The Second Instance

"Why does everyone say this instance is special?" Yin Chao asked.

Bai Xu did not answer directly. Instead, he asked him a question.

"Do you believe gods exist?"

That was his question.

It sounded like something a teenager with delusions of grandeur would ask, but Bai Xu wore an expensive suit, and his expression was solemn, even reverent.

Yin Chao fell silent, remembering what Fang Tang had said when he first entered the game: this was a game world created by a god.

Bai Xu sighed, then lowered his head with a quiet laugh. "It's all right. If you didn't believe before, start believing now."

"This is a game world created by a god. We call Him the Supreme God. Welcome to His world."

As he spoke, his expression held a devotion to the divine that suited his title: God's Messenger, the Supreme God's most faithful believer.

Then Bai Xu continued, "And I am God's messenger. I can hear divine revelations. One such revelation guided me to enter that instance."

"Then why didn't you go?" Yin Chao asked.

He answered ruefully, "The Ares Guild planted a mole, and our entire plan fell apart. I had no choice but to have Mo Nan, the only one available, take Bai Yu in."

Yin Chao nodded in understanding.

Then he said, "One last question. Is Zhao Guojun dead?"

Bai Xu had not expected that to be Yin Chao's final question. He found it a little amusing, but the man before him seemed perfectly serious.

His expression sobered. "No. I broke through the barrier and severely wounded him, but he escaped."

"Good."

With everything that needed explaining now covered, Yin Chao agreed to join the Bai Guild and enter an instance with its members in a few days.

Bai Xu stood to leave. At the door, he seemed to remember something and turned back with a warning.

"Oh, right. Of the four major guilds, watch out for people from the Wanqi Guild. They're a bunch of lunatics."

Puzzled, Yin Chao wanted to ask more about the Wanqi Guild, but just then Bai Xu's phone rang. Whoever was calling seemed to need him urgently.

So Yin Chao asked no further questions.

Several days passed in a flash.

On the appointed evening, Bai Xu drove to the hospital himself to pick him up.

"How are you feeling? Any discomfort?"

He asked.

Yin Chao shook his head. "I've been lying in the hospital for so long. There was nothing wrong with me to begin with, but if I stay any longer, there will be."

Bai Xu smiled and handed him a backpack.

"Our guild uniform is in here, along with a few essentials. Try it on."

Yin Chao took it with a smile and teased, "Oh! You even have uniforms? Nice perks!"

The uniform consisted of a short-sleeved shirt and an outdoor jacket, both black with dark red embroidery.

They fit Yin Chao perfectly. Standing before the restroom mirror, he suddenly remembered his title: Child of the Evil God.

Well, uh, this certainly fits the image. I don't look like a good guy.

Still, Bai Xu complimented him when he came out.

He made his smile as friendly as possible and got into Bai Xu's car.

On the way, Bai Xu asked a question.

"Where's Anna?"

"I had her go home first."

That was his answer.

In reality, he had stored her inside the Myriad People Umbrella. Over the past few days, Yin Chao had finally figured out how to store items: they responded to his will.

It sounded mystical, but once he got the knack, it was not difficult at all.

However, he could only take out the Myriad People Umbrella. The strip of red silk he had received for completing the wedding storyline would not come out.

Also, over the past few days, Bai Xu had never once asked what reward he had received from that instance.

He had originally planned to show him the red silk when the time came. After all, an instance only awarded a single item.

Bai Xu would have no choice but to believe him.

Now, instead, Yin Chao could not make sense of him.

If someone approached you with a clear objective, there was little to fear from them.

Bai Xu clearly did not fall into that category.

Yin Chao turned to look at the man in the driver's seat just as they reached their destination.

Bai Xu parked and met his probing gaze with a smile. "What? Can't bear to get out?"

Yin Chao curled his lips, said nothing, and got out without hesitation.

They had arrived at a sports center.

Night had fully fallen, and rings of security guards patrolled outside the sports center.

Bai Xu leaned close to Yin Chao and whispered, "These guards are all actual mercenaries. Be careful, and stick close to me until we're inside."

Yin Chao nodded, visibly startled.

Rather than enter the stadium, they took an elevator beside it that was under heavy guard, descending beneath the building.

The elevator sank steadily, revealing an entirely different world below.

As its doors slowly opened, a plaza the size of a soccer field came into view. Iron walls enclosed it on every side, and an enormous screen stood in the center.

Many people were already gathered in the plaza.

Yin Chao spotted Bai Yu waving at them. Beside her stood Mo Nan, who nodded with a smile.

"You're finally here!" Bai Yu said.

Then she leaned toward Yin Chao and whispered furtively, "I saw Morika from the Ares Guild! I wonder if he's entering the instance this time!"

Yin Chao's lashes flickered. He very much hoped Morika would end up in the same instance as him.

"And what about you?" Bai Xu grabbed Bai Yu by the back of her collar. "You only went into one a few days ago. What are you doing here now?"

Bai Yu stuck out her tongue. "People from the Miracle Guild are coming too! I'm here to see them in person!"

The Miracle Guild? The one led by Prophet?

The hooded man who had been so intent on killing him in the instance had left a deep impression on Yin Chao.

He had thought the Miracle Guild was the most likely place for that hooded man to belong.

During his days of rest, he had asked Bai Yu about it. Prophet, the Miracle Guild's leader, had formed a squad of her own.

That squad could be considered the heart of the Miracle Guild.

Each member had a distinctive personality and their own strengths, and all were prominent figures among the players.

Of course, most importantly, they were all good-looking.

Just as that thought came to him, cheers erupted from the crowd.

Some shouted for the Miracle Squad, but the cries for Killer were even louder.

Yin Chao looked toward the noise. In the packed crowd, people had actually brought out illuminated signs and banners.

"Look! The one in the black hoodie is Killer!"

Bai Yu spoke excitedly.

The Miracle Squad gradually emerged from the crowd.

At the very front walked a stunning woman whose age was impossible to tell. She wore a simple, unadorned qipao, yet it did nothing to diminish her allure.

Yin Chao asked Bai Yu, "Is that woman Prophet?"

Bai Yu nodded. "Beautiful, isn't she? She has just as many fans as Killer!"

"Oh. Beautiful," Yin Chao said flatly.

The next second, a man in a black hoodie stepped out of the crowd behind the woman.

His face was impatient, as though he hated all the noise. He looked like a wolfdog baring its teeth.

Yin Chao's eyes widened at once.

It really is the hooded man!

He carefully tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, terrified that the hooded man would spot him.

To think the famous Miracle Squad's ace gets that bad at the sight of blood.

Even if I told anyone, they wouldn't believe it.

Bai Xu noticed Yin Chao's little movements and asked, "What is it? Someone you know?"

Yin Chao gave him a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Sort of. Sort of not."

Bai Xu did not press him further, but something stirred deep in his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking.