Internet Trolls

Bang!

Amid the eruption of essence energy, One Blade Into Soul charged right into my face with Explosive Charge!

Finally, he had used a skill before I did!

The impact of Explosive Charge instantly blanked my mind. Then searing pain shot through my back as that blue Monomolecular Sword directly unleashed basic attack + Dragon Blade + basic attack. The damage was absurdly high!

"300!"

"224!"

"436!"

"227!"

After the second basic attack, One Blade Into Soul's face turned vicious. He drove the tip of his sword into the ground and struck with Ground Spike Slash!

"544!"

The damage was decent. That entire combo dealt over 1,700 damage, but I had a full 7,900 HP. It barely even tickled!

In the end, Essence Furnace's grade gave me a massive advantage. Otherwise, with the gap between our weapons, the outcome would have been hard to predict!

"How could this be..."

One Blade Into Soul looked somewhat dazed. He probably hadn't expected his damage to be so low, much less that my health bar would be so thick. After taking over 1,700 damage, I still had 78% HP left. It was ridiculous!

In the instant he was stunned, I thrust my sword into his abdomen. As it dealt over 260 damage, I immediately used Explosive Charge to appear behind him, followed by a three-hit combo of basic attack + Dragon Blade + basic attack slashing into One Blade Into Soul's back!

"402!"

"249!"

"524!"

"271!"

In an instant, the entire combo dealt over 1,700 damage. Added to the damage from the first combo, One Blade Into Soul had now lost over 2,800 HP. His total health was probably only around 5,000, leaving him with just 43% HP!

Crack!

Just as One Blade Into Soul turned around and activated Step Slash to form armor around himself, I had already switched my main weapon to the Roarer, its dark muzzle aimed straight at his face.

All I had to do was pull the trigger to instantly put him into a Lightly Injured state!

"You..."

One Blade Into Soul's expression changed dramatically. "You have no sense of honor?!"

I hesitated slightly as well. Although this was an alley with little foot traffic, it was still within the Old City District. Once gunfire rang out, it would quickly attract the military police. That would be a huge hassle, and even the entire Player Black Market might get dragged into it!

So I switched back to the Vanguard Bee Sting, already feeling much more relaxed.

I still had over 70% HP, while he had just over 40%. The advantage was mine!

But just then, a vaguely visible figure rushed out from the darkness not far away, with a health bar and ID above his head. He was actually another ranked player!

[Gun Like a Dragon] (Starry Sky Super Weapon · Sword Specialization · Tier 2)

Level: 20

Guild: None

...

It was actually him!

Although Gun Like a Dragon, One Blade Into Soul, and I were all level 20 players, he had already completed his advancement and was now a Tier 2 player. Perhaps he had learned some Tier 2 skill already. The universal Tier 2 skills for Sword Specialization were Armor Penetration Strike and Leaping Chop. Having either one could potentially decide the final outcome.

"Stop fighting!"

Gun Like a Dragon flashed over, his gaze sweeping deeply over us as he ordered, "Are you two insane? You're showing your health bars and PKing inside the city? Are you afraid the Creek City military police won't wipe out the Player Black Market?"

I instantly switched back to my ordinary civilian state.

One Blade Into Soul gritted his teeth, but eventually switched back to his ordinary civilian form as well.

"Whatever it is, you can talk it out."

Gun Like a Dragon lowered his voice. "Players like us are already treated like rats everyone wants to kill in this world. We already live on the dark side of Star Abyss World, and the two of you are famous names on Creek City's rankings. What are you doing?!"

"Gun Like a Dragon, this has nothing to do with you," One Blade Into Soul said flatly.

"Nothing to do with me?"

Gun Like a Dragon pointed at the black market behind him. "I'm the real person in charge of this Player Black Market right now. You dare say it has nothing to do with me? If this place gets wiped out, do you think those people above will let me off? You dare say it has nothing to do with me?"

I said calmly, "This was started by people from Ragnarok. Even this alley fight was forced on me. I don't want to take any responsibility for this."

"Mm!"

Gun Like a Dragon looked at me and finally nodded heavily. Then he turned his gaze to One Blade Into Soul. "One Blade, you really need to control that temper of yours. Your Ragnarok guild keeps stirring up internal conflicts between players. If you really think you're that strong, Creek City can't hold you anymore. Fine, come heading towards our Crimson Firmament Alliance instead. I, Gun Like a Dragon, will take my brothers out of the city and fight you. Do you accept?"

"That's not what I meant. There are probably quite a few misunderstandings here..."

One Blade Into Soul's tone had clearly softened considerably.

"It's good if it's a misunderstanding."

Gun Like a Dragon said, "Brother Shadow Chaser didn't provoke you people at all, so what exactly is Ragnarok trying to do? If it's a misunderstanding, settle it here. Apologize to him."

"Fine. I, Huang Jinbo, am not someone who can't let things go."

One Blade Into Soul revealed his real name, then turned to me and said, "Brother Shadow Chaser, it's true that this was started by a few of my useless brothers. Don't take it to heart. When you're free, I'll personally host a banquet and bring those brothers to apologize to you. How about it? We're all players trying to make a living on someone else's turf. We really shouldn't be fighting among ourselves."

"Fine."

I nodded. "Then I'll wait for Guild Leader One Blade Into Soul's banquet."

