Chapter 24

Amuruo said Dwarves would come to help, and indeed, Dwarves came.

Xia Xifeng looked at the Dwarves carrying large hammers, and behind the Dwarf engineering team, Half-Elves also carrying large hammers, wearing loose vests and safety helmets… Amuruo had even sent the official city construction team from Green Sand City.

Of course, the official city construction team was here to earn extra income. Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang’s debt, without them even agreeing to it, skyrocketed once more.

They hurriedly wrote supplementary IOUs.

Defaulting on debt was out of the question; it was a matter of principle.

The official city construction team was truly wonderful!

In the game, the official city construction team also appeared.

Player-built homes were, in setting, “Pioneer Knight Domains.” When players expanded their new home, an official city construction team cutscene would play. Depending on which main city the player’s “Pioneer Knight Domain” was affiliated with, the construction team’s cutscene differed.

The style of Green Sand City’s—this “starter village”—official city construction team had been roasted by players many times.

Dwarves, Humans, even Dragonborn carrying big hammers—their style was still acceptable. But those Half-Elves truly let themselves go.

Thankfully, the Elven style was still quite proper.

Among all the official city construction teams, only the Elves still dressed beautifully, wielding staves, and commanding golems to build cities.

Seeing that the person leading the construction team was Damon again, Xia Xifeng couldn’t help but complain, “Is the entire Green Sand City short on labor, leaving only you?”

Damon said helplessly, “Of course not. But you two have too many secrets; the City Lord doesn’t feel comfortable sending anyone else. You’ll be seeing me often in the future. Touched?”

Xia Xifeng said, “Touched about what? Even if you weren’t assigned to work here, wouldn’t you still come to my place every day to mooch meals?”

Damon was speechless. “Do you think I’m as thick-skinned as Leo? Who would bother you and Qin Lang every single day?”

Visiting a cohabiting couple every day to play third wheel would invite divine retribution, alright?

Leo popped his head in. “Did I just hear someone speaking ill of me?”

Perila wrapped Leo in vines and dragged him away.

Once the infrastructure of the Knight’s Domain began construction, adventurers with experience immediately realized this Knight’s Domain was a great place. The number of people wanting to join finally increased.

They had to help Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang interview prospective members for the Knight’s Domain; they were extremely busy.

Although Perila was also impatient with these tedious matters, they had promised Xia Xifeng, so they had to do it well.

Running away was absolutely forbidden!

Leo: “Perila, I wasn’t running away, just taking a break.”

Perila: “Heh.”

Damon watched Leo and Perila walk off into the distance, feeling a sense of desolation in his heart.

Why were all his friends paired up? Couldn’t they just be happy bachelors like him?

Listening to Damon’s muttering, Xia Xifeng thought Damon was only talking about Leo and Perila and didn’t relate it to himself.

He sympathetically patted Damon’s shoulder.

Give it up. You’re the designated companion character the game devs left specifically for players. How could you have a CP? If you don’t devote yourself wholeheartedly to the players, how would players cry their eyes out over your sacrifice, praying for your resurrection every festival?

Even though Damon was an unwanted single Half-Elf, his popularity among players was sky-high.

Damon brushed Xia Xifeng’s hand away.

Although Xia Xifeng hadn’t said anything, just looking at his cheeky expression, Damon intuitively knew Xia Xifeng wasn’t thinking good things.

If not for Xia Xifeng and Leo being a different species, Damon would truly suspect they were biological brothers.

Damon asked curiously, “You and Leo have features even more refined than Light Elves. Why do you both insist on making such cheeky expressions?”

Xia Xifeng touched his own face, which after transmigration had been slightly fine-tuned in skin texture and facial features, making his attractiveness skyrocket. “Thanks for the compliment, I’m just handsome!”

Damon turned and left.

He couldn’t expect Xia Xifeng, the cross-species, cross-race soul brother of Leo, to say anything proper.

