Global Collapse-Chapter 703 - 668: This is not good to eat_1
"Why do you all have such expressions when you're taking photos?" The NPC curiously looked at the photo in his hand.
The "sigh" he had just let out was not due to discovering any supernatural occurrences but was rather a comment on the strange expressions of the people in the photo.
In the photo, apart from Gu Mian, who was flashing a peace sign with a broad smile, everyone else wore an expression that screamed, Who am I? Where am I? What is this place?
This was quite normal, as most players were in such a state when first entering an instance. Those who could immediately react, smile, and flash a peace sign were the abnormal ones.
Apart from their expressions, there was nothing else unusual about the photo. Wenqin Tan Jiu, having found no clues, shifted his attention to Gu Mian.
This player adapted to the environment so quickly. He's definitely not ordinary, Wenqin Tan Jiu thought.
Gu Mian was holding the Big Data Search, considering whose name to input.
"This is the First World. Theoretically, we should search for No. 1's location," Gu Mian said, looking at the input box at the bottom of the Big Data Search. "But who knows how far he is? It'll be troublesome if he's on the other side of this world."
Besides No. 1, Gu Mian could also search for the Evil God.
It was rumored that the Evil God had created clones in various worlds.
If he searched for the Evil God, the chance of finding a nearby clone would be higher.
Maybe if he searched for an Evil God clone, he'd find one right beside him.
Just then, Chu Changge's voice came from the side, "I don't think we need to search."
What?
Gu Mian looked up at him, only to find Chu Changge staring at someone nearby.
Following Chu Changge's gaze, Gu Mian saw a man in a blue hoodie, his face beaming with a radiant smile.
Gu Mian knew this face well.
It was Xu Xingcheng.
Gu Mian looked him up and down a few times and discovered that this guy even had a player panel.
Good heavens! Are Evil God clones this advanced now? Capable of disguising themselves as players?
"It's so good to see you again!" Xu Xingcheng was very enthusiastic, immediately expressing his joy at seeing Gu Mian. He wasn't like those other flashy, insincere types.
If other NPCs saw Gu Mian, they wouldn't manage even half a smile. Their expressions would be so grim, you could place them before a grave, and they'd fit right in with the mourners.
But the Evil God was different.
Although Gu Mian had damaged some of his "small parts," he didn't mind at all. He still warmly welcomed Gu Mian's arrival and even wanted to give him a loving hug.
Gu Mian silently sidestepped, dodging Xu Xingcheng's attempted "loving hug."
"Is this really the Evil God?" he asked Chu Changge, skeptical of Xu Xingcheng's identity.
"Although his demeanor doesn't quite match the name 'Slaughter'," Chu Changge began, "he is indeed a genuine clone."
He certainly seems cheerful...
Looking at the enthusiastic Xu Xingcheng, Gu Mian thought the name "Slaughter" was a misnomer. How could such a warm and hospitable NPC be called Slaughter?
'Warm and Friendly' would be more fitting.
This hospitable Evil God had personally come over disguised as a player, saving Gu Mian the trouble of finding him.
Just as Gu Mian was about to ask how Xu Xingcheng had found him, the players who had been looking at the photo returned.
A total of nine people had been in the group photo earlier—the nine players in the instance.
Of course, among them was one fake player.
"Hello," Wenqin Tan Jiu spoke first. He looked at the green "Doctor" title above Gu Mian's head, then at Chu Changge and Xu Xingcheng beside him. "Are you three together?"
Sort of, Gu Mian nodded silently.
"The four of us are together too," Wenqin Tan Jiu said, motioning to the three people behind him.
Gu Mian looked where he pointed.
Behind him stood one man and two women.
The male player's nickname was "Dew from tonight is white."
The two female players' nicknames were "Ningmeng Busuan" and "Yu Ji 235."
The three players nodded at him with friendly smiles, though their smiles weren't nearly as enthusiastic as Xu Xingcheng's.
