled in interest. This wasn’t a friendly invitation — clearly, those who come with kindness do not come, and those who come are not kind.
Looks like, whether she wanted to or not, she’d have to go.
Qing Li followed behind Wei Zhengrong and took the elevator to the top floor.
At the top floor, in a luxuriously decorated vintage European-style living room, sat a woman whose looks were not particularly outstanding, but still managed to catch the eye. She lounged lazily on a soft sofa.
When she saw Qing Li, she smiled slightly. “Miss Qing, hello. I’m very glad you could come.”
Her gentle voice carried a soothing magic that seemed to calm the heart, making people unconsciously develop an inexplicable fondness for her.
This was a bad woman who hid a dagger behind her smile.
That was the first conclusion Qing Li came to from reading her face.
“You’re glad a little too early,” Qing Li responded with a polite barb.
The smile on Bai Jinse’s face almost faltered.
Looks like this little girl wasn’t so easy to handle!
“Miss Qing is truly interesting—you’re making me more and more curious.”
Bai Jinse curled her lips and gave Wei Zhengrong a look. Wei Zhengrong, understanding the signal, tactfully withdrew.
At this moment, the large room was left with only Qing Li and Bai Jinse.
“Miss Qing is a smart person, so I won’t beat around the bush. I admire your abilities. Your appearance has given many despairing players hope to live on again. One could even say you’ve become a savior in the hearts of some.”
Bai Jinse walked over to the bay window. She drew open the curtains, revealing thick white fog outside that blocked all view.
She placed her hand on the transparent glass, as if she were touching the free world beyond.
Her eyes filled with longing as she said, “I hope Miss Qing can truly become everyone’s savior, to lead us out of this hell. I’m willing to use all my strength to assist you, to help you become our deity.”
Qing Li: “……”
She understood now—so this woman in front of her wanted to rope her into being a white lotus saint, spreading love and salvation to all.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t that noble.
“Miss Bai, your surname is Bai—any chance it’s the same ‘Bai’ as in white lotus flower1In modern slang, especially in web novels, dramas, and internet culture, “white lotus (白莲花)” refers to a fake goody-goody or hypocrite.?” Qing Li tilted her head and asked sincerely.
Bai Jinse could hear the sarcasm laced in her words, but kept a gentle smile. “Miss Qing, do consider it. I sincerely want to support you. Perhaps you think I’m being a saint, but I simply want everyone to survive.”
“Miss Bai, you are truly noble. I’m honestly ashamed by comparison. To tell you the truth, I’d love to agree, but your ideas don’t align with the rules of our Daoist temple. I can’t violate the teachings of our founder—if I did, I’d be betraying my ancestors and masters.” Qing Li spread her hands helplessly.
Bai Jinse, seeing that neither sweet talk nor righteousness worked, frowned and asked, “May I ask what the rules of your temple are…?”
Qing Li squinted her eyes and smiled. “Our temple’s rule is simple: take people’s money to dispel their disasters. Got money, pay up. No money—get lost.”
“So… I wonder if Miss Bai is capable of paying on behalf of 100 players?”
A tiny crack appeared in the hypocritical mask on Bai Jinse’s face…
This conversation, naturally, was completely out of sync from the very start.
After Qing Li left, a trace of cold intent flashed in Bai Jinse’s eyes.
If something beyond her control couldn’t be used by her—then it must disappear.