Ch. 6 - None of My Business

The confined space of the instant dungeon leaves little room for dodging, even with increased speed.

Constitution seems more suited for taking hits, which isn't particularly useful right now.

As for Mind, it can't be upgraded yet.

Ultimately, all three newly gained Attribute Points went into Strength.

After allocating the points, Zuo Chengan's updated stats were as followed:

[Player: Zuo Chengan]

[Level: Unranked]

[Mind: 97/100]

[Constitution: 6]

[Strength: 8]

[Speed: 7]

[Inventory: Tetanus Serum x1 (consumable)]

[Skill: Eye of Truth]

…

It was difficult for Zuo Chengan to gauge how much strength three Attribute Points could truly add without proper equipment for testing.

However, the difference was palpable—his axe and small wooden shield, which had previously felt slightly cumbersome, now seemed almost weightless in his hands. They felt less like real weapons and more like flimsy props made of cardboard.

Clearly, it was time to find a more suitable weapon when the opportunity presented itself.

After coating his axe with Tetanus Serum, the sharp metallic tang lingering in the air, the game's system chime broke the silence.

[Dawn has arrived! The Hunter has retreated.]

The Hunter was already dead, so it wasn't going anywhere. Yet, as the game's notification echoed through the corridor, the Hunter's unpleasant remains—its skull cleaved in two and its body battered beyond recognition—began to rapidly disintegrate.

Within moments, there was nothing left on the floor but Zheng Ren's bloodstains, a stark reminder of the night's carnage.

Li Yueqiu's expression turned panicked as she realized the game wasn't over. "Why hasn't it ended? Does this mean we have to survive all seven days before we can leave?!"

The sound of locks clicking echoed one after another.

Four people emerged cautiously from their rooms, their faces calm, though their timing left no room for doubt.

They weren't surprised to see the three survivors standing in the corridor. The thin walls had betrayed everything. They'd heard the fight rage on through the night and knew it had ended when the tumult fell silent.

The Hunter was dead.

But not showing up while the others were battling for their lives, only to saunter out confidently after the danger had passed? That took the kind of shamelessness only a hardened soul could master.

Perhaps aware of how it might look, the others had chosen to remain in their rooms until sunrise, saving themselves the awkwardness of stepping into the aftermath too soon.

Still, the Hunter's death had breathed hope into everyone.

A peaceful night seemed possible after all. It was proof that the Hunters weren't the invincible nightmares they'd been made out to be.

If we all work together...

Well, no one dared say it aloud. Some thoughts were best left unsaid.

Liu Shuang's gaze shifted to Room 201, its door mangled and bloodied, then to Room 202, its surface scarred with deep claw marks.

He didn't bother to hide his scrutiny, so the others naturally followed his line of sight, taking in the damage to the two rooms that had been targeted.

Finally, Liu Shuang voiced the question weighing on everyone's mind. "The first night, it was 201. Last night, 202. Does that mean the next Hunter will follow the sequence—203, 204, 205—attacking in order?"

Apart from Zuo Chengan, the faces of those whose room numbers Liu Shuang had just called out darkened significantly.

Li Yueqiu, in particular, turned pale as though she'd seen a ghost.

"Tonight… it's me?" she muttered, trembling.

If she'd known this earlier, she wouldn't have bothered helping last night. She could've saved her ability for herself.

Meanwhile, those with higher-numbered rooms, especially the occupants of 207 and 208, looked visibly relieved. Their worry evaporated, and a smug air settled over them.

"So that's all it is? Just sequential attacks? Hah, what a simple rule," someone from 207 said with a chuckle as if all the tension from the past few nights had been overblown.

The dungeon spanned seven days, which meant six nights. If the Hunter took out one player each night, then those in Rooms 207 and 208 wouldn't have to do anything. They could just lie back and wait for victory to fall into their laps.

Most people, after learning this rule, would still at least pretend to care about those in the earlier-numbered rooms—no need to rub salt into the wound of their looming deaths. They'd slap on a mask of concern while secretly celebrating their luck.

But Liu Shuang, the occupant of Room 207, wasn't particularly skilled at masking his feelings—or perhaps he simply didn't care to try anymore. His exaggerated look of relaxation made no effort to conceal his relief.

A plainly dressed man from Room 206 couldn't take it anymore. He pointed an accusatory finger at Liu Shuang, his voice shaking with anger. "Why are you so happy? What's your deal, huh?"

