PFRG: Chapter 141

The announcement of the century ceremony did indeed bring the entire unlimited world into a complete celebration.

The players who could enter the Sanctuary were originally ranked in the top 1,000. Compared with the rookies who were struggling in various small worlds, they knew better than anyone what the two Joker cards as the final reward meant.

After all, the 13 cards of ordinary suits could be purchased online through the trading house. But what really blocked people from entering the ultimate instance were these two hard to find Jokers.

Due to this, during the period when the discussion outside was heated, three teams also became the focus of everyone’s attention. They were the Prisoner team, the Satan team and the Gamblers, who each currently had a Joker card.

Among them, the Satan team was currently ranked first and held the only big Joker card in all the worlds. Since the first day it was gained, it had been listed in the trading house at a high price that no one could afford, and was still waiting to be sold. The other two teams held small Joker cards. They were naturally very active in contacting the Satan team early on, but they had never been able to reach an agreement for the transfer. The relationship between the three teams became very delicate.

Originally, the news that these three teams weren’t in harmony with each other wasn’t a secret until the content of this event was suddenly announced.

For a team that already had an ace, they only needed to fill in the missing Joker card. Therefore, many people had speculated that after the quarterfinals began, the Satan team holding the big Joker card would reach an alliance agreement with one of the other two teams. They would win the final reward together and achieve a win-win ending of both teams entering the ultimate instance.

For several days in a row, everyone’s attention was focused on the top teams. At the same time, the list on the registration interface became several pages long without anyone noticing.

Many small teams that originally had only two or three people recruited a full team in order to meet the registration requirements. They didn’t do so in the hope of getting a spot in the top eight. They simply coveted the participation rewards for the first round of the qualifying matches. As long as they could pass the instance smoothly, it didn’t matter what the final results were. All participating teams would receive an astonishing number of points as rewards. These points would even be enough to extend the safety period for the entire team for at least half a month. Such temptation was undoubtedly enormous.

As the registration interface flipped over again and again, the name of the Dawn team quietly disappeared in the ocean of other teams.

The brains of the team had returned. Chi Ting was happy to be a hands-off boss, handing over all the arrangements to Lu Nanling. Before the ceremony officially began, he finally received a unified notification from the team group.

[Lu Nanling: @All members, I have finished the investigation. At present, the first round is basically a 15:8 situation. The probability of our team successfully entering the finals is 98%. Judging from the standard rewards for entering the finals, in addition to a place in the quarterfinals, the points obtained are basically enough for us to purchase a complete set of ordinary suit cards in the trading house. In other words, we just need to win the second round and get the two Joker cards. Then we will directly qualify for the ultimate instance.]

[Chi Ting: Okay, I understand. Everyone, please make some adjustments in the remaining two days. See you at the instance entrance.]

After replying and closing the message box, Chi Ting turned around and saw the figure by the window.

Lou Yueren had been keeping his head down just now. Chi Ting walked over and could see through the virtual panel in front of him that his eyes were fixed on the message that Lu Nanling had just posted.

Chi Ting raised an eyebrow in understanding. “I guess you are thinking that No 7 is actually quite considerate at times.”

Lou Yueren looked up when he heard the voice and laughed meaningfully. “Indeed, he was even worried we wouldn’t be able to collect enough ordinary suits after getting the Joker cards, so he specially provided a huge amount of points that are enough to bid for all the cards at the trading house. The fact that he went to his extent really moved me to tears.”

The moment their eyes met, Chi Ting was silent for a moment before stating, “In fact, you and he both know that this is a trap.”

“Yes. It is a trap or perhaps an invitation.” Lou Yueren gently pressed a hand to his temples, which had been aching from time to time in the past few days. The curve of his mouth narrowed a bit. “In fact, I haven’t remembered anything yet, or rather, I only remember the part that No 7 wants me to remember. But this doesn’t prevent me from remembering that the man is a pervert who is as arrogant as me. It is better to say that he wants me to go to him again, so he can tell me that he can easily destroy me even if he does it again. Of course, I’m willing to take this opportunity to smash that face. I definitely won’t refuse.”

