Although Gu Jiu’s sudden gaze made Lu Ji extremely nervous, he couldn’t bring himself to look away or interrupt her.
His eyelids lowered slightly as he pretended to glance casually in her direction. When their eyes met, his body tensed with nervousness, but he still managed to say, “Do you want me to give you a massage?”
Gu Jiu thought for a moment and nodded. “Sure.”
Chai Yingying: !!!!!! Wow, are you guys always this bold?
When she saw Lu Ji wave her hand to summon several sheets of paper that formed a tight barrier around them, shielding the two completely, she realized she’d misunderstood. Given Lu Ji’s obvious possessiveness toward Gu Jiu, there was no way she’d let anyone else catch a glimpse of her slender waist.
The others didn’t overthink it. They seized the chance to rest and discuss their plan to fight their way out later.
Li Jing turned to his partner. “Old Ji, do you still have any puppet bugs left?”
The puppet bugs were a type of parasitic insect they’d acquired in a game world. However, these bugs could only parasitize non-living objects, not living creatures. Because of this limitation, the overarching game system of the multiverse allowed them to bring the bugs out of the game world.
Players weren’t heavily restricted in game worlds, but the items they brought back were monitored by the system. Weapons with massive destructive power or anything that could destabilize the real world were prohibited.
Of course, these rules mostly applied to ordinary players. Certain special S-rank players had transcended the rules and were no longer bound by them.
However, by that point, S-rank players usually had greater insights and wouldn’t be short-sighted enough to use such items to destroy the real world.
“I’ve got a few left,” Ji Changxin said. “You want to use the puppet bugs to control the Puppet Master? I don’t think it’ll work. The Puppet Master has always stayed hidden. We don’t even know where they are, let alone how to control them. And another thing—do you think the Puppet Master is dead or alive?”
If the Puppet Master was dead, they could potentially control them. But if the Puppet Master was alive, that was impossible.
Then again, if they were dead, how could they control so many puppet rats? But in game worlds, anything was possible.
“They’ve turned into a Puppet Master, so they’re definitely dead,” Li Jing speculated. “Look at the subway bosses—are any of them alive?”
Fair point.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Players who frequented D-rank and C-rank scenarios shared a common understanding: most NPCs in these game worlds weren’t truly alive. No matter how lifelike they seemed, they were usually confirmed to be something else entirely.
“So all we need to do is find the hidden Puppet Master. With Ji’s puppet bugs, we can neutralize this station’s threat,” Old Hei summarized. “That way, we won’t have to worry about the Puppet Master showing up at other stations in the future.”
Eliminating the Puppet Master would reduce one of the Death Train subway stations’ biggest threats, making future actions safer.
Old Hei’s teammates grew excited, staring intently beyond the defensive perimeter at the puppet rats, trying to pinpoint where the Puppet Master might be hiding.
If they could defeat another subway station boss, it would be a game-changer. The bosses of other subway stations wouldn’t seem so daunting anymore.
Chai Yingying, listening in, asked realistically, “The question is, where exactly is the Puppet Master hiding?”
Everyone turned to look at her.
“Why are you all staring at me? You’re not thinking of using me as bait to lure out the Puppet Master, are you?” Chai Yingying looked alarmed. “No way! I’m not doing something so reckless for nothing!”
Old Hei laughed. “What are you thinking? We’re not like that. We just wanted to see if you had any tools or items that might help us locate the Puppet Master.”
Chai Yingying, the Point-Grabbing Witch, was quite famous among B-level and C-level players and undoubtedly possessed many special items.
Finally understanding their intentions, Chai Yingying couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “If it were that easy to find the hidden Puppet Master, there wouldn’t be so many players who dread anything related to puppets! Don’t count on me; I really don’t have anything.”
She muttered to herself that instead of relying on her, they might as well pin their hopes on Lu Ji and Gu Jiu.
For some reason, she had great confidence in those two and couldn’t resist the urge to pull them into the team to tackle the challenge together.
