Gu Xiqiao walked into the pavilion, and only inside did they realize how spacious it actually was, at least dozens of square meters wide. Only the side that faced the lake wasn’t covered with the silk curtains, and from the opening, they could see the lake that was covered with lotus pads and lily flowers, and on closer scrutiny, koi fish could be seen swimming in the water freely.
Xiao Yun immediately took some of the fish food that was prepared for them, and scattered it into the water, causing the colorful koi fish to swarm over and fight over the feed.
Wu Hongwen dragged Yao Jiamu to the arcade machines that were set at on side, and after a while, neither of them felt awkward or uncomfortable anymore.
Not a while later, Yin Shaoyuan and Jiang Shuxuan arrived, and while the former came in with an amiable smile and seemed easy to become close to, the latter came in with his usual cold demeanor, making the air in the pavilion freeze up for a split second.
Xiao Yun and Wu Hongwen were already acquainted with him, so they were only stunned for a moment before they came back to their senses, but Yao Jiamu was completely different. Gu Xiqiao had just helped him to get rid of the blocks in his veins so that his chi could flow even better, and helped him strengthen his ancient martial arts level even further.
It was also because of this that he could feel how absolutely terrifying Jiang Shuxuan was, and for a moment, he felt a great impact on his mental power for a moment, and even the chi in his body became disorderly and even started to go out of control for a moment.
Upon seeing this, Gu Xiqiao flicked a finger in his direction, and the pressure on Yao Jiamu lightened as if it were just an illusion.
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye?” Yin Shaoyuan squinted at Gu Xiqiao. “If this happens, again, I’ll have to…I mean, my mom will teach you a lesson!”
The second half of the sentence was changed immediately upon a glance by Jiang Shuxuan.
“You couldn’t beat me up even if you tried,” Gu Xiqiao said as they all sat down, and after a while, a young and pretty waitress walked in with a silver tray. “Why did you pick this place?”
“The food here is the best in N City. Did you know that the ancestor of the head chef cooked for the emperor himself?” Yin Shaoyuan introduced the origins of the restaurant to Gu Xiqiao, before looking at Yao Jiamu. “You’re a promising one, eh?”
Yao Jiamu didn’t know why he was suddenly cued so he was taken off guard. The people at this table were all in high society, and in comparison, he felt like an ugly duckling, especially the one that sat directly across him that made his mental power crumble when he even so much as set his eyes on him.
He couldn’t even believe that he was dining at the same table as they were, and his past self would have thought he was crazy if he told him about this.
“Young Master Yin, Little Woody is an honest guy, so don’t bully him okay?” Wu Hongwen spoke up.
“I’m not bullying him! I saw him fight by himself against dozens of people once in an alley on the southern side of the city, and he reminded me of Bro Jiang back in the day.” Yin Shaoyuan exclaimed, before asking in interest, “Are you a practitioner?”
Of course, and he was taught by Gu Xiqiao! But could he say that? Yao Jiamu looked over at Gu Xiqiao.
Jiang Shuxuan picked up his chopsticks and glanced over at Yao Jiamu, his gaze emotionless but not uncomfortable as his low voice rumbled, “Don’t talk while eating, Yin Shaoyuan.”
Hearing this, Yin Shaoyuan immediately stopped gossiping and mimed zipping his mouth shut.
Meanwhile, Gu Xiqiao acted as if she didn’t see the entire exchange happen.
Yao Jiamu had been pretty nervous, but at that moment, he suddenly felt relaxed. The people here didn’t have simple backgrounds, but they weren’t high-and-mighty nor arrogant, and he felt quite comfortable when he talked with them.
As expected of her friends, should he say?
After that, Yin Shaoyuan couldn’t help but start talking again, and he asked, “Bro Jiang, have you found that hacker you talked about?”
“I heard that he’s back in China, but no one knows where he is…” Jiang Shuxuan replied with furrowed brows. The hacker was quite sly and knew how to make many different identities for themselves to hide on the internet, and even though Jiang Shuxuan was strong in real life, he couldn’t possibly do something like grabbing a bunch of data out from the world wide web.
Gu Xiqiao put down her chopsticks, her expression one of curiosity. “A hacker? Why would you need one?”
Jiang Shuxuan pushed over some fruits in her direction before he replied, “We need their talent for the national base.”
Gu Xiqiao thought back to the time she had to help him recover the lost document, and nodded to herself. He really had to find someone with that sort of expertise.
[Beauty Qiao, why would you need a hacker if you have me!] A familiar voice piped up in her mind.
