"Are you serious?"
Lin Zhao smiled faintly.
"Mm-hmm."
Shen Xingchen nodded. "If you lose, you'll bring the Scarlet Moon Knights to Star River for at least half a year. I can offer you two to three guild positions, and the funding will definitely not be lacking. The entire Scarlet Moon Knights will receive at least 500 million in funding. If I lose, I will immediately join your Scarlet Moon Knights and serve you diligently for half a year. What do you think?"
Lin Zhao frowned. "It's more than that. We have a physical studio for the Scarlet Moon Knights. We work together daily to improve efficiency. If you really lose, you'll pack your bags and live at the Scarlet Moon Knights' studio unconditionally for six months. Don't worry, the accommodation won't be bad."
"Ah?"
Shen Xingchen was slightly stunned. She gritted her teeth, but thinking that she absolutely couldn't lose, she then smiled. "Don't worry. If I do lose, I will wholeheartedly plan everything for the Scarlet Moon Knights within half a year. I believe that after six months, this guild will at least be a T1 level guild in the national server."
"Agreed, it's a deal!"
"Alright."
Shen Xingchen smiled faintly. "I'll draft a contract right away. You and I can sign it online."
"Mm-hmm."
...
Not long after, Shen Xingchen handed over an agreement regarding the duel between the two of them, settling the outcome of a single match. Whoever lost would pay the corresponding price. After signing, Lin Zhao frowned. He couldn't figure out why Shen Xingchen was so confident. Could this mage truly be extraordinary, and his flying sword Mingyue wouldn't be able to defeat her?
After signing, Lin Zhao didn't regret it. It was worth a shot, what was the big deal? At worst, he and his brothers would work for Star River for half a year. He could afford to lose!
"When do we fight?" Shen Xingchen asked.
"No rush."
Lin Zhao waved his hand gently. "Tomorrow night, you'll come to Cloud County?"
"Sure."
Shen Xingchen's dimples deepened as she smiled. "Then I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Alright."
...
The next second, Lin Zhao turned around, grabbed Chen Xue's shoulders, and showed her the contract. "I think I was a bit impulsive just now. This Shen Xingchen..."
"Ah!?"
Chen Xue's mouth fell open, and she was stunned. "You should have at least consulted Lu Han..."
"That's why I said I was impulsive."
Lin Zhao frowned and immediately shared the contract in the management group chat. "Lu Han, I just signed this agreement with Shen Xingchen from Star River. Take a look."
"Oh?"
Lu Han glanced at it and smiled. "I don't mind. I'll follow you, boss, wherever you go is fine."
"That's good then."
Lin Zhao said solemnly, "I will strive to win against Shen Xingchen."
"Mm!"
Everyone nodded in unison.
...
In the woods, Lin Zhao and Chen Xue stopped leveling. Chen Xue grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a small grove. Her brows furrowed. "Do you know why Shen Xingchen made this bet with you? It's because she knows you well enough, but you know nothing about her. Lin Zhao, you are indeed too impulsive."
"I'm sorry, Ah Xue..."
Lin Zhao frowned. "I genuinely felt I had victory in my grasp. How strong could a mage be to not be able to defeat me in my current state? I really don't believe it. This Shen Xingchen, known as the smartest woman in the national server, has a very high reputation. If she could join the Scarlet Moon Knights, it might greatly benefit us."
"You just don't listen to advice."
Chen Xue waved her hand and began to search for Shen Xingchen's combat data in "Tian Xia" online, listing it out for Lin Zhao. "Here, firstly, Shen Xingchen awakened a celestial-grade magic artifact called the Furong Hairpin when she reached level 50 and became a formal player. It has now been cultivated to level 4 magic treasure. It has various divine abilities, one of which is 'Sword Suppression.' This Furong Hairpin can temporarily suppress the opponent's flying sword and also seal one of the opponent's skills. Therefore, your flying sword might become ineffective in front of Shen Xingchen."
"..."
Lin Zhao's expression turned serious. "No wonder. But even without using my flying sword, I might not necessarily lose to her."
"There's more."
Chen Xue waved her hand, and a talent interface appeared. "Shen Xingchen was one of the top three players in the closed beta, so she was quite lucky. When she created her character, she obtained a celestial-grade intermediate talent called Eternal Inverse Scale, which greatly enhances defense and the chance to dodge physical attacks. Furthermore, the lower her HP, the higher her dodge chance. Here, this is a recording of Shen Xingchen sparring with Su Xinghe. Take a look yourself."
