Chapter : 52

After briefly browsing the content of the game forum, Yan Yunqing closed it.

There were still ten months until the closed beta of the game.

Reading the excited comments of the players on the forum now would only make him more anxious.

The anxiety of constantly being watched by an unknown gaze.

Of course, he also had to consider a problem now.

If this world was not a game, but a real different world, and the game was just a channel connecting the two worlds.

Then the players who would be logging in soon would probably become another disaster for this different world, with their destructive power probably on par with the demonic beasts.

After all, players were known as the Fourth Calamity.

Players wouldn't consider morality in a game.

Even someone like Yan Yunqing, who had transmigrated, wasn't he also acting as a player 'doing evil,' although in a sense he was also carrying out justice.

He could only hope that this so-called game company could place some restrictions on the players' behavior.

Yan Yunqing thought of the adorable little Yuli, and felt a thousand worries.

After re-examining the game system, Yan Yunqing found that a chat system had been added to the game friends list, seemingly in preparation for the upcoming players.

Yan Yunqing opened his game friends list and looked at the only two NPC friends on it.

Yan Yunqing tried to send a message to Lilian.

[Yan Yunqing (Private)]: Lilian?

Lilian jolted, looking left and right, then uncertainly at Yan Yunqing, "Did you just say something?"

Yan Yunqing noticed that a new line of text had appeared on the chat panel.

[Lilian (Private)]: Did you just say something?

Yan Yunqing: ...Holy cow, can the chat system be used like this?

Isn't this equivalent to a one-way communicator?

This function was useful.

[Yan Yunqing (Private)]: It's nothing, I just discovered I have a new ability and was trying it out.

[Yan Yunqing (Private)]: In the future, if we're in a situation where it's inconvenient to speak, I'll use this ability to talk to you.

Lilian stared at Yan Yunqing's mouth and found that he was indeed not speaking, but Yan Yunqing's voice had indeed sounded in her ears.

She was surprised: "This kind of ability..."

[Lilian (Private)]: Why does it feel like a god listening to a believer's prayer?

[Yan Yunqing (Private)]: What?

Lilian's eyes widened.

[Lilian (Private)]: Can you hear what I'm thinking in my heart too?

Yan Yunqing rubbed his nose and realized that Lilian hadn't spoken either, but her words had appeared in their chat box.

[Yan Yunqing (Private)]: Hmm... it seems so.

[Lilian (Private)]: ...

Lilian stared at Yan Yunqing for a long time, then asked:

"What about now? Did you hear what I was thinking just now?"

Yan Yunqing: ?

[Yan Yunqing (Private)]: No, were you thinking about something just now?

Lilian immediately breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest, "Thank goodness, thank goodness.

With this ability of yours, as long as I'm not thinking about you, you won't hear what I'm thinking in my heart. Otherwise, it would be too terrifying!"

Yan Yunqing thought so too. If this chat system could display everyone's thoughts, it would be too much of a bug.

However...

Yan Yunqing narrowed his eyes, looking at the slightly guilty-looking Lilian.

This girl... tsk, she still had secrets she didn't dare let him know.

Forget it. He was also hiding a lot from Lilian anyway. They were even.

With this thought, Yan Yunqing selected his other NPC friend, Cornelia, and wanted to try if he could talk to her from a distance.

But the system prompted him that the other party's favorability was not high enough to start a private chat.

Ah... so the chat function for NPC friends required a sufficient level of favorability.

Then this function wasn't that game-breaking.

Currently, it could only be used for communication between him and Lilian.

But at least it was a bit more convenient.

Yan Yunqing closed the chat box with satisfaction and checked for other functions.

After checking several times and confirming there were no other functions, Yan Yunqing found a Level 30 gift pack in his backpack.

He had originally intended to close the game panel directly, but somehow his hand slipped, and he directly clicked to open the level gift pack.

This kind of gift pack could be taken out and turned into a physical box, opened by hand to get the items inside, or it could be opened directly by clicking on it in the backpack.

