“Done.” The moment Tang Shaoqing finished speaking, the stone door swung open.

Inside was pitch-black. Following the instructions, they picked up a few fire starters and lit them, illuminating the entire cave. There was a tattered scroll inside, along with some elixirs.

The scroll was already blurred and hard to read, but it roughly told of the fireflies’ resentment being exploited by someone with ulterior motives. That person cultivated demonic arts in this cave and left behind several extremely powerful elixirs. In the end, he rose to dominate the demon race, unified the Northern Desert, and singlehandedly ignited a great war between the Demon Race and the Central Plains.

“Fireflies’ resentment?” Yu He stared at the words on the scroll, deep in thought.

“A lifetime spent wanting to escape the abyss, only to reach the surface and live for just seven days. Resentment was inevitable,” Tang Shaoqing said.

That was true. Struggling with everything they had to break free from the abyss, only to briefly embrace the light. Outsiders might see it as tragic yet glorious, but who could truly know the bitterness and hatred in their hearts?

After obtaining [Unknown Elixir ×2], the group retraced their steps and handed the elixirs to the little girl.

After she swallowed one elixir, a brief animation played. A damaged wing sprouted from her back, then, under the elixir’s effect, transformed into a complete pair of wings.

Darkness fell again, and when the light returned, the surroundings had completely changed.

Warm sunlight flooded the world. The snow blanketing the ground had turned into clusters of short grass, as if they had arrived in a boundless grassland.

“Wow…” Yu Guo spun her qin character around a few times.

A large swarm of butterflies fluttered about, faint flowers blooming among the grass. It really felt like they were standing on a prairie.

“Did we reach the surface?” Porridge also turned in place.

Yu He switched the camera angle to look around. “Weren’t we on snowfields earlier? And it was really dark…”

How had it suddenly become a sun-drenched grassland?

“Let’s take a look,” Tang Shaoqing said as he walked over to the wing-flapping little girl and initiated dialogue.

During the time they’d been exploring the cave, Yu Guo had already handed over the party leader role to him, saying she wasn’t capable enough and felt ashamed by comparison.

“What did she say?”

“She said the Central Plains army is about to attack. She wants us to help her find the person she loves in the military camp. She carries a demonic energy and can’t enter herself.” Tang Shaoqing shared the newly obtained [Token – Silk Fan] with the party.

The silk fan was embroidered with faint little flowers, the stitches uneven and sloppy; kind of ugly.

“Falling in love at such a young age?”

“She looks young, but she might actually be older than you.”

“Which way is the military camp?”

“The fireflies will lead us there.”

Following the fireflies, the four of them arrived in front of a military camp. A huge “Gu” character was written above it, the imperial family’s surname in the game world.

There were many red-named guards at the gate, clearly ready for a fight. Before the others could even react, the black-clad assassin had already insta-killed the four nearest guards.

After changing into the guards’ uniforms, they slipped inside without any trouble, following the quest markers and talking to various people in the camp.

“The Seventh Prince of Great Gu was snatched away by the demon race. They’ve been fighting for years now; he’s probably long dead. Grim prospects.”

“He’s probably some useless prince. A half-breed cat demon at that. Nothing more than a pawn.”

“The demon race? What are they worth? Our commanding-in-chief is the legitimate son of the Shen family, a top-tier talent. He’s been guarding the Northern Desert for Great Gu for years. Every year during the Osmanthus Festival, the people set out water banquets to welcome him back.”

“That girl’s lover… should be this commander in chief, right?” Yu He scratched his chin.

“According to Mary Sue tropes, it has to be,” Yu Guo said with a knowing look. “Like ‘the domineering commander falls in love with me.’”

“Pfft.” Yu He laughed. “That little girl looks about ten. Isn’t that way too early for romance?”

“You don’t get it. In ancient times, people got married barely past ten. Your little sister here had a crush back in kindergarten.”

“That’s still way too early.”

“Old fossil, old fossil.”

“I am an old fossil.”

“Bleh bleh bleh.”

Porridge: “You sisters are really interesting.”

Yu Guo: “…”

Yu He: “…”

…Sisters? = =

Tang Shaoqing stayed silent at the side, drifting into a daze without realizing it.

When he first met his brother, he had only been seven or eight. Back then, he’d thought he needed to cling to him, be obedient, just to live a little better.

After all, young masters from wealthy families were usually spoiled and would surely be hostile toward an outsider like him. If he wanted to survive, the only option was to behave.

Later, he realized he’d been completely wrong.

Yu He would sneak off with him to read comics, hold his hand every day on the way to and from school, and even take out his tightly rationed pocket money to secretly buy spicy strips and share them with him.

Later, as he grew older, Yu He’s care for him remained just as meticulous. At an age when he was dirt-poor and had nothing to his name, the only thing he could trade was misery in exchange for a little peace and warmth.

He knew Yu He had always been kind to the younger generation, whether to him, to Yu Guo, or to the other kids in the family. Like a sun, warm to everyone without exception.

When did he fall for him? He couldn’t say.

Maybe it was when he realized he’d started to become selfish. When he’d sulk alone after seeing Yu He be kind to others, when Yu He began appearing in his dreams at night, when he’d secretly run over to Yu He’s school just to steal a glance at him…

“Where’d you go? Why aren’t you moving? Lag?” It wasn’t until a gentle female voice came through his headset that Tang Shaoqing snapped back to reality.

He really enjoyed Yu He’s voice acting in radio dramas. Whether it was BL or BG, male or female roles, he could listen to them on repeat countless times.

This voice was the female lead from Yu He’s latest drama; soft and gentle, just like Yu He himself.

[Player “He-jiang” wants to princess-carry you]

[Accept or Reject]

Staring at the pop-up window on the screen, Tang Shaoqing couldn’t help but laugh silently.

In Xianxia Online, two-person interactions had to be unlocked. You could unlock them for free through activities, pay for them outright, or complete quests. Once unlocked, both players could use them.

For example… a bunny-eared little loli princess carrying a black-clad assassin.

Screenshot. Screenshot.

Yu He couldn’t quite hold it in either. Afraid he might slip and let his real voice out, he hurriedly turned off party voice chat, gently rubbing the cat’s head as he laughed freely.

“Meow?” The chubby orange cat that had been curled up napping on Yu He’s legs was jolted awake, tilting its head sleepily.

Jie Jie: Thank you for your patience! I got quite busy once again, but I’ll be able to keep up with my schedules now. Yaay! Enjoy!