Chapter 930: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 931 Survival Instance Loading (21)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Successfully left Maple Garden, good news: Shen Yao and Huo Xunqi obtained the seal, and the previously vanished stamp recovered after stamping Maple Garden's seal; bad news: Maple Garden's seal can only be stamped by those who entered the park, and the seal simply cannot be taken out.

"Can't be taken out?" Shen Xi was surprised. Could it be that the seal has some restriction?

Shen Yao shrugged her shoulders, indicating the seal was special—it was alive.

Shen Xi:...

She was even more surprised by this; she had thought seals were all like the previous dead objects that could be taken out, and even if special, they could still leave a mark on the admission ticket.

Maple Garden's seal was indeed quite special. With only two hours left before Changming Botanical Garden closed, there wasn't time to enter again alone. "Forget it, the stamp on the ticket is enough to pass," she said. Even if the rating wasn't high, they could try harder next time. This instance was originally entered to accompany Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue; as long as they passed, their purpose was achieved.

Hearing this, Shen Yao raised her hand and patted Shen Xi's shoulder. "Even without those two, I don't suggest you go in. Maple Garden's situation is more complex, and there are Changming Botanical Garden staff members appearing inside..."

Simply retelling the trouble she and Huo Xunqi had encountered to Shen Xi, Shen Yao didn't hog all the credit for obtaining the seal for herself. After all, without Huo Xunqi's cooperation, they might not have come out so early. Maple Garden—truly deserving of being placed as the last park to visit, with traps layered upon traps inside; one careless moment and you'd fall in.

Shen Xi hadn't expected Maple Garden to be so troublesome. However, judging by Changming Botanical Garden's clearance conditions, this place definitely wasn't as simple as it looked on the surface. And what about those parks that didn't exist? Changming Botanical Garden at its peak must have been a very terrifying instance.

On the other side, Huo Xunqi looked at the people crowding around him asking about Maple Garden, the corners of his lips curling up while his speech was not the least bit tactful.

"If you're not afraid of death, go in. Just be careful of the maple trees—and people—inside."

People?

Were there other people in Maple Garden? What was with the warning signs nearby?

Someone in the crowd couldn't help but speak quickly, saying they had just wanted to go in, but Shen Xi stopped them and even beat them up.

The expressions of others who could read the room all changed, thinking he really didn't know when to speak. At this time, shouldn't they be currying favor with those who came out to ask for experience? They thought they could also get the seal to pass through this way, so why throw complaints in people's faces? Obviously those few were a group.

After listening, Huo Xunqi raised his eyebrows, the expression on his face still playful. "I didn't say the people in Maple Garden were tourists. You should know there are staff members in Changming Botanical Garden. They haven't appeared all this time. Don't you find that strange?"

Strange? Strange about what?

Huo Xunqi's reminder came at just the right moment, making them think of the staff members they had only heard of but never seen. Yes, normally when visiting various scenic spots and parks, there would be corresponding staff to guide them, or at worst volunteers to provide help. But they had been in Changming Botanical Garden for almost a day, let alone staff members—they hadn't even encountered a single living thing belonging to the botanical garden.

Hiss

Someone couldn't help but raise a hand and rub their shoulders, a pair of eyes carefully sizing up the surroundings. For some reason, his whole body felt cold, as if an invisible, intangible air conditioner was blowing cold air at his position.

Seeing his goal achieved, Huo Xunqi didn't waste more words on these people. Of course, as the Director of the Special Investigation Bureau, Huo Xunqi, no matter how cynical, wouldn't actively harm others. But the danger in Maple Garden was real and not exaggerated at all. Huo Xunqi's few words were simple, but they didn't sound so simple in other people's ears.

Turning around and quickly returning to Shen Yao and the others, Huo Xunqi saw that the four had almost finished discussing, and understood that Shen Xi and the others wouldn't try to obtain Maple Garden's seal anymore, but would choose to leave directly.

"Four seals are enough," Shen Xi made a gesture, and Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue nodded repeatedly.

Lowering his eyes, he touched the maple leaf put into his pocket. Huo Xunqi took it out and handed it to Shen Yao.

"For me?" This was a prop Huo Xunqi had obtained through his own strength.

Huo Xunqi smiled. "It suits you very well." This was a defensive prop.

