Chapter 36 - Return Journey

“Of course, it should go to you!” Yuan Yao was the first to speak up, “If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t even be talking about catching the Beheading Demon, let alone whether or not we could clear the stage.”

“Plus, we’ve got an extra reward now, and I definitely have no objections to giving it to you.”

Huang Junjie and Abel nodded one after another, while Liu Yuanyuan did so reluctantly.

“The vote is public, everyone can see who each player is voting for, and it follows the majority rule,” Xu Huo reached out, gesturing for Huang Junjie to return the lighter to him.

Without any hesitation, Huang Junjie handed over not only his but also Wang Wei’s belongings.

Since Wang Wei died at his hands, his effects should also be inherited by him, in other peoples’ hands, that string would at most be a resilient guitar string.

Xu Huo tossed Huang Junjie not the “Arsonist’s Tool” but the tattooed big brother’s lighter; after collecting the string, he lit a cigarette for himself and said, “No rush, everyone, one by one.

Even if we’re short one or two, the voting system still stands.”

Liu Yuanyuan frowned, “Aren’t you being a bit too domineering?

If we don’t vote for you, you’ll kill us?”

“I’m just giving a gentle reminder,” Xu Huo responded, “It’s one of the game rules, and who knows, there might be a lot more voting opportunities in the future.”

Huang Junjie and the other two shook their heads upon hearing this.

Chances to kill a stage boss and get the boss’s items, how could those come by often?

“Brother Xu, don’t bother with her.

She’s not a good person anyway, we’ll just vote for you,” Yuan Yao said.

In the end, all five people voted for Xu Huo, and he obtained the right to choose the exchange reward.

Facing everyone’s gaze, Liu Yuanyuan straightforwardly said, “I have no problem voting for you, but the stun baton should be mine.”

“You already took Li Zheng’s and Wan Zhikang’s items, and now you want Wang Wei’s too, even though you didn’t kill him!” Yuan Yao said unhappily.

“I contributed, didn’t I?” Liu Yuanyuan crossed her arms and insisted, “I should take one piece of equipment.”

Huang Junjie and Abel were also dissatisfied, but Xu Huo spoke up, “You can have it, but you won’t get a share of the additional reward from the manor owner, out of the Hundred Thousand White Notes, you’ll only get ten thousand.”

Liu Yuanyuan’s eyes twirled around, and through gritted teeth, she said, “Deal!”

After they finished discussing, several stacks of White Notes and a stamp carved with a skull were left on the ground.

Xu Huo picked up the stamp:

[Cursed Seal (Note: A curse that allows you to greet anyone’s direct relatives.

Find the right moment to stamp the pattern, and at least three people including yourself will have their strength in some aspect weakened.

And until the pattern fades, the curse won’t disappear.

Please be aware that the direction and intensity of the curse depend on the situation.

Do not use it on stronger players; otherwise, it will be your curse.

Ah, it truly is a cursed stamp.)]

After reading it, Xu Huo smiled and passed the stamp to Huang Junjie and the others.

“This item is so useless, not even as good as the stun baton just now.”

Although Liu Yuanyuan hadn’t seen it, seeing everyone else looking disdainful, she immediately said, “I wouldn’t exchange for it.”

Xu Huo took “The Queen’s Mirror” and “Fast Talk Notepad” from Wang Wei’s effects, “These two items, along with the stamp, one for each of you to choose.”

“The Queen’s Mirror” was a portable makeup mirror, palm-sized, and its function was to say “You are the most beautiful” or “You are the most handsome” in front of the mirror, then for the next three minutes, anyone who saw you would automatically see you with a filter.

The “Fast Talk Notepad” was a fast-writing notebook that automatically recorded everything said within ten meters after being opened for five minutes.

“You’re too kind,” said Huang Junjie, unable to repay such a gesture, “Actually, we didn’t contribute much and still owe you a favor.

Now we’re taking your items…

how about I give you my share of the money?”

Yuan Yao nodded quickly; he had chosen the mirror.

“Then I’ll take five thousand,” Xu Huo said without refusing and accepted the White Notes given by the three of them.

The was unclaimed, and Abel could directly add it to his inventory.

The remaining three artifacts currently belonged to Xu Huo.

Although they were held by different people, only if he chose to discard an artifact could others collect it.

Liu Yuanyuan had just collected the artifact when she eagerly took out her Return Ticket and disappeared from in front of them in an instant.

“Is it really okay to let her go like this?” asked Huang Junjie, “She is a Cannibal Player after all.”

“The game is already over,” Xu Huo said, “Relax a bit.”

Huang Junjie exhaled deeply, “You’re right, players are under no obligation to deal with Cannibal Players.”

“Xu Huo, I hope we run into each other again,” he said seriously as he shook hands with Xu Huo before leaving the instance.

Abel came over with the seal, smiling, “Let me give it a try.”

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow and stretched out his hand.

“I curse you to have less and less bad luck,” Abel stamped onto the back of his hand and then disappeared.

“Brother Xu, you must remember me,” Yuan Yao said earnestly as he held his hand, “I am a programmer, you won’t understand, but remember this.”

Xu Huo smiled and nodded.

After Yuan Yao also left, he looked carefully at his own Return Ticket.

Even though the ticket was made of the same material as regular tickets, it only had a series of numbers: E27-014-A07.

Without any clues for the moment, he put away the ticket and went down to the cabin by the mountain with his flashlight.

He dug up the woman he had buried earlier, tore a few words into the inside of her jacket with her own fingernails, and then buried her back.

He flicked the dirt off his trousers and broke off a branch of plums in the orchard to carry on his shoulder before using his Return Ticket.

“Beep beep—!” After a brief void, the first thing that Xu Huo heard was the sound of car horns.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in an alley, under bright streetlights—familiar surroundings.

He had returned to the back alley of the hostel he had stayed in before.

The time on his mobile phone showed it was half-past ten at night, and the nighttime activities were just starting.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly stepped on something neither soft nor hard.

Picking it up, he realized it was a bulging wallet.

Could the power of the curse be used like this?

Xu Huo glanced at the black skull on the back of his hand, tucked away the wallet, and entered the hostel.

Since actors frequented this place, the receptionist was unfazed by his attire.

Upon learning he had come to collect his things, the receptionist explained:

“You don’t know, do you?

A bunch of strange things have happened here lately, a good number of people have died.

And since you suddenly disappeared, we had to call the police.

Your wallets and IDs have all been taken by the police, and you’ll need to retrieve them from the station.”

“You must have gone on to a film set, right?

Look at this mess; it’s so embarrassing.

Why don’t you stay here for the night, on the house?”

Xu Huo thanked them and left the hostel, finding another hotel to check into.

After closing the room door, he washed up simply and then opened his game panel:

[Congratulations to player Passerby A for successfully passing through the “Beheading Demon” instance.

Your performance during this instance has been rated as Rank-B exceptional.

You have the right to choose one reward replacement—you may select either the permission for one Trait Development or an artifact.

Would you like to make your selection now?]