Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 322: The Visit to the Ancestral Hall (Final)

To Liu Xing’s surprise, Matsui Ichiro unexpectedly gave up on using the incense. After all, in Liu Xing’s eyes, the incense in Matsui Ichiro’s hand was the Hypnotic Incense, and this Hypnotic Incense was undoubtedly Matsui Ichiro’s most important treasure and the crucial item for this so-called ritual.

Initially, Liu Xing had thought that Matsui Ichiro might have Alice leave the Ancestral Hall first, as she might be allergic to the spices, and then proceed with their group. However, Matsui Ichiro had chosen to forego using the Hypnotic Incense altogether.

What kind of decision was this? Liu Xing watched Matsui Ichiro with a puzzled expression, wondering if he had overthought the situation. Before Liu Xing could come up with a reasonable explanation, Matsui Ichiro placed the incense back in its container and motioned for Liu Xing and the others to take their positions again. Matsui Ichiro himself stood at the front, his back turned to Liu Xing and the rest.

"Now, my friends, please prepare yourselves. I shall begin the ceremony now. I recommend that you all close your eyes and clear your minds, focusing only on blessing the new couple. Of course, if you prefer to keep your eyes open, that’s fine too, as long as you refrain from looking around or making sudden movements. Please try to endure these five minutes," Matsui Ichiro said, bowing three times towards the memorial tablets in front of him.

Then, Matsui Ichiro began the ceremony using a language that Liu Xing couldn’t understand. Nevertheless, Liu Xing could discern that Matsui Ichiro was speaking some dialect from the Island Nation Language system because he occasionally understood a phrase or two from Matsui Ichiro’s recitation.

Liu Xing was certain that Matsui Ichiro was reciting a ritual because he could make out words like "ancestors" and "blessings." Thus, he was sure that Matsui Ichiro was reciting a ceremony and not performing magic.

This left Liu Xing even more puzzled. Did Matsui Ichiro have no intention of taking action today? As time passed, Matsui Ichiro’s recitation sped up, and Liu Xing could no longer understand what he was saying. Matsui Ichiro’s tone also gradually increased, and Liu Xing couldn’t help but be impressed by Matsui Ichiro’s stamina, given his age.

However, why did Liu Xing feel so drowsy all of a sudden? Liu Xing suddenly realized that his eyelids were starting to droop, and Matsui Ichiro’s recitation was becoming fainter in his ears.

He had fallen into a trap. Although Liu Xing had recognized that something was amiss, he had lost the ability to resist. He couldn’t even move or make a sound.

Liu Xing understood that this was a "Plot Encounter." According to the proper procedure, it should involve a "Willpower Judgment."

So, Liu Xing could only sigh inwardly in resignation. However, he wasn’t too worried because, in the current situation, this Plot Encounter shouldn’t turn deadly.

As Liu Xing was contemplating this, he suddenly heard a faint but distinct rustling sound behind him. It was the same sound he had heard in the corner of the adjacent room earlier.

This startled Liu Xing. Could it be that the unidentified creature from the neighboring room had come here? However, no matter how hard Liu Xing tried, he couldn’t determine the source of this strange noise. It was so elusive that he couldn’t pinpoint its origin.

Nonetheless, Liu Xing speculated that the strange sound likely came from underground. Given the layout of the Fisher’s Village Ancestral Hall, there were no hidden corners or places to hide. Therefore, Liu Xing believed that the unidentified creature producing this sound must have originally been in the houses surrounding the Fisher’s Village Ancestral Hall, sealed off by cement. It had only come to the Ancestral Hall after hearing Matsui Ichiro’s ritual recitation.

Thinking this through, Liu Xing wanted to see what this unidentified creature looked like. However, he realized that he had been forced to close his eyes, and everything before him was pitch black.

Furrowing his brows, Liu Xing realized the situation was becoming problematic. He couldn’t ascertain the identity of this unidentified creature, its intentions, or why Matsui Ichiro had summoned them.

However, Liu Xing suddenly remembered an exception among those present: Panda Pig.

Panda Pig had worn earplugs, which should have provided some immunity to Matsui Ichiro’s ritual recitation. So, Liu Xing thought Panda Pig might have a chance to see the true form of this unidentified creature.

Just as Liu Xing was thinking this, he heard a short exclamation from behind him. Judging by the tone, it was Panda Pig.

Then, KP Green Light chimed in gleefully, "Heh heh, Panda Pig, you thought you were clever, wearing those earplugs, acting all self-assured. Does it feel comfortable now? Did you see something you shouldn’t have? Originally, this Plot Encounter was just a formality, advancing the plot and preparing you for the possible appearance of a mythical creature. I didn’t expect someone to stir up trouble. So, Panda Pig, it’s time for your sanity check, as you’ve encountered an indescribable mythical creature."

Mythical creature? Liu Xing raised an eyebrow – or at least he assumed he did since he had temporarily lost control of his body. He hadn’t expected this unidentified creature to be a mythical creature, let alone an extraordinary one, given KP Green Light’s choice of words.

Fortunately, this Plot Encounter shouldn’t cause any substantial harm to the players. Or so Liu Xing hoped. According to the rules of the Cthulhu RPG Game, when a player’s character card encounters a mythical creature for the first time, they usually undergo a sanity check. Success results in losing 1d6 sanity points, while failure leads to losing 1d20 sanity points, along with gaining an equal amount of Cthulhu Mythos knowledge.

