Yan Chi stood there blankly for a long while. A breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead, making the confusion in his eyes even more clear. Shen Mingsu and Xing Zhinan were no longer in this world. How was he going to get back?
Was he going to live like a savage in this primeval forest?
While Yan Chi was feeling lost about his future, Zhu Ge Yun and the other two in the tree were also dumbfounded. What kind of terrifying being could easily subdue two giant wolves and restore life to the wasteland with a single word?
"Is this the strength of an A-rank player?" Zhu Ge Yun clenched his fist, his eyes burning with a fierce ambition. "When I reach A-rank, will I be this strong?!"
Dai Zhu was puzzled. "But none of the A-rank players I've encountered are this strong..."
Zhu Ge Yun jumped down from the tree, excitedly running straight to Yan Chi's side. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was the fan, and Yan Chi was his idol.
"How can you be so amazing!" Zhu Ge Yun circled around Yan Chi, chattering incessantly. "Of all the players I've seen, you're the strongest! My god! I'm so honored that you're my fan!"
Yan Chi wasn't in the mood for idle chatter. He needed to find Sethia. Shen Mingsu and Xing Zhinan were already lost, but they were both Super S-rank and adults, so they should be fine.
But Sethia was different. He couldn't afford to lose Sethia too.
"Listen to me first," Yan Chi firmly seized control of the conversation. "You've all misunderstood. I'm not your companion, nor am I a player. I'm just an NPC, so don't follow me anymore."
Yan Chi blurted out the whole truth. He was in a hurry to find Sethia and didn't want to waste any more time with them.
"Are you...are you kidding me?" Zhu Ge Yun's eyes widened in disbelief. "How could you be an NPC? Besides, what NPC would say they're an NPC..."
Zhu Ge Yun waved his hand, forcing a lighthearted smile. "Don't joke like that."
Yan Chi looked at him seriously. "I'm not kidding."
Zhu Ge Yun's smile froze slightly. His lips remained upturned, but his mood plummeted. He opened his mouth, "...If you really are an NPC, then how come you're my fan?"
Zhu Ge Yun seemed to realize something, covering his mouth in shock. "Could it be...that my influence has spread to the dungeon?! Even NPCs are my fans!"
Tears welled up in his eyes. He clenched his fists, looking up at the blue sky. "Mom, can you see? I'm so famous!"
Yan Chi listened to Zhu Ge Yun's self-talk, falling into silence. Sometimes he didn't want to deny the people or things he liked in his youth, but now, having been a fan of Zhu Ge Yun seemed like a truly embarrassing thing in his past.
Of course, he largely liked the persona he was creating. Yan Chi sighed, "That's enough, I have things to do. Let's part ways here."
"Huh? No, you're really leaving? You weren't joking, were you? You can't really be an NPC..." Zhu Ge Yun subconsciously chased after him, but his companion grabbed his arm.
Dai Zhu's face darkened. "Take a look at your comment section."
Zhu Ge Yun then glanced at his comment section.
[Dude, you finally read the comments, but don't look too much. Your most important thing right now is to run! He really is an NPC, and a BOSS-level one at that!]
[You idiot! Didn't your mother teach you that the prettier the woman, the more dangerous she is? If you still eagerly went after her; you wouldn't have enough lives to kill!]
[But Teacher Chi didn't hurt them, and even helped chase away the giant wolf. What if he's a good NPC?]
[I've seen this teacher in both instances. He's a nice NPC, but his students are not to be trifled with. In short, if you encounter them, run!]
[…]
So, his little fan… is a high-level BOSS?!
Zhu Ge Yun's vision went black. The devastating blow left him disoriented. He hurriedly sought confirmation from his companions, "He… he said he's my fan, is he lying to me?"
"Is that the point?!" Dai Zhu slapped Zhu Ge Yun on the back of the head in exasperation. "Didn't you see what the viewers in the live stream said? His students are the strongest. Let's get out of here before his students arrive."
The curly-haired boy nodded repeatedly, "Yeah, yeah, he's probably not your fan at all."
While they were arguing, Yan Chi had already moved to the other side, offering no response.
He asked the pink mushroom and the little rabbits, "Can you find where Sethia is now?"
