"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Ye Bugui," the man stood up and finally extended his hand to Lu Shi: "An ordinary person who has completed the Infinite Wish Game."
A note from the author:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 23
☪ Pollutants
An ordinary person?
Lu Shi's lips twitched. Could this really be considered an ordinary person?
However, he still got excited, not because of the pollutants, but because:
"Is it really possible to leave that game?"
When Lu Shi arrived in this new world, he experienced such a strong will to survive for the first time.
If he could, he would like to live here a little longer.
The perilous and ever-present Infinite Wish Game, which always sought to kill him, became a sword hanging over his head.
He didn't know when the sword would fall down...
"Of course." Beneath Ye Bugui's calm face, his thoughts were racing.
After watching Lu Shi's video of clearing the game, Ye Bugui realized that he was a very promising newcomer.
The only thing that worried Ye Bugui was that Lu Shi's will to survive wasn't strong.
However, upon returning to reality, Lu Shi underwent subtle changes.
"Did you see the leaderboard in the game?" Ye Bugui's slender fingers were gently tapping the armrest of the bronze chair.
Lu Shi shook his head; he was still clueless about that game.
To be precise, ever since he came back from the dead, he has been as if he were being pushed forward by an invisible force.
Even his appearance here was something Lu Shi could not have predicted.
“It’s alright,” Ye Bugui explained to him, “The leaderboard in the game is based on your combined points. On the first day of each new year, the top ten from the previous year will be sent to a God’s Chosen instance.”
"The last survivors can leave the game forever and also get one wish."
Lu Shi stared at Ye Bugui and suddenly asked, "What is your wish?"
“I was shallow and terrified back then.” Fear emanating from Ye Bugui’s face was hardly convincing: “I told it that I wanted to have endless wealth.”
"So I came back here, and went from being a penniless young man to becoming the owner of this company with annual revenue of several billion."
Ye Bugui snapped his fingers, drawing Lu Shi's attention back to him:
"We can discuss the Infinite Wish game another day."
"I want the contaminants in your hands."
Lu Shi was not surprised. From the moment he entered the room, he noticed the man's craving for so-called pollutants.
“But I don’t know where it is.” Lu Shi shrugged. “It disappeared after I left the instance.”
Ye Bugui stood up, walked to Lu Shi's side, and quietly stared at Lu Shi for three seconds.
"You're such a gaming newbie," Ye Bugui chuckled. "You even managed to fool me, making me wonder if you really are a demon lord?"
“I really am.” Lu Shi’s tone was somewhat firm.
"Okay, I believe you." Ye Bugui comforted the other party in a coaxing tone: "Next, you need to concentrate all your attention and silently repeat the name of the pollutant you obtained three times."
Although Lu Shi didn't particularly like this arrogant and self-righteous man, she still did as he said.
After he finished reading "old computer" for the third time, a desktop computer with a modern feel appeared out of thin air at Lu Shi's feet.
However, compared to Ye Bugui's eager joy, Lu Shi's expression was quite solemn.
On this computer, he sensed an even stronger demonic aura.
“We shouldn’t have brought it here,” Lu Shi said reproachfully, glancing at Ye Bugui. “It will bring misfortune to this world.”
At this moment, Ye Bugui, who had been teasing Lu Shi, immediately became serious.
He took a pair of gloves out of his pocket, carefully put them on, and then touched the computer's casing with his hand.
“You’re very perceptive, so perceptive that I suspect your appearance is part of a conspiracy.” Ye Bugui’s tone turned much colder. “Unfortunately, you’re wrong. The moment you returned here after clearing the dungeon, this contaminant descended. Even if you don’t call for me, it will appear by your bedside when you wake up.”
Lu Shi squinted; the scene Ye Bugui described didn't frighten him.
What consequences will these pollutants cause once they arrive?
Ye Bugui did not answer Lu Shi's question directly, but turned around and opened the drawer.
He opened the file folder and pulled out rows of pre-cut newspapers.
“You can take a look; these are all strange things that have happened in the last two years.”
Lu Shi took the newspaper. He was relieved that the ability he had bought from the system was still working, and he could understand the text on the newspaper.
[The identity of the missing boy has been confirmed! He is a victim of the shooting two years ago!]
“I specifically looked into it. The boy’s mother was also a gamer, and she obtained a contaminant.” Ye Bugui walked behind Lu Shi and whispered, “Just one week after leaving the instance, her dead son came back to life. Later, the incident was determined to be a misunderstanding, and I obtained the contaminant from that mother.”
"Where is that boy?" Lu Shi asked.
"Didn't you just see it?" Ye Bugui smiled.
