Chapter 42

### Chapter 42: Sea Without Light 42

“Did you encounter any other suspicious individuals while following Fang Zhi?” Xie Gankqing emphasized.

Kui Xin recalled, “No… everyone seemed normal, going about their own business.”

Xie Gankqing explained, “If you’ve been following the forum, you should know that Remover 233 is in Tonglin City. Yesterday morning, just before noon, Fang Zhi was killed by Remover 233. You were killed three hours after you separated from Fang Zhi. That time gap isn’t long or short. We were wondering if, while you were tracking Fang Zhi, you might have just so happened to brush past Remover 233 without noticing.”

Kui Xin shuddered, goosebumps rising on her arms.

She rubbed her arms and stuttered, “No, it can’t be that coincidental. Could Remover 233 have discovered my identity like you did… what if he has hacking skills too…”

“The probability is low, but not impossible,” said the bespectacled boy, Yu Qiwen, with precision. “I think you need to stay alert during this period to avoid being targeted by him.”

Kui Xin’s face paled.

Yuan Lu comforted her, “Don’t be nervous. If you encounter any suspicious individuals, ask for help from those around you or go to the police station. You can let us know, and we’ll do our best to help you.”

“However, our main activities are not based in Tonglin City, so it would be difficult for us to reach you if you need our help,” Yu Qiwen said honestly. “With the strength of Remover 233, it’s hard for anyone he targets to escape. The police can only do so much; right now, all we can do is hope that he doesn’t know about you.”

Kui Xin looked on the verge of tears.

Yuan Lu glared at Yu Qiwen, his lips silently moving: “If you can’t think of something nice to say, then just be quiet. You’ve scared the little girl.”

Yu Qiwen looked confused at Yuan Lu, unsure of what he had done wrong.

“Relax. I don’t think Remover 233 will continue to act for a while. His general location has been exposed, and continuing to kill would further expose him,” Xie Gankqing analyzed. “I think he may enter a dormant state next.”

“Hopefully… hopefully that’s the case,” Kui Xin said, tears welling in her eyes.

At this point, Yu Qiwen finally remembered his social skills, realizing that it’s polite to comfort someone when they are scared or sad.

So he smiled at Kui Xin and said, “Don’t worry! If Remover 233 is thinking straight, he won’t target ordinary players. He’d only go after those with extraordinary abilities, as there’s no profit in killing normal players. It’s just not worth it… Oh, you haven’t awakened, right?”

Kui Xin looked horrified at Yu Qiwen, shaking her head like a bobblehead.

“That’s good, then,” Yu Qiwen said with a smile.

Xie Gankqing and Yuan Lu exchanged strange glances.

Yuan Lu cleared his throat, “Living alone is indeed a bit dangerous right now… We’re planning to build a base in the provincial capital. You seem to be going there for university, right? You can visit often.”

Kui Xin hesitated and said, “I’ll think about it when the opportunity arises.”

She neither clearly accepted nor rejected the proposal, and her indecisive attitude was apparent.

“Actually, we’re alumni,” Yu Qiwen said, full of enthusiasm. “I’ll be a student there when school starts too.”

Kui Xin was taken aback. “…That’s unexpected.”

“We’ll be classmates from now on. I’m studying computer science. What is your major?” Yu Qiwen asked.

“Artificial Intelligence. It has good job prospects; it’s a newly opened major with relatively less competition… My scores happened to land me there, and I’m quite interested in it,” Kui Xin talked a bit more about her major, seemingly letting her guard down a little because of Yu Qiwen’s alumni status.

Yuan Lu was pleased to see the malicious marker above Kui Xin’s head lighten slightly.

She felt reassured; initially, the three had agreed to signal each other if they found Kui Xin to be suspiciously malicious. It seemed she was just an ordinary girl, and if they closed the distance appropriately, it would not provoke her aversion. Even the malicious marker color was gradually fading.

However, Yuan Lu was unaware that Kui Xin’s real thoughts were not much different from her own.

This hacker trio was just ordinary people, and any preparatory measures could be temporarily canceled. With Yu Qiwen becoming an alumni right under her nose, there wouldn’t be much disturbance. The recent atmosphere was tense, and since they could keep them stable, there was no need to take action. They could lie in wait and observe for a time.

“You’ve asked me a lot of questions, but I haven’t asked you,” Kui Xin shifted the conversation.

“Go ahead,” said Xie Gankqing.

“Are you the son of the richest man in our area?” Kui Xin asked. “You seem really wealthy; our richest man also has the surname Xie and looks a lot like you.”

