Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Book of Falsehood

You lift the lantern of stars in your hand, following at the end of the procession, recalling the path through the lightless abyss. You observe the tracker ahead, and in a fleeting moment, you notice the red-patterned gloves in their hands vanish without a trace. Once more, you find yourself upon the labyrinthine roads, pathways etched into your memory; now, you no longer fear the abyss. You press forward, brimming with hope...

The sudden appearance of the fiery umbrella, the tracker, the gloves that vanished into thin air—all elements align. The gloves disappeared? Perhaps they were transferred to Earth through some worldly vessel.

Morningstar rested his cheek in his hand, pondering; however one looked at this person, he resembled Senior Chen Shi. Yet the game offered no prompt, unlike others—no direct indication of the player. Or perhaps, only upon attacking would it be revealed if this was indeed a player? If Chen Shi truly was a player as well, then in this final battle of the dungeon, he would undoubtedly have another card to play.

Due to the rampant destruction caused by the Shadow of the Net, many game-world dwellers now communicated via the safer forums. Morningstar sent a message using a special account tied to the Day Wanderers’ forum.

Night Wanderer: "Captain Chen Shi, something's happened here, urgent help needed."

Tracker: "Is it very urgent? Sorry, I can't help right now—I'm in a super dangerous, high-level dungeon, this one is important." (voice message)

The voice message carried an unmistakable urgency. A major dungeon? Morningstar leaned back—this confirmed it.

Night Wanderer: "Captain, where are you?"

Tracker (Chen Shi): "Hotel room 1109. What's happened?"

Chen Shi sat in his home office chair, gazing at the hallucinogenic potion in his hand. His eyes were full of worry, his body felt the chilling aura creeping in. Having participated in many murder cases, he had witnessed too many tragedies and understood the value of life. Game-world dwellers, though empowered, faced terrifying dangers. In true peril, their lives could vanish in an instant.

He was a cautious player, each life precious, rarely attempting dungeons above his level. Yet now, he could not defy the Dog Master's orders; the Dog Master's aid was crucial for him to become a "Corpse Burner." In the New Sun Game, much knowledge was tightly controlled by various professional organizations, and every skill learned came with difficulty. Now, Chen Shi had reached the limits of what he could glean from books. Only by joining the Corpse Burners could he hope to learn more powerful fire rituals.

He had thought this operation would wait until tomorrow, but unexpectedly, a Night Patrolman with an extraordinary air appeared midway, prompting the Dog Master to start the dungeon early! The game's NPCs never ceased to surprise him, but he could not afford to falter now. Chen Shi shook his head and focused on the game.

Night Wanderer: "Senior Chen Shi, just play normally and stay there, don't move. I might come over later."

"???" Was this some rookie playing pranks? Chen Shi was bewildered, but had no energy to spare for distractions.

In such dangerous dungeons, even the slightest lapse could bring forth bizarre choices, leading to demise. Chen Shi's room was not far from Morningstar; after confirming the situation, Morningstar turned to the New Sun Game.

You follow behind the Dog Master's team; you sense that the Dog Master is unusually familiar with the routes through the sewers, steadily approaching the lightless abyss. Your movement draws the attention of the Blackwood rat swarm. The rats are slaughtered by the dog pack...

Text scrolled by endlessly; soon, they arrived at the edge of the lightless abyss!

The Dog Master had already sensed the terror of the abyss’s shadow. Before entering, he extinguished the flames in his eyes, took a specially-made black cloth, and covered every part of himself that might ignite.

The Dog Master loudly ordered his troops: "Everyone, throw away anything that emits light. Once you enter the abyss, you will be unable to resist the urge to ‘light the lantern.’ Before entering, you must lose all light."

The Dog Master's subordinates threw all luminous items into the bottomless chasm. Once assured, the Dog Master had everyone drink a hallucinogenic potion, leading his force once more into the lightless abyss.

Entering the land of darkness...

Morningstar examined the lightless fruit in his inventory—just as expected, this fruit would be pivotal in the abyss.

You pretend to drink the hallucinogenic potion, continuing with the group. Ahead, people stumble, dazed and confused, some making bizarre sounds; a few cannot endure it and dash madly out of the abyss. You cautiously press onward through the land of darkness...

