"Brother! Long time no see!" A young man about Chen Luo's age suddenly wrapped him in a bear hug, radiating excitement.
"I've told you countless times—don't call me Brother. I'm not your brother. And why the hell are you here?" Chen Luo was utterly baffled.
He'd encountered the wrong person at the wrong time. Well, maybe not wrong, but certainly unexpected.
"Surprised? When Liu Wenxuan heard you were attacked, he rushed over faster than I did." Yun Xia stood nearby, watching their reunion with visible jealousy.
Though the two were embracing, their attitudes couldn't be more different—the seemingly frail Liu Wenxuan was overflowing with enthusiasm, while Chen Luo in his arms looked thoroughly disgusted.
"Wenxuan, seriously—let go or I'll stab you." To Chen Luo's shock, despite his enhanced strength, he couldn't break free until his sword materialized in hand, forcing Liu Wenxuan to reluctantly release him.
"Aw, don't be mad, Brother! I just got too excited!" Liu Wenxuan scratched his head sheepishly.
"Never thought I'd see him again under these circumstances..." His expression darkened as he glanced at the bound delinquent.
"So why is he here?" Chen Luo sidestepped behind Yun Xia, pointing at Liu Wenxuan.
"Before explaining, A'Luo—could you demonstrate your ability first? Or is that sword-summoning your power? Spatial manipulation?" Yun Xia did not answer but asked a question first
"Let me guess—you two are part of some secret organization with rules against revealing info to non-ability users?" Chen Luo eyed them suspiciously.
"Nothing that dramatic. Just an unspoken rule of the hidden world. Otherwise, I'd have showered you with gear ages ago," Liu Wenxuan shook his head and said.
"Fine. Since you insist, this isn't a secret anyways. My talent is 'Wandering Swordsman,' an A-rank talent. It lets me wield wind and summon this specific sword. Oh, and I somehow gained swordsmanship skills despite never training before." Chen Luo made the blade vanish with a flick, then recalled it effortlessly.
Honestly, I'm nailing this act. The sudden swordsmanship, Anemo Vision, even the "wandering" requirement—it all fit suspiciously well.
"And this is my tool to use the wind." He produced his Vision with flair.
Chen Luo thought that since he was going to pretend he had Genshin powers, he was going to pretend as hard as he could.
If Yun Xia and Yun Lian'er get anime and game-charater powers, why can't I?
"I don't know if you have played Genshin Impact..."
"Kaedehara Kazuha?! The Leaf Emperor?!" Liu Wenxuan blurted instantly.
"Probably. Anyway, they are similar enough. I also rely on traveling to increase my strength. I think it's better to say that I'm a traveler than a wandering swordsman." Chen Luo casually revealed his actual talent's mechanics under the guise of roleplay.
"Is wandering the same as traveling? Please tell me you at least get to sleep indoors, Brother. Otherwise that's just tragic," Liu Wenxuan said pityingly.
"I don't know, so I am planning a nationwide trip this summer—you probably won't see me for a while." Chen Luo pouted.
Hell, let alone the talent I made up, even my real talent's mechanics are still unclear to me.
"Brother, mind showing me that sword again?" After some thought, Liu Wenxuan requested.
"Okay" Chen Luo summoned the Dull Blade and handed it over.
"Huh, growth-type equipment? Guess my gear would just embarrass me then." Liu Wenxuan's eyes flashed red before he nodded approvingly.
"...' No no, please embarrass yourself! The more free loot the better!
Chen Luo screamed internally while checking Wenxuan's stats—having just discovered hugs also triggered friend status.
[Liu Wenxuan]
[Courage] (S-rank Talent): "The hymn of humanity is the hymn of courage. The greatness of mankind is the greatness of courage. As long as you still have courage in your heart, you will never fall. What doesn't destroy you only makes you stronger."
Price: 6,000 Primogems (Original: 10,000)
[Appraising Eye](Skill): Identifies weaknesses/items.
Value: 900 Primogems (Original: 1,500)
[Blacksmith Mastery]: 900 (Original: 1,500)
[Blunt Greatsword](Weapon): 600 (Original: 1,000)
[Brave's Armor](Armor): 1,500 (Original: 2,500)
[Sundering Blade], [Elven Bow], [Explosive Scroll], [Annihilation Arrow], [Army Breaker]...
…
Liu Wenxuan held the record for most owned items Chen Luo had seen.
Moreover, another S-rank talent user? And this one's discounts are steeper than even Yun Xia's—only the Herrscher of Sentience beats him.
"Since you shared your ability, I'll come clean too. My talent is S-rank—'Witch…"
"Don't flatter yourself. You're called magical girl," Liu Wenxuan snorted.
"Liu Wenxuan! Do you have a death wish?!" Yun Xia's glare could melt steel.
"Try me. I'll even let you hit me for four hours first."
Despite his scholarly name, slight frame, and glasses that screamed "honor student," Wenxuan's defiance was absolute.
"You…" Yun Xia gritted her teeth—fighting him was literal torture.
"As for me, Brother, my talent is 'Courage.' Speaking of this talent, I owe it all to you—without your help, I'd never have awakened it." Liu Wenxuan's gaze grew solemn as he looked at the bound delinquent.
Ah.
Liu Wenxuan was that kid—the one Chen Luo helped fight back with a shit-covered mop.
Helping him had given more progress than stopping bank robbers.
He had helped him a total of ten times, and each time the progress reward was higher than the last.
At the time, Chen Luo didn't understand why. Now he did.
But what scares Chen Luo even more is that the person he helped who raised the progress bar the most is not actually Liu Wenxuan.
Just what kind of monsters have I been helping all this time?
"Courage? More like Berserk!" Yun Xia retaliated for earlier.
Don't look at Liu Wenxuan now, who looks weak and frail, wearing plain glasses and looks like a good student. When a fight breaks out, he will rush in with a great sword. No matter what kind of monster the opponent is, Liu Wenxuan has never been afraid.
"Tch." Wenxuan dismissed her with a glance.
You can go ahead and fight me. If I'm scared, I lose.