Welcome to Rule City - Chapter 45 - Scarlet Moon Village 2

Scarlet Moon Village had a total of seven places to stay, each with its own unique occupants:

An elderly woman with her single, unattractive son.

A young, shy-looking college student.

A silent, ugly old man and his distant relative.

A gloomy man.

A seemingly honest middle-aged couple.

A pair of siblings who looked like high school students.

And the village chief’s own family.

The players in the group began to choose their familiar routes. Some even fought over the five available spots, and it was a real fight with knives and fists. However, neither Jin-Ge nor the village chief had any intention of stopping them.

Mu Ai didn’t bother to fight with others. She casually chose a room combination that wasn’t full. Her goal was clear: to kill Jin-Ge during one of the activities. Whether or not she would help others complete the instance would depend on her mood after achieving her revenge.

Although fighting over rooms was common, no one dared to go too far under Jin-Ge’s watchful eye. When the losing side saw that their competitors had the upper hand, they would usually give up and reluctantly choose another room.

Those who had been here multiple times had an advantage. They not only knew the process for one house but also for several others, giving them more options and avoiding the need to fight over a single house.

“Since everyone has chosen, please follow your hosts. We’ll gather at the village square in half an hour for today’s activity,” the village chief announced before leaving with Jin-Ge and his cronies. The others followed their respective hosts to different parts of the village.

Mu Ai chose the silent old man and his distant relative. Her teammates included three somewhat familiar men and one unfamiliar woman.

Since they didn’t know each other well, there was almost no conversation along the way. Mu Ai noticed that the woman gave her strange looks, a mix of disdain and reluctance to provoke her.

It didn’t take long for Mu Ai to figure out why. She silently accepted the blame and continued walking as if nothing was wrong, while her mind was busy planning her next steps.

Mu Ai had read the strategy guides and knew the true identities of everyone except the village chief. In life, they were individuals, but in death, they became amalgamations of people who had committed similar sins, bearing the collective guilt of those who never repented.

For example, the two old men were actually a war criminal and his sycophant. One never felt remorse for his brutal massacres, while the other secretly honored the invaders on the conquered land.

The elderly woman with her single son was an overindulgent parent who allowed her son to act recklessly. Even after he killed his wife, she only complained about the mess and the blood that took so long to clean.

The shy-looking college student was a sadistic killer who started by torturing small animals and eventually moved on to humans.

The gloomy man was an arsonist who enjoyed watching people suffer in the fires he set, often sabotaging fire exits and equipment to ensure maximum casualties.

The seemingly honest couple were seasoned human traffickers who destroyed countless families, never feeling they were doing anything wrong.

The high school siblings were bullies who tormented anyone they disliked, often choosing their victims at random.

The village chief’s information was almost non-existent. He only appeared on the first and last days, and even those staying at his house rarely saw him.

Lost in thought, Mu Ai arrived at her lodging, a dilapidated courtyard with uneven ground and a desolate appearance.

Mu Ai and her group stayed in the left wing. The men and women had separate rooms, each with a single bed covered in thin sheets and blankets, the kind that would be considered a rip-off even at 30 a night.

The two men quickly took the best spots. Mu Ai didn’t mind and put down her luggage before following them to the village square, carefully noting the path along the way.

-Mini Map (Passive)

Map Exploration Level: 27%

Mu Ai ignored the Achievements Available and Side Quests in This Map. Her primary goal was revenge, and all other tasks were secondary. To avoid the temptation of completing all achievements and quests, she didn’t even open the menus.

Soon, the group arrived at the village square. Today’s only activity was incense meditation. Everyone was to meditate in the special incense smoke to sense the Scarlet Moon and receive its protection and guidance.

Those who had been to this instance before were not fond of this stage. Sensing the Scarlet Moon involved a kind of summoning that, while not increasing Mental Pollution, made them extremely uncomfortable. Yet, they would remember nothing upon waking, though their bodies would react to what they had experienced.

This stage couldn’t be skipped. While the daily activities could be chosen or randomized, the first day’s activity was mandatory for everyone.

Mu Ai mimicked the others, kneeling on the grass mats arranged in a circle around a large incense burner. No one liked sitting at the front, but with only 35 mats, the weaker ones were pushed forward.

The closer to the incense burner, the stronger the sensation of the Scarlet Moon, and the worse the physical discomfort afterward.

Mu Ai didn’t really care, but to maintain her cover and avoid suspicion from Jin-Ge, she reluctantly sat closer to the burner, cursing and grumbling to blend in.

The ceremony began quickly. As the snake-shaped incense was lit, the NPC host silently left, leaving the players to experience the power of the Scarlet Moon in the swirling smoke.

Mu Ai found herself amidst a cacophony of wails, surrounded by fragmented souls. The air was thick with the stench of blood, painting the scene as a living hell.

She saw countless restless spirits, their anguish tied to the sins of the NPCs. They cried, raged, and grew stronger under the Scarlet Moon, relentlessly attacking the village houses.

However, some unseen force protected the houses, preventing the spirits from breaking through. They never stopped, even as their souls dimmed and shattered, only to be revived by the Scarlet Moon and continue their futile assault.

For Mu Ai, who had seen spirits since childhood, these were clearly vengeful spirits, dangerous and terrifying. They died with unresolved grievances and sought to repay their suffering in kind.

Normally, once they achieved their revenge, their souls would dissipate and move on. But in Scarlet Moon Village, these spirits were trapped, endlessly seeking a way to break the barrier.

[You see us, you sense us. Will you help us or help them?]

Under the Scarlet Moon, Mu Ai felt like an extraordinary being. She saw the other players with their eyes closed, faces contorted in pain.

Mu Ai only felt a slight discomfort, far from unbearable. She guessed it was due to her high Mental Power, allowing her to receive more of the “guidance” mentioned in the information.

[You see us, you sense us. Will you help us or help them?]

The question echoed again, surrounding Mu Ai. After a moment’s thought, she decided to respond. While she didn’t plan to complete the tasks and achievements, she saw no reason to refuse if it was presented to her.

“I see their sins. I choose the side of justice. So… how can I help you?”

Helping those scumbags was out of the question. Mu Ai would rather kill them herself. Now that she had a choice, she would switch sides-who would want to stay with scumbags?

[Do not complete their suggested activities.]

Mu Ai asked, “But if I don’t complete the tasks, what if they don’t let me stay? Won’t I go mad under the Scarlet Moon?”

[You have helped us and possess strong Mental Power. The Scarlet Moon will protect you, not harm you. When you pass its test and leave, you will receive a gift from the Scarlet Moon.]

Mu Ai thought for a moment and decided to trust them. The enemy of her enemy might not be a friend, but at least they wouldn’t be an enemy.

“I agree. I’ll do my best to help you.”

With those words, Mu Ai sensed a change in her Talent Skill. She summoned the Rulebook and turned to the relevant page, immediately noticing the difference.

The original tasks and achievements were gone, replaced by a new set for the opposing faction.

-Side Quests in This Map (0/2)

1. Disrupt one free project.
2. Disrupt one paid project.

-Achievements Available (0/2)

1. Avenger
2. Look, the Moon!

Looking at the newly updated tasks and achievements, Mu Ai had a new idea-these tasks seemed simple and didn’t violate her principles. Maybe… she should do them?

Emmm, her plan to kill Jin-Ge was set for the second day, and she had plenty of time afterward. Instead of idling, she might as well do something productive.

Besides, she had already agreed to help. Mu Ai couldn’t bring herself to break her word.