LWGP - Chapter 109
Chapter 109: Mei Qingshu
This group was powerful and aggressive, intending to swallow up the 10 nearby survivor villages—a force of fifty thousand people—and absorb everyone into their territory!
Wang Shu was a cook, but he was also a social butterfly who had been navigating Luoyang's social circles from the very beginning. He quickly did some digging and found that much of the news was related to this group's annexations. "Holy shit, Master, this group is huge. Right after the game started, they all gathered at 418 Novice Village. There were 500 of them in total. On the very first day, they absorbed the strongest elites from five nearby villages, expanding to nearly a thousand people. They've organized into professional teams—an elite group and ten regular groups, with a hundred squads under their command. This morning, they established a territory called Nightless Territory, so their faction is called Nevernight. Generally speaking, spreading yourself too thin can lead to trouble, but their top elite group is incredibly strong. Many of the posts from people they've defeated speculate that the ten members of their elite team have average attributes of over 700."
"But the two strongest people in Nevernight practically dominate the two or three hundred thousand people across villages 410-450. The leader is Bian Moshu, and the second-in-command is... oh crap, Master, the second-in-command is named Mei Qingshu. It's very likely both of them have average attributes approaching or already exceeding a thousand."
As Wang Shu spoke, Wang Jiu, who had been walking ahead, turned back to look at him. "What's her name?"
"Mei Qingshu. You thought of it too, right, Master? That's right, this woman is that Short Winter Melon Mei Qinghe's sister—his biological sister!"
Wang Jiu remained noncommittal, showing no significant reaction, so Wang Shu continued relaying the content of posts from players in other villages.
"From the looks of it, after Bian Moshu exchanged for the first small territory, the elite team he leads probably spent the whole morning running dungeons. Many of the group's members exchanged for small territories at noon; one squad managed to gather ten of them. Each small territory can hold 5,000 people, and some members of the second-tier groups have also exchanged for territories. They currently have a total of 15 small territories, and the entire range of novice villages from 410 to 450 is within their scope of annexation. They're also deliberately recruiting high-attribute players from every village... Our 443 village is on their target list for today."
As Wang Shu was saying this, they heard a commotion from within the village.
By the looks of it, more than half the people in 443 Novice Village had already been persuaded. Although the process had been somewhat difficult—the people from Nevernight clearly sensed a strange and complex emotion from the villagers, as if they were fearful, apprehensive, and uneasy about something.
But they had been persuaded nonetheless. After all, humans are social creatures, and for people whose civilization had just collapsed, a more stable and powerful social system was an immense temptation.
Now they were preparing to follow the others and migrate to their novice village—418 Novice Village.
As luck would have it, just as they were about to leave, they ran into Wang Jiu's group, who were just entering the village.
The arrivals were likely just a small squad from the other side. The captain of the 20-person team, a top diplomat named Qi Shuanghan, had used his silver tongue to successfully acquire most of a novice village's human resources. He was just thinking how thrilling it was to pull off a heist and run, but then he came face-to-face with Wang Jiu's group.
Normally, two women, a fatty, and a pig wouldn't have been a very large or imposing group, and they shouldn't have been particularly conspicuous.
The most eye-catching member should have been the pig, but the two women were too stunning. Even covered in dirt, their beauty was impossible to hide. It was as if they could wear burlap sacks to a country market and still exude the flair of an LV brand fashion week gala.
Qi Shuanghan stopped in his tracks. He raised a hand, and the group behind him halted. However, he quickly realized his cool-looking gesture was somewhat redundant, as he only controlled his own team. As for the large crowd of 443 Novice Village players he had just persuaded, they looked as if they had seen a ghost.
"She's back!"
"Quick! Go back!!"
"Ah! Run!"
"We didn't do anything!"
"We were just seeing them out of the village!"
Seeing them out of the village, my ass. That's not what you were saying a moment ago.
The people from Nevernight were speechless.
A crowd of seemingly normal novice village players trembled like mice seeing a cat, frantically pulling their families and trying to retreat.
A few others hung back to watch, sizing up Wang Jiu's group and Qi Shuanghan's team.
It was as if they were waiting for a fight to break out.
Wang Shu and the others: "..."
How did Master end up looking like the arch-villain forcing innocents into vice, while these guys looked like saviors?
Dao Dao silently muttered, After joining this team, you spend enough time here and you start to think you're a damn tyrant.
Lao Wang is toxic.
It seemed Qi Shuanghan was not entirely ignorant about Wang Jiu. For Nevernight to have accomplished so much in just a few days, they naturally had strategic plans. Their methods were systematic; they gathered intelligence on every village beforehand—far more thoroughly and meticulously than Wang Shu's last-minute gossip-mongering.
