Our dialog

"So you're from the Chinese server..."

Xiao Ping control Xiao Bai Mao wipes away blood and sweat on her face, rinsing her hands with water from a dipper placed nearby the lawn.

She recovers her injury after that fight from this holy water while waiting for Sun Liang's answer.

"That's correct, I was just roaming around in American Server for fun, Usually I stay in the Chinese server when I'm not in the International Realm"

International Realm, also known as Unity Domain --- is where most pro-players that reached the peak level of each server have come and gather. It's where (almost) all the experts and professionals have a duel and where most top player's activities go on.

Xiao Ping has heard of it, but she won't expect or try to reach that level herself, since her goal of playing isn't to be at the peak of the game anyway. Maybe she can if she wants, but she won't.

"I see, your English is very good, compared to the native speakers." Xiao Ping trying to not fake the 'compliment', Waiting for a moment to ask him about that 'matatabi'.

"I have an American friend that also likes to play this game. What about you? Your name is written in pinyin, are you an American Born Chinese?"

Xiao Ping never thought someone who she met online to play games with will care or wants to know about her in the real world, she has a little hesitation on telling this boy about her personal life, but she realized if it's just about the country there's very little chance of knowing her identity in real life. So she answered.

"Not really, My parents were born in Thailand and I was born in America, but our family is Teochew Chinese immigrants" Xiao Ping sometimes personally hates the term 'immigrant' since the history of the Chinese immigrant haven't been taught very much in Thailand, despite the contribution they've done to the Native Thai people and the brifly ratio of Native Thai and Chinese ethnicity people in 6:1.

This is why Xiao Ping felt like sometimes they were being treated as a second-class citizen in Thailand, she afraid to tell a mainlander like Sun Liang about this because he may see herself as a descendant of someone who shamelessly escapes their motherland to find some 'better opportunity' oversea, but he seems to be more open-minded, so she just bites the bullet and decides to tell him.

"I see. It must be nice to experience many cultures during your lifetime, "

Sun Liang wipes his hand on a loincloth after washing his hands in the Dragon Earthen Jar while speaking.

"Sun Liang is Sun Quan's youngest son huh?"

Xiao Ping asks.

"Yes, although mine was intended to be named after Zhuge Liang, To make those references, You seem to have a pretty decent amount of knowledge about Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

"Haha, really? that's my favorite novel"

"Me too"

Xiao Ping is a Romance of the Three Kingdoms fan, and she remembers most character's names in both Hokkien, which is how they call them in Thai, and in Mandarin, which is a standard character's name in English and Chinese. Romance of the Three Kingdoms fans is rare in America, this made Xiao Ping a little happier to know someone who shares the same interest.

"How old are you? I just turned 15 a few months ago."

"I'll be 18 this year"

"Time to take Gaokao huh? I gotta prepare for my SAT too"

Sun Liang just stunned for a moment, not really knowing what to say. He's actually here to escape the stress of preparing for Gaokao, but now this American girl he just met a few moments ago just mentions it carelessly?

Sun Liang wanna cry and almost want to beg the Sun family's ancestors to bring him with them.

'But I'm in front of someone three years younger than me, If I cry beacuse of this my last name isn't Sun!' Sun Liang though, so he could only suck up his sorrow and cried inside.

"Whaa, Did I just gave you PTSD? Sorry about that! Sorry about that!! I would never say that to you if I know you have a school phobia!" Xiao Ping in Xiao Bai Mao's body slaps Tian Xia Di Yi back while trying to hide her smile.

She also tried to say "Dui Bu Qi" in Mandarin but mixed with Thai and American English accents so she basically failed.

'Well, not that bad but pretty bad, so thanks for not mentioning it, Mrs. Cat' Sun Liang thought.

"Now, let's talk about this, what's that item you used a moment ago? I react instinctively and just blank out like a wild animal. I think that's how someone would feel when they are raging out of anger. So can you please tell me what is it?"

Xiao Bai Mao's blue eyes just turn into a sharp gaze, reflect on the golden setting sun. Her claws are on, Xiao Ping's fingers are clenched to the mouse, her hand is over the keyboard ready to maximize her APM. Cats can be both cute and savage, when they laid on their back with belly expose, they're ready to reach their claws for an attack.

Sun Liang's pupil dilated at that moment, he never really fears anything, but this killing intension through 0 and 1 of the internet from some little girl on the other side of the world somehow terrified him. Now that he has to explain what happened, he felt some guilt and fear mixed like a sinner at the confession.

