I put the path of the rabbit into my inventory, then gleefully examined Dudu Rabbit's mask from all angles. This agility and speed boost is just too powerful. I figure my movement and attack speed are about on par with a level 30 Assassin. Overjoyed, I concealed the red glow and put on Dudu Rabbit's mask.
"Ah！ Big brother, that's a beautiful rabbit mask. Can I take a look？"
"Rabbit bro, you've got such style—I wanna marry you!"
"Dude, what monster dropped your mask? I wanna grab one for my wife."
"Handsome, I've been waiting my whole 20 years of youth just to have you as my husband."
"Ugh, a trap. Why would a grown man wear a rabbit mask?"
………
Amid the amazed cries of some players, I quickly pushed through the crowd and ran toward the northwest corner of the village. What the hell was that about? I almost got cornered by a few dinosaurs. I'll have to keep a low profile in cities from now on.
Just as I reached the village gate, I suddenly remembered I hadn't dealt with the equipment in my backpack yet.
Crap！ Those dinosaurs almost scared me into forgetting what was important. I took off the mask and ran toward the pharmacy. That Black Bear sounded like no pushover—I needed to be fully prepared.
Seriously, how could Longfei Corp be so greedy? The Small Red and Small Blue potions are still bearable at 50 silver each, but the other items are way too expensive：
Medium Life Recovery Potion: Recovers 50 HP per second for 10 seconds. Price at pharmacy: 2 gold.
Medium Mana Recovery Potion: Recovers 50 MP per second for 10 seconds. Price at pharmacy: 2 gold.
Town Portal Scroll: Instantly teleports back to town when not in combat. Price at pharmacy: 5 gold.
I gloomily counted the 15 gold coins in my pocket. What good would that do? I had no choice but to buy a Town Portal Scroll. Forget Medium Red Potions—I still had 20 Small Reds and 18 Small Blues, which should be enough. So it seemed that despite the high prices, starting out wasn't too hard for newbies—self-reliance was no problem.
Arriving at Blacksmith Uncle's weapon shop, level 5 equipment costs at least 3 gold coins at the store, but recycling player equipment only gives 1 gold coin—still such a rip-off.
But because of the big price difference, players can only make a profit by selling equipment. I understand that. I was going to sell all my level 5 gear to the shop, but now I've changed my mind.
Players can set up stalls to sell things starting at level 5. I found a place with heavy foot traffic, set up my stall, and shouted out： Cheap sale of level 5 equipment, blue equipment available, blue gear 2 gold coins, normal gear 1.5 gold coins, limited stock, first come first served!
Right now, most players are around level 5, which is exactly when they need level 5 gear. Plus, completing the Blacksmith and Apothecary quests gives 2 gold coins, so the equipment in my backpack was quickly snapped up.
Although the drop rate in the novice village is relatively easy, the current situation is that all players are gathered together—few monsters, many players—so equipment isn't easy to come by. Many players reaching level 5 can't even gather a full set of level 5 gear. Besides my high luck making it easy to get equipment, I also have the advantage of fighting higher-level monsters with no competition.
It was pretty tough for me, though. I know my situation—I can't just pull out all my equipment at once. That would definitely attract other players' attention. This time, I'm playing <King> with a low profile, unlike before when I was all glorious in the game. A lot of the time, fame is a burden.
It took a bit of time, but I gradually sold off all the equipment in my backpack. In a novice village with tens of thousands of players, my 30-plus pieces of equipment went completely unnoticed.
Heh, after selling all the gear, my first deal was a success. I had over 70 gold coins in my pocket—considered a bit of starting capital.
Then I went to the pharmacy and spent 20 gold coins to buy 10 medium red potions. You can't be stingy when buying potions—you have to spend that money. Potions are the foundation for staying alive.
After getting everything ready, looking at my current gear and stats, I'm definitely unbeatable in the novice village. This guy started fantasizing again.
There are two goals now: one is to kill the black bear and complete Grandpa Village Chief's only hidden quest, and the other is to quickly level up to 10, change class early. Wasting time on low-level monsters in the beginner village is not a wise move.
