In the blink of an eye, the player who wiped out this team controlled a mature female avatar. She wore a purple-black bodysuit that accentuated her voluptuous, sensual figure, stirring wild imaginations. Her pale pink hair fluttered in the wind, paired with light red eyes. Expressionless, she radiated a pure, awe-inspiring aura. Especially intimidating was the deep red name hovering above her head—Nightingale!
Nightingale—the #1 player on the Red Name List!
Known as the "Queen of the Red Name List," she earned this title with unmatched skills, a ruthless solo style, and freely accepting commissions.
Nightingale gripped a spear longer than her height. Covered in blue jade with a unique design, it crackled with electric currents, flashing brightly.
This spear was an extremely rare "player-crafted weapon" across the entire server.
Player-crafted weapons required a "Player-Crafted Weapon Scroll" to create. Players designed the model freely, but the system had strict requirements. If too unique, it would "fail," preventing creation. As blueprint quality improved, limits and success rates increased. Nightingale’s spear was crafted using a "Perfect Fashion Weapon Blueprint"—the only unique fashion weapon spear in the server!
Nightingale had accepted the commission to kill He Yucheng. She used a "Full Reward Commission Scroll," aiming to claim the entire reward in one go.
Though He Yucheng had played during the closed beta, he wasn’t thoroughly familiar with other game aspects. He didn’t care about player-crafted fashion weapons. What mattered was the name "Nightingale"!
Given others’ praise in-game and Nightingale’s #1 Red Name List status, she was undoubtedly a super formidable opponent!
After killing those players, Nightingale wasted no words. In an instant, she used several Displacement Skills, appearing right before He Yucheng!
He Yucheng had expected her to size him up first. Instead, her actions were direct and decisive!
In that split second, even though he knew she’d attack, he didn’t expect her skill speed to be so fast he couldn’t react!
"Damn!" He Yucheng’s eyelid twitched. Nightingale thrust her spear already. Even if he dodged, it was too late—the dodge range was fully within her attack range!
He Yucheng gritted his teeth and activated "Invincibility." Using the 0.5 seconds of invincibility, he did something unexpected to the watching "corpses." (Upon death, players could choose "conditional on-site resurrection" or respawn in town; otherwise, they’d lie dead on the spot.)
Dodge modification: Phantom Flash!
Normally, dodge allowed teleportation in one direction only. But facing Nightingale, He Yucheng started teleporting right, then abruptly changed direction, appearing at her side!
Naturally, this surprised Nightingale too. No one expected He Yucheng to attack instead of fleeing during invincibility!
Nightingale was a top-tier powerhouse in this game. He Yucheng, merely a level 6 newbie, dared to challenge the #1 Red Name List player!
He Yucheng remained calm. He swung his short sword at Nightingale, landing a direct Upper Cut mid-skill. Her super armor broke instantly. She flew into the air, entering suppression state! (Skills could cancel each other, like colliding stones. Hitting from the side or back caused stun.)
Suppression was the perfect time for combo attacks. But He Yucheng didn’t combo to whittle her HP. Everyone had "Forced Break," a universal skill to escape stun or suppression.
Since Nightingale hadn’t used "Forced Break" yet, she’d surely use it now to break free and counterattack.
After the Upper Cut, He Yucheng shot a rain of petals forward—"Mirror Image." Then he instantly turned his view, using a "Triple Slash" displacement in the opposite direction, creating distance.
The "lying dead" players were stunned. Who was Nightingale? The server’s universally acknowledged PVP powerhouse! Among millions, she was top-tier. Rumor had it that even landing a single hit on her was nearly impossible.
Yet He Yucheng not only touched Nightingale but also inflicted "suppression," forcing her to use "Forced Break"!
What skill and awareness! They also admired his courage—a level 6 newbie, with half his skills unlocked, daring to challenge the "Queen"!
Of course, He Yucheng ignored their thoughts. His battle plan: feign retreat to lure Nightingale into chasing him.
His costume ring set altered skill effects. Mirror Image was a super niche skill. Nightingale would likely mistake it for a chip-damage ranged attack and chase nonchalantly.
After tricking her, he’d turn and use "Charged Thrust" on the shadow, dealing two-stage slash damage. This would stun her again. With "Forced Break" on cooldown, he could unleash a full combo to whittle her HP—every bit counted. He wouldn’t miss any chance to attack her.
Just as He Yucheng predicted, Nightingale used "Forced Break" instantly upon being launched, breaking free from suppression.
He Yucheng smiled faintly, a triumphant grin. He spun around sharply, swapping positions with the shadow!
But Nightingale seemed to read his mind. Instead of chasing him after "Forced Break," she dodged sideways instantly!
"Whoosh!" After He Yucheng and the shadow crossed paths, Nightingale’s dodge took her out of range. His "Mirror Image combo Charged Thrust" missed completely!
"How... amazing!" He Yucheng paused briefly, then snapped back, unable to help praising.
Seeing the altered "Mirror Image" effect for the first time, Nightingale didn’t fall for it. Truly worthy of being called "Queen"!
Strong! Too strong!
Not only fast hands, but insane battle awareness too!
Nightingale seemed to know He Yucheng was out of Displacement Skills. She used one instantly, reappearing before him. She swung her spear—a fierce "Upper Cut"!
After his miss, He Yucheng knew she’d chase. His dodge cooldown was ready. Seeing his combo miss, he side-dodged. A row of keybinds lit above his head. He swung his short sword rapidly, sending blade shadows slashing at Nightingale.
