chapter 50

Originally, "If this transaction fails, the player's soul will be imprisoned within," was the warning the system gave Bai Liu when he first acquired the "Old Wallet," a restriction meant to prevent him from abusing this skill. The threat of being locked away for an incomplete transaction was a measure to ensure Bai Liu's good faith—much like the "black room" for untrustworthy merchants on Taobao—yet Bai Liu had found a way to turn it into a trap for his trading partners.

For someone like Zhang Gui, who delights in elaborate schemes and fancies himself clever, there is no better strategy than to follow his plan to the letter. The sense of accomplishment he feels as his prey steps into his snare lulls him into complacency, and only then does Bai Liu have a chance to break free.

So Bai Liu mused, eyes lowered.

But Mu Sicheng's situation was truly troublesome. Only now did Bai Liu realize the depth of the tangled emotions between Mu Sicheng and Liu Huai, and that Zhang Gui had brought Liu Huai along. While hallucinations brought on by a drop in sanity had little effect on someone as single-minded as Bai Liu, for a man of flesh and blood like Mu Sicheng, the specter of a once-trusted friend's betrayal could be devastating.

Whenever Mu Sicheng spoke of Liu Huai, something in him seemed to unravel.

Bai Liu had learned that most players in this game had a mental endurance of around seventy; sixty was already dangerous, and those who emerged from the game with less than twenty without losing their minds were possessed of extraordinary fortitude. Yet Bai Liu needed Mu Sicheng's sanity to fall even lower—lower, even, than his historical minimum of eighteen. At that point, hallucinations and psychological torment would become overwhelming.

With Liu Huai as a catalyst, Mu Sicheng was bound to break.

It was a difficult predicament.

[The train has arrived at Huangquan Road—passengers, please board in order, allowing those disembarking to exit first.]

Zhang Gui's fingers danced like a pianist's, tugging the transparent strings, and Bai Liu was instantly pulled behind him. Zhang Gui placed the puppet mask—once Liu Huai's—over Bai Liu's head, smiling. "There. Now you truly look like one of mine."

"I know you're not resigned to this. Perhaps your surrender is a ruse, and you and Mu Sicheng have other plans." Zhang Gui's lips curled upward as he lowered the heavy, suffocating mask onto Bai Liu, as if shackling him.

Bai Liu's face was slowly engulfed by the puppet's head. He looked up at Zhang Gui, catching one last glimpse of his malicious, assured expression—eyelids drooping, gaze haughty, as if all was within his grasp.

Zhang Gui's voice was hoarse and low. "But Bai Liu, you've surely underestimated Liu Huai's effect on Mu Sicheng. With Liu Huai present, Mu Sicheng will never remain clear-headed and steadfast in his alliance with you. No matter what contingencies you have, if Mu Sicheng collapses—"

Zhang Gui let out a muffled, venomous laugh. "—Mu Sicheng is your most valuable card. If he falls, your entire plan crumbles."

Bai Liu's expression did not change, but his mind raced.

In a sense, Zhang Gui was right—Mu Sicheng was indeed the linchpin of the plan.

The "Mermaid's Amulet" was in Mu Sicheng's possession.

If Mu Sicheng broke down completely, lost his will to resist, and Zhang Gui seized the amulet, the transaction would be complete—and all would be lost. Bai Liu had once considered cheating by having Mu Sicheng use the item, but—

[System prompt: During the transaction, the traded item—the Mermaid's Amulet—must exist, or the transaction is void.]

If, during this period, Mu Sicheng was driven to desperation or simply refused to listen and used the amulet, Bai Liu would be doomed, truly becoming Zhang Gui's puppet.

Thus, Mu Sicheng was crucial to Bai Liu's plan. If he collapsed, Bai Liu would be in grave danger.

Bai Liu was gambling—staking everything on Mu Sicheng, an exceedingly unstable wager. His odds did not look good, but he had considered using Du Sanying as well. Yet Du Sanying was a creature of pure instinct, like a wary rodent, and in a direct confrontation might simply toss the artifact to Zhang Gui to save himself, just as he had once abandoned his vehicle at the first sign of danger.

