Volume One, Chapter 20: The Player Who Had Once Completed the Game

Qin Shang pondered for a moment, then searched the forum using the keywords "contaminated dungeon." Immediately, several casual discussion threads popped up.

#{Priest} “[Zhao Family Mansion] dungeon has been contaminated; the source of contamination is currently unknown. Three official high-level players died while exploring this dungeon. Players trading related dungeon strategies are advised to consider the information carefully.”

#{Hypnotist} “[Matchmaker] dungeon is contaminated. Originally, the main quest required players to assist the groom in completing the wedding ceremony. However, a daring player committed an unspeakable act against the NPC matchmaker, causing an incident that escalated the dungeon from rank B to S, renaming it to [Out-of-Control Groom]. The contamination source might be related to the actions of players who previously entered the dungeon… ahem.”

An unspeakable act against an NPC!? Qin Shang’s features twisted in disbelief as he read the last post. Damn, someone actually did something indecent to the NPC matchmaker? Could it be that this guy was so desperate that the NPC suffered humiliation beneath him!?

Damn, what a talent!

Qin Shang twitched the corner of his mouth. It seemed there were quite a few dungeons that had been contaminated. Once a dungeon was contaminated, the main quest and difficulty changed, making previous strategies useless.

From these posts, Qin Shang gleaned a clue: contamination sources!

The “Death Train,” formerly called “Train Mystery,” was once a B-rank dungeon but had now become an A-rank dungeon, which was an S-rank dungeon for the Trickster class. Clearly, it had been contaminated.

If one wished to clear these contaminated dungeons, it seemed necessary to identify the source of contamination. Sources could vary: grudges held by deceased players, curses from priests, or those brazen enough to commit unspeakable acts against the NPC matchmaker… all were types of contamination sources.

Of course, changes in the Divine Path map causing dungeon collisions could also create contamination.

The first few were easier to understand, but the concept of dungeon collision was something Qin Shang had only encountered on the forum.

For example, if the Death Train’s backdrop was set in 1870s London, there would surely be other dungeons set in the same era. Urban legends abound in every age and place, so multiple dungeons could exist simultaneously.

If Qin Shang, before completing the first round of exploration, drove the train’s engine and crashed the Death Train off the rails, he might inadvertently collide into another dungeon. This would cause the Death Train and that dungeon to merge, forming a new dungeon—essentially a bug within the Divine Path game.

Qin Shang closed his phone, having gained a rough understanding of the Divine Path player community. For now, his biggest concern was the upcoming second round of exploration in the Death Train dungeon.

“Wait, I think I received a reward clue after clearing the Death Train—something called a letter from El…” Qin Shang grasped his character card and instinctively opened his inventory.

Sure enough, there lay a quietly resting letter. Perhaps this item could offer valuable clues.

…

Meanwhile, at the Chaoyang District Security Bureau in Yanjing.

A burly man in work clothes strode directly onto the second floor. His uniform allowed him unhindered passage; no one stopped him.

The stern-faced giant easily found his way to a room in the corner of the floor. Pausing hesitantly at the door, he finally raised his hand and knocked.

“Come in!” a cold voice called out from within.

The security officer pushed open the door, his expression complicated as he looked at the figure seated inside.

At the desk sat a handsome young man, dressed in white. His long hair was tied back in a ponytail; his sharp, chiseled features exuded calm and composure. Even upon the man’s entrance, he only glanced briefly before returning his gaze elsewhere.

Cold, composed, he radiated a maturity beyond his years.

“Justice Hawk, your speed in entering dungeons this time is beyond expectation,” the young man remarked.

“Did a high-level player carry you for an easy win?”

Indeed, “Justice Hawk.” If Qin Shang were here, he would surely recognize him as the security officer he had briefly encountered in the Death Train dungeon.

Justice Hawk’s expression darkened, and he spoke in a low voice: “Mr. Yin, I entered a contaminated dungeon, Divine Path ID 0927—the Death Train…”

At this, the man who had been steadfastly reading documents at the computer finally frowned and looked up. His cool expression shifted to suspicion as he regarded Justice Hawk.

“The Death Train? An S-rank dungeon for Trickster class, but only an A-rank for other classes, now contaminated?”

After speaking, the young man seemed to grasp Justice Hawk’s intention in visiting him today and clicked his tongue.

“If it’s the Death Train, then the organization can’t offer you much help,” he said.

“The official records do not include second-round strategies for this dungeon. Once the twenty-four-hour timer runs out, you’re on your own inside.”

Despite having anticipated this, Justice Hawk’s heart sank slightly.

As a public official, after receiving his character card and first entering the dungeon, he had reported the supernatural phenomena he encountered to the authorities.

Soon, the organization recruited him into a special operations team.

It was then he learned that beneath the dazzling lights of Huaxia, a special group of Divine Path players operated in secret. He was not alone in his experiences.

Naturally, Justice Hawk became an official player.

Ordinary Divine Path players must enter dungeons regularly; yesterday was his scheduled dungeon day.

Justice Hawk had assumed it would be a routine exploration, but after being teleported back halfway through, he was utterly bewildered. This was the first time he’d encountered such a situation.

He immediately scoured the official Divine Path forum for any information on the Death Train.

…

He and Qin Shang had seen strikingly similar content.

It appeared the dungeon was far more dangerous than he had initially thought.

Not even the official database held any clear completion strategies.

In other words, all other players who had entered the Death Train had perished.

Otherwise, how could there be no strategies if they had come out alive?

Panicked, he rushed to the official headquarters, hoping to enlist help from high-level Divine Path players.

Yet, even the highest-level official player in Chaoyang District seemed powerless.

This thought weighed heavily on Justice Hawk.

“Mr. Yin, has no one ever cleared the Death Train?” he asked.

“What exactly is the source of contamination in this dungeon!?”

Mr. Yin glanced at him coldly, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

“If we had figured out the contamination source, do you think we’d still be unable to clear this dungeon?”

But then a complex expression flashed across his handsome face, emotions swiftly passing, before he answered earnestly:

“However… as far as I know, there was indeed one person who cleared this dungeon!”

What?

Someone cleared the Death Train?

That was great—it meant there was a chance to obtain a strategy guide!

Justice Hawk’s excitement surged.

“Who was it?”

Mr. Yin narrowed his eyes.

“I do know of a Divine Path player who cleared the Death Train.”

“But unfortunately, you won’t be able to meet him.”

“Why!?” Justice Hawk clung desperately to the last straw, unwilling to lose even the smallest chance.

Upon hearing this, his expression darkened.

“Because he’s already dead in Divine Path.”

“His game ID was ‘Fiercely Licking Cockroach Jade Feet’.”

Hearing this, Justice Hawk, initially disappointed, froze at the name.

Then his expression turned as if he had seen a ghost.

“What!?”