In the real world.
In Siberian Duck's livestream.
The cheerful first playthrough continued.
With Jiang Yu added to the cast, the story had undergone quite a few changes. Even though Siberian Duck had already played through it during testing, she was still looking forward to what came next.
Following the quest markers, she finally spotted the mound in the snow.
As she approached it, Siberian Duck said with sudden realization, "I remember now! This is Sampo!"
Then Siberian Duck clicked to investigate, and the game entered a dialogue scene.
The opening dialogue seemed unchanged. Just as Siberian Duck thought this part hadn't been altered and Dan Heng was about to poke Sampo with his spear tip...
"Pfft! Little Fish is freezing to death, so he can't even be bothered, huh? He says leave it alone, and you leave it alone. Just keep spoiling him, Professor Dan Heng!"
Siberian Duck kept up her commentary as she watched the rest of the scene.
Everyone in the Trailblaze squad agreed with Jiang Yu's idea.
But rather than leave, they ran some distance away and hid, ready to see how long Sampo could hold out inside the snow mound.
One side had bone-chilling winds, while the other had a "portable heater" to keep them warm. The contrast couldn't have been clearer.
Naturally, the scene of Dan Heng putting earmuffs on Jiang Yu was included too.
"Aww, Dan Heng is so sweet. Just quietly spoiling him, huh?"
Siberian Duck wore a fond, auntie-like grin.
[Danxin Hengjiu: That's our Dan Heng. Cold on the outside, warm on the inside.]
[Wind Boy Solo Fan: This is actual footage of the mature big brother in the Trailblaze squad quietly looking after his younger siblings.]
[My Pee Is Yellow: Oh, this ship is too good. I need to revisit Teacher Huahua's works.]
[Tangdie: I ship March and Fish. When is Hoyo going to throw me a little sweetness?]
[I Have No Dignity I Have No Dignity: You'd be better off shipping Stelle and Fish. Those two are comedy gold together however you look at it. Like starfish.]
[Toothpaste on Bread: No lewd stuff! Throw them out!]
The story continued.
After nearly half a system hour, Sampo finally couldn't take it anymore and sprang out of the snow mound.
Watching this, Siberian Duck couldn't help letting out a hearty, bro-like laugh.
"You're so mean, Little Fish! I really thought you just wanted to get into town sooner!"
[Unrivaled South Wind: Sigh... our streamer is still too young. Little Fish's face fooled her.]
[Authentic Through and Through: That's Little Fish for you. Such a sneaky little menace!]
[Emanator of Aha: Hilarious. Sampo spent ages freezing in the snow. He's going to freeze to death.]
[Belobog Savage: Ugh, I'm so mad! These people were watching him make a fool of himself on purpose!]
Yet Sampo didn't seem particularly angry in the story. Instead, he struck up a conversation with the Trailblaze squad as though they were already old friends.
"What a smooth talker!" Siberian Duck said.
[Drunk Cockroach: Old Sampo really knows how to take it. He's not even mad, and he still wants to do business together.]
[YZsidao: So he was hiding because he was scared of law enforcement?]
[Wind Float: So he's a mysterious merchant! No wonder he's got such a silver tongue!]
[China Jerk-Off Fan: How dare you! How could you think the Trailblaze squad is in the same line of work as you?]
Next, everyone watched Jiang Yu tell Sampo to fight a Bud of Erudition, then discover that there was more to him than met the eye.
"Okay, okay! Fight a Bud of Erudition and make the gold drop, huh? Actually, Buds of Erudition really do drop money. They give Credits."
Siberian Duck said with a laugh.
[I Am a Pig: But before you get the money, you have to get mobbed by Fragmentum creatures.]
[I Am Also a Spider: That's so mean!]
[Six Phases Without Ice: Little Fish: "You're so big and strong. Fighting Buds of Erudition would be such a quick way to earn money!" Sampo: "Are you trying to talk me into killing myself?"]
