A figure leaped down from the rooftop, landing right before He Yucheng.

The player before him was a voluptuous mature sister with a mischievous expression. Above her head floated the ID "Nai Xiaodu," but the most eye-catching detail was the dazzling special-effect title hovering at the very top: "Guild Master of Sentinel Tomb!"

Guild Master of the server's second-ranked guild!

How lofty was that status?!

Nai Xiaodu beamed warmly. He Yucheng's companions had all temporarily logged off, leaving him alone in this narrow alley. He wasn't worried about being ambushed here—it wasn't the real world, just a game. And in this game, everything followed the rules. This was Radiant Imperial City, a safe zone. He couldn't be killed here.

He Yucheng glanced at his mini-map. Only Nai Xiaodu's icon appeared nearby—no one else.

Still, he stayed alert. In this game, any player could become an enemy. Especially someone like her—the revered Guild Master of the second-ranked guild!

"You looking for me?" He Yucheng forced a trace of a friendly smile. He needed to figure out her intentions first—friend or foe.

Nai Xiaodu grinned playfully. "Mm-hmm. Does it bother you? If so, my apologies."

He Yucheng shook his head. Nai Xiaodu lived up to her position—far more polite and refined than Lichou... though that smile felt like she was plotting something.

"So, what brings you here?" He Yucheng cut to the chase. Someone of her stature wouldn't seek out a newbie like him without reason. And that reason piqued his interest.

"If I said... nothing at all... would you believe me?" Nai Xiaodu crossed her arms, her playful grin never fading.

He Yucheng chuckled. "If it were nothing, you wouldn't have warned me not to leave the city for quests, would you?"

Her smile widened, her gaze sharpening with approval. "You're impressive. I'm growing more eager to have you..."

"...!" He Yucheng's heart skipped a beat. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. "So... what exactly do you want?"

"Oh dear, can't we just chat and bond? Must there always be a reason to approach a stranger?" Nai Xiaodu's outfit was slightly revealing. She leaned in, her hand reaching to caress his face. He Yucheng coughed, stepping back. His eyes darted away awkwardly. "Well... I suppose that's fine..."

The game world mirrored reality, yet here, an unspoken rule had formed: no contact without purpose. As a loner, He Yucheng had internalized that rule.

"Hmm~" Nai Xiaodu's smile remained fixed. He Yucheng felt a chill—this grin seemed familiar, and its ambiguity made his scalp prickle.

Her failed advance only fueled her interest. She pressed closer; he retreated step by step...

Until his back hit the alley wall. Nowhere left to run.

"Let's... get to the point," He Yucheng blurted, flashing out of her reach with an awkward cough. He wasn't naive. Someone this high-ranking must be busy. No time for idle strolls—especially not this dangerously alluring Guild Master.

Lengjiang and Xiaoye had top-tier player skills and reputations, but they weren't pros—they played for fun, like most. Real pros might have free time, but few wasted it wandering. Not someone like her.

"Tch~ So stingy. Not even one kiss?" Nai Xiaodu pouted, dropping the act with a hint of disappointment.

"This isn't about stinginess..." He Yucheng shuddered.

Are girls this open nowadays?

"Giggles~ How about a trade? I protect you—you let me kiss you. Deal?" Nai Xiaodu teased again.

He Yucheng's face twitched. He backed up further. "No thanks. My life wouldn't be worth living." Even in a virtual world, at this level of immersion, shame felt real.

And what was with this shameless Guild Master? First Lengjiang, then Xiaoye randomly approaching him, now this most dangerous woman...

"Oh dear~ Just ignore little Lengjiang. Join Sentinel Tomb. Big sister will protect you. I guarantee the Butterfly Shadow guild won't dare touch a hair on your head." Nai Xiaodu's smile stayed sweet, but He Yucheng felt a cold dread. Now he understood her goal.

She wanted him to join her guild.

"Can... can I refuse?" He Yucheng's heart raced. This felt like a too-good-to-be-true novel plot—tempting to believe, but risky.

Wait. Wasn't Lengjiang a living example?

He Yucheng recalled his own situation instantly.

"Oh my~ Which are you refusing? A kiss? A loving peck? Or just a smooch?" Nai Xiaodu clung to him like a sly fox spirit.

"They're all the same! I refuse everything!" He Yucheng sighed inwardly. Her teasing was exhausting.

"Tsk tsk. So heartless." Nai Xiaodu feigned hurt. He Yucheng doubted this was the mighty Guild Master everyone revered.

"I... have things to do. Can we stop this?" He Yucheng feared his friends might log in and catch them—especially Recomposed Words.

"You want me to join your guild?" He Yucheng had sensed her meaning earlier. But asking so casually? He was under top-guild alliance bounty!

"Oh my~ Exactly so~" Nai Xiaodu dropped the teasing, though it had been fun.

"There's a saying, right? 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.' Besides, Sentinel Tomb needs high-level players like you~" She beamed, winking flirtatiously.

"Enemy?" He Yucheng paused. He hadn't tracked guild politics. In most MMORPGs, top guilds were rivals—not outright enemies. Rivalry kept things interesting; true enmity meant all-out war.

Mid-tier guilds might feud, but top guilds? That risked collapse. Like an army losing battle after battle—morale would shatter.

That's why Sentinel Tomb's feud with the Butterfly Shadow alliance shocked him. Such conflicts were rare among giants.

He didn't care which guilds were in that alliance. As long as he achieved his goals and enjoyed the game, he was content.

"So, will you join? I know your situation. Sentinel Tomb can help." Nai Xiaodu raised an eyebrow.

He Yucheng smiled faintly. He refused guilds—they restricted freedom. Joining meant serving the guild, following orders. Small guilds? He'd drag them into his bounty. Big guilds? They'd chain his plans. That's why he stayed solo.

"Sorry. I must decline." His reply was firm, decisive.

"Oh... What a pity." Nai Xiaodu looked genuinely regretful. A window popped up before He Yucheng: *Nai Xiaodu requests to be your friend.*

"If you change your mind, find me. I'll always be waiting~" She flashed her signature smile and blew a kiss.

He Yucheng sighed. Rejecting a friend request was rude in-game. He accepted—it cost nothing.

"Then... I'll take my leave?" He Yucheng had wanted to escape earlier. He tested the waters.

Nai Xiaodu waved cheerfully. "Mm-hmm. One last reminder: leaving the city? Probably impossible."

"...!" He Yucheng just smiled. What chase scenes hadn't he seen?

He turned and walked away. His next quest lay northwest of Radiant Imperial City—in a place called Eternal Night City. Quite a distance. If chased the whole way, it'd be exhausting.

Confidently, He Yucheng reached the city gates. One glance outside turned his face as dark as a sooty pot. Now he knew why Nai Xiaodu had warned him.

"That woman... is she insane?!"