“Eighty! Eighty!”
“It’s falling! It’s falling!”
“It’s tilting! Hit it again on the left!”
“Cast a skill!”
“OK! Entangle is set! Push!”
Boom—
The massive tree slowly toppled, kicking up a cloud of dust. A few players wearing crude wooden armor and holding wooden swords cheered while coughing.
“As expected of ‘Blue Silver Entangle’! So useful—it anchors the tree like a charm!”
“Haha, of course! Even the Sea God gives it a seal of approval!”
“Pfft! Resurrect, my love!”
“Hahaha!”
“This feeling really isn't bad... If this place actually existed, living here wouldn't be half bad.”
“Oh, come on. If we actually lived here, safety would be a huge problem first and foremost.”
“Ugh...”
These few were none other than Nan Cheng and Bruce’s teammates.
“This should be about enough, right?”
The group chatted as they stacked the felled timber together.
Beside them, the tree trunks had already piled into a small hill.
“Yeah. The first ten levels only require 100 EXP per level. This much is enough for us to level up several times,” Nan Cheng said.
“Is that so? I was so focused on chopping trees that I didn't even notice.”
“Yeah, I only found out after reading the newbie guide just now.”
“Though honestly, this game is a bit too hardcore. It doesn't even give us a system inventory. Carrying logs around for half the day has made my arms completely numb.”
“That’s true. I wonder if the devs will add a system inventory later. But... didn't you adjust your pain sensitivity to zero?”
“Huh? You can adjust your sensory settings???”
“You didn't know?”
“...”
Listening to the players chatting around him, the corners of Nan Cheng's lips curved slightly: “I'll be max level soon.”
“Holy shit?! Really?!”
“Awesome, Bro Cheng!”
The other players immediately looked at him with envy.
“Stay humble, stay humble.”
Nan Cheng wanted to be modest, but his actual strength simply didn't allow it.
In the game, dusk had arrived, the evening glow painting half the sky red. In reality, it was already late into the night.
Although the live stream chat wasn't as hyperactive as before, it was still bustling:
“Damn, Bro Cheng actually pulled off the flex.”
“As expected of Bro Cheng! No matter what game he plays, he becomes a top player!”
“Bro Cheng, Bro Cheng, when are you going to see Miss Lilith? I can't wait to see my waifu!”
“666, that's clearly my waifu!”
“Hey you two ahead, how did she become your waifu? Waifus belong to everyone!”
“So salty, so jealous thinking about how Bro Cheng gets to see my waifu every day.”
“??? Another master here?”
“? Am I the only one looking forward to the official open beta?”
“+1, looking forward to the official open beta.”
Nan Cheng glanced at the chat, which was gradually going off the rails, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Still, he spoke up:
“Guys in the stream, don't rush. We'll be seeing Lilith in a bit.”
“As for the official open beta, I don't know either, but you can keep an eye on the official game website for updates anytime.”
Hearing Nan Cheng talking to himself, the accompanying players were instantly surprised:
“Bro Cheng, are you a game streamer?”
“Yeah, I usually stream games and chat with everyone.” Nan Cheng nodded as he spoke.
“Holy crap! Playing games while working—your life must be so free!”
“No clocking in at work and getting to play games instead. I'm so envious!”
“Must be awesome!”
“Sigh, unlike me, who has to go to the company every day to be a corporate slave.”
“Hiss! For some reason, I suddenly want to log off now.”
“Same. Thinking about having to work tomorrow instantly ruins my mood to chop trees.”
“By the way, Bro Cheng must be super rich, right?”
“Big boss, please carry us! We'll follow your lead from now on!”
The players showered him with envy once more.
Seeing this, Bruce swelled with pride. “Of course! Who do you think our Bro Cheng is? Follow Bro Cheng, and you won't have to worry about EXP or gear!”
Hearing that, Nan Cheng thought of his tiny rented room of just a few dozen square meters and the monthly rent and utility bills. The words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down, leaving him hesitating on what to say.
Actually, being a streamer isn't easy at all...
Time flowed slowly. Amid laughter and cheer, the temporary logging squad formed by the players carried the timber and slowly strolled back to the camp.
As soon as they entered the camp, they were stunned by the scene before them:
Dozens of players were teamed up in groups of two or three. Some were hauling stone, some were assembling wooden frames, and others were using magic skills to anchor the house structures. The lively, bustling scene rivaled an actual construction site in reality.
