PTYS Chapter 40

Shen Qingqiu wasn’t angry after hearing that. She just clicked her tongue, sounding a bit regretful. “I was going to say, if it were you, I wouldn’t mind getting a bit wild.”

Xiao Muyu regretted bringing up this topic with Shen Qingqiu.

“Where are we headed?” Shen Qingqiu asked with a smile as she watched Xiao Muyu walking determinedly ahead.

Xiao Muyu turned back to glare at her. “Since we’ve decided to team up, we should buy a team-binding card. Otherwise, when the third dungeon starts tomorrow, we might not be lucky enough to end up together again.”

Shen Qingqiu found Xiao Muyu somewhat endearing. Despite her subtle jabs, Shen Qingqiu found this cold, aloof person’s little schemes quite charming.

Xiao Muyu noticed that Shen Qingqiu always looked at her with a constant smile, as if she never got angry. But having seen Shen Qingqiu’s cold demeanor before, Xiao Muyu knew she wasn’t always so good-natured; Shen Qingqiu could be utterly indifferent and ignore people completely.

Shen Qingqiu leaned in closer and said, “No need to bother. I drew a very good item that can bind our team.”

Xiao Muyu looked at Shen Qingqiu in surprise, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Shen Qingqiu understood immediately. “Although I’m not a good person, I’m not a liar either. This time, with my S-level rating, I got two chances at the draw, and one of the items was a team contract.”

She glanced around. “This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go back to the hotel.”

When they returned to the hotel, Zhou Yuan was still at the front desk, but this time he kept his head down, not daring to glance their way. Shen Qingqiu looked at him with satisfaction and led Xiao Muyu away.

The receptionist next to Zhou Yuan found it strange and nudged him with her elbow. “Hey, your goddess is here, and she’s brought a pretty woman with her. Why are you suddenly too shy to even look?”

Zhou Yuan’s face darkened. Once Shen Qingqiu was out of earshot, he muttered through gritted teeth, “Goddess, my foot. She’s a demon, and I can’t handle her.”

The hotel was actually a small apartment with a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. It wasn’t very large but was nicely furnished and had everything they needed.

Shen Qingqiu took off her coat as soon as they entered and poured a glass of water for Xiao Muyu.

“A clean cup, never used. Drink it without worry.”

Xiao Muyu watched Shen Qingqiu, now only in a black tank top. The tight, thin fabric clung to her slim body, accentuating her alluring curves. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with the black, making her even more striking. Xiao Muyu suddenly remembered the scene in the dungeon where she bandaged Shen Qingqiu’s wounds, her gaze flickered briefly before she regained her composure.

“I just had tea, I’m not thirsty.”

Shen Qingqiu smiled and said nothing more. After sitting down, she took out the item she had drawn, looking quite serious. “Since we decided to team up, I won’t hide anything from you. What I told you before was mostly true, and the items I have now are from the recent clearance rewards.”

She placed the team item in front of Xiao Muyu and said somewhat innocently, “Although it’s a bit unconventional, it’s indeed a binding item.”

Red String, Rarity: S-Level, can be obtained with very low probability in various dungeons under certain conditions.

Item Description: The red string of fate binds two people, making them teammates (though it can be more than just teammates). Once bound, it can only be undone if one party abandons the other or if one of them dies. The red string from the god of love has its unique effects, so feel free to explore its mysteries.

System Tip: Don’t be a jerk!

Shen Qingqiu placed the item card in front of Xiao Muyu without any concealment. Although the item description was unconventional and rather playful, Shen Qingqiu’s honesty eased much of Xiao Muyu’s initial resistance.

“I understand your concerns. However, a team card costs ten thousand gold coins, which is quite expensive. I have no intention of using this red string for anything other than teaming up. Moreover, it’s like a contract that can be unilaterally terminated, so you have nothing to worry about, right?” Shen Qingqiu smiled gently, making her intentions clear.

