[Xiangnan, Zhuzhou]
[Huating Hotel]
"Brother Lin Mo, does this one look good?"
The moment Ning Xi stepped out of the fitting room in a black off-the-shoulder dress, Lin Mo was captivated at first sight.
His eyes simply couldn't leave her.
She was as beautiful as an immortal.
A beauty that could topple kingdoms. [T/N: Not the Helen of Troy apparently.]
A face that put fish to shame and made geese fall from the sky.
A beauty that eclipsed the moon and put flowers to shame.
Lin Mo couldn't think of a single adjective that could describe how beautiful Ning Xi was at this moment.
Or rather, none of those words could capture even one ten-thousandth of her beauty.
"It looks great."
Lin Mo walked over, wrapped his arms around Ning Xi's slender waist, and smiled gently, "My Ning Xi looks good in anything."
He almost blurted out, She'd look good wearing nothing, but caught himself just in time.
Looking at the incomparably beautiful Ning Xi before him, at this moment, Lin Mo felt he had no regrets in life.
After all, standing before him was the Empress who had ranked first on Dragon Nation's server in Divine Oracle in his previous life, revered by countless millions.
The goddess beyond the reach of countless people.
Yet now, the woman who had once been unattainable to everyone was nestled in his arms like a gentle kitten.
Ning Xi tilted her head up.
Her long black hair was held back with a butterfly clip, making her look especially gentle.
Her clear, beautiful eyes looked at Lin Mo.
"Brother Lin Mo, do you know what day it is today?"
"No peeking at your phone!"
"Uh..."
Lin Mo instantly panicked.
He closed his eyes.
'How do I guess!'
Life and death are up to fate.
Riches and honor are in heaven's hands.
"Qixi Festival?"
Ning Xi's eyes lit up, "So you did know, Brother Lin Mo? I thought you didn't!"
Lin Mo froze for a second.
Then he said confidently, "Ahem! Of course! How could I forget such an important holiday?"
Ning Xi stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the lips.
"That's your reward!"
Lin Mo wrapped one arm around her slim waist and gently pulled her closer, "When we're in the same party, rewards are shared."
With that, he leaned down and kissed her.
.
.
.
A minute later.
The two of them left their hotel room and met up with Zhao Lingyun from the room next door.
Originally, the plan had been for Zhao Lingyun, a Zhuzhou local, to act as their tour guide so the three of them could go out together.
Instead, Zhao Lingyun sat on the bed, holding her numb right leg as she bit her lip.
"Lin Mo, Ning Xi, you two go have fun. I've already made a guide to all the fun places nearby and sent it to you, Ning Xi."
"Have a great time!"
It was obvious.
She was worried that her bad leg would only slow Lin Mo and Ning Xi down.
But neither of them had ever thought that way.
"Sister Ling'er, you're our tour guide!"
"Let's all go together!"
Lin Mo also said to Zhao Lingyun, "I've already scheduled an appointment for you at a hospital in Ning'an. Once we get back in a few days, I'll arrange your surgery."
As it turned out, Zhao Lingyun's leg could be treated.
It was just that the cost was too high, so her family had kept putting it off instead of getting her treatment.
As for Lin Mo, he knew that even if nothing was done now, once Divine Oracle descended and completely swallowed the real world, Zhao Lingyun's leg would be permanently restored by the system.
But spending a mere million in advance to let Zhao Lingyun recover and give her that emotional boost, it was more than worth it.
Twenty years of family ties, yet they weren't worth as much as a stranger she'd only known for a few days through a game.
At that moment, Zhao Lingyun's eyes turned red with tears.
Ning Xi smiled and said, "Come on, Sister Ling'er."
"It's so lively outside today. Let's all go have fun together!"
Holding back tears, Zhao Lingyun nodded.
"Okay!"
———
[On the Night of the Qixi Festival]
The streets throughout the city were filled with young couples walking hand in hand, close to one another.
Hotels and inns everywhere were completely booked.
In one corner of a certain city, inside a bar...
A very young, strikingly handsome man with sharp features sat alone in a corner, drinking in silence.
Several young, attractive women in revealing outfits came over to flirt with him, but he ignored every one of them.
After finishing an entire bottle of liquor, pain and misery filled the young man's face.
He raised his hand and looked at the purple bracelet tightly clutched in his palm.
His gaze was distant, "Xin'er... Happy Qixi."
"I'll find you."
"I definitely will."
He carefully put the bracelet away before getting up and leaving the bar.
Staggering back to his apartment, he splashed cold water on his face.
Once he had sobered up, he returned to his room.
He sat down at his computer desk and put on his helmet.
[Ding~ Welcome back to the world of Divine Oracle, esteemed Rank 3 Heavenly Rankings player, Judge · Nether!]
Ding!
The moment he logged in, Nether received an anonymous message.
[Gloom City, south of the city. ID: Love at First Sight.]
Although it was anonymous, Nether knew it had come from the Boss.
Because every B-rank, A-rank, and even S-rank talent he had obtained before had been acquired the same way.
The Boss provided him with the talent holder's information, and Nether would hunt them down and seize their talent.
Upon receiving the order, Nether immediately left Inferno City through the south gate and headed toward the level 60 Gloom City.
Night had fallen over the land.
[South of Inferno City]
[Level 60 Gloom City]
Groups of independent players were hunting level 60 Gloom Lizards while completing quests and leveling up.
Among them was a young couple who looked to be around twenty-four or twenty-five.
The man's ID was South Wind Yet to Rise, a level 57 Assassin.
The girl's ID was Plain Face, a level 56 Illusion Mage.
Whoosh!
As the Illusion Mage, Plain Face, waved her staff and cast a spell, she transformed a Gloom Lizard ahead into a lamb with an illusion.
South Wind Yet to Rise charged forward with his dagger.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Slash!
A full combo of skills, combined with Plain Face's continuous illusion control, quickly finished off the lizard with ease.
Plain Face clapped her hands and praised him happily.
"Brother Chen Feng, you're amazing!"
South Wind Yet to Rise picked up the lizard's drops, turned back, and smiled.
"It's your crowd control that's amazing, A Yan!"
But the moment he finished speaking, his smile froze.
Because he saw another girl standing not far behind Plain Face, her ID was Love at First Sight, a level 56 High Priest.
At that moment, Love at First Sight stared at South Wind Yet to Rise in disbelief.
Pointing at Plain Face, she demanded, "Chen Feng! Didn't you tell me you were working overtime? This is your 'working overtime'?"
"Who is she?"
The moment South Wind Yet to Rise saw the High Priest girl, Love at First Sight, guilt flashed across his face.
"Xin'er... why are you here..."
It turned out that South Wind Yet to Rise and Love at First Sight were the original couple.
The Illusion Mage girl, Plain Face, with her obviously fake sweet demeanor, was the other woman.
South Wind Yet to Rise had lied to his girlfriend, saying he had to work overtime.
In reality, he'd logged in to play with another girl.
Just as South Wind Yet to Rise had no idea how to explain himself to Love at First Sight, his girlfriend of seven years, Plain Face turned around and looked at Love at First Sight.
Not only did she show no shame at all after being caught seducing someone else's boyfriend, she even acted as though she were the rightful one and said, "So you're Chen Feng's girlfriend, Xia Xin?"
"From now on, Chen Feng is my boyfriend."
"As for you, get as far away from me as you can."
"Stop clinging to Brother Chen Feng."
"Did you hear me?"