“Based on the scoring system, it’s not that others don’t get points once the answer is found. As long as you state your reasoning or add details, you’ll get points too. But this system indeed requires people to speak up.”
Liu Wei glanced at Shen Qingqiu, convinced that she knew the answer but just didn’t care to speak up, hence not getting any points.
“Next time, after everyone has given their conclusions, let’s make sure to give others a chance to speak,” he said, directing his comment at Xiao Muyu.
They had already noticed that Xiao Muyu was a big shot. While others had to rely on talismans or slept through the events, she remained unscathed and scored the full ten points.
“Let’s quickly go out and have a look. Some things can only be done during the day, and we still don’t know where that old lady went. We can ask her again,” Liu Wei continued, assuming the role of leader.
Everyone knew that Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu were the key players. However, one was concise in speech, and the other simply ignored people. With no way to get them to speak voluntarily, it fell to Liu Wei, who was reasonably intelligent, to take charge.
When they went downstairs, they found the old woman on the second floor, sewing clothes amidst a pile of burlap.
Seeing them come down, the old woman didn’t react and continued using the sewing machine.
The group saw that the bloodstains in the room were still there, and the old woman’s room was still locked.
Xu Ran hesitated but eventually gathered the courage to approach and speak: “Grandma, we really want to help you, but we have too little information. Can you tell us what’s the deal with those human skins in the room?”
The old woman’s foot moved deftly on the pedal, the needle stitching quickly through the burlap. Upon hearing Xu Ran’s question, she stopped, turned her head, and looked at him.
With a bright smile, she said, “Such a fair and clean-looking child, it’s a pity if you die. But sorry, child, Grandma can’t help you. You’ve done something wrong.”
Despite feeling terrified, Xu Ran forced a smile and said, “Grandma, you must dislike those human skins. You want to escape this endless torment, and you can only rely on us outsiders. It doesn’t benefit you if we die, so can you give us more information?”
The old woman ignored him. Liu Wei shook his head at Xu Ran; if it were that simple, it would be better.
“Grandma, you said it’s a pity for a fair and clean-looking child like me to die. Can you show some pity for us? Don’t you want those two girls to help you break free? At least for their sake.”
The old woman looked at Xu Ran again, then lowered her head, showing a trace of pain in her eyes.
Just as Xu Ran was about to give up, the old woman suddenly spoke. She looked at Xu Ran, muttering, “If my grandson were still alive, he’d be your age. Forget it. If you want to survive, you have to find it and strike first. It can’t harm anyone during the day.”
Xu Ran was stunned, and at that moment, an announcement played: “Congratulations to player Xu Ran for activating the side quest: Find the murderous human skin. Reward: 10 points. Time limit: 8 hours. Point reward: ⚹⚹⚹.”
Everyone found a new task on their panel.
“Seriously?” the leopard-print man said, incredulous.
Xu Ran’s fair face flushed with excitement, showing a victory gesture. He was too young to conceal his emotions.
“Pretty boy luck,” the leopard muttered.
Then the system announced again: “Players, please note: This task will be judged by answering questions, with points awarded based on answers. From now on, copying or sharing answers is prohibited. Violations will be treated as cheating, and both parties will receive zero points. Severe cases will result in disqualification.”
The group, initially overjoyed, suddenly felt deflated.
“What kind of rule is this? If you accidentally reveal the answer, does it count as cheating?” Short Chen Dong couldn’t hold back. Couldn’t he even share with his brother?
“Warning! Do not challenge the rules!”
Chen Dong: …
“What do we do now? This place is huge, and the human skin can’t come out during the day. If it ran away last night, where do we find it? There are so many human skins, who knows which one?” Xu Ran was panicking.
The others also looked worried. Seeing their low spirits, Xiao Muyu said, “The task is to find the murderous human skin, but to complete the task, you have to answer questions. If you catch the human skin, you can… think it over carefully.”
She wanted to explain further, but a yellow exclamation mark appeared on the side quest, making her shut up.
Shen Qingqiu approached her and whispered, “Sometimes, speaking less is better.”
Xiao Muyu didn’t respond, but her words had already given someone an inkling of the task’s meaning.
After a moment, Cui Xiaoxuan took a deep breath and went into the couple’s room on the second floor. Liu Wei thought for a moment and followed.
Others were still confused. The leopard scratched his head, puzzled, “Shouldn’t we go find out where those human skins are hiding? The sun is up; we won’t be able to go out after it sets.”
“Let’s go and have a look,” Lao Liao sighed and followed.
