Chapter 5: The Gu Tribe’s Stronghold, Part 4

Seeing that Zhou Shan had finally relaxed and was unlikely to make a move, Zhou Zhou let out a breath of relief. As a clumsy player, she knew she couldn’t outplay others, so it was better to secretly cooperate with them.

When those people first arrived, the system had already informed her that they were all players. Although she didn’t understand why she was alone in the NPC camp, everyone’s ultimate goal was surely to clear the dungeon. That should be the same regardless of the faction, right? As long as they were players, that was enough.

Zhou Zhou felt she should help them a little. She wasn’t smart to begin with; if she could just survive alongside them, it would be good enough. If she could clear the dungeon quietly, even better.

So when Zhou Shan was about to confront that young man the next moment, Zhou Zhou grew anxious and directly interrupted his next move. She was afraid, yes, but she also had to try her best to clear the dungeon. Even as a fool, she couldn’t give up effort.

“Mm,” the system’s pleasant voice sounded, “Zhou Zhou, you’re doing well.”

A blush crept up Zhou Zhou’s ears. “Mm-hmm! I know!”

System: …You little dummy.

…

Zhou Zhou didn’t have a good impression of Liang Ye. After all, this player bore a head of white hair and started by calling himself an idiot. Although the dungeon character was indeed a fool, Zhou Zhou wasn’t truly foolish herself—how could she not mind that?

Hmm… It was just a little petty. Not angry to any great extent, just a small irritation, a slight dislike. She let herself vent quietly in her heart. In fact, she knew she still had to help them; she couldn’t just fall out with players over such trivial matters.

However, Zhou Zhou did not notice that while she was sulking in place, a cold man in a black short-sleeved shirt glanced at her with a flicker of emotion in his eyes. He had clearly sensed her mood.

That was because Chu Mingxiu possessed the god-level skill “Spiritual Vision,” making him extremely sensitive to the emotions of any living being.

“Village Chief Zhou, I don’t know him either, but this guy’s words have been pretty reckless all along,” Chu Mingxiu frowned slightly. “Now he’s even offended your sister… he might have some mental issues.”

Zhou Shan’s hoarse voice rumbled low: “Is that so?”

Hearing Chu Mingxiu’s words, Liang Ye was instantly annoyed.

Damn it, accusing him of mental problems?

“You’re the one who’s sick!” Liang Ye’s face twisted in anger.

What madness was Chu Mingxiu spouting, daring to slander him like this?

He couldn’t help but sneer, “You’re an idiot yourself, yet you slander others. If your brain’s got a problem, you should get it treated early.”

“Say whatever you want,” Chu Mingxiu shot him a cold glance, uninterested in escalating the matter.

He didn’t care about a fool like him; Liang Ye’s previous title of “Ghost” must have been pure luck.

Liang Ye was genuinely surprised. Chu Mingxiu hadn’t even gotten angry after being insulted like that?

He couldn’t help but wonder, “Hey, seriously? Are you a turtle or something? How can you tolerate so much?”

…

Chu Mingxiu: “…Heh.”

The two were snarling at each other like dogs, and Zhou Shan had to suppress his urge to kill. But he clenched his fists tightly, quietly brooding. Thinking that these people were bound to die sooner or later, there was no reason to waste time on grudges. Only then did he manage to quell his fury.

“I don’t care who’s reckless with their words… After the illness when little Zhou Zhou was a child, she only has the intelligence of a ten-year-old. All of you better keep away from her.”

Ten years old? Although he had expected it, Liang Ye’s breath caught. Such a delicate, soft little beauty… knowing nothing, condemned to be trapped in this godforsaken hell for the rest of her life.

She was already an adult, yet Zhou Shan treated her like a child. What a pervert.

If her intelligence were normal, she would never have such a life.

Liang Ye silently resolved that after clearing this dungeon himself, he would take this little beauty out. Just as… an act of kindness.

Zhou Shan’s voice was especially cold, causing the players to hesitate and silently decide to keep their distance from that beautiful girl. After all, she was clearly Zhou Shan’s weakness; they just entered the dungeon and dared not offend such a terrifying boss.

