SVRP Chapter 6

The door was pushed open forcefully, and Ji Yun’s crying stopped abruptly. She looked hopefully at the two girls inside, with tears still welling up in her eyes.

“Where is he now?”

“In the morning, I went to the river by the forest to fetch some water for washing. I was dragged by something near the water. The boy who was with you saw and rushed over to help me, but he was bitten by the monster and dragged into the forest…”

At this point, the tears began to fall from Ji Yun’s eyes again, like broken pearls, evoking pity. A feeling of unspeakable disgust rose in Qin Dongwan’s heart. She didn’t want to look at Ji Yun any longer and immediately picked up the small knife she had taken from the kitchen yesterday and rushed out.

Although she had no significant relationship with the original owner’s childhood friend, she couldn’t just leave this rare, kind-hearted person to die. Moreover, the more outstanding her performance in the checkpoints, the more points she would earn. For both emotional and rational reasons, Qin Dongwan had to make this trip.

Her memory was excellent. Tang Zihang was supposed to die in a later checkpoint according to the original book. Even if her presence might change things, it wouldn’t be this drastically different.

Watching the girl hurry away, Luo Shu initially wanted to close the door but felt disgusted seeing Ji Yun’s pitiful expression. She huffed impatiently and left Ji Yun standing there like a wooden figure.

Ji Yun stomped her foot, wiped her tears, and quickly followed.

“Miss, please take your task card when you go out. The task must be completed within three days, and there will be an inspection at dinner on the third day.”

Last night’s turmoil hadn’t left any traces. Even the two bodies, one human and one beast, had vanished without a trace. When Qin Dongwan reached downstairs, she saw a stranger dressed as a maid guarding the door. She instinctively hid her small knife and slowed her steps, cautiously scanning the area.

She reached out to take the task card, and the maid bowed respectfully and stepped aside.

The golden card was intricately decorated with a layer of lace, and the glaring red letters on it looked like coagulated blood, dazzling in the sunlight. Qin Dongwan quickly scanned the card as she saw other players walking out of the castle with similar cards.

It had only one line: “Please go to the forest and pick fifteen seven-colored flowers.”

The sunlight outside the castle was blindingly bright, making the dried dark red stains seem to flow again. Before Qin Dongwan could look closely, Ji Yun rushed over, panting, and slapped her shoulder urgently, as if she wished to take Tang Zihang’s place:

“That… that guy, let’s hurry to the forest and find him!”

She clearly hadn’t remembered Qin Dongwan’s name but conveyed her meaning. Luo Shu, who followed, gave Ji Yun a disdainful glance, already growing tired of her.

Anyone dragged into the forest was likely doomed. Despite being her fault, Ji Yun insisted on dragging others into it. Where did she get such nerve?

“I’ll look for him while completing the task, but I won’t go with you.”

Qin Dongwan made a quick decision and brushed Ji Yun’s hand off her shoulder. Disappointment flashed across Ji Yun’s pretty face, soon replaced by a look of resigned grievance as she ran into the jungle first.

A giant carnivorous flower drooled, emitting a foul stench. Though it was asleep, the dripping “rain” was gradually corroding the fertile black soil.

After putting some distance between herself and the carnivorous flower, Tang Zihang shakily got up and wiped the blood off his face. One of his arms was torn and bloody. If he hadn’t stuffed a thorn into the carnivorous flower’s mouth in a moment of desperation, he would surely be a corpse by now.

Warm light filtered through the trees, giving the staggering boy a glimmer of hope as he made his way back.

Though men rarely shed tears, he couldn’t help but sniffle. He hadn’t wanted to be dragged off by a carnivorous flower for saving a stranger, but seeing the fear on the beautiful girl’s face, he had instinctively reacted.

Now, stranded in a deserted forest, the castle seemed far away, its human presence like a distant memory.

His wounds were hastily wrapped, but the faint smell of blood was still there, and he felt the hidden dangers in the bushes, ready to end his life at any moment.

“Zihang…”

A clear voice called out, mingled with worried sobs. Tang Zihang looked up sharply, but he saw no one else in the forest. Doubtful but hopeful, he walked toward the voice.

The closer he got, the more he felt warm breath on his ear. The forest’s dampness mixed with the smell of blood, making it hard to breathe, almost wrapping him in a strange warmth…

As he reached out to the greenery, a raging fire suddenly engulfed the illusion. He opened his eyes and found himself on fertile black soil, with the carnivorous flower’s saliva burning him.

He remembered being dragged into the forest by the monster and escaping, only to smell something strange and fall into an illusion.

Forcing himself to stand, Tang Zihang saw Qin Dongwan in front of him, holding a lit torch.

She had two torches; now she threw the other one into the carnivorous flower’s open mouth.

The heat and smell Tang Zihang had sensed came from the monster. If Qin Dongwan had arrived a moment later, he would have walked right into the flower’s mouth.

“Run!”

Qin Dongwan shouted, her hands empty after throwing the torch. She couldn’t fight the monster with just a small knife.

Living up to his nickname, “Er Ha,” Tang Zihang snapped out of it and scrambled to his feet, running desperately despite his wounds.

A clear path led out of the forest, fire spreading behind them, the sound of burning plants chasing their steps.

Qin Dongwan followed closely, not daring to look back, gritting her teeth and pushing forward.

The burning smell grew stronger, and the fire formed a circle around them. Suffocating, they ran toward a patch of grass, beyond which lay a small stream.

“Get down!”

A sharp wind passed by, and death circled them. At Luo Shu’s shout, Qin Dongwan pulled Tang Zihang to the ground, the grass pricking their skin.

The attacking thorn vine missed them, retracting in frustration and leaving a long mark on the ground.

Qin Dongwan got up, brushing off dirt and grass, and kicked the still-prone Tang Zihang before turning to the forest.

The small fires still flickered, and some players who hadn’t gone into the forest gathered, talking about things she couldn’t hear.

Ji Yun must have gone to the forest too, but Qin Dongwan hadn’t seen her. She wouldn’t be trapped by the fire.

A shallow creek lay ahead, only knee-deep. Qin Dongwan stepped in, lifting her skirt. It was late morning, the sun scorching. Finding the water safe, she waded in, then approached Luo Shu to thank her.

Luo Shu looked at her oddly, dodging the thanks and changing the subject. She tugged Qin Dongwan’s collar down:

“I found some tools in the castle’s storage on the first floor, but I don’t have the key. There was some commotion last night, but all traces are gone. The only notable thing is—”

Her voice trailed off, and her expression turned icy. She picked up a stone and hurled it, hitting someone hiding behind the bushes.

The author has something to say:

[Character Card]
Name: Tang Zihang
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Height: 177cm
Weight: 69kg
Strength: Above average
Intelligence: Not yet assessed
Summary: In the book, he is a plain male character. Besides being somewhat good-looking and infatuated with the heroine, he lacks distinctive traits. According to Qin Dongwan, he is a fool in every sense.
PS: Importantly, characters described in detail in the book behave according to their written personalities and have no free will. Qin Dongwan’s rescue of Luo Shu gave her a true soul.