For breakfast the next day, Nol didn’t eat anything.
The piece of pie sat in his stomach like an ever-lasting piece of ice, dissolving very slowly in his stomach acid. It made him lose his appetite, and Nol just had a glass of milk before hastily finishing.
It was a pity about the special grilled meat Aunt Sophie made specifically. It all went into Teest’s stomach. Aunt Sophie looked at him with a stern and disappointed gaze, her expression saying, “Just as I expected.”
Avoiding Aunt Sophie’s scrutiny, Nol slowly sipped a cup of hot water. The cold feeling in his stomach made him frown. Fortunately, he transferred the gold wheel from Teest to a space within his body. Otherwise, his stomach would feel even more uncomfortable now.
Nol couldn’t resist keeping that inexplicable [Lament of the Weak]. When seeing special things, even if it’s just a bottle cap, he decided not to fight against his gamer’s heart. Now in his skill bar, he had the skills [Bloodline Suppression], [Lament of the Weak], and [Smelling]. He hoped that the next time his skills evolved, he would get more skill slots…
Nol used a wooden spoon to stir the milk in his hand while lost in thought.
Teest leisurely finished the grilled meat and thin pancakes and was tasting a few purplish-red figs. Seeing Nol lost in thought, he quickly swallowed the fruit in his mouth and asked, “What’s your plan for today?”
“What’s your plan for today?” Nol echoed the question back at him. “I’m not in a hurry.”
Teest tilted his head in confusion. As long as conditions allowed, Nol was always in a hurry. This was the first time Teest associated the phrase “not in a hurry” with Nol.
“Well then, let me tell you.” Teest drank his milk and cleared his throat. “A date in the morning, make some money in the afternoon, and as for the evening… well, let’s see. Grape Collar has lots of good wine, and the night is long.”
The look of disapproval was evident on Aunt Sophie’s face. Such a lack of ambition; the typical schedule of a loafer.
She looked at Nol, hoping that this seemingly redeemable young man would decline. But without hesitation, Nol nodded rapidly.
“Then it’s settled,” Nol said.
‘They’re both hopeless,’ Aunt Sophie thought.
……
Even though autumn had arrived, the sunlight was blindingly intense. It illuminated the rooftops in Grape Collar, making them shimmer brightly. The clothing of the pedestrians on the street was similarly radiant, and everything was enveloped in a warm glow. Only the grapes—whether juicy purple or green—appeared even more vibrant. They were piled in large wicker baskets, placed in smaller baskets lined with grape leaves, and finally ended up on either soft or parched lips, leaving behind a few drops of sweet nectar.
Previously, whenever Nol arrived at a place, he would subconsciously search for similarities with the game, only to then briefly admire the views.
But now, he walked slowly, taking in the entire city. He saw grape seeds covered in mud and clearly observed the grapevine patterns on the tower’s enormous bell. The city was no longer just a conceptual representation. It seemed alive, as if it was breathing.
Teest led him through the market, through crowded streets and alleys, towards dark lanes where the sunlight couldn’t reach, until they could no longer detect the sour-sweet aroma of grape juice.
The stone walls around them were crumbling, and the surroundings grew dimmer. Earlier, they could step over a vagabond or two, but now not even a few rats could be seen. Teest walked half a step ahead, leaving Nol with only a view of a color-disguised black braid and an unguarded silhouette.
Several days had passed, and Teest hadn’t mentioned the gold wheel kept with him, nor did Nol feel like returning it proactively.
It was a fragile yet sweet connection, and he cherished this feeling.
After walking for almost another half hour, Nol couldn’t hold back any longer. “…Is this what you call a date?”
“Did you really want to go on a date with me?” Teest said with a playful grin, without turning his head. He casually fiddled with a young grapevine twig—god knows where he plucked it from.
“I’m just curious about our destination,” Nol said. “Tell me. I won’t run away.”
“I’m a bit curious too,” Teest responded, with his habit of answering evasively. “I’ve taken such a roundabout route, and you seem to harbor no ill intentions.”
“What are you talking about?” Nol said, puzzled.
“I’m just thinking, since you’ve taken the stage, there are more suitable partners for you,” Teest turned around and said almost reproachfully. “You could’ve ambushed me with that letter opener, end our fake engagement, then secretly meet the leaders of the other Players. I’m sure some would be eager to team up with you—there’s no particular reason it has to be me, honey.”
Nol tried to look serious but couldn’t help but smile. The implication was too reminiscent of a jealous lover! It didn’t match the Mad Monk’s image at all.
“I can get the information without teaming up with them,” Nol said with a smile. “I prefer working with you.”
It felt freer, more discreet, and sometimes he genuinely needed a touch of wicked guidance and comfort.
Teest discarded the grapevine twig and examined Nol carefully.
Alright, the guy seemed honest. Nol gazed directly into his eyes, and the blue irises appeared even more pure and beautiful than before. Teest could sense affection in them.
For the sake of hunting, the Mad Monk occasionally lured his targets deliberately. He was fortunate to possess a body that most found aesthetically pleasing and was adept at making others feel “loved”.
He had seen similar looks on the faces of his targets, but they never had the clarity Nol possessed.
Even in his wildest moments, Nol remembered his motives. It was rather uninteresting, like performing magic for an audience who knew the tricks—Magician Teest felt somewhat frustrated.
“You said you liked working with me.” The Mad Monk leaned in, their noses almost touching. “What do you think of me right now, honey?”
He was genuinely curious.
“…A married man?” Nol pondered and replied earnestly.
“I was always a married man.”
“No, no, I mean in a more general sense.” Nol explained with a smile. “It’s like being attracted to someone you’ve just met, only to discover they’re married. The attraction is real, but the decision not to pursue is also genuine. You don’t have to worry about me pressing you for any responses.”
“Oh?” Teest continued, his tone more relaxed and sweeter. “In your view, what am I ‘married’ to?”
“Yourself and your twisted psyche?” Nol responded uncertainly.
Teest: “……”
Teest: “Indeed, that’s hard to separate from.”
“See?” Nol nodded gravely.
Teest shook his head, amused, and resumed walking. After a short distance, he opened an inconspicuous wooden door. Had Teest not specifically stopped, Nol would’ve mistaken it for a rotting board.
“The Black Glove Tavern!” Teest sidestepped, revealing a narrow passage behind the door and a hint of light at the end of it. “This place has the best grapes and roasted suckling pig in the whole city.”
“A decent date spot.” Muffled chatter and music wafted out with the warm breeze. Nol caught the scent of roasted meat and spices.
“No, the sweet date segment was just now.” Teest shrugged. “Now, it’s time to make some money.”
……
Teest activated the effect of the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” slightly. Even when he bumped into a drunkard who smelled like vinegar, the drunk just looked around in confusion, cursing at the ground.
Another “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was dangling from Nol’s right earlobe. The two squeezed through the crowd, heading towards the bar.
The surrounding air was far from fresh. Nol detected the stench of abscesses, fresh wounds, and disease. The area was filled with oddly shaped humanoid creatures. Five customers together wouldn’t make up one set of clean clothing.
The wooden pillars were plastered with wanted posters, recruitment papers, trade notices, and a few withered fingers. The wood was marked with crude graffiti, and various fluids stained the base. Nol decided not to investigate further.
“Two glasses of ‘Golden Grape Leaf’.” Teest smiled as they squeezed up to the bar. “The usual, no ice. The good grapes from Silver Windmill. Put it on the ‘Doctor’s’ tab.”
The bartender was a short, middle-aged man. Only when Teest spoke did he raise his mismatched eyes. Nol was startled. The man looked like he had been torn apart by a beast and hastily pieced back together.
“What grade of grape? What kind of grape leaf?” His gaze swiftly swept over Teest and Nol, quick as a lizard’s tongue.
“The best grapes. Add two dark green grape leaves, the kind with dew on them.”
After scrutinizing Teest for several moments, the bartender grunted. “Fine, pick them yourself.”
Anticipating trouble, Nol tightened his grip on the staff disguised as a cane and followed Teest through a broken door behind the bar. As soon as he entered, he nearly dropped the staff—the space beyond was vast, making the previous tavern seem merely like an entrance hall.
Seeing Nol’s surprise, Teest smirked contentedly, [Come back to reality, Mr. Lich.]
[What is this place?] Nol wondered as he looked around. It resembled the lobby of a five-star luxury hotel. Though not as expansive as the Lost Tower, its design was intricate, and its decorations were dim yet luxurious.
Except, where one might expect to see mounted deer or wolf heads, there were human heads with their eyes and mouths sewn shut.
[The “General” Black Glove trading post. It’s best if we sell our items here,] Teest explained. [That door leads to multiple entrances, and any ordinary unlucky person who ventures in will only see a dimly lit storage room.]
Nol caught on quickly.
Days ago, he and Teest had looted several treasures from the dungeon of the Black Forest. The rewards were mainly jewelry and gems, and the dungeons themselves were hardly challenging.
But as the saying goes, money can be a hero’s downfall*. If he wanted to support the neighbors in the Lost Tower, he couldn’t keep taking money from Teest’s pocket. Nol had planned to contact Anakin and her group to sell the spoils, but evidently, Teest had other ideas.
*A single coin can stump a hero (一文钱难倒英雄汉) Idiom referring to even a hero can be troubled if he has no money.
[The lovely siblings were conspicuous enough; better not add any more risks for them.] Teest nodded towards the reception desk in front of them. [Selling stolen goods here is the safest. Trust me, not even a god can trace it back.]
[Got it. Thanks for the heads-up,] Nol thought. [What brought you here?]
He doubted that the Mad Monk would kindly navigate and provide a guided tour with a smile.
[Half of the money in there is mine. I want to use it to buy some information.] Teest blinked. [Since you’re not in a hurry, there’s something I want to get my hands on.]
[The “Eclipse Shield”, a small round shield made from the skulls of the Demon King’s Guards. The “Demon King’s Guards” might sound intimidating, but they’re just particularly powerful Demon King’s minions.]
Before Nol could inquire further, Teest thoughtfully explained.
The shield was originally in the custody of the Immortal Church in Grape Collar, stored in various secret locations. Over a decade ago, that particular Immortal Church was razed to the ground, and the location of the Eclipse Shield became unknown. The Mad Monk had kept an eye out for related news but always came up empty.
[I can help you find a better shield,] Nol thought internally.
[But you’re the only one who could nibble on this shield.] Teest stretched his shoulders and said, [Let’s go. Today’s a good day to spend lavishly.]
Nol shook his head, about to follow, when his gaze suddenly fixed on a familiar figure about ten steps to their left.
Mr. Billy from the Alva Merchant Group was walking towards the same reception desk with a smile.
Crimson had no desire to take on this task. It sounded like a nanny’s job, devoid of any excitement.
Listen, God’s Chosen One sounds like the delusions of those rich old men after they’ve had too much.
The black candle was stolen, and Crimson shifted the blame to Jack, who couldn’t refute the accusation. But the Church’s opinion of him had significantly decreased. His partner was dead, precious items were lost in large numbers, and the Eternal Church seemed to have no intention of replenishing them anytime soon.
After arriving in a world filled with blood and violence, how could he not be excited?
So, he had no choice but to agree to this deal. Just like in his previous world, he needed to work diligently in between his killings to pay off his credit cards.
“Bring back the Chosen One. Of course, it would be my honor.” Crimson repeated without any emotion. “But I fail to see how this relates to ‘Paradise’.”
“Twenty-one years ago, the Chosen One appeared in Grape Collar. But those fools misinterpreted God’s will and didn’t find the real Chosen One,” the old priest said with an annoyingly dramatic tone. “Now, God has given another oracle. ‘Following the river of fate, returning to the land of Grape Collar, his soul remains in darkness’.”
“Oh, alright,” Crimson said. “Tell me the physical features of this dark soul, and I’ll find him as soon as possible.”
The old priest remained silent.
“…Is that all you’ve got?” Crimson’s eyebrows shot up.
He despised these vague prophecies. His God wouldn’t entertain believers with riddles. Based on these vague clues, any male over twenty-one in Grape Collar could be his target.
No wonder they got it wrong the last time! He cursed internally.
“The first prophecy was more precise.”
The old priest paused for a few minutes before adding slowly, “The prophecy was once stored in the Immortal Church in Grape Collar, which was burned down twelve years ago. You need to get the original prophecy and bring back the true Chosen One.”
“We are too close to that black tower. The Master of Paradise has shown strong hostility towards us and might interfere. It’s God’s will for someone familiar with them, like you, to do this. We sincerely hope that the incident in Whitebird City won’t happen again, Lord Demon.”
Vague instructions, no information at all—what a nightmare of a task.
Crimson replied, “Even a Demon can’t turn back time. I can’t be expected to dig through charred garbage from over twenty years ago, can I?”
“But God can,” the old priest said, the warts on his face squeezing together, forming a horrifying grin.
This got a bit interesting. Crimson raised his eyebrows even higher. Back in Whitebird City, members of Paradise were the ones who stole the black candle. This time, he had to pray that Paradise’s people wouldn’t cause trouble again. Now that the news about the “Mad Monk” in Paradise had spread, he hoped that the Players of the Temple of Life would confront Paradise first.
……
Anakin and Solo sat in the first-floor restaurant. Anakin’s face ached from laughing so much, while Solo mechanically wielded his fork, succeeding in bringing food to his mouth only twice out of three attempts.
The long table around them was occupied by all sorts of monsters. It was the first time Anakin had seen so many creatures gathered in one place.
Nol and Teest sat at the head of the table. On one side were about a dozen old succubi, represented by Uncle Ma, and on the other… well, an ensemble of monsters.
Across from the succubi and closest to the main seats was a Puppet Witch. She delicately scooped pudding, exposing the ball-shaped joints of her fingers and elbow. A creepy doll sat beside her, occasionally fetching condiments or fruit for her.
Next to her sat an Elf and a gray Wolfkin. Further out was a bizarre family trio made up of a Crow, a Banshee, and a Ghost. The Banshee Mother was trying to feed berries to her translucent daughter—who for some reason, kept glancing towards the main seats, her young face tinged with fear.
‘Children have good instincts. Perhaps she senses the menacing aura of the Mad Monk,’ Anakin thought.
Nol seemed the most normal, but on his plate lay the tail of a poisonous jungle spider. Even roasted and drenched in sauce, its pungent smell was overpoweringly strong. After several glances, Anakin wasn’t so sure how to define “normal” anymore.
Such monsters were rare to see. Encountering just one in the wild was distressing enough. Now, facing a whole group of them felt like a boss meeting. Combined with the sporadic mentions of Country C, Anakin felt incredibly confused.
Nol easily cracked open the spider’s tail, revealing the purple-webbed meat inside. He scowled at it, took a while to cut a small piece, coated it in yellow sauce to hide its appearance, and hesitantly put it in his mouth.
His expression was much more animated than Anakin remembered.
After two chews, Nol’s face contorted, looking like he was about to vomit. Teest quickly grasped Nol’s shoulder, one hand firmly over his mouth, until his breathing steadied.
It looked as if he was trying to smother him.
“Here, honey.”
Once Teest let go, he handed Nol a cup of fragrant herbal tea. Nol murmured a thank you and drank hastily, almost downing the hot drink in one gulp.
‘…I don’t get it!’ Anakin thought in distress.
The silver lining was that the monster neighbors also seemed to fall into two camps: “Help, I don’t understand” and “I don’t understand, but I respect”. Suddenly, Anakin felt a bit closer to these creatures.
“Will we all be staying here from now on?”
Elf Rosen shifted on his seat, swinging his feet that didn’t touch the ground. “This place is awesome. It’s spacious enough for all of us—but the environment is too different. We can’t stay on our original floors.”
“We’d like a guest room, if possible,” the Banshee asked nervously. “Our baby is used to rooms, and I’m afraid she won’t adapt to the wild.”
“I’m in charge of the rooms here. Of course you can have one,” Uncle Ma declared. “We must prioritize the kids!”
The Puppet Witch, after finishing her tea, remarked, “I need a workshop to craft items for everyone. Uncle Ma also needs a guardroom. I’ll set up a magical surveillance screen for him.”
“Oh, right! We also need to install your surveillance… puppets soon. We’re bound to have other visitors to the Black Forest!” Rosen exclaimed, slapping his thigh.
“Miss Lynn, please also include footage from other areas so we can help you find your sister,” the Crow perched on the Banshee’s shoulder chimed in. “We, as parents, won’t wander far and need something to do.”
Nol sat in the main seat, watching his neighbors converse with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
The succubi were baffled by this monster coalition, but they remained politely silent. It wasn’t until the end of dinner that Succubus Donni cautiously spoke up.
“Thank you both for resolving the conflicts within our tribe,” he said, addressing Nol and Teest with reverence as if speaking to a queen. “If you have any plans for us…”
Nol patted Teest’s shoulder, who produced a stack of parchment from his pouch.
“This is a recommendation for the training location of the succubi, evolution suggestions, and a map of the Lost Tower for the tribe,” Nol explained, handing a sheet to Uncle Ma. “You can arrange your hunting routes and times. That should suffice—oh, except for the queen, everyone must report to Malvina before heading out.”
Uncle Ma gave the paper in his hand a slight shake, his expression relaxing a bit.
“These are for everyone.”
With that said, Nol handed the stack of papers to Witch Lynn and then passed them on to the neighbors. “Please ensure that you train in teams as instructed. Don’t be negligent, and don’t initiate fights.”
“The Black Forest is a dangerous place. Always move in teams. If anyone wishes to leave the tower, you must report to Malvina and must carry Lynn’s communication puppet.”
Rosen flicked the paper. “My wife and I will take a trip further away. We need someone to patrol the outermost area. What about you, Nol…? Saying all this, do you not plan to stay long?”
As he said this, his face was turned to Nol, but his eyes were fixed on Teest.
Everyone else’s eyes were on Nol—the neighbors’, the succubi’s. When leaving the Dragon’s Lair, Nol had felt such gazes before. Compared to the anxiety and unease of the low-level Nol, the fully leveled-up Lich Nol seemed much more composed.
Nol looked towards the forest outside the tower.
Finding the Lost Tower, gathering the neighbors, then cautiously stationing, leveling up, and slowly accumulating intelligence through constant negotiations—he had thought this way before. But now… he was assisting them, not burdening them. He remained free.
“I need to go out and take a look to get a clearer picture faster.” He said with a smile, “This place is unfamiliar to me. To gain unexpected benefits, one must take risks.”
Relinquishing the pressure of being the creator, he was the most fitting “adventurer” in this world.
“When I’m not here, Lynn will manage this Tower for me,” Nol said, “I’ll contact the Tower weekly, and if needed, I can return anytime. You can always contact me if there’s an issue.”
Anakin held her breath, resisting the urge to exchange glances with Solo.
This meant that Nol had a permanent spatial transportation tool.
…Even the Temple of Life only had one such item, which was securely locked deep in their storeroom. Even one-time-use transportation tools were only available to mid- to high-level Players.
They did right by not offending this guy. Anakin’s smile softened. Suddenly, two sheets of parchment floated into her view.
