Chapter Ninety-Five: Heading to the Troll Fortress

After taking off my helmet and stepping out of the room, sure enough, everyone was there. Long Xin asked anxiously, “Brother, how did it go? Did you take down the boss?”

I said, “What do you think?”

Ye Shuang chimed in, “Of course it did. No problem. My brother steps in and it’s always handled, right, brother?”

“Yes,” I said. “The boss is already dead. If I’m on the job, how could we possibly fail to hold the place?”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “Good, as long as we held it. I thought I was going to lose five levels!”

Long Xin asked again, “What did the boss drop? I didn’t see anything.”

I said, “Well...”

Xiao Ai said, “Dragon Spirit, you’re not thinking of keeping it all for yourself, are you?”

I said, “Of course not. Here’s what happened.” Then I told them everything that had just taken place.

Everyone’s eyes widened as they stared at me in astonishment.

I gave a bitter smile. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Long Xin immediately said happily, “Big brother, when you log in, you have to give me that necklace.”

I said, “You’re only a few levels away from using it. When you can actually equip it, I’ll give it to you. I’m not going to keep it just to sell for cash.”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “All right, all right, that settles the first matter. Now then... Dragon Spirit, confess honestly. What exactly have you been up to?”

I was completely baffled. “What are you talking about? Confess what?”

Ye Shuang said, “Brother, stop pretending. Spit it out already. Confession gets leniency; resistance gets severity.”

I looked at them, full of suspicion. “What exactly do you want me to say? You’re all acting like a bunch of lunatics.”

Feng Xiaoyue shook her head. “Still pretending? Long Xin, confiscate all your brother’s comics and anime figures. If he won’t confess honestly, we’ll sell them tomorrow to Old Wu downstairs and turn them into cash.”

After she answered, Long Xin moved with astonishing speed, sweeping up all my comics and figures and stuffing them into a box that must have been prepared in advance, then set it down in front of me. I immediately said, “Hey, hey, hey! You don’t need to go this far. Those are my lifeblood. How am I supposed to live without them?”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “If you want them back, then confess.”

I said, “Confess what?”

Xiao Ai said, “What you need to confess is your relationship with Huan Yue. Start from the beginning and tell us everything, honestly and in order. If you dare not say it... hee hee!”

As she spoke, she pulled out one of my comics from the box, then took out a lighter. After lighting it, she slowly brought the flame toward one corner of the book.

I immediately shouted, “Sto... stop! Don’t burn it!”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “No burning is fine. Then confess.”

I hurriedly said, “We’re just friends. That’s all.”

Feng Xiaoyue looked doubtful. “Friends? Really?”

I nodded hard, but then she said, “Xiao Ai, burn the one in your hand.”

And before I could stop her, she set one corner of the book on fire. I lunged forward at once, snatched it from her hands, and slapped out the flames with frantic speed. After checking the whole book, I found that only the lower right corner had been scorched into a small hole. The rest was fine, and only then did I let out a breath.

But when I looked up, I froze. Somehow, they had already lit a chopstick and stuck it upright on top of the box.

I hurriedly said, “Guys, don’t do this. It took me so much effort to collect all of these.”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “If you don’t want all your hard work to go to waste, then confess.”

I said, “We really are just friends. Truly.”

At that moment, Feng Xiaoyue seemed to get angry. “Dragon Spirit, you really won’t shed tears until you see the coffin, and you won’t give up until you reach the Yellow River. Looks like I have no choice but to use some practical methods.”

She pulled out the chopstick, then took another comic from the box. The moment I saw that book, I immediately said, “Stop! That one is...”

But before I could finish, the scene I dreaded most unfolded before my eyes. Feng Xiaoyue mercilessly lit it. In an instant, fierce flames swallowed the entire book. When the fire reached her hand, she tossed it to the floor, and I could only watch helplessly as it burned to a pile of ash, which was then swept into the trash can.

Tears in my eyes, I said, “You’re all being way too cruel. I hadn’t even finished half of that one. You’re heartless. Waaaa...”

