Chapter 70

Huo and Fang Yi both adopted a close-quarters combat style, making it difficult for either to disengage or launch powerful attacks. Their agile movements and fatal strikes were their shared killing techniques. Thus, the two, moving at high speed, seemed like long-separated lovers engaged in a close and passionate dance, indistinguishable from each other.

However, this evenly matched situation only lasted for a short while at the beginning. Not only were their skills comparable, but Fang Yi, equipped with a full set of gear, had a significant advantage in attributes. Within twenty seconds, Fang Yi found an opportunity to feint with his short sword, then kicked out with a high kick. Huo, off-balance, was directly kicked away and flew out of the window.

Around the Astorian Guild, there were many players who wanted to find quest clues in the mysteriously abandoned mansion. Unexpectedly, with the sound of breaking glass, a figure suddenly flew out from the second floor of the originally empty building, landing on the ground in a sorry state. A few seconds later, another person jumped down from the second floor and engaged in battle with the first figure.

The surrounding players all ran over to watch the spectacle, marveling at the two combatants' skills. Some even started taking photos. Fang Yi, fearing that delay would lead to complications, immediately activated his rage skill, forcefully blocking the dagger thrust at him and stabbing Huo's chest twice.

Huo, a nimble thief with strength values not much lower than Fang Yi's, could not have anticipated that his opponent would suddenly gain such a surge in strength. The dagger he used to parry was easily deflected, and he suffered two direct hits, immediately spitting blood and falling to the ground.

"Who is the King of the Night? What is your purpose in Tashil?" Fang Yi stepped on Huo's chest, pressing the elven dagger steadily against Huo's throat, and growled, "Tell the truth, and I might consider not killing you."

"Everyone will bow before the King of the Night, and you can only offer your blood to the King of the Night! Hahaha~" Fang Yi looked at the madly laughing Huo, whose mud-streaked face made him look like a lunatic. Realizing he could not get any more information, Fang Yi cleanly ended Huo's life and picked up a few silver coins that had dropped.

Only then did the players realize that the person wielding two weapons with a faint magical glow was a player. They all prepared to come closer for a closer look. Fang Yi, who had already cast a disguise spell before jumping out the window, was not afraid of being seen. He simply activated his sprint and quickly ran back to the room upstairs.

During the quest, Fang Yi was not worried about other players intruding, as the quest area was sealed off.

The girl lying on the ground had a frighteningly pale face. Although he knew this was part of the quest and no treatment could improve her fatal injuries, Fang Yi still bound her with a bandage. "Thank you... I remember you," the girl managed a weak smile. Fang Yi, not knowing what to say, could only return her smile.

"I know my time is short... Can I ask you to do one thing for me?"

"Sure!" The shadow of a vibrant girl's passing darkened Fang Yi's heart. "Go on."

The girl coughed with difficulty, removing a ring from her blood-soaked finger. "This is the ring my mother... gave me when I was young... cough, cough, cough... Please take it to my father, thank you..."

As her weak arm fell limply, her feeble voice abruptly stopped. Looking at the lifeless girl, Fang Yi gripped the simple jade ring tightly. Only after the girl's body slowly became transparent and was refreshed by the system did he stand up.

Fang Yi still remembered this girl from the Astorian Hall's front desk. She was the first NPC to smile at him when he entered the game—innocent souls and beautiful things always evoke a sense of sorrow when they pass.

After the quest was completed, the quest area was no longer sealed off to other players. The players who had been waiting outside the room rushed in but found only an empty room. A gentle breeze carrying light rain drifted in from the broken window, wetting a large area of the floor.

Jenna Orlando's Ring (Quest Item)

"A birthday gift from Jenna's mother, made from rare materials."

Fang Yi played with the ring in his hand, still pondering the quest. From Huo's words, it seemed that Jenna's father was a powerful figure in Astoria, perhaps even the leader. But the Thieves' Guild in Tashil and Farview Town had already been wiped out. Where could he find him?

It was already afternoon, and the light rain in Tashil continued to drizzle. Each time he passed a new leveling spot and saw an unlit area on his adventure log, even knowing it was just a low-level monster zone, Fang Yi could not resist exploring the forest, the grassland, or the village.

The world of "Miracle" was so vast that even years later, when the game eventually ended, it would be difficult for anyone to have explored every corner of Faerun. Thinking of this, Fang Yi could not suppress his excitement—there were still many unknown adventures ahead.

At the Mistletoe Inn, the Black Mountain Imp was struggling with a grapefruit on the table, giving Fang Yi, who offered to help, a glare, determined to peel it herself. Fang Yi smiled helplessly and turned to talk to Caisang about his plans.

"If you have nothing else to do, leave early and don't wait for me. The Heart of Holy Light quest also goes to the West Gate, and I think it's aimed at level 20, so it might have to wait until after a class change. It's better to go and familiarize yourself with the situation there first."

"Are you going to stay in Tashil for a while? The hidden class quest is so troublesome. Do you need our help?" Caisang asked, hearing Fang Yi tell her and the Black Mountain Imp to leave early. The Black Mountain Imp, focused on the grapefruit, secretly pouted, but her beautiful dimples were hidden by her bangs, and Fang Yi did not see them.

"It should be fine. I'm about to level up to 16, and the door god is no longer a problem. Besides, having more people there would make it harder to handle," Fang Yi explained. "You're already level 16, so go to the West Gate and get familiar with the area. I'll join you when I get there."

The two had no objections to Fang Yi's plan. After sending them off on the carriage to the West Gate, Fang Yi resumed his stakeout at the Tashil docks. Every evening, after a day of leveling, Fang Yi would spend an hour at the docks. During this time, he leveled up to 16, and his stealth and hiding skills improved significantly.

He also visited the cave that Karl had gone to, using the Deep Earth Walker amulet. After bypassing the golem at the entrance, he found that the interior was artificially laid with stone slabs, numerous branching paths, and various traps. Fang Yi did not dare to alert the enemy and quietly retreated.

Karl spent every day holed up in a small house at the docks, surrounded by a heavy guard. Just the visible guards included eight fully armed rangers and monks, making it impossible to approach. However, hard work pays off, and after three days, Fang Yi finally waited for the day when this guy would leave.