With the mission triggered, Chu Qianze felt a throbbing sensation at his temples.
He took a deep breath to calm himself, then shouted, “Hey, dear sister, you can mess with food, but don’t mess with words. We’re not—”
His mouth was firmly covered.
Glancing at Zong Xinjue, he signaled with his eyes: What’s wrong with you?!
“What’s not?” a gentle female voice inquired, tinged with curiosity.
“We…have an extraordinary relationship.”
After Zong Xinjue finished speaking, he leaned in close to Chu Qianze’s ear and whispered, “Special missions are extremely rare, and I must complete it. Don’t drag me down.”
Chu Qianze found the man’s words quite amusing. “You must complete it, while I must complete failure!”
He blinked, mimicking zipping his mouth shut, wearing an innocent expression to show his willingness to cooperate.
After gazing at Chu Qianze for a moment, Zong Xinjue moved his eyes away and lowered his hand.
“Your relationship is indeed unusual; I understand. You must spend your days together, just like brothers…” the woman said, expressing her understanding.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qianze didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he asked, “Do you attach great importance to this mission?”
“Special characters have undefined triggering conditions, and they can’t be replicated. They are extremely rare,” Zong Xinjue explained.
“That’s impressive.”
With your emphasis on it, I feel reassured.
Chu Qianze exclaimed, “Dear sister, you were right. Our relationship is indeed unusual, born out of life-and-death enmity—” with the enemy.
Before he could finish his sentence, his mouth was covered again.
“Do you know what you’re doing? If that person finds out the truth, the mission will definitely fail,” Zong Xinjue reminded.
What do I care if it fails?
Chu Qianze rolled his eyes and pulled the man’s hand down.
“Remove your hand.”
“This is an extremely rare special mission. Do you know the probability of triggering such missions now? It’s a matter of timing, location, and people—all indispensable,” Zong Xinjue believed he had made himself clear.
“Falling off a cliff.”
How rare can this kind of mission be? In these days, I’ve encountered quite a few special missions, but they only give weird stuff, and the experience points don’t increase.
Seeing that Chu Qianze remained unmoved, Zong Xinjue felt a headache.
“Mission accomplished. You can ask for anything you want.”
Chu Qianze’s eyes flickered with boundless depth.
“I’ve already made my request.”
This time, Zong Xinjue fell silent. After a moment, he said, “Let’s change it.”
“In that case, forget it.”
Chu Qianze adjusted his hat, appearing nonchalant.
After giving Chu Qianze a deep look, Zong Xinjue conceded.
“I only accept fair and square duels.”
“This needs to be fair as well. We have such a level difference that the outcome is obvious. There’s no suspense in who wins or loses.” If it weren’t for this damn level weight, I would have killed you a long time ago. Why are you still blabbering here?
“The Duel Arena allows attribute adjustments,” Zong Xinjue said. “After this mission is over, we can meet there.”
Duel Arena…
Chu Qianze pondered the relevant information in his mind.
This place wasn’t in the newbie village; only the nearby main city had it. The Duel Arena was mostly used for player versus player battles and offered the option to adjust settings.
Friendly matches or fights to the death were both allowed.
If I let this guy stand there and let me kill him, it would be as boring as chopping wood.
Chu Qianze nodded. “Deal.”
“The result depends on individual abilities. I won’t hold back,” Zong Xinjue said.
Chu Qianze sneered. “Who cares.”
“The way you two are interacting makes me a bit shy. Could this be the legendary, playful banter?” The last four words were delivered with a teasing tone, and the voice owner seemed quite excited.
Playful banter, more or less.
Chu Qianze felt goosebumps.
Curious, Chu Qianze asked, “Dear sister, do you know what arrangement we’re going to follow for this?”
“Arrangement?” The woman’s voice was gentle, sounding quite soothing.
Seeing that the other party didn’t quite understand, Chu Qianze suggested, “Can we have a private conversation?”
“A private conversation? Sure.”
A thick fog arose, enveloping Chu Qianze entirely. By the time he realized it, he had found himself in a different place.
“What do you want to tell me?” The woman’s voice asked leisurely.
Chu Qianze glanced around, but he couldn’t see anyone.
