Reeling Them In

Going through the game forum, Xu Feng changed his status to an anonymous user. Unlike these players who are casually using their usernames in public, Xu Feng preferred to remain anonymous.

Although he wasn't afraid of revealing his name to others, he didn't wish to be exposed so early on in the game. 

Only a fool would want to reveal their achievements openly without having any background or sufficient power to deflect against others. 

'Hmm, how should I make my entrance?' Xu Feng knitted his brows, pondering over what to type. It needed to have an aura of mystery, but also not too mysterious that would raise suspicions. 

After thinking for a while, Xu Feng gave up and decided to be straightforward, typing on the forum post.

Anonymous User: Seeing how active you all are, do you think that mysterious player would be willing to come down and be caught by you? 

Lotus Lime: Hmm, good point. If I'm the mysterious player, then I'd probably go into hiding as well.

Herald Fist: Hmph, we'll just camp for him till he comes down. I doubt he would be willing to stay upstairs for his entire life. 

Crimson Rose: If you really do that, then you'll just leave yourself a bad impression. Also, do you even have the time to camp in the lobby? 

Herald Fist: Hah, I can easily send one of my subordinates to wait!

As Xu Feng was calmly reading their responses and reactions, he suddenly received a notification.

Opening the notification, it was actually a private message from Gentle Wind. 

Gentle Wind: I suppose you are the mysterious player, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone anonymous and joined in on the chat. Can we talk more in-depth, especially in regards to how you are granted entry to the upper level in the Town Hall?

Astonished, Xu Feng didn't expect the player to catch on to his intention to be Gentle Wind. 'What a surprise. I thought it would be Lotus Lime private messaging me.' 

Just when he was thinking of that, another notification sounded to him, and Xu Feng chuckled softly at the message sender. 

Lotus Lime: Hey, anonymous user, or should I call you the mysterious player from the screenshot? Other players are just lurking around to check on the situation, but only you managed to decipher the intention of the supposed mysterious player in the talking. So I'm quite positive you are feeling the pressure right now and wanted to test the water. 

"Reeling in two big fishes. Not a bad harvest." Xu Feng smiled, wondering how capable these two players could be. 

Could their wealth be in the millions or hundreds of millions? 

Just thinking about their wealth changing owner to him caused Xu Feng to be excited. Nevertheless, he didn't become blinded by greed as he calmly pondered who to respond first.

Lotus Lime's message was ambiguous, having expressed zero intention of her objective. In fact, she even attempted to test him in return by asking if he was feeling the pressure from the attention he was getting.

Maybe this kind of baiting tactic might work on someone, but definitely not him. To him, this kind of pressure was akin to child's play. 

Meanwhile, Gentle Wind was more straightforward and asked if they could talk more in-depth. Most likely, she wanted to gain some information from him, such as the privileges he was currently receiving.

"What a shame, Lotus Lime. I had expectations for you, but you disappointed me with the private message." Xu Feng shook his head, choosing to reply to Gentle Wind.

With the private chat window opened, Xu Feng began teasing Gentle Wind.

Anonymous User: Oho? In-depth talk about my methods in gaining permission to ascend to the upper level huh. How positive are you that I'm the mysterious player in the screenshot and not just some poser?

Gentle Wind: Had you been a poser, then you wouldn't have brought up such a topic. Also, what harm could there be in gambling? If I guessed wrong, then it's whatever, but if I guessed right, then I can gain more in return. 

Reading her message response, Xu Feng was amused. His initial assessment seemed to have been proven wrong. At first, he thought Gentle Wind was a poser, trying to act all high and mighty, but who would have thought the poser turned out to be him.

"Alright, it seems like a misjudgment from me and I have wronged this Gentle Wind." Rubbing his chin, Xu Feng decided to stop stalling her.

Anonymous User: Are you possibly trying to get the first-clear achievement from the dungeon, Scorched Caverns? 

As soon as Xu Feng sent out this message, the other party seemed to have gone silent, having not responded for a few minutes. Despite this, Xu Feng was more relaxed than ever, given that it meant Gentle Wind was now in deep thought. 

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Forest outside of Riverwood Town, amidst the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense foliage, a woman stood in a small clearing. 

She exuded an air of elegance and gracefulness, her posture straight and confident. Her chestnut brown hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, framing a face with delicate features and piercing emerald green eyes. 

"Qing Rou, why are you standing there in a daze?" A female voice echoed from behind.

Surprised, Gentle Wind turned around and noticed it was her friend. 

"Autumn Breeze, how many times must I remind you to call me by my username. If others learned of my identity because of you saying my name, then what's the point of creating a username?" Feng Qing Rou, otherwise known as Gentle Wind in Divine World, lightly chided her friend. 

"My bad, Gentle Wind. I was just concerned about you earlier and spoke wrongly." Autumn Breeze stuck her tongue out and apologized.

"Anyway, what's been occupying your mind?" she asked, smoothly shifting the conversation to avoid any further reprimand.

Gentle Wind breathed out a soft sigh, her expression turning solemn. "It seems like we might have to beware of a certain player."