10: Chapter 10: The Goddess Establishes Her Authority, Everyone is Shocked

The moment Xing Jianwan stood by Lin Zhe's side, the players surrounding the earthen slope were completely stunned.

The crowd, which had been as noisy as a wet market just a moment ago, instantly fell half-silent.

That was Xing Jianwan.

The number one goddess player in the entire server.

The Honorary Guild Leader of the Lingxiao Pavilion.

Usually, so many guild leaders lined up to ask her to join their parties, and she couldn't even be bothered to reply.

Now, she had actually taken the initiative to stay by a refugee NPC's side and was even helping him organize the potions, wild fruits, and white-grade equipment sent by other players.

This scene was simply too mind-blowing.

Soon, someone posted a screenshot to the Luofeng Village channel.

[Come to the earthen slope at the village entrance, quick! Xing Jianwan is standing next to that damage-reflecting NPC!]

[I'm not joking, the goddess is really helping an NPC collect items!]

[I saw her say with my own eyes that she wanted to stay by the NPC's side!]

[Holy crap? Xing Jianwan is throwing herself at an NPC?]

[Don't talk nonsense, it might be a hidden quest!]

[A hidden quest is still ridiculous! Why was she the one to trigger it?]

[What exactly is that NPC's background? He can reflect damage, he can trap the Pig King, and now he's even kept Xing Jianwan there?]

The channel instantly exploded.

Messages scrolled by at lightning speed.

Players who were originally in the village buying potions, turning in quests, or repairing equipment all ran toward the village entrance the moment they heard the news.

Some didn't believe it.

Some were salty.

Even more were simply there to join the spectacle.

"Are you kidding me? Xing Jianwan would act as an assistant to an NPC?"

"I don't believe it. It's definitely just the angle of the screenshot."

"Let's go, let's go check it out."

"If it's true, I'll eat my Novice Sword on the spot!"

Within a few minutes, another large circle of people had gathered outside the earthen slope.

Waves of players squeezed through, standing on their tiptoes to look inside.

Then, they all fell silent.

Because Xing Jianwan was truly standing there.

Her white mage robes fluttered in the wind, and her staff was held loosely in her hand.

Beside her was the refugee NPC, Lin Zhe, dressed in tattered hemp clothes.

Lin Zhe stood casually with an indifferent expression, as if nothing special was happening.

Meanwhile, Xing Jianwan was sorting the resources on the ground into several piles.

Potions went on the left.

Food went on the right.

Equipment was set aside separately.

Her movements weren't fast, but she was very meticulous.

"Is... is that really the goddess?"

"She's organizing things for an NPC?"

"I'm losing my mind."

"Wait, won't the people from Lingxiao Pavilion go crazy when they see this?"

"Right now, I just want to know what kind of quest this NPC gave her."

There were also people who were incredibly jealous.

A warrior named [Big Sword Hitting the Moon] spoke sarcastically from within the crowd.

"Heh, what 'number one goddess in the server'? She just threw herself at a hidden NPC the moment she saw one."

"This NPC might even be a GM account specifically opening a back door for her."

"Did you guys really think she was some cold and aloof beauty?"

As soon as these words were spoken, many surrounding players frowned.

But no one acted immediately.

After all, everyone was still watching for Xing Jianwan's reaction.

Xing Jianwan stopped what she was doing and looked up at the man.

Her gaze turned cold.

Being looked at by her, "Big Sword Hitting the Moon" felt a bit guilty, but he remained stubborn.

"What? Am I wrong?"

"A player hanging around an NPC—and people aren't allowed to talk about it?"

"If you're so capable, have this NPC give everyone a quest!"

He spoke louder and louder, as if trying to give himself more confidence.

Two other players nearby joined in the heckling.

"Yeah, why does she get to stand there?"

"I bet she triggered some special reward in private."

"Maybe she really is an official shill."

Lin Zhe didn't say anything.

He just watched indifferently.

He was all too familiar with this kind of sour grapes attitude.

Once players feel that someone else has obtained a benefit they don't have, they start to doubt, spread rumors, and test boundaries.

It was very normal.

And very easy to handle.

As expected.

Xing Jianwan straightened up and lightly lifted her staff.

Big Sword Hitting the Moon's expression changed slightly.

"What are you trying to do? I didn't even attack you!"

