Chapter 68
Chapter 68
The atmosphere around the teleportation array became tense enough to snap.
Many players watched from a distance without understanding what was happening, whispering among themselves.
“They’re trying to force you into the siege,” Qianying explained honestly. “Don’t go!”
Zhou Ming nodded in agreement.
A siege wasn’t a personal matter!
He had no reason to participate at all costs.
“If you refuse, I cannot force you.” The Lord of Qingshui City seemed to have received expert guidance long ago. His tone was laden with implication. “However, aside from Qingshui City, the other secondary cities may not welcome a cowardly adventurer.”
He signaled to the guards on both sides.
At the order, the soldiers dropped to one knee before Zhou Ming. “General, please take command and lead us to capture Juyan City!”
“General, please take command and lead us to capture Juyan City!”
“General, please take command and lead us to capture Juyan City!”
The NPCs’ voices shook the sky, leaving him no path of retreat.
[Warning: The hidden main quest Lead the Army (Difficulty: S) has advanced into an Exclusive Main Quest. Quest rewards have increased substantially and will include at least one SS-Rank reward!]
[Because this is an Exclusive Main Quest, refusing it will impose the following penalties: Fame -1,000, and you cannot join the power of any secondary city other than Qingshui City for 2 months!]
…
Zhou Ming: “…”
An Exclusive Main Quest!
The gods were truly sparing no effort to deal with him!
If he couldn’t enter another secondary city for two months, traveling everywhere on foot would severely slow his leveling progress.
Remaining affiliated with Qingshui City for so long would also give the gods far more room to manipulate him.
“General Zhou, will you accept or refuse?” Liu Qingyang asked with a smile.
“Interesting. Very interesting!”
Zhou Ming looked at the Lord of Qingshui City, whose smile contained a trace of mockery. Killing intent stirred in his heart. “Since Qingshui’s officers are useless in battle and you need me so badly, then I… will graciously accept!”
[You have obtained the Exclusive Main Quest Lead the Army (Difficulty: S)!]
“Then I shall await the good news of General Zhou’s capture of Juyan City!” Liu Qingyang had achieved his objective. He turned and left in satisfaction.
The soldiers who had showered Zhou Ming with praise dispersed behind him.
Afterward, Zhou Ming used the teleportation array normally and traveled to another region in search of a suitable leveling area.
[You have entered the map Zixuan City (Secondary City)!]
Compared to Qingshui City, the other secondary cities clearly possessed much deeper foundations.
Beyond the broad plaza, orderly rows of houses filled the view. The streets bustled as native residents hurried about their daily lives.
“Attacking a city is much harder than defending one!” Qianying said with deep concern.
She knew the gods were forcing Zhouyou Shijie to answer their move and would give him no way out.
After their previous failure, however, the next counterattack would be far more vicious.
“By the same token, if I overcome this trial, the road ahead becomes much wider!” Zhou Ming’s gaze was clear. “The gods can’t act personally, and they can’t expel me from the Light Faction while I’m an adventurer. To avoid breaking the rules, the only trick they can use over and over is killing with a borrowed blade!”
In truth, he had accepted this brutally difficult quest for two reasons.
First, refusing would have carried greater risks. He might avoid encountering the Demon Gods again in the short term, but the overall loss wouldn’t be worth it.
Second…
He possessed the Double Reward Card purchased from the Mysterious Merchant!
An Exclusive Main Quest stacked with Double Reward Card. No, stacked with a Double Reward Card that Xuanniao would soon advance to SS Rank. The rewards would be explosive!
The system had already stated that the quest would grant at least an SS-Rank reward. If he used the card under those circumstances and then had Xuanniao enhance whatever he received…
The thought alone was terrifying.
“The problem is, if one of the top three Demon Gods defends Juyan City, no one can capture it!” Qianying said worriedly.
“Ying’er, are you certain I can’t?”
Zhou Ming gazed deeply at the young woman beside him.
Her silver hair fell like a waterfall, and her smooth, pale face looked soft enough to break beneath a touch. The sight made one want to draw her into an embrace and steal a kiss.
“!!”
Qianying’s expression shifted slightly.
She had lived for countless years, so a man’s stare wasn’t enough to make her lose composure. But after spending so much time beside Zhouyou Shijie, she had inevitably learned some of his habits.
Whenever the other party absolutely refused to believe him, he would always say that line!
That’s right!
That exact line.
“If you don’t believe me, how about we make a wager?” Zhou Ming asked gently after a brief pause.
“You’re trying to take advantage of me again!” Qianying didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Ying’er, that really underestimates me.” Zhou Ming shook his head and smiled. “I don’t want to take anything from you. In fact, if there were something you wanted, I’d empty myself out to satisfy you.”
Qianying: “…”
He was probably trying to express his profound gratitude for her recognition and support, but something about the words sounded strange.
“What do you want to wager?” Qianying’s interest was piqued despite herself.
Everyone!
Gods and Demon Gods included, not one person who wagered with Zhouyou Shijie had escaped defeat.
She truly wanted to know whether she could beat him once.
“Do you think I can capture Juyan City?”
“It will be extremely difficult!”
Qianying shook her head and answered seriously, “If one of the top three Demon Gods arrives while the Light Faction watches from the sidelines, I cannot fight alone. Once I am defeated, how will you oppose a Demon God?”
During the previous siege, the highest-ranking Demon Gods had needed to oversee the entire war and naturally hadn’t had time to target Zhouyou Shijie.
That might not be true this time.
“I wager that I can capture it!” Zhou Ming’s eyes burned with confidence.
“…I can’t make that wager with you.”
Qianying shook her head and said with complete seriousness, “If that’s the wager, I hope you win. You have to win!”
Zhou Ming stared at her, warmth rising in his heart.
Everyone else in the game was waiting to laugh at him. They were desperate to see him suffer a crushing defeat.
Only Qianying would always remain beside him.
“Let’s change the wager!” Zhou Ming thought for a moment. “How high do you think my chances are?”
“Well…” Qianying considered her words carefully. “They aren’t particularly good.”
“If I can convince you before the battle that my odds have reached fifty percent, I win!” Zhou Ming continued smoothly.
“All right!”
Qianying agreed.
He had to change her opinion before the battle!
That wouldn’t be easy!
“What are the stakes?” Qianying asked curiously.
“If I win…”
Zhou Ming pointed at her with a hint of wicked intent in his gaze. “I want you!”
“Hm?”
“…To give me a massage!” Zhou Ming hurriedly added.
He didn’t dare overstep too far.
Qianying looked surprised. “A massage?”
“Right, a massage!”
Zhou Ming nodded repeatedly and explained, “You know what that means, right? Rubbing my shoulders and legs. Working out the places that don’t move much and have gone a little stiff. Once they soften up, it feels great.”
Qianying understood. After a moment of thought, she nodded. “If that is all, I can agree.”
“Then the wager is set!”
“Wait. What happens if you lose?” Qianying pressed.
“How about I give you a massage instead?” Zhou Ming suggested. “My technique is incredible. I can make you feel so good you’ll cry out.”
“I’ll pass.”
Qianying gave him an exasperated look. “If I win, you…”
…