There was a pause before he exhaled slowly. “I have to say, this is a very subtle tacit understanding between me and that guy. But…”

Lou Yueren raised his eyes and looked at Chi Ting. “Are you sure you don’t remember when you provoked that guy?”

“I’m certain that I didn’t.” Chi Ting knew what Lou Yueren was referring to. After all, the superpower who appeared in the arcade’s office at that time had indeed come for him from all angles. However, he first entered the unlimited world in the Love Apartment instance and had no intersection with the No 7 designer until now. If there must be any connection…

He thought for a while before saying, “Perhaps it is because I took you out of the Love Apartment?”

Lou Yueren shook his head. “It won’t be because of this.”

Chi Ting lowered his eyes and glanced over. His eyes fell on the brow that was gradually furrowing. He suddenly thought of something and laughed briefly. “So you’ve been thinking about this for the past few days?”

Lou Yueren replied, “…Not entirely.”

Chi Ting was silent for two seconds at this ambiguous answer before commenting, “Is it because you remembered the past? I always feel that you have changed a bit recently.”

Lou Yueren had indeed been thinking a lot of things these days. After hearing this, he couldn’t help reflecting on himself. “Really? So has it gotten better or worse?”

“I can’t say it is good or bad, but it is obvious that you are thinking much more than before. You also hide more thoughts from me than before. Well, you did use to be cunning,” Chi Ting said as he took two steps forward. Before Lou Yueren could react, he leaned forward slightly. He pulled Lou Yueren’s collar and pulled the man in front of him. Their eyes met. “However, no matter what the final decision you have made after thinking about it these days, there is one thing I think we should reach a consensus on in advance.”

Lou Yueren had no intention of resisting. He just smiled and blinked. “Captain Chi, please speak?”

Chi Ting was used to such a consistent smile and wasn’t confused at all. “We have already signed up for the century ceremony. It would be fine if we don’t win the two Jokers, but if we really do, these two cards are the result of the joint efforts of all members of our team. You must not try to steal the fruits of everyone’s hard work. If we want to go to the final instance, we must all go together.”

“……”

The corners of Lou Yueren’s mouth stiffened for a moment, but soon returned to normal. “You said that as if I have the potential to be a thief.”

“I don’t know if you have the potential to be a thief, but the truth behind the ultimate instance should be much more exciting than what is rumored outside, God Lou.”

Chi Ting stared into Lou Yueren’s eyes without any reservations. In the past few days, he didn’t ask a single question to Lou Yueren, who had recovered his memory. But it wasn’t because he didn’t realize what this name represented. The sudden ‘God Lou’ at this time was obviously finally choosing to gently poke a fragile window paper. “I guess, some people might’ve suddenly had the idea of saving the world and want to be the savior admired by everyone?”

There was a strange silence before Lou Yueren laughed dryly. “Who is so bored that he wants to be the savior? In any case, it won’t be me.”

“Oh, really.”

“Of course,” Lou Yueren replied. “I never had the intention of saving the world. Other people are irrelevant to me. Even if I have to save someone, I would only want to save someone who I care about, such as you.”

Chi Ting raised an eyebrow. “Yes, so you want to use us to get enough cards before sneaking into the instance by yourself when we aren’t paying attention. As for the result of taking risks alone, you either pass the instance successfully and use the rewards to take us out, or you fail a second time and die in despair at the hands of No 7, or you have your memory wiped out again and are locked up in an instance, trying to see if you are lucky to awaken your consciousness again, tie up a player and escape?”

Lou Yueren was speechless for a while before finally laughing. “You seem to know me very well. Are you so sure that I would do such a sneaky thing?”

“I don’t know you.” Chi Ting stared at the other person, who was pretending to be relaxed. “But I am sure that you would do such a sneaky thing. At least, you must’ve considered it.”

