Qi Yuan's Online Friend

Qi Yuan led the Kitchen Knife through the Shinguang Sect at a leisurely pace.

Along the way, laughter and cheerful voices drifted over from time to time, along with the occasional words of love.

This world of immortal cultivation was truly harmonious.

Leading his pet, he glanced at the sky. "Time to head back to the peak."

It was still early. He could open the Game Jade Slip and play a round.

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

Above the peak, a half-moon hung over a palace built from white jade. Cold moonlight spilled down, and through the veil of night, a graceful silhouette flickered in and out of sight.

Yet that silhouette merely glanced at Qi Yuan before vanishing.

Qi Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the Thatched Cottage Jiang Lingsu had built. He murmured inwardly, If there were these Body Immobilization Talismans on Blue Star, houses wouldn't collapse during earthquakes.

After sighing over it, he led the Kitchen Knife back to his own small courtyard.

The courtyard was empty and silent, awaiting only Qi Yuan's footsteps.

He untied the rope from the Kitchen Knife's handle. "You don't need to be tied up once we're home. Just don't flip the Household upside down, and no one will hit you."

As he spoke, Qi Yuan stroked the tiny chipped notch on the Kitchen Knife, then entered the world of the Game Jade Slip.

But the moment he entered the game, Qi Yuan froze.

"She's online?"

When he had obtained the Game Jade Slip, Qi Yuan had treated it as a game console.

(P.S.: The protagonist's thought process was abnormal, his behavior was abnormal, and he was neurotic.)

However, the game map had not yet been unlocked at the time.

Then, for some inexplicable reason, Qi Yuan had added a friend, who appeared on his friends list.

That had also been the only friend he made while he was ill.

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

That friend in the game had become his friend.

Qi Yuan had also regarded that person as a fellow player.

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

Of course, more often than not, Qi Yuan was the one listening.

Still, the other person spoke strangely.

Now and then, words like Imperial Guards and prime minister would pop out of her mouth.

Qi Yuan guessed she was probably a wealthy beauty inheriting the family business.

But she had not yet fully taken control of the company.

They had talked about many things, and Qi Yuan had once said, "Let's form a party and play together."

Unfortunately, after the game map refreshed—

His friends list disappeared.

He never saw her again, much less formed a party with her.

Now that he saw her on the list again—

After thinking for a moment, he sent a message. "You there?"

Now that he had transmigrated into a world of immortal cultivation, she might not be around.

Mist filled the air, and the ink-wash painting on the screen seemed soaked through, revealing long, narrow patterns.

"Leave."

A cold yet majestic voice rang out. The palace-dressed young maidens serving nearby lowered their heads and withdrew one after another.

Only after the attendants left did exhaustion appear on the beautiful face of the Empress of the Nanqian Kingdom.

Ten years ago, the Demon Race had invaded.

Her imperial father had died in battle.

She became the Empress of the Nanqian Kingdom.

She had only been seven years old then.

The burden of the vast empire had fallen entirely upon her shoulders.

The Demon Race attacked, enemy nations eyed her territory greedily, and powerful ministers harbored disloyal hearts.

She had struggled for ten years.

Now, she had barely managed to maintain the empire's balance.

Yet the pressure upon her shoulders was only growing heavier.

One careless misstep could even cost her life.

Especially recently, Grand Chancellor Sima Ting had nearly stopped concealing his collusion with the Northern Khan Royal Court.

Her situation had become all the more perilous.

And three days ago, Aunt Qin, the King Rank expert she relied upon most, had been besieged by a group of Black-Clothed Men and seriously wounded.

Although the Black-Clothed Men had concealed their origins well, everyone in the court knew exactly who had sent the assassins.

Knowing full well who the enemy was while being powerless to act felt terrible.

She stood before the screen, her pale green long dress simple yet elegant. Phoenixes were embroidered along its hem in gold thread, while a white jade belt circled her slender waist.

