Chapter 78: Dandelion Manor and Sleepland

"Fan Jue."

Yan Jing looked at the man's profile.

Twenty-eight years old. He had been unexpectedly selected to enter the Inner World three years ago and had successfully reached the First Tier.

He had also joined the Surface World's Public Security Association, becoming a Peacekeeper.

In just one year, he had become the strongest First Tier in the Association.

Unlike others who relied on seniority to climb the ranks in the Association, Fan Jue's path to promotion was paved with blood and ruthless methods.

Despite his perpetually smiling face, this man was absolutely ruthless. Whenever he was in charge of a mission, the targets of his enforcement met exceptionally miserable ends.

Losing an arm or a leg was considered lucky.

"He has a quirk."

Shen Youran multitasked, speaking as she continued to search for information:

"He always feels that people keep their distance because his face is too sharp and unapproachable."

"So he deliberately uses an Inner World item to disguise his face every time, though his habit of smiling with his eyes narrowed is hard to change."

"Based on the timeline, he should be on the verge of advancing to the Second Tier. If not in this Dungeon, then the next."

Saying this, Shen Youran paused and looked up at Yan Jing.

"While looking into him, I also found information on someone else."

"Who?"

Yan Jing didn't even lift his head, his eyes glued to their files and Rituals.

"Your friend, Xu Weizhou."

Shen Youran said, "He joined the Public Security Association a little over a week ago."

Yan Jing raised his head.

"Wei Zhou joined the Association?"

"Yes."

Shen Youran nodded. "He used a yellow-green item for his Day Selection Ritual and passed their assessment."

"He should be undergoing closed-door training for these two weeks."

"According to unconfirmed reports, Fan Jue might be his instructor."

Yan Jing nodded.

That made sense.

If Fan Jue truly wanted people to get close to him, as the files claimed, then someone with Xu Weizhou's personality would make the perfect friend for him.

"Then it seems I hit the wrong person,"

Yan Jing muttered to himself.

"Hit the wrong person... Who did you hit?"

Shen Youran's hands paused over her keyboard. She looked up, staring at him in disbelief. "You hit Fan Jue?"

Yan Jing nodded. "He seemed to want to test my skills."

Her eyes went wide.

"And you said you didn't get hurt?"

Yan Jing's lips curved upward. "He didn't take it seriously, so I really didn't."

"Have you found the rest of the files, Teacher Shen?"

Shen Youran lowered her head and resumed typing.

"I'll send you the information on Sleepland first. There's not much on Dandelion Manor, so I need to dig a little deeper."

"All right."

Yan Jing opened the Sleepland file.

It was quite lengthy. Like the Terror Bus, this was a Dungeon many players were frequently assigned to.

Short on time, he skimmed past most of the general Dungeon details and skipped straight to Sleepland's management.

[Mayor of Sleepland]

[Manager of Sleepland. Appears as a very amiable-looking old man.]

[His daily activities are confined to the largest building in Sleepland, which houses the biggest bed in this Domain.]

[He has a wife and one son. Additionally, he has three siblings and their respective families, who collectively make up Sleepland's management.]

[Deeply loves his son.]

[However, in recent years, no player has seen his true face. He seems to be busy with something.]

[Strength: Unknown.]

[Inner World Pathway: Sin - Sloth.]

[First Tier Ability 1: Rapidly recovers stamina while sleeping, gains immunity to mental abilities, and significantly increases physical resistance.]

[First Tier Ability 2: Can induce fatigue in targets. If the target has poor mental resistance, they can be forced into a deep sleep for a short duration.]

[Second Tier Ability: Unknown.]

[...]

Having finished the summary, Yan Jing had a general understanding of Sleepland's structure.

Unlike the Sun-Swallowing Tower, the class hierarchy in Sleepland wasn't quite as pronounced.

Even the Mayor of Sleepland didn't usually act like a typical leader, carrying himself more as a man of the people.

Immediately after, Shen Youran sent over the file on Dandelion Manor.

[Dandelion Manor]

[A Domain of the Life Pathway.]

