The next day, in the early morning.
After eating egg noodles and putting on a nice dress and woolen coat, Wang Ju held Xiao Juzi's hand and sent her to school. She also carried a basket to buy groceries. Lin Zhao and Chen Xue watched Xiao Juzi and her mother leave in the garden. They exchanged a glance, and both saw a slightly heavy mood in each other's eyes.
"The reason we can provide Sister Juzi and Xiao Juzi with the life they have now is because we have money."
Chen Xue pursed her red lips and said, "But once we can no longer profit from the game, and cannot improve to become stronger, then this kind of life will quickly become unsustainable."
"Yes."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Let's work hard to expand the Scarlet Moon Knights, and then make money in the game. Otherwise... our current life will truly come to an end soon."
"Mhmm," Chen Xue nodded. "I've taken out the 400,000 from the studio account. Should we reduce the daily expenses like food and drink a bit?"
"Not yet, we haven't reached that point."
"Okay, let's log in."
Chen Xue smiled slightly. "There are no other major matters this morning. Just come with me to Lingbei County to meet someone. Whether our plan succeeds will depend on your performance."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was stunned. "Meet whom?"
Chen Xue smiled mysteriously. "An admirer of yours."
"An admirer?"
Lin Zhao was confused, and then followed Chen Xue back online.
...
In the morning, the other three members of the Scarlet Moon Knights studio developed in a "free-range" manner. Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, and Roman had all quit the Scarlet Moon Knights team. Their team emblems were gone from above their heads, and they successively left Cloudtop County. The Azure Knights and Prosperous Peony, in order to completely destroy the Scarlet Moon Knights, did indeed keep their promise: once they quit the Scarlet Moon Knights, no one would make things difficult for them, regardless of who they were.
So outside the city, Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, and Roman formed a team and began leveling up as independent players.
As for Mo Yin, he was always a lone wolf, and had already left the city stealthily to accept quests and level up, so he didn't need to be managed.
Lu Li and Qing Ning had withdrawn from the Scarlet Moon Knights yesterday to better conceal their identities. Today, they joined a guild team called "Brotherhood Alliance" and were leveling up with some newly made friends. For now, they kept their mouths shut about the Scarlet Moon Knights to avoid affecting their leveling progress, but each of them knew in their hearts that the Scarlet Moon Knights would surely be rebuilt, because Lin Zhao and Chen Xue were still there. As long as they were there, the Scarlet Moon Knights would still exist!
In the morning, Lin Zhao and Chen Xue left Cloudtop County side by side and teleported to Lingbei County, one of the sixteen counties of Yun Province. Although named Lingbei County, this county seat was the closest prefectural city in Yun Province to the south.
"Swish~~~"
As the two walked out of the teleportation array, Chen Xue stretched her arms and yawned lazily. "After breaking, we will stand. Our Scarlet Moon Knights have nothing left to lose. Since that's the case, let's fight with all our might today!"
"Who exactly are we meeting?" Lin Zhao was still completely clueless.
"Just follow me."
"Oh..."
He could only follow behind Chen Xue, his expression a little helpless.
The two passed through the main avenue of Lingbei County and soon arrived directly near the South City Gate. Within the majestic and continuous South City Wall, a building stood tall, displayed on the map as "Wangjing Tower," the tallest structure in all of Lingbei County. The lower floors of Wangjing Tower had been reinforced and converted into arrow towers, while the middle and upper floors, being too high, meant that arrows lost their force by the time they fell, so they were only used as observation decks.
At this time, it was snowing in Lingbei County. The snow was not heavy, at least not as heavy as when Lin Zhao made his long journey to Baidi City.
"Go up."
Chen Xue gently pushed Lin Zhao's back and said with a smile, "That person is waiting for us on the top floor of Wangjing Tower."
"Mhmm."
Having arrived here, Lin Zhao's heart was no longer uneasy. What was there to fear? The Scarlet Moon Knights were already in this state. As Chen Xue had said, they had nothing left to lose. They feared no breaking of their bodies, so why should they fear meeting someone?
...
The two went upstairs side by side. Upon reaching the top floor, they saw a level 53 Swordsman with his back to them. His figure was straight and tall, and he wore the "Dragon Slayer Sword" skin on his back. His equipment gleamed with a mixture of Gold and Dark Gold rarity. A cloak fluttered in the cold wind. It was clear that he was one of the top figures in Lingbei County.
Lin Zhao frowned and looked at the opponent's information.
【Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World】(Swordsman)
Level: 53
Team: Passionate Youth Squad
Position: Captain
...
"Young man, we've arrived."
Chen Xue stopped and stood with Lin Zhao several meters away from the man.
"Oh?"
The young Swordsman named Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World turned around. His face was quite handsome. He glanced at Chen Xue, then his gaze fell on Lin Zhao. After sizing him up, he smiled and said, "White Robe, the number one person in Cloudtop County. I've heard your name for a long time, but I heard that your Scarlet Moon Knights are currently in a slump and not doing well."
"It's indeed not going well."
Lin Zhao smiled frankly. "So Chen Xue brought me to find you. Although I don't know what medicine she's selling, you are definitely a very important person."
"Hehehe, you'll know soon enough."
