Chapter 27: Instance Cleared

The villagers escorted them down the path they were previously forbidden from using. The path was shaded by trees on both sides, creating a secluded atmosphere.

However, beyond the shade, at the end of the path, was a massive pit. Approaching it, a rotten stench wafted out.

As the villagers led them closer, they saw the poisonous Konjac from the instance quest for the first time.

Despite being called Konjac, it resembled an irregular triangular pile of rotten mud, except the mud was purple and constantly flowing.

“Ugh!” He Jia couldn’t help but retch at the sight.

The visual impact was too strong, coupled with the constant stench; few could bear it.

Meng Jiayi and Lingji also looked unwell, but Chu Xihen stood behind them like nothing was amiss.

“The sleeping guest can wake up now.” The village chief signaled to the two villagers carrying Scarface.

One of the villagers took out a small bottle from his pocket, filled with an unknown substance, and waved it under Scarface’s nose. The previously sleeping man suddenly woke up.

Scarface instinctively sat up from the stretcher. The blanket slipped off as he moved, and Lingji and the others saw that he was also bound with hemp ropes.

“Where is this? What do you want? Release me!” Scarface was confused. He had been knocked out by a kick near the river and had been unconscious until now. These past two days felt like a blink of an eye to him.

Scarface had been asleep for two days and was now in good spirits, roaring with vigor.

Seeing his arrogance, Lingji couldn’t help but remind him, “Buddy, look up at the countdown. This should be our burial ground. Save your breath!”

With only an hour left, Lingji had resigned himself to his fate. He couldn’t muster any strength to break free from the ropes and could only be at the mercy of the villagers.

Scarface looked up at the sky and immediately struggled in terror, “Release me! There’s no time! We have no time!”

“So, you’re also afraid of running out of time? What were you doing when you first came in?” He Jia was initially terrified, but now seeing someone more cowardly than her, she felt less afraid.

Scarface’s chest heaved violently. He saw that the four of them were tied up and felt even more despair.

“I was knocked out by you and fell into their hands! What about you? Two days have passed! What have you been doing? Why haven’t you cleared the instance?” Scarface’s eyes were filled with hatred.

If these people were useful, he could have coasted through, but now, with no time left, he had to wake up and face this powerless situation.

“The auspicious time has arrived. Let’s offer this person to the mountain god first!” The village chief suddenly spoke, extinguishing Scarface’s aggressive complaints.

The two villagers carrying Scarface stepped forward and dragged him up from the ground.

“What are you doing? What do you want? Let me go! Please, let me go!” Scarface was terrified as he realized the two villagers were dragging him toward the pit. He burst into tears, and his pants became soaked.

As the villagers and Scarface approached, the purple blob in the pit seemed to come to life. The rotten mud flowed even faster.

Fist-sized holes appeared in the mud, and thick branches grew out of them, covered in thorns and purple leaves, swaying and reaching toward the people at the edge of the pit.

“Throw him down!” The village chief urged.

The two villagers were also frightened and quickly pushed Scarface into the pit, scrambling back to the crowd.

Then, everyone watched as the poisonous Konjac used its branches to bind Scarface, dragged him to the triangular body, and swallowed him alive amidst his earth-shattering screams.

Lingji’s forehead was dripping with cold sweat. Although he wasn’t the one pushed down, he looked at the countdown in the sky. With only ten minutes left, his time was also approaching.

The village chief closely monitored the changes in the poisonous Konjac. Seeing that it had grown even more branches after swallowing a person, instead of going to sleep, he was also frightened.

“The mountain god is indeed angered. Before, it would fall asleep after swallowing one person… Luckily, we prepared well and brought more food. Someone, push her down!” The village chief pointed at He Jia.

“Ah!! No! Xinyi, save me!” He Jia screamed and struggled.

Meng Xinyi wanted to save her, but she was powerless.

Seeing that He Jia was about to be pushed into the pit by the two villagers, Lingji panicked and shouted to Chu Xihen, “Fox Bro, think of something! Are we really going to die here?”

Chu Xihen looked up at the countdown, which turned a glaring red when there were five minutes left.

His hands, which were tied behind him, had been untied at some point. He took a step back, distancing himself from the two villagers. Then, from his personal shop, he took out the [Ten Thousand Arrows] card that Bai Jinli had given him before entering the instance.

Lingji had seen cards outside, but it was his first time seeing someone use one.

Chu Xihen held the card between his slender index and middle fingers and flicked his fingers lightly. A pitch-black bow and arrow appeared in his hand.

Then, he took a running start, stepped on the two villagers, and soared into the air. He drew the bow beautifully in mid-air. Although he had no arrow in his hand, the sound of an arrow cutting through the air could be heard.

With a muffled  sound, the poisonous Konjac in the pit deflated like a punctured balloon. Its raised branches drooped instantly.

“Ah!” He Jia was still pushed into the pit. Amidst her screams, the countdown in the sky instantly cleared.

Then, the clown avatar that had brought them into the instance appeared in place of the countdown.

The clown yawned in the air and said in its extremely sarcastic voice, “Hmph, consider yourselves lucky, you bugs. Hurry up and settle your rewards and get out of the instance. Just seeing you makes me sick…”

Before the word “sick” could be uttered, Chu Xihen drew his bow again and aimed at the clown’s head. Then, the avatar was pierced by the arrow and disappeared into the sky.

“This… is this a clear? A reward panel popped up in front of me!” Lingji excitedly watched Chu Xihen land handsomely after firing the arrow.

The villagers stood frozen in place as if someone had pressed the pause button. The poisonous Konjac in the pit also vanished into motes of light.

Now, only He Jia, with a face full of tears, remained in the pit, climbing upwards.

Meng Xinyi couldn’t even bother looking at her rewards and lay at the edge of the pit, reaching out to pull her up.

Chu Xihen glanced at the reward that popped up, chose the last item, then his body dematerialized and disappeared in place.

The personal shop system and reward settlement interface are not visible to others, and after clearing the instance, it will be ranked according to instance contributions. Only those with higher rankings can choose their gifts, and then those lower down can see the contents of the rewards.

After Chu Xihen finished choosing and exited the instance, Lingji saw three skills appear in the reward box. Although he could only choose one, he couldn’t help but jump up.

He was also someone with skills now!