Chapter 1

Translator: Atlas Studios

Editor: Atlas Studios

“Move, move. Yes, that’s the target. Be good, don’t move. Bang!”

After eliminating a target, Zhou Kai controlled a special force soldier into swiftly moving, hiding behind a huge rock, and erecting an octuple power lens. Using that, he quickly aimed at a figure walking back and forth in a two-story building some distance away and fired. He put the rifle away and left without checking. The words “17th kill” appeared on the cell phone screen in blood red.

Zhou Kai was excited when he saw what he had achieved.

It might be because he had consumed his favorite salty bean curd pudding when he’d left the house today, but he was really successful in playing the game. He was quite lucky as well, as he had landed on a spot with an M24 rifle with an octuple power lens and an M4, a full rapid-firing gun. Combined with his god-like controlling capability, the feeling was superb.

Bang! 18th kill!

Bang! 19th kill!

Bang…

Zhou Kai did not need to use his last poison ring, for he gained full EXP upon achieving a 26-kill score.

After sensing the joy of gaming, Zhou Kai was prepared to start a new round and aim to become a king player.

Just as he was about to enter the game, the game window suddenly collapsed and disappeared.

How could he stand it when he was at the height of excitement? He tried to log in, causing a small window to appear.

“Game rules have been broken. This account will be locked for 3,650 days.”

“Unlocking time is…”

F*ck!

Zhou Kai exploded instantly!

It is extremely clear that I relied purely on my capabilities, yet you are saying that I broke the game rules? You locked my account for 10 years! So I cheated in the game simply because I killed additional people? Since you won’t allow awesome players to exist, why does this game even exist?

As he cursed, Zhou Kai opened Baidu to find out how to unlock his account. He could not tolerate the fact that his hard-earned level and account had been locked in this manner.

While searching, he suddenly heard a panicky female voice shouting.

“Help! Help…”

Zhou Kai came back to his senses upon hearing this voice and stood up.

He was alarmed when he looked over in the direction the screams were coming from.

A person had fallen into Lake Liu not far away. They were struggling and they seemed to be in grave danger.

Zhou Kai did not give much thought to anything else. He just dashed toward the lake.

After throwing his cell phone and wallet on the shore, he jumped into the water.

This park was beside the Anyang Institute of Engineering. Although there had been a small lake there originally, the city had been redeveloped and expanded. This park had also been renovated and beautified. A ring of willow trees had been planted around the lake, which had therefore been named Lake Liu1. Thereafter, this place had become the go-to destination for people living in the area who wanted to take a stroll at night.

Zhou Kai was quite good at swimming. Upon entering the water, he quickly arrived before the drowning person.

Just as he was about to stretch his hand out and grab hold of the drowning person, that person suddenly stopped shouting for help, turned around, and looked at Zhou Kai.

This look gave him goosebumps, and a chill spread across his body from the feet up.

Motherf*cker!

How can this be a human?

Its face was deathly pale with extremely wrinkled skin, and its hair was filled with dirt, soil, and debris. The lower half of the body was submerged in the water, making it look as though it was floating in the water.

This is a… water spirit!

Goosebumps appeared on Zhou Kai’s body before he turned his head with the intention of fleeing.

However, a moment later, something coiled around his leg and dragged him back into the water.

Zhou Kai’s heart sank along with his body.

My friend deceived me!

Zhou Kai, who had turned 20 years old that year, was currently a Year-2 student at the Anyang Institute of Engineering.

It was a poor, third-rate university, so the students of the Anyang Institute of Engineering had no future to speak of. Zhou Kai was lost as well. He had no life goals, for he simply passed his university days aimlessly.

However, this did not mean that he wished to speed through his life as well!

It was a weekend, so he had intended to play games in the dorm to pass the time. However, his good friend Meng Hao had told him a secret: There would be a surprise at Lake Liu’s stone pavilion at 7 p.m.

Heh. This is indeed a surprise. I finally know that spirits really exist in this world.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Kai calmed down when he looked at the ferocious female spirit dragging him down.

It is hopeless.

Death is the only option after encountering a water spirit in the water.

It is unfortunate that I shall die before managing to experience the prime of my life. Who will shed tears over my death?

My parents?

Heh. I am simply a burden after they divorced and remarried a decade ago. Perhaps, they will be relieved, as my death will mean that they will have one less burden.

So be it…

“Ding-Dong: A water spirit attacked you. Diving ability +1.”

Eh?

He had previously been about to lose unconsciousness due to being unable to breathe under the water. However, he suddenly became alert, as though he had just been holding his breath.

Holy sh*t, what is this?

Zhou Kai’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The female spirit beside him stared at Zhou Kai with wide eyes as well.

Why did this person not suffocate to death?

A moment later, Zhou Kai felt suffocated and his consciousness started becoming drowsy once more. This was a sign that the oxygen was almost completely depleted.

Then…

“Ding-Dong: A female spirit attacked you. Diving ability +1.”

Again!

He became alert once more while that terrible feeling disappeared. He even felt a little refreshed, as though he was bathing instead of being sabotaged by a water spirit!

Sh*t. This is not an illusion… It is a miracle!

Zhou Kai’s eyes brightened while numerous thoughts were flying in his head.

Good fortune and disaster come hand in hand!

I was attacked by a water spirit, but my diving ability improved!

This ability could help him remain unharmed in the water. Also, it seemed that the greater the improvement, the better the effect!

Does this mean that I can leave now?

Zhou Kai silently waited in excitement.

The female spirit’s ferocious expression had disappeared, only to be replaced by befuddlement.

What is going on?

When I drowned, I died after struggling for a short while. How can this guy hold his breath for so long? Does he actually have four lungs?

“Ding-Dong: A female spirit attacked you. Diving ability +1.”

As expected, the ‘Ding-Dong’ sound rang for the third time.

Then, Zhou Kai sensed that his mental state had clearly improved, as though some minute changes had just happened in his body. He could sense the direction of the water flow and was able to move as he wished in the water, just like a fish.

When that thought flashed across his mind, Zhou Kai twisted his body. Then, the unknown thing around his legs fell away. It fell… away.

Water spirit: “…”

Zhou Kai looked at the water spirit awkwardly. Then, he extended his leg toward the coiling thing and pretended that he was still trapped.

Water spirit: “…”

She stared at him for a long while with a fiery, vicious gaze before she turned and fled.

Stunned, Zhou Kai hastily chased after her.

Don’t run! My miracle relies on you. How can I improve my diving ability if you stop harming me?

During the chase, Zhou Kai discovered in pleasant surprise that he was able to move in the water like a fish. This was very much unlike the tedious, slow method of swimming.

Zhou Kai quickly caught up to the female spirit, hugged her thigh, and looked up at her in anticipation.

Female spirit: “…”

She stared at Zhou Kai intensely for a short moment before suddenly bursting like a ball of water and disappearing.

Zhou Kai was dumbfounded.

Did I… scare her away?

You are a water spirit who has harmed humans. Why are you so cowardly? Aren’t you ashamed of your identity as a spirit?

Harping on this matter was meaningless, for the water spirit had already disappeared.

Zhou Kai stayed in the water for a short moment and did not hear the ‘Ding-Dong’ sound again. Then, he emerged from the water disappointedly and went back up to the shore.

“Could you have decided to jump into the lake and drown yourself because I failed to arrive on time?”

A beautiful girl with a ponytail ran over and looked at Zhou Kai, who was planning to pick up his cell phone and wallet, in bewilderment.

Zhou Kai: “…”