Chapter Twelve: I Am a Player

Failed?

Impossible! It doesn't make any sense!

Inside the side chamber, the woman who had witnessed her mother-gu explode and perish was filled with astonishment. She carefully retraced the entire plan in her mind, yet she could not fathom the reason for its failure.

During its dormant phase, the Soul-Control Gu possesses no aura or vital signs, appearing no different from an inanimate object; its concealment is incredibly potent.

Within Prince Huai’s residence, the only person who could be considered capable was Er Leng, but he was nothing more than a boorish, brash brute. How could they have possibly detected the presence of the gu within the palace?

Was there a slip-up beforehand?

That was unlikely as well. The person tasked with planting the gu had been chosen at random, and before the operation, he didn't even know what his objective was, so how could he have been exposed?

After much deliberation, only one possibility remained: the good-for-nothing Prince Huai possessed some life-saving means that she had not anticipated.

Could he... be a player?

Although the mechanisms of the Star Mark Gate were extremely fair, even in scenario-based role-playing, players were generally not permitted to play characters like princes or emperors because their perspectives were too elevated. However, this possibility could not be easily dismissed; the worldview of this Star Gate was incredibly vast, and its contents were bizarre and unpredictable—one could not judge it by common sense.

It seemed she would have to be even more cautious in handling this "game."

Her review complete, the woman changed into a loose, hooded black robe in the side chamber and departed gracefully.

Her figure was exquisite, her appearance stunningly beautiful, and her every gesture exuded a bewitching aura; even in the capital, where beauties were as numerous as clouds, she was a figure who could compete for the title of the top courtesan.

...

At the Hour of the Boar (9:00 PM – 11:00 PM), the night shrouded the Prince Huai residence, and all was silent.

A line of night-patrol soldiers, carrying lanterns and clad in armor, passed by the Li Garden gate of the residence.

Suddenly, the lead soldier stopped and tilted his head, asking, "D-did you all hear a woman’s moaning?"

Upon his words, the soldiers behind him also stopped, pricking up their ears to listen.

A moment later, one man replied with a lecherous expression, "I heard it. She sounds truly wanton."

"It must be one of the lords, off to seek pleasure in the Li Garden again."

"Can the sound travel this far?"

"Heh, the sounds of ecstasy are hard to control."

"…!"

The men gossiped and chattered, and while talking, they climbed onto the wall of the Li Garden, hoping to catch a glimpse.

The Li Garden was originally a place for Prince Huai’s amusement, housing hundreds of songstresses and talented beauties. But now that Prince Huai was struggling to survive, it had long since become a cage for the imperial court, and this place had transformed into a fitness club for those "treacherous officials"; every midnight, there were always people coming here to rendezvous with their lovers.

While the soldiers were lecherously peeking, the woman in the black robe slipped out of a side door without attracting anyone's attention, as if she were invisible.

At the Hour of the Rat (11:00 PM – 1:00 AM), the black-robed woman rode the night away from the residence and arrived at a thatched hut in the wilderness.

Entering the room, the candlelight was dim. Seeing an old Taoist priest sitting on the bed, the woman bowed gracefully, "Your servant pays her respects to Master Xu."

Old Master Xu was a strategist for the current emperor. He had arrived in Qingliang Prefecture yesterday regarding the matter of the person with the "Heavenly Amnesty" destiny, though he had not appeared within the prince’s residence.

"Did you plant the gu?" Old Master Xu asked expressionlessly.

"Your servant planned the planting of the gu with great care, but I do not know what life-saving means that good-for-nothing Prince Huai used. He actually discovered the gu insect; it seems someone blocked the death for him," the black-robed woman replied, neither servile nor overbearing.

As her voice faded, the hut fell silent. Old Master Xu did not question her with anger, and the black-robed woman did not show any trepidation despite the failure of her mission.

"An imperial edict from His Majesty."

Old Master Xu suddenly spoke.

