Qiao Zhihui glanced at the screen full of question marks, too lazy to explain things to everyone. He wished he could just jump in and help Xie Shuangxue himself, but the players simply couldn’t interfere.

Just then, a voice interrupted the chaotic scene from the side.

“Ling Xuan, stand still and shut up,” said Chun Yao, emerging out of nowhere with a stern voice. “Are you even going to ignore my orders now?”

As the heir of the Feather Clan, he was still young—just a year older than sixteen-year-old Xie Shuangxue. Although his face still bore traces of youth, the imposing aura around him was completely intact. Many of the taller Feather Clan members, whether willingly or not, bowed their heads and greeted him with a respectful “Your Highness.” Even Ling Xuan, who had just been untameable, instantly lowered his head, not daring to utter another word.

“I am already aware of these matters,” Chun Yao said as he looked around.

The tasks the players had been doing were linked to the storyline, and this one was a timed quest. Since they had all completed the mission, it meant the Feather Clan now had that information. After hearing the reports from his subordinates, Chun Yao understood that the disturbance wasn’t simply the work of the Demon Clan. He also knew that the most powerful Skeleton Ghost Generals had been lying in ambush, using Xie Shuangxue as bait, all likely aimed at him.

On a deeper level, it was clear that everything was ultimately targeting the Feather Clan. It was the never-ending struggle between gods and demons, with the Xie family caught in the crossfire.

With that thought, Chun Yao stepped forward a few more paces, looking at Xie Shuangxue with a visibly softer expression.

“Come with me. Since I promised your father, the Feather Clan will naturally protect you,” he said. Then, with a slight turn, he spoke loud enough for all the surviving residents to hear. “The Xie family and Penglai City have followed the Feather Clan for many years, and we will not disappoint you. I will find a better and safer place for you all. I will get to the bottom of this, and if there is truly someone behind the scenes, they will pay for this massacre with their blood.”

Ah, the protagonist sure had a commanding presence.

Unlike other Feather Clan members who had an innate aversion to outsiders, Chun Yao possessed a strong sense of responsibility and the wisdom and tolerance befitting a leader. Even knowing storms were looming, he remained calm and made swift judgments, directly addressing Ling Xuan and all the Feather Clan present, as well as making his public promise.

At his words, the hundreds of surviving citizens, once in despair, suddenly seemed to gain hope. Some of them began to cry quietly.

But Qiao Zhihui only kept his gaze fixed on Xie Shuangxue.

The young man had his head down, seemingly not daring to look directly at anyone. When Chun Yao spoke, he trembled slightly, and his hand hanging at his side slowly clenched. When Chun Yao asked him again if he wanted to leave with the Feather Clan, he merely whispered, “Alright.”

It wasn’t until Chun Yao turned away that he finally dared to lift his gaze, looking at the noble princess for a long time, a faint glimmer of light appearing in his once dull eyes.

In Qiao Zhihui’s streaming room, the chat was already lamenting, as if seeing a hopeless, doomed love story.

“Ai,” Qiao Zhihui sighed along, “Shuangxue, better give up now. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

This was a locked-in main CP pairing, after all.

Players all knew that Chun Yao didn’t particularly care about him; it was just a sense of duty and the natural act of the Feather Clan to comfort their followers. In this vast world, the Xie family wasn’t the only faction loyal to the Feather Clan—the Feather Clan was one of the most powerful races among the gods, after all; it was just that the Xie family happened to be closest to them.

With the massacre in Penglai City, if they didn’t appease the survivors and honor Lord Xie’s dying wish, the others who heard of the event might start to waver. As the Feather Clan heir, Chun Yao made an immediate judgment. On a personal level, he had only a trace of concern for Luo Yin, who was either genuinely unconscious or simply feigning it.

Players were always sharp at analyzing plotlines, and Qiao Zhihui had read a few posts to understand this much.

What a miserable situation for Xie Shuangxue, though.

Orphaned right from the start, the feelings he entrusted to Chun Yao were obviously doomed to go nowhere, and his ending didn’t seem like it would be any better.

After Chun Yao left, Chen Xin stayed by Xie Shuangxue’s side, comforting him.

“Ling Xuan was just upset,” he said. “Seeing his brother injured made him unhappy, so he took it out on you. Don’t take it to heart.”

Seeing Xie Shuangxue remain silent, Chen Xin figured he was probably still in shock. He sighed, about to leave, when he suddenly felt a tug on his robe. Turning, he found himself looking into Xie Shuangxue’s eyes, like a wounded little animal clinging to him, terrified of being left alone.

“Ling Xuan… he…”

“He’s the disciple of the Chief Elder and is quite favored in the clan. It’s inevitable that he’s a bit spoiled,” Chen Xin, ever patient, explained to Xie Shuangxue. “The princess has already punished him for your sake. Consider the matter settled.”

