“Mom will take you home”

The black mist was clearly generated under the influence of the mask’s resentment, yet it showed no fear of the mask at all, grabbing the mask with one hand and beginning to tear at it.

This would not do, so Xing Ye decisively drew the “Requiem” QR code. The peaceful melody temporarily calmed the living corpses in the black mist, and the mask’s resentment also diminished significantly.

Only the sound of “Mother’s Call” continued to echo within the “Requiem” and did not disappear due to the calming effect.

Wherever the mask went, the black mist would dissipate slightly. The crowd saw that the mask touched each living corpse and then jumped to the next, gradually revealing the corpses within the black mist.

“What is he doing?” Niu Xiaohua asked in confusion.

Cao Qian replied, “Probably looking for his mother.”

At that moment, a hand grasped the mask. Under the effect of the “Requiem”, the corpse was still able to move; she held the mask in her arms, the black mist dissipated from her body, revealing Aunt Yang’s face.

Tears hung on Aunt Yang’s cheeks, and her mouth, either due to the black mist or the effect of “Mother’s Call”, moved slightly to make a faint sound: “Da Mao, Er Mao, Da Niu… your mother failed, take me with you.”

The mask only lingered on her a moment longer, then left Aunt Yang’s embrace to seek other corpses.

Aunt Yang remained in a hugging posture as she fell to the ground; Xing Ye stepped forward to help her put her hands down but could not change her posture.

One mother after another was found. Their actions and expressions mirrored Aunt Yang’s, full of remorse and embracing, and the mask only allowed them to hug briefly before moving on; it never stopped searching.

Until the mask touched a wrinkled, withered arm, a sense of joy arose inexplicably, infecting everyone’s hearts.

The black mist wrapped around that corpse receded, revealing an aged face, yet from the eyes and brows, one could see a resemblance to Cao Qian.

She didn’t need to move; the mask automatically placed itself on her chest. Only then did everyone realize that the echoing call in the air actually came from this elderly woman.

“It’s Grandma Cao.” Qian Daniu touched her chest; seeing this scene, she felt an uncontrollable urge to cry.

After the mask lingered on her chest for a while, Grandma Cao actually moved. She touched the mask and said, “Don’t be afraid, Mom will help Da Bao take revenge.”

Then, she put on the mask, harnessing its power, and stepped into the black mist. Withered hands grabbed an old man resembling the village chief by about fifty percent—this was the Black Mist Village Chief.

“You killed my Da Bao,” Grandma Cao, wearing the mask, said to the corpse with a voice full of hatred. “You’ve been presiding over these rituals all along, killing so many children!”

The Black Mist Village Chief had, after all, already died. He could make a “ho ho” sound from his throat but could not speak.

The Black Mist Village Chief still had some strength; he struggled in Grandma Cao’s hands. Grandma Cao could not defeat him on her own. Cao Qian wanted to help but was stopped by Xing Ye.

“Keep watching,” Xing Ye said, “This is no longer something we can intervene in to conclude.”

Grandma Cao grabbed the Black Mist Village Chief and moved toward the paper village chief, saying, “And you, using the Mountain God Grass grown from my child, turned yourself and the villagers into immortal paper dolls.”

Grandma Cao could not lift the Black Mist Village Chief with her hands, so she used her foot to kick him harshly. The village chief, who was partially reanimated, could still make minor movements to dodge her attacks.

At this point, the calling voices grew louder, no longer only coming from Grandma Cao’s mouth. The corpses lying on the ground all called out for the children in unison.

They somehow used some power to rise from the ground, some helping Grandma Cao seize the paper village chief, others attacking the Black Mist Village Chief.

After a struggle, the paper village chief disintegrated into fragments, and a gust of wind blew the paper pieces away.

The Black Mist Village Chief widened his eyes and fell to the ground, seemingly unable to move.

The mothers exhausted their remaining strength, each closing their eyes and returning to corpses. Only Grandma Cao, still wearing the mask, could move. She slowly advanced, attempting to leave the village square.

But her strength was weak; she could barely move a few steps.

At this moment, Xing Ye nodded to Cao Qian. Cao Heihe ran over, hugged Grandma Cao’s body, and sprinted all the way to the Cao family courtyard, placing the masked Grandma Cao on the kang inside the house.

Grandma Cao slowly raised her hand, touched Cao Heihe’s face, and then removed the mask with a gesture that allowed no one else to snatch it, holding it firmly in her arms.

“My Da Bao, Mom has brought you home.” Grandma Cao, holding the mask, spoke her final words and quietly closed her eyes.

As she closed her eyes, the echoing calls throughout the village instantly ceased, and the bloodstains on the old mask gradually faded until they were completely gone.

Cao Qian, looking at Grandma Cao holding the mask, could not help but shed tears, moved by a love that had never disappeared, even after fifty years, even separated by life and death.

The village square was not far from the Cao family house. Others arrived shortly afterward. The Cao family home was small; only a few people could fit inside.

As Grandma Cao closed her eyes, Yan Hebi, leaning against the door, suddenly collapsed. Xing Ye supported him and found that Yan Hebi’s arms had withered like dry grass.

