Famine 105: Champion of the Filth
by Cristae“Uh… so in the end, you just dumped that guy into the cesspit?”
Si Zhiyan asked hesitantly.
Wang Jianguo hung his head, half-kneeling before him, nodding gravely.
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“Yes, sir.”
“I was wrong. I truly was. I really didn’t expect that he’d turn out to be a serpentine beast-tamer… It’s just that I hit him so fast, he didn’t even have time to transform…”
“And I never expected that, after getting shoved into the cesspit, and choking and rolling a few rounds in the muck, covered in filth, he’d have the nerve to morph straight into a snake, float in the sewage, and try to pass for another pile of shit.”
“He was covered in crap, all slippery and long—I really couldn’t tell him apart from the rest. He blended in as if he were going home to roost, wriggled down into the deepest part of the filth, slithered between my legs, and escaped right under me…”
“Alright, that’s enough.” Si Zhiyan cut him off. “No need to describe it so vividly.”
“Understood.” Wang Jianguo replied honestly, like a scolded daughter-in-law, head lowered, eyes on nose, nose on mouth, mouth on heart.
“Sorry, sir, I was just… too rough.”
Anderson couldn’t take it any longer: “You’re blatantly smiling—don’t pretend!”
Qiu Youqing muttered, “You can’t really blame the big guy—who’d have thought someone so obsessed with cleanliness would swim through shit just to get away…”
“I—I couldn’t go fishing for him with my bare hands! No way!” Wang Jianguo’s face flushed bright red, and he stammered out a series of nonsensical phrases: “Leading the charge in the swimming filth,” “Covered in shit, Lu Bu reborn,” “Mushroom diver,” “Little glutton,” and so forth, sending everyone roaring with laughter. The air filled with cheer.
“…Alright, that’s enough, I suppose he’s learned his lesson… probably tasted more than a little of it…” Si Zhiyan said, half exasperated, waving his hand.
“I didn’t kill him, but he’s probably suffering more than death, so I’ll count it as a win.”
“Anyway, I’m not afraid of people like that. If he comes back, I’ll teach him a lesson again.”
Everyone echoed: “Yes, sir.”
…………
……
A few kilometers away.
Drip.
In a vast underground cavern, like a subterranean palace, the temperature lingered around the low twenties—in these molten lands, it was cool by any standard.
Seated atop the throne in the cavern’s center, a tall woman reclined lazily against the chair back. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders; she wore cool, revealing clothes, showing off a healthy, beautiful body with no shame, but instead with an imposing, deadly air, like a venomous serpent.
A player with cracked lips lay prostrate below, shaking and barely daring to breathe, much less look up at her.
For this was Qi Zhi—Chosen Number Twenty-Three, the “Throat-Sealing Viper Lady,” the leader of the Silver Ring Alliance.
With a lazy flick, Qi Zhi dropped a bottle the size of a water flask from one finger. It rolled along the steps, bumping lightly off the forehead of the player at her feet.
Thud.
The player, trembling, lifted his head and clutched the bottle with care. The moment he recognized what it was, his heart pounded—it was water!
Though murky, with a faint layer of silt, it was still, for the most part, nothing but precious water!
Qi Zhi leaned on the armrest, a cold, contemptuous smile tugging at her lips.
“This is your reward.
You’re clever, and as long as you keep working hard for me, you will not be shortchanged.”
The player’s joy verged on delirium: “Thank you, Sister Qi! Thank you so much!”
“Thank you for your guidance—I will absolutely keep working hard!”
So much life-saving water, given as a reward!
The Silver Ring Alliance clearly had its own water source!
He’d backed the right side—helping the Silver Ring wipe out his former allies and seize this base was worth everything.
The more he thought about it, the more delighted he became. He kowtowed twice, then crept out of the hall.
The hall fell silent.
“Alright, come out now.” Qi Zhi crossed her legs, speaking lazily. “Little Viper, why are you hiding?”
From the shadows, a soaking-wet, long-haired man staggered into sight, water still dripping from the ends of his hair. It was, of course, Wang Jinyu.
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The moment he appeared, Qi Zhi’s elegant brow furrowed; she could not help but look upon him with subtle suspicion and disgust.
—No wonder; even though it was clear he had bathed many times over, there still clung to him a distinct…
Well…stink.
Qi Zhi blurted, “What happened? Little Viper, aren’t you usually such a stickler for cleanliness? Come over here, let me look you over.”
Wang Jinyu’s eyes were red-rimmed as he stood hesitantly at the edge, unwilling to approach: “Afraid I’ll dirty you, sister.”
Qi Zhi raised her brow. “Not going to listen?”
Reluctantly, Wang Jinyu shook his head and slunk forward.
Qi Zhi’s slender fingertip traced over his bare skin, lightly brushing up to his face. “You washed a lot, didn’t you? Must have had a rough time.”
“Tell me, what happened?”
With a thud, he collapsed at her feet, burying his head in her lap, and broke down sobbing.
…
…
Qi Zhi straightened, cold amusement in her expression.
“Those people have some nerve.”
Her hand lingered on Wang Jinyu’s back, eyes gleaming with murderous intent, coiling with a venomous malice.
“That bunch is together with the owner of that shop… Well, then, it will be easier—let them all die in one place, roast in the same pot.”
“Little Viper, your sister will avenge you.”
Yet, a moment ago Wang Jinyu had been bitterly angry—now, his expression showed hesitant misgiving.
