[Congratulations Zaizai on perfectly clearing the instance! Why do the players always need Zaizai to carry them through? This is simply outrageous! [Pointing fingers]]

[So many adults, yet they’re not even as good as a child! Tsk tsk tsk [Gift Points]]

[Zaizai is the cutest! Auntie’s destined little cub! Hugging tightly and kissing madly!]

[First, Mu Xingye failed to torture the cub and got tortured instead. Now, the buzz cut man offered himself up as a trampoline. Our Zaizai is terrifyingly strong, you have to accept it!]

[I only watch instances to see Zaizai! Whoever gets Zaizai gets the world! Smart players are already hugging Zaizai’s little leg! Stupid players are still thinking about how to get themselves killed!]

Gu Rong was unaware that he had already become famous in the game, renowned throughout the forums.

Zhuang Yu spent 100,000 points for him, bringing him to the Game Lobby.

Leaving the instance, the moment Gu Rong, this little milk dumpling, appeared, everyone’s gaze instantly shifted towards him.

The Game Lobby gathered players. And Gu Rong, this NPC cub – as long as you weren’t a newbie player, almost everyone knew him.

Gu Rong was exquisitely carved like jade, with super high looks, a pair of large, dark, sparkling eyes. The entire cub was round and chubby, a tiny little lump, very mini. Even doing nothing, just standing there, he was so cute that people couldn’t help but take a second look.

Gu Rong’s eyes sparkled. It was his first time in the Game Lobby, finding it very novel, his little face showing a trace of excitement.

He was too short, his field of vision was very limited. He opened his short little arms: “Big Brother, hold!”

Just as Zhuang Yu was about to pick Gu Rong up, Shen Hanxiao snatched him up first.

Gu Rong was instantly scooped up by Shen Hanxiao.

Held in Shen Hanxiao’s arms, Gu Rong blinked his eyes, looked at Shen Hanxiao, but still reached out towards Zhuang Yu: “Big Brother hold Zaizai!”

Shen Hanxiao: “?”

Zhuang Yu suppressed a laugh. Just as he was about to take Gu Rong, Shen Hanxiao stepped back holding Gu Rong, saying amusedly: “What’s wrong with Little Brother holding you, little ghost? You insist on Big Brother holding you.”

Gu Rong clasped his little hands together, his voice tender and childish, the baby talk both innocent and heart-piercing: “Big Brother tall, Little Brother short. Big Brother hold Rongrong high!”

Shen Hanxiao: “…”

Wo cao! Was he just dissed by a two-year-old cub? Saying he was short?!

Zhuang Yu burst out laughing with a “Pfft”. Even Zhao Jiuquan couldn’t help but chuckle slightly. Speaking the blunt truth.

Shen Hanxiao glared at both of them, then laughed out of anger, tossing Gu Rong playfully in the air: “Where is Little Brother short? Where short? Huh? Dare to say I’m short!”

Gu Rong giggled, clapping his small hands: “Again, Little Brother, again!”

Shen Hanxiao lifted him high a few more times.

Seeing that Shen Hanxiao gave him high lifts, Gu Rong finally stopped asking to switch who held him. He obediently let Little Brother hold him, tilting his little head, looking around curiously.

The trio and the one cub became the center of attention.

The players were all discussing excitedly.

“WTF WTF, is that Zaizai, the NPC cub? He actually ran out of the instance! Damn… he’s really unbelievably cute!”

“Even cuter than in the livestream! That soft little appearance, honestly, I want to hold him too!”

“Can I borrow him for a hug? Really want to pinch him!”

“Wow, so tiny! His little hands and feet look like little bread rolls! Hahaha, no neck!!”

Unfortunately, Gu Rong overheard the last sentence.

Gu Rong had excellent hearing. He heard all the discussion, and hearing someone say he had no neck, he forcefully craned his neck, tilting his little head up, signaling: My neck is right here!

It would have been better if he hadn’t signaled; signaling made his neck look even shorter.

Seeing this, the onlookers melted even more, awwwing. What kind of peerless cutie is this!

