The situation is very good

Shang Wei: "I've signed it."

Yu Yu glanced over the document. "Good girl."

Casually tucking away the contract, Yu Yu gestured for Shang Wei to hand over the form. A quick scan revealed that Shang Wei had listed her real address.

Rong City, Anhe District, Qinglang Neighborhood, Unit 2, Apartment 101

This woman wasn't staying in the Federation's designated player resettlement zone?

Did she think even the resettlement zone wasn't safe?

Or did she believe the Su family had the power to threaten her?

Yu Yu hadn't pried into the specifics of Shu Tu's feud with the Su family, but what about Shang Wei? What exactly was her grievance with them?

Anhe District was actually quite close to Yu Yu's place, just across the river.

Across the river…

Noticing Yu Yu's expression, Shang Wei crossed her arms leisurely. "Now the deputy commander can rest easy, hmm?"

Her tone curled around the word "commander," dripping with mockery.

Yu Yu was used to her barbed way of speaking and didn't miss a beat. "There's an anomaly across the river that devours memories. You left your mom there?"

Her mind drifted to the anomaly Senior Jin Che had sealed.

It felt so similar.

But compared to the one Jin Che's team faced, this anomaly seemed clumsier. It required physical contact and bodily control to consume memories.

Was it a weaker variant of the same rule? Or an incomplete, evolving form?

Hard to say.

Yu Yu had reported it to the Federation the day she logged off, but with the sheer volume of high-priority anomalies they were juggling, her reports hadn't even made the queue yet.

Shang Wei's face remained cold. "Anomalies are everywhere. Why should I be scared?"

Yu Yu reined in her wandering thoughts. That thing across the river had never been caught. By now, it probably wasn't just across the river—it was likely all over the city. Recently, the Federation had finally stopped bickering and distributed the Bronze Artifacts. This time, Eternal Darkness had allocated a whopping 60,000 slots, plus the 3,000 Yu Yu had secured.

One thousand for the military, one thousand for students, and one thousand for these players. Some cities, though reluctant, had conceded in the face of player quotas. Bronze Artifacts were lifeless objects; players were living assets.

These players, selected by local authorities under the Federation's quota, were guaranteed to have high innate attributes. But their regional ties, established before entering the game, could create unforeseen consequences down the line.

In times like these, who cared about future repercussions?

There was no perfect choice—only the least bad one.

Yu Yu knew this anomaly's growth potential was terrifying, but she had no time to hunt it down.

Head-on, even Chang Yu could knock her flying.

The thought made Yu Yu a tad melancholic.

Back in the day, Chang Yu's kitten-like strength couldn't even budge her arm. Now, one misstep, and he could send her sprawling… sprawling…

Snapping out of her reverie, Yu Yu didn't even bother lifting her eyelids. "Done writing? Step aside. You're blocking my view."

Shang Wei grudgingly shifted, just a fraction. "Is Su Shu with you?"

Yu Yu: "None of your business."

Shang Wei's face hardened. "Xiang Qin and Zhong Ye are with me. Our place is safe and remote. Where you live doesn't matter, but Su Shu would be better off with us…"

Yu Yu spat out a single word: "Scram."

Shang Wei's brows knitted tightly. "Fine. Don't hang up on me when we're offline."

The others: "???"

You two are at each other's throats like this, and you're still exchanging calls?

The perks of being former teammates, huh?

"I want your number too!" [I ate without washing dishes] pushed forward. "Boss, boss, where are you? I'll come join you!"

Yu Yu: "Rong City."

[I ate without washing dishes]: "Wait for me, I'm on my way!"

The others: "?"

This fool doesn't seem that foolish after all?

But why cling to Yu Yu's coattails instead of cozying up to an NPC?

Yu Yu didn't take it seriously and moved on to the next form.

The others exchanged glances, silently agreeing that teammates, no matter how strained, were different from strangers. The familiarity in their banter was undeniable…

"What about me? Don't I need to sign?" Qian Qing, who'd been sweating bullets, was torn between relief at not signing and dread at being overlooked.

