Jiang Yan ignored 663 and wrapped himself in the blanket, pretending to be a quail.
As he held his "hunter," he would occasionally rub Jiang Yan's head, as if the feel of his hair was particularly pleasant. Jiang Yan obediently played the role of a "pet."
Based on his years of watching horror films and reading scary stories, he knew that in games like this, being "clever" or too "curious" only leads to a quicker demise.
"You have five days left."
The "hunter," enjoying the softness and compliance of the person in his arms, squinted his green, pupil-less eyes in pleasure. Although the ram's head couldn't make human expressions, it was clear he was smiling.
At his words, the four players crammed together in the cage shivered in unison, their eyes brightening. Did he really agree to let them quit?
However, the next words from the "hunter" plunged them into despair: "You would be perfect for my specimen room. If you want to quit now, you can spend tonight there."
The "specimen room" must be the unoccupied room, which obviously wasn't a good place. The short-haired girl quickly shook her head, repeatedly saying "no."
Jiang Yan silently observed the five players trapped in the cage, feeling that he understood why, after lying on the bed in the cabin for five days, the "hunter," who usually never let him leave the room, brought him to the basement.
As a real NPC, he had two crucial pieces of information to share with the players.
However, these players were newcomers and lacked basic skills.
Upon escaping the basement, they dashed into the forest without a second thought, neither thinking nor daring to come to the second floor of the cabin to seek clues from him, this special NPC.
It seemed the main system decided that if this continued, Jiang Yan's "salary" was too easy to earn!
So today, after Li Xue's escape failed, the "hunter" had brought him in front of the remaining players, giving him a chance to reveal the "key information."
In the basement, everyone who could speak fell silent, the empty room filled with the dangerous breaths of the "hunting dogs" and the players’ muffled sobs.
Jiang Yan squirmed in the "hunter's" embrace, thinking about how to find the right moment to deliver his lines without breaking character.
His movement undoubtedly caught the attention of the "hunter" holding him.
"What's wrong, Yan Yan? Not feeling well?" The "hunter" affectionately scratched Jiang Yan's chin.
The players in the cage all turned their gazes to Jiang Yan, nestled in the "hunter's" arms.
This NPC, like them was a "sheep" to the "hunter," but unlike them, it was clear he was a cherished "sheep."
Just like people with pigs, while most pigs end up as meals, some beautiful little piglets become pets.
Jiang Yan was such a "pet."
At that moment, a thin boy with shoulder-length hair in the cage seemed to have an idea.
He timidly approached the cage's edge, gathering his courage, and spoke to the "hunter" in a feigned contemptuous tone: "The game should be fair, shouldn't it?"
Jiang Yan was surprised by the thin boy; he hadn't expected any player to stand up and talk to the "hunter."
At that moment, 663 took the opportunity to share information about the player: "Player: Zhou Hao, Age: 17, Hobbies: Playing various horror survival games."
So young?
Jiang Yan felt a pang of sympathy. Seventeen was usually the age for high school; what kind of unresolved issues led such a young person into this game?
"This kid's purpose for entering 'Jian' is different from the others," 663 said.
"Did something happen to his family?" Jiang Yan asked.
"No," 663 checked Zhou Hao's profile. "His 'obsession' for entering the game is to experience just how terrifying a real horror game can be."
Jiang Yan: "…Looks like he didn't get beaten enough at home."
"The girl next to him with short hair is his classmate, Lei Li. She was tricked into joining and has been crying since she got here, barely able to say a normal word," 663 added.
Jiang Yan understood; no wonder he was the only one willing to confront the "hunter." Youthful bravado could sometimes be a good thing.
Jiang Yan started to have high hopes for this boy, believing he might be the one who could escape this instance!
“What do you want to say?” The “Hunter” also appreciated the courage of the young man in front of him.
“The one in your arms.” Zhou Hao nodded toward Jiang Yan.
He tried hard to act fearless, but his trembling voice and the way his body shook while gripping the railing betrayed him.
“Oh?” The “Hunter’s” gaze began to turn dangerous as he tightened his hold on his “treasure.”
According to the setup, the “Hunter” had a paranoid obsession with Jiang Yan. He wouldn’t allow anyone or anything to threaten the “treasure” he held.
When Jiang Yan was called out, he perked up, thinking this was a good opportunity to deliver his lines.
