Marry the NPC with Money, Wife Comes Knocking - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Yi Shuang walked toward her but did not enter her room.

Fang Ge intentionally opened the main door wider. “Sister Shuang, I ran into you again. Do you want to come in?”

“No need,” Yi Shuang refused. She had no intention of catching up. She was used to being a loner; even though Fang Ge had followed her through two dungeons, she hadn’t included Fang Ge in her inner circle.

Fang Ge wasn’t discouraged. Her emotions remained high as she asked bluntly, “Sister Shuang, I feel so much better seeing you. Can I cling to your thigh again this round?”

Yi Shuang stared at her intently. She casually drew the dagger from her waist and ran a finger along the sharp edge, asking as if in passing, “Do you understand the survival rules?”

“I do,” Fang Ge replied, unaware of any danger. She leaned her head against the wooden door, her mood dropping. “But I feel like it’s too hard. I think I’m done for this time.”

She had used up a revival card in the last points round, and now she had been sent to a death dungeon with Ye Susheng. She didn’t have enough points left to exchange for another revival card.

Yi Shuang paused her ‘sharpening’ motion. She tucked the dagger back into its sheath at her waist, bored. “Then take care of yourself. Treat these thirty days as the last thirty days of your life and just be happy.”

Sensing the perfunctory tone, Fang Ge didn’t give up and asked again, “Sister Shuang, let me go with you. I’ll follow you wherever you go and do whatever you do.”

Yi Shuang’s expression shifted. In a flash, she slipped through the door and shut it with a clean, decisive motion that made a loud thud.

It all happened so fast that Fang Ge accidentally bumped her forehead. She gasped in pain, but before she could make a sound, a slightly rough palm covered her lips, muffling her.

Yi Shuang made a silencing gesture and peered through the crack in the door.

Fang Ge’s bright eyes stared at Yi Shuang. Her heart leaped into her throat as she heard slow, steady footsteps outside.

The sky had turned completely dark, and the lights in the courtyard hadn’t been turned on yet.

The footsteps drew closer and closer, finally stopping just outside the door. Only a dilapidated wooden door-one that couldn’t withstand an attack-separated them from whatever was outside.

A white-haired woman in a red wedding dress stood outside. It was too dark to see her face clearly, but her aura made her identity obvious: it was Ye Susheng.

Yi Shuang remained exceptionally calm. She replayed everything that had just happened in her mind. She was certain Ye Susheng hadn’t seen her, but Ye Susheng was naturally erratic; it wasn’t uncommon for her to break the rules and kill people.

Night had fallen, and Ye Susheng was heading home after finishing her shift. Passing by No. 118 Courtyard, she lingered outside for a moment, pulling out her phone to message Hua Suihe and tell her she was off work.

After sending the message, Ye Susheng put her phone away.

She tilted her head and glanced sideways. Through the crack in the door, her gaze met those wary eyes.

The black mist, which blended into the night, spread out from Ye Susheng’s body like flailing claws. It lunged unceremoniously through the crack, moving like lightning to gouge out that eye.

Yi Shuang dodged quickly, but a long, bloody gash was still carved into the corner of her eye.

The black mist spat out the trace of blood with a series of disgusted sounds. It wasn’t that it hadn’t killed Yi Shuang before, but the blood of people like her was what Anomalies liked least; it was the most foul-tasting food.

Ye Susheng didn’t intend to take a life. After retracting the black mist, she walked briskly back to No. 121 Courtyard.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, both people in the room relaxed.

Yi Shuang’s hand was still covering Fang Ge’s mouth.

Yi Shuang withdrew her hand and rubbed her palm against her clothes to wipe away the strange sensation.

“Sorry, that was abrupt.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine!” Fang Ge’s eyes darted around. Her legs went weak, and she slumped directly to the floor, wrapping her arms around one of Yi Shuang’s legs.
“Big shot, Sister Shuang, since you’re already here, please just take me along as your little sidekick. I’m begging you.”

Yi Shuang tried to pull her leg away, but it wouldn’t budge; this “leg-clinger” was truly a bit heavy.

Fang Ge, wary of whether any filthy things might pass by outside the door, didn’t dare speak loudly. “Sister Shuang, I know you have other ways. I know players killing each other isn’t the only way out. Sister Shuang, if you don’t take me with you, I’ll start smelling like a corpse in a couple of days, waaaah…”

Fang Ge currently had no clue. She had been in several dungeons, and although she had experienced a lot, she still held onto her principles. She couldn’t bring herself to actively hunt other players to pave her own way.

She felt this definitely wasn’t the only way, and Yi Shuang surely had another solution. Thinking of this, Fang Ge was desperate to latch onto the big shot’s leg.

She could only gamble on Yi Shuang’s compassion and kindness.

Yi Shuang had a bit of a headache. “Let go of me.”

“Just say yes.” Fang Ge looked up with anticipation. This was her first time being so clingy, but she had no choice. If she died again, she’d be dead for real. Losing a bit of face was nothing.

Encountering someone acting like a spoiled brat for the first time, Yi Shuang was at a loss. “Get up first.”

Fang Ge immediately saw hope. “You’re agreeing?”

Yi Shuang didn’t answer but asked instead, “How many points do you have left?”

Fang Ge checked carefully. “Five thousand three hundred.”

“Buy a Preservation Card.”

Trusting Yi Shuang, Fang Ge spent two thousand points to buy the card without even asking why.

After buying it and clutching it in her hand, she finally asked about its use. “Do I put the Preservation Card on the Puppet?”

“All talisman cards lose their effect inside the coffin.” Yi Shuang grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the floor. “Stick the card on yourself. It must be on your skin. It can slow down the symptoms of cadaverization.”

Changes to the Puppet would be reflected on the player. One could only use points to exchange for talisman cards to use on themselves. For those without points, this change was uncontrollable; they would rot away completely in about seven days.

Those without Preservation Cards might try to keep the Puppet in the coffin fresh by creating ice, but this physical method would also affect the player. Surrounding the Puppet with ice meant surrounding oneself with ice, and their body movements would become sluggish.

This was the harshness of an SSS-rank dungeon. In this survival game, completing the mission wasn’t enough; one also had to survive. Only by surviving for 30 days and completing the mission could one clear the dungeon.

Fang Ge lifted her shirt in front of Yi Shuang and stuck the Preservation Card onto her stomach.

Fang Ge hopped in place to make sure it wouldn’t fall off before smoothing her clothes back down. “How exactly does it ‘slow down’ the symptoms?”

“It ensures that after 30 days, you won’t be nothing but bones,” Yi Shuang replied absentmindedly. She was listening intently to the movement outside; something was wandering around.

“Investigate who the owner of this No. 118 Courtyard you’re staying in is. I have a suspicion, but I can’t be sure yet. Confirm the head of the household and the family members first. I’ll come find you tomorrow.”

Compared to Ye Susheng, Yi Shuang could still ensure her own safety even with other Anomalies wandering outside.

After giving Fang Ge her instructions, she vaulted over the wall, her movements agile as she blended into the darkness.

Fang Ge watched her leave with her heart in her throat, then stood by the door for a while. After confirming there was no more movement outside and silently praying for safety several times, she finally returned to the room.