chapter 45

"I suggest you use items that boost your movement speed," Bai Liu said, donning his own equipment as he cast a glance at the "passengers" gathering outside the train doors. "These monsters are likely to be very fast."

Mu Sicheng swiftly strapped on his speed-enhancing bracers, a lollipop between his lips, and suddenly let out a strange, mischievous laugh.

Hearing this odd sound, Bai Liu turned his head, only to see Mu Sicheng bracing both feet against the train wall, his hands—transformed into monkey claws—digging into the metal as he clung there, fully equipped and poised to flee.

Catching Bai Liu's gaze, Mu Sicheng grinned, released one claw, and gave a two-fingered salute, his eyes glinting with unmistakable malice. "I'll be going on ahead, Bai Liu. I have no intention of joining your harebrained scheme to kill the Puppet Master. Take care of yourself."

"And—" Mu Sicheng arched a brow, waving a small white mermaid figurine in his hand, "your item, the 'Mermaid's Amulet,' is now mine. This is the price you pay for cheating me out of two thousand points. I told you, no one gets the better of me."

"By the way, Bai Liu," Mu Sicheng's monkey claw pressed off, and in a flash he vanished from the carriage, leaving only his mocking voice behind: "I hate working with others. Consider this a lesson. If you survive, don't thank me. Bye!"

[System prompt: Player Mu Sicheng has used the skill (Thief's Monkey Claw) to steal the item (Mermaid's Amulet) from player Bai Liu's inventory.]

[System prompt: Player Mu Sicheng has used the skill (Thief's Stealth), movement speed +7000.]

In the blink of an eye, Mu Sicheng became a blur and disappeared, leaving Du Sanying and Bai Liu staring at each other—one dumbfounded, the other unruffled.

Du Sanying was utterly bewildered. He turned to Bai Liu, his face a picture of shock, gesturing wildly between the direction Mu Sicheng had fled and Bai Liu. "Weren't you two partners?! Why did Mu Sicheng abandon you and run? And why did he steal from you? Aren't you friends?!"

Watching Mu Sicheng's betrayal, Wang Shun, in front of his small TV, let out a long, complicated sigh—so it was true: Mu Sicheng, the thief, had entered the game with the intent to steal the item he coveted from Bai Liu.

Recently, "Siren Town" had become a warm-up game exclusive to newcomers, rarely appearing on the game wall. Veteran players couldn't enter, and new players couldn't leave. The "Mermaid's Amulet," which required collecting the back pages of the Monster Book, was nearly priceless. Wang Shun had heard that Mu Sicheng was seeking to acquire it, and suspected his earlier favor to Bai Liu was for this very item.

But Bai Liu's stinginess and shamelessness must have convinced Mu Sicheng that he'd never get the amulet through favors, so he simply resorted to theft.

Yet Bai Liu, with his luck stat of zero, had truly drawn the short straw—teamed up with Du Sanying, the luckiest and most adept at collection games, sought partnership with the treacherous, companion-averse Mu Sicheng, and was targeted by the ruthless Zhang Gui, who wanted to make him a puppet.

He had stepped on every possible landmine. Wang Shun could only sigh in sympathy.

But not everyone shared Wang Shun's understanding. Most viewers were cold and pragmatic; Bai Liu's attempt at cooperation, only to be betrayed by Mu Sicheng, left those who had high hopes for him deeply disappointed.

Already, Bai Liu had lost much of his audience to the three superstar players. Now, with a string of blunders, his remaining viewers dwindled. Though no one gave him a thumbs-down, the number of likes was pitiful, and his small TV's stats looked grim.

[107 new likes for Bai Liu's small TV, 161 new bookmarks, no one has tipped player Bai Liu.]

[120 new viewers are watching Bai Liu's small TV. The data is far below the last game's, and player Bai Liu is about to be demoted from the Multiplayer Zone to the "Graveyard Disco Zone." Please play seriously, player Bai Liu!]

[Welcome message for Bai Liu in the Graveyard Disco Zone: yo~ your performance is like dancing on the edge of death~ yo~ so clumsy it makes me laugh~ yo~ the Graveyard Disco Zone welcomes all players who don't want to play seriously, with special gravestone-shaped TVs for your dancing pleasure!]

