The game included mages, magicians, swordsmen, archers, sniper rifles, rifles, blade wielders, swordsmen, and assassins. It was mainly divided into three major categories.
Magic, blades, and firearms.
That was right—the classic sword-and-magic genre.
Ling Feng had claimed the title of SK's top gunslinger and ranked first in PVP for five consecutive seasons, so he was incredibly popular in the community.
However, he had not participated in the past two seasons. Some believed he had retired, while others thought he simply did not have time to keep playing.
And that was indeed the case. Ling Xiaoyu chased Ling Feng around every day like she was herding ducks, urging him to study. On top of that, he had to work part-time at some maid café. Where was he supposed to find the time?
This was a perfect opportunity to participate in the Winter Tournament.
After leaving the private room, they discussed finding one more person. There was no other choice—their previous two teammates had transferred schools, or they could have called them directly.
"My Miss Luo, Magic University has already been established. So, what do you think? Skip senior year and come with me! You received the notice too, right? Are you going?"
Outside Private Room No. 1 of the Bilu Lake Grand Hotel, a petite purple-haired girl spoke to the expressionless girl beside her.
"I'll consider it. Let's go downstairs first."
"Oh, what is there to consider? Aren't you happy to go with me?"
"I am."
"Exactly! Then what are you waiting for?"
"Let's talk after finals are over."
Su Xiaoxiao said nothing. Whatever her young mistress said went; she could not persuade her otherwise.
But she knew that Miss Luo before her was the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Luo Family in Yanjing. She was also one of the top Magical Girls at their school and the class monitor of the magic class.
As for those Astral Mark Girls, they were few in number and weak on their own. Just a few Magical Girls would be enough to fight them.
After they got out of the elevator, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly spotted a familiar figure and called out.
"Su Yun?"
"Xiao Xiao? And Xi Yan? What a coincidence. You two are here too?"
Su Yun and Yuwen had just left their private room when they saw acquaintances.
Su Xiaoxiao was Su Yun's cousin. Though they were distant relatives, Su Yun's family had been fairly ordinary and belonged only to a branch of the family.
The few of them had gotten along rather well in the past, but after Su Xiaoxiao's father became the family head, Su Yun had been taken by her parents to live in Linzhuo.
Zhao Ping and Yuwen were equally stunned by the sight of the two beauties. Especially the girl beside Su Xiaoxiao—wouldn't a man die without regrets if he could marry a beauty like that?
Ling Feng was the first of the three to recover. He gave a light cough, pulling Zhao Ping and Yuwen back to reality.
"Yuwen, your girlfriend is still here," Ling Feng said to Yuwen in a lowered voice.
After saying that, Ling Feng smiled and greeted the pink-haired girl.
"Hi."
"Mhm." Luo Xiyan nodded.
Ling Feng had not expected her to actually respond. Yet the girl still had no expression on her face. Did this look like acquaintances greeting each other? Come on!
Ling Feng screamed inwardly, but his face remained perfectly calm, carrying a hint of restrained flirtiness and slow warmth.
Zhao Ping and the others were dumbfounded. So they actually knew each other?
Even Su Xiaoxiao and Su Yun were a little confused. They knew exactly what kind of important figure Luo Xiyan was. Did this guy have some hidden identity?
"What is it?"
Ling Feng found it strange. Why was everyone looking at him like that?
Su Xiaoxiao seemed to realize something and suddenly cried out.
"Xi Yan said she owed someone money. She meant you, didn't she?!"
The Origin of Her Cool Personality
Hearing Su Xiaoxiao say that, not only were Zhao Ping and the others confused, even Ling Feng himself was bewildered.
Why was this Miss Luo so hung up on a tea egg? From their conversation, Ling Feng could tell that her family was rich.
Luo Xiyan herself also felt that something was strange.
From childhood to adulthood, with her family background, she had never needed to owe anyone anything. Though this had been an accident, there was only one sentence in her heart.
That was...
Taking something from someone for free was wrong!
In the end, Su Xiaoxiao smoothed things over and eased the awkward atmosphere.
"Alright, alright. Since we all know each other, why don't we have a meal together?"
"Didn't we just eat? Ling Feng and the others probably just finished too."
Su Xiaoxiao had only just breathed a sigh of relief when her damn young mistress spoke again.
So she even knew his name. Did she owe him a lot of money? A bizarre thought surfaced in Su Xiaoxiao's mind, but she immediately shook it off.
Impossible!
In the end, Su Yun simply suggested that everyone go for a walk together, finally bringing tonight's dinner gathering to an end.
On the streets, all kinds of vehicles flowed endlessly.
Against the night sky, cars followed one after another, packed side by side, like a stream of dazzling pearls or rows of twinkling stars in motion.
When Su Xiaoxiao heard Ling Feng and the others talking about Chronicles of Time and Space, she joined the conversation.
