Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Burst of Popularity, Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Bai Fu!

Jiu Jiao suspected she might have misread something.

She took several steps back, then rubbed her eyes forcefully. When she opened them again, there was still a stone tablet standing in front of her, and the inscription on the tablet was the same as what she had just seen.

She was very sure that this small alleyway did not have this tablet before, which meant that the tablet was recently erected, and it was Bai Fu who erected it, otherwise the inscription would not be signed by Bai Fu.

“Fu Fu isn’t dead?”

When this thought came up, Jiu Jiao’s breathing froze.

This discovery completely caught her off guard, yet it hit her heart with the most sincere longing.

She stood there for a while, then suddenly pinched her right thigh.

Now was not the time to be distracted; she needed to quickly find a passerby NPC to ask about the situation and avoid getting her hopes up for nothing.

Jiu Jiao rushed out of the alleyway at lightning speed. Her luck was quite good; after running through only two streets, she encountered a scavenger.

She hurriedly stopped the scavenger: “Hello, I am…”

The scavenger was stunned: “Aren’t you the outsider who directed us to retreat that day? I didn’t know you were still alive. Yesterday, Bai Fu was so worried.”

Upon hearing these words, Jiu Jiao let out a long breath, followed by an uncontrollable surge of excitement.

Hahaha, Fu Fu really isn’t dead!

She tried to restrain herself, but the smile on her lips could not be hidden.

“Can you tell me what happened in the past two days? And where is Fu Fu? I went to her house just now, but she wasn’t there.”

“Here’s what happened…”

The scavenger told Jiu Jiao everything he knew.

Upon learning that Bai Fu thought the player had died and wouldn’t return, Jiu Jiao couldn’t help but freeze.

If before she had always admired Bai Fu mainly because Bai Fu could bring her huge popularity, helping her progress further in her game streaming career, then the situation was slightly different now.

Although Bai Fu was just an NPC, wasn’t she more warm-hearted than many others she had interacted with?

Her heart was touched.

To Jiu Jiao, Bai Fu was no longer just a simple NPC, but a virtual companion with whom she could exchange genuine feelings.

Damn, it’s lit!

Jiu Jiao was now full of fighting spirit. After a day of hiding, this was the best moment to come back and fiercely counter those mocking her!

After bidding farewell to the scavenger, she immediately opened her live stream.

…

On the Star Gaming Community forum, players were chatting idly about whether Bai Fu was truly dead or not.

[Looks like Digging Maiden got hit pretty hard; she hasn’t shown up for hours.]

[There’s no helping it; anyone would be shaken by such news.]

[The game has already launched; does anyone want to confirm if Bai Fu is alive or dead?]

As they chatted, a new reply popped up.

[Digging Maiden is live! Everyone, go check it out!]

This shout immediately attracted a large number of fun-seekers and Bai Fu fans, who flocked to her stream. Within just a few minutes of starting, her live stream had gathered over ten thousand viewers.

Players rushing in noticed something was off; Digging Maiden was sitting on a rock, her face tense, neither speaking nor doing anything extra, just playing videos.

All the videos she played were related to Bai Fu, and were shown in chronological order.

From being rescued by Bai Fu in the alley, to collaborating with Bai Fu to fight against Da Biao Ge, to receiving a mission to assassinate Bai Fu, to Bai Fu reluctantly killing the player under Cao Wenliang’s coercion, to Bai Fu risking exposure to warn the player at the base…

[What is Digging Maiden doing?]

[This is a new form of art, Cyber Shrine?]

Spectators were puzzled, but they continued watching, eager to see what Digging Maiden had in store.

As the video clips flashed by, the atmosphere in the live stream finally picked up.

[Digging Maiden, accept the reality.]

[So sad, why did Bai Fu have to die?]

[Ahh, damn the Truth Society, I’ll fight you to the death!]

Until Bai Fu smiled, handed the bait to Pai Da Xing, and jumped off the truck, single-handedly stopping over thirty mutated worms, Digging Maiden’s face was filled with emotion.

[Honestly, not long ago, I, like everyone else, thought this was the end of the story. Bai Fu appeared like a light, and then left as Flowing Light, saving the abandoned cooling plant. Though short, the story had a beginning and an end, and was touching. But…]

She suddenly closed her mouth, stood up, and walked to a small alley.

[You must not know what I discovered here.]

This statement piqued the curiosity of the players.

They followed Digging Maiden’s steps to explore the alley, and soon they found a stone tablet in the middle of the alley.

[Is this what Digging Maiden was talking about?]

[Isn’t it just a stone tablet? What’s so strange about it? Could it be related to a hidden quest?]

[Could this be Bai Fu’s tombstone?]

[Stop joking, who would put a tombstone in the middle of the road?]

Seeing the barrage floating on the virtual screen, Digging Maiden knew the moment was ripe. She paused.

[I won’t continue; you should see it yourself.]

She fixed the camera on the stone tablet and zoomed in until the inscriptions were clearly visible in the live stream.

