Chapter 161: Escape from Terror City
After an hour of game time, Mu Lantu was basically certain who the ghost was.
The one who pretended to be cold though she wasn’t, was Dong Yueyue.
The one who claimed not to like red, though she clearly did, was Dong Yueyue.
The one whose feet didn’t sink into the carpet, was Dong Yueyue.
The one who always avoided glass and mirrors, was Dong Yueyue.
And in the Truth or Dare game, the one who “spoke nothing but lies” was still Dong Yueyue.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang submitted their answer and left.
This time, the two of them only received basic credits and gold coin rewards.
If not for the terrible weather, Mu Lantu might have considered staying another day. But with the weather that bad, he had no interest.
Back in the classroom, a sudden thought struck him: If he failed a dungeon task, and when Infinite University announced his death, could he use the rebound Word-Spirit to turn it back on Infinite University itself?
But he didn’t dare try. Even if it worked, what would happen to the players still inside Infinite University? Would they be erased along with it?
He tossed the thought aside.
Before long, without much rest, students hurried into their sixth class.
Task: Escape from Terror City. Time limit: two hours.
Resurrections: nine.
Rejecting the task: return to Infinite University, with no punishment and no reward.
Failing to choose within 30 seconds: default accept.
Success Reward: 4 credits, 400 gold (minimum).
Failure Penalty: Remain in Terror City forever.
[Accept] [Reject]
Failure penalty: Remain in Terror City forever!
This was the first time such a punishment appeared. Mu Lantu felt danger in the air.
But he had no way to consult Xu Huazhang. He could only choose on his own. If he rejected while Xu Huazhang accepted, Huazhang would be forced to face the mission alone.
Suddenly, terrified screams and chaotic footsteps filled his ears. People fled in panic toward elevators and escalators. From a children’s play area nearby, a cheerful nursery song played on loop—except the childlike voice sang disturbingly warped lyrics:
“The death knell has already rung,
Ding ding dang dang, ding ding dang dang,
The reaper unilaterally declares a game of hide-and-seek with you,
Follow the rainbow shimmer,
And parallel lines will lead you to safety…”
Players, all in the same athletic uniforms and carrying identical backpacks, stood frozen, looking bewildered, starkly out of place compared to the panicked crowd.
Someone screamed in madness.
He spoke a strange language—yet Mu Lantu understood it perfectly:
“Run! A highly infectious disease has broken out in Terror City! In two hours, the government will launch missiles and level the city to the ground!”
Mu Lantu’s face changed drastically. He scanned the area.
“Huazhang, where are you?”
He spoke in that same strange language. Clearly this time, Infinite University had assigned them identities as foreigners.
“Baby!” Xu Huazhang suddenly appeared, grabbed his wrist, speaking urgently, “Walk and talk—I found the staff elevator. Let’s get out of the mall fast!”
“Mm!” Mu Lantu followed tightly at his side, face tense, no trace of a smile.
“Classmate Mu! Classmate Xu!”
Zhang Junyang squeezed his way through the crowd, with a panicked Xiong Ping behind him.
“Save it. Just move!” Mu Lantu cut him off with a sharp gesture.
“Mu Lantu!”
Zhao Yuanzhou, Fang Menglei, and Lu Haoran forced their way over from another direction.
Zhao Yuanzhou had finally entered the same dungeon as Mu Lantu—but there was no joy. The threat of death hung above like the Sword of Damocles.
Inside the mall, people screamed and cried, elevators and stairs jammed beyond capacity.
Yet Mu Lantu’s group of seven pushed against the tide, heading opposite to everyone else. Their actions caught certain eyes. Quietly, some strangers began tailing them.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, at the front, were unaware.
The staff elevator was hidden behind a door, its display showing the number 1.
Mu Lantu rushed over and pressed the button.
“There’s an elevator here?!”
A stranger shouted excitedly.
Mu Lantu frowned, staring at the changing numbers, ignoring him.
Lu Haoran snapped at the man under his breath, “Shut the hell up!”
The man clamped a hand over his mouth, regret flashing—but too late. Fast-approaching footsteps thundered closer.
More and more people crowded in.
Lu Haoran cursed, shoved Fang Menglei and Xiong Ping forward, and in seconds was right behind Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, hands raised to push them aside.
The elevator doors opened!
Xu Huazhang gave Mu Lantu a light push to go first, swatted Lu Haoran aside with one palm, then slipped in.
Zhang Junyang, quick on the uptake, dashed in almost glued to Xu Huazhang’s back, dragging Fang Menglei with him.
Zhao Yuanzhou followed.
Then Xiong Ping.
Then Lu Haoran, abandoning all grudges, shoved in as well.
Behind him, the shouting stranger and several locals also forced in.
