Chapter 22 - The Vanished Mermaid (Part 15)

Can’t we go back? How do we get out then?

The players began to worry.

Li Zhi, displaying his bold nature, frowned and asked directly, “If we can’t go back, how do we get out? We know you’re trying to harm us, but why are you being so blatant about it?”

Via secretly gave Li Zhi a thumbs-up and then exchanged a look with Li Qi Feng: He’s even bolder than me.

Li Qi Feng returned the look: He’s genuinely clueless.

Luo Yiran, observing everything: “…”

“You can get out,” the staff member replied calmly. “Just keep moving forward.”

Everyone looked at him with suspicion.

The staff member remained unfazed and took a few steps back, bowing slightly. “Please, go ahead.”

The group looked at the entrance, and Fang Jincheng suggested, “Rock-paper-scissors, the loser goes first.”

“No need, I’ll go first,” the doll said directly, and then he went in.

Guan Cheng followed first, then Li Qi Feng and Via.

The remaining people exchanged glances and followed as well.

Artel, who often had gaps in his memory, seemed to recognize the place. He looked at the descending stairs and said to the doll, “I think I’ve been here before.”

The doll was adjusting his hat and asked, “What were you doing here?”

“I don’t know, I can’t remember,” Artel replied, curiously looking at the curtain ahead.

The doll didn’t ask further. He controlled the magician to lift the curtain, revealing a passage bathed in cool blue light.

Via peeked over and commented, “This color looks really cool. Is it different from the underwater world in reality?”

Guan Cheng, who had been to an underwater world before, didn’t notice anything unusual. “It seems normal.”

There were some fish tanks, and ahead was the entrance to the undersea tunnel. Next to the entrance was a worn-out sign that vaguely read, “Single passage, no reverse.”

“If it seems normal, that’s what’s abnormal,” Via said, clenching his fist but showing clear excitement. “But I’ve never been to an underwater world. Let’s go in.”

The underwater world seemed quite normal. They passed by each fish tank without any incidents.

However…

“They said the only rule is not to go back, but it seems like we can’t do anything,” Via said, stomping his foot in frustration. He stared at the stickers on the fish tanks: “No tapping on the glass, no feeding… What’s the point?”

“In reality, you can’t feed the fish either,” Guan Cheng pointed out, recalling the rules of the underwater world he had visited.

Via fell silent for a moment, then looked at the fish tanks with a mischievous glint in his eye. “If the only rule is not to go back, does that mean we can ignore the other rules?”

“No, you can’t.”

The masked staff member appeared out of nowhere, looking very serious. “Our fish are fed specific food at scheduled times. You can’t feed them.”

“Then why say there’s only one rule…” Li Zhi muttered.

The staff member smiled at him. “It’s to emphasize the importance of not going back.”

“…”

Seeing that no one responded, the staff member politely walked to the side. “I’ve already closed the door, so I’ll guide you through the tour. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“I have one,” Via raised his hand first.

“Go ahead.”

“What kind of special food do you feed them?” Via asked, looking genuinely curious.

The staff member replied, “I’m sorry, I didn’t finish my earlier statement.”

Via tilted his head. “Huh?”

The staff member continued, “If you have any questions, feel free to ask, but I may not be able to answer them.”

Via: “…”

The doll looked at the spotted fish in the tank and suddenly spoke, “It’s probably better if he doesn’t answer. If he told us they feed the fish with human meat, everyone might get scared.”

…

After a few steps in silence, Fang Jincheng couldn’t help but say, “Doll, you didn’t have to be so explicit…” Now, looking at the beautiful fish in the tanks made his back feel cold and a bit nauseous.

Luo Yiran was lost in thought and didn’t pay much attention to Fang Jincheng’s words. He just casually replied, “Okay.”

They passed through the fish tank area without incident and arrived at the entrance to the undersea tunnel.

In reality, the undersea tunnel is usually the most attractive part of an underwater world.

Via, who had been dragging his feet, perked up again. He bounced on his toes, causing his curly hair to bounce as well. This made Li Qi Feng laugh. “After this instance, I’ll take you to a real underwater world.”

Via happily agreed.

When everyone stopped talking, the staff member cleared his throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re about to enter the undersea tunnel. To make the viewing experience more enjoyable, we’ve set up a fun quiz at the end of the tunnel.”

Li Zhi quickly interjected, “That’s really not necessary.”

The staff member pretended not to hear him. “Remember, don’t go back.”

Luo Yiran looked up. “You keep emphasizing this… Does that mean the quiz will try to make us go back?”

The staff member: “…”

He forced a smile. “Since you’re so curious, let me explain the rules.”

Luo Yiran chuckled lightly, and Artel added fuel to the fire with an “Oh wow, you guessed it.”

The staff member’s eyes twitched, but he continued, “At the end, there are ten connected squares. Passing through them will allow you to exit.”

“But to pass each square, you need to answer a question,” the staff member explained, his dark eyes scanning the group. “These questions aren’t difficult, but if you fail to answer or answer incorrectly, you’ll move back one square.”