…

“Hey, Lord Chu, do you have any plans for this dungeon?” Seeing Zhou Shan fall silent, a tall, thin player whispered cautiously. Although he knew NPCs couldn’t hear dungeon strategy discussions, countless dungeon experiences had made him too cautious to speak loudly.

Chu Mingxiu didn’t reply.

Another player jumped up. “Why are you asking Lord Chu? We’re all veteran players with several dungeons under our belt. Trying to cling to Lord Chu’s coattails? Shameless.”

Who didn’t know his little scheme? Just trying to pretend to be a sycophant to get through this forbidden dungeon by clinging to Lord Chu.

Pathetic.

“Exactly, Lord Chu’s not someone you can latch onto.”

“Hey, hey, thinking of clinging in a forbidden dungeon? You probably cleared it last time the same way.”

“Don’t even want to imagine if this freeloader’s going to drag us down…”

The players lacked the courage to approach Chu Mingxiu themselves, so they vented their anger at this guy instead.

Chu Mingxiu watched coldly, unmoved. Such things happened frequently in escape games; he was used to it.

“No…” The tall, thin player’s face reddened. He did have some of that intention, but mostly he just wanted to clear the dungeon, so he wanted to ask Lord Chu if there was any news.

He glanced at Chu Mingxiu helplessly. “Lord Chu, please believe me…”

“I only like to clear dungeons alone,” Chu Mingxiu said coldly.

Escape games were always like this—shoot the bird that sticks its head out.

Lord Chu’s meaning was clear.

The tall, thin player was deeply embarrassed. He was trapped between a rock and a hard place: the other players despised him, and he couldn’t cling to Chu Mingxiu.

While the players huddled in the corner scheming, Zhou Zhou was not idle.

She secretly listened to their quarrels. It seemed someone had tried to cling to another’s coattails and was being ganged up on?

This piqued Zhou Zhou’s interest.

She quietly eavesdropped, her delicate ears almost standing up, afraid of missing a single word.

But the more she listened, the more discouraged she became. She felt like crying.

Wuwuwu… What to do?

Apparently, clinging to someone’s coattails was so detested.

Even if done subtly, players could spot it at a glance and despise it.

So sad.

Zhou Zhou felt sparks flying from her head in frustration.

Not only did she know nothing about clearing dungeons, she was also a rookie with no experience.

Being such a fool, the players would never cooperate with a freeloader like her.

And she had to maintain her character—she couldn’t let anyone discover she wasn’t really foolish.

So difficult!

Zhou Zhou felt hopeless deep in her heart.

At this moment, Zhou Shan said to her:

“Zhou Zhou, I have to step out for a bit. Be good and stay home. Don’t wander around. Wait for me to come back, okay?”

Unconsciously, night was falling.

Zhou Shan was preparing to take these outsiders to where they were supposed to stay but was a little worried about leaving Zhou Zhou alone, so he gave her these instructions.

Zhou Zhou temporarily abandoned her unhappy thoughts and nodded, “Got it…”

Zhou Shan gently patted her head—his touch smooth and pleasant—and said in a very doting tone, “Zhou Zhou, you’re so good.”

W-Why praise her for being good?

She shyly covered her face, hiding her flushed cheeks.

“…B-Bro… brother, come back soon.”

The man felt surprised.

Zhou Zhou rarely showed such concern for him.

His heart warmed, and Zhou Shan kissed the girl’s forehead.

“So obedient… what am I to do with you…”

Blushing, Zhou Zhou saw the reluctant man off as the chat exploded again.

“Ahhh, it’s like the obedient little wife sending her husband off!!!”

“So cute, so cute!!! I want to be Zhou Zhou’s husband’s dog!!!”

“Stinky dog, how dare you kiss my wife!! Prepare to die, stinky man!!”

“My wife is so beautiful, blushing, so pink and pale… is that also…”

“I love her, want to lick my wife’s little…”

“Ugh…”

Zhou Zhou hid under the covers, her face burning with heat, resembling steamed delicate pink shrimp meat. “022…”

“Can we turn off the chat barrage first…?”

Seeing the unruly lewd comments in the chat, the system fell silent for a moment before replying, “…Alright.”