Chapter 18

Please support our translators at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Thus, Zhou Yue gave the most intuitive answer, “I will.”

A single sentence made Mu Qin instantly stunned. Zhou Yue could make out Mu Qin’s consternation. He leaned toward Mu Qin and reached out to touch Mu Qin’s chin, “Could it be that you thought I wouldn’t kill you?” ZMpGc4

Mu Qin didn’t ask a stupid question like “Why are you going to kill me.” He pondered for a moment and seemed to think of something. Then, he looked at Zhou Yue with slightly narrowed eyes and asked again, “Then what do I have to do in order to make you not kill me?”

Zhou Yue didn’t reply. He smiled and moved his face closer. His lips lightly rubbed against the side of Mu Qin’s lips. The ambiguous motion caused the air to overflow with a soul-shaking, infatuating flavor. Then, Zhou Yue held Mu Qin’s waist with one hand, lowered his head, and took a bite on Mu Qin’s neck.

When Zhou Yue bit Mu Qin’s neck, he used a bit of force. Mu Qin couldn’t see it, but he felt there was definitely an imprint of Zhou Yue’s teeth on his neck. This guess made Mu Qin a little shy and ashamed.

Zhou Yue whispered gently in Mu Qin’s ear, “The mechanism of this game requires the killer to kill all the other players without room for negotiation. Because. If I don’t kill people, I’m the one who dies.” Ms5DJL

Mu Qin understood as soon as he heard this, “It means that if you don’t act, you will be obliterated by something else?”

“I will be directly eliminated by the game’s system.” Zhou Yue happily held onto Mu Qin and didn’t plan to let go. Despite not having seen each other for many years, but for some unknown reason, this reunion was not a single bit unfamiliar. Instead, it was all the more intimate. While being hugged like this by Zhou Yue, Mu Qin could always recall their jointly possessed youth of the past.

Those days in high school when they went to school, played ball, traveled, and did bashful things in hotels together.

Zhou Yue was quite patient and began to give Mu Qin a concise introduction to the detailed settings and contents of this killing game. OFXI4Y

Itbe Tef rjlv, “Ktf ujwf kf jgf meggfcais lc lr mjiifv atf ybgvfg kbgiv. Pa lr rjlv ab yf j ujq kbgiv lc vfjat jcv vgfjwr. Pa’r rqfmljilhfv lc ajxlcu lc atf vfqjgafv rqlglar bo qfbqif ktb tjnf vlfv lc atf gfji kbgiv jcv abrrlcu atfw lcab atf ybgvfg kbgiv joafg gfreggfmalcu atfw. Snfgs alwf joafg atf fcv bo j wjq, atf qijsfgr ktb frmjqfv klii yf agjcrofggfv ab j rjof gbbw. Pc atf rjof gbbw lr j reggfji rml-ol rasif nlgaeji mbwqeafg. Ktf mbwqeafg’r bqfclcu rajafwfca lr atlr: ‘Qfimbwf ab atf ybgvfg kbgiv’.”

“How did the border world appear? Who was it created by? We are unable to find these things out… of course, it’s useless even if we know. This kind of mystical power that can allow people to resurrect after death, the truth about this terrifying world, are not things we ignorant mortals can lightly get involved in. We also don’t have the strength to change the world. We only have one objective in this world, and that is survive through any means, whether fair or foul.”

“Continue living, and then what?” Mu Qin raised a question, “If we survive, can we return to the world that can be considered as belonging to us?”

Mu Qin’s question made Zhou Yue contemplate for a long time, answering, “It is reportedly possible” VZb7Au

“…Reportedly?” This unclear wording grabbed Mu Qin’s attention.

“Yes, exactly. Reportedly.” Zhou Yue earnestly watched Mu Qin, “I have never met anyone who could actually escape. Even if most people make it through the novice round, and all exhibit good luck and survive by fluke in the following maps, but after reincarnating through five or six maps and still not seeing hope of escape, their psychological states are already on the verge of collapse. Once their minds collapse, death is inevitable.”

