Chapter 222 – Spring Blossoms

For players who traverse the Dimensional Rift, if they die on another server and are not revived by a healer from their own server within two minutes, they will be forcibly sent back to their own server’s respawn point and be barred from re-entering the rift for the rest of the day. Therefore, Don’t Stop the Meds had to bring Rain Ceases along for his ambush. By the same logic, Rain Ceases biting the dust meant his sneak attack had come to a perfect… ellipsis.

With only two minutes of post-death time, Don’t Stop the Meds could barely manage a heart-wrenching cry of “It’s so dark inside the gourd TAT.” As for that seemingly heaven-sent Black Magic, there wasn’t even time to ask about it. In the end, Rain Ceases took to the Huaxia Forum to post on behalf of his Commander, seeking answers—

Title: What the hell is Black Magic? How many times can the Purple-Gold Red Gourd be used?!!! Ghost Server Legion, come in~~~~

Poster: Crimson River

Content: As titled, @Drink Your Sister 3X, @Refined Into a Demon 715

The post was made late at night. By then, the Ghost Server squad, having long since repelled Iceborn and Thousand Mountains, had already finished celebrating and were sound asleep. It wasn’t until the next day, after the Commander and Deputy Commander had busied themselves with trades in the new game, Mad Lad, Your Uncle, and 2B Fighter Jet had contributed to the Four Modernizations in society, and Blood Bull, 438, Your Sister, and Crossplayer had studied hard for the rise of Huaxia in school, that they finally logged in after dinner and were reminded by their Summit server friends—

[Huaxia] Big H: You guys finally show up! What the hell is that Black Magic skill? And what’s the deal with the Purple-Gold Red Gourd? Not just No Meds, but all your Summit server siblings have been curious all day!!!

The Ghost Server squad was baffled, practically dragged to the forum link like ducks to water. When they opened it—wow, it had already turned into a flood of comments, with the latest one being, “I also think looks shouldn’t be a requirement for joining the Ghost Server Legion”… Who the hell derailed the thread?!

A quick skim revealed that everything after the twentieth comment could be ignored, but the first dozen or so replies were quite intriguing—

#1

Reply by: Little Tree

Content: Why the tilde in the title?

#2

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: The Commander said it’d catch the Ghost Server Legion’s attention easier…

#3

Reply by: ice Iceborn

Content: You got wrecked too? @Don’t Stop the Meds

#4

Reply by: XX

Content: Our Commander asked me to tell you that while the word “too” gave him some comfort, he still refuses to answer your question.

#5

Reply by: Big H

Content: The Ghost Server squad’s all offline~~ They follow a senior citizen’s schedule~ ╮(╯_╰)╭

#6

Reply by: Nicknamed White Dragon Horse

Content: Black Magic is probably the “Black Magic Manual” the Ghost Server Legion got from the Lover’s Constellation first kill, right? Heard it was given to Drink Your Sister 3X. I bet our Commander knows what that skill does, but unless his wife speaks up, he won’t say a word. Tch.

#7

Reply by: War-Sorrel

Content: OP, I heard you guys ambushed us when our Summit server was empty from the raid? Not cool! But judging by your question, did you get wrecked by those two things? Hahahaha!

#8

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: I’m asking for our Commander.

#9

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: Rain Ceases, selling out Boss Yao like this… not great, huh?

#10

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: Who said you could call me by name?!

#11

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: You posted this to ask for him, right? Even if I don’t, he’ll know this is your ID…

#12

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: I just need to report the answer to him. He won’t come here to read it himself.

#13

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: Then you’ve got nothing to worry about. Even if I call him, he won’t know.

#14

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: I’m done talking to you =_=

#15

Reply by: King of Outer Flame

Content: Then let me talk to the guy above you. What’s your problem with Outer Flame? Who do you think you are?!

#16

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: Who are you? See the thread title? If you know the answer, spill it. If not, scram. Don’t derail!

#17

Reply by: King of Outer Flame

Content: I don’t know? I DON’T KNOW?! Forget Black Magic—if I don’t know about that Purple-Gold Red Gourd, NO ONE DOES! That feeling, that feel, that bittersweet agony, I %#%@%@#%@%￥#%￥#%

#18

Reply by: Not Eating Meds But Loneliness

Content: Hey, guy above? Where’d you go? Why cut off mid-sentence? I get it! I GET YOU! Add my forum ID, let’s DM!!!

#19

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: Rain Ceases, do you feel a familiar chill…

#20

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: I told you not to call me by name…

#21

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: You’re just deceiving yourself.

