Author: 木尺素 / Mu Chisu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 19
Zhou Qian truly was a man of his word.
The very next morning, he took action.
After his rounds, Zhou Qian ordered a large box of tiramisu cake and delivered it to a familiar young nurse, trying to persuade Qi Liuxing to stay. The two laughed heartily, as if they were the naive sons of the landlord. They then managed to get three hours of outdoor time.
Leaving the hospital and hailing a cab, the two went to the New Dragon Cemetery.
New Dragon Cemetery was very far from the city and was poorly managed. Of course, because of this, the plots are quite cheap. Zhou Qian speculated that Bai Zhou was buried here partly because of his family’s modest means and couldn’t afford a more expensive plot, and partly because his parents’ affection for him was quite average.
After many years, Zhou Qian found that the management of New Dragon Cemetery was still chaotic. When he reached the reception hall of the management building, all the staff were playing mahjong.
Zhou Qian had prepared plenty of red envelopes in advance. He directly approached each person and handed them out.
“For good luck, for good luck!” he said while distributing the red envelopes, stating his request to change his brother’s tombstone.
Being a poorly managed cemetery, the staff didn’t verify Zhou Qian’s identity. After accepting the red envelopes, two of them happily left their mahjong game, where they had only won or lost a few yuan all afternoon, and led Zhou Qian to Bai Zhou’s grave, immediately removing the tombstone. Zhou Qian then saw the rectangular urn underneath.
The urn was wooden with a simple design. It was only about the size of two adult hands—unbelievably small.
After cremation, only a small portion of the remains were placed in the urn. Zhou Qian found this very regrettable.
In Zhou Qian’s memory, Bai Zhou was always tall. Now only this small amount remained. He vividly imagined the scene at the crematorium—Bai Zhou’s body being cremated, and afterward, his parents probably just casually chose some ashes to put in this small box.
Beside him, one of the workers, who had moved the tombstone, patted his bulging pocket, seemingly pleased with the amount in the red envelope. He smiled at Zhou Qian and said, “Actually, there was no need to remove the old tombstone today! The new one will take some time to make. You can order it today and replace it later.”
The other added, “That’s right. We’re understaffed, and tombstones take a while to make. But if you’re willing to pay more, we can hire more workers to expedite the process—”
The cemetery was located on a hillside, shrouded in mist from a recent drizzle, making the air damp.
Hundreds of tombstones lined up row by row, somewhat orderly. But due to poor management, most of the graves were overgrown with weeds. Leftover offerings from tomb-sweepers, like joss paper and candles, lay scattered on the ground, blending in with the grass, adding to the unique scenery of the cemetery.
Qi Liuxing, who had never been to such a place, looked around curiously.
At the same time, he occasionally shot glances at Zhou Qian, trying hard to keep a straight face. The two workers were also curious about Zhou Qian but were too lazy to inquire further. After realizing Zhou Qian was an easy target, they hoped to extract more money from him.
All three of them stood behind Zhou Qian, so no one saw the grim expression on his face. But when Zhou Qian turned to face them a moment later, his expression was back to normal.
Zhou Qian smiled and said, “The reason I removed the tombstone is mainly that I wanted to replace the urn. Last night, I dreamt of my brother. He said his home was leaking. I was worried that the wooden urn might have been damaged by insects, so I hurried over to check. Now that I see it’s fine, I’m relieved. But since I’m here, I might as well replace the urn.”
After saying this, Zhou Qian turned and squatted down, lifting the urn. He then stood up and asked the two workers, “Will the new tombstone be ready in a week?”
The workers grinned, rubbing their fingers together in a gesture that meant everything was negotiable with money.
“Don’t worry, I’ll pay enough. The tombstone must be made of the best materials. It should be taller, more magnificent, and more luxurious than the others around. Xiao Qi—”
Zhou Qian looked at Qi Liuxing. “I don’t have cash on me. Can you pay for me? Let’s give these two gentlemen a generous tip for their hard work.”
Qi Liuxing: “…”
What kind of weird competitive mentality is that?
Wait a minute? Why am I the one paying? Are you being casual? Not everyone is a second-generation rich kid like you!
Zhou Qian only said to the staff, “Add me on WeChat. Update me anytime. I’ll transfer the money to you whenever?”
The staff quickly replied, “Don’t worry, as long as the payment is settled, we’ll work overtime… Guarantee it will be done in a week!”
“Okay. Then I’ll come to rebury my brother in a week.”
