Chapter 39: Assault Team
With the new abilities in place, Xia Bai began considering the advantages of Gu Quankun’s skill.
Yes, even earthworms have their advantages.
For example, as everyone knows, earthworms are beneficial to soil, helping to loosen it. Once Xi Shen returns home and brings other corpses back, he can use his earthworm arm to loosen the soil underground for them. If the yard gets too cramped, loosening the soil more often might be necessary.
For instance, earthworms can be eaten. If they find themselves in a doomsday game scenario, earthworms could serve as a way to stave off hunger.
Additionally, earthworms have medicinal properties, such as clearing heat and improving circulation…
Thinking about it, Xia Bai felt relieved.
Having an extra usable skill isn’t a bad thing after all.
Perhaps the family genealogy even needs a servant or something.
After briefly comforting himself, Xia Bai heard a suppressed sob. He looked up and saw Ma Tongfeng holding He Jiaxiu’s severed hand, still trying to reach into the screen.
Unfortunately, the screen had already returned to normal, perfectly intact, and the movie they were supposed to watch had begun playing.
They were back in Screening Room 5.
The reality of Screening Room 5 was very normal, except there were fewer people now.
Guo Yang held down Old Ma, “Old Ma, look clearly, we can’t go back into the game! Wake up!”
Old Ma, clutching He Jiaxiu’s severed hand, squatted on the ground and cried loudly.
The eerie background music from the movie echoed throughout the theater, but compared to the exaggerated jumpscares, Old Ma’s sobbing was more noticeable.
Ling Changye glanced in that direction briefly and said, “Prepare to leave, there should be someone waiting outside.”
Xia Bai followed him out of Screening Room 5 and saw You Yue coming out of Screening Room 7. She seemed to be in decent physical condition, able to walk normally, though her head hung low, as if she didn’t want to talk to anyone.
Xia Bai sighed in relief, unsure of what to say. They only knew each other’s names after all, and seeing that she didn’t want to talk, Xia Bai remained silent, quietly walking beside her.
It wasn’t until they walked out of the corridor, reaching the ticket counter and concession stand, that Xia Bai turned to her and asked, “Can I still buy popcorn from you?”
Concession worker You Yue nodded immediately, “Yes, you can.”
Xia Bai: “Please give me one buttered popcorn.”
You Yue immediately stepped behind the counter, wiping her hands with a wet tissue. She still hadn’t shaken off the fear from the game, her movements were forceful and slightly trembling, her bloodstained hair gently swaying, revealing a gray butterfly-shaped birthmark on her temple.
She picked up a small metal bucket and began filling it with buttered popcorn for Xia Bai.
Xia Bai averted his gaze from her face and said, “I’ll take one caramel popcorn as well.”
“Mm.” You Yue filled another bucket with popcorn, packing each one tightly, and placed both buckets on the counter.
Xia Bai scanned the code to pay, only taking the buttered popcorn and pushing the caramel popcorn slightly toward You Yue, his expression neutral as he said, “Sister You Yue, have something sweet.”
You Yue abruptly looked up at him.
Xia Bai told her, “Let’s go to the Game Administration Bureau together, you still need to register your information.”
You Yue shook her head, “I’m not going.”
“Oh, alright.” Xia Bai knew that the Game Administration Bureau didn’t force players to register their information. However, without registration, she wouldn’t be able to access their online courses or game updates, and You Yue would miss out on the introductory knowledge.
Recalling the instructions from the Game Administration staff and the important points he saw in class, Xia Bai said to You Yue, “Don’t tell ordinary people about the game. It’s not yet fully public. The Game Administration Bureau has a very advanced research institute, with highly developed technology and skills that can detect game leaks.”
“Also, you’ll have a new app on your phone, the Player Communication Center. If you have any questions, you can search there.”
You Yue nodded.
Xia Bai asked, “Are you staying here to work?”
