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Chapter Text

(December)

Click, click. Tap, tap.

A rhythmic stream of clicks and taps filled the silence of the small room that was bare of any furnishings aside from the very basic; only the computer set-up boasted any lustre. The near gory display on the monitor’s wide screen served as the lone brightness in the sea of darkness save for the pitiful embers that glowed from a burning cancer stick. Next to the mouse was an ash tray already half-full of ash piles which crumbled into a heap when the door burst open.

Bang!

Unperturbed, the room’s original occupant didn’t so much as blink in surprise and their rhythmic sound continued to flow smoothly. Seconds passed going onto a minute, another, and then the catchy visual of victory flashed on the screen. Finally, the newcomer was acknowledged with a simple, “Arrived?”

“Arrived,” was the equally simple reply.

Golden eyes peeked through the fringes of messy black hair as a pale neck stretched to look sideways at where the newcomer remained standing by the threshold. “Want to play a game?”

“No,” the newcomer shook her head, lustrous orange-blonde curls flowing gently from the move.

Silence reigned for a while before another probing question was offered up: “something wrong?”

“Is it okay…” With a gentle swing, the door slid closed and privacy was once more ensured. “If I do something selfish? It’s just, I don’t want to betray you… But, Xiu-ge, I don’t know… for how long…”

The atmosphere in the room turned oppressive for a single breath but only for that short period.

Gently, Ye Xiu smiled and assured, “do what you want and don’t worry about me.”

A sniff was all the warning Mucheng gave before she flung herself into the other’s arms.

Ye Xiu wrapped his arms securely around his pseudo little sister, a helpless smile on his lips as he combed his fingers through her long, silky hair. His heart felt like it had been wrapped around a string and weighed down by a rock. But he didn’t bother voicing out anything less than approval for whatever Mucheng wanted to do. Still, he had to ask one thing, “You’re not being forced, right?”

“No,” Mucheng’s answer was mumbled but clear, her face pressed against his chest.

“Okay,” Ye Xiu accepted this quietly and didn’t say anything more. Selfishness, betrayal, neither of those meant anything to him where Mucheng was concerned. If he was the only obstacle on her path and if she wasn’t being forced then he wouldn’t interfere and would gladly let her do as she pleased.

*~*~*~*

The new owner of One Autumn Leaf arrived under the cover of darkness, flashy blonde hair muted under the low-lighting of Excellent Era’s conference room, and surrounded by a newly-acquired posse of bootlickers along with their malicious backer. But rather than feel humiliated and upset, Ye Xiu merely felt a foreboding sense of disappointment as he stared at the team he had tried his hardest to whip into shape – and the state of the Club he had helped build from the ground up.

Manager Cui Li straightened up from beside the rookie, his ghostly-white skin and sickly sallow cheeks complimenting his flat frame tucked into a neat suit. “Ye Xiu, the Club has decided that transfer player Sun Xiang will take over your position as Captain. From now on, Sun Xiang will be in control of your account One Autumn Leaf.”

No advanced notice, no tact. How very like Cui Li.

Su Mucheng, who had followed after Ye Xiu into the room, finally looked up from her phone which she had been fiddling with. Her normally warm expression replaced with an incredibly cold sneer.

A shiver ran down the spines of everyone in the room save for Ye Xiu and one ignorant person.

Clueless and too wrapped up in himself, Sun Xiang smirked arrogantly and drawled, “Brother Ye, I’ve just arrived and I already took over your position. Sorry,” he tacked on carelessly in contrast to his gleeful tone but through all this, he only spared Ye Xiu a glance as his gaze was focused on Mucheng’s body.

“Brother Xiang, with those words, this position definitely suits you!” Liu Hao, the snake, crowed.

“Right,” Guo Yang picked up after easily, “some people are already old and out-of-date!”

“One Autumn Leaf deserves a better commander so that our abilities can be displayed!”

Manager Cui Li, smirking slightly, spoke up above the rest, ordering, “Ye Xiu, hand over your card.”

‘Hand over your card,’ what a normal string of words and yet this was what hit Ye Xiu the hardest. To give up his faithful companion of many years, the avatar that had stood by Autumn Tree’s side since the first server and that wielded the first weapon Su Muqiu had ever created - solely for his use too. He swallowed hard and slowly reached into his pocket to take out his precious silver-white account card.

Body strung taut and self-control wound tight like an iron-fist, he walked over to where Sun Xiang sat like a king on what had originally been his chair as Captain. His fingers shook slightly as he offered his card and in the few moments it took to steady himself, the card was already taken away.

“Yes! It’s mine!” Sun Xiang exclaimed triumphantly with a grin. He turned back to Ye Xiu with an unholy gleam in his eyes. “Your hands are trembling, Brother Ye. How can you be a player like this?”

Ye Xiu ignored the schoolyard taunt and fixed his expression to impassivity, his eyes briefly flashing golden. “Sun Xiang, do you like Glory? If you like it, then treat everything as glory, not boasting.”

For a moment, Sun Xiang didn’t react, dumbfounded. But a second passed and he turned furious. “What did you say to me? What does this have to do with you? Mind your own business and retire!”

“Take care of it. That weapon is more precious than you,” Ye Xiu muttered under his breath and moved away, putting his back to the majority of the room’s occupants. His eyes caught Mucheng’s.

“Ye Xiu!” Manager Cui Li suddenly called out.

Frowning, Ye Xiu stared deeply into Mucheng’s eyes for a while longer, concerned about the anticipatory glint in her eyes. His name was called again, this time nearer, and he looked back.

“The Club doesn’t have any competitive cards to give you. You will serve as a training partner first!”

‘Serve as a training partner’? For the person who built the first and only dynasty in the Alliance, Glory’s original number one, touted Glory Textbook and Battle God, to become a training partner?

What a joke.

“Oh! Glory Professional Alliance’s number one training partner!” Sun Xiang laughed interestedly.

Ye Xiu laughed mockingly right back, his heart encased in ice. “I’m cancelling my contract.”

“Cancelling your contract?” Manager Cui Li’s vindictive emotion shifted into a thoughtful one.

“Excuse me,” Mucheng suddenly said, startling everyone. However, she merely exited the conference room without another word, leaving behind a stunned and bewildered crowd.

Ye Xiu frowned harder at her sudden departure but returned to the matter at hand. “Well?”

“Right! Finally, this is the Ye Xiu I recognize! Then, let’s talk about the penalty fee! Do you even know how much it is? Frankly, you’ve done so much for so many years, if you want to leave, let’s discuss!”

“Don’t bother. Tell it to me straight,” Ye Xiu ordered.

Manager Cui Li shortly exposed a sneer. “It’s simple: announce your retirement.”

BANG!

Everyone in the room flinched then flinched again when they saw the new arrival.

“What…” Ye Xiu stared blankly at the identical face staring coolly right back at him. His eyes slid over to Mucheng’s subdued yet anticipatory and victorious smile. “You…” He thought back to her words a few months back and could only shake his head helplessly. “This… this is what you meant by that?”

Ye Qiu entered the room with feline grace and immediately eyed the rest of the room with disdain.

“Stay out of this,” Ye Xiu told his little brother.

“You stay out of it,” Ye Qiu retorted carelessly and stepped past to face the manager himself. “Mr. Cui Li, stop gaping. It’s unsightly. Hurry up and produce Ye Xiu’s contract before I call in my lawyers.”

Manager Cui Li snapped back to the present and fixed his glasses. “You’re not authorized –,”

“Overruled,” Ye Qiu interrupted mercilessly and produced an official paper out of the stiff black folder he carried. “I have the power of attorney. Ye Xiu’s signature is right here. I can sue you and Excellent Era if you continue to harass him and force his hand. The contract. You have five minutes.”

Ye Xiu snatched the official paper from the table and froze. “Mucheng…” She had made him sign something a few weeks ago and he hadn’t bothered double-checking. It was Mucheng after all.

“Four minutes,” Ye Qiu narrated ruthlessly.

Manager Cui Li’s sickly pallor deepened and he fleed the room, nearly tripping in his haste.

“Now,” Ye Qiu sat down and crossed his legs, his hands clasped together as he eyed the new Excellent Era team with the attitude of an entomologist to bugs. “What shall I do with you?”

“Fuck! Who the fuck are you?” Sun Xiang finally exploded.

“Keep it civil, swine,” Ye Qiu insulted. He turned to Mucheng, completely bypassing a blank Ye Xiu.

Mucheng smiled sweetly. “I want to cancel my contract too.” She whipped out a copy of her own contract from behind her back like magic and passed it over. “Can you please do it for me, Qiu-ge?”

“You – !” Sun Xiang turned red, almost puce in anger. “Hey!” He cried out demandingly.

Neither Ye Xiu, Ye Qiu nor Mucheng paid him any attention.

 “What are you doing?” Ye Xiu couldn’t take it anymore. “Don’t be so hasty!”

“Hasty?” Mucheng asked sunnily, her smile so bright that it was sharp.

Ye Xiu paused, unused to having that deadly smile directed his way. His hesitation was enough to cut his presence out of the conversation as the door opened again and a harried Manager Cui Li entered to slam a few papers onto the table. He could argue his way, he knew, but that was only his pride talking and really, since this was Mucheng’s decision, didn’t he already decide to let her act freely?

“Hmm…” Ye Qiu rifled through the papers and then whipped out a blank check. He quickly wrote on it and signed his name with a flourish before sliding it over. “Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng’s penalty fees for cancelling their contracts. I’ll be in touch soon to purchase Dancing Rain.”

Manager Cui Li, though pale and dazed, deserved his position. He shot up in alarm without preamble and protested, “Su Mucheng is not under your jurisdiction! And we will not be selling!”

“Oh?” Ye Qiu smiled leisurely and produced another official paper. “She also granted me the power of attorney. And you will be selling Dancing Rain to me one way or another.” He stood up languidly, movement akin to a panther, and shuffled the relevant papers back into his black folder before he decisively pivoted. “Brother, Mucheng, your personal effects should be packed up by now. Let’s go.”

“Okay!” Mucheng chirped, smiling smugly.

Ye Xiu wordlessly followed them both out, leaving behind the gob smacked team and manager.

Well, regardless of how his end with Excellent Era came about as well as his own sentiments, Ye Xiu could appreciate the art of creating chaos and turmoil with the use of just a few words and actions.

He and Ye Qiu… they were truly twins.

*~*~*~*

It was a crisp, cold night with the wind blowing through the road and between the buildings with much force, ruffling the trio the moment they stepped out of Excellent Era’s building. They huddled together unconsciously to protect from the chill, Ye Qiu at the front wearing a thick coat and Ye Xiu at the back in his typical thin clothing, then made their way over to the car idling away at the curb.

Behind that car was another, this time bigger and likely filled to the brim with his and Mucheng’s belongings. Ye Xiu couldn’t remember the last time he experienced the sheer power money wielded, had practically resolved to ignore money since he’d run and on his pursuit for glory, so it was with mild yet muted bemusement that he watched a few bodyguards open the car doors for them.

No, he hasn’t missed any of this at all. However, he wouldn’t deny that he felt marginally less tense being outside with the amount of bodyguards that Qiu-di had escorting them to the car. He’d become far too used to being the only protector around for Mucheng (and Muqiu, though with his best friend it went both ways) that he’d forgotten what it was like to not be so alert and concerned.

Just as these thoughts passed his mind, he heard the heart-jolting and sickeningly familiar sound of a car going out of control. The screeching began from a distance then grew closer within a mere second. He jerked in surprise and whipped around to find the source as his heart jack-rabbited inside his chest, only to see a scene so hauntingly similar to the one that had occurred all those years ago.

“Muqiu!!!”

Ye Xiu froze. That name. That voice. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

Before Ye Xiu knew what he was doing, he was sprinting towards the disaster rather than away, his ears ringing with the echo of his late best friend’s name called by a voice so familiar and from the alarmed shouts behind him. Still, all he cared about were the continuous cries up ahead from – He came to a halt, stunned disbelief coursing through his body as he stared at the trio across the street.

He stared hard and intently, so much so that he didn’t notice the car sliding towards him.

“GE!”

SCREEEEEEECH! BOOM!

The world tipped over, spun and crashed. Ye Xiu groaned in pain, body curled up in a fetal position, covered by the weight above him. His mind reeled from the sudden impact, unable to keep up, yet his eyes never wavered from the trio across the street who stared back at him in surprise and horror.

Within the next two moments, multiple things happened.

Ye Xiu’s face was forcefully tilted up and he realized that his little brother had thrown them both away from the incoming car’s trajectory. Mucheng ran over, tears already streaming down her cheeks, her eyes so bright that they sparkled in the night. A group of bodyguards followed after her and fanned out protectively to prevent anyone from approaching but they were a little too late.

The trio who were the source of all the commotion had already walked over, pace neither too fast nor too slow, their faces betraying their confusion. Ye Xiu stared at them intensely as he gently pulled himself and his twin up to a sitting position, his eyes hungrily, desperately, taking in the trio.

“G-ge?!” Mucheng cried out.

“Oh my god,” Ye Qiu muttered, eyes narrowed. “Who..?”

Ye Xiu swallowed past the stone in his throat. “Muqiu..?” He asked, voice trembling and so close to breaking, filled with hope, trepidation, fear and everything else. In all honesty, he knew who he was looking at. He knew all three of them. But it was so impossible and he… he needed confirmation.

“Hi…” Muqiu greeted automatically. “You’re…” He glanced at his male companion. “Wow.”

“Right,” the male companion said briskly, “what’s the year?”

“Year? You think we time-travelled?” Muqiu snorted, recovering quickly.

“But ge,” the other companion tugged Muqiu’s sleeve. “She looks like me,” she pointed at Mucheng.

Muqiu’s eyes raked over Mucheng curiously. “Er… I guess?”

“Year,” the male one repeated in a bored tone.

“…” Ye Qiu slowly stood up, looking incredibly suspicious and done. “You, you’re… eighteen?”

The male nodded. “And you?”

“We’re twenty-five,” Ye Xiu answered in his little brother’s stead as he too stood up. His arm ached a little from its intimate experience with the road but he was otherwise fine. “Time-travel, huh?”

“Seriously?” Muqiu gawked. “Where’s older me then?”

Mucheng choked wetly and bowed her head.

“Oh,” the male one’s expression sharpened. “The accident…”

“What?” Muqiu questioned.

“You… it’s a good thing we time-travelled. You were about to get hit.”

Muqiu jerked in surprise and looked in askance at the steaming car a few feet away. “Oh.”

“But you’re okay, ge, right?!” the female companion demanded.

“I’m fine,” Muqiu reassured a bit distractedly. “In one piece,” he continued.

“So… Xiu… ge,” the male one tried out, “what now?”

Ye Qiu sighed and snapped his fingers to gain everyone’s attention. “Get in the car first,” he instructed then whirled around and stalked back towards the idling car without waiting for a response; one bodyguard detached from the formation to shadow him on his way back.

“We should go,” Ye Xiu murmured, shifting to the side and raising his arm to curve around the air behind the trio’s back as a subtle push. The trio looked at him for a moment but didn’t say anything and quietly made their way to the car. He followed suit, Mucheng falling into step beside him.

*~*~*~*

Once inside the car, both sets of trio naturally gravitated towards opposite ends of the car; Ye Xiu, Ye Qiu and Mucheng sat on the same row as the car’s doors whilst the other three sat in the row behind the driver’s seat. With such a convenient arrangement, Ye Xiu didn’t bother being polite and resumed staring at Muqiu, unable to tear his gaze away even in the face of the other’s discomfort.

That face, that smile, that innate brightness…

Ye Xiu had missed Muqiu so dearly and to see him again, alive and well… his heart ached with the hurt of tragic memories at the same time as it radiated sweet pain from the joyful reality in front of him. Time-travel or whatever it was, he didn’t care. Muqiu was back with him, real and just present.

“We’re here,” Ye Qiu broke the silence and exited the car before any bodyguard could open it

Ye Xiu nudged the door he was resting against open and helped Mucheng out, his attention divided between making sure she disembarked safely and watching the younger trio slide out. They made their way to a tall upscale building made up of clean lines and architectural flair, past the doorman up front and the lobby concierge. Ye Xiu suspiciously squinted. This was an apartment building?

“Come on, it’s cold,” Ye Qiu half-complained.

They followed after him, the current circumstance too out of the norm for any of them to voice out any objections. Ye Xiu faithfully watched over their group from behind until their positions were all reversed upon entering the lift at which point he could only continue to stare by shamelessly looking over his shoulder or using the elevator’s reflection. He chose the latter option. He had his limits too.

Ye Qiu continued to lead the way once they stepped out onto a well-lit hallway though it wasn’t necessary. That there was only one door available for what they knew was a generously-sized floor area was quite telling enough on its own in more ways than one. Still, they were guided through a modern foyer, past an open dining room and into a minimalistic living room where they all sat down.

And… nothing.

With a slight clear of the throat, Ye Xiu broke the silence. “Muqiu...” He trailed off, perplexed, as he eyed the two next to his best friend’s younger self. “Younger… Xiu. And… Little… Mucheng…”

Someone snorted.

“What’s the last thing any of you remember?”

Younger Xiu’s lips curled up on one side. “We were about sign our contracts.”

“Little Mucheng was with you?

“No,” Younger Xiu replied with a slight frown at the younger girl. “Muqiu went to get his ID card then, next thing I know, we were in the middle of the road and a car was spinning towards Muqiu.”

Ye Xiu nodded as he reached over to squeeze Mucheng’s hands. She offered him a tremulous smile.

“I died? In this… timeline?” Muqiu clarified with a worried furrow to his brows.

The silence that descended again was enough of an answer.

“We’ve established that they time-travelled then?” Ye Qiu switched topics. “Xiu-ge?”

Ye Xiu hummed. “No other explanation.”

“Alright,” Ye Qiu sighed. “They’re going to need IDs. What names do you three want?”

Muqiu raised his brows in question. “Uh…”

“You can use your own name if you want,” Ye Xiu told him knowingly.

“Good!” Muqiu sighed in relief.

Ye Xiu smiled slightly. “Younger Xiu… how about Xiu’er?”

“Fine,” the newly dubbed Xiu’er agreed.

“What about me?” Little Mucheng pouted. “Can I still be Mucheng?”

“How about Yucheng?” Mucheng spoke up for the first time since their arrival.

Muqiu’s gaze slid back over to her with undisguised fascination.

“Yucheng?” Little Mucheng tried out. “Why Yucheng?”

“Because… the Glory character modeled after us is called Mu Yu Cheng Feng.”

“Dancing Rain? Okay! I’ll be Su Yucheng!” Yucheng accepted readily.

Mucheng smiled, a fond touch to her lips. “Okay, Little Cheng.”

“How do you want this to go?” Ye Qiu cut in again. “For the lineage records.”

Ye Xiu blew out a long breath. “Muqiu and Yucheng can be filed under Mucheng. As for Xiu’er…”

“Long lost blood brother?” Ye Qiu suggested almost challengingly.

“You think you can do that?” Ye Xiu challenged right back. “What will you tell our parents?”

 Ye Qiu shrugged. “Let me take care of that.”

“How much power have you gained? How much freedom?” Ye Xiu demanded.

“Come back and find out,” Ye Qiu retorted. “In any case, I’ll take care of it. For Mucheng too.”

“So, a lot,” Xiu’er concluded.

“This apartment is yours; it was bought in your name, Xiu-ge,” Ye Qiu stood up, obviously preparing to escape. “Do whatever you want. I’ll have your new identifications delivered later. Good night.”

“Ah, he escaped,” Xiu’er observed carelessly once the front door clicked closed. “How’s EE?”

“My home is your home. Make yourselves comfortable,” Ye Xiu declared then made his own escape. He wasn’t in the mood to explain what had been happening in Excellent Era to the innocent younger trio and he needed some time alone to come to terms with the long night he had just experienced.

“Oh, he escaped too.”

Chapter Text

(December)

Situated on the top floor of the high-rise building, the penthouse apartment was fitted with three generously-sized bedrooms, four bathrooms, an open-floor combined dining and living room area, kitchen, laundry room, storage area, multiple balconies and, most importantly, a sizeable study.

Rather, it was a study but had since been converted into a computer room. Set up neatly in two rows were two computers and three laptops outfitted with their own Glory card readers. It was unknown whether Ye Qiu had sent over the laptops after departing last night or whether the youngest Ye had gone overboard originally but the amount was perfect for the new household.

And how predictable that the new household majorly comprised of Glory addicts had already found their way to this room, even locking in their chosen spots with the array of personal effects scattered about their space on the tables. The sight made Ye Xiu feel strangely. Last night was like a dream and now too but reality was in front of his face and he… the situation was odd, yes, but he was thankful.

Thankful that Muqiu had been returned to him.

Thankful that his younger self and the younger Mucheng had no need to mourn.

Certainly, the coming days, weeks and months would be an adjustment period for all of them but that they had this chance at all was something to be grateful for. Ye Xiu, though he still felt strangely, also felt a comforting warmth settle in his chest. These people in the room… Mucheng, Muqiu, Xiu’er and Yucheng, they were his new team. And this was the start of his new beginning. In Glory. In life.

Ye Xiu let out a quiet sigh and dispelled the small, genuine smile on his lips. He never thought he was one for sentimentality. Shaking his head, he casually walked into the room and headed straight for his younger self who had shamelessly commandeered one of the two only computers. “You, shoo.”

“…” Xiu’er was unimpressed and rebelliously engaged in a glaring contest while Mucheng giggled.

“Don’t make trouble,” Ye Xiu said, the words sounding weird on his tongue. He used to say these exact words to Ye Qiu so how come he was saying it to his younger self now… “Go use a laptop.”

Chuckling, Muqiu leaned back from where he was hunched over a laptop and tugged at Xiu’er. “Come here,” he said, amused, as he pointed at the unused laptop next to him. There was a mouse and keyboard plugged in along with the card reader like the other two laptops and was ready for use.

“Fiiine,” Xiu’er dragged the word out and forcibly logged out of Glory by tugging his silver card out.

“Wait,” Ye Xiu’s eyes flickered down to the card. “Is that One Autumn Leaf?” his voice barely fluctuated yet he could tell from Xiu’er and Muqiu’s sharpened gazes that they noticed anyway.

Xiu’er paused, his grip tightening on the silver card, before relaxing. “It’s not,” he replied.

“Do you want to talk – ?” Muqiu cut himself off upon seeing the slight change in Ye Xiu’s face. “Okay, there’s no need to say anything. Anyway, when you left last night, Mucheng told us everything.”

That was expected; Ye Xiu didn’t really think Mucheng would keep quiet.

“I can’t believe they became so… bad,” Yucheng mumbled, her face shadowed by the flashing colors on her laptop’s screen from the drama she was currently watching. “Money really changes people.”

“No, it depends on the person,” Muqiu corrected firmly. “None of us would change for money.”

“That’s right; we know better,” Mucheng smiled serenely.

Ye Xiu raised his brow at her yet didn’t bother asking any questions. Whatever troubles that smile spelled would likely be aimed at Club Excellent Era and, as much as he wanted to save the team he had built upon his and Muqiu’s dreams and raised up with his own blood, sweat and tears, they had already turned their backs on him. He would never wish them harm but he was willing to do nothing.

In any case, he had Muqiu back. What was a dynasty created single-handedly to him who now had the chance to create a new legend with his Glory partner? Their dream was originally meant for two.

“Oh!” Muqiu exclaimed. “By the way, Xiu – Xiu.” He spared a glance at Xiu’er and shrugged. “You’re Xiu’er. He’s Xiu. No complaints. Anyway! We made new accounts in the tenth server last night. I’m Autumn Tree, Xiu’er is One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Mu – Yucheng is Autumn Rain, Mucheng is Cleansing Mist and you,” a silver card was handed over, “are going to be Lord Grim. How about it?”

“One night and you already found out Lord Grim is viable again?” Ye Xiu took the card and fished out another from his pocket to swap with. “That’s also Lord Grim,” he said. “So, we’re going to do this?”

Muqiu grinned. “It’s a challenge!”

“Hurry up, hurry up,” Xiu’er hustled them with a bored look, having already logged in again.

“Oh, right,” Muqiu turned back around and made a few clicks. “…Yucheng, move your character!”

Yucheng made an impatient, obligatory noise and minimized her drama to do as asked.

Sitting down, Ye Xiu tapped Mucheng’s shoulder who was sat next to him and tilted his head at Yucheng. When they were younger, Mucheng did like to watch them play every now and then but she didn’t show any interest in playing herself until – well, until. But Mucheng only smiled at him in response so he just shrugged and plugged his new card in. “What level is everyone on?” he asked.

“Level sixteen,” Muqiu replied. “Yours too. We carried it but now you’re here, we’ll be faster.”

“Only?” Ye Xiu snorted incredulously. Getting to level sixteen in one night was impressive for most people but for someone like Muqiu (and Xiu’er) who were both at their peak levelling proficiency, this was not so great. Last night, they likely went online immediately at midnight so considering it was at present nearing noon, reaching only level sixteen meant – “You two actually went to sleep?”

Muqiu squawked in protest. “Of course, we did!” His indignance was mercilessly torn down by the twin judgmental looks from his sisters, the oldest of which happily revealed: “I reminded them~!”

“Expected,” Ye Xiu acknowledged dryly. He gazed at her for a second then asked, “How are you?”

Smile widening, Mucheng assured, “Very good.” A pause. “And you?”

Before Ye Xiu could answer, Xiu’er interrupted, scorning, “Him? He’s an idiot. But I understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand,” Muqiu retorted unhappily. “You need to value yourself more.”

Xiu’er argued, “How is that relevant? Valuing himself means letting go of the dynasty he created?”

“No, valuing himself means that he should take care of his own well-being over that dynasty!”

“Okay, okay, stop,” Ye Xiu raised his voice a little to get their attention, exasperated and wry.

Muqiu worked his jaw. Clearly, he had more to say but he swallowed them and simply smiled. “Well, okay, I’m here. I’ll make sure neither of you will ever be in that situation nor think that way again.”

“Leave it to you,” Ye Xiu responded and was a little stunned afterwards because of it. The last time he had ever said this phrase was to Wu Xuefeng in the last round of the Season 3 finals. It was freeing to be able to say it again, to have someone – multiple someones, really – whom he trusted and was not responsible for by his side. He gazed at his younger self and Muqiu with a small smile.

Although to others, it may seem like he had gained three more people to be responsible for and it might seem unreasonable for him to depend on people younger than him, he knew himself and Muqiu best. They were a symbiotic, self-sufficient pair as teenagers. He could freely depend on them in Glory – and perhaps a little outside. However, none of this meant Ye Xiu wouldn’t be responsible.

He was the oldest, it was natural.

*~*~*~*

Lord Grim, Accomplishment History

• Green Forest, First Clear:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, Lord Grim.

• Midnight Phantom Cat, First Kill:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, Lord Grim.

• Spider Cave, First Clear:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, Lord Grim.

• Spider Emperor, First Kill:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, Lord Grim.

Ye Xiu blinked at the list and smiled. The guilds must be frustrated and wondering who they were with this list of achievements under their belt. “You went all out,” he chuckled. “Did you sleep well?”

“Huh?” Muqiu asked distractedly. “Sleep? It was okay – what are you doing? Why did you stop?”

“I’m moving, I’m moving,” Ye Xiu minimized the history window and resumed playing.

“You guys play, I’m going to fix the table then grab our food from downstairs,” Mucheng announced as she stood, stretching her body out with a stifled yawn. “I ordered delivery earlier,” she explained.

“Wait,” Yucheng pushed her laptop towards Xiu’er and slid down from her seat then linked her arms with the older girl, “I want to go with you and we can fix the table together too, Mucheng-jie~!”

“Of course,” Mucheng agreed and led the way out of the study. “How about you call me Mumu-jie?”

“I like it! Then, what about me, Mumu-jie?” Yucheng asked, her voice growing more distant.

Mucheng’s voice was also softer as she replied, “Yu-mei? Oh! No, what about Cheng-mei?”

Click.

The study’s door slipped shut with the help of the door closer and the Su sisters’ voices disappeared.

"Mucheng looks well," Xiu'er remarked suddenly.

“She grew up well,” Ye Xiu replied. “Number One Launcher.”

“And Glory Goddess!” Muqiu added enthusiastically. “Ah~ When this game came out, who knew my sister would one day be its Goddess? As expected, my Mucheng is the best…” he trailed off and his shoulders drooped but his gaze remained on the game. “Sorry, Xiu. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

“Who wants your apology? You didn’t leave willingly; you think I blamed you?” Ye Xiu scoffed.

Muqiu paused and turned around with a gentle smile, one that always appeared when their lives got hard like the sun peeking out from behind stormy clouds. “No. But I’m sorry, sorry I left you behind.”

“…” Ye Xiu couldn’t speak for a moment with that tender gaze on him. “…forget it. Aren’t you here?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” Muqiu’s smile somehow became gentler. “Xiu, let’s make our own team.”

“Our own team,” Ye Xiu repeated. He… didn’t think that he would create a new team after Excellent Era. Didn’t think that he would leave Excellent Era before he was ready even when it became more apparent that his wish would not be granted. He had been stubborn and refused to think of what he would do once he was kicked out.  But he wasn’t opposed to it. Anyway, a new team would be good.

A team with Muqiu.

This time, they would step onto Glory’s biggest stage together.

This time, they would win Glory’s highest honor, the Championship, together.

“It’s a challenge,” Ye Xiu echoed Muqiu’s earlier words as his agreement. “We’ll need a Cleric.”

“Cleric,” Xiu’er spat the Class like it was dirt under his shoe but he didn’t object.

“Yes… a Cleric and more players,” Muqiu stated, his eyes alight with excitement.

“More players would be good,” Ye Xiu commented wryly. “Having no reserves was terrible.”

Xiu’er dismissed this carelessly with a factual, “You still won anyway.”

“It wasn’t easy,” Ye Xiu sighed, thinking back on Season 1. He had won the Championships but he had expended a lot of energy and effort. More than needed if only he had a dependable reserve to replace Xue Mingkai with when the younger ran off. But no, he was forced to coax the boy to play…

At the highest stage of Glory, he still had to convince someone to play. It had been… truly baffling.

However, confusion was not his priority. It was the Championship and since they won… and they kept winning… Xue Mingkai never showed such behavior again. It wasn’t until Ye Xiu was faced with Liu Hao’s attitude in the summer between Season 4 and 5 that he realized. People might say he was naïve for not discovering the truth sooner. The reality though was that Ye Xiu simply didn’t care to.

Yet Liu Hao’s increasingly abrasive attitude forced him to realize. Realize that despite being good at Glory, the talent in Xue Mingkai and Liu Hao had been buried underneath their pride and insecurity.

“Congratulations to…” a cool female voice began to announce, snapping Ye Xiu out of his thoughts.

System Announcement:

Congratulations to One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree,
Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim for breaking the Skeleton Graveyard clear
record. Time: 24:10:18

Clearing a record was nothing special but Ye Xiu still paid this announcement some attention since he hadn’t expected that, even while carrying two characters and with him distracted halfway, they would still manage to get this achievement. Oh, how he had missed playing Glory with Muqiu. He had missed how it was like to play without needing to guide, be on guard or greatly expend himself.

There was a joy in teaching others, in leading a team successfully… however, these joys had slowly been chipped away at by Liu Hao and the others. What joy was there to have when his guidance was met with disdain and contempt? What joy was there in leading a team who refused to obey? And there was definitely no joy in needing to exert great effort to carry a deadweight team to playoffs.

Ye Xiu huffed and rubbed at his eyes. What was he doing thinking about these things… He clicked on his weapon to bring up its data window in a bid to distract himself from lamenting over his ex-team.

[Myriad Manifestations Umbrella (Battle Lance Form)] -  Level 15

Attack Speed: 5

Physical Attack: 290

Magic Attack: 220

Woo~ Level 15 already!

“Great Su, you worked hard,” Ye Xiu praised. The server had just opened and somehow his weapon was already at level 15… the amount of materials that would have needed… the number of people that must have been scammed. He chuckled shallowly. “What about your weapons?” he inquired.

“Huh? Oh. It’s okay…” Muqiu replied vaguely.

Actually, Ye Xiu should have noticed back in the dungeon – and he could also check now. He shifted his character’s viewpoint and scanned their team's characters. Purple weapons. Not too shabby but nothing compared to Lord Grim’s silver weapon. Probably, Muqiu was too excited over resurrecting Lord Grim’s entire concept and the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella to care for the others’ weapons.

Thinking this, he instead asked, “Where did you get the materials?”

“Uhm…” Muqiu waved his hand. “Here and there.”

Ye Xiu pressed his lips and mentally lit some incense for the players of the tenth server. They were pitiful indeed to encounter not one, not two but three masters at persuasion with no bottom limit.

“When do you think the guilds will start coming to us?” Muqiu pondered.

“Hm, soon,” Ye Xiu replied. “It hasn’t been a day yet. Let’s go to Boneyard first.”

“Sounds good,” Xiu’er leaned over to move Yucheng’s character simultaneously with his own and, seeing this, Ye Xiu did the same for Mucheng. With Muqiu at their back, there was no need to worry.

 “Ah!” Muqiu jolted upright with a delighted laugh. “We have a client! Blue Brook Guild. Blue River. Hm? Oh, his main account is Blue Bridge Spring Snow in the Heavenly Domain. Xiu, you know it?”

Ye Xiu raised a brow. “Why would I know about non-pro characters?” he asked rhetorically.

“He’s a big deal in the Heavenly Domain,” Xiu’er informed, tapping his screen which displayed the Glory forum’s recognizable site. “One of Blue Brook Guild’s Five Great Experts. Blade Master Class.”

“Must be Shaotian’s fan,” Ye Xiu mused. Then, upon seeing the confused looks thrown his way, he elaborated, “Huang Shaotian, Troubling Rain. Swoksaar’s apprentice. Kill-stealer. Wild PK addict.”

“…he became a pro?” Muqiu made an impressed grimace. “Tell me voice chat isn’t allowed.”

Ye Xiu smiled. “They banned it because of him,” he divulged.

“Amazing,” Xiu’er deadpanned. “What an achievement.”

“This guy… too roundabout… he should just say it straight…” Muqiu muttered.

“What’s going on?” Xiu’er peeked at Muqiu’s screen. “There, there! Ask for materials!”

Muqiu grunted, typing fast. A few seconds later, he twirled around in his seat with a grin. “Success!”

“Good, good. You do that, we’ll level,” Xiu’er patted Muqiu on the back.

“Log my sisters out and go solo,” Muqiu suggested. “Build up your reputations,” he added.

“…you know, I was the Captain so why didn’t they come to me?” Xiu’er wondered.

“They might think you’re from Excellent Dynasty,” Ye Xiu postulated. “One Leaf Heralds Autumn.”

Xiu’er harrumphed. “Whatever. I’ll go find a team and break a dungeon record,” he said.

“Don’t go to Frost Forest! I’m doing that one!” Muqiu notified.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll just re-break Skeleton Graveyard then. You, Xiu-ge?”

“Hmm… I’ll continue levelling here and wait for a wild BOSS.”

“Why bother? Dungeon with me. When the wild BOSS spawns, we’ll find out in the public chat.”

“Blue Brook should mention it too,” Muqiu concurred before saying, “Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.”

Ye Xiu followed after Xiu’er and they traipsed to Skeleton Graveyard together where they bumped into a group of three idling outside the dungeon. Their fame in the tenth server served them well and the Captaincy was instantly handed over with a smatter of flattery. Ye Xiu handed command to his younger self and relaxed in his seat with his headphones off so he heard the clatter from outside.

It was time for lunch.

*~*~*~*

As time ticked down from one in the afternoon to two and the household of five slowly consumed their lunch, Club Excellent Era announced the departure of Glory’s Best Partners. There were subtle accusations laced in the notice but the Glory community was too distraught by the sudden exit that they failed to notice. Such was the impact that when the team returned to Glory, it was far quieter.

However, none of them paid too much attention to this bar an absent comment. So it wasn’t until two hours later when Mucheng went to check her phone that they discovered what had happened.

“Oh…” she whispered as she swiped her screen. “They reported it.”

There was no need to explain who ‘they’ were or what was ‘reported’. Everyone understood.

“What was the official statement?” Xiu’er asked curiously.

“Don’t know. I found out through chat – pro’s group,” Mucheng explained. “Why?” she asked.

Xiu’er shrugged. “Better to know what they’re saying about you two than not, right?”

“No, it’s okay,” Mucheng smiled serenely once more. “Ye Qiu will take care of Excellent Era.”

“…of course, he is,” Ye Xiu sighed resignedly. He knew Ye Qiu and he knew Su Mucheng. The idea to ‘take care of’ – likely implying that Ye Qiu will be suing – Club Excellent Era would have come from Mucheng but she would have said it just as a way to vent and not out of any seriousness. Ye Qiu, on the other hand, would have latched onto the idea and been wholly decided on going through with it.

Then, naturally, faced with Ye Qiu’s fierce determination and probable vehemence, the discontent Mucheng would have been easily convinced that ‘taking care of Excellent Era’ was a really good idea.

What a terrible combination…

Sighing again, Ye Xiu mentally lit an incense for himself. And, after a second, lit another for Club Excellent Era. He still had no intention to do anything for Club Excellent Era after they had officially cut him off but neither was he willing to actively wish for his old Club’s downfall. No matter how he had been mistreated, he had still spent four years of his life striving to save that Club and its team.

“Blood Gunner Yagg spawned!” Muqiu shouted, effectively cutting through Ye Xiu’s thoughts.

Straight away, Ye Xiu and Xiu’er sped up their pace – the suddenness of their actions caught the group of three so off guard that they backed out of the attack zone and turned into spectators – then made their excuses once the dungeon was cleared, left the party and hurried over to Boneyard.

“Nice crowd!” Xiu’er commented upon arrival, pertaining to the presence of the Three Great Guilds.

Ye Xiu had Lord Grim give way to his younger self’s character and communicated, “I’ll follow after.”

“200 combo,” Xiu’er informed in response. “Race you,” he added cheekily as he controlled One Leaf Heralds Autumn to charge ahead, darting past the six players on the field to approach the wild BOSS where his character’s spear swung and – PAA! – the Blood Gunner was thrown backwards in the air.

Falling Flower Palm!

Lord Grim caught the wild BOSS with a Grappler Fling and tossed the Blood Gunner at Herb Garden’s party whose players divided frantically in alarm as the wild BOSS Quick Recovered and raised its gun.

BANG! BANG!

Two shots. Two bullets.

The first came from Lord Grim’s smoking gun, an accurate hit on the Blood Gunner’s right hand which caused the wild BOSS’ gun to swing around. The second bullet was then discharged from that gun at Herb Garden. Specifically, one bullet through two players with the second eating a direct hit.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn darted over and landed a Sky Strike on the Blood Gunner, forcing the wild BOSS up into the air once more, which was closely followed by a Delivery Gun from Lord Grim. The tossed Blood Gunner was helpless in the air where it was constantly dealt attacks from One Leaf Heralds Autumn below until Lord Grim’s rhythm was thrown off by the appearance of a flying brick.

“…” Ye Xiu had Lord Grim fall back into a supportive position, effectively giving up his current combo count and therefore his friendly competition with Xiu’er so he could observe the Brawler that had interrupted him. After a few seconds, he sent the noob an invite. “Your APM’s quite fast,” he noted.

Player Steamed Bun Invasion has joined the party.

“Wow! Big brothers! I saw your names on TV!” the Brawler shouted enthusiastically.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn made a particularly vicious strike at the wild BOSS as Xiu’er grumbled.

Meanwhile, Ye Xiu sweat dropped at the Brawler’s name which had escaped his prior notice. He cleared his throat, “Steamed Bun, right? Listen to my commands. Sand Toss! Huh? No, you need to hit the BOSS in the eyes. Brick Buster! ...you need to aim for the back of the BOSS’ head. Don’t throw randomly. Sand Toss! Brick – good! Yes, very good, keep going. Xiu’er, what’s your combo count?”

“Almost there. What about the guilds?”

“The guilds are moving in. Hurry up. Steamed Bun, run.”

“Huh?” Steamed Bun paused, confused.

Behind them, the three guilds halted their advance and eyed each other cautiously.

“If you don’t run then you’ll die,” Ye Xiu told Steamed Bun. “Go!”

The Brawler obeyed and ran away in the opposite direction of the guilds’ crescent encirclement.

“Get ready,” Xiu’er cautioned.

“Heroes!” Someone shouted from behind. Judging from the direction, it was likely the party leader of Herb Garden. “Add your group to my party! All the drops will belong to you guys! How about it?”

“Damn!” Came a shout from Blue Brook’s side. “Brothers, join my side! The items are all yours!”

“Autumn Tree is here too!” Another player from Blue Brook tacked on.

“Join my side instead!” Came one more offer, this time from Tyrannical Ambition. “Rewards are all yours and I’ll also gift you whatever rare materials you want! We can discuss it after! Come join me!”

“Brothers, don’t trust him! Have you done business with them? Autumn Tree can vouch for me!”

“We can offer you rare materials too! Come to Herb Garden!”

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Should we split up?

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Three mercenaries? It won’t work.

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Just charge higher for each player needed.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Alright, let’s do that. What about now?

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Heat’s too high now.

The three guilds continued to raise their rewards due to the lack of response, randomly offering up whatever rare materials came to mind and however many they were willing to give the two experts.

Whilst this went on, Autumn Tree was being persuaded by the 10^th server Blue Brook Guild Leader, Blue River, into reeling in One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim but it was in vain. “Sorry, I’m outnumbered,” Autumn Tree said blithely. “They said you didn’t invite them earlier so they refused.”

“I’ll invite them! I’ll invite them!” Blue River hastily promised.

“Oh, then that’ll cost you more!” Autumn Tree informed cheerily.

Blue River almost coughed up blood. The price he paid for the record-breaking was already high!

Right then, a text bubble appeared above Lord Grim’s character which read, “Next time, let’s discuss rewards first then hunt the wild BOSS together. This time, it’s bit too late so thanks for your help! (:”

“Well, I’m going too,” Autumn Tree said and then left Blue River’s party just like that.

Blue River didn’t even have the time to be depressed because he was too busy trying to understand.

What help? This was the question all the guilds asked themselves as Lord Grim rushed forward and grabbed the Blood Gunner from One Leaf Heralds Autumn with a Circle Swing. The spear swung around and the wild BOSS was thhrown at the feet of the Three Great Guild leaders. Startled by the express delivery, the three guild leaders stared dumbfoundedly at the Blood Gunner, weapons slack.

Their stupor didn’t last long though because their screens were soon bathed in blood-colored light as the Blood Gunner’s body began to emit a floating layer of blood drops. It was a sight that everyone was familiar with and it was also a sight that none were prepared for. Enraged state occurred when wild BOSSes entered Red Blood which was triggered when their health slid down to a critical 10%.

But how could Blood Gunner Yagg have entered Red Blood in such a short period of time?

Easy; it didn’t as the three guild leaders and the players discovered upon checking on the wild BOSS’ health. The Blood Gunner was nowhere near Red Blood but it was undeniably Enraged which meant that it was triggered by something else. Aside from Red Blood, there were other ways to trigger the Enraged state and for Blood Gunner Yagg specifically, it was… “Fuck, 200 combo!” someone recalled.

But knowing the trigger didn’t help at all. The wild BOSS began shouting and glowing, the earth shuddered and cracked open, tombstones trembled and the coffins shook violently. The Undead Legion was summoned from below: a large mob of zombies and skeletons proportional to the number of players in its aggro range climbed up from the depths of the earth, tombs and coffins.

The three guild leaders paled; they represented their entire parties and were directly in range.

A tragedy!

An intentional tragedy!

Now, they understood perfectly what ‘help’ meant.

One hundred creatures descended on the three guilds’ players and the cemetery turned into an all-out war. Meanwhile, the Blood Gunner left his minions behind to chase after One Leaf Heralds Autumn, its aggro still firmly on the Battle Mage. As a dumb NPC, it was vulnerable to Lord Grim’s Sky Strike from behind which was followed up by a Falling Flower Palm and the wild BOSS soared.

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da!

Lord Grim’s weapon switched to a gun and continued the assault with a Delivery Gun, directing the Blood Gunner over One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s form. In a mirror of earlier, Lord Grim took charge of keeping the wild BOSS afloat while One Leaf Heralds Autumn sent out attacks from below. Then, when Lord Grim’s stream of bullets eventually ended, another round came for the poor wild BOSS.

Player Cleansing Mist has joined your party.

“Nice!” Muqiu commended proudly upon Autumn Tree’s arrival.

Player Autumn Tree has joined the party.

Cleansing Mist finished up and Autumn Tree took over next, employing Burst Firing to push the wild BOSS further into the sky before continuing with a Delivery Gun to force the Blood Gunner onwards again. Afterwards, Lord Grim took point once more and the three went on tag-teaming the wild BOSS, doling out DPS with One Leaf Heralds Autumn in between their turns, as they pushed forth.

If other players were to happen across this scenario, they would have been frightened and awed in equal measure. The level of skill and coordination that the four were showcasing casually was a feat more than the majority of Glory players could only dream of and indeed even the pro-players would be envious of the party’s impressive display of teamwork and tacit understanding in one another.

The only audience was Autumn Rain though as Steamed Bun Invasion had disappeared somewhere.

Being a Glory noob, Autumn Rain humorously observed the wild BOSS be passed around like beach ball until it glowed red in anger. Thinking something big might happen, she was mildly disappointed when only five creatures climbed out of the earth before bursting out in laughter when the zombies stumbled after the main party. It wasn’t meant to be funny but the sight of them was too comical!

Her laughter, warm like the sun on a warm summer’s day, brought joy to the four players.

In no time at all, the Blood Gunner entered its final Enraged state and bullets rained down from its gun but the main party remained unbothered and continued their actions unhindered. They dodged the attacks, kept the wild BOSS afloat and doled out DPS in a neat manner until – Yucheng cheered.

Autumn Rain, carried by the party, gained a cascade of experience points.

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Lord Grim, One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain,
Steamed Bun Invasion, Autumn Tree, and Cleansing Mist, have
completed the Blood Gunner’s first kill!

Chapter Text

=Glory Pro-Player Group Chat=

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf @One Autumn Leaf

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): OLD YE!!!!! OLD YE!!!! WHY DID YOU LEAVE!!! ANSWER ME!!!! BASTARD DON’T LEAVE ME HANGING LIKE THIS! FUCK YOU! ANSWER YOUR PM YOU SHIT! OLD YE!!!

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain @Dancing Rain

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): You can’t avoid all of us forever!

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Sis Mu!!!! Who can check if she’s online???

Flying Sword (Liu Xiaobie): Probably Sis Chu? @Windy Rain

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Who poked me?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Sis Chu!!! Where’s Sis Mu????!!

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): …

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): I don’t know either

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): Even you???

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): Are they just going to disappear like this?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Don’t say something like that you bastard! Take it back!

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): No way, right?

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): Let’s not think that way. After all, it’s not unexpected that they left.

Brilliant Edge (Yu Feng): Huh? You know something?

Immovable Rock (Zhang Xinjie): You’re pertaining to Excellent Era’s obvious internal conflict?

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): Power play, right? Senior Ye & Mucheng vs the rest.

Tide (Xu Bin): So there was something like that…

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Where are those bastards now? @Total Darkness @Qi Breaker @Emotionless Magic @Woven Shadow @Successive Strike @Matchstick Come out and fess up!!!!

Peaceful Hermit (Tian Sen): That’s… beyond unprofessional.

Demon Subduer (Lin Jingyan): What do you expect them to say? That they drove Senior Ye out?

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): Everything is just conjecture though? @Life Extinguisher @Immovable Rock @Swoksaar

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Shameless bastards still trying to save face!!!

Immovable Rock (Zhang Xinjie): They were either working against Senior Ye and Mucheng or can’t follow orders.

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): As opposed to?

Flying Sword (Liu Xiaobie): Ouch! Hahahaha damn.

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): None of this tells us anything about where the two went.

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): Can’t be that one of you took them in, right?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Σ(゜゜)

Cloud Piercer (Zhou Zekai): Σ(゜゜);

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): Σ(゜゜)

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): Σ(゜゜)

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): (◯Δ◯∥)

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): (◯.◯);

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): …

Demon Subduer (Lin Jingyan): …

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): …

Brilliant Edge (Yu Feng): Σ(゜゜)

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): …

Laughing Song (Fang Minghua): QAQ

Immovable Rock (Zhang Xinjie): No

Bullet Rain (Zheng Xuan): Hahaha… how stressful…

*~*~*~*

GLORY’S HOTTEST TOPICS:

• GOD YE & GODDESS SU LEFT EXCELLENT ERA!!!!
• Tiny Herb, Third Championship?
• Conspiracy Theories on EE (Collated Through Years)
• God Ye & Goddess Su: Where to Next?
• (10^th Server) One Leaf Heralds Autumn = God Ye?!
• Zhou Zekai! Zhou Zekai! Zhou Zekai!!!!! (Let’s Cry Together)
• Monster Rookie Sun Xiang Joins EE!
• Heavenly Domain Wild Boss Tracker
• 10^th Server Wild Boss Stolen Away From The Three Great Guilds (LOL!)

(…)

• 10^th Server Chaos: Who Are All These Experts???

____

Glory Forums  ➡  Tenth Server  ➡  General  ➡  Crazy Expert Team!!!

[Holy Muumuu]

Anyone know who those five experts are? They keep appearing on TV! I asked around but none of them belong to any guild! Even that Autumn Tree guy. He was just hired by Blue Brook! That’s what some peeps heard anyway! I’m sooo curious! There’s a lot of talk about One Leaf Heralds Autumn being God Ye? I searched him up and damnnn! Badass dude!

If you dunno what team I’m talking about then look up at the TV!

This is them: One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, Lord Grim

____

[Nightmare]

Yuuup! Keep seeing their names flash on TV! One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim split up with the others and joined another team tho???

[Snowing Rose Garden]

I was there when Autumn Tree joined Blue Brook! He asked for payment!

[Crazy Cat Lady]

They’re legendary now! Two first kills and two first clears!!!

[Aqua Drop]

+ Two Record-Breaks and First Wild Boss Kill!!! Damn badass!

[Watch My Phone]

So is this God Ye person really One Leaf Heralds Autumn?

[One Leaf Ye Xiu]

‘God Ye person’（πーπ）God Ye is the God of Glory. He’s won three championships! Plays all 24 classes! Hailed Glory Textbook! Battle God! God Ye is the ultimate Glory player.

He’s the God of the other Gods!

[Smoked Ham]

He sounds amazing~ I wanna meet him! I’m going to look for One Leaf Heralds Autumn! I hope he isn’t intimidating or scary…

(…)

*~*~*~*

=10^th Server Leaders Group Chat=

(Samsara) Lonely Drink: HAHAHAHA Hey, three great guilds! How does it feel?!

(Misty Castle) Hazy Mist: How did they do it?

(Herb Garden) Plantago Seed: One Leaf Heralds Autumn… 200 combo… crazy…

(Samsara) Lonely Drink: 200 combo? Enraged?

(Tyrannical Ambition) Endless Night: Isn’t it a cheat? He’s Ye Xiu!

(Blue Brook) Blue River: That’s just a guess! Where did he find all the other experts?

(Herb Garden) Plantago Seed: Quit to make a new team?

(Tyrannical Ambition) Endless Night: He’ll fail.

(Samsara) Lonely Drink: Crazy talk.

(Blue Brook) Blue River: But the players he gathered are really good…

(Tyrannical Ambition) Endless Night: …

(Herb Garden) Plantago Seed: …

(Samsara) Lonely Drink: …

(Tyrannical Ambition) Endless Night: Where’s that Dynasty guild leader?

____

=Bound Boat=

Bound Boat: I don’t think it’s possible to rope any of them in.

Blue River: Oh?

Bound Boat: The way things went down in the Blood Gunner incident…

Bound Boat: It’s obvious they don’t need a guild at all.

Blue River: But they’re willing to work with us…

Bound Boat: And after?

Bound Boat: I’m just saying, the guilds want them. Not the other way around.

Bound Boat: Autumn Tree kept talking about materials. Don’t they just want to be hired?

Blue River: What’s the point?

Bound Boat: If One Leaf Heralds Autumn is really Ye Xiu then…

Blue River: A team? Like Plantago said?

Bound Boat: There’s also two launchers. One of them is probably Su Mucheng.

Blue River: If we don’t hire them, the records will all be theirs.

Bound Boat: This is beyond us, no?

Blue River: Yeah…

Blue River: Let’s just continue working with them.

Blue River: Even if they don’t join us, as long as they don’t work for others.

Bound Boat: It’s going to cost us a lot.

Bound Boat: Everything is in reverse… we’re the ones trying to curry favor (;⌣̀_⌣́)

Blue River: (×_×)⌒☆

Chapter Text

(December)

Ping!

…

Ping!

…

Ping!

…

Ping! Ping!

The notification sound continued to disrupt the near-soothing rhythm of the keyboards and mouses’ clicks and clacks as Muqiu went back and forth with a client on Glory. Making deals were always like this, tedious and akin to a game of ping pong but rather than a battle of reflex and angling, it was a battle of wits and wills. Which, unfortunately for the person on the other end, Muqiu was an expert.

Although, even if he was miraculously bested, the Ye duo were available as formidable back-ups~!

“Who is it?” the youngest of the aforementioned ‘formidable back-ups’ made his way over, curious.

“Blue River again,” Muqiu replied as Xiu’er sat down next to him. The other was sporting a lazy and contented cat aura, one which always appeared after a good meal – whether that meal pertained to actual food or a good fight. “I made a deal with Tyrannical Ambition earlier for Goblin Merchant.”

“Oh,” Xiu’er yawned. “A wild BOSS. Good.”

Muqiu threw a smirk. “Well, good,” he said. “I told them you’ll be leading them.” Then, he continued on without awaiting acknowledgement – anyway, Xiu’er wouldn’t mind leading – and said, “Blue River’s trying to book us for all future wild BOSSes and dungeon records. Can you believe this guy?”

“What?” Xiu’er burst out laughing.

“Blue River has the right idea,” Ye Xiu said as he entered the study. “But Blue Brook can’t afford us.”

Tipping sideways, Muqiu stared at the older Ye a little; he still wasn’t quite accustomed to how deep and smooth Ye Xiu’s voice was. “Hello, Xiu,” he greeted. “You’re right, of course. I think he’s just –,”

Ping!

Xiu’er leaned in to take a look, grinning, then tsk’ed. “Hey, this guy gave up too quickly!” he sighed.

“Nevermind that,” Ye Xiu patted the younger Ye on the shoulder. “Trading to break dungeon records and hunt wild BOSSes won’t last forever. We’ll have to move on and sell guides instead eventually.”

“Oh… yeah, I guess,” Muqiu agreed, frowning in thought. “I think for the dungeons below level 50, that should be fine. But for those above… We should be creating or have our own guild by then.”

“There’s no need to wait, I can start doing the guides,” Xiu’er volunteered.

“No,” Ye Xiu rejected. “I’ll do the guides. You two should continue brushing up your knowledge and information on Glory. There’s been a lot of changes since you last played. And, since we’re making our own team, you’ll need to study on the Pro-League as well. Teams, players, tactics, playstyles…”

Xiu’er made a face. “I would be happier if you didn’t sound like a teacher giving me homework.”

“Damn, I wonder if Glory fixed all of the glitches already,” Muqiu shook his head woefully.

“Only one way to find out, right?” Xiu’er shrugged. “We’re going to need more account cards.”

Muqiu agreed, “Yeah. Should we get two complete decks or three? For Xiu too,” he added.

“Then, three and levelled,” Xiu’er decided with a nod before he bowed under the weight of a hand.

“You two are so great, huh? How are you going to buy those account cards? With what money?”

“…” the two looked up at Ye Xiu with stunned expressions. “Damn,” they cursed in unison.

“I left my money in the past,” Muqiu realized sadly. “Xiu, where’s the nearest internet café?”

Perfectly timed, Mucheng waltzed into the room and informed, “There’s one across Excellent Era.”

“Of course, it had to be there,” Xiu’er said wryly while Muqiu just shrugged, expression unwilling.

“But…” Yucheng slid into the room with a slight pout. “What if we meet… those people?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, Yucheng,” Ye Xiu smirked. “Those people won’t dare go to an internet café.”

Yucheng blinked and tilted her head in confusion. “Why not?”

“Because their faces are known,” Mucheng explained. “Anyway, even if we see them, you just need to shout out their names as loudly as you can and they’ll get into trouble! It’ll be fun, you’ll see~!”

The three boys sweat dropped and solemnly turned back to their respective computers.

*~*~*~*

At half past noon, a group of five exited Golden Arches in good spirits with three small plastic bags hung around their wrists emitting the delicious and salty aroma of French fries. They headed next door to a bustling shop named, “Happy Internet Café”, but their good spirits soon collapsed and they exited the building in short order with matching looks of dismay at the oppressive ‘ID required’ sign.

First to react, Xiu’er sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Past, future… they always ask for ID.”

Ye Xiu’s lips twitched in amusement. It was funny now but he still remembered the feeling of being denied the right to use a computer due to his age. That was not fun. “Hey,” he recalled the year from which his younger self came from and asked, “Isn’t your ID Ye Qiu’s not ours? Use his, I’ll use ours.”

“…why didn’t I remember that?” Xiu’er shook his head and tugged Ye Qiu’s ID out from his pocket.

“D –,” Muqiu cut himself off from cursing with a furtive glance at Yucheng. He sighed irritably then continued as though he hadn’t interrupted himself, “So only Yucheng and I can’t play? How unfair!”

Mucheng laughed and addressed the Ye duo, “Are you sure that’ll work? Your years are the same.”

“It’s fine as long as the numbers are different,” Ye Xiu reasoned.

“Okay, then let’s go,” Mucheng cheered. “C’mon, ge, we’re already here~!” she persuaded.

“You also have an ID,” Muqiu huffed and looked at Yucheng mournfully. “It’s us against the world.”

Yucheng was unbothered and beamed happily, lifting up her plastic bag. “We have fries so it’s okay!”

“Too cheap,” Muqiu joked with an amused smile. “We need seats too,” he said.

“We’ll get you seats, stop being dramatic,” Ye Xiu rolled his eyes before turning to face Xiu’er and Mucheng. “IDs,” he requested, hand out and palm up. After gathering the IDs together with his own, he re-entered the internet café and passed them to the girl manning the front desk. “For three and can we have two extra seats for the others? They forgot their IDs so they can’t play,” he explained.

“No problem,” the girl said as she typed busily.

Ye Xiu’s eyes swept across the flyers, brochures and other papers scattered about the front desk while he waited when he caught sight of the hiring offer for a Network Manager. He blinked at it for a moment and thought that if things had gone differently, he might have gone straight to this café and asked for this job the night he left Club Excellent Era. In fact, he still could. They needed money.

But he wasn’t willing to be separated from Muqiu for a long period of time. Taking Muqiu along was also no good because the other wouldn’t be able to use the computer without an ID. All around, it was a terrible idea so Ye Xiu dismissed it from his mind. Money wasn’t a dire concern; they only spent on food which he and Mucheng could support for a few more weeks if not another month.

“Area 3, stations 45-47,” the girl announced, sliding the IDs over. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks,” Ye Xiu accepted the IDs and turned around to restribute them when he saw that Muqiu and Xiu’er had already sped off, leaving him and the Su sisters behind. He exchanged an amused glance with Mucheng then placed his hand on Yucheng’s upper back to gently guide her along.

For noon on a weekday, the café was decently crowded with Areas 1-2 almost at capacity and Area 3 half-full. He could see Muqiu and Xiu’er crowded around one computer as they got nearer to their assigned stations with the chair from the unused station to the left pulled over. Looking at them, he felt rather strange and also quite nostalgic; it was easy to imagine the sight as a photo from his past.

Ye Xiu knelt down to be at eye-level with Yucheng and asked her, “Do you want to sit with your brother or Mucheng?” He thought that either option had a fair 50/50 chance so he was surprised when she smiled and sidled closer to him in response. “Oh? Good choice,” he cooed indulgently.

“Someone’s still using 47,” Mucheng said once Ye Xiu stood up again, a soft smile on her lips.

“Mm, I saw,” Ye Xiu hummed without turning around. He’d already noticed earlier and that was why he was dawdling by inquiring with Yucheng. “Go ahead. Anyway, that girl… is about to lose.” Waving Mucheng off with that, he brought Yucheng along to stand behind the girl and arrived in time to see –

LOSS!

The girl violently slammed her hands on the table and sighed angrily before looking back with a fierce look which marred her otherwise gentle beauty. “Computer?” she snapped, a questioning lilt to her upset tone, yet she didn’t wait for a reply. Stamping her feet, she vacated the station swiftly.

Ye Xiu wasn’t affected and smoothly sat down, hauling a willing Yucheng onto his lap.

“Ah!” Yucheng cried out, a fry stabbed at the screen like a dull sword. “Another match started!”

“This character’s a Launcher,” Ye Xiu noted. “Do you want to try? I’ll control the mouse,” he said.

“Okay~!” Yucheng shoved the fry in her mouth then hastily brushed her hands off with a wad of tissue. She leaned forward and reached for the keyboard with a serious pout, looking adorable.

Ye Xiu secured an arm around her waist and fitted his right hand over the mouse. “The enemy is coming. Go for a Swing. It’s okay, try again. Get closer. Swing. Good job. Satellite Beam. Hold it,” he patiently instructed her in this manner for the rest of the match until Glory! flashed on the screen again but this time in victory. Pleased, he patted Yucheng’s head in praise. “Good job. Good girl.”

“Hehe,” Yucheng giggled quietly as she buried her face in the bag of fries again.

“Victory?” a female voice exclaimed. “You won?”

The girl from earlier came close enough that Ye Xiu didn’t need to crane his neck around and merely had to look sideways. Her face was slackened by incredulity but her eyes sparkled brightly in delight.

“Congratulations, you won!” Ye Xiu complimented her brazenly.

The girl wasn’t paying attention. “How long was the match?”

“Well, two minutes. Yucheng here helped. Not bad, right?”

“Yucheng..?” the girl peered down in a daze. “Uhm… minors…”

“Oh, she was just using the keyboard. Do you work here?”

“I’m the boss,” the girl revealed. “I’ll… I’ll let it go if you duel me!”

“Alright,” Ye Xiu didn’t mind. He pulled the girl’s account card from the reader and slid it to the next station, 48, which the café boss unceremoniously commandeered. Then, he inserted his own card and while they both waited for Glory to load, he enquired, “Do you sell levelled account cards?”

“Levelled accounts? We can buy them for you,” the girl said briskly.

“So it’s like that…” Ye Xiu nodded. “How much is one account card?”

The girl lifted one shoulder. “Don’t know. Maybe 50 yuan or higher?”

“Tsk. Expensive,” Ye Xiu sighed sadly. “Is there a discount for bulk orders?”

“Yes, we can do that. How many accounts do you need?”

“Seventy-two,” Ye Xiu told her as he lazily moved his character to the arena.

The girl sputtered beside him. “So many?!”

“Mm. There’s three of us and we want a complete set each. Fixed Field 3, Room 2105.”

“What will you three even do with complete sets? Password?”

“Play,” Ye Xiu replied dryly. “Password is 2105.”

“You –,” the girl huffed, evidently angry again. What a quick temper.

On screen, Chasing Haze began her attack with a Satellite Beam and Ye Xiu internally shook his head at the choice of skill. He played leisurely, not bothering to exert any effort in dealing with her and lazily controlled Lord Grim for the next thirty seconds until Glory! flashed on the screen in his victory.

“You’re good!” the girl grumped loudly as she pulled her account card out regretfully. “If only I was better… ah!” Her lips stretched out into an excited smile. “You wait! I want you to duel Little Tang!”

“Why does this happen to me…” Ye Xiu muttered which had Yucheng chuckling at him. He playfully rubber her hair and settled in to wait, pulling up his weapon’s data in the meantime. There were a few inconsistencies to the Myriad Manifestation Umbrella’s DPS output from what he remembered.

[Myriad Manifestations Umbrella (Battle Lance Form)] -  Level 15

Attack Speed: 5

Physical Attack: 290

Magic Attack: 220

[Myriad Manifestations Umbrella (Sword Form)] -  Level 15

Physical Attack: 240

Magic Attack: 265

[Myriad Manifestations Umbrella (Gun Form)] -  Level 15

Physical Attack: 238

Magic Attack: 210

Surprised, Ye Xiu peered across the stations at Muqiu’s face shadowed by the lights of the café and smiled. The other must have upgraded his weapon for him this morning. Feeling warm, he closed the window and glanced about for the café boss but there was no need. Two girls headed his way, one was the boss with her deceptive gentle beauty and the other should be ‘Little Tang’ who was a fierce yet elegant type of beauty with her short hair and graceful form. He nodded in acknowledgement.

“Hi, I’m Tang Rou,” ‘Little Tang’ introduced herself. “Nice to meet you.”

“Ye Xiu, likewise,” Ye Xiu returned politely. Inwardly, he mused that this girl was very different to the boss. Classy, cultured and refined. These three words came to mind. He was thinking that it would be interesting if this girl was similarly deceiving when he noticed – “You’re not using your account?”

Tang Rou shook her head. “I don’t have an account. I just help Guo Guo sometimes.”

“No account? Have you never played on your own?” Ye Xiu asked, perplexed.

“I’m not interested…” Tang Rou explained. “Guo Guo’s account is fine.”

The boss, ‘Guo Guo’, sighed sadly. “Little Tang helps me with my fights and the Heavenly Challenge. But she succeeds after only a few tries! Since it’s so easy for her, she doesn’t find Glory interesting.”

Ye Xiu was intrigued and skeptical. “Okay, let’s see how good you are.”

“How confident!” Tang Rou smiled. “Let’s start!”

“Wait, why don’t we make a bet?” Ye Xiu suggested.

‘Guo Guo’ probed, “What bet?”

“Ah… money?” Ye Xiu suggested. “Or food?”

“Let’s keep it simple,” Tang Rou decisively pulled out a bill. “100 yuan.”

Wow. How fierce! Ye Xiu knew right then that Tang Rou’s personality was also contrary to her looks. He gratefully pulled out a 100 yuan as well, the last of his cash since he needed to pay for the stay in the café. Not that it mattered since he was going to earn more money rather than lose any. “Deal!”

“Ageed?” ‘Guo Guo’ sounded confused.

“Sounds good to me,” Ye Xiu said. “Miss Tang?”

“Yes, let’s start. Don’t worry, Guo Guo.”

Once more, Ye Xiu had Lord Grim face Chasing Haze in the arena and quickly figured out why his new opponent didn’t think Glory was interesting. Tang Rou fully relied on her hand speed to win fights. It was enough to overwhelm normal players but didn’t do justice to Glory’s beautiful mechanics. He spotted a lot of flaws from the way she played and it was also clear she had poor Glory knowledge.

The matched ended and Ye Xiu frankly told her, “You don’t know how to play Glory.”

“What?” Tang Rou looked at him in mild surprise, defeat lingering around the corners of her lips.

‘Guo Guo’ puffed up in anger on the side. “Hey!” she cried out in protest.

“No, Guo Guo,” Tang Rou lifted a hand to stop the boss from raging. “Please go on.”

Ye Xiu obliged, “Your hand speed is very fast but you lack coordination between your left and right hands. When your viewpoint changes, you get lost and your judgement drops down to zero. Your understanding of Glory is just so-so and you don’t know how to play high quality matches. Your tactics were also too stiff. The reason you find Glory so uninteresting is because you don’t know Glory. From the different Classes to the skills, equipment, weapons and so on. There’s a lot to learn.”

Looking reluctant, Tang Rou explained, “But you heard Guo Guo. The challenges are easy and every opponent she said were ‘experts’ were also easy to defeat. You are the first person I lost against.”

“Yeah, your hand speed helped you,” Ye Xiu cleared up. “But hand speed isn’t everything.”

Tang Rou turned thoughtful. “I want to try again.” She pulled out another 100 yuan.

“No need, you have no chance of winning. Let’s just end it with one match,” Ye Xiu said.

“Maybe I really don’t have a chance of winning but I want to try again. Please, another round.”

At this time, Yucheng unexpectedly lectured, “Xiu-ge, it’s bad to make a girl repeat herself.”

Ye Xiu was defeated. He kissed the top of Yucheng’s head and acquiesced to another round. Their characters loaded, they clashed, they fought and, once more, Chasing Haze died without suspense.

“Are you playing seriously?” Tang Rou abruptly asked.

Ye Xiu frowned at the girl. “Huh?”

“I want to know how far the gap is between us so please play seriously.”

“…” Ye Xiu thought that this girl was too fierce. “There’s no need…”

Tang Rou put down another 100 yuan. “One more round.”

“…you want me to play seriously?” Ye Xiu clarified, using her term though not without a hint of sarcasm because he always played seriously. It was his show of respect to Glory. What changed depending on his opponent was how strongly he played, be it a shift to his APM or the tactics he employed or whatever else. It wasn’t a measure of ‘seriousness’ but a way to conserve strength.

But if she wanted him to exert more effort then, well, 100 yuan was a 100 yuan.

“I want you to play seriously,” Tang Rou confirmed with a determined nod.

Ye Xiu straightened up in his seat and decided to go all out. “Okay,” he acknowledged.

The third rounded lasted 10 seconds with Tang Rou unable to execute a single skill.

“Again, please.”

The 300 yuan pile became 400 yuan.

“Once more.”

400 yuan increased to 500 yuan.

“Another.”

500 yuan turned into 600 yuan.

“Again.”

600 yuan to 700 yuan.

“Again...”

800 yuan.

Slam!

900 yuan.

Finally, when the pile reached 1,000 RMB, Ye Xiu put his foot down and exited the arena before she could challenge him again. “Ten rounds is enough,” he said, slightly exasperated yet also intrigued by her persistence. Her thirst to win and ability to push forward in the face of absolute defeat were the makings of a great professional player. If she developed a passion for Glory and trained properly…

Tang Rou mutely opened her wallet again only to find it empty. “Wait here. I’ll get more money.”

“Getting defeated by me again and again, is there a point to it? Even if you keep fighting me until you have no money left in the bank, you won’t get any closer to winning against me,” Ye Xiu told her upfront. There was persistent and then there was stubborn. “First, you need to learn how to play.”

“Okay, then I’ll do that,” Tang Rou thankfully understood his meaning. “How will I find you?”

“Just find my username in the 10^th server and add me as a friend. I’ll help guide you.”

“Little Tang, are you finally going to play Glory?” ‘Guo Guo’ gushed out, evidently excited.

Tang Rou smiled. “Yes, I think I need to take a comprehensive course before I can win against him.”

“Yay! Let’s get you an account card! The 10^th server just opened so there are a lot of new players!”

“Wait,” Ye Xiu stopped Tang Rou from leaving with the café boss. “Do you have a Class in mind?”

“No,” Tang Rou answered honestly. “You have a suggestion?” she asked curiously.

Lucky! Ye Xiu was happy that she was open to hearing his suggestion. “Yes, play a Striker. It’s a close combat Class which suits you well. Your temperament’s also similar to the top Striker, ‘Desert Dust’.”

“’Desert Dust’?” ‘Guo Guo’ repeated the name in disgust. “Don’t listen to him, Little Tang. You should play a Battle Mage! ‘One Autumn Leaf’ is the best character and God Ye is the best player!”

Ye Xiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry upon hearing her praise. He was thankful she was one of his fans but he already had a Battle Mage in the team and didn’t need another! “The Battle Mage is also good but, Miss Tang, I think the Striker Class will match your ferocity better,” he persuaded.

“If you say so then I’ll choose a Striker,” Tang Rou accepted gracefully.

“Little Tang!” ‘Guo Guo’ was displeased. “You must be a Tyranny fan!”

A black line ran down the side of Ye Xiu’s face. He was wronged greatly.

Tang Rou laughed. “You take that rival thing too seriously, Guo Guo. Come on, we should stop bothering him. He’s a customer after all.” She smiled beautifully. “Mr. Ye, thank you for your time.”

“It’s nothing… Call me Ye Xiu. I look forward to guiding you,” Ye Xiu waved her goodbye, took a moment to release the shudder he’d suppressed at hearing himself be addressed, ‘Mr. Ye’, and pocketed his winnings. Then, he leaned down to whisper in Yucheng’s ear, “We have a Striker!”

“Xiu-ge worked hard today,” Yucheng praised neatly.

Ye Xiu hugged her close with a content smile.

*~*~*~*

A large crowd of customers gathered around Happy Internet Café’s stations 44-45 in Area 3 though at a respectable distance so as not to suffocate the star of the show – and its ringmaster, Muqiu. Yes, that’s right. The commotion wasn’t due to an official event by the café but was an impromptu and borderline illegal betting competition orchestrated by the shameless lone male of the Su family.

“Hey! This guy’s One Leaf Heralds Autumn!”

“That’s him? Damn! Then he can’t be God Ye! Too young.”

“God Ye or not, this guy is fucking talented! You can go pro, dude!”

“Did I hear correctly? One of the 10^th server experts is here?”

“One Autumn Leaf is accepting challengers! 100 yuan per round! Line up and see how you measure up!” Muqiu enticed, patting the back of station 44’s seat; he had rented it out under Ye Xiu’s name.

“What round is this?”

“Don’t know! They already started when I came.”

“Look at that pile! Shit. I think there’s more than two thousand in there.”

“Hey, what’s going on here?!”

Muqiu took one look at the angry lady’s face and bounded over with a practiced charming smile. “Hi! We’re just taking challengers… that’s okay, right? My friend wanted to see if anyone can beat him.”

The lady didn’t look impressed at all. “You’re taking bets?”

“Yeah. It’s a normal thing to do,” Muqiu told her casually. “Want to try?”

“…are you related to him?” the lady pointed behind him.

Muqiu looked over his shoulder to see that she was pointing at Ye Xiu. “Uh, no…”

“Hmph. I’ll let this slide for today but don’t do it again without my permission!”

“Oh. You’re the owner?” Muqiu flashed her a winning smile. “Thank you!”

“...you’re welcome…”

Muqiu’s smile turned triumphant once the lady walked away and he returned to Xiu’er’s side to continue his task as the bookmaker. Their earnings was not bad at all! In the past, their earnings weren’t so high but the customers in this café were quite rich. Before he even had the chance to dictate how much each round would be, the first customer pulled out 100 yuan like it was nothing!

This made Muqiu very happy and he no longer minded that he couldn’t play. Instead, he embraced his role for the day and did his best to get Xiu’er more challengers while Xiu’er was fully consumed by the arena. Their focus was so intense that when the last challenger left, it was only then that they realized night had fallen, the Su sisters were nowhere to be seen and Ye Xiu was patiently waiting.

“Where’s my sister – s?” Muqiu questioned, tripping over the plural.

Ye Xiu’s lips quirked up. “Asleep at home with Mucheng. It’s already nearing midnight.”

“Huh?” Muqiu leaned against Xiu’er and checked the time on the desktop.

Their eyes widened in surprise and their stomach complained very loudly.

“Ugh,” Muqiu groaned and slumped on his best friend’s form. “Hungry…”

Xiu’er bore the weight admirably and extracted an arm out to drag their earnings over.

“How much did you earn?” Ye Xiu queried.

“Hold on,” Xiu’er muttered, flipping through the notes. “185,000 yuan.”

Muqiu bolted upright in shock. “What?”

