Survival Game? But She's Already Slaughtered the Entire Server - chapter 36

Chapter 36

[Host, I exist because of you. From beginning to end, there is only you.]

Ruan Tian tapped open the Holographic Screen and casually accepted Task 2 as well.

After hearing 001’s words, she didn’t even lift her eyelids, lazily replying, “These days, even systems know how to sweet-talk people.”

[001: …]

It felt like no matter what it said, it was wrong.

Just after Ruan Tian accepted Task 2, she was about to send a message to Zhang Wang, telling him she’d already caught her target and asking him to come to the courtyard to pick her up.

She had just finished editing the message but hadn’t sent it yet when Li Huainan’s voice came from the dining table.

“Hey, food’s ready. Come wash up and eat.”

“Okay.”

For Ruan Tian, eating was more important than any task.

She decisively closed the Holographic Screen and went to sit at the table.

On the table were two vegetarian dishes and one meat dish.

Stir-fried wild greens and cold cucumber salad.

The wild greens looked bright and fresh, but she didn’t recognize them at all.

The most eye-catching was the plate of spicy chicken. Golden chunks of chicken were buried in a pile of shiny red chili peppers, glistening with oil. The numbing aroma of Sichuan peppercorns mixed with the roasted fragrance of chicken, and the spicy scent teased Ruan Tian’s nose like tiny hooks.

She picked up her chopsticks, planning to try a piece, but Li Huainan stopped her.

Ruan Tian looked at him, displeased. If he didn’t give her a satisfactory explanation, he was done for.

Li Huainan seemed oblivious to her dangerous gaze and pointed toward the kitchen. “Forgot what you did this morning? Go wash your face and hands first.”

Ruan Tian fell silent.

She had just killed someone; going straight to eat did seem a bit off.

But that’s how she’d always done things before.

Li Huainan smiled. “Things aren’t like they used to be, but if you have the means, you can let yourself live a little better.”

“Go on.”

Ruan Tian went.

Because of that line-let yourself live a little better.

She thought it made sense and was working toward that direction.

When she finished washing her hands and came out, Li Huainan had already served the rice.

Ruan Tian sat down, and Li Huainan, using clean chopsticks, picked up a piece of chicken for her.

“This spicy chicken is one of my specialties. Give it a try.”

“Afraid you can’t handle too much spice, so I didn’t use a lot of chilies.”

Ruan Tian took the piece of chicken he’d picked up, set it aside on the table without even looking up. “I don’t eat food picked by others.”

After saying that, she picked up a piece for herself and put it in her mouth.

The chicken’s skin was crispy and fragrant, the meat inside tender and juicy. The fresh, spicy, and savory flavor exploded on her tongue, and Ruan Tian’s eyes lit up instantly.

She liked this taste.

Li Huainan didn’t mind her action. A faint smile appeared on his lips, his eyes calm and gentle. There wasn’t a trace of awkwardness in his tone; instead, there was a hint of apology. “Sorry, I was presumptuous. Don’t take it to heart.”

With that, he sat down on Ruan Tian’s side and started eating.

Ruan Tian was happily eating, but when she saw his actions, her brows furrowed again.

Li Huainan noticed her reaction and asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t like it?”

Seeing Ruan Tian remain silent, he quickly understood, a flash of realization in his eyes. He raised his brows slightly, adding just the right touch of humor, “Hey, I just crawled back from the Gate of Hell and have been running around all day. You wouldn’t be so heartless as to not even let me have a bite, right?”

Ruan Tian: “…”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to eat.

She just didn’t like sharing a table with others.

Because she never had before.

She wasn’t used to it-really wasn’t used to it.

“No.”

In the end, Ruan Tian didn’t kick him out.

Since his cooking was pretty good, she let him sit at the table. After a few more meals, she’d probably get used to it.
Ruan Tian thought this way and didn’t dwell on it.

The two quietly ate their meal.

…

Meanwhile…

In a villa in the South District, a large dark carpet lay at the center of the spacious living room, surrounded by leather sofas filled with young, strong men.

Seated at the head was a short, thin man.

His fingertips tapped slowly on the armrest, the rhythm unhurried yet carrying a heavy sense of oppression.

His gloomy gaze swept the crowd. His voice was chilling and forceful: “It’s been so long, and you still haven’t found out who killed my brother?”

The underlings exchanged glances, but none answered.

“Speak up. Are you all mute now?”

“Usually you brag about your abilities, but when it comes to actually doing something, you’re all useless?”

“A bunch of trash!”

At this moment, one of the young men spoke up: “Big Brother, this might have something to do with Li Huainan.”

Zhang Wang frowned: “Who is he?”

The young man replied, “Just an ordinary player. He’s not on the Power Ranking or the Level Ranking, but he’s in the top ten of the Popularity Ranking.”

“I heard from other players that Second Brother had a conflict with him over a woman some time ago. Second Brother even threatened him, saying he’d make him regret ever appearing in this world.”

“But later, Second Brother didn’t actually do anything. I heard that guy just went about his business as usual, running dungeons and doing quests, as if he didn’t care about Second Brother at all.”

“Also, I asked around among players who left the city today. Someone saw Li Huainan and a woman returning from the wild, bloodied and wounded. Looks like they’d been through a fierce fight.”

Zhang Wang gave a direct order: “Go find out where Li Huainan lives. Once you find him, bring him here.”

Innocent or not, just grab him first.

“Yes.”

The young man accepted the task and left with his men.

At that moment, Zhang Wang’s Holographic Screen reacted.

[Hello Player, the Bounty Task you posted has been completed and submitted by a player. Please check the details and confirm settlement promptly.]

As soon as the notification sounded, Zhang Wang opened the task details page. The interface clearly showed that Task 1 was completed.

He clicked on it and saw a description of how Zhang Yang and the others were killed, with the culprit’s player ID at the end: Ruan Tian.

Zhang Wang stared at the name, his murderous intent nearly tangible.

He gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words: “Ruan Tian?”

The underlings below were stunned.

They knew this name all too well.

A celebrity in Zone 8888 lately.

One of the underlings asked, “Boss, could it be that Ruan Tian from the Server-wide Announcement a few days ago?”

“Most likely.”

“Just because she cleared a first dungeon, she thinks she’s something special? Around here, even Liu Mufeng has to show Big Brother some respect. A newcomer like her isn’t worth mentioning.”

“Boss, leave this to me. I guarantee I’ll bring that bitch back and avenge Second Brother and the others.”

“Exactly – if she dares lay a hand on our Second Brother, even death would be a luxury for her.”

“….”

The underlings chattered on.

Zhang Wang wasn’t really listening; his attention was focused entirely on the Holographic Screen.

The screen clearly showed that Task 2 had already been accepted and completed by a player.

Current status: Pending confirmation.

Below was a line of small text: [Please establish a Real-time Connection with the player to verify task completion and details. Once confirmed, you may settle the reward.]

Zhang Wang frowned: That fast?

He’d just posted the task, and someone had already completed it and successfully captured Ruan Tian.

Such efficiency?

Was it because he spent gold coins?