Chapter 35 - Reality (6) (2/2)

Winter Branch remained very friendly and calm. In response to Cheng Zhi Chu’s enthusiastic praise, he politely thanked him and said that he only did it so that he could help everyone out.

Being able to interact with the great god so closely and along with the fact that great god was very approachable, Cheng Zhi Chu’s good impression of him once again increased several folds. At the same time, he was also very curious. Why did great god disappear for two years and when he reappeared two years later, the first thing he did was reply to his post.

However, this was Winter Branch’s private matter and Cheng Zhi Chu didn’t dare to ask. He decided to ask a more serious question.

[Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice: Great god replied to my post before and said that “Midnight Mansion” is an interesting instance. Why? Was there anything special about the instance?]

[Winter Branch: Yes, that instance is very special. I can’t give you the details, but I can reveal one point: This instance isn’t one that anyone can enter. It needs to be opened by a specific person.]

Specific person?

Cheng Zhi Chu was stunned. He couldn’t help but think of Bai Yi.

Of course, he wouldn’t be thick skinned enough to think that he is the special person so the only other people would be the four teammates. Wang Jianming, Ren Xue and Lu Wenjing have all passed away. Although it was possible, the most likely person would still be Bai Yi. After all, he is very strong, and he is also very mysterious. Perhaps he had something to do with that instance.

[Winter Branch: No one could enter this instance before. You and your teammates were the first group and my guess is that your group would also be the last. There would be no other players entering this instance.]

[Winter Branch: There are more than one special instances like these. I have been collecting information about them, but I haven’t been very successful. If you find anything, I hope you can share it with me, and I can reward you with something appropriate.]

[Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice: I’m really sorry. I don’t have anymore clues about this instance. Everything that I have written in the guide was all that I can say. I’m really sorry about not being of much help.]

Seeing Winter Branch’s message, Cheng Zhi Chu frowned. He felt that he shouldn’t reveal everything about it including the fact that he had received a cursed item and what he experienced in the instance.

He was still a little wary. Although Winter Branch is a great god who’s happy to share his guides, and he seemed to be of good character, he still didn’t know what he was truly like. They had only just met, and Cheng Zhi Chu didn’t know much about him so he naturally couldn’t trust him completely.

He also regretted it a little inside. If he knew that the Midnight Mansion instance was special, he should have carefully considered whether or not it was appropriate to post the guide. But he didn’t know about it before and it was too late to regret it now.

Moreover, if Bai Yi was the special person needed to open the instance, then maybe “Abandoned Hospital” was also a special instance. Until he is able to ascertain Winter Branch’s true intentions, he shouldn’t most about it. He should also tell the Meng sisters and Ji Yun Xiao not to post it.

[Winter Branch: Is that so? That’s okay, maybe you just can’t remember. If you recall anything, you can always tell me.]

[Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice: Okay. If I think of something, I would definitely tell great god!]

…………..

Over the next few days, Cheng Zhi Chu worked out how he should spend his survival points and used it to buy blood tonics, new skills and cards. Soon, his survival points reached a new low and all he had left was a few life-saving points to use in emergencies.

At the same time, he also told the Meng sisters and Ji Yun Xiao not to post an instance guide. He didn’t tell them the reason for it specifically but the three of them were understanding and easily agreed to it without asking further questions.

During the past few days, Cheng Zhi Chu would often chat with Bai Yi but for the time being he didn’t mention Winter Branch.

Firstly, it was because he still hasn’t figured out what Winter Branch’s attitude towards the person that can open the special instances was like. Perhaps the other party was really only had good intentions, so he didn’t want to make Bai Yi worried. After all, he is in Death Mode and constantly in great danger.

Secondly, Bai Yi may already know about the special instances and has his own secrets. Cheng Zhi Chu was worried that if he spoke rashly, he may end up asking something that he shouldn’t have asked.

Winter Branch has also maintained contact with Cheng Zhi Chu over these past few days. Perhaps to show his sincerity, he would even take the initiative to ask Cheng Zhi Chu if he had any problems that he could help out with.

He asked about the Death Mode. In addition to his own curiosity, he also wanted to know if he could be of any help to Bai Yi. He wasn’t worried about Winter Branch becoming suspicious since he is also in Death Mode so this topic would naturally be raised.

[Winter Branch: Very few people would choose Death Mode. Although you can get more survival points, the overall disadvantages outweigh the advantages. People who choose this mode usually have no other options.]

[Winter Branch: It is the same in my case.]

