Luo Xiao found herself unexpectedly added to an assassination blacklist. Despite trying to stay composed, she couldn't help but feel a trace of anger.
She refused to admit it, but there was a sense of fear growing in her mind towards the newbie. Ever since Exiu's death, everything gradually went out of her control.
Fear made Luo Xiao lose her composure for a moment. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to adjust her mindset.
The atmosphere became icy cold.
The three of them walked towards the underground art studio.
On the way, Peng Lu wanted to talk about the hospital. Normally, players wouldn't venture too far from the main map, even if they had other roles. Peng Lu thought it was strange, but whenever he tried to speak, Wen Shi interrupted him completely.
The underground floor had twice as many candles as the blood pool. The ceiling was low, the damp and gloomy smell filling their nostrils. The walls on both sides were thick, and at the end of the narrow passage was a semi-circular arch covered with a lot of mold.
There was no lock.
Wen Shi raised an eyebrow. It was like putting up a sign at the entrance saying, "Welcome, come steal."
The castle master truly upheld the principle of keeping doors open day and night in every corner.
Dirty cans of paint were casually placed next to the easel. The wind blowing through the wall seams made the paper squeak. Peng Lu checked and confirmed that they were just regular paints.
Wen Shi walked to the mentioned paint cabinet by the butler. The cabinet was bigger than expected, about two meters tall, and still unlocked. Inside, there were faint squeaking sounds. As Wen Shi sidestepped and opened the cabinet door, a shadow darted out. Being prepared, he managed to avoid it easily.
A palm-sized little mouse fell heavily on the ground, with half of its fur rotten and emitting a stench. There were a few more mice inside the cabinet. They had no trace of healthy flesh on them, their mouths stained with crimson paint.
The mice's bodies were completely frozen. Wen Shi deduced that it was due to Yin energy entering their bodies. He had once drunk wine mixed with the paint and experienced the same condition.
The mice must have been very hungry. They directly nibbled on the pure paint.
Suddenly, Wen Shi thought of two words: "entrapment operation."
The castle master was powerful, but also constrained in many ways. If he wanted to kill someone, he couldn't do it casually.
The identity of a "thief" was enough for him to handle the situation.
The blood bride should know the consequences of stealing paint. She must have been unable to resist the temptation of those paints. However, she was clever enough to take only a small amount, not to the extent that the castle master would take direct action, which was why she tasked the butler.
After confirming that the blood bride would come here to steal paint, they naturally needed to set up in advance.
Peng Lu asked Luo Xiao to fetch a clean bowl of water to make talisman water, which would be mixed into the paint. Whenever the blood bride used the paint, her strength would be weakened.
Luo Xiao quickly returned with the water. Peng Lu had completed the initial preparations, and everything was ready. He needed to complete a massive demon-subduing array. Luo Xiao followed closely behind him, carefully sprinkling herbal powder along the patterns of the array. After the powder was absorbed, the array patterns shimmered for a moment and then sank into the ground.
The veteran players' methods left others amazed.
Wen Shi silently observed from the side.
"During the same task, the game will settle based on individual contributions." Drawing the array consumed a lot of energy, and coupled with the injuries from Bushy Beard, Peng Lu's face was as pale as paper. Then, he lit the talisman paper, mixed the burning ashes with water, and further blended it with the paint.
The implication was that even if Wen Shi received the task again, it wouldn't be of much use.
This was Peng Lu's last concession. If Wen Shi could explain the ins and outs of the assassination blacklist clearly, he would be willing to delegate some of the work to him.
Wen Shi leaned against the wall and raised an eyebrow, "What if I refuse and focus on causing trouble?"
"Go ahead," Peng Lu encouraged, seemingly not worried at all.
Wen Shi looked at him intently for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, turned around, and left the art studio. Since the clean water wasn't enough, Luo Xiao also came out with him. Now that they had torn their faces apart, no one bothered with each other.
Both parties headed to the kitchen as their destination. Wen Shi patiently asked the chef if there was any help needed, but Luo Xiao, who was observing secretly, lost interest, knowing this was an attempt to acquire information about death rules related to food.
After Luo Xiao left, Wen Shi couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.
He was happy, really happy.