“Sister, sister.” The little Ghost Girl maneuvered the parchment to float in front of Anakin. “This is for you.”
Not just for monsters? Anakin thanked her with a composed demeanor and took the paper with a look of confusion.
When she saw the first line, her shock was comparable to seeing the golden thread of the Mad Monk.
[Hidden job change for the Holy Priestess: “The Flawless” quest chain.]
[Hidden job change for the Rogue: “Night Ranger” quest chain.]
Both sheets of parchment contained a short sentence in Chinese—
[A gesture of goodwill. Burn after reading. This is just the beginning. Please remember to keep it a secret. ^_^]
……
“Ah, my little Landus, my little Ross, you’re finally back!”
A few days later, Aunt Sophie exclaimed loudly at the door.
In reality, Anakin and Solo were still following behind them. The two Players had donned the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” crown and necklace, minimizing their presence. As expected, Aunt Sophie didn’t notice them at all.
Hearing her shout now, Anakin felt differently—believing Aunt Sophie was only calling out for the neighbors to hear.
Lady, do you even realize one of them is the Mad Monk and the other is a newly minted monster boss?
Thankfully, Solo shared in this experience with her. If she was holding onto this secret alone, she’d surely develop some mental issues.
Before leaving, both Players turned to Nol, nodding solemnly. In a corner unseen by Aunt Sophie, Nol waved back.
The first group of residents in Paradise had been settled. The neighbors spontaneously started infrastructure work. Players friendly with them were returning to various factions… Hopefully, this would be a good start.
“You two finally decided to wander back.”
Once the door was closed, Aunt Sophie’s benevolent smile vanished like melting snow. “You’ve exceeded your time. You’ll have to pay again, boys!”
“I’ll have some honey cakes,” Teest said, counting out some gold wheels. “Oh, and I’ll need your kitchen tonight.”
Teest had finally shed his succubus outfit. Without that swaying tail, Nol felt like something was missing from Teest. Thankfully, Anakin had generously gifted them the outfit, so that tail would likely make a reappearance.
“Your last room is still under repair. Only a small room remains. Do you want to sleep separately?” Aunt Sophie casually mentioned.
Silence filled the room.
‘Maintain a calm, stable demeanor with a touch of nonchalance,’ Nol thought rapidly.
After their unexpected intimate moment, Teest acted as if nothing had happened, and they continued to share a room. Since the Mad Monk seemed unaffected, Nol also acted nonchalant—their relationship was as straight as when they first met.
He couldn’t exactly kick Teest out, saying, “I have ulterior motives towards you. I don’t want to like you more, so let’s sleep separately”… That sounded cringeworthy to even think about it.
They were both long past adulthood, not beasts that couldn’t control their primal urges. It’s just a hint of romantic interest. It’s too soon for anything more!
“I don’t mind,” Nol replied with utter calmness.
“But one room would be better,” he added equally placidly. “Don’t worry. We won’t do anything.”
The [Betrayal Overture] required them to stay within five meters of each other, after all.
Teest had also paused for a split second upon hearing Aunt Sophie’s suggestion.
Now, he said with an equally calm tone, “We definitely need one room. This way, you won’t charge us an extra cleaning fee.”
Aunt Sophie looked at them with disdain, clicking her tongue at Nol. “I’m making special roasted meat tomorrow morning. Whether you get to eat it depends on you.”
Nol smiled confidently. “I look forward to your culinary expertise.”
That night.
“This is your reason for ‘definitely needing one room’?” Nol’s tone was harder than the walls of the Lost Tower.
Before him was Teest’s special midnight snack—a pie made of the legs from the Demon King’s minions.
Cook Teest passionately described how it was made. He chose dry meat with fat from the legs of the Thousand-Hand Nightmare, smoked and roasted it, then seasoned with pepper, herbal seeds, and salt. He then mixed it with regular ham and cheese to make the pie.
It smelled surprisingly good.
However, Nol could still detect the unique taste of the Demon King’s minions underneath the aroma of flour and cheese.
“Your ‘Fallen Death’ should have refreshed by now.”
Teest sat on the edge of the bed, cheerfully handing over a fork. “Try it. It surely can’t be worse than that spider tail from the other day.”
“Are you trying to boost my stats or just conducting an experiment?” Nol asked skeptically as he took a bite of the pie.
“Both, I guess.” Teest thoughtfully handed over a barf bag, just in case.
Sleeping in one room was for easier rescue in case something went wrong, right? Got it, typical of you, Mad Monk.
Why did he even have feelings for such a guy?
Nol lamented as he bit into the pie.
…The pie was steaming hot but felt incredibly cold when bitten into, as if it had just been taken out of a freezer. Despite all the spices Teest added, the bizarre taste quickly filled Nol’s mouth.
It wasn’t a scent of decay. The taste was somewhat like mud, rust, and some unknown fungus. For a moment, Nol genuinely wondered if he was licking the lid of a coffin. The flavor was so intense and cold that it made his throat go numb, and it took him a while to swallow even a small bite.
His attributes increased as expected, with his attack power going up by 10, which was quite decent. As for his skill… Nol secretly hoped he’d acquire a useful ability from the Nightmare.
A few seconds later, an option for a new skill appeared on his skill list:
[Lament of the Weak: The despairing thoughts, the faint echoes, the complaints of the defeated against fate. This skill has no effect, holds no value, and cannot be used.]
…What is this?
The author has something to say:
Here we go! A new arc has started! I’ve divided it into chapters.
The succubus tail is gone, but no worries; it’s still in Teest’s bag and will be taken out on necessary occasions (maybe?).
Also, I haven’t forgotten about Teest’s coin! It will be mentioned later on.
After arriving in the living room, everything in sight was incredibly strange, which gave Zhou Qian a strong sense of discomfort.
This wasn’t just the visual impact brought by the peculiar flowers, plants, and the strange butterfly. If the entire world consisted of these bizarre things, it wouldn’t feel out of place—it would just be a whimsical fantasy world.
But that wasn’t the case here. The construction of the room, the original look of the streets, and even the television, sofa, and coffee table in the room felt very modern and tech-savvy.
The juxtaposition of ultra-modern furniture and the bizarre plant was the source of the dissonance.
The television in the living room was extremely thin, like a sheet of paper on the wall. The sofa’s material was indiscernible, and its design was ergonomic and inviting. The small coffee table was black and white, with a very unique irregular polygonal shape, and had a button on it.
After a moment, Zhou Qian paid no attention to the strange flower growing into the room or the flower bud with human faces. He walked over and pressed the button on the coffee table. It then ingeniously disassembled and reassembled itself, transforming into a perfect square dining table.
The previous study room had a classic design. Coupled with the “witch” theme, Zhou Qian had thought this game’s setting was of medieval Western context.
However, judging from the living room, this era had advanced technology, making the modern furniture feel out of place compared to the magic and strange plants.
Looking down, Zhou Qian noticed another button in the middle of the dining table. Upon pressing it, a small compartment sank and revealed a hidden section. Inside was a letter addressed to Witch Eva.
[Dear Eva,
Indeed, technological advancement is a sin. We should return to our beliefs and respect everything the ancient books and magic have taught us. I have dismantled all the TVs, computers, and the like in the house. I hope you’ll abandon them in your life soon.
Only by returning to our original state can we find a way to communicate with the universe, just like the ancient sages.
Looking forward to our next meeting at the ‘Witch Association’
— Sarah. October 1st, XX85.]
From this letter, Zhou Qian could deduce why there was such a vast difference between the study and the living room’s styles.
It was likely that after receiving this letter from Sarah, Eva began to discard her electronic devices and started to redesign her house to make it more retro. However, she couldn’t complete the transformation before the witch hunts began in the town.
Given the circumstances, Eva had to keep her identity as a witch a secret. As a result, she only renovated her study, which was a private space, while leaving the living room, the public-facing area of the house, untouched as a decoy to assure visitors she wasn’t a witch.
The letter was dated ‘85, while the suspicious Strawberry Music Festival was in ‘92. This suggested that Eva became a witch long before, possibly just after her daughter was born.
The letter also indicated that there were multiple witches in the town since there was a mention of a “Witch Association”. Sarah’s tone in the letter suggested that she might be the leader or president of the association.
At this moment, Zhou Qian was the player closest to the bizarre flower. Qi Liuxing glanced at him, noting a flower bud with a human face almost touching his shoulder.
“Be careful, Zhou Qian,” Qi Liuxing warned.
Yin Jiujiu also stepped forward, surveyed the living room, and remarked, “These flowers are all over the streets outside. Are they the ‘Flowers of Evil’? However, based on my judgment, these plants are harmless for now. After all, if they wanted to harm us, we wouldn’t stand a chance since they’re everywhere.”
After a pause, Yin Jiujiu continued, “With that in mind, we can safely venture outside and investigate. We don’t need to fear these flowers. According to that little girl, we need to leave this house and investigate the place where the music festival was held to find out what exactly happened there.”
After saying this, Yin Jiujui looked at the others, seemingly trying to gauge their opinions.
Ke Yuxiao frowned and thought for a moment before speaking, “We must check the music festival. But before that, we should search this entire house again. The system has advised us to explore here thoroughly. Perhaps, we could not only find important clues but also gain additional life points.”
At this moment, Wu Ren walked to the door and tried the doorknob. It could be turned, but the door couldn’t be pushed open. From this, it was evident that the door was still barred with iron bars or covered with iron plates from the outside.
After forcefully pushing the wooden door several times to no avail, Wu Ren turned to the others and said, “You guys search for clues. I’ll find a way to open the door. Let’s divide and conquer.”
Hearing this, Zhou Qian looked at him. Wu Ren glared back and loudly retorted, “Wasn’t it you who said? I’m the king, and you’re the pawn. Shouldn’t you be running errands?”
Zhou Qian chuckled, walked over to Qi Liuxing, patted him on the shoulder, and took him to the second floor.
On the way, Qi Liuxing asked him through the private earpiece, “What’s the situation with Wu Ren now?”
“Logically, if the Peach Blossom Legion wanted to kill me, they would send someone strong. After Situ Qing failed, sending someone even stronger like Wu Ren makes sense. However, I haven’t seen any flaws in Wu Ren so far. If he was really suspect, he would have agreed to cooperate with me much earlier. It was only at the last moment that he agreed. His reactions seem too genuine, not like he’s faking it.”
Zhou Qian continued, “However, if it’s not him, it’s a bit strange.”
“If it’s not him, is it Yin Jiujui? Hmm… It could also be Li Buhui. Or maybe the two of them are collaborating.”
Qi Liuxing said, “Why did his gambler emphasize that he would cling to Yin Jiujui and describe him as ordinary? Oh, and Li Buhui acted quite naively, even losing 6 points. Maybe he’s pretending to be dumb to gain your trust!”
Zhou Qian pondered for a moment and said, “The premise for pretending to be clueless is that he’s actually very capable. But as far as I know, there doesn’t seem to be any item in the system that can hide one’s strength. By the way, have you heard of the ‘Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather’ story?”
*Story regarding seven brothers born from a calabash (gourd) who tries to rescue their grandfather by going one by one only to fail. Only when they united as one did they finally manage to rescue their grandfather. It’s also now a catchphrase referring to the story illustrating how not concentrating combat power in games or team battles but fighting the enemy’s main force one by one eventually will lead to defeat.
Qi Liuxing replied, “Ah, the seven calabash brothers went to rescue their grandfather by fighting the snake demon one by one and kept failing. If they had teamed up from the beginning, they would’ve won.”
“Exactly,” Zhou Qian said. “If it’s Wu Ren, Yin Jiujui, and Li Bu Hui working together against me, that makes sense. Especially with Situ Qing being unpredictable, they might have other ways to control her. But if it’s just Yin Jiujui and Li Buhui, it’s strange. They don’t need to send individuals like the Calabash Brothers.”
After a brief pause, Zhou Qian narrowed his eyes and then shook his head. “Regardless, I have a plan. They won’t dare act rashly for now.”
After chatting with Qi Liuxing, Zhou Qian, accompanied by him and Ke Yuxiao, arrived on the second floor.
The villa wasn’t big, and there were only four rooms on the second floor.
Closest to the staircase was a toy room filled with children’s toys and some musical instruments in a modern style. These toys were unique, including an automatic train and even an advanced dynamic solar system model where the moon revolved around the Earth, which, while rotating, revolved around the Sun.
The other three rooms were bedrooms.
One was clearly a child’s room, probably Lily’s; another room only had a bed and wardrobe and seemed like a vacant guest room.
Both rooms were futuristic and high-tech. The Barbie doll in Lily’s room was especially advanced and had AI capabilities, teaching Lily letters and basic math. All room windows were sealed, consistent with Zhou Qian’s prior assessment.
The last master bedroom was probably Eva’s. Her room was similar to the study, with no modern equipment and strong medieval decor. Even her room curtains were dense, perhaps because she needed to avoid sunlight when using magic.
Zhou Qian entered the master bedroom, and the first things he noticed were a letter on the bedside table, two used bus ticket stubs, and a similarly used entrance ticket stub.
The letter wasn’t signed, but from its content, it was clear it was written by a friend very familiar to Eva.
Eva probably recognized her handwriting so well that they didn’t need to sign their letters to each other.
Moreover, in the background of this instance, TVs and toys were so advanced, they likely also have mobile phones.
However, if Eva and her friend still communicated via letters, it suggested her friend was probably a witch and also chose to abandon technology.
The letter was written on March 27th.
[Eva, both our husbands are gone, and we are left to raise our children alone. It’s been so tiring over these years. Throughout the year, we only get one day off. The Strawberry Music Festival is finally here. The children will be going, and they’ll be taken care of the whole day. In previous years, we’d stay home and do chores. This year, let’s take a break and go on a holiday!
There’s a new scenic spot in the neighboring town. I’ve heard many adults are planning to holiday there during the festival. After all, it’s the only day we don’t have to care for our kids. I’ve already bought your ticket. Let’s take the bus and have a vacation together!]
Next to the letter, the ticket stub indeed read: [Maple Town Resort: A beautiful tourist spot to purify your soul and connect with the universe.]
As for the bus tickets, they indicated a round trip.
Eva left Lily Town at 1 PM on March 30th and headed to the neighboring town, Maple Town, 100 kilometers away. She left Maple Town to return home at 5 AM on April 1st.
The children attended the music festival on March 31st.
According to Lina’s ghost, she was killed on the night of March 31st or early morning of April 1st.
So, after Eva returned home, she might have discovered that her daughter Lily had killed Lina. As to when she felt her daughter was possessed and when she locked her up, there was no evidence so far.
Half an hour later, Zhou Qian, Qi Liuxing, and Ke Yuxiao finished exploring the second floor. They found what seemed to be Lily’s two arms and a leg, then returned to the ground floor.
Their teammates on the first floor also found some evidence: the torso that belonged to Lily. Now, most of her body had been found.
After asking everyone where they found the parts, Zhou Qian sketched out their locations. Excluding a hand that was accidentally broken off under the windowsill, a solitary finger, and a strand of hair, when connected, her head and limbs seemed to form a three-dimensional pentagram. Her torso was right at the center.
This placement seemed intentional, as if following a pattern, possibly a ritual to seal an evil spirit.
Moreover, in the kitchen’s large freezer, another body was found. Compared to Lily’s monstrous and deformed limbs, this body was much more normal.
This frozen body showed the cause of death clearly: a hole in her chest, as if someone reached in and removed her heart.
This person was undoubtedly Lina, who was killed by her good friend Lily.
It seemed that after Eva returned from her vacation and discovered her daughter’s wrongdoing, she temporarily hid Lina in the freezer.
After inspecting the bodies, the first to speculate was Yin Jiujui. “Could it be… the music festival was organized by some demon? Did they curse the kids, turning them into uncontrollable monsters?”
“I don’t know. The clues related to the story’s background are too limited,” Li Buhui said, moving closer to Yin Jiujui. “Goddess Jiujui, please cover for me. I’m really, really scared.”
Yin Jiujui glanced at him without giving a direct response, continuing to inspect the two bodies.
One was made up of pieced-together limbs, while the other was still intact. With gloves on, Yin Jiujui conducted a detailed inspection, trying to find more clues.
At that moment, Wu Ren asked, “So, did you guys find any other cards related to life points?”
When asking this, Wu Ren first looked at Zhou Qian.
Zhou Qian shook his head at him. “Maybe we need to trigger a plot to get points. Let’s wait and see. Don’t worry. How about your side…”
Glancing at the door, Zhou Qian noticed that the wooden door had been completely removed, but outside, as expected, there was a railing made entirely of iron bars.
He asked Wu Ren, “Couldn’t find a way to open the door?”
“No. Damn it,” Wu Ren cursed. “I used a very precious tool and couldn’t break the railing outside. What a waste!”
“All the clues in this room should have been found. We need to go to other places in the town, especially where the Strawberry Music Festival is held,” Yin Jiujiu said seriously. “We can’t keep sitting here and let our life points decrease. The problem is… How do we get out?”
How to get out?
Should everyone try to demolish the entire house?
Before the players could decide, unexpectedly, three people dressed entirely in black appeared outside the door.
The trio wore thick black robes, black masks on their faces, and were shrouded in black cloaks. They were so fully wrapped that one couldn’t see their faces or even determine their gender.
After a while, the three of them actually walked to the front door of the house, seemingly observing the players inside.
Then they began to speak—
“You’re right, there are people in Eva’s house.”
“They are trapped.”
“We can’t let them continue to be locked in here.”
“We need to take them away.”
From their conversation, it became clear that they were all women. From their words, the reason for their arrival couldn’t be deduced—the seven players had been searching and exploring this room for over half an hour. During this time, the streets, or perhaps a house across the street, weren’t empty. Someone saw them through the gaps in the iron railing outside the room and called these women over.
After reaching the door, the women took out metal cutters and quickly sawed off the iron railings.
Their movements were very practiced, as if they were used to doing such things.
Then the three of them entered the room.
One still held the metal cutter, while the other two held black wooden sticks that looked like magic wands. They all appeared to be witches.
The lead witch was quite tall. She held a magic wand in one hand and quickly took out a crystal ball from her pocket with the other.
Holding the crystal ball, she walked half a circle around the room. The ball emitted a soft blue light, exuding a mysterious aura. After her circle, she nodded to the other two witches behind her.
Soon, the three of them uniformly removed their black masks, took off their black hooded cloaks, and revealed the uniform black dresses they wore underneath.
It was at this moment that Zhou Qian saw the face of the leading witch.
She had fair skin, deep facial features, a prominent nose, and looked typically Western. Beneath her long, straight golden eyelashes were eyes as blue as the sea, which were stunning.
“Good, you haven’t been infected. I can help you get out of here.”
The lead witch looked at the seven players and said.
Her voice was very melodious, like the spring breeze brushing over snow or the sound of a mountain stream trickling over stones.
The witch then counted the number of people present and had one of her companions take out seven robes, seven skirts, and seven masks from a bag. These items, identical to what the witches wore, were placed on the dining table and sofa.
The lead witch spoke again. “Please put on these clothes. I’ve checked with the crystal ball just now; the situation in this room isn’t severe. So you haven’t been possessed by evil spirits yet and turned into bloodthirsty demons.”