Even the slightest rustle sets the Dog Master and his pack instantly on alert. Forward...

"Come forth, Eyeless One, this is your domain—stop hiding!" The Dog Master cursed the Eyeless One, and you suddenly halt, for the Dog Master and his party have arrived at the “trap.”

Before the trap, you behold a corpse, its state too gruesome to bear. The Dog Master sighs at the Eyeless One's cruelty and horror, believing this to be the handiwork of the Debt Collector’s minions, tortured to death by the Eyeless One.

Out of caution, the Dog Master takes a detour.

Hmm... Could it be that the corpse is the Eyeless One himself? Morningstar scratched his head outside the screen. The Eyeless One was no longer a concern; the real issue lay with the Decaying Elder behind the abyss.

As expected, the Eyeless One’s “failure to return,” combined with the alarm he’d raised, meant the Decaying Elder would be fully prepared to greet them.

...

The whispers of the abyss faded; when the party regained their senses, they had already left the lightless abyss. The wind brushed your hair as you stepped through the crowd to the front, surveying the familiar plains once more.

This time, you brought others with you.

The Dog Master was dazed, still muttering about the Eyeless One.

You look ahead.

In the distance, the light in the wooden cabin extinguishes, and before you stands a figure entwined in black trees, the Decaying Elder, who has awaited you for some time. On the ground, you see dark wooden protrusions.

You furrow your brow, sensing danger, and retreat behind the others.

Indeed, he was waiting here...

"Why do you carry the aura of the Eyeless One? Why has the Eyeless One not returned?" The Decaying Elder ignores the Dog Master, staring straight at you, his gaze filled first with terror, then shifting to anger and grief.

"What is it, old friend? After so long, do you fear me? You truly managed, through years of striving, to expand your influence above ground and find a book capable of destroying the Tree of Reverse Life."

The Dog Master snapped out of his stupor, straightening his hunched back, and grew larger; one savage giant dog after another appeared, surrounding the Decaying Elder.

"No need for words. Dog, you came for the book, didn’t you?" The Decaying Elder drew a pitch-black book from his wooden body, its aura frighteningly intense.

"Dog Master, alas, I am no longer who I once was. You will pay for your greed. Soon you will be buried in this sinister underground, and this will mark the beginning of my destruction of the sewers."

You observe the pitch-black book in the Decaying Elder’s hands.

You recall the scene the White Dove witnessed: In the wooden cabin, the Decaying Elder once crafted a book.

You are certain, despite the potent aura emanating from the Elder’s book, it is exceedingly rare. Yet it is a newly forged book—a counterfeit, meant to deceive the Dog Master.

Wait...

Morningstar sorted his thoughts. The Decaying Elder’s book was a fake. Where was the real one? No matter; so long as he could eliminate this book, using the Morning Star’s search to locate the other, it would not be a problem!

His phone vibrated!

The Decaying Elder let out a furious roar, black trees thrusting from the earth, engaging the Dog Master's troops in a deadly battle!

"Old friend, your years of toil will be for naught. That book shall be what I use to ascend these feeble steps!" The Dog Master would not be outdone; he tore off the black cloth, his body swelling, burning like a scalding furnace; the dog pack around him transformed into blazing flames, charging at the Decaying Elder.

Your body stirs with agitation—now is the best moment to seize the book.

You don your Night Wanderer's garb; a bold plan is brewing in your mind, eager to burst forth.

All you need is a target.

Morning Star’s search!

Morningstar used keywords, limiting the search to the vicinity and the black book.

The Morning Star shone brighter than ever, flying toward the wooden cabin on the plain.

Morningstar bit his lip; the time to seize the book had come.

Dog Master, Decaying Elder, you two "Supremes" may continue your grand battle—I shall loot the treasure first.

"Will you activate the Night Wanderer's garb, evade the crowd's gaze, and sprint toward the wooden cabin?"

Yes!

Morningstar did not hesitate, choosing yes.

You gaze upon the path ahead, leap forward, the lantern in your heart already guiding you toward your goal.