Chapter 98: The Ambush Field

Chen Hao had rented a two-bedroom one-living-room apartment with ready-made furniture, but after Ban Qianqian inspected it, she remained dissatisfied. Chen Hao could only accompany her to the streets. Following her instructions, he rearranged the room entirely. Only then did he admit that her taste was impeccable, transforming the space into something far more homelike.

Ban Qianqian stir-fried four small dishes with practiced ease and, with a flourish, produced a bottle of red wine. “Brother, today is our first day living together. We must celebrate properly.”

Chen Hao teased, “Aren’t you afraid of getting drunk and being raped?”

Ban Qianqian seemed to recall some terrifying memory. Her delicate face drained of color, and she set the bottle down. Chen Hao cursed his loose tongue and sat beside her, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. “It’s all behind us. In the future, I’ll work hard to grow stronger and ensure no one ever bullies you again.”

Ban Qianqian nodded obediently. She lifted the wine, swirled it, and said with a grin, “Then let’s drink together. I don’t believe that if I get drunk you’ll rape me. Hehe! If you truly dare to do it, I’ll cling to you for the rest of my life.”

Chen Hao opened the bottle and began pouring. Ban Qianqian produced two elegant goblets from the cabinet. “Use these.”

The dishes she had prepared tasted excellent; she must have practiced diligently. After three glasses of red wine, Chen Hao felt nothing. Ban Qianqian, however, cheeks flushed, cupped her face and gazed at him. “Brother, two years ago when we married in-game I was still young, but I wasn’t stupid. We chatted online for two years. You are the most special person among all my netizens. I feel safe and at ease with you…”

“Brother, you’re a good man. I believe you would never…” The little girl rambled in drunkenness, her words slurring, and she slumped onto the table.

Chen Hao lifted her into his arms. Though she looked slim, her weight was not light. After a few steps, Ban Qianqian draped her arms around his neck, tilted her head up, and whispered, “Brother, I’m so happy right now. If you want me, take me. I know you’ll treat me well.”

Chen Hao smiled bitterly and shook his head. Even if he truly desired her, it would not be in a moment when she was drunk. He placed her on the bed, kissed her forehead, tucked the blanket around her, and prepared to leave. But Ban Qianqian, eyes closed, reached up and clutched his neck tightly. “Brother, don’t go…”

Chen Hao had no choice but to lie beside her and keep talking until she finally fell asleep. Only then did he gently move her hands away, tiptoe across the room, turn off the light, and slip out. He opened the nutrient warehouse and entered the game, bought meals in the restaurant, ate with Wang Wu, completed his daily lessons as usual, and began reloading ammunition.

After loading five thousand rounds, his satiety level had dropped below seventy. Chen Hao set the rifle aside and headed to the market. Selling the bullets to an honest trader left him nothing to return to his small courtyard; instead, he walked toward the North Gate and encountered NPC Li Yin. He produced a silver dollar and said, “I want to enter the Lurking Field.”

“Young man, are you certain you wish to enter the Lurking Field? It is extremely dangerous. Should you die, you will face punishment.”

“Confirmed.”

The scenery changed abruptly. Penglai County Town vanished, replaced by a dense forest. The map refreshed; Chen Hao immediately flashed behind a tree. Moments later, a gunshot cracked. A bullet struck the trunk inches from his head.

If he had been even a fraction slower, that shot would have ended him. Death in the Lurking Field would not downgrade his level instantly, but he would be expelled and forced to pay to re-enter. His current level was thirteen, so re-entering after death would cost thirteen silver dollars, with the price rising for higher ranks.

The Lurking Field resembled maps from traditional gun battle games. Upon entry, every player’s combat attributes were set to eighty. The system randomly equipped each participant with a standard handgun, appropriate to the game’s 1900 setting. The satchel also contained one hundred free bullets, a melee weapon, and an identity badge. Chen Hao received a standard Mauser pistol, a short axe, and a badge marked number 178.

He drew the Mauser, picked up a stone, and hurled it toward the opposite side of the trees.

Bang.

A return shot rang out. Using the distraction, Chen Hao slipped to the other side of the trees. Throwing stones to draw enemy fire was the most basic tactic in his memory; no experienced player would fall for it in the late game. But early-game players lacked experience, and this one did.

After hiding again, Chen Hao crawled forward, then took cover behind a slab of green stone. While most players hid behind tree trunks—since handgun rounds could not pierce wood—Chen Hao knew the dense shrubbery concealed stones perfectly. The foliage blocked lines of sight, leaving enemies uncertain whether they had cover and prone to misjudgment.

He glanced up at the direction of the incoming fire, then lay flat behind the stone. The opponent spotted him and fired. The bullet struck the stone.

Using the sound of the shot, Chen Hao pinpointed the rough direction and waited patiently, refusing to commit until the perfect moment.

The shot had been accurate, but whether it had struck Chen Hao remained unknown. To earn points, the player needed to claim the badge from his corpse. The opponent continued observing. Chen Hao stayed motionless, outlasting his rival in patience.

Three minutes passed. The opponent finally rose and approached. Chen Hao heard the footsteps, held his fire, and only fired when the man reached the green stone. He rolled sideways and put a bullet through the enemy’s heart.

The player’s face registered pure shock. At such close range, escape was impossible. Chen Hao crawled to the body, removed the badge, and retreated behind the stone.

He placed the two badges side by side. They fused automatically; the zero became one, indicating he had slain one enemy in the Lurking Field.

In War, every town possessed an NPC who teleported players into the Lurking Field. All fields were interconnected, and each held one thousand participants. Killing ten enemies granted the first Lurking attribute point. Dying before twenty kills resulted in expulsion; the next entry required twenty kills for the second point.

Killing one hundred enemies without death kicked a player out forcibly, but points were still calculated as if they had earned the first tier—ten points total. Dying midway forfeited that reward; subsequent entries followed different ratios. For example, twenty kills first time yielded two points; the next entry required thirty kills for one point.