Chapter 279: Stay up late, girl, this is our lineage

After all, it's a remarkably clever fish that keeps pace with high school education; the artificial life's eyes, under the pure holy light, went 'pa' and became clear.

The hatred that had been chasing fiercely just now suddenly stopped, stood dazed in place for three seconds, then waved its limbs and swayed on the spot.

Ah?

The players hiding behind the ruins all looked bewildered, each poking out their heads, wondering what act this was again.

Could it be that this big lump of pink meat... accidentally loaded the behavior module of some comedic character from a children's show?

Ji Ming received a message from Sylvia, sighed, and waved at the players still dazed.

"I guess the boss bugged out; everyone, hurry and take the chance to hit it!"

Those busy taking screenshots and photos only then 'woke up from a dream', each grabbing various weapons and returning to battle.

At first they probed like a kitten seeing plenty of food in a bowl, but after discovering the boss truly offered no resistance, they went ahead and slaughtered it.

Amid the chaotic flying props and weapon slashes, the huge hatred let out a wail and collapsed loudly, the experience points landing in the mouth of a mage player.

The big-bearded one accompanying her readily paid the party's 'mercenary fee', exchanged a couple of pleasantries, then passed through the mining settlement's teleport array and returned to the dungeon.

After they had walked for a long time, among the players resting and preparing for the second round of the dungeon, someone suddenly blurted out a sentence.

"Hey, that big-bearded guy just now, isn't he the one the boss chased for three minutes?"

Everyone froze for a moment, then upon reflection realized it really was.

"Speaking of which, to be able to toy with that big meatball for so long, Old Tie's strength and agility must both be high."

"Indeed, I recall he was also holding a giant crossbow; just with that strength, in a top-tier guild he'd be a core-level thigh."

Hmm, core?

Big Hammer Brother had always wanted his own 'Legendary' to join the ranks of the three great powers, so naturally he wouldn't miss such a promising prospect likely to be an independent player.

He had wanted to quickly add the person as a friend and persuade them, but suddenly realized he hadn't recorded the other's ID at all, so he hurriedly grabbed an acquaintance to ask.

"Hey bro, do you still remember the ID of that big-bearded guy just now?"

Saber-carrying Xiao Ge stopped his polishing, mouth open, frozen for three seconds.

"... Oh dear, big brother, sorry, I really didn't notice."

Ah?

No choice, Big Hammer had to go ask other players, but asking one yielded no answer, asking another yielded no answer—either they hadn't noticed or hadn't remembered.

Even the Xiao Ge famed for extraordinary memory, who had successfully challenged the entire Scale Armor Tribe to recite all their names, shook his head in bewilderment.

Hearing this, Big Hammer Brother's brows furrowed like a hatred's waist swim ring, so he had no choice but to settle for asking the female mage's name.

He vaguely remembered the little girl's appearance was still quite lively, and having a wife and daughter he dared not stare; this bunch, who whenever they saw a female of any race would flock over eagerly, simply couldn't…

"Ah? You… you all don't know either?"

By now even the slowest players realized those two were problematic, and naturally linked them to that bizarre earlier bug.

A female player holding a hunting bow turned deathly pale, hesitantly whispering a sentence.

"We… we wouldn't have run into a ghost, would we?"

"Ahhhhh!!!!!!"

Before the words even finished, the burly shield soldier beside them let out a panicked shriek, his arms beginning to draw irregular circles in front of his body.

Everyone: ……

Amid the silence, Memory Brother still pushed up his glasses.

"Although anything is possible in the game… I think we might have run into staff."

Big Hammer followed his line of thought and began to speculate.

"Could it be that they wanted to test whether the game runs normally, but accidentally triggered a malignant bug?"

Memory Brother shook his head.

"That's just not clear…"

They were about to continue discussing when they simultaneously glanced at the lower-right corner of their view, because a global game announcement popped up there.

【Very sorry, the Hatred dungeon encountered a malignant bug during the open test preparations; it has been urgently fixed, and the stage will be back online within ten minutes】

Besides that, each of the few players who directly faced the 'bug' also received twenty compensation points, likely hush money.

