novelraw Chapter 42: Sea of Darkness – (42)
Chapter 42: Sea of Darkness – (42)
“During your pursuit of Fang Zhi, did you encounter any other suspicious individuals?” Xie Ganqing’s tone intensified.
Kui Xin thought back and responded, “No… everyone seemed perfectly normal, just going their own way.”
Xie Ganqing explained, “If you’ve been following the forum, you should have seen everyone’s analysis over these past few days. Depriver No. 233 is currently in Tonglin City. Yesterday, around noon, Fang Zhi was killed by Depriver No. 233. He was murdered just three hours after parting with you; this time frame isn’t too long but also not particularly short. We’re wondering if, while tracking Fang Zhi, there might have been a chance encounter with Depriver No. 233, even though you didn’t notice it.”
Kui Xin shivered, her arms bursting with goosebumps.
Rubbing her arms, she stammered, “I-it can’t be that coincidental, right? Could Depriver No. 233 have discovered my identity like you did? What if he possesses hacking skills as well?”
“The probability is relatively low, but it’s not impossible,” the glasses-wearing youth Yu Qiwen said solemnly. “I believe you need to heighten your vigilance during this period and avoid drawing his attention.”
Kui Xin’s face turned pale.
Yuan Lu offered reassurance, “Don’t panic. If you encounter any suspicious individuals, promptly seek help from people nearby or go to the police station. You can inform us as well; we will do our best to assist you.”
“However, our main area of operations is not within Tonglin City, so it would be difficult for us to promptly respond if you seek help,” Yu Qiwen candidly stated. “Given Depriver No. 233’s capabilities, those targeted by him find it hard to escape. The police can only do so much, and what we can do now is pray that he remains unaware of your existence.”
Kui Xin looked as though she was about to burst into tears.Yuan Lu glared at Yu Qiwen, silently mouthing, “If you don’t know how to speak tactfully, just stay quiet—you’ve scared the little sister.”
Yu Qiwen stared back at Yuan Lu, puzzled, unsure of what mistake he had made.
“Relax; I believe Depriver No. 233 won’t continue his actions anytime soon. His approximate location has already been exposed, and further consecutive killings would reveal it even more thoroughly,” Xie Ganqing analyzed. “I think he may go into a state of dormancy next.”
“I hope…hope that’s true.” Kui Xin’s eyes welled with tears.
At this moment, Yu Qiwen finally recalled some social etiquette tips he had learned—when someone is fearful or upset, offering appropriate comfort is essential.
With a smile, he reassured Kui Xin, “Don’t worry, unless Depriver No. 233 is completely irrational, he wouldn’t target ordinary players. If he were to strike, it’d only be against those possessing superhuman abilities. Killing regular players yields no benefit; it’s simply not worth it… Oh, have you awakened yet?”
Kui Xin looked at Yu Qiwen with terror, shaking her head vigorously like a rattling drum.
“It’s good that you haven’t awakened.” Yu Qiwen smiled.
Xie Ganqing and Yuan Lu exchanged puzzled glances.
Yuan Lu cleared her throat. “Living alone now does seem somewhat dangerous… We plan to establish a stronghold near the provincial capital. You’re apparently going there for university, right? In the future, you can visit often.”
Kui Xin hesitated before saying, “Let’s discuss it if the opportunity arises.”
Her response neither clearly rejected nor accepted the offer, revealing her indecisiveness.
“Actually, we’ll be schoolmates,” Yu Qiwen enthusiastically remarked. “Once classes start, I’ll also be studying there.”
Kui Xin was taken aback. “…That’s unexpected.”
“We’ll be classmates from now on. My major is Computer Science. Your field of study is… what was it again?” Yu Qiwen asked.
“Artificial Intelligence. It has promising job prospects; it’s a new program with relatively less competition… My scores barely made the cut, and I’m quite interested in this field.” When discussing her major, Kui Xin spoke more freely, seemingly lowering her guard due to their shared educational connection.
Satisfied, Yuan Lu noticed that the color of the malevolence marker above Kui Xin’s head had once again lightened slightly.
