Welcome to the Bizarre Games

Chapter 505 Daily life
(I don't know why, my diarrhea and cough just got better, and now my eyelids are twitching again. This chapter was mostly typed using voice on my phone, so please point out any typos. Thank you so much.)
Another day.

The morning class had just ended.

The teachings of Master Chongxu are not particularly strict, but at the very least, you still have to clean up the mess after learning them. Zhou You looked at the pile of strangely shaped insect corpses and colorful juices on the table, sighed, and was about to pick up the broom next to him when a pair of eager hands took over before he could even start.

"Senior brother, take your time, I'll handle this."

Before Zhou You could even refuse, the pile of corpses was swept away.

So he could only reach for the rag next to him.

pity.

Once again, they beat us to it.

Several children carried basins and worked together, cleaning the area thoroughly in the blink of an eye. They even scrubbed the rags several times – so clean they could practically be used as towels.

So Zhou You could only stand there awkwardly. After the kids finished tidying up, looking at their fawning faces, he gently patted their shoulders and said, "Well done."

It was just an ordinary sentence, but it instantly made the children overjoyed. Some of them even raised their heads and looked at those around them with smug eyes.

...This has become a typical part of my daily life during this period of travel.

I vaguely remember a famous person saying that schools are actually a microcosm of society, and children are just learning about everything in society in a simpler way.

However, in this sect rife with strange and unpredictable occurrences, this statement not only came true, but was even more cruel.

After all, as long as you grovel and fawn over others, your chances of survival will increase significantly...

Most people would have done the same.

But what was that saying again?

Where there are those who are triumphant, there must be those who are dejected.

Just as Zhou You finished tidying up the table, Xuan Cheng happened to walk over.

He first glared at them coldly, and the fawning children scattered like birds. Then he turned to Zhou You and said in a forced smile.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you've been living the high life lately, even training your own followers. Are you planning to start a gang within the sect soon?"

The words were extremely sarcastic and sarcastic, containing at least a dozen hidden barbs in just one short sentence.

Zhou You's smile, however, was extremely gentle.

"Senior brother is joking. They are just a few familiar helpers. They can't compare to the star-studded crowd you received when you delivered goods, where you could command a hundred responses at a moment's notice."

"you!"

Xuan Cheng was clearly taken aback, but he quickly recovered and continued to speak coldly.

“But I heard that you’ve been hanging out with some shady characters lately, Junior Brother… Our Five Elements Temple may not be a famous sect, but it’s still a respectable sect. You mustn’t tarnish our reputation, Junior Brother…”

Zhou You was still just smiling.

"Senior brother, you're joking again. I can't even get down from the mountain gate, so where am I supposed to go to hook up with some shady characters? On the contrary, senior brother, Master seems to have a lot of opinions about your studies lately. Why don't you think about your own problems first?"

Xuan Cheng retorted without hesitation, this time remaining silent and only staring at Zhou You with a sinister and vicious gaze.

Finally, with a cold snort, he turned and left.

Zhou You simply looked at him calmly.

Xuan Cheng couldn't tolerate his meteoric rise, and he had no intention of making peace with him whatsoever. However, due to his status, Xuan Cheng was helpless against him and could only occasionally stab him with words—most of the time, he only ended up humiliating himself.

For this reason, Xuan Cheng's gaze toward him became increasingly resentful, almost to the point of being mortal enemies.

"—So, on the other hand, how long can he really hold out?"

Zhou You shook his head and was about to pack his things to go to the library when he was stopped by Master Chongxu.

"Travel around".

The person stopped what they were doing, bent down slightly, and said in a very proper and polite manner.

"What are your orders, Master?"

Master Chongxu patted the scroll beside him, and a branch reached in, rolled up a scroll from the desk, and handed it over.

“You don’t need to go to Uncle Chen’s place today. I have something here that needs to be processed urgently. Could you take it to the alchemy room and personally deliver it to Junior Brother Yun Zhongzi?”

Since becoming a disciple, Zhou You had done his fair share of errands, so he didn't suspect anything and accepted the task earnestly.

However, when he picked it up, he was slightly taken aback.

