127 - I’m Really Not an NPC

"Is this the Great Mountain Range?" Zhang Xiaofeng inhaled softly, relishing the fresh scent in the air, his face exuding comfort and satisfaction. Qing Feng focused his senses briefly before nodding, "Though the spiritual energy here is sparse, the air is refreshingly clean; it's quite a unique experience." They stood amidst an endless expanse of primeval forest, where the ancient trees were broad and towering. Their lush canopies interlinked to completely obscure the sky, so that even under the midday sun, the forest remained cool. The disciples of the Lieyang Sect followed leisurely behind Yue Ling, enjoying the distinct scenery with neither a hint of danger nor trepidation, as if they were simply on an excursion in the wild. "It feels so relaxing with Yue Ling around," one disciple remarked cheerfully. "Even though we're in the territory of the demon clan, instead of fear, I eagerly anticipate their attack." "Yeah, it would be great if some particularly powerful demons showed up; that way, we could witness Yue Ling's elegance when she's serious." "Hey, look over there! What's Chen Yang doing?" Chen Yang, cautiously edging closer to Yue Ling, felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. After all, Yue Ling was renowned throughout the Star Fantasy Nation; merely hearing her name would send a tremor through his heart. Yet he couldn't relent. Qing Feng and Zhang Xiaofeng had already managed to make an impression on her, so he certainly couldn't afford to lag behind. Yue Ling, in the midst of a mental exchange with the sword spirit Qing You, glanced curiously at Chen Yang, who had approached to within three meters. Chen Yang had been discreetly observing her reaction, and the moment he caught her gaze, his heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly displayed an exceedingly friendly smile and said, "Lady Yue Ling, I apologize for the intrusion. I am Chen Yang, a friend of Ye Qing." "Ye Qing?" Yue Ling paused slightly, vaguely recalling the name. "Yes, yes!" Chen Yang beamed with joy, noting that Yue Ling hadn't ignored him, seemingly hinting at a deep connection with Ye Qing. If given the chance, he, utilizing his years of understanding Huo Yun's psyche, was confident he could leave a favorable impression on Yue Ling. By then, he would surpass both Qing Feng and even Ye Qing. The prospect of winning her heart eventually left Chen Yang breathless with excitement, so he quickly rid himself of such sticky thoughts and attempted a suave, handsome smile, saying, "I've long heard Ye Qing praise Yue Ling as the most beautiful woman since ancient times. It seems he's overlooked your formidable swordsmanship." "Hmm." Yue Ling's nod was indifferent as she prepared to end the conversation. She had little interest in Chen Yang, a mere disciple of the Lieyang Sect who was hardly noteworthy; besides, he was likely someone from Huo Yun's faction—avoiding her ire would be the best-case scenario for him. Chen Yang, however, was unfazed by her aloofness. Everyone knew Yue Ling was an extremely cold NPC; to him, this was just par for the course, making the challenge of winning her over even more appealing. "Lady Yue Ling, despite your peerless elegance, I've discovered a slightly serious problem," Chen Yang stated, changing tactics to garner her attention. But Yue Ling ignored him. Everyone's experienced youthful flirtations; as the world's top expert in "Wen Xian," she wouldn't fall for such transparent ploys. Noticing her silence and the slight disdain in her gaze, Chen Yang finally realized the gravity of the situation. Why had it come to this? His approach had been flawless. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Does she have something troubling her?" he pondered, before enthusiastically offering, "Lady Yue Ling, is there anything I can help with?" To Yue Ling's surprise, he earnestly patted his chest and said, "Please feel free to assign me any mission; I will complete it with all my might!" Seeing him treat her like a quest-giving NPC was baffling, prompting Yue Ling to dismiss him quickly. "Protect Qing Feng and Zhang Xiaofeng," she said casually, thinking he'd give up when realizing there wasn't an actual mission. “What?” Chen Yang was stunned. Why did Yue Ling value those two so highly? What was the reason? [Ding~ Do you accept Yue Ling's request: Life Protection (Ensuring the safety of Qing Feng and Zhang Xiaofeng during the secret realm expedition)? Reward: 1,000,000 experience points.] While Chen Yang's expression reflected complex emotions and he couldn't fully accept Yue Ling's preference for the two, he pledged, "I accept the mission!" This guy must be crazy, Yue Ling mused. He really believes what she'd said was a genuine task? She was speechless, unaware that her casual remark had triggered a system task. Meanwhile, in communication with the sword spirit, Yue Ling sighed, thinking, "Fine, fine, have your fun but make sure to return soon." "Of course! Rest assured, Master—Qing You won't get lost!" came the spirited response. "I'm worried you'll get carried away!" Yue Ling quipped, feeling like she’d become Qing You's mother. Having spent too long sealed within the Qing Yun, Qing You yearned for freedom once unbound, and her pleading eyes were hard to resist. Considering the minimal risk and Qing You's earnest requests, Yue Ling relented. "Wow, Master, you're the best! Don't worry, I'll be back in no time," Qing You chimed before turning into a stream of light, darting into the forest's depths. Yue Ling smiled wryly but was unconcerned—since their thoughts were linked, she could always swoop in if trouble arose. Besides, clearing a level 30 secret realm wasn't difficult, given the hundreds of disposable Lieyang Sect disciples. Huo Yun, at the forefront leading the way, attentively observed and caught sight of this scene, a glint of cunning in his eyes. Turning back, he announced, "Lady Yue Ling, the secret realm is just ahead." Looking forward, Yue Ling saw two towering cliffs among the dense foliage, each roughly a hundred meters high, stretching leftward and rightward into the forest's depths, with no end in sight. Between the cliffs lay a shadowy valley, veiled in a dense, life-laden mist obscuring whatever lay within. [Ding~ Treasure Map Mission Triggered!] Stunned, Yue Ling quickly checked her inventory; the S-rank treasure map had vanished, replaced by a new task in her mission panel: [Explore the Spirit Spring Valley. Current Completion: 0%.] After scrutinizing the valley at length and finding no discernible clues, she resolved to proceed, securing her mind and heightening her vigilance as she ventured inside. Watching her enter the valley, a cold gleam flickered in Huo Yun’s eyes from behind. Meanwhile, in a distant location thousands of miles away— "Yue Ling?" said a man in azure robes with a cold smile. "The future pillar of the human race, daring to tread onto our demon lands before her wings have fully grown?" A flicker of blue flame ignited at his fingertip, incinerating a message talisman completely. The alluring woman standing respectfully before him inquired, "Lord Shi Fang, who shall we dispatch to eliminate her?" The man arose, saying, "I will go personally." "What?" she exclaimed, taken aback. "Isn't that overestimating her?" "No." Shi Fang replied coolly, "She is worthy of my personal attention."