"I... I wanted... I wanted...”

Lin Yixin stammered for a while but could not finish her sentence.

My heart rippled and I asked, "You missed me?"

Lin Yixin was quick in her words this time. "Yes, I wanted to beat you up!"

"...”

The additional words were enough to cause me grief.

……

Seeing me remain silent, Lin Yixin laughed and said, "I know that Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls have a base of operations. You, Gui Guzi, Beiming Xue and the others must be there!"

"Oh, so you do know...” I felt slightly guilty. "Then why were you searching for me?"

"No, I just wanted to confirm if you were alive or not. How about it, does this miss have enough concern for you?" Lin Yixin said with a chuckle.

I was speechless. "It is so late, but you’re not sleeping yet?"

"No, grinding!"

"Dorms shut down routers for the night. Are you using an internet cafe connection?"

Lin Yixin was speechless. "Internet cafe? I’m not you, the legendary 'overnight cafe male'. Why would I go to an internet cafe? The school recently, um, was unanimously asked to keep the internet connection alive.”

"Oh, that's good.”

"Alright. I’m going to level up, you continue whatever it is you’re doing. Speaking of which, what are you doing?"

"Spawn camping!"

"OMG, shame on you. Spawn camping is so detestable!"

"Look who’s talking. You spawn camped Gui Guzi's corpse for an entire night."

"That was my persistence in fighting the Dark faction...”

"And I’m just vile, bullying the weak and ill...”

"Heehee, you do have some brains~"

"...”

……

I closed the chat. Lin Yixin went back to grinding. I’m guessing that her level would soon return to the top of Floating Ice City. I didn’t have a skill as broken for consistent grinding as her Killer Wind Swordplay. I was at a bit of a disadvantage. I’d still do my best to maintain my position in the Top 3 though. As the de facto leader of Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls, I had to maintain my level advantage. As the guild’s banner, I had to represent.

After waiting for about half an hour, one of the players in front of me revived. It was an archer from the Ego workshop!

Players would revive with just half HP, so the moment he tried to get up, Beiming Xue shot him with a lightning-quick arrow!

Bang!

The archer flew back like a kite with a broken string. He immediately lost all HP, killed in an instant!

I sprinted with my sword. I had a feeling that they would collectively revive!

As expected, in the next moment, about seven people revived together. They must have counted down together. Yet the moment of revival, Spring Mud shouted, "Shit, dodge!"

Rustle...

The force of my sword blew grass and leaves into the air. I chose the optimal position to cover the enemy plays and executed Thousand Mirage Slash!

Whoosh!

The Ghost Ice Soul’s light turned into six sword energies that fell into the crowd. All the recently revived players were instantly killed, including Spring Mud!

With just half HP, they couldn’t survive a single Thousand Mirage Slash. I had to admit, they were really unlucky to cross me of all people.

Beiming Xue stood in the distance, her Evil Spirit Volley arriving with a howl. The powerful explosion caused the remaining people to fall to the ground. in an instant, the eleven players were once again in their soul state!

Xu Yang was speechless. He said, "Fuck, you two are too strong, can you at least give me a chance to get a hit in?"

I smiled. "Just be faster next time!"

"...”

We continued to spawn camp. Soon, Xu Yang said, "A brother in the city saw Spring Mud and the others reviving! Tsk tsk, Spring Mud dropped to Level 55. He was actually willing to revive like that!"

I sheathed my sword and smiled. "Ok, the mission against the traitors is done. We can rest!"

"Yes!"

We entered the city and went offline!

……

I slept deeply and only woke up around noon.

Knock knock knock...

Murong Mingyue knocked on the door and shouted, "Lu Chen, are you addicted to sleep or something? The sun’s high in the sky, get up!"

I hurriedly changed my clothes, washed up and opened the door. Murong Mingyue was sitting on a sofa nearby. She immediately stood up and said, "Let's go, we’re going downstairs for coffee and food~"

"Don’t we have our own cafeteria upstairs? Why go downstairs to eat?" I asked.

Murong Mingyue smiled. "Eve’s not used to the food in the cafeteria. Let's go, she’s already downstairs ordering for three. You must go.”

"Alright.”

It was great when someone was paying for the meal. I’ve always dreamt of drinking and eating for free everyday.

……

I had thought the cafe downstairs only sold coffee. I hadn't expected there to be food as well.

He Yi was sitting there, dressed in a dark dress. She appeared serene and demure when she slightly smiled, her two dimples enchanting.

I sat down facing He Yi and looked at the food in front of me. I laughed. "Boss, why eat this here... I think the braised ribs and the spicy fish in the cafeteria are good...”

He Yi pouted and said with a smile, "That’s because you have strong tastes...”

I glanced at the plate again. Fruit fried rice with huge shrimp. Damn, would this be enough?

