Promise

"Are you going to Jade Capital?"

Shen Nian asked curiously after hearing Lu Xiu's words.

"Right."

As Lu Xiu spoke, she subtly shifted her body to the side—it was all Shen Nian's fault; all that hugging and cuddling had made her quite uncomfortable. "I'm planning to check out the Monster Hunter offline dungeon, and while I'm at it, I'll light the Lordvessel Bonfire. It'll also help to change my mood; staying in the forest all the time isn't a good thing."

"I've already spoken to the Coordination Bureau, and they'll send someone over tomorrow. If you want to go, you can come together; you can clear the dungeon just the same way over there."

Shen Nian immediately said, "Then I'll go with you—I'm feeling a bit bored too."

97

Then.

She turned her head and looked at Jian Li beside her, her expression somewhat strange.

In the past, whenever she hugged Lu Xiu so brazenly, Jian Li would quickly realize what was happening and tell her to leave.

Why is there no news this time?

After spending this time together...

Shen Nian now fully understands Jian Li's personality.

----She truly lives up to her name as an ice queen.

Most of the time, she doesn't care much about anything and is quiet and unassuming.

He seemed particularly concerned about Lu Xiu, though.

Most of the time, she was unhappy because someone was getting too close to Lu Xiu.

But why is there no response at all this time? Are you exhausted?

On the other side.

Lu Xiu also sensed something was wrong and looked at Jian Li.

She wasn't surprised that Jian Li didn't react.

Instead, she noticed that upon hearing the name Jade Capital, Jian Li's eyes seemed to lose their luster, and she suddenly froze in place.

"What's wrong with you?"

Lu Xiu walked up to her, raised her fair hand, and touched her white forehead. "Are you exhausted?"

A cool sensation came through.

Jian Li snapped back to reality, and the light returned to her previously unfocused eyes.

She looked at Lu Xiu's face, which was so close to hers, and gently shook her head, her long, smooth silver hair swaying slightly with her movement.

"I'm fine."

Jian Li spoke softly, "But... Jade Capital is my hometown."

Lu Xiu was somewhat surprised. "Are you from Jade Capital?"

Jian Li was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Yes, that's where I became Chosen Player, and at first I was helping to fight off the monsters."

"I see----"

Lu Xiu nodded, then subconsciously opened her mouth, wanting to ask something else.

But the next second...

Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she realized what it meant.

etc.

If Jian Li had been in Jade Capital at the very beginning of the gamification, defending against monsters there----

Her sister must have been in Jade Capital back then, so----

No wonder.

No wonder she suddenly seemed to lose her soul when she heard the words "Jade Capital".

Thinking of this...

Lu Xiu quickly swallowed back the words that were about to come out and changed the subject.

"On another note----"

Lu Xiu asked curiously, "How exactly were the Chosen Player created? I don't think I've ever really known about it."

"These are players who were pre-selected by the system."

Shen Nian also realized that Jian Li was not in a good mood, so she took over the conversation and explained, "At the very beginning of the gamification, when everyone else was still clueless, these people already knew about the gamification."

"These people are what are known as the Chosen Player '."

"The moment they become the Chosen Player, the system grants them a unique talent skill, or ' Chosen Skill.' These skills are completely different from the skills obtained later by clearing dungeons, with all sorts of strange mechanics. The only thing they have in common is that most of them are extremely powerful."

"In addition, the Chosen Player were also among the first to enter the dungeon, serving as testers for the system's dungeons."

Shen Nian recalled for a moment and looked at Jian Li: "I remember there was about a month's difference back then. The Chosen Player could run the dungeon a month earlier than the regular players."

Lu Xiu nodded slightly.

This tactic sounds familiar.

"And it is precisely because of this first-mover advantage."

Shen Nian continued, "With this one-month time difference, plus the early benefits of the System Shop, the surviving Chosen Player are basically all quite strong, and are all High Sequence players in their respective regions."

Upon hearing this...

Lu Xiu, somewhat curious, interrupted, "System Shop?"

Shen Nian explained, "The System Shop in the early days of the game was completely different from the shop now. Back then, the shop sold many unique items, attribute points, and even skills."