Seeing Xing Ye about to use a QR code, Yan Hebi shook his head: “I just heard the prompt. The system narrator told me that the Mountain God’s resentment has disappeared, and the paper grass nourished by blood and hatred will also wither. The paper dolls will lose their mobility, the guardian team failed, half the points will be deducted, and after the body fully withers, they will return to the game space.”

Supporting each other as they rushed to the Cao family, the guardian team members shouted, “You were on the same team as Yang Xiaomao, but he won and even you lost. Why would you choose to obey Yang Xiaomao’s command even if it means losing? Are you happy losing half your points?”

Yan Hebi shook his head at the guardian team members: “You wouldn’t understand.”

Being with Xing Ye, what mattered was not the win or loss of a single game, but the sense of achievement in defying fate. He preferred a grand, dramatic loss to a mediocre, petty win.

Moreover, Yan Hebi had 200,000 points. Even if he lost, he would still have 100,000 points remaining, enough to continue in the advanced world and keep advancing.

Before the guardians’ bodies had fully withered, the ten players collectively heard the game’s notification:

“‘Mountain God’s Sacrifice’ game ended. Congratulations to the Sacrifice Team for their victory. Players Yang Xiaomao, Cao Heihe, Qian Daniu, Wang Sipang, and Qin Xiaoer each receive 10,000 points.

“Additionally, through the joint efforts of players Yang Xiaomao, Cao Heihe, Li Datou, and Qian Daniu, the Mountain God was successfully pacified, resolving fifty years of resentment, eradicating the paper grass symbolizing evil and hatred, opening the path between Mountain God Village and the outside world, allowing the remaining living villagers to return to the real world. Congratulations to the four players on achieving a perfect victory, rewarding 1,000,000 points. Based on contribution: Cao Heihe receives 400,000 points, Yang Xiaomao 400,000 points, Li Datou 100,000 points, and Qian Daniu 100,000 points.”

“What the hell?” Wang Sipang shouted incredulously. “I won but only got 10,000 points, and Li Datou lost yet got 100,000 points? What’s a perfect victory? How—”

Before he could finish, everyone was teleported back to the system space.

Back in the system space, Xing Ye saw the black-and-white cube staring at him with two large black dots. He had become somewhat accustomed to it, paying it no mind. Instead, he positioned the small mirror and picked up his phone to message Cao Qian and the others.

Xing Ye reminded Cao Qian and Qian Daniu about the consequences of exchanging points for money. He didn’t force them not to, it was merely a suggestion. After all, some people in the real world might be desperately short on cash, and Xing Ye couldn’t stop them from using points to meet urgent needs. He just wanted them to know where the money came from and that exchanging points could prevent them from completing the final level, leaving the choice to them.

Cao Qian quickly replied, saying she had contacted Linlin’s family. They were taking good care of Linlin, so no money shortage for now. Earlier, Cao Qian had already obtained a QR code, similar to the one from Xing Ye’s previous world, allowing her to consume food, so Linlin’s body could slowly recover without spending much on care.

Qian Daniu replied much later: “I-I already exchanged 100,000 points earlier. What should I do? Will I never be able to leave this game?”

Xing Ye could only reassure her: “Take it step by step. In any case, Fate-following players cannot clear the game without becoming tools.”

Qian Daniu: “……”

Was that supposed to be comforting?!

Meanwhile, Yan Hebi reported his situation to Xing Ye. He had successfully returned to system space. Though he lost 100,000 points in the game, the perfect victory awarded him 100,000 points back, balancing his score.

After a perfect victory, Yan Hebi could choose a QR code and a world item. He chose the “Mountain God’s Mask”. Wearing the mask granted him the temporary ability to transform into a paper doll. Unless opposed by hot spring water, he was invulnerable to fire and water, essentially gaining a one-time immortal body.

Then Guan Ling messaged. He tearfully told Xing Ye that, by accident, he had found clues, accidentally triggered the true ending, and inadvertently gained thousands of points, now totaling over 30,000, nearly 40,000. He felt both happy and nervous, eager to enter the advanced world but afraid of becoming a mere tool.

Xing Ye messaged back: “Don’t think about using points to recover your wife. That path won’t work. You need to quit gambling in the real world, work steadily to repay debts, and show your family you’ve turned over a new leaf. Even if your wife doesn’t want to remarry, set a good example for your child. Be a father who admits mistakes and changes, don’t rely on luck.”

Guan Ling: “……”

A boss’s ability to comfort is inversely proportional to his IQ.

As Xing Ye replied, Lu Mingze was unhurried, sitting inside the mirror with his chin in his hand, watching Xing Ye seriously advise or comfort the teammates one by one. Lu Mingze couldn’t help but smile.

Xing Ye noticed the smile and asked: “What are you thinking about? You’re smiling so nicely.”

Pleased by the compliment, Lu Mingze replied, “You’re more human than before.”

When Lu Mingze first met Xing Ye, he kept a straight face every day, completing levels like a robot, pressuring teammates more than encouraging them. Now he was much softer.

Xing Ye smiled knowingly and reached up to touch the mirror.

The black-and-white cube stared at them with its dark eyes. Xing Ye looked up, gave it a meaningful glance, and finally said: “Come on, draw the reward QR code for this world.”

 

Translator : DarNan