"Your servant receives the decree. Long live His Majesty, long live, long long live!" The black-robed woman prostrated herself on the ground.

"The person with the Heavenly Amnesty destiny has awakened; opening the tomb of the former dynasty's princess is now an urgent matter. I command Liu Ling'er to secretly infiltrate the Jingxin Hall, find the tomb map in Prince Huai’s secret chamber within two days, and uncover the secrets hidden there." Old Master Xu’s expression was indifferent. He paused and asked, "Do you hear clearly?"

Liu Ling'er’s brows furrowed, and a prompt from the Star Mark Gate rang in her ears.

[You have received a new mission: Find the tomb map hidden in Prince Huai’s secret chamber and investigate the secrets hidden there. Time limit: Before leaving the Star Gate. Failure penalty: The Emperor will deem you a useless person, and he will execute you.]

Hearing this "reminder," Liu Ling'er’s face turned ashen, and she gritted her teeth as she replied, "Your servant accepts the decree."

"I have other matters to attend to and it is currently inconvenient for me to appear at the residence. If the mission is successful, you may inform me using the token."

"Yes." Liu Ling'er rose to respond.

"Go." Old Master Xu tossed out the word in a cold tone, then closed his eyes and said no more.

Liu Ling'er turned decisively and left the hut with a gloomy expression.

...

Inside Prince Huai’s bedchamber, in an unremarkable, vacant side room, the lights were extinguished, leaving it in total darkness.

Ren Ye lay on the stiff wooden bed, his eyes wide open, feeling no sleepiness.

Er Leng sat on a wooden chair to the right of the door, cradling the famous blade *Yao Yue*. His breathing was steady, and he was listening intently to the sounds around him.

Ren Ye hadn't wanted to have Er Leng "guard his sleep," but after the gu incident, he was truly a bit panicked. He had no choice but to share the room with this burly, brash man, even having the impulse to invite him onto the bed for close protection.

"Er Leng, is there any movement around?" Ren Ye couldn't help but ask.

"Apart from two mice foraging for food, there is no other movement," Er Leng replied.

Ren Ye was somewhat surprised: "You can hear mice?"

"A martial artist first trains the five senses, then the physique. Within fifty meters, no sound can escape my ears," Er Leng said with some pride, then added, "But compared to the late Prince, this is just a minor trick. On the Southern Frontier battlefield, I once saw the late Prince emit a powerful aura; he didn't even move, yet he frightened away an enemy general. That is the supreme realm of martial arts."

Ren Ye ignored the late Prince’s awesomeness and asked with a peculiar line of thought: "So... if I were having a candlelit conversation with a concubine at night, you could hear it too?"

"I cannot hear it," Er Leng shook his head.

"Hm? Didn't you say nothing within fifty meters escapes your ears?"

"Your Highness takes a very short time. I haven't even started listening before it is already over," Er Leng replied bluntly. "So, I cannot hear it."

"You dare insult me? I’ll cut you down!" Ren Ye was caught off guard by this reply.

"Haha!" Er Leng laughed heartily.

Ren Ye exhaled slightly and asked with meticulous care, "The incense ash I had you scatter in the hallway—did you do it?"

"It is scattered."

"Is the palace gate guarded?"

"Lian'er is there," Er Leng replied, rushing to answer. "Even the latrine where Your Highness relieves yourself has been rigged with a simple trap. If any thief sneaks in, they will surely trigger it."

"Good."

Ren Ye nodded slowly.

The side room fell into silence again, but before long, Ren Ye suddenly sat up: "Right, there's gas! This bedchamber is ventilated everywhere; what if someone releases poisonous smoke?!"

"Your Highness, rest assured. I have ordered all the eunuchs and maids to reside along the four corridors leading to the hall. Even if there were poisonous smoke, they would be the first to sense it," Er Leng replied patiently. "If Your Highness is still worried, tomorrow I will select eight people specialized in absorbing toxins to stand guard at the hall entrance."

