51: Chapter 51 The Return of the Dawn

After that bastard Long Aotian left, I felt like I had been run over by a truck. Both my arms were trembling like a sieve, and the blood seeping from the web of my hands stained the sword hilt red.

I forced myself not to collapse. Only after the people on the training ground had mostly dispersed did I plop down on the steps and gasp for air.

"Damn it, that Long Aotian is truly ruthless..." I looked down at my trembling hands and cursed inwardly.

Sky Breaker plus Moon Slash—using these two moves together had indeed forced Long Aotian to retreat. But I had also paid a hefty price. Forcing a level 20 body to execute two moves of the Sword Saints Three Styles felt like pouring boiling water through my meridians; it was both swollen and painful.

Gritting my teeth, I fished a strength pill out of my backpack and shoved it into my mouth. Relying on the medicinal power to barely stabilize my injuries, I dragged my half-crippled body toward my living quarters.

Along the way, the Sword Pavilion disciples looked at me with strange expressions—some surprised, some admiring, and a few whose faces had turned green—probably those I'd scammed in the past, who hadn't expected me to actually fight Long Aotian to a draw.

I ignored them, went straight back to my quarters, locked the door, and flopped onto the bed.

"System, open."

A familiar blue light screen popped up before my eyes.

[myriad worlds stall system] [Host: Chen Ergou] [Level: 20 (Sword Pavilion outer sect core disciple)] [Gold Coins: 38720] [Reputation: 2450]

I scanned the attribute panel, my gaze landing on a newly appeared icon—it was flashing, golden, like a lightbulb.

"What is this?"

[Ding! Detected that the host has reached level 20, unlocking new function—Product R&D!] [Product R&D function description: The host can consume gold coins and materials to develop brand-new stall products. This function will officially open when the host reaches level 22.] [Current status: Not open (Requires 2 more levels of experience)]

"Have to be level 22 to use it?" I curled my lip. "Isn't that just teasing me?"

But then again, just the name of this function was enough to get me excited. Product R&D! Does this mean that in the future, not only can I sell the fixed goods provided by the system, but I can also create new things myself?

If I could develop some heaven-defying items, wouldn't I just take off?

I was just pondering what kind of things this Product R&D could churn out when suddenly, a name in my friend list lit up.

Xiguang.

I was stunned. Ye Liuli logged on?

Ever since this girl helped me handle that Dawn Guild business last time, she hadn't appeared much. I heard she had been busy with company matters in reality. For her to look for me the moment she logged on, it probably wasn't anything trivial.

"Ergou, are you there?"

No sooner had the message popped up than my door was knocked on.

I was startled—this game lets people visit in person? No, that's not right; I'm currently in the Sword Pavilion disciple quarters, outsiders shouldn't be able to get in...

I opened the door and saw a woman in white standing outside. Her long hair flowed like a waterfall, her face was as cold and beautiful as an ice sculpture, and her phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, looking indescribably cold and noble.

Ye Liuli.

How did she get in?

"You... how did you get in?" I widened my eyes.

Ye Liuli swept a faint glance at me, stepped inside, and closed the door behind her. "Getting a Sword Pavilion disciple token isn't difficult."

The corner of my mouth twitched. So this sister actually went and specifically got a disciple token just to enter the Sword Pavilion? This move was too wild.

"You're injured." She looked at my right hand, which was still trembling slightly, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Although it was just a slight furrow, I still caught it. This Iceberg Empress would actually furrow her brows for me?

"It's nothing, small injury." I waved my hand, feigning ease. "Had a scuffle with that bastard Long Aotian, didn't come out on the losing end."

"I know." Ye Liuli sat down opposite me, her tone as flat as if she were talking about the weather today. "The news of you fighting Long Aotian to a draw on the training ground has already spread throughout Tianqi City."

"So fast?"

"The entire Sword Pavilion is discussing it." She paused, her gaze becoming sharp. "Ergou, I came here this time because I have something important to tell you."

When she called me "Ergou," there was actually a hint of imperceptible tenderness in her voice. I shook my head, thinking I must be having hallucinations from being too severely injured.

"What is it? Go ahead."

Ye Liuli was silent for two seconds, then took a scroll from her backpack and spread it out on the table. The scroll was densely packed with writing and several screenshots.

"This is what I had people spend three days investigating." She pointed to the content on the scroll. "Senior Brother Liu Qing, the Sword Pavilion outer sect head disciple, is colluding with Long Aotian in secret."

