Chapter 171: 7.9

In the end, all of them, Yunyu, XuanLake, and PoisonLily, used the teleportation stone and teleported in the statue inside Ander Forest. The forest was lush, with many trees towering to the sky. Since Ander Forest was also the house of even more dangerous species in some parts, traveling via the teleportation stone here was not advised.

Because the teleportation statue inside Ander Forest is located right in the center of the forest. Meaning they would be greeted by at least level 70+ monsters. 

However, PoisonLily was level 85, and XuanLake was (supposedly) level 70. Two of them should be able to at least escape the forest safely. But they had a burden they needed to carry, a level 30 (supposedly) good for nothing Cutiepie69 or Yunyu. 

"Brother Xuan, where should we go next? You said you want me to come with you in the dungeon, right?" Yunyu asked cautiously, still hiding behind Big sis Lily. 

"… Northeast, it's not far from the city gate," XuanLake replied. 

They paced through the lush forest together, and Lily was surprised when they met level 85 monster in their first encounter. Which was simply crazy.

'Giant Titanoboa || Level 85 || HP 100%'

"How could a level 85 spawns easily like this?!" Lily wondered as she unsheathed her sword.

"Hide behind me, Yunyu," XuanLake said. But Yunyu shook his head,

"I… I don't want to be a burden for you, Brother Xuan, hehe."

XuanLake glanced at Yunyu, who hid behind Lily like a baby koala hanging behind a mother koala. Somehow, it hurt his pride. He used to be the one Yunyu relied on, but now that Yunyu saw level 85 player, he decided to jump ship instead? 

Annoyed, XuanLake summoned a big black sword and then jumped high. Dark aura started engulfing his sword, and he propelled his feet and rocketed towards the Titanoboa. He yelled out his attack, "BLACK METEORITE!" 

XuanLake sliced the giant Titanoboa clean with only one attack. The monster's health depleted instantly to zero, and it died. Even PoisonLily was shocked by his power. Her deduction about him was correct. He was not a level 70 player.

It was all farce. 

XuanLake turned his head towards Yunyu again and said, "Come with me, so you can be safe."

Yunyu gulped. He looked scared as he hid behind Big sis Lily's body, "I—I think, Brother Xuan should lead, I will just… hide behind Big sis Lily instead."

XuanLake got angrier. He showed his prowess, so Yunyu would shower him again with compliments and rely on him. But his prowess only scared Yunyu even more.

'If everything is truly just Yunyu's scheme, then he had played me well. Because I actually want him to come with me instead of that girl.'

'But if he is truly innocent…' 

XuanLake clenched his fist and walked first to lead the way. Meanwhile, PoisonLily kept her eyes on XuanLake. She had an idea inside her head. 

***

XuanLake killed so many monsters along the way that he had lost count. PoisonLily helped from time to time, but it was mostly Xuan. As if he was not even bothered to hide his true power to vent his pent-up frustration about something. 

[Hehe, told you by bringing PoisonLily here, XuanLake will eventually show his power. He must have wanted to show Lily that he is a strong person! You know, like a peacock displaying his feather to woo the female!]

[With this, there is no pretense anymore!]

[Pupa: Wait… you think he wants to show his power to Lily?]

[Of course! How could it be me? The Fatemeter is literally 0%!] 

[Pupa: Ding! Fatemeter increases to 10%!]

[I mean, 10%!]

Pupa wanted to rebuke that, but at the same time, Yunyu was correct. The Fatemeter is only 10%, which should not be called love… yet.

"You are truly amazing, XuanLake," PoisonLily praised. She never saw someone so powerful. He could slay many high-level monsters with only one attack each.

"We should form a party," PoisonLily suggested. She was genuinely awed by strong XuanLake, just like she awed strength and power. 

"Hm…" XuanLake was not interested in forming a party with anyone. He formed a party with those bunch of low leveled players because he was bored. But when he saw Yunyu and the mystery behind his ridiculous power, alongside how he could clearly stir up the emotion inside XuanLake. 

Maybe XuanLake wanted to form a party with Yunyu instead. At least for short-term entertainment. 

[Pupa: Ding! Fatemeter increases to 15%.]

He sat beside Yunyu, who jolted out of surprise. XuanLake said, "I want to form a party with Cutiepie69, but the party only consists of us. No room for anybody else."

Lily was obviously displeased. It was rare for a man to reject her for forming a party, "Well, if you say so…"

"But I see that your gear is actually quite high leveled, no?" Lily asked, "My appraisal is advanced. I can see all your gears are level 100."

XuanLake was silent. He glanced at Yunyu and then nodded.

"I see," Lily smiled mysteriously, "Well, I think the dungeon you are referring to shouldn't be far from here, right?" 

"Yes," XuanLake replied.

"Then let's go."

They continued pacing through Ander Forest until they stumbled upon a cave filled with heavy dark energy inside, "This is the place."

"Well, since you are the one who invites us here, then you should lead," Lily said to XuanLake. XuanLake glanced at nervous Yunyu and decided to hold Yunyu's hand;

"Ah?" Yunyu was surprised, "B—Brother Xuan, do I need to go inside? I'm scared…"

"Yes, you said that you are a low leveled player, right? How in hell can you survive in the Ander Forest alone?" XuanLake said.

…

They entered the unknown dungeon with XuanLake as the lead, Yunyu in the middle, and PoisonLily behind. Even after Xuan used his 'Wisp Guide' skill to light up the dungeon, the dungeon was still dark. 

They walked deeper and deeper, but it was so strange. Because there was no monster at all, even after they reached the end of the tunnel leading to a vast, empty underground cave. 

"Really? That's it?" XuanLake frowned. Based on his data, this dungeon should not be empty because an empty dungeon would be flagged and deleted by the game system.

There should be at least one unknown monster here, and he knew that monster had a huge bounty over its head, with many epic quality gear drops.

"B—Brother Xuan, Big sis Lily, let's leave… I'm so scared," Yunyu begged XuanLake. He was scared because the dungeon was so dark and damp. XuanLake nodded, but as they wanted to leave the vast cave, a familiar voice that Yunyu called Big sis Lily echoed around the cave, but it was a lot more coarse, like sandpaper.

"You should leave alone, Little Yunyu."

Yunyu turned his head behind him, but Big sis Lily had disappeared. However, her coarse voice kept echoing around the cave, "Little Yunyu, you are truly adorable. I do not want to hurt you. So you should leave now because it will not be pretty."

"Because what I want is that man, XuanLake, I shall kill him for my collection!"