“Good job! I found us a recruit,” Ye Xiu smirked.

“Oh?” Xiu’er was interested. “Who?” he prompted.

“The boss’ friend, Tang Rou. She has good hand speed.”

Muqiu commended Ye Xiu with a pat on the back. “Nice! What Class?”

“I told her to play a Striker. Her fierce style is very Desert Dust.”

“Not bad,” Xiu’er chuckled. “We got money. You found a recruit. It’s a good day.”

“It’s good! Very good! But I’m hungry,” Muqiu feigned misery.

Ye Xiu huffed. “Let’s go. Pocket the money, Xiu’er. I’ll pay for the computer and meal.”

After a quick trip to the front desk, the trio left the café and went next door in a reverse of that noon then walked back out a few minutes later with their hands stuffed with food as they made their way back home. It was a cool night, the air crisp but not frigid and the sky clear with not a hint of cloud.

“We can buy three decks now,” Xiu’er said after swallowing a bite of his burger.

“Mm,” Ye Xiu hummed. “If the boss is right then it should cost us at least 3,600 yuan.”

“Everything’s really so much more expensive now,” Muqiu complained.

Xiu’er didn’t waste time to take a jab and said, “Obviously, it’s been eight years.”

“Shut up,” Muqiu stuck his tongue out in retaliation then eyed Ye Xiu. “Were you paid well?”

“…it was so-so,” Ye Xiu replied softly. “It was enough for me,” he added.

The other two knew Ye Xiu was being truthful which wouldn’t be the case if they were anyone else.

“Our instincts are great, we should have listened to it. Still, there should have been a limit to their greed,” Xiu’er said, his tone and face calm which was a good indication that he was actually furious.

Muqiu was suddenly confused. “What do you mean?”

“I – we never liked Tao Xuan or Cui Li. You could smell their rotten cores from a mile away.”

“…why didn’t you tell me?” Muqiu asked quietly, upset and reflective. Were there signs even back then? So how come he didn’t see any? Or was it that he was willing to look the other way because Tao Xuan and Cui Li allowed him the freedom to earn money at the café which no other place did?

Xiu’er shrugged. “You said they treated you well. And they did.”

“That’s it? You should have told me!” Muqiu protested.

“And what, we’d look for another internet café? Join a different team?”

“Yes,” Muqiu said mulishly. “Of course.”

“Don’t be stupid. There’s a reason you chose Excellent Era out of all the internet cafés in the area and besides, who else would have been desperate enough to have agreed to my – our demands?”

Muqiu frowned and aggressively bit at his burger, stewing in silence.

“Alright, it’s all in the past. What’s the point of bringing it up?” Ye Xiu sighed.

“You should have told me,” Muqiu insisted lowly. “Don’t hide things from me. You know I hate that.”

Ye Xiu and Xiu’er both grimaced then apologized, “Okay, sorry.”

“Okay,” Muqiu murmured back and that was that.

Chapter Text

(December)

At midnight, the penthouse was hushed and tranquil. Its air stirred gently from the deep breathing of its occupants and the main sound came from the soothing purr of the air conditioner. But if one strained their ears, they would also hear two slow, faint rhythms nearly lost to the whirring air. The soft click, click, click and tap, tap, tap as well as the dull sounds of a pair of feet padding the carpet.

Low light spilled out from inside the ajar study door, illuminating half of Muqiu’s body the moment he stepped into the living room. He paused then continued on his way with no doubt in his mind as to who was inside at this time of the night. There were only ever going to be two culprits other than himself: Ye Xiu or Xiu’er. Since he’d just left Xiu’er behind in their shared bedroom, only one was left.

Stepping up to the open doorway, Muqiu predictably found Ye Xiu playing Glory with a lazy posture.

The other’s profile was thrown into sharp relief, angles sharper than the younger Ye’s and the purple bruising under the eye more prominent. Worryingly, Ye Xiu’s expression was utterly blank, the way it should never be when at home, and his movements were automatic as though he was deriving no joy from Glory. It was so uncharacteristic that it was unbearable, almost painful, to see. And golden eyes which normally glowed with an inner light were a murky dark brown, gaze faraway and pensive.

Muqiu took all this in within a few seconds with a frown on his lips before his shifted his focus to the monitor. There wasn’t a lot to tell from a first-person viewpoint other than which dungeon it was but after a few minutes, he’d seen enough to also note that Ye Xiu wasn’t using Lord Grim but One Leaf Heralds Autumn. He frowned harder and finally pushed the door open wider so he could enter.

Ye Xiu didn’t react to his presence and were it anyone other than Muqiu who had entered, they would have believed that the other was oblivious. Perhaps too focused on the distant noise coming from the headphones curled around a slim neck. But Muqiu knew Ye Xiu well so he didn’t pretend and directly walked into the other’s line of sight, leaning his weight on the table only a step away.

He didn’t say anything and simply, quietly, looked at Ye Xiu.

In some ways, the situation they were in was a repeat of his first night in this future, back in the car where Ye Xiu unwaveringly stared at him. He’d felt uncomfortable then and he was fairly sure it wasn’t a pleasant experience for Ye Xiu now either but… he could understand the fascination. Ye Xiu just looked so different and grown up, still ever-handsome yet also weary and something else.

“…what?” Ye Xiu asked, hands retreating from the keyboard and mouse.

Glory flashed a congratulations for completing the dungeon on the monitor.

“We haven’t really talked,” Muqiu said, though that wasn’t exactly his reason for being here. His eyes cast about awkwardly as he pondered on which subject to bring up. There were many things he wanted to ask, so many he wanted to avoid and not avoid at the same time. Ask about Ye Xiu’s side of the story? Mucheng only knew so much. He sighed. Best start easy. “Mucheng said you smoke?”

Ye Xiu’s hand slipped into a non-existent pocket in reflex then paused, grip loose and empty. “…”

“Have you not been smoking?” Thinking about it, Muqiu realized this quickly.

“…I forgot,” Ye Xiu replied honestly.

“Mucheng said you get headaches if you don’t smoke.”

“Yes,” Ye Xiu’s fingers flexed and he sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t notice.”

“No headaches?” Muqiu asked, reaching out to grasp Ye Xiu’s hand in his own, marveling over the slight difference with Xiu’er’s; broader, thinner and with longer digits yet still elegant and still pale.

Ye Xiu shook his head, gaze on their hands. His blank expression had softened to a neutral one.

“Why did you start?” Muqiu asked, overturning Ye Xiu’s hand to check the fingertips for yellowing. There was nothing to see, the hand in his was as pristine as ever and offered no evidence of a vice.

“I…” Ye Xiu looked away and sighed. “I don’t know.”

“Told you not to lie to me,” Muqiu patted the other’s hand.

Ye Xiu’s lips near-inconspicuously quirked upwards on one side. “Why do people smoke?”

People smoked for many reasons however Muqiu could already understand just from that non-answer. “Since you’ve left and you have us now to support you, will you stop smoking?” he asked.

“Hm… you won’t tell me to exercise too, will you?” From Ye Xiu, this was a clear acquiescence.

Muqiu smiled. “You should. We all should. It’ll be good for us and you need to see the sun too.”

“I’m too frail to exercise,” Ye Xiu said with a straight face. “Xiu’er can see the sun for both of us.”

“You know it doesn’t work that way,” Muqiu rolled his eyes though his smile widened. He tugged at the other’s hand lightly, cajoling. “We’ll do it together and we’ll start slowly, okay?” he persuaded.

“Okay…” Ye Xiu agreed easily. Too easily.

Muqiu would be suspicious anyway but he could also see the darkness swirling inside the other’s golden eyes. He didn’t have to ask about it and he wouldn’t bring the past up now. Still, he filed this observation away for future reference. “About EE… why did you stay for so long? Tell me the truth.”

“Even if you say that, how can I answer straightforwardly?” Ye Xiu’s hand turned around to hold Muqiu’s instead and pulled it close, reversing their position. “I had many reasons and also too few.”

“Mm,” Muqiu hummed, prompting.

Ye Xiu exhaled deeply. “Excellent Era is where we started everything, isn’t it?”

To say that this answer was a revelation to Muqiu would be a lie. He had a feeling that it would be something like this but that didn’t save him from feeling like the words had punched him in the gut. It was miserable knowing how deep a role he played in Ye Xiu willingly suffering mistreatment at the hands of Excellent Era and he wondered, not for the first time, whether things would be different if –

“I if I was in Excellent Era with you, do you think… I mean, would you have done the same thing?”

“…do what?” Ye Xiu’s expression and tone were gentle.

Muqiu peered into golden eyes and whispered, “Be lonely.”

For a long moment, Ye Xiu mutedly kept eye-contact, his eyes a swirling pool of sticky honey. And then, in a low voice so weak that it was close to inaudible, he murmured, “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“I wouldn’t have allowed it,” Muqiu informed. “If I was with you, I wouldn’t have let you keep your sufferings to yourself.” Saying these things weren’t a slight at Mucheng. He was honestly happy that Ye Xiu took such great care of his sister but the fact remained that, things would've been different. It would have been better with him around because he wouldn’t have allowed Ye Xiu to operate alone.

Ye Xiu hummed. It was not a verbal agreement but one wasn’t needed anyway. They both knew.

“What do you think our team name should be?” Muqiu took it upon himself to switch topics so the heavy atmosphere would dissipate and not linger around them like fog. A part of him had selfishly wanted to rewrite history with ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’ but mostly he just wanted to know the entire story from Ye Xiu’s mouth, unfiltered, so he could try to fix things. That was… that was what he did.

But he couldn’t, for the life of him, fathom where to begin and so he let go. More important than his wish to know was to allow Ye Xiu time to heal. In the future, he might eventually get the whole story but for now, he realized that it shouldn’t be his first priority. “’Autumn’ something?” he suggested.

“Vain,” Ye Xiu jokingly disdained. “Worry about our team roster before the team name.”

“We can –,” Muqiu paused and tilted his head in unison with Ye Xiu. “Was that the front door?”

Ye Xiu relinquished Muqiu’s hand, pushed his chair back and stood up. “Stay here,” he instructed.

“Like hell,” Muqiu rejected, following the other out of the study and through the living room.

Using their superior hearing skills honed by years of playing, they had both accurately pinpointed which of the doors in the penthouse had been opened and could currently track the trajectory of their late-night visitor’s footsteps. For a household that did not invite nor accept guests, it was no surprise that they were both tense however their stiff backs relaxed at once upon seeing a familiar face brazenly waltz in bearing a heavy stack of documents and a shamelessly nonchalant expression.

“What are you doing sneaking around, Qiu-di?” Ye Xiu inquired, relieved and exasperated.

Ye Qiu, casual as can be, shrugged and deposited the papers he’d brought over on the dining table. “I finished work late,” he explained before gesturing at the pile. “Your documents, unfilial brother.”

By the look of the pile, it should consist of more than just Ye Xiu’s own paperwork and a further examination proved this to be true. In addition to Ye Xiu’s apartment deed, bank account details, credit cards, cash and et cetera, the time-travelling trio’s birth certificates and identification cards were also there. Then, underneath it all and incredibly out of place, were a few school pamphlets.

After picking up and flipping through the brochures, Ye Xiu looked up at his twin. “For Yucheng?”

“Huh?” Muqiu peered over Ye Xiu’s shoulder and his jaw slacked at the information he read. It was a wake-up call for him and a rude one too. His sister’s education had wholly slipped from his mind in the chaos following their arrival from the past. She was meant to finish her last year of schooling – free schooling. Damn. He didn’t know if she could still apply for it with her being older by a year…

“For Yucheng,” Ye Qiu confirmed. “Mother has granted you access to your inheritance so you can pay for it,” he said, eyes sharp and knowing. “I told her she nearly lost you and it softened her up.”

Ye Xiu gave his twin a look but didn’t comment and instead gestured to the credit cards and cash.

“Yes, they’re yours and Xiu’er’s. I explained the situation to her. She wants to meet Xiu’er.”

“Not happening,” Ye Xiu rejected straight-away.

“Whatever,” Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. “About Excellent Era, do you want to save the company?”

Muqiu, wishing to spare Ye Xiu from having to answer, hastily replied, “We’re making our own team.”

“Okay, providing not all the employees are responsible for Xiu-ge’s… situation, some of them can be absorbed into your new Club,” Ye Qiu suggested smoothly. “Rest assured, I’ll help you set up your new company, unfilial brother, as I’m sure your subpar business education won’t be of help to you.”

“How dependable,” Ye Xiu didn’t refuse the help. “And the money?”

“As if your inheritance won’t cover for everything including Yucheng’s education,” Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. “Lucky for you, I’ve already put so much effort into this Glory business of yours since Mucheng reached out to me that I might as well. The Golden Leaf Corporation is also looking into having a bite of the gaming industry in extension to our involvement in the technology sector so it’s a good time.”

Ye Xiu nodded. “I’ll leave it to you.”

“Of course, you will,” Ye Qiu sniffed. “I already knew you’d say so. The least you can do is keep an open line for me so I can ask you if I have any questions. I’m still new to this whole industry after all and despite your lack of business acumen, you have valuable insight being involved in it from the start.” He pulled out a phone from his pocket and handed it over. “Take this and keep it with you.”

“I’ll be on QQ,” Ye Xiu frowned at the phone.

“You’re taking it and you’re using it and I will contact you through it,” Ye Qiu stated forcefully.

“…” Ye Xiu took the phone.

“And,” Ye Qiu turned to Muqiu who’d been watching the twins silently and pulled out three more phones. “For you, your sister and Xiu’er. Make sure Xiu’er uses his and doesn’t toss it somewhere.”

“Sure,” Muqiu agreed easily.

“The credit cards and cash aren’t only for Ye Xiu and Xiu’er, they’re for you and your sister too,” Ye Qiu informed. “Use them for whatever you need or message my secretary – her number can be found in your phonebooks. You can message me too if you need to.” He raised his hand to stop any dissent. “If you’d like, I’ll deduct your expenses from your future salary. This money is a drop to me.”

Ye Xiu shook his head. “I’m surprised you didn’t connect everyone to my inheritance account.”

“Unlike you, foolish brother, I don’t drain everything out from a single account to help others.”

“…” Ye Xiu didn’t reply.

Muqiu became suspicious. “What’s Ye Qiu talking about?”

“This fool gave away his measly salary to help other players,” Ye Qiu revealed huffily.

“You –,” Muqiu closed his eyes briefly. “You’re such a bleeding heart,” he complained.

“Indeed,” Ye Qiu intoned. “Take care of my foolish brothers, will you? I’ll leave them to you.”

“Uh huh. Maybe I’ll also handle their money…” Muqiu muttered, pinching his nose. He poked Ye Xiu who was being too quiet in the midst of the light ribbing. “Hey, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I only need food, water and Glory. You can handle my money if you want,” Ye Xiu replied blandly.

Muqiu abruptly felt like he’d been scammed into doing so without noticing. “Fine,” he sighed.

“Hmph,” Ye Qiu tossed a judging look at his twin. “Your expenses will be monitored twofold.”

“…” Ye Xiu looked at the two of them blankly. “I’m older than both of you,” he reminded.

“And yet,” Ye Qiu replied snarkily before straightening up. “Sleep, brother. You look terrible.”

“We’re identical,” Ye Xiu retorted without heat.

Ye Qiu glared. “Don’t compare my face to your haggard one!” he pointed brattily. “I’m going!”

“Oh, wait!” Muqiu called out and chased the younger twin who had fast reached the entrance hall. He caught up, aware of Ye Xiu following after them at a slower pace, and gratefully said, “Thank you, Ye Qiu.” Although these two words were inadequate in the face of everything the other had done for him and his sisters, it was all he had to offer apart from his promise to take care of Ye Xiu and Xiu’er.

“You’re welcome,” Ye Qiu smiled, his face softening briefly.

“Little brother,” Ye Xiu spoke as soon as he was within hearing range, “take care on your way back.”

Ye Qiu glanced over in mild surprise and his smile widened. “Good night,” he replied before leaving.

*~*~*~*

Later that day, Ye Xiu discovered that Muqiu didn’t execute the exercise plan in consideration of their late night but did talk the Su sisters into it, rendering Xiu'er’s feeble excuses to dust. This meant, of course, that starting the next day, the entire household consisting of three orange-haired early risers and two dazed raven heads became a staple sight to see jogging around the neighbourhood.

Ye Xiu would never admit to it out loud however he did eventually find that he enjoyed basking in the warmth of the morning sun – at least when he wasn’t plagued by the fear which ran through his body like a jolt of lightning every time a car passed too close to Muqiu. On the other hand, the pleasure of having a regular eating and sleeping schedule (as advertised by the Su family), remained far away.

*~*~*~*

A series of shocked and indignant noises from Muqiu and Xiu’er filled the study some day one late afternoon, prompting Ye Xiu to smile. He’d been unfortunate enough to have a monster stolen by a kill-stealer yet it was the other two who were upset for him. It was cute and quite heart-warming.

“You, go away,” Muqiu brusquely ordered the intruder.

The intruder pretended to be deaf and inquired, “Lord Grim?”

“Pfft!” Muqiu and Xiu’er, not bothering to be polite, laughed out loud directly into their mics when they saw the careless intruder get caught unaware and attacked by the monster it had stolen away.

Ye Xiu was also chuckling as he replied, “What do you want?”

“So it’s you,” the intruder said, his tone full of meaning.

Confused, Ye Xiu checked the player’s ID. Thousand Creations. “Does anyone know him?” Upon receiving a resounding ‘no’, he concluded that this clown was probably looking him (and possibly the others?) because his name was on the leaderboards. He rolled his eyes and moved Lord Grim away.

“Don’t leave!” Thousand Creations tried to chase, discarding the monster he’d still not killed off.

Bang!

Ye Xiu hadn’t given the intruder any face so he did not see what had transpired but nevertheless, he knew that Thousand Creations had aimed at him from behind and Muqiu had interfered. It had been a long time since he was able to wholly trust someone to watch his back; with Mucheng, he still had to calculate whether she would be able to protect him whereas with Muqiu this was not the case.

“Fuck!” Thousand Creations cursed. “Duel with me!”

Xiu’er was full of contempt, “Who has time to play with you?”

“If you’re not here to level then go away,” Muqiu seconded.

Mucheng hid a laugh behind a cough and moved her character closer to Autumn Rain.

“Duel with me and I won’t bother you anymore!”

“This guy doesn’t get it,” Xiu’er drawled.

Hearing this, Ye Xiu controlled Lord Grim to the side and assumed a bystander role in time to see One Leaf Heralds Autumn launch a ruthless attack on Thousand Creations. He watched with a deep sense of nostalgia. This was him at his peak when One Autumn Leaf was crowned the Battle God.

…it was just too bad the fight was so short.

“Lame!” Xiu’er complained afterwards. “Didn’t even last a minute.”

“You can deal with those people too,” Muqiu said.

Everyone else followed Autumn Tree’s line of sight and discovered a group running towards them.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn twirled its spear. “What, did the Battle Mage leak our location?”

“Wait.” Ye Xiu found one of the players familiar. “It’s Steamed Bun,” he identified.

“…ah, that disaster of a Brawler you invited,” Xiu’er recalled.

“Hi! It’s me! It’s me!” Steamed Bun yelled cheerfully. “These good brothers said they know you too!”

Ye Xiu glanced at the other characters and quickly placed them as the three random which he and Xiu’er had run a dungeon with the other day plus an unknown. “Hello, it’s you again… what is it?”

“Hi, brother expert!” Seven Fields, Drifting Water and Sunset Clouds greeted together.

The unknown character named, ‘Sleeping Moon’, went after and said, “Hello…”

“Yes, hello,” Ye Xiu repeated. “What did you guys come here for?”

“To learn from you!” Steamed Bun declared cheerfully.

“Oh?” Ye Xiu could see the benefits of teaching Steamed Bun but the others… not so much. “How long have you guys been playing Glory? If you’ve been playing for a while, I don’t think I can help.”

Steamed Bun replied first, “Good, boss! It’s my first time!”

“We’ve been playing for a while…” the trio answered glumly while Sleeping Moon kept quiet.

“You can stay if you want,” Xiu’er threw them a bone. “Learn something by observing,” he said.

“Careful with the level suppression,” Mucheng warned kindly.

The four players, as though having just realized, clustered together whilst exclaiming, “Oh!”

“…” Ye Xiu turned away from their huddling forms. “Steamed Bun, let’s start?”

Steamed Bun flashed his claw. “Yes! I’m ready to learn, boss!”

“Good. I’ll teach you while we clear monsters.” Ye Xiu sent over a party invite.

Just like that, the five players lucked out and were generously taught by four experienced players.

*~*~*~*

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Lord Grim, Autumn Rain, Steamed Bun
Invasion, Seven Fields and Drifting Water have completed the
White Witch’s first kill!

The tenth district guild leaders coughed blood at the announcement and immediately demanded their guild members to find out who Seven Fields and Drifting Water were, fearing that they might be expert players. They also mulled confusedly over Steamed Bun Invasion as they hadn’t put the Brawler into their eyes but, nevertheless, they resolved to keep an eye out in case they were wrong.

Meanwhile, the abandoned Sunset Clouds and Sleeping Moon enviously watched the fast-paced public chat full of exclamations, worship and even discussions about their friends. Ah… q(╯ᆺ╰๑)

*~*~*~*

“We don’t need a Cleric.”

Upon hearing this, the previously cordial Tyrannical Ambition Cleric inhaled sharply before breathing out with a controlled hiss much to Xiuer’s amusement. He always had fun teasing Clerics and most especially this Endless Night player who kept being sent by Desert Dust guild’s tenth district leader despite the fact that the Cleric was useless to Xiuer other than being the casting director as it were.

The pitiful life of a second-in-command.

However, Endless Night hadn’t met him in Frost Forest alone this time. No, for an important event like the wild BOSS hunt for Goblin Merchant Lorraine, Tyrannical Ambition’s tenth district guild leader had come. Cold Night wasn’t as easy to rile up as Endless Night but after a few inquiries which had the Tyrannical Ambition guild leader run back and forth between Xiuer and the gathered team –

“Brother, please tell me everything at once. Please!!!” Cold Night burst out.

In the study, Xiuer pressed his fist over his mouth and laughed mutedly while Muqiu shook his head with a poorly-stifled smirk on his side. He recovered quickly and explained his intention in a calm tone: “I want to know their ability to output damage. If you want, you can have them come over.”

Cold Night despaired, “Brother, if you told me earlier, I would have just let you see their profiles!”

“Their ability to output damage isn’t the same as their damage numbers,” Xiu’er said in a pretend patient tone; his facial expression was full of ridicule. “For example, what special effects do their weapons have? Do their equipment have additional skills? How much DPS do their skills produce? Can I know these by looking at their profiles?”

“…brother, I was wrong…” Cold Night ran off again to do the errand like a good boy.

Xiuer smirked. Should there come a time when Tyrannical Ambition hired him to break a dungeon record with both Cleric Endless Night and Knight Cold Night present, he would have fun telling them he didn’t need a Cleric or a MT. Their dual reactions would undoubtedly be priceless, he was sure!

A shout rang loud and clear from up front, “It’s the Goblin Merchant!!!”

“Time to play,” Xiuer grinned. Yes, it was time to play indeed. Time to orchestrate a large-scale tag-team game with the Goblin Merchant and a one-sided tug of war with the other guilds. With his fingers flying across his keyboard, One Leaf Heralds Autumn shot off like a bullet and spearheaded the attack while the Tyrannical Ambition party chat filled up with detailed instructions from him.

Muqiu helped Xiuer control the wild BOSS’ aggro, making up for any short delays or mishaps by the Tyrannical Ambition players and thereby ensuring that the other guilds as well as the random players were left chasing after ghosts. But hope was a powerful motivator and so although those chasing kept failing, they persisted and threw skills at the wild BOSS on the off chance they could grab aggro.

Was this helpful at all? Well, yes. For Tyrannical Ambition that was. Because Xiuer and Muqiu had the aggro controlled very tightly, the skills being thrown by the outsiders served well as additional DPS. However, this type of situation wherein Xiuer’s side was the only one benefitting wouldn’t last forever since, the random players aside, the other guilds were veterans and would switch strategies.

So Xiuer, thirsting for a fight, chose to stay behind…

Player Lord Grim has joined the party.

And had Lord Grim take over as the lead commander and aggro controller.

The chasers were then greeted by the sight of One Leaf Heralds Autumn with a smiley emoji above the character boldly blocking their way alone. First in line was Herb Garden, a guild that wasn’t too familiar with Xiuer’s prowess apart from what could be deduced from the previous wild BOSS steal. So it wasn’t a surprise when they charged without fear, emboldened by their numbers advantage.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn gladly welcomed them with a group Sky Strike, knocking up four of the five players into the air, and quickly followed with a Falling Flower Palm to blow them away before pivoting to strike the fifth player with a Dragon Tooth which triggered a brief stun and activated a Neutral Chaser. The Neutral Chaser added a speed buff to the already fast One Leaf Heralds Autumn.

Faced with a faster operation, the four players had barely attempted to Quick Recover after crashing back down when their entire group was caught by a Circle Swing. Knocked down, the Herb Garden players struggled past the AoE damage to retaliate when they were blown up by Anti-Tank Missiles.

“Hm?” Xiuer glanced back to see Autumn Rain standing a few feet away, half-hidden behind a tree.

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Good job!

[Whisper] Autumn Rain: Hehe!

[Whisper] Autumn Rain: Let’s play together!

Xiuer smiled and controlled One Leaf Heralds Autumn to run past her and said, “Come! I’ll guide you as we go.” Then led the way to the Blue Brook group he’d seen skirt around the area he and Herb Garden had been fighting in. A smart move. It was just a pity for them that they weren’t moving fast enough to that he couldn’t catch up and they weren’t far enough to be out of a Launcher’s range.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn chased after them, the Neutral Chaser’s visual effect creating a white aura around the character’s legs which glowed obviously in the forest. The Blue Brook group took notice and, wary, constantly looked back to keep track. They would’ve been better off ignoring him though because being so cautious only slowed them down and in turn made it easier to catch up to them.

Magic Missile!

A burst of magical energy burst from One Leaf Heralds Autumn straight at the Blue Brook group and caused them to disperse. Taking advantage of the chaos, a 180 degrees Circle Swing knocked the players down where, unprepared, they directly ate Anti-Tank Missiles. With a successful hit, the skill caused a brief stun and the group helplessly ate a series of low-level Elementalist and Launcher skills.

Once the stun effect finished, the group rolled away with their health bars depleted and decided to run. Xiuer didn’t care whether they were running away or were prioritizing the wild BOSS, either way he wasn’t letting them go. If this group – or any group – managed to reach the Goblin Merchant, he wouldn’t hear the end of it from Muqiu or Ye Xiu. He belatedly sent Yucheng a party invite and said:

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Use Gatling Gun.

Immediately, a scatter of bullets hailed past One Leaf Heralds Autumn at the Blue Brook group and disrupted them once more. Xiuer eliminated the distance shortly, knocked four players up with a Sky Strike and used Circle Swing to send the Cleric away for Yucheng to deal with. The worst that could happen was that the Cleric healed the Blue Brook players or else ran back to the group. It was fine.

The two of them worked on their own sides with Xiuer occasionally throwing long-range skills at the Cleric to make it easier for Autumn Rain to attack. One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s health suffered a bit due to this but it was a small price to pay and was barely anything besides since the four players could barely get past his mix of low-level skills (short cooldowns) and normal attacks (no cooldowns).

A minute later, the Blue Brook group was no more and the party of two were off once more.

*~*~*~*

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Tyrannical Ambition has completed the Goblin
Merchant’s first kill!

The tenth district’s guilds were in an uproar, Herb Garden and Blue Brook in particular coughed blood in anger, resentment and resignation. Their groups had been aced by the hired experts and many of them thought that Tyrannical Ambition did not deserve to have their guild name plastered on the announcement when it wasn’t entirely their players’ efforts which won them the first kill.

However, Tyrannical Ambition had worked with Lord Grim and the others to transfer aggro at the last minute then had the hired experts leave the party so the players left were from the Tyrannical Ambition Guild, thus making it so that the first kill was awarded to the guild and not the players.

Every expert and veteran in the know understood this fact but although the facts were different from reality and the reality was engineered, the evidence of the announcement was damning. No one outside of those who had been present at the wild BOSS hunt would know the truth and the all-important leaderboard which all guilds used to publicize themselves would forever have this record.

*~*~*~*

One night when Autumn Tree was boredly waiting on the side whilst One Leaf Heralds Autumn had fun with Tyrannical Ambition’s guild leader and second-in-command, a new message came through.

[Whisper] Blue River: Brother! When will you reach Level 23?

Muqiu smiled knowingly at the inquiry and slowly typed out his response.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: In one or two days.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Boneyard Dungeon?

[Whisper] Blue River: Yes! What materials do you want?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Only me?

[Whisper] Blue River: That… brother…

[Whisper] Blue River: How many do I need for a record?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Depends on what kind of record you want.

[Whisper] Blue River: (;>__<)>

[Whisper] Blue River: Then… two of you…

Muqiu hummed contentedly and leisurely sent over the list of materials he wanted. At this level, he had amassed enough rare materials that he didn’t feel bad experimenting a few dozen away. His current project, his main baby, was a Battle Lance with more damage and crit capability than his first creation, Evil Annihilation – its original form anyway because it had since evolved with every update.

His side babies were two automatic pistols, a rifle and a mechanical box (for Spitfire and Mechanic).

[Whisper] Blue River: I’ll prepare the materials.

[Whisper] Blue River: This record better be good, brother!

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: The higher the price, the higher the quality.

[Whisper] Blue River: …

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: I’ll message you when we hit Level 23!

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Bye!

[Whisper] Blue River: Bye…

Muqiu closed the private chat with satisfaction and returned his focus to Tyrannical Ambition.

“Where’s the last DPS player?” Xiu’er was asking.

“Coming, coming…” Cold Night looked left and right. “Should be here now.”

“There!” Endless Night indicated to the left.

Xiu’er hummed. “Okay. My instruction is simple: follow my command. Ready?”

Before anyone could reply, two system announcements came out one after the other.

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Herb Garden players Plantago Seed, Giant
Taro, Oriental Sweetgum, White Peony, and Malva Nut for
breaking Frost Forest’s clear record. Time: 17:48:45

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Excellent Dynasty players Gray Black, Sea
Breeze, Inherit, Nowhere to Run, and Purse for breaking Frost
Forest’s clear record. Time: 15:24:21

“WHAT?!”

“FUCK!!!”

Everyone, from the players in the public chat to those outside the Frost Forest dungeon, exploded.

“Do you see them?” Xiu’er asked calmly.

Muqiu looked over because there was calm and then there was calm. And like calm, there was a blank expression and then there was a blank expression. The former was a study in neutrality and the latter a complete lack of emotion. A void. Xiu’er was currently expressing the former of both.

In short, Xiu’er was feeling negatively but not too strongly; likely, he was angry and not furious (yet).

Swiveling Autumn Tree’s viewpoint around, Muqiu reported, “No.”

“That’s a crying shame,” Xiu’er remarked. “We could have aced them.”

Cold Night coughed. “Is a record break still possible?”

“Obviously,” Xiu’er had a hint of a drawl in his reply but was perfunctory.

“What record can you make?” Endless Night inquired.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn absently twirled its Battle Lance. “Add Lord Grim and Cleansing Mist plus your best melee, preferably a Blade Master with orange equipment, and it’ll be near-unbreakable.”

“Near-unbreakable…” Endless Night sounded weak. “It’s possible?”

“A twelve minute record at best,” Xiu’er replied tonelessly.

Someone in Tyrannical Ambition cursed with much feeling.

“Brother… that’s… if you can really do it then give me your price!”

Muqiu sent a new list of materials to Endless Night in between taking peaks at Xiu’er. His best friend’s facial expression had defrosted to a simple neutral mask but those distinctive golden eyes were still swirling darkly. The other noticed him looking and flashed a small smile before looking away. It wasn’t like he was concerned, really, more like he wanted to distract from his own upset.

Because he was upset too. It was upsetting. Really upsetting.

Frost Forest dungeon’s top records before Herb Garden and Excellent Dynasty’s records took over were their work so it was very obvious who Excellent Dynasty – no, Excellent Era was targeting. To not be able to let go of Ye Xiu after the years of mistreatment and making it so Ye Xiu had to leave was… It was pathetic, vile and absolutely disgusting. Muqiu veered dangerously from upset to livid.

However, he took deep breaths and regulated his exhales to reign in his emotions. He didn’t want to bring more attention to Excellent Era’s dirty work, didn’t want to see a repeat of the blank Ye Xiu from ‘that morning’ when he found the other playing mechanically with a faraway, pensive gaze.

“This is a lot,” Endless Night spoke again, sounding depressed. “But if you can really do it…”

“We’ll do dry-runs tonight. Call your player,” Xiu’er said blandly.

Cold Night stepped forward and reported, “They’re almost here.”

“Okay,” Xiu’er was perfunctory and remained this way until the last dry-run of the night. Luckily, he didn’t lead the run this time so it wasn’t that noticeable but his movements were noticeably fiercer.

Not that Muqiu was one to talk since he, too, was venting through Glory. It was highly effective but the moment Ye Xiu, Mucheng and Yucheng left the room to get ready for dinner, he still complained to his best friend, “Kicking Xiu out wasn’t enough for them, they still want to make things difficult?”

Xiu’er took a breath. “Nevermind. Who are they compared to us?”

“Well, you’re right,” Muqiu muttered, tossing his headphones on the table. “But I just…” he sighed.

That night Mucheng explained everything remained a vivid memory in his memory. He remembered feeling intensely betrayed and angry, remembered how he felt like he’d let Mucheng and Ye Xiu down. It wasn’t just because he was careless enough to permanently leave them behind but also because he had chosen the wrong people to trust, people who had turned into sickening individuals.

Four years. Four years was all it took for greed to take over Tao Xuan and Cui Li. Four years.

Not to forget, Mucheng also said she overheard Ye Xiu talking about his last words. He, on the brink of death, had told Ye Xiu to take care of Mucheng and their dream. His last act before he breathed his last was to pass on a heavy burden for his best friend to carry. Muqiu was… unsure he could forgive himself for his part in Ye Xiu’s decision to suffer through the mistreatment at Excellent Era.

It was hard not to feel responsible and it was hard not to think that everything could’ve been avoided if he’d just kept his mouth shut. Thoughts of ‘what if’, ‘maybe’, ‘perhaps’ and so on plagued him constantly ever since. If he hadn’t said anything, maybe Ye Xiu would be happier, healthier? Perhaps Ye Xiu wouldn’t have suffered as much and wouldn’t be so withdrawn as a consequence?

Because he could see how all of Ye Xiu’s efforts to care was dedicated to Glory and Mucheng that there wasn’t room for anything else. He noticed Ye Xiu’s unhealthy habits born from years of neglect and he hated it, he wanted to erase it. And he was, slowly but surely, by fixing Ye Xiu’s unhealthy lifestyle, correcting bad habits and enforcing a regular schedule. The fact that he had to though…

Muqiu must’ve been thinking too deeply because he jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder.

“Hey,” Xiu’er gazed at him. “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

Muqiu replied honestly, “I wish I could erase the past few years.”

“Yeah,” Xiu’er squeezed Muqiu’s shoulder. “I know. Me too.”

It must be so much more complicated for Xiu’er, Muqiu thought, to know what terrible future had awaited. Three years of happiness, four years of suffering. Betrayed, humiliated and forced out. He could only imagine what it must feel like to be faced with what Xiu’er would have become in Ye Xiu.

Still kind, selfless, amazing and loved but a far cry from the larger than life teenager of before.

Xiu’er cracked a small smirk. “If there’s one thing I know about my Qiu-di, it’s that he’s vindictive.”

“I…” Muqiu was going to say that he wanted to see Tao Xuan and Cui Li suffer but despite everything that they had done, he wasn’t that kind of person. “I just wish that none of it ever happened, Xiu’er.”

“Try not to think about it,” Xiu’er suggested instead, a sad twist to his smirk.

Muqiu repeated the words back helplessly and wondered, “How can I?”

“By remembering that it’s the present which matters,” Xiu’er stated. “Don’t drown over the past.”

“…you were angry too, I saw you,” Muqiu replied a tad sullenly. “It’s not easy,” he added.

“Obviously I was angry but I was in the present,” Xiu’er had a look in his eyes which meant that he’d stopped himself from rolling his eyes. “You think too much, Muqiu. Ye Xiu has already moved on.”

Sighing, Muqiu nodded. “I’ll try,” he acquiesced. “But I still want to –,”

“We’ll destroy them in the game, Muqiu, don’t worry,” Xiu’er promised.

Muqiu nodded. He wasn’t one to take revenge on others in real life but in the world of games, he had no such scruples.

“Great,” Xiu’er stood. “Now, let’s go have dinner before they come knocking.”

The two exited the study together and passed by the living room on the way to the dining room when they heard something that piqued their interest from the news report Mucheng was watching.

“…no other details have been given but what’s clear is that Team Excellent Era has been temporarily suspended from playing in the Glory Professional League this season. The Glory Professional Alliance issued a statement earlier that Club Excellent Era has been found to have violated multiple rules…”

Muqiu’s first instinct was to check on Mucheng’s mood (Ye Xiu wasn’t around) but he need not to because his sister was sporting a very smug smile. He recalled what Xiu’er said at this moment, “If there’s one thing I know about my Qiu-di, it’s that he’s vindictive.” Well, Ye Qiu wasn’t the only one.

Following that thought was another wave of resentment targeted at Tao Xuan and Cui Li for being the reason his sister wasn’t a pure, innocent angel anymore. If he had to endure watching Ye Xiu suffer everyday for so many years, he might have developed a taste for revenge as well. In fact, he won’t discount the possibility just yet. Too early to tell; it had only been a few days since his arrival.

“…” Xiu’er grabbed Muqiu’s arm and changed their trajectory to their shared bedroom. “Your sister.”

“It’s my sister,” Muqiu confirmed, pausing when they happened upon Ye Xiu walking towards them.

Before any of them could speak, they heard Mucheng’s bright voice loud and clear, saying, “Qiu-ge! You’re amazing! …no, you don’t need to get our account cards so soon. Oh, if you can get them all…”

Ye Xiu’s eyes flickered in the direction of the living room then away. “Dinner’s beef stir-fry.”

“Sounds good,” Muqiu replied reflexively. He was torn between wanting to laugh and cry as it was clear as day how Ye Xiu had automatically decided to ignore what Mucheng and Ye Qiu were doing.

Was that a pair he should also avoid?

*~*~*~*

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Tyrannical Ambition players One Leaf Heralds
Autumn, Autumn Tree, Lord Grim, Cleansing Mist, and Salty Not
Sweet for breaking Frost Forest’s clear record. Time: 11:56:48

“Is that time the limit?”

Upon arriving at the levelling area where Autumn Rain waited with their tentative recruit, Steamed Bun Invasion, fresh from the dungeon run, the four were immediately asked this question by their new companion: Soft Mist. A female Striker with an aggressive playstyle and a thirst for competition reminiscent of Desert Dust, Tang Rou from the internet café was exactly as Ye Xiu had advertised.

“No,” Ye Xiu answered concisely and without explanation. “When you’re finished, let’s dungeon.”

“Me too, boss! Bring me!” Steamed Bun bounded over like an excited puppy and waved his claws.

“How about we do a One Wave Rush here first then try it in the dungeon?” Xiu’er suggested.

Ye Xiu hummed. “Very good. We’ll guide you here first, listen to our instructions,” he said.

As Ye Xiu, Xiu’er and Muqiu demonstrated how to collect the monsters into a pile for the first phase of the One Wave Rush strategy, Ye Xiu was already creating a rough outline for Steamed Bun and Tang Rou's training plan in his mind which led to the realization that he needed to guide Xiu’er and Muqiu as well. He mused, “We need those levelled accounts so you two can begin training too.”

“I’ll buy them,” Muqiu gave a thumbs up before pausing to ask earnestly, “Where do I buy them?”

Xiu’er snorted and Yucheng giggled while Steamed Bun recommended loudly, “Taobao, boss!”

“Don’t worry, ge, I’ll help you buy them!” Mucheng assured with a happy grin.

“Times have changed,” Muqiu sighed dramatically at the ceiling. “My sister helps me now,” he said.

Everyone laughed with good humor and their first night seriously training the noobs was very happy.

Chapter Text

(December)

“Your package arrived!”

The package was, of course, the long-awaited level 70 account cards (with undistributed skill points) which Muqiu had purchased online a few days ago with Mucheng’s help. It had been a shock to see the variety of options in the Glory section of the selling site, a proof that the market he was the best at in the past had become oversaturated. Thought of earning money in that way flew out his mind.

It was a new wide world and had he, Xiu’er and Yucheng not met Ye Xiu, Ye Qiu and Mucheng after their arrival to the present, he had no doubt that he and Xiu’er would be struggling even harder than they did before. Selling silver equipment would’ve been his only hope but it was not so feasible what with the Club guilds having a monopoly on the materials… they were good but they were only two.

They would have starved first.

Oh, but they could have applied for the training camp of one of the teams? Well, in their situation, wherein they arrived to the present just before signing with Excellent Era, which training camp would they have gone to other than Club Excellent Era’s whose building they were standing across from? Ha ha ha! No problem. Muqiu thought happily that they would’ve been rejected for having no IDs.

Better to starve than train in the Club that dared to kick Ye Xiu and Mucheng out!

“…you’re making weird faces, ge,” Yucheng commented with a disgusted face as she placed one of the three sets of account cards on Muqiu’s desk. She squealed promptly when she was abruptly lifted and dropped onto her older brother’s lap then giggled as she had her cheeks playfully rubbed.

“Your ge is thinking about deep matters and his sister bullies him like this, how can he be happy?”

“Hehe!” Yucheng gave her brother no face and continued giggling childishly.

Muqiu was indulgent and simply went on to start what he wanted to discuss: “Are you done looking through the school pamphlets Ye Qiu brought over? You still have a few months to think but there are also many things we need to prepare. And you should start studying after Spring Festival too.”

“Uhm…” Yucheng worried her lower lip. “Brother, I want to… study at home…” she murmured.

“Ah?” Muqiu was surprised and looked over at Xiu’er for help, relieved when he saw his best friend was already looking over. “Is there such thing as a school allowing students to learn at home? Or else,” he turned back to his sister and blinked uncertainly, “you want to be home-schooled?”

“No!” Yucheng hastily waved her hands in rejection. “No, I… Brother, can I go after next year?”

Xiu’er gently took a hold of Yucheng’s left hand. “Are you not used to the future yet?”

“Mm. I want to… stay here first. Join everyone,” Yucheng mumbled with her head down.

“...you mean Glory or at home?” Xiu’er wanted to clarify. “If you mean Glory, you need to train hard but if you mean at home then… We can arrange for you to learn something so you’re not bored.”

“I…” Yucheng bit her lip and glanced around the room. “I want to play Glory too,” she decided.

“But Yucheng –,” Muqiu began but Xiu’er cut him off by saying, “Hey, she’ll study after one year.”

“After one year?” Mucheng echoed curiously, her hair was tousled from the headphones she had pulled off. “What are you three talking about so seriously? Xiu-ge and I had to finish the dungeon!”

Muqiu whipped his head back to glance at his screen and smiled back at Mucheng sheepishly while Xiu’er just shrugged and answered, “Yucheng wants to take a year off before going back to school.”

“I want to play Glory with everyone too,” Yucheng asserted.

“Well, you heard,” Xiu’er said lazily. “Teaching you is no problem if you want to play seriously.”

Yucheng nodded firmly. “I want. I want to help you!” she said.

“Help us in the game or you want to compete?” Ye Xiu joined the conversation as well.

“What do you mean ‘compete’!” Muqiu cried out. “She’s too young and I want her to finish school!”

“Sister-control, calm down,” Ye Xiu placated helplessly. “Our team will be full of new players and you two aren’t familiar with the competitive scene yet so I plan on entering the Pro-League through the Challengers League; it’s a good way to prepare everyone. The tournament starts in September and ends July the year after. Yucheng will have a whole summer to rest or study before school begins.”

“…but she’s too young?” Muqiu was grasping at straws. He was not against his sister playing. There was already Mucheng who was an amazing pro-players but at least he wanted Yucheng to finish her education first. Education was important and something he wished his sister to have as he did not.

Ye Xiu gave him a look. “The GPA took away the age restriction a long time ago and the Challengers League just needs your permission – ah,” he smiled crookedly, “not your permission but Mucheng’s.”

“…” Muqiu who was reminded of his new status as a younger brother to Mucheng was stunned.

However, Yucheng was a good girl and she did not ignore her brother’s true status. “Ge, please?”

“It’s good for Yucheng to find her footing in this new world by staying close to her family. Anyway, your sister promises to go to school after one year playing Glory with us,” Xiu’er helped to persuade.

Muqiu was softened completely and finally nodded. “Well, I’ll listen to all of you. But, Yucheng, you should decide on which school you want to attend before summer next, next year. Don’t worry about money, your brother will earn enough as a pro-player to pay Xiu back for your tuition fee.”

“Brother, I will pay!” Mucheng declared. “You’ve worked so hard for us, I can at least do this.”

“How can I have my sister pay. I am – I’m still your older brother,” Muqiu was frowning by the end.

Mucheng smiled happily and didn’t argue. “Of course, ge will always be my older brother,” she said.

“Who said I needed you to pay me back?” Ye Xiu inserted as soon as Mucheng finished.

“…then, I’ll work harder to repay you,” Muqiu replied solemnly. Just like how Mucheng knew he wouldn’t back down when it came to taking responsibility for paying Yucheng’s tuition, he knew Ye Xiu would not accept money. It was just that since since the money involved for the tuition was more substantial than the money spent for their daily meals, Ye Xiu might allow him to repay it.

“Repay who? This is me repaying you for taking me – and Xiu’er – in, okay?” Ye Xiu snorted then put his hand on top of Yucheng’s head. “More importantly, Yucheng, if you want to compete with us, you need to train hard. But if not, don’t worry, you can still come with us to the stadium,” he said.

“Xiu-ge, I want to try! I will train hard,” Yucheng said resolutely.

“I believe you,” Ye Xiu patted her. “Take some time to feel out if you want to be a Launcher or not. If other Classes interest you, you should try them. Remember there’s no need to follow Mucheng.”

“That’s right, there are many Classes in Glory so you should try whichever you want, Cheng-mei!”

“Okay~!” Yucheng acknowledged with a smile, her cheeks dimpling adorably.

Muqiu pouted on the side. “Am I still the older brother?” he complained half-heartedly. “Yucheng, don’t forget what I said earlier. Decide which school you want to attend before your break is over. And you should also think about what you want to be in the future. I know Glory is not your dream.”

“What about – Mumu-jie, how come your dream turned into Glory?” Yucheng asked curiously.

“Ah…” Mucheng’s smile faltered a little. “I wanted to accompany Xiu-ge. But Cheng-mei, there’s no need to worry. We’ll continue to live together. Even if you don’t play Glory with us, we’re with you.”

For a long moment, Yucheng was silent and then she said, “I understand.”

*~*~*~*

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Blue Brook players Blue River, Thundering
Light, Lunar Grace, Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn
for breaking Boneyard’s clear record. Time: 20:40:29

Outside Boneyard’s dungeon, Blue Brook Guild’s tenth district leader was celebrating happily and loudly praised, “Amazing! It’s amazing! Too amazing! I don’t think anyone can beat this record!”

“Hey, this thing can’t be promised. Excellent Era’s not busy after all,” Xiu’er said in a light tone.

Muqiu took a surreptitious glance behind him at Ye Xiu and finally let out an amused huff for the pointed remark when he saw that the older Ye was busily playing. “We’ll just re-break it again,” he said nonchalantly, pertaining to their Frost Forest record which outdid EE’s by some three minutes.

“What?” Blue River blurted. But he was a tenth district leader after all and quickly got the point. “Damn,” he cursed. “Excellent Era sent their players to do the Frost Forest dungeon? They’re crazy!”

Bound Boat came closer to gossip. “Excellent Era? Aren’t they suspended?”

“It’s because they’re suspended that they’re so free,” Xiu’er said.

“Brothers,” Blue River chuckled, “didn’t you break their Frost Forest record? I’m not worried. If they can really break our record time when it’s already so fast then I’ll eat my keyboard!” he announced.

“Eat your keyboard?” Muqiu chuckled. “Give me my materials first then you can eat,” he said.

Laughing, Bound Boat sent a trade request. “Brother, it’s okay. I have your materials, not him!”

“I’m so relieved,” Muqiu joked and double-checked the materials list before accepting the trade.

“Damn!” Blue River cursed again. “Excellent Dynasty really tried! Look at the leaderboard!”

Boneyard Dungeon

1^st Place: Blue Brook players Blue River, Thundering Light, Lunar
Grace, Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn for breaking
Boneyard’s clear record. Time: 20:40:29

2^nd Place: Excellent Dynasty players Gray Black, Sea Breeze,
Inherit, Nowhere to Run, and Purse for breaking Boneyard’s
clear record. Time: 23:54:78

3^rd Place: Excellent Dynasty players Gray Black, Sea Breeze,
Inherit, Nowhere to Run, and Purse for breaking Boneyard’s
clear record. Time: 24:22:17

“Hm. They really did,” Xiu’er remarked, tone so light it was hard to tell that he was being unkind.

Meanwhile, Muqiu smiled in satisfaction upon seeing the significant time gap between the teams.

*~*~*~*

With all the attention One Leaf Heralds Autumn and the others were getting in the tenth district, it would be strange if none of the Club guild leaders brought up the matter to their superiors. Many did, however all but one of their notices ended with their main guild leaders and did not go higher.

Herb Garden’s main guild leader was the anomaly. He took the report seriously and dropped a comment to Team Tiny Herb’s Captain and ace player, Wang Jiexi, who was very interested. And that’s why, one noon, the controller of the God-level Witch account Vaccaria, descended from the training room to visit the tenth district leader’s humble office to have a closer look at the ‘experts’.

Wang Jiexi directed the terrified Plantago Seed, Herb Garden’s tenth district guild leader, to a great spot in which to spy the notorious group from and took the hastily vacated seat when it was offered to him. He tracked the seven players on the screen with his mismatched eyes, first observing Soft Mist and Steamed Bun Invasion whom he quickly deemed noobs before moving onto the main five.

Two Launchers, one Battle Mage, one Unspecialized and one Sharpshooter.

Seeing the Battle Mage and Launchers, it was easy to suspect that two of the main five were the Best Partners, Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng. The names One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Autumn Rain were also far too obvious. Except, the longer Jiexi watched the more he noticed how Autumn Rain played like a noob while Lord Grim had much more precise moves compared to One Leaf Heralds Autumn.

Originally, he had dropped by thinking he would discover one or two potential talents to recruit into the training camp but he had unexpectedly stumbed upon a landmine. Steamed Bun Invasion and Soft Mist were newbies and had potential, if they were the only ones who interested him, it would be a job well done for the day. Of the main five, if it was only Autumn Rain, he’d also think similarly.

The problem was that Lord Grim was extremely precise, almost militantly so. One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Tree and Cleansing Mist were also very precise though not as exaggerated as Lord Grim. Obviously, it was hard to measure proficiency when these players were only levelling but just from their precision and the way not a single move was wasted, it was clear they weren’t ordinary.

Jiexi pointed at the four characters and requested, “What can you tell me about them, Plantago?”

“Uh,” Plantago Seed startled. “Oh! Uh, One Leaf Heralds Autumn is almost always their commander. But the one who, uhm, discusses with guild leaders is Autumn Tree. Both of them sound very young. Lord Grim and Cleansing Mist usually plays with the group but sometimes they help break records and hunt wild BOSSes… Lord Grim… I’m not sure what Class he is. I think he didn’t choose any Class.”

“No Class? An Unspecialized?” Jiexi was surprised.

Unspecializeds were phased out long ago because of the time it took to switch between weapons but that extreme precision… A pro-level player wouldn’t waste their time on such a choice which could only mean that this Lord Grim might just possibly be the first viable Unspecialized in Glory.

Jiexi manipulated Plantago Seed to get a closer look at Lord Grim’s Battle Lance and his eyes briefly became even. “A silver weapon,” he identified. Silver weapons didn’t mean anything. Anyone could make them. But a true silver weapon created for an Unspecialized was a completely different story.

“I’ll borrow your account,” Jiexi said succinctly and then immediately controlled Plantago Seed to clash with the group, targeting Lord Grim specifically. However, before he could reach, One Leaf Heralds Autumn blocked his way and began a fierce attack. The Battle Mage’s style of play was very similar to Ye Xiu’s and rather than an imitation, it was like an exact copy with a dash of aggression.

No, that wasn’t quite right.

Ye Xiu had been an extremely aggressive player before and this reminded him of those days; the first three seasons of the Pro-League when the Battle God was at his peak. This was no cause of concern to Jiexi however because he could tell that this player wasn’t as experienced and crafty as Ye Xiu yet but when Autumn Tree decided to join in as support, the pressure was too much alone and he left.

“There’s too many of them,” Jiexi concluded after parking Plantago Seed in a safe place. He faced Herb Garden’s tenth district leader and said, “Later, I’ll have the reserves test them then we’ll see.”

“Ah?” Plantago Seed’s owner startled again. “Oh… what accounts do you need?”

Jiexi replied, “I need five: Ghostblade, Sharpshooter, Battle Mage, Assassin and Witch. Have them –,” he paused when the other approached, hand stretching out for a side drawer. “Oh, you have them.”

“Yes…” Herb Garden’s tenth district leader offered the account cards then slid over a Team Tiny Herb championship notebook merchandise. “Great God, can I have your signature?” he asked.

Smiling, Jiexi pocketed the account cards and grabbed a pen. “Where do I sign?”

*~*~*~*

Ping!

The private message icon flashed on the side and, coupled with the sound, effectively drew attention. Xiu’er clicked on it automatically and abruptly left Ye Xiu to deal with rounding up the monsters for the group, leading Mucheng to assume his position whilst he checked on the chat.

[Whisper] Cold Night: Brother! Desolate Land, how about it?

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Ask Autumn Tree.

“Tyrannical Ambition got used to talking to me,” Xiu’er mused. “Are we booked for Desolate Land?”

Muqiu heard him through the game and relied, “Blue Brook approached me first. Should we split?”

“Didn’t Xiu-ge already say that’s a bad idea?” Xiu’er pointed out, tossing a stray monster to the pit.

“I know,” Muqiu sighed. “But think of the materials, Xiu’er! Think of the materials!” he persuaded.

However, the persuasion filed and Xiu’er snorted, “You’re already doing that, why should I?”

“It’s better to increase your price than to split,” Ye Xiu’s voice came through the party line.

“You’re the best, Xiu!” Muqiu said and even to a stranger, it was easy to tell the reply was habitual.

Xiu’er smirked infuriatingly. “I know,” he said smugly, brazenly claiming his older self’s suggestion.

Before Muqiu could snark, Ye Xiu abruptly warned, “Be careful, we have company.”

The caution was to the benefit of the new players so Xiu’er didn’t take it to mean that the ‘company’ were anything special. Nevertheless, he was always up for a PK so he swiveled his viewpoint around to see two characters rushing over. An Assassin was leading the charge which was utterly ridiculous and the second was a Battle Mage with – he laughed. “Does that idiot have seven chasers? Ha ha!”

As he said this, the Assassin entered their range and was immediately repelled by Cleansing Mist. He cheered Mucheng on with a loud, “Ace him!” Then moved on to ridicule the Battle Mage, “Yo! Seven chasers, you’re really kicking ass over there! What compensation! Ha ha ha! Who wants to ace him?”

Ye Xiu puffed in amusement and offered, “Let’s have Tang Rou try?”

“Okay,” Tang Rou, always roaring for a fight, predictably accepted without fanfare and rushed over.

“Good! Very good… your aim was off. Turn sharper. It’s too early to use Reinforced Iron Bones, you should use Cloud Body instead,” Ye Xiu diligently guided Tang Rou from the side. “Watch your side!”

While that side of the fight became a coaching lesson, the other side with Cleansing Mist was more of a partnership with Autumn Rain and Steamed Bun happily coordinating together. Seeing them, Xiu’er felt somewhat unsatisfied standing alone with nothing to do so he moodily abused monsters.

Right then, wholly ignoring the battles, Muqiu crowed triumphantly, “Samsara took the bait!”

“Muqiu, we have company. Try not to die, yeah?” Xiu’er ribbed but it was naturally a joke because he and everyone else in the team were there to protect Autumn Tree. “Why’s there only three?”

“…what is with your crow’s mouth? There’s actually more coming,” Muqiu pointed his gun at three more characters heading their way. “Say, isn’t this an ambush?” he remarked, not at all concerned.

“People are this stupid?” Xiu’er wasn’t kind. He was wondering whether these clowns were from Excellent Era. But… he couldn’t sense anything from Ye Xiu so maybe not? “You take the Witch.”

“Mm, sure,” Muqiu agreed and began firing. The Witch evaded the shots and moved closer which was a natural choice to make when one was a mid-ranger fighting against a long-ranger. Sadly for the Witch, common rules didn’t apply to Muqiu. Autumn Tree pounced and engaged in gun fu.

Seeing that, Xiu’er wrote off the Witch and turned his attention to the other two visitors; one was a Ghostblade and the other a Sharpshooter. He looked over at the trio handling the Assassin and saw that they were done then called out, “Autumn Rain, Steamed Bun, come handle the Sharpshooter.”

A melee and long-range Class doubling up against a Sharpshooter was overkill were these intruders simple players. But Xiu’er had already long since spotted that these players weren’t so simple hence he might as well take advantage by using them as training partners. Of sorts. They wouldn’t last long.

“Should I step back?” Mucheng asked as Cleansing Mist strolled over.

“Guide them,” Xiu’er instructed. “They’ll need to coordinate to deal with a long-ranger,” he said.

Mucheng hummed. “Leave it to me~!” And Cleansing Mist was off.

Which left the last uninvited guest, a Ghostblade, to Xiu’er and his not-so-tender mercy. As a support Class, trained or not, the ensuing unilateral fight could only be described as dull and, if asked to elaborate, more interesting than killing off monsters. So, annoyed by the lack of challenge, he did not care for the Ghostblade player’s emotions and frankly sighed, “boring,” before the final blow.

Xiu’er turned away from the corpse and checked on the Sharpshooter’s status then smiled proudly.

“Coordination is not bad,” Ye Xiu commented aloud what the younger Ye was thinking.

The Sharpshooter was putting up an almighty struggle but faced with Autumn Rain’s bombardment and Steamed Bun’s unpredictable actions under Mucheng’s steady advice, their health bar kept sliding down like a leaking faucet. In the end, after a few more struggles, the Sharpshooter died as helplessly as the rest of the ambush group and was sent off with a taunting emoji care of Xiu’er.

“Well, that was boring,” Xiu’er repeated and turned around to gather monsters again.

*~*~*~*

At Club Tiny Herb, the team’s training room was deathly silent. Everyone was ashen except for one player who had turned puce, Zhou Yebai. He was the controller of the Ghostblade account who had been suppressed and insulted as, “boring”, besides. That it had been deliberately said with a highly mocking tone just added an extra layer of shame to the embarrassment he had already been feeling.

When was the last time he’d been looked down on so severely? It must have been long ago on his first few weeks in training camp! But he had since become a member of Team Tiny Herb, a reserve player for a champion team, and he wasn’t some deadlast like Qiao Yifan. He had played in the Pro-League with the main team members and he was no considered a weak player. So what was that?

How come he had been suppressed to the point that he was unable to fight back? Was the other player really so good? And why was it him who had to face that ridiculing player! Liu Fei had been taunted too but that was only through an emoji and she hadn’t been suppressed by a single player! Everyone had been defeated in twos and threes except for him. How can he raise his head like this?

Earlier, he had inwardly laughed at the others’ misfortune and even openly mocked Qiao Yifan along with the others like usual. But he had ended up slapping his own face and was humiliated horribly. The worst part was that even if, by any chance, the others did not witness his shameful deafeat, Captain Wang Jiexi had been standing behind them watching the entire process from start to finish...

It was impossible to save face and Zhou Yebai felt truly bitter inside his heart.

“Uhm… Captain…” Gao Yingjie, the Witch player, spoke up then quickly lost steam.

“Yingjie,” Captain Wang was gentle facing his successor, “what do you think?”

Seeing the favoritism at play again, Zhou Yebai was used to it yet still felt bitterer.

“I think… really strong…” Yingjie admitted, his eyes darted to the Captain’s raised brow and he continued, “Uhm, Autumn Tree is really strong… He’s good at gun fu… like Senior Zhou Zekai…”

Nodding, Captain Wang praised, “Yes, he used gun fu. Good observation. And you, Liu Fei?”

“I fought a 1v2,” Liu Fei pulled out this card which made Zhou Yebai feel like he’d been doused with cold water. “The brawler played too weirdly and someone was also guiding them on the side!”

Captain Wang swept his uneven eyes over them and lectured, “In the game or at the Pro-League, there are times you will be outnumbered in a match and opponents will play surprisingly. Take this experience as a lesson to not underestimate others.” He moved on: “What about you, Xiao Yun?”

“Lord Grim stepped in when I was about to win, Captain,” Xiao Yun also played the ‘1v2’ card.

“Always keep track of your enemies. They can always step in to help their teammates. Zhou Yebai?”

Startled at being called suddenly, the face which had slowly been returning to a normal color swiftly reddened. Zhou Yebai wanted to scream in upset at the injustice of being called after Liu Fei and Xiao Yun had used the ‘1v2’ reasoning and miserably scrambled for an excuse, “I… wasn’t used to playing with a limited skills.” He peeked at the Captain’s stony face and added, “Next time, I’ll win.”

But Captain Wang’s expression didn’t change and he didn’t even bother commenting. “Qiao Yifan?”

Ignored, Zhou Yebai felt a hot wave splash over him. His face flamed hotter and he really couldn’t lift his head. First, he had been the only one killed in a 1v1 and then he was the only one who Captain Wang didn’t acknowledge after speaking. He grinded his teeth while waiting resentfully for Qiao Yifan’s response, hoping that the deadlast would be embarrassed so he could at least feel better.

Qiao Yifan mumbled his response embarrassedly however his response did not live up to Zhou Yebai’s hope and surprisingly could be the best response out of everyone: “Cleansing Mist is a really skilled player. She predicted all of my moves and she guided Steamed Bun Invasion and Autumn Rain…”

“What do you think of Steamed Bun Invasion and Autumn Rain’s skill levels?” Captain Wang queried.

On top of having the most comprehensive answer, Captain Wang also asked for Qiao Yifan’s opinion! What was happening? Zhou Yebai was confused and very resentful but he didn’t dare to lift his head.

Answering, Qiao Yifan’s tone had a hint of surprise (probably at being asked), “Uhm, Steamed Bun Invasion is very fast but he… He plays confusingly. Autumn Rain is good at following directions…”

Captain Wang moved on without comment and then knocked on the nearest table to catch the attention of the main roster. “Fusheng, distribute the account cards I asked you to get. Starting today, we will fight Lord Grim and his team in the tenth district. There’s an 80% chance that Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng are involved so treasure this rare opportunity to use them as training practice.”

The Captain’s words echoed in Zhou Yebai’s head. Ye Xiu! So it was actually Ye Xiu who killed him.

Breathing out a quiet sigh, Zhou Yebai finally felt relief.

It was a pity that this relief would be short-lived as Xiao Yun exclaimed: “Lord Grim is Ye Xiu?!”

Zhou Yebai froze. He suddenly remembered there were three Battle Mages in that group but – what medicine was Xiao Yun drinking? There was One Leaf Heralds Autumn! How can Lord Grim be Ye Xiu?

Relaxing again, Zhou Yebai was slapped harshly with reality as Captain Wang replied: “Most likely.”

Nothing changed after many twists and Zhou Yebai was not only shamed but also viciously beaten.

*~*~*~*

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Samsara players Lonely Drink, Get Off My
Cloud, Lifted, Cleansing Mist and Lord Grim for breaking Desolate
Land’s clear record. Time: 22:30:12

Waiting outside Desolate Land’s dungeon to welcome the victorious group were Autumn Tree and Samsara’s second-in-command. Of course, Muqiu was mainly there to accept the materials upon the completion of his side of the deal than to do any welcoming and this was proven when he chose to double-check the list in the trade request he had received with nary a hello in his team’s direction.

It was really a pity Blue Brook and Tyrannical Ambition hesitated when he increased the asking price. Otherwise, he would have been able to give his actual list because they already had a good business relationship which allowed room for pending payment; the pending price being rare materials from higher levelled areas. But this deal was not bad too. He could sell these materials high in the market.

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Tiny Herb tried to ambush us. Again.

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Let’s meet at the Arena.

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: They agreed to a gambling match.

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Send your demands.

Thrilled, Muqiu smiled widely and called out to Ye Xiu and Mucheng, “Let’s go! Gambling match!”

“You do gambling matches too?” Lonely Drink asked incredulously.

“We do everything,” Muqiu replied sagely. “Nice doing business with you!”

The three didn’t wait for a polite response and left Samsara’s players behind for the arena.

On the way, Muqiu informed the other two what Xiu’er had told him and asked about arrangement.

Ye Xiu was quick to respond, “Ask them to fight Soft Mist or Steamed Bun in another room first.”

“Alright,” Muqiu relayed the message to Xiu’er and then inquired, “What does Tiny Herb want? Ambushing us with the reserve team and now the main roster. Do they have a grudge against you?”

Huffing amusedly, Ye Xiu replied, “No, their captain is just a busybody.” Then, with a knowing tone, he continued, “It’s fine, Muqiu. Demand whatever and however much you want. Don’t hold back.”

Muqiu grinned and, a minute later, sent over an extensive list to Xiu’er. It was a long list divided into two with the first labelled under, ‘2v2’, and the second, ‘5v5’. “Too bad there’s no debt option in Glory or else I could bet for higher-levelled materials… but rare materials are good no matter what.”

“Hm~ Maybe Xiu-ge can suggest it to the developers!” Mucheng proposed brightly. “But, ge, are we so rich in rare materials that you only want higher-level materials now? Is your storage bursting?”

Laughing gleefully, Muqiu confirmed, “It’s bursting! It’s bursting!”

“You should save some to experiment with for silver equipment, Muqiu,” Ye Xiu reminded gently. “We’ll need them for when we join the Pro-League. Most pro-level characters have at least a few.”

“Don’t worry, I calculated it,” Muqiu soothed. “We really have an excess.”

“Well, I trust you. Let us know if you need help,” Ye Xiu concluded.

“Sure, I’ll let you know. There are some stats I want to manipulate. Ah, we’re here. Room is…” Muqiu narrated the arena information he received from Xiu’er and then entered with Ye Xiu and Mucheng. Once inside, Xiu’er transferred the room ownership over and he set the bet for Tiny Herb to accept.

*~*~*~*

“Aren’t you being too open about the materials you need?”

Wang Jiexi didn’t say this out of care or worry but because he wanted to prod at the other. From his short verbal discussion with One Leaf Heralds Autumn earlier, he had fully ascertained they were too young to be Ye Xiu but did speak in a similarly blunt, confident manner on top of the same playstyle.

“Feel free to study it, you won’t figure out anything,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn said carelessly.

To be so certain, was this player looking down on Tiny Herb’s R&D or were the materials requested simply not what was actually needed? Was there some sort of trick somewhere? There must be. But thinking about it would get him nowhere so he turned to his team and asked, “Who will go first?”

Liu Xiaobie and Liang Fang, the main roster’s Blade Master and Berserker, volunteered together.

“Then go to the next room and win before coming back,” Jiexi ordered. “Record the match.”

“Yes, Captain!” they chorused obediently and left the room.

“Hmm… so, what do you think? Which of us should go down?”

Jiexi heard One Leaf Heralds Autumn talking and interestedly listened in.

“Of course, it’s you,” Lord Grim answered. He sounded older. “Or are you afraid?”

“Are you talking to yourself?” One Leaf Heralds Autumn retorted.

“Then, it’s me and you,” Autumn Tree interrupted the two. “It’s been a while.”

One Leaf Heralds Autumn didn’t agree and said, “What are you saying? We’ve been dueling daily.”

Hearing this, Jiexi raised his brow. Between levelling, hunting wild BOSSes and levelling, they still made time to duel? Then it must not be a stretch to consider that they were planning to join the Pro-League. Anyway, the averaged skills of the seven players weren’t bad and they only needed a Cleric.

Plus, if Glory’s Best Partners were really in this team then it was only right for them to return.

“Why does your tone sound like you’re complaining?” Lord Grim chuckled.

“Your hearing is faulty,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn denied. “I like duels – quality duels.”

“Soft Mist isn't here, don’t stab her in the back,” Autumn Tree tsk’ed. “Let’s go,” he said.

“Well, come on. Let’s take care of this,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn agreed.

Lord Grim ribbed them before they teleported to the arena: “Don’t come back if you lose.”

There wasn’t much to glean from the light banter but at the very least it seemed that there was no firm hierarchy between the players. Which was interesting because, according to Plantago Seed, One Leaf Heralds Autumn was the usual commander of the team and Autumn Tree was in charge of deals yet they were obviously younger than Lord Grim who was far more superior in micro-management.

And though it wasn’t impossible to find courageous children with talent and no respect for seniors, the demeanor of those two ‘leaders’ weren’t congruent to typical behavior. It could be possible that Ye Xiu, with no lower limit, and the follower Su Mucheng tacitly agreed to simultaneously guide and hide behind the two so as not to be discovered except that would require the two to not know them.

How can those two not know though? They were certainly skillful enough to figure out that Lord Grim at least was not a normal player! And as for the rest of the team, he still hadn’t heard Cleansing Mist and Autumn Rain speak whereas he’d earlier written off Soft Mist and Steamed Bun Invasion, the latter two were obviously new and were also reported to have joined the team at a later point.

Now, Jiexi was stubbornly inclined to believe that Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng were in this team anyway, but besides the incredible nature of a viable Unspecialized and the presence of a Launcher Class, he did not have much to work with. And the more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t reach a satisfying conclusion and he even felt the oncoming of a headache... It was really quite troublesome.

Nevermind. He should just patiently wait for the other side to reveal themselves.

The static scene in the arena was disturbed by Liu Xiaobie and Liang Fang’s timely arrival, signaling the start of the duel with One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Autumn Tree. Both sides rushed at each other, Liu Xiaboie unsheathed a sword to greet One Leaf Heralds Autumn with when Autumn Tree –

Interrupt!

It was hard to tell what a player’s skill level was like with just one attack however that interrupt was a thing of beauty. Jiexi could see that Autumn Tree chose to disrupt by directly hitting Liu Xiaobie’s sword. Were it intentional then he would have to revisit his judgement on Autumn Tree’s precision because that had been incredibly accurate, so accurate that there were few who could replicate it.

Very few, in fact, that he feared there were only two: Ye Xiu and Zhou Zekai. That skill. That ferocity. He was once again reminded startlingly of Ye Xiu’s tyrannical domination of the Pro-League in the first three seasons and he shivered directly. What he had faced using Plantago Seed’s account paled in comparison to the vigor One Leaf Heralds Autumn was currently showing. This was the Battle God.

This was the Battle God back when Ye Xiu was all about using raw power. He could tell with certainty that whoever this young player was, they were not any less terrifyingly talented and skilled than the young Ye Xiu. Was this… could this be the successor to One Autumn Leaf? But if this was true, how on earth had Ye Xiu kept them a secret? Unless this young player never entered the training camp…

Moving closer to Lord Grim, Jiexi asked, “Will you be playing as well?

“Defeat them first,” Lord Grim replied. Same voice. No hesitation.

Jiexi didn’t truly believe that One Leaf Heralds Autumn had switched players to Ye Xiu but it was a far less worrying prospect than the reality of Ye Xiu finding such a perfect successor. And then there was Autumn Tree who had been delivering extremely precise shots to interrupt skills one after the other, leaving One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s path clear. A partnership worthy of Glory’s Best Partners award.

That Ye Xiu… where did he find and hide such horrifying talents...

LOSS!

“…” Jiexi didn’t want to believe that his main roster players had been defeated by two young players but what could he do? The proof was right in front of his eyes. Oh, not just his and the team’s either. Plantago Seed was also there, carrying the materials listed in the bet for them and had bore witness to this shame. He smiled bitterly, took a moment to compose himself and asked, “Who will go next?”

If asked to answer honestly, he would say that he had no thoughts about whether the rest of his main rosters would keep losing. He was more concerned over One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Autumn Tree’s performance but that did not mean that he expected them to lose. Obviously not, those in the main roster and the reserves as well, how could they lose as members of the championship team?

What shame!

Stronger than that shame though was terror and fright. From beginning to end, One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Autumn Tree, two young players who had yet to enter the Pro-League, did not lose even once. On top of that win streak, they also showed a level of coordination unlike anything he’d seen before; he would dare say that Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng’s coordination didn’t hold a candle to it.

“How about a 1v1?” Lord Grim suddenly invited.

Jiexi belatedly realized that the other side must have been waiting on him as he had not yet played but, looking around the training room, he also realized that he unfortunately could not accept the invite which he’d been sorely waiting for. Losing each match was bad enough but that the losses had managed to impact his players so badly that they were shaken in their seats was much, much worse.

Although facing Lord Grim would allow him to confirm Lord Grim’s identity with more surety, he knew well that fighting against a viable Unspecialized under Ye Xiu’s command would result in his loss. He was ready to shoulder this loss but he could see that his team was presently unable to shoulder another blow. As the team’s Captain, he had to consider his players’ condition and so:

“No, we’ll end it here for today,” Jiexi decided.

*~*~*~*

Considered invisible to everyone in Club Tiny Herb’s training room, no one noticed that Qiao Yifan was immersed in his own thoughts. He had been wallowing over his teammate berating him on the voice chat for their opponents to hear after losing the match when he saw that he had received a message. Not knowing why yet just feeling like it was meant for him, he looked and was stunned.

[Whisper] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: You’re wasted as an Assassin. Try being a Phantom Demon.

Yifan didn’t think that the other side would give him any attention let alone so much that they could say with certainty which Class fit him better. He wasn’t like his best friend, Gao Yingjie, who was oft given tailored advice by the Captain. In fact, no one in Tiny Herb took any note of him and he was already convinced that he had no future as a pro-player, that his dream would end with the season.

But someone did notice him. More than that, they gave him hope which he sorely needed. For any other pro-player, being told to change Class was an unwelcome advice but for Yifan who had been struggling so hard to play an Assassin with nothing to show, it was akin to being offered a new lease in his life as a pro-player. It was as though One Leaf Heralds Autumn was telling him not to give up.

It didn’t even matter to Yifan whether the other side was involved with God Ye and Goddess Su or not like the Captain guessed. One Leaf Heralds Autumn was an amazing player who had beaten Team Tiny Herb regardless of association. To be seen by someone so great was surreal. Yifan was very touched and he resolved to meet the other team in the tenth district as a Ghostblade player.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t end up disappointing One Leaf Heralds Autumn.

Chapter Text

(December)

“Oh! Is that a bug?”

As expected, this was Muqiu’s reaction to seeing Ye Xiu perform Dragon Raises Its Head for Xiu’er.

Ye Xiu shook his head. “No, it just requires additional mechanics. But since everyone has already seen me use it, Xiu’er, you can only use it once effectively. Maybe you’ll find another one though?”

