Chapter 146: The Small Island in the Sea
Zhao Yuanzhou also looked over.
“I share a desk with Su Mingxu, but we weren’t placed in the same dungeon,” Song Bochao said.
“So that’s how it is.”
Fan Wenyao called his two little lackeys out. He caught sight of Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang talking under a large tree.
Xu Huazhang leaned with his back against the trunk, while Mu Lantu faced him, leaning lightly against his chest. The well-fitted clothes accentuated his tall, slender figure; his slim waist looked like it would fit perfectly into someone’s arms. His bearing was refined, features exquisite—when not smiling, he carried a quiet elegance; when he did smile, it was as though the world bloomed.
Xu Huazhang laid his palm gently on the top of Mu Lantu’s head. Mu Lantu rested against his shoulder, his face hidden by Xu Huazhang’s frame.
A murderous glint churned like a storm in Fan Wenyao’s shadowed eyes. He led his lackeys in another direction, slipping behind the corner of the school building.
“I’ve got a team card here—lets four people ‘team up’ and enter the same dungeon. You two help me take out Xu Huazhang, and once we’re out, I’ll give each of you ten million!”
Ten million!
Jia Lecheng and Xiong Ping’s faces flushed red, their breathing turning heavy. Ten million? That’s a lifetime of money—they’d never even finish spending it.
Fan Wenyao cursed inwardly: Idiots.
Jia Lecheng forced a laugh. “Brother Yao, helping you out is only right, but I’ll pass on the money. We don’t even know if we can make it out alive.”
The fog in Xiong Ping’s head cleared too. “Yeah, exactly, hehe.”
Heat rushed to Fan Wenyao’s face.
“My mistake, I forgot that part. Alright—then I’ll give you each 200 gold coins.”
Jia Lecheng tried to dissuade him. “Brother Yao, what’s Xu Huazhang ever done to you? We can always deal with him outside, doesn’t have to be inside the dungeon.”
Xiong Ping just smiled along, silent.
Too little, is it?
Cruel intent flickered in Fan Wenyao’s eyes.
“Each of you, 300 gold coins.”
Jia Lecheng grinned. “Brother Yao, you’re generous! Can you send half first? I’m out of coins. Next class is about to start, I want to stock up on supplies just in case.”
Fan Wenyao replied smoothly, “Of course.”
He lifted his wrist, operated his watch, clicked “Gold Coins,” selected “Transfer,” input Jia Lecheng’s student number, and sent him 150 coins. Same for Xiong Ping.
After checking the transfer, Jia Lecheng thumped his chest. “Don’t worry, Brother Yao! With the three of us working together, we’ll definitely take Xu Huazhang down!”
“Old Jia’s right!” Xiong Ping chimed in while grabbing goods off the supermarket shelves at lightning speed.
“Of course.” Fan Wenyao’s low chuckle carried hidden meaning.
Jia Lecheng laughed along, chatting with him while busily picking supplies.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang checked the time and went back to class.
“I only cleared the dungeon because I got lucky!” a boy said with relief. “I was on the bus to Min’an Town and overheard people talking about turning the clock lamps. I didn’t think it was a good sign, so after earning some money I just hid at home and refused to go out no matter what. Just hiding like that, I passed the level!”
Mu Lantu pinched Xu Huazhang’s knee. Could this kid have been talking about him?
Possibly.
Xu Huazhang held down his hand to stop him from fidgeting.
“Yeah, you really were lucky—the university assigned you an identity as a local in Min’an Town. I wasn’t so lucky, had no place to stay, and renting a place cost me three hundred bucks!”
“You think that’s bad? The first day I got to town, my wallet and phone got stolen. If I hadn’t thought fast—”
The boy abruptly cut himself off, no matter how others pressed him he refused to continue.
Everyone understood—he must have done something shameful.
“Riiiing—”
Class time!
The students’ frightened faces were pulled into the gray space.
Mission: Survive five days on Baihua Island. Refuse and you’ll be sent back to Infinite University with no punishment or reward. Fail to respond within 30 seconds, and acceptance is assumed.
Reward for success: 1 credit, 100 gold coins (base).
Punishment for failure: Death.
[Accept][Decline]
Another survival mission.
This time no need to guess the location—right ahead, the tall building gleamed with the name “Baihua Island Hotel.”
A sunlit island, birds chirping, flowers in bloom, butterflies flitting, tourists everywhere.
Yet disaster was about to strike.
Would it be a tsunami? Or crocodiles coming ashore?
Mu Lantu checked his belongings: an ID card, a cellphone, and a hotel key card. The ID details were the same as last dungeon.
A familiar hand pressed down on his head. He didn’t even turn—he’d already caught that familiar cool scent.