Zhou Qian smiled at the staff holding the urn, slightly nodded towards Qi Liuxing, and then left with him.
Leaving the cemetery, the two hailed a ride towards the city center.
Qi Liuxing thought to himself that this trip was much smoother than expected.
At least they didn’t have to sneak in in the middle of the night and dig the grave themselves.
Those workers were really irresponsible.
Of course, when he sat in the back seat with Zhou Qian, Qi Liuxing’s expression became more and more speechless.
Because he watched as Zhou Qian opened the urn.
Though Qi Liuxing really didn’t want to look, curiosity got the better of him.
Inside the urn were mostly ash-colored powder and some small bone fragments that weren’t fully burned.
Zhou Qian reached in, picking out a small piece of bone to examine closely, even smelling it.
Afterwards, for better light, he even held the bone up to the window.
Looking sideways, Qi Liuxing saw the sunlight shining through the window, illuminating both the bone and half of Zhou Qian’s face.
Under this light, Zhou Qian’s expression looked dreamy. His eyes were intensely focused, with a crazed look.
Then he muttered to himself, “Hmph, is this really human bone?”
Qi Liuxing: “…”
The driver in front: “…”
The driver must have been shocked that he drove in an S-shape.
After a while, Qi Liuxing asked him, “Want to know what I think?”
“Oh?” Zhou Qian turned his gaze, looking at Qi Liuxing curiously. “What’s on your mind, Xiao Qi?”
Qi Liuxing: “I think you’re really insane.”
Zhou Qian: “Oh, I’ve always been that way.”
Qi Liuxing: “…”
Zhou Qian laughed, put the bone back in the urn, and closed the lid.
Then he asked Qi Liuxing, “What’s the deal with the ghost you mentioned earlier? Tell me in detail. What’s your relationship with him?”
Qi Liuxing thought deeply, holding his chest as if holding an invisible sword.
After a while, he began. “What if I told you… I grew up with a ghost. You wouldn’t believe me, right?”
Zhou Qian: “Go on.”
When Qi Liuxing was six, he watched a cartoon.
In it, two brothers were very close.
He envied that and wished for a brother, so he told his parents he wanted a younger brother.
When he said this, his parents looked sad. They told him that he did have a younger brother who died shortly after birth. Qi Liuxing was only two at the time, so he didn’t remember.
Strange events started happening after that.
Qi Liuxing often saw a child two years younger than him who called him “big brother” and was very dependent on him. He felt that he was his real younger brother.
His brother grew up with Qi Liuxing, reading with him, doing homework, attending classes…
Except that no one else could see him, their relationship seemed just like normal brothers.
Qi Liuxing said to Zhou Qian, “I originally thought he was the ghost of my brother, but logically, ghosts don’t grow up. So… I don’t know what’s going on.”
Zhou Qian seemed to understand. “But your parents think it’s your imagination? Or you have schizophrenia?”
“Yes. They thought my condition was getting worse, so they sent me to a psychiatric hospital,” Qi Liuxing said. “When entering this game, the system said… you can exchange gold coins for what you want. I wanted my brother to truly come alive.”
Hearing this, Zhou Qian thoughtfully looked at Qi Liuxing. “So your brother now…”
Qi Liuxing: “Sometimes he comes out, sometimes he doesn’t. Now… Ah, he’s here! Let me introduce you!”
Zhou Qian: “…”
Qi Liuxing sat in the middle of the back seat. He raised his hand and gestured towards the empty seat on his right. “Brother, let me introduce you. This is Zhou Qian. He’s impressive. Thanks to him, I managed to get the hidden reward. Mhm? Okay, I understand.”
Qi Liuxing turned and smiled at Zhou Qian. “My younger brother says he wants to thank you.”
Zhou Qian waved at the empty seat, narrowing his eyes and smiling warmly. “Hello. No need to be polite.”
Suddenly, a sharp, jarring friction sound abruptly rang out.
Accompanied by an emergency brake, the car violently stopped by the roadside.
Qi Liuxing was about to ask the driver if something had happened, like a tire blowout. But he saw the driver stretching out a trembling hand from the front seat. “You should leave. I won’t continue this job.”
“Um, sir, there might be a misunderstanding—” Qi Liuxing realized something and tried to explain.
“No, no, no. Just spare me! I beg you! I have a family!” The driver’s voice was on the verge of breaking down. “It’s hard for me to take ridesharing jobs in my free time! I will never take jobs near the cemetery again! Not even in the daytime!”
