At three in the night, all the doors of the Flower God’s temple were tightly locked.
There were no worshippers outside, and few people in white robes inside.
A few players cautiously made their way to the second floor in the dark of night, but the heavy iron door on the second floor was bound with several layers of iron chains and locks.
Most players had exhausted themselves during the torture of the sacred flowers, and this black door seemed beyond their capabilities.
As Ning Su was about to approach, Ning Changfeng took a step ahead, his face cold as he forcefully snapped the iron chains.
Players broke out in a cold sweat, clearly sensing the gap between them and Ning Changfeng.
The dark iron chains were as thick as a child’s wrist, and at this point, they could hardly lift their arms. Yet, Ning Changfeng managed to break them.
Ning Changfeng pushed open the door, signaling for them to enter.
The second floor was even larger than the third floor, with a massive pool occupying 90% of the space. The pool, standing over a meter high, was filled with foul black marsh, and the air carried the familiar stench that players associated with decay.
This was Fang Qi’s first time seeing the black muck. “Is this the Dark Swamp of the Land of the God’s Birth?”
Without wasting time, Su Wangsheng removed his coat and asked, “When we went to the main hall, you mentioned the Land of the God’s Birth, right? Why did you bring this up?”
Fang Qi also removed his outer robe. “I’ve heard about the Land of the God’s Birth several times from the Holy Maiden and a few patriarchs in the Flower God’s temple, but I’ve never been there. I guessed you’ve been there, so I mentioned this crucial clue that I didn’t quite understand when you were looking at me.”
Jia Chensheng remained silent; he might have already known the secret of the Land of the God’s Birth.
The pool was large, and all nine players were exhausted, but none of them refused the task. They spread out in different directions within the pool, reaching their arms into the putrid mud, inch by inch, to search for the body of An Xiang.
Whether they genuinely wanted to help the two unfortunate girls or hoped to find clues on her body, they all diligently searched through the foul, disgusting corpse mud.
Ning Su noticed that Ning Changfeng would occasionally look in his direction.
He was about to ask him when he suddenly heard Fang Qi shout, “It seems like I’ve found something!”
The pool was indeed quite large, but it couldn’t be compared to the original Dark Swamp. With nine people searching in nine different positions for one person, they quickly made a discovery.
Fang Qi extended his hands into the mud, and after about ten seconds, he lifted a body wrapped in decayed mud.
On the other side, Dong Xilai also held a rotting corpse.
Ning Su emerged from the pool, went to Fang Qi’s side, and took the body he had found. Leng Chang accepted the corpse that Dong Xilai had found.
Players continued to find severed limbs and body parts, which they placed to one side.
“The one with more severe decomposition should be the flower attendant who died in the morning or two days ago, brought here by the people in white robe from the third floor.”
“Well, An Xiang died tonight; let’s examine the most intact corpse first.”
They wiped off the decayed mud from the faces, and indeed, the most intact one was the body of An Xiang.
Decayed mud had a corrosive effect, and some of them went to find water to rinse while others hesitated about whether to bring An Xiang’s girlfriend.
“If she goes upstairs to look, will she be punished by the Emperor?”
Ning Changfeng sneered.
Ning Su raised his eyes and saw that the other’s expression was very grim, as if he wanted to kill someone. The person mentioned in Fang Qi’s words naturally.
His little black snake must have seen something.
Last time at Boss Qi’s place, he transformed into a little white snake and saw something in the black room. Ning Su wanted to ask, but he said he would tell him after he woke up from a nap, but he never did.
This time, he still didn’t tell him.
Jia Chensheng: “No, I don’t think we should tell her. At least, she still has hope. If she knows that An Xiang is dead, she will be heartbroken.”
For a flower attendant, the most terrifying thing was to lose all hope. They had seen the fates of Dai Dong and Meng Linjia.
Two players brought a bucket of water from the third floor.
Jia Chensheng pushed a man in his fifties to the front. “Let Old Li clean and inspect An Xiang’s body. He was a senior forensic scientist before entering the game.”
Other players had no objections, and there was no one more suitable than him.
Old Li first cleaned the decayed mud off An Xiang’s face and arms with a towel. “There is some decay on the face, and there’s a blood vessel protruding from the forehead, but no other serious injuries.”
“There is a deep wound on the neck, possibly a fatal injury,” Old Li said uncertainly. “I’m not sure if it’s due to my professional expertise, but I have over twenty years of experience, and this is still discernible.”
It’s just that this instance was too bizarre. Their bodies have long exceeded the normal human range, and his professional experience accumulated from studying normal human corpses had become less certain.
