[Ding! Congratulations to player Liu Yuan for leveling up. Current level: 2.]
…
The system notifications rang out one after another. As Liu Yuan swung his blade with relentless efficiency, he watched as his experience bar climbed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Finally, it came to a halt—just a sliver short of level 3.
"That's it?"
The system prompts abruptly stopped. Liu Yuan looked at the ground littered with chicken heads, feeling slightly disappointed.
Killed so many, and only leveled up once.
As expected, I'm just a pitiful player!
The unluckiest of the unlucky!
"Not bad, kid. You've got decent efficiency."
A voice full of exaggerated admiration rang out. Zhang Yingjun walked over, glanced at Liu Yuan, and nodded approvingly.
"Old man, don't flatter me like that. Got anything else that needs chopping? Just say the word, and I'll handle it for you, clean and swift!"
Liu Yuan's eyes lit up when he saw Zhang Yingjun.
"There's plenty to chop on the city wall. Want to go?" Zhang Yingjun rolled his eyes.
City wall?
Liu Yuan blinked.
BOOM!
A sudden rumble shook the ground. Liu Yuan staggered, barely managing to stay upright.
Zhang Yingjun, by contrast, stood tall and steady, completely unfazed—clearly used to it.
"Kid, hurry up and pluck all these chicken feathers and send them to the kitchen. The enemy's attacking the city! Our logistics have to keep up. If we fall behind, I'll chop you up myself!"
With a grunt, Zhang Yingjun dragged over a lounge chair from who knows where and lay down.
Me? Pluck feathers?
And you're gonna nap?
Forget it. Under someone else's roof, gotta keep my head down.
Feather plucking? I'll do it!
So, as Liu Yuan fought tooth and nail with the stubborn feathers…
At the northern city wall, the sounds of battle roared to the heavens. Beneath the wall, a sea of armored soldiers stretched endlessly.
At their head rode a fierce, striped tiger with a massive man atop it—wielding a pair of heavy eight-flanged bronze hammers. He was built like a fortress, towering and powerful.
"Zhang Liang, you traitor! Surrender now, and I'll spare your life!"
The burly man bellowed, lifting both hammers as he roared, "Otherwise, today I'll smash this turtle shell of yours into pieces!"
Upon the wall, a man stepped forward with a great blade slung across his shoulder. It was none other than the city's governor—Zhang Liang, known as the "Public General."
Zhang Liang's eyes locked onto the mighty man below, filled with dread.
"Li Yuanba, you really plan to break all ties with us?"
His voice turned cold, low and grim.
If Liu Yuan were here, he would've been shocked.
This Zhang Liang was a well-known figure from the Three Kingdoms, a famed general of the Yellow Turban Army and the youngest brother of Zhang Jiao, their leader.
The general at the gate? Even more renowned—Li Yuanba, a legendary general from the Sui-Tang era, born with divine strength and unmatched in battle.
Even legendary warriors like Qin Shubao or Yuchi Gong couldn't compare.
Historically, Li Yuanba was foolish and eccentric. But in the game, those weaknesses had been conveniently patched.
If Liu Yuan were present, he'd probably scream—
"Damn devs!"
According to the game's tier rankings, Li Yuanba was a peak-tier first-class general. Zhang Liang, at best, was a mid-tier second-class.
Given the gap in power, Zhang Liang's caution was understandable.
"You? Worthy?"
Li Yuanba sneered, hefting his hammers arrogantly.
"Trying to stall, hoping Zhang Jiao and Zhang Bao will come save you? Don't worry—they won't make it in time!"
Zhang Liang's expression darkened—his plan exposed.
"Li Yuanba! You seek death!"
"Death?" Li Yuanba let out a derisive chuckle. With his left hand gripping both hammers, he slapped his right palm against the tiger's back, soaring into the air like a giant roc.
"Let Grandpa Li break your gate first!"
"True Martial: Heaven-Shattering Hammer!"
