Chapter Twelve: The Urgent Release of Game Patch 2.0

Ultimately, Liu Tong decided to follow procedure and head to the library to search for the ship’s design plans. After all, having the Weird trapped inside a wall was unprecedented; it wasn’t impossible that this bug might suddenly be fixed. Bai Wan and Zhang Wen had no objections either—there was nothing better to do.

For the next two days, the three of them scoured the vast library. Since there were only three of them, their efficiency was low; they managed to find only three-quarters of the books, and it would take another day to complete the search. Yet, these days of relative ease truly felt peaceful—because the Weird was stuck in the wall, no one was hunting them.

“This steak is quite good. You should try some,” Bai Wan said, offering a piece to Zhang Wen.

After tasting it, Zhang Wen praised, “Indeed, this is excellent. I have to say, the old lady’s cooking is superb. During summer break, I once went to a renowned foreign steakhouse, and this tastes just as good as her cooking.”

“Being a teacher must be wonderful, having summer and winter breaks,” Bai Wan said with envy.

“Little Bai, you just started university, right? When you graduate, you could consider becoming a teacher,” Zhang Wen recommended his own school.

“Teaching does sound nice. I’ll think about it...” Liu Tong sat nearby, sipping tea, watching Bai Wan and Zhang Wen laugh and eat together. Several times he wanted to speak but hesitated.

He really wanted to remind them that they were playing a bizarre game now, not on a carefree summer cruise trip. They should all be more serious. But he had to admit, these leisurely days had made him feel as if he were on a holiday cruise himself. Maybe, just maybe, the Weird really couldn’t get out?

Liu Tong’s gaze turned to Bai Wan, complex and filled with astonishment. No one was a fool; he certainly didn’t believe it was a game bug. He vaguely remembered overhearing Chen Weiyu and Bai Wan talking outside, though he hadn’t heard clearly. Something must have happened out there.

Could it really be that this seemingly lazy young man before him was responsible? The one who trapped the Weird inside the wall? If that was the case, such power was absurd—he was just a newcomer. Player skills in the Weird Game were closely tied to real-life abilities; Liu Tong couldn’t imagine what kind of power could achieve such a feat.

Was it him? If so, the potential of this youth was unimaginable. Even the top-tier geniuses revered by all Weird Game players didn’t pull off such absurd feats in the initial newbie dungeon.

Liu Tong’s mind wandered, then he glanced at the steak on the table and couldn’t resist tasting it. “This steak really is good. Next holiday, I’ll take my son here.”

Finally, a satisfied smile spread across Liu Tong’s face.

Before they finished eating, a bright message suddenly appeared in their minds:

【Dear Weird Game players, greetings. The Weird Game system has been running steadily for a year and a half. We are officially launching version 2.0, which strengthens the Ghost Ship Weird. Enhancement: If the Weird is trapped in place for two days, it can open a dimensional gate to escape (usable only once). Compensation for players currently in this dungeon will be provided. Thank you for your continued love and loyalty to Weird Game.】

After reading this notification, Bai Wan felt nothing but frustration.

Version 2.0 only strengthens the Weird in a single dungeon? A dimensional gate, my foot. It almost felt like the word “targeted” was slapped right onto Bai Wan’s face. And loyalty? Then why don’t you give us an exit option?!

He was utterly speechless. Only the compensation lifted his mood a little.

【Player compensation credited: 300 Weird Coins】

Three hundred Weird Coins was no small sum. With this money, he could safely use the Bloodstained Skull Bandages. Consuming 40 Weird Coins per second, he could probably last seven seconds. Not a long time, but at least it was a life-saving item.

Liu Tong and others also received compensation, but only 100 Weird Coins each—likely because Bai Wan caused the bug.

“Is the Weird going to come out again?” Zhang Wen wiped cold sweat off his forehead. Leisurely times were rare, but the fix ruined it.

Suddenly, the previously blank wall inexplicably shimmered with a black halo, and “Chen Weiyu” stepped out. Her face was gaunt and lacked vitality, as if confined for a long time, leaving her in a sub-healthy state.

“Ah, I’m so hungry. My gate had some issues,” she said, first casting a resentful glance at Bai Wan, then quickly masking it with a forced sweet smile—like a corporate drone forced to grin at a despised customer.

