Chapter Twenty-Five: The Peculiar Celos

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Strange Xelros

After sending his message, Shen Ce hurried to the headquarters of the Divinity Guild. With the city defense battle looming after today, he decided to check on things one last time—after all, he had no experience with such events, never having played a siege defense before. Since a C-rank guild had already held off the monster invasion for Divinity, Shen Ce wanted to ask Han Qishao if he had made any special arrangements.

When Shen Ce arrived at the entrance to the Divinity Guild, he found that everything had settled into a well-ordered routine. The patrols at the city gates, for example, were no longer players but well-equipped NPC guards. As Shen Ce tried to enter the city, he was, as expected, stopped by the NPCs. Just as Han Qishao had warned, non-guild members could not enter directly. Only after Shen Ce produced the copper token given to him by Han Qishao was he permitted inside.

His first stop was the Treasure Pavilion to see how Shui Linglong's business was faring. The Treasure Pavilion within the Divinity Guild not only shared its name with the shop in Ling Shui City but also mirrored its interior design down to the smallest detail. Stepping inside, Shen Ce was surprised to see more players browsing than he had anticipated—the business was clearly thriving.

Shui Linglong, who had been discussing equipment attributes with a customer, noticed Shen Ce and, after a brief explanation to the player, quickly approached him. “Zero, what brings you here today?”

“I was just passing by and thought I’d take a look. My main purpose this time is to ask Han Qishao about the city defense.” Shen Ce paused, glancing around. “So, what do you think? Has opening the shop here been worth it?”

Shui Linglong smiled with the shrewdness of a seasoned merchant. “So far, so good. Besides equipment, health potions are selling very well. In a few days, I plan to clear out the stock here and hand the shop over to someone else.”

Shen Ce nodded lightly. “It’s your decision. I’ll be heading out now.”

As soon as he stepped out of the Treasure Pavilion, a rich aroma of alcohol drifted by—an unmistakably familiar scent: gin! Looking up, Shen Ce caught sight of a familiar gray figure moving through the bustling trading district. The figure was noticeably shorter than those around him, with tangled hair and beard, and wore shabby, threadbare clothes.

Was that Old Dwarf Hatar? What was he doing here?

Though he only saw the figure from behind, Shen Ce was certain he wasn’t mistaken. Given Hatar’s identity, Shen Ce found it hard to believe. He remembered how he had begged endlessly back then just to have the old dwarf forge a staff for him—who could possibly have persuaded him to come out of seclusion? Shen Ce hurried after him. “Master Hatar, please wait!”

The dwarf either didn’t hear him or chose to ignore him, never slowing his pace. Fortunately, dwarves didn’t walk fast, and after a short chase, Shen Ce caught up.

Panting slightly, Shen Ce stood before Hatar and greeted him, “Master Hatar, we meet again.” To befriend a high-level dwarven craftsman was the dream of many players, and Shen Ce was no exception. Even if they weren’t friends yet, making his presence known was still a good thing.

“It’s you? Is your staff serving you well?” Hatar, bleary-eyed with drink, had lost his usual arrogance and, grinning, glanced at the staff in Shen Ce’s hand.

Shen Ce nodded, delighted that Hatar even remembered him. “It’s excellent. Master Hatar, what brings you here?”

The old dwarf wobbled in a small circle on his short legs. Just as Shen Ce suspected he was completely drunk, Hatar waved a silver-gray flask. “See this? This is why I’m here, ha!”

Shen Ce had guessed it must be about the liquor—there were surely other sharp-eyed people in the world besides him. Since he had deduced from a screenshot that gin could entice Hatar, others could have done the same. He could only wonder how many bottles of gin the Divinity Guild had bought to keep this drunkard around. Judging by Hatar’s state, it was no small amount.

“I have to offer him a bottle of gin every day to keep this living legend around.” A magnetic voice suddenly sounded behind Shen Ce. He turned to see Han Qishao, dressed in a hunter’s outfit.

A bottle of gin from the Delo Tavern was no small expense, especially for daily offerings. Shen Ce couldn’t help but marvel, “A bottle every day? Qishao, you’re the real legend here.”

Han Qishao’s lips curled in a wry, deep smile. “Not at all. Even this is only enough to keep Master Hatar for a month—if he doesn’t want to stay, there’s nothing I can do.”

Shen Ce glanced at the thoroughly inebriated dwarf. For a guild, having a high-level blacksmith was a major boon—even one month was plenty of time to accomplish much if used well. He turned to Han Qishao. “Actually, I came to ask about your plans for tomorrow’s city defense.”

