Chapter 20: Is It Worth It

Li Changhe glanced back at him, and even through the humorous dog head mask, Earth Knight could feel the coldness of his gaze.

The moment he guessed his connection with Laughing Gentleman, Li considered silencing him forever. After all, being discovered by a [Player] would make it too easy to expose his identity.

As long as Earth Knight knew the identity of either Li Changhe or Xiao Nan, it would be too easy to find the other. It was too dangerous!

When a [Player]'s identity is discovered, there are generally only two choices.

To protect their family and friends from harm, they can become the discoverer's slave, with no guarantee for their game currency or even their lives.

Or they can join [Great Wall] for protection, with their family closely guarded or monitored from then on.

So, [Players] are teammates during tasks, taking care of each other. But the most terrifying thing is the conflict between [Players] in other situations, where a single misstep can lead to irreversible disaster!

At the same time, the female ghost Yun Ting behind him sensed Li Changhe's thoughts, her hair waving and pointing directly at Earth Knight.

Now that Li Changhe's attributes were not low and with Yun Ting's help, it was still uncertain who would live and who would die.

Earth Knight immediately halted his steps and growled, "What the hell, I just figured out that you guys know each other. I don't know your identities and don't want to. With the current situation, it's best that we don't conflict!"

This didn't seem like a lie. The reason why Li Changhe could make his way from the orphanage to where he was now was because he could somewhat discern others' ill intentions. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sabotaged more than thirty car tires for Xiao Nan back in junior high school. It was this keen sense cultivated in the orphanage that helped him. He didn't sense any ill intent from Earth Knight.

"Besides, when Laughing Gentleman couldn't hold the mural anymore and you took the initiative to become the ghost's host. To the ignorant, it seemed like you were considering the big picture, but I know clearly. You did it for her! You must have thought of this too, knowing that I would notice your relationship." Earth Knight shook his head, "Since we had some tacit understanding, I didn't want to expose it, or else being silenced by you wouldn't be good. But if you want to die, I have to say something. It's not worth it."

"You're overthinking it." Li Changhe reined in his sudden murderous intent. It seemed that Yun Ting's possession not only increased the burden on Li Changhe's body but even caused some changes in his mentality.

"Let's go then! Since it's not someone you know, there's no need for a suicide mission." Earth Knight muttered under his breath that he didn't believe a word but at least both sides offered each other a way out, so he played along, "We can't kill this thing anyway. It's a monster that can't be destroyed even by a ship-mounted main gun. Can you withstand a cannonball? Don't think that just because your attributes have increased now that a single bullet won't send you to hell."

"As I said, you're overthinking it. I'm not going to die, I'm going to defeat the enemy." Li Changhe chuckled softly, "Besides... there's nothing worth or not worth."

Earth Knight was confounded but didn't mention giving up anymore, "Just to be clear, if there's danger, I'll run. Don't expect me to give up my life."

Li Changhe didn't pay him any attention and ran directly towards the others, his mind occupied with other thoughts.

Worth it? Li had never considered this question. Someone had actually asked this before. It was He Feng. Back when Li sabotaged those car tires in junior high, he had smoothly executed the deed and even taught himself counter-reconnaissance techniques. Surveillance and stakeouts had still failed to catch Li, yet he had discovered him.

He had asked this question back then.

When Xiao Nan and Li had first met, he was still a poor student guided by others. She was already a model student loved by both teachers and classmates.

How had two people who would never have intersected otherwise become such close friends? Why did Li care so much about Xiao Nan?

Li Changhe never told anyone that during those hardest and loneliest days, the first person to attempt communication with him was the dazzling Xiao Nan.

Entering primary school immediately after leaving the orphanage was the result of the dean pulling many strings.

Li Changhe naturally wouldn't ask for any meal fees. Fortunately, he could get some wages and a few steamed buns by helping out the vendors in the early morning shifts.

At that time, he was still hiding in the corner, eating brick-like steamed buns, when Xiao Nan appeared like a divine intervention, standing in front of him for a long time.

So long that Li felt somewhat uneasy being watched.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered, "Would you like to join me for a meal?"

Li didn't think that the girl loved by teachers and classmates would be short of help. What trouble could she have? And invite him for a meal?

Was she sympathizing with him? Or was it... an act of goodwill? If it were a prideful person, they would have jumped up by now.

They would have probably spouted something like 'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don't bully the young and poor!'

But Li Changhe didn't; as an orphan, he had no right to be too proud to reject someone else's kindness.

"Are you sure you're looking for me?" Li softly asked.

Schools are microcosms of society, and primary schools are no exception. Students would draw close or distance themselves from certain people according to their parents' wishes.

Unfortunately, the impoverished Li Changhe happened to be one of those people to be distanced from.

'Don't talk to that kid' 'Don't play with that poor devil' were phrases Li Changhe often heard.

Having any intersection with him in such a situation wasn't a good thing. It would lead to isolation.

"Can you help me?" Xiao Nan's face was still chubby back then, her round face somewhat nervous as if she feared that Li would reject her kindness...

This was the first act of kindness Li changed had encountered besides the dean, and it brightened up his world.

"If you treat me to a meal now, I'll help you with anything!" Li declared firmly, "When I, Li, speak, a spit is a nail. Vow sealed!"

"Let's go eat noodles then?"

"I want extra meat!"

After that, Li Changhe gained his first friend, and the price was a promise.

At that time, Xiao Nan was actually very lonely and fragile, and desperately wanted a friend to talk to. As fate would have it, she found someone just as lonely.

But for Li Changhe, this kindness belonged only to him, and he had to protect it at all costs! No mistakes could be made!

Even after so many years, this promise still remained. He always blamed Xiao Nan for being stubborn, but in fact, it was Li Changhe who was the one who couldn't change.

Some people said that meeting Li Changhe was Xiao Nan's fortune. For Li, meeting Xiao Nan was his fortune too… although he found it strange that they always ended up in the same school, even in the same class.

There was no question of worthiness. If anything, he only regretted not asking for an extra egg.

"Oh ho? Childhood sweethearts, huh? That's so sweet I could die. Later, you can ask her to give you an extra egg. Are you going to dismantle that skeleton now?" Yun Ting's voice rang out inappropriately.

"Hmph! I forgot I still had you in my head, you lovesick woman!" Li Changhe reacted and sneered.

"What are you guys talking about?" Earth Knight looked suspiciously at the human and ghost duo, "Didn't you say we were going to kill the skeleton? Why are you talking about adding eggs now?"

"Could it be…" the tone of Earth Knight changed, somewhat horrified, "You guys want to make soup out of it? How big of a pot would that take?"

Li Changhe??? Are you focusing on the wrong thing here?