"Damn it! Fuck!"
Li Canghai resurrected in the city and stood in front of the Grand Cathedral, furious. He looked around with his sword, lost. He couldn't possibly chop up the two useless vice-leaders in his anger, nor could he chop up Xi He Da Guo Kui. These people were all talents hired by the Azure Knights at great expense. If they truly fell out, how could he continue?
Li Canghai couldn't afford to lose this game. "Tian Xia" was a metaverse-level game in the truest sense. Li Canghai's Cang Nan Transportation not only gathered a large number of employees to enter the game as players to plunder resources but also invested heavily in "Tian Xia" through financing and exchanges. In short, the investment was enormous. If he truly lost, Cang Nan Transportation would likely go bankrupt and be deregistered.
"What's going on? Can anyone give me an explanation!?"
Li Canghai exploded, his hand holding the sword trembling madly. "I just had a board meeting this afternoon. Why is it that when I logged in, the Scarlet Moon Knights had already pushed to the boss point in the center of the map? Who can give me an explanation? In just one hour, you've been this perfunctory with me?"
"Alliance Leader."
The vice-leader of the Sharpshooter frowned. "The Scarlet Moon Knights came too fast and too unexpectedly. By the time we started preparing, those heavy armored players like Bai Yi, Xue Qiancheng, Yu Jin, and Shao Nian Luo Fan Chen had already launched a full-on assault. Our people didn't have time to prepare. Our defenses weren't even ready before we were swept away. Let's do it again. We'll re-form a team and enter the secret realm map. We'll definitely be able to defeat those sons of bitches from the Scarlet Moon Knights and that son of a bitch Bai Yi!"
"..."
Li Canghai was choked with anger but did not immediately order a counter-attack. After all, he knew in his heart that in a one-on-one fight, the Azure Knights were not their opponent. The reason they had previously driven the Scarlet Moon Knights out of the secret realm map was due to the pincer attack of over 2000 troops from the "All Villains" guild. Moreover, the Scarlet Moon Knights had just retaken the secret realm map and their morale was high. Counter-attacking at this time would definitely lead to heavy losses.
"Let's wait a moment, I'll handle it."
He sat down on the white jade steps in front of the Grand Cathedral and irritably opened his communicator, directly calling Ding Chunqiu, the alliance leader of "All Villains." After a few rings, the other party answered.
"Old Monster Ding!"
Li Canghai's tone was already quite impolite. "We had an agreement. 'All Villains' was supposed to support the Azure Knights for a full three days. It hasn't even been 72 hours, and you've already withdrawn. What do you mean?"
Ding Chunqiu chuckled sheepishly. "Brother Li, it's not that I'm breaking my word. It's just that my backyard is on fire. Those bastards from Qin Shi Ming Yue, I don't know if they ate bear hearts or leopard gallbladders, but they directly attacked our people stationed in the secret realm map. So... I had to bring my brothers back to put out the fire. Brother Li, please don't be angry. We'll come over after we've dealt with things here and make up the remaining 72 hours for you."
"Make up?"
Li Canghai was furious. "Our side lost nearly 3000+ brothers because you withdrew. How do we settle this bill?"
"Li Canghai, Mr. Li."
Ding Chunqiu also had his temper. He narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Don't forget that your numbers were 2.5 times theirs. How long has it been since we from 'All Villains' withdrew, and you've already been swept away? Tsk tsk... You lost 3000+ people, you should ask your group of noob brothers why. Why are you coming to us from 'All Villains'? Trying to shift the blame to us?"
"Old Monster Ding!"
Li Canghai was exasperated. "You just wait and see. You'll get what's coming to you eventually!"
"Is that so?"
Ding Chunqiu sneered. "Li Canghai, harmony brings wealth. This is unnecessary. Forget it, the contract is void. We from 'All Villains' don't want the remaining balance either. If your Azure Knights have the guts, fight the Scarlet Moon Knights alone. From now on, you take your broad road, and I'll take my single-plank bridge!"
