As soon as Gu Lin said “Auntie,” everyone present wanted to laugh, but didn’t dare, holding back their laughter with great difficulty.

Some players used their fingers to prop up their cheeks. If they didn’t, they would have burst out laughing.

This little cub was the best at reading people, always finding the most accurate and appropriate form of address.

The aunties in the livestream chat were about to die of laughter.

[Hahahahahahahaha, holy crap, Auntie, who’s dying of laughter!]

[Cub, you’re so cute. You’re really auntie’s treasure. Welcome to the new auntie~]

[Welcome new auntie~ It’s worth it, hahaha]

[We are all aunties, regardless of gender, age, or anything else, welcome new auntie!]

[Where can I buy a cub of this breed? I’m not greedy, just one is enough [Reward Points x100]]

[Reward Points x100]

The most bewildered one was the Skeleton Maiden. It was stunned.

But its ability to adapt was strong, and it quickly recovered.

As long as it wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassed ones would be others.

The Skeleton Maiden reached out to Gu Lin: “Come, little cutie, let Auntie hold you.”

It even directly accepted the title of Auntie.

As it reached out to Gu Lin, who knew that Gu Lin, being young and unknowing, also innocently reached out his little hand to it.

The Skeleton Maiden’s eyes lit up.

However, just as Gu Lin was about to make a move, Song Ran swiftly stepped forward, holding him back a step.

Skeleton Maiden: “…”

The Skeleton Maiden’s wide robe and large sleeves revealed pale, slender wrist bones, the bone structure excellent, even and slender.

It withdrew its hand, folded its arms across its chest, the emotion in its eyes unclear, smiling faintly as it stared at Song Ran.

Song Ran: “…”

Judging from a skeleton’s head, the smile wasn’t reaching the eyes. But Song Ran was certain that this Skeleton Maiden was not only smiling faintly, but also sneering sarcastically.

In an instant, those skeleton followers also shifted their gazes to Song Ran. Their gazes were eerie and direct, making one’s scalp tingle.

Song Ran’s mental fortitude had always been good, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel nervous, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

Fortunately, the Skeleton Maiden quickly looked away, stepping aside with one leg up, sitting in the rocking chair.

It laughed and said, “Once a person cannot die, human life will become a rampant thing. Anything that is rampant will become worthless, and human life is naturally the same.”

It laughed and glanced at Gu Lin again: “Of course, your little cutie’s life is quite valuable, but the lives of others are not necessarily so.”

These words made the players’ faces change.

Was this a threat?

Everyone else looked at Song Ran. It was all because you, the little baby was obediently letting himself be held, but you had to stop him!

At that moment, not knowing which skeleton took the lead, someone suddenly pushed Song Ran from behind. Another skeleton emerged from the ground and grabbed Song Ran’s ankle.

Song Ran was stunned, and looked down. The skeleton that grabbed his ankle grinned at him.

The next second, Song Ran felt his hand empty. Turning his head, the child in his arms was gone.

Song Ran: “?!”

Holy crap, the baby had been snatched away!!

Not only Song Ran, but the others were also startled, their faces changing.

Gu Lin was snatched away by one skeleton, then thrown to another skeleton. The other skeleton, after receiving him, threw the little baby high into the air.

Gu Lin, like a small cannonball in mid-air, flew in a perfect arc.

Gu Lin: “Wow~~”

Cub is flying~~

The players’ hearts were in their throats, and they couldn’t help but exclaim, watching Gu Lin fly out and then fall towards those skeleton followers.

Before Gu Lin fell, the skeleton followers all reached out, holding the little cub up, catching him steadily.

Then they threw him up again, like throwing a ball, tossing him back and forth in the air above the skeletons’ heads.

The players watched the little baby being thrown into the air, their hearts going up and down, taking a breath and then holding it again, extremely anxious.

“Linlin, Linlin!”

Su Qiao shouted from below, her voice almost cracking, extremely anxious.

But the skeletons were numerous and powerful, all cheering wildly. Her voice was instantly drowned out.

The players were deliberately blocked by the skeletons, unable to get through, and unable to rescue the cub being tossed back and forth.