In stark contrast, Mu Sicheng's small TV saw a meteoric rise in stats thanks to his dramatic betrayal, quickly following Du Sanying's stream into the central hall.

"Graveyard Disco Zone?" Wang Shun's face darkened at the name. "Only players whose current performance is far worse than their last end up there. Bai Liu's stats aren't great, but to be sent there so soon? The game's barely started!"

He soon realized the reason: it wasn't that Bai Liu's current performance was so poor, but that his previous performance had been too stellar.

The system judged Bai Liu as "not playing seriously"—in other words, slacking off—and issued a warning.

Wang Shun, though disapproving, could do nothing to change Bai Liu's fate. With a heavy heart, he packed up and made his way to the Graveyard Disco Zone.

Some viewers followed Wang Shun, but most shook their heads and left Bai Liu's stream, turning to the other stars.

Wang Shun arrived almost alone in the pallid Graveyard Disco Zone, where every small TV was topped with a cross, resembling tiny tombstones. Two enormous funeral wreaths flanked the entrance, their banners reading—on one side, "Star of the Masses," and on the other, "No Resting Place in Death."

The decor resembled a bone storage chamber, and the screens inside were all in black and white. The players' faces were haggard, the monochrome making them look like memorial portraits—this was no place for the living, the atmosphere chilling to the bone.

There were few viewers here, most of them anxiously and angrily cheering on the players, their faces twisted in disbelief and frustration—much like Wang Shun's own.

This was only natural, for the Graveyard Disco Zone was also known as the "Fallen Star's Rest." Players whose stats plummeted after a stellar performance were deemed unserious and exiled here.

It was the cold palace of the game hall.

Many players were sent to this cold palace, but few ever escaped—for to leave, one's small TV stats in the Graveyard Disco Zone had to surpass their previous record, at which point the system would grant a new promotion slot.

Bai Liu's last small TV stats had exceeded a hundred thousand. Since Wang Shun started playing, he'd never heard of anyone in the Graveyard Disco Zone breaking that record. If Bai Liu was trapped here, he'd likely fall into the "No Man's Land," never to rise again.

But while Wang Shun's mood was heavy, the forum was alight with the glee of those who had always resented Bai Liu:

[Congratulations to the so-called rising star Bai Liu for winning his eight-heart, eight-diamond gravestone TV!]

[I'm so anxious—when will Bai Liu fall into No Man's Land? Place your bets! I say three hours!]

[I just want to ask, where are all those who hyped Bai Liu before? Are you all in the cold palace with him now? Weren't you all singing his praises? Come out and defend him now!]

————

Oblivious to the storm raging around him, Bai Liu now faced a far more pressing challenge.

Outside, the charred corpses surged into the carriage, crawling in with grotesque, spider-like postures, heads twisted back at impossible angles, faces frozen in disturbingly normal expressions.

It was as if a crowd of numb commuters, glued to their phones, were squeezing into the subway at rush hour. Some "passengers" who failed to escape were crushed against the windows, instantly reduced to a bloody pulp, giving Bai Liu the illusion of a morning rush.

Du Sanying dodged a corpse, patting his chest in relief. "These monsters are fast and strong," he said, equipping his own item.

[System prompt: Player Du Sanying has used the item (Lucky Bumper Car), movement speed +1890. You can now dodge all incoming creatures for one hour~]

Du Sanying instantly found himself seated in a pink, rainbow-colored bumper car adorned with cartoon ponies. Despite its childish appearance, the slender Du Sanying looked oddly at home in it.

He waved anxiously to Bai Liu. "Bai Liu, get in! I'll drive us out! The monsters are coming!"

Du Sanying wasn't saving Bai Liu out of charity—his sixth sense told him Bai Liu was the key to clearing this game. No matter what, this person could not die.

Bai Liu remained calm, politely declining Du Sanying's offer as he equipped his own item.

[System prompt: Player Bai Liu has equipped the item (Statue's Shell), defense +100. Due to its weight, movement speed -13.]

"Pfft!" Du Sanying burst out laughing as Bai Liu donned a cumbersome marble suit of armor, so heavy he immediately collapsed to his knees.

Face contorted, Du Sanying shouted, "Bai Liu! You put on the wrong item! That's a defensive item—it slows you down! Take it off, quick!"

