Welcome to Rule City

By the time Meng Hao and the others heard the commotion and came upstairs, Mu Ai had already given the uninvited Ghost Brother a good thrashing. It seemed she could not only see these entities invisible to ordinary people but also touch them.

When she was younger, Mu Ai suffered because of this ability, but as she grew older, she gradually found ways to deal with them. It wasn’t about brute strength; it was all about technique.

“Mu Ai! Are you okay?” Sano, being one of the only two women in Under the Bronze, naturally took the lead and entered first. She was momentarily speechless at the sight of pillows and blankets strewn across the floor and the bed in disarray. After a few seconds, she casually remarked, “Did you have trouble sleeping or were you having a nightmare?”

Mu Ai, with a deadpan expression, was holding the Ghost Brother like a dog, which made her posture look a bit odd to the living, as if she had twisted herself in an improper exercise.

“No worries, just caught a Ghost Brother,” Mu Ai pointed at the forlorn-looking entity and spoke calmly, “You can’t see it, but trust me, it’s really there.”

Anton poked his head in from behind Sano, scanning the room with a “tsk tsk” sound: “Look at this, anyone who didn’t know might think…”

“Anton-”

Meng Hao’s warning and Sano’s elbow arrived simultaneously, prompting Anton to mime zipping his lips, indicating he wouldn’t speak further. He stepped back, giving space to the others. Since everything was fine, he had no reason to intrude into a young lady’s room late at night.

“It’s alright, I can handle it. Sorry for the noise earlier, it won’t happen again,” Mu Ai said, holding the Ghost Brother who kept whining in pain, yet she showed no sign of loosening her grip. Instead, she tightened it slightly, preventing the ghost from struggling. “You all go back to sleep; I won’t disturb you. I’ll explain everything tomorrow; this task is a bit urgent.”

The haunting apartment task had transformed into a Villa Area Quest, with the progress bar remaining the same, satisfying Mu Ai’s regret of not being able to continue clearing the map after leaving Building 2.

Since Mu Ai said so, the others yawned and returned to their rooms, with none staying behind to watch. Their friend had her secrets, and since she wasn’t ready to share, it was best not to pry.

But a haunted villa…

Forget it, better to sleep.

Once everyone left, Mu Ai finally released her grip on the Ghost Brother, raising a finger to warn him, “Stay put, don’t make me unleash my ultimate move!”

There was no ultimate move, just a verbal threat. Whether the ghost believed it or not, he obediently stayed aside, watching Mu Ai tidy up the bed.

“Alright, tell me, what’s this Timed Quest?” Mu Ai asked him, “I just arrived at the villa and triggered it. If no one who can see you shows up, will this task remain undone forever?”

The male ghost scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed: “Well, this is Guize City, and we have to follow a set of rules too. To put it simply, it’s like you changed jobs, and the unfinished projects followed you, so that’s why I came to find you.”

Mu Ai gave him a deadpan look: “Oh.”

No wonder the previous progress followed her; it seemed this thing was bound to her.

The male ghost made a floating gesture: “So, are you coming?”

Mu Ai followed, her expression unchanged. Although there were rules here, thanks to Meng Hao and the others’ efforts, they had been modified to suit human survival. Going out at night didn’t require candles or wearing white clothes and wigs; it was quite comfortable.

In the kitchen, a pitiful little ghost girl was trying hard to “sit” on a chair instead of “floating” above it. Her hands were on the table, chin resting on them, like a begging puppy.

“Sister, you’re here. I’m so hungry.”

Mu Ai glanced at her and turned to leave, only for the little ghost girl to call out to her in a melodious, haunting tone.

“Mu Ai sister, I’m so hungry. Today is my birthday; could you make me a bowl of Longevity Noodles?”

[Side Quest: Before midnight, make a bowl of Longevity Noodles for Xiao Hong]

“You want-” Mu Ai’s words halted as the task popped up, seamlessly switching to another sentence, “Would you like an egg with that?”

In the face of a task, Mu Ai could be flexible. So what if the ghost girl had a pale face, wore a red dress, and was named Xiao Hong?

It’s just a bowl of noodles, Mu Ai thought she might as well have some midnight snack herself.

The villa’s kitchen had a large fridge filled with easy-to-cook instant foods. Anyone hungry and not wanting to go out could find food here. The rule was to contribute money or effort on the next shopping day and clean up their used dishes and food packaging.

Mu Ai found a bag of noodles in the fridge, then put water in a pot and cracked an egg into it, making a bowl of “Longevity Noodles” for Xiao Hong, who was celebrating her birthday today, just before midnight. She then listened indifferently as the male ghost sang a wildly off-key birthday song.

[Side Quest: Before midnight, make a bowl of Longevity Noodles for Xiao Hong (Completed)

Rewards: Community Reputation +15, Purple Coins +5, Experience +10]

The task was completed, and Xiao Hong finished her noodles. She wiped her mouth and swayed her head, giving her verdict: “Today I had a bowl of braised pork noodles, a bowl of shrimp noodles, and a bowl of chicken and mushroom noodles. Yours was the most basic, just clear soup with egg… But to be fair, your cooking isn’t bad. I’ll come to you again next year.”

