Xu Mo was stunned for a moment. Then, as he read those few lines, the corners of his mouth gradually curled up into a manic grin.
A mere one percent completion, and it already triggered?
The reward was listed as to be determined, with a special note saying it would be “bountiful”?
Interesting. It was as if the system was terrified he wouldn't play along!
The fall of Dawn City—he was familiar with this plot. Every playthrough of the game, it was unavoidable and unchangeable. But this time, the beginning seemed different.
It was worth a shot!
Besides, Bai Feifei really wanted to save Dawn City, didn't she? He could use that to his advantage. Heh heh heh...
As he plotted his next moves, the Old-Timer began to chuckle sinisterly in his mind.
Standing behind him, Wan Qianhong saw that he had no intention of saying anything more, so she bowed and spoke up.
“Thank you for the warning, Senior. I will keep your deduction in mind.”
Wan Qianhong thought for a moment. Sensing the awkwardness of the silence, she thanked him again.
“I must thank you again for saving us. If there is anything I can do in the future to repay this debt of gratitude...”
“Don’t thank me,” Xu Mo interrupted. “Thank Bai Feifei.”
He definitely wanted the favor, but there was no point in having it attached to the identity of “Sinking Black.”
Who the hell even knew who Sinking Black was? He was a complete work of fiction!
It was better to put the credit on Bai Feifei. It would make things easier for him later.
“She traded her life with me to save you all,” Xu Mo’s voice continued. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered with you.”
Wan Qianhong opened her mouth, her throat feeling tight.
What did he mean by... trading her life?
Was it all to save them? She knew it. Bai Feifei was a person with the hands of a demon but the heart of a saint. Beneath her erratic exterior, she truly had a kind soul.
There were many things she wanted to ask, but in the end, she only managed one question: “How is she now?”
“She’s fine,” Xu Mo waved his hand dismissively. “She’s sleeping down there.”
As he spoke, he pointed toward the hole he had smashed through earlier.
“Follow the path I smashed open and keep going down. There’s a wide open space. You can go find her yourselves in a bit.”
“As for me... I’ll be taking my leave!”
Without waiting for a response, his black armor glinted coldly. He bent his legs and suddenly leaped!
Like a missile, he slammed straight into the stone wall of the tunnel.
Boom!
A massive hole was punched through the stone wall, and the black figure vanished into the billowing dust.
The group stood behind Wan Qianhong, not daring to move. It wasn't until the dust settled that Yang Shuo whispered, “Does he have to be so violent even when he leaves...?”
Wan Qianhong glanced back at him and said urgently, “Let’s go! We need to find Bai Feifei immediately.”
...
On the other side.
After crashing through the stone wall, Xu Mo sprinted through the deserted mine tunnels.
There was none of the previous leisurely grace. He was bolting like his life depended on it, his legs a blur as if he were being chased by a pack of hounds.
He took various turns, and once he was out of everyone's sight, he began racing from another direction toward the spot he had pointed out earlier.
“Dammit... I forgot to tell them to wait a few minutes before looking for her!”
He cursed as he ran. The hideous armor plates on his body began to peel away, melting piece by piece into black mist that merged back into his heart.
In a few seconds, the dark figure—standing over a hundred and ninety centimeters tall and covered in armor—vanished, reverting back into the slender young girl.
Bai Feifei’s body.
Xu Mo continued to grumble, but he didn't dare delay and kept running.
One second he was a top-tier expert from ancient times, and the next he was sprinting frantically. It was a bit much even for him.
But he was in control of Bai Feifei’s body now. He had to get there before Wan Qianhong and the others and lie down in her persona.
Otherwise, this whole performance would have been for nothing.
His violent exit through the wall wasn't some display of power; it was simply because he didn't know any Escape Art!
If he could have just vanished into flames, that would have been much better.
“Dammit! You sure are sleeping soundly!”
Xu Mo cursed Bai Feifei as he finally burst into the open fleshy cavern.
He found a relatively flat spot and adjusted the posture of Bai Feifei’s body, bending her legs slightly and lying down to fake being unconscious.
After a thought, he tugged at her already tattered jacket, making her look even more pitiful.
“Okay, that’s done!”
A few minutes later, the sound of footsteps approached from the distance.
The Scavengers arrived quickly. Wan Qianhong, leading the way, swept her floodlight across the ground and quickly found her target!
“Bai Feifei!”
The girl lying on the ground was motionless. Her clothes were a mess, her face was covered in dust and blood, and she was as quiet as if she were dead.
Wan Qianhong rushed over in three steps, kneeling beside her. She pressed her fingers to the side of the girl's neck for a few seconds, then let out a long sigh of relief.
Without saying another word, Wan Qianhong pulled Bai Feifei into a hug, her body trembling uncontrollably as she whispered into her ear.
“Thank you... thank you... I’m so sorry...”
Her voice wavered, filled with intense emotion.
Feeling the warm breath against his ear, Xu Mo felt a wave of itchiness and fought the urge to scratch it.
He had thought Wan Qianhong was pretty composed, but now she seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown. Was she about to cry?
The soft sensation of her body pressing against him made Xu Mo wonder if he should just “wake up” now...
Perhaps realizing that many people were watching, Wan Qianhong quickly composed herself and whispered to “Bai Feifei.”
“It’s okay now. It’s all over.”
“Come on. I’m taking you home. From now on, no one will ever have the right to call you a sinner again!”
With that, she prepared to hoist Bai Feifei onto her back.
But she had exhausted too much energy earlier, and her legs wobbled unsteadily.
At that moment, Ye Yu pushed forward from behind and grabbed “Bai Feifei’s” arm to support her.
Wan Qianhong was taken aback and met Ye Yu’s gaze. The latter lowered her eyes and said softly, “I’ll carry her. I still have strength left.”
Wan Qianhong’s eyes flickered. She remained silent for a moment before nodding, seemingly with some reluctance.
And so, Xu Mo lay across Ye Yu’s back, feeling completely speechless.
“This girl’s luck with women is way too good! Why was everyone trying to kill me when I played this game?”
...
An unknown amount of time passed.
Bai Feifei felt her consciousness floating upward, rising bit by bit from a deep darkness.
Then, she felt something soft and comfortable against her back.
Her eyelids fluttered, and she opened her eyes.
The light was soft, and she found herself in a clean, spacious room.
The bed was huge, and the mattress was as soft as falling onto down feathers. The blanket was white—not the grayish-white of something washed too many times, but a pure, true white. It felt soft and smooth to the touch and smelled wonderful.
Paintings hung on the walls in exquisite frames that looked like something she could never afford in her entire life.
Beside her was a cabinet with a vase, and in the vase were several flowers...
She bolted upright, her eyes wide as she took in her surroundings.
Where was she?
Her memories slowly returned. Didn't she remember being on the verge of death just a moment ago?
She looked down at herself. Her clothes had been changed into a pair of clean pajamas made of comfortable fabric with stitching so fine it didn't even look handmade.
Everything before her felt unrealistically beautiful, filled with things she had never seen in her life.
Could this be... Heaven?
Just then, that cynical, hellish voice in her mind dragged her back to reality.
“Oh, you’re awake?”
“You certainly slept well. Meanwhile, I’ve been running around for your sake. I’m exhausted. How do you plan to compensate me?”
Rate on N.U.
