That was hard to imagine in this day and age. Now, dungeons only opened on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and time inside them didn’t pass nearly so quickly.
The tree said, “I have a knife wound on me. It was inflicted by that tyrant.”
I walked over, and the leaves on top of my head moved with me.
I looked closely, but didn’t see any wound.
It said sheepishly, “Sorry, I forgot. The wound healed a long time ago.”
It must have hurt a lot if it still remembered even after the wound had healed.
I looked at it. “Is there anywhere here that needs cleaning?”
“Cleaning… Hmm, let me think.” It sank into thought again, as if pondering a question of world-shaking importance.
The rain drummed against the green leaves. The fresh, peaceful atmosphere was soothing.
“Oh! I remember now. There really is some trash.”
It told me, “Follow the flowers on the ground.”
The flowers on the ground swayed, blooming all along the path.
As I walked, the rain stopped, and the leafy canopy overhead moved along with me.
Everything was lush and full of life. In this rainforest, everything seemed to be competing to show off its colors.
I said, “It’s beautiful here.”
“Really?” It smiled.
“It’s rare for anyone to compliment this place. Players usually say, ‘This damn place.’”
I said, “Players have to face life and death, so naturally they’re not in the mood to appreciate the beauty. If they could be like me and come here just to enjoy the scenery, I’m sure they’d offer sincere praise too.”
It asked, “Really?”
I smiled. “Of course.”
It said happily, “I’ve spent a lot of time taking care of everything here. Whether it’s beautiful or not doesn’t really matter. What matters most is that I can feel life beyond myself. These things are full of vitality, rooted here, and growing freely.”
Flowers swayed in the wind. The breeze stirred the droplets of water, and a little stream wound its way along.
After crossing the stream, it said, “The trash is right here.”
A pile of tattered clothes lay in a jumbled heap, tall as a mountain of garbage at a dump.
It said, “These things will take years to decompose and are having a serious impact on the environment here. Could you help me haul them away?”
“Of course.”
I thought for a moment, then said, “But this place is far from the entrance. I’ll have to go back and get a little cart.”
Once I found a cart, I got to work hauling everything. First, I tossed the clothes to the other side of the stream, then loaded them onto the cart… and repeated the process over and over.
It said, “My physical body is too far away to help. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay. This is my job.”
Having to ask someone else for help would be so pathetic… except for Xiao Li.
By the time I bundled up the last of the clothes, it was four in the afternoon.
The tree said, “You’ve had a hard day today.”
It dropped a large leaf, like a palm-frond fan, and fanned me with it. “I hope I’ll see you again.”
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and smiled. “As long as I don’t quit this job, we’ll see each other often.”
It said, “That’s wonderful. I really enjoy talking with you. Don’t worry, I’ll remember your name. It’s Liu Yu, right?”
I looked at it. Was its memory really that bad?
I patiently said, “My name is Ngo Tu Du.”
It apologized. “I’m so sorry. I’ve got it this time. I won’t get it wrong next time we meet.”
“It’s okay. See you next time.” I waved, pulled the cart, and walked out of the dungeon. I secretly hoped that next time, it wouldn’t call me “Ngo Yu” or “Speechless Du.”
The boss looked at me. “Not bad. You really did finish it in one day.”
I said, “Of course. There aren’t many cleaners as good as me in this world. Boss, hiring me was a real bargain for you.”
He smiled. “That proves I have a good eye. It’s getting late, so hurry up and clock out.”
I looked into his one eye and said, “Boss, there’s something I want to ask you.”
He stepped away from his desk and looked at me. “Go ahead. Let’s see if I can answer your question in the time we have.”
I asked, “Why do you want players to clear so many dungeons?”
As far as I could tell, there was no benefit to him in having players clear so many dungeons.
He said, “Do you know where players come from?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Everyone who becomes a player has filled out a wish list. It includes things they want to make happen. For example…”
He looked at me and said, “Bringing a loved one back to life.”
My heart gave a hard thump. “Can it really be done?”
He seemed to see right through me. “You can’t anymore. No one can be both a player and a referee. That wouldn’t be fair to anyone.”
Ignoring my changing emotions, he said, “The number of dungeons each person has to clear depends on how difficult their wish is. If all they want is a filling meal, they need to clear just one dungeon. If they want world peace, they might have to clear ten thousand.”
I asked, “Does making players clear dungeons have anything to do with where they come from?”
He said, “It seems we’re getting off topic. Let’s get back to the main point. Players’ souls are a kind of resource. They come here to fulfill their wishes, and they accept the risk of life and death. Once they’ve chosen their path, there’s no turning back. But I don’t need that many souls—or, rather, I already have enough.”
