Over at the golden trio party…
Staring at the young fella strutting away like he was some charitable young master, Jack took a sip from his can on beer and glanced at the Miss Highschooler nibbling at her apple core like a chipmunk.
“Little missy, I notice that kid looks at you differently. Do you two know each other?”
“Hum?” Xiao Shuling tilted her head, confused. “This miss doesn’t know him. We’ve only met once on the first day, and never saw him since.”
“Yeah?” Jack frowned. “Then that’s strange… if it’s not for you, why did he come tip us off? What do you wager, Steve?”
Yu Zhiye shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe it’s love at first sight or repaying a destined kindness?”
Xiao Shuling pouted. “Eih! Big brother, those only happens in idol dramas!”
“Well, beats me then.”
Jack chuckled lightly. “Aight, guess he might’ve really done it out of kindness. By the way, I think I’ve figured out the gist from that young fella’s clues. What bout you two?”
Xiao Shuling blinked like an innocent baby then quickly clutched her own uniform protectively. “Eih! This miss isn’t contributing her clothes!”
Jack cracked up. “Bwahaha! Nobody is asking you to, little missy!”
Yu Zhiye similarly smirked then glanced at Jack. “I can contribute my underwear if you like.”
“Bah! Nobody wants your stinking underwear, Steve! Sheesh!”
All three looked at each other then broke out in laughs and giggles.
Once Jack recovered, he broached the topic again.
“Pack sand and stones into cloth bundles to mimic human weight then throw that out to check the route safety... so simple, yet so ingenious. Aight, tomorrow, we’ll give it a try. See how that works out.”
Since both allocated ruins have been cleared, Yu Zhiye was quite curious about what they’re up to. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”
Jack grinned. “The little missy and I are thinking about going back to the southern temples tomorrow to grind the mobs there.”
“Umu! Umu! This miss is gonna whack Mr. Bones until they drop many, many arrows! Ehehe~”
Miss Highschooler suddenly remembered something. She turned to Yu Zhiye and acted like a baby. “Big brother Big brother can’t you just tell little Ling’er what surprises there will be at level 10?”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“It won’t be a surprise if I tell you.”
Seeing that the big brother ignored her puppy dog eyes, Xiao Shuling pouted and looked at the uncle.
Jack toasted her. “Don’t look at me, little missy. I ain’t know nothing.”
The curious baby deflated and went back to om-nom-noming her apple like she was trying to chew the two riddlers out.
Both Jack and Yu Zhiye smirked at this. This little missy was really fun to tease!
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason they refused to tell her.
This curious baby likes surprises and keeping a little mystery was great motivation for her.
Anyways, it didn’t matter whether some intel were shared sooner or later.
Jack chugged the rest of his beer can and smacked his lips satisfied. He then glanced at the other teams that were now huddled up in their own territories.
“Steve, should we tell them?”
Yu Zhiye rolled his eyes. “Why tell them? It’s not like they’ll thank us.”
“Right. Then, I’ll…” Jack zipped his mouth and grinned.
Seeing that she lost another chance to learn the secret, the curious baby pouted even harder.
“Meanie big brother, meanie uncle… keeping secrets from little ling’er…”
Though her grumbles weren’t heard, her unhappiness was written all over her face.
Jack laughed and patted her on the head. “Little missy, no need to mope. Maybe you’ll know by tomorrow! Bahaha.”
“Eih! Really?!”
“Sure thing. Right, Steve?”
Seeing Yu Zhiye nod along, Xiao Shuling perked up. “Ehehe~”
It was that easy to cheer this Miss Highschooler up.
Once that was done, Jack got up and patted his butt to leave. “Aight, the little missy and I will turn in early. Early day tomorrow.”
“Alright. Night, Jack. You can have a few extra hours tonight.”
“Then I’ll take you up on that offer. Bwahaha! Comon, off to bed you go, little missy!”
“Nighty night big brother~”
The party split up and Yu Zhiye started his nightly patrol.
It was the usual walking around and keeping tabs on everybody, but today, there was an extra special guest he paid attention to.
Anomaly A – the suspected protagonist.
Passing by a corner that had a wide view on the rest of the store, Yu Zhiye saw the young man getting his shut-eye with the bearing of a general on the battlefield.
As if perceiving his peeking, the man cracked open an eye and looked in his direction.
Yu Zhiye quickly broke off eye contact and hurried out of sight.
“Uwah… what a terrifying perception.” Truly worthy of a protagonist template.
Though he’s pretty sure that’s the case, it was still unconfirmed which specific type though. That was another mystery for his busy agenda.
But what piqued Yu Zhiye’s interest even more was why this anomaly was back!
There’s a trope that runs through all stories: wherever a protagonist goes, there is bound to be either opportunity or trouble. Which will it be this time?
The night got deeper…
Outside, a mysterious fog obscured the crescent moon overhead and turned off the lights…
The dark desert became still and untouched like the tomb of life it was supposed to be.
Suddenly, a mysterious gray mist seeped out from the sand not from the store front...
As more and more gray mist drilled out, a wind started kicking up a sandstorm…
Mist, sand, and all gathered together like a nebula on the dunes…
The mysterious gray mist gradually dispersed and that swirling storm eventually died out, leaving hauntingly-silent structures looming in the darkness.
A mysterious breeze carried away the fog obscuring the passing moon, allowing it to shed some light on the dark gloomy thatched cottages that looked like they belonged in a Gothic Victorian Era town.
As if awakened by the moonlight’s knocking, the darkness in the town stirred…
A door creaked open and bony, rotting fingers reached out from the crack…
