Modu City, a two-person apartment in a certain residential area.
Qi Yun returned to reality and took off her Game Helmet. She got out of bed, preparing to pack her things. As soon as she stepped onto the floor, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Her legs felt a bit weak.
‘What’s going on? Is my subconscious playing tricks on me?’
Fortunately, it wasn’t as severe as it had been in the game, and she could still walk normally. She opened the wardrobe and began packing her clothes into a suitcase.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
Qi You, wearing pink little fox pajamas, walked in. She tried to grab Qi Yun’s hand, but the latter shrugged her off.
She knew her older sister was truly angry this time, and tears of anxiety nearly fell from her eyes.
“Sister, please don’t leave, okay? I was wrong…”
Qi Yun did not say a word, continuing to pack her things as if no one else was there.
“Sister!”
Qi You ran up and pressed down on her hands.
“Let go,” Qi Yun said coldly, looking at her.
“I won’t.”
Qi Yun stared at her quietly for a moment before letting go of the clothes in her hands.
Qi You was overjoyed, thinking she had successfully persuaded her sister to stay. Little did she know, Qi Yun abandoned the suitcase and walked straight toward the door.
“Eh?” Qi You was momentarily stunned, but she reacted instantly and ran up to hug her sister’s waist.
“What are you doing? Let go of me!” Qi Yun shouted, attempting to pry the hands from her midsection.
“I won’t let go! Even if you kill me, I won’t let go!”
“Sigh, Qi You, just let me go,” Qi Yun sighed, feeling utterly helpless.
“Waaaah, Sister, don’t say that. I really know I was wrong.”
Qi Yun let out a cold laugh. Having known her younger sister’s personality for so many years, she understood it perfectly. In short, it could be summarized in one sentence: ‘I was wrong, but I’ll do it again next time.’
Although Qi You held on tightly, Qi Yun still pried her fingers off one by one, then slammed the door as she stormed away.
Watching her sister’s departing back, Qi You slumped onto the floor and wailed loudly.
She deeply regretted what she had just done, regretting that she had been too impatient.
‘No matter how many mistakes I’ve made, this is all thanks to Tianxia Wushuang. It’s all that man’s fault. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been so afraid of losing my sister, and I wouldn’t have started the plan early.’
Qi You bit her thumb’s nail, a flash of intense hatred flickering in her tearful eyes.
—
At the stairwell, Qi Yun leaned against the railing and gazed at the setting sun outside, letting out a deep sigh.
Their parents had both died in a car accident ten years ago, leaving only the two sisters and a sum of compensation money. Fortunately, their relatives and neighbors had taken good care of them, and they had lived peacefully for ten years.
After the accident, the younger girl had suffered a massive blow. She refused to leave the house, dropped out of school, and spent all day locked in her room. Except for basic necessities, she almost never stepped outside. Sometimes, she would even self-harm.
To prevent her from hurting herself, Qi Yun didn’t go to college after graduating from high school. She found a part-time job nearby and stayed home to take care of her silly younger sister.
Ten years.
It had taken her ten years to help her sister emerge from the shadows. Only then did a smile appear on Qi You’s face, and she became willing to go outside and face the sunlight.
Afterward, Qi You clung to her all day, pestered her, and was very obedient. In the past, Qi Yun hadn’t paid much attention to it, thinking it was just a decade of care that had made the girl dependent on her.
It was only now that Qi Yun truly had an epiphany. This wasn’t simple dependence; this was clearly love—a twisted kind of love.
Actually, Qi Yun didn’t feel much repulsion toward the idea of her sister being in love with her. What she was truly worried about was her sister’s future.
This was a path of no return.
“Waaaah…”
Hearing the crying sounds coming from upstairs, Qi Yun’s heart ached. She almost lost control of her impulse to go back.
‘No, absolutely not.’
Qi Yun clenched her fists. She had to be cruel and make her sister understand that this was a mistake so she would change her ways. However, as she walked out of the apartment building and looked at the vast sea of people, she didn’t know where to go.
She took out her phone and stared blankly at the contact list, specifically at the number labeled “Big Brother Wushuang.”
—
At 5:00 PM, halfway up Tianxin Mountain at the Player’s Happy Courtyard.
The forty-something Heavenly Fragrance players of the Healer Squad were growing impatient. To kill the boring time, some formed teams to play mini-games, while others used movement techniques and Qinggong to fly around the vicinity. Those who didn’t want to move simply found a good spot to lie down.
The Guild War had been temporarily canceled.
When Chen Xiaoyan saw the notification, she couldn’t help but press a hand to her forehead. Great, another day of waiting for nothing.
Mu Qingxue: ‘Yan Bao, don’t blame me. I couldn’t help it. I don’t know what’s up with the Wushuang Lou people; they’re acting like cowards and refusing to respond. I can’t exactly lead people to charge into their Zongmen, can I?’
Chen Xiaoyan: ‘Then what do you plan to do?’
Mu Qingxue: ‘It’s fine, we’ll just wait them out. I don’t believe they’ll never come out or run any dungeons.’
Mu Qingxue: ‘Also, according to internal reports, Wushuang Lou is planning to target our management. Be careful when you leave the Zongmen.’
Chen Xiaoyan: ‘I’ll be careful.’
Mu Qingxue: ‘Mm, I’m going to get busy now.’
Mu Qingxue: ‘By the way, Yan Bao, do you want to have a video call before bed tonight?’
Chen Xiaoyan: ‘What for?’
Mu Qingxue: ‘Nothing, I just miss you, Bao.’
Chen Xiaoyan: ‘Sure, you set a time.’
Mu Qingxue: ’12:00 AM then.’
Chen Xiaoyan: ‘Got it. I’ll make sure to be online at 12:00.’
