“As expected, you don't believe me~~~”
Chen Xue smiled faintly and said, "Lin Zhao, it's up to you next to make him believe you're that Lin Baiyi from Xueyu Tianchi. This guy's brain is simple. Once he believes you, the guild matter will basically be a done deal."
"Got it."
Lin Zhao took a step forward and said calmly, "First, I'll tell you something."
"Mm."
The young man Luo Fanchen's eyes widened as he looked at the peer in front of him, not daring to breathe.
"A month before the public beta of 'Tian Xia'."
Lin Zhao spoke slowly, "During a conflict, I was severely injured in the back of my head. After being hit hard by a blunt object, I fell unconscious, almost becoming a vegetable. At that time, my sister contacted the official staff of 'Tian Xia' and managed to get me an invitation to the game's closed beta, hoping to use the game's brainwave intervention to wake me up. So, after I fainted, the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Lin Zhao in the Lin family's ancestral home in the small town."
He frowned, "Later, over a year passed. I went from being a good-for-nothing whose Qi Sea was burned through by the Qilin Fire Seal, to an eighth-realm martial artist and fourth-realm sword cultivator. I went through many things in between, but in the end, I achieved success. I set up a Great Heavenly Furnace Array on Xueyu Tianchi, thwarting the demon race's southward plan. Finally, I also became a disciple of Mr. Qin Suihan, recognized Ding Muchen, the God of War, as my senior brother, and Ming Yuechi as my senior sister. I also met many other important people: Sister Bai, Xiao Jiu'er, Xiao Shit ou, Chu Shuai, Sister Chen Yu, Old Huang, Zhang Liucheng, Guo Dongyang, Chen Wanli, Shao Shiyu, Lu Xun, and the ten people from Shandi an Bieyuan, my aunt Lin Xingchu from Xi Jian Jiang, the Peach Blossom Demon Han Yurou from Tong Jing Hu, the heroic spirit commander Zhang Xicheng from Luoxia Valley, and many, many more..."
"This..."
Young Luo Fanchen's heart pounded wildly. The things this person was saying were more detailed than the game's background story he knew. Especially Han Yurou the Peach Blossom Demon and Zhang Xicheng of Luoxia Valley—these were not mentioned in the game's background story, yet he spoke of them as if they truly existed.
However, despite his excitement and racing heart, he still couldn't believe it. After all, if he believed, it would mean leading 500 brothers to fight for this person. Everything still needed to be handled cautiously. Chen Xue was no ordinary woman; she was also a very cunning person. What if she tricked him into this situation through some means? The great demon Yu Zhi in the game was very treacherous, and such women existed in reality as well.
Caution, more caution was needed!
"Still not enough?"
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, "Just right. Not long ago, I discovered that I could awaken some of my past life's abilities in the game. When I reached level 50 and underwent my first reincarnation, I awakened the first Yun Jian Lake, and a flying sword within it also awakened."
"Ah?!"
Young Luo Fanchen trembled slightly, "Is it... is it Ming Yue, or the tip of the Scholar Sage Han Niu Sword gifted by Mr.?"
"Ming Yue."
Lin Zhao raised his hand lightly, and with a "swish," a silver flying sword shot out from the Yun Jian Lake, hovering between him and young Luo Fanchen. It hummed and vibrated, its tip incredibly sharp. Ming Yue had now been tempered on the Sea God Rock and ascended to level 2. It had also awakened its second innate divine ability, called "Feng Han," which dealt a fierce blow of 600% to the target. It was currently Lin Zhao's only skill with higher damage than Qian Kun Yi Zhi!
Flying swords were the lifeblood of sword cultivators; continuous refinement was necessary!
"Is it really Ming Yue?"
Young Luo Fanchen reached out, wanting to touch the sharp edge of the flying sword, but a dense sword qi surrounded the sword, making it impossible for him to physically touch it.
"A flying sword gifted by Senior Sister Yuechi, could it be fake?"
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, "Is it still not enough? If this is still not enough, I'll think of a way to prove my identity in the most convincing way."
"You say it!"
Young Luo Fanchen's eyes widened. In fact, he was already quite convinced. His heart was pounding at this moment; he had never been so excited in his life.
"Watch carefully."
Lin Zhao slowly raised his hand, his palm grasping the hilt of the Dragon Slaying Sword behind him. He closed his eyes and said calmly, "Sister Bai, if you can hear me, please give me a little reaction. No need to unsheathe it, just a slight reaction is enough."
As he spoke, he forcefully pulled the sword!
"Zi zi~~~"
Streams of light coiled around the sword hilt, and the entire Dragon Slaying Sword vibrated with a "hum." The sword body had even slowly moved outward by about a millimeter. The surrounding heaven and earth aura changed drastically. This action instantly depleted Lin Zhao's 100% stamina bar, making him almost fall to the ground. When he let go, he stumbled backward. Fortunately, Chen Xue caught him in time, her delicate brows furrowed as she asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
Lin Zhao shook his head and smiled, "My past life's abilities haven't been fully awakened yet, so it's unlikely I can fully draw the Dragon Slaying Sword. However... there should have been a reaction just now, right?"
"Yes! Yes..."
