In Sang Jie's livestream.
Sang Jie, Ting An, and Gu Shi were ashen-faced, each looking worse than the last. Gu Shi was in the worst state of all. Staring at the penalty notice deducting five points from his credit score, he felt as miserable as if he had swallowed a dead child.
"Who on earth is this Exalted Emperor?"
"Which expert's smurf account is he using?"
"Could he be a top KPL pro?"
Sang Jie ranted, "He single-handedly destroyed all three of us! Even a movie or a power-fantasy drama wouldn't dare write that!"
"Not only has this guy reached the pinnacle with Yuan Ge, but his puppet-disguised Sikong Zhen's micro was maxed out too. That was national number one level." Ting An wore a grave expression as he spoke in a low voice. "In the Honor of Kings scene, this Exalted Emperor definitely has a name that rings loud and clear."
"And-"
Ting An glanced at the deathly pale Gu Shi and continued, "Gu Shi is a top contender for the farm lane overlord title. He's currently number one in the farm lane on the peak rankings this season, a high-level player even Yinuo has to take seriously."
"Yet Exalted Emperor kept Gu Shi firmly suppressed during the laning phase, and when the mid-game team fights came around, he slaughtered us like he was chopping cabbages."
"In the entire Honor of Kings scene, you could count the people with skills like that on two hands."
Ting An's words instantly narrowed down the possibilities for Exalted Emperor's main account.
"He easily handled a player on par with a lane overlord. There's no doubt about it: this Exalted Emperor has earned a King title before! And among the lane Kings currently active in the gaming scene..."
Gu Shi's pupils contracted, and he suddenly jolted. A legendary male player surfaced in his mind. Whether it was his skill or his play style, Exalted Emperor fit him perfectly!
Could it be him?
[Congratulations to the host for completing the beginner quest. Talent point rewards are now being distributed.]
The system's voice rang out in Su Hang's mind, followed by a system panel appearing before his eyes. The unassigned attribute points field changed from 0 to 5.
"Too few points. I'll save them up and assign them later."
The system's voice rang out again.
[Congratulations to the host for successfully unlocking the main quest (game livestreaming).] [The first stage of the game livestreaming quest has begun.] [Host, please livestream with your hands visible and raise your rank from Bronze to Mighty King within 90 days. Reward: 50 talent points.]
"Are you serious, system?"
Su Hang's eyelid twitched slightly. With his current gaming skills, one day was enough to take a Bronze account to Mighty King.
Under the current season's ranking system, winning a match with a gold medal or a top lane rating could award two or three stars at once. He could reach King in less than half a day.
Ninety days was equivalent to a season. Under absolutely ideal conditions, he could take 180 Bronze accounts to Mighty King.
"The system arrived ten years late. In its eyes, I'm only eight." Su Hang reassured himself. "For an ordinary eight-year-old, reaching King in 90 days in the original version of the game really wasn't easy."
"But when I first climbed from Bronze to King ten years ago, it only took me three days. I was the first Mighty King on the entire server." Su Hang was a little displeased. "This system still underestimated my gaming talent."
The system panel closed.
That said, system quests aside, he had recently been planning to livestream anyway. The college entrance exam was over, and summer vacation had begun, so he had plenty of time.
Although the generous income from his main occupation was enough to give the whole family a comfortable life, who would complain about having too much money?
"Broooother~~~ hehehe."
A girl's voice, drawing out the word, came from the doorway.
Su Hang turned to look.
It was a pale-skinned girl in a blue school-uniform T-shirt. Her long black hair was tied in a high ponytail, with wispy catfish-whisker bangs hanging on either side of her forehead. Her eyes were bright and clear, and the youthful look in her slightly baby-faced cheeks was impossible to hide.
This girl was none other than
Su Hang's younger sister-Jiang Sui.
She was fifteen and about to enter her first year of high school.
Jiang Sui picked up a case of cola and, in the blink of an eye, rushed over to Su Hang like the wind. Her big, doll-like eyes fluttered, full of mischief. "Bro, you're still awake?"
