Chapter 24

Morning of Day 18. As soon as Su Han woke, she couldn’t help glancing out the window.
Just as expected, the downpour hadn’t let up in the slightest. But the heavy clouds had started to break, and the rising light meant you no longer needed candles to see clearly inside.
She drank her milk, polished off a meat floss cream bun, and that was when the system's robotic voice chimed in at just the right moment: “Due to rising temperatures, glaciers are melting and sea levels continue to rise.”
Nothing else was explained.
But Su Han understood, the game was already hard enough.
So far, the game had thrown out all sorts of debuffs. Here was the ever-growing list,
“Due to poor air quality (from the fog), people may develop sinusitis. (Those with cleanliness > 60 are immune.)”
“Due to gale-force winds, weaker residents may be blown away or injured. (Those with Satiety > 60 are immune.)”
“Island ecology damaged: all residents lose 15 stamina points per day.”
And if you weren’t stocked up on cold-weather gear, you’d get the ‘frostbite’ status too.
Get bitten by a mosquito? Enjoy the ‘insect sting’ debuff while you’re at it.
No way a level one player could survive this kind of hellish environment. In other words, only level two players even had a shot at clearing this instance.
But even for a level two, survival was no walk in the park. The water had reached the third floor and was already pouring up to the fourth. Low-rise houses nearby were all underwater now, and the higher ones would fall sooner or later.
The water was filthy, filled with all kinds of junk, plastic bags, broken bamboo baskets, stools, empty snack wrappers. Su Han even spotted a live fish swimming past, shadowed by two sealed cans of Coke bobbing alongside.
Honestly, Su Han kind of wanted to catch the fish. But then she figured: that water was so nasty, what if she ended up with food poisoning? She quickly thought better of it.
“Tomorrow the water will probably reach the fifth floor,” Su Han muttered. “Even with a boat, where are we supposed to go?”
She didn't get long to think before a commotion broke out in the hallway.
“The fourth floor's about to go under! Why won't you let us move up to five?”
“I paid for my room, you know!”
“We’d be on the same floor, staying out of each other's way, what's the big deal?”
Cai Sheng managed, with some effort, to explain, “Like I told you before, the fifth floor is mine. I live there alone. Not for rent.”
But the renters ignored him. “The fourth floor’s going to flood any minute! Do you think we can just sit there and wait to drown?”
Cai Sheng was about to say the inn was his, and if they didn’t like it they could leave. But realistically, kicking them out now was basically sending them to their deaths. If they got mad, maybe they’d take him out first, and after that, who was going to keep the other tenants from barging in?
“Let it go,” Su Han said quietly, coming to stand beside Cai Sheng. She whispered, “It’s about survival. They’re not going to back down.”
Cai Sheng fell silent.
Zhong Rui glanced over and saw it was two men making all the noise in the hall. After a moment’s thought, he said, “You can move to the fifth floor, but only the right side of the stairs. Cross the line, you’re a threat. Period.”
“Says who?” one of them began to protest, but the other pulled out a handgun and snapped, “Stop wasting everyone’s time, hand over your food and supplies. Now.”
A gun! Su Han was seriously annoyed, where on earth did he get that? She considered herself a top player, but she’d never seen anyone selling firearms before!
Cai Sheng went pale, voice trembling: “And after we give you everything?”
The man sneered, icy and triumphant, clearly, none of the three of them were getting out unscathed.
A flash of white light, and Cai Sheng vanished.
Su Han: “…”
So he was a player too all along. The second things turned south, he bailed without hesitation.
Their target had sprinted off so fast that the armed guy was still standing there dumbfounded, not even processing what had just happened.
His companion couldn’t hold back a rant: “Told you to chill! Look now, you just scared off the prey.”
He didn’t even bother lowering his voice around Su Han and Zhong Rui, clearly confident that having a gun was all the advantage he’d ever need.
Su Han’s expression grew cold as her mind went into overdrive. This was day eighteen, anyone who’d made it past twelve days in a beginner instance was at least a level two player by now.
When it came to level, there was no advantage. Their stamina was about the same. Worst of all, their opponent had a gun.
While Su Han was weighing their options, the guy with the gun turned and fired at both her and Zhong Rui. His voice was icy as he barked, “You’re players too, aren’t you? Your buddy already ditched you. Be smart, do as I say, and I’ll make your death quick.”