She is completely relaxed, as they had initially agreed to notify each other if Kui Xin displayed excessive malice, indicating suspicious behavior. However, it now seemed that she was just an ordinary young woman. By cautiously building rapport, they wouldn’t provoke her disfavor; even the color of the malevolence marker was gradually lightening.
Little did Yuan Lu know, Kui Xin’s actual thoughts mirrored theirs closely.
These hacker trio members indeed appeared to be regular individuals; thus, her secondary precautions could be temporarily set aside. When Yu Qiwen became her schoolmate, he would remain under her watchful eye and couldn’t cause much trouble. The situation has been tense lately, so there’s no need for immediate action if she can keep them stable. It’s best to observe from concealment for some time before deciding on further steps.
“You’ve asked me many questions already, but I haven’t had a chance to ask you anything,” Kui Xin shifted the conversation topic.
“Go ahead; feel free to ask,” Xie Ganqing responded.
“Are you the son of our region’s wealthiest person?” Kui Xin questioned, “You seem very affluent. Our area’s richest individual also shares the surname Xie and looks quite similar to you.”
“I am indeed,” Xie Ganqing admitted straightforwardly.
Kui Xin continued, “When I called earlier asking for your names, the hacker didn’t use his own name, Yu Qiwen, but mentioned yours instead.”
“At that time, we were all together, and it was me replying to your message,” Xie Ganqing answered.
He didn’t mention any additional reasons. Firstly, his family had extensive connections, so revealing one name wouldn’t significantly impact him; at worst, he’d just need more bodyguards when going out. Secondly, Yu Qiwen would be attending school later, and if Kui Xin reported their names after hearing them over the phone, it could potentially cause trouble.
Kui Xin was taken aback. “Aren’t you around twenty-eight or something? I thought managing your family’s business kept you quite busy, leaving no time for games… Could it be that you’re actually a gaming enthusiast who specifically applied for Crimson Earth’s Closed Beta, and coincidentally got selected?”
“… My nephew is not yet of age, so whenever he wanted to play games, he secretly used my ID,” Xie Ganqing explained with a pause.
“Upon receiving the invitation for the closed beta, he couldn’t resist his nephew’s pleas and signed the game contract. Initially, he believed lending the game to his little nephew wouldn’t be much of an issue, but then…” Yuan Lu shrugged. “Xie Ganqing and I are cousins. Yu Qiwen is the child of a close-knit family friend of my father, and the three of us grew up together.”
“How envious, meeting just at the right time,” Kui Xin muttered. “In the Second World, you two can also support each other, right? It’s much better than entering the game all alone.”
“We can indeed support one another as well,” Yuan Lu said solemnly. “All players should help each other. We can establish equal cooperative relationships, jointly resisting Deprivers in the First World and sharing information to survive in the Second World.”
Kui Xin struggled for a few seconds. “I… I’ll think about it more.”
“Your decision to meet us suggests similar intentions, and I genuinely hope you give it serious consideration,” Xie Ganqing said. “We have resources, connections, and form an exceptional team in various aspects.”
“Hmm, I will ponder it thoroughly.” Still, Kui Xin did not immediately agree.
“I have some questions I’d like to ask.” She curiously looked at Yu Qiwen. “When hacking into surveillance systems and such, aren’t you afraid of being discovered by relevant authorities? Getting caught could lead to criminal charges!”
“Somewhat afraid, but these tasks must be done by someone. Although I possess hacking skills surpassing an entire era, there are always various geniuses in the world. It’s not impossible to encounter hackers even more talented than myself, and being traced back during an intrusion is a possibility,” Yu Qiwen said. “That’s why I’m quite cautious, only accessing what I need to see and investigate, avoiding areas that shouldn’t be touched.”
“So you’re a hacker who understands restraint?” Kui Xin remarked.
“You could say that,” Yu Qiwen responded. “Technology is technology, tools are tools, and people are individuals. People should use technology and tools responsibly, without recklessly harming others. Otherwise, how would I differ from criminals?”
