Chapter 68: Enter the Dungeon! Masquerade Ball!

Back in Mingyang City.

Wu Wang didn’t contact Xiezhi until the afternoon of the next day.

You always need to create a time gap to avoid making the other suspect you’re originally from Mingyang City.

Come to think of it, I should thank my bored self during college.

I wasn’t even majoring in broadcasting, yet I still passed the Mandarin Level 1-A exam, leaving me with zero regional accent.

The reason? I just wanted to sneak into the school radio station to pull off something.

Because of that, I got warned by the school.

It was during the sports meet broadcast—I casually mentioned the principal’s affair, and somehow managed to precisely state the exact date he checked into the hotel with the woman, named the hotel and room number, pointed out that the excuse he gave his wife was a university exchange trip, revealed the woman was a teacher at that very university, and even projected their WeChat chat logs and a sex video onto the school field’s big screen.

The key point—his wife was there in person that day.

Haha, I’m such a careless little fool.

So many “accidents” happened.

“Brother Yan? What are you daydreaming about?” Xiezhi asked, puzzled.

Wu Wang snapped back to reality and shook his head: “Nothing. Just remembered something happy—a truly unforgettable experience.”

Watching him wear a look filled with nostalgia and longing.

Xiezhi couldn’t help but feel profound respect.

This senior must be recalling a past dungeon experience.

He probably had an amazing partner—another legendary tale as stirring as clearing a Nightmare-level dungeon.

“Then I’ll continue: you must wear formal attire and a mask—any style, but at least half-covering your face—and step into the water on the seaside beach at exactly midnight tonight,” Xiezhi listed the entry conditions for the dungeon.

Wu Wang listened, stunned.

Entering a dungeon is this complicated?

“My subordinate will wear a wolf-mask. Please take good care of him. These are personal gifts I’ve funded for you—useful both in reality and inside the dungeon,” Xiezhi said, pulling out an unremarkable brooch from his pocket.

【Sea Wave Home Brooch (Premium): Wearing this equipment allows you to freely change your attire, with no cost or cooldown】

【Equipment Condition: Conquer the brooch with your charm】

【Note: This is the dream item of every beauty enthusiast—owning it means owning the world’s entire wardrobe. No 998, just conquer her!】

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow and took the brooch.

I have to say it's been thought out very thoroughly.

This item is, in a way, perfectly suited to the current ball-themed dungeon, and also highly useful in reality.

Of course, I mean hiding my identity.

Not some man’s wardrobe called Sea Wave Home.

Especially paired with my 【Fake Smile Mask】—it’s a perfect disguise; appearance, physique, and clothing can all be changed at will!

Now Wu Wang was truly a master of transformation.

And this was a no-cost, no-cooldown item!

I have 【Undying】—I can use any costly item without restraint, since I just die and recover.

But others can’t.

This kind of no-cost item would probably sell for a fortune on the forum!

Even if it has no stat bonuses and is merely auxiliary gear, for players needing to hide their identity, it’s as valuable as an Epic item!

“I figured you wouldn’t need combat gear or items, so the compensation consists of special auxiliary items,” Xiezhi explained.

After all, he’d seen the other’s combat power the day before.

Then he pulled out two yellow talismans.

Both were of 【Premium】 quality.

They could block all perception within range except the user’s, lasting half an hour, covering about a hundred square meters.

Clearly, Xiezhi had gone all out.

These items were top-tier among auxiliary gear.

Wu Wang couldn’t help but be curious.

“Is he your illegitimate son? Or someone with special talent? Why give him so much?”

But the other only shook his head: “Just a regular subordinate. Level fifteen. He has two elderly parents and a wife and daughter waiting for him to come home tomorrow for breakfast. I don’t want him to die in the dungeon.”

“It has nothing to do with ability. I’m his boss.”

“A boss doesn’t mean letting subordinates take bullets while you enjoy the rewards—it means leading them to grow stronger, and when the sky falls, I’ll hold it up.”

Xiezhi’s gaze was exceptionally firm.

He spoke without expression: “If I hadn’t met you, someone who cleared a Nightmare-level dungeon, I would’ve gone in myself to save him.”

Xiezhi’s voice was calm.

He spoke of it as casually as deciding what to eat for dinner, as if it were simply his duty.

Even though he himself had no confidence in clearing a Nightmare-level dungeon.

Yet Wu Wang could tell this man wasn’t lying.

He couldn’t help smiling: “Your subordinate is lucky to have a boss like you. You’ve even made me want to join you.”

Xiezhi shook his head: “No. I’m the one who’s grateful—they chose to believe in me. I’m the lucky one.”

Wu Wang finally understood why Baili Dao’s personality stood out so sharply from ordinary players.

This guy’s moral compass is ridiculously upright!

