Chapter 22: Growing More Interested in You

“Make way, I’m coming through!”

Hongchen Old Dream pushed through the crowd, a smug smile on his face as he strode over to Chen Xiaoyan without a hint of recognition for anyone else.

“Hey~ Boss,” Chen Xiaoyan raised her hand in greeting.

“No need to be so formal, just call me Old Dream.”

“Okay, Old Dream.”

“What’s up with this guy?”

Some players were confused.

Wasn’t he usually so aloof that he ignored everyone?

“Can’t you tell he’s a fat cat?”

“Damn, dumb and rich. I envy him.”

“I want to try too. 100,000 RMB isn’t actually that much.”

“I really underestimated this game; there are quite a few fat cats here.”

Hearing the players’ chatter, Chen Xiaoyan’s heart leapt with joy, and she quickly seized the momentum.

“Ahem, 100,000 for one run through Monster Village, guaranteed clear or it’s free, and three slots left.”

“I want in too, but my wallet doesn’t support that.”

“Boss, do you have a strategy guide? Share it, please.”

“Yeah, post the strategy guide.”

Strategy guide?

Chen Xiaoyan chuckled.

There was no damn strategy—it all depended on Shen Qingqing’s godlike healing skills.

If she only had bug skills like the others, this Monster Village would definitely be impossible.

“Anyone else? If not, we’ll start the dungeon.”

“Ah, if the first clear bonus was still around, I’d sell everything to clear it once. Such a pity.”

“Aren’t there no rewards after the first clear?”

“That’s true, but the first clear rewards are definitely better.”

【Liushui Luohua requests to add you as a friend. Accept?】

【Qianlv Yunyān requests to add you as a friend. Accept?】

【Xue Wuhen requests to add you as a friend. Accept?】

***

Watching the continuous flood of friend requests, Chen Xiaoyan frowned, growing a bit irritated.

Since the first clear world announcement, many people had added her, but she hadn’t responded to any.

“Miss, didn’t you say you’d carry us through? Why not accept the friend requests?”

“Me too.”

“Wuwuwu, two more rich people again.”

“This Chen Xiaoyan, before the dungeon strategy comes out, she’s probably going to make a killing.”

“Can’t help it, who told her she can guarantee a clear.”

“She must be really short on money in real life, poor thing.”

The two who spoke first were immediately targeted by Chen Xiaoyan, who sent them friend requests.

Divine Fist Sect: Su Yan Kong.

Yihua Palace: Qianlv Yunyān.

(Su Yan Kong, Qianlv Yunyān joined the team)

My Life Is Mine, Not Heaven’s: OMG, two more again, Yan Zi just earned another 200,000…

Hongchen Old Dream: Welcome, welcome.

Hongchen Rumeng: Team leader, you’re amazing! I’m so jealous just watching.

Su Yan Kong: Haha, 100,000 is pocket change to me, pocket change.

Qianlv Yunyān: Not me, that’s a year’s savings for me.

Chongchong: Then why spend so much money on one dungeon?

Qianlv Yunyān: I have only one sentence: impulse is the devil, wimper.

Chen Xiaoyan: Three bosses, any friends from Shence Mansion? We need one more, no charge.

All three said no.

Helpless, she randomly pulled a Shence Mansion player from nearby into the group.

Chen Xiaoyan: Entering dungeon.

Everyone quickly entered the barrier.

【Challenge Dungeon: Monster Village? (Level 10)】

“Yes.”

***

Familiar surroundings, familiar village, familiar mutant rats, familiar… cough cough, nothing else really familiar.

As the ten entered, nearly a thousand mutant rats surged toward them like a tidal wave.

“Hongchen, Wei Zhentian up front to tank, Dead Fatty, Old Dream to roam and output, Chongchong and Boss Yunyan in back healing, Xiao Yue as before, Boss Su protecting the rear.”

Chen Xiaoyan issued orders, and everyone quickly moved to their positions.

“Yan Zi, can we talk?”

“Can you stop calling me Dead Fatty?”

Zhao Longjun showed a bitter smile.

“Alright, Dead Fatty.”

“Creepy guy + Dead Fatty makes a perfect pair,” Chongchong said with a smirk.

“No, Chongchong, look at my handsome, dashing face—where does that fit these names?”

“Pfft.”

Chongchong snorted disdainfully.

“Looks need others’ approval; only self-approval is narcissism.”

“Ah right, Comrade Chongchong’s words are always right,” Zhao Longjun nodded perfunctorily.

He’d figured out that this girl just disliked him and was always picking on him.

Hearing this, Chongchong instantly got mad, glaring at him and yelling, “Who did you call comrade?!”

Chen Xiaoyan frowned deeply and shouted, “Everyone shut up! The monster’s coming; settle this after the fight!”

“Oh.”

Chongchong pouted, glared hard at Zhao Longjun, then ignored him.

***

Shushan Sword Peak was the sect base of Shushan Sect.

Because the mountain’s shape resembled a sword pointing straight at the sky, it was named Sword Peak.

Mu Qingxue teleported directly from Ping’an Town to the sect and came to Wujian Pavilion to hand over her sect training mission to Elder Jian Chenzi.

【Congratulations, players Mu Qingxue, Qiuxue, Qianrensnow, and Sanyuebuxiaxue have completed the sect training mission.】

【Received rewards: Sword Intent +100, Sword Skill “Divine Sword Strike”】

The Shushan Sect’s basic technique was the Wuhen Sword Technique.

Unlike Tianxiang’s Xiang Yi Technique, which improved fragrance power, each level of Wuhen Sword Technique increased sword intent.

Moreover, using the skill didn’t consume any other energy.

“Not bad. To clear Monster Village in such a short time, Qingxue, I have high hopes for you.”

Dressed in a white robe, with an immortal aura, Elder Jian Chenzi stroked his white beard with a look of satisfaction.

Mu Qingxue respectfully performed the bao shou salute.

“Elder, I want to ask you something.”

“Speak.”

“Does the Tianxiang Sect have a new disciple skill called Muyu Hanguang and Umbrella Dance Yu?”

“Hmm?” The smiling Jian Chenzi’s eyes suddenly opened wide in surprise upon hearing those two skill names.

But soon after, he narrowed them again.

“These two healing techniques are the Tianxiang Sect’s secret healing arts, passed down only by elders.”

Recalling Muyu Hanguang’s impressive moves, Jian Chenzi’s old face flushed red, memories long sealed away surfaced unwillingly.

“Most likely, the Tianxiang new disciple you know also has a healing skill called Returning Wind Umbrella, the strongest healing technique I’ve ever seen.”

“Returning Wind Umbrella?”

Mu Qingxue blinked, why hadn’t she ever seen her use it?

“Elder, why do you know so much about Tianxiang Sect?”

“Ahem,” Jian Chenzi pretended to cough.

“Well, naturally, I have some acquaintance with several Tianxiang elders and have heard some rumors.”

“I see.”

Mu Qingxue didn’t question further, unsure if he was telling the truth.

“Alright, get to training. The sect competition is coming soon. Don’t come to see me unless you take first place.”

Jian Chenzi waved his hand dismissively.

“Disciple retires.”

Mu Qingxue bowed and left.

After leaving Wujian Pavilion, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Chatting with Jian Chenzi had really been stressful.

She hadn’t expected the healing to be so outrageous—Xiaoyan actually still had some cards up her sleeve.

Really… excellent.

Looking toward Ping’an Town, Mu Qingxue smiled faintly.

“Chen Xiaoyan, I’m growing more and more interested in you.”