Chapter 9: Side Quests in the Dungeon

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[A Photograph]
[Quality: Poor]
[Item Description: A photograph brought from the outside world by the player Ji Linmo. The boy in the picture is as unremarkable as any other high school student, so ordinary that there is nothing special about him.]
“Ah… I didn’t expect this photo to have come with me to this world.”
Expressionless, Ji Linmo picked up the photograph.
In his mind, he recalled the moment the red veil was lifted from the “Ghost Bride,” revealing a young face brimming with youthful vigor.
—Qin Feng
[Congratulations, Player! You have discovered the critical clue “Photograph.” The hidden side quest in the instance has been activated. Instance progress: +50%.]
A sudden burst of light flared from the photograph.
Ji Linmo narrowed his eyes, catching sight of the notification box that appeared before him.
[Hidden Side Quest: Who Am I?]
[Quest Introduction: There seems to be a secret hidden in this apartment complex. Who is concealing their identity? Can you find out?]
[Current Instance Progress: 50/100%]
[Clues: 1/4]
[Kind Reminder: If the instance ends and the progress has not reached 100%, the player will die instantly.]
“A hidden side quest? My photo not only triggered the quest but also pushed the progress up by 50%...”
Holding the photograph he had brought, Ji Linmo felt a trace of astonishment.
Normally, to clear an instance, one simply had to survive and achieve the mission goals provided by the system.
However, some advanced instances contain hidden side quests.
These hidden quests not only require specific items to unlock, but upon completion, offer exceptionally rich rewards.
Yet, even so, these side quests have been dubbed “death quests” by players in the horror world.
—Because once triggered, you must gather all clues within the instance and push the hidden progress to one hundred percent.
Otherwise, even if the instance is cleared, the clues will backfire, and the player will die in the instance for no apparent reason.
Such deadly side quests are fatal even for experienced players.
“That Ghost Bride... must be the key to the hidden side quest.”
Staring at the system prompt, Ji Linmo’s eyes darkened.
There were far too many mysteries in this game.
Not only was the Ghost Bride’s true identity in question, but the appearance of the red wedding symbol was also of great significance.
At this moment, beside the vending machine:
“Have you all tried communicating with the residents?”
Gathering everyone together again, Zhu Jun was the first to ask.
Liu Bi and Wang Dazhi both shook their heads. With previous lessons learned, they really didn’t dare.
Zhu Jun ground his molars. It was clear he hadn’t dared to try either, hoping someone else would be the first to test the waters.
Not far away, Ji Linmo strolled over at a leisurely pace.
Zhu Jun’s expression changed instantly, forcing a stiff smile.
“Big brother… where did you go just now? Why did you suddenly disappear?”
“Just taking a walk.”
Ji Linmo replied rather perfunctorily.

