Rules of the Strange: I Can See Through All the Weird

After returning home and taking a shower, Qi Tong fell asleep in just 3 seconds while lying on the big bed.

[Host!! Didn't you say you might not be able to sleep tonight?!]

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The newcomer rankings have been released, and Xu Ning has successfully climbed to sixth place.

The reward items are still unknown, but Qi Tong understands that Xu Ning is already very strong.

Qi Tong entered the instance again by herself.

Xu Ning has already cleared the first four beginner dungeons. The next dungeon will be more difficult, and Qi Tong will not be able to enter, but Xu Ning can enter Qi Tong's dungeon.

In the fourth dungeon of Qitong, the player did not choose to use the tracking card to continue forming a team.

System 666 bounced around in my mind, making my little face scrunch up.

[Host! Why don't you continue forming a team? We have Ningning, the Item Master, and Qin Yu, such a great coach. The newly joined Chen Jie is even more insane. Won't our team just sweep through the dungeons?]

Hearing this, Qi Tong's lips curled up slightly, and she sighed softly.

"Liu Zi, one cannot rely on others forever. We can be friends and go into dungeons together."

"But everyone has to face their own experiences. If you're always tied together, and when you encounter difficulties, your subconscious thought is for your teammates instead of your own hands, then you're in trouble."

[The master is wise! Liu Zi understands!]

Qi Tong nodded and reached out to press the "Start Game" button in front of her.

The scene before my eyes rushed past rapidly, flashing and disappearing like a slideshow, so fast that afterimages appeared.

The shock forced Qi Tong to close her eyes.

When Qi Tong opened her eyes again, she heard the sound of water.

Waves of seawater crashed against the rocks, creating white spray.

The salty smell that should belong to the sea had inexplicably turned into a foul odor, irritating the nasal passages of every player.

Qi Tong looked down at her attire.

The outfit I wore before entering the dungeon was different; the tracksuit on my upper body had been replaced with a shirt, and the trousers on my lower body had been replaced with dress pants.

He had a camera around his neck, a pen tucked into his shirt pocket, and a small notebook in his other pocket.

The outfit in the dungeon has changed; this is the first time.

Before Qi Tong could think it through, she heard someone calling her name from not far away.

"Qitong!"

Wearing the same clothes, He Lu ran towards Qi Tong with delight.

"It really was you!"

He Lu seemed to have found family, completely unlike the aloof person she was in the previous instance.

"You have no idea, I was really annoyed with Lu Jingchen and his wife, but the thought of going into the dungeon all by myself this time made me so sad! Thank goodness I ran into you!"

Qi Tong gently patted her shoulder, then gestured for her to look behind her.

A large rock suddenly appeared on the previously empty ground behind them.

The words "Mermaid Village" are engraved on it.

[Ding—The dungeon "Mermaid Village" is now open.]

The "Mermaid Village" is located in a remote coastal region. The village has only about three hundred inhabitants, but everyone firmly believes in the existence of the "Mermaid God," and it is said that some have personally witnessed the "Mermaid God's" descent.

[Completion condition: Uncover the secret of the "Mermaid Village"]

The players walked up to the stone one after another. Qi Tong counted them and found that there were seven players in total, including himself.

Everyone was wearing the same clothes.

An old woman slowly emerged from not far behind the rock. She was hunched over and leaning on a cane. It was unclear when she had appeared behind the rock.

She walked up to the player.

"Welcome, reporters. I am the village chief. If you want to learn about the story of the Mermaid Village, please follow me."

Her aged, hoarse voice struck the hearts of the players like an ancient bell.

She turned around and walked inside step by step.

Everyone immediately followed, and by now, there were no complete novices left.

Everyone knows that to survive, you have to obey.

Stepping over the stones, the desolate scene before me transformed into rows of dilapidated houses. There was only barren land and houses, not a single weed in sight.

The village chief led the way slowly, and the players remained silent, cautiously keeping quiet.

Until we reached the center of the village.

There is a huge statue there, a statue with a human body and a fish tail.

The incense burner in front was constantly burning, and the surrounding stone railings were covered with dense red wishing cloths.

The village chief stopped and turned around, his cane tapping lightly on the ground.

"Dear reporters, you must be very curious as to why the villagers worship the Mermaid God so much."

Her gaze swept across the faces of the seven players one by one, finally landing on Qi Tong.

"Because the Mermaid God truly exists."

No one speaks.

The village chief's lips curled up slightly, as if he was pleased with the quietness of the group of outsiders.

"Remember a few rules. First, the Mermaid God prefers quiet. When you are interviewing her, do not make loud noises or chase each other around. The Mermaid God doesn't like noisy children."

She paused, and her cane paused again.

"Secondly, the Mermaid doesn't like being questioned. You are reporters, so it's normal for you to ask questions, but if the villagers talk about the Mermaid, just listen. Don't argue, don't press them, and don't point your cameras at their eyes."

"Third, the Mermaid God only accepts raw offerings. Dried food and canned goods are absolutely forbidden on the altar."

She raised her cane and pointed to the dark outline of houses deep in the village.

"That's where you'll be staying."

"Don't go out at night. The Mermaid God patrols the village and doesn't like to be disturbed."

"In your rooms, there are candles and matches under your beds. After dark, light the candles and place them on the windowsill. No matter what you hear outside—the wind, the water, or someone calling your names—do not open the door or look out."

The cane fell back to the ground.

The old lady turned around and continued walking slowly forward.

"Your accommodations have been arranged. Two people per room, you can divide them yourself. Meals will be delivered to your door each time."

"You are free to interview the villagers tomorrow morning. Remember, you are journalists. Journalists must record the truth."

She didn't look back, but walked step by step in one direction.

Qi Tong stood there, pondering the old village chief's words.

Rather than words, it was the village chief who provided them with rules.

1. Mermaids dislike noise.

2. Mermaids dislike being questioned.

3. Only live animals can be offered as tribute.

4. Do not go out at night.

5. No matter what you hear outside the window, you must not open the door or look out.

6. Do not point the camera at the villagers' eyes.

Qi Tong secretly memorized it, walked to the stone railing surrounding the Mermaid God, and looked at the red ribbons that recorded many wishes.

Qi Tong reached out and gently parted the red cloth closest to her.

The fabric has faded and the edges are frayed, but the writing on it is still clearly legible.

"I pray to the Mermaid God to bless my son and bring him back safely. There has been no news for three years. I just want to know if he is dead or alive." The signature was not a name, but only a crooked red fingerprint.

Qi Tong released his grip, and the strip of cloth swayed slightly before falling back into place.

She took two steps to the side, her gaze sweeping across the cloth strips. She didn't stop to examine most of the writing on them closely until one of them made her stop.

The ink was so faint it was almost invisible; she had to lean closer to make out the words: "...Come back and see me. Dad's getting old."

There were no fingerprints or signatures.