Qing Bai retched for a good while before finally stopping, her hands clutching her chest, her heart still pounding with lingering fear. Her face had turned a distinct shade of purple.
Seeing her in such a state, Yan couldn’t help but wonder if her full-dive helmet would forcibly disconnect her if she continued to feel so unwell. After all, ‘Companion Deity Realm’ was designed to safeguard players’ physical health, and would forcefully log out any player whose mental state was detected as unstable.
Well, it seemed she was recovering.
“Is it really that disgusting? This is just a game; it’s all merely data.”
Yan retrieved some clear water from his backpack and offered it to Qing Bai.
“Don’t even mention that word, ‘disgusting,’ to me. Just thinking about it now makes me sick… *retch*…”
Qing Bai, seemingly unable to bear hearing the word ‘disgusting’ from her own lips, swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth and snatched the clear water from him.
“…”
She stared at the clear water Yan had given her, remaining silent for a moment.
“What’s wrong?”
Yan asked, puzzled.
“I’m a little hesitant to drink anything you hand me right now…”
“Pfft~”
Yan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?! This is all your fault!”
Qing Bai stomped her foot in exasperation. The shift in her focus, it seemed, had significantly alleviated her nausea.
“Don’t worry. This is just plain water this time.”
Yan offered a helpless smile, and only then did Qing Bai drink the water in her hand.
Even though it was merely a cluster of data, the sweet and pure sensation of the clear water flowing down her throat felt utterly real, cleansing both her mouth and her spirit.
The nausea instantly dissipated. Despite this, she still harbored no desire to confront the disgusting River Poison Frogs again.
“If you dislike them so much, then perhaps I shouldn’t give you these potions?”
Yan displayed two stacks of magic potions from his backpack, casting a questioning glance at Qing Bai.
“…”
Qing Bai rolled her eyes. After a moment of silence, she spoke softly, a hint of internal struggle in her voice.
“…I want them.”
“What did you say?”
Yan wasn’t genuinely playing a trick; he simply hadn’t heard her clearly.
“I said! I want them! I give up!”
Qing Bai’s face flushed crimson as she yelled, a mix of shame and indignation in her voice.
There was nothing for it; the allure of these potions was simply too great for a Dexterity Mage.
As for her psychological aversion, she would just have to overcome it gradually.
Yan offered a helpless smile, handing over both stacks of freshly crafted magic potions to Qing Bai.
Just then, Tian Jiu also came online.
“Um… where are you guys?”
This question appeared in the party chat box, and one could almost imagine Tian Jiu’s timid tone through the screen.
“Ah, open your party list. Do you see the ‘Party Follow’ button? Click that, and you’ll be able to teleport over.”
Since Tian Jiu was a true newcomer, Yan meticulously guided her through the party teleportation method, explaining every detail.
Just as Yan was wondering if this ‘silly girl’ would actually manage to teleport over, a blue light shimmered before him, and Tian Jiu’s petite figure gradually materialized from it.
“Ah!”
The moment Tian Jiu opened her eyes, the River Poison Frogs hopping nearby startled her, and she quickly scurried behind Yan.
‘It seems these two really have an aversion to disgusting-looking monsters like the River Poison Frogs…’
Yan helplessly watched Tian Jiu hiding behind him, and Qing Bai, who had turned her head, diligently avoiding the River Poison Frogs to prevent herself from feeling nauseous again.
“Well, alright then. Let’s go level up in a Level 28 area.”
Yan glanced at Tian Jiu’s Level 19 status and said.
“Okay.”
Finally free from this hellish place, Tian Jiu and Qing Bai were naturally overjoyed, responding in unison.
Yan led the two of them, turning to follow the river upstream.
****
Windfall Hills – Spirit Flora River Valley region.
Stepping into the valley, they were immediately greeted by a moist and pleasant aroma in the air. Though it was the upper reaches of the murky Golden Quicksand River, the river beneath their feet was so clear that the pebbles on its bed were visible. Both sides of the stone walls were overgrown with strange green plants, their blooming flowers shimmering with a magical radiance. The surrounding peaks completely encircled the river valley, forming what was almost a natural fortress, leaving only a small opening above them through which the clear azure sky was visible.
Witnessing this beautiful scenery, Tian Jiu, playing this game for the first time, couldn’t help but let out gasps of awe.
“This is the most scenic area in the Windfall Hills region, and also the upper reaches of the Golden Quicksand River. Due to its unique terrain, mana constantly gathers and swirls near the surface here, giving rise to many peculiar flora and fauna. But rest assured, these plants and animals generally won’t actively attack anyone, and their levels are quite low.”
Alice reappeared, smiling as she introduced the area to Tian Jiu. She seemed to understand her role perfectly, never actively asserting her presence during player conversations. Only when everyone was silently appreciating the scenery would she speak up to offer brief introductions to various aspects of the game, and she would never disrupt the atmosphere.
“Actually, there’s a reason why there are no high-level monsters here.”
Yan chuckled and said to Tian Jiu.
“Oh? What is it?”
Tian Jiu asked, curious.
Alice, seeing Yan and Tian Jiu engaged in conversation, was about to take half a step back and withdraw from the discussion when Yan turned his head to look at her.
