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

"Ugh... This is disgusting! It's absolutely awful!"

"This isn't the Spring Festival Gala, it's a live broadcast of death!"

"Is this the level of an S-rank dungeon? Even staying at home isn't safe?"

"Look! The host is going to draw prizes again! I hope it won't be Yunxi's turn this time?"

Yunxi looked at the scene on TV, and her expression was not good either.

This isn't the Spring Festival Gala; it's blatant spiritual pollution!

As the screams and wails on the television grew louder, the temperature in the room began to drop rapidly.

The ghost parents, whose emotions had just calmed down a little, became irritable again.

The bronze light in Ghost Father's eyes began to flicker, showing signs of getting out of control; Zombie King Grandpa also began to grind his teeth uneasily, his fingernails scratching the table with a harsh sound.

[Warning! Mental pollution detected! SAN value is decreasing...]

[WARNING! If you do not turn off the TV or mute the sound, the entire family's vengeful spirits will go berserk in three minutes!]

The system notification sounded like a frantic alarm in Yunxi's mind.

"It's so noisy!"

Yunxi slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"What kind of lousy program is this? It doesn't even have a skit, just a bunch of weird stuff! Thumbs down!"

He strode toward the television, intending to turn it off.

However, the switch seemed to be welded shut and couldn't be pressed at all.

Even after unplugging the TV, it was still playing!

The host on the screen seemed to realize Yunxi's intention, and his ghostly eyes suddenly turned around, staring intently at Yunxi.

"Dear viewer, don't you like our show? It's tailor-made for you..."

A powerful mental pressure surged from the screen, attempting to pull Yunxi's consciousness directly into the television.

"A hammer made to order!"

Yunxi sneered

"This is the level of a party they're putting on? It's not even as good as the old man at the village entrance playing the suona!"

He took the suona out of his backpack.

That's right, it's not some kind of magical artifact, but rather a musical instrument that Yunxi, as a folk culture enthusiast, carries with her at all times.

As the saying goes: Of all musical instruments, the suona reigns supreme. It's either an ascension to heaven or a wedding ceremony.

In this eerie and gloomy dungeon, what could be more effective at maintaining order than a powerful weapon like the suona?

"Since you don't know how to put on a party, let me teach you what a real Spring Festival background music is!"

Yunxi took a deep breath, focused her energy in her dantian, puffed out her cheeks, and let out a long blast at the television!

"Drip—tap—drip—!!!"

This sound was high-pitched, loud, and extremely penetrating!

It completely suppressed the wailing and howling coming from the TV!

Immediately afterwards, a divine song etched in the DNA of every Chinese person—"Good Luck"—resonated throughout Fengmen Village as Yunxi played it!

"Fold a paper crane, and tie a red belt~"

May good luck come to kind people every day!

Although there were no lyrics, the cheerful, festive, and even slightly "rustic" melody of the suona instantly filled the entire main room.

The melody was like a series of golden swords, piercing through the gloom in the room.

The ghost parents, who were initially irritated by the sound of the television, found themselves involuntarily swaying to the rhythm of the music.

The big guy, Ghost Father, who had just evolved into a bronze-armored zombie, started clumsily shaking his head, as if he were dancing disco.

The ghost mother tilted her head and waved the rag in her hand, as if she were doing a folk dance.

Even the Zombie King's stiff hands were tapping rhythmically on the table, making a "thump-thump-thump" sound.

The TV host was stunned.

Its once terrifying will-o'-the-wisps eyes were now filled with confusion.

What is that sound?

Why did its murderous urge subside upon hearing this sound? Why did it even feel an urge to sway along?

"No...no! This is noise! ​​This is a psychological attack!"

The host screamed in agony while clutching the skull.

"Stop! Stop!"

Where will Yunxi stop?

He was really into playing it!

He placed one foot on the stool, swaying his body to the rhythm, and played the suona with a rock and roll feel.

Moreover, as the climax of the melody arrived, a faint red glow appeared on Yunxi's body.

That's "joyful"!

In folklore, this joyous music is itself a powerful positive energy field that can overcome all gloomy things!

Good luck! Best of luck!

As the final high note soared to the top, the television finally succumbed to the immense joyous energy.

"Bang!"

With a loud bang, the television screen shattered, and a plume of black smoke billowed out.

The host didn't even have time to scream before he vanished into thin air along with the screen.

The room fell silent instantly.

All that remained was Yunxi's slightly rapid breathing.

"Whew...that feels great!"

Yunxi wiped the sweat from her forehead and slammed the suona on the table.

"This is what celebrating the New Year should be like! We should watch less of those grotesque shows in the future; they're too depressing."

In the live stream, two billion viewers were completely stunned.

"Unfortunately, I'm uncultured; all I can say is 'Holy crap!'"

"The moment the suona sounds, the play ends!"

"I just started shaking my leg! Have I been infected too?"

"No! This is called cultural export! This is called using magic to defeat magic!"

"Television: I'm cracked, physically."

"Ghost Dad and Ghost Mom: Although I don't understand the language, it feels very festive, and I want to dance."

Having resolved the mental pollution caused by television, it was already 10 PM.

There are only two hours left until midnight, the most dangerous moment when the Nian beast will descend.

Although the suona forcibly brought the atmosphere in the room back to normal, the oppressive feeling slowly returned as night approached.

Grandpa Zombie King seemed a little tired and dozed off in his armchair.

The ghost parents also seemed somewhat restless, their eyes occasionally drifting towards the door.

Yunxi knew this was a sign that the end of the year would be difficult.

In this instance setting, the closer it gets to midnight, the stronger the bestial nature within these strange beings becomes. If they cannot be appeased, they may turn against you at any time.

Just then, the Zombie King suddenly opened his eyes.

He shakily reached into his pocket, rummaged around for a while, and pulled out three bright red paper packets.

That's a red envelope.

However, the red envelope looked rather strange. The paper was damp, as if it had just been pulled out of blood, and it also smelled musty.

"Give...give out New Year's money..."

The Zombie King's voice was hoarse as he placed three red envelopes on the table.

At this moment, Rule 5 reappeared.

If you receive a red envelope from an elder, please accept it, but absolutely do not open it.

This is a trap.

To accept it means to accept a strange gift, and thus to accept a strange cause and effect.

If you don't open it, this karma will haunt you until it kills you; if you do open it, it may contain ghost money, hair, or even a curse, causing you to die instantly.

The ghost father and ghost mother's eyes widened when they saw the red envelope.

Even though they are ghosts, they still have greed.

These red envelopes from the Zombie King held a fatal allure for them.