Crushed by the marble armor, Bai Liu could barely stand, but his voice was resolute. "No mistake. I'm not taking it off."

The sight sent Du Sanying's viewers into hysterics:

"What is he doing?! Has he given up after falling into the Graveyard Zone?"

"He probably doesn't know he's in the Graveyard Zone, but wearing stone armor in a chase is definitely a top-tier baffling move…"

"I'm so anxious for Little Parrot! Stop trying to save this idiot! Let him kneel and die! Save yourself!"

Du Sanying was frantic, his instincts screaming at him to save Bai Liu. "Do you have any vehicles? Anything fast? Never mind, just take off that useless armor! Hurry, get in my car!"

"This armor is useful," Bai Liu replied, activating his personal skill with perfect composure. "I have a vehicle. Don't worry about me."

Du Sanying was desperate. "How fast is your vehicle? If it's less than 1890, just get in with me!"

"Movement speed?" Bai Liu tapped his skill, "Old Wallet," and finally smiled, a strange glint in his eyes. "Roughly the same as Mu Sicheng's."

Du Sanying was stunned. "A vehicle with 7000 speed? Does that even exist?"

Behind Bai Liu, the burning passengers charged forward, their blackened, flaming hands reaching for his back, sparks flying past his pale cheeks. His eyes remained utterly calm.

In this life-or-death moment, Bai Liu cupped his hands to his mouth and called out, his voice lazy and drawn out: "Mu Sicheng, I need your help—help—!"

Du Sanying was dumbfounded: "?????"

Hadn't Mu Sicheng just robbed him and run? Why would Bai Liu call for his help? There was no way Mu Sicheng would come back!

Du Sanying's viewers were equally baffled, watching Bai Liu's bizarre actions in mute disbelief, beginning to suspect he might actually be insane.

But even more bewildered were Mu Sicheng's viewers.

They watched as the gleeful thief, escaping the scene, suddenly froze at the sound of "Mu Sicheng, I need your help." His face darkened, as if some invisible force had seized him, and he stopped dead in his tracks.

[System prompt: Player Bai Liu has activated a personal skill. Player Mu Sicheng must now cooperate with all of Bai Liu's actions.]

[—Now, player Bai Liu requests you to turn back and, with all your might, help him escape danger—]

"Goddamn it!!!" Mu Sicheng's face turned ashen as he spun around, racing back toward the carriage he'd just left. "Goddamn you, Bai Liu!!!!"

"You actually used your skill to control me! I thought your skill was stealing!?"

Mu Sicheng's fury was written all over his face.

In the space of a breath, as Du Sanying watched in horror, Bai Liu was nearly overtaken by the monsters. Yet Bai Liu only smiled, his eyes lowered, kneeling in his heavy marble armor, arms spread as if waiting for someone to catch him.

Du Sanying, both anxious and mystified, called out, "Bai Liu, what's the point of that armor?!"

"It boosts defense," Bai Liu replied, attempting a shrug but failing under the weight. "I'm worried my 7000-speed vehicle might get mad and hit me, so I put this on for protection."

"?????" Du Sanying was speechless.

A vehicle that hits people? What kind of logic was this?!

Just as Du Sanying was about to curse, a blur shot forward, and Mu Sicheng, face twisted in rage, seized Bai Liu by the collar and hauled him up. "Bai Liu—you bastard—what did you do to me?! Why am I under your control?!"

With a violent yank, Mu Sicheng dragged Bai Liu away, just as the flaming passengers lunged, barely missing him, though a few lashes of fire singed his eyelashes.

Bai Liu calmly blinked away the embers, a faint smile on his lips. "I only asked for your help, Mu Sicheng. Isn't that what we agreed? I ask, you help. How can you call that control? That's so unfriendly."

Mu Sicheng, face dark as thunder, dragged Bai Liu through several carriages. Du Sanying, worried, followed in his bumper car.

Mu Sicheng flung Bai Liu to the ground like a rag doll, planting a foot on his throat, eyes bloodshot, chest heaving, veins bulging on his forehead and arms as he gripped Bai Liu's collar.

With a vicious grin, he leaned in, hissing through clenched teeth, "Well done, Bai Liu. You're truly something."

"In my life, I have never hated being controlled more. You've really crossed the line."

