Chapter 61 – Chaos Leads to Mistakes

Meng Chudong had been grinding mobs in the open world for two hours, and for the last forty minutes, the Legion Leader’s healer account had been sitting under a tree without moving. This meal was taking a bit too long, Meng Chudong thought, when the system notified him that City Toppling Beauty had come online.

It had been a while since Fang Zheng last used two computers simultaneously, so it took him a while to adjust to the heat radiating from both cases. The towel draped over his neck had been dry at first, but now it was so damp he could wring water out of it.

He logged into City Toppling Beauty and headed to the prime location in the Main City to set up a vending stall, then started spamming World Chat—

[Huaxia] City Toppling Beauty: Power leveling and gear farming services available! Personal studio, Diamond Seller reputation, fair prices for all.

After setting that up, Fang Zheng switched back to the other computer. Birdy-kun was still grinding mobs. Fang Zheng suspected the guy was a bot—otherwise, how could he never tire? The number of online Legion members had increased from two before dinner to three, so Fang Zheng couldn’t help but ask—

[Legion] Milk is Mom: Assassin, you’ve been pretty free during the day lately.

[Legion] Mad Lad: What, am I interrupting your little love nest?

Fang Zheng froze for a second. His first thought was that the guy knew Birdy was gay, but upon reflection, that made no sense. With the clues available, even if Di Renjie were reincarnated, he wouldn’t be able to piece together the truth. The conclusion was obvious—this guy was just crude.

Ignoring Jiang Yang, Fang Zheng exchanged a quick greeting with Birdy before leaving the party and returning to the Marketplace.

Before the server merge, he had listed a bunch of materials in the Auction House. After the merge, he’d been too busy having fun to remember them. Now that the merged server was livelier, almost everything had sold out. Fang Zheng even regretted not adjusting the prices—he could’ve made more.

After settling the sales, Fang Zheng went to Milk is Mom to exchange his in-game currency for real cash It was only about a hundred yuan, but every little bit counted.

(T/N: Such exchanges aren’t usually sanctioned by the game publisher, and can result in a ban if discovered. Enforcement varies; some publishers ban aggressively and some turn a blind eye or adopt a “we don’t endorse it, but you’re on your own if something goes wrong” stance. The latter seems to be the case here. Trading game currency for cash usually involves third parties who resell the currency to other players at a profit, and is considered ‘gray-market trading.’ The exchange rate fluctuates because it’s a supply-and-demand business, with numerous big and small traders competing for a share, rather than a stable price officially controlled by a single entity.)

Diamond Seller was surprisingly warm—

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: Thought you’d forgotten about your old pal now that you’re a big shot~~

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: As if~~

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: You’re not even gonna pretend to be modest? Like, Oh, stop, I’m not that famous~

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Only fake people pretend. I keep it real ^_^

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: Your shamelessness has surpassed even your past self =_=

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Enough chit-chat. What’s the exchange rate now?

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: 1:80.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Damn, it’s gone up that much?

The exchange rate between RMB and Huaxia Coins had previously stabilized around 1:100. Fang Zheng had expected fluctuations after the server merge—more players meant higher demand—but he hadn’t anticipated such a steep rise.

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: How much do you have?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: 12,000 Huaxia Coins.

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: So even if it rises a bit more, it won’t affect you much =_=

Diamond Seller had assumed this fellow power leveler was here with a massive fortune to consult about, so they’d treated the conversation like a VIP client meeting. Turns out…

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: What materials are in high demand lately?

Not only was this guy a small-time seller, but he was also fishing for intel like a competitor.

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: You broke or something?

Since they were old acquaintances, Fang Zheng didn’t hide it—

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: Almost.

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: Serves you right for slacking off earlier instead of working properly.

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: That’s just jealousy talking. Must suck to be stuck AFK all day~~~

[Whisper] Diamond Seller: …

Every guy idling in-game had a heart yearning for battle, so Fang Zheng understood Diamond Seller’s bitterness and helplessness all too well. After a bit of light teasing, he got back to business—selling his in-game currency.

The money arrived almost instantly. Fang Zheng had to admire the efficiency of large-scale operations. The seller also kindly informed him that with the recent influx of new players to the merged server, demand for leveling and gear upgrades was high. Almost any rare-ish material would sell well.

After bidding farewell to Diamond Seller, Fang Zheng switched back to the other computer. Several people had already whispered City Toppling Beauty, not just one—

[Whisper] War-Snow Wolf: Need mercenary work? Hanging Gardens dungeon run, 1,000 Huaxia Coins per run.

[Whisper] Polly: Short on cash?

