Chapter 163: The Villain and Protagonist Team Up
"Guess."
MoonPetal stared.
"...You’re not telling me."
"No."
She laughed.
"Fine."
Jiang Feng watched the exchange.
That faint jealousy appeared again.
This time...
A little stronger.
Still...
He didn’t allow it to become resentment.
Instead...
He looked at Shen Tian’s bow.
Then at the corpses disappearing into particles.
Competitive fire slowly entered his eyes.
[Interesting.]
[Someone strong.]
[Very strong.]
Jiang Feng hadn’t expected to encounter someone like that this early.
Rather than becoming angry...
He felt excited.
This game might be even better than he expected.
MoonPetal glanced at Jiang Feng.
’Is that his inner voice?’
. . .
Xu Ning’s eyes suddenly widened.
A system notification appeared.
Only Shen Tian could see it.
----------------------------
[Ding!]
[Protagonist Fate Event Interfered With.]
[Original Event: FallenWind defeats Player Killer ambush and protects MoonPetal.]
[Original Result: MoonPetal’s admiration increases significantly.]
[Event Outcome Altered.]
[Shen Tian defeated all hostile players.]
[MoonPetal gratitude transferred toward Shen Tian.]
[Fate stolen: 3,500]
----------------------------
Shen Tian’s expression barely changed.
Another panel appeared.
----------------------------
**Jiang Feng**
**Previous Fate Value: 200,000**
**Current Fate Value: 196,500**
----------------------------
Shen Tian mentally whistled.
’Three thousand five hundred from that?’
Xu Ning nodded.
[It was an important early relationship event.]
Shen Tian glanced toward Jiang Feng.
The protagonist wasn’t glaring.
Wasn’t clenching his fists.
Wasn’t internally screaming about stolen women.
He was examining the battlefield.
Calm.
Respectful.
Competitive.
Shen Tian smiled faintly.
’I like this guy more than the other protags.’
Xu Ning gave a half nod.
[Different protagonist type.]
’Thank God.’
[Host.]
’What?’
[You’re technically trying to ruin his destiny.]
Shen Tian considered that.
’Professionally. But who knows... we could become friends.’
Xu Ning stared.
[Professionally?]
’Nothing personal.’
[You’re stealing his opportunities.]
’Professionally.’
[You’re going to steal his treasures.]
’Also professionally.’
[Potentially his championship.]
Shen Tian paused.
’Okay, that one sounds personal.’
Xu Ning face palmed.
MoonPetal suddenly looked between them.
"Are you solo?"
Shen Tian looked toward her.
"Currently."
"We’re heading to the Forest Ruins."
Jiang Feng looked toward her.
MoonPetal noticed.
"What?"
Jiang Feng smiled faintly.
"Nothing."
She looked back toward Shen Tian.
"We have room."
Shen Tian’s eyes flickered.
Xu Ning immediately appeared beside him.
[Host.]
’I know.’
A new Fate thread had appeared.
It connected Jiang Feng...
MoonPetal...
And the Forest Ruins.
Golden.
Bright.
Powerful.
Another opportunity.
Shen Tian smiled.
"Forest Ruins?"
MoonPetal nodded.
"Recommended party size is three to five."
Jiang Feng folded his arms.
"We were going to duo it."
MoonPetal immediately corrected him.
"We were going to attempt to duo it."
"We would’ve cleared it."
"Probably."
Jiang Feng sighed.
"You really like that word."
MoonPetal smiled.
Then looked toward Shen Tian.
"So?"
Shen Tian pretended to think.
Xu Ning floated beside him.
[Go.]
’Obviously.’
[There’s a Fate event inside.]
’How much?’
[Unknown.]
Shen Tian looked toward Jiang Feng.
The fallen professional.
A lot of fate.
Unique class.
Exceptional talent.
A protagonist who could actually lose gracefully.
Someone who saw another strong player and became motivated rather than immediately developing a murderous obsession.
Shen Tian smiled.
This...
Could actually be fun.
"Sure."
MoonPetal brightened.
"Really?"
"Why not?"
She immediately sent the invitation.
