SWBG - Chapter 15

He Suo Wen tightened and then loosened his grip on the cane, his handsome face assuming a mask-like smile: "Miss Cheng's silver tongue seems confident that I can't touch you?"

Gu Jing Sheng denied: "Not certain." Pausing, she added: "But even silent, you'd hardly spare me. Might as well talk more—if I can't beat you, annoying you works too."

"......"

"......"

He Suo Wen felt continuing this exchange would cause his persona to collapse entirely ==.

Shang Min'e had zero expectations for Gu Jing Sheng's combat skills—he'd planned to wait out her dialogue out of courtesy. Now realizing while she dealt no physical damage, her psychological attacks were tenfold effective.

He Suo Wen’s smile vanished as he suddenly leapt—moving so fast Gu Jing Sheng barely saw a blur before he disappeared.

If this were normal combat, Gu Jing Sheng—determined to be carried to victory—wouldn't panic. The issue was He Suo Wen ignoring Shang Min’e to charge straight at her.

"!!!"

The baby-faced man was right there! Since when did bosses ignore aggro mechanics?!

Tearless with despair, Gu Jing Sheng could only flee—fortunately Shang Min’e gave chase, retrieving mission-specific items.

A slingshot and three tarnished silver buttons.

Shang Min’e's items clearly intimidated He Suo Wen, who no longer dared show his back, growling darkly: "So you are the hunter..."

Too busy to intervene, Gu Jing Sheng had barely scrambled forward when she slipped—not her poor balance's fault, but a mysteriously buttered bread had appeared, reducing friction and disrupting her center of gravity.

The bread vanished upon her fall—Gu Jing Sheng realized it wasn't litter but a player's item!

He Nan's massive frame entered Gu Jing Sheng's view.

Gu Jing Sheng stared: "You're helping He Suo Wen?"

He Nan's face was manic, oily with sweat, features twisted: "I'm marked! I don't want to die!"

Marked?

Gu Jing Sheng figured He Nan must've answered He Suo Wen’s time-related question, earning threats. She wanted to shake his head—maybe hear ocean waves: "Why attack me? Go fight He Suo Wen!"

Ignoring her, He Nan attacked wildly: "Your death can replace my slot!"

Gu Jing Sheng was exasperated—she'd accounted for one werewolf, not a traitor: "Wake up! He's lying! As the saying goes—better believe in ghosts than men's sweet talk!"

He Suo Wen: "......"

Incidentally included, Shang Min’e adjusted his cap: "Another saying—'nothing's more poisonous than a woman's heart'."

Gu Jing Sheng: "............"

Were it not for system-enforced enmity, He Suo Wen might've teamed with Shang Min’e to eliminate Gu Jing Sheng first.

Despite his bulky body, He Nan moved with unsettling agility—as if the fat on his body was decoration. Gu Jing Sheng refused to admit being chased by this jiggly man.

During this chase, Shang Min’e fired a button—though hitting He's shoulder instead of heart, the evasion was impressive.

With only three buttons, Shang Min’e tried distancing himself quietly, realizing brute force wouldn't work.

He'd avoided exploiting He Suo Wen’s blindness, but desperation overrode chivalry...

"Why are you tiptoeing?"

Gu Jing Sheng —ever thoughtful—asked amidst her own crisis.

Shang Min’e froze: "......"

With his strategy exposed, Shang Min’e's temple throbbed—he expected no combat help, but this...

Gu Jing Sheng shouted: "He can see before full daylight! How else could he murder quietly at night and still have time to change, polish shoes, and tidy up?!"

"......"

Shang Min’e concluded he must be a detective-in-name-only who relied entirely on his friend's deductions ==.

Exposed, He Suo Wen shed pretense—his fingers elongating, claw-like nails shredding gloves, gray fur sprouting, previously unfocused eyes now glowing eerily green.

—He could indeed see. His charade of nocturnal activity aimed to lull players into false dawn safety.

He Nan fell for it, so had Yao Ruo Ling—who'd realized too late: if truly blind, how could He Suo Wen have caught her from behind and named her?

"You shouldn't have exposed me," He said leisurely, his unchanged tone somehow sinister, "After transformation..."

Tearfully, Gu Jing Sheng told Shang Min’e: "See? I told you it's a husky!"

"......"

Watching Gu JIng Sheng diligently drawing aggro, Mr.04315-96 felt friendship's warmth.

Already agile and strong, He Suo Wen's wolf-form enhanced him further—his onslaught forced Shang Min’e into defense. Only the buttons' threat prevented worse.

He lunged at his greatest threat—claws slashing down.

The gust flipped Shang Min’e's cap, stinging his cheek—but at the critical moment, He Suo Wen's strike diverted and shredded a suddenly appearing tattered punching bag.

The diversion let Shang Min’e fire another button. Meanwhile, the frustrated He Nan hurled a spherical object at Gu Jing Sheng.

A chestnut.

Seeing it, Gu Jing Sheng's gaze glazed: "This chestnut looks... delicious."

He Nan's grin turned savage, yet his tone softened: "Yes, delicious. Don't you want a bite?"

Not an ordinary nut—but his item:

To him, this rookie seemed fully persuaded—about to pick up the nut.

Just as he nearly exulted, Gu Jing Sheng slowly raised her head—her clear gaze piercing:

"Then why don't you eat it?"

Why... don't I eat it?

He Nan followed this thought—his stomach growled. Though carrying rations, veterans strictly rationed calories for emergencies.

From Day 1, he'd been underfed. Now... he was ravenous.

Unease faded as the chestnut's aroma—like fresh cake—overwhelmed him. Unable to look away, he scooped it up and swallowed.

"Ghk—"

A bulge distended his throat—his face reddened, sweat pouring as he clawed at his neck, unable to dislodge it.

Gu Jing Sheng's eyes widened—she'd realized early that items could be traps, potentially worsening situations.

Choking broke the nut's mental control. He Nan rasped through bloodshot eyes: "Why... didn't... you...?"

Gu Jing Sheng paused, expression turning odd. She wanted to point out—while inner beauty required excavation, their physiques alone proved her superior restraint. At best, he might be able to glimpse at her back: "I'm not very hungry—Mr. He should update his understanding of women. What girl travels without snacks?"

Enjoy the chapter!