Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Ning Shuo said, “I forgot that we share the same origin.”
The System still hadn’t clarified why there were two different accounts with the same source signal, to the point where if one opened a Script, the other would be forcibly dragged in as a tethered participant.
However, from the look of things, aside from this one bug, their identity systems and accounts remained separate.
Ning Shuo asked, “I’m a novelist. What are you?”
Ning Wang replied helplessly, “It doesn’t sound very good. A thief.”
They were currently standing on a rural path, surrounded by a thick white fog.
As far as the eye could see, the only landmark was a scattered small town in the distance.
They walked forward side by side. Without much effort, following the descriptions provided by the Townspeople, they found the courtyard belonging to the Dreamweaver.
When Ning Shuo asked a Townsperson for the Dreamweaver’s name, the person replied mysteriously, “He is simply called the Dreamweaver.”
Upon entering the courtyard, several people were already waiting inside.
A quick exchange of glances confirmed their status as Players. Since the Dreamweaver remained behind closed doors, the Players began to introduce themselves.
In a PvE scenario where no NPCs were present, there was no harm in letting other Players know their real names.
A man wearing a long trench coat pushed up his black-rimmed glasses. “Ying Jian, a lawyer.”
A woman in casual wear said, “I’m Shen Xiao. Hello, everyone. My Script identity is a second-generation rich kid.”
A man dressed in a formal suit with a cold expression said, “An Sheng, CEO.”
A man in a red dance costume nodded elegantly. “Sui Chunsheng, a dancer.”
Ning Wang said, “Ning Wang. A bit embarrassed to say this, but my identity is a thief.”
Ning Shuo added, “Novelist. I’m Ning Shuo.”
Shen Xiao asked curiously, “Are you two Twins? Why do you look so much alike?”
Ning Shuo smiled and replied, “Yes, quite a coincidence that both brothers were pulled into the game.”
Shen Xiao then changed the subject. “But unfortunately, before you two arrived, the four of us had a brief chat and discovered something very fascinating.”
“Our identities all happen to match our real-world professions.”
“I don’t mean to look down on any profession, but…” Shen Xiao looked at Ning Wang. “In the outside world, are you also a thief?”
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. Because the other four Players had arrived early and already bonded slightly, a clear line had been drawn between them and the two newcomers.
Ning Shuo let out an “Oh my” and said, “How could that be? In the modern world, he’s a novelist.”
Shen Xiao’s eyes filled with mirth. “What a coincidence. Then what do you do?”
Ning Shuo replied, “I’m a bartender, haha.”
This world didn’t suppress a Player’s sense of hunger like the Newbie Script did; that first one was likely just for adaptation. An NPC had mentioned that the kitchen was free to use, so Ning Shuo ducked inside. He found some fruit and alcohol and mixed a glass of fruit wine. “God bless, I hope the flavors from these ingredients aren’t too bad.”
Shen Xiao took the drink and had a sip. The suspicion in her eyes dissipated slightly.
As she drank, she asked casually, “Not bad at all. I can tell you really have some skill. I wonder what kind of novels your brother writes? I’m sure if he’s full-time, he must have some fame.”
“I quite enjoy reading novels myself.”
Ning Shuo followed the flow of the conversation. “It’s quite niche. On a certain platform, he writes about two men…”
He gave a book title, and Shen Xiao’s eyes lit up. “I’ve read that one! I really love it! So he’s actually Ning Xie!”
Upon hearing the name “Ning Xie,” Ning Wang shot him a look.
The meaning in Ning Shuo’s eyes was clear: *You owe me one.*
Ning Wang’s index finger twitched slightly as he made a cutting motion. “Don’t forget, I was the one who killed people in the first Script.”
Ning Shuo’s eyes widened. “Are you trying to settle scores with me? Then I should mention that I was the one who helped you get out!”
Ning Wang looked innocent. “It wasn’t that you helped me get out. It’s just that as long as you left, the System recognized the same signal on both of us and naturally let me out as well.”
Ning Shuo: “…”
He suddenly lost interest in continuing the conversation. With Ning Shuo going silent, Shen Xiao naturally turned to Ning Wang. “Great Author…”
Ning Wang smiled. “Excuse me, I’m going to find my brother.”
Shen Xiao didn’t feel offended at all. Instead, she felt that Ning Wang was just like those elusive authors in the book review sections who only popped up to say a few words at a time-his temperament could only be described as eccentric!
Ning Shuo flipped through the phone that came with this identity and discovered that this persona was an Author who specialized in writing political intrigue and power-struggle novels.
Logically, he should have been a very clever person, but Ning Shuo did a quick check of all his social media apps and found that his social circle was not broad. Not only were his contacts mere acquaintances, but he didn’t even have a single friend he chatted with regularly.
The last message he had sent out was a reply to his editor last month: “Sorry, I’ve run into some trouble on my end. I’ll make up for the chapters I missed recently later.”
As for why he had stopped updating, there was almost nothing to be found.
There were very few records of his past history either. Ning Shuo checked the phone’s system and realized it had just been bought last month; almost none of the WeChat chat history had been transferred over.
He was a political intrigue Author with almost no contact with the outside world.
Ning Shuo browsed the novel apps on the phone and found that the man not only wrote political intrigue but also read conspiracy-themed novels.
However, the novels recently added to the bookshelf weren’t of the intrigue variety; most were lighthearted and comedic.
Though, he hadn’t read more than a few chapters of any of these funny novels.
While Ning Shuo was searching for clues related to this identity, a teasing voice sounded beside him. “You’re actually reading novels.”
Ning Shuo replied, “Want to read together?”
Ning Wang said, “You’re certainly not in a hurry. Look over there.”
He pointed at the clearly impatient lawyer and the dancer who was so bored she was pulling up grass in the courtyard. “They’re quite anxious.”
Ning Shuo exited the novel app and went into the settings to look for recently used apps. “The main quest is to solve the Dreamweaver’s troubles. Since the Dreamweaver himself doesn’t want to come out and tell us what’s wrong yet, it wouldn’t be right to go brandishing a sword at him like some brute.”
Ning Wang had a gut feeling he was being mocked.
They waited until noon, but the Dreamweaver remained behind closed doors. When they asked the NPCs in other areas, they all stuck to the same script: the Dreamweaver would appear naturally when he wanted to see them.
At high noon, the door finally opened.
The people in this town generally dressed in traditional Chinese styles, and the Dreamweaver was no exception, wearing a dark cyan robe. He looked to be a young man in his thirties with a gentle appearance and aura.
In Ning Wang’s eyes, compared to that waiter who had tried to strangle him with a tongue earlier, the difference between this NPC and the previous ones was like the difference between an imperial sword and scrap metal.
The Dreamweaver spoke with a beaming smile. “Everyone, let us eat first.”
The courtyard was right next to the kitchen. They had clearly been in the courtyard the whole time and hadn’t seen a single person go in to cook.
Yet, when the Dreamweaver led them inside, the food was already laid out on the table.
The Dreamweaver acted as if he hadn’t noticed their expressions and took the head seat first. Seeing that they weren’t moving, he invited them, “Since you have all come to visit, you are guests. How could I let my guests go hungry?”