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I Play the Horror World as a Simulation Game-Chapter 200: Act at night, be flexible!
Li Qianqian's words sent a chill down Qin Nuo's spine.
Is this girl really so terrifying once she becomes infatuated with someone? When he was playing the role of Liang Zisu, he hadn't noticed anything, yet Li Qianqian already had the layout of the room memorized?
When did she go in?
Li Qianqian didn't notice the subtle change in Qin Nuo's expression, her face still immersed in sadness.
"The only two people who were good to me have vanished. I should think positively, but my intuition tells me they might have met with misfortune..."
"Xiaofeng, do you think I'm a jinx?"
Qin Nuo thought to himself, whether you're a jinx or not, I don't know, but you sure are unlucky, always running into the characters I play.
"The word 'jinx' is inherently a derogatory term used to slander someone else. No need to be so sad, sis. It's just a coincidence that they both left. They might come back someday," Qin Nuo said.
Li Qianqian blinked: "I find the things you've been saying these past two days quite mature, like a little adult."
"Really? I didn't notice."
Qin Nuo scratched his head, pretended to look at his wristwatch, and said, "It's late, sis. I should head to school."
"You go ahead. I just came to ask if you've eaten."
"I have. The boss at the bun shop covered my meals."
After chatting a bit more with Li Qianqian, Qin Nuo went downstairs and headed towards the school.
Since entering this instance, Qin Nuo hadn't seen what Younan Town looked like after nightfall. Now, with a flashlight in hand, he walked along the village path, the light's range very limited, illuminating only the road beneath his feet.
In the darkness, it felt as if eyes were watching from the shadows, and he could hear some rustling sounds, like something was scurrying around.
The darkness almost enveloped Qin Nuo, and the faint light seemed more like a fragile protective shield, barely allowing him to move forward.
The flashlight's beam pushed back the darkness ahead, but no one could guarantee what might appear in that weak light the next second.
The fear of the dark and enclosed space was like a blind man walking in an unfamiliar place, with the guide stick in his hand being the only thing providing a sense of security.
"Walking in this town at night doesn't seem like a wise choice."
Qin Nuo walked with the flashlight, quickening his pace, feeling a chill running down his spine as if something was walking closely behind him.
He dared not look back, keeping his eyes fixed on the illuminated area ahead, hoping to see the familiar school gate any moment.
The unsettling feeling gnawed at him, but fortunately, it didn't last long, as he saw light ahead.
At the entrance of Black Crow Ghost School, the two large lanterns hanging on the stone pillars would always light up at night, and Qin Nuo remembered this.
Looking now, the two bright red lanterns at the school gate seemed like two blood-red eyes opening in the darkness, watching him.
As he reached the entrance, the surrounding view gradually became clearer.
Qin Nuo breathed a sigh of relief, touched his back, and realized it was already wet.
Even with the Blood-Eyed Ghost ensuring safety, fear is innate, not something you can be immune to just because you're assured of safety.
At this late hour, the vast Black Crow Ghost School was deserted, like it had been abandoned for a long time, exuding a desolate atmosphere.
Just as Qin Nuo stepped into the school gate, a strong beam of light shone upon him.
"Who goes there? What are you doing at the school so late?"
A cautious voice called out.
A man in a security uniform, holding a flashlight, appeared in Qin Nuo's view.
His tone was scolding, full of authority, but the slight tremble in his hands and the layers of sweat on his face betrayed his true feelings.
"I'm a student. I left something in the classroom and came back to get it." Qin Nuo turned off his flashlight, his expression innocent, his voice youthful.
"In the dead of night, you, a teenager, coming back with a flashlight to get something, who are you trying to fool?"
"What can't wait until tomorrow? Go back home!" The security guard continued in a scolding tone, even pulling out a rubber baton from his waist.
Qin Nuo appeared as a harmless, innocent child, yet the guard was extremely wary and uneasy, as if facing a knife-wielding thug.
Qin Nuo observed this, forming a hypothesis in his mind.