[Winter Branch: The most common reason is because the player is in on the brink of death in reality. As soon as they return to reality, they would immediately die.]

[Winter Branch: These people cannot return to reality and can only choose the Death Mode. Only when the game is cleared will they be resurrected.]

[Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice: It turned out to be like this…..]

Cheng Zhi Chu was a little stunned. Before, he had asked Bai Yi why he chose the death mode and Bai Yi didn’t answer him directly only saying that it was complicated. Could it be that this was the reason for him as well?

A little worried, he put down his phone and laid in bed for a while. When he finally fell asleep, he had a strange dream.

He had returned back to school over the past few days but, since returning to school, he has never had a good night’s sleep and would always have the same dream.

In his dream, he stood in a pitch-black space. In his hand was the silver coin.

He would again and again flip the coin and every time it would reveal the joker’s side. Every time he flipped it, he would make a wish; money, reputation, status, women……..As long as he flipped the coin, he would be able to get anything he wished for.

It was the same today. After flipping the coin again and again, he had received everything. Just as he was about to flip it one last time and wish for eternal life, he suddenly felt something nudge his face and instantly woke up from this dream.

“Wu……”

The bear made a very soft noise and patted his face. Seeing him wake up, it breathed a sigh of relief and moved to turn on the bedside lamp before gesturing to him to look next to his hand.

Cheng Zhi Chu looked over and the drowsiness that he still had was instantly scared away——-Without his knowledge, that Joker’s Silver Coin had actually come out on its own and was lying quietly next to his hand. His hand even looked like he was almost about to touch it!

What the hell is this thing………

He was scared pale and he shrank over to the corner of his bed. He didn’t dare touch the silver coin. That thing was too ominous. Although it isn’t bounded, its attribute is still a weapon so it could not be sold at the marketplace and he could only keep it.

And this silver coin also cannot be thrown away. It would still be considered as his possession so if anyone or anything threw it, the result would always affect him. If he disposed of it…..Who knows when this thing would be flipped?!

Damn, how can this silver coin be a weapon? How unlucky can he get for him to get this kind of thing through weapon synthesis?!

[I’m obviously not just a weapon…..]

At this moment, Cheng Zhi Chu heard a soft, whisper-like voice. It sounded particularly disturbing in the middle of the night. Cheng Zhi Chu immediately covered his mouth so that he didn’t scream out loud.

[My power has been sealed, so I can only be used as a weapon.]

[If you are willing to free me, I would give you everything that you desire my master……..]

[I don’t need it!] Cheng Zhi Chu wouldn’t be fooled by this, [I want to you hurry and disappear.]

[My master, please don’t be like this. You should know that your luck isn’t actually that bad]

[But for some reason, you have the tendency to attract evil.]

[Of course, those ‘evil’ does not include me. I am here to help you.]

Bullshit. The most evil thing here is clearly you!

Cheng Zhi Chu snorted, but the silver coin didn’t seem to hear his inner voice and just continued to speak.

[My master, if you are willing to use me, everything will be different.]

[In order to prove to you my usefulness, from tomorrow onwards, you and the people around you will experience great luck. As long as you continue to use me, you would continue to have this kind of luck for a long time.

[I apologise for disturbing you. Well then, good night my dear master.]

After saying this, the silver coin no longer said anything. In just a blink of an eye, it disappeared and returned inside Cheng Zhi Chu’s storage bag.

Cheng Zhi Chu was still a little alarmed. After being stunned for a while, the bear patted his forehead and indicated to him that he was safe. Only then did he turn off the light and whisper his thanks to the bear. He eventually managed to fall asleep and fortunately didn’t dream of the silver coin. Like this, he slept peacefully until dawn.

The next key, he continuously worried about the silver coins words. A little anxious, he didn’t know if he would really have good luck. If he really did, he didn’t know if he would need to pay a price for it.

In short, he shouldn’t be fooled!

With this kind of resolution, Cheng Zhi Chi decided that he would not touch anything related to luck today. This would also include the card game that he has been playing. He didn’t log in today to avoid himself using his luck.

However, he soon realised that those actions of his were pointless. When he went for his morning exercise, he unexpectedly found a wallet by the side of the road. He ran past it and just happened to see a phone next. The third thing that appeared was a thick stack of cash. It was as if, as long as he didn’t pick them up, he would encounter more and more things.

Cheng Zhi Chu didn’t have any choice but to pick up all these things and drop it off at the schools lost and found centre. As he dropped it off, he just happened to run into the phone’s owner, and it turned out to be his professor.