The Hexie Cinema’s game was now over, and the game had completely disappeared from here. In the future, this place would become one of the safest spots in Quanguang City, and over time, it might become the most popular cinema in the city. She could continue working here if she wanted.
You Yue nodded.
Xia Bai: “Then I’ll inform them that you don’t want to register and don’t want to go to the Game Administration Bureau.”
You Yue nodded again.
Xia Bai and You Yue exchanged contact information, and he picked up the buttered popcorn, heading over to Erwa. As he passed by several movie posters, one poster caught his eye. It read: “Based on a True Story.”
Xia Bai stopped, staring at the poster for a few seconds. Below those words was another line: “Did you know, a movie is a person’s entire life?”
Now, he seemed to understand.
Not only did he understand, but he was also pondering, across multiple dimensions, just how “true” this “based on a true story” could be. Would someone intentionally create a “true event” to garner attention, and then make a movie about it?
“Xia Bai, Xia Bai, come here!” Guo Yang called him from the other side of the poster.
Xia Bai walked over, still in a daze.
Guo Yang looked at him and said, “Ask me again.”
Xia Bai was startled for a moment, but then understood what he meant. “Are you willing to give me your body?”
Guo Yang nodded. “I’m willing.”
Xia Bai had already guessed it when he asked him to repeat the question. “Why are you willing now?”
Guo Yang replied, “After seeing Old Ma like that.”
Old Ma had originally wanted to stay in the game world, but Guo Yang had forcibly carried him out. After bringing him back, Guo Yang saw Old Ma holding He Jiaxiu’s severed hand, crying uncontrollably. He suddenly understood Old Ma’s sorrow.
Old Ma had wandered through life, and maybe He Jiaxiu was his only solace, the one companion he most wanted to have. But in the end, even He Jiaxiu’s body had disappeared into the game, leaving only that hand behind.
“My body, even if I give it to you, it won’t be left as food for the game.” He snorted.
In truth, what made him decide this was the moment in the game when he saw Xia Bai holding the hand of Ghost Xia Fei, going to face their enemy together.
He couldn’t quite explain it, whether it was Xia Bai’s tenderness towards the ghost or something else. He just thought, if one day he died, it wouldn’t be too bad for his body to stay by Xia Bai’s side.
Of course, he wasn’t going to tell Xia Bai this.
“I’m telling you, if I die in the game, you must bring me out.” Guo Yang added, “I’ll send you my home address. After you’ve used my body, send me back home.”
Xia Bai nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
The people from the Game Administration Bureau had already been waiting outside the cinema. Erwa was about to be carried onto a car.
Xia Bai called out, “Erwa!”
Erwa, who had been reluctant to get into the car, immediately broke free from the person trying to carry him. Nervously, he turned his head to look at Xia Bai.
A crowd had gathered at the cinema entrance. Besides the guards outside, most were surrounding Ling Changye and Erwa. At this moment, they all turned to look over.
It was mainly because Erwa’s reaction was so surprising. Normally, he wouldn’t let anyone get close to him. His social anxiety was beyond severe; no matter how much people tried, they couldn’t get a response from him. But now, as soon as someone called his name, he turned his head immediately. His small hands nervously clenched the hem of his shirt, and it was hard to tell whether he was nervous or excited.
They all wanted to see who had called Erwa, only to find that it was someone who didn’t look very bright, holding a bucket of buttered popcorn, standing there blankly, staring in their direction.
Xia Bai handed the popcorn to Erwa without saying a word.
Erwa, excited, clutched the Teletubbies popcorn bucket even more tightly, now even more unwilling to get into the car.
Ling Changye’s gaze landed on Xia Bai, and Xia Bai’s eyes shifted guiltily.
With a smile on his face, Ling Changye opened the minivan door and said to Xia Bai, “Please, get in?”
Xia Bai, with a blank expression, replied, “Thank you.”
After Xia Bai got in, without needing anyone to tell him, Erwa willingly climbed into the car, followed by Ling Changye.