Moments later, Qi Liuxing and Zhou Qian stood on the deserted asphalt road at the foot of the hill, feeling the cold wind.
Zhou Qian calmly held an urn against the wind. Occasionally, passersby would see him and immediately keep their distance.
Qi Liuxing shook his head and involuntarily stepped back.
After a while, seeing Zhou Qian making a phone call, Qi Liuxing asked with a strained voice, “Who are you calling? Where are we going now?”
Zhou Qian replied, “When in trouble, we should seek help from the police. So, we’re heading to the police station to find Officer Chen. Let’s see if he can help us identify this or find out how Bai Zhou died.”
……
Two days later. Semi-open instance A711.
The so-called semi-open instance mainly served as a lobby for players and gamblers to discuss matters. It was also known as the game hall.
Only players and gamblers of a certain level could enter, hence the “semi-open”.
At this moment, all the people in the hall were Rank S players with various skills and gamblers with “Senior Gambler” badges.
They held phones or tablets, displaying numerous scenes of players below Rank S tackling different challenges.
In this game, players below Rank S were considered novices. When these novices played, only their respective gamblers could watch live.
But once they finished, their gameplay could be viewed by Rank S and above players and Senior Gamblers.
This way, other players and gamblers had no real-time interference in the novices’ gameplay.
They periodically review novices’ play videos to scout for potential apprentices or recruits for their teams.
For gamblers, it was about selecting future betting subjects to earn more money.
Players like Zhou Qian, being a novice, of course, couldn’t enter such semi-open instances.
Suddenly, a Rank C player appeared at the entrance, undoubtedly drawing attention.
With a cold smirk, the gatekeeper said, “People below Rank S can’t enter.”
The Rank C player was a very beautiful girl.
With a cold beauty and a reserved demeanor, she resembled the typical ice queen.
Facing the gatekeeper, she confidently replied, “I was invited. In fact, without the special invitation [Pass] from the legion, I wouldn’t even know about this place or be able to get here, right?”
“Tsk… Nowadays, novices have no manners.” The gatekeeper sighed.
Having guarded the entrance for a long time, he was well aware of the rules.
Normally, only Rank S players and Senior Gamblers could enter. But legions, aiming to nurture and train novices, had the authority to distribute a certain number of [Pass].
Those novices who received this [Pass] were eligible to visit.
They were considered reserves for the legions, and if they grew appropriately, they could become the backbone of the legion.
Legions were entities formed by highly capable Rank S players who applied through the system.
They were somewhat like guilds in MMORPGs but more complex.
Of course, some highly skilled veteran players could also directly distribute [Passes] to their disciples on their own.
The gatekeeper, despite clearly knowing the person in front of him had a pass, still wanted to give her a hard time. He had no other intention but to get a little bribe from her. Gold coins, useful items, anything would do.
However, the icy beauty in front of him was clearly unbending. She directly took out her pass and slapped it down in front of the gatekeeper with a loud “slap”.
“If you fucking refuse a toast, you’ll be forced to drink a forfeit*. Believe it or not, next time I’ll have someone kill you in the game—”
*(敬酒不吃吃罚酒) Idiom referring to submitting under pressure after turning down the first request.
Before she could finish, the gatekeeper silenced. Because he saw that the pass she presented was issued by the Peach Blossom Legion.
The term “Peach Blossom” in the Peach Blossom Legion came from the famous ancient poem: “Last year at this door, the human face and peach blossoms reflected each other’s red glow*.”
*Line from a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Xin Qiji. It conveys a sense of nostalgia and the fleeting nature of time by juxtaposing the enduring beauty of peach blossoms with the transient beauty of a human face.
The founder was a legendary player known as the “Peach Blossom God”. It was said that when she had the opportunity to see the gods, she emerged from a scarlet peach forest. Her skills were also related to peach blossoms, hence the name.
While Peach Blossom was still active, the Peach Blossom God had been missing for a long time. Rumor had it that after a massive civil war between the game’s legions years ago, the Peach Blossom God disappeared, her whereabouts unknown. This resonated with the phrase: “The human face is gone, but the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze*.”
*Also another line. It refers to while the human is gone, the peach blossoms continue to bloom year after year, reflecting the importance of human life.
While the founder vanished, the legion was dormant. Only recently did they become active again, ranking second among all legions.