Qin Lang, passing by, nodded inwardly.

Indeed, Xia Xifeng was a spiritual Halfling—and a mentally deranged one at that.

When he and Xia Xifeng went to clear the Evil God Inson’s dungeon together, it was like releasing the floodwaters into the Dragon King’s temple—family not recognizing family. The Mad God Inson was clearly the patron god of Xia Xifeng, that mentally deranged spiritual Halfling!

Xia Xifeng picked up a rock from the ground and hurled it viciously at Qin Lang.

Qin Lang tilted his body to dodge. “What madness is this?”

Xia Xifeng chased after him, cursing. “You’re definitely insulting me in your head! That expression of yours is definitely an insult!”

Qin Lang turned and ran.

He could try to argue, but he and Xia Xifeng knew each other too well. Just like he could tell when Xia Xifeng was cursing him in his mind, arguing was pointless.

Qin Lang, who had to supervise the construction site while also seizing time to level up, had already reached Level 30 and unlocked Shadowstep.

When Xia Xifeng “chased him down to kill him,” his form sank into the Shadow Realm and quickly disappeared, leaving Xia Xifeng stomping in fury.

Damon also took the opportunity to slip away.

He’d rather work than listen to Xia Xifeng complain about Qin Lang, just as he disliked listening to Leo and Perila complain about each other.

Ah, when friends get into relationships, should he just cut ties with them? Damon, a steadfast singleton, thought worriedly.

Aside from occasionally being angered by Qin Lang, Xia Xifeng’s life after returning from the dungeon was simple and joyful.

Yes, a simple and joyful life of repaying debt.

Xia Xifeng finished a batch of leather armor and weapons, selling half in bulk to the System and half to Green Sand City for acquisition.

Green Sand City’s Quartermaster was a human woman carrying a greatsword, an Oath Knight named Leila.

Leila’s outwardly displayed strength was that of a Grand Knight, which was the level range of a single-class Oath Knight between Levels 50 and 59. But during the first defensive war, Leila broke her oath of “Slaughter is not the way of protection.” Empowering herself tenfold through darkness, she transformed into a black-armored Vengeance Knight, a hair’s breadth from the Legendary Realm.

Before the final battle, players and Dream World NPCs launched multiple raids into the Divine Realm corrupted by the Outer Gods, purging the twisted Godhoods of the native world, historically known as the “Battle to Reclaim the Divine Realm.”

Leila had fallen in one such “Battle to Reclaim the Divine Realm,” falling just short of the final decisive battle.

Xia Xifeng was a bit intimidated by Big Sister Leila. It wasn’t because of Leila’s later glorious battle record or the brutal fighting style of her hell-returned Vengeful Knight form, but because players in their lore-hunting group had been caught and thrown in prison by Leila far too many times.

To test out all the hidden plotlines and screenshot every single NPC dialogue, lore players would certainly try all sorts of things.

Hm, cough, looking at the sky, basically causing trouble.

Honestly, testing how many different dialogues Leila had when arresting players was also a necessary task for lore players, right?

Because they’d pulled too many pranks on Leila and disrupted her patrols too many times, Xia Xifeng always found himself unconsciously piling on a fawning smile whenever he met the real Leila.

Leila only knew Xia Xifeng as an honored guest of the City Lord and the de facto City Lord, possibly even the de facto City Lord’s disciple, so she was very friendly towards him.

Seeing that Xia Xifeng seemed a little scared of her, she found it odd.

Although a knight, Leila wasn’t stern at all; she was very amiable.

Leila asked Xia Xifeng if there had been some misunderstanding.

Xia Xifeng hadn’t expected Leila to be so perceptive. He immediately threw the blame onto Leo: “It was Leo who said you, Captain, are very strict and told me to be careful.”

Leila’s expression instantly fell. “I’m only strict with little ruffians like Leo who casually violate city laws. Feng, you needn’t worry.”