Many players had very little blood left in their veins and were still clinging to life. This method of death by cutting the neck’s blood vessels, he really couldn’t be sure.
Several players were bewildered; this method of death was too “real,” beyond their imagination.
Old Li rolled up An Xiang’s wide sleeves. “There are scratch marks and traces of being dug at, and blood vessels protruding from the skin as well.”
He once again pried open the lifeless hand of An Xiang, and saw a small sharp blade clutched tightly in her hand. He said in a deep voice, “She might have committed suicide.”
He believed that in a world like this, no one would foolishly fake a suicide before being thrown into the muck.
Several players were even more stunned.
They never expected An Xiang to have committed suicide.
Why would she do that?
Old Li cleaned An Xiang’s other hand, “The sacred flower that grew on her fingers is gone, but the ones in other parts of her body are still there.’
The old coroner compassionately rinsed away the muck from An Xiang and removed his own flower attendant’s robe, covering her with it and veiling her face, without further examination or words.
When he turned around, his eyes were red.
Jia Chensheng patted his shoulder and said to the others, “Old Li’s daughter was about the same age, and she passed away two years ago.”
The players understood.
The old coroner’s grief merged with the shock and heaviness of the players, and the hall fell into silence.
In the end, it was the youngest, Fang Qi, who couldn’t hold back. “Why would she commit suicide? She endured so much pain, and they were about to see the dawn soon. She was so happy when she went up here! How could she possibly commit suicide?”
No one answered his question, and no one dared to speculate on the reasons for the poor girl’s suicide.
The more angrily he questioned, the quieter and more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Ning Su stared blankly at the body.
He hadn’t actually talked to An Xiang much. At first, he was afraid that she would be averse to men, given the numerous men who had hurt her in her life.
Not only did he avoid talking to her, but every time he went to the small window or went to find Fang Qi, he would bypass their beds, walk around, and then proceed.
Later, Ning Su found out that they didn’t hate all men.
After being hurt like that, how could she not hate them?
She was timid and introverted, yet remarkably resilient and kind to the point of being somewhat foolish.
She laughed so joyfully when they spoke to her.
She must have thought the Flower God’s temple was their redemption.
She must have believed they were about to see the dawn.
At three in the night, all the doors of the Flower God’s temple were tightly locked.
There were no worshippers outside, and few people in white robes inside.
A few players cautiously made their way to the second floor in the dark of night, but the heavy iron door on the second floor was bound with several layers of iron chains and locks.
Most players had exhausted themselves during the torture of the sacred flowers, and this black door seemed beyond their capabilities.
As Ning Su was about to approach, Ning Changfeng took a step ahead, his face cold as he forcefully snapped the iron chains.
Players broke out in a cold sweat, clearly sensing the gap between them and Ning Changfeng.
The dark iron chains were as thick as a child’s wrist, and at this point, they could hardly lift their arms. Yet, Ning Changfeng managed to break them.
Ning Changfeng pushed open the door, signaling for them to enter.
The second floor was even larger than the third floor, with a massive pool occupying 90% of the space. The pool, standing over a meter high, was filled with foul black marsh, and the air carried the familiar stench that players associated with decay.
This was Fang Qi’s first time seeing the black muck. “Is this the Dark Swamp of the Land of the God’s Birth?”
Without wasting time, Su Wangsheng removed his coat and asked, “When we went to the main hall, you mentioned the Land of the God’s Birth, right? Why did you bring this up?”
Fang Qi also removed his outer robe. “I’ve heard about the Land of the God’s Birth several times from the Holy Maiden and a few patriarchs in the Flower God’s temple, but I’ve never been there. I guessed you’ve been there, so I mentioned this crucial clue that I didn’t quite understand when you were looking at me.”
Jia Chensheng remained silent; he might have already known the secret of the Land of the God’s Birth.
The pool was large, and all nine players were exhausted, but none of them refused the task. They spread out in different directions within the pool, reaching their arms into the putrid mud, inch by inch, to search for the body of An Xiang.
Whether they genuinely wanted to help the two unfortunate girls or hoped to find clues on her body, they all diligently searched through the foul, disgusting corpse mud.
Ning Su noticed that Ning Changfeng would occasionally look in his direction.
He was about to ask him when he suddenly heard Fang Qi shout, “It seems like I’ve found something!”
The pool was indeed quite large, but it couldn’t be compared to the original Dark Swamp. With nine people searching in nine different positions for one person, they quickly made a discovery.
