In the image, Afan Yin smiled faintly, just as she had that day in the abandoned Sacred Temple.

"You made it here," she said. "That means you hold my coin. Otherwise, Ruoru would have thrown you out."

Zhang Luan instinctively glanced at Aruola. She nodded earnestly. The moment he stepped into the Mage Tower, she had sensed her sister’s presence. So she’d hidden nearby, curious to find its source. She peeked out partially—but found nothing. Worse, she got grabbed.

Many had entered this ancient Mage Tower before. None emerged whole. Some lost limbs or memories, doomed to endless fear. Others went mad, dumped in distant forests and plains. They grew to dread the tower deeply.

That’s why the Akamana Temple sealed it. Even knowing the danger, some believed themselves special—the heroes of their own stories.

In his past life, players dared to enter. But they’d pass out quickly, waking with no memory. The real world erupted in debates. People protested the game harmed brains. No one responded. The complainers gave up, kept playing.

Now Zhang Luan knew: Aruola and the tower’s evil spirits were behind it. Without her guarding him, he’d have been harassed in the dark. He’d prepared for danger. With the Choice Coin, he could escape anytime. He wasn’t afraid.

Afan Yin continued: "The coin is a vessel. It can hold Ruoru’s spirit instead of the tower. But from that moment, she’ll sleep. If you can, find these items to rebuild her body. A magic device is my thanks."

Her words faded. A system voice echoed in Zhang Luan’s mind.

[S-Rank Quest Triggered: {Body Reconstruction}

Quest: Find Moon Cherry Blossom Branch, Flying Flower Vault, Yellow Spring Water, Curse Spirit Stone, and King Yama Leaf.

Reward per item found.

Accept?]

Zhang Luan accepted. His eyes sharpened. This S-rank quest wasn’t like the easy one in the abandoned temple. In his past life, he’d only heard of Moon Cherry Blossom Branch. It lay in a level 70+ zone. This would be a long quest. But he had time. He’d complete it.

Afan Yin leaned on her slender, pale leg, face resting on her palm. She seemed to gaze through time at Zhang Luan.

"You are the one I’ve waited for."

The light strips forming the screen dissolved. Aruola watched them, reluctant. She wanted to see her sister more. But meeting once was better than never.

"Sister said the coin can hold me. I feel it can," Aruola said, eyeing the Choice Coin. Before Zhang Luan could speak, she tried to turn spirit and enter it.

He stopped her. "Didn’t you hear your sister? You’ll sleep forever once inside. Until I find those materials. What if I ignore you?"

Aruola tilted her head, thought seriously, then shook it. "No."

"Why?"

"Because the one Sister waits for never breaks promises. Right?"

Her innocent eyes hit him like ten thousand critical strikes. He covered his eyes, sighed. "Fine, fine. I’ll find them. You can enter. But first—how do I get out of this tower? And that mage must have left treasures. I lost my old buddy, the Azure Righteous Sword, just to get here." He waved the broken blade, looking pitiful.

"Nothing left. Sister broke everything in the mage’s storage when bored."

Zhang Luan dropped his hand, unsurprised. The real gains were Wind Flower Snow Moon and meeting Afan Yin. Losing a rare weapon was worth it.

Aruola prepared. She pointed at the Choice Coin. "I’m going in."

Zhang Luan opened his palm. The coin lay there. He dropped his usual playful smile, serious now. "Think carefully. As your sister said, you’ll sleep. Waking up could take ages. It’s like prison."

"Sister said sleeping and waking is quick."

Zhang Luan said nothing. Aruola stepped close, looked up at him. "Will you help me?"

He reached out, pinched her cheek, stretching it like dough. "Guess."

Aruola grabbed his wrist, pulled his hand away. She placed her small, icy hand on his palm holding the coin. A cool comfort spread.

Her body glowed with colorful magic. The Choice Coin leaped up, swirling in a vortex. Aruola transformed into luminous jade butterflies, drawn in. The dreamlike scene mesmerized him.

"Hey! How do I get out?" Zhang Luan almost forgot. Without the stoic loli, would he walk back to floor one?

Aruola tilted her head, smiling faintly. "Sister said... use that magic device in the shiny slot. The tower will collapse. You’ll escape. So... I look forward to our reunion."

As she vanished into the coin, Zhang Luan caught it. He took Wind Flower Snow Moon to the device. He hadn’t noticed before—a slot matching its size.

He glanced around the Mage Tower one last time. "Time to end you, old man."

BOOM!!!!

The tower fell.