I run to a secluded spot at the village entrance, put on the ghost equipment Dudu Rabbit's mask, and try to stretch my limbs. Thanks to the buff from Dudu Rabbit's mask, my movement speed is now 7—I run like the wind—and my attack speed is 4. I test it on a few small monsters; my swing speed and reactions are incredibly sharp. This feeling is almost like real fighting. This game 'The King' is really something.
"Black bear, here I come." I'm full of confidence now.
But just as I'm about to have a big fight, the system gives a prompt：
"Ding-dong, Stone City, you have been in the game for 9 hours. Please take a rest and protect your health. If you stay online for 10 consecutive hours, the system will automatically log you out."
Man, I've already been playing for 9 hours without realizing it. The online game 'The King' is so realistic and excellent that I got lost in it and forgot the time. It wasn't until the system prompted me that I felt my stomach rumbling.
Alright, logging off, taking a break, grabbing some food. No matter what, a good routine is the key to success.
What should I eat? Eating alone really kills my appetite.
I live with my little sister now. Being a grown man, I naturally can't cook. My little sister volunteered to cook for me, but after trying her cooking, I immediately hired a housekeeper, Aunt Zhang, to cook and do the housework.
After my little sister went traveling, Aunt Zhang took a month off to go back to her hometown. So it's just me at home during this time, and I have to cook for myself.
Cook for myself, no problem. Just throw a pack of instant noodles in a bowl—lazy people have lazy ways. Eat whatever, convenience first, don't care about taste.
My little sister went traveling, leaving me alone at home. Without this little demon girl causing trouble and annoying me, it's actually quiet and pleasant. But with the whole empty room being just me, it does feel a bit lonely.
I wonder what Li Tong is doing and when she'll be back at school. I dialed Li Tong's phone number.
Li Tong and I were classmates in the same major in university. She got guaranteed postgraduate admission in senior year. It's summer break now, and she's gone back home.
“Hey！ Lin Feng, having dinner, huh.”
Li Tong's stunningly beautiful face appeared on the video call screen, smiling at me. Her simple and free-flowing scattered hair drifted in the wind, crescent-shaped brows paired with bright eyes giving a wonderfully refreshing feeling. In her radiant splendor, she is like a luminous pearl and beautiful jade, her snow-white skin crystal clear, and her elegant, refined face utterly captivating.
That gentle smile is like the sunlight in spring, intoxicating and filled with warmth, without a trace of worry.
Li Tong is just this remarkable. Especially the gentle smile on her extraordinarily elegant face brings a soothing and intimate feeling. Among all the girls I have met, even those as stunningly beautiful as Li Tong do not possess this quality.
Li Tong's beauty alone could deeply shock people, making them feel she is unreachable and untouchable. Yet because of this gentle and elegant smile, Li Tong makes those who see her overlook her beauty and shock, forget their troubles, and instantly feel a sense of closeness.
A gentle and warm smile—this is Li Tong's trait, as bright as spring sunshine, like a blooming lily with a faint, lingering fragrance.
“Yeah.”
“What's up? Is something the matter? Why haven't you called me for so long?” Li Tong smiled, pouting her lips, playfully and reproachfully questioning someone.
“Nothing much. I miss you, so I called. When are you coming back to school？”
“Hmph, stinky big brother, only thinking about beauties, not caring about your little sister.” A stunningly delicate face squeezed in from the side, appearing on the video call screen.
Her features were exquisitely perfect, as if carved by divine craftsmanship, flawless in every way. With an alabaster nose, rosebud mouth, and willow-leaf eyebrows, paired with her jet-black eyes, she appeared exceptionally delicate and beautiful, with an extra touch of cleverness and intelligence. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail that bounced behind her, adding a burst of youth and vitality.
How could it be her? When did she get together with Li Tong?
This delicate, exquisite face belonged to none other than my lively little sister—Lin Yuxin, the little witch who often leaves me feeling helpless.
I was extremely surprised, even shocked. Two stunningly beautiful faces appeared on my video-call phone screen, forming a breathtaking picture together.
One was gentle, warm, and elegant, with a hint of reproach and grievance; the other was youthful, fragrant, and mischievous, brimming with pride and vitality. Although I knew both beauties very well, seeing them together in this scene still left me utterly stunned.