Opening his watch and clicking “Gold Coins,” Mu Lantu smiled. He’d guessed right.
“Huazhang, gold coins can be exchanged for cash—one coin for a hundred yuan.”
“Then maybe the school won’t provide local currency anymore. Let’s head to the hotel first.” Xu Huazhang draped an arm around his back, scanning their surroundings discreetly.
The two dressed like tourists: sunhats, sunglasses, bright beach shirts, flip-flops—blended in perfectly.
Baihua Island lived up to its name: nearly every female tourist wore flowers—pinned in hair, tied at the wrist, tucked at the chest—vivid and charming.
Flower-selling children darted about with baskets, business booming as every few minutes someone bought.
With a few inquiries, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang found the New Noble Hotel.
At the front desk, they learned their rooms were prepaid for five days—no worries about lodging.
Mu Lantu asked, “Miss, what’s the weather like for the next five days?”
The receptionist checked her screen and smiled. “No worries, sir. Sunshine all week, lows of 20°C, highs of 28°C, winds force 4–5.”
Xu Huazhang picked up two copies of the Baihua Island Travel Guide, flipped to the last page, and handed one to Mu Lantu.
“Baby.”
This section: Emergency Measures for Unexpected Events—guidance for both hotel staff and guests. Covered tsunamis, typhoons, fires, etc., plus phone numbers for rescue and supply teams.
Mu Lantu read it carefully, jotting down key points.
“Miss, does the hotel have lifeboats and life jackets?”
The receptionist looked surprised. “Of course we do. But really, there’s no need to worry—our island is very safe.”
Mu Lantu only smiled faintly.
Instead of heading to their room, he and Xu Huazhang took the elevator up to the hotel rooftop.
At 68 floors, the height gave a full view of the island.
Mu Lantu pulled out two binoculars.
The island was surrounded by water, the nearest city at least five miles away. Scanning the distant ocean, he saw no sign of tsunamis.
“Do these dungeon worlds actually exist for real?” Mu Lantu asked.
Xu Huazhang knew what he meant. “Don’t overthink. Want to head down and take a walk?”
Mu Lantu didn’t dwell on it. Whether real or not, it made no difference to them.
He packed the binoculars. “Shall we exchange some cash first?”
“One thousand should be enough,” Xu Huazhang said.
The elevator descended only one floor before stopping.
A young girl stepped in—stylish clothes, trendy hair, sunglasses, holding a bouquet, surrounded by seven or eight attendants.
Seeing people inside, she hesitated two seconds.
“Beibei, we’re short on time,” one whispered.
She nodded. Four attendants entered first, blocking Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang. Then she stepped in, followed by the rest.
The doors closed.
She lowered her head, inhaling the flowers, as elegant as a painting.
One companion instantly raised her phone, snapping photos from different angles.
“Ding.”
The elevator stopped again.
It was spacious, still with room to spare.
She gestured for her group to move inward.
The doors opened, and a couple holding hands entered.
At sight of the bouquet girl, the young woman gasped, covering her mouth. “Ah! Are you Su Beibei?”
“Shh. Are you my fan? Remember to stay quiet in public,” Su Beibei said gently, plucking a sunflower from her bouquet and handing it over. “For you two—may your lives shine like sunflowers.”
Mu Lantu understood—she was a celebrity.
“Wow! Thank you, Beibei!” The girl clutched the sunflower, thrilled, but kept her voice low this time.
“You’re welcome.”
The girl jumped with joy, kissed the sunflower’s face, and began snapping selfies nonstop, while her boyfriend looked on indulgently.
Mu Lantu impatiently watched the floor numbers climb. The floral and perfume scents mixed too strongly in the confined space—cloying after a while.
“Ding.”
First floor.
Stepping out, Mu Lantu let out a small breath.
Xu Huazhang grabbed his hand and led him quickly away.
A little girl, about ten, darted up to block them, her voice sweet: “Big brother, buy a flower for little brother? Only ten yuan each.”
Mu Lantu shook his head. “We don’t need any.”
She didn’t push, hopping off in search of another customer.
Xu Huazhang bought two coconuts.
Mu Lantu tried a sip—pretty good.
They hopped on a free tour cart toward the supermarket.
On the beach, a couple posed for wedding photos, the photographer arranging their stances.
Mu Lantu watched with interest.
“Baby, when we get back, let’s get married,” Xu Huazhang said.
He said it naturally, and Mu Lantu answered just as naturally, “Sure. We’ll take our own photos though—letting others pose us feels awkward.”
Other tourists in the cart overheard and turned, smiling kindly.
“Supermarket’s here.”
“Thanks.”
Inside, the store was nearly empty. No need to ask—the ones frantically loading carts with food and water were clearly other players.
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