“In various places of the safe room, such as the walls, floor, tables, chairs, etc., you can see traces left behind by other players.”

“It is said that the border world only has one safe room. After completing a map, all players will arrive at the same safe room, but they seem to be separated into different dimensions. None of them can see each other’s silhouette. Later, someone discovered that if you write on the walls, other players can interpret the writing. Although it will quickly be erased by the safe room’s self-repairing function, this is basically the only method players have to communicate with each other in this game.” 7MOHJ3

“From the marks left behind by these players, I learned that this game can be escaped from. There is a chance of returning to the real world, but this is just other people’s word-of-mouth. The definite of who escaped and the concrete method of escaping, none of these have actual conclusions.”

Mu Qin could understand some deeper meaning from Zhou Yue’s words, and this hidden meaning inexplicably made Mu Qin’s hair stand on end. Mu Qin said, “What about you? Since you know so clearly, then how long have you been in this game?”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“I don’t remember.” Zhou Yue continued watching Mu Qin with a deep look, “I’ve been here for a long time.”

Mu Qin was unable to imagine what Zhou Yue was feeling when he said this sentence. He reached out and touched Zhou Yue’s face, his voice revealing some imperceptible panic, “I don’t understand, Zhou Yue… is this signifying that your situation is extremely terrible?” jX0h5x

“At least after meeting you, it’s no longer bad.” At this time, Zhou Yue unexpectedly still had the mind to sweet talk Mu Qin. He held Mu Qin’s waist and rubbed himself on Mu Qin’s body. After a long time, Zhou Yue’s tone suddenly became heavy, “Surviving until now, in fact, I’ve always been thinking of being able to leave and see you again. Before, when I was still in reality, I was hit by a stray bullet while confronting terrorists in a gunfight and lost consciousness halfway while being sent to the hospital. Before dying, my only thoughts were about not having enough time to go find you, why hadn’t I gone to find you earlier, these kinds of thoughts. Thinking and thinking, then…”

Zhou Yue’s voice began to tremble as he spoke. He held Mu Qin even tighter and finally revealed a trace of pain and sadness, “Mu Qin, if only time could flow backwards. If time could reverse back to the years we were in high school, I absolutely must keep you before you leave. Even if I need to give everything up, I must firmly hold you next to me and not let you go anywhere.”

“Zhou Yue.” Mu Qin called Zhou Yue’s name and hugged Zhou Yue back, clinging to his back. He felt Zhou Yue’s body shaking, and his heart couldn’t help growing sour, but he couldn’t even utter half a word.

The two people hugged each other for a long time before Zhou Yue gradually recovered and smiled, “I really missed you, Mu Qin… really, really missed you.” VC3vdE

“I’m sorry.” Mu Qin heard him say this, and his nose grew sour.

“Saying all this, it’s not to make you feel guilty.” Zhou Yue gently shook his head, “So don’t say sorry to me. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who is too useless.”

Mu Qin felt terrible, “But in the end, it’s still because of my departure that you became like this.”

“A lot of people will leave, and there are also a lot of people who will be reunited. And I was just too stupid while working to reunite with you, so stupid that I easily died.” Zhou Yue grasped Mu Qin’s hand, “I’ve constantly been looking forward to seeing you. Although I am very happy that I can see you today, I still wish to see you in the real world.” Wsxgdy

“I’m sorry, Zhou Yue.” Mu Qin finally couldn’t bear it anymore. He reached out and covered his eyes, his voice choked, “Leaving without a word back then, I’m really sorry.”

Zhou Yue helplessly stroked Mu Qin’s head, “We already said don’t be sorry.”

After a long while, Zhou Yue said, “I guess I should still continue telling you about the things in this game. Finally meeting, I hate making you keep crying.”