“I have time,” Xiu’er said leisurely, a confident smirk on his lips as he began experimenting.

Pleased, Ye Xiu ruffled Xiu’er’s hair and stood up. “I’ll go set the table,” he announced.

“Wait, I’ll go with you!” Muqiu hurriedly logged out and skipped after the older Ye, nearly tripping in his haste if it weren’t for his quick grab at Ye Xiu’s arm. He smiled sheepishly at the other’s raised brow, cleared his throat and nonchalantly asked, “What do you think my sisters made for lunch?”

“Smells like noodle soup.” Ye Xiu didn’t attempt to reclaim his arm as they walked to the kitchen.

Muqiu hummed. He wasn’t actually curious. Rather, he was distracted after seeing Ye Xiu play One Leaf Heralds Autumn again and was recalling that night he’d seen the other play listlessly. “…Xiu?”

“Mm?” Ye Xiu acknowledged as he peered into the steaming pot on the stove. “I was right: noodle soup,” he informed before moving on to grab bowls and utensils from the cupboards and drawers.

“…do you want to play a Battle Mage instead?” Muqiu inquired.

Ye Xiu stilled briefly then brought the bowls and utensils over to the dining table. “Why suddenly?”

"Just..." Muqiu fidgeted. He had asked out of impulse but now that the question was returned to him, he belatedly realized how unqualified he was to ask his question. “I was so excited that Lord Grim was viable again and that, with your years of experience, you… Xiu, I didn’t give you a choice…”

“Why are you making that face?” Ye Xiu brushed stray orange hair away from the other’s face with gentle fingers. “Do you remember, I gave you something after you handed me Lord Grim. I gave you my copy. Because I planned on using Lord Grim.” He smiled. “Muqiu, you don’t have to worry about this. You have always listened to me. If I didn’t want to do something, wouldn’t you agree with me?”

Muqiu was shocked to stillness at the other’s sincerity and also incredibly touched, relieved. “Yes,” he murmured with equal earnest, leaning in to bump his head on a thin shoulder. “…are you sure?”

“I’m always sure,” Ye Xiu boasted and moved away before seeming to think twice and pointing at the pot. “You bring the food to the table, I’ll get the trivet,” he instructed without a hint of shame.

Rolling his eyes, Muqiu went to grab the pot as ordered and said on the way, “I have an idea for a new Battle Lance… Xiu’er and I can also play Lord Grim. So if at any time you change your mind…”

“Am I the kind of person who changes their mind?” Ye Xiu huffed and placed the trivet down in time for the pot to be placed atop it. “I’ve played One Autumn Leaf on stage for seven years already. It’s time I created a new legacy in Glory,” he said. “Anyway, you and Xiu’er will have your chances to play Lord Grim when I retire after season 10. If I’m not wrong, there should be sixteen years to go.”

“Sixteen years?” Muqiu echoed. “And what do you mean, what season is it now?” he asked alertly.

“Unspecialized will lose its advantage when Glory updates to level 95,” Ye Xiu explained. “The level 75 update should happen next year so if they continue to update every three years then… sixteen.”

Noticing that his second question had gone ignored, Muqiu was not calm. “Xiu, when is season 10?”

“It’s…” Ye Xiu stalled by returning to the kitchen and retrieving cups from the sink. “Season 8 now.”

Woosh! It sounded like wind just blew past Muqiu’s ears. Two seasons. They only have two seasons to play together. Only one in the Pro-League. He shook his head and hoarsely questioned, “Why?”

“I’ve been away for a very long time. I should go back home,” Ye Xiu said as he arranged the cups.

“That’s not all, is it?” Xiu’er walked into the dining room with a piercing gaze. “Lord Grim’s taxing.”

Ye Xiu tilted his head in agreement yet he also added, “With both of you around, I won’t be tired.”

“But it still takes a toll on you. I should have noticed and you should’ve said something. You know, I don’t mind playing Lord Grim. Instead of creating a new legacy for yourself, why not leave it to me?”

Looking a bit exasperated, Ye Xiu wondered, “How long have you been listening in?”

Xiu’er shrugged carelessly. “Well, long enough. Are we swapping?” he prodded.

“Playing a Battle Mage is also tiring and I still need to go back home,” Ye Xiu sighed.

“We always knew we have to go back but why bother going so early? Ye Qiu is handling the business just fine. Do you think he needs you?” Xiu’er was blunt. “Don’t retire so soon. Let’s switch accounts.”

“I don’t know what’s going on with your family,” Muqiu began hesitantly. “But can’t you ask Ye Qiu first if he needs you back immediately? I really… Xiu, I want to play with you longer,” he murmured.

Ye Xiu looked between the two of them, his expression torn. “It’s not about Ye Qiu –,”

“Of course, it’s about Ye Qiu,” Xiu’er mercilessly interrupted.

“…” Ye Xiu was silent for a moment. “How many years?” he queried.

“Four,” Muqiu latched on with the manner of a haggler. “Four years in the Pro-League.”

Ye Xiu let out an involuntary chuckle and said, “So five years? I’ll be thirty-one.”

“Perfect age for retirement!” Muqiu declared. “Then, it’s decided; let’s apologize to Ye Qiu.”

“…” Ye Xiu looked a bit speechless but then he shook his head and smiled. “Well, okay,” he agreed.

Muqiu grinned brilliantly and later honestly sent Ye Qiu an apology for delaying Ye Xiu’s return.

*~*~*~*

Ever since their first gambling match with Team Tiny Herb, Muqiu and Xiu’er unitedly dove into researching and studying all the pro-teams on top of familiarizing themselves with Glory’s updates. But they were really stretched thin between levelling, record-breaking, dueling, experimenting and teaching as well. Not to mention, Team Tiny Herb kept returning which exhausted Muqiu greatly.

Although those pro-players were not as skilled as Muqiu and Xiu’er at the low-levels, their years of experience playing in the Pro-League was not something easily brushed off. So, while it was always great to earn more materials, because the gambling matches became consecutively harder, Muqiu was about to refuse another appointment when Team Tiny Herb lost an official match and withdrew.

Sighing in relief, Muqiu chatted with Plantago Seed a little more then closed the private chat window and leaned back on his chair. “It’s great, we also cleared Herb Garden’s warehouse,” he disclosed smugly.

Xiu’er snorted and flexed his fingers. “Suddenly, we have so much free time,” he tsk’ed.

“Free time…” Muqiu mumbled aggrievedly. He and Xiu’er had conflicting thoughts on this issue since Xiu’er enjoyed PK’ing far more than levelling and running dungeons despite understanding the need to do so and enjoyed the gambling matches as a welcome break whereas Muqiu was just worn out.

As he was thinking about this, Glory’s unobstructed scenery showed some movement on the screen and Autumn Tree’s viewpoint was shifted. “Someone’s coming,” he alerted the party and moved his mouse to check their new arrival’s profile data. “One Inch Ash, Ghostblade. No guild. They’re alone.”

“Ghostblade?” Xiu’er had One Leaf Heralds Autumn turn to look. “Oh, this must be the Assassin from Tiny Herb. He actually came,” he chuckled and sent out a small bubble with the text, “Qiao Yifan?”

The Ghostblade hurried over and a shy voice confirmed, “Ah, yes… I’m Qiao Yifan…”

“Hello, hello,” Muqiu greeted generously. “Did you buy your account? Why choose level 32?”

“Oh, it’s a new account… I had it levelled to match yours. Uhm, if it’s okay, can I play with you?”

“Well, that’s why you’re here, right? To ask for guidance,” Xiu’er pointed out bluntly.

Muqiu pitied the shy player but it was better to get used to the frankness sooner rather than later.

“A Phantom Demon’s true practice starts at level 40,” Ye Xiu said as Lord Grim strolled over, sparing the Ghostblade from replying. “Have you studied Team Void’s matches? Phantom Demon theories? One Leaf Heralds Autumn said you read the field well and you have a good intuition for coordinating so you should look into how Li Xuan does the same. All great Phantom Demons are great supports.”

“O-oh!” Qiao Yifan acknowledged stutteringly. “Understood…” One Inch Ash shifted uneasily.

“Can we call you Yifan?” Muqiu inquired brightly, wanting to cheer up the shy player.

“How did you… know my name?” Qiao Yifan wondered belatedly. “And, um, anything… is okay…”

“We checked Team Tiny Herb’s roster,” Xiu’er revealed matter-of-factly.

Yifan let out a soft noise. “Oh… how should I call you? Seniors?” he asked back.

“…” A text bubble of ellipses appeared above One Leaf Heralds Autumn. “Do I sound old to you?”

Muqiu laughed. “Muqiu or Autumn Tree, both are okay,” he stated with a system hand shake. “By the way, the others are training together somewhere else today so – next time, we’ll introduce you.”

“You can call me Autumn,” Xiu’er offered next with a system hand shake too. “Leave out the senior.”

“Same! You’re only younger than us by one or two years, after all. It’s nothing,” Muqiu seconded.

Right after, Ye Xiu said, “I don’t mind being called senior but you can just call me Lord Grim.”

“Well, you’re used to it,” Xiu’er stabbed his older self in the back. “You came to join us?” he cued.

[Lord Grim] poked [One Leaf Heralds Autumn] viciously.

Muqiu snorted but didn’t say anything so that Yifan wouldn’t feel awkward replying to Xiu’er. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be as the aptly-dubbed ‘adopted puppies’ aka Seven Field, Drifting Water, Sunset Cloud and Sleeping Moon made a commotion at the back, shouting, “We’re being surrounded!!!”

Autumn Tree rotated and Muqiu saw that rather than being surrounded, they were surrounded. No less than twenty-four players enclosed them in a tight circle formation. But thankfully, judging by the numbers, it wasn’t another pro-team out to get them or else it would be worrisome to be trapped as their adopted puppies’ warning had come far too late for them to easily slip out of the entrapment.

“Twenty-four. Must be one of the guilds,” Xiu’er mused. “But which one would... ah, unless…”

Ye Xiu sighed, his exhale audible in the game. “It’s too early for any of the guilds to come after us.”

A taunting emoji materialised above One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Xiu’er called, “Yifan, with me.”

“Eh?” Yifan was obviously surprised but One Inch Ash followed One Leaf Heralds Autumn promptly.

“…” Muqiu also had an inkling which guild was responsible for this and was in no mood. He turned to the puppies and said, “Attack them fiercely. Watch your health. Xi – Lord Grim, stay with me.”

“Listen to you,” Ye Xiu agreed naturally and Lord Grim’s umbrella weapon switched to its gun form.

Together, the two planted their characters’ feet firmly in position and began raining down bullets, explosives and so on to disrupt their enemies as well as protect their party’s backs. A few would slip through the puppies every now and again but they were instantly repelled back in One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s direction where they were unceremoniously thrown into an Ice Boundary with the others.

Within two minutes, the rogue group had been decimated and their party was left standing in a field of fading corpses. One Leaf Heralds Autumn and One Inch Ash reunited with Autumn Tree and Lord Grim while the puppies celebrated happily with minimal movement, careful not to attract monsters since their health bars were currently at red and their party did not have either a Cleric or Paladin.

“X – Lord Grim…” Muqiu named hesitantly, taking a surreptitious peak at Ye Xiu behind him. He met a calm golden gaze, squeaked in surprise and faced his monitor again. “Uh, did they say anything?”

“Nothing important, they’re from a dead guild,” Xiu’er said maliciously without inflection.

Muqiu pressed his lips together to muffle his laugh though there was also a hint of bitterness mixed in with his unkind amusement. He cleared his throat and tried to clear his heart too; this sort of gray person was not who he was! “Oh, then maybe they wanted to be popular for killing us. It’s difficult.”

“Yes, it’s difficult,” Ye Xiu agreed neutrally. “Well, persistence can be considered a good quality…”

“Uhm, didn’t they say they’re from Excellent Dynasty?” the sweet and innocent Yifan was confused.

“Oh, did they?” Xiu’er feigned ignorance with only a touch of apathy. Then, he swallowed hard and visibly resisted (at least in Muqiu’s eyes who sat next to the youngest Ye) from saying anything else against Excellent Dynasty with his following words, “I guess we should expect this from all guilds…”

Yifan was obviously surprised and blurted out, “I thought it’s because Senior Ye – I… I mean… uhm…”

“Ho? What’s that?” Muqiu teased. “Did your Captain buy into the rumor that Ye Xiu – no, it’s God Ye, right? That God Ye and Goddess Su are in this team so he asked his pro-players to hunt us down?”

Lord Grim twitched and it was probable that Ye Xiu was a bit disgusted to hear Muqiu call him ‘God’.

“Uh…” Yifan seemed to struggle with himself however he eventually divulged, “Captain said there was an 80% chance that God Ye and Goddess Su were involved in this team… Oh. But you don’t have to tell me! I promise I’m not here because of that and I won’t tell anyone anything! I just want to –,”

“Alright, don’t panic, Yifan,” Ye Xiu soothed and Muqiu followed up comfortingly, “We believe you.”

“Well, since you want us to guide you, we need to match our schedules first,” Xiu’er addressed.

“…” Yifan didn’t speak for a few seconds, seemingly waiting for Xiu’er, Muqiu or Ye Xiu to dictate the schedule, before getting flustered upon realizing they were waiting on him and rushed out, “I’m free after training at 3pm until nighttime. Uh, but sometimes Captain extends training until 4 or 5pm…”

“That’s fine, we’ll be online,” Muqiu had Autumn Tree pat One Inch Ash on the head then sent over a friend request. “When you come online, just send me a message and I’ll tell you our coordinates.”

“Right, here, add me,” Xiu’er said whilst presumably sending a friend request too.

Muqiu automatically assumed that Ye Xiu quietly did the same. “Do you still have time now?”

“Yes! I have time, sen – uh, Muqiu…” Yifan corrected himself embarrassedly.

Not minding the trip, Muqiu moved on and said, “Okay. You’re familiar with One Wave Rush?”

“Uhm… One Wave Push?” Yifan tentatively tried to clarify. “I’m familiar…”

“…well, it makes sense you don’t know One Wave Rush; not viable in the pro scene,” Xiu’er mused.

“Oh, I guess so,” Muqiu agreed. “Okay, no problem. We’ll demonstrate it for you,” he assured.

“Wait.” Lord Grim pointed at the puppies squatting on the side. “What about them?”

 Seven Field saw this and rushed to shout, “Don’t worry about us, brother expert! We’ll watch!”

“That’s no good, right?” Muqiu chuckled. He had Autumn Tree do a 360 degree turn then began directing the puppies to stand at certain coordinates. “Attack from there and you should be fine.”

One Leaf Heralds Autumn stepped forward. “Shall we?”

“Watch carefully and join us whenever you’re ready,” Ye Xiu directed.

A thumbs up emoji popped up above One Inch Ash. “Yes, senior!”

Muqiu invited Yifan to their party then he and Xiu’er went off to pulls monsters together while Ye Xiu stayed behind to explain things. Being a pro-player, it didn’t take long for One Inch Ash to join in and they gathered around 30 monsters to bring back. Once there, Lord Grim and the puppies helped output damage. They repeated this for the rest of the afternoon and their levelling rate soared high.

When Ye Xiu and Xiu’er both hit level 33, they exited the party and carefully shifted the aggro over to Muqiu and the others before falling back to purely catching strays and throwing them in the pile; because the Ye duo were booked to break the Line Canyon dungeon record tomorrow and the level limit was 33. This quite happily meant that Yifan was able to intensely practice his Ghostblade skills.

Gradually, the puppies began getting restless from the punishing pace which they were likely tired of and bored by in equal measures so they gossiped with Yifan who was too kind to refuse. Gushing about how many records Muqiu and the others held in the leaderboards, how many wild BOSS kills they were responsible for (including the wild BOSS they helped Blue Brook hunt that day) and more.

As Muqiu and Xiu’er came from the past where the Pro-League had yet to begin, they still held some pride over their achievements – though only a little since their success were par for the course. But, through Ye Xiu, the two were also mutually aware that these sorts of things weren’t of any regard to the pro-players who had left Glory as a game behind in lieu of the Pro-League’s flashy world of PvP.

So, Muqiu automatically assumed Yifan didn’t care about the puppies’ chatter. However, he didn’t think to stop it because he wasn’t humble enough to not enjoy being praised within hearing range. In fact, he liked it very much and he was certain Xiu’er did too; not that the other would ever admit it, of course. And so, despite the mild disturbance, their day was productive and ended pleasantly.

*~*~*~*

Line Canyon gave off a feeling of exclusivity at this time with the Club-backed guild elites and experts nearly dominating the area if it only weren’t for the anomalous presence of the server-wide dubbed, ‘Autumn Empire’. As a member of the said publicly-crowned team, Muqiu was having a great laugh reading all about the (apparently) hot topic on a post in the tenth district section of Glory’s forum.

In the early days, Autumn Tree and One Autumn Leaf had been extremely popular as well and were given many titles and labels; such as ‘Battle God’ and ‘Gun God’, ‘Autumn Duo’, ‘Arena Demons’, ‘Twin Devils in the Wind’ and much more. Therefore, it didn’t surprise him that their team earned themselves a name and he understood why ‘Autumn’ was in it but where did ‘Empire’ come from?

Perhaps it was because of ‘Lord Grim’? No other character name in their team had any sort of royal or commanding meaning attached to it although he was sure the poetic inspiration wasn’t lost to the players. Otherwise… well, the only other thing he could think of was that everyone bought into the rumor that Ye Xiu and Mucheng were in the team and thought an empire fitted more than a dynasty.

Upon inadvertently reminding himself of a tainted past, his mood soured a bit before recovering.

Muqiu then concluded that regardless of why they were named, ‘Autumn Empire’, he was going to have to call Ye Xiu a Lord at least once. Would the other be disgusted like when he’d called Ye Xiu a God? He grinned, allowing himself a short moment before he moved onto the next post which had him worried because in it, for all to see, was an organized list of their team's collated achievements.

It would’ve been less worrisome had the poster not included those their names weren’t listed in. For example, the wild BOSS kills they assisted with and that the guilds had taken full credit for. But they were listed and soon the entire tenth district would know of these, damaging the reputations of the guilds who would be pressured to break dungeon records on their own to show off their strengths.

The existence of this post would effectively accelerate the end of their mercenary days.

“Congratulations to…” an announcement came through together with the release of fireworks.

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Blue Brook players Blue River, Flying Light, So
Not So, Willow Tree and Cloud Listening Blade for breaking Line
Canyon’s clear record. Time: 35:56:38

Muqiu let out a huff upon seeing Blue Brook Guild’s record. And so it begins, he thought.

The guilds were already moving on from hiring them and, probably, his ongoing deal with Tyrannical Ambition today was their final dungeon hire. He closed the forum window with a sigh. They were too eye-catching, it couldn’t be helped. And anyway, so what if breaking dungeon records was no longer possible? So long as they were careful to not be seen, wild BOSS hunts were still on the table!

Yesterday, they helped Blue Brook take Cliff Ronin Alpine’s first kill and so the next wild BOSS was…

Fire Witch Cashew in Fire Forest, the next area after Line Canyon with a level 34-36 difficulty.

It would be a three-level suppression for the Club-backed guilds whose elites had reached level 33 yesterday the same as Ye Xiu and Xiu’er. Mucheng and Yucheng had hit 33 too earlier while Muqiu himself was happily at level 34. Hm… with an average range of 33, the entire ‘Autumn Empire’ plus the players of whichever guild had hired them, it should take less than two hours to finish the hunt.

Not bad! He was definitely selling Fire Witch Cashew’s first kill to whoever messaged him next.

“Congratulations to…” another record was announced and was accompanied by fireworks.

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Tyrannical Ambition players Salty Not Sweet,
Purgatory, Fire Fist, One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim for
breaking Line Canyon’s clear record. Time: 29:21:33

Almost a whole five minutes better than Blue Brook’s record!

“Nice!” Muqiu praised automatically, not addressing anyone in particular, then turned to Cold Night next to him. “How about it?” he prompted and received a trade request along with a babble of awe which he ignored in lieu of thoroughly double-checking the materials list before accepting the trade.

“Too good! That record is really too good!” Cold Night was continuing to gush when indignant yelling from Blue Brook’s party cut through the murmuring din of the field, ruining the relative tranquility.

“Impossible! Cheat! Which of you are One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim?” they demanded.

Muqiu quickly closed his storage window and controlled Autumn Tree to have a closer look at which player was doing the shouting. The agitated character was easy to spot as they had already daringly approached Ye Xiu and Xiu’er; ‘Cloud Listening Blade’, a Blade Master like Blue River was obviously another Troubling Rain fan going by the way they were recklessly spouting their mouth off for a PK.

It was unclear what sort of position this clown had in Blue Brook but it was clear they weren’t the main guild leader of Blue Brook which meant the one with the highest authority was most certainly the tenth district guild leader, Blue River. Yet Blue River wasn’t doing anything to stop the situation and this disappointed Muqiu greatly. He was definitely punishing Blue Brook for this transgression.

As unhappy as Muqiu was though, he wasn’t about to get involved either and it wasn’t solely due to the rare materials Autumn Tree was carrying. For a single idiot, there was no need for three of them to get involved. In fact, one of them was more than enough. But Cloud Listening Blade evidently didn’t think so and wasn’t satisfied with the hollering and confrontation. No, the idiot also attacked.

Not bothering to be polite, Muqiu laughed out loud directly into his mic and let everyone hear.

It was just a shame the entertaining show was cut short and Cloud Listening Blade didn’t experience a full trashing as the clown was finally held back by another Blue Brook player. Flying Light pushed Cloud Listening Blade away to the Blue Brook party then walked over to One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim. “Changing Spring, Blue Brook Guild leader in the Heavenly Domain,” he introduced.

Muqiu blinked in surprise. Well, no wonder Blue River didn’t do anything. However, that the main guild leader was present and chose to wait before doing anything provoked him. Were they being tested or was it pure negligence? Either way, he was even more determined to not let Blue Brook off without punishment. A public PK with Cloud Listening Blade for example would be a wonderful idea.

“It must be hard to come all this way…” ‘For nothing’ was left unsaid but heavily implied by Ye Xiu.

Changing Spring didn’t shy away from this truth and bluntly replied, “Because of you.”

At the same time, Cloud Listening Blade came forward again. “Let’s PK! 1v1!” he demanded.

“PK?” One Leaf Heralds Autumn lazily twirled its Battle Lance. “We only accept gambling matches.”

“Gambling..? You want materials for PKs too?!” Blue River’s familiar voice squawked in outrage.

Muqiu snickered unkindly and thought that the poor guy sounded so stressed that it was hilarious.

Brazen as ever, Cloud Listening Blade arrogantly agreed, claiming, “Sure, I’ll win anyway! 1v1!”

Finally, Changing Spring couldn’t take it anymore. “Don’t act so hastily!” he reprimanded.

“…it’s too late,” Blue River was glum and miserable. “This idiot’s messaging in the public chat.”

“Seriously?” Xiu’er, in perfect contrast, was utterly delighted and released a clapping emoji.

“Guild leader, the server’s talking about it. What do we do?” Blue River wondered with a sigh.

“Accept,” Changing Spring sighed as well. “We’ll do the gambling match. Good?” he verified.

“Good. Are we doing two 1v1s with each of us or can he handle only one of us?” Xiu’er prodded.

“Both of you!” Cloud Listening Blade screamed and swiped the public chat again to announce this.

Changing Spring didn’t chastise anymore but spoke through gritted teeth, “Then, both of you.”

“You want us both to defeat him? How cruel!” Xiu’er crowed excitedly as if he wasn’t the instigator.

“Alright, come ‘meet us next door’,” Ye Xiu said, casual as you please, and with that vague direction, Lord Grim and One Leaf Heralds Autumn went off with Autumn Tree following after the two shortly.

Muqiu grinned widely in amusement as he imagined Blue Brook’s reaction to Ye Xiu’s instruction.

*~*~*~*

At Club Blue Rain, Liang Yichun or Changing Spring, the main guild leader of Blue Brook, rushed to the training room. It was thankfully around the time the team typically finished up or else he would feel pressured on top of being incredibly nervous when he knocked on the door. “Excuse me, it’s –,”

The door swung open in record time and revealed a serenely smiling Captain Yu. “Senior Chun!”

“Ah, hello!” Changing Spring’s heart galloped wildly. “I hope I’m not interrupting…”

Captain Yu shook his head and stepped back to allow entry to the training room. “How are you?”

“Uhm, I’m – oh, it’s been busy. There are a lot of experts in the new server,” Changing Spring didn’t get lost in the polite small talk and quickly remembered why he’d visited the team in the first place.

“Experts? New server? Hey! Maybe there’s a Battle Mage. It could be –,” Vice-Captain Huang began.

“Shaotian,” Captain Yu interrupted sternly then continued gently, “You were saying, Senior Chun?”

Changing Spring was awed seeing the interact but didn’t lose focus. “The new server has a group of five experts. A Battle Mage, Unspecialized, Sharpshooter and two Launchers. Two players joined them later: a Striker and Brawler. All the low-leveled dungeon records in the server are set by them.”

“Battle Mage and Launcher!” Vice-Captain Huang caught onto these two Classes excitedly.

Meanwhile, Captain Yu stayed calm. “Do you have any recordings we can study?” he asked.

“Yes!” Changing Spring showed the sweaty USB he was holding and handed it over. “Uhm, right now, one of our players is in the arena battling the Battle Mage and Unspecialized. Do you want to… see?”

“Duelling? Who’s dueling them? Are they in the building?” Vice-Captain Huang demanded.

Changing Spring nodded. For the dungeon record attempt in the tenth server, he had asked all the players including the only non-employed player, Poplar Beach, to visit the Club today for easier use of the guild’s levelled accounts. He was about to inform Vice-Captain Huang where Poplar Beach was located when the Sword Saint darted out of the room in a hurry. Stunned, he turned to Captain Yu.

“Did you bring an account card with you, Senior Chun? I’d like to take a look at the arena duel.”

“Oh! Yes, yes,” Changing Spring hurriedly pulled out his account card and awkwardly gestured to a computer. When he received a nod, he hastened over and slid the card into the slot then entered the correct arena. The first fight was about to end and it wasn’t in Blue Brook’s favor. In fact, Poplar Beach’s temporary account, Cloud Listening Blade, was struggling like a salted fish against Lord Grim.

He didn’t dare look at Captain Yu’s face, struggling enough as he was just thinking about how badly this duel would affect Blue Brook Guild’s pioneering in the tenth server. Still, pained as he was about Blue River’s added struggle and the losses they would garner from this spectacle, he was happy that it was Cloud Listening Blade that was being beaten up and not Poplar Beach or this would be worse.

“Is this the Battle Mage?” Captain Yu inquired politely.

Changing Spring eyed Lord Grim on the screen and noted that the Unspecialized player was only using the weird weapon’s Battle Lance form. “No, Captain Yu. This is the Unspeciallized but they – the tenth server guild leader mentioned Lord Grim likes to use their weapon’s Battle Lance form.”

“Hm,” Captain Yu hummed. “And the next player… One Leaf Heralds Autumn is the Battle Mage.”

“Yes, Captain.” Changing Spring thought this answer was too sparse and decided to add on, “One Leaf Heralds Autumn is almost always the party leader for their group. He sounds like a young boy.”

Captain Yu tapped his slender fingers on the table. “Young… Is there only one leader?”

“Uhm, in the group, the Sharpshooter, Autumn Tree, is the one who talks to the guilds. He might be the same age as One Leaf Heralds Autumn,” Changing Spring recalled. “They often take command in dungeons runs and BOSS hunts but Lord Grim sometimes takes over. He’s older than the other two.”

“And the two Launchers?” Captain Yu prompted.

“They don’t usually interact with players outside of their group. We just know one is younger and seems to be new to Glory,” Changing Spring said. “The other is older and supports the other three.”

Captain Yu sighed lightly. “An Unspecialized, huh?” he mused lowly then fell quiet.

Sensing that the other’s attention was fully on the duel, Changing Spring concentrated on the match too. The duel against Lord Grim had already ended and the fight with One Leaf Heralds Autumn was halfway. Heart in his throat, he checked the arena log and wished he hadn’t when he saw that Cloud Listening Blade had lost miserably to Lord Grim ending at 92% health. He closed the window, aghast.

But it was then that he noticed something strange about Cloud Listening Blade. The playstyle was different to how Poplar Beach usually played and – Vice-Captain Huang!!! Vice-Captain Huang must have found Poplar Beach and taken over. He cheered. However, his joy didn’t last because… why did it seem like Cloud Listening Blade was still losing?! How could Vice-Captain Huang be losing???

What kind of monstrous experts were in that group and where had they even come from?

“One Leaf Heralds Autumn playstyle… it is similar to One Autumn Leaf’s,” Captain Yu murmured.

Changing Spring felt his insides freeze. “God Ye?” But –, “he sounds too young.”

“Let’s wait for Shaotian to come back, Senior Chun,” Captain Yu said. “He can confirm this for us.”

A few minutes later, Vice-Captain Huang returned with a serious frown. He had lost against One Leaf Heralds Autumn, the switch with Poplar Beach at Cloud Listening Blade’s 47% health too much of a hurdle, a handicap, to turn the game around. It wasn’t bad though and hadn’t been a shameful loss like Poplar Beach’s against Lord Grim; One Leaf Heralds Autumn at least had been left at 69% health.

“Shaotian, did you find out who it was?” Captain Yu asked this question immediately.

Vice-Captain Huang understood and shook his head. “It’s not old Ye but the kid’s very strong.”

“Then,” Captain Yu’s lips pursed and his smile dimmed slightly, “we may have a problem.”

*~*~*~*

Back in the study, Ye Xiu and Xiu’er were discussing their impromptu Blue Rain guest.

A smirking Ye Xiu informed, “The second player was Huang Shaotian. Troubling Rain.”

“…Oh, that kid,” Xiu’er grimaced. “He’s even more talkative than I remember. Since it’s him, he should come back to bother us later and it won’t be fun if he recognizes you easily… let’s swap?”

“If you want,” Ye Xiu pulled out his account card and switched it out for the younger’s. Then, with a teasing lilt to his tone, tacked on, “Better he bothers you than me.” He sat back smugly as One Leaf Heralds Autumn loaded into Glory and ignored the doleful gaze Xiu’er casted over upon realization.

“Damn,” Xiu’er muttered.

*~*~*~*

Fire Forest, one of Glory’s four largest forests was home to the wild BOSS Fire Witch Cashew. With a level of 34-36, the area was so scarcely populated by players that it made the Line Canyon look fit to bursting in comparison. This made the tenth district famous Autumn Empire group’s job of keeping the newly-spawned wild BOSS a secret trouble-free and allowed their new client plenty of freedom.

Misty Castle’s guild elites were divided into two groups. One, comprised of long-rangers, were with the Autumn Empire group and dealt DPS to the wild BOSS. The second, made up of close-rangers, tracked the elites of other guilds in the area and reported back. Should no accident happen, this job would be finished within the next ten or so minutes – naturally, however, this was when he arrived.

“LORD GRIM!!!!” Huang Shaotian’s familiar, identifiable voice echoed wildly in the forest.

Ye Xiu rolled his eyes in reflex. He wondered briefly whether Huang Shaotian had gone through the entire Line Canyon land shouting his character’s name before coming to this area or if Yu Wenzhou had sped up the process. But with Shaotian yelling with abandon, the latter seemed rather unlikely.

Well, it wasn’t his business and the only problem Shaotian could have posed to him was whether or not Blue Brook’s guild elites had followed along. Yet even that no longer applied as the wild BOSS was currently at 17% and there was no more need to evade the other guilds so carefully since it was better to just kill Fire Witch Cashew as soon as possible. Nevertheless, Shaotian couldn’t be ignored.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Steamed Bun, Soft Mist, follow Lord Grim.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Hunt down the noisy player. Work together.

The wording wasn’t exact but Ye Xiu couldn’t be bothered to be more specific when Xiu’er would be around to supervise Steamed Bun and Tang Rou anyway. His intention was for the latter two to work as a duo. Although their personalities didn’t seem to match, learning to play Glory together gave the two a natural understanding of each other’s playstyles so they could cooperate almost thoughtlessly.

Of course, this didn’t mean that their coordination was effortless. It was just that there were times wherein they matched each other flawlessly without having any intention to do so. A habit born from growing into their Classes together much like how he and Muqiu had in the past. Should their ability to work side by side be nurtured properly, they could very well become a formidable duo.

[Party] Steamed Bun Invasion: PK?

[Party] Soft Mist: Is he good?

[Party] Lord Grim: Leave the party and let’s go.

…Steamed Bun and Tang Rou’s united passion for PK was definitely a match made in heaven though.

Player Lord Grim has left the party.

Player Soft Mist has left the pary.

Player Steamed Bun Invasion has…

Once the three left, Ye Xiu had Mucheng forcibly take the wild BOSS’ aggro and change its trajectory to a straight line by running in front. This put less pressure on Misty Castle’s guild elites and Yucheng who had needed to split their attention between maneuvering their characters through the uneven terrain and releasing skills, freeing them up to increase overall DPS output and get closer to first kill.

14%...

Ye Xiu controlled One Leaf Heralds Autumn to run alongside Cleansing Mist then turn around to run backwards using the special technique of glancing at Mucheng’s viewpoint to help him along. While this move might look incredible to everyone else’s eyes, and certainly there were a few gasps, being flashy was never Ye Xiu’s purpose. No, it was just easier to interrupt the wild BOSS in this position.

11%...

One Leaf Heralds Autumn swung its sturdy orange Battle Lance weapon.

10%!

Fire Witch Cashew glowed red and raised its long staff, fire burning at its tip when – clang!

9%...

The two weapons clashed and Fire Witch Cashew’s attack was redirected to the trees which instantly caught fire. During this, skills kept coming from behind and the wild BOSS continued to bleed rapidly.

4%...

Ping!

Ye Xiu received a private message at this time and he casually checked it. As his operation remained smooth as ever, no one aside from Mucheng who sat beside him in the study noticed that he was engaged in something else whilst he relentlessly and masterfully interrupted the wild BOSS’ attacks.

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Their coordination has improved from yesterday.

Ye Xiu glanced at the wild BOSS’ 2% health and leisurely replied: Take your time.

*~*~*~*

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Misty Castle has completed the Fire Witch
Cashew’s first kill!

The Three Great Guilds’ tenth district leaders all coughed blood at the announcement. For all that they and the other Club guilds had begun to scout the Fire Forest for the wild BOSS, it was too early for any of them to have seriously worried over Fire Witch Cashew’s first kill what with the guild elites having just reached level 33 a few days ago. But who would have thought it would be over this fast?

Everyone could see Misty Castle’s guild name on the leaderboard yet everyone also knew that they did not accomplish this feat on their own. This was a clear declaration from Autumn Empire telling them that while the group could not be hired for dungeon runs anymore, they were still capable of monopolizing wild BOSSes without the guilds knowing what they were doing regardless of patrols.

It was, frankly, an utterly terrifying statement. The sheer level of tactical skill and Glory knowledge required to not only successfully lead a group of players but also kill a wild BOSS without alerting anyone nor arousing any suspicion was beyond what the guild elites were capable of. They could only bow down in worship at the show of impressive strength normally associated with pro-players.

Chapter Text

=Huang Shaotian=

Huang Shaotian: HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY PKPKPKPKPKPKPK WITH MEEEEE!!! OLD YE! OLD YE! OLD YE!

Huang Shaotian: WAIT WHAT THE FUCK?! YOU & SIS MU LEFT EXCELLENT ERA?! WHAT THE FUCK!!!

Huang Shaotian: OLD YE ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW!!! WHAT’S GOING ON!!! WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!?

Huang Shaotian: YOU CAN’T IGNORE ME FOREVER YOU BASTARD!!! OLD YE!!!! OLD YE!!!! OLD YE!!!!

Huang Shaotian: I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY!!! DON’T TEST ME! I CAN DO IT! DON’T THINK I WON’T!!!

(…)

Huang Shaotian: HERE IS MY DAILY QUESTION OF: WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU OLD YE?!!?!?!?!?!?!

(…)

Huang Shaotian: This isn’t funny anymore. You haven’t been online since you left EE. And you don’t even have a phone! And sis Mu’s not answering! What the fuck is going on? Are you two okay???

(…)

Huang Shaotian: Old Ye! I swear! I’m really worried! At least give me some sign you’re okay!!!!

Huang Shaotian: Old Ye!!!!!! If you need a place to go, come to Blue Rain!!! We’ll welcome you!!!!

(…)

Huang Shaotian: What the fuck happened in EE? Is that why you two left? What did they do?!?!?!

Huang Shaotian: If you need help just tell me! Money or whatever I’ll help you both! Just tell me!

Huang Shaotian: You can use the pro’s group chat! We kicked out everyone from EE!

(…)

Huang Shaotian: Old Ye… just tell me you’re alive. Please.

(…)

Huang Shaotian: What sort of friend are you!!! I’m worried here and you won’t even go online!

(…)

Huang Shaotian: What’s this I hear about the 10^th server? Is that you? Battle Mage and that name…

Huang Shaotian: Are you even trying to hide?

Huang Shaotian: What the fuck! It’s not you! Who the hell is this? How did you train them like this!

Huang Shaotian: It’s like there’s another Ye Xiu! What kind of curse are you spelling on us?!

(…)

Huang Shaotian: Hey hey hey hey I think I got it! You’re Lord Grim right? Hehehehehe just watch! I’m coming for you! You can’t escape this Sword Saint! I’m hunting you down!! I’m coming Old Ye!

Huang Shaotian: Old Ye!!! Did you two switch accounts??? What the fuck what the fuck what the  fuck!!!! Are you online after all??? Are you reading my messages? Old Ye!!! Reply to meeeeee!!!!

____

=Han Wenqing=

Han Wenqing: What are you planning?

(…)

Han Wenqing: What happened in Excellent Era?

(…)

Han Wenqing: Tyranny’s doors are open.

____

=Chu Yunxiu=

Chu Yunxiu: Where’s Mumu!!!

Chu Yunxiu: Answer me ):

(…)

Chu Yunxiu: At least tell me that Mumu’s okay!

(…)

Chu Yunxiu: I heard what happened!! Are both of you okay?

Chu Yunxiu: Call me if you need anything!!!

____

=Yu Wenzhou=

Yu Wenzhou: Hello Senior Ye

Yu Wenzhou: If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

____

=Wang Jiexi=

Wang Jiexi: Senior Ye, I hope you’re doing fine.

Wang Jiexi: Please reach out to me if you and/or Su Mucheng need anything.

____

=Zhou Zekai=

Zhou Zekai: Senior Ye…

Zhou Zekai: Are you okay?

*~*~*~*

(10^th Server) GLORY’S HOTTEST TOPICS:

• AUTUMN EMPIRE ACHIEVEMENTS TRACKER
• How to Level Quicker for Beginners
• Autumn Empire: Wild Sightings & Random Encounters
• Who Are God Ye & Goddess Su & Why Should I Care?
• Equipment and Materials: A Helpful Guide
• God Ye & Goddess Su: Members of Autumn Empire?
• Benefits of Joining a Guild
• Which Class Should I Choose? A Guide.

(…)

____

Glory Forums  ➡  Tenth Server  ➡  General  ➡  AUTUMN EMPIRE ACHIEVEMENTS TRACKER

[Enlightened Soul]

Green Forest, First Kill:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim.

Midnight Phantom Cat, First Kill:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim.

Spider Cave, First Clear:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim.

Spider Emperor, First Kill:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim.

Skeleton Graveyard, First Place:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim.

Blood Gunner Yagg, First Kill:

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain, Autumn Tree, Cleansing Mist, and Lord Grim.

Frost Forest, First Place (Tyrannical Ambition):

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Tree, Lord Grim, and Cleansing Mist.

White Witch, First Kill:

Lord Grim, Autumn Rain.

Boneyard, First Place (Blue Brook):

Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn.

Desolate Land, First Place (Samsara):

Cleansing Mist and Lord Grim.

Line Canyon, First Place (Tyrannical Ambition):

One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim.

*will be updated regularly!

____

[Boom Boom Town]

Let’s not forget they were involved with the Goblin Merchant first kill too!

[Not A Private Citizen]

I’m so in love with this group. If they go pro, I’m gonna follow them and be their fan.

[Lele Second Forever]

+ Cliff Ronin Alpine!!!!

Someone in the wild sightings and random encounters thread saw Cleansing Mist and Lord Grim help Blue Brook! So badass (▽ω▽) I’m falling in love with Lord Grim! ﾟ.+(〃ﾉωﾉ)ﾟ.+°

[sanxiuxoxo]

People keep guessing that God Ye and Goddess Su must be in the group but like… the leader’s Autumn Tree and he sounds really young? The Battle Mage sounds really young too… God Ye, if he’s in that group… would be Lord Grim, right? Then there’s like two Launchers. Lmao. No one’s seen them in action long enough to know which is Goddess Su. My bet’s on Cleansing Mist though since she’s the one with Lord Grim most!

[Pig Rider]

I don’t know them but I worship them (シ_ _ )シ

[White Night Tonight]

Okay, I get why everyone’s saying God Ye and Goddess Su are members of Autumn Empire but… let’s count the number of times they’ve helped each guild, shall we?

Tyrannical Ambition comes up at first place. Thoughts?

[Lightout]

No thoughts just worship them. #HailtheAutumnEmpire ＿|￣|● _

[Love You To Death]

#HailtheAutumnEmpire ＿|￣|● _ +1

[Fendi Man]

#HailtheAutumnEmpire ＿|￣|● _ +2

(…)

[My Goddess Lady Su]

Won’t say how I know but One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Tree, Lord Grim and Cleansing Mist ++++ their new buddies Soft Mist and Steamed Bun Invasion helped Misty Castle first kill Fire Witch Cashew!!!! (…I won’t be hunted down for revealing this, right? ^^;)

Chapter Text

(December)

The penthouse living room was the unlabeled territory of the Su sisters who were the only two in the household of five which used the area. Hence, it wasn’t unusual to see them occupying the space. What was unusual was seeing the lone male member of the Su family sat next to Mucheng on the couch and crowding over a phone with what looked like unholy mischief painting his wide grin.

Such an ominous sight made the Ye duo shiver in dread; a Muqiu excited by something outside of Glory never boded well but an excited Muqiu and Mucheng didn’t bode well for them in particular.

“I don’t like this,” Xiuer stated dully where he and Ye Xiu stood at a safe distance in the dining room.

Ye Xiu gazed at the pair in the living room and sighed, gravely yet also resignedly. “Mm,” he agreed.

Quickly catching onto the resignation, Xiuer glared at his older self sharply. “Then, let’s stop them!”

“Stop them,” Ye Xiu repeated in a deadpan and pointedly raised a brow with a mocking expression.

“……..” Xiuer wanted to take offense but he knew very well that he had no leg to stand on. Stop them? Well, he could stop Muqiu. But stop Mucheng? And – his eye twitched upon seeing Yucheng join her siblings and immediately turning excited as well – stop Yucheng? He could only laugh dryly.

“Whatever is making them so happy,” Ye Xiu began with the air of someone who understood he was cursing himself, “can’t be too terrible.” It was a beautiful thought however its beauty ended there.

Xiuer did not bother with the placating words. While the Su siblings being so happy was a wonderful thing and didn’t always end up against his and Ye Xiu’s favor, he could already tell through intuition that whatever the three Su siblings were planning would be absolute hell for him and his older self.

There was no logic in this thinking. Should he need to flower his reasoning though, he would simply say that his intuition was developed through years of experience as well as intimate understanding of, at least, Muqiu. His intuition, it could be argued, was merely his subconscious’ reading of Muqiu.

Not that any of this helped him and Ye Xiu when they were told what exactly was in store for them…

“Absolutely not!”

Being aware that resistance was futile and obediently rolling over were two entirely different things and Xiuer was not ready to give up his right of persuading the Su siblings on the off chance he’d win.

“Don’t be like that!” Muqiu coaxed. “Ye Qiu said your parents agreed to you openly showing your status as an esports player. Isn’t that a good thing? And think of how much fun we’ll have, Xiu’er!”

Xiuer and Ye Xiu were both taken aback. “They agreed?”

“Yes, they agreed! Ye Qiu said he got permission from your parents,” Muqiu confirmed emphatically.

The Ye duo looked at each other. Honestly speaking, neither of them had much opinion on modelling and were just too lazy to bother with something so troublesome which didn’t even affect their Glory. It was a surprise to them though that their parents were essentially acknowledging their profession as an esports player; provided that Ye Qiu wasn’t acting like a stranger and had lied about this issue.

With this new information, Xiuer was now similar to his older self and was willing to wholeheartedly indulge the Su siblings in this madness. But before that – “Muqiu, you know Qiu tricked you, right?”

Muqiu frowned cluelessly. “What do you mean? Everything Ye Qiu said made sense?” he wondered.

“Nevermind,” Xiuer sighed. This was quite possibly the first time he had witnessed the clever and street smart Muqiu thoroughly conned and, of course, it had to be by his twin. Ye Qiu had certainly played dirty however to poke at the financial rewards they would receive for modelling on top of the free marketing their new team would get plus eventually need to succeed in the Alliance long-term.

It was a mischievous scam though not a malicious one so he let it slide. Anyway, it would be good to re-enter the Ye family’s social circle with a solid status on his and Ye Xiu’s backs regardless of how they may be looked down upon by the older generations as the future lied with the younger ones.

Yes, Xiuer realized he was somehow led into thinking favorably of doing modelling and he sighed.

“Since we’re doing this,” Xiuer turned to his older self with a beseeching look, “Ye Qiu should too.”

A barely there smirk curled Ye Xiu’s lips upward and he, amidst the Su siblings happily chattering on their own, pulled out his phone to log into QQ. Chats flashed crazily until, with a swipe, they were quieted and the search function could be used. Another swipe and an empty chat box was pulled up.

Xiuer was a bit speechless. “…all this time, nothing?” he murmured with mild disbelief.

“Did you expect anything?” Ye Xiu returned with a vaguely bitter tone. “So, are you thinking twice?”

“Send the message and log out. We haven’t been in contact for how many years, she won’t refuse.”

“Well, your assessment is not bad,” Ye Xiu remarked nonchalantly and did as told, pocketing the phone afterwards. There were no waves to be seen on his facial expression and it was still smoothly calm but Xiu’er was also Ye Xiu therefore a visual indication was unnecessary; Ye Xiu was not calm.

Xiuer was not calm either. They had left their home and family for many reasons, least of which was their desire to play games. Born as the eldest son to a family steeped in history, prestige and wealth meant there was no leeway for him and Ye Xiu as children. Rather than being nurtured, they grew up under their iron-fisted father’s rule and with the burden of the Ye family’s future on their shoulders.

Meanwhile, their younger twin was saddled with equal workload but not with the same expectations and instead with an attitude closer to neglect. In fact, Ye Qiu was only regarded when punished and that was why his younger twin’s rebellious spirit was incredibly strong; developed out of a need to be noticed as opposed to Ye Xiu’s desire to be free from the pressures he was too young to carry.

But all this was before they turned fourteen and their mother began staying home for longer periods of time. With her around, Ye Qiu was finally given some positive attention however Ye Xiu and Xiuer merely had another person to give progress reports to. It was as unbalanced a relationship as it was with their father and, ultimately, the added pressure had the Ye duo leap at the chance to run away.

In a way, then, it was due to their mother that the Ye duo had left home hence why it felt awkward to interact with her. Unfortunately, it was also their mother who placed importance on having public presence in contrast to their father who believed strength spoke the loudest so she would be likelier to grant their request. (Like this, it was obvious which of their parents Xiuer and Ye Xiu took after.)

Next to the awkwardness though was genuine discomfort because their parents were their parents and there would always be that desire for acknowledgement from their parents in them. This was especially true for the Ye duo as their worth were judged based on how greatly they improved daily and what they accomplished weekly. And so, their parents’ opinion on their chosen pursuit was –

A sharp flick to the cheek startled Xiuer out of his thoughts and he passed a hand over his sour eyes.

“Don’t think about useless things,” Ye Xiu intoned blandly. “Time is precious and we should go level.”

The Su siblings heard the older Ye’s words over their hubbub and obligingly headed for the study, leaving Ye Xiu to squeeze Xiuer on the shoulder bracingly and saying, “Let’s go,” before moving too.

Xiuer cast a deep look at his older self’s back and smiled bitterly. Yes, there was no need to think of those things when time was precious and soon he would also need to think about returning home…

*~*~*~*

Recently, there was a stir in Glory’s forums.

Ye Xiu usually ignored gossip however Mucheng had brought the hot topic to his attention and he found himself curiously interested in ‘Concealed Light’. This player was from the tenth district and obviously new to Glory yet despite their noob status, they had boldly posted a series of dungeon guides which drew great anger and ridicule from the players due to its zero tolerance for mistakes.

To be concise, the guides were like a program code for NPCs written down in layman terms.

What caught Ye Xiu’s attention weren’t the guides though. No, he was intrigued by the player’s passion and intensity for the details of Glory. How Concealed Light had perfectly captured the bare bones of each skill, equipment and class with such technical precision that the guides could very well be used as a blueprint for a Glory encyclopedia. Practically very useless but impressively error-free.

In short, there was potential in Concealed Light being able to share the burden of research which was mainly handled by Muqiu alone. Having a meticulous helper around to assist studying the details and crunching numbers, would make Muqiu significantly freer to spend more time experimenting with materials and with the micro-manipulation of higher Gunner Class skills plus have more duels.

“It’s already easier for Muqiu,” Xiu’er muttered when Ye Xiu explained his thoughts. “Sharpshooter skills don’t need extra moves or have special effects or lag times. I’m still stuck familiarizing myself.”

Muqiu laughed. “That’s only for Sharpshooter! I’m practicing Launcher, Mechanic and Spitfire too.”

“And all the other Classes,” Xiu’er tacked on. “Don’t tell me you don’t plan on mastering them all?”

“I do but they’re long-term plans,” Muqiu snickered then abruptly sat upright. “Hey?” he alerted.

Ye Xiu glanced at his screen to see what caught the other’s attention and he immediately hid a smile.

“No… is that Steamed Bun and Concealed Light? Walking together?” Xiu’er said aloud in disbelief.

“It’s an interesting combination,” Ye Xiu mused with a straight face. It was more horrifying, really.

Xiu’er scoffed. “You mean traumatizing? For Concealed Light,” he clarified with an amused smirk.

Muqiu turned to face them and pointedly rolled his eyes then had Autumn Tree jog forward. “Hello!” he greeted cheerfully. “Thanks for coming, Concealed Light. Steamed Bun, you know each other?”

“I don’t know him!” Concealed Light claimed at once, sounding harried.

“Well, I’m right,” Xiu’er determined solemnly. “He’s traumatized.”

Mucheng and Yucheng tried to stifle their chuckles behind their hands.

“Brother, you’re so weird! What’s your zodiac sign?” Steamed Bun asked.

Shaking his head, Ye Xiu called, “Steamed Bun, come here!” He didn’t need the eccentric Brawler to chase away Muqiu’s aide candidate. “Did you and Soft Mist practice hitting monsters on the head?”

“Yes, boss!” Steamed Bun confirmed loudly. “We hit the monsters’ head! I’ll be an expert soon!”

“That kind of confidence is good too,” Ye Xiu encouraged. “Practice hitting the left knee today with Autumn Rain. Cleansing Mist will join you and you can ask her for help, okay?” he told the Brawler.

“Really? Okay!” Steamed Bun cheered. “I’ll go now, boss! Autumn Rain, let’s go!” he yelled.

“I’m coming! Wait for me!” Yucheng replied positively while Mucheng calmly said, “We’re going.”

Ye Xiu saw them off then re-joined the two with Concealed Light and caught Xiu’er verbally quizzing their newcomer. He rolled his eyes but didn’t fail to note Concealed Light’s impressive wealth of Glory knowledge. From a new player, this only meant that they had researched extensively and had the brain capacity to retain everything. When there was pause, he asked, “How intelligent are you?”

Concealed Light was caught off guard and stuttered, “I’m okay.”

“…he’s ‘okay’ so what am I?” Muqiu complained rhetorically.

“Ignore him,” Ye Xiu said. “How old are you, Concealed Light?”

“You can call me Luo Ji. I’m eighteen,” Concealed Light introduced.

Muqiu perked up. “Are you in college? What are you studying? Where do you study?”

“I’m a mathematics major student,” Luo Ji answered. “At Famous University in City T.”

“Are you a good student?” Ye Xiu inquired as he eyed Xiu’er looking up the university.

“Uh… good,” Luo Ji sounded awkward. “I’m in my second year,” he added.

Ye Xiu was surprised. This kid seemed to be around the same age as Muqiu and Xiu’er. Were college students so young these days? “How old are you? What age did you enter university?”

“Last year, I’m eighteen,” Luo Ji was calm now that the questions were straight-forward.

“Early admission to Famous University with a major in mathematics,” Muqiu summarized with a shake of his head and a nostalgic sigh. “Glory players these days are really amazing!” he exclaimed.

Indeed, in their casual search for a helper, they found a genius. Ye Xiu was very clear minded with his plan to bring Luo Ji in to help them. Anyway, this kid was researching on their own and it wasn’t as if they had led the promising youth astray. But, “It’s okay for you to play Glory? You still have time?”

Luo Ji responded seriously with, “The rules and logic in Glory is interesting.”

At the study, Muqiu pulled his headphones off and waited for the others to mute their mics before reasoning, “He’s going to research and study Glory even if we don’t invite him anyway. I’ll do it?”

Ye Xiu had thought the same already so he encouraged, “Yeah.”

“Okay, wish me luck!” Muqiu flashed a grin then pulled his headphones back on. “Luo Ji, I’m sending you a list of topics. Tell me if you’re interested in researching things together with me!” he said.

“You do research too? This… ooh… yes, yes. These are… you can calculate this too? I’m interested!”

Muqiu grinned widely. “Great! Send me your QQ and I’ll send over some data to get your started. They’re what I’ve gathered from rare materials. But you can’t share any of this to anyone, alright?”

“What you’ll be researching with Autumn Tree is classified information,” Xiu’er emphasized.

“Of course,” Luo Ji agreed easily. “I’ve sent you my QQ. Autumn Tree, aren’t rare materials only used for silver equipment? Do you know how to use them? I couldn’t find any instructions,” he said.

“Silver equipment creation is an art,” Muqiu stated sagely. “No one would post blueprints online if they’re valuable. They’ll sell it to Clubs or work for a Club. But it’s not hard. You can learn from me!”

Concealed Light shifted. “You created Lord Grim’s weapon?” he asked excitedly.

“!!!” Muqiu puffed up. “Yes! That’s my baby! My first creation was on – I mean – Uh…” he faltered.

Ye Xiu raised a brow when Muqiu looked at him apologetically. “Do you know One Autumn Leaf?”

“……..oh! The Battle Mage in the Pro-League. Yes, I do,” Luo Ji affirmed. “Then, do you work for –,”

“Don’t say it,” Xiu’er cut off. “Autumn Tree created the Evil Annihilation before the Pro-League. He also created Dancing Rain’s weapon – Well, Dancing Rain was originally his,” he paused. “You can’t tell anyone these things, understand? We don’t want to be bothered by the rest of the pro-players.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Luo Ji answered rapidly. “Can I have the data first? Then, please teach me!”

Muqiu laughed. “I’ll send it now. When you’re done reading it over, we can begin researching.”

“If you have any data you can share with us, send it to Autumn Tree,” Ye Xiu instructed.

“Oh! Do you want all of my data?” Luo Ji queried. “There are a lot of files…” he said.

“The more files, the merrier,” Muqiu declared. “Send them all!”

All twenty-five files Luo Ji sent ended up being rejected with a request to make them readable as they looked like alien language and also had Muqiu sighing about wanting to go to college. Though, Ye Xiu was quick to remind that pro-players retired early and there was always time to study later which was what he was going to do or else he’d be a hindrance to Ye Qiu rather than a help.

In any case, it was on the next day that Muqiu finally got his hands on the data with an extremely smug smile on his lips which Xiu’er huffed amusedly about and Ye Xiu smiled indulgently at the sight of.

*~*~*~*

On one of the lit up laptop screens in the study, Glory’s wondrous scenery was almost completely covered up by a number of chat windows. Muqiu gestured at the messages with a wry smile. “It’s happening. They won’t hire us to do dungeon runs anymore. So, we’ll start selling guides instead?”

The two surnamed Ye leaned in to briefly glance at the conversations…

[Whisper] Cold Night: Brother! Have you seen the forum?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Hm. Yep!

[Whisper] Cold Night: Since it’s like this… we can’t keep hiring you anymore.

[Whisper] Cold Night: The guild will look bad!

[Whisper] Cold Night: Will you still be breaking records?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Hahaha I need the drops from the dungeon BOSSes.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: If we break records then we break records, right?

[Whisper] Cold Night: Ah…

___

[Whisper] Blue River: Hello brother…

[Whisper] Blue River: About the Fire Forest dungeon…

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: ?

[Whisper] Blue River: Has anyone reserved you yet?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Nope!

[Whisper] Blue River: What are your plans?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Simple! We’re still running that dungeon.

[Whisper] Blue River: And the record?

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Mmm… we break records without trying…

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: So if we break it then we break it, right?

[Whisper] Blue River: Brother… (;´ ・ `)>

Ye Xiu nodded knowingly. “Yes, I’ll start modifying Luo Ji’s guides.”

“I’ll help you! Don’t reject me,” Xiu’er pre-empted. “You haven’t played dungeons in years unlike Muqiu and me. We still remember all the details so it’ll be easier with my help,” he reasoned.

“Materials are less important to familiarizing yourselves with the Classes,” Ye Xiu returned.

“Six months is more than enough to master all the Classes,” Xiu’er rolled his eyes. “Besides, we’re just doing the Challengers League next year. I’ve looked it up and it’s nothing to worry about.”

Muqiu smiled. “Xiu’er is right. You don’t have to do things alone anymore, Xiu,” he reminded then cleared his throat and moved on. “Anyway, why do you want to use Luo Ji’s guides as template?”

“The guides will look better if they’re wordy. Or else, only having the focal points will seem weak.”

“Ah…” Muqiu was enlightened. “Alright, I’ll let Luo Ji know then we can start running dungeons.”

“No, I’ll revise the guides first then we’ll run the dungeons,” Xiu’er corrected.

“Okay,” Ye Xiu accepted. “But remember, we should run the dungeons before the Christmas event.”

Muqiu hurriedly closed Glory to check the date and gasped. “There’s only one week left! Ooh~ We’re going to be the fastest players to enter the Heavenly Domain in Glory history!” he crowed. “Let’s make a scene. We need to make a scene. Let’s do the arena challenge then enter the Heavenly domain going by the highest to lowest level. The Glory community shall know fear!”

“What? You want us to be known as monsters?” Xiu’er ridiculed though he was smirking.

“It’ll be like the old days,” Muqiu mock-lamented then turned. “Yucheng, how’s your win rate?”

The youngest Su was surprised to be addressed and looked away from whatever gossip she and Mucheng were talking about. “Good!” she beamed. “Mumu-jie’s a really good teacher!”

“No, I have a good student,” Mucheng cooed before informing Muqiu, “Her win rate is around 67%.”

Muqiu’s eyes brightened. “67%! Not bad! How strong!” he praised.

“I’ll become as strong as Mumu-jie!” Yucheng grinned, pleased.

“That’s my sisters!” Muqiu stood up and walked over to give his little sister a bear hug. “Good job!” He set her back down on her seat and patted Mucheng proudly on the shoulder. “Start dueling with me. I’ll teach you how to be an aggressive, offensive Launcher,” he claimed.

Ye Xiu tilted his head at that. “You’ve finished mastering the Launcher already?”

“I’m Su Muqiu!” Muqiu declared shamelessly even though the truth was that he hadn’t mastered the Launcher Class yet. He was done familiarizing himself with it but manipulating the Class the way he wanted? Fully exploring all the micro-manipulations which could be done? Not yet and not at all.

“Ha ha,” Ye Xiu chuckled and didn’t call out the lie. “Yes, you are.”

Xiu’er tsk'ed and said, “Yifan says he can’t join us for the event.” Evidently, he’d been ignoring them.

“That’s understandable,” Ye Xiu commented. “Even as a reserve member, he has responsibilities.”

“Well, then tell him to have his account levelled to 55 or he’ll be too far behind,” Muqiu told Xiu’er.

Humming, Xiu’er tapped on his keyboard and considered, “We should be around there or level 60.”

Ye Xiu remarked, “He still needs to work on his teamwork with the others. Especially Steamed Bun.”

“Doesn’t matter if Yifan’s a higher level. I want us to start the Heavenly Domain challenges after the Christmas event so we’ll need him to stay and babysit the others,” Muqiu shrugged. “Teamwork~!”

“That’s…” Ye Xiu snorted. “Alright, whatever you say, Muqiu,” he said.

“You’re the best, Xiu~!” Muqiu reached out and tugged the older Ye’s hand happily.

Xiu’er exhaled deeply and long-sufferingly but chose to start tapping at his keyboard than speak out.

“How are we going to power-level so quickly?” Mucheng chimed in during the lull, curious.

Muqiu smiled impishly. “While the elite guild players crowd Sin City, we are going to the Thousand Waves Lake and have the thieves all to ourselves! There, we just need to gather them near Santa and voila!” He made an exaggerated gesture. “One Wave Push, collect gifts, trade and level up!”

The One Wave Push tactic was a more ferocious version of the One Wave Rush and was considered a genuine pro-level tactic. Players were assigned a task each. If one messed up, the entire tactic would result in failure. It had high requirements for high rewards – higher than One Wave Rush. It was also a tactic which Muqiu and the Ye duo created way back in the first district to deal with mass pursuits.

“…not bad,” Xiu’er acknowledged with a slight curve to his lips, showing off a small smile.

And for the second day in a row, Muqiu wore a victoriously smug expression.

*~*~*~*

It was a rare night when one of the males in the household chose to cook but after a successfully-made fish congee the other day, Muqiu had become rather motivated. And, tonight, he had done it again, serving another palatable dish of tomato and egg fried rice with pan-fried ham. So he’d been positively beaming and repeatedly asked for comments all throughout dinner then even afterwards.

Ye Xiu gently bumped their shoulders together after Muqiu asked for the nth time. “It was good.”

“Yeah? Maybe I’ll try making shallot pancakes next time,” Muqiu mused happily.

“Sounds good,” Ye Xiu agreed. “We can add in some meat too.”

“Yes!” Muqiu fell silent and a comfortable lull sprung up between them as they stood side-by-side in the kitchen, Ye Xiu rinsing the dishes and him drying them. During this time, his mind wandered to Glory then to the drama his sisters were watching before finally rounding back to the Ye next to him.

It was odd to think about how this person who knew him as well as Xiu’er did was essentially a stranger. The Ye duo were one and the same, of course, but a yawning distance separated him and Xiu’er from Ye Xiu. A distance consisting eight years worth of life experience neither of them could begin to comprehend. With each familiar aspect he recognized in Ye Xiu, there were ten more he couldn’t.

While Xiu’er had always been enigmatic, he wasn’t inscrutable like Ye Xiu. Muqiu was fairly sure it wasn’t intentional either but had become habit due to years of living at and with abusive people. He breathed in deeply to calm himself at the thought of Excellent Era, Tao Xuan and Cui Li. Then, rolling his shoulders back and willing himself to think happy thoughts, he called, “Hey, Xiu? Do me a favor?”

“Hm?” Ye Xiu lifted a brow.

Muqiu smiled and earnestly asked, “Share with me what I’ve missed out on? Happy memories.”

“Okay,” Ye Xiu agreed after a short pause, smiling. “Now?”

“No,” Muqiu shook his head. “Before we sleep; I’ll go to your room,” he said.

“You still want bedtime stories at your age?” Ye Xiu teased good-naturedly.

Muqiu lightly flicked the older Ye on the shoulder. “Shut up,” he huffed.

“Are you staying in my room?” Ye Xiu inquired with a raised brow.

“It’ll be easier,” Muqiu justified with a grin. “You don’t mind, right?”

Ye Xiu handed a stack of dripping utensils over. “I don’t mind,” he agreed.

Chapter Text

(December)

“Pull! Pull! Pull!”

Going to Thousand Waves Lake was a great idea. With such a large body of water as its main feature, the land space was limited and since the number of thieves per area stayed the same… it was almost cheating how easy it was for the group to gather the thieves to the shoreline where Santa waited.

Those with long-range and control abilities like Autumn Tree, Lord Grim and Cleansing Mist collected the thieves with a helper each (One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Rain and Soft Mist) to make things go faster while Steamed Bun stayed with Santa to welcome the thieves with a DPS attack before the full assault. During this, they would take turns in trading gifts for Christmas presents.

Some of the gifts granted temporary use of high-level skills which was particularly useful in further improving their efficiency especially for Tang Rou and Steamed Bun who were punching way, way above their character’s levels. It was only natural, then, that the two were the first to keep a gift each instead of trading it in. Tang Rou received Emperor’s Fist and Steamed Bun got Molotov. Fitting!

Other gifts were random little things like equipment, potions and other items. Out of those, the group mostly kept the mana potions since their fast pace was directly proportionate to how quickly they consumed mana. It wasn’t much of a loss though as they were basically a gift-churning factory.

So it was therefore to no one’s surprise that they had levelled up six times by dinner time.

When the group reconvened, they moved onto Heshin City Sewers. The area this time was a city facility turned into a training ground so maneuvering around was a bit more complicated however they were able to find a good rhythm within less than an hour. And though their pace was a bit slower with the wider coverage, it was balanced out nicely by the level of experience exchanged.

Experience was rewarded to them with every thief killed and gift traded which equaled the level of the area. As they were currently running around in an area with a seven-level suppression, the experience they gained was incredibly high which almost countered their slower turnover rate. Their pace jumped considerably though after Mucheng managed to score a gift for the Satellite Beam skill.

When midnight struck, their characters went up another six levels.

*~*~*~*

“Does Glory’s inbox have a limit?”

On the second and last day of the event, Muqiu, Xiu’er and Ye Xiu started out earlier than the rest of their group and managed to scrape out a single level increase before breakfast. It wasn’t due to any hurry, they were just addicted to Glory and couldn’t bear the thought of spending so much time asleep when they could be playing in an event. They did pause for breakfast though because food.

Alright, that was a lie.

The Ye duo had very unflattering track records where eating was concerned and were highly likely to forget the basic need of eating in favor of playing Glory. They only ever managed a relatively healthy eating schedule because of Muqiu and the sisters. Well, in any case, Muqiu was reminded of his bursting inbox after breakfast due to the irritatingly-constant flashing in the corner of his screen.

“I don’t think so?” Ye Xiu replied unsurely.

“Mister Popular,” Xiu’er began, humor lacing his tone, “are the guilds bothering you?”

Muqiu sighed long-sufferingly. “We’re levelling so fast they’re feeling insecure! Oh woe is them!”

Unfortunately for the guilds, Muqiu had no intentions of telling them about their one wave rush strategy and even if he did, he had his doubts on whether they’d be able to replicate it. He wasn’t looking down on them so much as seeing things realistically. After doing dungeon and BOSS runs with the elites of various guilds, he already had a solid idea of their capabilities and limitations.

They would likely slow down en masse rather than speed up which would be a worse tragedy.

“Follow my lead!” Muqiu called out as soon as he saw that their group had all logged in already. They hadn’t changed locations last night despite having levelled up enough to do so in order to avoid disrupting their tempo hence why they moved on to a higher levelled area this morning instead.

Crocus Garden Cemetery was built like an oval amphitheater except that gravestones replaced the interior seating and everything was carpeted with greenery; swaying grass, blooming flowers and thorny shrubs. The monsters here were gnomes which popped out of the ground at random and lobbed potted plants as their form of attack. Gnomes had low health but were fleet-footed.

In terms of difficulty, this area was essentially the same as the Thousand Waves Lake. This verdict didn’t include the pesky gnomes because, as they happily discovered, no gnomes went near Santa’s vicinity for whatever reason. This was a very good thing otherwise they’d be keeping health potions on top of mana potions and that would decrease their productivity – and their material hoarding.

The gnomes were therefore only a problem for anyone who roamed outside of Santa’s range but since this area was five times smaller than Thousand Waves Lake, there was no need for ground helpers. And, sadly for the gnomes, they were close-rangers so they couldn’t hit the thief collectors who used Aerial Fire to travel. They could hit the thieves and inflict damage which was too funny.

So, with minimal help from the gnomes, the group went up four and a half levels in time for lunch.

“Do you still need my help?” Ye Xiu asked when they settled back in the study. His Lord Grim had already reached the level 50 cap hours ago and he’d only stayed to trade gifts for presents.

“What are you going to do?” Muqiu asked as he rolled his shoulders.

“Start on the Heavenly Domain challenge quests but I can do that tomorrow.”

“Oh! Go ahead,” Muqiu gave a thumbs up. “We need to slow down anyway or we’ll reach 70 soon.”

“Alright, I’m going. Let me know if you guys need me to come back and I’ll return,” Ye Xiu said.

Muqiu nodded. “Mm~”

“Hey, Yucheng,” Xiu’er called out softly. “Want to try collecting?”

Yucheng’s eyes widened and she shot a look at Mucheng who gave her an encouraging look.

“Don’t worry, I’ll guide you through it,” Mucheng promised.

“Okay!” Yucheng grinned. “I’ll do my best!”

“That’s the spirit!” Muqiu gave her a thumbs up. “Alright, team,” he called in-game. “Let’s go!”

‘Slowing down’ didn’t happen with Yucheng impressively adapting to her new role, Xiu’er obtaining a Dragon Breaks the Rank skill from a gift he chose to retain and Yifan making a surprise appearance; their cute Ghostblade had lied about being sick just to join them. The group pushed on at an even higher rate than before, leveling up seven more times by dinner before travelling to another area.

Abyss Palace resembled an open graveyard with slopes and hills made up of skeletal remains. The lore was that it served as the ‘last place of freedom’ for the prisoners of the palace because it was wide enough to give the impression of the possibility to escape. However, it was truthfully a place for unlawful execution by the palace with the help of the Undead Knights who dwelled there.

The good thing about this area was that, even if it was as tricky to wander in as Heshin City Sewers, there were no high-rise buildings to serve as obstacles for the thief collectors using Aerial Fire. And the Undead Knights were similar to the residents in Sin City in that they stayed put unless a player went near their aggro range therefore only Yucheng had a bit of difficulty avoiding them.

It wasn’t a problem though because Xiu’er followed her to dispatch those that trailed after her.

*~*~*~*

The Christmas Hunting Leaderboard: Level 50-55

1. Soft Mist (55)
2. Steamed Bun Invasion (54)
3. Lord Grim (50)

The Christmas Hunting Leaderboard: Level 60-65

1. One Leaf Heralds Autumn (65)
2. Autumn Tree (65)
3. Cleansing Mist (64)
4. Autumn Rain (63)

*~*~*~*

“Step forward and announce your bounty!”

Eyes rolled around the study much to Muqiu’s dismay after his dramatic town crier impression. He huffed at them but a slight upward tilt to his lips betrayed him. “I got 250 skill points. Beat that!”

“I got 265,” Xiu’er revealed, smirking.

Muqiu gaped. “No way! Your luck is insane!”

“245,” Ye Xiu divulged next. “Forgot about the skill books; I should’ve stayed longer,” he sighed.

“210 skill points for me,” Mucheng said, eyes on her screen.

Yucheng waved her hand happily. “Oooh! Me too! Me too! 210 points!”

“What about you guys? Skill points?” Ye Xiu asked, his eyes on his screen where Soft Mist and Steamed stood before his character. “Skill book. Skill book. …from the presents Santa gave you.” He blinked in surprise then informed the rest, “Tang Rou got 180. Steamed Bun 165. Yifan 55. Not bad!”

“Not bad at all!” Muqiu grinned.

Ye Xiu nodded in agreement but said, “Let’s not use them for now. Glory will have an update soon. We should distribute them then. Anyway, we don’t need the boost in-game and –,” he stopped.

Everyone also paused as they heard an unfamiliar sound.

“Is that… is that the doorbell?” Muqiu asked, weirded out. “We had one?”

Mucheng stood up, smiling at them all in a way that let them know she was most definitely laughing at them on the inside. “I’ll go answer it.” There was a knowing and smug inflection to her tone that alerted the three boys in the study immediately and they glanced at each other in apprehension.

“It’s probably the devil,” Xiu’er guessed unhappily as they all bid a quick good night to Tang Rou, Steamed Bun and Yifan before logging off of Glory since it was already past midnight, time for bed.

Ye Xiu sighed. “He’s not here to try bringing me home again, is he?”

“What?” Muqiu’s eyes widened in alarm.

Ye Xiu waved the concern away. “Don’t worry.”

Since Ye Xiu said so, Muqiu believed him immediately and relaxed.

“Who is the devil?” Yucheng spoke up to ask innocently.

Muqiu stared at her. “Uh…”

“Our twin brother,” Xiu’er replied blandly, pointing at himself and Ye Xiu.

“Hi, Qiu-ge!” Mucheng’s bright voice greeted loudly enough to be heard in the study. “Come in!”

Xiu’er’s lips curled in distaste. “Tch.”

“Are you two still mad about the model –,”

“Shut up, Muqiu!” Xiu’er groaned.

“Touchy,” Muqiu commented idly, lips twitching in humor at the sullen, resigned-kitten expressions on the Ye duo’s faces. “Have fun sulking. Come on, sis, let’s go welcome Ye Qiu,” he stretched out his hand to his little sister and wiggled his fingers, smiling as a small hand wrapped around his.

He found Ye Qiu and Mucheng sitting next to each other on the couch. Ye Qiu with a cup of tea in hand and Mucheng rifling through something inside a sleek metal case. Upon closer inspection, he realized that they were Glory account cards. Lots of them. With varying server designs. “What are those?” he asked, peering over Mucheng’s shoulder while Yucheng went to sit directly next to her.

“Qiu-ge’s Christmas present!” Mucheng declared cheerily. “Can you guess where these are from?”

“Excellent Era,” Ye Xiu suddenly answered from behind.

Muqiu looked over his shoulder and saw that both Ye Xiu and Xiu’er had left the study to join them. “Excellent Era? But there’s too many… Unless,” he turned to Ye Qiu with wide eyes, “Guild cards?”

“Yes,” Ye Qiu replied, sounding smug. “I obtained all their account cards.”

“Wow,” Muqiu exclaimed softly, thinking about all the materials he would have access to now.

Ye Xiu hummed as he walked over to sit down on another couch. “So, what else are you here for?”

“I can’t just visit?” Ye Qiu huffed rhetorically. “I was thinking of naming you the CEO of our Club.”

“What?” Xiu’er exclaimed. He eyed his younger-older twin incredulously. “What kind of plan is that?!” he protested. “Xiu-ge will be busy enough with our team and you want him to be the CEO too?”

Ye Qiu lifted his chin. “You think I’m not busy? I’ll have top management hired by then anyway.”

“From where?” Ye Xiu inquired, brows furrowed.

“Let me worry about that… I’m in the middle of making my business proposal so just wait for it.”

Muqiu watched them go back and forth talking about business seriously from behind Mucheng for a while until they reached a lull. He seized the chance to say, “Ye Qiu, I need R&D’s research please.”

“R&D?” Ye Qiu repeated. “Consider it done,” he said, whipping out his phone to type out a message.

