When Shen Qingqiu heard the announcement, she couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Muyu. This woman was simply too intelligent.
Xiao Muyu’s brilliance lay not only in her logical thinking but also in her exceptional attention to detail. She could always pinpoint key elements amidst a myriad of clues.
They managed to save Old Sang because Xiao Muyu had noted that his face had a deathly pallor, prompting Shen Qingqiu to follow him. This led to the discovery of the gate to the small woods.
The graveyard behind the mountain was also a crucial location in this scenario, which activated Xiao Mei’s original form. From her conversation, they learned that the remaining 15% of the storyline involved another grievance of the children.
Everything was interconnected. If any part had been missed, they would still be fumbling around, nowhere near completing the scenario by the third day.
This fact was clear to everyone, not just Shen Qingqiu. The others understood and thanked both Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu.
While Xiao Muyu’s intellect was critical, Shen Qingqiu’s combat skills were equally indispensable; without them, they wouldn’t have survived this far.
Xiao Muyu felt little need for their thanks. She glanced at Shen Qingqiu and said, “You don’t need to thank me too much. Although my presence made things easier, it also somewhat suppressed your abilities. If you had tackled this on your own, your scores might have been higher. So, thank her instead.”
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but laugh, waving her hand dismissively. “No need to thank me. I was just clearing the scenario.”
She then ignored Yang Rui and the others and approached Xiao Muyu. “Did you score so much higher because you convinced them at the end?”
Xiao Muyu extended her right hand, pointed a finger at Shen Qingqiu’s restless head, and pushed her away. She responded with a faint “yes” before closing her control panel.
Shen Qingqiu, startled by the sudden poke, stood there dumbfounded. Her reaction drew several curious glances from onlookers.
Xiao Muyu, aware that her gesture, although a refusal, conveyed a strange sense of intimacy, maintained her composed facade.
“Next, the scores for the five players who completed the scenario will be announced: Xiao Muyu: S-rank, Shen Qingqiu: A-rank, Yang Rui: A-rank, Zhang Yangfeng: A-rank, Huang Junfeng: B-rank,” the system announced coldly. Huang Junfeng wasn’t surprised by his B-rank; he knew he had survived largely thanks to his teammates. However, everyone was puzzled by Shen Qingqiu’s A-rank despite her high score.
“How come Shen Qingqiu’s rating is only A?” Huang Junfeng asked.
Just then, Judge No. 003 appeared beside them. The mature-looking 003, in her black suit, glanced at the five of them and said, “Congratulations on completing the scenario. You can now leave and proceed to the lottery.”
“Why is Shen Qingqiu’s rating A?” Xiao Muyu frowned and asked 003.
Shen Qingqiu was surprised by the question, as it wasn’t typical of Xiao Muyu to care about such things, not even her own rating.
003 answered straightforwardly, “This scenario was primarily storyline-driven with a focus on logical reasoning, in which your contribution was undoubtedly the greatest. However, Shen Qingqiu’s participation was less significant; her combat role, though important, wasn’t central to the key events. Hence, you’re rated S, and she’s rated A.”
“She just doesn’t talk much. Our scores were almost identical in every storyline aspect, except for the 12 points for convincing Xiao Qiu. Her contribution was almost the same as mine. How can you say her participation was low? Do you only value talking and ignore thinking?” Xiao Muyu’s pointed criticism was a direct challenge to the system’s fairness.
003 frowned and replied, “The system’s evaluation is final. If you doubt it, you can file an appeal. If successful, the rating will be adjusted. If rejected, this scenario’s clearance will be nullified. Do you wish to proceed?”
This statement was blatantly threatening. While it seemed to offer a chance to appeal, it was a thinly veiled warning. No one would risk an appeal over a rating.
Xiao Muyu snorted and turned away. Shen Qingqiu chuckled, “A-rank is fine. Let’s move on so we don’t hold up the next group.”
003, taken aback, didn’t say anything further and instantly transported them back to the room where they had initially entered the scenario.
Since they were teammates, they ended up together. Upon arrival, Xiao Muyu immediately felt the weakness and pain from her injuries disappear.
She turned to see Shen Qingqiu removing the sling from her arm, testing its movement.
After cracking her knuckles, Shen Qingqiu gave 003 a knowing look, her eyes filled with a silent threat.
003, her expression sour, didn’t bother with pleasantries. “With the B-rank mission completed, the A-rank mission will consist of team scenarios requiring at least five members. You can start recruiting teammates now. If not, team members will be randomly assigned when the scenario starts.”
003 explained the teammate binding rules, which were similar to what Shen Qingqiu had mentioned earlier.
Finishing the explanation, 003 waved her hand, causing several cards to appear before her. She glanced at Xiao Muyu and Shen Qingqiu. “Do I need to explain the rules, or will one of you draw first?”
Xiao Muyu was surprised. “Are you saying someone else can draw for you?”
“Yes, considering your special relationship. In future team scenarios, a designated person will represent the group in drawing.”
Xiao Muyu immediately looked at Shen Qingqiu, who shook her head. “Don’t count on me. Among us, I’m one of the two who drew ‘Thank You for Playing’ before. Just go ahead and draw. Even ‘Thank You for Playing’ isn’t too bad.”
Xiao Muyu, exasperated, replied, “Can you stop jinxing me? I’m not relying on you; your draws are always weird.”
Shen Qingqiu, amused by Xiao Muyu’s out-of-character comment, couldn’t help but laugh.
Xiao Muyu decisively picked a card. As it spun and settled before her, the large characters made her face darken. She glanced at Shen Qingqiu with a mix of frustration and disappointment.
