They Are Very Hospitable (9)
The top-ranked player was hugging an NPC. Although the two looked like a good match just based on appearance, the sight was still undeniably strange.
A player who had just regained their vision couldn’t help but glance in their direction. Even the fire from the explosion ahead seemed insignificant compared to them.
Being hugged and watched by a crowd, Chen Li’s face flushed almost instantly from embarrassment.
Fu Moyang lowered his head, smiling as he looked at him, clearly enjoying the moment.
So cute.
His tall frame completely shielded the poor little NPC from view. None of the players, who were all eagerly trying to peek, had any idea that the mysterious and enchanting NPC they imagined was actually trembling slightly from shame and frustration.
Chen Li unconsciously clutched a corner of the man’s clothing, his pale pink knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
Before teasing him too far, Fu Moyang let go on his own. He looked unhurriedly toward the fire and said, “It’s here.”
What’s here?
Chen Li froze for a second, just about to get angry when his attention was easily diverted. He followed Fu Moyang’s gaze.
From the midst of the flames, a ghostly bus burst out. Sparks still burned along its surface, yet none of them could damage the bus at all.
The bus’s true form was now visible—its interior emanated a chilling, eerie aura, and the exterior had turned a deep, pure black. The windows were smeared with blood and covered in bloody handprints. Its two headlights had become massive eyeballs, bloodshot and staring. Several skulls, crowned with flickering blue flames, sat atop the bus, their jaws opening and closing continuously.
Thinking about how they had arrived in the village on that very bus, all the players looked visibly disturbed.
There wasn’t a single person on the ghost bus, yet it still stopped automatically when it reached the village entrance—no signs of crashing or barreling through.
Chen Li looked up at it, feeling a bit scared. He instinctively took a step back, only to accidentally fall once again into the broad embrace of the man behind him.
Fu Moyang took it well and purposely didn’t remind him. From an outsider’s perspective, the two looked quite close, standing there side by side.
The bus, seeing it had scared someone, let out two sharp honks.
Then it could only watch helplessly as its human master became even more frightened.
The originally rosy-pale face had now turned ghostly white—pitiful and timid.
The two large eyeball-like headlights blinked, as if startled, and dared not make another sound.
Oddly enough, Chen Li actually saw a hint of innocence and grievance in the ghost bus’s expression.
He froze for a second, remembering how comfortable it had been riding the bus earlier. For some reason, he felt this bus probably didn’t mean him any harm.
Besides, it had been used by the players too—it wasn’t acting of its own free will. And now it had come back on its own, helping them avoid the awkward situation of being stranded after completing the mission.
So he mustered up some courage and asked, “Where are the people on the bus?”
The bus turned its headlights slightly, trying to glance behind itself, indicating they were somewhere in the flames behind it.
Perhaps due to the rules of the game, the fire—which should’ve been big enough to engulf the entire mountain—was already shrinking and showed no signs of spreading. Still, given the explosion just now, a human body would’ve been reduced to ashes.
Veteran players were already numb to the deaths of newcomers who recklessly challenged the game’s rules. Only the two new players, Yiyi and Cheng Jun, looked on with some sympathy.
Veteran players were more concerned about the ghostly, eerie bus. Just thinking that they’d have to ride it to leave after finishing the mission made them feel sick.
Chen Li, on the other hand, had no such bias. He was simply timid and scared.
But after realizing that he could actually communicate with the ghost bus, he relaxed a little and carefully asked, “Can you turn back to your original form?”
The ghost bus blinked again and—whoosh—instantly transformed into a normal tourist bus.
Chen Li let out a sigh of relief. Maybe it was because his profession involved drawing horror illustrations and constantly digging for inspiration—his curiosity would sometimes grow unusually strong, like a pampered cat nestled in the palm of one’s hand, slowly reaching out with probing little paws.
He asked, “Can you change again?”
The headlights blinked. The ghost bus, eager to please its little master, did its best to oblige.
If it had been anyone else making a request at that moment, it probably would’ve slammed on the gas and run them over. But this was different—this was its little master.
Those dewy eyes, that naturally pouty mouth—who could bear to say no to such a little beauty? Not to mention the soft voice and that sweet scent that attracted ghosts.
It was absolutely entranced. If its little master asked it to drive off a cliff right now, it wouldn’t hesitate.
But then, upon hearing the request, the ghost bus froze.
Chen Li thought it hadn’t heard him clearly, so he raised his voice slightly and repeated, “Can you turn pink?”
He didn’t have any special love for the color—it was just a random thought, curious because pink bus were so rare.
Torn between its pride as a ghostly entity and its master’s request, the bus wavered for a full minute. In the end, it made its decision—
Screw dignity!
With another whoosh, the bus transformed—now a soft, pastel pink with an adorable gradient straight out of a dreamy girl’s aesthetic. The blood-stained windows were now shaped like cat paws, complete with cute paw-print stickers. Even the headlights were trimmed with delicate white lace, and the seats inside had all turned pink.
The ghost bus blinked its lights again, hoping to be praised.
Chen Li was no longer scared at all. His attention was easily swayed, and the fear from earlier had completely vanished.
He curved his lips into a soft smile, eyes sparkling. “That’s amazing.”
He praised me! He likes me!!!
