Chi Mu's mind was spinning as he kept analyzing the rules of the horror game.
The moment the female hotel attendant deliberately avoided pressing the button for the ninth floor, he knew something was off.
Immediately, he recalled the rule:
[Rule 4: Remember, unless she speaks to you first, you must not initiate a conversation.]
Chi Mu realized something strange—some of the rules referred to "your online girlfriend," while others used "she."
Why use two different terms?
It was a trap.
"Online girlfriend" was specific, but "she" was a general term—it could refer to any woman.
Which meant: if you spoke to the hotel attendant first, you'd be violating Rule 4.
In the split second before he spoke, Chi Mu figured it out—and narrowly escaped death.
"Damn! That upstairs bro is insanely smart—his reasoning is spot on!"
"Good thing Chi Mu caught on at the last second. Otherwise, our Dragon Nation would've descended into the horror realm. Mu God for the win!"
In the Dragon Nation livestream room, sharp-eyed viewers had already figured out why Chi Mu had survived.
At the same time, every member of the Dragon Nation's Think Tank finally let out a sigh of relief. The elder advisor smiled with satisfaction.
"It seems Chi Mu is more intelligent than we imagined."
Meanwhile, foreign observers lurking in the Dragon Nation's stream ran back to report to their own intelligence units. Several countries used up their second hint token to ensure their chosen ones wouldn't die next.
Back in the stream, Chi Mu and Yang Qu returned to their hotel room.
"I'm gonna take a shower first, okay? You can go after me." Yang Qu smiled sweetly, showing off an adorable dimple.
Under normal circumstances, Chi Mu would've been grinning from ear to ear, but now, cold sweat drenched his body. He had no mental space for romance.
He sat on the bed, breathing heavily. What happened in the elevator had been a close call—he had only just avoided stepping into the trap.
Chi Mu had become much more cautious. These horror rules loved to play word games—one careless moment and you were dead.
Thirsty, he reached for a bottle of water on the desk.
But beside it was a brand-new A4 sheet of paper.
A new set of rules.
[Rule Set: Sequence Two]
Before midnight, the lights must be turned off.
After lights out, do not agree to any request from "it."
If a shadow appears outside the shower curtain while you're bathing, close the curtain immediately.
Do not sleep in the same bed as your online girlfriend.
If the room's landline rings, answer it and demand the caller's identity. If they don't give it within 3 seconds, hang up immediately.
Unless your online girlfriend explicitly tells you to, you may not leave the hotel.
If a human-shaped shadow appears on the wall, find a way to cover it.
Between 6:00–8:00 AM, do not use the bathroom. (Applies to everyone, not just the online girlfriend.)
If you see a little girl in a red dress inside the hotel, do not give her candy.
Your room is under paranormal interference. All time-displaying devices will show incorrect times.
As Chi Mu finished reading, the mechanical voice of the system echoed in his mind:
Ding! New rule set acquired.System function triggered—marking one false rule.
Right away, Rule 9 turned from black to red.
Chi Mu frowned.
That rule was false? Did that mean… if he encountered a little girl in a red dress, he was supposed to give her candy?
He remembered the system's quest feature: if he could deduce a false rule, he'd earn another chance to identify one later.
But without confirmation, he didn't dare make assumptions.
He folded the new rules into his pocket and sat in silence, thinking.
About thirty minutes later, Yang Qu stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her hair was still wet, dripping down her shoulders. The sight was undeniably tempting.
"What are you staring at?" she asked, tilting her head with a smile as she dried her hair.
Chi Mu froze.
She hadn't called his name.
He couldn't respond.
Otherwise, he'd be violating Rule 10 from Sequence One!
"I'm talking to you, Chi Mu. Why are you ignoring me?" she asked again, her tone shifting slightly.
This time, she said his name.
Chi Mu let out a breath. "Oh—sorry, I was just… you're so beautiful I spaced out. I couldn't help but stare."
"Hehe, really? Go shower then. We'll talk more… in bed." She winked, still not using his name this time.
Chi Mu didn't respond. He had learned to be cautious. Even if she said his name once or twice, the third sentence might not include it. That's how they got you.
The rules were a minefield.
"Phew! Close one! This online girlfriend is way too seductive. Thank God Chi Mu didn't get brainwashed—he's staying sharp!"
"Hang in there, Mu God! Dragon Nation's counting on you!"
Chi Mu entered the bathroom, quickly undressed, and started showering. In the livestream, this part was censored, of course.
Not long into the shower, the bathroom lights began flickering—on and off.
Even worse, the water from the showerhead turned a deep crimson.
Chi Mu's heart nearly leapt out of his chest. Panic surged up his throat.
Then, just beyond the curtain, a dark silhouette slowly approached.
Paralyzed by fear, Chi Mu stood frozen, mind blank.
"Pull the curtain! Pull the curtain! That's Rule 3!"
"Crap, he's frozen! This is bad—most people would've lost it by now!"
"Holy hell, this is like living inside a horror movie…"
Viewers were losing their minds, watching helplessly.
Then—at the last second—Chi Mu jolted back to life and yanked the curtain shut.
Instantly, the lights stopped flickering, the red water turned clear, and the shadow vanished.
Chi Mu gasped for breath. He finished the shower in record time and stepped out wrapped in a bathrobe.
But the scene waiting for him was just as dangerous.
Yang Qu was lying on the bed, propped up on one elbow, her long legs fully exposed, eyes glimmering with seduction.
"You're done showering…" she purred, her voice like honey.
Chi Mu locked eyes with her—and for a moment, she truly looked like the most beautiful woman in the world. Her curves, her expression, her body—they were addictive.
He found himself walking toward her, dazed.
And her smile grew… darker.