“Nice hand speed,” Muqiu remarked happily.

“Piano,” Ye Qiu explained distractedly as he continued to tap on his phone. “You know, the way Clubs operate is quite interesting. Its organizational structure is mainly corporate but majority of its paperwork is similar to entertainment businesses where revenue is heavily dependent on sale and sponsorships. The GPA also emphasizes good publicity which is understandable but not beneficial.”

“What do you mean?” Mucheng asked curiously.

Ye Qiu tapped his phone one final time then slid it back into his pocket before answering. “The GPA requires pro-players to do promotional adverts for the Pro-League which is, of course, necessary. But then they also use these photos for various Glory promotions apart from the Pro-League, leading to a grey area when it comes to the copyrights of pro-players and additional permission required.

“In the first place, if the GPA acted more like a sponsor rather than abuse their authority over Clubs and pro-players, they would not only gain more cooperation from the Clubs but also have more flexibility when it comes to using pro-players for promotion outside of the Pro-League. Their method may have been acceptable in the past but they certainly have enough money to throw around now.

“Don’t you think it’s shameful of them to use the promotional adverts intended only for the Pro-League on other Glory promotions? And to even have the audacity to fine any pro-player who refuses to participate! It’s a disgrace, frankly. They should be paying the pro-players to do promotions for them, not expect it as if it’s their right. I’ll be forcing this change in the GPA later on.”

Mucheng snickered. “So, in short, you just hate that they fined Xiu-ge.”

“All I’m saying is, it’s a disgrace,” Ye Qiu sniffed importantly. “Anyway, I’ll be picking you two,” he eyed Ye Xiu and Xiu’er meaningfully, “up a day before the Spring Festival to greet our parents.”

“We’re not going,” Ye Xiu said automatically.

In direct contrast, Mucheng brightly said, “Bring food when you come!”

Ye Xiu sighed tragically while Xiu’er grumbled a, “Betrayed again.”

“I will. Let me know if you want anything else. Yucheng, let me know if you like the little cakes I brought and I’ll bring more next time,” Ye Qiu said then turned to face his brothers. “…good night.”

“Take care on your way home, Qiu-di,” Ye Xiu ruffled his twin’s hair.

Ye Qiu flushed a little, lips curved up in a smile. “Hm. I’m going now.” He stood up, nodded at Muqiu while he patted Yucheng’s head then strode off with Mucheng escorting him out of the penthouse.

“Cute,” Muqiu mumbled quietly, hiding a smile behind his arms which he’d perched on the couch’s back. The Ye brothers were really quite cute. Always complaining and whining about one another but acting so very soft with each other when it really mattered. He found it incredibly endearing.

Mucheng returned to the living room with a flourish and swept the metal case up over her head, declaring, “Everyone, our prodigal son, One Autumn Leaf, and daughter, Dancing Rain, are home.”

*~*~*~*

So. Many. Materials!

To say that Muqiu was in metaphorical heaven was a complete understatement. He had been sighing happily for the past two hours whilst sorting Excellent Era’s materials divided by server and guild name for the Heavenly Domain ones. It was just so much more than he imagined and… he spun around in the middle of the newly transformed study and felt like a dragon with its treasure horde.

Previously, the study only featured two desktop computers and three laptops with keyboards and mouses attached. But sometime over the night after they all went asleep, Ye Qiu must have sent some people over to set-up three more desktop computers and two more laptops as well as replace all the chairs with ergonomic gaming ones. The keyboards and mouses had all been upgraded too!

Muqiu had commandeered them all since he was the only one currently awake so every screen in the study including the laptops displayed the materials of eight Excellent Era guilds in the Heavenly Domain. Specifically, the rare materials obtained from level 65-70 areas which he had yet to study. When they reached the Heavenly Domain, he was going to experiment to his heart’s content!

Ho ho ho \(￣︶￣)/

Muqiu waltzed over to the nearest monitor and hugged it with a sappy smile. “Ah, my babies…”

“Why am I not surprised?”

The new voice came just as Muqiu’s gaze landed on the mess of account cards inside the open metal case, the first server account cards in particular. He looked over his shoulder with a sheepish smile and waved the other over. “Hey, hey, Xiu, if I log into One Autumn Leaf, will I get mobbed?”

“Yes,” Ye Xiu replied with a soft, amused smirk as he settled himself beside Muqiu, hand reaching out to brush his fingers along the mentioned card. “Before you ask, Clubs access a separate server.”

“We should get access too! I want to disassemble – I mean, examine the silver equips and weapons!”

Ye Xiu raised a brow at the quick word exchange but didn’t comment on it. “I’ll talk to Qiu,” he said, retracting his hand from the card to affectionately comb his fingers through Muqiu’s hair. “Messy.”

“It’s called style,” Muqiu lied bold-facedly, leaning into the gentle carding.

“Uh-huh,” Ye Xiu knew better but, again, didn’t comment.

Muqiu closed his eyes. “Hey, Xiu, now that you officially have OAL back, do you want to switch?”

“Hm,” Ye Xiu hummed lowly. “Xiu’er will do better as a Battle Mage; he’s at his peak right now.” There was a touch of nostalgia in his tone and perhaps also longing. “And I will do better as Lord Grim. I’ve accumulated enough experience to utilise the Unspecialized to its fullest potential.”

“You’re sure?” Muqiu pressed, opening his eyes to meet the other’s golden gaze.

“Why are you so worried?” Ye Xiu smiled fondly. “Lord Grim is a peak in and of itself. It’s an honor to be the one to bring the only viable Unspecialized to the Pro-League. How about you, are you sure?”

“Of course! I just – you parted with One Autumn Leaf prematurely.”

“It was inevitable,” Ye Xiu ran his fingers through Muqiu’s hair one last time then rested his fingers along the other’s nape. “I always planned on bringing Lord Grim to the stage before I bowed out of the Pro-League. My only regret would be that you wouldn’t be around to see it but here you are.”

Muqiu felt his eyes glimmer and he offered a tremulous smile. “Here I am,” he tried to sing-song.

“Tell me honestly what’s bothering you,” Ye Xiu requested knowingly.

“...mm. Can never get anything past you, huh?” Muqiu stepped forward and slid his arms around Ye Xiu’s slim waist, cheek planted comfortably on the other’s shoulder. “I want to be your partner too.”

Ye Xiu tilted his head to the side, pressing their cheeks together. “You… were?”

“No, I mean, in the Pro-League. As – a quad?” Muqiu mumbled a bit. “Me, you, Xiu’er and Mucheng. But with Lord Grim and Mucheng, what other support will you need? Will you still need me?”

“Oh,” Ye Xiu mulled it over, his fingers tapping a familiar rhythm along Muqiu’s neck. “My synergy with Mucheng has changed because of Lord Grim. She’s familiar with me but she won’t be as accurate with her support anymore though she’s been practicing with us. An Unspecialized is too unique. Even the other pro-players won’t understand enough to defend against Lord Grim properly.

“You’re right that I wouldn’t need much support if at all with Lord Grim but I’m not infallible. Nothing is certain in a match. If you think you can support me then do it. You know I won’t say no.”

“I will…” Muqiu sighed, sulking a little. “That’s not what I meant,” he whined. “I – what I meant was – do you remember when it was just the two of us in the first server? Stealing wild BOSSes. That.”

“Won’t you be doing that with Xiu’er?” Ye Xiu pointed out, confused.

Muqiu groaned a little. “Xiu! You two may be the same person but you don’t share experiences!”

“…you want to be both of our partners? How greedy!” Ye Xiu joked. “It’s not impossible. It’ll depend on the match. Otherwise, we can always do it in the game. Nothing’s stopping us from doing that.”

“I know,” Muqiu smiled helplessly to himself and buried his face further into Ye Xiu’s shoulder.

“So,” Ye Xiu gestured at the study. “Did you set this up or did Qiu have it set-up already?”

“Already set-up,” Muqiu replied as he disentagled himself from the hug. He sat down on the nearest gaming chair and stretched his arms up above his head, eyes reflexively darting over to the monitor before him. “Oh? Xiu, look, someone actually sent something in the guild chat! It’s been dead quiet!”

[Guild] Golden Fragrance: All-Stars Weekend without Excellent Era…

Ye Xiu leaned in to take a look, his expression not the least bit curious. “…ignore it.”

“..?” Muqiu read the message again and a lightbulb metaphorically lit up inside his mind. “Hey, Xiu’er won a ‘Bonus Round’ voucher thing for this event! It included free entry and everything. What is it?”

The question was thrown out but Ye Xiu wasn’t listening. He was looking up at the ceiling with an expression that screamed ‘done’ in every manner possible. “Why is our luck so bad?” he muttered.

“What are you talking about?” Muqiu squawked indignantly. “Both your lucks are amazing!”

“Doesn’t feel like it,” Ye Xiu huffed, frowning. “All-Stars is a fan event. We’re made to put on a show for the audience, spar performatively with rookies and interact with the audience. There’s… mini-games and a pro vs audience segement on the second day. Third day… the top favorite pros fight.”

Muqiu’s brows furrowed. “It kind of sounds great – for the fans anyway. Sounds boring to a pro.”

“Exactly,” Ye Xiu nodded emphatically. “It’s not worth going to.”

“But Xiu’er won a voucher to fight against a pro!” Muqiu protested.

“What am I?” Ye Xiu asked dryly. “If you want to fight other pros, I’ll call some over,” he said.

“Oookay,” Muqiu laughed and grinned up at the other. “What happened to you at All-Stars?”

Ye Xiu leant against the table, sighing. “…I was called up seven times to fight rookies…”

“So popular, huh?” Muqiu teased, snickering.

“It was the worst,” Ye Xiu insisted. “No one else was called on that day. It was all me.”

“Don’t you like sparring?”

“I like challenging matches.”

Muqiu smirked. “So cruel! Don’t let the rookies hear you!”

“…the event’s this weekend so we can’t go anyway. No tickets,” Ye Xiu smirked back.

“What?!” Muqiu hastily grabbed onto the mouse and clicked open a browser to check. “Noooo!!!”

“Heh,” Ye Xiu placed his hands on the table and leisurely relaxed his stance.

Muqiu pouted. “Xiu~! You have so many pro friends, ask them to get us tickets!” he whined.

“...” Ye Xiu’s facial expression instantly blanked out.

“Xiu~!!!” Muqiu whined louder. “Come on! Think of the pros’ reactions when they see Xiu’er on stage! Don’t you want to be there to witness it? Think of me and Yucheng! We haven’t experienced All-Stars yet. Wouldn’t it be nice to be there to support Xiu’er and enjoy the atmosphere together?”

“………..” Ye Xiu’s fingers twitched, an indication that he was close to cracking.

“You’ll get us tickets, won’t you, Xiu?” Muqiu continued, almost cooing.

“Tickets for what?” Mucheng suddenly spoke up from the doorway.

At the sound of her voice, Ye Xiu closed his eyes and slumped in defeat.

“For All-Stars! We should go; Xiu’er won a ‘Bonus Round’ voucher for it!” Muqiu announced.

“Oh, All-Stars!” Mucheng cheered before pausing. “Wait, ‘Bonus Round’ voucher?”

Muqiu nodded. “Yep! Xiu’er won it from the Christmas event.”

“Oh? I’ve never heard of it!” Mucheng exclaimed.

“Then, maybe it’s new?” Muqiu considered. He pulled up a new tab in the browser he’d opened earlier and searched but only found one line alluding to it. How secretive. “Guess it’s a surprise.”

“Guess what else is a surprise?” Mucheng beamed and revealed five tickets from behind her back.

Ye Xiu straightened up in alarm. “You – why would you do this to me?”

“We’re going so they can experience All-Stars!” Mucheng defended brightly.

Xiu’er poked his head around the open door. “What’s going on? What are those tickets for?”

“They’re for All-Stars!” Muqiu replied. “Remember your ‘Bonus Round’ voucher?”

“Oh!” Xiu’er suddenly looked interested.

Ye Xiu waved his hand at his younger self. “Don’t be fooled. That event is a curse.”

“It’s not!” Mucheng protested immediately. “Xiu-ge just hates it because rookies like to challenge him.”

“He’s Mister Popular!” Muqiu leaned over to nudge Ye Xiu who rolled his eyes.

“They won’t know you’re there though,” Xiu’er pointed out. “Will they?” he asked.

Ye Xiu sighed. “No… there is that silver-lining.”

“So let’s go!” Muqiu patted Ye Xiu comfortingly on the arm. “Where is it being held?”

“City S! Don’t worry, everything’s booked already; flight tickets, hotel rooms and a car,” Mucheng replied with a flourish. “All expenses paid by Chow Tai Fook. We’ll have our test shoots in the morning of the second day. On the third day, we’ll have our official photoshoot! Any questions?”

““WHAT?!”” The Ye duo cried out.

“Wow,” Muqiu looked impressed. “Ye Qiu planned it out so well. How amazing!”

“Isn’t he?” Mucheng beamed.

Ye Xiu and Xiu’er choked.

Chapter Text

(January)

A sleek, black car slid home in front of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium where a group of suited men awaited the arrival of the man who stepped out onto the clean pavement. It was like a re-enactment of a commercial to the passers-by and the early fans waiting in line outside. Murmurings erupted as a man known to many in the area as Chairman Feng approached to greet the sharply-dressed guest.

“CEO Ye!” Chairman Feng rushed forward, looking nervous. “This way, this way…”

Straight away, the murmurings turned into loud chattering.

To the knowledgeable, this was an extremely odd sight to behold and quite unbecoming; for someone of Chairmen Feng’s stature to act so deferential to a younger man begged many questions. For those in the know, it would be a frightening moment; to see Chairman Feng kowtow to who they would postulate to be God Ye. But to the informed, the scene was as expected and as it should be.

In truth, those with an understanding of Chairman Feng’s status would be correct in assuming that there was more at play. The man was at the top of the e-sports industry with Glory, a newly acknowledged respectable position, and therefore did not need to cater so carefully to the point of near-subservience to those of higher stature. These matters though depended on internal politics.

And internal politicking was a task Ye Qiu excelled at. In fact, he thrived on feeding misleading judgements on his character then manipulating others to his will. He had destroyed many of his competitors this way and sealed even more contracts. However, Chairman Feng required a different approach, due to the matter Ye Qiu needed the man for. That was, destroying Club Excellent Era.

First impressions were everything. They dictated the way a person would judge another until they were forcibly made to change their opinion, clouded interactions akin to rose-tinted glasses and would be the deciding factor for the demeanor which a person donned as a subconscious reaction. Yes, first impressions were everything and Ye Qiu made certain Chairman Feng would fear him.

Seeing how Excellent Era’s demise had been speedily pushed through in about a month and the way the older man was dutifully escorting him into the stadium now, he considered his self-imposed task a job well done and smiled pleasantly. His keen eyes clearly caught the Chairman’s reflexive shiver which only served to make his smile widen even further and his eyes glint with a touch more sadism.

For all the fines you made my twin pay, I will make you suffer ten times over!

Ye Qiu also thought, in a very tiny corner of his mind, that the additional time he had to toy with the older man made it almost worth it to have been forced by his mother to join his brothers for their photoshoot. His sub-par protesting at having to do so was absolutely not because he wanted to see his twin and the younger version of said twin nor because he wanted to know more about Glory.

…Absolutely not.

He had merely mentioned in passing an interest to attend the All-Stars Weekend to the Chairman to maximize his impromptu presence in City S. After all, he was set to invest in and finance his brothers’ new team as well as build them a Club. Market research and due diligence was a must. If he also found a way to thrust one of them into the enviable position of being a chosen audience member…

Well, he was simply ascertaining the talent of the players in the team.

*~*~*~*

“Mm! Being a spectator is good too!”

That opening liner from Mucheng was, unfortunately yet predictably, about the only purely positive comment that any of them said during the whole first day of the All-Stars Weekend. Muqiu had been excited to see what the pro scene had to offer and Xiu’er had expected to be impressed by talented rookies but they grew more and more unsatisfied and disappointed with every match that passed.

“That was an easy win. The rookie didn’t stand a chance.”

“Rookie Challenges isn’t about winning but about greeting favored seniors.”

“Isn’t that too dull? Your friend was good though.”

“Oh, hey! It’s that team who kept losing to us.”

“What am I watching? The gap in their DPS is so obvious. What is this farce? ”

“Some people just need a little nudge to gain confidence. Jiexi’s sacrificing for Tiny Herb’s future.”

“…you saw how that kid was unable to even explain his reason for the match, right? Even winning won’t do much for him. Aren’t they just setting the team up for failure under that kid’s leadership?”

“This kind of dedication is something to be admired. Whether it works or not is another matter.”

“A standing ovation? I’m warning you, Xiu-ge, you aren’t allowed to be so uselessly self-sacrificing.”

“You didn’t do anything similar while in Excellent Era, right?”

“He didn’t!”

“I didn’t… why are you two so vicious?”

“Throwing a match is an insult to Glory.”

“Xiu-ge threw a match before!”

“What?!”

“Honestly, Mucheng, it was a rookie challenge. And everyone knows I threw it.”

“Why’d you throw it?”

“Oh, was this when all seven rookies challenged you?”

“All seven? Sucks to be you.”

“Mmhm! Xiu-ge got so sick of it that he threw his match.”

“Still, Xiu, don’t throw a match ever again, okay? Think of the poor rookies!”

“Haha! Muqiu, you’re a final BOSS. He can’t say no to you.”

“…”

“Oh… nice move! Nope, never mind, I take it back.”

“He’s going to lose, isn’t he?”

“Luck is a skill too…”

“Mumu-jie, is the event almost done? I’m hungry!”

“Are you not enjoying yourself, Cheng-mei?”

“There’s no Launcher!”

“Ah, can’t be helped. Mucheng’s not a pro right now.”

“Wait, which one was the rookie?”

“Not bad, not bad! This rookie has potential!”

“Humble too.”

“Unlike this one. What a loser. ‘Junior succeeds the senior’. What, he really needs the validation?”

“Ah… isn’t that veteran losing right now? What a shame. I wanted that rookie to lose.”

“Hand speed… hand speed…”

“The level of aggression is also key.”

“Did he just fucking say, ‘dethroned’? I’m going to destroy his ass when we fight. How rude!”

“…aren’t you also being rude here…”

“Shh! I’m a spectator. I’m not a professional. I’m still allowed to be rude!”

“What logic…”

“Hoho! Muqiu, look! It’s Zhou Zekai. He’s really a quiet version of you.”

“Xiu’er… don’t be so loud. We’re in Samsara’s stadium.”

“Eh? Everyone knows he’s quiet! Or are you saying Muqiu’s not as handsome? Look at his face!”

“Please stop talking. Do I need to be embarrassed today?”

“What are you, an imposter? You always flaunt your face to get discounts!”

“Haha. Muqiu, he’s not wrong.”

“I’m boreddddd…”

“I don’t blame you, sis. Zekai’s flashy but this fight is boring.”

“Can we leave? It’ll be harder later!”

“Okay, okay… Mucheng?”

“Mm. Cheng-mei, we’re going. Come on.”

The five of them stood up in unison though with their backs bowed in respect to those watching behind them and made their way out of the stadium. Ye Xiu, Xiu’er and Muqiu raised their arms up and stretched once they were under the twilight sky while following after Mucheng and Yucheng.

“I feel so cheated today,” Xiu’er remarked.

“You’ve been whining all day,” Ye Xiu huffed. “Rookie Challenges are meant to be for show.”

“Two were definitely not for show. Vaccaria. Demon Subduer.”

“Hah… those two matches… really put the veterans in a bad light.”

“Eh, you’ll just slap everyone’s faces when you return,” Muqiu grinned proudly. “God Ye Xiu!”

“Shhh!” Ye Xiu shushed the other in alarm.

“Chill, ge,” Xiu’er snickered. “Why are we walking by the way?”

Up front, Mucheng looked over her shoulder. “Cheng-mei wants fast food fries.”

“Ah... I want some too then,” Xiu’er told her.

“Me too!” Muqiu waved his hand in the air. “And chicken!”

Ye Xiu rolled his shoulders, yawning. “I want a burger.”

“We’re going together! Stop saying your orders,” Mucheng jokingly reprimanded.

“Look out, we’ve arrived,” Muqiu warned as his older-little sister was still facing him. They entered the fast food shop without incident, sighing at the warm temperature inside. It was thankfully not too busy yet but it certainly would be once All-Stars finished and the crowd rushed out for food. He stepped up to the counter with his two sisters, the Ye duo hanging behind to watch over their backs.

A habit from their days in poorer, unsafe areas.

Muqiu smiled at the server. “Hi! We’ll be getting – fries and uh…” he trailed off unsurely.

“Okay, step back,” Ye Xiu snorted, gently pulling Muqiu away from the front. “We’ll be getting one Mai Mai Burger Bucket, one Golden Arch A, four French Fries, one ice cream cone, one Strawberry Xindi, one Whirlwind Oreo Original and one Whirlwind Oreo Strawberry. And one milk tea.”

“To go or dine in?”

“To go.”

“Anything else?” Ye Xiu asked the others.

“Nope! Which desert is mine?”

“Fries! Fries! Fries!”

“That’s all,” Ye Xiu sighed long-sufferingly and received an understanding smile as the total cost flashed on the tiny screen tilted towards the customer. He took out his wallet and forked over some bills then turned towards his rag-tag family. “Ice cream cone for Muqiu, Strawberry Xindi for Yucheng, Whirlwind Original for Xiu’er and Whirlwind Strawberry for Mucheng. Fries are for sharing.”

“Okay!” Yucheng agreed cheerily.

“What’s a Whirlwind..?” Xiu’er muttered, peering at the menu. “Oh, oreo bits in ice cream.”

“Sir, your change. Please wait a moment for the rest of your order.”

Ye Xiu pocketed the change and started distributing the deserts that the server had laid down on the tray before him. “Can I have an extra spoon?” he received the spoon gratefully and straight away scooped some ice cream from Muqiu who simply slanted the cone to make it easier. “Mm… cold.”

“The rest of your order is ready, Sir.”

“I’ll hold the fries!” Yucheng volunteered, reaching out to snatch the four orders of fries.

Mucheng grabbed the milk tea and took a sip with a happy noise.

“Here, give me that,” Muqiu said, easing out one of the two big bags that Ye Xiu had taken and leaving Xiu’er to pick up the lone medium-sized one. “Do you want to eat a burger while we walk?”

“We’re not walking. The car should be outside,” Mucheng informed.

Muqiu nodded and rephrased his question, “Xiu, you want to eat a burger on the way back?”

“I’m fine, Muqiu,” Ye Xiu smiled at the other, content.

“Okay, just share my ice cream with me.”

“Mm~”

*~*~*~*

The second day of All-Stars started off with collective groans from the three exhausted-looking boys, much to Mucheng’s visible exasperation. She sympathized, she really did, but if they were like this from just the test shoot, whatever will they do about their stamina tomorrow for the official shoot?

“Boys,” Mucheng called for their attention as she produced the inconspicuous black bag she’d been hiding from them since they’d left the shoot earlier. She had asked for it as her request for the test shoot because she guessed that the boys would need a pick-me-up afterward. Her smile softened as two pairs of golden eyes and one pair of orange eyes landed on her. “Who wants cold smoothies?”

“Angel sister!” Muqiu cried dramatically and practically draped himself over Ye Xiu’s lap to reach her. “Your dearest brother wants one.” His orange eyes were exaggeratedly wide to affect pleading.

Ye Xiu observed him with obvious amusement while Xiu’er stretched his hand out expectantly.

“Who should get theirs first?” Mucheng teased, grinning at her brother’s theatrics and Xiu’er’s straightforward manner which she found very cute. She couldn’t remember Ye Xiu acting this way, mutedly spoilt and all, since he had to grow up quickly for her so it made her happy to see Xiu’er like this. “For you, you, you aaand Cheng-mei!” She handed each of them a bottle including Yucheng.

“Eh? Mumu-jie, why is it called ‘Pot of Gold’?”

Muqiu squinted at his own bottle. “Mine is ‘Love at First Sight’.”

“Cute,” Ye Xiu chuckled as he twisted his own bottle. His light expression switched to exasperation.

“What? What did you get?” Xiu’er asked curiously. “I got ‘Fuel’.”

“…‘The Healer’,” Ye Xiu answered with a huff.

“‘Paradise Island’ for me!” Mucheng announced with a grin. “Check the back for the ingredients!” She let them study their bottle’s ingredient list while she dug inside the black bag again for their snacks. They had eaten on set and, while the food served had been filling, none of them had eaten much so she was sure they’d be hungry midway through All-Stars. “Ah. Ta-da! I have snacks too!”

Her laughter was especially loud at the eager glints in the boy’s eyes but she turned to Yucheng first. “Cheng-mei, you’re first this time. Which one do you want? Mashed potatoes or cheesy mac?”

“Mashed potato!” Yucheng chose at once.

“Okay, here you go,” Mucheng handed over the one and only mashed potato dish from the bag, happy her intuition hadn’t failed her, along with a spoon and some tissue. Then she turned to the boys and distributed the rest with an impish grin. “Cheesy cauliflower mac for all of us! Enjoy!”

The boys looked at her in pure betrayal.

“Did we offend you somehow…” Ye Xiu asked helplessly.

Mucheng giggled, nudging Yucheng who was trying to chuckle quietly beside her. “No,” she denied, “but we ate fast food yesterday so we should eat healthy today! For our photoshoot.”

“…” Ye Xiu eyed his drink and snack in askance. “I see.”

“Well, I’m sure they’re good!” Muqiu tried to cheer himself and the others up. “Let’s try it!” he said.

“Healthy but not too healthy, surely?” Xiu’er mumbled doubtfully as he scooped up a portion to try. He swallowed after a few bites then washed down the taste with his incredibly healthy smoothie. “It’s not bad,” he allowed. “But it needs more cheese, more salt and generally just more taste.”

Ye Xiu nodded solemnly in agreement and Mucheng shoved him playfully, earning a laugh.

“Eh, I have salt,” Muqiu revealed carelessly, already ripping open a salt packet with a fast food joint's logo that he had pulled out from somewhere. He dumped the contents into his food before digging in.

“Work in progress,” Mucheng sighed fondly. “Don’t put too much salt!” she warned when the others grabbed some salt packets from Muqiu for their own dish. Turning to Yucheng, she asked, “Good?”

“Mmm!” Yucheng confirmed.

Mucheng nodded, satisfied, and proceeded to open up her own cheesy mac. She had been wanting to introduce an even healthier eating lifestyle for a while now after succeeding in weaning them off from eating delivered food every day. It wasn’t like she was going to completely eliminate fast food or anything, she also loved those stuff! But eating healthier on other days would be good for them.

The lights dimmed, startling their group; they had been distracted enough to have missed the entire introductory part and the first game of the day was about to begin. The projection in the middle built up six tall columns in the center of the stadium followed by six characters with Troubling Rain taking the biggest spotlight as Huang Shaotian’s familiar chatter filtered through the speakers.

“Ah… they should really mute him,” Ye Xiu tsked.

“No, no, the fans like the verbal chat option,” Mucheng reminded. “They should just pretend to have technical problems for his booth next time. ‘Because you spoke so much, the mic got dizzy, sir!’”

Ye Xiu snorted. “He’s going to be even noisier after!”

“That Launcher’s got bad luck! Imagine getting chosen for a Targets game? Ouch!” Muqiu remarked.

“Mm...” Mucheng eyed the Launcher in question with pursed lips. While her chosen class had many advantages, speed was not one of them and Targets was all about speed. “She doesn’t have a gun…” If the player did then she would fare better but without one and only a hand cannon, she’d need pro-level skill to pull off hitting all the targets being spat out with increasing speed. “Oooh no!”

The player had tried a Swing, lost her footing and toppled off. First one eliminated.

“What do you think?” Ye Xiu tapped Mucheng’s hand.

“Mmm… I wouldn’t hit the Targets one-by-one. I’d hit them by bulk.”

“Good strategy,” Ye Xiu praised shortly. “That could work but you still wouldn’t win.”

“It’s not possible unless…” Muqiu frowned thoughtfully.

Xiu’er took one look at Muqiu and declared, “We’ve lost him. Brace for a new experiment later.”

“At least we have a lot of rare materials now…” Ye Xiu said absently.

“Yep,” Mucheng nodded approvingly at Ye Xiu’s blasé attitude. She was worried he still had misgivings over what had happened to Excellent Era. Even though she was sure he didn’t know what happened exactly, the fact that they acquired all the account cards clearly declared that their former Club no longer had any future. But with Muqiu around, it seemed Ye Xiu had let go of Excellent Era.

Her smile faltered a bit as that last thought hit her. All this time, you shouldered and treasured ge’s dreams so much. More than yourself. She licked her lips and swallowed the thickness in her throat then took a deep breath to settle herself. Everything was fine. Her brother was back and they had two more siblings. Plus, Ye Qiu was more present in Ye Xiu’s life. Everything was more than fine.

Ye Xiu wouldn’t fall back to being so callous with his own self. They wouldn’t allow him to.

“Ahh… two more and Huang Shaotian would’ve gotten a perfect score! Tsk, tsk.”

“How strict,” Mucheng joked, leaning her head briefly on Ye Xiu’s shoulder. “Who do you think will go next?” she asked, just to talk as the host announced the next game to be going through a Maze.

“That’s a hard question,” Ye Xiu replied. “It would’ve been you.”

Mucheng chuckled. “Yeah… oh? It’s Fang Rui!”

“Thief, huh? Not a bad class for this map. What do you guys think?”

“Sharpshooter,” Muqiu suggested.

“Or…” Xiu’er tilted his head. “Ninja?”

“I can see that. But! Sharpshooter can use Aerial Fire to see and travel above the hedges.”

Ye Xiu pointed at Muqiu with a nod. “Smart.”

“Heh!” Muqiu puffed his chest out playfully. “I’m Su Muqiu!”

“What non-existent muscle are you flexing?” Xiu’er scorned.

Mucheng burst out in laughter at her brother’s affronted look. “Ouch, Xiu’er!”

“Everyone… why are you being so noisy? They’re starting!” Yucheng whined.

“Sorry, sorry! Let’s watch!” Mucheng patted Yucheng’s head indulgently. Thinking about it now, she hadn’t had the chance to act mildly spoilt like this either, too worried about putting more burden on Ye Xiu’s shoulders. How nice to see Yucheng and Xiu’er carefree like this.

“Hey, there’s really a Sharpshooter,” Muqiu exclaimed.

“But he’s not using Aerial Fire,” Xiu’er sighed. “What a waste!”

“Maybe he doesn’t know how to use Aerial Fire?” Muqiu offered, placating.

Xiu’er thought over this and nodded. “Right… what a shame. We would’ve won that, right?”

“Then, let’s hope you’ll be picked for the next game,” Ye Xiu said.

“No thanks! I’m already doing the bonus round.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Ye Xiu remembered. “Muqiu, it’s up to you.”

Muqiu shook his head with a grin. “Ha ha!”

The rest of the game went on without too much suspense and Fang Rui expectedly won the game. After a short interview, the Maze participants walked off the stage and the last game was introduced: Hurdles. Followed by the next All-Star player: Zhou Zekai. The crowd went wild and the stadium nearly shook with the force of their raucous, drowning out the seat numbers called out.

However, when the last number flashed on the screens, Mucheng blinked in bewilderment.

“That’s… my number?” Muqiu mumbled in confusion.

Xiu’er laughed humorously. “No way. What kind of luck is that?”

“Go, go, go, ge!” Yucheng cheered next to Mucheng who added on, “We’re rooting for you!”

“Have fun,” Ye Xiu patted Muqiu on the back. “Use a Battle Mage,” he suggested, eyes twinkling.

Muqiu stared at Ye Xiu for a long moment, eyes narrowing in thought, before he nodded and left.

*~*~*~*

The crowd, made up predominantly of women including Zhou Zekai fans who loved a pretty face, reacted positively to Muqiu’s handsome appearance on stage and grew louder in volume when the host had the two lookers stand next to each other for maximum impact. Instant boost to ratings!

“Our last contestant is here and very handsome like the rest!” The host was mindful of the others.

In Misty Rain, Chu Yunxiu suddenly looked alive for the first time all day. “What a looker!”

Huang Shaotian noticed this too and his chattering switched gears smoothly, “Hey, hey, this guy seems popular already! If he plays well, we should have him join our Club, Captain. Let’s snatch all the sponsorships away from Samsara and that pretty boy Zekai! Our monastery needs money too!”

The other pro-players still didn’t care though and their half-there, half-not attitude remained.

“What’s your name?” the host continued with the standard questions after the welcome.

“Su Muqiu.”

“Muqiu, who is your favorite pro-player?”

“Su Mucheng and Ye Xiu, of course,” Muqiu smiled charmingly, eliciting another round of cheers.

A few pro-players raised their brows at the calm and not-at-all deferential way the Goddess and God had been mentioned but ultimately didn’t think too much of it. While others complained loudly:

“That Ye Xiu! Even when he’s not here, he’s still being chosen,” Fang Rui whined.

Huang Shaotian made some spitting noise in fake disgust. “Pei! Pei! Pei! Why is it that bastard? Can’t even reply to a single message, what’s good about him? Here I am worried and he won’t even read my messages! Plus, he’s not even playing this year! It’s obvious that I, this Sword Saint, am better!”

“Ah! Goddess Su Mucheng and Battle God Ye Xiu! Muqiu, do you play a Launcher or Battle Mage?”

“Mmm…” Muqiu swept his eyes over the crowd as he deliberated, grinning when the crowd stirred and plenty of females shrieked loudly. “For this game, I’ll be playing a Battle Mage.”

The host raised his brows. “This game? Is that not your main Class?”

“No,” Muqiu smiled cheekily, dimples showing. The noise which had been petering out, rose again.

Up on the stands, Chu Yunxiu was grinning merrily. “This guy knows how to work a crowd!”

“How interesting! Then, does this mean you need an account card?”

“Yup!” Muqiu popped his ‘p’ and lifted himself up cutely as he spoke, provoking more screams.

Meanwhile, in the audience, Ye Xiu smiled fondly, Xiu’er rolled his eyes and the Su sisters giggled.

“We’ll prepare an account for you,” the host informed. “Now, let’s start the game!”

The lights dimmed as the pro-players and chosen audience members made their way to their respective player booths, the latter group with the aid of staff members, and the Hurdles obstacle course materialized in the center of the stadium with projection technology for 3D viewing. One by one, the characters loaded onto the starting point with Cloud Piercer being the first to appear.

“Unusual to choose a non-main class to play,” Tian Sen observed.

The countdown began ticking down starting from three, the number super-imposed atop the map.

Chu Yunxiu turned to her new vice-captain. “Li Hua, if he’s talented, get the Club to contact him!”

3!

“Is there something special about the Battle Mage, Captain?” Deng Fusheng queried curiously after observing Wang Jiexi’s unusual interest in the randomly picked audience member. “Is he a trainee?”

2!

“Only one Battle Mage, perfect!” Huang Shaotian snapped his fingers. “What do you think, Captain?” he pestered. “He chose a different class to his main but he should be confident in using that too, right? Won’t it be such a waste if he plays poorly? We won’t recruit him! No sponsors, no money!”

1!

Cloud Piercer moved first and rushed forth using Aerial Fire followed by another pro-player, a Thief, and the other two audience members. The last pro-player, a Brawler, lagged behind at the starting point under the complete mercy of the Battle Mage. With an initial attack from behind, regardless of the Brawler being a pro, it was hard to escape or fight back especially when continuously combo’ed.

“What is he trying to do?” Wu Yuce questioned.

“Even audience members are aggressive now,” Lin Jingyan sighed forlornly. “Attacking pros…”

Xiao Shiqin frowned in thought. “He’s stacking up his combos. No way..?”

“…that pro is about to be aced,” Du Ming pointed out, eyebrows raised.

Dragon Breaks the Ranks speared through the Brawler, eating away the last of its health at the same time as the skill propelled the Battle Mage forward a long distance. The Brawler who had tossed out skill after skill with increasing desperation but had been unable to escape till the bitter end was eliminated just like that and tossed aside like scrap without even a chance to participate in the race.

Equipped with a Neutral Chaser and a sixth stage Battle Spirit, the Battle Mage rushed forward with terrifying speed. The glow which emanated from the character’s legs making the avatar seem like a comet was streaking through the map. With a wave of blue, the Battle Mage crashed against another pro-player, the Thief. Dragon Rises from the Sea roared impressively as it ate up health.

“He’s seriously trying to activate Battle Spirit,” Yu Wenzhou realized.

“This Battle Mage is incredibly skilled,” Wang Jiexi finally replied to Deng Fusheng. “He’s not using his main class and yet he managed to finish off the Brawler player and execute a 60 hit combo.”

Li Xuan laughed emptily. “Even against normal players, that combo is hard to achieve.”

“Old Lin, the kid is just being nice to the normal players.” Fang Rui noted. “Level’s not there.”

70… 80… 90… The Battle Mage continued to stack up combo hits as the Thief tried to maneuver away. Poison Gas Trap did nothing to deter the oncoming attacks, the low damage over time practically negligible to the full health of the Battle Mage. Stealth also failed, the two characters being in close quarters had ensured that the Thief was hit immediately after, cancelling the skill.

When the Thief pulled out its last trump card, Escape, and unfortunately missed, it was already over. The Battle Mage glowed gold, its light blinding from up close, as Battle Spirit was fully activated. Once more, the pro-player who had exhausted their usefulness was tossed aside, left to die like roadside kill as Dragon Breaks the Rank swept through him and thrusted the Battle Mage forward.

“Holy shit!” Liu Xiaobie snickered. “He actually aced two pros! Damn!”

A falling star. The Battle Mage looked like a falling star which fell in a linear movement on the map.

The Samsara fans in the crowd cried out anxiously as they watched the Battle Mage speed through the long distance to the front where the other characters were tussling within the blink of an eye.

It spoke greatly of the Battle Mage’s impressive performance that it took this long for the pros to realize that it wasn’t only the Battle Mage who had attacked. Cloud Piercer was on the defense.

“…those other two contestants are actually fighting with Zekai…” Yang Cong muttered in disbelief.

Two against one was an unfavorable situation but as it was against normal players, Cloud Piercer was doing well. However, it was still a bit difficult and not to mention time consuming to fight against a close-ranger and long-ranger. Certainly, the normal players’ health were already below 10% but – Cloud Piercer jerked away abruptly as a Draconic Crusher caught him in his blind spot.

BANG!

Falling Flower Palm hit the two normal players, throwing them against Cloud Piercer who had just rolled to a stand. The three characters toppled against each other, helpless as they were swept up into the air with Tyrant’s Destruction. Cloud Piercer twisted in the air with Aerial Fire and escaped, moving forwards along with the Battle Mage who had abandoned the normal players to rush on.

Aerial Fire vs Battle Spirit & Neutral Chaser

The outcome of that was already inevitable to the eyes of all but the Samsara fans in denial.

Cloud Piercer knew this too and quickly re-aimed its Aerial Fire to fall onto the Battle Mage as the glowing character passed by. It hit but there was no knock back effect and was essentially useless. There was sincerely nothing else Cloud Piercer could do. Subdue? He’d have to catch up first. Kill? Impossible with that full health even with two Barret Snipe headshots… which flung targets forward.

“Oh my god! He’s going to win!” Huang Shaotian roared with laughter. “For shame, Zhou Zekai!”

The Battle Mage crossed the finish line and executed a Rising Dragon Soars the Sky as its celebratory performance. As though declaring its master’s win, the dragon roared loudly whilst it soared into the sky before disappearing with multiple bursts of magical explosions akin to a large dragon firework.

“Wow…” Qiao Yifan uttered in amazement, staring at the spectacle in awe.

The showmanship rivalled strongly with what the audience had expected to see from Zhou Zekai’s Cloud Piercer. But in comparison, Cloud Piercer’s arrival on the finish line seemed lackluster. There was nothing Zhou Zekai could do about it, as a Sharpshooter there wasn’t any skill as flashy as a Dragon so Cloud Piercer contested with a strong, firm stance instead. It at least showed strength.

*~*~*~*

Thunderous applause and supportive shouts greeted the Hurdle contestants as they descended back onto the stage proper where the host waited and was subsequently ignored. The entire stadium including the other Hurdle contestants were focused on Muqiu who smiled neutrally. With such a pleasant appearance and no hint of arrogance, Samsara’s discontented fans could bear no ill will.

Zhou Zekai’s loss was just a fluke, they comforted themselves in this way.

“Welcome back, everyone!” The host greeted. “Did you enjoy the Hurdle game?”

Only the normal players replied with nods and a scatter of polite affirmation. Zhou Zekai wasn’t one to respond when he didn’t absolutely need to and the other two were still shaken over their loss.

“Muqiu, congratulations on your victory! Is there anything you’d like to say?” the host asked.

“It was really fun,” Muqiu smiled sweetly, causing a round of happy sighs in the audience section. “I wouldn’t have won without the Battle Spirit.” He peered around Zhou Zekai to the other pro-players and scratched at his neck shyly, an action that made squeals erupt. “Sorry about that by the way.”

What could the pro-players do? They just forced a smile onto their faces and nodded in acceptance.

“Your plan was quite bold!” the host exclaimed, attracting the attention back to himself and away from the two pale pro-players. “I think you’re the first audience member to win in All-Stars history!”

Muqiu grinned at this revelation much to the joy of the shrieking audience. “Yeah? Is there a prize?”

“Ah…” the host paused, likely to hear what was being said to his earpiece. “Well then, Muqiu, since this is a historic moment, we’ll try to grant a wish if possible. What would you like as your prize?”

Muqiu beamed brightly and his orange eyes glowed; the audience lost it. “Rare materials!” he said.

In the middle of the crazed crowd, his family of four face-palmed and sighed in exasperation.

Chapter Text

(January)

“Up next, we have the event you have all been waiting for: The Pro Challenge Competition!”

Right on cue, a number of Glory cards was projected spinning dizzyingly around in a circle above the host’s head. This went on for a few seconds before the spinning gradually slowed down, down and down until the cards came to a stop. One at a time, the cards disappeared until the card facing the middle of the audience remained and then flipped over to reveal the first pro to take on challengers.

“The first pro to take on a lucky audience member’s challenge is Samsara’s very own, Du Ming!”

Du Ming climbed up the stairs to the stage with a smile and waved at the cheering crowd.

“Okay, it’s time to find our first lucky pick from the crowd! Get ready to press your device… go!”

DING!

In the audience seat, Xiu’er choked on his smoothie. “Who pressed it?!”

“No one pressed it…” Ye Xiu replied blandly. “Can’t they put in more effort to being sneaky?”

The host called out the seat number, oblivious, but a few audience members recognized the seat number and began hollering unhappily as Muqiu, equally clueless, emerged from the shadows whilst talking to a staff member. “Ah!” The host finally realized what had happened. “Everyone, we’re very sorry. There’s been a technical issue. Please get ready to press your devices again. Ready… set… go!”

Huang Shaotian cackled unkindly in Team Blue Rain’s seating area. “Caught red-handed!”

DING!

“Congratulations! Audience member, please make your way down!”

There was a wave of reaction from the crowd once the chosen participant stepped into the light of the stage. Female players, as a rule, were always more treasured by the Glory community because it was rare to see them play professionally. Although this was a normal player and not a pro, it was still a rare treat and quite refreshing to see a female grace the stage.

“Hello, hello! You’re a very beautiful lady! May I ask your name?”

“I’m Tang Rou.”

Ye Xiu straightened up in his seat and tapped his companions’ arms. “It's Tang Rou,” he alerted.

“Oh?” Xiu’er, Mucheng and Yucheng all leaned forward in their seats.

The host didn’t waste the rare chance of having a beauty onstage and continued asking Tang Rou question after question, elongating the interview in a way he didn’t do for any other person before.

“How did you become interested in Glory?”

“I always won the Arena battles for my friend but one day someone beat me ten times in a row.”

“Your competitive fire was awakened?”

“That’s right. I’m being guided by the one who beat me now.”

“Oh, what a good person! So they play the same Class as you?”

“No… I only played Glory to help my friend so I didn’t have my own Class at that time.”

“And yet you won many Arena battles! Miss Tang Rou, you’re certainly very special!”

“Haha not really.”

“Very humble too. How long have you been playing?”

“A month.”

“Oh, then this means you need an account card! What Class?”

“Striker.”

“Could it be, your favorite pro-player is also a Striker?”

“You mean Desert Dust? No. I haven’t played with him.”

Zhang Xinjie’s brows furrowed at her response. “What a weird thing to say.”

Beside him, Han Wenqing grunted in agreement.

The host laughed in surprise. “Everyone wants that chance too! So which pro-player do you like?”

“Pro-player…” Tang Rou tilted her head in thought. “Ye Xiu and Su Mucheng.”

“Goddess Su Mucheng! And God Ye Xiu! They’re very popular today even though they’re not here!”

“Bastard!” Fang Rui cursed. “Ye Xiu again?!”

Huang Shaotian ranted loudly for the same reason, tossing out accusations along with his frustration at not being replied to on QQ in the mix until he was stopped by Yu Wenzhou’s hand over his mouth.

Neither of them were really unhappy, mildly disappointed perhaps, but being a favorite of a female Glory player only meant so much. They were just the kind of people to shout and yell and generally be noisy no matter what as their own form of entertainment. Their disappointment could have been avoided though if only the host hadn’t rephrased his question and changed, “favorite” to “like.”

Tang Rou would have then answered with an honest, “no one” because while she had become interested in the pro-scene, she was still not as invested as her friend, Chen Guo. So Tang Rou wasn’t devoted enough to have any favorites. However, she knew and was acquainted with the Best Partners both as Chen Guo’s favorite pro-players and as Lord Grim and Cleansing Mist in-game.

Although neither Lord Grim, Cleansing Mist nor anyone else in that group had revealed anything, Tang Rou had been able to figure out their identities. It hadn’t been too hard either since Ye Xiu had introduced himself with his real name and Cleansing Mist had offered to be called, “Mumu.” Plus, with their level of skill and knowledge easily overcoming everyone else’s in-game including the elites…

But she was just guessing and she wouldn’t ask for confirmation nor would she reveal anything.

It wasn’t her place.

The host continued on, “Is there a reason you chose to play a Striker when God Ye Xiu plays a Battle Mage and Goddess Su Mucheng plays a Launcher? Actually, it is God Ye Xiu’s rival who plays Striker!”

“Because the person guiding me right now said I suited the Striker class.”

“Ah, this is the person who ignited your interest for Glory. Okay!” The host raised his hand up with a flourish and moved over to a smiling Du Ming who had been patiently waiting by the side. “It’s now nearly time for the match! Du Ming, is there anything you would like to say to Miss Tang Rou?”

Du Ming’s smile widened. “Enjoy the match, play well and good luck!”

“Thank you,” Tang Rou nodded politely.

With further ado, they made their way to their respective booths as the stadium darkened then Du Ming’s Blade Master materialized inside a basic map followed by a Striker and the match began.

“Fuck! Woah, woah, woah! The pretty girl is fierce!” Fang Rui blurted out, eyes wide.

Yu Wenzhou frowned in consideration whilst Huang Shaotian chattered. “Striker…”

“This Striker’s playstyle is familiar,” Deng Fusheng told Wang Jiexi.

Zhang Xinjie leaned back and shifted closer to Han Wenqing, “With more experience, she’ll go far.”

“Du Ming was caught off guard,” Wu Yuce noted. “He’s being suppressed by her speed.”

In the audience seats, Ye Xiu, Muqiu and Xiu’er were discussing the fight too.

“If we compare them, Du Ming’s still the better player,” Ye Xiu stated objectively.

Xiu’er nodded. “Yes, but she’s also a bit skilled and has an effective enough high APM to top it off.”

“The element of surprise helped her gain the upper hand,” Muqiu mused.

“Poor guy, we’ve taught her so well. She’s going to win if she doesn’t make any mistake.”

“You’re smiling,” Ye Xiu snorted. “We really taught her well, huh?”

“Cloud Body... Reinforced Iron Bones… she’s going in for the kill,” Muqiu declared.

Xiu’er smirked. “It’s just too bad she hasn’t learned many higher skills – ah, there’s Emperor’s Fist.”

“And Dual Tiger Fists! Poor guy,” Muqiu pressed his lips together in sympathy.

VICTORY! Flashed on the massive screens up front and, for the second time that day, Samsara’s fans experienced a loss. They were now feeling utterly miserable. For the Hurdle, the loss had been shocking but they didn’t feel too bad about it but this… Du Ming looked pitiful next to the Striker! Such a shameful loss was unacceptable to them. Even the pro-players were shaking their heads.

“He shouldn’t have lost like that…” Xiao Shiqin sighed.

Li Xuan nudged Wu Yuce. “Effective and fast APM. Du Ming should’ve been more on guard.”

“Holy shit! Du Ming asked for a rematch! What the fuck!” Huang Shaotian bellowed. “Shameless!”

“What a disgrace,” Han Wenqing muttered disdainfully.

“Du Ming’s trying to regain face,” Wang Jiexi concluded. “Can’t be helped.”

The match this time started with more gusto from Du Ming who took the initiative to take first blood and show off why he was called the “Berserk Blade Master” of Team Samsara. Tang Rou didn’t stand a chance. But then, true to her nature, she requested for a rematch which Du Ming couldn’t refuse.

“You’re joking,” Xiu’er chuckled disbelievingly.

“She’s really like that,” Ye Xiu smiled helplessly. “You should duel with her next time.”

Mucheng leaned in and whispered near-conspiratorially, “A lot of pro-players are having their faces slapped this weekend…” She looked up at Ye Xiu and smiled widely. “Ye Xiu, go down and stop her.”

“Hah? What nonsense are you saying?” Ye Xiu asked, incredulous.

“You should go if she’s really the type to not stop. She might listen to you,” Muqiu pointed out reasonably. He produced a mask and cap from somewhere and helped put them on. “There.”

“Why did you prepare for this…”

Muqiu shrugged. “It was for Mucheng. Just in case.”

“Okay, okay,” Ye Xiu tugged the cap down even lower and made his way to the player booth Tang Rou was using. It was a familiar path to him and he knew how to avoid staff members so it didn’t take him long to slip into the room, startling Tang Rou who was about to accept a third rematch.

“Ye Xiu?” Tang Rou whispered in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“Stopping you from doing another match…”

Tang Rou frowned. “I can win again.”

“Of course, you can. But… like this, you win, he wins. You lose, he loses. What’s the point?”

“Point?” Tang Rou’s brows furrowed.

“There’s none, right? You can prove yourself later in an official stage. Not like this, doing a back and forth like you’re in-game. In the professional world, you win with a Championship. Let me end this.”

“You’ll play?” Tang Rou looked surprised and conflicted but after a few seconds, she stepped away from the computer. “Ye Xiu… what do you want me to tell everyone after you win this match?”

Ye Xiu blinked at her and then he smiled. “Ah, so you do know.”⁽¹⁾

“I know.”

“Tell them whatever you want. I’m not going down with you.”

“Okay,” Tang Rou accepted this and the third match began.

With Ye Xiu playing, Du Ming’s defeat wasn’t a question of “if” but “when” and “how fast.” The answer was: very fast. From start to finish, the whole stadium and home viewers watched as a pro-player was squashed like an ant under a God’s feet. The non-titled roster of Samsara were all on their feet, watching in horror as their teammate was humiliated on public stage with no mercy.

Doing such a thing wasn’t Ye Xiu’s intention. He just wanted to ensure that Du Ming wouldn’t ask for another rematch and didn’t think about how crushing it would be, too used to the ‘trial by fire’ way with which he trained Muqiu and Xiu’er. But Du Ming had signed up for a carefree fight with an audience member, not a pro-league level match and definitely not a fight against God Ye Xiu.

“Why isn’t Du Ming fighting back?” Lu Boyuan cried out in worry. “Du Ming!!!”

“It’s fine to be cautious,” Jiang Botao comforted the members.

However, Zhou Zekai tore down their spirits with a firm, “He can’t fight back. No opportunities.”

“Are you saying Du Ming can’t do anything? He’s going to lose?” Wu Qi collapsed onto his seat.

“Woah! Woah! Why is Du Ming so unlucky?!” Huang Shaotian guffawed and draped himself over Yu Wenzhou. “Captain, Captain… do you think a pro slipped out to teach him a lesson? This person –,”

“No, I already checked,” Yu Wenzhou replied.

Li Xuan winced as the fight neared its end. “That’s…” he didn’t finish his sentence.

“All-Stars is really brutal this year,” Wu Yuce expressed. “I’m feeling second-hand trauma.”

“Miss Tang Rou is almost certainly Soft Mist,” Wang Jiexi murmured to himself. “So this is… Ye Xiu?”

Once more, VICTORY! Flashed on the big screens as though mocking Samsara’s team and fans. The pro-players glanced over with undisguised pity but soon turned their attention back to the screen when the people behind the scenes zoomed into the public chat where a parting message was left:

“Glory isn’t a single player game.”

A few pro-players’ eyes flew wide open in shock and a number even stood up. Among them was Huang Shaotian who gaped at the screen before attempting to bolt out of Team Blue Rain’s stand, likely to go to the player’s booth, but Yu Wenzhou stopped him with a pre-emptive grip on the wrist.

On Tyranny’s side, Han Wenqing had become as still as a statue, uttering only a resolute, “Ye Xiu!”

*~*~*~*

The stadium was eerily silent as the audience reeled from the shock of the last match. If even those who weren’t partial to Du Ming felt shocked to muteness, what more the Samsara fans? Their earlier misery, mollified slightly by the win of the second match, had come back with a vengeance. A one-sided match. How many players could say they witnessed such a thing happen to normal players?

A few handful.

Yet they had all just watched a pro-player be suppressed from start to finish at an unofficial match during the All-Stars Weekend. No one had expected it and no one knew how to react. Except for the broadcasters who cared little about the impact to Du Ming and Samsara but plenty for their ratings. With them in charge of logistics, they moved some spotlights to shine on the two player booths.

First to exit was Tang Rou who had a neutral smile on her pretty face followed by a pale, shaky Du Ming and then… and then… there was no ‘and then’. No one else stepped out of the player booth after Tang Rou which confused the broadcasters. It can’t have also been her playing in the third match, right? Even as noobs, they realized the feeling of the third match was different to the rest!

“Miss Tang Rou, did another player join you?” the host asked politely.

After all, even though the playstyle had been wildly different in the last match and everyone assumed there had been a second player, it wasn’t confirmed so it would be rude to not verify first.

Tang Rou answered truthfully, “Yes, but he already left.”

Zhang Xinjie regarded Han Wenqing. “Was that line something he says often?”

“Left?” the host repeated dumbly.

“It is,” Han Wenqing replied. “Ye Xiu… are you declaring your return?” he wondered aloud.

 “He’s not coming,” Tang Rou rephrased. “I don’t suggest waiting for him.”

“Damn,” Deng Fusheng blew out some air and leaned back in his seat.

“Ah… then, do you know who he is?”

“She won’t say his name,” Lin Jingyan muttered.

 “Yes,” Tang Rou smiled. “I do.”

Huang Shaotian shifted restlessly in his seat. “Captain! I wasn’t seeing things, right? Right? Right?”

The host briefly despaired at her evasive answers. “Can you tell us who he is?”

“You weren’t seeing things,” Yu Wenzhou assured his vice-captain.

“I don’t think I should say his name but he’s the one who’s been guiding me.”

“So,” Xiao Shiqin mumbled to himself, “Senior Ye’s coming back soon.”

The host thought back. “The person who suggested you play as a Striker?”

“With her style and no room for another Battle Mage, Striker’s a good choice,” Wang Jiexi mused.

“That’s him,” Tang Rou replied. She looked at Du Ming’s obviously unwell form – pale, sweaty and dazed –, and leaned past the host a bit to lightly pat his arm. “I enjoyed our matches, thank you.”

“Appearing out of nowhere…” Chu Yunxiu complained as she typed a reply on her phone.

Du Ming blinked slowly and forced out a shaky smile. “You’re good.”

“Captain,” Jiang Botao tilted his phone to show Zhou Zekai the lit screen. “I asked Yunxiu,” he explained. “She said she’s heard Senior Ye say such line before. It was likely him fighting Du Ming.”

“You’re better,” Tang Rou returned naturally. “The gap is big. I’ll work harder.”

“So it’s like that,” Zhou Zekai simply said.

In contrast to the high intensity fight, the closing was lackluster; Du Ming too shaken up to say much and Tang Rou defaulting back to polite if blunt replies. The Samsara fans managed to clap, slightly thawed from the lack of attitude from Tang Rou and the easy admittance that Du Ming was a better player. He really is a great player! Was what they all cried from inside their weary, injured hearts.

The host apologized for the lack of time to do more challenges then swiftly moved on to the next event in a bid to revive the atmosphere. ‘Bonus Round’ pulsed obnoxiously on the massive screens and at the audience’s face with the help of 3D projection which practically shoved the introduction down everyone’s throat. It worked well in garnering attention and the crowd stirred with interest.

But the distraction didn’t hold up for long as the host explained what the ‘Bonus Round’ was about, how it worked and, lastly, which pro-player was going to step up for the special challenge. Everyone stared in mingled incredulity as a very familiar face and name was introduced and Samsara’s fans plunged right back into the cold fires of hell. Team Samsara’s Captain Zhou Zekai was going up again.

Samsara’s fans pleaded inside their hearts: Please, please don’t lose this time, Captain!

*~*~*~*

“Guess it’s my turn.”

Ye Xiu, Muqiu, Mucheng and Yucheng patted Xiu’er’s back supportively.

*~*~*~*

The moment Xiu’er appeared on the massive screens, there were a few sharp inhales from the pro-player stands. Han Wenqing in particular turned rigid once more, his eyes bulging in shock, whilst Huang Shaotian cursed once and only once; alarming his teammates. The audience, though, didn’t react beyond a gaggle loudly whooping in satisfaction at having another handsome male on stage.

“Welcome, welcome! Our lucky winner, what’s your name?”

“Ye Xiu – er,” Xiu’er smirked slightly. “My name is Xiu’er.”

“They’re definitely related,” Huang Shaotian decided, his face white like he’d seen a ghost.

“How do you feel to have won the only ticket for this never-before-seen event?”

Xiu’er swept his eyes along the team stands, smirk intact. “I’m looking forward to the match.”

“Are you a fan of Glory’s number one, Zhou Zekai?”

“For Gunner class...” Xiu’er’s golden eyes twinkled. “My siblings are my favorites.”

The audience took a second to process then began to scream their approval at the moe.

“What a very sweet thing to say! So, your siblings play Gunner classes?”

Xiu’er tilted his head, eyeing Blue Rain and Tiny Herb, and vaguely replied, “Yes.”

“This fucker,” Huang Shaotian cursed while Yu Wenzhou said, “How sly.”

“Wow!” The host exclaimed and turned to Zhou Zekai. “What do you think about that, God Zhou?”

“Good,” Zhou Zekai smiled slightly.

Samsara’s fans, who had been quietly stressing about the upcoming match, finally joined in on the crowd’s clamor after their Captain’s cute smile which was obviously a non-verbal signal to relax. With a calmer countenance, they allowed themselves to check out the opponent and collectively thought: How handsome! This was followed by a few more praises: “Golden eyes… golden eyes… I think I’m in love!” “If the host wasn’t there, this view could be a poster!” “Two brightly shining stars!”

“Do you have anything to say to Xiuer before the match?” the host continued.

“…” Zhou Zekai blinked. And then he blinked again.

“A man of few words!” The host excused, looking stressed. “Xiuer, anything you’d like to say?”

“I want to play a Sharpshooter today. Is that alright?” Xiu’er drawled charmingly.

The host’s eyes widened briefly in surprise. “Of course, of course! Do you need an account card?”

Xiu’er smiled winningly at the camera, thawing any suspicions that might have been triggered. “Yes.”

“No problem! Since this is a Bonus Round, you may also request for God Zhou to use Cloud Piercer.”

“Oh?” Xiu’er, for the first time, looked directly at Zhou Zekai. His expression remained neutral in a way that didn’t incite reaction any one way but, to the more observant eye, was clearly artificial; completely controlled and closed-off without revealing any true depth. He turned back to the host. “Although it’s a waste, I want to have a good match tonight so the provided accounts will be fine.”

“You’re certainly quite ambitious! We look forward to a good match as well. Shall we begin?”

Zhou Zekai nodded then walked towards his booth. Xiu’er followed suit.

Chapter Text

(January)

Bonus Round: Zhou Zekai vs Ye Xiu’er

Samsara, Tyranny and Blue Rain. These three teams overflowed with restless energy which rivalled the anticipatory atmosphere of the audience as the final match of the day began. For Samsara, they were restless with worry, knowing clearly the importance of leaving a good impression for the day and hoping their Captain wouldn’t disappoint in giving a flashy performance to cover their losses.

As for Teams Tyranny and Blue Rain, their members shifted uneasily at the serious expressions on their Captain and Vice-Captain’s faces. Han Wenqing, intimidating on a normal day, was more so now. Meanwhile, nothing was more terrifying to Team Blue Rain than a quiet Huang Shaotian.

In the game, two unfamiliar characters loaded onto the screen one after the other.

Zhou Zekai – Titan Hades

Ye Xiu’er – Leaping Dragon

Surprisingly, before either moved, a message appeared in the chat box.

[Leaping Dragon]: Let’s meet in the middle?

“Head-on, no frills?” Fang Rui whistled. “Kid’s got balls.”

[Titan Hades]: K

As Fang Rui said, the two avatars straightforwardly rushed for the center of the map like discussed. No hint of foul play anywhere which pleased Team Samsara and their fans greatly. A good start! But this brief respite was quickly wiped away once the two characters neared each other enough to see vague outlines of one another. Without stopping, Leaping Dragon raised a gun, took aim and shot.

Titan Hades evaded the shot at the last minute with a quick move. In his booth, Zhou Zekai’s eyes were narrowed in surprise, surprised that the other was able to aim from afar and with such accuracy too. The pro-players in the stands thought the same and straightened up in attention.

Multiple shots came hailing down from both sides once they both arrived at the clearing and within seconds the match became a mess. Bullets! Bullets everywhere! The audience could no longer see anything properly past the visual effects of the skills being thrown out. Delicate maneuvering of each player in order to deliver effective attacks? Hidden behind smoke! The two players? Can’t be seen!

A worse tragedy could not be imagined!

The match was a mystery up to the imagination of the onlookers who could only switch between the perspectives to gain some sort of understanding. But they might as well have kept with the god view because both Zhou Zekai and Ye Xiu’er’s point of views were unwatchable. Normal players couldn’t understand how they were playing while the pro-players’ expressions displayed intrigued focus.

For pro-players, having such a dizzying viewpoint was normal for high-intensity, fast-paced matches where, instead of solely relying on what the player could see like normal players did, the pros would further rely on their vast experience to calculate their enemy’s viewpoint, judge the skills being used through sound and use prediction to keep a step ahead. For a non-pro to have this level of skill...

“Shit,” Lin Jingyan cursed uncharacteristically. “This kid… must really be related to Ye Xiu.”

Zhang Xinjie, with a hand on his glasses to prevent it from slipping down, noted, “He’s talented.”

“What is wrong with the audience this year?” Fang Minghua sighed, shaking his head.

“Their health bars,” Wang Jiexi pointed out to his team, “are decreasing at a steady, equal rate.”

Just then, Leaping Dragon was thrust out of the smoke and into the air. Samsara’s fans got ready to cheer when they saw a grenade being tossed back. It exploded with a billow of dust and the knockback threw Leaping Dragon back into the fog without damage. What everyone thought had been a stupid mistake just became clear and they then thought: crazy but creative and ingenius!

However… without mercy, the entire clearing was now shrouded in fog. Blinded again!

The pro-players could only laugh bitterly at their own and everyone else’s plight. It was hard not to wish the realistic effects away to clear the view so they could properly evaluate Xiu’er but they wouldn’t dare say such out loud when they used the same effects to their own advantage during matches. But the normal players had no such feeling, they shouted out their displeasure on site and raged online.

Li Xuan smiled without really smiling. “The picks this year… have some true monsters.”

“Watch carefully,” Wang Jiexi told the rookies in his team. “He’ll be your future opponent.”

“This Xiuer is pushing Zhou Zekai to play very seriously,” Xiao Shiqin observed.

“Xinjie,” Han Wenqing called for his vice-captain. “Did the guild not report any new talents?”

Leaping Dragon came into view once more and this time with Titan Hades, both characters in a fierce tussle as they crashed sideways against a tree. Gun Fu! This technique was identified by everyone at once except it wasn’t just Titan Hades executing the technique, Leaping Dragon was too. It was beautiful. Never before had there been such a high quality Gun Fu fight between two Sharpshooters.

Equal… everyone could see it now, not just the pros.

Leaping Dragon was fighting on equal grounds with Titan Hades. Based on skills alone and without silver equipment, a regular player was fighting on equal grounds with the Great Gunner, Glory’s current number one. Zhou Zekai was one of an exclusive number of Godly existences in Glory and they were now witnessing someone who was on par. Shivers ran up the spines of the watchers.

Birth of a new God?

Titan Hades bent down for a Knee Strike but Leaping Dragon unexpectedly jumped up then up again, ingeniously using the tree trunk for an extra boost. This was an impressive show of mechanical skill and timing. Leaping Dragon wasn’t done though and continued with another grenade thrown down. Titan Hade slid left to avoid the damage but was thrown back against the tree as Leaping Dragon –

Roundhouse Kick!

Punisher!

The Samsara fans in the stadium cried out and Team Samsara tensed up.

Barrett Snipe!

Dual Load!

Barrett Snipe!

Suppressed, Titan Hades unleashed Random Firing, forcing Leaping Dragon back but the damage from the double Barret Snipe was done. Their health bars were no longer in the same race. Titan Hades had lost a lot of health from the head shots and was now at a dangerously low 15%, severely disadvantaged against Leaping Dragon’s 29%. Distance would be good but Leaping Dragon rushed in.

Firearm Martial Arts!

Firearm Martial Arts!

Both characters activated the same skill and an even fiercer version of their tussling from earlier was reenacted. Titan Hades slipped in two Barret Snipes in between, sliding down Leaping Dragon’s health to 13%. Whereas Leaping Dragon went for Random Firing with double buff from Rapid Firing and Burst Firing. Titan Hades’ health depleted to 8%. With every hit, every shot, blood soared.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! THUD! BANG!

Leaping Dragon’s 13% went down to 7%.

THUD! BANG! BANG! THUD! BANG! THUD!

Titan Hades’ 8% lowered to 5%.

Such difference in DPS didn’t alert majority of the normal players but the pro-players were stirring.

“Are you paying attention?” Wang Jiexi turned to his rookies. “What do you see?” he asked.

“What’s he doing? Why is he suddenly hitting less?” Fang Rui demanded.

 Han Wenqing growled. “This kid… does he plan on losing?”

 “I don’t get it. What does he want?” Yang Cong muttered, confused. “Did he just want exposure?”

Leaping Dragon escaped from the close quarters fight with a Slide Kick away and, in a never before seen maneuver, outstretched his arm towards Titan Hades mid-slide and shot once, twice, thrice.

“THE FUCK!” Huang Shaotian finally shouted and Team Blue Rain breathed a sigh of relief.

Titan Hades’ health stepped down from 5% to 2.5% and immediately retaliated with Random Firing, Zhou Zekai having decided to forget looking for a chance to do critical shots and just taking what damage he could. Leaping Dragon was clipped solidly on the chest and his 7% lessened to 3%.

“Fuck me. Even if this guy loses, what face do I have left to show?” Du Ming groaned.

“He’s not planning on losing,” Zhang Xinjie spoke up abruptly. “He wants a draw.”

Leaping Dragon rolled upright and was immediately beset with bullets. He didn’t dodge and instead ran to a tree, leapt up the side and landed on a branch in an impressive show of mechanics. While doing so, he fired at a random spot thrice which bewildered everyone. But they all quickly decided that Leaping Dragon had, for the first time in the match, finally made a fatal mistake at 1% health.

Samsara and their fans held their breaths, readying themselves to cheer.

“Damn! He could have won with another Barret Snipe!” Huang Shaotian tsked.

Yu Wenzhou frowned. “What was he shooting at –,”

Glory’s logo flew out to cover the massive screens: DRAW!

Shocked silence.

The logo disappeared and a replay immediately began to play with a focus on Titan Hades and everyone was shown how blood spewed out in arcs from three head shots which had come from nowhere. It was suddenly clear that Leaping Dragon hadn’t made a mistake at all but had somehow managed to execute three perfectly accurate Curve Firing shots at Titan Hades from a blind angle.

Yu Wenzhou inhaled. “…he set up a draw. He is far more terrifying than I thought.”

“Fuck me,” Fang Rui and Wu Yuce cursed with much feeling in their respective stands.

“Mmm. Hot and talented,” Chu Yunxiu smiled. “Have the Club find out his contact details, Li Hua.”

The audience cheered with all they had as the two players returned to the stage, very satisfied with the brilliant match and utterly happy to see the good-looking duo back on the big screen. Samsara’s fans were right there alongside everyone else; a draw was, in the end, not a loss. And after such an amazing fight, they also weren’t too unhappy so they made sure their Captain heard their support.

“An impressive duel! Glory fans, did you enjoy yourselves?”

Everyone offered another round of enthusiastic hollers, increasing in volume when Xiu’er winked.

“God Zhou, what did you think of Xiuer’s skills?”

Zhou Zekai looked at Xiu’er, assessing intently, and said, “Very good.”

“Xiuer, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to have a good match. Are you satisfied?”

“Very,” Xiu’er echoed with a slight smirk which only grew wider after the ensuing screams.

“With such high praise from our very own Great Gunner and with what we all just saw, we can see that you’re a very talented player. Are you a part of any Club’s training camp?” the host queried.

Majority of the pro-teams leaned forward, eager to hear the answer and find out whether they had a new talent to reel in or not. If they did then there would no doubt be a race between the Clubs.

Xiu’er laughed good-naturedly. “No, I’m not and I have no plans on joining one.”

This disappointing answer caused a chorus of “aww” to reverberate throughout the stadium.

“Everyone’s excited to see you on stage again!” the host gestured to the crowd. “I’m sure there are many Clubs who want to talk to you too! Don’t you want to become a professional player?”

“I do,” Xiu’er answered honestly, smirk turned teasing. “But I haven’t played in a while so I’m still in the middle of reacquainting myself with Glory’s new skills. Last time I played was around eight years ago.”

A ripple of shocked noises extended out from the pro-player stands to the back of the stadium.

“When we get back,” Han Wenqing began, “remember to ask the guild –,”

“Already done,” Zhang Xinjie pushed his glasses back up. “There’s a group in the 10^th Server. Five main members, two regulars and plenty more often seen with them. The main five are a Battle Mage, Sharpshooter, Unspecialized and two Launchers. The regulars are a Brawler and a Striker.”

“He only just started playing again..?” Wang Jiexi shook his head, feeling defeated.

The host cleared his throat to regain the attention of the chattering audience then waited patiently as the noise began to peter out before continuing, “How come you stopped playing for so long?”

Xiu’er shrugged. “Things happened. It wasn’t intentional,” he laughed.

“When you get used to level 70, can we expect to see you in the pro scene?”

“Mmm, sure, that’s the plan,” Xiu’er flashed a grin to the audience who hollered obligingly for him.

“God Zhou, what do you think about another talented Sharpshooter in the Pro-League?”

“Will wait,” Zhou Zekai replied, still intently studying Xiu’er who gently tugged the mic over.

“Hold on, hold on. Sharpshooter isn’t my main class,” Xiu’er reminded.

The whole stadium and those watching the broadcast experienced a collective mind reboot.

“Fucker’s not even a goddamn Sharpshooter. Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me!” Fang Rui swore.

“He did say…” Yu Wenzhou and Wang Jiexi recalled. “So then which one is he?”

Xiao Shiqin sighed heavily. “More frightening talents are coming…”

“With that face, he’s a carbon-copy of Old Ye!” Huang Shaotian hissed. “Battle Mage!” he guessed.

The host stuttered a little, “Not – How are you so good at it?” he asked bluntly.

“Oh that? That’s nothing. My friend’s better. He played the Battle Mage against Zhou Zekai earlier.”

Excuse me? crossed everyone’s mind as they rewound their memories back before stuttering to a stop at the Battle Mage who had aced two pro-players, activated Battle Spirit and won over Zhou Zekai. The pros rolled their shoulders to shrug off the sudden sense of foreboding they felt and sent out prayers for their future selves who would surely have to fight these new monster players.

“The Battle Mage!” the host darted a glance at the shocked Zhou Zekai. “You’re friends!”

“I see him as family. He’s my number one favorite Gunner,” Xiu’er stated blithely.

“He doesn’t play a Battle Mage?” the host questioned desperately. “What are your Classes?”

Xiu’er smiled mischievously. “I play all Classes,” he shrugged, eyes twinkling. “But my favorite is the Battle Mage Class. As for my friend… Muqiu excels at all the Gunner Classes. All of them.”

“Devils,” Huang Shaotian grumbled. “Old Ye’s raising fucking devils.”

“I see,” Wang Jiexi said faintly, reaching up to rub at his temple.

“He must be Ye Xiu’s true successor,” Han Wenqing decided. “What’s he planning?”

“Senior Ye… is he planning on making his own team?” Xiao Shiqin thought aloud.

The host offered a nervous chuckle. “You two are very good playing each other’s favorite Classes.”

Xiu’er just laughed leisurely. “I really did enjoy playing with you, Zhou Zekai. Can I have a hug?”

“Oh! God Zhou,” the host addressed a wide-eyed Zhou Zekai as well, “will you grant his request?”

“…en,” Zhou Zekai nodded resolutely and stepped forward.

The crowd went wild, the females especially, at seeing two handsome men embrace.

“Zhou Zekai,” Xiu’er murmured with a squeeze of his arms around a slim waist, “it was an honor.”

“En,” Zhou Zekai agreed before retreating.

“A heartwarming end to the second day of All-Stars! In a few minutes, we’ll be projecting the highlights of the day so please stay in your seats!” the host announced as the stage was cleared out.

*~*~*~*

“You’re here. Let’s go!”

Waiting under the veil of the shadowed passage which chosen audience members used to get to the stage were four silhouettes of varying heights. Xiu’er chuckled victoriously and joined his family as they made their way out of the stadium; they’d made plans on making a hasty escape once he was set free by the host since their presence in the event was going to be well and truly exposed by him.

“How was he?” Mucheng asked, smiling.

“Good. But Muqiu’s better,” Xiu’er shrugged. “His technique and control is amazing but his only flexibility is narrowed down to Gun Fu. Even after I pushed him, he didn’t show anything different.”

Muqiu elbowed him. “What’s with you? You’ve been praising me the whole day! I’ve goosebumps!”

“Did you hear that, Yucheng? Muqiu’s not used to being complimented!” Xiu’er ratted out.

“Eh? Ge, am I not boosting your confidence enough?” Yucheng queried innocently. “I’ll do better!”

Ye Xiu coughed to hide his laugh and whispered to Mucheng, “Devils in angel disguises.”

“Angel, angel,” Mucheng corrected airily.

“It’s just because Xiu’er’s doing it!” Muqiu defended himself. “It’s weird!”

“Hey, are you saying I’m not nice? I’m being bullied here, Yucheng.”