Finally, he couldn't hold back.

Shang Wei had crossed Yu Yu, and so had he. Surely Yu Yu wouldn't remember Shang Wei and forget him?

After mulling it over, Qian Qing decided signing the contract might be a blessing in disguise. It'd be tough, but it was also Yu Yu's way of extending an olive branch.

But if she didn't ask him to sign…

Qian Qing couldn't take it anymore. "Have you… forgiven me?"

[I ate without washing dishes]: "Why's this guy volunteering to die?"

Had Qian Qing fallen for the boss's charm too?

[I ate without washing dishes] pondered deeply.

She'd binged all of Yu Yu's old videos, staying up late to rewatch them. The woman was cool as hell.

Yu Yu: "You? You think 500 gold coins grow on trees?"

Get real. You're not worth 500 gold coins.

Shang Wei had a history of charging at the Su family and taking bullets for others. You? Nada.

Even Shu Tu doesn't remember you, so there's no order to keep you alive.

Yu Yu's words boiled down to one message: Go cool off somewhere.

Qian Qing's heart sank.

Damn, what kind of trauma had that incident caused Yu Yu to make her this prickly?

How could her heart be so cold?

Qian Qing's handsome face twisted briefly before he forced a conciliatory tone. "Crimson, we may have been enemies, but that was just serving different masters, different stances. We've clashed so many times, we're practically old acquaintances. Now we're both working for the Magic Circle and the Federation—same side, same fight. I'm joining the Spellcaster Corps, so we're comrades now…"

His voice was gentle, and he deliberately swapped "Magic Circle" and "Federation" to tug at Yu Yu's conscience.

Yu Yu: "Oh, yeah, you're totally right."

Qian Qing: "…"

Right, my foot!

I don't believe a word you say.

With a Hall of Fame-worthy smile, Yu Yu continued, "Don't overthink it. I'm just the deputy commander, a player. How could I influence NPCs?"

"The Second Spellcaster Corps is under the Magic Circle, not me."

[I ate without washing dishes] scratched her head, puzzled. "But you're the one posting all the recruitment threads, boss. We wouldn't even know about it if you didn't say…"

Does that sound like "no influence"?

Yu Yu's mouth twitched as she patched her story. "Just a coincidence, a coincidence."

The others: "…" We don't buy it!

Wen Ming: "Boss, remember me? I'm from Rong City too! We even teamed up to bully those giant ants last time!"

He was dropping hints left and right.

Yu Yu took his form and noticed something odd.

Why were they all listing their real addresses?

Not that real addresses were some big secret—Yu Yu could easily get them from Yu Bai if she wanted…

"I know," Yu Yu said, adding him to the Spellcaster Corps. "Check if your status updated."

Just like a guild has a guild page, Yu Yu had a Spellcaster Corps page. It wasn't fancy, but as her seniors had said, it could update in real-time. For now, it only had basic functions like recruiting and kicking members. Even Senior Meng was on the list, which was pretty wild.

"Where do I buy it?" Qian Qing had made up his mind.

His face darkened as he declared, "I'll buy it."

Yu Yu was mildly surprised. "Oh?"

Qian Qing's expression was resolute. "I'm serious."

Yu Yu studied him for a moment before saying, "The Academy."

Interesting.

Her old rivals were something else.

Both Shang Wei and Qian Qing were decisive.

Yes, Yu Yu had Shang Wei sign the contract partly because of Shu Tu's situation, but there were other reasons too.

She only gave those she intended to use a chance to bury the hatchet.

As for Qian Qing… tch.

But he was actually going to buy a scroll himself.

Yu Yu glanced at Shang Wei. "Five hundred gold coins?"

Shang Wei closed her eyes, pretending not to hear.

Yu Yu: "Ugh, what a loss."

She gave Qian Qing a sliver more respect—just a sliver.

Reading the room was something anyone could do.

They were all players. Given the chance, Qian Qing wouldn't hesitate to usurp her.