Therefore, they naturally knew about the rat tide and Wang Jiu.
Thus, he smiled at Wang Jiu and said, "You must be Wang Jiu. The world is unsafe at the moment, and we'd like to move the people of 443 to a more secure location. I wonder if you would be willing..."
As he spoke these words, Qiao Xuejing keenly sensed the weapons in the hands of the Nevernight team members behind him shift subtly, as if they were preparing for something.
Perhaps they would make their move the moment Wang Jiu refused.
Likewise, having been through only three dungeons with Wang Jiu—but dungeons of such high caliber that their team chemistry and individual skills had skyrocketed—Qiao Xuejing and the others reacted just as quickly.
A deathmatch? Bring it on!
Diplomatic negotiations could be a long-term social affair, or they could be a prelude to negotiations by force.
And this Qi Shuanghan was well-versed in this art. He once again raised his hand and gestured to those behind him. It was just as grand and impressive as before, but the problem was that the group behind him seemed to have discovered something terrifying.
Qi Shuanghan saw a flood of messages in the team channel, all with the same content—Fuck, bro, I can't seem to aim at her.
Qi Shuanghan: "???"
What the hell kind of fantasy was this? Can't aim.
"Are you all cross-eyed?"
"Fuck, you're the one who's cross-eyed!"
They couldn't explain exactly why; they had never experienced anything like it. They asked the System, but the System ignored them.
It was so frustrating. Why was it that whenever the boss and the second-in-command asked something, they got an answer, but not them!
The preferential treatment was too obvious.
Since they received no answer, the group switched to bows and arrows, only to find that when they aimed, their line of sight inexplicably blurred. Their expressions and physical reactions did not go unnoticed by Wang Jiu's group.
There was chatter in their own team channel as well.
Wang Shu: "What are they doing? They look a little cross-eyed."
Dao Dao: "Is the captain so dazzling now that she has an aura that makes crowds go cross-eyed?" Because Wang Jiu and Qiao Xuejing weren't talkative, the fatty and the pig would often banter back and forth like a comedy duo, frequently exchanging lewd smiles that left Qiao Xuejing not knowing whether to laugh or cry. However, she had a faint suspicion about this discovery.
They were all aiming at Wang Jiu, so the cause likely lay with her.
The System, which had no time to deal with that group, proactively informed Wang Jiu, "What other reason could there be? Their agility is several times lower than yours. A bunch of losers trying to aim at you? Quick, attack them!"
The System's sudden proactivity and aggression were likely related to Wang Jiu's recent massive power-up. It had grown accustomed to her usual method of seeing things through with violence.
The result...
Wang Jiu didn't make a move, nor did she pay it any mind. Instead, she glanced at the group and asked casually, "Only 19 of you? Couldn't you even make it an even 20?"
What's with her? Does she have OCD?
The group hadn't expected such a reaction from Wang Jiu and found her a bit odd. Qi Shuanghan, however, was sharp. He smiled faintly. "We're not here to fight; we're here to help. After all, it's the apocalypse. It's best for everyone to band together and find a safe territory. I hope Miss Wang won't let her personal interests get in the way of the greater good."
He was confident and composed, like a master strategist of a diplomat, and a diplomat's leverage usually comes from powerful military backing.
True for nations, true for individuals.
So... the 20th person was here!
Qiao Xuejing subconsciously began to search. Normally, she wouldn't have been able to find them, as they were stronger than her, but she saw them anyway because they had no intention of hiding.
The people of 443 suddenly noticed a figure slowly emerge from behind the cover of a two-story-high ruin to their front left, walking out onto the roof. The surrounding ruins were a mix of white, gray, and rust—a melody of decay. Green vines and wild grass grew rampant, an apocalyptic backdrop where rebirth and destruction coexisted. But this woman gave off a very different feeling.
She was very tall, at least 174 centimeters.
Her posture wasn't soft but athletic and heroic. Her legs were especially long, clad in short boots and jeans. She wore a leather jacket over a simple plaid shirt, which was neatly tucked into the waistband of her pants, accentuating a slender yet powerful waist. Her coffee-colored short hair was soft and slightly curly, with a few strands hanging down to partially obscure her sharp, handsome eyes. Her features below were delicate, but combined with her overall aura, she possessed a commanding presence.
But she looked to have a bad temper. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her gaze cold and sharp, like a young cheetah emerging from hiding to hunt openly. Her pace was unhurried, but her prey was locked. As she walked, she slowly produced a sleekly designed, jet-black crossbow. With a series of clicks, she stopped, planted one foot on the concrete edge of the roof, raised the weapon, and aimed at Wang Jiu.
It was as if the surroundings had suddenly transformed into the African savanna; even the air seemed to grow hotter and more fiercely intense.