[Managed by Madam Yu, who appears as a plump noblewoman. Strength: Unknown.]

[Upon entering this Dungeon, Madam Yu leads players on a tour of the manor's front courtyard, designating it as their primary activity zone.]

[As for the manor's buildings, aside from the players' living quarters, the rest are semi-restricted areas that can only be entered with her permission.]

[The backyard is a completely restricted area.]

[As a Domain of Life, Dandelion Manor is inhabited exclusively by Madam Yu and her children.]

[The most frequent activity in this Domain is reproduction.]

[Madam Yu shows favoritism toward children with superior reproductive capabilities.]

[Life Pathway Abilities: Unknown.]

Compared to Sleepland, this was all the information available on Dandelion Manor.

Because...

"The vast majority of people who make it out of that Dungeon are unable to disclose its contents."

Shen Youran said.

"After leaving, they're reduced to lunatics who only know how to seek mates and breed."

"Judging from their fragmented ramblings, it really is a mad Domain."

Yan Jing nodded.

"This is enough."

Shen Youran closed her laptop with a sigh.

"Based on the mission description you gave me, Stage B of this Dungeon is going to be incredibly difficult."

"And what surprises me even more is just how many experts are going in this time."

"For a Dungeon with a ninety-percent mortality rate, it sounds like hardly anyone died during Stage A."

Yan Jing paused.

"Ah, no, quite a few probably died."

On his way to the bar today, he had overheard some of the Tower's staff mentioning a massive brawl that broke out among the humans in the living room last night.

Many Inner World residents had stopped to watch the spectacle.

Though it hadn't lasted long, rumor had it that rivers of blood had been shed.

"I just don't know who exactly died."

With that, Yan Jing stood up to see his guest out.

"We'll stop here for today, Teacher Shen. Thanks for the files."

Shen Youran sighed.

"Yes, yes, I'm going."

She was already used to his secretive nature. With their contract binding them, she wouldn't let her curiosity get the better of her.

She walked to the door and pushed it open. She stepped out with her right foot, but her left lingered behind.

"See you in two days, Xiao Yanzi," she said softly.

"See you in two days, Teacher Shen,"

Yan Jing replied gently.

After she left, Yan Jing entered the Inner World.

Pushing open the doors to the bar, he saw Rose and One-Eye sitting around the central table, both looking utterly miserable.

"What's wrong, Xiao Mei, Xiao Yan?"

Yan Jing smiled as he walked over and sat down.

"Why the long faces?"

"You haven't heard, Boss?"

Rose cupped her cheeks in her hands and said gloomily, "A bomb has been brought into the building!"

"When I heard the news this morning, I lost my appetite."

"So, did you finish your breakfast?"

Yan Jing asked.

"Of course I finished it!"

Rose's eyes widened.

"What kind of question is that, Boss? Who doesn't finish their breakfast!"

Next to her, the little boy, One-Eye, looked even more depressed. He blinked his large eye rapidly, his hands resting politely on the table as he sighed non-stop.

"Are you worried about the bomb too, Xiao Yan?"

Yan Jing asked with a chuckle.

One-Eye heaved a long sigh, his voice carrying the clingy whine of a child.

"You'll understand once you reach my age, Boss."

Yan Jing laughed.

"It seems the bomb has caused quite a stir. No wonder business across the entire third floor has been so slow today."

"I was just considering whether we should close for the day, but our quota is a problem..."

Just as he spoke, a voice drifted in from the door.

"Don't close just yet."

The three of them looked over to see the glassy-eyed man standing in the doorway, gripping the amiable-faced man.

"Don't be so quick to close. We'll give you some business."

Yan Jing smiled.

"There are rumors everywhere that a bomb is in the Tower. Aren't you afraid, sir?"

"I am."

The glassy-eyed man nodded, dragging the fiercely struggling man into the bar.

"That's why we had to come here for a drink."

He looked at Yan Jing, his gaze sincere.

"Whoever planted the bomb would never place it here, because blowing you up has zero value."