Dumping Corpses

Zhu Yan held the cat and walked back into the hazy gray fog.

He opened the Thriller Map. A three-dimensional, two-story building module unfolded in his field of vision, with wisps of red lines floating like jellyfish tentacles.

After just a few days of not seeing it, the number of these red lines had increased.

The cluster of buildings belonging to Xishan University was an especially heavily afflicted area.

The library, which had been replaced by the Nightmare Bookstore, was marked with the words: Undisclosed, please explore on your own.

Their dormitory building was also being tugged by a thin red line. The other end of the red line connected to a black building that looked slender and towered into the clouds.

Zhu Yan's heart tightened, and he took an extra look at it.

The black building was named the Metabolism Module. Its rooms were constantly shifting order like a Rubik's Cube, leaving him slightly dazzled.

Zhu Yan steadied his state of mind and sent a message to Yang Zhanbai and Qi Yinming.

He still had things to do.

This thing didn't look simple, so he would leave it to them to study.

Zhu Yan shifted his gaze to the Fast Lane in the Xishan University area and quickly locked onto the one closest to him.

This passage didn't even require leaving the campus gates. It was right under a certain section of the school's perimeter wall. If he didn't look carefully, Zhu Yan would have even overlooked it.

Following the indicator icons on the Thriller Map, he carefully explored through the gray fog.

After struggling to wade through a patch of low shrubs, Zhu Yan bent down and strenuously moved aside a manhole cover.

Beneath the manhole cover was still the same dilapidated, steep, and narrow staircase haphazardly built with stones and mud.

Zhu Yan turned sideways and cautiously squeezed himself inside.

He didn't forget to put the manhole cover back in place. Meanwhile, the tuxedo cat on his shoulder leaped down lightly and walked forward, meowing.

Zhu Yan understood.

It was in a hurry to see the Vine Cage Girl because it hadn't gotten to play with the vines on the Vine Cage Girl's skirt last time.

Hey, wait for me a second, Zhu Yan said helplessly, pulling out the Demon Cloak and throwing it over himself. Damn this stingy paradise, I can't walk fast.

They already dug a fast lane, couldn't they build a decent staircase to walk on?

Meow meow meow meow.

The tuxedo cat urged loudly.

By the time Zhu Yan finally felt his way to that sticky, smelly wooden door, the cat had already been squatting by the door waiting for a long time.

He bent down to pick up the cat, making sure his face was completely hidden in the shadows of his hood.

Zhu Yan carefully pushed the door outward. In an instant, the lights and noise of the Witch Department Store completely swallowed him.

He squeezed through the bustling crowd of Witches, and the tuxedo cat in his arms restlessly poked its head out of the cloak again.

Oh, handsome, it's you again!

A Witch greeted him enthusiastically.

I definitely remember your cat. Want to collaborate? Huh, it's been days, and you still haven't leveled up?

Speaking of collaboration...

Zhu Yan recalled An Xuyin saying that he really liked the white clay and pigments the Witches used for face-sculpting.

He pressed a bone gold coin into the Witch's hand.

Help me buy some things on my behalf, thanks. My friend needs...

The Witch giggled, cheerfully patted the cat's head, and agreed very readily.

Ten minutes later.

It squeezed back over carrying a large bag of the items Zhu Yan had specified, and slipped him a business card while at it.

I love your cat so much! Its colors are cool and match with anything, truly an excellent fashion item!

Zhu Yan didn't know how to respond for a moment.

The Witch didn't seem to mind: You can come to me if you need anything in the future, and remember to bring your cat! I want to hold it and take some aesthetic photos, oh little baby...

Zhu Yan gave a hasty sound of agreement.

He stored the bag of items into his ring, planning to give it to An Xuyin after he got out.

These were a thank-you gift.

In the future, he would probably have to trouble him to help take care of the tuxedo cat.

Fifteen minutes later.

Zhu Yan left the Demon Department Store carrying a full load of potions and nifty little gadgets.