My heart skipped a beat.

Although I had suspected it before, when I actually heard this news confirmed, I still felt a chill run from the soles of my feet to my scalp.

"Are you sure?"

"Certain." Ye Liuli's tone was ironclad. "Senior Brother Liu Qing has been passing Sword Pavilion intelligence to Long Aotian for three months. Including the distribution of Sword Pavilion disciples, cultivation plans, and even the whereabouts of the elders."

She pointed to one of the screenshots; it was a screenshot of a chat record. Although the names were mosaicked, the content was clear—the other party was reporting Sword Pavilion internal information, and the recipient's way of speaking was clearly that bastard Long Aotian.

"And this." Ye Liuli flipped to another page. "Senior Brother Liu Qing also told Long Aotian about your background. Your level, skills, and even your myriad worlds stall system... he revealed it all."

I gasped.

No wonder Long Aotian looked so confident when he came to find me today. It turns out he knew all my trump cards!

"This Senior Brother Liu Qing..." I clenched my fists, my knuckles cracking. "I felt this bastard was wrong for a long time. Polite to my face, stabbing me in the back."

"It's not just that." Ye Liuli's voice grew colder. "According to the information I found, when Long Aotian said he 'reached an agreement with certain people in the Sword Pavilion,' he was referring to Senior Brother Liu Qing. Senior Brother Liu Qing has been operating in the Sword Pavilion for many years, and more than half of the outer sect disciples are his people. The reason he is cooperating with Long Aotian is that he wants to use the power of the Dragon God Temple to move up during the next Inner Sect Selection."

I fell silent.

This matter was far more complicated than I had imagined. Senior Brother Liu Qing wasn't just a mole; he was an ambitious mole. This kind of person is the most dangerous because he isn't just selling information; he is laying out a plan.

"Ergou." Ye Liuli suddenly called my name.

"Hmm?"

"Your current situation is very dangerous." She looked at me, and in those phoenix eyes, for the first time, I saw something beyond seriousness—it was worry. "Senior Brother Liu Qing knows your trump cards, and Long Aotian hates you to the bone. You are alone in the Sword Pavilion; you will suffer sooner or later."

"So what do you mean?"

"Join the Dawn Guild."

Once these four words came out, the air in the room went quiet for a moment.

I was stunned.

Dawn Guild, one of the top three major guilds in Tianqi City, a force created single-handedly by Ye Liuli. If I joined the Dawn Guild, it would be equivalent to having a powerful backing. No matter how much Senior Brother Liu Qing jumps around, he wouldn't dare easily touch someone from the Dawn Guild.

But...

"I'm used to being alone." I said subconsciously.

Ye Liuli didn't speak, just looked at me.

That gaze was cold and clear, yet it carried a power that made it impossible to refuse.

"I know you don't like being restrained." She spoke, her voice a bit softer than before. "But you are not alone anymore. Your stall, your skills, your feud with Long Aotian... these things, you can't handle them alone."

She paused and added, "The Dawn Guild will not interfere with your freedom. You can still set up your stall and do your business. We are just... giving you a safeguard."

I looked at her, my heart filled with mixed feelings.

To be honest, I have been a loner since I was a kid. It's the same in the game—grinding monsters alone, setting up stalls alone, causing trouble alone. Joining a guild was something I had never even thought about before.

But that battle with Long Aotian today taught me a truth—no matter how strong one person is, there are times they can't handle it alone.

My current enemies are not just Long Aotian, but also Senior Brother Liu Qing, and the unknown number of moles behind Senior Brother Liu Qing. Relying solely on myself is indeed a bit risky.

"Let me think about it." I said.

Ye Liuli nodded and didn't pressure me further. She stood up, and when she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.

"Ergou."

"What?"

"Remember to treat the wound on your hand." She didn't turn back, her voice faint. "Don't force yourself."

After speaking, the door opened and closed, and the white figure disappeared into the night.

I looked at the tightly shut door, stunned for a long while, then looked down at my right hand, which was still bleeding, and the corner of my mouth curled up involuntarily.

"This girl..."

I shook my head, rummaged through my backpack for healing medicine, and began to treat the wound.

But my mind kept thinking about what she had said.

Senior Brother Liu Qing. Long Aotian. Dawn Guild.

This game of chess is getting bigger and bigger.

And I, Chen Ergou, seem to have no way out.