She Dominates the Immortal Realm with Her HP Bar-Chapter 94

◎They were forever invincible, triumphing wherever they went.◎

In order to design different character cards and balance the game's data, Yan Luoyue had been busy gathering inspiration these days. From time to time, she would consult with others.

After all, one of the purposes of this game's creation was to tailor it specifically for Wu Manshuang.

So, during the early stages of data collection, Yan Luoyue had deliberately avoided seeking Wu Manshuang's help and sometimes even went out of her way to steer clear of the little snake.

To prevent him from feeling neglected, she even sought out Chu Tiankuo, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture:

"Senior Brother Chu, please keep Manshuang occupied for a few days. Pretty please?"

Chu Tiankuo laughed heartily and readily agreed. "Sure thing!"

And so, the next day, when Wu Manshuang habitually went to knock on Yan Luoyue's door, an arm suddenly reached out from behind him and gave his shoulder a loud, hearty pat.

It was Chu Tiankuo, fulfilling Yan Luoyue's request. The moment he saw Wu Manshuang, he dragged him off for a drink.

Senior Brother Chu was so warm and enthusiastic that Wu Manshuang had no choice but to oblige.

With one arm slung over Wu Manshuang’s shoulders—mostly because Chu Tiankuo had him in a headlock—the two stumbled their way to a small pavilion atop the Return of the Turtle Peak.

Chu Tiankuo then produced a white porcelain wine jug, lifted the lid, and waved it under Wu Manshuang’s nose.

"This is a fine vintage I’ve been saving for a special occasion. Care to take a whiff, Junior Brother Wu?"

Wu Manshuang sniffed deeply.

Having never tasted a drop of alcohol in his life, he couldn’t distinguish good wine from bad. All he could detect was an overpowering, pungent aroma.

With a polite nod, Wu Manshuang said, "If Senior Brother Chu says it’s good, then it must be."

Chu Tiankuo smiled meaningfully and poured him a cup. "Go on, give it a try."

Wu Manshuang, unsuspecting, raised the cup to his lips.

—But alas, Wu Manshuang had no experience with alcohol.

Poor little snake—he had never even tasted fermented rice balls or drunken shrimp, let alone actual liquor.

All he remembered was how people in taverns would down their drinks in one go, then flip their cups upside down to show they were empty.

And so, a full cup of strong, fiery spirit went straight down Wu Manshuang’s throat in a single gulp.

Instantly, a sensation both icy and scorching burned its way from his throat to his stomach.

At the same time, a dizzy, drowsy haze clouded his mind.

—Turns out, he was the type to get drunk after just one cup!

Wu Manshuang’s eyes widened as he stared blankly at Chu Tiankuo for a few seconds.

Then, with a resounding thunk, his forehead hit the stone table with such force that the echo lingered for what felt like ages.

Chu Tiankuo couldn’t help but clap in admiration. "Now that was a sound—clear as a bell, ringing through the heavens! Junior Brother Wu, what a fine head you have!"

With the practiced ease of someone testing a watermelon’s ripeness, Chu Tiankuo affectionately patted the back of Wu Manshuang’s skull.

Judging by how deeply Wu Manshuang was out cold, he’d probably sleep for a full day and night.

Yan Luoyue had asked him to keep Wu Manshuang occupied for three or four days. With just one cup, he’d already accomplished a third of the mission.

As for tomorrow? Well, tomorrow had its own drinks.

Chu Tiankuo’s philosophy: There’s no Junior Brother Wu that one cup of wine can’t delay. If one doesn’t work, just pour him a second.

The next morning, Wu Manshuang woke up with a splitting headache.

When he touched his forehead, he discovered a lump the size of an egg.

Wu Manshuang: "…"

He circulated his spiritual energy beneath his skin, and within the time it took an incense stick to burn, the swelling had subsided.

Just as Wu Manshuang was silently vowing never to drink carelessly again—especially not to excess—a tall, energetic figure appeared before him once more.

"Let’s go, Junior Brother Wu," Chu Tiankuo called cheerfully. "Time for another round!"

Wu Manshuang: "…"

Before he could even hesitate, Chu Tiankuo had already grabbed him by the collar.

And so, it was the same pavilion, the same wine jug, and the same familiar cup…

This time, Wu Manshuang was a bit wiser. He sipped the wine slowly instead of gulping it down.

