Chapter 71

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Chapter 71: Bai Fu: This is the bliss of cheating! [6k]

After the battle in Bagalos, Bai Fu’s figure temporarily disappeared from the players’ sight.

However, her departure did not decrease the discussion about her among players; instead, it made more players pay attention to her.

This was thanks to the strong promotion by the Truth Society, the Gene Progenitors, and the Darknet.

The phrases “800,000”, “1,000,000”, “Beating the Truth Society”, and “Reversing the Gene Progenitors” combined together made Bai Fu stand out instantly on the Darknet’s bounty list, becoming the new super star of the Darknet. Not only in the outskirts of the Goli Desert at Shelter No. 7, but also in other locations where there were Darknet hubs, many people were discussing Bai Fu.

“Have you heard?”

“Yes, that’s Bai Fu!”

“Amazing, truly amazing!”

Such lines often drifted into some players’ ears without them noticing.

Players who did not follow community discussions might not have initially paid much attention to these words, but after hearing them repeatedly, they couldn’t help but wonder if this was an important plot clue and decided to investigate.

As these players started taking action, Bai Fu’s popularity naturally spread even wider.

Their participation intensified the community discussions about Bai Fu, with many players speculating about her role in the main storylines of the Source Star.

Some players believed that what Bai Fu was involved in might not be hidden plots but rather the main quests.

Many players discussed Bai Fu’s conflicts with the Gene Progenitors and the Truth Society, touching on the recent popular topic of faction selection.

Although the game officials had explained that players could participate in the main quests even without joining a faction, and could still develop well without engaging in the main storyline, most players felt that choosing a suitable faction would be better for completing the main tasks.

The reason was simple: joining a faction provided a fixed promotion path, made triggering tasks easier, and came with NPCs, making the early experience much better than going solo.

Many players originally planned to follow Bai Fu, but now that she had run off after falling out with the Gene Progenitors, they had to reconsider their next moves instead of just waiting for her.

【I don’t want to keep running around, I’ll just join the Gene Progenitors nearby.】

【Fu helped the Gene Progenitors so much, but they didn’t appreciate it and wanted to kill her. Screw it, I’m joining the Truth Society to take down the Gene Progenitors.】

Just as these players were discussing enthusiastically, Jian Qi Chong Tian and his hired trolls were also busy smearing the Truth Society. Suddenly, someone shouted loudly in a post:

【Big news, big news, Jiujiao has joined Bai Fu’s faction!】

【???】

This shout attracted countless attention.

Instantly, a large number of players flooded into the thread where Jiujiao had just posted. At this moment, Jiujiao was proudly answering questions in the thread.

【Joining Bai Fu’s faction isn’t as hard as you think. These past few days, I didn’t do much; I just stayed by her side. Then she suddenly asked if I wanted to continue with her, and when she said that, how could I refuse? So I agreed, and after that, she gave me a badge and a book of professional knowledge.】

Damn, she really got me!

The incoming players’ eyes turned red.

A sharp-eyed player noticed that Jiujiao’s level had increased by one since running away, and she was giving both leveling opportunities and knowledge books. It seemed like Jiujiao wasn’t just joining a faction but getting a beautiful playmate, which was too good to be true.

【Treasure digging, treasure digging, do you forget our times fighting side by side? Tell me where you are, I won’t tell anyone else.】

【Me too, Jiujiao, I’ve been your fan for ten years!】

Many players @Jiujiao in the forum, and Jiujiao received numerous private messages.

【It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, you know, Bai Fu is being hunted by both the Truth Society and the Gene Progenitors right now, so it’s inconvenient to reveal her whereabouts.】

【Okay, okay, I’ll ask Bai Fu, see what she says.】

After being bombarded with private messages, Jiujiao could only turn to Bai Fu beside her.

All of this was within Bai Fu’s expectations.

Given Jiujiao’s prideful and boastful nature, it was natural for her to come to the community to brag after joining the Silent Courtyard. This was exactly what Bai Fu wanted to see.

Since she had decided to bind players to her through factions, seeing players start to discuss joining other factions, she couldn’t just sit back and watch. She needed to do something or risk having fewer options when she could announce her location.

By inviting Jiujiao to join the Silent Courtyard, Bai Fu aimed to attract players’ attention and make them hesitate before making decisions.

