Chapter 19 Players
Li Wen made a decision instantly. She gazed deeply at the Twin-tailed Mermaid statue that exuded an ominous aura, but did not attempt to destroy it. Attacking a vessel of a Soul Lord’s residual soul without knowing its true nature would be an unwise move, likely leading to extremely fatal and terrifying consequences.
Using the power of the Emerald Star Cloak, Li Wen’s body gradually became lighter. With a slight push, she took to the air, flying to the ceiling of the cave and hiding behind an inconspicuous stalactite.
Li Wen held her breath, her body pressed against the cold, damp rock wall. The special trait of Reverse in Shadow activated, and her entire being seemed to melt into the shadow of the stalactite.
Footsteps echoed with unusual clarity on the open church floor, carrying a subtle urgency as they approached the passage leading underground.
The person did not come down immediately. The light from the opening was blocked for a moment, as if they were cautiously observing below. Then, a small glass ball, emitting a faint, almost colorless spiritual light, was tossed down.
The glass ball shattered the moment it touched the ground, and an invisible spiritual light spread through the small cave before vanishing instantly.
Li Wen’s eyes narrowed. This should be a magical item capable of detecting mana fluctuations and life auras within a certain range, often used to scout for traps or hidden enemies; it was very practical.
The air in the underground cave seemed to freeze. Only the monotonous sound of water dripping into shallow puddles could be heard. Li Wen clung to the rough, cold surface of the stalactite. Under the combined effect of Reverse in Shadow and Witch Form, she was like a lifeless shadow, her heartbeat and breathing suppressed to the limit. The probing spiritual light passed by like wind blowing over a stubborn rock, stirring not the slightest ripple.
After a brief silence, a figure finally appeared at the entrance of the passage, descending the slippery stone steps rapidly.
Li Wen’s gaze penetrated the gaps between the hanging stalactites, observing the fellow traveler. Unfortunately, he was clad in a heavy cloak, his face hidden in shadow, making it impossible to see his features.
His steps were somewhat unsteady, and he stumbled towards the Twin-tailed Mermaid statue, stopping a few steps away. He slightly leaned forward, as if staring directly at the eerie and beautiful face. His chest rose and fell dramatically.
“Did you see? I did it! I sold the message! They… they actually went!”
His voice was very low, not as if he were talking to himself, but filled with a nervous tremor, an eagerness to prove something. Though weak, it was clearly the voice of a young man.
“Just a bunch of fools. I only leaked a bit of unimportant stuff on the forum, and they went and bought the intel themselves.” His voice rose slightly, tinged with a distorted sense of pride. “Now, you should tell me what to do next… you promised me…”
Forum?
Li Wen immediately realized that this sneaky fellow was a Player. Judging by his constant monologue, he was either insane or communicating with some unseen entity, perhaps the Soul Lord who had been killed and sealed.
In other words, was this the Player who would later release the Soul Lord?
With almost no room for hesitation, the moment she thought of this, Li Wen acted.
Her figure slid out of the shadow behind the stalactite soundlessly, then, like an eagle locking onto its prey, she lunged towards the figure on the ground, her Raven Feather Dagger pointed directly at his vital spot.
However, just as the dagger was about to strike, the person’s body lurched violently to the front left in an extremely awkward posture, as if his waist were twisted. It was as if he had eyes on his back or was being pushed by some unseen force.
The tip of the dagger grazed the edge of his cloak, narrowly missing him.
“Who?” a terrified scream rang out. The cloaked figure rolled and scrambled to his feet. To Li Wen’s surprise, not only was he wearing a cloak, but also a dark sack over his head, completely concealing his face.
Should one call it cowardly or cautious?
Li Wen’s attack missed, and she retracted her dagger.
Since force had failed, she might as well try to communicate.
“Don’t be nervous, I just want to talk.”
“You, you…” The cloaked figure retreated a couple of steps, his back now to the rock wall, breathing rapidly. He seemed panicked, or perhaps disbelieving, but he eventually calmed down. “Talk, talk about what? Are you a Player too?”
His voice, muffled by the sack, carried a distinct wariness.
“Obviously.” Li Wen put away her dagger, spreading her hands to signal she meant no harm. “You mentioned the forum just now, right? It sounds like you sold some information to the Divine Cult of Eternal Blessing? Are the ones behind them also Players?”
“What do you want?”
The other party was very alert, like a territorial dog guarding its food, if one were to make an analogy.
“I’m not interested in your transaction.” Li Wen was direct. “I just want to know, what did the thing in the statue promise you?”
“You–” the cloaked figure suddenly looked up. His expression was hidden beneath the sack, but his voice clearly changed tune. “How do you know?”
“Of course I know. There’s nothing in this world that can hide from me.”
Li Wen said this deliberately, trying to increase the psychological pressure she could exert on the person before her.
She pointed to the statue behind her. “This fellow probably wants you to help him break free, right? What did he promise you? Power? Wealth? Or…”
“What’s it to you!” the cloaked figure suddenly became agitated, his voice carrying a certain distortion. “What do you high-and-mighty expert Players understand? You only ever hog resources and treat ordinary Players as cannon fodder! Now it’s finally my turn, and you want to snatch it from me! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do!”
Li Wen narrowed her eyes. It seemed this person knew her, or at least had heard rumors about “Mephistopheles” among some Players. She subtly took half a step forward. “So you chose to cooperate with the Soul Lord? Do you know the consequences of releasing it?”
“Consequences?” the cloaked figure let out a strange snort. “It’s just a game, what consequences can there be? What does it matter if more NPCs die? I will never let go of what I’ve obtained, so kill me if you want, who’s afraid of whom–”
Before he could finish speaking, the statue suddenly glowed with an eerie blue light. Li Wen drew her dagger, watching the change behind her vigilantly. It came alive, just like the Twin-tailed Mermaid statue at sea, regaining its life.
Its scales began to writhe, and its beautiful face twisted into a ferocious smile.
Li Wen was ready to fight, but she didn’t expect this monster’s target was not her at all, but the cloaked figure in the distance.
The Twin-tailed Mermaid’s two powerful tails sprang, and its entire figure lunged forward at a speed that exceeded Li Wen’s reaction. When Li Wen tried to stop it, she could only see the mermaid tearing the Player apart and killing him, causing him to vanish into light.
After finishing, the Twin-tailed Mermaid looked at Li Wen provocatively, then, as if losing some form of support, it softened, melted, and disappeared into a foul-smelling pool of black seawater.