Just moments ago, the gatekeeper was betting with someone—
“That new player named Zhou Qian seems pretty strong. Do you think Peach Blossom will recruit him?”
“It’s hard to say. The Peach Blossom Legion has peculiar standards for recruitment.”
The gatekeeper soon realized the accuracy of the statement. After all this time, the Peach Blossom Legion was finally attempting to nurture newcomers. But this newcomer wasn’t the outstanding Zhou Qian, but this seemingly unremarkable girl standing before him.
Given that she was chosen by the Peach Blossom Legion, the gatekeeper didn’t dare offend her. He quickly stepped aside.
Before she entered, the gatekeeper accessed her game profile.
[Name: Situ Qing]
[Rank: C]
[Specialty: Long-range Damage; AOE]
[Gambler System Evaluation: Ice Queen; Snow Goddess; Potential DPS Queen]
……
Retrieving her pass, Situ Qing stepped into the game lobby. Despite her proud and cold demeanor, a touch of reverence was evident in her gaze. She had struggled for so long in lower-level instances and thought reaching Rank S was her limit in this game. But now, she realized that Rank S seemed to be just the beginning. This game was even grander than she had imagined.
On a panel in the center of the lobby was a list of the most recent newcomers and their rankings. At the top was the name “Zhou Qian”.
[Player Zhou Qian, Rank D, Overall Performance Score: 100]
[Skill Prediction: Agility-based, Team Control]
[Spiritual Potential: Infinite]
[Probability of Becoming a “Shepherd”: 99%]
Situ Qing was a classic “potential-type” player, meaning she needed to spend a lot of time leveling up initially, but her power in the later stages would be unimaginably strong, akin to a late bloomer.
Despite being informed of this, Situ Qing couldn’t help feeling a bit downcast. She had struggled for so long to reach Rank C, but Zhou Qian had advanced to Rank D after just one dungeon.
Scanning the lobby while meeting the curious gazes of others, Situ Qing began to explore the game lobby. This was her short-term goal. She hoped to come here in the future without needing a pass.
“Why did Peach Blossom choose her and not Zhou Qian?”
“Have you seen Zhou Qian’s performance? That guy obviously isn’t easy to control. He prefers to lead rather than be led. I guess Peach Blossom likes obedient members. Plus, Zhou Qian’s skills aren’t practical!”
“That makes sense. I remember Situ Qing’s previous system assessment. She’s a potential-type, just like Qi Liuxing. They might be average now, but in the future, they’ll be incredibly strong damage dealers.”
“By the way, has any legion shown interest in Zhou Qian? With his abilities, everyone must be fighting over him, right? He should get a lot of attention.”
“No way he’d be left out!”
“Those who scored nearly or at full marks during their novice phase are all currently legendary players! They’re the leaders of various legions! How can no one want Zhou Qian?”
“Those big shots before, when they were rookies and scored full marks, either had immense positive energy, persuading everyone to cooperate with their charisma; or they relied on unbeatable output and just did it! Otherwise, they were extremely evil, sacrificing teammates… But I haven’t really seen anyone as reckless as Zhou Qian.”
“Yes, that’s the point. People like Zhou Qian are too dangerous. People like him… if you can’t get them, you must kill them before they grow stronger. Otherwise, they will be endless trouble!”
“But strangely, it seems like there’s no news about him now! No one is competing for him!”
“Really? No one wants him??”
“In fact, there’s one thing that all of you overlooked.”
A deep male voice suddenly came from the direction of the hall’s entrance. A man in a suit and leather shoes with a refined demeanor walked over. Because he used a special item, no one could see his name. They only knew his codename was [Priest].
Priest’s rank seemed very high, and his background was mysterious; nobody knew which legion he belonged to. He knew many secret messages, often surprising everyone, like a prophet with a third eye. Thus, when everyone saw him coming, they all stopped talking, staring at him, waiting for his big reveal.
Priest directly took out two tablets and placed them side by side on the table. He turned on the left tablet, tapped a few times, and displayed a group of new players entering “Apple Paradise”. He fast-forwarded to when the players first met the Great God Epoh, paused, adjusted the angle, and zoomed in on Epoh’s face for a clear close-up. Then he turned on the right tablet, bringing up the moment Zhou Qian met Epoh, and similarly zoomed in on Epoh.
At this point, it was clear that the facial features and expressions of the two Epohs were identical. In fact, these players had seen different groups of players clear this instance many times before.