Moreover, his alcohol tolerance seemed to have improved slightly.

At the very least, he didn’t pass out immediately after drinking. Instead, he wobbled his way out of the pavilion in search of someone.

The last thing he remembered before blacking out was Yan Luoyue’s face—frozen in an expression of perpetual surprise.

On the third morning, Wu Manshuang awoke to find Ling Shuanghun sitting by his bedside, looking at him with deep sympathy.

"You’re awake, Xiao Wu."

"Mn."

Wu Manshuang sat up. This time, his head didn’t hurt, but his neck felt oddly heavy.

He looked down—good heavens, who had hung a sign around his neck?

Ling Shuanghun said with concern, "Xiao Wu, did you not know you’re a lightweight?"

Recognizing the handwriting on the sign as Yan Luoyue’s, Wu Manshuang felt a slow, creeping sense of dread.

"What… did I do yesterday?"

Ling Shuanghun sighed. "Once you got drunk, you couldn’t control your petrifying gaze. In the span of a single conversation, you turned Xiao Yan to stone eight times."

Wu Manshuang: "!!!"

Race: Chu Tiankuo

...]

Chu Tiankuo was covered in question marks. "Junior Sister, did you mess up?"

"Nope," Yan Luoyue said solemnly. "I took inspiration from Nezha..."

After all, for someone like Nezha—who was once human but later reborn from a lotus—it was hard to say whether his race should be Human, Deity, or Plantae Angiospermae Ranunculales Nelumbonaceae Nelumbo Nucifera.

By the same logic, Chu Tiankuo’s race... should naturally be Chu Tiankuo.

This was no different from how artifacts refined from Chu Tiankuo were also called Chu Tiankuo.

Chu Tiankuo stroked his chin, finding Yan Luoyue’s reasoning both sound and amusing.

He immediately let his imagination run wild, even suggesting that Yan Luoyue add a race-editing feature so he could change his to "Sweet and Sour Pork Clan."

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Amid the laughter and banter, everyone gradually got the hang of the game.

Then, the first round officially began.

With seven players, the game required at least two factions.

So, the maximum team size for this round was six.

Right from the start, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang teamed up.

Soon after, Ling Shuanghun maneuvered his character over and joined their party.

On the other side, Chu Tiankuo and his two companions formed their own team at the outset.

As for Jiang Tingbai, he showed no intention of forming alliances, seemingly determined to play the game solo.

Yan Luoyue deftly maneuvered her character, skirting around a cluster of low bushes.

"Man Shuang, Xiao Ling, let's clear out the minor enemies first and level up our characters."

Behind the bushes, a sheep-like monster charged aggressively toward Yan Luoyue's character.

[Yan Luoyue] dodged hastily, but her Level 1 character had stubby little legs.

With a pia ji, [Yan Luoyue] was knocked flat on her back by the sheep, her health bar instantly dropping by two-thirds.

Fortunately, Ling Shuanghun had a healing skill, which he promptly used on Yan Luoyue, restoring her HP to full.

Wu Manshuang, somewhat clumsily, went to lure another enemy.

Just then, [Chu Tiankuo] emerged like a silver streak of light, abruptly standing up from the waist-high grass!

Turns out, he had been stealthily controlling his character in stealth mode the entire time!

The moment he appeared, [Chu Tiankuo] raised his heavy sword and mercilessly delivered three basic attacks, snuffing out [Yan Luoyue]'s life.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Damn it! Senior Chu, you’re picking this up way too fast!

[Yan Luoyue] collapsed on the spot.

The petite, short-limbed girl lay sprawled on the ground, the white pom-pom hairband on her head gradually staining red with blood.

Her character automatically uttered her death line in a mournful voice:

"The moon sets, crows caw, frost fills the sky… Man Shuang, run!"

In an instant, the in-game character [Wu Manshuang] whirled around sharply.

Meanwhile, Wu Manshuang, gripping the game controller, widened his eyes in shock.

Without hesitation, he immediately activated his third skill against [Chu Tiankuo]—"Mutual Destruction."

Within the 3D game map, the little boy cloaked in black resembled a shadow of Death itself.

He spread his arms, blood seeping ominously from the darkness beneath his feet, pooling into a sinister crimson spring.

Then, [Wu Manshuang]'s voice line played automatically.

His exquisite black cloak billowed without wind as he stood in the blood spring. Beneath the shadowy hood, flecks of scarlet splattered against his jade-white cheeks.

