Chapter 86 Coming Clean

Chapter 86 Coming Clean

Xie Fangcheng was very strong - this was common knowledge to Nie Shuangshuang.

Comparing Xie Fangcheng to herself back when she was still at full strength, Nie Shuangshuang knew clearly that if she didn't run and fought him instead, forget one or two minutes - two strokes from Xie Fangcheng would end her.

Maybe he wouldn't even need two strikes. Battling level five zombies, he rarely needed a second hit. Generally one swing would send them flying, and they'd land as obedient corpses.

But this Ji Ge was no level five zombie! He placed in the top ten on the National Instance scoreboards every year, earning who knew how many more rewards than her.

No matter how much Nie Shuangshuang looked down on Ji Ge, she had to admit he surpassed her, by who knew how many times stronger.

Xie Fangcheng was amazing in instances, but instance strength versus the Base lobby strength was different. After all, only items and skills from the National Instance rewards could be used in the Base lobby.

"Just how strong are you?" Nie Shuangshuang looked at him, then the hole in the ground. "How did you do this?"

Xie Fangcheng modestly replied: "I'm not that strong, there are still...hmm, three or four stronger than me."

"How do you know?" Nie Shuangshuang asked.

Xie Fangcheng answered honestly: "Fought them before."

Nie Shuangshuang found it a bit hard to imagine: "Stronger than you? Then how strong can they be?"

Xie Fangcheng sighed, "I didn't realize they were so strong back then either, otherwise I wouldn't have been so rash to make a move."

If not for this, I wouldn't have been held back for so many additional years.

As the two chatted incoherently, they walked on.

Xie Fangcheng beat Ji Ge in under half a minute. The surrounding Sunrise Guild players didn't even react before their vice president had been beaten and fled.

At this time, Yue Chen finally came to his senses and reflexively moved to block their path first.

"Wait a moment!"

With Ji Ge's escape, the table he had constructed with his skill also vanished. With no table legs for Xie Fangcheng to use, he habitually took out that baseball bat and propped it on his shoulder again.

Seeing Yue Chen's obstruction, Xie Fangcheng lowered his bat.

"What is it? You want a beating too?"

Yue Chen ranked top 200 on the boards, much stronger than Tao Youyuan. Faced with Xie Fangcheng's question now, he froze, eyes darting to the horrified expressions of the Sunrise Guild players he had brought, as if asking if he was insane.

Indeed, with even Ji Ge only able to cower and flee before this person, he had to be crazy to stand in their way!

Under Xie Fangcheng's gaze, Yue Chen slowly lowered the arm blocking their path.

"You beat our Guild's vice president - Sunrise Guild won't let you off."

Before Xie Fangcheng could reply, Nie Shuangshuang scolded: "It was your vice president who came causing trouble first, alright?? What, he can come pick fights but we have to obediently bow our heads? Yue Chen, were you still normal earlier? Has your Guild started a mass IQ reduction recently?"

Yue Chen fell silent.

As the two brushed past him, Yue Chen still couldn't resist: "Sis Shuangshuang, please put in a good word with your president when you get back."

Nie Shuangshuang retorted: "Put in a good word? To ask him not to come picking fights?"

Nie Shuangshuang had never been too fond of Sunrise Guild members. If Glory could be said to help all players, then Sunrise Guild really embodied the competitive spirit of the game. This was clear from the National Instances every year - Glory would always have "Trailblazers" clearing some difficult, low clear rate instances in order to research and pave the way for others.

But Sunrise Guild basically prepared extensively each year to snatch points and occupy the top of the boards to strengthen themselves.

In the past, Nie Shuangshuang could comfort herself that these were personal choices. But now, Xie Fangcheng had a high clear rate, so Ji Ge had rushed over aggressively to kill him.

Ji Chen must have agreed to this.

To think this kind of Guild was currently number one among players...

On the other side, Xie Fangcheng seemed not to have heard Yue Chen at all, just giving him an indifferent glance before continuing on.

After walking two steps, he lowered his head, likely checking his messages.

Raising his head after reading the message, Xie Fangcheng said:

"Where is your club president?" Xie Fangcheng asked.

