Chapter 243: Who Could Refuse a Sweet Boy?

Although saying this sounds a bit cold-blooded, neither the Blood Hunter nor Tail had reached the point where Fang Yue would drop everything and go out searching for them.

Moreover, the Blood Hunter left the village with a clear purpose and plan — presumably intending to wait until Fang Yue came out of seclusion before going to find the 【Blood-Headed Giant Hound】 packs. Whether he couldn't wait any longer or for some other reason, he ended up joining a temporary hunter team to set out. Even so, it was still safer than Tail going out alone.

So the only one truly worth worrying about was Tail alone.

First, he followed Chief Captain Lang Wu back to Lang Fu. Lang Wu quickly took out a map, spread it open, and pointed out a few locations to Fang Yue.

"The gathering grounds of the 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】 are roughly divided into three places — from far to near: Yuanyuan Hill, Ruoyunshi Ground, and Maple Leaf Forest."

As he spoke, Chief Captain Lang Wu began introducing the three locations to Fang Yue.

From the standpoint of danger, the nearest — Yuanyuan Hill — was naturally the safest. After all, it was close by, and if something really happened, one could return to the village right away.

Ruoyunshi Ground was next, and Maple Leaf Forest was the most dangerous.

However, correspondingly, the number and strength of the 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】 gathered there were also related to the distance.

At the nearest Yuanyuan Hill, the gathered 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】 were the fewest in number, and the packs were scattered and disorganized. Even if one went specifically for the 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】, in practice one might actually encounter the Eerie first rather than a 【Blood-Headed Giant Hound】 pack. So although Yuanyuan Hill seemed the safest, its casualty rate was actually not low.

Ruoyunshi Ground had moderate danger and returns; Maple Leaf Forest was the most dangerous but also yielded the greatest returns — it was the main gathering ground for 【Blood-Headed Giant Hound】 packs.

Lone wolves basically all tried their luck at Yuanyuan Hill; only those who formed groups would hunt 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】 at Ruoyunshi Ground and Maple Leaf Forest.

Logically speaking, forming a team of people would make hunting 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】 more successful.

But in reality, sometimes the relationships between people were the greatest danger.

Most people, even when united, could only deal with lone 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】. So the issue of loot became prominent — team members would fight viciously over the ownership of 【Blood-Headed Giant Hounds】, resulting in heavy casualties.

Fang Yue was in closed-door cultivation at the time, so he didn't know about any of this.

But Chief Captain Lang Wu had already seen many cases of internal slaughter arising from disputes over 【Blood-Headed Giant Hound】 ownership — and some of them only started causing trouble after returning to Mo Cun, which had given him quite a headache.

"If you really want to go out, I can introduce a suitable team to you."

Chief Captain Lang Wu couldn't lend out the Guard Team's forces, so what he could do was very limited.

Chief Captain Lang Wu was slightly apologetic, but Fang Yue didn't really mind — he hadn't yet decided whether to go out and look for people. Although he'd promised the Blood Hunter, now the Blood Hunter had vanished without a trace; whether he was even alive was a question.

After roughly briefing Fang Yue on the situation, Chief Captain Lang Wu was hurriedly called away by a Guard Team member who suddenly burst in — apparently because the formation had lost its overseer and some minor issue had cropped up.

Of course, for the survival trump card that Mo Cun relied on, even the smallest issue was a major matter in Mo Cun.

After Chief Captain Lang Wu left, Fang Yue carefully put away the map, thought for a moment, then had someone summon Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu back, while he himself waited slowly in the main hall.

But after waiting a while, the one who arrived first wasn't Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, but an unexpected person.

"No way, no way — there isn't someone drinking tea in broad daylight, is there? Is your real age like seventy? We might have a generation gap, you know."

The faintly familiar passive-aggressive remark made Fang Yue's brow lift slightly.

He glanced at the uninvited Chen Xiaomiao: "No way, no way — there isn't someone who forgot the pain once the scar healed, is there? This old grandpa here just loves spanking little lolis' bottoms."

Chen Xiaomiao:?!!

Chen Xiaomiao, who had just been dishing out passive-aggressive remarks, was instantly startled and couldn't help covering her bottom.

"Y-you can't be serious, right? You're a pervert!"

"You're the pervert. I was sitting here drinking my tea perfectly fine — what are you being passive-aggressive at your mother for?"

"I-I was just saying it casually…"

Chen Xiaomiao's voice immediately dropped, sounding a little wronged.

These past few days, she had barely been online in the game — only sneaking on during stolen moments between work.

