How?
His ranger’s cabin was buried deep within the forest.
Guan Jizhong’s brows knitted tightly together. Before leaving, he had personally locked the person in front of him inside the cabin. How had he suddenly appeared here again?
If the child who called himself Bai Cai Shui Lingling had merely picked the lock and escaped, Guan Jizhong would not have looked so astonished.
But the ape had followed him here as well!
From his house to the town was an enormous distance. There had been no guide, no transportation, and countless stretches of wilderness filled with roaming beasts to cross.
Just how had this kid managed to chase him all the way here?!
Guan Jizhong found it impossible to believe. His gaze settled on the black-haired young man before him. The other’s body was covered in wounds. Cuts and scratches crisscrossed his skin as though countless blades had torn through him along the way.
“How exactly did you get here?”
Guan Jizhong’s thoughts raced.
“Don’t tell me… were you hanging underneath my van the whole time?!”
His van had been modified.
To adapt to life in the forest, he had raised the chassis considerably. If one really insisted, it wasn’t entirely impossible for a person to hide beneath it.
That was the only explanation he could think of for how the other had appeared almost at the same time as him, and why he was covered in injuries.
The kid had probably hidden beneath the vehicle from the very beginning, clinging desperately to the underside. Then, when they neared the town’s inspection point, he must have let go and stumbled the rest of the way here.
That was far too dangerous!
To Guan Jizhong, it sounded like something straight out of an action movie or a horror film.
What normal person hid beneath a moving vehicle?
Even if someone wanted to stow away, wouldn’t they choose the roof instead?!
“Kid, how could you ride all the way here under a vehicle?”
“I wasn’t under your van.” Bai Fuling replied immediately. “Don’t worry, I know proper etiquette. If it isn’t food, I don’t go around grabbing things.”
He casually delivered the terrible joke.
Guan Jizhong: “…”
“Fine.” Bai Fuling corrected himself. “The real reason is that I’m not Bai Cai Shui Lingling. I’m Loach Slippery-Slippery.”
Guan Jizhong: “…”
The cigarette remained pinched between Guan Jizhong’s fingers as he stood there in silence.
Bai Fuling let out a quiet sigh and tilted his head upward at a forty-five-degree angle toward the sky.
He really shouldn’t joke around with NPCs.
Nobody ever understood his sense of humor.
Returning to a serious answer, he said, “I rode a wolf… no, actually, I rode a big dog here.”
“No matter how you got here.”
Guan Jizhong decisively abandoned any attempt to understand the situation further.
His voice came out low and rough. Crushing the cigarette beneath his foot, he stepped forward. His tall frame blocked Bai Fuling’s path entirely.
“Since you’ve appeared in front of me again, then you’ll stay right here.”
There was no way he could let the other go.
Not even for medical treatment.
This was the critical period while he waited for his target to appear. If the kid somehow tipped someone off or brought unexpected trouble, everything would be ruined.
The thought was cold, but Guan Jizhong’s mind remained calm.
Without allowing any room for resistance, he pulled open the van door and shoved Bai Fuling inside.
Bai Fuling didn’t resist.
He allowed the towering NPC to push him into the vehicle. Falling onto the seat, he tilted his head slightly.
“And then?”
Hurry up and continue the plot already.
“When everything is over, I’ll let you go.”
Guan Jizhong spoke in a low voice.
He opened a storage compartment inside the van, pulled out a small medical kit, and tossed it toward the child sitting inside.
“Take it. Deal with your injuries yourself.”
He wasn’t a particularly kind man.
But neither was he some vicious monster.
Although he had no intention of taking Bai Fuling to a hospital, he couldn’t simply watch him suffer without doing anything. At the very least, he could provide some supplies and let the kid treat his wounds on his own.
Oh.
Medical supplies.
Bai Fuling accepted them without hesitation.
Then, just as casually, he stuffed the entire kit into his inventory.
The fruit he had been carrying had already been consumed during the previous battle, leaving plenty of free space in his backpack.
Guan Jizhong failed to notice the movement.
