A certain building in the Player Center.
This building was tall, with cold black exterior walls that exuded an ominous aura. It was the headquarters of the Deathbringer Guild, the number one guild on the rankings.
At this moment, in a conference room on the 20th floor, over a dozen players were seated. The title of the PowerPoint presentation on the projection screen prominently displayed a name: Yu Deng.
The players flipped through the data and discussed heatedly.
"Yu Deng is truly terrifying, climbing to the top of the overall rankings in just one month."
"Yeah, based on the current types of dungeons and their durations, as well as the frequency of his ranking changes, he has likely cleared four dungeons at most. But our analysis suggests he might have only cleared three!"
"Whoa, so he's averaging one million points per low-level dungeon? Is he even human?"
"Geez, Old Shi's livestream popularity rankings have even been overtaken by Yu Deng. If only we could watch other players' smart feeds, I'd really like to know which god this guy is."
As the group continued discussing, recalling various rumors circulating within the Player Center, a hint of dread appeared in their eyes.
In a corner, one player whispered, "Even the boss didn't earn three million points this quickly back then, right?"
"Shh! The boss is here today!"
The man seated at the head of the table lounged lazily, his demeanor relaxed. He glanced at the subordinate who had spoken and said indifferently, "Mm, back then, I cleared five dungeons before I reached three million points."
The comparison made the players gasp in shock.
"So, Guild Leader, what do you think? I heard the Lantern Guild is trying to recruit Yu Deng, and Emberfire and Moonfall have also shown interest."
"They haven't even found him yet—how can they recruit him?" The man tapped the table. "Don't worry too much. Focus on analyzing more intel about the Infinite World."
The meeting lasted over two hours, and the players gradually left the conference room. A female player with golden curls quickly caught up with the Guild Leader, frowning as she reminded him:
"Boss, if that bandit Yu Deng ends up joining Lantern or Moonfall, it's fine. But if he's recruited by a guild like Heaven Slayer…" She looked worried. "In that case, we might lose another batch of average-strength players."
"Bandit?" The man chuckled at her words and said quietly, "He's probably just a small-time con artist."
The female player didn't quite catch what he said, sensing only that he seemed to disagree. Just as she was about to question further, the man shut down the topic with finality.
"If he were truly violent, it would've been exposed when he topped the newcomer rankings. There'd be plenty of chatter about it on the player forums."
He smiled faintly. "Like when it happened to me."
"That's completely different," the female player said awkwardly, scratching her head. "Speaking of promising newcomers… there's a new guy named Cheng Xiao who's pretty solid. And then there's Qin Jun, who made it onto the overall rankings within three months but hasn't joined a guild yet."
The mention of these two names inexplicably annoyed the man.
"Oh, and there's news about Yu Feng," the female player lowered her voice. "Based on the Lantern Guild's reaction… Yu Feng may have gone missing in an S-rank dungeon."
---
Meanwhile, Yu Deng, the current hot topic among the players, was still in the training hall in the central district.
He stood dejectedly in the training room, clutching his scalpel, and complained to the training robot with an aggrieved tone, "Why are you humiliating me like this? You're so mean."
The robot, still lying on the floor pretending to be defeated: [?]
It scanned Yu Deng's teary eyes, experiencing something akin to human confusion, as a yellow light blinked on its display screen. After a few seconds, it finally responded.
"Analysis complete. My behavior does not constitute humiliation, nor was it intended as such. According to human psychological logic, my actions were meant to encourage you."
Yu Deng: "...?" Thanks, but I didn't feel encouraged.
Tears welled up in Yu Deng's eyes as he questioned the robot's reasoning. "But I didn't feel encouraged at all…"
The training robot began to doubt its own purpose: "That's impossible. I reviewed 1,170 related articles just now. They indicate that humans experience joy and pride upon achieving a milestone victory."
Yu Deng shook his head. "But, but…" Frustrated and disheartened, he couldn't find the words to describe his feelings.
The distance at which the robot collapsed was too ridiculous. Even if it was meant as encouragement, the acting was terrible… Yu Deng felt no pride at all, only that the robot was mocking him.