The surrounding people were even more astonished. While they were still in a daze, Guo Yang tried to take the opportunity to sneak into the car, wanting to ride with his two idols. However, the sharp-eyed Game Administration Bureau staff quickly grabbed him, saying, “Please take that car.”
Guo Yang struggled, “Why can Xia Bai, but I can’t? There’s clearly a seat inside!”
Bang!
The car door shut in his face. From the inside.
“…”
Inside, there was indeed a seat left. This was Xia Bai’s first time sitting in a nanny van, and he wasn’t sure if all nanny vans were this spacious or if this one was specially made by the Game Administration Bureau.
The front half of the vehicle, near the driver, had two rows of opposite-facing double sofas. On each side of the sofas were small tables with fruit, drinks, and other things Xia Bai didn’t recognize. In the back, there were two bunk beds for resting.
Xia Bai sat on the sofa closest to the door, with Erwa sitting next to him, though a bit of distance apart. Since both of them were either thin or small, the double sofa felt more like a triple seat with all the extra space.
Ling Changye, sitting across from them, turned his double seat into a single. He wasn’t fat or bulky, nor was his posture imposing. He sat casually, lazily even, as if he were sipping tea at home. Still, for some reason, it felt like no one else could sit beside him.
Ling Changye twisted open a bottle of water and handed it to Xia Bai. “What’s your skill?”
Xia Bai accepted the water and, as he had planned earlier, mentioned his grandfather’s skill.
Ling Changye responded with a casual “hmm,” as if it had been a random question, and then he began scrolling through his phone.
He was missing an arm, holding a large, slim black phone in his remaining hand. His unusually long thumb moved lightly across the screen, and the phone’s light reflected in his eyes, giving them a bluish hue.
Xia Bai glanced at him, then lowered his head to slowly sip his water. He noticed that the child sitting next to him seemed to have moved closer. When Xia Bai turned his head, Erwa was sitting still on the sofa, holding a bucket of popcorn and staring intently out the window on Ling Changye’s side of the car.
Xia Bai smiled.
Ling Changye then asked with a playful glint in his phoenix eyes, “Didn’t you register a soul-related skill with the Game Bureau? Why is it a talisman tool now?”
Xia Bai: “…”
The smile on Xia Bai’s face vanished.
He gave Ling Changye a confused look, as if his soul had left his body, pretending he didn’t understand the question.
The journey continued peacefully, and Xia Bai didn’t feel awkward.
The nanny van stopped at the orthopedic hospital in Quanguang. Xia Bai had been staying here, though he didn’t know that Ling Changye had also been staying here since being stitched up, but in a VIP single room with Erwa.
As soon as Xia Bai got out, he saw Yang Mei sitting on the hospital steps, seemingly waiting for someone—Xia Bai pretended not to notice.
When she saw Xia Bai, Ling Changye, and Erwa getting out of the car together, Yang Mei’s peach blossom eyes widened in shock. “You… you guys, why are you together?”
Although it had been a long time in the game, only half an hour had passed in reality, including travel time. This meant Yang Mei had just finished telling Hua Haoming that she was waiting for Xia Bai, only for the captain to suddenly return with the others.
Xia Bai explained, “We were all pulled into the game together.”
“Oh, oh, I almost died from shock. I thought you guys went out to walk the kid together,” Yang Mei said. If they had gone out to walk the kid without her, she would have hit her head against the wall—why hadn’t they taken her along?
Guo Yang and Ma Tongfeng got out of the car behind them. From a distance, Guo Yang noticed that Yang Mei was too surprised to even walk straight, while Ma Tongfeng still looked lost and broken.
Someone came to take Ma Tongfeng to register his information. Ling Changye said to the person, “Ask him afterward if he’s willing to stay and work at the Game Bureau.”
Over time, Xia Bai had learned that many staff members at the Game Bureau didn’t have skills, especially those in the information and logistics departments, though most had at least experienced the game.
In a typical game, at most two people might receive rewards other than points, and only one might gain a skill. Often, no one got anything.