"Ah.. I got it from an animal shelter's quest. It was called Feral Feline's Silver Vine, it simply makes any avatar or NPC with feline traits go feral and wild, as if they're a dog turned at bay" He avoids eye contact with Xiao Bai Mao.

"I want to see your skills and techniques... I have to apologize for my rudeness. I do have a recording file here" He handed a catnip glass shape item to Xiao Bai Mao. When being online Virtually, you can share files by handing them over, and you can code them to have an appearance of pretty much whatever you want.

"Thanks, now let's talk about my skills. I myself don't expect much from a newbie who never played VR games or semi-VR before until now, so how is it? I bet it's pretty humiliating huh haha" Xiao Bai Mao walks around Tian Xia Di Yi, Xiao Ping stare at the screen intensely with her feet hard on pressing the floor.

In Peace Online, the sun is almost setting by the time of GMT-7 Pacific Time, Xiao Ping's current location. The moon has appeared at the east. Xiao Bai Mao walks into the sun and turns her head back at Tian Xia Di Yi, her blue eyes gazed sharply with the reflection of a sun on her vertical pupils, almost like a bursting fire inside a blue crystal.

The most fearsome feline in this battle right now isn't any tiger or lion, it's just this one kitten holding back rage while waiting for the answer with fear of disappointment crushing its mind.

"No.. in fact, you did a decent job compares to most newbies out there. I assume you know some knowledge about Kendo Ki Ken Tia Ichi, There's a moment you attack me with no hesitation, just a sword aiming for my head. It's a technique that users have to combine spirit sword body together into one and use them together, quite so? At that moment I feel like you consume very little energy on your avatar and attack very efficiently. Beating opponent in a blink of an eye, one slice one step, right?"

Sun Liang change his gaze into a respectful and honest tone, he doesn't expect any less from someone who can keep attacking firm and sturdily even when they are not conscious, the only way someone can do that is to truly understand that technique of Soul Sword Body combine into one and use it for a countless of time, although this is just an online game, he is confident that Xiao Ping isn't an ordinary noob beginner.

Xiao Ping relaxes her body, she can't believe she just sweat in an air-conditioned room. "Yes, My Kendo teacher taught me that technique at the basic level, more like a philosophy, so I adapt that technique to use in daily life occasion countless of times. I never expect anyone to notice me using it, I probably nailed it down to my instance already.

Sun Liang was glad he was right, he didn't judge the wrong person. HE eventually summons up his braveness and asks.

"Are you into sports?"

"No, I used to... But at some points, I felt like it's not that fun anymore"

"Uh... un.. umm... w.. what about gaming? Are you into gaming?" Sun Liang asked with a shaky voice.

"No, it's so toxic nowadays. People polluted the gaming community that it doesn't have one good impression left"

Shook! Sun Liang felt like a spear just tears through his little heart. It hurt but it's true, so he just felt like vomiting blood from inside.

The gaming community doesn't have a good image of impression and is known reputation for being one of the most unproductive activities ever exist. Although VR games have become more wildly accepted, there are still some conservative peoples that don't see any benefits out of this activity.

Sun Liang is now hopeless, he can feel a few tears rolling down his cheeks. 'Do girls like the money? Do they like to win? What do they like and how can I convince someone like her to stay in the gaming circle! We need more people like her!!' he nervously thought.

He finally summons up his courage again after 'the rejection' to ask.

"Why do you play this game and do you like it?"

"I start playing because I'm bored so I want to PK with other players to prove that I'm worthy of respect and being strong. At first, I really hate gaming, I use to get scolded for being a noob, they only blame me but never help me. But when I start playing Peace, I realized the problem isn't a game itself, but the existence of players that are losers who can't blame themselves for their own defeats and downfall!"

She looked down, her bangs cover up her eyes to the point that Sun Liang can't see her face showing emotions now...

Just then, she continued.

"But!... Wouldn't it be nice if the game is known for something else with a good reputation? Wouldn't it be nice if you can gain glory from the game and convert it into honors in real life? I know many gamers that are the best in games, but when they were out of games in real life, they are just another loser. So wouldn't that be nice?

People just try to escape reality because they don't want to face it, but they don't realize that the only way to make their reality better is to face and overcome it, escaping is not going to do any good for their real life, wouldn't it?"