Han Qishao shot him a quick, assessing look. For a non-guild member to ask about this—he found it curious, though his face betrayed nothing. With calm confidence, he pointed to several towers nearby. “I’ll station archers there. Before the first wave of monsters arrives, we’ll use volleys to block their advance. If any get through, the NPCs will form a second line of defense. After that, it’s up to the players. Zero, though you’re a priest, your offense is impressive—I’d like you as one of the main attackers. I already have people assigned to support and healing.”

Shen Ce had never intended to hide in the back as a healer, so he was quite satisfied with this arrangement. Han Qishao, seeing his lack of objection, smiled. “Then it’s settled. Zero, I have things to do, so I’ll be off.”

Shen Ce nodded. Having gotten his answers, he planned to leave as well. With time left, he intended to investigate the Ancient Battlefield and the fissure on the surface. But just as he was about to set off, he suddenly collided with a broad chest.

A stranger’s presence enveloped him, and Shen Ce instinctively took a half-step back. Narrowing his eyes, his gaze met a pair of eyes as deep as the midnight sky.

Shen Ce’s body tensed. He stared at the tall figure before him—when had this person appeared? He was as elusive as a shadow.

“Were you looking for me?” The man wore a silver mask etched with strange patterns, his eyes clear and fathomless, drawing in anyone who met them.

Shen Ce, staring at the mask, felt a prickling sense of danger—Xelros was dangerous. “When did you get here?” He was sure Xelros hadn’t been standing there a moment ago. Had he simply materialized out of thin air?

“Take a guess.”

Did Xelros really enjoy toying with him so much? Shen Ce’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, then he realized another issue. “Xelros, are you a member of the Divinity Guild?”

“Of course not.” Xelros gazed at him with lazy indifference, his voice colder and more languid than usual, tinged with a subtle allure that made one want to kiss those elegantly curved lips.

Under Xelros’s gaze, Shen Ce felt unsettled. There was nothing outwardly different about Xelros—so why did it feel impossible to meet his eyes directly?

Perhaps it was those eyes—too seductive, too dangerous. For a man to exude such a captivating aura was indeed rare.

Shen Ce forcibly suppressed the agitation in his heart and frowned. “So, are you here for the city defense at Han Qishao’s invitation, like me?” If not, how had Xelros gotten in? Were the gate NPCs just for show?

Xelros’s lips curled in an arrogant, mocking smile, as if he saw through Shen Ce’s doubts and disdained to answer. “I go wherever I want. I don’t need anyone’s invitation.”

Though Xelros was known among players as one of the strongest, such arrogance made Shen Ce privately classify him as a megalomaniac.

Shen Ce’s mouth twitched again. He realized that questioning Xelros had been a mistake—perhaps that mask not only concealed his stats, but also deceived the level 30 guards at the gate. “Xelros, did you see my private message? I wanted to ask if you’re interested in joining me for an S-rank side quest in the Divine-Demonic War. We’d go to the demon territory together.”

At these words, Xelros’s expression turned cold, his deep gaze suddenly unreadable. “Zero, if you encounter demons, would you attack them on sight?”

Shen Ce was puzzled by this abrupt shift, but answered readily, “Of course not.”

A faint smile played on Xelros’s pale lips, but it faded as Shen Ce finished his thought. “It depends if the other party is a player. If they’re players and we don’t cross paths, why stir up conflict? As for NPCs, I’d attack—they’re set up by the system, and NPCs would show no mercy to enemy players.”

Xelros’s silvery cloak fluttered in the wind. Standing straight in the street, he seemed utterly out of place with his surroundings.

Seeing Xelros’s darkened expression, Shen Ce felt a flash of insight. Considering Xelros was an assassin skilled in stealth, a realization dawned on him. “Xelros, are you suggesting we disguise ourselves as demons to infiltrate their ranks? That way, we’d avoid open conflict and buy more time.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xelros nodded. Shen Ce took it at face value. “Since you agree, I’ll share the quest with you now.” With a partner, Shen Ce decided to postpone his plan to dissolve their in-game marriage, since the couple’s skills would be useful for the quest.

After the system notification, Shen Ce breathed a sigh of relief. “By the way, Xelros, I still owe you the gear that dropped from the Snow Cliff snake hunt—”

“No need. You’re sharing an S-rank quest with me; that’s payment enough,” Xelros cut in coolly.

Shen Ce was caught off guard, thinking Xelros was even more eccentric than himself. Feeling awkward, he offered, “How about I give you a set of assassin’s gear instead?”

Xelros nodded absently, then fixed Shen Ce with a sharp, probing stare. “Zero, tell me—what do you think is the difference between killing an NPC and killing a player?”