At this point, the onlooking players were completely speechless, able only to express the storm of thoughts in their minds with question marks.
Sheng Sheng, however, couldn't care less about what the masses were thinking. After unleashing the lightning, she didn't stop. The tip of her staff flashed white once more.
A palm-sized milky-white orb drifted out, wobbling as it floated toward Fallen Dead Spirit.
[Holy Light Orb], hit!
But this time, no damage numbers appeared above Fallen Dead Spirit's head.
He maintained an expression of utter disbelief as he vanished on the spot…
[System]: You have killed [Fallen Dead Spirit]. Evil Value +1. [Fallen Dead Spirit]'s Hatred toward you +10.
It sounds long when described, but from the start of the PK to its end, only a few dozen seconds had passed.
Where Fallen Dead Spirit had been standing, a single piece of equipment now lay quietly on the ground.
Sheng Sheng walked over, picked it up, and couldn't help laughing. "Not bad luck—his weapon dropped."
It was the longbow Fallen Dead Spirit had been holding just moments ago!
Equipment Name: Recurve Hunting Bow [White Equipment]
Class Requirement: Archer
Stats: Strength +4, Agility +2
Description: A mass-produced item. Rough in appearance, but still effective in the hands of someone strong.
With such loot in hand, Sheng Sheng didn't hesitate at all and started hawking her freshly acquired spoils on the spot.
"Archer weapon for sale! Fair trade, one hand pays, one hand delivers—honest business!"
The crowd erupted again.
At this stage, equipment was hard to come by. A single weapon could be coveted by countless players.
But before any happy trading could begin, someone lacking self-awareness jumped out again.
"You—you can't do this!"
Sheng Sheng raised an eyebrow and looked with interest at the novel's female lead, who appeared close to fainting from anger, then tilted her head and smiled. "Do what?"
Tang Wanwan, seeing her "unrepentant" attitude, became even more distressed. "How can you auction off Dead Spirit's equipment?! He already lost a level! If you sell his weapon, how is he supposed to level after this?! You… can't you be a little kinder?!"
"Kinder?"
What kind of nonsense was this?
Sheng Sheng rubbed her temple and asked sincerely, "Is something wrong with your head?"
Tang Wanwan flushed bright red with anger, looking as though she might pass out. She pointed at Sheng Sheng, her finger trembling, unable to say anything beyond "You… you…". Her two friends hurried to support her.
All three glared at Sheng Sheng with hostility.
Sheng Sheng wore an indescribable expression, shook her head, and decisively looked away.
As expected of a world formed from a naïve, sweet novel—the main characters' behavior could really be this baffling.
Sheng Sheng: I really shouldn't get too close to them. Who knows if stupidity is contagious.
Compared to Tang Wanwan, the unnamed passersby looked far more normal.
Seeing Tang Wanwan trying to interfere, they boldly voiced their opinions.
"If you agreed to PK, you have to accept the consequences."
"Can't afford to lose? Then don't agree in the first place!"
…
A certain librarian once said that the power of the masses is immense.
Amid the tide of public opinion, Tang Wanwan and her group, though furious, didn't dare say anything else outrageous.
Since they stopped yapping, Sheng Sheng was happy to continue selling the weapon.
Someone sharp immediately shouted, "How much?!"
Sheng Sheng: "Not expensive. Starting bid—10 copper!"
Ten copper coins—about ten bucks in real money. The price of two bottles of soda.
"That's cheap!" someone stepped forward immediately. "I'll buy it."
"Do you even know what 'starting bid' means? Ten copper for a weapon is robbery! I bid 15!"
"20!"
The crowd's enthusiasm surged, and the price quickly climbed to 60 copper.
That was even a few copper higher than market price.
Satisfied, Sheng Sheng immediately completed the trade.
Sixty bucks in half an hour—this money was ridiculously easy to make.
Still not quite satisfied, Sheng Sheng turned to Tang Wanwan and her companions, who still hadn't left, and asked sincerely, "You think what I did was wrong? You really hate me, don't you?"
The three of them snorted in unison.
Sheng Sheng wasn't angry at all. Instead, she smiled warmly. "Then how about a few more PK rounds? You can punish this villain properly."
All three of them were holding weapons, after all.
With so many spectators around, there was no worry about lacking a market.
As Sheng Sheng thought this, she failed to hide the eager light in her eyes.
The onlookers: "…"
Tang Wanwan and her companions were mortified. At this moment, they finally understood what it felt like to be treated like fools.