Kneeling by Qi Zhi’s knee, he deliberated, then murmured: “It’s alright, sister… I’m fine.”
“That shop can access so much clean water—there’s nothing ordinary about them. The people there are powerful—there might be multiple Chosen among them.”
“The risk is high, sister, and if we keep pushing, things might… turn against us.”
“…”
Qi Zhi sighed, stroking his cheek.
“It’s too late, Little Viper.”
“I know better than you how this works, but I have no choice. I am the Silver Ring leader—the master of these tunnels. Our recent expansion has gone too well, and as always, that brings countless enemies. It’s impossible to eliminate them all.”
“Many people join the Silver Ring just because of my reputation. As the Alliance grows, so does my risk.”
“If things go well, when this world ends and the game restarts, the newcomers will feel a sense of belonging and become true members.”
“All of it depends on us not losing here. If I ever falter, if our momentum breaks, if the others sense weakness, if they believe I’m finished…”
“Then I truly will be finished.”
“All those fair-weather followers will turn away, and all my enemies will swarm over me—I’d get crushed beneath the avalanche.”
Qi Zhi’s words were soft, nearly tender.
“So really, I have no choice, Little Viper.
“The moment you were humiliated in public, our feud became one of life and death.”
Wang Jinyu’s eyes burned: “It was me… I brought this danger on you.”
“Nonsense, Little Viper.” Qi Zhi gently raised his chin. “Didn’t we make a promise, back then?”
“From that day, we would stay together, share everything—food, home, life and death, good times and bad—so others could never again abuse us at will…”
Wang Jinyu looked up, utterly entranced.
“Besides, who says I’m in danger?”
Qi Zhi blinked, her gaze wicked and sly, a venomous smile curling her lips.
“—I have an infallible way.”
“They’re strong? I don’t have to fight them head-on. I can easily solve all their problems…”
Qi Zhi whispered a plan.
Wang Jinyu gasped: “Won’t that… kill a lot of people?”
“When we were nothing, weren’t we slaves and tools, used and discarded at others’ whim, clinging together for warmth and tending each other’s wounds? Did anyone ever care about our lives?”
“I toiled too long to get here—I won’t let anyone harm you, Little Viper.”
Qi Zhi smiled, and beneath Wang Jinyu’s feverish gaze, bent and bestowed a kiss on his forehead.
“Go, then.”
“I will, sister…”
Wang Jinyu’s eyes half-closed, face full of longing, nuzzling her fingers as he accepted her command.
…………
……
After that, a brief and peaceful interval followed.
The fame of the Farm Iced Drink Shop only grew, spreading ever wider. More and more players heard of it and traveled from afar.
This place, once the most remote and isolated area of the cave network, was now crowded with travelers from across the region, all wearing expectant, happy smiles—here, amid the sweltering heat, they could buy an iced drink, a smoothie, and replenish their water stores.
Business at the iced drink shop was booming, profits reaching hundreds of thousands daily. Si Zhiyan had to spend more points just to hire a high-speed clerk to keep up.
It was like the only oasis in the desert.
Until one day.
Suddenly, a massive explosion rumbled through the cave. The ground shuddered as if in an earthquake, rocks roaring down by the dozens.
When the disaster struck, Shen Dongming was lecturing at the blackboard and was thrown to the ground. Clambering back up, he shouted, “What happened?!”
Was the cave collapsing? That shouldn’t be…
Outside, shouts were rising. Qiu Youqing rushed in after investigating, eyes wide.
“Word is, the tunnels linking us to the main cave network have collapsed!”
“All three tunnels are blocked—it’s packed so tight even the big guy can’t break through!”
“I’ve lived here for years—this place has always been stable. It must have been sabotage.”
Shen Dongming suddenly turned pale, and quickly ordered Qiu Youqing, “Go check the surface exit!”
Qiu Youqing scrambled away.
In no time, the answer returned.
Sure enough, the path to the surface had also been thoroughly sealed!
“This is bad…” Shen Dongming’s face went ashen.
The same news reached Si Zhiyan’s ear.
All routes connecting to the outside had collapsed—now, the caves around the Farm Iced Drink Shop had become a true island.
Whoever was behind this had used some rare item, perhaps even a Rule-Bending Cursed Object.
Wang Jianguo tried everything he could think of—every trick, every bit of strength, but not even he could break the blockade.
Thus, all who had come to buy ice drinks—thousands of players—were now trapped here.
No sunlight, no way to do missions, and no way out.
Panic descended.
“Why is this happening?!”
“Help! My teammates—my wife—my Xiaoyun is still waiting for me to come back…!”
“Damn it, is it really impossible to open?!”
“What happened?! What did I do to deserve this?!”
Some collapsed to the floor in despair, sobbing, “It’s over for me, it’s all over…”
Si Zhiyan understood the enemy’s plot.
There were still days before the world would shift again, and here were thousands—but the shop was so small. Even if every food and water store was packed to the brim, supplies would be consumed quickly.
By then, in this sealed-off space, the air would grow thin, the water run out, the food disappear… It would not be long before everyone here fell into madness.
In the end, it would become hell on earth: comrades turning, teachers and students forced to cannibalism, tens of thousands of corpses piling up at the locked exits, claw marks of utter despair etched into the stone…
In the end, everyone would die in agony.
—The Silver Ring Alliance wanted to bury them all alive.
As for this, Si Zhiyan had only one reaction: …
🙂
Never seen anyone with worse luck to run into a gun muzzle.