My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 38: He Said He’s Willing

The group was already shocked to learn that Brother Rui entered the dungeon at just level 6, and now hearing that he wants to jump from level 6 to 10 in one Secret Realm made it even more incomprehensible.

Based on what they learned from their predecessors or elders, leveling from 6 to 10 usually requires going through at least three dungeons, even if everything goes smoothly and they don’t just focus on the main storyline. This doesn’t include the possibility of failing at any, which would make it even harder.

Only Zhang Xiaoguang was secretly smug. He was the only one who knew that Brother Rui had jumped from level 1 to 6 after completing just one Secret Realm, so doing it again wasn’t impossible.

The two girls had more stable personalities, but He Chengli was a doer, instantly changing his mindset: "If anyone else said this, I wouldn’t believe it, but if Brother Rui says it’s possible, then it surely is!"

Of course, Zhang Xiaoguang had no objections, so the four of them reached a consensus.

Before leaving, Brother Rui grabbed the melon farmer: "Tell me, why is Qi Union looking for you?"

"Maybe they suspect I’m involved with Mr. Huang’s business and want to expose my identity. Little man really doesn’t know much else, hero."

"About Mr. Huang’s business... do you know why he kidnaps people?"

"I have no idea."

The farmer’s eyes darted around as he thought for a moment and then said, "However, I do have a guess."

Brother Rui impatiently said, "Go on."

"Every time Mr. Huang kidnaps someone, he sends them into a dungeon. Every few months, they are sent out."

He smiled ingratiatingly, "But ever since the ghostly Cloud Temple was struck by Celestial Thunder a few months ago, no one has been sent that way. I guess it’s something to do with the temple."

"What?" Brother Rui grabbed him by the collar, "Cloud Temple?!"

"Yes, yes." The farmer began to shiver again.

The Cloud Temple with long stairs at the entrance, scarlet-painted walls, and a tall tower inside!"

"Yes, yes, but that place has been haunted for many years. I was speculating there might be a connection, but I’m not sure."

Brother Rui narrowed his eyes.

Chongxuzi had said the Cloud Temple was Demon Wind Temple. He once teamed up with the old Daoist from Shenxiao Palace and destroyed that place, so what the farmer said seemed believable.

Then the question arose.

This Secret Realm is a dungeon, not the real world, like how Brother Rui and others wear strange clothes and don’t attract any attention from passersby, which is forced game mechanics.

Anyone who has played a game knows that dungeons get reset; Zhang San clears it once and goes out, Li Si enters again, and the progress returns to its original state. So the destruction of Demon Wind Temple, or Cloud Temple, shouldn’t affect other dungeon NPCs.

Brother Rui had two guesses in his mind about this.

One, due to a system error at that time, the Secret Realm game settings were changed.

Two, an NPC like Chongxuzi wandered between various Secret Realms and retained memories, and events involving them could alter the Secret Realm World’s progress.

Exactly what’s going on needs more observation. Anyway, there’s no way to go to Cloud Temple within the Gu Xuan Town Secret Realm, so thinking about it is just wishful thinking.

He kicked the farmer: "Get lost! If you come back here, I’ll kill you."

The farmer fled in panic.

Brother Rui now knew the truth. The missing population of Gu Xuan Town was likely related to live sacrifices at Cloud Temple. That traitor Sun Qian from Fengdu was using the essence of livings to heal his Divine Soul.

But this was just conjecture, and there were still many illogical points.

Sun Qian was someone powerful enough to vie for the Nether Emperor’s position in Fengdu. He shouldn’t need to personally control a group of town gentry; perhaps there’s an intermediary.

He put aside his doubts, carrying He Chengli, the new fanboy, and took the others to the headquarters of Qi Union, the boss’s location.

Although the founder of this association was a Daoist, the place was a martial arts hall. Clearly, that guy widely accepted disciples and taught them martial arts but only taught some external skills, not genuine ones.

"You two keep an eye on him, Zhang Xiaoguang, come with me inside."

"Yes!"

Here, Brother Rui dared not be complacent. The Aikido leader was one of the final bosses, incomparable to an elite monster like the stitched corpse demon. To ensure no harm to clients, he chose not to bring them inside.

Just as the two were about to approach the doorkeepers to negotiate, everyone received a new prompt from the Secret Realm.

[Triggered Hidden Quest: Find clues and use strategy to lure Shen Bu, the leader of Qi Union, into Yujiang Ghost Garden.]

"What the hell?"

Zhang Xiaoguang couldn’t help but exclaim, "Hidden! Such a scenario has never been triggered in the strategy guide."

The two girls were as surprised as he was, but only He Chengli stayed calm: "My Brother Rui is just awesome."

"But let’s not get happy too soon. We still need to discuss where to find the clues."

Girls tend to think more delicately. Wu Xing quickly snapped out of the excitement, "There’s no hidden quest line in the guide. We’ll have to start from scratch."

"In the normal storyline, to ask Shen Bu for help against the ghosts of Ghost Garden, we must first build a relationship by completing side missions, finally defeat the Wood Demon outside town, and give him an Inner Core before he agrees to help."

Zhang Xiaoguang was more academic, proposing the concept of breakpoint overlap during his time at Celestial King Town on Bull head Mountain.

He Chengli said, "But my Brother Rui already wiped out those bullying the townsfolk, cutting off side quests and completion is impossible."

In the end, Brother Rui’s action of eliminating Qi Union’s disciples negatively impacted the current situation, but as a fan, He Chengli couldn’t say anything, giving justifications for his actions before admitting the side quests were cut off.

And naturally, everyone benefited from the situation and had no objections.

Then Brother Rui, who had been silent, spoke up: "Don’t worry, Zhang Xiaoguang and I will go in. I have a way to make him willingly go to Yujiang Ghost Garden."

Wu Xing and Mei Meng were curious about his method.

He Chengli: "Awesome!"

He simply assumed it would succeed.

Soon, Brother Rui and Zhang Xiaoguang disappeared through the martial hall doors, followed by a clattering noise inside.

"What are they doing?"

Wu Xing was a bit anxious, "Why does it sound like they’re fighting?"

He Chengli said, "I think Brother Rui is using a friendly martial arts duel to meet him. If anyone else went, it wouldn’t work, but with his strength, Shen Bu will definitely be impressed!"

Boom—

Right after he spoke, a loud bang echoed from the martial hall.

Wu Xing crossed her arms and gave him a side-eye: Is this really a friendly duel? I’d like to see how you justify this.

He Chengli understood her look but had to explain, "You see, Shen Bu is a Daoist and must know some spells. After getting acquainted, they need to showcase their skills, strengthening their bond."

Boom boom boom boom boom—

A series of explosions erupted again.

Without waiting for Wu Xing’s questioning, He Chengli waved it off: "Can’t justify this time, they’re definitely fighting."

Soon after, the unperturbed Brother Rui and stunned Zhang Xiaoguang emerged from the doors, dragging a charred Shen Bu.

Mei Meng covered her mouth with both hands, while Wu Xing was equally taken aback.

He Chengli couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Rui, didn’t you say you’d make him willingly come with us to Yujiang Ghost Garden?"

Brother Rui glanced at Shen Bu lying on the ground, giving him a kick, "Would you like to come with us?"

"I would, I would, I’m willing." Shen Bu nodded quickly. He had half his bones broken and didn’t dare utter a no.

Brother Rui shrugged at He Chengli: "See, he says he’s willing."