Chapter 476: Echo

Beichen also glanced at him, just as Cheng Shuili disliked Qin Wen, a hint of dislike showing in his eyes, he frowned and explained: "Chen Huan's first appearance should have happened after the global server merge, he……"

The "he" she was referring to was Chang Bai.

"This instance was arranged too roughly, which is why you came into contact with bringing up this instance so early. The resulting personnel deaths we deeply regret, but death cannot be reset, and we have found no remedy."

She spoke sincerely, but Cheng Shuili grew impatient: "So… why did you drag the two of us here?"

Zhinü smiled and replied: "Of course it's for commendation! And… let this guy apologize to you."

The "guy" she was referring to was also Chang Bai.

Cheng Shuili's gaze finally shifted to Chang Bai, who still kept his head down, his fingers digging hard into the leather cover of the notebook, almost sinking in.

"An apology?" Cheng Shuili's voice lacked inflection, making it unclear whether he was accepting or questioning.

"Yes." Zhinü's voice remained soft: "No matter how you look at it, this instance shouldn't have appeared here. As the sole responsible system for the instance and related economic matters, this scribe, namely Chang Bai, bears unavoidable responsibility. And you… are the meritorious heroes who ended this instance; without you, the number of player deaths would have increased greatly. So, we will commend you."

"As for the apology…" Zhinü showed an expression of vindicated grievance, speaking earnestly: "He has made too many mistakes at work, which have also affected you and your created faction, Black Feather."

Chang Bai's shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.

Only then did Cheng Shuili understand what the so-called targeting actually meant.

Back then, it was exactly her using a bug to rack up millions in debt, while this Chang Bai was mainly in charge of the economy… Knowing this, Chang Bai's resentful gaze was understandable.

After all, Cheng Shuili's bug that racked up millions in debt would be a nightmare that haunts anyone in charge of the economy even in their dreams.

Moreover, this instance……

Cheng Shuili suddenly felt that Chang Bai was somewhat pitiable.

Beichen's voice pulled Cheng Shuili's thoughts back: "The reason Zhinü gave for commendation is just one part. As the first team to finish this instance, according to normal procedure, you should have received extra rewards."

"Rewards?" Cheng Shuili caught that keyword, his tone still flat, showing no excitement: "What kind of rewards?"

Qin Wen, however, could no longer hold back, her eyes sparkling as she asked: "Any divine weapons? Or a huge amount of supplies? Or… just give us some invincible item to play with?"

Tian Lang's hand covering Chang Bai's mouth seemed to tighten a bit more; Chang Bai struggled until his face turned red, but he could only let out a faint "wu wu" sound.

Zhinü covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her eyes conveying the meaning: "Look, this is a normal reaction."

Beichen did not answer directly, but raised her hand again, the heavy book hovering above her palm and slowly opening.

The pages were not paper inscribed with text, but strange patterns flowing with faint blue light, like countless tiny runes flickering within.

"The rewards are not designated by us, nor chosen by you."

Beichen explained, her gaze fixed on the pages: "Chen Huan will generate a corresponding echo based on the nature of the concluding act itself, its scope, and the executor… that is, your traits or needs. This echo is your reward."

As her words fell, the light on the pages suddenly intensified, two thin streams of light separating from it, like living swimming snakes, they hovered in midair for a moment, then shot straight toward Cheng Shuili and Qin Wen.

Qin Wen instinctively wanted to dodge, but Cheng Shuili remained motionless, calmly watching the light enter his chest.

Seeing Wuya Lao Da not move, Qin Wen gritted her teeth and stood firm, allowing another stream of light to enter her body.

There was no expected intense pain or warm current, only a barely perceptible tremor.

After a moment, that cluster of light emerged again.

Cheng Shuili didn't know why she raised her hand; the cluster of light swirled on her palm for a moment, then elongated into the shape of a long sword, shortly after solidifying and gently landing in her palm.

It was a long sword.

The blade was straight and narrow, its whole body showing an odd deep red, not like the blazing brightness of burning flames, but more like the unextinguished ember within metal during quenching, or semi-solidified dark magma.

This deep red flowed along the blade's edge, extremely faint, as if a river of inexhaustible lava were sealed within the blade's interior.

The hilt and guard were pure black, icy to the touch, forming a stark cold‑hot contrast with the deep‑red blade.

The guard's shape was unusually simple, just two slightly raised arcs protecting the hand; the sword bore no extra decoration, yet exuded a grave and dangerous aura.

Cheng Shuili's fingers lightly brushed the icy hilt, then she gripped it.

The deep red on the blade brightened slightly for an instant, then returned to normal. A strange feeling traveled up the hilt to her palm, as if she and the long sword had established…

a connection.

Cheng Shuili felt it carefully; indeed, it was a connection.

Truly amazing.

At the same time, the echo light cluster before Qin Wen also completed its transformation.

It was… a dagger.

Cheng Shuili: "……"

She glanced at Beichen with some doubt.

This person spoke so grandly; Cheng Shuili really thought it was some kind of blind box—why did everything that came out turn out to be weapons?

Beichen seemed to see through Cheng Shuili's thoughts, closing the book and explaining: "It should be because the first echo appeared too early…"

Saying this, she glanced at Chang Bai with the corner of her eye, as if blaming him for not doing his job well.

"Your strength is still too weak, so the echo automatically chose weapons."

Cheng Shuili reluctantly accepted this explanation.

Meanwhile, Qin Wen…

She had already grown fond of the dagger in her hand, no longer caring whether it was a blind box or not.

Actually, Cheng Shuili also quite liked this new sword; it's different from the weapons she previously bought in the Beast‑Person Village, and at a glance this sword is anything but ordinary!

Zhinü seemed pleased with Qin Wen's expression, smiling and saying: "Besides the echo, there's also a global server announcement. I will emphasize your contributions in the announcement, and also highlight how many people you saved this time."

Cheng Shuili didn't care much about these.

Because she had been announced in the global server far too many times.

Qin Wen's eyes, however, flashed bright, a suspicious blush even rising on her face; she strained the corners of her mouth to keep from laughing too extravagantly, merely nodding repeatedly, an eager "hurry up, don't delay" demeanor.