Gu Lin’s little ears heard Su Qiao’s shouts, but he didn’t have time to respond now.

Each time he was thrown up, Gu Lin would let out a “Wow,” not afraid at all, but instead amused and giggling. But his crisp, childish laughter was also drowned out by the skeletons’ cheers.

The Skeleton Maiden was no longer in that swaying posture. It sat upright in the rocking chair, one leg bent and stepping on the chair, one hand raised in the air, fingertips blooming with small flowers.

It smiled, watching Gu Lin being passed around among the many skeletons, and its jiazi yin turned back into a clear young man’s voice: “Skeletons are undead and immortal, but they also don’t have any feeling. The touch, taste, smell, and pain of normal humans, we don’t feel any of it.”

“But we retain the thoughts and emotions of humans.”

“Our flesh is undead and immortal, but our spirits are tormented by pain. We are just walking corpses.”

Those skeleton followers also shouted in agreement: “Walking corpses!”

Skeleton Maiden: “This is the immortality that humans pursue!”

Skeleton Followers: “Painful immortality!”

The players, watching this absurd scene, had the same thought flash through their minds – this group of skeletons was crazy!

Too crazy!

The Skeleton Maiden’s whole body exuded an evil aura. His young man’s voice turned back into jiazi yin: “Violating the laws of nature comes with a price. The immortality that humans dream of exists in this form, neither human nor ghost.”

“We value beauty above all else, but with only a skeleton frame left, no matter how you dress it up, the first impression is still just a skeleton image.”

The players, hearing this, thought, you’re still skeletons at second and third glance, no matter how you look, you’re skeletons.

And violating the laws of nature? Could it be that the reason they became skeletons was because they pursued immortality, and the result was counterproductive?

Immortality was achieved, but it was immortality in the form of a skeleton.

At this time, those skeleton followers threw Gu Lin in the direction of the Skeleton Maiden. The little cub landed steadily in the Skeleton Maiden’s arms.

The cheers and shouts instantly stopped, and the whole place fell silent.

The Skeleton Maiden had successfully held the little baby. She smiled, her long, slender, pale finger bones poking Gu Lin’s little nose and saying, “Little cutie, are you scared?”

Gu Lin’s little face was flushed, his big eyes blinked, and he shook his head.

Then he struggled to get down from the Skeleton Maiden’s arms.

The Skeleton Maiden didn’t stop him, letting the child down.

Gu Lin got down, his short little legs dadada, running to the high platform, his eyes shining brightly.

Skeleton Maiden: “?”

Others: “…”

This little cub, what did he want to do?

Gu Lin ran to the high platform and stood there, his little voice excited: “Again, again, cub wants to be lifted high again!”

Skeleton Maiden: “…”

Skeleton Followers: “…”

Players: “…”

Good heavens!

Lifted high!

Being thrown around by skeletons, more exciting than a roller coaster.

If it had been anyone else, they would have been scared out of their wits, but this little cub actually got addicted to it, didn’t have enough fun, and wanted to do it again.

Players: “…………”

For others, the dangerous horror world, for this little cub who was shorter than a person’s arm, was a large amusement park.

This little doll, he really didn’t understand the situation!

[Hahahaha lifted high, I knew it, cub, as expected of you!]

[The cub’s focus is always different from others, hahaha.]

[Cute cub, auntie will kiss you, hug you, and lift you high!

[Reward Points x100]]

Lifting high was impossible, no more lifting high. Song Ran scooped Gu Lin back up.

The Skeleton Maiden didn’t stop him, letting Song Ran take Gu Lin back.

One hand fiddling with the fake hair hanging on its chest, it said: “However, you will soon become skeletons, and you will become like us.”

The skeleton followers: “You will soon become like us, gagaga!”

“If we can’t become like you, then we’ll make you become like us. That way, everyone will be the same.”

“We won’t be unbalanced because of things we don’t have and you do.”

Hearing these words, the new players were furious and speechless. The experienced players had seen a lot of the NPCs’ bad behavior and reacted calmly.

A new player whispered, “Damn, isn’t this just sour grapes? They don’t have it, so they don’t allow others to have it!”

