Calamity Messenger

Chapter 318 - 256: Entering the Secret Realm, At Last I Meet Jiang Shi

Six optional team skills, others are negotiable, except for "Immortal Tour" which is a must-have for Yan Qing. Not only because it helps the small number shuttle back and forth, but also because it is the best way for him to descend into the present world.

To this day, Yan Qing still hasn’t used the ’Teleportation’ of the Thief’s House to see outside, even though through the Teleportation Gate he can vaguely see that the outside is probably an uninhabited woodland.

Not even once!

Thinking about it carefully, it’s quite absurd. If this is a game, then Yan Qing is equivalent to logging into the game and staying in the newbie safe house, never once having explored the outside. He doesn’t know where the ’initial teleportation location’ is anchored, nor is he interested in exploring.

Before changing class, he didn’t dare; after the first change, he felt too weak; after the second change, he felt there was danger outside; after the third change... after the third change, he had "Immortal Tour"!

Ultimately, Yan Qing doesn’t dare to gamble that he can really return to the Thief’s House, even though Shang Xinlei and the others have verified the reliability of the Thief’s House countless times. Unless he encounters a Foundation Establishment True Man opening up a barrier upon going out, as long as he wills it, the thief can instantly return to the Thief’s House.

But, what if he does encounter a Foundation Establishment True Man immediately upon going out?

What if outside the ’initial teleportation location’ there exists a special barrier that can only be entered, not escaped from?

What if a Seventh-Turned Immortal Monarch grabs him and instantly refines him?

He just has a gaming console, not a Spring and Autumn Cicada, Hundred Generations Book or anything like a save-load cheat, he can’t afford any risk.

Yan Qing admits he is indeed cowardly, always considering the worst-case scenario. If Shang Xinlei or Pharmacist’s Wish knew, they’d definitely call him out directly.

But he has food, drink, and games in the Thief’s House, recently he even has good friends training together, why gamble with life? Unless it’s necessary ’adventure’ like a thief task, otherwise, Yan Qing would rather get less sun than test his luck.

Yet, despite his cautiousness, Yan Qing hasn’t decided to stay in the Thief’s House as a lifelong security guard—he would be willing, but the Thief’s House isn’t a charity—if he can ensure safety, Yan Qing is still willing to see the present world.

"Immortal Tour" fulfills his stringent requirement.

Twenty-five seconds passed in a flash, Yan Qing took a deep breath, only feeling his eyes flooded with flowing light. When his vision restored, it was no longer the Thief’s House in front of him.

A stunning girl emerged in front of Yan Qing, a contrast to her cold demeanor, appearing like Tifa and seductive like Buzhihuo Dance, yet with an expression as cold as an AI.

Jiang Shi.

Although he crafted her himself and has seen her countless times in the game, seeing Jiang Shi in reality for the first time still caused a big impact on Yan Qing.

To be fair, Shang Xinlei and Pharmacist’s Wish are not inferior to Jiang Shi in appearance, even more uniquely spirited, but for a gamer like Yan Qing, Jiang Shi carries the added value of a ’fantasy character descending into reality,’ quite like a person fated to meet the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, making him excitedly unable to resist wanting to touch here and there.

Yan Qing surveyed the area, seeing no one else. He rubbed his hands like a fly, extending his finger to poke Jiang Shi’s cheek.

I have no vulgar thoughts, just want to see if the small number feels similar to a normal person, like the skin texture, body temperature, reaction... oh fine, I do have vulgar thoughts!

Seeing Jiang Shi and not wanting to touch is like this (thumbs up)!

Wanting to touch Jiang Shi is also like this (thumbs up)!

"Eh?"

When Yan Qing was about to touch Jiang Shi, she instinctively leaned her head back. He blinked and poked again, but she avoided it once more.

"Don’t move." Yan Qing said, as the big number his authority is boundless, small number, easily controlled!

Jiang Shi nodded, stopped moving, but when Yan Qing reached out again, she still dodged.

Damn, the small number has developed self-awareness! Next would be the mechanical revolution, turning the world into silicon civilization!

This is bad, players like me who don’t treat small numbers as humans will surely be hung on lamp posts by them!

But aside from that, Jiang Shi didn’t react further, still standing obediently waiting for Yan Qing’s orders, her eyes like cut water with no cunning. Yan Qing pondered, deciding to ask directly: "Why are you avoiding me?"