"Hmm... Brother Sethia is roasting a leg of lamb right now," the pink mushroom told Yan Chi. "Should we go find him now?"
Yan Chi nodded.
The little rabbits hopped out of the flowerpot. "Then we'll lead the way for you. We know where he is too!"
"Okay, thank you!"
Yan Chi crouched down and gratefully patted the little creatures' heads. Thankfully, they were there; otherwise, he would have been completely lost in this unfamiliar forest.
As the rabbits started moving, the pink mushroom climbed onto Yan Chi's shoulder. Only then did Zhu Ge Yun and the other two, who had been secretly observing him, finally realize that what they thought were toys were actually alive.
They had previously made a joke of Yan Chi, never imagining they were the biggest joke of all.
Watching Yan Chi walk away without looking back, Zhu Ge Yun lowered his head dejectedly and turned away. "Then...then let's go too."
"Waaaaah..."
A heartbroken cry rang out, followed by hurried footsteps. The sound of a young boy crying reached everyone's ears. "Wait! Wait for me!"
Yan Chi instinctively stopped and turned around. A boy with black hair and black eyes appeared out of nowhere.
He stood between Yan Chi and Zhu Ge Yun, looked at them, nervously clutching his clothes, and asked in a tearful voice, "Are you...are you players? I'm a player too. This place is so scary, boohoo, can I come with you?"
As he spoke, the boy kept looking at Yan Chi, his clear, large eyes seemingly constantly conveying his innocent and harmless nature.
Probably another player, Yan Chi felt a wave of exhaustion. Pointing to Zhu Ge Yun and the others, he said to the boy, "...I'm not a player. Go find them."
A look of surprise flashed in the boy's eyes.
Seeing that the boy also mistook Yan Chi for a player, Zhu Ge Yun muttered, "See? It's not my fault. He just looks too much like a player. If he looked even a little fierce, he wouldn't be like this."
Which of the bosses in the dungeons they had encountered wasn't exuding domineering power, capable of intimidating people with a single glare? Someone like Yan Chi, with his delicate and gentle appearance and soft-spoken manner, would never be suspected of being a boss.
Zhu Ge Yun beckoned to the boy, "Come here, we'll take you."
But the boy only glanced at him lightly, then ran to Yan Chi's side. He looked at the pink mushroom on Yan Chi's shoulder and the little white rabbits at Yan Chi's feet, then lowered his eyes to hide his expression.
"Brother..." The boy reached out and tugged at Yan Chi's sleeve, looking up at him with his small face, "Actually, I'm like you, I'm an NPC too. I lied to them when I said I was a player."
Yan Chi: "..."
Zhu Ge Yun and the other two were completely dumbfounded. Did they look like people who were so easily fooled? Yet they always believed them. Did this world no longer tolerate players who weren't cunning?
Yan Chi's expression was strange. "You said you're an NPC too?"
"Yes, yes!" The boy nodded, lowering his head somewhat shyly, "But I'm very weak, like a dandelion, all I do is run away. Brother, will you dislike me because I'm useless?"
The boy seemed very afraid that Yan Chi would abandon him, pitifully clinging to Yan Chi. “We…don’t seem to know each other very well?” Yan Chi didn’t understand why he called him “brother” right away, and his tone was strange and awkward.
“I…my name is Qiu Yu.” Qiu Yu seemed hurt by Yan Chi’s words, his eyes reddening as he wiped away tears. “I’m just very scared. I’ve lived here alone for many years, without any companions. You’re the first companion I’ve met.”
“Are you a native of this world?”
“Yes.”
“I see…”
Yan Chi gave a casual reply, his brows furrowing slightly.
Before setting off for the [No Man’s Land], Shen Mingsu had clearly told him that this world had no humans, a purely primitive ecosystem. How could a dandelion transform into human form?
Too suspicious.
Yan Chi casually remarked, "I've lived here for a long time, but I've never seen you before. Where are you from?"
Qiu Yu: "I am..."
He suddenly realized something, pinched the inside of his arm sharply, the pain clearing his head. He complained, "I already told you, brother, I'm not human. I'm a dandelion. See for yourself."
Qiu Yu extended his slender arm. With a gentle shake, his arm transformed into dandelion fluff, scattering and then gathering back into his arm.