The announcement had been made and compensation given; Ji Ming thought the matter would just be blown over like that, but…

Who cares about compensation and announcements; everyone's eyes could only see those two words—'Open Test'!

That word immediately stirred a huge commotion in the real world, almost instantly occupying the front-page headlines of the global internet.

Major news outlets and self-media went wild, various speculations and reports presented solemnly, as if they were the second and third sons of the Great Holy Seat, so filial that they could even know what the master of all spirits had for lunch just from hearing a fart.

Those streamers and celebrities who failed to get into the internal test were even more eager, wishing that every future post they made on the microblog with a black x would carry the hashtag #Code Name Yangyue#, desperately trying to rub the heat onto themselves.

Netizens also were astonished to discover that the few who usually loved to cry poverty in their Feixin groups immediately posted screenshots of their ordered helmets, some even getting so excited as to expose their full names, phone numbers, and addresses.

【Holy shit, box!】

【Withdrawal useless, bro, I've already booked tickets; tonight remember to open the door for me】

【Bro, why is your name so effeminate? You wouldn't be a male daughter lacking Jiebao, would you?】

But besides this surface-level hustle and bustle, countless associations and organizations behind the scenes also began emergency meetings.

"In short, based on the current rich, diverse, solid, and accurate evidence, we have enough confidence to conclude that the so-called 'Code Name Yangyue' is actually another world; now everyone may voice their opinions."

"First, I agree with your idea and also support the decision to continue increasing investment, but my question is: are the people providing this evidence reliable?"

"... They're our people."

"Understood."

——

"Don't listen to that sleepy bug; he doesn't even know how to step down from the stage after a lecture—believe me, nobody understands virtual reality games better than I do."

"Everyone knows my judgment has never been wrong; I dare guarantee they, they are already considering how to divide the benefits of Yangyue World, but our proposal is still being kicked around in the council, we, uh, are very likely to fall behind."

No need to be afraid, kids. I see your expressions might not be happy; I understand. In fact, I understand your excitement, but what I want to say is that I'm really glad to tell you here that, no matter what they think, I will try to develop Yangyue World in my own way.

Because of a peaceful life, stable work, including the joy of playing games when we return home at night, this is the happiness bestowed upon us by the Lord, a heaven‑given right. We will strive tirelessly to defend our rights……maga!

——

Prime Minister, are you aware that the public test for 'Code Name: Yangyue' is about to begin?

In fact, MI6 hasn't sent me the news yet, so… fortunately I subscribed to today's Times, so I already know. What's the matter?

What I mean is, shouldn't we take some action? We are, after all, the… royal family.

Um… actually, Bernard, to clean up the curry smell on the whole street we've already spent all the extra budget, so…

Everyone has gone.

Ah! Everyone has gone? This… right! We still have the money from just selling the aircraft carrier, which is perfect for investing, and besides, I don't want to smell curry again.

Okay, I'll work out a plan… so do I need to inform our allies about this?

Allies? Ha, Bernard, how could you have such an idea? I'm sure they already know by the time we finish speaking.

——

This is a crucial moment to demonstrate our international influence; having experienced the failure of the World Expo, we cannot afford to fail again. Please give the order, Mr. President!

I'm busy… damn it, what's the use of telling me this? Go ask the madam! Wait… she'll probably be back from White Eagle tomorrow morning…

……

Why isn't anyone speaking? Did I not make myself clear enough?!

Ugh ah ah ah! Seba! How can we make good pickles with someone like you, a worm? Death to the traitor! Death to the traitor!

Wait a minute, brother, that word… ah, it's not that we're with you, don't act impulsively, don't pull that hook! (voice cracks)

Um, it exploded.

It really exploded…

However, no matter how big the commotion on Earth, it couldn't reach Yangyue World. After walking out of the iron ore cave, Ji Ming and AdaiEr returned to the Forge Workshop once again.

