But since the game had begun, Fang Zhiyi couldn’t neglect his duties. He hailed a taxi and bid farewell to the employees who seemed "reluctant to see him go."
By the time the taxi arrived at Happy Residential Complex, contestants from other countries were already facing their first challenge.
"Mom’s Dinner."
The rules stated that players must obey but avoid eating meat. However, "Mom" insisted they eat it. Some rookies from other countries closed their eyes and swallowed the meat, only to suddenly clutch their throats, their bodies convulsing before being assimilated by the supernatural entity.
Those who outright refused to eat the meat were almost all punished by "Mom"—losing a hand at the very least. The least severe case was a contestant from the Island Nation, whose partner, a fellow countryman, refused the meat. Seeing "Mom’s" expression darken, he immediately stood up to apologize on behalf of his "younger brother" and, without hesitation, cut off his own finger as atonement. Only then did "Mom" grudgingly calm down.
Some nations took inspiration and quickly used their one and only hint to advise their players.
The remaining contestants relied on sincere apologies and even activated their divine "Performance" miracles to tactfully decline the meat.
As for Cheng Xiang, the player from the Xia Kingdom, his approach was refreshingly simple.
Without a second thought, he claimed he was on a diet and even whined playfully. Surprisingly, his supernatural "mother" didn’t press him further, merely complaining that he’d turn into a twig if he kept losing weight.
After a few bites, "Mom’s" mood soured again.
"Why won’t your older brother come home? Is my cooking not good enough?" She clutched her head, muttering incessantly, "You and your younger brother are obedient, but your older brother… your older brother…"
As a college student who frequently watched live streams, Cheng Xiang felt as if he could hear his ancestors calling. He knew that once a supernatural entity descended into madness, a bloodbath would follow. Glancing at the "younger brother" beside him, he saw the creature gnawing on a half-raw chunk of meat, flashing him a grin when their eyes met.
Now he had to play games with this thing too? Cheng Xiang was convinced he was done for. The so-called "Luck" miracle he’d drawn seemed utterly useless.
Where the hell was his partner?!
Just as "Mom’s" back began to contort unnaturally, signaling an imminent eruption, a knock sounded at the door.
Cheng Xiang seized the lifeline. "I’ll get it!"
As he stepped away from the table, the two supernatural beings stared at his retreating figure.
When he opened the door, there stood his partner—the legendary Fang Zhiyi!
He thanked his lucky stars a thousand times over.
"Damn it, wrong door earlier," Fang Zhiyi grumbled, rubbing his temples. He’d taken one of the Xia Kingdom’s slots but had no clue about the mission details. His shadowy associates had handled all the reconnaissance for him.
Spotting the young man before him, Fang Zhiyi raised a hand in greeting. "Hey."
Cheng Xiang blinked, returning the gesture. Fang Zhiyi strode past him and positioned himself beside the two entities. "Mom" eyed him warily—there was something unsettlingly familiar about his aura.
With both of them seated, the dinner table regained a semblance of normalcy, though an uneasy silence settled over the meal.
Fang Zhiyi ate like a man starved for days, devouring the meager vegetables in a whirlwind. Cheng Xiang clutched his chopsticks, unsure what to do, and eventually settled for shoveling plain rice into his mouth.
Fang Zhiyi leaned back with a satisfied burp. Heaven knew how he’d survived the past month—living off instant noodles, expired bread, and revolting meat.
Where these supernatural freaks got fresh vegetables was beyond him.
Tossing his bowl aside, Fang Zhiyi scanned the room before pointing at the "younger brother." "You. Do the dishes."
The creature’s jaw dropped, revealing rows of jagged teeth still streaked with bloody meat scraps.
"And go brush your teeth, or I’ll beat you senseless," Fang Zhiyi added nonchalantly before sauntering into the living room and sprawling onto the couch.
Cheng Xiang didn’t dare make a sound, terrified that "Mom" might suddenly snap. But she continued eating as if nothing had happened. Seizing the opportunity, he abandoned his bowl and scurried to Fang Zhiyi’s side. Safety lay with the legend.
"Holy crap, you can do that?!"
"Damn, Fang’s the GOAT for a reason."
"We’re set. Absolutely set."
"Don’t get cocky, Xia Kingdom. The real danger’s still ahead."
"Shut it. Don’t you have your own streams to watch?"
"Their streams are dead. Both their players got turned into mincemeat."
"LMAOOOOO."
Just as Cheng Xiang began to relax, tiny hands grabbed his wrist. He turned to see an eerily innocent smile. "Big bro, play with me."
Fang Zhiyi glanced over.
The "younger brother" hastily added, "I did the dishes. And brushed my teeth!" He bared his fangs for inspection.
Fang Zhiyi grinned. "In that case, I’ll reward you—I’ll play with you!"
"Fang Zhiyi’s digging his own grave."
"LOL, that Island Nation guy lost a leg playing with the kid. And Fang’s volunteering?"
"Now I get why it’s a duo game. To clear it, one teammate’s gotta sacrifice themselves."
"Makes sense!"
"Uh, hello? Are you foreigners blind? Can’t you see both entities are scared of Fang?"
"Sneaky Xia Kingdom cheaters at it again!"
Fang Zhiyi hoisted the creature with one hand and spun him like a top. "How’s this? My patented Ultimate Human Windmill!"
The creature shrieked. Cheng Xiang gaped in disbelief.
The night passed quietly. While other streams descended into chaos, the Xia Kingdom’s broadcast remained peaceful. Fang Zhiyi slept soundly. So did Cheng Xiang.
The "younger brother," who’d planned to execute a midnight knock, stood frozen outside their door, hand raised but never landing. He didn’t dare wake the man inside—another round of Ultimate Human Windmill was the last thing he wanted. Defeated, he slunk back to his room. No knocking. Never again!
By dawn, several nations’ streams had gone dark.
Fang Zhiyi stretched and sat up, eyeing Cheng Xiang sprawled across the adjacent bed. "College kids have it easy," he muttered, pulling on his pants and heading out. The sound of chopping meat greeted him in the hallway.
He strode forward, passing the "younger brother," who flinched and ducked aside when Fang Zhiyi waved.
"Up early to chop meat, huh?" Fang Zhiyi observed "Mom’s" raised cleaver, then the cutting board—where a human thigh lay.
"Mom" slowly turned to him, awaiting his terror or fury.
Fear and rage were her triggers. After a night of deliberation, she’d resolved to eliminate this enigma who defied all norms.
Fang Zhiyi stepped forward and snatched the cleaver away, ignoring the increasingly grim expression on the eerie mother's face. "This isn't how you chop meat," he said. "You need to carve it off the bone first." With that, he began his work. The unsettling mother watched as he calmly handled the severed thigh, momentarily confused about which of them was the real monster.