"Wife, let's go." After receiving the mission, He Yucheng had no choice but to carry it out seriously—if this even counted as part of his training...

After all, the employer’s word was law. He wouldn’t dare disobey, right?

The commissions He Yucheng had taken over the past day or two had boosted him to level 30. Twenty levels remained until max. He could still grind now, but after hitting level 40, his leveling speed would plummet.

Once he maxed out, he could finally start to actually *enjoy* the game. Right now? His gaming experience was abysmal.

Eternal Night City felt strangely empty. Fewer players roamed the streets, giving it an eerie, hollow vibe. Yet He Yucheng’s guard didn’t drop an inch. Maybe the Butterfly Shadows had grown tired of making a scene. Perhaps they were lying low, watching from the shadows, baiting him into a trap.

He moved as usual—first using the Concealment Jade to peek around corners from blind spots. Only after confirming no one lurked nearby did he lead Lengjiang forward.

But it was odd. The streets were deserted, as if the guild had disbanded overnight. Had they truly given up on him?

A sudden attack of conscience? Or some other urgent matter pulling them away?

Countless theories flickered through He Yucheng’s mind, but none clicked. If pressed, he’d guess Parting Sorrow’s mood had improved. Honestly, the whole thing was farcical—a top-tier guild mobilizing so many members just to harass a newbie? Ridiculous.

No enemies in sight was good news. But Shallow Peace had mentioned the "Night Keep" trial... Could they all be gathered there? What even *was* in the Night Keep?

Ask Lengjiang? He glanced back at her. She was bouncing along like she was out for a casual stroll. She probably knew nothing.

Logically, this empty stretch near Eternal Night City was perfect for grinding main quests. But Shallow Peace insisted on this trial... Was it some kind of brutal challenge? Eternal Night City was a safe zone...

Still, He Yucheng obediently followed Lengjiang north. Until—

***System Alert:***

***You have left the SAFE ZONE.***

"... "

He Yucheng stared at the notification, stunned. The crumbling ruins sprawled wide, but intact city walls still stood in the distance. How was this *not* a safe area?!

He should’ve known Shallow Peace’s trial wouldn’t be simple. If the Night Keep lay outside the safe zone, its challenges would be brutal—so brutal only a major guild could tackle them...

No leniency from Shallow Peace. Never.

The ruins stretched ahead. He Yucheng guessed a massive boss was about to spawn at the Night Keep. Shallow Peace had mentioned "building houses," too. Maybe this trial meant soloing that boss—stealing its blueprint for a player house...

Whose boss, though?

He didn’t want to think about it. The mere idea made his scalp prickle. Stealing *any* guild’s boss would make enemies. And with just him and Lengjiang? Near impossible.

...

He Yucheng crept forward, Lengjiang close behind. Suddenly—two figures darted past. Both snapped to attention, faces grim.

The figures materialized before them. Seeing their IDs, He Yucheng’s expression darkened.

***A Dirge for Parting Sorrow!***

***A Solo Song for Loneliness!***

Small world.

He Yucheng and Lengjiang together might barely handle Parting Sorrow. Add Loneliness? No chance.

He Yucheng stepped forward, shielding Lengjiang. She trembled slightly but peeked out from behind him, mustering courage.

"We’ll leave you alone for now. Bullying you isn’t fun anymore." Parting Sorrow’s voice was icy, but no curses flew. He Yucheng was surprised—his anger had truly cooled.

He hadn’t sought this feud either. Back then, his illness had twisted his temper. Normally, he’d never stoop to such pettiness.

Truth was, He Yucheng had pushed him too far. Parting Sorrow’s rage was understandable—even if the real trigger was having a boss stolen from under his nose.

Early-game Concealment Jades were rare. But their effect was incredible—especially in guerilla or group fights. Almost like a second "Invisibility" skill.

Imagine a Curser hiding behind cover with a Concealment Jade, charging an UltimateArt skill. One massive, high-damage AoE could decide a Sovereignty War battle.

