Chu You found himself in the fifth-level monster area. Although the experience gain here differed from that of the elite dungeon monsters, the creatures in this area had thin defenses, low health, and weak attacks, making it an efficient spot for leveling up.
At this moment, Chu You had reached the fourth level and could confidently handle the monsters thanks to his high stats. After defeating a monster, he would quickly use a bandage to restore his health. Additionally, he carried nine bottles of minor healing potions in his inventory. Sometimes, he would take down two monsters in quick succession and then replenish his health using a healing potion and a bandage.
The designated respawn point for new players was in Xinshou Village.
The priest whom Chu You had defeated still trembled with fear. His hands shook uncontrollably as he sat on a nearby stone, haunted by the trauma of being killed by another player. The look in his eyes revealed the remnants of terror, and he hadn't yet recovered from the shock of experiencing the brutality of another player.
The priest vividly recalled the final swing of the sword that had ended his life, along with the cold, merciless gaze of his assailant. There was no room for mercy or remorse in that moment.
Sitting beside the priest, Yang Ying Suifeng wore a similarly troubled expression.
"It seems this is what it feels like to be killed by someone in this game, and it's truly unsettling," Yang Ying muttered as the wind rustled around him.
"But... I finally found out the name of the person who killed us," Yang Ying Suifeng said. When he was killed by Chu You, he saw in the information panel that it was an attack by a player named 'Silent Nocturne'.
Observing the priest's expression, Yang Ying, with a wry smile, asked, "Are you okay?"
The priest didn't respond verbally, but simply nodded.
"Aye, our groups are too spread out. If not..."
"Vice president, let it go. I have a feeling that dealing with a player like 'Silent Nocturne' won't be easy. Seriously, I've been playing games for years, and I can sense that this opponent is truly exceptional, even terrifying." Chu You's decisive and swift kill, especially the way he leaped over rocks, left no doubt that they had encountered a formidable adversary.
"Yang Ying remained silent in the breeze. The priest beside him had been with him for many years, and when it came to assessing the threat of certain situations, he had a knack for getting it right. If he said so, it meant that dealing with the player 'Silent Nocturne' would indeed be a formidable challenge."
"For now, let's follow your advice..."
....
Just when Chu You was halfway toward reaching level 5 in the game, a voice came.
The system prompted: "You've been in the game for 16 hours, which means 8 hours in reality. Your body hasn't had any food yet. It's strongly recommended that you go offline to replenish your energy."
Following that, the system transmitted a signal, connecting the sensation of hunger in Chu You's game cabin to his real-world body. Suddenly, Chu You felt a gnawing hunger. He realized that today, he had only eaten breakfast.
So Chu You decided to log out.
At this point, it was already 6 o'clock in the evening. Chu You exited the game cabin, finding his room dimly lit due to the cloudy weather, casting a gloomy atmosphere.
He made his way to the table and picked up his phone. The caller ID was almost exploding with missed calls, and there were numerous messages and notifications in his friend's circle, many of them tagging him. In short, there was an abundance of information.
"Chu You stood there, scrolling through the messages one by one, returning phone calls for those he deemed important, otherwise choosing to ignore the rest."
In fact, Chu You's advanced game cabin was linked to his mobile phone. It could relay any incoming calls and messages directly to Chu You in the game, but it couldn't perform any actions beyond serving as a reminder.
"Chu You glanced at the caller ID of the incoming phone call, a hint of irritation flashing in his eyes. Then, he noticed that this is the person who had tagged his name in his friends' circle. With a sense of resignation, Chu You decided to answer the call."
"Beep~~Hey, Chu You, do you finally remember me?" A dissatisfied voice greeted him over the phone.
"Sorry, mentor, what's up?" The other person on the line was Chu You's university class advisor. They addressed him as "mentor" rather than "class advisor."
"Come to the school immediately. There's an important announcement, and if you don't show up, you won't be able to graduate." The advisor hung up abruptly.
Chu You couldn't help but sigh, not particularly keen on going back to school. After all, he had already dismantled his parents' business empire. What is the point of going back to school? However, after some contemplation, he decided to go, perhaps just for a casual meal outside.
So, once again, Chu You revved up his super sports car, its engine roaring as he sped toward the school.
Ten minutes later, Chu You arrived at the school's entrance and presented his student ID to the guard before entering the campus.
This institution was one of the top universities in the country. Given Chu You's dismal college entrance exam scores, even tripling them wouldn't have secured him admission. His academic record had been far from stellar.
However, a company previously owned by Chu You used to sponsor a significant amount of research funding for this university each year, so Chu You had enrolled in this university as a student.
The university's name was Yuanjing Royal University.
After parking his car, Chu You made his way to the university cafeteria, found a seat in the elegant second-floor dining area, and ordered a few dishes.
About half an hour later, Chu You leisurely strolled to his designated classroom.