Du Sanying was far too unpredictable, and with Bai Liu under the puppeteer's control, he could not manipulate Du Sanying from afar. Compared to the steadfast, vengeful Mu Sicheng, Du Sanying was a poor choice.

In the end, Bai Liu chose Mu Sicheng.

The train doors finally slid open. Countless charred passenger corpses wailed and burned as they surged into the carriage. Zhang Gui deftly sent his two puppets to snatch shards, sparing Bai Liu—he knew Bai Liu's health was too low to risk.

Zhang Gui's control was swift and precise. In mere seconds, his puppets darted through the carriage, returning with a heap of mirror shards. Without a glance, Zhang Gui accepted them, his face darkening. "Move on. Clear the next car."

The passengers' hatred was locked onto the puppets, leaving Zhang Gui himself quite safe. The puppets moved with blinding speed, and Zhang Gui's flawless control ensured minimal damage. In less than a minute, half the train was swept clean.

Previously, Bai Liu's group had struggled because only Mu Sicheng was an A-rank player. Now, with three A-ranks—Zhang Gui himself even above A—clearing the passengers and collecting shards was effortless, a far cry from Bai Liu's own feeble efforts.

Mu Sicheng had once told Bai Liu that Zhang Gui's main skills were twofold. The first, "Marionette," allowed him to control puppets and implant puppet strings, but only if the puppet was willing or completely subdued. Otherwise, it was difficult to implant the strings, which was why Zhang Gui preferred voluntary puppets.

The second skill, "Puppet Enhancement," doubled a puppet's stats at the cost of fifty sanity points, stripping them of self-awareness. In this state, puppets were in agony, sometimes struggling unconsciously, but without fear, their combat power was immense. As long as the puppeteer kept the strings moving, they would never cease their assault.

However, Mu Sicheng had told Bai Liu this skill could not be used on puppets with less than twenty sanity—they would be in a berserk state, utterly uncontrollable.

"No one in this game has ever tried to control a player with less than twenty sanity—not even Zhang Gui," Mu Sicheng said, glancing at Bai Liu. "Except you, Bai Liu. You actually expect a me with only ten sanity to remember your plan. It's impossible."

Bai Liu only smiled. "How will we know if we don't try? We have no other options, do we?"

As Bai Liu pondered, the rare sound of the train's female announcer echoed through the carriage:

"Due to the boarding of a VIP passenger and special cargo at this station, the stop will be extended to five minutes for the safety of all. Please remain calm and keep away from the doors—"

A colossal, charred corpse, several times larger than an ordinary passenger, forced its way through the doors, its burning hands prying them open. Its eyes had been burned away, leaving only blackened sockets, its skin gone, exposing raw, bloody muscle. Embedded in its chest was a palm-sized, hexagonal mirror shard, gleaming in the flames like a guardian's talisman. It stood taller than the carriage itself, its neck twisted to fit inside, nearly bursting through the roof.

With a roar, the giant corpse smashed the ceiling, flames pouring from its body to fill the car with a thunderous explosion.

Zhang Gui's face darkened as he retreated into the next carriage, yanking his puppets back like zombies, and grabbing Bai Liu by the nape. Even moving at such speed, both were scorched.

[System prompt: Players Zhang Gui, Bai Liu, Fang Ke, and Li Gou have suffered flame attacks from the monster. HP -10. Zhang Gui and Bai Liu: Sanity -20. Fang Ke and Li Gou: Sanity -9 (due to puppet state).]

Bai Liu coughed, blood trickling from his lips, his face pale beneath the mask. He glanced at his stats:

[HP: 11 (after attacks from Mu Sicheng and flames)]

[Stamina: 70 (recovering)]

[Sanity: 69 (mildly corrupted by monster attack)]

He quickly checked the monster compendium:

["Explosive Last Train" Monster Compendium Update—Thief Brothers (2/3)]

[Monster: Thief Brother (Younger)]

[Traits: Extremely strong and tall, moves with incredible speed (1400 movement, fire-boosted, prefers to subdue with fists when enraged, extremely high attack)]

[Weakness: ??? (to be discovered)]

[Attack: Furious Hammer, Flame Impact (for Bai Liu, either attack is instantly fatal—amen)]

Bai Liu licked the blood from his lips and rasped, "That massive shard in the monster's chest must be both its weakness and the fragment we need."