With a thunderous cry, sand and dust whipped through the air. A colossal divine figure appeared behind Li Yuanba—ten zhang tall, wielding a massive hammer, face twisted in fury.
The divine hammer came crashing down, the heavens howling, aimed straight for the city gate.
Zhang Liang shouted in return. He raised his massive blade and launched off the wall, eyes flashing with divine light.
In an instant, his blade stretched to seven or eight zhang long, sweeping across the air toward Li Yuanba's divine figure.
The divine hammer smashed into the blade's projection, shattering it instantly and continuing forward without slowing—slamming into the city wall.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the earth. Dust and debris flew everywhere.
In that moment, everyone—defenders atop the wall and soldiers below—stared toward the billowing dust cloud.
Gradually, the dust settled.
Zhang Liang stood steady, blade dug into the ground. Behind him, the city wall now bore a massive gaping hole.
One blow. Breached the wall.
"Charge!"
Li Yuanba roared, tiger charging into the breach.
Within the city, Liu Yuan was still listlessly yanking out feathers when his wrist suddenly trembled.
He paused and looked down at the dancing feathers on the ground.
Then jumped to his feet.
'Holy sh*t!'
'An earthquake?!'
'Run!'
The thought flashed across his mind, and just as he turned to bolt, he realized Zhang Yingjun had somehow appeared in front of him.
'Busted?'
Liu Yuan stiffened, eyes twitching, glancing up at Zhang Yingjun from the corners of his eyes.
The old man stood hands behind his back, gaze locked on the northern wall, face grave.
"Li Yuanba is here. Liang City is in danger!"
'Li Yuanba?!'
Holy crap!
Wasn't that the top-tier general the game site just introduced?
And I'm running into him right after starting the game?
Liu Yuan's face twisted into an expression more miserable than a crying emoji.
This was like a newbie who'd just entered the game, still in the tutorial zone—and suddenly ran into a max-level boss wiping the entire village.
When the nest falls, how can any egg remain whole?
Feathers half-plucked and all, I'm probably about to get wiped and reroll!
Just my luck!
Couldn't even use my Newbie Protection when I started…
And now this?!
Wait a sec—Newbie Protection?
A sharp glint flashed in Liu Yuan's eyes.
He might've just thought of a way out.
"Activate Newbie Protection!"
The moment the idea surfaced, Liu Yuan frantically pulled out the protection token and attempted to activate it—to protect the city.
[Ding! Activation failed!]
[Prompt: Player has not received recognition from the city's controller. Cannot activate Newbie Protection! To apply protection to yourself only, please leave the city's territory.]
"…Uh, Old man… Sir… Can we still leave the city?" Liu Yuan whispered, raising an eyebrow.
"Leave?" Zhang Yingjun turned, and his previously cloudy eyes suddenly gleamed with sharp light. "You trying to desert?"
A shiver ran down Liu Yuan's spine.
"Desert? No! I just want to… protect our home! Defend our Liang City!"
Liu Yuan straightened his back, trying to look heroic and righteous.
"Oh?" Zhang Yingjun raised an eyebrow mockingly. "You?"
"Yes, me! But… I'll need the city lord's recognition first."
Liu Yuan answered calmly, eyes unwavering, as if he were prepared to die for his cause.
In truth, his thoughts were racing.
Just a crusty old NPC, and you think I can't bluff you?
You're just a glorified kitchen boss. If you've got the guts, go ahead and have the city lord recognize me!
Useless windbag.
Once I level up, I'll slice you up with a kitchen knife!
"Alright then! Let this old man see what you've got to turn the tide!"
[Ding! Congratulations, player Liu Yuan has received recognition from Liang City's controller. Would you like to activate Newbie Protection?]
The system prompt rang out just as Zhang Yingjun finished speaking.
In that moment, Liu Yuan's expression froze.
He slowly, awkwardly lifted his head to look at the old man before him—his mouth twitching…
'He… he's…'
'The controller?!'