Facing the Epoh on the first screen, their feelings were no different than usual, just like seeing an ordinary NPC in a low-level instance. But when they looked at the Epoh before Zhou Qian, they felt something unusual… It was as if that Epoh wasn’t just game data anymore but a living being, as if he would crawl out of the screen the next second and stand before them.
Priest continued to operate the two tablets, trying to analyze the various attribute data of the two Epohs in detail. The left tablet quickly displayed the data of the Great God Epoh NPC, such as HP, MP, attack power, skills, and the like.
But on the right tablet, a message popped up:
[The relevant player has activated advanced permissions and will not publicly display specific attribute values.]
“What the hell? Advanced permissions?”
“I know what advanced permissions mean! That’s… it’s a privilege only for god-tier players! Wait, I think I’ve encountered this situation before. This is, this is…”
“Priest? Care to explain?”
“I got it! A god-tier player loaded their consciousness into the body of an NPC in the instance! Under these circumstances, he can’t control the NPC, can’t OOC*, and can’t interfere with the instance…”
*Out of character. Basically, they have to follow the plot.
“It’s as if he attached his mental consciousness to the NPC, watching regular players play the game without affecting the game!”
“They do this to select ‘Shepherds’ for themselves! So, which god-tier player did this?”
“He closed our query permissions because he was worried that his health and skills would also be displayed. He doesn’t want us to recognize him!”
Those who were in this hall, to put it nicely, were all Rank S, but they were the lowest level of Rank S players, always within the range of regular players.
Legends told that the most advanced players were the ones who really opened up the world of gods, stepping into that realm and gaining supreme power through deals with them. Hence, they were called “god-tier players” by regular players. The founders of several major legions were god-tier players.
But no one present had seen them, nor did they know what that supreme power meant.
They only knew that the highest-level god-tier players would occasionally upload their consciousness into the instance, becoming an NPC within, choosing a qualified [Shepherd] for themselves.
It was said that after achieving godhood, god-tier players sometimes experience a loss of mental control.
During those times, they need a qualified [Shepherd] to control them. No matter how powerful or invincible a god-tier player was, if they lost their sanity or went berserk in the instance, they might still fail to clear the level. But if they cooperated well with a [Shepherd], they would be unstoppable.
“Priest, are you suggesting that a god-tier player has chosen Zhou Qian as his Sheperd? Did he become Epoh for Zhou Qian?”
“Even though it’s just their consciousness that’s uploaded, if the NPC gets hurt, the player will feel it too, right? Playing as Epoh, who enjoys pain, how much pain and suffering would that entail!”
“Which god-tier player would do such a thing? Just to observe Zhou Qian? Isn’t this a bit too exaggerated?”
“Before ‘Apple Paradise’, Zhou Qian had already passed the tutorial. How did a god-tier player notice him and immediately turn into Epoh? That’s unbelievable!”
“I’m so curious. I’ve opened the player rankings. Who the hell is that god-tier player?”
“[Scholar], [Blood Demon], and [Hidden Blade]… All these god-tier players are on my list! Who? Who took an interest in Zhou Qian?”
In response to everyone’s queries, Priest’s expression was somewhat inscrutable. “I don’t know who this god-tier player is, but if you keep looking, you’ll be able to guess soon.”
“Why?”
“If Zhou Qian is someone a god-tier player is interested in, then if the other god-tier players can’t have him, they’ll likely resort to killing him.”
……
Having overheard everything happening in the hall, Situ Qing entered a private room in the tea area. Inside, a pale, thin young man with a somewhat gloomy look was sitting.
“Any initial thoughts on this place?” the man asked her.
“My worldview has been turned upside down. What will become of this game in the future?” Situ Qing inquired.
“All you need to know is that you’ll possess immense power and be able to achieve your desires.” The man chuckled. “So, how do you feel now? Want to join the Peach Blossom Legion?”
“For someone weak like you… You’re not even a player. Why are you part of the legion?” Situ Qing was puzzled.
The man laughed. “Because I’m smart. Through this period, with the help I provided for you in clearing the instances, you should have felt it, right?”
After a moment of silence, Situ Qing countered, “You said before, if I want to join the Peach Blossom Legion, there’s a condition?”
“Yes. There’s a player named Zhou Qian. Due to his high score, the system will open a special instance for him called ‘Last Wish’. Given his personality, he will definitely go directly to this instance. The Peach Blossom Legion will provide you with an entrance ticket for ‘Last Wish’. This type of instance is rarely open, and as long as you and he make choices around the same time, you’ll definitely be matched together.” With a stern look, the man said, “Kill Zhou Qian in ‘Last Wish’, and that’s the condition for joining the Peach Blossom Legion.”