“Don’t bother looking; you can’t see me,” the woman said with a pleasant, bell-like laughter.
“It’s like this: the one standing outside, don’t be fooled by his appearance; he’s actually quite timid. He has had a long-standing wish but is hesitant due to the judgment of others. He can only endure in silence. I’ve seen it, and it pains me, so I thought of asking you to help me fulfill his wish.” Chu Qianze adjusted his expression, furrowing his brows with a look of genuine sorrow.
“You’re truly a good person, helping your lover fulfill his wishes. Is this what they call love in novels?” The woman was touched. “So, how can I help you both?”
“In fact, it’s quite simple,” Chu Qianze paused. “This, uh, lady—”
“Just call me Mogu,” the woman said.
“Alright, Lady Mogu. I wonder, how do you plan to organize this wedding?”
“Following the customs of our ancestors, don’t worry. Although these things aren’t entirely under my control, I can make some small adjustments. I’ll do my best to arrange everything! Not a single step to foster your relationship will be overlooked!” Mogu’s tone was full of determination.
Thank you.
“So, how should we arrange the clothing?” Chu Qianze inquired further.
“What you mentioned does concern me a bit. Typically, it’s a man and a woman getting married. In your case, it’s a bit special, but it’s not a big issue. I can modify the original attire to appear more masculine, and you can both wear groom’s outfits,” Mogu explained.
“That’s what I want to entrust to you. I hope, Lady Mogu, that you won’t change the clothes. Stick to traditional male and female attire,” Chu Qianze requested.
“Why is that?” Mogu asked, puzzled.
Chu Qianze pondered for a moment, carefully choosing his words and ensuring a stable mindset. “Actually, he has always been interested in that kind of clothing, but due to face, he’s afraid to try it. Sometimes when he tentatively brings it up, he feels like it’s being mocked.”
“That kind of clothing.” Could it be women’s attire?
Mogu felt like she had stumbled upon something extraordinary.
Chu Qianze cleared his throat gently. “So, I hope you can keep the original plan.”
“I see,” Mogu replied, now understanding.
Mogu understood and contemplated the image of Zong Xinjue, comparing his physique. “Although your partner is quite handsome, wearing this type of clothing might not suit him. However, I’ll carefully adjust the size, so don’t worry; it will definitely fit!”
“Absolutely no modifications,” Chu Qianze insisted. “What he likes is the feeling of wearing them. If you make changes, it will undoubtedly diminish the charm, not worth the trade-off.”
“You’re right!” Mogu agreed. “I overlooked this aspect. We’ll stick to the standard size.”
Chu Qianze nodded in gratitude and then added, “Please keep this confidential.”
He didn’t want his beloved to feel embarrassed.
Silently giving without expecting anything in return—a truly divine kind of love!
Mogu, touched by the sweetness, said, “Don’t worry. Everything that happens at the feast is entirely random and not influenced by anyone.”
“Thank you very much,” Chu Qianze replied.
In a playful imitation of Mogu’s tone, he bowed, saying, “You’re welcome. I wish you both a lasting and happy life together.”
“No need to be so formal. Best of luck in your relationship, may it be long-lasting,” Mogu wished them well.
“Goodbye, then. We believe in going with the flow.”
If they stayed any longer, given the current situation, it would likely cost them quite a few years of life.
In the next moment, the mist dispersed, and Chu Qianze found himself back in the spot where he had been standing.
Zon Xinjue, now sitting casually in a random spot, asked, “What did you talk about?”
“Why don’t you take a guess?”
Chu Qianze walked over, extending a hand with a good mood. “Get up quickly; the mission is about to begin.”
After a moment of silence, Zong Xinjue placed his hand in Chu Qianze’s extended hand and was pulled to his feet.
[Special Mission: Wedding (In Progress)]
[Stage One: Greeting the Bride]
The surroundings changed abruptly, and when Chu Qianze regained his senses, he found himself standing in a room, dressed in ancient wedding attire.
“Groom, it’s time to greet the bride upstairs.”
The matchmaker reminded from outside, “They’re coming.” Chu Qianze responded, opening the door and walking out.
Stepping onto the horse, the sounds of gongs and drums echoed around as he led the procession with proper etiquette towards the bride’s residence.
