Stage 2

Inside the game pod

Yuqing climbed into the game pod, put on the holographic helmet, and entered the game again. She spawned where she had logged out last time, but compared to the previous VR projection, the game now felt much more real.

The small pollution tide had receded, and the village had regained its former peace. It was spring now, and little flowers of unknown varieties bloomed all around.

"Whoa, how did they do this? I can actually smell the flowers?!" Yuqing looked in amazement at the flower in her hand. It felt incredibly real, and even its fragrance was refreshing.

[The game pod works by using the processing power of a superintelligent brain to connect to the mental world. Host, your consciousness has now entered the game. Everything you encounter is running code written by the superintelligent brain based on consciousness entities.]

[The experience is no different from the real world, so this system has an anti-addiction limit of twelve hours. If you exceed it, you will be forcibly kicked out of the game.]

[Host, hurry up and train your spiritual power. It's killing me that we didn't get anything out of Lin He today.]

"All right, I'll go follow the plot." Yuqing put down the flower and headed into the castle.

"Aili, my child, I was just about to call you." Mrs. Xiersen waved to Yuqing when she saw her. "I baked egg tarts and apple pie. Make sure you eat plenty later."

"Mother, lunch is so lavish today." Yuqing was a little surprised as she looked at the table full of dishes. Viscount Xiersen was only a minor lord, and he governed no more than a few impoverished villages. Mrs. Xiersen was usually frugal, but today's meal was like a New Year's feast.

"Your father and the knights sent by the grand duke will be back soon. This is a welcome feast for them." Mrs. Xiersen affectionately ruffled Yuqing's hair and said gently, "I've prepared a new dress for you. Go change with Mrs. Lusen."

Mrs. Lusen was the head maid, a kindly middle-aged woman.

"Miss, please follow me." Mrs. Lusen dipped into a small curtsy and led her upstairs, a hint of a smile in her voice. "Madam had a merchant caravan commission this dress from the count's territory especially for you. I hear it's the most fashionable style in the capital this year, and it's perfect for your complexion."

The moment Mrs. Lusen opened the bedroom door, Yuqing's eyes lit up.

A white-and-gold empire-waist gown hung on the rack. It was made of ivory satin, with scrolling floral patterns embroidered in silver thread along the neckline and hem. Sunlight fell on it, bringing out a delicate pearly sheen. The high waist accentuated a slender figure, and the skirt draped beautifully, sweeping into gentle curves with every step.

A velvet cloth covered the dressing table, where a matching set of pearl jewelry lay. Its luster was soft and warm, understated but exquisite.

"Miss, your skin is fair, so this layered pearl necklace will suit you best." Mrs. Lusen compared several necklaces before finally picking up a three-strand one.

Medieval noble etiquette was elaborate, and formal banquets required full dress.

Yuqing sat obediently while Mrs. Lusen combed her long hair and arranged it in a loose, low bun, with wisps falling beside her cheeks.

The moment the necklace was clasped around her neck, the cool pearls rested against her skin, their substantial weight feeling especially real.

She rose and walked over to the full-length mirror, unable to help pausing in surprise.

The girl in the mirror wore a white-and-gold empire-waist gown. Her waist was slender, and the pearls softened the lines of her shoulders and neck. Her long hair was loosely pinned up, revealing a smooth forehead and small earlobes. The outer corners of her eyes tilted slightly upward. Though the dress was demure, her eyes held a touch of liveliness, making her look both lovely and striking.

"Not bad at all." Yuqing turned in front of the mirror, her skirt sweeping out in a gentle curve.

Voices gradually drifted up from the downstairs hall, mingled with greetings and low conversation.

"Viscount, a pollution tide this small is nothing. We can clear it out in two or three days."

Xilaier leaned against the long table, twirling a silver wine cup between his fingers, his tone casual. Viscount Xiersen's territory was smaller than those of other counts and viscounts, so there were only so many monsters to fight and fewer points to earn. If Shen Que hadn't wanted to come and try his luck, Xilaier would never have chosen this side quest.

Shen Que's tone was polite but distant as he gave Viscount Xiersen a slight nod. "The temple predicts that after this pollution tide passes, the next one won't arrive for at least two years. You can take it easy for a while."

"Yes. The pollution tides have been getting worse these past few years. Once this one passes, I'll have to put real effort into training a few high-level knights." Viscount Xiersen breathed a sigh of relief. Two years was enough time to train a few high-level knights to protect the territory.

"Knights, lunch is ready. Please take your seats. Our daughter will be down shortly." Mrs. Xiersen exchanged a glance with her husband, satisfaction flickering in her eyes.

Shen Que and Xilaier frowned. If the plot really forced them to stay as live-in sons-in-law, when would they get to play ranked matches? The early selection for the military academy's elite class wouldn't wait for them.

Just then, light, unhurried footsteps came from the stairs.

The sound of a skirt brushing the stone steps was faint, but for some reason, the conversation in the hall died down.

