In fact, Tang Luoshan wanted to try it out this time as well.
If it worked, even if the benefits were negligible, entering a dungeon in the future wouldn't be entirely a bad thing for him.
It could be considered finding joy in hardship.
Tang Luoshan slowly shook his head.
“This Prince does not know yet if it will be of any use, but since we have already entered the dungeon, we might as well try. It won't take much effort anyway.”
In the previous dungeon, because the key NPCs had been almost entirely slaughtered by a Fierce Ghost, he had devoted all his energy to figuring out how to complete the main quest, leaving him with absolutely no spare time to conduct experiments.
Thus, he could only save it for this time.
And since then, he had warned himself every day that after entering a dungeon, he must absolutely never kill any NPC!
Lest he repeat the same mistake.
“Let's go. We'll head out first to familiarize ourselves with the situation of this dungeon. For instance, we need to map out its size and the surrounding terrain.”
“Along the way, we can also look for corpses. If we can find any, it will be a gain.”
Huang Shiliu quickly caught up.
“As Your Highness commands.”
They didn't plan on bringing Zhao Ying along for this trip.
After all, she was too slow.
Even though she had cultivated Lingfeng Walk, which was famous for its speed, it was still far from enough compared to them.
Huang Shiliu instructed her, “Go to the kitchen and stay with the other players for now. We'll regroup when we return.”
“Remember, absolutely do not wander off alone.”
The 【Spirit Vision】 talent was still very useful, and they didn't want to lose her just yet.
Zhao Ying wanted to go with them.
However, seeing that they had no intention of bringing her, she could only nod helplessly in agreement.
“Alright, then please be careful, you two.”
The three of them went their separate ways.
In the underground secret room, Zuo Lin'an and his companion had been observing the players from a God's-eye view.
Especially the scene that had just unfolded, as well as the conversation between Tang Luoshan and Huang Shiliu.
Xu Youyou praised them. “I didn't expect them to be quite smart.”
“But then again... Brother An, if they really find an opportunity to be alone with you, will you tell them?”
Zuo Lin'an didn't even turn his head.
“According to the plot setting and my character persona, I definitely have to tell them.”
“This is the normal progression of the plot, and it's also one of the players' paths of survival.”
“Besides, even if I tell them everything, it won't get in the way of anything.”
Xu Youyou nodded secretly.
“True. No matter who it is, as long as there is a possibility of them clearing the dungeon, they must be killed. It's just a bit of a pity...”
No matter how valuable a player who had the potential to clear the dungeon was, they would not let them live.
Zuo Lin'an continued to observe in secret.
“There's no need to feel pity. There will be plenty of opportunities to open dungeons in the future. We aren't lacking one or two outstanding puppets.”
“Besides, it has only just begun. Maybe they won't even be able to clear it.”
He suddenly thought of something.
“Right, it's about time for our living bodies to return. Especially you—your living body needs to have an interaction with all the players at least once.”
“It would be best to make them all trigger your Death Rule.”
“That way, if they manage to run to the path of survival later, we can drag them all back to the mountaintop when they pass the stone archway.”
Xu Youyou responded, “Got it.”
Meanwhile, the two who had been staying in the pavilion halfway up the mountain finally stood up and walked up the steps.
By the time they returned to the mountaintop, they happened to run into Tang Luoshan and Huang Shiliu, who had just returned from checking the terrain and searching for corpses.
Huang Shiliu's body stiffened, but then it naturally walked over to Tang Luoshan's side and sat down.
Looking like this, it seemed just like a harmless little pet.
Tang Luoshan turned to look at them, his gaze eventually landing on Yao Wenli.
“You two went out for a walk?”
Zuo Lin'an's expression was slightly hesitant, but he still nodded.
“Yes, just walking around and looking. After all, we haven't been back in a long time.”
This hesitant expression was caught by Tang Luoshan.
It was obvious that Yao Wenli had lied just now; he was hiding something.
The few of them walked inside as they chatted.
“Is that so? Mr. Yao lived here before?”
Zuo Lin'an's tone gradually calmed down.
“Of course. I lived here when I was a child, but I left when I reached school age. It has been almost twenty years now, I suppose.”
His tone was somewhat sentimental, as if he were reminiscing.
Tang Luoshan said, “That is indeed quite long.”
If he could continue questioning him at this moment, he would have liked to ask what they had returned for.
But right now, Xu Youyou was watching like a hawk from behind.
Naturally, he wouldn't pry.
With Tang Luoshan and his companion staying silent, Zuo Lin'an was naturally happy to have some peace.
He certainly wouldn't intentionally create opportunities for them to be alone with him.
After all, while making things convenient for the players, it would also increase the difficulty for himself.
The group walked inside and quickly went their separate ways.
Zuo Lin'an and his companion were heading back to their room, so Tang Luoshan and the others naturally couldn't follow.
Huang Shiliu stared at their retreating figures.
“It seems we can only wait until tonight. Surely they won't sleep together at night, right?”
“Or maybe they have a habit of taking afternoon naps?”
The two found Zhao Ying in the kitchen, who was currently exchanging information with the other players. They took her away and went to Huang Shiliu's room.
Huang Shiliu jumped onto the soft bed and lay on its side.
“This dungeon's area isn't too large, consisting of only about a dozen mountains in total.”
“And at the foot of this mountain, there is a narrow path wide enough for only one person. Walking to the end of it leads to the white mist.”
“At the end of the path, I saw a stone archway with 'Yao Family Village' written on it.”
“The stone gate is very clean; it should have been cleared recently.”
“It's likely that these NPCs sent people ahead to clean it up before they returned.”
Tang Luoshan nodded.
“There is no specter aura enveloping the outside of this old residence. Did you find any trace of a corpse? Even a drop of blood or some corpse qi?”
Huang Shiliu shook its head firmly.
“None!”
“I checked carefully and sniffed around for a long time. There are absolutely no corpses, nor any residual bloodstains.”
“Therefore, those two deceased NPCs must have been killed inside the old residence!”
“Even their corpses might still be here.”
“If it weren't for this dense specter aura, I definitely would have found them immediately.”
“So, our previous analysis is highly likely correct. The killer really is among these four NPCs.”
Just then, Zhao Ying suddenly spoke up.
“Actually, I have a question...”
The two of them turned to look at her.
Zhao Ying instantly felt immense pressure.
“Uh...”
“I just wanted to say, if the killer is inside the old residence, why didn't the specter kill the killer first?”
Even if the specter doesn't have memories of its past life, its resentment toward the killer must still exist.
To some extent, this could also slightly influence the specter's order of killing.
“Since some of us players silently triggered the Death Rule as soon as we entered the dungeon, the NPCs shouldn't be spared either, in all probability.”
“Yet, the specter still bypassed several NPCs and went straight for the players.”
“So... does this question count as a valid issue?”
Huang Shiliu frowned in contemplation, its little paw constantly rubbing its chin.
“This... indeed seems to be a very big problem.”
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