"Just say it!" Zhang Gui snapped, fingers flying as he maneuvered his puppets, eyes wary of the approaching monster. "This damned game—five minutes at the station, not only does it extend the chase, it throws a boss at us…"

The death rate for this level two game must be close to eighty percent. Even for him, a safe clear was far from certain.

Zhang Gui ground his teeth, cursing, "You really know how to pick them, Bai Liu! You just had to choose the hardest level two game!"

"Thank you for the compliment," Bai Liu replied lazily, as if nothing could faze him. "Aren't you going to try for the shard in the monster's chest?"

"Try my ass!" Zhang Gui swore, on the verge of losing it. "With that attack and 1400 speed, this thing is at least A-rank. My puppets would be slaughtered. Even if I brought six full-health puppets, I couldn't guarantee a clear! If I'd known this game was like this…"

He gritted his teeth, retreating, cursing his luck—had he known, he'd never have entered so lightly.

He had never seen a level two game this absurdly difficult. Bai Liu had chosen the hardest he'd ever encountered.

—Damn it, no wonder his luck stat is zero!

"No." Zhang Gui pulled his puppets in front of him, regaining his composure. "My puppets can't handle it. Only a berserk Mu Sicheng could take it down, but he'd be dead by the end—"

"I could do it in a berserk state, too, couldn't I?" Bai Liu interjected, his calm gaze derailing Zhang Gui's thoughts.

For Bai Liu, Mu Sicheng could not die—the "Mermaid's Amulet" was on him. If Mu Sicheng died, the amulet would drop, and if Zhang Gui got it, Bai Liu would truly become his puppet.

"True," Zhang Gui admitted, eyes narrowing. "But you only have a dozen health left. Even in berserk mode, one hit and you're dead. You're my puppet now, and compared to Mu Sicheng, I'd rather let him die. You're still useful to me, but Mu Sicheng refuses to submit—"

With a cold laugh, Zhang Gui gathered all his puppet strings, lining Bai Liu and the other two puppets behind him. "Then let him die—!"

[System prompt: Player Zhang Gui uses item "Longing to See You" on player Liu Huai. Will teleport to Liu Huai's location in ten seconds.]

Bai Liu felt a wave of dizziness, and when he looked up, he saw Liu Huai, Mu Sicheng, and Du Sanying in another carriage, collecting shards.

The three were working together, struggling but holding on.

Mu Sicheng was in the worst shape, beset by most of the passengers, his face streaked with blood, the red in his eyes flickering, breath ragged as he rolled on the floor.

Zhang Gui, face cold, tugged the string on his little finger, and Liu Huai's heart was suddenly wrenched. It was a reminder, not a threat, so Liu Huai clutched his chest and instinctively looked in that direction.

He saw Zhang Gui, separated by a carriage and a sea of corpses and flames.

Zhang Gui pointed at Mu Sicheng, then drew a finger across his throat, mouthing, "Plans have changed. There's a boss. Abandon Mu Sicheng. Provoke him, drive him berserk to fight the boss. Don't care if he lives or dies."

Liu Huai heard the broadcast and understood what the boss meant, but seeing how readily Zhang Gui was willing to sacrifice Mu Sicheng, his heart clenched. He understood—this boss was a nightmare, and only a berserk Mu Sicheng might stand a chance.

But wasn't this a level two game? How could there be a monster that required Mu Sicheng to go berserk and die just to defeat it?!

As Liu Huai hesitated, the giant corpse charged down the train, smashing windows and filling the car with flames. The passengers were incinerated in its wrath, their screams testifying to its power.

Zhang Gui charged forward with his puppets, entering Mu Sicheng's carriage. The monster's arrival startled Du Sanying, who cried out, "What the hell is that?!"

Zhang Gui yanked his puppet strings and shouted, "Liu Huai! Do it! Or we all die!"

Liu Huai's heart was wrenched by the string, and he gritted his teeth, drawing two hidden blades. Standing behind Mu Sicheng, he muttered, "Sorry," and stabbed without hesitation.