[Wu Manshuang] intoned darkly:

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whoever makes me bleed shall weep in turn."

With this move, [Wu Manshuang] sacrificed half his HP, while Chu Tiankuo was left with only a sliver of health.

Just as Wu Manshuang prepared to finish Chu Tiankuo off with a basic attack, Tao Tao and Song Qingchi arrived together!

The character [Tao Tao] was a dedicated healer, with her second and third skills both focused on recovery.

Combined with Chu Tiankuo’s nimble footwork, they somehow managed to pull [Chu Tiankuo] back from the brink of death.

The situation became three against two, with Tao Tao continuously healing her teammates.

In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Ling Shuanghun and Wu Manshuang were both defeated.

[Ling Shuanghun]’s death line:

"Life is but a fleeting journey, and I, a mere traveler… Yet in the passage of time, only history endures."

As for Wu Manshuang’s death line, it mirrored Yan Luoyue’s perfectly:

"The moon sets, crows caw, frost fills the sky… Luo Yue, run!"

Hearing this line, Wu Manshuang stiffened as if struck by a whip.

Meanwhile, Ling Shuanghun set down his controller and shot Yan Luoyue an accusatory look, raising an eyebrow.

Wu Manshuang pressed his lips together, staring fixedly at the spot where Yan Luoyue’s character had fallen, seemingly frustrated with himself.

Yan Luoyue didn’t interfere, letting the little snake process his emotions.

She turned to Ling Shuanghun casually. "What’s up, Xiao Ling?"

Ling Shuanghun clutched his chest dramatically. "What about me? Why don’t your voice lines mention me?"

Yan Luoyue thought for a moment, then flashed him a heart sign.

"The moon sets, crows caw, frost fills the sky… You’re hidden deep inside the ‘frost.’"

Ling Shuanghun: "...Thanks, Xiao Yan. You really put effort into that half-hearted answer."

As for Jiang Tingbai, while the two trios were busy fighting, he quietly cleared minor enemies, leveled up, and bought equipment—truly taking it easy.

Once his preparations were complete, Jiang Tingbai emerged with a single sword strike.

Alone, he first took down Tao Tao, then Song Qingchi, and finally, with the slimmest margin of health remaining, defeated Chu Tiankuo.

The victorious [Jiang Tingbai] sheathed his sword. A breeze rustled his plain, worn-out robe.

Under his player’s control, [Jiang Tingbai] walked toward the spot where Yan Luoyue’s trio had fallen—lingering deliberately near [Wu Manshuang] for a moment longer.

[Jiang Tingbai] recited his victory line unhurriedly:

"For great deeds, one may forget life’s fragility. But in small matters, one must cherish it."

"..."

Wu Manshuang said nothing.

But his gaze lingered on Jiang Tingbai’s character, his obsidian-dark eyes gleaming with something like realization.

The second round began.

Yan ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‍Luoyue immediately regrouped with Wu Manshuang, then turned. "Huh? Xiao Ling, where’d you go?"

"I flew away."

As a crane spirit, Ling Shuanghun was the only character who could fly from the start.

He chirped cheerfully, "I’m flying to find Sword Venerable Jiang! This round, I’m teaming up with him!"

Indeed, though it was only his second time playing, Ling Shuanghun—a character with average stats across the board—had already grasped the essence of competitive gaming:

Find a carry and cling to them.

Ling Shuanghun: Even though cranes can fly naturally, I still want Sword Venerable Jiang to carry me.

Yan Luoyue: "..."

You’re adapting way too fast!

Without their support, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang struggled this round.

Wu Manshuang’s ultimate skill cost him 50% of his HP, while his minor skills drained 20%. Only his basic attacks were safe.

[Wu Manshuang] was also a scaling character—each level-up significantly boosted his offensive power.

But during gameplay, Wu Manshuang quickly realized:

Every time he stopped to counterattack with a bloodletting skill—whether ultimate or minor—Yan Luoyue would die shortly after.

Because early-game [Yan Luoyue] was pathetically weak.

She had only one healing skill, and the moment she saw [Wu Manshuang] injured, she’d use it on him.

This left her with no defensive options when enemies caught up—just two or three basic attacks could finish her off.

Wu Manshuang whispered, "Luo Yue, next time, save your skill. Don’t heal me right away."