Seems like I have to make noodles when I return.

I bent down and shoveled in the fried rice in a few moves. He Yi and Murong Mingyue appeared shocked. "Wow, how long has it been since he ate?"

I wiped my mouth and started to taste the fruit juice. It wasn't much better than fresh orange juice, and too sweet.

……

Murong Mingyue forked a piece of fish and said, "Lu Chen, how did it feel to spawn camp last night, good?"

I smiled. "Speaking of spawn camping, that night in Silver Moon Valley was the best. Yesterday, there were only 12 people, and many of them newbies. In Silver Moon Valley, there were multiple Heavenly Ranking pros. They were fierce, and posed more of a threat to me. Several times, when I revived, I was instantly killed. So exciting...”

Murong Mingyue laughed softly. "I’m afraid only people like you would consider something like that exciting."

He Yi looked at me with red eyes. "That time, I had a feeling it was you. But you denied it. Hmph… I’m so angry...”

I felt slightly embarrassed.

Murong Mingyue hurriedly smoothed matters over. "Eve, don’t bother thinking too deep into it. Hasn’t Lu Chen returned? Heehee, the late Falling Dust wasn’t that strong. Lu Chen is completely different. Even without Lian Xin, he alone is enough to support all of us. Hoho, I can already see our guild shining greatly in future competitions!"

He Yi nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, in any case, everything else is secondary. As long as Lu Chen is back with us, safe and sound...”

I felt slightly warm. My appetite increased, so I ordered another meal.

……

He Yi ate a bit and was quickly full. She sucked on the straw and looked at me with a smile. "Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls took in 800 people today, we’re full now.”

"Oh? How is the quality of these eight hundred?"

"10% are third-promotion players, the lowest among the rest is Level 55. We didn't accept anything under that.”

"Mn, not bad!" I nodded and asked, "What are the standards?"

Murong Mingyue smiled. "Male players, those with strong bodies and a sense of justice preferred. Female players, those with large chests and no brains preferred...”

I was speechless and accidentally glanced toward Murong Mingyue's chest. It was cold in the fall but the weather was still warm. Murong Mingyue was wearing a low-cut T-shirt and a sweater. The result could be imagined. Her curves were even more evident, and immediately became the focus of many players. No wonder company workers had been stretching their necks and drooling in the elevator just now.

Meeting my gaze, Murong Mingyue's face flushed red but she puffed out her chest and said, "Why look at me? While this sister has assets, this sister also has brains. Don't lump me together with those idiot women...”

I hurriedly shook my head. "I’d never! I know that Sister Mingyue is exceptionally intelligent.”

He Yi grinned. "Alright, don’t talk about such degenerate things whenever you meet up. How about we talk about something sophisticated and refreshing?"

"Hm?"

"Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls’ development is going well. Lu Chen, what do you think we should focus on in the future?"

I put down my cup and said with a smile, "I’m not the one to decide the development direction. I also have to worry about the development of Bloody Mercenaries. Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls' specific development plan should be devised by boss and Sister Mingyue. As for me, Gui Guzi, and Beiming Xue, the three of us only joined to put you in the limelight. It would be best if matters of the guild didn’t affect our progression!"

He Yi nodded. "Yes, I think the same. The three of you will be the backbone of our guild. Your leveling cannot be impacted. Otherwise, we will lose our advantage of top-tier experts!"

Murong Mingyue said, "Really? Even if Lu Chen, Gui Guzi and Beiming Xue do not participate, we have Chaos Moon, Moonlight Stone, and other first-class experts...”

He Yi laughed softly. "Those people can deal with Mad Dragon and Flower Room. But Mingyue, do you feel they can last against Candle Dragon?"

I nodded as well. "Yes, only top-tier first-class experts can face Candle Dragon. Otherwise, we won’t be able to match people like Candlelight Shadow and Tempest Shadow. Their guild alone has five CGL Hall of Famers. This force is indeed strong enough to rule the China server.”

Murong Mingyue suddenly gulped down juice and said helplessly, "Alright, I didn’t think you two still had a grudge against Candle Dragon and Candlelight Shadow. It appears you are thinking further than me.”

I chuckled and said, "If we don't kill Candlelight Shadow, I can’t prove my return!"

He Yi pursed her lips, her eyes filled with longing. "Yes, after being pursued by Candlelight Shadow for nearly a year, I’ve had enough!"

Murong Mingyue said, "I just don't know which city Candlelight Shadow will use as their development base. Maybe it’d be Vanished God City...”

"Ignore him. We’re choosing Sky City as our base. If Candle Dragon dares to come, then we will face them. Even if we’re in a different city, we will eventually cross blades sooner or later!"

"Right!"

……

After lunch, we all went back online.

I had to continue leveling up, and be the first to reach my fourth class promotion!