Chapter 374: Chapter 317: Continuing the Strategy Activities
"Did you bring me back from Phoenix Mountain just for this?" Yu Xiaoyu’s face turned a bit sour. Even she wasn’t aware of the Kunlun’s findings on the activity patterns, so how could she have leaked it to Phoenix Mountain?
On the contrary, she not only hadn’t provided any intel to them but had even sent the details of their expedition against the mutants to Kunlun.
"I’ve let you play outside for so long; it’s time to buckle down." Liu Qishao was still focused on the report from various channels.
"Why do you sound exactly like my old teacher?" Yu Xiaoyu was angry. "I haven’t even settled the score with you for calling me back for no reason, and now you dare restrict my freedom?"
Liu Qishao frowned, finally taking his eyes off the assorted information and looking at Yu Xiaoyu. "This isn’t about restricting you; it’s for your own good."
"Don’t talk to me in that condescending tone!" Yu Xiaoyu impatiently shook her head. "If you really care about me, let me stay with Brother Phoenix Mountain. He will protect me."
"Phoenix Mountain? Just him?" Liu Qishao showed a look of disdain. "He’s an ordinary civilian, how strong can he be? If it weren’t for clinging to Li Zheng’s coattails, he would’ve probably died in the Matrix."
"I don’t allow you to say that about him!" Yu Xiaoyu glared at Liu Qishao like an angry cat. "Brother Phoenix Mountain is amazing, even Sister Yan says he’s a master!"
"Sister Yan?" Liu Qishao’s eyebrows furrowed together. "Are you talking about that Yan Guang from Li Zheng’s team?"
"Yeah, Sister Yan is awesome. She can solo Platinum Level monsters!" Yu Xiaoyu lifted her head and said, "I’ve already discussed with Sister Yan; we’ll each take turns spending a day with Brother Phoenix Mountain."
"Spend a day?" Liu Qishao was startled. "Yan Guang and Phoenix Mountain are a couple?"
"Um... kinda." Yu Xiaoyu nodded.
"So you’re planning to join Yan Guang and both be with Phoenix Mountain?" Liu Qishao’s face darkened.
"Yeah, is that a problem?"
"Ridiculous!" Liu Qishao was furious. "You’re never to meet Phoenix Mountain again. I’ll assign two warriors to accompany you to explore the Matrix and keep an eye on you."
"What gives you the right to keep me from seeing Brother Phoenix Mountain?" Yu Xiaoyu was anxious.
Liu Qishao stood up, his face cold. "Because I’m your cousin! With aunt and uncle not here, it’s my duty to care for you!"
Yu Xiaoyu shouted, "My dad even had me go on a date with Brother Phoenix Mountain in the past!"
Liu Qishao had heard about that too and understood some of Phoenix Mountain’s background, knowing he was single then.
Of course, he was also aware that Phoenix Mountain had clearly expressed his disinterest in Yu Xiaoyu back then.
But Yu Xiaoyu, for some reason, seemed bewitched, always thinking of him and even lost over thirty pounds in a year from dieting.
"You said it yourself, that was in the past." Liu Qishao took out a plain stone, squeezed it hard, and crushed it.
As the stone crumbled to powder, his figure gradually faded. "Besides, Phoenix Mountain himself said he doesn’t like you!"
Yu Xiaoyu froze in shock.
Before Liu Qishao completely vanished, he said, "The warriors assigned to watch over you will arrive soon, behave yourself!"
"Brother Phoenix Mountain doesn’t like me?" Yu Xiaoyu mumbled, opened the private message page, sent a message to Phoenix Mountain, but received a failure to send response.
Yu Xiaoyu looked up and saw two short-haired girls with a heroic aura had appeared before her, one of them holding a device akin to a small radar.
"I’m Lv Hong, she’s Fang Lan. Lieutenant Liu sent us to accompany you," the girl holding the small radar briefly introduced herself.
"Who needs you to accompany me? I can explore on my own!" Yu Xiaoyu couldn’t be bothered with them, returned to her residence, only to find out not only was private messaging down, but all abilities to send messages had been unilaterally disabled.
She could only see messages from others in various chat channels but couldn’t reply.
Even leaving messages through trade opportunities was failing.
"It must be that damn machine’s doing!" Yu Xiaoyu gritted her teeth in fury.
...
"Phoenix Mountain, you’re too slow to keep up with us. Stay at the back this time and protect Yan Guang and Lin Fengjiao, let Xiao Ying join us at the front for the attack." Li Zheng adjusted the battle strategy; yesterday, Phoenix Mountain had been chasing him and Zhan Zhouzhou around but was of no help.
Phoenix Mountain long realized his own shortcomings, and had no objection to Li Zheng assigning him to the rear.
Yan Guang glanced at Li Zheng’s hover propulsion device he’s been carrying, "Weren’t you advertising to auction flying devices yesterday? Lend him one, wouldn’t that speed him up?"
Whoo!
A piercing whistle abruptly resounded as a gray-white bone spike zipped past Li Zheng’s side cheek.
"Xiao Ying has better control than he does."
As he spoke, Li Zheng vanished suddenly, and a sword light flashed three meters away, slicing the attacking bone spike clean off.
Variant 33 was a grotesque, morbid gray bone creature with no flesh, resembling a massive spider composed of giant bone spikes.
Visible from the gaps between the spikes, an organ-like membrane covering its internal organs was faintly pulsating underneath.
Zhan Zhouzhou wielded the Purple Thunder Longsword, weaving through attacks from dozens of thick bone spikes like a dancing elf, unscathed.
(Fell asleep while typing earlier, I’ll add more soon.)
Strange, though when gaming a crazy click of Skills does the job, I remember ’Innate Gang Qi’ doesn’t require that much Spiritual Qi to execute?"
Li Zheng was puzzled, but he soon figured the game must differ from his current "real world," not to be compared, and put the query aside.
Trying to fully integrate game logic into reality is just foolishness.
Looking at the rest of the [Equipment] tab, there wasn’t much to comment on. Apart from a set of "Taiyi Sect Inner Sect Disciple’s exclusive attire," which was a low-tier protective magical item, Li Zheng didn’t even have a decent weapon.
Whether it was because the original owner was poor or lost them while escaping was unknown.
Nothing much to say about [Tasks], and the [Relationships] tab plainly showed "Empty."
"This damn cheat’s as useless as a decoration, can’t solve my urgent needs."
Li Zheng withdrew from the system interface, noting the village chief and Zhang Erwa were still kneeling on the ground, looking up at him expectantly.
He recalled he had just taken on Goudan as his disciple and figured they were anxious as they’d been waiting long without him saying anything.
Collecting his thoughts, Li Zheng sat back down, casually infused the stone box with Spiritual Qi, preparing to open it, and said, "But the name Zhang Goudan is unpleasant to hear. Must change if you want to join my sect, otherwise won’t it become a laughingstock for our enemies?"
Goudan was thrilled to hear this, wiped the tears from his face, and said loudly, "Goudan’s just a nickname my dad gave me. My real name was given by the village chief, Bai Ren!"
"My name is Zhang, Bai, Ren!"
Crack!
The gray-white stone box opened just then, revealing its contents.
Li Zheng finally displayed the signature crooked smile of a transmigrator War God.
"Nanping Village is saved!"