Situ Qing frowned. She was somewhat aware of Zhou Qian’s capabilities.
Seemingly sensing her hesitation, the man said, “He’s only Rank D, with an HP of just 2,000. Your HP is twice his. Besides, you have my real-time assistance. Furthermore—I’ve found a great helper for you.”
“Helper? Who?” Situ Qing was suspicious.
“You just went to a newbie instance to farm experience, right? You’ve gained a little fan. You saved him, so he’ll listen to you.”
“You mean… Lu Mengmeng?” Situ Qing furrowed her brows.
The man confirmed, “Yes. You both live in Spring Hill Asylum Zone 2. When you leave here later, find him and persuade him to cooperate with you. Tell him that if he performs well, he can also join the Peach Blossom Legion.”
“I don’t quite get it. That Lu Mengmeng is weak in every aspect.” Situ Qing asked with some surprise, “Why choose him?”
“Because his gambler is Zhu Qiang. Zhou Qian’s gambler is Yu Xian. And Yu Xian and Zhu Qiang are a pair of unemployed best friends. So…” the man grinned, “Are you ready to watch the drama of two brothers turning against each other?”
Situ Qing fell silent. She looked out the window. It was a false landscape constructed by virtual space—the moonlight covered the valley, making it look like a fairyland. The moonlight was breathtakingly beautiful. But every time she approached the valley, trying to reach out and grasp it, she always came up empty-handed.
“Don’t be afraid. I know, for my sake, you would surely kill Zhou Qian and survive.”
The man pushed the wheelchair forward toward Situ Qing, then leaned close to her ear, whispering the gentlest yet seemingly most cruel words.
“My dearest sister, I am your most devout gambler.”
……
Spring Hill Mental Hospital Zone 1, at the edge of the outdoor activity area, near the small river.
[Player Zhou Qian, you have not chosen the next instance to log into. The system reminds you to make a choice as soon as possible.]
[Due to your outstanding initial evaluation results, the special instance “Last Wish” with hidden rewards has been specially opened for you.]
[For players who have reached Rank E, some rules have been updated. Click to view the detailed introduction of the updated gambler system.]
[Currently, you and your gambler cannot enter semi-open instances and meet directly online. However, before the game starts, the gambler and player can have a video call to get to know each other better.]
[Whether the player passes or not affects whether the gamblers can receive rewards. Thus, gamblers can help players pass through their understanding of the game. During the game, gamblers can send message hints to players.]
[Please note that during the game, players cannot contact gamblers; gamblers can only send messages to players unilaterally.]
[At this stage, every game played by a player will be archived and can be searched and viewed by advanced gamblers; the higher your current score, the more likely you are to attract their attention; in the future, they will provide great help on your gaming journey.]
When Zhou Qian received this message, he was in the rest area, holding a binoculars, and preparing to climb a tree.
He casually asked Qi Liuxing, “So, at this stage, each player is only bound to one gambler, and the gambler can see our game performance in real-time. Players above Rank F can receive message hints from gamblers during the game?”
“Yes,” Qi Liuxing replied.
Zhou Qian asked, “But how come I see that Dong Xiang, you, Yun Xiangrong, and Gao Shan seem to not receive any hints?”
Qi Liuxing: “Perhaps our gamblers are too weak, weaker than us.”
“This system is quite strange. Think about it, gamblers just watch from outside, unlike us, who immerse ourselves in the game. How can they know more than us? Besides, while we risk our lives, they benefit from the sidelines… How is this fair? Something feels off.”
At this stage, each player had one gambler.
But a player’s performance could attract the attention of advanced gamblers.
In the future, when a player upgraded to Rank S, many advanced gamblers might bet on this player, realizing mutual prosperity and loss.
But as Qi Liuxing doubted, is it that easy for gamblers to reap without sowing?
Thoughts crossed Zhou Qian’s mind, but he temporarily set them aside.
As usual, he climbed the tree and began observing the building on the opposite side with his binoculars.
Qi Liuxing sat beneath the tree, bored, having kept watch for Zhou Qian for several days.
Yawning and looking up, he saw Zhou Qian with the high-powered binoculars, observing intently. Qi Liuxing joked, “If you were a woman, you’d turn into a ‘wife-waiting stone*’.”
