Chapter 889: Black Shadow (2/2, Requesting Moon Tickets)

The man who had just reddened his eyes was suddenly stunned by the booming voice, his eardrums throbbing with pain.

He paused, startled, glanced hesitantly at the three of them, then turned and walked away.

"Brother Niu, are we just letting him go?" Waizui Xiaowang stared, eyes fixed on the bundle clutched tightly in the man's hands.

"..." Niu Niu said nothing, actually chatting privately with his second brother Ye Shao.

Waizui Xiaowang, the first brother, had been with him the longest, but he was still a refugee—some things couldn't be entrusted to him; Ye Shao, the second brother, was far more convenient, since they were both players, and their thoughts often aligned.

"Can you tell what his true strength is?"

"At least Xiantian Realm!"

"What about his physical condition?"

"He won't last long—that slash across his chest is a fatal wound. He probably hasn't realized it yet; once the adrenaline fades, he's just waiting to die. Brother Niu, this is our chance!"

At this point in the private chat, Ye Shao pulled his hood back over his head, his body ignited in flames, then made a slashing motion across his throat.

Niu Niu instantly understood what to do.

"Xiao Wang, let's go! Follow that guy!"

"Yes, Brother Niu!"

Waizui Xiaowang's face lit up with delight as he followed Niu Niu; the three quickly left the spot.

Yet the man wasn't being watched only by Niu Niu's trio—there were at least two others lurking in the shadows, observing silently.

But...

"The Flame Sect... troublesome."

"This Niu Niu seems to have a bit of a reputation even within the Flame Sect. Though I don't know his actual strength, with such fame, he must be formidable. With so much treasure at stake, it's not worth clashing with a strongman like him."

The two hidden figures quietly withdrew from the competition.

After Ye Shao privately relayed this information to Niu Niu, Niu Niu exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.

Niu Niu had his own way of surviving!

Even in this deteriorating environment, where death in the game meant real death, he had still chosen to re-enter the game—naturally, he had his reasons.

That reason? To brag. To spread his name far and wide, to make himself famous. As for actual strength? That was another matter entirely.

As long as he avoided direct combat and concealed his true power, the greater his fame, the more he could intimidate the petty thieves!

Previously, Niu Niu had treated the game as just a game, playing purely for enjoyment.

But after learning the truth, his mindset changed.

After three days of careful thought, he finally made his decision and re-entered the game.

This time, he had only one goal: to survive!

Whether clinging to a powerful leg or betraying his conscience, he would survive in this game. It was too strange, too unusual—there had to be immense rewards hidden within. He had the advantage to get in early; he had to seize this opportunity.

Though he'd played casually before, his new randomized body and identity had already allowed him to smoothly join the Flame Sect before he even knew the game's truth.

This time, he would climb higher within the Flame Sect, rise to a position where more powerful figures would protect him!

This strategy? Simply called clinging to a leg.

No choice—Ye Ge's leg was too far away. He had to rely on the Flame Sect.

Within the Flame Sect, besides daily quests, Niu Niu's most frequent activity was shouting out his name, making it known—not just to the Flame Sect, but to outsiders too—so that anyone hearing "Niu Niu" would know he was from the Flame Sect, and dare not offend him lightly.

Sheltering under a great tree brings cool shade. Under the Flame Sect's mighty tree, Niu Niu lived a relatively safe life.

But strangely, not long ago, the sect's Third Elder suddenly took Niu Niu as a disciple—and named him the top disciple, granting him privileges so high they made him anxious.

A few days later, he heard news about Ye Ge.

Ye Ge had come to Jingcheng?

Niu Niu was stunned, even excited, and immediately called Fang Yue—but Ye Ge seemed busy, his phone untouched.

Meanwhile, the Flame Sect was in a tense standoff with the Ice Extreme Sect, with war imminent; he was constantly summoned and ordered around, with no time to spare.

Only today, upon learning that the Flame Sect's Sixth Elder had been murdered, and war with the Ice Extreme Sect was now unavoidable, did he finally find himself idle.

Seeing himself about to be conscripted by the sect, he quickly gathered his little brothers and went out to scavenge.

"I can't fight against the Ice Extreme Sect, where Tail is. Besides, Ye Ge has come to Jingcheng—real legs have arrived. I don't need to stay in the Flame Sect anymore!"

Niu Niu plotted his small scheme, hoping to contact Fang Yue as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, other factions continued plundering the accumulated wealth of the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, even refusing to leave behind chairs and tables—but their gains were meager, leaving everyone puzzled.

At this moment, rumors began spreading through the martial world: people had spotted former Ten Thousand Swords Mountain disciples appearing across various regions outside Jingcheng, each carrying immense treasures!

The looters suddenly realized—the true treasures of the Ten Thousand Swords Mountain had long been carried away by its scattered disciples fleeing the collapse.

Instantly, former Ten Thousand Swords Mountain disciples became hunted vermin, no one daring to show their face.

Almost all former Ten Thousand Swords Mountain disciples had fled Jingcheng, scattering across the land to escape.

Yet in this chaotic environment, one Ten Thousand Swords Mountain disciple remained in Jingcheng, kneeling heavily before a man in the courtyard of a mansion.

"Your Highness, this is Tian Ruichi's final request—I beg you, please grant it!"

"Ah..."

The Seventh Prince sighed deeply, gazing far into the distance.

"Ruichi, do you know? I've always regarded you as my closest friend."

"..."

Tian Ruichi said nothing, because the Seventh Prince had not yet granted his request.

So he remained kneeling, unable to see the Seventh Prince's expression.

But he trusted the Seventh Prince!

"Do you remember the day we first met? It was a scorching afternoon—I was ambushed by the Night Thief, and you happened to pass by, drew your sword, and saved me. That's how we met."

"..."

"But did you know? That group of Night Thieves — they're actually my subordinates."

"!!!"

Tian Ruichi jerked his head up.

"That's right, none of it was coincidence. The world only knows me as a carefree wanderer, making wide connections of goodwill, but they don't know what scheming and effort lies behind that 'making wide connections of goodwill.'"

Tian Ruichi was dumbfounded. He suddenly felt that the Seventh Prince before him had become utterly unfamiliar — as if the Seventh Prince he had known before was nothing but a mask.

"Tian Ruichi, disciple of the Tian Sword Sect Master, practically the future heir to the Tian Sword Sect — you should have been one of my finest pieces on the board. Unfortunately… our fate has run its course."

The Seventh Prince slowly turned around.

And ahead of him, from within the shadows of the trees, two black silhouettes slowly emerged!

(End of chapter)