Game-changer.

And the Sovereignty War was close. With time running out, they desperately needed that jade.

Bosses dropping Concealment Jades never announced spawns. You’d need a "Rare Commission" quest to even find one. With only half a month until the Sovereignty War, farming another jade was near impossible. Its value was immense. How could Parting Sorrow *not* be furious?

Officially, the Sovereignty War opened every six months to a year. Missing this prime chance to seize territory would be catastrophic. Next time, the defenders—bolstered by territorial buffs—would be far stronger.

To dominate the server and become a Dragon-Tiger Guild, this first Sovereignty War was critical. But now He Yucheng held the jade. Worse, under Parting Sorrow’s pressure, he’d joined Sentinel Tomb—their rival guild. A major threat.

He Yucheng was strong. Normally, bottling him up for half a month wouldn’t be hard—if Sentinel Tomb stayed out of it. Keep him under-leveled, and he’d be useless in the war.

Given Parting Sorrow’s pride, he should’ve kept the harassment up. Backing down now wouldn’t restore his dignity. Yet he’d just promised to stand down.

"Why?" Nothing made sense. He Yucheng needed an explanation. He hadn’t wanted an enemy—*he’d* started this mess. Wrapping it up so casually felt reckless. This was a game, not real life.

In reality, you avoided trouble. In games? You chased fun. Absurd as it was, this feud had been thrilling.

"Because you ‘returned’ the commission to me." It wasn’t Parting Sorrow who spoke. Loneliness waved a blueprint scroll before He Yucheng’s eyes.

He Yucheng checked the item details. *That* estate commission reward—the house blueprint.

But it was a fixed-design blueprint. The villa from the estate looked like a haunted house. Why would Loneliness want it?

"You’re truly one of a kind," Loneliness said flatly. "Everyone craves palace blueprints. They’re as rare as cosmetic weapon designs. Yet you tossed it away." Since He Yucheng had gifted them something so valuable, refusing to acknowledge the debt would shame them.

"Palace?" That blueprint could only build a haunted house. How was it a palace? He Yucheng was baffled.

"Didn’t you steal that commission for your wife? Or did you not realize the exterior was just a skin?" Loneliness snorted derisively, eyeing He Yucheng like a country bumpkin.

He Yucheng covered his face. Back then, he’d only cared about leveling. If he’d known it was a *palace* blueprint, he’d never have given it up!

"So you came all this way just to say this?" What was done was done. Demanding it back was impossible—especially from these two. He Yucheng wanted to avoid a fight. Their odds were terrible. And they still had to reach the Night Keep. Less trouble was better.

"Hmph. Since you gifted us that blueprint, I’ll throw you a bone." Parting Sorrow’s tone was grudging. "The guild trying to claim the Night Keep is ‘Pavilion of Listening Rain.’ They have ten top-500 players—enough for a full raid team. You really are courting death." He Yucheng had been stirring up trouble since day one. With debts settled, Parting Sorrow couldn’t be bothered to hassle him further.

"See you at the Sovereignty War. Crushing weaklings is boring. Since you stole the Concealment Jade, you’d better prove you’re worthy of that artifact." Parting Sorrow couldn’t stand another second near He Yucheng. Enemies always grated on each other. But the debt forced this awkward thanks.

He turned, leading Loneliness away. Their sneering glances and condescending tone had been grating from start to finish. But they’d come in good faith. He Yucheng stayed silent, watching them vanish.

One problem resolved. Not bad overall—even with the cost of that blueprint...

His heart ached, but his goal was the Night Keep. Parting Sorrow’s intel hadn’t changed much.

What *was* Shallow Peace’s trial really about?

Wait...

Could it involve stealing *that* blueprint from those two?

No. They hadn’t even reached the Night Keep yet...

Relieved, He Yucheng exhaled. His gaze drifted to the ruins ahead.