Chapter 399: Villains Don't Die from Talking Too Much

The night passed without a word, and everyone could slowly consider whether to stay or leave over the next three months.

As night deepened, everyone dispersed and slept fully clothed.

Inside the Cursed House, this much safety assurance should still hold.

"Master, I always feel this world is strange." On the second-floor balcony, Ao Yulie stood beside Tang Luo and spoke.

It wasn't just because of this world's powerful suppression, but the overall atmosphere.

Walking the streets in the afternoon, seeing several martial clashes, flesh and blood flying everywhere.

Cold weapon combat is actually quite cruel.

Unlike modern information warfare, thousands of miles away, press a button, a missile launches, and a whole area is leveled.

Human lives are just numbers, with absolutely no sense of reality.

A sharp blade pierces the body, fresh blood spurts out, the gruesome scene right before your eyes — not something just anyone can easily bear, whether toward others or oneself.

Those jianghu martial artists all lick blood from knife edges; killing back and forth, they've grown used to it.

Most importantly, those who couldn't get used to it either died or left the jianghu.

But ordinary people, even just watching from close range, would feel extremely uncomfortable.

Not everyone is born a butcher, accustomed to slaughtering pigs and livestock.

What was seen in the afternoon — that crowd of onlookers, ordinary common folk — showed not the slightest fear toward that kind of situation.

On the contrary, one could even see quite a few people with "eyes shining bright," as if extremely interested.

You have to understand, this wasn't some arena or boxing match with a deliberately whipped-up frenzy.

It was a no-holds-barred fight to the death, right before their eyes; some martial moves might look cool, sure.

But the slightest carelessness and you'd be caught up in it.

Yet those onlookers didn't even have the basic instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm; they stared unblinkingly, drawing closer.

When they finally dispersed, one could still hear quite a few people saying they wanted to join some sect and start wandering the jianghu.

At least those watching underground boxing matches, excited beyond measure, wouldn't generate the idea of going up to fight themselves.

Watching others kill is one thing; personally killing is another.

What was seen had a kind of suppressed coldness and bloodthirst, plus something sinister and cruel.

"A little bit, I suppose; after all, it's a survival mission." Tang Luo said.

Among missions in the God-Demon Game, the ones with the highest death probability are, without a doubt, survival missions.

In survival missions, there's no such thing as "neither completed nor failed"; situations where you coast on someone's coattails — either you die in the mission, or you endure the time and complete the mission successfully to leave.

Survival missions are also the kind God-Demon Walkers would never stay in even if beaten to death.

Oh, regarding whether one can stay in the mission world after completion, Tang Luo has asked Kong Ming and those experienced "elders."

They said whether one can continue staying in the mission world after completion is random.

But according to big data analysis, from a probability standpoint, there's actually a 40% chance — in ten missions, basically four times you can continue staying.

In other words, just like skill drop rates, Tang Luo belongs to the "unlucky" category in this regard.

Survival mission worlds exuding strangeness and sinister vibes is normal.

If the art style suddenly shifts from wuxia to xianxia, Tang Luo wouldn't be surprised either.

Some worlds appear to be tech-only, no magic, no supernatural, but actually aren't they locking up Classic of Mountains and Seas strange beasts, or monsters combined from strange beasts?

And some worlds look peaceful and quiet, yet pull guns at any moment — modern Gu Long assassin style.

Mission world affairs are unclear.

Even the real world hides some things, often giving people the illusion of "What, is Qi about to revive?"

The night passed just like that, peacefully.

This haunted house, suppressed by the true ghost house, was quiet as a mouse; nothing happened at all.

Early the next morning, except for Tang Luo, Ao Yulie, and Xiaotian Quan.

Everyone else went out in full, made a round trip, and returned with clothing and dress already blended into this world.

Just that the men's hair was short, but that didn't matter; wearing hats and such could cover it up.

Besides that, most importantly, they also got money.

However you put it, they're God-Demon Walkers; even with strength suppressed, they're at least jianghu people.

Jianghu people — how could they lack money?

