You made all the streamers on the internet kneel before you when you were asked to make a game.

Everyone immediately fell silent and followed Lu Zhixing's gaze.

At the other end of the intersection, a group of "people" carrying white lanterns were slowly walking towards them.

They were dressed in long gowns and mandarin jackets from the Republican era, lined up in a row, as if on night patrol.

The leader was even banging his clapper.

"The weather is dry... Be careful with fire..."

The voice was hoarse and ethereal, as if it came from underwater, and indistinct.

"They're townspeople..."

One player muttered to himself.

But Lu Zhixing shook his head.

His gaze was fixed on the feet of the group of "people," who were no different from the townspeople they had encountered when they entered the town.

They all had that very strange walking posture.

Everyone's knees are stiff and don't know how to bend.

The toes barely touched the ground, while the heels were completely suspended in the air, about three inches off the ground.

The whole person was like a puppet being held up by invisible strings, "floating" forward on the ground.

"Only the dead don't have their heels touching the ground."

Lu Zhixing typed this message in the team chat.

Those players felt a chill run down their spines.

The patrolling group of "townspeople" seemed not to notice Lu Zhixing and his companions hiding under the eaves, and simply drifted past them stiffly.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief only after they had gone far away.

"That's...that's terrifying." One player patted his chest.

Lu Zhixing didn't speak. He glanced at the road where the group of "townspeople" had walked.

On the slippery bluestone slab, a series of clear footprints, still wet with water, were left behind.

The water wasn't transparent; it had a faint black tint and emitted a strong, fishy stench.

"Come on, stay close to me, and don't step on those footprints."

Lu Zhixing offered a reminder and took the first step.

The group quickly followed, carefully avoiding the wet footprints on the ground, and headed towards the coffin shop.

But an accident still happened.

One of the players at the back of the line was so nervous that he slipped and lost his balance.

His left foot landed squarely on a dark, wet footprint.

"what!"

He exclaimed in surprise.

The next second, the black water in the footprint he stepped on seemed to come alive!

They transformed into countless sticky tentacles, instantly wrapping around the player's ankles.

"Help...help me!"

The player's face turned deathly pale instantly.

An immense force came from beneath his feet, threatening to drag him into the ground!

"Don't move!"

Lu Zhixing turned around abruptly and shouted sternly.

But it was too late.

The more the player struggles, the stronger the force becomes.

The bluestone ground beneath his feet became as soft as a swamp.

"Glug... Glug..."

The black water began to bubble, forming a whirlpool.

To everyone's horror, the player's body was dragged inch by inch into the underground drainage ditch.

At this point, only half of its head was visible, its eyes filled with endless fear and despair.

Finally, with a "poof," the person completely disappeared.

Player "Running with the Wind" has died.

The chilling system notification sent a chill down the spines of the remaining few, making them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

This is... a rule-based kill!

In this town, even a single footprint can be fatal!

The experienced driver was so frightened that his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Lu Zhixing's expression also became extremely solemn.

He underestimated the danger level of Seafog.

The rules here are even more bizarre and unpredictable than those in the Village of the Wrongfully Dead.

"Walk."

Lu Zhixing pulled up the old driver, who was almost unsteady on his feet, and rushed toward the coffin shop, which was only a dozen meters away.

Having already secured a hidden career opportunity, he had no desire to start all over again.

Who knows if Xiaodie and the other NPCs will still recognize him after he dies and is reborn?

For other players, the worst that could happen is death.

For players like Lu Zhixing, and even Long Ge who have obtained professional status, they don't want to die even once!

……

Just as Lu Zhixing and his companions were struggling to survive in Haiwu Town.

Nebula Platform, Reincarnation Zone.

A special live stream room quietly appeared on the homepage recommendation page.

The name of the live streaming room is simple and rigorous.

[Blue History Archives: Preliminary Field Research on the Differences Between the Customs of "Wrongful Death" and "Drowning" in the Worldview of "Reincarnation"]

The host is none other than Professor Chen Keji, who rose to fame with his role in "The Embroidered Shoes" and is hailed as a "living encyclopedia of Chinese horror."

At this moment, Professor Chen's live stream has surpassed 30 million viewers.

Countless "armchair gamers" who were attracted by the vast and terrifying world of "Reincarnation" but dared not actually participate gathered here.

They hoped that this leading figure in folklore could provide them with some "official" interpretations.

In the scene, Professor Chen did not appear at the entrance of "Village of the Wrongfully Dead" like the other players.

He had gray hair, wore reading glasses, and was dressed in a simple Zhongshan suit. He was sitting on a bumpy bus.

It was that last bus, number 444.

"Good evening, everyone."

Professor Chen adjusted his glasses and began to speak in his distinctive, rhythmic tone.

"Today, we will not talk about 'The Embroidered Shoes' or 'Double Happiness'."

"Let's talk about this newly opened world—'Reincarnation'."

He pointed out the car window to the bizarre and fantastical Yin-Yang Road rushing past.

"As you can see, I am now riding a bus to the underworld."

"This is a 'fast track' that Mr. 'Good Guy' has provided for us new players."

"Based on my old speculation, this vehicle has two destinations."

"One is the map from the first chapter, the Village of the Wrongfully Dead."

"And the other one is the newly opened second chapter map, Sea Mist Town."

The comments section immediately sprang to life.

[Professor! Are you going to Sea Mist Town? It's terrifying there! The cult leader and his group just went in, and one of them died!]

[Yeah, Professor, the Village of the Wrongfully Dead has been taken over by the Cult Leader and Brother Long, it's safer now!]

[Professor, please don't follow Brother Long's example! We're cultured people, we don't do those kinds of things!]

Professor Chen chuckled as he looked at the comments section.

"Don't worry, students. This old man isn't going to fight or kill."

"I'm here to do... field research."

He switched the live stream view to the map built into the Nebula platform.

On the map, the two areas, the Village of the Dead and the Town of Sea Mist, are clearly marked.

"Look, everyone, the Village of the Wrongfully Dead is located inland and arid. Its core elements are 'earth' and 'wood'."

"Therefore, the ghosts and monsters there are mostly zombies and earthbound spirits, and the rules are mostly related to customs, bloodlines, and clans."

"Sea Fog Town is a coastal town, humid, and its core is 'water'."

"In our traditional culture, water represents yin, wealth, and impermanence."

"Therefore, I can conclude that the terror of Sea Mist Town will be completely different from that of the Village of the Wrongfully Dead."

"It will be more feminine, more pervasive, and more... unreasonable."

"The rules there aren't explained to you as clearly as the village chief does."

"Instead, it will seep into every detail, like this damp fog, so that you will unknowingly break the taboo."