The hotel was now completely consumed by the fire, with no more survivors coming down.
The survivors spread out, trying to find a way to escape this place. But no matter what they did, no one could leave the area.
Lin Wei returned to Bai Jiang's side, speaking with surprise: "The hotel's main entrance is right there behind us, but no one can get out. Some people circled to the back of the hotel and said the wall wasn't even high—they could climb it. But no matter how hard they tried, they just couldn't get over it! It's like there's some kind of magic trapping us here! Bai Jiang, do you think this place is some sort of new underworld? Maybe even heaven? People die and end up here? It's too weird!"
Bai Jiang's body felt extremely uncomfortable, but her mind was unusually clear. She focused her gaze on the burning hotel ahead. Amid the flickering flames, she seemed to see something.
"Look inside the hotel. Isn't there something glowing? A white light?" Bai Jiang asked.
Lin Wei looked closely. "No… wait, yeah! There really is something glowing in there!"
More and more people noticed the strange white glow deep inside the burning building. Exhausted and unable to find an exit, someone said, "Let's wait for the fire to burn out and then go in to look for clues."
The fire burned for what felt like forever. Without phones or any belongings, everyone wore nothing but the hotel's bathrobes, and no one could tell how much time had passed. Bai Jiang, dizzy from hunger, watched as the fire finally died out and the building cooled.
Carefully, the group stepped over the smoldering ground, entering the ruins. In the center of the debris, they found a glowing white circle.
"What… what is this?"
"It looks like a teleportation array in a video game! Do you think this is the exit?"
"This place is too creepy… Whatever, I'm starving!"
A young man rushed forward and stepped into the glowing circle. The moment he touched it, he disappeared.
Everyone gasped.
"Where did it send him? Will it send us into another burning room?"
"I'm scared… I don't dare go in."
Bai Jiang looked at Lin Wei and said, "I'm going. Do you want to come?"
Lin Wei hesitated, then said, "Let's go together."
The two of them became the second group to enter the white circle. The moment they stepped in, Bai Jiang felt her vision shift in an instant—she'd arrived somewhere new.
"Did… did you hear that? What is this place? This is so strange… so strange!" Lin Wei stammered, stunned. Bai Jiang nearly forgot to breathe as she took in the scene before her.
Countless black stone pillars stood around them like a vast forest. Each pillar was plain and undecorated but gave off an overwhelming sense of heaviness and danger. Beneath some of the pillars, more glowing white circles could be seen.
Bai Jiang looked back and confirmed that behind her and Lin Wei was also a stone pillar—and at her feet, another white circle.
"This is incredible… What is this place?" Lin Wei clutched Bai Jiang's hand tightly. Bai Jiang squeezed her hand in return. "Let's go. That guy who came in before us is still here."
Indeed, the young man who'd entered before them was still there. When he saw them, he ran over. "What took you so long? Where is everyone else? This place is seriously messed up! Nothing but pillars everywhere!"
Just as he finished speaking, more people began stepping out of the white circles. At the same time, a flood of information rushed into Bai Jiang's mind:
[Player Bai Jiang has cleared the Basic Instance: Hotel Fire Escape. Points earned: 4. Personal account activated. Points Shop unlocked. Game manual uploaded—can be reread anytime…]
She finally understood: after her death, she had been selected to enter a game called "Endless Escape Instances." As long as she survived the various escape instances and earned 4,444 points, she could exchange them for a Resurrection Coupon. Even if her body in the real world had turned to ash, this coupon would restore her with a perfectly healthy body, while seamlessly patching up any gaps left behind in reality—so that no one would suspect anything strange.
The instance she had just completed was a basic instance, and clearing it had earned her 4 points.
Besides basic instances, there were also Horror Instances—clearing those granted 44 points.
To survive in each instance, all she needed to do was step into a white circle to return to this transit hub and receive her points.
Bai Jiang's breathing quickened. Was such a thing really possible?
In the real world, she had died from cancer. Her condition had worsened so fast that in less than half a year, she was gone. In her final days, she lay in a hospital bed staring at the pine tree outside the window, unable to look away. She had longed so desperately to get out of that bed, to touch the tree beside the road, the flowers in the flowerbed, to stand once more at the bus stop and wait for the No. 35 bus…
And now… all those regrets might have a second chance to be fulfilled?
Her short, nineteen-year life—cut off so suddenly—could actually be continued?
Bai Jiang's heart burned hot. Her eyes gleamed with determination.
Lin Wei, equally excited, clutched Bai Jiang's hand and shook it hard. "Bai Jiang! Did you hear the voice in your head? Did you get the message too?"
Seeing Bai Jiang nod, Lin Wei cried out, "Then it's true! If we get 4,444 points, we can revive! Oh my god, I can go back! I can really go home! My parents must be heartbroken after my accident…"
Others clearly received the same message. Most of the newcomers looked thrilled.
