Chen Huai’an wasn’t much of a gamer, but he knew one thing—on a game map, red dots always mean enemies.
And now, there were five of them.
Moving fast.
In just a breath or two, they had almost reached Li Qingran’s hut.
“Shit! She’s still washing dishes outside!”
On screen, Li Qingran remained oblivious, carefully scrubbing plates.
Chen Huai’an’s heart turned cold.
He frantically searched the game’s interface—was there a way to warn her?
There were plenty of options, but most were locked.
[Recharge 100 yuan to purchase a Sound Transmission Talisman and send a message to Li Qingran.]
A top-up window popped up.
“One hundred just to send a message?!”
No time to argue.
He hit Recharge.
[Payment successful.]
A talisman appeared at the center of the screen.
[Press to speak.]
Chen Huai’an clenched his teeth, tapped the talisman, and shouted in a deep voice:
“Demons are attacking! Get inside, now!”
A powerful voice boomed through the air—
[Move! Now!]
On screen, Li Qingran froze.
Her head snapped up, eyes darting around.
“Senior?”
She had no time to process the thought.
“Awooo—!”
A chilling wolf howl pierced through the rain.
Then—three massive demon wolves, each the size of a buffalo, leaped into view.
Behind them, two more loomed in the shadows.
Black-backed Demon Wolves.
“No… it’s a pack!”
Li Qingran’s mind raced.
The wolf she had fought off earlier must have been a scout.
It hadn’t been fleeing—it had gone for reinforcements.
The nearest wolf was only five meters away.
It pounced.
Li Qingran’s body moved instinctively.
She rolled sideways to dodge, then grabbed the nearest object—a **plate—**and hurled it at the second wolf.
Outside the screen, Chen Huai’an clenched his fists.
Li Qingran’s movements were **quick, precise—**like a civet cat escaping danger.
“Good!” He slapped his thigh. “She’s not just standing there like an idiot!”
The wolves, used to fighting cultivators, saw the flying object and dodged, thinking it was a magic weapon.
The plate hit the ground.
Nothing happened.
The wolves paused.
Realizing they had been tricked, their scarlet eyes burned with fury.
Li Qingran didn’t wait for them to recover.
She sprinted back inside, slammed the door shut, and started pushing furniture against it.
But her strength was weak—her face flushed with effort as she barely moved a table.
Outside, the ground trembled.
The wolves were charging.
Her pupils shrank.
She had no time.
Window.
That was her only escape.
Just as she prepared to jump—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted outside the door.
A flash of golden lightning illuminated the rain-soaked night.
Then—agonized howls.
A sharp burning stench filled the air.
Li Qingran whipped around, stunned.
Through the wooden door, she saw a talisman glowing.
Electric arcs crackled along its edges, and on the other side of the door—
Two demon wolves had been incinerated to ash.
“Thunderfire Talisman!”
Li Qingran’s breath hitched.
That talisman—she hadn’t seen it before.
It must have been placed there by the mysterious senior.
But… this power—
Ordinary Thunderfire Talismans were only useful against Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
But this one?
It was golden.
An Immortal-Grade talisman.
A treasure so rare, even Golden Core cultivators would die to obtain one.
“This senior… just casually stuck one to my door?”
Li Qingran felt a mix of awe and heartbreak.
Outside, the three remaining wolves froze.
They stared at the scorched remains of their fallen kin.
What virtue and ability did they have…?
They were just Qi Refining monsters.
Did they really deserve to die by an Immortal-Grade talisman?!
But retreating now meant starving.
They had to try.
Two wolves circled toward the window.
The last one prepared to climb the roof.
Before it could—
BOOM!
The two wolves near the window exploded into dust.
The last one panicked.
Screw food.
It turned and ran.
[Limited-Time Offer: Buy a Thunderfire Talisman for only 288 yuan (50% off) to finish off the fleeing wolf demon!]
Chen Huai’an’s face turned green.
“Are you serious?!”
Under normal circumstances, he would have quit the game immediately.
But…
He looked at Li Qingran’s trembling figure.
What if the wolf ran back for reinforcements?
A single mistake could wipe her out.
Chen Huai’an clenched his fists.
“If you don’t cut the grass at its roots, it’ll grow back stronger!”
With 288 yuan gone from his account, a golden talisman shot forward.
From Li Qingran’s perspective—
A streak of divine lightning erupted from the sky.
It pierced through the rain.
And then—
The fleeing wolf demon burst into flames.
The explosion left behind nothing but a roaring storm of thunder and fire.
Even the pouring rain could not extinguish it.
Li Qingran stared at the scene, completely speechless.
In less than a minute, all five demon wolves were dead.
And the senior behind it all?
Had never even shown his face.
This power… was terrifying.
But… why would someone like him help her?
She thought of her former sect.
Back in Qingyun Sect, her senior brothers and master had treated her kindly—
But it had never been pure kindness.
Her eldest senior brother, Lu Changtian, wanted her as his Dao companion.
Her second senior brother, Xiao Yifeng, only cared about her because he needed someone to tend his spiritual herbs.
Her third senior brother, Yun Zimo, saw her as a mere sparring partner.
Her fourth senior brother, Zhang Hanxiao, only kept her around to clean up his messes.
And yet…
This mysterious senior had helped her without asking for anything.
Or—was there a purpose?
But what could he possibly want from her?
She had nothing.
Or…
Maybe, he had simply pitied her.
Li Qingran shook her head.
No matter his reasons—
He had saved her life.
And if she survived this, she would do everything in her power to repay him.
She knelt, facing the sky, and solemnly bowed.
“Junior Li Qingran offers her deepest gratitude!”
[Li Qingran’s favorability +5. Current favorability: 15.]
Chen Huai’an grinned.
“Not bad. That recharge was worth it.”
This game…
Was too damn immersive.
Just a few hours in, and he had already spent hundreds.
Now, he finally understood why people got addicted to pay-to-win games.
[Ding! Li Qingran’s physical examination report and detailed identity information have been generated.]
[View now?]
Chen Huai’an’s eyes lit up.
“Finally! Let’s see what secrets you’re hiding…”
