SWBG - Chapter 16

Neither Shang Min'e nor He Suo Wen expected the rookie to resolve her situation first while they were still locked in combat.

After He Nan fell victim to his own item, Gu Jing Sheng was freed from fleeing—then...

Nothing followed ==.

As a combat-inept rookie (5/100 rating being generous), Gu couldn't even spam "666" or flowers for the pros—she had to maintain distance to avoid becoming collateral damage.

Yet staying too far risked the baby-faced man—whose intelligence buff seemed negligible—falling into traps.

Shang Min’e had fired two buttons—one had hit He Suo Wen's shoulder, the second pierced his chest (just missing the heart).

He Suo Wen looked worse than the wounds seemed—the buttons had anti-werewolf properties, causing continuous bleeding that soon soaked his tailored suit.

While Gu Jing Sheng couldn't assess details, Shang Min’e knew even his enhanced stamina couldn't sustain such intensity.

Like He Suo wen, he was nearing his limit.

—This was a battle of wills as much as skills.

He Suo Wen sprang up, slashing at Shang Min’e—who blocked perfectly—then pivoted toward Gu Jing Sheng.

Despite no death flags, Gu Jing Sheng fled immediately—only to realize He Suo Wen was targeting He Nan's lifeless body.

He tore open He Nan's abdomen like paper, extracting organs that melted upon contact.

"Crunch—"

The cervical snap was nerve-grating.

Thus He Nan's corpse matched previous victims' postures.

He Suo Wen's wounds began healing. Blood streaked his hair as a crimson smile dawned his face: "Dawn approaches. Though a perfectionist, I'll accept an imperfect exit."

—The werewolf meant to escape.

Shang Min’e instinctively reached for his last button—but with He Suo Wen’s healing, success seemed unlikely.

As He Suo Wen moved, sudden pain pierced his foot.

—Thorns had impaled his bloodied shoe.

The twisted black thorns grew wildly, like a spiderweb, trapping He Suo Wen tightly within. Shang Min'e didn’t have time to wonder why divine assistance had suddenly descended—he immediately drew his bow, aimed, and fired.

The button pierced He Suo Wen's heart. With a bestial roar, his form melted like wax, leaving only a wolf-shaped husk.

Shang Min’e exhaled deeply, lowering his slingshot.

Gu Jing Sheng relaxed—she'd saved the thorn brush for this moment despite earlier desperation. Though harrowing, they'd landed safely.

Her hand still felt unnaturally cold from the brush's touch.

"Is he dead?"

Shang Min’e shook his head: "Veterans often have contingencies. He may only have lost this round—but you should be cautious."

Gu Jing Sheng frowned: "Can he enter my room?"

Shang Min’e: "Rooms are isolated—but he knows your name."

Gu Jing Sheng: "No problem."

Shang Min’e rubbed his temples—smart rookies were hard to warn. His eloquence might fail to convey this world's dangers...

Gu Jing Sheng added: "'Cheng Ye Jing isn't my real name anyway."

"=="

He'd meant to advise name caution—only to learn she'd used a pseudonym from Day 1, out-cautiouncing even him.

Dawn finally broke.

They searched for Yao Ruo Ling—no corpse meant hope. Gu Jing Sheng's [Bee Friend] couldn't locate her, implying...

Shang Min’e: "Then she's dead." He smiled wryly: "You'll grow accustomed."

To death, to disappearances—to lively companions becoming corpses mid-laugh.

Post-crisis, Shang Min’e fetched his baskets—returning grim-faced: "One's missing."

Gu Jing Sheng deduced: "He Nan must've hidden it."

Shang Min’e frowned—though his hunter mission was complete, the fruit puzzle's solution was tantalizingly close.

After consideration, Gu Jing Sheng said: "Wait here."

Gu Jing Sheng returned with an armful of baskets—one of each color.

"Cao Wan Yan's room had an extra. I brought all possibilities."

Only owners could identify theirs.

Baffled, Shang Min’e asked: "Where? Using items?"

Gu Jing Sheng explained: "He had limited time—likely hiding it nearby among others' baskets." Adding: "Just a lucky guess."

Shang Min’e nodded, impressed, then asked: "And yours?"

Gu Jing Sheng smiled: "Couldn't hide mine—I left it at the orchard yesterday."

"......"

Facing this ultra-cautious rookie, Shang Min’e questioned his veteran status ==.

To Gu Jing Sheng, this was normal—raised on safety campaigns, she knew even homebodies risked daily scams.

Despite the ruckus, no NPCs intervened. Old Ivan arrived punctually as ever, asking no questions—nor did they inquire about the corpses.

This time, Old Ivan took them three-quarters up before leaving.

Gu Jing Sheng leisurely collected her baskets, sorting by color, then waited against a tree.

Shang Min’e sat beside her: "Submit the fruits to leave."

Gu Jing Sheng: "Can't we stay longer?"

ShangMin’e: "Up to 24 hours normally." Then asked: "You haven’t had enough?"

Gu Jing Sheng said matter-of-factly: "I want to investigate higher difficulty solutions. Care to join?"

After a pause, Shang Min’e chuckled: "I won't ride a rookie's coattails."

Gu Jing Sheng smoothly changed subjects: "How common are overlapping instances?"

Shang Min’e: "No statistics, but frequency increases." Smirking, "Actually there are three games here."

Gu Jing Sheng realized: "You and He Suo Wen..."

Shang Min’e: "Mine was 'Advanced Little Red Riding Hood', his was 'What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?'"

"......"

Gu Jing Sheng knew little of fairy tales, but: "That's a board game?! Does Happy Board Game have any standards?!"

Shang Min’e shared veteran wisdom: "Oh yes—the more torturous, the better."

Gu Jing Sheng: "Are hunter/werewolf roles assigned or chosen?"

Shang Min’e smiled meaningfully: "Random, but refusable. Here, you become what you choose to be."

Gu Jing Sheng nodded thoughtfully, then asked: "As a veteran, you know about revival coupons?"

Shang Min’e: "All formal players do—they create the illusion we never died."

Gu Jingsheng said thoughtfully, "Since there are trial vouchers, then there must be something more permanent..."

Shang Min’e said simply: "Legends say such things exist."

Gu Jing Sheng restrained further questions—this was ample food for thought.

As they prepared to descend, Shang Min’e added: "Rookie, survive well."

Gu Jing Sheng nodded sincerely: "Likewise."

Old Ivan, wrapped in his black coat, jumped down from the carriage. He deliberately lifted his feet high so that his boots could make sharp thud-thud sounds on the stone ground as he walked. His manner was as arrogant as the day they first met. “Let Old Ivan see what you useless leeches have done today… Oh, impossible!” A look of deep disbelief flashed across his face. “You actually completed the task!”

Double Release  is now out for this week!