At the same time, a cold and robotic voice popped up in her mind too.
[Ding! The system has been upgraded successfully. System Avatar obtained. You have obtained: Virtual Arena(Upgradeable)*1]
[Ding! The host’s calligraphy has evolved to Advanced Level! You have obtained 200 points!]
[Ding! The host has accomplished a random mission! You have obtained 300 points!]
[Ding! The host has accomplished daily missions! You have obtained 20 points!]
A bunch of system notifications rang out in her mind, along with a bunch of points that replenished her stores after she used them to upgrade the system.
After a short moment, Gu Xiqiao asked, “System avatar? What is that? And what is this virtual arena, and how is it different from the virtual space?”
[With the system avatar, I finally don’t have to stay in the virtual space anymore and can form an avatar in the real world!] The system spirit bounced around in the void happily, before it explained: [The virtual arena given by the system is a completely broken ability! You remember all those years you spent in the virtual space? If you had the virtual arena, you would have been able to improve even more!]
[The system arena has the same functions as the virtual space, but the biggest difference is that you can create anything you want here, no matter if it were a living being or not! In other words, you would be able to create many copies of yourself or your enemies when you practice in here, for example.]
The system spirit’s explanation surprised Gu Xiqiao slightly. “Use the system avatar and let me see?”
The system spirit nodded and made seals with its hands before a being like a pixie appeared in front of Gu Xiqiao that looked like it could fit into a palm. It had icy blue hair and pale skin, and thin, translucent wings on its back.
Jiang Shuxuan had been talking with Yin Shaoyuan, and his eyes narrowed slightly before he glanced over at Gu Xiqiao’s direction.
The system spirit suddenly felt a chill up its spine. [Beauty Qiao, why do I think that Big Jiang can see me?]
“Didn’t you say that no one could see you other than me?” Gu Xiqiao was still in shock upon seeing what the system spirit looked like for the first time. Was this the same system spirit that picked its toenails and played games daily in the void?
At that thought, she couldn’t help the mental image of this pretty and cute pixie picking its toenails like a middle-aged man…
The system patted its chest as it exhaled. [Yes, but I feel as if Big Jiang could see through me!]
As the two talked, the two had finished with their meals, and Yin Shaoyuan characteristically suggested that they go hang out later on. Knowing full well the places that he would bring them to, Jiang Shuxuan rubbed his forehead and spoke, “You can only bring those two, the girls aren’t going.”
“Alright, Bro Jiang, I’ll take good care of them!” Yin Shaoyuan replied. He didn’t have any plans of bringing the girls together with them anyway.
***
After sending Xiao Yun home, Gu Xiqiao finally returned to the villa that she hadn’t seen for a month.
“Beauty Qiao! Beauty Qiao!” Upon entering the door to the villa, she was greeted by a crisp voice.
Xixi flapped its wings as it flew over to Gu Xiqiao, its body as red as flame. “You’re finally back! I missed you! QAQ”
She was brought to the villa by Jiang Shuxuan to be taught a lesson, but it seemed that the lesson still hadn’t been engrained into Xixi yet.
Gu Xiqiao smacked it away, before crouching down and carrying Haha that was looking up at her with bright eyes.
Upon seeing this, the feathers around Xixi’s neck flared up as it chirped at Haha, “Chirp, chirp chirp chirp chirp!” (B*tch, who are you?!)
Haha only gave her a disdainful look before replying, “Woof woof woof!” (I’m Beauty Qiao’s favorite pet!)
“Chirp chirp chirp chiiiiiiiiiiiirp!” (I’m a legendary beast, she only loves meeee!)
“Woof woof? Woof woof woof!” (You see that bowl I eat out of? It costs millions! Do you have one?)
“Chirp!” (D*mbass!)
Xixi glared at Haha, before looking over at Gu Xiqiao with a shy expression. “Beauty Qiao, Haha said that he would give me that bowl…”
Haha: “Woof woof woof! Woof woof!” (You f*cker! Get out of my house!)
Gu Xiqiao didn’t know if animals could communicate across species, but she ignored Xixi’s words completely and held Haha for a while before going upstairs to check out the virtual arena, leaving Xixi with a depressed expression.
At the same time, a young man walked out of the N City Airport, and upon seeing him, Wang Bo dragged Luo Wenlang toward him and asked excitedly, “God Lo! Are you God Lo?”
The young man took off his glasses to reveal a good-looking face. “Hello, my name is Yu Ning.”