[Will I Ever Reach the Other Shore: Well, well, Sampo, you honest-looking fellow. You're putting on an act too, huh? Walking through snow without leaving a trace!]
[Fleet Commander: We only caught this guy lying thanks to Little Fish. Hurry up and say thank you, Little Fish.]
After that, it was time for Jiang Yu to explain his spur-of-the-moment idea for a Fragmentum Creature Products business.
March 7th and Jiang Yu's visions for it were shown on-screen.
"That makes sense. Elemental crystals aren't harmful. Is Little Fish actually a genius?"
The more Siberian Duck heard about the Fragmentum creature industry, the more reasonable it sounded!
[Interastral Peace Corporation Strategic Investment Department: I admit it. Little Fish does have some talent.]
[Interastral Peace Corporation: Come on over, Little Fish. We need talent like you!]
[I Love My Home: Catch Fragmentum creatures and run a business with no overhead! That's our Xianzhou Little Sword Immortal!]
[Bluetooth Disconnected: Fragmentum creatures: "You're not even human! I ****** 'Fragmentum profanity.'"]
[Social Death Connected: Well, would you look at that. He's even got Sampo interested!]
Jiang Yu's plans for a Fragmentum creature industry piqued the players' interest, and the viewers began discussing it and looking forward to it.
This would later become a fairly hot topic of discussion. For now, though, Siberian Duck needed to continue the main story.
After enthusiastically volunteering his services, Sampo began leading the Trailblaze squad toward Belobog.
At this point, March 7th voiced her doubts, while Sampo solemnly promised he would get everyone to Belobog.
But barring anything unexpected, something unexpected was about to happen.
The group ran into the Silvermane Guards as they pressed onward.
A battle broke out. Sampo tried to escape in the confusion, only for Jiang Yu to grab him by the ear and drag him back.
"Why, you little-Sampo! Better someone else than you, huh? Still running when you get the chance? Grab him, Little Fish! Give that ear a good, hard tug!"
Watching Jiang Yu drag Sampo back, Siberian Duck shouted viciously.
[Little Fish's Sword: Now you've seen what our Xianzhou Little Sword Immortal can do, huh?]
[Belobog Savage: Hello, everyone. My name is Sampo. To evade the Silvermane Guards, I mastered a whole range of skills. It's no exaggeration to say I move as silently as the wind and leave no tracks in the snow. But I never could have imagined I'd still get caught by the Silvermane Guards! (Clutches red, swollen ear)]
[Emanator of Aha: Doesn't look like acting.]
"Well, the Silvermane Guards thought the Trailblaze squad and Sampo were together. Now Little Fish has left them completely confused."
[I Want to Pet Cats: Silvermane Guards: What's going on? Aren't you on the same side?]
[WATTT: Silvermane Guards: They're fighting among themselves! This is our chance! Except we've already lost.]
Then Gepard finally appeared.
"Ooh, Geppie! So handsome!"
Siberian Duck was still excited over Gepard's dazzling entrance when she saw Jiang Yu ask in the game whether he could exchange Sampo for money.
She immediately lost it and burst out laughing.
"You're still thinking about getting money at a time like this, sweetie? How are you so adorably clueless?!"
[Jiang Yu Fan Support Club: Our streamer doesn't know a damn thing. That's called purity!]
[Two Scholars: Sampo's helpless expression cracked me up.]
[July Three: Little Fish just wants a little pocket money!]
[Lost Everything with Seventeen Cards: Sampo is in for a world of hurt now that he's in Little Fish's hands!]
Jiang Yu's attempt to exchange Sampo for money left everyone in stitches.
After that came the negotiations with Gepard. Once they finished talking, Gepard led the Trailblaze squad and Sampo, who had failed to escape, toward Belobog.
The game camera pulled back into a wide shot, showing the players the city of iron and steel standing tall amid the snowy mountains and freezing winds!
Before you continue