—Don’t rush to join other factions, I still have a faction for you to choose from!

However, Bai Fu knew that such promotion could only temporarily attract attention. Over time, players would consider joining other factions again.

To maintain the hype, she needed to constantly create new hot topics to catch players’ eyes.

She had already thought about how to do this: by turning Jiujiao into a typical example.

—Look, Jiujiao became so strong by following me. Players who think they’re better than Jiujiao should hurry up and join me for some gold-digging?

“Fu Fu, there’s something I’d like your opinion on,” Jiujiao asked.

Bai Fu, who had been monitoring the community, nodded calmly. “Go ahead.”

Jiujiao said, “Pai Da Xing, Jian Qi Chong Tian, and the others who acted with us want to help you. I know our situation is dangerous, and we can’t reveal our positions, so I plan to reject them, but they keep asking me, so I have to ask for your opinion.”

Bai Fu pretended to ponder.

Jiujiao quickly added, “If it’s too difficult, I’ll go reject them right away.”

Bai Fu shook her head. “It’s not too difficult. The Truth Society and the Gene Progenitors are currently in a heated conflict and unlikely to focus on me. They might send assassins to harass me, but nothing more.”

“Then…”

“I came to the Goli Desert to find something very important to me, not to avoid the Truth Society and the Gene Progenitors. Here’s what I propose: If they dare face their fears, let them first go to the nearby Shelter No. 5. After finding what I need, I will personally confirm their true intentions.”

To ensure safety, she mentioned Shelter No. 5 instead of Shelter No. 7.

Shelter No. 5 was over a hundred kilometers away from Shelter No. 7, but both were roughly the same distance from Bagalos.

Jiujiao hurried to the community to reassure the other players, repeating what Bai Fu had said.

This troubled some players.

Although they found a way to contact Bai Fu, not all players had the means to reach Shelter No. 5.

【Let’s wait and see.】

Pai Da Xing and the others, who were among the first to arrive in Lynn and followed Bai Fu on several missions, were different. Though they weren’t wealthy, they could afford the cost from Bagalos to Shelter No. 5.

Upon receiving the message, they all rushed to Shelter No. 5 without a single person opting out.

Actually, something happened at the Iron Rain Guild.

After Jian Qi Chong Tian’s plan to defect to the Truth Society failed, his personal reputation took a hit. When he suddenly switched and said he wanted to rejoin Bai Fu, some members hesitated.

Your promises sounded great, but your previous misjudgments make it hard to believe these promises are real!

Though Jian Qi Chong Tian was unhappy, he eventually modified his plan.

“Alright, me and Lao Gou will find Bai Fu, acting as scouts. You guys join the Gene Progenitors. Regardless of which side develops, the other can join later.”

This time, Jian Qi Chong Tian bet everything.

If he lost, he would become a laughingstock, and his position as leader would be shaky. But if he won, he would win everything.

Bai Fu was unaware of the complexities on Jian Qi Chong Tian’s end. Her full attention was on the group blocking the road ahead.

The distance to Shelter No. 7 was fifty kilometers, with no villages in sight and only endless yellow sand and a settlement mostly covered by sand.

“Boss (Fu Fu).”

Anya and Jiujiao looked anxiously at Bai Fu.

Bai Fu waved them to stay calm.

The information from her Spirit Vision showed that these roadblockers were not assassins but ordinary desert wanderers with average strength and equipment. Their intention was likely to extort money with the line, “This road is mine, this tree is mine, if you want to pass, pay up.”

Bai Fu was unafraid.

Even if they attacked with full force, they couldn’t damage her much. However, she had to be cautious; if her vehicle was damaged during combat, reaching Shelter No. 11 would be a hassle.

She jumped off the car, walked a few steps away, and addressed the wanderers, “Brother, give me face. Leave now, and I won’t hold your rudeness against you.”

“Who the hell are you? Why should I give you face? Be honest, get on the ground, or I’ll shoot you dead.”

The wanderer blocking the road was rude, raising his gun and yelling.

Seeing his rudeness, Bai Fu became even more ruthless.

With lightning speed, she drew a gun from her thigh.

Spirit Energy attached, five rapid shots!