Ren Ye was momentarily speechless: "I trust your handling of things."

In the darkness, Er Leng looked toward Ren Ye, sensing the anxiety and lingering fear of his master, and then took the initiative to speak: "Your Highness, go to sleep. As long as Er Leng is alive, no one can harm you."

What a good brother, Ren Ye thought, feeling deeply moved.

...

The full moon hung high, and the stars shone brightly.

Liu Ling'er, dressed in black, returned quietly to the Li Garden, stripped off her disguise in the side room, and changed into a delicate pink undergarment.

She sat lazily before a bronze mirror and was just about to pick up a comb to tidy her hair when a voice suddenly echoed in her ears.

[Triggering Death Mission Trait—Last Words: Do you have any regrets in your life? Do you have any unspeakable secrets? Do you have any suffering or remorse you cannot voice... You have experienced Liu Ling'er’s story here, so please leave behind your own story.]

"Last words? Hah, crazy!"

Liu Ling'er paused, feeling extremely unlucky.

After the gu-planting mission failed, the Star Mark Gate prompted that she would be punished, but it didn't specify what. Immediately after, she received the investigation mission from Old Master Xu, which explicitly stated that failure meant death.

With a little thought, it wasn't hard to guess that because the prerequisite mission failed, the difficulty of the subsequent mission had escalated.

*Swish!*

A sheet of white paper and a pen appeared abruptly on the vanity.

"Heh!"

Liu Ling'er looked at the two items, a mocking smile appearing at the corners of her lips. What decent person would write down their own secrets? *Ptui*, how base!

Half an hour later, the candlelight flickered. Liu Ling'er leaned over the desk, pen in hand, writing her own story with a peaceful and quiet face.

For some reason, the pen and paper seemed to possess a magical power, making one feel an irresistible urge to pour out their heart...

"My name in the real world is Wang Hong. I am 'playing' Liu Ling'er in the Star Mark Gate of Qingliang Town.

My identity card is: Songstress.

My entry token is a painting titled: *Spring Breeze and Fulfillment*.

My special ability is related to this, which fits my style of doing things.

In the real world, I worked as a hostess for many years. I have seen countless men of all kinds. There were those who were generous, those with perverted fetishes, and those who were poor losers pretending to be rich. In short, I understand men very well. This is the accumulation of work experience and also my advantage.

Unlike those women who have 'gone under' but always complain about how helpless they are, I don't have a gambling-addict father, a sick mother, or a brother waiting for me to buy a wedding house.

I do this job purely because I am lazy and don't want to work a regular job.

When I was young, I just spent my time playing and dating. Now, without a degree or background, how much money can I earn working for others?

Three or four thousand a month?

*Cheh*—that’s not even enough for me to buy a pair of shoes.

In this era, poverty is mocked, not prostitution. As long as you have money, even your parents look at you differently.

Furthermore, I married at 18, spent three years as someone’s wife, and even gave birth to a daughter. This little brat spends more money than I do, wanting everything to be the best.

For the three years of marriage, things went smoothly at first. My ex-husband made some money in timber and treated me well, but later, because he took steps too large, he ended up with a mountain of debt.

Without money, how could we live?

Big brother, I married you at 18. I have the looks and the figure. You wouldn't want me to shoulder the debt with you, would you?

To avoid being dragged down, I decisively chose divorce. The brat was awarded to me so that I could legally extract a portion of the assets from the existing litigation to provide child support for us.

The law should protect vulnerable groups, shouldn't it?

After the divorce, I went to the Jinhai Entertainment City on Tainan Street. I worked as a server for three days, felt out the situation and the nature of the work, told the manager about my wishes, and officially embarked on my career.

Being a hostess isn't hard at all. In my view, it’s just like managing a marriage. If a man has money in his pocket to support me, then I’ll just make these men feel comfortable, give them face, and let them experience physical and mental pleasure.