Yan Luoyue tilted her head. "Last round, when I ‘died,’ why didn’t you run? Why did you attack Senior Chu instead?"

Wu Manshuang answered without hesitation, "In that moment… even in a game, I couldn’t help it."

"Exactly." Yan Luoyue nodded, giving him a meaningful look. "When I see you hurt, I can’t help it either."

"..."

Wu Manshuang’s pupils trembled slightly, his gaze drifting once more to [Yan Luoyue]’s fallen character.

In the game map, Chu Tiankuo and his two companions were locked in a fierce battle with Jiang Tingbai.

Despite the chaotic clash unfolding before him, Wu Manshuang’s gaze remained distant, as if none of it could truly reach him.

In the end, the match concluded with Chu Tiankuo’s victory.

...

The three-way struggle of this love triangle added layers of unpredictability to the game.

Apart from Wu Manshuang and Yan Luoyue, who remained steadfast allies from start to finish, the alliances among the other two teams kept shifting.

Sometimes Jiang Tingbai teamed up with Ling Shuanghun, and at other times, Song Qingchi joined their ranks...

There was even one instance where Jiang Tingbai and Chu Tiankuo formed an alliance—those two sword cultivators went absolutely wild in the game!

And so, they simulated death over and over again.

Wu Manshuang heard the exit lines of [Wu Manshuang] and [Yan Luoyue] time after time.

After watching [Yan Luoyue] fall for the fifth time, Wu Manshuang murmured, "I’m starting to hate this poem..."

Though it was just a game, the character and setting designs were so lifelike that they blurred the line between fiction and reality.

Wu Manshuang couldn’t help but treat it as a reflection of reality, pondering what they would do if they ever faced a similar situation.

Finally, Wu Manshuang realized that he—or rather, Yan Luoyue—had only one path to victory.

They had to ensure [Wu Manshuang]’s survival first, then evade the initial wave of attacks while keeping [Yan Luoyue] safe.

Skirting the edges of the map, they cleared minor enemies to level up.

If they could just survive until the late game, their growth-based characters would dominate the field.

Throughout this, neither [Yan Luoyue] nor [Wu Manshuang] could afford to fall.

If [Wu Manshuang] died, the fragile [Yan Luoyue] would inevitably follow.

And if [Yan Luoyue] perished, [Wu Manshuang]’s high attack, low defense, and life-draining combat style would make it nearly impossible to last long.

When the two avatars collapsed once again, Wu Manshuang didn’t frown this time.

Instead, he tugged at Yan Luoyue’s sleeve and traced a long string of coded words onto her palm.

Feeling the characters dance beneath her fingertips, Yan Luoyue curved her eyes into a sweet, delighted smile—"Got it."

She knew Wu Manshuang had finally grasped the key to breaking the deadlock.

In this game, every character’s stats had been meticulously calculated by Yan Luoyue.

And every one of the six players had been quietly approached by her beforehand.

So, with unspoken understanding, all outcomes converged onto one path—Wu Manshuang learning to protect himself was the only way to win.

This time, [Yan Luoyue] and [Wu Manshuang] emerged victorious.

The avatar [Wu Manshuang] recited his victory line first: "The moon sets, crows cry..."

[Yan Luoyue] seamlessly followed: "Frost fills the sky!"

Then, without either of them touching the controls, [Wu Manshuang] and [Yan Luoyue] enthusiastically high-fived before joyfully embracing.

"Hey, I don’t remember the characters having a celebration animation like this when they win..."

"Mhm." Yan Luoyue nodded emphatically, grinning. "That’s a little easter egg I programmed just for us."

Yes—a secret feature Yan Luoyue had coded exclusively for [Wu Manshuang] and [Yan Luoyue], triggered only when they won together.

Their victory lines and defeat lines were drawn from the same poem.

Though each only spoke half a verse, the words never felt incomplete.

Their voices would always interlock perfectly.

Because in this game, [Wu Manshuang] and [Yan Luoyue] lived and died as one.

Gazing at the two tiny figures embracing gleefully on the screen, Wu Manshuang found himself smiling faintly without realizing it.

Yan Luoyue leaned in close, tilting her head up to peer at him playfully. "So, Manshuang, still hate that poem?"

"Not anymore," Wu Manshuang replied softly. "Hearing it like this... feels nice."

She spoke his name, and he spoke hers.

