Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 3

Inside the game.

The setting sun painted the entire sky a vivid shade of red. Not far away, the magnificent palace had just lit up with lights. Its semi-transparent walls gleamed golden from the lights, making it look like a heavenly palace amidst the desolate mountains, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, symbolizing happiness and peace.

Zhou Qian heard Dong Xiang ask him, “How did you get an invitation?”

“I triggered a side quest during the tutorial,” Zhou Qian replied, sounding rather naive. “Oh? You don’t have an invitation? What about the other players?”

Dong Xiang gave Zhou Qian a few extra glances, his eyes seemingly saying, “Taking pity on the simple-minded.”

“Among us few players, only you have an invitation,” he said.

Zhou Qian looked genuinely surprised. “Why? I don’t get it. I felt sorry for the boy and comforted him a bit, and unexpectedly got a bonus. From this perspective, side quests should be easy to trigger—I shouldn’t be the only one.”

Dong Xiang patiently explained, “Firstly, there might be multiple ‘Apple Paradise’ running simultaneously. Simply put, the NPCs in the game are all fake, just data. Just like when we play online games, different teams can run the same dungeon simultaneously without interfering with one another.”

“Indeed, many might have triggered the side quest in the tutorial level. But there’s only one ‘Li Dafu’ in each instance, and the invitation can only be stolen by the boy once. So, now you understand, right?”

Zhou Qian nodded, half understanding. “Oh, so when the system matches players, it avoids pairing those who have obtained the invitation from the boy in the same ‘Apple Paradise’.”

“Exactly,” Dong Xiang adjusted his shirt casually. “You triggered this side quest, which is why you were allowed into this instance directly. We weren’t as lucky as you.”

Zhou Qian: ?

Dong Xiang continued, “Before entering, you saw the prompt, right? The hidden achievement rate for this dungeon is only 10%.”

Zhou Qian nodded again.

Dong Xiang added, “So this is a rare hidden dungeon. Not everyone has the chance to enter. Our game’s dungeons adopt a customized invitation mode. Whether the system allows a player who didn’t get the [Invitation Letter] in the tutorial level to enter depends on luck.”

“Just like me. I ran three level one dungeons, leveled up to Rank E, and finally waited for the system to allow me access to ‘Apple Paradise’. I heard that there’s a very rare item inside.”

Zhou Qian looked worried. “You said I’m lucky, but I don’t feel that way. This dungeon must be challenging, but I’m only Rank F…”

“It’s okay. In this game, we need to help each other out.” Dong Xiang patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll cover you. Let’s go! I’ll accompany you into Apple Paradise! You just walk in normally, and I’ll take the opportunity to observe the gatekeeper, see if I can find any loopholes, and see where the other three players are.”

“Alright.” Zhou Qian forced a smile. “Ah…”

After the conversation, the two walked through a small forest, heading towards the majestic palace.

On the way, they occasionally came across a few scattered devotees.

Each time, Zhou Qian would check their data through his system panel.

His face grew more worried. “These devotee NPCs are all at least Rank E, and there are a few Rank D… They’re tough. What if we have to fight them later on? Am I doomed?”

In front of the screen, Yu Xian and Zhu Qiang both sighed heavily, like worried mothers.

“If these NPCs are such high levels, stealing invitations from them will be tough! Be careful of Dong Xiang beside you! If he doesn’t steal from you, who else would he target?”

“Stop focusing on NPCs! Pay attention to the people around you!”

Inside the game, Zhou Qian suddenly froze.

A pink foggy mist appeared before him, bubbly and ethereal.

The mist gave an overwhelmingly pleasant sensation, causing Zhou Qian to involuntarily wear a blissful, silly smile.

Three seconds later, the mist disappeared, and Zhou Qian snapped out of it. Simultaneously, a system notification arrived: [Player Zhou Qian, has lost the item—Li Dafu’s Invitation.]

Zhou Qian immediately looked for Dong Xiang, only to find him about ten meters away.

“Dong Xiang! Did you steal my invitation?” Zhou Qian shouted, his tone full of accusation and anger.

Probably due to being only 1.70 meters tall, Dong Xiang displayed nimble agility.

He waved and said to Zhou Qian without looking back, “Newbie, here’s a lesson for you. This is called ‘all is fair in war’.”