Yucheng giggled at their antics. “You two are silly!” She ran forward a bit then turned around to walk backwards. “Where are we going to eat? I want hot pot today! Mumu-jie, you agree with me, right?”

“Ah, that’s unfair!” Muqiu whined just for show.

“We’re going for hot pot!” Mucheng declared without waiting for agreements. “Hot pot, we go!”

“Hot pot! Hot pot! Hot pot!” Yucheng faced forward again and skipped in joy. “Yay!”

Xiu’er and Ye Xiu just smiled at the Su siblings, not really caring too much either way and always willing to cater to Mucheng regardless of the age or version. Much like Muqiu was as well, really.

The car they’d been using to go around the city was waiting for them outside and from there it was only a short ride to the hot pot restaurant Mucheng had quickly searched for on her phone. With dinner rush still two hours away, the staff weren’t busy and served them very efficiently which pleased them greatly as they were hungry and because they had decided on having an early night.

Well, Mucheng had decided on it in preparation for their photoshoot the next day and not one of them were particularly willing to contradict her, especially since she had that scary glint in her eyes. So Xiu’er could only sigh forlornly with Ye Xiu when she also decided that they couldn’t consume any red meat, spice or have too much oil. Modelling was really too much trouble… (˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥⋆)

“Stop sulking!” Mucheng laughed. “These soups are delicious, I promise!”

Xiu’er nodded as he ate a portion of Basa fish with Kombu. She wasn’t wrong. The tomato soup produced delicious fish slices while the fragrant Three Delicacies soup infused their shrimp, quail egg and vegetables with a very deep flavor which deepened further with a touch of sesame oil. Plus, he did have a side of egg fried rice but the lack of beef, chicken, pork, lamb and duck was torture!

“Noodles,” Ye Xiu said after finishing off a serving of shrimp and Chinese yam. “I need noodles.”

Mucheng signaled to a waiter. “Konjac noodles, please!”

“Wait – what on earth is Konjac?” Ye Xiu asked helplessly as the server rushed off.

“It feels a bit like vermicelli. Very nutritious and good for your health!” Mucheng smiled brightly. “Do any of you want something to drink? They have juice! I think I’ll go for the strawberry-flavored one.”

“…what is it?” Muqiu questioned suspiciously.

Xiu’er smartly plucked the menu he had hidden from behind his back and flipped to the drinks section. “I’m having water,” he decided firmly after a quick glance at the only non-alcoholic option.

“Yep, water’s good,” Muqiu agreed straight-away.

“Water,” Ye Xiu concurred. “Ice water,” he added after a pause.

“No fun!” Mucheng dared whine, completely unaffected by the half-hearted glares directed at her.

The rest of their early dinner thankfully went by without any more tricks though they did consume an unholy amount of fish, shrimp, egg, vegetables and mushroom along with a cup of egg fried rice and Konjac noodles much to the impressed horror of the staff. What did they expect though? There were three hungry males with no red meat to consume and a limited portion of carbs to go through.

Xiu’er wondered, not for the first time, whether the chaos they would no doubt collectively cause when their modelling photos were released would be worth all the effort and sacrifices. He sighed. Regardless of the worth or lack thereof, it wasn’t like he had a choice either way so if the chaos the release produced wasn’t enough, he was just going to have to stoke the flames up higher. (ʃƪ¬‿¬)

Chapter Text

Glory Forums  ➡  Tenth Server  ➡  Events  ➡  XMAS EVENT LEADERBOARD!

[Amaze Balls of Cheese]

Holy shit! I’m not the only one seeing Autumn Empire literally destroying everyone else, right? JFC! They’re fucking monsters! They’re jumping up the board like nobody’s business. Even the guild elites can’t compete! I heard a few of them complaining about it but they can’t even find Autumn Empire. Who wants to bet Autumn Empire’s just having a free feast in the higher level maps? No one else has the skills or the balls to do that but I can imagine them just strolling over like it’s a casual Wednesday. I’m so hyped for them!?!?!?!?!?!

Yo. I’m joining the Autumn Empire fan club. We need a name, y’all!

#AUTUMNEMPIRE #ToBeLuckyLikeSoftMistandSteamedBunInvasion #XMASEVENT

____

[Misty Light]

I wasn’t that crazy about them either but I think I understand now… they’re really… they’re really something, alright. The first clears and kills, the record breaking… I mean, whatever, right? Some of us can be lucky consecutively. And they were working with guilds but… this event is a solo thing. Group thing for them, I guess. But like, this sorta seals it for me. They’re the real deal. I get it now. I’m enlightened. #AutumnEmpire

[Bun Bun Bunny]

If a Steamed Bun Invasion can join that prestigious group then I, the BunBunBunny, too have a chance! Autumn Empire, I’m coming for you! Please adopt me! #AUTUMNEMPIRE

#ToBeLuckyLikeSoftMistandSteamedBunInvasion

[Ryude]

I passed by Thousand Waves Lake by accident so I can confirm that they were 100% in a higher level map. They were collecting the thieves and bringing them over to Santa then acing them there. It’s super hella efficient and I’m 10000000000000000% jealous. I wanted to join them but I would probably have been killed within seconds by accident… QAQ

(Screenshot Photo: Autumn Empire with Soft Mist and Steamed Bun Invasion dealing damage at a mob of thieves while Santa waited on the side and gifts piled up.)

[Gunner King Z Zekai]

You can do that kind of shit?! What sort of hack are those people! Damn! I don’t think anyone’s ever done that ever in any of the servers??? Genius! But I don’t think it’s possible for any of us normies to do that… #XMASEVENT #AUTUMNEMPIRE

(…)

[Sugar Spice Nine Eight]

I did god’s work and checked out Thousand Waves Lake for an update. Guess what??? They were leaving so I ran up to ask Steamed Bun and the guy tells me they were heading to Heshin City! HESHIN. CITY. SEWERS. That’s level 50-55 and their highest level was 43.

Thousand Waves Lake’s 40-43 and their highest at the time was 36 so yeah, fine, fine, fine!

BUT. Heshin City?!?!?! SEVEN LEVELS OF SUPPRESSION BOIS!!!! And yeah, I’m confirming it right now. They were casually strolling over from Thousand Waves to Heshin City like it was a perfectly normal thing to do. Legit, they were just talking about their dinner.  ┐(´•_•`)┌

(Screenshot Photo: Autumn Empire with Soft Mist and Steamed Bun Invasion walking away from Thousand Waves Lake on the path to Heshin City Sewers.)

(…)

[Just Passing By Don’t Mind Me]

Okay, so I bought this fucking 10^th server account card to check out wtf y’all keep crying about since the first day and… yeah, within an hour, I already get it. My luck’s shit anyway so I gave up on this event and came straight over to hunt down Autumn Empire and… holy shit, they are not easy to find. I thought they’d stay in Heshin City for a bit longer but nahhh.

This morning, Autumn Empire was on their way to Crocus Cemetery. Level 56-60.

Highest levels among them were One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn Tree and Lord Grim at level 50. Cleansing Mist and Autumn Rain were one to two levels lower. The two new ones were even lower. I don’t understand how their characters aren’t at red. How have they not died even once? What kind of sorcery are they employing? What amount of good luck??

Also, they’re really, really employing the One Wave Rush strategy on the thieves. Amazing. Truly.

#AutumnEmpire #ChristmasEvent

[Spindle Warps]

Isn’t it a One Wave Push?

(…)

[Chu Chu Rain]

Hey, anyone notice how Lord Grim suddenly lagged behind the others? He just… stopped?

[Lady Mumu Su]

He’s already at level 50. Unspecialized can’t level up further so that’s probs why he stopped collecting presents. Maybe he was just after the experience. They have been levelling up like crazy. Perhaps they want to go to the Heavenly Domain already? I doubt the 10^th Server has anything challenging enough for them anyway. #AutumnEmpire #LordGrim

(…)

[Just Passing By Don’t Mind Me]

I’m back! I died once but y’know YOLO. This account is a smurf anyway. Whatever. I can confirm Lord Grim isn’t with the group anymore! + Autumn Empire’s at Abyss Palace now. Level 66-70 area. The two male Autumn characters are at level 60, the two Launchers at 58-59 and the others are still lower than that. Idk. Idc. They aren’t really in the group, right?

There’s no area higher than Abyss Palace so I’m off. My stalking duty for the day is done.

#AutumnEmpire #ChristmasEvent

(…)

[A Cup Of Coffee A Day]

I look at the leaderboard and I can’t decide whether I want to laugh or cry. Who said luck was all that mattered in this event? Skill can overcome luck! Look at Autumn Empire!

Seriously tho. How insane has this event been? I’m so glad I’m in the 10^th Server.

[Cross of Immovable Rock]

Leaderboard for 50-55:

1. Soft Mist
2. Steamed Bun Invasion
3. Lord Grim

Leaderboard for 60-65:

1. One Leaf Heralds Autumn
2. Autumn Tree
3. Cleansing Mist
4. Autumn Rain

[Troubling Herb]

It’s a Total Domination.

They didn’t just top the leaderboards, no one else came close to levelling up so high.

Speechless.

#AUTUMNEMPIRE #XMASEVENT

*~*~*~*

=Endless Night=

Cold Night: Autumn Tree’s selling guides.

Cold Night: Are we buying?

Endless Night: Guides? For the dungeons?

Cold Night: Yeah, yeah.

Endless Night: Which guild bought already?

Cold Night: I don’t know. He won’t say.

Endless Night: Let’s wait and see.

Endless Night: Even if a guild bought it, there’s no guarantee they’ll break the record.

Endless Night: We’ll buy when the record is too fast to break on our own.

Cold Night: d(‘-’*)

____

=Bound Boat=

Blue River: Misty Castle and Samsara

Blue River: Have you seen it?

Bound Boat: Yeah. They must have bought guides.

Blue River: (˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )

Bound Boat: Are we buying?

Blue River: What choice do we have…

Bound Boat: They’re really holding the dungeon records hostage.

Blue River: Yeah...

Bound Boat: Won’t they be leaving soon?

Blue River: I don’t know. Some of them are running dungeons.

Blue River: But I think they’re training the noobs.

Blue River: He’s getting the materials from us so they aren’t farming.

Bound Boat: So, basically, as long as the guilds pay, they won’t touch the records.

Blue River: (,◞ ‸ ◟, )

*~*~*~*

Glory Forums  ➡  Pro-League  ➡  THE FALL OF EXCELLENT ERA

[My Battle God Ye Xiu]

…it’s official.

The GPA has spoken. Excellent Era’s been found guilty of breaking multiple rules.

Punishment hasn’t been decided on yet but they say it’s likely this is it. EE is truly over.

I don’t know what went on… was it financial corruption? Did they fuck up paperwork somewhere along the line? How bad could it be that the GPA single-handedly decided to end the one and only Club that boasted a Dynasty? That won 3 championships under God Ye?

Honestly, I want to know because we all deserve to know, right? But I’m also scared.

We’ve all been saying it… how God Ye and Goddess Su must be involved somehow. Did we ever really think it through properly though? What does it mean if they really were involved?

Let me be blunt and just come out with it: were God Ye and Goddess Su mistreated?

That’s what’s been going through my mind since the beginning of all this. God Ye and Goddess Su ‘suddenly left’ (EE’s own words) but Sun Xiang was immediately brought in (was Goddess Su’s departure the only ‘sudden’ part for them then? They were so prepared to replace God Ye! I’m still fucking angry over that.) and then the GPA suspended Excellent Era.

We all know God Ye and Goddess Su are exceptionally close. So let me bring forth another thought: what if God Ye was mistreated and Goddess Su left with him in solidarity?

Both scenarios make my blood boil tbfh.

I’m probably one of the minority in the EE fandom to say this but I really don’t care what happens to Excellent Era. I’m a fan of God Ye Xiu and, by extension, Goddess Su Mucheng.

The one who made the dynasty and won 3 championships is God Ye Xiu.

The duo who won the Best Partner Award 4 times is God Ye Xiu and Goddess Su Mucheng.

None of the achievements were done by the Club Excellent Era itself.

So, the question is, do you stand by the Club? Or the individuals who win the achievements?

For me, I stand by God Ye Xiu and Goddess Su Mucheng. That’s it.

(There are obviously more achievements I can list but those are the most important ones.)

____

[Excelling Dynasty]

The news just came out, can you take a chill pill… some of us are still trying to process.

[Blue Reign]

RIP Excellent Era.

[Tyrannical Dust]

As a Tyranny fan, I hate EE and Ye Xiu with every fibre of my being but I’m also a human being so… yeah, condolences to all of you. I can’t imagine if it was my Tyranny going through this. RIP Excellent Era +2

[Qi Stop]

The OG EE members were the ones who made the dynasty with God Ye Xiu. He didn’t do it alone and he wouldn’t ever claim to either. I do understand what you’re trying to say but don’t forget the OG EE members. Anyway, I wonder what they think of all this?

[Emotional Magique]

I stand by the individuals. The only Excellent Era in my eyes is the OG Excellent Era.

Su Mucheng aside, the members who replaced the OG team all suck. They don’t follow Captain Ye Xiu’s orders and they’re a fucking mess. I’ve been wanting Captain to leave since Season 5. Thank fuck he left with Su Mucheng because I really couldn’t bear it anymore.

[Rose Marry Herb]

RIP Excellent Era +3

(…)

*~*~*~*

=Glory Pro-Player Group Chat=

Zhang Jiale: Hey, what the fuck is going on with EE? Where’s Ye Xiu?

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Why’re you asking us?? We don’t know anything either!

Laughing Song (Fang Minghua): No one’s heard from Senior Ye and Miss Su since they left EE.

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): That fucker isn’t answering any of my messages! He doesn’t even leave them on read! He went online for a fucking minute and didn’t even bother telling us he’s alive!

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): EE tho. I really want to know what fuckery they committed. Colluding against God Ye and Goddess Su can’t be all. The GPA wouldn’t have suspended them and then essentially closed them down just for that. Also, Sun Xiang did a dick move by accepting the deal to replace Senior Ye without warning but the kid’s still a rookie. He’s been buried in there for so long.

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): Sis Mu still hasn’t replied to you? @Windy Rain

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): What?

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Oh.

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): WHAT WHAT WHAT? She replied to you? She hasn’t replied to me! Just leaves me on fucking read! She’s fucking evil! What did she say to you? Where’s Old Ye!!!!!!

Zhang Jiale: Finally. Someone who might know something.

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): Where’s Ye Xiu?

Cloud Piercer (Zhou Zekai): +1

Zhang Jiale: +1

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): +2

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): +3

Zhang Jiale: Fuck.

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): +4

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): +5

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): +6

Flying Sword (Liu Xiaobie): +7

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain

Laughing Song (Fang Minghua): +8

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): +9

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain @Windy Rain

Demon Subduer (Lin Jingyan): +10

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Stop tagging me.

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): I had to ask for permission.

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): Where’s Ye Xiu?

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Oh my god. Chill.

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): I don’t know either.

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): All I know is that he and Mumu are together.

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): I really don’t know anything else.

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Mumu won’t say anything.

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Just that they’re fine.

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): That’s a relief.

Peaceful Hermit (Tian Sen): That’s a relief +1

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): That’s a relief +2

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): That’s a relief +3 Tell them to answer their fucking messages!

Tide (Xu Bin): That’s a relief +4

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): That’s a relief +5

Immovable Rock (Zhang Xinjie): That’s a relief +6

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): That’s a relief +7

Brilliant Edge (Yu Feng): That’s a relief +8

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): That’s a relief +8

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): That’s a relief +10

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): That’s a relief +11

.

.

.

Bullet Rain (Zheng Xuan): That’s a relief +my phone number

*~*~*~*

Glory Forums  ➡  General  ➡  ALL-STARS WEEKEND DAY TWO MESS

[Chicken Feather Knight]

What the actual fuck happened to Samsara today? #GETREKTSAMSARA

____

[Tokkii]

Lmao Ikr. No hate for pretty boy Zekai and Du Ming but… yeah lol. #GETREKTSAMSARA

[Offline]

Those were some really fucking talented audience members though!

#RIPSAMSARA

[Kitsune Takahari]

Where’s the Samsara fans? I haven’t seen them comment on any of the threads.

[Chilling Night]

Lmao. They have been commenting. Under the “SAMSARA” thread. Crying. Wailing.

Generally, just in denial and refusing to accept the reality of today. Can’t blame them.

Today was… yeah, wow. I’m so happy Samsara’s members were the ones fucked over.

Better them than Wind Howl. GG.

[Ray Zero Three One Two]

I’m not the only one who heard the player who played against Zekai say their name was “Ye Xiuer”, right? Because I nearly had a heart attack! Who wants to bet he’s related to God Ye? Ye Xiuer is soooo handsome. I wonder if God Ye looks like that but more mature? (ﾉ∀`♥ )

[Blackening]

Are you all just going to skim over the fact that the Battle Mage and Sharpshooter friends switched main classes with each other and still won against Zhou Zekai? Cuz I’m shook.

[Coconut Icicle]

This thread is too new. Everyone’s still in shock. I also noticed btw. Also shook af.

(…)

[Shinpakusuu]

FORGET SAMSARA. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOSE CHOSEN BOYS!!!! HOLY HELL.

[Moon Driver]

What in the actual hell did I just witness? Today was a motherfucking rollercoaster.

[Cookiemani]

Does any pro-player use the line “Glory isn’t a single player game”?

[Sweep My Broom]

Today was so surprising that I nearly forgot my God lost to a rookie yesterday… almost…

[Three Oh One Party]

Holy fuck. What a wild ride. Today was hella fun! So long as you aren’t a Samsara fan (rip).

[Bubbling Witch Brew]

EVERYONE PRESS F TO PAY RESPECTS TO SAMSARA! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!

[Beauttery]

F

[Nightingale]

F

[Daygon Yuuki]

F

[Swift Butterfly]

GUYS! There’s a new thread dedicated to the Sharpshooter and Battle Mage friends! Go to “HANDSOME DUO AT ALL-STARS”! Let’s scream about them together! See you there!

[Cold Prod]

F

(…)

[Lightning Rain]

Allow me to redirect everyone to the 10^th Server’s Autumn Empire group.

Their leader is a Sharpshooter. (Su Muqiu???)

The second-in-command is a Battle Mage. (Ye Xiuer????)

Their new companion is a Striker. (Tang Rou?????)

Just saying. (≧◠‿◠≦)✌

*~*~*~*

=Han Wenqing=

Zhang Xinjie: I have the information.

[Attached Screenshot:

Autumn Tree, Sharpshooter (Leader)

One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Battle Mage (Main)

Lord Grim, Unspecialized (Main)

Cleansing Mist, Launcher (Main)

Autumn Rain, Launcher (Main)

Steamed Bun Invasion, Brawler (Regular)

Soft Mist, Striker (Regular)

Concealed Light, Summoner (Affiliated)

One Inch Ash, Ghostblade (Affiliated)

]

Han Wenqing: That Sharpshooter and Battle Mage…

Zhang Xinjie: Likely the players from earlier, yes.

Han Wenqing: No, back in the first server, there was a famous duo. They were both given titles but only one is known today; Ye Xiu as the Battle God. The other was Autumn Tree, the Gunner God.

Zhang Xinjie: You suspect this Autumn Tree is the same one as back then?

Han Wenqing: Impossible. He was too great of a player and he would have been seen before now.

Zhang Xinjie: It was mentioned that they stopped playing for a certain period of time.

Zhang Xinjie: However, this means that Senior Ye is certainly capable of making these two a formidable duo. I will have the guild keep an eye on both of them especially as well as the rest.

Zhang Xinjie: How was the original Autumn Tree’s Sharpshooter skills compared to Zhou Zekai?

Han Wenqing: Zhou Zekai is very good. The original Autumn Tree was even better.

Zhang Xinjie: I see. What of his Mechanic skills compared to Xiao Shiqin?

Han Wenqing: The same. Zhang Jiale too. Autumn Tree was a very formidable player.

Zhang Xinjie: A true Gunner God then. But that matters little now. It would be difficult for even Senior Ye to find two players who would be able to succesfully recreate his duo play from the past.

Zhang Xinjie: Still, I shall keep a close eye on their progress in the game with the guild leader.

Han Wenqing: Keep me in the loop.

Zhang Xinjie: Of course, Captain.

Han Wenqing: And Xinjie, I want to test the Battle Mage myself.

Zhang Xinjie: I shall arrange for it. Will once be enough?

Han Wenqing: Yes.

*~*~*~*

 (Sina Weibo)

Glory Season 8 ⯁Super Topic

[17B views | 2.65B comments | 998M followers]

[Essential Content]

• GPA: “Excellent Era Violated Multiple Rules and Regulations”
• All-Stars Weekend First Day: Rookie Challenges (Live Reporting)
• Tiny Herb: Captain Wang Jiexi LOSES to Rookie Gao Yingjie!!!
• Tang Hao to Lin Jingyan: Junior Succeeds the Senior!
• All-Stars Weekend Second Day: Highlights (Live Reporting)
• Audience Member Wins Over Zhou Zekai in Hurdles Mini-Game!
• Du Ming of Samsara in Upset Loss against Audience Member!
• All-Stars Player vs Pro: A Battle of Rematches!
• (Samsara) Du Ming’s Complete Humiliation at All-Stars Weekend
• DRAW! Amazing Bonus Round Match Between Zhou Zekai & Lucky Winner!
• All-Stars Weekend Last Day: All-Star Competitions (Live Reporting)

*~*~*~*

=Glory Pro-Player Group Chat=

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Any sign of that old bastard Ye Xiu?

Dancing Rain (Su Mucheng): Watch it ﾐ(  ❀ ◠‿◠  )/☆.｡.:

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): Mumu! (^o^)／

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui):  (´ ж｀; )

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): HOLY SHIT! SU MUCHENG!!!! QUICK! TELL US EVERYTHING! WHO WAS THAT YE XIUER DUDE! OLD YE’S LITTLE BROTHER? NEPHEW? IS THAT MUQIU GUY YOUR BROTHER? WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS!? WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!? TELL OLD YE TO REPLY TO ME!!!

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): Golden Generation meet up. Will you come?

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): Where’s Ye Xiu?

Peaceful Hermit (Tian Sen): Since when was there a meet up…

Dancing Rain (Su Mucheng): Congrats to Team A! @Windy Rain (❁ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*✲ﾟ*｡⋆

Cloud Piercer (Zhou Zekai): Senior Ye?

Dancing Rain (Su Mucheng): [Photo: Mucheng and Yucheng beaming brightly next to a winking Muqiu and smirking Xiu’er. Ye Xiu’s smiling slightly at the back. The backdrop is Samsara’s stadium.]

Dancing Rain (Su Mucheng): Good game, everyone! Bye~

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): (⋆ˆ ³ ˆ)♥

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Don’t you fucking dare!!!!! SU MUCHENG GET BACK HERE!!!!!

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): Wait, please.

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): Sis Mu!

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): You were here today?!

Windy Rain (Chu Yunxiu): She’s offline（‐＾▽＾‐）

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Fuck!

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): …

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): So, are they… family?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): That fucker’s raising devils. Fucking devils. They’re this fucking skilled already at their age. Can you imagine what they’ll be like in the future???? Never mind. I don’t want to imagine that either. He can’t fucking give us a longer break! Fuck you Old Ye!!!!!!!!!

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): Is he planning on making a team?

Immovable Rock (Zhang Xinjie): The numbers are there.

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): They’re very talented to switch Classes so masterfully.

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Scared scared scared? Mister I got beaten up by my own rookie!!!!

Scene Killer (Yang Cong): I didn’t know they had so many siblings…

Zhang Jiale: We’re all fucking screwed if they make a team.

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): It’s never boring with Senior ^^

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Fuck me.

Zhang Jiale: No one wants that.

Bullet Rain (Zheng Xuan): How stressful.

Chapter Text

(January)

“Alright, it’s done.”

Late afternoon on the last day of the All-Stars Weekend found the family of five lounging in their temporary villa’s dining room which they had completely repurposed into their study. They all had their laptops, keyboards, mouses and card readers out and were, very typically, playing Glory.

To Muqiu’s right, Ye Xiu was solo-ing a self-healing BOSS for the Heavenly Domain mission quest. To his left, Xiu’er was about to begin the Heavenly Domain Arena chain quest. And across the table, the Su sisters were teaching, levelling and dungeoning with Steamed Bun Invasion and Concealed Light.

Muqiu himself had just finished locking up Excellent Era’s guild storages and securing the storage chests after Ye Xiu’s reminder. He wasn’t about to demand Excellent Dynasty Guild’s members to return the equipment they’d gotten using contribution points but neither did he want more things taken out since he’d eventually be transferring them when he and the others made their own guild.

Shameless, maybe, but highly efficient.

“How about we just rename the guilds?” Muqiu mused aloud.

Ye Xiu cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders as though the question had pulled him back to the present where his body took the chance to remind him that it wasn’t meant to be so stiff for two straight hours. “Even if we do that, we can’t open the guilds yet. We need to hire first. Mucheng?”

“Hm?”

“Renaming Excellent Era’s guilds,” Ye Xiu said. “What do you think?”

Mucheng frowned and continued playing for a moment before replying, “I think we’ll need to explain our side first. Do a little PR or else we’ll be troubled in our own guilds. You should do it.”

“Do what?” Ye Xiu asked.

“PR,” Mucheng said again. “You need to do PR.”

Ye Xiu wrinkled his nose. “First, modelling. Now, PR.”

“It’s important for the future of our team,” Mucheng insisted. “You should message the original team and ask them to voice their solidarity with you too. It’ll go a long way to shift support to you.”

“…you know my QQ.”

Mucheng huffed, smiling. “I knew it! I’m already logging in.” She rolled her eyes.

“For hiring, let’s just poach from levelling centers,” Muqiu suggested. “Or from other Clubs.”

“…how much do you think our budget is?” Ye Xiu sweat dropped.

“We can just suggest it to Qiu-ge,” Mucheng said easily. “There’s no harm in that, right?”

Muqiu grinned. “So, poaching?”

“Poaching from levelling centers isn’t a bad idea,” Ye Xiu agreed. “It’ll be harder to poach from Clubs. A lot of those employees are hired from the training camps or the guilds in-game so they are loyal.”

“Still no harm trying,” Muqiu shrugged. He stretched out his arms over his head and yawned, tired, then logged into the 10^th server so he could start wreaking havoc in the Arena alongside Xiu’er.

There weren’t many players online at the moment but there was a steady enough stream of players taking challenges in the Arena that they progressed past the first few Arena quests without delay. When All-Stars ended, they would be finished with laying the ground work for the rumor mill in time for the influx of returning players to catch wind of them and from there, the real fun would start.

“Ooh! Yunyun’s team won!” Mucheng cheered, head turned towards the plasma television broadcasting the All-Stars Competition day at a low volume. “I’m going to share our photo,” she announced as a reminder probably in case one of them would decide otherwise but no one did.

Earlier, they’d discussed the possibility of casting doubt on their in-game identities by giving the pros the impression their group had attended All-Stars at the same as they were playing online. It likely wouldn’t work too well but so long as the pros thought twice, that would suffice. More importantly, they wanted to mask their involvement with the movements of the Excellent Dynasty Guild in-game.

At least until after they managed to put forward their side of the story and bring in supporters. Else, it would be just as Mucheng said: they would have problems and not just in the guilds. Ah. Hm. An idea arose in his mind as he thought back to their conversation. He glanced at Mucheng then Ye Xiu.

“We can’t open the guilds yet. We need to hire first.”

“You should message the original team...”

…(¯―¯ ;)

╭( ๐ _๐)╮!

(人◕ω◕ )☆．。．:*･°

*~*~*~*

=Attention to the Little Captain Squad=

Su Mucheng has created this group.

Wu Xuefeng has been added.

Yin Xiong has been added.

Xia Ming has been added.

Qin Tianran has been added.

Su Mucheng: Hello, hello ヾ(＾∇＾)

Wu Xuefeng: Little Treasure?

Wu Xuefeng: What is this about?

Yin Xiong: Do you and Little Captain need help?

Qin Tianran: A-Ming’s checking the news (* ˘⌣˘)◞[_]

Qin Tianran: What’s up?

Su Mucheng: You’re all here?

Qin Tianran: A-Ming’s beside me.

Wu Xuefeng: I just read the news.

Wu Xuefeng: What happened? What did Tao Xuan do?

Wu Xuefeng: I told you both to contact me if he goes too far.

Yin Xiong: Should I make a trip to City H?

Su Mucheng: Everything’s been solved!

Xia Ming: There’s nothing concrete in the news!

Xia Ming: Oh. Then how can we help?

Wu Xuefeng: Whole story please.

Su Mucheng: It wasn’t so bad after I entered EE.

Su Mucheng: But Tao Xuan wouldn’t stop asking Xiu-ge to do sponsorship work.

Su Mucheng: In Season 5, the players Tao Xuan picked started rebelling.

Su Mucheng: Tao Xuan gave them incentives to push Xiu-ge out.

Su Mucheng: Last summer, they were going to force Xiu-ge to retire.

Su Mucheng: But! I overheard their plan so I called for reinforcement!

Su Mucheng: (*˘⌣˘*)

Qin Tianran: Ooooh who was it?

Qin Tianran: This is a spicy story!

Xia Ming: Down, boy \(￣▽￣///)

Su Mucheng: I called Xiu-ge’s brother (>=<);

Wu Xuefeng: Oh?

Yin Xiong: The family isn’t against Little Captain’s job anymore?

Su Mucheng: Qiu-ge’s acting alone.

Yin Xiong: I see. Okay, continue please.

Su Mucheng: Qiu-ge hired private investigators!

Su Mucheng: And did other things, I’m sure.

Su Mucheng: He’s very protective! It’s cute!

Su Mucheng: So Qiu-ge’s handling the case.

Wu Xuefeng: That’s good to know.

Wu Xuefeng: And you two? Are you living well?

Su Mucheng: Yup, don’t worry! Qiu-ge arranged everything.

Su Mucheng: But…

Xia Ming: But?

Su Mucheng: I think seeing is believing so…

Su Mucheng: Can you all take a video call right now?

Yin Xiong: Yes, sure.

Wu Xuefeng: Of course.

Qin Tianrin: A-Ming and I will share on mine.

Su Mucheng has initiated a video call…

*~*~*~*

At ten in the evening on a normal day, the Autumn Empire household was doing something decidedly uncharacteristic. The study in the penthouse was suspiciously empty and the kitchen was wiped sparkling clean after dinner yet the dining room was fully occupied by six individuals, the table a mess of scattered documents, a multitude of photographs, an opened laptop and a black briefcase.

“…what do you think?”

Ye Xiu pushed aside a few sheets of paper and laid his arms on the emptied space with a heavy sigh. “What do I think? Where do I start?” His brows were mildly furrowed, a rare sign of agitation. “Little brother, I appreciate what you’re doing but need I remind you, this isn’t one of your usual business ventures. This is the e-sports sector. Your business plan is sound. But your real estate proposal…”

“Is it not enough?” Ye Qiu frowned and turned his laptop back around to face himself. “I was thinking of adding another building at the back but I figured it would be too excessive for a first –,”

“Excessive,” Ye Xiu cut off. “Your real estate proposal is excessive as it is. Don’t add more to it.”

Ye Qiu pursed his lips. “You just have no sense. What sort of attitude do you have about this?” he demanded. “My real estate proposal might be excessive for a one-year plan. But for a five-year plan, it is merely enough. For the growth I expect out of this Club, you will need two more buildings.”

“Little brother, no Club has that many buildings,” Ye Xiu said exasperatedly.

“That’s because they have no capital! I do!” Ye Qiu declared. “Why do you think they still struggle to upgrade their characters? To create better silver weapons? Lack of materials! Why? Limited dedicated manpower!” He slammed his hand onto the dining table. “We will revolutionize Glory!”

Ye Xiu blinked, visibly taken-aback. Beside him, Muqiu and Mucheng offered a standing ovation.

“…you really think you’ll earn back your investment?” Xiu’er continued when it was clear Ye Xiu needed some time to reboot. “We’re talking millions here. I don’t know what the industry is like but if what you say is true, that no other Club has the capital, what makes you think you’ll get a return?”

“And that’s why I asked: what sort of attitude do you have about the future of your team?”

“Future?” Xiu’er leaned back on his seat. “Four championships in the first four years,” he laid down.

Mucheng smiled brightly at the sheer determination in his words. “Four championships!”

“Four!” Yucheng cheered. “And then more!”

“Listen,” Ye Xiu cut in gently, dissolving the positive atmosphere with one word. “It’s well and good to think about goals and attitude but the capital you’ll be sinking in to make this Club is substantial.”

“What, you’re scared that you can’t earn me back my capital?” Ye Qiu challenged.

Ye Xiu’s jaw clenched briefly. “That’s neither here nor there. You need to think carefully about this.”

“I already have,” Ye Qiu tilted his chin upwards in a show of stubbornness. “The reason Clubs don’t have money to spare for expansion is because they all struggled their way to where they are now. Every single cent they earn goes into refining and further developing their Clubs as well as into the pockets of players. They have none to spare for an expansion. We will have a different beginning.

“The land our Club will be built on has been wasting away as a non-operating asset for years. Reappropriating it to use as the Club’s base is giving it value,” Ye Qiu twisted his laptop and tapped at the screen to direct the attention towards the 3D rendering of the Club property proposal. “We have our own construction company, as I’m sure you’re aware, so construction will cost us little.

“Futhermore, I’ll be dissolving a branch here in City H; a failed experiment by mother. That’s a lot of employees I need to repurpose with nowhere to go. Your main workforce will be coming from there. They’re all tenured employees, very loyal and trustworthy, with an average age pool of 40 and would prefer less stressful work in any case. The Club will satisfy this preference of theirs quite easily.

“What I need you for, as I’ve mentioned before, is your insight into the game-related departments: Guild, R&D, training camp and etc. There’s also the advising staff which I don’t understand the purpose of. Although for these departments, HR has already begun touching base with the Excellent Era employees who’ve cleared preliminary investigations. I have a list,” Ye Qiu handed it to Ye Xiu.

“Next, I recently learned that teams have a maximum of twelve members with six being the minimum. I’m aware you managed to win three championships with the minimum number of members, Xiu-ge, but please don’t repeat that again. You do have prospective players, right?” Ye Qiu queried. “Or shall I have HR poach some players from the other teams? It shouldn’t be too hard.”

“…”

“Well?” Ye Qiu snapped impatiently.

“Shut up for a second,” Xiu’er groaned, rubbing at his temple. “I thought I escaped all this…”

Ye Xiu gave his twin a considering look. “Show me your financials.”

“Finally!” Ye Qiu grinned triumphantly and pulled up the financials on his laptop.

Quiet descended on the dining room as Ye Xiu perused the financials by himself, Xiu’er only giving cursory glances at it with a dead-inside look in his eyes. Mucheng had leaned over to take a look as well but gave up after a few minutes while Yucheng and Muqiu both had no foundation to work with so didn’t even attempt to understand. Ye Qiu, meanwhile, maintained a satisfied look on his face.

Finally, many minutes later, Ye Xiu pushed the laptop away and carded his fingers through his hair.

“Do you understand now?” Ye Qiu asked with a hint of smugness. “I’ve thought this through well.”

Ye Xiu worked his jaw as his lips twitched upwards like he was fighting off a smile. “I understand.”

“And?” Ye Qiu prompted, his eyes twinkling with anticipation.

“Good job, Qiu-di,” Ye Xiu praised, losing the fight with himself and smiling fondly. “You did well.”

“I know!” Ye Qiu laughed brightly, obviously happy to have been complimented. “So,” he clapped his hands together, “anything you’d like to add to my proposal? Suggestions to offer? I’m all ears.”

Ye Xiu poked Muqiu, “You have one, don’t you? About the hiring.”

“Oh! Yep, I do!” Muqiu smiled, perking back up now that he could contribute. “We should poach from levelling centers, Clubs and maybe reach out to retired gamers? I have a few names in mind…” He grabbed a pen and blank piece of paper from the pile on his end of the table and started writing.

“Very good! This is the kind of enthusiasm I want as an investor and owner!” Ye Qiu said pointedly.

Xiu’er scoffed but didn’t say anything in his own defense.

“Run the list of retired gamers through me first before you hire them,” Ye Xiu instructed as he pulled Ye Qiu’s laptop closer to him again and started tapping on the keyboard. “The list of EE employees you gave me is fine. I’ve also penned in a few people I want HR to hire. Those in R&D have special personalities, not pleasant, but they’re brilliant so they should get a pass. Especially Guan Rongfei.”

“I’ll pass the names along to HR,” Ye Qiu assured. “Anything else?”

Mucheng raised her hand playfully. “When you say food court…” she trailed off leadingly.

“We’ll be inviting in a variety of vendors to set-up shop inside the Club to serve meals all-day long. There will be one or two vendors opened for late nighters but I don’t want to encourage that,” Ye Qiu paused. “You can send me a list of restaurants if you have any requests. But no fast food.”

“And why not?” Xiu’er demanded unhappily.

“Because I, unlike Excellent Era, will be enforcing mandatory semi-annual health examinations.”

Ye Xiu tapped the laptop’s keyboard particularly hard after that reveal then pushed the laptop away. His brows were furrowed as he looked at Mucheng. “When was your last health check-up?”

“Um…” Mucheng looked up at the ceiling in thought. “I’m not sure…”

“Which is why you’re all getting one this weekend,” Ye Qiu announced cheerily. He produced even more documents from his briefcase and handed them to a surprised Mucheng. “Make sure they go.”

“…” Ye Xiu eyed nothing in particular with distaste but his silence was as good as a verbal agreement.

“Go home,” Xiu’er told Ye Qiu blandly. “Just go home already.”

Ye Qiu eventually went home after finishing their impromptu meeting and typically failing in his yearly scheme of convincing Ye Xiu to visit their home and greet their parents for Spring Festival.

*~*~*~*

Glory Forums  ➡  Heavenly Domain  ➡  Arena

[GM Notice: Players Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn have not been found to have violated any rules. Be aware that any further reports made on said players will incur a warning as a first offense with a temporary ban as the second offense. Thank you.]

• Room 1021: Autumn Tree | Room 2918: One Leaf Heralds Autumn
• One Leaf Heralds Autumn IS NOT God Ye Xiu! Voice is too young!
• Report the Lvl 65s to the GM for cheating!!!
• Is God Ye Xiu in the Arena right now? Gimme a fucking break.
• How TF did these 10^th server freaks reach lvl 65 already?
• Lvl 65s in Arena. All-Stars Audience Picks, anyone???
• One Leaf Heralds Autumn & Autumn Tree of Autumn Empire!!!!
• 90% WIN RATE FUCKING RUINED!
• Two Lvl 65s Win Streak VS Lvl 70s?!?!?!?
• 10^th Server Lvl 65 Demons. WTF.
• Anyone know who the lvl 65s are? Battle Mage & Sharpshooter.

(…)

“On a scale of one to ten, how satisfied are you?” Xiu’er asked.

With a smile stretching lazily wide akin to a cat who got the cream, Muqiu drawled out, “Twenty.”

*~*~*~*

Glory Forums  ➡  Heavenly Domain  ➡  TOP  ➡  This Week 

[GM Notice: Players Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn have not been found to have violated any rules. Be aware that any further reports made on said players will incur a warning as a first offense with a temporary ban as the second offense. Thank you.]

[GM Notice: Player Cleansing Mist has not been found to have violated any rules. Be aware that any further reports made on said player will incur a warning as a first offense with a temporary ban as the second offense. Thank you.]

• WHO ARE THESE 10^TH SERVER MONSTERS?! (HOT)
• Room 2105: Autumn Tree | Room 1029: One Leaf Heralds Autumn (HOT)
• 10^th Server’s Autumn Empire & Everything You Need To Know (HOT)
• (BUMP THIS UP!) LVL. 64 CLEANSING MIST (10^th Server) ARENA WIN STREAK (NEW)
• Room 2018: Cleansing Mist (NEW)
• Zhou Zekai Photos from All-Stars Weekend! (↓3)
• All-Stars Su Muqiu & Ye Xiuer: 10^th Server’s Autumn Tree & One Leaf Heralds Autumn? (↑2)
• God Ye Xiu & Goddess Su Mucheng Related to Su Muqiu & Ye Xiuer? (↓4)
• The Future Vaccaria, Gao Yingjie. Is he worthy? (↓5)
• The End of a Dynasty: Excellent Era to be Dissolved (↓2)
• One Leaf Heralds Autumn (10^th Server) Heavenly Challenge Arena Tracker (↓6)
• Autumn Tree (10^th Server) Heavenly Challenge Arena Tracker (↓7)
• CRAZY All-Stars Weekend (↓1)
• Are my eyes deceiving me or is there another 10^th Server player in the arena… (↑11)
• Excellent Dynasty’s Future (↑54)
• God Ye Xiu & Goddess Su Mucheng: Where are they now? (↑196)

 (…)

Interlocked fingers stretched up as though to reach the ceiling, strained, then lowered with a satisfied yawn from its owner. Despite appearances, Muqiu wasn’t tired. No, just bored. He was currently doing his mission quests, having finished his Arena quests, but it was… tedious. If it weren’t for his clear view of Mucheng destroying her opponents, he’d have probably dozed off already.

He yawned again, smiling sheepishly when Xiu’er caught him in the act, then took a swig of the iced fruit juice Mucheng had thoughtfully gotten for him when she’d gone to get a snack. It was sweet and cold and woke him right back up which was just as well since it was only afternoon. He didn’t have much to complain about anyway compared to Ye Xiu doing the same quests with Lord Grim.

Unspecialized at Level 50.

Ouch.

*~*~*~*

Glory Forums  ➡  Tenth Server  ➡  General

• AUTUMN EMPIRE ACHIEVEMENTS TRACKER
• Autumn Empire Ascending to the Heavenly Domain!
• Autumn Empire’s Autumn Rain NOW in HD Arena! Room 1218!
• Autumn Tree @ Room 2105 & One Leaf Heralds Autumn @ Room 1562
• HAHAHAHAHA AUTUMN EMPIRE DESTROYING HEAVENLY DOMAIN PLAYERS!!!!
• Dungeon Guides for Noobs
• Autumn Empire: Wild Sightings & Random Encounters
• Wild Boss Tracker
• Autumn Empire Fans, we need a name! Let’s make a guild!
• Equipment and Materials: A Helpful Guide
• Y’all! What if. God Ye Xiu & Ye Xiuer. Goddess Su Mucheng & Su Muqiu?!
• Current Guilds & Their Benefits
• All-Stars Su Muqiu & Ye Xiuer Part of Autumn Empire???
• Lovers of Autumn Empire Unite!
• The Pros and Cons of Levelling as a Party

(…)

“How’s your win rate?” Muqiu-ge and Xiu’er-ge asked.

Compared to the other Autumn Empire members who had gone on first to wow the Heavenly Domain Arena players first, Yucheng was less impressive. She was doing amazingly for someone who had only been playing for little more than a month but her wins weren’t as effortless or dazzling.

Still!

“91.7%,” Yucheng declared proudly. “I’ll finish in time, don’t worry!” She expressed her determination with these words. A goal for herself and an assurance that she would not fail on her part in Muqiu-ge’s plan for their group to make an impactful entrance into the Heavenly Domain.

“You’re doing well,” Xiu’er praised her, a proud smile on his face.

Muqiu grinned and patted her head, saying, “I know you will. Remember, you’re not alone!”

“I know!” Yucheng replied, beaming at her brothers. She wasn’t alone, they weren’t alone. Their family had grown to add two more members plus a distant one who visited every few weeks. Not only that, she had also come to enjoy Glory like her older version did which made their family become even closer so she had every intention to make them proud and reach the summit together.

As the student of Glory’s top Launcher, Gunner God and Battle Gods, how can she do otherwise?

*~*~*~*

GLORY’S HOTTEST TOPICS:

[GM Notice: Players Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn have not been found to have violated any rules. Be aware that any further reports made on said players will incur a warning as a first offense with a temporary ban as the second offense. Thank you.]

[GM Notice: Player Cleansing Mist has not been found to have violated any rules. Be aware that any further reports made on said player will incur a warning as a first offense with a temporary ban as the second offense. Thank you.]

[GM Notice: Player Lord Grim has not been found to have violated any rules. Be aware that any further reports made on said player will incur a warning as a first offense, a temporary ban as the second offense and a severe in-game penalty as a third offense. Thank you.]

• FUCK ME! LVL 50 LORD GRIM (10^TH SERVER) NOW IN HD ARENA.
• Am I fucking seeing an Unspecialized right now?! And LVL 50?!
• HACK HACK HACK THIS MUST BE A HACK. GM! LORD GRIM LVL 50!
• NEWEST ZHOU ZEKAI GOLDEN ARCHES ADVERTISEMENT!!!
• S8 Pro-League: Samsara vs Blue Rain. Favorites to Win?
• 10^TH SERVER MONSTERS ASCENDING HEAVENLY CHALLENGES
• Why God Ye Xiu & Goddess Su Mucheng Are Related to Su Muqiu & Ye Xiuer
• Comprehensive Timeline of Excellent Era’s Fall
• Rookie Gao Yingjie, The Future Vaccaria
• A Crash Course on 10^th Server’s Autumn Empire
• AUTUMN EMPIRE ACHIEVEMENTS TRACKER (10^th Server General Forum)
• Club Excellent Era: Possible Punishments by GPA
• What will happen to Rookie Sun Xiang?
• Heavenly Domain Wild Boss Tracker
• The End of a Dynasty: Excellent Era to be Dissolved

(…)

Normally, the numerous threads showcasing the chaos he and the others had succeeded in sowing would have made Muqiu happy. But he found his eyes straying to the three threads on Excellent Era instead as he once more wondered how on earth things had gone so wrong in the seven years he’d missed. However, he was quick to shake the thoughts away since he didn’t want his mood to plunge.

“Mucheng looks at Xiu-ge with wonder sometimes, you know?” Xiu’er said out of the blue. “I teased her once, saying she was looking at the wrong person in the room. Do you know what she said though? She said that she couldn’t help it because she’d worried so much over what Xiu-ge would be like after leaving EE. ‘Would he return home? Would he disappear? What if he stayed to help out?’

“But look at Xiu-ge now, do you think he still cares about EE?”

“I think…” Muqiu trailed off, looking at the open study door as though he could see past wood to the kitchen where Ye Xiu was helping the girls out. “I think he’s put EE behind him.” He had never asked because he didn’t want to bring up sad memories so he didn’t know for sure but he was fairly sure.

Between the five of them, Ye Xiu would be the first to let go even if he was the most wronged. No, that wasn’t right. Ye Xiu would be the first to move on because he was the one wronged, not them.

“No matter what, Ye Xiu poured so much of himself into EE. He would still care if,” Xiu’er tilted his head. “If you weren’t here, Muqiu,” he said. “I think, among other reasons, he held onto EE for you.”

“Yeah, I know,” Muqiu smiled a bit sadly, remembering Ye Xiu’s words:

“Excellent Era is where we started everything, isn’t it?”

“But since he has you again, he doesn’t care so you should let go of it too.”

Muqiu felt wronged to be lectured so suddenly. “I’ve put EE behind me too,” he lied.

“Liar,” Xiu’er tsk’ed then looked away. “I haven’t either. I’m still mad. I wish I could because he has but –,” he laughed hollowly. “The fact that he has makes me feel like I should be mad on his behalf.”

That… was a feeling Muqiu understood very well. “Yeah,” he agreed, voice tight.

Silence reigned as they shared a heavy look before Xiu’er forced out a smile. “It’s time for dinner.”

Chapter Text

Heavenly Domain Public Chat

[System Announcement]: One Leaf Heralds Autumn^(Lvl.65) from Server 10 has now entered the Heavenly Domain.

[System Announcement]: Autumn Tree^(Lvl.65) from Server 10 has now entered the Heavenly Domain.

[System Announcement]: Cleansing Mist^(Lvl.64) from Server 10 has now entered the Heavenly Domain.

[System Announcement]: Autumn Rain^(Lvl.63) from Server 10 has now entered the Heavenly Domain.

[System Announcement]: Lord Grim^(Lvl.50) from Server 10 has now entered the Heavenly Domain.

Sea Cat Anna has sent you a friend request. Message: Paying my respects to the Autumn Empire!

Lady Sinner has sent you a friend request. Message: JOIN BLUE RAIN PLEASE

Lily of Azra has sent you a friend request. Message: Wanna party up and dungeon together?

Moran Nine Ashborn has sent you a friend request. Message: Come to me for materials, brother.

J Dodo has sent you a friend request. Message: You’re here! Welcome to the Heavenly Domain!

Connie Zero Two Four Eight has sent you a friend request. Message: Hi hi! Let’s be friends!

(+9999+++)

Heavenly Domain’s picturesque scenery was instantly buried under friend requests despite Ye Xiu’s desperate efforts. His fast APM which allowed him to consecutively clear out the friend requests was rendered useless when Glory, under his disbelieving eyes, glitched then froze. Froze. He tapped his mouse a bit. Nothing. Bemused, he peeked at Mucheng’s screen next to his and found it also frozen.

“…you too?” Mucheng offered a commiserating smile.

“I thought Glory didn’t lag anymore!” Xiu’er complained, throwing his hands up in the air. “Tch!”

Muqiu lazily opened up a bag of chips and said sagely, “Everything lags.”

“Actually, Glory hasn’t lagged in a long, long time,” Mucheng informed.

“So, we’re special?” Yucheng giggled as she stood up to walk over to Muqiu. “Ge, give me some!”

“Here,” Muqiu obligingly poured half the bag of chips into a bowl then offered it to Yucheng.

Yucheng brought the full bowl back to her table and munched happily. “Mm~”

“When Glory returns to normal,” Ye Xiu began. “Send me your coordinates!”

“No, you stay where you are and send us your coordinates,” Muqiu corrected.

“…I won’t die…” Ye Xiu said, speechless since he knew the other was worrying over the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella as the drop rate when killed in the Heavenly Domain was very high.

“Better safe than sorry!” Muqiu placated. “Hey, the tenth server’s going crazy right now. Someone suggested to make a guild for those who like our group… ha… what will we do if they really make it?”

“Join the guild?” Mucheng offered, carefree.

“I can see the headline: ‘First Team to Join Fan-Made Guild!’” Xiu’er joked. “We’ll make history!”

Muqiu grinned. “That’ll be nice too. At least we’ll know they’re all genuine fans and not spies.”

“Oh?” Xiu’er laughed suddenly, his screen no longer frozen. “A wild BOSS spawned!”

*~*~*~*

One Leaf Heralds Autumn swept through the field in a terrifyingly dominant manner, decorating the newly spawned wild BOSS’ immediate vicinity with the fallen avatars of guild scouts. The display combined with the avatar’s name struck the remaining players dumb, their bearings shaken further upon being thrown onto the ground, and they continued to be stupid when another player arrived.

Lord Grim.

Some of the player scattered at the sight of the famous newcomer whilst others charged recklessly forward, wanting to test out their might against the Unspecialized, but they were ruthlessly cut off. One Leaf Heralds Autumn showed no mercy and knocked a whole group of players into the air where they could only watch, helpless, as Lord Grim flashed beneath them towards the wild BOSS.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The unlucky wild BOSS had been wandering aimlessly since spawning, ignoring the skirmish outside its aggro range, when an enemy finally stepped into its territory. However, the wild BOSS, blessed though it was with the smooth operations of an NPC, failed to make the first move. Its body was flung backwards by the force of the long-distance BBQ directed at it then sailed in a controlled arc.

Delivery Gun!

Rendered as equally helpless as the players under One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s tender mercy, the wild BOSS which twisted and turned to no avail was accurately pushed back towards the mountain range.

During all this, Lord Grim’s player leisurely found the time to set up a party and message everyone:

[Party] Lord Grim: Location? Status?

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Almost clear.

[Party] Autumn Tree: Ten seconds

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Reinforcements will come.

[Party] Cleansing Mist: Thirty seconds!

[Party] Autumn Rain: I’m almost there :)

[Party] Lord Grim: Whoever comes first, help move BOSS to the mountains.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Yep.

[Party] Autumn Tree: I’m first!

Right on time, Autumn Tree appeared into view with guns blazing, executing yet another Delivery Gun on the wild BOSS. The wild BOSS was pitiful at this moment, still careening uselessly in the air and directed like a remote-controlled doll. Lord Grim showed no sympathy and ran towards the wild BOSS, jumped high into the air and continued after Autumn Tree to blow the wild BOSS further back.

Falling Flower Palm!

From behind Lord Grim’s falling form, a dragon soared in the sky with a loud roar and rammed straight into the wild BOSS’ chest. The dragon shoved the wild BOSS down and both crashed on the ground with a great shudder. It was Draconic Crusher, a skill with a knockdown effect for 10 seconds.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Here.

Lord Grim took advantage of the dazed state and easily threw the wild BOSS into the welcoming arms of a third Delivery Gun with Fling. The defenseless wild BOSS was thrown behind the mountain.

[Party] Cleansing Mist: :)

[Party] Autumn Tree: You guys go.

[Party] Autumn Tree: I’ll hold off the reinforcements.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Call if you need help.

When the party rounded the mountain, they were greeted by a large explosion. Cannonball. Autumn Rain stood tall and proud a distance away, glowing cannon raised, as she gathered energy for her next attack. Cleansing Mist halted and began to do the same. Meanwhile, the BOSS rolled to a stand where it met a Dragon Tooth from One Leaf Heralds Autumn then a Double Stab from Lord Grim.

The two kept up with their blows and both avatars began to glow as they created more and more chasers. Eventually, One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s glow surpassed Lord Grim’s, nearly engulfing the other avatar within its light. Battle Spirit. One Leaf Heralds Autumn entered Battle Spirit with ease, dancing around the wild BOSS alongside Lord Grim with an incredibly enviable tacit understanding.

Blow after blow was dealt at the wild BOSS as skill after skill was thrown by the two close-rangers. Amidst the chaos of clashing spears, the yellow of explosions and red of lasers colored the intense battlefield care of the two Launchers many units away. The wild BOSS was in constant disadvantage.

If wild BOSSes had feelings, this wild BOSS would surely have raged at the injustice and shame of being oppressed by two to four players. Where was the trembling might of the wild BOSS? In front of these players, Buddhist Zen Mo, the wild BOSS of Gale Gobi, was just a stubborn ant to be crushed.

An ant with the dubious honor of meeting the two foremost experts in its Class: the Battle Mage.

[Party] Autumn Tree: Too many incoming.

[Party] Lord Grim: Yucheng , go.

Charged Laser Rifle!

Autumn Rain marked her departure with a fierce attack and two seconds later, Cleansing Mist followed up with a fully-charged Quantum Bomb. The duo upfront jumped up in unison for the second time in a row to avoid the powerful shockwave while the wild BOSS stumbled from the force.

Within the short period wherein the two were in the air, Autumn Tree poked them in the group chat.

[Party] Autumn Tree: How long do you need?

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Two minutes.

[Party] Autumn Tree: K!

One Leaf Heralds Autumn and Lord Grim landed on the ground, their outlines clear for a split second before they began to blur. Spurned on by Autumn Tree’s unspoken request for them to hurry up, the two avatars’ speed burst forth and both of their DPS output tripled. Cleansing Mist also became fiercer and sent over a barrage of skills, the large explosions assisting in obscuring the two avatars.

*~*~*~*

Exactly two minutes later, Heavenly Domain experienced a worldwide shock.

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Lord Grim, One Leaf Heralds Autumn, Autumn
Tree, Cleansing Mist and Autumn Rain have killed Buddhist Zen Mo.

The news of a level 55 wild BOSS kill was nothing special to the players of the Heavenly Domain though it was important to the guilds. However, every single player paid attention because the system hadn’t announced the name of a guild but multiple names. Then, they noticed whose names had been listed which was swiftly followed by the remembrance that these players had just arrived.

For the second time that day and due to the same group of players, Heavenly Domain’s public chat went crazy over the 10^th server-dubbed ‘Autumn Empire’. The forums also exploded into excited and incredulous chatter over the tyrannical arrival, lauding the group for their show of skill and lamenting over how unlikely it would be for any of their favorite teams to pick up these talents.

After all, a group of five players? That was practically a team by itself already!

*~*~*~*

In the same hour, the Club-backed guild leaders in the Heavenly Domain called for a meeting with their top elites and 10^th server leaders in regards to the Autumn Empire group. This wasn’t the first meeting they had about this group (and it likely wouldn’t be the last either) so when they asked the 10^th server leaders to give their thoughts and opinions, the content shared was quite repetitive:

The group was very good, willing to help guilds in exchange for materials, couldn’t be persuaded to join any one guild, weren’t interested in joining any professional team and were immensely popular.

When a few of the main guild leaders had inquired about the group after being warned by their pro teams, they weren’t too impressed or worried. The normal server was the normal server. Whatever happened in the server couldn’t be replicated in the Heavenly Domain where the guilds had been firmly standing for years. But the domineering storm the Autumn Empire arrived with was worrying.

Every main guild leader responded accordingly. Majority fussed over the progress of their guilds in the 10^th server and urgently advised the respective server guild leaders to take advantage of the group’s absence to establish a sturdier hold. While the few who had been warned went on to discuss how they should proceed with Autumn Empire moving forward. Hinder them? Naturally. But how?

As soon as the guild meetings ended, the leaders of the Three Great Guilds reached out to one another, probing for a possibility of a unified move against Autumn Empire. It would be detrimental for the guilds to move alone and even more so for none of them do anything so they came to a rare agreement straightaway. Delaying would give the group time; the faster they acted the better.

Right now, the members of the Autumn Empire weren’t at maximum level so no matter how skilled and talented those players were, the Three Great Guilds would have an advantage in level and number. The time when the Autumn Empire levelled would be their greatest chance to hinder them.

So, though their hearts trembled at the thought of fighting against the Best Partners in the Alliance…

And the duo who fought toe-to-toe with Glory’s current number one, Zhou Zekai, at All-Stars…

They steeled themselves and forged ahead with determination.

*~*~*~*

While the Heavenly Domain players raved about the wild BOSS kill, the Autumn Empire group moved to the Dark Barracks; a levelling area for level 55s and, when compared to the other level 55 levelling areas, was top class in giving out experience. Of course, it was also top class in being a massive headache for players because of the special attributes of the monsters making them hard to kill.

According to the lore, the Dark Barracks was home to the Dark Elixer Troop which was comprised of golems. The golems were slow with low damage but they had high critical hit rates. Moreover, whenever a golem was killed, it would spawn two more golems and each would carry a fifth of the golem’s stats. Then, upon dying, these golems would explode and inflict damage to a wide area.

None of these mattered to the group though because all they cared about was the massive boost in experience that Lord Grim would get which would enable the character to level up quicker. This was important since the rest of them were already level 64 and would likely remain that way for the duration it took them to carry Lord Grim to the same level bracket. An event would have been faster.

But the next useful event was still next month so they had no other choice than to grind slowly. Or, not so slowly as they would be employing the One Wave Push strategy which would increase the rate of their productivity. In fact, they had already begun and gained an audience; the players who’d originally been heading to the dungeon to farm materials and equipment had stopped to gawk.

While seeing a number of level 64 players gang up on level 55 monsters was something that players would normally turn their noses at, their characters and names were too well known to pass notice.

It was the consequence of having a very impactful entrance to the Heavenly Domain and was both a positive and negative thing. Positive because it would deter any visible attempts at their lives. Negative because it meant that wherever they went, people would take note. Though the group kept vigilant, they weren’t too concerned because their One Wave Push strategy kept them mobile.

Similar to One Wave Rush, a few of them were in charge of pulling the monsters. However, instead of gathering the monsters in one place, they killed the monsters while kiting them around. This was to avoid being harmed by the spawned golems’ explosions and doubled as a protective measure.

Like this, it was hard to know where they would go next and even harder to pin them down. They also maintained a wide vantage view which meant it was near impossible for anyone to sneak up on them. All in all, it was very strategic and covered every single point they needed to think about.

Lord Grim peacefully levelled up to 52 that night.

*~*~*~*

=Attention to the Little Captain Squad=

Wu Xuefeng has initiated a video call…

Under the secrecy of the moonlight and unbeknownst to the eldest and youngest of the household, a certain trio settled themselves comfortably on a big bed with a laptop opened up to a video call.

“It’s nice to see you three again,” Wu Xuefeng greeted specially. “Hello, everyone.”

“Oh, we’re just ‘everyone’ to him now,” Qin Tianran joked dramatically.

Xuefeng smiled gently and continued, “Shall we start the meeting?”

“Business already!” Qin Tianran pouted before yelping when he was poked. “A-Ming…”

“Let’s start. Who will be going first?” Xia Ming wholly ignored her husband with a smirk.

Yin Xiong chuckled at the exchange. “I’ll go first,” he volunteered. “I’ve decided to join you guys.”

“Wah! Really?” Mucheng whisper-shouted in surprise, her eyes bright with joy.

“Really,” Yin Xiong confirmed. “I joined EE in the past because of my love for Glory. A love that I still maintain today. Athough it’s not an easy decision, I’ve missed Glory and I look forward to the Club.”

Mucheng beamed, blinking her suspiciously sparkling eyes rapidly. “Me too!”

“Alright, I’ll go next!” Qin Tianran bounced on screen. “We’re coming!” he declared grandly.

“It’s less moving like that…” Xuefeng teased good-naturedly.

“Mean, Vice-Captain,” Qin Tianran wagged his finger with a grin. “Well, my reason’s same as Milk Dad’s. I’ve always loved Glory. I quit my job to join Excellent Era before! If that doesn’t show how much I love Glory… I can’t believe I did it again… Ah but Little Captain’s brother is quite generous!”

Xia Ming leaned closer to their shared camera. “Do you know what was offered to us?”

“No?” Muqiu replied questioningly while looking at Mucheng who shook her head.

“I can guess,” Xiu’er, who had been quiet so far, finally spoke up. “He offered you the typical: generous pay, amazing benefits and a moving package. Then, he probably added something not-so-typical. Maybe something like… he’ll absorb you into the Ye Conglomerate should the Club fail.”

Impressed, Yin Xiong verified this, “Right on the mark.”

“Once upon a time, I was also trained to inherit the business,” Xiu’er drawled cheekily.

“So,” Mucheng piped up excitedly, “you’re both coming!”

“Eventually, yes,” Xia Ming straightened her glasses. “I have a few loose ends to tie up at my job,” she explained. “And we still need to sort out some other private things… maybe by summer?”

“Summer’s good!” Mucheng grinned.

“As for me, possibly by March,” Yin Xiong revealed. “Give or take.”

“Great,” Xiu’er smirked. “We still need a Cleric,” he added jokingly.

Yin Xiong shook his head fondly.

“How about you, Xuefeng-ge?” Muqiu asked expectantly.

“Ah…” Xuefeng gazed at them softly. “This wasn’t an easy decision for me to make,” he confessed. “Someone at my age going back to gaming… but, in the end, I too love Glory and I want to be there to take care of all of you. I’ve always felt a little regretful to have left Little Captain alone so soon.”

“Don’t,” Xiu’er requested firmly. “Let’s not look back. We’re a team that will only look forwards.”

“Is that our motto?” Xuefeng inquired.

Xiu’er tilted his head in thought. “Yeah…” he hummed. “Yeah, why not?”

“A great motto, Mini Captain,” Yin Xiong complimented with a little teasing.

“Mini Captain,” Qin Tianran repeated, laughing. “Yes, yes. Because we already have a Little Captain.”

“…mini…” Xiu’er mumbled unhappily.

“Cheer up, Mini Captain,” Muqiu quipped. “Do I get a nickname?”

Xia Ming giggled. “Sure, let’s think of one.”

“…Star?” Yin Xiong suggested.

“Little Star?” Xia Ming seconded. “Little Star, how’s that?”

“I like it!” Qin Tianran announced with a thumbs up. “Our Little Star, back with us,” he grinned.

“Do you like it, Muqiu?” Xuefeng queried.

“I think I do,” Muqiu pondered. “Little Star… yep! Let’s keep it!”

Xiu’er affected a sniff. “You’re my vice-captain then, Little Star.”

“We already decided on that,” Muqiu rolled his eyes.

“…” Xiu’er had clearly forgotten their talk about it pre-time-travel. “Alright, I’m Mini Captain.”

“Then, let’s end this meeting. It is quite late,” Xuefeng advised.

“Mmm! We should video call each other more often! Maybe with Xiu-ge next time.”

“But,” Muqiu began hastily after Mucheng finished. “Remember he doesn’t know you’re coming!”

Xiu’er nodded in agreement. “Wait until after one of you has arrived to say anything.”

“Don’t worry,” Xia Ming assured calmly.

“We won’t forget,” Yin Xiong said in unity. “It’s not often we get to surprise Little Captain.”

“Picture his reaction please!” Qin Tianran requested. “Since I won’t be there,” he added.

Xuefeng smiled knowingly. “I’m sure Little Treasure will do so anyway.”

“Guilty as charged!” Mucheng admitted cheerily.

“Alright, it’s really getting late,” Xuefeng reminded. “Does anyone have anything else to add?”

Everyone answered in the negative and the video call ended after a round of “good nights”.

Xiu’er was smiling as he closed the laptop and looked at the two Su siblings. “Slowly, our plans are coming together. When Xiu-ge returns to the Pro-League with us, we’ll have the strongest team, the strongest Club and the strongest guild in the entirety of Glory. The GPA won’t know what hit it.”

“I can’t wait…” Mucheng murmured, “Xiu-ge’s return will be the grandest return in Glory history.”

“That’s the idea,” Muqiu, the mastermind behind inviting the OG EE roster, smiled mischievously.

Chapter Text

(January)

Tsss! An enticing sizzling sound filled the morning sun-drenched kitchen as five eggs were slid down from a bowl into a hot oiled pan. Muqiu released his breath in relief and wiped off the non-existent sweat from his forehead before opening and perusing the dry cupboard. “What do you think? Ham?”

Ye Xiu, his cooking partner, chuckled softly. “Didn’t you mention shallot pancakes last time?”

“Ahhh!” Muqiu cried out, unwilling to remember his past self’s confident declaration. “Shallot pancakes… save it for a special day!” he excused then cleared his throat. “So, what do you think?”

“Special day, huh?” Ye Xiu repeated disbelievingly. “Well, we can do ham stir-fry.”

“We can?” Muqiu blurted out dubiously. “I mean, we can,” he corrected himself.

Ye Xiu’s golden eyes twinkled in amusement. “Sure, we can,” he echoed.

“…” Muqiu gulped and held onto his pride for a few moments until he finally deflated and resorted to casting a glum glare at the other. “You’re older than me now so how come you still can’t cook?”

“I can make instant noodles,” Ye Xiu replied straight-away.

“Anyone can make instant noodles!” Muqiu lightly swatted the other on the arm with a huff then proceeded to pull out some ham. “Fine. You cut the vegetables, I’ll deal with this and… what about rice? Or noodles? We can make ham fried rice or stir-fry noodles? Just throw everything in, right?”

Ye Xiu decided to attempt cursing them and said, “What could go wrong?”

“Stop talking, Xiu,” Muqiu sighed despairingly.

“Heh.”

Whether it was Muqiu’s hard work which saved them or Ye Xiu’s incredible luck which negated the attempted curse, the two managed to eng up with a decent-tasting ham fried rice and stir-fry noodles abomination topped with fried eggs. Their defence for creating the combination was that the leftover rice and noodles weren’t enough on their own so mixing them was common sense.

The Su sisters sighed in exasperation while Xiu’er looked convinced.

*~*~*~*

Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt! Bzzt!

Incessantly, and without mercy, the buzzing sound continued to fill the study. Its occupants were none-the-wiser to it, too immersed under the noise and happenings in their game as they ran through a ten-player dungeon. However, once they finished, the racket quickly irritated them.

“What is that? Someone make it stop,” Xiu’er complained. “It’s like bees are buzzing around me.”

Mucheng, who had been confused at first, finally noticed that her table was vibrating. “Oops,” she picked up her phone and found the culprit: the refreshing notification on the pro-players group chat.

=Glory Pro-Player Group Chat=

Sun Zheping: Where’s Ye Xiu?

Zhang Jiale: You got an offer too?

Carved Ghost (Wu Yuce): Offer?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): WAIT WHAT THE FUCK?!! IS THAT BASTARD HUNTING AFTER PROS FOR HIS GODDAMN TEAM? IS HE NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS TEAM OF LITTLE DEVILS!? FUCK ME!!!!!

Sun Zheping: I got it

Zhang Jiale: You taking it?

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Hold, hold. What the fuck’s the offer?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): HELLO!? WHAT THE FUCK IS THE OFFER?????

Sun Zheping: It’s really good…

Moon-Luring Frost (Du Ming): Interested, Dirty Fang?

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): What’s the offer? ^^

Zhang Jiale: Too fucking good

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Fuck off, Du Ming!

Sun Zheping: I see

Bullet Rain (Zheng Xuan): How stressful.

Zhang Jiale: Yeah…

Life Extinguisher (Xiao Shiqin): Senior Sun, Senior Zhang, may we know about the offer?

Zhang Jiale: Not saying shit hahahaha

“Did something happen?” Ye Xiu asked concernedly.

Wei Chen: Where the fuck is Ye Xiu

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): BOSS WEI BOSS WEI BOSS WEI!!!! YOU’RE HERE!!!! WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OLD YE? YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR ME! THIS SWORD SAINT! BOSS WEI ARE YOU COMING BACK? YOU’RE COMING BACK TO BLUE RAIN RIGHT??? COME BACK COME BACK BOSS WEI!

Wei Chen: Too noisy.

Wei Chen: Did this father ask for you?

Demon Subduer (Lin Jingyan): You’re back?

Wei Chen: Where’s that bastard Ye Xiu?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): NO ONE KNOWS!!!! WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HIM TOO????

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): Senior Wei

Wei Chen: Fuck! That name talking to me. How cursed!

Brilliant Edge (Yu Feng): (⌒_⌒ ;)

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): BOSSS WEEEIIIIIII!!!!

Wei Chen: Cut the crap. Where’s Ye Xiu?

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): We all want to know…

Wei Chen: Tch. Useless. I’m going. Tag me when you know!

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): BOSS WEI NOOOO DON’T LEAVE!!!!!!!

Flying Sword (Liu Xiaobie): LOL RIP

“No…” Mucheng swiped through the chat quickly. “But it seems like, there’s a lot of retirees hunting you down.” She decisively closed her phone amidst curious looks and opened up her QQ chat group on her desktop; the window appeared on top of Glory. “Qiu-ge works fast. He already found them.”

Ye Xiu squinted dubiously. “Found them?”

“For our guild,” Muqiu reminded.

“Ah?” Ye Xiu remembered. It’s just – “I didn’t think any of them would accept…”

“Please, you think Qiu-di’s unable to give an offer no one can refuse?” Xiu’er scoffed.

Ye Xiu smirked. “Mm, you’re right.” He glanced at Mucheng’s screen. “Fang Shijing?”

Fang Shijing: Ye Xiu, come out, come out!

Troubled Rain (Huang Shaotian): Fuck me! Why is Old Ye fishing from Blue Rain’s waters????

Fang Shijing: What are you talking about?

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Old Wei was looking for him too.

Fang Shijing: Oh? Interesting.

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): Why are Seniors looking for Senior Ye? ^_^

Troubled Rain (Huang Shaotian): What’s the offer??? Why’s it good???? Tell us tell us tell us!!!!!!

Fang Shijing: Yep, good job, Blue Rain. I’m going.

Troubled Rain (Huang Shaotian): ?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?

“Fang Shijing? The so-called ‘free player’?” Muqiu recalled.

“That’s him,” Mucheng affirmed. “Oh, Lin Jie too!”

Lin Jie: Is Ye Xiu here?

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): Senior Lin, why are you looking for him?

Lin Jie: Nothing to worry about.

Lin Jie: I see he isn’t around. Never mind.

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): Senior Lin, wait.

Angelica (Deng Fusheng): He went offline, Captain…

Ye Xiu hummed. “Old Lin, huh? He left too soon.”

“His reputation isn’t too good for a pro though,” Xiu’er said. “He’s considered mediocre.”

“Compared to? He’s still a top-tier pro-player and better than a lot of pros now.”

“I’m getting a snack,” Yucheng piped up suddenly.

“Sure,” Muqiu waved her off. “Who else is there?” he asked.

Ji Leng: @One Autumn Leaf

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): Ji Leng, let’s talk.

Ji Leng: …

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): LOL

Immovable Rock (Zhang Xinjie): Senior Ji, are you free for a call?

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): OLD YE FOUND YOU TOO!? ISN’T OLD YE STILL MAD ABOUT S4!⁽¹⁾

Ji Leng: I’m not free. I wasn’t here. Goodbye.

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): He escaped! (ᗒ ᗨᗕ)

Vaccaria (Wang Jiexi): This is worrying.

“…Ji Leng,” Mucheng revealed with a side-glance at Ye Xiu who raised a brow.

“Are you thinking about Season 4? I don’t mind.”

“We would’ve won…” Mucheng pouted.

“There’s no certainty in competitions,” Ye Xiu replied gently. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, don’t worry, we’ll get four championships,” Xiu’er vowed with a reassuring smirk.

Mucheng smiled. “I know.”

“I’m back! Who wants chips?” Yucheng announced her arrival by waving bags of chips in the air. “I also brought some drinks. Hehehe!” She laid out her hoard on the empty space next to Mucheng.

“Sweet! Throw me a chip and drink,” Muqiu requested, arms outstretched to catch the items.

“Here, I’ll do it,” Ye Xiu hastily grabbed three bags of chips and drinks then handed two sets over to Muqiu and Xiu’er before Yucheng could toss any over. “Thank you, Yucheng,” he thanked the younger girl sweetly as he unscrewed the cap of his drink and took a swig. “Let’s continue?”

“Yup, okay,” Mucheng complied easily, putting away her own drink and minimizing the QQ chat app on her desktop to give Glory her full attention once more. “Are we moving to a different dungeon?”

“Nope! I want more of the BOSS drops in here,” Muqiu denied.

They entered the ten-player dungeon again under that flimsy reason; with Excellent Era’s guilds in their hands, there was no need for them to hunt for materials anymore. But any reason was better than none and they truly didn’t have any when it came to choosing which dungeon to go to beyond wanting the area to be a popular haunt to avoid pesky guild assassins and whatnot.

Two weeks since their arrival to the Heavenly Domain, their levels increased to the range of 65-70.

*~*~*~*

Heavenly Domain cities were similar to those in the normal servers in that they possessed pathways to areas, served as entryways to the Arena, hosted Exchange Markets and had NPCs walking around. But they differed in two key points: Heavenly Domain cities also boasted teleport formations and guild headquarters which players of guilds could enter, interact in and generally use as their base.

Due to the requirements and limitations around making a guild, Heavenly Domain was filled with Club-backed guilds with each official guild having numerous branch guilds to better house all of the players who wished to support their favorite Pro-League team. There were also player guilds made by normal players though they were usually smaller and less appealing with but one exception.

Heavenly Justice was a flourishing and relatively big player guild. Being a player guild, they didn’t have much of a relationship with the Club-backed guilds and therefore their city headquarters would be neutral territory for Autumn Empire. Which was why the group was currently idling around in a strategic corner of said city to allow Muqiu to fawn over upgrade their silver weapons in peace.

Peace was relative however. They still expected to be disturbed, just not with the motive of killing them. Sure enough, a group of five players with orange equipment made their way over and, judging by the reaction of the Heavenly Justice guild members milling about, this group was quite popular. The mystery was solved when the players got close enough for them to check the avatar names.