The two stared at each other—carbon-based and silicon-based lifeforms both feeling equally defeated. A heavy silence settled in the training room.
Yu Deng, temporarily done dealing with the robot, squatted on the floor, staring into space in a slump.
I'm so bad at this, boohoo. But I really tried hard. Fighting is so hard…
The training robot, meanwhile, stood up and circled around Yu Deng a few times, its display flashing a red light as it beeped.
System 01, observing its foolish peer, didn't feel like saying anything.
Yu Deng stayed in his slump for a while, his legs going numb from squatting. He eventually plopped onto the floor, giving up entirely, and opened the player forum to browse posts.
With over seven-digit active users in the Player Center, the forum was the only communication channel available, and it was a lively place. Hundreds of new posts refreshed every second.
Every time Yu Deng swiped the screen, he would see discussions about himself, which made him thankful that he always wore a cloak and mask whenever he went out.
Another swipe, and Yu Deng saw a popular post where a player was angrily cursing a guild called Lutian.
"Lutian Guild, you people really deserve to die! You'll get your comeuppance!!"
Hmm? Yu Deng widened his eyes and quickly scanned this trending post. After reading it, he learned that a member of Lutian Guild had been massacring other players in a dungeon, even using the in-game camera to capture the bloody final moments of the victims and send them to their friends and families.
Yu Deng shuddered as he looked at the heart-wrenching accusation on the screen. "These people from Lutian Guild are so evil…"
[Yes, there are many players in the Infinite World, and naturally, there will be a certain number of bad ones.] System 01 kindly reminded him, [So, Host, you must be careful in the dungeons.]
For someone as beautiful as Yu Deng, exposing his appearance or revealing that he was a special quest player was very dangerous. At least until Yu Deng could easily fend off the bad guys, he needed to keep a low profile.
"Mm-hmm, I know." Yu Deng nodded repeatedly, continuing to scroll through various posts on the forum.
He also saw various rumors and a few posts discussing the big shots from YF.
When Yu Deng saw those two letters, he suddenly felt a pang of unease, almost on the verge of tears. He poked the screen in confusion, not understanding why he felt that way.
Everyone was talking about Mute, and since his forum level wasn't high enough, he couldn't view some posts, so he had to temporarily set aside his confusion.
[Ding. The Guihuai High School dungeon has been fully cleared. The dungeon's destruction is severe, and it is expected to be permanently closed.]
The electronic voice of the main system suddenly echoed. Yu Deng ignored the main system and pretended not to hear it speaking.
He was very annoyed at the moment and didn't want to talk to the main system.
[Player Yu Deng?]
Yu Deng held back for a few seconds and then cautiously asked, "System, why do I hear a buzzing sound?"
System 01 cooperated very well: [You might have misheard.]
The ignored main system: [?]
The main system fell silent for a few seconds, and its electronic voice became cold: [Player Yu Deng will be penalized 800,000 points.]
Yu Deng: [???] Why is the deduction more each time?!
"I don't agree with this punishment." Yu Deng lowered his head, poking the training room floor with the scalpel. "I completed the task, and the Guihuai High School campus is still there... You guys are so powerful, can't you just recreate the dungeon?"
[... ]The main system replied: [The conditions for generating a dungeon are very strict.]
Yu Deng responded with a dejected "Oh."
Actually, he didn't have much attachment to the points. He didn't want to use them to buy expensive items or create a guild. If spending some points could help NPCs in the dungeon escape their suffering, or help his mission targets take revenge or find relief, he was happy to do it...
However, having the points he earned through hard work in the dungeon deducted still made Yu Deng upset.
Yu Deng stayed silent, and System 01 also remained quiet. After a few minutes of silence, System 01's voice finally came through.
[Host, I've just argued with the main system about your punishment, and you don't have to deduct so many points.] System 01 said, [However, since the dungeon has been permanently closed, you need to pay a symbolic punishment of 200,000 points.]
Yu Deng's eyes immediately brightened: "Eh?? Only 200,000? That's fine, you're amazing, Tongtong."
