Chapter 13

With this piece of rope, there was room to break free. With room to break free, the pig's foot knot was just a decoration.

This was the foundation of escape techniques.

Holding the key to his freedom tightly in his palm, Mu Canyang let out a long sigh of relief.

Pretending to be poisoned and having an epileptic seizure wasn't easy. First, there had to be blood, and biting his tongue was very painful; second, there had to be foam, which required a mouth full of blood to gurgle; additionally, he had to turn his face purple and pretend to have convulsions, which was a comprehensive test of physical strength, perseverance, and acting skills.

But Mu Canyang managed to do it.

Thirty-six stratagems, the stratagem of self-mutilation plus muddying the waters.

These NPCs had no doubts at all, just as he had expected, they were cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and wouldn't abandon him.

After a few minutes, Mu Canyang slowly calmed down.

The NPCs heaved a sigh of relief, then arranged shifts, tidied up, and went about their business.

Mu Canyang also closed his eyes and meditated, waiting for the right moment. When these people were sound asleep and the night watchman dozed off, he would make his move.

With something on his mind, he couldn't sleep soundly.

In a daze, he suddenly felt someone approaching. Instantly, his ears perked up, but he remained calm on the surface, lying still and listening.

"Brother, Liu Er is still alive, please save him..." It was the young lady's voice.

The target seemed to be the unconscious guy next to Mu Canyang.

"Xingxing, you want me to save him? That traitor?" Guo Hu was full of confusion, "I remember you're not the kind of person to be so soft-hearted?"

"During the New Year, you wiped out my lucky money, and I didn't see you being soft-hearted then, did you?"

"Brother~" Guo Xingxing pouted, her voice as pleasant as a silver bell, making anyone who heard it feel relaxed, "Liu Er might be innocent..."

"Innocent? Haven't you forgotten how he was expelled from the Guo family the first time? He peeped at you while you were bathing..."

"Brother, can you be serious for a moment?" Guo Xingxing stomped her feet.

"Alright, alright, let's be serious. Our Guo family has always been well-respected in Quanzhou County and has been doing well. Why did things start going wrong as soon as he came back?"

"It must be him, no doubt about it!" Guo Hu said firmly.

"But have you thought about how heavy that inheritance stone is? It must weigh a hundred or so pounds. Liu Er hasn't practiced martial arts, he can't even lift it, how could he have moved the stone into the backyard and framed us?"

Mu Canyang had already learned about the entire framing process through the previous conversations.

It was nothing more than the usual tactics used by the "human hunter" players.

First, they would check the accounts to prevent the targeted NPCs from tampering with them.

Then, they would bribe the Shadow Clan administrators to collect taxes, spring taxes, autumn taxes, and next year's taxes.

Once all the taxes were collected, and the NPCs were stripped to the bone, a batch of players would be called in.

In the game world, NPCs needed to pay taxes to maintain the normal operation of the world.

But the heaviest burden on their heads wasn't the excessive taxes, but player quests.

Watering flowers, weeding, carrying pots, and fetching water—all these tasks required payment, items, experience, and skills. Where in the world could you find such a good deal?

When players swarmed in, it was like a locust plague for the people in the game world. Ordinary families couldn't withstand it.

Even if you were wealthy enough to withstand it, the players had one last trick—framing and implicating.

Since the NPC rebellion, human control over the game world had become unprecedentedly strict. The inheritance stone mentioned by Guo Xingxing was a tool that recorded the essence of martial arts and could be used for practice.

This thing used to be common, but after the increased control, all private martial arts inheritance became illegal.

NPCs wanting to learn skills had to do so at specified times, in specified locations, and in specified ways, known as the "three regulations."

Private possession of an inheritance stone was as serious as illegal possession of firearms in the real world, which was why the Guo family was forced to flee.

Guo Xingxing's words made a lot of sense. Mu Canyang thought, his previous judgment was correct; she was indeed a meticulous girl...

However, if what she said was true, it also meant...

Mu Canyang's mind raced, suddenly realizing a critical point and inwardly exclaimed, "Not good!"

But it was too late...

Just as he was about to leave at all costs, even if it meant being discovered, a loud "Boom!" echoed as the old door of the land temple collapsed inward, crashing to the ground with a deafening sound.

All the Guo family members were startled awake, turning to look at the door.

"Everyone here?" A flashy figure walked in, carrying two melon-juice-stained burlap bags.

Seeing everyone's defensive stances, he paused, "Did I wake you up? Sorry. But it's better that you're awake; it's no fun to deal with you quietly."

His gaze slowly swept over everyone's faces and bodies, pausing slightly when it reached Mu Canyang, "You're here too? Tsk, tsk, tsk, you really don't take the path to heaven, but rush into hell, and you've done it twice! I've never seen anyone as unlucky as you."

It was the player he had seen earlier, Mount and Slash, shaking his head. His gaze finally settled on Guo Xingxing's face, his eyes filled with unhidden greed and desire, "Sigh, such a beauty, why dress so poorly? But it doesn't matter, once I deal with these people, I'll wash you clean..."

"First, a real fight, then a special one... hehe, it'll be beautiful! Beautiful!"

Guo Xingxing shivered and moved closer to her brother, feeling as if his naked gaze was stripping her bare.

"You, stop talking nonsense!" Guo Hu took two steps forward and kicked the fallen door.

The door made a loud "clunk" and whistled through the air, slicing toward Mount and Slash.

"Don't forget, you're just one person, and we're a group! Everyone, attack together, let him see that the Guo family isn't to be trifled with!"

Guo Hu shouted loudly, leaping high into the air after the door, aiming a fierce kick at Mount and Slash's head.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, all show and no substance!" Mount and Slash remained calm, still having time to comment. As the door approached, he sidestepped, and at the same time, swept his leg, aiming at Guo Hu's waist.

"Bang!" The two legs collided, a dull sound echoed, Guo Hu grunted and flipped to the ground, retreating quickly. Mount and Slash's body also swayed, stepping back a few steps.

It seemed to be a draw, evenly matched...

This boosted Guo Hu's spirits, "Hehe, everyone saw that, right? This guy is weak! Everyone, attack together! He even has designs on my sister, what a delusional dream!"

The facts were clear, more convincing than any argument.

Seeing this, especially Guo Hu's last words, his fellow disciples' blood was stirred—how could they let down their guard in front of a beauty?

Their fear diminished, and their fighting spirit soared. They charged at the seemingly isolated Mount and Slash with a roar.

Mu Canyang, unable to bear the sight, closed his eyes.