Chapter 402: Target

The letter has already been sent out, but faster than the Rat King was the 8 a. m. server‑wide announcement.

The announcement this time was still made by the Weaver Girl; her distinctive voice and tone are such that anyone who has heard her even once will never mistake it.

【Good morning, I'm not happy to see everyone.】

As if anyone would be glad to see her.

【When announcing the Instance on Saturday, I forgot to inform everyone in advance. Although that's my fault, no one knows this news, so everyone is still on the same starting line, which means it's not really a fault.】

The wording was a bit convoluted; after Cheng Shuili figured out what she meant, she thought: "???"

The other players, just woken up and rubbing their eyes while listening to the announcement, responded: "???"

Opinions on the Weaver Girl surely vary among players, but there is one surprisingly unanimous comment: "This system is sick, right?"

【Now all of you players must be cursing me, right?】

Weaver Girl giggled twice, and in a matter‑of‑fact tone said: 【Hold on, everyone, perk up your ears.】

【There is only one piece of news to announce this morning—oh no, you could say there are two. Regardless of how many, I urge you to listen carefully to what I'm about to say.】

Cheng Shuili wore a serious expression; although she didn't think the Weaver Girl could deliver any earth‑shattering news, she is the type to heed advice.

And since she's already listening, she'll of course listen attentively.

Many players share this view, but for some reason they've been mildly coughing since last night; now coughing while listening to the Weaver Girl's announcement, they inevitably miss some words and frantically ask other players for the transcript in the regional channel.

"Friends, we've been through thick and thin together for so long; I've been coughing lately, and after coughing for a while my temples are swollen and my hearing has noticeably dropped. Is there any Chinese‑to‑Chinese translator? Come tell us what the Weaver Girl said."

"Coughing? I've started coughing too. It's only today; I didn't have these symptoms before!"

"Me too! Since getting up this morning my throat has been itchy and a big lump appeared on my face; if there weren't a mirror in the car, I'd definitely have to take a good look at what's going on."

"So where are the Chinese translation volunteers?"

"Got 'em, got 'em! Friends, I was a translator in a past life, don't worry, I'll post the text in the regional channel the moment the Weaver Girl finishes speaking, serving everyone who can't hear this damn system's words!"

"Alright!!!"

A chorus of cheers followed, and Cheng Shuili stopped reading further.

Compared to the absurdity of Chinese‑to‑Chinese translation, she cared more about the coughing.

After thinking it over, she posted a message in the Black Feather Group Chat:

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: Anyone coughing, react with 1.

All members of Black Feather knew this week's disaster was a plague and vaguely understood what coughing signified, so there was almost no concealment; replies sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain.

"1. I stayed up late and did a midnight grind yesterday; I woke up coughing, thought I'd caught a cold, but didn't expect so many people to be coughing."

"111! This is really weird—coughing nonstop, yet my health hasn't dropped at all, so am I in the disease's incubation period now?"

"1. Incubation period? Honestly, I don't think many will slip out; after the incubation ends the disease will manifest. Those that become contagious usually don't kill outright. Black Feather has a hospital and medical supplies, and Lao Da has plenty of strength and means, so no need to worry."

That was a slick statement; Cheng Shuili glanced at the ID—it was Ice Americano, so it wasn't surprising.

The words clearly encouraged many, and those who reacted with 1 became noticeably more active in their replies.

After a moment, the messages stopped scrolling.

Cheng Shuili counted, and only twelve people were currently showing symptoms, and these people were almost all recruited for some particular talent.

Those who met Black Feather's attribute requirements and were physically robust showed essentially no abnormalities.

Cheng Shuili thought for a moment, then mixed a drop of the golden liquid from the Eternal Life Bottle into a bottle of mineral water.

Though the liquid in the Eternal Life Bottle was scant, its concentration seemed extremely high; even after mixing with a bottle of mineral water, a faint golden hue could be seen in the water.

Cheng Shuili shook it a few times, ensured it was evenly mixed, then called Ice Americano and entered Black Feather's territory carrying the mineral water bottle.

Ice Americano is a young girl in her early twenties, wearing black‑rimmed glasses, her complexion a bit pale, occasionally covering her mouth with a light cough.

