"It should be soon."
Xifeng County, Fenghua Plain, near Fenghua Town, which is already part of the area occupied by the Magic Empire. Duan Qingnian, standing on the plain, stroked his beard while watching the prepared player troops below move towards the smoky battlefield in the distance. The direction kept going: "No matter where that guy is hiding or what he is planning now, everything will be over soon."
"That guy doesn't seem to be hiding much now." Another middle-aged man standing aside had his hands behind his back and his brows were furrowed: "Since he determined that our prosecutor could not arrest him head-on, His arms and legs started to get bigger and bigger."
"With his current 'state', even if our prosecutors really catch him, I'm afraid they won't be able to do more." Shaking his head, Duan Qingnian's deep voice seemed to be filled with the same feeling as the free world. The same coldness of winter: "If we want to completely solve the root cause of this problem, we still have to start from the real world... Haven't you found any clues yet?"
"How can the energy of the Chu family be compared with the energy of the Duan family?" His question unexpectedly received a sneer from the middle-aged man next to him: "There are also the Jing family, the Tian family... so many people. If I can’t find it, why can I definitely find it?”
"Everyone is working hard to eradicate that scourge. I just want to inquire about the progress on your side. I have no other meaning."
After stroking his beard and being silent for a moment, Duan Qingnian once again showed his kind smile in front of the other party: "The alliance is everyone's alliance. We share weal and woe and advance and retreat together. If anything happens to any one of them or falls, sooner or later the bad luck will come." It will also fall on other people's heads - the Chu family leader should also understand this very well."
"The Tian family and the Jing family are naturally looking for people outside, but their manpower is limited after all, and their main business is not here." Duan Qingnian said this, tapping the black sword blade in his hand, shaking up the earth and rocks deep under the blade. There were some ripples: "In comparison, your Chu family has developed a greater power in the free world, so there are naturally more clues to find people."
"That's not as good as the Duan family's handiwork." Arranging his well-decorated black robe that looked like it had no fighting ability, the middle-aged man known as the head of the Chu family still didn't look better: "You Duan Doesn’t our country still have an old-school powerhouse like the Wings of Liberty? And it’s still a super guild that has no threat from outside competitors and is about to win the League Cup championship?”
"Even so, the status of Wings of Freedom in the free world is still precarious, and our manpower has to keep an eye on this place like now." Duan Qingnian looked calm as he pointed at the army in front of him and the smoke-filled battlefield not far away. He replied: "If the new alliance really gains a foothold, then the value of the League Cup will naturally decrease... Hehe, this trick to draw money from the bottom of the cauldron is indeed a poisonous plan that only the rebellious son can come up with."
"Succeed with Xiao He, and lose with Xiao He. When the Duan family promoted that guy to become the king of the virtual world, they should have thought that such a day would come."
The sound of relaxed footsteps came from far away. Mingyue Qingfeng, who walked up to the two men, unfolded the magic cloak behind her and answered the question on behalf of her father with a dismissive voice: "You discovered this three years ago. I couldn't control each chess piece, so I thought about making a decisive decision and took the matter to the most ruthless and desperate stage, but now I can't handle it?"
"Don't be rude." He stopped Mingyue Qingfeng from walking in front of him with his raised arm. The middle-aged man in black robe shook his head and continued: "Even so, the Wings of Freedom are in these three days." We have reaped all the dividends from the alliance over the years and have grown so far that we even climbed to the top of the league as the first guild at one time. Now that the situation is so critical, you should take the lead."
"The beautiful jade cannot return for a long time now, and the Wings of Freedom cannot operate smoothly. We are also powerless." Duan Qingnian said with a look of regret: "On the contrary, it is your tiger——"
His eyes turned and fell on Mingyue Qingfeng: "I have learned a skill that is all-powerful, and I have just become a great contributor to the Magic Empire. In terms of the energy in the game world, wouldn't it be more appropriate for him to lead the next actions?" What?"