He Yucheng didn’t expect to hit. Sure enough, Nightingale twirled her spear, electric sparks flashing. A swift "Triple Slash" shattered his blade shadows, the final thrust aimed at him!
Unfazed, He Yucheng canceled his skill mid-cast. He double-tapped the spacebar, soaring upward to dodge Nightingale’s Triple Slash!
Nightingale pursued relentlessly. She leaped lightly, activating "Rising Dragon Strike" to ascend. She swung her spear at He Yucheng. He used Rising Dragon Strike too, boosting higher to avoid her strike. Then he dove down, landing and stepping back. He raised his short sword, swung hard—a blade wave radiated from him—the high-intensity "Drawn Blade Slash"!
He Yucheng didn’t stop at Drawn Blade Slash. His "Mirror Image" cooldown was ready. He also flung a rain of petals at Nightingale’s airborne position!
Drawn Blade Slash forced Nightingale to stay airborne. Mirror Image forced her to land!
This double pressure left her unable to stay up or land!
He Yucheng was dead serious. This was his first formidable foe in OFO—especially tricky. Winning would be extremely hard!
The "lying dead" players watched this epic duel, dumbfounded, not daring to breathe.
Keybinds flashed dizzyingly above both heads. Yet He Yucheng, only level 6 with incomplete skills, made Nightingale spend so much time without killing him—even pushing her to the brink!
"Got it!" He Yucheng thought silently, face stern. By his calculation, Nightingale’s "Forced Break" was still on cooldown. This time, he could unleash a full attack to whittle her HP!
"Cough! Cough!"
Suddenly! Churan coughed violently again, worse than before!
Churan suddenly felt weak all over. His body gave way, collapsing back against the pillow, breathing weakly.
"Hey, are you okay?!" Song Qian heard the commotion, whipped his head around. Seeing Churan’s state, his face paled. He abandoned his game, rushing out of the ward. His voice echoed in the corridor: "Doctor! Where’s the doctor?!"
…
"It’s fine. Temporary loss of lung function. He’s recovered now."
Churan lay pale and limp on the hospital bed. The doctor beside him finished checking with instruments, sighed in relief, and said to Song Qian.
Seeing Churan was out of danger, Song Qian breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"If anything happens, notify me. And keep your voice down!" the doctor warned Song Qian. Song Qian grinned awkwardly, apologizing repeatedly as he saw the doctor off.
"Song Qian, bring me my laptop," Churan said weakly. Song Qian chuckled wryly, "Whoa, are you crazy? Risking your life for a game?!"
"At least let me wrap up what happened!" Churan knew He Yucheng must have been killed by Nightingale. But with the commission done, Nightingale should have left. Lengjiang had hidden because of Nightingale. Now that she was gone, Lengjiang should reappear. Churan needed to talk to him first.
Indeed, He Yucheng had been killed by Nightingale. In death state, he lay on the ground. Beside him sat a small, pinkish-white figure, looking worried. She gently pushed He Yucheng with her tiny hand.
It was Lengjiang.
He Yucheng selected "Conditional On-the-Spot Resurrection (Lengjiang provided the resurrection spell)," then slowly sat up and let out a bitter laugh at Lengjiang’s worried face.
"Husband, what’s wrong?" Lengjiang cared deeply. She’d been waiting here a long time while He Yucheng only just accepted resurrection.
"Nothing. Did you wait long? I just had a quick errand... That number one on the Red Name List truly lives up to its reputation—insanely strong!" He Yucheng said sincerely. He meant it. She was absurdly powerful. Only her minor move mistakes let him seize the chance for his later plays.
He Yucheng never believed a hyped-up "queen" would be weak. Nightingale probably held back because of his low level. Otherwise, those basic judgment errors wouldn’t have happened.
"φ(>ω<*) Mhm mhm! Husband is super amazing! Even my sister complimented you after the fight!" Lengjiang jumped up with joy, as if she’d been praised herself—just an adorable, innocent little girl.
But He Yucheng kept thinking about Nightingale’s unique spear, wondering when he’d get a decent weapon too...
He Yucheng replied absently, "Oh... huh?"
Suddenly, he realized Lengjiang might’ve said something shocking. He asked in astonishment, "Wife, did you just say that... that person is your who?"
Lengjiang nodded seriously. "(～￣▽￣)～ Mhm mhm! Xiaoye is baby’s onee-san!"
"..." He Yucheng smiled outwardly but cursed inwardly...
So Lengjiang’s whole family gamed together...
And since Nightingale was Lengjiang’s sister, wasn’t their earlier fight basically... domestic violence?
That sister-in-law was fierce... even if it was just in-game.
He Yucheng dared not say it aloud. He changed the subject casually, "Ahaha, I see. That weapon really is cool!"
"￣ω￣= Husband can craft one too~ Perfect blueprints give super amazing skill bonuses!" Lengjiang chirped in her signature cute tone. Her petite, adorable look made his heart race.
"Oh, right!" He Yucheng finally remembered the perfect fashion weapon blueprints in his inventory.
Great! He could finally ditch this ugly beginner’s short sword!
"Mhm mhm! Let’s go, Husband~ You need to change maps for quests anyway!"
"Mhm, okay~"
.
.
"Churan, didn’t you promise to play only a while? ... Wow, you jerk! So you’re glued to the computer just to sneak off with Lengjiang! Give her back to me!"
"... Get lost!"
