Chapter Five: The Game Begins

Leaving the library, Wang Liang pressed his dizzy head. He felt as if his familiar world was receding from him, and a new one was unfolding before his eyes.

“So this is what immortals are like,” he muttered.

Just as he stepped out of the library, a sudden beam of violet light shot up nearby, as if a pillar of radiance had descended from the heavens, landing somewhere at the far end of the square.

Several people in the square noticed the violet glow as well, and they hurried in that direction. As they moved, they chatted amongst themselves.

“At last, another random world has spawned. Hurry up, don’t let someone else snatch the advantage.”

“Haha, I’m going to wreak havoc again.”

“This time it’s violet—truly rare, a neutral one.”

Bewildered by the scene before him, Wang Liang wanted to stop one of the rushing players to ask what was happening, but the player simply brushed his hand aside.

“What are you standing around for? Run!”

Without understanding what was going on, Wang Liang was swept up in the surging crowd, squeezed along towards the violet light. Several times he tried to break away, knowing all too well what could happen if he was carried off by the throng. But he was simply too weak—any player here far out-leveled him, and he couldn’t even push his way clear. Instead, he stumbled and was jostled along with everyone else, plunging straight into the pillar of violet light.

In the next instant, the world spun wildly. A blast of heat washed over him, and before his eyes stretched a vast expanse of yellow sand and blinding sunlight.

“Wh-where is this?” Wang Liang stammered.

He had once campaigned in the Western Regions and had crossed deserts more than once, but never had he seen a scene like this.

Just then, a voice sounded behind him. “Desert terrain—most likely some corner of the Silk Road. Let’s figure out which era we’re in.”

Turning, Wang Liang saw that several men and women had appeared behind him, though he hadn’t noticed them arrive. Most wore the garments of Taoist priests, though a few dressed as military officers, and some wore an odd mix of styles that looked rather bizarre.

Before Wang Liang could get a good look, a young man with a goatee produced a compass and began making calculations, aligning it with the sky.

Wang Liang was himself skilled in divination, but he had never seen methods like this. Curiosity got the better of him, and he watched intently.

The young man spoke. “I see the shadows of white deer and gray wolf. The dragon vein is receding; the destined ruler must already be born. Judging by the flow of the dragon vein, this should be the Yuan dynasty.”

“Gray wolf and white deer? Yuan dynasty? That means the great one is already dead. Can we tell which version this is?”

“That’s hard to say. But whichever version, it won’t be easy.”

Wang Liang had no idea what they were talking about. Only when their discussion ended did he approach and ask, “Excuse me, could I—”

He didn’t even finish his sentence before the leader glanced at him. “A newcomer?”

“Uh, yes, I just entered the game,” Wang Liang replied, adapting quickly. “My name is Wang Ji Long, the Jack of All Trades. May I ask—”

“No need for introductions,” someone interrupted. “If we accept you into the team, we’ll know your name. If we don’t, it’s pointless.”

Wang Liang realized that although these people seemed to be together, they were clearly not of one mind.

The leader was a bearded Taoist, dressed in plain robes with his sleeves tied up for convenience. He carried a large leather pouch on his back and wore a pair of shoes, one of which was so worn that his toes showed through. He looked every inch a wandering swordsman. It was he who had spoken to Wang Liang, and only when he spoke did the others quiet down.

Behind him were two men and two women. The two women were obviously a pair, while the two men each seemed preoccupied with their own thoughts.

One of the men was the goateed youth who had just performed the divination. He wore a Taoist robe, much cleaner than the leader’s, with a blue straight-collared gown and double sleeves, giving him a rather refined air. On his back he carried something like a scholar’s satchel, its contents unknown to Wang Liang, but with copper coins, mirrors, figurines, and wooden talismans dangling from the outside.

The other man was shorter and stockier, clean-shaven, dressed in a brown short jacket, with sleeves stained in grease and a small hand axe hanging from his belt. His arms were thick and powerful, his origins a mystery.

Compared to these three rather casually attired men, the two women were strikingly refined. Both were around one meter sixty tall, with delicate, slightly pointed faces, snowy skin, and bright, lively eyes—altogether very beautiful.

Most remarkably, the two looked so alike that one might mistake them for sisters.

Unlike the three men, the women wore military attire. The taller of the two was clad in red iron armor, its surface adorned with golden patterns. What left Wang Liang at a loss for words was that the armor was clearly tailored to her figure—accentuating her curves—and left a patch of snowy white midriff exposed. He couldn’t fathom what part of her this armor was supposed to be protecting. In her hands she held a two-meter-long halberd as red as fire, matching her armor perfectly.

The other woman’s armor was far less complete—only half a suit, fashioned from a mix of plate, scale, and leather, covering her head, shoulders, chest, and arms, while her skirt beneath was mostly cloth. Still, her entire outfit, armor and dress alike, was white, embroidered with silver and blue cloud patterns, lending her an air of mystery. Instead of a heavy weapon, she wielded a pair of ribbon-like whips.

Fortunately, none of them looked at Wang Liang with hostility or disdain; if anything, they seemed intrigued.

The bearded leader spoke crisply. “You seem to be a new player. Perfect—you can help us gain some experience. All right, tell us about your abilities and your quest, so we can help you advance.”

“I, I’m a—” Wang Liang began.

But before he could finish, someone cut him off. “Not that. Tell us your stats and quest.”

“How do I see those?”

“Obvious newbie. Just think ‘attributes’ in your mind.”

“Oh.”

Wang Liang responded, silently reciting ‘attributes’ in his mind, and opened his status panel.