For example, the Elephant Snake’s immobilization skill could reduce a player’s movement speed to 10% for three months; the Spinning Turtle’s curse could turn a player into a level 1 turtle, unable to use any skills, only able to crawl and chat, returning to normal after three months; the Ice Dragon King’s freeze could immobilize players for three months; the Povert’s burn could ruin a player’s appearance, requiring in-game purchases to restore, but even then, the face would slowly deteriorate over three months. There was also the Mad Dog’s madness skill, making players bark for three months in chat. These were all Wang Shenmu’s original ideas, making bosses in the game extremely difficult to defeat, with the rewards for defeating them being incredibly rare. Now, these bosses, usually encountered after great effort, appeared before the players in droves, brutally crushing them.
Wang Shenmu had long remembered those foul-mouthed men and women. Wherever his flute pointed, the monsters would attack. For instance, there was that woman, Lianying Liuli, whom he wished to skin and bone; she had transformed into a creature resembling a turtle, unable to crawl out of the ice. She was also poisoned by the man-eating flower, causing her to lose health continuously for three months. She cursed loudly, but all that came out from her loudspeakers was “Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!
Finally, her character dimmed, and she logged off in frustration. However, screenshots of her screen full of barking had already been captured and posted on the forums, making her the laughingstock of the ages. Wang Shenmu felt a rush of satisfaction. He walked into the crowd, and those who could escape did, while others logged off. No one dared to come within ten steps of him. People finally realized the terror of the divine artifact. Soon, the square was deserted. Wang Shenmu put away his flute, and the monsters vanished without a trace. He looked up at the rooftop, intending to chat with Chang Sheng Dian, but to his surprise, a man slowly emerged. He held a folding fan, dressed in white, with a smiling demeanor. Who else could it be but Luo Zishang? He had been hiding there, watching the show all along!
Local Chat – Luo Zishang: Chang Sheng Dian, I’d like to challenge you.
Seeing this provocative message, Su Yao couldn’t help but laugh. This kid really didn’t know his place. He had lost to her in the battle at the White Dragon River, and she had lost to Qin Chuan, yet he still wanted to challenge Qin Chuan? Oh, my, Su Yao felt like she was witnessing the birth of another tragedy.
Qin Chuan typed:
Local Chat – Chang Sheng Dian: If you’re looking to avenge your princess, I suggest you give up.
Local Chat – Luo Zishang: Liuli? Haha, what does that bus have to do with me?
I simply want to test you out. Isn’t it said that Chang Sheng Dian can go seven times in one night, fearless of any challenger? Why, won’t you use your scythe to knock me back to level 1?
Local Chat – Chang Sheng Dian: I won’t fight you.
“I’m leaving, what about you?” Qin Chuan shut down his computer and got up, ready to leave. Curiosity got the better of Su Yao, and she asked, “Why won’t you fight him? Are you also having stomach issues and need to run away? He was beaten like a dog by me back then…”
“He’s an old friend of mine,” Qin Chuan interrupted her coldly, then walked out to pay the bill.
“Wait — doesn’t he know it’s you?” Su Yao chased after him.
“Damn it! Where is he!” This time, it was Wang Shenmu’s turn to flip the table in frustration; he hadn’t even had a chance to chat with Chang Sheng Dian before the man left. What the hell was going on? He looked up to see the shameless couple from the next booth leave one after the other, which made him even angrier. He cursed “shit” and left after paying.
Outside, the dark sky was still pouring rain, and the street lamps cast a dim light. Qin Chuan did not indulge Su Yao’s curiosity any further.
Chapter Sixteen: Old Photographs
Amidst the heavy rain, the blurred neon lights reminded the two fools that they had forgotten their umbrellas. Su Yao blew on her hands; it was really cold.
She turned to look at Qin Chuan, who was even more impressive, just wearing a windbreaker over a short-sleeved shirt.
“Are you cold?” Qin Chuan asked.
“Not cold!” she replied.
“Are you hungry?” he asked again. “If not, let’s go home; why endure this miserable weather?” But Su Yao firmly said, “Hungry!!!”
Qin Chuan swallowed his next words, and they returned to the restaurant where they had dinner earlier. At this hour, it was peak time for late-night snacks. The waiter led them to the last empty table and apologized to the next customers, “Sorry, sir, we’re full. Would you mind waiting a bit?”
Wang Shenmu immediately spotted the couple who had just taken the last table before walking out without looking back. He was very hungry, not having eaten since he went to the company in the morning, but his appetite was completely ruined. He decided to go home, standing at the door, waiting for a taxi in the cold rain. Unfortunately, at this hour, there wasn’t a single available taxi. He waited in the cold for a good fifteen minutes before he finally saw an empty cab approaching, and he quickly hailed it.
“There’s an empty cab, quick.” When Su Yao walked out of the restaurant, she was still burping. The man beside her had already run out to intercept the taxi, settling into the back seat. “Come on!”
” Qin Chuan waved at her, “There are hardly any cabs at this time, just this one. Hurry up, I’ll drop you off first.”
Su Yao ran into the car, the door closed, and the taxi sped off into the rain, leaving Wang Shenmu cursing. Su Yao arrived home soon after, agreeing to Qin Chuan’s conditions of “handing over the account in two months” and “if he’s online, she would prioritize playing with him.” Su Yao fumbled for her keys in the dark hallway… damn, where are the keys?! She remembered putting them in the right pocket of her coat, but they were gone. Her wallet and phone were still there, so it wasn’t a pickpocket. She called Qin Chuan.
“Keys? No, I didn’t see them,” Qin Chuan replied.
Su Yao hung up, continuing to search. She hadn’t showered in four days, and why was the world always against her? She remembered asking Qin Chuan, “With your amazing hand skills, aren’t you a professional player?” Qin Chuan had said, “No.” Hearing this, she felt a pang of regret; if he had competed, the Chinese team could have won another gold medal…
In the dark, cold hallway, with the sound of the heavy rain outside, a sudden sense of unease washed over Su Yao. The war on the other side of the ocean from years ago has sunk into the depths of time. She thought she could forget, just like when she left the competitive gaming scene without looking back. Su Yao had witnessed Qin Chuan’s massacre and lost to his level 50 alt. That fierce style of play, that guy’s famous quote “Attack is the best defense,” Su Yao as a child had believed in this and emerged from obscurity. This belief even gradually permeated her life, leading her to that step.
What a bitter night, Su Yao shook her head, trying to shake off the sudden surge of melancholy. She began a new round of searching through all her pockets; she couldn’t possibly be stuck outside her own door until dawn. Thinking this, she finally pulled out her phone. “A-Cao, are you home? Uh, I’ve lost my keys, can I crash at your place for the night? I’ll get someone to open the door tomorrow morning… Oh no, no need to pick me up, I’ll take a taxi over. Yeah, okay, leave the door open for me!”