"A kill upon looking back?!"
Fang Zhixing’s body tensed, his neck stiffening.
"Xigou’s Shadow Clone was indeed killed the instant it looked back."
"But, I just stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked around, making a turning motion..."
Fang Zhixing blinked, a speculation quickly sprouting in his mind.
"The kill upon looking back might be restricted to this flight of stairs!"
With that thought, Fang Zhixing immediately explained his theory to Xigou through a transmitted message.
Xigou was shocked and said in disbelief, "Die just for looking back? That’s a rule-based kill!"
Fang Zhixing replied, "You can look back freely below the stairs, we’ve already tested that, but I am not yet certain if it’s the same above."
Xigou immediately understood what Fang Zhixing meant.
He still had seven lives left!
"Ah, it’s all on me again..."
Xigou created another Shadow Clone to try again.
The Shadow Clone rushed over the stairs, past Fang Zhixing, and landed on the grass.
Then it slowly turned its head, looking towards Fang Zhixing.
Man and dog locked gazes for a moment.
Fang Zhixing muttered to himself, as expected, stepped over the last stair, and then turned around.
He called out, "It’s safe now, come on up!"
Xigou quickly ran up and turned his head to look deeply at the stairs, smacking his lips and saying, "These stairs don’t look special at all, how come they have such a terrifying rule as the kill upon looking back?"
Fang Zhixing murmured thoughtfully, "Hmm, the Fifth Level Restricted Area is indeed unpredictable and eerie, playing with rule-based kills, we need to be more careful."
Man and dog proceeded carefully, arriving at the wooden bridge by the riverside.
The Shadow Clone led the way, stepping onto the bridge first, and then, without warning, it collapsed.
The Shadow Clone convulsed violently, its paws reaching for its chest, crying out, "It hurts, my chest!"
"What’s going on now?!"
Fang Zhixing and Xigou were gripped by alarm.
In a moment, the Shadow Clone became still and naturally disintegrated, disappearing.
Xigou became frantic, exclaiming with horror, "After I stepped onto the wooden bridge, my heart suddenly hurt terribly as if it stopped beating, and then I was gone."
Fang Zhixing took a sharp breath and scrutinized the wooden bridge in front of them, seeing nothing unusual at first glance.
Xigou suddenly grew angry and said, "Damn it, not another backtrack kill? But I didn’t look back this time!"
He glanced at the river and said angrily, "Or, should I just jump right over the river and try, it’s not that wide anyway?"
Fang Zhixing gestured with his hand and said, "Don’t rush, this wooden bridge might also have some sort of rule-based kill, let’s look around first."
Xigou became impatient, walking restlessly by the riverbank.
Fang Zhixing first examined the planks, then peered at the bridge piers, regretfully finding no inscriptions.
"The Shadow Clone only walked onto the bridge, didn’t make any extra movements..."
Fang Zhixing recalled the details, then suddenly he asked, "Xigou, after you set foot on this wooden bridge, how many steps did you take before you felt heart pain?"
Xigou hurriedly responded, "I only took three steps, the pain started at the first step."
Fang Zhixing’s gaze sparkled as he analyzed, "Then the first step must have broken ’the rule.’ What could that rule be?"
Xigou scoffed, "What, I have to kneel down before crossing a bridge now?"
Fang Zhixing said with a chuckle, "If walking normally doesn’t work, perhaps we really should crawl over on our knees."
Xigou was at a loss for words, complaining, "What kind of nonsense rule-based kill is this, with no hints at all, are we supposed to just give away our lives for free?"
Fang Zhixing bowed his head in thought, pondering, "Rule-based kills are always passive, one only suffers when the rule is broken."
In his mind’s eye, he replayed every action of the Shadow Clone just moments before, and suddenly he jolted.
"Xigou, create another Shadow Clone," he instructed.
Xigou looked at him sidelong and said, "I’ve only got six lives left, you’d better use them sparingly."
Complaints aside, he complied with the command.
Fang Zhixing immediately said, "Last time you stepped onto the bridge with your left foot first, this time use your right foot."
At these words, Xigou responded dryly, "Death for stepping on the bridge with the left foot first?"
The Shadow Clone stepped out with the right foot, cautiously stepping onto the wooden bridge, moving step by step forward, and finally reached the other side.
Xigou was utterly speechless and erupted with curses, "Who made up this damn rule, playing with me? Ridiculous!"
Fang Zhixing was also at a loss for words and crossed the bridge with his right foot forward.
Xigou followed suit, curious, "What would have happened if we jumped over the river?"
Fang Zhixing answered, "If I’m not mistaken, each obstacle here carries its own rule-based kill. There’s a rule for the bridge, and there’s likely a rule for jumping over the river too."
Xigou looked deeply at the small river, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately didn’t dare to test the waters with his own body.
The Shadow Clone continued along a path forward, not getting too far before rows of thatched cottages of various heights appeared, forming a small village.
The village paths were uneven, chicken coops and dog kennels were seen everywhere, and there were pens of cattle and sheep.
Not too far away was a well, and beside it stood a grindstone.
Under the veil of night, the small village was silent.
Xigou listened carefully, transmitting, "There are breathing sounds and heartbeats, someone lives in this village."
Fang Zhixing’s spirits lifted, replying, "We’ll hide for now, and see in the daylight."
Then Fang Zhixing simply sat down cross-legged, Myriad People Blade laid across his knees.
Xigou first withdrew the Shadow Clone and lay down beside Fang Zhixing.
Before long, he began to feel thirsty.
After all, he’d gotten a mouthful of volcanic ash, and his throat had been dry for a while.
Xigou stood up, went to the well, and leaned over to look inside.
In the next instant, Xigou plunged headfirst into the well, splashing water high into the air.