Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

As Liu Xing gazed upon the scene before him, he was momentarily at a loss for words, his confusion evident. "What’s going on here?" he finally managed to ask.

"Oh, I never expected you to be the first one to awaken from my hypnosis," Hu Li’s voice echoed in Liu Xing’s ears, "I thought that smelly Taoist would be the first."

Turning around, Liu Xing saw Hu Li standing right in front of him, a cheerful smile on her face.

But what concerned Liu Xing even more was the aged dagger that Hu Li held in her hand, emitting an eerie green glow.

Judging by the way things looked, Liu Xing was certain that the dagger had been poisoned, most likely with a deadly toxin.

At this moment, Liu Xing managed to piece things together. Hu Li had most likely poisoned the wedding in some way and then hypnotized him and his companions. It was possible she had hypnotized everyone present at the wedding, but he happened to be the first one to wake up.

As for Hu Li’s hypnosis technique, it involved drawing people into an illusion. Escaping from Hu Li’s hypnosis required finding flaws within the illusion, such as Hu Li marrying Hu Cang, Hu Cang’s clinic turning into an inn, and Liu Xing and his group becoming art students. However, Liu Xing had not initially noticed these details; he had only paid attention to the unchanging sky and the reflection of his face in the water.

Wait, his face?

Liu Xing finally realized that in the illusion, he had appeared as "Liu Xing" rather than "Watanabe Ryuusei." Did this mean that Hu Li, much like the Ancient One, could see through his true identity?

Liu Xing regarded Hu Li with increasing wariness. He hadn’t expected her to be so much more powerful than he had imagined.

What was even more troubling was that Hu Li seemed to be a proactive, attacking mythical creature. They hadn’t even done anything yet, and she was already making a move on them. While this could be attributed to the circumstances of the plot encounter, Liu Xing couldn’t help but feel that Hu Li was acting intentionally.

So, what did Hu Li want?

Suddenly, Hu Li leaned in closer and asked with a smile, "Since you’re the first one, I suppose I should give you a little reward. Would you be interested in a kiss from a young lady like me?"

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, surprised by this unexpected offer. He considered nodding without hesitation because Hu Li was undoubtedly a stunning beauty with an appearance rating of over 90 on the app. As a normal man, he didn’t mind kissing her, especially given the saying "Under the peony tree, one should indulge in the pleasures of life."

However, at this moment, Liu Xing hesitated. Should he pretend to be reluctant to prove that he wasn’t the kind of person who would prioritize his desires over loyalty to his friends? After all, Ling Ishikawa and the others were still trapped in the illusion, and he was about to accept an offer from the one responsible. If they found out, it wouldn’t end well. On the other hand, if he acted unwilling and made Hu Li retract her offer, it would be a big loss.

In short, Liu Xing was experiencing intense internal turmoil at this moment.

But just as Liu Xing felt Hu Li’s forehead pressing against his, her ruby-red lips a mere centimeter away from his own, she suddenly pulled back. Liu Xing couldn’t help but feel a sense of emptiness and an inexplicable disappointment.

This reminded Liu Xing of a song: "You get me drunk, but you don’t stay with me."

However, in the next moment, Liu Xing suddenly snapped back to reality. Why had he been overthinking things so much and entertaining all these random thoughts?

Indeed, Hu Li was a fox spirit, and with her every move, she had managed to captivate him, even without any need for a judgment process.

"Hehe, it seems you were quite looking forward to that kiss of mine," Hu Li said with a slightly mocking tone, "Have you ever heard the saying that men are easily swayed by their desires?"

Liu Xing was about to respond when he realized something peculiar. He and Hu Li were conversing effortlessly, despite speaking different languages. Liu Xing was using Island Nation Language, while Hu Li was speaking in Chinese.

Seeing Liu Xing’s hesitation, Hu Li guessed what was on his mind and explained, "I know you’re a foreigner, and even though our languages don’t match, we can communicate through mental inspiration. After all, you must have figured out that my true identity is a fox spirit. Our fox spirits excel in matters of the mind and spirit. When it comes to understanding human emotions, we go far deeper than your kind."

"I see. So, Miss Hu Li, why did you use hypnosis on us? We haven’t had any conflicts, right? We just arrived in Panlong Town," Liu Xing tried to maintain a calm tone and adjusted his posture, preparing to find an opportunity to escape Hu Li’s reach.

After all, the dagger in Hu Li’s hand seemed capable of delivering a lethal blow.

However, Liu Xing realized that he couldn’t move. Apart from making subtle facial expressions, he couldn’t even twitch a finger.

Hu Li chuckled and shook her head. "I told you earlier, didn’t I? We fox spirits have a keen sense of smell, even the tiniest expressions can reveal a lot. Right now, you must be itching to find an escape route, but you’ve also realized that you can’t move, right? That’s because I added a homemade sedative to the drinks at today’s wedding banquet. It puts people into a state of unconsciousness for half an hour and leaves them completely powerless for three hours. Otherwise, I, a weak woman, wouldn’t stand a chance against you five men."