Wenqin Tan Jiu curiously eyed the green "Doctor" title above Gu Mian's head. "You have a class, right?"
"Yes," Gu Mian said matter-of-factly. "I'm a healer. I specialize in saving lives and healing injuries in instances. If you're about to die, you can come to me. Of course, don't bother if you're already dead."
Wenqin Tan Jiu was slightly taken aback. "You... certainly have a unique sense of humor."
It was rare for anyone to crack such jokes in a horror instance.
He then courteously said a few more words, like, "I hope we can all work together to survive this instance," before turning his attention to the other players.
Besides Gu Mian's trio and Wenqin Tan Jiu's quartet, there were two other players.
One was a female player with glasses and an intellectual demeanor, whose nickname was "Su Lian."
She gave the group a gentle smile. "I matched into this instance solo. I hope we can all get along."
Ah, a lone wolf player, Wenqin Tan Jiu thought. He nodded and turned to look for the last remaining player.
However, after scanning the surroundings, he couldn't find them.
"Where did they go?" Wenqin Tan Jiu looked rather dumbstruck.
He remembered there were definitely nine people in the photo earlier. Why was one missing now?
Has the ghost already started killing? Has a player already fallen victim? Or could the one who disappeared be the ghost hidden among us?
Worried, Wenqin Tan Jiu stepped back a few paces, about to urge the others to leave the area.
Just then, a rustling sound came from behind the pine tree next to the stone tablet.
The players retreated alertly, looking toward the sound.
Then they saw a timid figure peeking out from behind the tree—it was the last player. Upon seeing this player's face, Gu Mian knew why he had been hiding.
He recognized this man.
Hao Laoshi.
It turned out Gu Mian had quite some history with this player, having run into him three times before. This was their fourth encounter.
Gu Mian first met him in Coach Che's driving license instance.
In that instance, this Honest Person had died mysteriously out of Gu Mian's sight.
Since he was just an insignificant bystander, Gu Mian hadn't paid much attention.
Surprisingly, he met this Honest Person again in the High School Ghost Stories instance. Back then, Hao Laoshi had fled in terror upon seeing Chu Changge, which had puzzled Gu Mian at the time.
It was worth noting that Xu Xingcheng had also first appeared in the High School Ghost Stories instance, though Hao Laoshi and Xu Xingcheng hadn't met.
Then Gu Mian met this man again during the College Entrance Exam event.
It was during the College Entrance Exam event that Hao Laoshi finally told Gu Mian why he always ran from Chu Changge.
He claimed that in the driving license instance, Chu Changge had thrown him to the ghosts. That was why he'd been terrified of Chu Changge ever since.
The Honest Person even advised Gu Mian to keep his distance from Chu Changge, lest he be silently stabbed in the back one day.
Hao Laoshi, still behind the tree, was cautiously observing them. Seeing Gu Mian next to Chu Changge, his expression clearly said, See? You'll suffer for not listening to your elders!
"What's wrong?" Wenqin Tan Jiu asked Hao Laoshi curiously, then lowered his voice. "Did you see a ghost?"
Hao Laoshi's gaze darted between Chu Changge and Gu Mian before he stammered, "N-no..."
Then what's the matter with you? Wenqin Tan Jiu wondered.
Just as he was about to press further, the large bus parked by the road suddenly honked.
Gu Mian turned to see the NPC who had taken their picture earlier now sitting in the driver's seat of the bus. He leaned out the window, looking at them. "What are you all doing? Get on the bus! Didn't you say you were tired and wanted to head back early?"
Liu Yin felt his colleagues were acting strangely.
They suddenly seemed unfamiliar, and their behavior was quite odd.
Is it because they're too tired today? he wondered.
Meanwhile, the players were also thinking about this instance.
The instance hadn't provided a specific mission, only stating they needed to survive for three days.
They had no clues for now and could only follow the unfolding events.
"Let's get on the bus first," Wenqin Tan Jiu said, glancing at the still timorous Hao Laoshi hiding behind the tree. "We can talk more on the bus."
