Chapter 92 - 92: What does it mean by ‘a prodigal who returns?
In the backyard of Lai Fu Restaurant, Lu Xun said to Lin Chan, “From today onwards, stay here.”
Given that Lin Chan now held a Blue Title, Lu Xun was worried she might attract unwanted attention from players. She wasn’t one to speak up, and her timid nature could potentially invite trouble.
Lin Chan nodded obediently, conforming to her beautiful master’s wishes.
“In the meantime, practice here by yourself. I need to step out,” Lu Xun told Lin
Chan.
Without Shen Yan hindering her, Lu Xun believed that Lin Chan might even become a self-taught expert.
The book “Qi Consumption Technique” from his second senior sister contained exhaustive details. There was no need for him to point out anything. Besides, he wasn’t even sure what to point out.
As far as understanding “Qi Consumption Technique”, Lu Xun was as clueless as one could get.
The moon hung high in the night sky.
Walking amidst the deserted streets under the cover of the night, Lu Xun, in his bamboo hat, didn’t attract as much attention, and the rate of double-takes decreased a notch.
However, for players, he was still perceptible, shining like a spotlight, with three purple question marks floating over his head.
Dressed in a black robe and clutching an ancient and simple sword sheath, he appeared as an emblem of the Purple Palace.
When the public beta launch, Lu Xun mused, probably some novice players would mimic his attire…
As he thought and walked, Lu Xun involuntarily frowned, the event he had foreseen had occurred.
Having been in “Heavenly Dust” for so long in his previous life, coupled with his persona as the Explosive Temper Great Cane Hero, he undoubtedly harbored a myriad of nemeses.
Although Lu Xun has always been a Lone Ranger, his exceptional “Charisma” has managed to both attract and repel countless players.
Even though only 1000 spots are available for the beta testing, over half are allocated to various major guilds and professional clubs. It’s inevitable that some individuals who bear grudges against Lu Xun would be part of the lot.
Liu Huangsu, the player standing in front of Lu Xun, didn’t possess a good relationship with him, but it was nothing personal—Lu Xun simply disliked the guild he belonged to.
This player was named Liu Huangsu, yes, it’s him again. He was a high-ranking player from a major guild.
Lu Xun bore no particular memories about this individual as their paths seldom crossed. His feelings of distaste were directed towards the guild he belonged to — the Emperor Guild.
If Lu Xun was correct, Liu Huangsu, was indeed a high-level member of the
Emperor Guild, a bit of information he was aware of. It was said that Liu Huangsu was an expert in the art of fawning over NPCs and pestering them, making him a skilled player at triggering hidden quests.
Once, Lu Xun had accepted a task from this guild. However, due to specific reasons, they parted ways. The vice president of their guild had a partial blame owing to his odd and offensive speech, but that was fine since not all dealings can end amicably.
But the vice president had a nearly passive-aggressive way of speaking, and
his blend of insults and mockery made him a high-level keyboard warrior that was rather annoying.
But who was Lu Nun? He was generous! The most he would do was seize an opportunity to screw them over behind their backs while maintaining an air of innocence on the surface.
As a matter of fact, he did manage to sabotage the Emperor Guild several times in the past, getting away with it unnoticed and leaving him extremely satisfied.
However, because of the distasteful impression left by the guild’s vice president, Lu Xun never considered the Emperor Guild again. After all, there was no justification in making them look cool and feel good.
But Liu Huangsu certainly didn’t think that way. When he suddenly spotted Purple Palace, he thought — the golden opportunity has arrived!
Missing out on the blue title NPC didn’t matter as he ran into the biggest opportunity! If he latched onto Lu Xun, he would reach the zenith of his life!
Identified as a famous sycophant, he believed it was time to flaunt his skills!
The moon hung high in the sky while the night wind brushed against his face.
Lu Xun weaved through several lanes, eventually finding himself in a dark, deserted alley.
He deliberately slowed down his pace so that Liu Huangsu could keep up.
Lu Xun shot him a glance, mentally noting, “Carrying a heavy sword, are you? Must have cost you a dime, kiddo!”
As a Non-swordbearer, if you carry a sword around Lu Xun, you’re practically asking to be toyed with.
The moment Liu Huangsu stepped into the alley, the man in the bamboo hat, Lu Xun, turned around.
In the instant he turned, his right hand, kept behind his back, lightly flicked, causing the tiny sword in Sword Heart to quiver slightly.
A gust of autumn wind passed, lifting a corner of the gauzy material on his bamboo hat. Liu Huangsu, carrying a heavy sword, strode into the alley, and was met with a sudden about-face from Purple Palace and his cold gaze.
Just one look…
—And he was flung backwards!
What the hell! Just one look from Purple Palace, and I’m flying through the air!?
He rolled a few times on the ground, emanating clouds of dust. That was still secondary—the main issue was the shock in his heart!
What immense power did the Purple Palace possess?!
Just one look from him, and I was uncontrollably flung back, as if my life and death hinged on his whim!
No, not whim—it hinged on a solitary glance!
Lu Xun had flung Liu Huangsu’s heavy sword away along with his body.
Looking down on Liu Huangsu, he adjusted his Favorability, causing it to drop by fifty points directly.
“[Ding! Mysterious Person ??? (Purple level), Favorability towards you -50!]”
“[Note: Low Favorability could lead to a high chance of retaliation from the NPC!]”
With a puzzled expression, Liu Huangsu thought, what have I done for it to drop by fifty points of Favorability?!
I didn’t do anything! I just trailed him a bit. Why would he take revenge on me?!
Could it be like the rumors amongst players: that some NPCs who act on whims are like sponges, hard one moment and soft the next?
Didn’t I use to be really good at triggering hidden quests when I play other games?!
The man with the bamboo hat, Lu Xun, glanced at him coldly once more and then continued his leisurely stroll.
“Thud, thud, thud…” His footfalls echoed like drumbeats, causing Liu Huangsu’s heart to race.
Soon, he watched in dismay as Purple Palace walked away, disappearing from his sight as he turned a corner at the end of the alley.
“Huff, Huff, Huff…” Liu Huangsu panted heavily, thinking that this game is just too damn hard!
First, being thrown out of the restaurant, and then almost killing him with a glance, is he playing the game wrong?
He didn’t dare to stay in Qingling City any longer, feeling that the NPCs in this city were unfriendly to him!
Instead, he should actually be feeling relieved. After all, the vice president of his guild only criticized Lu Xun through gossip, and Lu Xun had already retaliated behind their backs. So, today he was simply shaking him off rather than killing him instantly.
Lu Xun hadn’t killed any annoying players in quite some time and actually felt a slight itch to do so now.
However, he was now a major star in “Heavenly Dust” and had a reputation to protect. It was best to maintain his mysterious image and not let others get a read on his character.
Under the moonlight, Lu Xun walked at a leisurely pace, occasionally squatting to play with a small turtle by the roadside.
Sitting on the steps, he tapped the turtle’s shell gently, lifting his gaze to the moon and reminiscing about his vibrant past life.
“Looking back, I guess I was kind of a wild one in when I was playing ‘Heavenly Dust’,” he murmured to himself.
Now that he was reborn, it seemed like a second chance from the heavens to choose his lifestyle.
Lu Xun quickly made his decision:
Once a wild one, always a…
wild one.