He punched Bai Liu, shattering the marble armor into pieces, blood trickling from Bai Liu's lips. Yet Bai Liu only smiled, as if he'd expected it.

[System prompt: Bai Liu's armor has been destroyed after blocking an attack from Mu Sicheng. Bai Liu's HP has dropped to 40.]

"Are you sure you want to kill me?" Bai Liu asked, blood staining his smile. "This skill binds our HP. If I die, you might die too, Mu Sicheng."

He was bluffing, of course—many control skills did link the controller's and the controlled's HP.

Mu Sicheng's expression froze. He took several deep breaths, eyes stormy, jaw clenched so hard it seemed his teeth might break. "After this game, I'll find a way to break our connection, and then I'll kill you, Bai Liu."

Bai Liu smiled, knowing his bluff had worked. "That's for later. What about now?"

After a few seconds' stare-down, Mu Sicheng couldn't help but curse, "I'd love nothing more than to kill you right now, you bastard!"

He glanced at the advancing corpses, then grabbed Bai Liu by the collar and, expressionless, sprinted forward.

[System prompt: Player Mu Sicheng has used the skill (Thief's Stealth), movement speed +7000. Carrying player Bai Liu (57kg, lightly injured), speed penalty—final movement speed +6900.]

Du Sanying was stunned, staring at Mu Sicheng's retreating back, then at Bai Liu's shattered armor. "So… the 7000-speed vehicle Bai Liu mentioned—the one that hits people—was Mu Sicheng?"

Du Sanying, who had always relied on luck, had never seen such ruthless tactics—using another player as a vehicle. Watching Mu Sicheng drag Bai Liu away, Du Sanying shivered.

Why did he have a premonition that he, too, would one day be used by Bai Liu?

It was terrifying. Wasn't Bai Liu afraid Mu Sicheng would kill him? Yet he remained so calm, even joking about his "vehicle" being violent—Mu Sicheng had truly meant to kill him just now…

Shaken to his core, Du Sanying followed in his little bumper car.

The audience, equally stunned, sat in silence for several minutes, unsure what to say. At last, someone coughed awkwardly and ventured:

"This Bai Liu… he's got some tricks, huh, hahaha…"

"Tricks? He just controlled Mu God! Even the Puppet Master, with the full might of the King's Guild, couldn't do that…"

"Does Bai Liu have a control skill like the Puppet Master? Both can manipulate players?"

"Seems so. This is going to be good—two controllers in the same game. The Puppet Master has three puppets, but now Mu God is Bai Liu's puppet. Four versus two. I still think the Puppet Master has the edge, but Bai Liu's move just raised his odds to forty percent…"

"Poor Mu God—he dodged every trap, only to end up someone else's puppet."

"I want to watch Bai Liu's stream. Mu God's perspective is too blurry…"

"Me too… He's in the Graveyard Disco Zone, right? If only he'd pulled this move sooner, he wouldn't have ended up there…"

Mu Sicheng's viewers began to flock to Bai Liu's stream.

——————

Gradually, more viewers gathered in the Graveyard Disco Zone, clustering around Bai Liu's small TV, but none of this caught Wang Shun's attention.

He simply stared at Bai Liu on the screen, dazed for a moment. He, too, remembered Bai Liu's skill was supposed to be theft.

A chill ran through Wang Shun—had Bai Liu been setting up Mu Sicheng all along, lulling him into complacency with the "thief" skill, only to control him at the crucial moment?

If Bai Liu had any other skill, Mu Sicheng would have been on guard. But theft? Mu Sicheng, the game's greatest thief, who had once stolen from Spade himself, would never have suspected a thing.

Yet Bai Liu had stolen from Mu Sicheng again and again.

First, it was the mental bleach. Second, the stamina supplement. Third, he stole Mu Sicheng himself.

And fourth—Wang Shun looked at the swelling crowd around him, his feelings impossibly complex—Bai Liu had stolen Mu Sicheng's audience as well.

Author's note:

Little Mu still needs some training, don't worry—he's the king of raising flags.

Mu Sicheng: Even if I die, even if I jump off this train, I will never willingly be controlled by you, Bai Liu!

After the game:

Mu Sicheng: Soul for sale, one million points, only for Bai Liu.

Bai Liu: Too expensive, I'm not buying.

Mu Sicheng: Damn you!!