Chapter 36: The Realm of Detachment! Pressing Forward

"Blue, where are you? You promised to take me leveling!" Sister Xiaomi, who had been missing for a few days, sent a message.

"Perfect timing! We were just about to head out of the city to level up. I'll meet you at the East Gate of Dali!"

"Boss, I’m highly suspicious of your ‘unemployed’ status. Are you a talent scout or a high-ranking executive at some entertainment company? How is it that everyone you know is a stunning beauty?" When I introduced the radiant and charming Sister Xiaomi to the group, A-Wei looked at me with a look of pure amazement. He glanced at the equally gorgeous Xiao Yue and Xiao Xue nearby and added with an exaggerated expression.

Xiao Xue greeted Sister Xiaomi warmly, then shot me a sidelong glance and said, "Hmph! Given his lecherous nature—always chasing after any pretty face he sees—he’s probably been waiting for a chance to become a talent scout, which is why he’s stayed unemployed until now!"

"Heehee, Blue, are you out there flirting with everyone, making little Xiao Xue so jealous?" Sister Xiaomi teased.

I said, feeling wronged, "Sister Xiaomi, you’ve got it all wrong! Xiao Xue being jealous of me is even more unbelievable than Jordan switching to playing table tennis. I’m the one suffering as part of the oppressed class, ‘barely hanging on’ under her tyranny! Besides, someone as honest and upright as me—could I possibly be a playboy? Xiao Yue, tell her."

Xiao Yue laughed, "Brother Bat only pretends to be a pig to eat the tiger. I’m not helping you this time; she told me all about how you bullied Sister Xiao Xue."

This little girl—I’ve been so good to her, and she betrays the organization at the critical moment. It truly breaks my heart! *Sob...* From now on, I have to figure out where people stand before I treat them well.

A-Wei, true to being a "good brother," didn't hold back with his dirty tricks. After secretly blackmailing me for two grand meals at the Yellow Crane Tower, he finally stood up and said righteously, "Three beautiful ladies, the boss is absolutely not the kind of person you describe. I stake my character on it! As a devoted subordinate who has followed him for days, going through thick and thin, I’ve had comprehensive contact with him. Based on my careful observation at his side, the boss is undoubtedly a kind-hearted, helpful, and excellent young man." *Sob...* I'm moved! Good brother, it was worth spending dozens of gold coins to buy his words.

Sister Xiaomi agreed, "A-Wei is right. A few days ago, when I lacked materials to make a cloak, Blue provided them for me without charging a single cent, and he even modeled for me for free!"

Xiao Xue was skeptical. "Does he really have such good intentions? I bet he was just sucking up to Sister Su because she’s pretty!"

"Ah! Sister Su, so that exquisite cloak the boss sold at the auction house for over 300 gold coins was made by you? You are truly talented! Could you make one for me when you have time? I asked the boss to save the cloak for me, but he..."

"Ah, Blue! Hmph! You’ve broken my heart. My first piece of work was actually sold by you!" Sister Xiaomi grabbed my ear in anger.

"A-Wei, go to hell! Don’t you ever mention ‘Yellow Crane Tower’ in front of me again!" I really wanted to kick him, but my ears weren't long enough. I... I’ve ‘invited the wolf into the house’!

I begged for mercy, "Sister Xiaomi, listen to me, there was a reason for that! I was in my ‘yellow name’ phase at the time; how could I dare to show off the cloak? Wouldn't that just attract more attention? Those bored people on the forums would only stir up trouble and add fuel to the fire."

"Still, you didn't have to sell the cloak!" Sister Xiaomi seemed to accept my explanation, and my ears regained their freedom.

"Sigh... you have to understand, ever since the PK incident, many players have recognized me. If I were too flashy, I wouldn't have a moment of peace. Besides, we are business partners, so of course I had to gauge the market price for the product!"

Xiao Xue gloated, "Sister Su, don't you dare sympathize with him. You don't know that during the PK incident, he..."

"Ah, Xiao Xue, the open beta is ending soon, and the Fantasy servers will be down for a day. It’s perfect for a break. What are your plans? Do you want me to accompany you shopping or something?" *Sob...* With dirt on me in her hands, I have to do as she says, ceding territory and paying reparations, enduring the humiliation. If Xiao Yue and Sister Xiaomi found out that their sadness that day was a complete waste of emotion, my life would be even worse.

"Brother Bat, so you like shopping too? If there’s a chance, you have to accompany me!" Xiao Yue said happily.

Xiao Xue secretly gave me a ‘you’re smart to know your place’ look and said to Xiao Yue, "Xiao Yue, you guessed right. He likes to wander around aimlessly when he’s bored. I’ve scolded him for it—what is a grown man doing wandering the streets if he’s not buying anything? It’s clearly to go hunting for beauties!" *Dizzy*, she makes it sound like she knows me so well.