“However, the streets outside are filled with malicious spirits. A moment’s carelessness, and you could be possessed. These clothes are enchanted to protect you. Please wear them before leaving this house.”
“Who are you?” Zhou Qian took a step forward, looking into her beautiful eyes. “Why should we trust you?”
“I am the president of the Witch Association. My name is Sarah.”
The witch looked at him seriously and replied, “Right now, only I can protect you. Otherwise, you’ll be possessed and turned into bloodthirsty demons. Many people in this town… have been killed by demons. We patrol here regularly to find survivors, like you, and also to hunt and seal away demons.”
Zhou Qian asked again, “Where are you taking us?”
“To the main base of the Witch Association. Only there is safe,” Sarah replied. “You can’t stay in Beautiful Flower Town anymore. Please make sure to follow me back to the base and hide.”
Zhou Qian gave her a once-over and asked bluntly, “What if… we don’t agree?”
Sarah’s voice suddenly deepened, filled with a mixture of pity and resignation. “If you don’t come with me, to prevent you from being possessed by evil spirits and becoming murderous demons, I’ll have to kill you now to prevent further slaughter of innocent people.”
Upon hearing this, all the players felt a heavy weight on their hearts.
Through the system panel, every player could see that the levels of these witches were all as high as Rank S. Even Wu Ren, a Rank A player, was no match for them. Their stats were simply not on the same level.
It seemed the players had no choice but to act according to their instructions—to disguise themselves as witches and then return to the so-called main base of the Witch Association.
Exchanging a glance with Qi Liuxing and Ke Yuxiao, Zhou Qian turned his attention back to Witch Sarah in front of him. This time, his tone was a bit gentler. “We’ll go with you to the Witch Association’s main base… Then what? Do we have to become witches too?”
Sarah nodded and said, “Yes. Evil spirits fear witches. Becoming a witch is the safest option for you.”
Qi Liuxing stepped forward from behind Zhou Qian, casting a glance at the clothes. He was clearly not pleased. With a stern and awkward face, he asked Sarah, “But we’re men. How can we wear skirts? Can’t we be warlocks?”
Sarah replied solemnly, “A long time ago, there was also a Warlock Association here. The two associations competed, and eventually, the Warlock Association was defeated, declined, and finally disbanded. But because of the past competition, many girls in the association hold grudges against warlocks. If you hide in our base as warlocks, you’ll be bullied. To ensure your safety, it’s best for you to disguise as girls for now. Later, I’ll order everyone not to fight among themselves. But for now, I need to focus on more important matters, like clearing the evil spirits from Beautiful Flower Town.”
“Now, hurry up and put on the clothes I’ve enchanted with a protection spell.”
After saying this, Sarah nodded to her two subordinates, and the three of them put their cloaks and masks back on.
Behind Zhou Qian, the players began to take action, taking the black skirts and robes one after another. However, Zhou Qian remained still.
Under the surprised gaze of a few players, Zhou Qian took a step towards Sarah and once again stared into her eyes from a close distance. “Wait, I have more questions.”
“What is it?” Sarah’s tone grew even more serious. “Please be quick. The windows here have been broken, and soon this place will be contaminated by evil spirits.”
“Alright, I’ll be quick. I’ve heard…”
Zhou Qian narrowed his eyes and asked, “Aren’t witches unpopular? If a witch’s identity is exposed… it seems they would be burned at the stake in public. If we become witches… can you really ensure our safety?”
Ying Feng slightly regretted not using his psychic abilities to locate Ling Xiao. He dialed Ling Xiao’s communicator but got no response. Just as he was about to search for him in the sequence they used last time, he ran into a classmate downstairs.
“Ying Feng, I just saw Ling Xiao heading to the training hall. I called out to him, but he didn’t stop. Did something happen?”
Hearing this, Ying Feng immediately headed towards the training hall. His classmate wondered if the two were so diligent as to train early in the morning.
When Ying Feng arrived at the training hall, he indeed saw Ling Xiao aggressively fighting several robots. His communicator and coat were casually thrown aside, so it was no wonder he didn’t hear the call. Ying Feng quickly neutralized each robot. But when they were deactivated, Ling Xiao then aimed at the newly joined opponent, launching a barrage of punches and kicks.
His speed was faster than usual, making it nearly impossible for an average person to track his moves. Yet, from Ying Feng’s perspective, he was too slow. Although Ling Xiao was faster, Ying Feng saw every move clearly, easily blocking and countering each one. Eventually, he spotted a nearly imperceptible opening, quickly immobilizing Ling Xiao’s arms and throwing him to the ground.
Ling Xiao, stunned, sprang back up, looking at his hands in amazement.
“Why could I strike you this time?” The last time he couldn’t even touch Ying Feng.
Having accumulated extensive knowledge about blood contracts recently, Ying Feng explained, “Last time you wanted to hurt me, this time it was just a sparring match.”
“So it’s related to my intentions?” Ling Xiao realized. “It’s a programmed judgment, isn’t it?”
His mood became complicated. “Ever since I found out I might not be human, things that didn’t make sense before now do. Maybe even my current thoughts aren’t my own.”
Ying Feng didn’t want to delve into this. “Didn’t we agree you’d inform me wherever you go?”
“Isn’t that just for nighttime?” Does this person have some kind of code inside him that makes him neurotic whenever I’m out of his sight?
“From now on, you need to report at all times,” Ying Feng ordered firmly.
Ling Xiao was now sure that Ying Feng had such a “code” in him. He secretly decided he would ask Heng He to remove it next week.
Realizing that Ying Feng, too, was a “non-human entity controlled by code”, Ling Xiao became less bothered by his domineering nature, blaming it on a system bug.
“I woke up feeling extremely energized and restless,” he said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Since the system allows us to spar, let’s practice.”
Without waiting for a response, he threw a punch, which Ying Feng easily caught. The two then continued to spar enthusiastically around the hall, enjoying the feeling of being evenly matched after a long time.
Even though Ying Feng’s strength had vastly improved compared to before, he still went all out when facing Ling Xiao’s attacks. Ling Xiao clearly understood Ying Feng’s intention of giving guidance, but Ying Feng’s attitude reassured him that he wasn’t being underestimated. Hence, Ling Xiao didn’t develop an inferiority complex despite the gap in their powers.
However, without feeling inferior, every enhancement in Ying Feng’s strength and speed reminded Ling Xiao that Ying Feng had benefited from an added boost to his abilities. This naturally led him to think of the coming-of-age ceremony, the way he was treated during his turbulent period, and the punches that were only half-executed and couldn’t move freely.
With frustration in his heart, the next punch he threw was unconsciously mixed with distracting thoughts. Before it even landed on the opponent, he was forced to stop. Following closely, Ying Feng’s fist landed squarely on Ling Xiao’s lower abdomen, causing Ling Xiao to stagger backward several steps.
“What were you thinking?” Ying Feng saw right through him.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Ling Xiao raised his fists again. “Let’s continue.”
Ling Xiao’s energy seemed inexhaustible. They sparred from morning till noon. Even the physically superior Ying Feng began to feel tired.
“Enough.” He restrained Ling Xiao’s movements. “We’ve been sparring all morning. You should take a break.”
Ling Xiao wanted to say he wasn’t tired, but it seemed a bit awkward to keep dragging Ying Feng into a fight. He rubbed his nose. “Alright, let’s go.”
Finally, Ying Feng managed to get him out of the training hall. They hadn’t even reached the dormitory when Ling Xiao suddenly let out an excited shout.
“What’s wrong?” Ying Feng didn’t understand what had excited him.
Ling Xiao pointed excitedly at the roadside. “Flying Shark!”
Ying Feng was speechless. That conspicuous vehicle was parked right there. Did he actually fly out of the dormitory in the morning?
In a flash, Ling Xiao dashed to the car, glancing left and right. Seeing no one paying attention, he cautiously touched its aerodynamic body. The touch seemed irresistible to him.
Why was there a Flying Shark parked downstairs? And in his favorite yellow? When this model was first released, he had sneakily drooled over its advertisement for a long time.
Unable to resist its allure, Ling Xiao whispered to Ying Feng, “Keep an eye out for me.”
“For what?”
“If you see anyone who looks like the owner, let me know.”
With that, he pushed himself into the car.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Ling Xiao felt a rush of excitement. This was the car of his dreams. The moment he gripped the steering wheel, a wave of happiness enveloped him. He imagined the car was his own, and he started to drive it on the road. At this moment, he was driving it along the coastal road, feeling the sea breeze with his hair flowing, and even picturing most of the passing scenery.
As he was lost in this delightful fantasy, he heard Ying Feng’s cool voice from behind. “The owner is here.”
A shadow approached, and Ling Xiao ducked instinctively, only to realize it was a car key with the same Flying Shark logo.
Ling Xiao: “…”
Is this a joke?
“It’s your car, bought with your money. No need to be surprised.”
Ling Xiao wasn’t just surprised; he was utterly shocked.
“My money? How could I have that much money? Last month, I couldn’t even afford food.”
“The soul stone you got from killing the Kui was given to me by Major Fu Yao.”
It took Ling Xiao a moment to remember, but he thought assets from illicit gains had been confiscated by the military long ago.
“So this car is mine? Is this for real?” Initially thinking his dream had ended, Ling Xiao realized it had come true, making his reality seem surreal.
In disbelief, he pressed the car key. All the dashboard lights lit up, confirming its reality.
“You can also start it with your terminal,” Ying Feng reminded him from behind.
Are you kidding? Starting it with a key is way cooler!
If Ling Xiao had been on cloud nine before, now he felt like he was doing somersaults in the sky. The feeling of a dream lover telling him “I’m yours” couldn’t be more joyous.
“Ahaha,” Ling Xiao gloated, unsure how high to lift his tail. “I’m going for a drive!”
Coincidentally, Ying Feng received a message from the instructor, summoning him.
“Wait for me to return. Then you can go.”
But Ling Xiao couldn’t wait. “Go ahead. I’ll just drive around here.”
Doubting Ling Xiao’s promise, Ying Feng saw him floor the accelerator and zoom away. The Flying Shark lived up to its name, leaving without a trace.
Helpless, Ying Feng went to see the instructor, who had prepared past entrance exam content for the Royal Sky Academy, even detailing every question. Distracted by worries of Ling Xiao causing trouble, Ying Feng’s fears were confirmed when a distress call came.
“Ying Feng, come quick! The Tianxiu people can’t restrain Ling Xiao anymore!”
After explaining to the instructor, Ying Feng rushed to the scene, encountering an aftermath resembling a hurricane’s path. Everyone he met complained bitterly.
“Ling Xiao’s drag racing around the campus!”
“Ling Xiao’s drifting around the academic building!”
“Ling Xiao wrecked the main gate’s green belt!”
“Ling Xiao messed up my hair!”
Ying Feng could only block everything. When he finally saw the culprit, the latter was flying the Flying Shark in aircraft form, skillfully drawing multiple figure-eights in the air. Not far away, a police hovercraft was hovering, shouting at him from a distance.
“The owner of the vehicle ahead. I command you to stop immediately, or we will use special measures!”
The Flying Shark showed no intention of stopping. Instead, it tumbled in the air several times, then soared up high. After reaching a certain altitude, it dived straight down, looking like it would crash into the police vehicle.
Ying Feng’s forehead twitched. Without thinking, he applied psychic control on Ling Xiao, swiftly hitting the emergency stop button. Flying Shark stopped just a centimeter away from the police vehicle, scaring the officers inside into a cold sweat.
Ling Xiao, piloting the craft, begrudgingly landed on the ground. The police vehicle followed, and an officer jumped out, shouting at Ling Xiao.
“Didn’t you hear me when I told you to stop? Do you know you’ve seriously obstructed aerial traffic? Confess, have you been drinking?”
Ling Xiao, knowing he was in the wrong, hung his head. “No.”
“I’m sorry.” Ying Feng stepped forward. “It’s my lack of discipline.”
The officer then noticed Ying Feng. “And who are you?”
“I’m his Qizhu. He didn’t drink, but he lost a lot of blood in an accident yesterday. That might have caused some mental agitation.”
“You are mainly to blame for this. If he’s agitated, he should stay inside, not cause trouble outside. As his Qizhu, how could you not watch over him?”
Ying Feng lowered his eyes. “Yes, I’ll be more careful.”
The officer took out a card reader. “Being mentally agitated is no excuse. Pay the fine!”
Ying Feng and Ling Xiao went back the same way they came, compensating for the trees, roadblocks, and greenery that were damaged. By the time they returned to the academy, a quarter of the money Ling Xiao made from selling his blood was gone.
“Have you learned your lesson?” Ying Feng asked grumpily.
Ling Xiao mumbled something under his breath.
“No more driving today! And you’re not going out. Just follow me back!”
Ling Xiao, knowing he was wrong, obediently followed. However, it didn’t take long for him to forget the unpleasant experience, enthusiastically describing the sensation of piloting the Flying Shark.
By the time they reached the dormitory, he had been talking for half an hour without showing signs of stopping.
Ying Feng, who naturally hated noise, was at his wits’ end. Finally, after Ling Xiao uttered some flamboyant phrase, Ying Feng, without warning, pulled him into a deep kiss, intending to calm him down.
Sure enough, Ling Xiao fell silent immediately. After the kiss, he looked up at Ying Feng with big, innocent eyes. Ying Feng sighed. “Finally, some peace.”
Ling Xiao, lying on the bed and looking up at Ying Feng, blinked like a pitiable little animal. Seeing his expression, Ying Feng felt a pang of sympathy.
Seeing Ling Xiao’s discontent, Ying Feng reluctantly ordered a virtual driving set online. When Ling Xiao saw Ying Feng retrieving it from the transporter, his eyes lit up.
The effects of Ying Feng’s kiss wore off quickly, and Ling Xiao soon regained his energy. With the VR glasses on and holding the steering wheel, he not only mimicked the motion of the vehicle but also made engine noises. Ying Feng, who felt a bit sorry for him earlier, started regretting his decision.
He had thought of leaving several times, but every time he remembered the instructions from Heng He, he forcibly held himself back. Ling Xiao’s excitement lasted from morning till night, showing no signs of calming down even before bedtime.
Ying Feng had a mentally exhausting day. His emotions swung between letting Ling Xiao be and wishing for his silence. This internal conflict reached its peak when Ling Xiao finished three hundred push-ups and began doing sit-ups. Just like what the police had said, even if one was overly excited, it shouldn’t be an excuse for such behavior.
Right when Ling Xiao was on his two hundred and fifty-first sit-up, he was unexpectedly held down by someone and couldn’t get up. This familiar sensation made him sense that something bad was about to happen.
Ying Feng, who was on the verge of collapse, gritted his teeth and pressed him. “Since you are so energetic, let me help you vent.”
Ling Xiao was stunned for two seconds and then began to resist with his teeth and claws open. Ying Feng could not allow him to refuse. He easily pressed the person on the bed with one hand and took him off with the other.
Ling Xiao, who was stripped naked, struggled desperately. “The big lecherous demon! Let me go!”
The big lecherous demon didn’t listen and tried to spread Ling Xiao’s legs apart to make him submit. However, Ling Xiao resisted with all his might, managing to escape from his grasp. He quickly rolled off the bed and dashed to a corner.
“You can’t force me every time! We have three chapters of the agreement; it is inhumane for you to do this!”
Ying Feng, who had been tortured all day, had lost all his humanity; only animal instinct remained. He stepped out of bed and started a chase game with the naked Ling Xiao. While Ling Xiao wanted to avoid him, he also wanted to protect the key parts. The bedroom area was so large that he was embarrassed for a while.
There was a knock on the door outside. Ying Feng hesitated and walked towards the door. If the door was opened, the entire bedroom would be visible at a glance. Ling Xiao also flew over and hid behind the door in desperation. Ying Feng glared at him and opened the door vigorously.
The person outside was taken aback by the momentum of opening the door, and then they saw that Ying Feng’s clothes were a little messy and his body was obviously full of fire. There was no shadow of Ling Xiao in the room at a glance, and he didn’t dare to take a closer look, so he hurriedly handed over the things in his hand.
“Ling Xiao left it in my dormitory before, and I will send it back to him.”
Ying Feng took it and said, “Is there anything else?””
“No, no more.” He slipped away, and there was a heavy sound of closing the door behind him.
Ying Feng threw the things in his hand aside without looking at it. When Ling Xiao saw the door closed, he had to run away again. Unfortunately, he didn’t move as fast as Ying Feng, so he was caught and pressed against the door.
“What are you doing? Don’t you want to be here…”
Ying Feng didn’t have any superfluous movements or nonsense. He took out his angry “weapon” and thrust it in. Ling Xiao, who had just been flailing around, almost instantly became honest, like a tamed beast that had been anesthetized.
It was hard for Ling Xiao to describe what it felt like. When Ying Feng entered his body, all his bones became limp, as if they had lost their support, turning him into a boneless animal mass. Just by moving his crotch, Ying Feng created such a sensitive connection that it was shocking.
He slumped on the door panel. The reason he could still stand and didn’t fall was that the biggest help came from Ying Feng’s arm and lower body, which were immobilizing him. He also had to rely on the other party’s strength to reduce the burden on his weak legs.
“You cheated. It’s a foul!” Ling Xiao refused to give in. He always felt that he and Ying Feng should decide the outcome by fighting. Even if he couldn’t beat him now, he had the right to learn equally, but Ying Feng could easily make him submit in this way. The means were truly despicable.
While it was a truly despicable method, his body just couldn’t resist, allowing Ying Feng to thrust forward unimpeded. He even “pinched” to welcome him, which only made him blush and feel more ashamed.
Ying Feng unceremoniously washed away the complaining words behind him. When Ling Xiao realized that he groaned far more often than meaningful words, he bit his lips angrily. However, the fact was that the harsh words were gone, but the groans had not decreased at all. The sound waves overflowed through his teeth and corners of his mouth one after another, touched the door panel, and bounced back to his face, hitting him in pain.
Ling Xiao was already eager to escape, and Ying Feng was still adding fuel to his fire. Seeing that he didn’t resist much, he freed up a hand and held Ling Xiao’s weakness with bad intentions.
Now Ling Xiao had surrendered completely. His legs softened, and he almost fell to his knees. Fortunately, Ying Feng had another hand to support him, but his body still completely tilted to one side.
Ling Xiao trembled excitedly a few times as Ying Feng fiddled with him. He was trying to hold back from letting himself vent too easily so as to make it less embarrassing, but it wasn’t easy. Any touch by the Qizhu was like being endowed with magic powers. The pleasure it brought was far superior to any experience that masturbation could achieve. The degree of stimulation was probably only experienced by a person who was the Qizi.
The clever Ying Feng saw through Ling Xiao’s persistence at a glance. He wanted to vent Ling Xiao’s excess energy as soon as possible, but after seeing this, he changed his mind.
“Don’t you want to go seven times a night?”
Ling Xiao was shaking all over when he recalled that night. “If you…dare to…this time…I will…haha… maxed out your card…mm…”
He couldn’t even breathe, and his intermittent voice was mixed with a lot of groans, which sounded really “quite” shocking.