Li Canghai, infuriated, turned off the communicator and gnashed his teeth.
...
"What did he say, Alliance Leader?"
Xi He Da Guo Kui sat beside him and said, "Actually, I have something to say, which might not be pleasant to hear."
"Guo Kui, good brother."
Li Canghai patted his shoulder. "You may not be the brightest, but say what you want to say. I'll listen. Listening to both sides makes one enlightened..."
Xi He Da Guo Kui grinned. " 'All Villains' have withdrawn, and 'Prosperous Peony' is maintaining neutrality. It's clear that our Azure Knights can't operate in the secret realm map anymore. Since that's the case, we should learn from the Scarlet Moon Knights' actions from two days ago. If we can't operate in the secret realm map, we'll level up outside. It's still leveling, just a bit slower. Then we'll find an opportunity!"
"What he says is crude, but sensible."
Li Canghai looked at Xi He Da Guo Kui with newfound respect. "Mm, we'll train outside for now. There's no need to force our brothers to gnaw on the hard bone of the Scarlet Moon Knights anymore."
"Mm, there's one more thing."
Xi He Da Guo Kui frowned. "Alliance Leader, do you remember when we went to Ningcheng together to sign that big contract? We had a great time at the best bar in Ningcheng that night, the time you brought that beautiful woman with long golden hair back to the hotel?"
"Mm?"
Li Canghai narrowed his eyes and smiled. "I'm a respectable person... Why are you bringing up that incident?"
"Do you remember the guy at the next table? We had a drink together, that handsome young man. His name is Xu Ran, and I've been in touch with him on WeChat since then." (Here, let's assume WeChat is still alive after a hundred years...)
"I have some impression."
Li Canghai frowned. "So young, and so flamboyant. I guessed that kid slept with at least three women that night."
"Pretty much."
Xi He Da Guo Kui smiled. "Xu Ran, he has another identity. He's a guild leader in Shengtian, and the cousin of Shengtian's alliance leader, Leng Yan."
"Ah!?"
Li Canghai suddenly stood up. "Holy crap... Really? Someone from Shengtian? And such a high position?"
"Mm!"
Xi He Da Guo Kui nodded heavily. "That's right. I only found out recently when I was chatting with him. The alliance leader of Shengtian, the national server's 'Leg God' Leng Yan, her real name is Xu Yan. She's the eldest daughter of the Xu Corporation in Ningcheng, backed by a super consortium. Otherwise, Shengtian wouldn't be what it is today. This Xu Ran is Xu Yan's cousin and serves as the chairman of a subsidiary company in the Xu Corporation. Although he's flamboyant, his connections are indeed real."
"Guo Kui."
Li Canghai's expression became serious. "Are you saying... we can ask Shengtian to step in and eliminate these scum from the Scarlet Moon Knights?"
"Otherwise?"
Xi He Da Guo Kui said, "Xu Ran and I have chatted a lot recently. We even went to appreciate the charm of the Qinhuai River together a while ago. We're practically like brothers. With this kind of friendship, perhaps we can connect with Shengtian through Xu Ran. Then everything will fall into place. Befriending the beautiful Leng Yan, or even forming an alliance with Shengtian. Shengtian is a veritable T1 level guild. Once we become allies with Shengtian, the Scarlet Moon Knights will have to reconsider. At most, I'll put up a good front, and you, Alliance Leader, can provide some military expenses. Shengtian doesn't need to deploy its entire main force. Just mobilizing two main guilds with 2000 people would be enough to crush the Scarlet Moon Knights."
"If we only invite two guilds..."
Li Canghai pondered for a moment, then slapped his thigh. "Guo Kui, this is feasible! How about... you contact Xu Ran immediately? We'll do some public relations first. If that doesn't work, we'll fly to Ningcheng tonight. Xu Ran picks the venue, and we'll treat him. We'll let him have a blast, with girls, money, and hotels all prepared for him. Then, Xu Ran, this cousin, can whisper some words in the ear of Leng Yan, and perhaps Leng Yan will decide to form an alliance with our Azure Knights."
