novelraw Chapter 149: The Gold-Farming Team Falls
Chapter 149: The Gold-Farming Team Falls
Blackwind Stronghold.
The former sight of wolf corpses strewn across the ground had long disappeared.
A group of black-clad men directed vagrants dressed in coarse cloth as they carried skeletons riddled with gnawing marks toward the mountain behind Blackwind Stronghold.
A massive pit had been dug into the rear mountain.
Large quantities of bleached bones were thrown down into it.
Within the pit, numerous venomous snakes coiled and writhed.
Snakes and bones intertwined, squirming together. The vagrants tasked with the labor could not stop their scalps from tingling, wishing with all their hearts to escape this hellish place.
They had all been captured from nearby villages by disciples of the Five Poison Sect.
Among them were Lin Dahai and several miners from Blackstone Village.
Lin Dahai’s misfortune had come from bringing along a batch of newcomers. The newcomers were of poor quality; they could not even shoulder their Baskets properly and fell behind.They happened to run straight into Five Poison Sect disciples descending the mountain to capture people. Overpowered easily, they were dragged up to Blackwind Stronghold.
There were fifty or sixty men and women here, all seized by the Five Poison Sect from various places—vagrants and villagers alike.
The Five Poison Sect disciples, holding sabers and swords, acted as overseers.
Lin Dahai and his group were assigned to clear out the wolf carcasses and other beast skeletons of unknown origin from inside and outside the stronghold.
Lin Dahai and his companions were terrified.
The newcomers under him were even worse, sniffling and whispering, “How are we this unlucky… falling into bandits’ hands? Brother Lin, can we even make it back alive?”
“That is right.”
“We have not even worked for a month, and this happens. What if we get chopped down by bandits before receiving our first month’s wages?”
“Is there any way to escape?”
As they worked, they occasionally lowered their voices and whispered among themselves.
Lin Dahai had actually tried to force a logout.
Each time, the system prompted:
“Unable to log out!”
“Logging out may cause severe consequences. The game character may die!”
That warning frightened him into stillness.
He did not dare act rashly.
He sighed.
“One step at a time.”
“We are deep in the mountains. We have walked for who knows how long… Even if we wanted to run now, we could not.”
Lin Dahai warned the newcomers from his studio in a low voice, “Have you seen those snakes?”
In the woods surrounding Blackwind Stronghold, many venomous snakes coiled in wait.
“Do not even think about escaping. If you step outside, you will definitely be bitten to death… Finish the work here first. Perhaps they will not kill anyone… As long as we live, there is still hope. If we die, it is truly over.”
The newcomers could only follow Lin Dahai’s cautious approach.
They worked until dusk, finally clearing all the bones from the stronghold.
A burly man in black with a scorpion tattoo on his face strode over. A glossy black venomous scorpion perched on his shoulder. His presence was imposing; his tone arrogant.
“There is roasted meat over there. Once you have eaten your fill, go into the rooms and rest. There is more work tomorrow. Do not think of escaping at night. The entire area is territory of the Five Poison Sect. Within ten li, the venomous insects and snakes will thank you for offering up your flesh and blood. They will not show you any courtesy.”
…
Exhausted, hungry, frightened, none of them dared resist.
After eating roasted meat and clearing their Hunger, they obediently entered the side rooms of Blackwind Stronghold to rest.
Before leaving, the scorpion-tattooed man warned:
“No matter what sounds you hear at night, do not open the door and do not step outside. If you let venomous snakes or insects in and get everyone killed, we will have to go down the mountain tomorrow to capture another batch of laborers.”
Bang!
After speaking, he shut the door and left.
…
Sniffling sounds filled the room.
“What do we do now?”
“We are not going to be stuck here forever, are we?”
Among the vagrants and villagers were several players from major studios’ gold-farming teams.
At that moment, one person leaned against the wall to rest. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, face flushed with joy.
“We can log out.”
“It is safe. We can log out.”
“Quick, quick, everyone log out.”
He excitedly shared the good news.
But Lin Dahai immediately reminded them, “When you just logged out, your game character did not disappear. That means logging out here carries risk. Tomorrow morning, you will still have to get up and work.”
Everyone froze and began testing one another’s characters.
Soon they confirmed it.
Not a single person had vanished from the room.
Even after logging out, their game characters remained inside, as if merely asleep.
“This is bad.”
“If our game characters are still here and we do not obey Blackwind Stronghold’s orders, we will definitely be thrown to feed the snakes and insects…”
“If our game characters die, our accounts will be deleted.”
“What do we do?”
Logging out solved nothing.
The players were numb with dread.
Someone then proposed, “Log out and report to the studio. Ask them to send a Land-Clearing Team to rescue us!”
“Yes, yes!”
“There are Martial Artists in the Land-Clearing Team. They can definitely save us.”
Lin Dahai pondered for a moment and nodded.
“I will log out and inform the studio executives.”
…
Warring States Building, 75th floor.
Lin Dahai’s message quickly alerted Su Wan and was relayed to Instructor Yu and Lin Xun.
One was the head of the gold-farming team; the other a member of a nearby Land-Clearing Team. Naturally, they became the first targets for assistance.
After hearing Lin Dahai’s situation, Instructor Yu and Lin Xun both frowned deeply.
“This is troublesome.”
“Eight gold-farming team members have fallen into the hands of the Five Poison Sect…”
“To rescue them from the Five Poison Sect, we would have to recall Captain Bai,” Instructor Yu muttered in alarm.
Lin Xun shook his head.
“Even calling Captain Bai back would not help. Last time, when the entire third Land-Clearing Team was present, we merely alarmed the Snake Elder of the Five Poison Sect and were forced to retreat from Blackwind Stronghold. Now the Five Poison Sect has even more experts stationed there. Even if we mobilize everyone, we will not be able to rescue them.”
“Then what do we do?”
Hearing this, Lin Dahai felt completely hopeless.
Su Wan, experienced and composed, spoke to reassure him.
“Do not worry. Although the Five Poison Sect is a heterodox sect, they would not lightly slaughter villagers or vagrants. No sect dares risk universal condemnation by massacring ordinary people.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Usually, once they achieve their objective, they release people—or keep you to work within the sect and make you Outer Disciples of the Five Poison Sect.”
Su Wan’s explanation eased Lin Dahai’s mind somewhat.
“But… how are we supposed to earn a living afterward?”
“How can we continue gold farming?”
Lin Dahai’s face was full of worry.
“It is fine. Hold your ground for now. Do as the Five Poison Sect orders. No matter what, preserve your lives and protect your game characters first. As for this month’s fixed gold-farming quota, do not worry. The studio will find a way…”
“We will also look for opportunities to rescue you.”
“Once you log back in, calm the newcomers. Tell them not to act recklessly. The Five Poison Sect is not known for kindness.”
Su Wan’s words reassured Lin Dahai further.
He nodded and left.
Su Wan, Instructor Yu, and Lin Xun watched him go. The moment he disappeared from sight, all three of their expressions grew grave.
“What is the Five Poison Sect planning?”
Su Wan clenched her fist tightly.
These were eight lives belonging to the studio.
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