279 The Weapon is Too Well-Hidden

"When is the new video going to be published? I can't wait any longer…"

"Stop rushing him. He's in the process of making it. Has Teacher Qiao ever lied to you?"

"Every time I ask, you say he's making it. As if that's true! I think it's hard to say whether Teacher Qiao even managed to complete the game."

"Are you a fake fan? Teacher Qiao was officially invited to test the game a long time ago. It's said that he already completed it. He only made a deal with the officials not to expose the game's contents."

"Sh*t, just talking about the game gets me mad. I've been playing it for four days, but I still can't pass the Road to the Underworld."

"My true brother who's stuck at the Road to the Underworld, I am stuck at Mengpo."

"You just need to fight a bit harder to defeat Mengpo, right? The magistrates after her are the real tough ones to beat. They'll kill you until you start doubting your own existence."

The fans were discussing the game's contents and their experience.

The atmosphere in Teacher Qiao's fan group was relatively good. People were not arguing over the game's difficulty.

Perhaps this was because most of Teacher Qiao's fans were hardcore gamers, and they were more patient than ordinary gamers.

"Ai, it looks like this game is not meant for lousy players like me. I really admire how far you guys are progressing in the game."

"I think it'll be alright; it depends on how you play. You can find some joy in your suffering. I'm a lousy gamer, too. I intend to run away from the monsters and keep going for the Buddha statues. I want to see how far I can go."

"You're kidding, right? You haven't even completed the game properly, and you're trying to speed-run through it?"

"I'm not trying to speed-run through it; I'm just doing this for fun. I can't even beat the little monsters, hahaha."

There were even a couple of good-tempered players who tried various ways to progress in the game.

Qiao Liang sent a message to the group. "Take note of the plot's details while playing the game. If you find good material, I might include it in my video."

As an elite content creator, Qiao Liang believed that there was power in numbers.

The game was so rich in content. He would not be able to uncover everything on his own. Sometimes, lame netizens could contribute inspiration.

"Catch Old Qiao!"

"Old Qiao, you're crowdsourcing your video again?"

"You're asking the wrong people. We're still being tortured by the little monsters at the mass grave. Who would have the time to take note of plot details for you?"

"…I think the game has an official novel, right? Go and read it."

Teacher Qiao paused.

An official novel? How come I've never heard of it?

He quickly asked, "What official novel? They're not created by the same people, right?"

The replies from his friends came quickly. "I think it's an official novel. You can go to www.zhongdian.com."

"Do you know about TPDb? I think it's a website for Tengda's internal ratings. Zhongdian Chinese Network is on that site as well, and Repent and be Saved's novel is on its homepage. It should be an official novel."

Qiao Liang could not help but click his tongue in wonder.

There's such a thing? The lame netizens really had a way around the internet.

Qiao Liang quickly accessed the website and realized that it was true!

Repent and be Saved was being recommended on its homepage.

A cursory scan revealed tons of content in the novel, which was of the same high standard as the game's. It even included characters like the old monk in the newbie village and the scholar.

However, the novel's storyline seemed fragmented. Instead of calling it a novel, Qiao Liang thought it would be better to call it a plot design series for the game.

The novel seemed unstable, and there was a lack of continuity between the chapters so that Qiao Liang could not read it smoothly. However, he felt elated.

It proved all the more that this was Repent and be Saved's official novel!

This way, he could confirm the parts in the game's plot that he had been unsure about!

"Thanks, Brother. You've been a great help!"

Qiao Liang sent an emoticon with cupped fists in the chat and then closed the window at lightning speed. He began to read Repent and be Saved's official novel.

The first chapter was published in July, and the first comment was written at the end of July.

This added to Qiao Liang's belief that this was the game's official novel. This was because research and development of Repent and be Saved had just begun in July.

No author could have thought of the exact same ideas as Tengda and produced this book. It was practically impossible.

An employee of Tengda must have written this!

After reading for five minutes, Qiao Liang frowned. It was not because the book was badly written, but because the comments were disgusting! He had to admit that there were far too many haters. The first chapter was in an especially bad state.

The second and third chapters' situations were markedly better. This was probably because most readers had left.

"What are you writing?"

"Is the author entertaining himself? This is toxic!"

"Why is this book still on the website's homepage? Was it done by a related person?"

"I have no idea what this novel is about. It has a negative rating in my book!"

"Hehe, it's no wonder that this website remains unpopular. The novels are all so lousy. Who even reads these things?"

The other comments were similar to the above.

It was obvious that these comments had been written before the game, Repent and be Saved, was released. Most people were reading this book as if it were an ordinary web novel. Naturally, they found it intolerable.

On the other hand, Qiao Liang was extremely engrossed in the novel. The official novel contained content that was invaluable to him.

All his hypotheses were being confirmed or denied by the novel. Some details in the novel also pointed him to uncover other details in the game.

"This is another neglected work. The storyline is not great, and it doesn't make a good web novel. However, when read together with the game, it becomes something else completely.

