“Don’t call me that!” Yang immediately protested, his face turning red once more as he hid his embarrassed expression.

  Yue shrugged, grabbing her spear and spinning it around casually. “It’s what you are, is it not?”

  Wei tapped my shoulder, whispering into my ear above the chaos of their bickering. “Peijin, should we cover Amelia’s eyes until we know what the dungeon actually is?”

  That question took me rather off guard. I mean, sure, Yang’s poster was pretty funny, but I hated writing any sexual arcs in Surviving My First Run.

  Mostly for my own sake. Sure, a few readers complained about the lack of romance between Feiyu and his partners, but I just blocked them.

  I probably shouldn’t have blocked HolyMapleSyrup, though.

  “Yeah, let’s just see what we’re getting into,” I said.

  Yang seemed to hear my whispers. “I swear, it’s really not like that! The dungeon took creative liberty with my poster. If it’s my greatest fear, then doesn’t that make me the opposite of a pervert?”

  Yue tapped her foot before pointing at him. “Then are you impotent or something?”

  “Are you serious?”

  Ignoring their conversations, I tensed up and stared straight at Wei’s arm.

  “Can we use the ribbon on your arm as a blindfold?”

  “Huh?” Wei looked down at his arm, seemingly surprised by the mention of it. “Oh, sure.”

  Unraveling it from his arm, he handed it to me. It was rather long, as it was able to be wound around his forearm multiple times, but it would work.

  “Amelia, come here.” I knelt on the ground before her and easily tied it around her arm. I wrapped it around her eyes and tucked it beneath her hair. “Is that too tight?”

  She shook her head, awkwardly turning around to try and face me, but she miscalculated and was staring at the metro wall. “No, it’s good. Thank you.”

  I smiled, grabbing onto her small hand to gently guide her back to train door. “Isn’t it so convenient that Wei-shushu wears this ribbon?”

  She quickly nodded, gripping my hand tightly for comfort, since she was no longer able to see. “Wei-shushu, why do you wear this ribbon?”

  Wei furrowed his brows at that question and met my expectant gaze. “It’s just an aesthetic thing.” His intonation hiked at the end of the phrase, almost as if his statement was more of a question.

  “Where’d you get it from?” I asked.

  “My younger brother gave it to me a few years ago on my birthday.”

  “He gave you a ribbon?” My tone was lighthearted. I tried to hide my laughter.

  Wei avoided my gaze, looking rather embarrassed and fidgeting with the hilt of his sword. The outdoor environment was turning into a swampy forest, but the change was slow. Yue and Yang continued their fast-paced bickering behind me.

  Amelia tried to turn toward Wei, her voice soft and sympathetic. “Where’s your brother?”

  This innocent question seemed to throw Wei further off his train of thought, almost like he was struggling to piece together every piece. “We haven’t seen each other since I moved out for university. I’m sure he’s doing well. I’ll look for him soon.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  [Observers Chat]

  Socrates: Jia Li, when are you going to tell him the truth? You know he’ll never see his brother again.

  Socrates: I pity him

  Observer ‘Socrates’ sponsors Disciple Wei 1,000 stars.

  Wei looked puzzled at the notification before turning to me.

  “Since when did observers have that many stars? Do you know Socrates, Peijin?”

  “No. Don’t associate with him.”

  [Observers Chat]

  Socrates: Jia Li, you suck. You better make sure Wei is alright, or I’ll get the observers to review bomb you.

  Socrates had been talking almost excessively recently. I wouldn’t complain considering each message still sent me stars, but more important people, like Athena, hadn’t messaged in a while. She was most likely dealing with the intense backlash on Artemis like Archangel Michael.

  I shivered at the thought, remembering how bad it was just to be sensed by the arc and karma. Influencing it must have been torturous pain, even for a goddess as powerful as Artemis.

  “Peijin, I’m sorry I didn’t do much during the last room. I promise to make it up to you this time,” Wei said, looking motivated.

  I blankly stared at him for a moment before laughing at his eagerness. “Don’t worry about something so trivial. Besides, it means I make more stars.”

  “But if I don’t prove myself useful…” Wei trailed off.

  Wei always wore his heart on his sleeve, and he had a similar conversation in Surviving My First Run with Feiyu. Wei was worried that if he didn’t prove himself, he’d have to find a brand new party.

  “Are you worried that I’ll kick you from my party or something?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

  “You are very observant, Peijin.”

  “I won’t do something like that. You’re stuck with me till the end of the apocalypse alongside everyone in my party, so get used to it.”

  Wei finally let his shoulders. I could tell he was nervous ever since seeing his poster. It must be such a strange experience, to see your greatest fear display right before you and have no clue what it is.

  The train finally came to a stop, and the doors opened. My party entered the swampy forest, the train charging off into the distance behind us.

  [Custom room now commencing!]

  [Tailored for: Disciple Cai Yang.]

  Dark oak trees loomed over us while we stood on a slightly paved path; small flickers of light managed to fight past a few leaves, creating a beautiful effect of small rays and sunbeams. Nothing seemed that out of the ordinary. Luminous flowers and fauna splattered the dark forest with beautiful bubbles of color, like large brushstrokes of soft pinks and deep oranges.

  “This is the mind of a pervert,” Yue muttered under her breath, taking in the beautiful sight.

  Any life left in Yang after her prior verbal assault died at that very moment.

  Wei once more hoisted Amelia over his back, and her arms wrapped around his neck. She blew and swiped at her face to try and get long strands of his hair off her face.

  [Hindsight activated!]

  I searched through my brain in hopes of remembering if I created or mentioned an arc like this: an unsettling but breathtaking forest full of flora and fauna that preyed on all who dared enter.

  This was a demon’s lair—that much was certain from the beings displayed on Yang’s poster. Zhige trembled in my hand with nervousness and fury, confirming my suspicion as I cautiously wielded him.

  “Everyone, stay behind me,” I ordered, turning toward Yue. “Is this an illusion?”

  Her eyes flashed purple, and she quickly scanned the area. ‘Magician’s Hand’ should be able to confirm if we were under any demon’s spell. This environment was not only more difficult for demonic disciples like Yue, but it would also make them more powerful and attuned.

  She shook her head. “We’re in an actual forest, but it’s been layered with many others.”

  I gave a curt nod. That meant even if we saw an exit within this swamp, it might have been a red herring and led us further into the forest.

  “Yue, stay in the back. Sandwich Wei and Yang between us. Wei, make sure you’re protecting Amelia at all times.”

  Even though we would usually bicker over every step, this was a dungeon that the two of us had a distinct advantage in. After all, we were both women,

  The deep orange and pink flowers around us seemed to shift in the ground, as if their roots were moving and trying to dig out. Some of the leaves seemed to brush against Yang’s ankles, and he shivered, swatting at his legs. Oddly enough, all the flowers seemed to gravitate toward him.

  My eyes involuntarily squinted with the pressure of trying to remember what I’d written.

  Back in the metro, Yang’s poster depicted a rather odd situation. An exhausted and panting Yang was pressed into the back of the cave out of fear, gripping onto the rocky stone walls to hide. At the front of the cave, countless… voluptuous female figures peered in, their strangely textured hands reaching out for him.

  Their delicate faces were framed by luscious green leaves, and though their upper body looked human, the rest of their body was made of the twisted roots of a plant. Flowers sprouted from their skin, bright red and orange.

  It finally clicked. I knew where we were. “Everybody! Shut your eyes and don’t open them!”