Infinite Peculiar Games

In the garden of Rose Manor, three neatly aligned earth pits scarred the ground.

Each pit contained a mutilated body, bringing the total to two men and one woman, including the first body unearthed.

These three bodies were dressed in modern clothing, yet their faces were unfamiliar—none of the three present in the garden recognised them.

The last pit revealed the body of a girl, no older than twelve or thirteen, her hair in pigtails. Her dress was shredded by vines, exposing crisscrossing wounds on her skin, making her appear especially tragic.

From the moment the first corpse was unearthed, Zou Yan had been following Chang Xu closely, silently observing his actions.

Upon seeing the body of the young girl, she took off her jacket and gently placed it over the remains, her eyes filled with compassion. “Poor child, may the Lord bless you.”

Chang Xu put the shovel back in the corner, analysing emotionlessly, “We know that one person dies each day, and the duration of the instance lasts for three days. These three should be from the batch of players who entered the instance before us.”

“Not necessarily players, and certainly not necessarily the batch right before us.” Zou Yan said, looking up at the sky. “I remember this instance having been run many times. If three people were buried in the garden each time, there wouldn’t be just these three bodies.”

“So, it’s possible that these are clues intentionally left for us by the instance,” Chang Xu concluded.

Ye had been quietly listening to the discussion between the two, deep in thought.

Suddenly, she turned to Zou Yan and asked, “You said you ‘remember this instance has been run many times’, so does that mean you know about this instance in real life?”

“I just glanced at it on the forum; I didn’t pay attention to the details of their discussions.” Zou Yan’s expression remained unchanged, revealing no flaws. “With only three days to prepare and thousands of instances in the novice pool, I couldn’t go through each one. I initially thought that rule-based horror instances would be simple, as long as we’re careful not to violate the rules, so I skipped all those types.”

Ye seemed quite agitated and let out a sarcastic laugh. “What’s there to prepare for other instances? Just find out what kind of monsters there are and accept that if you encounter them, you might die. Any sensible person knows that only rule-based horror instances are worth preparing for in advance.”

Zou Yan apologised, “Ye, I’m sorry. I really didn’t think that far ahead at the time. I assumed all rule-based instances were team quests, so I thought if I hadn’t prepared, other players would have done their homework. I never expected things to turn out like this…”

“Don’t change the subject!” Ye’s voice suddenly rose. “You clearly know more than we do, and you’re keeping it to yourself. Everyone can see what you’re up to! Brother Shen is dead already, who’s next? Me?”

“Don’t make baseless accusations without evidence. I could just as easily suspect you.”

“Oh? Then tell me, how did you know that covering your head last night would keep you safe?”

Ye chuckled coldly, then turned to walk towards the castle door.

In her haste, she bumped into Chang Xu, the impact causing her to stumble.

Embarrassed, she turned her head before entering the door and shot Chang Xu a fierce glare.

Chang Xu, who had been innocently caught in the hostility, could only respond with a questioning look, feeling increasingly confused and disoriented.

…

The Rose Manor only serves two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, with no lunch provided.

Although the players were famished after a morning of activity, they had no complaints about this arrangement. After all, dining with Miss Anna was a torment in and of itself.

The mechanical clock on the second floor struck twelve times slowly, its ethereal chimes announcing the arrival of noon.

Chang Xu climbed the stairs to the second floor alone. As he looked up, he saw Qi Si leaning against the door to his room, a red dress in hand.

The red dress must be a clue. Chang Xu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Do you need something from me?”

Qi Si straightened up and smiled at him. “Brother Chang, want to check out the third floor with me?”

They had been at odds earlier, so why the sudden offer to cooperate?

Chang Xu asked in confusion, “Why do you want me to join you? From your perspective, I could still be a suspect in Shen Ming’s murder.”

“But that doesn’t matter,” Qi Si said.

Approaching Chang Xu was part of his plan. Among the five survivors, Chang Xu clearly had the advantage in combat, which was something Qi Si lacked.

Building on Chang Xu’s last point, Qi Si smiled and said, “Assuming your account of last night’s events is true, I suspect you have the means to deal with the supernatural. I’m rather fragile; encountering anything supernatural could be fatal for me. I need someone strong to handle those situations.”