Liu Xing could only pray that Panda Pig’s sanity check would go smoothly.

However, Liu Xing had a hunch about what mythical creature Panda Pig had seen.

KP Green Light continued, "Alright, let’s proceed with the sanity check. Player Panda Pig, you will undergo a check. On success, you’ll lose 1d6 sanity points; on failure, you’ll lose 1d20 sanity points and gain Cthulhu Mythos knowledge equal to the amount lost."

1d20?! Liu Xing was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the failure penalty for this sanity check to be so high. If Panda Pig failed the sanity check, there was a three-quarters chance of falling into temporary insanity.

This situation was starting to look grim.

As Liu Xing tensely focused, trying to determine Panda Pig’s sanity check result, KP Green Light chuckled and said, "Due to certain special circumstances, Panda Pig’s sanity check will be rolled secretly. Hehe."

Then, the sound of dice rolling followed.

Even though Panda Pig’s sanity check was secret, Liu Xing could tell from the lack of significant commotion behind him that Panda Pig was probably lucky enough not to have fallen into temporary insanity.

At this point, Matsui Ichiro’s ritual recitation was nearing its end, and his tone had once again slowed down. The strange rustling sound had gradually faded away.

These five minutes felt like an eternity to Liu Xing.

When Matsui Ichiro finished reciting the ritual, he announced, "Alright, the ceremony is over. Thank you all for your cooperation. You may now leave the Ancestral Hall and return to the villa to rest."

Liu Xing noticed that Alice, standing next to him, was scanning the Ancestral Hall, as if searching for something. It seemed that Alice had also heard the strange noise.

However, what concerned Liu Xing more at the moment was Panda Pig’s condition.

Liu Xing turned around to see Panda Pig still kneeling on the cushion, tightly closing his eyes. Judging from Panda Pig’s facial expression, he appeared to be in a state of tension and fear.

It seemed that while Panda Pig hadn’t fallen into temporary insanity, he was still quite shaken.

So, Liu Xing exchanged a glance with Ling Ishikawa, who understood and joined him in helping Panda Pig up.

Zhang Jingxu also stepped forward at the right moment to engage Matsui Ichiro in conversation, distracting Matsui Ichiro and Alice’s attention so they wouldn’t notice Panda Pig’s distress.

Liu Xing, Ling Ishikawa, and Miyako Goudong then led Panda Pig out of the Ancestral Hall. As for Lu Tianya, she had already exited the Ancestral Hall and started a conversation with Matsui Yui outside.

Upon leaving the Ancestral Hall, Liu Xing noticed that Panda Pig had improved slightly, although his mental state was still somewhat fragile. However, at least he could move independently.

Back at the villa, Ling Ishikawa asked Liu Xing to watch over Panda Pig while she went to fetch something.

After a while, Ling Ishikawa returned with a glass of water and a box of medicine.

"This is a calming medication. It should help with Panda Pig’s current symptoms," Ling Ishikawa explained.

Liu Xing took the box of medicine, but there was no item information displayed, indicating that it was just regular medication. In the Cthulhu RPG Game, items not categorized as such could still serve their intended purposes. This box of medicine could calm the mind but wouldn’t restore sanity.

In the current situation, this medication was a welcome relief.

After Panda Pig took the medicine, he improved noticeably, though calming medications often had sedative effects. Therefore, Liu Xing and Ling Ishikawa helped Panda Pig back to his room to rest. Liu Xing had a suspicion about the mythical creature Panda Pig had seen, and he was confident in his guess, so he didn’t press Panda Pig for precise answers.

After escorting Panda Pig to his room, Zhang Jingxu and Lu Tianya returned. As for Alice, Liu Xing guessed she might be discussing something with Matsui Ichiro.

"How is Panda Pig doing?" Zhang Jingxu inquired as soon as he entered.

Liu Xing pointed upstairs and said with a smile, "Panda Pig’s condition is not bad now. He has regained the ability to move independently, but he still seems a bit dazed. We just gave him a calming medication, and right now, Panda Pig is resting in his room. I believe that once he wakes up, his mental state should return to normal."

Zhang Jingxu nodded but furrowed his brow, saying, "What happened to Panda Pig? It’s been just a few minutes, and he looks as if he’s been greatly frightened. Could there be an issue with Matsui Ichiro’s ritual recitation?"

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, surprised that Zhang Jingxu hadn’t mentioned the strange noise. It appeared that if Liu Xing hadn’t heard that noise from the neighboring building initially, he wouldn’t have noticed it during the ceremony.

In light of this, Liu Xing decided to share the information, saying, "Uh, didn’t you all hear that strange noise, like a rustling sound? It seemed like Panda Pig noticed it and saw something he shouldn’t have. However, you should have noticed that the buildings in the Fisher’s Village site, except for the Ancestral Hall, have their doors and windows sealed with cement. They’ve become private rooms. Before entering the Ancestral Hall, I heard that strange noise from the neighboring building. I suspect there may be something sinister in those rooms."

Ling Ishikawa and the others were taken aback by Liu Xing’s words because they had also guessed the true identity of the mythical creature. According to Liu Xing, if there were indeed so many of these mythical creatures, their group wouldn’t stand a chance. Not even against a single mythical creature. What was more, these mythical creatures might be following Matsui Ichiro’s orders.

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