In games, you never know when you’ll run into a freak. Xia Zichen had always believed games were meant for people to play, but in reality, many people were being played by the game instead. Because of that, odd characters were everywhere, and they even convinced themselves that the game was life itself.
Originally, Jian Lang and Bai Cao Zhe were tied together for daily dungeon runs. But today, Jian Lang had to go a little later to help some friends carry a few newcomers through daily dungeons. As a tank class, Jian Lang was very durable and also a good choice for carrying newbies, after all not everyone nowadays had the patience to take beginners through instances. So Bai Cao Zhe went online first and formed a random party instead. A daily dungeon wasn’t actually that hard anyway—as long as everyone knew how to play, random parties were fine.
When Bai Cao Zhe reached the dungeon entrance, it was peak daily time, and many people were shouting to form parties. Just as he was thinking about joining a party that needed a DPS, a party invitation popped up on his screen. Since someone was inviting him, it saved him the trouble of finding a group, so Bai Cao Zhe directly accepted and entered the instance.
After entering, he realized that the healer in the team was actually Die Meng Xin Zui, and she was also the party leader. He had only previously helped her with leveling quests, and after she reached max level, they had not played together again, so he had no idea how strong her healing actually was. But daily dungeons weren’t very difficult anyway—just dodge skills properly, and as long as the healer could keep the tank alive, it was fine.
The group didn’t talk. After recovering HP and mana, they started the run.
Bai Cao Zhe was a ranged DPS. As long as the boss didn’t target him or use large AoE attacks, he basically wouldn’t lose HP. But today he was unlucky—the boss’s target-marking skill actually picked him.
Bai Cao Zhe immediately used a light mobility skill and ran in circles around the arena. Normally at this time the healer would focus heal the marked player, since anyone other than the tank didn’t have enough HP to take hits and could easily die. But while running, Bai Cao Zhe noticed that Die Meng Xin Zui didn’t heal him at all.
By the time the boss finished chasing him, he was left with only a sliver of HP. Then the boss released another AoE attack, and Bai Cao Zhe, standing inside the area, instantly died.
The others said nothing and continued to kill the boss. After the fight, Die Meng Xin Zui still made no attempt to revive him.
‘Party’ [Xin Ning]: Healer, what are you doing? You didn’t heal the marked target, and you didn’t revive after he died.
One of the DPS players clearly wasn’t satisfied with Die Meng Xin Zui.
‘Party’ [Die Meng Xin Zui]: He couldn’t even run properly and got himself killed. What does that have to do with me!
‘Party’ [Xiao Guai Zui Guai]: Exactly, if you don’t want to play then leave.
Seeing their words, Bai Cao Zhe seriously considered leaving the party. But if he left, he wouldn’t be able to complete today’s daily quest. With the party’s current DPS, it was very likely the remaining four wouldn’t be able to finish either. Not finishing it himself was one thing, but dragging down Xin Ning, who spoke up for him, was another matter entirely.
Bai Cao Zhe wasn’t stupid. He understood that Die Meng Xin Zui was clearly targeting him. Fortunately, the remaining four bosses wouldn’t chase players—he just needed to stand near the healer and soak up AoE healing.
Too lazy to argue further, Bai Cao Zhe respawned at the entrance and ran to the second boss. Xin Ning didn’t say anything either. From his gear, he seemed like a freshly geared player; failing to get today’s dungeon reward would be a huge loss for someone like him.
The next two bosses went smoothly. Bai Cao Zhe no longer expected healing from Die Meng Xin Zui. When possible, he went in to soak AoE heals; when necessary, he used damage reduction skills. In the end, he didn’t die again.
The party remained silent, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
When they reached the fourth boss, they recovered and started the fight. Bai Cao Zhe’s DPS was always strong, consistently ranking first. Xiao Guai Zui Guai was second, but her damage was only a fraction of his.
When the fourth boss was down to 10% HP, a system message popped up on Bai Cao Zhe’s screen—he had been kicked from the party by the leader, Die Meng Xin Zui.
A countdown to exit the instance began immediately, and at that moment, the fourth boss also fell.
