Chapter 21: The Small Dark Room

“Elder Brother!”
Not long after returning to the game, Happy heard a strange call as he passed through the front yard, but he paid it no mind and continued on, until someone chased after him from behind.
“Elder Brother.”
Only then did Happy realize it might be him being called. He stopped in surprise, turned around, and stared at the man who had caught up. The man’s face didn’t seem unfamiliar—it was one of the disciples in the front yard who was responsible for chopping wood and hadn’t yet been formally admitted to the sect.
“Did you call me?”
“Yes, Elder Brother! You’re the first disciple of the Murong Mansion, so of course you’re my elder brother! Besides, the steward just admitted me to the sect too. He told me to learn from you.” The man was clearly excited, staring at the young man in blue robes, wielding a gentleman’s sword, with an air of refined martial arts elegance. Ignoring the fact that he was older than the other man, he explained eagerly.
“Hehe, I’m not worthy of such a title. So, what’s your name…”
“Xuanfeng Xiao Li. You can call me Xiao Li Zi too.” Xiao Li spoke rapidly, like a machine gun, but with a boldness typical of a martial artist. Happy had a good first impression and nodded immediately. “I’m not worthy of being called ‘elder brother.’ My name is Happy. You can call me that…”
“Okay, Elder Brother Happy!”
Seeing that the elder brother wasn’t at all aloof, Xiao Li became even more excited. He repeated the address solemnly, leaving Happy somewhat amused.
Xiao Li then said he had a mission to leave the city. Happy nodded and agreed to talk as they walked.
“Elder Brother, these days, no one in Gusu City can compare to your fame!” Xiao Li said with admiration, which surprised Happy. “Fame? What fame?”
Happy asked in confusion. He had been busy practicing his flying knife skills these days and didn’t even know he had already earned titles like “Gentleman of Blue Robes and Sword” and “Elder Brother of the Murong Mansion” among the players in Gusu City.
“Wow, you don’t know?”
Xiao Li looked at him exaggeratedly and blurted out all the information he had gathered: “The ‘Bloodthirsty Twins’ came to Gusu City a few days ago. They defeated over a dozen experts, looking very impressive. But they were both defeated by your sword and fled in shame a few days later. Isn’t it obvious it was you? And also! The thugs in the taverns outside the city—there aren’t many who can deal with them, but you always manage to get away unharmed… Some say you use them as practice… Others say your strength now allows you to easily complete the tasks in the taverns and defeat those thugs. Could all of this be made up?”
“The Bloodthirsty Twins?”

Happy quickly thought of Wu Hou and Luo Xiaotian, whom he had defeated, guessing that these must be their names. But he really didn’t know that they had already picked out more than a dozen experts in Gusu City…
On second thought, what experts? Just a bunch of newcomers—what right do they have to call themselves experts?
But when he heard Xiao Li talking about hooligans and ruffians, he couldn’t help but feel troubled!
He hadn’t expected other players to notice so quickly. It seemed that from now on, being a hooligan wouldn’t be his exclusive domain anymore. He felt a sense of regret.
“Haha, Senior Happy, you didn’t object—so you agree? I knew it! In the whole of Gusu City, our Murong family is the strongest. Hehe, seeing your actions, I knew I came to the right place.” Xiao Li’s smile grew even wider as he continued unabatedly:
“Tsk tsk, Senior, you’ve already earned the reputation of ‘Blue-Robed Gentleman Sword’. I wonder if I, Xiao Li, can get such a famous title in the future.”
“…”
Happy once again showed a look of surprise and shock.
Blue-Robed Gentleman Sword!
Was this his future alias as a bandit?
It might sound a bit pretentious, but… overall, it wasn’t bad—simple and elegant.
With a self-mocking smile, Happy didn’t say much to his junior brother Xiao Li, just listened quietly as he rambled on about Gusu City.
Traveling under the name Blue-Robed Gentleman Sword, they attracted a lot of attention. Xiao Li was incredibly excited, as if he could finally realize his ambitions from this moment on.
It wasn’t until they reached the city gates that they parted ways.
“Senior Happy, if there’s anything in the future, just give the order. I, Xiao Li, the whirlwind, will handle it no matter what!”
Watching Xiao Li bow and stride confidently down the road, Happy couldn’t help but smile, thinking of himself when he first entered the martial world in his past life. Back then, he seemed just like Xiao Li—speaking in the jargon of the old martial world, full of passion and enthusiasm. But later on…
Thinking of the regret of missing out against the other fifteen strong fighters in the Global Huashan Sword Competition, as well as the schemes of someone at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain, a hint of bitterness and disappointment appeared on Happy’s face.
One was the person he once loved the most.
The other was the person he once trusted.
Yet they had wasted all three years of his hard work and effort…
Deep in thought, Happy instinctively clenched his Gentleman Sword, his fingers turning white. He made a solemn vow in his heart:
If he hadn’t reached such heights in his past life, he would definitely find a way to do so this time! And he would reach even higher!!
The group of strongest people according to the rumors…

You all… wait!
One Emperor!
Two Queens!
Three Kings!
Seven Marquises!
Thirteen Heroes!
No matter who among you was involved in the ambush at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain! No matter who it is!! Even if you are the lucky one who has mastered the “Nine Yin, Nine Yang” techniques! The disciple of Du Gu Qiu Bai!! Or the successor of the Sweeping Monk!!! No matter how powerful you are, I will happily bring you to light…
To fulfill the vow I made before the Global Huashan Sword Competition—to completely crush you all! And to reorder the rankings of the Ghost Valley Heaven’s Secret List!!