MS Chapter 95

“What did you do?” one of them asked.

Lu Qingjia pointed towards the villa entrance and looked at the Trickster, saying, “How about sitting down for a drink?”

The Trickster showed no signs of surprise and readily accepted Lu Qingjia’s invitation.

Compared to the ease of the parties involved, both Lu Qingjia’s side and the Trickster’s side were tense and vigilant towards each other.

The Trickster’s side was wary of Zhong Liyu and Ouyang Bai, while Zhong Liyu and his companions were fully aware of the Trickster’s deceitfulness and did not dare to be careless.

Amidst the tension, Lu Qingjia and the Trickster entered the house first.

The interior decoration had been modified by Lu Qingjia to better suit his aesthetic.

In the spacious living room, there was a fireplace currently burning, exuding a warm atmosphere.

Lu Qingjia said, “Infinite City seems to have no seasons? The weather in the competition instance is also adjusted to be comfortable. You might not know, but it’s already winter outside.”

The Trickster sat down as Lu Qingjia indicated, with his entourage standing behind him.

He glanced at the blazing fireplace, seemingly captivated by the small flame within.

After a moment, he said, “That’s not hard to deduce. I remember the season when I visited your world.”

“It’s only been a few months, so I wouldn’t forget the season.”

Hearing this, Ouyang Bai nudged Zhong Liyu’s arm and whispered, “I feel like this guy is a bit like Jiajia.”

“Bullshit! How are they alike?” Zhong Liyu replied in a low voice, “Jiajia is kind-hearted and warm inside, despite her cold exterior. She’s strict but ultimately gentle. How can this deceitful white-haired guy compare?”

Ouyang Bai: “… Damn, you don’t have to lose your brain just because you’re in love.”

He waved his hand in front of Zhong Liyu’s eyes: “Bro, what brand of filter are you wearing? Share the link. Maybe I’m too clear-headed without it, which is why I can’t find a partner.”

Seeing Zhong Liyu glare at him, Ouyang Bai muttered, “What I mean is, they both share a common trait—they don’t feel guilty about the bad things they’ve done and can calmly bring it up in front of their victims.”

“…”

On this point, Zhong Liyu couldn’t argue.

The room fell silent for a moment. Lu Qingjia poured tea for everyone, pushing one cup towards the Trickster—

“Only this, make do.”

The tea was a gift from a supplier during holidays in the real world, not bad, priced at several thousand per box. The water was boiled from the nearest water source.

The competition space was rich in spiritual energy. Except for the activities of players during each session, there were no traces of human activity. It was open for four or five days and then closed for a year, so the natural environment was well-preserved, and the water source was pure and full of spiritual power.

This pot of tea was actually quite good.

But where did it stand in the eyes of administrator-level players?

Before the Trickster could react, the four people behind him, except for the cloaked figure in black, looked at Lu Qingjia with murderous intent, as if their master had been insulted.

“How dare you—”

Before they could finish, the three administrators, including the Trickster, each took a sip of the tea, and the unspoken accusations naturally died down.

The slow, infuriating pace finally made one of them lose patience.

He asked in a deep voice, “What did you mean by what you said earlier?”

“Exactly what I said,” Lu Qingjia didn’t beat around the bush: “I thought for the safety of that imposter, the Trickster—”

“Call me Uncle Lu, my real name is Lu Qingzhou.”

Lu Qingjia was momentarily speechless. Even though he was skilled at managing his expressions, his face now looked as if he had eaten something disgusting.

Ouyang Bai poked Zhong Liyu again: “I was wrong, the older ginger is indeed spicier. I never thought I’d see Jiajia lose in a contest of shamelessness. This trip was worth it.”

“Are you done?” Zhong Liyu glared at him, his expression also unpleasant towards the Trickster.

Just as he was about to do something to regain Jiajia’s dignity, he suddenly heard Lu Qingjia laugh—

“Lu Qingzhou? I thought it was just a fake name in that instance. Is it okay to tell me so easily?”

After all, both sides were well aware of each other’s schemes. For a strong individual, revealing one’s name could be significant, especially when facing a formidable opponent.

Lu Qingzhou smiled: “For something you’ll find out sooner or later, there’s no need to hide it.”

