The giant insect swarm left quickly without any reluctance, as if the deep-seated grudges from the past year and a half had all been a joke.
The surviving villagers in the village huddled together in hiding. They gazed at the direction the insects had departed, then looked at the surrounding houses reduced to ruins. It was impossible for them not to feel a sigh of sorrow.
Mu Shan walked up to one man and kicked away the broken bricks blocking her path with her toe. The people around her retreated one after another. That young man hugged his head with both hands, shrinking back and trying to bury himself in the dust and ash.
He was one of the two NPCs who had led the obstruction against the players entering the church earlier. The other one had already died under the Judgment Scale.
Mu Shan’s gaze shifted downward. “What relation is the Tasi Village Chief to you?”
The young man shuddered a little and slowly answered, “…My father.”
“How did he obtain the King Bug Larva? Did you all know about it the whole time?”
“Only my brother and I knew. The other villagers didn’t. Father wouldn’t let us tell anyone else, afraid they would let it slip.”
“The larva was encountered by chance in the old Insect Nest lair. Father fed it some homemade village brew at the time, and the thing got drunk. It was easy to bring back…”
The young man’s expression turned dazed. “We didn’t know it was a King Bug Larva. After returning to the village, the insect swarm quickly discovered its disappearance. It was too terrifying. Humans were no match for the insects at all. Many people died… But then adventurers descended from the sky. Father said with them blocking the way, we would be fine. And the shell that insect shed was gold—real gold! Outside merchants paid high prices for that stuff.”
“With the insect shells, the village built new roads, opened trade routes, constructed a church and school. We felt it was pretty good to keep that thing locked up forever. Maybe someday we could even build a castle…” The young man trailed off and buried his head deeply between his knees.
Xia Xueqin sneered coldly. “Pah, they brought this upon themselves.”
The remaining seven players in the instance stood amid the rubble and ruins. They looked up at the virtual dialog boxes slowly unfolding in mid-air.
The system’s progress notifications appeared line by line before everyone’s eyes.
Mu Shan saw these virtual dialog boxes that did not belong to human power once again, but she no longer felt the anxiety from the first time.
【Ordinary Player 537099, your Humid Heat Forest side quest is complete.
Completion: 120%
Evaluation: Excellent
Evaluation Proof: Killed instance BOSS, killed King Bug, cleared mini-game, detailed plot resolution】
【Rewards for this side quest:
Gold Coins +100
Safe House Gift Pack x1
Medical Insurance Reimbursement x1
Prop Mystery Box x1
Pastoral Gift Pack x1
Self-Service Q&A Opportunity +1】
Mu Shan: …
She suspected the 100 gold reward from the system was purely meant to annoy people.
But knowing that the Humid Heat Forest would not receive new players afterward, she was still very happy inside. Just like the Flight Snake Plague, another killing game was gone.
Under the NPCs’ bewildered gazes, several players cheered and jumped for joy. Xia Xueqin forcefully threw her hat, backpack, and such into the sky.
“It’s over! Ya-hoo—!!!”
“It’s completely over!”
There was a mad joy like finally finishing final exams and going on break.
Wang Dama and Li Gang held hands and spun in circles. Yu Da squatted by the roadside, looking exhausted as he stuffed mushrooms into his mouth.
Only Zong Rui muttered to herself while bandaging herself up. “Why is the failure penalty 3000 gold, but success only 100 gold? What a stingy iron rooster setting, so miserly…”
The side quest had ended. What remained was the main quest of surviving 20 days in the forest, but with the giant insect swarm no longer attacking, and the village gone, the only survival threat left for the players was the high temperature.
“But what about these NPCs?” Xia Xueqin pointed at the villagers standing ragged beside the ruins.
They had families in tow, carrying or holding their remaining rations and belongings on their backs. Overnight, they had gone from prosperous mountain villagers to displaced refugees.
After a while, a middle-aged man emerged from the crowd—the merchant who had traded with Mu Shan before.
He removed the small hat on his head, his expression hesitant and reserved. “Adventurer lords, the village chief is dead. We…”
Mu Shan looked at the crowd’s eyes filled with longing and fear. She thought for a moment and said, “The forest will continue to have sustained high temperatures in the future—over 60 degrees Celsius, weather humans cannot survive in. Follow the trade route out. You can seek new homes and seize the chance to start over.”
As her words fell, the villagers immediately erupted in clamor, mostly uneasy about the unknown.
Xia Xueqin shouted from the side, “Do you all still want to face those man-eating giant insects? The forest is full of poisonous fungal spores everywhere. Who knows when they’ll kill you!”
Wang Dama: “Yeah, big cities have merchants, safe city defenses, and more advanced schools. Definitely better than this little village.”
The villagers looked at each other and finally began to move slowly. Young laborers supported the middle-aged and elderly villagers, while women and children rummaged through the ruins for belongings and food, digging out unbroken bowls, or clothes and bedding from the dust.
Zong Rui and the others went to search the remaining items in the church. Mu Shan stood in the shadow of the village entrance, watching the villagers trek and migrate in the scorching heat.
She saw barefoot crying children, white-haired, dark-skinned elderly people hunched over, reaching out to wipe dust from water jars.
Suddenly, a flash appeared before her eyes, and she received a new system notification.
【Detected player generating (pity) type emotions toward NPCs.
