TN –
Just a reminder that Xiao Qing is both [I Have Horns on My Head] and [Brother-in-law is a scumbag], he just uses different nicknames while talking with different people.
__________________________________
Xiao Qing is a person of integrity. When he said he would ask, he meant it. However, when the message was sent out, Xu Yintang had already nestled in his Little Darling branded mattress, hugging the Second Treasure cushion, and fallen asleep. It wasn’t until the sky darkened that he received a reply.
I Have Horns on My Head: Didi-didi-didi!
I Have Horns on My Head: Someone asked me to inquire about something. Did you rescue a child from the hospital over ten years ago? They were quite good-looking and seemed wealthy, kidnapped to a hospital that resembled a burnt place, and were forced by a female ghost inside to call her ‘mother’.
I Have Horns on My Head: After that, the child has been looking for the savior to repay the favor. They’ve contacted me through connections, and I thought it might match your situation. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Xiao Qing didn’t believe any of Xu Qi’s talk about “childhood friends tied by adversity” or “connecting red threads.” Although he conducted some targeted investigations, the story of Moon God and his White Moonlight was spun into eight hundred versions of poignant drama, but at its core, it was just one brat saving another. What can a five or six-year-old understand about love?
Xiao Qing confidently interpreted the nature of this matter as tadpoles finding friends and wild foxes repaying favors. It coincided with Xu Yintang’s judgment on the matter.
Xu Yintang had faith in the hospital’s amnesia buff. He felt that it wouldn’t have made mistakes over a dozen years. It seemed improbable for two children sent out to suddenly return seeking help within such a short period. Moreover, considering they were all players and Xiao Qing could connect with the Detergent Club, the chances were even slimmer in this small world.
DrinkingSugar: Blueon?
I Have Horns on My Head: !!!
I Have Horns on My Head: How did you know?!!
I Have Horns on My Head: Damn! It can’t really be you, can it?!!
DrinkingSugar: Yeah.
DrinkingSugar: I teamed up with him in the last game, and he recognized me.
DrinkingSugar: But I’ve sent out many kids; I’m not sure which one he is… Maybe he mistook me.
I Have Horns on My Head: Damn damn damn damn!
I Have Horns on My Head: I now believe that you two really have some fate…
I Have Horns on My Head: Wait a minute!
I Have Horns on My Head: You two teamed up in the last game, so why is his teammate asking me about this?
DrinkingSugar: Maybe due to time zone differences, I only entered the game at noon.
I Have Horns on My Head: Oh, I see…
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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And if he ended up imprisoned for chopping off the jerk’s legs, his sister would cry her eyes out, flooding the Golden Mountain Temple. Xiao Qing had always been terrified of that. Every time his sister’s eyes turned red, he felt like the unfortunate Xiao Qing from “The Legend of the White Snake,” destined to be oppressed by the White Lady without any chance of turning the tables.
Xiao Qing was muttering about blocking Xu Qi after receiving the picture of the jerk’s broken legs, when he received a new message from Xu Yintang.
DrinkingSugar: Have you ever tried sheep scorpion and donkey meat buns? Heard about them in the last dungeon and got a bit curious…
While Xu Yintang was still typing the second half of his message, Xiao Qing swiftly responded. His social skills impressed Xu Yintang.
I Have Horns on My Head: Of course! I know a place that makes fantastic sheep scorpion hot pot! They also serve ice-cooked lamb, which tastes absolutely divine!
I Have Horns on My Head: Oh, by the way, are you able to leave the hospital now? How about we meet up for dinner?
I Have Horns on My Head: Here’s my address ↓, see if you can locate it?
[I Have Horns on My Head shared a location with you: xxxxxxxxx]
DrinkingSugar: I’ll give it a try.
…
Xu Yingtang hadn’t finished speaking when Xiao Qing heard the sound of rustling wind in the room. A faint, chilly odor crept in through the door crack, reminiscent of disinfectant mixed with formaldehyde, tinged with a strong but subtle hint of blood.
Upon closer sniffing, there was also a trace of poultry and egg scents, resembling chicken or duck eggs.
Apart from that, there was the scent of the three young ones from Xu Yintang’s family, always accompanied by a chilling, indistinct ringing in the ears, causing Xiao Qing to spring up to greet visitors as if prompted, without needing a separate notification from Xu Yintang.
Xiao Qing lived in a small apartment, meticulously kept clean with just the essential furniture and minimal clutter, resembling a showcase of minimalistic design at first glance.
Xu Yintang surveyed the living room devoid even of a sofa. “It’s arranged very safely.”