"This is a miracle! I'm not dreaming, right?"
"I can come back to life? This isn't fake?"
"Eh, I'm already seventy-six… What's the point of reviving? Can I just die now?"
"Horror instances give 44 points? If I do 101 advanced instances, I'll have enough to revive!"
"But horror instances sound terrifying…"
The crowd buzzed with excitement and debate.
Suddenly, a white circle beneath a nearby stone pillar lit up, drawing everyone's attention.
A few minutes later, a man walked out of the light. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, looks like we've got a batch of newbies. Let me guess—you guys just cleared the hotel fire instance, huh? Look at all of you in those burnt bathrobes."
"Come on, follow me. You'll never find your way out of this pillar forest on your own."
People started asking questions all at once.
The man raised a hand to quiet them. "I only arrived here a few days before you did. Don't treat me like some treasure chest, alright? At best, I'll guide you out."
As more people came out of the white circles, someone joked, "Lao Ge, you're too soft-hearted. You could just let them struggle on their own."
Lao Ge laughed. "Someone helped me when I first arrived. Hey, move it! Don't block the circles. When a lot of people finish basic instances at once, this place gets jammed."
"Should we follow him?" someone asked.
Bai Jiang exhaled deeply and finally stood straight. She thanked Lin Wei: "You don't need to hold me anymore. My injuries are healed."
Lin Wei's eyes widened. "You used your points to buy a healing pack, didn't you?"
Next to her points account, Bai Jiang had noticed a Points Shop earlier, and the first thing she'd done was buy a [Healing Pack].
Seeing Bai Jiang nod, Lin Wei's eyes sparkled. "It really worked? That's amazing! You fell from several floors up, and your injuries healed instantly?"
The other players quickly bought their own healing packs, their fractures, burns, and injuries healing instantly—causing another wave of astonished exclamations.
"Come on! You can study the rest later!" Lao Ge urged.
Bai Jiang followed him without hesitation. She couldn't wait to learn more about this mysterious game world.
The forest of stone pillars was dense and chaotic. Bai Jiang followed silently, memorizing the route. After about five minutes, a door-like curtain of light appeared ahead.
Lao Ge stepped through first. Bai Jiang quickly followed.
Stepping through, she found herself in a large hall. Looking left, she saw the portal they'd just exited. To the right, she saw another portal.
The hall was crowded and noisy.
"This is the Mission Hall," Lao Ge explained. "After finishing a task, you come here to find the next instance entrance. Alright, from here, you're on your own. This street isn't big. Go left for the restaurant, right for the inn. Other shops, you can explore when you have time. I suggest changing out of those bathrobes—you'll have a hard time doing tasks dressed like that."
He thought for a moment and added, "The game will tell you what you need to know. Use your brain, listen, observe. Don't trust people too easily. Don't let anyone scam you out of your stuff. I'm leaving."
With that, Lao Ge strode away quickly. Some people in the hall who had been eyeing the newcomers looked visibly annoyed at his interference.
Bai Jiang watched thoughtfully. She felt grateful to Lao Ge. As newcomers, their points were precious—while points couldn't be transferred, players could still be tricked into wasting them.
Bai Jiang decided to leave this place quickly. She was too hungry.
"I'll go find the restaurant," she said.
"I'll come with you. I'm scared to go alone," Lin Wei said, following close behind.
As they pushed through the crowd, someone suddenly grabbed Bai Jiang's wrist.
"Hey, little sister! New here, right? Want some help? I've got all kinds of valuable info, limited-time discount…"
Bai Jiang shook him off. "No thanks!" She grabbed Lin Wei's hand and ran.
"Damn, this girl's strong!"
Other newbies also tried to leave, while some lingered in the hall, curious and eager to ask questions. Some were approached by older players who offered friendly conversation…
Bai Jiang and Lin Wei ran fast. Exiting the main hall, they turned left and immediately found the restaurant, right next to the Mission Hall.
Inside, the place was packed. The two of them found a small table in the corner and sat down. On the table was a fixed tablet screen. Leaning close together, they looked at the menu.
After one glance, Lin Wei gasped. "This is so expensive! One plate of fried rice costs 1 point! We only got 4 points from that instance!"
Bai Jiang ordered a bowl of plain rice for 0.5 points. Lin Wei did the same.
The moment they confirmed their order, Bai Jiang felt her account deduct the points—and in the next second, a bowl of rice appeared on the table in front of her.
Looking around, Bai Jiang saw other dishes appearing the same way at other tables. It was like magic.
The rice tasted sweet and fragrant. Even plain rice was surprisingly delicious. As hunger pains eased, Bai Jiang ate every grain carefully.
When she finished, she asked Lin Wei, "Want to go look at clothes?"
Lin Wei finished her last bite and nodded eagerly. "These bathrobes are too inconvenient. I want something I can run and move in!"