Unlike ordinary wild Weirds, a professional Weird had to always maintain a human facade no matter what.

“Chen Weiyu” dutifully sat at the table, chatting and laughing with Bai Wan and the others, looking no different from the real Chen Weiyu.

In that moment, Liu Tong and the others felt ashamed by comparison. Look at her—so professional! Even after being stuck in a small dark room for two days, she came out and immediately got to work. And here they were, slacking off at work. If only they had half her dedication, wouldn’t they have been promoted and gotten raises by now?

But Zhang Wen, being a teacher, understood students well. To him, Chen Weiyu was a shy, introverted girl. Yet the “Chen Weiyu” before him had changed. Though identical in appearance, the social anxiety seemed gone.

Indeed, the Weird was still the Weird—even if disguised, there were flaws in the act.

At that moment, “Chen Weiyu” suddenly turned to Zhang Wen and said, “Teacher Zhang, do you want to play ‘King of Glory’ with me tonight? I don’t have any teammates.”

Zhang Wen broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly replied, “Better not, I’m not very good.”

Sister, that’s not wanting to play ‘King of Glory,’ you’re wanting to play me.

Seeing Zhang Wen’s refusal, “Chen Weiyu” looked at Liu Tong next. “Brother Liu, will you play with me?”

Liu Tong smiled and said, “No, my skills aren’t good. Go find Brother Bai Wan; he’s got 30 stars in ‘King of Glory’ and plays Diao Chan like a pro.”

Damn it.

Bai Wan twitched at the corner of his mouth.

Damn you, Liu Big Head, you’re full of mischief. Thirty stars my ass!

“Chen Weiyu” obediently turned to Bai Wan. “Brother Bai Wan, can you play ‘King of Glory’ with me tonight?”

“Sure, let’s go now. No need to wait for night,” Bai Wan said enthusiastically, standing and heading toward “Chen Weiyu’s” room.

“Chen Weiyu” hesitated but followed.

They reached the door. Just as “Chen Weiyu” was about to enter, her body shuddered midway and she stepped back, warily saying, “You go in first.”

Bai Wan waved his hand. “Ladies first, you go ahead.”

“No, you go first,” “Chen Weiyu” insisted.

“Don’t you trust your good brother? You go first.”

“You go first.”

“No, you go in.”

“Why don’t you go in?”

“If you don’t go in, why should I?”

“But you didn’t go in either, why should I?”

“I…”

Liu Tong and Zhang Wen watched the childish quarrel between Bai Wan and “Chen Weiyu,” speechless.

Damn it, why does Bai Wan always turn the Weird Game into a comedy? Be serious! What’s with all this nonsense with the Weird?!

In Liu Tong’s memory, all Weird dungeons were filled with despair and panic, but this one was just bizarre beyond belief. It was as if something strange had infiltrated, altering the dungeon’s tone.

Liu Tong’s gaze at Bai Wan was complicated. Though Bai Wan seemed childish and unreliable, this scene clearly showed the Weird feared entering a room first.

So, was it Bai Wan who trapped the Weird in the wall? What exactly was his power?

Meanwhile, as Bai Wan and “Chen Weiyu” bickered, the Weird Game forum was abuzz discussing the update.

“The first version of Weird Game has run for ten years. Why the sudden update?”

“No idea. Ghost Ship—if I’m not mistaken, that’s a newbie dungeon, right?”

In Lan City, inside an office.

“Captain, Weird Game updated! You have to see this!” a young man browsing on his computer exclaimed.

“What? Let me see... this...” The middle-aged man known as the captain was stunned after reading.

What the hell is this? Strengthening the Weird? If the Weird is trapped for two days, it can open a dimensional gate to escape?

Why would the Weird be trapped for two days? Ghost Ship is a newbie dungeon, after all. Players barely have strong items; just staying alive is a challenge.

“Ning Ning, if I’m not mistaken, Liu Tong is playing this dungeon, right?” the man asked a gentle-looking young woman beside him.

“That’s right. Brother Liu is playing this dungeon,” she nodded.