All five bullets hit the yelling wanderer, instantly stacking five layers of Dimensional Erosion, then she calmly triggered Chain Reaction.

Only when she completed the second binding did the other wanderers finally react.

“What the… you actually dared…”

His words were cut short by a scream from nearby.

“Ahh!”

Dimensional Erosion erupted, and three wanderers fell. Besides the one shot dead by Bai Fu, the other two survived but were more impactful alive than dead.

Everyone saw clearly that Bai Fu hadn’t touched them, yet they writhed in pain as if burned by flames, blood oozing from their eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

“You’re a psychic!”

The wanderers were terrified.

Bai Fu was satisfied with the power of Dimensional Erosion.

While it was a bit wasteful on normal monsters, it was a godsend against slower, lightly armored wanderers with low resistance to Spirit Energy.

Seeing her finger on the trigger again, a wanderer panicked, “Do you know who we are? We’re Red Sand. Even the infamous Black Crow couldn’t beat our boss. If you kill us, you’re dead!”

Black Crow?

Bai Fu didn’t expect to hear Yulia’s nickname here. Her interest piqued immediately.

“I heard that under Black Crow’s leadership, the Watchers almost became the strongest force in the Goli Desert. How did your boss manage to beat Black Crow?”

“That’s our boss!”

“How did he do it?”

“Well, well…”

The wanderer struggled to explain.

Bai Fu understood instantly. It was a clear case of everyone claiming to be as powerful as Black Crow after her death. Since Yulia couldn’t refute, they all boasted about being stronger than her.

She swiftly dispatched these wanderers and continued driving.

She drove for nearly two days before finally finding Shelter No. 11.

Shelter No. 11 was nestled in an oasis, but the environment was terrible. Bullet holes dotted the exterior walls, and the main door was missing.

“Good thing I have the map function, or I might have gotten lost in the desert.”

Bai Fu gulped down water.

Yulia only told her to come to Shelter No. 11, without instructions on what to do next. So she first booked a room at a nearby inn and began exploring to gather information.

Her first target was a tavern called Oasis. Taverns were places for drinking and chatting, so the information there would be the most reliable.

When the door opened, the wind chime rang melodically, revealing a middle-aged man with one eye, wearing a vest and white gloves.

“Welcome.”

At first glance, Bai Fu knew this man had a story.

[Name]: ? (Disabled – All attributes significantly weakened)

[Template]: Ordinary

[Main Occupation]: ? Lv14 [Sub-Occupation ? Lv10], Wanderer Lv10

[Secondary Occupation]: Bartender Lv4

[Health Points]: 186/?

[Attributes]: Strength 11, Agility 4, Constitution ?, Intelligence 13, Spirit 18, Inspiration ?

[Skills]: ???

[Talent]: Indomitable

[Affinity]: Unacquainted (0)

[Danger Level]: Green

Total Level 34, five levels higher than her, but due to his disabled state, all attributes were low, including agility, which was only 4 points. From the tavern guests, she learned his name was Elder Nissen.

“Two glasses of water, one of your special wine.”

Bai Fu sat at the bar.

“Drinking water?” Anya looked up.

Bai Fu gave her a light tap on the head. “You want to drink if you’re not going to drink water?”

Anya immediately complied.

Soon, the drinks and water were served. Bai Fu took a sip and smiled, asking the owner, “Boss, can I ask you about someone?”

Elder Nissen nodded. Such requests were common, but this one was a little different, as Bai Fu mentioned a very special name.

“Do you know Yulia Viviani?”

Elder Nissen’s pupils involuntarily contracted.

However, it was Bai Fu’s observation of his changed affinity after mentioning Yulia that truly alerted her.

-15!

Clearly, Elder Nissen not only knew Yulia but had a close relationship with her.

Whether the relationship was good or bad remained to be seen.

“I heard Yulia Viviani was once a notorious villain, the Black Crow, born near Shelter No. 11.”

Bai Fu deliberately spoke slowly. As soon as she finished, she noticed Elder Nissen’s affinity dropped from -15 to -27.

“But in my view, she’s a good person, and an interesting one.”

The next second, Elder Nissen’s affinity rose from -27 to -1.

Bai Fu smiled slightly.

The answer was clear: Elder Nissen and Yulia had a positive relationship.