The system's explanation at the time was to help players immerse themselves in the game and adapt to the gamified world more quickly.

Speaking of which...

Shen Nian said with some regret, "I heard that back then, when you defended the front lines in reality and killed those monsters, besides getting Survival Points, you would also get loot—"

"It's a pity that later, with game updates, those items in the System Shop were removed, and monsters stopped dropping items; they were all gone."

Lu Xiu nodded thoughtfully.

I see.

However, she could understand everything else.

Whether it's Chosen Player, innate skills, or dungeon testing.

These feelings are both necessary means and means of inciting conflict among players.

The system's actions are perfectly justifiable.

But monsters in real life don't drop anything—something Lu Xiu couldn't understand.

Is it the same in other areas?

Or is it because there's a bug in Nine Provinces that's blocking the monsters from even appearing in the city?

So, what do you mean?

Can I obtain materials from monsters on the front lines using my Deconstruction skills?

Various problems arose.

"I see."

But Lu Xiu quickly regained her composure. She figured she'd see for herself when the time came. Her gaze returned to the two of them. "You two should rest first. If you want to go together tomorrow, then we can go together."

Jian Li and Shen Nian were indeed exhausted after the intense dungeon raid.

Hearing Lu Xiu's words, the two didn't say anything more, and each took a shower and went back to their rooms.

The forest quickly fell silent.

midnight.

All was silent.

Only the occasional chirping of insects could be heard from the forest.

Lu Xiu, thirsty, got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, pushed open the door, and groggily walked out of the room, intending to go to the living room to pour herself a glass of water.

But she stopped as soon as she entered the living room.

The cool moonlight streamed in through the window, spreading a layer of silver frost across the floor.

And in front of the window.

Jian Li stood there quietly.

She was wearing a thin nightgown; the soft fabric clung to her skin, outlining the girl's slender and shapely curves.

Her waist-length, silvery-white hair was casually draped over her shoulders, shimmering faintly in the moonlight.

She tilted her head slightly, gazing absently at the night view outside the window.

Lu Xiu paused for a moment, then slowly walked over.

"If you don't want to go, then you don't have to go."

Lu Xiu came to Jian Li's side, yawned sweetly, and said in a sleepy voice, "Stop fighting amongst yourselves, what are you doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

I heard footsteps.

Jian Li was slightly taken aback, and slowly turned her head away.

What came into view was Lu Xiu, dressed in pajamas.

Her cotton pajamas were exceptionally large, hanging loosely on her body, with sleeves that stretched out to almost cover half of her hand, revealing only a few fair fingers, making her look exceptionally gentle.

"Did I wake you up?"

Jian Li spoke softly, her voice as fleeting as the night breeze.

"Awakened by thirst."

Lu Xiu shook her head, leaning against her, and mumbled, "It's nothing. Although I don't know what you went through over there, if you don't want to face it, then don't face it— Jian Li, let me teach you a life motto: running away is shameful, but it really works."

Jian Li's body stiffened slightly as she looked at Lu Xiu, who was leaning against her shoulder.

Her warm body temperature emanated through the thin fabric, and her eyes were glistening with tears from yawning; it was clear she was very sleepy.

"I don't intend to run away."

Jian Li froze for a while before gently shaking her head, her voice still cool and aloof. "I just came out to use the restroom."

"That's really stubborn."

Lu Xiu smiled upon hearing this, straightened up, turned around, and reached out to cup Jian Li's face in her hands.

A cool night breeze blew in through the window, Jian Li Li's waist-length silver-white hair to flutter slightly in the wind, brushing against Lu Xiu's hand and bringing a slight tickle.

Lu Xiu looked at her and tilted her head. "You know what? You're actually quite easy to guess."

"But that's normal."

Lu Xiu's eyebrows curved into a smile, "After all, you're only Nineteen."

Jian Li looked at Lu Xiu, who was so close to her, pursed her glossy red lips, and then said softly, "You too----"

"Uh... I'm not."

Lu Xiu momentarily speechless. "At least my mental age isn't."