Mu Qin wiped his eyes and said, “I didn’t cry.” RaL6wO

“Even your eyes are red.” Zhou Yue seemed quite happy seeing Mu Qin cry. He leaned in and kissed Mu Qin’s eyes, “I like you, Mu Qin, so don’t cry.”

“The role of the killer in the game is not fixed, and at the beginning of each game, each player will be randomly assigned a tarot card.” Zhou Yue continued to explain the setup of the game to Mu Qin, “You should have one. At the start of the game, you will find that you have a tarot card in your pocket.”

Mu Qin heard this and reached into his pocket to take out his Fool Tarot card, “Is it this?”

Zhou Yue looked at Mu Qin’s card and nodded, “This tarot card is actually a prop card. I think you should have been able to guess this.” OAUvEN

“Indeed, I think it’s a prop card, but I still haven’t figured out how to use it.” Mu Qin held the Fool Card and thought for a while. Inspecting this card, Mu Qin didn’t think there was anything unusual.

Zhou Yue said, “The Fool Card is the starting card. It represents starting from zero, and it is also an exploration card. It will lead you in the right direction. It sounds complex, but in fact, this card is used to help you find the exit and props. Its method of usage is like using a compass. You hold it and spin in a circle in place. If the pattern on the card’s surface lights up when it is aligned in any direction, then that means there are the exit and props hidden in that direction.”

Please visit chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Zhou Yue said this, and Mu Qin immediately understood. He really held his Fool Card and spun in place. When it pointed in a certain direction, Mu Qin discovered that the pattern on the card’s border faintly shone. Thus, he stopped turning and turned to look in this direction… it appeared to be towards the direction of the church.

“The Fool Card is the easiest card for novices to get because new people can’t figure out the danger surrounding them. Using such a card to guide them in the right direction is for the best. But after passing the novice level, it is very difficult to get this card.” ddO05S

Zhou Yue continued, “Every game is fixed with six players. Among these six players, one of them will randomly get the ‘Death Card’.”

“Death Card?” Mu Qin felt that he had vaguely grasped the key point.

Zhou Yue gave Mu Qin a meaningful look and smiled, “In the Major Arcana of tarot cards, there is a card that represents the ‘Grim Reaper.’ The person who receives this card will become the killer. This card has a self-disguising ability. If I take it out and show you…”

As he spoke, Zhou Yue really took out a tarot card and showed Mu Qin. Soon after, Mu Qin realized in shock that the card Zhou Yue took out was the same as his Fool Card. nfmWLE

“This card will automatically disguise itself as the face of other tarot cards. This point is to hide my identity as the killer. Differences in its disguise cannot be seen with the naked it, but it can only pretend and cannot actually use the same effects as other tarot cards.” Zhou You said, “The Death Card only has one effect. It allows me to become Death… in other words, it allows me to not die.”

Mu Qin was a bit shocked, “Is it not resurrection?”

“It’s undying.” Zhou Yue stressed this difference and played with the tarot card in his hands at the same time, letting the light piece of paper flutter up and down along with his fingers, “It makes me have a terrible ability of self-repairing and makes me immune to pain and anesthetics. Any injury can be recovered according to my will. At the same time, it improves every aspect of my body’s capabilities by a large range, thus making me reach the realm of undying.”

Finished saying so, Zhou Yue still shook his head, “However, the tarot cards in every round are single-use props. If I don’t draw the Death Card in the next game, then I won’t have this kind of strength anymore.” JhYBNx

Mu Qin touched his chin and contemplated, “So to say, at least in this round you’re invincible.”

“Right. The killers in the game are all invincible. You can cause temporary damage to him or her, but he or she will quickly recover in a short time and continue to chase after you.” Zhou Yue spoke but laughed bitterly, “But it’s not that there isn’t a method to restrain the killer. For example, among the tarot cards, there is a card called ‘Judgement’. This card is specifically used to target the killer. If used against the killer, it will make the killer lose the ability to move for a long time.”\n