The items from the opened pack would directly replace the pack's slot and be stored in the backpack.

This level gift pack was the second case.

After Yan Yunqing's hand slipped and he clicked to open it, without a half-second of hesitation, it flashed, and the image of the level gift pack disappeared. In its place in the backpack slot was a blueprint.

—A golden blueprint!!!

Yan Yunqing was shocked.

He only knew that weapons could be golden, but since when could blueprints be golden too?

He had never seen one when he played "Demon King".

[Blueprint·Portable Anchor Point (Golden)]

Can be installed anywhere. When you are within a five-thousand-meter radius centered on the anchor point, you can choose to channel a teleport back to the vicinity of the portable anchor point.

Only one generated portable anchor point can exist on the current map.

After installing a new portable anchor point, the previous one is automatically destroyed.

Each portable anchor point can only be used three times, and each teleportation requires a 1-minute channel time with a 30-minute cooldown.

An anchor point!

He had just been wondering why this game didn't have anchor point teleportation, and it gave him a blueprint for a portable one... Could someone really be watching him all the time?

Yan Yunqing decided to treat this coincidence as a burst of good luck where his wishes came true.

Thinking too much was not only useless but would also keep him awake at night.

The materials required to make the portable anchor point were not complicated.

In fact, Yan Yunqing had most of the materials in his backpack; he just needed to buy some mithril to craft it.

This was a very suitable item for sneakily doing bad things, but the channeling time was a bit long.

He needed to find a safe place to ensure he wouldn't be killed within that minute.

It was quite useless in intense battles; one could easily die during the channeling time.

But for Yan Yunqing, it was not a problem at all.

He still had a life-saving necklace that prevented death.

Surviving for one minute was completely fine.

Coincidentally, Yan Yunqing hadn't figured out how to escape after killing Feu, and this portable anchor point was a pleasant surprise.

***

Two days later, the appointed time with Cornelia arrived.

Yan Yunqing once again transformed into a small black cat and squatted at the entrance of the tailor shop they had agreed upon.

Lilian did not come with him. With the chat system, it was more convenient for them to communicate.

In situations like this where it was more convenient for Yan Yunqing to be alone, Lilian would no longer always follow him.

Yan Yunqing lay on a stone pier, sunbathing, his tail hanging down lazily and swaying randomly.

He squinted at every passerby.

People of all kinds, each with their own personality and characteristics, not just identical or faceless models.

After two days of observation, Yan Yunqing still felt that this world was more like a real world.

Unless the technology on Blue Star was already so advanced that there was a super AI that could automatically generate unique behavioral trajectories and personality traits for everyone.

At least before he transmigrated, he had never heard of any amateur scientist or game company that could reach this level.

Yan Yunqing thought idly, the corner of his eye catching a glimpse of a sea-blue figure.

He immediately perked up, watching the sea-blue girl in a dress pass in front of him and walk into the tailor shop, with another slightly older woman following her.

He flicked his tail and groomed his fur with his paws.

Only after he finished did he realize that he seemed to be getting more and more used to the body of a cat.

This identity was too useful. After using it so much, he had even picked up a cat's habits.

Would he still lick his paws after turning back into a human in the future...?

No, he had to reduce the number of times he turned into a cat in the future.

Yan Yunqing shook his head and continued to wait at the entrance of the tailor shop.

A short while later, Cornelia walked out of the shop.

He immediately got up and pretended to casually approach Cornelia's feet, "Meeow~"

Cornelia looked down, and her eyes curved into a smile when she saw the little black cat.

She squatted down in front of Yan Yunqing and reached out to pet the little black cat's head, "Hello there, little kitty."

"Huh?" The other woman walking beside Cornelia noticed that she had stopped.

She looked back and saw Cornelia petting a small black cat at her feet, "A black cat? A stray?"

"I'm not sure, it just suddenly ran out and rubbed against my leg."

Cornelia smiled, "It's probably hungry, begging me for food."

