Shelter

After returning to the carriage, Qian Gongyu remained silent the entire time. Her gaze kept shifting toward "Jiang Shi," as if she wanted to speak but could not, then wanted to stop but could not, twisting through a thousand emotions.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going out to train. I just saw a martial arts practice yard outside."

"You're going out again? What if you run into Luo Weijin and the others? Even if they beat you to death, all they'd need to do is pay some money!"

"Oh."

Seeing how calm "Jiang Shi" remained, Qian Gongyu immediately regretted it. She muttered, "I wasn't blaming you... You offended Luo Weijin because of me. I just don't want you to get hurt..."

She paused. "Next time something like this happens, don't intervene. It's fine if they say a few things—I'm used to it. The Qian Family is enduring humiliation and bearing a heavy burden right now. As the head of the Qian Family, I ought to bear this pressure—"

"There won't be a next time."

"Huh?" Qian Gongyu froze. Perhaps thinking of something, her mood instantly sank. "That's true... Fourth Young Miss Shang values you so highly. Not only can she help you avoid being sent into the Wandering Star Forest, she can also give you a better future. Compared to that, the Qian Family really is too small... I have no reason to stop you from pursuing a better future. We've only known each other for a day... If I were Fourth Young Miss Shang, I'd definitely try to recruit you too. You were practically radiating brilliance just now. Even surrounded by so many Imperial Guards, you weren't afraid at all..."

Qian Gongyu fell into a long stream of rambling. Yan Qing wanted to explain that he would not join the Shang Family, but felt that doing so would give Qian Gongyu unnecessary hope. After all, he planned to run away once he cleared the Wandering Star Forest dungeon. Besides, Qian Gongyu was difficult to communicate with in this state. Fortunately, he had already mastered the method of handling her.

"Young Miss, shut up."

Qian Gongyu immediately shut her mouth and looked pitifully at "Jiang Shi," just like a chick begging a mother hen not to leave.

"Tell me about the Wandering Star Forest. Why is entering it considered a punishment?"

"The Wandering Star Forest..." When the subject turned serious, Qian Gongyu's expression became solemn as well. She organized her thoughts slightly before slowly explaining, "The Wandering Star Forest has been a place of trials in the Jiangnan region since ancient times. It was monopolized by two or three families in the past, until the founding of Great Liang. The Great Liang Founder designated the Wandering Star Forest as a national secret realm, and anyone could come participate in its trials in the middle of the third month every year."

"However, nobles and aristocrats rarely participate in this event. The main participants are the children of esteemed families and their attendants. The fact that Fourth Young Miss Shang and Young Miss Jie are here this time is already unexpected... Once the news spreads, the number of people here will probably double in a few days."

Yan Qing found this strange.

"Wasn't it said that anyone could come to the Wandering Star Forest? Why are there only children of esteemed families and clans? What about the Humble Class?"

"How would the Humble Class know about the Wandering Star Forest?" Qian Gongyu proudly raised her head. "Even newly promoted Blue Belt Esteemed Classes might not have channels to learn about it. Only my Qian Family, with its thirty-three generations of history and deep roots, knows the situation in the Wandering Star Forest. We're not some nouveau riche with no foundation."

Although my Qian Family is only a Blue Belt Esteemed Class, it's the very top tier among the Blue Belt nobility!

Yan Qing did not care whether the Qian Family was a beggar or an emperor among the Blue Belt Esteemed Classes. He hurriedly urged Qian Gongyu to reveal the information she knew.

According to Qian Gongyu, the Wandering Star Forest was a continuous dungeon lasting three days. The earliest entry date was the fifteenth, and the latest was the twenty-first. After the twenty-first, no newcomers would be accepted.

After someone entered the Wandering Star Forest, two rankings would appear on the outskirts: the "Personal Score Rankings" and the "Total Score Rankings."

Everyone could remain in the Wandering Star Forest for six shichen each day. They could leave early, but they had to enter the Wandering Star Forest for three consecutive days. Otherwise, they would be considered to have forfeited participation, and they could not enter the Wandering Star Forest again even if it was not yet the twenty-fourth.