This type of emotion, after sustained development, is one of the necessities for social stability.
Main God System supports the growth of such player emotions.】
A baffling notification with baffling content.
Mu Shan’s face remained impassive as she looked around. She was very certain this dialog box was displayed only to her. Even He Yuncong, standing not far beside her, showed no reaction.
Moreover, Mu Shan noticed this was the first time the system truly did not [require] the player to do something or make the player [choose] something.
The general meaning was: “Pity” was an emotion with very high spiritual value. As for why it was high, it was because pity, after sustained development, aided social stability.
Mu Shan guessed it was something like “social morality” or “sense of public welfare.”
But why would a killing system support emotions beneficial to social stability?
1. There was no social stability in instance worlds.
2. Real-world social stability did not need the system to maintain it.
She could not figure out what the Main God wanted to do.
Mu Shan thought for a moment and called out to the merchant man passing by her side.
“I have some dry rations here. Not much, but enough for you all to eat one meal. Things will get better once you’re out of the forest.”
The middle-aged man stared dumbfounded at the pile of foil packets that appeared out of thin air before him. He opened one and saw clean, fragrant black pepper beef noodles inside.
Over forty portions in total. If rationed carefully, plus the food dug from the ruins, the village’s elderly and children would not go hungry for the next few days and nights.
He took the lead in bowing deeply. “Thank you, miss. Thank you…”
More and more villagers gathered around to take the airplane meals, murmuring unclear thanks.
One human face after another—different appearances but uniform expressions—flashed before her eyes, ultimately turning into a system prompt.
【Player receives gratitude from NPCs. Pity-type emotions grow.】
【Player unlocks title: Charity Ambassador
Comes with 10 HP defense aura (protective shield).】
Mu Shan looked down at her hands but did not see the so-called “aura” anywhere. But 10 HP defense was more valuable than 40 boxes of airplane meals that would spoil if not eaten. After several life-and-death battles in this instance, she deeply realized how scarce her defensive items were.
At this time, Zong Rui seemed to be shouting something from the church. The others’ attention was drawn there, and Mu Shan also walked that way.
She did not see that behind her, the system slowly refreshed another prompt.
【Test results: Ordinary Player 537099
Potential growth direction: Social public welfare position (?)
Player under sustained observation.】
He Yuncong, who had been following Mu Shan, suddenly turned his head. A pair of reddened eyes stared straight into the void.
…
Soon, those lines of unseen text vanished immediately.
Zong Rui discovered a hidden compartment under the church floorboards, containing a wooden box.
“Is this David’s item?”
Xia Xueqin clapped her palm. “Player 12 died at the tavern entrance back then. The village chief deliberately took the item, disguising it as a player killing to divert our attention!”
Wang Dama: “Position 6, they ambushed us too. Seems it was also for this item.”
The few exchanged glances. Xia Xueqin suddenly said, “Shanshan contributed the most and even wasted an item at the end to send off the King Bug. I think it should go to her.”
Wang Dama raised her hand. “I agree too.”
Yu Da and Li Gang both nodded.
Zong Rui was a bit reluctant but still handed the item to her. “Here, yours.”
Mu Shan thanked her, took it, and gave it a simple look. Then she revealed a puzzled expression.
Because David’s “relic” was a chalk drawing on a blackboard.
【Chalk Drawing on Blackboard (Unknown)
Quality: Legendary
Description: Someone’s casual scribble on a blackboard, seems like a drawing of a sesame flatbread.
Usage: Hang on the wall?
Remarks: Use unknown. Perhaps can be used as decoration.】
The so-called “sesame flatbread” was just a circle with a few dots inside.
Even the kids from Mu Shan’s distant relatives drew better than this.
Xia Xueqin whispered, “Sister, I have a feeling. Items like this are usually hidden gems and will definitely be useful later.”
Mu Shan whispered back, “Borrowing your good words.”
With the village matters resolved, the NPCs moved out one after another. The forest temperature continued to rise, making it hard to stay outdoors. The players bid each other farewell at the village entrance, planning to return to their safe houses to endure the remaining 11 days of scorching heat.
Before leaving, Mu Shan thought of something and suddenly asked.
“Everyone, have you ever used the system Q&A opportunity?”
Wang Dama and the others shook their heads.
Xia Xueqin said, “I’ve heard of it, but I only know the drop rate is touching. It only refreshes under system approval.”
Zong Rui gave an affirmative response. “My team leader used it.”
Everyone’s gazes gathered on her. Zong Rui waved it off. “Not a secret. Many people know the Third Person once asked the system a question.”
“He asked: ‘When can Earth’s humans’ infinite instance game end?'”
This was also the question everyone still alive on Earth wanted to ask most.
Mu Shan: “Can you share the answer?”
Zong Rui sighed. “The system’s answer was: ‘It will stop when there is enough.'”
Xia Xueqin exploded directly. “What, playing riddle games here?”
Mu Shan pressed, “What does ‘enough’ mean?”
Zong Rui shrugged. “My team leader didn’t tell us. He only had that one Q&A opportunity, but he seemed to already have a guess.”
Wang Dama: “In the end, that question only concerns humans who haven’t entered instances. What about us? How can we leave?”
Mu Shan pondered for a moment. “I also got a Q&A opportunity.”