Ways to get shadow (money) are plenty; for example, find a small sect, charge right in.

"Long admired XX Sect's XX great name, today specially came to pay respects……"

Money obtained.

Of course, the premise is you're good at fighting, know how to handle people, don't use killing moves, let the other side lose beautifully, or win beautifully.

Otherwise, you can only become a "sect-exterminating bandit"; if luck is bad, you'll be defined as a demonic path person by some righteous sects, and who knows when they'll use you to farm reputation.

Even worse luck, you die on the spot, dead in someone else's sect, and no one will speak up for you.

This is the jianghu; once you get close, the romance is gone, only blood and gales remain.

Moreover, martial arts are important, power (money) is also important.

If it were just one or two God-Demon Walkers, there might still be a wipe.

But several God-Demon Walkers united together, the probability of a wipe isn't high; everyone successfully secured a sum of startup funds.

For the next half month, food and clothing are definitely worry-free.

If ruthless, directly securing half a year's expenses isn't impossible either.

But that would equal making enemies with people.

Survival missions should prioritize low-key and steady.

Tang Luo's opening demand to wipe out the Green Cloud Stronghold — the one belonging to the Azure Cloud Stronghold — was utterly unprecedented.

The Cursed House is right here.

Tang Yuhan and Nan Taisheng both planned to go with Tang Luo to see the Green Cloud Stronghold for themselves, to deepen their understanding of this mission world.

They had visited it this morning; to tell the truth, it could at best be counted as a martial arts hall.

The fact that the Green Cloud Stronghold has earned an evil reputation can, to some extent, reveal the strength of the martial artists in this mission world through it.

A pure white horse without any mixed colors was trotting along the road, a standard divine steed.

Tang Yuhan and Nan Taisheng following behind wore expressionless faces; the astonishment in their hearts had already been reined in.

The White Dragon Horse's fate pattern can actually turn into a white horse?

Who would believe it if told?

Believe it or not, you have to believe it; seeing is believing.

Compared to Nan Taisheng's simple belief, Tang Yuhan still harbored quite a few doubts in her heart.

This Ao Yulie — isn't he someone from the mission world? How did Master Xuanzang bring him out?

And what relationship does he have with that dragon from the other day?

Did the god-and-demon walk obtain a fate-pattern fragment, or is there another situation?

Pressing down the various doubts in her heart, Tang Yuhan followed Ao Yulie's pace.

Ao Yulie, transformed into a white horse, was in a rather poor mood; the reason was none other than that even his transformation into a dragon body was suppressed, unable to assume dragon form.

Turning into a white horse was also somewhat strenuous… the process of transforming, but once transformed he adapted quite quickly.

He had originally wondered whether assuming dragon form would allow him to soar and fly.

Now he had a definite answer. Running was far more exhausting than during the westward journey back then; it was real, solid running.

"I'm going to speed up; can you keep up?" Ao Yulie suddenly asked.

"Yes." Tang Yuhan said; the Wings of Steel flashed briefly, equivalent to activating a lightness-skill travel state.

Nan Taisheng employed Shave; his speed surged: "Young Master Yulong need not mind us."

Young Master Yulong is the nickname the little white dragon uses while walking this mission world.

Walking the jianghu, without a cool nickname you'd be too embarrassed to greet people.

Sharing Ao Yulie's thought, Li Suibian also decided to style himself "Drunken Sword Immortal."

Each nickname louder than the last; they sound like the type to brawl at first hearing.

After all, strength is temporary; handsomeness is a lifetime.

Strength can be weak, but the nickname must be cool.

Nan Taisheng crowded near the horse's head, smiling amiably; unfortunately this fellow's appearance was quite ferocious, and his smile made people feel extremely uncomfortable.

If he keeps smiling like this, should he make a name for himself later, he'd probably be called "Haha'er." Like the villains in the Villain Valley — when Haha'er goes "hahaha," it's when he wants to kill; the happier he laughs, the heavier the killing intent.

It sounds somewhat presentable, yet very cannon-fodder-like.

"Stop laughing; you're laughing so much I'm getting tired for you." Ao Yulie said a line, and his speed abruptly increased.

