Chapter 12: Try and You’re Dead

“Not bad, Yanzi. Where did you find this rich woman?”

Zhao Longjun sneered and nudged Chen Xiaoyan with his elbow.

Chen Xiaoyan stayed silent, gave him a glare full of disdain, and pushed him away.

Then, she looked at the female player wearing the Taoist robe.

She tried to ask, “Are you Dao Ji Shi Kong?”

“Hi~”

The Taoist robe player nodded and waved hello.

Chen Xiaoyan’s eyes brightened in surprise.

“So you’re a girl? At first, I thought from your ID that you were a guy.”

The Taoist robe player looked helpless and complained, “I didn’t want to pick this name either; it was an accident.”

“I get it.”

Chen Xiaoyan chuckled, recalling the scene when she had met Shen Qingqing in the square.

Their habits were still stuck in the old traditional MMORPG style—no one knew that game IDs were actually assigned by NPCs.

“By the way, how should I address you?”

“Liu Yue. Just call me Xiaoyue.”

“I’m Chongchong.” Chongchong suddenly interrupted.

“Chongchong, nice to meet you.”

“Y-you… too.” Facing Liu Yue’s politeness, Chongchong was clearly a bit awkward.

It was obvious this True Martial sect girl was someone who knew proper etiquette in real life.

“Ah, this feels great. I’m the only guy in the team; couldn’t ask for better.”

“Hey, do you think I might be the harem male lead from a novel?”

Zhao Longjun grinned slyly, imagining the scenario.

“#” Although she knew he was joking, Chen Xiaoyan couldn’t help but feel a flash of anger.

“You disgusting otaku, do I exist or not?”

Zhao Longjun looked at her with a sly smile, then turned to Liu Yue.

“Sister Liu, do you think Yanzi is pretty?”

Liu Yue seriously sized up Chen Xiaoyan, then replied, “I think both Xiaoyan and Chongchong are very pretty.”

Zhao Longjun was unsatisfied with that answer but couldn’t do anything about it.

Chen Xiaoyan regretted it a little.

She shouldn’t have invited this guy to the team; he was nothing but trouble.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind.

Should she kick him out?

That way, she could invite Mu Qingxue, the number one ranked player of Mount Shu, to join instead.

“Yanzi, what are you thinking about? Why the cold face?”

On the way to Ping’an Town, Zhao Longjun saw Chen Xiaoyan quietly silent the entire way and leaned over to ask.

“You want to know?”

Chen Xiaoyan glanced at him sideways.

“Of course.”

“I’m thinking about kicking you out of the team.”

“Uh…”

Zhao Longjun was stunned, looking at Chen Xiaoyan’s serious expression and panicking slightly.

“Yanzi, you wouldn’t really kick your brother out just to hog the fun alone, would you?”

Chen Xiaoyan smiled faintly at him but said nothing.

Zhao Longjun immediately grew anxious.

“Don’t do that, Yanzi. Sharing happiness is better than enjoying it alone. We’ve been friends for years; can’t you show a little loyalty?”

“Xiaoyan, I support kicking out this pervy guy. Sister Xiaoyue, what about you?”

Hearing that Zhao Longjun might be kicked, Chongchong was delighted and quickly voiced her opinion.

“I…” Liu Yue thought for a moment, then said, “I agree as well.”

“That’s harsh, ladies.”

Zhao Longjun’s face turned sour and he sounded aggrieved.

“Looks like you can’t stay in the team. Face reality, you disgusting otaku.”

Seeing them trash-talk Zhao Longjun, Chen Xiaoyan unexpectedly felt quite pleased.

“Sigh~”

Zhao Longjun sighed, stroking his face gloomily.

“It’s all because of my handsome face. You all are trying every trick to get rid of this handsome guy so you won’t fall for me.”

Chongchong, Chen Xiaoyan: “Σ_(꒪ཀ꒪」∠) Gross.”

Liu Yue’s expression flickered but she held back her reaction.

Chongchong wiped the corner of her mouth, shocked, and looked at this self-absorbed man, laughing dryly: “Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen such a narcissistic pervy guy.”

“Hey, Sister Chongchong, why do you insist on calling me a pervy guy?”

“Because you are pervy.”

“Where am I pervy?”

“Everywhere!!!”

Watching these two go back and forth like rivals, Chen Xiaoyan was speechless.

“Alright, alright, you two quiet down. Stop fighting like enemies.”

“Me and this pervy guy are enemies?”

Chongchong opened her eyes wide in disbelief and pointed at Zhao Longjun.

“Loving enemies have always been a pair, Sister Chongchong.”

Zhao Longjun gave his signature sly grin again.

“Pfft, is Sister Xiaoyan not pretty enough? Or Sister Xiaoyue not ethereal enough? Why would I be enemies with you, pervy guy?”

“You’re both the same sex.”

Zhao Longjun gave her a strange look.

Chongchong held her head high and replied righteously, “So what? Same-sex love is true love.”

“How wasteful.”

Zhao Longjun shook his head in disappointment.

The team’s only two girls, and one of them’s a lesbian—how is this forever-single guy supposed to survive?

Ping’an Town

Upon arriving at Ping’an Town, the entrance to the dungeon monster village was clearly visible.

However, many constables and captains were stationed at the entrance… or rather, maintaining order.

Though the players here weren’t as many as at the Moonlight Inn, their number was still considerable—about a hundred or so.

At that moment, an official, protected by a group of constables, approached the dungeon entrance and set up a small stage.

“Everyone here is a disciple of the alliance’s sects. Please abide by the law and refrain from disturbing the local civilians.”

After speaking, the official wiped the cold sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief.

These sect disciples were like ancestors; even the big shots in the imperial capital wouldn’t dare offend them, let alone a mere county magistrate like him.

But these sect disciples had gone too far—using passersby as practice dummies, attempting to assault and harass local women—making Ping’an Town a chaotic mess.

If he didn’t step in, he might lose his official post soon.

“What’s this NPC saying now?”

“No idea. Something about obeying the law, I think.”

“Tch, obey rules in real life, fine, but in-game? What can these NPCs do? Come to reality and catch us?”

“Exactly!”

The players paid no heed.

They played games to have fun; who cared about abiding by the rules?

“Hey, do you think killing NPCs gives experience points?”

“No idea. Why don’t you try?”

“We probably can’t beat the NPCs at the early stage, right?”

“Chicken? Watch me. Even if I die, I just lose a level.”

The dozens of green eyes in the crowd watched Chen Xiaoyan like a lamb awaiting slaughter, which startled the magistrate enough that he hurriedly ordered the constables to escort him away.

“Demacia!”

Suddenly, a player from the Divine Fist Sect charged at the magistrate, stepping with precision.

One punch sent the nearest constable flying.

Then, he stared excitedly at the trembling magistrate.

“Remember, the one who kills you is Wang Quanbaye of the Divine Fist Sect. Corrupt official! Prepare to die!”

Just as the Divine Fist player raised his fist to finish off the magistrate, a “puchi” sound rang out.

All the players’ faces changed drastically.

They saw a sharp blade piercing through the Divine Fist player’s chest.