Chapter 42: Plans Are No Match for Change

Lu Kuan stood at the doorway, studying the task log while listening to the sounds outside.

“Captain, could you tell us about… that Flame Demon Sword?” The one who spoke was Qingyi, who hadn’t talked to Lu Kuan in a long time. Bai Keke and A Kui, finding a topic at last, also eagerly asked Lu Kuan to explain what kind of group the Flame Demon Sword was.

“They… are an old studio, established seven or eight years ago,” Lu Kuan briefly introduced the Flame Demon Sword, and only then did the three girls realize just what sort of people had stood before them earlier.

“Speaking of which, I haven’t praised you yet. Just now, facing so many people, none of you abandoned me or ran away. That’s real loyalty!” Lu Kuan gave the girls a thumbs-up, sincerely complimenting them. “Especially Qingyi’s battlefield support earlier—it was timed perfectly, truly the mark of a master~”

“I didn’t manage to block the thief…” Qingyi hung her head, her tone tinged with disappointment, then looked up at Lu Kuan. “If I want… want to become a professional player, what should I do?”

Lu Kuan raised his brows in surprise. “You want to be a professional player?”

“I do too!”

“And me!” A Kui and Bai Keke both raised their hands. Seeing this, Lu Kuan scratched his head and said, “Well… it’s probably not as easy as you think.”

“You lead us, don’t worry—we can pay tuition.” A Kui said indifferently. Qingyi and Bai Keke looked hopeful. Along the way, Lu Kuan’s performance had sparked their interest in professional gaming.

Lu Kuan grinned and shook his head. “It’s not about money. Besides, there are different kinds of professional players. I’m the loner type—not really used to team activities.”

“Oh…” The girls’ faces showed a hint of disappointment. Lu Kuan didn’t mind. Most people’s interest in professional gaming was just a whim; once they saw the monotony and hardship behind the profession, they’d likely reconsider.

The mood grew a bit quiet. Lu Kuan, noticing this, spoke in a lighthearted tone, “But now we’re friends. If you have any questions in the future, you can always ask me. As for consulting fees, I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.”

“Hmph, who needs that~”

Lu Kuan was met with a few eye rolls. He chuckled. Though he looked forward to adventuring with beautiful teammates, he harbored too many secrets to let anyone get too close to his life.

They chatted away, and time passed quickly. Two hours later, beside the campfire, A Tang finally opened his eyes.

“Who are you! Stay away!” The little boy reacted swiftly, shrinking into the corner at the sight of strangers. He pulled out a shiny dagger from behind his back and watched them nervously.

The dagger was clearly a toy made for a child, about the size of a regular knife—almost comical. Seeing this, Bai Keke put away her spiked hammer and smiled.

“A Tang, don’t be afraid. We’re your mother’s friends. She asked us to find you,” Bai Keke’s cute looks and sweet voice had a comforting effect. “Your mother’s name is Riel, right? Your home is in the poor district south of Lava Fortress—we were there today.”

A Tang’s expression changed immediately, though he still clutched the dagger tightly. But when Bai Keke described his home’s furnishings and his mother’s appearance, the boy’s tense muscles finally relaxed. He collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.

Bai Keke hurried over and hugged him, softly comforting him.

A Tang’s emotions gradually settled. Lu Kuan took out his water flask and a piece of cheese. Seeing food, A Tang’s eyes lit up and he shoved the cheese into his mouth, nearly choking and rolling his eyes. He gulped water several times before recovering.

Lu Kuan patiently waited for him to finish eating before asking, “If I’m not mistaken, you weren’t kidnapped by cave dwellers but followed them here yourself, right?”

A Tang hesitated, then nodded.

“And why? Don’t tell me you’re interested in these smelly cave dwellers.” Lu Kuan squatted in front of him, asking with interest.

A Tang shook his head, biting his lip as if making a decision. “I came to find my sister!”

“What?” The answer shocked them all. The three girls exchanged glances.

“You’re all adventurers, right?” A Tang’s bright eyes shone with a strange light as he looked at Lu Kuan and pleaded, “Please, save my sister!”

Lu Kuan’s curiosity was piqued. Could it be that his earlier assessment of the task was mistaken and there was more to it than met the eye?

Thinking this, Lu Kuan sat down cross-legged and handed over a piece of jerky, smiling. “I need to understand the whole story before I know if I can save your sister.”

A Tang took the jerky, tore into it, and began his tale.

A Tang was born into a military family; his grandfather and father were career soldiers in Lava Fortress. Both had died in battle, leaving only A Tang, his mother, and his sister Ellie.

Without men in the household, they were vulnerable to bullying. The first deputy commander of Lava Fortress, Tang Jie, had long coveted Ellie. A week ago, Tang Jie invited a respected elder as a matchmaker and proposed to Ellie.

Tang Jie was notorious for his philandering ways, with a house full of wives and concubines. Ellie naturally rejected him. Afterwards, Tang Jie threatened A Tang’s mother: if she refused the marriage, he would forcibly conscript A Tang into the army.

At A Tang’s age, joining the army meant certain death. At this critical moment, Ellie suddenly went missing.

“My sister left home to protect me! When Grandpa taught us swordsmanship, he told us that our family has a treasure hidden in the cave dweller canyon,”

As he spoke, tears welled in A Tang’s eyes. He continued resolutely, “Before she left, my sister said she was going to find the treasure here, sell it, and take Mom and me away from Lava Fortress.”

The girls were deeply moved by A Tang’s story, comforting him warmly and hating Tang Jie all the more.

Lu Kuan, however, seemed to have realized something. His eyes flickered, thinking it over. “Do you know the exact location of the treasure? Otherwise, this canyon is so vast—how will we find your sister?”

A Tang shook his head miserably. “Grandpa never told me. My uncle definitely knows, but his relationship with my father was always bad—he’d never tell us.”

Ah, that explains it~

Lu Kuan grinned, understanding now: no wonder the Flame Demon Sword found this place. They likely followed the thread from Tang Jie’s forced marriage, getting clues from A Tang’s uncle.

This task is more complicated than I thought~