"Duan Qingnian! Don't go too far -"
The words he wanted to say loudly while holding back his neck were stopped by the raised arms again. The middle-aged man in black robe shook his head and lowered his eyebrows and exhaled: "Master Duan, you are serious about handing over this action to the public." In the hands of Mingyue Qingfeng?"
"After all, the grievances here involve not only our Duan family, but also your Chu family." Duan Qingnian pressed the hilt of his sword and let out an inexplicable low laugh: "Miss Chu Lingbing, who was abandoned by you, now You are also standing next to that bane, are you just going to let her make you the biggest joke in the alliance?"
"She betrayed the family and was punished by the family." The middle-aged man frowned and continued: "On the contrary, she betrayed the Wings of Freedom. You haven't expressed anything yet, right?"
"...Hmph." This time it was Duan Qingnian's turn to frown and snort: "She has also been banned by the alliance for half a year. If it weren't for the new position created by the unscrupulous daughter of the Lou family, that woman would have been banned again. Where is the possibility of standing on the playing field again... Phew, let's not talk about it."
"There are no good generals in the formation. We can only choose your current young master of the Chu family to be the general this time."
The dark armor reflected the silent cold light in the sunshine after the winter rain. Duan Qingnian smiled and opened his hands: "Today is the day to make a great contribution. As long as you successfully kill that person, you will be the well-deserved number one in the world, Chu." Our family will also become the strongest family in the alliance, isn’t this the greatest reward?”
"Compared with the risks my dog has taken, this reward is still too little." The middle-aged man with his hands behind his back pressed Chu Mingqing beside him and replied in a low voice: "Either you, the Duan family, also take out some More strength, or—"
"We have put a lot of effort into preparing plans, arranging manpower, and gathering intelligence - you see, these are not roads that ordinary people can pave." Duan Qingnian still looked extremely proud. : "I have set up the best stage for you, why are you still hesitating? Am I, Duan Qingnian, so unworthy of your trust?"
"The best stage? Hehehe." He pulled away his father's hand that was holding his shoulders, and a sneer appeared on Chu Mingqing's unruly face: "Don't think I don't know, you— —”
"Report!"
An extremely short report suddenly appeared in the conversation between several people. At the same time, a black shadow of a player half-kneeling on the ground appeared out of thin air. He lowered his head and did not look at the Chu family and his son. He paused for a moment. Then he raised his hands and clasped his fists in the direction of Duan Qingnian: "Report to the head of the family that the leading troops have made contact with the enemy and the battle is about to begin."
"Very good." Duan Qingnian nodded with satisfaction: "This time we have put in a lot of surprises, and we will definitely attract enough attention from the other side... How is the situation inside?"
"The movements of all key targets have been determined, and they are all acting according to our expected situation." The player who reported the report lowered his voice: "But -"
"but what?"
"We didn't find the 'core'."
The cold winter wind seemed to pause for a moment near this plain, and Duan Qingnian's next question also wandered in this strange tranquility: "The 'core' was not found? What does this mean?"
"We have tried all the people stationed near the underground furnace, but no one can find the 'core'." The man who was half kneeling on the ground replied in a low voice: "It must have been moved away."
"Could this have been prevented by him?" Duan Qingnian's words leaked from between his teeth with a hint of shock and anger: "It's really surprising. Aren't you afraid... huh?"
"This problem is easy to solve." I don't know what he thought of, but the head of the Duan family suddenly let out a few chuckles: "Since there is no 'core', let's show our kindness once."
"Wouldn't it be nice to bring them a 'core'?"
******************************************
"How long have you been waiting?"
Time returned to the city of Tania, where the free world was still peaceful. Duan Qing, who was wandering on the street, passed through the bustling crowd. He just found a familiar figure and wanted to go up and say hello. He stopped in place for a moment, accompanied by the gradually stiffening smile on his face: "You are...in..."
