Gu Laohan led Gu Rong to meet up with Village Chief Gu and the others.

Village Chief Gu was waiting at the intersection with the group of tourists and four slender young villagers.

These four young villagers were the guides who would lead the tourists down into the cave; they would also go down.

The underground karst cave had many narrow and cramped passages. People with wider or heavier builds would have difficulty navigating them.

Gu Laohan, however, was skilled in water navigation. Reaching the cave entrance required traveling a section by water, needing Gu Laohan to steer the boat.

Seeing the little radish head stumbling along behind Gu Laohan, everyone was stunned for a moment.

Gu Rong took two steps, huffing and puffing, heixiu heixiu, pausing to catch his breath as if exhausted, even raising his small arm to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.

Everyone: “…”

This little cub… such a drama queen!

Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao couldn’t help but smile. Lin-dalao also curled his lips. They knew Rongrong would follow. It made sense; Gu Rong always participated in the main storyline of the instances. He couldn’t stay behind in Gu Family Village.

This time, the players’ task was to enter the cave, find the method to lift the Shenzhong Mountain curse, and survive for two days to be considered cleared.

Jones, the man who ate roasted insect skewers yesterday, was also present. It wasn’t obvious at night, but in the daytime, his right eyeball looked particularly terrifying. It seemed the part where his eye should be was also the eye part of the worm. That milky white mass would occasionally rotate, a black dot sliding within it, like a fish bladder, observing the outside world.

Everyone dared not make eye contact with Jones, trying their best to avoid his right eye.

Jones saw Gu Rong had come too and grinned, saying: “This little cub came too? The caves are narrow. It’s much more convenient for children to crawl inside. Passages adults can’t squeeze through, children can enter.”

Gu Laohan pulled Gu Rong protectively behind him: “He’s not going. We’ll return after dropping you off.”

Jones ignored Gu Laohan’s words, raised his palm, and stroked the worm inside his head, which had been unusually active since just now: “It’s been away from home too long, wants to go home and see. I can only bring it back. It started getting excited before we even arrived.”

His tone suggested they were indeed old friends. Thinking about it was truly… quite perverted.

The players’ expressions were complicated, finding it hard to articulate their feelings.

Each person carried a backpack containing food and water, a helmet, searchlight, dagger, flashlight, rope, and other various tools.

Reaching the cave entrance required an hour-long water journey.

Everyone looked at Shenzhong Mountain. The mountain was close before their eyes, seemingly reachable with an outstretched hand, but the actual distance was still quiet far.

In reality, mountain shapes resembling human faces weren’t uncommon, but what was strange about Shenzhong Mountain was that, no matter the viewing angle, the profile of the young man lying flat remained unchanged. This was unscientific, but in a horror game, there was no need to seek scientific explanations.

Gu Laohan steered the boat. All the players, tourist NPCs, and Village Chief Gu sat inside the boat cabin.

Gu Rong also sat obediently in the cabin, knees together, small hands placed on his knees, looking very well-behaved.

His big eyes darted around, looking at Zhuang Yu, then at Shen Hanxiao, then at Lin-dalao, unable to resist covering his mouth and giggling.

Knowing people but pretending not to – adults could restrain themselves, but a child couldn’t hide it at all.

Gu Rong practically had “I know you!” written all over his little face.

Village Chief Gu’s gaze shifted back and forth between them, his face showing suspicion.

Zhuang Yu took a sandwich from his backpack and gave it to Gu Rong: “Here, kid, have a sandwich.”

Gu Rong immediately took it: “Thank you, Big Brother!”

Shen Hanxiao took out a bottle of hot milk: “Little Brother treats you to milk.”

Gu Rong thanked him sweetly: “Thank you, Little Brother!”

And just like that, they struck up a conversation.

Village Chief Gu: “You know each other?”

Thinking about it, it was impossible. Rongrong had always been in Gu Family Village and never left. These people had arrived in Gu Family Village for the first time yesterday. It’s impossible they knew each other.

Shen Hanxiao: “Just met.”

Village Chief Gu: “…” Fine.

Lin-dalao watched their interaction without participating, arms crossed, leaning against the cabin wall, eyes closed in rest.

The boat swayed back and forth; the water was a murky green.

Soon, Village Chief Gu realized something was wrong. His eyes widened as he looked at Gu Rong: “Rongrong, how can you talk? Weren’t you unable to speak?”

Gu Rong, holding the milk and biting into the sandwich, spoke up for himself in his tender voice: “Rongrong not little mute! Why wouldn’t Rongrong talk?”

Village Chief Gu: “…”

Indeed, Gu Rong had just never spoken before, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t speak. However, Village Chief Gu narrowed his eyes, looking at this cleverness. How could he possibly be a little fool? Could it be… because they were close to Shenzhong Mountain?

[Hahaha dying laughing! You only just realized Zaizai can talk? Didn’t he already speak last night!]

[I wanted to say that too, how long is this reaction delay?]

[Zaizai’s livestream needs to unlock faster! Can’t wait to donate to Zaizai! ＼(`Δ’)/]

[Zaizai’s little actions are too cute! With this acting skill, he deserves an Oscar for the Best Zaizai award!]

The other three players: “…”

Wait, the livestream chat is entirely discussing that cub. Is there really no one here for us? This is too demoralizing.

Village Chief Gu smiled: “Haha, my apologies, I got confused. It’s Big Fool who can’t speak. I mixed him up with Rongrong, this little fool. Truly, Big Fool, Little Fool, hard to tell the fools apart.”