The reward system of the Wandering Star Forest was also different from that of other secret realms. Rewards were settled twice. The first settlement occurred after each messenger completed the three-day trial, when a treasure chest reward was generated based on their personal score. The second occurred after the entire event ended, meaning after the twenty-fourth of the third month, when ten large treasure chests were generated based on the Total Score Rankings.

According to the rules established by Liang, each Personal Treasure Chest belonged to its owner, but the ten large treasure chests were shared by all the participating children of clans and esteemed families—note that this was limited to children of clans and esteemed families. A Black Belt guard like "Jiang Shi" had no right to share in the spoils. At first glance, this rule seemed discriminatory. In fact, it was discriminatory, but its essence was that the imperial court was encouraging the children of scholar clans to participate in the Wandering Star Forest themselves instead of sending guards and servants to go through the motions.

Yan Qing estimated that, in the game, the ten large treasure chests generated during the total-score settlement were probably the PVP content of this limited-time event. Whoever seized them first would get them. In reality, however, there naturally would not be a PVP phase. The imperial court and the clans and esteemed families had already agreed on a distribution plan. They would never let stray dogs by the roadside get a share.

As for the most important content of the Wandering Star Forest secret realm, Qian Gongyu naturally knew everything there was to know—

"I don't know the exact details." Qian Gongyu honestly admitted, "Because I've never been there either."

"But from what I know, the Wandering Star Forest is less a secret realm than a trial. Everyone inside encounters enormous and terrifying hallucinations. Those with weak wills quickly become unable to withstand the pressure and withdraw early. The longer someone can hold out inside, the higher their score naturally is."

"Unlike other secret realms, anyone who enters the Wandering Star Forest is transported to their own trial area, so there's no way to form groups together. However, the trials aren't necessarily conducted alone. As long as enough people enter at the same time, four-person teams can often be formed to undergo the trials together."

"In our scholar clan circles, the most important gain from the Wandering Star Forest isn't the treasure chest awarded after the score settlement. It's the opportunity to screen talent. Anyone who earns a high score in the Wandering Star Forest has an exceptionally strong will and enormous potential. Any family would divert resources to cultivate such a person. Generally speaking, anyone who can hold out in the Wandering Star Forest for three shichen is already a prodigy worthy of appearing on the Hidden Dragon Rankings."

"The imperial court also hopes to use this method to select pillars of the nation. It will even award corresponding contribution points based on each family's score in the Wandering Star Forest."

"If this had been in the past, I probably wouldn't have come to participate in the Wandering Star Forest. After all, I'm the Qian Family's sole heir and don't need to prove my potential. But ever since... the Qian Family's circumstances worsened, our contribution points have declined year after year. If this continues, we might fall out of the ranks of the esteemed families. I can only seize every opportunity to increase our contribution points and preserve the Qian Family's status as an esteemed family."

At this point, Qian Gongyu secretly glanced at "Jiang Shi." She lightly bit her lip, her fingers continuously twisting together as if struggling inwardly.

"Older Sister Jiang Shi, go join the Shang Family now and avoid the punishment." She lowered her head and spoke slowly. "The reason I tried so hard to recruit you was that I believed you could definitely earn a high score in the Wandering Star Forest. That way, my Qian Family could also gain quite a few contribution points."

"If I hadn't deliberately tried to use you, you wouldn't have offended the Luo Family, and you wouldn't have been punished because of it... I'm the one who caused this."

The carriage fell silent for a long while. Only the various birds and insects in the forest outside whispered and rustled. Before long, Qian Gongyu caught sight of "Jiang Shi" standing up. She immediately lowered her head even further, wishing she could hide her entire face in her chest.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Rhythmic sounds of air being torn apart rang out inside the carriage. Qian Gongyu raised her head and saw "Jiang Shi" standing in an open area, practicing her punches.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Didn't you say it would be dangerous to go outside? Then I'll practice my boxing here."

"You're not going to join the Shang Family? You don't need to worry about me. After all, I can't protect—"

"I'm not worrying about you, but I'm not joining the Shang Family either."