In ancient times, the people would have hailed him as a benevolent magistrate.

“By the way, after clearing a Nightmare-level team dungeon, there’s always a chance for an audience. I’ve heard those who receive it gain rapid power boosts. If you get one, could you share details?” Xiezhi reminded Wu Wang.

“Audience? Tell me more.”

This term was new.

Audience with whom? Why does it make you stronger?

“I don’t know. So far, only a handful of players worldwide have received an audience, and all of them are top pillars of their organizations—they never reveal anything,” Xiezhi said, shaking his head.

Rumor says the director of the Special Affairs Bureau, Qinglong, also received an audience, but for some reason, he too chose silence.

Even the Special Affairs Bureau’s archives contain no detailed records about the audience.

So he was just mentioning it.

After all, surviving a Nightmare-level team dungeon is already hard enough—wanting to get an audience and boost power is pure fantasy.

Even though the other had just cleared a Nightmare-level solo dungeon, Xiezhi still thought it was nearly impossible.

After all, team dungeons are harder than solo ones, let alone Nightmare-level ones?

To be honest, it’s not just the audience.

Even if Yan Shuangying could successfully rescue his subordinate, Xiezhi still saw slim hope.

Most dangers in Nightmare-level team dungeons leave players struggling to survive—how could they spare energy to save others?

He only offered the dungeon info to Yan Shuangying because his chances were slightly higher, and the deal included this condition.

Even if it was just a sliver of hope.

Maybe it could save his subordinate.

What if…

"I'll give you the clearance process for 'Village Chronicle' at noon tomorrow. Prepare your payment too. As for the audience information—we'll discuss it later. The meeting place is still here."

Saying this, Wu Wang stood up and walked out of the café.

Xiezhi sighed, picked up his coffee, and took a small sip.

The other’s words were, in effect, a tacit promise.

Because if he wanted to trade tomorrow, Yan Shuangying would definitely clear the Nightmare-level team dungeon tonight.

He was confident.

I hope I didn’t misjudge him.

If Yan Shuangying’s character holds up, after this dungeon, the Special Affairs Bureau’s plan could invite him.

The plan is missing exactly someone like him!

His combat ability isn’t a concern—he’s cleared a real Abyss-corrupted Nightmare-level solo dungeon. Surviving a team dungeon should be manageable, but he won’t likely get any rewards.

His logic and thinking aren’t simple either.

The café’s location was chosen by Yan Shuangying himself.

It’s in the busiest part of downtown.

If anything went wrong during the deal, as a Special Affairs Bureau member, I couldn’t act rashly here—doing so would disrupt Mingyang City’s social order. He considered all this.

He’s smart. He’s cautious.

A well-rounded person in every way!

“Sir, your total is 358. Thank you.”

As Xiezhi was about to stand and leave, a server approached with a smile.

He looked at her, puzzled.

The server explained: “Your friend said you’d pay for the bill. Here’s the receipt for your review.”

The receipt showed not only the two coffees on the table, but also two more coffees and several desserts.

Xiezhi froze.

“We didn’t order any of this?”

“That was packed in advance by your friend and has been sitting at the front desk—you took it when you left.” The server maintained impeccable professionalism, smiling throughout.

But Xiezhi couldn’t smile.

He had discovered Yan Brother’s flaw—

His thinking was far too eccentric; being friends with him might require keeping a few quick-acting heart pills on hand, just in case hypertension struck.

How could he possibly choose a meeting spot and then quietly let himself get stuck with the bill! Xiezhi didn’t believe the man was this poor.

It was probably just a twisted sense of humor!

What he didn’t know was that Wu Wang was genuinely, astonishingly poor.

Most of the money he’d earned before had gone toward buying all sorts of strange and bizarre items—he needed vast quantities of materials to train when he handcrafted the Akar back then! Not to mention those homemade landmines.

After leaving the café.

Wu Wang brought the packed coffee and desserts home and put them in the fridge, so his second sister could eat them when she got off work.

After gathering all the necessary items.

He pinned on his brooch and headed for the seaside beach in Mingyang City.

Until midnight twelve.

Deep night, the salty sea wind bit cold against his skin; there were no passersby left on the beach.

Only then did Wu Wang stroll forward.

His clothes gradually transformed into an elegant Western formal suit, and a half-mask edged in gold thread appeared on his face, covering everything above the bridge of his nose, leaving only his bright, gleaming eyes exposed.

He watched the sea surface rise and fall, steadily washing the shore in varying shades of color.

He smiled as he walked forward.

As the seawater surged onto the sand and touched his feet, he hadn’t even felt the chill—

When the game’s notification echoed in his ears—

【Nightmare-Level Team Dungeon Matched】

【Welcome to the Marie Cruise Ship】

【Dungeon Name—Masquerade Ball】