Hearing Village Chief Gu call Gu Rong “little fool,” the expressions of Zhuang Yu’s trio darkened.

Livestream Chat: Go away! You’re the fool, Zaizai will never be a fool!

The three players: …

We should be saying that to you! These viewers have gotten smarter. Initially, seeing the cub in the livestream, maybe too excited to control themselves, they gave a few indiscriminate donations. But now they don’t donate anymore, just post comments.

Gu Rong had heard Gu Laohan mention Big Fool before. Now hearing the Village Chief mention him again, he couldn’t help asking curiously: “Who is Big Fool?”

Village Chief Gu: “Big Fool…”

Just as Village Chief Gu started speaking, suddenly, a figure darted out from behind a pile of discarded goods behind them.

Everyone was caught off guard, startled. They jumped up from their seats, expressions wary.

The boat rocked even more violently, trembling, as if about to capsize.

Gu Laohan, outside, shouted irritably: “Don’t move randomly! If the boat capsizes later, it serves you right if you drown! I won’t rescue you!”

Village Chief Gu took a breath, only then seeing the figure that had darted out from behind the discarded goods. His eyelids twitched; his face extremely unsightly: “…Xiaoshan! Why are you on the boat!”

The figure emerging from the junk was a teenager. Quite tall, but hunched over. His features were quite handsome, his eyes clear, but his face radiated a simple-minded foolishness. Anyone could tell at a glance that something was wrong with his mental state.

This teenager, like Gu Rong, had a clean and fresh aura, not resembling the locals of Gu Family Village at all.

Big Fool Xiaoshan giggled hehe, his smile simple and honest.

Xiaoshan turned his head to look at Gu Rong, his only friend. His smile grew brighter and also sillier.

Gu Rong also looked at him. Seeing the other person smile at him, he also revealed a big smile.

Village Chief Gu saw Big Fool and Little Fool together, getting a headache. He was about to rub his hair, but realized it would expose the tumor hidden underneath, quickly retracted his hand, and smoothed his hair back down.

Village Chief Gu’s expression showed no surprise, clearly, this wasn’t the first time. Resignedly said: “I was wondering why I hadn’t seen you these past two days. Were you hiding here all along? Waiting to ride the boat again?”

Xiaoshan: “Hehehe.”

Village Chief Gu: “…”

Forget it. Anyway, have to row the boat back later. Just bring Big Fool back then.

Xiaoshan also found a spot in the cabin and sat down, directly on the deck. Knees together, hands on his knees, his posture exactly like Gu Rong’s, very obedient.

But Gu Rong was a two-year-old cub; making such an obedient posture looked cute. On an adult, it looked somewhat awkward.

Xiaoshan was very quiet. Besides giggling hehehe, he truly didn’t speak. Soon, everyone shifted their attention away from him, no longer noticing him.

Only Gu Rong occasionally looked towards this Xiaoshan big brother, his expression full of curiosity.

Xiaoshan saw Gu Rong looking at him, also looked back at Gu Rong, and made a funny face with both hands, teasing Gu Rong.

Gu Rong, indeed a genuine cub, was amused even by such a simple grimace, giggling hehehe. He also used his small hands to pinch his chubby little cheeks, making a face back, even going “Awoo,” “Awoo,” pretending to be a little monster.

Xiaoshan feigned fear, covering his eyes, playing along very cooperatively.

Everyone: “…”

Where is he foolish? He even knows how to play with children.

Throughout the journey, because of Gu Rong and Xiaoshan, the originally dull atmosphere became relaxed and cheerful.

An hour later, the boat slowly approached the shore.

Everyone disembarked one after another. Zhuang Yu had just picked Gu Rong up, intending to carry him down, when Gu Laohan swung his oar, threatening sternly: “What are you doing? Put the child down!”

Before Zhuang Yu could react, Jones had already raised a gun, aiming it at Gu Laohan: “Big Fool, Little Fool, leave them both here. Take them into the cave.”

“Either you shut up and row back obediently, or I kill you and take this Little Fool anyway.”

“…”

Gu Laohan’s chest heaved erratically, his face purple with anger. He regretted bringing the child. Leaving Gu Rong could be understood, but why leave the Big Fool who appeared midway, too? Incomprehensible.

Village Chief Gu looked at the gun, his heartstrings taut, but forced a relaxed tone: “Haha, it’s fine, it’s fine. Since you want to take two more people, let Rongrong and Xiaoshan accompany you. If you encounter narrow passages you can’t squeeze through, you can let these two children try. In two days, at this time, I will send a boat to pick you up.”

He urged Gu Laohan, “Go quickly! Dying or losing Rongrong? It’s not worth it! Go back first.”

Gu Laohan glared hatefully at Jones, looked again at Gu Rong, then unwillingly pushed off with the oar, rowing back the way they came.

Gu Rong and Xiaoshan were left behind.

Jones lowered his gun and said, “So many people in Gu Family Village, every single one has a tumor on their head. Only this Big Fool and Little Fool look normal, without growing that thing. Aren’t you all curious? I’m extremely curious.”

As soon as Jones said this, everyone paused.

Indeed! Just saying, what’s different about this Big Fool? Why, like Gu Rong, does he look not quite like a Gu Family Village local? Because he and Gu Rong are the only two without tumors. But why does everyone in Gu Family Village have tumors, while only these two don’t? What’s their commonality? Could it be… because they’re both fools?

Everyone: “…”

The worm eye in Jones’s right socket spun wildly twice. He clutched his head in pain, forcefully slapping his own skull. The worm finally quieted down.

“I want to see if planting this worm in their bodies will allow it to survive.”