‘Nearby’ [Xin Ning]: Damn, you people are too much.
‘Nearby’ [Xiao Guai Zui Guai]: You completed your quest, so stop whining.
‘Nearby’ [Die Meng Xin Zui]: Exactly! Bai Cao Zhe deserved it. He stole someone else’s man and still has the nerve to keep playing? I just intentionally ruined your daily run. So what?
‘Nearby’ [Xin Ning]: Damn, what a freak encounter today!
‘Nearby’ [Die Meng Xin Zui]: You’re the freak! Bai Cao Bai, you piece of shit—if you dared join the party, you should’ve been prepared to get ruined!
…
Whatever else was said after that, Bai Cao Zhe didn’t see, as he was already teleported out of the instance.
A daily dungeon can only be entered once per day. Since he was kicked before finishing the fourth boss, the quest naturally could not be completed.
In truth, Bai Cao Zhe was also angry. Whatever happened between him and Jian Lang was between the two of them. A woman like this forcing herself into their relationship was disgusting to anyone who saw it. And now she even went as far as ruining his daily run.
Because of his upbringing, Bai Cao Zhe didn’t know how to curse and didn’t want to swear. He only thought that if he met Die Meng Xin Zui in the wild, he would kill her a few times.
Just as he was about to return to the main city to do other quests, Jian Lang logged in and sent him a party invite. Since the person he was supposed to carry into the dungeon hadn’t arrived yet, Jian Lang had developed the habit of immediately grouping with Bai Cao Zhe upon logging in.
Bai Cao Zhe accepted and abandoned the daily dungeon quest.
‘Party’ [Jian Lang]: Why did you abandon the quest?
Only then did Bai Cao Zhe remember that abandoning the quest would show a notification to party members.
‘Party’ [Bai Cao Zhe]: Nothing. I just don’t feel like doing it.
‘Party’ [Jian Lang]: Didn’t you usually like running dailies? Come later with the guild.
‘Party’ [Bai Cao Zhe]: Not doing it.
Since Bai Cao Zhe didn’t want to, Jian Lang didn’t insist.
Originally, things could have ended there. But coincidentally, Xin Ning’s master was a friend Jian Lang knew in-game, and the three of them had previously run PvP arenas together. Xin Ning, feeling frustrated, recounted everything that happened to his master in detail.
Although Xin Ning didn’t know Bai Cao Zhe, his master did. So in the end, Jian Lang found out about it.
Without hesitation, Jian Lang asked someone from the guild to replace him for carrying newcomers through dailies. He then went to find Die Meng Xin Zui himself and killed her repeatedly until she was camped at the resurrection point.
By the time Shen Xi and Canmo Wuhen arrived at the resurrection point, many guild members were already gathered there. In the center lay Die Meng Xin Zui’s corpse, surrounded by grey-named players who had tried to assist her but were also wiped out.
The members of Tian Feng Ya Ge were very tacit; none of them said they were there for revenge—they all claimed they were just there to watch the show. The five players who hadn’t done dailies formed a party and went to complete them first, then returned in rotations.
Bai Cao Zhe sat beside Jian Lang. By the time he arrived, Jian Lang had already killed Die Meng Xin Zui more than ten times.
Shen Xi walked over, and the others greeted them in nearby chat.
Xia Zichen glanced at the corpse of Die Meng Xin Zui. The guild name beneath her character surprised him slightly—she had actually joined Zhan Ming Hall, and he had no idea when she left her previous guild.
‘Nearby’ [Die Meng Xin Zui]: It was all a misunderstanding. Why are you letting this slide? Shen Xi, we used to be in the same guild, and you’re close with Wu Qing—say something for me.
‘Nearby’ [Shen Xi]: Sorry, the main person involved is Bai Cao Zhe. Whether we let you go or not depends on him. I don’t have the authority.
Originally, Xia Zichen might have spoken up, but after seeing what Die Meng Xin Zui posted in world chat, even he wanted this woman gone from the game.
‘Nearby’ [Zhan San Jue Qing]: Are you shameless? The guild leader and vice leader are clearly a pair—if anything, you’re the third party.
