Three days later.
…
In the early morning, Lin Zhao, Chen Xue, and others woke up early and went online after breakfast.
Today is a big day, Tianji City will be opened at nine o'clock.
On the east plaza of Yunshang County, crowds were everywhere, all waiting to teleport to their desired main city. The Scarlet Moon Knights had already reached level 3 guild, with a member cap of 10,000. The current number of members was 1800+, with both the Youth Squad and the White Robe Squad exceeding 600 people.
The recruitment requirements of the Scarlet Moon Knights were extremely strict, so their development in terms of numbers was slow, but their overall strength could not be underestimated.
Lin Zhao, Chen Xue, and Shen Xingchen stood by the window in front of the Great Cathedral. Not far away, Ding Chi, Luo Man, Zhang Jun, and others were chatting about some interesting game stories.
“I’ve got the information.”
Shen Xingchen looked at the crowded scene in the distance and said, “Besides us, the guilds that will be stationed in Tianji City include Xianxian, Wuwang, Guanghan Palace, Azure Knights, and Prosperous Peony. Among them, Xianxian and Wuwang are recognized as top ten guilds, and their strength is considerable. Guanghan Palace ranks around 10-20, followed by Azure Knights and Prosperous Peony.”
“Will there be any diplomatic issues?” Lin Zhao asked.
“No issues with Wuwang and Guanghan Palace for now.” Shen Xingchen blinked her beautiful eyes. “After all, I’m quite familiar with the leaders of these two guilds. But Xianxian is hard to say.”
“Oh?”
Chen Xue asked with a smile, “What about Xianxian?”
“Xianxian’s guild leader, Xian Bai, is the number one playboy in the country. In ‘Conquest,’ Xian Bai has courted at least a hundred girls in the game. During the beta test of ‘Heavenly World,’ Xian Bai teamed up with Leng Yan and also pursued her passionately. But you know, A’Yan only has eyes for Lin Zhao and completely ignored Xian Bai. And recently, everyone in the national server knows that Sheng Tian’s guild leader, Leng Yan, has been very close with Scarlet Moon Knights’ guild leader, Bai Yi. Once we enter Tianji City, Xian Bai might turn resentful out of jealousy and develop hostility towards you, his love rival. At that time, the Xianxian guild will be our biggest enemy in Tianji City.”
“Is that so…”
Lin Zhao frowned. “Can you explain to Xian Bai that A’Yan and I are just ordinary friends?”
“Do you think he’ll believe it?”
“No matter.”
Lin Zhao was speechless for a moment. “He can believe it or not. If they want to fight, we’ll fight. The Scarlet Moon Knights don’t provoke trouble, but they don’t fear it either. If the Xianxian guild wants to challenge us, we’ll accept. Who’s afraid of whom?”
Shen Xingchen gave him a thumbs-up, a smile on her lips.
Chen Xue, on the other hand, slightly furrowed her brows. Entering Tianji City meant another batch of troublesome matters to deal with. Shen Xingchen might not be able to handle all the diplomatic affairs alone, and she would have to contribute then.
…
At this moment, not far away, a few people were arguing about something. As Lin Zhao, Shen Xingchen, and Chen Xue looked over, they saw a group of people from Prosperous Peony surrounding a beautiful nomadic player. That nomadic player was Mo Chenxue, whose Prosperous Peony emblem on her chest had disappeared, signifying her formal departure from Prosperous Peony.
“Xiao Xue.”
Ghost King, adorned with flowing gold and dark gold equipment and wielding a broadsword, frowned. “Do you really have to terminate the contract? We at Prosperous Peony haven’t mistreated you, have we? Formal termination requires a triple penalty, totaling 180,000 universal coins. Are you sure?”
“Sure.”
Mo Chenxue’s brows were tightly furrowed. She had had enough. Just last night, two strangers had loitered under her building for a long time, even tying a live mouse to a stone and throwing it in through the window, scaring her so much that she couldn’t sleep for almost the entire night. She knew that Ghost King must have sent people to make her retreat.
However, despite her seemingly delicate appearance, Mo Chenxue was inwardly strong-willed. She simply refused to compromise, refused to become Jiang Chong’s woman, and would rather pool all her in-game savings to pay off this triple contract penalty.
“Guild Leader.”
Mo Chenxue looked at the other party. “I really… really can’t take it anymore and don’t want to stay in Prosperous Peony. Please let me go.”
“Fine!”
Huang Xiaoxie, with a defiant look, stepped out of the crowd and sneered, “Triple penalty aside, what about your equipment? Your staff, your robes, were all Flowing Gold gear personally acquired by our Guild Leader from other main cities. Your bracers, rings, and necklace were all dropped when we cleared bosses together. Without us, would you have this set of equipment?”
“I know what to do.”
Mo Chenxue took off her staff and robes, changed into a Golden gear spirit robe, and handed the equipment to Ghost King. She said calmly, “Guild Leader, thank you for your kindness, but I’m not destined to accept it.”
“…”
Ghost King trembled with anger. He had never met such an unappreciative and foolish woman. He had been successful in romance for so many years, when had he ever suffered such a setback?
“Xiao Xue.”
His gaze gradually turned icy. “Must you be so unreasonable?”
“No.”
Mo Chenxue’s expression remained calm, and she smiled faintly. “Precisely because I am reasonable, I must do this.”
