"Is the Yan Kingdom map really this short?"
Chen Huaian couldn't help but laugh bitterly when he saw the top-up reminder.
The game's developers weren't even trying to hide their intentions—straight-up asking for money right from the start.
But as he looked at the pitiful state of the girl in the game, he couldn't help but think of himself—alone, with no one to rely on, no money for treatment, and even his girlfriend had left him. How was his situation any better than Li Qingran's? The friends he used to have were all avoiding him, afraid he'd ask to borrow money.
Who would lend him a helping hand?
But now, he could be the one to help this girl.
Even if she was just a program, a game designed to drain his wallet.
"Six yuan? Fine, I'll top up!"
Chen Huaian had never played games before, only watched others play.
This was definitely his first-ever in-game purchase.
**[Top-up successful!]**
The notification dissolved into golden light, surging toward Li Qingran's dilapidated hut.
The golden light fell on the straw mat, transforming it into a wooden bed with fresh bedding. It landed on the walls, turning the crumbling earthen walls into solid brick, complete with a window that kept out the wind and rain. As the golden light enveloped the room, a floor, table, chairs, a stove, and various antique-style furnishings appeared.
"That's more like it!" Chen Huaian felt satisfied. He looked at Li Qingran, curious about her reaction.
It was just a mobile game, after all. He didn't expect much—maybe a simple happy expression.
But then, he saw Li Qingran's expression shift from shock to fear, then to wariness. She seemed utterly bewildered by what had just happened, shrinking into the corner, too scared to move. After a while, she cautiously explored her new surroundings, like a kitten in an unfamiliar place.
She sat back on the bed, feeling the soft mattress, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Holy cow, the facial expressions, the interaction system…" Chen Huaian was stunned. When Li Qingran sat on the bed, it naturally sank a little under her weight, and the bedding wrinkled where she touched it.
How could a mobile game achieve this level of detail?
If this was the quality, he didn't mind spending a bit more money. It felt like supporting the game's creators.
But just as he thought that…
**[
"Uh…" Chen Huaian looked at Li Qingran's tattered clothes and felt a pang of sympathy. "Fine, I'll top up!"
Whoosh! A set of elegant ancient-style green robes appeared at the foot of the bed.
**[
68 yuan for a meal? Chen Huaian's usual takeout never cost more than 15 yuan!
But so what? Top up!
**[
Chen Huaian: "Top up!"
**[
Chen Huaian: "Top up, top up, top up!"
**[Your virtual girlfriend is terrified. Please wait before performing any more actions~~]**
The game stopped showing top-up prompts.
Chen Huaian noticed that Li Qingran had hidden under the bed, trembling all over.
The new clothes on the bed remained untouched, and the feast of chicken, duck, and fish sat uneaten.
A countdown for the health report appeared in the top-right corner, set for 30 minutes.
Three talismans were now placed on the door, window, and roof of the room, barely visible unless zoomed in.
To his relief, Li Qingran's lifespan had extended to six hours.
"Not bad. The situation's under control for now."
The game's time flowed in sync with real time, so he didn't need to rush.
"By the way, what was that 'fire poison' she had earlier?"
It seemed like he could check her status by tapping on her, but Li Qingran was now hiding under the bed. All he could see was a pale little foot, and when he tapped it, she quickly pulled it back, as if shocked.
"Guess I'll have to wait for the health report to get the full picture."
Chen Huaian rubbed his stomach and glanced at the feast on the table in the game. The roast duck looked so real, its juices dripping, as if he could almost smell it.
It was already afternoon, and he hadn't eaten lunch yet.
"I'll just cook something simple. Even my game character eats better than me."
Chen Huaian sighed, but then he thought about it—68 yuan for such a lavish meal in the game seemed like a pretty good deal.
He felt at ease.
He placed his phone on the table to charge and went to prepare lunch, planning to check on his virtual girlfriend afterward.
…
Li Qingran, female, 19 years old, fifth disciple of the Chixiao Peak of the Qingyun Sect.
Her life had been relatively peaceful—cultivating as usual, completing sect missions as usual. She had four senior brothers who each had their own strengths and always looked out for her. But everything changed when her eldest senior brother, Lu Changtian, brought back a sixth junior sister from outside the sect.
He vouched for her with his life, allowing the talentless junior sister to join Chixiao Peak.
From that day on, everything changed.
The eldest senior brother, who used to visit her cave every morning to remind her of early lessons, stopped coming.
The second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng, who was skilled in alchemy, no longer asked her to test his pills.
The third senior brother, Yun Zimo, who always wore a cold expression, actually learned love songs for the junior sister?
The fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, who loved going on missions, stopped leaving the peak, staying behind to watch over the junior sister.
Everyone revolved around the junior sister, Mu Baishuang. Even their usually aloof master showed her special favor, all because Mu Baishuang had a tragic backstory—her family was destroyed, and she was frail and sickly, giving off the impression that she might shatter if not carefully protected.
Li Qingran didn't mind these changes.
The junior sister was sweet and endearing, so it was natural for her to be doted on.
As her senior sister, Li Qingran felt she should also take care of Mu Baishuang.
Under the careful guidance and resource allocation of the four senior brothers, Mu Baishuang's cultivation gradually caught up to hers.
During the sect's grand competition half a month ago, Li Qingran faced Mu Baishuang in a duel, intending to fight respectfully and end the match once it was clear who was stronger.
Mu Baishuang's cultivation had improved, but her foundation was unstable due to being force-fed pills, and her combat experience was lacking.
Li Qingran planned to exchange a few moves, then apply pressure to force Mu Baishuang to concede.
This way, Mu Baishuang would save face, and the rankings would remain fair.
But Mu Baishuang attacked relentlessly, aiming for vital points. Li Qingran had no choice but to defend.
Then, suddenly, Mu Baishuang switched from offense to defense and deliberately lunged toward Li Qingran's sword.
Li Qingran couldn't retract her blade in time, and it looked as if she had intentionally aimed for Mu Baishuang's vitals…
The sword only grazed Mu Baishuang's shoulder, but it cost Li Qingran half her life.
She was expelled from Chixiao Peak and demoted to an outer sect disciple.
But that wasn't the end. Her four senior brothers weren't done with her.
They wanted to avenge Mu Baishuang.
The eldest senior brother, Lu Changtian, crippled her cultivation and begged their master to remove her spiritual roots.
The second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng, forced her to take a pill that would make her suffer the same pain as Mu Baishuang.
The third senior brother, Yun Zimo, bribed an outer sect elder to kick her out of the Qingyun Sect.
The fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, promised to take her down the mountain but instead abandoned her in a dilapidated hut surrounded by demonic beasts in the Wanqing Mountains, leaving her to die…
They were like men possessed. What should have been a simple misunderstanding, a minor incident, had turned into a life-or-death situation—all for the sake of their junior sister.
Over the past half month, Li Qingran had done her best to survive. Just a few days ago, she had fought off a demon wolf, sustaining serious injuries. With her cultivation crippled, the once non-lethal fire poison in her body became a death sentence. She was already at her limit.
As a heavy rain poured down in the mountains, she huddled in the corner, waiting for death.
Then, a sparrow flew past the doorway through the rain.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in her ears: **[Welcome home!]**
In the blink of an eye, her broken-down hut transformed into a sturdy stone house!
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