The man pondered deeply. He knew Liu Tong’s skill level—clever, but trapping the Weird? Impossible. Then it must be another newbie?

Interesting.

He grew excited. Though unsure how the newbie did it, trapping the Weird for two days in the starting dungeon was no small feat.

Lan City might have a promising new talent again.

“Keep a close watch on developments in that dungeon. The game will provide a final report upon completion. Report to me promptly.”

The captain eagerly awaited the dungeon’s conclusion, where player evaluations of the Weird would be revealed—whether a good prospect or not.

...

Back in the game, Bai Wan and “Chen Weiyu” hadn’t agreed on who should enter the room first, so they sat back down at the table. Bai Wan smiled at “Chen Weiyu’s” gloomy face.

Her tolerance of his arrogance showed she had a kill restriction. The limitation was becoming clear.

Whether it was Zhang Wen inviting Lin Xi before, or Chen Weiyu inviting him to play ‘King of Glory’ tonight, it meant the request had to be accepted and they had to be in the same room for the Weird to kill—this was the first killing rule.

The second rule was observation.

If the Weird detected someone in the room, it could kill. Zhang Wen’s eavesdropping was an example.

Upon reflection, the first and second rules didn’t conflict.

The Weird’s main method of killing was observation. Once it knew someone was inside, it would act.

Inviting the Weird into the room fit perfectly with this rule. Sharing a room meant the Weird knew someone was there.

Just like the little girl’s diary said: Don’t make a sound, don’t make a sound!

To summarize rules one and two: The Weird kills by sensing human presence through sight or sound. If the person hides in a room and the Weird can’t detect them, it will try to eavesdrop and confirm their presence to trigger killing.

This also implied the current Weird couldn’t open doors.

Liu Tong once said there were two types of Weirds: patterned and indiscriminate.

The current one was a typical patterned Weird.

Now, the dungeon’s path to completion was clearer.

At night, one person is randomly replaced by the Weird.

The Weird’s killing method is observation, including listening.

Inviting the Weird is to directly observe if someone is in the room.

If it hears or sees someone, it will trigger killing.

Just now, they talked a lot with “Chen Weiyu” without incident, so beyond observation, other conditions existed.

For example, time.

Yes, time.

The Weird could only kill at night.

Bai Wan felt he was understanding the Weird more and more.

Suddenly, a bold idea formed in Bai Wan’s mind as he looked at “Chen Weiyu.” After considering feasibility, he narrowed his eyes.

Now that Lin Xi was dead, only four remained, one of whom—Chen Weiyu—was likely the Weird in disguise.

Naturally, no one felt like eating, so they returned again to the library to find the ship’s design plans.

No success during the day again, but soon—within a day—they would find the plans.

The terrifying night arrived.

“Chen Weiyu” still wanted someone to play ‘King of Glory’ with her, but no one agreed.

Eventually, she returned to her room with a dark expression.

Bai Wan wanted to seize the moment and trap “Chen Weiyu” in the wall again, but recalled the Weird’s speed was fast. The first success was due to surprise, and now she was wary. So he abandoned the plan for now.

Bai Wan opened the door, returned to his room, and quietly sat on the bed, gazing out into the black night.

Though there was no rain tonight, the sky was filled with thick clouds blocking the moon. The already pitch-black sea seemed even darker.

Time ticked by, second by second...

Soon, midnight arrived.

Suddenly, Bai Wan fixed his gaze on the door.

Then, the sound of footsteps came from outside.

A faint voice followed.

“Bai Mo, come out and play, please? Let’s play together.”

Outside was Chen Weiyu’s voice—or rather, something mimicking her voice.

Bai Wan remained silent.

During the day, the Weird couldn’t kill without following the rules; Bai Wan dared to tease it. But now, at night, the thing outside was undoubtedly the most vicious Weird.

“Bai Wan, come out and play, please…”

“Come out and play…”

Click.

The doorknob creaked.

It was being forcefully turned from outside.

Finally, to Bai Wan’s shock...

The doorknob snapped off with a crack.

The wooden handle fell to the floor, and the old wooden door creaked open a crack. Cold air and darkness flowed in from the gap...

As the dungeon’s time drew near, the Weird had learned to open doors.