"Did Boss Pei start this website as well?

"That's strange. Why does Boss Pei like to emphasize his good works by first making them appear horrible? Could it be a unique but strange habit?

"Or does he just enjoy the roller coaster of emotions? Did he enjoy seeing his game and website fail before turning the tables and resurrecting them using special methods?

"I don't know.

"Perhaps that's just what talented businessmen do."

The book was filled with content. What's more, the plot was being written in fragments; and some parts did not seem to have made it into the game.

From this, Qiao Liang guessed that a group of people had worked on the novel together. However, the game only used a small portion of what they had written. The remaining was either made into Easter eggs or slotted into the game through minor details. Some parts were not even added into the game.

"That's strange. A lot has been written about the old monk."

Qiao Liang noticed that the old monk seemed to play a large role in the official novel.

According to his understanding of the game, there was no Buddha in the game's world. There were only dilapidated statues, which represented the legendary Degenerate Age that the game was set in.

Boss Pei had probably only wanted to use Buddha as one of the many traditional Chinese elements blended together in the game.

Apart from the Buddha statues which acted as save points along the way, the only Buddhist elements were the worn down temple outside the village and the old monk inside that temple.

The old monk seemed very weak in the game. Qiao Liang thought his only purpose was to provide weapons after his death.

However, according to the official novel, this old monk had a very sad story behind him. What's more, after losing his sanity, he became very powerful. He should have been an undefeatable elite monster.

Qiao Liang scratched his head, visibly confused.

"Did the design team get it wrong? Why does the official novel seem to depict the monk differently?

"It would make more sense if he was an elite monster.

"A unique model was created for this old monk. Although he looks skinny and weak, he looks sturdier than ordinary little monsters. Even his movements were specially created and so detailed…

"It seems illogical that he ended up as a weak monster."

Qiao Liang entered the game once again. He had created a new account after the game was published, and had reached the second round with it. Now, he was near the town.

He found the old monk, saved a new folder, and began to adjust his gameplay.

He used different techniques to kill the monk.

He tried luring the monk out of the temple.

He died.

However, no matter what he tried, he did not uncover any special plots.

"Am I not supposed to kill this old monk? Must I find a special prop somewhere to trigger the plot development?"

Qiao Liang was deeply confused.

After trying for a long time, he still did not make any headway. Qiao Liang decided to crowdsource once again and ask his fan group for some help.

"Hey, everyone. Do you know if I can unlock a hidden plot development using the old monk in the temple? Try every method in the book. I feel like something is amiss."

Qiao Liang did not harbor high hopes. He had just casually asked the question.

"The old monk? I killed him long ago."

"I killed him, too. He's so fragile. I just had to touch him to kill him."

"I haven't gotten there…"

"I can try, but I don't know if I'll be able to make it. I ran all the way here. I don't have any props or weapons…"

Qiao Liang had an impression of the friend who posted the last comment. He was the player who said he would not kill any monsters and would see how far he could go just by running.

Qiao Liang did not think too much about this. After all, the official novel could have been wrong. Otherwise, there might have been some problems along the way. The developers might have adjusted the game's system, turning the old monk from an elite monster into nothing more than a toolbox.

A few minutes later…

"Old Qiao! Old Qiao, look! Look at this weapon!"

"[Image]"

"[Image]"

"[Image]"

The player may have accidentally posted three images out of excitement.

Qiao Liang was stunned as he opened the first image.

A golden staff!

He was confused because he had seen the staff before. He had even used it before; it was not good. It was low-impact and inconvenient.

However, the staff which the old monk had dropped before did not glow like that.

Yet, this staff had a golden glow around it. It looked eye-catching and aggressive as it hung on the player's back. It was obviously different from all the other weapons!

The next two images contained the weapon's name and description.

"Pudu…"

"Buddha says, 'the five aggregates that make up each human being amounts to nothing; this realization delivers from sorrow and suffering'."

Qiao Liang was astonished but elated.

There really is a hidden plot here?!

He quickly asked, "How did you get this?"

The player replied, "I'm not sure either! I ran here to activate a nearby Buddha statue and then thought about coming in to take a look. I did not have any props or weapons on me, and so I could not defeat the old monk. Each time I met him, I was killed.

"I died a couple of times and realized that the monk had become an NPC! I went over and talked to him. He said a whole bunch of things and then gave me this weapon.

"Holy sh*t, this weapon is awesome!"

Qiao Liang could not express his excitement in words.

However, he was even more confused than before. "Why? That doesn't happen to me. I died a couple of times, too, but I did not activate this plot development. Is it because I'm on my second round? Is that why I can't unlock this hidden plot?"

The player replied, "Maybe."

Qiao Liang immediately became agitated.

This was huge news!

There is such a mysterious weapon hidden in the game?! I'll open a new folder and try dying in the first round!

Qiao Liang recalled the entire journey leading up to finding this weapon and could not help but feel emotional. The weapon was too well-hidden. It was as if the designer had hidden it on purpose, so that gamers would not be able to find it!