Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 4: Blowing It All Up
Previously on Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal?...
Chen Huai'an wasn't much of a gamer, but he had enough knowledge to understand that red markers on game maps typically indicated foes.
Those five red markers advanced with alarming swiftness, converging on the humble cabin in mere moments.
“D*mn! Li Qingran’s out there cleaning the dishes!”
Displayed on the monitor, Li Qingran concentrated on washing the plates, oblivious to the danger lurking near the cabin.
Chen Huai'an felt a surge of alarm. He hurriedly scanned the game menu for any way to warn Li Qingran.
The menu offered numerous choices, though many remained inaccessible.
【Recharge 100 to buy a Sound Transmission Talisman and deliver one message to Li Qingran.】
The payment prompt appeared on screen.
He didn't pause to question the high price of the Sound Transmission Talisman. Chen Huai'an topped up without delay.
A chime sounded from Alipay, and the talisman materialized in the middle of the display.
【Press and hold the talisman to speak.】
Chen Huai'an's features contorted briefly. Inhaling deeply, he held the icon and uttered solemnly, “Demons incoming! Get away now!”
A booming voice resounded in the emptiness: 【Flee! Immediately!】
Li Qingran, midway through her dishwashing, stiffened and glanced about in bewilderment.
Was that the voice of the esteemed senior?
“Awooooo—!”
A piercing howl from a wolf cut through the downpour.
With deep snarls accompanying them, three massive black demonic wolves, each as large as a buffalo, burst into Li Qingran’s sight. In the distance, two additional wolves lurked in the gloom.
“Blackback Demonic Wolves?”
This shouldn’t be happening…
Li Qingran swiftly connected the dots.
The solitary wolf she’d repelled not long ago had surely been a scout. It explained why it avoided full confrontation and escaped after minimal fight—it was spying the whole time.
The closest wolf was now just five meters distant.
Without a second's delay, it leaped toward her.
Even with her crippled cultivation base and ruined spiritual root, Li Qingran's battle reflexes remained keen. She dodged by rolling aside just in time for the initial wolf's assault and hurled a dish at the next one gearing up to spring.
Beyond the screen, Chen Huai'an's pulse raced anxiously.
Observing Li Qingran's cat-like nimbleness and rapid response, he smacked his leg enthusiastically. “Excellent move!”
His primary fear was that danger would paralyze her. Thankfully, she stayed composed and acted decisively.
The demonic wolves, familiar with clashing against Qingyun Sect disciples on Wanqing Mountain, mistook the white dish for some enchanted artifact. They evaded it, only to discover harmlessly it shattered on the ground.
The group shared looks, their crimson gazes flaring with increased rage, seething from the embarrassment.
Capitalizing on the distraction, Li Qingran dashed toward the cabin and secured the door firmly.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no!” she whispered, shoving pieces of furniture against the entrance, her features lined with concern. “Barely survived one wolf before. Facing five? Impossible.”
Her energy was draining rapidly. Moving even one table made her cheeks burn with effort.
She hadn't fully aligned the table when the vibrations of the nearing wolves vibrated through.
Li Qingran's eyes widened sharply as she backed toward the window, eyeing her sole way out.
Yet right as she braced for the wolves to force entry—
“Boom—!”
A tremendous roar of thunder exploded beyond the door.
Even from inside, a blaze of lightning illuminated the scene.
The wolves' agonized cries rang out next, and the atmosphere grew thick with the stench of scorched meat.
Stunned, Li Qingran peered upward. A talisman affixed to the door radiated fierce lightning, its form discernible through the barrier. It discharged bolts and flames, incinerating the proximate wolves into blackened husks.
“A Thunderfire Talisman!”
Recognition hit her instantly.
Earlier, she hadn't seen any talismans on the door. Clearly, the senior had attached it.
Talismans and pills ranged from Mortal, Medium, Superior, Perfect, up to Immortal grades.
Immortal-grade talismans, enveloped in golden aura, possessed immense potency. Only ancient experts from great sects could produce them.
Standard Thunderfire Talismans could handle Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment opponents. But an Immortal-grade version could annihilate even Golden Core demons—a rarity beyond monetary value.
And this one was Immortal-grade!
Most cultivators would safeguard such a relic as their ultimate secret.
Still, the senior had affixed it to her door offhandedly?
Squandering an invaluable artifact like that!
Li Qingran brimmed with appreciation mixed with distress.
Beyond the cabin—
The duo of wolves nearest the door were vaporized by the talisman's blast.
The surviving trio halted, ears flattened, their aggression yielding to fear.
Was this some hex? Deploying such might against lowly Qi Refinement wolves?
They grasped that the doorway was blocked. Yet surrendering the quarry without effort didn't suit them.
Two veered toward the window as the third attempted to scale the roof.
Before the rooftop wolf could proceed—
Boom!
The pair by the window burst into cinders.
The final wolf discarded any hunting intent and bolted away.
【〈Limited-Time Deal〉Care to acquire a Thunderfire Talisman to fell the escaping wolf? (Thunderfire Talisman ¥288, discounted 50%)】
“What the—?!” Chen Huai'an's complexion paled.
In typical scenarios, he'd quit the game on the spot.
However, witnessing Li Qingran's anxious look on the screen, and considering the wolf's potential return with allies…
“Cut the grass, but leave the roots, and spring brings new growth! Alright, recharge it is!”
Gripping his hands tightly, Chen Huai'an appeared as if personally wielding the talisman.
Yet another ¥288 vanished from his Alipay, propelling a talisman after the retreating wolf.
To Li Qingran, thunder cracked again, and a golden flash sliced the rain. The talisman detonated on impact, scattering the wolf's smoking corpse amid the unyielding tempest.
“Three successive Immortal-grade Thunderfire Talismans…”
Li Qingran gazed vacantly through the window.
In under half a minute, the entire pack of five lay slain.
And the senior hadn't appeared, merely sending that one voice alert.
His prowess was utterly daunting.
But why aid someone like her?
Her mind wandered to her Qingyun Sect elders and master. Prior to her junior sister's arrival, their treatment was fair, yet always laced with ulterior aims.
For example, Senior Brother Lu Changtian, bearer of a fire spiritual root, coveted her water spiritual root for a Dao companion. Second Senior Brother Xiao Yifeng, fixated on pill-making, required her for nurturing spiritual plants and trial runs. Third Senior Brother Yun Zimo, a battle enthusiast, trained with her relentlessly. Fourth Senior Brother Zhang Hanxiao, wild and impulsive, pulled her into sect tasks' messes, leaving her to bear the blame.
What intent drove this senior?
She possessed nothing—save her very existence.
Maybe no intent at all, just a wanderer stirred by her hardship.
Discarding the speculation with a head shake, Li Qingran refocused.
No matter his purpose, the senior preserved her life. Should she endure, repayment was owed.
“Junior Li Qingran expresses profound gratitude for senior’s assistance!”
On this occasion, she dropped to her knees facing the heavens, her visage grave, and kowtowed profoundly.
【Li Qingran’s favorability +5, reaching 15.】
“Solid progress. Favorability’s rising steadily,” Chen Huai'an murmured, rubbing his jaw. Grinning, he noted, “Justifies the 288 spend.”
This game hooked him deeply. He'd already sunk hundreds into it. Small wonder youth racked up debts from gaming thrills—it gripped him similarly.
【Ding! Li Qingran’s vitality summary and full profile are ready!】
【Display now?】
Chen Huai'an's gaze sparkled as he chafed his palms eagerly. “Finally—heh heh!”