Heavenly Justice’s guild leader had arrived. “Nice to meet you,” the man greeted. “I’m Loulan Slash.”

“Flashy,” Xiu’er muttered quietly next to Muqiu who remarked, “Stats aren’t bad.”

Mucheng giggled. “I think the design’s good-looking.”

“Hello,” Ye Xiu replied, ignoring the side-comments from his group. The three had been acting quite cheeky all day and he still hadn’t figured out why. In comparison, the other’s group stayed a step behind their leader and maintained silence in deference to Loulan Slash. “Nice to meet you too.”

“Autumn Empire, right? We’ve heard so much about your group,” Loulan Slash said politely.

“Same here,” Ye Xiu returned. He really had, sort of, from Mucheng who had been in charge of researching the different guilds in search of a neutral space. According to her, Loulan Slash was largely regarded as a ‘money warrior’ by envious and bitter players due to the man’s wealthy background which allowed his guild to flourish in the Club-guild dominated Heavenly Domain.

Others saw it as unfair, he saw it as practical. If you have the money, why not use it?

Loulan Slash stepped closer now that they had established a friendly starting ground. “You five are amazing to reach the Heavenly Domain in such a short period of time and with an impressive arena win rate too. The story of your group capturing a wild BOSS on your first day is also legendary,” he praised generously. “Truthfully, you five aren’t new to Glory, right? Which server were you from?”

“I’m new,” Yucheng sounded like she was pouting.

“She is,” Ye Xiu backed up indulgently. “Most of us started playing Glory in the first server.”

“First server? Then they are one of the first ones,” a player in Loulan Slash’s group remarked.

A look into the character’s ID let Ye Xiu know that the player was ‘Homeward Bound’, a Battle Mage.

“Do you have main accounts in the Heavenly Domain? Maybe we know each other.”

In the study, Xiu’er and Muqiu looked questioningly over their shoulders at Ye Xiu who smiled calmly before replying in-game, “We haven’t used our main accounts in a while. I don’t think that’s likely.”

“Well, that’s okay. Are any of you interested in playing professionally?”

Xiu’er hid a (no doubt snarky) comment behind a cough.

“Mm,” Ye Xiu hummed. “We plan on doing that eventually.”

“Oh? That’s good news. Actually, we plan on making our own team. Combining our groups together doesn’t sound like a bad idea, what do you think about it?” Loulan Slash proposed rather boldly.

“So you five will be the main and we will be the subs?” Xiu’er deduced fastly. “No, thanks.”

“I think we can decide the main roster by Arena duels,” Loulan Slash tempered.

Ye Xiu could tell just by this reply that the other side felt confident in their skills. He admired that kind of attitude but against him, Mucheng, Muqiu, Xiu’er and maybe even Yucheng to a slight extent, confidence gained from being one of the best in-game wouldn’t translate well. “We’ll have to decline,” he said. “We plan on making our own team as well so it wouldn’t be convenient.”

“I see…” Loulan Slash took this in. “But you don’t seem to have a guild backing you up?”

“For now, we will in a few months,” Muqiu answered this time.

“Until then, how about you five join my guild?” Loulan Slash switched objectives smoothly.

“Why?” Xiu’er asked though he could probably already guess the reason.

Loulan Slash let out a light chuckle. “You must have come to this city for a reason, right?”

“Of course,” Ye Xiu found no reason to hide. It was obvious anyway.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Do we know his real name?

“Having a guild to back you up isn’t a bad deal. We can also have an alliance in the future.”

[Party] Cleansing Mist: Lou Guanning

[Party] Cleansing Mist: Why? Do you know him?

“And in exchange, we’ll help the guild out by, say, stealing wild BOSSes?” Ye Xiu guessed.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: We do.

[Party] Lord Grim: We do?

“With your group’s popularity, just joining the guild will do.”

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Lou Technology Development

Ye Xiu blinked as a long-buried memory floated to the forefront of his mind. The Lou family was one of many invited to the parties hosted by the Ye Family. They were old money. He surveyed their surroundings and the number of players hanging around then said, “Let’s talk elsewhere.”

“If you’d like.” Loulan Slash didn’t fuss.

“Arena,” Xiu’er suggested as One Leaf Heralds Autumn began to move. “I’ll make the room.”

Everyone followed after him without complaint and entered the password-protected room in much the same manner. Once they were all inside, Xiu’er took the lead and stood before Loulan Slash.

“We don’t mind joining your guild. As for the alliance, we’ll have to negotiate that in the future.”

Loulan Slash paused, whether it was because he was surprised someone much younger sounding had taken over their impromptu meeting or something else wasn’t known. “I’m sure you know what the situation is like in the Heavenly Domain. An alliance between us will be beneficial in the future.”

“You’re right, we’re well aware,” Xiu’er agreed. “We’re also aware of how Heavenly Justice came to be so powerful and big. It’s not too hard to replicate, no? Lou Guanning, do you know who we are?”

Once again, Loulan Slash paused. “I don’t know,” he said cautiously. “Have we met before?”

“I’m sure you know of the Ye Family,” Xiu’er revealed casually.

The five Heavenly Justice players seem to freeze. Loulan Slash recovered first, “Of course. So you…”

“Ye Qiu’s not here,” Ye Xiu stepped up next to Xiu’er’s avatar. “I’m Ye Xiu, the older twin.”

“Senior Ye,” Loulan Slash greeted respectfully after another pause.

Behind him, Homeward Bound whispered none-too-quietly, “So, not that Ye Xiu?”

A whisper was a whisper. It wasn’t meant to be heard so Ye Xiu didn’t bother clarifying and continued, “One Leaf Heralds Autumn is our younger brother, Xiuer. His existence is not widely known but I’m sure we can trust you to keep this a secret, hm?” he threatened with a light tone.

“Yes, of course, Senior Ye,” Loulan Slash instantly complied. “Let me introduce my friends to you.” He turned sideways and gestured almost awkwardly with his Swordpoint weapon. “Night Tide, our Grappler, is Gu Xiye. Homeward Bound, our Battle Mage, is Wen Kebei. Ocean Ahead, our Elementalist, is Zou Yunhai. And lastly, Thousand Falling Leaves, our Cleric, is Zhong Yeli.”

“Have I met all of you?” Ye Xiu inquired.

“Ah… I don’t think so, Senior Ye. Most of us met each other in school.”

From this answer, it was tactfully implied that while the others were wealthy enough to attend the same school as Lou Guanning, they weren’t in the same level and social circle as the Ye Family.

“So, like I said earlier, we can negotiate an alliance in the future. For now, we’ll decline,” Xiu’er took charge again. “But maintaining a good relationship between us will be very beneficial in the future.”

Ye Xiu casted an amused look at his younger self for turning the situation around.

“I understand,” Loulan Slash accepted this fact readily.

“Then,” Ye Xiu began, “if you’d still like for us to temporarily join your guild, we’ll do it now.”

Loulan Slash sent over guild invites. “Let’s be friends too. You can reach out if you need anything.”

“Mm, sure,” Ye Xiu accepted the guild invite and then sent a friend request since his was locked.

“Great,” Loulan Slash said when they all finished accepting their respective invites. “If you don’t mind, may we take up some more of your time to compare notes with each other?” he requested.

*~*~*~*

“Thank you, let’s end it here…”

Just by the tone, it was clear that Loulan Slash was feeling regretful. He and his group had lost miserably to every single player in Autumn Empire except Yucheng; since the point was to compare notes, none of them had held back which resulted in matches reminiscent to Du Ming’s at All Stars.

“You can’t compete in the Pro Alliance with that kind of attitude,” Ye Xiu commented frankly.

Moving forward, One Leaf Heralds Autumn swung its spear and embeded it into the ground in a domineering fashion but when Xiu’er spoke, his tone was kind: “Your coordination is good and your sense of timing is not bad either. There’s still plenty of time to improve before the next season.”

“Thank you,” Loulan Slash said sincerely. “Your reputation is truly deserved. You only lack a Cleric.”

“...right,” Xiu’er groaned. He’d joked about it the other day with Yin Xiong but it didn’t really register to him that, yes, they really did need a Cleric. Where would they even find a Cleric? “You’re right.”

Ye Xiu laughed softly. “Let’s worry about that after we reach level 70.”

“Can’t we just poach from a Club?” Muqiu asked. “Tiny Herb?”

“Why are you so obsessed with poaching?” Ye Xiu asked helplessly.

Loulan Slash coughed. “If it’s alright with you, let’s compare notes again some time soon.”

“Sure, sure,” Ye Xiu agreed. It was good practice if nothing else for Yucheng and the others when they reached the Heavenly Domain to experience fighting another team in a 5v5 which was a rare scene to see in the Arena and therefore a rare chance to come by. “We’ll bring some friends too.”

“The rest of your team?” Loulan Slash questioned.

“Yes, exactly.”

*~*~*~*

Autumn Empire’s appeal to the Heavenly Domain players had just began to wane when news of the group joining Heavenly Justice hit the forums. Threads on this new piece of gossip shot up to the top in an instant as everyone made a big deal of it. It had already been assumed by everyone that Autumn Empire would definitely go pro so they’d been wondering which Club would get them.

Many held out hope to the slim chance that one of their teams would absorb the group whether as a whole or by taking in one or two players but now the answer was clear: Autumn Empire wouldn’t be divided – this was the kind of romantic assumption made by the female players which was also accepted by the majority. Choosing a player guild to join, then, was indeed a reasonable choice.

However, to the Club-backed guilds, this development was a headache on top of their migraines. They had so far been unsuccessful in cornering Autumn Empire because of the group’s choice of frequenting populated areas. Now, these players had a powerful in-game guild to back them up as well! What else could they do but solemnly pass on the news to the higher-ups for them to decide?

The status update naturally also reached the ears of many pro-players with some whining about it on QQ. A few even dared badger Chu Yunxiu to call out Su Mucheng but to no avail. They could only stew on their own. What was going on? Was this Loulan Slash rich enough to pull in the retired pros? For what purpose? To further train Ye Xiu’s group? How much more terrifying will they become?

Just like their respective guild staff, the pros experienced a headache.

Chapter Text

(February)

Spring Festival came and went with a modest celebration inside the penthouse of the five member household. Their food had been specially delivered by Ye Qiu who had visited a day earlier to futilely invite his brothers home and hand over the little cakes he’d previously promised to buy for Yucheng.

Therefore, it came as a surprise when early the next day the doorbell rang. Everyone shuffled over to see who had come as it surely wouldn’t be Ye Qiu and also to crowd together as there was safety in numbers. Ye Xiu went ahead of the group and opened the door… to a familiar face bearing their signature smile. He blinked and blinked again, his normally fast mind coming to a screeching halt.

“Happy Spring Festival,” Wu Xuefeng greeted, his eyes twinkling with mischievousness.

Mucheng squealed and jumped on the man with a loud, “Xuefeng-ge! You’re the fir – I mean, here!”

“..?” Ye Xiu, at this point, had recovered enough to realize that something was not quite right. His narrowed gaze drifted over to Xiu’er and Muqiu’s surprised faces. “You two,” he called on them sternly, directing their attention to him. “When did you inform Xuefeng about your presence?”

The two adopted neutral expressions and obediently stilled under the suspicious stare when Xuefeng decided to save them and said teasingly, “Good morning to you too, Little Captain.”

Ye Xiu turned to his first and former Vice-Captain and, automatically, his lips upturned. “Xuefeng.”

“Little Captain,” Xuefeng repeated in an affectionate tone. He handed over the fruit basket he’d brought to Muqiu then stepped up to Ye Xiu and placed a hand on the other’s shoulder. “Didn’t I tell you to call me when and if you needed help? How long did you plan on suffering alone, hm?”

“…it was my job,” Ye Xiu replied though he and everyone else knew that wasn’t the entire story.

Xuefeng’s expression was knowing but he didn’t call out the lie. “Your brother offered me a job.”

“Oh?” Ye Xiu briefly slanted a pointed look at Xiu’er and Muqiu. “So you even know I have a brother now,” he mused before smiling softly at Xuefeng. “I didn’t think you would come,” he revealed.

“No, I didn’t think I would have returned either,” Xuefeng agreed, pertaining to his past self upon leaving Excellent Era. “But your brother’s offer was very generous and came with fail-safes for my career… however, I wouldn’t have accepted the offer if it weren’t for you. You’ve worked hard, Little Captain. Too hard,” he said. “I’m happy I’m able to return and lift your burden off your shoulders.”

Ye Xiu felt abruptly emotional. He had missed Xuefeng’s steady, dependable presence ever since his Vice-Captain’s departure and moreso when Excellent Era turned against him. Of course, he never did reach out as they didn’t keep in contact and neither was it in his personality. Yet… “Welcome back.”

“Glad to be back,” Xuefeng drew Ye Xiu into a comforting, brotherly hug.

*~*~*~*

“Should we open the guild in the tenth server now?”

As expected of Glory lovers, after a drawn-out breakfast, they had gone straight into the study, set-up Xuefeng with a laptop, keyboard and mouse and then proceeded to discuss their future plans. The first order of business was, of course, how to best utilize Xuefeng. Would they all work in the Heavenly Domain? There was little point because the whole group was there. So, open the guild?

“The problem is that we have no manpower. Xuefeng-ge can lead the guild but to manage it alone…”

“He won’t be completely alone. We still have Tang Rou, Luo Ji and Steamed Bun there,” Muqiu counted off on his fingers. “Oh, and our four adopted puppies too. That should be enough.”

“By the time they get to the Heavenly Domain, Qiu-ge should be done hiring the main force,” Xiu’er said. “From levelling centers,” he added when Xuefeng looked increasingly confused. “Also, speaking of those four puppies, we can probably persuade them to help out. And maybe we can hire them?”

Ye Xiu hummed. “Truthfully, if it’s only about helping out, their skills aren’t that bad. Having them in the guild will be good; they can be in charge of carrying the new players since they’re veterans.”

“Doesn’t one of them have a bit of an attitude though?” Mucheng reminded.

“Oh, Sleeping Moon?” Muqiu recalled easily. “He mellowed out already.”

“There’s no need to hire people if their skills aren’t great. You can just ask them if they’d like to help out,” Xuefeng said. “As for the guild, I should be able to manage it on my own just fine,” he assured.

“Alright, then, we’ll leave the guild to you,” Ye Xiu nodded.

“Leave it to me,” Xuefeng agreed. That decided, he turned to Yucheng who was silently watching them discuss. “Mini Treasure, aren’t you bored by yourself over there? Please come and join us.”

Yucheng smiled and shook her head. “I’m okay,” she chirped brightly. “Don’t worry about me!”

“She’ll watch her drama if she gets bored,” Muqiu reassured, chuckling. “So, shall we?” he asked.

“Let’s do it,” Xiu’er affirmed. “Yeah, Xiu-ge?”

“Yes, let’s do it,” Ye Xiu seconded.

“Wonderful,” Xuefeng plucked out an account card from his pocket. “Good thing I asked your brother to purchase me a levelled tenth server account in advance. He’s very inquisitive, you know.”

“Next time, feel free to ignore him,” Xiu’er advised heartlessly.

Mucheng laughed in surprise and rolled her eyes. “Be nicer to him. He’s such a doting brother.”

“Pei!” Xiu’er pretended to gag. “You’ve been completely bribed,” he accused.

“Hopeless,” Mucheng joked with a playful huff.

“Okay,” Muqiu clapped to regain everyone’s attention. “Focus! It’s time to open our guild!”

Without further ado, the five logged into the Heavenly Domain then switched over to the tenth server to meet Xuefeng’s character when, in a scene reminiscent of their first entry to the Heavenly Domain, their screens flooded with pop-ups. Their guild elite ‘friends’ were inquiring after them.

They were well aware of their celebrity-like reputation in the tenth server. Having their names flashing on TV since the first day had meant that the players, most of whom were new to Glory, put their group on a pedestal as godly beings. Their pull on the population was therefore significant and so the Club-backed guilds in the server would be remiss at their jobs to not be keeping tabs on them.

“Wow. So famous,” Xuefeng remarked teasingly, his seating affording him a view of Muqiu and Xiu’er’s screens. “Let’s meet at Congee City’s center. My character’s name is Setting Sun,” he said.

“Setting Sun?” Yucheng repeated, trying out the name on her tongue.

“Not bad, right?” Xuefeng smiled. “I expected something weird like Stinky Fish.”

“Silly!” Yucheng laughed. “Mine is Autumn Rain. Ah but – there’s so many people! Can you see me?”

Congee City, as the capital city, was always densely populated and today was no exception. Players swarmed the group in an instant, making it difficult for them to move, and shouted for their attention. Many also utilized speech bubbles or emojis which popped up above their heads and added to the chaos of the scene. It would be near impossible for them to find Xuefeng in the crowd.

“It’s alright, I can guess where you are,” Xuefeng said wryly.

With a bout of commotion and harmless tossing about, Setting Sun neatly dropped in on their group.

“Yo, you’re here,” Ye Xiu greeted casually. “Let’s make the guild.”

Muqiu had Autumn Tree wave its guns about. “Wait, I’ll be nice and give the guilds a heads up.”

“Why?” Xiu’er asked but by his tone, it was clear he didn’t care either way.

“Oh!” Mucheng exclaimed. “What if our fans made a guild already?” she pointed out.

Xuefeng made a confused noise. “Huh?”

“They were making a fuss about it in the forums a few weeks ago,” Mucheng informed. “Let’s see…”

“None!” Xiu’er announced, having apparently gone ahead to check. “I checked the forums first. Want to know what’s taking them so long? They can’t decide on a fan club name…” he chuckled.

“Amazing!” Mucheng laughed.

“Really amazing,” Xuefeng declared, shaking his head. “You five are really…”

Muqiu waved the compliment away with flushed cheeks. “Let’s make our guild now!” he declared.

“Yes, sir,” Xuefeng jested. After a moment, he asked, “What will be the guild name?”

Ye Xiu hadn’t thought about it but they were already given a name. It would be rude not to use it.

“Autumn Empire,” Xiu’er answered firmly.

“Okay… wait,” Xuefeng paused again. “The guild leader should be one of you, not me,” he said.

Muqiu made a thoughtful sound. “Oh… Then, who wants to do it?”

When no one volunteered, Ye Xiu sighed and said, “Let’s just ask the people here.” He quickly typed out a message and sent out speech bubble asking, “Vote. Which one of us should open our guild?”

If their arrival could be described as chaos, the following scene could be described as pandemonium.

Yucheng reflexively chucked her headphones onto the table to save her ears while the rest calmly turned down the volume and gamely listened to the clamor in search of the crowd’s favorite pick.

“I think I hear Autumn Tree more,” Xiu’er announced.

“No,” Muqiu disagreed. “I hear One Leaf Heralds Autumn more.”

The pair went back and forth a few more times before Ye Xiu had enough and pulled off his own headphones. He turned to Yucheng. “Yucheng, you pick. Will it be Muqiu or Xiu’er?” he inquired.

Yucheng tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Mmm… Muqiu-ge! He talks to the others the most!”

“Good choice!” Ye Xiu praised and pulled his headphones on again. “Muqiu, you’re doing it.”

“Okay~” Muqiu obeyed and ‘Autumn Empire’ popped up in the guild listing within seconds.

Creating a guild wasn’t as easy as clicking the submission button. To successfully generate a guild, an application had to be made which required 30 players to respond to. But finding 30 players to do so was no hardship for them so their guild seemed to be automatically created after clicking ‘submit’.

Ye Xiu accepted the administrative role upgrade from Muqiu then hastily muted the guild invite notification in the corner of his screen. It flashed madly but quietly at him. “Good luck, Xuefeng.”

“Thank you,” Xuefeng replied dryly. “Well, while you’re here, why don’t you grab some level 65-70 dungeon records?” he suggested. “Oh, but first, don’t forget to send me your friends’ names.”

“What a reliable guild leader. Already ordering us around to make records,” Ye Xiu snickered.

Under Xuefeng’s directive, the group dedicatedly grabbed three dungeon records and, through the blessing of the Ye duo’s combined lucky powers, hunted down one level 70 wild BOSS by lunch time.

*~*~*~*

The five plus one group returned to the 10^th server at half past one in the afternoon after a fulfilling, delicious meal by home cook Xuefeng. According to Ye Xiu’s praises during mealtime, the older man had always been an amazing cook and frequently fed the original Excellent Era team back in the day; Muqiu was gladder than ever to have the man here and had swiftly secured himself a cooking lesson.

But that was an activity for dinner. For now, he and the others were back in the world of Glory.

As the first order of business, Muqiu checked the guild’s current status… and blinked disbelievingly.

“How are we at level 7 already?” Ye Xiu voiced out his thought exasperatedly.

It turned out that Xuefeng was a miracle worker and had encouraged their enthusiastic guild members into taking as many guild requests as possible. With the power of the new Glory players enabled, the guild levelled up four times before lunch and twice more an hour later after lunch.

“Our guild members are very active,” Xuefeng stated with a hint of pride.

Muqiu flashed a smile at the older man. It was nice to know the upright, dependable player he had known before in-game remained the same after all these years. Sometimes, he thought, people didn’t change much at all and that was a very good thing. At the same time, he noted that the man seemed to also be the father/older brother type who found pride in the achievements of others.

How nice.

“So now that we’re at this level, we need to defeat the Stat Guardian. Muqiu, you’re guild leader.”

“Eh?” Muqiu was pulled out of his warm thoughts just like that by Xuefeng. He frowned at the guild leader crown on his avatar then reached out to poke Xiu’er. “Hey, hey, you’re in charge,” he said.

“Already on it,” Xiu’er replied with an audible eye roll. “You call the others.”

Muqiu closed down the guild windows and was about maximize his inbox to do just that when he received a message. “Yifan’s online,” he announced.

[Whisper] One Inch Ash: Good afternoon!

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Hey!

“Yifan?” Xuefeng inquired.

[Whisper] One Inch Ash: Autumn Empire Guild?

“He’s a reserve member from Tiny Herb,” Xiu’er explained. “We’re recruiting him.”

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Yep! That’s ours.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Meet us in Congee City, we’re defeating the Guardian.

“Which one is he?”

[Whisper] One Inch Ash: Okay!

“One Inch Ash, Ghostblade,” Ye Xiu replied. “Tiny Herb has him as an Assassin.”

Xuefeng nodded in understanding. “He must be good if he caught your eyes.”

“Good, not bad,” Xiu’er raised his hand and made a ‘so-so’ gesture. “His strength lies in reading the field and coordination. Very useful since we have Lord Grim and Steamed Bun to adjust to,” he said.

“We still need a Cleric,” Mucheng reminded; she clearly knew well that they would forget. Again.

Muqiu sighed. “Right... Cleric…”

“How predictable,” Xuefeng teased good-naturedly. “A Paladin will also do.”

“Yes, but where?” Muqiu wondered despairingly.

“I’ll find our Cleric,” Ye Xiu volunteered unexpectedly. “From Tyrannical Ambition,” he added.

Muqiu gave him a look. “You’re going to find our Cleric. From Tyrannical Ambition.”

“You mean Tyranny?” Xiu’er asked.

“No, the guild,” Ye Xiu said. “Tyranny has the number one Cleric so chances are, I can find a good Cleric to invite to our team from one of their guilds in the Heavenly Domain,” he reasoned.

“Don’t tell me, you’re going in as an MT?” Xiu’er sounded horrified. “Who are you?” he demanded.

Ye Xiu snorted. “It’s called undercover work. Spying. It happens all the time.”

“We could also take a trainee from one of the Club camps,” Mucheng pointed out.

“Seriously, not everything needs to be answered through poaching!”

“Because going undercover to invite a player from another guild isn’t poaching?”

“…it’s different.”

Xuefeng clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Little Captain can try his plan first and if he doesn’t find anyone, we’ll look into the training camps, okay? For now, please focus. Guardian first.”

“I was focusing,” Xiu’er protested. “They’re all here already, see,” he gestured at his screen.

Everyone closed down their various pop-up windows to clear out their viewpoint and finally noticed the fourteen players standing in front of them. They all proudly bore the Autumn Empire guild tag as they chatted animatedly with one another while, presumably, awaiting for orders from one of them.

“Follow me!” Muqiu hollered through his mic. “I’ll be leading us to the Stat Guardian’s lair but One Leaf Heralds Autumn will be in command of the actual battle. We’ll be using the party chat to communicate so make sure you keep an eye on it,” he finished, happy to pass on the main job to Xiu’er. He didn’t mind leading if he had to but he much preferred supporting from the background.

If he only knew what a hassle it was to be guild leader, he wouldn’t have accepted. Q(╯ᆺ╰๑)

(Never mind that he didn’t do much since Xuefeng and Xiu’er shouldered his role’s responsibilities.)

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Don’t worry, the plan is very simple.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: I will assign two parties of five players.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: One party will be under Autumn Tree, the other under me.

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Stand where we tell you to stand, attack when we say attack and stop when we tell you to stop. It’s very easy. You won’t feel that defeating this guardian is hard.

Well, as far as Xiu’er blunt commanding went, this wasn’t actually that bad. But Muqiu couldn’t be sure if he just got far too used to it since he could clearly remember having to smoothen the ruffled feathers of the random players they had dungeon with in the past. Hm. Hopefully the hero worship the players no doubt harboured for their group softened the blow of Xiu’er domineering leadership.

Judging by the enthusiastic agreements in the chat, his wishes weren’t in vain and were granted. It was a good thing they were so accepting – or was the correct term, ‘blind’? – and saw everything through rose-colored glasses. Sometimes, their reputation really did come in handy. He was glad. Still, he reached over and poked Xiu’er in punishment because he could see the Su sisters giggling.

Xiu’er batted the hand a way with an innocently confused look. What a shameless incarnate. “Three Mists and Steamed Bun, you’re the third group. Attack and don’t stop until the end. Yifan, support.”

The chosen five players acknowledged their orders swiftly though Yifan sounded nervous.

“Yifan,” Ye Xiu called out softly. “Remember, you’re a pro-player.”

“Ah… yes, Ye. Thank you,” Yifan replied, sounding significantly more cheered up.

Muqiu smiled at the two then loudly announced, “We’re here!”

In short order, the group was inside ready to face off the Stat Guardian. Xiu’er began to issue out more simplistic commands in the party chat, dividing the players into groups before instructing them to move into place with Xuefeng and Mucheng’s assistance. The strategy being implemented was restrictive, more so than normally necessary, to prevent any mess the spies would attempt to create.

Although they didn’t know how many spies were currently with them, what they did know was that there were definitely spies among them. This was because they had chosen the highest level players from the guild and it was improbable for majority of them to be unattached Glory players. Of the eight level 35 players they had, it was likely that four to seven of them were spies from other guilds.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: What will we do about the spies?

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Use them.

Muqiu sweat dropped at that answer.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: After

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Duel them to find out which is which.

Fair enough but…

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Won’t stop them from coming back

They also had this sort of problem at Excellent Dynasty in the past. Though, the spies would always be inevitably relegated to the lower rungs because the top players and elite guards were already set so he didn’t much care. That was then however and this was now. He cared very much now and hated the thought of spies in their guild. It reminded him of Excellent Era and… ah, nevermind them.

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Doesn’t matter.

[Whisper] Lord Grim: We won’t be delegating to strangers.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: They could instigate rumors

[Whisper] Lord Grim: …

Wrong person to ask, Muqiu smiled to himself.

[Whisper] Lord Grim: Focus first.

Muqiu smiled and murmured, “No need to tell me,” as he controlled Autumn Tree to attack the Stat Guardian in tandem with Lord Grim. It hadn’t been difficult to learn how to play in sync with Ye Xiu but it had been disconcerting to not be automatically in sync, learning pains of playing alongside a true Unspecialized regardless of the Myriad Manifestations Umbrella being his creation aside.

Still, it had been many months since his time travel and they had long since been in sync. They worked seamlessly together on opposite sides of the cavern, their avatars’ guns smoking from their continuous assault as the Guardian dithered in the center under the mercy of their H&R strategy.

It was an impressive show of aggro control, a skill that was considered legendary by normal players and hence would certainly be a special experience for them to witness. Although, the same could possibly also be said for existing pro-players who, Mucheng mentioned, no longer played Glory outside of arena fights or, at times, wild BOSS hunts, neither of which required precise aggro control.

Shame, that. Where’d all their passion for Glory as a game go?

The Stat Guardian jumped up with a loud roar and landed with a great crash, creating shockwaves which ended precisely one unit away from Autumn Tree’s position. After that brief lull, he and Ye Xiu continued where they left off until they fully stabilized their control over the Stat Guardian then he leapt, intending to grab the aggro from Ye Xiu while Xiu’er brought their main team to rush forward.

With a decisive shot, Muqiu tipped the aggro his way and retreated back towards the group the Su sisters were guarding with the Stat Guardian on his tail. “Long-range attacks! Don’t move past me.” The group obeyed his command and courageously stood their ground even as the Stat Guardian came closer… closer… three units away… two units… one – the Stat Guardian halted and turned.

“Stay here and attack until you can’t,” Muqiu told them before leaving his position to chase after the Stat Guardian so he could pull the aggro back on Autumn Tree at the precise time. Rinse and repeat. He and Ye Xiu traded the Stat Guardian’s aggro back and forth, again and again, until it knelt down.

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Autumn Empire for defeating the Level 1 Stat
Guardian. Guild members now have 8 additional stat points.

“You’ve done well, everyone!” Mucheng happily cheered the whole party as they gathered together.

“To celebrate, let’s all go to the Arena,” Xiu’er declared. “We’ll spar with each of you once.”

Muqiu hastily muted his mic to conceal his snickering at the lackluster responses he could hear underneath the enthusiastic ones from the innocent players. Infiltrating their guild wasn’t so simple.

*~*~*~*

There were seven spies in total. Two each from Tyrannical Ambition, Blue Brook and Samsara. One from Herb Garden. It was almost shameful that Herb Garden only weaseled one spy in. What were they doing? But then again, Blue River thought, this was congruent with Plantago Seed’s abnormal work so far in the server. Even for dungeon records, Herb Garden barely showed in the leaderboards.

Maybe he really should report the strange behavior to Changing Spring…

Blue River sighed. He had volunteered to become a spy in the Autumn Empire Guild precisely because he wanted a break away from Blue Brook’s guild matters. What was he doing thinking about Herb Garden and Plantago Seed? It was just so hard to turn off his brain though and he did feel guilty for shirking his duties... Spying was undoubtedly a duty too however. Blue River cheered up at this.

“Hey, do you plan on staying?”

The sudden question startled him out of his thoughts and he realized that he’d blanked out after One Leaf Heralds Autumn had identified him. Right. What was he feeling happy for? He didn’t make it past a day before being caught red-handed! What a failure. The Autumn Empire group were really comprised of outstanding players to be so sharp. He – Troubling Rain, forgive him – had missed them.

It had been so very long since he last enjoyed Glory as a game. So much so that he’d forgotten the joy which ignited his passion for Glory in the first place. That was, until he played alongside some of Autumn Empire’s members. Seeing their skill level, watching them play… their passion had been startling and their love for the game palpable. He rediscovered his own love for Glory through them.

So, did he plan on staying? What a question. No one would ask a spy that. No one except for Autumn Empire apparently. He chuckled a little breathlessly. Wasn’t this why he volunteered to be a spy? To experience the curve balls Autumn Empire threw at him? To escape the monotony of Glory after Autumn Empire had ascended to the Heavenly Domain? This was what he wanted. Should he stay?

“Staying?” Autumn Rain’s young voice echoed in confusion. “But he’s a spy?”

Blue River kept mum. The question he was asking himself was already answered the moment he felt a protest bubble up in his throat when Autumn Rain spoke. Yes, he was a spy and he wanted to stay damn it. Even putting aside his own reasons, he should be pushing for permission to stay because he was a spy. It would be an embarrassment to report to Changing Spring that he’d been made already.

Wait. Why was he thinking about his duties again?

“Aaaargh!” Xu Boyuan, the player of Blue River and current alternate account called ‘Peerless Looks’, shouted in frustration. This was his break goddamnit. Or, not a break. A… an alternative assignment. Fuck. This wasn’t a break at all. Who was he kidding? Being a spy was also a job! He gripped his hair.

“Something wrong?” Autumn Tree asked kindly.

Yes, went through Xu Bouyan’s mind straightaway. He didn’t voice it. Instead, he thought about what a nice person Autumn Tree was to ask. No, since the beginning, Autumn Tree had been kind. During their negotiations, group runs and chats… all the way, Autumn Tree had been kind to him.

Infuriating, of course, because of how good the other guy was at making deals but kind nonetheless.

Anyway, when was the last time anyone asked after him for him and not his role? He couldn’t remember. Probably, it’s been so long that there was nothing to remember. Xu Boyuan shook his head and decided to answer Autumn Tree honestly. But first, he finally got ahold of his bearings and looked around to double check that they were alone. “I’m tired of guild and Club politics,” he said.

“Well,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn began patiently, “maybe you’re not suited for your current role.”

“Yeah, maybe…” Xu Boyuan agreed, thinking himself absurd for doing so. Why was he talking to this group of people who he did like but were also – more importantly – his competitors? And why were they bothering to caringly converse with him? Changing Spring didn’t care to do this when he’d bared his emotions to the other and they were friends. Supposedly friends. Or was it one-sided?

He breathed in. Ridiculous or not, he didn’t care. He didn’t care! It was nice to talk about his worries with someone who actually cared to talk things over with him. Usually, in his guild, this kind of conversation only appeared in the form of small talk to segue into talking about the issues regarding the guild so he might as well take advantage of this rarity and have an actual meaningful discussion.

“Why not have a change of pace?” Autumn Tree spoke again. “Get a different job.”

“Outside of Glory?” Xu Boyuan asked dubiously. He’d just rekindled his passion for Glory through the group in front of him and they were suggesting he change his job? That didn’t make any sense. At all.

“Does it have to be?” One Leaf Heralds Autumn questioned.

Xu Boyuan was taken aback. A job involving Glory that wasn’t his current job. Sure, there were a lot but, truth be told, they were all specialized and he wasn’t that talented. Besides… he was absolutely tired of politics and he was also burning out from leading but he enjoyed certain aspects of being a part of the guild. He enjoyed helping others, he liked dungeoning and… “I like my job,” he confessed.

“Your job,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn began, “or Glory?”

“I…” Xu Boyuan paused. He wanted to repeat what he said yet it didn’t feel right. Wasn’t he here because he was tired of the task he was given which was, technically speaking, part of his job? Although, to be fair, his job description was so vague that anything under ‘guild’ was his job. So then, what did he like about his job which didn’t involve playing Glory? Blue Rain, came to mind instantly.

Blue Rain. His favorite team. The team of his favorite character, Troubling Rain, and favorite player, Huang Shaotian. He had joined Blue Brook Guild because of those three favorites and, while there, had gained many precious memories. Passion and sentimentality together brought him to Club Blue Rain and he stayed because… because… Well, there was never a time he questioned that he would.

Until now.

Rather than choosing between his ‘job or Glory’, the reason he got his job made the choosing between ‘Blue Rain or Glory’ instead. He toiled, he persisted and he persevered for Blue Rain. Not Glory. “Oh,” Xu Boyuan’s eyes widened as he realized this truth. Glory ceased being fun because he wasn’t playing Glory for Glory anymore but Blue Rain. At some point, he’d chosen his job over Glory.

That made sense, right? He was doing this for Blue Rain… but… but… this job was sucking him dry. Playing with Autumn Empire the first time had jolted him to the cruel reality that he’d been existing like a zombie the past few years and, having awoken, he couldn’t go back to that monotonous life anymore. He refused. It felt too good to feel alive again. …So then, what did that mean for him?

“Blue River, would you like to work with us?”

Autumn Tree spoke, startling Xu Boyuan for the nth time. He blinked. “What?”

“Join us and enjoy Glory again!” Autumn Tree declared confidently.

Enjoy Glory again. Xu Boyuan liked the idea of that however he’d have to leave Club Blue Rain, Blue Brook Guild, his friends… He looked around his small, dimly-lit office and only managed to make himself feel depressed at the blandness of it all. The only decoration he had was a Team Blue Rain poster signed by Huang Shaotian two years ago. It was, he found, the only source of joy he had here.

When did this place become so dull? He had loved being inside Club Blue Rain so much before.

And – when did his love for Team Blue Rain become a burden? His love for Glory non-existent?

Was it important that he couldn’t remember or was it better? What did all of this mean?

Lord Grim stepped forward. “Hey, you don’t have to think so hard about it now. Take a break first.”

The show of compassion from the suspected God Ye Xiu made Xu Boyuan reckless. “If I join you, what…?” he trailed off, unsure how to continue despite the recklessness still surging inside of him. What was he supposed to ask? His job at Club Blue Rain was his first and, like any hot-blooded youth and passionate fan, he really hadn’t cared about what the contract said. He just wanted to help out.

“What will you be doing?” One Leaf Heralds Autumn suggested.

“Uh,” Xu Boyuan didn’t think there’d be much difference in his job description so – “Why me?”

“Because I like you,” Autumn Tree answered frankly. “You have a good personality and you’re a great leader. I also think you’re a reliable and trustworthy person. That’s why we’re asking you.”

“Oh! Thank you,” Xu Boyuan told him – them – sincerely.

“Already thanking us?” One Leaf Heralds Autumn snickered. “We haven’t discussed your offer yet.”

“You’re welcome,” Autumn Tree said afterwards, quite pointedly too.

Xu Boyuan grinned briefly in amusement and had a smiling emoji pop up above his avatar.

“Would you like to hear our offer?” Lord Grim asked, putting them back on track.

“Okay,” Xu Boyuan agreed politely. Then, after a split second, added, “Yes, please.”

“First of all, your role is general but your tasks are negotiable. If you do not wish to do something, you can discuss your concerns with us and we’ll adjust accordingly. There’s no point in employing people and making them work until they burn out,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn explained casually.

“Secondly, your pay. I assume you’re being paid around 350k a year. We’ll be paying you 400k which will include housing, transportation and other benefits such as full medical insurance. Thirdly, we will require you to move to City H where you will be working at our Club headquarters. Moving logistics and expenses will be arranged for by us. Other details will be in your official offer. Any questions?”

Xu Boyuan consciously closed his parted lips and licked away the stunned drool from the corner of his mouth. One Leaf Heralds Autumn was disconcertingly accurate with his assumed salary. But what really had him taken aback were the benefits mentioned. Housing, transportation and full medical insurance? Moving logistics and expenses? Club Blue Rain only offered him annual medical check-up.

Wasn’t this too far-fetched?

“This is probably strange to you,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn pre-empted him. “Here we are, a group which came out of nowhere in the tenth server, offering you a job that clearly sounds too good to be true. You don’t have to take our word for it and I don’t think anything we say will completely assuage your doubts. Instead, give me your QQ contact and I’ll have the company contact you.”

“Company?” Xu Boyuan blurted out. “Wait, Loulan Slash’s company?”

“No,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn denied. “You will be working for us and not Lou Guanning. While we are in a temporary alliance with them, it is, as mentioned, temporary. The company which will contact you is –,” he paused abruptly. “Actually, Xuefeng-ge, which company was it that hired you?”

Xu Boyuan balked. “You don’t know?!” The other’s earlier competence vanished into thin air.

“There are too many companies for me to guess which one,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn replied idly.

“…” Xu Boyuan didn’t know what to say to that. Saying ‘too many companies’ was too strong!

“Golden Leaf Corporation,” came the answer from the new player in Autumn Empire’s group.

Xu Boyuan glanced curiously at Setting Sun when the answer finally sunk in and he sucked in a breath. Holy shit. Golden Leaf Corporation? As in, the biggest media company in the country with a large presence in the technology and gaming sector? The company that sponsored the projection technology featured in the latest All-Stars Weekend? That Golden Leaf Corporation? What the fuck.

Hold. “Your team is being backed by the Golden Leaf Corporation?!” he didn’t screech. Just barely.

“Yes,” Lord Grim infused that single worded reply with heavy amusement.

Xu Boyuan inhaled deeply and tried to calm down. “How will the contract prove your claim?”

“If you want,” Lord Grim began, still sounding very amused, “you can visit the HR department.”

Visit Golden Leaf Corporation? There was no way to fake that. Golden Leaf Corporation didn’t rent out spaces in commercial buildings. Golden Leaf Corporation built their own buildings from the ground up and never rented out spaces to other companies other than to those under the umbrella of their mother company’s, Ye Conglomerate. Holy shit. “Okay… this is really… this is happening.”

“Well, you’re not dreaming,” Lord Grim assured a bit mockingly.

Xu Boyuan would have reacted if he wasn’t still reeling. “What… what if your team fails?”

“Impossible,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn rejected the notion dismissively. “But in that case, you can return to Club Blue Rain, find another job or, if you wish, Golden Leaf Corporation will absorb you.”

“Oh,” Xu Boyuan exclaimed rather inadequately. His mind was spinning. “I need time to… think.”

“Of course, this isn’t a decision you can make right away,” Setting Sun was the one who spoke this time. “Take your time to think and, in the meantime, please send us your QQ contact so that the HR department can get in contact with you regarding your offer. Better you have everything laid out.”

Xu Boyuan nodded, caught himself, and then verbally affirmed, “I’ll send it to… uh, One Leaf Heralds Autumn.” He would have said ‘Autumn Tree’ just because that was who he had regular contact with however One Leaf Heralds Autumn, young as the player might be, had been the one to lead the talk regarding this offer. “Thank you,” he expressed his gratitude once more. “Really, I… thank you.”

Generous offer aside, he was earnestly grateful that they thought to ask him in the first place so he wished to convey that and hoped they understood. They probably did. He sent his QQ details as requested then logged out of Glory. The game closed and revealed his desktop wallpaper, a photo he’d taken of him and Huang Shaotian three years ago. He stared at it blankly whilst he pondered.

Was he really entertaining the idea of leaving? Of course, he was. There was no denying that. He wouldn’t have let One Leaf Heralds Autumn explain if he wasn’t. But was it because he was truly contemplating the possibility of leaving or was it simply due to his current frustrations with work? No, no, he shouldn’t rationalize this away. This job was burning him out, he should admit to that.

He did admit to that. Earlier. And he shouldn’t sweep the issue under the rug. So, the question was:

Blue Rain or Glory?

*~*~*~*

The Autumn Empire Guild continued to flourish for the rest of the day and by the time midnight struck, the guild had levelled up ten more times and gained sixteen more stat points from the Stat Guardians. Their opening would be marked as the most successful across all servers in Glory history.

Excitement over their achievement quickly spilled over from the 10^th server to the Heavenly Domain where the Autumn Empire group remained a hot topic. Once it was discovered by the Heavenly Domain players that the group had made their own guild, some began to wonder what this meant for their relation to the Heavenly Justice Guild and Team Heavenly Sword while others brushed it off.

Opening a guild in the 10^th server and opening a guild in the Heavenly Domain was a difference so vast that it was laughable to make anything of this new development. To the older players, it was natural that Autumn Empire made use of their popularity in the 10^th server to increase the storage wealth of Team Heavenly Sword. Nevertheless, both old and new players gossiped in the forums.

Such commotion escaped no one’s notice and most especially not those invested in Autumn Empire like Ye Qiu. He smiled at the news his youngest secretary had brought him, satisfied that the hiring of Wu Xuefeng under Su Muqiu’s recommendation had contributed much so soon, and instructed his oldest secretary to send care packages to Autumn Empire’s competitors. Then, he made a call.

It was high time Club Autumn Empire officially opened its doors.

Chapter Text

(February)

Club Autumn Empire opened its doors one cloudy day in the third week of February. Coincidentally, it was on this same day that Wei Chen arrived. Or, perhaps, it was not so coincidental. Knowing the kind of unscrupulous bastard that the man was, Ye Xiu presumed it was more likely that the other had ensured to arrive on the same day of opening so as to not worry about housing, food and else.

“Life’s been hard on you, huh,” Ye Xiu said in lieu of a greeting.

“Fuck you,” Wei Chen cussed out at once. “Let me tell you, this father has gold in his hands!”

“What gold? Did you win a championship?”

“You’re really Ye Xiu!” Wei Chen tsked and wagged his finger condescendingly before holding up a USB. “In this little baby is my life’s work! A way to increase the chances of obtaining skill books!”

“…isn’t that a myth?” Xiu’er asked disdainfully.

“Fuck! Who is this? Your mini me? Isn’t one of you enough of a curse?”

Xiu’er gave the older man a severely judgmental look. “Hurry up.”

“…” Wei Chen vaguely looked like he regretted coming and began muttering, “Pay and benefits, pay and –,”

“Yo, Old Wei, how sure are you of your ‘life’s work’?” Ye Xiu asked, calling the other’s attention back.

“There’s a lot of stuff. I have it in this,” Wei Chen replied grumpily. “I plan on selling it.”

Xiu’er scoffed. “You want to sell it to us? Who exactly is your employer right now?”

“Fuck!” Wei Chen thrusted the small storage device at Ye Xiu in disgust and grumped over to a chair.

Smirking, Ye Xiu plugged the USB in to the nearest open computer which he had been using since his own arrival earlier. At dawn, no less because Ye Qiu was a mischievous little twat and sent people to pick them up along with their luggage to move into the Club’s residential building with the first peek of sunshine in the horizon. The only consolation was that they didn’t need to settle in until tonight.

The little storage device contained only a single document which he, Muqiu and Xiu’er scanned through diligently. Just from the first few pages, it was instantly clear to him that Wei Chen calling it a ‘life’s work’ wasn’t too much of an exaggeration. There was no doubt this was a game-changer.

“What do you think?” Ye Xiu asked the other two.

Muqiu hummed. “I think… we should ask Luo Ji to look through it.”

“To calculate the drop rates?” Ye Xiu stated rather than asked, knowing their line of thinking would coincide. “I agree. We should send it to him later. Right now, we should start doing these quests.”

Xiu’er tilted his head. “Are we buying it?” he questioned quietly.

“I think that it’s worth paying for. He gave it to us willingly but we don’t want this sold to others.”

“Okay, so how much?” Muqiu wondered.

“At this point, the data is still raw so the value is less,” Xiu’er said matter-of-factly. “8 mil?”

Ye Xiu hummed. “We’re already paying him well so 8 mil is generous. I’ll let Qiu-di know.”

“Great! Our next modelling contract can pay for –,” Muqiu yelped and narrowly avoided the dual swipe from the Ye duo. He pouted at them from behind a chair. “We had fun last time, didn’t we?”

“What’s going on, you three?”

Ye Xiu glanced over his shoulder to see Xuefeng walk into the training room. “Look who’s here.”

“Mm..?” Xuefeng glanced around and spotted the newcomer in surprise. “Wei Chen?”

“So you’re here too!” Wei Chen exclaimed.

Xuefeng smiled. “Yes, I was the first. You’re the second. In a few weeks, Yin Xiong will arrive too.”

“Fuck me!” Wei Chen turned to Ye Xiu. “Are you planning on gathering all the retired pros?”

“Not all. I think Guo Mingyu is still hiding from me,” Ye Xiu shrugged.

“What kind of guild do you plan on running? The other guilds are going to run crying!”

Xiu’er smirked sharply. “That’s the idea.”

“…” Wei Chen looked blankly at the younger Ye then laughed boisterously. “This father approves!”

“Of course, you do…” Xuefeng murmured before he addressed Ye Xiu again, “Have you finished writing your letter?”

Ye Xiu blinked twice. “What letter?”

“Mucheng said she told you to write a letter to your fans?” Xuefeng asked questioningly.

“Ah,” Ye Xiu sighed. He had completely forgotten about it. “Zero percent,” he admitted.

Xuefeng nodded as though he had already expected this answer. “I’ll help you with it.”

“My hero,” Ye Xiu declared solemnly. “But first, breakfast. Do you know where the Su sisters are?”

“They went ahead to the food court,” Xuefeng informed.

Ye Xiu smiled faintly. “Of course, they did. Let’s go then,” he closed the desktop and stood up.

“Which restaurants do you think Ye Qiu invited in?” Muqiu wondered aloud as he curled his arms around the Ye duo and proceeded to drag them both along with him out of the training room.

This left Xuefeng and Wei Chen to follow after them from behind. The latter of which could be heard mumbling, “This bastard remembers to eat breakfast now?” much to Xuefeng’s internal amusement.

*~*~*~*

Composing a letter which needed to ‘come from the heart’ and ‘move hearts’ wasn’t easy. Even with Xuefeng’s help, it took Ye Xiu practically the entire morning to finish the stupid thing. It didn’t help that his eyes constantly strayed towards his account card and Muqiu’s screen right next to his own.

If only he could pass this task to someone else…

Or if only he didn’t have to do this at all like in the past…

Ye Xiu unhappily thought these things as he typed out draft after draft whilst his fingers itched to play a different tune until he reached his fourteenth draft and instead of feedback, he received silence for a solid five seconds. Anticipation and hope bloomed inside of him. He carefully looked at Xuefeng’s gentle expression and Mucheng’s strict frown then steeled himself to ask, “…done?”

“Let me see again.” Mucheng grabbed hold of the mouse to scroll, her lips pursed in serious contemplation. As always, she was the last boss; Xuefeng had already stepped back. “Mmm…”

For one long minute, Ye Xiu sat tensely waiting for her verdict but as one minute became two, his patience waned and he turned unamused. “Are you playing with me right now?” he asked, frowning.

“Yup!” Mucheng admitted with a cheeky grin, completely unrepentant. “You’re good to go.”

Letting out a pleased groan, Ye Xiu cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders to relieve the built up stress. Then, after stretching his fingers, he swiftly sent the document to Mucheng’s QQ and was about slide his account card into the reader when Mucheng launched herself at his back for a hug. His arm stiffened automatically under her weight, protecting the card from bending with dear life.

“Hehe,” Mucheng giggled and tightened her hold on him briefly before merrily waltzing off.

Ye Xiu bemusedly watched her go. It was in moments like these which made him wonder whether he indulged her too much… But at the same time, seeing her act childish made him quite content and, looking at Xiu’er who was being used as a pillow by a sleepy Yucheng, he knew the younger felt the same. Abruptly, he realized there was no need to wonder. The answer was yes. He sighed helplessly.

“What are you thinking about?”

Ye Xiu glanced at the formerly-eldest Su. “Hm. I’m too nice,” he said flatly.

Grinning, Muqiu patted him on the shoulder with patronizing commiseration. “Since when?”

“Fuck off,” Ye Xiu lightly shoved the other as he was startled into a hearty laugh.

Muqiu grinned at him and snatched the half-inserted account card from the reader, swapping it for another one – an alt. “Cleric, Xiu. Go find us a Cleric first. No Lord Grim for you,” he said laughingly.

“…” Were Ye Xiu was the type to pout, he would have pouted.

*~*~*~*

One week and two days. That was how long it took Ye Xiu to find Little Cold Hands, a male Cleric player with a female avatar who possessed great timing sense, from Tyrannical Ambition’s sub-guild. Armed with the celebrity-like status of Autumn Empire in-game and the enticing opportunity of entering the pro scene with them, it was easy to persuade the Cleric to try out for their team.

Ye Xiu set their meeting place with the others near the arena, intent on going in for a 3v3 so he and the others could collectively work on identifying and then improving Little Cold Hands’ strengths and weaknesses. But it wasn’t meant to be. Understandably, the Cleric managed to aggro Xiu’er just by existing and hence was forcefully dragged off to do specialized training with the youngest Ye instead.

The ‘specialized training’ that Xiu’er had in mind was no doubt the same one Ye Xiu had done for Yin Xiong back in the day. If he remembered correctly, Yin Xiong absolutely hated those sessions since they were exhausting even though they were highly effective. So although it wasn’t what Ye Xiu originally intended, he had no objections and bid Little Cold Hands “good luck” then left them to it.

Just like that, Little Cold Hands and One Leaf Heralds Autumn weren’t seen from for a week.

*~*~*~*

Many things happened in that single week.

Firstly, Mucheng and Yucheng celebrated their birthdays.

Secondly, Ye Qiu leaked out a glimpse of Excellent Era’s sins as a gift.

And thirdly, gone unnoticed, 1^st server’s Autumn Tree and One Autumn Leaf briefly went online.

*~*~*~*

When One Leaf Heralds Autumn returned with Little Cold Hands from the week-long training session, Ye Xiu was suitably impressed by the leaps and bounds of improvement that the Cleric showed. Not only during the 3v3 arena matches but also during their level 70 ten-player dungeon runs where they, as a six member team, managed to survive with relatively high health bars. A feat.

“Hey, what training did you do with Little Cold Hands?” Muqiu inquired curiously after their last run.

“Just some forest runs,” Xiu’er replied nonchalantly. “Want to give it a try?”

“Want to give what a try?” Mucheng asked once she returned from the refreshment bar for a drink.

“The training I did with Little Cold Hands,” Xiu’er answered. “Want to give it a try?” he repeated.

“Okay, sure!" Mucheng quickly agreed. "Cheng-mei, want to join?”

Yucheng paused in her chips-eating activity. “Okay,” she accepted simply.

“…I don’t have to, right?” Little Cold Hands questioned warily in-game.

“Come; training is a must. I’ll help Xiu’er out,” Ye Xiu told their newest member.

The specialized training was undoubtedly incredibly useful for Clerics but it was no less useful for other Classes. It was built on the idea that escape was the best defence which was why training focused on honing the player’s ability to effectively escape dedicated pursuers. Doing such in a forest further upped the difficulty and therefore forced the players to improve more rapidly.

As the pursuers, Ye Xiu and Xiu’er had the important job of pressuring the escapees. This was done by attacking the players, cutting off escape routes and generally giving off the feeling that they were hunting the escapees to death. However, it was only a feeling because they had to make sure they didn’t truly kill the escapees off since that would halt training and require them to wait for revival.

“Yucheng, what’s wrong?” Ye Xiu asked mid-way through the exercise.

Autumn Rain released a pouting emoji. “I don’t want to play anymore,” Yucheng said.

“Okay, just follow us around,” Ye Xiu told her. She wasn’t like him, Xiu’er and Muqiu who lived and breathed Glory nor was she like Mucheng who was passionate about playing alongside them. He knew Yucheng was different and while she did enjoy Glory, she mainly played it to spend time with them. So if she didn’t want to continue training then she wouldn’t. Having fun was more important.

“Mm!” Yucheng agreed.

In the end, she was the only one who forfeited when dinner came around and they called it a day.

“…I hate you both,” Muqiu muttered tiredly. “You had Little Cold Hands do that for a whole week?”

“You’ve worked hard,” Mucheng consoled Little Cold Hands.

Xiu’er rolled his eyes. “Quit your whining. It’s a great training method! Revolutionary even.”

“Yes, exactly,” Ye Xiu agreed with a laughing undertone.

“…I did improve a lot…” Little Cold Hands admitted reluctantly. “In just a week…” he added.

A smug emoji popped up above One Leaf Heralds Autumn.

“Whatever,” Muqiu sighed. “I’m tired. Little Cold Hands, you can go. We’ll see you tomorrow!”

“Please just call me An Wenyi. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Little Cold Hands disappeared.

“An Wenyi, Little Cold Hands, Cleric,” Ye Xiu recited as he typed down the words and sent the information over to Xuefeng who would be responsible for registering them in the Challengers League. He clicked off the chat window then stretched his arms above his head with a groan.

“Little Captain,” Xuefeng called for his attention from his seat. The elite guild staff had their own room and the guild staff had their own floor so he was technically not supposed to be in the training room with them but since they were still operating informally... they all worked in one room. “ID.”

“Soon,” Ye Xiu replied. There was no rush after all, they still had a few more months to prepare.

“Hey, Yifan’s here!” Muqiu announced, sounding more energized than a minute ago. “Level 60!”

“Tell him to eat dinner first. We’ll train with him in the arena afterwards,” Ye Xiu instructed.

Muqiu offered a thumbs up to show that he heard. “I’ll tell him to be back in an hour.”

“Alright, that’s our cue for dinner. What are we eating tonight?” Xiu’er asked.

The group filed out of the training room together, Muqiu, Xiu’er and Yucheng discussing the many restaurant options they had available aloud while Ye Xiu and Mucheng just listened to them with amusement. Behind them, Xuefeng took up the rear with Wei Chen, the latter catching up with a jog after cursing out Tang Rou, Luo Ji who the former Blue Rain Captain was training in the 10^th server.

*~*~*~*

“Eh…”

Halfway through one afternoon, Xiu’er suddenly made a sound of discontent which caught Ye Xiu’s attention as the tone and volume was far too different from his argument-like conversation with Wei Chen. He promptly ditched the old man and approached his younger self, peeking over the other’s shoulder to see. On the screen, One Leaf Heralds Autumn was fighting a Striker and Cleric.

“…” Ye Xiu was speechless. What luck did Xiu’er have to meet enemies on a short run to get potions?

Xiu’er tsked in annoyance as he clashed with the other player, his health bar still high thanks to Little Cold Hands’ presence. “Hey, aren’t you a pro? Are you this lonely without your rival? How pitiful!”

Rival? Ye Xiu’s lips parted as he realized just who his younger self had encountered.

“…did you two break up or something?”

Ye Xiu coughed at the accusation and lightly ruffled the younger’s hair in punishment.

“Listen, old man, can you not involve me in your lovers’ spat? I really couldn’t care less!”

“Who is he talking to?” Mucheng asked, interestedly peering up over her monitor like a meercat.

“Old Han,” Ye Xiu replied dryly. He glanced at Xiu’er’s screen one last time then made his way back to his computer, logging in incognito so he wouldn’t be bothered next. “Send me your coordinates.”

Mucheng obliged and invited him to the party. “We’ll pick Xiu’er up first then meet you there.”

“Yo, good timing!” Muqiu greeted from beside him. “Wild BOSS spawn in World Tree! Did you know this BOSS’ rifle allows him to use any of the Gunner sub-classes skills? Too amazing! I need it, Xiu!”

“That’s a level 70 BOSS,” Ye Xiu informed in case the other wasn’t aware.

“I know,” Muqiu replied. “Yifan’s scouting the area. So far, only Herb Garden has shown up!”

Ye Xiu grimaced. “That won’t last long. We need to hurry up. Call for Heavenly Justice and –,”

“Already called them and yeah, good idea!” Muqiu fiddled with his headphones then half-stood up. “Xuefeng-ge! Old Wei! Come to Heavenly Domain, quick! Wild BOSS! Level 70! World Tree! Hurry!”

“Tch! You think this father couldn’t hear what you were saying? We’re already on our way!”

“How dependable!” Muqiu yelled back sarcastically before sitting back down.

[Party] One Inch Ash: Blue Brook is gathering!

[Party] Autumn Tree: ^^b

[Party] One Inch Ash: There’s also some Samsara players!

[Party] Autumn Tree: Hide well~

Ye Xiu glanced at the party list on his way to World Tree. “Xiu’er,” he called, “do you need help?”

“As if, I’m en route,” Xiu’er rejected. “That Old Han is so persistent,” he sighed, sounding harried.

“If he wasn’t, we wouldn’t still be rivals,” Ye Xiu replied dryly.

Xiu’er snickered. “True! But better you than me.”

Before Ye Xiu could remark on that, Muqiu reported, “Heavenly Justice is waiting for us to lead.”

“Good,” Ye Xiu acknowledged as Heavenly Justice’s troop came into view along with two characters.

One of them was Wei Chen who immediately barked, “Hurry up! Do you think the BOSS will wait?”

Ye Xiu ignored the other with familiar ease and sent party invitations to everyone – notably the two.

Player Wind Dancing Snow⁽¹⁾ has joined the party.

Player Windward Formation has joined the party.

“Goodbye, peace,” Xiu’er lamented.

Mucheng and Yucheng’s laughter rang loud and clear in the training room.

“Fuck you!” Wei Chen predictably cursed. “Where are you? Are you waiting for Christmas to come?”

“We’re waiting for you!” Xiu’er boldly claimed upon arrival.

“Pei!” Wei Chen made a spitting sound. “Fucking shameless! What’s the plan?”

Xiu’er tsked. “You still need a plan? We’ll clear the way and Heavenly Justice will take the BOSS.”

“…he’s even just like you with his basic plan,” Wei Chen told Ye Xiu disdainfully.

Muqiu laughed. “What, you can’t do it? If you can’t do it, just sit back and watch!”

“Fuck! You think this father can’t do it? I can do it!” Wei Chen groused. “Let’s go!”

And go they did. The poor players in the elite teams of the top guilds didn’t know what hit them and by the end of it, they still didn’t understand what had happened and were only left with a feeling of ‘chaos’ in their hearts. Such an event didn’t go unnoticed. Within an hour, the entire Heavenly Domain was talking about how Autumn Empire helped Heavenly Justice step all over the top guilds.

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Heavenly Justice has killed Forest Guardian Vich!

*~*~*~*

While the guild leaders in the Heavenly Domain reeled from their upset loss at the hands of Autumn Empire and Heavenly Justice, their 10^th server counterparts received care packages in their homes with various degrees of trepidation and fright. The care packages themselves were nice but the massive logo at the front bearing the largely-printed label of, “AUTUMN EMPIRE” was less so.

Xu Bouyan aka Blue River stared at his own care package with a touched expression. He was the only 10^th server guild leader who had a different reaction to the gift. They’re wooing me, was what he thought, feeling flattered all over again by the attention Autumn Empire was showering him with.

The other day, he had gone to vist the Golden Leaf Corporation building in his city where he was handed a physical copy of his very real contract offer and nearly fainted. Not because of the solid proof in his hands, as he had no more doubts, but because of how overwhelmed he was with the benefits being offered on top of the higher salary. The only downside was that he had to move…

Additionally, accepting meant he had to say goodbye to Club Blue Rain and Blue Brook Guild.

However, after receiving this care package, he couldn’t help but feel moved. Nothing had changed in his life at Blue Brook since his last talk with Changing Spring. Everything was still the same and he was still tired of it all. Now that a door has been opened for him, he shouldn’t keep standing still.⁽²⁾

“I’ve decided,” Xu Bouyan declared inside his empty home. “I’m going!”

(Poor Xu Bouyan didn’t realize that the package was meant to intimidate him; a case of “I know who you are!” and “I know where you live!” inspired by a popular trope seen in many creative works.)

Chapter Text

(February)

The muted sound of cars rushing past in the street below mingled easily with the quiet whirring of the air conditioner inside the dimly-lit bedroom, blanketing the occupants in a peaceful atmosphere and seducing them into the arms of Morpheus. It had been an exhausting and fun day for them, a full excursion to the outside world playing to the whims of the Su sisters to celebrate their birthday.

Muqiu rolled on the bed and crashed into Ye Xiu’s chest, causing the other to groan from the impact mid-yawn. He smiled unrepentantly which only widened when an arm curled around him and over his back. Sharing a bed with Ye Xiu had been a norm since his request for the other to regale him with memories he hadn’t been present for and continued to be a norm despite moving apartments.

In true Ye Qiu fashion, almost every one of them had been given their own apartments in the Club’s residential building save for Yucheng who was assigned a room at Mucheng’s place. The penthouse had been naturally blocked off for Ye Xiu’s use, the floor below it to Xiu’er and the floor after that was divided to two apartments for the Su siblings, him in one and his sisters in the other for privacy.

At least, that was the idea but, the night of their arrival, Muqiu went straight to the penthouse after grabbing his luggage from his apartment with a flimsy excuse at the tip of his tongue; something about it being easier to be on the same floor for their nightly conversations. But he’d hardly finished his greeting and Ye Xiu was already waving him in as though it was a given that they’d live together.

Not just live together either – room together.

Muqiu never said a word about the other bedrooms and neither did Ye Xiu. He pressed his face against the other’s warm chest and the arm around him flexed in reaction to his movement, ready to prevent him from straying too far and inevitably crashing into Ye Xiu again. Not that he had plans to move away as he was quite warm and comfortable where he was which he made sure Ye Xiu knew.

“That so?” Ye Xiu mumbled rhetorically, yawning again.

“Very comfy,” Muqiu assured with his own yawn. “And toasty.” His blinked drowsily. “Hey, Xiu?”

Ye Xiu hummed questioningly. “Mm?”

“Are you happy?” Muqiu asked quietly. He startled a bit when Ye Xiu nuzzled his hair, the move too foreign to not be a sleepy miscalculation, and looked up so their eyes could meet as he guessed this was what the other had been aiming for. But he, too, made a sleepy miscalculation which brought his heart to a stutter. Their noses brushed against each other’s, their faces in very close proximity.

“I’m happy,” Ye Xiu finally replied. “I have all of you. I’m happy.”

Muqiu shivered involuntarily at the feeling of warm breath tickling his lips. He lowered his head and tucked himself under the other’s chin. “Good,” he said a bit hoarsely. “I promise we’ll protect you.”

“..?” Ye Xiu’s confusion was palpable in the air.

“With us here, you’re not alone,” Muqiu explained as best as he could with his thoughts like syrup.

Ye Xiu replied with a hint of joy in his languid tone, “I know.”

Muqiu smiled at that and wiggled around to lay flat on his back, Ye Xiu’s arm now around his chest. He looked sideways at the other and his smile widened when he noticed the way the moonlight filtering through the windows casted a gentle glow on the other’s face. “How old do you think I am?”

For the second time, Ye Xiu was confused. “Aren’t you… eighteen?”

“We left in August… arrived in December…” Muqiu explained, reaching out to poke Ye Xiu’s cheek.

Ye Xiu turned his head so they were facing each other again but this time with a reasonable enough space between them. “Oh… I don’t know…” he exhaled deeply. “I guess you can decide that.”

“Then… I’m nineteen,” Muqiu happily decided straight-away. “Xiu’er should be younger than me.”

“Ha ha,” Ye Xiu snickered lazily. “But what does your ID say?” he inquired.

 Muqiu tapped his fingers against Ye Xiu’s chest as he admitted, “Actually, my ID says so too.”

“If even your ID says so, there’s no need to think about it,” Ye Xiu said, grabbing ahold of the tapping fingers to still them. “Speaking of…” He paused to yawn widely. “We’ll need to train together…”

“Should we… bring them in?” Muqiu inquired, blinking multiple times to clear his sluggish mind.

Ye Xiu groaned and stretched his body out, probably attempting to wake up a bit too. “Our problem would be Yifan…” he muttered. “His contract will end two months before the Challengers League…”

“We can… cancel his contract?” Muqiu queried, lifting his fingers to keep his eyes open. He didn’t really know why he was insisting to keep up their conversation when they could continue when they were more awake but… well, there was just something special about nighttime conversations in bed.

“I’ll talk it over with Qiu,” Ye Xiu offered, moving to lie on his side. “And Yifan.”

Muqiu hummed as he was further blanketed in the other’s warmth due to the other’s new position. It was nice… even if the pull of sleep became even heavier from just how nice it felt. “Mmm… Xiu?”

“Hmm?” Ye Xiu hummed as he pulled Muqiu in closer to cuddle with like he would a pillow.

“Should I… first server… Autumn Tree?” Muqiu asked with a sleepy sigh, his eyes fluttering shut.

“Check stats… mm… skill points… … …sleep first,” Ye Xiu patted Muqiu’s back clumsily.

Muqiu mumbled and snuggled closer into Ye Xiu’s warmth before finally sinking into a deep sleep.

*~*~*~*

Too early in the morning, Muqiu woke up to muffled noises from outside the room. He groaned quietly, noting that Ye Xiu was still asleep beside him, and grudgingly slid out of bed. A peek into the bedrooms that his siblings and Xiu’er were using for the night as they’d been too sleepy to go down a floor or two let him know who the culprits were while the barely lit living room told him the where.

Muqiu frowned at the scene he was greeted with. Mucheng and Xiu’er were huddled together on a sofa sharing a laptop which they seemed quite focused on. He could hear vile words coming from it but he didn’t have enough context to know why their expressions were so dark. “What’s going on?”

“Oh,” Xiu’er startled visibly. “It’s…” he trailed off and scratched his cheek uncomfortably.

The sheer oddness of an awkward Xiu’er made alarm bells ring in Muqiu’s head but before he could panic, Mucheng spoke up to explain: “Qiu-ge leaked videos from Excellent Era’s security cameras.”

Muqiu glanced between the both of them. “…does Xiu know about this?”

“No,” Xiu’er replied calmly, no longer off-balanced.

“Okay…” Muqiu licked his suddenly dry lips. “Let me… let me see.”

The first video Mucheng showed was a security camera recording in what looked to be a meeting room. Names and titles were superimposed onto the video to let viewers know who was speaking.

“You need to alienate Ye Xiu more. Start making it look like he’s slipping and can no longer lead the team,” Tao Xuan ordered. “The media has already begun shifting blame onto him. We need to help.”

“I’ll request for more of his help with guild matters,” Chen Yehui, guild leader, said.

“As long as our pay won’t decrease, we’ll do what you say,” Liu Hao, vice-captain, agreed. “It’s time for him to retire anyway. He’s old and washed-up. There’s no more space for someone like him.”

The second video was another security camera recording, this time in the training room.

“Where’s Liu Hao?” Ye Xiu asked.

No one answered.

The video was fast-forwarded with a timer in the corner to count how long everyone in the room waited for Liu Hao to arrive. When it somewhere around 30 minutes, the vice-captain walked in.

“I’m here. We can start now,” Liu Hao said as he walked in.

“You’re late,” Ye Xiu said.

“Sorry, sorry,” Liu Hao didn’t sound sorry at all. “You know how it is. Long lines in the cafeteria.”

“Captain, we should really move our training schedule to a later time,” He Ming sighed.

“It’s already nine in the morning.”

The third video was a secret camera recording judging by the weird angle of the hallway.

“Ye Xiu’s downfall will be soon. You’ll see. He was wrong for rejecting you,” Liu Hao said. “Actually, isn’t it because he’s scared? Starting from my first day, he always beat me down. Never gave me a chance to show my full potential. It’s because he’s scared! He’s so old already, what can he do?”

“He thinks you’ll steal his position, Brother Hao,” Chen Yehui laughed.

“If I played a Battle Mage, he would have been kicked out long ago!” Liu Hao claimed.

“Don’t worry, management’s on our side. We only have to wait a little longer,” Chen Yehui said. “It’ll be worth it when he’s kicked out. I want to see his face when Manager Cui Li forces him to retire!”

The fourth video was a security camera recording again in the same meeting room as earlier.

“Ye Xiu, the Club has decided that transfer player Sun Xiang will take over your position as Captain. From now on, Sun Xiang will be in control of your account One Autumn Leaf,” Cui Li, manager, said.

“Brother Ye, I’ve just arrived and I already took your position. Sorry,” Sun Xiang mocked.

“Brother Xiang, with those words, the Captain position definitely suits you!” Liu Hao crowed.

“Right,” Guo Yang, main roster, crooned, “some people are already old and out-of-date!”

“One Autumn Leaf deserve a better commander so that our abilities can be displayed!”

“Ye Xiu, hand over your card,” Manager Cui Li ordered.

Sun Xiang sneered. “Your hands are trembling, Brother Ye. How can you be a player like this?”

Fast forward.

“Ye Xiu!” Cui Li shouted. “The Club doesn’t have any competitive cards to give you. You will serve as a training partner first!”

“Oh! Glory Professional Alliance’s number one training partner!” Sun Xiang laughed.

“I’m cancelling my contract,” Ye Xiu said.

The video fast forwards again.

“Right! Finally, this is the Ye Xiu I recognize! Then, let’s talk about the penalty fee! Do you even know how much it is? Frankly, you’ve done so much for so many years, if you want to leave, let’s discuss!”

“Don’t bother. Tell it to me straight,” Ye Xiu said.

“It’s simple,” Cui Li replied. “Announce your retirement –,”

Muqiu stopped the video with a decisive click on the laptop Mucheng was using then looked up at the hallway he’d come from. He wasn’t surprised to see Ye Xiu standing there with an unreadable expression. “Right now,” he said, addressing only Ye Xiu. “What kind of expression am I making?”

“It’s terrifying,” Ye Xiu replied, trying to joke despite the oppressive atmosphere.

“That’s how I feel,” Muqiu said. “I feel blacker than I ever did in my entire life. It’s terrifying.”

Ye Xiu smiled. “Just breathe in deeply then exhale and let it go. They’re not worth your anger.”

“Wrong. It’s always worth it when it comes to family,” Muqiu corrected but he did as suggested and inhaled deeply before exhaling to let go of the tightness in his throat. “I don’t recognize them at all.”

“No… I guess you wouldn’t,” Ye Xiu said consideringly as he looked about the scarcely-lit living room.

“And yet, I still recognize you and Mucheng,” Muqiu said. “What they did to you – everything,” he began, “I want you to never forgive, never understand and never defend. Never. Okay, Xiu?”

Ye Xiu looked back at him. “It was the only way I could stay so long.”

“But you’re not there anymore,” Muqiu pointed out. “Do you – still care…?”

“I know,” Ye Xiu smiled. “And no… it’s a pity I couldn’t save EE but they’re in the past,” he said.

“Since when?” Mucheng asked, reminding them both that they weren’t alone.

Ye Xiu turned to her but reflexively looked at Muqiu again at her question.

“I was right then,” Mucheng murmured. “Did you stay so long because of my brother?”

“He… I have a lot of memories as a member of Excellent Era.”

“Dare you call it your Excellent Era after your original team left?” Xiu’er asked sharply.

“You…” Ye Xiu faltered, his lips parted in a way that indicated his brief spell of speechlessness. “Players come and go, you know that. Just because they left… it was my Excellent Era until it wasn’t.”

“Until it became no one’s,” Xiu’er said. “To Tao Xuan, you think he saw the Club for what it was?”

“It was just money to him,” Mucheng remarked quietly. “The Club, the team… me,” she finished.

“Okay,” Ye Xiu clapped his hands together, frowning. “Let’s stop talking about it. It’s already in the past. All of them, everything that happened, they’re in our past. C’mon, we should go back to sleep.”

Mucheng obediently closed the laptop with an affirmative sound and set it aside. Then, she and Xiu’er left together, brushing past Muqiu and Ye Xiu with side-pats and bids of “good night”.

“Are you really going to sleep?” Muqiu asked once they were alone.

Ye Xiu briefly lifted his shoulders in a graceful shrug. “I can always try.”

“Or,” Muqiu began, offering up a small smile, “why not come play Glory with me?”

“We should sleep…” Ye Xiu said softly.

Muqiu’s smile deepened. “Come play Glory with me,” he repeated.

“...okay, alright,” Ye Xiu sighed helplessly. “Let’s go.”

*~*~*~*

With the sun yet to rise in the horizon, Ye Xiu dared to log into One Autumn Leaf for the first time since he was forced to give it away. By his avatar’s side once more was the first server’s Autumn Tree. The two characters traversed Glory’s world together as their players basked in companionable quiet, every tap on the keyboard and click of the mouse a conversation only they could understand.

Later, they would quietly log out to join the rest of their family for breakfast, narrowly avoiding the morning rush of Glory. However, though Ye Xiu would have liked to similarly avoid being made to revise his letter to the fans to include thoughts in line with the leaked videos, he wasn’t able to.

It was hard to reject Mucheng’s demands when she was being (unfortunately) reasonable.

Chapter Text

(Sina Weibo)

Glory Professional Alliance V

The Glory Professional Alliance prides itself on uniting players all over the country through the combined love for Glory and competition. The Pro-League has been a wondrous success since its inception through the help of the pro-players who put their all into the game they love. Without them, the Pro-League would remain to be a dream and our community would be lesser for it.