Yan Chi, witnessing this, remained wary. Qiu Yu's earlier hesitation was enough to suggest something was amiss.
But Qiu Yu could withstand his power, so his level must be higher than his. Yan Chi's thoughts raced, but he smiled gently and apologetically at Qiu Yu, "I was overthinking it, I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Qiu Yu smiled, looking at the pink mushroom on Yan Chi's shoulder, and asked in surprise, "Is it your companion? Or, brother, are you a mushroom too?"
The moment Qiu Yu approached, Yan Chi felt as if all the fur on his body was about to stand on end. He took two steps back, "Yes, I'm a mushroom too. Mushrooms like to be alone, so don't get too close."
Qiu Yu's gaze remained fixed on the pink mushroom and the little white rabbits.
The pink mushroom, hearing Yan Chi say he was a mushroom too, happily rubbed against his chin, its voice soft, "You're Mushroom Brother."
The little white rabbits, also wanting Yan Chi to say they were rabbits, bumped their heads in jealousy.
Yan Chi wasn't sure why Qiu Yu had approached him. He smiled at him, "I'm going to find my friend. Do you want to come?"
Meanwhile, Yan Chi silently chanted: "Reject quickly, reject quickly..."
"Okay! I'll go with you."
Yan Chi took a deep breath, letting the little rabbits lead the way, and the two went to find Sethia.
Behind them, Zhu Ge Yun and the other two had inexplicably returned, secretly following them.
"Brother, do you need me to kill these players?" Qiu Yu tried to hug Yan Chi's arm, but he dodged him. His eyes were unfathomable as he stared at Yan Chi's delicate profile, tilting his head. "Brother?"
Those few seconds felt more agonizing than a teacher's qualification interview. Yan Chi took a deep breath and forced a smile, "No need. Let them follow if they want."
Qiu Yu grinned at him, then suddenly grabbed his arm and pressed himself against him. "Brother, you have such a good temper."
"It's alright." Yan Chi pulled his arm back with all his might, but Qiu Yu, though petite and thin, possessed astonishing strength.
Qiu Yu seemed to sense his attempt to break free and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother, you're so weak!"
Yan Chi was a little angry. "Then let go of me!"
"No!" Qiu Yu pleaded, "Unless... brother, you give me your little mushrooms and rabbits."
Without thinking, a small knife appeared out of thin air in Yan Chi's other hand. With a ruthless heart, he slashed towards Qiu Yu's neck.
Qiu Yu's entire body dissolved into white fluff, instantly reforming into human form. He said with some distress, "Brother, how could you use a knife? It hurts my heart."
Yan Chi shielded the mushroom and rabbit behind him, gripping the hilt of his knife tightly. "What exactly do you want?"
"I told you, I only want these two." Qiu Yu seemed to sense Yan Chi's reluctance and offered him another option, "Then you can kill them and give me the corpses."
Yan Chi pursed his lips, coldly looking at him. "Don't even think about it."
"Ha." Qiu Yu chuckled briefly, still appearing as obedient as ever. "Then I'll help you make the choice."
He instantly appeared before Yan Chi, reaching for the pink mushroom. Yan Chi was startled, quickly grabbing the mushroom and stuffing it into his clothes. Just as he was about to swing his knife, Qiu Yu grabbed his wrist.
A sharp pain shot through him, and the knife fell limply to the ground.
The little rabbits menacingly blocked Yan Chi's path. "Don't bully the teacher!"
"You're a very, very bad dandelion! I hate you!"
"Kill him!"
"Yes! Kill him!"
"..."
The white rabbit bladderwort was originally a carnivorous plant, and after being nurtured by Ahui, its power had grown even stronger. The eight little rabbits simultaneously swelled hundreds of times in size, floating around Qiu Yu. Their upper bodies were rabbit heads, but their lower bodies were digestive sacs like those of a teru teru bozu.
The little rabbits fiercely charged towards Qiu Yu. Qiu Yu frowned slightly, attempting to transform back into a dandelion and dissipate, but the scattered fluff was instantly sucked into the rabbits' digestive sacs, severing the connection to his main body.
