章 10: Ametures Assemble
Cheng Xiu arrived at the Qi Island of Veridus.
The emptiness that she felt in the real world disappeared. Instead, She felt content. Complete.
A sense of crisis developed in her.
She closed her eyes and tried to suppress the feeling of doubt.
Don't over think. Just enjoy the game as long as she played it.
That's enough. It has to be enough.
With that mindset, Cheng Xiu looked around the island.
There wasn't much of a difference between when she left and returned except for the Pillar. The Qi Pillar's inscriptions were not as clear as before.
[Ding!]
[Welcome back, Player Selafia Veritas. You have been offline for 18.5 hours. No ailments to the physical body detected. Avatar is 100% efficient.]
"Thank you for that creepy specific information that I didn't ask for."
[You are welcome.]
Dense AI, she thought as she got off the island. She waddled through the water again and reached the wall. Her clothes were dripping wet.
"It was dry when I went to the island. Did it lose its power because I reached 100% understanding? Maya, what's going on?"
[It's the Qi Pillar's speciality to keep those coming towards it dry. The pillar rejects water. The water you walked through is water that the pillar repelled when it was First placed here.]
"Okay. Hydrophobic Pillars are a thing. Good to know. I feel hungry. Why do I feel hungry Maya? I just finished lunch."
[The Player Avatar has been without food for more than 24 hours and since host is at the Qi sensing I Stage, your body still feels all the needs a normal human does, hunger, thirst, excreating.]
"Tha-that's a bit too realistic, don't you think?"
[Yes!]
The AI sounded proud.
Cheng Xiu sighed. What was she thinking the AI would say? That it was sorry for making a VR game realistic?
Cheng Xiu ogled at the wall that led to the outside world. She had never felt such hunger before.
"Uncle Dian! Uncle Dian, are you there?" Cheng Xiu called.
There was no response. She tried a few more times.
Dispirited, Cheng Xiu slumped to the ground. "This was a stupid idea. What am I doing in here if all I am going to do is sit here and stare at a wall? Secret entrance or not, that is just lame. Maya? you there?"
[Yes, Host?]
"What should I do?"
[Whatever you want to. The Other World is limitless.]
"I am not asking for a promotional speech about the game! Suggest something more productive."
[Host could try to open the door yourself.]
"That…can I do that?" Cheng Xiu frowned at the brick wall. "What are my chances of success?"
[-26%]
Cheng Xiu glared. "Show me your work! How did you reach such a pitiful percentage? That is below zero!"
[Host is not authorized to see the working mechanics of The Other World data compilation.]
"Why did you suggest I try to open the door if the chances are so low?"
[Because the host wanted to feel productive.]
Cheng Xiu's eyebrow twitched. "And trying to open a door the chances of which is in the minus is what you consider productive?"
[No.]
"Then why did you suggest it?"
[Because the Host asked.]
Cheng Xiu felt her head spin. She felt the conversation was going round and round.
Damned AI.
She pulled down her rising urge to swear. "Maya. Please."
[The host can also try to understand her fighting prowess better. Practicing in your head is not the same as practicing in real life after all.]
Cheng Xiu felt like the System was implying something but she couldn't figure out what.
"But wouldn't that just make me more hungry?"
[It will occupy your mind and you won't feel the hunger as profoundly.]
Cheng Xiu grinned. "Good idea! Well done System! You are more than just a glorified alarm clock and reminder."
[How kind of the host.]
"Thank you," Cheng Xiu said and got into the formation. She spread her footing and lowered her body.
She closed her eyes and envisioned the feel of her battle with the old man. She made the first move, and the second. Cheng Xiu began to sweat at the third form.
She panted and laid on the ground. "Why is it so tiring to do this?"
[Because it takes energy to do it. In the dreamscape things are easier because thinking happens at high speed, especially someone with your thinking capabilities. But your physical body is not conditioned enough to move it at the level you did in your head.]
The wall opened and Uncle Dian came in. He looked around and saw Cheng Xiu lying on the floor, panting. He smiled at her.
