The Rules of Burial: Touch That Well and Die
Xu Xi was awakened by a series of knocks on the door, neither too loud nor too soft, with a fixed rhythm.
"Third Young Master, it's past dawn, time to get up."
The Young Servant's flat, emotionless voice came from outside the door, sounding somewhat muffled through the door.
Xu Xi opened her eyes and saw the top of the green gauze tent.
He stretched and slowly sat up.
The oil lamp on the table had burned out sometime ago, and a thin layer of grayish-white light shone through the window paper.
His gaze swept over the Dressing Table, which was empty.
Sure enough, the bronze mirror must have been the culprit that he inexplicably disappeared from sleep last night.
[Xu Xi's sleep quality is still so good (sigh. jpg)]
[This Young Servant is quite responsible; he even provides a wake-up service.]
Yu Hao and the others stayed up all night and didn't dare to sleep at all.
[By the way, how's Hang Ze doing? Did anyone tune in to his Livestream Room last night?]
Don't worry, this unlucky kid may have had bad luck, but he's lucky to be alive.
The knocking on the door started again, this time with a slightly urgent tone.
"Third Young Master?"
Xu Xi gave a casual reply, and then there was no more movement outside the door.
He didn't mind and opened the door.
The Young Servant was still standing outside the door; it was the same one who had shown the way last night.
Upon seeing the man emerge, he lowered his head and said meekly, "Third Young Master, please follow this servant to the front courtyard for a meal."
The light in the corridor was a little brighter than yesterday, but it was still shrouded in a somber gray tone, and the White Lanterns under the corridor swayed slightly in the morning breeze.
I don't know where he threw the bronze mirror last night; at least I can't see it anywhere in sight.
Xu Xi followed the Young Servant through the corridor and headed towards the front courtyard.
When he arrived, he found that there were already four players there.
Yu Hao was holding a bowl of congee, and there was a faint dark circle under his eyes, indicating that he hadn't slept much last night.
When he saw Xu Xi enter, his gaze quickly swept over Xu Xi, but he didn't say anything, only nodded.
Lin Zuo sat next to him, his hair slightly loose, and the porridge in front of him barely touched.
Tang Shutong lowered her head, her left hand hanging unnaturally at her side, mostly hidden by the wide sleeve of her Mourning Clothes, while her right hand slowly scooped up the porridge, her movements somewhat stiff.
Shi Weiwei sat on the other side, calmly taking small bites of her breakfast.
However, Xu Xi could still see the fatigue in her eyes.
He casually picked an empty seat, sat down, and began to enjoy the breakfast on the table.
Just then, Yu Hao asked, "Brother, was there any noise coming from that mirror in your room last night?"
He asked bluntly.
Xu Xi continued eating, "I don't know, I threw it away."
But deep down, he was thinking that he wasn't the only one facing this problem.
Why was it only him who got it?
"... Throw it away?" Yu Hao taken aback, clearly not expecting this answer.
He stared at the young man across from him who had taken a bite of a steamed bun, making sure the other man wasn't joking. His lips twitched, and he lowered his head to eat his porridge.
What more needs to be asked? The other party had clearly already seen that there was a problem with the bronze mirror and solved it directly at the root.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zuo looked up at Xu Xi, twirled his fingertips, and seemed lost in thought.
Shi Weiwei paused in mid-air with her chopsticks for a moment, then continued as if nothing had happened.
Tang Shutong continued to scoop up the porridge with her head down.
The light outside the door dimmed for a moment.
A tall figure stepped across the threshold, bringing with him a rich aroma of Incense.
It was Xing Ge, who had finished his night watch.
He seemed to be in a fairly good state. He quickly glanced at everyone in the hall and silently walked to the empty seat next to Xu Xi and sat down.
He picked up the bowl of porridge, tilted his head back, and finished the whole bowl of white porridge in a few gulps.
The bottom of the bowl touched the table, making a soft, crisp sound.
"It's probably my turn to keep watch tonight," Shi Weiwei said calmly, putting down her chopsticks. "Is there anything I should be aware of?"
She asked very directly, without any politeness.
Xing Ge paused for a moment as he tore the steamed bun apart.
He replied directly, simply repeating the rules about night watch that the butler had mentioned.
"The sounds from inside the coffin... don't listen. If the Paper Figure moves, don't turn around. I haven't encountered anything else yet."
Shi Weiwei nodded.
The expressions of the others changed slightly.
They hadn't expected this Dungeon to have so many rules.
Xu Xi's eyes flickered.
Can People Wearing White Flowers be trusted?
He thought of the maid from last night.
Yu Hao then briefly explained the unusual phenomenon of the bronze mirrors in everyone's rooms.
After hearing this, Xing Ge also replied, "I will be careful tonight."
The atmosphere was no longer dull after this.
Lin Zuo suddenly asked Xu Xi, "Where did you throw your mirror...?"
Xu Xi glanced at him. "Outside the door."
Yu Hao asked in surprise, "Just... tossed it away casually?"
"Um."
"Then what?"
Then close the door and go to sleep.
Yu Hao choked for a moment, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out a few words: "... Can you sleep?"
The next second he saw the young man looking at him with a puzzled expression, as if asking why he couldn't sleep.
Everyone fell silent for a moment upon seeing this.
"..." Yu Hao coughed and changed the subject, "Speaking of which, where's that guy with the earring? I haven't seen him."
Although the bronze mirror was eerie, it was not fatal.
Since the other party has survived until now, they shouldn't be stumped by a small mirror.
No one answered.
Xu Xi ate her porridge.
He thought that the Earring-Wearing Young Man was probably in grave danger.
However, he didn't say it aloud.
"They might have gone out last night," Tang Shutong guessed casually.
After all, the other party did indeed intend to sneak into the Shen Residence at night.
As for whether something unexpected happened... it's obvious.
"I'll go check on him in his room later." Yu Hao delve any further, and instead asked, "What are everyone's plans for today?"
Based on last night's experience and their discussions, they have gained a basic understanding of the complexity of this Dungeon.
Acting alone is extremely risky, but teaming up may not necessarily allow for the simultaneous advancement of multiple leads.
Therefore, division of labor is an inevitable choice.
Shi Weiwei spoke first, "Last night we tried to visit Seventh Concubine, but the maids stopped us."
At this point, she glanced at Xing Ge and emphasized, "That maid was wearing a white flower in her hair."
Tang Shutong continued, "So we're planning to go again later."
The fact that the Seventh Concubine is frequently mentioned in the rules suggests that she possesses some important clue.
The backyard was the women's quarters, and no player present had a more convenient location for them.
Xu Xi understands this deeply.
Xing Ge clearly had his own plans. "I want to go back to the Ancestral Hall again; the Clan Genealogy mentioned in the rules might be Ancestral Hall."
"I'm going to the Back Garden," Lin Zuo said, but was immediately contradicted.
I don't recommend you go.
He suddenly stopped, turned his head, and looked at the young man who had spoken.
The other four people also turned their gazes over.
Yu Hao asked curiously, "Brother, have you already been there?"
Xu Xi hummed in agreement.
That well—touching it means certain death.