When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 538: Unlucky

Chapter 538: Unlucky

"Imhotep?" Gu Luoxin froze slightly as he recalled, "Isn’t that... the number one organization in the Nightmare Cycle?"

Unlike the SJG Team which consisted only of three pitiful members, Imhotep was a large organization that housed thousands of players from all walks of ranks and backgrounds.

Gu Luoxin himself had received a private invitation from this organization after he survived his first Cycle, albeit he still needed to undergo a string of tests before he was allowed to join. As for what these tests entailed, he was told it was strictly confidential and he could only find out after he accepted the invitation.

At that time, Gu Luoxin couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious, so he had put off the invitation until he entered the second Cycle, the Shishen Apartment, where he met his current teammates for the first time.

Now that Gu Luoxin reflected on it, he got the urge to pat his past self for a job well done. It was fortunate that he was timid, cautious and indecisive in nature otherwise he might have muddledly joined the organization in a moment of weakness!

Newbies, upon experiencing the horrors of their first Cycle, would feel utterly moved by the invitation from the number one organization. Gu Luoxin couldn’t deny that he, too, had felt conflicted for weeks. After all, it was a basic human instinct to gather and seek protection from the strong. And Imhotep made use of this gold banner very well.

Apparently, they offered protection for players below the rank of Veteran, but in exchange they had to pay a certain amount of points and props to the organization each month. After these inexperienced players rose to Veteran rank, it was then their turn to lead newcomers through the Cycles, reaping benefits through the points and props offered by the lower-ranked players. Rinse and repeat.

What if you didn’t have enough points or props, then? Simple— you either found a way to gather them somehow, or you could only wait to be abandoned. If you were lucky, you might be able to carve a path of survival for yourself. But what if you’re not? Wouldn’t the organization be leaving you to die?

The more Gu Luoxin thought about it, the more he got chills running down his spine. Heavens, why did it sound just like a pyramid scheme?!

It was unknown how many innocent players they had sucked dry each month, gradually nourishing the structure of the organization to the height it was today.

Gu Luoxin’s opinion of this organization which took advantage of people’s ignorance and vulnerability was already not very good to begin with, and upon hearing Shen Nianzu’s words, his impression of them immediately plummeted to the rock bottom. "Wait a minute..." he blinked as a realization struck him. "If my memory serves me right, this organization’s leader is..."

Shen Nianzu nodded lightly, causing his expression to sink.

The finest wine in Shangri-la, or Shang for short, was the leader of Imhotep. He was also the player who had given Gu Luoxin a bad feeling. Now that the pieces were all falling into place, he couldn’t help but think, ’No wonder...’

After all, how decent could the person who built such a blood-sucking organization be?

What was more infuriating was its members, each was stronger than the last!

"Why are all the bad guys so powerful?" Gu Luoxin couldn’t resist grumbling under his breath, making Shen Nianzu feel slightly amused.

"As long as we avoid them in the future, everything will be alright," he reassured. But in spite of that, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of crisis whenever he recalled Shang’s intrigued gaze on Jin Jiuchi earlier. It felt so... sticky, intrusive, and unpleasant somehow, like being stared at by a cunning, cold-blooded serpent.

They could take the initiative to avoid Shang, but nothing could be done if Shang insisted on seeking them. Shen Nianzu did not share his concern with Gu Luoxin though, half because he did not want to burden the young man with unnecessary concerns and the other half because he wasn’t yet certain of Shang’s intention.

It would be best if the worst case scenario he thought of never happened.

All these complex thoughts churned rapidly in Shen Nianzu’s mind, albeit nothing could be detected on his exquisite face. He added in a casual tone, his pale lips tugging into a faint smile, "And if Da Shen manages to obtain the main reward, our overall strength will increase again."

"You’re right, Xiao Shen!" Gu Luoxin replied, his downcast eyes brightening up. His heart was so pure and naïve; a few words of reassurance from Shen Nianzu was all it took to dispel the haze in his mind, leaving him cheerful once more.

How gullible,

a relieved sigh escaped Shen Nianzu’s lips, yet at the same time he couldn’t help but feel a smidgen of concern as well. With the way Gu Luoxin was, he was truly afraid the young man would be sold one day without even knowing how, even helping the seller count the money!

It wasn’t possible for him to watch over Gu Luoxin all the time, so should he ask someone’s help... for example, Noir? After all, the two of them were studying in the same campus, so they should have quite a close relationship, right?

Shelving the plan aside for the time being, Shen Nianzu decided to tackle the problem before him first – everything else could wait until they left this Cycle. "Let’s go," he stated, his pale purple eyes blazing with determination, "Time’s running out. We must find the revival potion as soon as possible."

"Oh, oh! Come up, Xiao Shen!" Gu Luoxin offered to piggyback him again, but Shen Nianzu staunchly refused,

"No need."

He had lost consciousness for a moment back then because of the poison, but after the brief respite, he had felt much better already. He wasn’t as weak as his appearance made him out to be. Besides, he was the leader of SJG. Where would he put his face if he demanded his teammate to carry him just because of this little scratch?!

Gu Luoxin could not change his stubborn mind no matter how many times he tried to persuade him, so he could only give up with a grumble, "What would Da Shen think if he woke up later and found you injured?"

Shen Nianzu couldn’t resist an amused huff as he caressed his bandaged shoulder. "I wonder..."

The two of them continued their search, this time taking extra care to steer clear of areas with too many players lest they be dragged into another elimination game. Gu Luoxin remained on high alert, his nerves taut for fear they would bump into the bunch of mad psychos from Imhotep again. He really did not want to see them again— like, ever!

Alas, never could he have foreseen that, after all the effort he expended to avoid those diabolical players, they would end up running into the very leader, Shang!

"Oh, it’s you again. What a coincidence, huh?"

Shang remarked with a gentle smile on his face, making his entire person appear harmless. Combined with his identity as a rare healer, it was extremely easy for others to form a good impression of him. However, when Gu Luoxin recalled how this person was the Big Boss of those psychotic killers, his heart couldn’t help but drop to the pit of his stomach, his insides twisting into knots.

Just. Why. Are. They. So. Unlucky?!!

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Mini theater

Xinxin: I want to phone a friend! Senior, please transfer some of your luck. It’s urgent! QAQ