Fang Zheng didn’t exactly have warm feelings toward War Banner Legion, but he was desperate enough to bend—

[Whisper] City Toppling Beauty: No problem. What time?

The income from mercenary runs couldn’t compare to power leveling or selling gear, but every bit helped.

[Whisper] War-Snow Wolf: Still gathering people. I’ll call you when we’re ready.

[Whisper] City Toppling Beauty: Got it.

After sealing the deal, Fang Zheng finally had the peace of mind to consider how to reply to the other whisper.

Do you have to be so blunt? >_<

[Whisper] City Toppling Beauty: Sort of.

[Whisper] Polly: So you’re really short.

Does this guy have a dialogue processor in his brain?!

If Fang Zheng had been on Milk is Mom, he could’ve chatted with Birdy for days. But this was City Toppling Beauty. If he didn’t know Birdy was gay, he could’ve flirted with him as a catfish. But since Birdy was gay, why had he flirted with City Toppling Beauty in the first place? It was a tangled mess. And now, with all these conditions, Fang Zheng had no idea how to communicate as City Toppling Beauty without slipping up. The more he said, the more likely he’d expose himself—and then he’d really want to dig a hole and hide.

One good thing about Birdy’s personality was that if you ignored him, he wouldn’t pester you. So Fang Zheng unilaterally ended the conversation and waited for War Banner’s summons.

One minute.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

Is it really that hard to form a party? =_=

Just as Fang Zheng was about to ask for an update, Birdy unexpectedly sent another message—

[Whisper] Polly: If you need help, you can ask me.

Of course, City Toppling Beauty wouldn’t ask Birdy for help—but Fang Zheng’s heart warmed a little.

This was Birdy for you. Sarcastic, sharp-tongued, expressionless, arrogant—but when it came to friends, he was always a true friend.

Fang Zheng sent back a simple Got it, and Birdy didn’t reply further. So Fang Zheng finally turned his attention back to his employer—

[Whisper] City Toppling Beauty: Still not enough people?

[Whisper] War-Snow Wolf: Check World Chat.

[Huaxia] War-Black Gold: Mercenary team for Mesopotamian Plains, 1,000 per run, 8/10, any class welcome—starting as soon as we fill!

[Huaxia] War-Sorrel: Mercenary team for Mesopotamian Plains, 1,000 per run, 8/10, any class welcome—starting as soon as we fill!

Manpower issues are no joke!

Fang Zheng was getting impatient, so he decided to send Milk is Mom ahead to Mesopotamian Plains.

The job had been taken by City Toppling Beauty, but the client only asked for a healer—they hadn’t specified which account. A chance to earn money and gain XP for leveling was too good to pass up, so Milk is Mom got the nod.

To his surprise, War Banner Legion was already there, gathered near the ruined palace outskirts. Some were sitting, others leaning against trees, sparring, or staring at the sky—but the moment Milk is Mom appeared, every single one of them drew their weapons and went on high alert!

One-on-one, I wouldn’t even be sure of winning. One against seven? I’d be vaporized!

[Local] Milk is Mom: Don’t panic! We’re on the same side! Same side!

[Local] War-Black Gold: What part of you looks like you’re on our side? =_=

[Local] Milk is Mom: Didn’t you hire mercenaries?!

[Local] War-Snow Wolf: We don’t need healers anymore. Sorry.

[Local] Milk is Mom: City Toppling Beauty can’t make it, so I’m filling in.

[Local] War-Snow Wolf: You know each other?

Uh, how to explain this? Admitting to his former teammates that he’d created an alt for business was one thing, but telling these guys… He still had some dignity left.

[Local] Milk is Mom: Yeah, we’re friends.

[Local] War-Sorrel: Girlfriend, right? Haha~~ Otherwise, why would a Legion Leader stoop to mercenary work for us?

[Local] War-Sister Liuli: If I remember right, City Toppling Beauty is Polly’s wife.

[Local] War-Sorrel: You know that?!

[Local] War-Sister Liuli: I keep telling you, don’t just grind dungeons and PK all day. There’s so much beauty in the world to discover ╮(╯_╰)╭

[Local] War-Bodhi Patriarch: But no matter whose wife that girl is, if she’s reduced to mercenary work, then…

[Local] War-Sister Liuli: That’s why they say, If men were reliable, pigs could climb trees!

Less talk, fewer mistakes. So Fang Zheng firmly kept his mouth shut.

But of course, there was always someone stirring the pot—

[Legion] Mad Lad: Healer, what are you doing in Mesopotamian Plains? You don’t have a full party for a dungeon.

[Legion] Milk is Mom: Just sightseeing.