Mu Qingxue: ‘Yan Bao is the best, mua~’
Closing the private chat interface, Chen Xiaoyan jumped down from the roof and brushed the dust off her hands. She said to the Heavenly Fragrance players in the yard, “Everyone, gather outside for a moment.”
“Gathering?”
Figures in shades of pink on the peach trees, the roof, and the courtyard gate lintels instantly sat up.
“Gosh, is it finally starting?”
“If it didn’t start soon, I was going to fall asleep.”
“It’s 5:00 PM. I’ve actually spent the whole afternoon dazing off. Can you believe it?”
“Hehe, I almost picked all the flowers off Master Xiaoyan’s peach tree.”
“That’s impressive, sister.”
Hearing this, Chen Xiaoyan immediately looked at the peach tree in the yard. Sure enough, half of the peach blossoms were gone, and the ground was littered with pink petals. Her mouth twitched as she gave that female player a fierce glare.
‘Fine, I’ve remembered this ID. Next time we gather, you aren’t allowed in my courtyard.’
Once they finished gathering, Chen Xiaoyan told them about the temporary cancellation of the Guild War. A chorus of wails immediately erupted from the group of Heavenly Fragrance players.
“Are you kidding me? I’ve been waiting all day, and suddenly you say we’re not fighting?”
“Ah, this…”
“Time is money! Wasting time is wasting money!”
“Right, I agree!”
The Heavenly Fragrance players who were already in the Guild didn’t have much of an issue. After all, they were on a salary, and having nothing to do suited them just fine. But the players outside the Guild were different. Without a salary, they had effectively waited all day for nothing. It would be stranger if they didn’t have complaints.
Chen Xiaoyan looked at the emotional solo Heavenly Fragrance players and found herself speechless. No matter how she looked at it, they were in the wrong for wasting everyone’s day.
However, hadn’t Liu Yue mentioned that eight solo players had agreed to join Jian Ge?
“Quiet down. There are eight of you who agreed to join Jian Ge, right?”
The eight solo players nodded.
“Alright, I’ll talk to the Sword Pavilion Guild Leader and have today’s salary supplemented for you.”
“There’s actually such a good deal? Thank you, Master Xiaoyan!”
Chen Xiaoyan smiled and didn’t think much of it. She then looked at the last three—no, four. There was also little Shen Yue.
“Do you all want to join us? There are salaries and generous welfare bonuses.”
“This…” The three of them looked at each other, hesitating, and none of them agreed.
Little Shen Yue, however, immediately raised her hand.
“Sister Xiaoyan, I want to join you.”
“Okay.” Chen Xiaoyan smiled and rubbed her head, asking gently, “Does little Shen Yue want to join Xueyan Pavilion or Jian Ge?”
“Where are you, Sister Xiaoyan?”
“Xueyan Pavilion.”
“Then I want to join Xueyan Pavilion.”
“Alright. Tell me your level, Lingqi, and skills.”
Shen Yue lowered her head and pondered for a moment. Then, she looked up blankly and asked, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Chen Xiaoyan was stunned.
‘No way. It’s been over a month. Is there really someone who doesn’t know about the character panel?’
“Check your Role Interface.”
“Where is that?”
“Pull up the Game Panel, and you’ll be able to see it.”
“Sister Xiaoyan, how do I pull up the Game Panel?”
“…” Chen Xiaoyan was speechless, completely speechless.
‘Is this kid playing with me on purpose? You don’t even know how to use the Game Panel, what are you even doing playing this game?’
The other Heavenly Fragrance players also looked at Shen Yue with strange gazes. Was there really someone who didn’t know how to pull up the Game Panel nowadays?
Seeing this, Shen Yue’s eyes darted around, and she suddenly put on an expression of realization.
“Oh! I see the Game Panel now, Sister Xiaoyan.”
“Do you see the Role Interface?”
“I see it.”
“Click and take a look.”
Chen Xiaoyan no longer held much hope for this little girl. Since she didn’t even know how to pull up the Game Panel, could this be her first time playing a game?
“I don’t have a level, Sister Xiaoyan.”
“Mm, I see.”
Chen Xiaoyan’s reaction was calm; this answer was within expectations. There was nothing for it; she would just have to raise this newbie from scratch.
Chen Xiaoyan reported Shen Yue’s information to Mu Qingxue, but a new problem arose. Could such a small child receive a salary? She instinctively looked Shen Yue over and was 100% certain that the girl was a minor.
“Little Shen Yue, give me your mom or dad’s Penguin account. We’ll send the money to your parents.”
“Mom and dad?” Shen Yue dazed off again. “I don’t have a mom or dad.”
This sentence left everyone present dumbfounded. Even Chen Xiaoyan stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock. Such a small child didn’t have parents?
The Heavenly Fragrance players cast sympathetic looks at Shen Yue. A few who were easily moved to tears covered their mouths and began to weep silently. A wave of sadness washed over the crowd.
“Then do you have a sister or a brother?” Chen Xiaoyan asked again, her expression solemn.
Shen Yue shook her head.
“Waaaah!” Hearing this, the Heavenly Fragrance players could no longer control their emotions. Tears flowed freely.
Girls are naturally sentimental creatures. Shen Yue’s tragic life story made them lose all composure. They ran over one after another to hug Shen Yue.
“It’s okay, little cutie. From now on, we are all your sisters. If anyone dares to bully you, tell us. We will definitely settle the score for you!”
“Right, we will all be little Shen Yue’s sisters from now on!”
“Count me in. Shen Yue will be my sister from now on,” Chong Chong said, patting her chest.
Shen Yue looked at them as they one by one claimed they would protect her. she tilted her head, looking very confused.