Yan Yunqing looked at Cornelia's gentle smile and couldn't help but shiver inwardly.

What terrifying acting skills. Just looking at Cornelia's performance, who would think that she and he already knew each other?

The woman sized up the little black cat's round belly, not quite agreeing with this statement.

"Is that so? But Nia, you should still stay away from these stray cats and dogs.

They are full of filth, and you might get sick if you're not careful."

Tsk, you're the one who's full of filth!

Yan Yunqing meowed a few times in a high-pitched voice and even rubbed his head against Cornelia's palm, looking exactly like a little cat begging for food.

His voice was so pitiful that anyone who saw him couldn't help but soften their heart.

"Not necessarily, I think this cute little guy is very clean."

The glossy and smooth fur felt wonderful to the touch. Cornelia couldn't help but pinch the little black cat's ear.

Yan Yunqing gave her a look: That's enough, hurry up, stop touching me.

The corner of Cornelia's mouth curled up.

She petted him twice more before saying softly, "It seems you're really hungry, but big sister doesn't have any food here.

How about this, little kitty, you come with me, and big sister will buy you something delicious, okay?"

"Meow once if that's okay."

Yan Yunqing almost wanted to roll his eyes at Cornelia.

Why did all these people like to talk to cats?

Yuchir was one thing, but Cornelia clearly knew he wasn't a cat and still asked like this.

Could a real cat actually answer this question?

He meowed again in a high-pitched voice.

"So good." Cornelia picked up the little black cat and smiled apologetically at her companion, "Sorry, I want to buy something for this little guy to eat first.

Why don't you go back first? I'll be back a little later."

The woman frowned and glanced at the little cat in Cornelia's arms with disgust.

She couldn't help but take two steps back, as if she could already smell a foul odor coming from the cat.

She pinched her nose and said in a muffled voice.

"I really don't know why you like such a filthy thing. Fine, I'll go first. Clean off the cat hair on you before you come back.

I don't want to be contaminated by filthy things."

Cornelia didn't mind her companion's disgusted expression at all and continued to smile gently while holding the little black cat, "I know, be careful on your way."

The woman waved her hand, picked up the bag in her hand, and quickly got into a carriage.

It had to be said that being a noble's maid was better than being a commoner.

These maids who served others all rode in carriages when they went out and received generous salaries.

It was nothing like the commoners in Sunset Village, who exhausted all their strength just to stay alive.

And these were the commoners in a wealthy area. In more remote places, it was difficult to even survive.

Cornelia stroked the little black cat's back, her mind wandering slightly.

The force of her hand unconsciously increased a little.

The little black cat let out a cry, which brought her back to her senses.

Yan Yunqing: What are you thinking about?

Only then did Cornelia soothingly pet the little black cat's head and carry him in another direction, "Little kitty, what would you like to eat?

How about some small crispy fish fried in butter?"

"Meeow~"

After turning a corner, Cornelia really did buy a box of butter-fried small crispy fish from a snack stall.

The price of this box was quite expensive, a whole silver coin, and there were only six small crispy fish inside.

The children gathered around the snack stall heard that Cornelia had bought it for the little black cat and couldn't help but cast an envious look at the little black cat.

Being a rich person's kitty was so blissful, you could eat whatever you wanted!

Yan Yunqing: ...

Stop making enemies for me.

I'm afraid that one day when I'm walking down the street as a cat, I'll get stones thrown at me by children!

Cornelia bought a box and left with the little black cat without even looking at the longing eyes of those children.

The children who remained looked at each other and couldn't help but show a disappointed expression at the same time.

If she could be kind to a little black cat, why couldn't she be kind to them?

Sigh, I really want to become a little black cat!

Cornelia carried the small crispy fish and the little black cat forward.

Occasionally, she would meet someone who knew Nia, and Cornelia would smile and greet them, being very approachable.

Finally, they reached a sparsely populated area where no one passed by.

Yan Yunqing very consciously jumped out of Cornelia's arms and found a flat step to squat on.

