"Brother Yun." As they neared the apartment building, Lin Qiye called out to Yun Hexian.
Yun Hexian arched an eyebrow, bloodstains still smudged across his handsome, refined face. "Hmm? What is it?"
"You and Pang Xin were incredibly cool back there," Lin Qiye said with a smile, offering his praise.
Yun Hexian smirked, looking smug. "Well, obviously."
"Why did we have to lie to that man earlier?" Lin Qiye asked, sounding puzzled. Although he had also felt the man might bring trouble—given that he seemed specialized in dealing with such things and was clearly backed by a Mysterious organization—he hadn't expected Yun Hexian to react so quickly, preempting him with a lie that was far better than anything he could have come up with... plus the use of a pseudonym.
Yun Hexian mused, "Hmm... I don't know. I just felt like playing around with him. I didn't think he’d actually believe me."
"Brother Yun, have you considered that he believed you because you sounded so convincing and detailed?"
"Is that so? I suppose I’d be quite talented as a pyramid scheme master."
"Brother Yun, do you believe there are Angels in this world?" Lin Qiye asked suddenly.
Yun Hexian paused. *Angels—is this the protagonist's cheat?* He thought for a moment and said, "I believe. If there are monsters, then there must be gods, or this world wouldn't be able to survive."
"I was blinded for ten years after staring at an Angel. Now, He has granted me miraculous abilities, which is how I was able to suppress that monster." Lin Qiye paused before asking, "Brother Yun, where did that whip made of sword tips come from? And where did it go?"
"A secret trade?" Yun Hexian chuckled. He slung an arm around Lin Qiye’s neck, the blood on his clothes smearing onto Lin Qiye. "That thing was sold to me by a stranger. It can only be used once. After I dripped my blood on it, it merged into my body; I can summon it whenever I need to. Cost me eighty-some bucks at a flea market."
Lin Qiye nodded. *A flea market find?* So, was Yun Hexian actually the protagonist archetype? *No way, impossible!*
"Brother Yun! You're getting blood all over me!" Lin Qiye shoved him away in a panic. "How am I supposed to explain this to Auntie?"
"Auntie Yang won't be back until tomorrow morning; she’s on the night shift," Pang Xin said, shouldering his backpack with a grin. "Auntie asked my dad to have you and A-Jin eat a late-night snack at our place."
Lin Qiye let out a sigh of relief. "Brother Yun, thank you and Pang Xin for today. If you ever need help with anything in the future, I’ll be there." Debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay; he didn't like owing anyone.
"That's easy. A life debt should be repaid with one's own body. I see you’ve got a bit of charm..." Yun Hexian stroked his chin. "Pang Xin, carry Lin Qiye to my place."
"You got it," Pang Xin replied with a grunt. He hoisted Lin Qiye up, and the backpack on his back pressed into Lin Qiye’s nose, stinging so much that tears welled up instantly.
"No, wait! You just do whatever he says?" Lin Qiye struggled to get down but was held fast by Pang Xin. He couldn't help but shout, "You’ve got to be kidding me! You guys are playing for real???"
*Smack!*
"What are you wailing about in the middle of the night? I’m taking you to wash up and change into a school uniform. You can’t go back to see A-Jin covered in blood like that, can you?" Yun Hexian slapped Lin Qiye’s bottom, sounding annoyed.
Lin Qiye: "You don't have to hit my butt, though!"
"Ehehe."
Lin Qiye: ヽ(?Д?)?
...
After showering and eating a midnight snack, they finally parted ways. Yun Hexian couldn't wait to check on his treasures.
The money in his pocket was soaked in blood. Yun Hexian prayed devoutly: *[Hello, System. Can you clean them up for me?]*
The BKing System didn't make a sound, but the coins became visibly clean.
Yun Hexian: *System, you are my eternal god!*
Yun Hexian first checked the Game God mode. It was essentially a gaming mode, divided into "Long-term Games" and "One-time Games." This unlock had rewarded him with three one-time games.Clearing a one-time game yielded Forbidden Artifacts or Forbidden Ruins, which would then disappear; Long-term Games could be cleared repeatedly to gain the same rewards multiple times. The Game God mode allowed up to three Long-term Games to be unlocked simultaneously, with the option to randomize and replace existing ones. Once three Long-term Games were unlocked, performing BKing actions in front of plot-relevant characters would unlock new modes.
The three current one-time games were: Fruit Slicer, Vegetable vs. Zombies, and Wild Dog Simulator.
Yun Hexian: *Stare.*
*Skip for now.*
*[Hello, System.Randomize Forbidden Artifacts, then awaken Forbidden Ruins.]* Yun Hexian rubbed his hands in anticipation.
*[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining Forbidden Artifact - Picnic Blanket and Forbidden Artifact - Golden Empty Bottle.]*
*[Forbidden Artifact - Picnic Blanket: When spread out, think of the food you want, and it will materialize. Generates up to 100 portions daily.]*
*[Forbidden Artifact - Golden Empty Bottle: A vase-like empty bottle that resembles gold. Inject a bottle of water into it to generate one drop of liquid gold. Drinking it clears all negative status effects on the body, including but not limited to god-level curses, mental control, soul control, and poisoning. Can be generated up to nine times.]*
*Damn, this stuff is OP.*
Yun Hexian’s pupils dilated in shock. Before he could speak, his consciousness slipped into a golden-white halo—gentle and not at all blinding. Countless golden clouds condensed around him, brimming with life force, while the phantom of an immortal crane circled him, crying out. A stream of information flashed through his mind.*Forbidden Ruins - Crane in the Clouds!*With a 50-meter diameter range (expandable), upon activation, a snow-white immortal crane phantom circles the perimeter of the Forbidden Ruins, and golden clouds float above the ground.*
*Its three abilities are:*
*[Fairy Mist]: Refers to the golden clouds, capable of healing injuries, detoxifying, and restoring mental energy.*
*[Immortal Crane of Longevity]: The immortal crane phantom merges into a dying individual, providing massive life force and soul energy to heal them, essentially bringing them back from the brink of death. Cooldown: one month. Only one crane phantom can be possessed at a time.*
*[Birds and Fish]: The most distant distance in the world. It can infinitely extend the distance between oneself and anyone or anything attempting to approach.*
*Healing + Recovery + Detoxification, death-lock, and defense.*
Combined with the logistical Picnic Blanket, the de-buffing Golden Empty Bottle, and the previously unused trial version of "Whisper" for stealth—Yun Hexian now only lacked a means of offense!
Excited, Yun Hexian opened the Game God mode and clicked on *Fruit Slicer*: Clearing requires 10,000 points without a single mistake within ten minutes.
*Vegetable vs. Zombies*: Protect the vegetables. Killing over a hundred zombies that break into the home in one round counts as a clear.
*Wild Dog Simulator*: The journey to the West has eighty-one tribulations, but for a wild dog, there are only three: natural disaster, man-made catastrophe, and its own kind. Survive all three in one go to clear.
According to Yun Hexian's estimation, *Fruit Slicer* would likely reward a blade as a Forbidden Artifact, *Vegetable vs. Zombies* might reward vegetables, and *Wild Dog Simulator* might give him a wild dog?
Puzzled, Yun Hexian immediately clicked on *Fruit Slicer*. "Come on! I’m going to grind through this tonight!"