Seeing the mineral water bottle in Cheng Shuili's hand, she instantly understood, her eyes brightening as she asked, "Lao Da, what is this…?"

"Pour it out little by little and drink slowly," Cheng Shuili handed the bottle to her, "let's see how much is needed to take effect."

Ice Americano solemnly took the bottle, immediately fetched a clean cup, and carefully poured out the faint golden liquid from the bottle cap.

She first sipped a small mouthful herself, closing her eyes to feel it.

"How is it?" Cheng Shuili asked concernedly.

Ice Americano opened her eyes, exclaiming with delight, "My throat feels so much better! That itchy feeling is gone."

Cheng Shuili remained silent, watching her take a few more sips before asking, "How is it?"

"It's completely gone!" Ice Americano's eyes shone; the look she gave Cheng Shuili was as if seeing a deity. In that moment, in her heart, Lao Da was no different from an immortal.

Cheng Shuili didn't focus on her; she stared at the faint golden mineral water, estimating how many people this would be enough for.

No need for extensive calculation; even if this bottle can only fill the cap fifty times, the water is enough to cure fifty people.

Three drops equal 150 people!

If she adds a single energy stone to the trade terms, this venture that hasn't even started will be a guaranteed profit.

Cheng Shuili, having done the math, lifted her chin and told Ice Americano to distribute the mineral water to the other infected members.

No matter what's happening outside, internal matters must be resolved first.

Ice Americano would certainly understand the intentions of her own Lao Da.

Not only did she handle everything flawlessly, she also gave a brief description of the effect in the group chat, stabilizing morale and emphasizing that the item came from Cheng Shuili.

For a moment, the Black Feather Group Chat was filled with sycophantic praise for Lao Da, making Cheng Shuili's mouth corner involuntarily lift.

Leading a team means treating members well; that way, when she later needs them to fight desperately, she won't feel any guilt as a leader.

Cheng Shuili lives up to everyone.

While she was acting, the Weaver Girl's announcement never stopped.

【The first matter is to be carried out right now.】

【Merge Server Announcement!】

【Effective immediately, all major regions will no longer have any sub‑regions, meaning players who were in the same sub‑region can now communicate freely! After the merge, the total population will be determined by the surviving numbers of each major region!】

This rumor had long existed in District 12; wasn't it because of this news that the boss of Long Hun gradually swelled up and was finally wiped out by Wuya Dalao?

Although this was just a rumor, many people believed it to be true.

After all, Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji really did kill the boss of Long Hun, and it was also the Long Hun boss who provoked first; without knowing this news, where would he have gotten the guts?

Therefore, while the news caused a major stir in other districts, here in District 12 there were only some small-scale discussions.

"After the merger, there won't be any district rankings, right?"

"Is the system just trying to cut costs? Before, there were so many districts, each with its own ranking; after the merger, we only need one ranking, and the ranking rewards would be just one—does that really make sense?"

"It's just stingy! And still talking about saving costs? Who would buy that?"

"It doesn't matter; we weren't on the ranking before, and we definitely won't be after the merger."

"I actually think the merger is a good thing; although we've been struggling to survive for so long, before, in each district everyone just looked out for themselves, with no basis for unity. After the merger, once the situation in each major region becomes clear, we ordinary players might even get some official benefits."

"I agree too! And look at the names of the forces behind those who made it onto the major region ranking—Great Wall Guard! Yan Huang! Just saying them makes my face glow; isn't that an official title?"

"But don't get your hopes up too high; after all, the situation is different now. If the officials can't even take care of themselves, how would they have the energy to manage us scattered troops?"

"You can't say that; at least after the merger, information flows more conveniently. This kind of thing that benefits everyone, the officials would definitely not keep it to themselves."

"Great Wall Guard, Yan Huang, Long Yin… hearing them really does sound like a regular army."

"If we could ally with them, that would be great; following a regular army is surely better than our current hand-to-mouth existence."

Just as everyone was discussing heatedly, Zhi Nu's voice sounded again, carrying a hint of delight from a successful prank:

"It seems everyone is quite interested in the merger. However, I suggest you first pay attention to this disaster. This time, the disaster affecting the whole server is the same—plague!"

