Chapter Seventy-Five: The Huang Family’s Head Servant

Shuanghui, always so harmonious, felt utterly innocent. In real life, he was a student who, since the launch of “War,” spent all his days gaming in internet cafés. Under the café owner’s direction, everyone chose to be born in Penglai County. Shuanghui, along with his classmates, joined the café’s small team. Who would have guessed that after leveling up just a bit, they’d be captured by Huang Batian and forced into servitude?

Gaming in the café had a better atmosphere than at home, mainly because you could enter the game as a group and help each other out. In the game, Shuanghui and the others acknowledged Butcher Knife as their leader, dominating Penglai County and living quite comfortably as a small team.

Shuanghui didn’t see anything wrong with robbing others; such things were normal in the game, and a few grudges and feuds made it all the more interesting. He always dutifully protected the interests of their little team, carrying out Butcher Knife’s instructions without fail. So when asked to follow a target with three dormmates, he agreed without hesitation.

But their enemy was too cunning, and the four of them fell into a trap, ending up as long-term laborers in Huang Batian’s household. Still, Shuanghui had no complaints.

In the early stages of the game, time was precious; spending a month as laborers wasted valuable leveling time and would greatly affect their future development. The four, all students, couldn’t come up with the ten silver dollars required to pay Huang Batian, so they decided to seek help from their organization.

Butcher Knife had no shortage of ten silver dollars, but he was unwilling to spend it on four insignificant underlings, so he refused their request. Shuanghui, frustrated, vented in the game, which resulted in them being threatened by a few thugs as they logged off—not allowed to enter the “Star Era” café again.

Forced to relocate, the four switched to the Trans-Spatial café, determined to make Butcher Knife pay in the game.

The other three considered getting themselves imprisoned in-game, then committing suicide to respawn in another county and start afresh. Shuanghui stopped them. He believed the system couldn’t be so perverse as to force players into a month of servitude as soon as they entered the game, so there might be other opportunities at Huang Batian’s estate.

After persuading his friends, they completed Huang Batian’s assigned tasks daily and conversed with other NPCs in the manor, picking up numerous side quests.

Only the four could enter Huang Batian’s estate, so they practically monopolized all the manor’s side tasks. Although these tasks didn’t yield anything valuable, the experience rewards were substantial, almost as good as grinding monsters.

Upon leaving the manor, a baby-faced player grinned and said, “Shuanghui, if Butcher Knife had redeemed us back then, we might not be as high-level as we are now! Once we’re stronger, I’ll make him pay for it.”

Shuanghui shook his head. “I’ve asked around. Butcher Knife’s real name is Zhu Xiaodao—he’s the local gang leader. We can’t afford to mess with him.”

The baby-faced player was indignant. “I just can’t swallow it. He refused to save us—fine, we called him disloyal, which was true, but then he had people threaten us.”

Shuanghui sneered. “Butcher Knife may look impressive in the game, but he’s actually just a fool. There will be plenty of chances to deal with him. ‘War’ is a unique game; we don’t need to rush for revenge. When we graduate and leave this city, he won’t be able to touch us in real life—then we settle the score.”

“Gentlemen, though there were misunderstandings before, there’s no deep-seated hatred. We share a common enemy, so I think we can have a talk.”

Chen Hao had been following Shuanghui and his three friends. He had mastered Lightfoot techniques and knew the local terrain well, so the four hadn’t detected him. Now that they had fallen out with Butcher Knife and were in the same city as Chen Hao, he decided to make contact.

Seeing Chen Hao, the baby-faced player at the front shouted, “So it’s you! You caused us to be laborers for so long!”

Chen Hao smiled. “I didn’t do anything to you; you followed me and got caught by Huang Batian yourselves. Besides, being laborers wasn’t entirely a bad thing, was it?”

Shuanghui laughed. “True, we have no real grievances—and we have a basis for cooperating against Butcher Knife’s gang. So, how do you want to cooperate?”

Chen Hao shrugged. “I need your help.”

The baby-faced player was wary. “I knew you wouldn’t come to us for nothing. We can deal with Butcher Knife ourselves—we don’t need your help, and we won’t help you.”

Ignoring him, Chen Hao smiled at Shuanghui. “I’m mortal enemies with Butcher Knife’s group. The stronger I become, the more trouble I can cause them. Are you willing to help?”

Shuanghui replied coolly, “What do you need?”

“I’ve received a quest to investigate Huang Batian’s manor, but sneaking in would get me caught. I need you to bring me in as a laborer with you.”

“Deal,” Shuanghui agreed readily. Bringing in another laborer would only please Huang Batian—it was no trouble.

Chen Hao had sensed Shuanghui’s rationality while hiding. He knew Shuanghui would accept, since introducing him into Huang’s manor carried no risk. After agreeing to meet the next day, Chen Hao looped around to the front gate of Li Manor and returned there.

Since Huang Batian prized the blue-and-white porcelain vase, he would surely hide it somewhere secret. Even as a laborer, Chen Hao would have difficulty finding it. If Li Pisen’s youngest son, Li Liang, could go to Huang’s manor, his chances would be much greater.

In Li Manor’s main hall, Li Liang knelt with his head bowed, while Li Pisen fumed. Seeing Chen Hao enter, Li Pisen suppressed his anger and said, “Baxian, do you have any leads?”

Chen Hao shook his head. “Not yet, teacher. Are you certain the porcelain vase is at Huang Batian’s estate?”

Li Pisen replied angrily, “This ungrateful child has confessed—he sold the vase to Huang Batian for just fifty silver dollars.”

Chen Hao shook his head. “Since it’s already sold, even if I find where the vase is, it will be difficult for teacher to reclaim it.”

Li Pisen sneered, “Huang Batian wouldn’t dare to provoke me openly. I sent my steward to ask, and he claimed he’d already sold it. If you can find out where the vase is kept, I have a way to retrieve it.”

Chen Hao smiled confidently. “I have some chance of finding out where the vase is hidden, but I’ll need your cooperation.”

“How should I cooperate?” asked Li Pisen, curious.

Chen Hao whispered in his ear, and Li Pisen nodded repeatedly. Suddenly, he erupted at Li Liang, who was still kneeling. “You wretch! Tomorrow you’ll go to Huang’s manor and bring back the blue-and-white vase for me, or I’ll throw you out of this house!”