Chapter 140: "Butterfly Village"
Before even opening her eyes, Li Zhi first smelled the stifling gasoline odor inside the bus.
As her consciousness returned, she opened her eyes to see the idyllic countryside scenery whizzing past the window. This was a bus traveling along a mountain road, packed with passengers. Li Zhi quickly counted—there were over forty people.
A dungeon with over forty people?
She frowned. Xu Yan, sitting beside her, also woke up. The two exchanged glances, and sure enough, Xu Yan looked equally startled upon assessing their surroundings. "Why so many people?"
More players meant higher dungeon difficulty. Forty people—what kind of concept was that? Since the livestreams began, there had never been a dungeon with so many participants.
Soon, the others on the bus also woke up. Upon realizing their environment, the vehicle erupted into chaos. Clearly, the other players were also panicking over the forty-person dungeon.
Hearing the commotion from the back, the bespectacled young woman in the passenger seat stood up. Holding a megaphone and a small flag, her amplified voice rang out: "Please remain calm, everyone. We’ll arrive at Butterfly Village in twenty minutes. I know the long ride has been tiring, so how about we liven things up with some singing?"
Xu Yan whispered, "That’s the tour guide."
Li Zhi nodded.
As soon as the guide finished speaking, someone at the front chimed in, "Sounds good! I’ve been sleeping the whole way—singing will wake me up!"
Li Zhi observed for a moment before realizing, "Not everyone on the bus is a player. Some are tourist NPCs."
"Are you okay? You suddenly twitched in your sleep." A gentle female voice came from behind. "Did you have a nightmare?"
Li Zhi recognized Han Wenlin’s voice as he replied awkwardly, "Ah, yeah… just a bad dream…"
There were a few familiar faces, but not all players knew each other. For now, Li Zhi couldn’t distinguish who was a player and who was an NPC.
The tourists at the front were discussing what song to sing when a playful voice interjected from the aisle, "Singing’s boring. Why doesn’t the guide tell us more about Butterfly Village’s history?"
Li Zhi glanced over. She recognized the speaker—Jiao Shen, a player ranked in the top 100, albeit near the bottom. But anyone who made the rankings was far from ordinary.
Forum posts about Jiao Shen described him as a typical professional player. These types referred to dungeons as "instances," treating them like games—ruthless and decisive, with little regard for teammates’ lives.
Then again, in a way, these players didn’t value their own lives either.
The man who suggested singing earlier sounded displeased. "The guide already explained when we boarded. Weren’t you listening? Why repeat it?"
Jiao Shen said, "Exactly. I had headphones on and missed it. Surely I’m not the only one?"
Others immediately agreed: "Yeah, I didn’t hear either! Guide, tell us again!"
Li Zhi noted these respondents—likely players.
Hearing this, the guide cleared her throat and raised her megaphone. "Alright, I’ll go over it once more. We’re almost at Butterfly Village, and understanding its history will enrich your experience."
"Butterfly Village is an ancient settlement with over five hundred years of history. Originally, it wasn’t called Butterfly Village. Like many ordinary villages, its people lived simple, peaceful lives—working at sunrise and resting at sunset. Then one evening, a massive swarm of butterflies descended upon the village. Bathed in twilight, their golden wings shimmered brilliantly as they settled by the village’s watering spring, refusing to leave. Even the spring water glittered with golden dust from their wings."
"Later, the villagers discovered that drinking this water left butterfly-shaped tattoos on their bodies. From then on, they never fell ill again. This was during a plague-ridden era, when disease ravaged everywhere—except this village. After divination, the high priest declared these butterflies were celestial beings sent to protect them from the plague. Thus, the village was renamed Butterfly Village, and the villagers erected a golden statue in the butterflies’ honor, worshiping them day and night."
"Touched by their devotion, the butterflies stayed and multiplied. Over centuries, their numbers grew, and the villagers protected the local ecology to sustain them. That’s why, even before reaching Butterfly Village, you’ve seen such pristine, untouched beauty along the way."
"Thanks to generations of villagers’ efforts, we now have the famed Butterfly Valley. Soon, you’ll witness the breathtaking spectacle of thousands of butterflies in flight. We’ll first pass through Butterfly Valley—it’s currently cocoon-breaking season, the peak tourist period. You’re all incredibly lucky to have won this all-expenses-paid trip. Butterfly Village only offers one hundred free slots annually—you’re this year’s chosen ones!"
"Reports indicate over a thousand butterfly species inhabit Butterfly Valley, though the golden-winged butterflies—the celestial ones from legend—dominate. Their wings shimmer brilliantly in sunlight. Rumor says those kissed by these butterflies are blessed with immortality. Of course, that’s just folklore."
"Oh!" The guide suddenly grabbed a red bag from her seat and pulled out a handful of sachets. "These are souvenirs from Butterfly Village. Wear them, and once we disembark in Butterfly Valley, the butterflies will flock to you. That’s how all those viral ‘butterfly swarm’ photos online are taken!"
