Chapter 32 The Ancient Town's Wandering Spirit - The Strange Townspeople

What were they laughing at?

She couldn't help but feel these people were up to no good. Belatedly, she realized how strange it was that the main street was so crowded while the square was completely deserted. It was better not to enter the square for now; she would look for an opportunity to investigate during the Offering Ceremony tonight.

Since she wasn't entering the square, she could only return the way she came. Along the way, Bai Xiao brooded over the matter of the Offeringss.

"Qin Xiao? You're already back from your walk? Did you find anything?"

It was Huang Xinxin's voice. Bai Xiao looked up and saw her walking nearby with two other female players, Feng Huilin and Wei Yun.

Seeing her returning from the opposite direction, the three of them hurried forward to question her.

"I didn't find much. It seems every household here has different Offeringss. I don't know what kind of Offerings the game wants us to find," Bai Xiao told them truthfully.

"I've looked at several houses along the way, and that's indeed the case." Feng Huilin nodded in agreement with Bai Xiao's discovery.

"These people are all so eccentric, worshiping gods at every turn. They're so superstitious, it's as if they've never received a materialistic education." Teacher Wei Yun adjusted her glasses, her expression full of disdain.

Her words left the other three momentarily speechless. They used to believe strongly in materialism, but now that they were in a game, could they still judge these people by common logic?

"So you're all here. Any discoveries?"

Not far behind Huang Xinxin's group, the four male players also approached together. This was the first time the players had gathered outside.

The main street was only three meters wide. With eight people gathered, they blocked more than half the road. Han Yadong suggested they move to a deserted side alley to discuss.

Once everyone was settled, the female players briefly recounted the information they had exchanged.

Wang Yongqiang asked Bai Xiao while eating some pastries and snacks he had bought, "You were the first to reach the end of the street. What did you find there?"

Bai Xiao shook her head and said, "There's a large square over there with a statue covered in red cloth. I didn't find anything else."

"A square?" Chen Sheng asked in confusion, then realization dawned on him. "That must be where the driver—oh, wait, we have to call him Manager Zhang now—meant when he mentioned the location for the Offering Ceremony."

"The sun will set in two or three hours. Does no one have a clue about the Offeringss?" Han Yadong listened for a while and felt there was no useful information at all.

"Um, I wanted to say—" Zheng Wen, who usually had little presence, suddenly spoke up, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

He swallowed nervously and said, "The game keeps telling us to return the statue to the temple via the Divine Path, but we don't seem to know the locations of the Divine Path or the temple yet."

"True." Chen Sheng nodded, affirming his point.

"I say we take it one step at a time. The priority is still finding the Offeringss, otherwise, we won't even pass the first stage." Wang Yongqiang raised his hand to signal a stop, suggesting they focus on the immediate task first.

"Everyone has a point. We need to find all of these things; we can do both at once. Haha, no delay." Chen Sheng laughed, trying to smooth things over.

Seeing this, Zheng Wen gave him a grateful smile.

"Let's keep looking. Let's not waste time here."

After exchanging what little information they had, they left the alley one after another. Bai Xiao headed toward the Guesthouse, while the other seven continued exploring the other end of the street.

After a few steps, Han Yadong noticed Bai Xiao wasn't moving with the group and asked suspiciously, "Qin Xiao, aren't you coming with us?"

"I've already looked over there and didn't find much for now. I'm going back to the Guesthouse to check things out," Bai Xiao stopped and replied.

"Did you really not find an Offerings? Or have you already obtained some information?" Han Yadong didn't quite believe her.

It wasn't just him; the suspicion in the others' eyes grew deeper as well.

"Heh," Bai Xiao chuckled softly. She kept her cool and analyzed for them, "Based on the game prompts and the information from the Guide, we are a Parade God Team. Our only goal is to return the statue to the temple. This is clearly a team game. What benefit would I get from hiding things from you?"

Hearing this, and considering the current clues, they realized she was right. Their doubts were mostly dispelled, so they said no more and went their separate ways.

Back at the Guesthouse, Bai Xiao went upstairs to her assigned room.

The room was an ordinary twin room. Since the small building was a wooden structure, the wooden slats on the floor creaked and groaned as she walked, as if the whole place was about to fall apart.

Huang Xinxin's bag was on the bed near the door. Seeing this, Bai Xiao thought, 'This silly girl is so trusting; she didn't even bring her only game supplies with her.'

Shaking her head, she sat on the bed by the window and began rummaging through her own bag.

She hadn't had time to look closely on the bus. Besides a thousand yuan, a bag of bread, and a bottle of water, there was also a piece of black cloth. Bai Xiao took it out and unfolded it; the words "Parade God Team" were embroidered on it, but there was nothing else special about it.

Finding nothing else in the room, Bai Xiao decided to head downstairs.

The front hall downstairs was small, with only a long table and a few stools and chairs. No one was there at the moment. Bai Xiao remembered that the Guide, Manager Zhang, had mentioned a waiter named Xiao Liu, but half the day had passed and this Xiao Liu had yet to appear.

She walked toward the back door, having never seen what was behind it. She only remembered that Manager Zhang had gone in after speaking that morning and hadn't come out since.

Outside the back door was a small yard enclosed by a wooden fence. Some unfamiliar flowers and plants were growing there, and there were two small rooms on either side of the yard.

Seeing no one in the yard, Bai Xiao called out, "Is anyone there? Anyone?"

"Coming, coming." A young man dressed just like the Townsfolk came out of one of the small rooms on the left.

"Are you Xiao Liu?"

"Yes, guest from the provincial capital. How can I help you?" the other party replied with a smile.

"Are you also a local townsman? Do you also believe in the Mountain God?"

"Yes, guest. The great Mountain God bestows everything upon us; He deserves to be worshiped."

Seeing that his behavior and movements were identical to the people outside, Bai Xiao continued to ask, "Then what do you offer to the Mountain God?"

"My most precious and best thing, of course."

"And what is your most precious and best thing?" Bai Xiao pressed.

Xiao Liu replied with a face full of sincerity, clutching his chest, "My heart of devotion."

...

These people are really sick!

Speechless and exasperated, Bai Xiao finally said helplessly, "The Guesthouse is supposed to provide three meals a day, right? Make something and bring it up."

"Guest, the Guesthouse only provides lodging, not meals."

Bai Xiao pursed her lips, wanting to say something but not knowing what. Her mouth opened a couple of times, but in the end, she said nothing and turned back to the front hall.

She didn't touch the food issued by the game. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she took out the bread and water she had previously bought from the mall and quickly finished her late lunch.

After eating, she didn't go upstairs. She waited in the front hall for the other players while reflecting on the day's events.

She had already asked several Townsfolk, and they all said that what they offered to the Mountain God was their best and most precious thing. She couldn't help but wonder, what was her best and most precious thing?