I don’t know when, but A-Wei, who had hidden away for fear of being hit, crept back over and said in a sudden realization, "So that’s why the boss’s aesthetic sense is so unique—it’s all those years of accumulated experience that forged his sharp eyes. You have to teach me a few tricks when you get the chance."

"Damn it! Would it kill you to say less? I haven't settled the score with you for earlier!" I didn't dare do anything to them, but this kid dared to kick me while I was down. I unleashed a ‘shadowless kick,’ and he let out a pig-like howl in the gutter.

Watching the three women chatting happily, I felt a wave of emotion. Sigh, the times have changed. The great women of the world have truly risen to become the masters. My miserable history is about to be written by their hands; the future is bleak!

...

"Brother Yiqiang, why are you alone? Where are your brothers?" After we arrived at the West River Plain, we found the lone Drunken Yiqiang Laughing in the Red Dust nimbly dancing his spear to kill elephants.

"Brother Bat, what a coincidence!" Yiqiang greeted with a smile. "Often, I try to find space to be alone. Being with them, just talking is exhausting. Always having to maintain a distance is tiring! It’s not as carefree and free as being alone." There are gains and losses; once you have power, can you really hope for sincere, casual friendship from your subordinates?

I smiled, "I can understand you! Do you feel stifled being with us? Do you mind if we party up?"

Yiqiang said happily, "Very willing! Because we are friends."

"Right, we are friends! Let me introduce you to a new friend, this is my beautiful sister, Su Yingying!"

When Yiqiang saw Sister Xiaomi, his eyes lit up with surprise, but he quickly returned to his usual indifference and said politely, "Nice to meet you, Miss Su, just call me Yiqiang."

Sister Xiaomi said generously, "Haha, you give me a very special feeling. You really look like a man who has been hurt in love."

Yiqiang smiled calmly, "Look at me, I’m as healthy as ever, on par with Bat. Do I look like a man who has been hurt?"

Sister Xiaomi pursed her lips and smiled, saying no more.

Dashan wasn't online today, and I was worried about the elephant-slaying work falling on me alone. Now, it’s all good; I’ve picked up a free laborer on the road.

...

I have to admit, human observation and learning ability are unparalleled! A day later, our method of using traps to kill elephants spread throughout the West River Prairie. The combination of two warriors, one hunter, one archer, and a Holy Witch or Water Taoist became the most popular leveling combination on the prairie. Poor West River Prairie—from then on, it never had a moment of peace, with elephants stampeding and dust flying all day long. Poor elephants, they would respawn only to be sent to the afterlife again.

Yet, the person who invented this method was forgotten by the people. Who would believe that a warrior who had never used a trap could think of this? Poor me, I worked for A-Wei’s benefit, helping him achieve his glory! He was selected into the "Top Ten Most Promising Hunters" list by the Chinese server players for his "pioneering" and "unprecedented" trap skills, making him quite the star on the forums. His abstract face, with small eyes and a broad forehead, was mistaken for an artistic style and was successfully collected in the "Collection of Most Classic Player Photos." Fortunately, he didn't forget me, the overlooked mastermind behind the scenes. After I used Xiao Xue’s ultimate move—"threats"—I finally got a little comfort from the restaurant.

...

After several days of struggle on the West River Plain, I reached level 37, but I failed to enter the player leaderboard as I had hoped.

Name | Level | Class | Guild
--- | --- | --- | ---
West Chu Mad Blade | 39 | Blade Warrior | None
Qingfeng Daoist | 39 | Fire Taoist | None
Morning Dew Autumn Frost | 38 | Dark Witch | None
Lonely Scholar | 38 | Scholar | None
Butterfly Loving Flower | 38 | Archer | None
Thirteenth Young Master | 38 | Scholar | None
Watch Out for Traps | 38 | Hunter | None
Backstab | 38 | Assassin | None
Evil Sky-High | 38 | Maoshan Taoist | None
Drunken Yiqiang Laughing in the Red Dust | 38 | Spear Warrior | None

Yiqiang, who had been leveling with us these past few days, managed to squeeze into the top 10, which made us, his friends, quite happy.

Amidst the mixed reviews from players, the one-month open beta of "Fantasy" officially came to an end. The ups and downs, the loves and hates during this period were all talked about by players. There were surprises, sadness, satisfaction, and loss. Regardless of the feelings they held for it, not a single player posted that they wanted to give up or leave Fantasy. Because Fantasy had already deeply integrated into people’s lives, becoming an indispensable part of life, just like eating and sleeping. The updated "Fantasy" will be even more anticipated.

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