Seeing the Hu family showing no disapproval of Wen Renxi’s actions, Han Jiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zaoya’s father wanted to fight back after being beaten, but he was no match for Wen Renxi. After hitting him, Wen Renxi quickly pulled Han Jiao away.

The Hu family stood behind them, their eyes fixed on their retreating figures.

“A reminder, be careful. The Hu family is strange. If they can’t find Zaoya, they might choose us, the outsiders, instead of the village girls.”

“I know.” Han Jiao’s pounding heart only calmed down after they were out of the Hu family’s sight.

Even though they hadn’t done anything major, Han Jiao was scared, her mind filled with images of Zaoya’s struggle.

“…Why are you crying again?”

Zaoya’s father’s face was swollen from the beating, but Wen Renxi’s eyes were red, as if she were the victim.

Han Jiao had wanted to ask this since Wen Renxi first cried. From yesterday till now, she’d seen Wen Renxi cry several times!

Even more absurd, Wen Renxi was often fierce while crying!

Hitting someone while crying; Han Jiao wondered if it was some kind of ritual.

It was night, and though there was moonlight, Han Jiao was still scared. Unable to discuss other information, she brought up this trivial topic, asking her question.

“…It’s nothing.” Wen Renxi sniffled, wiping her eyes lifelessly.

Her original body’s tear ducts were too developed. Was it some sort of tear incontinence?

It was quite possible, otherwise, she wouldn’t be like this.

Han Jiao: “…”

Oh…

Well, she wouldn’t ask.

The ancestral hall was at the village’s end, but they’d returned to the entrance, having taken Qiu Ping away from Zaoya earlier.

Shangyang Village wasn’t too big or small. Though many houses were lit, it was quiet. Han Jiao talked to Wen Renxi as they walked. Suddenly, Wen Renxi looked past her, fixing her gaze beside her.

Han Jiao: “…”

Without following Wen Renxi’s gaze, she screamed and leaped to Wen Renxi’s other side, clutching her arm, finally looking over.

An old woman with white hair smiled at them. “You’re very pretty, guests.”

“If I were as pretty as you, I wouldn’t have let that bitch get chosen. You’re really pretty…”

Han Jiao: “…”

Damn!

That was scary!

She’d made no sound; Han Jiao hadn’t noticed her at all!

Remembering the “beasts” they’d encountered, the horror was even more chilling.

Ever since the clock went black, Han Jiao was under immense pressure. Noticing this, Wen Renxi, looking at Han Jiao practically clinging to her, shifted her gaze. “Grandma, you could dig up the coffin while it’s dark and no one’s looking, then jump in. Maybe he’ll like you instead?”

“And make sure you defeat that person you mentioned. Don’t let her be arrogant!”

–So envious? Then why are you alive? Go steal her spot!

Wen Renxi’s words were sarcastic, but the old woman’s smile froze, as if enlightened. She muttered and staggered away.

“I’m the best girl, that bitch is a fox spirit. I’m the best… I should wear the snow wedding gown, be the snow bride, bring luck to my family…”

Han Jiao paused, her lips moving.

“…Is she crazy?”

What was so good about being like Zaoya? Being locked in a coffin with a corpse, suffocating to death, what was good about that? Yet the old woman seemed envious, a decades-long obsession.

Ignoring the snow bride’s blessing being fake, even if it were real, what was the point for the snow bride? She died tragically, gaining nothing.

“Not crazy, not stupid.”

Just raised that way, living in that environment.

Han Jiao, being educated, understood Wen Renxi’s meaning and didn’t know what to say.

Well, it wasn’t her business.

In a nightmare world, anything could happen.

But the old woman had scared her; Han Jiao clung closer to Wen Renxi.

…To be fair, though she’d known Wen Renxi a short time, she trusted her strength and guessed why Wen Renxi was “poor.”

She must’ve spent everything on enhancing her body, hence the lack of items.

“I can’t walk like this.” Wen Renxi tried to shake her off, but couldn’t, so she sighed.

“It’s okay, we’re partners, we should be close.”

“…We’re partners, not high school girls going to the bathroom together.”

There was no need to be like conjoined twins.

They weren’t that close.

“But we can be good friends who exchange gifts.”

Wen Renxi: “…”

“…You have a point.”

Han Jiao was relieved Wen Renxi agreed—using items was effective.

Good, at least she was safe until they fell out. She had many items, even if she was otherwise useless.

“But I can’t draw my knife like this.” Wen Renxi shook her arm, showing it was her dominant hand.

Han Jiao paused, let go, then moved to the other side, still sticking close.

“…I’m really scared.”

Wen Renxi: “…”

Understood.

They walked towards the village, entering the Hu’s, then slipped out again, avoiding the villagers.

They had to go to the ancestral hall, find Zaoya, and couldn’t be seen, especially by other players.

They moved faster, Han Jiao eager to check the clock records after finding Zaoya.

Wen Renxi worried about delays.

It was almost dawn.

Nearing the village’s end, Wen Renxi suddenly froze, then ignoring Han Jiao’s gasp, rushed forward, towards the ancestral hall.

Han Jiao didn’t know what happened, but guessing it was Zaoya, either found by villagers or players, she hurried after her.

She was slower, but they were close, she wasn’t worried.

Seeing Wen Renxi vanish like a gust of wind, Han Jiao ran, scared.

She was alone.

Though she told herself she had items and Wen Renxi wouldn’t abandon her, she was still scared of the dark.

Remembering the dark clock, Han Jiao swallowed and ran faster.

But something lurked in the shadows. As she passed an alley between two houses, hands grabbed her, covering her mouth before she could scream.

“Hehehe!”

“What a pretty girl!”

“Hehehehe!”

“The master will be pleased, young master Hu will like such a bride.”

“Hehehe…”

“Why can Zaoya’s family have a snow bride and prosper?”

“Mmmph!”

–

Zaoya, hiding in the ancestral hall, was found by two players.

She was safe there, seldom visited, and women were forbidden entry. Plus, there was food.

But she didn’t know players with tools and agendas were searching.

Huo Yu and Lu Lu found Zaoya and were wary of each other, but agreed to capture her first.

The mission objective was near; bringing Zaoya to Mr. Hu meant escape. Both were determined.

They had to be. In other dungeons, even without top rewards, completion was enough, but not here.

They interfered with each other, giving Zaoya time, but neither would let her escape.

Zaoya wore the white wedding gown, now torn, her legs bearing wounds Wen Renxi had treated. She couldn’t leave the hall.

Huo Yu, level 60+, had seen much. Lu Lu was the same. In the struggle, younger Huo Yu prevailed, using an item to restrain Lu Lu.

His item only held Lu Lu for two minutes, so he had to capture Zaoya and leave fast.

He did sympathize with her, but self-preservation came first.

Zaoya, pale, ran, but was bound by vines, watching Huo Yu approach.

“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to marry a dead man!”

“Don’t tell me that.”

Tell the system, tell Mr. Hu.

Huo Yu stopped before Zaoya, his hood having fallen off, showing a scar from his brow to his eye. He’d almost gone blind.

A price for trusting others, he couldn’t trust NPCs.

Zaoya’s eyes were red, trembling.

He had to be fast.

This dungeon was too dangerous, and Lu Lu would break free soon.

Thinking this, Huo Yu stepped back.

A bloodied butcher knife flew past where he’d been, embedding in a pillar.

Wen Renxi, in sportswear, landed between Zaoya and Huo Yu.