Another new player whispered the same, “Perverted!”

The Skeleton Maiden had excellent hearing, covering her mouth and chuckling twice, saying, “We’re already like this, what’s wrong with being a little perverted?”

Players: “…………”

Openly perverted!

Its followers echoed in unison: “That’s right, what’s wrong with being a little perverted!”

“We’re already like this, can’t we be perverted?”

“Damn, this is too harsh!”

“That’s right, why can’t we be perverted! We’re just going to be perverted!”

Players: “…”

This was clearly a group of skeleton bandits!

Song Ran, holding Gu Lin, said, “They have a point with the Mermaid Town Mayor!”

Su Qiao nodded, deeply agreeing.

The players didn’t stay here too long, and soon continued to walk along the skeleton street.

Gu Lin’s little head rested on Song Ran’s shoulder, his eyes looking longingly at the Skeleton Maiden, reluctant to leave.

As a little auspicious cub dumpling, Gu Lin didn’t have a father or mother, no friends, and had never even been to an amusement park.

Gege was too busy, and couldn’t always play with him.

Gu Lin had no one to play with, and hadn’t played any fun games.

Just now, being lifted high by the skeletons, Gu Lin was so happy he could fly. He liked being lifted high, and wanted to play again.

The Skeleton Maiden sat in the rocking chair on the high platform, back in that lazy posture, looking from afar at this little cub who didn’t want to leave. The smile in its eyes deepened a bit.

–

Gu Lin was lifted high… Bah, tossed around like a ball, yet the little flower on his head was still there.

This little flower, no one knew what principle it worked on, but after being placed on Gu Lin’s head, it was like it had grown there.

Seeing Gu Lin looking dispirited, Su Qiao touched his fluffy little head.

Gu Lin also raised his little hand and touched the little flower on top of his head.

He didn’t get lifted high, but he still had his little flower.

Skeleton Street was bustling and lively, but the players’ minds were on the mission. Walking along, they were all paying attention to observing these skeletons.

At first, they didn’t understand, skeletons were undead and immortal, so why did they still want to lift the curse? After hearing the Skeleton Maiden’s words, they vaguely understood.

Although they were undead and immortal, they couldn’t feel happiness, and their spirits were tormented by pain.

This island was closed off and isolated from the world, not at all like a paradise, but more like a prison.

Thinking of the “source of the curse” mentioned by the Double-Cap Big Shot earlier, Wu Jin carefully said: “I want to know, why do the animals on the island all become skeletons, but the plants don’t? Why were you cursed? Do you know the source of the curse?”

“Good question,” said the black-robed skeleton. “We want to know too.”

Wu Jin: “…”

Others: “…”

So, the skeletons didn’t know the source of the curse.

Black-robed skeleton: “If we knew, would we still be like this?”

Players: “…”

Uh, that’s true.

Su Qiao said, “But everything must have a beginning. You skeletons are undead and immortal, so the first people to become skeletons must still be alive. You can ask them, maybe you can find the source of the curse.”

The black-robed skeleton, hearing this, fell silent, not answering this question.

The players looked at each other, their doubts growing even deeper.

The forty-year-old male player from the Deep Sea Guild, Lu Quanming, seemed to have a high status, like the central figure of these Deep Sea Guild members.

He snorted coldly and said: “I’m afraid you’ve sacrificed to your Skeleton King before, but the curse wasn’t lifted. That is to say, sacrifice is useless. Your Skeleton King won’t help you lift the curse. I seriously doubt the existence of the Skeleton King.”

The black-robed skeleton suddenly turned his head, glaring at him.

Lu Quanming had been through more instances than everyone present combined. Being glared at by the black-robed skeleton, he wasn’t flustered.

Lu Quanming narrowed his eyes slightly: “You said earlier that you once sent skeletons to the depths of the Black Swamp, to find the Skeleton King, right?”

“But you said that none of them returned alive. Since none of them returned alive, how do you know that the Skeleton King really exists, and isn’t just something you imagined?”

The eyes that wanted to kill someone couldn’t be hidden. The black-robed skeleton’s gaze became even more terrifying, wishing he could use his gaze to stab several holes in Lu Quanming.

