Wait, is the map of Yan State really this short?
Chen Huaian couldn't help but laugh bitterly when he saw this recharge reminder.
The game developers didn't even bother to hide it—they went straight for the money.
But as he looked at the pitiful girl on the screen, he couldn't help but think of himself—alone, with no one to rely on, no money for treatment, and his girlfriend gone. How was his situation any better than Li Qingran's? The friends he used to have were all afraid he'd ask to borrow money, and he couldn't reach any of them.
Who would lend him a helping hand?
But now, he could lend a helping hand to this girl.
Even though she was just a program, a game designed to drain his wallet.
"It's just six yuan. I'll recharge!"
Chen Huaian had never played games before, only watched others play.
This was definitely his first-ever in-game purchase.
**[Recharge successful!]**
The notification dissolved into golden light that surged toward the dilapidated hut where Li Qingran was.
The golden light fell on the straw mat, transforming it into a wooden bed with bedding. It fell on the walls, turning the broken earthen walls into brick walls with a window that kept out the wind and rain. As the golden light circled the room, the floor, table, chair, stove… all sorts of antique furniture appeared.
"This is more like it!" Chen Huaian felt satisfied. He looked at Li Qingran, curious about her reaction.
After all, it was just a mobile game. It probably wouldn't be that detailed—at most, she'd look happy for a moment.
However, he soon saw Li Qingran's expression shift from shock to fear and then to vigilance. The girl seemed utterly bewildered by what had happened, huddling in the corner, too scared to move. After a while, she cautiously explored her new surroundings like a kitten in a strange 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 by the game character's reactions. When Li Qingran sat on the bed, it naturally sank a little, and the places she touched even showed wrinkles.
A mere mobile game could achieve this level of detail?
Even if they asked him to recharge more, he'd think it was worth it—just a way to support the game's creator.
But as soon as this thought crossed his mind…
**[ Recharge 30 yuan to get your virtual girlfriend a beautiful outfit!]**
"Uh…" Chen Huaian looked at Li Qingran's tattered clothes and felt a pang of sympathy. "Recharge!"
Whoosh! A set of antique green robes appeared on the bedside.
**[
68 yuan for a meal? The takeout Chen Huaian usually ordered didn't even cost 15 yuan!
But so what? Recharge!
**[ Recharge 98 yuan to get a background report and health check form for your virtual girlfriend, so you can understand her condition better!]**
Chen Huaian: "Recharge!"
**[ Recharge 188 yuan to add three divine Thunderfire Talismans to your virtual girlfriend's home for protection!]**
Chen Huaian: "Recharge, recharge, recharge!"
**[Your virtual girlfriend is scared. Please wait before continuing~~]
The game stopped popping up recharge prompts.
Chen Huaian looked and saw that Li Qingran had actually hidden under the bed, trembling all over.
The new clothes on the bed were untouched, and the table full of chicken, duck, and fish was also untouched.
A countdown for the health report appeared in the top right corner, taking half an hour to complete.
Three talismans were now on the door, window, and roof of the room, barely visible unless zoomed in.
What reassured him slightly was that Li Qingran's lifespan had extended to six hours.
"Not bad. No immediate problems for now."
The game's time was synchronized with real time, so he didn't need to be so tense anymore.
"By the way, earlier, Li Qingran had some kind of fire poison, right? What was that?"
It seemed like he could check her status by tapping on her, but unfortunately, the girl was now under the bed. All he could see was a pale little foot. Tapping on it didn't work—it just retracted like it had been shocked.
"I guess I'll have to wait for the health report to get a rough idea."
Chen Huaian rubbed his stomach and glanced at the food on the table in the game. The roast duck's juices were dripping down, looking so realistic it wasn't just a flat image—it felt like he could even smell it.
It was already afternoon, and he hadn't eaten lunch yet.
"I'll just cook something simple. Even the game character eats better than me."
Chen Huaian sighed, but then he thought that 68 yuan for such a table of food seemed like a pretty good deal.
He felt at ease.
He put his phone on the table to charge,
planning to check on his virtual girlfriend after lunch.
…
Li Qingran, female, 19 years old, fifth disciple of Chixiao Peak in the Qingyun Sect.
Originally, her life was relatively peaceful. She followed the routine of cultivation and completing sect missions. She had four senior brothers who each had their strengths and protected her. But one day, her eldest senior brother, Lu Changtian, brought back a sixth junior sister from outside and vouched for her with his life, allowing the talentless junior sister to join Chixiao Peak. Everything changed.
The eldest senior brother, who used to come to her cave every morning to call her for lessons, stopped coming.
The second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng, who was skilled in alchemy, no longer called her to test his pills.
The third senior brother, Yun Zimo, who always had a cold face, actually learned love songs for the junior sister?
The fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, who loved going on missions, stopped going and spent all his time guarding the junior sister on Chixiao Peak.
Everyone revolved around the junior sister, Mu Baishuang. Even the usually indifferent master showed her favor, all because the junior sister had a tragic background—her family was destroyed, and she was frail and sickly, giving off the impression that she might shatter if not carefully protected.
Li Qingran actually didn't mind these changes.
It was normal for the junior sister to be doted on since she was sweet and pitiable.
As her senior sister, she should also take care of the junior sister more.
So, under the careful guidance and resource allocation of her four senior brothers, Mu Baishuang's cultivation gradually caught up to hers.
During the sect competition half a month ago, out of respect for her opponent and the principle of stopping at the right point, she engaged in a normal duel with her junior sister, Mu Baishuang.
Although Mu Baishuang's cultivation had improved, her foundation was unstable due to being boosted by pills, and her combat experience was far behind.
Li Qingran originally planned to exchange a few dozen moves as a formality, then apply pressure to make Mu Baishuang surrender.
This way, Mu Baishuang would save face, and it wouldn't affect the rankings or fairness.
But Mu Baishuang's sword strikes were all aimed at vital points, relentless and unyielding. Li Qingran had no choice but to defend with all her might.
However, Mu Baishuang, who had been aggressive the entire time, suddenly switched from offense to defense and deliberately collided with Li Qingran's sword. At that moment, Li Qingran couldn't retract her sword, making it seem like she had intentionally aimed for Mu Baishuang's vital point…
This sword strike only hit 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.
Did she think that was the end? No, her four senior brothers weren't going to let her off.
They wanted to avenge Mu Baishuang.
The eldest senior brother, Lu Changtian, crippled her cultivation and begged the master to remove her spiritual roots.
The second senior brother fed her a ruined pill, saying he wanted her to experience the pain her junior sister had felt.
The third senior brother bribed an outer sect elder to kick her out of the Qingyun Sect. The fourth senior brother said he would take her down the mountain but instead abandoned her in a dilapidated hut surrounded by demonic beasts in Wanshan Mountain, leaving her to fend for herself… They were all like they were possessed. It was just a misunderstanding, a small matter, yet each of them was willing to go to such lengths for the junior sister, determined to kill her!
Over the past half month, she had done her best to protect herself. Just a few days ago, she had desperately fought off a demon wolf and was seriously injured. With her cultivation crippled, the fire poison in her body, which wasn't originally fatal, became a death sentence. She was already at the end of her rope.
Just as a heavy rain began to fall in the mountains,
and she huddled in the corner, waiting to die,
a sparrow flew swiftly through the rain outside the door.
Suddenly, a voice rang in her ears: [Home!]**
In the blink of an eye, the dilapidated hut she was in turned into a stone house!