Qi Yuan's Online Friend

Qi Yuan walked slowly through the Shinguang Sect, Kitchen Knife in tow.

Laughter and cheerful voices drifted along the path, along with the occasional whisper of sweet nothings.

This cultivation world was remarkably harmonious.

He tugged his Pet and glanced at the sky. "Time to head back to the peak."

It was still early—he could open the Game Jade Slip and squeeze in a round.

By the time he returned to Seven Colors Peak, night had already fallen.

At the summit, a half-moon hung above the white-jade palace, casting cold, clear light through the darkness. Behind the veil of night, a graceful silhouette flickered in and out of view.

But that silhouette only glanced at Qi Yuan once before vanishing.

Qi Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the Thatched Cottage Jiang Lingsu had built. He murmured to himself, "If we had these Body Immobilization Talismans on Blue Star, those houses wouldn't collapse in an earthquake."

With a sigh, he led Kitchen Knife back to his own courtyard.

The yard was empty, silent except for the sound of Qi Yuan's footsteps.

He untied the rope from Kitchen Knife's handle. "No need to keep you leashed at home. Just don't tear the place apart, and no one's gonna hit you."

As he spoke, he stroked the tiny chips and nicks on Kitchen Knife's blade, then entered the world of the Game Jade Slip.

But as he logged in, Qi Yuan froze.

"She's here?"

When he first obtained the Game Jade Slip, he had treated it like nothing more than a game console.

(PS: The protagonist has an abnormal thought process, abnormal behavior, and is neurotic.)

Back then, the game map hadn't been unlocked yet.

And Qi Yuan had inexplicably added a friend—someone who ended up in his friend list.

That was the only friend he'd made while he was sick.

Ever since he fell ill, he had lived alone, with no one to talk to.

That friend in the game became his companion.

Qi Yuan thought of them as just another player.

The two often chatted, talking about everything under the sun.

Of course, most of the time, Qi Yuan listened while the other person talked.

But the way they talked was strange.

Occasionally, words like "imperial guard" or "chancellor" would slip out.

Qi Yuan guessed they must be some rich heiress inheriting a family business.

But one who hadn't fully taken control of the company yet.

They talked a lot. Qi Yuan even said at one point, "Let's team up in the game sometime."

Too bad, after the game map refreshed, his friend list disappeared.

He never saw them again, let alone teamed up.

Now, seeing their name in the list, he thought for a moment and sent a message: "You there?"

Now that he had crossed over into a cultivation world, they might not be around.

Mist filled the air. The ink-wash painting on the folding screen seemed to bleed, long, narrow cracks spreading across it.

"Leave."

A cold, commanding voice rang out. The attending palace maids in their silk dresses bowed their heads and hurried out.

Once the maids were gone, the Empress of the Nanqian Kingdom let the exhaustion show on her exquisite face.

Ten years ago, the Demon Race invaded.

Her father, the Emperor, died in battle.

She became the Empress of Nanqian.

She was only seven years old then.

The weight of a vast empire fell entirely on her shoulders.

The Demon Race attacked, enemy kingdoms coveted their land, and treacherous ministers refused to submit.

She had struggled for ten years.

Now, she barely held the empire in balance.

But the pressure on her shoulders only grew heavier.

Even a single misstep could bring the peril of death.

Lately, the Grand Chancellor Sima Ting had all but stopped hiding his collusion with the Northern Khan Royal Court.

Her situation was growing ever more precarious.

Three days ago, Aunt Qin—a King Rank powerhouse she relied on most—was ambushed by a group of Black-Clothed Men and gravely wounded.

Though the attackers' origins were well concealed, everyone in the court knew exactly who had sent the assassins.

Knowing her enemy yet being powerless to act—that feeling was unbearable.

She stood before the screen, her plain, elegant cyan gown embroidered with a phoenix pattern in gold thread at the hem, a white jade belt cinching her slender waist.