Wang Shu and the others' nerves thrummed with tension.
This woman was so strong, so aggressive, yet their Master/Captain showed no reaction.
Qi Shuanghan and his group grew excited.
Second-in-command, second-in-command, get her!
In that brief moment of crisis, Wang Shu quickly gathered information and blurted out a message in the team channel.
"She couldn't be that Mei Qingshu, could she!"
His suspicion was quickly confirmed, as another group arrived from behind—it was Mei Qinghe and his team.
The professional victim, Short Winter Melon, came running over in a panic. Seeing the tense, sword-drawn standoff at the village entrance from a dozen meters away, he was nearly scared out of his wits and immediately took two actions.
1. He quickly sent a private message to his sister: "Sis, Sis! Can you beat her? She was already around 800 average attributes before. She just cleared a Nightmare Dungeon and got some great resources. She's definitely over a thousand now!"
2. His sister ignored him, so he immediately sent another message: "If you can't win, I'm going to put on an act in a minute. You have to play along, Sis! This female pervert is a Demon King! She'll extort you for everything you've got!"
His two actions received a response from Mei Qingshu.
Her long, lightly callused fingers relaxed. Vwom. A crossbow bolt, with twice the attack speed and piercing power of an arrow, shot straight through the air. Boosted by over a thousand agility points and the crossbow's high-velocity penetration, it closed in on Wang Jiu before anyone could react, and in an instant...
Swoosh!
It made a sharp, crisp sound as it cut through the air before finally striking its target. Bang!
A palm-sized stone on the ground was shattered into dust. The bolt itself sank three inches into the earth, its fletching trembling slightly from the force, emitting a faint hum.
It was over.
The target was completely unharmed. Not a single strand of her hair had been touched.
Qi Shuanghan and the others: "???"
"Holy shit, Sister Mei, you?"
"Were you affected too? We couldn't get a lock on her either!"
"Is it a special skill?"
"This Wang Jiu is so weird!"
Soon, they discovered something even stranger, which began with a mournful wail.
By now, Mei Qinghe and his group were five meters away. Before Li Li and the others could react, they saw their Short Winter Melon captain—who usually acted like a good-natured guy but was secretly very calculating—drop to his knees with a thud and begin to wail from a distance.
"Sis!"
"You've misunderstood! Captain Wang is a wonderful person! She really didn't screw me over!"
"She's generous and merciful! Not only did she save our lives without holding a grudge, but she also made an excellent deal with us!"
"Oh, Sis, I know you love me, but please don't misunderstand Captain Wang because you love me too much! We must value peace! Put down the crossbow! Sis!"
It was so tragic it would bring a tear to any eye.
Wang Shu and the others: "..."
Where did this psycho come from?
Li Li and the others: "..."
Qi Shuanghan and his group were utterly stunned.
The players of 443 village silently watched the drama unfold... but with the sharp eyes of the masses, they figured the content of this short guy's superb acting was likely exaggerated.
In reality, it was probably the complete opposite.
Now, all eyes were on the reaction of Nevernight's second-in-command, his sister.
Her expression turned ugly and sullen. Her eyes were extremely dangerous as her gaze shifted to Wang Jiu.
"He's not my brother."
Mei Qinghe froze. His first reaction was that his sister was actually playing along!
It was a miracle of miracles!
He was instantly energized. "Sis, don't be so cold and cast me aside just to protect me! It was all a misunderstanding, you mustn't..."
Swoosh! An arrow shot into the ground just an inch in front of his kneeling knees.
The stone shattered.
Everyone jumped in fright, and Mei Qinghe nearly pissed himself.
"Shut up," Mei Qingshu snapped, sounding irritable.
Mei Qinghe didn't even dare to jump up. He instantly shut his mouth, looking obedient.
It seemed... he was quite used to it.
Qi Shuanghan and his group weren't surprised by this, either. What they found strange was that Wang Jiu smiled. "Is that so? Balala is quite cute."
Mei Qingshu frowned. "Who?"
Mei Qinghe quickly retorted, "No, I'm not!"
Mei Qingshu: "..."
Wang Jiu's faint smile deepened as she added nonchalantly, "Like you."
That tone, soft and gentle, paired with an expression that was weary and devoid of any sharp edges, yet held a hint of familiarity...
Mei Qingshu froze for a moment, then sneered. "As if you know me so well? Ah, but I forgot. Seeing through people's hearts is what you do best."
They... knew each other? They actually fucking knew each other?
But it looked like there was a grudge! Only, it wasn't mutual. At least, Wang Jiu showed no hostility.
That's what Wang Shu and the others thought.
Then they saw Wang Jiu walk forward. "Still holding grudges like you always did. We meet again after so many years, and this is how you treat me, hmm?"
