I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 679 - 679 678. Woke up but not completely awake_1

Chapter 679: 678. Woke up, but not completely awake_1 Chapter 679: 678. Woke up, but not completely awake_1 [First, the stage of this game is set in Abandoned Capital. Since it’s Abandoned Capital, one cannot help mentioning Taoist Crane Cry—this character also appears in the game and he must be key, combining the information he left behind…]

[…Lastly, what will happen on Soul Summoning Night? I haven’t played that far yet, only to the second day. I won’t spoil it, but I think it’s best to be cautious of those who seem harmless—a seemingly insignificant character might just be the key to breaking the case.]

Zheng Li finished reading the post, noting some of the details mentioned within, such as the Bronning Family’s patriarch being hale and hearty enough to take in a concubine—perhaps there really was some magic in that house.

There were also things he didn’t know about, like the content of the Detective’s notes.

It’s just that this is a virtual reality game, currently unable to screenshot and share; the poster could only write a few points based on memory.

“It seems reading the notes doesn’t lead to death, have I overlooked something?”

Zheng Li yawned, having pulled an all-nighter, and that too in the highly tense environment of the virtual reality game, which made him quite tired.

With his phone in hand, reading replies, Zheng Li leaned on the table and quickly lost consciousness.

He had a dream where it seemed like he was back in that mansion. He was wearing his coat, listening to the thunder rolling outside the window when Zheng Li saw a person standing in the corridor.

It was a woman, with a graceful figure, not petite like the unlucky maid Lily.

Zheng Li walked forward, wanting to get a clear look at the other’s face.

He realized that the woman seemed to be covering her face with a fan, only barely revealing some of her eyes and brows.

Boom—

A flash of lightning struck, illuminating the corridor. Zheng Li clearly saw that the black-haired woman’s eyes were a deep red. She looked at him with amused interest, as if she had found some novel and interesting… little insect.

After making eye contact with the woman, Zheng Li suddenly felt a splitting headache, as if his eyeballs had been gouged out and burst open, his entire body breaking out in goosebumps, shaking uncontrollably.

“Found you.”

The woman’s voice was soft and delicate, as if it had risen right beside Zheng Li’s ear.

Like being electrocuted, Zheng Li’s whole body couldn’t help but tremble uncontrollably.

The next moment, Zheng Li woke from the dream with a start.

Drooling, his cuffs were soaked; Zheng Li quickly looked around to find his roommates still deep asleep.

Everyone had gone to bed late last night, now enjoying a deep sleep, with no one waking up.

Light filtered through the curtains, Zheng Li checked the time—it was just after nine.

He had only slept for just over three hours.

Zheng Li limbered up, standing, the chair made a slight noise. Sleeping on the table wasn’t good for the body and often led to nightmares.

Once, he was so sleepy during a class that he dozed off at the desk and dreamt about being caught sleeping by the teacher. Zheng Li vividly remembered the teacher stepping closer and closer to him, and though asleep, he realized but couldn’t get up—a truly horrifying state. When he woke up, relieved that it was just a dream, he then saw the teacher already standing in front of him.

After using the bathroom and washing his face with cold water, Zheng Li looked at his reflection and felt a bit more awake.

“This game of Lu Ban’s really is toxic,” he remarked.

It was one thing to be addicted, but to dream about the game’s content was something else entirely.

“Come to think of it, who was that woman? I don’t remember anyone like that in the game.”

He thought for a moment and decided to head downstairs for breakfast.

Last night’s pickled cabbage noodles were far from enough. The few hours he spent in the game felt like several days to Zheng Li.

Moreover, you could eat in the game, too!

The lavish dishes at the banquet tasted just like the real thing in his mouth, making Zheng Li even hungrier after leaving the game.

He changed his clothes and went downstairs, quickly arriving at the cafeteria.

The place was quite crowded at this time on the weekend morning. Students heading for self-study mostly stopped by for something to eat first, but compared to a real lunchtime rush, it was still rather sparse. At least there was more than enough room for one person per table.

