Chapter 85: Exploitation

Understood...

The crowd listened, each nursing their own thoughts.

It seemed this "Abbot" knew far more than they had imagined...

Only Qin Yifei stared blankly and said, "That's it? Nothing else?" This book is first published on Tiantian Kan Novels, ⓣⓣⓚ. ⓣⓦ super smooth reading experience, providing you with error-free chapters and no out-of-order chapter reading experience.

"That's all! Just one fucking 'Understood'!" Xiong Lihui raged, smashed his fist into the wall, and said in a voice tinged with tears:

"What kind of answer is that? I'm about to die! And all he said was 'I understand.'"

Seeing this, the others exchanged a glance amid his tearful cursing.

If that's the case, only one last option remained...

A while later, once Xiong Lihui's emotions had calmed slightly.

Zhu Dechang pulled a pancake from his shirt—this was one he'd snagged from the cafeteria.

He handed it to Xiong Lihui, who was leaning against the wall.

"You must be hungry. Eat something."

Xiong Lihui looked up, stared at the pancake in a daze, but then took it and began wolfing it down.

It was now nearly eleven o'clock, almost noon; the simple morning fare had barely filled him, so being hungry now was only natural.

Watching him eat, Zhu Dechang patted his shoulder encouragingly:

"Don't give up—you're not dead yet, are you? As long as you're alive, there's hope!"

At these words, Xiong Lihui's movements paused for a moment, then he continued eating without responding.

After he finished, Zhu Dechang gave him an "Ear Stud"—one could see that of the pair of platinum ear studs originally on his earlobe, one was now missing.

"This is..." Xiong Lihui stared at the ear stud in confusion.

"This is the source of my ability." Amid the surprised looks of the others, Zhu Dechang said seriously:

"Through it, we can communicate regardless of distance, no matter where you are. And,

"I will possess your hearing!"

While the others were astonished that Zhu Dechang had handed over his trump card,

the man smiled at Xiong Lihui and said, "That way, we can help you along the way."

Along the way? What way?

Naturally... Xiong Lihui fell silent and turned to look out the window.

In his line of sight stood a great hall, golden all over, as if forged from gold, dazzlingly conspicuous, appearing and disappearing through the mist.

That was Cidu Temple's "Guangming Baodian"!

It was also the purpose of Xiong Lihui's journey—according to the rules revealed, "Guangming Baodian" was clearly very special.

Perhaps it was a place that could suppress "Pollution" and "Curse"!

At least it sounded better than going to the eerie "Ten Thousand Buddha Hall."

This was the second option.

Beside them, Ding Mo watched this scene and, almost imperceptibly, withdrew his foot.

Only Jiang Liuxue, standing next to him, noticed this.

Now, everyone's gaze fell on Xiong Lihui. Zhu Dechang reached out and placed the platinum ear stud before him.

Xiong Lihui had been fine until then, but the shift in the room's atmosphere seemed to make him realize something, and he froze abruptly.

"You... you're using me?"

The dazed voice echoed clearly through the Quiet Room.

Zhu Dechang's smile didn't waver: "What did you say?"

Only then did Xiong Lihui seem to suddenly understand, and he murmured:

"You're not here to help me at all! You're afraid of being cursed by the same dream later, and to escape the Curse, you want me to struggle to survive and find a clue to break it..."

Zhu Dechang didn't reply, just looked at him; the ear stud lay right in front of Xiong Lihui.

"Your ear stud was only given to me so... so you could learn of any breakthrough in time, right?"

After all, the one going to "Guangming Baodian" this time was only himself. With no one accompanying him, even if he found a clue, no one would know.

Xiong Lihui staggered back a step, away from Zhu Dechang's hand, a trace of desolation in his eyes:

"You... don't care whether I live or die at all."

These words left everyone in silence.

Ding Mo likewise lowered his eyelids, offering no rebuttal—this was the truth.