‘Nearby’ [Die Meng Xin Zui]: They never said they were a couple. I’m a girl—what’s wrong with liking Jian Lang?
‘Nearby’ [Tan Lan De Xue Xing]: Whether they’re together or not doesn’t matter. The point is the guild leader didn’t accept you. Stop flattering yourself.
‘Nearby’ [Yi Ji Zheng Luo]: Talking to someone like this is pointless. Just kill her until she quits the server.
‘Nearby’ [Ao Jiao Nai Ma]: Agreed!
…
Just then, three players arrived in the distance. As they approached, Xia Zichen realized they were Lian Fei Er and her group.
They dismounted near the resurrection point. Compared to Tian Feng Ya Ge, they were clearly outnumbered.
‘Nearby’ [Lian Fei Er]: It’s just a misunderstanding. Please let go of Die Meng. Shen Xi, we were all in the same guild before, and you and Wu Qing get along well—help me say a few words.
‘Nearby’ [Shen Xi]: Sorry, I can’t help. The main person is Bai Cao Zhe. Whether to let her go is his decision.
Originally, Xia Zichen might have helped speak up, but after seeing Die Meng Xin Zui’s world chat message, even he wished she would disappear from the game.
‘Nearby’ [Zhan San Jue Qing]: What you’re saying is funny. You get blacklisted in a dungeon, then get insulted, and they call it a misunderstanding?
‘Nearby’ [Ao Jiao Nai Ma]: Exactly. Don’t act like a saint—we’re not. And didn’t she admit she did it on purpose?
‘Nearby’ [Cheng Cheng Bao Bei]: Die Meng is just a newbie. You’re bullying a low-geared newcomer. Don’t you think that’s too much?
‘Nearby’ [Pian Ran Qi Wu]: I’ve never seen a “newbie” who deliberately kicks people from dungeons.
‘Nearby’ [San Jian Zhong Qing]: Agreed. Anyone who dares ruin someone’s run should be ready to get killed back. Do you think you own the game?
‘Nearby’ [Xiao Guai Zui Guai]: Shen Xi, you’re just jealous of Fei Er, so you’re abusing your power. Fei Er became guild leader’s wife, and you’re jealous. Now that Die Meng joined Zhan Ming Hall and you got kicked out, you’re just taking revenge on the guild.
The moment Xiao Guai Zui Guai finished speaking, her HP bar instantly emptied and her name turned grey—she collapsed at Shen Xi’s feet.
‘Nearby’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Don’t compare trash to Shen Xi. They’re not even in the same league.
‘Nearby’ [Zhan San Jue Qing]: Wow, god-tier move!
‘Nearby’ [Pian Ran Qi Wu]: Some people just deserve a beating. They never learn.
‘Nearby’ [Yi Ji Zheng Luo]: The guild leader of Zhan Ming Hall vs Tian Feng Ya Ge leader… clearly the leader wins. Shen Xi and the guild leader are obviously the perfect pair. As for that so-called guild leader’s wife, what’s there to be jealous of? The real “guild wife” is Shen Xi.
‘Nearby’ [Zhan San Jue Qing]: Exactly. And I remember Shen Xi left the guild on his own, not kicked out. Some people really like to inflate their importance.
Anger rose in Lian Fei Er.
‘Nearby’ [Lian Fei Er]: Since you’re all so unreasonable, then declare guild war!
‘Nearby’ [Bai Cao Zhe]: If there’s going to be a guild war, it should be discussed with your guild leader, not you. What right do you have?
‘Nearby’ [Lian Fei Er]: I’m the guild leader’s wife and vice leader of Zhan Ming Hall. I have the authority. What, are you afraid?
‘Nearby’ [Jian Lang]: Fine. Guild war.
Jian Lang issued the guild war declaration.
‘World’ [Canmo Wuhen]: Tian Feng Ya Ge vs Zhan Ming Hall guild war tomorrow night. Loser disbands!
At the same time, Canmo Wuhen spoke as Lian Fei Er clicked accept.
A system announcement immediately followed—Tian Feng Ya Ge and Zhan Ming Hall will engage in a guild war tomorrow at 8 PM…