Frowning, Liu Xing found himself at a loss for words once more. No one is perfect, not even mythical creatures. Many powerful mythical creatures had fatal weaknesses. Take, for example, the Earth-boring Demon Worm, which could cause earthquakes but was vulnerable to a simple bucket of water or a continuously running faucet.

So, despite her expertise in scheming and manipulation, in terms of combat strength, Hu Li was likely weaker compared to other mythical creatures and even humans. Right now, Liu Xing believed that he could defeat Hu Li one-on-one if he were free to move.

Hu Li continued to speak as she observed Liu Xing, "Since things have come to this point, let me clarify some things for you. As a fox spirit, I have a naturally keen sense of smell, which allows me to control everything in Panlong Town. However, early this morning, I suddenly detected the scent of you five appearing at Hu Cang’s home without warning. Then, I smelled the scent of talismans on that wretched Taoist. So, I knew that you must have been hired by Hu Cang to deal with me."

"Because in this Panlong Town, apart from a few monsters like me, only Hu Cang knew my true identity as a fox spirit. Add to that the fact that I’m supposed to marry his close friend, Xiao Mochen, and it’s understandable why Hu Cang would send people like you after me. Furthermore, your behavior was quite suspicious, handing over such a large sum of money for no apparent reason."

Hu Li’s explanation left Liu Xing in contemplation.

"Due to my lack of preparation at the time, I couldn’t allow you to disrupt my plans. So, when you arrived on the third floor, I had to temporarily bewitch you with Magic Spells. Afterward, I came here ahead of you and secretly spiked the food in the kitchen. I’ve been closely monitoring your every move ever since. What I didn’t expect was that you folks would be quite patient, never making a move. Unfortunately, it’s your excessive patience that has led you to the current situation. It’s too late to take action now."

Liu Xing furrowed his brows and said somewhat resignedly, "Can I point out that there might be some misunderstanding here? We never intended to take any action from the beginning, and we weren’t hired by Hu Cang to deal with you either."

Liu Xing knew that Hu Li probably had ill intentions towards them now. However, in Liu Xing’s view, Hu Li wouldn’t make a move this time. According to the current storyline, Liu Xing’s group shouldn’t be mysteriously killed by Hu Li. At least, that’s what he hoped for.

Thinking this, Liu Xing couldn’t help but ask KP Snow Wind, "KP, can I have a quick conversation with Hu Li now or try to persuade her?"

"For now, there’s no need," KP Snow Wind replied with a smile. "In the current situation, whether you have a quick conversation or persuade Judgment doesn’t matter because Judgment’s outcome won’t affect the unfolding events."

Liu Xing sighed in relief. Based on KP Snow Wind’s response, it seemed that there was no risk of a showdown. They would likely enter a new storyline soon, and Liu Xing’s group could escape from Hu Li’s grasp.

After all, in the Cthulhu RPG Game, there usually weren’t any scripted death scenarios. When facing a potentially dire situation, players were often given a chance to negotiate or persuade their way out, even if it was a difficult or very difficult task.

"So, that’s how it is?" Hu Li mused, seemingly more relaxed in her tone. "From what I’ve observed, it does seem like what you’re saying is true."

Liu Xing reassured her, "Of course, I would never lie in front of Miss Hu Li. You have a keen eye, and you can easily tell if I’m telling the truth or not. So, please trust me, Miss Hu Li."

Hu Li chuckled and said, "You’re right; I can easily distinguish between truth and lies. However, knowing someone’s surface doesn’t mean I know their true intentions. Sometimes, even when people speak the truth, their hearts may be thinking differently. Can you let me dig into your heart and see?"

While saying this, Hu Li placed a dagger against Liu Xing’s heart.

Liu Xing broke into a cold sweat because he could feel the dagger’s tip pressing against his skin. If Hu Li applied even a bit of pressure, the dagger would easily pierce his skin. At that point, he wouldn’t need Hu Li to literally dig out his heart; he’d die from the poison on the dagger.

Realizing the danger, Liu Xing forced a smile and said, "Miss Hu Li, please don’t toy with that dagger. It looks like it’s coated with a deadly poison. Could you please put it down first?"

Hu Li smiled again and removed the dagger. She then spoke, "I was just teasing you. I know you’re telling the truth. But there’s one thing I don’t quite understand. Why did you suddenly appear in Panlong Town, and what’s your true purpose here?"

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow. These were tricky questions to answer, as they involved the concept of Panlong Town’s temporal distortion.

However, seeing that Hu Li was growing impatient, Liu Xing knew he had to provide an answer that would satisfy her. He decided to reveal the situation regarding Panlong Town’s temporal distortion, altering his identity to that of a regular tourist.

Liu Xing dared to share this information with Hu Li because he wanted to take a gamble. After the next temporal distortion, he believed Hu Li would forget this conversation. After all, Hu Cang had mentioned experiencing 450 temporal distortions, making him the only one unaffected. Other Panlong Town residents, including mythical creatures, were impacted by temporal distortions.

