As the saying goes, the rougher the waves, the more fish there are.
Taking advantage of the cruise ship being caught in the stormy waters—where no one would pay them any attention—the players sneaked into previously restricted areas, searching for clues to clear the game.
Though they didn’t understand why the storm had arrived earlier than expected, if they failed to find the vengeful one before the ship sank, they too would end up as fish food.
Some players suspected the vengeful one was an oppressed waiter, while others believed it was Song Cheng. Each player had their own suspicions, viewing everyone else as a rival.
The few players convinced that Song Cheng was the vengeful one staggered their way to his hospital room, only to find it empty—not only was Song Cheng missing, but there wasn’t a trace of medical staff either.
The room was in complete disarray, with shattered medicine bottles and medical equipment scattered across the floor.
"Where is everyone?" Player A rummaged through every corner of the room. "With such heavy waves, where could the medical staff have gone?"
Player B noticed the room’s chaos didn’t seem caused by the storm but rather by human struggle. "There must have been a violent physical altercation here not long ago."
He reached out and touched the bedding—there was still a faint trace of warmth left. "Song Cheng must have been moved no more than fifteen minutes ago."
He glanced around. Logically, a VIP room on the Wangyue cruise ship should have surveillance cameras, but he couldn’t find any.
Had they been removed, or were they never there to begin with?
For a supposedly straightforward main storyline, this dungeon was hiding far too many secrets.
"Keep searching. We can’t let the mission target come to harm."
While the other players were still hunting for the vengeful one, Brother Hu had quietly slipped into the captain’s quarters.
With the ship in crisis, the crew was busy handling emergencies, so the sixth floor was nearly deserted. Sneaking into the captain’s room was child’s play for Brother Hu.
The pitch-black room was eerily silent. Brother Hu stuffed something under the door to block any light before turning on his flashlight.
His first impression was how barren the place was—neither the desk nor the bed held any personal belongings that might hint at the captain’s personality.
He hadn’t taken two steps before stepping on something hard.
A headless doll.
Carved from wood, the doll still carried the faint scent of fresh paint. Where was its head?
Brother Hu crouched down, feeling around under the desk until his fingers brushed against a small white pill bottle. He recognized it—his grandmother had taken the same medication when she was ill. It was an anti-cancer drug.
Was the captain terminally ill?
After a brief hesitation, Brother Hu placed the bottle back where he found it and stood up to open the wardrobe. In the far corner, he discovered a safe.
The safe’s mechanism was complex, but Brother Hu had a trick up his sleeve. He pulled out his "universal key" prop, placed it against the safe, and the door swung open.
Inside, there were no gold bars or jewelry—only a few document folders.
Had they been lying on the desk, Brother Hu might not have spared them a second glance. But the fact that they were locked in a safe sent his curiosity skyrocketing. He settled into the wardrobe and began opening the files.
The first document didn’t seem particularly special—just a transfer order for the first mate. The only notable detail was the first mate’s surname, which matched Brother Chao’s.
The second document bore the Wangyue cruise ship’s insignia and was another transfer order, this time for the captain’s removal from the ship.
The paper was crumpled, with a large red "X" scrawled across it. Clearly, the captain hadn’t taken the news well.
The third file was a passenger manifest, meticulously listing each guest’s personal details by room number.
Interestingly, there was no record of Brother Chao or his boss.
Illness… transfer orders…
Was the terminally ill captain so enraged by the company’s decision to remove him from the Wangyue that he planned to take everyone on board down with him?
What kind of psychopath does that?
Brother Hu stuffed the documents into his pocket and prepared to leave to find Chao Musheng when he heard movement outside the door. He quickly turned off his flashlight, scanned the room, then climbed onto the top of the wardrobe, curling up motionless.
The door opened, and the captain stepped inside.
Brother Hu’s heart sank—he’d forgotten to remove the light-blocking tape from under the door!
Luckily, the room was dark, and the captain was dragging a massive suitcase behind him. He didn’t seem to notice the anomaly at the door.
