Chapter 1: The Heroine of Xiangyang City Seeks a Person, Heroes Gather in the Water Cloud Pavilion

The Emei heroine frowned upon hearing this. Noticing that it was getting late, she did not procrastinate and conceded, saying: "... fine, after all, looks won't fill the stomach. In any case, I can't be too ugly, otherwise it will affect my mood. How much for someone who isn't handsome?"

The young lady is somewhat disappointed

The trafficker quickly pointed at the female hero and added, "Ahem, don't talk nonsense. This is your boss for today's mission, Lin Xiaoxiao from the Emei Sect, who is generous, righteous, intelligent, and beautiful!" Then he pointed at the player in black and said to Lin Xiaoxiao, "Heroine, this is your mission assistant. He has no affiliation with any sect, is robust in physique, and is famously known as 'Young Master Aotian'!"

The boss immediately realized that the other party had reserved a table. He pointed in a direction and said, "That way... but there should already be someone sitting there"

Aren't you supposed to be the number one human trafficker in Xiangyang City? Besides, how hard can it be to find such people? I can casually name a few, like Yun Zhonglong from the Huashan Sect, Lanling Wang from the Longfeng Inn, and Han Shimingyue from the Wudang Sect..." At this point, the female hero gestured with her fingers a few times.

Such intelligence is indeed suited for engaging in the business of human trafficking. Have you said enough?

The female hero was greatly enraged, wondering if she had encountered a fraudster

Given your age, you must be an experienced player

This is my personal privacy, can we not discuss it

... ...

Sitting opposite him was a young woman, dressed in a very chivalrous outfit typical of a female hero, with a sword hanging at her waist that also exuded a sense of the martial world. Judging by her attire, she appeared to be from the Emei Sect, as there was a distinctive red mole on her forehead that is characteristic of this sect.

The heroine glanced and nodded in agreement

Xiangyang City

At that moment, the busy boss had just sent off a group of players inquiring about available rooms. Before he could wipe the sweat from his brow, he continued to deal with a group of Wudang brothers clamoring for their dishes. Suddenly, he felt someone tugging at his clothing. Turning around, he saw a female hero from Emei standing next to him, accompanied by a player in black attire. The female hero boldly asked, "Boss, where is table 57?"

Young Master Aotian sighed, "How wonderful, I seem to see myself from many years ago, when I was just as pure. However, when the heroine introduces me, could you please mention my name as well? I am called Young Master Aotian, and my martial arts are..."

If you keep talking nonsense, I will find someone else

The boss saw through everything and immediately explained that the other party was not a casual person, maintaining a good reputation and generally not adding friends casually. Soon, someone would come in person. The heroine was skeptical but stood still with her sword, waiting for a while. This time, she was not disappointed; a few minutes later, a player in black finally appeared in her line of sight

Over the years, there are always certain matters in the game that you are reluctant to mention, or certain individuals you do not wish to encounter again. Some people have wronged you in the past, and perhaps you have contemplated taking their lives, but your martial arts skills are lacking

The reason for having little contact with others is quite novel. Young Master Ao Tian looked at the other person in surprise, wondering what this statement meant. Was it referring to a novice in the game or a shut-in in real life? While he was pondering this, he suddenly heard a commotion from a distance in the hall. The three turned their heads to look and found a crowd gathering, with someone shouting loudly: "Big Brother Zhu is here, everyone make way!"

She whispered, seemingly puzzled. Coincidentally, just as the one in white, Zhu Yeyue, was surrounded and seated, someone shouted loudly: "Zhu Laoda, hurry up and tell us about today's mission regarding the Dugu Nine Swords, the brothers are all eagerly waiting!"

The Dugu Nine Swords has long been hailed as the foremost swordsmanship in the gaming world, renowned far and wide. It is said that the top player among gamers, the Cloud Dragon of the Huashan Sect, has made a name for himself by wielding this technique, dominating the realm. In the current vast rivers and lakes, various martial arts manuals have become exceedingly rare, let alone the rarest of ultimate skills. Therefore, such a super task is enough to drive players into a frenzy. Millions of players in the game are eager to participate, converging on Xiangyang from all directions, and even the inns outside the city are fully booked.

It is said that only players from the Emei sect have such beautiful red moles, which are assigned by the system. Most female players from Emei are very pleased with this, but male players are reluctant. What does it mean for a grown man to have a red dot on his forehead? After many years of protest, the system finally agreed to change the red moles for male players to beauty spots

The task is long, so it would be nice to find a handsome one to please the eyes. Someone with a sense of humor would also be good for chatting and relieving boredom, the heroine thought to herself

The young man opened his mouth, yet he did not know how to speak. The female knight, however, shot a glare at Young Master Ao Tian and said: "Do not disturb my brother. He has had little contact with others."

The player in black smiled lightly and said, "Boss, please give your orders. Today, I am at your service."

The Emei heroine did not waste words; she directly sat down, poured herself a glass of wine, and drank it in one go. Only then did she briefly greet, "This is my assistant. This is my younger brother, Qingtou, who has no affiliation and has just joined the game."

