Chapter 17: If You Fight Like That, You Won't Kill Anyone!

"Woooo!" Xiao Mo pouted with a look of grievance. Seeing that she was just a young girl, Chi Ma Kan (Eat Yet) secretly slipped her a handful of beef jerky.

Dobi Tian Tian Kai Xin (Dork Happy Every Day): "???"

"Why didn't I get any?"

"I give to whoever I like!"

Fine, fine! So what if you can cook? It’s just fried chicken, right? I can do that too! He stormed off in a huff.

A short while later, Su Qingyue was not at all surprised to see a notification in the system backend: Player Dobi Tian Tian Kai Xin has died. Cause of death: Food poisoning from turning fried chicken into charcoal.

Xiao Mo happily shared the jerky with Lan Ling. "By the way, everyone is busy. Should we do something too?"

Lan Ling mused, "It has to be something that is considered precious in the eyes of the ancients, yet something that we can easily acquire and is common to us..."

She pondered for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "Saltpeter! I have an idea!"

"Huh? What did you think of?" Xiao Mo asked, dumbfounded.

The resurrected Dobi Tian Tian Kai Xin pondered: Are we playing the same game?

He didn't notice that his friend, Feilong Zai Tian (Flying Dragon in the Sky), had also been distracted for a long time. "Saltpeter? I managed to get sulfur."

"Lan Ling, save some saltpeter. I have a good idea."

The two exchanged glances without saying a word, clearly switching to private chat.

Xiao Mo & Dobi Tian Tian Kai Xin: "???"

"What exactly did your best friend think of?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing!"

"Heh, you useless guy!"

"You're the useless one! You always claim to be a high-level player who, despite being a dork, has flashy footwork! I saw you run face-first into an ability this afternoon!"

"That was just a mistake!"

"But you do it every single time! Other people move after every hit, hit once, move once! With footwork like that, why aren't you ashamed enough to delete your character on the spot? You really have the nerve!"

Dobi Tian Tian Kai Xin: "!"

That was a heart-piercer! Fine, you forced my hand!

"I remember, who was it that, while eating, acted like... oh my, oh my, they looked like they wanted to chop their own head off and just dump the plate of food down their own throat, huh?"

Xiao Mo: "!" Furious. What did a foodie ever do to anyone?!

"Enough talk, let’s fight!"

"Sure, bring it on!"

The two instantly descended into a brawl. Normally, battles between cultivators should be grand and earth-shaking.

But at the Qi Refining stage... you throw a tiny fireball, I throw a tiny spark the size of a thumb, well...

Su Qingyue commented: "Pecking chickens fighting!"

By the time Feilong Zai Tian and Lan Ling finished their conversation, the two had already been at it for a while.

Exiting the private chat interface and watching the "chickens" peck at each other, the two pondered: "What are they fighting about again?"

"Don't know, don't understand. Let's just pull them apart."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Why do you say that?"

"I've been observing, and they've been at it for so long, their health bars have barely moved."

"..."

Su Qingyue: "Stop, you two, hurry and stop! Don't fight anymore!"

Seeing them ignore her, she sighed, walked over, and grabbed each by the collar. "Stop it, don't fight anymore!"

"No!" they shouted in unison.

"No, really, if you fight like this, you won't kill anyone!"

The two: "..." Simultaneously struck by the truth. Why do you have to say such cruel, honest things!

They separated as if nothing had happened, looking up at the sky and down at the ground. Yes, as long as they pretended nothing happened, no one would mock them!

The players ate, drank, and horsed around, while those with tasks stayed focused on their work.

Deep into the night, the spring air was still a bit chilly. The players who had finished their tasks gathered in groups of three or five around various bonfires, chatting while warming themselves.

Who knew if this game would reduce health due to the cold? Better play it safe! They had resurrected so many times today that if they died again, their respawn cooldown would stretch to the day after tomorrow!

Su Qingyue lay on the grass not far away, her eyes closed with a contented smile.

Whether it was Su Qingyue or the players, everyone felt this moment was incredibly beautiful.

The air was filled with the scent of fresh grass. The chatter of the players mingled with the crackling sound of the flames, and the crisp spring night breeze gently stirred a few stray strands of hair.

In the distance, an occasional bird call could be heard, and the air was filled with the sounds of unidentified insects.

Chatting with friends around a warm bonfire was just too wonderful! Xiao Mo squinted in happiness.

Lan Ling, for once, shed her usual serious expression. Her face relaxed as she narrowed her eyes and murmured to herself, "How long has it been since we simply quieted down, carefully observed our surroundings, and just immersed ourselves in the beauty around us?"

The other players were stunned by the question, revealing expressions of nostalgia and deep thought.

It was true; it had been far, far too long.

Modern people are very busy—busy with school, studying, exams, homework, busy with phones and computers, busy with work and social obligations.

They come and go in a hurry, rarely finding such idle moments to simply relax, preferring to drown themselves in short videos for entertainment.

Back in childhood, they used to go out for walks with their families after dinner, shouting with excitement over a tiny bug.

But now? Those beautiful times felt like they belonged to a very distant past.

Someone's eyes welled up. "I think I should slow down and go home to visit. It’s been a long time since I went home to see my grandmother."

The area fell silent. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and it took a while before they began to chat quietly again.

Xiao Mo felt a lump in her throat, too. They had missed out on so much beauty, yet they found it here in this game. This game was truly wonderful!

She thought that perhaps, even after a long time, she wouldn't forget this day.

A group of people, in a holographic game world no different from reality, gathered around a bonfire, perfectly relaxed and free under the starry sky.

They even forgot that this was just a game.

Su Qingyue heard the players' discussion and smiled. "This is the meaning of a holographic game—to let them put down their heavy burdens in a real world and do everything they want to do."

The system sounded half-understanding. "Oh, emotional value, right?"

Is playing games meaningless? No, the fact that it makes people happy is its meaning.

Emotional value, indeed.

Do everything you want to do; as long as you can find happiness, it is meaningful.

Like this moment.

Like you, right now.

Xiao Mo stared at Su Qingyue for a long time. After resisting and resisting, she couldn't help but stand up and rush over. "Ahhh! Even if I lose favorability points, I don't care!"

Su Qingyue: "???" As soon as she looked up, she saw someone rushing toward her.

What was she trying to do? Players couldn't harm friendly NPCs marked in green!

She watched as Xiao Mo reached her, slammed on the brakes, and nearly slid into her, before stomping her feet and reaching out with both hands.

Su Qingyue felt herself lifted into the air. Looking at Xiao Mo, who had executed a textbook bridal carry, she didn't know what to say.

Well, it's nothing to have a girl hug me.

What bad intentions could she have? She's just giving me a hug.

Then, Xiao Mo carried her away in a flash, running back to the bonfire where her friends were sitting.

Su Qingyue was confused, while Xiao Mo typed in the world chat: "I saw her lying there all alone, catching the cold wind, so pitiful. Our little Sect Leader is only sixteen and has no family around. Such a young child is really pitiful."

The players all froze.