48: Chapter 48 Lingxi's Visit to the Village Shatters Her Worldview

Early morning.

When Ling Xi sat up from the wooden bed in the inn, the last bit of soreness in her shoulder had dissipated.

She looked down at her wrist, a vibrant green natural light gently flowing at her fingertips, incredibly smooth.

Yesterday, she was almost driven to a dead end by an Abyssal Shadow Hunter.

Today, her injuries were completely healed.

And, it happened in a human 新手村 (Newbie Village).

This fact alone was already unbelievable enough.

Outside the door, Qing Luo was already waiting, her face full of excitement.

"Your Highness, today I'll take you on a tour of the village!"

Ling Xi glanced at her: "You seem to have been very happy these past few days."

Qing Luo nodded vigorously: "Because this place is really strange—no, it's really amazing!"

Ling Xi had initially thought she was exaggerating.

But when she followed Qing Luo out of the inn, she realized that her own imagination was the one that was insufficient.

The first stop was the Public Warehouse.

A long queue stretched out in front of the warehouse entrance.

There were newbies who had just entered the village, and lone players who had completed quests and came to collect supplies.

The line was long.

But not chaotic at all.

Someone was registering at the front, someone was maintaining order at the back, and those who received their items would automatically move aside. There was no snatching, no cutting in line, and no strong players driving away the weak.

Ling Xi stood to the side, watching a naive-looking novice player receive a set of white equipment and five potions, his face flushing with excitement.

"Really for me?"

"Of course, it's for you. Hurry up and level up, don't block the line."

The newbie nodded repeatedly and ran off, clutching the potions.

Ling Xi was stunned for a moment, then quietly asked Qing Luo: "These things... are they given out for free?"

Qing Luo, looking as if she had expected her shock, whispered: "Yes, the warehouse was opened by Lord Lin Chen. Newbies can directly receive equipment and potions the first time they come."

Ling Xi's eyelashes trembled slightly.

She had lived for hundreds of years, seen the Elf Race's blessings, and seen the Royal Court's rewards.

But those were all favors from superiors to their kin.

She had never seen a Newbie Village sustain a group of unrelated human players in such a way.

Moreover, it was an NPC, a Refugee by origin, doing this.

Before she could recover, Qing Luo pulled her to the second location.

The monster-grinding area outside the village.

It was even more outrageous here.

Packs of Wild Wolves and Wild Rabbits constantly spawned.

Players formed groups of three to five, each grinding their own.

Some made way for others, some reminded of spawn points, some formed temporary teams to pull monsters.

There was no monster-snatching, no malicious ambushes, no arguments.

A Warrior had just cut down a Wild Wolf, and the Mage next to him casually cast a small healing spell on him.

"Thanks!"

"No problem, leave half HP for the next one!"

"Deal!"

Ling Xi stood rooted to the spot, feeling somewhat dazed.

Aren't human players supposed to be the most chaotic, greedy, and fond of 爭搶 (contention)?

Why does it seem like a different species here?

She even personally witnessed a novice Archer clumsily aggroing two monsters, and instead of laughing, nearby players rushed over to help him split the monsters.

Qing Luo couldn't help but smile: "Your Highness, I didn't believe it when I first came either, but then I learned that if you cause trouble in Luofeng Village, Lord Lin Chen really will punish you."

Ling Xi softly said: "So, they're not not contending; they don't dare to contend recklessly."

Qing Luo blinked: "More than that. The rules here are strict, but the benefits are also genuinely abundant. No one is willing to be kicked out of a place like this just to snatch a monster."

Ling Xi fell silent.

She realized for the first time that so-called order wasn't just about forceful suppression.

It could also be about providing enough benefits to make everyone voluntarily abide by the rules.

And this method appeared in a Newbie Village.

It was too terrifying.

The third place was the Luofeng Secret Realm.

The queue at the dungeon entrance was even longer.

Rows of pale golden number plates glowed in front of the door, everyone waiting in order.

Someone had just emerged from the dungeon, carrying a glowing blue longsword, shouting excitedly.

"It dropped! Blue equipment!"

Immediately, there were sounds of envy all around.

"I told you my luck was good today!"

"Get lost, don't block me from entering the dungeon!"

"It's definitely my turn next!"

Ling Xi looked at the blue equipment, her eyes changing.

A Newbie Village dungeon casually dropping blue equipment?

She then looked at the teleportation gate, sensing the fluctuations of rules within, and was even more shocked.

This was not an ordinary Secret Realm.

This was a dungeon specifically adjusted by rules.

She couldn't help but turn back and look in the direction of the dirt slope at the village entrance.

How much did that person named Lin Zhe actually control?

Before she could figure it out, Qing Luo led her forward again.

Along the way, Ling Xi saw even more outrageous scenes.

Players were giving gifts to NPCs.

Not for quests.

Not for exchange.

They were genuinely lining up, respectfully placing potions, materials, food, and small accessories before Lin Zhe and Lin Chen.

One player, after giving his gift, even stood by expectantly, as if waiting for praise.

Ling Xi was completely bewildered.

"Why... why are they like this?"

Qing Luo lowered her voice, her face serious: "Because the players here all know who the true Heaven of Luofeng Village is."

Ling Xi's heart trembled.

An NPC of ordinary Refugee origin.

Could actually command such reverence from players.

And not just players.

Qing Luo quietly recounted everything she had seen these past few days.

Imperial Envoys had come and been driven out.

Shadow Guards from Holy Light City came to steal from the warehouse and were hung on a tree for public display.

Even official personnel came to offer gifts, sign contracts, and humbly discuss cooperation.

The more Ling Xi listened, the more incredible it seemed.

She had initially only been grateful to Lin Zhe for saving her.

Now, that gratitude was beginning to mix with an astonishingly strong curiosity.

This person was far too unusual.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

Below the dirt slope, a player from a small guild was shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Why are you revoking our team's queuing qualification?"

"We just cut in line!"

"A mere baby NPC dares to order me around?"

The surrounding players' expressions changed, and they all backed away.

Ling Xi also stopped and looked up.

She saw Lin Chen being held by Xing Jianwan, his small face expressionless, but a golden pattern on his forehead lit up.

He didn't even move his body, just raised his small hand and lightly pointed.

"Noisy."

Buzz—

Red light flashed simultaneously before the eyes of those troublemaking players.

The next second, several people froze on the spot.

[Prompt: You have been stripped of Luofeng Village access rights]

[Penalty: Immediate expulsion]

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several streaks of golden light enveloped them, and those players were instantly thrown out of the village before they could even finish shouting their curses.

The entire area fell silent for a moment.

Then, the surrounding players continued to queue as if accustomed to it.

"Next."

"Don't block the way."

"I told you before, don't be foolish in Luofeng Village."

Ling Xi stood rooted to the spot, completely speechless.

She looked at Lin Chen on the dirt slope, then at Lin Zhe, who hadn't moved at all from beginning to end, her heart feeling as if it had been heavily struck.

A casual word, and a guild's access is revoked.

A single word, and players are expelled.

And the person who truly made all this possible simply stood there quietly.

As if the rules of the entire village were naturally meant to obey him.

Ling Xi gently took a breath, and her gaze, when it fell upon Lin Zhe again, had completely changed.

At first, it was gratitude.

Later, it was surprise.

Now, it had turned into an uncontrollable urge to investigate.

She really wanted to know.

Who exactly was this person?