Players with skills were in the minority, while most had none. After experiencing the terror of the game, many wanted to find a relatively safe place of refuge, and the Game Bureau needed more and more workers. To prevent the spread of information and improve efficiency, players who had been through the game were ideal candidates. As a result, many ordinary players ended up working at the bureau.
For someone like Old Ma, who had no will to live, working at the Game Bureau might be a good option. However, Xia Bai wasn’t sure what kind of job would suit him. He had no skills, a permanently lame leg, and a low level of education.
The staff member asked, “Captain Ling, which department should he go to?”
Ling Changye replied, “Let him try working with Old Yang.”
The staff member’s eyes lit up as they happily took Old Ma away.
Old Yang?
Xia Bai thought of the man he’d met at the police station—the one who had helped him contact the Game Bureau to find the God of Joy.
After Old Ma was taken away, they all headed to a hospital room.
They had to wait for Old Ma to finish registering before they could recount the game to the researchers, something Xia Bai had already experienced.
This time, Ling Changye didn’t mention anything about confidentiality. He knew that none of them were first-time players, and there wasn’t much in this game worth keeping secret. Since Old Ma hadn’t spoken about it during the game, he wasn’t likely to tell anyone outside either.
When Old Ma returned, they saw two people appear on the TV screen mounted on the hospital wall. There were only two this time, but Xia Bai still recognized Deputy Director Yang.
He asked the usual question: “Who will give the report?”
Ling Changye suggested, “Guo Yang?”
“Eh? Me? Sure!” Guo Yang said happily. “I’ll do it.”
Guo Yang was actually an enthusiastic person, as could be seen from the way he had organized everyone from the start of the game. He immediately began explaining the game to the researchers.
When he reached the part where they saw Ling Changye dead in the movie, Deputy Director Yang interrupted, asking Ling Changye, “Captain Ling, did you already know the solution required entering the movie?”
Ling Changye nodded. “Yes.”
Deputy Director Yang: “How did you know?”
Leaning back on the bed, Ling Changye smiled. “It was so simple. Anyone could’ve figured it out. Just a typical game space trick.”
His smile had a warm, breezy feel to it, like a laid-back rich young master. Perhaps that was why people outside the team believed his role as captain was more administrative. Yet at this moment, Xia Bai felt that his smile didn’t reach his eyes when directed at Deputy Director Yang, making Xia Bai realize why it always seemed like there was a distance around Ling Changye, an unspoken barrier that was easy to overlook but undeniably real.
Thinking back to how Hua Haoming had acted during the last video meeting with the researchers, Xia Bai felt that there was some tension between their task force and the research institute, especially regarding Deputy Director Yang.
Could this be the same researcher who had once studied Erwa?
There was a brief silence before Deputy Director Yang asked, “How did you enter?”
Ling Changye replied, “It’s related to personal desires and privacy, so I’m unable to disclose that.”
Guo Yang continued his explanation, and when he got to the part about Ling Changye making them dig up corpses, Deputy Director Yang asked again, “Captain Ling, why did you make them dig up the bodies? Did you already know there were real and virtual characters in the movie?”
Ling Changye answered, “It was just a guess. When I was loading the bodies into the game, I observed them up close. Some were unchanging, like computer-generated data. For instance, the woman on the island never smudged her makeup, no matter how much she sweated. Others, like the students, lost their powder makeup just from being dragged across the ground.”
Xia Bai turned to look at him, realizing that Ling Changye had suspected the truth long ago and that his reasoning wasn’t too different from Xia Bai’s own.
Deputy Director Yang nodded and listened to the rest of the report without further interruptions.
After the inquiry ended, Ma Tongfeng and Guo Yang were called outside for a private conversation. Yang Mei and Hua Haoming came in.
After a brief exchange of words, the player healer began treating Ling Changye. Xia Bai took this opportunity to ask Hua Haoming, “Captain Ling said that Ma Tongfeng would work under Old Yang. Is this the same Old Yang from the police station?”