Xiao Muyu stayed put. That was the crime scene, and she had already checked it during the cleanup. The remaining traces were obvious but not particularly special.
Why could that human skin ignore the room’s protection? Was it because it was raised there?
The image of the blood-filled bowl came to her mind. The blood inside was still sticky, not coagulated, indicating it was freshly placed.
Whose blood was it? The old woman’s? She watched the old woman sewing, her hands and feet nimble, not seeming injured.
Xiao Muyu felt she had uncovered an important clue, understanding why the task required answering questions rather than directly completing it.
However, it couldn’t be rushed. Game tasks couldn’t be that simple. Since this side quest was given to everyone, it was likely crucial. Failing to gain anything might lead to mission failure. With that in mind, she said to Cui Xiaoxuan and the others, “The human skin wasn’t just in one room last night. Let’s all check it out.”
No one objected. They checked all six rooms upstairs and downstairs, finding nothing special.
The human skin, after being blocked by three talismans, should have been damaged, so it didn’t skin Xiao Tian as well.
The places it passed through, except for the bloody trail up to the third floor, were clean, likely cleaned up.
“But don’t you find it strange? Where did the skinned human hide?” Xiao Muyu asked after checking, causing the group to freeze.
“Yeah, Xiao Sun’s… is missing,” Lao Liao couldn’t calmly say those words. The thought made his legs weak.
“Did it eat it on the spot?” Liu Wei asked, holding back his disgust.
“Those killed in the village turned into human skins, so it’s likely the same for him,” Cui Xiaoxuan said softly.
“What about those who didn’t make it into the house? Did they turn into that too?”
You Qiaolian finally spoke up, encouraged by Cui Xiaoxuan, though she was so timid that she stuttered.
“Right, we should check. We didn’t notice earlier when we went out,” Liu Wei said, eyes lighting up.
“But what does this have to do with finding the human skin? If there are no clues in the house, did it escape with its loot last night?” Cui Xiaoxuan asked, looking at Xiao Muyu for feedback.
“Can the human skin come and go freely? If so, why? Just because it was raised here?” Xiao Muyu muttered to herself, then walked downstairs.
It seemed she was talking to herself, not caring if others heard, as she headed downstairs.
Shen Qingqiu watched her back and smiled.
The sunshine outside was bright, nothing looked eerie except for the new grave in the woods, reminding them of the lurking danger.
Shen Qingqiu looked at the open space in front of the house. Only twelve players made it inside, while others died outside, never starting the game officially.
As she was lost in thought, a fair hand appeared before her eyes: “Did you place this?”
Shen Qingqiu looked at the small piece of tree branch in her palm, less than half a centimeter long with broken ends.
She turned to Xiao Muyu, took it, and smiled, “Sharp observation, you noticed this. Yes, I placed it.”
“In every room?”
Shen Qingqiu nodded, looking at the approaching group. She leaned close and whispered, “Want to know what I found?”
With her hand behind her back, leaning forward with a mischievous smile, she looked cute yet irritating to Xiao Muyu.
“Actually, the first person to find the body wasn’t Cui Xiaoxuan, right?” Xiao Muyu spoke casually, not looking at her.
Shen Qingqiu didn’t deny it, giving a “continue” look.
“You got up early, your quilt was already cool. And, since you made marks, you should have checked early. I don’t need you to tell me what you found, just say if I’m right.” She whispered a few words into Shen Qingqiu’s ear.
Shen Qingqiu’s smile deepened, “You’re smart, I’m relieved, my effort wasn’t in vain.”
She then took something from her pocket and casually tossed it behind, a few similar-sized branches falling into the grass, almost invisible.
Xiao Muyu got her answer and felt reassured. While direct answers couldn’t be revealed, hints could be given.
However, Shen Qingqiu was meticulous and quirky, never straightforward, always enjoying riddles.
“What are they whispering about? Isn’t sharing answers prohibited?” Chen Xi couldn’t help but speak.
The leopard and others watched them, frustrated and anxious, unable to find any clues.
“They’ve always been aloof. Though we agreed to cooperate, they don’t share information. Selfish people are the worst.”
“She’s already reminded us, and the system forbids sharing answers. She knows something we missed, and telling us might count as cheating.”
Cui Xiaoxuan, though also curious, was satisfied and sensed that Xiao Muyu, though cold, wasn’t unkind.
“You can talk, it’s easy for you,” the leopard grumbled, calling Lao Liao and Chen Dong to search outside. The human skin had to be hiding somewhere nearby.