In front of the screen, Yu Xian and Zhu Qiang both held their foreheads.

“Ah, I knew it.”

“The news report wasn’t wrong. He really is a clueless second-generation rich kid.”

But Zhou Qian’s expression suddenly changed on the screen.

The innocence, foolishness, and disbelief in his eyes vanished, replaced by a deep and icy gaze. The landlord’s foolish son seemed to have encountered some drastic change, shifting into a dark mode.

Zhou Qian quickly ran towards the edge of the woods, shouting, “Li Dafu, it’s the guy in the plaid shirt! Catch him!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a very sturdy, fat man charged out from the edge of the woods.

Dong Xiang had just exited the woods and was unexpectedly tackled to the ground by the fat man.

Before he could utter a word, Dong Xiang’s throat was tightly squeezed by the fat man.

“You stole my invitation. You’re asking for death!!!”

Watching from a distance, Zhou Qian picked up a stone and calmly approached the two.

He successfully set them against each other, and now he was looking for an opportunity to benefit when both were weakened, just like the fisherman who profits while the clam and the snipe quarrel*.

*Idiom referring to while the main parties are engaged in their dispute, a cunning third party can seize the opportunity to gain an advantage or profit. It derives from a fable, which you can read in my Kinky Thoughts.

Ten minutes earlier, after recognizing Li Dafu, Zhou Qian started thinking about how to complete the side quest.

Back then, Li Dafu had been lingering near the palace gate, seemingly realizing he couldn’t get in, so he hid at the edge of the woods.

Zhou Qian saw through him—Li Dafu was probably lying in wait.

The devotees visiting Apple Paradise to meet the deity Yipo would have to pass through these woods.

Li Dafu’s invitation had been stolen by the little boy. To enter the park, he would have to steal another.

So he hid at the edge of the woods, watching from the shadows for an easy target, ready to ambush and snatch their invitation.

Zhou Qian kept his composure, hiding in the shadows, thinking of a plan.

Soon, he saw Dong Xiang and discovered that, like Li Dafu, he too was at Rank E and, surprisingly, was skilled in theft.

Dong Xiang didn’t recognize Zhou Qian. But Zhou Qian recognized him.

Dong Xiang also resided in the Spring Hill Mental Asylum, specifically in Ward 2.

In Spring Hill Mental Asylum, harmless patients were housed in Ward 1, a relaxed environment almost like a sanatorium, which was where Zhou Qian stayed.

But Ward 2 was different. It held threatening or even criminal patients.

Dong Xiang was in Ward 2. He had killed someone.

He assumed his wife was cheating on him and, thus, murdered her. Despite his seemingly frail appearance, he dismembered her into dozens of pieces and disposed of them in various places.

Yet, he was given a suspended sentence because he was deemed mentally ill.

The detective investigating the deaths of Zhou Qian’s parents, Chen Yangzhou, also happened to know about Dong Xiang’s case. During a visit, he once said to Zhou Qian, “Dong Xiang is definitely not mentally ill. He deliberately killed his wife. But I don’t know how he fooled the doctors. Although you’re not in the same ward, you should still be careful.”

While Dong Xiang was scum in real life, Li Dafu was scum in the game.

Facing these two, Zhou Qian couldn’t overcome either with his current level. So, he decided to pit them against each other.

So, ten minutes ago, Zhou Qian approached Li Dafu. “Did you lose your invitation?”

Li Dafu’s eyes widened. “How did you know? Did you steal it?!”

Li Dafu’s temper was volatile, just as the system’s hint had indicated.

Seeing Li Dafu clenched his fist and was about to punch him, Zhou Qian, who had been prepared, quickly lay down, avoiding the blow which landed beside his ear, leaving a substantial dent.

[Player Zhou Qian’s HP has dropped to 95%]

Before the next punch landed, Zhou Qian quickly said, “It wasn’t me! But I know who stole it. Hide here and don’t show your face. When that person passes by, I’ll tell you.”

……

Returning to the present.

Li Dafu, being an excellent boxer, quickly deformed Dong Xiang’s face with a few punches.

During their confrontation, Dong Xiang was clearly at a disadvantage.

After all, his skill was agility-based, specialized in theft or assassination. In close combat, he had no edge.

Li Dafu pinned Dong Xiang to the ground, pummeling his face.

