Chapter 243: Infinite Flow: Saving the Crazy‑Beautiful 02

Nanyu's gaze lingered on Jin Chen's face for a few more seconds, as if he were very interested.

Of course, Jin Chen didn't look away either, openly letting him look, smiling and slightly nodding as he said, "Jin Chen, a level‑2 newcomer player, unemployed."

【Detected this world's plot villain, currently Blackening Value 80; mission requirement: reduce Blackening Value to zero and change the villain's tragic ending.】

Being level‑2 really does make him a newcomer, since the first stage can be considered a free‑point stage—just by surviving you can get through, and yet he's still unemployed.

Baiyi let out a slow sigh; the only thing special about this newcomer was his face, which was almost on par with Nanyu's.

But monsters won't spare you just because you're good‑looking.

Zhoucheng lost interest and stopped paying attention, and everyone's gaze returned to Nanyu.

Those who haven't cleared an Instance with him are excited—like Baiyi and Zhaoling—because having a big shot overseeing it will surely make this Instance easier to get through!

Those who have cleared an Instance with him are panicking, after all they know all too well that this big shot doesn't play by common sense! He's even scarier than the monsters!

Of course there are other feelings too, such as Hexian.

He couldn't help thinking back to that previous Instance—Nanyu was selfish and cold‑blooded, and he even wounded himself……After all, we're all challengers; shouldn't we be helping each other?

Then they realized that Nanyu's gaze had been fixed on Jin Chen the whole time; from their angle it looked like a deep, loving stare.

After a moment, Nanyu suddenly chuckled, sauntered over to Jin Chen, and with a fingertip as slender as a scallion tapped his collar, saying, "Not bad, handsome guy."

Especially those eyes—they make you want to preserve them.

Who would have thought Jin Chen wasn't the least bit intimidated; he raised an eyebrow, swept an arm around Nanyu's waist, instantly closing the distance, and said, "Thanks, you're pretty good‑looking too."

Their four eyes met; the smile at Nanyu's lips gradually faded as he pushed Jin Chen away, saying, "Then just keep looking—who knows when we might die."

He smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, his tone light and airy.

Everyone: ……

No way, the way they greet each other is practically flirting! Did they already know each other, or is it fate?

〖Welcome to the Trial Grounds game Instance: Qing Shan Village〗

〖Instance tip: Qing Shan Village is an ancient stronghold that still preserves old customs, which is why it has become a famous tourist spot; players will enter as tourists to explore the historical mysteries of the ancient village. 〗

〖Clear condition: survive seven days〗

〖Clear hint: building beyond building, light and shadow intertwined, a path of white bones offered to the departed. 〗

After the Instance system's mechanical voice finished the prompt, it didn't disappear as usual; instead, a piercing electric current sound came through, as if it were searching for something.

0731 was startled and quickly emitted a Dao shielding signal.

The electric current sound gradually faded.

【Whoa, that scared me!】

【You're actually afraid of this?】 Jin Chen exclaimed in surprise.

【It's not that I'm scared, Host! Old Bai Ze said we can't be sure where the dark power possesses, so I have to be careful!】

Jin Chen nodded, looking at the middle‑aged man walking out of the village gate.

"Welcome to Qing Shan Village, I'm your guide; you can call me Uncle Li."

Uncle Li looked ordinary, yet kindly, with a cheerful expression.

"Come inside; it's already dark, so rest here tonight and I'll take you out to play tomorrow."

Everyone realized this was the guide NPC, so they said nothing more and followed him into the village.

The sunset gradually faded; as they walked toward the village, a gust of wind suddenly blew, making the cypress branches along the road rustle sough‑sough.

Zhaoling felt a bit chilly, so he unconsciously crossed his arms and tightened his clothes, muttering, "It looks like summer, why is it so cold at night?"

Who would have thought Uncle Li would suddenly turn back, give a weird smile, his eye corners crinkled with wrinkles, and say, "Qing Shan Village is warm in winter and cool in summer, backed by the mountain—so a little chill is to be expected."

The one nearest to him, Baiyi, was so startled he hiccuped and kept patting his chest.

Jin Chen walked at a leisurely pace beside Nanyu, the pair lagging a few dozen steps behind the group; the wind was still blowing when it suddenly whipped up a mysterious flurry of paper.

He precisely snatched one from the air, lowered his eyes to examine it.

"Yellow talisman paper?"

His voice wasn't loud or soft, but in the quiet road it still reached everyone's ears; Uncle Li chuckled twice, his tone strange, as if squeezed from his throat.

"Youngster, don't touch what you shouldn't—be careful not to invite trouble!"

Everyone turned to look; Zhoucheng secretly thought the newcomer still lacked experience and said without thinking, "Jin Chen, you'd better be careful—don't mess around with things."

The moment he spoke, an old‑player superiority complex was inevitable.

Jin Chen found it funny, saying, "This thing was practically flying into my face—how is that messing around?"

He tore the talisman apart, scattered the pieces in the wind, clapped his hands, and remarked, "Your definition of 'messing around' is truly something to behold."

Unactivated talisman paper is good for nothing but scaring people, yet it drifts all over this village—rather interesting.

Uncle Li narrowed his eyes, stared at Jin Chen for several seconds, then recovered his smile and continued leading everyone onward.

Zhoucheng cursed under his breath, "ungrateful wretch," but ultimately said nothing more.

The sky was quickly growing completely dark; night is the most dangerous time in the Instance, so they should find a room to stay in as soon as possible.

Jin Chen glanced at the still‑slowly walking Nanyu and said, "We're about to fall behind the group—are your feet hurting?"

Who would have thought Nanyu glanced at him, his eyes showing surprise and interest, and replied, "No, you should hurry up, handsome guy."

The group passed a somewhat gloomy road, then several wooden huts, after which Uncle Li finally stopped in front of a wooden house enclosed by a fence, pulled out a key, and unlocked the door.

"There are four rooms here you can stay in; divide them up yourselves, and I'll come call you in the morning."

He stood at the fence opening, gestured for everyone to go in, but had no intention of entering himself.

Everyone took a look inside, saw nothing out of the ordinary—just a plain wooden house—and, reassured, went in.

Baiyi, however, kept glancing at the fence gate and the house door, muttered a comment, scratched his head, and followed behind.

Bang—

The wooden door slammed shut, and a faint warning from Uncle Li could still be heard.

"Remember, go to sleep early, don't get up at night!"

"Approaching the wooden house, inside is a Living Room, with some dusty wooden racks placed inside; to the left is a corridor, with four intersecting rooms on either side of the corridor, and at the end is a place convenient for washing up."

"How to divide the rooms is also an urgent problem awaiting resolution."

"Zhoucheng took Hexian's hand and said, 'We are a couple, we'll share a room; how do you want to split?'"

"Baiyi again scratched the back of their neck, looked at Zhousan and Liuli, then glanced at Jin Chen, their face slightly red, finally approached Zhaoling and said, 'Um... can I, can I share a room with you?'"

"He whispered stammeringly, 'I like, I like boys, you and I... very safe, completely.'"

"Zhaoling: '... Okay.'"

"Jin Chen naturally chose to sleep with his wife, then Grinning clapped hands, saying, 'Then it's settled, Zhousan and Liuli will share another room, the division is perfect!'"