Inside the Wind Lantern Guild's building.
The two lines of pale blue identification information disappeared, but the two players had already caught a clear glimpse of the guild leader's name.
"Yu Feng..." Zhang Ziyun murmured the name twice, then scratched her head as if something dawned on her. "So the guild leader's surname is also Yu, the same as that new number one player, Yu Deng."
"Yeah, what a coincidence," Zhou Ji said with a chuckle. "But Yu Deng definitely has no connection to the guild leader."
Faced with the confused looks from the two new guild members, Zhou Ji simply shook his head and said nothing.
Those who had been part of the small group that founded the Wind Lantern Guild knew that the guild leader had a younger brother. The guild leader had only mentioned it once, but it left a deep impression on everyone.
"My younger brother... he's a really delicate guy. You have to treat him like a treasure and coax him carefully, or he'll start crying. Even when I helped him with homework, he'd end up crying." While badmouthing his brother, the man's eyes were filled with fondness. "I've been in the Infinite World for so long without messaging him. He's probably mad at me and ready to scold me."
After saying that, Yu Feng's expression became tinged with worry and sorrow. Everyone understood the reason—entering the Infinite World was a near-death experience every time, and returning to the real world was almost impossible. For someone with attachments, this was unbearably cruel.
Out of tact, no one dared ask further about the guild leader's brother.
Zhou Ji pulled himself out of his memories and thought about the intelligence he had gathered recently. He was certain that this "Yu Deng" was definitely not the guild leader's younger brother.
---
Central District of the Player Center.
Yu Deng had no idea that his brother was also in the Infinite World. After finishing his taro milk tea, he threw the cup into the trash can and slowly followed a group of passerby players to the entrance of a store called "Sweet Tale."
From the outside, the shop's overall color scheme was pink, with chibi animal stickers and ice cream hearts adorning the door.
Yu Deng was certain this had to be a dessert shop.
System 01 hesitated for a few seconds: [Host, are you going in?]
Yu Deng nodded. "Of course." With that, he pushed open the door.
He slipped inside through the opening, and immediately, his ears were hit by moderately loud but intense music. Instead of the scent of pastries, there was a faint perfume-like aroma in the air.
Yu Deng: "??"
What? So this wasn't a dessert shop? Whose bar has such a pink and cutesy exterior?!
Yu Deng stood awkwardly at the entrance, lost in thought.
From his TV drama-watching experience, places like teahouses, restaurants, and brothels were excellent locations for gathering information. Translated into modern settings, bars should serve the same purpose.
After hesitating for a moment, Yu Deng decided he might as well check it out. After all, he was dressed so conservatively that no one would recognize him! He could mingle with the crowd and see how the rumors he spread last time were faring.
With this decision made, Yu Deng ventured further into the bar.
From the outside, the bar looked like an ordinary shop, but upon entering, he realized the main hall alone was several hundred square meters. Yu Deng found a seat near the bar counter, perked up his ears, and listened to the surrounding conversations.
"Have you heard? All the major guilds are looking for that new number one player."
"I know, right? That guy is insane. I heard he's 2.5 meters tall, super tanned, and has a face covered in scars. Apparently, he's won boxing championships before."
"I heard he's also a mercenary with hundreds of lives on his hands."
"Wow, no wonder he climbed the rankings so fast. For someone like him, the Infinite World must feel like a homecoming."
Yu Deng: "???"
How were these rumors getting more and more ridiculous? Even he was momentarily dazed and almost convinced he was this burly, ferocious person they described.
However, it seemed like this kind of identity confusion was exactly the protective effect he wanted.
Yu Deng was quite satisfied with the current situation. "See, Tongtong, they have no clue it's me at all."
[Yes, the host has done very well.] System 01 once again reminded its fragile and beautiful host, [If they find out you are a special tasker, they will likely target you. Please remain cautious.]
Yu Deng nodded. "I know, I know."
Not far from him, the group of passerby players had already moved on to other topics.
"By the way, has that top-ranked player gone to another high-level instance?"
"Yeah. That's why they're the number one. While we need days to recover after one instance, they practically live in them."