He picked up where Lu Qingjia left off: “You thought for the safety of the imposter, I would what?”

Lu Qingjia didn’t respond immediately. Instead, Zhong Liyu and Ouyang Bai exchanged glances, inwardly marveling at the Trickster’s cunning.

Regardless of strength, Lu Qingjia was almost the best negotiator they knew, effortlessly controlling the pace and subtly applying pressure, often gaining the upper hand without others realizing it.

But with just a few words, the Trickster had firmly suppressed Lu Qingjia, even though he had technically gained some advantage.

Both of them were seeing Lu Qingjia at a disadvantage for the first time in such a situation, and it had nothing to do with the objective circumstances. After all, with the two of them present, the other side couldn’t be said to have the upper hand.

Seeing Lu Qingjia remain silent, the Trickster smiled gently and tolerantly: “Forgot what you wanted to say? No rush, take your time, organize your thoughts.”

Lu Qingjia gave him a deep look, not in a hurry to return to the main topic. Instead, he suddenly interjected: “Now I’m curious about what appearance you took when facing my old uncle.”

This remark seemed to hit a nerve with the Trickster. His smile faded as he responded: “Now I also know why Uncle Ji absolutely refused to let you become a player.”

His expression was calm, his voice filled with resignation, as if he had no awareness of being a murderer facing the victim’s family, and was instead just lamenting.

This attitude made Zhong Liyu and Ouyang Bai feel their teeth ache. If they were in Lu Qingjia’s position, they would have already resorted to violence.

The atmosphere in the room froze for a while, before both Lu Qingzhou and Lu Qingjia forced out indifferent smiles.

Lu Qingjia then continued: “Actually, it’s not surprising.”

“Since that imposter was chosen by you to act as the public face of the Trickster and take the risks, his strength must have been sufficient to qualify as an administrator.”

“Regardless of how you trained this puppet, if he was powerful enough to approach the level of a deity, unless he had no self-awareness, a strong individual’s pride wouldn’t allow him to accept being a mere marionette.”

“From his instigation of me to enter that exchange student instance, it was clear that, although this was under your orders, he wasn’t just fulfilling your tasks. He wanted to use me as a stepping stone to gain something.”

“Since he had ulterior motives, it was only a matter of time before you eliminated him.” Lu Qingjia took a sip of tea: “But I didn’t expect Mr. Lu to have such courage. In such critical times, to discard an administrator-level fighter so easily—even the Game isn’t that generous, is it?”

Administrator-level players were the pinnacle of player achievements, though occasionally there were exceptions like the Mermaid, who ascended to become part of the Game itself.

But such cases were rare, and not every administrator was willing or confident enough to expand the Game to compete with the Big Three, so we can set that aside.

The number of administrator seats was fixed, but the more administrator-level players, the better. To the Game, the value of an administrator was comparable to the highest-level cultivation instance.

For example, a few years ago, when the Extreme Game attacked the Horror Game, it was Sucker, the fake Taoist priest, and the Data Emperor who immediately went to the Extreme Game to retaliate, making the Extreme Game pay a heavy price.

This illustrates the significance of administrators.

But the Trickster, knowing that Lu Qingjia was likely to act against the imposter, was indifferent, even pleased.

The three people behind the Trickster were stunned. Although they were directly loyal to the real Trickster and looked down on the fake one, the impact of this outcome was still significant.

However, the Trickster’s ability to brainwash was top-notch. After the initial shock, the three quickly rationalized the situation.

Their expressions darkened: “Indeed, if that guy had decided to betray us, it was crucial to act decisively. His strength was not to be underestimated, and being soft-hearted would only lead to endless trouble.”

“The Trickster’s courage and determination are truly unmatched.”

Zhong Liyu, Ouyang Bai: “…”

Why does this fanaticism smell so familiar? Oh, I remember, it’s just like the ghost subordinates Lu Qingjia collected while clearing instances.

The three then turned their hostility towards Lu Qingjia: “How did you take him down?”

They sneered: “No offense, but with your abilities, even the imposter would be hard to shake. But for Mr. Zhong and the Lucky Person to meddle in other games at this time, isn’t that a bit too much?”