The captain shut the door and lit an old-fashioned wall lamp.
The flickering dim light made the suitcase appear to sway as well.
There was someone inside the suitcase!
Brother Hu’s eyes widened. He regretted not borrowing Xiaojuan’s invisibility cloak.
The suitcase shook violently, and muffled groans came from within. The captain acted as if he heard nothing, calmly hanging the lamp on the wall before washing his hands and returning to the suitcase.
He stared at it with a faint smile, then bent down and unzipped it.
Song Cheng?
Brother Hu immediately recognized the man crammed inside. Bound in an excruciatingly twisted position, his mouth sealed with tape, Song Cheng could only let out incoherent whimpers.
Holy hell, with the ship caught in a storm, shouldn’t the captain be in the control room fixing things instead of sneaking around like a player? No wonder the Wangyue was doomed.
"Ugh!" Song Cheng’s terrified gaze was fixed on the captain—or rather, on what was behind him.
Dressed in a school uniform, He Yi was clinging to the captain’s back, her hands wrapped around his throat, blood streaming from her eyes…
The ship lurched violently, sending Song Cheng tumbling out of the suitcase. His head hit the corner of the desk like a bowling ball.
Brother Hu, still hidden atop the wardrobe, didn’t dare breathe. In his eyes, both the captain and Song Cheng were bathed in a glaring red light.
Was this the universe’s way of saying "evil begets evil"?
"Scared, Young Master Song?" The captain pulled on a pair of white gloves and ripped the tape off Song Cheng’s mouth, grinning with satisfaction. "Good evening."
"Help!" Song Cheng didn’t waste time on words—he screamed at the top of his lungs.
The captain watched him indifferently until his voice grew hoarse before speaking. "Before we set sail, I soundproofed this room. No matter how loud you scream, no one will hear you."
"Besides, all the crew on the sixth floor are busy with emergency protocols. No one will find you." The captain walked to a corner cabinet, opening it to reveal an assortment of fine liquor and cigarettes.
He poured himself a drink and lit a cigarette. "The Wangyue is sinking, and we still have unfinished business."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Song Cheng began pleading desperately.
"So even you rich brats beg the same way as everyone else." The captain nudged Song Cheng’s head with his boot and exhaled a smoke ring. "I’m honored you still remember my daughter’s name, Young Master Song."
"You… you’re He Yi’s father?" Song Cheng finally understood why the captain had dismissed all medical staff and kidnapped him. Staring at He Yi’s ghost, who still clung to the captain’s neck, he blurted out, "If you’re her father, then why does she hate you?"
"Nonsense!" The captain's smile twisted into fury. "She's my daughter—how could she hate me?"
"She's clinging to your back right now, choking your neck." Song Cheng's teeth chattered. "She wants you dead."
"You're lying!" The captain seized Song Cheng by the hair and slammed him against the wall. "You killed her! If you hadn’t pursued her, harassed her, she wouldn’t have jumped to her death!"
Song Cheng was terrified. After a few collisions, his entire body convulsed with fear.
Brother Hu clutched the documents in his arms, already regretting stepping into this room.
"You'll all die!" The captain tossed Song Cheng aside, ignoring the blood covering him. "The Moonchaser belongs to me. No one takes it from me."
"My sweet girl, you understand your father, don’t you?" He picked up a photo frame from the table, smearing its edges with blood from his hands. "I wasn’t good before, but I’ve avenged you now. You can’t blame me anymore."
"Right, what child holds a grudge against their father?" The captain set the frame down and advanced on Song Cheng again. "Everything you said is a lie."
Knock, knock, knock.
A rapping came from the door.
The captain turned, retaped Song Cheng’s mouth, wiped his bloody hands on Song Cheng’s clothes, then cracked the door open.
Outside wasn’t the attendant he’d sent on an errand—but Shen Ran, seated in his wheelchair.
"Captain," Shen Ran glanced past the door gap. "Some crew members came looking for you earlier. Since you weren’t in your room, they asked me to relay that you should head to the bridge as soon as possible."
