“Waist-Length Hair” used multiple exclamation marks in a row to emphasize her determination.
She was going to show these people what a true monster looked like!
What a real beauty was!
Ye Shaohua couldn’t understand why the other person was sending private messages when they were literally right across from each other.
[Private Message] First Light on Leaves: Wait, come back!
[Private Message] Waist-Length Hair: Don’t stop me!
[Private Message] First Light on Leaves: Come back. I’ll craft you a Divine Ethereal Jade Pendant.
Waist-Length Hair knew Ye Shaohua disliked posting photos, so she wasn’t actually planning to expose her—she just wanted to vent her frustration.
By then, Ye Shaohua had already obliterated the boss.
[System Announcement] Congratulations to player “First Light on Leaves” for defeating the Flame Beast! Reward: Divine-grade Azure Sky Belt x1!
[System Announcement] Congratulations to player “Under Heaven”…
This was the advantage of the Guild Leader Token—it unlocked numerous dungeons, some of which could drop divine-tier equipment.
However, not just anyone could clear these dungeons.
Under Heaven’s team had a few newbies with them. Without Ye Shaohua, they wouldn’t have stood a chance.
This was also why Lone Boat on the Sea of Love and the others hadn’t objected when Ye Shaohua joined.
Following guild rules, everyone handed their loot to Under Heaven, the party leader, for distribution.
When Ye Shaohua saw the Azure Sky Belt, she typed in the party chat:
[Party] First Light on Leaves: I’ll take the Azure Sky Belt. I’ve deposited 200,000 gold in the guild treasury—keep the rest.
This belt had a synergy effect with her Azure Sky Staff, granting additional stats.
Under Heaven had invited her specifically for this belt, so he didn’t refuse.
After all, she had carried the entire run.
But then, Dancing with Shadows spoke up hesitantly, “First Light… I also need a belt. Could you let me have this one?”
Waist-Length Hair sneered. “The audacity.”
Lone Boat on the Sea of Love cut in, “Under Heaven, I’ll pay double for it. What do you say?”
Ye Shaohua ignored them.
She waited for Under Heaven to initiate the trade. Once done, she’d leave the party.
But instead of trading, Under Heaven sent her a private message:
[Private Message] Under Heaven: Xiao Ye, Dancing with Shadows just messaged me. She really does need a belt—she’s still using a level 90 one. You already have a max-level high-tier belt.
[Private Message] Under Heaven: I know you want the set bonus, but how about this? Tomorrow, I’ll run the dungeon with you again until we get another Azure Sky Belt.
[Private Message] Under Heaven: I’ve already traded the belt to Dancing with Shadows.
[System Announcement] Through sheer perseverance, player “Dancing with Shadows” has obtained a Perfect-grade Azure Sky Belt!
On the other side of the screen, An Xun smirked at Ye Shaohua’s in-game avatar as if watching a clown.
Ye Shaohua read each word carefully.
She didn’t reply.
Instead, she did three things:
-
Blocked Under Heaven.
-
Left the party.
-
Warned Waist-Length Hair: “Stay back.”
These three words came through Waist-Length Hair’s voice chat—clear, cold, and sharp, like jade shattering against stone.
Under Heaven and the others froze upon hearing her voice for the second time.
As for Lone Boat on the Sea of Love and his group, who were hearing it for the first time, they were stunned.
Before Orange and the others could ask who that was, their screens abruptly turned grayscale.
[Global Announcement] Overseas reports: Player “First Light on Leaves” has defeated the number one mage, “Under Heaven”! How astonishing!
[Global Announcement] Overseas reports: Player “First Light on Leaves” has gone on a rampage, slaying player “Wandering Poet”!
[Global Announcement] Overseas reports: Player “First Light on Leaves” has ascended to godhood, annihilating player “Lone Boat on the Sea of Love”!
[Global Announcement] …
Since this dungeon allowed PvP after completion, even guildmates could turn on each other.
Ye Shaohua slaughtered them all without mercy.
Except for Waist-Length Hair.
[World Chat] Orange: First Light on Leaves, are you insane? Just because you’re jealous that Under Heaven gave the belt to Dancing with Shadows, you pull this crap?
The world chat erupted—some marveling at how First Light on Leaves had soloed eight players, others debating the drama.
The most bewildered was Lin Ye (Under Heaven).
Staring at his grayscale screen, he hurriedly opened a private chat with First Light on Leaves:
Xiao Ye, are you mad?
But the message wouldn’t send.
