Chapter 60 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 60

On the dimly lit path, the starlight was faint, and the wind howled sharply, eerie and unsettling.

Suddenly, a few figures appeared.

Four men and three women—seven in total.

Among them, three pairs of eyes met, ignoring the panicked others, instinctively gathering together.

The young man spoke: “How many times have you gone through? I’ll go first—I’ve been through three times.”

“One time,” said another.

“Me too, once.” The middle-aged man who spoke last looked displeased, feeling belittled by a mere teenager.

The boy who had experienced three worlds was named Wu Letong. Clad in hip-hop attire, golden chains, a gold watch, and a head full of messy braids, he looked only seventeen or eighteen, yet his presence was no weaker than anyone else’s.

He raised his chin proudly: “Then, in that case, I’ll lead this world.”

The middle-aged man begrudgingly nodded.

Wu Letong nodded with satisfaction, glanced at the still-panicked newcomers, and said, “Explain the rules to the newbies, make them behave.” He cast a glance at the middle-aged man, then withdrew it, resting his gaze on a graceful woman. “You go.”

The woman offered a flattering smile: “Right away.”

In a horror game, encountering a veteran who had experienced three worlds was no small luck.

In the previous world, she had won by clinging to someone else’s strength, utterly inexperienced—but she was fortunate this time to meet a true expert. She had to seize this opportunity.

She turned to the newcomers.

“Before coming here, you were probably all ready to die, weren’t you? Attempting suicide, I suppose.”

“Don’t look at me like that. I was the same—everyone was. All players in the game wanted to die, otherwise they wouldn’t have come here.”

“But I don’t have time to lecture. You should have received an introduction to this world. You can trust my words, so stick with us! I’ve been through one world already. There’s a real expert leading us ahead. Survive the first world, and you’ll have plenty of time to learn the rules.”

Under her firm demeanor, the newcomers shivered and nodded, temporarily silenced.

The woman turned back to report to Wu Letong.

Wu Letong gave a casual nod, then surveyed the dark path ahead. “Let’s move. We must reach Ji Family Village before dawn.”

Ji Family Village was their destination. [Mission World: “Human Heart”] [Mission Type: Supernatural] [Mission Identity: Travelers exploring the mountains together] [Mission Requirement: Reach Ji Family Village before sunrise, stay at Madam Wang’s house, act according to your assigned identity, and survive seven days] [Mission Reward: 500 points] When players entered this world, a voice in their mind would relay this information, and relevant items tied to their identity would appear, making it easy for newcomers to trust the veteran rather than suspecting them of deceit.

Even the cleverest con artist couldn’t suddenly alter reality and implant this kind of information in someone’s mind.

Even if they could, why bother tricking ordinary people like them?

They had truly stepped into a horror game.

These young people, once ready to die, were bewildered, drifting along, following the so-called veteran.

Wu Letong found a signpost at the crossroads to confirm they were on the right path and urged everyone to pick up the pace.

This proved grueling for the newcomers.

Even the veterans, with some points and improved physical strength, found no difficulty keeping pace. But the newbies struggled—tripping over uneven ground in the darkness, the wind howling eerily, sending shivers down their spines.

After a while, someone pleaded:

“Can we slow down? We can’t keep up…”

The middle-aged man, already irritated by losing control, sneered sarcastically: “Then don’t follow. You wanted to die in the real world anyway, right? Stay put until dawn—you won’t have to lift a finger, and death will come cleanly.”

The newcomers blushed, unable to respond.

Most people who attempted suicide acted on impulse. Once they calmed down, regret often followed. In this strange world, fear gripped them; thoughts of death faded, yet they dared not argue with the veteran.

The middle-aged man looked disdainful.

A delicate girl couldn’t stand it and stepped forward.

“You also wanted to die in the real world. Why mock us?”

The man, caught off guard, snapped, his face twisting menacingly: “Say that again!”

The delicate girl froze, frightened.

Another girl wearing a mask furrowed her brow, stepped forward, shielding the delicate girl: “You’ve merely experienced a few more worlds than us. No need to bully. If we survive this world, maybe we can cooperate later.”

Wu Letong raised an eyebrow, a trace of admiration in his gaze.

If this newcomer survived, she might truly fulfill her promise. Too bad most newbies perished in the first world—only one or two out of ten survived.

He gave her another look, mentally marking her as someone worth nurturing.

Suddenly, his eyes widened. “Wait… you’re… Lu Zhizhen?!”