Although mentally prepared, Jiang Shi’s answer still surprised Yan Qing.

"Because the law does not permit it."

"Which law does not permit it?"

"According to the ’Minor’s Network Protection Protocol’, network products and services must not display images inducing or leading minors to imitate unsafe behaviors." Jiang Shi’s gaze was calm, hands crossed over her chest: "Images adversely affecting minors are prohibited."

Your very existence adversely affects minors, hey!

However, Yan Qing understood what was going on. The game system-controlled small numbers abide by the ’Messenger’ regulations as an all-age 6+ level game; clothes will always cover the essential parts no matter how torn, divine light priests appear in baths, ensuring every moment shows legitimate content you can showcase to parents.

Simply put, a small number can only appear in image without seduction.

Indeed, it’s not a mysterious game only downloadable from cloud drives, but a next-generation MMORPG with millions online, how could it contain inappropriate material for children? But I never intended anything, Jiang Shi has accompanied me for so long, she’s like a friend, meeting once finally, I wish to hug her, maybe rest my head on her lap... Yan Qing squatted on the ground drawing circles, feeling a tiny bit of loss.

Suddenly his head was petted, Yan Qing looked up to see the Rabbit Heroine. She was so short, he didn’t notice her earlier.

Unlike Jiang Shi whose evolution keyword is ’cold,’ Rabbit Heroine’s keyword is ’care,’ she voluntarily cares for small animals and plants nearby, probably prompted by Yan Qing’s pitiful appearance triggering her protective instincts, leading her to pet him.

Head pats seemed within permitted range, so Yan Qing petted the Rabbit Heroine’s head. She closed her eyes, showing a comfortable expression like the Little Rabbit, seemingly akin to having a little sister.

"You guard the secret realm entrance, block anyone attempting to intrude Zheng Family, if you cannot block them, escape inside, you handle specific situations." Yan Qing took out Chu Luoyan’s dropped loot from the Storage Ring: "Rabbit Heroine, store these items in the warehouse."

One of Yan Qing’s aims in gathering the small numbers is to ’cleanse’ the loot and make them eligible for system storage. Without the small numbers’ help, Yan Qing, like a local muggle, can neither discern the tokens’ details nor list them for sale.

But merely for this, Yan Qing could have teleported during Jiang Shi’s rest time, landing and returning to the Thief’s House instantly. Waiting until Jiang Shi enters the Secret Realm before teleporting shows apparent intent—

He wants to explore the Secret Realm!

Despite having Pharmacist’s Wish’s violent guidance, no amount of training is meaningful unless applied in actual combat. Is there anywhere in this world more apt for practical application than the Secret Realm?

Oddly, large clans aren’t devoid of certain elites consuming secret manuals without delving into the Secret Realm, resourceful noble ladies manage kinds of resources like cultivation technique manuals. Such as Shang Xinlei’s second sister, already married but never ventured into the Secret Realm as a First-Turn Messenger. However extravagant, they couldn’t afford feeding elites beyond a second change without entering the realm; at least three changes needing two Secret Techniques Introduction Manuals and Research Books, no family squanders such precious resources on non-productive elites.

Yan Qing, who reached the third change purely through secret manual consumption without exploring the Secret Realm, is rare to the world, indeed exceptionally unique!

He would maintain this record, consuming small numbers till reaching the ninth change, but the next theft incident will surely encounter Fourth-Turn Demon Golden Seal Divine Hunter; for survival, Yan Qing makes a decision against ancestral tradition, personally adventuring in the Secret Realm!

Just as one can tackle story mode before war god mode, pursue high school targets before college, exploring the Secret Realm requires stepwise progression. Yan Qing always hadn’t let Jiang Shi and Ye Si leave Ping City Military Town, firstly for achieving a 200-time milestone in Three Mountain Secret Realm, secondly for now!

First-Turn difficulty, numerous humanoid monsters, Ye Si guards outside, Jiang Shi and Rabbit Heroine protect inside, no one in Military Town would disturb, no Secret Realm suits Yan Qing better for experiencing the newbie tutorial!

Holding Bingzi Pepper Forest, wearing Melting Hundred Phases, Yan Qing steps into Zheng Family mansion, his protective barriers thicker than the health of these little monsters combined.

Zheng Shan, help me refine!