Lu Quanming snorted coldly: “How about we join forces? We’ll help you lift the curse, and you don’t have to sacrifice us. Anyway, our goals are the same, both to lift the curse.”

Hearing him say this, the other players all echoed in agreement.

Indeed, the skeletons’ desire to lift the curse was consistent with the players’ mission. Everyone was on the same side, and there was no need to kill each other.

The black-robed skeleton pondered for two seconds, then laughed strangely, “hehe”: “You can do whatever you want.”

The players, hearing it say this, all lit up, faintly feeling that there was hope for negotiation.

The black-robed skeleton finished the second half of the sentence: “Anyway, when the time comes, we’ll do what we have to do.”

Players: “…”

Damn!

They discovered that this group of skeletons was really frank, with an attitude of not hiding anything. If they said they wanted to kill them, they said it directly, resolutely preventing them from guessing blindly.

–

Skeleton Island’s trees blocked out the sky, dim and eerie, and the sky was always foggy, making it impossible to feel the passage of time.

Next, there was silence. The players walked along the path made of skull fragments, back to the skeleton house.

Before, there was only one skeleton house, but now there were five.

The previous skeleton house was very large, able to accommodate nearly a hundred people without a problem. But the current five skeleton houses were only one-fifth the size of the previous one.

At this time, the players saw that the last skeleton house hadn’t been finished yet. There was a pile of skulls on the ground, intelligently rolling around on their own, rolling onto the house, using their heads to build the house, becoming part of the house.

The players were stunned. Could these five skeleton houses have been taken apart from the previous one?

There were so many tall trees on the island, but they simply and crudely used skulls to build houses, and these skulls were actually willing to serve as building materials.

The black-robed skeleton said: “You can rest here, or you can move around freely. Tomorrow I will come and take you to see your burial place.”

Players: “…”

These words were impossible to respond to.

They didn’t really want to see it, thank you.

Earlier, the black-robed skeleton had said that they would be sunk into the Black Swamp, so he was probably taking them to the Black Swamp.

The black-robed skeleton didn’t stay long and soon left.

Gu Lin had already been placed on the ground. He squatted on the ground, like a little gas canister, whispering to himself, “Cub still wants to be lifted high.”

His voice was aggrieved and pitiful.

Song Ran was stunned for a moment. This little cub, after walking the second half of the way, still hadn’t forgotten about being lifted high.

Looking at this little chubby baby who wasn’t even two zha^[1]t/n: Zha (拃) is a traditional Chinese unit of length, roughly the span of an outstretched hand. long, Song Ran tsked: “Little gui, you say you’re so small, and you know how to eat, and you know how to drink, and you know how to play, it’s strange.”

Gu Lin’s little hand held the little kitten, the little flower on his head swaying in the wind, his voice clear and tender: “Cub is a little child, not a little fool.”

Song Ran: “…”

9527: “…”

Livestream: “…”

The cub was just young, not stupid.

Song Ran thought for half a second, walked over, and picked up the little baby squatting on the ground.

He held the little cub with both hands, lifted him into the air three times, and then caught him steadily.

After being lifted high, Gu Lin started giggling, immediately happy, without even a transition.

Gu Lin: “Again, again, Song Ran-shushu, again!”

Song Ran’s eyelids twitched.

The Double-Cap Big Shot was standing nearby, a faint smile on his lips, watching Song Ran lift this little cub high.

Wu Jin smiled and teased, “Don’t let the black robe come by tomorrow and see you still lifting this little cub high.”

Song Ran: “…”

That wouldn’t happen.

Who could do nothing but lift him all night? If he really lifted him all night, he wouldn’t have to wait for skeletonization, it would directly take his old life.

Gu Lin was also a sensible little cub, and didn’t let Song Ran lift him for too long, wanting to get down himself.

Gu Lin was sweet, his soft little hands proactively holding Song Ran’s two fingers and shaking them, saying, “Thank you, Song Ran-shushu.”

Song Ran, after hearing this, felt his heart melt like anything. He instantly felt that holding him this whole way hadn’t been in vain, and even wanted to pick up the little cub and lift him a few more times, just treating it as weightlifting.

