(2/2)
Lucky Cruise Ship
Chapter 622: Captain’s Cabin
With Wen Jianyan’s answer, what needed to be done next was simple.
—Leave this place and stop Su Cheng.
“Good, I’m relieved to hear you say that.” Chen Cheng rotated his shoulders, looking eager to try. “I’ve wanted to punch that guy in the face since the Top Ten Competition started.”
Blond whispered:
“Hey… we just need to stop him from becoming Captain, not fight him.”
“Don’t be so naive,” An Xin interjected from the side.
He thoughtfully pressed his hand against the wall and said:
“If this kind of thing could be solved by peaceful means alone, we wouldn’t be here.”
“…” Even though they were prepared, everyone’s hearts sank.
Indeed, Su Cheng’s departure and his subsequent actions had dealt them a significant blow, even angering them… but that didn’t mean they could turn their blades on him or fight to the death without feeling anything.
It wasn’t until Wen Ya spoke that the stifling atmosphere was broken:
“Regardless, the first thing we need to do is get out of here.”
Breaking walls was something they were already familiar with.
With previous experience, they had pretty much figured out that apart from Talents, other items were useless here.
“Cover your ears,” An Xin kindly reminded.
Almost the moment his voice fell, a piercing sound of metal striking stone and grinding against metal rang out in the dark room.
Amidst the chaos, Wen Jianyan lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Although he had sworn not to open the livestream interface again recently, under the current circumstances, intelligence from any source was precious… After hesitating for two seconds, he finally opened the livestream.
The next second, the words “NO SIGNAL” abruptly crashed into his view.
“…”
He paused slightly, his gaze darkening.
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t unfamiliar with this. In the instances Wen Jianyan had experienced before, it wasn’t the first time the livestream signal had disappeared.
However…
Something inexplicably told him that this time was different from before.
Previously, the main reason for the signal loss was usually that he had explored too deep, leaving the observation range of the Nightmare (such as the Realm controlled by Wu Zhu, or the edge of the world covered in graves). But this time, they were deep within the cruise ship, in the Captain’s Room, the core of the entire instance. This should be the place where the Nightmare’s control was strongest.
Yet the signal still disappeared.
There was only one possibility.
The Nightmare actively severed the connection.
But why?
Why stop observing at this moment?
Intuitively, Wen Jianyan felt the answer to this question had nothing to do with anchors like them who were facing the camera. Then…
—Was it for the other side of the lens?
Under continuous attacks, the wall composed of countless fine pipes became overwhelmed and ruptured. A hole large enough for passage was forcibly chiseled into the scarlet wall, like a deep wound left on a living creature. Viscous, strange liquid gurgled down from the edges, dripping onto the ground, quickly pooling into a puddle.
“What is this?” Chen Cheng jumped back. “Disgusting!”
“Eh…?” Ma Qi paused, seemingly sensing a familiar aura. “Wait, this is…”
“The liquid from the Toy Factory on the Negative 5th Floor?” Wen Jianyan suddenly chimed in.
Ma Qi was stunned for a moment, but she quickly recovered and nodded vigorously. “Yes, it is!!”
“President, how did you figure it out?”
She looked at Wen Jianyan with amazement.
Ma Qi could sense the similarity because of her identity as a medium, but Wen Jianyan reached the conclusion faster than she did, almost as if he already knew the answer.
“…A guess.”
Wen Jianyan lowered his eyes, his gaze resting on the spreading pool of eerie liquid, his eyes flickering slightly.
He quickly looked up: “Let’s go. Be careful not to touch it.”
Remember, this liquid was used on the Negative 5th Floor to create fierce ghosts. No one knew what would happen upon direct contact with this stuff.
The group carefully stepped over the viscous liquid emitting an eerie aura and walked out of the secret room that had briefly imprisoned them.
However, to their surprise, what appeared before them wasn’t the Captain’s Room, but a winding, endless, narrow corridor.
Seeing this unfamiliar scene, everyone was stunned.
“Why are we here?” Wen Ya frowned, looking confused.
“Su Cheng is probably only one step away from becoming Captain,” Chen Mo looked around, withdrew his gaze, and said slowly. “Since he can trap us in a room, moving that room far away from the Captain’s Room clearly isn’t difficult for him either.”
