New Arc: Deadly Voyage
Chapters 670-681
“Yesterday Reappears” had been online for 15 days, and for those 15 days, it dominated the game channel’s top ranking. Its popularity remained high, increasing instead of waning.
Posts about “Yesterday Reappears” popped up like mushrooms after the rain on the game forums. The topics discussed varied, but the discussions on copy content and gameplay were the hottest subjects.
This game allowed players to record and even live broadcast from their own perspectives. Game anchors flocked to it, creating accounts and starting live broadcasts of “Yesterday Reappears.”
Ji Nansheng was handsome, and with his skillful playstyle and humorous banter, he quickly attracted a large audience and fanbase, becoming one of the top three game anchors.
The virtual game time in “Yesterday Reappears” did not align with real-world time. In theory, it would be difficult to meet the conditions for viewers to watch live broadcasts. After all, while only one hour passed in the real world, 60 hours had passed in the game world.
But “Yesterday Reappears” still made it happen. On the second day after the game’s public release, the official team launched a virtual app live broadcast platform.
All that was needed was to purchase a neural wave metal patch, which could connect one’s consciousness to the virtual world, allowing for an immersive viewing experience from the anchor’s perspective, and the timelines would be synchronized.
The official price for this neural wave metal patch was just five yuan with free shipping—cheaper than the lowest-priced cup of milk tea, which cost seven yuan.
Consumers who hadn’t bought the game cabin but wanted to watch live broadcasts eagerly bought the neural wave metal patches as soon as they could, diving into this brand-new virtual broadcasting platform.
Ji Nansheng took a day off and was now ready for a new round of live game broadcasts.
He put on his game helmet, lay down in the game cabin, and connected to his live broadcast room. Within just one minute of going live, hundreds of thousands of viewers had flooded in.
“I haven’t seen you guys in two days. Did you miss me to death? I wonder what copy I’ll get today. I’m so excited.”
He spoke to himself, and his voice was carried into the live broadcast room.
The barrage was quickly filled with scrolling comments.
[A whole two days off, even the donkeys in the production team don’t take breaks like that.]
[Oh, so you were resting. I thought you’d played so much you ended up in the hospital.]
[You damn ghost, tell me honestly, have you been secretly practicing these past two days?]
[Host, you can’t just disappear for two days like that again. You’re the only contact I have in “Yesterday Reappears”. Do you even know how I survived these two days?!]
Ji Nansheng laughed heartily. “With my sharp skills, do I even need to practice secretly?”
“Alright, I won’t argue with you anymore. I hope I get a copy that will leave a lasting impression this time.”
The copy selection in “Yesterday Reappears” was divided into two types. One type allowed players to choose a specific copy, but entering such a copy required a large consumption of points.
The other type was a system-randomized copy, which was more mysterious and thrilling. Many players seeking excitement chose this option.
Ji Nansheng pressed “Random,” and the system’s cute electrical sound echoed into the live broadcast room.
[Ding! Welcome, player, to “Yesterday Reappears.”]
[Ding! Random copy assignment starting.[
[Random assignment complete.]
[The copy you’ve been assigned to is [Deadly Voyage]. The difficulty level of this copy is A, with a player capacity of 40. Would you like to enter the game?]
[Yes/No]
The barrage rolled by rapidly.
[Deadly Voyage? That’s an unfamiliar name. Is it a new copy?]
[Not bad, Nansheng hit the jackpot. It’s a new copy!]
[Just hearing the name gives me chills. Go! Go! Go!]
Ji Nansheng pressed [Yes].
The scene before his eyes flickered, and the surroundings shifted into a grand, opulent hall.
In the hall, many NPCs with high cheekbones, high nose bridges and deep-set eyes—the typical features of Westerners—milled about. Their hair and eye colors varied.
The men and women were dressed in exquisite tailcoats and evening gowns, moving with elegance.
A soothing piano melody echoed through the luxurious hall, and couples holding hands danced gracefully across the floor.
Ji Nansheng’s gaze swept over the ballroom, but his attention was quickly drawn to a figure.
Standing by the edge of the dance floor was a beautiful woman in a black evening gown. Her figure was tall and slender, so much so that her feminine features were not particularly pronounced.
Her waist was slim, and the tight-fitting mermaid gown perfectly outlined her curves.
She had strikingly beautiful and vivid facial features with a natural Oriental charm—a long, graceful swan-like neck, well-defined collarbones, fair skin, a slender waist, round hips, and long, straight legs.
She wasn’t dancing, but she stood out far more than anyone in the ballroom.
Compared to her, the lively dancers immediately became nothing more than a backdrop.
Ji Nansheng was stunned for several seconds, even forgetting that he was still live broadcasting.
The barrage went wild.
[What did I just see?! A stunning beauty! What a gorgeous model.]
[Is this a player or an NPC?]
[It’s definitely an NPC! No way anyone in the real world could look that beautiful.]
[With modeling like this, she’s got to be an important NPC. Nansheng, don’t chicken out. Go!]
[Nansheng Isn’t chickening out, he’s just too stunned to move.]
The system’s voice rang out in the live broadcast room.
[Welcome, player, to the [Deadly Voyage] copy. This copy has a 72-hour time limit, equivalent to 72 minutes in real-world time. Please allocate your time wisely.]
[Now introducing the game’s background.]
[This is a super-luxury cruise ship named “Dream Star.” The noble Count Henry VI has invited elite guests from all walks of life aboard this ship to celebrate his beloved wife’s 25th birthday, showcasing their deep, sincere love. It’s a four-day, four-night romantic journey, and an outpouring of Count Henry VI’s affection for his wife.]