The space was open, with no visual blind spots harboring dirt. One could escape in a straight line from anywhere to the door or windows. Anything bladed, long, or heavy was stored away. Even the low coffee table was made of cardboard, harmless.
“Isn’t it?” Xiao Qing grinned, dimpling his cheeks with satisfaction. “If haunted houses in games were arranged like my home, there’d be no room for those spooky ghosts and evil spirits.”
The tricks—hands reaching from under sofas or beds, ghosts appearing in mirrors, or chaos of knives and scissors—none of those stunts mattered in his carefully designed room. However this readiness at all times did showcase the severe psychological impact left by his experiences in haunted houses.
Skipping the dreary topic of male silence and female tears, after exchanging banter with Xu Yintang, Xiao Qing happily began fussing over the furry Second Treasure, playfully exclaiming, “Oh my, whose little baby is this, looking so adorable!”
Second Treasure proudly raised its chest, wagging its fluffy tail against Xiao Qing’s leg. Xiao Qing, as if enlightened, said, “So it’s our Second Treasure!”
“Come here, let Big Brother Xiao Qing take a good look… Our Second Treasure is so beautiful! How did you suddenly become this good-looking? Big Brother Xiao Qing almost didn’t recognize you!”
Among the young ones, Xiao Qing was closer to Second Treasure. Seeing the all-white fur of Second Treasure, he was ecstatic, kneeling down and praising Second Treasure profusely, capturing the moment with his phone.
Second Treasure even cooperated, raising a paw and tilting its head in a pose resembling the rooster that roamed freely in the back mountain.
Xu Yintang, unable to watch, turned away and fiddled with the tentacles peeking out from his pocket’s edge. Musing to himself, he said, “Actually, our Little Darling is quite good-looking too.”
For him, the furry sensation was adorable, but in terms of looks, he favored his own Little Darling. Its vibrant color, unique design, and glossy appearance resembling a vibrant, pulsating crimson heart, coupled with tendrils resembling fractured blood vessels and nerves, presented a visually striking and unique beauty. Compared to the blob of goo it was at birth, Xu Yintang always felt Little Darling grew more attractive over time.
Alas, the world loves all things furry.
Little Darling, unaware, rubbed against its mother’s fingertips, joyfully extending several tentacles to coil around his hand.
In the previous game, Little Darling had consumed the monster’s body from the cacoon. After eating, its tentacles gained a new level of glossiness, with its skin appearing like a layer of transparent gel, slowly flowing with sparkling glitter within. Such skin might withstand high temperatures and self-repair within seconds if cut.
It also grew sturdier, sharper teeth, and more tentacles and mouthpieces. Thus, Little Darling also thought itself quite beautiful, admiring its appearance in the mirror while bathing.
The reason Third Flora projected herself as a sparkling butterfly rather than something furry might also be related to her keen perception that Xu Yintang genuinely found Little Darling exceptionally beautiful.
On the other hand, after enjoying Xiao Qing’s praise, Second Treasure shook itself and leaped back onto Xu Yintang’s shoulder. Xiao Qing cleared his throat, toning down his overly cheerful expression, “It’s not suitable to take Second Treasure outside like this. I’ll find a bag for you to put it in. Also, please don’t let Little Darling out casually. Human minds outside are fragile and can’t accept things beyond their understanding.”
He found a backpack that was just the right size for Second Treasure to nestle in. Xu Yintang thought for a moment and decided to put Little Darling in the backpack too, allowing the two brothers to stick together. Little Darling’s soothing presence often improved Second Treasure’s temper, and with its tentacles coiled around its brother’s tips, it could entertain itself.
The original form of Third Flora dwelling within the shadow was the only one that didn’t need to hide. The butterflies were in the shadow, rubbing their wings, fluttering their tentacles, communicating their plans for constructing this blank new world. It was a world so vast that, at Third Flora’s current size, she couldn’t see its end. All of their instincts yearned to nest and occupy every corner of the bright side of this world thoroughly.
However, she was cautious. The more expansive and tempting the new world appeared, the more she hesitated to act recklessly. The butterflies tirelessly reinforced their original nest within Third Flora’s shadow—this was their first nest. As long as the mother nest existed, even if all the butterflies were reduced, it retained the chance to reproduce.
The first butterfly cautiously flew into the new world.
Then the second, and the third.