—
Meanwhile, after examining Gu Jiu’s waist, Lu Ji found that aside from a faint residual wound, there was nothing serious.
His gaze was fixed on the spot where the medicinal patch was applied. He didn’t dare to move his eyes, afraid of seeing something he shouldn’t. Not only would that be disrespectful to her, but he would also feel embarrassed. If his heartbeat became too fast or his face too flushed, she might notice something was amiss.
He asked softly, “Are you hurt anywhere else besides here?”
Gu Jiu didn’t casually brush it off but answered truthfully, “Earlier, I was struck by the Hunter from Station 17. But Old Hei gave me a Blood Pill, and the injury healed quickly.”
Lu Ji felt increasingly troubled inside; he should have found her sooner.
“Did you see the Hunter from Station 17 when you came over?” Gu Jiu looked at her with concern. In her mind, Lu Ji was a frail little thing. Even though she was strong and quite capable in combat, this deeply ingrained impression remained unchanged.
In the young lady’s heart, Ah Ji was a delicate and sensitive “young girl.”
Her pale complexion added a touch of frailty, and her solitary and quiet nature made it difficult for her to fit into groups. No matter how you looked at it, she seemed to need someone’s care. Plus, her appearance perfectly matched Gu Jiu’s preferences—obedient and well-behaved. How could she not protect such a little angel?
“We saw him,” Lu Ji replied. “He lost one arm, and later, Chai Yingying took his other arm and tied him to a load-bearing pillar.”
This understated description easily led to certain misunderstandings.
Gu Jiu laughed. “Looks like Chai Yingying is quite formidable—worthy of being a Game Hunter.”
Lu Ji smiled without saying anything.
After sharing their experiences in the game world, both were glad that the other was uninjured and had made it here safely.
The only unsatisfactory thing was…
Gu Jiu touched Lu Ji’s face and sighed, “Ah Ji, you seem even paler than before; you’ve worked hard.” Indeed, this game world was a heavy burden for Lu Ji. “With me here now, if you’re tired, just stay behind me.”
Lu Ji obediently nodded, looking at her with complete trust.
Gu Jiu smiled at her, once again giving her that kind of gaze mixed with an indescribable meaning.
Lu Ji couldn’t hold back any longer and cautiously asked, “Ah Jiu, is there something else?”
“Nothing,” Gu Jiu said as she leaned closer, their bodies almost touching.
Although in the game world they often slept close together, today, for some reason, Lu Ji felt that Gu Jiu was giving off a different vibe. Even her breath seemed incredibly sweet and enticing, carrying a gentle yet invasive sensation like a spring breeze—much like the impression Gu Jiu usually gave, endlessly stirring his heart.
She only appeared gentle; her true nature was an assertive and straightforwardness tinged with a bit of dominance.
Lu Ji felt his face grow hot and stood there stiffly. When Gu Jiu took the initiative to wrap her arm around his shoulders, his body tensed almost imperceptibly.
He was nervous—so nervous that he didn’t know what to do.
Her scent lingered in the air around him, wafting gently to his nose. It was a sweet, milky fragrance—likely from her love for dairy products, which had left its trace on her.
Suddenly, he felt a bit thirsty.
“A… Ah Jiu…”
Gu Jiu leaned closer, so close that her breath brushed against his cheek and neck. The warm, orchid-like exhalation made him feel as if her cherry-blossom lips might descend on him at any moment.
“A Ji, did you not rest yesterday? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes,” Gu Jiu said, extending her hand. Her fingertips lightly traced over his eyelids.
Lu Ji: “…I couldn’t sleep.” A faint disappointment crept into his heart.
Gu Jiu spoke gently, “Even if you can’t sleep, you need to let yourself rest. Seeing you like this makes my heart ache.”
Lu Ji: !!!! She said her heart ached? She… she… she…
“Alright,” Gu Jiu said, “Let’s deal with the danger in this station first. Once we board the return train, we’ll find a safe stop to rest.”
Lu Ji responded with a soft hum, though the disappointment in his chest grew stronger.