Ye Shuang said, “Brother, don’t cry. After you tell us everything, I’ll go with you to the newsstand downstairs and buy another one. Hurry up, before the stand closes.”

I said, “Is this really worth all this trouble?”

Xiao Ai said, “It is. For the experience I need for my next level, you have to tell us. Otherwise I’ll smash every single one of your figures.” As she spoke, she even pulled out a hammer.

I was utterly helpless. “You’re all experts at beating a confession out of someone. Fine, I’ll talk. I’ll tell you everything.”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “If only you’d done that sooner. Now hurry up and confess.”

The rest of them all stared at me, looking tense and nervously expectant. I said, “We really are just friends.”

At once, everyone collapsed in a heap.

A few seconds later, they got back up, and Feng Xiaoyue wore such a furious expression that she grabbed the hammer and swung it at the box. I immediately threw my arms around it and said, “If you’re going to smash anything, smash me first.”

The hammer stopped a centimeter from my head. I slowly raised my face and stared blankly at Feng Xiaoyue, then hugged the box and backed rapidly toward the wall.

Pointing the hammer at me, Feng Xiaoyue said, “Dragon Spirit, don’t think that because you’ve got the box you’ve escaped for now. You may dodge the first day, but you can’t dodge the fifteenth. Do you think I have no other way to make you talk?”

I swallowed hard. “Could it be...”

Feng Xiaoyue gave a sly laugh. “That’s right. That very thing.”

I surrendered immediately. “Don’t bring that thing out. I won’t have the face to see anyone.”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “Then talk. Otherwise I’ll bring it out and share it with everyone.”

Xiao Ai’s curiosity was piqued. “Sister Yue, what thing is it?”

Feng Xiaoyue smiled. “This kind of thing can’t be taken out casually, so I can’t tell you.”

“Tch!” Xiao Ai turned her head away. Feng Xiaoyue then said to me, “Dragon Spirit, speak.”

I said, “Yes, yes. My beautiful Sister Yue, here’s what happened. It starts with the day we went to check the exam results...”

After I explained everything from beginning to end, I said, “That’s how it was.”

But everyone was looking at me with disbelief. Ye Shuang said, “Brother, I know you don’t lie, but what you’re saying is just too unbelievable.”

I said, “Exactly. That’s how unbelievable it is. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Long Xin said, “Big brother, work harder. Try to push her down as soon as possible.”

I gave a strained smile. “You’re thinking too much. We’re not even boyfriend and girlfriend. How could I possibly push her down?”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “All right, all right, now we know what’s going on. Dragon Spirit, you need to seize the chance. I wish you success soon.”

Xiao Xi said, “Brother Dragon, go for it. I’m rooting for you.”

Xiao Ai said, “Dragon Spirit, I’m very optimistic about you.”

Ye Shuang said, “Brother, do you want me to give you some secret techniques for chasing girls?”

I said, “No. Keep those secret techniques for yourself. I’ll rely on my own ability.”

Feng Xiaoyue said, “All right, that’s the end of it. By the way, all of us are already above level thirty-five. How about we finish the quest at Troll Fortress tomorrow?”

I said, “Sure, but...”

Feng Xiaoyue smiled. “I know what you’re going to say.” Then she pulled out a comic book and tossed it onto the bed. “Here. I’m not going to burn your books for free.”

I quickly put the comic away and felt as though something inside me had finally been set down. Though it was a little strange, I decided not to think too much about it. After arranging my comics and figures back where they belonged, I went to sleep.

The next day, after logging in, I didn’t even bother checking the new updates. I bought a large storage bag first, expanded my system backpack, then bought several return scrolls. I also prepared food, drinking water, and, most importantly, plenty of red and blue potions, and put everything into my pack.

At the city gate, the five of us gathered on the open ground, each of us brimming with energy.

“Everyone ready?” I asked.

“Mhm. Let’s go, brother,” Ye Shuang said with a nod.

The others nodded as well.

“All right. We’re off.”

At last, we were going to the mysterious Troll Fortress to meet the legendary commander of the ogre race, the Slaughterer, Shadi.