After a while, the scene changed with a light body sensation, and Chu Qianze had arrived at the destination. The entire entourage halted at a mansion.
This was probably the so-called fast-forward function.
Dismounting the horse, Chu Qianze waited for a moment. Soon, the “bride” was carried out by family members.
As the bride came closer, Chu Qianze saw the person’s attire and burst into laughter without holding back.
Hearing the laughter, Zong Xinjue turned his head to Chu Qianze’s direction. Due to the veil covering his face, his expression was hidden.
But it was definitely amusing.
“Complete the mission honestly,” Zong Xinjue whispered as they passed by each other.
He was set down, and then, with the assistance of others, prepared to board the bridal sedan.
Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow, leading the horse, and approached to grab Zon Xinjue’s arm. Zon Xinjue, who was originally bending to enter the sedan, straightened up and looked at Chu Qianze.
Although his expression was hidden by the veil, Chu Qianze could imagine that Zon Xinjue’s face wasn’t looking too good right now.
“It’s boring inside the sedan,” Chu Qianze remarked.
Chu Qianze spoke and, with a strong pull, lifted Zog Xinjue onto the horse.
“Hey, hey, hey, groom, it’s not allowed to touch the bride now! It’s against the rules!” The matchmaker hurriedly reminded from the side.
“What rules? In my affairs, I decide what counts.” Chu Qianze pulled the reins tight, and the horse’s front hooves lifted, emitting a rhythmic neigh.
“I’ll go first, hurry and catch up.”
With that, he turned the horse around and galloped back.
The two of them rode together on a single horse, the red bridal gown fluttering in the wind, contrasting with the deep tone of the groom’s attire, creating a poetic scene.
Zog Xinjue sat in front, one hand pressing against the horse’s back and the other lifting the headscarf slightly. He turned back to Chu Qianze, his tone tinged with anger. “Are you crazy? What if the mission—”
“Don’t worry, can’t you see the mission is still in progress?”
Chu Qianze held the man’s shoulder. “Lie down a bit; you’re blocking my view of the road.”
Seeing the person in front grabbing the reins, trying to control the horse, Chu Qianze said, “I’m following the procedure now. Isn’t this the bridal procession? There are no abnormal prompts in the quest log. That means there’s no problem.”
Zong Xinjue hesitated in his movements, but the hand holding the reins didn’t let go.
“These clothes seem a bit tight. Be careful not to tear them. If something unexpected happens to the wedding attire, how will the ceremony proceed?” Chu Qianze’s tone was light, and at the same time, he lifted the reins with a wave of his hand.
Unexpectedly, Zong Xinjue swayed his arms due to this sudden movement. Because of the suddenness of the motion, he seemed to hear the sound of fabric stretching. In an instant, his whole body stiffened, and he didn’t dare to move much.
The clothes were a bit tight, making him feel uneasy, especially around the shoulders and chest, which seemed ready to burst open at any moment. Since starting the quest here, he has been holding back his anxiety, avoiding making any large movements.
The quest was still ongoing, indicating that Chu Qianze’s actions weren’t considered a violation. However, if the wedding attire were to be damaged…
After triggering a special quest with such difficulty, failure was not an option.
Turning around, he gave Chu Qianze a deep look, his eyes carrying a warning. “Remember what you said. If the quest fails, I’ll kill you back to the respawn point.”
Oh, now there’s a threat involved.
Chu Qianze chuckled and directly grabbed the reins. The horse lifted its front hooves, kicked the ground, and leaped forward, rapidly picking up speed.
Zong Xinjue keenly felt that several threads near his armpits had snapped. He didn’t dare to retaliate now; the horse’s fast pace made the ride exceptionally bumpy. Zong Xinjue even felt that the threads holding everything together would come loose with each breath.
In the end, he could only stiffen his body and snarl at the person behind him, “Chen Qianli!”
“What do you want me to do? I suggest you think twice before saying anything.”
Chu Qianze’s tone was mocking as he raised the reins, pretending to prepare for a whip.
This was an open and unabashed threat!
Zong Xinjue gritted his teeth, and by now, the headpiece had fallen off. “You…!”
