The giant lizard struggled to barely sit up from the ground. He raised his head and glanced at the muzzle of the gun aimed at him by Mu Anqi, then endured the sharp pain to lift his hand and take the communicator, opening the group chat to find that fan. The giant lizard took a deep breath, forcing himself to adjust his expression and tone. He had no empathy for other monsters, and as for fans who imitated his art? Tch, those clumsy techniques were simply an insult to his art. Bringing such a monster over was no burden to him at all. Compared to that, it was more important not to get shot, and to have food and drink. The giant lizard sent out a friend request, and it was instantly accepted.
[Five-clawed Golden Dragon]:. [Image]
[Five-Clawed Golden Dragon]: I saw your work. The techniques and detail handling aren't very good, but overall it's considered decent. Since we've both entered this game, it can be considered fate. I wonder if you'd be interested in coming to me, to witness the birth of art in person?
The giant lizard was using voice input—his hands really couldn't type that many words.
[Happy Monster Life]: Is this Teacher Golden Dragon himself? Oh my god, I'm so excited!
[Happy Monster Life]: I'm willing, of course I'm willing! Being able to watch Teacher's techniques up close is my honor! I dream of seeing the process of Teacher creating art!
[Happy Monster Life]: Teacher, when are you free? I don't know if I would have the honor of inviting you to a meal. You're simply my idol—if it weren't for you, I might have lived my whole life in boredom and dullness! I also have a pet here. My skills are clumsy and I haven't figured out how to create with it yet. After all, it's rare to be in the same game as Teacher, I don't want it to end so quickly… this is really great. Can I give my pet to you?
Message after message popped up, and the giant lizard's expression gradually grew impatient. He clearly wanted to curse this monster out, but remembering that Mu Anqi was still here, and that this player… seemed to have a bad temper, he could only grit his teeth and endure. Looking at these overly enthusiastic words, the giant lizard pondered for a moment and decided not to respond too warmly.
[Five-Clawed Golden Dragon]:- ...
[Happy Monster Life]: Sorry, sorry, I was just too excited.
[Happy Monster Life]: Everything will be as Teacher decides! I absolutely don't mean to force anything.
The giant lizard looked at these messages. He hadn't expected to actually have such a fanatical admirer. But what if this guy had bad intentions… He glanced at Mu Anqi, then still sent over his residence address. "Should I have him bring the player too?"
"No need." What's the point of bringing the player over, to let him watch them steal monsters?
[Five-Clawed Golden Dragon]: After you learn my techniques, I'll come to you and see how your skills are. No need to bring the pet.
[Happy Monster Life]: !!! Really? Thank you, Teacher! Is it convenient for you now? I can come right away!
The giant lizard showed the message to Mu Anqi. Seeing her nod, he typed "Okay" and sent it.
Mu Anqi took the communicator, glanced at the giant lizard's wound, and hesitated slightly on whether to fire another shot. The giant lizard was startled by her gaze, his brain racing, and he cried out in alarm: "Your skill! That skill you just used! Use that to restrain me!"
Mu Anqi gave an "oh," raised her hand, and shot the giant lizard in the leg again: "Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Giant Lizard: …
For the first time, he began to reflect on whether the things he had done for the sake of art were far too excessive, to the point where he would suffer this kind of retribution and punishment.
For the monsters chosen in this dungeon, Mu Anqi showed no mercy at all. Though she was not of the same kind as these monsters, she still felt contempt and anger at their actions. This giant lizard thought that just by having a good attitude and helping her lure in a "fellow kind," he could gain a say and become her ally? Dream on. Mu Anqi explored the app for a while and discovered that even in the Underworld, there was food delivery, with extremely fast service. She quickly browsed a few shops, added some dishes she wanted to the cart, but didn't order yet. Eating could wait until the "guest" arrived.
…
"Happy Monster Life" was a big green python.
In the Underworld, he was considered a monster cultivator with fairly good talent. Back when he entered school to cultivate along with his peers, he had also ranked among the top ten at the academy. But as he continued cultivating and growing stronger, he found life increasingly dull. Only some novel movies could spark his interest. The year he graduated from the academy, he decided to become a director!
However, he clearly had no talent for directing. After muddling along for several years, he accomplished nothing. Just when he didn't know what he should do or how to move forward, one midnight, he unintentionally clicked into a certain website and there he saw a video uploaded by the giant lizard.
He watched as the giant lizard skillfully used a sharp knife to dissect animals, expertly pulling out intestines and organs, then spraying on healing medicine so the animal wouldn't die too quickly, before elegantly slicing the creature into thin pieces with unbelievable knife skills. There were no unnecessary sounds, only the sharp tool cutting through flesh and the animal's wails. Skin, slices of meat, head, organs… finally, the giant lizard washed everything clean, reassembled it, and completed a work of art on blood-soaked sheets. Listening to the sounds in the video shift from shrill and piercing to weak and powerless, until life was completely gone, an unusual ecstasy swept through his entire body, making him shudder and tremble.