Xiao Muyu was a bit taken aback. “You mean to give it to me and then bind yourself to me?”

Shen Qingqiu nodded. “There’s no other way. I just admitted that I find you appealing, and you said you don’t see me that way. If I bind you with it, you’ll suspect I have ulterior motives, which would destroy our trust.”

“Besides, we are teaming up for the same goal: clearing the game. Whether you bind me or I bind you, it makes no difference, right?” Shen Qingqiu’s tone became more serious towards the end.

Xiao Muyu didn’t say anything. She held the prop card, and with a thought, a red string appeared in her hand.

The red string was as red as blood, lying in Xiao Muyu’s pale palm with an inexplicable beauty.

Xiao Muyu gripped the red string tightly and said to Shen Qingqiu, “Give me your hand.”

Shen Qingqiu extended her left hand and playfully wiggled her ring finger.

Xiao Muyu rolled her eyes and tied one end of the red string around Shen Qingqiu’s wrist. Shen Qingqiu, who enjoyed teasing her, obediently tied the other end to Xiao Muyu’s left wrist.

Both had fair skin and slender wrists, and the red string fit snugly, looking particularly beautiful.

Shen Qingqiu tugged at her wrist, and the red string instantly disappeared. In that moment, a strange feeling surged in both their hearts. They exchanged a glance, knowing the contract was formed.

With a thought, Xiao Muyu brought up a new interface on her control panel. After a quick look, she closed it with a slightly exasperated expression.

“Is it done?” Shen Qingqiu, unable to see her panel, asked curiously.

Xiao Muyu nodded solemnly, “Yes, I can see your information. The contract is complete.”

Shen Qingqiu noticed her odd expression but didn’t press further. As long as their team was formed, her goal was achieved.

She sat back on the sofa chair, leaning comfortably and resting her chin on her hand. “I’m curious, last time you got ‘Thanks for Participating,’ did you get anything good this time?”

Xiao Muyu’s expression turned slightly unpleasant. She pursed her lips and gave Shen Qingqiu a look.

“Apparently, I’m the unlucky type. I have terrible luck. You should handle any future draws.”

Then she briefly showed Shen Qingqiu the two items she had drawn. Upon seeing the descriptions, Shen Qingqiu’s expression became a mix of amusement and sympathy, though she held back her laughter because of Xiao Muyu’s stern face.

“If you want to laugh, go ahead.”

“Pfft, your luck is indeed peculiar. The items you draw are a bit off. However, this one is quite special. Although it’s marked with a dollar sign, it seems more like an S-card sealed in some way. Considering the game’s nature, this description is quite intriguing.” Shen Qingqiu gave a serious analysis after her laughter.

Xiao Muyu had thought it through as well and nodded in agreement. “An extinguished lantern can’t be of any use, can it? This phrase seems to imply something else. If the extinguished one is useless, the lit one should be useful.”

“So, how do you light it? Have you tried it?” Shen Qingqiu, knowing Xiao Muyu’s intelligence, asked.

“Yes, ordinary fire doesn’t work.” She frowned. “Also, items might not function in the Tianwang world. My attempts might not be correct. The ‘Harmonious Family’ card, for example, is prohibited here.”

Shen Qingqiu pondered for a moment. “Then we’ll have to test it in a dungeon.”

She smiled mysteriously and looked at Xiao Muyu like a mischievous fox. “Muyu, do you know what my other item is?”

Xiao Muyu glanced at her, seeing Shen Qingqiu holding a card in front of her. When she saw the item name, she wrinkled her nose in disdain. “What’s with your strange luck? Are you so improper that your items reflect it?”

Shen Qingqiu wasn’t offended by the teasing, instead, she smiled brightly. “I think the system knows me well. The items it gives me are perfect.”

The card depicted a candle, named “Heartthrob Arsonist.”