“I am indeed,” Xie Gankqing confirmed straightforwardly.

Kui Xin said, “When I asked you for your names over the phone, the hacker mentioned not his own name, Yu Qiwen, but yours.”

“At that time, the three of us were together, and I was responding to your message,” Xie Gankqing replied.

There were some reasons he didn’t mention. His family had connections, so exposing one name wouldn’t impact him much. Worst case, he could just hire more bodyguards when going out. Yu Qiwen would be going to school soon, and mentioning his name over the phone could possibly create some trouble if Kui Xin reported it to the police.

Kui Xin clicked her tongue, “How old are you, twenty-eight? I thought you’d be too busy running the family business to have time for games… Are you actually a gaming enthusiast who applied for the beta test of Crimson Soil and just happened to get selected?”

Xie Gankqing said, “My nephew isn’t of age yet, so when he wanted to play a game, he quietly used my ID.”

“And when he received the beta test invitation, he couldn’t resist his nephew’s pleading to sign the game contract. He thought loaning the game to his little nephew wouldn’t be a big deal… who knew…” Yuan Lu shrugged. “Xie Gankqing and I are cousins. Yu Qiwen is my dad’s family friend’s child; we grew up together.”

“I really envy you; what a coincidence,” Kui Xin said, feeling despondent. “In the Second World, you can support each other, right? Much better than being a lonely player.”

“We can also support each other,” Yuan Lu said seriously. “All players should help each other; we can establish an equal cooperative relationship, unite against Removers in the First World and share intelligence to survive in the Second World.”

Kui Xin struggled for a few seconds, “I… I’ll think about it some more.”

“You came to see us with similar goals in mind; I sincerely hope you consider it seriously,” Xie Gankqing said. “We have resources, connections; it’s an excellent team in all aspects.”

“Yeah, I’ll think about it thoroughly,” Kui Xin still didn’t immediately agree.

“I have another question…” She curiously looked at Yu Qiwen. “Aren’t you afraid of being discovered by authorities when you hack into surveillance systems? You could be sentenced if caught!”

“I’m a bit scared, but these things need to be done. Although I’ve mastered hacking skills beyond this era, there are always various geniuses in the world. There are hackers who are smarter than me; there’s still a possibility of being traced back,” Yu Qiwen said. “So I’m quite cautious, avoiding anything I shouldn’t touch, only looking at what I must see and investigate.”

“So you’re a hacker who knows restraint?” Kui Xin asked.

“You could say that,” said Yu Qiwen. “Technology is technology, tools are tools, and people are people. Humans should correctly use technology and tools; you can’t recklessly use them to hurt others. Otherwise, how would I be any different from a criminal?”

“Alright… my impression of you has changed slightly, just a little,” Kui Xin mumbled.

It was almost noon, and Kui Xin took out her phone to check the time.

“I have something to do this afternoon, so I need to head home,” she opened a social app and said, “Let’s exchange formal contact information.”

After adding each other’s contact information, Yuan Lu said, “Want to grab a meal together? I’ll treat.”

“No, thank you,” Kui Xin declined.

“The Artificial Intelligence major needs a computer, right? If you need to buy one, I can recommend configurations; I know a lot about that!” Yu Qiwen said enthusiastically.

“I consulted the school forum; the seniors said if you need a computer, the teacher will take students to the lab…” Kui Xin replied.

“Buying one would still be more convenient. The transaction is valid, and the remuneration is what you deserve,” Yuan Lu said. “We won’t cheat you; you have to trust us. Working too hard is exhausting; your grades are so good, and if you dedicate more time to studying, you’ll definitely have a better future.”

Kui Xin scanned the trio with heavy suspicion and said, “I’ll buy a computer when the time comes, and I’ll spend my money when it’s needed.”

The four of them went down the corridor from the badminton court.

On a rainy day, the mall was less crowded. The hacker trio took the elevator down, and to avoid seeming overly skilled at evading surveillance, Kui Xin followed them into the elevator.

Ding! The elevator stopped on the third floor.

A girl with several bags squeezed into the elevator.

“Xin Xin!” Su Rong exclaimed joyfully. “Are you here to shop too?”

Su Rong was wearing a mask, a baseball cap, and clear glasses.

“Rong Rong?” Kui Xin stammered. “No, I’m here to meet a friend.”

Su Rong glanced around the elevator, spotting a twenty-something man, a beautiful lady in a green dress, and Yu Qiwen, who obviously was of the same age group.