The ghost bus suddenly seemed to go out of control, wildly flashing its headlights and honking. But this time, the horn didn’t let out a harsh screech—it was an adorable meow. A string of cat-like meows even had a bit of a vibrato to them. If it weren’t for the fact that its little master had the fragile body of a human, it would’ve pounced on him in excitement already.
Fu Moyang: “…So pathetic.”
That’s what he said, but when he looked down at the boy in his arms who was clearly delighted, his expression visibly softened.
The players nearby, who had witnessed the whole thing like background props: “……”
They all gasped.
Far from feeling reassured, they were now even more terrified.
To think someone could so casually change the entire nature of a ghostly, sinister bus—this NPC was definitely no ordinary character!
Ghost buses like this one were usually brutal towards players. Only a few could obtain such items after finishing the game—and even then, it was never something as large as a whole bus. At most, it would be something like a red embroidered shoe from a ghost bride. Though limited in function, such items could save your life at a crucial moment and were highly sought after in the player community.
Thankfully, none of them had underestimated him just because he looked human. Otherwise, they might’ve accidentally broken some “rule” on the bus and died already.
With the bus issue resolved, there was no reason to stick around.
After saying goodbye to the ghost bus, Chen Li walked a few steps toward the village—only then realizing that Fu Moyang was still holding onto his wrist.
The man didn’t seem to be gripping hard, but his hold was firm.
“Let me go,” Chen Li said in a small voice.
“No,” Fu Moyang replied, pulling up the corners of his mouth and deliberately lowering his voice as well.
Chen Li puffed out his cheeks. “Let go!”
He didn’t want the players to notice what was going on, though they had clearly started watching and seemed to be whispering among themselves.
Not only did Fu Moyang not let go, he even rubbed his thumb over the boy’s wrist, leaving a faint red mark on the pale skin.
His skin was so delicate that it bruised far too easily—and that only served to stir something darker in the man.
He really wanted to leave more marks on him.
It would be best to use some other means.
The players finished their discussion and walked over.
Chen Li had no choice but to put on a blank face, trying his best to look stern and imposing.
Although, in Fu Moyang’s eyes, the act was more like a wobbly little kitten trying to raise its paw threateningly—adorably fierce, but hardly intimidating.
Baldy at the front glanced subtly at Fu Moyang, unable to understand why this guy was staying so close to the terrifying NPC. From their angle, they couldn’t see the hands linked together—otherwise, they’d be even more shocked.
After thinking it through, he could only conclude: this guy must be insane.
To avoid exposing their real names, many players used nicknames. Fu Moyang, however, didn’t. He always acted unpredictably and stuck to his real name. On the forums, though, people gave him a nickname—“The Overlord.”
Rumor had it, any game he participated in would end up as his personal stage.
But so far, aside from his odd behavior, he didn’t seem quite as overpowered as the forums made him out to be.
What Baldy didn’t know was: the only reason this game hadn’t already descended into chaos because of Fu Moyang… was because someone else had caught his attention.
Chen Li: “Is there something you need?”
He spoke up, pulling the players’ attention toward himself.
Outwardly cold, but internally praying hard that no one noticed the hand holding his. That would be way too damaging to his NPC image.
Baldy hesitated for a second. “We wanted to ask about the village. We’re all curious why there are no animals here.”
This was what they had just agreed on during their discussion.
Players could get clues from guide NPCs. While those NPCs would never outright lie, they could still withhold information or twist their words to mislead players. It was a double-edged sword.
Originally, with no deaths on the first day, they’d planned to gather clues on their own. But now that two people had died so suddenly, the situation was too urgent—they had no choice but to ask.
Chen Li found it a bit troublesome.
He didn’t know any more than the players did!
And of course, the system had conveniently vanished at this moment.
So he braced himself and recited the task panel info word for word:
“The village used to raise cattle, sheep, chickens, and ducks—lots of them. Every month, they’d hold a meat festival. That’s when the slaughterhouse was built. But two years ago, all the animals suddenly disappeared. Since then, the village hasn’t raised any more.”
That was all the background he knew.
The players seemed thoughtful, carefully analyzing every word, afraid they’d miss some hidden trap.
No one believed Chen Li had actually told them everything.
By now, it was getting dark. In Horror Game instances, players rarely acted after nightfall—the death rate was way higher at night than during the day.
There was no time to waste. They all rushed back to the courtyard.
Chen Li let out a breath of relief and shot Fu Moyang a fierce glare:
“Let go, now.”
But thanks to his big, round apricot eyes, the glare looked more like a sulky pout.
Fu Moyang chuckled softly.
This little guy sure had guts when it came to him.
Like a spoiled kitten, he was impossible to be mad at.
So Fu Moyang deliberately lowered his gaze: “Aren’t you curious what I was doing all day?”
Chen Li was curious, but he turned his head and replied firmly: “Not curious!”
Fu Moyang put on a hurt expression. “But I prepared a surprise for you.”
Chen Li blinked unconsciously.
Curiosity started to swell inside him, like a feather tickling his heart.
Fu Moyang added calmly: “It’s a huge secret.”
Sure enough, the little kitten took the bait.
Chen Li pursed his lips, finally unable to hold back. With a dazed look, he raised his head: “W-What is it?”
Author’s note:
You can just tell someone’s up to no good. (points accusingly)
*nods nods* Someone wants to eat more of Li Bao’s tofu! (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