Lu Shi subconsciously twisted his neck.
[Nightmare Lakes are actually a blessing for insomniacs!]
"This is a very interesting contaminant. Its owner can fall asleep with their eyes closed, but unfortunately, they will be plagued by nightmares for ten hours. Later, this owner was killed in their dream and never woke up again."
"This pollutant changed hands three times, and the last person threw it into a lake. I found it later."
Ye Bugui patted the computer: "Name your price and give it to me."
“No.” Lu Shi shook his head: “Since these pollutants are so harmful, I can’t give them to you.”
"Are you concerned about me?" Ye Bugui placed a finger on his chin. "These pollutants don't affect me. Since I dared to collect them, I must have my own way of dealing with them."
"But if it follows you, not only will you be killed, but it could also harm innocent people. Are you sure you still want to keep it?"
It has to be said that Ye Bugui hit Lu Shi's sore spot.
Our Demon Lord is ruthless towards those who deserve to die, but he will never harm the innocent.
“Okay, I only have one condition: let me stay here with you,” Lu Shi said seriously.
Ye Bugui, who was prepared to be ruthlessly extorted by Lu Shi, was stunned: "Living here?"
“That’s right,” Lu Shi nodded vigorously, “I have no home and no one else to rely on.”
"Whatever you want." Ye Bugui put the question out of his mind and finally got to the most important thing about his trip: "If you're not afraid of death, we can cooperate."
...
An hour later, Lu Shi was taken by Ye Bugui to the foot of a dilapidated residential building.
Smelling the aroma of chili peppers and spices, and watching the meatballs and flying cows bubbling in the pot, even the Demon Lord couldn't help but swallow.
"This hot pot restaurant is one that most people can't find!" Ye Bugui had changed into ordinary casual clothes and looked just like an ordinary male college student.
As for Lu Shi, he was also forced to put on a slightly oversized hoodie, and could smell Ye Bugui's scent from time to time.
"Xiao Ye!" The sweating boss walked over and looked Lu Shi up and down carefully: "This is your friend? The sun has risen in the west! Our Xiao Ye has a good friend!"
Lu Shi glanced curiously at Ye Bugui, whose demeanor had drastically changed, picked up a slice of fatty beef with his chopsticks, and then said:
Why did you choose to collaborate with me?
A note from the author:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 24
☪ True Power
"Eat something first!" Ye Bugui picked up a tissue and handed it to Lu Shi: "Don't talk about work while eating."
"Oh." Lu Shi obediently replied. Since he had decided to live in this world, he had to abide by the rules here. "What kind of meat is this? It's delicious."
“Beef, of course it’s beef.” Ye Bugui’s eyes widened, then he leaned his head over the boiling pot of soup and whispered, “To be honest, you’re not really the Demon Lord, are you?”
As someone who has entered the Infinite Wish Game and witnessed the resurrection of the dead, Ye Bugui's imagination and psychological resilience are clearly beyond those of a normal person.
Given the sheer audacity of that game, it's not impossible that they might even bring in an ancient cultivator.
"Hmm." Lu Shi seemed quite relaxed: "I was already dead in my world, but then I entered the game. After leaving the instance, I came here again."
Only when Ye Bugui recalled Lu Shi's inexplicable actions in the dungeon did everything seem to make sense.
"Goodness." Ye Bugui glanced at Lu Shi, "What's your world like?"
Lu Shi patiently described the circumstances of Ye Bugui's death, omitting the details of why he died.
"So there really is a cultivation world?" Ye Bugui looked at Lu with surprise, his expression complicated. "I thought all those cultivation novels were fake!"
Just then, the owner came over with a plate of freshly sliced beef: "Same as always, this was specially sliced for you. Hurry up and put it in the pot, don't let anyone see!"
"I know, thank you, Uncle!" Ye Bugui chuckled, then turned to Lu Shi and introduced, "This is their family's secret recipe. Blanch it for seven seconds, then dip it in the sauce. It's so delicious!"
Lu Shi stared blankly for several seconds as Ye Bugui placed the cooked beef into his bowl. This was the first time someone had ever offered him food.
Before Lu Shi could even feel touched, Ye Bugui urged, "Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold!"
Lu Shi quickly put it in his mouth, but burned his tongue.
He stuck out his tongue and kept fanning himself with his hand, forgetting all the elegance befitting a demon lord.
Lu Shi kept nodding, "Delicious! The food here is much better than in the cultivation world!"
"Really?" Ye Bugui smiled. "Don't the novels say that the ingredients from your area are all imbued with spiritual energy, pure and without any additives?"
"No, no, no, the spices here are very special." Lu Shi grew to love this world more and more.