Chapter 12: Human Skin Manor (Part 11)

Xiao Muyu, seeing everyone start to act separately, reminded them, “We have limited time; you should return when the sun is about to set. Also, since the human skin sucks blood, make sure to not get injured, and check if you have any wounds. If the scent of your blood attracts it, you’ll be in trouble.”

The Chen brothers had always been wary of her, and were uncomfortable with her and Shen Qingqiu’s secret discussions. One of them sneered, “Those human skins can’t come out during the day, so your reminder is meaningless, Miss Xiao. How about giving us some helpful information instead?”

When Xiao Muyu saw the others, who had genuinely been checking for wounds, stop, she merely lowered her eyes and turned to head towards the woods.

“She really thinks she’s some kind of great deity,” Chen Dong spat.

Cui Xiaoxuan, however, was pensive. The statement did seem meaningless, but it was true that the human skins craved blood. But how did Xiao Muyu figure they could detect the scent of blood? Blood?

That’s it! Suddenly, she remembered the bowl in the room, which had blood in it. Where did the blood come from?

Cui Xiaoxuan couldn’t help but look up at Liu Wei, whose face also showed realization. Their gazes met, and they couldn’t hold back from smiling with a gleam in their eyes.

The similarly sharp Xu Ran immediately understood what their expressions meant, and quickly realized that there was another meaning to Xiao Muyu’s words. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Checking for injuries, blood-sucking human skins…

“I got it!” he suddenly exclaimed, then dashed off, leaving Liu Wei laughing.

The group had discussed that since the human skin couldn’t be exposed to light, it would likely be hiding in a place that was dark year-round, and would only come out to move around once the sun set, so it must be in a cave.

Flat grassland and woodland surrounded the house, so unless it had an underground chamber, they basically couldn’t go searching there. Therefore, the primary target was the mountains and forests.

“Do you think we’ll find anything?” Shen Qingqiu asked, appearing relaxed as she watched Xiao Muyu look around while walking.

“If we don’t search, we definitely won’t,” Xiao Mu Yu replied concisely.

“We’ve been thinking too simply. This walled-in area might be much larger than we imagined,” Shen Qingqiu said, with a hint of gloom in her eyes.

“Such a foolish method that doesn’t require much brain power, is definitely not the way to clear the game. Likely, the answer still lies in that house. Think about it, who would keep something that would harm them in the only place that offers them protection?” Xiao Muyu sighed deeply, looking at the untamed land on the other side of the mountain.

“So, let’s go back. We shouldn’t need to come here anymore; the sun is setting soon.”

Xiao Muyu glanced towards the west, noting that the sun was indeed close to setting.

“Didn’t you say you were heartless? If that’s the case, why waste energy helping those people? Chen Dong and Chen Xi are far from being upstanding citizens,” Shen Qingqiu suddenly said, recalling what had happened before.

Xiao Muyu’s expression remained calm. “This is a game. What’s the point of playing by yourself?”

If they managed to survive, she wouldn’t suffer any loss. If they died, that was just their fate. Perhaps, she reminded them because they had helped her a little yesterday. She didn’t want to dwell on it too much or owe anyone anything.

Thinking about this, she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Qingqiu again. It was as if this woman was always poking at her nerves. She didn’t understand why, out of that many people, Shen Qingqiu seemed focused on her.

When Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu returned to the house, no one else was back yet. It seemed everyone still held onto hope and was reluctant to give up too early.

As they watched the sun begin to set, the scene from the previous evening seemed to repeat itself, but figures soon appeared running in the sunset.

Within ten minutes, everyone had gathered. Perhaps because the previous day’s events were too vivid, no one lingered for long.

“How did it go? Did anyone find any clues?” Liu Wei’s forehead was all sweaty, since they had all been running the entire way back.

Unfortunately, all four teams had found nothing.

“This place is too big; it’s impossible to find anything,” Liu Wei said with some dismay, glancing at the task panel where only thirty minutes remained for the side task.

“Everyone, let’s head back for now.”

The sun was now only half visible; its last rays seemed to scrutinize the dreary world before retreating without mercy.

