Chapter 22 [Dormitory Notices]

"All right, your dorm is Room 301. Just a reminder, when it's dangerous, remember to light two candles together. Oh, and here's a box of matches for you."

The Dormitory Manager passed over a key and a box of matches.

Matches: A plain box of matches that can be lit anywhere.

Key: A plain key that opens the door to Room 301.

"Thank you, Sister Liu," Mu Rufeng said, turning and heading inside.

The onlooking employees showed looks of disappointment on their faces.

"So it's 301, didn't get assigned to me, what a pity."

"Although I wasn't assigned the same dorm, I'm right next door, hehe!"

"Big Head is the lucky one, to be sharing a dorm with him."

"Yeah, yeah, Big Head hasn't come back yet, right? Let's wait for him here and make him spare us some flesh."

"The taste of living flesh, truly unforgettable."

"Fair is fair, this guy made quite a bit at the vending machine."

"Yeah, he even bought so many candles, it's going to be tougher to take him down tonight."

"Big Head, I don't think it looks good for you, afraid it's going to benefit the Dormitory Manager."

...

It had already turned dark outside, but because it was not yet dinner time, the street lamps along the road kept the Scarlet Logistics Park from being pitch-black.

Even inside the dorm building, there was dull lighting, enough to prevent one from being unable to see the path.

There were many employees inside the dormitory building. As Mu Rufeng walked, he was stared at by those people. Although he wasn't afraid, it was still somewhat uncomfortable.

Mu Rufeng reached the third floor and stood in the corridor.

He looked left and right, finding both sides shrouded in darkness, with only the light from the street lamps outside shining onto the balconies at the end of each side.

It looked so gloomy and frightening.

Room 301 was located at the very end of the third floor on the left.

Mu Rufeng followed the passageway to the end.

Along the way, many secretive employees hid in the darkness, silently staring at Mu Rufeng.

If this had been the previous Mu Rufeng, he would have been terrified beyond measure.

Mu Rufeng stood in front of Room 301.

Next to Room 301 was Room 303, and across from it was Room 302.

He glanced at the balcony and saw that it was enclosed by iron bars.

Taking out the key, Mu Rufeng inserted it into the keyhole and gave it a gentle twist; the door opened with a click.

The room was pitch-black, one couldn't see one's own fingers in front of them.

Mu Rufeng immediately began to fumble along the wall on one side.

He quickly found a switch and pressed it.

"Click!" The old light bulb turned on, emitting an orange glow.

The room was not large, with two beds pushed against the walls on each side.

In the middle was a square table covered in dust.

At the end of the room, there was a door and a window.

The window was nailed shut with wood and red fabric, thoroughly covered.

If he wasn't mistaken, there should be a small balcony behind the door, and to the right of the balcony would be the bathroom.

A very standard dorm room; these conditions, even by the standards of the real world, would be considered quite luxurious.

"I don't like the lights on; turn them off," a voice suddenly spoke.

Mu Rufeng was slightly startled and looked towards the source of the voice to find someone sitting on the bed to his left – a familiar figure, the Bandaged Lady, who was wrapped from head to toe in bandages.

"No rush, let me pick out a bed first," Mu Rufeng said with a smile and then casually closed the door.

"Which beds are unoccupied?" he asked.

"The one next to you, and this one are both empty," said the Bandaged Lady.

Mu Rufeng surveyed the two beds, one was by the door on the right side, which had only a mattress on it.

The second was the one closer to the balcony on the left, which also had a mattress, but on it lay many miscellaneous items, including clothes.

"Then I'll choose this one," Mu Rufeng decisively sat down on the bed on the right.

Just then, the Bandaged Lady extended her hand and pointed behind Mu Rufeng.

Mu Rufeng was slightly startled and immediately turned to look.

He then discovered that some text had appeared on the wall behind him out of nowhere.

[Dormitory Rules]

1. Please keep quiet.

2. Do not go out from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.

3. Try to avoid turning on the lights in the dormitory.

4. After lights out, remember to lock the door.

5. If someone knocks, do not open the door under any circumstances, not even for the dormitory manager.

6. Ensure everyone in the dormitory is your roommate; if not, you may throw them off the balcony.

7. The dormitory is absolutely safe when no outsiders are present.

"Uh?" Mu Rufeng was slightly taken aback, these were the dormitory rules.

"Thanks," Mu Rufeng said to the Bandaged Lady, expressing his gratitude.

"Can I turn off the lights now?" the Bandaged Lady asked again.

"Of course, no problem," Mu Rufeng stood up and switched off the lights directly.

The entire room once again plunged into pitch darkness.

The darkness had no effect on Mu Rufeng.

For a zombie, darkness was like water to a fish.

"By the way, I see there's supposed to be another roommate with that bed, right?" Mu Rufeng asked the Bandaged Lady.

"Yes," the Bandaged Lady had returned to lying down on her bed.

"What's your job?" Mu Rufeng continued to ask.

Her work ID was hidden inside her bandages, so Mu Rufeng didn't know her job position or name.

"Please follow the Rule and maintain Silence," the Bandaged Lady responded.

"Sorry, sorry," Mu Rufeng quickly apologized and fell silent.

In the pitch darkness, Mu Rufeng began to feel drowsy.

After all, he had already been tired from a whole day's work before entering this instance world.

Now, after bustling about here all day, he was truly very tired.

However, before going to sleep, Mu Rufeng thought of something, got up immediately, and deadbolted the door.

"There's another roommate who hasn't returned; I locked the door, that should be alright, right?" Mu Rufeng asked the Bandaged Lady.

"No problem, that guy hasn't returned to the dormitory for several days anyway, might as well have died outside tonight," the Bandaged Lady was silent for a while before finally responding to Mu Rufeng.

Since there was no problem, Mu Rufeng stopped worrying.

He then lay on the mattress and fell into a deep sleep.

It wasn't long before the sound of Mu Rufeng's steady breathing began.

In the darkness, the Bandaged Lady slowly turned over, facing Mu Rufeng's direction.

The eye beneath her bandages stared intensely at Mu Rufeng, making the scene suddenly seem sinister and horrifying.

...

Time slowly passed, and before long, it was seven o'clock.

Seven o'clock, which was exactly when dinner time ended.

The lights, all went out.

At this moment, Crimson Preferred was completely devoid of any speck of light.

The moonlight in the sky was also obscured by a heavy fog, plunging the entire world into utter darkness.