Thriller Paradise

And the other was…

———

Name: Energy-Storing Sanleng Thorns

Type: Weapon

Quality: Excellent

Offense Point: Slightly Strong

Element: None

Special Effect: one hundred percent chance of inflicting a bleeding effect (When fighting against an opponent, such an effect can be inflicted): based on the level of energy stored, it will provide additional 1-100 percent extra damage.

Equip Requirement: Fighting C, Level 30

Remark: The weapon will auto generate energy at a rate of one percent every second.

———

Master Blades was a man of his words. Even though they did not sign a contract to complement their verbal promise, if Flashes of Swords wished to deny it ever happened, Feng Bujue had nothing to say, but Master Blades was very kind and honorable. Actually, he could have mailed three trash items to Feng Bujue and said that they were from the hard disc, there was no way for Feng Bujue to tell he was lying. But he did not do that. Be it the grenade box or these two items, they were very effective and powerful. These three wouldn't be bound to one's account so it meant that even if Feng Bujue had no use for them, he could sell them at the Auction House. Of course, Brother Jue wouldn't do that. These things were good stuff. Even if he didn't have use for them, he could give them to his guild members.

"Brother Feng, I have given you all the things you ask for. I hope you are satisfied with their quality. And I'm sure you have seen the message about the competition this morning. You will join it, I'm sure. I anticipate fighting you again in the competition! So, do not get eliminated too soon!"

That was the content of the mail Flashes of Swords sent that morning of the 20th…

"This is f*cking blackmail!" Feng Bujue mocked. "It's just that our duel had been interrupted that one time! Does he need to hold onto it for that long‽"

Then Brother Jue opened the second mail that was from Shiva. "Brother Feng has been noticeably busy for the past few days and hasn't been online. I have something that I do wish to discuss with you in person. Hopefully, I will hear from you soon." After reading that, Feng Bujue studied it for three seconds before laughing. He then replied swiftly, "Thank you for the kind offer. Let's not bring this up again."

After two hours, when Shiva exited a scenario and saw this reply. It was like… a male student stuffing a love letter into a girl's drawer to ask her out for a date after school, but before the end of the school, he got a return message that said, "You are a good person but let's stay friends."

In the next ten minutes, Feng Bujue read through the mails from other friends or players that he had gamed with recently. Seven Kills, King of Shadows, Weighty Words, Autumn Zither, Atobe-sama, Zen Dream, and Ambitionist. None forgot about him. All the mail had to do with the competition, and they could be categorized into three types. Other than the threats and those who tried to draw him into their camp, there were some strange ones. For example, Jin Fugui's mail was as followed, "Birth can't make a great person, while his endeavor does."

Feng Bujue had a hard time assessing what the man was trying to say with this epithet. Could it be a different kind of threatening method? To show that oneself would work extra hard before the goal to achieve a threatening effect?

In any case, Brother Jue got inspired on the spot and replied with a limerick of his own, "Since ancient times, great epithets came from the brothels. The talent of a man not on the ranking is most admirable." He used that to deter the leader of the male gigolos. Hopefully, he would be more satisfied in his given role.

…

After dealing with the mails and putting away the items, Feng Bujue took a stroll to the marketplace and then accepted the invitation from Xiao Tan to go to his conference room. The other members from Underworld Frontline were already there waiting for him. When Brother Jue walked in, Xiao Tan and Laughing Soul were sitting at the table, examining the properties of several equipment through the 3D device. Passing Rain though stood to the side with her back on the wall, her arms crossed before her chest and her eyes closed in resting mode.

After the Blade Duel at Chang Lin, Passing Rain took Feng Bujue's advice to change a new outfit. Considering the element of mobility, heat and cold resistance, and so on, after some back and forth, she purchased a whole set of 'Recon Corps' gear from the marketplace. The set's upper body was a light brown long-sleeved jacket, and the collar was a rounded collar turned outward; the jacket didn't reach the waist, only the ribcage. Underneath it was a white pantsuit joined to the bottom gear which was a pair of tight pants. The feet were covered in a pair of knee-high dark brown leather boots. Around her waist, there was a sash and suspenders that connected her boots to the jacket.

Of course, this set did not have the intertwining wings symbols from the actual Recon Corps. Instead, it had the guild symbol for Underworld Frontline.

"Yo guys, long time no see." Feng Bujue walked in with this greeting.

"It's just three or four days…" Laughing Soul retorted weakly.

Xiao Tan lifted his head to ask, "Brother Jue, how's your manuscript coming along?"

"Of course, I've handled it nicely before I dared to come online," Feng Bujue answered as he turned his head to Passing Rain. The two held the gaze for several seconds. Feng Bujue hummed. "Hmm, the gaze that you level at me today is slightly unnatural."

"Oh?" Passing Rain replied in her signature even and emotionless tone, "Then how should I look at you to be considered normal?"

"The kind of expression… that even if you suddenly charge forward to stab me, it wouldn't seem out of place."

Passing Rain turned her face away and moved her eyes from Feng Bujue's face and huffed coldly. "Humph… Such uncouthness."

"Ah… I'm being scolded by this term that is not beeped out by the system again…" Feng Bujue smiled as he walked to the conference table. "But I deserve it."

"Your sense of humor is a combination of childish juvenility and a pervert's perverseness." Passing Rain's lips curled into a fleeting smile, but she soon hid it away. "I suppose this is what they called, 'Godlike Annoyance'," she said as she also sat down at the table.

"Come on, let's talk about the game," Feng Bujue said. "First, have any of you noticed there is a new hidden character who has found his way up to the second place on the combat stat ranking?"

Laughing Soul reacted the fastest. "Leader, you're not telling me that's you, right?"

"Right, that's me." Feng Bujue shrugged. His tone didn't sound like he was joking, so his friends were all shocked.

"For real?" Xiao Tan's eyes widened. Before Feng Bujue answered, Passing Rain interrupted with a meaningful, "I thought so…"

"Oh? You have predicted it was me from the start?" Hearing that, Feng Bujue asked her with some suspicion.

"Yes," Passing Rain answered.

"Erm… other than 'yes', is there anything else you want to add? Like… why?" Feng Bujue prompted.

"I have nothing else to say." Passing Rain shrugged. Since the girl didn't want to tell them, Feng Bujue did not push it. He changed the subject. "Fine… in any case, I just want to remind everyone, I am considered an expert player now, so when you queue up with me, you have to be prepared because the difficulty might increase."

"Is that so… This shall be interesting," Laughing Soul chimed in. She used a cunning look to look at Passing Rain. "Shall I even bring up the suggestion… that we were discussing earlier?"

Feng Bujue looked around to ask, "What suggestion?"

"Practice matches within the guild." Passing Rain gave the succinct answer.

When Feng Bujue heard that, he understood most of it already. "Oh… Good idea!" He paused to look at Laughing Soul, but his finger was pointing at Xiao Tan. "Well, you sure are concerned about this kid…"

"Ah? What do you mean?" Xiao Tan looked blank.

"You don't get it?" Brother Feng laughed. "Never mind then." He leaned back in his chair and turned to tell Laughing Soul, "Then I presume you have already figured out how to split the four of us into groups?"

"Naturally, it shall be the principle of the strongest matching with the weakest. Previously I thought it would be me and you one group and Xiao Tan and my cousin another group." Laughing Soul replied, "But now… it'll be split by gender."

Feng Bujue nodded. "That's the best arrangement. That way we can maintain the balance of the power level and separate those participating in the competition and those who won't."

Passing Rain added, "Then we shall discuss the details and prepare to get this going."