“Alright… my impression of you has slightly improved, just a little bit.” Kui Xin muttered.
Approaching noon, Kui Xin took out her phone to check the time.
“I have something this afternoon, so I need to go home now.” She opened a social messaging app and suggested, “Let’s exchange proper contact information.”
After adding contacts with all three individually, Yuan Lu proposed, “Want to grab lunch together? My treat, sis.”
“No thanks,” Kui Xin declined.
“Does studying artificial intelligence require a computer? If you need to buy one, I can recommend configurations; I’m quite knowledgeable in this area!” Yu Qiwen enthusiastically offered.
“I’ve consulted the school’s forum, and seniors mentioned that if a computer is needed, teachers will take students to the computer lab…” Kui Xin replied.
“It would still be more convenient to have your own. The deal stands, and the compensation is what you rightfully deserve,” Yuan Lu said. “We won’t deceive you; you should trust us. Working part-time is too exhausting, especially with your excellent grades. Focusing more time on your studies could lead to even better opportunities.”
Kui Xin cast a wary glance at the trio, saying, “I’ll purchase a computer when it’s necessary, and I’ll use money when appropriate.”
The group of four descended from the badminton court’s staircase.
Even on a rainy day, the number of people in the shopping mall decreased significantly. The hacker trio took the elevator downstairs, and Kui Xin followed suit to avoid making her avoidance of surveillance seem overly practiced.
With a ding, the elevator stopped on the third floor.
A girl carrying numerous bags squeezed into the elevator.
“Sister Xinxin!” Su Rong exclaimed, delighted. “Are you here for shopping as well?”
Su Rong wore a mask over her face, a baseball cap over her head, and a pair of glasses perched on her nose.
“Rongrong?” Kui Xin hesitated momentarily before correcting herself, “No, I’m here to meet a friend.”
Su Rong glanced around at the people in the elevator—a man in his twenties, a beautiful woman in a green dress, and a glasses-wearing teenager clearly of similar age.
“Hello,” Su Rong said politely.
The Hacker group’s trio courteously nodded in response.
What a coincidence indeed!
In this small elevator with five people, all of them were players.
“Where’s your aunt?” Kui Xin searched for conversation starters.
“My mom is still shopping upstairs; I just came down to put our purchases in the car.” Su Rong murmured under her breath, “I didn’t really want to come out, but she insisted that my studies had been too intense and needed to drag me along for some leisure time.”
The elevator stopped at the first floor, and Su Rong cheerfully rushed out with her packages, saying, “Goodbye, Sister Xinxin! These are quite heavy, so I must go now. If you have free time, come over for dinner!”
Kui Xin and the hacker trio also exited the elevator.
“I’ll be off now; goodbye.” Kui Xin bid them farewell, opened her umbrella, and turned towards the subway entrance.
“Remember to stay in touch and inform us promptly if anything happens.” Yuan Lu waved.
“We should leave as well,” Yu Qiwen said.
The three of them walked to the parking lot, opened their car doors, and got inside.
“Today was somewhat fruitful.” Xie Ganqing pondered from the driver’s seat.
“The gain was confirmation that Kui Xin is not a Depriver,” Yuan Lu said while stretching. “She hasn’t completely let down her guard around us yet; give her some time.”
“However, we haven’t identified Depriver No. 233. It’s like he evaporated without leaving any trace whatsoever.” Yu Qiwen meticulously fastened his seatbelt.
Yuan Lu remarked, “Even if we confirmed their identity, there’s nothing much we can do. Can we take them on? Let’s hope we don’t encounter him. Resisting Deprivers will undoubtedly be a long-drawn-out battle.”
“LuLu has a valid point.” Xie Ganqing turned the car key, starting the engine. “Let’s head home.”
“If in the future we truly become a substantial organization, it’ll be necessary to establish a fixed stronghold—a safe meeting place,” Yu Qiwen said. “The opportunities for offline gatherings might be quite rare, but we still need to be prepared.”
“I’ll handle this matter.” Xie Ganqing pressed down on the accelerator.
