Mutated Pheromones

Yue Ran’s mood shifted from cloudy to sunny after they successfully killed Sunken Moon. He and Jiang Xiao continued their match to the second rank. While waiting, Yue Ran hummed a song, but he closed himself back up after humming two lines.  

Jiang Xiao remembered Qin Xiujie mentioning his little cousin was a bit of a tsundere, so he guessed his partner didn’t want to express too much of his second-year disease side and restrained himself. “Why did you stop?”

Yue Ran said, “The match is about to start.”

His tone was very calm, but his pitch slightly went up at the end. Obviously, some of his joy leaked out. 

Jiang Xiao unknowingly grinned and asked, “You haven’t played this game for a while, right?” 

Yue Ran replied, “Ya.”

Jiang Xiao followed up, “How long?”

“Three years.”

“You never touched the game in three years?”

“Yeah, I was living on campus.”

Playing the game for the first time in three years.

What the little summoner displayed today was clearly not his true strength. 

That was strange. Today was the first time they met, yet Jiang Xiao felt that the little summoner was more and more pleasing to spend time with. “Which server?” 

Yue Ran answered, “TSSM.”

Jiang Xiao raised his eyebrows. “What was your in-game name?”

Yue Ran did not utter a word. 

He would tell no one that he was Dying Star other than his family. He didn’t want to be mocked for deleting his account that was loaded with rare items.  

Jiang Xiao waited long enough. “No comment?”

Yue Ran confirmed, “No comment.”

Jiang Xiao stopped his questionnaire once the match had started. He watched his opponent rush forward, and he pressed a few keys, making his game character block the incoming attack.

After the satisfying match with Sunken Moon, they cheerfully won two matches as easily as a professional chef preparing vegetables.  

Yue Ran paid more attention to his senior’s technique in those two fights. 

During their bonus elite match with Sunken Moon, he was ready to be double killed by Sunken Moon. However, his senior’s attacks were precise and confident. He successfully suppressed Sunken Moon from healing. If he had better equipment, he might have chopped off some of Dying Star’s HP before dying. 

It was Yue Ran’s turn to ask, “Why aren’t you playing on your main account?”

Jiang Xiao replied, “I am taking some guild members to instance dungeons later, and didn’t want to switch accounts.” 

Yue Ran suddenly realized, “Your main account is not a heavy blade?”

Jiang Xiao said, “Long blade.”

A few days ago, an update notice was posted on the official website. According to the update, there would be increased difficulty in the new instance dungeons and there were scattered hints on testing the survivability of tanks against monsters. Jiang Xiao worried his guildmates’ couldn’t withstand the damage, so he bought a heavy blade account. Then he bumped into the little summoner by chance. Now he believed buying the account was worth it.

Since the topic was brought up, Qiu Xiujie said from beside him, “It looks like most of the group is online.” 

Jiang Xiao nodded. He didn’t start another match and didn’t leave the arena zone either. Instead, he continued to chat with his teammate, “Want to join us?”

Tef Ejc gfpfmafv, “Rb.”

Aljcu Wljb mbjzfv, “Ktfgf’r j mtjcmf bo ufaalcu j gjgf vgbq.”

Tef Ejc gfwjlcfv ecwbnfv. “P jigfjvs abiv sbe, P kbeiv bcis tbiv atf afjw yjmx.” 

Lf xcfk atja tjgv wbvf lcrajcmfr vecufbcr tjv gjgf vgbqr. 

However, the drops from a guild run would go to the guild warehouse. Then {dice tossing}, an action skill that makes the player’s character toss a six-sided dice, would determine who got the drop. The person with the highest roll would get the first pick. So the chances of Yue Ran getting a rare drop was very slim. Moreover, if he won a rare drop, other members would definitely complain if a ‘leecher’ won the drop. Best for him to gather other materials and return after one month under a completely new identity. This way he could do dungeons with them without exposing himself. 

Lf gfpfmafv jujlc, “P’w cba pblclcu.”

Aljcu Wljb atbeuta tf kjr yflcu qgbofrrlbcji jcv gfqilfv klat jc bxjs. 

His phone notified him of a new message from WeChat. He unlocked his phone and saw the message was from Sunken Moon.

[Sunken Moon: Were you one of the couple accounts?]

Thinking this over, Jiang Xiao asked, “Why do you hate Sunken Moon?”

Yue Ran humphed, “I hate him. I feel irritated just seeing his face!” 

After a pause, he added, “This includes his friends!!”

Well, that’s that. Better deny it so Sunken Moon doesn’t start hanging around him. 

[Jiang Xiao calmly replied: What couple’s account?]

[Sunken Moon: I just met a heavy blade. His playstyle is a lot like yours.] 

[Jiang Xiao: I play long blade.]

[Sunken Moon: Nevermind then.]

Jiang Xiao put down his phone and exited the arena zone. Then he and the little summoner went their separate ways. When he joined Qin Xiujie’s party, he noticed the stare from his friend and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qin Xiujie stated, “You are talking more than usual.” 

This was very unusual.

Jiang Xiao was always a man of few words. They had been friends since the first year, and this was the first time he heard Jiang Xiao praising someone with that tone. His friend even initiated a few questions himself, and it was very obvious he was curious about his younger cousin. What scared him the most? It looked like Jiang Xiao was smiling!?

Jiang Xiao declined to explain himself and asked, “Do you know his previous character’s name?”