Xiao Qing caught a whiff of the fragrance emitted when Third Flora’s butterflies fluttered their wings. Even diluted to its utmost, the scent made him dizzy. He pinched his nose, complaining to Xu Yintang about the official bureaucracy, “Your information department is still reviewing. Their process is so slow. Otherwise, I’d have gotten your documents reissued today while passing by.”
Xu Yintang assured him that after officially reporting the hospital matters to the information department, there would naturally be corresponding processes for danger level assessments and identity information tracing.
This waiting period for review was incredibly long and involved filling out a ton of forms (which Xiao Qing often penned), followed by more complex discussions and on-site inspections.
However, once the review passed and the Happy Retreat Sanatorium became a recognized legitimate paranormal site, there were numerous benefits. Not only could blacklisted individuals like Xu Yintang obtain documents like identity cards and household registrations through official channels, but the hospital would also receive subsidies and assistance for basic infrastructure.
For instance, they could demolish and rebuild the dilapidated building in Zone 3, upgrade and renovate the old wards and activity areas, and introduce properly educated doctors to train the subpar medical staff within the hospital. Even the vegetable and poultry farming done by Yu Kongyou could receive more procurement discounts. In the future, if there is excess produce, they could sell it through official channels to legitimate buyers with special needs.
If Xu Yintang managed these things on his own, even with Yu Kongyou’s help, it would be very troublesome and time-consuming. Yet, once the paranormal site was approved, it could easily be resolved under the powerful machinery of the state. Xu Yintang only had to ensure that all the personnel in the hospital behaved and didn’t wander aimlessly.
Additionally, when free, he could lend a hand to the information department like Xiao Qing, helping with handling tricky incidents they couldn’t manage.
Grim ghosts, mischievous monsters, players with a penchant for illegal activities… well, if there was nothing else to do, Xu Yintang didn’t mind creating an additional food source for his offspring.
Xiao Qing hailed a car and, through an app, booked a table for two at a restaurant. While waiting for the car, he planned the evening’s itinerary, “After dinner, let’s get you a few sets of suitable clothes, then buy phones, and computers, and grab a late-night snack at the old cemetery in the eastern suburbs. I’ve heard it’s bustling there lately, a chance for the young ones to taste something new.”
…
In the police station, the atmosphere during the meeting was extremely somber.
“Multiple bodies found in the area near the old cemetery in the eastern suburbs recently…”
“Victims… young males between the ages of twenty and thirty…”
“Cause of death… suicide by hanging… drowning… excessive bleeding…”
“The deceased had no bad habits… tracing their movements before death… interpersonal relationships…”
As a police officer patrolling the area that included the vicinity of the old cemetery, Lin De’an was also summoned to attend the case analysis meeting. He recorded the key points in his notebook, a conjecture gradually crystallizing in his mind.
Having experienced several instances in the game’s scenarios, he had developed an inexplicable intuition for things like vengeful spirits and evil entities. This time, his intuition told him that the culprits behind these murders were not human.
Lin De’an frowned deeply, encircling the time of the body discoveries in his notes. He decided that after work, he’d pack up the peachwood swords and cinnabar talismans from his home, and investigate the old cemetery at night to uncover the truth.
Author’s Note –
Blue Moon: “Rest well, [virtuous and kind/jpg].”
Xiao Qing: “Come on, let’s have fun!”
While Mother Xu Yingtang and Xiao Qing are off enjoying the nightlife, what is Blue Moon doing?
– Blue Moon is fighting.
TN –
Just a reminder, Lin De’an is the cop from the first Game. Who remembers him?
Oh my god wait I actually do remember him 😭 He was the nice guy with the doctor lady (I think) who bought pig skins!
He was one of the other players in the first instance that Xu Yingtang was in. He was supposed to be a sacrifice as well I think, and was saved by the college student that was also a player.
Oops wrong comment
Huh? Y can’t I remember him? Can someone tell me? Who is he?
He was one of the other players in the first instance that Xu Yingtang was in. He was supposed to be a sacrifice as well I think, and was saved by the college student that was also a player.
Oh hey, Lin De”an returns! Welcome back buddy!
I remember him! I also remember the girl who helped him, I can’t recall her name, but she works at Shi Yuebai’s company (family company? not sure)!
I remember him! He had to go to work as soon as he finished the instance and passed out from the post-instance headache, finding himself at a hospital afterwards, didn’t he?
Another player surfaces…. Hahahaha! Thanks for the update 🤣❤️
I remember the cop for his high righteousness!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING AWESOME!!!
I don’t remember, but it’s not really matter to be honest
Thank you for your translation 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
I remember. He’s that unfortunate guy who had to chase some bad guy after that instance lmao