"Hmm~~~"
Jiang Sui closed her eyes and leaned in, sniffing from Su Hang's wrist all the way up to his face. "Bro, you smell kind of nice."
"Get off, get off."
Goosebumps broke out all over Su Hang. He elbowed Jiang Sui away. "What's gotten into you this late at night?"
"Can't I just spend a little time bonding with my brother?"
Jiang Sui pouted and held up the case of cola pitifully. "Look, I bought the sugar-free cola you asked me to get. It cost me a whole 42 yuan."
"Here's 50. Keep the change." Su Hang took out a green Mao note and held it in front of Jiang Sui to send her on her way. "The remaining eight is your errand fee."
"Huh? Come on, don't be a stranger. Talking about money will only hurt our bond as brother and sister." Jiang Sui pushed it back, then sat on the edge of the bed and cupped her face in both hands. Smiling, she said, "Bro, do you know how long it's been since we talked?"
"A little over a week, I guess." Su Hang opened the case of sugar-free cola and took out a can of Coke Zero.
"Yeah, it's been over a week. I happen to be free today, and you have time too, so let's have a good chat and bond."
"Oh, give it a rest." Su Hang pulled the cola tab and glanced at Jiang Sui. "Unasked-for kindness means either treachery or theft. Tell me, what do you want to ask me for this time?"
"Bro, you're Zhuge Liang reborn, with a plan for everything. Xiao Sui admits defeat." Jiang Sui gave him a comical cupped-fist salute and raised her thumb. "Sure enough, nothing gets past you."
"Like I don't know you?"
Jiang Sui rubbed her hands together and said sheepishly, "Bro, Honor of Kings recently released an official badge of Yao's Cinnamoroll's Dream skin, right? I'm a little short on funds. Could you spare me a few coins?"
"I knew it."
Su Hang let out a few cold chuckles.
His sister Jiang Sui excelled in both conduct and academics, and her looks were on the level of a school belle. Her greatest hobby was collecting merch-that is, buying anime and game merchandise.
What she found most irresistible was collecting merchandise of Honor of Kings' female heroes, especially badges of their skins. She bought practically every one that came out.
"How much is the Yao badge?" Su Hang took a sip of cola.
Jiang Su held up one finger.
"One hundred yuan?" Su Hang frowned slightly.
Jiang Sui shook her head.
"One thousand yuan?" Su Hang's frown deepened.
Jiang Sui shook her little head.
"Ten thousand yuan?"
Jiang Sui nodded. "Yep, yep."
"Pfft-"
Su Hang sprayed out all the cola in his mouth. His eyes widened. "Jiang Sui, did water get in your brain, or did a donkey kick you in the head?"
"The Yao Cinnamoroll skin in the game is guaranteed for only 200 yuan."
"And you're spending ten thousand on its badge?"
"Bro, don't be mad." Jiang Sui hurriedly said, "The original price really was ten thousand, but I haggled with customer service. I told her I was a junior high student who'd just graduated and didn't have any money. My parents went abroad ten years ago and haven't been heard from since, and it was my brother, who's three years older than me, who raised me."
Jiang Sui spoke with vivid animation.
"My brother dotes on me so much. Ever since I was little, whenever I wanted something, even if it was the moon, he'd pluck it down for me. My brother is the best brother in the whole world, and I'll love him forever."
A strange feeling rose in Su Hang's heart, and his emotions began to settle.
Jiang Sui squeezed two tears from the corners of her eyes. "When the customer service lady heard how sooo good you were to me, she gave me a coupon on the spot for 9,000 off a 10,000-yuan purchase. The badge originally cost ten thousand, but now it's only one thousand!"
The corners of Su Hang's mouth twitched.
Black lines covered his face. "Well, look at that, a brand-new version. Go on, keep making things up."
Jiang Sui, who had been found out, wasn't embarrassed. She shook Su Hang's arm. "Buy it, buy it."
Su Hang put on a stern face. "I said no, and that's final."
"Buy it for me, buy it for me. You're the best brother. From now on, whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."
"Really?" Su Hang cast a sideways glance at his sister.
Jiang Sui nodded like a pestle pounding garlic. "Really, really."
"Then tonight, you'll-"