"Did you think of something?"
Bai Yuze's actions surely had a deeper meaning, so the Front Desk didn't question him, but instead asked how he came up with this method.
"The rules mentioned not counting the number of stairs when climbing, because counting triggers the condition for entering and exiting the basement. Taking one step less into the void is entering the basement, so taking one step more into paradise must be the way to leave the basement."
"Sounds feasible."
The Front Desk turned to look at Xiao Chu Sheng beside him. Xiao Chu Sheng shrugged.
"I'm fine with anything. At worst, I'll just die again."
"Alright, let's start counting the stairs now."
Bai Yuze bent down and held Bruce in his arms, and the Front Desk copied Bai Yuze, picking up Xiao Chu Sheng. This was to prevent them from accidentally being left behind.
From Yukino and Bai Yuze's experience entering the basement, it could be deduced that when one person carries or holds another, as long as one of them counts the stairs, both will be swallowed by the stairs.
"Go!"
At Bai Yuze's command, both of them stepped forward simultaneously, silently counting the number of stairs.
At this moment, the stairs vibrated slightly. After the vibration ended, the tentacles attacked again, but Bai Yuze and the Front Desk paid them no mind, bravely facing them.
When their feet touched the stairs again, a dazzling light appeared in their vision!
When the light faded, they found themselves back upstairs.
"Phew! Finally back. I really missed this polished floor and the blinding lights! And…"
Bai Yuze froze, and the Front Desk also froze.
Good news: They're back!
Bad news: They ran into a strange creature!!!
Looking at the long-limbed monster in front of him, Bai Yuze felt like crying. The main entrance didn't even give them invincibility time. They just walked out and ran into a mini-boss. Who could handle this?
"Hey! Xiao Chu Sheng, I know you've been annoyed with me for a while, and you must be full of suppressed anger. Now you can vent it on this guy in front of you. I allow it!"
"Human… I may not be smart… but I'm not stupid! The black aura on it is almost enough to dye it black itself; I wouldn't even be enough for it to snack on!
Besides, aren't you holding a cleaver? You fight it!"
"Didn't you see how long its arms are? Its attack range is too long, and I can't reach it!"
Bai Yuze had a terrible headache. The strange creature's limbs were too long. Given its attack range, he would have to throw the cleaver, but the force of a thrown cleaver would gradually diminish during flight, making a one-hit kill impossible.
And there were differences among strange creatures!
Xiao Chu Sheng was also a bit helpless. Was he going back as soon as he arrived? But looking at the situation, it didn't seem so bad; at least he would have a few more companions.
The long-limbed strange creature also froze. It hadn't ordered takeout! And now there was free delivery right to its mouth!
"Run!" × 2
The Front Desk and Bai Yuze immediately turned and fled, and the strange creature naturally wouldn't let go of the food that was about to reach its mouth.
At the critical moment, Bruce went in the opposite direction. It bit one of the strange creature's legs, and with its weight, slightly restricted the strange creature's movement speed.
But it only restricted it for a moment before being slapped away by the strange creature.
"No! Hurry up!"
"I know! Stop rushing me!"
The Front Desk frantically rummaged through his pockets for the key. Bai Yuze's urging and the strange creature's roar made his movements anxious, so he couldn't find the key he wanted no matter how hard he looked.
"If you just closed the door when you left, that would be it. Why do you always like to lock the door?!"
"If my home gets robbed, will you take responsibility?"
"I was in the basement at the time, how could I rob your home?"
"So you actually had that thought?!"
The strange creature gradually approached the two of them, the distance getting closer and closer.
"It's over…"
Bai Yuze clutched his cleaver, preparing for a desperate fight.
Tick-tock!
The entire house shook, and then the strange creature's form gradually dissipated. From its eyes, one could see its unwillingness and longing.
"Are you alright?"
Yukino's voice rang out. Bai Yuze immediately breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yukino and Yui Yuigahama.
"Thank you very much. You've been a great help."
Bai Yuze wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It was truly a close call just now. If the two girls hadn't reset the time to a safe point, he and the Front Desk would have met their end here.
"Welcome back, Xiao Ze!"
Yui Yuigahama had two large dark circles under her eyes, and her gaze was full of exhaustion.
"Mm, I'm back. You worked hard, Tuanzi."
When Bai Yuze saw Yui Yuigahama's dark circles, he knew she hadn't relaxed for a moment, afraid that he and Yukino wouldn't return, afraid that they would encounter unknown dangers, afraid that her momentary oversight would lead to everyone being unable to leave this place.
"Get some good rest. You don't have to force yourself."
Bai Yuze's voice was like a lullaby, becoming the last straw that broke Yui Yuigahama's will.
Her body began to sway, then she collapsed towards Bai Yuze, who supported her to prevent her from falling to the ground and getting injured.
"Let's go back to the room to rest first. As for him…"
Bai Yuze pointed to the Front Desk, who was still looking for his keys.
"Let him take his time."
Yukino nodded, then she and Bai Yuze helped Tuanzi back to room 104. Xiao Chu Sheng followed behind them, and Bruce, who had been slapped away, had recovered from his injuries and caught up, leaving only the frantic Front Desk still searching for his keys…
Inside room 104.
Bai Yuze placed Tuanzi on the bed and said to the other living beings.
"Currently, the male corpse in room 102 is still self-repairing. We need to take advantage of this self-repair period to go to the 'fourth floor,' which is the so-called third floor! That is the final destination.
Now we have gathered all the Town-Suppression Strange Objects and the guys who can help. The final battle is coming."
"I have a question!"
Xiao Chu Sheng raised his hand.
"Speak!"
"Besides the cleaver and scalpel in your hand, what other Town-Suppression Strange Object is there?"
What Xiao Chu Sheng asked was also what Yukino was confused about. She couldn't remember when another Town-Suppression Strange Object had been found?
"Isn't it the iron chain around your neck? Otherwise, what do you think a broken chain is doing to hold you?"
Bai Yuze answered. Of course… this was also his guess, but the first floor, second floor, and even the basement had been searched. If it wasn't this iron chain, then the remaining Town-Suppression Strange Object could only be in Yang Peng's hands…
"So what do we do now? Your companion's sleep quality is quite good. I don't think she can help right now."
"So… I'll have to trouble you a bit."
Bai Yuze gave Xiao Chu Sheng a mischievous smile, and Xiao Chu Sheng felt a bit unnerved by Bai Yuze's gaze, but he forcefully suppressed the urge to run away…
Anyway, he couldn't escape…