“…”

“That’s ridiculous,” Li Zhi blurted out. “You said we can’t go back!”

“Yes,” the staff member finally smiled again, looking expectant. “If you go back, you can’t get out.”

Luo Yiran glanced at Artel and sighed deeply before asking, “Does that mean we can never get out?”

“No,” the staff member denied. “You just need to stay and watch over the underwater world for one night.”

“Because someone always tries to cause trouble at night. If you can catch the troublemaker, even better.”

Staying overnight and dealing with troublemakers…

Everyone fell silent, suddenly wishing they were back at the hotel.

“Let’s go,” the staff member said, stepping back and bowing once more.

This time, the group moved very slowly, recalling everything they’d seen so far-how many fish, how many tanks, how many species-just in case the questions were about these details.

When they reached the ten squares, they all stopped simultaneously.

Artel tilted his head, looking at the squares curiously. “Do I have to go too?”

“You can,” the staff member replied without hesitation.

Then he pointed at Li Qi Feng. “You go first.”

Li Qi Feng looked up at the staff member. Before he could say anything, Via protested, “Why?”

“Random selection,” the staff member smiled. “Don’t worry, the questions are really easy.”

Via wanted to argue, but Li Qi Feng stepped onto the first square, turning back to reassure Via with a look. “It’s okay, everyone has to go.”

Via grumbled but stayed quiet, occasionally glancing at the staff member.

The staff member took out a notebook and flipped to a page. “What’s your name?”

Li Qi Feng hesitated for a moment, the name “Li Qi Feng” on the tip of his tongue, but he paused before saying it.

The staff member smiled. “Congratulations, you can move to the next square.”

The second, third, and fourth questions were equally simple-age, gender, and so on.

Fang Jincheng squinted and clenched his fist. “Something’s off. It can’t be this easy.”

But strangely, even up to the eighth question, the questions remained trivial, as if a child was curious about Li Qi Feng’s information.

Two squares left.

Li Qi Feng stepped onto the ninth square and looked at the staff member.

The staff member’s smile widened, almost stretching his mask. “Ninth question: What’s your task?”

“…”

Li Zhi nudged Fang Jincheng, excitedly. “See, I told you there was a catch!”

Via’s hand dropped, and he quickly pulled out a small knife, playing with it in his hand. His round face showed a cold smile. “Impressive, asking these questions near the end.”

Usually, people don’t want to give up near the end, but to continue, they have to answer.

The staff member didn’t turn around. He told Li Qi Feng, “If you don’t want to answer, you can stay overnight in the underwater world. I’d be happy to have you.”

Li Qi Feng was silent for a moment, then made a downward gesture to Via.

Via grumbled but stopped spinning the knife.

Li Qi Feng answered, “Kill the mermaid.”

The staff member feigned surprise. “How scary. The mermaid is Water City’s treasure.”

Li Qi Feng ignored him and stepped onto the final square. “What’s the last question?”

The staff member didn’t mind. He raised his notebook and loudly asked, “Name the creatures that appear in Water City at night.”

As soon as he finished, Via laughed angrily. “Is this a confession session?”

Li Qi Feng raised his hand and made a fist at Via.

Via was fuming but stayed put, spinning the knife faster and faster. “My hand’s getting itchy.”

The staff member ignored him and told Li Qi Feng, “Please answer.”

Li Qi Feng didn’t hesitate. He organized his thoughts and said, “The monsters mutated by the pearls.”

The staff member’s smile widened, barely contained by his mask.

“And,” Li Qi Feng continued, “the prisoners from the prison.”

The staff member’s smile faded. “Correct.”

Luo Yiran twirled his finger and exchanged a glance with Li Qi Feng, then looked down-prisoners appearing in Water City at night… Aren’t they afraid of the mermaid monsters?

Or are they working together?

And escaping from prison seems too easy, like they can come and go as they please.

“Next, Luo Yiran.”

The staff member’s voice interrupted the doll’s thoughts.

Luo Yiran paused, then controlled the magician to step onto the first square without waiting for the staff member to urge him.

The staff member was taken aback.

Luo Yiran urged him, “Please ask.”

The staff member hesitated before saying, “First question, what’s your name?”

“Luo Yiran,” he answered.

He moved to the second square.

The questions flew by quickly, and it seemed like Luo Yiran was in a hurry. By the fifth square, the doll even seemed eager, looking at the staff member expectantly.

The staff member paused and moved Luo Yiran’s sixth question to the fifth: “What’s your task?”

Fang Jincheng felt indignant for Luo Yiran. “They haven’t even asked the doll’s age yet!”

The staff member turned around, his face devoid of the smile he had when facing Li Qi Feng. “No noise.”

Then he turned back to the doll. “Please answer.”

The doll, sitting on the magician’s hat brim, gently swung his legs and smiled warmly at the staff member. “Tonight, let’s protect the underwater world together.”

With that, he controlled the magician to step back one square-

“I won’t answer this question.”