"In such rough seas, Mr. Shen, you’d do better staying inside." The captain eyed his crippled leg. "Once we dock, you won’t get another chance to take revenge on Song Cheng."
Shen Ran sensed something off. He wheeled back. "I don’t understand what you mean, Captain."
"I mean… this ship is about to sink." The captain yanked Shen Ran inside.
Shen Ran blinked, adjusting to the dim light, then froze at the sight of Song Cheng—bloodied, twitching, and mute in the corner.
"As the Moonchaser’s captain, I’ll grant each of you a chance for vengeance." The captain’s eyes narrowed with pleasure, relishing his control over everything aboard. "So you can die without regrets."
Shen Ran tightened his grip on the phone hidden in his sleeve.
"Don’t even think of warning Chao Musheng." The captain saw right through him. "There’s no signal left on the Moonchaser. Every means of contacting the outside world has been cut off."
"Why are you doing this?" Shen Ran demanded.
"Why?" The captain sneered. "Do you know how much I sacrificed to become the Moonchaser’s captain?"
"Just because some attendant wanted to die, they think they can replace me? Not a chance." He pushed Shen Ran’s wheelchair next to Song Cheng. "What right does that Chao bastard have to take my place?"
"Didn’t he break your leg? You hate him so much—now he’s right in front of you. What are you waiting for?" The captain shoved a knife into Shen Ran’s hand, eyes wild with triumph. "Only at the bottom of the sea will the Moonchaser and I have our grandest finale."
He could already picture it—the world’s media swarming over the Moonchaser’s sinking, his name immortalized alongside the ship.
Brother Hu sighed. This damn game world is full of lunatics.
"You won’t succeed," Shen Ran said. "Even if this ship sinks, someone will salvage it. Sooner or later, they’ll uncover what you’ve done."
"But what if all the VIPs on the 15th floor greet death with smiles?" The captain’s veins bulged with excitement. "The world doesn’t care about truth—they love bizarre legends. A century from now, people will still debate the mystery of the Moonchaser’s smiling deaths. For sensationalists, this isn’t a tragedy—it’s another unsolved enigma."
The mere thought of being discussed a hundred years later made him tremble with ecstasy.
As the storm worsened, passengers on the higher decks grew increasingly agitated. Crew members risked slipping to distribute snacks and water, trying to calm them.
"Excuse me, sorry to disturb you." A stewardess steadied herself against the wall as she knocked on the door of the most exclusive suite on the 15th floor.
"You?" Chao Musheng opened the door to the young woman he’d seen that morning.
She looked exhausted, strands of hair loose, her un-powdered hand revealing a large bruise.
The stewardess seemed surprised to see Chao Musheng too. After a pause, she asked, "Sir, are you hurt?"
"I’m fine."
The ship lurched violently again. Seeing her still in heels, Chao Musheng steadied her arm. "Careful."
A scream echoed down the hall—another stewardess had fallen outside a different room.
"Maybe take off the heels first?" Chao Musheng gripped the doorframe, exasperated. "Is your supervisor out of their mind, making you negotiate with guests in heels during a storm?"
The stewardess gave a faint smile. She bent to pick up the scattered fruit and pastries on the floor. "These are dirty now. I’ll replace them for you."
"Don’t bother. I’m not hungry." Chao Musheng sighed, pulling out a violet-gold badge from his pocket. "Tell all the staff to stay in their rooms until the storm passes. Safety comes first. If your supervisor gives you trouble, send them to me."
Her lashes fluttered at the sight of the badge.
When she stayed silent, Chao Musheng stepped into the hallway, holding the badge high. "All crew members, return to your quarters and put on life vests. Protect yourselves until the storm ends."
The small badge gleamed brilliantly under the emergency lights.
Guests who’d been cursing at the staff moments ago fell silent at Chao Musheng’s presence.
"Don’t panic—the storm will pass soon." He reassured the frantic guests, then waved the badge so the staff could see it clearly. "Go on, all of you."