Hua Haoming glanced at Ling Changye, who was in the middle of talking with the healer, possibly not hearing their conversation.
Ling Changye’s voice floated over during a lull in his conversation with the healer: “Yang Zongguang.”
“That’s him then,” Hua Haoming confirmed. He saw Xia Bai’s curiosity and elaborated. “Old Yang is the captain of a team in the logistics department. The logistics department has a lot of responsibilities.”
Xia Bai had already realized this in the past few days. The logistics department might be the largest in the Game Bureau. The rescue team from his school belonged to the logistics department, which not only handled rescues but also managed the aftermath of players who died in the game. Just contacting families and explaining the situation was an enormous task.
There were many other duties Xia Bai wasn’t aware of, but Hua
Ling Changye said, “This is just my speculation, but while playing dead in the game, I closely observed some of them. Some people remain unchanged, as if they were created from data codes. For example, the women on the island never have their makeup smudged, no matter how much they sweat. However, when some students were dragged across the ground, the powder on their faces would come off.”
Xia Bai turned to look at him. As expected, Ling had already guessed it, and his reasoning was quite similar to Xia Bai’s own suspicions.
Deputy Director Yang nodded and continued to listen, not asking any questions until everything was explained.
After the inquiry ended, Ma Tongfeng and Guo Yang were called outside for a discussion, though no one knew what was being said. Yang Mei and Hua Haoming then entered.
After a brief exchange, the player healer began treating Ling Changye. Meanwhile, Xia Bai asked Hua Haoming, “Captain Ling said Ma Tongfeng should follow Old Yang’s work. Is this the Old Yang from the police station?”
Hua Haoming looked at Ling Changye, who was busy talking to the healer and might not have heard their conversation. Ling’s voice drifted over amidst his conversation with the healer, “Yang Zongguang.”
“So, it’s him,” Hua Haoming confirmed, noticing Xia Bai’s curiosity about the matter. He explained, “Old Yang is a captain in the logistics department, which handles many responsibilities.”
In recent days, Xia Bai had come to understand the scope of the logistics department—it was likely the largest department within the Game Bureau. The rescue teams formed by their school students belonged to this department, which not only handled rescue operations but also dealt with the aftermath of deaths in the game. Just contacting the families and explaining the situation was a monumental task in itself.
There were many things Xia Bai didn’t know, like the information Hua Haoming was now providing.
“Even though the game hasn’t been fully revealed to the public yet, many people have sensed something is wrong. In the past two years, society and the internet have become increasingly anxious and fearful. Some people, after witnessing these anomalies, want to end their lives early, while others, having lost loved ones in the game, lose the will to live. As a result, suicide groups have started forming. These groups, filled with hopeless, grieving, and depressed individuals, plan collective suicides. It becomes especially dangerous when unethical organizations, like the Shengyou Guild, encourage these actions.”
“Old Yang leads a rescue team, but his team isn’t focused on rescuing players. Instead, they save those who, due to anomalies, want to commit suicide, as well as those incited by players to take their own lives. So far, they’ve saved over 3,000 people.”
Xia Bai was stunned. He had no idea that the Game Bureau had such a team.
Hua Haoming continued, “The reason Old Yang appeared at your town’s police station that day was that one of the people in a suicide group he was monitoring was from your town. While there, he spotted you.”
According to Old Yang, the teenager had wandered in front of the police station for a long time, even peeling the bark off the trees, but never went inside. He looked dazed and, with his good looks, was an easy target for bullying.
Old Yang feared that, without someone to help him, the boy would, like many others, walk down a path of no return.
There had been too many people Old Yang couldn’t save, but he wouldn’t let this one slip away.
Hua Haoming said, “Old Yang was worried that you had nowhere to turn for help and might take drastic measures, so he called you in to ask about your situation.”
Xia Bai froze, remembering the gruff yet kind-hearted Old Yang. He felt a warmth inside.