Like two fractured jade pendants slotting seamlessly together, as if they’d jointly drawn the most perfect circle.

A serpent’s eyes were often associated with words like "cold," "sinister," or "ruthless."

But when Wu Manshuang lifted his gaze to sweep over the group, his dark eyes held only a quiet, almost docile warmth.

He approached everything with earnest dedication—studying diligently, setting formations meticulously, even replaying a simple game in his mind to analyze it.

Throughout the match, Yan Luoyue’s thoughtful glances, Senior Brother Jiang’s habit of drifting closer to him after each win to play a victory line, the others’ frequent soft smiles sent his way...

Wu Manshuang had come to understand their message.

Their affection enveloped him like a warm embrace.

This was their subtle way of reminding him to cherish himself.

Eyes crinkling, lips curving, Wu Manshuang let a bright, unreserved smile bloom across his face.

It was a smile like spring ice shattering, like jade melting atop snow-capped peaks.

In its radiance, there were traces of Yan Luoyue’s sparkle, Chu Tiankuo’s boldness, even Jiang Tingbai’s balance of strength and gentleness...

Perhaps because every smile is forged by different kinds of love.

Beside him sat Yan Luoyue and Ling Shuanghun.

Across from them were the senior brother, Chu Tiankuo, Song Qingchi, and Tao Tao...

All watching him with the same tender warmth.

Wu Manshuang opened his mouth, but before the word "thanks" could escape, Yan Luoyue clapped a hand over his lips.

"Shh, no need for formalities," she chided cheerfully, her breath tickling his ear.

"Come on, let’s play again—now that we’ve cracked the code, Manshuang, we’ll wipe the floor with them!"

...

Wu Manshuang never voiced his gratitude.

But after that game, his bonds with everyone deepened.

In the Spring Evening Lodge where the Cold Pine Sect resided, Tao Tao and Song Qingchi chatted while packing.

"Didn’t Junior Brother Wu come to see you the day before yesterday too?" Tao Tao asked with a laugh.

"He did," Song Qingchi answered readily. "He brought me materials he’d obtained at the Thousand Refinements Assembly and asked if I had any tips for applying makeup so well."

As he spoke, his gaze lingered tenderly on Tao Tao’s flawless features—today’s peach-blossom makeup was his handiwork once more.

Tao Tao covered her mouth, giggling.

"Senior Brother Jiang always says Junior Brother Wu is studious, but this proves he’s willing to learn anything—yesterday he sought me out to teach him grass-weaving techniques."

He’d even procured a peach sapling from the Alchemy Peak for her, supposedly grafted by Chang Lili to bloom golden double-layered flowers year-round.

Most healers dabbled in grass-weaving to craft practice dolls for acupuncture.

(Jiang Tingbai might be the sole exception.)

Thus, after learning straw weaving from Tao Tao, Wu Manshuang gave Jiang Tingbai a small gift.

It was a straw-woven nine-tailed fox.

Jiang Tingbai was deeply moved upon receiving the gift.

But after accidentally discovering something, that gratitude turned into suspicion.

The next day, Jiang Tingbai took his half-finished straw weaving—the one that had fallen to the ground during his night watch with Wu Manshuang, which the latter had neatly tied back together—and went to find Yan Luoyue.

"Little Junior Sister, tell me, did Wu Manshuang mistake the magpie I wove for a fox?"

Yan Luoyue: "..."

Yan Luoyue was at a loss for words.

At the same time, Wu Manshuang had already arranged to meet Ling Shuanghun by the fields.

Ling Shuanghun had witnessed Wu Manshuang’s busyness over the past few days.

The white crane patted Wu Manshuang’s shoulder magnanimously. "Song Qingchi and Tao Tao are one thing, but between brothers like us, there’s no need for a thank-you gift over such trivial matters."

"I’m not giving you a thank-you gift today."

Wu Manshuang smiled faintly and pointed at Ling Shuanghun’s book bag.

"During our gaming session the other day, I saw you jotting something down on your bamboo slips—were you writing The Biography of Wu Manshuang? Confess, what new material did you add to my biography?"

Ling Shuanghun mused, "Well... do you really want to hear it? Fine, then."

Opening the bamboo slips, Ling Shuanghun cleared his throat and read aloud:

"First round: Manshuang lost, got brutally beaten alongside Luoyue.