"Uncle, I just need to grab something. Let me in, I'll be quick, I won't disturb you."
Qin Nuo said.
The guard showed a hesitant expression, seemingly convinced by Qin Nuo's normal demeanor, and after a moment said, "Alright, fill out the form and you can go in."
Qin Nuo nodded obediently.
The guard entered the security room, gesturing for Qin Nuo to come over, and pushed a form across the table.
"Class, name, reason for entering the school, just fill in these blanks."
The guard kept his distance, pointing out the fields.
Qin Nuo nodded, sat down, lowered his head, and with a serious expression, scribbled a few words on the form.
The guard watched, noticing nothing unusual, feeling a bit more at ease.
Soon, Qin Nuo finished writing and handed the form to the guard with both hands: "Here you go, uncle."
The guard took it, but noticed Qin Nuo didn't let go.
Hesitating, he saw one of Qin Nuo's hands covered in corpse spots, emitting a black corpse aura.
Black veins, writhing like maggots, crawled on the skin, tearing open a wound, black blood oozing out, and a blood-red eyeball protruded, moving vividly.
Finally, it fixed its gaze on the guard, issuing a friendly greeting: "Hello there, delicious human!"
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The guard's face turned pale in an instant, the little relaxation in his nerves snapped back, making his whole body tingle.
He stiffly raised his head, seeing Qin Nuo tilting his head, looking at him with innocent eyes, a grin slowly spreading across his face: "Uncle, you shouldn't have let me in..."
In the moment his brain froze, the guard's mind urged his body to flee, but his body felt paralyzed, unable to move.
Qin Nuo's corpse-spotted hand reached for his face.
Death loomed over him, and the guard closed his eyes, speaking with a sense of despair: "Damn, all that effort for nothing."
A flick on his forehead, Qin Nuo put his hands back in his pockets, smiling slightly: "Seems like I'm pretty convincing as a ghost."
The guard opened his eyes, looked at Qin Nuo's expression, then at the right hand that had returned to normal, as if everything earlier was just an illusion.
After a few seconds of confusion, he understood what had happened.
First showing a look of relief, then one of clear embarrassment and anger, he spoke coldly: "You think this is funny?"
Qin Nuo chuckled awkwardly: "Don't be mad, brother."
"What I did also shows that the role you're playing is full of flaws, easily seen through, doesn't it?"
"You've been playing this instance long enough to know what it tests. I seemed to be mischievous, but I was actually testing my acting skills."
The guard's face darkened, his eyes still filled with malice, Qin Nuo's words only angering him more: "So I should thank you?"
"If you want to." Qin Nuo nodded.
"Get lost! If you don't, don't blame me for beating you up!" The guard waved his baton, glaring.
"I really have something to do inside, it's for the role."
Hearing this, the guard sneered twice: "Then you can forget about going in. No outsiders allowed in the school after dark, get lost!"
Qin Nuo asked, "What if I insist on going in?"
"Then your butt will be in trouble. You think I can't handle a little brat like you?" The guard's face showed satisfaction, clearly taking revenge for earlier.
Stopping other players from completing their roles might not benefit him, but it sure was satisfying!
"You might not want to do that."
Qin Nuo's expression remained calm, pulling out his right hand, pointing to the back of it: "This hand isn't an illusion, it's really hosting a ghost."
As he spoke, ghost aura began to seep from the back of his hand.
The guard's face stiffened, glancing at the report form, then looked up with a smile: "Qin Feng, right? Uncle was just joking with you, you can go in, play around as you like, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me."
"Your face-changing skills are on par with yours," said the Blood-Eyed Ghost.
Qin Nuo stood on tiptoe, patted the guard's shoulder, and with a knowing tone, smiled: "That's more like it. I've taught you another lesson: in a game instance, you must learn to quickly change your attitude."
"Different people, different expressions, different tones, being flexible is the key to longevity in horror games!"
"Wise words, master," the guard agreed, knowing well the nature of Half-Ghosts.
Half-Ghost players are not to be trifled with.
They can bring things out of the instance!
