Chapter 11: Cat and Mouse (3)

Little Hua chuckled, her voice light but tinged with mischief.

“This is what the game gave us—take it or leave it. Don’t turn your nose up at it. In here, it won’t scar your skin, and something is better than nothing, right?”

Su Luo nodded, feigning a sigh of resignation.

“Well, I suppose it’ll have to do.”

Beneath their polite exchange, both harbored their own schemes—she played the coy manipulator, while Little Hua laced her words with flattery.

Yet, somehow, their banter flowed effortlessly, a dance of hidden motives.

As the sky darkened, Su Luo decided to end the tiresome charade.

“Alright, it’s getting late. I’m heading back.”

She lifted the cosmetic case in her hand, adding with a casual wave, “And I’m taking this with me.”

She turned sharply and strode toward the exit.

“Hey, wait!” Little Hua’s voice rang out.

Su Luo’s body tensed for a moment, but she didn’t turn around, only tossing back a cool, “What’s up?”

Little Hua’s smile returned, bright and disarming.

“That cosmetic? It’s yours. Keep it!”

Su Luo exhaled, her shoulders easing.

Then, a sudden question slipped from her lips.

“How many times have you played this game?” Little Hua blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt shift.

After a moment’s thought, she answered honestly.

“Sixth time.”

Su Luo’s tension melted away, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

“Just curious. See ya!”

With that, she sauntered back to her room.

Once inside, Su Luo let out a heavy sigh.

This round of the game, judged by the number of cosmetic kits, would only let three players survive.

She’d just acted against an innocent person, and the guilt still gnawed at her.

But six rounds in, Little Hua likely had fewer than fifty points left—rare for someone to be that low.

She probably wouldn’t actually die.

A small mercy in this brutal game, Su Luo thought, clinging to that sliver of solace.

With her biggest worry resolved, Su Luo felt unburdened, light as a feather.

She headed downstairs to scope out the inn.

Just then, a man with a cat-like face strode in from outside.

He wasn’t one of the players—his presence screamed something else entirely.

Su Luo’s eyes flickered with curiosity as she approached.

“Hello,” she said smoothly.

The man grinned, his whiskers twitching. “You’re out here! Saves me the trouble. Call the others—it’s dinnertime.”

Her heart skipped, but she kept her composure.

Good thing she hadn’t blurted out, ‘Who are you?’ That would’ve shattered her facade.

He was likely the inn’s master, a key NPC, possibly a goldmine of clues.

Su Luo gathered the others.

Though confusion flickered in their eyes at the stranger’s presence, her subtle glance silenced any reckless questions.

Before dinner began, the innkeeper flashed a toothy smile.

“While you eat, let me introduce myself. Things were rushed yesterday, and I had business to attend to, so we didn’t get to chat. I’m Ai Chiyu—call me Uncle Ai. You’re welcome to stay here, free of charge, as long as you like.”

The group nodded, but Little Hua piped up suddenly.

“Can we go explore outside the village?”

The question landed like a stone in still water.

Uncle Ai’s face darkened, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits, sharp teeth glinting.

For a moment, he looked like a horror movie villain ready to pounce.

Little Hua backpedaled fast.

“I mean, I was just asking! This village is so nice—why would I want to leave?”

Uncle Ai’s demeanor softened, his face settling back into that of a kindly, unassuming man.

“Good. I only worry for your safety.”

‘Yeah, right,’ Little Hua thought, biting her tongue.

Still, she plastered on a fawning smile.

“We know, Uncle. You’re just looking out for us.”

He nodded, as if it were only natural.

“Let me be clear—it’s no secret. This cat village was cursed by the heavens. You can enter, but you can’t leave. The cave’s exit is sealed by a divine array. Try to pass through, and you’ll die.”

The others took it in stride, though some wondered why Little Hua had even asked.

If escape were possible, they wouldn’t be fretting about surviving seven days.

Su Luo, however, felt a spark of intrigue.

That cave had to be tied to a hidden quest.

Her gaze drifted to Ji Hei, the one player she grudgingly admitted was reliable.

Exploring with him made sense—they clicked well enough, and he was her top pick for a teammate.

She glanced his way, and their eyes met.

A silent agreement passed between them—trouble was brewing, and they were both in.

With a subtle nod, they broke eye contact.

Dinner was a spread of fried yellow croaker, spicy fish roe stir-fry, and a steaming pot of fish soup.

Su Luo sighed inwardly.

Seven days of this, and they’d be serving a full-blown fish feast.

As Uncle Ai prepared to leave, he paused, a sly glint in his eye.

“Oh, and the cat village has a curfew. No leaving the inn after eight.”