Lu Qingjia shrugged: “Why deceive yourselves? What kind of detestable role does the Trickster’s faction play in Infinite City? Don’t you know?”

“I just passed on a couple of messages, and that was enough to take down one of your administrator-level members. Shouldn’t you reflect on your own unpopularity?”

“What do you mean?” One of them exuded killing intent, but it was instantly suppressed by a glance from Zhong Liyu.

Sweat appeared on the man’s forehead as he calmed himself and said to Lu Qingjia: “You probably don’t have the ability to send messages to Infinite City, do you?”

“Of course, I’m just an ordinary player who recently entered the Advanced Zone. Saying that would be overestimating me.”

“But sometimes, it’s enough to say what needs to be said in one go, without wasting communication costs back and forth.”

The three didn’t immediately understand what he meant, until one of them tentatively asked: “You mean after the exchange student instance, you went to Infinite City?”

At that time, Lu Qingjia was still a mid-level player. To them, mid-level players were like ants that could be easily crushed.

Even though the Trickster had repeatedly emphasized that this person should not be underestimated, the absolute gap in strength made it hard for them to truly regard him with equal vigilance.

But they never expected that their arrogance at the time would come back to slap them in the face.

It was the Trickster who added: “It was the Emperor, right?”

“The Emperor once held a banquet for you and Mr. Zhong. Coincidentally, when I became an administrator, the Emperor and the Game were in a tense standoff. After a tug-of-war, both sides compromised, with the Emperor handing over part of the ancient player management to the Prince, and everyone was happy.”

“But circumstances don’t mean the Emperor had truly changed his domineering nature. In his eyes, someone like me, who took advantage of the chaos, wasn’t qualified, especially since the Musician I replaced had regarded him as the leader.”

“Upon learning that the Trickster had a public and a hidden face, playing all the administrators for fools, he naturally took the opportunity to put me in my place.”

“He didn’t even need to act himself; there were plenty willing to seize the chance.”

The Trickster smiled gently at Lu Qingjia: “Let me guess, was it the Musician in exile?”

Lu Qingjia returned the smile: “From the Emperor, I learned that when the Musician was ousted, he initially hid in a high-level cultivation instance he controlled.”

“But to secure your position, you had to eliminate him completely. I don’t know what you did, but it forced the Musician to detonate that high-level instance, causing the collapse of an entire cultivation world, and he took the chance to escape.”

“I believe someone capable of such a ruthless act wouldn’t retreat easily.” Lu Qingjia said: “At the time, I just thought to plant a seed and see what would happen. I didn’t expect it to actually work, saving me the trouble of dealing with the imposter later.”

The Trickster chuckled: “That fool didn’t provoke you, did he? Not that I’m speaking for him, but I’m curious why you didn’t spare him either?”

Lu Qingjia looked up, his smile as twisted as a mask: “Everything built upon my uncle’s bones, I will destroy.”

He glanced at the Trickster and his entourage, his gaze lingering on the cloaked figure in black—

“Regardless of stance, this is purely personal.”

The arrogance of his words made the three behind the Trickster lose their composure, but they had to hold back because the Trickster showed no reaction, and two administrators were watching closely. Moreover, they had already lost an administrator-level member due to this cunning kid.

The Trickster said: “Tell me, what did you have relayed? And how did you ensure your message reached the right place?”

Lu Qingjia replied: “After the Musician detonated the cultivation instance and escaped, to make a comeback, he would need to avoid you and recuperate.”

“I found out that after a high-level cultivation world collapses, the spiritual source fragments scatter into various instance worlds, forming abilities or items.”

“And coincidentally, one game, due to its proximity, almost entirely took over this advantage.” Lu Qingjia smiled: “At the time, the Infinite Game was preoccupied with the Emperor’s affairs, while the Horror Game inexplicably noticed the corruption issues at the top of the Bullying Game, which had taken over these fragments. This led to the Mermaid investigating and taking over that game.”

“The Bullying Game had always kept a low profile. Although it exploited players, it also prevented them from interacting with other games, quietly profiting. So why did its issues suddenly come to light?”

“I wasn’t sure of the exact method before, but after meeting players from the Bullying Game recently, I understood. It was the Musician who deliberately leaked the information to divert the Horror Game’s attention.”