Jian Li: "----"

Looking into Jian Li's clear eyes, Lu Xiu asked, "So, can you tell me what you're afraid of?"

Jian Li:

He stripped his older sister of her innate skills, causing the two to become enemies, and by a twist of fate, his uncle died in Jade Capital.

That hateful phrase, "It's all your fault," and that devastating fire that consumed everything—

Countless memories flooded back in an instant.

Jian Li's clear eyes gradually lost their luster.

Seeing Jian Li looking as if she had suddenly lost her soul.

Lu Xiu immediately gave up the idea of asking further questions.

"All right."

Lu Xiu gently rubbed her cheek and suddenly said, "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. Although I'm very curious, I don't have the habit of reopening old wounds. How about this—I'll give you a promise."

Speaking of which...

Lu Xiu paused, then looked into Jian Li's eyes and said with a charming smile, "Jian Li, when you go to Jade Capital, I will protect you no matter what, okay?"

5

Jian Li stared blankly at Lu Xiu, who stood gracefully in the moonlight.

The moment I heard that promise.

Deep in her memory, the raging fire that seemed impossible to extinguish, along with the despairing images, surged uncontrollably into her mind once again.

no.

no.

no.

I heard that last time.

He messed everything up himself.

Everything!

Jian Li's eyes, which had already lost their sparkle, welled up with pain.

only.

Before she could succumb to that suffocating pain...

Lu Xiu suddenly took a step forward, stretched out his arms, and pulled her into his embrace.

A warm body temperature.

A soft embrace with a faint, pleasant fragrance.

This instantly brought Jian Li back to her senses.

So, don't worry.

Lu Xiu wrapped her arms around Jian Li's slender waist, resting her chin on her shoulder. Her voice was slightly muffled with sleepiness. "Just come with me to Jade Capital tomorrow."

Jian Li's originally stiff body gradually Softening.

The sharp sounds in my mind were completely drowned out.

", Jian Li followed the force of Lu Xiu's embrace, slowly closed her eyes that had regained some of their luster, lowered her head, buried her cheek in Lu Xiu's warm and soft neck, and brushed her nose against Lu Xiu's fair skin.

"Wait—it's a little itchy."

Lu Xiu shifted slightly and couldn't help but laugh.

But Jian Li didn't let go, clinging to this warmth that was within reach.

Suddenly, the image of Shen Nian clinging to Lu Xiu stubbornly during the day flashed through her mind.

If that's the case—wouldn't we be able to get closer and feel more of the warmth?

Thinking of this...

Jian Li awkwardly began to imitate Shen Nian from the daytime.

"----Why?"

Lu Xiu's body stiffened abruptly, her previously dazed mind instantly clearing, and she immediately distanced herself.

At the same time.

Jian Li also stiffened slightly and took a step back.

"----?"

Lu Xiu turned slightly to the side, then couldn't help but glare at Jian Li: "Why are you here too? Do you think it's daytime?!"

Jian Li turned her head away somewhat embarrassed, her ears slightly red.

the next day.

It was early morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.

The vehicles and staff arranged by the Coordination Bureau were already waiting on time by the roadside on the outskirts of the forest.

This time, Yan Fushou did not accompany them; Li Shengkai from the Dungeon Resource Management Division was responsible for escorting Lu Xiu to Jade Capital.

"----It's about a ten-hour drive, are you sure you'll be okay?"

It didn't take long.

Li Shengkai then saw Lu Xiu and the other two walking together.

Lu Xiu walked at the front. Although she had gotten up in the middle of the night last night to play the role of a caring older sister, she was still in pretty good spirits.

"No problem."

Lu Xiu nodded, indicating that she was mentally prepared for the journey across the Nine Provinces by carriage.

Since gamification.

Modern weapons are ineffective.

Needless to say, other things are completely unusable. Sophisticated modern electronic instruments are basically unusable, and vehicles like airplanes, which rely heavily on electronic radar, avionics systems, and automatic cruise control, are completely unusable.

The others are also partially disabled.

On the contrary, vehicles that have abandoned complex electronic devices and are powered purely by fuel are better.

But this also means a long journey.

This is why the Coordination Bureau values Lordvessel so much.