The guy didn’t sound like he was bluffing. When you’re out of combat, you can bail from an instance anytime. But the second you’re in combat, you’re stuck, no escape.
The only reason Cai Sheng had slipped away was sheer dumb luck. Everything had happened so fast, he’d barely had time to react. But now, with the enemy launching the first attack, combat had started, the targets weren’t going anywhere.
Su Han’s mind raced, searching for any way out. Surrender and leave the instance? Not a chance, that thought never even crossed her mind.
Right then, Zhong Rui muttered in a low, urgent whisper, “Boys left, girls right.”
Su Han almost facepalmed. Sure, the plan was clear: each of them take one. But… hello? The guy on the right had a gun! If you’re the dude, shouldn’t you step up for the hard mode?
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Well, whatever, tying up one enemy was better than nothing. She’d just have to rely on herself.
“What are you waiting for? Hand over everything, now!” The guy with the gun aimed it right at Su Han’s chest, his threat clear as day.
Zhong Rui began counting down, his voice barely above a whisper, steady as a drum. “Three, two, one…”
The second he hit “one,” he flung a kitchen knife at the gunman and bolted for the other enemy.
The blade flashed with lethal light, so sharp it made the armed guy instinctively flinch. By the time he realized “wait, this is a game!”, he tried to realign his aim, only for Su Han to stride in close. She grabbed the barrel with her left hand, pushing it skyward, while her right hand swung a dagger straight for his gut, no hesitation whatsoever.
He grunted, but instead of dodging, he just gripped the gun with both hands, shoving the muzzle toward Su Han’s head.
Su Han’s expression didn’t budge. She blocked the muzzle with her left hand and kept stabbing with her right.
In a do-or-die moment, whoever chickens out loses!
The gunman never saw it coming, a girl, of all people, so damned fierce, ditching defense for all-out brawling.
But… what, did he look like he’d back down? He snorted coldly and pulled the trigger.
“Ugh!” Su Han grit her teeth, fighting through the pain, slashing even harder.
Right then: Su Han’s stamina was at 76%, the gunman’s at 71%.
He was baffled. His handgun should be way deadlier than a dag, so why was he losing? After a moment, it clicked: she was targeting the gut, a vital spot, with double damage; meanwhile, he was only shooting her left hand, regular damage, maybe a lucky crit now and then.
In this situation, a dagger was actually the worse threat.
Now he got it. He adjusted quickly, grabbing her obstructing left hand with one grip, aiming the gun, a proper critical spot,with the other.
But Su Han was faster. She tossed her dagger back into her inventory and used both hands to clamp down on the trigger, forcing the muzzle up toward the ceiling.
“Shit!” the gunman cursed. The girl looked all delicate, but she had freakish strength, try as he might, he couldn’t pivot the gun to aim at her head. Worse yet, his pistol only held eight rounds at a time. At this rate, even if he fired them all, this fight wouldn’t be over.
Locked in a deadlock, suddenly, the gunman’s shin was kicked out from under him. He toppled hard to the floor.
Su Han was panting, catching her breath. Glancing up, she saw Zhong Rui had already floored his opponent and rushed over to help her.
“Leaving me with the big job, huh? You’re really confident,” Su Han grumbled, not hiding her resentment.
Zhong Rui didn’t miss a beat. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re incredible.”
For a split second, Su Han was speechless. Sure, she knew she was good, but nobody’s good enough to block bullets. Just holding this guy off was an achievement.
Zhong Rui grabbed the gun from their defeated opponent and fixed him with a cold stare. “Where’d you get this gun?”
The youth’s eyes flickered, just about to answer. Instead, Zhong Rui just pulled the trigger, BANG, a bullet grazed past the guy’s face, making him jump out of his skin.
“Tell the truth.” Zhong Rui’s voice could freeze water.
The guy shuddered, finally cracking. “It’s… my talent skill. There’s a chance I can get all sorts of weapons.”
“What about the ammo? Hand it over.” Without bullets, the gun was useless, so Su Han made no effort to be polite.
The guy knew he was doomed, pure prey now, so he handed over 20 bullets, though he tried to haggle, “I’ve got thirty more on me. Let us go safely, and I’ll part with them.”
