Jiang Xiuxiu was startled by the ghastly face, instinctively taking several steps back.
Meanwhile, the man's expression shifted from malicious to pained and struggling.
"It's a ghost! The demon came out!" he muttered. "Don't let the demon escape. They are masters of deceit and
manipulation."
After murmuring these words, his body trembled violently. Suddenly, he turned around and charged headfirst
into the pillar next to the lounge.
With a heavy thud, his body collapsed to the ground, convulsing. Blood trickled down his forehead, staining
his unseeing eyes red.
He was dead.
A faint smell of blood permeated the damp air, making the silence even more eerie.
"What just happened?" Jiang Xiuxiu couldn't help but ask.
But she quickly realized it was a foolish question. The man must have endured severe mental torment and, in
his last moment of clarity, committed suicide to escape the game.
Such a decisive and brutal method of suicide was shocking, even for Jiang Xiuxiu, who had considered ending
her own life but never in such a violent way.
The male player must have been in unbearable pain before he chose to end it all so violently.
Shu Xin didn't laugh at Jiang Xiuxiu's question; instead, she squinted at her and asked, "You didn't go to
your lecture?"
Jiang Xiuxiu shook her head. "No, I skipped it."
"I see," Shu Xin nodded knowingly. "That explains why your situation is different from theirs."
As she spoke, Shu Xin walked to the door and pushed it open.
"He must have been haunted by a ghost. In this game, some ghosts hide among the NPCs," she explained. "He
was likely influenced by a ghost, causing him to experience bizarre hallucinations or auditory illusions."
"No one knows exactly what they see, but over time, they go mad from the fear, either committing suicide or
being forcibly logged out by the game."
Jiang Xiuxiu knew many players suffered psychological trauma after the game, prompting the developers to
organize a team of psychological experts.
But she hadn't realized how these traumas originated.
Teaching classes in the game was incredibly dangerous, given the number of students who could be disguised
ghosts.
No wonder that girl with the love letter reacted so strangely when she found out Jiang Xiuxiu wasn’t going
to class.
This was Jiang Xiuxiu's first time witnessing a death. She had expected to be terrified, but apart from an
initial discomfort, she found herself surprisingly calm.
"Do you have any questions for me?" Shu Xin poured her a glass of water and asked, "Before entering the
game, I followed it closely and gathered some useful information."
Jiang Xiuxiu took a sip of water and thought for a moment. She recounted the strange behavior of the love
letter girl and how she had intentionally given the wrong directions.
"Hmm..."
Shu Xin pondered for a moment after listening to Jiang Xiuxiu.
"I don't know much about the girl who gave you the love letter," Shu Xin said slowly. "However, I once read
a player's account that said, 'Danger never disappears; it only comes back stronger. If you dodge one minor
threat with cunning, you'll face a greater danger later.'"
Danger never disappears; it only comes back stronger.
Jiang Xiuxiu was puzzled at first, but after thinking it over, she understood.
That male player must have "fallen for it" during a lecture, which is why he ended up like that.
She had avoided the lecture with an excuse but soon encountered the much more dangerous boss, Xu Bai.
The game was designed to force players to face all dangers head-on.
Avoiding danger temporarily only leads to greater peril later.
The girl's misleading directions were not a random act but a deliberate one.
This was the game's punishment for Jiang Xiuxiu's attempt to outsmart it.
"Now, it's your turn," Shu Xin said after a brief thought, pouring herself a glass of water. "As an
exchange, could you tell me about the marks on your neck?"
She smiled warmly, a mature and beautiful woman who knew how to make people feel at ease.
Jiang Xiuxiu, still a bit nervous, relaxed under Shu Xin's reassuring smile.
"It's not from a ghost," Jiang Xiuxiu said after some hesitation. "The marks on my neck were left by Xu
Bai."
Despite the embarrassing nature of the experience, Jiang Xiuxiu felt obligated to share after receiving so
much information from Shu Xin.
"Xu Bai?" Shu Xin looked genuinely puzzled. "Who is that?"
"He's the boss," Jiang Xiuxiu explained quickly. "I didn't go to the lecture today and ended up encountering
him."
She then briefly recounted the day's events, focusing on how Xu Bai intended to kill her but changed his
mind after finding the love letter and told her his name.
Jiang Xiuxiu felt her story might seem trivial compared to Shu Xin's detailed knowledge of ghosts and rules.
However, Shu Xin's reaction was unexpected. She stared at Jiang Xiuxiu thoughtfully, almost as if evaluating
her value.
"I didn't expect you to be so talented, Xiuxiu," Shu Xin said, her eyes shining with admiration. "It's rare
for a newcomer to survive an encounter with a boss."
Very rare indeed, Shu Xin thought. As far as she knew, no one had ever escaped a boss unscathed, let alone
learned their name. Names were incredibly valuable in this game.
"This person is a must-have ally," Shu Xin decided.
"Oh, it was just luck," Jiang Xiuxiu said modestly, feeling a bit embarrassed by Shu Xin's praise.
"Don't be modest." Shu Xin smiled. After a brief pause, her expression turned serious as she looked at Jiang
Xiuxiu.
"Xiuxiu, do you want to clear this game?" she asked earnestly. "Would you team up with me? Whether we clear
the game or not, I'll share any information you want to know, free of charge."
Jiang Xiuxiu hesitated but then firmly shook her head.
"I survived by luck. Besides, I'm not very skilled," she said.
"Surviving a boss encounter shows you're not lacking in ability," Shu Xin insisted.
"Sorry, I'm really not interested in escape games," Jiang Xiuxiu replied. "I have commitments outside the
game..."
"Three thousand yuan?"
"..."
"Okay, five thousand. Help me, and I'll pay you whether we clear the game or not."
"I can—"
Jiang Xiuxiu gazed at the woman in front of her, then raised her hand, feigning nobility. "I'll join your
team, not for money, but to better myself."
After all, it's just a game, Jiang Xiuxiu thought. Trying couldn't hurt, and she wouldn't lose anything if
they failed.
Five thousand yuan could buy her beloved mobile game characters several outfits.
In the face of money, Jiang Xiuxiu's resolve crumbled without resistance.