In moments, the elevator was packed.
Mu Lantu’s hand slammed on the close door button again and again. But outside, people kept pressing open, some even blocking the doors.
The doors refused to shut, as more people surged toward them.
“Don’t just stand there! Push them out!” Zhao Yuanzhou roared at Xiong Ping, Lu Haoran, and the locals.
They snapped out of it, working together to shove out the excess people.
Finally, the doors closed. The elevator began descending. Seconds later, they reached the B1 parking garage.
Chaos reigned there too. Drivers blared horns, desperate to flee.
Xiong Ping shoved past, sprinting to check cars one by one, hoping to find one unlocked.
Lu Haoran caught on and did the same.
But Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang didn’t even glance at the cars. Instead, they vaulted onto a vehicle’s roof and sprinted across, parkour-style, leaping from car to car. In moments, they had left the others far behind.
Fang Menglei silently jumped up after them. Having once survived a group dungeon with them, she knew sticking close was her best bet. She didn’t expect them to help her—but following was safest.
Zhao Yuanzhou cursed himself for being slow. At a time like this, two legs were better than four wheels! He jumped onto the cars too.
Zhang Junyang was left alone, but quickly followed suit.
Xiong Ping and Lu Haoran, still car-hunting, turned to find the others gone—only to catch sight of them bounding across car roofs.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang cleared the garage.
Outside was pandemonium. Pedestrians and vehicles alike were fleeing. The once-dutiful traffic police were nowhere in sight. Accidents were frequent. Every road out of the city was jammed in all directions. Horns blared endlessly.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang locked eyes.
Run!
There was no time for hesitation.
Fang Menglei froze. “They… plan to run out of the city like this?”
“What other way is there?” Zhao Yuanzhou exhaled, breaking into a run.
Fang Menglei’s face paled. She wasn’t confident. Even if she could endure running two hours straight, could she really cover enough distance to escape? Her heart sank as she watched Mu Lantu and the others pull away, but she clenched her teeth and chased after them.
“Miss!”
A motorbike rolled up beside her. Its rider, a middle-aged man, called, “You’re heading out too? Want me to give you a lift?”
Fang Menglei eyed him warily, silent.
“Come on,” he coaxed, “I’m not a bad guy! On foot, you’ll never make it out, not in two hours, not even in four.”
Convinced, Fang Menglei climbed on. “Thank you.”
Her game backpack carried a dagger, homemade chili powder, and other self-defense items—she wasn’t afraid of him having bad intentions.
Meanwhile, Mu Lantu pulled Xu Huazhang into an alley, retrieving a motorbike from his system inventory.
In gridlock, nothing beat a motorcycle.
He swung a long leg onto the seat, slid into the driver’s position, and tossed Xu Huazhang a helmet. Coolly: “Get on.”
Xu Huazhang donned his helmet. “Baby, how about I drive?”
“Big baby, when did you ever learn? Let me.” Mu Lantu refused.
“I can ride. Did you forget?”
“You’re from ancient times—how could you? Stop arguing, get on.”
“Baby, that’s a personal attack. Not nice,” Xu Huazhang muttered, settling in behind him.
“My fault,” Mu Lantu apologized quickly. As long as Xu Huazhang didn’t insist on driving, it was fine. Xu Huazhang had indeed learned before, but rarely rode. Mu Lantu couldn’t rest easy.
Xu Huazhang wrapped his arms tightly around his lover’s waist, silently adding in his heart: But next time, I’ll dare again.
Unaware of Xu Huazhang’s thoughts, Mu Lantu confirmed he was steady, then twisted the throttle. The black iron beast roared to life, surging forward.
Soon, the motorcycle slipped into traffic, weaving like a fish through water.
Nobody obeyed traffic laws anymore.
Mu Lantu bore not just his own life, but the life of the one dearest to him. His nerves were taut, senses on overdrive, adrenaline spiking.
Xu Huazhang saw the sweat bead sliding down his lover’s face, and his heart ached fiercely. He kept utterly still, breathing evenly, terrified of distracting him.
“Bastard!”
A furious driver, blocked and fuming, cursed in his car. Spotting the speeding motorcycle in his mirror, he smirked, then suddenly swung open his passenger-side door.
Mu Lantu’s gaze chilled. His lips curved into a crimson smile as he spat the words: “Big baby, hold tight!”
“Okay.” Xu Huazhang tightened his arms. “Don’t let yourself get hurt.”
“Relax.”
Mu Lantu gunned the throttle. As they reached the black car, the motorbike soared upward like a carp leaping the dragon gate. His left foot smashed into the car door—
With a thunderous crack, the door was kicked clean off.
The driver screamed. His legs trembled, and a warm, wet stain spread across his pants.