Nan Taisheng had no leisure to continue laughing and speaking; his face turned grave, and he immediately caught up.

Ten minutes later, Tang Luo threw out two Flight Talismans, chanting "Buddha's Dharma is boundless," alleviating Tang Yuhan and Nan Taisheng's wretched state, allowing them to continue keeping pace with Ao Yulie.

To tell the truth, there was a moment when Nan Taisheng felt this Monk Xuanzang intended to run him half to death, then finish him off.

But on careful thought, there was absolutely no such necessity.

This mission world's suppression does not press everyone down to the same level.

Even suppressed, the strength each person can exert is different.

That is to say, Tang Xuanzang could use him as a brick in other worlds, and in this world he can still hang Nan Taisheng up and beat him.

If there were truly killing intent, there would be no need for such methods at all.

Judging by the other party's bearing, he's not the sort of pervert who likes to toy with opponents and torture people.

Nothing to panic about! As long as the bootlicking is done well, the safety factor greatly increases.

Of course, if they truly encountered danger that even the other party couldn't handle, Nan Taisheng would definitely flee at the first moment.

Bootlicking is for completing the mission, not really being someone's dog; Nan Taisheng is very clear on this point in his heart.

Half a shichen later, Tang Yuhan and Nan Taisheng were both panting with exhaustion, having completely lost any bearing of jianghu knights and heroines.

At the foot of the mountain, it was already the Green Cloud Stronghold's sphere of influence.

Walking deeper into the mountains, one can reach the Green Cloud Stronghold.

The Green Cloud Stronghold didn't have any fancy tricks; it was properly and regularly encamped in the forest, several secluded paths leading into the stronghold.

Other areas had difficult terrain, barely qualifying as a place easy to defend and hard to attack.

Nan Taisheng and the others had already learned that the Green Cloud Stronghold's chief is named Lin Qinglong, the second chief Yi Yun — the names are quite resounding.

The Green Cloud Stronghold's name is also taken from the two men's names.

But they hadn't expected the difference between the names and the men to be this great.

Lin Qinglong is a one-eyed little old man, dark-skinned, dragging a large cleaver in his hand, mouth split open revealing yellow teeth missing more than half, with muscle fibers visible in the gaps between teeth.

Yi Yun is a fat-headed, big-eared bald man, wielding two black hammers, bare-chested, crisscrossed with knife scars.

Despite their unsightly appearances, the two men exuded a fierce, bloodthirsty aura.

Yet it made Nan Taisheng and Tang Yuhan's hearts tremble; these two are absolutely troublesome opponents!

In their current exhausted state, the slightest carelessness would get them killed by the two; even at peak condition (in this world), their odds against the two are estimated at fifty-fifty.

The Green Cloud Stronghold's two chiefs looked at Tang Luo with grave expressions.

"My Green Cloud Stronghold has not offended you, sir. May I ask why you have come?" Lin Qinglong stared for a while, then slowly spoke, voice hoarse.

These three people had walked straight from the stronghold's sentry posts, all the way "walking" easily into the stronghold.

He effortlessly killed the sentries and the gate guards, leaving seven or eight corpses behind, yet not a single trace of blood stained his own body.

Only the sinister, unconventional weapon in his hand — the Wind-Piercing Bone Sword — dripped with blood.

A formidable enemy!

Seeing this man, as young as the "Young Hero" yet with a head of white hair, Lin Qinglong formed an unerring judgment in his heart.

Therefore, he did not act rashly; the twenty-odd brothers behind him rubbed their fists and wiped their palms, temporarily fixing the Tang Luo party with gazes like hungry wolves.

They're brothers — later we'll go up and hack them down!

And Yi Yun seemed to have thought of something; his already small eyes narrowed into a slit, one hand hidden behind his back making several gestures.

"This humble monk..." Tang Luo began to speak.

"Kill!"

At that very moment, Yi Yun shouted violently and struck without hesitation.

Acting so decisively as a villain, firmly refusing to follow the trope of dying from talking too much — worthy of commendation.