It was so satisfying to cheat!

Without the player panel, guessing the relationship between Elder Nissen and Yulia would have taken her a long time.

Elder Nissen paused, then suddenly asked, “Could you be a fan of Yulia?”

He sized Bai Fu up. It was normal for a girl of her age to admire Yulia.

Bai Fu remained noncommittal.

Elder Nissen continued, “If you came here because of Yulia’s story, thinking you could trace her footsteps, I advise you to reconsider. There’s nothing here you’d want to see, and it could be dangerous.”

“Why is that?”

“When Yulia was here, Shelter No. 11 was peaceful, no one dared cause trouble. But after her death, the Watchers fell apart, and the wanderer groups that suffered under her and the Watchers started causing problems. Recently, Red Sand has been dominating here, collecting protection fees monthly. If you don’t leave soon, you might run into them and suffer.”

Red Sand was the group that caused trouble on the road, right?

Bai Fu asked, “Since it’s so dangerous here, why don’t you leave?”

Elder Nissen smiled, “Is it safer outside? The Goli Desert is vast, a chaotic place full of mutated monsters, wanderers, and bandits. Ordinary people here wouldn’t dare venture far, probably dying halfway. Unfortunately, if Yulia hadn’t… things wouldn’t have turned out this way. Anyway, listen to me and leave quickly.”

Bai Fu’s smile grew brighter.

Chaos?

She loved chaotic places!

Bai Fu felt she had come to the right place.

Even if she couldn’t get what she wanted from Yulia, she planned to stay in the Goli Desert for a while, not for any specific reason, but to develop her faction.

To make players stay loyal to the Silent Courtyard, immersion, emotional value, and achievement were secondary. In the early stages, providing plenty of quests was crucial. With quests and rewards, most players wouldn’t easily leave.

From this perspective, places like the Goli Desert, teeming with monsters and rogues, where players could easily receive monster-killing and level-up quests, were rare.

Clearing the sands, ruling the Goli, the Silent Courtyard would accomplish what the Watchers couldn’t, and players would achieve what Yulia couldn’t!

Over the next few days, Bai Fu drank and questioned Elder Nissen about various things related to Yulia.

Perhaps believing she was a Yulia fan, Elder Nissen’s attitude toward her improved, and he answered some questions openly.

“That child was a genius. Given enough time, I believe she could have become one of the top experts on the Source Star.

“Most precious was her ability to retain a pure heart despite her immense power. Many people in Shelter No. 11 benefited from her, receiving medicines for diseases and life-saving food from her.

“She said her greatest wish was to restore order to the Goli Desert. Unfortunately, she… died.

“Luckily, you met me. If you told others you admired her now, they might scold you. Yulia’s name in Shelter No. 11 is almost taboo now.”

This piqued Jiujiao’s curiosity.

A treasure digger who doesn’t uncover plot lines isn’t a good treasure digger.

“Why did it come to this? Wasn’t Yulia a benefactor of Shelter No. 11?”

Elder Nissen sighed, his lone eye glinting coldly. “That was in the past. Now, everyone sees her as a disaster. Without her, the Red Sand wanderer groups wouldn’t constantly cause trouble in Shelter No. 11.”

Jiujiao couldn’t comment, having seen similar situations before.

Just as they were talking, a commotion erupted outside.

“What’s happening?” Elder Nissen wondered.

A panicking person ran in. “It’s Red Sand, the Red Sand people are here!”

Elder Nissen froze. “Red Sand just came a few days ago. How can they be back so soon?”

The person replied, “They say their people were killed, and they’re here to catch the killer. They’re searching other shelters and settlements too.”

True, but when Red Sand arrived, they wouldn’t miss the opportunity to loot, given their notorious reputation.

Soon, Shelter No. 11 was in chaos until the group left late at night.

Elder Nissen was exhausted. “Now you see? Today they were just making a scene. Next time, they might target you. You should leave.”

Bai Fu asked, “If I’m not mistaken, your relationship with Yulia is unusual. Are you her relative or a member of the Watchers?”

Elder Nissen hadn’t expected Bai Fu to say this. He stared at her with a grim expression.

Bai Fu waved her hand. “Don’t worry, Yulia sent me here. She said she would find a way to contact me when I arrived.”