Young Luo Fanchen nodded heavily, his eyes wide. The moment Lin Zhao drew the sword just now, it was exactly like the scene of drawing the Dragon Slaying Sword on the hill north of Xueyu Tianchi and slaying the thirteenth-realm great demon Bai Lan!
...
"Plop!"
The young man was passionate and chuunibyo. The next second, young Luo Fanchen knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and said solemnly, "Marshal Lin, to borrow Zhuge Liang's last words when Liu Bei invited him out of seclusion, I am Lu Han, and I wish to serve you with all my might!"
Lin Zhao felt a little embarrassed, "Actually, although Lin Baiyi in the game is me, I'm not entirely Lin Baiyi..."
"I know."
Lu Han chuckled, "Then... I'll call you Boss from now on!"
"Good!"
Lin Zhao took a step forward, helped him up, and smiled, "So, you're willing to join the Scarlet Moon Knights?"
"Willing, a thousand times, ten thousand times willing!"
Lu Han nodded repeatedly, but then he looked at Chen Xue and said, "But Boss Xue, regarding the money we discussed earlier... is it still valid? After all, I can't decide alone; I need to get 500 brothers to agree. If there's no funding for the military expenses to march into Yun Shang County, it will be difficult for my brothers to willingly come out."
"It's valid!"
Chen Xue said, "As long as you bring the Passionate Youth Brigade to Yun Shang County, I will transfer 400,000 directly to you."
"Alright, it's a deal!"
In fact, this money wasn't even enough for the settlement fees for the 500 members of the Passionate Youth Brigade. After all, relocating to Yun Shang County at this stage would incur considerable expenses, both in gold and reputation.
Lu Han would definitely have to pay the difference himself.
"I feel a bit sorry..."
Lin Zhao frowned, patted Lu Han's shoulder, and said, "The Scarlet Moon Knights have just been established and have no foundation or much funding yet. So, the guild fee I can offer you is only 400,000 for now. However, once the entire guild's situation improves, we will definitely compensate you."
"Boss, what are you talking about?"
Lu Han smiled faintly and said, "Although our Passionate Youth Brigade is a mercenary group, and we've been in guilds like Xinghe and Canglong, we can still be self-sufficient even without guild fees. It's just about PK for resources, which is what we do best. Now that Boss has given us settlement fees for the Scarlet Moon Knights, you don't need to worry about the rest. I will lead my brothers to fight and earn, not only fighting for the Scarlet Moon Knights but also helping them get rich."
"Good!"
Lin Zhao nodded and smiled.
"By the way, Boss..."
Lu Han asked cautiously, "In reality... is your name really Lin Zhao?"
"Mm."
"That's great..."
Lu Han's expression was full of longing, "That's great..."
Chen Xue couldn't help but chuckle. Everything was unfolding as she had predicted. The Passionate Youth Brigade had been secured, and the next step was to rise again. She felt a sense of smugness; her judgment of people's personalities was quite accurate!
...
Ling Bei County, Shuo Xue Lian Lian.
Wang Jing Tower.
Lu Han no longer had the inclination to gaze at Bai Di City; it was meaningless. Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi, who had memories of his past life, was right before his eyes. And the ancient sword on his back was not a skin but the real Dragon Slaying Sword. Thinking of this, Lu Han's emotions surged even more.
"What now?"
Lu Han sat cross-legged with his two "Bosses" on the top floor of Wang Jing Tower, squinting his eyes and smiling faintly, "After Boss Xue contacted me, I did a bit of homework and learned about the history of Yun Shang County from its early development. Our Scarlet Moon Knights have been thoroughly bullied. Sheng Shi Mu Dan is acceptable; they're just a bunch of idiots. The most detestable are the smiling tigers like the Azure Knights. Especially Li Canghai, who is treacherous and hypocritical; there's nothing he wouldn't do."
"No rush, take it slow."
Chen Xue said, "Lu Han, your Passionate Youth Brigade only has 500 people, while the Azure Knights and Sheng Shi Mu Dan are constantly expanding, with each guild likely having over 2,000 members. If we were to fight a full-scale war, we would face enemies eight times our number."
"Mm."
Lu Han said in a deep voice, "Actually, I'm confident. In a one-on-one duel, our entire brigade could crush either the Azure Knights or Sheng Shi Mu Dan. We could handle four times our numbers and even suppress them in localized battles. But with eight times, it's indeed difficult; we can't suppress them head-on."
"Exactly."
Chen Xue smiled faintly, "So, don't confront them head-on; there's no point. In fact, don't make any grand announcements. Just enter Yun Shang County under the name of the Passionate Youth Brigade and develop. Act as if you don't know me and Lin Zhao. You develop first, continuously strengthen yourselves, and then suddenly change banners, taking on the name of the Scarlet Moon Knights, giving Li Canghai and the Ghost King a little surprise."
"Can do, can do..."
Lu Han rubbed his hands and smiled, "This plan is good. Boss Xue is indeed someone who works with Boss Lin; your wisdom and command value are quite high."
Chen Xue rolled her eyes and ignored him.
...
Lin Zhao brushed the snow off the railing, gazing to the north, his heart filled with joy.
Finally, the Scarlet Moon Knights were beginning to recruit soldiers and build up their forces. It seemed he was one step closer to returning to Xueyu Tianchi!