Wen Shi could faintly smell the unusual fragrance on himself, almost imperceptible to players and regular NPCs, but judging from the castle master and Bushy Beard's avoidance, NPCs seemed more sensitive to this scent. The blood bride was likely no exception.
If he lurked near the art studio, he would undoubtedly be discovered.
"There's more than one blood bride."
No matter how powerful Luo Xiao and the others were, they couldn't deal with all of them.
As it turned into a multi-person task, the difficulty increased. Otherwise, the task information wouldn't suggest cooperation as the best solution, which undoubtedly involved luring away most of the blood brides.
The male player seemed skilled at dealing damage and drawing arrays, so he was suitable to stay behind. Luo Xiao excelled at calculations and wouldn't be willing to take risks in luring enemies. Most importantly, both sides were injured by Bushy Beard.
In this situation, they would undoubtedly think about the "eastern diversion of disaster," like making themselves take on the "heavy burden."
"Keep it up," Wen Shi silently cheered them on, "You must succeed in luring them away."
As long as he could make the blood bride come to him willingly, things would become much simpler.
While Wen Shi was busy in the kitchen, a small white mouse, Little White, was moving silently.
If Wen Shi were present, he would surely recognize this lifelike white mouse. Luo Xiao had used it in the study to find the book "Beauty and the Beast."
Little White, like a small detective, smoothly climbed into Wen Shi's room through the window, carefully searching every corner. Finally, it found a strand of hair near the bed.
With the hair curled up in its tail, Little White swiftly scurried back to report.
Luo Xiao was still underground, helping to hide the array. Little White climbed onto her shoulder, showing off its success.
Luo Xiao took out a small cloth doll. All she had to do was stuff the hair into the doll's mouth at night.
Her skill was [Fabric Crafting] and with the necessary materials, there was a chance to successfully create an [Aggro Doll]. As the name suggests, it was a prop that could attract the aggression value of monsters. The [Aggro Doll] only worked in specific scenarios, such as when both sides accidentally attracted the attention of monsters simultaneously without violating the rules, or when they accepted the same task, and the other party would become the priority target of the monster's attacks.
Peng Lu said indifferently, "This shouldn't be your highest level of Fabric Crafting."
Luo Xiao's skill had been exposed a long time ago, and it wasn't a secret among players.
Luo Xiao: "It's enough for now."
Peng Lu shook his head. "You forgot one thing. Tonight, the castle master will reassign the person to search for the real bride."
Holding the doll, Luo Xiao's hand stiffened. Assuming Pei Wenwei could survive the pursuit and escape unscathed, the person assigned to him would most likely be in deep trouble.
She had a hate attractor doll that indiscriminately drew aggro, and there were no restrictions on its usage. However, it was a lifesaving talisman.
Luo Xiao frowned. "Firstly, a newbie couldn't possibly escape the blood bride's pursuit. Secondly, after completing the special task, there will be feedback from the main task, and finding the real bride shouldn't be difficult. This one-in-a-million chance isn't worth wasting two [Aggro Dolls]."
Peng Lu: "It's up to you then."
Anyway, his luck was one level higher than the other person's. Even if the castle master wanted to assign someone, the probability of it being Peng Lu was much lower than Luo Xiao's turn.
After struggling for a moment, Luo Xiao said hesitantly, "But let's assume the castle master might assign Pei Wenwei tonight."
Peng Lu: "Did a donkey kick your head?"
"..."
"Pei Wenwei has the identity of a doctor. You don't need any special means. The castle master is unlikely to choose him until the very end."
This was the best protective color for newbies in the endgame.
If he had a choice, Peng Lu wouldn't want to get involved with Luo Xiao at all. This person was quite clever, like intercepting tasks, but lacked strong judgment in critical matters.
Luo Xiao gritted her teeth, suppressing any lingering hope, and finally took out the advanced [Aggro Doll].
...
The castle master always attended breakfast and dinner, making these occasions a dangerous situation that players could not avoid throughout the day.
Especially during dinner.
Tonight, there was another battle to fight, but the delicious food on the long table didn't tempt anyone. Luo Xiao's gaze occasionally glanced towards the door, wondering why Wen Shi hadn't come yet.
Peng Lu also frowned.
This newbie wouldn't be foolish enough to skip dinner.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.
What was that sound?