"Well, we can't compare. I just want to survive safely."
The number one player? They sounded amazing. But Yu Deng neither knew them nor had heard of them, so he simply ignored it.
Sitting at the bar, his gaze wandered across the drink menu, undecided on whether to order anything.
[By the way, Host, the appeal regarding your penalty has been processed.] The system said, [Unfortunately, the main system still upheld the penalty. However, I managed to secure five healing potions as compensation for you.]
Yu Deng blinked, seeing five potions appear in his personal inventory. "Oh, I see. Never mind, never mind. I've got plenty of points now. If they deduct them, so be it. Thanks for your hard work, Tongtong."
As Yu Deng chatted with the system, the main system's mechanical voice suddenly interrupted.
[Ding. The instance "Castle of Blood Banquet" has been thoroughly cleared. The instance has sustained significant damage and is scheduled for permanent closure.]
[Player Yu Deng will be penalized 500,000 points as punishment.]
"???"
Yu Deng shot up from his seat in disbelief. "Why?"
[Your actions in the castle instance involved explicit destruction. After evaluation, it has been determined you bear partial responsibility.]The main system stated matter-of-factly. [The D-level instance Cheng Manor and the C-level instance Castle of Blood Banquet can no longer be reopened and have now been permanently closed.]
Yu Deng could not accept this punishment.
True, he had caused the destruction, and yes, the castle was now rubble… but wasn't 500,000 points way too much?! The Infinite World was so black-hearted! Corrupt! Exploitative of players!
In his last instance, Yu Deng had earned 420,000 points. After some penalties and scattered spending, he had 200,000 left. Adding the 910,000 he earned from this instance, his total disposable assets were 1.11 million points—a very comfortable amount.
But with this punishment, he'd be left with only 610,000 points!
Yu Deng painstakingly did the math and converted the point values into real-world currency. Even so, the tens of thousands of points he had now would only equate to a few thousand bucks in the real world.
He suddenly felt like all his hard work had been for nothing. Feeling aggrieved, he protested, "You can't do this. I completed the task, and now you're deducting my points?"
The main system paused to recheck his mission data. The records did show that the bosses had been successfully brought under Infinite World control.
[However, you did cause destruction—]
Yu Deng, annoyed, interrupted, "Your missions are so difficult! I tried my best! Isn't it normal for some unexpected things to happen…? I don't want to do these missions anymore. Find someone else to handle your special tasks."
[...]The main system weighed Yu Deng's destructive potential against the missions and promptly changed its stance. [Your penalty is reduced to 300,000 points.]
[The permanent closure of these instances significantly impacts the Infinite World. Please proceed with caution in the future.]
With that, the main system fell silent.
Yu Deng propped his chin on his hand, still feeling dejected.
Three hundred thousand points was still a lot to deduct!
In front of him, a bartender dressed in a tailcoat glanced at him and asked, "What can I get for you, friend?"
Yu Deng was still mentally berating the main system, so he didn't immediately react to the bartender's question. Instead, he subconsciously muttered what was on his mind, "Main system…"
That system docked his points again—what a terrible thing it was!
The bartender: "???"
He was shocked that customers these days had such peculiar tastes and politely advised, "Brother, that's not something you should drink."
Yu Deng snapped back to reality and clarified his preferences. "No… I was just complaining about the main system."
He glanced at the drinks and juices priced in the thousands or even tens of thousands, his spirits dampened. "I'll pass. I'm broke now."
Although he could still afford it, this infinite world was constantly full of traps. Yu Deng instinctively felt it was wise to save as much money as possible.
After having his points deducted, Yu Deng decided to be cautious with his spending.
The bartender looked at the gloomy cloaked customer and couldn't help but smile. "How about I treat you to a Bloody Mary?"
Yu Deng glanced at the two-million-priced Bloody Mary and didn't want a stranger to spend money on him. Politely, he said, "Thank you, but no need."
The bartender, still enthusiastic, prepared him a glass of refreshing lemonade. "Then take this. It's cheap, so you don't have to feel guilty."
