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

As the suona sound rang out, a layer of golden ripples appeared in the air.

The originally raging ghosts, after being swept by this ripple, seemed to have been paused, and their movements became sluggish.

The red light in their eyes began to fade, replaced by confusion and pain.

This piece of music is awakening the last vestiges of their humanity!

"Ah... I... who am I...?"

"I want to go home...I want to eat dumplings..."

Many of the little demons clutched their heads, squatted on the ground in pain, and lost their will to attack.

Upon seeing this, the village chief's expression changed drastically.

"Damn it! What kind of sorcery is this?!"

He could sense that his control over these villagers was rapidly diminishing. If this continued, the group would fall apart without a fight!

"Shut up!"

The village chief roared and abandoned command, taking matters into his own hands.

The dragon-headed cane in his hand transformed into a giant black python, opening its blood-red maw and lunging at Yunxi.

This is the product of resentment accumulated over a hundred years; if you get bitten, your soul will be devoured!

"Watch out!" Ghost Father wanted to come back to help, but he was entangled by a group of ghosts and couldn't get through at all.

The giant python was about to bite Yunxi's head.

At this critical moment, Yunxi did something that no one expected.

Instead of dodging, he stopped playing and took out a handful of coins from his pocket—five-emperor coins.

"Want some? Then you can eat your fill!"

Yunxi stuffed the handful of copper coins mixed with Yin energy beads directly into the giant python's mouth.

"burst!"

Yunxi snapped her fingers.

Those few Yin Qi beads were already unstable energy bodies, and when they encountered the Five Emperor Coins, which were extremely Yang, it was a classic case of "a world of ice and fire".

"boom--!!!"

A muffled thud.

It was as if the giant black python had swallowed a grenade; it exploded inside.

"Awooo—!!!"

The village chief let out a piercing scream as his cane shattered into pieces.

He was thrown back by the shockwave of the explosion, crashing heavily into the wall behind him, spitting out black blood.

"You...you..."

The village chief pointed at Yunxi, his face full of disbelief.

He never expected that this seemingly powerless young man would be so insidious and shameless!

Yunxi tucked the suona into her waistband, clapped her hands, and walked step by step toward the village chief who was slumped on the ground.

The surrounding ghosts were already stunned by what had just happened, and they all made way for him, none of them daring to step forward.

"Village chief, can we talk properly now?"

Yunxi looked down at him, her eyes cold.

"I'll ask you one more time: what exactly happened a hundred years ago?"

The village chief was panting heavily, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

He knew that the tide had turned. This young man wasn't just lucky; he was genuinely capable.

"Hehe...hehehe..."

The village chief suddenly burst into a bitter laugh, a laugh that was both shrill and sorrowful.

"You want to know? Fine, I'll tell you. Anyway... we're all going to die. The Nian beast... it's coming back..."

It turns out that Fengmen Village was a prosperous village a hundred years ago.

But that year, there was a severe drought. Crops failed completely, and villagers starved to death everywhere.

In order to survive, the village chief listened to the slander of a wandering Taoist priest and held a ceremony called "inviting the gods" on New Year's Eve, which was actually a "sacrifice".

They sacrificed all the young boys and girls in the village to the so-called "gods" in order to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

As it turned out, the gods didn't come; instead, "Xi" came.

It was a ravenous and insatiable beast. Having devoured all the offerings, it was still not satisfied, so it began to eat the villagers.

In order to survive, the village chief and the remaining villagers had no choice but to sign a contract with "Xi".

Every New Year's Eve, as long as the whole village doesn't put up red decorations, set off firecrackers, or light lamps, and treats themselves as if they were dead, the New Year's Eve won't eat them.

Over time, the living people turned into half-human, half-ghost monsters, and Fengmen Village was completely reduced to a ghost realm.

"We... just want to survive..."

The village chief shed two lines of bloody tears.

"As long as we follow the rules... we can survive... It was you! You broke the rules! You set off the firecrackers! You angered it! It will come back! It will eat us all!"

After hearing these words, Yunxi fell silent.

The viewers in the live stream also fell silent.

So this is the truth. Even the most hateful person has a pitiable side, but this pitifulness is built on the sacrifice of innocent children.

"Survive?"

Yunxi sneered, her eyes showing no pity whatsoever.

"To look like this, neither human nor ghost, is that what you call living? A life sustained by eating human flesh and drinking human blood—that's animalistic! Not human!"

"You're wrong. Rules aren't meant to be followed, they're meant to be broken!"

"Since the Nian beast is coming back, then let it come!"

Yunxi suddenly turned around, facing all the ghosts and monsters in the courtyard, and shouted loudly.

"Neighbors! Did you all hear that?"

"Do you want to continue living like ghosts in the dark? Do you want to continue making offerings to that beast every year?"

"I've already blown it up once! I can blow it up a second time!"

"If you want to be human, come with me! If you don't want to be human, stay here and wait to die!"

These words were powerful and resounding.

The eyes of those previously bewildered ghosts slowly began to light up. It was hope that had been suppressed for a hundred years.

The ghost father was the first to step forward, waving his fist.

"Listen to your son! Do it!"

Grandpa Zombie King also let out a roar.

"roar!"

Immediately afterwards, more and more ghosts and monsters stood up.

"Dry!"

"I don't want to be a ghost anymore!"

"I want to eat dumplings! I'm not eating human flesh anymore!"

......

What started as a "trap" at the village chief's house eventually turned into a "rally".

Although the stubborn village chief eventually huddled in a corner and refused to cooperate, most of the villagers (that is, the vengeful ghosts) had been successfully turned by Yunxi.

They were fed up with this inhuman, ghostly existence, and even more fed up with the fear of becoming food for the Nian beast every year. Since Yunxi could blast away the Nian beast, that was their hope.

After arranging for the villagers to go home and "prepare for battle" (which actually involved finding red paper and making lanterns), Yunxi led her family back to the Li family's old house.

As soon as I entered the door, the system notification sounded in my mind again.

Congratulations on completing the side quest: The Village Chief's Invitation.

[Rewards: 500 points, 1 x Folk Art Item [Demon-Slaying Willow Branch]]

[Warning! It is now the second day of the Lunar New Year.]

[New Task Issued: The second day of the Lunar New Year is the bride's second home. Please accompany your mother on her return visit to her parents' home.]

[Mission Hint: Your maternal home is located in the neighboring town of "Blackwater." The journey is perilous, so please prepare a proper homecoming gift. Remember: When a son-in-law visits, it's always good to be courteous; without it, you may face certain death.]

Yunxi frowned as she looked at the task.

Going back to her parents' home?

In this instance, going back to one's parents' home is hardly a heartwarming experience. Blackwater Town is said to be even more dangerous than Fengmen Village, teeming with more powerful and vengeful ghosts.

Moreover, this homecoming ceremony...