“Then…” Blond hesitated. “How do we find our way back?”
They had been able to navigate smoothly through this maze-like structure and find the Captain’s Room in the shortest time mainly because someone was guiding them.
But the problem was, the guide had left the team.
So what should they do now?
“President.”
Ma Qi turned to look at Wen Jianyan, blinking. “Will your friend come back and lead the way for us again?”
“…”
Wen Jianyan didn’t answer immediately.
He lowered his eyes and turned the Ouroboros ring at the base of his finger, seemingly deep in thought.
BOOM!!!
Suddenly, another violent tremor came from deep within the corridor.
Having grown accustomed to such situations, the group quickly stabilized themselves this time to avoid falling.
However, perhaps it was an illusion… this time, the massive tremor seemed closer. Even after the reverberation brought by the sound had disappeared, the strong vibrating hum beneath the floor continued.
At this moment, Wen Jianyan raised his eyes and looked at Ma Qi:
“No, he won’t be coming.”
Ah…
Although somewhat disappointed, everyone wasn’t too surprised.
After all, non-humans had always been unpredictable and ungovernable. It was reasonable that he wouldn’t rejoin the team.
“However,” Wen Jianyan’s gaze swept over everyone, “we don’t need him this time.”
Hearing this, everyone was taken aback.
Wen Ya sensed something in Wen Jianyan’s tone: “You mean…”
“Follow me,” Wen Jianyan withdrew his gaze. “This way.”
Although they didn’t know what Wen Jianyan intended, everyone followed his steps.
Under his lead, the group ran forward along the corridor.
Wen Jianyan looked straight ahead.
What he just told Ma Qi, that “Wu Zhu wouldn’t come,” was an out-and-out lie.
Wen Jianyan knew clearly that if he really needed it, regardless of the other’s state, there was a high probability Wu Zhu wouldn’t refuse—as long as he dripped blood on the Ouroboros ring, Wu Zhu would definitely appear again and take them to the Captain’s Room once more.
But was that really necessary?
Have Wu Zhu take them to the Captain’s Room again, and then what?
Based on the “ability” Su Cheng just demonstrated, if he could move them out of the Captain’s Room once, he could do it a second time.
The reason he communicated with them was evidently because he wanted to, not because he had to.
Wen Jianyan didn’t think that, in Su Cheng’s current… state, he would be willing to provide more information.
Then, returning to the Captain’s Room under these circumstances likely wouldn’t change the outcome.
Besides…
Wu Zhu’s current condition was probably worse than he let on.
After entering the core, Wu Zhu couldn’t hide his form anymore.
This was the situation when he first boarded the ship. After devouring and transforming the “tenants” on the cruise ship, he clearly gained more control, but after entering here, everything seemed to have returned to square one.
Moreover, there seemed to be a problem with the heart that was seized and used as a furnace core.
The image of the other before leaving flashed through his mind. Wen Jianyan frowned and quickly waved the image away.
Regardless, this was the most appropriate judgment he could make right now.
It wasn’t mixed with any personal feelings.
He would be useful later; there was no need to exhaust him at this juncture.
That would be tantamount to burning the forest to hunt or draining the pond to fish.
As they advanced, the scent of decay in the air became richer.
Seeming to suddenly realize something, Figaro abruptly stopped in his tracks, looking at Wen Jianyan with horror: “W-Wait, clarify first, where exactly are you planning to go next?”
Wen Jianyan also stopped. He turned around, raised an eyebrow, and looked frank, seemingly with no intention of hiding anything:
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“To find Dan Zhu, of course.”
“!!!” As soon as these words came out, Figaro’s hair stood on end. He took a step back. “Are you crazy??”
“I’m not crazy.”
Wen Jianyan replied very calmly.
“This is the best method I can find right now.”
Unlike a usurper like Su Cheng who entered here through unorthodox means and attempted to seize the Captain’s position, Dan Zhu genuinely possessed the tokens of three administrators and had obtained the qualification of a Captain candidate. It was justifiable and fair.
Precisely because she possessed the ability to ruin everything he planned, Su Cheng appeared so irritable.