“This way, he could avoid all eyes and hide in the Extreme Game.”

“Why the Extreme Game?” the Trickster asked again: “The Extreme Game is a big target, probably the most unsafe place, isn’t it?”

“Isn’t the Extreme Game the only safe place?” Lu Qingjia looked at him.

“The administrators of the Big Three games have strength comparable to mid-level games themselves, and some of the exceptionally powerful ones even surpass the games.”

“Except for the Big Three, no matter which game the Musician turned to for refuge, once you discovered him, you could pressure the game, and they wouldn’t dare to continue providing him shelter.”

“That leaves only the Horror Game and the Extreme Game.”

“The Horror Game has many talented individuals, and the atmosphere among its administrators is harmonious. There are also plenty of prospective administrators, so there’s no room for him to be valued.”

“On the other hand, the Extreme Game, having lost a battle with the Horror Game before, suffered heavy losses. For a top-tier administrator player who came to them, they would welcome him with open arms.”

“Only within the Big Three games could he be safe from your reach, as long as he endured humiliation and stayed hidden until his strength recovered.”

The Trickster smiled: “Clever. Then, when you came to Infinite City during the exchange student instance, you had those Extreme Game players deliver a message, hinting that during the competition, I would leave Infinite City, leaving the base empty. With the Emperor happy to see it happen, if the Musician wanted to reclaim his seat, it would be the best opportunity.”

“But how did you confirm I would definitely come out?”

After asking, the Trickster noticed the feigned smile on Lu Qingjia’s face and remained silent.

He chuckled: “Had you already determined you could pass my test by then? I like smart kids, especially those who are smart and share a rapport with me.”

Lu Qingjia’s smile widened: “How about you drop the condescending attitude?”

“If you really think we have a rapport, you should keep a closer eye on that fool of yours.” Lu Qingjia said, then looked at the Trickster: “Or is that fool the only one you can’t control?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the three behind the Trickster were still confused, but the Trickster’s smile faded.

Finally, he sighed in resignation: “There’s no helping it. Initially, it was the Infinite Game that chose me. It’s always been more difficult in Infinite City.”

This wasn’t the Trickster being modest. Indeed, players in Infinite City often envied those in the Horror Game.

Because their natures were different, Infinite City was, in a sense, a gathering place for sinners, while Horror Game players were just ordinary people who owed the Horror Game a life. In fact, their luck in being chosen represented a certain level of fortune.

Each game had its own tone, and the bond between the game and its players differed, leading to different relationships.

Take the Horror Game, for example. Although everyone mocked it for being foolish and lacking the imposing presence of a boss in front of administrators, the atmosphere within the Horror Game was the healthiest among all games.

Even if there were occasional conflicts and disputes, the issues weren’t severe. After all, not all players were trapped together, and the game offered a high degree of freedom. Any rational person wouldn’t be foolish enough to deliberately cross the game’s bottom line.

However, the Infinite Game and the Extreme Game were different. The Extreme Game, in particular, suffered from a relative lack of resources compared to the other two games, and the Extreme Game itself was somewhat narrow-minded.

The Infinite Game, due to its system, gathered all its players in Infinite City. Where there are people, there are conflicts, especially in such a small base where everyone was a ruthless character who had killed to get there.

Moreover, its player selection spanned across ancient, modern, and future times, leading to inevitable ideological clashes, making it the most difficult to manage.

None of the administrators were easy to deal with. Take the Emperor, for instance. As a feudal ruler, domination was in his nature. Frankly, the current peaceful coexistence with the Infinite Game was nothing short of a miracle.

When the Trickster made that statement, even the three behind him were baffled.

In contrast, Zhong Liyu, who had the best rapport with Lu Qingjia, said: “So it’s true. When Jiajia mentioned it before, I couldn’t believe it. But now it seems that you Infinite administrators really must have a public weakness controlled by the game?”

The Trickster sighed: “Otherwise, why do you think I put a puppet in the front?”

Wasn’t it because of your inherently deceitful and cunning nature? Zhong Liyu almost wore that statement on his face, making the three on the other side grit their teeth but not dare to act out.