Unable to refuse such kindness, Yu Deng thanked him. Lifting his mask slightly, he bit the straw and sipped a little.
Actually, he'd already had his fill of milk tea earlier, so now he just sipped absentmindedly.
Not far away, a large burly man witnessed their interaction, his gaze landing greedily on the cloaked Yu Deng.
Based on his vast experience sizing people up, this cloaked young man was undoubtedly a beauty.
"Hey, short on cash for a drink?" The burly man appraised Yu Deng and leaned closer, attempting to touch him. "Take off your mask, and I'll buy you the most expensive drink. How about it?"
"?"
Yu Deng, already frustrated, froze for a few seconds before realizing what was happening. Disgusted, he dodged the man's hand and snapped, "Get lost!"
"Oh, feisty, are we?"
Yu Deng couldn't understand it—he was wrapped in black from head to toe, so why was someone still bothering him?
Feeling both angry and wronged, his eyes reddened slightly as he cursed, "Who do you think you are? I'm not showing you anything."
---
On the second floor of the bar.
A masked young man stepped out of a private room, followed by an information broker.
The broker continued trying to negotiate. "Listen to me. Judging from the probabilities, this is definitely the case…"
Cheng Xiao casually responded a few times to dismiss him, his mood indifferent as he headed downstairs.
The bar's main hall was lively, but Cheng Xiao wasn't interested. He was about to leave when he suddenly sensed something and glanced in a certain direction.
Near the bar, there was a player cloaked so thoroughly that nothing could be seen. The person didn't seem very tall and had a slender frame.
Part of their small fox mask was lifted, revealing a delicate, fair chin and beautifully shaped lips.
It was incredibly familiar—so familiar that Cheng Xiao recognized it at a glance. This was the mouth he had kissed countless times. It belonged to Little Mom.
Cheng Xiao's heartbeat suddenly sped up.
After a few seconds, he pulled his attention away from Yu Deng and noticed the man beside him trying to lay hands on him.
Without hesitation, Cheng Xiao rushed downstairs and kicked the man away, pulling the trembling Yu Deng into his arms.
Yu Deng was startled and tried to push away this sudden embrace, only to hear the person softly call him, "Little Mom."
That title… Wait, was this his annoying stepson?
Yu Deng paused, no longer resisting.
"Hey!" The burly man, groaning in pain, lay on the floor and started cursing.
Cheng Xiao cast him a cold glance. "You should be grateful that fighting between players is prohibited in the player center."
With that, Cheng Xiao led Yu Deng out of the bar, bringing him to a quiet alley.
"I finally found you." The young man soothingly patted Yu Deng's back, his voice low and tinged with obvious amusement. "Deng Deng."
"Why would you go to a place like that? It's not safe."
Yu Deng muttered, "How was I supposed to know that wearing a cloak wouldn't keep people from bothering me?" Then, curious, he asked, "How did you recognize me?"
"Deng Deng doesn't even realize how unique he is."
Every movement carried a distinct charm. Even the tiniest glimpse of his skin was enticingly beautiful, and the sweet fragrance on him wasn't something a cloak could hide.
Anyone who had spent time with Yu Deng would recognize him instantly.
"Do you want to come to my place?" Cheng Xiao invited, "I've collected some interesting clues and items."
Yu Deng thought for a few seconds and agreed.
---
The residential areas for intermediate and beginner players were about ten kilometers apart. Fortunately, the player center had automated vehicles for traveling between them, saving them the trouble of walking.
Yu Deng was held in Cheng Xiao's arms as they sat in a vehicle resembling a Beetle and arrived at Cheng Xiao's residence.
"You haven't advanced to an intermediate player yet?" Yu Deng asked while standing in the small room, finally realizing why they had to ride here. He glanced around and puffed out his chest. "I'm already one, you know."
Cheng Xiao looked at Yu Deng and was reminded of those TV dramas where a pampered young master was coaxed into the countryside.
"Impressive. I'll do my best to catch up with you, Deng Deng." After making his promise, the young man added, "There's no one else here."
Yu Deng looked puzzled. The next second, his mask was gently removed, and the cloak, soaked with his sweet fragrance, was taken off.