Wow, Leo had even become a little ruffian in Leila’s eyes? What did that make players in her eyes? Dog shit?

Xia Xifeng immediately pounded his chest and vowed he was absolutely a law-abiding good citizen of Green Sand City.

Leila was amused by Xia Xifeng.

After turning and leaving, Leila went to find Leo, who was wearing a Power Suppression Rune, and sparred with him, warning him not to be a bad influence on Xia Xifeng.

Leo, having been scapegoated, said in disbelief to Perila, “Feng needs me to corrupt him? Isn’t he even worse than me?”

Perila said, “Everyone would believe Feng and not you. As for why your reputation is so bad, please reflect on yourself.”

Leo: “…” This good brother was useless. He wondered if he could trade him to Xia Xifeng for a Cream Cake.

When the Dwarf Caravan Leader—whose mind was currently still normal—learned that the Green Sand City Lord placed great importance on the new Pioneer Knights, and that one of these new Pioneer Knights was a highly skilled craftsman, he immediately proposed a visit to Xia Xifeng.

As a caravan leader, his business intuition was sharp. This was a massive source of goods!

The Caravan Leader immediately sought out his good friend Leo, asking Leo to facilitate an introduction.

A friend of a friend is a friend, right? Leo, hurry up and introduce your friend to me!

Leo reported this to Amuruo.

Amuruo pondered for a long while, and after discussing it with the Dwarven Great Sage, asked Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang for their opinion.

After sorting through the game’s plot and the Outer God’s “divine character settings,” Xia Xifeng nodded in agreement. “Their purpose isn’t slaughter, but corruption. When they’re hiding, they act no different from normal people. I want to try interacting with him; maybe we’ll gain new insights.”

Qin Lang: “No problem. I can kill.”

The Dwarf Merchant Caravan had only fallen victim because they didn’t know these trash mobs’ characteristics. If it were players, after checking a guide, even at Level 20 they could pick off lone Shadow Fiends to level up.

Besides, with Leo, Perila, Damon, and others present, as long as Qin Lang could prevent an instant kill, his companions would arrive immediately.

Seeing Qin Lang and Xia Xifeng’s confident attitude, Amuruo agreed to let them interact with the Dwarf Merchant Caravan.

He originally hadn’t wanted the Dwarf Merchant Caravan to have contact with these two juniors, but he and the Dwarven Great Sage had already secretly placed restrictions on all members of the Dwarf Merchant Caravan. The other party’s behavior hadn’t changed at all, showing no sign of noticing.

And since the other party had already taken notice of the two juniors, being too deliberate might instead alert them. Since they were still under his wing, a bit of risk was acceptable.

Amuruo went to inform Suer. Suer was still meditating, so he took it as Suer’s consent.

Although Xia Xifeng had agreed, he was very nervous inside.

Whenever he was nervous, he would crawl into Qin Lang’s bed and cling to Qin Lang while talking.

If Qin Lang fell asleep midway, he’d push Qin Lang awake and continue his incessant chatter.

Qin Lang pulled the blanket over his head.

Xia Xifeng pulled the blanket down and continued chattering.

Qin Lang couldn’t take it anymore. “If you don’t sleep now, I’m going to knock you out.”

Only then did Xia Xifeng let Qin Lang off the hook.

Waking up the next morning, Qin Lang looked at Xia Xifeng, clinging to him like an octopus and sleeping with a blissful expression, and fell into deep thought.

He was pondering whether Xia Xifeng’s sleeping posture had improved—he hadn’t been kicked awake—or whether his own sleep had gotten better—he hadn’t been kicked awake by Xia Xifeng.

After deep thought, Qin Lang engaged in self-reflection. He’d been too tired yesterday and had once again forgotten to tie Xia Xifeng up.

“Wake up.”

“Ah, oh.”

Xia Xifeng rubbed his eyes, sat up first, then flopped back down.

