Return to Reality

The Water Curtain Cave wasn't far from the Earth God Temple, but traveling through the mountain forest after nightfall proved exceptionally difficult.

Branches rustled in the wind, and the occasional howl of an unknown beast echoed from the distance.

Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows that stretched and contorted on the ground like grasping claws.

Thirty-five clones formed a protective circle around Lin Mo as they moved through the woods.

Thanks to the upgrade to their Level 3 attributes, their night vision had significantly improved. Even without torches, they could dimly make out the path ahead.

"That announcement earlier must have caused a huge stir," Lin San muttered as he pushed aside a vine blocking their way. "A legendary Heart of the Lord... other players' eyes are probably bloodshot right now."

"So what if they're bloodshot?" Lin Wu said dismissively. "We're anonymous anyway. They can't find us even if they want to."

Lin Mo didn't join the clones' discussion. He just kept his head down and hurried along, his footsteps never faltering.

In less than twenty minutes, the Water Curtain Cave appeared in the distance.

The waterfall shimmered silver in the moonlight, its roar filling the air.

They followed a crack in the rock face around to the cave entrance. The clone left on guard duty, Clone Two, who should now be called Lin Er, was sitting by the entrance, leaning on a wooden stick, nodding off.

Hearing footsteps, Lin Er jolted awake, gripping his stick. "Who's there?!"

"It's us." Lin Mo and the others emerged from the shadows.

Lin Er breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed his sleepy eyes. "You guys are finally back! I was so bored watching the prisoners by myself..."

He suddenly's eyes widened as he counted the figures behind Lin Mo. "One, two, three... thirty-five? Holy crap! Main body, are you buying clones wholesale?!"

"We have names now," Lin Yi said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're Lin Er. I'm Lin Yi, and the rest are in order."

"Let's talk inside," Lin Mo said, leading the way into the cave. "Anything unusual inside?"

"No, it's been quiet," Lin Er shook his head. "It's just... this prisoner... he probably won't make it through the night."

He pointed to a corner.

In the stone room, the prisoner was bound like a zongzi and tossed in the corner. His face was now ashen, his lips purple, and his chest showed no discernible rise and fall.

"What's wrong with him?" Lin Xi kicked the prisoner.

Lin Mo walked over and checked his breathing, then flipped open his eyelids. His pupils were already starting to dilate.

"Poison blood entered his system. There's no saving him."

Lin Er said softly from the side, "He must have gotten some of our blood on him during the fight earlier. It was probably a small amount, so it took longer to take effect."

Suddenly, a pale blue notification flashed by.

[Killed Mountain Bandit x1, Gained 30 Experience Points]

Lin Mo was silent for two seconds.

"Carry him outside and bury him," he waved his hand. "Dig deep, don't let the beasts dig him up."

Two clones stepped forward, lifted the body that was rapidly growing cold, and exited the cave.

Lin Mo walked to the old hunter's bones and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for the clues you left behind, senior."

With that, he surveyed the stone room.

Over thirty clones, some sitting, some standing, filled the small space.

The firelight illuminated their identical faces, creating a strangely lively atmosphere.

"Lin Yi, arrange the guard duty roster, take turns resting," Lin Mo began giving instructions. "Everyone else, get some sleep while you can. Tomorrow... we need to start making our move."

"Yes!" Lin Yi responded loudly.

Dry grass was spread out to form makeshift beds. Over thirty people crammed into the hundred-square-meter space, making it a bit crowded, but they could manage to lie down.

"Two people per group, each group on watch for two hours, rotating shifts," Lin Yi quickly finalized the plan. "Lin Er and I will take the first watch. Everyone else, get some rest and conserve your energy."

No one objected.

After nearly seven consecutive hours of high-intensity activity, even their Level 3 bodies felt fatigued.

Moreover, Lin Mo had endured the painful fusion of the Heart of the Lord. His eyelids were heavy with exhaustion.

He found a relatively dry corner and lay down. Thick dry grass cushioned him; though prickly, it was much better than sleeping directly on the stone floor.

"Goodnight, everyone," Lin Mo closed his eyes and mumbled.

"Goodnight, Lord," the clones' voices responded, a little out of sync.

The clamor gradually subsided, leaving only the roaring sound of the waterfall outside the cave as the sole background noise.

More than thirty identical figures lay scattered across the ground.

The sounds of breathing, rising and falling, intertwined to create a strangely harmonious atmosphere.

Inside the cave entrance, Lin Yi and Lin Er squatted side-by-side, whispering in low voices.

"So, does this mean we... have official positions now?" Lin Er asked quietly.

"Lord profession," Lin Yi replied, a hint of pride in his tone. "There were only ten slots worldwide during the beta test. We not only snagged one, but we're the top-tier Legendary Lords!"

"Awesome," Lin Er gave a thumbs-up. "So what's next? Build a territory? Recruit troops? Or should we take down Black Wind Stronghold first?"

"Depends on the main body's wishes," Lin Yi said, looking out at the dark night sky through the waterfall's curtain.

"But knowing him, he probably wants to find a safe place to lie low and develop."

"That makes sense," Lin Er nodded. "Even though we have a lot of people now, our equipment is terrible. Lying low is the safer bet."

The two chatted for a few more minutes, their conversation shifting from tactics to logistical issues.

Time trickled by.

Outside the cave, the sound of the waterfall remained constant.

Inside the cave, only the steady rhythm of breathing and the occasional rustle of movement could be heard.