"Perverted? What?"
When the wolves on the table heard this, they tensed up, and they quickly returned to normal. They all sat up straight and appeared to be gentlemen.
Glutinous Rice and Phoenix Dances ignored their Academy Award winning colleagues. Glutinous Rice remembered her first fight against Happy in the game and how she had been sent off the stage without any mercy the moment they met. In her heart, she believed that Tea Words' words were not false.
Xu Xin smiled while sitting on the side without saying anything. She only watched Phoenix Dances and Glutinous Rice's side profiles while seeing two pictures in her mind.
The first picture was of a boy with a slightly red face who looked like a nerd handing her an umbrella, and the other was of a swordsman. He was full of energy and fought his way into the midst of around one hundred players like a God of War with fluttering blue robes. He moved with ease and in a relaxed manner. His gaze was firm, and he killed with great resolution!
The great disparity made her a little uncertain.
Chen Kaixin had changed greatly during the time the rumors about him had circulated. Xu Xin could not really tell whether he would confess to her with a red face just like two months ago.
Perhaps Chen Kaixin had already changed.
While she thought about it, the door was opened from the outside.
"Sorry for being late."
A boy with a built frame came in with a smile. While he apologized, he gestured at the two people behind him. "Come on in, Flying Dragon, Great Beauty Xu."
He moved aside, and the first to enter was a gorgeous beauty. The boy who followed behind her was dressed in a white dress shirt and looked very gentle. The girl was very confident, while the boy looked rather bashful.
"Hello, my name is Bloody Flying Dragon. Everyone, you can call me Little Dragon."
The voice of the boy with the white dress shirt was not firm. He looked like a very good and well-behaved student, but the name he gave himself was incredibly domineering. He looked tiny, and when he spoke, he blushed. It was clear that he did not quite live up to the domineering nature of his name.
The group looked at each other and smiled in their hearts.
Once they greeted Bloody Flying Dragon, they cast their gazes on Great Beauty Xu Yao, who was from the disciplinary committee.
"Welcome!"
"Hehe, I didn't expect that Great Beauty Xu would also like World of Martial Arts! Why have you never appeared on South China Martial Arts Ranking Board before? Are you going to tell us that this is an order from the disciplinary committee?"
At that moment, Phoenix Dances showed the hospitality of a faction master. She smiled and invited Xu Yao to sit beside her.
"Sister Phoenix Dances, you're teasing me."
When she saw that the time was right, Phoenix Dances went straight to the main topic.
"In truth, I asked all of you today because I have something important to decide. I can't make up my mind on it, so I wanted to discuss it with all of you."
The group said nothing, but their expressions became stern, and they stopped talking. Their gazes were gathered on Phoenix Dances, and the included Bloody Flying Dragon and Xu Yao, whose in-game name was Jade Lake's Immortal.
"I believe all of you know that Happy is the top ranked player on the Powerful Ranking Board on South China Martial Arts Ranking Board. He has also joined our faction's higher management, but due to certain reasons, he can't join us officially for the time being."
The group said nothing, nodding in silence. Most of them knew the reason behind it.
"Over this period of time, Happy has contributed to Beautiful Robes Faction swift development so that we can have thirty or so players with high-tier martial arts."
"Hmm?"
Xu Yao and Bloody Flying Dragon were astonished.
Since they were at the bottom level of Beautiful Robes Faction, they did not know about it.
Having around thirty players with high-tier martial arts was the same as having the structure of a normal top-tier sect. How did they manage to do it?
"Happy has been the one who provided most of our high-tier martial art manuals as well as some of our equipment. Beautiful Robes Faction has become a great sect second to none among the cities nearby in one go… but that's not enough."
When Phoenix Dances mentioned the final phrase, her voice was sonorous and full of spirit. Her words instantly made all the people's eyes light up, and they blood burned!
"Our guest faction elder, Happy, gave me a suggestion yesterday."
When she said that, everyone's expressions filled with surprise, and they became attentive.
Happy…
This name was an enigma, a name shrouded in mystery to almost every person in the room, but it also existed prominently among them like a symbol of the University of South China!
Chapter 182 - Happy’s Ambition
The meeting gained a tense atmosphere.
"Aside from developing more faction members with high-tier martial arts, Happy also wishes for us to summon and organize the people who don't have a lot of interest in practicing martial arts. He asked us to gather funds so that we can help them switch their jobs to those focusing on life skills, such as merchants, herbalists, tailors, and ironsmits.
"From now on, those jobs focusing on life skills will definitely become more important, and if we want to become a top-tier sect that can stand among those at the top along with having our names ring through the game, we must make preparations."
"That's right." Bai Lang nudged his glasses up and swept his gaze over the group. "I did some research, and the attributes of our gear and weapons can be increased. Each gear can have its attributes increased four times, and each increase is called an echelon. Every single time we do this, there will be a note behind the equipment or weapon that states that the attributes have been increased 20%.