Xing Jianwan's voice was very cold.

"You can be salty toward me."

"But do not spread rumors about him."

The man's face turned ugly, and he stiffened his neck, saying, "He's just an NPC, why are you protecting him?"

As he spoke, he suddenly bent down and picked up a stone.

"I'll just test if he's really as god-like as you guys say."

The expressions of the surrounding players changed.

"Don't be stupid!"

"If you want to die, don't take us with you!"

"Didn't you see how many people were just hit by reflected damage?"

But "Big Sword Hitting the Moon" had already raised his hand and thrown the stone toward Lin Zhe.

The stone had just left his hand.

It hadn't even reached Lin Zhe yet.

Swoosh!

A burst of fire suddenly erupted from the tip of Xing Jianwan's staff.

Fireball!

Boom!

The Fireball was faster than the stone, slamming directly into Big Sword Hitting the Moon's chest.

He didn't even have time to scream before his health bar was instantly emptied.

A flash of white light.

He was sent back to the respawn point on the spot.

The stone lost its momentum and fell to the ground with a thud, not even touching a corner of Lin Zhe's clothes.

The entire area was deathly silent.

A few seconds later, the earthen slope erupted.

"One-shotted!"

"Xing Jianwan just one-shotted him!"

"Holy crap, the goddess actually made a move!"

"Is this the damage of a top-tier Level 5 Mage?"

"That's brutal, the stone didn't even land!"

The two players who had been heckling earlier turned pale and immediately backed away.

Xing Jianwan didn't pursue them.

She simply stood in front of Lin Zhe, her gaze sweeping across everyone.

"I'll say it one more time."

"Anyone who dares to attack him is picking a fight with me."

She paused, her voice turning even colder.

"And picking a fight with Lingxiao Pavilion."

Boom!

This sentence was even more explosive than the Fireball.

The surrounding players all changed their expressions.

Lingxiao Pavilion.

That wasn't a small Novice Village guild like the Wild Wolf Gang.

That was one of the top-tier guilds in the entire server.

Even though Xing Jianwan was only an Honorary Guild Leader, no one dared to treat her words as hot air.

The crowd, which had been salty just a moment ago, instantly behaved.

Some people immediately changed their tune.

"A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding."

"We just came to take a look, no other intentions."

"If anyone dares to provoke this big boss, I'll be the first to object!"

"Exactly, attacking an NPC is just so low-class."

"That guy just now deserved it."

Lin Zhe looked at Xing Jianwan standing in front of him, his eyes flickering slightly.

She had acted quickly.

And decisively.

No nonsense.

No hesitation.

This personality of hers certainly made things easier.

He pulled up the system panel.

A golden light screen unfolded before his eyes.

[First Pregnancy in Progress]

[Current Offspring Grade: Elite Grade]

[Growth Progress: 12%]

[Current Bond Value: 90]

[Offspring Growth Direction: Novice Area Rule-type]

Lin Zhe's brow twitched imperceptibly.

Half an hour ago, it was still Common Grade.

Now, it had already reached Elite Grade.

The Bond Value had also risen from 85 to 90.

As expected.

The stronger Xing Jianwan's protection of him, the more stable the bond, and the faster the offspring's grade would improve.

And the players' shock, awe, and discussions were also constantly pushing this growth line forward.

Lin Zhe closed the panel and let his gaze fall on the crowd.

The players he swept his gaze over lowered their heads to avoid eye contact.

No one dared to throw things anymore.

No one dared to speak provocatively anymore.

Xing Jianwan returned to his side, her voice slightly lower.

"In the future, I will handle people like that."

Lin Zhe glanced at her.

"Okay."

Xing Jianwan nodded slightly and continued to organize the resources at her feet.

Outside the earthen slope, the Luofeng Village channel was still frantically scrolling.

[Confirmed! Xing Jianwan is personally protecting an NPC!]

[Someone just threw a stone and was one-shotted by the goddess's Fireball!]

[She even said that anyone who touches that NPC is making an enemy of Lingxiao Pavilion!]

[This NPC definitely has a huge secret!]

[I'm already on my way, don't anyone stop me!]

More and more players were rushing toward the village entrance.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhe stood where he was, his expression still calm.

Before his eyes, the words "Elite Grade" on the offspring panel were glowing with a faint golden light.