As the car was moving, Yuan Lu suddenly said, “Could that young Kui Xin possess superhuman abilities?”
“Hmm? She denied it!” Yu Qiwen responded.
“It’s possible,” Xie Ganqing said. “I noticed she denied it too hastily and with excessive panic.”
“I didn’t pick up on that…” Yu Qiwen remarked.
“Heh heh, she’s just a naive little girl, still inexperienced,” Yuan Lu commented.
Xie Ganqing countered, “When you were her age, your emotions were written all over your face—far more guileless than hers.”
“… Oh,” Yuan Lu replied. Then she added, “She knows to conceal her feelings, which shows she has some wits about her.”
“Some people start experiencing society’s harsh realities at a very young age, while others only encounter them after graduating from university at twenty-two,” Xie Ganqing explained. “Their maturity differs; you can discern the difference in their eyes.”
“Indeed.” Yuan Lu sighed. “The poor little girl; once she receives our payment, she won’t have to struggle with hard labor anymore.”
For several consecutive days, nothing eventful occurred.
Kui Xin remarked, “How wonderful! Yet another peaceful and beautiful day… I truly enjoy it when nothing happens.”
Over these few days, her life was remarkably simple. She would wake up early for morning exercises, eat breakfast at a roadside stall near her neighborhood after finishing her workout, and then head to the local library to study. At noon, she’d return home to cook lunch, spend the afternoon teaching Su Rong, and, in the evenings, continue her studies at home.
She slept at 10 PM and rose at 6 AM, maintaining a highly disciplined routine, far more regular than during her time in the Second World.
Today was August 2nd—the day to return to the game.
Kui Xin checked the forum regularly upon waking up.
The death list had not been updated, and there were no changes in the pinned official threads. However, the forum atmosphere brimmed with anxiety; the number of player posts significantly increased, with the majority being prayer-filled messages. Accustomed to the comfortable life in the First World, nobody wanted to go back to the Second World.
Despite this, Kui Xin remained composed, her daily rhythm undisturbed.
As per her routine, she got up, washed, exercised, studied, and tutored Su Rong.
During their lesson, Su Rong appeared noticeably distracted, often losing focus while working on problems. Dark circles heavily lined her eyes, making her seem considerably worn out as if she hadn’t slept all night.
“Did you stay up late?” Kui Xin asked abruptly when Su Rong’s mind wandered yet again while attempting a question.
“Ah? Um… I…I couldn’t sleep last night; it was insomnia.” Su Rong scratched her disheveled hair. She usually paid close attention to her appearance, but today, her hair remained untidy, and she appeared completely lethargic.
Kui Xin suggested, “Then let’s skip studying for now. Take some rest; we’ll make up this lesson next weekend instead. Your holiday is already over. With your current state of mind, you won’t be able to focus on learning anyway, so it’s better not to push it.”
“Okay,” Su Rong replied weakly, her chin resting in her hand. “Sigh, life is so tough. I really regret my choices from back then.”
“Everyone has their own struggles, I suppose.” Kui Xin pulled over Su Rong’s test papers and began circling the incorrect answers. “Do you regret choosing the path of becoming an art student?”
After a momentary delay, Su Rong slowly nodded.
Kui Xin said, “Regretting won’t help. The only option is to work twice as hard to compensate.”
“Sister Xinxin, despite being around the same age, you handle things much more steadily than I do. Just the other day, my mom praised you and told me to learn from your approach,” Su Rong remarked. “Sigh, sometimes when I watch you, it feels like observing my mom… Of course, I’m not saying you look like her physically, but rather your demeanor—uh, just as reliable and composed as an elder. I’ve never met anyone our age quite like you before.”
Kui Xin pondered for a moment and responded, “If you live independently for a few years, away from your parents’ care, handling everything on your own, you’ll quickly become like me too.”
Su Rong’s mother had subtly mentioned Kui Xin’s family situation to her, indicating that it wasn’t favorable.