"But without the Shang Family's protection, how will you escape your punishment? The people responsible for the flogging are Luo Weijin's men. He won't let you off!"

"It's simple. I just won't give them the chance to punish me."

Qian Gongyu stared blankly at "Jiang Shi" practicing her punches as if no one else existed, unable to say anything for a moment. Not giving them the chance to punish her meant she intended to remain in the Wandering Star Forest for the full six shichen. Qian Gongyu did not even know whether anyone had ever achieved that theoretical record.

Even Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao would not dare make such a boast, would they?

Arrogance? Ignorance? Insolence?

She wanted to emphasize the danger of the Wandering Star Forest again. She wanted "Jiang Shi" to understand how wildly unrealistic her idea was. Yet whether she could not bear to push away this treasure she had luckily picked up, or whether "Jiang Shi's" confidence, surpassing that of the noble children of the great clans, was simply too dazzling, in the end she said nothing. Instead, she went back and changed into a set of training clothes suitable for movement.

"You want to practice boxing? I'll go out and spar with you. Don't underestimate me. I changed class to become a messenger through boxing!"

"Your punches and palms are pretty ordinary. It seems you didn't practice much before. I'll teach you when I have time."

"I let my guard down this time. Again..."

"You're improving pretty quickly. Looks like I'll have to get serious..."

"You were just lucky before. Next, I'm going all out!"

"Ow, ow, ow—"

By the time the two returned to the carriage, Qian Gongyu felt as if every bone in her body had fallen apart. She was filthy from head to toe, clearly having been knocked to the ground more than once.

"Jiang Shi, Jiang Shi, I accompanied you while you practiced boxing. Now you accompany me while I bathe!"

"Mm."

"Don't practice boxing after we've both finished bathing, or you'll sweat again. Hurry up and get into bed. We have to enter the Wandering Star Forest first thing tomorrow morning. Come on, let's sleep together. My bed can fit us if we squeeze."

"Mm."

"This is my first time sleeping with someone my age. Hey, hey, Jiang Shi, what do you usually do?"

"Train."

"Let me tell you, the chickens from my hometown are especially delicious. You have to come back with me and try them sometime."

"Mm."

"That outfit of Shang Xin Lei's is so pretty. I want to have one made when I get back. Should I order one for you too? What color do you like?"

"Young Miss, go to sleep."

"Oh."

Yan Qing put down the Game Console and looked over the notes on the Wandering Star Forest spread across the table.

A randomly assigned dungeon for up to four people, lasting three days, with a maximum stay of twelve hours each time. Its content involved hallucinations and mental pressure, and the longer one held out, the more points one earned...

He had the vague feeling that this dungeon... was incredibly boring.

After all, the player was not actually running into the dungeon. The dungeon used hallucinations to pressure the game character, so what did that have to do with the player? Besides, this was supposedly the annual limited-time dungeon for "Messengers," yet this was all its gameplay amounted to?

He would have to enter the dungeon before he knew what kind of mechanics it used.

Early the next morning, the sky was clear and the air crisp. The Imperial Guards had already assembled and taken up positions at the entrance to the Wandering Star Forest. After breakfast, the children of the scholar clans gathered in groups of three or five to chat on the grass. When Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao appeared, they immediately swarmed over, forming social circles centered around the two of them.

Qian Gongyu and "Jiang Shi" naturally had no qualifications to join in and were relegated to the margins. Qian Gongyu was visibly nervous, her small hands rubbing together like flies.

"Jiang Shi, we're about to enter... Why don't you go find Shang Xin Lei after all? If you can't hold out, don't force yourself. I heard someone went crazy from staying in the Wandering Star Forest too long... How about we simply wait until the end, then leave immediately after they enter? Uncle Lin is waiting in the carriage anyway. We can leave whenever we want!"

"Young Miss..."

"I won't say anything else, I won't."

At that moment, Luo Weijin walked over, followed closely by his elderly guard. A pair of weathered yet sharp eyes fixed intently on "Jiang Shi."

"I prepared a sharkskin whip. One strike can tear the flesh right open. It'll be incredibly satisfying, incredibly beautiful." Luo Weijin spoke ominously. "You'd better pray you can hold out in there for a while."