The stewardesses hesitated, some glancing at the woman before Chao Musheng.
After a brief silence, she picked up the fallen snacks. "Thank you, sir. We’ll go now."
She met his eyes briefly, then walked off, heels dangling from her hand.
The others followed suit—one even snatched back fruit she’d already handed to a guest before leaving.
The guest: "…"
Sure, I didn’t want it, but taking it back after giving it to me?
It was unclear whether it was their imagination, but the storm seemed to have calmed slightly compared to before.
Gradually, the passengers emerged from their panic and began seizing the opportunity to chat by the door, exchanging business tips.
Brother Wu, still in Chao Musheng’s room: "..."
No wonder these people were rich—even with the ship on the verge of sinking, they couldn’t stop talking business.
Now that was dedication.
The dedication of the wealthy on the 15th floor wasn’t something Brother Hu witnessed, but the captain’s descent into madness? That, he saw clearly.
Just because Shen Ran refused to help him stab Song Cheng, the captain had Shen Ran tied up too.
"What kind of man lets himself be bullied by Song Cheng and doesn’t even dare to fight back?" The captain sneered. "No wonder you’re just a pretty plaything for the rich."
Shen Ran, bound to a wheelchair, remained unshaken. "Intentionally harming others with a weapon is punishable by at least three years in prison, up to the death penalty, according to the Criminal Code. I have a performance scheduled—convicts aren’t allowed on stage."
Brother Hu: "..."
That was one hardcore reason.
"Performance?" The captain scoffed. "You can perform for the fish after you drown."
He taped Shen Ran’s mouth shut, adjusted his captain’s hat, and spoke darkly, "Now, I’ll deal with the insects who dared defy me. Since you won’t take revenge, you can die with him."
Brother Hu: This captain is truly scum.
Once the captain left, Brother Hu tapped a few messages into his phone, then jumped down from the wardrobe. Meeting Shen Ran’s gaze, he quickly whispered, "Don’t make a sound. I know Brother Chao—I’ll get you out."
"Caught you."
The door swung open again, revealing the captain, who chuckled darkly. "A little rat, sneaking around."
"Holy shit!" Brother Hu nearly jumped out of his skin. How was this psycho so ghostly?
"Don’t move." The captain aimed his gun at Brother Hu. "One more step, and I’ll feed you to the fish."
Brother Hu glanced back at the immobilized Shen Ran, worried that leaving him alone would be a death sentence. "Let’s talk this out. Weapons are so uncivilized."
"Civilized?" The captain laughed. "On the Wangyue, I make the rules."
"Not entirely." Brother Hu bravely retorted, diverting the captain’s full attention to himself. "You don’t dare mess with the guests on the 15th floor, do you?"
The captain’s smile vanished. He glared at Brother Hu, the gun wavering as if deciding where to shoot.
Seizing the moment, Brother Hu hurled a nearby photo frame at the captain’s face and bolted.
As long as he drew the NPC’s aggro, the NPC would chase him and ignore the hostage.
The hallway wasn’t soundproof, so the captain couldn’t risk firing his gun and alerting others. Instead, he chased with a knife.
Brother Hu sprinted for his life; the captain pursued relentlessly. Cornered, Brother Hu gasped, "Aren’t you terminally ill? How are you so fast?"
"Seems you know too much." The captain slashed down, but Brother Hu dodged.
"I hate rats like you." The captain swung again, but Brother Hu kicked him back. The captain rose, unfazed. "For tonight’s grand finale, I prepared well."
Performance-enhancing drugs. Weapons.
"Stop running." He pulled out his gun again. "No one’s coming to save you."
"Who says?" Brother Hu activated two protective items. "I already called for backup—that legendary man."
"Sent a message?" The captain smirked. "I cut all signals. No one’s receiving anything, not even a god."
Brother Hu refused to believe it—he’d seen the "sent" notification before jumping down.
Yes, in his moment of need, he’d reached out to that man—Chao Musheng.
"Don’t believe me?" The captain relished the struggle. "Check your phone."