As she distributed the sachets, Li Zhi sniffed hers—a strong floral fragrance. Behind her, Han Wenlin muttered, "What is this, Mulan cosplay?"
After handing them out, the guide returned to the front. "After touring Butterfly Valley, we’ll enter the village itself. Butterfly Village is a scenic spot hailed as a modern-day Shangri-La. You’ve probably heard stories of visitors who refused to leave, choosing to settle here. The village’s rustic charm, nestled between mountains and rivers, seems to slow time itself. You might even stumble upon century-old shops unseen elsewhere—maybe even unearth antiques!"
"Of course, as I mentioned earlier, Butterfly Village maintains its pristine environment with minimal development, especially in the vast mountainous hinterlands. Never venture past ‘No Trespassing’ signs. Every year, reckless tourists who ignore warnings disappear in those hills. Don’t gamble with your lives."
The bus slowed. Through the windows, butterflies fluttered into view.
Waving her flag, the guide announced cheerfully, "Your all-inclusive seven-day Butterfly Village tour begins with Butterfly Valley! Prepare to disembark!"
Minutes later, the bus parked at a scenic area lot. As the forty-plus tourists filed out, Li Zhi, seated toward the back, lingered to observe their surroundings through the window.
The parking lot seemed carved from the wilderness, surrounded by lush forests. A stone path led into the woods, marked by a sign: "Butterfly Valley This Way."
"How strange," Xu Yan remarked. "Butterfly Valley isn’t inside the village?"
"Probably to preserve its ecology," said a fair-skinned, handsome man who turned around. His peach-blossom eyes held a natural flirtatiousness. "You’re players too, right?"
Most women would’ve melted under such a gaze, but Xu Yan seemed immune. "What a dumb question. Don’t you recognize her?"
She pointed at Li Zhi.
Li Zhi blinked at the man.
He looked momentarily embarrassed but quickly recovered, his voice smooth as honey. "Who wouldn’t recognize the great Li Zhi?" Extending a hand, he said, "Hi, Zhi-Zhi. I’m Yao Lang. Call me A-Lang."
Li Zhi shook briefly. "Hello."
Yao Lang turned to Xu Yan. "And this beautiful sister is?"
"Xu Yan," she said icily.
Muttering "so cold," Yao Lang smiled and finally turned away.
As tourists disembarked, players who recognized Li Zhi slowed their steps, gathering around her like moths to a flame.
Fifteenth place—what did that mean? Among hundreds of millions of players, top fifteen was the absolute pinnacle. Meeting such a high-level player was sheer luck—why not bask in her glory? Even Jiao Shen nodded in greeting.
Counting heads, Li Zhi noted ten players total. The rest were likely NPC tourists.
"Sister Zhi-Zhi! OMG, I’m in the same dungeon as Sister Zhi-Zhi! I must’ve saved the galaxy in a past life!"
A curly-haired girl bounced over, hands clasped over her heart, voice sugary sweet. "Sister Zhi-Zhi, I’m Nie Miao! Miao with three water radicals because my fortune lacks water! I adore you! Can I hug you? Ahhh, I’m so happy!"
Li Zhi: "...Let’s skip the hug."
Another voice, gentle and male, chimed in. "Zhi-Zhi, any thoughts on this dungeon? That guide’s story—those ‘celestial butterflies’ sound suspicious. And that golden statue might be some evil god."
Li Zhi glanced over. Yao Lang had somehow sidled up, displacing Han Wenlin.
From behind, Han Wenlin griped, "Ugh, pick-me much?"
Li Zhi deftly extricated herself. "Too soon to tell. Let’s see Butterfly Valley first."
Time to make an exit.
She quickened her pace toward the tourist group, hearing the guide describe the butterfly species around them. As they neared Butterfly Valley, the air thickened with fluttering wings. After trekking through verdant woods for ten minutes, a massive boulder appeared ahead, engraved with "Butterfly Valley."
The guide’s "swarm of butterflies" description proved accurate. Standing amidst the forest, surrounded by countless butterflies, left everyone awestruck.
Thanks to the sachets, each person became a butterfly magnet. Li Zhi spotted the golden-winged varieties—each wingbeat scattered glittering dust, making the sunlight itself seem to sparkle.
Nearby, Han Wenlin’s female travel companion asked him to take photos. Suddenly, Li Zhi covered her nose, swaying slightly.
Xu Yan immediately steadied her. "What’s wrong?"
Li Zhi frowned. "Not sure. Just dizzy. Maybe the wing dust is toxic?"
Xu Yan shook her head. "I feel fine."
Yao Lang and Nie Miao hurried over. "Zhi-Zhi, are you okay?" Nie Miao fretted. "Are you allergic to butterfly dust?"
Li Zhi had no known allergies, but she definitely felt unwell. "Let’s get out of here," she told Xu Yan.