Qin Lang placed his hands beside Xia Xifeng, applied a strength buff to himself, and flipped. Xia Xifeng rolled towards the edge of the bed, just barely catching the bedframe to avoid falling, breaking out in a cold sweat from fright.

“Awake now?”

“Qin Lang, you dog!”

Seeing Xia Xifeng now completely awake, Qin Lang went to wash up, satisfied.

Xia Xifeng followed behind, cursing him out.

Being frightened by Qin Lang first thing in the morning, Xia Xifeng wasn’t even nervous anymore when he met the Dwarf Caravan Leader.

Qin Lang had always maintained that Xia Xifeng was single-threaded, his brain capable of being occupied by only one thing at a time.

“Hello there! A friend of a friend is a friend, right? Give me a fifty percent discount from now on, okay?” Xia Xifeng enthusiastically shook hands with the Dwarf Caravan Leader.

The Dwarf Caravan Leader: “?”

Leo, smiling on the surface but highly vigilant inside, looked at Perila.

Perila looked at the sky.

Even knowing the inside of this Dwarf Caravan Leader was a monster, they still felt Xia Xifeng was utterly embarrassing.

The Dwarf Caravan Leader laughed heartily, but his words were blunt: “Are you sure you’re a tall-folk, not a Gnome in disguise?”

Xia Xifeng also laughed heartily. “It’s not just Gnomes who are meticulous with money, you know. Look at our Knight’s Domain—we lack everything, especially money. I truly have to stretch every copper coin.”

“Alright, alright, stop joking around.” Leo pulled Xia Xifeng away so he wouldn’t further embarrass himself in front of the monster.

Even if he wanted a Dwarf discount, he’d deliberately grown a big beard. You want someone to give you a discount, at least offer something in return! Who just brazenly asks for freebies?

Humiliating!

The Dwarf Caravan Leader, however, rather liked Xia Xifeng’s personality.

As a merchant, he didn’t discriminate against greedy people.

If he weren’t greedy, why would he risk danger to form long-distance trade caravans?

Once Xia Xifeng revealed his “greed,” the Dwarf Caravan Leader didn’t need to hide his own either and could openly discuss interests with Xia Xifeng.

The Dwarf Caravan Leader could provide Xia Xifeng with the materials needed to build the city.

If Xia Xifeng urgently needed materials from other regions, the Dwarf Caravan Leader could prioritize purchasing them for him—out of respect for Leo and Green Sand City.

The Dwarf Caravan Leader added, “Feng, could you sell me the goods you supply to Green Sand City? I could help promote your craftsmanship across the entire world.”

Xia Xifeng was first surprised that the Dwarf Caravan Leader would take an interest in the low-level Green and Blue quality equipment he made, but he quickly realized that in this “real” world, low-level equipment was what was most needed.

The peak for most Professionals was only around player Level 50. Exceeding Level 50 made one elite; reaching the max level for a single class was “Legendary”; reaching the max level for dual classes (i.e., Player Level 200 max) allowed Qin Lang to solo Evil God bosses.

Low-level stat-boosting equipment was in immense demand, a hot commodity. For a large trading caravan, finding a stable and excellent source of supply wasn’t easy.

Xia Xifeng wouldn’t mass-produce low-level equipment himself in the future, but he could build a “fully automated factory” and hire others to create equipment for him.

All production and crafting games eventually moved past players doing everything by hand; building assembly lines was the ultimate gameplay. Xia Xifeng’s System was the same.

The quality control of the assembly line would be identical to items Xia Xifeng crafted personally using System skills. Once the Knight’s Domain recruited enough people, Xia Xifeng wouldn’t lack product output.

He readily agreed and signed a supply contract with the Dwarf Caravan Leader.

Watching the Dwarf Caravan Leader carefully scrutinize the contract terms, Xia Xifeng felt a slight melancholy.

Was this the Dwarf Caravan Leader’s true self?