In less than 5 minutes, Dong Xiang’s HP had dropped to 30%.

When Li Dafu raised his fist high with his right hand, ready to smash it down onto Dong Xiang, Dong Xiang finally relied on his agile movements and quickly used a prop.

It was evident that the prop was very valuable because Dong Xiang showed a very pained expression.

Immediately afterwards, a streak of light shadow flashed in the void, and Li Dafu’s figure halted instantly before falling sideways.

Zhou Qian looked at Li Dafu and saw a needle sticking out between his brows.

That needle only immobilized him; it was uncertain if it could truly kill him.

Regardless, Zhou Qian’s goal had been achieved.

Li Dafu lay motionless on the ground, while Dong Xiang had lost nearly half his HP.

Indifferently watching everything, Zhou Qian walked slowly to Li Dafu’s side.

Taking advantage of his inability to move, Zhou Qian picked up a rock and ruthlessly smashed it onto his head.

Amid the blood, Li Dafu looked at Zhou Qian in disbelief. Zhou Qian responded with an elegantly curved smile.

His voice was soft and gentle but as cold as a deathly wraith. “I didn’t really want to dirty my hands. But I promised that bullied little boy that I would avenge him. So, you…”

His voice suddenly turned horrifyingly deep. Zhou Qian said, word by word, “Can go to hell!”

Moments later, Li Dafu was completely immobilized.

Zhou Qian received a notification: [Player Zhou Qian completed a side quest and received a treasure chest].

Zhou Qian put the chest into his bag without opening it. He then accessed the system’s marketplace and spent 5 gold coins to buy a towel from the system store.

Standing in the red sunset next to a lush green forest, Zhou Qian expressionlessly wiped the bloodstains from his fingers with the white towel. He then approached Dong Xiang, who was still recovering on the ground.

Seeing Zhou Qian approach, Dong Xiang’s pupils dilated in fear, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

Zhou Qian squatted down and, as if not wanting to dirty his hands, placed his hand on Dong Xiang’s neck through the towel and began to strangle him without emotion. “I don’t feel like searching you. Die or hand over the invitation. Choose one.”  

Left with no choice, Dong Xiang mustered his remaining strength and handed over [Li Dafu’s invitation].

Holding the invitation between his index and middle fingers, Zhou Qian stood up, looking down at Dong Xiang, and said softly, “All is fair in war. I’ve learned. Thanks for the lesson.”

Dong Xiang: “……”

He couldn’t hold back and coughed up blood, gasping for breath.

He had been angered by Zhou Qian to the point that he was literally coughing up blood.

Yawning, Zhou Qian then turned around and walked towards the magnificent palace without looking back.

Behind him, Dong Xiang, in anger, coughed up another mouthful of blood.

In front of the phone screen.

Yu Xian and Zhu Qiang: “………”

“Holy—”

“Got it wrong. Who is this ‘Xiao Qianqian’? I’m calling him Qian Ge* first!”

*Brother (哥). When used with a name, it’s a friendly way of addressing someone you’re familiar with or close to, or out of respect (in this case, it’s the latter).

“Kneeling for Qian Ge… Let’s see what he does next!”

“Qian Ge, the rich second generation. He only has 300 gold coins, but he spent 5 to buy a towel. Aren’t those utility props tempting? Look at the other items in the market…”

“Is he a germaphobe?”

“Or maybe he’s just used to being extravagant. This kind of young master probably never worries about money.”

“Hey, it’s hard going from extravagance to frugality.”

“I hope he learns to save…”

……

What would the palace of a god that was located deep in the mountains look like?

From the exterior, the palace looked resplendent and magnificent. Did the god inside live an unmatched, luxurious life of wine and roses?

At the entrance of the palace stood two guards. After handing them the invitation, Zhou Qian entered as “Li Dafu”.

Entering “Apple Paradise”, he was filled with curiosity. But what he saw inside was unexpected—it still looked like a forest.

Large trees filled the hall, but their roots weren’t planted in the ground and were intertwined above it.

In the center of the palace stood a gigantic tree, as thick as five people hugging it and about ten stories tall.

Since it’s called Apple Paradise, these are probably apple trees, right?

But why isn’t there a single apple in sight?

With these questions in mind, Zhou Qian continued to walk forward, observing the structure of the palace’s interior.