The professor was grateful, and he recognised Cheng Zhi Chu as one of his students. He looked at him very kindly, like he was ready to give Cheng Zhi Chu a high score at the end of the semester.

Cheng Zhi Chu’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t feel happy at all. He conversely felt a little scared. What made his scalp go numb was that, throughout the whole day, he would constantly hear about all kinds of good news——–

One of his roommates managed to get his hands on a free meal voucher allowing him to enjoy a generous meal. Another roommate received the best equipment in the game after opening a treasure chest. Even the stray cats that live downstairs outside the dormitory were fed with expensive canned fish and had eaten until their bellies were round and bulging and they were unable to move anymore.

Everyone was happy. Only Cheng Zhi Chu was worried. He then received a call from his sister. The young girl in the phone screamed with great excitement and exclaimed that Cheng Zhi Chu’s photo was selected by the event and she would be able to go watch Ji Yun Xiao’s variety show as the audience.

“Brother!! I love you!! You are my lucky charm!!”

The girl in the phone was so excited that she almost cried. Cheng Zhi Chu congratulated her and then hung up with a complicated expression.

[My master, as I said, I will give you everything that you desire.]

[I promise that I will never flip to the devil’s side. Didn’t you see last time how I helped you get rid of those enemies?]

[Please believe me. Don’t be afraid of me. My master, I am your loyal slave.]

[My strength is far more this. I can do more for you in the future……..]

The silver coins voice rang in Cheng Zhi Chu’s mind. It was filled with endless temptation, as if it was calling for his deepest desires.

Cheng Zhi Chu didn’t pay attention to it and just went straight back to his dormitory. When he just opened the door, he heard his roommates’ angry shouts.

“Fuck this hacker and his whole family!!”

The roommate that had managed to receive the best equipment in the game this morning was sitting in front of his computer and cursing fervently. When he heard Cheng Zhi Chu come in, he immediately turned around and revealed a wronged expression. He rushed over to hug Cheng Zhi Chu and started complaining with snot and tears.

“Cheng Zi…….I was hacked!! The hacker cleaned out my whole account. All my equipment, my money, they’re all fucking gone…………..”

Cheng Zhi Chu who heard this was also very angry. Just as he wanted to comfort his roommate, the door to the dormitory was again pushed open. The roommate who had left to enjoy his free meal came back with a pale face while supporting himself against the wall. Completely weak, he almost collapsed onto the floor.

“I, I can’t do this. I’ve been having explosive diarrhoea this whole time. There definitely is something wrong with that restaurant’s hygiene! Hurry and take me to the hospital……”

Cheng Zhi Chu and the other roommate heard this and immediately rushed to help support the other person out. As they reached downstairs, they saw the stray cats also on their way to the hospital. It was said that they had eaten too much and needed to be taken to the vet to receive treatment.

Cheng Zhi Chu hurriedly sent his roommate to the hospital and accompanied him to get his intravitreal fluids. After busying about for a while, he finally had the chance to sit down and catch his breath only to suddenly receive a bunch of messages.

[Oh no!! Cheng Zi did you pick up Professor Liu’s phone earlier?! I just saw him raging that a lot of important information in his phone was deleted. He now thinks that you did it. Hurry up and go and clear things up with him!!]

Fuck!!

He immediately stood up, notified his roommate, and rushed back to his university to find his professor. He hurriedly tried to clear his name and the professor was just barely able to be convinced. His expression however didn’t improve.

Looks like he will have to leave it up to God to help him pass this course……..

Cheng Zhi Chu hung is head and walked out the office dejectedly. He was already exhausted. But he then received a call from home. It was a call from his mum.

“Ling Ling was hurt. She got the news that she was selected to watch Ji Yun Xiao’s variety filming and was too excited. She ended up missing a step and falling off the stairs, injuring her leg. I’m taking her to the hospital to get it checked.”

His mother was both anxious and distressed. She said helplessly to Cheng Zhi Chu: “She cried very sadly and said that she definitely wouldn’t be able to go to Ji Yun Xiao’s show this weekend. Looks like you will need to go in her stead……….”

“……..”

Cheng Zhi Chu ended the call and fell silent for a while. Anger appeared on his face and he angrily asked the silver coin:

[Was this the fucking good luck you mentioned? Ah?!]

[………..]

The coin shamelessly kept silent.

Only after a long time, it said:

[……….My master. This is definitely because you still haven’t freed me and unsealed my power. If you just agree to free me, you will surely————-]

[Scram!!]

****