Just like Shang Wei. If Shang Wei hadn't signed, Yu Yu wouldn't have let her into the corps. And she was certain the Grand Archon and the others wouldn't bat an eye—maybe they'd just dock her for poor leadership.

Denying her now would undermine the whole point of making her deputy commander. Yu Yu hadn't fully pieced together the Grand Archon's intentions, but based on her past guesses, she had a rough idea. So she'd boldly drafted the contract, crossing the line between game and reality, binding Shang Wei herself, not just her avatar. Her audacity earned her glowing praise from two seniors, who then enthusiastically helped refine the contract.

And the reason?

Shang Wei thought she knew Yu Yu, but how could Yu Yu not know Shang Wei?

She was certain Shang Wei would agree, so she wrote without restraint.

If Shang Wei didn't want to go all-in against her, she had to sign.

It reassured Yu Yu, but didn't it also reassure Shang Wei?

Yu Yu worried about betrayal, but with Shang Wei's paranoia, wasn't she just as afraid of retaliation keeping her up at night?

So, Yu Yu threw in a few softer terms—small potatoes.

Trust those you use, don't use those you don't trust. Shang Wei hadn't earned Yu Yu's full trust, so the contract ensured a forced mutual trust. Shang Wei signed in under three seconds. As expected, she was always decisive in moments like this. Soon, mid-tier spellcaster players arrived one by one—forty-nine in total.

Besides Yu Yu, only two hadn't joined the Spellcaster Corps yet.

Checking the system time, Yu Yu realized it hadn't even been two hours since her forum post.

She was curious. "Do you guys just live on the forums? How are you all so fast?"

[I ate without washing dishes], perched on a table in a one-legged crane stance, was buzzing with excitement, trying to rope someone into farming favor with Chang. She claimed she was a pro at navigating the moat.

Wen Ming, standing nearby, forced a stiff smile and politely declined [I ate without washing dishes]s invitation. Good grief, the High Steward was right there. Could she at least treat him like a person?

Shang Wei, unfazed, said, "I set you as a priority follow. Wouldn't want to miss any big announcements and lose out."

"Exactly."

"That's how it is."

"Any player with half a brain probably has you on priority follow by now."

Yu Yu was taken aback.

Was she that famous already?

She thought about it but couldn't wrap her head around it, so she let it go.

Fame was fleeting. Better to focus on leveling up.

Qian Qing returned, covered in dust and fuming. "I swear the Magic Circle is sexist. I'm a mid-tier spellcaster, and I had to beg the eleventh high-tier spellcaster before anyone took me seriously."

He was livid. "And one jerk teleported me outside the city! How's there an NPC that absurd?"

Yu Yu was genuinely shocked. "That actually happened?"

Qian Qing was too angry to care about the NPCs present. "You bet it did! They're all like that! I—"

He caught himself, glowering as he handed over the scroll. "Write it."

Meng, who'd been playing the NPC role, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Was that a thing?

Well, maybe.

Spellcasters were a quirky bunch. Even Meng often dealt with colleagues who shunned conversation, so Qian Qing's struggle wasn't surprising.

The fact that Yu Yu hadn't hit a single wall was the real oddity.

It was like she had a built-in friendliness radar, always finding the approachable ones.

Yu Yu pulled out Shang Wei's contract and began copying it, picking and choosing clauses.

Some terms were tailored for Shang Wei; Qian Qing could forget about those—Yu Yu couldn't be bothered with him.

Meng leaned in. "Need a hand?"

[I ate without washing dishes]: "?"

Suspicious elements detected.

Why's your NPC so… different?

"Boss, how high did you grind her favor?"

Yu Yu handed the scroll to Senior Meng, pointing out clauses. "This one, this one, and this one…"

She thought for a second. "Maybe 39?"

[I ate without washing dishes] frowned. "That doesn't sound that high?"

Yu Yu: "Senior Meng's favor is solid. Try it yourself if you don't believe me."

Meng shot her a blank look.

[I ate without washing dishes] mused, "Fair point. I grinded for ages to hit -10, and now it's dropped again."

She was convinced.