–

Twenty players, five skeleton houses, on average four players per house.

The four Deep Sea Guild members, needless to say, were exactly four people in a group.

Gu Lin, Su Qiao, Song Ran, plus the Double-Cap Big Shot, were also exactly four.

Even if the Big Shot was solitary, this time there were only five houses, and it was impossible to live alone.

The four of them had come from the previous instance, had experienced great winds and waves together – literally – and were relatively familiar, so naturally they were divided into one group.

The Double-Cap Big Shot hmmed, not saying anything.

Wu Lan pinched Gu Lin’s soft, sticky little face, smiling and saying: “I think this house is quite big, four people and six people are about the same, we can squeeze in and live together.”

Wu Jin said: “That’s right, it’s better to live together and take care of each other, it’s only a few days anyway.”

After the two finished speaking, the three people and one child in front of them were completely unmoved.

Gu Lin squatted on the ground, his little hand grabbing the skull fragments on the ground to play with. Those skull fragments were crushed like sand, and he was playing with them like sand, even building a small house, having fun by himself.

Everyone: “…”

Wu Jin and Wu Lan could only sigh and leave, going to find other players to form a group.

–

The three people and one child entered the skeleton house. The house was very much like a rough draft version of a skull, the decorations very simple. The tables and stools were also made of skulls, but fortunately, the beds were normal wooden boards.

There were four single beds in the room, just enough for one person each.

It was a good thing they hadn’t let Wu Jin and Wu Lan squeeze in, otherwise the beds wouldn’t have been enough.

At this time, the skull heads on the skeleton wall, seeing Gu Lin, started chattering: “Fat baby, you’re the fat baby carried over by the skeleton elder!”

Another skull head said: “Look, I told you he was cute, with a round head and a round brain.”

The previous skull head: “Fat baby is really cute. I was sleeping just now. Come quickly and pat my head, my head is also good to pat.”

Other skull heads also said, “My head is even better to pat, pat mine!”

“My head can be patted like a ball!”

“My head can not only be patted, it can also be kicked like a ball!”

“…” The other three, hearing the words of these several skull heads, were speechless, but also grasped a keyword – skeleton elder.

Generally speaking, only someone very old could be called elder level, perhaps it was the first generation of skeletons.

“Maybe this skeleton elder will know the source of the curse,” Su Qiao said.

Song Ran pondered for a moment, walked over, and patted those skull heads: “You said that skeleton elder, what’s his background?”

The skull heads pei pei twice: “I won’t let you pat, take away your stinky hand, I’ll let the fat baby pat!”

Song Ran: “…”

Gu Lin didn’t go to pat the skull heads. He yawned, his little hands rubbing his eyes, saying, “Cub is sleepy, wants to shuijiao.”

Su Qiao picked him up and put him on a bed, patting his little body, with an auntie’s smile as she watched him sleep.

Gu Lin patted his little tummy and said, “Cover with blanket.”

Su Qiao smiled and pulled the thin blanket over him, covering his little tummy.

“Linlin, shuijiao!”

Gu Lin knew how to lull himself to sleep. Seeing Su Qiao patting his little body, he said in a tender voice: “Jiejie, cub can lull himself to shuijiao.”

Saying this, he began to hum the essential bedtime “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, while patting his tummy.

Su Qiao held back a laugh, what was this humming?

Mm-hmm, couldn’t tell, but the cub lulling himself to sleep was also too cute, cuteness overload!

Song Ran looked at the cub who had already fallen asleep, then looked at those skull heads, and said: “Answer my question well, and when Fat Baby wakes up, he’ll come and pat your heads.”

Those several skulls, seeing Gu Lin, tiny, lying on his side on the bed, his tummy covered with a small blanket.

His two little legs curled up together, his two little hands clenched into two little fists, breathing evenly, already asleep in seconds.

The several skull heads instantly closed their eyes, their mouths tightly shut, pretending to be dead skulls, ignoring Song Ran.

Song Ran cursed inwardly, this group of NPCs, playing the double standard really well!