First, the file was extremely heavy; he almost dropped it as soon as he got his hands on it.

Instead, there was a faint warmth emanating from between the pages of the paper.

It is a living thing, constantly pulsating hot air.

However, the look of surprise only lasted for a few moments before Zhou You lowered his head again and replied.

"Disciple, please obey your master's orders."

Master Chongxu waved his hand.

"You're a smart person, so I probably don't need to remind you again—but I'll still tell you one thing: don't look at what's inside, understand?"

—This is clearly the same instant-death trap as the library. Am I out of my mind to have to look at this?

However, he could not say those words aloud. Zhou You simply put away the file and bowed again.

"Yes, disciple understands."

……

The alchemy room was about two mountains away from the servants' quarters.

To be honest, Zhou You had only heard about this place before; he had never actually been there. However, he had stayed in the temple for quite some time, so he wouldn't get lost in broad daylight.

It's just...

A small head peeked out from the side, its expression feigning indifference, but its phoenix eyes kept glancing into his arms.

Zhou You sighed and said.

"Junior sister, you don't need to look. If Master says it can't be opened, then it definitely can't be opened. Don't forget what happened to those disciples before."

Lin Yunshao coughed twice, then turned his head away in embarrassment.

"I didn't look at it. I was just a little curious. It's just a letter to deliver. Why do I have to make you come all the way here?"

Zhou You shook his head, smiled without saying a word, and simply walked forward along the old bluestone path.

—Although his personal disciple doesn't have the same title as Xuan Cheng, the senior brother, and can manage all the wedding ceremonies, he can still pull some strings and give her special treatment. The work has become much lighter, and with the nutrition being adequate, Lin Yunshao has clearly become much rosier, and at least her face is starting to look like a young woman.

Delivering the letter wasn't a strenuous task, so Zhou You simply invited her along, allowing the three of them to reunite after a long time.

Before long, they turned through another grove of trees, and a quiet and elegant courtyard came into view.

At first glance, this place is about two or three times larger than the lecture hall. With its red bricks and green tiles, high walls and deep courtyards, it is much better preserved than the other places that are overgrown with weeds and dilapidated. At least it is clear that it is regularly maintained.

Zhou You walked to the courtyard gate, grabbed the brass handle, and gently knocked.

A moment later, a voice came from within.

"...Who is it?"

Zhou, the tourist, smiled politely.

"I am Zhou You, a disciple of Master Chongxu. I have something I wish to ask to see my Uncle Yun Zhongzi."

The person inside the door remained silent for a few seconds before responding.

"What is it? It's time to start making pills now. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the pill room. Besides, my master is very busy right now and probably can't spare the time. If you're not in a hurry, come back after noon."

Zhou You replied.

"My master said there's an urgent case file he needs me to deliver to Uncle-Master Yun Zhongzi." "What case file?"

"My master didn't say anything, and I didn't open it to look."

"..."

Silence fell once again inside the door, this time for an exceptionally long time. Even Lin Yunshao couldn't help but step forward, wanting to knock on the door again.

But just as she placed her hand on it, the person inside spoke again.

"I'm sorry, I really don't want to take this responsibility. Why don't you..."

However, halfway through his sentence, he suddenly changed his tune.

"Wait a minute, I suddenly remembered, you just said your name is Zhou You?"

"Yes."

"Zhou You, who was sent to perform the night patrol as a bride to bring good luck, and was then exceptionally accepted as a personal disciple?"

"There shouldn't be anyone in the temple with the same name who would do such things... so it should be me."

Ever since.

The door was opened unexpectedly.

A face smoky and oily-smoked, yet remarkably glib, appeared inside, and then Zhou You was sized up from head to toe.

"The rumors in the temple have been so intense lately, I thought he was some kind of superhuman being with three heads and six arms, but he looks so ordinary... Alright, you two come in first, I'll go inform the master—there's more."

The guy turned his head and suddenly yelled.

"Aqua, that big brother of yours who you always brag about is here to see you. Hurry up and come out to greet him!"

Zhou You watched as the guy finished shouting, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and smiled.

"Thank you for your help, senior brother... Oh, right, I almost forgot to ask, how should I address you, senior brother?"