"It's a good thing I came to check on you, Miss Sela. You must have worked hard to learn your cultivation! Come on! Lets get you something to eat! Were you practicing your martial arts?"
"Hm."
"That's the spirit! Soon you will be strong enough to make Veritas famous!"
Cheng Xiu scoffed. And here she thought he genuinely cared. But she was hungry.
Cheng Xiu followed out after the old bartender.
The guild seemed busier than the last time she came here. Though most of them were players and not customers.
Cheng Xiu sat on one of the stools at the bar and Uncle Dian placed a bowl of fried rice in front of her.
"Do you want something else, Miss Sela?" he asked.
Cheng Xiu shook her head, drooling at the bowl.
He laughed. "Then dig in!"
"Thank you for the food," she said and began to eat.
The stool next to her was dragged out and someone sat down.
"A flask of your finest jin, uncle Dian!" the man next to her said.
The old bartender came to the newcomer with an adoring smile like it was his grandson who was sitting there.
"Little three! What happened? You look devastated."
"I told you about how one of my cousins was trying to get my position, right?"
"Don't tell me he succeeded!"
"He succeeded. And it was all thanks to that woman. I don't know why I didn't see it coming. It was very obvious from the start she didn't like me and didn't like the fact that I held any position of power. I hate women."
"Nasty woman! But you shouldn't hate all women, little three. Look at Miss Sela here. A very brave and kind woman."
Little Three looked at the masked woman scarfing down the fried rice like someone would snatch it away from her.
He smiled at the sight.
In The Other World, people were unbridled because here there was no one who knew them to judge their actions.
" Miss Sela, this is Little Three. He is a favorite of mine!"
A pair of sharp, beautiful Phoenix eyes looked his way as she put down the empty bowl.
"San Zhu?"
He stiffened.
The woman quickly shook her head and laughed.
"I'm so sorry. Your face looked a bit like a senior I saw before. Hi, I'm…Sela."
The man gave her a strained smile.
"What does he look like?" he asked.
"A bit more round than you and he definitely had a pot belly."
He wanted to cry. "Um…how do you know we look alike then? Since I am slimmer."
She fidgeted. "I usually have a pair of good eyes when it comes to facial recognition. Weird."
He took the flask of jin from the uncle and poured some into his mouth. They fell into silence.
"Did you hate the guy?"
"I don't know him, how can I hate him."
Little Three jerked up and looked at her. "What? Should there be a reason to hate someone?"
Cheng Xiu laughed. "I only saw him today at a meeting."
Little Three slumped to the table. "Oh. There huh?"
Cheng Xiu side-eyed him. There was no way she was wrong.
"There's no reason for me to hate him, Little Three. How can I when we might share the same fate?"
Little Three stared at her in disbelief. Something clicked. "Ms Bo will hate you!"
The girl had a cheshire cat grin. "She does. Said it to my face actually."
"I hate her."
Cheng Xiu nodded. "Which is entirely natural."
Little Three sighed. "You never believed I was not San Zhu."
"I have a good memory when it comes to faces. Names are harder but faces are easy."
"San Zhu."
She smiled. "Cheng Xiu."
San Zhu turned towards her in shock. "The girl who beat everyone else in the Entrance exam? Wha-what kind of broken luck..."
She smiled and turned to the bartender. "Uncle Dian, how much was it?"
"The food is on the house today ! It's your first day of meal after all. You have to pay from tomorrow."
Cheng Xiu nodded. "Okay."
She started to walk away.
"Wait!" San Zhu called.
She turned to him in confusion.
"Do you want to do Quests together?"
"Do I get to choose the Quests?"
"Only if it is Level appropriate."
Cheng Xiu nodded. "Makes sense. Let's go!"
A/N: Thank you all for the love and support that you guys give me and I hope I can live upto it.
Thank you for the collections.
If you liked the story so far please do spare a powerstone.
Maya:[Author is being shameless.]
Me: "Yes I am."
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Anji_King Stay Home. Stay Safe, guys.
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