#22

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: I can’t hear you I can’t hear you I can’t hear you TAT

#23

Reply by: …

Content: …

“Since they @’ed you two, I don’t need to step in. You guys handle it!” declared the Ghost Server Legion Leader, suddenly feeling the majestic aura of someone who could overturn the world with a flick of his fingers.

Your Sister and 438 accepted the order but asked before leaving, “What about that discussion on looks…”

“Almost forgot about that! Stay put, I’ll handle this first!” Overturning the world could wait. The Ghost Server Legion Leader decided to first use his fingers to correct certain people’s misconceptions about the legion’s looks ╮(╯_╰)╭

#301

Reply by: Milk is Mom

Content: Looks are definitely not a requirement for joining the Ghost Server Legion. It’s just that, somehow, every comrade who fatefully joins the Ghost Server Legion family turns out to be drop-dead gorgeous, men and women alike~~ Like a drizzle falling into my heart~~ That feeling, so mysterious~~~ I can’t help but raise my head to look at you~~ Yet you leave no trace~~ Though you say not a word~~ You’re impossible to forget~~ That look in your eyes~~ So bright and beautiful~~~ Ah~~~~~

“Alright, you two can start now ~\(^o^)/~”

“Commander, you skipped the last two lines. Not gonna sing them?”

“Gotta leave room for imagination~~~”

438 and Your Sister both found their Commander’s reasoning impeccable and thus said no more, focusing instead on carefully crafting their replies.

While they were immersed in describing the skills and items in text, other comrades had already responded—

#302

Reply by: Silent Hill

Content: Damn, now he’s not even satisfied with just singing the chorus. The future of Huaxia is doomed!

#303

Reply by: Grave Sweeping Scroll

Content: I don’t care about Huaxia’s future, I just wanna know if he dares to sing the last two lines! This is torture for us OCD folks!!!

A few minutes later, the answer posts went up—

#306

Reply by: Drink Your Sister 3X

Content: Black Magic Manual, reward from the Lover’s Constellation first kill. Can be applied to any of the player’s existing skills, increasing cast speed (for chanted skills) by 40% and making them 100% uninterruptible. The cost is losing 20% of HP and MP. If the player has less than 20% HP and MP remaining, the Black Magic skill cannot be used. @Not Eating Meds But Loneliness

#307

Reply by: Refined Into a Demon 715

Content: The Purple-Gold Red Gourd is obsolete now! It only had three uses—first was for the Imperial Sorcerer, the second and third… you know the rest. @King of Outer Flame @Not Eating Meds But Loneliness

“438, you took half a day to type one line? And you were still slower than Your Sister with just that one line?”

“But I poured my heart into it >_<"

“…”

The Ghost Server Legion Leader took several deep breaths, choosing to believe his comrade’s explanation—because only then could he enjoy the subsequent flood of replies with a light heart~\(≧▽≦)/~

#308

Reply by: Not Eating Meds But Loneliness

Content: Uh, cough, did you @ the wrong person?

#309

Reply by: Bane of Outer Flame

Content: …

#310

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: So I’m not the only one deceiving myself.

#311

Reply by: Crimson River

Content: The Commander also asked—since it only had three uses, why waste one on him? Didn’t it hurt?????? PS. The Commander told me to add more question marks. @Refined Into a Demon 715

#312

Reply by: Refined Into a Demon 715

Content: Nope, he was worth it.

#313

Reply by: Not Eating Meds But Loneliness

Content: Kid, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce Commander forgives you!

#314

Reply by: Refined Into a Demon 715

Content: Also, yesterday I finally cultivated another pouch I’d been saving using the same recipe, so now I have a brand-new Purple-Gold Red Gourd ~\(^o^)/~

For a long time after that, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce made no further moves. Their High Commander even vanished without a trace, reportedly having gone on a trip to clear his mind.

Unlike his Commander’s sudden enlightenment—er, self-cultivation—the Dutch Chamber of Commerce’s core member, No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains, ignored the blossoming spring outside and, on the very night of the ambush, posted on the forum challenging Mad Lad, the one who had ganged up on him to death.

Of course, “ganged up” was No Birds’ phrasing—Mad Lad insisted he had single-handedly taken down Holy Light Sanctuary’s top healer.

But differing accounts didn’t stop the two from agreeing on one thing.