–

The Game Lobby was the gathering place for players. Leaving the lobby led to the Player Rest Stop.

After an instance ended, players could rest for a maximum of 7 days, usually spent in the Rest Stop, or they could directly enter the next instance, or return to the real world.

Shen Hanxiao, without a second word, transferred the points he earned in this instance to Gu Rong.

In this instance, he ranked third, earning over 300,000 points. He transferred all of it to Gu Rong in one go.

Gu Rong had used 100,000 points (deducted for the Jiangshi teeth antidote for Shen Hanxiao). Now receiving over 300,000, he actually gained over 200,000 points.

006 helped him tally his points and inventory.

[Total Points: 6.47 million (Task Rewards + Audience Donations – Spending + Player Transfer) [Detailed Statement Attached]]

[Props: Devil’s Key *3, Copy Card, Eye of Wisdom, Fishing Rod, Ghost Ship, Human Cub Experience Card.]

Seeing the [Human Cub Experience Card], both 006 and Gu Rong were a bit confused.

In the “Little Jiangshi” instance, Gu Rong had obtained many cards, but cards like [Green Jiangshi] and [Little Jiangshi King] were consumables, rendered void outside the instance, and couldn’t be brought out. Yet this card, which couldn’t be called useless but was essentially useless, was actually brought out as a prop.

Clicking on the [Human Cub Experience Card], the description was still the same as before, but slightly different?

[Human Cub Experience Card: Duration one hour. After use, will become identical to a normal human cub. Let you re-experience the joy of being human~]

006 said: [Little host, although this card’s use isn’t apparent now, perhaps it will be useful later.]

Gu Rong nodded his little head: [Okay!]

Zhao Jiuquan had originally come to help Shen Hanxiao. Seeing that the little Zaizai cub was fine, he planned to return directly to the real world.

Before leaving, Zhao Jiuquan paused silently for a few seconds, then spoke: “See you again, if fate allows.”

Zhao Jiuquan spoke! Gu Rong, however, started using hand gestures, signing goodbye.

Zhao Jiuquan: “…”

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao held back their laughter. Zhao Jiuquan wasn’t good with words. The few times he spoke were because of Gu Rong, clearly showing his fondness for this little cub.

Before leaving, Zhao Jiuquan gifted Gu Rong a Peachwood Sword – a prop he obtained from this instance.

Gu Rong was an NPC and didn’t participate in player rankings. Zhao Jiuquan was the undisputed number one, so his rewards were quite generous.

This Peachwood Sword, upon reaching Gu Rong’s hands, automatically shrank to fit Gu Rong’s size. Held in Gu Rong’s hand, it looked like a child’s toy, very cute.

[Prop: Peachwood Sword]

[Function 1: Ward off evil. Within a ten-meter radius, all evil retreats.]

[Function 2: Spend 1 point, swing randomly, and drop 1 large, plump, sweet, delicious fresh peach.]

006 praised: [Little host, this is really good! Whenever you’re hungry, just spend 1 point, and you can eat a peach.]

Gu Rong immediately squirmed in Shen Hanxiao’s arms, wanting to get down. He was hungry right now.

006: […]

Okay!

Shen Hanxiao put him down on the ground.

As soon as he was on the ground, Gu Rong held the sword with both small hands, heh, and swung it into the air, quite clumsily.

However, after swinging, nothing happened. No peach dropped.

Gu Rong: “Eh?” He swung it twice more, but still no peach appeared.

006 said: [Little host, look, this item has restrictions. Usable only inside instances.]

Hearing this, Gu Rong put away the Peachwood Sword. In his milky voice: [Okay then.]

Several adults couldn’t help but find it amusing.

After Zhao Jiuquan left, only the two adults and one cub remained.

Zhuang Yu suggested: “How about we take Rongrong to eat first?”

Hearing “eat,” Gu Rong happily kicked his little feet: “Okay, eat food!”

–

The group went to a Cantonese restaurant.

Eating at the Rest Stop required spending points, but thanks to Gu Rong, Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao not only cleared each instance smoothly but also ranked quite high. Relying on the donations from Zaizai’s aunties, they had plenty of points.