Shen Que looked up casually, intending to take a quick glance before looking away, but the moment his gaze landed on her, he froze. The wine cup in his hand wobbled, nearly spilling its contents.

The girl slowly descended the stairs, one hand resting on the carved banister.

The white-and-gold gown set off her skin, making it look fairer than snow. The pearl necklace gleamed softly at her throat, lending even more definition to her delicate jawline. She wasn't deliberately smiling, but the corners of her eyes curved slightly, and she immediately caught everyone's attention.

Xilaier had been looking out the window. Noticing the silence beside him, he turned in puzzlement.

One look, and he froze too.

The dagger he had been playing with clicked back into its sheath. He instinctively straightened, the mocking smile on his face stiffening at the corners of his mouth. For a long while, he couldn't recover.

Yuqing walked over to the table and nodded slightly to the two men. Her voice was soft and gentle. "Thank you for your hard work, knights. You've come a long way."

Her manner was poised. After speaking, she went naturally to sit beside Mrs. Xiersen, her skirt spreading gently around her.

Only then did Shen Que come to his senses. He cleared his throat, hurriedly set down his cup, and straightened his back. His casual air vanished completely, and even his tone grew much more serious. "It's our duty, miss. You're too kind."

He secretly nudged Xilaier with his elbow and gave him a look.

Xilaier coughed lightly and turned his face away, but the tips of his ears quietly grew hot.

Who said being a live-in son-in-law was bad? It's a fantastic deal!

"The next pollution tide might arrive in the next few days. The surrounding walls have already been reinforced, but the western side faces the forest. I don't know whether it can hold." Yuqing's spiritual power wasn't enough to defend the western side completely, but she didn't know much about the abilities of these two knights either. Since the plot had sent two NPCs to help, they ought to be useful.

"Miss, I can help you defend the western side. As for the north and south, the viscount and the knights of the territory can hold them without much trouble," Xilaier said hastily.

"With you two helping us, I can finally put my mind at ease." Viscount Xiersen raised his cup. "Come, come! We're not leaving until we're drunk!"

Shen Que remained poised and drained his cup in one go. Xilaier, on the other hand, had abandoned his earlier languor and sat much straighter, his gaze constantly drifting across the table without his noticing.

The girl opposite him was eating an egg tart in small bites, her eyes curved. She didn't even notice the bit of flaky pastry at the corner of her mouth...

Suddenly, the ground shuddered violently.

"Boom!"

A muffled rumble came from the distance. The cups on the table shook, splashing out a few drops of wine. Outside the window, the clear sky abruptly darkened, and gray-black mist surged from the direction of the forest like a tide, soon covering half the village.

"It's a pollution tide! A level-two pollution tide!"

A guard scrambled through the doorway, his face deathly pale. "My lord! A horde of mutants came with the mist. They've already surrounded the village entrance!"

Viscount Xiersen sprang to his feet, knocking his chair over with a clatter.

Mrs. Xiersen covered her mouth, her eyes full of panic. "How could this be... One wave just receded, and it's only been a few days."

Shen Que and Xilaier instantly went on combat alert.

They rose at the same time, hands on their sword hilts, the fierce auras of sentinels bursting from them.

But in the next second, dense mental contamination seeped into the hall with the mist, stabbing into their mental domains like fine needles. Both men grunted, cold sweat beading at their temples. The toxins in the level-two pollution tide were far more potent than expected. Even S-rank sentinels like them felt agitated and uneasy. Their Spirit Entities pawed anxiously in their consciousness, already beginning to slip out of control.

"Damn it, isn't this a beginner stage?" Xilaier gritted his teeth. "How can the poison gas be this concentrated?!"

"Protect the ordinary people first. They can't withstand this gas!" Enduring the stabbing pain in his Spiritual Sea, Shen Que opened a protective barrier around some of the servants.

But most of their true strength was suppressed in the game, and the surprise attack had caught them off guard. For the moment, Shen Que and Xilaier couldn't protect everyone. Mrs. Lusen, who was farther away, clutched her head in pain, her face turning deathly pale from lack of oxygen.

"Mrs. Lusen!" Startled, Yuqing hurried over to support her.

"Don't go over there! It's dangerous!" Shen Que tried to pull Yuqing back, but his fingers brushed the edge of her dress without catching her. His mind raced, trying to find a way out of the situation.

Suddenly, an extremely faint, soft and warm presence spread over them, silently enveloping the sentinels' seas of consciousness and slowly beginning to purify the stinging toxins. Mrs. Lusen went limp all over and leaned against Yuqing, gulping for air.

Meanwhile, Shen Que's and Xilaier's mental domains, which had felt as though they were being pricked by needles only moments ago, suddenly felt much better. The instant they broke free of the poisonous mist, they counterattacked. Several strands of spiritual power locked precisely onto the mist beasts hiding in the shadows and ruthlessly strangled them. Once the mist beasts were dead, the poisonous mist in the air instantly dissipated.

