Chapter 76 – Grandma's Bedtime Stories (VIII)

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At the sound of the voice in his ears, Xiao Lan did not choose to turn around, but leapt to the side with his legs in the air, and only after he had made his distance did he turn his head to look at the spot where he had just been.

 

A small, dry, grey hand extended from the handrail of the stairs and was waving towards him.
It was a little inappropriate to call it a hand, after all, no human hand is this colour, and it was somewhat human-like in structure, yet with the sharp claws of a beast.

 

More like a rat or something like that than a human.

 

The hand had several openings in it, like a mouth opening and closing, each mouth making a different sound, from which the sound heard earlier came.

 

“He doesn't seem like a bad boy.
……”

 

“Grandma doesn't like noise and just making him make a lot of noise is a bad boy ……”

 

“Hee hee hee, get him ……
get him ……”

 

Childlike voices giggle and discuss, and as they do so, more and more small grey hands appear around them, presenting an encircling stance towards Xiao Lan.

 

A hand silently approaches Xiao Lan from behind, trying to grab his ankle.

 

Xiao Lan lifted his foot as if he had been expecting it and stomped on the little grey hand with a crunch, crippling it.
The hand that had been so powerful when he was bullying the wounded now looked so fragile.

 

Xiao Lan raised his eyebrows slightly, the touch seemed familiar.

 

Then, seemingly enraged, the grey hands attacked towards Xiao Lan, mouthing something, but there were too many instead, creating an inaudible buzz.

 

Xiao Lan reached out and grabbed one of the hands close to him and pulled it off the armrest, then swept it around him as a weapon, snapping it with a crisp sound under the force of his hand.

 

The remaining little grey hands finally noticed that something was not right: the

 

“He ……
seems to be the guy ……”

 

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“Which one?”

 

“The one from ……
in the kitchen ……”

 

“Oooooooo ……
so scary ……”

 

“Run away ……
he'll eat us ……”

 

“We really don't eat well ……”

 

Accompanied by childlike cries, these little hands retracted with the air that the big bad wolf would eat them if they ran too slow.

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Xiao Lan: “……”

 

Aww shucks, who wants to eat you guys, don't insult my palate.

 

He double-checked his surroundings to make sure that the little grey hands were really gone and didn't mean to ambush him and give him a turnaround kill, before leaving.

 

—

 

Xiao Lan found Wang Taidi and Luo, and together they headed for the room they had noticed last night.

 

The room is calm and Xiao Lan opens the door with her ancestral hand and enters the room.
The room is decorated in the usual rustic style of “Grandma”, and the light from the setting sun shines into the room, making it a little more welcoming.

 

On both sides of the walls there are paintings of people who look like her, and it is not clear whether they are portraits of her family or herself.

 

In the middle of the room is a painting of different looking people, all surrounded by their 'grandmother' in the middle, all with happy and joyful faces, looking like a family portrait.

 

“These aren't players, are they?” Wang Taidi looked at the painting and felt a little chill on her scalp, “Does it look like the one you're talking about, the one in Madame Bella's secret room?”

 

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Xiao Lan: “Very similar indeed.”

 

Luo reached out and pointed to a few places, “These three are the players we're playing with.”

 

Xiao Lan and Wang Taidi moved their eyes over to see that it was indeed the same, even the one who had said earlier in the restaurant that he wanted to go back to his room was in there.

 

Wang Taidi: “Is this a common hobby among bosses?”

 

Xiao Lan thought: “It's probably the same reason why many people like to play kryptonite card draw games, right? It's more rewarding to collect a full catalogue.”

 

Xiao Lan then went to examine the family portrait, while Wang Taidi and Luo searched the room for the key.

 

Wang Taidi pondered his position in the boss's mind as he searched, “I think in their eyes, I might just be an N card ……
that they want to throw away when they draw it.”

 

Xiao Lan wanted to comfort him but found nothing to say, Wang Taidi had positioned himself well.
You can't say, “You're useless but you have a brother,” which is true but sounds like a slap in the face.

 

In the end, all Xiao Lan could say was, “Soon your skills will be activated and it will be a completely different story then.”

 

After all, Wang Taidi's description of a spirit-like skill is pretty impressive.

 

The three men continued with their respective matters in hand.

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Xiao Lan first examined the back of the painting, which looked normal and showed no signs of hiding anything.

 

He then looked at the picture, the brushwork was fine and the details were well drawn, but Xiao Lan felt that there was something wrong, that the 'grandmother' in the picture was obviously fatter than in reality.

 

Xiao Lan touched the screen and still could not find any sign of a hidden key.

 

At that moment, however, there was a sudden sound of the door opening from outside.

 

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Then came “Grandma's” voice, which sounded a bit urgent: “Children, come and gather, drop everything you're doing and come now, don't keep Grandma waiting!”

 

“When I count to ten, the disobedient child will be punished, one ……”

 

Xiao Lan frowned, almost as if he had come back to stop him from examining the painting.

 

But there was nothing unusual about the painting now, so why should she stop it?