Looking at the wooden cabins that were already taking shape, Bruce's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim:
“Holy crap, it's only been a day, and everyone's inner builder spirit is blazing!”
“For real. Building these houses is moving even faster than my tree chopping.”
“That's because of magic skills boosting them—it saves time and effort. Truth be told, when skills are used well, it really is convenient.”
A player explained, but as if realizing something, he couldn't help but vent:
“Though speaking of which, aren't the game devs way too lazy?! They didn't even give us a ready-made beginner village, making us build it ourselves. They're treating us like laborers!”
The moment these words were uttered, they instantly struck a chord with the other players, and everyone kicked into rant mode:
“Right? Seriously, I'm speechless. Hauling logs all day, I feel like I've turned into coolie labor.”
“Hahaha, you feel that way too?”
“Uh... maybe the devs want us to learn endurance and experience the pride of hard work?”
“Pride of hard work my ass!”
“Hiss, am I the only one who feels hauling logs is actually kinda sacred?”
“Genius! That's called a sense of involvement!”
“Pfft, you know what, playing this game makes even hauling logs pretty fun. It really gives a great sense of involvement.”
“Haha, but seriously, watching the camp change bit by bit is pretty interesting. It's way more fun than just grinding monsters to level up.”
Listening to the players' cheerful discussion, Nan Cheng fell into thought.
A sense of involvement, huh...
Perhaps this was where the true magic of the game lay. It didn't give you a ready-made paradise; instead, it handed you a wilderness and a group of companions, allowing everyone to build their own “home” with their own hands amid laughter and cooperation.
...
As darkness completely fell, the night sky of the continent of Aenoria was pure, without a single speck of impurity.
Stars dotted the sky, offering a stunning vista whenever one looked up. A gentle evening breeze blew past, carrying the fresh scent of greenery from the forest, making it exceptionally pleasant.
In the player camp, scattered campfires gradually rose, their flickering flames driving away the chill of the night.
Many players had already stopped their work and gathered around the campfires, holding wild fruit harvested from who-knows-where, munching while chatting casually. Laughter and cheerful banter resonated throughout the camp.
Nan Cheng found an open spot and sat down. Listening to the players bantering about everything under the sun, and watching the live chat join in on the memes, a warm sense of contentment washed over his whole body.
As the night breeze brushed past, the flames flickered, casting long shadows. It all felt like a paradise far removed from the hustle and bustle—free from work worries and life pressure, offering nothing but pure, simple joy.
It was a truly wonderful feeling.
Gathering chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge, peacefully viewing the southern hills... Perhaps this was what that meant.
Just as Nan Cheng's thoughts drifted off and he immersed himself in the tranquility, a pair of large hands waved in front of his eyes, abruptly snapping him out of it.
Nan Cheng: “...”
He silently looked up at Bruce, who was grinning foolishly, and his lips twitched.
“Bro Cheng, what are you spacing out for? Want some fruit? I just picked it, it's super sweet!”
Bruce had no awareness whatsoever of having interrupted someone, even thoughtfully handing over a blue fruit.
Nan Cheng remained silent for a moment before reaching out to take the fruit, feeling a subtle chill on his fingertips:
“It's nothing, just reflecting a bit.”
He took a gentle bite, and a rich, sweet fragrance instantly burst across his palate. Refreshing and satisfying, it tasted better than most real-world fruit.
“Mmm?! This is actually really good?”
Nan Cheng's eyes instantly lit up in surprise. He had originally assumed in-game fruit wouldn't have much flavor, but he hadn't expected it to be so amazing.
“Of course! Let me tell you, I searched for a long time before finding this fruit tree, and I almost got chased and bitten by wild monsters in the tree!”
Bruce said proudly. As he spoke, he pulled another fruit from his pocket and took giant bites, juice dripping down the corners of his mouth as he mumbled,
“Look, that guy over there picked a whole bunch. If you want more, I can go grab a few more for you!”
Nan Cheng looked in the direction he pointed, only to see a player cradling a lap full of wild fruit, currently mobbed by other players snatching them away in complete chaos.
“Don't push, don't push! There's enough for everyone! Eating these fruits seems to give a temporary buff too—I chopped trees faster after eating one earlier!”
The player holding the fruits shouted while protecting his stash, but his grip slipped, causing several fruits to roll out, which were instantly snatched clean by the crowd.
Nan Cheng: “...”
Bruce: “...”
Rate on N.U.