“The Chief Elder? Then, does that mean Her Highness… did she get herself into trouble because of me?” Xie Shuangxue whispered. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Don’t worry; you don’t need to concern yourself with clan matters,” Chen Xin replied gently. “Shuangxue, just remember to take care of yourself.”

Xie Shuangxue nodded, seeming to think of something, and then softly said, “Thank you, Brother Chen Xin.”

It was the first time Chen Xin heard him call him “Brother” like that. It made him feel an inexplicable softness, and he reached out to pat the young man’s head in reassurance. But he couldn’t stay any longer—there was still much to take care of in Penglai City, and he soon hurried off.

Xie Shuangxue remained huddled in his corner, but his expression seemed a little more alive. The other Feather Clan members still ignored him, except for Qiao Zhihui’s camera, which continued to focus on him.

Watching Xie Shuangxue’s exchange with Chen Xin, Qiao Zhihui noticed he seemed to be thinking about something, then suddenly turned away, as if up to something.

Although players couldn’t enter the Feather Clan’s hall, Qiao Zhihui had zoomed in with his camera, watching closely.

Xie Shuangxue had some small wounds on his hands. The Feather Clan had given him some medicine earlier, but it wasn’t an instant remedy, so some wounds were still oozing a bit of blood. He took an empty medicine bottle, added some of the unused medicine, and then hesitated, as if debating something.

Finally, he bit his lip, made up his mind, and squeezed a little more blood from the wound. The close-up image showed the bright red droplets vividly. Using some unknown power, he infused the blood into the medicine, which now glowed a faint red.

What did this mean?

What was he planning?

Qiao Zhihui was perplexed until he saw Xie Shuangxue toss the medicine bottle with pinpoint precision to someone’s feet. It landed quietly and swiftly, going unnoticed by everyone else.

It had to be him!

Qiao Zhihui was sure.

And the direction of the toss? Xie Shuangxue had thrown it to… Ling Xuan, the one who had taunted him earlier!

The chat in Qiao Zhihui’s live room was all on edge.

“Is Xie Shuangxue really planning to take revenge now? That would be intense.”

“Typical villain behavior? I still remember the chills from that trailer.”

“Our poor Shuangxue is just standing up for himself! That Feather Clan member was so rude! Poor thing, sniff.”

The last comment was clearly from a dedicated fan.

As a fan himself, Qiao Zhihui found it hard to defend him, considering Xie Shuangxue’s infamous trailer showcasing his poisoning skills.

Ling Xuan was currently facing a disciplinary punishment.

Because he had spoken disrespectfully to the orphaned son of the City Lord, Chun Yao publicly punished him, first with a stroke of the discipline whip and then by forcing him into the corner for reflection, banning him from using any medicine.

Ling Xuan’s pride kept him from submitting willingly, and as he was mentally plotting his revenge on Xie Shuangxue, he suddenly heard something drop beside his foot.

Looking down, he saw a medicine bottle.

It was clearly from the Feather Clan.

No one was watching him, so Ling Xuan quickly hooked the bottle with his foot, pulled it into his hand, and opened it to reveal a pill inside.

The scent and appearance were different from the usual medicine, likely higher quality.

In the disaster’s aftermath, medicines were scarce, especially high-quality ones like this. Maybe someone in the clan had pitied him and secretly saved it for him.

After sniffing it and carefully examining it, he finally took the pill and felt a comforting warmth spread through his body.

Meanwhile, in another corner, Xie Shuangxue grew visibly paler, struggling even to stay on his feet. The other Feather Clan members merely glanced at his frail figure with disinterest.

Only the players in Qiao Zhihui’s live room knew the truth.

“Shuangxue isn’t really a villain yet; he’s still pure.”

“We don’t know what made him turn dark in the future; Chun Yao is probably the only one who’s ever shown him kindness.”

“Please stop bullying Shuangxue, sob.”

Seeing it all, Qiao Zhihui sighed. He had misunderstood Xie Shuangxue. Watching the young man’s pale, innocent face, he couldn’t help but mutter, “He really did all he could.”

With SEA’s realism upgrade, this storyline struck Qiao Zhihui on a personal level. He was genuinely moved and couldn’t help but praise the game’s creators, Wubianhai, for their dedication.

“I’ve played for years, but this is the first time I’ve been so invested in an NPC.” The sight of the beautiful, delicate young man with such a tragic story made him ache.

With Penglai City’s plotline ending soon, he knew he’d be ejected from the game area once the time was up.

“I’m looking forward to the main world quest,” he said to his fans in the chat. “This world feels so real, I’m almost afraid that if I leave, Shuangxue will end up bullied.”

His fans were all in agreement, until a soft laugh sounded nearby, tinged with amusement.

Qiao Zhihui turned, only to be rendered speechless. The figure before him was dressed in sleek black, with a silver mask covering half his face.

Wait, this man…!

“Oh my god… Jiu Shen? When did you get back?”