“Haha, dumb big bro, now your eyes are wide open, huh? Didn’t want to travel with me—missed out on the chance to get close to a beauty. Regret it, disappointed, huh? Serves you right.” My little sister winked at me triumphantly, mercilessly rubbing it in for the man who wouldn’t join her trip.
But her teasing didn’t have much effect, because the breathtaking beauty revealed by those two peerless faces had already short-circuited someone’s brain. Especially when my little sister rubbed her cheek against Li Tong’s jade-like face, exuding endless temptation, it made me incredibly envious.
“Ah! Sister Tong, look quick—dumb big bro not only has his eyes wide open, his mouth is wide open too. He’s about to drool!”
What, drool? How dare you slander your big bro like that? Sure, I was a little out of it, but there’s no way I’d embarrass myself that badly. Still, I’d better get myself together fast, so I don’t ruin my glorious image.
“What are you talking about? Weren’t you supposed to be traveling with your classmates? How are you with Sister Tong?”
“My class trip ended three days ago, and since you won’t play with me, and going home is boring, I came over to Sister Tong’s place. Sister Tong is so nice—she even took me to Yuhuatai to hang out.”
After saying that, my little sister smugly wrapped her arms around Li Tong’s neck—such an enviable sight.
“Little sister, you’re so heartless. If you’d said so earlier, I would’ve come too.”
“Stinky Big Bro, you’re so fake. How dare you say that? Why didn’t you invite Sister Tong to go out together? Did you expect her to beg you? I despise you, Big Bro.”
“......” Her words left me speechless.
“I didn’t plan to go out either—I was just bored at home. Little sister happened to come over, so we went out. We’ve only played for two days, and I’ll be heading back in two more. Otherwise, I would’ve called you to come over,” Li Tong said, bailing me out like always. She always shows up when I need her most.
“Sister Tong is too soft-hearted. Stinky Big Bro not only won’t play with me, he won’t even play with you—he definitely needs to be taught a lesson.”
“Li Tong, call me before you come back to school, and I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
Little sister’s attack today was too fierce. I was left with no words to defend myself. Since that’s the case, I’ll just ignore her existence and pretend I didn’t hear a thing.
“Mm, I might stay home for a few more days. I’ll call you when I’m heading back.”
“Okay.” Li Tong’s smile was intoxicating.
“Little sister, did you have fun? Next time I’ll definitely come with you. Any gifts for me?”
“Nope, I’m definitely not buying you any gifts. But I do have plenty of beautiful photos of two gorgeous ladies—just depends on whether someone has the awareness and the luck to see them.” Little sister proudly waved the camera in her hand.
“Little sister, Big Bro was wrong. When you get back, I’ll give you a massage.” I quickly tried to butter her up—I have to see Li Tong’s travel photos.
“No gifts? What a shame. But that’s okay—just remember to take lots of photos. I can’t wait to admire the graceful figures of the two beauties.” Some guy was already starting to fantasize.
“Hehe, look at you, you stinky big brother, such a lecher. You know what? In several scenic spots, they wanted Sister Tong to be their image ambassador, and a few people even invited her to shoot commercials.”
“There’s no such thing. Don’t listen to little sis’s nonsense.” Li Tong quickly interrupted little sis.
“Oh, really？” My tone was obviously full of doubt towards Li Tong’s answer.
Li Tong’s peerless, jade-like beauty and that gentle smile of hers had absolutely devastating charm. She definitely had that kind of ability. I believed little sis.
“One scenic spot did contact me, but I didn’t agree.” Seeing that I believed little sis, Li Tong immediately explained herself, though a faint blush crept onto her jade-like face, revealing endless shyness.
“Alright, I hope you, big brother, will wake up soon. The cable car is here; we’re getting on Yuhua Terrace now. Gotta go.” Little sis mercilessly hung up the phone.
Li Tong, I’m so sorry. I owe you way too much. My heart felt dark, a mix of happiness and regret filling my chest.
“Li Tong!” I silently recited her name. Maybe I should just let go of my baggage.