The game becomes reality: Black Myth invades the real world.

Chapter 25 The Great Hook, The Forbidden City

The text mentions that Chen Fu doesn't have a backpack, which should be an item that can be used to carry things in the game, and is quite different from the small squares that can be displayed in front of you.

One type is an in-game item used to collect resources. The other type is a real-world ability that can be used.

Chen Fu thought to himself, if he can't bring too much stuff, does that mean he'll be completely naked in the game? The chosen one really does have nothing.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought. The most important thing now was to look at the immediate gains. He searched the warehouse and found quite a few items, deciding to take the useful ones with him.

The hook that was found using the coroner's abilities must be carefully examined.

Although we don't know if it will lead to other things or plot developments, we can't ignore it now that we've discovered it.

"Chen lard (weapon material): Lard that hangs by the stove for three years has become greasy on its own. It is a thick, greasy paste scraped from the corner of the stove in a pig farm. It has absorbed the smoke and fire, and its color is like beeswax. It is a rare material for forging weapons."

This is definitely a must-have; it's the material for making a frying pan to bring good fortune to the house. I went through all this trouble just for this.

"A bristle scraper (a common tool) is a thick iron plate used by old craftsmen to scrape off the bristles of scalded pigs. It is smooth as a mirror from years of friction with boiling water, but the edges are damaged. Although it is not sharp, it can still temporarily serve as a shovel or shield."

"Tetanus Slaughtering Knife (Excellent Weapon): An old-fashioned bloodletting knife with a notched spine. The blade is covered with brownish-red rust scars. Wounds made with it are always difficult to stop bleeding and heal, and they will feel stiff and cold. It is a very distinctive weapon."

"The tusks of plague-ridden pigs (material) are the tusks pulled from the mouths of white pigs that have died of disease and become stiff but have not yet rotted. They are as white as bone and seem ominous, but they are the main material used to fight poison with poison. They can also be ground into powder to make blood talismans for warding off evil."

"Forearm bone (a daily necessity): It was dug out of the old muddy ground, seeping with murky water, during the renovation of the pigsty. It can be stuck in the ground to prevent people from slipping and falling, but apart from providing some psychological comfort, it is not very effective. However, due to its unique shape, it is extremely popular among some people in Bloodblade Town."

"The Tai Lao Hook (a legendary artifact) is an iron hook with the character 'Sacrifice' engraved on its head. It is an ancient-style hook. It is said to have been used by the court to perform the Tai Lao Sacrifice before the fall of the Lord of the Mortal World. You were able to find it because of the abilities of the Coroner Walker. When you hold it in your hand, you can feel a faint gravitational pull from the direction of the northern imperial city."

The words "props" immediately caught Chen Fu's attention.

Just like the equipment dropped by a BOSS in an online game, this is definitely a rare item. Even in "Black Myth: The Book of Past Events", it is the highest-rated item that Chen Fu has ever seen.

A pig farm actually has such a treasure? Happiness came too suddenly.

However, the description is flashy and doesn't seem to have any use yet, and we don't know if there are any pitfalls.

But no matter what, if you don't know to pick up a treasure when it's right in front of you, then you're really out of your mind.

Originally, Chen Fu wanted to choose pork lard and a tetanus-slaughtering knife. That way, with a pot in his left hand and a knife in his right, he could stomp his foot and call out to anyone in Blood Blade Town who dared to challenge him.

But now, he has a completely new idea.

Putting aside the question of what the Tai Lao Hook is used for, the mere mention of it as a legendary item is enough to make him give up the pig-slaughtering knife.

Even the best knife is just an extra; in the real world, it's still a controlled item. What's more appealing than a hook?

Chen Fu was like a customer at a nightclub; instead of asking for a change, he directly selected what he wanted to take.

"You have obtained Chen Zhuyou."

"You have obtained the Great Hook."

After obtaining the item, he couldn't wait to read the detailed description.

"The Tai Lao Hook is a cast iron ceremonial hook used to hang sacrificial meat during the Tai Lao Sacrifice in the Forbidden City. After the fall of the Lord of the Mortal World, the residual power of the sacrifice clashed with the turbid air of the mortal world, causing a layer of dark luster that resembled rust but was not. When you hold it, you can briefly borrow a bit of the status of the sacrifice, making the ignorant mortals mistake you for a person in some ancient ritual."

"Function Effect: All sacrificial animals are prepared for the grand sacrifice in the prison; a single hook can yield half of the sacrificial incense. The sacrificial title remaining in the Grand Sacrifice Hook allows you to enter the Forbidden City. Do you wish to use this title for inter-regional transfer?"

The Forbidden City? If I go there, will I ever be able to come back?

Chen Fu looked completely bewildered.

He hasn't finished exploring Bloodblade Town yet, and if the map suddenly changes, he'll have to start all over again.

Judging from the name, it should be a place related to Yanjing, the real headquarters of the Spirit Investigation Bureau. If we go there, the game progress will definitely be far behind.

Did I make the wrong choice?

Chen Fu thought to himself that this shouldn't be the case. It's a legendary item, it can't be that it can only be used for teleportation, that would be a huge waste of its potential.

