37: Chapter 37 The Duel
"Aunt? Is this a Xianyu gaming helmet you bought?"
His aunt nodded wearily, leaning weakly against his uncle. It was clear she hadn't rested well for quite some time.
"It's for Mumu," his uncle said, his voice dry and hoarse, carrying a sense of desolation.
Li Mumu, Jiang He's younger cousin, was three years younger than him.
She was the girl who, in his memories, always stuck to him like a little shadow, calling him "Brother" in a crisp voice.
Six months ago, a car accident had left her in a coma to this day.
She should have been in the prime of her life, an excellent student with a bright smile, with only one year left until university graduation.
The memory of the phone call Mumu made to him before the accident surfaced clearly in Jiang He's mind.
On the other end of the line, her voice sounded somewhat anxious: "Brother, I'm about to graduate, and I'm a bit scared. I heard it's hard to find a job..."
At that time, he was still eating instant noodles in a rented room, yet he tried his best to adopt a relaxed and experienced tone to lecture her with grand principles.
He encouraged her, praised her, and cheered her on.
But just a few days later, he received a call from home.
Jiang He's world came crashing down.
Returning to Qingyang County, he saw Mumu lying on a hospital bed.
He could no longer remember how long or for how many days he had cried.
His aunt and uncle bought the helmet because they had heard of a miracle that shocked the entire country.
A person in a vegetative state met their family through Xianyu and eventually woke up.
This became their last straw.
Even though it was the cheapest model on the market, for the couple who had already emptied their savings, sold their house, and lived in a cramped rented room to pay for Mumu's treatment, this was everything they could offer by gritting their teeth.
The dim light in Jiang He's eyes suddenly brightened, as if he saw hope.
"Uncle, Aunt, you're right. Someone in a vegetative state really did wake up through this game. I believe Mumu can too."
He remembered clearly that Bai Luoyao had once told him about it.
After that person woke up, their body was even healthier than before.
"Is that true, Da He? Don't lie to me."
"Oh, I'm really not lying. This might actually help Mumu wake up." Jiang He stood up excitedly, put on his clothes, and went to get the car.
"Let's go, Uncle, Aunt. We're going to the hospital."
He couldn't wait another minute; he desperately wanted his sister to wake up right away.
All five family members went together.
In the car, Jiang He recounted the story he had heard once more.
His aunt wept uncontrollably: "That's great, Mumu can be saved."
Jiang He sniffled, tears already welling up in his eyes.
Arriving at the hospital, Jiang He skillfully assembled the equipment and carefully placed it on Mumu.
Jiang He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes never leaving the indicator light for a moment.
"Why isn't it lighting up yet?"
He stomped his feet in anxiety; only when the indicator light turned green would it prove that the player had logged into the game.
As long as it lit up, it would prove that Mumu's consciousness was already in the world of Xianyu.
Ten minutes passed.
The indicator light still hadn't turned on.
Based on his experience, choosing a class and creating a nickname should only take a minute.
Jiang He lowered his head in disappointment and sighed.
"How is it, Da He? What about your sister?" his aunt asked anxiously.
Jiang He didn't know how to speak.
He was afraid his aunt wouldn't be able to handle the blow.
Suddenly, his uncle shouted, "Da He, look quickly! Why did it light up?"
Jiang He turned his head sharply and saw the green indicator light on the helmet.
At this moment, he finally broke down and burst into tears: "Mumu... she... she's entered the game."
The whole family embraced each other in joy and cried.
After a brief moment of happiness, his aunt asked, "Then can I also enter the game to meet Mumu?"
Jiang He frowned and shook his head.
He couldn't imagine how big the world of Xianyu was.
There were over ten thousand Novice Villages alone.
Entering the game was randomized; trying to find her in the vast sea of people was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.
After learning the truth, his uncle and aunt weren't as sad as he had imagined.
"It's okay. As long as Mumu is fine, that's better than anything."
"Yes, if she can live happily in the game world, your aunt and I will be satisfied."
Ten o'clock at night.
Jiang He returned home, thinking about whether he could ask Bai Luoyao for help.
Once a player reaches Level 20, they can enter the main city.
It might be difficult for him to find Mumu, but it should be much easier for Bai Luoyao.
After all, with the Bai family's strength, they had people in most Novice Villages.
But the problem was, he didn't know what Mumu's ID was.
On the other side of the game world, in the Mist Forest.
"Zhang Zixuan, get over here! I'm going to duel you!" Zhao Yun shouted, carrying an axe.
Now, Zhao Yun was Level 35, wearing the full Dragon Emperor Set, with a large crowd standing behind him.
Xiao Yao, Xiao Xue, Old Demon, and Blood Blade.
On the opposite side, Zhang Zixuan was now a Level 38 Great Warrior, carrying a shadow strike sword, with a very arrogant expression.
"You little brat, I think you're looking for a beating. I already killed you once and made you drop a level last time. Still not convinced?"
Every time they picked a fight, Zhao Yun would fixate on Zhang Zixuan.
Regardless of how many people were on the other side, he would chase after and attack him.
But every time, it ended with him losing a level.
"Don't give me that crap! What if I dropped a level? Today, I'm going to chop your head off and feed it to the dogs!"
Blood Blade stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "Alright, Old Zhao, stop wasting your breath on him." He turned and shouted at Zhang Zixuan, "Come on, grandson!"
Then Blood Blade leaped forward, brandishing his axe as he charged into the crowd.
Instantly, seven or eight hundred people from both sides clashed together.
Xiao Yao and Xiao Xue focused their continuous spellcasting on the opposite side's Gu Qingming.
It was as if everyone had their own target.
At this time, the independent players who had been waiting in the forest were incredibly excited.
"There's meat to eat again tonight," Li Qing chuckled softly.
He was also a Knight player.
To him, Zhao Yun was like an idol.
Currently, in the entire Chang'an City, there were two most impressive Knights.
One was the meat shield Game ID.
The other was the top-ranked Blood Blade.
However, in his eyes, he no longer dared to call Blood Blade an idol.
He was simply a god-like existence.
Able to both tank and deal damage.
The scene was very chaotic, and Li Qing watched intently.
Whenever someone fell, he would immediately run over to loot the equipment.
But in the next second, he became a bit dazed.
Because Zhang Zixuan and Zhao Yun were fighting not far from him.
Clearly, Zhao Yun was consistently at a disadvantage.
Under Zhang Zixuan's continuous attacks, he could only defend with his shield and had no chance to counterattack.
At this point, a teammate nearby shouted, "Brother Zhao, let us help you!"
"Get lost! I don't need it! Even if I die and drop a level, I'm going to duel him!" Zhao Yun shouted.
Zhao Yun's eyes were bloodshot; he desperately wanted to kill Zhang Zixuan just once, even if only once.
He had to personally avenge his brother.
For these past three months, he had hardly left the game.
Aside from leveling up, he just kept leveling, all for the day he could kill Zhang Zixuan.
Then he would tell Da He: Brother, I've avenged you. You can come back now; we're not afraid of him.
But... no matter how hard he tried, it was useless.
He couldn't even take down half of the opponent's health before he himself died.
"Die, you idiot!" Zhang Zixuan shouted.
With a Heavy Chop, Zhao Yun was sent flying and crashed onto the ground.
His health was almost empty.
Suddenly, he noticed someone crouching nearby.
[ID: Blind Monk]