Ruins
The day of the Beginner Duo Tournament arrived faster than Yun Qing expected. He logged in early, nerves humming under his skin like the old days before a real hit. His cramped apartment felt smaller than usual, the cheap VR helmet slightly damp from nervous sweat.
Ling Feng was already online, waiting in the pre-match lobby. His avatar stood tall and composed, silver-gray eyes calm as always.
"Ready?" Ling Feng asked through voice chat. His voice carried that steady reassurance Yun Qing was starting to unconsciously lean on.
Yun Qing flexed his fingers. "Let's end it quick."
The tournament bracket loaded. Their first opponents: a flashy Level 25 swordsman and a healer duo who had been climbing with loud, aggressive plays. The map — Shadow Ruins — favored Yun Qing heavily with its dark corners and broken pillars.
They spawned on opposite sides of the ruined temple. Ling Feng took point as usual, drawing immediate aggro with his control skills.
"Flank left," Ling Feng instructed quietly. "I'll pin them."
Yun Qing melted into the shadows without a word. Shadow Step activated, turning him nearly invisible. He circled behind the enemy swordsman, reading every twitch of movement like a predator.
The swordsman charged Ling Feng with a flashy overhead strike. Ling Feng blocked it cleanly, rooting the attacker in place.
That was the opening.
Yun Qing struck from the darkness — Shadow Burst followed by a chain of precise daggers. Critical hits flashed across the screen. The swordsman's health dropped like a stone.
"What the hell?!" the swordsman yelled. "Where did he come from?!"
The healer tried to save his partner with a burst heal, but Yun Qing was already moving. A shadow clone distracted the healer while the real Yun Qing finished the swordsman with a clean backstab.
Ling Feng capitalized instantly, locking the healer down with a heavy stun. Their combo flowed perfectly — ice-like control meeting lethal shadow assassination.
The match ended in four minutes and twenty seconds.
[First Round Victory!]
[Advancing to Round 2]
[Duo Synergy Rating: Perfect – Bonus reward: Temporary skill enhancement for both]
In the victory screen, Ling Feng's avatar turned toward him. Even through the game, Yun Qing could feel the weight of that silver gaze.
"You were incredible," Ling Feng said softly, the usual coolness in his voice replaced by quiet warmth. "That shadow clone feint… I've never seen anyone time it so perfectly with my stun."
Yun Qing allowed himself a small, private smile. "You made the opening. We're… compatible."
The word slipped out before he could stop it. Compatible. It sounded too intimate for two people who had only met a few days ago in-game.
Ling Feng was silent for a beat. Then he chuckled, low and genuine. "Yeah. We are."
As they waited for the next bracket match, Ling Feng switched to a more private voice channel.
"Listen… after this round, if we keep winning, that coffee offer still stands. No pressure. Just… I want to see the person behind the shadows in real life."
Yun Qing's breath caught. In his past life, such an invitation would have been a trap. Here, it felt like a lifeline — someone reaching out without hidden blades.
He swallowed hard, old betrayal scars aching. "If we reach the top 8… I'll think about it."
Ling Feng's voice softened further. "Then let's make sure we reach the top 8."
The second match loaded — a tougher pair this time, with better coordination. As they spawned on Crystal Caverns, Yun Qing felt the familiar hunter's focus settle over him.
But beneath it, something new stirred.
For the first time in two lives, the Shadow Emperor wasn't fighting alone.
And the man fighting beside him was slowly melting the ice around his own guarded heart.