Chapter Fifty-Seven: Is a Spring Chicken So Great?

“Player Chen Baxian, congratulations on completing the quest ‘Attack the Church’ issued by NPC Lin Hei’er. You have been awarded an Exquisite Edition Colt M1873.”

Equipment Name: Colt Revolver (M1873 Edition)
Equipment Type: Revolver
Equipment Quality: Exquisite Edition
Equipment Description: A legendary revolver, widely issued to the U.S. Army. This is a specially made Exquisite Edition cavalry model, boasting a beautiful appearance and formidable power.
Barrel Length: 191 millimeters
Caliber: millimeters
Weight: kilograms
Effective Range: 75 meters
Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds
Base Attribute: Shooting +2
Power: 60
Rate of Fire: 50
Accuracy: 75
Stability: 95

The Colt revolver is compact in design, significantly shorter and lighter than the Mauser. Owing to its larger caliber, the Colt packs more power than the Mauser; the Exquisite Edition Colt that Chen Hao received has a power rating of 75, surpassing Lin Xiaofeng’s standard Mauser by 15 points.

Although the revolver’s rate of fire can’t match the semi-automatic Mauser 1896—even the Exquisite Edition’s rate of fire is 10 points lower than the standard Mauser—it excels in both accuracy and stability compared to the latter. Ordinary and standard firearms do not boost the player’s shooting attribute, but Exquisite Editions and above do; wielding this Exquisite Colt raises Chen Hao’s shooting by 2. At his current level of 11, his shooting stat with the Colt is 13, which is still too low.

To effectively train one’s shooting through combat, a minimum stat of 25 is necessary; otherwise, nine out of ten shots will miss, and players simply can’t afford the wasted ammunition.

Chen Hao fondly turned the revolver in his hand, twirling it like a true Western cowboy. Only when he noticed Lin Hei’er’s displeased expression did he reluctantly stow the gun away.

The Righteous Harmony Fists were hostile to anything foreign, and even Chinese who used foreign items were treated as enemies. When Lin Hei’er killed a foreign missionary and acquired this Exquisite Colt, she initially wanted to destroy it. Yet, as women are naturally drawn to beautiful objects, she hesitated and kept it for herself, enchanted by the revolver’s design.

Unable to bring herself to damage the gun but also thinking it improper to keep a foreign weapon, she handed Chen Hao a windfall. Seeing how enamored he was with the “foreign demon artifact,” Lin Hei’er couldn’t help but snap, “Chen Baxian, foreign demon weapons are cursed. Don’t let yourself be bewitched.”

Chen Hao nodded repeatedly, “Thank you for the warning, Master Aunt. Once we return to Penglai, I’ll find a powerful mage to break the foreign curse.”

Back in Qinghe County, Lin Hei’er ordered the Red Lantern troops to return to Tianjing, while she and Cuiyun Niang set out for Penglai to rescue Zhang Yuanyuan. Chen Hao had expected Lin Hei’er to take a large force, so when only the two of them set out, he couldn’t help but question, “Master Aunt Lin, the county jail is heavily guarded. Why not bring more reinforcements?”

Lin Hei’er shot him a cold look and said nothing. Cuiyun Niang, standing nearby, smiled, “Our Red Lanterns are steadily infiltrating Shandong. If we marched into Penglai in force, the authorities would only increase their vigilance. With just the two of us, our chances of a successful rescue are much higher.”

“Oh,” Chen Hao replied. “Thank you, Senior Sister, for clearing that up.”

The four of them arrived at the carriage stand. Chen Hao paid for two carriages—he and the fisherman took one, while Lin Hei’er and Cuiyun Niang took the other. He felt a pang of annoyance: he was already so poor he was being “kept,” yet Lin Hei’er didn’t think to cover the cost of rescuing her own people.

As they rode, Chen Hao was preparing to log off and sleep when the fisherman whispered, “Brother Chen, these two NPCs are really something! Especially that Cuiyun Niang—go for it and win them both over…”

Before the fisherman could finish, a plum-blossom dart shot through the carriage curtain, grazing his ear and embedding itself in the wooden board. Cuiyun Niang’s icy voice came from the carriage ahead, “Any more nonsense and next time I’ll aim for your throat.”

Chen Hao yawned, “Enjoy your ride, Fisherman. I’m logging off.”

“Wait, you can sleep on a carriage? Brother Chen, you should have told me sooner—I’ve been sleeping in ruined temples for days!” The fisherman leaned back and promptly logged off.

Chen Hao also exited the game from the carriage and removed his helmet, then sent a message to his “wife” on QQ: “Still playing? I’m logging off now.”

“Heh! Fancy that—you’re actually the first to message me today.” In the corner of an internet café, Ban Qianqian took off her helmet. She’d set her helmet to notify her in-game if Chen Hao sent a QQ message.

“It’s all the same. By the way, I told you not to keep me in-game. In a few days, it’s my turn to keep you,” Chen Hao replied.

“It’s not the same. You messaging first proves you care. That thing you said before about us keeping each other—were you serious? Why don’t we meet in real life?” Ban Qianqian playfully stuck out her tongue.

Chen Hao fell silent. He had known his in-game “wife” for two years. He remembered that, in just a few days, she would suddenly vanish from the internet, leaving him heartbroken for a long time. Back then, he’d resolved that if she ever reappeared, he would ask her out in real life, no matter her circumstances—even if she’d been married.

But now, Chen Hao hesitated. He wasn’t sure if meeting was the right choice; the internet was such an illusory place. He wanted to be together, but feared it might be a passing impulse, and worried he wouldn’t be able to accept her past someday.

After a moment’s pause, Chen Hao replied, “Give me some time to think about it, okay? Right now, I really want to be with you, but I’m afraid I might hurt you one day.”

“Even if we meet, it’s just to confirm a relationship. I’ve been through this before—even if you regret it someday, I won’t blame you. Heehee! If anything, I’m the one getting the better deal—after all, you’re still a greenhorn…” Ban Qianqian’s cheeks flushed as she giggled and messaged back.

“Any romance not aimed at marriage is just fooling around,” Chen Hao replied. “I’m logging off now. Let me think it over for a few days.”

“Hmph! Acting like no one else wants me. I’ve thrown myself at you several times and you keep hesitating. So what if you’re a greenhorn? If you won’t meet, then forget it.”

After several tentative exchanges, Ban Qianqian was already certain Chen Hao wasn’t one of those playboys who pestered her in real life. She actually wanted to pierce the final veil between them. But she was so bold online that, when it came to meeting in person, she found herself lacking the courage and so didn’t press the issue further.

As Chen Hao logged off and went to the cashier, he couldn’t help glancing at the corner. Lately, “Ban Qianqian” always managed to leave before he did—today, at last, the coincidence didn’t occur, so he avoided the cashier’s judgmental look. Just as he was about to leave the café, a clear voice rang out behind him: “Chen Hao, how could you! Logging off without even saying goodbye to me.”