"Holy shit..."
The moment they stepped into the villa, Zhang Jun's reaction was entirely expected. His luggage landed with a thud, and he stood dumbfounded in the hall, completely unable to believe this would be his future home.
"Alright, stop gawking."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Get busy. Pick your rooms, confirm the 'Tian Xia' data cables are working properly, and then the three of us will log in and register so the government can deliver the 'Tian Xia' game pods."
"Understood!"
Ding Chi nodded with a smile.
Actually, there was one thing to be very thankful for: to encourage everyone to enter this game and rebuild the Second World, the game pods were distributed for free. As long as city residents registered their IDs, they would receive a game pod. Therefore, most city residents had already received theirs.
Lin Zhao, Ding Chi, and Zhang Jun were likely among the last batch. Delivery was also quite fast; by dusk, three game pods had arrived and were all installed in the main hall on the second floor.
Zhang Jun's gaze swept over the second floor. "For rooms, I'd like to stay on the second floor, is that okay?"
"It's best not to."
Lin Zhao glanced at him and said, "We'll definitely need to recruit more people in the future. What if we have female members join the studio? The second floor should be prioritized for them. There are plenty of rooms on the first floor, so let's all stay there."
"Exactly!"
Ding Chi agreed, "The three of us are the founders and veterans of the entire Crimson Moon Knights studio, the bedrock of the future Crimson Moon Knights guild. Since we're the bedrock, we naturally should live on the first floor. What do you say, Da Jun?"
Zhang Jun grinned. "If that's the case, what more can I say? Maybe they'll be reserved for your future sister-in-law to live in?"
"Tsk tsk..."
Ding Chi emphatically gave him the middle finger.
...
In the evening, Lin Zhao and Ding Chi cooked, making a few simple dishes. The taste was quite ordinary, but there was no alternative; they had to make do. After eating, the three of them browsed the official website of 'Tian Xia' together, planning for their future conquest of the world.
The holographic projection displayed nine major professions in 'Tian Xia'—
Sword Hero: A wanderer who roams the world with a sword, shattering enemies with a single strike.
Starry Sky Mage: A mage from the starry domain, capable of unleashing vast cosmic energies.
Divine Archer: An psionic warrior, able to draw a colossal bow with immense destructive power.
Templar Knight: A knight who draws upon cosmic power, balanced in offense and defense.
Berserker: A warrior who can enter a blood-fueled rage, focusing on attack.
Phantom Assassin: An assassin wielding shadow power, eliminating targets unseen.
Nomad: A wanderer of the astral realms, adept at healing and restoring teammates.
Storm Gunner: A marksman wielding a great rifle, capable of firing storm-like powers.
Formation Master: A profession originating from ancient times, capable of setting up formations to assist in combat.
...
The major professions were distinct and complemented each other.
Ding Chi frowned. "Come on, take a look and decide what profession you want to choose. I've seen the previous profession preview videos; all the major professions have quite unique characteristics."
"I'll choose Sword Hero."
Lin Zhao said without hesitation. He had already done half a day's research. Sword Hero was a colloquial term for Sword Cultivators in the game. It was said that the ultimate advancement title for a Sword Hero was 'Sword Immortal,' a person he had dreamed of becoming. Moreover, Sister Bai, Third Senior Brother, and Master Qin Suihan all hoped he would eventually become a generation's Sword Immortal.
"Hmm, Sword Hero is cool."
Ding Chi gave him a thumbs-up. "Just like Ah Zhao, I'll choose Sword Hero too."
Zhang Jun frowned. "Um... my two esteemed junior brothers, I'm just saying, if it were possible, what if the three of us all chose Sword Hero, and then we could cleave through enemies together, unstoppable?"
"Huh?!"
Lin Zhao hesitated. "Wouldn't the profession be too monotonous?"
"What's monotonous about it?"
Zhang Jun slapped his thigh. "Damn it, do you two think I haven't done any research? I've been looking at 'Tian Xia' expansion packs for half a month! The Sword Hero profession is absolutely the 'son of the version.' Although it focuses on offense, its three core stats are strong. Strength, agility, and stamina are all excellent, and its offensive skills are numerous. Most outrageously, Sword Heroes can wear heavy armor! Apart from slightly weaker recovery, there are absolutely no flaws. What are we hesitating about? All Sword Heroes!"
"Damn..."
Ding Chi frowned. "Damn, you're making me feel excited..."
Lin Zhao looked speechless. "Are you serious?"
"Serious!"
Zhang Jun coaxed him. "Lin Zhao, think about it. The three of us are all Sword Heroes, the 'Three Musketeers of the Bushes.' Wherever we stand, we'll be a force to be reckoned with. Who would dare challenge us three brothers? We'll just hide in the bushes and wait for them. They come, they die!"
Lin Zhao couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. In truth, the profession wasn't important; as long as Ding Chi and Zhang Jun liked it, that was enough. Many things were driven by preference, and if that preference was absent, all the planning and scheming might just be forced.
"Alright!"
Lin Zhao gently clapped his hands. "Three Musketeers it is. It's not a big deal, just a bit harder to level up."
"Mm-hmm!"
Thus, Ding Chi and Zhang Jun continued to research game data, delving into the details.
...
