TEG 4
Chapter 4: Inside and Out
Diao Xinsha and the others were still searching outside. Zhou Xiangyue sat in the darkness with nothing to do.
He tried to explore the function of the Nightmare Coins he had just received, but nothing responded.
It seemed either he didn’t have enough Nightmare Coins, or he hadn’t yet reached the threshold required to use them.
Since that was the case, he kept his ears perked to listen to the others’ conversation while using the spare moment to sort through the original Zhou Qing’s memories.
This opera troupe nightmare realm really was strange.
Originally, this had been a Rank C nightmare realm with the realm master's identity already cracked—which meant that as long as a realm traveler was strong enough, they could kill the realm master and break the realm with little difficulty. The risk level of the realm was considered low.
In the past, realm travelers would come here for duels, to search for treasure, or to bring juniors for training.
Because of that, this realm had become an unspoken “floating pagoda realm”—a place where even if you killed someone, it would be hard to hold you accountable.
But a few days ago, two people from the Ten Major Sects—one from Wushe Dao and the other from Qianmian City—agreed to duel here. They both vanished and never made it back out.
Later, it’s said that both sects sent others to investigate, but none of them returned either.
In other words, something uncontrollable and extremely dangerous had changed within this nightmare realm.
It was only after entering that Zhou Qing realized this wasn’t the same realm people had information about. It had turned into a completely unknown one.
None of the realm travelers who entered had found the real realm master. That either meant the realm master was incredibly hard to locate—and everyone who came before killed the wrong target—or the NPCs and ghosts here were so dangerous that they killed everyone before they could break the realm.
Either way, it meant this place was extremely dangerous.
As he pondered this, the number of ghost spectators—once as high as five hundred—had now dropped to just over two hundred, but he still received over thirty Nightmare Coins.
【Is this a statue cosplay?】
【He’s really good—hasn’t moved an inch the entire time. My eyes are sore! Oh wait, I don’t have eyes. Never mind】
【Here you are again, Soul Joke Master!】
【…Is that really a ghost?】
【Even if it is, what’s fun about a ghost spacing out?】
【Boring. I’m leaving】
【No, just wait! I was amazed when he sat on the lotus seat and posed as the statue. Trust me, it’s worth sticking around】
【True, and didn’t you see? He’s only got 8 minutes of survival time left. Looking forward to seeing that sickly beauty’s despair as he nears death】
Zhou Xiangyue was distracted by a new label that had just appeared in his mind.
Beneath “Worn Statue,” another tag had popped up:
“Statue Play”
Zhou Xiangyue: …?
Before he could think more about it, a thunderous roar rang out from afar:
“Who’s running around outside?!”
It was the Troupe Master!
The people in the courtyard jumped in fright.
Diao Xinsha gritted his teeth. “To the statue room! The wall behind the shrine is thin!”
Zhou Xiangyue’s pupils contracted.
He watched as the same people who had killed him earlier now rushed toward his direction. Gritting his teeth, he remained completely still, continuing to play the statue.
【Oh! Things just got exciting!】
【What do you think the Troupe Master will do when he finds out Zhou stole his coin pouch?】
【Diao-ge has beef with him too, right? Haha, if they find out he’s done for】
【LMAO look at our little beauty still stubbornly pretending to be a statue—like that meme of a mouse hiding in a wheel not moving at all】
【Little Beauty: You can’t see me, you can’t see me】
But the intruders didn’t even glance at the statue.
Diao Xinsha didn’t pause. He pulled out a bright red talisman from his chest and slapped it onto his whip.
The moment the talisman touched the whip’s tip, it made a sizzling sound like red-hot iron plunging into water.
Veins bulged in Diao Xinsha’s hand as he swung the whip at the wall beside the statue—
Boom!!!
The shrine wall collapsed in a roar of crumbling bricks, and a gust of cold wind whooshed in through the hole.
The group darted past Zhou Xiangyue like a whirlwind, leaving only afterimages.
If they’d turned around, they would have seen the “statue’s” long hair trailing behind, fluttering in the breeze they created.
“Stop! You sons of bitches, stop right there!!” the Troupe Master thundered, charging into the courtyard like a mountain of fury. Even the walls trembled and shed dust from his footsteps.
Zhou Xiangyue: “…”
He could no longer maintain his elegant statue pose. He rolled off the altar and dashed through the hole Diao Xinsha had blasted open.
This was the Troupe Master’s territory. NPCs weren’t as easy to fool as realm travelers—a fake statue might be seen through in a second.
Besides, the Troupe Master was massive. The others could squeeze through that hole, but he might crash into Zhou and instantly flatten him.
As a weakling, Zhou Xiangyue had no intention of finding out what would happen to a registered-dead man if caught by a high-combat NPC.
Also, with so many people running, surely he wouldn’t be the one singled out…
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Troupe Master’s hulking figure smashed through the hole like a charging beast, widening it further.
He didn’t even glance at the others and immediately gave chase down Zhou Xiangyue’s path.
Zhou Xiangyue: …Yeah, thought so.
This realm just wanted him dead.
Clutching the torn hem of his robe, he fled for his life.
But it didn’t take long for him to realize something was wrong.
This body—thin, pale, and frail—was completely useless for running.
Worse still, his injuries tore open as he ran. Blood dripped steadily from his sleeve, leaving a trail like a breadcrumb path.
The Troupe Master clearly knew the courtyard layout well, while Zhou could only stumble forward, guided by scattered lamplight and moonlight, dodging debris, nearly tripping more than once. He scraped his wrists on jagged brick walls, adding fresh bleeding wounds.