No choice — Liu Zong was very dissatisfied that after more than ten days she still hadn't tracked down that thing's whereabouts, and was hounding her to work like a ghost demanding her life.

Her attitude toward work had always been the kind where if someone cracked the whip, she'd put in a little more effort.

But if no one supervised her, she was a dead salted fish who wouldn't even bother to twitch.

And now that Liu Zong had switched into ghost-hounding mode, she had no choice but to work hard — and once she got busy, her time to get on the game shrank.

Fortunately, these past few days the team was temporarily holed up in Mo Cun and hadn't returned to the village to set off.

Otherwise, if the team had returned to the village during her busiest period, she might have ended up lying in the carriage and getting killed by an Eerie — how unjust would that be.

Although this game had no cash-shop channel, she had still spent quite a bit of money from players' hands, buying up plenty of good equipment.

Like the leather armor she was wearing right now — exquisite and nimble, close-fitting and warm, with decent defense.

Or the bow on her back — its material was several grades above ordinary goods!

If she died an unexplained death with this set of equipment on, she'd go crazy.

"What are you spacing out over? Out with it — what did you want to see me about?"

Although Fang Yue didn't have a good impression of Chen Xiaomiao, she was after all someone from his own village, so he wouldn't really give her a cold look.

Stepping back a bit — this girl was also one of An Shenyi's people!

"Uh… um, Ye Ge, I heard you got rich? You're officially a Captain now!"

"Got a little rich, I guess."

Fang Yue added: "Getting a little rich doesn't count as getting rich."

I also say getting a little rich doesn't count as getting rich.

Chen Xiaomiao muttered this to herself, and only straightened up her attitude when she saw Fang Yue's gaze sweep over — she still didn't quite dare be too passive-aggressive in front of Fang Yue.

No choice — Fang Yue's strikes were too decisive; she'd suffered losses before!

"Um… since you're a Captain now, could you talk it over with An Shenyi and have her buy me back?"

"Hmm?"

Fang Yue raised an eyebrow.

"You still remember that?"

"I had already forgotten about it long ago — I barely got on the game these past few days. But when I logged on yesterday, I found out I was actually at An Fu! They actually kidnapped me while I was sleeping! Later I heard you'd come out of seclusion to visit, and I wanted to chat with you, but someone stopped me. Escaping this time was me barely finding a chance to slip away!"

Hmm? So she was at An Fu at the time — An Shenyi hadn't mentioned this at all.

But then again, she was originally one of An Shenyi's people, so whenever she got brought to An Fu was only a matter of time.

"So what?"

"What 'so what'? You have to help me!"

"Sorry, I don't help fugitives."

"What fugitive?! I'm a free person!!"

Fang Yue shrugged: "That's not up to you. Originally, Divine Doctor brought you back to Gu Yue Cun, and it was agreed then that you were his person—no one could interfere."

Chen Xiaomiao immediately panicked.

She'd heard the stone masons in Gu Yue Cun were nearly finished; they'd likely set off for the village in no more than two days.

If she didn't think of a plan soon, she'd truly be left behind in Mo Cun!

Originally, staying in Mo Cun didn't bother her—wherever you were, you just got by.

But the issue was her status…

She was, in fact, a slave of An Fu!!

Meaning, she was lower than even the servants of An Fu!

How could she endure this? In these past few days trapped in An Fu, she hadn't even eaten a full meal.

She'd messaged Fang Yue, but received no reply—she didn't know if he hadn't seen her messages or just ignored them outright.

But the truth was far crueler than she imagined: Fang Yue had long ago quietly set her messages to "do not disturb"; unless he deliberately opened her message thread, he'd never see anything she sent.

Chen Xiaomiao couldn't stay in An Fu.

Even if she couldn't leave Mo Cun, she couldn't live under the identity of An Fu's slave.

Instantly, Chen Xiaomiao wiped her tears, switched on her acting, and sobbed: "Ye Ge, Divine Doctor and his family aren't human—they, they actually…"

Fang Yue immediately perked up: "What?! Can this game still…? I've never tried that!"

"…Ye Ge, what are you thinking? I mean they won't give me food!"

Fang Yue instantly lost interest.

"That's it?"

"That's it?!" Chen Xiaomiao raised her voice: "This is a huge deal! And they've restricted my freedom of movement! Those old bastards have no honor!!"

"Why are you yelling so loud?"

"I—I'm just excited! You have to help this weak woman! Maybe if you help me, I'll be so grateful I'll develop feelings for Ye Ge? Don't all online romance stories start with small incidents? Don't you want that?"