At the eastern city gate, the inn named Shuiyunjian is thus bustling with activity

Upon hearing the name of Yun Zhonglong, Prince Aotian could not help but chuckle in disbelief. Yun Zhonglong is considered the number one idol character in the game, possessing exceptional martial arts skills and handsome looks, with a gaming career that is quite legendary. It is not uncommon for many female players to be infatuated with him. However, his younger brother quietly asked, "Sister, who is that Bamboo Boss? Is he a master?"

This debauched young hero boldly inquired: "Which boss has ordered my bell?"

The speaker is a middle-aged man with a short, dense mustache. He sits in front of a worn-out table, holding a bowl of wine, smiling charmingly. His eyes are filled with laughter, yet his slightly arched eyebrows hint at a sharpness akin to a curved blade.

The female hero seemed unfazed, but the young brother, Qingtou, appeared somewhat nervous, unsure of how to respond to Aotian. Clearly, he was still quite unfamiliar with this world of martial arts, and he seemed shy as well. Young Master Aotian found it amusing and said, "Qingtou, is this your first venture into the martial world?"

Thus, both parties signed the contract and made the payment, and the transaction was completed. Before long, the female hero obtained the contact information of that person. She opened the communication system to add the other party as a friend, but the system unexpectedly alerted her that there was an anomaly; the other party had not enabled this feature at all

The middle-aged man coughed, set down the bowl, and said awkwardly: "Heroine, this establishment deals in human heads. If you introduce a killer, the cost is high, but for ordinary human head business, the fees are lower!"

The Emei heroine held her breath and chuckled, saying: "I didn't expect you to be so humorous. In today's martial arts world, no one dares to claim they are not afraid of a fight. Even the unfortunate Ah Fei, who is known as the number one in martial arts, has a record of being cornered on a mountain and killed to revive his vitality..."

The middle-aged boss was overjoyed and made a gesture indicating a quantity

Lin Xiaoxiao quickly found her table in the crowded hall, where indeed there was already a person. A pale-faced youth, resembling a young player, sat quietly, dressed in novice attire and equipped with a novice sword, exuding an air of innocence and youthfulness. Upon seeing Lin Xiaoxiao arrive, the youth joyfully stood up and softly said: "Sister, you finally came. Did you find any help?"

The female hero made a disgusted expression and, with a wave of her sleeve, set off first. The player in black hurriedly followed, turning back halfway to nod at the boss. The boss gave him an OK gesture, seemingly showing great respect for the player in black, but unfortunately, the female hero, walking ahead, did not see it

It seems I was right. Do not worry, this news is already known in the community. The task of the Dugu Nine Swords is about to commence, and participating players must be righteous, without any unorthodox martial arts. Choosing a player with unorthodox martial arts to assist you should be for the sake of convenience, to prevent the other party from having any sudden greedy thoughts

Is the Dragon in the Clouds really not capable?

Everyone echoed in unison, expressing a sense of eagerness, and even Lin Xiaoxiao and Qingtou perked up their ears. The proud Young Master Aotian slowly poured himself a glass of wine and glanced at Zhu Yeyue.

The person smiled broadly.

Hehe, I possess great martial arts skills and am not afraid of a fight

"No, no! Young lady, your request is not difficult, but it is somewhat special. It is understandable to seek someone with high martial arts skills, as everyone who comes here for help has such a requirement. However, what is the reasoning behind knowing the martial arts of the evil sect? Is it because it is cool?"

Young Master Aotian was not angry; with a chuckle, he placed the long sword on the table. He then poured himself a cup of wine, gestured invitingly towards the two, and elegantly drank it all in one go

The young lady's tone is becoming increasingly cold

Hey, in this world of martial arts, there are many men with high skills, and quite a few who are handsome and humorous. However, it is hard to find someone who possesses all three qualities!

Shuiyun Inn is a guesthouse run by players. The scale of this inn is not particularly large, but it boasts a pleasant environment. Considering the habits of the people in the martial world, the owner has set up a storytelling platform in the main hall, frequently inviting renowned storytellers to share tales of the martial realm, which adds considerable enjoyment. Due to its location and attentive service, Shuiyun Inn has gradually been rated by players as a must-visit place in Xiangyang

The female hero Lin Xiaoxiao also transformed into a female duck. After standing and observing for a while, she retracted her neck and exclaimed: "So this is what the legendary Zhu Laoda Zhu Yeyue looks like... Tsk tsk! Far inferior to the Cloud Dragon."

The words of this middle-aged man carry a distinct flavor of the underworld, suggesting that he is engaged in the business of assassination, commonly referred to as selling heads. As the vast underworld has developed over time, various trades have begun to mature, and it is not uncommon for players to post tasks seeking assistance or to gather people for missions. However, the female hero from the Emei Sect before me has become angry; she slammed the table and exclaimed: "... Boss, are you mentally challenged?! I've been saying for a long time that I just want to hire someone for a task. I have no enemies to kill, nor do I have any great grievances to avenge. Why do you keep spouting this nonsense? Do you even want to take this job or not?"