Lin Zhao, meanwhile, sat on a nearby sofa, cradling a control panel, studying things he wanted to know about the game. First, he considered the closed beta. The closed beta version had ended, and Lin Zhao keenly understood that the strange 'Ten People of Tian Xia' he knew were actually ten beta players. Su Xinghe, Shen Xingchen, Yi Shi Cang Liang, and that cold girl and Xian Bai, along with a group of others, were all beta players and the strongest group in the entire Huaxia region.
The official expansion pack included a fleeting glimpse of the battle at Xue Yu Tian Chi, even showing scenes of the young commander Lin Zhao leading the Death Squad against the demon race. However, the Lin Zhao in white on horseback was somewhat different from his current self. The young Lin Zhao's appearance leaned towards youthfulness and determination, while Lin Zhao's true appearance was softer and more casual, exuding a particularly sunny disposition at first glance, as their experiences were indeed different.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhao couldn't help but smile. If he were to enter the game again, Yi Shi Cang Liang, Leng Yan, and the others might not recognize him. Furthermore, the game's expansion pack had already been released, depicting the earth-shattering battle at Xue Yu Tian Chi. The self-sacrifice of NPCs like Lin Zhao, Qin Suihan, Chu Huaixi, Shao Shi Yu, and Chen Yu marked the beginning of the entire 'Tian Xia' game expansion pack, a fact all players knew. Under these circumstances, who would have thought that young Lin Zhao had grown up and transformed into a free-spirited young player?
Suddenly, Lin Zhao's gaze fell upon a line of numbers in the official expansion pack.
The day the game officially launched, according to the in-game calendar—
Da Shang Calendar, Year 334!
...
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao felt as if struck by lightning, slumping back into the sofa, his expression complex.
"What's wrong, Ah Zhao?" Ding Chi asked.
Zhang Jun also looked over.
"Nothing, nothing."
Lin Zhao smiled and shook his head, but his heart was filled with mixed emotions. The battle at Xue Yu Tian Chi occurred in the year 234 of the Da Shang Calendar, and the official launch was in 334. This meant that by the time of the official launch, a century had passed since Lin Zhao's death. What events would have transpired in this century? Lin Zhao felt a pang of sadness. When he logged in, Xiao Jiu'er and Xiao Shi Tou would be over a hundred years old; would they still be around? Moreover, when he died, the Dragon Slaying Sword had shattered, and Sister Bai had vanished. When he reappeared, would Sister Bai still be there?
Master Qin, he probably wouldn't be.
Third Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, when they saw him again, would they still recognize him?
And at Xue Yu Tian Chi, the Da Chen Dynasty, the ten people at the peak villa, Xu Zhi, Luo Yang, Mu Gua, had all died in battle. Chen Wanli, Shao Shi Yu, and the other marshals had also perished. All these events left Lin Zhao feeling a sense of profound loss, his heart filled with the feeling of vast changes.
"Ah Zhao, are you alright?" Ding Chi asked.
"I'm fine."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "You guys know, I spent a whole month in the game. That month was equivalent to over a year in the game, and I experienced too many things. So, looking at the expansion pack now feels different from how you guys feel."
"Understandable."
Zhang Jun said, "But we still have an urgent matter. The Crimson Moon Knights studio has been established, and we will eventually establish the Crimson Moon Knights guild. So, we need to decide who will take the lead in the Crimson Moon Knights and who will be the boss. This is very important."
"What's this?"
Ding Chi couldn't help but chuckle. "You little rascal, are you plotting to usurp power? The management account for Crimson Moon Knights was given to Lin Zhao by Sister Crimson Moon. We're also living in Lin Zhao's house. Besides, Lin Zhao is practically a semi-beta player; his understanding of the game far surpasses ours. The boss position can only be Lin Zhao's!"
Lin Zhao smiled. "Da Jun, do you want to be the alliance leader?"
"No."
Zhang Jun replied, "I'm just saying it to confirm. From now on, Lin Zhao will be the boss of this studio. Ding Chi and I will follow your lead. These words must be said."
"Understood!"
Lin Zhao nodded. "In small matters, we'll be casual. In important matters, I'll listen to everyone's opinions first. In short, the three of us brothers won't have too many complicated issues. For fundamental principles, listen to me."
"Agreed."
Zhang Jun nodded. "That's good!"
And so, for the next two days, the three of them stayed together in the villa, enjoying a happy life they hadn't had for a long time. During the day, they'd admire the scenery of Taihu Lake from the balcony, and at night, they'd play ping pong in the basement. They could even go out for a foot massage and chat with the middle-aged masseuses. Everything was wonderful, just waiting for the game to launch.
...
Ningcheng Center, Top Floor.
A lazy girl poked her head out of her blanket, staring at the ceiling. She murmured, "Upgrade quickly, upgrade quickly, then go to Xue Yu Tian Chi to see. Perhaps he's really still alive? Xu Yan, Xu Yan, as long as there's a glimmer of hope, you shouldn't give up. In this short life, you will eventually lose him. Since that's the case, you should love someone with all your heart..."
With that thought, she didn't want to sleep anymore. She kicked off the blanket with her fair, slender legs and, wearing slippers, headed straight for the bathroom.
Brushing her teeth and washing up, 'Tian Xia' was scheduled to officially go live at 12 PM!