The strongest among them was Fallen Dead Spirit. The other two girls were doing well just managing the game, let alone PK. This would be like lambs walking into a tiger's den.
"…Y-you're dreaming!" Tang Wanwan snapped angrily. "You want our weapons! We're not falling for it!"
Sheng Sheng persisted, fanning the flames. "Really not PK? Weren't you quite eager before? Now it's delivered to your doorstep—why won't you take it?"
She waved her staff and said earnestly, "If I lose, you can take my weapon~"
But Tang Wanwan, perhaps having had a moment of enlightenment, stubbornly refused to PK no matter what. Worse, she wouldn't leave either, making Sheng Sheng itch with regret.
Sheng Sheng: Hah, suddenly grew a brain.
In the end, to avoid wasting time, Sheng Sheng could only give up reluctantly—after all, she still had a task to turn in.
Before leaving, she left a message for Fallen Dead Spirit.
Sheng Sheng: "I'm in a hurry and don't have time to wait for that archer to come fulfill the bet. So please pass this along for me. Next time we meet, he'd better kneel and call me 'Dad'!"
The crowd eagerly added fuel to the fire.
"That's right—if you're a man, you have to keep your word!"
"We'll testify for you!"
"Thanks, everyone!" Sheng Sheng waved at them.
The atmosphere was harmonious and lively.
After Sheng Sheng left, some of the onlookers didn't immediately disperse to grind monsters.
They avoided Tang Wanwan's group and huddled together, whispering, their faces showing shock, doubt, and unease.
If one listened closely, they could hear the discussion.
"Did you guys see clearly? What skills were those?"
"She's a priest, right? I swear on my life that our class doesn't have those skills!"
"Whatever they were, the damage was insane. Two skills and the archer was dead!"
"I think it's a bug!"
"That's not a bug—that's a cheat, right? She's at most level 14! We can only learn two skills at 14. Why does she have an extra one?"
"Could it be because she's pretty?"
Everyone gave him a look like he'd lost his mind.
"I also think she's cheating. That archer's the same level as me, fully geared defensively, 140 HP. She did over 100 damage with two skills?"
"Wait—this game can be hacked?"
"Who knows? I just know there's not even customer service to contact."
"I feel like this world is too complicated for us…"
"Whatever. I recorded it. I'll post it on the forum and let the experts take a look. Worst case, we summon the GM and see if she's cheating!"
"Nice thinking! I'll go bump your post."
"I'm in too!"
…
Back in Kaedelin City, Sheng Sheng had no idea what kind of storm she was about to cause.
—or rather, she probably guessed and simply didn't care.
Sheng Sheng: They can report all they want. It's a game skill. If my account gets deleted, I'll admit defeat.
After returning to the city, Sheng Sheng headed straight for the Priest Association.
After several days of development, the associations were even more bustling—especially the Priest Association. Most visitors were girls, creating a cheerful, pleasant scene.
This attracted players from nearby male-heavy classes, who often came over just to feast their eyes.
Among all the pristine white priest robes, Sheng Sheng—covered in dust like she'd just rolled in the mud—looked completely out of place.
Compared to this, the Assassin Association next door suited her current vibe far better.
The Priest NPCs didn't mistake her dusty appearance for a spy from another association.
—After showing her credentials, Sheng Sheng smoothly boarded the elevator to the third floor.
Yes. An elevator.
Who knew why a world set in a medieval fantasy setting would have elevators?
—Just like how players never understood why a game that looked nothing like Earth was called Earth Online.
Sheng Sheng: Don't ask. The author was lazy.
So what's on the third floor of the Priest Association?
This had long been a hot topic of speculation.
Some said the strongest boss was sealed there—after all, priests specialized in purifying dark creatures.
Others said the most powerful NPC, the Goddess of Light, resided there—since the Priest Association was the only one that worshipped a deity.
Still others claimed the most powerful priest skills were stored there—after all, the second-floor library already contained many skills.
Everyone had their own theory.
Even Tang Wanwan, the top healer in the original story, had never been there.
Thus, it became an unsolved mystery.
And now, Sheng Sheng, a level 13 healer, had surpassed all players and arrived at the third floor!
She was here. She had come, carrying the chance to unravel this long-standing mystery!
Sheng Sheng pushed open the door.
Sheng Sheng saw what lay beyond.
Sheng Sheng—
Sheng Sheng: "F*ck."
TL:
The word was "草" (cǎo)
Literally means "grass / plant"
When used alone, means "fuck".