“You’ve possessed an administrator’s token, so you should know that the token can guide the candidate—this means Dan Zhu not only knows where the Captain’s Room is but also knows how to shake the Tarot Master’s plan.”
Cooperating with Dan Zhu was the best way to stop Su Cheng from becoming Captain.
“I understand,” Figaro put on a fake smile, “but the problem is, you know about the past grudge between me and her. With Miss Dan Zhu’s personality, the moment I show my face, I’ll probably become her fertilizer immediately. So, no matter how necessary your reasons are, if you are going to find Dan Zhu next, forgive me for not accompanying you—I hope you can understand.”
Wen Jianyan sighed silently: “I understand.”
“…”
Wen Jianyan being so easy to talk to stunned Figaro.
He stared closely at the other, tentatively taking a slow step back: “You… really understand?”
Wen Jianyan: “Of course.”
He stood there, showing no intention of stopping Figaro.
Figaro breathed a sigh of relief: “In that case, I’ll take my leave.”
“Good luck to you all, farewell!”
Leaving these words behind, Figaro turned and fled in a panic.
Although the others were itching to chase, since Wen Jianyan didn’t give the order, they suppressed the urge.
“You just let that guy go like that?”
Watching the direction Figaro disappeared, Chen Cheng crossed his arms, showing a puzzled expression.
“Yeah.” Wen Jianyan withdrew his gaze and nodded.
“Just as Figaro doesn’t want to see Dan Zhu, I don’t want Dan Zhu to see Figaro either,” Wen Jianyan said. “After all, Dan Zhu’s favorability towards Figaro isn’t high… If she knows I’m moving with him, it might damage my image.”
The group: “…”
What ugly words.
However, regarding Wen Jianyan’s beautiful language, Chen Cheng nodded repeatedly, showing appreciation.
“Right, right.”
“Besides,” Wen Jianyan changed the subject, “for us, him leaving the team is much more useful than staying here.”
…Wait?
The others were stunned.
What did that mean?
But Wen Jianyan didn’t explain further.
He just turned to Ma Qi: “Can you sense Dan Zhu’s specific location now?”
Wen Jianyan had previously used the scent to identify Dan Zhu’s general direction, but now, because they were close enough, the scent of decay from all directions felt tangible, making it impossible to use the same method for wayfinding.
“Should be… possible.”
Ma Qi took a deep breath, clenching her hands tightly, and nodded.
Even in such an oppressive place that made a medium so uncomfortable, Dan Zhu’s presence remained clear and distinct. Like the explosive scent of decay, she seemed to have no intention of hiding her tracks, instead recklessly emitting an ominous aura, creating endless terrifying scenes as she advanced.
“Over… over here.”
Ma Qi walked toward one of the forks in the corridor.
“Follow me.”
In the seemingly endless crimson corridor, an unknown, intermittent humming echoed.
Dan Zhu wore a nonchalant smile, walking forward unhurriedly, seemingly in no rush to reach her destination.
The cold female voice echoed emptily, making one’s scalp tingle.
Beneath her feet, with every step forward, endless flower branches grew and entangled. Those terrible flowers that fed on flesh and blood wriggled like living creatures, gnawing at every inch of the floor, walls, and ceiling, turning them into a thin, fragile material resembling flower petals.
Dan Zhu raised her eyes, looking at the solid wall that had blocked her path at some point. Her lips curled slowly into a smile devoid of warmth.
“…How annoying.”
She raised her hand. Her once fair and soft fingers had turned a deathly pale blue-white. Her nails were sharp, the crimson polish appearing a weirdly thick color under the light.
Blood seeped from her fingertips.
Drop, drop, drop.
The scent of rotting flowers exploded in the confined, small space, scrambling to fill every crack.
The flower branches beneath her feet drank their fill of blood and instantly grew madly.
The vines rushed toward the wall ahead like crazy.
A sharp tremor rumbled again, like muffled thunder, or the creaking sound of a keel bending and collapsing. The entire corridor shook with it, giving the illusion that it would fall apart in the next second.
When the wriggling flower branches dispersed, the wall blocking the front was long gone.