The system's electronic voice carried a hint of amusement: [It's because the host is so amazing, which is why the argument was successful.]
Yu Deng had the feeling that the system was trying to coax him, but that didn't stop him from feeling happy.
...
Yu Deng spent an hour leisurely scrolling through the forum, finally reigniting some of his fighting spirit. He waved at the training robot: "Let's go again!"
The robot's electronic voice was a bit quieter this time: [Player Yu Deng, are you sure you want to continue training?]
"Of course."
Yu Deng took a few deep breaths and started sparring with the robot again. This time, the robot hesitated, secretly lowering its attack speed by a notch. Three minutes later, Yu Deng lost again.
Yu Deng: "..." Sigh.
He sighed, put on his cloak and mask, and decided to leave this place that was making him sad.
The public area of the training hall was still full of people coming and going. Yu Deng shrank into his cloak and slowly walked out.
Suddenly, a man walking beside him abruptly stopped, grabbed his hand.
Yu Deng warily tried to pull away: "Hey? What are you doing?"
"Shh, it's me, Qin Jun." The man lowered his voice and, without warning, picked up Yu Deng, casually brushing into a training room.
So, Yu Deng was back in the same training room as before—if invited by the room owner, a single-person training room could accommodate up to three people.
The training robot that had just turned off powered on again and saw Yu Deng: [?]
What's going on? Wasn't it said he wasn't coming back?
Yu Deng stood still for several seconds, finally realizing who he had encountered. It was Qin Jun, the special mission target in the castle dungeon.
"Oh, it's you. You scared me..." Yu Deng tilted his head slightly to look at him. "I didn't expect to run into you here. How did you recognize me?"
Is my disguise really that weak?
"Your scent..." Qin Jun's voice paused for a moment. "It smells very good, I can't be mistaken."
"Oh..." Yu Deng didn't quite understand why these guys kept saying he smelled good. He didn't feel anything after smelling himself every day. But this explanation reassured him that his disguise hadn't failed.
Qin Jun still remembered how Yu Deng had gotten upset with the little vampire in the castle. Now, he spoke in a particularly gentle tone as he preemptively asked, "Can I hug you?"
Yu Deng nodded, and the next second, he found himself in Qin Jun's arms.
The man's heartbeat was fast, holding him tightly as if trying to hide him within his embrace.
"Baby, I finally found you." Qin Jun's low voice carried a smile. "I saw you on the leaderboard. You're amazing."
Yu Deng puffed his chest out proudly.
After a while, the man's previously restless emotions finally calmed. He lowered his head and tentatively pressed his lips to Yu Deng's, gently kissing him.
Yu Deng was somewhat satisfied with Qin Jun's attitude, so he didn't resist the kiss.
Their lips met, and their breaths intermingled.
"…Alright, alright, no more kissing." After being kissed for a long time, Yu Deng pushed him away with a flushed face.
"Mm." Qin Jun obediently released him. "Baby, why did you want to come here?"
"Of course, to train."
Yu Deng said, but then a little deflated, "But I'm so bad, I can't even beat the robot."
The smile in Qin Jun's eyes deepened: "If you haven't had formal training before, it's normal to lose." He paused. "How about I be your sparring partner?"
"You'll be my sparring partner?"
Qin Jun casually said, "I used to be a mercenary."
A series of titles from military novels flashed through Yu Deng's mind, and he nodded in confusion: "Okay."
The robot nearby was like: [?] So you don't need me to spar anymore?
—No, you're still needed.
Qin Jun casually grabbed a knife from the wall and wrapped his arms around Yu Deng from behind, guiding his hands to teach him how to use it.
They were close, with the man's warm, firm chest pressed against Yu Deng's back, and his rapid heartbeat resonating in Yu Deng's ears. Qin Jun could also clearly smell the sweet fragrance on Yu Deng.
Yu Deng shook his head and focused on the training.
It must be said that a mercenary's combat experience was very rich, and Yu Deng learned many efficient and straightforward techniques, winning his first match against the training robot.
Yu Deng felt that he was really strong this time! He raised the corner of his mouth, just about to share his joy with Qin Jun, when he heard an announcement.