Our understanding and appreciation of the pro-players’ work has therefore heavily dictated the rules and regulations we put in place with an emphasis on their safety, well-being, protection and health. Hence, we take it very seriously when a Club, management, personnel or pro-player is accused of threatening the welfare and rights of another pro-player (as well as any other individual in the GPA).

Unfortunately, such a situation came to our attention late last year when we obtained evidence of Club Excellent Era willfully violating multiple rules and regulations with malicious intent. The gravity of the information we discovered afterwards led to their suspension pending a full investigation.

Today, we deliver sad news for the Glory community. Please understand that the decision we have come to was not made lightly but is for the betterment of the Pro-League and its pro-players.

After six months of closed review on Excellent Era’s in-house operations and management, we have decided to officially issue a lifetime ban to the top management, players and guild staff of the Club involved in the numerous violations unearthed during our investigation. In addition to this, we are currently cooperating with the police regarding the law violations committed by the involved parties.

A full list of the GPA rules and regulations violated including written excerpts from the discussions with the accused as well as the comprehensive list of punishment can be read in full here.

[351M shares | 2.84B comments | 258M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Esports Home V

Following the GPA’s lifetime ban to Excellent Era’s top management, players and guild staff, Esports Home was anonymously sent video footages showcasing the mistreatment of God Ye Xiu in the Club.

Please be warned of the upsetting nature of the following videos:

[Video #1: CEO Tao Xuan, Vice-Captain Liu Hao and Guild Leader Chen Yehui in a meeting room.]

“You need to alienate Ye Xiu more. Start making it look like he’s slipping and can no longer lead the team,” Tao Xuan ordered. “The media has already begun shifting blame onto him. We need to help.”

“I’ll request for more of his help with guild matters,” Chen Yehui said.

“As long as our pay won’t decrease, we’ll do what you say,” Liu Hao agreed. “It’s time for him to retire anyway. He’s old and washed-up. There’s no more space for someone like him.”

[Video #2: Team Excellent Era in training room with God Ye Xiu.]

“Where’s Liu Hao?” Ye Xiu asked.

No one answered.

30mins time skip.

“I’m here. We can start now,” Liu Hao said as he walked in.

“You’re late,” Ye Xiu said.

“Sorry, sorry,” Liu Hao didn’t sound sorry at all. “You know how it is. Long lines in the cafeteria.”

“Captain, we should really move our training schedule to a later time,” He Ming sighed.

“It’s already nine in the morning.”

[Video #3: Vice-Captain Liu Hao and Guild Leader Chen Yehui in a hallway.]

“Ye Xiu’s downfall will be soon. You’ll see. He was wrong for rejecting you,” Liu Hao said. “Actually, isn’t it because he’s scared? Starting from my first day, he always beat me down. Never gave me a chance to show my full potential. It’s because he’s scared! He’s so old already, what can he do?”

“He thinks you’ll steal his position, Brother Hao,” Chen Yehui laughed.

“If I played a Battle Mage, he would have been kicked out long ago!” Liu Hao claimed.

[Video #4: Manager Cui Li, Team Excellent Era, Sun Xiang, Goddess Su Mucheng and God Ye Xiu in a meeting room.]

“Ye Xiu, the Club has decided that transfer player Sun Xiang will take over your position as Captain. From now on, Sun Xiang will be in control of your account One Autumn Leaf,” Cui Li ordered.

“Brother Ye, I’ve just arrived and I already took your position. Sorry,” Sun Xiang said.

“Brother Xiang, with those words, this position definitely suits you!” Liu Hao crowed.

“Right,” Guo Yang crooned, “some people are already old and out-of-date!”

“One Autumn Leaf deserve a better commander so that our abilities can be displayed!”

“Ye Xiu, hand over your card,” Cui Li ordered.

“Yes! It’s mine!” Sun Xiang exclaimed. “Your hands are trembling, Brother Ye. How can you be a player like this?”

[Video #5: CEO Tao Xuan and Manager Cui Li in an office.]

“Why now? Why is this happening? Who gave the GPA those videos?” Tao Xuan demanded.

“I don’t know. Probably, it is Ye Xiu’s doing. He’s always scheming something,” Cui Li said.

“He still can’t let go. Glory has already left him behind and he still won’t –,” Tao Xuan roared angrily. “We should have acted sooner. Should have forced him to retire before… we must have a mole.”

“Yes but it’ll be hard to find out who it is,” Cui Li shook his head. “Why not ask Ye Xiu to drop it?”

“That stubborn guy? His dedication for Excellent Era can be depended on,” Tao Xuan said. “But only when it comes to Glory. He couldn’t even sacrifice his anonymity for the team’s future.”

“What about Sun Xiang?” Cui Li asked. “He can’t bring us sponsors when we’re suspended!”

Tao Xuan slammed his fist on the table. “That Ye Xiu still found a way to kill our earnings.”

[Video #6: CEO Tao Xuan, Manager Cui Li, other top management and Team Excellent Era in office.]

“Are we seriously going to court over this?” Liu Hao cried out.

“The GPA wants to use us as an example,” a top management said.

“But the court?!” Liu Hao shouted. “We might go to jail!”

“It won’t get to that. There’ll be a fine we can pay instead,” Cui Li said.

“With what money?” Tao Xuan asked, placing his head in his hands. “We’ve spent too much trying to deal with the GPA and reach a negotiation. We’ll spend again for our court cases. What money?”

Liu Hao shouted angrily, kicking over a chair in a fit of temper. “That Ye Xiu! He won’t be happy unless he completely destroys us? Why couldn’t he just retire peacefully?!”

“He played dead for four years, letting us do what we want just to turn around and do this. How despicable,” Cui Li sneered.

[481M shares | 9.64M comments | 266M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

#Excellent Era Leak# (All Posts)

[426M views | 4.94B comments | 258M followers]

xxx

All these years… what kind of people have I been supporting?

xxx

They call themselves pro-players? Let alone human beings? Fuck them!

xxx

Glory left God Ye behind? HA. HA. HA! BULL FUCKING SHIT!

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Sun Xiang’s a piece of shit! Fuck him! Arrogant asshole! He’s as guilty as the rest!

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The GALL to blame God Ye when they did him so dirty for four?! Years. If I understood what that Cui Li bastard was implying. He, Tao Xuan and Liu Hao deserve HELL. Fuck those bastards! Go to hell!!!

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I’m so angry. Even pissing all over their graves won’t be enough.

xxx

How is it that those people nearest to God Ye couldn’t see how much more superior he was to all of them? Or is it that they do see and they were so scared that they managed to brainwash themselves into believing that so long as they SEEMED like they were better somehow, they WOULD be better?

Stupidity to the highest degree.

xxx

I’ve been an EE fan since the first season… the level of betrayal I feel right now… I can’t explain…

xxx

To have the fucking balls to treat God Ye like that??? A lifetime ban really isn’t enough!

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All this time I raged on Tyranny… but the true rats were in EE this whole time ^^

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Tao Xuan and Cui Li have turned into extremely ugly people. They’ve all known each other since Ye Xiu was a teenager. To betray a kid they watched grow up, how can they live with themselves?

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Chen Yehui? What a fucking clown! He thinks he can be a pro-player? HA! Excellent Dynasty isn’t even one of the Three Great Guilds. What a loser! He and the rest of EE must have shit for brains!

xxx

There’s not a single good egg in EE. Goddess Su and God Ye should’ve left sooner!

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CAPITALIST GREED!!!! CAPITALIST SCUM!!!! ARROGANT FUCKS!!!! SHIT FOR BRAINS!!!!

xxx

Whoever leaked the videos deserves a trophy.

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Draining them of money won’t be enough. I WANT THEM IN JAIL! #JAILEXCELLENTERA#

xxx

I’ve always done my best to support EE so I’ve been really active in Excellent Dynasty even though I never liked the guild leader. To find out I’ve been working under such a fucking snake…

God Ye and Goddess Su, wherever you two are, I hope you’re still playing Glory.

No matter what, I’ll support you two again!

(…)

____

 (Sina Weibo)

Huang Shaotian V

From the start, we all knew something was going on! In the matches, @Ye Xiu was always ignored and isolated by the team – except by @Su Mucheng. And Liu Hao, that guy’s always been a hungry wolf! Just one look and you can tell he’s up to no good. @Ye Xiu You were way too careless! Since your Club was this despicable to you, what kind of idiot are you to have stayed? If we knew it was this bad, we would have done something to help! Since when were you the type of person to sit back passively and let others walk all over you as they pleased? Give back your Championships!

[243M shares | 637M comments | 150M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Han Wenqing V

Fat fries and burns itself.⁽¹⁾

The Excellent Era of the past few years wasn’t the Excellent Era of Ye Xiu.

[356M shares | 621M comments | 270M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Yu Wenzhou V

Senior Ye Xiu is someone held in high esteem by not only Glory fans but those in the pro-Glory circle. To say that we are bitterly disappointed with Excellent Era’s Club and Team is an understatement.

[332M shares | 615M comments | 240M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Wang Jiexi V

Without a doubt, Ye Xiu has suffered greatly.

[315M shares | 534M comments | 242M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Zhou Zekai V

This isn’t right.

[167M shares | 252M comments | 181M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Ye Xiu V

Hello,

This is Ye Xiu.

Many things have happened since Mucheng and I left Excellent Era. In many ways, those things were what I’ve been trying to prevent for so many years. Eventually, even I had to give up when the ones I tried to help only despised me for it. It doesn’t make me happy to see Excellent Era fall. No matter what had happened, I have many fond memories of my first years there with my Excellent Era.

But the Excellent Era I left behind had not been my Excellent Era for a long time. The place I once considered a home was no longer a home. People that I once knew had become strangers. In such an unfamiliar and cold place, calling it my grave which they dug for me wouldn’t be exaggerating.

For the Excellent Era that I loved and missed, I gave everything I could, sacrificed myself over and over, but no amount of extra effort on my part could make up for the lack of effort I received in return. No, it is more accurate to say that their effort was focused on pushing back against me.

When Excellent Era was first established, I thought we all joined together because of our love for Glory. But often, during those last seasons I spent in that strange place, I wondered whether the people I thought I knew only saw money. Money to be made and earned. Not people. Not Glory.

No matter what, that sort of thought is sobering.

On the day I left, my hand was forced. They had already brought in my replacement. I was still willing to give all I could then. But hearing the words, “hand over your card,” struck me deeply. Four simple words and they struck me more deeply than being told to either be a training partner or to retire.

Since I started playing Glory, One Autumn Leaf has been with me. Letting go of my account card felt like letting go of someone important to me. I had already done so once and the similar feeling scared me. But I left armed with new determination inside of me and that determination has revived me.

Excellent Era was never about the Club, the team or the people. My Excellent Era was built on the combined purity of passion for Glory, glory and comradeship between players. That is my Excellent Era. Now, even though Excellent Era itself no longer exists, I still carry that same spirit with me.

My time as a player of Excellent Era may be over but my time with Glory is far from done.

I am Ye Xiu and I will always be Ye Xiu.

With or without Excellent Era, I am still Ye Xiu.

To my fellow pro-players, I have one thing to say:

Make the most of my absence because when I return the Championships will be mine again!

- Ye Xiu.

[276M shares | 1.2B comments | 198M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Wu Xuefeng V

Always here for you, Little Captain @Ye Xiu

@Yin Xiong @Qin Tianran @Xia Ming

[Photo #1: Wu Xuefeng standing next to the back of a gaming chair and holding up a hand-written placard saying, “Always here to support you, Little Captain!”]

[Photo #2: Video call screenshot of Yin Xiong, Qin Tianran and Xia Ming holding up placards with the same words as well.]

[Repost]

Ye Xiu V

Hello,

This is Ye Xiu…

[85M shares | 74M comments | 66M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

Su Mucheng V

Hello! It’s been a while~!

The past few weeks have been very eventful; full of changes and surprises. @Ye Xiu and I have been living together with our siblings, relearning what it means to be loved, cherished and supported. I’m happier than I have been in a very long time. Finally, I can see my brother @Ye Xiu smiling again. ^^

We’re both having a good time. We’re both doing well. We’re healthy, we’re happy and we’re loved.

Everything that needed to be said has already been said. And all the bad deeds have been exposed.

As @Ye Xiu mentioned, we will be returning to the Pro-League. Please look forward to our news!

PS. Everyone, cheer up! Soon… The Greatest Mystery in Glory will be revealed! (ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡

[Photo #1: Su Mucheng smiling beautifully while holding onto an elegant, beautiful hand.]

[Photo #2: Su Mucheng holding up a peace sign next to a smiling Wu Xuefeng.]

[Photo #3: Su Mucheng grinning at the camera. Three people with their backs to the camera are next to her, a girl with the same hair as Mucheng, a boy with orange hair and a boy with black hair.]

[Repost]

Ye Xiu V

Hello,

This is Ye Xiu…

[354M shares | 482M comments | 265M likes]

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 (Sina Weibo)

God Ye Xiu ⯁Super Topic

[1.5T views | 2.9T comments | 44.6M followers]

xxx

He said he’s coming back. He’s coming back. He’s coming back. Repeat 3x for emphasis!

xxx

God Ye straight up went all “PEASANTS, FIGHT WHILE YOU CAN! WHEN I RETURN, I’LL WIN.” Love!

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Huang Shaotian being a Good Friend^TM while also trash talking in the same breath lolololol

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I was feeling pretty sad about EE’s situation buuut after reading God Ye’s post, I feel okay now. I’m not happy either but, yeah, if he says EE hasn’t been the same since probably when OG EE team left then it wasn’t the same. We were all just chasing after those memories. He’ll bring the spirit of the OG EE with him on his next journey in Glory!

xxx

Damn. His post hit me in the feels!

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God Ye parting with One Autumn Leaf is 10000000000000x more painful than whatever we felt when he left EE last year. I hope he reunites with One Autumn Leaf now that EE is pretty much dead.

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I’m so sorry for what you went through, God Ye. I can’t even imagine… I’m so sorry we were blind!

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Ok BUT sorry. GOD HAN literally said the past few years of EE wasn’t GOD YE’s EE and then GOD YE practically said the same thing. My HanYe feels are tingling. Please tell me I’m not alone in thissss!

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OG EE speaking up in support of God Ye is my favorite music! YES!!!! OG EE REUNITE!

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LOVE OG EE post buuuut where’s my Spellblade bae? Like the only EE Spellblade that matters???

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Why hasn’t GODDESS SU POSTED ANYTHINgggg Pls explain. He said he’s coming back. BUT HOW?!

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Oh my god oh my god oh my god!!!!! Is that person in the gaming chair God Ye Xiu?!?!?!

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@Wu Xuefeng PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU’RE WITH GOD YE XIU RIGHT NOW! GIVE HIM OUR BEST!!!!!

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Is God Ye Xiu really coming back??? Which team is he going to? What about Goddess Su?

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@Wu Xuefeng Can you please let us know if God Ye’s doing okay? I’m so worried…

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Supportive OG EE, the only EE that matters! T_T #OG EE#

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Best Vice-Captain ever, @Wu Xuefeng Please come back and protect God Ye q_q

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AHHHHHHHH OG EE!!! OMG!!!!! YES!!! OG EE = GOD YE’S EE!!!!

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Are you with him??? PLEASE PLEASE I’m SO curious!!! Please support him well!!! @Wu Xuefeng

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GOD YE, YOUR FANS ARE WAITING FOR YOU!!! WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU TOO!

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#ALWAYS SUPPORT LITTLE CAPTAIN# #OG EE# #YE XIU#

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OG EE OG EE OG EE!!!!! I’m so soft. “Always here for you, Little Captain.” uwu

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GOD YE’S HANDDDDDDDD!!!!!

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OMG GODDESS SU FINALLY POSTED!

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“Finally, I can see my brother @Ye Xiu smiling again. ^^” BRB while I cry in a corner…

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Goddess Su must have suffered a lot seeing God Ye go through such a terrible thing.

xxx

I’m so happy that they’re both happy but I’m also so fucking sad because… I mean… “relearning what it means to be loved, cherished and supported.” ( TдT )

xxx

Who are those three in the last photo? The siblings? I wonder if they play Glory???

xxx

OMG OG EE TRULY REUNITED! BUT WHERE’S XUE MINGKAI AT?

xxx

Please wait for our news? I’ll wait!!! Buuut Summer Transfer? Is that it????

xxx

EXCUSE ME. “The Greatest Mystery in Glory will be revealed.” GOD YE?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!

xxx

GUYS let’s do a headcount. God Ye + Goddess Su + 3 siblings = 5 members = Pro Team!!!!!

xxx

I’m going to go rewatch God Ye’s best moments with some ice cream because I can be at peace now.

xxx

They’re both fine. They’re both better than fine! THANK FUCK FOR THAT. I’m so happy for them!

xxx

God Ye and Goddess Su, I will always support you two. Awaiting your news <3

(…)

Chapter Text

(March)

March began with the arrival of many new and old faces stepping into Club Autumn Empire’s headquarters. The HR department efficiently doled out tours for the new staff with a breakfast break in-between that coincided with a certain group’s exit from the food court. Whilst 90% of the new faces politely made their way past the group, the remaining 10% halted in their steps and stared.

Ye Xiu welcomed the familiar faces casually, “Yo, you’re here.”

“Fuck me,” Fang Shiqian cursed immediately, eyeing Xiu’er. “Why are there two of you?”

“It’s called having a sibling,” Xiu’er replied snarkily.

Fang Shiqian cursed again while the other Fang, Shijing, glared murderously at the old man next to Ye Xiu eating a sundae cup. “Bastard Wei, you dare show your face at another Club like this?!”

Wei Chen looked up with chocolate-smudged lips and coughed. “Hah? Shijing? Tsk!” He made a face, grimacing at the sight of his former Blue Rain teammate and, more importantly, the man he’d left behind to handle Swoksaar until Yu Wenzhou was ready to take the helm. “This father dares!”

“Ye Xiu,” Sun Zheping, a muscular and hulking man, greeted. “Su Mucheng. Senior Wu. Senior Wei.”

“Senior Sun~,” Mucheng returned sunnily next to a narrow-eyed and protective Muqiu.

“Hello,” Lin Jie said. “Ye Xiu, you look well,” he complimented, as mild-mannered as always.

“Oh, you do,” Ji Leng offered a small wave. “Are you eating properly now?”

Fang Shiqian scoffed. “It’s probably just Xuefeng’s doing!”

“Actually,” Xuefeng began thoughtfully, “I didn’t have to remind him at all…”

“Because Xiu’er, Mucheng and I aleady worked on that,” Muqiu offered with a wry smile.

“Ah,” Ji Leng snickered. “You three have worked hard.”

Ye Xiu didn’t react to the segment other than to card his fingers through Muqiu’s hair. “We have training to do,” he addressed everyone,” so we’ll be going. When you finish eating, come see us.”

“HR said you’ll be giving us our tasks,” Sun Zheping mentioned with a nod. “We’ll see you later.”

“Or,” Xuefeng interrupted meaningfully and looked at Ye Xiu, “I can be the one to visit them later.”

“That’s fine. It’s better that we don’t have too many interruptions during training,” Ye Xiu agreed.

Xuefeng smiled. “Then, I shall see you all later and be the one to hand out your tasks,” he said.

Late to the party, Yin Xiong stepped up to them from behind with a paper bag in hand. “Oh, hello?”

“Yin Xiong too? Damn,” Fang Shijing hummed. “Alright, we’ll see you guys later!”

The rest followed suit and shuffled past the group after a few careless ‘see you’ tossed out except from Lin Jie who politely said, “It’s good to see you five again. Let’s all catch up properly later.”

Once the hallway was clear again, the group continued on their way and entered the elevator.

Ye Xiu leaned back against the console and rolled his shoulders. “Almost everyone has arrived.”

“Uh huh, almost,” Muqiu seconded, stretching out his body languidly.

“That crowd earlier, they’re the main guild staff?” Wei Chen questioned. “What’s the plan?”

“Help out in the 10^th server,” Ye Xiu shrugged. “Eventually, we’ll need to divide them according to skill level. Those with higher skill levels will join our guild in the Heavenly Domain when we open.”

“And the pros? How will we be dividing them?” Xuefeng inquired.

Ye Xiu smiled loftily. “Just ask them.”

“Alright,” Xuefeng accepted easily, smiling, as the doors opened. He took the first step out and immediately noticed the addition to the floor. “They added name plates,” he announced, pointing towards the first two rooms. On the left, the label was, ‘Quiet Zone’, and on the right, ‘Noisy Zone’.

Wei Chen burst out laughing. “It’s not divided by area but by noise level? Genius!” He opened the Noisy Zone room and waltzed in, the others following suit in curiosity. “Whoa! Not bad, not bad!”

“This is like a budget version of the training room,” Xiu’er insulted instantly with a shit-eating grin.

“Fuck off!” Wei Chen reflexively cursed him out. “As if we need a waterfall or a bigger rainforest lounge or a refrigerated food and drinks display or a dimmer for our windows or a projector or –,”

“Do you need some sugar, Old Wei? You sound so bitter,” Ye Xiu teased. It wasn’t as though he thought their training room needed all those either – his twin brother had a different opinion – but it was fun seeing Wei Chen get worked up over something neither of them really deemed important.

Wei Chen made a spitting sound, “Pei! Fuck off to your training room. Aren’t you running late?”

“Ha ha! We’ll leave you to it then,” Ye Xiu laughed along with the others as they shuffled back out of the room to head to their training room. He nodded at Xuefeng on the way out. “You’re staying?”

“Mm. I’ll take care of things here,” Xuefeng told him. “Now that we have enough people, you and the rest shouldn’t need to bother about the guild anymore. You should focus solely on the team.”

“No, no. I want to use the wild BOSS hunts as training. And dungeon runs too, maybe twice a week.”

“I see. What about for spar training, how often do you want to arrange it?”

“One pro every morning except Sunday for DPS; Yin Xiong can do one-on-ones with Little Cold Hands. Have everyone rotate training the members in the 10^th server as well. Then, 5v5 twice weekly. When Tianran and Ming come, make it thrice. We’ll be using the Pro-League format.”

Xuefeng nodded attentively. “Understood. Leave it to me, Little Captain.”

“Thanks,” Ye Xiu smiled gratefully at the other before leaving for the training room.

*~*~*~*

Knock. Knock.

The interruption came as a surprise to the members of Autumn Empire as they glanced over at the door in confusion, though their fingers never stopped dancing along their keyboards and their hands kept steady. When the knock came again, proving that the first time wasn’t their collective imagination, Ye Xiu decisively paused his training exercise and then stood up to go answer the door.

“Good morning, Mr. Ye,” a female HR agent greeted him politely. “There’s a new arrival.”

Ye Xiu nodded. He expected as much since he’d enforced a rule stating that no one was to disturb them during training hours unless it was a time-sensitive matter or there was a new arrival to greet. This was to ensure that they knew who was going in and out of the Club at all times. “Yes, who is it?”

The female HR agent stepped back and revealed – “This is Qiu Fei,” she introduced.

“Mm,” Ye Xiu eyed the younger boy. Still the same serious expression. “Is his tour finished?”

“Not yet, Mr. Ye. But I can continue his tour later,” the female HR agent replied smoothly.

“I’ll drop him off at HR after lunch,” Ye Xiu told her as he stepped aside. “Come in, Qiu Fei.”

The female HR agent smiled and departed at once while Qiu Fei stepped into the training room.

“Oh!” Mucheng exclaimed in recognition. “It’s Qui Fei!”

Ye Xiu patted Qiu Fei on the back and guided him to the vacant seat next to the one Xiu’er chose today. “How has your training been, Qiu Fei?” he asked as he leant back against the desk.

“It was fine,” Qiu Fei replied, a lost look within the swirls of his eyes.

“Hm,” Ye Xiu smiled neutrally. “Let’s see how much you’ve improved then, shall we?”

Wordlessly, Qiu Fei slipped out his account card and slid it into the card reader; Glory loaded.

“Battle Mage, huh?” Xiu’er mused interestedly, his training module closed down.

“Xiu’er, duel with him,” Ye Xiu instructed then glanced at Mucheng who was watching them from her seat. In fact, no one was practicing anymore. He sighed. “Why aren’t you guys training?”

“Xiu, when there’s a high quality drama going on, one does not keep training,” Muqiu said sagely.

“What drama?” Ye Xiu scoffed but didn’t make them continue training. It wasn’t like they needed such strict handling in any case. “You gossip fiends just come over instead of craning your necks!”

“Eh~!” Yucheng surprisingly whined. “But we have a projector!” she pointed out, pouting.

Mucheng perked up in her seat. “Ooh! Good job, Cheng-mei! I forgot about that.”

“Whatever. Someone set it up,” Ye Xiu said as he took a seat, feeling defeated by the Su siblings. He glanced at Qiu Fei who was struggling not to make any expression slip out and snorted. “You look constipated,” he remarked bluntly. “Loosen up, Qiu Fei. Your one problem is your inability to relax.”

“…you were never relaxed either, Captain,” Qiu Fei murmured, sounding wronged.

“Oh?” Muqiu rolled a chair over and lightly pushed Ye Xiu’s chair away so he could slide in between. “Tell me more. How tense was he in Excellent Era? Did the trainees treat Xiu poorly? What about –,”

Ye Xiu gently placed his hand over Muqiu’s mouth and lightly chided him, “Gossip later!” He would rather that the other wouldn’t try to pry information out of Qiu Fei at all but that was a futile hope.

“Aha! Projector’s done!” Mucheng announced with audible satisfaction.

“Go, Xiu’er-ge!” Yucheng cheered happily. “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

Somehow, to hear such a cheer from a young girl’s mouth felt wrong, making Ye Xiu sweat drop. He chose to ignore it, unsure what word he would rather she used instead, and said, “3 rounds total.”

“Mm,” Xiu’er hummed in acknowledgement.

Qiu Fei didn’t reply and simply waited for the arena countdown to finish.

The moment they started fighting, the light-hearted attitude in the training room became subdued as everyone took the match seriously. For Xiu’er, Muqiu and Yucheng, they wanted to see just how good Qiu Fei was. For Mucheng, she was simply observing as usual. As for Ye Xiu, he was taking in more than just the match and how Qiu Fei had improved but also observing the younger’s attitude.

In the past, Qiu Fei was quite hot-headed. Never able to mesh well with the other trainees. Too serious and dedicated for his age. Concerned over only Glory, seeing only Glory. Ye Xiu had seen a bit of himself in this kid which was partly why he paid attention and discovered Qiu Fei’s talent early.

The Qiu Fei of today was confusing. At some points, it felt like the kid had a rough, arrogant edge to him; at others, it felt like the kid was lost in the streets with no sign posts around. When both points mingled, Qiu Fei looked like he was warring with himself, his serious mask wavering and trembling.

When the first round ended with a loss to Qiu Fei, Ye Xiu spied a tightening around the kid’s eyes. After the second loss, Qiu Fei’s serious mask cracked to express a shadow of distress. By the time the third loss came around, the lost quality in Qiu Fei’s eyes had taken over his entire facial expression.

Ye Xiu wouldn’t guess what the kid was thinking. “What do you think, Xiu’er?”

“Lots of potential,” Xiu’er replied. “His mechanics, technique, timing, judgement and skill distributions are not bad but his combat experience and tactics are a bit lacking. When it comes to figuring out the weaknesses of my equipment and adjusting to my weapon and style, he’s so-so.”

“And you, Qiu Fei, what do you think?” Ye Xiu asked.

Qiu Fei didn’t back down from answering even though he looked grim. “He’s… pro-level.”

“I’m Championship-level,” Xiu’er corrected with a smirk.

“No, that’s not a level,” Muqiu rolled his eyes. “It’s pro-level, All-Stars-level and God-level.”

Xiu’er frowned. “Really? That’s just discrimination against Champions! Fine, I’m God-level.”

“Moving on,” Ye Xiu cut off their banter pointedly. “Let me introduce you to everyone, Qiu Fei. The one you just fought is Xiu’er, my younger brother. And, of course, you still remember Mucheng? This one here is her brother, Muqiu. He’s currently playing a Sharpshooter but he’s proficient in all the Gunner Classes. And this,” he patted Yucheng on the head, “is their pretty little sister, Yucheng.”

Qiu Fei smiled and greeted everyone politely, “Hello, I’m Qiu Fei. It’s nice to meet you all.”

“Hello,” Yucheng returned, a pleased smile on her lips from the compliment she received.

Ye Xiu patted her on the head again then turned to Qiu Fei. “Any questions?”

“Why…” Qiu Fei trailed off, gritted his teeth and lowered his head. “Is it only the spirit that matters?”

The question took Ye Xiu off guard but he quickly recovered and replied, “Of course.”

“Autumn Empire,” Qiu Fei looked up, “Will it feel the same as the original Excellent Era did before?”

“What do you think the original Excellent Era was like before?” Ye Xiu asked instead.

Qiu Fei’s brows furrowed. “I… Dominant. Overwhelming. And… you.”

“Me?” Ye Xiu raised a brow, prompting the other to elaborate.

“You never cared about what anyone else said. Or about anything other than chasing after the Championships,” Qiu Fei explained. “I admired that about you. That’s what I want to do too.”

“Every pro-player chases after the Championships. That’s why we become pro-players.”

Qiu Fei shook his head. “Your… you explained it in your letter. Your passion is pure.”

“Are you saying the others don’t have as pure a passion?” Muqiu asked curiously.

“They… it feels different,” Qiu Fei struggled. “Even overseas, it feels like everyone’s forgotten why they play Glory. All they see or think about is… money… status… power… fame… not only Glory.”

“I’m sure Old Han will have something to say about that,” Ye Xiu teased.

“He can say whatever the hell he wants. Tyranny’s atmosphere is too suffocating even from behind the screen,” Xiu’er insulted. “Who wants to work in that kind of stressful environment? Even Tiny Herb sucks the life out of its players. Poor Yifan needs to be saved as soon as possible. Oh, hey –,”

“Cancel his contract early?” Muqiu finished. “Yeah, I told Xiu already,” he revealed.

“What are you trying to say, Qiu Fei?” Ye Xiu asked, knowing the kid would appreciated directness.

As expected, Qiu Fei answered straight-away, “Can I stay here?”

“…you, why do you think I had you brought here?”

Qiu Fei frowned. “I… don’t know.” He glanced at Xiu’er. “You don’t need a Battle Mage.”

“You’re not fully invested in Glory yet. Aren’t you still studying?” Ye Xiu waited for a nod. “Since your school is in City H, you can train here until you graduate or until you decide to do Glory full-time. With your skill and potential, it won’t be hard to find a Club to take you in when you’re ready.”

“I…” Qiu Fei swallowed. “I want to stay here,” he said.

Ye Xiu sighed. He knew this kid enough to know how stubborn the other could be. “What are your plans then, Qiu Fei? If you want to stay, you can stay. But do you have any plans moving forward?”

“…there’s no other Club I want to consider,” Qiu Fei stated firmly.

“Right,” Ye Xiu tilted his head at his younger version. “Xiu’er, he’s yours to deal with.”

Xiu’er nodded solemnly, likely already having guessed this would happen since Qiu Fei’s first declaration.

“How old are you, Qiu Fei?” Muqiu queried.

“Sixteen.”⁽¹⁾

“Traditionally?”⁽²⁾

Qiu Fei nodded. “Minus two.”

“So, fourteen,” Xiu’er concluded. “I’m eighteen. You see the problem, right?” He continued without waiting for a reply. “Your future’s not clear with me around. Are you willing to stay knowing this?”

“Yes,” Qiu Fei’s eyes flickered over to Ye Xiu who was watching silently. “You’re the Captain?”

“Good question,” Xiu’er smirked humorously. “I will be in the future,” he said.

“Oh,” Qiu Fei inclined his head in understanding.

“Truthfully, staying here isn’t the best option for you but I also understand your reason,” Ye Xiu said.

Qiu Fei smiled slightly. “I want to stay here,” he repeated firmly yet again.

“Alright, stay,” Ye Xiu squeezed the other’s shoulder. “But our training camp isn’t operational yet and you’re the only trainee so you’ll train with us for now. Later, when the other members arrive, your training will be to help the guild with the old people in the next room. Are you fine with that?”

“Good,” Qiu Fei replied.

Ye Xiu left him to Xiu’er and shooed the others back to their seats to resume their training. They were working through the modules of the standard training software which the GPA gave to Clubs. It had been acquired for them by his twin and modified slightly for him care of his twin; the change was minimal, only affecting the error notification and error information systems by removing them.

The idea behind this action was simple.

While he would have never dared to do such thing for Liu Hao and the others because he was very clear on their characters, he was just as clear on the characters of his new team members and knew that they weren’t the type to slack. On the contrary, they were hard-workers and would willingly go the extra mile by figuring out their own mistakes and then adjusting themselves without assistance.

Doing so would mean that the members would simultaneously exercise their judgement ability to figure out their mistake/s with only their result and the recording of their session in hand. Then, to ensure they were going down the right path, Ye Xiu would have them report to him at the end of every training session so he can point out flaws in their reasonings, correct them and offer advice.

This new depth to the standardized training would naturally help them have a sharper perception and gain a greater instinctual understanding of Glory as a whole, leading them to be able to more easily examine other players and take apart matches. And although this wouldn’t be immediately apparent, Ye Xiu was confident that the knowledge and experience they would gain would help.

As of now, however, he didn’t have much to do. Xiu’er and Muqiu were intimately familiar with Glory and required little of his input, Mucheng was already very good, Yucheng was excused and Qiu Fei was under Xiu’er’s guidance. Until the other members arrived, he was pretty much hands-off.

Ye Xiu close down the module showing his perfect results and stretched out languidly. Seeing as there wasn’t much time left to start anything before lunch rolled around, he pulled his account card out of the slot and placed it on the table. “I’ll go check on the guild first,” he announced as he stood.

The hallway was quiet which reflected well on the soundproofing quality of the doors and walls, even more so when opening the door to the Noisy Zone room nearly deafened Ye Xiu for a second. Cussing, barked instructions, shouts… the retired pro-players were living up to the label of the room.

“Hello,” Xuefeng was always alert. “Who was the kid?”

“Someone I was looking into to take over One Autumn Leaf,” Ye Xiu answered candidly. “I sent him overseas⁽³⁾ a year ago… the atmosphere in Excellent Era wasn’t good for him. Too many wanted to see him fail because of me. He’s improved a lot since I last saw him but he’s still… very stubborn.”

“Is he staying?”

Ye Xiu nodded. “Yeah.”

“Will he be joining the team?”

“No, he still needs to train and we don’t need another Battle Mage.”

“Then… isn’t it better for him to transfer elsewhere?”

“It is but he doesn’t want any other Club.”

“Really a stubborn one then,” Xuefeng smiled. “He’s a bit like you.”

“Hah,” Ye Xiu waved his hand to brush the topic away. “How’s it going?”

Xuefeng gestured at the room. “They wanted to claim all the leaderboards for our guild so they’re levelling from scratch. It’s a good thing the records you left behind weren’t at limit so their records aren’t too ground-breaking. Everyone simply believes we have incredibly strong elites,” he said.

“Oh?” Ye Xiu smirked in amusement. “We should go back to set the level 70 dungeons at limit then.”

“That’s a good idea. You need to reestablish your dominance in the 10^th server,” Xuefeng said thoughtfully. “I should schedule a talk with PR and see how we should spin this story. It won’t look good if your records are broken, right?” He shook his head. “Never mind, I’ll deal with that later.”

Wei Chen’s voice, louder than before and above everyone else’s, cut through the din, “You fucking Concealed Idiot! Do you see the kind of braindead dancers your summons are imitating? Why are you summoning so many! What did I say? Summon only ten! Ten! Can you even handle twenty?!”

“…” Ye Xiu stared down the room at Wei Chen’s frustrated expression and privately lit some incense for Luo Ji inside his mind. “I guess Wei Chen’s the one handling their training for today.”

“He’s enjoying it,” Xuefeng replied dryly.

Ye Xiu smirked wider. “I have no doubt.” He returned to the training room after that and therefore was present to handle the second interruption of the morning due to another arrival stopping by.

A different HR agent introduced them to Xu Boyuan who managed to stutter out an explanation that he was Blue River in between his indecipherable half-words which only worsened after Ye Xiu introduced himself as Ye Xiu: “Yes, that Ye Xiu. Battle God. Glory Textbook. Master Tactician. Yes.”

Xu Boyuan was luckily whisked away before he could become even more unintelligible and Ye Xiu sent out a QQ message to Xuefeng telling the older man that Blue River would be the perfect candidate to train up their levelling center hires into becoming great guild employees – under Muqiu’s direction who seemed very sure that Xu Boyuan was perfect ‘babysitting’ material.

“Poor guy,” Ye Xiu commented absently as he sent the message. Hopefully, with the pros and a dedicated babysitter around, their guild in the 10^th server would be operating smoothly in a trice.

*~*~*~*

Just as Ye Xiu wished, the Autumn Empire Guild asserted its absolute dominance in the 10^th server near-instantly and became the bane of every other guilds’ existence. Dungeon records? All claimed by Autumn Empire. Wild BOSSes? Every single hunt ended with Autumn Empire’s win. Politics? Autumn Empire just bulldozed over everyone like they weren’t there. Server popularity? A given.

For the nth time since his arrival, Xu Boyuan was very thankful that he had chosen to work for this crazy Club instead of keeping his position at Club Blue Rain because he didn’t think he was going to survive the madness of competing with Autumn Empire. …if ‘competing’ was even the right term.

Looking around the Noisy Zone room, he felt himself shiver at the mere idea of trying to play against these players. These people might be retired from the pro scene but their level of skill in-game was still far, far above the experts of all the guilds. Just one of them would likely spell trouble for a server let alone… all of them together. He shuddered. Competing was not the right term. Stupidity was.

Only a fool – a fool with no choice as all the employed guild staff of other Clubs were – would try to go against the Autumn Empire Guild again and again expecting a different result other than failure.

As for Xu Boyuan, he was living a very relaxed and wonderful life; rediscovering his love for Glory while playing among Gods and legends. When he wasn’t playing with these people far above his weight class, he was two floors down giving lectures to the guild staff on how to be… guild staff. He didn’t question the logic of it since Autumn Empire was Autumn Empire. Was there any logic to find?

No. No, there wasn’t and that was something he learned on his first day.

The car which had picked him up from the airport stopped in front of an impressive high-rise eco-building where a doorman (!) waited to open his door. Xu Boyuan stepped out, feeling awkward. It was an emotion which only intensified when, after he dragged out his suitcase, the doorman greeted him by name and offered to take his suitcase to his room. “What room?” he blurted out in his shock.

“Mr. Boyuan?” the doorman asked.

Xu Boyuan nodded dazedly. “Yes…”

“Mr. Boyuan, your living quarters have been arranged. Your HR agent will give you a tour once you step inside and she’ll let you know where it is,” the doorman kindly explained as he took the suitcase.

“Oh…” Xu Boyuan felt faint with confusion. Rather than a Club, this felt more like entering a high class hotel. The receptionist also greeted him by name and then introduced him to his HR agent who really did promptly offer to give him a tour. He just nodded and allowed himself to be guided around.

There was, crazily, an interactive touch screen inside the elevator which, when touched, would display the building’s directory map but would normally show a loop of Autumn Empire’s Glory avatars. Xu Boyuan thought it was pretty cool yet also didn’t understand why this Club was so incredibly fancy that he felt underdressed in his blue polo shirt, black slacks and clean rubber shoes.

His confusion continued as he was walked through the General Management’s floor which featured two-way glass for walls. This meant that he could see into the offices – or what they called offices because they looked more like classy lounge spaces to him – just by walking along the hallway. It was confusing but cool. The R&D office gave him the same feeling with its weird futuristic-esque design.

After the tour through the usual departments, they went high up, skipping past a few floors to reach the floor for meeting rooms. Once there, Xu Boyuan was again thrown into confusion. The meeting rooms were all designed beautifully with modern touches, each having its own theme which – why?

Then, as if all of the above wasn’t enough of a sign that he should throw out logic and common sense in this job, he was shown into the last (and largest) meeting room. Keeping his gaze at eye-level could have made the room less absurd – absurd but amazing, it has to be said – but that would be a lie.

It would be a dream, he thought, to watch Glory matches on the humongous digital screens on either side of the room or to enjoy the city view through the floor-to-ceiling windows or even to lay back on the carpet and admire the night sky through the dome skylight. The room was utterly brilliant. And excessive. Really, really excessive. He didn’t know why there was a need for such a meeting room.

Still. It was brilliant!

A level down from the meeting rooms floor was the guild floor which he figured would be where he worked so he stepped into the hallway with more attention. Here, there were no walls or doors. It was an open-planned space of long tables interspersed with a variety of low barriers like potted plants or space-like lockers. Each long table was outfitted to fit two people on opposite sides and –

“Why does each person have two monitors?” Xu Boyuan wondered, half-panicking about what crazy things Autumn Empire would ask of him that would require him to use two monitors instead of one.

“So that you don’t need to minimize or block your Glory screen when you need to check QQ or etc.”

Xu Boyuan’s eyes widened in enlightenment. “Wow!” he exclaimed. That wasn’t a problem he had thought needed solving but this was a great point now that he thought about it. Amazing foresight!

Their next stop after the guild floor was the VIP floor two levels up. Feeling a little nervous, he found himself asking his guide, “Why is it called the VIP floor? Is this where the CEO’s office is?”

“No, this is where the pro-players work.”

“Pro-players?” Xu Boyuan blurted out before he could think about it.

“You’ll see.”

For the first time since the start of the tour, Xu Boyuan was given this vague answer. He didn’t have much time to sweat about it as the elevator doors opened and he stepped out into a strangely normal hallway of walls and doors. No glass walls here. They needed to maintain privacy after all.

Xu Boyuan straightened up when the HR agent knocked on a door with the weirdly-labelled name plate, “Noisy Zone” and smiled automatically when his eyes alighted on a gentle-looking man who reminded him of Captain Yu Wenzhou. “Hello, I’m Xu Boyuan. Blue River. Are you Autumn Tree..?”

The man smiled softly at him. “Welcome to Club Autumn Empire, Xu Boyuan. I am Wu Xuefeng.”

“Wu Xuefeng,” Xu Boyuan repeated to himself.

“Yes, you may know me as Excellent Era’s first Vice-Captain.”

Xu Boyuan froze. First? First Vice-Captain?? Of Excellent Era??? The original team???? That won three Championships????? Holy shit! “Oh – uh – nice to meet you!” he squeaked embarrassingly.

“It’s nice to meet you too. We’ve met in-game before,” Wu Xuefeng said. “I’m Setting Sun.”

“Setting Sun!” Xu Boyuan echoed in realization. The player who had appeared with Autumn Empire when they opened their guild in the 10^th server. He blinked. If Autumn Empire managed to hire such a high-profile man to be a guild leader – no, wait, they said Setting Sun had a flexible job but whatever! Doesn’t this mean… that the rumors were all true and that God Ye Xiu was in Autumn Empire?

Wu Xuefeng stepped back and gestured into the room. “Come, let me introduce you to the others.”

“Others?” Xu Boyuan mumbled, feeling lost in addition to his amazed, confused and dazed. He didn’t quite get his brain cells back online during the time he spent inside that room being introduced to nearly every single retired Glory pro-player in China. However, he remembered seeing and being randomly cussed at by the wayward founder of Blue Rain and original Swoksaar user, Wei Chen.

Wei! Chen! Aka the ex-Captain of Team Blue Rain who upped and disappeared one day. Was here!!!

By the time he reached Autumn Empire’s training room, a sense of numbness had overcome him to replace his shock. He didn’t even manage to blink in surprise when he was introduced to the All-Stars audience players, Su Muqiu aka Autumn Tree and Ye Xiuer aka One Leaf Heralds Autumn. But he did manage to stutter like a complete fool when he met God Ye Xiu (!!!!!!) in the flesh. Face-to-face.

HOLY SHIT!

Goddess Su Mucheng was less of a surprise after that because, seriously, who and what could top seeing GOD YE XIU!!! IN THE FLESH!!! FACE-TO-FACE!!! Wow. He didn’t think he’d be blessed enough to meet THE God Ye Xiu and be privileged enough to see the man’s face. Wow, wow, wow. Wow. Lord Grim and Cleansing Mist were players he didn’t interact with much so they seemed far-away.

And then there was Su Yucheng, Goddess Su’s adorable sister. Ha~ His older brother personality reared its head the moment his eyes landed on her. But before he could do more than smile like an idiot, he was introduced to a serious kid called Qiu Fei then promptly saved by his HR agent who made their goodbyes for him, directed him out the room and back down to the ground floor again.

Turned out, the ground floor was also quite interesting. Featuring many random ‘huddle spaces’ and ‘capsule rooms’ as well as a bakery and café shop that wafted out aromas which were so good he wanted to keep sniffing the air like a dog. Exiting that floor into the Club’s grounds (!), he saw a swimming pool. An honest to god, swimming pool in the middle of Club Autumn Empire’s land.

What the actual fuck.

Not only did they have a crazily awesome eco-building, they owned a fucking great area of land that could contain a swimming pool at the centre. Xu Boyuan employed deep breathing exercises and decisively tossed out his common sense and logic into the pool as he passed by to enter another high-rise building. This one, he was told, was currently the only residences building. Currently. Currently.

He didn’t think about why there would be more when this one building could fit in so many people since he already threw out his reasoning skills. Instead, he just ooh’ed and ahh’ed over his, frankly, luxurious apartment. It was a 1LDK, 1BR and 1BA with far more area space than his old apartment. His suitcase was already inside as promised along with a welcome fruit basket and bottled water.

They didn’t stay in there long since it was still midday so they went back down and he was given a proper look around the apartment building’s first floor. It was an open-planned space with a communal kitchen, dining and lounge room as well as a well-stocked bar and billiards table. The most amazing part though was the theatre room which looked like a real, commercial mini-theatre.

And also the glass windows which opened upwards like a garage door and led out to the pool.

Damn cool.

By then, it was lunch time so he opted to skip the third building but he was informed of its purpose as the training camp with the first few floors serving as recreational space. He could just about spy a grand piano through the glares of the glass windows when he walked past on his way back to the main building where he had to prepare himself to eat together with the Gods, legends and – whew.

Xu Boyuan had somehow survived his lunch on that first day and had also survived seriously discussing his responsibilities with Wu Xuefeng. Amazingly, he eventually got used to his surreal environment and happily worked hard alongside everyone without thinking too much. He had never been so relaxed in his life. A wild BOSS spawn brought a serene smile to his face rather than stress.

Feeling completely Zen, he informed the Gods beside him of the news. They grinned sharply at him and a couple of minutes later, he was greeted with the server-wide notice of their expected victory.

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Autumn Empire has killed Aquamarine Knight!

Ah… truly. What a life of bliss he lived in Club Autumn Empire.

Chapter Text

(March)

Excited squeals erupted from one corner of the open lounge situated across the training room. It was a rare lazy morning where everyone had finished breakfast early and had enough time to relax together so the source of the noise was immediately picked up on by the retired pro-players. The Su sisters were sat together giggling over a shared laptop, their eyes darting to the deadpan Ye duo.

Ignoring all this commotion was Muqiu who wore an excited grin as he busily worked on his laptop.

“What’s going on?” Wu Xuefeng, the appointed representative of the retired pro-players, inquired.

Mucheng bounced up from her bean bag and swung the laptop around. “Look!” she said proudly.

“What the fuck,” Fang Shijing uttered. “Blow that up on the projector. I need to see that shit in HD.”

“Good idea!” Mucheng cheered and connected the laptop to the wide display screen with a flourish.

There was a second of silence then loud cussing filled the room as the pros turned to Ye Xiu in shock.

“Shit! What the fuck?!” Fang Shiqian yelled more than asked.

“Are you – what the fuck – was that a logo right now?” Wei Chen demanded. “You modelled?!”

Sun Zheping continued, “Since when did you, God Anonymous, model?”

“This is quite the surprise,” Lin Jie remarked next with an envious level-headed calm.

“You’ve really changed,” Ji Leng added with a hint of wonder in his tone. “For the better, I think.”

“Little Captain, you certainly look as dashing as I expected,” Yin Xiong complimented.

Xuefeng hummed. “I’m surprised you didn’t mention this, Little Treasure.”

“It’s a surprise!” Mucheng reasoned with a beaming grin as she happily flipped through the photos. “Aren’t they great? Chow Tai Fook will be featuring us on their ad campaigns during summertime!”

“I can’t believe I’m really seeing Ye Xiu model right now,” Fang Shijing shook his head.

Sun Zheping moved past his disbelief and asked directly, “Ye Xiu, how were you forced?”

“Ha ha…” Ye Xiu laughed bitterly. “What do you think? Aren’t there two of me in the photos?”

“Don’t forget them,” Xiu’er jerked a thumb at the Su siblings. Although he meant all three siblings, only the Su sisters reacted by beaming angelically; Muqiu was too focused on his laptop to notice.

Meanwhile, Wei Chen pointed rudely at Xiu’er. “There are two of you right here, bastard!”

“Do we look like the same age?” Xiu’er disdained. “That’s obviously not me.”

“Oh,” Xuefeng made an understanding noise, drawing the curiosity of the other pros.

Ji Leng prodded, “What?”

“Do you know who owns this Club?” Yin Xiong asked instead. “Besides Ye Xiu, I mean.”

“Hm?” Lin Jie frowned and pulled out his phone to look at his contract. After a few taps, he glanced up consciously to see the other pros staring at him, apparently depending on him. “It says Ye Qiu?”

Ye Xiu’s lips pursed and he revealed blandly, “Ye Qiu is my twin.”

“FUCK ME! There are three of you?!” Wei Chen cursed at the same time as Fang Shiqian.

“Such a shame he doesn’t play Glory…” Ye Xiu lamented lightly. “He’d have wrecked you all.”

“Go fuck yourself,” Wei Chen cussed, raising his pinky finger.

Xiu’er gave the older man a judgmental once-over in response and was about to say something undoubtedly scathing when Muqiu jumped out of his seat and shouted in triumph, startling the pros.

“Success?” Ye Xiu asked idly, unfazed.

“Of course!” Muqiu replied matter-of-factly with a wide grin. “Who am I?”

“You’re the best!” The Su sisters praised in unison before resuming their fawning over the photos.

Muqiu’s grin widened even more at the attention from his sisters, however brief, then boasted his finished work. “Behold: Devil’s Harbinger! Soon to be the greatest Battle Mage weapon in Glory!”

“Are you going to accept that, Mr. Battle God?” Wei Chen immediately tried to instigate a fight.

“Of course,” Ye Xiu replied with ease, surprising the retired pros.

“Wait, what the fuck?” Fang Shiqian exclaimed. “What do you mean, ‘of course’!” he cried out.

Sun Zheping was frowning. “Are you not saving One Autumn Leaf from Excellent Era?”

“We already have One Autumn Leaf,” Xiu’er informed blithely.

“Then…” Lin Jie trailed off, confused. “This new weapon is truly better than Evil Annihilation?”

Once more, Ye Xiu replied with ease, “If Muqiu says so then of course.”

“Stop saying ‘of course’, you fucker, and explain!” Wei Chen barked impatiently.

Ye Xiu snickered. “In the first place, Evil Annihilation was made by this genius,” he indicated Muqiu.

The pros turned silent from yet another shock and their gazes on Muqiu changed to one of regard.

“Wait. Hold the fuck up. You’re the real Autumn Tree?” Wei Chen demanded, eyes wild.

Muqiu took a step back. “Yep. Hello, Swoksaar. Vaccaria,” he nodded at Wei Chen and Lin Jie.

“You..?” Lin Jie took on a lost expression before he shook his head and chuckled. “It’s been a while.”

“THE FUCK!” Wei Chen exploded, lurching over to grab Muqiu by the shoulders. “You’re the real Gunner God?! I thought Ye Xiu just gave you the fucking name to pair with Mini Ye Xiu!” he yelled.

Ye Xiu swiftly tugged Muqiu out of Wei Chen’s hold, eyes narrowed. “Hands off,” he warned.

“What’s this about a Gunner God?” Fang Shiqian inquired as he absently held Wei Chen back.

“Back in Glory’s early days, Excellent Dynasty had a very formidable duo. One Autumn Leaf and Autumn Tree,” Lin Jie explained. “They were called the Battle God and the Gunner God.”

“I can see it now but were you really that good even back then?” Ji Leng asked.

“He was very good,” Sun Zheping answered instead. “I’ve heard of him.”

Muqiu smiled widely. “Ah, yes, Dazzling Hundred Blossom’s partner. He would’ve mentioned me.”

“Yes… you…” Sun Zheping snorted. “He said you killed him nonstop for weeks.”

“It wasn’t personal,” Muqiu shrugged. “I was paid to kill him,” he admitted freely.

“Even back then you were better than Zhang Jiale, huh?” Ji Leng concluded rightly.

“So, let me get this straight, you were a great player and you created silver weapons then you up and disappeared? I mean, thank fuck for that otherwise who the hell would stop Excellent Era?” Fang Shijing rolled his eyes. “But, now you’re back and you’re, what, eighteen? Or something?”

“Nineteen,” Muqiu replied promptly.

“And back then?” Lin Jie asked curiously.

“Uh…” Muqiu had to think about it so Xiu’er replied for him and said, “Eleven or twelve.”

“Damn. Genius indeed,” Fang Shijing sighed wonderingly. “This team’s going to be fucking terrifying.”

“That’s the idea,” Muqiu grinned sharply.

“Look at yourselves, please,” Ye Xiu scoffed. “Isn’t our guild the same with all of you in it?”

Fang Shiqian paused then chuckled. “Fuck me. Poor bastards…”

“You’re going to give Chairman Feng a stroke,” Sun Zheping said dryly.

“Oh, just wait. We’re not nearly done with recruiting yet,” Mucheng informed serenely as she finally joined them with Yucheng in tow. “There are a lot of players to hire from the Challengers League.” Her implication that the teams facing disbandment after next season were going to be easy pickings was understood loud and clear by every single person in the room. It was naturally true but to say it…

“You are the most terrifying person in the Pro-League,” Fang Shijing declared solemnly.

Mucheng beamed. “Thanks!”

“Well,” Xuefeng cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention. “We should start our day.”

Ji Leng smirked. “Ah, yes, I have records to destroy today.”

“You fucker, just watch. I’ll be snatching that first place from under your nose,” Wei Chen boasted.

The others joined in the banter on their way out but Xuefeng and Yin Xiong lingered behind.

Xiu’er hummed. “Reminds me, we should visit the 10^th soon to max those level 70 dungeons...”

“You should also help out with wild BOSS hunts whenever you’re there,” Xuefeng suggested.

“Mm. Sure, we don’t need to be limited to the Heavenly Domain,” Ye Xiu agreed. “We’ll do that.”

“How are the others? Steamed Bun, Soft Mist, Concealed Light and the puppies?” Muqiu queried.

“Soft Mist and Steamed Bun are doing very well. They’re currently doing the Heavenly Domain challenge. Concealed Light has been improving rapidly. Fang Shijing said he can challenge the Heavenly Domain in two more weeks. Your puppies are also doing well helping out the new players.”

“We’ve also finished transferring the materials from Excellent Dynasty’s 10^th server guild storage,” Yin Xiong added on when Xuefeng finished. “Those from other servers and the guilds in the Heavenly Domain have been moved to individual storages. Should we prepare for the launch of more guilds?”

“No, the 10^th server guild is enough for now. Let’s do things slowly,” Ye Xiu said calmly.

“Once the guild staff’s stable, we can talk about opening more guilds again,” Xiu’er seconded.

“We can also wait until after we finish fishing from Challengers League’s waters,” Mucheng offered.

“Anyway there’s no rush,” Muqiu said. “We can just go with the flow,” he smiled.

Xuefeng nodded in acceptance. “Then, Yin Xiong and I will go and take care of the guild now. Please don’t worry about our affairs, we’ll handle matters by ourselves and approach you if there is need.”

“Yes, don’t worry,” Yin Xiong asserted. “We’ll take care of things well for you.”

“Of course, with you two handling things, how can I worry?” Ye Xiu smiled.

*~*~*~*

Since moving into Club Autumn Empire’s headquarters, Muqiu felt that his productivity levels had improved greatly. The deciding factors for this was twofold. One, he had finished levelling up his characters which freed him up significantly. Two, he now had an entire R&D department under him as the R&D Director to help him with his multitude of silver equipment and weapon experiments.

There was nothing quite like the satisfaction of creation and innovation; the journey of trial and error, of learning the way materials worked, and manipulating the equipment editor to his will. It was exhilarating and thrilling in an entirely different manner to playing, a feeling that couldn’t be compared or replicated with any other. His main joy in Glory would always be this obsession of his.

His second joy was close to and an extension to the first, overlapping at many points, because while inventing silver equipment and weapons was his main love, there was no better way to fully enjoy his creations other than to use them. So he also loved playing, loved pushing his silver equipment and weapons to their limits over and over again until he had their codes and statistics down pat.

Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Muqiu had ultimately decided to bring along three Gunner Classes with him to the Pro-League. What better way to test the success and superiority of his babies? Never mind that maintaining multiple account cards was phased out by other Clubs due to being too costly. Since Ye Xiu allowed it, there was no need for him to worry about such things.

Besides, their resources were plentiful and they had an incredibly powerful guild to farm materials.

=Wu Xuefeng=

Su Muqiu: [document attached]

Wu Xuefeng: What’s this?

Muqiu flexed his fingers anticipatorily, a grin stretching his lips up from his giddy excitement.

Su Muqiu: I need the guild staff to create and level Spitfire and Mechanic accounts for me!

Su Muqiu: Tell them to use that document as their guideline.

Su Muqiu: Character name, skill point distribution, et cetera. I’ve listed them all according to what I want! Also, there’s an important side note there! I want those accounts back for special event days. I need to farm for skill books. Can’t have too many skill points heh

Wu Xuefeng: Alright, I’ll take care of it (:

The self-reminder regarding skill points made him wilt a teensy bit. His characters’ skill points were impressive if he compared them to the characters in the Pro-League but… they weren’t maxed out which hurt his heart! With his 1^st server Autumn Tree at 4,995 skill points and his 10^th server one at 4,990 skill points, it really felt like those 5 and 10 points were mocking him~ It was really too sad!

Ye Xiu and Xiu’er on the other hand not only maxed out their character’s skill points but also went a little over thanks to the Christmas event farming. Lord Grim was at 5,010 skill points while One Leaf Heralds Autumn was at 5,025 skill points. Sometimes he wondered about the Ye family’s genes…

Those two were always blessed with insanely amazing luck. Although, thinking this, it wasn’t as though he didn’t have good luck. His luck was pretty good but they mostly manifested for specific things like rare equipment and material drops or in his experimentations. Ah, whatever. Muqiu was going to make them farm for his characters during events if he wasn’t satisfied with his own farming.

He should make the most of their luck and leech off of them as much as possible. It was only smart!

[Whisper] Steamed Bun Invasion: Hello, hello!!!

[Whisper] Steamed Bun Invasion: Where are you, boss!

[Whisper] Steamed Bun Invasion: I’m finally here!!! T^T

“Oh?” Muqiu smiled and informed his family, “Everyone, Steamed Bun has arrived!”

“Tang Rou too,” Ye Xiu replied. “It's just too bad we have no dungeon entries left.”

“We can do a 50 player dungeon?” Xiu’er suggested wickedly.

“…you’re joking,” Muqiu muttered, typing a reply to Steamed Bun lest the other felt neglected.

[Whisper] Autumn Tree: Come to Shadow Sword City.

[Whisper] Steamed Bun Invasion: Yes, boss!

“I’m not joking,” Xiu’er rebutted. “Let’s go! The elites in Heavenly Justice are recruiting for it now.”⁽¹⁾

Ye Xiu chuckled in surprise. “Oh? You’re right. I’ll contact Loulan Slash and discuss it with him first.”

“…so, they’re not joking,” Mucheng conspiratorially whispered under her breath.

“I guess not,” Muqiu, who was sat beside her, chuckled. “It’s going to be a tiring end for us today!”

“Will it be hard?” Yucheng asked quietly from her seat.

Muqiu smiled over at her. “Don’t worry, sis. We’ll all be together.”

“Okay,” Yucheng replied, smiling back. “Just do as usual?”

“Just do as usual,” Ye Xiu confirmed, ruffling her hair.

Yucheng giggled, her mild worry evaporating into thin air. “Yes, sir,” she saluted playfully.

“Um… who are Steamed Bun and Soft Mist?” Qiu Fei spoke up, questioning.

“They’re newbies we picked up,” Xiu’er explained. “Steamed Bun’s a Brawler. Soft Mist’s a Striker.”

“Are they going to be in the team too?”

“Yes. There’s another one: Concealed Light. But we’re not sure what his level is like right now.”

“Wei Chen and Fang Shijing’s his main trainers,” Ye Xiu said. “He’s a Summoner.”

“Oh. How many players are there in total for the team?”

“Ten,” Ye Xiu answered succinctly before raising his voice to say, “We’ll meet the group at Mercurius⁽²⁾ in 20 minutes. They’ve agreed to have us lead the way. Go read the dungeon guide.”

“Should I have Steamed Bun read the dungeon guide too?” Muqiu asked dubiously.

Xiu’er snickered. “Maybe we should have him do that for a twenty player dungeon instead.”

“Yeah, good point,” Muqiu snorted. He didn’t want to experience what brand of chaos Steamed Bun would bestow upon them in a 50 player dungeon. Better that the other went in knowing nothing and only relying on their instructions. Less accidents that way. “Okay. He’ll meet up with us in a bit.”

“…goodbye, peace,” Xiu’er lamented jokingly.

*~*~*~*

Oblivious to the concerned stare from a lone friend, Qiao Yifan happily left Club Tiny Herb’s cafeteria early after dinner to return to the privacy of his room and hurry back online. He slid his One Inch Ash account into the card reader and the character he already considered as his main greeted him in the loading screen. Shortly after, the game finished loading and he was looking at Autumn Empire again.

[Party] One Inch Ash: Hi! I’m back~

[Party] Autumn Tree: Yifan, welcome back!

[Party] Steamed Bun Invasion: Hi hi!

[Party] Soft Mist: Hello, Yifan. We’re here now too.

[Party] Cleansing Mist: How was dinner? (:

[Party] Autumn Rain: What did you eat?

In an instant, a flurry of replies were sent in after his greeting and he smiled happily. This was where he belonged, with people who cared about him and treated him as part of the team. Even though Autumn Empire hadn’t spoken to him about bringing him into their team (it was no secret!), the fact that they were including him in everything including in-game training practice made him feel at ease.

He would breach the topic himself later since his ongoing Tiny Herb contract might be the obstacle.

[Party] One Inch Ash: Thank you, Muqiu (:

[Party] One Inch Ash: Rou-jie, Baozi. Welcome to the Heavenly Domain!

[Party] Soft Mist: (:

[Party] Steamed Bun Invasion: Thanks, bro!

[Party] One Inch Ash: Dinner was good today, Mumu-jie! How was yours?

[Party] Cleansing Mist: Very good ^^

[Party] One Inch Ash: Yucheng, I had Gangou Potatoes today. Really good! O.O You?

[Party] Autumn Rain: Dongpo Pork! Hehehehe!

[Party] One Leaf Heralds Autumn: Yifan, we’ll be moving to Mercurius in five more minutes.

[Party] Lord Grim: We’ll be doing the dungeon there. You know what to do.

[Party] Steamed Bun Invasion: Woohoo! We’re doing a 50 player dungeon! Fun first day!!!

Yifan blinked in surprise. A 50-player dungeon run? They’ve so far only gone on 10 or 20-player dungeon runs. But it would make sense since they had no more dungeons runs left today. The 50 or 100-player dungeon runs would be their only choice if they wanted to do one. He shrugged, sent an affirmative message and pulled up a browser so he could skim through a Mercurius dungeon guide.

[Party] One Inch Ash: I’ll get ready!

[Party] Steamed Bun Invasion: I’m readying myself too!

[Party] Autumn Tree: How?

[Party] Steamed Bun Invasion: Hyping myself up, boss!

[Party] Autumn Tree: Good job~

“Haha,” a light laugh spilled from Yifan’s lips as he spied their party chat in the corner of his screen. Autumn Tree’s worry over Steamed Bun reminded him of the retired pros who had done a rotating training schedule for them back in the 10^th server. They were all bowled over by Steamed Bun’s randomness and unique personality. Personally, he quite liked the other’s chaotic yet happy energy.

When the allotted five minutes ended, he finished mentally filing away the important points of the dungeon run before setting off with the rest to Mercurius. There, they met up with the Heavenly Justice group waiting for them outside the dungeon proper and One Leaf Heralds Autumn took the lead in introducing each of them to the party before taking over the Captain role from the leader.

“Lord Grim, Autumn Tree and I will take the lead. Let’s go,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn said and then, without further preamble, strode through the crowd of players and went straight into the dungeon.

Chuckling, Yifan had One Inch Ash follow suit into a dimly lit cave. The lighting inside was sickly-green, reflecting off of the stone and rocks which formed the ground and semi-camouflaging the huge green flower buds scattered about the place. Similar to a Warlock’s Death’s Door skill, the flower buds possessed vines which would capture players and draw them into the bud to be killed.

“Stick together and walk the middle path,” Lord Grim instructed.

They easily passed through the cave with everyone tightly following the three leaders until they reached a chamber where the first BOSS, a female NPC in pink puffy clothing imitating the shape of a flower bud, waited for them. She smiled at them, flowers dancing around her, and raised her arms –

“Step back 3 units,” Lord Grim said. “And jump.”

Vines shot out from behind the BOSS, lashing out at Lord Grim, Autumn Tree and One Leaf Heralds Autumn who remained at the front. They dodged, then jumped up like the rest of the party, just in time to avoid the vines which shot up from the cracked ground. Alarmed shouts echoed in the small enclosed space when they all dropped back down to the ground, plenty unable to nail their landing.

Yifan looked down to see an open bud waiting for his arrival and realized he was about to suffer the same fate. Quickly, his fingers flew on his keyboard and he threw out a Full Moonlight Slash straight at the bud’s center mass. Blood soared and the force of the skill flung him back from the danger. He adjusted his viewpoint to check his estimated landing area then executed a Falling Light Blade.

One Inch Ash plunged down to the ground along with streaks of light slashing at the swiping vines below. He rolled, shockwaves rippling through his immediate vicinity from his landing, and moved on to set up an Ice Boundary so he could freeze the other vines near him. With that cover in place, he took in his surroundings and situation, noting the positions of everyone in Autumn Empire first.

Not much time had passed since the jump but the three leaders were already engaging the BOSS, dealing DPS without pause as the rest of the party still struggled with the vines and buds. To his left, Soft Mist and Steamed Bun were directly attacking two different buds with Little Cold Hands watching over them while Combat Form, their newest member Qiu Fei, rushed over to help them.

Yifan figured that no one in Autumn Empire currently required his help so he twisted and controlled One Inch Ash to walk a semi-circle through the back of the chamber where most of the party was fighting. He slashed at the vines in his way, throwing out Boundaries wherever he could and releasing a Moonlight Slash every now and then when he saw some players about to get eaten up.

“One Inch Ash!” Autumn Tree called after a few minutes. “Support!”

Smoothly and without delay, Yifan controlled his character to run towards the BOSS and used the time before his arrival to judge the situation. The BOSS’ aggro was currently on Lord Grim who was nimbly dodging the vines swiping at him with incredible dexterity. Meanwhile, the rest of the DPS’ers in Autumn Empire had begun their assault under One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s leadership.

Autumn Tree had detached and was shooting at the vines and buds scattered around the chamber to free the players entangled in them. There wasn’t much left to do after Yifan’s rounds so most the party were already charging towards the BOSS as well to help out. Since Autumn Tree clearly didn’t need any support, One Inch Ash headed for the center and dropped ghost boundaries upon arrival.

Sword Boundary!

“Good job,” Lord Grim praised. “Next, Flame –,”

Flame Boundary!

In an instant, the BOSS and the vines it used for its attacks were set aflame.

“Heh. Good job, Little Yifan. Let’s step up your training lessons.”

“Mm!” Yifan agreed, pleased, as he misappropriated a Full Moon Slash at the BOSS to damage it and blow himself away to the back of the BOSS. He pivoted and darted into a little crevice he’d spied earlier then began to chant, alert but feeling utterly safe despite the danger should he be caught; there was no possible way for Lord Grim or One Leaf Heralds Autumn to lose control of the BOSS.

Blood Soul!

Yifan expertly chained more ghost boundaries together.

Plague Boundary!

Dark Boundary!

Ash Boundary!

The BOSS roared in anger but Yifan was already chanting for another Boundary, Ice Soul. A vine slashed towards him but he didn’t move and continued his long chant. The vine descended on him from above. When it neared his head, a gunshot rang out and the vine hit the rock wall near him instead. Yifan knew from the sound of the shot that it was Autumn Tree who had come to his aid.

Ice Boundary!

With that boundary successfully cast to slow the vines and BOSS, Yifan continued to cast Silence Boundary. Blood Soul, Ice Boundary and Silence Boundary were three skills that took a long time to execute. Blood and Ice Soul required a long chant while Silence Boundary needed a long cast time.

In this situation, if he had chosen to cast the three first, he would have put more strain on Lord Grim and One Leaf Heralds Autumn in keeping him safe from the vines much like how Autumn Tree had to when he casted the Ice Boundary. But since all the other Boundaries were in place, the strain on the three leaders was significantly less and therefore it wasn’t too much of a burden to watch over him.

Silence Boundary!

Yifan smoothly finished his cast and darted out of his hiding place to replace the fading Sword Soul. Afterwards, he launched himself off a nearby rock formation (a technical skill he had learned through intense training with One Leaf Heralds Autumn), waited until he was above the BOSS and –

Collapsing Mountain!

One Inch Ash slammed the BOSS to the ground, creating a shockwave, then was thrown back to the air with a Sky Strike from Lord Grim. Twisting, he threw out a Death’s Tombstone from above before going for a Falling Light Blade. This time, the streaks of light flew out in an arc straight at the stunned BOSS and he was pulled back down to the ground in a diagonal direction, shockwaves rippling again.

His weapon swirled in the air and he put down another Flame Boundary just in time to replace the earlier one as it flickered out. Next, he drew another Sword Boundary then Plague Boundary, Ash Boundary and Dark Boundary before rushing off. With a glance, he spotted Little Cold Hands nearby and made a beeline for the female avatar with the intention to park himself next to her this time.

This way, the three leaders didn’t need to monitor more than one area while he casted and chanted.

Little Cold Hands was an odd one out within the Cleric circle in the party, not only because they were a member of Autumn Empire but because they were brazen enough to position themselves within the first circle of DPS’ers. This wasn’t because they were relying on being protected as they healed either but because they were genuinely good at evasion. (Plus, staying there was part of training.)

Yifan had once asked how Cold Hands was so good at dodging and only mildly regretted it when he was pulled into a terribly hellish training by an overly enthusiastic One Leaf Heralds Autumn. He was 70% sure that the latter had a slight sadistic tendency… not that he minded. The training was truly incredible and he saw a marked improvement in his own playing even when he used his Asssassin.

The first BOSS fell after a few more Chain Boundaries with zero casualties and once the drops were divided accordingly, they went onto the next and the next and the next until they reached the last BOSS. Unlike the others which were easily managed without too many health scares in the party, the last BOSS was tricky in that the chamber they were in could randomly topographically morph.

Lord Grim blocked the chamber entrance and said, “Divide yourselves into melee Classes, mid-rangers, long-rangers and clerics. Except for the melees, everyone will split three more times.”

“When we enter,” One Leaf Heralds Autumn said, “melees and Little Cold Hands will follow me.”

“Mid-rangers and long-rangers should fan out – left, mid and right – and maintain a 24-unit distance from each other. Mid-rangers will use Cleansing Mist as a baseline, long-rangers use Autumn Rain. Clerics stay in between the mid-rangers and long-rangers,” Lord Grim instructed. “...dodge well.”

Yifan hid a laugh behind a cough. ‘Dodge well’ was practically a prerequisite in being a member of any party led by Autumn Empire. One Inch Ash joined Lord Grim upfront; Yifan once more felt proud that he was considered a part of Autumn Empire. “Should I dodge well too?” he asked teasingly.

An act this simple would have been unheard of coming from the ‘him’ of last month but he had been flourishing under Autumn Empire’s easy acceptance and unwavering trust in him since he’d met them as One Inch Ash. There had been no testing period or doubt since One Leaf Heralds Autumn first reached a hand out to him with the suggestion that he made a Class change into a Ghostblade.

In contrast to his daily struggle in Team Tiny Herb, Autumn Empire and the rest of their group including the newest additions, Little Cold Hands and Combat Form, treated him without contempt or malice and instead were friendly and kind. Even the retired pros who handled his, Soft Mist, Steamed Bun and Concealed Light’s training in the 10^th server met him with instant camaraderie.

Under such conditions, how could he not flourish and gain confidence?

Lord Grim laughed at his question and poked him with the Umbrella. “Dodge well, Little Yifan.”

“I’ll just hide behind you, I think, Senior,” Yifan replied cheekily, earning himself another laugh as Lord Grim stepped back to clear the way into the Chamber. He controlled One Inch Ash to follow, eyes roving around the current terrain. Lava. The final BOSS had decided to start with a lava pit and there was a glaring lack of possible pathway to use and cross over towards where the BOSS was.

Yifan agilely maneuvered One Inch Ash towards the floating rock which he judged to be the closest to the other floating rock that led to the BOSS. The space on this particular rock wasn’t big, at best, two characters could fit in. More than that and they would plunge straight into the yawning space in between the two floating rocks where the lava bubbled and nipped at One Inch Ash’s boots.

Of course, this was providing that no skills were thrown… which the BOSS wasn’t nice enough to do.

Frost Ball!

Flame Explosion!

The Elementalist Class BOSS shot off low-level skills as a starter straight at One Inch Ash who had entered its aggro range first. Naturally, Yifan already knew this would happen so he’d prepared to use Shadow Image. Ghosts materialized around his avatar, creating a protective barrier against the attack and reducing the damage he took. By the time his ghosts succumbed, Lord Grim had arrived.

“Your shield is here,” Lord Grim announced dryly.

“Hehe,” Yifan chuckled. At that moment, One Inch Ash, which was parked dangerously at the edge of the floating rock, had already begun chanting. The long chant allowed him a front-row seat to the incredible show of Lord Grim deftly protecting him and maintaining its place with various moves; in between typical skill usages were some truly ingenious ones which deserved further review later on.

But that was for later.

Ice Boundary!

Finally, the long chant was finished and Yifan successfully planted an Ice Boundary right on the lava flowing in front of him. The bubbling red liquid froze under the skill, creating a perfect circle that extended from the floating rock One Inch Ash stood on to the floating rock that led to the BOSS.

“Good job as always,” Lord Grim praised before he charged forward.

One Leaf Heralds Autumn and the melee Classes jumped over One Inch Ash and followed suit. Not to be left behind, Yifan went along with them and caught up to the front to plant a Sword Boundary then misused another Full Moonlight Slash to damage the BOSS and blow himself backwards. He positioned himself behind the mass of melee Classes One Leaf Heralds Autumn led and began.