[In memory of the brave souls who sacrificed themselves to save the abandoned cooling plant—

Bai Fu]

Including “Bai Fu,” there were twenty-two big characters in total.

Thinking about the video clips Digging Maiden had just played, at this moment the players felt they weren’t seeing words, but twenty-two bullets piercing the virtual screen, each one shooting straight into their hearts with unstoppable force.

Bang! Bang bang bang!

Anyone who wasn’t an idiot understood what it meant that the inscription was signed by Bai Fu.

Yes, Bai Fu wasn’t dead!

This news alone was explosive enough, and combined with the inscription on the monument, the impact was akin to a super volcanic eruption, causing the barrage in Digging Maiden’s live stream to disappear for several seconds.

First to fall were the players who liked Bai Fu.

They had been worried for hours, and now suddenly received such good news, they were jumping with joy, leaving no time to send barrage messages.

Next to fall were the players who were dissatisfied because their favorite NPCs were overshadowed by Bai Fu in popularity. They felt they had been dealt a heavy blow.

At this moment, they all had the same thought.

It’s over, Bai Fu’s popularity will soar. Unless a more distinctive NPC appears in the upcoming plot, Bai Fu participating in the popular female NPC contest will make other NPCs have to settle for second place!

Finally, the fun-seekers were affected.

They came to watch Digging Maiden do sit-ups, but instead saw this shocking scene.

Having an NPC build a monument for players—this was something most people experienced for the first time. Even bystanders felt satisfied, who doesn’t like to be respected and held high?

Soon, these fun-seekers started having fun again. Fun-seekers go wherever there’s fun. Although they couldn’t see Digging Maiden’s fun anymore, with this incident being so hot, they didn’t worry about finding other entertainment.

[Amazing, amazing, amazing]

[You can always trust Fu Fu, the NPC who cares most about players and is also their strongest support]

[Haha, I knew Fu Fu couldn’t die so easily]

[I declare, today’s plot planner is a god!]

Watching her live stream instantly flooded with barrage messages, Digging Maiden smiled slightly. Don’t rush, she still had a trump card.

[Don’t you think this alley looks familiar?]

Familiar?

A player with a good memory finally reacted.

[Wait, this is where Fu Fu and Digging Maiden first met, right?]

With this barrage message, the density of the barrage in Digging Maiden’s live stream reached a new peak.

[I said why the monument was built in such a remote place, it’s because this is where Fu Fu first connected with us!]

[I’m crying, I never thought Fu Fu would consider this]

[Ah, I can’t take it, how could my wife be so thoughtful?]

Digging Maiden happily recounted everything she heard from the scavenger.

[Fu Fu was lucky. When she was almost surrounded by the mutated worms, Pai Da Xing successfully scattered the bait, and most of the worms were lured away. She took the opportunity to cross the wilderness and return to the abandoned cooling plant.]

[Wasn’t there a sudden version update, forcing us to log out? Fu Fu waited for us for a long time, but we never revived. She thought we were really dead and proposed building a monument for us.]

[Yesterday, the reinforcements from the Gene Progenitor arrived, and Fu Fu went with them to Lin En. Her mission here is complete, and she probably won’t come back.]

[I’ve decided. I’m going to Lin En, to find Fu Fu and tell her we didn’t die, so she doesn’t blame herself.]

Many players agreed with Digging Maiden’s words.

It’s not worth staying in the abandoned cooling plant. They should also go to Lin En!

Throughout the entire live stream, Digging Maiden didn’t say a single word about green onions, but many players spontaneously helped her promote green onions.

The community welcomed a major cleanup. Many players who had confidently analyzed that Bai Fu was dead immediately deleted their posts and fled upon hearing the news. Many other players followed the example of “Convert to Me Fu” and deleted their accounts to start over, choosing Source Star as the birth planet for their new characters.

They didn’t simply like Bai Fu; after this incident, they realized Bai Fu was indeed extraordinary, as Digging Maiden had said.

[What if, could Bai Fu actually be the main character of the main storyline on Source Star?]

You know what, this possibility really exists. Considering the current situation, even if Bai Fu isn’t the main character, she’s definitely an extremely important supporting role!

Many hardcore players felt that instead of aimlessly exploring other beginner planets, it would be better to transfer to Source Star and rely on Bai Fu.

The benefits of relying on Bai Fu were fully demonstrated by Digging Maiden and others.

In the battle against Anya and during the Bug Tide event, due to Bai Fu’s unexpected performance, players who were supposed to lose heavily ended up making a fortune, with their average level now being the highest among all the new villages.

It’s undeniable that this feeling of being led by an NPC was as sweet as candy!

Even some fun-seekers posted a guide for new players on the community’s main board.

[Step 1: Purchase game equipment and register an account;

Step 2: Create a human race character and choose Source Star as the starting planet;

Step 3: Enter the game. If the starting village isn’t the abandoned cooling plant, delete your account and start over from step 2. If it is, immediately find ways to increase Bai Fu’s affinity.]