The van door slammed shut with a heavy bang.
His attention returned to the mouth of the alley once more.
Guan Jizhong’s eyes remained fixed on the darkness ahead, yet his thoughts began to drift.
He recalled what had happened earlier.
At the time, the black-haired youth had run directly toward him without the slightest hesitation.
The kid had clearly gone through tremendous trouble to escape.
So why had he come back?
Regardless of the method he had used to pursue him, judging from the extent of his injuries, the journey could not have been easy.
To be wounded like that and still manage to track him down required remarkable determination.
But for what reason?
As the question lingered in his mind, a faint, ghostly voice suddenly drifted into his ears.
“Uncle, do you really have nothing else to say?”
Caught completely off guard, Guan Jizhong’s heart nearly skipped a beat.
He immediately turned his head to look.
To his shock, the van’s window had somehow been opened without him noticing.
The black-haired young man had stuck his head out through it. His bloodstained hand gripped the edge of the window frame, while the angelic halo above his head remained firmly suspended in place.
The sight was so eerie that it looked as though it had stepped straight out of a horror movie.
“You?!”
Guan Jizhong nearly jumped out of his skin. His expression immediately darkened as he shoved the young man back inside.
“Get back in!”
The moment he pressed Bai Fuling down, two seconds passed.
Then Bai Fuling’s head popped out from a different window.
“Wait, Uncle! You haven’t finished talking yet!”
Bai Fuling was baffled.
Why was there still no new plot development?
Where was the next quest?
Sure, his reputation level wasn’t high enough yet, so he couldn’t directly persuade an NPC to hand over a mission. But after so many interaction events, there should at least be something by now, shouldn’t there?
According to RPG logic, anything capable of interacting this much had to be useful.
Bai Fuling’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he gazed eagerly at the tall NPC before him.
Guan Jizhong remained silent.
Without a word, he reached over and pushed Bai Fuling’s head back through the window.
His van used manual sliding windows. As long as someone was inside, they could open them freely. There was no way to lock them from the outside.
He pushed Bai Fuling down from one side.
Moments later, the young man emerged from another window.
Only then did Guan Jizhong come to a horrifying realization.
His modified van had far more windows than he had ever remembered.
No matter what happened, he couldn’t allow Bai Fuling to keep exposing himself like this.
If Liao Zhiqiu arrived, he would immediately notice something unusual from a distance.
So Guan Jizhong steadied himself and calmly continued his efforts.
Each time a head appeared, his broad hand reached over and firmly pressed it back down.
After being pushed back three consecutive times, Bai Fuling finally withdrew into the van.
He sat there thinking for several seconds.
Then enlightenment struck.
Oh!
So this was one of those RPG minigame segments!
It was Whac-A-Mole!
Except this time, the player was the mole.
Hahaha.
The game design was actually pretty creative.
Players loved setting new records in minigames.
Having figured out the mechanic, Bai Fuling rubbed his hands together excitedly.
Then he enthusiastically began controlling his pixel character, opening different windows and poking his head out from random locations.
“Uncle, I’m over here.”
“Uncle, I’m over here~”
“Uncle, I’m over here!”
Each time, he would stick his head out for only half a second before retracting it just before the tall NPC’s hand could descend upon him.
Then he would suddenly appear from another window.
Again.
And again.
And again.
After several rounds, the tall man finally stopped trying to push him back.
Clenching his fist, Guan Jizhong demanded,
“What exactly are you trying to do?!”
The NPC finally asked a question.
Bai Fuling’s eyes brightened.
So he’d cleared the Whac-A-Mole minigame?
Did that mean it was finally time to receive a quest?
Holding onto the window frame, he poked his head out once more and flashed a cheerful smile.
“Uncle, did I thank you earlier?”
Guan Jizhong: “?”
Bai Fuling continued,
“You still haven’t answered me. What kind of help do you need?”
At that moment, Guan Jizhong’s expression became extraordinarily complicated.
Aside from the accident involving his younger sister, he had never experienced such an indescribable sense of despair in his entire life.