Some say this is selfish and shameless, but in this day and age, those who aren't selfish and still care about 'face' are the real idiots, right?

I have a talent for dealing with men, and I have a clear mind.

In those years, although I stayed up late and drank, my overall life state was positive, and I made a lot of money. There is nothing in this world you can get without paying a price. I realized this a long time ago.

Working twenty-some days a month, and during my period, I’d take the brat traveling, shopping, and having fun everywhere. Life was quite comfortable.

During that time, I was very content...

A dozen years passed in the blink of an eye. I was aging day by day, shifting from being on the 'front lines' to acting as a manager. My income didn't decrease; it increased. After all, what I’m good at isn't sleeping with people, but using my brain and heart to study the needs of men.

However, the brat grew up, went to college, and for over two years, she hasn't said a word to me...

We had a very serious argument, almost smashing everything in the house that could be smashed. The cause was her asking me very tactfully, 'Can you stop doing this job?'

A prefecture-level city is only so big. There are only a few well-known entertainment cities, and gossip is unavoidable. Perhaps... she felt that my doing this job made her lose face in front of her friends and classmates.

But I don't care what others say. I don't know how many people have pointed at my nose and called me a bitch over the years; I’ve long since gotten used to it.

But when she said it, I exploded instantly.

What?!

I used money from being a hostess to raise you, and you think the rice you’re eating is dirty?

Damn it, I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful wretch. I don't remember how many times I slapped her; she ran off in a sorry state, and we haven't spoken since.

Later, I inquired and learned that she fought with me that day because she had a minor argument with a female teacher. The teacher had scolded her in front of everyone, 'If you keep skipping class and hanging around, you’ll end up just like your mother...'

I was furious when I found out. That same day, I contacted an old hoodlum from out of town whom I was familiar with from the entertainment city.

About a week later, he brought four young guys to the city and staked out the teacher’s house for a day.

That night, when the teacher came home from work, she was stabbed twelve times. Especially her face, which received four stabs, and her chest, which was stabbed three times. As for the rest, those four young men shoved over a dozen tree branches inside her...

I watched the whole thing from the car. I was truly happy, and I paid a certain price for it—I spent two days in a hotel with those four hoodlums, but I didn't spend a cent.

I don't think I’m shameful at all. Instead, when they were messing with me, I felt great pleasure in body and mind...

I’m a bitch, after all; exchanging my body for things is only natural!

I stopped studying in middle school and have no upbringing, but I feel that teachers should be cultured and not act like a shrew at every turn. They deserve respect, and they should respect everyone who struggles in life.

But that teacher didn't understand, so I had to teach her.

Alright, that is my story.

At 35, I was accidentally chosen by the Star Mark Gate to become a player.

I also learned that this world is far from as shallow as I understood it to be.

I like this bizarre world because it doesn't talk about morality, it doesn't talk about background, and it cares even less about means. In the end, there is only victory and defeat.

All living beings are equal, and everyone has a chance to defy their destiny.

At 36, I joined a player organization called the Bell Society.

The opportunity and token to enter the Qingliang Town Star Gate were provided by the Bell Society, and... I must win the final victory; I absolutely cannot lose!

But... is this for that little brat, that ungrateful wretch?

How could it be? I am an ex—treme—ly—sel—fish woman!

I am Wang Hong.

I have arrived, and you can only be defeated and eliminated."

The pen stopped. The white paper floated up, slowly ignited, and turned into sparks that dissipated in mid-air.

For some reason, when Liu Ling'er looked up, her face was already covered in tears.

...

Inside the bedchamber side room.

"Er Leng!"

Ren Ye, who had been lying quietly, suddenly sat up and shouted.

*Swish!*

Er Leng instinctively drew his blade and replied immediately, "What is it, Your Highness?"

"I’ve thought of a way to lure out the person who planted the gu," Ren Ye said, sitting on the bed with an excited look in his eyes.