Late at night.
The butterfly forest surrounding the west gate of Yunshang County was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. A large group of production-type players were diligently gathering herbs. Many elderly individuals didn't fully grasp the concepts of the metaverse or games, but they knew they could collect herbs for money in the game. There wasn't much they could do for their families. Previously, they scavenged in the wild, picking up plastic items, engine fragments left from wars, even a single screw could fetch a little food. But the wilderness was dangerous, and many who went never returned, becoming prey for beasts. In contrast, the game was much safer, albeit a bit monotonous. But for these elders with limited time left, what was monotony? They had patience. As long as their descendants could suffer less, they were willing to endure some hardship.
But today, the days were no longer peaceful.
"Thump, thump, thump~~~~"
From within the city, the sound of dense hoofbeats approached. As the group of gathering elders and children turned to look back, they saw countless players from the Feng Zi Ying (Wind Unit) charging out of the city. Hooves clattered, and gleaming iron spears, long swords, and battle sabers rained down from horseback. Suddenly, screams and blood mingled in the butterfly forest. Low-level, unarmed production players were slaughtered one by one.
Xi He Da Guo Kui, wielding his sharp sword and with a golden-grade item temporarily replacing his leg, stared with a grim expression and roared, "Speed up! After you chop them down, remember to pick up the materials. It's all money. Let's clear this area quickly and then move on to the next forest to raid. He Bai Yi wants to save people, right? I want to see if he can save them faster, or if I can kill them faster. If Bai Yi doesn't save them, it's fine. If he tries to save them, I'll kill even more!"
"Boss is brilliant!"
A group of ruffians laughed heartily, their gleaming weapons descending upon the unarmed.
...
"Ding!"
Lin Zhao was wandering through the jungle, unsure where to level up, when a message from Chen Xue arrived: "Xi He Da Guo Kui is leading the Feng Zi Ying players outside the west gate, slaughtering gathering players. They are having a grand old time."
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao's heart trembled.
"Let me show you."
Chen Xue was watching from a distance outside the west city gate. After sharing her perspective with Lin Zhao, she said, "These people are utter scum. They are projecting the blame for not being able to defeat you onto these defenseless gathering players. Moreover, Lin Zhao, you need to be especially careful of them. They might try to ruin your reputation with this."
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned, "Could they be this malicious?"
"What do you think?"
Chen Xue smiled faintly, "The world is chaotic, and so are people's hearts. If you provoke such scoundrels, you should be fully prepared."
"Mmm."
The very next second, a system announcement bell echoed through the air, as if to confirm Chen Xue's words. This time, Lin Zhao truly felt the malice of human hearts—
"Ding!"
System Announcement (Player Xi He Da Guo Kui's broadcast): Bai Yi! Do you think you're acting righteously? In your eyes, are we the Feng Zi Ying a bunch of despicable and shameless gutter rats? Fine, you can kill my brothers. Then I'll go on a killing spree too. Do you want to protect those gathering players in the butterfly forest? Then I'll make them my target. You save one, and I'll kill a hundred. I want to see who saves faster, you or me. If you don't save them, it's fine. They only need to pay a little protection fee, and at least their lives can be guaranteed. But if you insist on saving them now, I'll make sure these people can't survive in the game! All gathering players, listen up. Do you think Bai Yi is your savior? You're dead wrong. He's your nightmare! I didn't want to do anything to you, but I can't stand his hypocritical, self-righteous pretense of being the only noble one in the world. I'm going to slaughter all of you gathering players. If you want to blame anyone, blame Bai Yi. It has nothing to do with me.
...
"People can really be this shameless..." Lin Zhao frowned.
"Mmm..."
Chen Xue pursed her red lips, "Never underestimate the wickedness of people's hearts, especially those like Xi He Da Guo Kui who think they can do whatever they want in the game. Their pride is fragile. If you kill him once, he might resent you for a lifetime."
"Understood."
Lin Zhao gently pulled on the reins, turned his horse, and headed towards the west city gate.
"Lin Zhao."
Chen Xue's delicate eyebrows furrowed, "Are you really going?"
"Yes, why not?"
Lin Zhao smiled faintly, "This whole thing started because of me. I can't possibly let the gathering players suffer while I hide and gain a red name. We sword immortals who roam the martial world should see good deeds through to the end. If the aftermath isn't handled well, it's not true chivalry. He, Xi He Da Guo Kui, is acting like a broken pot, right? It's fine. I'll accompany them. I can play this game. They'll also get a red name for killing people. Killing red names while I'm a red name, I'll never be at a disadvantage. Since Xi He Da Guo Kui is so maliciously plotting against me and trying to ruin my reputation, it's fine. I'll play with him until he can't play anymore!"
"Alright!"
Chen Xue smiled and nodded, "I absolutely support you on this. Do you need me to help you fight your way out?"
"No need, just watch."
Lin Zhao smiled, "To put it crudely, I have plenty of experience fighting the Feng Zi Ying!"
Chen Xue rolled her eyes and instantly stopped wanting to bother with this guy.
...
Outside the west gate of Yunshang County.
Of the 200+ Feng Zi Ying players, only a very small number were not red-named. Most of them were already red. Xi He Da Guo Kui, however, had not personally taken action. He didn't want to become red-named. Killing just three players would turn him red. This rule greatly restricted player-vs-player combat. No matter how impulsive Xi He Da Guo Kui was, he couldn't afford to risk his entire set of top-tier equipment.
"To the left!"