"But," Zhi Nu deliberately drew out her tone, "This plague has a special feature: it will produce completely different effects on players of different physiques."

The regional channel exploded instantly:

"What does that mean? Will people with poor physique die faster?"

"I've already started running a fever, help!"

Zhi Nu chuckled and continued: "As for which attributes will produce which situations, you'll have to explore that yourselves; all I can remind you of is just one point…"

She deliberately paused, whetting everyone's appetite.

"Players with high physique who get infected will not only not lose attributes, but may even obtain antibodies, permanently increasing their physique by 5 points!"

This news was like pouring a ladle of cold water into hot oil, and the regional channel immediately boiled over:

"What?! It can be like that?"

"This isn't fair! We with poor physique already struggle to survive, and now you're adding insult to injury?"

"I finally understand why those factions demand attribute points—this time, attribute points are truly a matter of life and death."

"Damn, I'm doomed! My other attributes are fine, but my physique is still under 40 points; if I slip up even a little, isn't that game over?"

As the players lamented in the regional channel, Zhi Nu's voice sounded again:

"And one last point… the plague is extremely contagious. Hmm, let me see—there's a newly appeared safe zone, right? Called Black Feather. Oh, everyone, during the plague it's best not to enter safe zones—these crowded, densely packed public areas—especially those with average physique… absolutely do not go in."

Cheng Shuili heard this and her eyes turned cold instantly.

Zhi Nu's words seemed like a reminder, but were actually a blatant targeting!

The members of Black Feather had been happily listening to the announcement, but upon hearing this they immediately flared up.

"What does that mean? Public areas aren't just ours, Black Feather! Beastman Small Town! Trading Post! These long-standing safe zones— which of them doesn't have lots of people?"

"She only singled us out! This Zhi Nu is clearly targeting us!"

"Why? Who among us has provoked her?"

"Don't dwell on where this malice comes from; we just need to know who's the enemy and who's the friend."

That was well said; Cheng Shuili couldn't help but agree a bit when she saw it.

The regional channel also started discussing because of Zhi Nu's remark.

"Is Zhi Nu calling out Black Feather?"

"Could Black Feather have offended the system?"

"Although Zhi Nu might be targeting Black Feather, during the plague it's indeed a well‑meaning reminder to avoid crowded places—especially for us with poor physique, going there would be suicide, right?"

"That's true, but just singling out Black Feather makes it hard not to suspect that Black Feather offended the system."

"Black Feather… uh, let's just say Wu Ya. Did Wu Ya offend the system again, hahaha? It feels like Wuya Dalao is still too strong—this is also a manifestation of Wu Ya's strength, right?"

"Last time they made the system angry and sent a server‑wide announcement, warning her; now Zhi Nu is targeting them again… huh, wait, could this be the same thing? Because of that previous server‑wide announcement, is that why Black Feather is being called out this time?"

Cheng Shuili herself: "……"

The system wouldn't be that petty, would it?

It's just a debt of six million, and she's already paid back over a million; she's not trying to be a deadbeat, so is it really worth this level of targeting?

But if this is interest…

Cheng Shuili smiled; she allowed it!

She allowed the system to take this covert revenge!

Zhi Nu didn't know what Cheng Shuili was thinking; when she made the announcement she suddenly mentioned Black Feather, only because her good friend Tai Bai asked her to.

Even Tai Bai, with dark circles under his eyes, went to the broadcast room with Zhi Nu just to hear this announcement!

Zhi Nu manages all announcements and the broadcast system, while Tai Bai manages the circulation of trade and game currency throughout the world.

Because Wu Ya… had incurred an unclear debt of several tens of millions, Tai Bai struggled to recover the excess game currency, but the new‑user protection only lasts half a year at most, and what has already taken effect cannot be reclaimed!

Despite his best efforts to make up for it, there remains a six‑million shortfall that cannot be filled.

Tai Bai, therefore…

He sighed, his gaze lingering as he looked toward Zhi Nu in the broadcast room.

Only when he heard Zhi Nu say the two words "Black Feather" did he finally break into a smile.