"Sorry, I'm not interested in tanks."

"You're the tank! Your whole family are tanks! I'm a beautiful girl!!"

"Sorry, I'm not interested in women—women only slow down my sword swing!"

Chen Xiaomiao's heart skipped: "Ah… Ye Ge, you're not… into boys, are you?"

Fang Yue glanced at her: "Who could refuse a sweet, cute boy? Would you refuse one?"

Ah…

Chen Xiaomiao involuntarily stepped back two paces: "I—I… I definitely couldn't refuse a boy—that's normal! But you like boys—you're clearly abnormal!!"

Bang!!

Just as Chen Xiaomiao said this, a sound of ceramic shattering on the floor echoed from outside the door.

Fang Yue and Chen Xiaomiao turned to look—and saw Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu standing frozen at the threshold, empty-handed.

Her eyes were wide, fixed on Fang Yue, her voice trembling.

"I-I'm sorry! I came at a bad time!"

With trembling hands covering her mouth, she turned to leave—when Fang Yue said: "No. You came at the perfect time."

Chen Xiaomiao immediately turned back to Fang Yue, face blank with confusion.

Chen Xiaomiao:???

Why perfect time? Did Ye Ge like her? Was she… actually a cross-dressing boy???

Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu:!!!

Perfect time? Has Ye Ge discovered my hidden fujoshi identity after all these years?!

For a moment, their thoughts diverged.

Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu silently walked over and sat beside Fang Yue.

Chen Xiaomiao stared at the two, bewildered.

"You two—what exactly is your relationship?"

Fang Yue rolled his eyes: "It has nothing to do with you. Go see Divine Doctor if you have a problem. Go see Divine Doctor even if you don't. Don't bother me."

"But—"

"No 'buts.' Figure it out yourself."

"Damn it! You're a womanizer! You won't get a good house!"

Fuming, Chen Xiaomiao stomped her foot, shot one last strange glance between Fang Yue and Tian Dan Zhi Yuan Wu, then stormed off in indignation.

Chen Xiaomiao felt Fang Yue's rejection—it left her deeply frustrated.

She had no roots at all in Mo Cun; she barely knew anyone there, and the people from Gu Yue Cun were also distant toward her.

Honestly, with her mouth, it was already a miracle if anyone talked to her at all.

Without Fang Yue's help, Chen Xiaomiao couldn't think of any way to make Divine Doctor release her. She'd have to wait until the last moment and try to sneak away from Mo Cun, slipping into the group returning to Gu Yue Cun.

Ding-ding!

Ding-ding!

A sound only Chen Xiaomiao could hear rang in her ear.

It was her own custom phone ringtone, synced to her Game Watch.

If someone called her on her phone outside the game, she would receive it immediately.

This was definitely not something Chen Xiaomiao, a slacker, would do—it was solely because her boss Liu Zong, after learning she was addicted to the game Blue Sea, looked up some information and forcibly made her set it up.

This feature was incredibly annoying.

Chen Xiaomiao scowled, waited a long while, and only after the ringing stopped did the system notification sound.

"System Notification: Someone outside the game is calling you via voice. Please check your phone message promptly."

Ignore!!

This is game time; when slacking off, you must focus on slacking off, so you can work better!!

But contrary to her wishes, the ringing soon started again, driving Chen Xiaomiao nearly mad.

Seriously!

Do capitalists have no conscience at all? I've already been giving 24/7 blessings—now they're coming after me again?

With a deep sigh, Chen Xiaomiao found a hidden corner, climbed up a large tree, and logged out of the game.

After a while, two groups gathered beneath the tree where she hid, each group about ten or more people.

They were aggressive, clearly in conflict.

From the shouting around, it was clear these were two descendants of Mo Cun's elite; the leaders, both ordinary-looking but with frivolous, uncultivated manners like street thugs, hurled insults at each other—extremely vulgar, textbook examples of spoiled rich kids.

The conflict quickly escalated into physical altercations, then further escalated into a full brawl.

The two groups fought fiercely, locked in chaotic combat.

One of the spoiled rich kids suddenly roared, and from a hidden corner behind him, a two-meter-tall giant burst out, stomping heavily toward the fighting crowd.

"Hahaha! Luckily, our Pao family paid the An family a high price for several test subjects—I smuggled one out from home. Now you'll see what happens when you cross me!! Test subject, kill! Kill to death, eliminate them all!"

"Roar!!"

(End of Chapter)