Qian Qing relaxed. The contract was a bit harsh, but not living in fear was a win.

Whatever Yu Yu's future held, Qian Qing didn't want to be her enemy right now.

Shang Wei, propping her chin up at the closest seat to Yu Yu, said, "Fifty-one now. When you asked, your senior probably didn't count you, right?"

She'd been keeping track.

Yu Yu: "Probably."

The office building resembled a medieval-style auditorium, its original purpose unclear, with second and third floors. Yu Yu reviewed the forms, pondering her next task.

Shang Wei: "What's next? Are we just sitting here?"

Yu Yu checked her task log, recalling her senior's words. "We've got the base and the Grand Archon's writ. Should we report to Senior Gui Fan first or get the Purification Department to inspect?"

She couldn't help but look at Meng. "Senior, what do you think?"

Meng suggested, "Why not apply for both at once?"

Yu Yu nodded. "Can I just call them to apply?"

That'd save a trip.

Meng pondered briefly. "Why not try both?"

Yu Yu gave it a shot.

The other players: "…"

This is your so-called "no influence" over NPCs?

We don't buy it!

Moments later, Yu Yu shared good news. "Senior Gui Fan said to wait—she's already sent someone."

Meng: "…" They're actually coming?

Wasn't the War Department notorious for being prickly?

Meng began questioning her understanding of the Magic Circle's departments. At least before, she had no idea the High Stewards of the Enforcement and Purification Departments would personally guide someone through legal loopholes.

Yu Yu: "Senior Qiong said she's coming too—oh, she's here…"

A woman in black robes appeared abruptly, an invisible wave rippling through the room. Meng and Chang frowned slightly, but the players and the Duchess were unaffected.

Qiong's tone was almost wistful. "No contamination, no corruption. So healthy."

Yu Yu: "…If there was contamination, we'd be in trouble."

Qiong: "Inspection passed. Hand over the roster."

Yu Yu gave her the list.

Qiong pulled out a deep purple duck-shaped stamp and pressed it onto the writ. "Done!"

Yu Yu's experience jumped by 20,000.

Delighted, Yu Yu praised, "Senior Qiong, you're so fast!"

Qiong: "Hm? Too fast? Should I slow down?"

Yu Yu flushed slightly. "…No need for that."

The next second, another unfamiliar black-robed woman appeared.

"Roster."

She was all business, demanding the list the moment she arrived. Not knowing her, Yu Yu obediently handed it over with both hands.

The woman glanced at Yu Yu, skimming the list as she spoke. "Zishan Town, Shan."

Yu Yu blinked, confused.

Shan: "Didn't Meng tell you about the other High Stewards in the War Department? Forgot already?"

Meng coughed awkwardly. "Zishan Town's guardian High Steward, Shan. I mentioned her."

Yu Yu snapped out of it. "Hello, Senior. I didn't catch on right away."

"Mm," Shan said. "Release your mental energy. Don't move."

Yu Yu complied, staying perfectly still. Three seconds later, she felt something scrape through her mental energy—strange but fleeting.

Shan: "Done. If Chong were here, she'd have come instead."

"But," Shan added coolly, eyeing Yu Yu, "you'll definitely visit Zishan Town someday. When you do, come find me."

"The Grand Archon was right—our War Department is friendly. Silver Moon's the weird one. Trust the Grand Archon, no question."

Yu Yu's mouth twitched. "Yes, Senior, got it."

Chang's face darkened. "Who're you badmouthing? Think we can't hear you?"

Qiong: "Exactly."

Shan: "Aren't you with Purification?"

Qiong: "Oh, didn't register."

Shan ignored them, barking at the other players, "All of you, release your mental energy. Hurry up—I don't have all day."

The players: "?"

Ma'am?

The favoritism was blatant.

[[I ate without washing dishes]] wailed, "We're doomed. Her favor's impossible to grind."

Shan: "?"

"Grind what? You, hurry up, release your mental energy."

[[I ate without washing dishes]]: "How do I do that?"

Shan: "?"

