Chapter 55 Scorpion King
As night fell, players who had chosen houses based on "economy" and "aesthetics" were already on high alert.
However, the monsters' "visit" that night was even more ferocious and insane than the previous two days.
The thatched hut where Gu Yunqing was located was already on the verge of collapse after the impact of the previous two nights.
When the third and strongest wave of monsters arrived, the creaking, broken wooden door was torn to pieces almost instantly upon contact.
Several twisted black shadows, exuding a dense and chilling aura, surged into the room like ghosts, accompanied by piercing shrieks, and rushed straight at the four people inside—Gu Yunqing, Wu Jueji, Ji Changyu, and Wang Hu.
Wang Hu was terrified, screaming and shrinking into a corner, clutching a cheap dagger tightly in his hand, his whole body trembling like a leaf.
The laziness in Wu Jueji's eyes vanished, replaced by a cold sharpness. His aura changed abruptly, and his seemingly powerless hands moved with lightning speed, precisely grabbing the wrist of the first clawed ghost that rushed in, twisting and swinging it sharply.
"Crack!" A tooth-grinding sound of bones breaking rang out, and the ghostly figure let out a shrill scream as it was slammed into two other attacking monsters, temporarily halting their advance.
But more shadowy figures poured in through the broken door and cracks in the wall, their target clear—Gu Yunqing, whose aura was the "cleanest" and who looked the "weakest".
A lizard-like monster covered in scales, moving so fast it was just a blur, broke through Wu Jueji's blockade. Its foul-smelling mouth opened, dripping with corrosive slime, and it viciously bit down on Gu Yunqing's neck.
Too close, too fast!
Wu Jueji was entangled by the other five most powerful corpse demons and was unable to return to help for the time being.
Wang Hu has a hard time killing even the weakest monster, so he can't be relied upon at all.
As for Ji Changyu, he was just an ordinary person living in the same room, and he certainly wouldn't offer any help.
At this critical moment—
Gu Yunqing's eyes turned cold, and the fingers of his right hand, hanging by his side, twitched slightly, indicating that a hidden yet powerful force was about to be drawn from the depths of his body.
That was the power of Qiu Zangxue, which had been solidified into a card; it was bloody, violent, and full of destructive energy.
If it were to erupt, it would be enough to tear this lizard monster in front of them to shreds.
However, just as he was about to draw the power of the card...
A white figure, faster than his reaction, like lightning tearing through the darkness, suddenly burst in from the large hole in the thatched hut.
You are heading north!
He arrived without anyone noticing, and before he could even draw his sword, his gaze locked precisely on Gu Yunqing, who was in danger, the moment he burst in.
Without the slightest hesitation, Jun Xiangbei pointed his left hand like a sword, unleashing an extremely condensed, icy sword aura. It struck the lizard monster's open mouth with pinpoint accuracy, causing its head to tilt to the side. Corrosive slime splattered onto the nearby wall, making a hissing sound.
At the same time, his right hand, with an irresistible force, swiftly and accurately grabbed Gu Yunqing's waist, pulling him sharply backward.
Gu Yunqing felt a firm and steady touch on her waist, and then she uncontrollably bumped into an embrace that carried a faint, cool fragrance.
Jun Xiangbei embraced him, lightly touched the ground with his toes, and his figure floated backward like a cloud, narrowly avoiding the lizard monster's follow-up attack and another sweeping shadow tentacle, landing steadily in a relatively safe corner of the room.
The entire movement was fluid and seamless, happening in the blink of an eye.
Even after she regained her footing, Gu Yunqing could feel Jun Xiangbei's heartbeat, which was slightly faster than usual, and the momentary tension and... barely perceptible tremor in the arm around her waist.
Jun Xiangbei was also jolted when he saved Gu Yunqing.
He was closest and had the most acute senses.