He glanced at Ma Tongfeng, who was speaking with the Game Bureau staff outside. This job truly suited Ma. Regardless of the era or the broader environment, saving a life was always an admirable and fulfilling endeavor.
Ma, who had lost all hope for living, could now work alongside Old Yang, saving others, and perhaps find his own purpose for living.
He may not have been able to save He Jiaxiu, but he could save more people like them.
While Xia Bai and Hua Haoming were talking, Yang Mei approached Ling Changye, squatted by his bedside, and whispered, “Captain, what’s Xia Bai’s skill? Is it doll stitching?”
Ling Changye replied, “I don’t know. He’s unwilling to tell me. Why don’t you try asking him?”
Yang Mei eagerly nodded and, with a smile, said, “Xia Bai will definitely tell me. He treats me differently. He even let me hold his arm! Ah, why are there so many men and ghosts in this world who can’t refuse me?”
He seriously and earnestly asked Ling Changye, “Captain, what exactly is my charm?”
Ling, feeling a headache coming on, put on his coat. “If Xia Bai tells you his skill, I’ll answer your question.”
Xia Bai felt that familiar sensation of being watched and turned to see Yang Mei smiling sweetly at him.
“Xia Bai, can you tell big brother what your skill is?” Yang Mei asked with a playful tone.
Xia Bai thought for a moment. “No.”
“…”
Yang Mei pouted, looking hurt and on the verge of tears. “So mean!”
“…”
Ling Changye pressed his temple with his finger and asked, “Xia Bai, do you want to join the assault team and enter the game more frequently?”
“Well, Captain, my soul skill is ‘Living Dead,’ and my game identity is a ‘Corpse Collector,’” Xia Bai said seriously.
“…”
Hua Haoming was shocked. “Corpse Collector? With that kind of identity and skill, you must be thrilled!”
Xia Bai replied, “Don’t say that. It’s not what you think. Sometimes I feel troubled.”
You don’t look troubled at all.
Ling Changye asked, “Tell us more?”
“Being a Corpse Collector means…” Xia Bai decided to demonstrate. A soul skill is something etched into one’s soul, effortlessly manifested when needed. Without any prior learning, Xia Bai instinctively knew how to use it. As he focused, a familiar figure appeared in the room—someone they all recognized.
Covered in blood, Gu Quankun stood in the hospital room, raising his hands and inspecting his body.
“I can negotiate with players in advance. If they agree to give me their corpse, it becomes mine after they die. I then become the second owner of the body.”
The others in the room, though familiar with various abilities, weren’t too surprised by this revelation.
“Gu Quankun can be used by you?” Hua Haoming asked, quickly realizing the crucial question. “After death, is it just the body? Can they still use their abilities?”
Whether the corpse could use its abilities was key. If Xia Bai could only collect corpses that couldn’t use their skills, he might have a bunch of bodies, but that wouldn’t be much help against skilled players.
Without saying much, Xia Bai showed them instead.
In an instant, a gigantic worm grew out from Xia Bai’s shoulder, reaching the ceiling.
Skills affect people, and people affect skills. The same ability could manifest differently in each person. As the massive worm grew from Xia Bai’s arm, its color lightened, almost pink, yet it lost none of its intimidating aura.
Its bristles were sharp and transparent like blades. As it coiled around Xia Bai’s slender shoulders, the wind it stirred blew his soft bangs aside. When it shot towards the ceiling, they could hear the sound of its bristles slicing through the walls—soft yet lethal.
Erwa stood frozen, staring in awe, his popcorn spilling unnoticed.
Yang Mei was similarly stunned, his lips slightly parted in surprise.
For the first time, a serious expression appeared in Ling Changye’s eyes.
Hua Haoming’s reaction was even more pronounced—excited and shocked.
The way they looked at Xia Bai changed, perhaps because of his skill, but not entirely.
Author’s note:
Gu Quankun: You are noble, you are proud, you’ve let go—you used my arm to till the graveyard.