Ying Feng agreed decisively. “Okay, as you wish.”
He touched Ling Xiao’s tip with his thumb, then rubbed it a few more times as if nothing had happened. Ling Xiao was originally on the verge of cumming, and if Ying Feng had stroked him a few more times, he would have properly sent him into a climax. But at this moment, the hole of his desire seemed to be blocked, and he couldn’t vent it out.
“Ah…” Ling Xiao lowered his head uncomfortably. “What did you do?”
“Didn’t you ask for it?” Ying Feng released Ling Xiao’s penis generously and turned to tease the already firm dots on his chest. At the same time, he accelerated the frequency of his thrust. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over Ling Xiao. The distance from a certain value was always infinitely close, but he couldn’t reach it. The persistent critical state made him almost crazy.
Even if Ling Xiao’s brain was hypoxic, he guessed that Ying Feng had just done something to his body, causing him to be unable to ejaculate. What he couldn’t figure out was; it was only a few days before Ying Feng became the Qizhu; why could he master the abilities in bed so skillfully. Even if he was the top student, this was a bit too much.
The steady stream of pleasure from behind gradually became a burden. Ling Xiao’s lower body swelled so hard that he couldn’t hold it in. At this time, never mind seven times a night; even if Ying Feng proposed seventy times, he would respond impulsively. He gritted his teeth tightly, as he didn’t want to say anything he regretted when he couldn’t bear it.
There was another knock on the door a few inches away. For Ling Xiao, who was pressed against the door and being fucked hard, the sound was like hitting the depths of his eardrum. His whole body stiffened, and Ying Feng slowed down. He thrust in and out, one after another, while paying attention to the movement outside. Although his speed slowed down, his hand subconsciously held Ling Xiao’s penis again while his thumb smeared back and forth along the groves. Ling Xiao lowered his head uncomfortably, his teeth almost biting his lower lip, but he didn’t dare to make the slightest sound.
The classmate outside the door was surprised. After he returned to the bedroom, he found that there were still things left behind, so he returned and knocked on the door again, but there was no movement in the bedroom, where there were still people just now. It was getting late, so where could these two people go?
“Ying Feng, are you still there?” he asked as he knocked. “I have something else to drop off.”
Ling Xiao’s teeth were pried open, and Ying Feng’s fingers slid in. He wanted to bite down like this, but when he thought of his out-of-line behavior after biting Ying Feng’s arm that day, he had to forcibly hold back again and let Ying Feng run amok.
The classmate knocked for a moment, but seeing no response, he mumbled, turned around, and left. The two people in the room remained motionless. When they heard the footsteps walking away, Ying Feng pulled Ling Xiao away from the door and pressed him down in a kneeling position on the sofa. Ling Xiao’s nerves were so tight just now, and he was dizzy because Ying Feng had blocked his exit. He didn’t even make a move to resist, and he was invaded again. This time, he couldn’t bear it and had to call out.
“Damn it, release me!”
Ying Feng acted as if he didn’t hear anything, and Ling Xiao was almost going mad. He gripped the back of the chair tightly with his nails, leaving ten deep indentations on the cushion. Because his body had been pent-up for too long, his legs embarrassingly began to tremble. He had to use his upper limbs to support himself. Fortunately, Ying Feng was holding onto his waist, preventing him from sliding down.
Every time Ying Feng collided, he carried enough power to push him to the top, but the highest point seemed to weave a huge net covering the sky and the sun, ruthlessly intercepting him. He was like a drowning person being sunk every time he approached the surface of the water with barely enough oxygen that it created the illusion as if fragments of his soul were beginning to dissipate.
The surging desire ran rampantly wild within him, finding no outlet. Wherever it went, it caused a tremor. He could even hear the sound of his own teeth chattering. Ying Feng noticed the intense shaking of Ling Xiao, so he turned him over to take a closer look. Ling Xiao’s bangs were completely wet from sweat, neatly sticking to his forehead. Underneath those bangs, a pair of eyes that were always sharp and spirited now appeared almost hazy, yet they stared directly at where Ying Feng was, as if accusing him of his transgressions.
Ying Feng reached out to brush away his bangs, and as he did, he leaned close to his ear, gently pinching the cartilage of Ling Xiao’s earlobe. To his surprise, Ling Xiao shivered all over.
Unable to resist, Ying Feng pressed his lips against it. Out of nowhere, Ling Xiao summoned the strength to suddenly jump up, turning Ying Feng’s face to the side.
“Don’t!” Fear was evident in his eyes. Although instances like this were rare, Ling Xiao had keenly discerned Ying Feng’s peculiar preferences. Whenever Ying Feng no longer thrust into him with brutal indifference but instead, as he was doing now, enveloped his earlobe with an expression and actions filled with utmost tenderness, it was a harbinger of Ying Feng’s impending climax. Once Ying Feng reached the peak, the stimulation Ling Xiao would experience would multiply manifold. If, under such circumstances, he couldn’t find a release, Ling Xiao could almost foresee his own inevitable demise.
Ying Feng’s prelude was interrupted, and he bit his lower lip in dissatisfaction, his narrowed eyes emitting a dangerous glint. For the sake of his own life, Ling Xiao remained resolute and uncompromising, desperately covering both of his ears. “If you don’t release me, I won’t let you touch it!”
Ying Feng’s control circled deep within his psyche, and with just one thought, he could force Ling Xiao to remove his hands. However, at the critical moment, it was Ling Xiao’s unwavering expression when proposing a deal that dominated Ying Feng’s memories.
Ling Xiao felt Ying Feng’s hand leave his waist and then held his swollen penis. Just such an action made him curl up his toes with excitement, and his legs tightly clamped Ying Feng’s crotch. His hands could no longer support him, and he hung down weakly. Whatever Ying Feng wanted to do to him was now as easy as taking something out of a bag.
Ying Feng teased Ling Xiao twice, this time biting his ear at an unstoppable speed and almost at the same time rubbing Ling Xiao’s tip. The viscous liquid that had been accumulating for a long time gushed out unstoppably, like an explosion. His insides no longer shrank rhythmically as before but continued to tighten, abruptly bringing Ying Feng to orgasm simultaneously. The pleasure the two felt was conveyed through the connection of their souls, duplicated, superimposed, and doubled. Even Ying Feng let out a rare, muffled groan.
When the white light in front of Ying Feng’s eyes slowly dissipated, he opened his eyes and saw that it was indeed Ling Xiao who had closed his eyes tightly and tilted his head to one side. He had fainted from the excessive excitement. Knowing that this method was so effective, why did he endure this monkey all day?
The amount of Ling Xiao’s several orgasms accumulated into one big ejaculation. The amount he shot was staggering. Ying Feng’s hands and chest were completely covered, and he kept shooting until it became dry. Ling Xiao was still panting. Ying Feng waited for him to completely stop before he wiped away the sticky white turbidity. He then carried Ling Xiao, who was still passed out, back to bed.
Ling Xiao had fallen asleep, but Ying Feng wasn’t sleepy anymore. He began to re-read the book he had borrowed. The practical application of suppressing desires seemed to be very effective. He wondered if the other content in the book would be just as effective. Thinking about the long-term plans of the military, where there would be a day of heightened arousal every week, the knowledge points in the book would undoubtedly need to be practiced. Ling Xiao shivered in his sleep, perhaps having a dream, and instinctively snuggled closer to Ying Feng. Ying Feng extended his right hand, placing it on Ling Xiao’s shoulder. It looked as if he was holding Ling Xiao. Only then did Ling Xiao sleep soundly. With one hand holding Ling Xiao and the other holding the book, Ying Feng read quietly. This bedroom, which had been tormented all day, finally welcomed a long-lost tranquility.
The computer screen of Heng He flashed, and he rushed to it anxiously. As expected, he saw a message from the “mysterious friend”.
[How’s the progress?]
[Very smooth.]
This mysterious friend had suddenly appeared a few days ago, possessing vast amounts of classified information only accessible by state officials. Not only did he know about Yue Ying, but he also provided a detailed report on how to awaken him, including specifics on blood types.
Heng He initially thought it was a prank from a colleague. But after studying the report, he was astonished to find that it was precisely what they had been looking for. The strategy was solid, leaving no room for doubt. The level of expertise was far beyond his own.
The only condition the other party proposed for continued cooperation was to hide his existence from the military. After some hesitation, Heng He’s passion for science overcame everything, and he submitted the report under his own name. The reason for successfully matching the genes with Ling Xiao was easily explained; he had recently received treatment at the military’s medical station, and his detailed records were in the database.
The superior’s response was immediate execution. The very next day, Ling Xiao was brought before him. The first blood sample was successfully transfused into Yue Ying without any adverse reactions.
[Your plan is flawless; there’s no reason for it to fail.]
Heng He praised and in his mind, a thought flashed indistinctly about the true identity of this person.
[I think I know who you are!]
There was a man who once gave a public lecture at his school. Since then, Heng He had been deeply impressed by this person’s knowledge, experience, and capabilities. He was a genius in the scientific community and an idol for students like him. Even if this person was later wanted by the state and went into exile, it couldn’t change Heng He’s admiration for him. For such a perfect plan, only this person could achieve it!
[Is that so?]
The other party replied.
[Who am I?]
With excitement, Heng He typed out each word.
[You are the former chief researcher of the base, my idol, Tai Yin!]
The author has something to say:
Tips: Driving is the same as language, writing and other abilities. It is retained in the basic reincarnation memory of the Tianxiu people, so the Tianxiu people don’t need to take a driver’s license test.
He no longer tightly gripped Yin Ci’s wrist but slid his palm down, covering the back of Yin Ci’s hand. The two of them stood close, and just a few movements brought back a strong smell of blood.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t say much. He lifted his head, grinning broadly at Yin Ci—probably the only person in the world who could be so cheerful after being injured.
Yin Ci calmed down, quickly realizing the issue.
When dealing with this man, he couldn’t maintain the same composure as before. The calmness and rationality that he had cultivated over many years suddenly crumbled in the face of the overpowering scent of blood. Any tiny variable involving this person could make him lose his bearings—
For a moment, he undoubtedly activated the disaster-warding talisman.
Due to its modification from a cursed artifact, the design of the talisman was simple. Even without inner force, a mere poke with a twig would activate it. Although Yin Ci claimed to have no inner force, his control over sword qi was impeccable; a mistake was impossible.
However, during the operation of the talisman, the injuries of the person being “shielded” would be transferred. At this moment, the bright red wound still remained on Shi Jingzhi’s neck, continuously oozing blood.
“…You knew.”
He didn’t make a mistake, and Chen Qianfan’s talisman couldn’t be of poor quality. The only remaining possibility was that Shi Jingzhi had detected the talisman on his body and had tampered with it beforehand.
Shi Jingzhi didn’t directly respond. He grimaced and touched the wound on his neck. “This will probably leave a scar. I’ll need to adjust my wedding robe.”
Yin Ci: “…”
Shi Jingzhi: “My clothes are dirty. Zizhu, fetch me a silver needle and silk thread. I need to stitch this wound.”
Yin Ci finally sighed. “Jingzhi, I shouldn’t have hidden this from you.”
Shi Jingzhi abruptly looked up, inadvertently pulling his wound, and winced in pain. Yet, the joy on his face was evident. “Say that again.”
“I shouldn’t have hidden it from you. I’m sorry.”
“Not that.” Shi Jingzhi covered his neck. “I know what you think, and I don’t blame you. Come, call me by my name again.”
Yin Ci’s emotions were thrown into turmoil by this man. On one hand, he was angry at Shi Jingzhi for treating himself poorly, and on the other, he felt like he was begrudgingly admitting his own mistakes. The feeling was truly a mix of sweet and sour, bitter and spicy, extremely complex and incredibly subtle.
Looking back, this young man hinted at him many times. Yet, he had always maintained some seniority and never candidly admitted it.
“Call me again,” Shi Jingzhi pressed on.
Yin Ci knew this young man loved to seize opportunities. He pulled out a silver needle and silk from the medicine box. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Shi Jingzhi pretended not to hear.
“Jingzhi*.” Yin Ci, a bit helpless, started to thread the needle.
*Clarity: In Chinese culture, calling someone by just their first name often times shows extreme closeness, and among other cases, if you’re a romantic couple. This is why Shi Jingzhi is so enthusiastic about wanting to hear it from Yin Ci again.
Shi Jingzhi, satisfied, responded, “Mm, you stitch. When you gave me that brocade pouch, you still saw me as a junior, right? It’s hard to bring up such matters; if done wrongly, it seems like I’m taking advantage of gratitude.”
He gradually turned his cheek and rubbed Yin Ci’s hand, not holding the needle.
“Whenever I see you, I don’t know how to speak. It’s hard to explain, and I didn’t want you to get annoyed.”
Yin Ci found it both amusing and pitiable. “So you baited me to act first?”
“Yes. But I didn’t want to risk my life. It just so happened that the Changle Sect was there, so I used the opportunity. This way, my ‘serious illness’ seemed more believable. It’s a win-win.”
Yin Ci stitched the wound, which was numbed by a drug. Shi Jingzhi took the opportunity to lean in and kiss Yin Ci’s forehead.
“I indeed didn’t expect to see such a panicked look on your face, Zizhu… That was my fault.”
Regrettably, the satisfaction in Sect Master Shi’s tone overshadowed his apology, and the smugness in his eyes was impossible to hide. Yin Ci wanted to say, “Why not just say it?” but it got stuck in his throat, only to be swallowed back down. The scene of “being 100 steps angry but retreating 50 steps” replayed. He suspected that this kid had premeditated everything, precisely targeting every bit of his inner fury.
…However, if he wanted to completely grasp and manipulate him, this kid was still too naive.
Yin Ci resisted the urge to pull his ear, and his sewing movements became even gentler. Just when Shi Jingzhi relaxed completely, Demonic Lord Yin looked sideways and cleared his throat—
“Next time, I’ll definitely discuss it with you.”
Shi Jingzhi momentarily froze. “Next time?”
“Yes, next time.” Yin Ci washed the blood off his hands. “When I first gave you that charm, I did see you as a junior with a fragile life. Either way, I won’t die, so blocking a bit for you was no big deal.”
Shi Jingzhi touched the wound on his neck and stared silently at Yin Ci. Yin Ci took the safety brocade pouch off his body and solemnly placed it in front of Shi Jingzhi.
“Now I give it back to you, not out of an elder’s heart,” Yin Ci said solemnly, without a hint of embarrassment in his words.
“Shi Jingzhi, you are the person I cherish the most. I don’t want to lose you. Please keep this disaster-warding talisman with you.”
Shi Jingzhi was taken aback by these words, his eyes reddening slightly. “You…”
“Moreover, this item is rare. If used properly, it can strike unexpectedly.” Yin Ci continued with a straight face. “It would be a pity to give up on it.”
“…Can’t you let me be moved a bit longer?” Shi Jingzhi lamented.
But the disaster-warding talisman on his chest suddenly felt lighter. From now on, it wasn’t an armor of “self-sacrifice”, but a secret weapon they both understood.
Shi Jingzhi stared at the person in front of him for a while, then kissed his forehead.
“I’ll try not to use it. If I have to, it will only be for matters concerning both of us.” He rested his forehead against Yin Ci’s. “Zizhu, I’m very happy that you revealed everything today. As a return, I’ll tell you a secret—”
Shi Jingzhi moved his lips, whispering something.
Listening, Yin Ci’s face stiffened, and his fleeting guilt vanished instantly. At the end, Yin Ci leaned back and, without hesitation, pressed Shi Jingzhi’s hand against the wooden chair’s backrest.
“Good, very good.” Yin Ci’s face was clouded with shadows. “Shizun really is full of schemes.”
“This is the best plan I could think of,” Shi Jingzhi said sincerely. “I don’t want to hide it from you. Let’s discuss it.”
Thinking of the plan he just heard, Yin Ci felt a bit restless. However, with Shi Jingzhi’s sincere expression, looking up at his disciple, his face read, “I know you care about me.”
Poor Immortal Yin Ci; if his body had to go through more stress, he might internally injure himself. With Shi Jingzhi’s plan in place, he really didn’t have a better solution.
“Forget it, it really is the best strategy.” After struggling for a while, Yin Ci finally conceded. “You’re injured, so only vegetable porridge for you tonight.”
Shi Jingzhi froze in the chair, almost whimpering.
“Zizhu—”
Unfortunately, only the hard-hearted Demonic Lord Yin heard Sect Master Shi’s sobs.
The next day, the Sect Master of the Changle Sect had already vanished without a trace, and Yin Ci won without a fight. Qu Duanyun didn’t disappoint the audience, swiftly defeating Lin Zhen. The matches between Shi Zhongyu and Lin Xun, and Yan Qing against Elder Zhou of Taiheng, were unexpectedly fierce.
The battle between Shi Zhongyu and Lin Xun was set for noon. Though Shi Zhongyu lost her good sword, she still retained the Green Maiden Sword technique, which had been famous for a long time. Lin Xun, a member of the Jiu Tianhui Sect, was unknown to many. Even if he was a unique sword genius, he wouldn’t be a match for Shi Zhongyu.
Today, Shi Zhongyu finally changed her attire. She took off her coarse bandit clothes and wore her regular fabric outfit. Her long hair was neatly tied, even adorned with an elegant pearl hairpin.
The crowd saw a glimpse of the old Green Maiden Shi Zhongyu and couldn’t help but exclaim. Without a sideways glance, she gracefully stepped onto the stone platform and greeted Lin Xun.
With an expressionless face, Lin Xun returned the gesture. He looked ordinary, carrying a long sword, his eyes slightly vacant.
“Honor in heart, stop at the touch.” The leader of the Jinyu Group shouted. “Begin!”
Shi Zhongyu made the first move, her sword instantly ignited with a green flame. Unfortunately, her sword was of average quality, showing weakness under the flame’s burn. She swiftly aimed the green flame at Lin Xun’s face. Compared to the Green Maiden Sword technique that everyone had seen, her current sword style was more measured but several times more stable.
Shi Zhongyu, being a woman, was light and agile. She danced around Lin Xun, her sword alternating between close and distant. The green light, like a giant snake, kept moving around Lin Xun while the crowd burst into exclamations—
This move was tricky, and if one misjudged the distance, they would be at a disadvantage. Shi Zhongyu’s style had always been gentle, progressing step by step. But now, she went straight to the point with a vicious move.
People looked at each other, wondering what had upset the “Great Senior Sister of Taiheng”.
Lin Xun didn’t shrink back. He stood still for a moment and suddenly brandished his sword, producing layers of sword flowers around him. As the sword flowers tumbled, with continuous chimes, he managed to defend against Shi Zhongyu’s “Green Snake Stance”.
Shi Zhongyu showed no surprise, dodging Lin Xun’s intricate sword flowers. She twisted her body and aimed at Lin Xun’s wrist that was holding his sword.
Her sword was heated by the green flames, and this move raised a lot of hot steel slag. The slag scattered with her sword intent, becoming an excellent distracting weapon. Lin Xin immediately had dozens of minor injuries on his arm. As his attention was diverted, his swordplay was disrupted and became chaotic, and he quickly disengaged.