Just as he cleared his throat and prepared to start, Zhou Hao’s words left him stunned.
“You said that all ‘sheeps’ must participate in this game, so what about the one in your arms?” Zhou Hao said arrogantly.
“How about this: to ensure fairness in the game, you should also put the one in your arms in the cage.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire basement fell silent.
The “sheeps” in the cage stared in disbelief at the young man who was trying hard to appear brave and indifferent.
When they entered, the main system had announced the script stating that this “sheep” was the “Hunter’s” most prized possession.
The “Hunter” would not permit him to be threatened or touched by any other beings, and anyone who dared to touch or harm this “sheep” would face the “Hunter’s” cruelest punishment.
Called out, Jiang Yan was speechless: “…”
663 remarked, “This kid has guts, but he’s not too bright.”
Saying this, 663 opened the game forum, where players watching the dungeon began to react on the system screen:
[What the heck! What is this kid doing? That’s an NPC! How could an NPC participate in the game?!]
[I thought this round would finally have a leader, but it looks like total annihilation is a certainty!]
[He seems to have no clue about the game rules! Have the players in “Jian” really dropped this low?]
[Hahaha! The NPC is confused too!]
[By the way, this NPC is quite good-looking; his eyes are actually blue! Is this a character trait given by the system?]
[Jiang Yan. I saw him in “Clown’s Nightmare”; his eyes are blue, and he looks even better in real life!]
[I’ve encountered him in that dungeon too. To put it mildly, this NPC is beautiful but unreliable; he won’t say anything unless it’s crucial information.]
[I’ve also seen him in “Morning High School.” Why does it feel like he always gets roles like this?]
[Maybe the main system thinks he suits this type?]
[I really hate this kind of naive character design.]
“Why are they talking about me?” Jiang Yan found it baffling as he looked at the bullet comments on the game forum.
In the end, the “Hunter” did not agree to let Jiang Yan into the cage.
He shot a warning at Zhou Hao: “If you keep thinking about Yanyan, I’ll let the hounds bite your head off.”
Then, amidst the ghostly howls of five hunting dogs, he carried Jiang Yan back to the bedroom on the second floor.
Jiang Yan was carefully placed on the bed, while the two-meter-tall goat-headed monster looked down at him with ominous green eyes.
“Do you want to stay with your kind too, Yanyan?” The “Hunter’s” voice was filled with temptation.
But the cold, dangerous gaze reminded Jiang Yan that if he dared to nod, the monster before him would twist his neck right then and there.
Jiang Yan obediently shook his head and then wrapped his arms around the “Hunter’s” waist in a flattering manner.
The “Hunter” was very pleased and dropped a kiss on top of his head, then went to tidy up in the bathroom behind the mirror in preparation for sleep.
After all, the players who escaped today had been declared contaminated, and the forest would soon enter the night.
Night was the time when the butcher and the corpse driver were active, and the “sheeps” dared not move around.
As far as this dungeon had progressed, the only danger Jiang Yan had encountered had been resolved.
Watching Jiang Yan lie obediently on the bed, ready to sleep, the players on the game forum couldn’t sit still anymore:
[What the hell? Is he really planning to sleep?]
[Wow! Today is the fifth day, and tomorrow is the sixth; he hasn’t even said his keywords! How can he sleep like this?]
[The “Corpse Driver” downstairs is already sweating bullets, while the “sheep” and the “Hunter” upstairs are cuddled up together.]
No matter how anxious the corpse driver was, Jiang Yan as a “sheep,” was certainly not in a hurry.
He let the “Hunter’s” long, massive hand grip his waist and casually said, “Turn off the lights.”
However, the “Hunter” did not intend to let go of his little lamb so easily.
His hands began to roam over Jiang Yan’s body, and his green eyes narrowed slightly: “Yanyan, you should give me a goodnight kiss.”
“I refuse.” Jiang Yan looked at the goat-headed monster holding him, feeling somewhat puzzled.
Why did he suddenly want a goodnight kiss? Has he ever raised a cat? Cats definitely wouldn’t take the initiative to kiss their owners
Just then, the main system broadcasted a very strange message:
[Dungeon: “Sheep’s Forest,” Dungeon Progress: 20%]
[NPC: Jiang Yan, Violation Penalty: -100 Points, please kiss the BOSS immediately.]
Jiang Yan: “??”
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