As the belt came undone and her robes slipped away, skin as naturally flawless as polished, unblemished jade was revealed.

The Empress was young, yet her figure was exceptionally proud, forming a stark contrast with her waist slim enough to be held in one hand.

She stepped into the bath barrel. Her snow-white, delicate shoulders floated above the water, and through the milky water, it seemed possible to glimpse creamy white skin.

The Empress closed her eyes, and the exhaustion in her body slowly dissipated.

Then, a streak of red light suddenly flashed across the table beside the bed.

A flicker of delight passed through Jin Li's eyes.

"Qi Yuan?"

Resting on the table was the rare treasure Exquisite Jade Tide.

Rumor had it that this rare treasure came as a naturally paired set.

Any two people who obtained the treasures could communicate through them.

In ancient times, this rare treasure had been famous.

Unfortunately, as times changed, treasures capable of transmitting messages across great distances were no longer scarce.

The value of Exquisite Jade Tide had plummeted, and it had been placed in the royal treasury.

A year ago, Jin Li entered the royal treasury, saw Exquisite Jade Tide, and casually took it out.

Never had she expected to meet an interesting person through Exquisite Jade Tide.

That person was named Qi Yuan. His words galloped wildly beyond the heavens, and he always said things she did not understand.

Since the two did not know one another and seemed separated by countless mountains and rivers, she could freely reveal her true thoughts to him.

After all, as the Empress, she could not let others see her weakness.

Unfortunately, half a year ago, Qi Yuan had vanished without a word for some unknown reason.

She had felt somewhat dejected and uneasy then.

She had not expected him to still be there.

The stone in her heart finally fell to the ground.

She picked up Exquisite Jade Tide and gripped it tightly. Looking at the message upon it, she hurriedly replied, "I'm here."

After sending the message, Jin Li thought for a moment and asked another question. "You were gone all this time. Where did you go?"

"Last time, I was planning to invite you to farm monsters together, but then 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 carefree demon hunter.

The monster farming and game maps he spoke of meant hunting demon beasts.

On the other side, Qi Yuan shrugged. "We players are the Fourth Calamity. What danger could there be?

"Those monsters are nothing more than our Experience Packs."

Seeing that familiar tone and answer, Jin Li's heart calmed.

Whenever she talked about everything under the sun with Qi Yuan, even when he said things that made no sense, she felt peace in her heart.

"While you were gone this time, I spent half a year farming monsters alone before finally finishing.

"Do you want to team up with me?

"Men and women working together, work doesn't tire them.

"If it were the two of us, we'd definitely reach Level 100 quickly."

Hearing this, Jin Li replied, "There are matters at home right now. I can't leave."

"You're that busy? You don't even have time to play games.

"Sigh. You wealthy beauties have money and still work so hard. What are poor people like us supposed to do?"

Jin Li could not help but smile when she saw that.

"How about you come farm monsters with me now? I just changed maps, and there are lots of monsters here," Qi Yuan said. "I need support from beautiful Miss Jin."

Seeing how relaxed his tone was, Jin Li knew he was not in danger.

A smile curled at her lips. "It's not very convenient for me right now."

"What are you doing? Don't tell me you're working overtime?"

"I'm..." Jin Li hesitated before finally sending, "Bathing."

When Qi Yuan saw that, he paused.

His gaze remained calm. "How about we make plans after you finish bathing?"

On the other side, Jin Li gave a bitter smile. "I can't go."

But then she thought of something and asked, "Where are you?"

"I was previously in Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. Right now, I'm on my way to Attire Forbidden Area," Qi Yuan replied without concealing anything.

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

"Xuanyuan Forbidden Area? Attire Forbidden Area?" Jin Li froze.

Weren't those two of the Four Great Forbidden Areas?

Legend had it that King Rank experts would enter and die in a rain of blood, while even Imperial Rank experts risked perishing within.

No, that wasn't right. Even Imperial Rank experts could not enter Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.