Fang Qi extended his hands into the mud, and after about ten seconds, he lifted a body wrapped in decayed mud.
On the other side, Dong Xilai also held a rotting corpse.
Ning Su emerged from the pool, went to Fang Qi’s side, and took the body he had found. Leng Chang accepted the corpse that Dong Xilai had found.
Players continued to find severed limbs and body parts, which they placed to one side.
“The one with more severe decomposition should be the flower attendant who died in the morning or two days ago, brought here by the people in white robe from the third floor.”
“Well, An Xiang died tonight; let’s examine the most intact corpse first.”
They wiped off the decayed mud from the faces, and indeed, the most intact one was the body of An Xiang.
Decayed mud had a corrosive effect, and some of them went to find water to rinse while others hesitated about whether to bring An Xiang’s girlfriend.
“If she goes upstairs to look, will she be punished by the Emperor?”
Ning Changfeng sneered.
Ning Su raised his eyes and saw that the other’s expression was very grim, as if he wanted to kill someone. The person mentioned in Fang Qi’s words naturally.
His little black snake must have seen something.
Last time at Boss Qi’s place, he transformed into a little white snake and saw something in the black room. Ning Su wanted to ask, but he said he would tell him after he woke up from a nap, but he never did.
This time, he still didn’t tell him.
Jia Chensheng: “No, I don’t think we should tell her. At least, she still has hope. If she knows that An Xiang is dead, she will be heartbroken.”
For a flower attendant, the most terrifying thing was to lose all hope. They had seen the fates of Dai Dong and Meng Linjia.
Two players brought a bucket of water from the third floor.
Jia Chensheng pushed a man in his fifties to the front. “Let Old Li clean and inspect An Xiang’s body. He was a senior forensic scientist before entering the game.”
Other players had no objections, and there was no one more suitable than him.
Old Li first cleaned the decayed mud off An Xiang’s face and arms with a towel. “There is some decay on the face, and there’s a blood vessel protruding from the forehead, but no other serious injuries.”
“There is a deep wound on the neck, possibly a fatal injury,” Old Li said uncertainly. “I’m not sure if it’s due to my professional expertise, but I have over twenty years of experience, and this is still discernible.”
It’s just that this instance was too bizarre. Their bodies have long exceeded the normal human range, and his professional experience accumulated from studying normal human corpses had become less certain.
Many players had very little blood left in their veins and were still clinging to life. This method of death by cutting the neck’s blood vessels, he really couldn’t be sure.
Several players were bewildered; this method of death was too “real,” beyond their imagination.
Old Li rolled up An Xiang’s wide sleeves. “There are scratch marks and traces of being dug at, and blood vessels protruding from the skin as well.”
He once again pried open the lifeless hand of An Xiang, and saw a small sharp blade clutched tightly in her hand. He said in a deep voice, “She might have committed suicide.”
He believed that in a world like this, no one would foolishly fake a suicide before being thrown into the muck.
Several players were even more stunned.
They never expected An Xiang to have committed suicide.
Why would she do that?
Old Li cleaned An Xiang’s other hand, “The sacred flower that grew on her fingers is gone, but the ones in other parts of her body are still there.’
The old coroner compassionately rinsed away the muck from An Xiang and removed his own flower attendant’s robe, covering her with it and veiling her face, without further examination or words.
When he turned around, his eyes were red.
Jia Chensheng patted his shoulder and said to the others, “Old Li’s daughter was about the same age, and she passed away two years ago.”
The players understood.
The old coroner’s grief merged with the shock and heaviness of the players, and the hall fell into silence.
In the end, it was the youngest, Fang Qi, who couldn’t hold back. “Why would she commit suicide? She endured so much pain, and they were about to see the dawn soon. She was so happy when she went up here! How could she possibly commit suicide?”
No one answered his question, and no one dared to speculate on the reasons for the poor girl’s suicide.
The more angrily he questioned, the quieter and more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Ning Su stared blankly at the body.
He hadn’t actually talked to An Xiang much. At first, he was afraid that she would be averse to men, given the numerous men who had hurt her in her life.
Not only did he avoid talking to her, but every time he went to the small window or went to find Fang Qi, he would bypass their beds, walk around, and then proceed.
Later, Ning Su found out that they didn’t hate all men.
After being hurt like that, how could she not hate them?
She was timid and introverted, yet remarkably resilient and kind to the point of being somewhat foolish.
She laughed so joyfully when they spoke to her.
She must have thought the Flower God’s temple was their redemption.
She must have believed they were about to see the dawn.