The belt came undone, the robes slipped away, revealing skin as flawless and lustrous as polished jade.

The Empress was young, yet her figure was striking—a sharp contrast to her waist, which could be encircled with a single hand.

She stepped into the bath, her snow-white, delicate shoulders floating above the water's surface. Through the milky liquid, one could almost glimpse the supple white curves beneath.

The Empress closed her eyes, letting the weariness slowly melt from her body.

Just then, a flash of red light flickered across the table.

Jin Li's eyes lit up with surprise.

"Qi Yuan?"

On the table lay the rare treasure, the Exquisite Jade Tide.

Legend had it that this artifact came as a matched pair.

Whoever possessed the pair could communicate through it.

In ancient times, such treasures were renowned.

But times had changed, and long-distance communication artifacts were no longer rare.

The Exquisite Jade Tide's value had plummeted, and it had been stored away in the royal treasury.

A year ago, Jin Li had entered the treasury, spotted the Exquisite Jade Tide, and casually taken it out.

Unexpectedly, through it, she had met an interesting person.

His name was Qi Yuan. His words were wild and unfettered, always saying things she didn't understand.

Since they didn't know each other and seemed separated by mountains and rivers, she could freely pour out her heart.

After all, as the Empress, she couldn't let anyone see her weakness.

But half a year ago, for some reason, Qi Yuan had gone silent.

She had felt a pang of loss and unease.

Now, unexpectedly, he was back.

The weight in her heart lifted.

She picked up the Exquisite Jade Tide, clutching it tightly as she read the message, and quickly replied: "I'm here."

After sending the message, Jin Li thought for a moment and added: "You've been gone all this time. Where did you go?"

"Last time, I was about to invite you to grind monsters with me, but I suddenly entered a game map and couldn't contact the outside world."

"That must have been a dangerous place, right?" Jin Li asked.

In her eyes, Qi Yuan was a free-spirited beast hunter.

What he called "grinding monsters" and "game maps" meant hunting demon beasts.

On the other end, Qi Yuan shrugged: "We players are the Fourth Calamity. What's dangerous about it? Those monsters are just our Experience Packs."

Seeing the familiar tone and reply, Jin Li's heart calmed.

Every time she talked with Qi Yuan about everything and nothing, even when he rambled nonsensically, she felt a sense of peace.

"This time you were gone, I spent half a year grinding monsters alone just to finish. Want to team up? Men and women working together makes the work lighter. If we duo, we'll definitely hit level 100 soon."

Hearing this, Jin Li replied: "I have things at home right now. I can't leave."

"That busy? No time to play games? Sigh, you rich girls work so hard even with money—what are us poor folks supposed to do?"

Jin Li couldn't help but smile at that.

"How about you come grind monsters with me now? I just switched maps, and there are plenty of monsters here," Qi Yuan said. "I need your support, beautiful Jin."

Noticing his relaxed tone, Jin Li knew he wasn't in danger.

A smile curved at the corners of her lips: "It's not convenient for me right now."

"What are you doing? Is it inconvenient—are you working overtime?"

"I'm..." Jin Li hesitated, then finally sent, "Bathing."

On the other end, Qi Yuan saw this and paused.

His gaze was calm. "How about we meet up after you finish your bath?"

On her side, Jin Li saw this and gave a bitter smile. "I can't make it."

But then something occurred to her, and she asked, "Where are you?"

"I was at the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area earlier, and now I'm on my way to the Attire Forbidden Area." Qi Yuan didn't hide it.

He was currently in the game's teleportation array, preparing to warp to the next map.

"Xuanyuan Forbidden Area? Attire Forbidden Area?" Jin Li was stunned.

Weren't those the Four Great Forbidden Areas?

Rumor had it that even King Rank experts would bleed and die upon entering, and Imperial Rank experts could fall there as well.

No, wait—the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area couldn't even be entered by Imperial Rank experts.