Shen Qingqiu quickly checked the card. “Did I really jinx you?”
“‘Thank You for Playing’? This is even rarer than drawing an S-rank. This is your second time,” 003 remarked, astonished.
Despite the many odd items in the game, the ‘Thank You for Playing’ card was genuinely rare, usually a system’s cruel joke.
Xiao Muyu silently put away the card, its “2” mocking her, and said, “Your turn.”
Shen Qingqiu, both amused and sympathetic, faced the cards. “Are you sure you want me to try? I’ve drawn ‘Thank You for Playing’ too. If I draw it again…”
Xiao Muyu, exasperated, interrupted, “Just draw.”
Shen Qingqiu stood aside, smiling as she watched Xiao Muyu.
When the card stopped, Shen Qingqiu glanced at it and laughed.
Xiao Muyu felt relieved. At least it was an S-rank card.
“Cage Song, Rarity: S, obtained in specific scenarios at a very low probability.
Item Description: Music is always delightful. This sweet and enchanting song, when sung, will surely be enjoyable.
Activating the card plays the Cage Song, forcing all units within range to dance. Once the song stops, the user can designate a unit to take all damage in their place for thirty seconds.
Cooldown: 48 hours.”
Shen Qingqiu, reading the description, was pleased. “This card is like a protective charm, allowing a substitute to take damage. It’s practically an extra life.”
Xiao Muyu nodded, appearing much calmer than Shen Qingqiu. She pointed at 003, “You go ahead and draw.” Shen Qingqiu, with her usual nonchalance, picked a card without even looking at it, but when she saw what it was, her expression changed slightly.
Xiao Muyu, noticing this, leaned over to take a look and was also taken aback. Her eyes darkened as she quickly read the card’s description.
The card depicted a doll, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the doll Xiao Er from the third scenario. Xiao Muyu remembered the unsettling look Xiao Er had given Shen Qingqiu when they left the washroom. The rarity of the card was marked with a question mark, adding to their unease.
“Porcelain Doll Xiao Er, Rarity: ? (Never before dropped). Description: The vengeful spirit from the scenario, Porcelain Doll Xiao Er, can be summoned to fight. The weaker the host, the stronger the doll’s combat power, making it a perfect bodyguard, right? Note: The doll autonomously chooses its host and cannot be reassigned. Can be used only once per scenario.”
Both of them had complex expressions after reading the description. Shen Qingqiu pointed at the card, “What does ‘autonomously chooses its host’ mean? Why does it have such an undefined rarity?”
003 shook her head, “I’m sorry, I can’t answer that. It’s a system setting that players must explore on their own.”
003’s response made Xiao Muyu even more suspicious of the card’s true nature, but there was no way to get more information now.
“When will the next scenario start?” Shen Qingqiu decided not to dwell on it. The referees and the system were essentially on the same side, indifferent to the players’ struggles. As long as they didn’t sabotage them, it was considered fair.
“After completing the B-level scenario, players can rest. You will be notified three days in advance before the next scenario begins. Typically, it starts in about twenty days.”
Xiao Muyu exhaled slowly. Although physical wounds healed upon exiting the scenario, the mental strain was far more taxing. Clearing three scenarios in a row had worn her down. Shen Qingqiu, with her frequent injuries, must be equally exhausted.
Returning to the Tianwang world felt surreal. The bustling streets seemed almost fake, especially after leaving the gloomy orphanage. The contrast left them feeling empty inside.
“The talisman you bought in Wuliang Street wasn’t used, right?” Shen Qingqiu recalled the talisman Xiao Muyu had acquired before entering the scenario, which seemed unused.
Xiao Muyu took out the talisman, which had once looked worn, with faded runes. Now, the red cinnabar markings were vivid and clear.
Shen Qingqiu, remembering its original state, looked at Xiao Muyu and smiled, “As expected, you never pick anything useless. It did come in handy. Finding a good item in Wuliang Street is harder than discovering genuine antiques in an antique market.”
Xiao Muyu glanced at her and then handed the talisman to Shen Qingqiu.
Surprised, Shen Qingqiu looked at her but didn’t reach out to take it.
“It might not be very useful, but it can warn you when there’s something dirty nearby.”
Shen Qingqiu, confused, asked, “Then why give it to me?”
Xiao Muyu thought for a moment, then pursed her lips and took it back, turning to walk towards their hotel.
Shen Qingqiu, puzzled, followed a few steps before realizing Xiao Muyu’s intention. Her smile broadened, making her radiant face even more stunning.
Xiao Muyu, keeping a straight face, saw Shen Qingqiu tilting her head with a sly smile, her red lips curving into a playful grin. “Why did you take it back? Changed your mind?”
Xiao Muyu, frustrated with herself, replied, “What’s the use of giving it to you? Ghosts are more afraid of you than you are of them. I might as well keep it.”
Shen Qingqiu, silent, continued smiling all the way back to the hotel, attracting curious glances from the receptionist and even the usually evasive Yuan Duan.
Xiao Muyu, knowing better than to engage, remained silent to avoid giving Shen Qingqiu more opportunities to tease her.
“Have they come out?” The man sitting on the sofa by the floor-to-ceiling window, playing with a cigar, asked calmly.
“Yes, Eleventh Master. They look fine,” replied a black-suited man respectfully from behind him.
“Good. It was only a B-level scenario; she wouldn’t have had any problems.” The man put down the cigar, stood up, and straightened his perfectly tailored black tailcoat. Despite a hint of worry in his eyes, he looked somewhat relieved.
The author has some words: Time to write some daily life scenes before starting the next scenario. I might need to take a break to stock up on chapters.
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