"Okay, I'll contact Xu Ran right away!"
...
Around 4 PM.
Lin Zhao was brushing red names with Chen Xue and others. Soon, Chen Xue, Ding Chi, and the others' red names faded away. Only Lin Zhao's ID remained blood red. Having killed too many people, it wouldn't disappear for a while. Just then, a message arrived from a stranger named "Gu Ren Gui": "Alliance Leader Bai Yi, has the Yunshang County secret realm map been relieved?"
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was stunned. He took a closer look and saw that this Gu Ren Gui was a player from Lingbei County, the alliance leader of Qin Shi Ming Yue. He immediately understood and smiled, "It's relieved. Thank you, Alliance Leader Gu Ren Gui!"
"You're welcome."
Gu Ren Gui smiled. "Seeing that Xing Kong Shen Xingchen can consider us Qin Shi Ming Yue as allies, it brings honor to our faces!"
Lin Zhao stiffened. He immediately understood the reason behind everything. Why the usually neutral Qin Shi Ming Yue suddenly became warlike? It was all because someone had guided them, and that person was the future beautiful strategist of the Scarlet Moon Knights, Shen Xingchen. This meant that everything that happened today, the sudden turn of events for the Scarlet Moon Knights, was all arranged by Shen Xingchen. Was it a welcome gift before she joined the Scarlet Moon Knights?
Good heavens, this subtle manipulation was played beautifully!
Gu Ren Gui said, "Currently, the war in Lingbei County is quite stalemated. Those guys from 'All Villains' are attacking our occupied territories in Qin Shi Ming Yue like crazy. We're having trouble handling the pressure..."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao smiled slightly. "Please rest assured, Alliance Leader Gu Ren Gui. Our Scarlet Moon Knights will not stand idly by. Although I cannot go personally, I will have Chen Xue lead 300 elite main forces from the Scarlet Moon Knights on an expedition to help you out?"
"Great!"
Gu Ren Gui was overjoyed. "Thank you, Alliance Leader Bai Yi, for your prompt response!"
"Mm, Chen Xue will contact you later."
"Okay!"
The other party was extremely excited.
Lin Zhao and Chen Xue discussed it, and Chen Xue happily accepted the order to lead the army on an expedition and bring glory to the Scarlet Moon Knights in Lingbei County. It was a good deed.
...
Night, Ningcheng.
In the center of Ningcheng, Leng Yan slowly rose from the game pod. Someone knocked on the door. Her gaze fell upon her cousin, Xu Ran, this good-for-nothing little rascal, who was up to no good again.
"Something?"
Leng Yan opened the door and asked, showing no intention of letting him in.
"Sister."
Xu Ran smiled with guilt. "The alliance leader of Azure Knights in Yunshang County, Li Canghai, and the Fengzi Camp leader Xi He Da Guo Kui are passing through Ningcheng and want to treat us to a meal. Will you do us the honor?"
"No, I'm not familiar with them."
Leng Yan frowned. "Is that all?"
"Mm!"
"Then you can scram."
"Alright, little brother is out~~~"
...
Leng Yan walked back into her room and looked out the window at the night view of Ningcheng, a scene of lights and neon. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. Finally, she had recovered these past few days and no longer thought about him. She had finally come to terms with it. Lin Zhao was just an NPC in the game; he wasn't real. She had to let go. After all, life had to go on.
However, there was still a knot in her heart. When she was alone, she still missed him. She truly wished to see him again, to see him earnestly cup his hands and say, "Long time no see, Miss Leng." If that could truly happen, her wish would be fulfilled, and she would truly let go.
After all, Leng Yan liked his serious and earnest demeanor so much.
Love arises unaware, and grows profoundly.