*This is referring to a legend that tells of a devoted wife who waited for her husband to return from a journey. She waited for so long that she eventually turned into a stone statue, gazing in the direction her husband left. Nowadays, there are many stones that are labeled as this providing tourist attractions.
“Huh? Can’t a man wait for his husband?”
“??”
“Sorry, you’re too young.”
“…???”
Qi Liuxing: “So, did you see anything?”
Zhou Qian shook his head. “That person has been lying down. Nothing different from usual.”
Qi Liuxing, at a loss for words, changed the topic. “Hey, what about the ashes?”
Zhou Qian: “Chen Yangzhou said the results are still pending. We don’t know if those ashes are fake.”
“Okay…” Qi Liuxing asked again, “Where are you heading for the next instance? Do you want to go to ‘Last Wish’?”
“Yes.” Zhou Qian nodded. “This instance is also open to Gao Shan and Yun Xiangrong. They replied that they are willing to team up.”
“So… have you chosen what to add to your skills?” Qi Liuxing inquired further.
Zhou Qian: “Team control.”
Upon noticing Qi Liuxing’s hesitance, Zhou Qian looked down to find an awkward expression on his face, even his ears turning a shade of red.
“What’s wrong?” Zhou Qian asked him.
Qi Liuxing remained silent, his ears reddening further. After a while, he finally said, “Promise you won’t laugh at me.”
Zhou Qian raised two fingers. “I promise I won’t.”
“Well… would you like to form a team with me?” Qi Liuxing asked.
Zhou Qian: “?”
Qi Liuxing blinked twice. “You know… um, ‘Sword’s Courage, Heart’s Tune*’ or something.”
*Courage of a swordsman and the soul of a musician (剑胆琴心). Metaphor referring to someone who’s courageous and sentimental. This is often used in old novels, mostly to describe talented scholars who are capable in writing and martial arts (thus why Zhou Qian replied like so below).
Zhou Qian laughed. “As expected, an ancient-styled, chuunibyou.”
Qi Liuxing looked irritated. “You just said you wouldn’t make fun of me!”
“Mm. But I couldn’t hold back.”
“…No, you’re lying! You’re obviously emotionally stunted!”
“Wow, you’ve become smart.”
“…………”
Watching as Qi Liuxing, trying hard to keep a straight face, became redder by the moment, Zhou Qian stopped teasing him. “What made you think of this?”
Qi Liuxing pointed to his system panel. “The system extracts gamblers’ opinions of me, combines them with my performance, and plans my development. The system suggested that I not go to the ‘Last Wish’ for my next instance but to a specially customized instance. The reward for that instance is a musical instrument that matches my skills very well. So if you’re willing, you can join me and then possess skills related to the musician.”
“What are the musician’s skills?”
“Probably a healer. I’m not sure.”
“Oh, then never mind.”
“…………”
Catching a glimpse of Qi Liuxing’s disappointed look, Zhou Qian said, “I’m not interested in the whole healer thing. But we can still form a small team in the future.”
“Mm… That works too!” Qi Liuxing quickly smiled. “Let’s also invite Yun Xiangrong and Gao Shan!”
Regarding Qi Liuxing’s proposal, Zhou Qian didn’t commit either way, but just gave him a few more glances. He could sense that ever since he blocked for Qi Liuxing, the young man’s attitude towards him had changed. Beneath the aloof and rebellious facade, he was genuinely naive.
Having grown up at that age himself, Zhou Qian understood the mindset of young people. At that age, it was easy to believe in forever. They often think that a promised lifetime means an actual lifetime and that a recognized friend can remain a friend for life.
In truth, Zhou Qian had been taking advantage of this. Playing this game requires teammates. Qi Liuxing was clearly a promising DPS. He might even become a Sword Master in the future. So Zhou Qian needed him on his team, preferably following his every command. Every move he made in the game, including every word he said to Qi Liuxing, had a purpose: to make Qi Liuxing grateful, feeling indebted, and ultimately become an obedient teammate.
Nevertheless, Zhou Qian asked, “Why are you willing to team up with me?”
“You’re strong. And… you’ve helped me. I’m grateful,” Qi Liuxing said.
Regarding his own schemes, Zhou Qian was blunt. “But you should know, I’ve been using you all along.”