Lin Zhao watched carefully. In the video, Su Xinghe's attacks were fierce, repeatedly closing the distance, but most of his attacks missed.
"She can." "She's an anomaly."
Chen Xue pursed her lips. "Let me say this upfront. If you lose, I will immediately leave the Scarlet Moon Knights and return to Cang Long. After all, I've fought with Star River many times when I was in Cang Long, and we're old rivals. Joining Star River would be worse than death for me. You must promise me this. I can come back after half a year."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. But can't you have a little faith in me? I mean... I'm not without a chance. And to keep you, Ah Xue, here, I will definitely give it my all."
"Mmm~~~"
Chen Xue smiled. "That's a more pleasant thing to hear."
She lightly punched Lin Zhao's shoulder. "It's all your fault, making everyone so worried. Let's go offline for dinner."
"Not eating."
Lin Zhao shook his head. "I'll stay online and grind monsters until tomorrow's duel with Shen Xingchen to ensure everything is perfect."
"Ah!?"
Chen Xue was taken aback. "Why? A self-harming preparation method?"
"Look at this."
Lin Zhao revealed his talent to someone else for the first time. When the effect of the celestial-grade upper-tier talent, Godslayer Blood Drinking, appeared before Chen Xue, she was almost speechless. "Ce... celestial-grade... and upper-tier?!"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Tomorrow's fight against Shen Xingchen won't be smooth sailing. I might keep missing. So, the best I can do is increase my resistance and improve my fault tolerance. This way, if I can't hit Shen Xingchen, she won't be able to hit me either. And if I get lucky, one sword strike will send her to our studio."
"Can do, can do!"
Chen Xue narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled sweetly. But after a few seconds, she suddenly showed a hint of wariness and looked at Lin Zhao prudently. "Lin Zhao, tell me honestly... you didn't make this bet with Shen Xingchen because you wanted to pursue her, did you? The most beautiful woman in the China region, the eldest daughter of the Shen Group. Her looks, her figure, her status... have you developed feelings for her?"
"What are you talking about?"
Lin Zhao frowned. "Right now, I just want to focus on revitalizing the Scarlet Moon Knights. What does it matter if Shen Xingchen is beautiful? Do I have to like every beautiful woman in the world?"
"Then why?"
Chen Xue stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him indignantly.
"Stop overthinking."
Lin Zhao turned around. "If that were the case, wouldn't I have taken a liking to you and Roman long ago? A woman's beauty is one thing, whether I like her is another. Just because she's beautiful and I say it's love at first sight, that's called lust."
Chen Xue chuckled. "Makes sense. I'll grind with you for a while longer so you don't get too lonely grinding by yourself."
"Mm!"
...
Deep night, Hai Xi County, secret realm map.
"Xingchen!"
Shen Lingyuan's brows were tightly knitted. "You're too impulsive! How could you agree to a duel with a player of Bai Yi's caliber? And the stakes are so high! I found out that the Scarlet Moon Knights studio has three males: Bai Yi, Yu Jin, and Lin Feng. It's too unsafe for you, a young lady, to go there and stay for half a year. I don't agree!"
"Brother."
Shen Xingchen, sitting on a branch, glanced at him. "Do I need your permission for everything I do? Besides, you lost to Bai Yi, I won't lose, hehe~~~"
"What if?"
Shen Lingyuan's saliva flew everywhere. "What if you go to Bai Yi's side, and he drugs your water?"
"Then what should we do?"
Shen Xingchen asked. "Will you take my place?"
"I can!" Shen Lingyuan volunteered with the air of a martyr.
"They wouldn't want you... Hahahaha~~~" The girl on the branch laughed heartily.
"Hey, Xingchen, you're still smiling so cheerfully!"
Shen Lingyuan sat down on a rock with a disgruntled look. "The assassin I sent to Cloud County reported that Bai Yi is grinding for red names all night, looking like he doesn't want to sleep. You really need to be careful. This person might still have some tricks up his sleeve. If you lose... Su Xinghe will definitely start complaining."
"So what if I lose?"
Shen Xingchen's delicate brows furrowed. "I didn't sign a contract with Xinghe. If I lose, I lose. If I lose, I'll go live with Bai Yi. That'll infuriate you all!"
"..."
Shen Lingyuan was almost furious.