Before anyone had caught their breath, another soldier reported from outside the door. "Bad news! A giant mutated beast has smashed a breach in the western wall. Small contaminated creatures are pouring in!"

"This is bad. At this rate, the gate won't hold much longer!" Yuqing had overseen the reinforcement of the wall and knew its structure inside and out. It was more than sufficient to withstand a small pollution tide, but against a giant mutated beast, it could only buy time. Once the gate was completely destroyed, the entire territory would disappear. "Father, gather your people. You must buy the builders time to repair the gate!"

"All right, I'll go at once!" Viscount Xiersen patted his wife on the shoulder, signaling for her not to worry.

"I'm coming with you." Yuqing pulled off her troublesome jewelry and followed close behind Viscount Xiersen.

"No, it's too dangerous. Aili, you haven't awakened..." Viscount Xiersen stopped and prevented Yuqing from following.

"Dear, let her go. Everything happened so suddenly that I haven't had a chance to tell you. Aili awakened her spiritual power a few days ago. As the future lord of this place, she needs to train herself and gain the ability to protect the townspeople," Mrs. Xiersen said reassuringly. "Go. I'll see to things in the rear. You just focus on holding the wall."

Nearby, Shen Que and Xiersen's expressions changed abruptly!

They hadn't been mistaken. That purifying energy had come from Aili, which meant Aili was the guide NPC in the game!

Good grief, guide NPCs were extremely rare and difficult to find even by spending real money. They hadn't expected to encounter one right in the newbie village!

Sure enough, Shen Que really had a good head on his shoulders. Following him was never a mistake!

"All right." Viscount Xiersen relented. Now that he knew his daughter had awakened spiritual power, the eager look with which he had regarded Xilaier and Shen Que as prospective sons-in-law was gone. Since his daughter had awakened spiritual power, his first priority was to train her so that she would have enough ability to protect herself, rather than place his hopes in others.

"Knights, the giant mutated beast is difficult to deal with. I need your help. If we can hold the territory, I'll reward you generously afterward."

"Viscount, this is our mission to begin with." Shen Que keenly sensed the change in the viscount's attitude. It made perfect sense. Earlier, the viscount had been attentive to them because their strength could help Aili legally inherit the title. Now that Miss Aili had awakened spiritual power, she could directly inherit the viscount's title under the law.

But that made it much harder to whisk his daughter away...

He jabbed Xilaier hard with his elbow. Ever since the fool had discovered Yuqing was a guide, the smile hadn't left his face. He was so delighted he could barely tell which way was north.

Only then did Xilaier come to his senses. He scratched his head and said with a smile, "Haha, that's right. Let's hurry. My hands are already itching for a fight!"

"Let's go." Yuqing ignored the two men's little exchange and took the short blade Mrs. Xiersen handed her, tucking it behind her waist.

It was a silver self-defense dagger, its hilt wrapped in nonslip leather cord and its weight just right. She led the way to the front door, her back straight, without the slightest sign of panic.

Back on Blue Star, she had experienced countless zombie tides of all sizes. A pollution tide in a game wasn't enough to frighten her.

When they emerged from the castle, the situation was far more serious than expected.

Gray-black mist filled the streets and alleys. The wind carried a thick, putrid stench, mixed with the smell of wood chips and blood.

The streets were deserted, every household's doors and windows tightly shut. The stone houses were fairly sturdy, but the wooden huts and thatched houses at the ends of the alleys hadn't been so lucky. Thin wooden boards couldn't hide the occupants' scent from the mutated beasts. Several houses had already half collapsed, wood chips scattered across the ground.

"Help!!"

A piercing cry suddenly came from the alley to their left, accompanied by a child's sobbing.

"Little sister, get out of the way! Run toward me!" It was a boy's voice, trembling as he forced himself to shout.

All three of their expressions changed at once.

"Over there!"

Xilaier reacted fastest, drawing his sword and charging over.

Shen Que instinctively moved to protect Yuqing's side, but his attack was no slower. Yuqing followed close behind, pale white spiritual power already gathering at her fingertips as she attacked alongside Xilaier and Shen Que!

[Points +5]

[Points +5]

[Points +5]

[Points +5]

[Points +5]

After dealing with the mutated beasts nearby, Yuqing hurried over to the brother and sister. The boy was still trembling, blood seeping from a wound on his arm, but he continued to shield his sister tightly. Yuqing crouched down, gathered a faint healing light at her fingertips, and gently placed it over the children's wounds. "Don't be afraid. It's all right now."

A gently cool sensation spread over the wounds, and the stinging quickly faded.

The girl stared at her, so stunned she forgot to cry, her eyes wide and round.

"Take them to the castle and ask Madam to arrange somewhere for them to hide," Yuqing said, turning to the guard following behind her.

"Yes." The guard immediately agreed and escorted the sister and brother back toward the castle.