“Hmm?”
“Didn’t we agree that you would cooperate with me to complete the mission?” Due to the pulling and tugging, the threads of the clothing seemed on the verge of breaking. Zong Xinjue had to tighten his arms to prevent further damage, inadvertently making his chest muscles appear even more defined, offering a solid visual appeal.
Seeing the frustration on Zong Xinjue’s face, Chu Qianze sighed, “I am cooperating with you. We are heading towards the destination, aren’t we?”
“What do you want?” Zong Xinjue asked.
“What can I want? As a low-tier player, barely surviving on a meager amount of herbs every day, I’m just hoping to do some gathering quests to level up and leave the newbie village…” Chu Qianze’s tone carried a hint of melancholy.
“I haven’t counted the incident of you snatching my Celestial Grass.”
Zong Xinjue frowned deeply, “Fine, I’ll compensate you for a Celestial Grass, and all the herbs that fell down will be yours.”
“What are you saying? I can’t hear you!” Chu Qianze asked loudly.
“All losses will be compensated to you!” Zong Xinjue raised his voice.
When did he ever endure such humiliation?
“Thank you then.”
Chu Qianze grabbed the reins, slowing the horse down to its normal pace.
Zong Xinjue sat on the horse with his arms tight, not daring to relax a bit. The slightly smaller wedding gown revealed his upper body, and in his current posture, lowering his head and pursing his lips in silence, he looked somewhat pitiful.
“How’s the dress?” Chu Qianze commanded the horse to move forward at an even pace.
“Thanks to you,” Zong Xinjue said, and there was a clear sense of gritted teeth in his tone.
Glancing back, Zong Xinjue was clearly infuriated by Chu Qianze but still had to restrain himself, adjusting his breath to prevent any further damage to the clothing.
“Just a special mission, is it necessary to work so hard?” Chu Qianze casually asked.
“You don’t understand anything,” Zong Xinjue coldly snorted, not wanting to continue the conversation.
“Are you planning to continue the rest of the mission dressed like this? According to this process, there’s probably a bridal chamber scene later on,” Chu Qianze said, freeing one hand to hook around the split seam at the shoulder. It wasn’t too bad, all things considered.
“All thanks to someone,” Zong Xinjue shifted to the side, “Take your hand away; this has nothing to do with you.”
“Oh,” Chu Qianze let go, sighing as if disappointed, “I was actually planning to sew it up for you.”
“You can sew?”
Surprised, Zong Xinjue exclaimed. Due to his distraction, the discreet little hole that was initially there split open, and the entire sleeve detached halfway, making it quite conspicuous.
Zong Xinjue: …
Pfft.
Chu Qianze cleared his throat, trying to maintain a serious expression. “Not long ago, while doing a mission, I acquired a skill. Although it can’t restore things to their original state, sewing up a sleeve shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Do you want me to sew it up? Don’t hesitate; give me a definite answer. Who knows when the scene might switch again,” Chu Qianze waited for the man’s response.
Zong Xinjue glanced at his shoulder, his tone softening a bit. “Thank you.”
Chu Qianze stopped the horse and activated the sewing skill. In this state, he managed to fix the exploded seam.
Although the clothes were a bit tattered, they were much better than the previous situation, at least without worrying about it falling apart.
Zong Xinjue: “…Thank you.”
“Originally, you wouldn’t say something like that.”
Chu Qianze smiled and then said, “Once you complete the compensation, let me fix it properly. We can talk about everything else.”
Zong Xinjue remained silent, not responding.
At this moment, the bridal party caught up.
The next moment, the scene shifted, and the surroundings changed. Chu Qianze was standing at the entrance of the mansion, and next to him was a sedan chair.
“Groom, what are you standing there for? Quickly take the lead and bring the bride out!” the matchmaker timely reminded.
[Second Stage: Proceed to the Hall]
Chu Qianze opened the sedan chair’s curtain, only to find Zong Xinjue sitting inside, his face covered by the headscarf. In his hands, he held the red lead.
Taking the red piece to urge him to move faster, Chu Qianze noticed something was amiss.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“I have been afflicted with the blindness effect. I can’t see now.”
Zong Xinjue sat in place, his tone quite calm, as if he had anticipated this situation.