Yu Yu coughed and guided her. "Just hold your mental focus steady and feel it…"

Moments later, [[I ate without washing dishes]] released her mental energy, eyes wide with realization. "It works like that?"

"You can project mental energy outward?" Her eyes sparkled. "Can it do other stuff too?"

Shan swiftly scanned her and moved on to the others. Compared to Qiong's inspection, hers was meticulous and strict, her cold reprimands echoing through the room. Yu Yu thought this senior made Senior Chong look warm by comparison. Was the War Department really "friendly"?

She almost believed it! Senior Qiong was clearly the friendlier one. Even Senior Dai Dai seemed friendlier.

Muttering to herself, Yu Yu suddenly sensed something. "Senior, I'm logging off to take a call."

Qiong, who'd made herself at home chatting with Chang, glanced over with Chang. "Go ahead."

Yu Yu nodded confidently. See? Senior Qiong was friendlier. As long as she didn't zap Yu Yu, she was a great senior.

Shang Wei's Side

Timing Yu Yu's call, Shang Wei grabbed her phone and headed downstairs. "Why are you at my place?"

Xiang Qin and Zhong Ye stared at her, their expressions grim.

Shang Wei: "…What happened?"

Xiang Qin hesitated before speaking. "This morning, when I logged off, your mom suddenly spoke."

Shang Wei's face changed, disbelief flooding her. "My mom's awake?"

Zhong Ye's expression was complicated. "Seems like it. She even called your name…"

"Then why didn't you tell me?" Shang Wei was already rushing downstairs.

Since she was sixteen, her mother hadn't spoken.

A severe car accident had left her half-paralyzed, brain-damaged, and unable to speak.

The doctors claimed she'd lost the ability to think, but Shang Wei stubbornly refused to believe it.

She felt her mother listened intently every time she spoke to her.

And… the doctors had said there was a chance she could wake up, given time…

Shang Wei clung to that possibility with every fiber of her being.

Had she just witnessed a miracle?

Hours later, Shang Wei stepped outside, her face alight with visible excitement and joy. Sitting on the couch, she rubbed her hands together. "My mom's awake… she's awake… she's really awake…"

She fought to keep from laughing aloud, to keep from losing control.

Zhong Ye's teeth ached. "Alright, isn't it great that Auntie's awake?"

Xiang Qin, ever steady, suggested, "How about a big celebratory meal?"

Zhong Ye: "Yes!"

Shang Wei's grin widened uncontrollably. "Absolutely."

After a lavish meal courtesy of Xiang Qin, Shang Wei wheeled her mother outside, pouring out years of hardships, laughing wildly at times, and at others, collapsing onto her mother's lap in tears.

"There's a way. With Eternal Darkness, I'll get you back on your feet," she vowed. "Mom, trust your baby. No anomaly will take you away. I'll make you a player, I'll protect you, and no one will ever hurt you!"

Her mother, seated in the wheelchair, offered a faint, stiff smile, her voice soft. "Mom trusts her baby."

Inside, Zhong Ye paced anxiously. "We're really not telling her?"

Xiang Qin's eyes lowered. "With her temper, if you tell her now, she'll have a breakdown and probably come for you first."

Zhong Ye fretted, "Don't we have the Bronze Leaf? In theory, couldn't we…"

"I was still online when it happened. I got yanked awake, my senses screaming, but the moment I went downstairs, it was quiet."

"That's why I called you. Someone was in her house," Zhong Ye said, unsure of her own point. "So what do we do now?"

Xiang Qin rubbed his forehead, brows tight. "You saw her—she's way too emotional right now."

"Let's wait a few days until she calms down. Then we'll tell her."

"Shang Wei's not stupid. She'll understand…" Hopefully.

Zhong Ye, however, wasn't keen on sleeping anymore. This place felt anything but safe.

"I'm not logging in, and I'm not sleeping. I'm crashing at your place tonight."

Xiang Qin: "?"

Meanwhile, Shang Wei was too elated to calm down.

A long-lost sense of hope surged through her.