Sensing something, Dan Zhu suddenly turned her head, looking toward a corridor fork not far away:
“Who?”
Her voice was calm, but it seemed to contain some terrifying color ready to burst out.
“It’s me,” a composed voice sounded. “Pinocchio.”
Soon, a familiar figure slowly walked into Dan Zhu’s field of vision.
The young man showed his empty hands, signaling his harmlessness.
“It’s you,” Dan Zhu’s gaze flowed gently over him. “To actually find your way here, not easy.”
Wen Jianyan: “…Thanks for the compliment, just good luck.”
But in reality, he was far less calm than he appeared.
Dan Zhu at this moment was enough to chill anyone to the bone. Although she was still as beautiful as in memory, her aura had undergone a complete transformation…
After entering the core, she seemed to stop hiding her non-human side.
A cold, terrifying aura poured out unscrupulously, accompanied by the scent of rotting flowers, oppressing the chests of everyone present.
Pale blue skin, hollow eyes.
The woman he faced now was as cold as a walking living corpse.
“So, what do you want?” Dan Zhu stared at Wen Jianyan with those eyes that let in no light, her tone indifferent. “I thought I made it very clear earlier. I would only take you to the Negative 6th Floor. After that, we go our separate ways. I don’t care what you do.”
She took a step forward, looking slightly annoyed.
There was no killing intent in her tone.
She just seemed to be in a bad mood.
“!” Ma Qi’s pupils constricted. Sensing something, her gaze fell downward—on the ground, eerie flower branches the color of blood scurried forward like living things, slowly crawling toward Wen Jianyan.
Rather than wanting to kill, it was more like… wanting to clear all obstacles in front of her.
She turned pale with fright, instinctively opening her mouth to warn him.
But Wen Jianyan spoke at this moment.
“I know.”
He seemed not to see the vines slithering toward him, eyes fixed straight ahead, feet rooted to the spot. “I just want to offer you my help.”
“The one currently occupying the Captain’s throne is an old acquaintance of mine, and I want to stop him.” Wen Jianyan stared intently at Dan Zhu not far away, unblinking, not missing the slightest emotional change on her face. “Our interests align temporarily; perhaps we can help each other.”
The flower branches slithering on the ground paused.
“…” Dan Zhu narrowed her eyes, looking thoughtfully at Wen Jianyan, seemingly assessing something.
Wen Jianyan let her scrutinize him.
Not far away, the woman’s pupils presented a dead-ash texture. Her gaze was cold, following him like a shadow.
Unknowingly, Wen Jianyan’s back was soaked in cold sweat, the fabric sticking firmly to his skin. Time became so slow, every second feeling like a century.
After an unknown amount of time, Dan Zhu finally spoke, breaking the deathly silence:
“…Old acquaintance?”
“Who?”
“The new Vice President of Oracle, the Tarot Master.” Wen Jianyan paused, then said, “…You should have seen him at the celebration banquet for the Top Ten Competition.”
“Ah, him. I do recall.”
Dan Zhu reminisced for a moment.
Thinking of something, she giggled. “Ah… so that’s it. Gentleman must be furious.”
This remark came out of nowhere. Wen Jianyan reflexively wanted to ask, but thinking of his current situation, he wisely swallowed all questions.
However, thanks to this laugh, the tense atmosphere finally eased slightly.
Dan Zhu finally stopped looking like an emotionless, cold corpse and more like a living person who could speak and laugh.
Wen Jianyan’s heart relaxed a little.
Dan Zhu looked at Wen Jianyan, looking him up and down, seemingly evaluating the possibility of cooperation.
A few seconds later, she spoke:
“You said you want to stop this ‘old acquaintance’ of yours. Then, to what extent are you willing to go?”
Wen Jianyan’s heart tightened: “What do you mean?”
What did she mean by… to what extent?
Faintly, an ominous bell seemed to echo in his ears, making his heart race and his palms cold.
“I mean,”
Dan Zhu walked forward step by step.
She stared at Wen Jianyan with those hollow, dead eyes, her voice sweet and soft, spiraling up one’s spine like a curse, like a maggot in the bone:
“If you want to stop him from becoming Captain, you must kill him—can you do such a thing?”
