Chapter 16: Moving House

When I had no money, I could get by sleeping in the woodshed, but now that I have money I can't shortchange myself—you agree, right, La Tiao?

Squeak-squeak-squeak-squeak!

Not understanding La Tiao's chittering, Chen Shicheng assumed it fully agreed with his statement.

He glanced up at the three large characters 'Cloud-Rolling Pavilion' on the brothel, then once again strode in head high, chest out, into the abyss that caused his downfall.

This isn't just him getting arrogant because he has money.

Just now he went to the best inn in the county seat and also inquired about the prices.

The cost of food and drink here is little different from that of the brothel, with prices determined by personal choice.

There are plenty of rooms, with four options for lodgers: the worst are the backyard woodshed and the large dormitory, costing five copper and ten copper respectively; next are ordinary rooms, costing one tael of silver per night; the best are the upper rooms, costing three taels of silver per night.

However, even the best upper rooms have an environment that makes Chen Shicheng, who has stayed in brothels, complain incessantly.

To divide as many rooms as possible, the inn's walls are made of thin wooden boards with no soundproofing whatsoever—you can hear a fart from next door.

Moreover, the bedding seems not to have been properly cleaned; at first glance it looks clean, but closer inspection reveals it's covered in lint and stiff fabric stained with dried sweat.

So, after silently calculating the costs and lodging conditions of the two places, he resolutely went to the Cloud-Rolling Pavilion! Although he spent fifteen taels of silver here yesterday, ten of those were because he booked a top courtesan to listen to music.

If he didn't book a courtesan and just ate and lodged, the total expense would be basically the same as at the inn.

Thus the attendant enthusiastically greeted Chen Shicheng: 'Sir, you've come—Miao Miao has been mentioning you nonstop.'

'Yesterday it was Hong Hong, today it's Miao Miao—why do I feel like everyone knows me?' Chen Shicheng asked the attendant, amused.

'You don't know this, but Miao Miao is the courtesan you booked yesterday.' The attendant explained while summoning a maid to attend.

'She hadn't even shown her talent before you drove her away, yet she took ten taels of silver for nothing, leaving her feeling guilty—she's been wanting to dance a piece for you, sir; would you like Miao Miao to attend you tonight?'

'Never mind, I don't need her today—just find that maid from yesterday for me.'

Chen Shicheng waved his hand, refusing the attendant's suggestion, and familiarly headed toward yesterday's side room, eager to ask about the wild monsters and the mine.

The attendant never expected Chen Shicheng's tastes to be so odd—he prefers maids over top courtesans.

He gave Chen Shicheng a strange look, then immediately lowered his head and withdrew to notify yesterday's maid as requested.

Five minutes later, the side room's door opened; the maid entered with downcast eyes and closed the door behind her.

She immediately shifted back into her player demeanor, walked over to the table with a carefree air, sat opposite Chen Shicheng, and said, 'You're still hooked—are you planning to live here from now on?'

'Not exactly—I mainly have more questions I want to ask you,' Chen Shicheng hurriedly explained.

'Didn't I tell you everything yesterday? What did you forget?'

'No, that's not it.'

Chen Shicheng quickly recounted the daytime issue of the scarce wild monsters, then looked at the maid with eager anticipation, waiting for her reply.

'You encountered a dozen monsters in just three hours?' The maid stroked her chin, looking troubled. 'I'm not sure—I haven't left the city in over half a year, and I don't know the cause. If worse comes to worst, you could check the deep forest.' 'We'll talk about it later.'

Hearing the maid's answer, Chen Shicheng also felt helpless; he never expected this veteran player to endure loneliness, working half a year in the county seat's brothel.

Moreover, he didn't even bring up the mine issue, since he knows nothing about what's outside the city, let alone a mine far up in the mountains.

'By the way.' Chen Shicheng turned to the maid, 'I've bothered you for two days and still don't know your name—I'm Chen Shicheng.'

'Just call me Shuigu Tang.'

Shuigu Tang looked at Chen Shicheng with a strange expression: 'You refused to meet for a trade yesterday, and I thought you were cautious, but today you just gave me your real name?'

'You should know, the game shapes your character from your real appearance plus your real name; in reality I could find you with just a little effort.'

Damn it!!!

Chen Shicheng also didn't expect that merely giving his name would expose his location; he stared at Shuigu Tang, dumbfounded and at a loss.

If it weren't for the fact that dying in this game lets you respawn, he would genuinely want to kill her to silence her right now.

'Don't look at me like that—just pretend I didn't hear anything, and you'd better assume an alias from now on.'

Shuigu Tang gave a light laugh, rose, and left the private room, leaving Chen Shicheng alone to lament his carelessness.

Even after the ordered food and drinks were served, he couldn't forgive himself, absentmindedly picking up a few bites with chopsticks and shoving them in his mouth; having no appetite, Chen Shicheng simply lay down on the bed and logged off.

He wasn't in a hurry to withdraw his Merit Points; if nothing unexpected happened, he would be back online soon. La Tiao jumped onto him, sniffed, saw he still had breath, then lunged at the tableful of delicacies, eating its fill before curling up comfortably on Chen Shicheng's chest and closing its eyes.

Chen Shicheng opened his eyes, looked at the rental house he'd lived in for a long time, and felt reluctant to leave.

The veteran player who called herself Shuigu Tang pretended not to have heard his name, but he didn't dare believe it.

He firmly believed that once a person gains extraordinary power, they might abide by the law on the first day, remain inactive on the second, but by the third day they could very well turn into a patriotic zealot.

And as a newbie who's already leaked wealth, to a veteran who's played three years, I'm basically a big slab of fat meat! 'No way—I have to change my address immediately!'

Although changing addresses might not buy much time, Chen Shicheng believed that as long as there was even a tiny opening, he could absolutely use the pendant to overtake on the inside.

If Shuigu Tang finds me in reality, then who wins or loses is truly uncertain!

Say it, then do it.

Chen Shicheng didn't care that it was already dark; he immediately began packing his belongings.

He didn't need the appliances anyway—now that he's rich, he can replace them anytime.

He didn't need the old clothes either, for the same reason.

In the end he packed only a small suitcase.

After one last glance at the messy room, Chen Shicheng resolutely stepped into the night.

(End of chapter)