[Ding. Attention all players in the Infinite World, a special dungeon will open in three days. The list of participating players and dungeon type will be drawn at noon tomorrow.]
What??
Yu Deng grabbed the man's arm. "Qin Jun, did you hear the announcement?"
Qin Jun furrowed his brows. "Yeah, it's an announcement about a special dungeon. This is the first time I've heard about it since I came to the Infinite World."
"What is this?" Yu Deng simply asked the system for help.
[In the Infinite World, aside from normal dungeons, there will occasionally be special dungeons of different types. Special dungeons are usually multiplayer competition-type dungeons.]
[Special dungeons have a higher difficulty level, but the rewards are very generous. Additionally, unlike normal dungeons, players who die for the first time in a special dungeon will not truly be erased.]
Yu Deng breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like it was still okay.
[However, host, please be aware that in this special dungeon, if a player is killed by another player rather than by the dungeon's elements, there is a chance that their items and skills can be taken.]
Yu Deng: "??"
This is just like the gear drop in online games!
[Also, more importantly, if a player is resurrected but does not immediately choose to leave the dungeon, another death will result in permanent death.]
With this explanation, Yu Deng understood the situation in special dungeons. The rewards were generous, and it gave one extra life compared to normal dungeons, plus it allowed players to steal others' gear.
For strong players, this was a welfare dungeon, but for regular players, it could be a disaster… Yu Deng felt this was a bit unfair and wondered if there were any balance mechanisms in place for the dungeon.
Hmm, if he had to participate in such a multiplayer competition dungeon… wouldn't it be easy for them to figure out his disguise?!
Yu Deng immediately frowned.
[Don't worry, host. If you really need to participate in the special dungeon, I will help you.]
"Okay then..."
Yu Deng replied, briefly explaining to Qin Jun what the special dungeon was.
"Got it, thanks, babe." Qin Jun appeared calm, "We won't know the list until tomorrow, so there's no need to worry too much. Let's continue training, shall we?"
Yu Deng was coaxed into continuing his training.
After being taught hand-on how to use knives and basic combat techniques, the training robot was pushed aside, and Qin Jun became his training dummy.
Yu Deng trained for an hour, feeling like his bones were about to fall apart.
"I'm done… so tired." Yu Deng's eyes were vacant, his voice weak. "I don't have the energy..."
"Okay, baby, you've made a lot of progress."
Qin Jun awkwardly praised him, clenched his fist, and nervously made a request. "How about we go to my place? I'm in the central district, and the place is pretty clean."
Yu Deng slouched in the training room chair, lazily stretching his words. "I don't want to move... my arms and legs are so sore."
[Hello, there are healing potions for injuries in the training room.] The training robot finally found a chance to speak. [And, with just a thousand points, you can add a massage service, and I can also send the player back to their residence...]
Before the robot could finish, Qin Jun pressed the mute button.
The man calmly spoke. "It's a metal shell, having it carry you back would be very uncomfortable."
Robot: [???] Is this a competition?
Qin Jun squatted down in front of Yu Deng, exposing his broad back. "I can carry you back."
Yu Deng tilted his body and poked Qin Jun's shoulder. "But your muscles are so hard… It would be uncomfortable for me to lie on you."
"…I can carry you in my arms, or we can take a car back," Qin Jun emphasized. "I can also massage you to help relieve the soreness."
Yu Deng thought for a few seconds, then reluctantly nodded. "Alright."
After agreeing, Yu Deng tried to stand up, but his legs were too weak, and he almost stumbled. He sat back down, rolled up his pants, revealing his long calves.
His fair skin was delicate and smooth, with a faint pink tint on his knees from the exercise.
Yu Deng lifted his leg and placed it on Qin Jun's knee, then pulled Qin Jun's hand and placed it on his leg.
Qin Jun's breathing quickened slightly. He held the soft flesh of Yu Deng's leg, his throat dry as he swallowed, unable to stop the movement of his Adam's apple. "Baby?"
"It's really sore here... and my hands too," Yu Deng complained softly. "You're good at massages, right?"