Chapter Three: Nightmare Street

This was a bustling street, with neat rows of elm trees lining both sides. Beyond the elms stood several houses, and Luo Hanya was standing before a teleportation circle, watching as people appeared and disappeared in bursts of white light.

“What era is this? Why are they still using such traditional settings? Is the company trying to go for a retro vibe?” Luo Hanya’s lips twitched in exasperation, feeling powerless to complain further. He shrugged and started walking toward the houses flanking the street.

Welcome to Ghost Street. A man’s voice sounded in Luo Hanya’s ear.

“Can you not be so sudden? There’s always some strange voice popping up out of nowhere. Don’t you know that constant surprises like this could drive someone insane?” Luo Hanya was startled, grumbling fiercely in his heart.

Kid, quit complaining. Ghost Street is my territory. If you have any questions, just silently say my name in your mind. As for my name—heh, I think you know it already. The man seemed to have heard Luo Hanya’s complaints, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Sure enough, Luo Hanya knew the man's name all too well, and it made him feel as if he’d swallowed poison. “Freddy! You’re Freddy! Why are you here? Isn’t this just a script? I just finished the beginner tutorial!”

I merely manage Ghost Street. Since this is your first time here, I’m also responsible for introducing you to the area.

Freddy paused.

And I need to explain the rules of Ghost Street to you, Han Crow Luo. Freddy spoke with extreme seriousness, emphasizing the word “rules.”

Ghost Street is your players’ main hub. Here you’ll find the General Store, Exchange, Grand Hall, Temple of the War God, Achievement Shop, Hall of Glory, Script Teleportation Gate, and Personal Room Portal. You can buy and sell items, engage in life-or-death duels, team up with friends for group scripts. Most importantly: obey the rules. No loud noises, no harassing other players, no mocking the management. Any foul language will be censored. Freddy rattled off a long list of rules. Why the ellipsis? Ah, that’s so the author can add more rules later without having to edit each time.

As for punishments for breaking the rules—ha, it’s very simple. You’ll experience a hundred percent real pain as I gently crush you with my iron claws, taste true death, and log off for forty-eight hours to cool off. Freddy finished his explanation in a tone bordering on intimidation before abruptly vanishing.

“He’s gone, right? Should be gone…” Luo Hanya waited cautiously, only relaxing when he got no response.

“At last, he’s gone. Dear heavens, what a hellish pressure.” Luo Hanya grumbled softly, inadvertently triggering a sensitive word, and could only smile wryly and shrug helplessly.

He patted his head, gathering his thoughts, reflecting on his performance since entering the game. After giving himself the lowest possible grade, he reminded himself to stay calm and avoid embarrassing himself further. Then he made a snap decision: until he earned a second title in solo scripts, he absolutely would not contact his friends or team up for group scripts. How did he know there were solo scripts? Because Freddy had mentioned team scripts; in typical game logic, that meant solo scripts must exist. It was elementary reasoning, nothing remarkable.

After this self-examination, Luo Hanya remembered he’d received a consolation prize in a special event, and a beginner’s kit after the tutorial. He opened the item menu, finding two items in his five-slot inventory.

Name: Consolation Prize Pack
Type: Package
Quality: Common
Note: A consolation prize pack, meant to comfort the fragile little ones who’ve taken a beating. Of course, it’s just a consolation prize—don’t expect too much.

Beginner’s Kit
Type: Item
Quality: Common
Effect: Expands your inventory to twenty slots
Note: This is the basic kit everyone gets. To help your inventory hold more, we also offer Standard Kits, Super Kits, Premium Kits—everything new and exciting awaits you in the General Store. The General Store welcomes your arrival!

Luo Hanya looked at these two items with resignation, feeling there was so much to complain about but lacking the energy. He silently used both items.

Consolation Prize Pack used.
Congratulations, you have obtained a Dilapidated Wooden Sword.

Name: Dilapidated Wooden Sword
Type: Weapon
Quality: Common
Attack Power: Low
Attribute: None
Special Effect: 5% chance to exorcise low-level spirits
Note: Its owner was a famous Taoist. He meant to craft a peachwood sword, but peachwood was hard to find, so he picked up some random firewood and made a wooden sword. Later, he gave it to a child as a toy. Although the material is poor and the sword is battered, at least it was wielded by a Taoist and carries a trace of spiritual energy. Swing it enough, and it might have some effect.

Your inventory has expanded to twenty slots.

“This really is a consolation prize…” Luo Hanya sighed after reading the weapon’s description, filled with helplessness.

“This thing is as bizarre and useless as its note says. But at least it’s a weapon—I’ll keep it for now.” He tossed it into his kit, lost interest in exploring further, and headed straight for the script teleportation gate, determined to redeem himself with a solo dungeon run.

After entering the gate, Luo Hanya found himself inside an elevator. He looked around, a bit worried that the elevator might plummet as soon as the script started, but since he’d decided to go solo, there was no point worrying.

Han Crow Luo, Level 2

Please choose your game mode.

You have selected Solo Survival Mode: Normal. Please confirm.

Confirmed. Neural link established. Script generating.

Loading. Please wait.

The next moment, the elevator was plunged into darkness. A voice rang out—this time, unlike any before, it was a shrill child’s voice: “Welcome to the House of Terror!”

No sooner had the words been spoken than a thunderous crash sounded. The elevator lurched violently, like a wild horse, plunging downward at breakneck speed.

“No way! How can I always predict these things! Damn this cursed game, don’t do this to me!” Luo Hanya’s anguished screams echoed through the entire elevator.

Don’t do this to me, don’t do this, me, ah, ah, ah…