Perhaps we should keep a backup plan and wait for the Spirit Investigation Bureau's guide to be released before making any moves, or ask other people for information.

Chen Fu can only contact the successor of the Master of Craftsmanship in the game right now. Since he still needs to deliver materials to make a frying pan for warding off evil spirits, he might as well go and take a look first. If it doesn't work out, he can consider what to do next.

Without hesitation, Chen Fu clicked on the text, preparing to leave the pig farm.

"You came out of the warehouse, carrying your treasure, unaware that the butcher had already noticed you."

"He thought to himself that it was just the right time, since Angkor wanted to eat some other meat, so he picked up a wooden stick and swung it at you."

"You were hit hard on the head, your eyes rolled back, and you passed out."

During his time in Bloodblade Town, Chen Fu had gotten used to his head spinning all the time. Being suddenly knocked unconscious was quite a shock.

Could it be that there are good people among the townspeople who won't kill me? That can't be right. You treated me like that before, and now you've changed your attitude. It really ruins the atmosphere.

"You wake up in excruciating pain to find yourself lying on a chopping board. The butcher uses a cleaver to cut open your body, removes your internal organs and throws them into a pot, and then begins to break down the rest of your body."

Damn! They're treating me like a dish, no wonder Angkor wanted to eat other meats!

Are you Wu Ge, the Blood Blade Wu Kun? Just wait, I will definitely get my revenge!

"Your vision went black; you are dead."

Okay, no need to walk back to Bloodblade Town, and forget about revenge, I'll just die and go back.

Chen Fu had developed a certain resistance to the various ways to die in this game, and he was just looking to see if the descendant of the Master of Skillful Arts was loitering around the town entrance.

"Chosen One, one rejected by death, you have opened your eyes once more and appeared before the Earth God Temple in Blood Blade Town."

"The descendant of Qiaosheng Gong was catching insects to eat nearby. When he saw you, he greeted you warmly."

"Would you be willing to give him the materials to forge this frying pan, so he can make this weapon for you?"

"Of course," Chen Fu clicked "Yes."

"You've lost him, Old Iron."

"You have lost Chen Zhuyou."

"The descendant of Qiaosheng Gong swallowed the ingredients and said that, as before, it would take some time. He would then hand over the frying pan and silver needles to you."

In other words, once the silver needles are upgraded, you can also get the frying pan.

Chen Fu felt alright; his death this time wasn't unjust, at least he had made further progress in exploring the Legend of the White Snake dungeon.

"The descendant of the Master of Skillful Arts discovered the hook hanging on your body. He recognized it as the Tai Lao Hook from the Northern Imperial City. He is extremely excited that you possess this magical item. Would you like to hear him tell you about the Tai Lao Hook and the Forbidden City?"

The game text mentions Tai Lao Gou, but doesn't mention the Forbidden City at all. It would be great if we could learn about it from the descendant of Qiao Sheng Gong. Chen Fu has stumbled upon the right person by accident.

"It all started at the very beginning. After the fall of the Lord of the Mortal World, the Master of Craftsmanship was treated as an honored guest by all sorts of demons and monsters. He recruited many talented people and trained disciples to learn the art of forging. Now, the disciples of the Master of Craftsmanship are scattered throughout the entire mortal world, and one of them lives in the Forbidden City."

"Through the mysterious forging techniques, the descendants of Master Qiaosheng can contact other disciples. The person in front of you knows everything about the Forbidden City."

"The Forbidden City was a secret gathering place built by the followers of the fallen ruler of the mortal world. It was an important place they left for the chosen ones to communicate and trade."

"Golden Jade Boys reside within the Forbidden City; they are the crucial mediums guiding each person of destiny who wields the Tailao Hook into and out of the Forbidden City."

"Every person chosen by the Emperor who arrives in the Forbidden City for the first time will be received by a special Golden Jade Boy."

"Each Golden Jade Boy will only receive one chosen one."

"The disciple of Master Qiaosheng said that he can help you contact the Golden Jade Boy through a fellow disciple located in the Forbidden City to ask if you need it."

So this is what the Forbidden City is like. I thought once I went there, I would never come back.

Chen Fu had already understood the function of the Forbidden City. To put it simply, it was a gathering place for players, where they could communicate and trade with players from different regions.

Based on the characteristics of the game's text, it will most likely be in the form of a dialog box, although it is currently unclear how many people can be interacted with.

Another point is that there is finally a channel for trading, so that the fragments of the Blood Gluttonous Inner Mirror can be sold.

If he could actually sell it, Chen Fu wanted to see if he could buy anything in the game. Like a backpack, or materials to upgrade stamina potions.

Without any hesitation, Chen Fu asked the successor of Qiaosheng Gong to help contact Jin Yutong.

If the communication goes well, then go take a look at the Forbidden City. You can always come back, so it won't delay your game progress.

"Before entering the Forbidden City, you need to fill in a nickname to conceal your profession. Please fill it in."

