Rules of the Strange: Starting with the Lunar New Year's Eve Dungeon

Yunxi spoke with a look of filial piety, her tone so sincere it brought tears to one's eyes.

"Son wishes you good health, all the best, and that you soon... uh, soon achieve enlightenment and successfully transform into a zombie!"

The ghost father was flattered.

His brain, which had already stopped functioning, couldn't even process that this was a pitfall.

All he saw was that this filial son, whom he was terrified of, had actually given him the good thing of getting a coin.

Is this... this what filial piety and parental love are all about?

Looking at the round dumpling in the bowl, the ghost father was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.

"Good...good son..."

Without saying a word, the ghost father picked up a dumpling and took a big bite.

"Gulp."

The cursed "life-saving money" slid down the ghost father's throat.

Yunxi stared nervously at her ghost father, her palms slightly sweaty.

This is a risky move. If he poisons Ghost Father to death, he will lose a human shield; if Ghost Father goes berserk, he will have to fight him hand-to-hand.

The next second, Ghost Father's expression changed.

His originally bluish-purple face suddenly turned dark purple, and then black.

His body began to tremble violently, and something seemed to be moving under his skin, making a hissing sound.

"Awooo—!"

The ghost father let out a long, painful howl, and his bones cracked and popped.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of dark golden light erupted from his body, tearing the tattered cotton-padded coat apart.

Ghost Father's originally shriveled body swelled up like a balloon, his muscles bulged, and a faint bronze luster appeared on his skin, making him look like a bronze statue!

A blessing in disguise!

This "life-saving money" is a deadly poison to the living, a death warrant; but to ghosts, it is a top-grade elixir that gathers yin energy and strengthens the physical body!

Not only did Ghost Father not die, but he evolved into the legendary "Bronze Armor Corpse"! His defense and attack power instantly increased tenfold!

Yunxi was overjoyed to see this.

You made the right bet!

This not only solved the "certain death" rule, but also added a powerful henchman to the household. A huge win!

"Oh my, Dad, look how much better you look! You're practically glowing!"

Yunxi clapped and cheered.

"It seems this good fortune is truly yours to enjoy. Whether our family can act with impunity in the village from now on depends entirely on you!"

The evolved Ghost Father clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, and his gratitude towards Yunxi was like a never-ending river.

He nodded earnestly and surprisingly uttered a coherent sentence.

"Listen...listen to your son. Anyone who dares to bully our family, Dad...tears them apart!"

In the live stream, the viewers were already exhausted from watching, and the screen was filled with comments.

"This is acceptable? He just turns around and feeds the curse to his own father?"

"Yunxi: A loving father and a filial son."

"Ghost Dad: This son was worth raising, really, he's such a blessing."

"Hahaha, that's great! Ghost Daddy has evolved! Who would dare bully the Li family now? Even the Nian Beast would get slapped twice!"

By the time we finished eating the dumplings, it was completely dark outside.

The wind howled, as if countless vengeful ghosts were wailing outside the window.

The real test of staying up all night is about to begin.

Yunxi wiped her mouth, stood up, and looked at the room full of "family members."

The ghost father, who had evolved into a bronze-armored zombie, was showing off his muscles.

The crooked-necked ghost mother is clearing away the dishes;

Grandpa Zombie King was picking his teeth with his neatly manicured nails.

Yunxi smiled confidently.

"Alright, we've eaten. Now, let's find some fun."

He pulled a deck of cards from his pocket—this wasn't a system item, but something he'd casually stuffed into his pocket in his rented room; he hadn't expected to bring it with him.

"Come on, come on, it's such a long night, and I can't sleep. Let's play cards! Whoever loses has to stay out on guard!"

Grandpa Zombie's eyes lit up

"Huh?" (What is Dou Dizhu?)

Yunxi chuckled.

"It's very simple, three people against one. But we need to change the rules; the loser... will have a sticker stuck to their forehead as a punishment!"

As he spoke, he pulled a stack of yellow talismans from his pocket.

"This is a specially made immobilization charm; whoever loses gets it stuck on!"

Before the game of "Dou Dizhu" on the dining table even started, the old black-and-white television in the corner of the main room, covered with a lace dust cover, suddenly emitted a crackling sound of electricity.

"Sizzle... sizzle..."

The screen flickered a few times and then lit up automatically.

Yunxi paused, her hand holding the playing cards, and her eyes instantly turned cold.

In this instance, anything that appears "automatically" signifies new rules and crises.

"What's going on? Trying to rob the landlord?"

Yunxi didn't show any panic; instead, she complained with a look of dissatisfaction.

"It's the Lunar New Year, and they don't even know how to broadcast something more festive."

At this moment, an image finally appeared on the television screen.

That wasn't a festive Spring Festival Gala, nor was it any variety show; it was a dark stage filled with the smell of blood.

In the center of the stage stood a host wearing a red suit.

But the suit was a dark, almost blackish red, as if dyed with dried blood. The host's face was a skinless skull, with ghostly blue flames burning in his two dark, hollow eye sockets.

Good evening, everyone!

The host's voice was hoarse and grating, like two rusty pieces of iron rubbing against each other.

"Welcome to the annual Death Spring Festival Gala!"

"Next, let's begin the first segment—the lucky draw!"

As soon as it finished speaking, twelve split-screen images appeared on the television screen.

Those twelve images depict the "chosen ones" from various countries!

In Japan, Taro Tanaka was huddled under his bed, trembling.

John from the beacon of light is holding a cross and chanting prayers into the air;

There are also contestants from several small countries who are being cornered by their hostile parents and are crying out in despair.

"Let's see who the first lucky one is tonight!"

The host let out a strange, chuckling laugh and pointed to one of the screens.

That was Park Seong-il, the chosen one of South Korea.

At that moment, Park Il-sung was secretly eating something in the kitchen. He was so hungry that he couldn't resist taking a bite of the offering for the Kitchen God.

"Rules violated: Stealing offerings!"

The host suddenly waved his hand

"Punishment begins—binge eating!"

In the video, Park Seung-il suddenly goes crazy and starts stuffing things into his mouth.

First, they ate all the offerings, then they ate raw rice, the plate, and even started gnawing on their own fingers!

In less than ten seconds, his stomach swelled up like a balloon, and finally, with a "bang," it exploded into a pool of bloody, mangled flesh.

"Congratulations to Park Seung-il for giving us a spectacular 'fireworks show'!"

The host led the applause, and the television broadcast a deafening chorus of applause and laughter.

This scene was broadcast worldwide through the Dragon Kingdom's live streaming platform.

Everyone felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.