Brother Hu pulled it out—no signal.
But… villains always monologued too much!
He lunged, slamming the captain’s gun hand against the railing. The weapon plunged into the sea.
Yet the captain, seemingly numb to pain, drew a dagger from his waist and stabbed at Brother Hu’s neck.
Brother Hu barely dodged. "You’re on some kind of drug, aren’t you?"
The captain didn’t answer, just kept attacking.
Neither noticed the storm fading, the rain ceasing.
Brother Hu’s body suddenly felt off—his stamina draining too fast. His status panel flashed: [Poisoned].
He’d been exposed to toxins in the captain’s room.
What kind of lunatic poisons their own quarters?
Gasping against the railing, Brother Hu gripped the last item in his inventory—a bottle of insecticide originally meant for Brother Chao.
If he was going down, he’d drag this madman with him.
BANG!
Before Brother Hu could make his move, the captain collapsed.
Brother Hu stared at the man who’d descended like a savior, then scrambled to his feet. "Brother Chao!"
He was the light in the darkness.
The hope of survival.
The ultimate golden thigh—Chao Musheng!
"You always ruin my plans." The captain stood, eyes venomous.
From the moment he’d seen Chao Musheng on board, he’d loathed how effortlessly he drew Su Chenzhu’s attention.
Just like his uncle—nothing but trouble.
"Brother Chao, he’s drugged—no pain, super strength!" Brother Hu warned. "His room’s also rigged."
"I had people handle it the moment I got your message." Chao Musheng rolled up his pajama sleeves. "Relax, I can take ten of him."
If anyone else said that, Brother Hu would call it bravado.
But from Chao Musheng? He believed it without question.
The captain snarled, "How did you get the message?! The signals are dead!"
Chao Musheng smirked. "Maybe… I’m just lucky?"
"Even if you stop me, so what?" The captain laughed wildly. "In this storm, none of you are escaping—urk!"
Mid-rant, Chao Musheng slammed him down.
Who monologued during a fight?
"Wrong again. Haven’t you noticed? The storm’s almost over." True to his respect-for-elders policy, Chao Musheng restrained the captain without further violence. Then, to someone behind the door: "Rope."
A hand with distinct knuckles extended a slightly dirty hemp rope.
Brother Hu swallowed hard when he saw who was handing it to him.
For Brother Chao to have the boss pass him a rope during a fight—what incredible face.
Su Chenzhu, who had accompanied Chao Musheng downstairs but wasn’t allowed to join the brawl, could only obediently hand over the rope from behind.
"Don’t move recklessly," Chao Musheng warned as Brother Hu prepared to lunge and cling to his leg. "The medical staff will be here soon to check on you."
"Impossible!" The bound captain struggled wildly. "I deliberately steered the ship into stormy waters—there’s no way it could stop!"
To keep the first mate, Chao, from noticing the altered course, he’d even orchestrated numerous "accidents" to keep him busy. He had accounted for every advantage—time, terrain, and manpower—there was no way the Moonchaser could dock safely.
Chao Musheng ignored the captain’s frenzied words. Handing him over to the crew, he stepped outside the captain’s quarters just as the ship’s power system flickered back to life, flooding the corridor with light.
Shen Ran and Song Cheng had already been rescued by bodyguards. Bending down, Chao picked up a forgotten child’s drawing and carefully reassembled a decapitated doll in the corner.
A boot print marred the drawing, and the torn paper had severed the hands of the father and daughter holding each other.
"Chao," Su Chenzhu called from behind him. "The storm has passed."
"Mei Jian Chi," Chao Musheng muttered, glancing at the doll with a hint of mockery. "Leaving this here is an insult to him."
What resemblance could there be between the captain and the boy from folklore, who willingly gave his head to avenge his father?
Chao Musheng turned and smiled at Su Chenzhu before handing the drawing to the evidence-collecting crew.
The wind died down.
By the time the Moonchaser docked, the sea was calm and bathed in sunlight. Police cars, already waiting onshore, took away several individuals from the ship.