At the name, a newcomer’s face lit up. “It really is Lu Zhizhen! I thought so, but wasn’t sure.”

Lu Zhizhen paused, removing her mask with an embarrassed smile. “I didn’t expect anyone to remember me.”

Wu Letong’s excitement showed: “Of course I remember.”

Lu Zhizhen was a secondary-tier celebrity, and by coincidence, high school senior Wu Letong was her fan.

The middle-aged man frowned. With Wu Letong protecting Lu Zhizhen, and Lu Zhizhen shielding the delicate girl, he could no longer provoke anyone.

The delicate girl relaxed, sidling close to Lu Zhizhen, shooting the man a subtle glare.

The middle-aged man’s eyes darkened with suppressed fury, glaring threateningly.

The delicate girl trembled.

Wu Letong cast him a cold look. “If you’ve got so much time, why don’t you lead the way?”

The man hesitated, then gritted his teeth. “Fine, I’ll lead.”

The narrow path was overgrown with half-person-high weeds, swaying in the wind like hanged corpses.

The man led reluctantly, fearful yet unwilling to admit defeat.

Then, a newcomer glanced ahead and screamed in terror.

“A ghost!”

The man reacted instantly. Before anyone else could respond, he turned pale and bolted backward—fast beyond imagination, as if all his points had been invested in speed.

Wu Letong didn’t chase him. Tensing, he stopped, holding a talisman. “Did you see it?”

“Yes… a shadow…” the newcomer screamed. “Run! It’s coming toward us—”

What? Everyone’s hearts leaped to their throats.

Next, a figure stepped through the weeds, onto the path, slowly approaching.

Its shape was grotesque—long in the middle, bulging at the sides, as if it had wings. Terrifying and uncanny.

Wu Letong had never seen such a preposterous, eerie ghost. He wanted to run but glanced at the gentle goddess beside him. Gritting his teeth, he placed a talisman on the figure with a trace of regret.

The figure froze, stopped advancing.

Wu Letong exhaled, pulling the goddess close. “Let’s go. The talisman won’t hold it forever—hurry to the village.”

Panicked, Lu Zhizhen followed, accidentally reaching into her pocket, pulling out a device, and turning it on.

The flashlight lit the way.

The newcomers: “……”

It wasn’t a night-walk problem—they simply hadn’t used the flashlight. In this world, their identities came with the necessary items.

Had Lu Zhizhen turned it on earlier, they’d have reached the village much sooner.

Still, with Wu Letong protecting her, the others dared not complain.

By the flashlight’s beam, they saw the figure more clearly: a young, handsome man, confused, carrying two baskets that created the illusion of wings in the dark.

“Wait, you’re… human?” someone asked.

He smiled wryly. “Sorry if I scared you. I got lost wandering the mountains. I’m not trying to frighten anyone. Could you give me a ride?”

Everyone hesitated but eventually took him along—half in disbelief, half in fear.

The man introduced himself as Ji Xiu, a villager of Ji Family Village.

Wu Letong, having survived three worlds, insisted on bringing him along, sensing he might be a key to survival.

The middle-aged man, terrified of Ji Xiu, sulked at the back, begrudgingly silent.

Half an hour later, they reached their destination as dawn broke.

Warm sunlight chased away the chill. Spring winds stirred willows, streams ran clear, and a weathered stone marker read—Ji Family Village. The faded script lent a quaint, poetic charm to the scenic village.

“This place is beautiful… if this were a normal world, I’d consider vacationing here.”

A newcomer’s words trailed off under Wu Letong’s cold glare.

Ji Xiu’s eyes flickered subtly, smiling politely at the group. “Thank you for bringing me home.”

Wu Letong exhaled. The NPC was genuine—a person, not a game ghost. Gaining an ally would aid their mission.

“Nothing. We’ll leave first; we’ll meet again.”

Ji Xiu nodded, thanking them once more, and walked off.

Villagers working early froze at the sight of him. “Ji Xiu?”

With a gentle nod, he replied, “It’s me, Third Auntie. I’m back.”

The words “I’m back” seemed to herald something ominous.

A terrified woman dropped her laundry basin and fled, alerting others: Ji Xiu, absent for six years, had returned.

Women who had bullied Wang Qiuyue froze, wary. Villagers stayed indoors, hesitant to venture out.

Ji Xiu calmly kicked the basin into the river and walked on.

After about two hundred meters, a simple courtyard appeared. Mud floors, drying beans, a stone mill, nothing else.

