Jiang Yu followed close behind Dan Heng, his little legs pumping away.
He suddenly asked Dan Heng, "Dan Heng... Dan Heng... that name. Are you a Xianzhou native?"
Dan Heng kept walking without a word.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Your face feels really familiar!"
Dan Heng stopped up ahead, but did not turn around. After roughly a second of silence, he replied, "You've mistaken me for someone else."
"Oh. Maybe I have..."
Jiang Yu went along with Dan Heng's answer. Dropping a suitable hint about a secret at this point was enough.
He had to draw things out to make himself seem more mysterious to the players. Mystery would spark their curiosity and desire to learn more.
That way, he would get more attention!
After that, Jiang Yu stopped making idle conversation with Dan Heng. Both stayed quiet and moved with great efficiency.
Just as the two fought their way to the monitoring room's door, a massive arrow of quantum energy flew in from behind, shooting straight toward Jiang Yu!
At that moment, Jiang Yu felt a surge of malice behind him, making his scalp prickle!
Having suddenly gained power but lacking experience, he had no time to react before the seasoned Dan Heng shoved him aside. Then Dan Heng held Cloud-Piercer across his chest and blocked the arrow.
Jiang Yu climbed off the floor and spotted the Trampler that had ambushed them from behind. He blurted out, "For Aha's sake, trying to sneak up on me, are you?"
Dan Heng said nothing and charged straight in with his spear.
The half-human, half-horse Trampler did not flinch. As Dan Heng closed in, he spun around and lashed out with a hind kick.
Dan Heng changed direction mid-charge, barely dodging it. Before he could regain his balance, the Trampler was already upon him, raising his hooves to stomp down. Those iron hooves fell like heavy hammers forged from alloy!
Seeing no way to dodge, Dan Heng steeled himself, ready to risk everything. Just then, a gentle breeze swept past, and the scenery in his field of vision shifted rapidly.
By the time he regained his footing, he was behind the Trampler, whose stomp had landed on nothing but the space station's floor.
He looked up and saw Jiang Yu standing beside him.
Dan Heng knew Jiang Yu had saved him. Gratitude showed in his eyes, along with surprise at Jiang Yu's speed.
"It's only a Trampler. With the two of us working together, we'll surely defeat him." As Jiang Yu spoke to Dan Heng, he channeled his power and activated his skill.
Dan Heng immediately held Cloud-Piercer across his body as well.
Their voices rang out together.
"With wind as my sword, I follow like a shadow, skimming the water to shear crimson leaves."
"Life and death, truth and illusion, all within a single thought. A cave heaven takes shape, a long dream ends."
As their words fell, an Ink-Wash Cave Heaven unfolded from Cloud-Piercer, enveloping all three of them.
The next instant, Dan Heng leaped up like a drop of ink, spear raised as he charged.
But another figure in green moved even faster, drifting past the Trampler with two fingers held in a sword gesture. Wind streamed from his sleeves, fierce gusts forming sword trails that tore countless gashes across the Trampler in an instant!
Only then did Dan Heng reach the enemy. The tip of Cloud-Piercer flicked, bursting the Trampler's head!
The Trampler died on the spot, and the cave heaven slowly faded.
"Wow! What a thrilling fight. We make a great team! You're really skilled with the Cloud Knights Spear Art."
Jiang Yu was all smiles after landing. All he lacked now was planting his hands on his hips and declaring, "I'm amazing!"
Dan Heng nodded. "Let's go. We'll take a look in the monitoring room."
"Okay!"
Jiang Yu followed Dan Heng, and the two entered the monitoring room together.
They found Arlan there, then spotted Stelle and March 7th through the window, looking troubled in front of the elevator.
In Siberian Duck's livestream.
"Here he is! That white-haired sword immortal! I never thought he'd make his entrance like this. He sent me flying!"
[Aha's Emanator: I'm dying. His first attempt at flying on a sword wrecked the space station.]
[I Don't Eat Cilantro: A sword disaster, my ass!]
[I Eat Beef: Watching the opening, I thought he was some peerless sword immortal. Turns out he's this reckless? Hoyo really knows how to make contrasting traits cute.]
Siberian Duck wholeheartedly agreed with the chat.
"Exactly! He looked ridiculously cool in the opening. But the reckless vibe is pretty nice too!"
[Tang Monk Washes His Hair with Rejoice: Isn't he more of an airhead than reckless? He tells us to run with that innocent face, then runs into Voidrangers. I'm dying.]
[A Wisp of Wind in Qingdu: Why are you all talking about his personality? I'm absolutely in love with his face!]
[Ms. Herta Fan Club: White hair. If you know, you know. I'm saving my pulls starting now.]
"With his personality, this model looks so adorable. There's not a hint of menace. He's completely different from that sharp, fierce look in the opening."
Siberian Duck let out a string of hearty laughs, prompting the viewers to call her a real bro.
Just then, the story reached Jiang Yu's instant kill of the Voidranger. That figure in green moved like a breeze, graceful and effortless.
"Oh, wow, so cool!" Siberian Duck giggled dreamily. "Now I have to pull for him!"
[Old Man at Baboon Park: Damn it, he didn't even use a sword!]
[Check My Match History: Holy shit! Wind-Riding Swordsmanship!]
[Give It or I Feed: Hasagi!]
[That Move Had Me Hooked: That move sent me straight into the air.]
Siberian Duck continued the quest, watching the four split up and introduce themselves.
"So this new character's called Jiang Yu. Huh?"
Siberian Duck suddenly made a puzzled sound.
After they parted ways, the game did not stay with the protagonist and March 7th. Instead, it followed Dan Heng and Jiang Yu's perspective.
"This part wasn't in the closed beta! Hoyo slipped in something new!"
Then she saw the scene where Jiang Yu called out to Dan Heng.
Watching the boy-sized Jiang Yu follow the young-adult-sized Dan Heng and call to him, only for Dan Heng to ignore him, Siberian Duck couldn't help smiling.
The height difference looked oddly cute.
[Blue Floaty: Lol, he has to tilt his head up to look at Dan Heng.]
[Chubby Guy Who Doesn't Like Meat: That scene deserves some thought. Both Jiang Yu telling Dan Heng privately that he looks familiar and Dan Heng's rather deliberate avoidance are suspicious. Hoyo definitely hid a secret in there!]
[An Everlasting Heart for Dan Heng: Wait, if that's the case, doesn't Jiang Yu accepting Dan Heng's answer so easily make him innocent? Am I about to play a raising sim?]
[My Pee Is Yellow: Raise me instead. Don't steal my Jiang Yu!]
[An Everlasting Heart for Dan Heng: Nice.]
Dan Heng and Jiang Yu's section of the story was not long, but it still gave Siberian Duck a pleasant surprise.
For instance, there was Jiang Yu's cry of "For Aha's sake!" when they entered the scripted battle against the Voidranger: Trampler.
[Aha's Emanator: For Aha's sake!]
[Sister Himeko Come Back: What kind of catchphrase is that? Hahahaha!]
And once the battle started, the party had a trial Jiang Yu in addition to Dan Heng.
On-screen, Jiang Yu stood with one hand behind his back, giving off an air of unruffled ease.
"Oh! We get to try Jiang Yu!" Siberian Duck was pleasantly surprised, but the next moment, she fell silent.
Jiang Yu's Ultimate was locked on the screen, and his HP showed three question marks. Only his basic attack and skill were lit up, looking pitifully meager.
"Fine, fine, fine. So that's how you're playing it, Hoyo!" Siberian Duck said through gritted teeth.
Before you continue