Sun Liang was pretty shocked to hear such words from someone 3 years younger than him, at her age he was just thinking about making money out of his gaming skills, whether it's an RMT or ID boosting, without thinking of other aspects of his life or society. He thought that's all he has and that's all he wants. This fascinates him even more, he admits that the game may be where he escapes reality, but he wants his reality to be as glorious as his life inside Peace too.

Now he has a little more hint of what this little cat may like.

"Ah... What about scholarships from Esports, or.. do you have fun playing VR games like this? Maybe you should join a club or try joining clan and guilds"

"Why do you think I should?"

"B...Because you seem to have a good mindset and skills... W...well... you know how Zhuge Liang is already a smart man even before he's not a military commander? Even if he's a scholar he would also be well known for his smartness... But when he's in the position it makes him even better! Look how a koi fish can become a dragon after leaping over the Dragon Gate! You too can become a white lion! "

Sun Liang's tongue is tangled while saying some awkward things randomly pops up in his mind that his brain thinks 'this will convince her to say yes for sure!' kind of thing, Xiao Ping doesn't seem to be offended by that, instead she knows this is referring to the Dragon Gate legend in Japan and China which Koi fish leaping over the gate and become a dragon, he must think (or joke) that cat can become tiger or lion if they jump over the fence too. Xiao Ping just giggles at his innocent clumsy words.

"I'll consider that" She answered, the atmosphere that filled with killing intense a moment ago had been relaxed.

Xiao Ping never into or know anything about esports and never planned to, but after seeing Sun Liang's clumsy determination, she reconsiders it.

'Yess!! Heaven! I convinced her!' Sun Liang screams inside his mind. At least the gaming circle seems to have a little more hope for a 'decent successor' now.

Xiao Ping was about to open the file and look at the video, but Sun Liang just said something before she could open it.

"The sun is setting, isn't it. Look at the moon! On my end in real life, the moon must be fading in because of the daytime already, but the moon is rising on your end!"

He spoke while looking at the setting sun, turning his back to the blood-soaked arena, Xiao Ping look back, she sees the moon rising behind Tian Xia Di Yi's back, his avatar's skin really makes it look better with this scenery, she turns her head back to look at the setting sun and golden clouds.

Xiao Ping always thought nature scenery is so beautiful that it's almost to draw something that gorgeous perfectly with a digital tablet or use a computer graphic, but somehow this virtual landscape is as beautiful as any setting sun she ever sees in her lifetime.

"We're all walking in the different path, yet somehow we are all under the same sky, the moon you look at in America is the same moon I watch here in China"

Sun Liang said absent-mindedly.

"Ah... Sure is, every time someone looks at the moon, they must have thought of their home for sure" Xiao Ping looks back to see the moonlit night and the blood puddles under the moon, she thought this scenery reminded her of some poetry describing emotions and beings.

Quickly, a notification pops up on her display.

"I gotta go now, My time at the internet cafe has run out"

Xiao Ping farewell.

Sun Liang seems to snap out of his reverie, he then said...

"Okay, If you're okay then, let's add a friend so I can chat with you next time"

"Forgive me if I didn't play often, I'm usually busy"

"That's fine, you don't have to think of me as an in-game friend, you can just think of me as another friend you can talk to in your life. I'm sorry for keep pushing you to find an esports club or change your original goal of playing Peace. Virtual Reality was purposely made to be another reality for humanity anyway, this way I'm not another 'player' you met, but another friend you made"

This time, Sun Liang in Tian Xia Di Yi's body doesn't seem to have any disappointment or regrets or guilt and shame anymore, he seems to have a very honest look in his gaze.

"If it's meant to be that way, I would like to have your Wechat instead" Xiao Bai Mao tap some icons of the apps, connected to Peace Online.

"You have a WeChat! Oh my goodness! Okay! screenshot and scan this!"

'ah, she's a (wo)man of culture as well' Sun Liang thought, a few Americans in his life have a Wechat on their phone and Virtual accounts.

He took out a file of QR codes for Xiao Ping to scan.

"T...Thanks... I'll go now, have a good day"

"Good night! Little White Kitten!"

Xiao Ping log off and aggressively snap out her collar, get her ID card, and walks out of the internet cafe to look at the moon and thought.

'it's just another friend in my life, why I'm I like this all the time. My heart is beating so fast every time I interact with other people... Ah... I'm just an introvert cat after all, what can I do?'

While going back to her aunt who sits in some restaurant after shopping, Xiao Ping just realized that...

It's the first time she looks forward to logging back in.