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

"Hehehe... This road is mine, these trees are mine. If you want to pass, leave your toll!"

Yunxi stopped and raised an eyebrow.

Wow? You can even encounter bandits in this terrifying dungeon? That's quite a business expansion!

In the middle of the intersection stood three strangely shaped evil spirits.

The leader was a two-meter-tall "big-headed ghost" with a head as big as a water vat and a body as thin as a hemp stick, carrying a mourning stick covered with skulls.

On the left is a "burnt ghost" that is completely red, with smoke rising from its body and a smell of burnt flesh.

On the right is a "hanging ghost" with its tongue dragging on the ground, and the rope used for hanging itself is still around its neck.

These three guys are clearly the village bullies, who specialize in bullying those who have just died or are weak and wandering ghosts.

"New here?"

The big-headed ghost shook its large head in its hand, its eyes, with only the whites showing, fixed on Yunxi and the red lantern in its hand.

"Oh, so you're still alive? With a family of elderly, weak, and disabled people, where are you headed?"

It completely disregarded the three vengeful ghosts behind Yunxi.

In its eyes, that big, bronze-colored guy was a simpleton, that crooked-necked female ghost was a weakling, and as for that old zombie...

What era are we living in? Still wearing Qing Dynasty official robes? They're obviously outdated and antiquated.

Yunxi was not afraid at all; on the contrary, she was happy.

He was just worried that the New Year's greetings had gone too smoothly and there wasn't much fun to be had.

"Gentlemen, it's the first day of the Lunar New Year, why aren't you at home eating dumplings? What are you doing here starving?"

Yunxi walked forward with a smile, not at all like a stranger.

"We're going to pay our respects to the village chief for the New Year. What brings you here, are you hoping for a red envelope?"

"Red envelope?"

The big-headed ghost paused for a moment, then burst into wild laughter.

"Hahahaha! Red envelopes? I'm after your life! Leave me your red lanterns and your flesh! On New Year's Day, I'll have you as a snack!"

The burning ghosts and hanging ghosts beside them also started making a ruckus, baring their teeth and claws, exuding a sinister aura.

The viewers in the live stream were getting a little nervous.

"These three look much more formidable than that water ghost from last night!"

"The Big-Headed Ghost is a collection of resentment, the Fire Ghost can breathe fire, and the Hanging Ghost's tongue can strangle people. This lineup is a bit tricky."

"Yunxi, don't be reckless! This is a battle in the wild; we don't have the advantage of our home terrain!"

Despite the threat of the three evil spirits, Yunxi's smile didn't diminish at all; in fact, it became even brighter.

"You want my life? Fine."

He slowly pulled something out of his pocket—not a weapon, but a stick of incense and a few pieces of yellow paper money.

"However, according to the rules, if you take someone's money, you have to do their bidding. Since you're blocking the road and demanding money, you have to be able to afford it."

Yunxi lit the incense and waved it at the big-headed ghost.

"Come on, call me grandpa, and this money is yours."

"court death!"

The big-headed ghost was furious.

When has this village tyrant ever suffered such humiliation?

"Men! Charge! Tear him apart!"

The Fire Demon roared and spewed out a stream of yin fire; the Hanging Demon flicked out its long tongue, which coiled around Yunxi's neck like a venomous snake.

Yunxi didn't move at all, she just said a few words.

"Dad, Grandpa, someone is trying to steal your precious grandson."

This sentence is like a switch.

"roar--!!!"

The ghost father, who had been silent all along, suddenly went berserk.

They're trying to steal my grandson? No, wait, my son?

That's my most filial son! He's the benefactor who fed me coins so I could evolve!

The bronze light emanating from Ghost Father's body suddenly intensified, and his originally honest face instantly became extremely ferocious.

He completely ignored the spitting out of him the yin fire and directly confronted it with his chest.

"Sizzle—"

The eerie fire sprayed onto the ghost father's copper skin, leaving not even a black mark, but rather as if it had polished him to a shine.

Ghost Father took a step forward, and his palm, as big as a fan, slapped Fire Ghost directly across the face.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

The smoking head of the Fire Demon was whipped so hard it spun 360 degrees, and the entire demon flew out like a ball, crashing into a stone tablet by the roadside and falling apart on the spot.

At the same time, the Zombie King also moved.

Faced with the long, curled tongue, Grandpa simply stretched out his withered hand and grabbed the tip of the tongue.

"roar!"

The Zombie King pulled hard.

"collapse--!"

The hanged ghost let out a miserable scream as its proud long tongue was torn off!

The zombie king threw the severed tongue on the ground with disdain, then leaped up and landed right in front of the hanged ghost, his two sharp claws digging deep into the ghost's shoulders.

"Rip!"

A tearing sound that made your teeth ache.

The hanged ghost was torn in two!

Sold out instantly!

Double kill!

In less than five seconds, the two menacing-looking ghosts were dealt with.

The remaining big-headed ghost was completely dumbfounded.

Its enormous head shook even more violently now, not to show off, but out of fear.

It looked at the burly man whose body was glowing with bronze, then at the old zombie with a mouthful of fangs and blood dripping from its fingernails, and finally realized what kind of being it had provoked.

Is this supposed to be "old, weak, sick, or disabled"?

This is clearly a max-level character going back to the newbie village to slaughter everyone!

"Misunderstanding... misunderstanding..."

Big-Headed Ghost forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace and slowly backed away.

"Big...Big brother...Happy New Year...I just...came out for a stroll..."

Yunxi walked over with a smile and blocked its way.

"Taking a stroll? Didn't you just say you needed to pay for the toll?"

Yunxi shoved the lit incense stick under the big-headed ghost's nose.

"Here, take a breath. This is genuine agarwood, very nourishing."

How dare that big-headed ghost suck it?

This incense is an offering to ordinary ghosts, but to this wicked ghost that has committed countless evil deeds, it is like scalding lava! Inhaling it will burn and rot its internal organs!

"No...don't..."

Big-Headed Ghost knelt down with a thud—he really knelt down, his head hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Grandpa! You're my own grandpa! Please forgive me! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness!"

Yunxi looked down at it with a cold gaze.

"Spare you? Fine."

"Rules cannot be broken. Since it's a New Year's greeting, we must be polite when we meet."

Yunxi pointed to the two ghost companions on the ground that had already fallen apart.

"Pry the yin energy beads off those two and give them to me as a red envelope. I'll let you go."

The Yin Qi Bead is the core energy that a vengeful ghost condenses after death, and it is a great tonic for ghosts.

Upon hearing this, the big-headed ghost felt as if he had been granted a pardon.

Without saying a word, it rushed over and began rummaging through the remains of its two unfortunate brothers, quickly prying out two dark beads, which it respectfully handed to Yunxi.

"Sir... please keep this safe..."

Yunxi took the bead, felt the rich yin energy inside, and nodded in satisfaction.

He casually tossed one to his ghost father and the other to his grandfather.

"Here, consider it a reward for your hard work just now."