“Hello,” Su Rong said politely.

The hacker trio nodded back politely.

What a coincidence.

In a small elevator with five individuals, all of them were players.

“Where’s your mom?” Kui Xin asked to strike up a conversation.

“Mom’s shopping upstairs; I’m just putting the stuff I bought in the car,” Su Rong complained quietly. “I didn’t want to come out, but she insisted that I was too tense with my studies and wanted to take me out to relax…”

The elevator stopped on the first floor. Su Rong hurriedly rushed out with her packages and cheerfully said, “Goodbye, Xin Xin! The stuff is too heavy, so I’ll hurry and leave. Come over for dinner sometime!”

Kui Xin exited the elevator with the hacker trio.

“I’ll be going now. Goodbye,” Kui Xin waved at them, opening her umbrella and turning towards the subway entrance.

“Remember to stay in touch; let us know immediately if anything comes up,” Yuan Lu waved.

“Let’s go too,” Yu Qiwen said.

The three of them walked to the parking lot, opened their car doors, and got in.

“Today was somewhat fruitful,” Xie Gankqing said thoughtfully from the driver’s seat.

“The takeaway is confirming that Kui Xin isn’t a Remover,” Yuan Lu stretched. “Her guard is still up a bit; let’s give her some time.”

“But the identity of Remover 233 hasn’t been confirmed; it’s as if he evaporated, leaving no trace,” Yu Qiwen said, fastening his seatbelt meticulously.

Yuan Lu said, “Even if we confirmed it, what can we do? Can we fight him? Let’s hope we don’t encounter him; resisting a Remover will certainly be a long battle.”

“Lu Lu makes a good point,” Xie Gankqing said, turning the car key to start the engine. “Let’s go home.”

“If we really become a large-scale organization in the future, it will be necessary to set up a fixed base, a safe gathering place,” Yu Qiwen said. “Opportunities for offline meetings should be few, but we still need to be prepared.”

“I’ll handle that,” Xie Gankqing pressed the gas.

As the vehicle moved, Yuan Lu suddenly said, “Do you think that girl Kui Xin might possess extraordinary abilities?”

Yu Qiwen replied, “Huh? She denied it!”

“Could be,” Xie Gankqing said. “I noticed she denied it too hurriedly and panicked.”

“I didn’t pick up on that…” Yu Qiwen said.

“Hmm, she’s a naive little girl, too green,” Yuan Lu commented.

Xie Gankqing said, “When you were her age, you wore your feelings on your face a lot more than she does now.”

Yuan Lu replied, “Oh.”

She added, “She knows how to conceal; there’s a bit of cleverness in her.”

“Some individuals start experiencing societal hardships at a young age, while others only face reality after graduating university at twenty-two,” Xie Gankqing said. “Mindsets differ; you can see the difference in the eyes of these two types of people.”

“Indeed,” Yuan Lu sighed. “The poor girl—if she has our remuneration, she won’t have to work so hard.”

……

Several days passed with no incidents.

Kui Xin thought, “How nice, another peaceful and beautiful day… I enjoy days without incidents.”

These past few days, Kui Xin’s life was simple. She woke up early to exercise, ate breakfast at a roadside stall next to her community, then studied at the local library, cooked lunch at home, tutored Su Rong in the afternoon, and continued studying at night.

She went to bed at ten and rose at six; her life was very routine, her schedule even more regular than in the Second World.

Today was August 2nd.

The day to return to the game.

Kui Xin woke up this morning and, as usual, browsed the forum.

The death list hadn’t been updated, and the official pinned post had no changes, but the forum was filled with an anxious atmosphere, with players posting more frequently and a majority of posts devoted to blessings. Having enjoyed the ease of life in the First World, no one wanted to return to the Second World.

Kui Xin remained calm, her life’s rhythm undisturbed.

She followed her usual routine—getting up, washing up, working out, studying, and tutoring Su Rong.

Su Rong was noticeably restless in class, often zoning out while trying to write. Dark circles under her eyes made her look noticeably drained, as if she hadn’t slept all night.

“Did you stay up late?” Kui Xin asked suddenly as Su Rong zoned out again while writing.

“Ah? Um… I… I couldn’t sleep last night. I had insomnia,” Su Rong said, ruffling her disheveled hair. She usually paid great attention to her appearance, but today her hair was unkempt, and she looked lethargic.

Kui Xin said, “Let’s not study for now; you should rest. We’ll make up this lesson next weekend; your break is over. You’re not in good spirits, so you won’t learn much anyway.”

