Yao Si figured out why all the players called Qu Ze Running Qu—every time a player saw him, their first reaction would be to draw their weapons and attack him, while his only reaction would be to run hysterically, avoiding all the attacks. However, she couldn’t understand the level of hatred they held for him, to the point that team ‘Kill Running Qu’ seemed to be a norm around there.

Yao Si had intended to retaliate at first, but despite her capabilities, she wouldn’t be able to match up to millions of attackers!

On the hundred and first time she had avoided their attacks, her bloodling power started to falter, and she fell on the floor in exhaustion. What exactly had Qu Ze done to incur such fury?

“Aren’t we NPCs? Shouldn’t there be a resting mode?” she asked. They were in a game, so was it really alright for the NPCs to be chased with such relentlessness?

Qu Ze was too exhausted to respond. Instead, Bai Yi volunteered, “Your Highness, this is a real-life game. Even though there is a program installed, it’s different from the awareness web. There isn’t a chance for revival, and this applies to NPCs as well.”

“Which means that if we die here we really die?”

“Yes.”

F*ck! If everything here is real, why did they even call it a game? She felt like beating someone up again!

After taking several deep breaths, she finally calmed down and turned to glare at Qu Ze who was panting like a dog. “Speak, why did you kidnap me here? It couldn’t just be to take revenge against me, or to have me experience the game life, right?”

It definitely wasn’t possible with his intelligence. It didn’t make sense for him to take revenge against her when she had Mu Xuan as her support.

“Ah, Your Highness, could you stop doubting my sincere heart.” Qu Ze turned to look at her, the cheeky smile still plastered on his face. “I really missed you…”

Yao Si sent a punch his way.

“Alright.” He altered his words hurriedly, shielding his face subconsciously. “I just wanted Your Highness to help me out on a small matter.”

“You want my help?” Yao Si stilled. Are we that close?

“It’s like this.” Qu Ze coughed, swapping his cheeky smile with a solemn expression. “I used the past two years to understand Nirvana’s map and experienced the game’s NPC and player roles.”

He seemed to have thought of something, for he coughed loudly to shield his thoughts. Heh, she could already imagine how he had experienced being a player.

“Not long ago, I found a hidden area on this planet. There is a formula that allows me to reset the program hidden there. Your Highness, you probably aren’t aware of it, but I seem to have run into some trouble on this planet… So this lifeline that allows me to reset the program is crucial! With the formula, I won’t be Running Qu anymore.”

“You mean…” Yao Si’s lips twitched. “You brought me all the way here from the First Academy just to help you get your formula?”

“That’s right, Your Highness! You’re so intelligent!” He stuck his thumb up in encouragement.

“Get lost!” I would need to be dumb to believe that. “Afterall, you’re still a thirteenth generation bloodling. How can you not be able to deal with a simple formula in a game? Besides, you could get someone else, so why bring me here from such a faraway place?”

“I didn’t have a choice, since I’m unable to enter that place.” Qu Ze didn’t seem to feel the least bit guilty as he continued, “That area is hidden behind a special mental barrier surrounding the area. I once announced a program mission for players to try and had even gotten NPC to try, but not one of them succeeded. I have no idea how to deal with that area.” He turned to glance at her, his eyes aglow.”Since the mental strength in our race is the strongest within those who are the oldest… There aren’t many bloodlings that have a stronger mental strength than me hence… the first person that came to mind was you, Your Highness.”

Indeed, since he was a thirteenth generation bloodling, the only ones with higher status than him was her and Mu Xuan. He didn’t dare to approach Mu Xuan, so he came for her?

“Hehe…” Yao Si glanced at him with a smile. “Not going!”

“Your Highness…” He placed his palms together and looked at her full of expectation. “Pretty please! You just have to enter the hidden map, and I promise to send you back to the Red Planet the moment after.”

“Back to Red Planet?” Yao Si rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you just mention that we have to wait a month before we can contact the service staff?”

“Yes, that’s the normal procedure.”

“You have another solution?”

“Of course, I have been here for a few years after all. I’m experienced!”

“Heh… Do you think I’ll believe you?” After being tricked so many times, she would rather believe in ghosts than in him!

“I swear on the bloodling ancestor.” Qu Ze straightened abruptly, his right hand covering his heart. In a solemn voice Yao Si had never heard from him, he recited, “I, Qu Ze, will go to any lengths to protect the safety of Your Highness, even if it takes my life.”

Yao Si remained unconvinced. She wanted to run her mouth once more, but she heard Bai Yi take in a sharp breath while looking at Qu Ze in shock.

Was something wrong?

“Do you really believe him?” Yao Si asked.

“But… Your Highness, he made a blood oath”

Blood oath, what’s that?

“Your Highness.” Bai Yi seemed troubled as he elaborated. “Bloodlings’ oaths on the ancestor can never be taken back.”