**MoonPetal has invited ShenTian to the party.**
Shen Tian looked at it.
Then selected...
**ACCEPT.**
The party interface changed.
-----------------------
**Party**
**FallenWind — Level 6 — Sword Wanderer**
**MoonPetal — Level 5 — Mage**
**ShenTian — Level 6 — Ranger**
-----------------------
Jiang Feng looked toward Shen Tian.
Shen Tian looked back.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Jiang Feng smiled.
"Don’t steal all the kills."
Shen Tian laughed.
"No promises."
MoonPetal rolled her eyes.
"We haven’t even reached the dungeon and you’re already competing."
Jiang Feng rested his sword across his shoulder.
"He’s a Ranger."
"So?"
"They always steal kills."
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds like a skill issue."
Jiang Feng stopped.
MoonPetal covered her mouth.
"..."
Jiang Feng slowly looked toward Shen Tian.
Then laughed.
"Alright."
His eyes sharpened.
"Now I definitely want to see how good you are."
Shen Tian smiled.
"Likewise."
MoonPetal sighed.
"Great. Two competitive idiots."
She started walking.
"Can we please clear the dungeon before you turn this into some weird rivalry?"
Jiang Feng followed.
"No promises."
Shen Tian followed beside him.
"That’s what I said."
MoonPetal looked toward the sky.
"Why did I invite him?"
Jiang Feng smiled.
"You asked."
"I know."
"Regretting it?"
She glanced back.
Her eyes lingered on Shen Tian for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"Ask me after the dungeon."
Jiang Feng noticed.
That tiny spark of jealousy returned.
But beside it...
Something else appeared.
Determination.
If Shen Tian was stronger...
Fine.
Then Jiang Feng would become better.
That was what competition was supposed to be.
No hatred.
No excuses.
No blaming someone else for being impressive.
Just...
Improve.
The three disappeared deeper into the forest.
Above them...
Golden Fate threads shifted.
A path originally meant for two people...
Now contained three.
Xu Ning watched the threads twist around Shen Tian.
One golden strand detached from Jiang Feng.
Then another.
Both slowly wrapped around Shen Tian instead.
[Host.]
Shen Tian glanced toward her.
’What?’
[The next opportunity has begun.]
A new notification appeared.
------------------------
**[Major Fate Event Detected]**
**Location: Forest Ruins**
**Event: First Dungeon Clear**
**Hidden Condition: ???**
**Hidden Boss: ???**
**Special Reward: ???**
**Fate Value at Risk: 8,000**
------------------------
Shen Tian’s golden eyes lit up.
Eight thousand.
From one dungeon.
He looked toward Jiang Feng walking ahead.
Then toward the ancient stone ruins slowly appearing between the trees.
Massive broken pillars rose above the forest.
Vines covered crumbling walls.
A dark entrance descended underground.
Players gathered outside.
Some formed parties.
Others healed after failed attempts.
Several argued about strategy.
Jiang Feng stopped.
MoonPetal joined him.
Shen Tian stepped forward.
The three stared toward the entrance.
A system message appeared before them.
------------------------
**Forest Ruins**
**Recommended Level: 6**
**Recommended Party Size: 3 to 5**
**Difficulty: Hard**
**Warning: No party has cleared this dungeon.**
------------------------
Jiang Feng’s eyes sharpened.
MoonPetal smiled nervously.
Shen Tian read the final line again.
"No party has cleared this dungeon."
Then...
A slow smile spread across his face.
Jiang Feng noticed.
He smiled too.
MoonPetal looked between them.
"...Why are both of you smiling?"
Jiang Feng drew his sword.
"First clear."
Shen Tian equipped an arrow.
"First clear."
MoonPetal stared.
Then sighed.
"I really did invite two idiots."
The dungeon entrance slowly opened.
Darkness waited beyond it.
And hidden somewhere deep inside...
Something that should have belonged to Jiang Feng...
Was waiting for the protagonist to arrive.
Unfortunately for Fate...
Shen Tian was walking in beside him.
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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)
SEND POWESTONES!!!
ALL SUPER GIFTS (Magic Castle, Space Ship, Golden Gachapon) = MORE ChapterS!