Turning her head, she discovered a face pressed against the windowpane. Even the most handsome face couldn't withstand the dim moonlight with such close proximity to the window.
"The door, it's locked." The window wasn't open, but the clear voice managed to come in faintly.
Not long ago, Wen Shi had gone out to hide something and when he returned, he found that he couldn't get back inside.
"Doctor Aaron."
Damn!
The butler's voice suddenly appeared from behind, startling Wen Shi, who almost threw a punch.
The lawn had a small dining table set up, with a few dishes on it. The butler spoke, "The master said, for tonight…"
The last two words were too soft that Wen Shi couldn't hear clearly. "What?"
The butler raised his voice, "A picnic tonight!"
"?"
As the butler spoke, the curtains in the dining room were drawn, covering the only window.
Wen Shi had intended to make the Earl experience the process of being sown with seeds, seeking revenge for the past heartache. However, it seemed the Earl had no intention of sitting at the same table.
After giving instructions, the butler left. He wasn't feeling well today and wanted to go back and rest early.
"Can you let me in, please?" Wen Shi knocked on the window, unwilling to give up.
No one paid attention to him.
Wen Shi glanced at the distant dining table, where there was no one around except for the night breeze.
"Is there no one to supervise me while I eat?"
There could be death rules hidden in the food.
"Not even one person?"
The voice drifted in the air, moonlight shining on his shoulder, and indeed, there was no one around.
Wen Shi resignedly walked to the lawn and finally sat at the lonely small table.
Inside and outside the dining room, happiness and sorrow did not connect.
Luo Xiao and Peng Lu were still carefully selecting edible food. Luo Xiao couldn't concentrate at all. The castle master made it clear that he disliked Pei Wenwei but didn't assign him to choose the real bride. Instead, he was sent outside as if he were some disgusting virus.
She didn't know that even if the castle master disliked Wen Shi, he couldn't possibly assign him.
After all, who would let their chosen bride get close to a "walking pollinator"?
"Stranger, I'll entrust you to find the most perfect bride from now on." The castle master calmly spoke, like a snake spewing venom, every word carried a poisonous intent.
He designated Luo Xiao.
"Also, please sit further away."
The castle master pointed to the end of the long table.
These two individuals had interacted with Doctor Aaron during the day and, in his eyes, they were already suspicious.
Luo Xiao and Peng Lu were totally puzzled, but with no other choice, they could only sit down.
Luo Xiao was restless the entire time.
Once certain things slipped out of control, everything on the board could change.
Peng Lu had to steady her and whispered, "Things have come to this point. The evening task is crucial. If we're lucky, we might get the clue together and bring about the funeral."
Luo Xiao took a deep breath. That was right, if the plan went smoothly, they could still delay for another day, and tonight's clue was extremely important.
After dinner, the castle's doors opened again.
Wen Shi didn't rush out. He guarded the lonely table, playing with the utensils on it.
After a moment, he softly murmured, "This works too."
Originally, Wen Shi had planned for an alternative tactic if Luo Xiao and the others didn't lead the blood bride to him. Now, with things as they were, the person designated to search for the bride would go to any lengths to bring about the funeral in the castle.
They sat there until midnight directly.
As the night breeze grew colder, Wen Shi took out what he had hidden in the bushes, continuing his preparations.
Not far from the underground entrance inside the castle.
Peng Lu and Luo Xiao were already squatting here in advance.
Except for players who had no choice but to do the task, no one wanted to come out at this time. At night, everything in the castle seemed to come alive, and the granular texture on the wallpaper appeared like pores breathing of some creature.
After waiting for about twenty minutes, a sharp scream suddenly came from underground.
...
The scream was accompanied by eerie noises, gradually fading away. Peng Lu made a gesture, indicating that they could go down.
The narrow passage felt even colder and more humid at night. Occasionally, a drop of condensed water would fall from the low wall above, with one drop landing on Peng Lu's neck, causing him to shiver.
The door to the art studio was slightly open. Through the gap, Peng Lu looked inside with the help of candlelight from the corridor.
The formation had taken effect.
A withered hand rested on the cabinet door of the pigments. Half of the blood bride's body was trapped in the demon-sealing formation. Her neck was infinitely elongated, trying to escape from the formation.