Yue Chen felt rather awful inside. He hadn't wanted to do this task for Ji Ge in the first place, but now that it had fallen to him, he had no choice but to reluctantly come.

Seeing Ji Ge get beaten now, although it was improper...Yue Chen did feel a bit happy deep down.

But after this happiness, Nie Shuangshuang's words grated on his ears again, leaving Yue Chen quite conflicted.

When Xie Fangcheng asked this, Yue Chen froze for a second: "What do you want with our president?"

Many bystanding players who had witnessed everything unfold were still lingering around watching the drama.

Xie Fangcheng didn't lower his voice either, expression calm: "If he's here, call him out. I'll beat him up too!"

Damn, so arrogant!

Yue Chen felt a surge of astonishment followed by anger: "What did you say?!"

Even Nie Shuangshuang was taken aback.

She discreetly tugged at Jie Fangcheng's sleeve.

"Brother, Ji Chaoyang has cleared this game countless times; he's on a completely different level compared to me and Ji Ge. Do you... Do you really stand a chance?"

Jie Fangcheng nodded composedly: "Yes."

Nie Shuangshuang was speechless: "You're so confident without even meeting him?"

Jie Fangcheng candidly responded, "I haven't met him, but I have confidence."

What kind of response was that?! Wasn't that overly idealistic?!

Meanwhile, Yue Chen's face reddened with fury: "Don't be too arrogant!!"

Jie Fangcheng felt that he was actually being quite sincere and humble.

He had just received a message from Zhang Dao'an, who seemed quite calm upon learning that Ji Ge was indeed coming after him.

"It seems like Ji Chaoyang must have connections with the game developers. Is he around? If so, let's have a go at it together."

Without another word, Jie Fangcheng initiated the summons.

However, at this point, it was clear that Yue Chen wouldn't be assisting in the summoning, so Jie Fangcheng sighed and gestured to Nie Shuangshuang.

"Let's go, it's time to eat."

Nie Shuangshuang followed him in a somewhat dazed manner.

Since the moment she met Jie Fangcheng, Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but make comparisons.

He seemed to have no particular tactics, just fighting earnestly, blow by blow; as long as he landed a hit, the opponent would perish.

A raw simplicity radiated from his formidable presence; devoid of personal skills and gadgets, he hardly resembled a master player.

As for Ji Chaoyang, although Nie Shuangshuang had limited interactions with him, she had once joined the guild leader in a raid with him.

His prowess was beyond Nie Shuangshuang's imagination, capable of causing tumultuous upheavals with a mere wave of his hand, far beyond what any regular player could conceive.

Walking behind Jie Fangcheng, Nie Shuangshuang couldn't resist seeking confirmation again: "Are you sure you can defeat Ji Chaoyang? Do you realize how strong he is? The kind who can control the forces of nature at will."

"Yes," Jie Fangcheng swung the baseball bat in his hand, adding somewhat grumpily, "As long as he doesn't flee..."

"Damn! With your speed, who can you possibly catch up to?" Nie Shuangshuang said with disdain.

The two continued chatting as they drifted farther away.

At Yue Chen's side, a member of the Chaoyang Guild cautiously asked, "Brother Yue, should we report this to the guild leader?"

"Absolutely speak up! This Jie guy indeed has notable skills, but his attitude is way too arrogant! We should let the guild leader handle him!"

"Exactly! Our guild leader is the top player on the leaderboard, who does he think he is?"

"But he managed to defeat the vice leader..." someone murmured quietly.

The surrounding players fell silent.

In the eyes of the average player, Ji Chaoyang and Ji Ge are prominent figures on the leaderboards, and naturally, they are formidable.

However, the extent of their prowess and how vast the gap is between them and the average player is difficult to measure.

Hence, after witnessing how easily Ji Ge was defeated, not to mention the bystanders who wore a myriad of expressions, even the members of their own guild who accompanied Yue Chen exchanged uneasy glances, seemingly conveying: If the vice leader was defeated so effortlessly, can the guild leader truly win?

Can he indeed win?

Yue Chen suddenly turned around, directing his gaze at the person who had just whispered about Jie Fangcheng's victory over the vice leader.