That "hmm" was very meaningful.
Mei Qingshu: "..."
She just walked past. Mei Qingshu's lips tightened, and she abruptly aimed the crossbow at her.
Irritable, decisive, with an explosive temper.
This was the collective perception everyone in Nevernight had of their second-in-command, a complete contrast to her fresh and elegant name.
"You think I won't shoot you?"
Mei Qingshu demanded coldly.
Wang Jiu had already approached Qi Shuanghan's group and walked right past them.
And then... she just walked past.
Mei Qingshu never managed to fire the crossbow bolt. She just stared intently as Wang Jiu walked past the front of the ruined roof. But then she saw Wang Jiu turn her head to ask, "Do you want me to take a shower before I reminisce with you, or should I take a shower and have a meal first?"
Mei Qingshu laughed in anger and was about to speak.
But Wang Jiu, having entered the village, had already thrown something down.
A radiance expanded, flattening a large area behind the resurrection point, including the ruins and piles of wild grass.
It sprang open, expanded, and took over, finally becoming a medium-sized territory that could easily accommodate tens of thousands of people.
For now, it was just a field of light, as there were no buildings yet.
But its range and the intensity of its light clearly distinguished it from a small territory.
Anyone who wasn't blind could tell this was no small territory.
Qi Shuanghan and his group, who had been conflicted about Mei Qingshu knowing this Wang Jiu but secretly relieved that their relationship seemed to be one of bitter enmity, instantly fell silent.
"A medium-sized territory?!"
"Holy shit! I just saw on the territory leaderboard that she's ranked ninth in the medium category!"
"Ninth in the entire Ninth District?"
"Holy shit! A big shot! Go, go, hurry and register as a territory resident!"
Without giving Qi Shuanghan's group so much as a glance, the crowd swarmed back.
Not a single feather was left behind.
The atmosphere... became inexplicably awkward.
Anyway, as Wang Shu's group walked past them, Wang Shu slowly recited, "The wind sighs, the Yi River is cold."
Dao Dao added, "Once the hero leaves, it was all for naught!"
The people from Nevernight had extremely ugly expressions, staring coldly at the man and the pig, but they never made a move. After all the people from 443 Novice Village had returned to the village and gone about their business, they remained outside the entrance in a strange state.
There was Mei Qinghe's team, Qi Shuanghan's group, and Mei Qingshu, who had turned to quietly watch Wang Jiu enter the homestead.
A triangular standoff.
"Ahem, Vice Captain Mei, this business... you and her are..." Qi Shuanghan decided to take an indirect approach.
Mei Qingshu glanced back at him. "I can't beat her. Also, I have something to take care of tonight. I'm not going back. You guys can leave."
Qi Shuanghan was startled and had a bad feeling. "That's not a good idea. Why don't we all go back together..."
"Scram!"
"..."
Alright. Qi Shuanghan had a profound understanding of this woman's exceptionally explosive temper, so he decisively shut his mouth. Seeing Mei Qinghe get to his feet, he said, "Qinghe, stay with your sister. Have a good talk with the boss when you get back to the village."
How could Mei Qinghe not notice the slight wariness beneath Qi Shuanghan's surface? He immediately said, "Don't worry. My sister is impatient; it's not her style to leave things unresolved. I'll keep an eye on her and report to Boss Bian when it's over."
"Alright." Qi Shuanghan patted his shoulder, then led his people away.
Mei Qinghe frowned slightly, but his expression quickly relaxed as he followed Mei Qingshu into 443 village.
Meanwhile, Qi Shuanghan opened a private chat with Bian Moshu and reported the incident.
After reporting, he noticed that Mei Qingshu was no longer in the team. He didn't say anything, but others in the group had some complaints, mostly feeling that her temper was too bad and she was too inconsiderate of the group. If it weren't for her strength, she would have been taught a lesson long ago...
"Honestly, if Boss Bian hadn't been carrying her, getting her through dungeons and allocating resources to her, she wouldn't have improved so quickly."
"She has talent, but being in the elite group from the very beginning... that's too big of an advantage."
The group murmured amongst themselves.
Qi Shuanghan did not participate in this conversation, not saying a single word.
Just after entering the village, Mei Qinghe didn't dare to get close to Mei Qingshu, but he was lost in thought.
Speaking of which, who on earth was this Wang Jiu?
Did his sister have such an enemy in the past?
Right, an enemy?
"Holy shit! It couldn't be her, could it!!"
Mei Qinghe suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed in shock.
The others: ???
This Short Winter Melon was usually so calculating and reserved. How was it that he became so jumpy the moment something involved his sister?
So the question was, what exactly was their relationship?
Comments
Post a Comment