38: Chapter 38 The Earl and the Players Who Waited for Three Days

The Count seemed to experience a final burst of energy, scrambling toward Pei Duo with all his limbs, shedding tears as he crawled. His appearance was truly enough to make anyone who heard it grieve and anyone who saw it weep.

"Don't move! Fall back!" Xu Mo roared, the underworld emissary token in his hand flickering with black light.

The Count stopped abruptly in fright, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows: "Three lords, if you hadn't returned, I would have taken this group of burdens with me to see God!"

The livestream chat instantly exploded, the screen full of question marks nearly overloading the servers.

[???????]

[Did I see that right? An S-class BOSS is crying? And he's calling Pei Duo 'Ancestor'?]

[What the hell kind of Thriller Game is this? I don't understand this plot direction!]

[I thought those newcomers were about to starve to death, but why does Pei Duo look radiant, even... a little plumper?]

On the scene.

Xu Mo's mouth twitched as he pointed at the mess on the floor: "How did you end up in this state?"

"How can you blame me?!"

The Count, dripping snot and tears, pointed at the ceiling to accuse: "Three days ago! When that Lord Bai left, he said, 'Wait here!'"

"That was the decree of the Underworld Marshal! I wouldn't dare move even if you gave me ten times the courage!"

"For these three days, I've been kneeling here, not even daring to go to the restroom, not daring to suck back a single mouthful of blood! I even had to constantly emit ghost energy to keep those few good-for-nothings alive, afraid they'd starve to death and incur the Eldest Princess's wrath!"

The more the Count spoke, the more wronged he felt. The dignified S-class Ghost King was now crying like an office worker crushed by a black-hearted boss for thirty years: "This is too much bullying for a ghost! Even in jail, there's time for parole! Even the donkeys on a production team aren't worked this hard!"

Xu Mo: "..."

Lin Sa: "..."

The two exchanged a look, seeing deep speechlessness in the other's eyes.

Was this the legendary highest realm of 'treating a chicken feather as a military order'? White Impermanence, Seventh Master, had casually said something, and this idiot interpreted it as a 'Stasis Curse'.

He actually knelt for three days and three nights!

"Oh? Is that so..."

Pei Duo looked at the half-dead newcomers on the ground, then at the Count crying miserably, and finally understood.

She had enjoyed herself too much in the Underworld. It was her brother's territory, with top-tier food, drink, and entertainment. She completely forgot about the time dilation in the instance.

"Um... sorry about that."

Pei Duo scratched her head, a hint of embarrassment mixed with a touch of naivety on her face: "I was at my brother's place... well, the imperial cuisine there was too delicious. I ate a few extra meals and accidentally lost track of time, causing you all to suffer."

This "honest truth" made the livestream completely go wild.

[Pfft——! Imperial cuisine? Ate a few extra meals?]

[Is this the legendary humblebrag? We were worried sick outside, and she was having a feast inside?]

[Case closed! The weight Pei Duo gained is a work injury!]

[Count: So I knelt for three days just to wait for you to finish eating? This is a complete mental collapse!]

However, when these words reached the Count's ears, the meaning completely twisted.

This was clearly a warning!

The implication was: I have connections up high, I am a favored guest of the Underworld Son of Heaven, I can return whenever I please, and leaving you hanging for a few days was showing you respect!

This was a show of force from a 'member of the royal family'!

"I dare not! This humble one dares not!!"

The Count trembled all over in fear, his head slamming heavily onto the floor again, cracking the expensive marble tiles.

"It is this humble one's poor hosting! It is this humble one's lack of perception! Your Highness, please do not be angry!"

The Count had only one thought: Hurry up and send this great Buddha away! This wasn't a player; this was a walking nuclear bomb!

"Quick! Settle up! I want to settle up!!"

The Count acted as if he were mad, not giving the Thriller Game system a chance to count down. He reached into his chest—that was his private subspace ghost domain.

"Clatter— —"

Three treasure chests radiating brilliant orange light were yanked out and forcibly stuffed into the arms of Pei Duo, Xu Mo, and Lin Sa.

[S-Class Perfect Clear Reward!]

In the livestream, the eyes of countless international viewers turned red.

"This... this is?" Lin Sa hugged the heavy treasure chest, slightly bewildered.

"This is just a small token of my regard! Local specialty! Not worth much!"

The Count spoke at machine-gun speed: "Inside are the 'Vampire Count's Fangs,' the 'Cain's Refuge Scroll,' and... oh dear, they are all good things! I beg you all to accept them!"

He looked eagerly at Pei Duo, his gaze utterly subservient: "As long as you accept them, our feud is settled, alright? Please, never come back again in the future!"

Pei Duo was a little stunned and nodded subconsciously: "Oh... then thank you."

"Hoo— —"

Hearing that 'thank you,' the Count relaxed entirely, as if he had just been taken down from the execution scaffold.

"Since you've accepted the gifts, then we shall... part ways peacefully, may the green mountains and clear waters remain, and we shall never meet again!"

The Count dared not delay. He waved his hand forcefully toward the center of the hall.

"Riiip— —!!"

Space was forcibly torn apart. A portal of light leading to the real world appeared before everyone with unprecedented speed and smoothness.

"The exit!!"

"We... we survived..."

In the corner, those newcomers who had been pretending to be dead erupted with the terrifying potential called 'will to survive' the moment they saw the light gate.

The Lean Tall Man used all his limbs, rolling and crawling, his speed faster than Bolt's. He rushed into the light gate while crying and wailing, afraid that if he was a second slower, the gate would close.

"Let's go too."

Xu Mo took a deep breath and looked back at this place that had once filled him with despair but now seemed somewhat comical. His mentality had completely changed. If before he was a survivor groping in the dark, now, in his hand, he held a torch capable of igniting the entire world.

"Your Highness, please."

Xu Mo and Lin Sa, one on each side, escorted Pei Duo toward the light gate like the most loyal guards.

Pei Duo, hugging the treasure chest, took one last look back.

The Count was still holding the posture of bowing to see guests off, a flattering smile plastered on his pale face, even secretly wiping away tears.

"Bye-bye." Pei Duo waved her hand.

"Your Highness, travel safely! Please, travel safely!!!"

As the three figures disappeared into the light gate, the livestream screen instantly went black.

[Livestream Ended]

Although the screen went dark, the global internet completely exploded at this moment.

S-class BOSS kneeling to offer gifts? A living person returning from visiting the Underworld? Various hot topics dominated the internet.

...

The real world, Jiangcheng, a high-end apartment.

A flash of light.

Xu Mo's figure appeared in the center of the living room, surrounded by familiar modern furniture, with the bustling neon night view outside the window.

He didn't rush to open the S-class treasure chest that could make global players red-eyed. Instead, he slowly reached into his chest and touched the chillingly cold, yet incomparably reassuring black token.

— — The underworld emissary token.

The sensation under his fingertips was real enough to cause trembling.

This was not a dream. That magnificent Underworld, that young emperor who dominated eternity, were all real.

He took out his phone and skillfully dialed a number.

"Beep— —"

The call was answered instantly, and Lin Sa's undisguised excitement came from the other end: "Hello? Military Advisor Xu, landed safely?"

Xu Mo pushed up his glasses, looked out at the myriad lights of the city, and a meaningful smile curved his lips:

"Meet at the old spot in half an hour."