Now he was experiencing it again.
Guan Jizhong: “………”
“Can you just stay quiet, kid?”
His voice sounded utterly exhausted.
“Don’t move around. Don’t shout. Don’t do strange things. Just… stay here. That’s all. Can you do that?”
Bai Fuling tilted his head.
No quest notification appeared.
Therefore, he answered honestly.
“No, Uncle. Life is movement.”
Guan Jizhong nearly exploded.
You already moved all the way from the depths of the forest to the town!
How much more movement could one person possibly need?!
……
What exactly had he kidnapped and brought back with him?
“You belong to Liao Zhiqiu’s side, don’t you?” Guan Jizhong said. “Would you really help me?”
“I’m not that familiar with him.”
Bai Fuling thought for a few seconds before answering.
“They say people don’t become acquainted until they’ve fought each other.”
“We fought.”
“But we haven’t fought enough to become familiar yet.”
“Probably just lacking a little more effort.”
Guan Jizhong: “…”
What kind of description was that supposed to be?
Yet from Bai Fuling’s completely unconcerned attitude, Guan Jizhong could sense something.
The young man genuinely didn’t seem particularly close to Liao Zhiqiu.
Even so, fewer variables meant fewer problems.
Unexpected factors were best avoided altogether.
Guan Jizhong shook his head.
“No need, kid.”
“I don’t need your help.”
The instant those words left his mouth, the expression on the black-haired young man’s face suddenly changed.
His gaze snapped toward the distance ahead.
Instinctively, Guan Jizhong followed his line of sight and looked in the same direction.
With that single glance,
He finally saw his target.
Liao Zhiqiu.
He appeared.
At that instant, Guan Jizhong no longer had any attention left for Bai Fuling. Every ounce of his focus shifted toward his target, and the blood that had been boiling within him abruptly cooled into icy calmness.
One hand slipped into his pocket, where he tightly gripped the drug-soaked handkerchief and spray he had prepared in advance.
His remaining eye sharpened like that of a hunting hawk, locking firmly onto the dark-eyed student emerging from the alleyway.
Suppressing his presence, concealing every trace of hostility, Guan Jizhong began walking forward with measured, deliberate steps.
Inside the van, Bai Fuling was staring at Liao Zhiqiu as well.
His expression was equally excited.
The reason was simple.
The quest log had finally moved!!
The moment his eyes landed on Liao Zhiqiu, the task panel that had previously displayed only the quest marker for “Have a Sweet Dream” emitted a cheerful notification sound.
Ding.
A brand-new quest icon appeared beside it, floating with a bright [NEW] tag.
The sudden appearance of the quest was precisely why Bai Fuling’s expression had changed so dramatically moments ago.
[Cat’s Secret]
One day, the family cat stopped meowing.
Grandpa forbade anyone from mentioning it ever again.
But Liao Zhiqiu still remembers that day.
Grandpa has always been trying to stop him.
Puzzle Progress: 0%
Time Limit: None
Quest Reward: You’ll find out when it’s completed.
Finally!
Finally, a new quest had dropped!
Bai Fuling nearly wanted to throw his head back and laugh triumphantly at the sky.
Even though the reward description remained frustratingly vague, he no longer cared.
Quest rewards always came eventually.
That was simply how games worked.
The important thing was completing the mission first.
This quest was different from the previous murderer investigation.
Bai Fuling studied the interface thoughtfully.
This one included a separate puzzle progress indicator.
Looks like it’ll require some gradual exploration.
The quest description had already revealed one key character, Liao Zhiqiu.
That meant the next step was obvious.
Find Liao Zhiqiu.
Without another second of hesitation, Bai Fuling abandoned the van entirely.
Like Sadako crawling out of a television screen, he climbed through the vehicle’s window.
Each bloody hand left a fresh crimson handprint behind.
One after another.
Passersby who witnessed the horrifying sight of a blood-covered young man crawling out of a van window like a ghost immediately let out piercing screams.
The shrieks echoed through the street.
The sudden commotion caused Liao Zhiqiu to instinctively look over.
