Calamity Messenger

Chapter 387 - 318: Becoming Enemies

Yan Qing and Murong Hui walked by the side of the main road, with two Dragon Attendants flying alongside them, effectively shielding most of the shooting angles from behind and the sides.

"Is it an assassin?" Yan Qing asked.

"Impossible. If an assassin’s stalking skills were this bad, I would have noticed them long ago." Murong Hui bit into a spicy strip, which she had just picked up from the nostalgic convenience store, her mouth greasy from the snack: "They’re probably just ordinary people."

The "ordinary people" Murong Hui referred to were not truly ordinary; anyone entering the Demon Gathering Land must at least be a Messenger from the Northern Noble Clan.

Compared to someone with Murong Hui’s background and prowess, they indeed seemed quite ’ordinary.’

"Are they here for you?"

"If they bore malice towards me, their strength would be too weak. But if they bear goodwill, they shouldn’t be sneaking behind but rather should approach me openly to talk. Although I am the dignified and noble Patriarch of the Murong Family, I am not someone who keeps people at a distance."

Murong Hui sucked out a spicy strip,

"So they definitely bear malice, but not entirely towards me... at least not just me."

"Then it must be me."

Yan Qing was not surprised at all that he was being targeted; there were just too many reasons. Any token he had was a Third-Transformation Curiosity. He could command two Dragon Attendant puppets. He was a foreigner with a covered face, and even walking so closely with Murong Hui might be a thorn in some people’s eyes... Despite Murong Hui’s carefree attitude, when she said she was the Northern Pearl admired by all, Yan Qing didn’t doubt it at all, merely corrected her to Black Pearl.

"If I were to take action, would you mind?" Yan Qing asked.

"I wouldn’t," Murong Hui shook her head: "Seeing me with you and yet unwilling to give up means they’re definitely not my friends. If they’re not my friends but are your enemies, then they’re also my enemies."

She clenched her fist: "Even if everyone in the Demon Gathering Land is your enemy, I will stand with you!"

Yan Qing had a wry smile: "Why would I want to make everyone in the Demon Gathering Land my enemy?"

"But I want to try being against the whole world!"

"You’ve read too many novels by Primordial Dao Venerable."

Yan Qing raised his arm and selected a puppet card:

"Second Transformation Mechanism: Self-Destructive Great Fortune Dragon Vehicle"

"Attack Power: 200"

"Health: 50"

"Trait: Death Word: Thunderous Bomb: Causes a large-scale explosion with 800 damage."

Yan Qing currently had two Dragon Attendants, one Ascension and one Original. Naturally, Yan Qing used the "Self-Destructive Great Fortune Dragon Vehicle" to replace the Original Dragon Attendant, and then a dragon-headed war vehicle made entirely of bronze suddenly appeared in the middle of the road. Yan Qing turned and pointed at the distant house where people were hiding: "Charge."

Woo! The Great Fortune Dragon Vehicle spat out billowing flames, its surface showing lava-colored cracks as if about to explode, roaring as it charged across the street towards the house. Yan Qing vaguely heard panicked shouting and saw someone attacking the Great Fortune Dragon Vehicle from the window.

Oh, doomed.

Although the Great Fortune Dragon Vehicle only had 50 health, the house didn’t have any attack power; crashing into it wouldn’t cause the vehicle to lose even a drop of health. On the contrary, it’s the opponent’s attack that triggers the self-destruct death word.

With an earth-shattering blast, all the houses in the nearby small area were destroyed. Though 800 damage wasn’t high, if the defense tokens of low-turn Messengers weren’t rare enough, they might not withstand an 800-point burst. Even if not killed, they’d at least be severely injured.

Yan Qing didn’t care whether they lived or died, nor did he intend to negotiate or even reason with them; he merely demonstrated his stance: anyone who dares to reach out has to be ready to have their hand chopped off.

He never planned to lie low from the start, even though his strategy centered on hiding in the Thief’s House for development. His specific tactics have always been unrestrained and fearless. More accurately, only when ensured that he can act unrestrainedly does Yan Qing dare to venture out from the Thief’s House.

After all, games can be tense and thrilling, with situations hanging by a thread, but in reality, Yan Qing would only voluntarily step into danger if his brains were scrambled. Activities without absolute certainty — skip entirely!

"Now they should have learned their lesson." Murong Hui said: "Unless they can gather a group with Third-Turn Combat Power like the assassin group targeting me, they absolutely won’t dare to target us again."

"Even if they can gather a group with Third-Turn Combat Power, so what?" Yan Qing casually picked a puppet card to replace the fallen Great Fortune Dragon Vehicle: "In the Demon Gathering Land, there is no opponent ahead of me."

Before entering, Yan Qing was quite certain; the cap at level 39 in the Demon Gathering Land meant no enemies could threaten his life (non-aggressive demon fiends were not counted). After entering, Yan Qing was even more convinced that he stood at the top of the food chain. Not to mention the Bingzi Pepper Forest, just this Ascension Dragon Attendant in Yan Qing’s hand, which can resurrect, summon Soul Flying Dragons upon death, and be affected by the "Rebirth" mutation, was equal to the combat power of four fearless Third-Turn Demon Fiends. If it could be taken out, they could trample Ping City Military Town back and forth several times!

So, what if Yan Qing’s combat power is exposed? Anyway, Foundation Establishment can’t come in, and Yan Qing can casually find a gate to go back to the Thief’s House. Even if he stirs chaos in the Demon Gathering Land and becomes an enemy to everyone, what can they do to Yan Qing?

No, influenced by Murong Hui, why would I be against everyone for no good reason...

