Chapter 196: I Dare Not
This game can regenerate severed limbs and allow the mute to speak again.
Zhang Sheng had been unable to speak since birth.
Although not being able to speak seemed to have little impact, Zhang Sheng had experienced discrimination throughout his life.
Not being able to speak was a congenital defect.
He was sensitive and self-conscious from a young age.
He had very few friends he could talk to, and the occasional one or two would drift away as they grew up.
He started playing games a long time ago.
For someone like him who couldn’t speak, games were a great outlet, at least allowing him to release the pressures of life one by one.
After finishing university, he found a job that didn’t require him to communicate with outsiders, and even when communication was needed, it was done online.
He didn’t need to interact with people. Although the salary was lower than the market rate, he was diligent and capable, and had worked there for many years, so the boss trusted him.
Besides work, playing games was his only way to relax.
A few months ago, he was a member of a game group and clicked on a recruitment link sent by Zhou Nüzi out of curiosity.
He never imagined he would discover a new world, even changing his life.
The moment he could speak in the game, he almost shed tears.
Because he had never been able to speak, even though he could now, his pronunciation was still obscure and difficult to understand, and he couldn’t overcome some psychological barriers.
Being able to speak in the game but still being mute after logging off would bring a sense of loss.
But at least there was some hope.
After logging off, he also started learning how to pronounce words. However, his lifelong personality made him dislike interacting with outsiders, and he played as a lone wolf in the game. Without anyone to practice speaking with, he couldn’t answer Honghuang’s question.
Honghuang took a deep breath. If he had a cigarette at that moment, he would have surely taken a deep drag.
At that moment, his conscience felt like it had been slapped.
He said nonchalantly, “Once we get to Liuxian City, you can just follow us.”
Zhang Sheng: “Okay!”
However, Honghuang couldn’t help but ask, “You really can’t speak in reality, so what does it feel like to be able to speak in the game?”
An Xiu slapped Honghuang.
Honghuang dodged, covering his head, and shouted, “I was just curious…”
Zhang Sheng didn’t mind. He knew it was natural for people to be curious about such things, so he slowly said, “It’s surprising… happy, but… I have to learn to pronounce words slowly… In reality, I can only… can only make ‘ah… ah’ sounds.”
He had a problem with his vocal cords, which were almost impossible to correct.
He couldn’t pronounce words like he could in the game.
Honghuang nodded in realization and patted Zhang Sheng’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, buddy, just practice with us more.”
“By the way, do you guys feel like your mental state has improved after playing the game more recently? Could this game be affecting our brains like in the novels?”
He and An Xiu rarely logged off from the game.
Even if they logged off to sleep for three or four hours and then logged back into the game, they were still full of energy.
Zhang Sheng also nodded, “A little.”
He was a corporate slave and felt it quite strongly.
He used to get sleepy before even doing anything.
They chatted there for a long time, and after a while, Su Huanli arrived.
“Fan Guozhou said that the three of you should go ahead. Your Senior Brother Han Tian is still at Liuyun Sect and can’t make it back for now.”
The three of them had no objections.
The journey to Liuxian City was still long. The three of them initially thought Flying Sparrow Sect would send them.
To their surprise, it was an old acquaintance, Zhai Xiaotian.
Compared to the disciples of Longevity Sect, Su Huanli was very respectful to Zhai Xiaotian, “Thank you for your trouble, Senior.”
Zhai Xiaotian, who had just returned from Tai Xue Sect: “…”
However, he still nodded, “To Liuxian City?”
Su Huanli: “They are going to participate in the competition assembly held by Guanhai Sect this time. Once they are in the city, someone will guide them.”
“Alright.”
In a way, Zhai Xiaotian was quite easy to talk to.
Honghuang and the other two didn’t expect that even going to Liuxian City would rely on Zhai Xiaotian, who was responsible for smuggling.
But then again, Flying Sparrow Sect probably didn’t have the ability to send them to Liuxian City in an instant.
After all, distance was a factor.
It was the first time the three of them had ridden in Zhai Xiaotian’s ‘smuggling gourd’. They didn’t say much to Zhai Xiaotian.
An hour later, they arrived at Liuxian City.
Although they had seen the grandeur of Liuxian City in Han Tian’s video and in the information on the website, the three who were visiting for the first time were still stunned.
As Zhai Xiaotian told the three of them to dismount, he suddenly said, “If you want Magic Treasures, there’s a place in Liuxian City called ‘True Treasure Pavilion’. You might want to check it out.”
Honghuang and the other two exchanged glances, then said, “Thank you, Senior.”
As soon as Zhai Xiaotian left, a disciple riding a Flying Sword flew out of Liuxian City.
The disciple had an arrogant expression. When he flew in front of the three of Honghuang on his glowing Flying Sword, the three unsophisticated country bumpkins were mesmerized.
After all, this was the first time they had witnessed a true Flying Sword.
Seeing their expressions, a hint of disdain flashed in the disciple’s eyes, and he asked coldly, “Where are you from?”
Honghuang, following Su Huanli’s earlier instructions, stepped forward and cupped his fists in a bow, “Greetings, Senior Brother. We are from Flying Sparrow Sect and are here to participate in the Guanhai Sect Competition Assembly.”
He then presented the Sect Token of Flying Sparrow Sect.
This token was not the real one, but it was an identification mark of Flying Sparrow Sect, sufficient for inspection.
Since Longevity Sect had no reputation yet and wasn’t registered with Guanhai Sect, they directly claimed to be from Flying Sparrow Sect.
This formal way of speaking was truly unaccustomed.
The disciple merely glanced at it and a mocking smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth, “Flying Sparrow Sect? The Flying Sparrow Sect that hasn’t dared to send anyone for three years, and this year they actually sent people.”
“…”
Before Honghuang could speak, the disciple continued, “Enter the city yourselves. The competition assembly will begin in five days. Once eliminated, you are not allowed to stay in Liuxian City.”
He scanned Honghuang and the other two from head to toe, “Cherish your opportunity here, as you might only get to come once in your lifetime. This dense Spiritual Energy is a freebie for you.”
Those words, that level of animosity, made Honghuang’s blood pressure skyrocket.
Even An Xiu and Zhang Sheng beside him were furious.
He used to think that when villains made threats in novels, it was childish and laughable.
But when it happened to him, Honghuang realized what it meant to be personally humiliated.
That feeling of extreme frustration.
After saying that, the disciple sneered and turned to leave on his Flying Sword.
“Bro, I’m here to play a game, and this plot is too engaging!”
Honghuang: “I C you %^$%^%&%^&*&^*…”
He cursed out loud at that moment.
System: “? You’re cursing at him, aren’t you? If you curse in your mind, who else will hear it besides me?”
Honghuang: “I don’t dare.”
System: “…”