“Heh.” Mu Ai gave a fake smile, “Well, thank you for the compliment.”

“You’re welcome.” Xiao Hong returned the fake smile, her black eyes rolling around her pale face, before jumping off the chair to make her escape.

But Mu Ai, who had been anticipating this move, grabbed her by the collar and dragged her back.

“Running off after eating?” Mu Ai pointed at the clock, “It’s past midnight now; hitting you doesn’t count as hitting a birthday girl.”

Xiao Hong struggled fiercely, but her short limbs couldn’t touch Mu Ai, who had enhanced her physical strength. Several times she tried to change forms, but each attempt was suppressed by Mu Ai’s merciless grip.

A few minutes later, Xiao Hong was exhausted, regretting choosing this place as her last stop. She should have gone home after the shrimp noodles, instead of listening to that fool who said there was someone here who could trigger tasks.

Ugh, seeing a jinx on her birthday, her whole ghostly self-felt terrible!

“Can we have a quiet conversation now?” Mu Ai placed the ghost back on the chair, glancing at the trembling ghost brother, and pointed to another chair, commanding, “You sit too, I have questions for you.”

“I won’t talk to you!” Xiao Hong huffed, “You’re the bad guy who took my pocket money!”

Mu Ai flicked her finger against Xiao Hong’s forehead with a crisp snap, mocking, “Heaven doesn’t grant, you must bear the consequences-heard of that? Oh, I forgot, you’re just a first-grader, not the type who wears glasses and says ‘there’s only one truth.'”

Xiao Hong glared at Mu Ai, sulking silently.

Mu Ai continued, “Tell me, how did you escape from the Instance, and what about Xiao Ming and Xiao Gang?”

“I won’t tell you, bleh bleh bleh.” Xiao Hong stuck out a pitch-black tongue, looking creepy but surprisingly not scary at all.

Mu Ai smiled, pulling out her wallet and placing a Purple Coin worth 1 on the table: “One question, one coin. Want to answer? Honestly, you’re much livelier than in the Instance.”

“Work has rules to follow.” Xiao Hong eyed the Purple Coin with longing, her black eyes seemingly glowing with holy light, “Are you really going to keep your word this time? No tricks or deceit?”

“As long as it’s a truthful answer, I’ll keep my word.” Mu Ai nodded, knowing that a few Purple Coins, or even hundreds, were worth it for real information.

“Deal!” Xiao Hong snatched the Purple Coin from the table, “I already answered one question earlier.”

Mu Ai didn’t object, pulling out another coin and placing it on the table: “You mentioned working, explain in detail? Don’t brush me off with one sentence; that won’t do.”

“Work is just work-” Xiao Hong really wanted to use that sentence to complete her answer, but hearing Mu Ai’s latter part, she could only pout and continue, “It’s just to earn some pocket money. We formal residents can register directly, and if there’s a suitable job, we’ll be dispatched.”

Mu Ai thought of the other two kids and the Bullman: “What about Xiao Ming and Xiao Gang, are they like you?”

Xiao Hong replied, “They can’t, they’re just part of the Instance itself-only relatively important roles have a chance to be played by actors. But not all important roles are actors; I don’t quite understand, so don’t ask me further.”

Mu Ai placed more money on the table: “Do you have to follow the script once you’re inside?”

Xiao Hong recalled her miserable work experience, glaring fiercely at Mu Ai: “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done your homework! I hate homework!”

Mu Ai: “You mentioned eating other noodles today; are there others in the community like me who can see you?”

Xiao Hong’s black eyes filled her sockets, switching to white as if rolling her eyes: “Of course, you’re not the only one. Don’t ask me who they are; I won’t tell.”

Mu Ai pressed on: “Can’t say or don’t want to say?”

Xiao Hong was speechless for a while before reluctantly speaking: “Can’t say.”

Mu Ai understood, recognizing it as a protective mechanism. She continued asking many questions, some Xiao Hong knew, some she didn’t. The Ghost Brother also bravely answered a few, then handed over his earned Purple Coins under Xiao Hong’s fierce gaze.

This Q&A session lasted about half an hour, during which Mu Ai even called and woke the others. Everyone from Under the Bronze gathered in the kitchen, relentlessly extracting information from Xiao Hong and the Ghost Brother, who were invisible to them.

When Xiao Hong and the Ghost Brother finally left, they were both dazed, especially Xiao Hong, who vowed never to approach this villa again. She never wanted to encounter Mu Ai again, even though she earned some money, she felt she had divulged too much. If her mom found out, her little bottom might be in trouble.

So scary.

Especially when Mu Ai made her wash the dishes before leaving. Xiao Hong, who had roamed Guize Community and Instances for so many years, had never been defeated so thoroughly. If she had known, she wouldn’t have coveted that bowl of clear soup with egg noodles!

…

But that bowl of noodles, it was really delicious!