A Tour of Three-Chi Ming

[Three-Chi Ming]?

‘Xiao had actually founded a guild too!’

It made sense; after all, she was one of the first five holders of the golden [Guild Certificate], so establishing a guild was only natural.

Yan pondered for a moment, then felt a sense of relief, replying to Xiao with a smile.

“Where is your guild located? I’d like to come and see it.”

“It’s southeast of Windstar City. You’ll spot a mountain after crossing two maps; my guild is situated right on that peak.”

“Well, even from Windstar City, it’s quite a trek. How about this… I’ll invite you to my party, and you can teleport directly here.”

It appeared that the guild building Xiao had chosen was indeed some distance from Windstar City; rather than walking, it would be far more convenient for Xiao, who was already on Yan’s friends list, to invite him to her party, allowing him to teleport directly.

“Alright.”

Scarcely a second after Yan’s reply was sent, Xiao’s party invitation materialized from the friends interface, filling Yan’s vision.

[Xiao invites you to join the party (2/4).]

Yan knew without a doubt that the other person in Xiao’s party had to be Guan Ying; he offered a faint smile.

“I’ll leave the party for a bit to check out Xiao’s guild, then I’ll be back.”

Yan turned his head, smiling as he looked at Qing Bai and Tian Jiu.

“Mm-hmm.”

Tian Jiu responded with a sweet, obedient smile.

“Whatever.”

Qing Bai waved her hand, seemingly urging Yan to go quickly and return soon.

Yan nodded with a chuckle, exited the trio’s party, and then focused on Xiao’s party invitation.

[Accept.]

[Party Teleport.]

A shimmering blue light of teleportation enveloped Yan, and moments later, his figure vanished from the guild hall.

****

“Yo~”

Opening his eyes, Yan’s gaze first fell upon Xiao’s gentle smile and her outstretched, fair hand with its slender fingers.

“Yan, welcome to [Three-Chi Ming] as our guest.”

Beside her, Guan Ying sat at a tea table, nodding with a faint smile towards Yan before continuing to sip the verdant tea from his brown cup.

“You guys… good heavens…”

Yan had initially believed his Sky City guild hall was the most outlandish, but upon seeing the guild building of Xiao’s [Three-Chi Ming], he couldn’t help but gape in utter astonishment.

His eyes wide, he surveyed his surroundings.

“Is this some pavilion from a historical site?”

As Yan observed the antique wooden structure of the room and the picturesque scenery outside the wooden window—a landscape so breathtakingly beautiful it resembled a traditional Chinese painting, evoking a sense of being in another world—he couldn’t help but quip.

“Am I perhaps that Wuling man who stumbled into the Peach Blossom Spring, and now you’re going to ask me what era it is outside, aren’t you?”

“Pfft.”

Xiao was thoroughly amused by Yan’s playful remarks, covering her mouth as she giggled charmingly.

“We never imagined there would be such an ancient-style [Guild Residence] available in this game’s guilds,” Guan Ying explained, “so when we discovered this place, we decided without a second thought to establish our guild here.”

Guan Ying set down his teacup, offering this explanation with a smile, then rose from the tea table, faced Yan, and gestured towards the door behind them with his strong hand.

“You can’t appreciate the full splendor of [Three-Chi Ming] from inside here, Yan. Please, let’s step outside the pavilion.”

“Alright.”

Yan nodded with a smile, his gaze fixed on Guan Ying with keen interest.

This man already possessed the bearing of an ancient general, and the sight of him calmly sipping tea alone in such an antique building suited him perfectly.

Xiao likely chose this location for the guild with that very image in mind; she always enjoyed teasing Guan Ying, her “unreliable older brother next door.”

Yan cast a glance at Xiao, a faint curve gracing his lips.

Indeed, these two were quite an amusing pair.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he followed Guan Ying across the threshold of the main hall and stepped outside.

“No way…”

Yan was once again utterly stunned; he craned his neck, gazing up at the towering pavilion from which they had just emerged, his mouth agape.

The [Three-Chi Ming] guild building was, in fact, an antique wooden pavilion, one that evoked images of ancient scholars drinking wine, conversing merrily, and singing beneath the moon.

Was it five stories? Or perhaps six or seven?

Moreover, its actual usable area was likely no smaller than Sky City’s; while Sky City boasted larger spaces on each floor, [Three-Chi Ming]’s pavilion compensated with its greater number of levels.

“Is there really a need to be so surprised?”

Xiao leaned against the wooden doorframe, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a beautiful painting; she watched Yan with a beaming smile, seemingly amused by his exaggerated reaction.

“How could I not be surprised by this…”

Yan turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the scenery he had glimpsed through the window earlier.

