Xia Zichen had been thinking about it for several days.
Or rather, “thinking” wasn’t entirely accurate—after the initial hesitation, he simply felt that joining or not joining didn’t make much difference. Even if he lacked a bit of belonging, he couldn’t deny that the people in Tianfeng Yage treated him well.
Sometimes a sense of belonging had to be cultivated slowly; it wasn’t like falling in love at first sight, something based purely on feeling. It required time, interaction, and understanding.
Today, Xia Zichen logged in earlier than usual. What surprised him a little was that Canmo Wuhen was even earlier.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: Why are you online so early today?
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Waiting for you.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: Hm? Something urgent? I’ve been on QQ the whole time.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Not urgent. I just waited in-game.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: So… what’s up?
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: You don’t want to join Tianfeng Yage?
Seeing that line, Xia Zichen smiled.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: I thought you wouldn’t bring it up again.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Sometimes waiting too long means you have to take initiative.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: Honestly, now that I’m always running dungeons with you guys, it doesn’t feel much different.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: The difference is whether your name shows under a guild.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: You get used to it.
Xia Zichen really had gotten used to it. It didn’t feel like a big deal anymore.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: You don’t like Tianfeng Yage?
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: No, your guild is good.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Then why not join?
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: I told Bai Cao Zhe I’d think about it.
Canmo Wuhen paused for a moment.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Many guild members are participating in the 2v2 PvP tournament. Even if they’re eliminated early, the semifinals and finals will definitely involve internal matches. They’ve been gathering often to discuss strategies. If you join the guild, you’ll understand their playstyles better and avoid being caught off guard.
He made it sound very reasonable. Xia Zichen knew it wasn’t exaggerated—Tianfeng Yage players really did have the strength to reach the semifinals.
Although he had sparred with Jian Lang and Bai Cao Zhe before, sparring was different. No one took it too seriously. In official competition, no one would hold back.
‘Shenxi’: You guys really talk about this in guild chat?
That kind of strategic discussion was practically sharing internal weaknesses. Normally, this would be kept private.
‘Canmo Wuhen’: You can just listen, not comment.
Xia Zichen was speechless.
This felt a bit underhanded.
Before he could think further, an invite appeared—Canmo Wuhen had sent a guild invitation.
Although he wasn’t vice leader, Jian Lang had given him a guild position with authority to invite and remove members.
Xia Zichen didn’t hesitate this time and clicked confirm.
System: You have joined Tianfeng Yage.
In truth, part of why he hadn’t replied to Bai Cao Zhe was because he subconsciously wanted Canmo Wuhen to personally invite him. After all, his decision to join was largely because of this person.
Realizing that, Xia Zichen couldn’t help but smile helplessly at himself. Since when had he started caring about such things?
Guild Chat:
Three Encounters With Love: Welcome Shenxi!
[Sunflower]: Welcome~ I told you Shenxi would come.
Bai Cao Zhe: Had to let Can Mo personally step in. Welcome.
[Seasonal Bloom]: Welcome welcome, warmly welcome!
Greedy Bloodlust: Dungeon runs will be more stable now. Welcome Shenxi.
……
The guild chat quickly filled with greetings. Xia Zichen hadn’t expected so many people to be online.
[Shenxi]: Thanks, hello everyone.
[Sunflower]: You’re too polite, we’re all family~
[Seasonal Bloom]: Exactly, family.
Bai Cao Zhe: If you’re too polite, they won’t dare gossip about you.
[Sunflower]: Vice leader Bai, don’t tell the truth!
The atmosphere stayed lively. It reminded Xia Zichen of how Battle Requiem Hall used to be before Lotus Fei’er joined—only that version was long gone.
[Canmo Wuhen]: Tonight dungeon run continues. Party at 8 PM, meet at entrance.
[Sunflower]: Got it, I’m going to pray for loot drops!
Three Encounters With Love: Boss, screenshot please!
……
Canmo Wuhen didn’t respond further and instead took Shenxi to do dailies.
Later that night, the 25-man team entered the Dark War Underground Palace.
Running with Tianfeng Yage was effortless.
During the third boss’s life-drain mechanic, Shenxi didn’t even need to use damage reduction. Canmo Wuhen’s whip would instantly pull him out. Others were rescued by Bai Cao Zhe. The mechanic was practically tailor-made for whip users.
Battle Requiem Hall didn’t have anyone using a whip class, so when Xia Zichen had originally helped Shen Yi Cheng with strategy, he hadn’t mentioned this detail. After his departure, he didn’t know whether they were still running this dungeon.
After the boss dropped, Canmo Wuhen looted the items.
[Team] Bai Cao Zhe: Weapon dropped—Healer fan for Jing Ning Hall.
Xia Zichen’s eyes immediately landed on the loot.
Not a token this time, but a proper healer weapon.
It was rare for Tianfeng Yage—armor and accessories dropped often, but weapons were scarce, and healer weapons even rarer.
Looking at healing output, Shenxi ranked second among the three healers.
Logically, the weapon should go to the top healer, Piaoran Qiwuxi. Even if she declined, the fourth healer, Proud Milk Mama, also had priority.
But Shenxi had only just joined.
[Team] Jian Lang: Anyone want it?
As leader, Jian Lang didn’t assign it immediately but asked for opinions.
[Piaoran Qiwuxi]: Give it to Shenxi. I only do PvE, not PvP. My current fan is already good enough.
That was unexpectedly generous.
[Proud Milk Mama]: I just upgraded my fan yesterday… I’m broke now qaq. Give it to Shenxi.
[Seasonal Bloom]: Give it to Shenxi. Consider it a welcome gift.
……
Unanimously, the weapon went to Shenxi.
[Shenxi]: Thank you.
Compared to Battle Requiem Hall’s chaos over a single weapon, this was almost surreal—just a few words and it was settled.
Sometimes things really could be resolved with a single sentence. It was just that most people made them complicated.
[Proud Milk Mama]: Can I request repair fee reimbursement qaq?
[Shenxi]: I’ll cover everyone’s repair costs.
That was the least he could do.
[Canmo Wuhen]: I’ll split it with him.
No one objected.
After the dungeon, Canmo Wuhen traded him some gems.
‘PM’ [Shenxi]: Name your price.
‘PM’ [Canmo Wuhen]: No need. I don’t use healer gems.
‘Shenxi’: You can sell them.
‘Canmo Wuhen’: Then sell them for me.
‘I’m capped on gold anyway. Might as well put them to use. Consider it for PvP.’
That ended the argument.
After logging out of dungeon, Bai Cao Zhe approached Shenxi.
He mentioned that Canmo Wuhen had been organizing daily runs of Dark War—not officially stated, but clearly intended to farm that healer weapon for him.
Shenxi hadn’t known.
He had assumed it was just guild routine content.
“It’s nothing else,” Bai Cao Zhe added. “Just don’t leave any regrets. Can Mo is just like that—quiet, but very attentive, especially toward people he cares about.”
Shenxi didn’t respond immediately.
Something in his chest tightened slightly.
He realized something important.
Canmo Wuhen had entered his life silently—like an invasion without warning.
And if he didn’t draw a clear boundary, he might one day fall into it without even noticing.
He liked being friends with him. He also liked how respectful and considerate he was.
But if a friend was too considerate… too thoughtful…
It became hard to breathe.
Because that kind of relationship was… too ambiguous.
By March, winter break had ended.
Shenxi packed his things and returned to school.
This holiday had changed many things.
And now, he had more than just in-game matters to face—he also had to deal with his increasingly awkward relationship with Shen Yi Cheng after joining Tianfeng Yage…