However, there was still no expression on Lin Xin’s face. He simply gave up his defense and engaged in close combat with Shi Zhongyu. For a moment, the glow of flames and the shadows of swords flew together, and countless sword qi lashed towards the stone platform, making a crisp cracking sound.
Lin Xin was tall and thin, yet he seemed weightless. He and Shi Zhongyu seemed like two intertwined gusts of wind, their figures blurring. The audience below erupted in cheers. But only Yin Ci slightly frowned, looking contemplative.
The two gusts swirled around the large arena several times, slowing down enough for their movements to be discernible. Shi Zhongyu was slightly panting, with numerous notches on her sword. Fortunately, the green flame was still blazing. Lin Xin continued with a calm expression, but his moves were more aggressive, exuding a self-sacrificing aura.
He seemed inexhaustible, growing stronger as the fight continued. Shi Zhongyu fought defensively, conserving her energy amidst the rapid attacks. Unfortunately, the opponent had no sense of rhythm in combat and attacked relentlessly. She was forced into a corner where her vision was obscured. Seeing that there was no way to retreat, the battle intensified.
The location was further from the spectators, and their positions were relatively fixed. Shi Zhongyu had more opportunities to observe her opponent.
It’s a trap.
Lin Xin’s movements were peculiar, unlike the common styles in the martial world. Despite their rapid pace, his breathing was steady, as solid as wood or stone. In the right light, she could see a hint of jade green in his pupils.
She realized that the Immortal Assembly wouldn’t just stand by and watch. This so-called Jiu Tianhui Sect was merely a stepping stone to interfere with the main event.
As if sensing her thoughts, an expression finally appeared on Lin Xin’s face—a stiff smile that was slightly unsettling.
The smile vanished quickly. Just as Shi Zhongyu’s sword broke a bit and she was about to switch positions, Lin Xin lunged directly at her, colliding with her flaming broken sword.
“Ah!!!”
A loud scream came from below.
In the arena, Lin Xin’s movements completely stopped, as if he had been paralyzed. A dark red stain slowly spread across his back, eventually soaking it completely.
The next moment, Lin Xin fell like a sack with his dull eyes still open. His sword clattered to the ground, sliding a few steps away.
After Lin Xin fell, the slightly shorter figure of Shi Zhongyu became visible. This time, she was the expressionless one—holding a half-burned sword with no signs of shock or regret.
Monk Zhixing, sitting in a prominent position, began to recite Buddhist scriptures in a low voice upon seeing this. The two monks beside him remained silent. Nearby, two doctors wanted to approach, but Shi Zhongyu signaled them to stay back.
“He’s dead,” she said calmly.
Whispers and discussions broke out among the martial artists below. Jin Lan, who was familiar with Shi Zhongyu, was utterly shocked. Shi Zhongyu’s demeanor, without even a hint of remorse, was unprecedented.
In Jin Lan’s heart, Shi Zhongyu was almost considered the soul of Taiheng. She would definitely not behave in such a manner. Could it be that she was possessed by something or affected by some technique?
Unexpectedly, Shi Zhongyu didn’t even glance at him; her eyes were sharply fixed on Qu Duanyun seated above.
“Taking a life means disqualification!” The leader of Jinyu Gang wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, his voice trembling slightly. “She must be strictly guarded and handed over to the authorities after the conference!”
Shi Zhongyu didn’t defend herself. She looked around as if imprinting everything in her memory, then nodded to Lin Zhen below, showing no intention of fleeing.
It wasn’t until Shi Zhongyu was taken away and the blood was cleaned up that the murmurs from the crowd began to die down. Yin Ci looked at Shi Jingzhi—Shi Jingzhi had his head lowered and his face remained calm.
However, there were many observing the Kushan Sect.
“It happened so suddenly, and only your sect remained calm. No wonder she spoke up for you. Kushan, you heretics, have you deceived her with your wicked ways?”
Elder Zhou of Taiheng, the next to go on stage, didn’t even wait for the fat leader’s signal before accusing Yan Qing.
Yan Qing, wearing a Nuo mask, remained silent.
“Even the servants are wearing masks, always using these mysterious tricks. Covering your face is useless; the aggrieved party is right here, and you can’t escape this time.”
Elder Zhou, with his white beard, looked furious, but his tone seemed genuinely concerned for Shi Zhongyu. Yan Qing didn’t drop his sword this time; he stood upright with his sword, still maintaining his silence.
The fat leader of the Jinyu Group soaked through a handkerchief with sweat before finding an opportunity to interject, “Begin!”
Given the situation, rallying shouts probably wouldn’t be of much use.
As expected, Elder Zhou shouted and instantly lunged at Yan Qing. Elder Zhou was highly respected in Taiheng, and his Feng Hui palm technique was masterful and intimidating to all. If not for his old age and declining strength, he might even stand a chance against Qu Duanyun.
Facing such a senior figure, Yan Qing didn’t act arrogantly. If he were to lose his sword, he might not be able to counter. Without his weapon, the situation would be irreparable.
Yan Qing cautiously adjusted his position, but against a master like Elder Zhou, the Nuo mask was a hindrance. To cover his ghost eyes, the mask’s holes were small, limiting his field of vision.
Elder Zhou, with his vast experience, immediately recognized the limitations of the mask. He targeted Yan Qing’s blind spots, his Feng Hui palm strikes producing sharp sounds of breaking the air. Yan Qing barely managed to defend using his Sword of Compassion. Despite this, Elder Zhou’s techniques were still overwhelmingly powerful.
The Sword of Compassion couldn’t block inner force like the Hanging Shadow Sword. The surging inner force passed through the blade, making it hard for Yan Qing to even hold onto the hilt.
Few cheered from below the stage.
The audience was still immersed in the shock of Shi Zhongyu’s public killing. Moreover, this match seemed to have a foregone conclusion. Although the turmoil in the martial world had shaken its foundations, the members of the Kushan Sect could still make it among the top eight. The righteous sects had lost face.
The situation was clear. Elder Zhou’s inner force could injure Yan Qing even if he hid behind a turtle shell. Unless Yan Qing could change the tide, breaking the deadlock—but how could someone who had thrown his sword this entire time have the power to do so?
“Thief, take this palm strike!” Seeing Yan Qing’s desperate defense, Elder Zhou, feeling unsatisfied, intensified his palm technique.
Using all his strength in this strike, even the surrounding air rippled. Yan Qing stabbed his sword into the stone platform to steady himself, preventing himself from being blown away by the palm’s wind.
Yan Qing tightly gripped the hilt, spitting out a bit of blood.
Elder Zhou was no ordinary master. His momentum was like a landslide, with each palm strike stronger than the last, leaving little time to counter. His strength was comparable to Chai Xin of the Ling Sect, but when he fought Chai Xin, Yan Zheng was by his side to help. Chai Xin had the upper hand then but became overconfident.
However, Elder Zhou was far from being complacent. The old man was furious, as if he wished to crush Yan Qing in a mortar.
“Why aren’t you throwing your sword now?” Seeing Yan Qing still not making a move, Elder Zhou said angrily. “Can’t you even face me head-on? Are you a coward or not?”
“Forget it.”
Yan Qing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and finally spoke.
“Senior’s skills are profound. If I don’t face you with all my strength, it would be disrespectful.”
“Just as I thought…” Elder Zhou started to say, but then froze on stage.
With a “snap” sound, Yan Qing’s wooden mask fell to the ground. Under the bright midday sun, Yan Qing’s ghost eyes shone like blazing charcoal, glaringly red.
The audience below fell into complete silence.
Jin Lan was greatly shocked. Instinctively, he cried out “Yan Qing”, but then realized his mistake and quickly covered his mouth. Unfortunately, it was too late—while others may not understand, Elder Zhou was crystal clear.
“In my sect, there was a blind servant who died in the Ghost Tomb named Yan Qing,” Elder Zhou said in a very low voice, pausing between words. “I thought it was just a coincidence of names, but to think… the Yan Clan’s bloodline has been hiding in my Taiheng!”
He then withdrew his hands and announced loudly. “You are lucky today. Leader of Jinyu, this man is not qualified to stand here. Take him down immediately!”
Yan Qing stood with his sword, his ghost eyes fixed on Elder Zhou, showing calm acceptance. Hearing Elder Zhou’s words, he didn’t move an inch, but instead showed a hint of a smile.
Could the situation get any more bizarre? The fat leader of the Jinyu Group was sweating profusely, and it took him a while to come to his senses.
“This… This…”
Elder Zhou: “What?”
“As for qualifications, the Martial Arts Conference only has two conditions: belonging to the ‘righteous sects’ and ‘passing the Mirror of Judgment’. The Kushan Sect has not been convicted and is still considered a righteous sect. This man also passed the Mirror of Judgement… even if he carries the bloodline of a demon, by the rules…”
The Jinyu Group leader swallowed hard.
“By the rules, he is indeed qualified.”
The situation was so outlandish that there was an uproar from the audience below.
The Martial Arts Conference wasn’t held annually, but in its century-long history, no descendant of the Yan Clan had ever set foot on the stone platform. This conference, especially, was about “winning over the audience”. Just by seeing those ghost eyes, one would not say “winning over” but rather “inciting anger”. With Taiheng at the forefront of this year’s conference, publicly revealing his identity like this, was he tired of living?
Despite being the center of attention, Yan Qing remained calm.
He didn’t glance at the audience below, nor did he listen to the exclamations or curses.
During the duel that evening, the night sky was cloudless. The abandoned house’s courtyard was dimly lit, without even a lamp burning.
Yin Ci merged with the night as he approached like a ghost. He knocked Yan Qing’s sword out of his hand for the fifth time. He held back his strength, but Yan Qing’s wrist was still swollen and red. Yan Qing didn’t utter a word; he just obediently picked up his sword and carefully pondered his own mistakes.
Yin Ci remained silent, just observing the man before him.
In terms of talent, Yan Qing was gifted, but not as much as Qu Duanyun. In terms of knowledge, since he had served his father from a young age, his literacy was mostly gleaned from eavesdropping on others reading aloud, even less than Qu Duanyun. Yan Qing had been a member of the Kushan sect for less than a year and had only learned the basics of Taiheng martial arts. If he had any self-awareness, he should be worried about his situation.
The Kushan Sect had a bad reputation so Qu Duanyun wouldn’t be polite to them. If Su Si was the one dueling, the Young Patriarch Su would have probably run away long ago.
However, Yan Qing just held his wrist, lost in thought. After a long while, he took his stance again, seemingly without any worry.
This man knew nothing of their plans but still entrusted them with deep trust. When they were scavenging the Ghost Tomb, they truly found a gem.
Yin Ci’s thoughts were interrupted by a recent discussion.
“Zizhu, you pair up with Shi Zhongyu. Yan Qing will pair up with Qu Duanyun.”
Shi Jing Zhi swallowed his porridge unhappily, showing no aura of a sect leader, but his words were serious.
“Shi Zhongyu chose this occasion to meet with Qu Duanyun. There must be a reliable backup plan. Since we’re from Kushan and can’t serve the public, you should find a reason to lose to her.”
“Would Shi Zhongyu agree?” Unless she lost her memory after returning from the Mishan sect, she would notice that Yin Ci was going easy.
Shi Jingzhi put down his porridge bowl, rubbing his paws, looking forward to the future with anticipation.
“Qu Duanyun’s misconduct towards his fellow sect members will come to light. Whether he can become the martial alliance leader or even keep his position as sect leader is questionable. At that time, Shi Zhongyu will win without a fight, and we can exchange this favor!”
Considering the chaos, Shi Zhongyu might not refuse the position of martial alliance leader.
To outsiders, this fox remained the same, calculating every move. Fortunately, his direction was correct and wouldn’t deeply offend anyone.
“Yan Qing has a good temperament. He just lacks experience. We have given Qu Duanyun such a big advantage; he should serve as a sparring partner.” Shi Jingzhi imagined happily. “You see, isn’t it a great deal?”
Yin Ci paused. “What about Su Si?”
“…Do you remember the attitude of the Sword of Compassion? If he faces the Mirror of Judgement, it might warn on the spot.”
By now, Young Patriarch Su was openly acknowledging that he was “a bad seed”. If not for the mirror that could differentiate between good and evil, this would be considered a twisted form of “having a clear conscience”.
Yin Ci understood. “You know I’m not asking about that. Since leaving the Northwest, you have had him do menial tasks. This time, it’s better to give Su Si something proper to do.”
“Oh, favoring one servant over another?” Shi Jingzhi snorted. “I’ve been in a bad mood and didn’t want to bother.”
Yin Ci frowned at him.
Shi Jingzhi took advantage, his eyes brightening. “Zizhu, you’re becoming more and more like my exclusive general. Why worry so much? Even if Su Si rebels, you can stop him.”
Every time Yin Ci recalled this, he felt there were deeper meanings in these words. Just as he was pondering the memory, he was interrupted.
“Senior Yin,” Yan Qing said, breaking Yin Ci’s reverie.
“You can rest.”
“No, I was just wondering, if that mirror is for judging sins, why could Qu Duanyun pass it?” Yan Qing wiped the sweat from his face. “I heard from A’Si that both the death of Sect Master Qi and the attack on Taiheng’s subordinates were related to him…”
“Yes, he probably knew about the disaster caused by the ‘Invitation to God Formation’ of the Ling Sect.”
“Qu Duanyun clearly harmed others. Isn’t that considered a sin?”
“He holds a high position in the Immortal Assembly, and knowing some dispelling techniques is normal.”
Yan Qing leaned on his sword, hesitating a bit, his face still in deep thought.
“Why worry about all this while practicing your sword?”
“Using magic to conceal himself would mean he feels guilty for his own sins. If he truly felt ‘guilt-free’, it can only be said that he sees himself as a “greater good”, even if it means sacrificing the innocent. The more I know about him, the better. Knowing what kind of person Sect Master Qu is, I’ll know how to fight him.”
Seeing Yan Qing’s serious expression, Yin Ci smiled. “Do you want to defeat him?”
“I’ve never thought of winning,” Yan Qing replied calmly.
“But I never thought of losing either.”
For the next few days, the weather was clear, and the tournament proceeded as expected.
The minor sects fought hard that day even Qu Duanyun, a strong competitor, took his opponents very seriously, unlike some sects—
The senior disciple of the Kushan Sect seemed to be experimenting with new sword techniques against his opponents. He didn’t even consider them a threat. Sometimes he’d poke here, then thrust there. His opponents felt like mice under a cat’s paw, many preferring to jump off the stage, surrendering their wooden bracelets, rather than endure such torment.
Is this person from a demonic sect?
Although Yin Ci played around, his skill was clear. Many bet heavily on him, hoping for a showdown between him and Shi Zhongyu.
Others were more concerned about Monk Zhixing taking action on stage. The Kushan Sect was an enemy of the Jianchen Temple. Given previous betrayals, it was surprising that Zhixing managed to keep his temper.
Yan Qing effectively used the “Sword of Compassion”. No matter the weapons his opponents wielded, he would hurl the Sword of Compassion at them.
Everyone there knew of the sword’s capabilities. No one knew how deep their own obsessions were, and they dared not risk being crushed by the weight of the sword. They had to dodge. But once they moved, Yan Qing would easily kick them off the stage. Using this tactic, Yan Qing progressed further than expected.
This kind of competition, devoid of any chivalry, almost caused public outrage. Wasn’t it just about wielding the “Sword of Compassion”? Even if you tied it to a monkey, the monkey could do it!
Fortunately, by tomorrow, the contestants for the final battle would be decided. The journey of this servant, sneaking through the competition, was likely at its end.
As the unknown competitors were eliminated, the atmosphere became more and more lively. Famous figures like Qu and Shi and the universally challenged Kushan Sect went without saying. Even after the chaos of the “Shirou” incident, various sects still retained some of their masters—
Although the Changle Sect lost their “Stick Sect Master” in the Ghost Tomb, this time they’ve put forward a standout, the “Sack Sect Master”. Knowing he would face Yin Ci, he didn’t seem worried at all. On the contrary, he twirled his little finger and stroked his beard, appearing completely confident.
There was also a relatively unknown sect called Jiu Tianhui. They sent a pair of twin youths to compete. Although not renowned, their skills and tactics were impressive at first glance. The two were placed in different groups, and neither had been eliminated yet.
“Only eight people left, excluding Taiheng. How come not a single person from Kushan has been eliminated?”
“It’s just dumb luck. Have you seen him? That’s the leader of the Changle Sect, Sect Master Xu. Who knows what techniques he’s learned? He’s been on a winning streak… But that surname Yin—he’s ruthless when he strikes. This match is hard to predict.”
“Those two from Jiu Tianhui are impressive. It’s a pity Lin Xun and Lin Zhen aren’t in the same group; I really wanted to see the twins compete. Lin Zhen is up against Qu Duanyun this time and probably won’t win. Lin Xun is facing Shi Zhongyu, so that should be interesting.”
“That servant from Kushan is facing Elder Zhou of Taiheng. I guess throwing the sword won’t work this time. If only the Jianchen Temple had participated. Someone would have long taught that lunatic a lesson for throwing the Sword of Compassion around so recklessly.”
“Place your bets, place your bets! Nothing else to say; let’s first bet on Elder Zhou of Taiheng to win…”
Countless spectators arrived upon hearing the news. The Jinyu Group began encouraging people to place bets with their spare change, making a quick buck. Seeing the number of contestants drop from eight to four, the crowd’s enthusiasm surged to an unprecedented level.
Yin Ci couldn’t be bothered with the noisy crowd, let alone Sect Master Xu trying to cozy up to him. Who would have thought that this sack-like robust man, paying no heed to others’ feelings, would eagerly follow all the way to the abandoned house?
Everyone knew that the Kushan Sect was staying here. It was necessary for Shi Jingzhi to continue his charade of being sick. Out of patience, Yin Ci turned and responded, “If Sect Master Xu has something to say, let’s discuss it after tomorrow’s battle.”
Sect Master Xu continued to smile. “We are going to face off tomorrow. It’s a sort of fate. I’ve admired Brother Yin for a long time. Why not share a drink together to ensure we don’t ruin the mood tomorrow?”
Yin Ci was getting increasingly annoyed. Yan Qing was out practicing his swordsmanship, and Su Si had predictably followed him. At this moment, he was alone, and he really didn’t feel like brewing tea for this persistently sticky guest.
“There’s no need.”
However, just as he finished speaking, a sharp scent of blood rushed into his nostrils. Yin Ci’s face changed, and he noticed that the ever-smiling Sect Master Xu’s expression had deepened. “You are too polite, Brother Yin.”
As the door to the dilapidated house opened, Yin Ci saw Shi Jingzhi being held hostage.
Shi Jingzhi looked pale, with a pitiful tilt to his head. His long hair was speckled with bits of grass, and there were fresh blood stains at the corner of his mouth. The captor stood behind the wooden chair with a dagger against Shi Jingzhi’s neck, the blade pressing against his skin.
Shi Jingzhi’s mask was removed, revealing his charming face in full display. He genuinely looked as if he was… speechless.