[Legion] Polly: War Banner’s mercenary team still short on people?

Troublemakers aren’t scary. What’s scary is an expressionless genius. TAT

[Legion] Milk is Mom: Yeah, still two short…

[Legion] Mad Lad: You’re doing mercenary work?

[Legion] Milk is Mom: Yep. Slacked off too much lately, now I’m broke >_<

For some reason, confessing his dire financial situation to these two Ghost Server veterans didn’t feel as awkward as he’d expected. Maybe because they both knew about his power-leveling background?

[Legion] Polly: Still two short, huh…

[Legion] Milk is Mom: I am not hinting at anything =_=

[Legion] Mad Lad: Any class is fine, right? I’ll go.

Huh? Did this guy have a change of heart?

[Whisper] Mad Lad: You keep the payment. I just want a photo of you [laughs]

Nope. Still the same. =_=

To Fang Zheng’s surprise, Mad Lad wasn’t alone—Birdy came too.

War Banner was even more shocked than Fang Zheng.

[Local] War-Snow Wolf: You three… are here to mercenary for us?

[Local] Milk is Mom: ^_^

[Local] Polly: Yeah.

[Local] Mad Lad: Problem?

No problem, except—

[Local] War-Sister Liuli: That girl must be really something~~ So jealous~~

[Local] Mad Lad: Girl?

[Local] Milk is Mom: Now that we’re all here, let’s get started!

Overall, the Ghost Server trio’s mercenary run for War Banner went smoothly. They scored an Orange-Tier Gear weapon, an Orange-Tier Gear armor piece, and a bunch of materials—a very fruitful haul. After the dungeon, Fang Zheng received the payment and tried to split it with Mad Lad and Birdy, but both refused in unison—mercenary work was beneath them.

So Fang Zheng was left to stoop alone.

By evening, more Legion members had logged in, and Fang Zheng resumed his role as the all-capable Legion Leader, leading the team in leveling and dungeons. No one mentioned the day’s mercenary work. Meanwhile, City Toppling Beauty picked up a power-leveling job for a Level 30 alt—the client only wanted to reach Level 60 in ten days for 450 Huaxia Coins.

Everything was going smoothly.

Except for—

[Whisper] Mad Lad: Photo, please~

This guy is a haunt!

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: You must be really bored.

[Whisper] Mad Lad: Very bored~ Wanna rub it for me?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: That photo you sent earlier wasn’t really you, was it?

[Whisper] Mad Lad: ?

[Whisper] Milk is Mom: You’re definitely some greasy, foot-picking old man!

Jiang Yang stared at the words and couldn’t help but imagine that glorious image. Then he spat his tea all over his monitor.

Fang Zheng had no idea that in some dimly lit corner of some city, someone was choking and coughing violently because of his words. He was too busy browsing his photo folder and despairing at how few pictures he had from his twenty-six years of life.

Yes, he’d decided to send a photo. If nothing else, the guy’s persistence had worn him down. Any more stalling would just seem coy. Whether there was another reason hidden beneath that reluctance, he didn’t want to think about.

It was already 2 AM. To save power, Fang Zheng hadn’t turned on the lights, so his round face was eerily illuminated by the cold blue glow of the monitor, eyebrows furrowed in a fierce scowl—

Sending a photo to an online friend—especially a vaguely flirty male one—was a first in Fang Zheng’s love life, which had been as blank as a mosquito net. Even if this guy wasn’t a boyfriend or a fling, just a comrade-in-arms, the pressure still felt like an Elite Mob grinding him down.

This one—too fat.

That one—too dark.

This one—eyes half-closed.

That one—grinning like an idiot.

Finally, he found a decent one—but it was from his high school graduation, and bore little resemblance to his current self.

Jiang Yang had no idea Fang Zheng was agonizing over this. Assuming he was being ignored, he spammed the Legion Leader’s whispers with taunts every few seconds.

Fang Zheng kept switching back to check, and in the end, frustration won out. He picked a recent-ish photo that matched his current appearance, opened YY, hit the screenshot shortcut, and—eyes squeezed shut—sent it!

For the next thirty seconds, Fang Zheng didn’t dare open his eyes. Even though he was alone in the dark room, he felt a strange mix of shyness and embarrassment, as if invisible eyes were watching his flustered state with amusement.

Finally, his racing heart calmed down.

No big deal. Worst case, he roasts me. It’s not like I’ll lose weight from it—though that’d actually be nice.

Steeling himself, Fang Zheng opened his eyes—

The photo he’d sent still dominated the YY chat window.

But beneath it was a new reply.

Polly said: (02:17:26)

If I were you, I wouldn’t have sent this one.