Cheng Xiao stared at the beautiful face he had longed for day and night, his gaze settling on those crimson, soft lips.
Unaware of his stepson's burning gaze, Yu Deng took another sip of his juice and unconsciously stuck out his tongue to lick the droplets at the corner of his mouth.
Cheng Xiao's gaze seemed to burn as if scalded. He hurriedly looked down, and his eyes immediately landed on the marks left by the evil spirit on the collarbone.
The young man lowered his head and pulled Yu Deng into his arms.
"Little Mom, I want to kiss you."
Though he said so, he didn't wait for Yu Deng to reply before leaning in to kiss him.
The young man's body was warm, and his actions were always rough and reckless. Yu Deng tilted his head up, and the juice in his mouth was quickly exchanged to the other side.
"Idiot, don't bite my lips…"
Yu Deng pushed the young stepson away, his legs weak, and sat on the chair behind him, ending the kiss.
Being so close just now, with no outside distractions, Yu Deng had caught a scent. He wrinkled his nose in confusion.
"But why do you smell strange?"
There was a faint metallic scent. Oh, wait, not metal—blood?
Cheng Xiao's breath was slightly hurried and hot as he explained, "I just came back from training at the gym and got a little injured."
Yu Deng's eyes widened: "??"
What? There's a gym here?
"Everyone wants to survive in the dungeons. We need to defend ourselves against the monsters in the dungeons and other players, so we have to have some self-defense skills."
That made a lot of sense. Yu Deng, persuaded, felt a bit tempted and decided to check out the gym next time.
"So, Little Mom, what you smelled just now was probably my blood."
Yu Deng let out an "oh." "Too bad I'm not a vampire anymore. Otherwise, I could have tasted your blood. Who knows, it might even be delicious."
Cheng Xiao froze for two seconds, realizing that someone else had indeed approached Yu Deng.
He wanted to monopolize this beautiful, innocent young beauty, but to Yu Deng, he was just a stepson who had played that role for a few days. Even if they had kissed, he had no official claim.
So, he could only try harder to win more of Yu Deng's attention.
Cheng Xiao lowered his gaze and, without hesitation, reopened his freshly scabbed wound. Blood flowed down along the lines of his muscles.
Yu Deng noticed the bloodstains soaking through Cheng Xiao's clothes and quickly reminded him, "You're bleeding again."
"Mm, I didn't treat the wound. I thought it had already healed," Cheng Xiao said nonchalantly.
Yu Deng frowned in confusion, looking at him. "Why didn't you bandage it? You could also use a potion, you know."
Cheng Xiao didn't even blink. "It's too much trouble, and I don't know how to bandage it."
Yu Deng didn't believe him.
The young man crouched down and muttered, "No one in my family ever took care of me. When I got hurt as a kid, I just left it alone, and it would heal on its own."
His hands rested on Yu Deng's knees. "Little Mom, do you know how? Could you help me?"
Like a pitiful puppy drenched in the rain.
Yu Deng's heart softened. Although he wasn't very good at bandaging wounds either, he nodded and agreed. "Alright."
Cheng Xiao immediately took off his shirt and pulled out a box of bandaging tools. Inside was a cheap healing potion; all the high-grade potions that worked instantly were tucked out of sight in the corners.
A cotton swab dipped in the potion brushed over the wound. Yu Deng's warm fingertips held the bandage against the muscles as he clumsily treated the wound. Cheng Xiao didn't feel any pain; instead, a ticklish sensation spread from the wound to his heart.
Yu Deng remained oblivious to his stepson's little schemes.
After he awkwardly finished treating the wound, the bandage was wrapped around the young man's firm, muscular arm and tied into a crooked bow.
"Thank you, Little Mom." The young man leaned forward, resting in front of Yu Deng. "You're amazing."
Yu Deng, with his very questionable bandaging skills, looked at him and lifted his chin. "You're just too dumb to do it yourself."
The young man obediently took the scolding and used the opportunity to make a request.
"Mm, I'm stupid. So, in the future, can Little Mom help me again?"