“Okay,” Su Rong replied with her chin resting on her hands, looking gloomy. “Life is tough; I regret my choices from before.”

“Each has their difficulties,” Kui Xin said, circling Su Rong’s mistakes on her paper. “Do you regret choosing the arts path?”

Su Rong took a moment to process before nodding.

Kui Xin said, “Regret won’t help; you can only work doubly hard to make up for it.”

“Xin Xin, we’re about the same age, but you’re much more composed in what you do. My mom praised you the other day, saying I should learn more from you,” Su Rong said. “Sometimes, I see you as I see my mom… Of course, I don’t mean you look like her; I mean you are… uh, just as reliable and steady as an elder. I haven’t met many people my age like you.”

Kui Xin replied, “If you live independently for a few years, looking after yourself without your parents, you’ll quickly become like me.”

Su Rong’s mom had subtly mentioned Kui Xin’s family situation, saying it was not very good.

She cleverly skipped over that topic, dragging Kui Xin into the living room and stuffing her with a big bag of snacks, saying, “Let’s watch TV and eat snacks instead; do you want to watch a movie?”

“Anything is fine,” Kui Xin replied, putting a chip in her mouth.

She rarely ate snacks. To maintain proper nutrition, she only bought necessary food items, sometimes going months without buying snacks, and never indulged in bubble tea. The only time she drank bubble tea frequently was while working at the bubble tea shop, where the boss offered unlimited bubble tea, and her classmates would often make her a cup while mixing their drinks.

Afternoon leisure time passed quickly, and evening arrived.

Walking home in the glow of the setting sun, Kui Xin hastily had a light dinner before struggling to read a physical copy of “Crime Scene Investigation” that she bought at the store.

The forensic textbooks of the First World differed greatly from the Second World, but certain foundational theories had some similarities. Learning was better than not learning; she’d continue with what she hadn’t learned in the Second World.

As time flew by, Kui Xin’s alarm clock chimed, and it was already half-past eleven.

In half an hour, she would enter the game.

Kui Xin stood up, stretched her limbs, and focused her mind.

In the Second World, she was in a life-and-death situation; Xenomorph Scythe Demons were attacking her fiercely.

After spending seven days in the First World, it was hard for her to revert to the mentality she had before. Nevertheless, she needed to recall the feeling of combat to keep her focus and keep her muscles tense, so she could adapt to fighting quickly and avoid being beheaded by the Scythe Demon.

Kui Xin turned off all the lights in her room.

In the Second World, she patrols the port, where the environment is dark, but her bedroom was brightly lit. The sudden shift from bright to dark would make it hard for her to adjust, and the darkness would help her avoid the light transition.

Kui Xin set a timer on her phone once more, this time for 23:59:58, leaving two seconds to midnight for ample reaction time.

She stood by the window, closed her eyes, and recalled the dangerous battles she had endured, making her mind as tense as possible.

Once she felt ready, she opened her eyes and gazed at the night view of Tonglin City.

“Time to return to Hei Hai City…” Kui Xin murmured to herself.

Before heading back to Hei Hai City, she wanted to take one last look at the neon lights of her familiar hometown.

23:59:58.

The phone beside her buzzed, the alarm ringing. Simultaneously, her heart raced, and before she could react, the all-consuming darkness enveloped her!

In her breath, she sensed the stench of blood and the briny sea breeze. She heard the wind, the swoosh of whipping tendrils, her teammates Lan Lan and Jiang Ming shouting, and Captain Xueyao Shu’s urgent voice on the communicator.

She felt the pain and itch of a wound in her abdomen, the injury rapidly healing through the regeneration of flesh and blood, the pain rousing her nerves.

As Kui Xin returned to this body, she rolled on the ground, narrowly evading the Scythe Demon’s curved bone blade just in the nick of time.

“Clang—” Its hooked bone blade struck a shipping container behind her, becoming slightly lodged in it.

Ignoring the injury to her abdomen, Kui Xin drew a knife from her thigh and sliced upwards.

With a whoosh, the Scythe Demon’s soft appendage snapped, the hooked bone blade firmly embedded in the container, letting out a piercing wail as blue-green blood gushed out, corroding the places it splashed onto, creating a sizzling white smoke like a strong acid.

Kui Xin also got splattered on her face and body; her combat suit tore, and her skin released smoke.

With no time to care, she quickly reloaded her weapon, her gaze cold as she aimed and fired at the Scythe Demon.