His face remained expressionless, and his voice was steady yet loud enough for the onlookers to hear clearly, "The vice leader had just exited from a dungeon and didn't have time to recuperate. He was caught off guard by a sneak attack just now, that's why he lost to this nobody. We all know his true strength; what happened earlier was not indicative of his real capabilities."

Having said that, his gaze swept over the crowd.

The nearby players all hastily pretended as if nothing happened, avoiding his scrutiny.

"The Chaoyang Guild welcomes all capable talents, but for those who grow arrogant and complacent over a fluke victory, we shall wait and see."

After saying these words, he signaled to his companions, "Let's go."

Being the premier guild, his words commanded respect, causing the spectators to step aside hastily.

Once Yue Chen and his group departed, a player muttered under his breath, "What a show-off", prompting a few who were initially close to him to cast a glance and then promptly pretend not to know him.

After all, no one wanted to offend members of the top guild.

Naturally, there were exceptions.

"Big brother, these two individuals are quite formidable. Are we still planning to trouble Nie Shuangshuang?"

In a corner of the base hall, the fourth-ranked Reaper Guild's Zhou Qixiang and his brothers were still donning their black cloaks embroidered with sickles, each holding a peculiar scythe.

These were recently custom-made weapons for their guild, devoid of attributes but boasting a dazzling and grand appearance, perfectly aligning with their personalities.

Zhou Qixiang placed his scythe beside him, crossed his arms, his face devoid of emotions.

One of the other Reaper brothers hastily replied, "Idiot! We Reapers are not cowards! The stronger the opponent by her side, the more fulfilling the challenge will be!"

"Exactly, Reapers! Never concede! Asking such questions, you might as well leave the guild!"

However, at this moment, Zhou Qixiang spoke coldly, "No, we are changing our target."

"Eh?"

Zhou Qixiang watched the receding figures of Yue Chen and the members of the Chaoyang Guild, recalling the words of the player named Jie Fangcheng during his fight with Nie Shuangshuang the other day, “We, the masses, only remember the top three.”

His eyes were ablaze with determination.

"From now on, our goal is — to topple the Chaoyang Guild and become number one!"

Silence.

The other three brothers looked at him, and one earnestly remarked, "Big brother, we might be fearless, but we aren't supposed to be foolish, right?"

"Hmm, I think you should discuss this plan with the guild leader. After you do, you might lose your position as the vice leader."

"So what if I'm removed? I'll just become the vice leader then. The four of us will still be tight brothers!"

Zhou Qixiang gave them a disdainful look.

But, this means Nie Shuangshuang is now at odds with the Chaoyang Guild, doesn't it?

She won't get into any trouble, right?

.

By the time Jie Fangcheng and Nie Shuangshuang arrived at the restaurant, the diners on the first floor were already abuzz with the news of the events that transpired in the base hall, engaging in fervent discussions.

The restaurant was quite different from the base hall. Everyone could go to the base hall, but the restaurant's high prices deterred average players from dining there. Hence, most of the visitors here were rather capable, discussing the Chaoyang Guild without much apprehension.

Consequently, as the two walked through the first floor, they caught snippets of the heated discussions.

"Did you hear? The vice leader of the Chaoyang Guild was beaten to a bloody pulp in the base hall. If he hadn't fled quickly, he might have lost his life!"

"What? I heard he was already killed, no?"

"Not dead, or his name would have greyed out on the leaderboard. But I heard he's not far off. A friend of a friend told me that the person in the management of the Chaoyang Guild said he was in tremendous pain even after going back, and even medicines didn't help. It might be serious internal injuries."

"Damn, that's brutal! Who did that?"

"Nie Shuangshuang."

"What? When did she become so powerful??"

"Holy crap, when did the Crazy Rabbit regain her strength? Hold on, even when she was at her peak, she wasn't as strong as Ji Ge, was she?"

Someone with a mysterious expression interjected, "That may not be true. I suspect she must have cleared some high-level dungeon and acquired some insanely powerful skills and items. This is what? The return of the Dragon King! A phoenix rising from the ashes!"

Knowing Nie Shuangshuang's temperament, she promptly kicked the bench of the person who said that.