Xi He Da Guo Kui personally led his men into a forest on the left. Ahead, another large group of gathering players were collecting newly spawned herbs and fruits. He raised his sword and smiled, "Brothers, it's time to raid. Surround them first, don't let a single one escape. Kill them all!"
Saying this, he raised his long sword and shouted, "Come, let's shout our Feng Zi Ying slogan together!"
Everyone urged their horses forward, swords drawn, and shouted in unison.
"Charge like fire!"
"Come and go like the wind!"
...
"Oh..."
Deep within the butterfly forest, Lin Zhao looked speechless. So that's how the Feng Zi Ying got their name. "Charge like fire, Come and go like the wind." It was simply the behavior of raiding bandits. The eight characters' meaning fit the Feng Zi Ying quite well here. However, Lin Zhao was truly angered at this moment. He had seen too many of these Feng Zi Ying. The slums of Su City were filled with such people. Because they were born poor and lived poorly, they vented all their malice on those weaker than them, indulging their whims and disregarding propriety and shame. There were so many like them.
Lin Zhao didn't know how to change the world for now, but what he wanted to do most at this moment was to stop this atrocity.
No more talk, stop war with war. Kill!
"Ching, ching!"
The Azure Tent Sword and the Flying Sword shot out simultaneously, instantly piercing the throat of a level 56 Sword Master who was raising his sword to strike an elder. The Sword Master was killed before he could even utter a sound. The moment he fell from his horse, a golden "-4" mark flew above his head. He had killed too many people, and his red name was severe. Once killed, he instantly lost 4 levels, and three pieces of his equipment were dropped!
It was a simple truth: good and evil are rewarded.
Lin Zhao charged out of the grass like a whirlwind, instantly picking up the three dropped pieces of equipment. Then, he caught the returning Azure Tent Sword and instantly killed a level 55 Berserker with a basic attack + Qiankun Yi Zhi (Universe Throw), dealing incredibly high damage. At this moment, Lin Zhao was not only a heavily red-named player, but a faint golden luster also emanated from his body. This layer of blood-red light was not just a simple effect of being red-named, but came from his Celestial-grade high-tier talent—God Slayer's Blood Drink!
The God Slayer's Blood Drink talent accumulated killing intent online. Killing monsters and people all counted, but killing people accumulated it faster. Lin Zhao's red name had become so intense that the effect of God Slayer's Blood Drink had increased significantly. This enhancement was hidden, improving attack damage and survivability subtly. Others found Bai Yi's attack to be too high, far exceeding his panel data, and this was the reason. As long as he didn't log off, Lin Zhao would only grow stronger as he fought. At this moment, he was already close to that state!
Ascending Dragon Slash!
With one sword ascending like a dragon, he sent three red-named Feng Zi Ying players to their doom!
The Azure Tent Sword was already covered in blood. Lin Zhao swept his sword, turning the bodies of the three players into a rain of blood. He was like a god of slaughter, his white robes stained with blood, which would slowly fade over time. He held the Azure Tent Sword, waved his left hand to collect the various equipment that had fallen from the air, lowered his body, and charged forward again. His sword and flying sword danced wildly, slaughtering the Feng Zi Ying players until they cried out in pain and fear.
"Scum!"
Xi He Da Guo Kui roared, "Focus your charge on me, and kill Bai Yi instantly!"
"Yes, boss!"
A group of cavalry retreated a few steps and simultaneously locked their charge and sword energy skills onto Lin Zhao.
But just as they were about to charge, a person suddenly rushed out from the side, knocking three players off their horses. The person was riding a black horse, wielding a dark gold grade long sword. With a Draw Sword Strike + Qiankun Yi Zhi, he instantly killed a red-named player. Then, he rapidly retreated, using sword energy to kill another.
Above his head, his ID was strikingly displayed—
Bu Su Li Ren!
...
"Damn it!"
Xi He Da Guo Kui roared, "Bu Su Li Ren, what the hell are you doing, attacking your own brothers!?"
"Hm?"
Bu Su Li Ren, while rapidly retreating on his horse, smiled faintly, "Are you guys enjoying killing gathering players? To put it bluntly, you are all beasts. How can I be brothers with beasts? You've got some nerve!"
"Second team, go, kill Bu Su Li Ren!"
Xi He Da Guo Kui roared.
Lin Zhao saw this and suddenly slashed his sword, killing a half-health player, and instantly moved to protect Bu Su Li Ren's back, saying faintly, "Why come to die?"
Bu Su Li Ren hacked wildly with his sword, desperately guarding Lin Zhao's back, and gave a wry smile, "I want to be a person, not a dog. I really can't stand to see this, so I had to act. At most, I'll lose one level. I level up quickly, it's fine."
Lin Zhao smiled calmly, "I don't need your cover, but I appreciate the gesture. If there's a chance, you go first. I'm stronger."
"I know."
Bu Su Li Ren smiled faintly, his heart warmed. Finally, fighting shoulder to shoulder with my brother Bai Yi, it's worth dying. In the end, one loses everything in life, so as a person, what matters most is feeling happy in your heart. If I, Bu Su Li Ren, don't deal with these Feng Zi Ying beasts tonight, I won't be happy!
Besides, my grandparents live in Xicheng. They might have also received government-issued game pods. If they entered the game, they would probably only be able to play as gathering players. If they were slaughtered like beasts like this, could they endure it? The thought of his grandparents potentially facing such violence made him want to cry a little.
Empathizing, Bu Su Li Ren understood this principle. Some things shouldn't be done, and cannot be done, not even once.