Sensing the presence of living beings, the blood bride struggled to turn her neck. Peng Lu and her eyes directly met, revealing her terrifying face. Her lips were tainted with red pigment, and the symbol water had corroded half of her lips, leaving pockmarked scars.
Peng Lu took out his weapon, a black flag with incomprehensible ancient text on it, used for summoning the undead. He was about to wave the flag when a gust of wind blew in, extinguishing the candles one by one in the corridor.
Luo Xiao rushed over to protect the last candle nearby.
However, the strange wind was relentless. Luo Xiao's clothes billowed. She could only watch helplessly as the last flicker of fire was snuffed out by her own body.
The entire underground area was plunged into darkness.
In the darkness, the room felt crowded.
The thick scent of blood filled their nostrils.
Luo Xiao strongly felt that something had appeared around them, watching them, and there was not just one.
Eerie giggles echoed in the art studio. She instinctively took a few steps back, but there were laughter sounds behind her, and they were getting closer. The sound seemed to come from at least two different directions.
Both of them knew that this meant the remaining blood brides had arrived.
Luo Xiao took out the advanced version of the[Aggro Doll]which was already prepared, and stuffed it with half of Wen Shi's hair.
The temperature in the art studio immediately rose, and the suffocating feeling began to subside. Luo Xiao sensed that the airflow was passing by her side without stopping, confirming that the prop had successfully taken effect. All those evil gazes in the darkness were now gathered elsewhere, filled with such malice that it couldn't be ignored.
The [Aggro Doll] had ignited the blood brides' fury to the extreme.
They drifted out of the main gate silently, searching for the source of that aura.
The distance between the two parties wasn't too far. Wen Shi was sitting at a distant small table, gazing at the moon with a sigh.
As soon as he saw the blood brides, his eyes lit up.
There were two blood brides in total, a number not too difficult to handle.
The butler was attentive, and the picnic was well arranged. To compensate for the impoliteness of locking guests outside to eat, a red carpet was laid from the main gate to the lawn. The tableware used was top-notch, a unique form of compensation.
The bodies of the two blood brides were stitched together, their limbs not very coordinated. They didn't rush to float over. Instead, they stood quietly at the end of the red carpet, their movements perfectly synchronized.
Bloodlines entwined around their fingers like gecko's toe pads, firmly securing both ends of the red carpet.
In the faint moonlight, the blood brides simultaneously raised their slender arms and pulled with force. The bloodlines instantly tugged the carpet backward, causing the table to fall. Wen Shi stumbled and fell onto the red carpet, looking disheveled.
The bloodlines quickly reeled in the red carpet.
When they were about seven or eight meters away from Wen Shi, their movements abruptly stopped. The blood brides' perception was nowhere near that of the Earl and Bushy Beard, and only at this distance did they finally sense something amiss.
Wen Shi acted like a docile lamb and solemnly said, "Don't stop, please continue."
A fragrance.
Floral scent.
They smelled it for the first time, a scent that only entered their noses for a few moments but left a profound impact. The weakest part of the monster pieced together in the painting was its head, and all of these substances infiltrated deep into their brains.
The blood brides ran off.
Speed was not their advantage. It took them a few seconds to remember they could float.
"Wait for me!" Wen Shi picked up a string of objects prepared on the carpet and pursued them relentlessly from behind.
The blood brides retreated desperately in the direction against the wind, as if fleeing for their lives. A certain unspeakable fear suppressed the resentment brought by the [Aggro Doll].
While running, Wen Shi's hand-held objects collided, producing a jingling sound, somewhat like bells.
"This feeling is like chasing zombies."
Am I really that awesome?
Unfortunately, he lost his phone when he came in, otherwise, he would have taken a photo and shared it on social media.
"Don't run, turn around and look at me." With the night breeze gently blowing, Wen Shi sang in excitement, "I'm chasing you~ The gentle wind blows~"
He recalled the night not long ago when he was chased by a blood bride, screaming in fear. Now, fate took a turn, and the tides changed in his favor!
The intense emotions intensified the fragrance of the flowers, and the pollen coalesced deep within the brain, forming new seeds.
The addition of a new nucleus in the brain causes a tidal wave of dizziness.
The blood brides couldn't float anymore, unsure of where they might float to.