Qi Liuxing was taken aback. “…”
Jumping down from the tree and looking straight into Qi Liuxing’s eyes, Zhou Qian continued, “The reason I shielded you was because I knew I wouldn’t die. Even if I wasn’t 100% sure, I had at least 90% certainty. I did that to make you wholeheartedly follow my orders and help me get the hidden achievement. Knowing this, would you still want to team up with me?”
“Why… Why are you putting it like this…” Qi Liuxing frowned.
Zhou Qian smiled at him. “Being so blunt?”
Qi Liuxing: “Yes, blunt… and what you said seems too opportunistic. I still don’t believe you used me entirely. Because at that moment, the most dangerous part was over. You didn’t actually need me afterward…”
Zhou Qian shook his head. “That’s uncertain. I might have guessed the general course of events, but not all of it. When the believers who ate the apple would be punished by Epoh and stop attacking us, I had no idea. So, from my perspective, we might still face a significant crisis. If you were genuinely moved because I blocked for you, I might ask you to take a hit for me later, maybe even die for me.”
Qi Liuxing fell silent, leaning his head against the tree trunk, his face slightly pale and his expression rigid. Zhou Qian asked, “So, do you no longer wish to team up with me?”
“I…” Qi Liuxing spoke softly. “I don’t mind. I mean… no, I still believe you’re not as bad as you say.”
He looked up confidently. “It was a level 1 instance. Although the hidden achievement is hard to get, they wouldn’t give us no chance at all. Those deified believers wouldn’t attack us endlessly. The last and strongest one was already Rank B, and it’s safe to say he was the final boss! So you must have calculated correctly. You didn’t use me.”
“You’re saying I didn’t use you then… but I might in the future?” Zhou Qian laughed again. “Like now, when you seem to trust me a lot.”
Qi Liuxing: “Why do you always paint yourself in such a bad light?”
“Because it’s essential to put the unpleasant words out first.” Zhou Qian stopped smiling and became serious.
“Qi Liuxing, I’m not a good person to begin with. You should assume that I am as bad as I say. If under these circumstances, you’re still willing to team up with me, I welcome it. If not, we can part on good terms—”
He paused, then added, “It’s better for you to see this side of me now rather than doubting my intentions in a critical in-game situation, refusing to follow my orders, and jeopardizing my plans. So—”
Staring deeply at Qi Liuxing, Zhou Qian asked again, “Are you willing?”
To Zhou Qian’s relief, Qi Liuxing didn’t agree immediately but pondered for a full ten minutes.
It seemed as if he was reviewing the entire game in that time.
In the end, he said, “I’m willing to team up with you, and I trust you. Not just about your character, but… your intelligence. Right—”
“I have one last question.”
“What question?”
“Why did Gao Shan and Yun Xiangrong, who had already fled to the treehouse, come back to help me? You couldn’t have possibly foreseen that.”
“Oh, it’s simple. Because I threatened them,” Zhou Qian casually said.
Qi Liuxing: “?”
“I traded them some small items and gold through the market and left a message—that they shouldn’t think they’re safe there. I’ll attract the believers there. If one of us dies, we all die.”
“…”
Zhou Qian chuckled, climbed back up the tree, and peered through his binoculars.
However, his expression quickly changed.
With both hands, he gripped the binoculars tightly.
Room No. 03X87 was unexpectedly empty! When did the person inside leave?
Shortly after, Zhou Qian’s wristwatch vibrated.
He checked it and saw a message from a stranger.
The person’s name didn’t show up in the system.
He only had a title, which read [Hidden Blade].
Seemingly sensing something, Qi Liuxing on the ground below asked, “What happened?”
With a tone half mocking, half serious, Zhou Qian replied, “Someone wants to take me as an apprentice.”
“Holy shit, is a max-level big shot coming to our newbie village to recruit disciples?” Qi Liuxing was curious.
Zhou Qian hissed, “While we’re fighting tooth and nail in the game, low-level gamblers watch our moves in real-time. High-level gamblers watch replays afterwards. Then there’s a group of Rank S players watching, considering whether to invite us to their legions or take us as apprentices… Xiao Qi, doesn’t that piss you off?”
“It is infuriating. So, are you going to accept him as your master?” Qi Liuxing asked curiously.
“No,” Zhou Qian decisively replied.
“But I won’t refuse him outright. I’ll just leave him hanging.”
“A person who won’t even show me their name isn’t sincere. Who knows what kind of tricks they’re playing? I don’t get played by others. Hmm, [Hidden Blade]? That title is intriguing. I must find an opportunity… to turn the tables on him.”
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