Chapter 54 - Human Skin

In fact, Xu Huo only told Peng Fengnian and the others that one of the three pieces of skin they got had a secret compartment, concealing the fact about the other two as a precaution, in case the ticket-holding players turned on them after passing the game.

But Zou Weichang obtained that piece of skin and did not pass through, indicating his assumption was wrong, the human skin was not the key to passing through.

Of course, it was also possible that it was not that piece of skin, but there was not enough time to identify the treasure and complete the first task, so they had to take a risk with the second task.

He cut all the stitches on Red furred’s abdomen, and although the area underneath the pigskin was completely filled with mucus, and in some places, it was fused to the skin, the incomplete stitching indeed extended the time for the pigskin to integrate.

Nearly twelve hours had passed, and the pigskin could still be removed.

Sima Xiao’er struggled to remove the skin, gritting his teeth and grimacing in pain from the many wounds on his body.

He quickly drank a vial of Self-Healing Potion, and only relaxed when he saw the cracked injuries slowly begin to heal.

“I see the game task, what do I need to do?”

Xu Huo briefly described the situation with the Skinning Artisan, and Sima Xiao’er, furious, said, “Those guys are just too much, causing infighting at a time like this, I’ll go check their water meters when I get back!”

“We’ll see if you can even find them,” Xu Huo responded noncommittally and then asked, “What tools do you have that might be handy?”

Sima Xiao’er immediately became defensive, “What are you planning to do?”

Xu Huo didn’t beat around the bush and directly said, “Tomorrow during the day, I’ll lure the Skinning Artisan out, and I’ll entrust you with two things, do what you can manage.”

After he spoke in a lowered voice, Xu Huo added, “What are your thoughts?”

Thoughts?

Sima Xiao’er had none.

He had some ideas before the perverted Skinning Artisan showed up, but now he had none at all.

His sense of smell was incredibly sharp.

When Zou Weichang was captured, he smelled a strong scent of blood, indicating fresh blood was continuously flowing out.

Hearing from Xu Huo that the man had been skinned alive, he immediately abandoned any thought of bribing the Skinning Artisan.

“Will they notice if I leave?” He hesitated before adding, “I’m afraid the Skinning Artisan will take his anger out on the others.”

“The ticket-holding players will help us hide,” Xu Huo said.

“Before they pass through, we are still on the same side as them.”

After agreeing on a plan, Sima Xiao’er hid outside the factory, and Xu Huo returned to the Skinning Artisan’s bedroom.

Dawn arrived quickly, and as Xu Huo stepped out of the bedroom, the Skinning Artisan was just rising from the couch, his neatly combed hair becoming a tousled mess in moments, reverting to yesterday’s greasy look.

He took a few gulps of alcohol before speaking, “Younger Brother Wang, up so early, huh?”

Xu Huo, looking unrested, gestured behind him, “You still have your night wandering habit?”

The Skinning Artisan paused, then quickly scrambled toward the workshop.

Upon seeing the hanging bodies, he became enraged and kicked open the door to the players’ rest area, yelling, “Get up and clean this mess!”

Peng Fengnian had already left; Tang Pei and the others came out of their room and shuddered at the sight of Zou Weichang.

They instinctively turned their heads away.

The Skinning Artisan kicked Xian Dazhi, who was closest, “What are you standing around for!”

“Um…

where should I put it?” Xian Dazhi asked, struggling to speak.

“Throw them all in the slaughter room.

Someone’s coming tomorrow to take the loose pieces.

You guys cut the meat into pieces and pack it; we don’t want the head, we don’t want the organs,” the Skinning Artisan instructed, then stopped and looked ominously at the others, “If I find out you’ve been stealing bites…”

Tang Pei and the rest nearly threw up, hurriedly assuring they would not indulge.

After breakfast, Xu Huo left with the Skinning Artisan, taking Yang Can with them.

Tang Pei and the others had already planned to take action during the day.

They carried Zou Weichang into the slaughter room, with Xian Dazhi holding the skin, his hands shaking as if having a seizure.

“Why did the Skinning Artisan skin him only to not want the skin?”

“Maybe he wasn’t satisfied with the skin,” Qin An said as he covered Zou Weichang’s face with a piece of cloth.

“Hurry up, we’re going to the secret room.”

As the two walked out of the slaughter room, Tang Pei came from behind the pigsty, “Peng Fengnian was right, Xu Huo indeed had a companion; now there’s one less in the pigsty.”

“Let’s not worry about that for now,” Qin An waved his hand dismissingly.

“Xu Huo is a smart man, even if he’s not cooperative, he wouldn’t fall out with us.”

After the three entered the Skinning Artisan’s bedroom, they found that the wall had already been pushed open.

They quickly went inside and saw an unfamiliar red-haired young man climbing up the fireplace to take down a painting.

Qin An signaled the other two with his eyes, and they spread out to surround him.

Hearing the noise behind him, Sima Xiao’er immediately hugged the painting to his chest, “What are you doing?

Trying to steal the painting?”

Qin An looked at Tang Pei, who shook her head, and the three relaxed their stance.

The lack of a game notification about someone passing the level meant that the painting wasn’t the “Skinning Artisan’s Treasure.”

“Why did Xu Huo ask you to take that painting?” Qin An couldn’t help but ask.

Sima Xiao’er snorted coldly and walked away with a burning stick from the fireplace.

“They couldn’t still be thinking of rescuing someone, could they?” Tang Pei said in disbelief.

Since what they took wasn’t an item needed to pass the level, the only other reason would have to be for a rescue.

All these belongings belonged to the Skinning Artisan; unless the Skinning Artisan was dead, having these items was as good as having nothing.

“Could it be that Xu Huo has found a way to pass the level on his own?” Xian Dazhi looked at the others.

Qin An’s gaze swept around the secret room, and suddenly remembering what Peng Fengnian had said the night before, he turned and walked out, entering the furs room.

He began searching according to the positions of the three skins Xu Huo mentioned, only stopping at the third one.

He grabbed the skin with one hand and the fur with the other, pulling them apart; there was the sound of a rip, and a thin layer of human skin was revealed from the compartment.

[Congratulations to all players for completing the mission “The more precious the item, the easier it is lost,” successfully passing through the “Hao Wei Dao Fresh Meat Supply Factory” instance.

This instance is rated Level D as a group instance.]

[Congratulations to the ticket-holding player for completing the mission “The more precious the item, the easier it is lost,” successfully passing through the “Hao Wei Dao Fresh Meat Supply Factory” instance.

This instance is rated Level D as a group instance.]

[As player Passerby A is a random player in this instance and does not partake in the rating, the ticket-holding players’ completion is considered a pass for the entire group.

You may choose whether to exit the instance now.]

When Qin An and the others received the game notification, Xu Huo also got it.

Noticing the subtle change in the body language of Yang Can and the Skinning Artisan beside him, his gaze darkened abruptly as the muscles all over his body involuntarily tensed!

Previously lounging lazily in the chair, the Skinning Artisan slowly sat upright, intently watching the float on the water’s surface.

Suddenly he lamented, “It would be good if there was a Temporary Pass; it would save the hassle of moving things around.”

He suddenly turned his head, his eyes reflecting the figure of Xu Huo, “You smell a bit like the little piglet that escaped yesterday.”

Yang Can’s bucket thudded to the ground.

Xu Huo moved his fingers slightly, then suddenly laughed.

He lifted the fishing rod, and a fat fish struggled on the hook.