"What am I doing?" Turning around to look at Duan Qing's face, Xueling Huanbing, who slammed the white bone sword to the ground, brushed up the white hair on his temples, and his face was full of Unconcerned expression: "Of course I'm waiting for you."
"No, no, no, no, I'm referring to these... uh, these people around you." Pointing to several figures lying on the ground scattered around, who also looked like players, Duan continued to walk forward. Qing couldn't help but start to look around: "Is there someone attacking? Is it a sneak attack by the Magic Empire? Or is it an ambush by the Templar Knights?"
"No, they're just a few guys looking for trouble." After kicking one of the players who was lying unconscious at his feet, Xue Ling Huan Bing's face remained as cold as usual: "The Principality The guards and the leader of the Adventurers Association should take them away soon, so don’t worry.”
"Well, it seems that it has subsided." Noticing the passers-by walking around the street who paid little attention to the scene, Duan Qing finally accepted the fact with open hands: "Although it is very unusual for this kind of thing to happen. It’s a pity, but this just shows that the leader of our family is very popular, doesn’t it?”
"If their mouths were cleaner, I wouldn't mind treating them with courtesy." Looking at the hand Duan Qing handed over, Xue Ling Huan Bing's face turned red slightly: "And I've already warned them. I didn’t mean it either.”
"Haha, it's rare for you to be embarrassed." Duan Qing raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Why, are you a little embarrassed for bullying the weak?"
"Of course not - hum, forget it." Turning his head and passing his hand into the other's, Xue Ling Huan Bing covered it up with a cold snort: "Where are we going next?"
"I have to ask you this question."
Feeling the warmth from the palm of his hand and the uneasy twisting of those green fingers, Duan Qing, who didn't want to point it out, also suppressed the smile that appeared on his face, and a man and a woman joined together. Then, like other ordinary shopping men and women, they merged into the lively street scene in pairs: "What information and news did you get from Her Royal Highness the Princess? The next travel destination should not be determined based on this. What?"
"Her Royal Highness, the eldest princess, is indeed a very kind person. Of course... she also possesses an impressive nobility." Putting his fist to his mouth and coughing twice, Xue Ling Huan Bing then put on a look of reminiscence: "Of course, she told me some rumors, which can be regarded as intelligence, including the original location of the garrison fortress and a place called 'Fridson, the End of the World'."
"There are traces of the garrison fortress. After all, this fortress is recorded in the history of both the principality and the empire." Duan Qing held his chin and thought: "But this 'Friedson' or something... Well, what’s the story about this place?”
"According to rumors, that was the place where Fleur last appeared." Xue Ling Huan Bing shook his head: "After establishing the Fleur Empire, Emperor Fleur rewarded his merits and established a sect. After the empire's operation stabilized, she began to travel around her own land, leaving behind one footprint and another legend."
"Friedson is the last stop of the empress." Having said this, Xue Ling Huan Bing combed her white hair and looked through her hair towards the blue sky: "Since then, there has been no People have seen the empress appear in front of the people of the empire again, and it seems that she just left the world without saying goodbye."
"I see, that's really worth seeing." Duan Qing nodded his head: "Whether it's true or not, she must have encountered something there and left something behind. You should be able to discover it with your own senses. They...ahem, are you sure you want to do this?"
"Why, you still don't believe in my ability?" So Xue Ling Huan Bing lowered her gaze, and a pleasant smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "And you still have time to worry about me? Shouldn't you complete tomorrow's task first? What?"
"Completing other people's arrangements is called a task. A task planned by oneself cannot be called a task." Duan Qing sighed helplessly: "I didn't originally plan to let you play in tomorrow's game, but -"
"Ahhhh! You are here!"
His words were interrupted by a thunderous cry. The two people were slowly walking along the crowd and were blocked by another man and woman who suddenly appeared at the other end. The one among them looked energetic. At this time, the black-haired girl ignored the obstruction and dragging of her companions and ran to Duan Qing like a meteor with the sound of wind and the sideways glances of countless passers-by.