[Today is the second day the guests have boarded the ship. They indulge in joyful revelry, forgetting the worries of the land, basking only in happiness and pleasure.]
[However, behind this joy, an unknown danger is silently approaching.]
[The cruise ship sailing into the middle of the ocean accidentally entered a foggy zone. The compass malfunctioned, and only then did the captain realize in horror that they’ve entered the most dreaded region of the sea, the Sirens’ Territory.]
[There is a terrifying legend about the Sirens’ Territory. It is said that deep within the sea, there are monstrous sirens that haunt a certain area, luring ships in with their enchanting songs. Once the ship enters their territory, the sirens will descend upon it, and no one will survive. The sirens are adept at transforming and can become anyone, even players.]
[But for now, the guests remain unaware of this. They are still lost in their blissful celebration.]
[Now issuing the copy tasks.]
[Main Tasks:
1. Survive! Players must try to stay alive for 72 hours.
2. The clues to escape the Sirens’ Territory are hidden somewhere on this cruise ship. Players must find the clues and help the ship leave the Territory.]
[We wish the players an enjoyable game.]
As the game introduction ended, the barrage continued to flood with comments.
[Nansheng, the beauty is about to leave! Hurry!]
[Go strike up a conversation for me. I need to know everything about her in three seconds. Don’t make me beg.]
[Nansheng, I’m warning you, don’t let this beauty slip away, or you’ll regret it forever.]
Ji Nansheng glanced at the viewer count in his live broadcast room.
Wow, in the blink of an eye, the number had shot up to 500,000.
“Alright, alright, my dear viewers. For you, I’ll swallow my pride.”
Seeing that the beautiful woman in the black mermaid gown was about to leave, Ji Nansheng quickly took three steps forward and blocked her path. “Excuse me, miss. Hello.”
The beauty in the black mermaid gown paused, the tails of her eyes slightly raised, and stars seemed to glimmer in them as she looked Ji Nansheng up and down with curiosity. “Hello. Can I help you?”
‘So tall!’
Ji Nansheng had to tilt his head back slightly just to look at him.
He couldn’t help but take two steps back, “Seeing Miss in the vast sea of people, I was struck by your beauty and had to take the liberty to ask, what is your name?”
After a slight pause, he added, “Are you a player?”
A trace of confusion flickered in the beauty’s eyes. “Player? You mean one of the guests playing on this Dream Star?”
Her voice was a bit low and husky, not as crisp as other women’s, but magnetic with texture.
Ji Nansheng chuckled, “Oh, yes, that’s exactly what I meant.”
It seemed she wasn’t a player, but an NPC.
For some reason, a slight sense of disappointment welled up within him.
The beauty smiled elegantly, “My name is Hildeger Xin Sainon, daughter of the Sainon family. You can call me Miss Xin. Of course, I am also the wife of Count Henry VI, so you may address me as Countess.”
Ji Nansheng was taken aback. “You’re the Countess? Oh, happy 25th birthday to you.”
The Countess raised her wine glass gracefully in mid-air. “Thank you for the kind wishes. I hope you enjoy your journey.”
With that, she walked up the stairs with elegant steps and disappeared onto the second floor.
The barrage exploded into chaos.
[This is the most beautiful model I’ve ever seen. Can all the key NPCs in “Yesterday Reappears” be this standard from now on?]
[I knew this character was special, but I didn’t expect her to be the main protagonist of the cruise party.]
[Now I suddenly understand why the Count is so in love with his wife. If I had such a stunning beauty as my wife, I’d be head over heels too.]
[With such an obvious character… there’s got to be some hidden plot, right?]
[There must be a plot, after all, she’s a central figure. What worries me is, will there be a scare along with the plot?]
[A scare?]
[Like if she turns out to be a siren.]
[Now that would be exciting.]
The Countess ascended to the second floor. The narrow corridor was lined with a row of lounges on either side.
Every so often, there was a square door with a circular glass window embedded in it.
The Countess walked gracefully, and as she passed one of the doors, a figure suddenly emerged.
A tall figure approached, moving like a ghost and pinning the Countess against the cold, rough wooden wall.
The Countess let out a muffled groan as her body was overwhelmed by the strong force. A man’s low, hoarse laughter echoed in her ear. “Countess? Miss Xin?”
The Countess’s neck was forced upward, her slender throat tracing an elegant line. “Is there a problem?”
A calloused hand slowly slid along her waistline, fingers hooking the high slit of her dress and slipping inside skillfully.
The Countess suddenly gasped, her body tensing up like a cat that had its tail stepped on. A strange, twisted expression appeared on her flushed face, and she placed her hands on the man’s shoulders tremblingly.
The man’s arm tightened. “The Countess hides many secrets. How come she still has something male on her body? I wonder if others know the Countess is actually a man.”
The Countess’s pupils contracted. “You… let go.”
The man didn’t comply. His large hand roamed over the expensive, tight-fitting evening gown. “Count Henry VI is sixty-five this year, while the Countess is only twenty-five, the age of blossoming flowers. It seems that your body, like a blooming flower, desperately needs nourishment. The Count probably can’t satisfy you, can he?”
The Countess gritted her teeth, suppressing broken sounds between her lips.
The man lowered his head, his deep eyes seemingly ready to swallow her whole. “Countess, do you want to know what an affair feels like?”
The Countess frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
An intense push from Dijia already 🤭