The moment Qiao Liang entered the safe house, enthusiastic applause erupted.

“Teacher Qiao, you’re amazing! You made it to the second checkpoint!”

“This proves your potential hasn’t been fully unleashed!”

“Come and adjust your state—at this rate, you’ll conquer the entire ‘Ultimate Terror’ today!”

Qiao Liang walked over to everyone’s table with a bewildered expression. Facing the shower of compliments, he couldn’t help feeling a bit elated.

Everyone says I’m great, making it to the second checkpoint?

Yes, I think so too!

Qiao Liang’s tightly wound nerves finally relaxed a little. At the same time, he finally had a chance to properly look around the safe house.

There were snacks, drinks, and a bathroom.

Several doors surrounded them, each with a number representing different checkpoints. A staff member stood beside each door. These staff not only sold drinks and snacks but also recorded each visitor’s progress in the computer system and printed a voucher.

With this voucher, visitors could return to “Ultimate Terror” from the corresponding checkpoint.

When Qiao Liang exited, the staff gave him the appropriate voucher. This paper could be taken away, and the safe house had a shortcut directly to the outside.

However, when going from the safe house to the various sections, visitors needed staff permission because the staff had to determine whether “cutting in line” would affect other visitors’ experience based on the number of people currently in each section.

In any case, Qiao Liang was content and unconsciously looked toward the exit door.

Having reached the second checkpoint today, it already seemed quite an achievement to be proud of!

Perhaps… he could rest now?

Seeing Qiao Liang’s expression, everyone immediately detected his thoughts.

Ruan Guangjian smiled and said, “Teacher Qiao, see? I told you it wasn’t scary at all! Especially at the beginning—with that lantern, you probably couldn’t experience anything properly.”

“Here, wear this for the rest of the experience.”

Ruan Guangjian held out the little demon headpiece, wanting to exchange it for Qiao Liang’s golden lantern.

Qiao Liang’s face changed, and he instinctively clutched the golden lantern tighter: “Stay away from me!”

He was barely surviving with this golden lantern—if he was this scared with the lantern, wouldn’t he drop dead on the spot without it?

Lin Wan encouraged him: “Keep going! As they say, the first step is always the hardest. You’ve already made a great start, and what’s ahead is just more of the same level. I believe you can do it!”

Qiao Liang: “…”

As if I’d believe that!

The rest definitely wouldn’t be like this!

Qiao Liang had realized that this haunted house continuously increased the horror level based on visitors’ threshold of endurance, ensuring visitors would always be scared but not scared away.

Aware of this, Qiao Liang remained unmoved. He coughed lightly: “I believe experiences like this must have rhythm. Good things should be savored in portions. Brother Ruan has set a fine example for me. I think I’ll save my progress and experience the rest another day…”

Chen Kangtuo smiled: “Next time for sure? Teacher Qiao, I remember you saying in your videos that you hate this ‘next time for sure’ behavior the most!”

“If your fans find out about this, they’ll say they’re saving their likes, comments, and shares for another day…”

Qiao Liang’s mouth twitched slightly.

Not good—they’d found his weakness!

As an online content creator, the four words he hated seeing most were “next time for sure,” but now he was saying the same thing?

That did seem a bit hypocritical…

Chen Kangtuo continued: “Ah, right, there’s one more thing.”

“Teacher Qiao, Wu Bin from our company’s HR department has been interviewing Mr. Pei’s friends recently. They want to publish a book interpreting Mr. Pei’s examples and the Tenda spirit.”

“I just gave them your contact information. They should interview you soon.”

“However…”

“If someone who claims to understand Mr. Pei best hasn’t even completed Mr. Pei’s haunted house or interpreted it properly… wouldn’t that interview lack credibility?”

“In that case, they might have to find someone else…”

Qiao Liang was stunned: “Really? You’re not tricking me, are you?”

Chen Kangtuo shrugged: “We at Tenda always prioritize honesty! If I lied to you, would Mr. Pei let me off? Don’t believe me? Look at our chat history.”

Chen Kangtuo handed over his phone, showing his conversation with Wu Bin.

Qiao Liang looked and found that Chen Kangtuo was telling the truth!

“This…”

Qiao Liang again fell into an internal struggle.

Chen Kangtuo made a valid point. During the interview, they would ask questions about Fearful Lodge. If he knew nothing about the latter sections, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

To claim he understood Mr. Pei best, yet not having fully experienced Mr. Pei’s creation…

That wouldn’t be right!

Qiao Liang looked at the golden lantern in his hand and finally made up his mind.

“Fine, I’ll complete the entire Fearful Lodge this afternoon!”

……

……

Half an hour later, at the exit of “Ultimate Terror.”

Qiao Liang emerged carrying the golden lantern. His current mood could only be described in four words: seeing daylight again!

But looking at the completion certificate in his hand, Qiao Liang felt that all the torment he’d endured had been worth it!

The certificate detailed Qiao Liang’s used item (golden lantern), number of safe house entries (2 times), completion time (46 minutes), and more.

