novelraw Chapter 39: An Unexpected PK Victory
Chapter 39: An Unexpected PK Victory
From the game text alone, it was clear: the odds of winning a duel against this Apostle were painfully slim.
But this invasion was tied to Lin Xun’s quest reward—and more importantly, he was carrying a massive load of Spirit. Whether he liked it or not, he had no choice but to fight.
He slammed the second option with lightning speed, hoping to finish casting his spell before the opponent could close in.
That was his only sliver of a chance!
[You raise your staff-spear and begin chanting a spell…]
[The powerful Apostle glowing with white light suddenly takes off her gauntlets, kneels, and begins begging for mercy.]
[Will you show mercy and spare her?]
“…What the hell? Why isn’t she fighting me?”
Lin Xun frowned in confusion. But there was no time to overthink it—and now was not the time to get soft. He hit No.
[A flash of red light…][The invaded Apostle seems to have taken light damage. You raise your staff-spear and begin chanting again…]
No one-shot kill?! This chick was tough!
Lin Xun was dumbfounded. Why was someone that strong not even fighting back?
“Strange…” he muttered—but he didn’t let up. His hands moved nonstop.
You don’t pass up a freebie. That’s just common sense.
[The powerful Apostle glowing with white light remains kneeling. No resistance.]
[Flash of red light…]
[The Apostle seems slightly wounded. You keep casting spells…]
[Red flash…]
—
[Red flash…]
[You defeated the Apostle ‘Little White Deer’. You gained 1,035 Spirit.]
[Returning to your chapter…]
It took several casts to finally finish off the non-resistant Apostle.
Just as Lin Xun was wondering about the weird behavior, he saw the name in the soul imprint—and froze.
The Apostle who let him attack without fighting back was… Lu Caiyi!
He immediately called her.
“Beep… Beep…”
“Hello. Lin Xun?” Lu Caiyi’s voice sounded a little down.
“Was that you just now? The one I invaded? Why didn’t you fight back?” Lin Xun asked anxiously.
“I recognized you… That staff-spear of yours is too recognizable. But you didn’t recognize me… I didn’t even resist, but you kept hitting me…” she said, sounding genuinely hurt.
Hearing her soft, aggrieved tone filled Lin Xun with guilt.
“I’m really sorry. I honestly didn’t realize… Once I finish this chapter, I’ll go to the library and return all that Spirit to you!”
After all, they were comrades who’d fought side by side. He couldn’t just walk off with her spirit essence like a jerk.
That’d be low. Lin Xun wasn’t that kind of guy.
On the other end, Lu Caiyi shook her head gently. “It’s okay. Consider it a gift.”
Over 1,000 Spirit meant little to her.
Lin Xun’s voice was sincere: “I can’t accept that… How about I treat you to dinner tonight—as an apology?”
“…”
Lu Caiyi froze—then her cheeks flushed red.
—
Earlier that day, at the Wen City Special Office for Public Security.
In the third-floor team leader’s office.
A burly, bearded man—Team Leader Wang—looked up from his desk at Lu Caiyi.
“So, Yiyi, how did your mission go?”
Lu Caiyi fidgeted with the hem of her dress. “T-Team Leader, I got the contact info for the ladies in the Intelligence Division… and we became Book Friends in-game too…”
“Nicely done! Took only one day to befriend them? I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!”
Lu Caiyi saw how pleased he was and decided not to mention that it was actually the Intelligence girls who had added her first.
Then Team Leader Wang’s expression turned grim as he remembered something.
“Yiyi, I heard the Intelligence Division recently recruited some pretty boy. Word is, he didn’t even go through the usual vetting process before being added.”
“A pretty face climbing the ranks with seduction tactics! Back in my day, getting into the organization meant grinding through hell. I bit through my back teeth with jealousy—ahem, hardship. Never thought I’d see such shamelessness.”
“Yiyi, this guy is off-limits for poaching. You hear me?”
“Huh?” Lu Caiyi’s mouth fell open.
“And be careful not to fall for his good looks either. Don’t let yourself get tricked and lose more than you gain…”
But shouldn’t skipping the vetting process mean the guy had an extraordinary talent?
Why was the team leader jumping straight to accusations of nepotism?
“You got a problem with that?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Lu Caiyi shook her head. She was about to defend Lin Xun—then paused.
If she spoke up now, Team Leader Wang would probably just think she’d already fallen for Lin Xun’s charm.
Better to carry out her plan quietly. She’d poach Lin Xun first—then reveal the truth and blow everyone’s minds!
“Li Xingyue said you did great on the mission. She’s got some follow-up plans that need your help. This is perfect! Yiyi, stay embedded in the Intelligence Division for now. Poach their talent!”
—
Back in the present.
When Lin Xun heard Lu Caiyi agree to dinner, most of his guilt finally faded.
He deliberately chose a casual food stall over any fancy place with private booths.
Just in case she thought it was a date and turned him down.
After hanging up, he returned to the game.
[The ‘Hungry Old Man’ sees you return from three straight victories and stares at you in shock. He quickly looks down, pretending not to recognize you…]
Huh? Lin Xun clicked “Talk” again.
[You attempt to converse. The old man slowly lifts his head, pretends not to know you, then looks back down to stare solemnly at his candle.]
Lin Xun couldn’t help but laugh. This NPC was really trying to pretend he hadn’t just tricked him?
Typical Lin Xun—he didn’t let these things slide.
He opened his skill menu and prepared to cast Corrupt Sunlight.
Time for your laser cannon punishment!
[The ‘Hungry Old Man’ sees your eyes flash with killing intent and your staff-spear rise. He immediately pulls out a scroll from his tattered robe, face full of nervous flattery.]
[You have received: Forgotten Abyss of the Fading Afterglow (Map)]
Hah~ what a character.
Lin Xun sneered and withdrew his finger from the skill button.
He opened his inventory and clicked the map.
[Forgotten Abyss of the Fading Afterglow (Map): Describes a location beneath the lowest level of the Saint Rance Sewers. Using this map will reveal the device needed to reach that place.]
Forgotten Abyss of the Fading Afterglow—the name alone screamed “filled with pain.”
Lin Xun paused, suddenly realizing he might have just gotten something incredible.
He carefully stowed the item and didn’t use it right away. He hadn’t finished exploring the sewers yet.
No need to rush. He’d tear this place apart first—then move on.
When he tried speaking to the Hungry Old Man again, the guy had no new dialogue. Even threatening him with weapons just made him cower—no new items.
Maybe after visiting the Forgotten Abyss, something else would trigger.
Lin Xun left the room and resumed his sewer exploration.