He took large strides across two blocks, stepped through the doors of the Declaration Desk, and took off his cloak.

The Vine Cage Girl looked up from behind the counter and waved a dripping wet hand at him.

Hello, Hunter! It simulated a happy tone. You survived. Oh, your cat...

Meow! The tuxedo cat broke free from Zhu Yan's hand and jumped onto the counter, its tail held high.

Zhu Yan nodded at the Vine Cage Girl and cut straight to the point: I'm here to apply for a Hunter mission.

The Vine Cage Girl's blurry eyes rolled and locked onto the plastic bracelet on his wrist.

This. It pointed. Just take it off and let me scan it.

Zhu Yan pulled the bracelet off and handed it over, watching it squat down, tinkering with who knew what.

The usual, Zhu Yan said. A salted cheese latte. Oh, right...

He remembered the small painting An Xuyin had given him last time, and rummaged around in his ring.

I accidentally came across something special. He asked me to bring this to you.

He pushed that eerie portrait onto the counter, drawing a gasp from the Vine Cage Girl who had just stood up.

Oh!! The commission I ordered!

It picked up the painting and admired it for quite a while before reluctantly putting it into the drawer.

I really didn't expect you to meet that cat who can draw. He always refuses to come down and keep me company, I don't know why.

The Vine Cage Girl didn't know about the existence of Mount Fangcun, and it was impossible for Zhu Yan to tell it.

I bumped into him by chance, he said casually. Saying hello on his behalf.

The Vine Cage Girl was obviously happy, genuinely happy.

A twisted expression emerged on that stiff, cold corpse face. It carefully made a salted cheese latte and stuck a mission label on the bottle.

Today's cup is on the house, it said. Wait a moment. I'll pull some strings for you and see if I can give you a little hint.

The Vine Cage Girl sized Zhu Yan up, feeling a bit uncertain.

Oh, no... If you died and turned into a thriller creature to come down and play with me, that seems like it would be a bit better.

Zhu Yan fell silent.

Zhu Yan took the salted cheese latte: If I turn into a thriller creature, I wouldn't be able to bring you your commissioned artworks.

That's true. The Vine Cage Girl curled its lips regretfully. Alright, you have to live. I'll help you look up this instance.

Its fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, while Zhu Yan lowered his head to check his Hunter mission.

The mission this time was very simple.

After the instance ends, place the corpses of Feng Qiang, Feng Yaozu, Feng Yuan, and Wang Lanhua at the entrance of 178 Meiyuan Road.

So mindless?

Zhu Yan's first reaction was that it was a trap.

He was actually quite familiar with 178 Meiyuan Road.

After completing the Cannibal House instance previously, he had taken the Monster Tram and gotten off there. At that time, an instance had just descended there.

Was placing corpses there meant to feed the thriller creatures...?

Could it really be this simple?

Zhu Yan took a picture of this mission and heard the Vine Cage Girl beside him let out a thoughtful hum.

I don't know what your ability is.

He turned around and saw the Vine Cage Girl's conflicted expression.

The things I can look up are extremely limited...

Zhu Yan also knew absolutely nothing about the instance Twisted Relations.

But he wasn't particularly afraid. He would simply deal with whatever came his way; he was used to it.

"You need to go inside a hotel." Vine Cage Girl frowned. "Uh, but it would be best if you didn't go in, or at least got some protective items or something..."

Zhu Yan's interest was piqued. "Why?"

Vine Cage Girl stared at Zhu Yan with its lifeless face.

Once a person died, they were nothing but a lump of meat.

It looked exactly like a piece of dead, bruised, and purplish meat wearing eyeshadow...

Zhu Yan thought to himself, trying hard to suppress his nausea.

"Because as soon as you step inside, you will be hunted down." Vine Cage Girl lowered its brows, the purplish-black blood between them congealing into a tiny vertical line.

"I don't know anything beyond that."

"Good luck, Hunter."