“Wind is picking up,” Xiao Muyu suddenly said as the others were heading back into the house.

The shadows nearby surged forward like a tidal wave, rushing in like spectral soldiers passing through.

“They’re coming,” Shen Qingqiu said quietly, her eyes—deep as the night sky—fixed on the encroaching shadows. Her right hand rested on her waist, squeezing.

Xiao Muyu glanced at her hand, then revealed her first smile since entering this world, faint as the last glimmer of sunlight at dusk.

“Since they’re coming, shall we give it a go?”

Shen Qingqiu stared at the smile on Xiao Muyu’s lips and suddenly found it more dazzling than the morning sun. Xiao Muyu’s features were finely sculpted, with well-defined lines, and graceful as jade. Yet, she seemed like a block of soft ice, exuding a chill that made her incredibly alluring yet distant.

However, that fleeting smile strangely softened that sense of distance, creating an odd feeling in Shen Qingqiu’s heart.

She also smiled, but her smile was much more sincere and decisive as she said, “Just what I wanted.”

“Miss Shen, Miss Xiao, hurry inside! The human skins are coming!” Liu Wei and the others, who had already entered the house, shouted at the two still standing outside.

As their words faded, the last bit of twilight also disappeared, and the chilling scream of approaching danger became distinctly audible.

Xiao Muyu slowly retreated, while Shen Qingqiu, with her right hand still behind her, also took a few steps back. She stood just a step behind Xiao Muyu.

In their field of vision, a human skin—like a flash of lightning—was rushing towards them, growing larger and larger in Xiao Muyu’s eyes. It was coming!

“Xiao Muyu, Shen Qingqiu, are you both crazy!?” Liu Wei, seeing the human skin approaching, couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted loudly.

“Miss Xiao, Miss Shen, come back quickly!” Cui Xiaoxuan’s face was pale. Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu, despite their eccentricities, were companions the group was indebted to. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to them.

“Are you ready?” Shen Qingqiu tightened her fist.

Xiao Muyu didn’t respond. As the human skin got within ten meters of her, she suddenly turned and ran swiftly towards the house. At this distance, given the human skin’s speed, she couldn’t possibly escape.

“Ah!” You Qiaolian covered her eyes. She was too scared to watch.

The two of them simultaneously exerted force and turned back. When the first, excitedly screaming human skin reached out, wrapping its hand around Xiao Muyu’s arm, Shen Qingqiu immediately grabbed her. In the dim light, she swung her right hand, the blade she wielded clashing against the human skin’s hand.

The human skin was extremely resilient. Despite its thinness, Shen Qingqiu’s dagger, which could cut through iron like mud, failed to sever it, and even got stuck for a moment.

The human skin let out a growl, trying to envelop them completely. Shen Qingqiu’s eyes flashed with fierce determination. Gritting her teeth, she grunted and rolled on the ground with Xiao Muyu in her arms, while exerting another powerful strike with the blade in her right hand. The human skin, in excruciating pain, tried to release its grip, but it was too late.

Shen Qingqiu forcefully severed its hand, and a fishy smell mixed with a musky scent surged towards them. Xiao Muyu frowned and held her breath, but she knew they had succeeded.

The human skin continued to rush forward. Although Xiao Muyu had new wounds, she immediately got up after hitting the ground. Shen Qingqiu moved with incredible speed, like a vigorous leopard. She dragged Xiao Muyu forward a few steps, then forcefully pushed her from behind.

Shen Qingqiu leaped in after her and in the nick of time, they both rolled into the house.

The human skins had learned from yesterday’s encounter and didn’t dare to recklessly advance. They circled the house, hissing and shrieking.

The eight other people inside stared at the two women, utterly shocked by their reckless actions. Xu Ran’s legs went weak, and he muttered, “You two really have a death wish… absolutely insane.”

Leopard, equally shocked but also envious, said accusingly, “Are you planning to pull the same stunt again and lure the human skins back in? Seriously, with scores as high as yours, is it really necessary to go all out like this?”

