An eerie, cold wind swept through the room.

It rustled the strands of hair at Zi Jin’s temples, making them dance before her eyes.

It also chilled her already cold heart even further.

The blue-haired player couldn’t help but clench his fists, ready to pull a life-saving item from his backpack.

He truly wanted to stand up and shout.

“Am I going crazy, or is this moron actively seeking death?”

Creak.

As the chair beneath the Prince groaned, his massive, towering figure slowly rose. His height of over two meters allowed him to look down upon the actors before him.

An intangible pressure descended, like a great mountain pressing down on everyone’s hearts.

We’re screwed! The Prince is angry!

Right now, they wanted nothing more than to chop Wu Wang into eight pieces to appease the Prince.

Only Xiaoxiao looked at Wu Wang with a strange expression, devoid of any anger.

This feeling… it’s a bit familiar, isn’t it?

She had a sense of déjà vu, like when Yan Shuangying had taken them to see William. That powerhouse, Yan, had also said something utterly shocking out of the blue.

The Jiangshi Prince slowly spoke. His voice was not hoarse in the slightest. Instead, it carried a depth that spoke of having weathered countless storms.

“Such a getup… what play is this role from?”

Wu Wang smiled.

“Replying to the Prince, this is a role from a newly choreographed piece called Arkham Asylum.”

However, this statement made the Troupe Master standing to the side frown at him. He had no knowledge of such a piece being choreographed in the garden.

The Troupe Master stood beside the Prince’s chair. His appearance was more like that of an elegant scholar. He wore a long white robe, and his waist-length hair was tied back with a ribbon. Coupled with his handsome face, he had the air of a dashingly beautiful man.

Judging by his age, he seemed to be less than thirty. It was a mystery how he had become the Troupe Master of the Opera God’s Righteous Garden.

Most critically, Wu Wang could clearly see a faint, thin bloodstain on his neck. It gave the distinct feeling that his head had been cut off and then reattached.

Clearly, the instance introduction didn’t lie to me.

This guy was really dismembered and then resurrected… No, not necessarily resurrected.

After all, if the Prince can be a Jiangshi…

It’s hard to say whether this Troupe Master is currently a living person.

“This medicine, where did it come from?”

The Prince casually took the 【Six-Flavor Sweet Potato Pill】 from Wu Wang’s palm. After examining it closely, he tossed it directly into his mouth.

The next second, the baleful aura emanating from his body multiplied.

The other players, who were already struggling to breathe under the pressure, instantly paled. They all felt as if their hearts were being squeezed by a large, invisible hand, making it difficult to even breathe.

Holy crap! This madman!

The item he gave was the real deal?

【Six-Flavor Sweet Potato Pill (Fine Quality). After consumption, the user’s various attributes will receive a huge boost for a short period, lasting 20 minutes. Side effect. 24 hours after consumption, the user will suffer from kidney deficiency and a sore back for half a day.】

This was a consumable item the Xiezhi had given him back then.

Wu Wang shrugged.

“Replying to the Prince, this is a little something I whipped up myself. The recipe was obtained many years ago from a certain bard named Yao Lao, but it has since been lost.”

Of course he had given him the real thing. Wu Wang knew very well that this Prince would absolutely not get angry.

Because before he entered the instance…

Another piece of his equipment had given him something useful.

【Eye of the Prophet. Three days before entering an instance, it allows the user to observe partial information about the instance, including but not limited to major NPCs, key items, and important plot points.】

In the 【Relic Scramble】, it had provided the clue to ultimately seizing the seed.

This time, it had given three clues.

【A king wreathed in baleful aura is obsessed with the immortal pills of Penglai.】

【A peerless hegemon awaits his Yu Ji.】

【A long-running opera yearns for a grand finale.】

The moment he saw the Prince, Wu Wang immediately understood the first clue. As long as he could provide a pill with special effects, this Prince would definitely be interested.

He wouldn’t be willing to kill him now.

Sure enough, after hearing Wu Wang’s words, the Prince savored the effects of the pill. He stared at him with those gray-white eyes, completely devoid of pupils.

He slowly spoke.

“Then, can you concoct this medicine?”

Wu Wang nodded.

“I know a little. Just a little.”

He knew jack shit!

But he was only staying here for five days, and the pear garden didn’t have any tools for alchemy anyway. He’d agree first to build a good relationship and worry about the rest later.

A smile appeared on the Jiangshi Prince’s face.

“Bravo!”

Because of his fangs and deathly blue complexion, his smile looked even more ferocious than his stern expression.

“Brother Ji, tomorrow, take this one… What is your name?”

Wu Wang answered casually.

“You can just call me Joker. Actors use a stage name when performing.”

The Prince nodded.

“Jue Ke? A strange stage name. No matter. Tomorrow, you will follow the Troupe Master to the pharmacy and bring back the necessary herbs. This Prince is quite interested in the concoction of this medicine.”

Wu Wang froze.

Hold on, pal, you really want me to make it?

And from what you’re saying, we can leave the pear garden in this instance? That’s very strange.

If I can leave, what would stop me from running off and hiding outside?

The Troupe Master gave Wu Wang a meaningful look.

“As you wish.”

He smiled, nonchalantly rubbing his own neck with his hand. That bloodstain was exceptionally glaring in Wu Wang’s eyes.

Wait a minute!

Brother Ji is the Troupe Master?!

Wu Wang was stunned.

Prince, are you telling me to let a guy I just dismembered last night find an opportunity to be alone with me tomorrow?

Are you asking me to bet that he won’t twist my head off and use it as a chamber pot?

Great. I have no objections.

“Allow me to re-introduce to you the Star Actors of our Opera God’s Righteous Garden.”

The Troupe Master gestured toward the seven players as he introduced them.

“Qiu Xiang, Chi Xin, Lan Wan, Lü Lu, Jin Zhu, Mo Hun, and… Jue Ke.”

The names corresponded to the players. 【Zi Jin】, 【Power King】, 【The Executioner】, 【Qiao Biluo】, 【Xiaoxiao】, and 【Shutong】.

And finally, Wu Wang, the Chou, or Clown Role. These were their stage names in the Yi Garden.

Unlike the name Wu Wang had just blurted out, the names of the others at least had a certain charm to them.

“Tomorrow night, these seven, along with myself, will bring you a spectacular performance. I hope you will find it satisfactory.”

After hearing the Troupe Master’s introduction, the Jiangshi Prince sat back down in his chair and nodded slowly.

With a yawn, he waved a hand.

“Alright, This Prince is a bit weary today. Have the guards come in and report on the situation at the border. These actors may withdraw.”

Seeing this, the hearts that had been hanging in the throats of Zi Jin and the other players finally settled.

Unlike Wu Wang, who had basically used a Heavenly Eye to know the Prince’s temperament in advance, those last few minutes had felt like an eternity to them. They were terrified that the Prince would fly into a rage and wipe them all out.

Now it seemed this segment was likely just for the players to get to know the Troupe Master, the Prince, the guards, and other NPCs. It would be too out of character for them to encounter these figures in the pear garden and not recognize them.

The Troupe Master bowed his head and led everyone out of the room.

Only after the guards had closed the door to the Prince’s room did he speak, his tone serious.

“The rest of you, go back and rest. Don’t let exhaustion affect tomorrow night’s performance.”

The next second, his gaze fell upon Wu Wang, filled with deep meaning. He spoke again, enunciating each word.

“You, come with me.”

“Let’s have a good chat about when you decided to change your name.”

“Bai Sha…”