[Three-Chi Ming] was a pavilion built atop an isolated mountain, a peak whose size was in no way inferior to the floating island beneath Sky City.

‘So, it wasn’t just his own [White Cloud Snow] that was special, after all…’

“Actually, my [White Cloud Snow] is similar… Well, when I invite you over later, I imagine you’ll have the same reaction I just did when you see my guild building.”

Yan remarked with a laugh.

“Oh? How truly intriguing.”

Xiao tilted her head, the corners of her eyes curving into crescent moons, imbued with mirth.

She, too, seemed immensely pleased with her chosen guild building, stretching her arms out straight and arching her back gently against the wooden doorframe in a languid stretch.

“The name of this mountain seems to be [Moon Mountain],” she mused. “And this pavilion has no name, so for now, let’s just call it Moon Mountain Pavilion.”

“Now, this Moon Mountain Pavilion belongs entirely to [Three-Chi Ming].”

She said with a smile of deep contentment.

“It seems you truly love it here.”

“Of course,” Xiao replied, as if stating the obvious. “Having finally established a guild, how could I not love it?”

Xiao glanced at Yan, her tone matter-of-fact.

“How are the guild members coming along? Who have you managed to recruit so far?”

Yan asked, looking at her with curiosity.

“Hmph hmph, there are two people you absolutely won’t guess.”

As if she had been anticipating Yan’s question, Xiao revealed a triumphant expression.

“Hey, hey, if they’re players I haven’t met or don’t know, of course I wouldn’t guess them…”

Yan said with a helpless, wry smile.

“No, no, you’ve definitely met these two, and you know their names.”

“Oh?”

Yan shot her a questioning glance.

“Who are they?”

Xiao chuckled, deciding not to prolong the suspense.

“[Poison Maiden] Hayata Midori and [Finisher Mage] Fei Yi.”

“What? You actually managed to recruit those two?”

Xiao nodded, still smiling.

“Yes, I had a match against Fei Yi, didn’t I? We got to know each other then. Fei Yi and Little Green are friends, so they both joined my guild!”

“Ah… really now.”

Yan was somewhat taken aback, then offered Xiao a half-joking congratulation.

“Congratulations, Guild Leader Xiao! You’ve added two more champions who have claimed the arena master title to your ranks.”

“Don’t give me that.”

Xiao seemed in no mood for jokes; instead, her cheeks puffed out slightly in mild indignation.

“Don’t think I don’t know that Yan lured An Dong and Lian into his own guild, leaving me unable to invite them.”

“Ahaha, so I’ve been exposed, have I?”

Yan scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.

“Exactly! I just messaged An Dong and Lian, asking if they were interested in joining my guild, and they rejected me with ‘Sorry, we’ve already joined Yan’s guild!’ I was so heartbroken~”

Xiao rubbed the corner of her eye, feigning a wronged expression; seeing her like this, Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.

“My apologies, then.”

Smiling, Yan suddenly recalled something.

“Speaking of which, what about Ivan? Did you invite him? I haven’t had the chance yet.”

In truth, Yan had completely forgotten about the young boy.

“No need to invite him. I already asked him; he’s joining An Ruina’s guild.”

Xiao was not as careless as Yan; she had likely extended an invitation much earlier.

‘That kid Ivan, he actually got “abducted” by [Iron-Blooded Queen] An Ruina, huh…’

‘Well, An Ruina’s combat style was undeniably cool and powerful; if Yan were Ivan’s age, he probably wouldn’t be able to resist yearning to join such a queen.’

‘So, Yan’s [White Cloud Snow] had recruited An Dong and Lian.’

‘Xiao’s [Three-Chi Ming] had recruited Little Green and Fei Yi.’

‘Presumably, the remaining arena masters had all flocked to An Ruina’s side…’

‘An Ruina, the proud and elegant player known as the [Iron-Blooded Queen], with numerous powerful players following her and Zhen Bupo assisting, was bound to establish a formidable guild…’

‘He was certainly feeling the pressure now.’

Yan mused with a wry smile.

‘Well, since only five [Guild Certificates] were available at this stage, guild-based activities likely wouldn’t emerge in the short term. He might as well relax for now.’

“[Three-Chi Ming] is pretty much what you see.”

Amidst their lighthearted banter, Yan had already completed a tour of the pavilion with Xiao and Guan Ying, and now Xiao spoke.

“Shall we go see Yan’s [White Cloud Snow] next?”

She tilted her head, looking at Yan with curiosity.

“Alright.”

Yan’s lips curved into a smile.

“You’re most welcome.”

“Then I’ll transfer the party leader role to you. You can teleport back to your guild first, and we’ll use party follow to warp over.”

“Okay.”