"You should be the one praying."

"Huh?"

"If I'm forced to leave the Wandering Star Forest early, the first thing I'll do is kill you. I won't suffer humiliation. I'll only die."

"Hahahaha, with you—"

The instant "Jiang Shi" pushed the White Iron Straight Blade an inch out of its sheath with her left thumb, the elderly guard behind Luo Weijin immediately pulled him behind himself and gripped his sword hilt solemnly. Luo Weijin gave two dry laughs. Seeing that "Jiang Shi" remained expressionless, he finally realized she was not joking. He tossed out a single "freak" and fled in panic.

Qian Gongyu became nervous again.

"You were only joking just now, right?"

At that moment, the assembly horn sounded, and everyone gathered at the entrance to the Wandering Star Forest. Although it was called an entrance, it was actually just a forest shrouded in dense fog. There was no specific entrance at all. Anyone who walked into the fog could enter the Wandering Star Forest secret realm.

The official responsible for security gave a few encouraging platitudes before ordering them to enter the forest within a quarter of an hour. According to Liang's tests, as long as participants entered one after another within that quarter-hour, they might form different teams to resist the illusions together. Those who exceeded the quarter-hour limit might be "left behind."

Although all the information indicated that teams were formed randomly, countless people still followed closely after Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao entered. What could bring people closer than experiencing an adventure together? If they could team up with these two noble scions of great clans and adventure through the Wandering Star Forest, they would even be willing to marry them!

The only exceptions were the Luo Family and the Qian Family. Luo Weijin seemed worried that they would take the chance to slip away and deliberately stayed until the end. Qian Gongyu gritted her silver teeth, grabbed "Jiang Shi's" hand, and walked with her into the fog-shrouded forest.

Such methods clearly could not contend with the dungeon's mechanics. When they stepped into the forest, the dense fog flowed between them like water, prying apart Qian Gongyu's reluctant grip. "Jiang Shi" kept walking through the fog. After roughly five minutes, the fog slowly dispersed.

What appeared on the screen was an open area in the forest. A very crude Small Wooden House stood in the clearing, tottering precariously, riddled with holes on every side, as if a single gust of wind could blow it over.

"Jiang Shi! Come here!"

Qian Gongyu stuck her head out of the wooden house and waved wildly, her face covered in undisguisable, self-satisfied delight. Yan Qing thought the dungeon's hallucinations had already begun. Only after entering the Small Wooden House did he understand why Qian Gongyu looked so greedily pleased—the other two teammates besides "Jiang Shi" and Qian Gongyu were familiar faces.

Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao!

The two people with the most prestigious connections in the entire camp were both on this team!

No wonder Qian Gongyu was practically drooling. At this point, she would probably willingly take a beating in "Jiang Shi's" place.

"It's you." Jie Yuanshao had already entered the proper state. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, she said calmly, "Then let's work hard together."

"Jiang Shi, you can come find me anytime." Shang Xin Lei giggled.

Qian Gongyu moved beside "Jiang Shi" and whispered into her ear, "This might be our only chance in this lifetime. As long as we become friends with them, the Qian Family won't have to worry anymore. Help me later. Let me perform a little better and show them the bearing of the Qian Family Head... Hey, hey, Jiang Shi, pay attention to me!"

In everyone's eyes, "Jiang Shi" seemed to have spaced out. She stood motionless at the doorway, her unfocused gaze fixed on the empty air.

In the Thieves' Den, Yan Qing had no mind to pay attention to the thoughts of the three women. He concentrated on studying the new information that had appeared on the screen.

Small Wooden House

Shelter Level: 0

Maximum Shelter Duration: 12 hours

Buildable Capacity: 0/6

Shelter Supplies: 0 wood, 0 stone (More resources can be unlocked after collection) (Resources collected around the wooden house can become shelter supplies)

Available Upgrades—

Shelter Upgrade · Stone House: Requires 15 wood, 5 stone

Defensive Facility · Wall: Requires 20 stone

Offensive Facility · Wooden Crossbow Mechanism: Requires 10 wood (Can be built multiple times)