Qin Xiujie said with a smile, “If you can’t get him to talk, why do you think I would have any success? I don’t want him to be upset with me down the road.” 

Jiang Xiao turned his attention back to the game.

Their conversation was over. A tacit understanding between them and there was nothing else to add.

Now they waited at the dungeon entrance. 

On the other side, Dying Star was also getting pinged to death with dungeon invites, while Sunken Moon found a random reason to end his stream.  

However, their discussion about the familiarity was not over. As soon as Dying Star entered the instance dungeon entrance, he clicked on Sunken Moon’s name to open a private chat window. 

[(Private) Dying Star: Did you ask?]

[(Private) Sunken Moon: Yes, not him.]

[(Private) Dying Star: What about the summoner?] 

[(Private) Sunken Moon: His fake move looked a lot like Dying Star’s.]

But everything else was nothing like Dying Star, especially his temperament. 

But somehow, Sunken Moon had a strange feeling in his heart.

[(Private) Sunken Moon: His awareness wasn’t bad. I’ll try to add him as a friend. What about the people you added today?] 

[(Private) Dying Star: This and that. Begged to be my disciples, requested for help on summoned refinement, asked for collaboration…]

[(Private) Sunken Moon: Remove them and ask for a new set of friend requests.]

[(Private) Dying Star: (vomit blood)]

[(Private) Sunken Moon: You need to work harder and faster if you want to end your suffering soon. Remember to send some horn messages.] 

[(Private) Dying Star: I know.]

Sunken Moon closed out the chat window and searched for the little summoner’s name to send a friend request.

Two seconds later, a system message popped up, telling him his request was declined.

He sent another friend request and saw the same system message. He promptly sent a third request.  

The request was declined without a doubt. 

But this time there was a message attached. [Decline reason: This account only has hubby as a friend. I will add no one else >_<]

With a lazy smile, he sent a fourth friend request with a note attached: [Then let’s talk face to face. Where are you right now?]

[The player declined your friend request.] 

[Decline reason: I don’t want to see you! I bet you want to take revenge on hubby and me.]

Of course, Sunken Moon refused to give up.

As he was about to send the fifth request, a movement caught his eyes and he found that the player in front of him was the summoner. 

Lucky~ 

They actually used the same arena entrance. Since neither of them were doing an arena match, they would naturally be in the arena lobby. He moved his character after his target with a smile and blocked his path.

Yue Ran: “…”

FUCK!

[(Local) Sunken Moon: I promise you I’m not getting even with you. Let’s chat?] 

[(Local) Vault of Heavens Essence<: What do you want? (cry)]

[(Local) Sunken Moon: Join my party, we’ll talk in the party chat.]

Yue Ran resisted the mad urge to enable player killing. He puffed up his cheeks in anger and pressed accept. 

[(Party) Sunken Moon: Your awareness is good. Who taught you?] 

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: Really? I think so too (happy)]

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: All because of hubby’s shotcallings (chest puffs up with pride).]

[(Party) Sunken Moon: I see. Did your husband direct you to do the fake move?]

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: Fake move (doubt)?] 

[(Party) Sunken Moon: Trick me into using my ability for free.]

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: Oh, that. I was trying to freeze you, but I got too excited and pressed the wrong key. When you used your cleansing spell, hubby told me to recall my Ice Spirit back. The way it hopped back was so cute (sweet).]

Are you for real? Sunken Moon pondered for a second and came up with an idea.

[(Party) Sunken Moon: You don’t have a sixth spirit beast right?] 

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: No, I don’t. But hubby said he would take me to get one (spin in circle)]

[(Party) Sunken Moon: Where is your husband?]

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: Instance dungeon with the guild.]

[(Party) Sunken Moon: I will take you to one too. C’mon.] 

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: No way. I want to do it with hubby.]

[(Party) Sunken Moon: Then I will take you to get some materials.]

[(Party) Vault of Heavens Essence<: No! I want to do that with hubby too (humph).]

After sending that message, Yue Ran’s patience was exhausted and he left the party. 

But who would have thought that as he was stepping out to exit the arena zone, Sunken Moon got in front of him and blocked his path.

Yue Ran moved to the left.

Sunken Moon followed to the left and continued to stop him.

Yue Ran quietly moved to the right. 

Sunken Moon moved his character to the right with a smile. 

Yue Ran stood completely still.

A few seconds later, a horn message appeared on everyone’s screen. 

[(Horn) Vault of Heavens Essence<: Waaaah hubby help! Some hooligan is being mean to me (sob) (sob) (sob)!!] 

[(Horn) >Smashing Vault of Heaven: Location.]

[(Horn) Vault of Heavens Essence<: At the arena gate (sob).]

[(Horn) >Smashing Vault of Heaven: Wait for me.]

[(Horn) Vault of Heavens Essence<: Okay (wipe tears).] 

Sunken Moon: “…”

[(Local) Vault of Heavens Essence<: (humph)]

[(Local) Vault of Heavens Essence<: You bullied me! Wait until my hubby comes and kills you (humph) (humph) (humph)!!]

Sunken Moon: “…” 

People entered and exited the arena lobby at all times, and Sunken Moon’s gamertag was too attention-grabbing. Players would naturally notice them. One player had to be nosey.

[(Horn) Crystal Water: Oh my, let me add one important omitted detail. Sunken Moon is the hooligan.]

The world chat came to a halt, followed by a large-scale nuclear explosion.