Zheng Li got a basket of steamed dumplings, a bowl of soy milk, and a deep-fried dough stick. He poured himself a saucer of vinegar and took his food to an empty table to eat.

Dipping the steamed dumplings in vinegar and swallowing a few, Zheng Li felt content and satisfied.

He glanced at the other students eating breakfast—boys and girls, almost none he recognized.

At that moment, Zheng Li’s wandering gaze suddenly froze.

Because he suddenly saw that at a table not far from himself, there was a girl eating dumplings.

The girl was wearing common clothes, just like any college student you’d see anywhere.

However, her eyes and eyebrows looked incredibly familiar to Zheng Li!

This girl was the very one he had just dreamed about!!!

Startled, Zheng Li barely managed to hold onto his chopsticks; they fell onto the table, making a noise that made the girl glance over.

That’s when he realized this girl might not be exactly the same as the woman in his dream; after all, he hadn’t seen the dream woman’s face clearly, but at least this girl didn’t have red eyes.

“Must be an illusion…”

Zheng Li muttered to himself.

Perhaps he had seen this girl before, or maybe she shared a large lecture class with him, and that’s why he subconsciously remembered her features and recalled them in his dream?

Zheng Li believed in science.

It couldn’t possibly be that the girl had chased him out of his dream, right?

He quickly finished his breakfast, bought a Coke and a cream-filled bun on his way back to the dorm, where his roommates were still asleep. Zheng Li, somewhat neurotically, climbed up to their bunks to check their breathing, ensuring they were all alive.

After a sip of Coke, Zheng Li once again entered the game.

This time, he was smarter. As soon as he entered the game, he first checked his luggage and opened his notebook.

The notebook did contain many records, about the Bronning family’s assets, the man Bronning himself, and his children. One could basically have a general understanding after reading it.

At the same time, there was also information about Taoist Crane Cry and his sect. Zheng Li had only a vague understanding of this character until he read these records. Only then did he gain a relatively objective and clear understanding of this big shot famous in the Abandoned Capital.

It seems reading these notes first is the correct approach to the game.

Zheng Li couldn’t help but remark.

The old butler arrived as scheduled, and Zheng Li, who was engrossed in the notebook, was still startled. He hurriedly picked up the two notebooks and once again checked his weapon—a revolver—before following the butler.

Since Zheng Li had spoken with some of the characters in the previous game session, he didn’t repeat the same actions this time but instead observed their expressions carefully.

According to the author on that forum, some of the characters he had overlooked could be key to the problem.

He began to scrutinize the maids, servants, and even the old butler, appearing to mutter to himself.

However, Zheng Li did not discover any problems.

After the meal, wary of the previous game’s death, he didn’t immediately return to his room but decided to stay in this crowded area instead.

Opening the notebook, Zheng Li continued reading.

That’s when he suddenly noticed a line of text.

[Bronning paid me to investigate the hidden treasure in this mansion, which is said to be the inheritance of Taoist Crane Cry.]

At the same time, there was a photograph wedged between these two pages.

As Zheng Li leafed through, the photo fell to the ground, and he bent down to pick it up.

Turning it over, he saw what was on the photo.

It was a black-and-white, somewhat spotted photo of an old man with drooping shoulders. On the back of the photo, the word “Bronning” was written.

Zheng Li was somewhat startled, as he had seen Bronning’s portrait in the corridor. The old gentleman in the painting seemed quite healthy and young; otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible for him to have fun with a maid in Cloud and Rain.

What could have happened?

Rejuvenation?

With confusion, Zheng Li shifted his gaze from the photo and saw more recorded text in the notebook.

[However, Taoist Crane Cry might not be dead; his will might still linger in this house!!!]

The instant he saw these words, a chilling sensation spread throughout Zheng Li’s body.

He looked up, feeling as if countless eyes were fixed on him.

Everyone except himself seemed suspicious.