Watching Gu Jiu adjust her clothes and prepare to step out, Lu Ji removed the paper barrier he had erected.
The players, who were busy discussing strategies for defeating the Puppet Master, turned their attention toward them. The teammates Chai Yingying had brought stared intently at Gu Jiu and quickly came to a tragic realization.
Gu Jiu was undoubtedly a bona fide young lady. With her beauty and presence, how could they ever compete?
They were heartbroken!
Then their eyes shifted to Lu Ji, who stood obediently at Gu Jiu’s side. It became increasingly clear how much Gu Jiu meant to her. Trying to steal her attention would be futile.
Even Old Hei’s teammates secretly observed Lu Ji, wondering if she was the “girl” Gu Jiu liked.
Taking a closer look, apart from being quite pretty, Lu Ji didn’t seem particularly special. Why would a girl pair up with another girl? They, as men, could totally be a viable option too!
Lu Ji keenly sensed the complicated gazes these men directed at him, and the alarm bells in his mind went off instantly.
Gu Jiu introduced Lu Ji to Old Hei and Wu Yang.
Old Hei, ever the cheerful one, said, “Gu Jiu mentioned you several times yesterday. I heard your paper manipulation skills are amazing. Do you sell your paper constructs? I’d love to buy some.”
“I do,” Lu Ji replied. “Two hundred points each. But since you’re Ah Jiu’s friend, I’ll give you a friend’s discount—one hundred and fifty points.”
Old Hei bought ten paper constructs without hesitation, all of them in the shape of animals.
Gu Jiu greeted Chai Yingying with a smile. “Chai Beauty, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Well, I need to earn points!” Chai Yingying returned an equally charming smile. “Young Lady, would you be interested in joining me to farm some points?”
“Young Lady?” Gu Jiu was momentarily stunned. Why was Chai Yingying calling her that too?
Chai Yingying glanced at Lu Ji and casually replied, “It’s a compliment. Not many people earn my praise, but you certainly deserve it.”
There was no helping it. Lu Ji seemed eager for the whole world to know just how amazing Gu Jiu was as a “Young Lady.” Yet she was equally afraid of others coveting her, refusing to let anyone call her by name. To keep Lu Ji happy, they’d all compromised their dignity.
Chai Yingying’s teammates nodded silently. Exactly! If it pleased Lu Ji, they’d compliment her however much was needed.
Gu Jiu quickly noticed their little act and couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. Waving her hand, she said, “I’m not interested in being a Game Hunter. I’d prefer to organize my own team.”
“Ah, that doesn’t stop you from earning points. I can introduce some business opportunities to you in the future,” Chai Yingying said, her mental abacus clattering away.
Her plan was simple: pull Gu Jiu into her team now, and later, for more challenging tasks, she could bring in both this Young Lady and Lu Ji for additional support. It was a win-win situation. Judging by Lu Ji’s demeanor, no matter what Gu Jiu decided to do, she’d follow her without hesitation. She was more loyal than the most devoted companion. Recruiting Gu Jiu essentially meant gaining double the help—how could she pass up such a deal?
Initially, Chai Yingying had been resistant to entering the same game world as Gu Jiu, but now she found it wasn’t so bad after all.
At worst, she’d just earn some extra points from the mission target to make up for any shortfall in the game world’s rewards.
Gu Jiu smiled faintly but didn’t reply. She was a bit surprised to see Old Hei and Chai Yingying knew each other.
Chai Yingying explained, “The Boundless City is as big as it is small. We met on the Free Forum. I even took on some work from Old Hei back then. Over time, we got to know each other. Besides, we’re all C-level players—it doesn’t hurt to make more friends and expand our network.”
Old Hei, Li Jing, and the others were in a similar position to Chai Yingying; they already had the strength to head into B-level scenarios. The reason they hadn’t moved up yet was partly because they didn’t want to leave their teammates behind and partly because they wanted to refine their skills further in C-level scenarios.
The player base at each level wasn’t massive, so the more game worlds one participated in, the easier it was for players of the same rank to get acquainted.