"Hey! Stop spreading rumors!"

The person who was speaking had an even worse temper than her. He turned around and shouted, "Damn! Who the hell are you to kick my bench?!"

Nie Shuangshuang was speechless.

The friends by the agitated person's side quickly restrained him and frantically apologized to Nie Shuangshuang, "Sister Shuangshuang, he's just immature, please don't take it to heart."

There were many who recognized Nie Shuangshuang, and even those who didn't initially know her quickly became acquainted under such circumstances. Soon, the chatter in the first-floor hall ceased, as everyone turned their gossip-fueled gazes towards Nie Shuangshuang and her companion... a pretty-boy.

The pretty-boy had rather peculiar tastes, donned in a magical robe and carrying a battered staff on his shoulder, his hair was tied up in a cutesy ponytail with a feminine hair tie.

That's it? The guy may have good looks, but at a glance, he didn't seem like a skilled player. Why was Nie Shuangshuang accompanying him?

Nie Shuangshuang had a hearty personality and enjoyed making friends. She used to frequently dine at the restaurant with her guild members.

She never put on airs as a high-level player. Though she often attracted crowds in the restaurant, she hadn't been fond of visiting it since the mass dungeon event last year.

Now under the spotlight once again, Nie Shuangshuang lowered her head, "Let's go."

Jie Fangcheng followed her as they ascended to a private room on the second floor.

The hustle and bustle on the first floor resumed shortly after.

Inside the private room, apart from Wei Yuan who had gone out in search of Zhang Dao'an, and Yi Zenan who disappeared after exiting the dungeon, the other six were all present.

Upon Nie Shuangshuang's entry, Tao Youyuan hesitated momentarily before asking, "Sister Shuangshuang, I heard you had a confrontation with members of the Chaoyang Guild at the base hall?"

Even with her laid-back nature, Nie Shuangshuang, who had experienced guild dynamics, could grasp what Tao Youyuan was pondering.

She nodded affirmatively, "Yes, your brother Jie beat up Ji Ge."

Tao Youyuan's gaze shifted towards Jie Fangcheng.

Jie Fangcheng appeared as casual and nonchalant as if he had just swatted a mosquito, "I did beat him up, nearly killed him too."

Tao Youyuan pondered briefly before standing up.

"Well, we should head back first," he said with a wry smile. "After all, I am the vice president of the Warm Cat Climbing Frame guild. We aren't a major guild."

While Ji Chaoyang, a significant figure, might not bear a grudge against them, Ji Ge was notoriously vindictive. Tao Youyuan, as the vice president, couldn't just stand by if Ji Ge sought revenge on other guild members due to his association with Jie Fangcheng.

Nie Shuangshuang understood, "I get it, you guys can go."

After standing up, Tao Youyuan looked at Qi Chanyang.

Qi Chanyang, being perceptive, had sensed what was coming from the start. He gave Tao Youyuan a friendly smile at this moment.

"Brother Tao, thank you for taking care of me during this time."

Tao Youyuan paused momentarily.

Having received the notification of Qi Chanyang leaving the guild, he could only nod in acknowledgment.

"I understand, be cautious in all matters," Tao Youyuan said, nodding at Jie Fangcheng. "Thanks for your help this time, Jie. The meal is on me."

With that, he and the other two members of the Warm Cat Climbing Frame guild departed.

Two other players who were also in guilds exchanged looks at this point, swiftly coming to a decision.

"I'm sorry, Brother Jie, our guild isn't even in the top hundred, so in case... I, I should leave too."

"Me as well. Thank you, Brother Jie, and thank you, Sister Shuangshuang. If there's any way I can assist you in the future, just message me; I won't decline."

In no time, the previously somewhat crowded private room suddenly emptied, leaving only four individuals, including Jie Fangcheng.

Zhang Dao'an seemed to have anticipated this scenario and calmly greeted Nie Shuangshuang and Jie Fangcheng.

"Let's eat first."

"Alright!"

Once seated, taking advantage of someone else footing the bill, Jie Fangcheng quickly ordered three dishes.

When the menu reached Nie Shuangshuang, she didn't hold back either and ordered three more.