“Damn it, you ungrateful bitch!”
Huang Xiaoxie roared, “Is a staff and a robe enough? What about the rest of your equipment? Which piece wasn’t obtained by the brothers of Prosperous Peony for you? If you’re taking things off, take it all off, and let us see what your pure and chaste Mo Chenxue looks like. Do you have an extra ‘x’ that other women don’t?”
“Okay!”
Mo Chenxue was young but incredibly strong-willed. She immediately took off all her equipment and threw it on the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Are you satisfied now?”
“Tsk tsk.”
A rakish swordsman tilted his head and chuckled. “That robe you’re wearing… seems like it was also dropped when we were teaming up yesterday. Why aren’t you taking that one off? Take it off, let the brothers have a look, right?”
“Right, right, right!”
A group of Prosperous Peony members chimed in. These people had leveled with Mo Chenxue daily and treated her as a goddess. Yet, at this moment, they all looked like they were kicking someone when they were down, their expressions ferocious, wishing they could see Mo Chenxue naked.
“…”
Lin Zhao’s sword-like eyebrows were tightly knit. The group was not far from him, only about ten steps away.
“You can tolerate this?”
Shen Xingchen frowned. “Lin Zhao, you’re the guild leader, aren’t you going to take a stand?”
“Mm.”
Lin Zhao stepped forward, raised his hand, and with absolute strength, pushed aside two heavy armored players from Prosperous Peony. He entered the fray directly, took out a level 65 Silver gear robe from his inventory, and threw it to Mo Chenxue. “Return that one to them. Don’t you think that robe is dirty?”
“I…”
The moment Mo Chenxue saw Lin Zhao, tears began to stream down her face. She immediately changed out of the spirit robe and forcefully threw the previous robe towards the group of people. “Now, it’s all returned to you!”
“Bai Yi!”
Ghost King sneered and stepped forward. “What do you mean? Playing the hero to save the damsel? Mo Chenxue is one of our Prosperous Peony members. With so many of my brothers here, it’s not your Scarlet Moon Knights’ turn to intervene, is it?”
Lin Zhao smiled faintly and said nothing, turning to leave.
“What, scared to take a stand?”
Huang Xiaoxie said coldly, “Scared?”
“Fine.”
Lin Zhao turned around again. With a “clang,” he drew his Ben Lei Sword, and lightning crackled around the blade. He pointed the sword forward, sweeping over the Prosperous Peony members. He said with a smile, “All of you here who stood by and watched Mo Chenxue being bullied without saying a word are garbage, every single one of you. No exception.”
“What did you say?!”
Ghost King, Huang Xiaoxie, and others roared.
“Just wait and see.”
Lin Zhao lowered his sword, smiled indifferently, and said, “Once we get to Tianji City, if I don’t beat the crap out of your Prosperous Peony members, then we, the Scarlet Moon Knights, will have lost!”
Saying that, he looked at Mo Chenxue. “What do you say?”
“I want to go to Baima City. There are a few friends going with me.”
“Got it. Have a safe journey.”
Lin Zhao nodded with a smile.
“Guild Leader Bai Yi…”
Mo Chenxue caught up a few steps, walking behind Lin Zhao. “Thank you… but I’m sorry, I really can’t join the Scarlet Moon Knights at this time. Otherwise… many people will gossip.”
“It’s okay.”
Lin Zhao’s expression was gentle. “I didn’t help you with the intention of you joining the Scarlet Moon Knights.”
“Mm, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
…
Mo Chenxue walked towards another group of people, two men and two women, who should be her friends from real life. They had all quit Prosperous Peony together and were going to Baima City to develop, avoiding the鋒芒 of Prosperous Peony.
Lin Zhao returned to Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue.
“How does it feel to be a hero saving the damsel?” Shen Xingchen asked with a smile.
“Yeah.”
Chen Xue smiled with dimples. “Tell us your thoughts?”
“What are you two up to?”
Lin Zhao touched his nose, looking a bit embarrassed at the two of them. “What hero saving the damsel… How can she be as pretty as you two?”
Chen Xue covered her mouth and chuckled. This guy’s emotional intelligence seemed to have improved.
Shen Xingchen’s lips curved upwards. “Mo Chenxue doesn’t want to join the Scarlet Moon Knights?”
“Mm.”
Lin Zhao nodded. “She has too many concerns. It’s not the right time for her to join the Scarlet Moon Knights now. It doesn’t matter, we can talk about it later. Besides, Mo Chenxue’s individual strength is just average…”
“It’s different.”
Chen Xue said, “The country just ranked the Four Great Beauties. If Mo Chenxue were also in the Scarlet Moon Knights, we would have three. Leng Yan is still an auxiliary member. It would greatly boost the guild’s cohesion and popularity.”
“That’s true too.”
Lin Zhao waved his hand. “Let’s not worry about it for now. We’ll discuss it later.”
“Mm.”
…
Soon after, with the chime of a bell from the top of the Great Cathedral echoing, the new main city system was officially opened. A list of exciting main cities such as Tianji City, Lanxi City, and Baima City appeared before everyone. By talking to any NPC within a county city, one could teleport. Thus, Lin Zhao, Shen Xingchen, and Chen Xue gave the order, and the 1800+ members of the Scarlet Moon Knights all teleported to Tianji City.