"After we increased those attributes four times, it will mean that the equipment or weapon had its attributes increased by 80% from its original stats. Normal weapons will be upgraded to masterpieces, and a normal masterpieces will be upgraded to top-grade masterpieces.
"Even though most of the ironsmiths at the current stage can only increase one echelon, I believe that this will definitely become a trend in the future. If Beautiful Robes Faction wants to have its weapons and armor receive increases in their attributes, then we must have a certain number of ironsmiths and tailors in the faction."
Tea Words spoke up then, his voice stern. "You don't have to worry too much about that. I have a few brothers in class who linger around the mines every single day. Aside from using Green-eyed Rats as training in the mines, they simply dig out the metal to sell and make money. They've developed their career quite well."
Soon, Glutinous Rice also pitched in and said that there were quite a number of girls who were addicted to the game after becoming fond of making clothes. She said that she would choose a ripe time and ask them to join the sect.
"It'll be more difficult for herbalists, because their resources are uncertain. It's also more troublesome to lure away Bloods.u.c.k.i.n.g Grass. There's also Bloods.u.c.k.i.n.g Wood around the higher-grade herbs. It's very dangerous."
"It's not a huge problem. We'll set a rule in the faction stating that all our members should learn how to pick herbs and have a small hoe on themselves at all times. When we wander around the lands, we should take the herbs when we see them. With all of our abilities, it'll be very easy for us to handle the Bloods.u.c.k.i.n.g Grass. I'll clear up a storage house so that we can keep our herbs in there and provide resources for our herbalists to level up."
"I'm okay with it."
"Sure!"
The group agreed on the matter since it did not take much time to learn a life skill, and the hoe did not take up much space. It would not be too troublesome to pick up herbs while they went on with their daily level-grinding.
"By the way, faction master, just who is Happy in our university? Have you ever
seen him? He sure works hard to remain a mystery," NotaRascal said in a half-joking matter.
Everyone became attentive once more.
Since Happy was the one who took the initiative to make the suggestion, could it mean that the he and Phoenix Dances had already come into close contact with each other?
When Phoenix Dances heard this, she glared at the Three Lonely Wolves in annoyance. "Why don't you ask them?"
'Who do you think the Three Lonely Wolves are? They're completely merciless to men, but they show every possible mercy to women! If I ask, I'll definitely only hear about morals, justice, ethics, beliefs, and all that rehearsed talk. I can even predict what will happen using my TOES! I won't do something so stupid.'
"Happy doesn't want to be bothered for the time being. Stop trying to get to the bottom of this. If he wants us to know, he will naturally let us know." After saying that, Chen Fan automatically diverted the topic. "Also, he mentioned something about setting up a contribution point system in the faction. From now on, all those who help the faction obtain items during events will obtain contribution points, and the ones with the highest contribution points will obtain priority in choosing items from the faction's treasury. If any faction member offers up items, those with high contribution points will also have priority in buying them!
"Happy also suggested to open up a high-tier martial art manual supply line, so that from now on, the high-tier martial art manuals he provides could be bought using the silver stored in the faction store. The faction members will have to use their contribution points to exchange for silver required for those manuals."
Everyone in the group was moved by those words!
"Not bad!"
"How can we get those contribution points?"
"By joining the events organized by the faction. You can also get them using in-game money or by offering equipment and weapons. We'll give the players contribution points based on the market price when it comes to items. Faction members can get one contribution point for one hundred taels of silver crumbs."
"This is a good method! If a member doesn't have enough contribution points, they can use the faction as a pawnshop, haha…"
"Happy thought of this method? I think it'll actually work."
"Yup, it'll be easy for us to stir up motivation among our faction members along with their enthusiasm in attending faction events."
Phoenix Dances smiled faintly. "I think so too. I said this a long time ago: Happy should have been the faction master. He has a good head on his shoulders."
"Don't be so certain. Happy might look ugly, or he's not someone who can control and lead a group of people in reality— Urk, this is just an off-hand comment. Please don't tell him I said this," NotaRascal said without thinking to flatter Phoenix Dances before he suddenly realized that what he said could easily offend Happy, and he quickly changed his tune to save the situation.
"We know who's going to pay for supper now." Puffy God patted his loose tummy with an underlying meaning in his words.
Everyone ignored Puffy and Rascal's dialogue, which sounded like they were engaged in a comedic act, and Bai Lang cleared his throat.
"Yesterday, Happy contributed one million and five hundred taels of silver crumbs to the faction to kickstart the system!" He paused for a moment, and under the group's shocked gazes, he continued to say, "But he did put some conditions. We are not to use this money as we please. He asked us to buy a high-tier body fortification technique and high-tier lightness skill that might appear in the market. We can keep whatever remains of the money in the faction's store."
"Why should we keep it in the store?"
"Happy said that high-tier martial art manuals will increase exponentially in the upcoming days, and we should make the best use of our time and practice our martial arts as well as explore unknown maps. If we need any money, we can use our equipment in exchange for contribution points, and we can use those contribution points in exchange for money while we keep our equipment in the store. We will see who needs it, and once the items in the store acc.u.mulate, we can swiftly form the trading circle within the faction."