‘This fox is really getting into the act,’ Yin Ci thought.
The kidnapper, with mediocre martial arts skills, definitely couldn’t hurt Shi Jingzhi. This situation made Shi Jingzhi seem more like he was enjoying the play rather than being “faithfully pretending to be ill”.
“A’Ci, save Master!” Shi Jingzhi cried out weakly.
Yin Ci sighed. “Sect Master Xu, what is the meaning of this? The Changle Sect is a reputable sect. Why this hostage situation?”
“I am nowhere near your level,” Sect Master Xu confessed. “I know I’d lose to you in tomorrow’s battle. The Kushan Sect’s reputation isn’t great, so why bother taking a spot in the competition?”
As he spoke, he took out a small compass. It spun in his palm before settling on a certain sign.
“My Changle Sect suffered greatly in the Ghost Tomb, but we were favored by the gods. I obtained this little object which can discern strength and weakness…”
“So you intend to bully the weak and threaten the strong?” Yin Ci sneered.
Sect Master Xu scoffed. “This is the first time for threats. For the others, I just bribed them. Besides dreamers like you, who really wants the ‘Shirou’ from Taiheng? Everyone else is just after fame or fortune, and that can be negotiated.”
Yin Ci remained silent, observing him.
The Changle Sect indeed suffered a lot. Its reputation had always been average, and recent events were just adding insult to injury. Sect Master Xu’s actions were clearly driven by a desire for recognition, to restore some of the Changle Sect’s dignity in the martial world.
Seeing Yin Ci so calm, sweat formed on Sect Master Xu’s forehead. He gathered himself, insisting, “Fortunately, Kushan isn’t a renowned sect. If I act today, and face the Mirror of Judgment tomorrow, I can still have a clear conscience. As for your master, we will hold onto him. After you lose to me tomorrow, we will return him to you, safe and sound.”
Sect Master Xu had decent martial arts, but he had never dealt with such hostage situations before. His face almost betrayed the words “fierce in appearance but faint-hearted”. The man holding Shi Jingzhi hostage didn’t possess a shred of malice. A little bit of pressure, and the situation could be resolved.
“So, it’s like that,” Yin Ci remarked. “At this age, still blindly believing in those magical artifacts, no wonder the Changle Sect hasn’t prospered. Just from watching a few fights, you think you have everything under control—”
Suddenly, the smell of blood intensified.
Almost instinctively, Yin Ci activated the disaster-warding talisman with one hand and swung his Hanging Shadow Sword with the other. A powerful murderous intent surged around, and even before his gaze shifted, the tip of his sword pierced through the palm of the kidnapper.
The man immediately screamed in pain as his short knife clattered to the ground.
“What happened? I didn’t even speak; why did you act?!” The shock on the face of Sect Master Xu was no less than Yin Ci’s. The sudden eruption of murderous intent was terrifying. His legs went weak, and he almost fell flat on his backside.
“I… I don’t know… He just moved suddenly, and my hand slipped…” The kidnapper, being mediocre in martial arts, had never seen such a display of power. Overwhelmed by the suffocating aura imbued with bloodlust, he wet his pants in fear.
Shi Jingzhi slightly tilted his head, revealing a moderately deep cut on his elegant neck. Blood flowed unceasingly from it. The wound wasn’t fatal, but it was disturbing to look at.
Yin Ci, captivated by the sight of the blood, forgot about seeking vengeance. He rushed over to Shi Jingzhi and hurriedly bandaged the wound. The two from the Changle Sect wouldn’t dare make threats any longer. They scrambled and tumbled toward the door, desperate to flee. Just as Yin Ci was about to unleash his sword qi to forcefully “invite” them to stay, a pale, cold hand suddenly reached out, gripping Yin Ci’s wrist tightly.
“Shh, it’s okay.”
Shi Jingzhi finally moved. He raised a blood-stained finger, placing it gently over his lips. The vivid red blood on his lips was startlingly bright. His long, smooth hair draped down, and the hand that held Yin Ci was cold and pale, but the blood dripping from the wound was scorching hot.
His eyes sparkled as always, displaying the perfect mix of mischief.
Being surrounded by a group of people with expressionless faces wasn’t a pleasant experience. Using Ling Xiao’s body as cover, Ying Feng secretly pulled up the terminal’s shortcut keypad.
“Give it up,” the officer saw through at a glance. “There’s a signal block here. Oh, by the way, the headquarters just received a message. An unidentified flying object has been spotted in the nearby space. Major General Fu Yao has been dispatched to inspect it. So, I suggest you save any unnecessary thoughts and focus on the issue at hand.”
“No need to think.” Ling Xiao’s voice regained its calm. “I’m willing to accept your terms, but only for personal reasons.”
“Really?” Heng He was overjoyed.
“I hope that person will wake up so I can find out the true nature of our relationship. That’s why I agreed to join this plan.”
“No matter the reason, as long as our goals align, we’re partners in collaboration.” Heng He reached out his hand happily. “Welcome aboard.”
The officer showed a satisfied smile but didn’t miss observing Ying Feng. Ying Feng still stared at him with a hostile expression, but in the officer’s eyes, it was merely the futile struggle of a rebellious child expressing dissatisfaction only with his gaze.
Growing impatient, Heng He asked, “Have you passed your critical period? Only the blood taken from you when you’re in perfect health can be used by the person inside.”
“Yesterday was the last day. It should be fine, right?”
“Then that’s good. Why not start now? The sooner we act, the sooner he’ll wake up.”
Ling Xiao had no objections. Heng He eagerly took him to draw blood, with Ying Feng and the officer following and waiting outside.
The two stood in silence for a moment until the officer initiated. “You harbor a lot of hostility towards me, young man.”
Ying Feng looked up at the adult, who stood a full head taller than him. The innate pressure emanating from him was characteristic of a Tianxiu person. His repulsion towards him didn’t stem from differences but from similarities in their personalities.
“I believe every word Dr. Heng He says,” he suddenly began.
“Oh?” The officer listened with interest.
“I also believe that’s truly what he thinks.”
“Go on.”
“But it can’t be what you think. He’s just being used by you.”
The officer smiled. “Bold speculation.”
Ying Feng continued calmly, “If the coming-of-age ceremony is abolished, the Qizhu can’t draw power from their Qizi. The combat capability of the Tianxiu people would be greatly reduced. The military would never allow that.”
“You’re smart,” the officer praised. “From the moment you entered the interrogation room, you’ve been impressing me. Dr. Heng He’s mind is sharp, but mentally, he’s always childlike. The coming-of-age ceremony is the legacy left to us by the founders of our system. It allows us to multiply our strength overnight. Superior people become even more superior. This is what we seek.”
“I’ve been told that Tianxiu people can’t leave this land due to the existence of a soul tether. When the doctor mentioned it earlier, I realized, this must be your true purpose. You want to awaken the person inside to use them to gain access and remove the soul tether. That way, the military can wage wars on even more distant planets and make more people submit to our rule.”
Clapping, the officer responded, “Brilliant. I’m growing more fond of you. Understanding this makes you—no, us—the true Tianxiu people. We desire conquest, we yearn for combat, to trample weaker nations beneath our feet. As a Qizhu, you must know the feeling of controlling someone. If you multiply that sensation, it becomes endless satisfaction. Unfortunately, due to the increasing influence of religious forces in recent years, many of our brethren have been brainwashed by their distorted teachings, thinking peace is more important than war, truly tarnishing our race.”
“Have you considered that if Dr. Heng He knew your real purpose, he’d drop out of the plan?”
“As partners now, I don’t mind telling you. Aside from your Qizi, no one in this plan is irreplaceable.”
“But I can also use my abilities to prevent Ling Xiao from accepting your terms.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Because if I did, you’d have us reincarnated without hesitation. Controlling a naive newborn is much easier than an adult with their own thoughts.”
The officer admitted without shame. “The drawback is that it will take twenty years for him to awaken again. If possible, we certainly hope to avoid such unpleasantness.”
After a pause, he continued, “Your relationship with your Qizi is quite unusual; it’s more like comrades in arms than spouses and more about loyalty than romance. I have some understanding of the origin of your bond. If the core of the program could be modified and the established blood pact could be annulled, would you be willing to end the bond between you?”
Ying Feng did not answer this question.
“If you don’t want to speak, it’s fine,” he said. “But one thing is certain: the coming-of-age ceremony can never be canceled. This is not my belief, but the country’s. You are a promising young man. When you rise to my rank, you will be entrusted with the same mission.”
“What about Major General Fu Yao?”
“He will also be entrusted, of course. He should have known all this before you, but now you have surpassed him. He, you, and I—we walk the same path. Sooner or later, one of us will succeed the other, continuing the Tianxius’ great work without end.”
He extended his hand. “I haven’t introduced myself yet. I am Long Yin, and I welcome you to join us.”
On the other side of the door, Heng He extracted nearly half of Ling Xiao’s blood volume.
“Since it’s your first time, I tried to reduce the amount collected. Once you get used to it, we’ll gradually increase the amount,” he said.
Lying on the bed and feeling dizzy from the excessive blood loss, Ling Xiao thought about how much blood might be taken under normal conditions. Watching the machine simultaneously extract and purify the blood, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s that?”
“It’s the final product that can be accepted by the recipient. Your blood is too stimulating for him and must be processed before use.”
Ling Xiao was shocked. “You drew so much blood from me and only extracted so little. How much blood is needed to awaken him?”
“Uh,” Heng He seemed a bit embarrassed. “That’s why the plan will take a long time. There will be a week’s interval between sessions for you to recover. Oh, there are some things I need to discuss with your Qizhu.”
Calling the two from outside, Ying Feng entered and immediately saw Ling Xiao lying pale and weak on the bed. He had just passed his dangerous period, but now he was beaten back to his original form, looking even more serious than before.
“His condition doesn’t look good right now,” Heng He began, understanding that no Qizhu would be happy seeing their Qizi like this. “But don’t worry, our regenerative ability is strong. After a night’s rest, he’ll be refreshed, even lively.”
“How lively?”
Caught off guard by the question, Heng He tilted his head. “You’ll understand once you see.”
Heng He escorted them to the elevator. “I forgot to mention, given his current state, he shouldn’t be flying. It might make him feel dizzy and nauseous. It’s unavoidable for this journey; you’ll have to take care of him.”
As predicted, shortly after the aircraft took off, Ling Xiao began to show signs of discomfort. Despite his efforts to hide it, it was evident.
Long Yin observed them with interest. “If I were you, I wouldn’t let him suffer alone.”
Without a word, Ying Feng pulled Ling Xiao close. Ling Xiao, too weak to resist, rested against Ying Feng’s legs. Long Yin nodded approvingly but couldn’t help teasing, “You’re already a good comrade, but as a spouse, you still have a long way to go.”
Finally landing, Ling Xiao was adamant about not flying again. Ying Feng had to take a land vehicle. Ling Xiao, while still weak, seemed to feel better than before. Not long into the journey, he leaned against Ying Feng.
This gesture reminded Ying Feng of half a month ago, when they spent the night in a medical building’s corridor. For the first time, he shared his biggest secret and, unlike his usual self, didn’t push Ling Xiao away when he unknowingly leaned in during sleep.
The personal terminal on his wrist vibrated, prompting him to check his messages.
There were two unread messages. The first one was from Fu Yao: [Out on an urgent mission, be careful.]
The second one came from an unknown number, but it had a signature: [Blood donation subsidy has been transferred to your card. Recharge your energy to get ready for the next time. I know if I didn’t write this, you wouldn’t think of it. — Long Yin]
Ying Feng closed the interface with a stern face. He had never given his contact to Long Yin. It wouldn’t be difficult for the military to find it. However, the content of the message was simply meddling.
He checked his card balance. A few days ago, Ling Xiao had spent a lot recklessly, and now a large sum of money appeared suddenly. Realizing that this was the money from Ling Xiao “selling blood”, he didn’t feel like spending it.
The smoothly operating train suddenly jolted. Due to inertia, Ling Xiao’s head fell from his shoulder. Ying Feng quickly caught him, placing him back in position. Ling Xiao remained asleep throughout the incident.
It wasn’t until the train reached the station that Ling Xiao was groggily awakened by Ying Feng and followed him shakily. There was a considerable distance from the station to the academy. Ying Feng didn’t want to keep looking back but worried a few times that Ling Xiao might faint on the road. If they had to make this trip every week, it would be quite troublesome. With this in mind, he made up his mind.
As soon as Ling Xiao returned to the dormitory, he slept heavily, even more so than a few days ago. Taking this opportunity, Ying Feng logged onto the Tianyuan Network.
The car dealership was located in an area only adults could enter. Nowadays, vehicles weren’t just limited to those that run on the ground. They had vehicles that could fly in the sky and dive underwater, all for sale.
Many adults liked to buy an economical single-person flying vehicle for transportation. The owner had dealt with many customers like Ying Feng, and with his rich experience, he could quickly identify their needs.
“Welcome! We have the latest single-person flying vehicles here, stylish and affordable. Students can also opt for installment payments.”
Ying Feng declined his offer immediately. “I want one for domestic use.”
“For two people? Check out this model. It has a co-pilot seat and is quite affordable.”
Ying Feng glanced at it. “Too small. I need one with enough space for at least one person to lie down.”
The owner looked at him curiously. “We do have those, but they are generally purchased by people with private residences due to their size.”
“Is it dual-purpose, for land and air?”
“The dual-purpose ones are much more expensive than those just for flying. Nowadays, aerial transportation is very convenient, so there’s no real need for a dual-purpose vehicle. Most people prefer flying-only vehicles.”
“No, I want a dual-purpose one. Based on the requirements I mentioned, recommend a few to me.”
The owner introduced a few with skepticism, wondering if Ying Feng might be a researcher from a competitor. He quoted the original prices without offering any discounts.
However, none of the introduced vehicles appealed to Ying Feng. After browsing the shop, he was attracted by a particularly stylish vehicle on display.
“What are the specifications of this vehicle?”
The owner was convinced that if Ying Feng wasn’t a commercial spy, he was just a curious kid.
“The Flying Shark is the most luxurious civilian vehicle available on the market today. As the name suggests, it’s a triple-purpose vehicle for land, air, and sea. It can transform into a flying vehicle, a race car, a yacht, and a submarine. It can carry up to six people, and the back seat is spacious enough to lie down.”
He went on to describe the vehicle in glowing terms, finally announcing the price, expecting to stun the young man. However, Ying Feng seemed satisfied.
“I’ll take it.”
The owner thought he was joking. “For such a luxury car, you have to pay in full upfront. Are you sure about this?”
Ying Feng handed him a golden pebble-like object. “Is this enough?”
The owner took it with disdain and looked at it. With wide eyes, under the light, he inspected it closely and then nodded hurriedly. “More than enough! Along with this vehicle, I’ll also offer you three years of warranty, five years of maintenance, ten years of insurance, and free lifetime car washes. Does that sound good?”
“Good.”
“You can choose the vehicle’s color: red, yellow, blue, white, or black. How about gold?”
“Yellow.” People who like bananas probably prefer yellow.
“Alright, no problem. As this vehicle is a special product and can’t be delivered via teleportation, please leave your address. I’ll have an employee drive it over to you shortly. Thank you for your patronage, and you’re always welcome back.”
After completing the procedures, Ying Feng logged offline. Ling Xiao was still asleep.
About fifteen minutes later, there was a commotion in the dormitory building. It seemed that many students were rushing out in excitement, and there was also a loud noise from below.
Meanwhile, Ying Feng received a message from the car dealership, indicating that the delivery efficiency was higher than he expected.
The ground floor of the building was packed with students, all coming to see the cool new car. The store clerk pressed a button inside the car, and the elliptical flying vehicle instantly transformed into a convertible sports car. He jumped out of the car gracefully, and the crowd erupted with gasps of amazement.
“Is this really the Flying Shark?”
“It’s absolutely amazing!”
“Why is a Flying Shark parked outside our dormitory?”
“I’d love to drive it. Even touching it would be enough.”
The clerk scanned the crowd and finally fixed his gaze on the entrance of the dormitory building. Everyone instinctively followed his gaze, and Ying Feng, under the watchful eyes of everyone, walked out of the building at a leisurely pace.
“Please sign here.” The clerk presented an electronic agreement on a tablet, and Ying Feng signed his name on it.
“These are two chips. Insert them into your personal terminal to start the vehicle. There’s also a car key, which theoretically isn’t necessary. Still, some like to carry it around.” Mainly to show off.
Ying Feng accepted the items, and the clerk nodded politely before leaving, saying, “Enjoy your ride.”
After the clerk left, Ying Feng turned and walked back into the building, drawing many envious and jealous glances. If it weren’t for the clear expression on his face that read, ‘I don’t want to be friends with anyone’, someone might have approached him.
Considering that Ling Xiao might sleep forever before waking up, Ying Feng inserted one of the chips into his terminal and placed the car key next to Ling Xiao’s pillow.
Ying Feng clearly remembered Heng He’s words from the previous day about keeping an eye on Ling Xiao. However, despite being a light sleeper, when he woke up the next morning, the car key remained untouched, but the person beside him had disappeared without a trace.
[Player Zhu Qiang uses the item: “Disguise and Illusion”]
[Effect: Appear in the game with a fake name and face, deceiving everyone’s eyes, even their system. Want to split your personality in the game and test if your boyfriend/girlfriend can recognize you or be “seduced” by you? This will be a very useful item.]
[Item Usage Status: Normal]
[Remaining Duration: 72 hours]
At this moment, Zhu Qiang opened his item bar, confirmed that his item was working properly, and temporarily relaxed.
Zhou Qian took a full ten days off after coming out of “Last Wish”, but Zhu Qiang dared not stop at all.
After being admitted to Zone 2 of the Spring Hill Mental Asylum from Priest recommendation, he got the qualification to enter the game. After that, he was introduced by several veterans from the Peach Blossom Legion that specialized in leveling up in regular instances.
These regular instances were very different from those with hidden achievements and gave relatively low experience. However, Zhu Qiang was diligent. Guided by veteran players, he quickly reached Rank C and had relatively good attack power.
Of course, this was also because Zhou Qian had never practiced offensive skills, so even by the basic panel, Zhu Qiang was slightly stronger than Zhou Qian.
On the other side, by the fireplace, Wu Ren’s face was very gloomy. In contrast, Zhou Qian, who should have been the most likely to be killed by him, was laughing very relaxedly.
Sitting casually on the carpet, Zhou Qian seemed not to care at all that there was a charred head not far away and a slightly disgusting torso.
Looking into Wu Ren’s eyes, Zhou Qian whispered, “This ‘Escape the Study’ mini-game is just like a warm-up before the official match—very simple.”
“I think both you and your gambler are smart. You have probably already thought of the real answer. However, because the answer is too simple and can be guessed by luck, you are not entirely sure. You’re worried about missing some hidden clues and whether it’s the real answer or not…”
“In any case, you dare not bet. You dare not touch that doorknob and open the door.”
Glancing at the reactions of the other players, Zhou Qian continued, “I guess that Yin Jiujiu also figured out the answer. But she won’t open the door either. In fact, everyone in this room is waiting for your reaction. Do you know the real reason?”