Was this merely a disguise, or was the Dwarf Caravan Leader still the real him, teetering on the boundary between life and death, chatting with him now?

If he knew he was already dead, how would he feel?

Xia Xifeng then shifted his gaze to the Dwarf behind the Caravan Leader—the one carrying a large axe, his face etched with weariness.

“What are you looking at me for?” Jim said gruffly.

Xia Xifeng said, “I heard Mr. Jim comes from the Hammer Family. I’ve always wanted to learn the Hammer Family’s techniques.”

Jim’s displeased expression softened slightly. “That’s easy. I’ll write you a letter of introduction.”

Jim took a step forward, his body swaying slightly.

Xia Xifeng instinctively reached out to support Jim. Qin Lang, who had been silent all along, pulled Xia Xifeng back and reached out to steady Jim instead.

Jim frowned and stood up straight. “Thanks.”

The Dwarf Caravan Leader asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t sleep well?”

Jim rubbed his eyes and said, “A bit. I keep having nightmares lately. Calming potions don’t work.”

Xia Xifeng gestured to Perila with his eyes.

Perila, though not understanding why Xia Xifeng called him, also walked over to Xia Xifeng’s side.

Xia Xifeng said, “Perila is a Potion Master. Mr. Jim, you can tell him your symptoms. He’ll make a potion for you. It’ll definitely be more effective than anyone else’s.”

Perila hurriedly said, “I’m not yet at the Potion Master level… Sigh, stop pushing me. Fine, I’ll make the potion for you.”

Leo quickly chimed in to help, “Perila is my good brother. Trust him! In Green Sand City, except for Mr. Suer, no one makes potions better than him!”

Perila: “I’m not that great… Sigh, I told you to stop pushing me! I didn’t say I wouldn’t make the potion for Mr. Jim!”

The Dwarf Caravan Leader immediately said to Jim, “Aren’t you going to thank Perila? Leo, you never told me you had such an impressive friend. A Potion Master is someone I couldn’t even meet if I offered a fortune!”

Leo grinned proudly. “When I left, Perila wasn’t a Potion Master yet. I know plenty of impressive people; you’ll be surprised again later.”

The Dwarf Caravan Leader gave Leo a thumbs-up.

Leo leaned sideways, putting his arm around the Dwarf Caravan Leader’s shoulder, nudging him with a sly grin. “You’re also an impressive person, that’s why I became friends with you. Knock another ten percent off for Xia Xifeng?”

The Dwarf Caravan Leader threw a punch at Leo’s face, which Leo caught.

The Dwarf Caravan Leader drawled, “In business, we talk business. Don’t bring friendship into it. Get lost!”

Leo grinned as he released the Dwarf Caravan Leader’s shoulder.

He still couldn’t sense the evil power within the Dwarf Caravan Leader.

Hearing that Perila was a Potion Master, Jim immediately said respectfully, “Then I’ll trouble you, Master.”

Perila said, “Your condition is your private matter. Let’s talk in the next room.”

Xia Xifeng stood up, pushed Qin Lang down into the chair, and said, “You stay and accompany the Caravan Leader in touring the Knight’s Domain. I can also make potions; I’ll go help Perila. Caravan Leader, currying favor with Mr. Jim of the Hammer Family is more important to me right now. Don’t be heartbroken, okay?”

“Get lost then, I won’t be heartbroken.” The Dwarf Caravan Leader laughed.

Xia Xifeng and Perila took Jim to the adjacent room.

Leo watched their departing figures, hiding his worry deep in his eyes.

Qin Lang: 【Have your weapons with protective shield skills ready.】

Xia Xifeng: 【No need to tell me, already prepared long ago. I’m also wearing my heaviest defensive armor!】

Qin Lang glanced at Xia Xifeng’s equipment page before relaxing and signing the contract on behalf of Xia Xifeng.

Even though this contract probably couldn’t be fulfilled.