In that extremely brief moment of contact when he grabbed Gu Yunqing's waist and pulled him away from the center of danger, he clearly felt that within Gu Yunqing's body, a hidden yet extremely powerful force, carrying a chilling aura, was almost on the verge of exploding.
That power... was something no ordinary player could possess, and it was even comparable to the power he had sensed from Qiu Zangxue.
It was only because of his sudden intervention and rescue that the force receded as quickly as the tide, disappearing without a trace, so fast that it seemed as if it were just his illusion.
Gu Yunqing... his own power is actually so formidable?
Why didn't he do it himself?
Was it too late? Or... because he came, so he chose to... give up?
This conjecture stirred a strange, indescribable emotion within Jun Xiangbei.
Is it trusting him? Or is it another form of... exploitation?
Gu Yunqing leaned against Jun Xiangbei's chest, and could clearly feel the warmth of his body and the instantaneous tension.
He quickly withdrew the power of Qiu Zangxue that he had almost unleashed, and a look of lingering fear and shock appeared on his face. He breathed heavily and whispered, "...Thank you, Mr. Jun."
He lowered his eyes, concealing the calculation that flashed across them and... a strangeness that even he himself did not notice.
Jun Xiangbei came too fast, so fast that he almost revealed his hand.
But... this is for the best.
Looking at the "weak" appearance of the person in his arms, and recalling the terrifying power he had just sensed, Jun Xiangbei felt a surge of doubts, as if a feather was gently scratching him, making him extremely itchy.
But he didn't let go. Instead, he pulled Gu Yunqing behind him to protect her even more, his sharp gaze sweeping over the monster still rampaging inside the room, his voice cold: "Be careful."
With Jun Xiangbei joining the fray, and Wu Jueji's "50/50" ability to hold off the strongest monsters, the situation inside the house was quickly brought under control.
When the last monster was annihilated by Jun Xiangbei's sword energy and dissipated into black smoke, the dilapidated thatched hut was in complete disarray, with almost no intact place to be found.
Wang Hu slumped to the ground, panting heavily, his eyes filled with gratitude and awe as he looked at Jun Xiangbei and Wu Jueji.
Wu Jueji flicked his wrist, regaining his lazy demeanor, and leaned against the only remaining structural pillar, as if the demon from just moments ago was not him.
Jun Xiangbei then slowly released his grip on Gu Yunqing's hand, his fingertips seemingly still retaining the slender and supple touch of her waist.
He looked at Gu Yunqing with a complicated expression, but ultimately suppressed his questions and said simply, "It's not safe to stay here any longer. We need to find a way to reinforce or relocate tomorrow."
Gu Yunqing nodded, her face showing just the right amount of gratitude and lingering fear: "Thanks to Mr. Jun for arriving in time."
Jun Xiangbei gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and turned to leave the ruins.
He needed to go back and process what he had discovered that night, and... the fleeting flutter in his heart when he embraced Gu Yunqing.
The chat in Gu Yunqing's live stream was buzzing with activity:
"Holy crap, another waist hug, the God of War's boyfriend power is MAX."
"The atmosphere between these two is getting weirder and weirder..."
"They wouldn't actually be talking behind our backs, would they? No way!"
The next day, even the morning sunlight seemed unable to dispel the gloom in the hearts of the town's players.
Last night, almost all players in non-Fortified rooms experienced a more difficult battle and suffered significant losses.
The immense economic and survival pressures have forced players to seek out higher-return missions, and even... temporary collaborations.
On the town's quest board, a prominently displayed high-difficulty quest caught the attention of top players:
[Clear the Abandoned Mine]: The abandoned crystal mine outside the town is overrun by a large number of mutated crystal scorpions, seriously threatening the town's safety. Clear all the crystal scorpions from the mine. Each team member will be rewarded with 2000 yuan, and will also receive Scorpion King materials based on their contribution. (Warning: The scorpion swarm is enormous, and the Scorpion King possesses the ability to control lower-level scorpions and launch crystal spikes; it is extremely dangerous!)
