Huangfu Miaomiao

Huangfu Miaomiao

The Small Truck slowly drove out of the Villa District and stopped outside the iron-barred gate.

Feng Ling found a landline in the guard booth, called the Xenomorph Hotline to report the incident, and informed them about the villa fire.

After the call, she returned to the truck to rest.

She had many injuries. The Hive's formidable self-healing ability gradually stopped the bleeding, but the ever-present pain still tormented her body.

Skull Girl, meanwhile, stayed busy in the passenger seat. One moment, she took out a syringe-like Potion and injected it into her severed arm; the next, she conjured a pouch of something resembling squeeze Jelly and put it in her mouth.

Feng Ling silently observed from the corner of her eye. Even through the mask, it was easy to see the color gradually returning to the girl's pale skin.

It seemed the Potions in the Shop really worked.

But to Feng Ling, the information the other party provided was even more valuable.

Xenomorphs had descended upon Earth for over half a year. Humanity had yet to uncover much, and even if they had, it was probably beyond someone of Feng Ling's standing to know.

And this living little Xenomorph before her was practically an encyclopedia on Xenomorphs. For example, she had just said that "randomly digesting Cards would contaminate the Card Deck."

Feng Ling's Corruption Value was already at 7%. This information was extremely important to her.

"What's your name?" Feng Ling asked.

The girl removed her Skull Mask, revealing a fair, pretty little face. "My name is Huangfu Miaomiao."

Feng Ling curled her lips slightly. "That should be a human name, right?"

Huangfu Miaomiao explained awkwardly, "Yes. Every sentence we say after logging in is automatically parsed by the system and converted into your language. So even if I told you my real name, the system would still parse and translate it as 'Huangfu Miaomiao.'"

Feng Ling held the steering wheel with one hand, her fingers tapping lightly without thought. After pondering for a moment, she said, "Then let's not talk about names. Tell me about your Card."

"O-okay." Huangfu Miaomiao immediately straightened up, nervous as though she were attending her first interview.

"What kind of Card is Demon?" Feng Ling asked.

Huangfu Miaomiao answered, "Demon is a high-tier Card. Its innate skill allows it to sign a Demon Contract with any intelligent life-form. Other than that, it has better night vision and is sensitive to malicious intent... I haven't digested any Cards yet, so I don't have any other skills for now."

So weak...

It sounded like such a powerful Card. How could it be this weak?

Feng Ling thought coldly to herself. If every Xenomorph lacked offensive skills like Huangfu Miaomiao, the people at the Supervision Bureau would not be tearing their hair out.

She continued, "Why were those Xenomorphs trying to capture you?"

"Because... I made a post on the Forum, looking for people to form a team and enter a Maze..." Huangfu Miaomiao lowered her head, clutching her mask in her fingers. "I didn't dare enter a Maze alone. We agreed to meet offline, but after we met, I sensed malicious intent from them... I-I was so scared. I wanted to run, and then they caught me..."

Worried that Feng Ling might not understand, Huangfu Miaomiao added after speaking, "A Maze is an independent game instance. Killing monsters inside a Maze earns double Points. If you're lucky enough to find a Labyrinth Divine Statue, you can also optimize your Card Deck and lower your Corruption Value. That's why every Player wants to enter a Maze."

Feng Ling needed to learn more about Corruption Value. Her interest in Mazes was piqued, so she asked Huangfu Miaomiao, "Do you know where the Maze is?"

Huangfu Miaomiao immediately shook her head like a rattle drum. Afraid Feng Ling would interrogate her like the fat man had, she hurriedly denied it. "I really don't know! I only know a few clues... B-but I truly don't know the exact location!"

Feng Ling asked again, "Other than entering a Maze to find an Idol, is there any other way to lower Corruption Value?"

At those words, Huangfu Miaomiao's eyes slowly widened. Then, as if frightened, she tried to lean back, pressing herself tightly against the passenger-side door.

"Y-your Corruption Value... is it very high?" Huangfu Miaomiao asked nervously.

Feng Ling smiled faintly. "What counts as high?"

"Twenty..." Huangfu Miaomiao swallowed. "Once it exceeds 20%, there's a risk of losing control. At 30%, it becomes difficult to remain rational. You may develop split personalities, auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations... At 50%, you're basically a Madman, unable to communicate. As for 60%, 70%... I've never seen it. At that level of contamination, even if you aren't killed, your body will turn into all sorts of strange shapes before you suddenly die."

If Feng Ling's Corruption Value was close to or already above 20%, Huangfu Miaomiao would have to reconsider whether the two of them could cooperate.

She only wanted to find a temporary shelter. She did not want to pay for it with her life!

"You still haven't answered me." Feng Ling continued at an unhurried pace. "Is there any other way to lower Corruption Value?"

Huangfu Miaomiao immediately sensed a trace of malice. No... it felt more like an imperceptible threat, as though if her answer failed to satisfy Feng Ling, she would lose her value in the next second.

She could not help questioning herself. Had she made the wrong choice? Didn't humans value repaying kindness? She might be a Player, but... but she had indirectly saved Feng Ling's life earlier.

Fine goosebumps broke out over her arms. Huangfu Miaomiao took a deep breath, tried her best to remain calm, and answered softly:

"Choose your Card Deck carefully... You need to select the Auxiliary Cards you digest according to the traits of your Main Card. The higher the Compatibility, the lower the Corruption Value. Once you choose Cards with low Compatibility by mistake, the Idol is your only salvation."

Feng Ling bared her teeth and laughed.

The sudden laugh made Huangfu Miaomiao shudder.

She did not know that Feng Ling was actually mocking herself. My Main Card's name is a string of gibberish. How am I supposed to understand its traits?

Feng Ling could only ask Huangfu Miaomiao before her.

But if she asked, she would reveal that she knew nothing about her Main Card. Would this little Xenomorph then get ideas and deceive or mislead her?

Signing a Demon Contract might restrain the other party, but whether the contract could be signed and exactly how to sign it still required further study.

"Open your Forum," Feng Ling said.

"Huh?... O-okay." Huangfu Miaomiao opened the Forum panel.

A beautiful blue Virtual Screen appeared in the air. Neatly arranged Forum posts, a friend list, and various function buttons unfolded one after another.

But in Feng Ling's field of vision, there was nothing.

Feng Ling said, "Gather all information on Bosses and Card traits."

Huangfu Miaomiao froze at that.

Feng Ling raised an eyebrow slightly as she looked at her. "Can't do it?"

"N-no..." Huangfu Miaomiao answered haltingly. "That information is very complicated. Gathering it... it will take a long time..."

Feng Ling glanced out the window. The night was deep and all was silent.

"It's fine," she said calmly. "We have plenty of time."