Before losing further control, the blood brides forcefully expelled the object. The pigment turned into bloodwater, ripening the mutated pomegranate flower seeds. In the next few seconds, the withered petal trembled, and a half-open flower appeared between their lips.
The emaciated bride, her blood-stained white veil, spat out flower buds under the moonlight, exhibiting an eerie and mournful beauty.
Seizing the opportunity while they were vulnerable, Wen Shi closed the distance between them.
Another wisp of floral fragrance wafted with the night breeze.
Shortly after, another flower bud was spat out from the blood bride's mouth.
A game of cat and mouse, as she tried to escape, but he pursued relentlessly, and flower buds kept coming out.
Finally, Wen Shi circled in front of them, crouched down, holding his face, and said, "Look at my little flower!"
There were no flowers on the ground, only a young man crazily pretending to be a flower, more outrageous than the monsters.
Wen Shi had polished the silver plates to a shine and wore them on both hands and around his neck, as well as eight more as makeshift abs. From a distance, he looked like a giant silver armor.
A grown man covered in tableware was indeed a comical sight.
However, humor can be quite effective in certain situations.
The reflective tableware caused the movements of the two blood brides to falter.
Without any warning, a burning sensation struck their eyes. The blood brides convulsed in pain, causing the bloodlines to wildly scatter and attack in all directions. The dried-up bloodlines broke apart one after another, and the blood brides, like sculptures, were frozen in place, desperately trying to turn their heads but failing as their eyes stubbornly stayed in their sockets.
The injured blood brides' white veils turned black.
Just like the black-veiled woman Wen Shi encountered on the first night.
During the skill task, his ankle had been pierced by a bloodline, and the subsequent female pursuer only used brute force. Before that, there was only one incident when Wen Shi tried to use a silver spoon to see what was behind him. Considering all the second-floor rooms designated for players had dressing tables but no mirrors, everything gradually became clear.
It was probably the moment when he picked up the silver spoon that the reflected image harmed the blood bride lurking behind him.
The blood brides' behavior further solidified Wen Shi's idea.
They liked hunching their bodies, keeping their heads down while walking, never making eye contact with others. This was a self-protective measure to avoid revealing their true selves in others' eyes.
[Blood Bride Codex Update
Breed: Blood Bride
Description: They are very dangerous, with somewhat sluggish movements. They always believe they are the most beautiful beings in the world, and their blood is their best weapon.
By the way, don't let them see their true appearance. It will cause them to break down].
Indeed, they were breaking down.
In such dim lighting, a mere reflection already has such a deadly effect, let alone now.
Wen Shi suddenly recalled that the castle master had no shadow but could eat normally. Could this be the difference between high-level monsters and ordinary NPCs?
The blood brides covered their eyes, their actions of spitting out flower buds becoming faster and finally making strange 'aba aba' sounds.
Just when Wen Shi thought everything was about to settle, one of the blood brides suddenly changed her target. The bloodline penetrated her companion's body, greedily absorbing the blood.
Wen Shi's eyes widened, "That's cheating."
How could you fight when someone was carrying a blood bag around?
There were multiple instances of cheating.
The blood bride gathered some of her blood, forming a blood barrier around herself, blocking the air. This method also caused significant harm to herself, but the enraged blood bride no longer cared about that.
Wen Shi: "!"
He immediately turned around, and in an instant, their positions switched from offense to defense.
"Don't come any closer!"
As fortunes turned, each turn led them closer to death. Wen Shi ran while shouting frantically, "You'll regret coming closer, really!"
The moon was momentarily obscured by floating clouds. Coincidentally, the only source of light in the castle, a small bright spot, went out as if there was a power outage.
What a dog game.
How could such a coincidence happen in the world, where two things just happened to come together?
Despite cursing, Wen Shi's running footsteps never stopped.
He rushed out of the castle, but the silver plates on his body were hindering his speed. Wen Shi kept one plate and threw the rest behind.
Wen Shi: "Do you still remember your companion? If there's an afterlife, she wouldn't want to be my enemy. I'm serious, you still have a chance to turn back."
The blood bride pursued even more ferociously.
Wen Shi's gaze turned fierce as he charged towards the narrow path.