Room 206 was just one number away from safety. If only he'd been assigned to 207, he wouldn't have to worry at all!

Caught off guard, Liu Shuang awkwardly stammered out an apology, his attempt to soothe the situation clumsy at best. "Hey now, come on… Let's, uh, just focus on the bigger picture here. You know, like honoring the dead or something."

But his half-hearted attempt at reassurance only fanned the flames.

The man from Room 206 grew even more agitated, especially when he thought about the real-world stakes: his dying mother in the hospital, relying on his next paycheck for a life-saving surgery. If he died here, she wouldn't survive either.

He stormed back to Room 206, slamming the door and erupting into a fit of anguished screams.

Even the bespectacled man from Room 205, who had first pointed out the attack pattern, looked uneasy. His room was next in line after tonight.

Meanwhile, Liu Shuang acted as if none of this had anything to do with him, now comfortably relegating himself to the role of an impartial observer.

"The Hunters can be killed, right? If we work together, we can survive this. Just like the three of them did last night," he remarked.

Li Yueqiu almost gagged at his words, the nausea hitting her like she'd just eaten spoiled leftovers.

Work together? she thought bitterly. Where was your noble teamwork spirit last night when we were actually fighting for our lives?

Unsurprisingly, no one acknowledged Liu Shuang's suggestion.

Sensing the lack of enthusiasm, he shrugged. "Fine, suit yourselves. It's your problem, not mine."

Now that he was convinced he wouldn't be targeted, he no longer clung to the group like before.

Li Yueqiu glanced around, mentally assessing the group's remaining strength.

Aside from herself, there was the severely injured Zheng Ren, the stoic but distant Zuo Chengan, and the utterly unhinged man in Room 206.

As for the bespectacled man in 205? She didn't count him in.

Something about his quiet, submissive demeanor screamed "snake in the grass". He seemed the type to silently nurse grudges, waiting for just the right moment to plunge a knife into someone's back.

That left four people—one critically injured, one mentally broken. She herself wasn't in great shape either. Even her skill, Double Kick, was useless.

With her Constitution stat under the minimum requirement of 7, using it would damage her legs—once would cause cramps and sprains; twice might permanently damage her tendons. She could cripple herself.

As she brooded over their slim chances, Zuo Chengan broke the silence, staring thoughtfully at the row of doors. "Actually… we might not have to fight the Hunter at all."

Liu Shuang scoffed, mistaking Zuo Chengan's calmness for fear-induced delirium. "Not fighting the Hunter at all? What's your plan, to commit suicide in advance?"

Ignoring him, Zuo Chengan gestured for Li Yueqiu to help move Zheng Ren back to his room in 202.

Once Zheng Ren was settled, Li Yueqiu was about to leave, but Zuo Chengan grabbed her arm.

"Wait," he said simply. "You're staying with me tonight."

Li Yueqiu froze, eyes wide. "What?!"

She darted a few steps back, crossing her arms over her chest in suspicion. "What do you want? I'd rather die—no, I'd rather smash my head into a wall—than let you get your way!"

Zuo Chengan sighed, too tired to argue with her misunderstanding. Instead, he glanced up toward the hovering stream of glowing text only he could see.

[Whoa! He's figured out how to clear the game with no casualties? Is this guy a genius?]

[What's so impressive about this? I'd have thought of it ages ago. People from higher worlds are just naturally smarter.]

[Exactly. The rules are simple. Otherwise, why do you think Night of Screams is a Stage 1 instant? It's easy to figure out and avoid risks. That's why so many players come here in groups to grind for points.]

[True. I've seen dozens of Screaming Night dungeon runs. Experienced players always start from Room 2 to 6, figure out whether the Hunter attacks in ascending or descending order, and then avoid those rooms. Once you know the rules, it's always a no-injury, easy win.]

[It's so basic and honestly, kind of boring. No one's gonna die in a setup like this.]

[There are actually a few rules, like you can't have more than two people in a room, you can't make noise, and the doors must be locked at night. But since it's an old dungeon, the dungeon guides are sold in bundles with other dungeons'. Those three or four rules are easy to bypass.]

[Still, Night of Screams used to be a big deal. Back when the instant first launched, figuring out the rules cost a lot of lives. It's only become trivial over time. By the way, I have some vintage resources on it if you want to check them out!]

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