Chapter 44

Even when night fell and the mountains were silent, the other team had yet to return.

The dark clouds that had settled down for two days finally showed some changes.

The endless drizzle fell from the dark sky that couldn't be seen clearly. The drizzle became heavier and heavier as it hit the eaves, creating a loud pitter-patter sound and splashing water everywhere.

There was silence in the mud hut.

Just like the previous night, everyone sat around the fire in the center and stared at the flickering flames.

Since the other team had yet to return, the team that hadn't handed in their rations naturally took over the mud hut that they had stayed in previously.

Ignoring everything else, sitting inside the hut was much more comfortable than sitting outside. It could shelter them from the wind and rain. If they had a hut to stay in, who would be willing to go outside to feel the cold wind?

The sky always darkened earlier when winter was approaching. They came back from the temple early in the morning, wanting to take advantage of the fact that the sky was not completely dark to come back and rest.

After experiencing such a day's events, the newcomers were somewhat distressed.

In the temple just now, Granny Yin slowly explained the matter that the old village chief had told them.

The voice under the hood was unpleasant and shrill. "Three years ago, it was rumored that the Bodhisattva of Tongbai Village appeared. Everyone in the surrounding villages knew that the old woman was the one who was guarding the Bodhisattva's garden."

"I came to the temple in this deserted village three years ago. When I came, the old woman had already passed away. Later on, I didn't sense any signs of the Bodhisattva's manifestation. Instead, the village became more and more strange."

"There must be something fishy about this matter. I have to go to the underworld to search these three days. When the time comes, I will need more manpower … If you encounter any danger in the village, or if you are willing to help, come to the temple. "

Although they were mentally prepared because of the prequel plot, they were still infuriated when they heard this.

Not only did the people of this village traffic in human beings, but they also starved the elderly to death. They could only blame themselves if a malicious spirit came back to seek revenge. If possible, they really didn't want to do this protection mission.

In the end, while they were resting, it began to rain heavily outside.

They had planned to wait for the rain to stop, but the other team had yet to appear.

If they encountered danger, it was impossible for so many people to disappear at the same time, right?

Halfway through his sleep, Xu Su woke up and asked, "Why isn't the other team back yet?"

Zong Jiu casually picked up a match from the ground and stuffed it into the fire. "What does it have to do with us whether they come back or not? In my opinion, it's best if they don't come back tonight. After all, they have the ability to protect themselves. If they stay outside, they can protect the villagers. If they are outside, we don't need to go out and guard them. Isn't that a good thing? Don't tell me you want to go out in the rain? "

The people around the bonfire and in the bullet screen were deeply shocked.

[F * ck, that makes sense.]

[Legally using the wisdom of the masses to fish. This fish smells good to the touch.]

[They're all trainees. Why are half of them fighting monsters and the other half slacking?]

"But we have to go out too. It's almost completely dark."

The white-haired youth calculated the time and clapped his hands. "Wake up, wake up. Time to get to work."

They had agreed to take the risk and go to the woodshed to save the woman tonight. Now that it was late at night, it was time to go.

They had wanted to wait until the rain stopped, but the rain had its benefits. They had to go anyway. At the crucial moment of the mission, no one would mind getting a little wet.

After hearing his words, the trainees who were sleeping soundly on the ground got up one by one.

It was obviously a horror dungeon. If it were the previous dungeon, they would be like tigers startled by the bow of a bow at night, not daring to sleep at all. As a result, after entering this instance dungeon, everyone felt a sense of security.

The first solo performance of the horror trainees eliminated three-quarters of the newcomers. It was not easy for the newcomers to survive.

The newcomers had no items to protect themselves. The only thing they could rely on was luck and intelligence. Otherwise, they had to rely on someone. But the old people were all people who had seen the world. They were all indifferent. How could they be so kind?

At least in the first dungeon, everyone went their own way. They were very loose, not to mention having an organization.

When they first entered the mud hut behind the old locust tree, Zong Jiu had walked at the front without saying a word. Just this action alone had won everyone's favor, not to mention that they had chatted and shared their hearts with him that night. When they learned that he had a lofty dream of saving everyone, it was impossible not to be shocked.

Just as everyone was getting ready to go, there was a sudden knock on the wooden door of the mud hut.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound was very calm. It was neither fast nor slow, neither fast nor slow.

The rain outside was very heavy. It pitter-pattered against the eaves and dripped down along the ridge of the roof. But it also made the knocking sound even more eerie.

Because the door was not locked.

Zong Jiu reacted quickly.

Almost immediately after the knocking sound, a few poker cards appeared between his fingers. They shot out like lightning and pierced into the mud wall. They firmly blocked the door between the door and the frame, blocking the door that was about to be pushed open.

"Quick, go and lock it!"

He shouted at the trainee closest to the door. The trainee instinctively followed his orders.

"Clang — —" The door bolt fell into the door frame.

Everyone realized that something was wrong. All the trainees took out their items and looked at the door cautiously.

Just then, a cold wind blew through the window. The fire flickered twice and quietly went out, leaving only a wisp of white smoke in the darkness.

It was like a signal.

[F * ck! It's time to be nervous and exciting.]

[Is this dungeon so exciting? It's a group attack at the beginning?]

[Not bad. Their teamwork is quite good. Usually, only in teams that have been working together for a long time can you see this kind of reflexive action after hearing an order. There's no sloppiness at all.]

Xu Sen's expression became serious.

The veterans all knew that although the horror dungeon was scary, there were still rules to follow.