Since this was an Elementalist Class BOSS, his first objective was to nail a Silence Boundary and ensure the BOSS couldn’t teleport. He didn’t know when the BOSS would do it so he started the slow cast immediately. Thankfully, there wasn’t much dodging required this time – not that he would anyway since his priority was creating Boundaries unless told otherwise – so there was no danger.

Silence Boundary!

Yifan smiled, satisfied, when the cast completed then continued on.

Plague Boundary!

Ash Boundary!

Dark Boundary!

Flame Boundary!

With those Boundaries completed, One Inch Ash stilled again to chant for an Ice Soul. Again, because this BOSS was capable of teleporting, it wasn’t actually that important for him to cast all the Boundaries. But Yifan’s plan was to land his Ice Boundary the moment Silence Boundary lifted on the chance that freeze would take effect so he had time to spare. The Silence Boundary circle lightened.

Ice Boundary!

Yifan grimaced when the BOSS didn’t freeze but he didn’t pause.

Death’s Tombstone!

The stun effect of this skill wouldn’t last very long. However, it did buy a few seconds which was always important. In this case, the few seconds bought them time to adjust to the topography change from a lava pit to a cave submerged underwater. Within this new environment, the disparity between the Autumn Empire group and Heavenly Justice players became apparent straightaway.

Heavenly Justice’s players struggled to move effectively underwater, the water’s effect on speed and skills making them confused. This was natural for normal players as there were few instances where they would need to fight underwater. On the other hand, Autumn Empire’s players didn’t falter and kept going as though there was no change. This was where their specialized training kicked in.

For Yifan, as a pro, he was trained to fight underwater. He had also further trained alongside Soft Mist, Steamed Bun and Concealed Light in the Thousand Waves Lake under the watchful guidance of the retired pros whom he learned more tips and tricks from. As for Little Cold Hands and Combat Form, he was sure that Autumn Empire’s main players had trained them in a similar manner too.

Because placing Boundaries underwater was so limiting and not entirely effective since the BOSS would be floating, Yifan slipped past the melee Classes and nailed an Ash Boundary directly on the BOSS. The BOSS sunk at once under the weight of its own equipment until it landed on the bottom. Satisfied, he retreated to the back once more and proceeded to cast a Silence Boundary.

Everything progressed similarly to the first go around and, bar a few adjustments to correspond to the environmental changes, Yifan just repeated his actions again and again until the BOSS finally fell.

System Announcement:

Congratulations to Heavenly Justice for breaking the Mercurius clear
record. Time: 30:58:21

Outside the dungeon, a question mark appeared above Autumn Tree’s avatar as One Leaf Heralds Autumn scorned, “How bad was the previous record that we managed to break it without trying?”

“It’s a really difficult dungeon…” a Heavenly Justice player explained with a sweat drop emoji.

Yifan turned off his mic and just laughed freely inside his room. He’d never get over how absurdly easy everything felt when he was with Autumn Empire. It was as though there was no challenge to even the most difficult tasks because they worked through them as easy as breathing. Being beside them was a true privilege. More than anything, he wanted to be by their side and remain there.

Chapter Text

(March)

On what was supposed to be just another night playing around together in Glory, the Ye duo found themselves unwillingly dragged out to the West Lake. The very cold, chilly and windy West Lake. Where they were apparently expected to do their second photoshoot (!) which neither of them even remembered let alone mentally prepared for; to say that they were disgruntled was putting it lightly.

While the Su siblings pranced around happily posing for the cameras and enjoying the night view of the illuminated Leifeng Pagoda, Ye Xiu and Xiu’er were imitating stone statues in order to not snap at anyone due to their immense irritation. The fact that Ye Qiu wasn’t here to suffer with them only pissed them off further and it was silently agreed they would make their twin suffer twicefold later.

For failing to suffer alongside them and not for failing to show up, of course.

“It’d be better if we modelled for tech brands,” Xiu’er muttered unhappily.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Ye Xiu admonished under his breath. “You’ll only add onto our modelling jobs.”

Xiu’er’s lips curled at the thought. “Tsk. You’re right. What brand is this for anyway?”

“…Burberry?” Ye Xiu read the label on the scarf that was wrapped around his neck. “It’s warm.”

“Yeah, it is…” Xiu’er admitted grudgingly.

Their ire over being duped into coming aside, the long coats and scarves that the stylists dressed them in were very much welcome. So welcome, in fact, that they didn’t notice their expressions thawing enough that they looked handsomely chic instead of sullen and resigned; the director, photographer and videographer were ecstactic by this improvement and kept the clothes coming.

It would be much, much later that they would realize how they somehow ended up doing more of the modelling than any of the Su siblings because Burberry wanted to capitalize on their aloof auras. If they had known, they’d have worked to keep scowling but they were oblivious and the Su siblings took great lengths to stifle their laughter so the Ye duo would remain so for the entire photoshoot.

“…why would you do this to us?” was all Ye Xiu could say after Mucheng delightedly revealed the treachery.

“Because you two looked great!” Mucheng replied matter-of-factly and Yucheng enthusiastically agreed from beside her while Muqiu busily sorted through the photos on his phone, determined to pick out a favorite for whatever reason. “Anyway,” she continued, “I always wanted to model for Burberry! And since we did so well today, they might even offer us another modelling contract!”

“That would be the worst,” Xiu’er shuddered.

Mucheng playfully nudged him on the shoulder. “No, no. It would be great!”

“Aren’t you tired of modelling?” Ye Xiu sighed forlornly. “You did so much back in –,”

“Nope!” Mucheng interrupted with a pout. “I didn’t get to model for high-end brands like last time’s Chow Tai Fook and tonight’s Burberry. At best, I modelled for Apple’s new devices,” she shrugged.

“Don’t you just want the sponsored clothing?” Ye Xiu asked doubtfully as he looked down at his paper bag laden hands. Burberry’s staff had given them all of the clothing they’d worn for the photoshoot so he was carrying a lot despite the fact that he and Xiu’er wore their coats and scarves.

Mucheng smiled brilliantly and batted her eyelashes. “That too!”

“…” Ye Xiu didn’t say anything more; he was only fighting a losing battle. Instead, he turned to Muqiu who still hadn’t finished sorting through the photos on his phone. He seemed to be stuck choosing between a photo of him looking at the lake and him with Xiu’er leaning against each other. “What are you choosing for, Muqiu?” he asked. “Do you plan on sharing those photos somewhere?”

“Hm?” Muqiu glanced up with an innocent expression that could surely not be trusted. “Maybe.”

Ye Xiu decided then that ignorance was bliss and contented himself with walking home quietly.

*~*~*~*

On the right of the chaotic battlefield, Samsara’s guild was being swept off their feet by a talented Sharpshooter. Many would be forgiven for mistaking this Sharpshooter as being part of their guild until a closer look showed that the Sharpshooter was wrecking havoc rather than helping out. But by then, they would likely be too busy staring at the Sharpshooter’s performance to think too much.

The Sharpshooter went through players with the sharp accuracy of a systematic play. He kicked one off their feet, took a shot, then turned to knee another, shot again, slid to avoid an incoming attack, roundhoused another down, two shots, turned and quick stepped to hit yet another back, one shot…

If a noob were to judge this playstyle, they’d say it was dumb because the enemies weren’t being aced fast enough. But if an expert judged it, they’d be speechless with shock and admiration at the smooth executions and incredible show of technical skill before pointing out that the objective of this playstyle was to disrupt and bring a whole army into disarray with tactical take-downs and shots.

With that objective in mind, the Sharpshooter excelled. Samsara was not only failing to capture one slippery Sharpshooter but seemed to have completely forgotten their main objective of hunting the BOSS. The BOSS which was being suppressed to death under the calculative play between Lord Grim and One Leaf Heralds Autumn, backed up by the rest of Autumn Empire and Heavenly Justice Guild.

As pitiful as they looked, the guilds that had retreated didn’t mock them and merely swallowed at the sight of their hardship because none of them could say with any certainty that they would have fared better. And really, who could? Not even those that One Autumn Leaf and Autumn Tree bulldozed over in the first server would dare claim they could especially since they always lost.

Samsara could only despair at the shame of being tossed around by their team’s chosen Class until they were saved (?) from their misery by the arrival of One Inch Ash. Boundaries began layering under their unstable footing, again and again and again. Freezing them, weighing them down, decreasing their defenses, burning them and blinding them then killing them with Ghost Feast.

Within moments, the space Samsara had occupied was littered with corpses as two members of Autumn Empire walked away with their health bars intact and no worse for wear. A humiliation.

System Announcement:

Congratulations! Heavenly Justice has killed Hidden Warrior
Alyan!

“Come to pick me up, Yifan?” Muqiu asked as Autumn Tree walked alongside One Inch Ash.

“Mm,” Yifan confirmed. “Concealed Light’s arrived. They said we’re going to do ‘that’.”

Muqiu groaned. “No! Why?” he whined. “I don’t want to do that godforsaken training again!”

“But it’s very helpful?” Yifan pointed out, managing to sound innocent.

“You’re a mischievous little devil,” Muqiu grumbled healf-heartedly, “and you can’t fool me.”

The two of them joined the rest of Autumn Empire and, together, walked up to Lou Guanning.

“Are you sure I can’t persuade you to stay in the guild for longer?” Lou Guanning asked politely.

Ye Xiu chuckled. “I think we’ve both benefitted enough from each other already,” he said.

“I understand, Senior Ye,” Lou Guanning replied, sighing a little. “Any time you wish to form an alliance, please contact me. I look forward to seeing you and your team in the Pro-League.”

“Likewise, we’ll still be available for sparring,” Ye Xiu responded in kind. “Good luck,” he offered.

“Good luck to you and your team as well,” Lou Guanning said before leaving to rejoin his friends.

“Alright, quit the guild on the way,” Xiu’er announced. “Let’s not keep Concealed Light waiting!”

Muqiu made a dying whale noise and groaned in protest but obediently followed suit anyway.

*~*~*~*

Autumn Empire emerged from Poison Fang Swamp with nicks on their equipment and a few health bars hovering around 50% which was unusual for them; Soft Mist, Steamed Bun, Concealed Light and Little Cold Hands looked like they’d been through the wringer with One Inch Ash only a little less so. But in typical fashion, Ye Xiu, Xiu’er, Muqiu and Mucheng’s characters remained looking pristine.

Meanwhile, making full use of her privilege, Yucheng had ditched this training to watch her drama.

“This was the worst idea you’ve had so far,” Muqiu complained.

Xiu’er laughed. “What? It’s more difficult here!” he explained like that wasn’t why it was terrible.

Poison Fang Swamp was a level 65 area, known as the most hated levelling map in the Heavenly Domain due to its monsters: poisonous bugs. One didn’t pose any problem but the bugs here were hard to hit and operated in swarms. What’s more, they hid under the ground or in the mud, making it impossible to avoid them completely, and their bites could give players a ‘poisoned’ status effect.

Therefore, on top of having to dodge the attacks from Lord Grim and One Leaf Heralds Autumn as well as nature’s obstacles, the group had to fend off attacks from the poisonous bugs which stuck to them like glue. As first day trainings went in the Heavenly Domain, there was no contest that this was definitely the worst training area chosen so far. Luo Ji had gotten himself a grand welcoming.

“You improved a lot!” Ye Xiu complimented him. “Next time, try to improve your accuracy so you can get rid of the poisonous bugs using your summons. Your Class is perfect for avoiding damage.”

“It was a bit hard to aim while running,” Luo Ji replied seriously.

“Oh?” Ye Xiu hummed. “How’s your aim when stationary?”

“Very good,” Luo Ji replied with pride in his tone. “Should I demonstrate?” he asked.

“Maybe later. We’re switching to our QQ chat now,” Muqiu announced as he joined them.

“I see, okay. I’ll log out,” Luo Ji said and his avatar disappeared.

“Quick, everyone, why aren’t you following his example?” Ye Xiu asked the others and was instantly offered a view of vanishing avatars. He logged out as well then switched to their QQ group chat.

=Autumn Empire=

Concealed Light: I’m here.

Steamed Bun Invasion: Here, bosses!!

Soft Mist: Here.

One Inch Ash: Present ^^

Little Cold Hands: Here

Combat Form: Here

Lord Grim has initiated a video call…

Everyone in the training room save for Ye Xiu and Mucheng enabled their cameras for the call.

“Wow, wow, wow! Bosses, you’re so good-looking!!!” Steamed Bun immediately crowed.

“So you two really are the ones from All-Stars…” Little Cold Hands remarked. “No God Ye?”

Muqiu pouted. “Hey, now, are you guys only with us for God Ye?”

“Who is God Ye? Are they a great person? Can I meet them? Are they really a God? Who –,”

“Baozi,” Tang Rou said sternly. “Later. We’re here to talk about something, right?” she clarified.

“Yes, we are,” Ye Xiu said. “Since we’re all here, I’ll get to the point. Who doesn’t know about the Pro-League?” He paused for the nods. “Good. Are you interested in playing Glory professionally?”

“BOSS!” Steamed Bun shouted happily, bouncing in his seat. “WE’RE PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY?”

Muqiu and Xiu’er flung their headphones off with grimaces while Yucheng smartly lowered the volume on hers.

“We’re planning on playing in the Pro-League,” Ye Xiu affirmed.

“COOL!” Steamed Bun yelled excitedly. “Bosses, how are we doing it???”

“First,” Ye Xiu raised a hand, “is there anyone who isn’t interested?” he asked.

“I’m interested,” Tang Rou didn't hesitate.

“That’s why I’m here,” replied Little Cold Hands.

“Senior,” Yifan began, “I’ve been waiting for this.”

“And, Luo Ji?” Ye Xiu prompted.

“Yes! Uh, but are you sure about me?”

“Of course,” Ye Xiu assured easily. “Regarding your studies, don’t worry. Little Cold Hands – An Wenyi – will require similar arrangements so that matter will be taken cared of separately later.”

“Thank you,” Luo Ji replied politely. “You can use my real name too. It’s Luo Ji.”

An Wenyi also expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Senior.”

“No problem, Luo Ji, An Wenyi. Tang Rou, will you need special arrangements?”

“Ha ha you know I don’t,” Tang Rou chuckled. “If you’re still in the city, I can visit you tomorrow.”

“No need to be in a hurry, you can all come at the same time. Everyone, you know Tang Rou?”

“Soft Mist!” Steamed Bun exclaimed.

“That’s right,” Ye Xiu validated patiently. “And what should we call you?”

“I’m Bao Rongxing. You can keep calling me Baozi, boss!”

Yifan acted proactively and said, “Everyone knows me already. I’m One Inch Ash’s Qiao Yifan.”

“Hi.” Qiu Fei went next. “I play Combat Form. I’m Qiu Fei.”

“Qiu Fei here is a trainee. He won’t be joining us for now,” Ye Xiu explained. “Little An?”

“As Senior mentioned, I’m An Wenyi. I play Little Cold Hands,” An Wenyi reintroduced himself.

“Yo, I’m Autumn Tree’s Su Muqiu who appeared at All-Stars last year,” Muqiu grinned and gently rolled Yucheng’s chair closer to himself so they shared one camera. “This is Su Yucheng, my sister –,”

“I play Autumn Rain!” Yucheng finished with a bright smile.

Mucheng enabled her camera, startling An Wenyi and Yifan who didn’t expect her to do so. “Hello, everyone. I’m Su Mucheng, Muqiu and Yucheng’s sister. I play Cleansing Mist but I’ll be using Dancing Rain for the professional scene. Let’s have fun together, okay?” she beamed beautifully.

“Now that we’re all blind from their smiles…” Xiu’er started off teasingly. “I’m Ye Xiuer, the second half that appeared at All-Stars last year. I’m the owner of One Leaf Heralds Autumn.”

“That leaves me,” Ye Xiu turned on his camera and smirked at the gobsmacked expressions from their newer players sans Baozi. “Everyone, I’m Ye Xiu, player of Lord Grim. Former player of God-level account, One Autumn Leaf. Former Captain of Excellent Era. 3-time Champion. Any questions?”

“God Ye…” Yifan mumbled. “Your face..?”

“What’s wrong with my face?” Ye Xiu pretended hurt.

“Is this okay?” An Wenyi asked, eyes still wide. “Can we… see?”

Ye Xiu started to snicker. “You’re seeing me right now, what’s not allowed?”

“He’s right. We’re a team, he can show his face to us,” Luo Ji said, pushing his glasses up.

“Well said, but I also plan on showing my face to the public from here on out.”

There was a thud inside the training room and Ye Xiu looked over at Qiu Fei in concern. “Hurt?”

“N-no…” Qiu Fei climbed back up to his seat, having fallen from shock.

“I don’t get it,” Baozi complained. “What’s with boss’ face? Is it a secret? Are you a famous person?”

“Ye Xiu is an extremely famous person,” Mucheng told him.

“Let’s move on. We’ll be registering for the Challengers League. Matches will start this September and end next year July. After we win, we’ll be entering the Pro-League and begin our journey towards the Championship. The schedule will be the same as the Challengers League’s. Questions?”

“Where will we be meeting up?” Luo Ji asked.

“Club Autumn Empire is in City H,” Muqiu answered before pushing his chair back to reveal more of the training room. “This is our training room. We’ll all be practicing in here. There’s also a lodging in the building next to this so there’s no need to worry about housing. Food will be provided too!”

“You already have a Club prepared?” Yifan was awed, his whole face lit up with anticipation.

“Mm, we have a fully-functioning Club,” Ye Xiu smiled. This junior was too cute. “About the contract, they’ll be sent over to you either today or tomorrow by the HR department. You can ask them about anything regarding your stay here including your transportation needs. An Wenyi, Luo Ji, they’ll be taking care of your education matters. If any of your parents need assurance, they’ll handle that too.

“We’ll be expecting you in two weeks,” he continued and held up a hand when he saw An Wenyi, Luo Ji and Yifan look alarmed. “What did I say? HR will take care of your education matters. Yifan, we’ll talk about your situation after this. Baozi, will you be able to come in two weeks?” he asked.

“Yes, boss!” Baozi saluted.

“That’s good. Okay, seems we’ve talked about everything, hm? HR will contact you soon,” Ye Xiu reiterated. “If you don’t have any more questions, let’s end this. You can message us any time.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow in the game,” Tang Rou said before leaving.

Baozi offered a thumbs up. “Boss! See you tomorrow!” He left too.

“See you tomorrow,” An Wenyi offered politely then closed the connection.

“It might be difficult to arrange my education…” Luo Ji said unsurely. “My situation is special…”

“Don’t worry, really. HR is not unused to handling situations like yours,” Ye Xiu brushed off the concern gently. “I already warned them about you in particular so they know what to do, okay?”

“Okay, I’ll discuss properly with them. Good night, everyone,” Luo Ji nodded and departed.

“Yifan, stay. Everyone else,” Ye Xiu made shooing motions at the camera. “Go have dinner.”

Qiu Fei, Yucheng and Mucheng logged off QQ to do as suggested but Muqiu and Xiu’er stayed on.

“Staying?” Mucheng asked the two.

Muqiu smiled. “Yep, we’re staying. Have a good dinner~!”

“Alright, don’t stay too late,” Mucheng eyed the three meaningfully. “C’mon, Cheng-mei, Little Qiu!”

The training room door closed shut behind them and Ye Xiu leaned back in his chair, stretching.

“How’s it going, Yifan?” Muqiu inquired amiably.

“Just the same,” Yifan shrugged, looking wilted. “My contract won’t be finished by next month…”

“Right, that’s what we want to discuss with you,” Xiu’er said seriously. “Let’s cancel it,” he laid down.

“Cancel?” Yifan’s eyes widened and his lips parted in surprise.

“Do you want to?” Ye Xiu questioned. “If you don’t, we’ll wait for you. It’s fine. But…” he tilted his head. “Staying, apart from keeping your position as Tiny Herb’s reserve member, is there a point?”

Yifan’s eyes wavered a bit before he exhaled deeply. “No. I’m just a bench warmer here.”

“Joining us means that you’ll come down from a pro team to a new team and fight your way through the Challengers League before returning to the Pro-League. Is this something you’re willing to do?”

“I…” Yifan squared his shoulders. “More than anything, I want to join your team, Senior Ye.”

“Then we’ll send someone over to help you break your contract and pay for the fee,” Ye Xiu said.

“No, I’ll –,” Yifan licked his lips. “I’ll cancel it on my own, Senior Ye. I think I need to do that.”

Ye Xiu smiled understandingly. “Okay, I won’t argue with you. We’ll just reimburse you for the fee.”

“Ah… Okay, Senior Ye,” Yifan didn’t argue further either. Smart cookie.

“Will you be okay, Yifan?” Muqiu asked worriedly. “Should I come over?”

“I’ll be okay,” Yifan smiled and relaxed in his seat. “Thank you, Muqiu,” he sighed, still smiling.

“Our Little Yifan’s very strong,” Ye Xiu stated warmly.

Xiu’er leaned in and said with a smile, “We’re here whenever you need us.”

“Mm~!” Yifan acknowledged with a nod, eyes sparkling. “I can’t wait to join you.”

*~*~*~*

A short while later, the desktops were all shut down and the trio had rearranged themselves so that they were all on one side of the room. Time ticked on and dinner awaited them but Ye Xiu had asked the two to stay in the training room for a little longer so they could discuss a few things together.

“So,” Muqiu prompted from where he was spinning round and round on his chair. “What is it?”

“The Challengers League, I’ll put you two in charge of it,” Ye Xiu announced his intention.

“What?” Muqiu shot up from his chair. “What do you mean? What about you?”

Ye Xiu got up from his seat and placed his hands on Muqiu’s shoulders in a calming manner. “Relax.”

“You want us to test the team?” Xiu’er asked knowingly.

“Exactly,” Ye Xiu nodded at his younger self. “Test yourselves and prepare for the Pro-League.”

Muqiu leaned his head on Ye Xiu’s shoulder. “What happened to doing this together…”

“We’re still doing this together,” Ye Xiu raised his hand to pet Muqiu’s hair. “I’m just giving our cute juniors a chance to shine on the stage. I’ll still be with you the whole way, cheering you on, hm?”

“But,” Muqiu lifted his head. “I want you on stage with us,” he said, lips jutted out in a slight pout.

Ye Xiu hummed. “Then, what shall we do? We can’t have it both ways.”

“Can’t we?” Xiu’er questioned from his seat, wholly ignoring Muqiu’s dramatic acting.

“Oh!” Muqiu perked up and looked at Xiu’er. “Are you thinking individual or group?”

“I’ll handle the group. You two can take the first and third individual rounds. How about that?”

“Individual?” Ye Xiu mulled this over, licking his lips, then nodded his agreement. “We'll see.”

Muqiu was satisfied. “Great!” He detached himself from Ye Xiu and whirled around to lean against the edge of a table, facing them. “Next important question, should I bring out my other Classes?”

“There’s no need to, right? So, no,” Xiu’er shrugged.

“You’re not allowed to anyway,” Ye Xiu chuckled. “The Challengers League doesn’t allow that.”

“Eh? Boring~!” Muqiu complained. “But fine, fine. Best to keep this secret under wraps.”

“Speaking of, Xiu-ge, you should play Battle Mage in the individual challenge. It’s better for DPS.”

“I don’t think we can share account cards,” Ye Xiu said. “What will I use?”

Xiu’er shrugged. “One Autumn Leaf?”

“Do you not want to use One Autumn Leaf?” Ye Xiu inquired.

Xiu’er blinked. “Sure,” he said, “If the skill points don’t lose out to One Leaf Heralds Autumn.”

“…As expected, you’re really me. How practical,” Ye Xiu snorted, smiling.

“Of course,” Xiu’er allowed then pointed at Muqiu. “By the way, he wants you to experience playing One Autumn Leaf and Autumn Tree side-by-side again with both of you as the controllers on-stage. So, regardless of points, you’re going to be using One Autumn Leaf. I’ll be bringing Heralds with me.”

Unbidden, Ye Xiu’s lips curled up in appreciation. “I see. So that’s why.”

“Muqiu, the final BOSS. I point to him and you have no more questions, huh?” Xiu’er snickered.

“Don’t say it like that,” Muqiu frowned. “Xiu, you don’t have to agree with everything I want.”

Ye Xiu waved off the concern. “I know, I know. It’s a joke; I can say no to you if I wanted to. But for something like this, it’s such a small matter and easy to grant so why won’t I? I also want to do it.”

“Right?” Muqiu smiled happily. “I knew you’d want to, Xiu,” he said.

“Who else but you and my twin would know me so well, huh?” Ye Xiu and Xiu’er side-eyed each other. “Still, Xiu’er, if One Autumn Leaf’s skill points is higher, you should use it for the Pro-League.”

“Then let’s make sure they’re on an equal level,” Xiu’er shrugged. “In skill points and weapons.”

“Eh~! That’s not possible unless you both use – ah, but maybe if – hm…” Muqiu mumbled to himself.

Ye Xiu chuckled. “The two weapons shouldn’t lose out to each other in DPS. It’ll be up to the stats.”

“We should have the same priorities so just the bonus stats,” Xiu’er added.

“Hmm… but if we’re bringing both accounts then there’s nothing for us to use properly in-game.”

“Ah,” Xiu’er understood instantly. “It’s a good thing we have levelers,” he remarked.

“…just keep in mind, they won’t be free to level accounts for us forever,” Ye Xiu reminded.

Muqiu smiled. “Mm, that’s why we’ll eliminate as many teams as possible in the Challengers League!”

Ye Xiu sweat dropped whilst Muqiu and Xiu’er grinned wickedly at each other and even high-fived. For all that the pros liked to blame him for Mucheng’s devilish tendencies with her angelic face, it was honestly mostly Muqiu’s influence. He definitely didn’t teach her to smile so sweetly when plotting to destroy enemies and performing savage acts in Glory. That was all Muqiu’s doing.

Really.

*~*~*~*

Under the gentle glow of the moonlight, two figures sat on the edge of Autumn Empire’s pool, their legs submerged and absently swaying in the crystal water. Xiu’er dipped his hand in the cool liquid then lifted his hand up, allowing a trail of water to drip back into the pool like glittering gems. He looked pensive, frowning, as though he were trying to parse out a particularly difficult puzzle piece.

Beside him, Muqiu had his face tilted up and his eyes were closed, exuding an aura of peace.

“Are you still thinking about it?” Xiu’er asked suddenly.

Muqiu’s eyes fluttered open. “Thinking about what?” he asked back.

“…it,” Xiu’er emphasized.

“No,” Muqiu replied, yawning. “Did you ask to meet here just to confirm that?”

Xiu’er sighed. “Yes… you’re acting weird, Muqiu.”

“Weird, how?” Muqiu shifted to lean his weight against Xiu’er, head on the other’s shoulder.

“Aren’t you acting too strangely with Xiu-ge? He’s still me, you know.”

“...I know,” Muqiu yawned again. “But you’re different people. He’s a different Ye Xiu.”

“Sure, I know that. All I’m saying is, stop acting so weirdly,” Xiu’er said.

Muqiu mumbled, “I’m trying to figure myself out too, alright…”

“Figure what out?” Xiu’er questioned in confusion. “What’s there to figure out?”

“Are you not going to let this go?” Muqiu groaned.

“No, not really,” Xiu’er half-shrugged, careful not to jostle Muqiu. “I’ll help you so c’mon.”

Muqiu slipped his arms around the other for a side-hug. “…do you… have you… uh…” he trailed off.

“…” Xiu’er tilted his head to catch any quiet murmuring.

But Muqiu wasn’t saying anything at all. “…”

“..?” Xiu’er blinked then worried at his lower lip. “I won’t like this, will I?” he asked, resigned.

“Uh,” Muqiu floundered. “Maybe… not?”

“Okay…” Xiu’er dragged out.

“…have you… liked… anyone..?”

“???” Xiu’er ran his fingers through his hair and huffed. “Like?”

“You haven’t?” Muqiu stated more than prompted.

“I… like you?” Xiu’er said questioningly. “And Yucheng, Mucheng, Xiu-ge… and Qiu.”

Muqiu shook his head. “Romantically.”

“……no.”

“Yeah, okay. I expected that,” Muqiu replied.

“Of course, we’ve known each other since I was fifteen. Where did you expect me to find someone?”

Muqiu tsk’ed and poked Xiu’er. “Are you implying something?”

“No, no, what would I be implying?” Xiu’er had a badly hidden touch of amusement in his tone. He cleared his throat and pulled them back to their original line of topic, “So, who do you like?”

“…” Muqiu didn’t answer.

Xiu’er paused as a thought dawned on him. What was this whole conversation about? “…Xiu-ge?” His earlier assumption was right: he didn’t like this. Not only was this weird, this was about ‘himself’.

“…mm,” Muqiu confirmed quietly. “I think,” he added. “Maybe?”

“Are you trying to figure out whether you like him or not?” Xiu’er soughed.

Muqiu’s head jerked in an awkward nod, nearly causing a collision between them.

“Right. Well… good luck,” Xiu’er concluded a bit heartlessly.

“Hey!” Muqiu lifted his head up and adopted a pleading, pouting expression.

“What do you expect me to do?” Xiu’er asked exasperatedly. “Ask Mucheng for help!”

Muqiu pouted harder. “But he’s you!”

“Do you like me romantically too?” Xiu’er arched a brow.

“You?” Muqiu leaned back, his gaze turned searching. “Hm…”

Xiu’er raised a hand to block their faces from each other’s view. “Stop,” he chided. “I don’t know Xiu-ge that well and besides, I’ve never liked anyone romantically. Your best bet would be Mucheng.”

“But…” Muqiu’s face crumpled into a pitiful puppy look. “She’ll be too into it!” (>⌓< ;)

“Probably,” Xiu’er snickered unhelpfully.

Muqiu glared, annoyed. “Xiu’er!”

“Look at it this way,” Xiu’er still wasn’t trying to be helpful, “Xiu-ge will suffer with you!”

“…fuck you.”

Chapter Text

(April)

Nanshan Public Cemetery seemed different under the twilight sky at three in the morning on Qingming Festival day. It felt infinitely lonelier to stand amidst the field of gravestones alone with only the full moon shining above. The familiar beat of the hot sun was missing and so was the constant companion that Ye Xiu visited with every year without fail until this year…

For all the growing up that Mucheng had done since Muqiu’s untimely death, she was still very young especially when it came to matters about her brother. He didn’t fault her for wanting to believe that the Muqiu with them now was the Muqiu of before therefore eliminating the need of the grave and, ultimately, their yearly visitation. But he wasn’t her and had planned to visit anyway.

Perhaps, the Muqiu with them now was their Muqiu. Who was to say otherwise? He certainly wouldn’t. The possibility that it wasn’t though and the notion that he’d leave the Muqiu they’d buried all those years ago forgotten didn’t sit well with him. So he’d snuck out of bed, making sure Muqiu remained asleep, left the Club, acquired some flowers and made his way to the cemetery.

How was it then that Muqiu managed to follow him?

Ye Xiu shook his head and sighed lightly as warm fingers interlocked with his own cold ones. “Muqiu,” he murmured, tracing the name on the gravestone with his eyes before turning to look into the bright orange eyes attempting to pierce through to his mind. “What are you doing here?”

“I can’t see my own grave?” Muqiu asked lightly, his tone neither serious nor joking.

“There’s nothing grand about it,” Ye Xiu gestured to the grave obligingly. “But we did our best.”

Muqiu hummed in acknowledgement. “What do you usually do here?” he asked.

“…give you flowers,” Ye Xiu replied dryly.

“Do you give me updates on your life?”

“Hm,” Ye Xiu eyed Muqiu speculatively before replying honestly, “I think about what we’d have achieved together and how I wished you were still alive.” He looked away when he felt his throat close up at the mere remembrance of those dark years. It had been little more than four months since that fateful night yet his life had already become much brighter, better with Muqiu by his side.

Muqiu squeezed their joined hands and abruptly remarked, “It’s weird seeing my own grave.”

“I’m sure…” Ye Xiu smiled despite himself. He brushed his fingers along the top of the gravestone in goodbye then gently tugged Muqiu back onto the pathway out of the cemetery. “You followed me?”

“No,” Muqiu tipped his head to rest on Ye Xiu’s shoulder whilst they walked. “I know the date and you weren’t around,” he said simply.

“You really know me best,” Ye Xiu murmured, tilting his head so his cheek brushed against soft hair.

Muqiu chuckled softly. “Of course.”

That day, they were the last to arrive in the food court for breakfast despite technically being the first to wake as they went back to sleep after returning. Because of this, no one suspected they’d left earlier in the morning and so, aside from a few glances from Xuefeng and Mucheng’s clingier attitude towards Muqiu, the Qingming Festival day that year seemed just like any other old day.

*~*~*~*

(May)

Another month, another early start. This time, Ye Xiu was left sleeping alone and Muqiu slipped out to meet up with his siblings, Wu Xuefeng and the timely new arrivals, Qin Tianran and Xia Ming. Under the guidance of three decent home cooks, the six settled down in the apartment building’s communal kitchen, determined to make some decent longevity noodles for two certain persons.

Of course, all of them knew very well that they were courting disaster but regardless, Muqiu had strongly insisted they made the noodles themselves. He wanted the meal to be meaningful but also low-key; because he knew from Mucheng that Ye Xiu hadn’t bothered to celebrating over the years and oft forgot the special day therefore making a big deal out of it likely wouldn’t be appreciated.

Xiu’er was also more used to having cosy celebrations after three years of living together.

In any case, the objective this morning was to make decent longevity noodles and after watching Xuefeng expertly slap a coil of noodles against the counter, up and down, whilst stretching the strands further apart… Muqiu’s naïve confidence quickly drained away at the thought of having to do same thing so, quietly, he pushed his coil of noodles to Xuefeng’s side then plucked up another thinly-rolled dough to stretch out. Never mind. He’ll stretch the doughs and Xuefeng can pull them.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

Yucheng inched over and whispered, “I saw that!”

“…” Muqiu gently nudged his younger sister away. “No, you didn’t,” he denied in a mildly petulant tone. He pointedly ignored her visibly shaking shoulders and shared a look of understanding with Qin Tianran who followed his example by passing on the stretched doughs to Xia Ming. They had their own specialty in the process, it’s good to stick with it in the name of getting a good result, that’s all.

When Yucheng mischievously exposed him to the Ye duo over breakfast later on, he shamelessly repeated his reasoning then proceeded to wax poetic about how it was the thought that counted.

*~*~*~*

To the surprise of absolutely no one – that is, except the incredulous Xu Boyuan –, the Ye duo chose to coral everyone into playing Glory instead of doing anything special. Since their goal today was fun and they were all certified Glory addicts, they remained stuck in their gaming chairs well past lunch time, making a racket as they tossed monsters at each other in a new play of dungeon dodgeball.

“!!!” Muqiu’s eyes widened at the sudden arrival of the final BOSS landing in a heap at his character’s feet. He slide-kicked the BOSS up, curved its trajectory with a Barrett Snipe and sent it back to the sender with a Delivery Gun. “Hey!” he called out with a grin, “Happy Birthday, Xiu’er!”

Xiu’er’s laughter rang loud and clear in the game and in real life as he took the BOSS back.

Just when Muqiu thought he was in the clear, his character was hit by a monster right as his skill set went grey. “…fuck you, Wei Chen,” he cursed, glaring at the Hexagram Prison he was trapped inside and the incoming monsters being guided over to his vulnerable character. “Ah, I’m going to die.”

“No, you’re not,” Ye Xiu said and Lord Grim flashed in front of Autumn Tree, spear twirling.

Muqiu smiled. “Guess not!” he agreed, flexing his fingers in preparation for his imminent release. After nine seconds exactly, the Hexagram Prison disappeared and Autumn Tree joined Lord Grim’s side. Together, they worked to gather and toss hordes of monsters at a time towards Wei Chen.

Warlock was a Class which prioritized controlling the field, had no martial arts skills, not much health and low defence. Wei Chen was a great player, his silver weapon a beauty, and he was also fucked. Windward Formation drowned under the mass of monsters in a stream of curses, unable to keep up.

“Cheat! It’s a partnership! Destroy the fuckers!” Wei Chen cried outside of the game.

“Sore loser!” Fang Shiqian taunted, his character unbothered since they needed him safe to heal.

“You’re a loser!” Wei Chen retorted elementary-style. “Where the fuck were you, useless Cleric!”

Fang Shiqian tsk’ed. “I only heal those who are worthy,” he claimed mightily.

“Those two bicker like cats and dogs,” Muqiu snickered as he randomly tossed a few monsters over to the newly-minted BOSS team just to stir things up. It wasn’t like Xiu’er, Xuefeng and Lin Jie were the type to be disrupted by such weak monsters – er, unless it coincided with the BOSS’s hit. “Oops.”

“…” appeared above Lin Jie’s glowing character; Fang Shiqian working his Cleric heal.

“My bad!” Muqiu yelled over. He moved his attention over to Fang Shijing and Ji Leng who were playing some weird tag game with each other using the monsters. It was hard to understand what the two were trying to achieve or just do without context so he didn’t bother, instead choosing to toss the monsters he gathered from the perimeter over to them to play with. He was a bit bored.

Things were winding down since they were at the final BOSS’ lair so everyone was more focused on finishing off the dungeon now rather than fooling around though obviously some still were like the two previously mentioned. It could be argued that they were helping by keeping the monsters busy but they weren’t really needed. Three players plus a Cleric were enough to deal with the BOSS.

Muqiu tugged his headphones off and leaned over to curl his hand around Ye Xiu’s upper arm, careful not to jostle the other too much as Lord Grim joined the BOSS team. He gently pulled at Ye Xiu’s headphone and, upon receiving no protest, fully pulled them off. “Xiu, it’s lunch time~!”

“Is it?” Ye Xiu asked rhetorically, clearly uninterested.

“Yes, it is,” Muqiu said firmly, pouting a bit. Just a bit. “Not hungry?”

“No,” Ye Xiu replied succinctly. “You can eat if you want. I’ll keep playing some more.”

Muqiu despaired internally but didn’t push. Whilst he and the others had been successful in getting the other to follow a proper eating schedule, he already had an inkling that it would be forgotten today. No matter, their lunch had been specially delivered and set to a buffet style by the side of the room so he’d just grab food for both of them. His eyes strayed to Xiu’er. Make that three of them.

He rolled his eyes and pushed his keyboard and mouse away then stood up. His eyes automatically swept the room looking for his sisters, noting their empty gaming chairs and nearly missed their presence in the rainforest lounge. Only the backs of their head could be seen, the rest of them hidden behind the couch they sat on, and he guessed that they were watching their favorite drama.

Satisfied, he stretched out his body with a long groan before moving to the buffet station. ‘Excessive, first came to mind followed by, ‘Ye Qiu’. Unlike him, the younger twin had no qualms about making a big deal of the day and had arranged for a special celebratory lunch with peach-shaped dumplings, Dongpo pork, stir-fried Longjing tea prawns, soy sauce duck, Dingsheng rick cakes and many more.

After filling up two plates with generous helpings of each dish, he walked back to his seat and slid a plate onto the free space next to Xiu’er’s keyboard. The younger Ye Xiu would likely be exactly the same as the older and take advantage of the special privileges today by ignoring the need to eat but he hoped that the sight of the food would be enough to entice Xiu’er to eat after the dungeon run.

And it might just be, considering Xiu’er’s distracted glances at the food.

Ye Xiu’s long-ingrained habit of ignoring food in favor of Glory, on the other hand, meant that no amount of enticing would work which was why Muqiu had filled up his plate 1.5x more than usual. With a twist of his fingers, he caught a peach-shaped dumpling in his chopsticks, cupped his hand underneath it to prevent spillage and offered it to Ye Xiu who obediently accepted the feeding.

“Are you planning on feeding me all of that?” Ye Xiu asked hesitantly after swallowing.

Muqiu rested his elbow on the table and rested his cheek on his hand to stare, unimpressed, at Ye Xiu. The other’s eyes didn’t stray from the screen but he knew his gaze had been noted. “No, Xiu,” he eventually replied and pointedly popped a peach-shaped dumpling into his own mouth. Yum.

“Heh,” Ye Xiu chuckled, his golden eyes glittering with mischief.

“You’d burst if I did,” Muqiu added wryly before he straightened and continued to feed Ye Xiu and himself while pretending to not see any of the curious looks and raised eyebrows from the other occupants of the room at his actions. His preferential treatment towards Ye Xiu – and Xiu’er – was very obvious but whatever. Unlike his sisters, these two wouldn’t feed themselves so he had to!

And just like in the morning, he was going to stubbornly stick to his reasoning.

*~*~*~*

“Did you enjoy your birthday?”

Ye Xiu’s lips up-ticked into a slight smile though his eyes remained on the screen and his fingers continued to dance along the keyboard and mouse. “Of course, you worked so hard for us today.”

“Ah… it’s nothing. It was a collective effort,” Muqiu replied, his cheeks a tad flushed.

“Hm,” Ye Xiu hummed, tapping on the keyboard a few more times before he sat back with a satisfied look. He pulled his account card out then looked over and asked, “Dinner’s shallot pancakes too?”

Muqiu smiled widely. “No, that was all me!” He puffed up his chest proudly. “I cooked them well, right?”

“They were delicious,” Ye Xiu assured fondly. “Just like breakfast and lunch.”

“Well, breakfast was definitely my idea but lunch was your brother’s,” Muqiu said frankly as he perched himself onto the table in front of Ye Xiu, his ankle bumping idly against the other’s knee.

Ye Xiu blinked. “Oh, that reminds me…”

“Didn’t greet your brother yet?” Muqiu guessed with a playful roll of his eyes.

“Forgot,” Ye Xiu admitted nonchalantly, shrugging. “Anyway, didn’t you feed me lunch? Thank you.”

Muqiu smiled affectionately at Ye Xiu while the other sent off a short birthday greeting to Ye Qiu. “You’re welcome,” he murmured, reaching out to lightly ruffle the other’s hair. “Hey, Xiu?”

“What is it?” Ye Xiu asked as he logged out of QQ and turned the computer off.

Muqiu gently tugged at the silky strands slipping through his fingers, gaze focused on the way they glimmered dully under the lighting. He wondered whether it was a good or bad thing that Ye Xiu was so casual about everything including intimate behavior, neither reacting for or against it. “Nothing.”

“Are you sleepy?” Ye Xiu questioned. “It’s getting late,” he added.

“Do I still get my bedtime story tonight?” Muqiu asked, shifting his gaze so their eyes met again.

Ye Xiu huffed in amusement, his lips stretched into a beautiful smile. “If you want,” he chuckled.

“I want,” Muqiu replied, sliding his arms past Ye Xiu’s shoulders to wrap the other in an impromptu hug. He buried his face in a slender neck and absently brushed his lips across the temptingly smooth skin, stilling a second later when he belatedly realized what he’d done without permission. Ah…

Contrite, he mumbled, “sorry,” whilst his heart jack-rabbited inside his chest.

“Hm? What for?”

Muqiu stilled again though this time it was because he didn’t know what he should be feeling exactly. Here it was again, Ye Xiu’s complete disregard for intimate affections. Should he be grateful that Ye Xiu didn’t think what he did was strange? Or miserable that to Ye Xiu his actions meant nothing special? Because Ye Xiu definitely noticed, the other was too sharp not to have so… hah.

…ah, whatever. He lifted his head and boldly planted a kiss on Ye Xiu’s cheek. If it didn’t matter to the other then he’ll do whatever the hell he wanted – within reason. “Let’s go to bed, Xiu!”

“Okay,” Ye Xiu agreed calmly. “…you have to get off me first.”

“Carry me,” Muqiu requested shamelessly.

Ye Xiu sighed. “I'm not strong enough to carry you.”

“Ehhh!” Muqiu whined and pulled away but inwardly he happily filed away the fact that Ye Xiu didn’t actually mind the idea of carrying him and was more concerned about the strength necessary to do so. “Then, let’s exercise more~!” he cheered.

“I’ll carry you,” Ye Xiu changed his tune instantly. He stood and turned to show his back. “Get on.”

…this wasn’t the kind of carrying he meant???

Muqiu snorted despairingly. Where was the romance? Did Ye Xiu know anything about it? He got on.

“Does your back ache?” he queried once he was gently deposited on their bed.

Ye Xiu rolled his shoulders consideringly. “No?” he mused. “Maybe our daily runs do work.”

“Let’s do weights too so you can princess carry me next time,” Muqiu cheekily suggested.

“Ha ha,” Ye Xiu messed up Muqiu’s hair with a smirk. “Making the birthday celebrant do work. Tsk!”

Muqiu laughed. “My bad, my bad.” He stood and bowed. “Allow me to carry you to bed, Sir Ye Xiu.”

“Prepare yourself,” Ye Xiu advised before tackling them both onto the bed with a whoosh then wiggling around to get under the covers and into a more comfortable position. “I haven’t been called ‘Sir’ in a long time. Ah – no, it was ‘Young Master’. My title. But you’re the Young Master now.”

“Ha! Me? A young master?” Muqiu pushed Ye Xiu to move over so they could share the same pillow.

“Yes,” Ye Xiu smirked up at the ceiling. “Young Master Muqiu, what story would you like to hear tonight?”

“Oh…” Muqiu paused. “Is that how it is?” He grinned and patted the pillow to reconfirm its firmness then laid down on it. “This Young Master would like… a story about a memorable celebration.”

“As Young Master wishes,” Ye Xiu drawled lazily. “Hm… there was this one time, me and Qiu…”

The rest of their night progressed normally with Ye Xiu story-telling and Muqiu listening intently until they both grew too sleepy to continue but this time around, their whispered “good nights” were replaced with, “Happy birthday, Xiu. I’m glad you were born,” and “I’m glad you’re here,” in return.

Chapter Text

(June)

A tense atmosphere blanketed the conference room of Club Tiny Herb as the Boss, Team Manager and Captain tried and failed to persuade Qiao Yifan away from pushing through with cancelling his contract. Though their intentions weren’t clear, Yifan knew well enough that they weren’t thinking about him. Such neglect and irrelevance were things he became very acquainted with in this place.

“Are you very sure?” the Boss asked, resignation already deeply etched into the lines of his face.

“I’m sure,” Yifan replied steadily just as he had the past ten times. “I won’t be changing my mind.”

Later on, he would learn that they were trying to prevent Tiny Herb from making history again but this time for the wrong reason: being the first Club to have a reserve member pull out midseason.

The Boss and Team Manager sighed in unison then looked at the Team Captain for the final words.

“Yifan, there won’t be any Clubs willing to accept players now. Why won’t you wait until summer?”

“Staying here won’t do me any good,” Yifan explained, remembering what Senior Ye had told him.

Captain Wang inhaled deeply. “What are your plans for the future?” he asked.

This question…

Yifan had once dreaded being asked this, knowing fully well that to be asked this question was the same as being told that his ‘future’ most certainly didn’t lie with Tiny Herb. He had dreaded it greatly halfway through the regular season when he realized how hopeless his position was in the team. Or perhaps he dreaded it even earlier, when he was given an old Assassins account as an afterthought.

Many times, he had wondered why they had chosen him out of everyone else in the training camp because it seemed that Team Tiny Herb didn’t need or want him around. He had no value to them, neither as a player nor as a person. Belittled if not ignored, ignored if not forgotten. Day-by-day, he wasted away in the team. Day-by-day, they slowly destroyed his ambition and crushed his spirit.

Until one day, One Leaf Heralds Autumn reached out to him with a suggestion that he leapt on. That day he met Autumn Empire in the 10^th server as One Inch Ash was the day the aspiring pro-player Qiao Yifan had been reborn. What were his plans for the future? His plans were as clear as day to him. Yifan offered his ex-Captain a serene smile. “My future plans has nothing to do with Tiny Herb.”

Captain Wang’s mismatched eyes widened briefly. “Do you have a Club in mind?”

“I’ll be seeing you on stage, Captain,” Yifan said vaguely as he made to stand. There was no need to explain himself to someone who never saw him and, besides that, Autumn Empire hadn’t made it known that they were entering the Challengers League yet. He placed the Club-given Assassin account card on the table and tapped it once. “Being an Assassin was never for me,” he remarked.

With one last look around the room, Yifan nodded his goodbye to the trio and departed.

 Outside, Gao Yingjie was waiting for him with a sad smile. “You’re really leaving?”

“I was never appreciated here,” Yifan said frankly. He looked up at the Tiny Herb logo hung up high on the building and glinting under the sun, a bitter smile making its way onto his lips. Just last year, he’d done this very same thing on his first day as a reserve member, excited and full of hope. How times have changed... “When we meet on stage, I’ll be the Qiao Yifan I was meant to be, Yingjie.”

“Sorry,” Yingjie blurted out suddenly. “If it weren’t for me…”

Yifan shook his head, smiling. “It was never your fault. Without you, maybe I would’ve quit entirely.”

“Oh,” Yingjie looked down then up again. “Good luck, Yifan. I hope everything goes well for you.”

A warm, anticipatory smile stretched Yifan’s lips upward as his eyes glimmered. “It will,” he said surely. “You too, Yingjie, good luck being the next Vaccaria and Captain. I wish you the best.”

They hugged after that and then Yifan left in the car Autumn Empire had arranged for him. He was finally on his way to City H, to Club Autumn Empire, to a new beginning. Yifan could hardly wait.

*~*~*~*

Raucous merrymaking trailed after a tall, handsome and muscular blonde as he exited a decently-maintained apartment building with a big bag over his shoulder, a grin on his face as he waved back at the group of men shouting their well-wishes at him. With a cheerful laugh, he slid into the car waiting for him by the curb and brightly greeted the driver after closing the door, “Hi! I’m Baozi!”

*~*~*~*

Being a perfectionist, Luo Ji deeply appreciated the way Autumn Empire operated; from the admirable efficiency of their HR department to the flawless planning of his journey over to City H.

Rearranging his education to better suit his schedule as a professional e-sports gamer had been far-fetched in his mind, especially since he wasn’t oblivious to his special position as a student under a very well-respected professor. But he had been pleasantly surprised when his school had obligingly adjusted to the Club’s demands and offered him multiple ways to continue his studies from afar.

Judging by that alone, he already had an inkling that he was working for an extraordinary company.

This assumption was further solidified when he was met with an escort and arranged a car for his trip to the airport then again, now, as he made his presence known to the neatly dressed man standing in the waiting area with his name on a printed paper at the same time as – “An Wenyi?”

An Wenyi turned to him in surprise. “Luo Ji?” He smiled. “I guess we’ll be travelling together.”

“Yes, I suppose we are,” Luo Ji was happy for the company and he engaged the other college student in a conversation as they followed after their jointly-assigned escort to yet another arranged car.

*~*~*~*

“Hey, I’m her friend! I just want to go with her!”

Outside Happy Internet Café, Tang Rou looked on in exasperation as her friend, Chen Guo, argued with her escort. She gently placed her hands on her friend’s shoulders and turned them around. “Guo Guo, don’t make a scene,” she told her friend. “I think they want to keep things a secret first.”

“I won’t tell anyone!” Chen Guo defended herself.

Tang Rou smiled affectionately. “I’ll call you after I settle down, okay? And I’ll visit on my free time.”

“So,” Chen Guo latched onto the little tidbit immediately, “you’re staying somewhere near here?”

“Guo Guo…” Tang Rou sighed and stepped away from her friend. “I’ll call you on QQ later,” she promised before slipping into the open car door with graceful ease and shutting it behind her. As the car began to move, she briefly slid her window down to wave goodbye to her excitable friend then settled back in her chair and slipped her account card out from her pocket. Glory, here she comes!

*~*~*~*

Team Autumn Empire wasn’t a normal newcomer. Though they were going to work their way through the Challengers League, they operated like a team that had an assured ticket to the Pro-League. Such an attitude could be seen from the immensity of their Club to the hiring of retired pro-players as guild staff and even the organized manner in which their new team members arrived in.

One sunny morning, five black cars lined up smoothly outside Club Autumn Empire where a welcoming committee waited. Qiao Yifan, Tang Rou, Baozi, An Wenyi and Luo Ji stepped out of their respective vehicles after thanking their escorts and stared up in awe at the intimidating high-rise building in front of them where a huge golden autumn leaf logo shimmered brightly down at them.

They eventually converged into one group and entered the main building following the lead of their assigned HR agent whilst their belongings were whisked away to their lodging; an apartment building, they were told. Having yet to recover from the impressive show of belief in a bright future, they were given a grand tour of the entire Club including the apartment building and training camp.

Yifan kept a stream of commentary for the group, explaining how much this Club differed from that of the others without bothering to keep the constant amazement from his tone. He considered it a privilege to join Autumn Empire and didn’t care what sort of conditions he would have to live with but… If life were a game then he’d just won himself an ultra limited edition 1,000,000,000x upgrade.

Luo Ji and An Wenyi were no less gobsmacked. Though they both had an inkling that they would be working for an extraordinary company, they didn’t expect a fully-functional Club operating like it had been years since they first opened their doors. It wasn’t long before they began worrying over the profit-loss margin…

Baozi was much simpler, he had no thoughts beyond wanting to try every single restaurant in the food court, taking a dip in the pool, trying out the recreational activities and using the home theatre.

Meanwhile, Tang Rou had finally connected the dots in her mind between the ‘Ye Qiu’ name next to the ‘Ye Xiu’ name in her contract and the powerful Ye Conglomerate. Her smile was wry as she thought about how small the world truly was for her to have met the elusive eldest heir of the Ye Conglomerate in an internet café of all places; this would be a great story to tell her father about.

Their tour ended half an hour before lunch at which point they were given leave to freshen up and acquaint themselves with their new living arrangements before making their way to the food court together. Light chattering accompanied their short trip through the pool, into the elevator and finally through the hallway to the food court where they paused curiously at the closed doors.

“It was open earlier, right?” Yifan tilted his head, confused.

Baozi laughed heartily. “Maybe it’s a surprise! Let’s go in!” In typical Baozi fashion, he confidently strode forward, grabbed the doors handles and unceremoniously flung them wide open.

PEW! POW! POW! PEW!

Confetti and ribbons fluttered towards the entrance in streams, Mucheng and Yucheng each holding party poppers with identical cheerful grins on their faces. Between them, Ye Xiu, Xiu’er and Muqiu stood tall before a crowd, some of them more familiar than others. All of them smiled welcomingly.

“Welcome~!” Mucheng greeted first, tossing the party popper she held onto the nearest table.

Yucheng waved amiably as she tossed her own popper then latched herself to Mucheng’s side. “Hi!”

“How was your trip?” Ye Xiu asked once he was within hearing distance, a lazy smile on his lips.

“I bet you’re hungry!” Muqiu remarked, slinging an arm around Ye Xiu. “We ordered up a feast!”

“We did so you better finish everything,” Xiu’er smirked teasingly.

“But before that,” Mucheng continued – it was clear none of them were looking for an actual response to their words by now – and grandly gestured at the crowd. “Meet our guild elites.”

“Hello, I’m Wu Xuefeng,” Xuefeng stepped forward with a gentle smile. “I’m the…” he looked up in brief thought, “Manager. You may know me as the first vice-captain of Excellent Era, Qi Breaker.”

Yifan gasped, his eyes wide, and began explaining the significance of the man to the others before he realized how embarrassing it was to do so in front of… well. He snapped his jaw shut as Ye Xiu smiled at him, his ears burning.

“I guess Yifan’s been working hard already?” Ye Xiu commented lightly.

“Boss! Little Ash told us about how cool and luxurious your place is! As expected of Boss!”

“Mm… well, the others can introduce themselves on their own time,” Ye Xiu drawled. “Let’s eat!”

*~*~*~*

Regardless of how luxurious Club Autumn Empire appeared to be, the players inside of it cared more about Glory than anything else so after eating, they predictably migrated to the Noisy Zone room where they started an impromptu battle royal. No one was spared, even the Clerics battled it out.

With the 1v1 winners finalized, they moved onto a 5v5 battle while the others cheered them on.

On the veteran’s side, curses flew around akin to the stream flowing down the mini indoor waterfall.

“HEY! Act like a Cleric and heal, fucker!” Wei Chen spat, his fingers tapping vigorously.

Fang Shiqian tsk’ed. “Fuck you! Just go die! You’re wasting my mana!”

“What use are you?!” Wei Cheng complained. “Your mana is for healing, you fuck!”

“Ah! Little Star, you’re so fierce~!” Qin Tianran complimented affectionately in between the cursing.

“Old Wei, are you dead already?” Ye Xiu trash-talked. “Do something useful and stop Muqiu!”

“Fuck you! Can’t you see I’m trying, you asshole?” Wei Chen groused.

“I’ll take care of Little Star,” Wu Xuefeng volunteered supportively. “Watch, Wei Chen.” ^-^

Wei Chen growled, “FUCK YOU TOO! You’re as black-hearted as Ye Xiu. Fuck!”

Meanwhile, on the younger’s side, Xiu’er and Muqiu tag-teamed in guiding their team on the field.

“Yifan, move 40 degrees behind the stump and execute a Falling Light Blade,” Xiu’er instructed.

“Striker to the front,” Muqiu called, “Block the Elementalist and don’t let up. They’re slippery.”

Xiu’er hummed. “Muqiu, take a blind route to Yifan’s side. He’ll need you when Xiu-ge arrives.”

“Elementalist escaped!” Tang Rou cried unhappily, her hand speed increasing to give chase.

“Nice CC, Xiong-ge! Bring the Elementalist to me. 2v2,” Xiu’er ordered. “Xiong-ge, focus on Muqiu!”

“Ten sec – ah! You’re all on your own. Hey, c’mon, Xiu and Xuefeng-ge?!” Muqiu complained.

Xiu’er frowned. “Yifan, go take care of the warlock. Try to redirect over. Muqiu, Xiong-ge, hold on.”

In the end, Wei Chen fell first, unable to hold on after the compounded damage from Muqiu’s initial attack barrage and then the combined forces of Xiu’er, Yifan and Tang Rou. Fang Shiqian and Tang Rou fell at the same time, the former due to splitting attention from doling out CC and healing skills while being unable to escape from Xiu’er’s clutches. After them, Yin Xiong succumbed to Ye Xiu.

Yin Xiong’s death allowed Muqiu to extricate himself from Wu Xuefeng and Ye Xiu’s pincer attack with aerial fire though he was chased to his rendezvous point with the remaining two in his team.

There, it became a fierce no-Cleric clash.

Xiu’er led the attack from his side, Devil’s Harbinger glinting dangerously as One Leaf Heralds Autumn rushed forward fearlessly. Yifan followed a step behind, rapidly laying down ghost boundaries whenever he could and throwing out skill with knock back effects when he couldn’t. Muqiu kept his position at the back, interrupting the other side’s skills and creating openings.

The other team split when Xiu’er arrived, avoiding Devil Harbinger’s attack, and pincered from three sides. Their target? Yifan’s Ghostblade. Ye Xiu went in, utilizing the versatility of his Unspecialized Class to close the distance, then used Fling to throw One Inch Ash from between Xiu’er and Muqiu’s protective cocoon. Wu Xuefeng welcomed Yifan with Flash Burst then executed Seismic Throw.

Straight away, the ground quaked and caused the enemies in the vicinity to be overturned. Being so close, Yifan was helpless but Xiu’er quickly used Dragon Rises from the Sea to escape and managed to graze Ye Xiu at the same time. Meanwhile, Qin Tianran was sliding above on an ice path throwing out skill after skill at Muqiu who had also escaped from the shockwave with the use of aerial fire.

Yifan used Full Moonlight Slash as soon as he could then dropped Ash Boundary. Wu Xuefeng’s Qi Breaker fell down at a rapid pace, glowing, then escaped with a perfectly-timed Spirit Reaches the Rainbow which gathered Qi around him and blasted him forward, out of the ghost boundary’s way. Yifan didn’t stay to see this, he controlled One Inch Ash to Xiu’er and dropped a Sword Boundary.

Objectively, for the 1v1 between the Ye duo, Ye Xiu was at a disadvantage facing a high DPS dealer Class like a Battle Mage under Xiu’er’s command with a mana-guzzler low DPS Unspecialized Class. Still, because Ye Xiu had more experience and years playing in comparison, they were at an impasse. Xiu’er couldn’t deal full DPS because Ye Xiu dodged and Ye Xiu could only chip at Xiu’er’s health.

So there they were, slowly chipping away at each other’s health – that was, until Yifan arrived and threw down a Sword Boundary. One Leaf Heralds Autumn’s strength and intelligence increased and Ye Xiu abruptly turned away from Xiu’er and slammed Yifan down with a Strangle whilst Wu Xuefeng arrived and dealt a Dragon Wave on Xiu’er who wasn’t able to twist away from the attack in time.

Sword Boundary negated, the three 1v1s on the field turned into a 2v2 and 1v1.

Muqiu and Qin Tianran glided around the map as they attacked each other, the former unable to shake off the tail and the latter stubbornly sticking to its chosen target. Their health bars were at around the same level, fluctuating a little whenever either one threw out high damage attacks, and depleting at a rapid rate. Still, they held on, gun shots and magical attacks making for quite a show.

Eventually, Yifan fell and left Xiu’er to deal with a 2v1 until Wu Xuefeng fell a few seconds later, reverting the fight back to a 1v1 between the Ye duo. It was at this point that the two called for their other teammates. Both switched paths but Muqiu was at a disadvantage, being a feet behind Qin Tianran to their destination, and was ultimately stalled by an Ice Wall that he had to destroy first.

Xiu’er fell in the few seconds it took Muqiu to arrive after Qin Tianran, health depleted under the combined assault from Ye Xiu and Qin Tianran. Muqiu fell right after but not before taking Qin Tianran with him. When Glory’s victory logo flashed on the projector screen everyone was watching on, Lord Grim stood proud and tall, umbrella gleaming and red scarf flying heroically in the wind.

Everyone came to life suddenly, awoken from their intense concentration on the match which gave them the same feeling as the finals of the Pro-League. Wei Chen and Fang Shiqian began cursing each other out for failing to hang on until the end whilst Sun Zheping roughly congratulated Ye Xiu and Wu Xuefeng. Qin Tianran had already moved over to Xia Ming on the other side of the room.

On the younger’s side, Luo Ji and An Wenyi began to dissect the match with Yifan, Tang Rou and Baozi. An act that caught the attention of Muqiu, Xiu’er, Mucheng, Yin Xiong and Qiu Fei who all drifted over in interest, the first two carefully observing the manner in which Luo Ji, An Wenyi and Yifan directed the post-match discussion with Tang Rou, Baozi (!) and Qiu Fei giving their thoughts.

Yin Xiong looked on, impressed.

When Ye Xiu finally arrived from the verteran’s side, he straight away found out how Yifan had started the habit of examining dungeon runs, training exercises and matches within the newer circle since the 10^th server; An Wenyi being invited after Yifan had entered the Heavenly Domain. He commended them all for their initiative and thereafter Xiu’er offered his own insights to the match.

The small huddle soon became a crowd when the veterans joined in with amused and similarly proud expressions on their faces as they gave advice and pointers to the next generation players. And then the crowd dispersed to smaller groups of twos and threes, the newcomers being offered coaching matches by the veterans while Xiu’er and Muqiu were challenged to 1v1 and 2v2 duels.

Five people didn’t go with the grain however and instead were gathered in a corner catering to Yucheng’s desire to see more of Qin Tianran’s Elementalist. Yucheng sat on Mucheng’s lap as they both watched from a God view on a different desktop to better see Qin Tianran’s character go up against Xia Ming’s Sharpshooter whilst Ye Xiu stood beside them to give a running commentary.

Ye Xiu explained without thinking too much, too adept at Glory to need much brain power to explain the skills and tactics to Yucheng but also too enamored with seeing Qin Tianran’s playstyle again now that he could focus on simply watching. When people talked about the Elementalist Class, Chu Yunxiu would always be mentioned. As the number one Elementalist player, this was well-deserved.

However, Ye Xiu had always had the opinion that Qin Tianran played the Class better.

Chu Yunxiu excelled in the technicalities; she knew when to use which skill, landed attacks with precision and never missed her timings. The way she played was textbook and her playstyle was smooth. On the other hand, Qin Tianran was much more creative, much more agile and much more flexible on the field. He was an expert in modifying the use of skills and his style emphasized mobility.

This strong point was being showcased now as Qin Tianran proficiently played his Elementalist against Xia Ming’s Sharpshooter. Instead of casting a Blizzard to damage Xia Ming, Qin Tianran used it after jumping away from the Firearm Martial Arms and slid on the snow storm it created in the sky, increasing his distance between the two. Then, Piercing Lightning was cast upon his landing.

If Chu Yunxiu was the one playing, she would have likely used Heavenly Lightning to deter Xia Ming from closing in and then proceeded with Dark Missile while Xia Ming was still hindered. Neither plays were better than the other, of course. It just boiled down to playstyle preference and Ye Xiu very much appreciated Qin Tianran’s mobility on the field as it had aided him plenty in the past.

Therefore, he wasn’t too surprised when Yucheng suddenly declared: “I want to play an Elementalist!”

But there went Muqiu’s silver equipment plans for Autumn Rain plus their potential heir to Dancing Rain. GG!

Chapter Text

(June)

One inconspicuous day, a newly-verified Weibo account posted:

 (Sina Weibo)

Club Autumn Empire V

[0 shares | 0 comments | 0 likes]

At first, no one noticed. But after a few minutes, one person came across it and then another and another and another until a screenshot of the post was shared in the Glory forums and from there, the news spread like wildfire. Everyone went crazy. Nowadays, pro-players came straight from training camps with no in-game presence but Autumn Empire was different so it was very refreshing.

In no time, Autumn Empire teasers flooded the Glory forums, Weibo, Baidu and other social media platforms where Glory fans lurked. There was a general consensus over which characters would be playing but there was conflict when it came to assigning the players. Some people squabbled over who the player of One Leaf Heralds Autumn was while others debated hotly over which Launcher Su Mucheng played. But there was one unanimous assumption: Autumn Tree was Su Muqiu.

*~*~*~*

“You’re not joining the team?”

Everyone on the table, a mix of retired pros and Autumn Empire players, started at the question.

Lazily, Ye Xiu offered them all a small smirk, replying, “How can that be? Of course, I will.”

“But you won’t be the Captain?” Fang Shiqian demanded, taking over from Wu Xuefeng.

Ye Xiu shrugged lightly. “Not for the Challengers League, no.”

“So in the Pro-League..?” Fang Shijing prompted, leaning forward. “It’ll be you?”

“Mm,” Ye Xiu confirmed. He linked his fingers together and placed them under his chin. “The team doesn’t need me to win the Challengers League. If I join, the Alliance should just declare our victory.”

A few of the pro-players mimed gagging while Lin Jie asked, “You won’t be playing?”

“We’ll see,” Ye Xiu said. “They don’t need me… and they shouldn’t need Mucheng either.”

“You’re very confident,” Ji Leng remarked without much intention.

“And the Pro-League?” Wei Chen prodded. “He’ll be Vice-Captain?” he hiked a thumb at Xiu’er.

“Co-Captain,” Ye Xiu corrected. “First of its kind. We’ll be making so many marks in Glory history…”

“Fuck off,” Fang Shiqian rolled his eyes.

“Then,” Qin Tianran began, waving his fork around, “who will be the Vice-Captain?”

“Vice?” Ye Xiu looked at Muqiu then glanced at Mucheng who shook her head. “It’s Muqiu.”

Mucheng smiled beautifully. “As it should be,” she declared.

“So, you have Ye Xiu, Xiuer, Muqiu, Mucheng and An Wenyi for the main roster. Who’s the sixth?”

“Our little ghostblade,” Xiu’er looked straight at Yifan. “Yifan will be the sixth.”

Yifan’s eyes widened. “Me?” His cheeks flushed.

“Mm, you,” Muqiu winked then explained, “You’ve already debuted; you have the most experience.”

Fang Shijing snickered. “More than you two, right? Captain and Vice-Captain?”

“…” Xiu’er parted his lips to reply but then closed it after realizing he had nothing to say.

“I’m sure they forgot that fact,” Wu Xuefeng commented teasingly.

Ye Xiu chuckled. “Doesn’t matter. They have far more experience fighting great players.”

“Damn, I should have engaged Han Wenqing instead of escaping last time,” Xiu’er lamented.

“Experience…” Muqiu sighed. “Ah, no other team has come by to disturb us anymore…”

“What do you mean? Han Wenqing hunted you guys down? Other teams too?” Ji Leng asked.

Xiu’er confirmed, “Yep, Tiny Herb then Blue Rain. Last were Han Wenqing and Zhang Xinjie for me.”

“Don’t worry,” Xia Ming comforted, “we’re all here for you to practice with.”

“Yes, I second that,” Sun Zheping agreed.

“Tianran-ge will be training me!” Yucheng announced, staking her claim. “Right, Tianran-ge?”

“Of course, Mini Treasure,” Qin Tianran winked. “I’m all~ yours,” he promised.

“Hmm… I’m sure I can get Huang Shao to spar with the team too,” Ye Xiu mused thoughtfully.

Xiu’er smirked, “You mean the Chatterbox? Good. I want to duel with him properly.”

“Huang Shao’s always ready to do PK. We only have to ask,” Mucheng chuckled before perking up, her eyes straying above everyone’s head. “Oooh! Jingjing-jie, are those the team uniforms?”

Jingjing, an elder female PR agent with a male PR agent trailing after her, smiled kindly at them. “Yes, Mumu. Is it alright to give them to you here or would you like them brought up?” she asked.

“Here is fine!” Mucheng chirped, making shooing motions at everyone to clear up some space.

There was a few grumblings from Wei Chen and Fang Shiqian but Wu Xuefeng’s gaze shut them up swiftly. Jingjing and the male PR agent set down the expensive black boxes they were carrying then set off with a wave goodbye which Mucheng returned before she pounced, Yucheng not far behind.

Mucheng squealed, pulled out her phone and then proclaimed, “Qiu-ge, I love you!”

“…” Ye Xiu and Xiu’er both gave her blank looks while Muqiu snickered beside them.

“They’re so sooooft~!” Yucheng cooed. “Rou-jie, come! Look!” She pushed a box over.

“Wah, let me see too!” Muqiu cried out, not wanting to be left behind.

Curious as well, the retired pros craned their necks to take a peek and instantly began cursing.

“You have got to be fucking with me,” Wei Chen swore.

“Hey, hey, there’s a limit to being rich kids!” Fang Shiqian reprimanded. “Who the fuck has their team uniforms made by fucking Louis Vuitton? Are you shitting me? Where’s our guild uniform?!”

Sun Zheping gave him a ridiculing look. “Guild uniform?”

“Fuck off! Fuck off! That uniform costs more than my previous salary!” Fang Shiqian defended.

Ye Xiu and Xiu’er watched the chaos unfold before them with mild interest, idly noting that even Luo Ji and An Wenyi had been lured over by the allure of the team uniform… until Mucheng glared at them. Gulping in unison, they offered her a smile and obediently stood to grab their own boxes.

“How ostentatious,” Xiu’er sighed. “What a Qiu-di thing to do.”

“Mm… that’s why he’s cute,” Ye Xiu murmured quietly as he opened his box. He flung away the cloth-covering, revealing three small cards that he picked up then read with a bemused smile.

LVxAutumn Empire Classic Short Sleeve Pique Polo: Tailored with luxurious cotton piqué dyed noir with golden lining, this piece features an exquisite embroidery of Team Autumn Empire’s signature golden leaf on the left breast and a small LVxAE motif on the back.

LVxAutumn Empire Reversible Monogram Blouson: This sleek blouson elevates the bomber style with lamb leather sleeves and a body in sustainable cotton denim all in a classic noir colourway with gold lining. Details include Team Autumn Empire’s signature logo embroidered in golden thread on the left breast, a small LVxAE motif and tonal ribs on the collar, cuffs and waist.

When reversed, this piece reveals an all-over LV Monogram motif in delicate Mahina openwork on a navy calf leather body.

LVxAutumn Empire Double-Face Trousers: Crafted from double-face jersey fabric, this black soft-track style trousers combine a luxurious soft hand-feel with a slightly shiny finish. Signed with an embroidered golden LVxAE motif, this piece has an adjustable waist and knitted ribs at the ankles.

Placing the cards down, Ye Xiu dug deeper into the box and, immediately, his hands were enveloped by such incredibly soft material that he felt his knees weaken. He turned to his younger self, dazed.

Xiu’er wasn’t any better, looking halfway between perplexed and wondering. “They’re so soft…”

“Yeah,” Ye Xiu agreed quietly, feeling as though he’d been thoroughly defeated by the softness.

*~*~*~*

 (Sina Weibo)

Club Autumn Empire V

Coming Soon…

[96M shares | 101M comments | 80M likes]

With the official teaser poster up and no avatars in sight, the invested Glory players stopped squabbling over which player will use which character and instead began speculating over who else would be in the group. The most popular guess so far was that the unidentified female in Goddess Su’s Weibo post would be a player while some OG Excellent Era fans wished for a reunion team play.

An hour later, Su Mucheng logged onto Weibo and shared Club Autumn Empire’s two posts. This move, while simple, created chaos across Glory China. While it was widely assumed and generally accepted that God Ye and Goddess Su were members of Autumn Empire, there had so far been no confirmation but sharing the posts was seen as her officially admitting to it. The fans were ecstatic.

*~*~*~*

Since Marketing and PR were planning on revealing all of their identities within three weeks, Ye Xiu no longer had any reason to continue avoiding the current pro-players. He logged onto QQ, briefly grimacing at the long list of unread private messages, and clicked onto the general pro-player chat.

“Wow,” Muqiu exclaimed upon seeing the 999+ unread messages notification in the chat. He shifted from his leaning position on Ye Xiu’s arm and hooked his chin on Ye Xiu’s shoulder instead. “Chatty.”

“It’s probably mostly Huang Shaotian,” Ye Xiu sighed. And he was about to summon that guy too…

Muqiu snickered and patted him consolingly on the arm. “For training, for training…” he reminded.

=Glory Pro-Player Group Chat=

Ye Xiu: @Huang Shaotian

As a long line of greetings filled the chat, Ye Xiu decided to tag one more person.

Ye Xiu: @Han Wenqing Yo. I’m alive.

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): OLD YE! OLD YE! OLD YE!

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian: OLD YE I KNEW IT! I’M YOUR FAVORITE! YOU FINALLY CAME BACK ON QQ!!!! HOW DARE YOU STAY AWAY FOR SO LONG?! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I’VE BEEN!!

“Favorite?” Muqiu wondered, tilting his head. “What’s he talking about?”

Ye Xiu replied while typing, “Shaotian thinks he’s my favorite junior.”

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): Took you long enough.

Ye Xiu: Yep.

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): What kind of answer is that? Shameless! Where have you been!

Cloud Piercer (Zhou Zekai): Senior!

“Is he your favorite junior?” Muqiu asked.

“My favorite?” Ye Xiu echoed. “Isn’t it Mucheng?”

Ye Xiu: Don’t you check Weibo?

Doubtful Demon (Fang Rui): Fuck! You’re asking us that?

Crying Devil (Li Xuan): Ha ha so Senior Ye really uses Weibo now.

Ye Xiu: Hello, Little Zhou.

Swoksaar (Yu Wenzhou): Senior Ye, it’s good to hear from you again.

Muqiu laughed. “Mucheng doesn’t count.”

Troubling Rain (Huang Shaotian): Old Ye! Of course I did! Didn’t you see my messages to you!

Ye Xiu: You too, Little Yu.

Desert Dust (Han Wenqing): Autumn Empire, Ye Xiu?