His tone was casual, but his gaze seemed to dare them to disobey.

Su Luo and Ji Hei exchanged a look, shrugging.

Their sleuthing would have to wait.

Just as Su Luo turned to head back, Little Hua called out, “Hey, let’s walk together!”

She acted chummy, as if they were old friends.

Out of sight, though, she winked and mouthed, “I’ve got news.”

Su Luo nodded, following her to her room, leaving the others exchanging curious glances.

“What’s the news?” Su Luo asked the moment they were alone, her tone sharp and direct, fitting her haughty persona.

Little Hua didn’t flinch.

“My talent skill is master-level. It randomly gives me a hidden quest. I’ll tell you the quest if you share some info. Deal?”

Su Luo weighed her options.

If Little Hua’s news was about escaping the village, she’d offer something trivial.

If it was unexpected, she’d trade something valuable.

“Fine. You first.”

Little Hua hesitated but gave in.

“The hidden quest is to uncover the cat village’s secret.” Her eyes locked onto Su Luo, expectant.

Su Luo’s mind raced.

Another hidden quest?

That was big.

She decided to give Little Hua a chance to survive.

“If you don’t remove your makeup daily, you’ll get disfigured and lose.”

Little Hua’s jaw dropped.

“You knew? You’ve got your own kit, don’t you? Why’d you take mine?”

Su Luo sighed.

Talking to her was like wading through mud.

“That’s another piece of info.” She turned to leave.

“Wait!” Little Hua’s voice cracked with desperation.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll attack you? We’d both go down, and you’d get nothing.”

Su Luo smirked.

“I’m guessing your points are barely enough to scrape by each round. How much have you even added? All to health, I bet, with no attack power. I’m a tank—think I’m scared?” She’d calculated her confidence carefully.

Little Hua’s face fell.

She’d been outplayed, just like always.

Even with hidden quest intel, she’d probably only cleared one in six rounds.

Monthly runs meant six assessments, plenty of skills, but weak offense.

Su Luo, a support with some attack, could hold her own.

Posing as a tank was just to keep Little Hua from thinking she was an easy mark.

“Then… I’ll tell the others! Let you all tear each other apart. If I go down, you’re not walking away clean!” Little Hua’s threat was predictable, lacking any real bite.

Su Luo almost laughed.

‘Instead of wasting time with me, why not scam a couple of kits while the others are clueless?’

“Ji Hei and I are already set. We’re a united front. The others? They might not beat us, and we haven’t crossed them.”

“You… fine! I’ve got more hidden quest info. Help me get a kit, and it’s yours!” Little Hua was grasping at straws now.

Her talent was actually grandmaster-level, revealing all dungeon’s hidden quests.

She’d planned to keep that ace up her sleeve, but now it was her last lifeline.

Su Luo wasn’t keen on helping.

Little Hua hadn’t even figured out that each player needed two kits.

Her smarts didn’t justify the effort.

Besides, Su Luo had already guessed a high-reward quest—escaping the village—and now had Little Hua’s secret quest.

She didn’t need more.

Still, guilt tugged at her.

She’d caused this mess.

“I won’t help you,” Su Luo said, “but I’ll toss in one more tip. Take it or leave it.”

Little Hua hesitated, then nodded.

Su Luo continued, “Each person needs two cosmetic kits to last the seven days.”

“Oh!” Little Hua’s eyes widened.

“That’s why you took mine! Why didn’t I think of that?”

Su Luo bit back a retort in her mind.

‘Because your brain’s got limits, that’s why.’

“Your turn,” Su Luo prompted.

“Oh, right. Escaping the village is another hidden quest.” Su Luo nodded, unsurprised.

It confirmed her hunch—not a bad trade.

With that, Su Luo left for real.

Alone, Little Hua sat on her bed, lost in thought.

Failure wasn’t an option.

This loss would cost her fifty points, wiping out everything she’d scraped together.

She didn’t fully blame Su Luo, though.

The game was every player for themselves.

That Su Luo had shared the truth before it was too late showed some decency.

Gritting her teeth, Little Hua marched to Brother Hu’s door across the hall and knocked.

It was eight o’clock.

Su Luo settled into her room, unwilling to tempt fate by breaking curfew.

The eight o’clock rule seemed like a hard line in this dungeon, and she wasn’t about to challenge it.

She requested a university textbook file from the system—a trick she’d discovered.

As long as it wasn’t dungeon-related, the system allowed it.

When the file appeared, Su Luo dove into her studies.

She’d chosen history as her major out of passion.

Now, seeing how many dungeons tied to historical themes on the forums, she planned to master both her studies and the game, blending them to climb to the top.