58: Chapter 58: The Festival of Sacrifice (Part 3)

"This is Changsheng Village?!"

"It doesn't look any different."

Under the weak light of their flashlights, the group of young people caught a glimpse of Changsheng Village; there was nothing unique about it.

"So where exactly did the Tour Guide go?"

They had already reached the village entrance, yet there was still no sign of the Tour Guide.

What should they do next?

"We haven't been scammed, have we?"

The NPCs who had been quiet behind Song Hao and the others were also starting to get impatient.

"Xie Hong, you're the one who organized this trip, you figure it out."

These words made Xie Hong's face darken with anger; they certainly hadn't acted like this before they arrived.

Heh, what a vacation—it was really letting her see people's true colors.

"What's the rush? Isn't that the Tour Guide right there~" Qian Ye pulled her luggage with one hand and walked into the darkness.

When she returned, she was dragging someone with her other hand.

"Isn't he right here~"

"Heehee, see? I told you, the Tour Guide big brother just went ahead to scout the path."

"Is that so~" Qian Ye had a smile on her face, but her eyes held no warmth as she stared straight into the Tour Guide's eyes.

Feeling the pain in his arm, the Tour Guide's face twisted as he gritted his teeth. "Yes, yes."

Hearing this, Qian Ye happily released his arm.

"The Tour Guide big brother clearly seems like a very responsible person, heehee~" Qian Ye even gave him a thumbs-up.

The moment Qian Ye turned around, the Tour Guide's face became hideous. He glared at her back, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to claw holes into her.

How did she not die halfway here?

She wasn't dead, and looking at the others, they all seemed normal and not panicked at all. Did they really encounter nothing in the dense forest?

That's impossible!

How could those things have just let them in like that!

No matter how much he disbelieved it, they had arrived safely at the village entrance.

The Tour Guide exuded a low, oppressive aura as he took a deep look back at the dark forest.

"Tour Guide, we're here now. Where to next?"

"It's already late. Let's see which villagers' homes we can stay in."

The Tour Guide led the way, taking them into the village.

The weak beams of light were their only source of illumination as they fumbled their way forward.

The pitch-black path was very narrow. Something green was planted on one side—they didn't recognize the plants—while houses of roughly the same height lined the other side.

Zhang Yan held the flashlight while the Tour Guide led the way. They passed several houses, but none had lights on.

Walking down the dark path was more than a little creepy.

In the silent night, the only sounds were their footsteps and the rolling of their luggage.

As they walked, something suddenly felt off; there seemed to be a set of slow, heavy footsteps mixed in among theirs.

They were getting closer.

Instantly, they involuntarily held their breath and slowed down. The footsteps grew closer and closer, then suddenly vanished just as they were nearest to Jiang Meimei.

Jiang Meimei trembled all over, burying herself against Song Hao. Help, help... it couldn't be that thing again...

In an instant, that pale face reappeared in her mind, turning her own face white with terror.

"What... are... you... doing!"

An aged voice suddenly rang out by Zhang Yan's ear, making her hand jerk and the light wobble.

The flashlight beam immediately swung toward the source of the sound, revealing a hunchbacked Old Woman.

She leaned on a cane, and her eyes were entirely white with no visible pupils. Meeting those eyes so suddenly was a shock.

"Old Madam Zhou, it's me. I've brought another batch of tourists today."

"Why... only... now!" The aged voice spoke with a shaky, feeble quality.

"Sigh~ we had some trouble on the road, so we were delayed until now."

"Old Madam Zhou, look, it's late. How about taking them to your place to stay for the night first?"

"It's pitch black in the village now; it wouldn't be convenient to look for other houses."

Old Madam Zhou's head turned. Even though those eyes couldn't seem to see anyone, she still looked around before shaking her head. "Too many people. Can't fit."

"Then what do we do?"

"You can't expect us to spend the night out here, can you?"

Xie Hong couldn't help but complain. Looking at the pitch-black night around them, she shuddered, feeling a creeping dread in her heart.

The Old Woman's lips curled into a bizarre smile, her voice taking on a strange tone. "There is... one other place."

"That... will definitely... fit everyone!"

"Then take us there quickly!"

It wasn't just the young people who were impatient; the people in trench coats were also reaching their limit.

The whole journey had been nothing but delays.

"Are you all willing to go?"

"Willing, willing! As long as there's a place to stay."

"Heh heh, that's good then." Hearing their answer, the Old Woman's face wrinkled into a deep smile.

No matter how you looked at it, she seemed up to no good.

However, the NPCs wouldn't notice; only the players were observing closely.

As the group prepared to leave, a sudden 'clack' was heard, and everyone looked for the source.

A nearby farmhouse opened its heavy wooden door, and a weak candlelight spilled out from within.

A woman stepped out, holding a candle and waving it toward them.

Qian Ye fixed her gaze on her. She wore a long black dress and had long, wavy hair—quite a sexy beauty.

Was she a villager here too?

She didn't look like one at all!

"I... I've been listening for a while. If it's just a place to stay, my house... has room."

"I think it can fit five or six people."

"Is anyone interested?"

The glamorous beauty's eyes looked watery, making her look like a victim of bullying.

But looking at her overall aura, she didn't seem like the type to let herself be bullied.

"Ooh, I can't look away from a beautiful sister. I'll choose to stay here."

Qian Ye smiled and lifted her suitcase.

Xie Hong saw that her friend wasn't moving. She gritted her teeth and said, "Thank you, I can carry the luggage myself."

Qian Ye shrugged and happily handed the luggage to her, grinning. "I wish you a pleasant night~"

Xie Hong had a momentary illusion that there was a hint of excitement in her tone.

She looked back at Qian Ye, whose lips still held that faint, unchanging smile.

She shook her head and walked toward her group.

"You get along so well with her, why didn't you go with her!" Jiang Meimei started her snide comments again.

Xie Hong rolled her eyes, not wanting to deal with her, and walked toward the others to stay away from her.

As Qian Ye moved toward the beauty, Zhang Yan became dissatisfied again.

"Qian Yes assumed NPC identity, what do you mean? Do you want us to stay here with you?"

Zhang Yan looked at the low house and then at the woman at the door, frowning deeply. She didn't look like a decent person.

"Do as you please. I want to stay here myself."

"Heehee, the air is good here!"

Qian Ye grinned, her face full of provocation.

"You!"

"Zhang Yan!"

"We... the few of us will stay here too."

Several people suddenly emerged from the back, also choosing to stay there.

Qian Ye raised an eyebrow. Well, well, the players were coming out now.

The Tour Guide watched the scene with a gloomy expression.

"We all came together; it's better to stay together."

The Old Woman remained hidden in the darkness, exuding a sinister aura. Her all-white eyes stared intently at the woman in the doorway.