Cleverly avoiding this topic, Su Rong pulled Kui Xin into the living room and handed her a large bag of snacks, saying, “Let’s skip studying for now. We can watch TV and munch on these. Do you want to go to a movie?”
“Anything is fine,” Kui Xin replied as she popped a chip into her mouth.
She rarely indulged in snacks, purchasing only essential food items to maintain her nutrition. Snacks were bought infrequently, perhaps once every few months, and she barely touched beverages like milk tea. The most frequent occasions Kui Xin consumed milk tea were during her part-time job at a bubble tea shop, where the owner offered unlimited drinks as an employee perk. Her coworker would often make an extra cup for her while preparing orders, leading Kui Xin to worry about potential spikes in her blood sugar levels.
The leisurely afternoon swiftly passed, giving way to the arrival of evening.
Bathed in the fading glow of the sunset, Kui Xin returned home.
After hastily eating dinner, she took out a physical copy of “Forensic Crime Scene Investigation Techniques” purchased earlier and began struggling through its contents.
There was a significant difference between forensic investigation textbooks in the First and Second Worlds. However, some foundational theoretical aspects shared similarities. Learning here would still be beneficial compared to not learning at all, and any remaining gaps could be filled upon returning to the Second World.
Time swiftly passed by, and when Kui Xin’s alarm sounded, it was already 11:30 PM.
In half an hour, she would enter the game again.
Kui Xin stood up, stretched her limbs, and composed herself mentally.
She was in a perilous situation in the Second World when the alien creature Scythe Demon relentlessly attacked her.
After spending seven days in the First World, her mindset found it challenging to revert back to the state she had been in seven days prior. Nevertheless, she needed to recall the sensation of combat, maintain intense focus, and keep her muscles alert in order to quickly adapt and avoid any mishap that could cost her head at the hands of the Scythe Demon.
Kui Xin turned off all the lights in her room.
Her counterpart in the Second World was patrolling the port, surrounded by extreme darkness. With the bright lighting in her bedroom currently on, transitioning abruptly from light to dark would be difficult for her. The darkness would help to ease the environmental shift.
Kui Xin set another timer on her phone, this time for 23:59:58—just two seconds before midnight—to allow ample reaction time.
Standing by the window, she closed her eyes and recalled numerous dangerous battles she had endured, pushing her mental state to its peak tension.
Once she felt sufficiently prepared, she opened her eyes, gazing out at Tonglin City’s nighttime scenery.
“We’re returning to Black Sea City…” Kui Xin murmured inwardly.
Before heading back, she wanted one last glimpse of her familiar hometown’s neon lights.
It was 23:59:58.
As the alarm rang, the phone next to Kui Xin buzzed and beeped. Simultaneously, her heart raced, but within an instant, pitch-black darkness engulfed her completely!
She detected the scent of blood mixed with the salty sea breeze. She heard the wind, the whistling sound of tentacles striking, and her teammates Lan Lan and Jiang Ming’s shouts, along with Captain Shu Xuyao’s urgent voice through the communicator.
Kui Xin felt the pain and tingling sensation from the wound in her abdomen, which was rapidly healing due to Flesh Regeneration, intensifying the discomfort on her nerves.
Upon returning to this body, Kui Xin immediately rolled away, narrowly evading the Scythe Demon’s curved bone blade amidst life-or-death moments.
With a clang, the demon’s curved bone blade struck the container behind Kui Xin, slightly embedding itself within it.
Ignoring her abdominal injury, Kui Xin swiftly drew a knife from her thigh and slashed upward.
In a swift motion, the Scythe Demon’s soft tentacle snapped cleanly, its curved bone blade firmly lodged in the container. The creature emitted a shrill wail as blue-green blood gushed out. Wherever the green blood splattered, wisps of white smoke arose, akin to highly corrosive acid.
Kui Xin’s face and body were also splattered with the fluid; her combat suit corroded, forming holes, and wisps of white smoke rose from her skin.
She had no time to attend to it, seizing the moment to reload her gun. With an icy gaze fixed on the Scythe Demon, she raised the firearm and fired towards it.