She played Chronicles of Time and Space herself, so she was quite interested. When she learned that they were preparing to enter the Winter Tournament, Su Xiaoxiao became even more excited.
Since SK Time and Space was released several years ago, its popularity had remained high, even surpassing major games like Deadly Pesticide and League of Legends at one point.
Especially after Magical Girls appeared, the mage class became extremely popular. Professional players and streamers developed countless tactics and playstyles around it.
Thus, a saying began to circulate within the game.
"Fight magic with magic!"
And just like that, the five teammates had been assembled?
Since there was still some time before then, they did not talk much more about it.
They only learned that everyone seemed to be high school students, and they all happened to be second-years. That was absurd!
Zhao Ping felt a sense of crisis when he realized that even Ling Feng knew such a beautiful girl. Would he end up being the last one to get a girlfriend?
"Ling Feng, am I going to be abandoned by the world?"
Ling Feng glanced at Zhao Ping. Why was this guy suddenly acting crazy?
"Don't worry. If the whole world abandons you, remember to come find me. I know a few human traffickers."
"Damn it!" Zhao Ping's face darkened. He wanted to punch someone now.
Turning his head, Ling Feng noticed that Luo Xiyan had not said a word and always wore the same indifferent expression.
Unable to help himself, he quietly asked Su Xiaoxiao a few questions. Only then did Ling Feng come to understand a little.
Because Luo Xiyan had never known how to express her emotions since childhood, many people around her often disliked her, and naturally, she spoke less and less.
She had been a lofty princess from the day she was born. Combined with her beautiful appearance, even people who knew her rarely dared to speak to her. Most only approached her because of her face.
Su Xiaoxiao told Ling Feng to pay attention to her. If he could help, that would naturally be for the best. They were close friends, after all.
Zhao Ping and Yuwen did not understand any of this. They only thought that the girl was rather aloof.
When Luo Xiyan saw Ling Feng speaking with Su Xiaoxiao, she more or less knew what Su Xiaoxiao was telling him.
When Luo Xiyan turned back around, she gave Su Xiaoxiao a meaningful look. The meaning could not have been clearer. You told him everything about me?
Su Xiaoxiao smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, it was for your own good."
Ling Feng had not expected it to be like this either. If someone could not even express her own emotions...
How did she normally live? How did others see her?
What had she experienced before? Sadness? Pain? Grief?
Thinking of that, Ling Feng felt an additional measure of sympathy for the girl.
But how could he help her?
Since he still had an exam tomorrow, Ling Feng left first by himself.
When he turned back, Ling Feng found Luo Xiyan looking at him.
The girl's pure eyes were filled with the clear, youthful air of spring. They gave Ling Feng the intense feeling of a first love. It was a wondrous feeling, like receiving energy while starving, instantly making the world seem beautiful.
Ling Feng realized that he seemed able to sense her emotions and mood. They seemed... pretty good.
"Goodbye."
Those were the last words Ling Feng heard.
Watching the boy disappear into the sea of people once more, Luo Xiyan felt for the first time that this boy was a little different.
Inside the taxi
Ling Feng took out his phone and habitually opened the radio.
The Nokia automatically played the latest news broadcast.
[According to our station, a citizen of this city was editing selfies at home and mistakenly believed himself to be the most handsome person in the world. He began to despise the friends around him, feeling that they were unworthy of him. Fortunately, his friends rescued him in time by turning off the beauty effects and filters, allowing him to recover.]
Ling Feng silently turned off his phone and looked out the car window.
"The world is so vast..."
Astral Mark Girl, Ling Mengxue, Has Arrived!
The dark street was silent except for the ticking of cars and the swaying of branches.
As Ling Feng walked along the path, he could already imagine Ling Wanqing complaining at home.
It had really been hard on her. After transferring to Linzhuo, she did not know many people. He should spend more time with her.
Ling Feng felt somewhat guilty.
As he passed an alleyway, Ling Feng suddenly heard cries for help coming from inside.
Why the hell was he actually running into a cliché plot straight out of a novel? Was it really this melodramatic?
Ling Feng cursed inwardly.
So the question was, should he save her? Or should he save her?
"Help! Is there anyone who can help me?!"
At that moment, four little punks with brightly dyed hair came out, dragging a girl between them.
The girl looked only sixteen or seventeen. She was still underage.
The punks dragged the girl into the alley across the street.
It was obvious what they intended to do. Anyone who was not blind could see it.
Naturally, Ling Feng wanted to help her. If Ling Wanqing or Ling Xiaoyu had been the ones abducted, would he not have hoped that they would receive help from a kindhearted person?
That was simply the truth!
Uh, although they would not need it.
Besides, she was an underage girl. Ling Feng's conscience would not let him ignore it. He lightly brushed the Astral Mark Necklace on his chest and transformed directly!
"Let go of me! Let go of me."
At that moment, the girl had already been drunk into a daze and could not tell east from west at all.
Before you continue