“Endless ambition is poison. I’m willing to give them a wider path. Whether they manage to fulfill their wishes is up to them.”
He looked at me. “I’ve answered your question. It’s time to clock out.”
He clapped his hands gently. The space around me shifted, and I was out of the dungeon’s backstage area.
I took out my phone to check the time. 4:30 p.m.
Right on time.
But the boss’s last words had also brought me to my senses. Being able to work here as a cleaner was already a stroke of good luck. I shouldn’t dwell on things that didn’t matter.
If I really became a player, I didn’t think I’d survive long enough to fulfill my wish.
Although I get along very well with these NPCs now, I know it’s all based on one condition: they and I are on the same side.
When it comes to players, they show absolutely no mercy.
Ngo Tu Du, Ngo Tu Du, calmly face the end of your life. It’s inevitable.
The next day, outside the Kitten Dungeon.
I knocked on the dungeon door.
The black cat looked at me. “Did you bring any beef?”
I said, “I did, but not everything comes free.”
It blinked and asked cautiously, “As expected, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. What do you want?”
I said, “I want you to thank me.”
It stared at me blankly. “That’s all?”
“Being a polite little cat isn’t easy. I bought you something, so you should thank me.”
I handed it the food. “If you don’t say it, I won’t buy you anything next time.”
It looked at me and said sincerely, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome to visit our dungeon, too.”
The white cat poked its head out from the other side. “Meow?”
I reached out and stroked the white cat’s head. It rubbed against my palm, apparently quite content.
When I reached out to pet the black cat, it moved away. “Don’t pet me.”
“All right.”
A little disappointed, I asked, “Is there anywhere in your dungeon that needs cleaning?”
It shook its head. “No. If we need anything, I’ll have Xiao Bai find you.”
The white cat nodded and meowed.
It can travel through dungeons. It’s no ordinary cat. Too bad it can’t talk.
Looking back at the aloof black cat, I asked, “Is there anything else you’d like to eat next time?”
The black cat’s emerald eyes flashed. “Next time, please bring some more dried fish. Thank you. I want the spicy kind, and it wants the regular kind.”
I smiled. “All right, no problem.”
I knocked on the Blood Moon Dungeon door.
A deep, eerie voice rang out. “Welcome to Auntie Ngo’s Haunted Rules.”
“Rule number one: Anyone holding a broom, a mop, a dustpan, or a rag is Auntie Ngo. Anyone holding a Xinhua Dictionary is not Auntie Ngo. Do not open the door to anyone who isn’t Auntie Ngo.”
“Rule number two: Auntie Ngo is trustworthy, but when she starts talking about knowledge, stay away from her. Don’t get close. Auntie Ngo is extremely dangerous then.”
“Rule number three…”
I knocked on the door, cutting her off. “Don’t worry, I didn’t bring a dictionary.”
Xiao Zhang’s tone changed at once, becoming obsequious. “Really? Auntie Ngo, please come in. I’ll show you around. VIP treatment! A private room and the seat of honor!”
4.
What a character, I thought, remembering the first time I entered the Blood Moon Dungeon.
Xiao Zhang sat on the roof, gazing at the sky and waving her arms and legs around listlessly.
“Hello,” I called to her from a distance.
“I’m a cleaner for the game. Could you show me where in the dungeon needs cleaning?”
Her long hair fluttered in the wind. She glanced at me, then spoke like Roger from One Piece: “You want my trash? If you want it, go find it! I’ve hidden all my trash in the village.”
I searched the whole village all day and didn’t find a thing.
When I returned to the village gate, she looked at me in surprise. “You’re still here! I was lying when I said that earlier.”
I took two deep breaths and silently reminded myself to keep my emotions in check and not get mad just because someone had played a prank on me.
The NPCs in dungeons came in all kinds of strange varieties, so it was normal to run into someone with an odd hobby now and then. Who knew how many more headaches I’d run into later? I had to stay calm.
I said, “Sorry to bother you. I’ll be on my way.”
As I turned to leave, she called after me. “There actually is a pile of trash in my dungeon, but getting rid of it won’t be easy.”
I turned to look at her. “Tell me what you want in return.”
She looked at me and said, “Put on a play with me.”
So I performed with her in plays like “The Adventures of Xiao Zhang,” “Xiao Zhang the Robot,” and “Xiao Zhang Eradicates the Three Evils”…
In the process, her true nature became crystal clear.
Lively, cheerful, and mischievous.
Gradually, as we grew more familiar with each other, she said, “Auntie Ngo, let’s act out something else next.”