Alright, you are just a helper. The phrase 'Proud Young Master' is too provocative, and we fear it may affect our mission if spoken aloud! Unless absolutely necessary, we shall simply call you Helper. Clear and straightforward! said the Emei heroine

The entire hall erupted with a loud noise, and countless people stood up, stretching their necks to look in that direction, resembling ducks being grasped by the neck. There, a person in white was being surrounded by a multitude, making their way towards the storytelling platform in the center of the hall, while the crowd shouted and made way, as if a star were making an entrance

Today, the city of Xiangyang is particularly lively. According to reliable sources, an important martial arts quest in the game has been activated, and the location is precisely Xiangyang. Players are gathering here in droves, hoping to seize this rare opportunity to participate. There are reports that this quest is extremely valuable, as it may involve the game's ultimate sword technique—Dugu Nine Swords

Young Master Aotian was momentarily taken aback, just as he was about to speak, the female knight continued: "I have urgent matters to attend to, so you must come with me to Xiangyang City. It is agreed that you only need to help me protect one person, and do not engage in any actions that are not required, especially do not jeopardize my mission. Otherwise, the subsequent fees will be deducted!"

Enough! Young lady, rest assured, maintaining client confidentiality is our principle. Skilled in martial arts and possessing sinister techniques, I have plenty of such players here! However, being handsome and humorous is somewhat challenging... Are these two points very important?

Ha, or perhaps you think it is not worth it! In fact, killing is quite easy. I have a friend whose martial arts skills are exceptional, but he has been facing some difficulties in life recently. If you simply give him a bit of silver, he will definitely be able to help you kill that person. Please take your time to consider it.

Her appearance was utterly unremarkable, belonging to the kind that blends into the crowd. The only distinguishing feature was a blade of grass held in her mouth, while she cradled a black-handled sword in her arms. Her hair was tousled by the wind, possibly having not been washed for a long time, exuding a slightly unruly style

"Come on, come on! Even a mosquito, no matter how small, is still meat. Hmm, let me take another look at your requirements. You want someone with high martial arts skills, who practices evil sect techniques, is handsome, and is humorous and talkative... Hey, girl, are you selecting a boyfriend?"

Lin Xiaoxiao sat down and poured herself a glass of wine, snorting coldly as she said: "He isn't really a master, but he is a well-informed player. This person's real name is Zhu Yeyue, and some busybodies call him Zhu Laoda; in fact, he is just a big bluffer. You can think of him as the all-knowing figure in the game! However, it is quite a coincidence that he appears here; could it be related to the task of Dugu Jiujian?"

He ah

The boss sighed and said: "Who in this world can afford to invite him! If you were to remove the 'handsome' part, I would introduce you immediately, and the price would be fair at a 20% discount!"

The female hero waved her hand to indicate it was no trouble, and directly drew her long sword as she walked over. The black-clad player with hair pointing skyward also held a sword and followed closely behind her. As they passed by the boss, they exchanged a slight smile and a greeting. The boss responded with a professional smile, but after the person had passed, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity, wondering why that person's gaze seemed somewhat recognizable, though he could not recall where he had seen them before. When he looked again, the individual had already vanished into the bustling and lively hall.

The female hero raised her eyebrows and looked up and down at this strong yet poorly named player, and said in surprise: "Young Master Ao Tian... won't you get beaten up for having such a name?"

Yes, indeed!

The customer is the Jade Emperor! As long as they pay, it is fine to call me a 'henchman'!

Certainly. Hehe! However, my lady, even if you don't say it, I can guess that you are here for the task of the Dugu Nine Swords

However, the boss spat out a mouthful of old blood: "Young lady, the people you are talking about are top players in the underworld; I fear you cannot afford their price! Moreover, their identities and statuses are different; they are either the senior brothers of sects or the leaders of gangs, and I believe they would not engage in such business."

***

The person who came is indeed not handsome

The young lady glanced a few times, her face showing some disappointment

Xiangyang City has always been a major city in the game. The atmosphere here is rich in martial arts culture, with a long-standing history of chivalry. It is common to see large groups of players gathering and honing their skills. Occasionally, renowned NPC heroes from the martial world make appearances, causing quite a stir.

The background of the game "The Great Jianghu" is set sixteen years after various original martial arts novels. As a result, many martial arts characters gather together, and one can see the Guo Jing and Huang Rong family in Xiangyang, as well as figures like the master of Peach Blossom Island and Hong Qigong.

What the heck, are you going to take this business or not? Don't waste my time! The female hero has a bit of a fiery temper

It is a beautiful day in the game, and the season is approximately late summer to early autumn. The restless temperature has also ignited the restless hearts of the people. For the simple purpose of attracting attention, male and female players in the game have donned various stylish and elegant outfits, with long swords hanging at their waists, traversing the streets and alleys in a very chivalrous manner