Cornelia also squatted down, opened the box of small crispy fish in front of the little black cat, and pushed it towards him.

"You really bought this for me?" Yan Yunqing hesitated.

Cornelia said as if it were a matter of course, "It's food bought to feed a cat.

Even if I take it back untouched, no one will be willing to taste it.

And I... am not interested in fish that has been dead for who knows how many days."

The capital of Bartovita was inland, quite far from the sea.

The sea fish transported here had basically gone bad. Even if they were preserved well, they still had a fishy and smelly taste.

Therefore, the people here often used cooking methods that could cover up the original taste of the food to fry these sea fish.

As for inland aquaculture?

This world did not currently have a large-scale fish farming industry, at least Yan Yunqing had not seen one yet.

These small vendors who fried fish all bought low-quality sea fish that were unwanted by the caravans that transported sea fish and seafood to the nobles at a low price, and then sold them after frying.

It wasn't easy for these caravans to make a round trip; ninety percent of the fish brought back alive would die during the long journey.

The ones still alive were sold at a high price to the noble lords, and the dead ones were processed and sold to the commoners, making a bit of profit either way.

Anyway, the commoners had no opinion on this.

They couldn't afford the expensive live sea fish, and these dead sea fish were very cheap.

They were a type of meat, and they wouldn't kill you, so it was a very cost-effective purchase.

As a mermaid who had lived in the sea for a long time, Cornelia certainly looked down on these sea fish that had been dead for who knows how long, let alone whether they had spoiled before being fried.

What a joke, if a mermaid wanted to eat fish, how could she not get it fresh?

Yan Yunqing: ...

Was he interested in spoiled sea fish?

Yan Yunqing helplessly put the box of small crispy fish into his backpack, planning to take it back later for the real little black cat in Sunset Village to eat.

"How is it, have you confirmed the exact start time of the banquet on your end?" Yan Yunqing asked.

Cornelia nodded, "It's been set, it's in a week.

General Sawyer, who has been on an expedition, is about to return, and he will also attend this birthday banquet.

The King of Barto has always wanted to promote a marriage alliance between the royal family and this general, so he'll probably call upon all the unmarried princesses this time."

"Expedition...?" Yan Yunqing was curious; it was another piece of information that fell into his knowledge blind spot.

As far as he knew, there hadn't been any large-scale wars on this Ailman Continent for the time being, at most just some friction between small countries.

"The Netherworld, also known as the Sea of Death, you should have heard of it, right?"

Cornelia replied nonchalantly, "The place where the War of the Gods was most intense two thousand years ago, and also the final battle, the Sea of Death where countless gods are buried."

"Ever since the demonic beasts appeared, that place has become their nest.

Other places only had one or two gods die sporadically, but in that place, the bones of gods have piled up into mountains.

One can imagine how terrifying the demonic beasts born there were."

With that said, Yan Yunqing immediately understood what that place was.

The Light Empire... oh no, it should be called the Light Ruins.

Before the Demon King's Eternal Empire was established, there was an ancient kingdom that had been passed down for thousands of years, the Light Empire.

The vast majority of people in that kingdom's capital were believers of the God of Light, and the final decisive battle was also where the Demon King killed the God of Light and his minions.

Subsequently, the Light Empire was destroyed, turning into a phantom of the old days.

Cornelia: "The Sawyer family is the family that Bartovita has stationed on the edge of the Netherworld all these years.

General Adrien Sawyer is currently the most powerful swordsman in the Sawyer family, and has always shouldered the responsibility of guarding Bartovita's borderline."

"Because of this, the Sawyer family's power has always been great, even daring to veto an order issued by the King of Barto." Cornelia sneered, "This has always been a thorn in the King of Barto's side.

As he gets older, I'm afraid he can no longer tolerate it.

This is also the King of Barto's last attempt to win over the Sawyer family."

"So he wants to use a princess to form a marriage alliance with the Sawyer family?"

Yan Yunqing asked, "Judging by your tone, you seem to know who this princess candidate is?"