59: Chapter 59: The Festival of Sacrifice (Part Four)

"Girl from the Wu family, everything has an order of arrival." Her tone was full of threat.

The beauty wiped her tears. "I... I didn't, I was just being kind..."

Chiye's lively eyes stared at her as she blinked. "I just want to stay here!"

Zhang Yan's face turned so black it looked like ink could drip from it as she glared at her malevolently.

Chiye wasn't afraid at all; she even gave her a provocative smile.

"Alright, since she's willing to stay here, then stay here she shall!" The leader spoke up. No matter how displeased Zhang Yan was, she couldn't argue any further.

She could only glare resentfully at Chiye.

"I'm sorry, boohoo..."

"It can't accommodate so many people."

The beauty pointed her finger at Chiye and the few people who had come out first. "Just these few, exactly six."

Chiye's eyes narrowed slightly. With a casual point, those who came out were all players. Was it unintentional, or..."

To avoid wasting any more time, it was ultimately decided that Chiye and the other five players would stay here.

The other NPCs left with the Old Woman from the village.

As they left, the Tour Guide and Old Madam Zhou were both radiating a low-pressure aura.

—

On this side, the beauty opened the door and invited them in.

"Are you the only one at home?"

"Oh, they... aren't feeling well, they went to sleep early!"

Chiye took out a handkerchief and handed it to the beauty. "Do you... have something sad on your mind?"

The beauty shook her head.

"I... my name is Meng Yu... I'm also a player."

"Sob, my tear ducts are too active, it's always been like this, don't... mind me."

Meng Yu spoke for a long time before Chiye understood; she didn't want to cry either, but she just couldn't control it.

Ahem, looking at her curvy figure, the name Meng Yu felt a bit too contradictory.

"You're actually a player too!"

"How did you end up in the village?"

"It might be related to each of our identities."

"Hello everyone, my name is Wu Tian."

"Tian Ying."

"Wang Shuo."

"H-hello everyone, my name is Gu Ting." A young woman who seemed a bit introverted and shy.

Her presence had been very low throughout the journey.

"H-hello everyone, I'm called Da Gen."

After everyone introduced their identities, they all turned their gaze toward Chiye.

"How did a child get grouped in?" The speaker was Wu Tian, staring at Chiye with some doubt and concern about being slowed down.

"Hehe, hello everyone, I'm Su Ye." Chiye completely ignored his gaze and greeted everyone happily.

Just as she lowered her hand, a transparent panel suddenly popped up in front of her:

Welcome Player Chiye to the Eerie Game. Current instance: Sacrificial Festival.

Hmm? It wasn't a general announcement this time!

Chiye turned her head; the players around her all had their heads down, looking at what was in front of them.

This panel contained the player's personal information and could only be seen by the player themselves. While looking at one's own was normal, looking at others made them seem to be staring blankly into the void.

The notification method had changed. It seemed the game only officially started once they reached Changsheng Village.

The announcement on the transparent panel continued,

An isolated village with a thousand-year heritage. What unknown secrets are hidden here? A grand sacrifice is held every year on the fourth day of the fourth month. What exactly is the treasure of Changsheng Village? Does it truly exist?

Clear Condition: Mysterious treasures always make all biological beings' hearts flutter.

Biological beings?

Chiye's eyes shone with a lively light. This phrasing was interesting.

The transparent panel gradually disappeared, and everyone instinctively looked at each other.

They were all waiting for the first person to speak.

Finally, it was Meng Yu who yawned, her tears falling uncontrollably again. "Today... it's too late, let's... rest first."

Chiye stared at her, the corners of her mouth curling up. Seeing her tearful appearance made Chiye want to bully her even more.

On the way to assign rooms, the candle in Meng Yu's hand flickered, casting an eerie light.

Meng Yu spoke while sobbing, "The villagers are quite kind and amiable during the day, especially the ones in the east; they are the most hospitable."

"Don't go out after ten at night, especially to the west."

"If you hear any noises at night, don't mind them, and definitely don't open the door."

"The fourth day of the fourth month is the grand Sacrificial Festival of Changsheng Village."

"Before the Sacrificial Festival, you must not eat meat."

Meng Yu's words were equivalent to the rules here, but rules could be true or false; one still needed to discern carefully.

This also served as a reminder to the players.

In the end, Chiye stayed in one room with the other two female players on a large shared bed.

"I live... next door. If something happens, don't look for me!" Meng Yu wiped her tears. Her tone was clearly meant to be fierce, but with the sobbing, her momentum was halved.

Thump, thump, thump...

Mmm... mmm...

"What's that sound!" Beside them, Tian Ying's ears twitched; she seemed to have heard some movement.

"It... it seems like there's some noise?" Gu Ting said in a soft tone, sounding a bit embarrassed.

Chiye raised an eyebrow and looked at Meng Yu, waiting for her explanation.

"Ah... it's nothing."

"Just some... disobedient... pets being kept next door."

"Small... problem." Meng Yu kept sobbing, her nasal voice sounding heavier and heavier.

"You all, rest well." After saying that, she turned and left with a graceful, swaying gait.

Chiye watched her departing back, a treacherous light in her eyes. Pets?

Hehe, they are indeed pets.

The door next door closed with a "bang." Noises came from next door from time to time, but soon they vanished, and everything returned to peace.

Inside the room, Meng Yu looked at the people on the ground with tearful eyes, her gaze fierce. "Behave yourself!"

"If you make any more... noise, don't blame me, your daughter, for being heartless."

As she spoke, she directly used her hands and feet to beat the two people in front of her.

The two on the ground were tied up tightly, their bodies emitting a faint black mist. Their eye sockets were entirely black as they stared fixedly at the person before them.

Mmm, mmm, mmm...

"Still crying out!"

Then came another round of beating.

"If it weren't for the fact that you're still useful..."

Meng Yu rolled her eyes pridefully and went further inside.

She wasn't worried at all that they would break free.

The candle was blown out, and everything fell into darkness and silence.

—

On the other side, the Tour Guide led the remaining people as Old Madam Zhou kept walking with them.

"We've been walking for ages, why aren't we there yet?" Zhang Yan's voice was impatient.

It felt like they had walked for a long time; the houses were becoming fewer, and the surroundings felt increasingly empty.

"Soon... almost there."

Hehe, we're here."

Old Madam Zhou stopped and tapped her cane on the ground three times.

Then she said eerily, "This used to be our Village Chief's house."

The house in front of them was two or three stories high. At this moment, a few places inside were still flickering with light, looking like candlelight.

These lights were just enough to let the people outside vaguely see the general outline of the house.

"No wonder it's so big, it looks like it has three floors!"

"It's more than enough to accommodate all of us." The young man in the back looked at the large house, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"Isn't this just the village's grand villa~"

The people behind were in the mood to start joking.

Although it was built of earth, compared to the other low houses in the village, it looked exceptionally high-end.

"Hehe, as long as you like it~ as long as you like it~"

Everyone present was thinking about having a place to stay, yet no one delved into why she said it *used to be* the Village Chief's home.

What about now?

The night was deep as the group slowly stepped into the Village Chief's house.