The blood bride's attack power had been weakened by more than half. Though her bloodlines seemed softer compared to before, the monster's strength, albeit diminished, was still a monster. She favored targeting his ankles and the back of his head. Wen Shi occasionally looked back, and just as the bloodline was about to pierce the back of his head, he rolled on the ground, protecting his head. The bloodline aimed at his head struck his arm and ankle instead, causing fresh blood to flow.
"Your health is decreasing."
"Your health has decreased by more than 10 percent."
"Don't need to remind me, I know." Wen Shi gritted his teeth, persevering as he rolled to the vicinity of a streetlight.
Reaching back, he firmly grabbed the two bloodlines and pulled them forward with force. Near the streetlight, there was a large puddle reflecting a distorted and hideous image. The blood bride's eye sockets were surrounded by bruises in an instant.
During the daytime, when Wen Shi passed by in a carriage, he had specifically looked to confirm that the puddle he saw on the first day was still there.
The castle lost power, but the streetlight remained lit. Wen Shi wasn't surprised at all. This streetlight was like a perfect tipping point.
The blood bride's eye sockets continued to bleed.
Wen Shi could sense the fiery rage accumulating beneath her frail body. He didn't provoke her at this crucial moment. Holding his breath, he waited for the blood bride to weaken further.
The barrier formed by congealed blood was withdrawn and returned inside the blood bride's body, partially restoring her vision.
Wen Shi: "Are you polite?"
Wasn't a second round of blood supply too much?
The blood bride no longer cared about creating seeds. The double damage had deprived her of the ability to control the bloodlines. Her bony fingers reached out toward Wen Shi and in the next second, they appeared rapidly behind him.
Her slender arms wrapped around his vulnerable neck, avoiding eye contact entirely. The blood bride gradually exerted pressure, resembling the process of a python strangling its prey.
Wen Shi noticed that these NPCs enjoyed tormenting their prey, savoring the thrill of killing them bit by bit.
He admired this aspect.
The night was long, and too many dreams could lead to unexpected changes—this was a lesson that monsters could never learn.
Wen Shi quite liked his current position.
The blood bride would avoid eye contact, so she would prefer attacking from behind.
Wen Shi closed his eyes and forcefully leaned backward.
The game had strict limitations, and even the slightest deviation would result in punishment. The streetlight marked the boundary. When he first entered the game, he had almost been eliminated for crossing this line.
Wen Shi was already on the edge of the safe zone. A slight misstep could lead to being identified as attempting to escape the game, which was almost inevitable.
As long as he fell and landed on the blood bride, the mysterious skeletal hands from the depths of the earth would prioritize capturing her.
"Let go." The blood bride was getting annoyed. How could there be such a despicable person?
At the moment her body leaned backward, she could already feel the chill from behind. In that darkness, other monsters lurked, not weaker than her.
Wen Shi firmly held onto the hand entwined around his neck, straining to squeeze out a few words, "Together in life, together in death."
His tone carried a hint of reminiscence, "In the past, I was just like this, tightly hugging a companion like you. However, the story didn't end well. I almost ended up skewered by the Earl."
"Sigh."
Wen Shi let out a heavy sigh.
The blood bride wished she could bite off Wen Shi's throat, but he clung tightly to the arm wrapped around his neck, as if holding onto the last scarf that could keep him warm in winter, leaving her no opportunity to attack.
Of course, there was another reason. If she opened her mouth, she would spit out flower buds.
The condensation of the seeds required a process, but the blood bride couldn't tolerate it, continually trying to ripen them. The mutated pomegranate flower would curse anyone mistreating the seeds, and with her constant inhalation of pollen, it created a vicious cycle.
The back of Wen Shi's head touched the petals, and he began to sing hoarsely, "I have already planted nine hundred and ninety-nine roses for you…"
The blood bride exploded immediately, "Ah! Shut up!"
While cursing, another flower bud appeared in her mouth.
Wen Shi continued, "From the day of parting, nine hundred and ninety-nine roses…"
"Go to hell!"
Wen Shi sang, "Flowers wither, and people grow weary…"
"Shut up, shut up! Are you even human?"
The blood bride finally couldn't hold on anymore, and both of them fell backward at the same time.
Wen Shi kept his gaze upwards, seeing the moon in the sky. Suddenly, something new appeared in his field of view. He was briefly surprised, then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Short bursts of laughter reached the blood bride's ears, inexplicably sending chills down her spine.