Under a ginkgo tree in the secret realm map.
Leng Yan sat on a fallen tree trunk, her snow-white legs dangling lightly, her treasure sword resting on her lap. A faint smile played on her pretty face, making her look exceptionally well-behaved.
Lin Zhao sat on a large rock opposite her, propping his Qinglu sword beside him, like two old friends reunited after a long separation.
In truth, Leng Yan wished Lin Zhao could sit beside her. But she also knew that Lin Zhao saw her as a very good friend, not a lover. It was alright; if they got along well, perhaps they would fall in love and be together in the future?
Leng Yan was very confident in herself, be it her looks, figure, personality, or values.
Not far away, Chen Xue and Luo Man, while killing monsters, would occasionally cast glances, fearing the two might do something indecent in the small grove. Ding Chi, Lu Han, and Zhang Jun huddled together, pretending to kill monsters, and constantly snuck peeks, as if anticipating some indecent scene.
“Tell me about it.”
Leng Yan looked at Lin Zhao, her dimples deepening as she smiled. “Besides the Lin Zhao from Xueyu Tianchi, I want to know more about you. Can you tell me?”
“Everything, no matter how trivial? You want to know it all?” Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
“Mhm, like a census. I want to hear it.”
“Okay.”
Lin Zhao nodded, thinking about where to begin. After a few seconds, he began to recount his story leisurely. “Actually, my birthday is in September 2025. My birthplace is Suzhou, the predecessor of Sucheng, a full 130 years ago.”
“Ah?!”
Leng Yan’s delicate mouth parted slightly, her face a picture of astonishment.
“Human cryopreservation technology.”
Lin Zhao knew the story was bizarre. He frowned and continued, “In 2032, I was just seven years old. But a car accident on the highway caused a fire that took everything from me. My parents were gone, and I was critically injured and near death, my internal organs failing. At that time, my cousin, Murong Feiyue, pleaded with many people and finally used the most advanced human cryopreservation technology of the time to preserve my body. I was thawed and awakened in 2137, so I slept for a full 105 years and missed that great war.”
“I see…”
Leng Yan pursed her red lips. “Losing all your family and friends… that must have felt terrible.”
“I’ve come to accept it.”
Lin Zhao gave a wry smile. “Later, I grew up struggling in the slums. That period wasn't good. It was probably not much better than Lin Zhao in Xueyu Tianchi. Then, in August this year, to save someone, I was hit on the back of the head with blunt objects by some thugs, causing severe injuries and leaving me unconscious. To help me wake up, my cousin pulled some strings to get me an internal testing spot for ‘Tianxia.’ The hope was to use brainwave stimulation to wake me up. That’s how I became Lin Zhao on Xueyu Tianchi.”
“So that’s how it is…”
Leng Yan was slightly taken aback. “Your cousin… lived that long?”
“Mhm.”
Lin Zhao nodded. “My sister’s body has been modified. She only told me she has another identity, but I must keep the specifics a secret for her. I’m sorry, I can’t tell you.”
“It’s alright.”
Leng Yan smiled faintly. “So, your real name is also Lin Zhao, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s wonderful…”
Leng Yan looked at him. “Can I see you in reality? I don’t want us to remain just friends in the game.”
“Sure.”
Lin Zhao smiled. “Our Feiyue Knights studio is located by Taihu Lake. I can send you the address. You’re always welcome to visit, Miss Leng.”
“Oh!”
Leng Yan chuckled. “You still have to call me ‘Miss Leng’?”
“Then… Leng Yan?”
“No.”
Leng Yan pursed her lips. “Call me ‘A Yan’!”
“Ah?”
Lin Zhao hesitated, stammering, “A… A Yan.”
“Mhm, that’s right.”
Leng Yan said softly, “From now on, if the Feiyue Knights encounter any trouble, just send me a message. The Sheng Tian Ten Thousand Legion is at your disposal.”
“A Yan…”
Lin Zhao sounded a bit embarrassed. “This isn’t good. Helping once is enough; you can’t always help. After all, Sheng Tian isn’t yours alone. Besides… if it’s always like this, other guilds will laugh at our Feiyue Knights.”
Leng Yan let out a snort. “Laugh at what? Laugh at our White Robed Alliance Leader mooching off women?”
“Mhm.”
Lin Zhao’s old face flushed. “That’s pretty much the idea.”
“I know.”
Leng Yan smiled faintly. “Then you decide what’s appropriate. If you need my help, send me a message. Don’t feel embarrassed.”
“Mhm, okay!”
They chatted until it was almost time for dinner when Leng Yan reluctantly left Yun Shang Commandery. Fortunately, they had already added each other as in-game and WeChat friends, so it was fine. If she missed him, she could come see him later.
…
Evening.
In a top-floor hot pot restaurant in Ningcheng central, it was Leng Yan’s turn to treat Shen Xingchen to hot pot.
As soon as they met, Leng Yan started talking incessantly, appearing extremely happy.
Shen Xingchen was happy too. Although she hadn't asked why Leng Yan was so happy, if Leng Yan was happy, she was happy.
A little while later, the two were enjoying hot pot together, even ordering several bottles of exquisitely packaged beer. Beer with hot pot was a perfect match. After drinking two or three bottles of beer, the two beautiful girls looked charmingly tipsy, their faces flushed.
“Xingchen ah…”
Leng Yan finally couldn’t hold back, giggling foolishly. “I saw him! He’s really still here, still alive…”
“Ah?”