The reward is 2000 yuan, plus BOSS materials.
The rewards for this mission are enough to tempt any player, but its dangers are also obvious, and it is by no means something that can be completed by a single person.
Soon, several groups of people unexpectedly met at the entrance of the mine.
Jun Xiangbei and the Silent Monk were the first to arrive.
Immediately afterwards, Gu Yunqing arrived with Wu Jueji and Wang Hu. Their thatched hut was almost completely destroyed, and they urgently needed funds to find a new place to stay or to completely reinforce it.
Elena appeared with her two followers and Han Chunhua; the holy light might be surprisingly effective against these dark creatures.
Even Ji Changyu, who was severely exhausted last night and still looked pale today, gritted his teeth and came along. He needed money and he needed to prove himself.
As for the remaining three ordinary players, one of them, who was in the aesthetic room, died in the monster attack last night.
On her deathbed, she begged Elena to protect her as she had protected Han Chunhua.
But Elena didn't want to save the man, so she let him die at the hands of the monster.
The two players who chose the sturdy house, although they were not attacked at night, encountered danger while making money during the day and have since quit the game.
At this point, only 9 people remained in the instance.
Driven by this profit, the nine people in the instance temporarily formed a small team with their own agendas.
The mine was dimly lit, and the air was filled with dust and a peculiar aura of crystal energy.
Not long after they ventured deeper, rustling sounds came from all directions, and then countless small eyes emitting a ghostly blue light lit up in the darkness.
The battle erupted instantly.
While individual crystal scorpions may not be top-tier in strength, their sheer numbers are terrifying. Moreover, their carapaces are hard, and their stingers carry paralyzing toxins. They surge forward fearlessly, like a blue tide.
"Holy Light, Purify!" Elena raised her staff, and a gentle yet powerful light spread out from her. The crystal scorpions illuminated by the light visibly slowed down, and wisps of black smoke even rose from their shells as they let out painful hiss.
Her holy light has a restraining effect on these creatures with dark attributes.
Jun Xiangbei's sword strikes are like a dragon, the fierce sword energy crisscrossing and killing each crystal scorpion with precision, making it extremely efficient.
The Silent Monk stood like a rock on the flank of the group. His special ability seemed to be related to "defense" and "silence." Crystal Scorpions that approached him would move extremely slowly, and would even occasionally stop briefly.
Ji Changyu moved along the edge of the battlefield, his short blade appearing and disappearing unpredictably, specifically seeking out crystal scorpions that had been attacked by others and exposed their weaknesses to finish them off. At the same time, he constantly fine-tuned the probability of his "fatal blow." Although the consumption was still very high, it was safe and efficient.
This time, Han Chunhua didn't summon any flowers. Instead, she nervously followed Elena, occasionally using a small crossbow she bought from the system store for ranged attacks. Surprisingly, her aim was quite good.
She was still processing the "inspiration" Wu Jueji had given her and dared not use it recklessly in actual combat for the time being.
The most eye-catching member of the group, however, was Wu Jueji, who seemed the laziest.
When the scorpion king, whose size far surpassed that of its kind, its carapace shimmered with a dark golden luster and whose tail was covered with dangerous crystal spikes, appeared and pounced with a powerful aura, Wu Jueji yawned and staggered forward to meet it.
The Scorpion King was as fast as lightning and as powerful as steel. Its stinger pierced Wu Jueji's heart with a whooshing sound.
Everyone was worried for him.
However, just as the stinger was about to strike his body, Wu Jueji's dejected figure seemed to blur for a moment. He casually turned to the side and raised his hand. His movements were not fast, but he skillfully avoided the fatal blow. At the same time, his palm touched the giant claw that the Scorpion King was swinging like a ghost.
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the Scorpion King's massive pincers, powerful enough to split rocks, were steadily blocked by him with one hand, and the fight was evenly matched.