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Liu Bi and Wang Dazhi exchanged glances, not daring to ask further. They assumed Ji Linmo had used some item to vanish on purpose.
Another wave of awkward silence.
“Um…” Zhang Lanlan hesitantly raised her hand.
“I noticed earlier that there’s an old man playing chess on the lawn over there. I took a curious look, and he told me that whoever can beat him at chess will get hell money.”
“The old man playing chess?”
Ji Linmo followed the direction of Zhang Lanlan’s finger and noticed, indeed, an elderly man with white hair sitting alone to the west of the vending machine, a chessboard placed on a small table as he played Chinese chess by himself.
“So… if we win, he’ll give us money?”
Led by Zhang Lanlan, everyone carefully approached the old man, asking anxiously.
“Of course,” the old man nodded in response, patting the bulging wallet at his waist. “If you beat me, I’ll give you 800 hell coins. After all, aside from chess, I have no other hobbies.”
[Task Triggered]
[Play Chess with Grandpa Ma]
[Task Introduction: Grandpa Ma is the renowned chess fanatic of Ruolan Community, who has spent his life seeking a true opponent. Do you have the confidence to beat him?]
[Task Reward: 800 hell coins]
[Task Failure Consequence: ?]
Seeing the quest prompt, everyone brightened.
But just as Wang Dazhi was about to volunteer, Zhu Jun stopped him.
“Hold on, everyone. Zhang Lanlan found this quest first. By all rights, she should go first.”
With particular courtesy, Zhu Jun moved a stool for Zhang Lanlan and ushered her to sit, startling the young woman with his unexpected kindness.
Zhang Lanlan smiled nervously at Zhu Jun and sat upright across from Grandpa Ma.
“Grandpa… can I give it a try? I’m really good at chess. My father is a chess teacher.”
“Of course, young lady,” Grandpa Ma replied kindly.
“But if you lose, what will you give me? I’m wagering 800 coins, so you should put up something of equal value, shouldn’t you? How about betting your skin, little lady? My wife just happens to need some.”
Zhang Lanlan was instantly terrified and tried to get up from her chair.
“What? No, wait, I don’t want to play anymore! Let someone else try!”
In an instant, Grandpa Ma’s expression changed. The kindly look vanished, replaced by ferocity. His head swelled to many times its normal size, veins bulging, eyes wild.
“Are you playing games with me, girl?”
A moment ago, he seemed amiable. Now, he roared like a fiend from the depths of hell.
[You may not quit this quest midway!]
[System Prompt: Player Zhang Lanlan has angered NPC ‘Grandpa Ma.’ Take immediate action to avoid death!]
Grandpa Ma glared at Zhang Lanlan, veins bulging on his forehead, as if he might tear her in half at any moment.
“S-save me, he pulled me over here…”
Zhang Lanlan stammered, her body trembling like a leaf, glancing at Zhu Jun for help.
But Zhu Jun’s lips curled upward, his gaze icy, as if he were staring at a corpse.
Only now did Zhang Lanlan realize his earlier kindness was nothing but a ploy to use her as a stepping stone.

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Just as Grandpa Ma was about to explode, Ji Linmo stepped forward.
“Wait, Grandpa, what’s the point of playing chess with a newbie? She’s so scared she can’t think straight. Why not play with me instead?”
“You?” Grandpa Ma shot Ji Linmo a look. “And who might you be?”
Ji Linmo spread his hands, placing them on the chessboard.
“Grandpa, if you beat me at chess, then you can do whatever you like with both me and this young lady—kill us, cut us up, as you please. How about that? Or… are you afraid, and so unwilling to accept such generous terms?”
Grandpa Ma let out a snort and stood up angrily.
“You brat, trying to provoke me? Today I’ll show you the true meaning of death!”
[Task Triggered]
[Wagered Chess Match with Grandpa Ma]
[Task Success Reward: ?]
[Task Failure: The lives of you and Zhang Lanlan]
“Wow, he’s really doomed now. He’s no rookie, but still trying to play the hero,” Liu Bi muttered.
Zhu Jun and Wang Dazhi watched silently from the side, curious to see Ji Linmo’s next move.
But Ji Linmo remained unfazed. He picked Zhang Lanlan up from the stool and smiled at Grandpa Ma.
“Grandpa Ma, I know you’re a master, but I bet you can’t win this endgame I’ve set up.”
As he finished speaking, Ji Linmo arranged a famous chess endgame—the “Seven Stars Gathering”—on the chessboard.
“Grandpa, let’s begin. You play red, I’ll play black.”
Zhang Lanlan clapped her hand over her mouth.
Ji Linmo had set up the most famous unsolvable endgame: the Seven Stars Gathering!
This endgame is renowned; for the red side, there is no solution. Even if you memorize every move, the best outcome for red is a draw!
With this, Ji Linmo was certain to win!
“You rascal, where did you learn such a clever endgame? Fascinating!” Grandpa Ma’s eyes lit up with excitement at the intricate layout.
Ten minutes later.
Grandpa Ma, who had started off enthusiastically, was soon scratching his head in defeat, drenched in sweat.
“Grandpa, thank you for letting me win. Checkmate.”
Ji Linmo smiled as he placed the final piece.
“No! No! One more round!”
Grandpa Ma stared at the board, obsessed, unable to tear his eyes away, shouting for another game.
“But I have other matters to attend to…”
Slap!
Grandpa Ma pulled a wad of hell coins from his pocket and shoved them at Ji Linmo.
“Is this enough? I’m begging you, let’s play again!”