Zhong Rui and Su Han exchanged a glance.
The very next instant, Su Han drew her knife across his throat, while Zhong Rui fired into the guy’s chest. Instantly, the youth dissolved into a streak of white light, a clean elimination.
“Wrong intentions, and that innate skill is way too dangerous. He’s better off out of the game,” Su Han murmured under her breath.
Zhong Rui completely agreed. After fiddling with the pistol for a moment, he asked, “You want to keep this?”
Su Han thought, What good would it do me? I’ve never even hit a paper target.
“You hold on to it. Let’s finish up with the other guy first, then help me patch up my hand.” She shook her bleeding left hand at him, letting him see just how dire things were.
“Got it.” Zhong Rui nodded.
Soon, the other enemy also blinked away in a flash of white light, eliminated.
Immediately, Zhong Rui produced surgical tools, hemostatic powder, and medical bandages, getting to work. Suddenly, he paused, a flicker of nostalgia in his expression. “Weird déjà vu. This scene really rings a bell.” Only last time, he’d been the one hurt; now, the roles were reversed.
Su Han stayed stone-faced. “Less talk, more speed.” Right now, the pain had her ready to punch something, no time for banter.
“Gutsy move, blocking a gun with your bare hand.” Zhong Rui whistled in amazement.
“It’s just a game, I’m not going to really die.” Su Han tried to sound like she was all nerves of steel, but inside, she was cursing herself. If she’d known the pain system was this realistic, she’d never have played hero!!
They chatted idly, here and there, as Zhong Rui finished patching her up.
“Who would've thought Cai Sheng was actually a player.” Su Han deliberately switched the topic. Honestly, she didn’t care whether Cai Sheng was a player or an NPC.
Zhong Rui picked up the thread, grinning, “Wanna check out his room together?”
Cai Sheng had always kept up the act. That meant, whether or not he had a portable inventory, he’d stash some supplies in his room, pretending to be just another regular NPC.
It was the same reasoning as when, during the cold wave, Cai Sheng had begged them to let him in by the fire, so the two of them had purposely left some supplies out in plain sight.
“Let’s go.” Su Han led the way.
The door to room 503 was locked. Since they were the only ones left in the inn, Zhong Rui just hauled back and kicked it in, sending the door flying open.
The door swung wide, revealing an entire room littered with supplies. Over thirty bars of soap, more than fifty bottles of body wash, at least sixty packs of instant noodles, several wooden barrels stuffed with rice and flour, a dozen types of candy, and piles of vacuum-packed dairy and meats scattered everywhere.
Su Han was silent for a few seconds before musing, “He’s either filthy rich and doesn’t care, or Cai Sheng never had a portable inventory in the first place.” Which, of course, was why he left so much loot behind.
“Either way, jackpot.” Zhong Rui said cheerfully, suggesting, “Forty-sixty split? You take sixty, I’ll take forty.”
Su Han could tell, since she’d been injured, Zhong Rui was voluntarily letting her take the bigger share of the loot. But truthfully, she wasn’t too fussed about the supplies. Her portable space was already stocked with plenty of jewelry and gold; once they reached the next instance, she could easily restock.
So she didn’t bother arguing. “Works for me.”
They divvied up the spoils without fuss and headed up to the fourth floor together.
Since they had no idea where the gun-toting duo had been staying, they systematically turned over every room, ransacking the whole floor. After all that effort, they found just a bag of sliced bread and three cans of Coke, barely enough to call a haul.
“You don't have much to eat left. Take it.” Su Han offered magnanimously.
“Thanks.” Zhong Rui accepted the bread and Coke without a shred of politeness.
Glancing downstairs, Su Han noted the rising water had completely swallowed the third floor. She couldn’t help but ask, “We’ll probably have to leave by boat tomorrow morning. Any idea where you want to go next?”
Zhong Rui shrugged, all calm and matter-of-fact. “I’m preparing for the worst. If it comes to it, I’ll just stay on the boat for the last two days. We’ll figure out the rest when the time comes.”
His attitude was clear. It wasn’t confidence from knowing what was coming ahead of time; it was the calm of someone who had prepared for whatever might happen.
