TTGOL CH76

Chapter 76: Renting an apartment

“Fuck!”

An exasperated curse echoed through the basement of the Yu Residence, mingling with the melody of the music box. The music was nearing its end, yet the Twelve Movements hadn’t appeared. What else could this mean?

Someone had beaten them to it!

Looking back at the corpses on the floor, they had truly suffered a double loss. Yao Qing’s face was dark. As soon as he was released from prison, he had heard the news about the Twelve Movements. He had gone to great lengths to enter this Zone E instance, thinking that with the favorable clues he possessed, he would definitely succeed this time. Who could have imagined his efforts would be as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket?

He didn’t get the item, two of his teammates died, and he still had to climb his way back up from Zone E. It was enough to make someone vomit blood in anger.

After leaving the instance, hearing that the person who took the Movement was Jin Cheng again made him want to die even more.

Yao Qing wasn’t the only one feeling this way. For the elites of the advanced zones, what was the difference between starting over from Zone E and being sent to prison?

Someone like Yao Qing, who had essentially suffered both back-to-back, now felt a headache coming on just hearing words like “Jin Cheng” and “Twelve Movements.”

“Jin Cheng is an absolute menace. With him around, we’ll be completely suppressed, let alone get our hands on the Twelve Movements. Yao Qing, the Young Master said we absolutely must find a way to kill him in an instance. We can’t let him return to Zone A alive. He’s somehow teamed up with Lin Yandong now. If we let him go back, won’t all of Zone A have to listen to them in the future? That’s unacceptable!”

“I don’t fucking need you to lecture me! Why don’t you try to kill him and let me watch?! If Jin Cheng doesn’t beat you into a dead dog, I’ll take your surname!”

Yao Qing was completely furious.

They were all a bunch of idiots. He had seen Rong Yi in the Mission Hall! Even a time-cheating machine like Rong Yi couldn’t do anything to Jin Cheng. Who the fuck would volunteer to court death?!

However, thinking of the three edicts Jin Cheng had just promulgated, Yao Qing fell silent. He had never truly understood what kind of person Jin Cheng was.

The man was wicked and struck with lethal ruthlessness, yet after obtaining a weapon of mass destruction like the Twelve Movements, he was doing good deeds. Fine, doing good deeds was one thing, but he had to go and abolish the suicide ban.

Yao Qing walked to the window and looked outside. The atmosphere in Yong Ye City today was incredibly eerie.

Have you ever seen people marching toward their deaths with excitement or joy amidst a relaxed atmosphere? Yao Qing saw it today. Jin Cheng’s edict was like opening a floodgate between life and death, and there was a vague trend that it couldn’t be shut.

In truth, Yao Qing could understand. Many people were originally just ordinary folks. You couldn’t demand they maintain unwavering fortitude in a place like Yong Ye City. Choosing death was a form of release.

But the sheer number of people was too high.

Why was the atmosphere in Yong Ye City always so tense and suffocating? Because players lacked the right to independently choose life or death. Any act of suicide would invite punishment—not only would they turn into monsters to be hunted by other players, but they would also be dragged into special instances, enduring endless torment while fully conscious.

But now?

“Yong Ye City, go fuck yourself!” The man giving the middle finger to the sky leapt from the roof of the building opposite Yao Qing’s, instantly turning into a pool of blood.

The number of suicides was steadily climbing.

In the small shop selling spicy and sour noodles that Tang Cuo had visited, a young girl was smiling and greeting the auntie owner, not forgetting to add, “Auntie, put extra scallions and vinegar. I want lots of vinegar.”

The auntie was somewhat dazed. Just a few days ago, this girl had looked like a walking corpse; how had she suddenly found peace today? A moment later, she saw the girl suddenly start crying.

She cried as she ate. Unable to bear it, the auntie handed her a tissue.

“Thank you.” The girl smiled at her again, a smile more painful to watch than her tears, making one’s heart ache. The auntie suddenly realized that this girl would never appear again.

There were also those who couldn’t accept this choice, questioning their companions on why they were giving up. As the saying goes, a miserable life is better than a good death. Yet the other party replied with a simple, “I’m tired,” leaving them with nothing more to say.

Under the impact of the suicide ban being lifted, business at the taverns skyrocketed.

Tang Cuo and Jin Cheng walked past several taverns; every single one was packed to the brim. Many people were getting drunk, crying and laughing alternately, and quite a few were fighting and brawling, using the most primitive methods.

It was like a massive venting session.

This time, the two shed their previous ostentatious behavior, choosing to walk in dimly lit areas, going unrecognized. Whether others chose life or death was their own business; they had their own things to do. For example—renting an apartment.

Renting an apartment in Yong Ye City was a very simple process. Rent was settled daily with clearly marked prices. However, a certain gentleman pursuing a high quality of life was far too picky.

He was either dissatisfied with the direction the apartment faced or complained it was too small.

“This one is so-so, a three-bedroom will do.”

“Why do you need one that big?”

“If we don’t get a three-bedroom, do you want to sleep in the same room as me?”

“…”

Tang Cuo accompanied him to view apartments for several hours, practically touring the entirety of Zone E, before finally achieving enlightenment. “Why must I live with you?”

He turned and started walking back, deciding to rent a single room like the one in Zone F.

Relying on his long legs, Jin Cheng blocked his path. “Are you really going to abandon me?”

Tang Cuo was unmoved and continued walking forward.

Jin Cheng simply started walking backward, insisting on facing him. Crossing his arms, a smile played on his lips. “I mean, can’t you just indulge me a little? If people see us, they’ll think we’re fighting again.”

