Although Yu Li was telling the complete truth, Yu Jiao's instincts screamed that something was off.

Judging from the other's perspective, Bo Jingmo's actions last night were all forced by circumstances.

Yu Jiao's gaze swept across everyone present, her brows slightly furrowed as she prepared to speak, only to suddenly meet a pair of smiling eyes.

The woman rested her hands on the table, grinning lazily at Yu Jiao with an air of relaxed amusement.

"Yu Jiao, since you don't believe me, why not use your skill to ask Bo Jingmo directly?"

But Yu Jiao could no longer hear the woman's words. As the current scene overlapped with memories in her mind, her pupils constricted violently, her breath hitching as she instantly tightened her grip on the cup.

Too similar...

The woman before her felt unbearably familiar.

Many years ago, another young and beautiful woman had sat across from her just like this.

That person had lazily propped her chin on her hand, the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye accentuating her striking beauty as she curled her lips in an indescribably intrigued smile.

"Your skill can distinguish truth from lies? How interesting."

At those words, Yu Jiao had stiffened, lowering her head to bite her lip in silence while clenching her fists.

Just fifteen minutes prior, she had exposed this woman's lies before all the players.

This woman had appeared out of nowhere, claiming to know how to clear the instance and telling everyone how to win.

The others had been completely fooled, even wanting to make her their leader to guide them out.

Hearing their requests, the woman had raised an eyebrow.

Just as she smiled and prepared to speak, an angry voice suddenly cut through the air.

"You're lying! Your methods won't clear the instance at all! Even your claimed identity is fake! Your name is fake too!"

Interrupted abruptly, the smile slowly faded from the woman's eyes.

With her hands in her pockets, she cast a casual glance—directly meeting Yu Jiao's gaze.

Sensing the dangerous aura emanating from her, Yu Jiao froze, instinctively retreating several steps.

Some players recognized Yu Jiao and knew about her skill. Their expressions changed dramatically as they stared at the woman in disbelief. "Limu! How could you be so malicious!"

Limu let out a slow "Ah," offering no rebuttal. She simply gave Yu Jiao a meaningful glance before chuckling lightly.

"No matter. You're free to follow your own plans."

With that, she turned and left.

Surrounded by the crowd, Yu Jiao's ears filled with their grateful praises for her and curses directed at Limu.

So... that woman was called Limu?

Her gaze involuntarily followed the retreating figure.

But why did she feel this persistent unease?

It wasn't until later, when all those players met gruesome deaths at the monsters' hands, that Yu Jiao suddenly understood the source of her apprehension.

Standing frozen in place, she stared blankly at the beasts feasting on her companions' corpses throughout the room.

An enormous shadow suddenly fell behind her. Heavy, ragged breathing sounded overhead, mixed with the thick stench of blood. Yu Jiao's breath caught, her heart skipping a beat before beginning to pound violently.

Swallowing with a dry throat, her legs gave out completely. Trembling, she closed her eyes, preparing for death's arrival.

"Thwack—"

Amidst a tearing roar and the sound of something slicing through air, a sticky liquid splattered across her face.

She stiffened before cautiously opening her eyes—then widening them slightly.

A graceful, slender figure sat on a chair not far away, wearing that same casual smile.

"It's you..."

The woman whose lies she'd exposed.

Propping her chin lazily, the woman grinned. "What a coincidence."

The beasts in the room continued their frenzied roars.

With a light tsk, the woman waved her hand. Instantly, countless tendrils of dense black mist spread from behind her, rapidly unfurling through the room like ominous storm clouds pressing down heavily.

Within the churning black smoke lurked unspeakable danger and ill omen.

A beast roared as it pounced—only to have its heart impaled the next second, blood gushing forth instantly.

Yu Jiao turned numbly to see the creature's chest torn open, glimpses of white bone visible within.

Chunks of flesh—indistinguishable between human and beast—littered the ground everywhere.

Her legs gave out completely as she collapsed weakly to her knees.

A soft, regretful chuckle sounded in her ears. "What a pity. They still died after all..."

Turning dazedly, her lips trembled. "Did... did I kill them?"

Perhaps... Limu's method had been correct.

She shouldn't have intervened. She'd caused their deaths.

Limu studied her thoughtfully for several seconds before suddenly tilting her head.

"Want the truth?"

Then, as if remembering something, she laughed. "Ah, my memory. I almost forgot about your skill. Even if I lied, you'd know."

Yu Jiao lowered her head, biting her lip in silence, until she saw the woman pat the seat opposite her. "Come, sit here."

After a moment's hesitation, she slowly pushed herself up, nearly collapsing again until the black mist behind her steadied her.

Glancing back curiously, she asked, "Is this... your skill?"

It seemed incredibly powerful—she'd never seen anything like it.

The woman chuckled, but her answer was perplexing.

"You could say that."

"You could say that"?

Yu Jiao could tell she spoke truthfully, but what did "you could say that" mean?

Had she brought it into the instance herself?

The woman's gaze settled on her with keen interest. "But your skill is quite fascinating."

Yu Jiao gave a humorless smile. "Fascinating? It's completely useless..."

It had even gotten those people killed.

Her heart ached at the thought.

Then she heard Limu say calmly, "Even if you hadn't exposed me, those people would have died anyway."

She looked up, confused. "What... do you mean?"

Playing idly with her hair, Limu lifted her eyes lazily, their long lashes casting delicate shadows as the corners curved upward slightly.

Her lips curled in an amused smile, voice dripping with playfulness.

"Because my mission was to kill all of you."

Then she suddenly went "Ah" in regret, leaning back. "Too bad you ruined it. All my carefully planned scenarios went to waste."

Yu Jiao's mind went completely blank, a deafening buzz filling her ears.

"Kill... kill us?"

Limu lowered her hand, leaning closer with a bright smile. "Yes. Now I just need to kill you to complete my mission."

Panic surged through Yu Jiao, internal alarms blaring, but her legs felt like they'd been cast in cement—utterly immobile.

Limu rose leisurely, stopping before her.

"However, I don't plan to kill you. I find your skill too intriguing."

Pale fingers lifted a strand of Yu Jiao's hair as Limu bent closer, her captivating fox eyes filled with mesmerizing amusement.

A unique fragrance drifted from her body, stealthily invading Yu Jiao's senses.

Just as Yu Jiao began to lose focus, a soft chuckle sounded by her ear.

"Of course, I'd be even happier if you agreed to team up with me."

She looked up dazedly into those gentle fox-like eyes.

Amidst the overwhelming stench of blood filling the room, Limu carried an extraordinarily pleasant scent—like rich floral perfume yet also reminiscent of crisp mountain springs, starkly out of place in the filthy surroundings.

That gentle voice. That sweet fragrance.

Swallowing hard, Yu Jiao knew she was done for.

She would never forget this scent.

"I'll... team up with you."

The flood of memories left faint yet indelible marks.

Trembling uncontrollably, Yu Jiao lowered her head to take a difficult deep breath. Her eyes burned unbearably while her throat constricted painfully, sourness spreading gradually.

She remembered now...

Finally recognized what that scent on Yu Li was.

—It was the exact same fragrance Limu used to carry.