“Let Alice tell you. She knows far more about this game than any player. After all, she’s the omniscient management AI.”
“Yan, you’re truly flattering me to death (TL Note: 捧杀 (pěngshā) is a Chinese idiom meaning to praise someone excessively until they become arrogant or fail).”
Alice offered a helpless smile, understanding that Yan wanted her to integrate into the team rather than merely serving as a navigation AI.
She reluctantly took over the conversation.
“Because deep within this river valley resides a Level 30 field boss. It lives in this magic-rich valley and has grown incredibly powerful. Its arrogance prevents any high-level creatures from emerging in its territory, which is why the monsters here are not high-level.”
“I see.”
Tian Jiu nodded.
“We’re not here to kill the boss this time. Let’s just find some low-level monsters around here to level up.”
Yan said.
“Oh.”
Tian Jiu nodded.
“Hmph, hmph, it’s just a field boss, isn’t it? Watch me take it down in minutes.”
Qing Bai put her hands on her hips, declaring haughtily, seemingly unconcerned by the boss Alice had described.
“Oh? Really?”
Yan glanced at the tall, dark shadow behind Qing Bai and chuckled mischievously.
Tian Jiu seemed to notice something as well, cautiously backing away from Qing Bai and hiding behind Yan.
“Qing Bai… you…”
Tian Jiu seemed about to warn Qing Bai, but the enormous, glowing yellow eyes of the figure glared at her, silencing Tian Jiu instantly.
“Just so you know, I can’t fight this boss this time. You’ll have to rely entirely on yourself.”
Yan spread his hands, saying with a helpless smile.
“It’s just a Level 30 boss, isn’t it? I can solo it myself.”
Qing Bai remained completely oblivious to the unusual presence beside her, still proclaiming proudly with her chin held high.
“Alright then~”
Yan smirked.
“My lady, behind you…”
Finally, Alice spoke up with a helpless reminder.
“Huh? Behind me? What’s behind me…?”
With those words, Qing Bai slowly turned around, coming face-to-face with those enormous, glowing yellow eyes.
“ROAR!!”
“Waaah!”
The figure suddenly lunged at Qing Bai, opening its gaping maw and letting out a tremendous roar from its deep throat, startling Qing Bai.
She fled in a panic, hiding behind Yan with Tian Jiu.
Immediately, the figure soared into the air, its massive, outstretched wings obscuring the already sparse sky above the valley, casting a colossal shadow over the ground where Yan stood.
“W-w-why is it a dragon?! Even for a Level 30 field boss, a black dragon is just too much!”
Qing Bai shrieked in terror, her composure utterly shattered, a stark contrast to her earlier arrogant boast of soloing the boss.
“Hey, hey, you’re a veteran player from the old servers, aren’t you? It’s pretty embarrassing not to even know what the field boss of this map is.”
Yan retorted mercilessly.
“This field boss hasn’t been changed since very early versions of the game, so why wouldn’t you know about it, my lady?”
Alice looked at Qing Bai, perplexed.
“Didn’t you tell me, Alice, that the boss here was incredibly strong and couldn’t be soloed? I never fought this boss when I was low-level in the old servers, and who would come back here to fight a Level 30 field boss when they’re high-level?”
Qing Bai’s face flushed crimson as she argued illogically.
“Hmm? Who was it just now making such grand declarations about soloing it?”
Yan teased with a mischievous grin.
“Who would’ve known this boss wouldn’t stay in its lair, but would come out for a stroll…”
Qing Bai’s face grew even redder as she lowered her head, muttering her defense.
“Don’t worry, this isn’t a true Black Dragon; it’s just a Pseudo-Black Dragon.”
Yan smiled, looking at the name displayed above the black dragon in the sky.
“Pseudo-Demonic Dragon (Black).”
“It’s not as hard to fight as you might think. It’s just that melee players won’t be able to help much until the Black Dragon is brought down.”
Yan said with a smile, comforting Qing Bai, who was still hiding behind him.
“Well, for now, if Young Lady Qing Bai and Tian Jiu cooperate well, you should be able to defeat this Pseudo-Black Dragon.”
Alice tilted her head, pinching her chin in thought for a moment before saying.
“Hear that? Alice said so. Want to give it a try?”
Yan asked Qing Bai and Tian Jiu, who were behind him.
“Then… let’s try it?”
Qing Bai hesitated briefly, but her earlier fear was instantly overwhelmed by the excitement of battling a boss she’d never fought before. Her eyes lit up with eagerness as she spoke.
‘This one truly is a battle maniac through and through…’
Yan watched Qing Bai’s expression, thinking helplessly, then turned his gaze to Tian Jiu.
“How about you, Tian Jiu?”
Tian Jiu seemed not to have overcome her fear of the vivid, colossal black dragon in the sky. She huddled behind Yan, her delicate small hands clutching his clothes, creating numerous wrinkles.
Yet, she met Yan’s gaze, her crystalline eyes looking at his smiling face. She clenched her fists, as if having made some firm decision.
“If… if it’s just healing, I can try…”
She said.
Yan smiled, then turned, his resolute gaze fixed on the black dragon in the sky.
“Alright then, follow my command! Let’s face this boss!”
“Oh!”