AdaiEr glanced at the map Ji Ming had given her and saw that, clearly, every place marked had been visited, yet there was one spot nearby that seemed to have been deliberately skipped.

What, you found a place I didn't bring you to? Of course, because there's something very important there that I want to show you.

Saying that, Ji Ming grabbed AdaiEr's shoulder, activated unrestricted teleportation, and in a flash arrived at the player arena.

Although in terms of scale this Roman‑style building is not as large as the one in the mole‑den, rising abruptly on the open plain it is still impressive enough to make anyone stop and stare in awe.

Looks good, right? Whenever we get the chance we can bring you in to have a look, and the Pioneers' martial virtue is all forged in there.

After walking a small semicircle around the arena, Ji Ming led her into the training grounds surrounding it, where he saw a small two‑story building among several shooting ranges.

The building's shape is square and odd‑looking, and the text on the sign is even stranger…

Training ground staff dormitory?

She lifted her head and glanced; AdaiEr felt her heart pounding, and she vaguely guessed why the doctor had brought her here.

All right, AdaiEr, first calm your emotions, stand firm and steady.

What… what are you doing?

There's great news, you need to get mentally ready… are you ready? Then I'll open the door.

Creak~

Looking at what was behind the door, AdaiEr widened her eyes and couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

What?

This isn't… huh?

Ji Ming glanced too and was equally bewildered; he simply went out to check around and discovered that there really was nobody here!

Weird, wasn't I supposed to have been notified earlier…

But just then, a door opening sound suddenly came from behind them, along with a somewhat hesitant.

How did you end up over there? That's the small meeting room; this one here is the big one.

Damn, that's too luxurious—even the small meeting room is as big as a training room…

The highly anticipated reunion segment was thus diluted by half its flavor, to the extent that the first thing AdaiEr heard from a partner in the Iron Rope Squad was…

No way… you guys… how did your levels get so high?

With this combat training camp, a level‑boosting divine tool, anyone normal can reach around level 20, let alone the few who are instructors.

Naturally they all diligently and happily consumed all the experience inside; not to mention the young Stone and Anna, even the old man Bol literally developed quite a few wrinkles.

And since there was no need to hide anything anymore, they also told AdaiEr everything that had happened to them after leaving Sunshine City.

Heading north, bandits, ambush…

Actually, if Ji Ming hadn't secretly followed up and intervened, they wouldn't even have been able to escape, let alone survive—there's no telling.

After that, with nowhere else to go, they accepted Ji Ming's employment and went to the dungeon to become the players' novice instructors.

If AdaiEr had time to check the outer city, she would find that the swordsmanship and archery techniques of those Easterners bear many traces of them.

It's merely midday break time; after a brief exchange, it's already afternoon work hours, and Ji Ming and AdaiEr leave the two‑story building, watching them head toward the various zones of the training grounds.

Even now AdaiEr feels somewhat dreamlike; although as a spellcaster her wisdom isn't low, the astonishing news she learned today is simply too much.

This is a teleportation stone; if you want to come here or return to the Clinic, just guide your magical energy and rub it in your hand.

Looking at the purple stone stuffed into her hand, AdaiEr hesitated a moment.

But… although I really do want to come here, my daytime work is very busy, and I definitely need to rest at night, so I don't have much time…

She trailed off mid‑sentence, because she suddenly recalled——

Wait a minute, didn't the former doctor also have to work during the day? How could he have time to pull off something this big?

Then she understood the reason for all of this, because Ji Ming brought out SpiritGathering Liquid.

You think I lock my door every night for what? You think I previously didn't want you to move in because…? Because I rely on it to work overtime every night… diligently and hard.

AdaiEr's heart surged with an ominous premonition; she regretted, she shouldn't have come here!

Doctor, I think as long as everyone is well, as long as we can live happily, that's enough; I don't need to come to the dungeon every day, I...

Smack.

Ji Ming suddenly pressed her shoulder, gave a faint smile, his eyes holding the complexity of someone who has been there.

Stay up late, girl; this is the fate of our lineage.