Heartthrob Arsonist
Rarity: S-grade, extremely low drop rate.
Item Description: An alluring candle that can be used for lighting. Also known as Heartthrob Arsonist. When used, it can designate a single target, increasing their affection for you and capturing their heart for one minute.
Note: The degree of capture depends on the user’s attraction to the target. Use with caution.

“Do you really need a partner?” Xiao Muyu said coolly, but inwardly she marveled at the luck disparity despite both getting “Thanks for Participating.” Shen Qingqiu’s luck was exceptional, getting two S-cards.

Shen Qingqiu innocently shook her head. She sat up, perched on the bedside table, crossing her long legs and looking at Xiao Muyu with a meaningful smile. “I wanted to team up with you, and I drew the red string. Your extinguished lantern can’t be lit, and I drew a candle. Don’t you think it’s fate?”

Xiao Muyu realized this too, and she fell silent, her expression unreadable. After a while, she smiled. “Indeed, it seems I’m destined not to refuse you.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingqiu was momentarily stunned and then thought of a question. “Where are you staying now?”

Xiao Muyu gave her address, and Shen Qingqiu recognized it as a shabby little inn. She frowned. “The Tianwang world has basic rules and constraints, but small places like that are unsafe. Players who struggle in the game often have blood on their hands, not to mention other deeds. I’m worried about you staying there alone.”

Her concern was genuine, but it came across as overly caring, making Xiao Muyu a bit uncomfortable.

Still, she had considered this issue. Looking around the hotel room, Xiao Muyu asked, “Do you have plenty of points?”

Shen Qingqiu blinked. “I’ve cleared three dungeons already, earning over a hundred points each time. Adding the 100 points from the initial selection, I have around 435 points. I’ve used over two hundred, so I have about 210 left.

“So, I wouldn’t say I’m rich, but Abyss Hotel has one of the best cost-performance ratios in the Tianwang world. Its rooms are only available under one condition, and currently, it’s fully booked.”

Xiao Muyu understood the situation. When someone staying there dies, a room becomes available.

“Actually, if you don’t mind, you can stay here with me. What I said earlier was just a joke; you don’t need to worry about me taking advantage of you.

“Besides, we’re bound together now, so living together is convenient. Once a room becomes available, you can take it. What do you think?”

Shen Qingqiu knew Xiao Muyu’s personality well and spoke sincerely, without her usual teasing tone.

Xiao Muyu wasn’t foolish. Saving points was sensible, and as for whether she minded, she found it somewhat ironic. They were already bound by the red string, and their names were recorded in the “marriage book,” so sharing a room was hardly an issue.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa.” These straightforward words made Shen Qingqiu beam with joy.

“I’ll help you get your things.”

“No need. I don’t have much. I’ll just check out and come over myself.” Xiao Muyu declined her offer to accompany her and left directly.

Alone in the room, Shen Qingqiu watched the closed door and smiled.

At that moment, her phone rang. Seeing the familiar short number, she answered and held it to her ear.

“Yes, everything is going smoothly.”

“I know, but please adhere to our previous agreement. Don’t interfere too much, and don’t do anything too outrageous. This time, you messed up, and you should be aware of that.”

Whatever was said on the other end made Shen Qingqiu’s expression grow colder. She laughed icily. “I’m not begging you; I’m informing you. I know what to do. In the future, I won’t be able to answer your calls often. Just send a message if you need to contact me.”

She hung up the phone. From her room on the eighteenth floor, the view from the unblocked floor-to-ceiling windows was excellent.

Gazing into the distance, the edge of the blue sky seemed to have a boundary that was invisible to the naked eye.

The appearance of this world was mysterious and manipulated the lives of millions with ease.

The last trace of warmth vanished from Shen Qingqiu’s gray eyes. In this place, being alive or dead made little difference. So, the distinction between truth and falsehood no longer mattered.

Author’s Note:

Su Jin: I thought I was the biggest shipper, but it seems I was wrong. The biggest shipper is this broken system.

System: You’re still too naive. The biggest shipper is the author.

—— Next chapter, entering the dungeon ——