"As expected of our big boss." NotaRascal only registered what was said after a long while.
One million and five hundred thousand taels of silver crumbs was practically equivalent to 100,000 RMB in reality. This money to kickstart the contribution point system might not be as much as what the large organizations put in, but to a group of university students, it was incredibly unusual and valuable.
However, based on Phoenix Dances' data, no one found it strange.
If Happy could sell twenty or so martial art manuals in the market, it meant that he had already earned more than four million taels of silver crumbs from trading them. He clearly did not have any problems with his source of income. Even if he gave up a portion of his wealth, he could easily get it back through the contribution points he got.
Xu Yao was the only one who did not say a single word among the people around the table. She listened to everything quietly, unable to break free of the shock she felt even after a long time had passed.
As someone who had some degree of understanding toward gaming guilds, she believed that Happy, who was a mysterious player and kept a low profile, did not just have power and intellect, but also a charm that normal players did not have.
If this sort of person truly wanted to make Beautiful Robes Faction develop into a great sect… he might actually succeed!
For a time, complicated emotions swirled in Xu Yao's eyes. A feeling of urgency rose in her heart, and she realized that she had to immediately find Happy.
He was a person with great charm and abilities! His vision was incredibly far-sighted, and he was a young man who did not want to lay low and live peacefully! What exactly was he doing right then? What was he planning?!
Chapter 183 - Tavern in the Village
"Shopkeeper."
A tavern that was provided for traveling merchants to rest their feet was built on a wide and remote government-made road. It received a batch of rich customers on that day. Thirteen martial artists in neat clothing got down from their horses and handed the reins to a waiter with nimble hands. Once they requested that the waiter fed their horses high-grade hay, they entered a simple room one after another and sat down.
"Three pounds of stuffed buns, two pounds of beef, and two pots of Huadiao wine, do be quick."
"Alright!"
Having customers meant earning money. The shopkeeper beamed with joy. He personally brought out a pot of tea and poured a cup for each of the guests before he repeated the customers' order. He told the waiter to get the orders ready in haste.
The food and wine were quickly brought to the table.
The people did not hold themselves back. They ate with gusto and finished up the white and steaming stuffed buns along with the fragrant and tender beef. Once they were done, they did not forget to burp.
"The taste of the food in the game is really good." Once they finished eating, the people were not in a hurry to leave. They picked their teeth in great comfort while chatting around the table. "It's a pity that the food here won't fill our stomachs in the real world, or else I'd be willing to spend my entire day here and go nowhere else."
"True, with this level of consumption, no matter where we go, we can eat and drink to our hearts' fill just by going out and robbing someone. By the way…"
One person suddenly turned his head to another table to look at a man with a bold and outstanding presence. He seemed to be someone who was the leader of a region.
This speaker had a grin on his face when he asked, "Boss, what should we do with the loot we stole just now? Will it be enough for several tens of thousands of taels of silver crumbs to each person?"
The leader had tanned skin, and he looked like an iron tower. When he heard the other speak, his eyebrows twitched, and he stopped tearing at a piece of beef. He cast the person who spoke a cold glance.
"Tens of thousands of taels of si
lver crumbs? You actually think that the stuff from Far Might Bodyguard Agency would be worth hundreds of thousands of taels of silver crumbs? Bah! It'll be good if we can get ten thousand taels of silver crumbs each."As he spoke, clinking sounds were heard. It was the sound of a money bag being thrown on the table.
"Each of you gets five thousand taels of silver crumbs. Even if there's extra, it's not yours."
Once he finished saying those words coldly, the group pulled open the money bag in a flurry of motion and divided the money like savage tigers and wolves.
While they held the gold and silver ingots, they were not quite satisfied just yet.
"Boss, we've been waiting for two days and one night for this loot, but we only earned this much?"
"When you add all of this together, it's only around 300 RMB. It's a little low."
"Cut the bull crap." The tanned man was already in a foul mood. When he heard those words, he became even more impatient. He snorted loudly. "I never forced all of you to steal from them. If so many of you had not come here, I would have been able to split up the profit better. If you're going to complain that there's little money, then get lost."
The previous speaker was rendered speechless.
"Hehe, boss, I was just joking. It's just a joke," they said, mediating the situation.
The others also laughed, not saying anything anymore. In fact, they even took the initiative to order more beef and Huadiao wine, saying that they wanted to celebrate the occasion.
The tanned man's expression was no longer as angry as before.
Once they drank three pots of wine, the group surrounded the tanned man. "Hey, boss, who's our next target?"
"I haven't settled on one." The tanned man paused for a while before he waved his hand in annoyance and let out a drunken belch. "Did you actually think those bodyguard agencies will have loot every single day? Those things won't appear just because we want them to. Once they have something to protect, I'll naturally notify you."
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