"Rival?" both girls said at the same time, blinking in surprise.
Rei Lin's eyes shone slightly as he responded, "Yes. I've seen people who claim to be geniuses, but only a few made my blood stir. Your brother… no, Yuan, he has the potential. He's already contracted two Soul Weapons and was acknowledged by an Divine Beast. That kind of monstrous talent—he's someone I want to fight, someday. A proper sparring partner."
Yu Rou gave Rei Lin a strange look. Part of her wanted to call him a battle maniac—but then she sighed in relief. At least this guy didn't seem to have any ill intentions. If anything, he was just obsessed with fighting strong people.
"Okay, now that I've seen it myself… He is really Player Yuan," Rei Lin said, his voice turning serious. "Let me help. Tell me more about his illness."
Yu Rou nodded and began to explain, "His body one day suddenly started getting weak, and now after many years, his condition worsened drastically. Now, everything below his neck is completely paralyzed. He can't move or feel anything."
She sighed deeply. "Doctors have tried everything. There's no damage to his nerves, no visible disease, no genetic issues. But no one has found the cause."
Rei Lin narrowed his eyes in thought. If no one can detect anything wrong, there are only two possibilities. Either it's a powerful curse… or his body simply lacks the necessary spiritual energy to maintain itself. If it's the latter, then it makes sense—he's in the mortal world, with almost no ambient qi. And if he's not cultivating, that divine physique of his would naturally decay.
"Does your brother… have a special physique?" Rei Lin asked, turning to Xiao Hua, but it was Yu Rou who answered.
"Yes," she said slowly. "He has an celestial-ranked physique. Though… we don't know what rank it really is or how powerful it is."
Rei Lin's eyes lit up. "Then it makes sense. Your brother's body isn't sick—it's starving. A divine physique in a world without qi, and without cultivation to support it? Of course it would collapse."
Yu Rou frowned deeply, her expression darkening. "What are you trying to say? That my brother is bedridden because… he's not cultivating? Are you joking right now?"
Rei Lin didn't flinch. He met her eyes and nodded. "Exactly. If I'm right, then he's not suffering from any illness—his body is collapsing under the pressure of his own physique."
Yu Rou's breath caught in her throat. She looked at him like he'd just said the sky was green.
"You're saying cultivation is real? That this—this VR game—isn't just a game?" she said, her voice rising with disbelief and frustration. "Do you even realize how absurd you sound right now? Don't mess with me. If you can't help, at least don't give me false hope by spouting nonsense!"
Her hands were clenched into fists, her voice cracking. Beside her, Xiao Hua looked between them nervously. As an NPC, she didn't understand what "VR game" meant, but she could tell something important was happening.
Rei Lin, however, remained calm.
"I'm not messing with you," he said evenly. "Cultivation is real. This game world is real. Just log out. And cultivate for five minutes—and you'll see it."
Yu Rou stared at him, expecting some kind of mocking smile, some sign of deceit or insanity.
But there was nothing.
Just quiet confidence. No mockery. No exaggerated tone. Just truth—or at least, what he believed to be the truth.
Her anger faltered.
She didn't believe him—she couldn't—but the way he spoke, the conviction in his voice… it shook her.
"Very well then," she said slowly, her tone icy but trembling with uncertainty. "But listen closely. If I find out you were lying—if you gave me false hope—I'll tell Xiao Hua to kill you. She's a Spirit King. Don't think she can't."
She stepped closer, staring him down. "Tell me one last time… are you lying?"
Rei Lin met her glare without blinking. "Just log out and cultivate. You'll see it for yourself."
He shrugged as if it was nothing, but there was no arrogance—only confidence.
Yu Rou gave him a final, long look. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance," she said, her voice tight.
Then, without another word, she logged out—her body disappearing from here.
Rei Lin just nodded to himself, waiting quietly.
"It'll only take a few minutes," Rei Lin murmured.
Meanwhile, off to the side, Yuan and Madam Feng were finishing their exchange. Suddenly, Yuan pointed at her, a surprised look on his face.
"Madam Feng… your eyes—they turned golden," he said.
Madam Feng blinked in surprise. She touched her face as if confirming it, and then a bright smile spread across her lips. "Haha! My powers are back!"
"Powers?" Yuan asked, confused.
"Yes," she nodded, her voice full of joy. "I mean, my bloodline seal—it was a small part, but it's loosened now nonetheless. The curse is fading."
Her eyes gleamed with reverence as she looked at Yuan like he was a priceless treasure. She stepped closer, her tone soft but trembling with urgency.
"You… young master. Let me follow you...." She paused, then bowed her head slightly. "If you would grant me more drop of your blood, I… I am willing to offer you mine in return. No—more than that. My soul, my loyalty, my body, everything I possess… shall belong to you."
Yuan blinked, stunned by the sudden offer. "Wait—what? You don't need to go that far. That's really not necessary…"
"I insist," Madam Feng said, her voice unshaken. "With your bloodline, you are no ordinary human. If you allow me to form a blood pact, I will serve you for life—body, soul, and spirit."
From the side, Rei Lin raised an eyebrow. "This woman's too intense…" he muttered under his breath.
Xiao Hua stood beside him, watching quietly. "But Brother Yuan's eyes kind of sparkled too when she mentioned blood," she said softly, as if sensing something deeper.
Rei Lin nodded slowly, thoughtful. Most people would have leaped at the chance to dominate a Divine Beast like Madam Feng…
But Yuan?
He simply smiled awkwardly and said, "You can be my partner don't need to be my servant."
Not a master. Not a servant.
Just… equals.