Second round: Manshuang lost, got brutally beaten alongside Luoyue.

Third round: Manshuang lost, got brutally beaten alongside Luoyue.

Oh Manshuang, Manshuang, how could you so carelessly throw away your life? When will you realize that cherishing yourself is the best strategy for this game?

Fourth round: Manshuang lost, got surrounded and mercilessly beaten by five people..."

Wu Manshuang: "..."

His fists clenched.

Wu Manshuang said slowly, "Little Ling, tell me—if I resist the urge to punch you today, wouldn’t that be the best thank-you gift I could give you?"

...

The second-to-last person to receive Wu Manshuang’s gratitude was Chu Tiankuo.

He was gifted a jug of wine.

The young boy smiled faintly, his demeanor elegant and refined. "Senior Brother Chu loves wine and has treated me to many drinks. You’ve taken such good care of me—it’s only right that I return the favor."

Chu Tiankuo had always had a high alcohol tolerance, and after undergoing refinement, his capacity grew even greater.

He had once boasted to Wu Manshuang that it had been twenty years since he last got drunk, and he longed for the experience.

Wu Manshuang personally poured Chu Tiankuo a cup and watched him drink it before speaking.

"Actually... Senior Brother Chu, before bringing you this wine, I touched it." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Then, Wu Manshuang added reassuringly, "Don’t worry, I washed my hands."

Chu Tiankuo was taken aback. He didn’t mind that, but the topic was puzzling.

"You touched it, and then what?"

Wu Manshuang didn’t answer. Instead, he stared intently at Chu Tiankuo and began counting. "One, two, three..."

Chu Tiankuo realized he didn’t need to ask.

Because his vision was already starting to blur, overlapping in multiple hazy layers.

This strange yet vaguely familiar sensation... Damn it, he was getting drunk!

What the hell had Wu Manshuang put in the wine?!

With a thud, Chu Tiankuo’s face slammed onto the table as he passed out.

His head hit the stone surface with a resounding clang.

Wu Manshuang marveled in admiration. "Echoing through the heavens, majestic and grand—Senior Brother Chu truly has a fine head."

Then, with a face full of pity, Wu Manshuang stepped forward, helped Chu Tiankuo onto a nearby bench, and adjusted him into a more comfortable sleeping position.

Wu Manshuang sighed. "Senior Brother Chu, where I hatched, people with such a weak tolerance—those who get drunk after one sip—are usually dipped in sauce and eaten."

Chu Tiankuo: "..."

Even in his drunken stupor, Chu Tiankuo’s index finger twitched slightly, as if desperately conveying his thoughts—"You little brat..."

Well, snakes couldn’t help but carry some of their racial traits. Repaying kindness was one thing, but settling scores was another!

Wu Manshuang, who had newly developed a toxin and named it "One-Night Drunk", smiled faintly, retreated quietly, and vanished without a trace, leaving behind only his legend.

That day, when the Han Song Sect bid farewell to the Gui Yuan Sect, they carried their Senior Brother Chu away on a stretcher.

...

After expressing gratitude to everyone, the last person Wu Manshuang sought out was Yan Luoyue.

Yan Luoyue was crouched on the ground, sketching a formation.

Suddenly, the scorching afternoon sunlight was blocked by a figure.

She set down her stone pen and turned to see Wu Manshuang gazing at her unblinkingly, his eyes shining like twin stars in the night sky.

When Yan Luoyue looked back, Wu Manshuang spread his arms.

"Huh, Manshuang?"

—Was he asking for a hug?

How rare! This was the first time the little snake had ever initiated physical affection!

Without hesitation, Yan Luoyue stood up.

The next second, Wu Manshuang high-fived her, then pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face against her shoulder.

The faint scent of fresh greenery wafted from her, like a mist rising from the forest under moonlight.

"Luoyue."

Wu Manshuang called her name, then felt no further words were needed.

In this moment, their posture was identical to the victory celebration animation of [Wu Manshuang] and [Yan Luoyue] in the game.

Thus, everything Wu Manshuang had come to understand and wished to express melted into silent, mutual understanding.

—He would cherish himself.

—As long as Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang stood together, each the other’s armor and sword, they would remain invincible, unstoppable.

...

Time flowed unnoticed in the mountains, seasons passing without count. Between sunrise and moonfall, several more years slipped by.

Yan Luoyue’s eleventh birthday was approaching.