He had seen a new world!
He began to imitate and pursue, though most of the monsters around him didn't understand him—but that didn't matter. Some monsters reported him? That didn't matter either. He accepted the punishment, and next time he would just be cleaner with his hands and feet.
Case after case, until now, he could finally meet Teacher Giant Lizard!
The green python demon was extremely excited. In his true form, he kept spinning in place, hissing and flicking his tongue. He looked at the "pet" tied up in the corner, and just the thought that in a little while he would not only get to see Teacher display his art, but Teacher would even come here to watch him practice, made him so excited he couldn't breathe. He carefully washed his body, making himself look clean and spirited, and only then, with utmost solemnity, left the house, heading to the address the giant lizard had given.
An apartment building specially for renting? He had considered this place when looking for housing. If only he had known… The green python demon shook his head with slight regret, quickly composed himself, and slithered toward the giant lizard's room.
He stood very politely at the door, then tapped it with the tip of his tail.
"Happy Monster Life?"
It was Teacher Giant Lizard's voice!
"Yes, it's me!" The green python demon's tone was light and excited. He heard the sound of the doorknob turning, and he suppressed the urge to flick his tongue, striving to present the most perfect image of himself to the giant lizard.
"Long life and prosperity."
Why was it a woman's voice? Just as the green python demon's doubt surfaced, his body uncontrollably coiled up into a knot—he had no idea why this was happening! And just then, the door opened, and bang—a bullet mercilessly pierced through his snake skin, tearing a hole straight through his abdomen.
Mu Anqi fired five shots in succession, two of them hitting the snake's head. She spoke blessings as she fired, and only after the fifth shot, when the green python no longer moved at all, did she lower her gun.
"You just killed him directly?"
"He didn't buy me anyway." Mu Anqi curled her lips. She had no time to subdue another python. As for this "fishing" business, it was enough to let the giant lizard put in the effort. Taking down this monster didn't even drop any equipment. Mu Anqi glanced disdainfully at the corpse by the door. "Why don't your monster corpses disappear on their own?"
The giant lizard was utterly silent, not daring to make a sound. By now he regretted coming into this game to death. If only he had known…
Bang!
"You're ignoring my question?" Mu Anqi lowered the muzzle of her gun. She thought to herself that her marksmanship was getting better and better. Ah, when you wanted to find fault with a monster, the creature really was nothing but mistakes from head to toe.
The giant lizard was in unbearable pain: "N-no, I was thinking… I don't know why he hasn't disappeared. Maybe… maybe after a while, when he revives over there, then the body will vanish." As he said this, he actually felt a trace of envy for the python who had died quickly and cleanly.
"Mm, then I'll wait. If it doesn't disappear… heh." Mu Anqi shot the giant lizard a sidelong glance, then picked up his phone to start ordering food. "What's the payment password?"
The giant lizard's eyes bulged, his throat swelled and then subsided. He turned his head away and recited a string of numbers.
Mu Anqi happily placed the order.
In about eight minutes, the food delivery began arriving one after another. Mu Anqi thanked the sparrow demons who brought the food—she hadn't expected that she could actually eat fried chicken and drink cola in an escape game.
She took out the fried chicken and cola from the delivery and arranged them neatly on the table, then brought out a box of mousse cake and a cup of milk tea. Finally, she opened the last delivery, pulling out a box of white rice and a packet of chili sauce.
Mu Anqi opened the rice box, squeezed the chili sauce over the rice, then picked up chopsticks and placed the box beside the giant lizard: "Here, yours."
The giant lizard stared at her in utter shock, for a moment feeling that Mu Anqi was even more vicious than he was.
"If you don't want to eat, then forget it."
"Eat! I'll eat, but didn't you say… food and drink were included?"
"Oh." Mu Anqi finally remembered she had said that. She got up again, filled a glass of tap water, and set it by the giant lizard's feet. "Don't be polite."
The giant lizard was utterly hopeless.
He was furious but dared not speak.
With great effort, he used his injured hand to pick up the lunchbox and water, set them on the bed, and forced himself to eat.
After a few bites, he even managed to comfort himself: at least this player gave him chili sauce, at least he could still smell the fragrance of fried chicken.
Mu Anqi ate the fried chicken and sipped cola, finishing the box of hot chicken clean. After eating, she was full. She glanced at the little cake and the room-temperature milk tea on the table—those could be saved for later as dessert. Taking out her phone, she checked the group chat and started considering which target would be easier next.
Hmm, or, knowing an address would work too. Having someone come visit might be difficult, but she could always take the initiative to deliver warmth herself!
As Mu Anqi thought about this, she observed the activity in the group chat, gathering information about these monsters.