Facing Ouyang Bai’s puzzled gaze, Zhong Liyu explained: “It’s like the Emperor’s brother, you know?”

“In ancient times, rulers killed countless people. Why is it such a coincidence that the Emperor’s brother entered Infinite City shortly after he became an administrator?”

“Although the manifestations differ, once someone becomes an administrator, there will always be an anchor from reality appearing in Infinite City. And this anchor, if someone wanted to, could control the administrator’s original form or initial weakness.”

“For example, the Emperor’s brother, because of their deep brotherly bond, became the Emperor’s weakness, which is why the Emperor eventually compromised.”

“For example, the relationship between the God Envoy and the Trickster,” Zhong Liyu glanced at the Trickster. “Frankly, I don’t think he has invested any real emotions in that God Envoy.”

“But there must be something about the God Envoy that is disadvantageous to him. Yet, the Trickster can do nothing about it, not even eliminate him by any means, not even through indirect methods.”

Lu Qingjia took over the conversation: “At first, I thought that idiot was the Trickster’s nephew, someone who got lucky and was brought into this world because of his connections. His existence is a joke. Fools can’t break through your protective influence to cause any real impact, and smart people wouldn’t spare a second glance for such an insignificant character.”

“This actually plays into your hands. Honestly, I almost overlooked the God Envoy entirely,” Lu Qingjia smirked coldly. “After all, judging by my own standards, a person who cares for no one wouldn’t give special attention to such a fool.”

But there was one thing Lu Qingjia couldn’t figure out: why was a bracelet containing Old Uncle’s Ability on that fool?

Initially, he concluded that Old Uncle was just one of the many stepping stones for the Trickster, insignificant enough that discarded Items ended up in his hands. That explanation seemed plausible.

However, after stripping away the luck element enhanced by Ouyang Bai and reassessing the situation, it all seemed too coincidental.

Of course, with a lucky person like Ouyang Bai around, any coincidence is possible. But that was his only chance to appear in the Infinite City within such a short time.

Once Lu Qingjia thought of it, he wasn’t going to let such a lead go to waste.

Lu Qingjia stared at the Trickster: “Guess what that fool might bring me?”

The Trickster’s eyes darkened slightly, then he chuckled. “Prophecies are indeed eerily accurate.”

Lu Qingjia’s gaze swept over him like a venomous snake, then to the three people behind him. With a look of incomprehension from them, he said, “Still don’t get it?”

“That fool, the God Envoy, is indeed your boss’s blood relative in the real world. That guy’s life may be inconsequential, but his existence is fatal to your boss.”

“Every pathological personality has its origins. If the Emperor’s weakness is his own brother, then the Trickster’s weakness is the past that the God Envoy points to.”

“The qualification for becoming an Infinite Administrator is having a fatal weakness within the Infinite City. That is the Trickster’s weakness.”

Lu Qingjia leaned forward slightly, exuding unprecedented pressure. “If I trace back to the origin and find the moment your pathology began, sooner or later, I can use your inner demons to push you into hell.”

This is something anyone who has experienced the cultivation instance would understand.

So the three Players’ expressions changed, and their gaze toward Lu Qingjia was once again filled with murderous intent.

Lu Qingjia, however, smiled lightly. “That’s why I told you to drop your arrogant demeanor.”

“Unnecessary tug-of-war is meaningless for both of us. Why not return to the simplest, most straightforward confrontation? You know I won’t give up. If you avoid it, I’ll systematically remove all your allies, and eventually, you’ll face me alone—mature and fully aware of your weakness.”

“The choice is yours. What’s your answer?”

Lu Qingjia leaned back in his chair. “Are you willing to engage in a life-and-death gamble with me?”

The Trickster stared at Lu Qingjia for a long time. Those who didn’t know him might not understand, but his three close aides could somewhat gauge his emotions.

He was angry and had developed a certain wariness toward this kid who had just ascended to the Advanced Zone.

Not because of the lucky person or Mr. Zhong behind him, but because of the kid himself. This realization was unbelievable to the three.

Finally, the Trickster smiled. The person in black robes beside him poured him another cup of tea.

But the glimpse of the wrist that the other person revealed made Lu Qingjia lose his composure.

He suddenly reached out and tore off the other’s cloak—