Lou Yueren: “……”

He cleared his throat quietly and laughed briefly. He didn’t know what he was feeling for a moment, so he could only sigh and accept it. “I have considered it… you guessed it right. The rewards for the ultimate instance are indeed not limited to the challenger himself. Players who can pass the instance can even change the rules of this unlimited world. No 7 specifically asked me to remember this content, which is obviously a hint to me that the number of people entering the instance has always been secondary. The most important thing is the result of the instance. You can even guess this. You don’t need to be so smart.”

Chi Ting didn’t comment on the compliment and just frowned. “So the ultimate instance is really so dangerous?”

“I don’t remember the specifics. Even so, I can feel an instinctive shudder when I try to recall it.” Lou Yueren smiled bitterly. “I never imagined that I could have such extreme fear. This is a feeling I’ve never experienced before. I don’t think you would be willing to experience it either.”

“So you plan to take the risk alone.”

“As the saying goes, the first time is strange, and the second time is familiar. I won’t fall in the same place twice. If I go in with a group of novices, I might be delayed…”

Lou Yueren’s tone was originally very nonchalant, but his final words paused when he caught Chi Ting’s gaze. Finally, he surrendered. “Okay, I’m a personal hero.”

The rest of his words were interrupted again. Chi Ting’s hand moved down along the collar and finally pressed on the back of Lou Yueren’s hand. In his position, their eyes met, and there was no way to avoid it. “I have been thinking about a question these past two days, which is what you asked me before. Yue Ren, um, or should I call you Lou Yueren now… You should also know my basic situation. In this situation of high alienation, I might indeed lack a lot of emotions that humans should have. Then after thinking about it these past few days, I think it isn’t impossible to give it a try if it is you.”

The topic change was so quick that Lou Yueren was stunned for a moment. “You mean… trying…”

“It might be a bit troublesome. As long as you are willing to wait, I can try my best to pick up some human emotions.” Chi Ting suddenly remembered the chill he felt when he saw Lou Yueren being pierced by the light beam. He subconsciously lowered his eyes to look at his chest and considered his words. “I might not be sure what love is now, but if it is for you…In any case, one thing is certain. No matter whether it is the ultimate instance or somewhere else, I want to accompany you. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, I think I understand. It is just…”

Lou Yueren’s voice sounded again and was clearly accompanied by a smile. Before Chi Ting could look up, a force suddenly lifted his chin and pulled it forward. The next second, it hit soft lips directly, followed by a passionate kiss that made him fall into it.

“Hmm!” After a full minute, Chi Ting finally found a gap to breathe. He gasped slightly under Lou Yueren’s sudden demand. “…Just, what?”

Lou Yueren let go of the person with satisfaction and could still feel the pleasant taste between his lips and teeth that he liked more and more. He let out a long sigh and smiled helplessly. “I just feel that this is an excuse you made up to convince me not to sneak off to the ultimate instance by myself. It is also an excuse that I can’t refuse at all.”

Chi Ting stood up from Lou Yueren’s arms. He lowered his head to straighten the wrinkles of his clothes and glanced over after hearing the words. “Don’t you think it is too much of a loss to sacrifice myself just to find an excuse?”

“Yes, that’s true.” Lou Yueren thought for a moment and confirmed it. “So I can really understand that what you said just now is a confession, right?”

Chi Ting replied, “It should be considered as such.”

The light in front of him dimmed. Lou Yueren stood up, obviously in a good mood, and kissed him unexpectedly. “It’s okay. I’ll wait for you to slowly find the feeling of liking me. I’m not in a hurry.”

“……”Chi Ting silently touched his lips.

All he could say was that habit was really a terrible thing. After a while, he actually felt that kissing seemed to be a very good thing.

But… the clothes that he just sorted out were wrinkled again by this guy, Lou Yueren. He had to sort them out again.