"Easy enough!"

And so, the top three players on Creek City's rankings headed off in different directions.

As for that banquet and apology... it was enough to just hear it. I definitely shouldn't take it seriously. Besides, even if One Blade Into Soul really did host one, I had no interest in attending.

I returned home.

Milo wasn't there. He had probably gone to work at the bar.

Although I was already starving, I still took a hot shower first. Then I found a set of clothes in Milo's room, washed my dirty clothes, and only went downstairs after finishing all that, intending to eat a bowl of hot noodle soup.

Downstairs, in front of the convenience store, stood an old-fashioned arcade cabinet, the kind that cost one yuan per play. A chubby kid was playing King of Fighters 97. He looked like an elementary school student, but he was fairly skilled. His Yagami combos were practically flawless.

I glanced over and snorted.

"What are you laughing at? If you've got the guts, put in a coin and fight me!" The chubby kid actually challenged me fiercely.

"Can't be bothered teaching you a lesson."

I chuckled and walked away on my own. As long as I didn't fight, I couldn't lose.

"Ding Han, heading out?"

Downstairs, two old men were playing chess. One was Grandpa Li, while the other was Grandpa Zhao. The convenience store downstairs belonged to Grandpa Li. I had bought instant noodles there before, so we had gotten acquainted.

"Mm, I'm going out to get something to eat."

He ignored me and continued playing chess with his old friend, muttering, "Hey, Old Zhao, I think I had a knight here just now. Where did my knight go? Did you hide it?"

Grandpa Zhao argued indignantly, "Old Li, don't falsely accuse people. Do I look like that kind of person?"

While the two argued, I had already left the residential complex.

I ordered a huge bowl of braised noodles from a street-side shop. After eating and drinking my fill, I went into a Jeanswest store across the street and bought myself a set of men's clothing. Since it was on sale, the jacket, shirt, pants, and shoes cost only a little over 1,200 Star Coins altogether.

Money had to be spent where it mattered. Although my financial situation had improved slightly, I still needed to save wherever possible on clothes and food. If I had money, it was more appropriate to spend it on weapons.

The next morning.

I arrived at the internet café early to take over the shift. Zhao Yihang had dark circles under his eyes and complained, "Damn it, this night shift is no job for a human. If I keep staying up all night like this, I'm going to retire early."

I patted his shoulder. "Endure it. Everyone gets through it this way."

After the shift handover was done.

Lu Xiaobei came rushing back from outside. The weather had turned colder, and she had changed into a gray wool coat. With her beautiful hair, she looked poised and elegant. Her looks were simply too perfect for anyone to associate her with the owner of this rundown internet café.

"Breakfast. Take it."

Lu Xiaobei placed breakfast for two on the counter, then said, "What did you do yesterday? There was barely any news from you all day."

"I was busy with some personal matters."

"Went on a date with some girl?"

"Not that."

I began eating breakfast. Afterward, Lu Xiaobei turned on a computer and sat near the entrance of the internet café playing Audition. Her slender, delicate fingers fluttered over the keyboard like butterflies, a beautiful sight to behold.

She really had improved. She genuinely intended to make the internet café business work.

Meanwhile, I began writing furiously, continuing my novel, My 23-Year-Old Beautiful Boss.

By the afternoon, I had finished three chapters and nine thousand words. I stretched, then proofread the manuscript. As expected of me, my writing was overflowing with brilliance!

After that, I uploaded the day's chapters and took a look at the book's data.

The website had started pushing traffic to it. The book now had over a thousand bookmarks, meaning more than a thousand people had read it. The review section, once deserted, was now gaining dozens of new reviews every day.

Of course, where there were good reviews, there were bad ones. I had already prepared myself for that.

However, one particular review was so vicious that it was unbearable.

"How dare you call this writing and write a novel? Listen to me, author. If you really have no talent, stop writing nonsense. Look at the books by I Eat Dragon Fruit. That's what real writing looks like. Now look at the garbage you write. You're not suited to making a living online. Go get a job instead, and stop misleading people online."

That review hurt me a little. It was just writing a novel. Had I killed someone or set fire to something? Internet trolls were terrifying!

But when I clicked on that review, I discovered that a reader with the ID "My Name Is Lu Xiaobei" had posted a response to that person.

"The fact that they can write means they have talent. Other than spewing insults, what else can you do? If you've got the ability, write one yourself. If yours is better than the author's, this lady will subscribe to your entire book!"

The troll replied below, "Tsk tsk, do I have to be able to write just because I criticized it? What kind of logic is that? Are you the author's dog? And you even took the female lead's name, ptooey! The Lu Xiaobei in the book is a super beautiful woman. You're probably a dinosaur, aren't you? Otherwise, why would ugly people cause so much trouble!"

I stared in disbelief. The two of them attacked and cursed each other beneath that review, exchanging over two hundred comments. They were evenly matched, worthy opponents, having fought from the evening before last all the way until this morning.

It took me ten minutes to finish reading their argument, and I couldn't help sighing. They were both real talents!

I know everyone hates evil and doesn't want to see the protagonist suffer, but the protagonist is an ordinary person just like us. His mindset needs to change little by little. Don't worry—just don't complain later that the protagonist has killed too many people and offended the heavens.