As he turned a corner in the stairwell, he was greeted by the stern sight of his class advisor standing by the classroom door. The advisor, a middle-aged man, also held the position of a professor at the university.
"Chu You, why are you arriving so late?" The advisor addressed his student, a hint of exasperation in his voice. He had previously used phone threats, but deep down, he knew it was futile. Even if he went to extremes and failed him, Chu You would still graduate successfully, as his academic performance surpassed the advisor's authority, and he had influential connections within the university's top management.
"Traffic jam outside," Chu You explained as he approached the advisor.
"But isn't your residence in that villa area? How could there be a traffic jam?"
Chu You regarded the advisor with an expression of mild surprise. "It was just a traffic jam."
The advisor sighed and waved his hand. "Alright, get into the classroom quickly."
Chu You entered the classroom, which was spacious, yet held only twelve students. This was Chu You's class, and with his presence, it consisted of a total of thirteen students.
"Chu You, come over here and sit," an ordinary-looking female student greeted Chu You.
After a brief glance, Chu You decided to take the seat next to the female classmate.
Among the students here, apart from Chu You, They were either top achievers or exceptionally talented individuals. They were all the cream of the crop who had aced their respective exams in their region.
Once Chu You was settled, the instructor left to retrieve some information from the office.
"Chu You, what have you been up to these past few days?" The female student asked with a smile. Her natural tone and expressions indicated a close relationship with Chu You.
"Just some company business," Chu You replied, avoiding mentioning his intense gaming sessions of late.
"Oh, why didn't you call today?"
"Ah, well, I was busy playing games."
"Tian Shi?" the female student inquired, and Chu You nodded.
"Guess what? We've actually been playing the same game too." the female student exclaimed enthusiastically. She had already purchased the game helmet and had a positive experience with it in her bedroom today.
"You?" Chu You looked surprised. This female student had been his high school classmate, often ranking first in their class. They both ended up attending Yuanjing Royal University, and coincidentally, they chose the same major, making them classmates once again. Their relationship had remained strong.
What puzzled Chu You was that, by the way she spoke, it sounded as if he should know who she was referring to.
"Of course, they're all our high school classmates. Since you're also in the game, we'd appreciate your support," the girl exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Chu You responded with a nod. "Sure thing. What names should I look for to add you as friends?"
Just then, the mentor entered the classroom with a stern expression, holding a few materials in hand. He placed them on the podium, scanned the students, briefly fixating on Chu You, and then began to announce important information.
The conversation between Chu You and his classmates turned hushed in light of the mentor's presence.
"By the way, who are all of you?" Chu You asked casually, as someone who had started anew, feeling a bit nostalgic for the familiar faces of the past.
"Why, worried there won't be any beauties? Don't assume we all look like me," the female student teased, making a light-hearted joke about her appearance.
Chu You couldn't help but chuckle at the female classmate's humor.
The mentor, who was in the midst of announcing important information, shot a sharp glance at Chu You, and his facial expression seemed to shift slightly, taking on a more stern demeanor.
However, the mentor continued without interruption. That look he just gave Chu You served as a discreet warning.
Beside him, the female classmate turned toward Chu You and said, "Hey, do you remember Lin Luoer?"
"Lin Luoer?" Chu You's expression briefly seemed distant, a vague figure in his mind slowly taking shape. As the figure gradually solidified, Chu You opened his eyes wide, looking at the female classmate in shock.
The female classmate wore a smug grin. "How about it? She was the school's beauty during our time in the first middle school. I recall you seemed to have had a crush on her."
Chu You shook his head earnestly, his eyes taking on a distant look as he murmured, "I never pursued her." In his high school days, Chu You already had a girlfriend, and not just one. He had seen Lin Luoer as nothing more than a beautiful presence in the class and had never pursued her.
Chu You's reaction was due to a sudden recollection that in his previous life, Lin Luoer had tragically passed away the following year. Upon learning this news from friends, Chu You had expressed deep regret and remorse.
At that moment, Chu You took out his mobile phone from his pocket and checked the calendar. He was certain in his heart that Lin Luoer would pass away in one year's time.
"Then you must have secretly thought about her," the female student teased.
Chu You took a deep breath, pulling his thoughts back from afar. However, curiosity got the better of him. In a hushed tone, Chu You asked, "Yes, what's Lin Luoer's name in the game?"
The female student raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is she picking your interest now?"
Chu You fell silent and lowered his head slightly. His playful image from the past had been quite popular, and now he might be misunderstood.
"Alright, we're all playing the game together anyway, so I'll tell you," the female student relented. "Her in-game name is Luo Shuihui Ye."
When the last word left the female classmate's mouth, Chu You's heart leaped with intensity. Almost instinctively, he abruptly stood up, rudely interrupting the important announcement of the mentor at the podium.
"What did you say her name was?!"
______________________
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