 

“Look.” Luo's voice pulled Xiao Lan's attention back and he followed Luo's finger to see a painting on the wall that was turning its eyes back.

 

These paintings are actually spying on the players!

 

“II ……”

 

Xiao Lan's eyes fell on the setting sun at the window, could it be that the ……
key would not appear until nightfall? That's why “Grandma” was in such a hurry to stop him at this time.

 

I'm afraid the paintings had already informed Granny the moment the three of them entered the room, so it's no wonder Granny returned at such a precise time.

 

“Grandma was already urging, and there was still time before nightfall, so if they didn't behave now, Grandma could attack them before the key appeared, and this time the punishment might not be just fifteen minutes.
The punishment might not be just fifteen minutes.

 

When the time comes, it will be much more problematic to come back for this key that you don't know exactly what form it will take.

 

“Three ……”

 

“Let's go.” Xiao Lan said quickly, “Let's go to the rendezvous first and find another opportunity next time.”

 

The three men left the room in a hurry and headed in the direction of the front door.

 

—

 

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Xiao Lan arrived at “Grandma's” position just before the last cry fell.

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In addition to Xiao Lan, there were Gu Jiangke, Hu Yue and a woman with one eye missing, and that was all that survived the game.

 

“Good boys, you're all good boys ……” Scanning the remaining players, “Grandma” gave a kind smile while her gaze lingered on Xiao Lan She seemed to lengthen her gaze a little, but did not attack.

 

“You must be very hungry for not having eaten at lunch, come on, Grandma will take you to dinner with her.”

 

The players followed their grandmother into the dining room, where dinner was of course nothing special, still just vegetables.
The players took one look at Xiao Lan, inspired by memories of hard work, and then nibbled on the leaves without complaint.

 

Eh, it smells good.

 

After the meal, the players were likewise herded back to their rooms.

 

Today's story came extraordinarily late, and Xiao Lan had the illusion of having had enough sleep when Luo woke her up.

 

“Grandma's” voice echoed down the corridor.

 

“Good boys and girls, you're going to love the story today.”

 

“Have you ever paid attention to the crevices? Those dark, claustrophobic crevices, ever wonder what's hidden inside?”

 

“When you sleep, it watches over you; when you eat, it watches over you; when you walk, it watches over you; when you are wounded, it watches over you; when you die ……
it is still watching over you…
…”

 

“Oh ……
kids, have a good dream ……”

 

Today's story is very strange, with no protagonist, no poignant victim, no hint of a way to avoid the ghosts, and sounding extraordinarily uninspired.

 

“After telling this story, she didn't leave as usual, but continued, “Grandma is going away and will bring her friends with her to visit you, they are all kind elders like Grandma, they will love you.
……”

 

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Xiao Lan thought: “Are the elders as kind as 'Grandma' and ask them to come to the buffet?

 

At the sound of the words, the rustling of footsteps moved away.

 

At this point, Xiao Lan noticed that the sound of the iron door closing was delayed; did it mean that she had left it open this time?

 

What is she trying to do? A hint that the players are free to move around tonight, or is this a new trap?

 

Everything has the feel of a mountain of rain.

 

Unlike the previous stories, this time the story was all told and nothing strange appeared in the room, but every crack seemed to take on a little more of an unusual meaning.

 

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It was as if the seemingly unseeing eyes kept hovering over them.

 

Xiao Lan stands in the doorway and listens carefully for movement outside – nothing.

 

It sounds as if it is safe to do so.

 

He was about to open the door and go out to have a look when he was stopped by Luo, who whispered in his ear in a voice only two people could hear, “Leave it to me, please, sir.”

 

Xiao Lan looks at him and Luo nods, his face insistent.

 

Indeed, Luo's non-human status makes him more suited to the task of exploring unknown situations.
However, Luo's behaviour is a little protective, which makes Xiao Lan, who is used to carrying the load himself, a little uncomfortable.

 

He has always taken his own risks and played with his own life, never involving others.

 

Luo added with a smile, “Please don't worry, I'll be fine, can you put a little more trust in my abilities.”

 

Xiao Lan loosened up, “Okay, you take care.”

 

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Luo opened the door and went out.

 

Wang Taidi got dressed and came over: “How long have you known Fei Luo?”

 

Xiao Lan recalls, “From the beginning of the game, I guess, why?”

 

Wang Taidi: “It's nothing, it's just that it feels different between you and the others.”

 

Xiao Lan: “Did you? I don't really feel anything.”

 

“I'm actually a bit scared of Fei Luo.” Wang Taidi scratched his little curly hair with embarrassment, “I always thought he looked like he had a different kind of aura.”

 

The aura of life and death that is unique to those in high places is uncharacteristic of an ordinary player and is only slightly tempered when Xiao Lan is around.

 

Wang Taidi always thought that Fei Luo was not a normal person in the industry before he entered the Advent world, maybe he was a big man behind some big international organization.

 

Xiao Lan recalls Luo's bravado in buying another house and car: “Yeah, he reeks of money ……”

 

Wang Taidi: “……”

 

Wake up, that's not what I'm talking about!

 

Although he does look rich ……