It seems that every descent into a low valley demands the climb of a peak to restore one’s fighting spirit. On the very night the news broke that Game 21 had been cleared, people gathered of their own accord in the square, lit bonfires, and threw a party.

Everyone was celebrating.

Chu Huaijin, the person in charge of the organization, understood instinctively that this was the perfect moment to rally their collective spirit. He ordered his subordinates to distribute supplies in large quantities, providing food and drink for the festivities.

Professor Song also held another banquet for the team that had cleared the game, situated in the activity center within the square.

In truth, neither Shen Mo nor Bai Youwei were particularly in the mood — but they attended all the same, because the banquet wasn’t only for celebration. It was also for discussing plans going forward, and for collecting the reward for this game: eight puzzle pieces.

Teacher Cheng and Pan Xiaoxin had come as well, and even the injured Tan Xiao had made it.

The atmosphere was genuinely festive. Inside they ate and drank, while just outside, a lively bonfire party blazed away.

Young men were singing, dancing, shouting — and the few women scattered among the crowd moved between them, their laughter bright as bells.

It had been a long time since anyone had felt this light.

People spent their days at the base just getting by, and the feeling hadn’t struck them deeply — but now that they were facing a forced relocation, they finally understood just how much this patch of ground beneath their feet meant to them.

Clearing the game was a boost to morale; more than that, it was a signal — telling them that the time had come to draw together.

…

Shen Fei was well-liked at the base, and the moment he arrived at the square a group of people dragged him over to the bonfire to join in the fun.

Tan Xiao was there too — even with bandaging wound around his chest, his nature as someone who could never resist being the center of attention held firm. He held court in the middle of a crowd, holding forth on anything and everything, including the game.

“…That Mali and the cat, let me tell you — near impossible to deal with! The cat was as big as a freight truck! But did we worry? Not one bit! Because we had Senior Yan with us, right — the absolute master of laying traps! He laid out a complete net of heaven and earth, like a roasting spit to cook Mali and the cat whole! But what nobody could have predicted was—”

He slapped his thigh, spittle flying.

“Mali and the cat weren’t afraid of fire at all! And that’s not even the worst of it — turns out we had a traitor in our own party!”

“A traitor?”

“What traitor?”

“Who?! Who was the traitor?!”

The people gathered around him erupted in a frenzy, everyone demanding to know.

“The guy in the white gloves!” Tan Xiao’s voice took on a note of genuine anger as he brought it up. “Beady little eyes, sneaky little face — you could tell at one glance he was bad news! If we hadn’t needed to fill the headcount, we never would’ve let him tag along! Once we were inside the game, instead of thinking about clearing it, he had the nerve to go after my Sister Wei’s… oh wait, I mean — to go after Sister Wei’s item!”

People looked at one another and asked curiously: “So what happened after? Jiang Hao never came out with you — does that mean you dealt with him?”

“We didn’t have time to deal with anyone!” Tan Xiao sighed. “The fire was massive — we could barely run fast enough ourselves, let alone worry about him. Though honestly, it was a close call. If we hadn’t brought a healing item with us, young Shen Fei would’ve left his life behind in Jiang Hao’s hands!”

Someone immediately cried out in outrage: “Doesn’t Jiang Hao have two friends? Are they here? Make them answer for this! Every single person who’s gone into a game with those two has never come out alive!”

“That’s right! Let them explain themselves! Just because Jiang Hao is dead doesn’t mean this can be swept under the rug!”

The crowd buzzed with anger and grievance.

Someone cut in: “They already left!”

“Left?! When did they leave?”

“Probably heard the game was cleared and got scared that Jiang Hao would expose them, so they bolted while they could…”

“Those bastards!”

The crowd vented their fury in a storm of curses.

—