Tang Cuo finally stopped. Staring at him with his distinct black-and-white eyes for a long while, he asked, “So are you still renting or not?”

“I’m renting.” Although Jin Cheng presented it as a compromise, his tone was brisk and entirely unforced; he was clearly just teasing earlier. “Rent whichever one you want. I’ll listen to you.”

Tang Cuo was truly too lazy to deal with him and immediately turned back to rent the apartment they had just viewed. Two bedrooms, one living room, one bathroom. The space wasn’t large, but it was fully equipped, and the price was decent.

Yong Ye City’s interior design style consistently leaned toward cool tones, primarily black, white, and gray in an industrial style, which actually suited two single men quite well.

However, this slightly cold and hard industrial style was completely obliterated after Wen Xiaoming delivered a large package.

“Cups, a fruit bowl, fridge magnets, throw pillows… oh, and these little ornaments! Lily spent a long time picking them out,” Wen Xiaoming said while pulling things out. “And this quilt! It’s light, thin, and very soft!”

Tang Cuo had no idea Yong Ye City sold such a comprehensive range of items. He pulled a stack of large red “Double Happiness” paper cutouts from the pile of miscellaneous goods and asked, “What is this?”

Wen Xiaoming: “Double Happiness.”

Tang Cuo: “That’s why I’m asking you, what is this?”

Wen Xiaoming scratched his head, blinked, abruptly tilted his head, gave a “hehe” laugh, and chose to play dumb.

Forget it. Tang Cuo told himself hitting him wouldn’t solve anything.

Tang Cuo was not a domesticated person, nor had he ever considered any place his home. If he lived alone, his place would likely resemble his single room in Zone F—empty, save for a few necessities.

The most abundant items in his home would probably be takeout boxes.

But looking at Wen Xiaoming bustling about and Jin Cheng leisurely leaning against the kitchen counter boiling water, Tang Cuo felt a somewhat different sensation.

Lost in thought, Tang Cuo sat on the sofa, slightly dazed.

A moment later, Jin Cheng walked over with a cup of water, stood behind the sofa, and rubbed Tang Cuo’s head. “Tired? Drink some water, take a shower, and rest. We’re not in a hurry to upgrade right now, so you can sleep in a bit.”

Tang Cuo swayed from the rubbing, but rarely, he said nothing. He took the water cup and headed straight to his room.

Wen Xiaoming immediately leaned in, his eyes gleaming with gossip, and whispered to Jin Cheng, “Boss, what exactly is going on between you and my Brother Tang?”

Jin Cheng: “Your Brother Tang?”

Wen Xiaoming: “Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue.”

Jin Cheng: “I’m courting him.”

Wen Xiaoming was shocked, dumbfounded, yet somehow felt it was entirely expected. It was just that the phrase “courting him,” compared to words like “dating” or “falling in love,” carried a bit more of a gangster vibe.

“Then does Brother Tang like you? Is he willing to be courted by you?”

“Use your brain.”

“Huh?”

“If he wasn’t willing, you’d already be beaten to death by now.”

“Huh???” Wen Xiaoming was utterly bewildered. If you two are dating, why would he beat me to death? I’ve worked so hard for you guys, playing both father and mother—what did I do wrong?

Inside his room, Tang Cuo heard the entire exchange because the soundproofing of this apartment was truly lackluster. From the moment the man outside confidently declared he was courting him, Tang Cuo fell into deep thought.

He hadn’t eaten pork, but he had at least seen pigs run; he couldn’t shake the feeling that—this wasn’t how other people dated.

Maybe we shouldn’t date. Just consider my youth fed to the dogs.

Embracing these random thoughts, Tang Cuo fell asleep. He was genuinely a bit tired. Although the Before Dawn instance hadn’t taken long and combat hadn’t been the main focus, it had been too mentally taxing—a different kind of exhaustion.

However, Tang Cuo also clearly felt his physical constitution had strengthened. After thirty or forty hours without rest, only his brain felt a bit tired; he could probably even get up and fight a battle.

When he woke up, eight hours had passed.

Wen Xiaoming had long since left. The aroma of fried eggs and toasted bread wafted from the kitchen. It was Jin Cheng, lazily leaning against the counter, demonstrating his less-than-exquisite culinary skills.

If the sky outside the window hadn’t still been pitch black, for a split second, Tang Cuo might have thought he was back in the real world.

Hearing the noise, Jin Cheng turned his head. He was dressed very casually today in off-white loungewear, his overly long hair tied back loosely. If it weren’t for the scar on his face, he looked like a recent college graduate—perhaps even the captain of the school basketball team.

“Any plans for today?” He walked to the dining table carrying breakfast, resting a hand on the back of a chair. Tall and long-legged, he was quite a sight.

Tang Cuo was stumped by the question. He paused for a few seconds before saying, “The training ground.”

Jin Cheng: “Not today. The prices dropped, so it’s definitely packed. We’re too conspicuous right now. Once things quiet down, I’ll go practice with you.”

Tang Cuo: “So?”

Jin Cheng’s lips curled up. “How about a movie? Movies are half-price too.”

Tang Cuo remained expressionless.

Right before falling asleep yesterday, he had been thinking that Jin Cheng’s way of dating was different from others. Yet in just one night, how did it devolve into the cliché routine of watching a movie?

Zero originality.

“Going or not?”

“.”

“Romance or horror?”

“Romance.”

Haven’t we had enough of these instances? Why would we watch a horror movie?

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