Chapter Eighty-Nine: A Pure Relationship

Facing a hundred-odd ferocious elite players from Dragon Ascendant, the Fox Spirit team, now without their leader, was no match at all. At the very first clash, its holy priest corps was wiped out almost effortlessly by Stealing Without Leaving a Trace and a dozen thieves, and with its healers gone, Fox Spirit was immediately overwhelmed. The remaining thirty-plus Fox Spirit players resisted bitterly for less than five minutes before Dragon Ascendant completely swept the field clean.

Sword Overturning the City and the others also played a tremendous role on the battlefield. Almost all the ranged classes were brought down by them. Not only were those dozen girls all highly skilled, their coordination with one another was excellent as well. The second sister, Drunken Longing, cast thunderbolt magic whose power, though not quite as great as Ye Chen’s black fireball, was not far behind; against the more fragile types, it was an instant kill. The eldest sister’s three-hit combo was even fiercer, her sword leaving no opponent able to withstand a single exchange. Their dozen-odd players racked up more kills than Dragon Ascendant’s several dozen, leaving Dragon Ascendant’s Slashing Star and the others staring in stunned admiration. Even Dragon Ascendant Wanderer could not help but sigh, “No wonder they used to be a first-rate workshop. Their technical ability is top-tier.”

Ye Chen did not join the fighting. He had been secretly drinking mana potions the whole time, and by the time everyone had finished, his mana was finally full again, freeing him from the embarrassment of having no mana left. Sure enough, just as Dragon Ascendant Wanderer had predicted, Fiery Tiger Overlord had no intention of coming to Fox Spirit’s aid. By the time Ye Chen and the others had killed about half of them, Fiery Tiger Overlord had already hurried off with a group of Fiery Tiger players, plainly unwilling to slug it out head-on with the now-victorious Dragon Ascendant. He was evidently planning to look for another chance to eliminate Ye Chen later.

“Brother Ye Chen, you’ve made an immense contribution in today’s battle,” Dragon Ascendant Wanderer said with a smile after sending a group of subordinates to clean up the battlefield and walking over to Ye Chen. “If not for Brother Ye Chen instantly killing Fox Spirit Moon God, Fox Spirit and Fiery Tiger might even have formed an alliance to deal with our Dragon Ascendant. Then we’d have been in for a hard fight indeed.”

“Brother Wanderer is too modest. With Dragon Ascendant’s strength, even facing both sides at once, you certainly wouldn’t have been at a disadvantage.” Ye Chen returned the compliment. Since the other man was giving him face, he naturally had to return it. But just after he said that, the voice of the second sister, Drunken Longing, sounded in his ear with only two words: “Fake.”

Ye Chen’s smile stiffened at once. Dragon Ascendant Wanderer thought he must have some request, and hurriedly said, “Does Brother Ye Chen need something? Just speak freely. Could it be that the ladies of Azure Feather want to take a share of the equipment? Of course, of course. I’ll make the call: give Azure Feather one-third of the equipment dropped by Fox Spirit. After all, Azure Feather also contributed greatly.” As he spoke, he winked at Ye Chen, clearly counting Ye Chen’s achievements as part of Azure Feather’s credit.

“If there’s a bargain to be had and you don’t take it, you’re a fool.” Ye Chen silently recalled the second sister’s teaching and immediately nodded. “Then thank you, Brother Wanderer.”

Dragon Ascendant Wanderer promptly had someone set aside one-third of the equipment dropped by the Fox Spirit players and give it to Sword Overturning the City and the others. There was nothing especially remarkable among it—only excellent-grade gear, twelve pieces in all, worth a little over a hundred gold. The girls were delighted at once. Only Sword Overturning the City and Drunken Longing understood clearly that this share of loot came entirely from Ye Chen’s face-saving; otherwise, Dragon Ascendant had lost over ten people in the fight, while Azure Feather had suffered no losses at all. On what grounds should they hand over so much equipment?

“Brother Ye Chen, earlier Stealing Without Leaving a Trace told me about your White Tiger Pills and several other special-effect pills. I’m very interested. Shall we talk in the city? Drunken Fragrance House, on me.” Dragon Ascendant Wanderer laughed heartily and opened with the city’s most luxurious private tavern, clearly not short of money.