Su Han chuckled. “Same here. Whatever obstacles come our way, we’ll clear them, and beat the instance, as usual.”
On day 19, the system’s mechanical voice rang out: “Flood outbreak. Island pollution severe. All residents: -15 stamina.”
In other words, even if you did absolutely nothing, you’d wake up with 30 points shaved off your stamina (15 + 15).
She checked her stats, stamina at 165, 75% full, so Su Han didn’t worry. Still, she couldn’t help but mutter, “Time to burn through my savings again.”
Her portable inventory now had 4 bottles of milk, a loaf of rye bread, a meat floss cream bun, and a slice of chocolate cake. Clearly, her innate skill had double-triggered, gifting her both meal sets at once.
Su Han ate the chocolate cake, then headed out to find Zhong Rui.
Perfect timing, Zhong Rui had just come out as well. He called out, “Ready?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Su Han replied.
Zhong Rui launched their makeshift bedding-boat onto the water, broke apart two wooden boards to use as oars, and hopped onboard.
Su Han climbed aboard too, reaching for a blanket to use as a rain cover. To her surprise, Zhong Rui handed her a folding umbrella. “Here. Take it.”
She accepted it without ceremony.
And so, together, umbrella held high, the two drifted lazily away from the inn on their bed-boat.
Rain kept pouring down, but at least the wind had died. Without the gales, their makeshift vessel floated calmly as it wound through the currents.
Sitting in the boat, Su Han munched on bread when hungry, drank milk when thirsty, these last days of the instance felt just like the earlier ones. The only real downside: unrelenting rain drenched them through, leaving her irritated and chilled. There was barely any space to stretch, too, which grated on her nerves the longer they drifted.
The bedding-boat slipped unhurriedly along; no matter where she looked, there wasn’t another soul in sight. For all she knew, the whole world had been reduced to her and Zhong Rui, afloat in a sea of water and silence.
“Splash, ” A gentle breeze brushed the water, stirring up tiny ripples. Suddenly, a wave slapped against the bedding-boat, soaking both of their pants through.
Su Han didn’t mind. She simply waited, quiet and patient, for day twenty to dawn.
“Whack, ” Zhong Rui’s reflexes were lightning fast as he smacked a mosquito dead.
But Su Han didn’t even have the energy to care. “Whatever. Once we get to the next instance, the system will restore all our stats to full. Even if a mosquito bites me and I end up with a debuff, who cares?”
Anyway, she still had plenty of stamina left to coast through the rest of the game.
“I care.” Zhong Rui replied, absolutely serious, “Because it itches.”
Su Han was left speechless.
The next morning at 9 a.m., the system’s monotone voice rang out: “Downpour has ended. Temperatures are back to normal. Weather is now clear.”
“Due to severe island contamination, a plague has broken out. All residents: -50 stamina.”
Su Han grumbled under her breath, “At least in the beginner instance there were ways to avoid status effects. This time it’s a straight -65 stamina (50 + 15), that’s just brutal.”
Zhong Rui’s eyes flashed as he suddenly tossed out a question, “Do you think if the clearing progress hit over 90% after the tornado, things would’ve been different?”
“I’ve wondered about that too. If we’d managed a 90% clearance, maybe the plague wouldn’t have even happened. If it was only 10%? Would the penalty have been -100 stamina instead?” Su Han shrugged helplessly. “But there are no ‘what ifs’ in real life. And anyway, with just the two of us, getting above ninety percent would’ve been basically impossible.”
“Don’t worry, I never expected us to change the outcome on our own.” Zhong Rui smiled, relaxed. “Still, it’s funny how the system sets things up, don’t you think?” With that, he folded up the umbrella, drawling lazily, “Weather’s cleared up.”
Su Han glanced up, clear skies, gentle breeze, not a cloud in sight. She thought: at last, all this suffering is about to end.
The boat had drifted for two whole days.
On the 20th day, just as the clock struck midnight, the system’s mechanical voice chimed in, cold, but to her ears, nearly angelic. “Second round of the game complete. Congratulations, player, for clearing the extreme challenge.”
“You have earned an additional reward.”
“All surviving players will now be automatically teleported out of the instance.”
In the blink of an eye, a white light flashed, and Su Han found herself back in the persistent white fog.