Chapter 75: Elemental Barrier (2/2)
I was just about to submit it when a melodious voice rang beside me. It was a familiar voice that I had been longing to hear all this time.
”Mm… Mingyue, this is a bit expensive, isn't it? A 100 gold price tag on a Level 25 Dark Steel-grade s.h.i.+eld? Did poverty get too deep into this seller's head?”
……
I turned around in shock and found two beautiful girls standing next to a trade window. One of them—as well-endowed and beautiful as ever—was Murong Mingyue, and the other one was a Level 29 female magic knight. Her equipment wasn't very impressive, but she wielded a black spear, and she wore an elegant, black chest armor that tightly hugged her body. Her curves were in no way less impressive than Murong Mingyue's, and the smile on her face accentuated her already attractive looks even more. She looked beautiful and charming even though all she was doing was standing and observing the equipment that had been put on sale. As for the line of text floating above her head—
From Water LV-29 Magic Knight
……
He Yi! It's actually He Yi!
I sucked in a deep breath while my heart beat like it was about to explode. This was the second time I saw He Yi in Heavenblessed, and she still looked as gentle and natural as ever. Even her most careless smile was enough to make the world swoon on their feet.
Murong Mingyue said, ”Eve, can we cut to the chase already? You've been carrying around this Level 4 Common-grade s.h.i.+eld since forever! Even if your goal is to cut down on expenses, this isn't the way to go about it, not to mention that your wealth goes up and down by the hundred thousands every second in the real world. Ask yourself: do you really lack 100 gold? Right now this Level 25 Dark Steel-grade s.h.i.+eld is the best s.h.i.+eld in the auction house. I admit it's a bit expensive, but it will boost your Defense by a lot and make my job as a healer a lot easier.”
But despite Murong Mingyue's advice, He Yi still couldn't come to a decision, her pursed lips and knitted eyebrows a portrayal of her internal struggle. A while later, she ultimately said, ”Forget it, I'd rather grind for one!”
Murong Mingyue didn't know what to say. ”Seriously? How long do you think that'll take… Eve, you are the boss of Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls, you know. You can't still carry a Level 4 s.h.i.+eld with you…”
He Yi: ”...”
I finally mustered my courage and greeted them using the low, raspy voice that was unique to a Night Creature, ”Hi, Beauty Murong. Do you still remember me?”
Murong Mingyue was caught off-guard by my greeting. He Yi's bright gaze also made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
”It's you, handsome?” Murong Mingyue smiled. ”I didn't expect to see you here. So? What do you want to talk about?”
I took out the Elemental Barrier and said, ”I got this s.h.i.+eld just this morning. I heard that your friend needs this, and we are friends, aren't we? So I've decided to sell this to you cheap!”
”Oh? Let me see…”
After Murong Mingyue saw the s.h.i.+eld's stats, her mouth fell open as she exclaimed, ”My G.o.d, it's a Dark Steel-grade s.h.i.+eld! And these stats are just… crazy…”
She looked up at me and asked, ”Sinks Into Sand, this s.h.i.+eld is very expensive, isn't it?”
I gave her a smile. ”Make me an offer and I'll sell it to you. I can't use this s.h.i.+eld anyway.”
Murong Mingyue's eyes lit up. ”Does that mean you'll sell it to me even if my offer is 1 gold?”
I was speechless. ”Come on, that's too cruel…”
He Yi giggled softly before saying, ”How about 20 gold then?”
This Dark Steel-grade s.h.i.+eld was worth 100 gold at minimum, but He Yi's pure and flawless smile was too much for me to bear. Oh well, if He Yi wants to slaughter my purse, what can I do besides accept my fate?
The s.h.i.+eld was a lucky quest reward anyway. I might as well give it to He Yi as a reunion gift.
I nodded slightly and said, ”Alright, 20 gold it is!”
He Yi exclaimed in shock. She clearly didn't expect me to agree to this. Murong Mingyue's mouth was agape when I pa.s.sed the s.h.i.+eld directly into He Yi's hands and said, ”Now, give me 20 gold so I can log out. I've been online since last night so please be quick…”
He Yi nodded and gave me 20 gold, and the losing trade was complete.
I waved my hand once and walked out of the auction house.
”Wait…”
He Yi chased me out of the auction house, but I was already entering a nearby inn. By the time she reached the inn, I had already begun logging out, my character fading out of existence.
He Yi stared at me with watery eyes, murmuring, ”It's not him? It's not him… right…”
I hadn't logged out completely when she said this, so my heart ached as the system counted down the seconds. Just how much longer will it take for my body to go back to normal so that we can reunite in real life?
I returned to the real world in pain. It was already late morning.
Gui Guzi and Du Thirteen had logged out as well. We ate a quick meal outside before returning to our workshop and falling asleep in our beds.
In my dreams, He Yi's exquisite face seemed to appear to me. As the blurry images floated inside my head, I could see her tears, hear her laughter and smell the fragrance of past time. Ancient Sword Dreaming Souls had been the thing that tied our hearts together. It cursed us with eternal longing and many wounds, but we still persisted like fools who didn't know what regret meant.
……
I was covered in sweat when I woke up. A shower later, it was past 5 pm, so the three of us went downstairs for a drink at the food stall. As the saying goes, brothers greet one another with three bowls of wine!