Ji Xiu paused, hesitant. He had been in this world for over three months. Attempting to return home, a mysterious force blocked him until last night, when he sensed a familiar energy in the village. He seized the opportunity, joining the strangers’ group to sneak back.

He sighed. Despite his efforts, the unseen force behind the past tragedy was too strong—he could not prevent it.

A child’s voice rang out:

“Who are you?”

Ji Xiu looked up, uncertain: “Chunsheng?”

“How do you know my name?” Ji Chunsheng’s heart raced. “You’re… Dad?”

Ji Xiu nodded.

Chunsheng ran into the house, calling: “Mom! Mom! Mom!”

Wang Qiuyue answered: “What is it?”

“Look! Dad is back!”

A crashing sound followed, and a delicate figure ran out. Snowy skin, expressive features, even in faded clothes, her beauty and sorrow were unmistakable.

This was Ji Xiu’s wife, Wang Qiuyue.

She stood at the door, hand on the frame, staring at him, tears welling up.

Ji Xiu set down the baskets, took her arm, and held her.

“Sorry, Qiuyue. I’m back late.”

Her tears fell: “It’s fine… just being back is enough…”

She moved to embrace him but froze, remembering something, pulling back with a strained smile: “Sit for now.”

Ji Xiu ignored it, holding her close.

“Qiuyue, I won’t leave again. I’ll stay with you and Chunsheng.”

She stiffened, glancing confused: “If only you’d returned sooner…”

He said nothing.

Chunsheng tugged at his mother: “Mom, let me hug Dad too. I’m about to go to school.”

Wang Qiuyue blushed, stepping aside.

Ji Xiu smiled, crouched, and hugged ten-year-old Chunsheng.

The boy’s eyes glimmered red briefly, a mischievous laugh escaping. “Dad… now I have a dad. No one can say I don’t anymore!”

Ji Xiu’s face hardened: “Of course you have a dad! Who said otherwise?”

Chunsheng beamed, ready to tattle.

Wang Qiuyue hesitated: “They’re villagers… don’t make it worse.”

Ji Xiu interrupted: “Some people don’t know restraint. The more you yield, the bolder they get. Hit hard early; once they know pain, they won’t overstep.”

“Really?” she asked, a bit bewildered.

He nodded: “Of course. Now that I’m back, no one will bully you. Leave it to me.”

Wang Qiuyue’s eyes glistened with trust: “Okay. I’ll follow you.”

A voice came from outside:

“Is this Madam Wang’s house?”

Wu Letong widened his eyes: “Wait—you’re that person?”

Ji Xiu smiled: “Yes, it’s us. What is it?”

Wu Letong’s group hesitated but pushed open the gate. “Hello, we booked a room online. Is this Madam Wang’s house?”

“Yes,” Wang Qiuyue said, “I’m Madam Wang. Come in.”

The group gawked. Madam Wang? Not a simple village woman, but a stunning beauty.

Wang Qiuyue noticed their staring and lowered her gaze. “The rooms are ready upstairs. Shall I show you?”

Ji Xiu stepped forward: “I’ll guide them.”

The group agreed. Compared to the breathtakingly beautiful Wang Qiuyue, Ji Xiu’s calm, refined presence felt more reassuring.

He led them upstairs, opening three rooms.

“These should be the ones. Check and assign yourselves.”

Wu Letong noticed a small locked door. “Brother Ji, what’s that?”

Ji Xiu glanced and said calmly: “Storage room. I used it before. Not sure if Qiuyue placed anything else.”

Wu Letong nodded and went to pick a room.

Four men took two rooms; the larger one went to the three women.

When Wu Letong returned, Ji Xiu was gone. He frowned, didn’t chase, and gathered everyone in a room for a meeting.

“This mission—‘Human Heart’—is supernatural.”

“The term has two meanings: a human organ, or human character. I suspect both. In my few worlds, the game likes double-meaning missions, hiding lethal traps. Misunderstanding could cost lives.”

“I’ll speak, but I want your thoughts too. Any ideas from NPC encounters or the mission’s title?”

Wu Letong wasn’t really expecting answers; he was sifting for potential newcomers worth protecting.

Those relying entirely on protection? He wouldn’t risk himself for them.

The group fell silent. Only the delicate girl raised her hand:

“Earlier, while looking for Madam Wang’s house, we passed some groups of women. But when we passed again, they had all hidden inside. Something must have happened—could it be that they were afraid of us?”

Wu Letong nodded, encouraging her.

She steadied herself and continued: “Could they be scared of our presence?”