At this point, Wu Ren’s face turned a shade paler.
Zhou Qian said with a provocative smile, “Even if you are 99% sure of the answer, you still dare not open the door. Because the consequences of that 1% error are too great for you to bear. So, your current life point is—”
Zhou Qian stated the harsh truth with a smile, “Less than ‘2’.”
Wu Ren’s eyes seemed to suddenly lose all their shine. Zhou Qian continued in a mesmerizing tone, “So, you be the ‘king’. I’ll open the door for you.”
Taking a deep breath, Wu Ren glanced at his watch and said wearily to Zhou Qian, “Li Buhui has tried three times, losing 6 points. He definitely won’t try again. Yin Jiujiu is ranked fourth by life points, so she’s not in a rush. As for the others…”
“Yes, I’m anxious, but Situ Qing and Ke Yuxiao, ranked second and third respectively, should also be anxious. Yet they haven’t made a move…”
“It must be because they all received your message. You told them not to act rashly, right?”
With a much darker tone, Wu Ren looked at Zhou Qian. “Don’t drag other innocent people into this. Isn’t it just you and that woman Yin Jiujiu who wants to test my score? You think I can’t see that?”
Zhou Qian sincerely replied, “Of course, you can see it. I’m not hiding anything. But you still have to let me open the door for you. It’s a clear-cut deal. I’ll try the door for you, ensuring you won’t lose 2 life points; you’ll be the ‘king’. Deal?”
“Alright. Deal.”
30 seconds later, Wu Ren finally said these words. He then stood up and said to everyone, “Let’s cooperate first. Anyone who dares to kill will face my wrath. If I say this, I’ll make sure it happens.”
After speaking, Wu Ren looked back at Zhou Qian and whispered, “I’ve said it. Satisfied? But Zhou Qian, don’t be too smug. You’ve revealed your own problem to me as well.”
“Oh?” Zhou Qian was still smiling. “How so?”
“Technically, your team has four members. You all could have grouped together. You could be the ‘king’ yourself. Why try to pull me in…” Wu Ren said with a sinister smile, his demeanor became more somber. “You don’t fully trust your teammates.”
“Oh dear…” Zhou Qian replied half-heartedly. “You noticed. But this means our cooperation will be stronger. You know my weakness, so you can trust me more, right?”
Wu Ren snorted coldly and didn’t continue discussing the matter. He just pointed at the door. “You can open the door now.”
Zhou Qian smiled at Wu Ren and then headed towards the door.
The town was called Beautiful Flower Town. Witches weren’t welcome here and would be burned publicly if discovered.
A little girl who had wavy brown hair named Lily lived here. Starting from around the age of seven or eight, she began to transform into a monster, possibly related to the “Strawberry Music Festival.”
Lily refused to admit she was a monster and was scared of her reflection, so she broke all the mirrors.
Meanwhile, her mother Eva was a witch who locked Lily inside the house. Lily resented her mother and wanted to expose her as a witch to get her burned, but she probably didn’t succeed.
Based on the clues the players found, this was all the information available. The deduction was that Lily’s killer could only be her mother, Eva. After all, players couldn’t make up a killer’s name out of thin air.
However, Li Buhui tried that. The answer was incorrect.
Why was it wrong?
With limited clues, there was only one possibility—
The deceased wasn’t Lily.
At this moment, as Zhou Qian approached the door, he said, “We initially thought the ‘ghost’ trapping us was Lily. They are both little girls with wavy brown hair. But they might not be the same person. After all, we never saw Lily grow up. Children’s appearances change rapidly. The baby and childhood photos in albums don’t reveal much. So—”
“The ‘Strawberry Music Festival’ ticket mentioned that it’s a grand event for all children in town. No adults attended. It’s very likely that Lily went to the festival with a close friend. Upon returning… Lily killed her.”
“I’ve always found it odd. Since parts of Lily’s body were sealed by her mother in various parts of the house and only a part of her was in the study, it’s possible she wasn’t killed there. So, why would her soul remain in the study, seeking an answer?”
“Now everything makes sense.”
Zhou Qian reached the door, placed his hand on the doorknob, and said, “It was Lily who killed you. She murdered you in this study. Deep down, you probably knew the truth. But you couldn’t face it and waited for someone to confirm it—”
“Because you couldn’t believe your best friend would kill you, right?”
Suddenly, a strand of wavy hair appeared in front of Zhou Qian.
A little girl appeared, hanging upside down.
This time, she didn’t strangle Zhou Qian. Instead, she gazed at him sorrowfully and said, “Was it really her? But we were best friends. I didn’t want to believe it…”
“But you’re right… That day, only she and I were in the study. Her mom wasn’t there, and neither was anyone else.”
“It could only have been her.”
Zhou Qian asked, “What exactly happened that day?”
The little girl sighed. “That day, all the kids went to the Strawberry Music Festival… There were caretakers for the children at the festival, so the adults took the rare opportunity to go on a vacation to the neighboring town…”
“I was supposed to go to the festival with Lily. I specially came to her house to join her. But I suddenly got a fever and stayed at her place to rest. She later went with other kids.”
“I remember… It was very late that day when Lily came back. Seeing that I was feeling better, she took me to the study of her house to read. Then… then I died… I don’t remember the details of how I was killed. I just wanted to find the killer. I was so young… I loved the world so much, and I loved Beautiful Flower Town. So I didn’t want to leave… I have a grudge.”
“So… the killer really was Lily. But why? I can’t understand… She was my best friend. Why did she kill me… and how did she kill me…”
“Please leave the study. I would like you to investigate what really happened at the Strawberry Music Festival!
“Oh yes, my name is Lina.”
Finally, Lina handed Zhou Qian a card. “The town seems a bit strange. I’m giving you something to protect yourself.”
Zhou Qian took it and found the number “6” written on it.
“This was stolen from you. Now I’m giving it back.”
The little girl took 6 life points from Li Buhui and gave them to Zhou Qian. Zhou Qian felt the gaze from Wu Ren, filled with cold, greed, and threats. With a smile, Zhou Qian held the card between his index and middle fingers, raised an eyebrow at Wu Ren, and taunted him with a shake.
Wu Ren quickly approached, reaching for the card, but Zhou Qian evaded him with a step back.
“Zhou Qian? I’ve agreed to the terms. Are you going back on your word?” Wu Ren immediately questioned.
Although Wu Ren didn’t reveal anything, dark clouds seemed to appear in the study, indicating he might take action.
Under the dark cloud, Zhou Qian laughed. “Don’t be so eager, Wu Ge. You’re skilled in using hidden weapons, and if you wanted to kill me, there’s no need for such a threatening stance. You won’t kill me.”
“What are you playing at?” Wu Ren was clearly agitated.
“Just a joke. Let’s be friendly.” Zhou Qian handed over the card.
Wu Ren took the card as sweat appeared on his forehead. He could hear his heartbeat slowing down, realizing he had an additional 6 hours to live.
By now, Lina had disappeared from the study. Zhou Qian turned the doorknob, which opened smoothly.
“Let’s go and see.” After saying this, Zhou Qian was the first to leave the study, entering a corridor.
Qi Liuxing and Ke Yuxiao quickly followed Zhou Qian, with Wu Ren, Yin Jiujiu, and Li Buhui close behind. Situ Qing chose to walk at the back, perhaps to keep an eye on the new teammates.
Along the way, Qi Liuxing discussed with Ke Yuxiao. “Our actions don’t seem to be assisting any evil spirit. It’s not as complex as Li Buhui analyzed. Maybe Lily is the evil spirit. But the one who trapped us is Lina, whom she killed.”
“Right. I was overthinking things,” Ke Yuxiao replied. “These two girls have similar names, similar hair, and were good friends. But their fates changed after one attended the music festival and the other didn’t.”
Qi Liuxing remarked with emotion, “Indeed… if Lina hadn’t suddenly fallen ill and had gone to the music festival, she might have become an evil spirit or a monster.”
The two conversed briefly and followed Zhou Qian to the end of the corridor.
Exiting the end of the corridor, they should be in the living room.
They noticed that Zhou Qian’s steps suddenly halted.
Could there be something unusual in the living room?
Qi Liuxing immediately gripped his sword tightly.
Seeing this, those behind him also held their weapons in a defensive manner.
With the movements of his teammates echoing in his ears, Zhou Qian, with half of his body stepping into the living room, indeed halted because of a scene that surprised even him—
This room indeed belonged to a mansion and was elegantly constructed.
Exiting the corridor, there was a turn leading to a staircase going up to the second floor. The staircase faced a large wall, which was entirely built with floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, there wasn’t any iron sheet welded to seal it. Instead, it resembled a prison cell with thick iron bars vertically placed one after another.
Finding an iron sheet to seal the size of a window might be relatively easy.
However, sealing such a large floor-to-ceiling window entirely with iron sheets would be challenging. Perhaps for this reason, the Witch Eva opted to use thick iron bars instead.
Up to this point, everything was still somewhat comprehensible.
What truly astonished Zhou Qian and all the players was what was outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
The ground should have had a small path, but now that path was completely covered by massive plants.
Dark green vines, originating from an unknown place, danced in the wind, resembling countless green snakes.
Suddenly, something flew by, casting a shadow over half of the living room. After a while, it left, revealing a dazzling silhouette. Its back was truly magnificent, emitting a radiant blue-purple hue.
It resembled a butterfly magnified countless times, but it was much more terrifying than any butterfly.
Just as it moved away from the window, one could clearly see that it had feet, and its feet had five toes, eerily resembling human feet, smooth and white. The nails had a hint of pink to them, as if they were painted with nail polish.
But the most bizarre scene involved a gigantic red flower.
The stems and leaves of the flower covered the entire path. The bloom was so vibrant that it almost entirely obscured the villa opposite.
At this moment, the root of one of the flowers passed through the gaps between the iron bars of this prison-like house, breaking a glass pane, and directly entered the living room, allowing players a close-up view.
When the stem entered this room, the bud must not have been developed.
But at this moment, the flower was in full bloom, its five petals covering almost the entire living room, and the color was the purest bright red.
The flower itself should have been beautiful, but due to its enormous size, it was genuinely terrifying.
Especially the pistil at the center of the flower, which was a thick yellow, resembling writhing yellow snakes.
And the “head” part of each of those “snakes” actually had facial features…
From the pistil of the flower grew human faces.
“Fuck. What the hell are these things? So, did we really get a fantasy script this time?”
The one who cursed out loud was Wu Ren.
Having just escaped death, before he could even rejoice, he was thoroughly stunned by the scene before him.
Ever since she came to this world, even when facing the Mad Monk, she had never been so fearful. She wished she could perform a major prophecy to determine whether her decision was right or wrong.
If it were just her, she would have escaped for a few days. But with her family beside her, she didn’t dare delay. What’s the worst that could happen? She thought bitterly. Maybe if the three major guilds abandoned her, maybe Nol… Xu Yue could provide them with some backup.
But on the other hand, if her betrayal angered this compatriot, it might lead to a rift between Paradise and the Players.
From their recent interactions, Anakin couldn’t judge the mental state of this individual.
Even the kindest person, when paired with the Mad Monk, would seem to have ulterior motives. The sight of Xu Yue rolling over everyone with the Lost Tower left a deep impression on her. The sounds of the Demon King’s minions shattering still echoed in her ears.
Better to offend a gentleman than a lunatic, Anakin tried to convince herself.
After the meeting, Anakin turned off the system interface. Her body was soaking wet, as if she had just been pulled out of the water. She thought for a long time, changed into formal battle gear, and dressed more seriously than for an interview.
Solo didn’t say anything. While he was noisy when happily leveling up, he would be silent during serious situations. He dressed neatly like Anakin and opened the door to the guest room.
Upon leaving the Dream Edge, the sky at the top of the tower was completely consistent with the outside world, as if there was no top to the tower. The faint morning light sprinkled on the tiles; its gentle glow was soothing.
The succubi had set up a temporary lair on the second floor. The first floor was empty except for the beautiful throne shining in the sunlight. Anakin took a deep breath of fresh air, slapped her face hard, and tried to put on the friendliest smile.
This smile lasted less than a tenth of a second, vanishing in front of Teest.
The handsome Mad Monk was still wearing the succubus costume, with added blood stains. The contract pattern on his wrist with the succubus hadn’t been removed. The two dark reds echoed like fashionable jewelry.
He glanced at Anakin without much curiosity, as if he was looking at a stump. Anakin noticed that he was holding a large bouquet in his arms—wrapped in white cloth, with black and blue flowers, adorned with white small flowers and fresh green leaves.
Flowers so early in the morning? For Xu Yue?
Before Anakin could think about the deeper meaning, Solo let out a suppressed groan. Looking closely, those weren’t flowers at all, but clearly stiff human hands—the black ones from the Nightmares, the pale thin ones… she didn’t want to think further.
“Do you two need something?” Teest asked politely.
“We, um, would like to speak to Xu… Nol.” Anakin was still staring at the “bouquet”. Never before had she doubted her decisions so intensely.
“Oh, he’s still sleeping,” Teest said. “You can come back after breakfast.”
“Alright.” Anakin tried to smile. Her legs felt weak, so she stayed put.
“Do you want a flower?” Teest, seeing her unmoving, smiled again, sounding as gentle as a pretty flower seller on the street.
Anakin and Solo quickly retreated.
Only then did Teest turn his gaze back and return to the room where Nol was.
Nol seemed relieved, sleeping soundly. So deep that Teest wondered if he had died again. Teest, as always, woke up early, but this person kept sleeping. Even now, Nol maintained his sleeping position, buried in the blanket.
Teest put the bouquet in an empty vase on the table, sat on the bed, and sighed.
Last night, after Nol fell asleep, Teest eagerly used the [Necrotic Dominion] on him—out of curiosity. He wanted to see how Mr. Lich would react. Nol never mentioned this when discussing the skill, trusting him too much.
If it worked, what should he make Nol do?
After much thought, Teest found the matter uninteresting. He had manipulated many with golden threads before, but using magic seemed not so different. Maybe he needed more intricate control… Controlling Nol to touch his hair would probably be nice.
He pondered this for half an hour and excitedly used the magic, but nothing happened. Teest was stunned for a few seconds, then he remembered the “immunity to mental magic”.
Mr. Mad Monk went to bed dissatisfied and woke up still unhappy. He took a grumpy walk outside and decided to cause trouble for some people. Thus, he purposely went near the dungeon of the succubi tribe and harvested a batch of fresh hands from the Eternalists.
After dealing with the remaining parts of the hands, he went to the battlefield to collect some monster palms. Once the “flower” bouquets were assembled, he quietly gave them to every young succubus who had screamed and shouted the day before.
A fulfilling morning.
After all this, as the sun was about to rise, Teest’s mood finally brightened.
Teest left the freshest bouquet by the bedside. Then he sat on the bed, patiently waiting for Nol to wake up.
……
When the two Players returned to the room, Nol was frantically chasing Teest’s tail all over the place. The terrifying bouquet was no longer in the room; only suspicious ashes were left by the vase.
Seeing the Players arrive, Teest wisely stopped and hid his tail, gracefully sitting by the bed.
“Good morning. Didn’t Uncle Ma come with you?” Unable to continue his chase, Nol coughed and sat upright on a chair.
He asked directly.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but Anakin felt there was something different about him. The previous Nol felt like a paranoid academic killer, but now he seemed to have transitioned into a gentle, next-door serial killer without that tense feeling.
“We have something we would like to discuss with you alone, Mr. Xu Yue,” Anakin said. Solo was about to find a place to sit when she promptly stopped him.
“For the truth about this world, you can ask Uncle Ma for confirmation. I’ve briefed him roughly.” Nol decided to leave the explanation about “Paradise” to Uncle Ma—partly because the old man could handle the pressure and partly because he felt he owed him something.
Hearing the word “truth”, both Players fell silent.
Nol stood up, pouring water for the two uncomfortable Players. The water was magically created by him, complete with ice cubes and slices of wild fruits from the Black Forest.
“You specifically came to see me, so there must be something more important, right?” he asked in an unprecedentedly relaxed tone.
Anakin licked her dry lips. She found the water timely, but she didn’t dare drink it and merely touched it symbolically with her lips.
“Regarding ‘Paradise’, what do you want us to do?” she asked cautiously, her fingers tensing on her wand. “The Players are very concerned about ‘Paradise’, demanding full disclosure of related quests and particularly strict penalties for violations. If you don’t mind, we must explain some things.”
“I don’t want the Players—most of them—to know about my situation,” Nol stated directly. “For the same reasons you didn’t immediately report Uncle Ma, I don’t intend to cause further chaos.”
Teest chuckled, and Nol understood that he probably got the unsaid part. Only by becoming a “mainline NPC” could he better guide the situation. If he were to be treated as a “transmigrator” like other Players, then others might have their own plans.
“But we can’t lie,” Solo interjected. “Such an important matter, the higher-ups would definitely deploy lie-detection tools and experts… If discovered, we’d be exiled!”
Anakin nodded.
“Why not disclose your previous quest? Just say that your quest connected you with ‘Paradise’.” Teest suddenly interrupted, his smile deep and meaningful. “You two didn’t assist us out of ‘kindness’ initially, did you? I guess you had a type of assistance quest.”
The siblings exchanged glances.
They indeed could disclose their previous quest, whether they were related to the Temple or the succubi. There was only one problem—
Anakin summoned the system window, showing the task [A Question] to the two in front of her.
“We haven’t been able to complete it yet,” she carefully said. “To establish a ‘connection’, it’d be better to complete it perfectly…”
Teest’s eyes lingered for half a second on the reward section “Goodwill from a certain existence” before moving on to the quest requirements. He laughed softly and casually pointed outside.
“I quietly sent some flowers to the second floor. Soon, there might be some surprised screams, and some might even cry out of happiness,” he explained. “Help soothe the succubi. Those who received the flowers are quite young. Ensure they don’t overthink. These are gifts from me, the crown prince, on behalf of the queen. She needs to rest and couldn’t come personally,” Teest said. He casually tapped the shadow by the bed. A huge snout emerged, sniffing incessantly, as if searching for food.
“Also, take this guy for a run on the second floor,” Teest continued nonchalantly. “Ben is too fat. He needs some exercise.”
Nol almost choked on his drink. This faux succubus crown prince was trying to shine in his last moments—Teest’s intimidation was just short of threatening them with a sword to their faces to “shut up and behave”.
Anakin looked horrified at the dark wolf snout. Hearing the “run”, the snout approached her, sniffing with apparent joy.
“Alright,” she said weakly, not finding a suitable reason to refuse the Mad Monk.
“Don’t be afraid,” Nol quickly reassured. “Once the quest is done, feel free to report its details. I sincerely hope you both can be the bridge between ‘Paradise’ and the Players.”
Some things were more conveniently done by genuine Players. These two Players might be a bit naive, but they were fundamentally good-natured and had the courage to involve themselves in the grand scheme. Perhaps they truly would have a chance to become friends.
Anakin was about to respond when suddenly, a quest completion notification flashed.