Chen Xue stepped forward and said, "Lu Han, I have already contacted you privately. What have you considered? How about bringing your squad and joining the Scarlet Moon Knights, becoming our first squad?"
"That, I'm not in a hurry."
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World smiled and said, "Deciding to find a new home for 500 brothers, can I not be cautious? After all, everyone has families to support. If you want me to join the Scarlet Moon Knights, I first need to know the guild's foundation and the leader's character. Otherwise, bringing my squad to a wrong choice would not be good."
Saying that, he said apologetically, "Leader White Robe, I apologize, but my words might be a bit unpleasant."
"It's alright, the truth is always a bit unpleasant."
Lin Zhao smiled. In fact, his heart was pounding. The other party called him Leader White Robe, but in reality, his own guild at its peak only had 9 people. Now that Rong Xing and Yao Guai had left, there were only 7. Meanwhile, the other party was the leader of a genuine elite squad of 500 people, more like a leader than himself.
"Lu Han."
Chen Xue gently held Lin Zhao's arm and stepped forward, pulling him to stand at the edge of Wangjing Tower. Looking at the falling snow in the south, she smiled and said, "You came to Wangjing Tower alone, what are you looking at?"
"I'm looking at Baidi City, a history that makes people yearn."
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World pointed to the south. "Baidi City, the capital of the Great Shang Dynasty. Long ago, Marquis Yue Hao, carrying the emperor's decree, led only a few thousand elite cavalry to Yun Province. In Yun Province, he mustered 530,000 Yun Province cavalry, then marched out of Guyao Pass, heavily defeated the demon race's ten army camps in the northern border, and intercepted the demon race's cavalry, also killing countless. Tsk tsk..."
His gaze was solemn as he looked at the sea of snow. "Perhaps, Marquis Yue Hao once rode past below this Wangjing Tower."
"Oh?"
Lin Zhao smiled slightly. "Are you that familiar with the background story of 'Tian Xia'? Generally, very few players would know about Marquis Yue Hao."
"Very familiar."
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World said, "After entering the game, I spent many days researching the background story on the official website. Marquis Yue Hao, bestowed divine martial power upon the Great Shang Dynasty, 530,000 Yun Province cavalry killed a million demons. I've watched video compilations of that battle many times. In fact, if you don't understand, you have no idea how vast and wonderful the background of this game is. It's not just Marquis Yue Hao, but also the clever calculations of Marquis Wen Shuo Yang, and the demeanor of the great Sword Immortal Lu Xinghe on the Fusu Great Wall. Of course, the most exciting part is the chapter on Xueyu Tianchi."
Chen Xue smiled without speaking, only tightening her grip on Lin Zhao's wrist.
Lin Zhao smiled. "Tell me, how is it exciting?"
"To summarize, in two sentences. One is 'Half a life drifting, unfulfilled, a sword entrusted to the mortal world,' and the other is 'Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi, who in this world does not know you?' And they were even brothers."
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World turned to look at the snow falling in the north, put his hands on the railing, his face filled with longing. "There are too many stories on Xueyu Tianchi. Chu Huaixi, who longed to restore his country; Qin Suihan, who guarded the human world; Shao Shi Yu, who died for the realm; Zhang Zhongjing, who ascended with burning firewood. And Lord Shan Su Fu, who 'for the rest of his life only looks forward to one person.' Of course, the most exciting was the Battle Saint Ding Muchen's single command of 'Sword come!' which summoned the Fusu Sword entrusted to the mortal world. In two moves, he defeated the fourteenth-realm demon ancestor and demon emperor. His junior brother, Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi, entered the game with his body, and with his Heaven Furnace Battle technique, made the demon race's Yu Zhi bamboo basket empty. In the end, he drew the Dragon Slayer Sword and beheaded the thirteenth-realm peak sword cultivator Bai Lan of the demon race with one strike, not hesitating to die for the realm to prolong human life..."
At this point, Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World was filled with envy and longing, but after a few seconds, he became dejected. "Unfortunately, this is just a game background story, not real life. Otherwise, I would truly be willing to be a part of it, even if I were just a cavalryman in the Xueyu Tianchi Death Squad. To ride with Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi, and die for the realm, would be worth it. A true man, even in death, has no regrets, isn't that right?"
Chen Xue still had a smile on her lips.
Lin Zhao's eyes were clear, and he listened to his narration with a smile.
"Sigh..."
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World felt a bit embarrassed and laughed. "I seem to have lost my composure... Why am I telling you this? After all, most players just play the game and don't study the background story."
"What if we do study it?"
Chen Xue smiled. "Lu Han, if you were given a chance, would you truly be willing to follow Lin Baiyi of Xueyu Tianchi and conquer the world?"
"Yes!"
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World gritted his teeth and said, "The kind where I have no regrets even if I die. If life is not exciting, it's like coming here for nothing!"
"Now..."
Chen Xue pushed Lin Zhao's shoulder forward and smiled. "Your chance has come."
...
"Ah?!"
Young Man Who Has Fallen Into the Mortal World looked at Lin Zhao before him, and couldn't help but look surprised. After a long pause, he said something that made Lin Zhao and Chen Xue want to spit blood—
"Bragging in broad daylight... isn't that a bit too much?"