Passing by the Blessing Wheel, Yan Qing went to draw another prize. However, his luck wasn’t great this time; his reward was "randomly obtain a puppet from the mechanism series."

"Second Transformation Mechanism: Blue Flame Dragon Motorcycle"

"Attack: 500"

"Health: 500"

"Attribute: Wind Fury, Armable, and Ridable: In each battle, the first hit will strike twice; can be [Armable] on other mechanical puppets; when the messenger drives the Blue Flame Dragon Motorcycle, it equates to receiving the [Armable] bonus."

[Armable] is a special effect only appearing in mechanical puppets. It means stacking puppet cards onto other mechanical puppets, with all attributes and traits also stacked. For example, Arme the Blue Flame Dragon Motorcycle onto any mechanical puppet and it will gain an extra 500/500 and the Wind Fury trait.

However, this "Ridable" attribute is quite interesting; Yan Qing can not only drive the Blue Flame Dragon Motorcycle but also gain 500/500 and the Wind Fury trait? If a particularly powerful ridable mechanical puppet appears later, wouldn’t players be able to transform into a Gundam?

Just thinking about it gives Yan Qing a rush of excitement. Although he only stayed for two days and only glimpsed the tip of the puppet system iceberg, Yan Qing felt the charm of this limited-time instance. If it weren’t for having to rush back for the fourth thief task, he’d love to stay longer in the Demon Gathering Land to fully experience various puppet types.

Just as Yan Qing was fantasizing about activating the Third Power Susano’o and slaughtering in all directions, Murong Hui reminded him, "To my knowledge, there shouldn’t be any Dragon Attendants nearby. We need to go a bit further to find them."

"Will it take long?"

"Not really, follow me." Murong Hui winked, "With Sister Hui leading the way, you won’t take any detours."

They arrived at an unremarkable house. Initially, Yan Qing saw nothing unusual until Murong Hui punched through a wall; only then did he realize: it was a secret room without doors or windows!

Inside the room was a deep blue vortex door. Murong Hui led Yan Qing, as if afraid he’d be timid, and firmly held his hand, saying, "Trust me, don’t be afraid, follow me!"

Passing through the vortex door, they arrived in another dark secret room where Murong Hui kicked through a wall, pointing at the distant White Bone Ferris Wheel, saying, "Look, we’ve suddenly gone from the south of the Demon Gathering Land to the northwest! Isn’t your Sister Hui amazing, even knowing portal secrets!"

The White Bone Ferris Wheel, as a most conspicuous landmark, was perfectly suitable for determining your location. Yan Qing glanced at the teleportation gate, it wasn’t surprising that the Demon Gathering Land had teleportation mechanisms; given how vast and complex it is, without shortcuts for quick movement, players would bombard the forums demanding changes from planners.

Seeing Murong Hui’s face written with ’praise me,’ Yan Qing helplessly said, "Yes yes, you’re the best."

"You previously called me Murong Hui, I didn’t mind. Now what should you call me?"

Yan Qing was too lazy to bother with her, "Hurry and lead the way to find the Dragon Attendant."

"Call me out loud, if not, I won’t lead the way." Murong Hui shook his arm, "Even Little Fox calls me Sister Hui, you’re not allowed to be unsociable."

"Oh, Little Sister Hui."

Murong Hui was momentarily stunned, "What did you call me?"

"Little Sister Hui, Little Sister Hui, Little Sister Hui, what’s wrong?" Yan Qing raised an eyebrow, "You don’t exactly seem older than me—at least not mentally."

Murong Hui released his hand, spinning around like she was drunk, her buzz-cut ponytail twirling like ribbons, lost in thought.

"In the future, don’t call me that!" She suddenly used the Desolate Heaven-Caging Finger on Yan Qing, tightly pursing her lips, saying, "At most... at most you can call me privately! Alright, let’s go find the Dragon Attendant!"

Yan Qing watched as Murong Hui hastened her steps away, wondering if this annoying cat might be the purest form of a high-attack, low-defense innocent freak?

Boom!

From the east came a sudden earth-shattering commotion. Yan Qing and Murong Hui looked over and vaguely saw dust from collapsing buildings.

"That’s the east gate of the Demon Gathering Land, the entrance to the camp. This level of destruction is at least the Third Transformation Level, and not just one..." Murong Hui said uncertainly, "Have many Third-Turn Messengers entered? Why?"

She stood dazed for a moment, then suddenly leaped forward, covering a dozen steps, without waiting for Yan Qing’s comment, she immediately doubled back, dragging Yan Qing towards the east gate of the Demon Gathering Land.

"Murong Hui, what are you doing?!"

"It’s Little Fox!"

"What?"

"I can feel it, Little Fox is just over there!"

"Feel? Probe token? Professional trait?" Yan Qing hadn’t noticed any scouting talents in Murong Hui before.

Murong Hui shook her head, lightly biting her lip, saying, "I can just feel it. Whenever Little Fox forces herself close to me, I suddenly feel very sad... So it must be her!"

If anyone else said something so mystical, Yan Qing would think the person was making up excuses. But hearing this from the little annoying cat he’d known for less than two days, he felt greatly convinced... She’s the kind of eccentric who domineers on feelings.

"Let go of me." Yan Qing took a deep breath.

Murong Hui was puzzled, "If I don’t pull you, you definitely won’t keep up with me... You’re not planning to go with me?"

"I’ll put on different boots and catch up with you." Yan Qing pulled out the "Ranger Rain Boots" from his Storage Ring, "Since the urgency, I’ll go at full speed."