# Chapter 228: Sudden Change
"It's not that I saw through you, it's that you asked for it." Xu Huo threw a bread roll to her. "Switch to vegetarian for the next couple of days."
Ni Tian had no choice but to pick up the bread and swallow it under his cold gaze.
After eating, Xu Huo took off his jacket, lay down, and closed his eyes to rest.
Octopus Card Bear's words were clearly exaggerated. Not seeing the monster's appearance might be true, but who the monster was actually targeting was uncertain. Deng Yu had gone missing—whether it was him or the other person who first damaged the painting was unknown. However, regardless of who it was, damaging or attempting to damage the painting would definitely invite the monster's retaliation.
This fit the identity the instance had assigned them. They were there to authenticate the collection's authenticity, and protecting the collection was a necessary prerequisite.
In other words, they couldn't create forgeries by modifying the paintings.
And the instance introduction had made it very clear: the curator would only close the museum after confirming all the paintings inside were genuine. Therefore, at the start of the instance, there should be no fake paintings in the museum.
Thus, the appearance of forgeries required another opportunity.
He thought of that painting, *Still Time*.
Yesterday, when he picked up the painting, the eyes of the person in it had moved. From a certain perspective, a "living" painting could also be understood as a forgery. Moreover, the painting had only come to life after the players entered the museum.
Living paintings shouldn't be limited to just the one he saw. Whether the portrait of the elderly woman was damaged by Deng Yu as Big Bear claimed, the person who damaged the painting might have also seen the figure inside moving. It was hard to believe it was just a careless slip.
If fake paintings appeared after they entered the museum and couldn't be obtained during the day, then the remaining factor was time.
If a player saw a moving painting during the day, it was normal for them to try their luck at night, away from other players' sight.
Deng Yu's disappearance could mean he was killed, or it could mean he completed the task and left the instance. If it was the latter, then the fake paintings could likely only be obtained at night.
Additionally, avoiding the monsters roaming the museum to retrieve the paintings made the difficulty more in line with the game's requirements.
However, Xu Huo wasn't planning to test the living paintings for now. First, he couldn't determine authenticity, and second, Deng Yu's disappearance was a bit strange.
"Brother Xu!" Fan Shiji knocked and entered, his face full of smiles. "Do you have enough to eat? I have some jerky in my room—want some?"
Xu Huo opened his eyes and stared at him, then got up and invited him in.
"Brother Xu," Fan Shiji said with a bitter smile, "that monster will definitely come for me tonight. My evolution rate isn't high, and I don't have many items. Can I stay in your room tonight?"
Xu Huo didn't speak, and he continued, "I know my request is excessive, but I really have no other choice. At least you two players are here..."
"Even if he agrees, I don't!" Ni Tian, who had gone out for another stroll while Xu Huo rested, appeared at the door. "Aren't you clearly trying to drag us both down?"
"Big Bear was fine last night," Fan Shiji said. "It shows the monsters in the museum won't attack anyone who hasn't damaged a painting. Just buy me some time and give me a chance to escape!"
"I can give you potions and items—anything I can take out, I'll give to you!"
Ni Tian wavered slightly and looked at Xu Huo.
But Xu Huo said, "How long can two E-rank players buy you? Lights out at nine, lights on at seven in the morning. If that monster won't stop until it kills someone, and the museum is this big, can you run all night?"
Fan Shiji grabbed his hair in frustration. "Then what should I do? I can't fight, I can't escape—am I just supposed to wait to die?"
"It's still the method I mentioned earlier," Xu Huo said. "There are no fake paintings in the museum during the day, but that doesn't mean there aren't any at night."
"If you can find a fake painting before the monster catches up to you, you might pass the level."
Fan Shiji was nearly in despair. "With so many paintings, how would I have time to find them?"
But Xu Huo shook his head. "Why does the monster kill those who damage paintings? It must be because they violated the game rules. Players can't break the rules, but can that monster?"
Fan Shiji's eyes lit up. "You're right! If I can escape from the room and get to the exhibition hall first, I'll have a chance!"
"Brother Xu, thank you." He left a potion behind and walked away.
"Is that it?" Ni Tian found it hard to understand. "Even if he makes it to the exhibition hall, he might not be able to shake off the monster."
"By then, other players will be going out to look for paintings too. Why is he in such a hurry?" Xu Huo said indifferently.
Ni Tian let out an "oh."
With no results during the day, the players turned their attention to the night. Since they couldn't find fake paintings during the day, they had to look at night. And the timing was crucial—they had to wait until the monster came from the exhibition hall to attack Fan Shiji.
Fan Shiji convinced Pan Siming to switch to the first room on the left. Big Bear didn't dare stay in last night's room, so he suggested switching rooms with Pan Siming.
But Pan Siming didn't agree and instead chose the innermost room alone.
Thus, the room arrangement on the left became: Fan Shiji in the first room, the second and third rooms empty, the fourth room for You Huanhuan and Lu Gang unchanged, the fifth room in the corner for Pan Siming, and the sixth room for Big Bear.
"I hope that monster only recognizes the room, not the person," Xie Man said, watching the changes.
The gloomy man turned around and said, "Get some more rest. There's plenty to do tonight."
The remaining players returned to their rooms.
When the lights went out promptly at nine, Xu Huo woke up the Painting Woman and, with his back to Ni Tian, let her slip out from under the door crack.
Soon, the sound of something hard scraping the floor came from the exhibition hall, just like last night. It quickly reached the mural area and turned left.
But the sound didn't stop at the first room—it went further inside.
All the players were now paying close attention to the commotion, unsure why the change had occurred. But the subsequent knocking made them understand.
Pan Siming was right next to Octopus Card Bear, so the knock was especially clear. He immediately realized that Octopus Card Bear had lied—the monster last night wasn't targeting Deng Yu but him!
However, at that moment, the wall beside him was suddenly smashed through. As Big Bear burst into his room, he saw through the hole in the wall the door panel that had been kicked off by the monster on the other side!
Without a second thought, Pan Siming bolted out the door, with Big Bear right behind him!
The monster, which had already entered Big Bear's room, turned around and followed them. Before they had run a few meters, they felt a cold wind sweep down from behind. They instinctively ducked, and looking up, they saw a large gash cut into the mural across the corridor!
Pan Siming, who was in front, turned the corner first. Big Bear, who was a step slower, only heard the sound of a door opening and closing ahead. By the time he came out, all the room doors were shut!
But he didn't dare enter an empty room, so he ran toward the exhibition hall!