Chapter 15: The Phoenix Goddess

I met Xiao Lan within the city of Dali. Burdened by her busy work schedule, she was only level 10. After accompanying her to qualify as a Divine Priestess and seeing her dressed in the exquisite gear I had prepared for her, she looked even more radiant and captivating. Her flowing hair draped softly over her pristine, palace-style robes, and the ribbons of her dress danced in the breeze like swirling butterflies. Her delicate, peerless face was breathtaking—even a fairy descending from the heavens could not compare. With a girlfriend like this, what more could a man ask for?

"Xi, am I beautiful?" She spun lightly before me, gazing at me with deep, soulful eyes. Her charming smile made the blossoms in the scenic area pale in comparison. Women in love always crave the affirmation of their partners; even a naturally confident beauty is no exception. A lover’s praise is the sweet spring that nourishes them.

I gently pulled her into my embrace and whispered warmly into her ear, "Lan, have you ever seen a peerless beauty described as 'a single glance that brings a thousand charms, making all the ladies of the six palaces fade into insignificance'? I have, and that beauty is in my arms right now. This overwhelming, heart-shaking happiness makes me feel as though I am in a dream, unable to tell where I am. I don't need you to topple kingdoms with a smile; you are mine, aren't you?" I did not call her "wife," for I feared that this term, used by everyone in the world, would stain her with worldly dust.

"Xi, am I really that beautiful? I'm so afraid that one day you'll grow tired of me!" Xiao Lan’s breath was as fragrant as orchids, and her whispers were like a clear, trickling stream. "Xi, the most beautiful smile I have is for you alone. Do you know why I call you 'Xi'? Because anyone can call you 'Xi' (using a different character), but I don't want to share you with anyone else. So I call you 'Xi'—you are mine, the stream of my life, nourishing me forever."

"Is that so?" I teased, raising my tone. "Then let me nourish you right now." My right hand quietly reached for her towering, snow-white peaks. Even within the game, the sensation was undiminished, adding an extra thrill to this intimate exploration in such a unique environment.

"You... you're awful. If I had known you were so mischievous, I wouldn't have bothered to..." I sealed her rosy, cherry-like lips shut with a thorough kiss. The beauty in my arms was as warm as fire. After a kiss lasting several minutes, she was left panting, her eyes misted with desire. She pressed my hand, which had slipped inside her undergarments, and struggled to suppress her surging passion. "You bad man, always up to no good," she chided. "Stop it already; look where we are!"

Xiao Lan’s words snapped me back to reality, and I reluctantly withdrew my hands. *Ahem*, we were in a public scenic area, and there were other players around! I couldn't stage a lewd scene in front of everyone. It wouldn't matter if I lost my reputation, but I absolutely could not let those lecherous men catch a glimpse of Xiao Lan’s charms. Look, there were already a few envious players watching with excited expressions. Damn it—haven't they ever seen a handsome guy before? A bunch of voyeurs! Seeing that Xiao Lan didn't blame me, but rather looked at me with a hint of apology, I felt even more ashamed for being so reckless and disregarding others' feelings.

"Lan, let's walk around. Let's appreciate the beautiful scenery that’s hard to find in reality. If I feel inspired, I might even compose a timeless masterpiece." Having those annoying flies buzzing around was truly a mood-killer.

"Don't flatter yourself. Since when did we professional gamers become great poets? My apologies, oh great poet," Xiao Lan teased.

"Don't say that, Lan. From elementary school through high school, my essays were always read by teachers as model compositions in class," I said with an awkward laugh. "Heh, though I never won anything in any magazines, journals, or competitions—not even an honorable mention. Without an appreciative eye to recognize my talent, this future poet’s career ended before it even began."

"Heh, so our talented scholar is truly unappreciated. When you have a new work, let me appreciate it and see if you're really as good as you say."

"Haven't you already seen my work?" I asked, feigning surprise.

"No, I haven't. I never saw anything you wrote in college. If you had published anything in the school paper, I would have known," Xiao Lan said, looking puzzled.

"You really haven't seen it? I'm heartbroken," I said, putting on a tragic, devastated act.

Xiao Lan panicked: "I'm sorry, I just didn't notice. I really haven't seen it."

I chuckled to myself, keeping a sorrowful expression. "Did you throw away the pair of underwear I signed for you?"

"Ah!" Realizing what I meant, Xiao Lan raised her fist and tapped my chest lightly. "You're the worst! You did that on purpose to scare me. I'm not talking to you anymore! Do you know how worried and anxious I was seeing you look so sad?"

Seeing her so deeply invested in my feelings, I realized I had gone a bit too far. I vowed never to play such a joke again; making Xiao Lan worry was my greatest mistake. "I'm sorry, Lan. I was just joking. Please forgive me, okay?"

Xiao Lan murmured, "Fine, fine. You just love to bully me. You didn't actually throw away the one with my writing on it, did you?"

"How could I dare? No, how could I bear to?" I whispered the last part into her ear. "I don't have many possessions, but that pair of underwear is my most precious treasure. It is a historical witness to the happiest moment of my life. Besides, I even secretly kept a trace of you from that night."

"I'm not talking to you about this anymore, you're incorrigible." Xiao Lan blushed, her shy appearance so enticing that my appetite was whetted, and I couldn't help but kiss her face.

While I was being intimate with Xiao Lan, inside a private room on the second floor of the Yellow Crane Tower, the finest restaurant in Dali, a rat-faced player dressed as a hunter bowed and scraped before a man dressed in scholar's robes. The man was holding a beautiful woman and radiated an air of arrogance. "Young Master, I followed Miss Zhao to the scenic area outside Dali. I discovered she was there on a date with a man. The two were laughing and talking, appearing very intimate."

The player known as "Young Master," who had been flirting with the woman in his arms, pushed her away violently upon hearing his subordinate’s report. He smashed his porcelain cup in a rage, his face twisted. "Damn it, that slut! She told me she had no time and had to see a client when I asked her out. When I first found her in the game, I thought they were just discussing business. I never imagined she ran off here to date a lover. Damn—acting so pure and noble in front of me, but she’s just as cheap as the rest of them deep down."

The woman he had pushed aside showed no anger at his brutality, nor was she jealous that he spoke of another woman. She spoke in a syrupy, charming voice, "Young Master, why be upset over such a slut..."

Before she could finish, a resounding slap interrupted her. A fierce voice followed: "What kind of trash are you? Is 'slut' a word for you to use? Listen well: whoever dares to show her disrespect, I will destroy them. I will make her mine!"

The woman who was struck was used to his fickle nature and felt nothing but disdain: "You, Hao Minghai, only rely on your father's money. If it weren't for the money, I wouldn't even look at you, let alone serve you! So what if you were childhood sweethearts? She saw through your ugly face, which is why she keeps her distance from you."