PTYS Chapter 6

Xiao Muyu glanced at Shen Qingqiu and noticed she only had 5 points. She was taken aback; didn’t they both just achieve something together for 10 points?

As soon as the scores were revealed, the crowd immediately became restless.

“What’s going on? Why do the two of them have points, a few of them have zero, but we four have negative scores?”

A young man named Xiao Sun, who wore glasses, spoke up in a panic. Both he and his girlfriend had been deducted 5 points each before they even started, which was baffling and frustrating.

Xiao Muyu scrutinized the people who were penalized and looked at Shen Qingqiu. The ones with negative scores were all injured, seemingly having rushed in at the last minute like her.

And Shen Qingqiu? Xiao Muyu’s gaze fell on her face, then surveyed her body, quickly understanding why.

“Your talismans were used up.” Xiao Muyu’s calm words drew everyone’s attention back to the old lady at her feet.

After the scene was triggered, the NPC old lady remained kneeling, tears still on her face, paused by the system.

Xiao Muyu’s reminder made everyone realize the situation. Two men, one tall and one short, exchanged uneasy glances and moved closer together.

“Then why do they have points?” Everyone looked at the ponytailed girl and the man in the jacket. The system had stated that the scoring criteria needed to be figured out, so understanding the reasons for deductions and additions was crucial for everyone.

“Brother, and young lady, did you do something special? Is there an explanation for the points?”

People began discussing this noisily. The man in the jacket and the girl were also puzzled, but they didn’t hide anything and carefully went over what they had said and done.

While they were deep in discussion, Shen Qingqiu approached Xiao Muyu and whispered, “You don’t seem very interested? Figured it all out?”

Xiao Muyu glanced at her sideways, “I’ve been listening. I can’t be sure why they got points, but I know why you only have 5 points.” If not for Shen Qingqiu, she wouldn’t have made that conclusion.

She was also injured and entangled by human skin. If Shen Qingqiu hadn’t taken her talisman, it should have activated at that time.

Shen Qingqiu, like those chased by the human skins, had 5 points deducted. Since everyone experienced similar initial circumstances, the points gained or lost were very telling. It seemed her talisman had worked.

Shen Qingqiu remained thoughtful and said, “So, does that mean I helped you? Otherwise, those 5 points would have been deducted from you. Besides, I did save you in the end, repaying the debt of taking your talisman, right?”

Xiao Muyu pursed her lips. While Shen Qingqiu’s logic made sense, being messed around by her was still infuriating.

If she hadn’t saved her twice, Xiao Muyu wouldn’t have wanted to talk to her at all.

“Do you dislike me now?” Shen Qingqiu asked, seemingly aware of the tension.

Xiao Muyu, expressionless, replied, “No, thank you for saving me.” Despite everything, it was indeed surprising and risky for Shen Qingqiu to save her.

“That’s good, Xiao Muyu. I thought you wouldn’t hate me. After all, our names match well, ‘Drizzle on the river at dusk, cleansing the autumn,’ quite poetic.”

Sheesh, it turns out this woman is not only skilled but also cultured.

Shen Qingqiu noticed Xiao Muyu’s expression and inwardly laughed. In this dull world, she finally found someone interesting.

Meanwhile, the group concluded their discussion. The conclusion was that Cui Xiaoxuan, the girl, had first suggested searching the house for people, and Liu Wei, the jacket man, had first supported her, earning them a point. It was unsatisfactory but reasonable.

Leopard, the bald man, looked regretful.

After some exchanges, everyone introduced themselves. Among the twelve, including Xiao Muyu and her, there were five women and seven men.

Some were familiar with each other, like the young couple and the two men, one tall and one short, who hadn’t spoken yet.

They would spend the next three days together and needed to understand each other. Xiao Muyu, though not joining the conversation, observed them closely.

Though the two men had covered their faces, their differing builds were too obvious. Xiao Muyu had recognized them immediately but pretended otherwise.

“Noticed anything?”

Shen Qingqiu, always on the outskirts of the group, seemed to understand what Xiao Muyu was thinking.

Xiao Muyu shook her head and addressed the group, “Time is short; we should continue with the story.”

The two hadn’t participated in the conversation, but the system’s announcement meant everyone knew their names.

By now, Liu Wei had become the group’s leader, though he noticed Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu were not very sociable.

But they seemed capable, so he nodded and asked, “Which of you is Shen Qingqiu, and which is Xiao Muyu?”

Xiao Muyu simply replied, “Xiao Muyu,” leaving Shen Qingqiu in peace.

The countdown on the screen was nearly over. Xiao Muyu clicked to continue, and the old lady resumed moving.

She helped the old woman up, “We want to help, but we don’t know what’s happening. Can you tell us what happened and where the human skins came from?”

Everyone nodded eagerly, eyes on the old lady.

Mentioning the matter made the old lady tremble. She said shakily, “It’s a long story. Please follow me to the second floor to rest, and I’ll tell you everything.”

The house was old, with a cluttered first floor, overturned furniture, and obstacles to navigate as they climbed to the second floor.

Xiao Muyu followed, noticing the creaky wooden stairs that made cautious steps necessary.

Observing her surroundings, Xiao Muyu wiped her finger on the banister, then rubbed her fingers together.

They reached the second floor safely. Unlike the first floor, it was cleaner and more orderly, suggesting the old lady lived there.

The spacious three-story house had a large central room with a big table and a dim chandelier, flickering ominously.

Shen Qingqiu, though indifferent to others, knew the importance of vigilance to survive.

Before she could fully observe, the old lady had everyone seated. Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu noticed only twelve chairs, with one seat left empty.

The old lady seemed to realize this, scanning the room before grinning unsettlingly at Xiao Muyu. Her raspy voice said, “One more guest than expected. You’ll have to share a seat.”

Shen Qingqiu eyed the empty seat and the room’s decor, noting the eleven paintings, especially a Mona Lisa replica.

“We’re fine standing to listen,” Xiao Muyu said.

“Miss Xiao, please sit. I’ll stand,” Liu Wei offered, rising to give up his seat.

Xiao Muyu wanted to refuse, but the old lady insisted, “You two can share that larger chair. Sit properly to listen.”

Her gnarled fingers pointed to a chair occupied by a frightened middle-aged woman, You Qiaolian.

Terrified of the old lady, You Qiaolian quickly moved, too fast for Xiao Muyu to stop.

Shen Qingqiu, now serious, led Xiao Muyu to the chair, realizing the old lady wouldn’t speak until they sat.

“Let’s go,” Shen Qingqiu whispered, tugging Xiao Muyu, who winced from her injury but regained focus.

Despite her reluctance, Xiao Muyu squeezed in, keeping her distance from Shen Qingqiu.

The old lady began her tale.

Fifty years ago, she married into this house, part of a large family living peacefully. But eighteen years ago, a family’s brutal murder shattered the peace.

The victims’ skins were hung at their door, a horrifying sight that scared the villagers into silence, fearing repercussions.

“On the seventh night, the skins emerged from the graves, becoming those things outside!”

The group shivered. Liu Wei asked gravely, “Weren’t there just five skins?”

The old lady replied, “Haven’t you noticed the village is empty?”