Qi Chanyang, appearing somewhat frugal, waved his hands upon receiving the menu, "Just the four of us, that's enough."

Zhang Dao'an, however, shook his head: "There's one more person."

"Who?"

Before the question could fully hang in the air, a knock sounded at the door of the private room.

Nie Shuangshuang, who was closest to the door, stood up to open it, pausing momentarily in surprise.

"Wei Yuan?"

Wei Yuan had been frantically searching in the base hall. He even considered rallying the entire guild to join the search but was worried it might lead to collective disappointment.

The name indeed bore a significant resemblance to the guild leader's, but no matter the resemblance, the guild leader's name had grayed out - this was a fact.

Furthermore, logic told him that these were two entirely different individuals.

Despite the brief period he spent with Zhang Dao'an, it was clear that this man had very distinct personality traits, vastly different from those of the guild leader.

Yet, a person engulfed in despair tends to grasp at every possible straw, a common human trait.

Wei Yuan was relentlessly messaging Zhang Dao'an, who seemed to ignore the messages initially. After an uncertain amount of time, he finally replied. Wei Yuan rushed towards the restaurant without a moment's hesitation upon receiving the response.

Upon arriving in the private room, Wei Yuan first turned his gaze towards Zhang Dao'an who was seated.

Zhang Dao'an looked back with an indifferent expression, "You're here?"

Wei Yuan's lips quivered: "Are you…?"

Zhang Dao'an gestured to him: "The National Dungeon event is less than two weeks away. I think everyone should start preparing in advance."

The abrupt shift in topic left even Qi Chanyang startled: "What?"

Zhang Dao'an looked at him, his gaze then sweeping across the faces of Nie Shuangshuang and Wei Yuan.

"I looked up the rules for the National Dungeon. Both of you are slated for a level five dungeon this time, aren't you? With your current abilities, can you clear a level five dungeon?"

"Ah…" Nie Shuangshuang appeared somewhat bewildered for a moment before she exchanged a glance with Wei Yuan, "I definitely can't, at least. What are you implying?"

"You can team up to choose a level five dungeon in the National Dungeon event. However, since we are still two weeks away and Manager Jie and I haven't cleared it more than twenty times, we cannot actively choose level five. We are more likely to enter a level one dungeon. The level one dungeon takes less time; by the time we exit, you should still be inside and can use an item to summon us."

Nie Shuangshuang paused, absorbing what was said.

"So the only real challenge now is for you two to hold on for a while within that period where we haven't yet cleared the level one dungeon, until we can join you," Zhang Dao'an inquired, "Both of your skills and items are not really up to the mark, right? There are two weeks left, don't you plan to upgrade?"

While his reasoning was sound, the sudden jump in topic compelled Nie Shuangshuang to ask: "Wait, isn't the most pressing issue at hand something else? We just had an altercation with Ji Ge a moment ago!"

Zhang Dao'an nodded, "Yes, so what?"

So what??

Unable to contain herself, Nie Shuangshuang turned towards Jie Fangcheng for answers.

Jie Fangcheng’s expression mirrored Zhang Dao'an's to a tee, both wearing faces of bemusement.

Jie Fangcheng even voiced out: "We've already fought them once, so what's the big deal? If they come, we fight; one or two, we take them on. What's the issue?"

At his words, Nie Shuangshuang found herself at a loss for words.

Being focused on finding Zhang Dao'an, Wei Yuan wasn't aware of what had transpired. Only now grasping the situation, his eyes widened: "Brother Jie, you had a disagreement with Ji Ge? Do you need me to mediate?"

He had a slightly closer relationship with the Chaoyang guild.

Nie Shuangshuang was a girl who cherished her freedom. Though she often joined guild members for dungeon runs, her preferences were pretty clear, which resulted in limited interaction with the members of the Chaoyang guild.

While Wei Yuan might not hold a prominent position within the guild, during its golden era, they held six spots in the top ten rankings.

But prior to his demise, he worked in insurance, possessing good social skills and a sharp mind, often joining the Chaoyang guild for dungeon runs.