Ye Chen glanced at Sword Overturning the City and the others and was just about to speak when Dragon Ascendant Wanderer suddenly slapped his forehead and said hurriedly, “That was my oversight. How could I fail to invite the ladies of Azure Feather as well? Come, all of you, come.”

At this, Sword Overturning the City smiled and shook her head. “You may discuss your business. We won’t go. It’s late, and we sisters are about to log off.”

Drunken Longing also let out a soft laugh. Casting a charming sidelong glance at Ye Chen, she sent him a private message: “Your elder sister and I are quite interested in that information about the King’s dungeon. You’d best tell the truth, little Ye, but it’s too late tonight. We’ll talk tomorrow morning.”

Ye Chen smiled and nodded. The dungeon strategy was indeed something he had intended to tell them, and there was nothing to hide there. Of course, the source he could never reveal, not even if beaten to death. And as for the video, that could not be given either. It had all been recorded by 2058 from a god’s-eye perspective; the moment it was released, everything would be exposed. However, with a detailed strategy guide in hand, and with the eldest sister and the others’ technical level far beyond that of Dragon Ascendant’s third team, clearing the King’s dungeon would absolutely not be difficult.

“Go to bed early. Don’t stay up all night.” After leaving that final message, the little girl called Ling Yue was pulled along by Six Six, and the two of them skipped away with Sword Overturning the City and the others back toward the city.

“Brother Ye Chen, you really are blessed with endless romantic fortune. Tsk tsk. The beauties of Azure Feather—they’re all so distinctive, each one a rare beauty.” Dragon Ascendant Wanderer watched the departing backs of Sword Overturning the City and the others and teased Ye Chen with a grin.

Ye Chen glared. “Don’t talk nonsense. We’re all in perfectly pure relations between men and women.”

“Oh? Hahaha, yes, yes, yes, I understand. Pure ‘men and women’ relations.” Dragon Ascendant Wanderer deliberately stressed the two words, men and women, and then said with a touch of admiration, “I hope Brother Ye Chen will lead them to greatness again in the future. I’ve always admired these female generals of Azure Feather.”

“Oh, right. Azure Feather and Fox Spirit seem to have some old grudge? Brother Wanderer, tell me about it.” Ye Chen’s mind stirred, and he suddenly recalled the earlier confrontation between Fox Spirit and Azure Feather.

“You don’t know, Brother Ye Chen?” Dragon Ascendant Wanderer looked at Ye Chen in surprise and asked in puzzlement, “Could it be that you’ve never played in District Three? Don’t tell me you’re a complete beginner. I really can’t take that shock.”

Ye Chen nodded with perfect confidence. He really was a beginner.

Dragon Ascendant Wanderer exchanged glances with Stealing Without Leaving a Trace and the others beside him, and they nearly collapsed in disbelief. Stealing Without Leaving a Trace, especially, asked in confusion, “Then what about those friends of yours, Brother Ye Chen?” He was clearly referring to the expert friends Ye Chen had mentioned, the ones with whom he could discuss dungeon strategies.

“They’re all real-life buddies,” Ye Chen said smoothly. That lie would never be exposed.

Stealing Without Leaving a Trace believed it at once. He and Dragon Ascendant Wanderer exchanged a look, and each could see the growing importance in the other’s eyes. Many expert friends, and real-life ones at that—the estimate of Ye Chen’s influence immediately rose again.

“As for the grudge between Azure Feather and Fox Spirit...” Dragon Ascendant Wanderer gave a helpless smile. “Since Sword Overturning the City and the others won’t tell you, it wouldn’t really be proper for outsiders like us to say much. If you want to know, you’d better ask them yourself.” He then quickly changed the subject. “Shall we talk about our business instead? Our Dragon Ascendant plans to make a big move this time. How about a discussion at Drunken Fragrance House?”

Since Dragon Ascendant Wanderer would not say more, Ye Chen could not press the matter. He would ask them himself later. Still, this Dragon Ascendant Wanderer had a rather amusing way of speaking—talking about a meeting at Drunken Fragrance House as if they were in some martial arts tale.

“Let’s leave it for today. I still have some things to do. We can talk tomorrow,” Ye Chen said, shaking his head. He had noticed that the culprit, Left Hand Myth, had already slipped away in the chaos. If he did not drag that fellow out and make him understand why flowers were so red, he would be letting himself down far too much.