In front of that massive tree, there was a lake, with water so blue it seemed bottomless.

At this moment, many believers were standing in front of the lake, observing. Anger and resentment were evident on many of their faces. Some were even openly cursing, with no hint of solemnity in their demeanor.

Why?

They were believers, after all. Shouldn’t this place be their temple in their eyes?

The palace inside was vast. From a distance, Zhou Qian vaguely noticed something on the trunk of the tree in the center of the hall, but he couldn’t quite make it out.

As he walked down the main path to the edge of the lake, getting closer, he saw it clearly.

—There was a person there.

That person was naked. It was unclear whether he was tied to the tree by the vines and leaves or if he had grown out from the tree, as if he were part of it.

His bare body was mostly covered by the tree’s foliage, with one leg casually resting on the ground, glowing softly in the light from inside the palace.

The shadows of the leaves swayed with the wind, creating a play of light and darkness on his distinct face.

With every shift of the shadows, his features seemed to change, as if he had countless faces, leaving one to wonder which was his true face.

In front of him stood a stone tablet bearing his name: “Epoh.”

It seemed he was the great god Yipo.

Yipo is the phonetic transliteration of “Epoh”, with the “h” at the end being silent*.

*Clarity: In Chinese, his name is [Yipo] (羿泊). Pronunciation-wise, it sounds similar to Epoh (which the author has specifically written in English).

By the lake, someone suddenly cursed. “You useless god. You should die!” As he said this, he spat in the direction of the Great God Epoh.

Once he began, several other believers around him also started cursing.

It seemed they truly had no respect for the god they worshiped.

Across the lake, high up on that tree trunk, Epoh’s eyes remained tightly closed. He appeared sorrowful yet peaceful, as if he were asleep, seemingly oblivious to the blasphemous words of the believers.

Zhou Qian looked at him closely, then shifted his gaze back to his name.

Epoh?

These four letters seemed to carry some deeper meaning.

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The author has something to say:

This game’s trading system has two types. One is similar to online games where players can trade amongst themselves, with sellers competing against each other, like in “JX Online 3” or “World of Warcraft“.

The other is more like a standalone game’s system, following the “system store” model.

In the early stages, the level classification for players S-F followed the most common model: Healers, Tanks, Melee Assassins, Ranged Mages—roles typical in battle, or legions (similar to player guilds or factions). These are commonly found in games like “JX Online 3”, “Honor of Kings“, or “Onmyoji“. However, for the sake of writing convenience, this novel has been greatly simplified. The specific skill setups, descriptions, and functionalities are original and self-designed.

It’s fine to make references to game-related jokes. Please avoid excessively referencing other novels. Much appreciated.

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Kinky Thoughts:

The Sandpiper (Snipe) and the Clam

One day, taking advantage of the sunny weather, a clam opened up its hard shell to bask in the sun on the banks of the river. A sandpiper saw it and quickly put its beak into the clam shell to peck at the meat inside. The calm hurriedly closed its hard shell and sealed the sandpiper’s mouth shut. The sandpiper couldn’t peck at the meat, and its mouth was sealed shut, so it threatened the clam and said, “If you don’t loosen your clamp on me, you will eventually die of thirst.” The clam responded without showing weakness, “Your mouth has been clamped by me. If you can’t pull it free, you’ll starve to death!” In this way, the clam and sandpiper fought each other on the beach, and neither would relent. Over time, they became exhausted. A fisherman happened to pass by, and when he saw that they were tightly entangled and neither could move, he easily caught them and took them both home.”

This story was told during the Warring States Period, when the Qin Empire was strongest. On one occasion, the Empire of Zhao declared war on the State of Yan. At the time, the king’s younger brother, Su Dai, was entrusted to go to the Empire of Zhao to persuade the King of Zhao not to send troops. When he arrived, the King of Zhao demanded what he was doing here, to which he told the fable.

After finishing, Su Dai said to the King of Zhao, “If the Empire of Zhao and the State of Yan go to war, the two sides will inevitably be at a standstill for a long time, eventually becoming exhausted. In this way, the mighty Qin Empire will be like the fisherman, who just needs to sit back and reap the benefits. Your Majesty, please consider it carefully before making a decision.” The King of Zhao felt that what Su Dai said was reasonable and dispelled the idea of attacking the State of Yan.

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