The next evening, when everyone’s attention was still on the Black Magic and Purple Gourd threads, Mad Lad happily accepted No Birds’ challenge. The duel was set for after 6 PM the following day. As soon as the Dimensional Rift opened, the first to find it would enter the other’s server and whisper their coords, while the opponent had to announce to the world upon arrival that this was a private duel, ensuring no other players from their server would interfere. The opponent also couldn’t stray more than twenty meters from the rift’s spawn point to avoid sneaking suspicions.

When the Ghost Server squad heard the news, their only thought was that these two, willing to cross servers just to fight, must be true love.

In the blink of an eye, the appointed time arrived. The Ghost Server squad logged in on time, eager to witness this clash of whales up close—according to 2B, who also frequented the Huaxia Pet Forum, No Birds had accidentally revealed his identity while showing off his dog. Clearly, whales couldn’t resist flaunting.

Everything was ready—except for Mad Lad.

……

Beijing Time 22:17 – Huaxia Summit Dimensional Rift Spawn Point

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Where is he?

[Local] Milk is Mom: Just called him. Said there was a business issue, won’t be able to log in for a while.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: What? He ran?

[Local] Milk is Mom: I don’t think so. After all, he’s the man who solo’d you…

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: IT WAS A GANK!!!

[Local] Milk is Mom: OKOK~~ Whatever you say~~ Guess we’ll just have to wait for now~~

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: No, I can’t wait. I can’t swallow this!

[Local] Milk is Mom: Then what? Wanna fight me instead?

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: We’ve got no beef.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Lucky Charm! Yeah, Little Lucky Charm, you were part of that gank too! How about you fight?

[Local] Little Lucky Charm: Sure!

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: That’s the spirit.

[Local] Little Lucky Charm: Tomorrow!

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Huh?

[Local] Little Lucky Charm: You sprung this on me out of nowhere. I’m not mentally prepared, but you are. That’s not fair. I don’t wanna embarrass the legion… TAT

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Fine, fine, tomorrow it is!

……

The Next Day, Beijing Time 19:35 – Holy Light Sanctuary Dimensional Rift Spawn Point

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Why are you here again? Where’s Lucky Charm?

[Local] Milk is Mom: Got sent on a business trip. Five days, four nights…

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Are you messing with me?!

[Local] Milk is Mom: Would I cross into Holy Light Sanctuary just to mess with you?! I’m the Commander, not my squad’s human leave slip! This is exhausting for me too!

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Fine, Laozi will give you one more chance. But I’m not waiting five days. Get Your Sister over here!

[Local] Milk is Mom: Oh my dear! How could you raise your hand against a woman~~~~~~

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: She didn’t hold back when she hit Rain Ceases with Black Magic =_=

[Local] Milk is Mom: Lemme ask.

[Local] Milk is Mom: She’s busy now. By the time she’s done, the rift will be closed. Tomorrow.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Ugh, now I’m scared of tomorrow.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Relax. Third time’s the charm.

……

Third Day, Beijing Time 21:00 – Huaxia Summit Dimensional Rift Spawn Point

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: WHY IS IT YOU AGAIN?! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!!

[Local] Milk is Mom: You think I want this?! But she’s my comrade, what can I do?!

[Local] Drink Till You Drop: She caught a cold. I told her not to log in.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Does your legion even know what ‘a promise is a promise’ means?!

[Local] Milk is Mom: We do…

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Does your legion even know what ‘eating your words makes you fat’ means?!

[Local] Milk is Mom: We do…

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: DOES YOUR LEGION HAVE ANY SENSE OF DISCIPLINE AT ALL?!

[Local] Milk is Mom: That one we really don’t ( ⊙ o ⊙).

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: SHAMELESS!!! TAT

[Local] Drink Till You Drop: I’ll do it.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: You’re not even from Ghost Server! What’s it to you?!

[Local] Milk is Mom: I beg you, spare Ghost Server. Our legion’s about to fall apart because of you~~555~~ I don’t wanna play with you anymore~~TAT

[Local] 2B Fighter Jet: Commander, I’ll do it!

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: Fighter Jet, step aside. We’ve got history in the Sky Arena and pet forums. I don’t wanna fight you.

[Local] 2B Fighter Jet: Hold on, gotta reply to an important text.

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: …

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: …

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: …

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: …

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: It’s been twenty minutes! Are you texting or coding an app?!

[Local] No Birds Over a Thousand Mountains: I was being polite earlier—I don’t give a damn about Sky Arena history, and I NEVER liked your fat cat! GET BACK HERE AND FIGHT ME ALREADY AAAAAHHHH—