CH 75

After Gu Yi took his seat in the audience area, everything around him underwent a drastic transformation.

It turned out that the circus was not empty at all.

The seating area was filled with peculiar-looking spectators.

Some had yellow skin, muscular bumps all over their bodies, lightning-shaped tails, and two round blush-like patches on their cheeks. The person next to them, wearing a red hat and a blue jacket, seemed to be their guardian. [1]

Some had a square shape, with holes all over their bodies, wearing a fish tank as a helmet and holding a snail as a pet. The creature next to them, resembling a starfish, was wearing beach shorts from head to toe, appearing to be their good friend. [2]

There were even more exaggerated spectators, like a pot of dog tail flowers?

Could it be that these were beings from other parallel universes?

"The circus performance is about to begin!"

Dark Moon held a microphone, with a sinister smile on his face.

Gu Yi wasn't in the mood to enjoy the performance; he was waiting for the interactive mini-games to start.

After the performance of the ten similar clowns ended, Dark Moon returned to the stage.

"Next, we're going to have an interactive mini-game. Is there any audience member willing to give it a try?"

"I will."

Gu Yi stood up from his seat, and all the spectators in the audience turned their gaze toward him.

Uncomfortably, Gu Yi twisted his neck—anyone would feel uneasy being stared at by a bunch of strange creatures.

"Come on, my friend, please come to the stage. May I ask how to address you?"

"Gu Yi."

Gu Yi calmly jumped onto the stage.

Gasping for breath, Gu Yi stood at the finish line and looked back.

The dwarf had only run halfway while he had already completed the race.

Without the curse of the balloon crown's misfortune, Gu Yi's progress went smoothly without any mishaps.

He had practiced this in his deductions many times. Despite not having strong physical fitness, he successfully won the race through his skill and familiarity with the course.

While applauding, Dark Moon flew to Gu Yi's side.

"Mr. Gu, you are amazing! I have never seen such agility. I feel like you have run this track countless times."

"In my dreams."

"Haha, you are truly incredible."

As Dark Moon spoke, he took out a purple ticket from his pocket and handed it to Gu Yi.

The ticket had a black moon depicted on it.

"You have successfully completed our interactive game. Now you can take the ticket and go to our fortune teller to redeem your prize. Although he looks ugly, he is definitely a good person."

"Thank you."

Gu Yi nodded and left the big tent, clutching the ticket.

The clown stood at the entrance of the tent, tiptoeing and pointing northeast.

There was a small purple tent in that direction, with a white crystal ball painted on the curtain of the tent. Clearly, that was the fortune teller's tent.

"Thank you."

Gu Yi waved his hand and approached the entrance of the small tent. He closed his eyes and attempted to deduce.

(The deduction begins!)

(You lift the curtain and walk inside.)

(You see nothingness before your eyes.)

(You terminate the deduction.)

"Tch... Could it be that I've encountered that guy again?"

Gu Yi furrowed his brow and took a deep breath as he entered the tent.

The tent's ceiling was adorned with intricate star maps, shimmering with eerie purple fluorescence.

In the center of the tent, there was a long table with two ornate redwood chairs placed opposite each other.

The chair facing Gu Yi was decorated lavishly, resembling a throne.

The edges of the long table were neatly adorned with crystal balls, tarot cards, pendulums, a feather pen, and parchment. Purple-scented candles filled the air with a faint lavender fragrance.

Gu Yi couldn't help but frown. This set of table and chairs was identical to the ones on the third floor of the old house.

"Is anyone here?"

Gu Yi pulled out a chair and sat down.

"I am here."

A deep voice echoed.

The fortune teller lifted the curtain and walked into the tent from the opposite side of Gu Yi. He wore a black robe, and his hood covered half of his face.

He sat in front of Gu Yi and slowly removed his own hood—revealing a face that was an exact replica of Gu Yi's.

"Gu Yi, it's been a long time."

"I feel like I'm looking into a mirror with terrible taste," Gu Yi waved his hand dismissively. "Enough with the enigmatic acts, it's making me nauseous."

"You really don't appreciate the humor."

The fortune teller snapped his fingers, and his face immediately transformed into a palette, blending various colors together.

"Now, show me your ticket."

Gu Yi nodded and tossed the ticket in front of the fortune teller.

The fortune teller carefully examined the ticket, then tore it into pieces and burned it to ashes using a candle.

"Now, two paths lie before you. I can directly allow you to leave the inner world, fulfilling the conditions for a normal level clearance. Or I can do divination for you and provide you with some important hints. What do you choose?"

"Of course, the second option."

"You are quite stubborn," the fortune teller sneered, his face palette turning blue as he caressed the crystal ball. "Look at it."

Gu Yi turned his head and looked at the crystal ball.

Suddenly, he felt a suffocating sensation, and in the next moment, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed. He found himself standing once again in the cellar near the convenience store.

The scene shifted again, and he was back in the small forest behind the elementary school. There, he saw a poplar tree identical to the one behind the convenience store, even the patterns on the trunk were exactly the same.

Splash—

Gu Yi heard the sound of water, and immediately, his consciousness returned to the small tent.

"Congratulations on successfully exploring [Dark Moon Circus]!"

"Your storyline exploration progress has increased!"

"Current exploration progress is 24%!"

Gu Yi loosened his collar, took a deep breath, and the system's prompt undoubtedly provided the best confirmation of the fortune-telling results.

The Dark Moon Circus played a crucial role in the storyline exploration progress, contributing more than 10% to the progress.

"Do you have any more questions?"

"Tch, you're still trying to tempt me into making mistakes even now?"

Gu Yi sneered coldly.

In the Dark Moon Circus, there was no free lunch, and the fortune teller's overly enthusiastic behavior was far from normal.

Snap!

The fortune teller snapped his fingers, and his face palette changed to red.

Gu Yi felt a suffocating sensation, and then, at the same time as the fortune teller, he was transported through space and arrived in the secret room on the third floor of the old house.

Gu Yi instinctively glanced at the countdown on his phone, which was now frozen.

"Now we are no longer in the circus, and I have also helped you dispel the strange power in the secret room on the third floor of the old mansion. I have demonstrated my sincerity. Now, you can ask me three questions. I will only answer yes or no, and the questions must be related to this dungeon."

Gu Yi rubbed his nose and pondered for a moment.

"Did my sister become unspeakable through the Dark Moon prize ticket?"

"Yes."

"Is there a clue in the secret room on the third floor of the old house to leave this town ahead of time?"

"Yes."

"Does the Dark Moon Circus only exist in this world?"

"No."

Gu Yi nodded, keeping all the clues in mind.

"Alright, my task is completed. Now we can talk about something personal," the fortune teller said with a smirking smile, "Gu Yi, the director really favors you. This time the dungeon was personally chosen for you by him. It's his special care for you, which is enough to show his affection for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Gu Yi, you are a clever person."

Gu Yi felt a chill run down his spine as if someone was constantly observing his every move.

"What is the director's objective?"

"To create a great masterpiece."

"At the cost of tormenting humans? Leaving them in dire straits?"

"Hehe, don't say that. Let's get straight to the point. Don't you want to become... a god?"