[You have completed the hidden quest: A Question.]
[You have met the perfect completion conditions for the quest “A Question”: Leaving the Dream Edge without dying; assisting in saving the soon-to-be extinct succubus tribe.]
[Quest Reward: Large experience points [Normal]; Permanent increase of 20% in luck attribute [Perfect]; Goodwill from a certain existence [Perfect].]
Here it is! Regardless of the current tense and complicated situation, the moment of quest completion always brought satisfaction. Joy immediately appeared on the faces of the two Players. Anakin exhaled deeply, watching as the notification window disappeared.
“I’m…”
Another notification window popped up at that moment.
[Fortunate one chosen by fate, congratulations on making the right decision.]
Her words were caught in her throat once again.
A few steps away, Teest stared intently at the two, his eyes unwavering, deep in thought.
……
Crimson stepped into the Eternal Church’s cathedral.
A day earlier, he activated a precious teleportation item. Its fixed teleportation point was right in Grape Collar, inside a safe house he had rented not long ago.
People like them always needed safe houses. Nobody would be foolish enough to set their coordinates in an Eternal Church stronghold—there was no “love and trust” among high-profile criminals. Everyone hoped you’d collapse and spill your gear.
One piece of evidence was that the Eternal Church’s Players didn’t even have a guild. Everyone played their own game and enjoyed it.
But everyone needed information.
Crimson possessed an almost beast-like intuition. This intuition had helped him avoid police tracking and undercover investigations several times. Recently, it told him that if he wasn’t willing to use that priceless teleportation prop, his fate wouldn’t look good.
Thanks to divine guidance, now was the time to reap the rewards.
“I have information about ‘Paradise’ for sale.”
He contacted a priest of the Eternal Church first. “The characteristics of Players involved with ‘Paradise’, the general situation of that black tower, and the combat personnel who appeared in Paradise. I only accept rare items or weapons as compensation.”
Only a fool would tell other “Demons”. How could the few months’ worth of items accumulated by Players compare to a religion that had a foundation of thousands of years? He had to squeeze some benefits from the Eternal Church first.
Regrettably, he was too far away at the time and couldn’t hear the conversation of the people above clearly. If he knew more, he might have been able to obtain the Eternal Church’s magic shield.
People of the priest’s rank no longer used communication crystals. There was a flicker of dark light, and the face of an old man covered in warts appeared in midair.
Thankfully, an ordinary priest was just that—ordinary. The black magic effect in front of him was mediocre, sparing him from seeing many unsettling skin details.
“May everything be eternal,” the old priest said. “Are you referring to ‘Paradise’ that connects all Players? …The ‘Paradise’ that exterminated sixty thousand corrupted Nightmares and a thousand Eternalists in one day?”
Of course, someone had already sold the global announcement’s information to the Eternal Church, and Crimson wasn’t surprised.
“Yes, them. By God’s grace, I watched everything up close.”
I saw how your troops were ground into minced meat, how they were strangled into chunks. Crimson didn’t bother to sound pained. After all, the other party didn’t seem to care either.
“That Eugene was also there. We both know the nature of the Temple. By now, their higher-ups surely know everything,” he added fuel to the fire.
Through the murky reflection, the old priest stared at Crimson. The old man seemed even more monstrous in his silence, making one feel agitated.
This was a negotiation about the price. The Eternal Church might be mad, but they weren’t stupid.
Even if they had given Players titles related to the “Eternal Son”, they’d always settle accounts clearly among themselves during such times.
“This is a remarkable honor, Lord Demon.” After what seemed like an eternity, the old priest spoke again. “God has allowed you to witness everything and entrusted you with a responsibility. What a wonderful fate.”
Crimson’s expression darkened. “Responsibility” was definitely one of his top three most hated words.
“I only accept rare items or weapons as compensation,” he repeated.
“Of course, of course.” The old priest laughed, resembling a crow. “We’d be happy to buy the information on relevant Players… As for the tower, please allow us to investigate first. If the results aren’t satisfactory, we’ll offer you a price that satisfies you.”
“Alright, that’s fair,” Crimson said.
The most important combat personnel weren’t mentioned. This matter was certainly not over yet.
“As for the third point… Since you’re aware of the power of Paradise, you’re perfect for a job,” the old man coughed.
“We’d like you to retrieve the Chosen One as revealed by the oracle.”
The author has something to say:
Teest: Not happy, huh? Here’s a bouquet to cheer everyone up ^w^
Mad Monk’s special bouquet, make your boyfriend so touched that he runs around the house (×
Nol had almost overlooked this possibility. Both NPCs and Players shared a set of achievement systems. “Ruthless Tyranny” was an achievement that Players could attain, while “Harbinger of Death” was a title only NPCs might obtain. It was often born from brutal wars or from the dreadful seas of monsters.
There were no wars in “Tahe” nor were there environments designed as seas of monsters for Players. This achievement was pre-prepared, intended to be given to NPCs during some major events—a super high-level magic attack, a massive explosion, and so on.
The achievement didn’t merely increase attack power. It merged with the acquirer’s profession, giving birth to a special job direction. And for the basic profession of “Knight”, the corresponding was “Death Knight”. It sounded very much like a profession that should appear on an enemy boss.
“The most distinctive feature of the Death Knight is to turn the enemies they and their teammates have defeated into undead puppets, forming a Death Knight team in a short time.”
Nol’s eyes shone, looking almost as excited as the kiss he had just received.
If an average knight Player obtained this job change, they would probably experience both pain and joy. After all, knights leaned towards the light faction. When they used a light-based skill, they could demonstrate to the enemy how to “instantly evaporate my teammates”.
However, Teest had no such concern. The Fallen Knight’s skills had nothing to do with the word “light”, making it a perfect match.
“It doesn’t seem that special.” Teest leaned against the bed, sat down on the floor, and mumbled, “We have plenty of undead creatures. You summon them all the time. Sharing some with me would be the same.”
He seemed picky even when he got such a valuable profession.
Nol sat back on the bed and looked down at him. “If I shared them with you before, I would have had to split my attention to control them. Now I don’t have to, understand?”
Teest hummed, “I don’t understand.”
From his tone, he was definitely doing it on purpose.
Nol sighed. He subconsciously wanted to play with Teest’s long hair. He stretched out his hand but paused and withdrew it, feeling the gesture might be too ambiguous.
“The Death Knight’s specialty relies on two skills: [Necrotic Conversion [Short-term]] and [Necrotic Dominion].” Nol gently explained, “The former allows the Death Knight to temporarily turn the enemies they kill into ‘friendly’ undead, while the latter allows them to command these ‘friendly’ undead creatures.”
At first glance, there seemed to be no issue, but there was a clever loophole.
“I’m your teammate. In principle, the undead I summon would also be considered your ‘allies’.” Nol smiled.
He clapped his hands, and a skeleton bird flew in from the window. It obediently perched on Nol’s finger. Nol extended his hand toward Teest. “…Try it.”
Teest stared into the hollow eyes of the skeleton bird. The next moment, a strange black light flashed, and the bird tilted its head, then hopped onto Teest’s shoulder.
It sat there stiffly, like a specimen.
“You can familiarize yourself with how the skill works,” Nol said, relieved, feeling like he had safely deposited money into a bank.
The bird squatted on Teest’s shoulder for a while, then fluttered up and landed behind Nol.
“What about you?” it asked in a clear voice.
Nol was startled by this sudden change and almost slid off the bed’s edge. He quickly turned around, staring at the swaying skeleton bird. Teest remained silent with his eyebrows raised.
“It’s just ventriloquism, best used to deceive targets,” it said disdainfully. “So what about you, honey? What profession will you change into?”
“I’m not changing professions for now,” Nol replied.
Teest momentarily relaxed his control, and the bird did a split, sitting down on the soft bed.
“What, not changing professions?” Teest said in his own voice, his eyebrows raised high.
“The previous me might have immediately changed into the ‘Undying Priest’. Some of its skills aren’t suitable for me, but it’s the quickest choice to become stronger. Now I’m not so…in a hurry,” Nol said with a hint of self-mockery in his voice.
Undying Priest was the only current job direction for a Lich.
It was a profession that emphasized survival, with most of its skills providing various survival buffs. For the cursed Nol, this kind of enhancement was almost negligible. And with Teest having the Death Knight profession, his means of self-preservation had increased considerably, so there was no need for Nol to worry.
There weren’t many opportunities to change professions. Perhaps he should wait for a chance. Just like Teest did, seeking out a way to gain more special powers.
Teest looked up at Nol, and the skeleton bird flapped its wings, flying right in front of Nol’s nose.
Nol cleared his throat. “Do you have any opinions to share, little bird?”
Before he could finish, the skeleton bird scattered into pieces. A hand reached out in front of Nol’s chest, catching the tiny bones.
“I wanted to say goodnight, Nol.”
Teest stretched his back in this position. “Such a long journey, you indeed need to rest well.”
“Yes, such a long journey.” Nol looked out of the window again. The outside was almost completely shrouded in darkness, which strangely comforted him.
“Goodnight, Teest.”
……
“Can’t sleep?” Malvina—Uncle Ma leaned by the guest room window, aimlessly wiping the glass with his fingertip.
The current succubus queen lay on the bed, staring at the empty wall opposite her. She nodded slowly.
Uncle Ma sighed. “During the day, you were chattering non-stop, I thought you were alright. There are still many succubi outside who want to see you, you know.”
“I need a little more… time to adjust before facing the tribe,” Queen Wilimina said softly. “Thank you, soul from another world.”
After the truth of the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was revealed, the tragic story of the succubi didn’t have the so-called “happy ending”.
The elder succubi, led by Adonis, were understanding, but some young succubi born in harsh environments weren’t satisfied—they believed that Hyacinth was thoroughly deceived by humans. They should have fought fiercely instead of starving pitifully.
Those Nightmares weren’t that terrifying; a few outsiders wiped them out completely. Even if those few were strong, couldn’t they have managed too?
If it weren’t for the queen’s initial prohibition, perhaps they would have found a way out long ago.
And for generations, the rulers fell into madness merely because of the effect of “being loved”. It was inconceivable. There must be an issue with the heir selection mechanism, or perhaps there was a vicious curse on the “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” they haven’t discovered yet.
The tribe was starving. How could the queen be bothered with such trivial matters?
As a queen who “cared about these trivial matters”, Wilimina had just freed herself from a distorted obsession when she faced sharp criticism. Malvina was the first to react, directly bringing her into the guest room to ensure her surroundings were quiet.
It all felt eerily familiar.
Looking at those young succubi, Ma Zhigang felt as if he were looking at his younger self—when he impatiently interrupted his daughter’s plea, he probably had a similar expression.
“Don’t take the rash words of those kids to heart,” Uncle Ma said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you. If you were really that obstinate, you would’ve despised me long ago. If an unknown person revived using my daughter’s body, I wouldn’t be able to stand it. Really, if you aren’t rational, I can’t imagine who would be.”
The queen gave a weak smile.
“It’s alright,” she said. “Adonis and the others will help mediate. What concerns me more is… I wasn’t clear-headed initially. I shouldn’t have said those words to that person.”
There was still worry deep in her eyes.
Uncle Ma sighed.
When he came in, the most agitated group was already questioning the queen’s decision to surrender to the Lost Tower. They believed she wasn’t strong or clear-headed enough; that she was appeasing Nol, a human of unknown origins.
At this point, if someone were to stir things up, the succubi would split on their own. Having once dealt with street thugs in his youth, Ma Zhigang had seen this situation many times.
That Teest was definitely not a simple character.
But aside from hoping he didn’t have ulterior motives, they couldn’t do much. The queen’s response had been adequate. If worse came to worse, he’d go and plead with Xu Yue…
“Will you stay?”
As Uncle Ma pondered, the queen suddenly asked. Her voice was mixed with the crackling of burning wood, almost drowned by the flames.
Where else can I go? Just as Uncle Ma was about to reply, he realized that might not be what the queen was asking.
“Do you understand your daughter now?” she whispered. “…Will you stay afterward?”
For the first time, Uncle Ma looked outside the window. Dawn was approaching. The lower half of the view was a pitch-black forest, while the sky above started to turn cyan, which was quite beautiful.
On the day his daughter jumped off the building. Perhaps she saw a similar sky.
She didn’t stay for it.
“I’ve understood that I can ‘never truly understand her’.” Uncle Ma coughed twice. “Didn’t your queen say? Even if life is tough, at least being alive means there’s a chance for change.”
Gazing at the gradually brightening sky, his voice turned hoarse. “Like her, she couldn’t bear it anymore, so she left first. I can still bear it… so I’ll just take it one step at a time.”
“I’ll definitely stay here,” he finally said. “With what Xiao Xu did, my gatekeeper job isn’t over yet.”
……
“It’s almost dawn,” Solo said with a hint of unease in his voice as he turned away from the window.
“It’s almost dawn.” Anakin took a deep breath.
Soon, they would witness the liveliest Player assembly in the history of the Tahe Continent.
Previously, to avoid arousing suspicions from special NPCs and for self-protection, top-tier Players seldom met collectively. Most preferred to focus on their own development and let lower-level members handle communications.
But now, with the server-wide announcement, everyone had to gather. This meeting included all the top and middle-tier Players, totaling over a hundred.
The Homeward Saints, Amazon, and Hermitage. The three major guilds in the game were all present.
In the nearly three months since they came to this world, Players had relatively rationally distributed their power—
The Homeward Saints was a pure combat guild. Utilizing supplies from the Temple of Life, everyone focused solely on leveling up and acquiring abilities.
Its leader was the famous professional Player “Hot Ash”. Most members were also professional or amateur Players with good combat instincts.
Amazon was also a pure combat guild, but all its members were women.
The leader of Amazon, “Dorothy”, was a corporate executive. She was skeptical of the Temple of Life’s selfless aid and took away more than 80% of the female Players. Just because someone was good at the game didn’t mean they had good character. Since the “intimate protection contact” function stopped working, several severe incidents occurred among Players.
Top-tier Players respected her decision. This way, even if the Temple of Life turned against them, the primary fighting power of the Players wouldn’t be wiped out all at once.
Together with the non-combat guild “Hermitage”, led by the university professor “Mentor”, these were the Players’ main supports.
While Anakin was nominally a member of the Saints, in reality, she represented Amazon and could be considered middle-tier. She focused intently as she entered the guild channel.
Upon confirming attendance, countless Player faces filled the room. Solo carefully moved out of the video frame and listened closely.
Most screens were palm-sized, with innumerable Player faces floating in the air.
In the center of the room were three screens, each the size of a 55-inch TV, showing the upper bodies of the three leaders.
“Hot Ash” was fully wrapped in armor, yet it was evident he was a young male with a standard physique.
He was of the rare “Blazing Knight” profession. Anakin had heard rumors that Hot Ash was preparing for his third profession advancement.
“Let’s get straight to the point,” Hot Ash said. “The announcement seems like a main storyline event. We’ve killed a lot of the Demon King’s minions in the Desolation Island recently, which might have triggered the plot.”
“The game developers probably want to do something like ‘Facing the Demon King and uniting the Tahe races’—involving religious forces, the royal army, and perhaps monster forces—something like that?”
“It’s better not to jump to conclusions so quickly. The world doesn’t revolve around us,” Dorothy, with her mature middle-aged female avatar, spoke gently but assertively. Her face was adorned with a unique mask that only Berserkers had. She had her arms crossed, which were covered with dark red tattoos.
“We should first make contact with Paradise and see the situation there. If we always think in terms of game mechanics, our thinking will be limited.”
“I agree. Killing the Demon King to return is also a very gamified way of thinking,” Mentor gently interjected. He spoke with a deep, refined voice and wore the long gray robe of the “Sage” healing class, with a veil covering his face and long gray hair tied back.
When opposed by two people, Hot Ash showed no anger. “Have you made any new discoveries on your side?”
“People studying geology and archaeology have been investigating the land,” Mentor said calmly. “All I can say is that this world is much more real than we imagined.”
“We discussed a similar issue last time. Let’s discuss such matters in private.” Hot Ash quickly shifted the topic. “The AI nowadays is far more advanced than we thought. Our topic right now is that server-wide announcement—there’s no such thing as a server-wide announcement in the real world.”
Mentor merely hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
“The statement from the Temple of Life contradicts the announcement, doesn’t it?” Dorothy smoothly took over. “We’ve also encountered those talkative monsters before but didn’t capture any. The priest’s explanation then was a conspiracy of the Eternal Church… What are they saying now?”
“To those religious fanatics, even stepping in shit outside is the conspiracy of the Eternal Church,” Hot Ash said with a bitter smile. “They haven’t said anything yet. They’re probably concocting a more convincing explanation.”
Good thing members of the Temple of Life weren’t present. This hardly sounded like something a “Saint” would say. Anakin couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.
“Okay, I vote for ‘contact as soon as possible’,” Dorothy said straightforwardly. “Whether we end up as enemies or allies after making contact, we need to reach out first, and the sooner, the better. Whether it’s the Temple’s NPCs or those Demons from the Church, any of them might play tricks.”
Even through the mask, Anakin could feel the weight of the woman’s gaze.
Hot Ash decisively responded, “The fanatics are watching, so the Saints should avoid being too involved. If you receive any related quests, please ensure transparency. We won’t contest the rewards, and we can draft a contract later.”
“Okay. My people will directly make contact. Mentor’s side should look for those talkative monsters. His people are more discreet,” Dorothy said.
Suddenly, her voice became louder. “This matter isn’t a joke. I hope no one has ulterior motives. Even if the reward is a divine artifact, every bit of information that should be public cannot be missed. If anyone is found withholding information, Amazon will forever deny all protection.”
“Same goes for the Saints.” Hot Ash shrugged. “Once we have a clearer picture, everyone can be free, but not now. Every clue in the early stages might be critical.”
Mentor gently nodded. “So, we’ve decided to disclose all this to all middle- and top-tier Players. Please manage your teams well… You can opt out, but please don’t hinder the process.”
Other attendees were muted. Anakin could only see them turning to something off-screen, speaking silently. She felt sweat trickling down her spine. Indeed, the decision she had made wasn’t an easy one.
At this moment, she was essentially a traitor.
The Master of Paradise was an Earthling, not an NPC. Those talkative monsters were also their compatriots. They… They didn’t enter this world through a game. This world might not be a “game”.
By reporting this, she could rest easy. Even if the truth caused chaos, the big shots wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“Sister…” Solo’s voice trembled a bit. “Seeing how rational the leaders are, should we just…?” He hesitated and didn’t finish.
Anakin knew he was scared. Her cousin was just a college freshman.
In this unknown world, being abandoned by the three major guilds was scarier than death. Moreover, the leaders’ requests were reasonable. By keeping secrets, they might come off as arrogant and foolish.
Anakin interlocked her hands, realizing her palms were sweaty.
On the screen, the three leaders were still discussing, their voices overshadowed by a piercing ringing in her ears.
“For the sake of the Players, we must coordinate our relationship with Paradise.” She heard herself say, her voice raspier than ever. “Before making a decision, I think we should meet Xu Yue first.”
Kinky Translations 