Even if it was an S-level dungeon, it could not casually kill people. Especially supernatural dungeons. When something unclean came out, the surroundings would definitely give a hint.

What kind of omen could there be when an extremely cold existence was about to arrive? There were only a few.

Now was the best hint.

The situation in the mud hut was very tense. It was the first time for many of the newcomers to face such a situation. It was also the first time they faced a supernatural existence head-on. A thick layer of sweat seeped out of their palms.

At this time, Zong Jiu's pacification was effective.

"Don't panic. We have so many people. Don't you see that there's still a No.8 boss in the house? Even if the sky falls, there's a tall person to hold it up. What are you afraid of? "

Zhuge An, who had been sitting in the corner silently the whole time, coldly lifted his eyelids.

Zong Jiu knew that if they waited until Zhuge An made a move, then their previous cooperation agreement would not be valid.

After all, the condition was that Zhuge An would not provide any help, and Zong Jiu would have to show his value in exchange for the prophecy and all the information.

But this did not stop him from being high.

Whether or not Zhuge An would help was one thing. At this time, bringing out the No.8 boss could quickly calm the people down, so why not?

As expected, after Zong Jiu said this, the expressions of the people in the mud hut were not as tense as before.

But in between the exchanges, the knocking on the door continued.

At first, it was slow, as if someone was holding a small hammer, and very seriously knocked on the door.

After the door was locked from the inside, the knocking on the door suddenly became hurried.

"Bang bang bang bang bang — —"

It was as if there was really an impatient person knocking on the door. A huge force seemed to come from outside the door, one after another, forcefully pounding on the door.

Rainy night, knocking on the door, darkness.

When these words were put together, it was terrifying enough.

The trainees closest to the wooden door were trembling in fear.

Perhaps the existence outside was angered by the fact that they could not enter after so long, the knocking on the door suddenly increased in strength.

The old wooden door could not withstand such a force at all. The surrounding door frame was knocked out of shape, and it creaked under the weight.

Wooden doors in the countryside were not very sturdy to begin with. Even if they were locked from the inside, there were a few times when it looked like the door bolt would not be able to hold on, and the door would be smashed to pieces.

Zong Jiu said in a low voice, "Get your props ready. When I give the order, don't worry about anything else. Greet them all."

The trainees held their breaths, and all of them said yes.

"Three, two, one, greet them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the door frame suddenly opened, and a palm-sized gap appeared above the wooden door.

Suddenly, a chill that seemed to be born from the underworld quietly began to invade from outside the door, slowly opening its sharp and bloody fangs.

A long and narrow ghost shadow was faintly discernible outside the gap.

Everyone in the mud hut attacked at the same time.

Some people threw talismans, some waved dust, some made hand seals on the spot, and some even fired a shot at the door.

Zong Jiu held a stack of cards in his left palm. He stretched out his right hand's index and middle finger, and aimed at the gap and swiped.

With his wrist strength that was now at its peak, the cards seemed to have turned into sharp knives, slashing forward violently.

No one cared about the cooldown time. There were so many of them in the mud hut, and yet a supernatural existence dared to come to their door. It was obviously not easy to deal with.

About thirty seconds later, the door suddenly quieted down.

Only the sound of heavy rain hitting the roof beams and eaves could be heard. It was monotonous and long.

"Is it over?" Xu Su asked in a trembling voice.

No one spoke, and the silence lasted for a few minutes.

Zhuge An slowly took out his Tai Chi Eight Trigrams. The Li Hexagram changed, and once again lit a fire for the wood pile in the center of the mud hut.

The fire flickered in the cold air, illuminating the dark room.

Zong Jiu exhaled a cold breath. "I'll go take a look."

Then, the white-haired young man held the cards in one hand, walked straight to the half-opened wooden door, and put his hand on the iron latch.

[Oh my god, can't you wait a little longer? You're too brave, I'm so scared.]

[I'm scared for people again! What if someone kills us when we open the door?]

The others watched his movements with trepidation.

The iron latch was bent from the impact.

Zong Jiu had no doubt that if he had been a little later, the door would have been sent flying.

He cautiously peeked out from the gap.

It was still dark outside. At most, a few drops of cold rain would fly in, and the shadows of the trees would be shaken.

With Zong Jiu's eyesight, he could not see anything out of the ordinary for now.

"Click."

The wooden door was blown open by the wind and rain outside, creaking as it was pushed open.

Leaves flew in with the rain, and in a few seconds, a small puddle was formed on the ground.

Zong Jiu's reaction was quick.

Almost as soon as the wooden door moved, he made his move.

He glanced sideways. Fortunately, the people outside were also experienced in combat, and narrowly dodged to the side.

His attack missed. Zong Jiu did not follow up with another attack.

He saw the people outside clearly.

Anthony and Lin Guoxing were standing outside the door, and behind them stood a dozen people from another team. The former's expression was still full of hostility when he saw him, while the latter smiled apologetically at him like a nice guy.

The heavy rain poured down on them, dripping from the top of their heads and chins to their lapels, making them look like drowned rats.

The trainees in the mud house saw that they were the only ones outside, and all sighed in relief.

Only Zong Jiu remained standing in the same spot as he watched them enter in a single file.

The white-haired young man glanced at his hands without batting an eyelid.

There was nothing there. His skin was intact, and there were no signs of strangulation.

Zong Jiu did not know why, but when his palm carelessly swept over the heads of the people outside, he clearly felt an illusion of being obstructed.

It was as if … there was a string tied to their heads.