Chapter 85: Ji Ming

He shoved the axe back into the inner side of his robe, looked at the surrounding shocked dog people, and extended a hand to press down.

"Calm down, he didn't die; he was just judged as a failure and returned to the warship."

"Woof woof, so that's it."

"No wonder there's no corpse."

The dog people suddenly understood and, amid murmurs and barks, dispersed.

Glancing at the player list where someone was reading a revive scroll just to die, Ji Ming began to wonder whether this batch of players had mental issues.

He was just standing by the roadside with a simple stall; how could anyone act without a word and just strike?

However, recalling his feat of dying thirty‑nine times in one night, he felt relieved.

—This is just a lunatic.

Just an isolated case! Just an isolated case, I suppose the vast majority of players are gentle and kind!

Not long ago, after discovering that a player had entered the training arena, Ji Ming donned a black robe and went to Dog Village.

"Messenger sir, we have already posted all current needs on the notice board; are you here to inspect?"

"Uh, sir, you also want to set up a stall to sell goods in the village? Sure, sure, I'll tell the villagers not to panic."

After greeting Elder Da Huang, he put on a mask, laid the pre‑prepared high‑grade item on the ground, and became the neutral entity Mysterious Merchant.

The ruler of the local spirits in charge of the arena, the Wheel of Reincarnation staff handling operations, the Mysterious Merchant overseeing military training, the mediocre doctor Ji Ming handling supplies, and the crooked‑necked tree managing operations…

Thus, Ji Ming's five layered identities were all employed.

The entire game would be completely under his control, theoretically leaving no room for deviation.

Anyway, the dungeon is perpetually dark and rumbling, so it doesn't matter whether it's day or night.

After the closed beta launched, to make it convenient for players, Ji Ming had Yang Guang adjust the time flow of the Yangyue Star and Earth to be exactly the same.

The time had now reached 5 a. m., a workday; after a night of hustle, many players were preparing to log off.

But after the news of being discovered in the newbie village was broadcast…

"Since we're already here, let's go take another look."

"Let's go, half an hour won't hurt."

Under the influence of another round of herd mentality and conformity syndrome, the overwhelming majority of players rushed toward the coordinates of Dog Village.

Watching the green dots on the map inch closer, Ji Ming vaguely grasped the cafeteria aunt's mood from high school.

However, he could at least brace himself: it would be grim for the doggies over there.

"Woof woof, everyone, welcome…"

"Whoa~~~ a talking Golden Retriever!?"

"Oh my, it's my first time seeing a Labrador wearing pants… could you take it off so I can see?"

"Huh?"

The two dogs exchanged glances and awkwardly licked their lips.

Fortunately, the ordeal didn't last long.

After seeing the long‑legged Corgi that could stand and walk, the novelty‑seeking players promptly abandoned them and rushed toward the other villagers.

Listening to the growing clamor from the village entrance, Ji Ming opened the game public chat.

Without much thought, the public chat exploded again; fewer than a hundred players somehow sparked a thousand‑person crowd effect.

【@69‑year‑old wall‑support veteran, look what kind of person you are, even a Labrador with a gun is more standard than you!】

【Guess what I saw near the village? A little pine lion picking mushrooms! Those who know say it's a game screenshot; those who don't think it's AI‑generated map!】

【Hahaha, cracking up my family, proof attached: a husky building a wall instead of tearing houses.】

A flurry of game screenshots rushed out; the frame was filled with dog villagers awkwardly licking their lips.

However, beyond the fun‑seeking players, the hardcore players had already begun exploring.

【Don't laugh, I just chatted with a Border Collie, the NPC AI is pretty advanced, the conversation was smooth.】

【Chat‑capable NPCs have been around forever, right? Nothing special.】

【What if I tell you it can remember several completely unrelated topics, and its expression changes in real time with its emotions?】

【Not bad, I'm trying to talk to more NPCs; wait until tomorrow, I'll work on mapping a relationship network to help everyone communicate!】

【Big bro, add me as a friend… I also want to help.】

They're all talents.

Ji Ming looked left, then right, until

【Everyone, I've arrived at the village center; take a look at this!】

The screenshot shows himself, standing behind the stall in a black robe.

【Huang Ming, neutral entity?】

【Whoa, a Mysterious Merchant! Buddy, check out what good goods there are?】

Then Ji Ming watched a player with a 【Oli Gei】 on his head, and the doggies sneaked over.

While he was striving to clear the 'Don't Laugh' challenge, he posted a screenshot of his price list on the public chat.

【All limited‑edition items, and the prices are so high!】

【A bottle of Second‑generation Rejuvenation costs eight points; would anyone actually buy this crap?】

【But that sword looks decent, probably a good item, unlike the mass‑produced goods in the game shop.】

Amid a series of earnest discussions and analyses, a sudden comment popped up.

【Since it's a neutral entity, can we rob it?】

【Huh?】

【Zero‑price purchase, bro—any potential?】

"Yeah, since the game officials set it as a neutral creature, then we can go for it!"

"What you call 'can' is called 'definitely'!"

"What you call 'definitely' is called 'encouragement'!"

???

"Sss…"

Then Ji Ming watched, eyes wide open, as Ao Li pretended to be relaxed, whistled, and sauntered up in front of him.

"Friendly!"

Bang!

"No way, bro, I got killed instantly by something I don't even know!"

"Wuwu…"

Below is a chorus of lament and regret. "I've tried it long ago; this is definitely the Newbie Village boss, super strong."

Until.

"Don't worry! Next time invite more people, Qiang Ge will take you all up!"

Heh, I haven't even given you military training yet, and you already come looking for trouble?

Ji Ming flew into a rage and put Ao Li, Dan Qiu Yi Si, and this newly emerged society you Qiang Ge all onto the blacklist.

Next time you come to the Mysterious Shop, you guys, the price will be hiked mercilessly!

Unfortunately, no matter how fun the game is, it can't solve real‑life problems.

Time passed, even though the players kept finding one excuse after another to keep playing, by seven a. m. there were hardly any players left online.

After saying goodbye to Hua Shu and Qiang Ge, Ai Ge logged out of the game and took off his helmet.

He let out a satisfied sigh, turned his head, and saw a Sadako‑like head rising beside the bed.

"Ah!"

Instinctively he raised his gun to stab, only to find he had nothing in his hand, then realized he was back in the real world.

Hu Kun, who had been watching eagerly, also jumped in fright and kept stepping back.

"What are you doing!?"

"What are you doing!"

Ai Ge glared at him and climbed down from the bed.

He tossed his flowing long hair, and Hu Kun patted his shoulder.

"Is it fun? The game's comment section is blowing up."

"It's insanely fun, it's exploding!"

Before Ai Ge could answer, Wu Li, his face excited, jumped off the bed and grabbed Hu Kun, swinging him in a death‑like sway.

"Ugh…"

"Hm?"

Removing the blindfold from his face, the fourth person in the dorm also stuck his head out from behind the bed curtain.

He stepped down from the bed, lifted a water cup from the tidy desk, and Yang Yiyan cleared his throat before asking.

"You mean, it's not false advertising?"

"False advertising?"

Ai Ge laughed heartily, typing away on the keyboard and posting updates on D Site.

"Bro, you all better hurry and look forward to when this game can enter internal testing; if we miss it again, we'll really be crying for three months!"