Shen Xingchen blinked. “No… no way? Lin Zhao is alive?”
“Mhm.”
Leng Yan said, “He was recovering from a severe head injury in the game and borrowed the identity of Lin Zhao from Xueyu Tianchi, interacting with us as an NPC. Now… he’s in ‘Tianxia.’ I saw him this afternoon and talked to him a lot…”
As she spoke, her pretty face flushed. “I feel like I was dreaming. In my dream, I was utterly shameless…”
Shen Xingchen smiled. “What’s there to be ashamed of? My A Yan dares to love and dares to hate. I like that about you. If I met someone who made my heart flutter, I’d hope I could be like you, to say it out loud, express it, instead of keeping it bottled up inside, which could lead to missing out.”
Leng Yan snorted. “Hey, hey, don’t say that! Who are you? You’re Shen Xingchen, the one and only Shen Xingchen in the world. If any man made your heart flutter, I think you just need to take one step towards him, and he’d probably have no choice but to surrender. Who’s asking us Xingchen to be so charming~~~”
“Not at all…”
Shen Xingchen’s cheeks flushed. She held a ladle in her left hand and chopsticks in her right, leaning on the table, like a cute kitten standing upright. As she leaned, her ample chest rested on the table, nearly obscuring the bowls and plates. But Shen Xingchen was accustomed to this view. She pursed her red lips and smiled. “Congratulations, A Yan. Don’t be shy. If you have time, invite him out for hot pot. My treat!”
“Sure, sure.”
Leng Yan smiled and nodded.
“Right, he’s entered the game now. Who is he?”
“Top secret!”
Leng Yan said mysteriously with a smile. “I want to give you a surprise!”
“Oh…”
Shen Xingchen’s lips curled up. “Then let me tell you about my situation. I’ve left Xinghe and quit the guild.”
“What?!”
Leng Yan was shocked. “You left Xinghe? Then… where are you going? Come and assist me in Sheng Tian. I’ll let you be the alliance leader, and I’ll be your subordinate!”
“No, no…”
Shen Xingchen said, “I made a bet with someone for a one-on-one duel. If he lost, he and his guild members would join Xinghe. If I lost, I would join his guild and assist him for half a year. In the end, I lost, so I had to leave Xinghe.”
“Who?”
Leng Yan frowned. “With your PK skills, how many people in the national server could beat you?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say…”
Shen Xingchen pursed her lips. “His name is Bai Yi, the alliance leader of Feiyue Knights. His solo combat power is very strong. I originally thought I could easily win, but I didn’t expect this sword-playing style to be so powerful. In the end, I ended up 'picking up' myself…”
“Ah?!”
Leng Yan’s face turned ashen, and she sat up straight, her beautiful eyes fixed on Shen Xingchen. “Bai… Bai Yi?”
“Damn…”
Shen Xingchen immediately felt something was wrong. She furrowed her delicate brows. “Could it be… Bai Yi is Lin Zhao?”
“That’s right…”
Leng Yan didn’t know what to say. “How could it be such a coincidence…”
“…”
Shen Xingchen was also in a state of turmoil at this moment. How could such a coincidence happen in the world? Her best friend Leng Yan’s crush was precisely the person who had defeated her not long ago and made her obligated to serve him?
For a moment, both Shen Xingchen and Leng Yan felt uneasy.
…
Shen Xingchen was flustered because she was about to start “working” at Lin Zhao’s studio. Living and working alongside the person Leng Yan adored, would Leng Yan not be angry? It was clearly impossible to not care. Even the best sisters shouldn’t be in such a situation. As for Leng Yan, her unease stemmed from Shen Xingchen’s overwhelming beauty and charm. If she went to Lin Zhao’s side, could she guarantee that Lin Zhao wouldn’t be smitten with her?
No one dared to make a definitive promise, after all, she was Shen Xingchen!
“Ahem…”
Shen Xingchen picked a piece of snowflake beef for Leng Yan, plastering a smile on her face. “That… that thing… don’t blame me, okay? I didn’t know Bai Yi was Lin Zhao before. Besides, I really wanted to win. If anyone’s to blame, it’s your Lin Zhao who is too strong. A single Rising Dragon Slash took me down. But don’t worry, A Yan, once I’m at the Feiyue Knights, I absolutely won’t touch Lin Zhao, nor will I let Lin Zhao touch me, and I will definitely not fall for Lin Zhao. I guarantee this!”
She raised her index and middle fingers together, looking very serious.
Leng Yan couldn’t help but snort with laughter. “Xingchen, I’m not that petty… It’s fine, I trust you. I’m just a little worried. There are still a few men at the Feiyue Knights studio. If you, a girl, go there, what if you’re taken advantage of?”
“It’s alright.”
Shen Xingchen smiled. “My dad sent 20 special forces soldiers in an RV, carrying a Zhurong cannon and wearing Emperor Yan-grade armor to protect me. Those people wouldn’t dare do anything to me.”
“Are 20 people really enough?”
Leng Yan frowned. “My family’s guard team is also very strong. Do you want me to send another 20 people?”
Shen Xingchen rubbed her forehead. “No need, really no need. If you’re worried, come over every few days and sleep with me, in my room.”
“Mhm!”
Leng Yan finally felt at ease. “Then it’s settled. I can sleep with a big bosom~~~”
Shen Xingchen rolled her eyes, too lazy to pay her any mind.