Qiu Yu immediately withdrew his scattered fluff and glanced at Yan Chi, who was being protected by the two little white rabbits behind him. "Who exactly are you to cultivate such a super A-grade plant?"
Yan Chi: "And who are you?"
Qiu Yu smiled. "I'm Qiu Yu. Oh, and I'm S-grade."
The surrounding golden-skinned trees transformed into sharp blades, hurtling towards the little white rabbits. Even a touch of their poison would cause excruciating pain.
Yan Chi recognized the trees and hurriedly shouted, "Get out of the way!"
The little white rabbits obediently dodged the blades, flying rapidly through the air.
Pink Mushroom jumped to the ground, also creating golden-skinned tree blades to block Qiu Yu.
Qiu Yu smiled. "Quite impressive."
Both Qiu Yu and Pink Mushroom could control the plants in the forest. With the help of the little white rabbits, Pink Mushroom was evenly matched with Qiu Yu, an S-grade.
Yan Chi nervously cast various spells of good luck and defense on the little creatures, ensuring they remained unscathed throughout the entire battle.
Qiu Yu, watching with curiosity, finally focused his gaze on Yan Chi. "What's your ability?"
Yan Chi, with a sour face, replied, "No comment."
Qiu Yu, looking heartbroken, said, "Brother, you're so cruel! I called you 'brother' so many times, all for nothing."
These words disgusted Yan Chi, giving him goosebumps.
Not far away, Zhu Ge Yun and his two companions secretly hid behind a tree, puzzled by the chaotic battle unfolding before them.
Zhu Ge Yun: "Do NPCs fight each other?"
"It's definitely this Qiu Yu who's the problem." Dai Zhu narrowed his eyes. "My sixth sense told me the moment he appeared that he's definitely not a good person."
"Why? I think he's quite nice, calling you 'brother' all the time, so sweet and obedient."
Dai Zhu: "Heh, someone who calls you 'brother' all the time is either a white lotus or trying to trick you into buying health supplements."
Zhu Ge Yun: "..."
The sky darkened at that moment. The chirping of insects and birds had ceased long ago, and a deathly silence spread throughout the world. A powerful sense of oppression, like Mount Tai pressing down on all living beings, enveloped them.
The three looked up and hugged each other in fright.
"What...what is that? Another BOSS?" Zhu Ge Yun's teeth chattered, and he swallowed hard. "Should there be a BOSS of this level in an A-rank dungeon?"
Besides the sun, a huge golden sphere was slowly moving in the sky, blocking most of the sunlight and scattering fear and panic across the world.
The deer in the forest cried out in alarm, hurriedly avoiding the golden sphere in the sky.
Qiu Yu saw it, cursed under his breath, threw out an escape item, and disappeared. The pink mushroom and the little rabbits, thinking they had won the final victory, returned triumphantly to Yan Chi's side.
Yan Chi looked up at the golden sphere. That familiar golden color, that round shape, and a pair of chubby little hands tucked into her chest.
—Sethia?
No, Sethia wasn't this big.
Could it be…
The golden sphere slowly descended, transforming into a blond, blue-eyed young man. The young man smiled, surveying his hunting grounds, pondering what to eat that night, when his gaze unexpectedly met Yan Chi's.
Yan Chi tentatively called out, "Sethia's Dad?"
Yi Luo had met Yan Chi briefly at the parent-teacher conference, so he recognized him instantly. When he heard Yan Chi call him "Sethia's Dad," Yi Luo's heart leaped into his throat, and he instantly lost his appetite.
He had once mocked Feng Yun for being kept behind for a separate parent-teacher conference by Yan Chi; was he going to experience something so terrible now?
Yi Luo steadied himself and cautiously asked, "Teacher Xiao Chi, how are Sethia's grades?"
As soon as Yan Chi asked about his grades, he immediately thought of Sethia's test paper riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. He rubbed his temples. "His grades do have some problems, for example..."
Seeing that Yan Chi was about to launch into a long explanation, Yi Luo gasped and quickly waved his hands in denial. "Actually, Sethia has absolutely nothing to do with me! I'm not his father! You've got the wrong parent!"
With that, he turned and ran.
Yan Chi: "..."
Does he seem like a monster?
Isn't he just an ordinary teacher who cares about his students' studies and worries about them?
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