From the Ship of Fools to Earl of Wugang

Fortunately, just as the rapids were warning him, the paintbrush stopped—Lane Hall had finished the last stroke.

Beneath the moon, atop the long ladder, a blurry human figure is climbing.

With its back to the painter, one hand rests on the last step, as it climbs towards the silvery-white moon.

Edmund stared at the tiny, almost invisible human figure on the screen and smiled genuinely.

"A professional, extraordinary," he said to Ryan deep in his mind.

At that very moment, dark red blood began to seep from the mottled tombstone next to the drawing paper.

It was as if some ancient force was using the tombstone as a canvas to write. Blood meandered across the stone, forming lines of clear text—

[Final mission accomplished: Create a painting that satisfies Lane Hall.]

Crimson light surged from the paintings and tombstones simultaneously, as if someone had lit a huge red fire in the cemetery, the light engulfing the entire cemetery.

The ghouls roared mournfully in the red light, their bodies seemingly licked by invisible flames, and began to disintegrate from the edges to the center.

As the last ghoul turned to ashes in the red light, the entire cemetery landscape began to dissolve.

The tilted tombstones blurred slowly, like a watercolor painting being soaked in water; the moon overhead began to fade from the edges; and the damp soil beneath one's feet was filled with uncertainty.

He sheathed his sword, looked around at the collapsing scene, and let out a long breath.

He looked at his torn coat and the bloodstains on his forearm, then at the equally disheveled rushing water, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"The teamwork was excellent, and the result was even more of a pleasant surprise," he said.

The torrent did not reply. She supported herself against the tombstone and stood up, struggling to catch her breath.

The red light continued to spread, blurring the outline of the cemetery. Edmund looked down at the painting in his hands, feeling the consciousness sharing this body with him shrinking back into itself.

Lane Hall himself chose to fall into a deep sleep once again.

It feels like a traveler who has been sitting next to you for a long time stands up at an intersection, brushes the dust off his clothes, nods at you, and then turns and walks in his own direction.

Before his consciousness completely sank into the depths, the art student left a final farewell.

"Thanks."

Edmund closed his eyes: "You're welcome, Master."

The red light enveloped his consciousness, and the last lingering image of the cemetery vanished completely in the light.

He felt himself being gently lifted up by some force and sent back to some distant place.

The crimson light gathered and dispersed, and when Edmund opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in the familiar "waiting room".

One second he was rushing to meet deadlines in the cemetery under the pressure of life and death, and the next second he was here, which made Edmund feel a little disconnected.

"To be honest, Ideal Country did a remarkable job this time." Xingjian's steady voice broke the silence beside him.

Edmund turned his head and saw the blurry figure of "Star Sword" standing a few meters away.

"That monster ultimately invaded your soul, didn't it? To be able to maintain your composure under those circumstances and even guide it to transform into that painting... Utopia, what exactly is going on in your head?"

The candid surprise in his words made Edmund feel more at ease than any further questioning.

"Hmm?" Another figure beside him made a short, nasal sound. "Torrent" leaned casually against the void. "Not bad, just a little too long at the last minute—but the result is good."

As the group chatted idly, lines of text seeped out of the void like bloodstains.

[The script is finished. Actor's evaluation: Surpassing the limit—the actor did not succumb to temptation and made choices beyond the script's expectations at crucial moments, achieving a transformation through empathy.]

[Receive hidden reward bonus.]

[Settlement Reward: All actors receive 500 Blood of Bacchus points for the "Perfect" ending.]

[Bonus rewards from "Utopia": Item "The Guide" (oil painting by Lane Hall), Special Contract "Traces of Drive".]

A red light gathered in the center of the three people, and a semi-transparent interface composed of countless tiny points of light unfolded before their eyes.

To Edmund, certain parts of the interface were exceptionally bright, as if they were presented specifically for him.

In the red light, an oil painting slowly emerged and landed in front of Edmund.

Dionysus seems to have finished mounting it; now, with its exquisite frame, the painting gives the viewer a sense of being there.

[Item: The Guide]

[Created by Lane Hall based on his observations of the spirit world, the painting presents an understanding of "the living moving towards death," which can subtly influence the viewer's perception of the "surface of the world" and the "illusory world."]

Immediately afterwards, an intricate emblem composed of spiritual light flew out from the void and was imprinted on Edmund's left arm.

Special Contract: "Driven by Traces"

[Traces are a type of spirit creature naturally formed in the "Astral Realm," inhabiting the intersection of the paths between the spirit world and reality. Their forms are variable, their bodies always covered with countless tracks, and they can manifest and serve according to a contract. They excel at creating illusory paths and disrupting tracking, and when necessary, they can also be stealthy and deadly assassins.]

The holder can use this contract to summon a "trace" to appear, which will emerge from the nearest point of spiritual vulnerability to communicate with the holder on a spiritual level.

[Each "Traces" can be maintained for approximately half an hour in the real world. Current remaining summon count: 3/3]

Edmund quickly scanned the information in his mind, while Starsword and Torrent beside him seemed to be checking their gains.

At this moment, in Edmund's exclusive view interface, in addition to the detailed descriptions of items and contracts, another option quietly appeared—the personal exchange channel unique to the play after the game's conclusion.

With a thought, he probed the list. The exchange list unfolded, containing a wide variety of items, secret medicine recipes, knowledge, and rare treasures.

Edmund silently recited "regular icosahedron, blue-black agate" in his mind, and a few seconds later the result appeared:

[Special Material: Twenty-two-sided blue-black agate (Exceptional Material, Rare)]

[Required Blood of Bacchus for exchange: 400 points.]

This is a strange crystal with a structure that could not possibly exist in reality; most of the time, it is seen as a wound in reality. But for those who know how to use it, it is a key.

The redemption rules are explained below:

[Notes on redeeming physical rewards: Physical rewards will not appear immediately in the script space or spirit world interface. Instead, they will appear naturally in the actor's life trajectory for a period of time after the actor returns to the real world, through some kind of "chance." The time, place, and specific circumstances of their appearance cannot be specified or interfered with.]

[Some exceptionally outstanding performances may receive additional rewards, which may be "summoned" directly from a specific level of the spirit world to the real world through a designated ritual.]

For the sake of the promotion ceremony, Edmund had no choice but to take a gamble. He decisively chose to confirm the redemption.

400 points of Blood of Bacchus were instantly deducted, and the exchange status changed to "Confirmed, in delivery (real world)".

He browsed the knowledge section, exchanged for another skill, and then exited the private exchange interface. At that moment, the ripples in the void, like flowing air, returned.

"Then," Star Sword's voice came, "see you next time?"

"Hopefully, it all depends on Dionysus." Rapids shrugged his blurry shoulders.

Edmund nodded slightly: "Take care."

The red light suddenly expanded, completely engulfing the scene in the waiting area.