“As for whether you killed someone or not, I don’t care. The best security is the judgement of the situation. In a world where morality is weak and ineffective, I only care about mutual benefit.”

“Cooperation offers countless benefits without drawbacks, while opposition only leads to mutual destruction. Neither of us is a fool—fixating on moral principles is a waste of time. Don’t you agree?”

Chang Xu’s brow furrowed slightly, then he heard Qi Si add, “Besides, I can’t beat you. So, partnering with me isn’t risky for you, right?”

This logic was familiar and agreeable to Chang Xu, and he nodded instinctively in agreement.

Qi Si continued, “I have the key to clearing this instance. Going to the third floor is just to verify some of my guesses.”

“If we work together, we can unravel the secrets of this instance, and everyone will be happy. But if you kill me, or if I end up dead under suspicious circumstances…”

Qi Si chuckled lightly. “Well, then you’ll have to figure out the remaining clues yourself.”

Makes sense. Chang Xu nodded again, acknowledging Qi Si’s logic.

The next moment, Qi Si, who had been standing by the door, stepped aside and gestured for him to open it. “Since we’ve decided to cooperate, how about we share the clues from each of our rooms?”

Chang Xu, without a hint of suspicion, walked up to the door, retrieved the room key from his pocket, and inserted it into the lock.

Qi Si watched the unsuspecting man’s exposed nape, inexplicably beginning to imagine the sensation of a blade gliding across the skin.

His eyes darkened momentarily as he suppressed the dangerous thought. In a voice dripping with insincerity, he added, “I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble Brother Chang to share some information first. My teammate is still alive, and he’s quite petty, never letting me reveal clues first… Who could have predicted Shen Ming would die so soon?”

Chang Xu, not one for idle banter, silently turned the key and opened the door, stepping inside.

Qi Si immediately dropped his false pretence and followed closely behind with a serious expression.

The layout of Room 3 was almost identical to that of Room 2, featuring a large bed, an oil lamp, a desk, and two chairs.

On the desk, notebooks were neatly stacked, with a piece of papyrus covered in writing placed on top. It seems that Chang Xu had been organising the clues.

Qi Si did not hesitate. He walked straight to the desk, picking up the paper and starting to read.

…

…

【Here I am trapped in time】

【Where dawn and dusk align】

【Cycles turn year after year】

【Yesterday and I reappear】

…

【I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I still remember the morning I first arrived. A cold curtain of rain fell from the sky, enveloping the world. Amidst the gloomy grey, there was a striking crimson that blended the depressing colours into a charming, dreamy lavender.】

【As I reined in my horse outside the iron gate, I saw the most adorable face through the window! Her radiance made me instantly forget the pouring rain, as if I were standing in bright sunshine. She was Anna, and from the moment I first laid eyes on her, I was hopelessly in love.】

…

【Anna and her sister Annie depended on each other, living in Rose Manor. Their parents had passed away three years ago—truly unfortunate news, leaving only the two of them in the castle without a single maidservant.】

【Their family’s fortune had dwindled in their parents’ generation, and the modest inheritance was barely enough to maintain the manor. They had to rely on selling roses to make ends meet. When I asked Anna about her future plans, she said she might marry a wealthy nouveau riche to improve their lives. “I want my sister to be happier than I am,” she told me.】

…

【Anna and I soon fell deeply in love, but Annie seemed very displeased about it. She repeatedly insisted that she didn’t need to trade her sister’s beauty for a better life. She seemed to love her sister a lot. How can I convince her that I will love Anna forever?】

【Over the past few days, I have written several letters home, subtly informing my father about Anna and me, hoping for a positive outcome.】

【If my father disagrees, and if she’s willing to give up her status for me, we could arrange a time at night to… No, this idea is too crazy!】

…

【That night, Anna never came to find me, so I had to leave alone. I returned home and spent a year convincing my father before I could return to Rose Manor.】

【When I finally saw Anna again, she seemed different. The scent of roses on her was much stronger than before, a fragrance I didn’t particularly like. She was very distant, and on several occasions, when I glanced back, I saw a coldness in her eyes that nearly pierced me.】

…

【Anna told me she believed death was the best nourishment for roses. I think I understood what she meant. It was the worst possible guess, but if it could save her, I’m willing to do whatever it takes.】

(End of Chapter)

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