Chapter 119: Deception

So it's Tiger brother?

What does it mean?

The shock that this brief sentence gave Cheng Shuili was no less than the instant she saw Qi Yue being dragged away.

Cheng Shuili said nothing, stared at the two Shou Ren Xiao Zhen, and her eyes conveyed only two characters—"Explain."

Hu Ge had originally made up his mind to stay silent, but now, seeing Cheng Shuili's resolute attitude, he lost his confidence; yet he truly didn't know how to speak about this, so he could only look to Tiger sister with a pleading gaze.

Tiger sister was equally helpless, frowned, and finally said: "Actually we aren't quite sure either; one day we woke up and found that Tiger brother was here, that Tiger brother had become a monster, and that to rescue him we need to find a human who has a room card—that's you."

Cheng Shuili's gaze fell on Tiger sister; after confirming the Shou Ren Xiao Zhen wasn't lying, she nodded and asked, "What else do you know?"

"We know there are many supplies inside, that Tiger brother is a danger, and we don't know anything else."

Tiger sister spoke earnestly, seeming genuinely worried that Cheng Shuili couldn't rescue Tiger brother.

Cheng Shuili was silent for a moment, glanced at the pitch‑black stairs descending, then at the two nervous Shou Ren Xiao Zhen.

She decided to go down and take a look.

With Insight in hand, any monster's origin can be uncovered!

If it's truly unbeatable, can't she just run away?

Her Agility stat is 50, and the system itself has certified that she can catch up to any monster.

If she can chase them, using it to flee should be fine, right?

Cheng Shuili knew the system's words here couldn't be taken literally; she was merely comforting herself internally.

Cheng Shuili descended the stairs; the darkness severely tested one's eyesight.

In the darkness, only the electronic lock at the far end emitted a faint glow.

The electronic lock on the door looked aged and neglected, yet it stubbornly kept working. Cheng Shuili lifted the room card, hesitated for a second, then pressed it against the reader.

"Beep."

A crisp electronic tone rang sharply in the silence. The lock emitted mechanical whirring, then slowly slid open a gap.

Cheng Shuili stood still, took a deep breath, gripped the long sword Hu Ge had given her, and only then carefully pushed the iron door open.

"Creak—"

A rusted axle creaked, and in the darkness, something massive seemed to shift slightly.

Cheng Shuili immediately stepped back; she saw nothing, yet she was certain something was right in front of her.

"Insight."

【Insight activated】

【Name: Raising Tiger Demon】

【Origin: A creature that resists the system. It should have been deleted along with erroneous data, but thanks to a family's protection it survived. The family occasionally brings it food or lures humans. Yet the whole world no longer has a place for such a creature; it can only rot in endless darkness.】

【Weakness: Light‑phobia; prolonged darkness makes it dread sudden brightness. Sound‑phobia; accustomed to silence, abrupt loud noises may shatter its eardrums.】

Deception?

Cheng Shuili's gaze fixed stubbornly on those two characters.

This…

The moment she truly saw those two characters, she unexpectedly felt a sense of relief.

No wonder they raise the price for her, because she could never obtain those Game Coins.

No wonder they recommend she choose ranged weapons, since these monsters are immune to heat weapons!

Tiger sister recognized the room card, and that card can open the basement door…

So, does that mean this "room card" thing was the work of Tiger sister, the Shou Ren Xiao Zhen "NPC", from start to finish?

But the room card was clearly obtained from a supply crate!

That's clearly a "reward"!

Cheng Shuili's thoughts paused; she suddenly realized, how could this not be a reward?

The reason the Underground Storage Room is called that is because it's a place for storing supplies, right?

In other words, if she kills that Tiger Demon, the supplies are hers.

That logic holds.

But to be honest, Cheng Shuili wasn't tempted at all.

She was already contemplating whether to go back.

The place is too dark; she can't even see what the Tiger Demon looks like, let alone kill it.

Because it's so dark, she can't discern any supplies, so she can't gauge whether the risk is worth it.

In this situation, playing it safe is clearly wiser!

Cheng Shuili pondered for a moment, then turned to leave. Before she could take a step, she bumped into a smooth wall.

Cheng Shuili widened her eyes in disbelief, raised her empty hand, and firmly pressed against the invisible air wall; only then did she realize: she's trapped here.

The system's prompt popped up in time.

【The room has opened; you cannot leave until the hidden danger is resolved.】

【Current room is a special scene; time spent here does not count toward Shou Ren Xiao Zhen time. Please resolve the hidden danger promptly.】

Cheng Shuili: "……?"

She had a greeting she wasn't sure whether to say.

But things are already like this; being urgent now won't help.

Cheng Shuili frowned, simply sat against the air wall. She propped her chin up, thought for a moment, and reopened the system interface.

The private chat interface was lit.

She could still use the private chat function!

At a time like this, looking for Xinxue is definitely the fastest.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: Do you have a high‑intensity flashlight?

Xinxue really is surfing 24 hours; the message was just sent, and the reply came back immediately.

【Xin Xue Chuji】: This thing isn't very useful, right? I don't have one, but I just saw someone selling it.

Cheng Shuili paused, opened the trade channel and took a look.

The trade channel was gray.

It was disabled.

The only thing left usable was private chat.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: I want to use it.

Xinxue is always quick with business; after Cheng Shuili sent the message, she didn't wait long before receiving Xinxue's gift.

A flashlight that can flash explosively.

Very good.

Now, even a normal person—not just that blind monster—will be blinded for a few seconds!

Cheng Shuili briefly studied how to use the high‑intensity flashlight, then pulled a pistol from the Abyssal Ring and attached it to the tactical belt at her waist.

Photophobia.

Now the strong light is ready.

Phonophobia.

What makes the loudest sound?

Of course it's the gunshot.

Everything's prepared; it's time to go.

Cheng Shuili took a deep breath, gripped the flashlight and long knife, and stepped into the underground storage room.

In the darkness, a rustling sound came from the right, like a large creature moving slowly.

Cheng Shuili instantly held her breath, her body frozen in place. She could feel her heartbeat thundering so loudly that the entire underground space seemed to vibrate with it.

"Tiger brother?"

She called tentatively in a soft voice, the sound echoing faintly in the cavernous basement.

The response was a low, almost whimpering roar.

That sound was unlike anything a normal creature would make. This thing was originally an orc; orcs were never normal beings to begin with.

Don't make a fuss.