At the same time, Guan Jizhong’s heart sank.
Turning his head slightly, he caught sight of the familiar black-haired youth once again charging forward with a bright smile plastered across his face.
A painful throb immediately started pulsing at his temples.
…
Why was there a hostage who refused to leave his kidnapper alone?
Why?
Why was he so determined to help him?
What exactly was he even trying to help with?
Guan Jizhong felt an overwhelming headache from being relentlessly attached to.
He opened his mouth, intending to offer either persuasion or a threat.
Unfortunately, before a single word could leave him,
Bai Fuling had already rushed right past him.
They brushed shoulders.
Then the black-haired young man wearing the angel halo sprinted across the street toward Liao Zhiqiu.
In a few quick strides, he reached the student.
He grabbed hold of Liao Zhiqiu’s arm.
“Hi!”
Bai Fuling greeted him enthusiastically.
“Do you need any help?”
Guan Jizhong: ?
Guan Jizhong: Wait.
One minute ago, wasn’t he still chasing after me and asking that same question?
So it wasn’t that he was specifically attached to me,
He was attached to everyone?!
That was somehow even worse.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
One tiny coffee. One very happy translator. ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Escape game freezesChapter 2 · Players aren’t allowed to use the main entranceChapter 3 · Players have created a medical miracle!Chapter 4 · If I hit the NPC more, will the NPC drop gold coins?Chapter 5 · Players earn the title of “bus weirdo”Chapter 6 · Players get a prison experienceChapter 7 · So the red bar isn’t for favorability, it’s for anger!Chapter 8 · The player is a nimble catChapter 9 · The player is a “law-abiding” good studentChapter 10 · Players have no morals and are fearlessChapter 11 · Player: What’s wrong? It’s called “Cai Cai Shui Ling LingChapter 12 · The player is the famous Farmer Detective!Chapter 13 · The player raised a new petChapter 14 · The player is a genius dog-riding boyChapter 15 · The player is a sticky, helpful, and kind comradeChapter 16 · It turns out that players aren’t considered human by NPCsChapter 17 · Players are like angels descending upon my side!Chapter 18 · Player: There’s only one truth!Chapter 19 · Why are players farming at the school?!Chapter 20 · Players came to the cafeteria to buy suppliesChapter 21 · Are NPCs model workers?Chapter 22 · If you’re a gay manChapter 23 · Player: Wheelchairs are a useful mode of transportation!Chapter 24 · So the player is actually part of Cat Returns (?)Chapter 25 · Liao Zhi Qiu, a large pet belonging to the playerChapter 26 · Player: Hello, I picked up this corpse.Chapter 27 · Bai Fuling: Players will never dieChapter 28 · Has the murderer been caught?Chapter 29 · Player: Visiting the mental hospital felt as familiar as coming homeChapter 30 · Players’ Adventure in the Mental Hospital: Round 1Chapter 31 · Player: Kid, fly!Chapter 32 · The player who does good deeds every day is truly a good personChapter 33 · The kitten brought back some local specialtiesChapter 34 · Let this adorable kitten stay forever?Chapter 35 · Players, don’t give up on being human!Chapter 36 · A kitten is just a kitten, isn’t it?Chapter 37 · Players want it, players get itChapter 38 · Angel Player and Unlucky Bear NPCChapter 39 · In short, players choose to throw at NPCsChapter 40 · The player just flew away!Chapter 41 · Player: You need to thoroughly understand the bookChapter 42 · Players love to tease honest NPCs.Chapter 43 · He said he was a little hungry.Chapter 44 · Even if cotton essence mutatesChapter 45 · Pure Love TentaclesChapter 46 · Choose to be a kitten?Chapter 47 · Players’ tears are weaponsChapter 48 · Players do not need to breatheChapter 49 · It’s on fire!Chapter 50 · The player is a top-tier rescue masterChapter 51 · How did the player manage to resurrect after killing themselves?!Chapter 52 · Call the player “Little Cat King”!Chapter 53 · What are the consequences of raising the cat-like alienation