The two ordered many dishes, specifically choosing many light, soft, easily digestible foods suitable for a child of Gu Rong’s age.

Gu Rong sat in a baby chair, a little bib tied around his neck.

He was most proficient when it came to eating. Holding a small spoon himself, he ate on his own, taking big mouthfuls, eating with great relish.

Watching the cub eat was also a kind of enjoyment. Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao’s attention quickly focused entirely on Gu Rong.

Gu Rong was currently the forum’s little top streamer. To avoid attracting too much attention, they had chosen a private room.

The waiters coming in and out had burning gazes. Each time they entered, they would look towards Gu Rong, this little cub, clearly recognizing him as well.

After several times, a waiter finally couldn’t resist, taking out a notebook and pen: “Little Rong Zaizai, could you give Uncle an autograph?”

Zhuang Yu: “…”

Shen Hanxiao: “…”

Is it possible this is just a two-year-old cub, without even a kindergarten diploma? Rongrong is really famous now, like a little child star who blew up overnight.

Gu Rong’s little face was innocently cute. He pointed his little spoon at the notebook, scooped up a mouthful of pork rib congee, aowu, and put it in his mouth.

The waiter melted from the cuteness.

After eating the congee, Gu Rong took the pen. His small hand held it quite properly. He drew and drew on the notebook, very seriously, finally drawing a long, winding, caterpillar-like scribble.

Zhuang Yu: “…………”

Shen Hanxiao: “…………”

Truly, one dares to ask, and one dares to sign!

The waiter treasured the notebook: “Our restaurant offers Little Rong Zaizai complimentary sponge cake and snacks! Enjoy your meal!”

Hearing this, Gu Rong, with the spoon still in his mouth, happily clapped his small hands.

The waiter left excitedly, no longer disturbing their meal.

Gu Rong focused wholeheartedly on eating. Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao logged into the player forum and started browsing posts.

006 said: [Little host, shall we check out the player forum? It only costs 100 points.]

Players didn’t need to spend points to enter the game forum, but Gu Rong, being an NPC, had to spend points. Fortunately, it was very cheap.

The game forum had many hot posts about Gu Rong. Might as well let the little host join the fun.

Gu Rong was eating broccoli – a balanced meal of meat and vegetables, not picky at all. He tilted his little head: [What is forum?]

006: [It’s where players gather. Little host will know once you take a look.]

Gu Rong nodded: [Okay, Zaizai go!]

After a moment, Gu Rong looked down at himself, still sitting in the same spot, and couldn’t help but wonder: [Huh? Why Zaizai still here?]

006: […]

006: […Little host, please look at the big screen.]

A huge light screen appeared before Gu Rong, displaying the game forum interface. The homepage was mostly discussing Gu Rong, this Zaizai, NPC cub. Several hot posts had already reached hundreds or thousands of pages.

006 knew this little host couldn’t read and thoughtfully purchased a direct translation system. The text appearing before Gu Rong could now be automatically understood.

Gu Rong looked at the constantly refreshing page on the screen before him and let out an amazed “Wow!”

He swiped rapidly on the light screen with his small hand. Seeing posts with his name, he tapped them with his small hand.

[Forum should just be renamed Zaizai Forum! Anyone who doesn’t know better would think there’s only one cub in the whole game!]

[Haven’t watched this cub’s instance. Are there players this young? What’s this cub’s background?]

[Fake news? This cub is an NPC! You don’t even know this? Did your village just get internet?]

…

[Mu Xingye failed to torture the cub and got tortured instead. That was a key step in this cub becoming the infinite little top streamer. Several million people were watching the torture stream back then, and the final viewership broke ten million, right? What an embarrassment.]

[However, Mu Xingye won’t be able to trouble this NPC cub anymore. He’s entered a loop. As long as he enters the game, he will enter “Museum of Oddities”.]

[Mu Xingye is being hunted by an NPC. Which NPC? The dalao player whose identity he stole and turned into an exhibit! A dalao is indeed a dalao. Even as an NPC, he still crushes Mu Xingye!]