He had been blocked.
“Under Heaven, did First Light get angry because of me?” Dancing with Shadows sighed.
Lin Ye frowned. He didn’t get why this was such a big deal—he’d even promised to help her farm another belt. “It’s not your fault.”
Seeing that his friend, One Sword Steeps in Wine, had come online, Lin Ye immediately messaged him.
Chu Yun (One Sword Steeps in Wine) read the message but didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he skimmed the world chat.
[World Chat] Orange: Exactly! First Light on Leaves is just petty. We’re allied with the Windrider Guild, and she killed us anyway. Ugly people love making trouble.
Chu Yun’s fingers moved.
He opened a private chat with Waist-Length Hair.
[Private Message] One Sword Steeps in Wine: What happened?
Overjoyed, Waist-Length Hair recounted the events with dramatic flair.
[Private Message] Waist-Length Hair: That’s how it went, Big God! Don’t you think Under Heaven went too far? He promised Xiao Ye first! If I were her, I’d be furious!
Chu Yun’s lips thinned.
[Private Message] One Sword Steeps in Wine: Understood.
He closed the chat.
Just then, a stranger’s message popped up.
[Nearby] Dancing with Shadows: Big God One Sword, First Light didn’t mean to kill us. Please don’t blame her.
Chu Yun blocked the sender without hesitation.
Then, he opened the guild interface.
By now, Dancing with Shadows, Lone Boat on the Sea of Love, Under Heaven, and the others had respawned at the revival point.
[System Announcement] Guild Leader “Under Heaven” of the Windrider Guild has dissolved the alliance with the Yearning Boat Guild!
This notification made Dancing with Shadows’ fingers tremble. “What’s happening?”
Lone Boat on the Sea of Love was equally stunned. “Vice Leader Under Heaven, what’s your guild leader doing?”
Lin Ye was just as confused. Was Chu Yun really doing this for First Light on Leaves?
Before he could ask, another announcement followed.
[System Announcement] Guild Leader “One Sword Steeps in Wine” of the Windrider Guild has kicked the number one mage, “Under Heaven,” from the guild!
Waist-Length Hair clutched her stomach, laughing hysterically.
Finally, some justice!
In the office, Lin Ye glanced nervously at Chu Yun.
Chu Yun didn’t look at him, but the icy aura radiating from him was unmistakable.
Lin Ye wanted to ask, “You’re going this far for a woman?”
But he didn’t dare. Instead, he said, “Fourth Brother, I was wrong. I’ll apologize, okay? I already gave the belt away, but I’ll grind day and night for Xiao Ye until I get her another one!”
Chu Yun was an enigma.
Lin Ye and their circle addressed him respectfully as “Fourth Brother.”
Years ago, when Lin Ye’s family clashed with a local gangster in Qing City, Lin Ye nearly had his legs broken. Chu Yun happened to pass by and saved him.
Since then, Lin Ye had followed Chu Yun faithfully.
Compared to Chu Yun, a game meant nothing.
Chu Yun only said one thing: “Unless she forgives you.”
Lin Ye was shocked. Was Chu Yun really interested in First Light on Leaves?
But then he thought of her in-game appearance…
Lin Ye shook his head. Getting into the Chu family would be impossible.
A few days later, dark circles under his eyes, Lin Ye finally delivered a new Azure Sky Belt to Ye Shaohua.
She accepted it without protest and “forgave” him.
Not because she was magnanimous.
But because—
Lin Ye had never mattered to her in the first place.
It made no difference.
Had it been Chu Yun who betrayed her, her reaction would’ve been entirely different.
Because he mattered.
Ye Shaohua logged off, changed clothes, and headed out.
“Xiao Ye,” her professor’s voice came through the phone, “you’ll have to deliver the USB to the Chu Corporation alone today. Professor Xu and I are working on a new project. Thanks for your hard work.”
The professor hung up before she could refuse, utterly unrepentant about dumping this task on his star student.
Ye Shaohua chuckled. “Alright, old man.”
USB in hand, she arrived at the Chu Corporation.
“I’m here to see Assistant Xu,” she told the receptionist.
The receptionist, noting Ye Shaohua’s demeanor, didn’t doubt her and called Assistant Xu directly.
Nearby, Lin Ye, who had just stepped off the elevator, froze at the sound of a familiar voice.
First Light on Leaves’ voice was unforgettable—once heard, it couldn’t be mistaken.
Instinctively, he rushed toward the entrance.