Earlier, that lady Mogu mentioned she could only interfere with some aspects, and the main content of the mission was actually random. But what kind of operation was this, sitting in the sedan chair and suddenly going blind?
Chu Qianze’s eyebrows were slightly furrowed. He pulled on the silk gently, “Stand up, bending forward. Follow the tension. I will warn you if there are obstacles.”
“Okay.” Zong Xinjue braced himself with one hand on the armrest, moving towards the outside with Chu Qianze guiding him.
After walking a few steps, Chu Qianze warned, “Try to lift your legs higher; there’s a big rock in front.”
Walking a short distance, Chu Qianze reminded him again, “Careful, there’s a big step in front.”
Feeling with his foot, Zong Xinjue lifted his leg and managed to step over it.
After crossing several obstacles, they finally arrived at the entrance of the hall. At the center of the entrance, there was a large brazier. As they approached, Zong Xinjue could feel the warmth.
Chu Qianze: “Now, this is the last one. There’s a brazier in front. Don’t try to lift your leg; stepping into it won’t be pleasant.”
Zong Xinjue stepped over the brazier and entered the hall.
The blindness effect disappeared, and the scene reappeared before his eyes.
[Stage 3: Paying Respects at the Altar]
Zong Xinjue took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“Can you see now?” Chu Qianze asked.
“Yeah.”
Chu Qianze glanced at the person. The current demeanor of this person didn’t seem at all relaxed after dispelling the negative state, but rather as if they were about to face a challenge.
After the perfunctory stage three, they arrived at Zong Xinjue, who was sent back to the room, and Chu Qianze was responsible for receiving the guests.
He picked up a pastry from the side, took a bite, and then quietly put it back.
This taste… truly moving.
A familiar sensation surfaced, and in the next moment, Chu Qianze stood in front of a room.
He could probably guess the current situation.
“Don’t even let people rest for a moment.”
Chu Qianze pushed open the door and saw a kerosene lamp placed on the table. The dim yellow light slightly illuminated the surroundings, just enough to see the state of the area. The atmosphere carried a hint of ambiguity.
“There’s no one here now. Even for the sake of the mission, isn’t it about time to stop?” Chu Qianze closed the door and leaned against the frame.
He waited for a moment, but there was no response.
Remembering Zong Xinjue’s condition earlier, Chu Qianze felt something was off. He lifted the person’s hood and found them with closed eyes and beads of sweat on their forehead. He patted their shoulder. “Hey, how are you feeling now?”
With this touch, Zong Xinjue shuddered all over, abruptly opening his eyes, the shock still evident.
He rubbed his left temple to restore normalcy to himself.
“…Sorry.”
“You’ve been acting strange since the beginning of the mission.”
Despite just following a procedure, there were so many unexpected occurrences.
“It’s nothing. This time is much easier than before.” Surprisingly relaxed.
Exhaling, Zong Xinjue directly opened the mission panel, revealing the mission still at the stage of the bridal chamber.
Picking up the wine jug on the table, Chu Qianze waved for him to sit. He piled up the blankets and pillows, then leaned against them. After taking a sip of the wine, he closed his eyes, enjoying it.
“Although the food isn’t great, the wine is decent.”
“What’s the problem, after all?” Zong Xinjue was pondering, trying to figure out the completion criteria for this mission.
Chu Qianze: “Don’t bother thinking about it. This game doesn’t allow explicit content. Probably by morning, our mission will be completed.”
Seeing Chu Qianze drinking with gusto, Zong Xinjue spread his hands, “Give me a sip.”
“No, you can’t drink it directly.” Chu Qianze shook his head, a lazy and carefree look in his eyes.
Zong Xinjue went to the table, grabbed a cup, and handed it over.
“I’ll use this.”
“Using a cup is fine,” Chu Qianze poured a full cup for him.
“So particular,” Zong Xinjue took a sip.
“What do you mean by ‘particular’? This place is reserved for my beloved.” Saying that, Chu Qianze couldn’t help but burst into laughter, shaking and swaying.
Upon hearing the words “beloved,” Zong Xinjue’s drinking motion paused, feeling a bit distracted for some reason.
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