【Ouch, that looks painful…】
【This sickly guy’s physical stats are trash. Isn’t this just free food?】
【Probably just a normal unlucky person randomly dragged into the nightmare—clearly no spiritual talent】
【What’s wrong with free food? I love chase scenes! Especially when the frail beauty gets caught and ripped apart—ahhh, perfection (hearts)】
【I feel you. Hnnnghh yes yes】
Sweat beaded on Zhou’s forehead. His throat burned with every ragged breath, the taste of blood rising in his mouth.
This was bad. He couldn’t keep going.
Just as he turned a corner, a red lantern hung ahead on a low courtyard wall. The footsteps behind him suddenly vanished.
All that remained was his own heavy breathing.
What happened?
Zhou turned quickly—and saw that the Troupe Master hadn’t come around the corner.
A tuft of thorny weeds growing through the cracked bricks had just brushed his cheek. They were still trembling. Under the lantern’s light, the leaves looked black and sinister, their tips vanishing into his shadow.
Gone? Did something scare him away…
Zhou’s pupils shrank—
There were two shadows on the ground!
Towering above his own was a massive shadow wielding a huge weapon—just about to strike.
Whoosh!
Zhou dove down, a gust of wind slicing above his head.
He rolled aside just in time to see the Troupe Master leaning over the low wall, swinging his wooden club in a wide arc.
When the blow missed, the Troupe Master grinned menacingly, revealing yellowed teeth and a flashing gold incisor.
Whack! The club smashed into Zhou’s temple, bringing with it a stench of decay.
Brick chips and dust flew into his face, dry sand stinging his eyes and making tears spill.
He coughed violently, blinking through the tears, barely dodging the next swing of that deadly club.
This body couldn’t take much more. A hit to the back could kill him, never mind the head.
His heart pounded wildly. Every cough tore at his wounds. Every inch of his body screamed he wouldn’t last.
Whoosh—
That filthy, massive club came down again—this time he couldn’t dodge.
“Master!” Zhou cried, clutching his head. “There are still people who ran away!”
The club halted just inches from him.
But the sense of threat only grew.
“…Hmm?”
The Troupe Master’s face darkened, but his eyes lit up with a twisted glee. “Who?”
Zhou ignored his ruined clothes, crawling up with tearful eyes and a fawning smile. “I-I’ll tell you their names… if Master will spare me…”
【???】
【??????】
【Damn, first time seeing a realm traveler kneel to an NPC this fast—he’s really embraced his ‘opera troupe apprentice’ identity from the system】
【He’s going to betray the two who saved him, isn’t he? You really can’t help people in the nightmare realm】
【Idiot. You think snitching to an NPC will really save you? Wait till your skull cracks open】
【Told you watching a normie streamer would be toxic】
Ding! Someone gave your stream a thumbs-down!
Ding! Someone…
Ding!
Ding ding ding ding ding!!
Warning: 156 users have rated your stream poorly! Fine: 16 Nightmare Coins. Remaining: 30 Coins.
Nightmare Realm System Notice: Excessive downvotes may affect survival. Please care about your ghost viewers’ experience~
System messages rang in his ears like a bell chorus.
In Zhou’s mind, his floating text tags swirled like a storm, eventually settling into one word—
“Shameless.”
His tearful expression became even more sincere.
The Troupe Master grinned, gold tooth gleaming. “Alright. Go on.”
Zhou tiptoed forward and whispered with a trembling voice, “M-Master, lean closer. I’ll tell you quietly… I’m afraid they’ll get back at me…”
“Get back at you my ass. Get back at you how?” the Troupe Master grumbled, but leaned in closer.
“Th-there’s Diao Xinsha…” the sickly boy’s voice was barely audible. The Troupe Master had to get right up close to hear.
“Got it.” He flashed his gold tooth—
Puff—!
A cloud of dust mixed with gravel and wood chips blasted into his eyes.
“AHHH!!!”
The Troupe Master dropped his club and clawed at his face, roaring, “You filthy mongrel! I’ll skin you alive!!”
Zhou didn’t wait for him to recover. He dashed back into the alleyway he came from.
He was sprinting at the absolute peak of what his frail body could manage, heart pounding, lungs wheezing. The Troupe Master’s cursing faded behind him.
The earlier noise of downvotes abruptly went silent.
【???】
【??????】
【…Damn, my eyes hurt now】
【So dirty. I kind of like it】
【That acting was actually good】
【…Okay fine. Just don’t drag my little junior into it】
【Uhh… this pretty boy doesn’t seem too bright. Doesn’t he know this will skyrocket the NPC’s hostility toward him? Pretty sure this Troupe Master is the strongest thing in the realm—he just upgraded his difficulty from Normal to Hell】
【Better than dying on the spot, at least】
【Nothing more to say. Lighting a candle for you, bro】
【gkdgkd, everyone say it with me: Go Troupe Master!】
Ding! You received 68 downvotes. Fine: 7 Nightmare Coins…
Ding! You’ve received 79 Nightmare Coins in tips. Audience count: 507. 50 coins converted. Nightmare Coin Exchange unlocked. Due to account irregularities, item exchange is unavailable, but clue exchange is now open.
In Zhou’s mind, next to the glorious “Shameless” tag, a few new shiny phrases appeared:
“Not killing you means my surname isn’t Song” and “Lowlife Actor King”
The first likely came from the Troupe Master.
The second… well, probably from the crowd watching his dirty tricks. He was self-aware enough to admit it.
…but what the hell was this new one: “Soft as Boneless”?
