It Turns out that I am Beautiful, Strong and Miserable [Quick Wear] - 186

ITOTIABSAM | Infinite Flow | 186

The rich cocoa settled heavily in his stomach, like rapidly cooling oil, greasily congealing his blood. Subconsciously gripping the paper cup, Xie Ye's already naturally low body temperature seemed even colder now, like ice. The warmth that had just moments ago been palatable now felt scalding, causing him discomfort.

It was as if the system had instantly punctured all his human-like illusions.

"I..." He opened his mouth, instinctively taking a step back. Countless lies and excuses spun through his mind, but in the end, he said nothing. He wasn't afraid of getting hurt, but he feared disappointing "Jiang Chuan."

The setting sun cast a blood-red hue over the evening's shadows. The black-haired Xie Ye hung his head with guilt, his eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks. He hadn't even thought about running away, even though he knew he was a wanted fugitive with a hefty bounty on his head, a monster in the eyes of the players.

However, the anticipated interrogation never came. Instead, someone gently took his hand.

Xie Ye lifted his head in surprise.

"What?" Nonchalant as ever, Gu Cong shook the paper bag he was carrying and took a step forward with Xie Ye. "Didn't you say you wanted to buy gifts?"

"The system... the task..." Xie Ye's response was far from what was expected, his words jumbled as if cautiously reminding, "What about the hundred thousand points?"

By now, he had some understanding of the player's world. A hundred thousand points were even more than what Jiang Chuan had in his account. Back in the school dungeon, that player who said he would take him out did so for just ten thousand points, betraying him for the system, shedding tears as he strangled him.

But Gu Cong just chuckled. "My watch isn't broken."

He naturally received the game system's task notification. Xie Ye's heart, long silent, now pounded irregularly as he was led by the hand by Gu Cong, feeling nervous and somewhat clumsy. "So, you know that I am..."

Aware of how hard Xie Ye tried to disguise himself, how much he yearned to be a player, Gu Cong cut him off before he could reveal his true identity. "I know."

In that moment, Xie Ye inexplicably felt waves of déjà vu, as if he had heard the same words in many places and many times before.

"You are Xie Ye, and only Xie Ye. No one has the right to define who you are," Gu Cong said as he ascended the steps, stopping in front of the villa door and turning back, admonishing, "The unlocking of the inventory means that the talisman weapons wielded by players, which could harm you, will now be effective at the transfer station."

Though Cheng Xiaorong and Zhao Dong were friendly toward Xie Ye, it was on the premise that "Xie Ye is not a ghost." 

After the system task was issued, Gu Cong couldn't guarantee whether the original owner's teammates still wanted to receive gifts from Xie Ye.

Xie Ye found it very strange. Jiang Chuan and the people in the villa were of the same kind, yet at this moment, he was solemnly teaching this outsider to guard against their own kind.

So, he showed the first genuine smile after hearing the system announcement.

"I'd like to say goodbye to everyone," Xie Ye said, opening his mouth.

But before he could step forward, he was shielded by the man behind him. "I'll do it."

Ding dong.

The doorbell rang, and soon after, the sound of slippers shuffling on the floor echoed through the villa. The peephole darkened and then brightened again, as Cheng Xiaorong was the first to peek out. "Captain..."

Unable to control herself, her gaze fell on Xie Ye, but quickly flitted away, as if she hadn't figured out how to face him yet, pretending to be dumbfounded.

She felt ashamed of the faint fear in her heart.

Because Xie Ye had never harmed her.

Zhao Dong and Cheng Qing followed closely behind, and with a door separating them, everyone stared at each other in awkward silence.

But Xie Ye was happy.

The fact that he was greeted at the door without weapons was beyond his expectations. Taking the paper bag from Gu Cong's hand, the black-haired Xie Ye stepped out from behind the man and reached out.

"Gifts."

The various colored fruit juices—watermelon, green grape, passion fruit—were their favorite flavors they had mentioned this morning.

The ten thousandth time she told herself to be rational, Cheng Xiaorong suddenly broke down.

"Go to the instance, hide in the instance," as if she had rehearsed it countless times in her mind, she hurriedly said, "While the mission has just been released, your face hasn't been exposed yet."

"There are many surviving players in the previous instance, they might block you at the station. Do you have any other way to enter the instance?"

Xie Ye shook his head.

"I can't dig through," he tried to describe it in terms that humans could understand, "This transfer station... is very strong, and all the cracks are sealed."

Not even the black mist can dig through it.

Gu Cong immediately seized the point: "Is it like this only after the announcement was made, or has it always been like this?"

Perhaps he shouldn't have let 0028 help, forcibly dragging Xie Ye to the player's side.

"After the announcement was made," Xie Ye learned to read Gu Cong's expression without any guidance and held his hand tightly, "It's not your fault or anyone else's."

"Damn it!" Clenching his fist, Zhao Dong cursed softly.

To be honest, the enormous amount of points that could easily push an ordinary player into the top ten rankings had tempted him before. But seeing the boy in front of him, acting foolishly to avoid their self-blame, Zhao Dong just wanted to curse the system with a mouthful of profanity.

"It seems like the system came prepared this time," calmly taking the paper bag that had been hanging in the air for a long time from Xie Ye's hand, Cheng Qing said, "What about you captain? Can we still clear the level?"

The answer was certainly affirmative.

