Weird Rules Rumor: At The Beginning, He Insisted That He Was Not Dead
Chapter 123: "Veteran’s Gambit — All Part of the Scheme"

This time, Bai Lian was thoroughly satisfied with the deal—and Li Xin clearly was too.

Her delight was palpable when Bai Lian produced the Genetic Tower walkthrough guide. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from it.

“130,000 more Rule Points!” Bai Lian smirked, eyeing his updated total of 150,000 points. (Ji Yunfeng’s forgotten transfer was now accounted for.)

He’d spent 100,000 on a Class Change Book, and the remaining 30,000 on assorted minor items he’d “fished out” during negotiations.

The item prices weren’t quite what he’d expected. He’d assumed they’d be valued similarly to shop weapons.

But as Li Xin explained, there was a key difference:

“Items have special effects, but dungeon usage limits apply—especially for consumables like Restriction Seals, which vanish after one use.”

“Non-consumables help players only marginally due to usage caps, so their value drops significantly.”

“Weapons are different. They grant permanent stat bonuses and unlimited usage. Items can’t match that.”

“Unless it’s an S-tier item—no stat bonuses, but no usage limits either. That’s why they’re so coveted.”

Bai Lian owned one: the Book of Illusions. He’d never sell it—it was too vital!

He’d considered offloading loot from the Train of the Century, but Li Xin declined. Nullification had no need for more clutter.

“Phew~” Li Xin finished reading Bai Lian’s guide, exhaling in awe. “If I’d had this earlier, I could’ve cleared above S-rating!”

She meant it. With this intel, the dungeon’s difficulty would plummet. An SSS-rating might be out of reach, but S-tier? Absolutely feasible.

Bai Lian’s perfect clear involved two key tasks:

1. Using Specimen 16 to complete the mothership objective.

2. Solving the Specimen 26 enigma!

She might not manage the second, but the first was achievable with preparation. Bai Lian’s guide even noted exploitable rules—like using Biological Samples to counter Shadows.

If she could, Li Xin would’ve pried open his skull to see how he pinpointed such details.

“Finished reading?” Bai Lian sipped the coffee Wu Fanfan handed him.

Li Xin nodded, eyeing him strangely:

“How do you clear dungeons so fast? Your speed defies logic.”

Wu Fanfan cut in breezily:

“What’s illogical? Big Bro is Big Bro! If he were like us, would he be our Big Bro?”

“Exactly. This girl gets it,” Bai Lian approved.

Li Xin swatted Wu Fanfan’s head:

“Stop acting cute! You’re our camp’s poster girl now!”

“Keep that guide safe. I’ll verify it later.”

As Bai Lian drained his cup, he stood. This time, he truly intended to leave.

His reason for giving Li Xin the guide was simple: she’d helped him before, and he believed in repaying debts. Plus, Nullification was extending an olive branch—it’d be unfair not to reciprocate.

“Leaving already?” Li Xin watched him.

Bai Lian turned, scanning her from head to toe:

“Want me to sleep here?”

Li Xin bit her lip, eyes teasing:

“If you join Nullification, I’ll give you my office. Deal?”

Bai Lian’s throat tightened—and he’d just had two coffees.

“Don’t tempt me. You know I can’t resist!”

Li Xin dropped the act when she noticed Wu Fanfan mimicking her stance nearby.

“Go! And you—” she shoved the eavesdropping girl, “—stop learning bad habits! Study strategies!”

Bai Lian left.

Wu Fanfan watched him go, then eyed Li Xin—arms crossed, posture commanding—before studying her own reflection. She mimicked the pose, then blurted:

“So that’s what big brothers like?”

Thwack!

Li Xin smacked her head:

“Silly girl! What nonsense are you thinking?”

Wu Fanfan rubbed her scalp:

“I just wondered why he walks with hands in pockets. To look cool?”

Li Xin paused, then coughed, flushing slightly:

“Everyone has quirks. Don’t overthink it. Maybe he just likes it.”

“Oh! Can I walk like that too, Sis?”

“You don’t have weapons in your pockets. Why would you?”

“Weapons? What do you mean?”

“Some veterans hide weapons in discreet spots. When they meet someone… bam! Surprise draw.”

“Ahh…”

***

“Achoo!”

Bai Lian sneezed while crossing the trading district.

“Who’s bad-mouthing me now?” he muttered, rubbing his nose.

Shrugging it off, he hurried back to his Conscience Store. As Li Xin predicted, suspicious figures loitered nearby. They watched the shop—and when Bai Lian appeared, their stares sharpened.

Good. Report back.

He smiled coldly at the watchers, unlocked the shop, and stepped inside. Under their gaze, he vanished—entering Player Space to queue for his next dungeon.

A signal: Catch me if you can.

Returning to the shop was all part of his scheme...

“He’s in Player Space again? Does this guy ever rest? He just cleared a dungeon!”

“Alert the teams! Prepare for matchmaking. This time, he won’t return alive!”