In fact, just now, he had wanted to go with Xiong Lihui to Guangming Baodian... at least to see him part of the way.

That way, there would be a fair chance of obtaining some clues, and he could also do Xiong Lihui a favor.

If Xiong Lihui happened to survive, that favor might be exchanged for a key clue to breaking the Dream Curse.

A controllable risk, two birds with one stone.

But he hadn't expected Zhu Dechang to offer a better solution, sparing him from taking even the slightest risk.

Reality was cruel, and the Typewriter's Task was equally cruel—he, Ding Mo, had even less reason to play saint.

Besides, he was no relation to Xiong Lihui, and with that ear stud, pooling everyone's wits, Xiong Lihui might yet have a slim chance of survival.

So, in the end, he withdrew the step he had been about to take.

Xiong Lihui swept his gaze over the others, in silence.

In the end, he still picked up the ear stud—he had no choice.

Although he knew he was being used, with that ear stud, he truly did have one more slim chance of survival.

This made it impossible for him to refuse, no matter what.

Putting on the ear stud, he quickly departed under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

At the entrance of the Quiet Room, watching him disappear at the end of the shadowy corridor, Jiang Liuxue stood beside Ding Mo and murmured:

"Can he survive?"

It was as if she were asking Ding Mo, and as if she were asking herself.

"I… hope he can," Ding Mo replied, and then heard a soft "sorry" rise up.

The voice was almost imperceptible, seeping into Ding Mo's ear along with a wisp of breeze.

Ding Mo turned to look at her and noticed Jiang Liuxue's complexion was somewhat dim.

If she hadn't had those dreams, perhaps none of these people would have had to die.

After spending these two days together, Ding Mo had actually come to understand her to some extent; seeing this, he understood in his heart while also sighing inwardly.

When has a "Typewriter" task ever not cost lives?

So… Ding Mo clenched his fist.

When he returned this time, he had to master "Curtain Teleportation" and return to the normal, original world—

To completely break free of the "Typewriter"'s control!

The sky grew increasingly overcast.

Though it was nearly noon, it was dark as if it were dusk.

Dark clouds pressed heavily atop the magnificent Buddhist hall, as if transformed from a world-ravaging demon, coveting this sacred place.

Xiong Lihui walked among the carved beams and painted pillars, the surroundings so still there wasn't a whisper of wind.

He looked around, a long-handled "Xiangmo Chu" gripped in his hand—seeming to hope it might bring him some comfort.

Not a single person was around; within the vast Temple, not a single figure could be seen.

In Xiong Lihui's eyes, there were only the dappled shadows of trees.

Guangming Baodian, according to the map, was located at the "northwest corner" of the Buddhist Temple, centered on the "Daxiong Treasure Hall,"

that is, behind the "Ten Thousand Buddha Hall."

His current point of departure was at the "northeast corner" of the Buddhist Temple, that is, the Abbot's scripture-lecturing place—the Chantang.

He needed to pass through two Lianlang, the Zangjing Ge, and finally the Abbot's residence, the "Fangzhang Shi," before he could arrive.

The two Lianlang were manageable; the main issue was the "Zangjing Ge" and the "Fangzhang Shi"—these two places, according to the handbook the Abbot gave, were forbidden grounds, off-limits to Lay Disciples.

But now, in order to reach Guangming Baodian, in order to preserve his life before the Curse took effect, Xiong Lihui had no choice but to risk it all!

Soon, Xiong Lihui exited the Chantang's main gate and looked to the right.

It was a Lianlang.

Beside the Lianlang, rows upon rows of crimson lanterns had been lit by someone unknown; tide-like red light fell upon the dozens of vermilion-lacquered pillars supporting the Lianlang.

Not a single figure could be seen throughout the entire Lianlang, exuding an eerie atmosphere.

Xiong Lihui swallowed a mouthful of saliva and stepped toward it.

At the same time, in his ear, Zhu Dechang's voice sounded:

"Testing… testing…"