He had been out earlier with Chen Dong and Chen Xi, and the three of them had discussed things along the way. Chen Dong and Chen Xi subtly hinted that Shen Qingqiu might not be playing this game for the first time, which only strengthened Leopard’s suspicion that Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu were hiding some key information. How else could they have such a smooth run in the first instance?

Shen Qingqiu suddenly looked up at him, not saying a word. Her eyes were truly intimidating. It wasn’t a feigned fierceness, but one gained from actually being steeped in the blood of countless battles. The bloodlust in her eyes was so vicious that it made even the burly Leopard feel a tremor of fear. He instantly shut up, not daring to say another word.

The others also noticed Shen Qingqiu’s chilling gaze and fell silent, too afraid to speak.

What kind of past did this woman have? That kind of killing intent could only come from someone who had truly been through hell.

“Did we succeed?” Xiao Muyu asked, her face pale. The human skin just now had left another wound on her hand, and Shen Qingqiu hadn’t been gentle in rushing them inside either. Xiao Muyu had sustained quite a few scrapes, and the pain was intense.

Shen Qingqiu glanced at her dagger, where a milky white substance clung disgustingly to the blade. She wiped it off and nodded.

Just then, the old woman descended the stairs as quietly as the night before. She glanced outside, and a weird smile crept across her wrinkled face. “It’s dark now, hehe.”

Their hearts suddenly froze. Night had fallen, and that meant…that human skin could move around again. Without any amulets, would it be just as the old woman said? Tonight, would they…?

Shen Qingqiu glanced at the old woman and said coolly, “Looks like you haven’t suffered much at all. You seem quite happy when that thing kills.”

The old woman hadn’t expected Shen Qingqiu to confront her so openly, and was momentarily taken aback, before her face darkened. “Watch your tongue, young one. Disrespecting the elderly will have consequences.”

The old woman’s expression was stern, her eyes blazing with fury. But Shen Qingqiu paid her no mind, focusing instead on Xiao Muyu’s injured arm. With a firm grip, she led her away, saying, “Let’s go upstairs.”

The old woman watched them leave and laughed maliciously. “Ignorant fools. You all won’t survive much longer.”

“Th-Those two were the ones being disrespectful. We didn’t say anything, so please don’t be angry with us. Don’t stoop to their level, Granny.”

Cui Xiaoxuan frowned briefly. Despite Shen Qingqiu’s unlikable demeanor, she was still better than Chen Dong and Chen Xi with their snide remarks. And at this point, did anyone really believe this old woman would show them any mercy? Just as Shen Qingqiu had pointed out, she seemed more like a spectator enjoying the show.

“The countdown shows we’ve only got fifteen minutes left. We should focus on what to do next,” she said before heading upstairs herself.

The others’ expressions immediately shifted, and they lost the mood to speak further.

They gathered at the same hall as yesterday. One chair had been missing, but tonight, there was one extra. As Cui Xiaoxuan and the others stared at the empty seat, their hearts grew heavier with dread. Who would be the one missing after tonight?

Leopard couldn’t stop rubbing his hands together. They hadn’t found the human skin, and without any significant discoveries, he had no idea how to answer the question.

The tension in the room kept escalating. There was no clock in the hall, yet it felt like they could hear one ticking away. Tick-tock, tick-tock… *Ding!*

The sudden sound jolted everyone out of their contemplation. They quickly glanced down at their panels—the countdown had ended!

“The task duration is over. All participants, please begin answering the question. You have three minutes! Please follow all examination rules. Any violations will result in disqualification and removal from the exam! The timer starts now!”

It was as if they were back in a college entrance exam room. Except for Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu, the others instinctively straightened their posture, as if preparing for a battle that might very well decide their fate!

As the system finished speaking, everyone saw a box appear on their task panels.

[Where is the human skin hiding? Please justify your answer. (This question is worth 20 points.)]

---

Author had something to say:

Everyone’s heart sank. They’ve already graduated, but still had to deal with exams!

You still have to do some short-answer questions after the English listening test ends.

Most of the mysteries will be unraveled in the next chapter. Actually, everyone’s so clever, and it’s putting me under great pressure. To finish the next chapter, I’ll put in double the effort!