Even it was just an oath? Was it really that serious? She had never thought that bloodlings were superstitious…

Yao Si had no faith in such an oath, especially when it came from Qu Ze.

“Your Highness, the hidden map is here.” Sensing her hesitation, Qu Ze hurriedly added, “Which means as long as we enter the map, regardless of whether they were players or NPC, anyone outside would not be able to find us.”

Yao Si frowned, picturing a scene with aggressive attackers. Heading to the hidden map didn’t seem like that bad of an idea. Besides, it was better than getting chased by a whole planet of enemies.

In the end, she relented, agreeing to head over to the ‘hidden area’. She decided to first take a look, though. Somehow, she had her reservations about Qu Ze’s suggestion.

“That’s great, Your Highness. Come, come, come. Let’s first prepare ourselves. The hidden area is rather far away, so we might encounter a few small bosses.” Qu Ze smiled radiantly while pulling out a few defensive mechanisms from his storage bag and tossing over a blue sword to her.

Yao Si glanced at it. The sword had a row of words on it: Imperial Heaven Sword. There was even a date behind.

“…” She suddenly wasn’t curious about the sword’s origins.

–

Qu Ze was right. The hidden area was indeed far away. Only after passing through several transportation portals and avoiding a group of players did they finally reach a deserted forest.

With Qu Ze’s equipment, they no longer looked as haggard as before.

“We’re here!” Qu Ze lowered his head to glance at the map in his hands. “The hidden area I marked previously is right in front of us.”

Yao Si turned toward the forest. Ahead of them was a massive green structure. It wasn’t tall, with only about two or three floors. Hidden within the forest, it seemed like part of the forest.

There was a small path with rows of ancient pillars lining its sides. Next to them, red, white, and purple flowers were blooming. All of them looked to have been nurtured with someone’s effort.

Just as Yao Si was about to head over, Bai Yi took a step, walking straight into a pillar.

“What are you doing?!” Yao Si hurriedly grabbed for his hand, but while she spoke, Qu Ze walked head first into a pillar. His action was followed by a loud thud.

“Are you blind?” Yao Si mocked. “How could you walk straight into a pillar?”

“Pillar? What pillar?” Bai Yi turned to her in confusion.

“Obviously it’s the row of them ahead of us…” Yao Si stilled, her eyes going wide. “Can’t you see it?”

Bai Yi was still a face of confusion, but Qu Ze headed over to hera in excitement, forgetting about the bruise on his head. “The mental barrier here indeed has no effect on Your Highness!” He grabbed onto her excitedly. “Your Highness, what do you see?”

“A pillar… A house.” Yao Si pointed ahead of them. “You really can’t see it?” It was directly in front of them.

“All I can see is a tree,” Bai Yi replied.

“It’s going to be easy now that you can see. It means that Your Highness’ mental strength is greater than that of the one who made this barrier, thus rendering the illusion ineffective.” Qu Ze frowned. “Your Highness, can your mental strength be brought out externally?”

“Ehh…” Yao Si froze, recalling a certain country treasure. Could she say no?

“Your Highness, can you give your mental strength a tangible form so we can carry it around? This would allow us to see as well.”

“Are you sure?”

“Your Highness, please!” He nodded, and even Bai Yi looked at her in anticipation.

Yao Si was speechless. Biting down on her lip to spread the mental strength, she morphed it into something tangible, like a mahjong tile, and placed one in each of their palms.

Two bamboos and two dots. Mmh, it is indeed suitable for them.

“What’s this?” Bai Yi asked, lifting the biscuit with hunger in his eyes.

“Cough… It’s a Chinese treasure from the ancient blue planet,” Yao Si explained her nonsense seriously. Clearly, before her was a child that didn’t patronize museums. “It’s normal that you youngsters aren’t aware.”

“Oh!” Bai Yi nodded, his eyes brightening as he embraced the tile with an excited expression. Even though he couldn’t understand what she meant, he figured that he was holding an antique.

Even the bastard Qu Ze took several curious glances at the biscuit in his hands.

Great! What a beautiful lie! 　

╮(╯▽╰)╭

Yao Si heaved a sigh of relief.

With the help of her mental strength, Bai Yi and Qu Ze were able to see the three-story building in front of them. They exchanged glances before heading over carefully.

It was indeed a beautiful place. The flowers had a nice scent and bloomed all over the area. There were roses, lilies, lavenders… and every other flower out there! It seemed like a private garden.

The place was scenic, but somehow it gave off an ominous vibe Yao Si couldn’t explain.

“Don’t you think… it’s too quiet?” she couldn’t help asking. Near a big house and a scenic view, it would be normal to find either a BOSS or at least an NPC. However, the entire time, they hadn’t seen a single soul, neither human nor animal.

“Look over here!” Bai Yi shouted abruptly, pointing toward the back of the house.

Yao Si turned and inhaled sharply.

F*ck!