At that time, the relations between the two guilds were cordial, and Ji Chaoyang didn't put on airs as the leader of the top guild; Wei Yuan had a favorable impression of him.

Hearing him say this now, before Nie Shuangshuang could respond, Jie Fangcheng became intrigued: "Oh? You have a good relationship with them?"

Wei Yuan was already pulling up his friend list: "Yes, we were quite good partners before. Ji Chaoyang is actually quite a decent person, very receptive to advice."

Even for this year's National Dungeon event, Ji Chaoyang had reached out to him in advance, offering assistance.

However, even in its diminished state, Wei Yuan, as the guild leader, had absolutely no intention of seeking help from other guilds.

Xie Fangcheng nodded, "That works out well then. Why don't you invite Ji Ge and Ji Chaoyang over together?"

Wei Yuan opened Ji Chaoyang's message box, typing a message while chatting casually with Xie Fangcheng.

"Do you guys have some kind of dispute with the Chaoyang Guild? If it's a minor friction, a message from me should suffice," he inquired.

"No real disputes, actually."

"Oh?" Wei Yuan had finished typing the message and was about to send it. He looked up and asked, "So why did you guys fight with Ji Ge? Are you inviting both brothers to share a meal and bury the hatchet with a smile?"

Xie Fangcheng shook his head, "No, it's the perfect opportunity to call them over and give them a good beating together."

"..." Wei Yuan felt like he had misheard, "What did you just say?"

"I said it's the perfect opportunity to call them over and give them a good beating together." Xie Fangcheng turned to Nie Shuangshuang, "Is your friend hard of hearing? Why do I always have to repeat myself?"

Wei Yuan: "..."

Wei Yuan looked at Nie Shuangshuang with a surreal expression.

Nie Shuangshuang explained, "Ji Ge has been looking for him because Xie brother broke one of Ji Ge's dungeon records, so the kid wants revenge."

Having a knowledge of Ji Ge, Wei Yuan frowned, feeling that this indeed sounded like something Ji Ge would do.

"But Ji Chaoyang has always kept his younger brother in check. Is he unaware of what happened? Let me send him a message."

Saying this, Wei Yuan deleted the words he initially typed, quickly typing a lengthy message before hitting send.

But soon, he froze.

Nie Shuangshuang noted his expression, "What happened? What did Ji Chaoyang say?"

Wei Yuan remained silent, "The system notified that I'm on the recipient's block list, unable to send messages to them..."

"??" Nie Shuangshuang was bewildered, "Weren't you on good terms with Ji Chaoyang? Why did he suddenly block you?"

Zong Daoan, who had been quietly listening, suddenly chuckled, "It seems he knows then."

Wei Yuan was confused, "What do you mean?"

Zong Daoan adjusted his glasses, seemingly sighing lightly.

"Let's get reacquainted," he said, "Zong Daoan, a professor at the Buddhist Academy, teaching Marxism. Your guild leader might have mentioned me... but it seems like he hasn't told you."

—"I'm Zong Dawu's elder brother."

Meanwhile, at the upper echelons of the Chaoyang Guild.

Standing before a glass window was the renowned Chaoyang Guild leader, his face marked by a scar that bisected it. He gazed out of the window, lost in thoughts.

The player base was bustling with activity, with many individuals coming and going.

Beside him lay a stack of documents that had just been delivered.

At his feet, a dog with a human face was shut inside a narrow cage, its eyes closed.

The cage was engulfed in darkness, yet occasionally adorned with fleeting streaks of light, making it quite distinctive.

If Xie Fangcheng were here, he would instantly realize that the cage was constructed from Yin energy and data streams.

Ji Chaoyang glanced at the documents beside him; at the top of the pile, a paper bore Zong Daoan's name, yet contained scant information.

With just a few strokes, Ji Chaoyang confirmed that this indeed was Zong Daoan, a man who could perceive the essence of others at a glance and whose ruthless modus operandi remained unchanged.

Ji Chaoyang gently traced the scar on his face, a reminiscence causing his fingertips to tremble slightly.

"Xiao Wu," he murmured while studying the documents in front of him, "you've really presented me with a dilemma, not finding peace even in death... a restless spirit indeed."