"Note that once a nickname is activated, it cannot be changed. In addition to being used in the Forbidden City, it can also be used in certain specific instances."

After a moment's thought, Chen Fu understood why this was necessary.

There are definitely no shortage of people in player communities, but the professions are chosen from the region and family tradition.

Taking Jiangcheng as an example, besides the profession of coroner, which is related to family business, there will definitely be many people who choose to become both a Buddhist monk and a true martial artist.

This raises a question: if there are two martial arts masters in front of you, one greets you and the other gives you the middle finger, how is that reflected in the game text?

Could it be that a martial arts master from the Buddhist order greets you with a smile and then gives you the middle finger?

It's bound to get messed up, right?

But with a nickname, the problem can be perfectly avoided.

Chen Fu casually filled in "nobody".

Who knows what kind of people I'll meet in the Forbidden City? It's always better to keep a low profile.

"Nickname has been determined."

"The descendant of the Master of Skillful Arts is searching for the Golden Jade Boy for you. Please wait."

The game text abruptly ends here, with no further interaction.

Chen Fu suddenly realized something was wrong.

Since a Golden Jade Child can only receive one Chosen One, it is a two-way selection and team formation. The other party will judge the potential of the selected person based on the nickname provided.

In other words, the other party can choose to accept or reject, just like a blind date where you can choose. If you don't feel good about it, you can move on to the next one.

The nickname he filled in, "nobody," is practically a way of saying he's no good. In the dating market, that means he has no car, no house, no savings, and is ugly, fat, and old.

It would be truly rare for anyone to choose this.

Once a nickname is chosen, it cannot be changed, which is quite a problem.

Chen Fu looked at the game text that didn't respond at all and sighed inwardly. What could he do? He was the one who chose it, boss.

Just as he was about to close the game, a line of text suddenly popped up, just like a computer that had crashed suddenly coming back to life.

"A golden boy is willing to be your guide."

Happiness came too suddenly. Chen Fu never expected that he, an unknown nobody, would have a Golden Jade Boy willing to be his guide.

Golden Jade Boy: "Hello."

Chen Fu noticed that the other person was greeting him, and at the same time, a chat window appeared on the right side of the phone screen, just like you can chat with someone on WeChat while playing a game.

A tough guy shed tears. It's been so long! Finally, I can communicate with others in the game.

Chen Fu's fingers traced afterimages as he tapped the screen repeatedly; he had so many questions to ask.

An unknown nobody: "Hello, nice to meet you."

Anonymous User: "I haven't been playing this game for very long. I downloaded it through a link. Did you do the same?"

Anonymous: "Besides the Forbidden City, where else have you been? Have you met any other players?"

Anonymous: "I've discovered that things from games, like skills and items, actually appear in real life."

Anonymous: "And also, there's the possibility of encountering paranormal events. Have you ever experienced anything like that?"

Nobody: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Chen Fu sent six messages in a row, but received no reply.

Does this game limit the number of times you can speak? What a terrible design! It's preventing me from learning more.

Golden Jade Boy: "Wait a minute!"

Jin Yutongzi: "I'm a novice at typing, so I'm slow."

Chen Fu breathed a sigh of relief. Despite the typos, as long as communication was possible, it was fine.

Sorry, game, I misunderstood you. I'll do it again next time.

Nobody: "It's okay! You take your time playing, I'll take my time watching, and we can chat slowly."

Golden Jade Boy: "Thank you."

Golden Jade Boy: "You are a good person."

This has left Chen Fu completely bewildered. Where did this adorable little cutie come from? Is she underage? Are there still people who don't know how to type on a phone these days?

He was a little confused and asked a question.

Unknown Person: "By the way, how old are you?"

Golden Jade Boy: "Eighteen."

Anonymous: "You're eighteen and you still can't type? Tell the truth, and I won't report you for being a minor online. Besides, this game doesn't have an anti-addiction system."

Golden Jade Boy: "I really am eighteen! Before, because of some things, all I could do was use voice input!"

Why is he getting so angry? Chen Fu could almost see a puffed-up face on the other side of the phone screen.

It's really not his fault. He's eighteen years old, how could he still be like this? Was he blind before? He doesn't know how to type.

Hmm, if that's the case, then someone is in this situation.

Chen Fu initially thought the person opposite him was a minor, but now that he thought about it, he felt that it looked a lot like Bai Ruhua.

He had just seen the other person fill out the form in the service hall on the first floor. The handwriting was crooked and ugly, but the age column had exactly eighteen years old written on it.

Chen Fu plans to check it out when he has the chance; if it is true, it will make communication between the two of them much easier.

He typed a reply.

Nobody: "Okay, okay, I believe you. Is there anything you want to tell me?"

After saying that, he waited patiently, knowing that the other person typed slowly, so he couldn't rush them.

Suddenly, he felt the light in front of him dim. He looked up and saw Zhou Jianbang standing beside him.

"Captain Zhou, what's up?" Chen Fu asked, without covering his phone screen.

Besides his serious expression, Zhou Jianbang's face showed deep confusion.

I know you're progressing through the game, but how come you can still chat with people?

Are we playing the same game?