Chapter Eighteen: A Sole Delivery

“Oh.”

Lan Yu’s small face instantly filled with disappointment. She wanted to say something more to Lu Yang but didn’t know how to start.

Lu Yang couldn’t help but smile faintly at Lan Yu’s expression. Then he uttered two words that stunned everyone present.

“I’m giving it to you.”

“What?” The surrounding players fell silent immediately. Even Xiong Ba and Chi Mu looked at Lu Yang in surprise.

Lan Yu’s words left Lan Yu momentarily stunned, and she tentatively asked, “Master, what did you just say?”

Lu Yang stood up leisurely, placing the staff in front of Lan Yu. “I’m giving you this Silver-grade Focuser Staff.”

“Really giving it to me?”

The surrounding players erupted in murmurs. This wasn’t just any equipment—it was a Silver-grade Focuser Staff, the top-tier weapon for priests under level 10.

“Ah?” Lan Yu’s face showed confusion as she hesitated to take it.

“What ‘ah’? Don’t you remember what I told you last time? When we meet again, I’ll give you a gift. This is it. Catch.” Lu Yang twirled the Focuser Staff in his hand before tossing it into Lan Yu’s grasp.

Lan Yu looked dazed, staring at the Focuser Staff now in her hands. To the players present, this weapon was extremely significant.

The Silver-grade Focuser Staff was regarded as the best healing weapon for beginners in the newbie village, and possessing it often meant saving the team during dungeon runs.

“This gift is too precious. I can’t accept it,” Lan Yu said.

Xia Yuwei stepped beside Lan Yu, watching Lu Yang warily. “Our Ice Studio appreciates your kindness, but this weapon is too valuable. We can’t accept it. You should give us your account information, and we’ll transfer you 5,000 credit points.”

Lan Yu looked at Xia Yuwei in surprise. Usually, such formal words from her only came when she disliked someone.

“Yuwei, what are you doing?” Lan Yu sent a message to Xia Yuwei.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. There’s something off about this guy,” Xia Yuwei replied.

Lan Yu wanted to argue. She felt Lu Yang wasn’t that kind of person but didn’t know how to express it.

---

Seeing the situation, Lu Yang realized he might have gone too far and acted too hastily. But he didn’t mind. A smile curved his lips as he said to Lan Yu,

“Little one, if you truly think it’s too valuable, then just keep it a secret. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Okay.” Lan Yu still looked a bit puzzled.

Lu Yang wanted to ruffle Lan Yu’s little head like he had in his past life. She was just too adorable. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that now—otherwise, Lan Yu might misunderstand his intentions.

Besides, the game rules forbade intimate actions without consent; such moves would be severely punished by the system.

“All right, everyone, disperse. I have no more equipment to sell,” Lu Yang told the players who were still caught off guard. After playing all afternoon and evening, he was exhausted and needed to log off and rest.

“What a pity, didn’t get to buy a single piece of gear.”

“Sigh, let’s go.”

The players gradually dispersed, but some lingered. When they saw Chi Mu and Xiong Ba still standing nearby, they sighed and left.

“Hey, little brother, don’t go yet,” Xiong Ba called out to Lu Yang.

“Is there something else?” Lu Yang asked.

Xiong Ba said, “Brother, are you interested in joining our guild? You know me—I never treat my brothers unfairly. If you come, you’ll enter the main force team.”

The elder Chi Mu approached Lu Yang as well. “I’m willing to sign a three-year guild leader contract with you. How about it? The benefits I offer are very generous.”

Lu Yang had expected this, but he had no intention of joining anyone else’s guild. After being reborn, he refused to live under someone else’s shadow.

“Sorry, I’m not interested.” Lu Yang turned and entered a nearby inn, spending ten copper coins to rest.

“Did he just walk away like that?”

“The leaders of two major guilds invited him personally. Usually, that would surprise someone who wouldn’t know which to join. But he just left.”

“And said he wasn’t interested?”

The players behind Chi Mu and Xiong Ba showed displeased expressions. However, neither elder Chi Mu nor Xiong Ba spoke further; they exchanged glances and then left with their teams.

---

Xia Yuwei and Lan Yu stayed behind. They had initially planned to give Lu Yang money but, seeing the guild leaders’ recruitment attempts, Xia Yuwei fell silent.

Lan Yu and Xia Yuwei had even speculated which major guild Lu Yang would join, but he had surprisingly expressed no interest.

“I really don’t know if he’s a true expert or just a fool. When have Chi Mu and Xiong Ba ever personally recruited someone?” Zhang Zibo said.

“That guy’s an idiot—turning down such a great opportunity and offending both of them. Mark my words, those two guilds will hunt him down,” Zheng Yuan said angrily.

“Enough. You should say less. If it weren’t for you, we would have gotten the staff a long time ago. We wouldn’t have had to make Lan Yu owe him a favor,” Xia Yuwei frowned.

Mentioning this, Zheng Yuan’s jealousy flared again. “Who does that guy think he is? Using Lan Yu to owe him a favor. Lan Yu, tell me his name. Once the exchange function is enabled, I’ll immediately repay you.”

“No need,” Lan Yu said.

“Why not? If someone like that clings to you, you’ll suffer. He definitely has ill intentions,” Zheng Yuan said.

Zhang Zibo glanced at Zheng Yuan, thinking the one with ill intentions was probably him. But considering the prospect of getting entangled with a stranger who might be more powerful, Zhang Zibo felt uneasy.

“I agree with Zheng Yuan. This guy is too mysterious. We don’t even know his name or where he got those items. It’s better to be cautious.”

“See, Lan Yu? Everyone agrees with me. Just tell me his name. I don’t mind the money,” Zheng Yuan urged.

Lan Yu shook her head again. “Let’s log off. He won’t bother me.”

“How can you be so sure?” Xia Yuwei asked, then realized and said, “He told you to keep it a secret. What secret does that person have?”

Lan Yu’s big eyes showed nervousness. “Ah, no, no secret. Let’s log off. I’m exhausted.”

Xia Yuwei looked suspiciously at Lan Yu as she entered the inn, then said to Zhang Zibo, “There’s definitely something going on.”

Zhang Zibo nodded in agreement.