Under the influence of this wave of popularity, Star Gaming Community temporarily became Bai Gaming Community.

Some players were shocked to discover they weren’t playing “Above the Stars,” but rather “Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Bai Fu!”

The biggest impact of this wave of popularity was that the number of players on Source Star surged to its limit. Many players wanted to reincarnate onto Source Star but received a notification that the server was full.

Seeing this situation, Bai Fu couldn’t help but twitch her lips.

If there were no limits, things would get out of hand.

Imagine a tiny abandoned cooling plant suddenly swarmed with tens of thousands of players; how bad would the gaming experience be? Just solving the food problem alone would be enough to deter many players.

“You understand how to stir up hype.”

Bai Fu looked欣慰ly at the still-active Digging Maiden in her live stream.

When Digging Maiden finds her way to Lin En, Bai Fu plans to establish her as a benchmark. First, she will give her an advanced knowledge book, absorb her into the Silent Courtyard, and then reveal a bit of the newly crafted backstory.

Everyone sees it, right? Following the raven means three meals a day without food, but following Bai Fu means having meat every meal. With such great treatment, why not hurry over?

Unlike before, Bai Fu now has a longer-term vision.

The enhancement she gained yesterday made her realize that to continue getting enhancements, boosting her popularity among players wasn’t enough; she must actively participate in various plots. This would give the game a sufficient “reason” to enhance her.

Considering the risks involved in game plots, she needs player assistance to mitigate these risks.

Even if not for this reason, she needs players to resist the assassination attempts by the Truth Society.

Just now, she received a message from Xia Shi, who sat next to her, saying that the Truth Society had issued a bounty for the three of them. Although the bounty level wasn’t high, it was still issued by the Truth Society, one of the five major forces on Source Star, so she couldn’t afford to be careless.

Speaking of Xia Shi, Bai Fu recalled something interesting.

Xia Shi possessed a very special talent: Fortunate Luck. So far, Bai Fu had only seen this talent on Xia Shi.

Initially, she didn’t pay much attention to it, merely grumbling that Xia Shi was an annoying lucky person. But after she herself obtained the [Luck] talent, she realized that things might be more complex than she thought.

What’s Fortunate Luck? Could it be the protagonist’s aura?

She strongly suspected that Xia Shi was the main character of the main storyline in the abandoned cooling plant village. In the regular plot, players likely had to gradually uncover the secrets of the Wildfire Gang through interacting with Xia Shi and eventually assist in defeating the gang. However, due to her intervention, Xia Shi became a marginal figure in the plot.

Of course, this was all Bai Fu’s speculation and needed further verification.

But it’s certain that talents like [Fortunate Luck] have tremendous potential.

Don’t underestimate that 10% bonus. As levels increase, players encounter more situations that depend on probability judgments.

Reading knowledge books requires probability judgments, analyzing blueprints requires probability judgments, crafting items requires probability judgments, and even drawing lots requires probability judgments… The benefits brought by a 10% hard bonus are substantial. Now, it allows her to steadily obtain the Evolution Blood template, and in the future, she might draw a divine skill.

Bai Fu was a bit envious of Xia Shi. Her lucky bonus was 10%, and the Fortunate Luck bonus might be over 20%.

“We’re here.”

As Bai Fu was pondering, Xia Shi’s voice echoed in her ear. She raised her head and noticed the car had stopped.

On the way, the reinforcements from the Gene Progenitor had swept through the mutated worms along both sides of the road, so this trip back to Lin En took nearly half the time compared to when they came.

“Anya.”

Bai Fu softly called out, then jumped down from the car with a large suitcase.

Unlike the abandoned cooling plant that looked like ruins, Lin En Settlement was a real city. The central area was filled with towering buildings, and a radio tower over a hundred meters tall stood proudly.

“Lin En, I’m here!”

Bai Fu’s face showed a joyful smile.

At the same time, another dozen players were born in the abandoned cooling plant.

These players were different from the others. Their names all had an “Iron Rain” prefix, indicating they were members of the famous Iron Rain Guild.

“President, should we level up a bit in the abandoned cooling plant or go directly to Lin En?”

Sword Aura Sky Piercing, the president of the Iron Rain Guild, replied, “Go to Lin En, but this time we won’t look for Bai Fu.”

“Huh?”

“Too many people are looking for Bai Fu. We’d gain little benefit before increasing her affinity. Instead of wasting time there, I think we should join another faction.”

“Should we join the Gene Progenitor?”

“No, we’ll join the Truth Society. Nobody wants to join the Truth Society now, but we’ll be the first to do so. We can monopolize all the Truth Society’s quests, and…”

Sword Aura Sky Piercing laughed.

“Bai Fu is a key character in the main plot. Helping the Truth Society deal with her will surely earn us a lot of faction contribution points. With Digging Maiden and the others broadcasting daily, we won’t lack information about Bai Fu.”

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