A hint of anthropomorphic astonishment flashed across the Scorpion King's crimson eyes, before it became even more ferocious. Its other giant claw, stinger, and even mouthparts transformed into afterimages as it launched a storm of attacks.
Wu Jueji's figure was like a lone boat in a raging sea amidst the barrage of attacks. It seemed extremely dangerous and about to fall, but it always managed to dodge or block the attacks with the slightest movement at the most critical moment.
His speed, strength, and reaction seemed to be completely synchronized with the Scorpion King; if you were strong, I would be strong; if you were fast, I would be fast, always maintaining a strange balance.
He was like a piece of chewing gum, sticking tightly to the strongest scorpion king. No matter how furious the scorpion king was, it could not break through his defenses or get rid of his entanglement, thus creating valuable space for others to deal damage.
Gu Yunqing stood at the relatively safe rear of the group. He did not participate in the attack directly, but calmly surveyed the entire battlefield.
He secretly drew upon the power of Zhuge Jin's card.
“Miss Elena, at the three o’clock position, the holy light is concentrated and can dispel the dark armor buff that the Scorpion King has just formed.” Gu Yunqing’s voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears.
Upon hearing this, Elena chose to believe Gu Yunqing and turned the holy light around without hesitation.
Sure enough, the black light that had just appeared on the Scorpion King's body quickly melted away under the holy light.
“Mr. Jun, attack the energy node half a foot above its third pair of ventral feet. It’s not a weak point, but it can effectively disrupt its energy cycle and slow down its attack frequency,” Gu Yunqing said again.
Jun Xiangbei's eyes flashed, and his sword stance suddenly changed. He abandoned his attack on the hard back armor, and his sword energy, like a venomous snake, accurately pierced the spot that Gu Yunqing pointed to.
"Swoosh!" As the sword energy penetrated, the Scorpion King's massive body trembled violently, and its previously continuous and ferocious attack indeed froze for a moment.
"Ji Changyu, there are three elite scorpions preparing to ambush us from behind the rocks to our left. Take them out first."
Ji Changyu was startled. He turned around and saw a faint light shimmering behind the rock. He immediately flashed over and swiftly brought his knife down.
Gu Yunqing's reminders were always perfectly timed and hit the nail on the head, as if she had a complete grasp of the entire battle situation and the condition of each enemy.
His presence greatly improved the efficiency of this hastily assembled team and minimized casualties.
While fighting, Jun Xiangbei kept a close eye on Gu Yunqing's every move.
Watching him stand calmly and composed in the back, watching him casually point out the key to victory, watching the silent understanding between him and that powerful and mysterious Wu Jueji...
And then, recalling the hidden, powerful force within him last night…
Gu Yunqing is like a mystery wrapped in layers; with each layer uncovered, a deeper and more intriguing secret is revealed.
A powerful and mysterious companion, unfathomable knowledge and insight, and his own hidden strength...
Jun Xiangbei discovered that his curiosity about Gu Yunqing had evolved beyond the initial exploration into a strong, obsessive desire to understand everything about him.
He wanted to know how many secrets Gu Yunqing was still hiding. What kind of heart lay beneath his seemingly gentle and harmless exterior?
Under Gu Yunqing's precise command and the combined efforts of everyone, especially Wu Jueji, the super front-line fighter, the powerful Scorpion King finally let out a mournful cry of unwillingness, crashed to the ground, and turned into a pile of materials that shimmered with light.
The battle is over.
Although everyone in the temporary squad was injured and exhausted, no one died, which is nothing short of a miracle in a high-difficulty team mission.
The generous rewards and valuable materials distributed to everyone greatly alleviated their financial burden.
Gu Yunqing looked at the money she had received and a Scorpion King Crystal Core containing pure energy in her hand, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
Jun Xiangbei's gaze, however, remained subtly fixed on Gu Yunqing, his eyes swirling with unspoken tension.
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