The man waved his hand and answered casually.

"I haven't been given a Taoist name yet, so you can just call me Senior Brother Chuan."

After saying that, the man, who looked just like him, rushed inside in a great hurry.

However, instead of him, a voice full of surprise came from afar.

"Big brother, Lin Nizi, what brings you here?"

—It was that Aqua.

Compared to a while ago, he was noticeably rounder, and you could even tell he had gained some weight. Now, he was running over from the yard with a look of pure joy on his face.

He had barely arrived when Lin Yunshao lightly patted the back of his head.

"How many times have I told you, what kind of girl are you? You should call me 'older sister'!"

Aqua scratched his head and chuckled foolishly.

"My mother used to tell me that only those older than me should be called 'sister,' and those younger than me should be called 'little girl.'"

"I'm clearly older than you!"

"But you look much younger than me."

Zhou You smiled knowingly as he watched the two playfully bickering.

Honestly, this is a rare sight of peace in such a cruel sect.

After being lectured by Lin Yunshao by the nose, Aqua came to Zhou You and, as always, took out two candies.

"Brother, I saved this especially for you, eat, eat!"

Zhou You didn't refuse—if he really didn't eat it, it would make Aqua feel like she had done something wrong—so he picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

Then, he suddenly remembered something and asked casually.

"By the way, Aqua, I've noticed that other families are strictly adhering to the custom of 'marrying for good luck,' so why haven't you lost weight? In fact, you've gotten even fatter?"

Aqua paused, seemingly not quite understanding what Zhou You was asking.

"Brother, what do you mean by 'strict'? I eat and drink well in the cafeteria, and the chef often gives me candy as a reward, so naturally I've gained some weight."

Looking at that inexplicable face, Zhou You paused for a moment, then asked again.

"To put it another way, how many of those who entered the profession at the same time as you, seeking to ward off bad luck, are still around?"

Aqua was plunged into an even greater wave of confusion.

"How many people?"

"You mean, how many are missing and dead? Can you give a rough estimate?"

This time, Aqua started counting on her fingers.

"One, two, three, it seems like there are only three?"

However, upon hearing this answer, Zhou You couldn't help but frown slightly.

There are too few people, far too few.

He had heard a bit about the other rooms. Although there weren't many oddballs like Xuan Cheng, after such a long period of screening, at least ten people died in the marriage to bring good luck, and some even lost half of them. But the alchemy room had only lost three people so far.

Even if the work environment is relatively safe, isn't this percentage too low?
Before he could think it through, the senior brother from Chuan who had gone in earlier leaned out again and called out to him from a distance.

"Junior Brother Zhou, Master has agreed to let you meet him in the meditation room of the alchemy room. He has made time out of his busy schedule, so hurry up!"

Seeing this, Zhou You couldn't say anything more. He just patted Aqua on the shoulder and then took Lin Yunshao with him, intending to walk over.

They were stopped halfway there by that senior brother from Sichuan.

"That little girl can stay here. Master only wants you to go over alone."

Being in an unfamiliar place, Lin Yunshao was clearly a little timid, but Zhou You leaned close to her ear and whispered something.

"Don't worry, Aqua is here too, and since it's broad daylight, nothing usually goes wrong. Just stay here and relax, and I'll take you back after I've finished the handover."

After saying that, he clapped his hands and quickly walked up to Senior Brother Chuan.

"Senior brother, please lead the way."

However, the one who was just in a hurry was now making some faces.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you're quite the ladies' man."

"What does that mean?"

"What else could it mean? I've heard that you even clashed with our sect's senior brother over this girl. Tsk tsk tsk, what's that saying again? 'Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman'? Or is it 'beauty is a curse'?"

Zhou You was speechless for a moment before speaking.

"Senior brother, I'm not a lolicon."

What does "loli" mean?

Zhou You sighed helplessly.

"Brother Chuan, if you don't lead the way soon, Uncle Yun Zhongzi might be furious, right?"

Then, Senior Brother Chuan suddenly slapped his forehead and quickly pulled Zhou You inside.

--next moment.

A sweet, peculiar, and strangely unusual aroma then permeated the nose and mouth.

(End of this chapter)