For the first time, she felt the future had color.

Once she got her revenge—once that damned beast was dead—she could embrace a new life!

Only then did she remember why she'd logged off.

Oh, right. To call that jerk Yu Yu.

Shang Wei felt a strange thrill.

My mom's still alive, but yours is dead. Happy now?

When the call connected, she nearly blurted it out but caught herself just in time.

"Hey," Shang Wei said, her tone brimming with excitement and a hint of swagger. "We need to talk."

Yu Yu's Side

Yu Yu had finished her tasks and logged off.

She'd given Shu Tu two spellcaster robes, hyping them up enthusiastically.

Shu Tu, rarely one to refuse her, was sold in just two sentences.

Now, both in spellcaster robes, they lounged shoulder-to-shoulder on the couch, munching watermelon. Fuyu and Zi Shu were at it again, their argument escalating to Zi Shu dragging Fuyu by the ankles across the carpet. Fuyu begged for mercy, clinging to the big cat, who looked utterly baffled as they slid nearly a meter before swiping a paw.

Yu Yu: "Hey! Don't claw my carpet!"

Shu Tu set down her watermelon. "Why are you bullying the cat?"

Yu Yu: "Didn't I just say? I'm bringing some watermelon seeds to plant up there…"

"I'm gonna make Eternal Darkness fall in love with watermelon's deliciousness!"

Earlier, Yu Bai had told Yu Yu that the special paper for healing scrolls was ready and would arrive in Rong City tomorrow, along with Elder Li and a few medical researchers.

Yu Yu felt a touch of pressure, but not much.

She'd finally completed her tasks, her experience soaring to 182,500/200,000.

A few more small tasks—or just waiting a few days—and she'd hit high-tier!

Ecstatic, Yu Yu did a mental victory roll.

In her excitement, she used her leftover materials to craft a few more healing scrolls.

Big success!

Handing one to each person, Yu Yu struck a confident pose. "Give it a try."

Fuyu: "Me! Me! Me!"

"What kind of injuries can this heal?"

"It's not great for internal injuries, and for external ones, no amputations or fractures. Bleeding volume is about…" Yu Yu explained in detail.

Fuyu slashed her arm without hesitation, blood gushing instantly.

Only then did she pause. "Oh… I forgot. This is reality."

The big cat stood, circling her.

Fuyu glared and kicked it away. "Scram, don't touch me."

Zi Shu, unfazed, said, "Use it. You're getting blood on the floor, and I'll have to clean it."

Zi Shu, the unlucky warrior who handled most physical chores due to her strength.

Sometimes, she'd wrap the big cat in a towel and use it as a mop. It worked well, though Shu Tu felt bad for the cat, and the fur cleanup was a hassle—Yu Yu had to use spells to blow it all away.

Their daily life in one word: chaos.

The big cat, thick-skinned, didn't mind the kick and flopped down nearby.

Fuyu tore open the scroll, watching the wound heal, and lit up with joy. "Yu Yu, it works! Make more—we'll each carry a stack and go wild outside!"

Shu Tu placed her scroll on the table. "Give mine to Yu Bai tomorrow. I'll pass on testing."

Zi Shu was about to try a cut herself when she heard a phone ring. "Yu Yu, your phone."

Yu Yu examined the long scar on Fuyu's arm, now healed. "Nice, nice. Looks like this dosage is just right. I'll stick with it next time."

Zi Shu, ever serious, asked, "If an artery's cut, can it heal?"

Yu Yu: "No clue. Wanna try?"

Zi Shu: "We'd need to test outside."

Shu Tu interjected, "Test at the hospital tomorrow."

These two melee fighters were getting reckless, and it was exhausting.

Zi Shu pressed, "What about internal bleeding, where you can't see the wound? Can this find it?"

Yu Yu, still clueless, said, "No idea. Test tomorrow?"

Zi Shu: "Hospital tomorrow?"

Yu Yu finally picked up her phone, only to hear Shang Wei's obnoxiously smug tone—

"Hey, we need to talk."

Yu Yu: "?"