Deception

So he is Tiger Brother?

What is that supposed to mean?

The shock this short sentence delivered to Cheng Shuili was no less intense than the moment she saw Qi Yue being dragged away.

Cheng Shuili remained silent, her eyes fixed on the two beastmen, conveying only two words: explain yourself.

Tiger Brother had been determined to keep his mouth shut, but seeing Cheng Shuili's resolute attitude, he lost his nerve. Since he truly did not know how to explain such a thing, he could only look at Tiger Sister with a pleading gaze.

Tiger Sister was just as helpless. She frowned and finally said, "To be honest, we are not entirely sure ourselves. It is just that one day when we woke up, we knew Tiger Brother was here, knew he had turned into a monster, and knew that if we wanted to save him, we had to find a human with the keycard—which is you."

Cheng Shuili kept her gaze on Tiger Sister. Once she was certain the beastman was not lying, she nodded and asked, "What else do you know?"

"We know there are many supplies inside and that Tiger Brother is a danger. We know nothing else."

Tiger Sister spoke with sincerity, seemingly genuinely worried that Cheng Shuili would not be able to save Tiger Brother.

Cheng Shuili was silent for a moment, looking at the pitch-black staircase leading downward, then back at the two nervous beastmen.

She might as well go down and see.

With Insight at her disposal, she could figure out the origin of any monster!

If it was truly too much for her to handle, could she not just run away?

Her agility stat was 50, officially certified by the system as fast enough to outrun any monster.

If she could catch up to them, surely she could use that same speed to escape, right?

Cheng Shuili knew the system’s claims were not necessarily the absolute truth, and she was only trying to reassure herself.

Cheng Shuili descended the stairs, the pitch-black environment testing her vision.

In the darkness, only the electronic door lock at the end emitted a faint fluorescent glow.

The lock on the door looked like it had been neglected for years, yet it was still working stubbornly. Cheng Shuili raised the keycard, hesitated for a second, and then pressed it against the card reader.

"Beep."

The crisp electronic sound was piercing in the silence. The lock made the sound of mechanical parts grinding before slowly sliding open a crack.

Cheng Shuili stood where she was, took a deep breath, and gripped the long blade gifted by Tiger Brother before carefully pushing the iron door open.

"Creak—"

The rusted hinges groaned. In the darkness, it seemed as if some massive creature had shifted its body.

Cheng Shuili immediately took a step back. She saw nothing, yet she felt certain that something was definitely in front of her.

"Insight."

【Insight activated】

【Name: Farmed Tiger Demon】

【Origin: A creature that resists the system. It should have been deleted along with the corrupted data, but it survived due to the protection of its family. Its family occasionally brings it food or lures humans in. However, the world no longer has a place for this creature, and it can only decay in the endless darkness.】

【Weakness: Photophobia; the long-term dark environment makes it fear sudden light. Sound-sensitive; long accustomed to silence, a sudden and violent noise might shatter its eardrums.】

Lure?

Cheng Shuili’s gaze locked onto that word.

This...

The moment she truly saw those two words, she actually felt a sense of relief.

No wonder she could ask for any price; it was because she could never actually get those game coins.

No wonder they recommended she choose firearms; it was because these monsters were immune to them!

Tiger Sister recognized the keycard, and this keycard could open the door to this basement...

Putting it that way, could it be that this "keycard" thing was the work of the beastman "NPC" Tiger Sister all along?

But the keycard was clearly opened from a supply crate!

That was obviously a "reward"!

Cheng Shuili’s thoughts paused. She suddenly realized, why wouldn't it be a reward?

Why else would an underground storage room be called an underground storage room if not because it was a place to store supplies?

In other words, as long as she killed this tiger demon, the supplies would be hers.

That logic held up.

But to be honest, Cheng Shuili was not tempted at all.

She was already considering whether she should turn back.

This place was too dark. She could not even see what the tiger demon looked like, let alone kill it.

Because it was so dark, she could not see what supplies were there either, making it impossible to weigh whether it was worth the risk.

In this situation, self-preservation was clearly the wiser choice!

Cheng Shuili pondered for a moment and turned to leave. Before she could take a single step, she bumped into a smooth, solid wall.

Cheng Shuili’s eyes widened in disbelief. She raised her free hand and pressed it firmly against the invisible air wall, finally realizing she had been locked in.

A system prompt popped up at the right moment.

【The room has been opened. You cannot leave until the threat is resolved.】

【This room is a special scenario and does not count against your time in the beastman town. Please resolve the threat as soon as possible.】

Cheng Shuili: "...?"

She had a few choice words she would like to say.

But things were already like this, and panicking now would be useless.

Cheng Shuili frowned and simply sat down against the air wall. She rested her chin on her hand for a moment and reopened the system interface.

The private chat interface was still active.

She could still use the chat function!

Finding Xinxue in a situation like this was definitely the fastest way.

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: Do you have a high-intensity flashlight?

Xinxue was indeed a 24/7 surfer; no sooner had the message been sent than the reply came.

【Xinxue Chu Ji】: That thing is useless, right? I don't have one, but I just saw someone selling one.

Cheng Shuili paused and opened the trading channel to take a look.

The trading channel was grayed out.

It had been disabled.

All that remained was the private chat.

【Angry Crow Takes Flight】: I need to use one.

Xinxue always acted quickly. Cheng Shuili did not wait long after sending the message before receiving a gift from Xinxue.

A flashlight with a strobe function.

Very good.

Now, never mind this blind monster; even a normal person would be blinded for several seconds!

Cheng Shuili briefly studied how to use the high-intensity flashlight, then pulled the pistol from the Abyss Ring and tucked it into the tactical belt at her waist.

Photophobia.

Now she had the high-intensity light.

Sound-sensitive.

What made the loudest sound?

That would be a gunshot.

Everything was prepared, so it was time to move.

Cheng Shuili took a deep breath, gripped the flashlight and the long blade, and stepped into the underground storage room.

In the darkness, a rustling sound came from the right, like some large creature moving slowly.

Cheng Shuili immediately held her breath, her body freezing in place. She could feel her heartbeat thumping so loudly it felt as if the entire underground space were vibrating along with it.

"Tiger Brother?"

She called out tentatively, her voice creating a faint echo in the empty basement.

Responding to her was a low, almost whimpering roar.

The sound was unlike anything a normal creature would make. This thing was originally a beastman, and beastmen were not normal creatures to begin with.

Do not be surprised.