Shen Yao:...

Fine, who doesn't want good things? Shen Yao said she liked getting something for nothing.

She directly stuck the maple leaf onto her hair. From afar it looked like a maple-leaf-shaped hairpin, but in fact it was a protective barrier. When attacked, it would appear and enclose everyone inside a sealed space. As long as it wasn't broken, the people inside couldn't be harmed.

This was also an A-grade prop. After they successfully killed that staff member who had turned into a maple tree, it transformed from the badge pinned on his chest.

Red Maple Proof (A): Want proof? Break me to get it!

Two very concise sentences, but the domineering aura revealed between the lines was shocking. It seemed this Changming Botanical Garden had some things after all.

"I once went to a laboratory instance called the Abandoned Changming Laboratory," Huo Xunqi waved the circular brooch hanging on his chest. "This is a laboratory prop, with a paralyzing effect."

When they were in Maple Garden, Huo Xunqi's brooch had worked very well, saving them a lot of time in Maple Garden.

"Changming—could this be a big company?" Like some instance boss, many instances appeared because of this company?

Huo Xunqi shook his head, indicating that after the state learned of instances, they had once carefully statistics'd everyone's past instance entries. As for the two characters "Changming," although there were a few connected to it, there was much more unrelated content. Besides, instances were complex and intertwined, with even ancient instances appearing. It had to be analyzed case by case.

Shen Yao:...

"It feels like the company that created instances is very powerful." The first sentence upon entering instances was "Ascension Game," fully responsible by Shenwei Company. The last time he heard this was when the planet relied on its own evolution to ascend. "I don't know how many planets were drawn into instances."

Huo Xunqi and Shen Yao walked and talked. Soon, the group of five left Maple Garden, leaving the group that had argued with Shen Xi looking at each other.

Entering Maple Garden, thinking of Huo Xunqi's reminder made them unconsciously afraid. Not entering Maple Garden, they had no impression and basically couldn't pass.

"Enter. We don't have many chances. If we miss this, we'll really have to leave it to fate. You don't want to watch others pass while we can't go back, do you?"

"Yeah, give it a shot. If it doesn't work, we'll think of something else. Besides, with so many of us, we definitely have more chances. Whoever gets the seal, it's still a chance."

"..."

Sparsely, quite a few people were persuaded to step forward. People are just strange—a few words, a few incitements, and they can easily abandon their principles and impulsively send their lives away.

Of course, not everyone was so impulsive. Among them were smart ones who noticed something was wrong. Although they went along with the red-eyed people toward Maple Garden, the moment they entered the park, they quickly ran outward, leaving Maple Garden's range at the fastest speed.

It needs to be explained here: during park visits, it was emphasized that nothing could be skipped or missed. So when they left quickly, besides those who already had an impression and weren't afraid of failing to pass, no one else dared to chase. Because this was their last chance to obtain a seal. Once they couldn't get one, the empty ticket wouldn't let them leave.

Cursing voices came from behind. Many people watched the people around them even more closely, afraid someone might slip away and leave secretly.

It was a pity that those who could obtain seals were not many to begin with, and those with this ability wouldn't band together to leave. Most were lone wolves or small groups. People like those mixed together before had little ability, which was why they thought of muddying the waters to find a path to survival for themselves.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Yao saw Shen Xi look back and thought something had happened behind them.

"Nothing."

Shen Xi shook her head. Just now, she had suddenly felt something. It wasn't that she felt unsafe around her, but that she felt this botanical garden had undergone some special changes.

"Mom, I feel a bit uneasy. Let's leave quickly."

Who knew what would happen near closing time? If she remembered correctly, before 18:00 closing, there was 17:00 when ticket checking for entry stopped. Would they clear out the visitors still inside the botanical garden at that time?

Shen Xi didn't hide her feelings but chose to say whatever was on her mind. This might be her feeling wrong, but even if there was a one in ten thousand chance it was right, then they were in danger right now.

Shen Yao nodded. "Alright, let's speed up."

Since they had completed all the botanical garden's requirements anyway, whether they went fast or slow from now on wouldn't affect clearance. Shen Yao glanced at Huo Xunqi, then the two each took a child, had Shen Xi follow behind, and the party of five suddenly accelerated forward.