Seeing Hu Li’s surprised expression, Liu Xing felt he had made the right bet.

"I see. That explains why I’ve always felt something was amiss in Panlong Town but couldn’t pinpoint the reason. I also had a sense of déjà vu about certain things. So, it all stems from this," Hu Li said, suddenly enlightened.

Liu Xing was relieved that Hu Li accepted his explanation and continued, "Exactly. We’re all just ordinary tourists who accidentally ended up in Panlong Town. As for Zhang Jingxu, he is indeed a Taoist but not the kind who indiscriminately attacks creatures. So, I believe there’s no reason for him to harm you in Panlong Town."

Hu Li chuckled, seeming quite satisfied with Liu Xing’s words. "You’re right. I haven’t done anything wrong in Panlong Town. Today’s incident should count as my first misdeed. After all, there’s a saying, ’Strike first, strike hard.’ I had some misunderstandings with you all earlier, which led to this course of action. I believe you can understand my intentions."

Liu Xing, driven by a strong will to survive, nodded vigorously. He was about to speak when Hu Li interrupted him, "However, I’ve heard that humans have a saying, ’People of the same clan share the same heart, while those from different clans harbor different intentions.’ What do you think of that?"

Liu Xing furrowed his brows, feeling that Hu Li’s question had a hint of hostility. Additionally, he didn’t know how to answer it, as he was uncertain of Hu Li’s stance on the matter.

Furthermore, Liu Xing was frustrated because Ling Ishikawa and the others were still under Hu Li’s hypnotic influence.

He was in a difficult spot.

Liu Xing sighed and decided to take a gamble, "Miss Hu Li, personally, I think the saying ’People of the same clan share the same heart, while those from different clans harbor different intentions’ is accurate. Different races undoubtedly have their own customs and interests, so people from the same race tend to unite due to shared beliefs and culture. On the other hand, conflicts and differences easily arise between different races."

Hu Li nodded and smiled, saying, "I was thinking the same way. So, do you believe that two individuals from different races can be happy together?"

How should one respond to this?

Liu Xing didn’t expect that after one difficult question, another one would follow from Hu Li, making it even harder to answer.

However, Liu Xing believed he had a rough idea of what Hu Li was getting at. After all, Hu Li’s intentions were becoming quite evident.

So, without hesitation, Liu Xing nodded and said, "I believe love transcends all boundaries. As long as two people genuinely love each other, it doesn’t matter their race, age, or gender. Therefore, two people from different races, as long as their love is sincere, can definitely find happiness together."

Hu Li’s smile gradually faded.

Liu Xing suddenly realized an important detail. Hu Li had asked, "Can two people from different races be happy together?" but his response had been, "Two people from different races can be happy as long as they love each other."

It seemed like he had misinterpreted the question, his answer had gone off-topic.

A misstep.

Liu Xing felt like he might regret this moment forever.

The atmosphere grew tense.

But just then, Hu Li burst into hearty laughter, and the entire playground of Panlong Town Elementary School echoed with Hu Li’s melodious laughter.

However, to Liu Xing, it felt like a series of death knells.

After a while, Hu Li finally stopped laughing and said to Liu Xing, "Thank you for helping me see the truth. I finally understand what Hu Cang meant that day."

Before Liu Xing could grasp the meaning of Hu Li’s words, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. The dagger that had been in Hu Li’s hand a moment ago was now plunged into his own chest.

Hu Li leaned in close to Liu Xing’s ear and whispered, "Thank you for sharing so much useful information with me…"

As consciousness gradually faded, Liu Xing could no longer hear what Hu Li was saying. All he knew now was that he was about to die.

In the last moment before losing consciousness, Liu Xing’s final thought was, "Indeed, women are capricious. One moment they’re thanking you, the next they’re mercilessly stabbing you…"

But just as he completely lost consciousness, Liu Xing suddenly saw a bright light and regained his clarity.

Liu Xing looked at the somewhat familiar ceiling, sat up, and surveyed his surroundings. He realized that he had returned to the third-floor room in Hu Cang’s house, and Ling Ishikawa lay peacefully on the bed.

Liu Xing touched his still-slightly-painful chest, utterly perplexed.

"Could it be that everything that just happened was an illusion? Or am I still within an illusion?" Liu Xing furrowed his brow, muttering to himself.

However, at that moment, Ling Ishikawa suddenly let out a cry of shock and fell off the bed.

Startled, Liu Xing rushed to help Ling Ishikawa and asked with concern, "Ling Ishikawa, what’s wrong?"

After taking a deep breath, Ling Ishikawa, still trembling, said, "I don’t know what happened exactly. All I remember is fainting at the wedding venue, and then suddenly feeling excruciating pain before waking up just now."

Clearly, Ling Ishikawa had also been "killed" by Hu Li.

At this point, Liu Xing began to hear cries of astonishment from Zhang Jingxu and the others. It seemed that they, too, had fallen victim to Hu Li’s "kill."

Hu Li had claimed five victims.

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