Whether it was Song Cheng, the captain, or the passengers who had abused the staff—all were hauled off without protest. The usually arrogant wealthy passengers stood silently on the deck, not daring to make a sound.
"Bad mood?" Su Chenzhu stood beside Chao Musheng, both of them letting the sea breeze wash over them.
"A little disgusted. Neither Song Cheng nor the captain is worth a damn," Chao Musheng said, watching the police cars drive away. "One treats ordinary people like dirt, and the other cheated on his wife when their daughter was only six, then ignored the girl for years. Yet after his ex-wife died, he milked his daughter’s death for a hefty compensation payout from her school. With that money, he bribed his way into becoming the Moonchaser’s captain, turning it into a playground for the rich."
Too greedy to let go of the status and wealth the ship brought him, he still hid behind the pretense of avenging his daughter.
Hypocritical, vicious, and selfish.
"If ghosts really exist, I hope He Yi can haunt them," Chao Musheng sighed deeply. "Then she and her mother can move on peacefully and live happily in their next life."
"Human nature is greedy and ugly," Su Chenzhu murmured, gazing at the sea. "For profit, they’ll start plagues, wars—digging their own graves in the end."
"Not everyone’s like that, though." Chao Musheng rubbed his cheeks and spotted Xiaojuan standing with a few other staff in a corner of the deck. "Mr. Su, I’m going to talk to my friends for a bit."
"Go ahead." Su Chenzhu glanced at Xiaojuan and the others before calmly averting his indifferent gaze.
"Brother Chao."
"Xiaojuan." Chao Musheng walked up to her. "The Moonchaser will be docked for inspections for a while. Have you thought about finding another job?"
"Thanks, Brother Chao, but I don’t have any plans yet." Xiaojuan watched as passengers disembarked. "Let’s meet again if fate allows."
"Alright." Chao Musheng nodded at Little Hu and Little Wu behind her. "Till next time."
After Chao Musheng left, Brother Hu slumped onto the deck in despair.
Xiaojuan nudged him with her foot. "What’re you doing?"
Brother Hu: "There’s 30 minutes left till the instance ends. I’m despairing while waiting to die."
Xiaojuan snorted. "Hmph."
Half an hour later, Brother Hu stood unscathed in the player lobby.
"Elder Sister Juan!" He dropped to his knees. "From today on, I’m following you!"
If she could drag him back even after a failed clear, this woman was a goddess.
"Fine." Xiaojuan pointed at a newly listed exploration instance on the screen. "You’re paying back your life debt by signing up for this with me."
Brother Hu looked up at the screen.
Exploration Instance—Chen Garden.
"Deal!" He gritted his teeth and agreed.
After five days in the infinite space, Brother Hu and Xiaojuan entered the new instance, proudly becoming… servants in the garden estate.
The estate had endless rules and chores from dawn till dusk. If not for the fact they could use their phones during breaks, Brother Hu would’ve sworn they’d landed in a feudal-era instance.
"The honored guests invited by the master will arrive soon. Every one of you must be on your best behavior. Anyone who offends them will pack their bags and leave immediately."
Brother Hu glanced at Xiaojuan, standing obediently in a corner during the butler’s lecture, and sighed inwardly. Debts of gratitude were hard to repay.
This instance was unusually brutal—half the players had already been wiped out in a single day.
By standard instance logic, the arrival of VIPs meant the difficulty was about to spike.
The guests soon arrived. Brother Hu and Xiaojuan stood at the entrance, bowing and greeting each one with, "Welcome, honored guest."
Brother Hu discreetly rubbed his aching back. Did no one tell Master Chen that the feudal era was over?
"Welco—"
Another car pulled up. As Xiaojuan bent halfway, she locked eyes with a familiar face.
Xiaojuan: "…"
Chao Musheng: "…"
One day apart, and Elder Sister Juan had already switched jobs. Impressive speed.
Brother Hu: !
Was he seeing things?
Wasn’t that the golden thigh from the last instance?!