[Players have a maximum rest time of seven days. Once seven days pass, even if they don’t choose an instance, they will be pulled into the game. What’s this called? Karmic Retribution!]

[Final outcome: Either Mu Xingye kills the other party again in the instance, or he gets killed by the other party.]

[Or, mutual destruction!]

…

As soon as Gu Rong saw Mu Xingye’s name, he tapped the screen with his small hand: “Fish fishing.” He still remembered using this player to fish.

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao also noticed the posts about Mu Xingye. After reading them, they could only say the idiot deserved it.

Zhuang Yu fed Gu Rong a bite of sponge cake and said: “So, as long as the little ghost doesn’t enter ‘Museum of Oddities’, he won’t encounter that Mu idiot again.”

Shen Hanxiao spread his hands: “I almost want to go join the fun and watch the joke.”

But saying that, Mu Xingye was like a dog skin plaster (annoying). Best not to get involved with such a crazy player.

After finishing the meal, just as the two adults and one cub left the restaurant, they ran into Lin-dalao, whom they hadn’t seen for several days.

Lin-dalao stood out in the crowd, tall and slender, exceptionally handsome, extremely eye-catching.

Seeing Lin-dalao, Gu Rong’s eyes lit up, his small voice excited: “Uncle Doctor!!”

Saying this, he ran dadada towards Lin-dalao. Having played a Little Jiangshi for seven days, out of habit, he hopped twice while running, his short arms outstretched.

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao watched from behind, successfully amused.

Lin-dalao raised an eyebrow: “Little Jiangshi?”

Gu Rong, although young, also knew embarrassment and shyness. He shook his head, “Zaizai forgot.”

Lin-dalao‘s lips curved slightly.

This two-year-old cub’s enthusiasm instantly melted the awkwardness of unfamiliarity between the adults.

Lin-dalao‘s misty eyes softened somewhat. He nodded towards Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao.

Lin-dalao said: “The forum posts, I presume you’ve already seen.”

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao nodded, then paused. Could it be… the dalao made a special trip just to remind them about the posts regarding Mu Xingye? Looking at it this way, the dalao was indeed cold on the outside but warm on the inside, truly concerned about this two-year-old cub.

Shen Hanxiao said: “Dalao means the posts about Mu Xingye? It seems he won’t be able to trouble the little ghost anymore.”

Gu Rong, though small, was listening seriously to their conversation. Hearing this, he sighed like a little adult: “Then Zaizai can’t use the big bad guy for fish fishing anymore.”

The group: “…”

Alright, so it wasn’t Mu Xingye troubling Gu Rong, but from the beginning, Mu Xingye was the one being tortured?

–

Gu Rong played in the Game Lobby for three or four days. Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao stayed with him the whole time, not entering any games.

Lin-dalao also came by every day to check on Gu Rong for a bit, disappearing the rest of the time.

Gu Rong still remembered earning points, and now also had the task of finding keys for Lord Devil. After playing for a few days, he was ready to enter an instance and do tasks, like a little king of participation.

The game login portal for NPCs and players was not the same. Gu Rong had to return to the virtual space to log into the game.

Before leaving, Gu Rong waved his small hand, his milky voice saying: “Bye Big Brother, bye Little Brother!”

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao were quite reluctant to part.

Only players ranked in the top 100 server-wide could use tracking props. The two lacked enough experience. Last time, they entered the game following Mu Xingye and luckily ended up in the same instance as Gu Rong. But the “Little Jiangshi” instance was based on luck. Whether they could enter the same instance next time was unknown.

The two took turns hugging the little cub, feeling empty inside, like mothers sending their child off on a long journey.

Returning to the virtual space, Gu Rong chose an instance himself again. Like the previous times, without any hesitation, his small hand swiped shua shua shua, quickly selecting an instance.

The card flipped over, showing a photo of an underground karst cave. The light was dark. Inside the abyss-like cave, an unknown terror seemed to be lurking…

Instance: “Cave Monster”.