Beyond these details, there was one most important line: You are the 1st person to complete “Ultimate Terror”!

All this information was automatically recorded by the system and printed on an officially stamped completion certificate as a memento.

Everyone truly hadn’t deceived him—the honor of being the first to complete it was indeed still available.

Even Ruan Guangjian hadn’t competed for this honor.

Upon receiving this certificate, all of Qiao Liang’s previous fear, grievance, and nervousness vanished, replaced by emotion, excitement, and relief!

Although his time in “Ultimate Terror” was slightly longer, extended by caution and slow movement to 46 minutes, the honor of being the first to complete it was worth preserving forever!

Of course, Qiao Liang knew well that this ranking was somewhat inflated.

If Ruan Guangjian had wanted this honor, Qiao Liang would have only gotten second place.

But Ruan Guangjian had very generously relinquished this honor.

As Qiao Liang emerged from the exit, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted outside!

“Congratulations, Old Qiao!”

“You conquered yourself!”

“Wonderful! As your fan, I feel genuinely proud!”

“Mr. Pei’s efforts weren’t in vain!”

The previous fans, along with Lin Wan, Chen Kangtuo, Ruan Guangjian, and others, had all gathered together, applauding enthusiastically.

Qiao Liang was moved to tears. He rushed over and hugged Ruan Guangjian directly.

“Brother Ruan, thank you, thank you so much!”

“And everyone, without you all, I couldn’t have conquered myself and earned this honor!”

“Right now, I want to thank… thank Brother Ruan. Without you, I couldn’t have persevered!”

“Without everyone’s help, I couldn’t have completed this and might never have experienced Mr. Pei’s creation!”

Qiao Liang’s deep emotion made everyone feel a bit embarrassed.

In truth, they really just wanted to see him scared out of his wits, and maybe make a video about it…

But seeing Qiao Liang so happy, no one had the heart to reveal the truth. They could only maintain their smiles and continue the act.

“Ah, my phone.”

Qiao Liang suddenly remembered something and took his phone from his pocket.

When entering “Ultimate Terror,” visitors could bring their phones or leave them. If left behind, they could be stored with staff and retrieved afterward.

Qiao Liang hadn’t taken his phone in because he didn’t dare.

Imagine: in a silent haunted house, terrifying monsters roaming around, while you’re tiptoeing, trying to sneak past—and suddenly, your phone rings…

Too horrifying to contemplate.

So Qiao Liang only retrieved his phone after completing “Ultimate Terror.”

Unlocking it, he saw three missed calls, all from Mr. Pei.

“Mr. Pei… cares so much about me? Three calls?”

Qiao Liang was quite surprised.

Mr. Pei was always busy with work. Usually, others would message him without response, and it was extremely rare for him to actively call someone—let alone three consecutive calls!

This was enough to show how much Mr. Pei cared about and valued his friend!

Before entering “Ultimate Terror,” Qiao Liang had been confused and timid.

But after emerging from “Ultimate Terror,” all confusion and timidity had vanished, leaving only pride.

He immediately straightened up and called back. The moment the call connected, he excitedly exclaimed: “Mr. Pei! I did it!”

On the other end, Pei Qian nearly spat out his coffee.

You wretched creature, what did you do?!

After the previous calls, Pei Qian had thought Qiao Liang had abandoned the idea of going to “Ultimate Terror,” so he’d relaxed and returned to his own business.

However, a few minutes later, looking at Manager Guan’s report, he was instantly dumbfounded.

How did this guy still go in?!

I gave you so many generous conditions, so many temptations, and yet I still couldn’t stop your self-destructive steps?

He hurriedly called Qiao Liang, but no one answered!

Now, when Qiao Liang called back, his first words were “I did it,” nearly making Pei Qian pass out.

“You… completed ‘Ultimate Terror’? Weren’t you scared?”

Beyond shock, Pei Qian felt confused.

He had created the Fearful Lodge project not just to lose money but also with another important mission: to exact revenge on people in his little notebook.

“Ultimate Terror” was designed to rival extreme haunted houses like Wushan Mental Hospital, and should have been nearly impossible to complete!

It was one thing for Ruan Guangjian to complete it, but now even Teacher Qiao could?

Where was the dignity of Fearful Lodge?

Qiao Liang replied calmly: “Scared! Terrified to death!”

“But it was your spirit, Mr. Pei, that ignited me!”

“Just as mountaineers cannot stay away because the mountain is there.”

“I couldn’t stay away either because your project was there!”

“Since it’s a puzzle left by Mr. Pei, I had to complete it!”

Pei Qian was speechless with frustration: “All those benefits I mentioned before are gone!”

Qiao Liang smiled slightly: “Yes, but I don’t regret it! Mr. Pei, thank you for helping me understand that this unforgettable haunted house journey is more precious than all those things combined!”

Pei Qian was silent for a moment, then quietly hung up.

Mad, this world has gone mad!