"Ahem."
Just as Qin Nuo was about to leave the security room, a light cough came, and an old man walked in, draped in a green military coat, also in security attire.
He glanced at Qin Nuo, speaking hoarsely: "Xiao Liu, who is this?"
Xiao Liu was about to speak when Qin Nuo switched back to his innocent, childlike face, smiling: "Grandpa, I'm a student here. I suddenly remembered I left something at school while sleeping, so I came back to get it."
"Grandpa, this uncle has already registered me, can I go in?"
The old man had a faint ghost aura, and his deep, wooden eyes already indicated his identity as a game NPC.
Xiao Liu looked at Qin Nuo's obedient and sensible face, feeling a silent frustration, thinking that when it comes to face-changing, you really are the expert.
The old man looked at Xiao Liu, who scratched his head and smiled: "Indeed, he's registered. This kid is polite and sensible, very likable."
"Then go ahead, just be careful walking at night, don't fall."
The old man tapped his old smoking pipe on the table corner, knocking off some ash, and said.
"I know, thank you, grandpa." Qin Nuo nodded politely.
The old man came over, pinched Qin Nuo's cheek, while Xiao Liu watched with inexplicable nervousness.
"Indeed a likable child, but I feel like I've seen you before. You're one of those kids from the performing arts department, right?"
Qin Nuo was a bit taken aback, did this old man know the performing arts students?
With so many students coming and going every day, how did this old man remember Qin Feng and the other performing arts kids? What was the connection?
"Yes, I'm from the performing arts department." Qin Nuo nodded frankly.
"Those kids from the performing arts department make quite a ruckus in the school every night, you should tell them to keep it down."
Qin Nuo nodded repeatedly.
The old man showed a satisfied expression, sat down on a chair, rolled some tobacco into his pipe, lit a match, and took a few puffs, speaking to himself: "But speaking of which, those kids are quite remarkable, enduring so much obstruction yet still pursuing their dreams."
"Hehe, in that way, they're a lot like me when I was young."
Xiao Liu was full of question marks.
Qin Nuo blinked, said nothing, and turned to leave the security room.
The school after dark was not unfamiliar to Qin Nuo.
He knew what dangers lurked.
"Ordinary paper puppet-controlled puppets pose no real threat, but the Red Shadow at night is an absolute threat. I hope its range of activity is limited, otherwise, it's unplayable."
Walking through the campus, Qin Nuo headed towards the complex building, muttering to himself.
Back at the complex building, his gaze involuntarily fell on the dark corner, where the iron door stood intact, the lock covered in dust, as if untouched for a long time.
Yet two days ago, Qin Nuo had entered as Liang Zisu.
"Does the curse refresh not only people but objects too?"
Qin Nuo hesitated internally, heading up the complex building.
The hallway of the complex building was always unclear at night.
What danger lay at the end, no one knew.
Qin Nuo dared not linger on other floors, heading straight to the top floor.
Pushing open the dance room door, the air inside seemed never to have circulated, always stifling and hard to breathe.
Qin Nuo went to the front of the stage, where many discarded stage props were scattered.
Glancing at the time on his children's wristwatch, after all this fuss, it was nearing two-thirty in the morning.
"It should be soon."
Qin Nuo found a seat in the front row.
"This time, I'm facing these kids with a new identity, my words and actions are unknown. These cursed little ghosts are special game NPCs, if they find something wrong with their buddy Qin Feng, who knows what will happen?"
Qin Nuo muttered to himself, habitually checking the watch.
Above the stage, an old-fashioned clock ticked rhythmically, like a heartbeat.
Qin Nuo believed that by playing Qin Feng well and integrating with these little ghosts, he could uncover useful information.
Dong! Dong!
As he pondered, the clock on the wall chimed.
At the same time, the children's wristwatch on his wrist beeped.
"Two-thirty in the morning, the time has come!"
Qin Nuo looked up, his gaze falling on the stage.
With a snap, the spotlight turned on automatically, the beam illuminating the empty stage...