It seemed like the system particularly wanted to teach a lesson to the runaway boss, to let its disobedient child taste the bitterness of betrayal. Gu Cong, Cheng Xiaorong, Zhao Dong, Cheng Qing—each of them could proceed to clear levels and manage instances normally. However, once they invited Xie Ye to join their team, their keys would lock up and turn gray.

Physical contact would also lead to the same situation.

This was both a restraint on Xie Ye, trapping him alive in the enormous coliseum of the transit station; and a temptation to the players—

Abandon Xie Ye, enter the instance, it's much easier to face the server-wide pursuit without the boss.

Malice swept over them, causing Cheng Xiaorong to shiver involuntarily.

But the targeted Xie Ye remained calm, even shifting his body to shield her from the wind. "Are you feeling cold? You're dressed too lightly. You should go back inside."

He completely missed the point, it was both amusing and frustrating.

Cheng Qing stared at Gu Cong firmly. "You're leaving."

"Exactly," Gu Cong swiftly operated his wristwatch. " I'm transferring leadership to you first. There are many surviving players in the previous instances. If anyone comes looking, remember to set boundaries and not act rashly."

The one who had followed Jiang Chuan for the longest, Zhao Dong, was the first to object. "Captain!"

But Gu Cong insisted, "This is an order."

Using the identity of the original host, he couldn't implicate the original host's friends any further. Besides, protecting Xie Ye was Gu Cong's choice, not Jiang Chuan's.

"What order?" Cheng Xiaorong muttered with reddened eyes. "I want to go too!"

In response, she received a gentle tissue placed in her palm.

"Don't cry," Xie Ye spoke with a tone of stating facts, as if correcting a mistaken perception. "I'm strong."

"Don't underestimate me."

The tissue was a complimentary item from when they bought the hot cocoa, adorned with delicate little patterns and imbued with the scent of sweets.

As the evening breeze brushed past, by the time Cheng Xiaorong had composed herself and looked up again, Xie Ye’s clumsy comfort she had been trying to reassure herself with was no longer there. The two familiar figures had disappeared together at the end of the tree-lined path.

---

Xie Ye wasn't afraid.

Although he understood that his current situation would be called "fleeing" in human terms, he couldn't suppress the pleasure welling up in his heart.

Twenty minutes after the announcement was made, Xie Ye's appearance hadn't been exposed yet. In the bustling inner city area, where players were frantically searching for clues, nobody would notice that just a few seconds ago, they had brushed shoulders with the BOSS.

Apart from the ambitious players eager for action, there were also many who chose to lie low and avoid conflict. The first BOSS to successfully escape in the history of Infinite Game was so special that even the system couldn't handle it and had to issue a global announcement. 

How could it be so easy to catch? While points were valuable, one's life was even more precious. In the transfer station, every extra day of survival was a win.

Because of this, many buildings belonging to players in the inner city area were closed tightly, showing a hint of desolation for no apparent reason.

Dong.

The empty paper cup fell into the trash can, and the black-haired Xie Ye, completely lacking in the awareness of being chased, leisurely drank up the remaining hot cocoa.

If the game system saw this, it would probably go crazy.

Thinking about this, Xie Ye couldn't help but laugh, curiously looking up at the omnipresent surveillance cameras in the city.

He swore he was just curious, but to the system, it probably seemed like a provocation. Demonstrative. Once again, the cheerful system notification sounded in Xie Ye's ears:

Ding dong---

[In ten minutes, the BOSS coordinates will be announced. Please prepare, and good luck!]

Yet, Gu Cong didn't even furrow his brows. "It's just a bluff, don't panic."

Although tracking items in the game store were a bit expensive, they weren't particularly rare. 

Those players who couldn't even afford this many points and had to rely on the system to feed them the coordinates were likely not a significant threat. Apart from adding a bit of psychological pressure, there was probably little chance of encountering them.

Wanting to clear "bugs" while also profiting from player points, this system sure is greedy.

Although Xie Ye was very calm inside... he still nodded in agreement, letting the man lead him, and asked cheerfully, "Where are we going?"

"To the outer city," Gu Cong explained, already having a plan in mind. "It's a chaotic place, dangerous enough, and suitable for hiding. It naturally filters out a batch of players who value their lives."

It also easily provokes conflicts among players.

"Alright," Xie Ye had no objections to the man's choice. After pondering for a moment, he said, "I want to communicate with the players."

"Is there a way for other players to see what I'm saying?"

Gu Cong, leading Xie Ye through winding alleys, paused for a moment. "Hmm."

So, two minutes later, the world channel, which could only be accessed in the transit station and required payment to speak, suddenly flooded with a string of "polite" self-introductions:

【Xie Ye: Hello, everyone, I'm Xie Ye.】

【Xie Ye: The final boss of the ultimate dungeon "Eternal Slumber."】

【Xie Ye: Characteristics include regeneration, aversion to slaughter, and an inability to truly die. I will remember every player who tries to harm me.】

【Xie Ye: Based on the above points, if you still want to go home...】

【Xie Ye: It would be better to abandon the system that is playing with you...】

【Xie Ye: And come to help me.】

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Author's note:

System: xxx (profanity)

The system's anticipated plan was as follows: 

Conceal Xie Ye's identity as the final boss - Player A accepts the mission to kill Xie Ye - Receives ten thousand points - Ranks in the top ten - Challenges the final dungeon - Encounters the boss they personally killed - Xie Ye goes berserk due to lingering resentment - Player dies and loses points, system plan successful.