Players who have undergone instance reconstruction all receive physical enhancement — this is only basic strengthening, not the kind with special traits — but whether running or jumping, they are far stronger than ordinary people. Besides, they also have various speed-boosting items they can use.

Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue truly experienced what an extraordinary feeling is. With a whoosh, they realized they were flying in the air, feet off the ground, the sound of wind rushing past their ears, their whole bodies unable to find a center of gravity.

Wow~

Some thrill, some excitement — middle-school boys' happiness is actually very simple; they are always happy to put their naive ideas into practice.

Walking across the flat cement road, passing the plants serving as landscape trees on both sides, they saw the Changming Botanical Garden's main gate they had entered through earlier.

At the very top of the gate hung two countdowns — one for closing time, one for ticket-checking cutoff time.

Not knowing what these two times signified, the simplest approach was to leave Changming Botanical Garden smoothly before the countdowns ended.

"Stop, please show your tickets."

The moment they rushed out of Changming Botanical Garden, people wearing blue uniforms with staff IDs pinned on their chests stood at the very front of the turnstiles.

How magical — there were no turnstiles when we entered, but now there are when we exit.

Shen Yao looked up at the electronic door sign still displaying the countdowns, and inexplicably felt it was very much like certain reminder notices hung at the very front in modern society; as for their effect, that depends on whether the people who notice them are careful enough.

She took out the tickets bearing five seals and handed them to the staff at the turnstile; the other party dawdled for a good long while before reluctantly letting them through.

As they left the turnstiles, the clearance prompt tone rang in their ears. Ten seconds after the countdown ended, the five of them vanished.

The view shifted, and they were back in the courtyard house rooms they were staying in. Shen Yao and Huo Xunqi's first move was to go next door and knock to check.

Confirming that Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue had already obtained Apprentice Player identities, and that the items given to them could unleash their full effects, Shen Yao breathed a huge sigh of relief — the trip to Juxian Garden hadn't been in vain. Seeing Huo Xunqi already on the side returning a call — many missed calls had come in during the one day they entered the instance; no need to look to know it was the Official side looking for someone.

Just a few sentences and he explained the situation clearly. Huo Xunqi called Shen Xi to go out with him, while Shen Yao and the two children stayed in the courtyard house.

"Uncle Huo, I haven't officially started work yet." Even with the Special Affairs Bureau's special handling, it can't be this fast.

"I've already spoken to the Leader. Your case counts as special-approval hiring," Huo Xunqi waved his hand, indicating the Special Affairs Bureau is currently short on manpower; Shen Xi helping out in advance can also get benefits and first-hand intelligence.

Oh? That's quite attractive!

Shen Xi immediately followed Huo Xunqi's steps, and on the way out casually grabbed a coat.

Shen Yao:...

Fine. In this world, going to the Special Affairs Bureau is indeed more useful than going to university, though nowhere is very peaceful.

She turned her head, continued staring at Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue, and Shen Yao patiently asked about their clearance ratings.

"D-grade"

All low scores drifting by — also matching the instance's evaluation of them. After all, they hadn't contributed anything the whole way; it was Shen Yao's trio who went to get the seals.

"Set your traits, item slots, and nicknames to whatever you think is suitable." As for whether nicknames might expose personal information, observant people will always find out; as long as you don't actively speak it out, nicknames expose comparatively little.

Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue each came up with a chuunibyou, hot-blooded nickname — one called Guobao Special Agent, one called Secret Expert.

Shen Yao helplessly pinched her brow, watching the two kids grinning wide and laughing happily, thinking: when they grow up in the future, they'd better not regret this.

For now, there is no way to modify personal nicknames — possibly because their planet's instance-ification isn't enough yet. Who made it so that even adding friends and chatting via the personal panel requires becoming an Official Player, let alone purchasing instance items with Instance Coins? For now only private exchange is possible, because the personal panel hasn't opened trading and shop functions yet. As for when that interface will appear, it depends on the concrete manifestation of instance-ification.

Huo Mingze and Huo Mingjue had no special performance in this instance, so their traits naturally couldn't activate. Fortunately this ability can be activated anytime, as long as they possess it. As for item slots, the two each got one C-grade item and two D-grade items, and the C-grade item was even marked as an extra reward for the children.

Shen Yao:... The game's actually pretty nice, huh.