Du Sanying screamed, "Mu Sicheng! Watch your back!"

Mu Sicheng, sensing danger, rolled away, wiping blood from his brow—wounded by Liu Huai's blade. He sneered, "Liu Huai, did you think I'd ever trust you with my back again? Impossible."

"Of course." Liu Huai's smile was complex, tinged with sorrow and ruthlessness. "Brother Si, we were once the best of friends, the perfect team—assassin and thief, unstoppable. We could steal or kill anything, even each other, couldn't we?"

"We're all selfish, Brother Si." Liu Huai's face hardened as he raised his blade. "You stole from me for yourself, and I tried to kill you for myself. We're all just looking out for number one."

"Master! Seize Mu Sicheng!" Liu Huai shouted, stabbing mercilessly.

Zhang Gui flung a sharp puppet string at Mu Sicheng's ankle, but Mu Sicheng hooked a ring and narrowly dodged. Du Sanying, desperate, drove his kart to block Zhang Gui, only to be intercepted by a puppet.

Now it was Zhang Gui, Liu Huai, and Li Gou against Mu Sicheng alone, with Du Sanying held at bay. Sweat beaded on Du Sanying's brow as he watched, face flushed with anxiety.

Bai Liu had said Mu Sicheng must hold out until the train started again, but how could he possibly last?

Du Sanying instinctively looked to Bai Liu. Mu Sicheng, beset on all sides, barely held on, but the giant corpse soon shattered the balance, barreling toward their carriage. Zhang Gui's assault grew fiercer, puppet strings filling the air, binding Mu Sicheng's hands and leaving his face covered in cuts.

Zhang Gui, panting, called, "Liu Huai, do it."

Liu Huai, also gasping, advanced on Mu Sicheng, blades raised.

Suddenly, Mu Sicheng seized all the puppet strings on his body, muttering, "Bai Liu, if you have any tricks left, use them now. I can't hold on. I'm holding Zhang Gui's strings for you—he controls people by the vibration of the strings, but if I grip them tight, he can't transmit the signal. I can only hold on for a while before my fingers are cut off, but you can move on your own now."

Zhang Gui was shocked, glancing at Bai Liu, who had somehow moved behind Mu Sicheng, and then at Mu Sicheng's bloodied hands, tightly gripping the strings, blood dripping onto the hot floor and evaporating instantly.

Bai Liu slowly lifted the puppet mask behind Mu Sicheng, the painted face still smiling innocently.

Zhang Gui's face changed.

"Damn! They're still working together! Liu Huai, do it!" Zhang Gui tried to manipulate the strings, but with Mu Sicheng holding them, the signal couldn't get through. He couldn't control Bai Liu. Furious, he yanked the strings, trying to sever Mu Sicheng's fingers, shouting, "Liu Huai! Hurry! Bai Liu has no attack power now!"

Du Sanying, like a drowning man clutching at straws, screamed, "Bai Liu! Hurry up!"

Liu Huai stabbed without hesitation. Mu Sicheng glanced back at Bai Liu, whose mask still wore that innocent smile. Bai Liu spread his arms, pressing gently against Mu Sicheng's back, and pushed him forward.

Mu Sicheng's pupils contracted sharply.

Du Sanying's mouth fell open in shock, Zhang Gui released the strings in astonishment, and Liu Huai stared blankly at Bai Liu and Mu Sicheng, blood dripping from his blade.

Mu Sicheng's arms, pushed by Bai Liu, fell onto Liu Huai's blades, which severed them at the shoulders.

His hands fell silently to the floor.

Just as when Liu Huai had once betrayed him and cut off his arms.

But this time, it was Bai Liu.

Blood spurted from Mu Sicheng's shoulders.

"I think Master Zhang Gui is right," Bai Liu said, his voice muffled by the mask, still smiling. "Mu Sicheng, if you don't go berserk, we'll all die."

"There's no point in working with you anymore—you're too weak to clear the game." Bai Liu's voice was cool and gentle, tinged with a faint smile. "So I've decided to become Master's puppet, and obey his every command."

Author's note:

86, have you been human today? No :)