Weird Rules Rumor: At The Beginning, He Insisted That He Was Not Dead

“Are you heading to the company too?”

When Du Qing heard Bai Lian’s question, his face twisted into an expression more pained than tears. “I was planning to… but not anymore.”

It was impossible now.

Without the Hidden Seal, the risk was too great.

When benefits and risks aren’t proportional, most people choose to abandon the benefits.

“Oh? Did you run into trouble? Tell me, I’ll help… give you some advice,” Bai Lian asked with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Don’t even ask. I had a Hidden Seal ready.”

“I took it out to use, and it vanished right before my eyes!” Du Qing raised his hand, staring at his empty palm in disbelief. “Just like that! I was holding it, and then—poof! Gone!”

“I’ve cleared so many dungeons, but I’ve never seen an item just disappear,” he muttered. “What’s going on?”

This seal had clearly meant a lot to Du Qing.

Good.

Bai Lian wouldn’t bother stealing something trivial.

Patting Du Qing’s shoulder, he began his analysis: “Listen, maybe the seal didn’t disappear.”

Du Qing: “What do you mean?”

“Look at its name.”

“Hidden Seal.”

“And its effect?”

“Hides the user for five minutes.”

“See? It probably activated on its own, but for some reason, you didn’t get cloaked. So…”

Du Qing: “…”

“So you think it vanished, but it’s just invisible now!” Bai Lian declared confidently.

Du Qing opened his mouth, then closed it.

Bai Lian’s words almost made sense.

But something felt off.

A moment later, it clicked.

Because Bai Lian was now holding his Hidden Seal.

“Well, buddy, I’ll stop bothering you. I’m heading in first.” Bai Lian waved the seal mockingly in Du Qing’s face.

【OMG I’m dying! This guy’s pure evil!】

【Bai Shen strikes again—stealing loot AND rubbing it in?!】

【Note to self: If I ever meet Bai Shen, hide ALL my good items!】

【Du Qing: That seal looks familiar… like the one I LOST.】

【This is psychological warfare! Pray I never get matched with this demon!】

…

“Bro… you bought a Hidden Seal too?”

Staring at the seal in Bai Lian’s hand, Du Qing felt an eerie sense of déjà vu.

All Hidden Seals looked identical, but what were the odds of another player in the same dungeon buying one?

A suspicion gnawed at him…

But he couldn’t voice it.

It had to be a coincidence.

“This old thing?”

“Found it near the bar entrance.”

Bai Lian shrugged, then gave Du Qing a sideways glance. “You’re not thinking this is yours, are you? Yours went missing, but this one’s totally different, right?” ṟÁ𝐍ȏ𐌱ÊṤ

Found it? FOUND IT?!

Du Qing’s face spasmed.

Who finds a Hidden Seal just lying around?!

That’s the worst lie I’ve ever—

Before he could retort, Bai Lian waved dismissively. “No time to argue. Places to be.”

Right before Du Qing’s eyes,

Bai Lian activated the seal and vanished.

Leaving Du Qing utterly defeated.

A second later, his composure shattered.

“AAAAAH!!!”

The company building’s interior was hellishly dark.

Not a single light pierced the crimson haze, amplifying the sinister atmosphere.

Typical capitalists.

Even during an apocalypse, they’d rather die than pay the electricity bill.

Using the Hidden Seal, Bai Lian slipped past two Anomalies at the reception desk and infiltrated the building.

The “employees” here were no ordinary workers—they belonged to the rebellion faction.

Friendly and approachable by day,

But at night?

They’d swallow you whole.

So dangerous! Good thing I swiped this seal. Note: Stock up on these later.

Reaching the stairwell, Bai Lian sighed in relief.

【Dangerous? BAI SHEN, you ARE the danger!】

【Du Qing: Look in the mirror, you monster!】

【Bai Shen calling this ‘risky’ is like a dragon fearing a kitten!】

Bai Lian avoided the elevator.

A lift large enough for a hundred people? Definitely cursed.

It’d probably plummet or trap him mid-air like a horror movie cliché.

But as he faced the stairs, he hesitated.

The archive was on the 12th floor.

Twelve flights of stairs?@@novelbin@@

…Maybe the elevator’s faster.

Footsteps echoed.

Bai Lian turned to see a figure creeping down the hallway—crouched, wary, moving like a thief.

He actually came in?!

It was Du Qing, the same man who’d been raging outside moments ago!

Somehow, without a Hidden Seal, he’d bypassed the guards!

Did he have a backup seal?

No—if so, its effect wouldn’t have faded yet, and Bai Lian wouldn’t see him.

Must’ve used another method.

Du Qing hugged the walls, inching toward the stairs.

His eyes darted nervously, anticipating threats.

Upon reaching the stairwell, he finally relaxed and smirked.

“That bastard stole my seal, but thank the gods for my Wall Phasing skill.”

His randomly assigned skill allowed him to phase through walls—powerful, but with a 20-minute cooldown.

That’s why, after losing the seal, he’d almost abandoned the plan.

But Bai Lian’s taunt had pushed him to risk it.

“If I ever catch that thief, I’ll—

A knife pressed against his back.