PFC Chapter 126 I bet you can't sleep
Chapter 126 I bet you can't sleep
The instance is set in the Republican era. The town has no electricity and therefore no streetlights. Players spawn at the riverbank, in an open area.
Under the moonlight, one's eyes can see clearly once they get used to it. But as they followed Mayor Jin into the alley, it became noticeably darker. All the players spontaneously formed a long line and followed the lanterns to an inn deep within the alley.
Two white lanterns hang at the entrance, and the sign reads "Qingshui Inn".
Jin Lushan: "Distinguished guests, there are only two inns in this town. One of them is this Qingshui Inn. Because the Fan Beauty Contest will be held tomorrow, there are only eight rooms left here."
"How about we discuss this? Eight of you can stay here, and the remaining eight distinguished guests, I will take you to the north of the town, where there is a Creek Inn."
Everyone's expression hardened; this was clearly a move to split the 16 players in two.
"Mayor, what is the Fan-Shaped Beauty Contest?" The male player who had been trying to gain favor with Jin Lushan from the start caught the key point in his words.
Jin Lushan: "Oh, our Qingxi Town is famous for its century-old fan-making! Every year at the end of the year, we select one person to become the new 'Fan Beauty' for the following year, who will then support the fans and sell them all over the country!"
Wang Zhe suddenly realized: "So it's a model selection!"
Out of caution, Jin Kang asked, "Mayor, what's the difference between these two inns?"
“The difference isn’t that big.” Jin Lushan shook his head: “Our town is built along both banks of the Qingxi River from west to east. The two inns are separated by the Qingxi River. The Qingshui Inn is on the south bank of the river, a little to the west, so the Xishui Inn on the east side is newer. But they’re not far apart. It’s just a short walk after crossing the bridge.”
Jin Lushan wasn't in a hurry to urge anyone, giving the players time to discuss it themselves.
Wang Zhe pulled the group aside: "What do you mean? I have a feeling this is a trap."
Chen Jiangqiao: "For safety reasons, we will split into two groups."
Wang Zhe: "I'll go with the third brother, and you two go together!"
"No way!" Ji Xingyi refused outright.
"Hey bro, I'm roommates with Lao San!" Wang Zhe pleaded with Jiang Lin for help: "Lao San, you promised to carry me through the dungeon, but it's only been open a few minutes and you've already abandoned me!"
Chen Jiangqiao couldn't help but chuckle to himself, never expecting that this big oaf would actually be somewhat useful!
Jiang Lin patted Ji Xingyi on the back and smiled at Chen Jiangqiao: "I'll go with Wang Zhe, you guys go to the Creek Inn."
Ji Xingyi was surprised that Jiang Lin would agree, and a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but he still respected Jiang Lin's decision and said helplessly, "Be careful."
After Jin Lushan left with the other 8 players, Jiang Lin looked at the few players who remained at the Clear Water Inn, among whom was the outstanding young man.
"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Zhou Jue." The young man was poised and generous, with a gentle smile on his handsome face.
Only Wang Zhe, a poor student, was able to enter this instance. The others were all players who had completed more than 5 instances. Although they had different thoughts, they all appeared quite friendly on the surface.
Zhou Jue also had a teammate, also a girl named Chi Xuan, with long hair reaching her waist, dignified and beautiful, and composed. She was completely different from the female players Jiang Lin had encountered before.
Jingkang went to the Creek Inn alone, while the short-haired girl Su Yuning and Yang Yizhou stayed behind.
The two were a couple; the woman's name was Zhu Qingya, and the man's name was Wang Bo.
The innkeeper was a stern-faced old woman who soon came to urge the players to go upstairs. Zhou Jue didn't try to increase the old woman's favorability this time; judging from her impatient expression, going up now would only lower his favorability. The other players also went up to the second floor to choose their rooms.
Wang Zhe, clutching his blanket, tried to squeeze in with Jiang Lin, but Jiang Lin blocked him from entering through the door.
"Third brother, I'm really scared to sleep alone," Wang Zhe glanced at the only bed in the room and gritted his teeth, "I'll sleep on the floor, I won't take your bed!"
Jiang Lin smiled meaningfully: "That won't work either. Don't worry, just stay put on the first night, and there shouldn't be any danger."
"Really?" Wang Zhe was still flustered.
Jiang Lin: "The mayor said that the Fan Beauty Contest is tomorrow. Since the game hasn't started yet, I don't think they'll kill us spectators first."
Wang Zhe looked suspicious: "Then why are you letting us stay another night?"
Jiang Lin glanced around the rooms on either side: "This is probably to give us time to investigate the town in advance."
Wang Zhe's eyes lit up: "How about we go out for a walk?"
"Clues aren't so easy to find, and the more useful the clue, the more dangerous it is. Go yourself if you want, I'm tired." Jiang Lin said, closing the door behind him.
Wang Zhe returned to his room dejectedly, like a wilted cabbage. However, he always had a good mental fortitude. Jiang Lin said tonight was the safest night, so Wang Zhe fell asleep in less than 10 seconds after lying on the bed.
There were no lights in the room, only candles. Jiang Lin observed the layout of the room, opened the window, and saw that the Qingshui Inn was built along the river, with the ever-flowing Qingxi River below the window of this room.
Although it was dark, Jiang Lin could still see very clearly.
The river is not wide, only a little over ten meters wide. Every so often, there are stone arch bridges connecting the north and south banks. The houses along the river are scattered in a pleasing manner, with a unique and charming beauty.
Seeing two figures crossing the bridge from the other side of the river, Jiang Lin smiled and turned to open the door.
Just then, Yang Yizhou, who lived across the hall, opened his door and came out. His eyes met Jiang Lin's, and he paused for a moment, then asked, "You're out looking for clues too?"
Jiang Lin shook his head.
Everyone has a different playstyle, and Jin Kang's team wanted to seize the safest time in the early stages to collect clues.
However, Jiang Lin prefers to plan carefully before acting. If the gameplay of a dungeon is unclear, the things he spends time collecting may not be useful.
Yang Yizhou didn't say anything, turned around and knocked on Su Yuning's door, then went downstairs together.
Yang Yizhou and Su Yuning didn't wait long at the entrance of the inn before Jin Kang arrived, accompanied by that handsome and aloof man.
"Brother Ji, let's go look for clues first." Jingkang smiled at Ji Xingyi and then left with Yang Yizhou and Su Yuning. Yang Yizhou turned his head and watched Ji Xingyi enter the inn, only then realizing that Jiang Lin had opened the door to wait for him.
Ji Xingyi went upstairs intending to knock on each door to find Jiang Lin, but when he reached the top of the stairs, he saw a guest room with its door open, and soft light emanating from inside, as if it had been waiting for him all along.
Following the light, Ji Xingyi closed the door and put his arm around the young man's waist: "You knew I would come back?"
Ji Xingyi respects Jiang Lin's choice, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have his own thoughts.
Jiang Lin chuckled and put her arm around the man's neck: "I bet you can't sleep."
At the Creek Inn, Chen Jiangqiao and Wang Zhe were exactly alike, carrying blankets and looking furtive as they knocked on the door, only to find that the door was unlocked and the room was empty.
Only then did Chen Jiangqiao realize why Jiang Lin had smiled at him when the four of them started dividing up. Chen Jiangqiao stormed back to his room, cursing, "That damn green tea bitch! That damn love-struck idiot!"
When Ji Xing saw Jiang Lin smiling so brightly, he leaned down and kissed him: "What's wrong?"
"I've thought of some interesting things." Jiang Lin brushed her lips against the man's lips. "But I want to do something even more interesting."