Looking at Feng Bujue and Lin Yan's receding figures, Xu Huishang sighed in relief.

Then, she collected her fighting spirit, looked at Juan Menghuan and Bi Laoshi, and said, "You two... how about we go to the tavern for a meal together?"

"Huh?" Juan Menghuan was stunned to hear this; he really hadn't expected that Xu Huishang, who had just been their "opponent," would make such an offer.

"I estimate there's still a while before the end of the script, but there probably isn't enough time to do a side quest, so..." Xu Huishang saw the other's confusion and added.

Hearing this, Juan Menghuan seemed to belatedly understand.

If "He Yangxinci" still allowed players to entertain the fantasy of "being able to fight with just one or two people," then Lin Yan was at the level of "even assembling a strong five-person team might result in a wipe."

As long as Feng Bujue stayed near Lin Yan, even if Xu Huishang, Juan Menghuan, and Bi Laoshi joined forces to assassinate him… the chances of success would be slim.

But if they didn't kill Jue-ge, then in an hour, he could achieve victory in the script through the "main quest."

In summary, Xu Huishang and the others now basically had an extra hour of "script filler time." There wasn't enough time to do side quests... but forcibly exiting the script would result in penalties.

So, all that was left to do… was to be a bystander.

In any case, an hour wasn't a long time, and in a long-term script with "days" as the unit of time, it wouldn't be judged as passive gameplay.

"Ah... that's right." After thinking for a few seconds, Juan Menghuan scratched the back of his head and said, "Now that things have come to this, even if we fight to the death... it wouldn't mean anything."

"That's not necessarily true... if you really want to make full use of the remaining time, we could find a less crowded place and exchange a few moves without hurting each other..." Xu Huishang said, "That way, you can get a little skill value, but... I personally don't like that kind of approach."

"Oh... that kind of gameplay, I used to do that overtime a lot when I was in Corpse Blade." Juan Menghuan shrugged and said, "Actually, the efficiency of acquiring skill value in that way isn't high... Although Dream Inc. hasn't explicitly prohibited this method of obtaining skill value, the system clearly has a significant base reduction for skill value obtained in this form. Based on my personal experience... it's better to match an opponent and really fight."

As he spoke, he put the [Chonglou] he was carrying on his shoulder into his bag.

For Juan Menghuan, it didn't matter if he lost this script; because he had already used the previous day and night to do several side quests and a hidden quest outside the town, and he obtained this [Chonglou] through a quest.

He dared to rush out and confront those two from Sengoku just now because of this mentality of "it doesn't matter if I get killed out of the script."

"Anyway... let's eat and chat." As Juan Menghuan said this, he glanced at Bi Laoshi next to him, which was asking for Lao Bi's opinion.

Bi Laoshi was originally a bystander, so if his teammates agreed, he would follow along: "Ah, good, good." He agreed with a silly smile, thinking happily to himself - my luck is really good today, I can eat at the same table with Goddess Xu, well... although it's in the game.

…………

Not long after, outside Linlu Town.

The road was a main road, but there were no pedestrians on it today.

Only two people, and a horse.

Although the two were traveling together, they maintained a subtle distance from each other, as if they were not "traveling together" but rather "happened to be walking in the same direction."

"Since you need me to protect you, why are you also wary of me at the same time?" After a long silence, Lin Yan took the initiative to speak.

"Hehe... you saw through it." Feng Bujue smiled sheepishly.

"There are many things I've seen through." Lin Yan paused, and then said, "The 'deal' between you and Wang Qiong is actually about that sword manual, right?"

"That's right." Feng Bujue nodded and said bluntly, "I promised that as long as he cooperates with my actions, I will present the 'Sword Dance Grass Script' with both hands afterwards."

"But I think... you won't fulfill this promise." Lin Yan continued.

"It's not that I don't want to give it to him, it's just..." Feng Bujue thought that it didn't matter if he told Lin Yan about this, "After a while, I may suddenly disappear and leave this world; and I have to keep the 'Sword Dance Grass Script' with me until a very short time before I leave, then I can let it go..."

"Let me give the sword manual to him for you." Lin Yan interrupted him before he finished speaking, "It's better to try to keep your promises as much as possible."

"Oh, sure, if you don't find it troublesome..." Feng Bujue replied.

"Not troublesome." Lin Yan replied, "Also... you still haven't answered my question just now."

Feng Bujue's attempt to change the subject failed, and he smiled again: "Heh... then I'll be frank, I'm wary of you because..." At this moment, his smile was still there, but there was no trace of a smile in his eyes, "Actually, I don't believe... that you 'wanted to go to Guanwai for a walk and just happened to pass by this town'."

"Oh?" Lin Yan said, "Then according to you... why did I come?" She glanced at Jue-ge out of the corner of her eye, "Did you come specifically to save you?"

"I don't know." Feng Bujue also glanced at her, "Otherwise... can you tell me?"

"Hmph..." Lin Yan lowered her head and chuckled; the afternoon sun shone on her white hair and snow-white skin, creating a dazzlingly beautiful scene, "The last time I saw you, I was actually in my forties, did you know that?"

"I know a little about that." Feng Bujue didn't understand why she suddenly changed the subject, but he didn't mind following her lead.

"Hmm." Lin Yan pondered for a moment, then continued, "I grew up and lived in an abnormal environment, so... back then, although I was older than you, I was ignorant of the world and insensitive, and my mind and temperament were like a child."

"Isn't that a good match for your outward age?" Feng Bujue blurted out without thinking.

"Heh..." Lin Yan smiled knowingly, taking it as a compliment, "Feng Bujue, I know... you and I are not from the same world, and I also know that you have experienced far less time than I have since then." She paused, "In the eyes of the current me... you seem more like a child."

"According to you... should I call you ancestor?" Feng Bujue replied.

"See... that's just how you are." Lin Yan said, "When people say something you don't like to hear, don't want to hear, or are embarrassed to hear... you will be so roundabout, thinking of ways to argue with people."

"Then please pick the important points to say, ancestor." Feng Bujue used action to prove that he probably couldn't change this habit.

"I didn't have much to say in the first place, after all... I don't understand you." Lin Yan said, "I just saw that you have something on your mind... something very heavy."

She was right, Jue-ge's heart was indeed carrying enormous pressure and burden.

The "gamble" related to the survival of all mankind, the predicament brought about by "Destiny" and "Twenty-Three," and the future of the Derivatives led by Lute... he had always silently shouldered all kinds of burdens that ordinary people could not even imagine...

But his appearance in front of people was still the same as always.

People only saw him laugh, scold, be foolish, be crazy, be mad, and be eccentric, but they had never seen him cry, be afraid, or truly lose his composure.

Feng Bujue was also a person; setting aside his seal, he also had the right to fear, to be afraid.

He had the right to be sentimental, the right to be indecisive, the right to show his vulnerable side, he also had the right to let others share his worries and pressures, or to avoid those things and responsibilities that people were afraid to avoid.

But he didn't.

Because, he was Feng Bujue.

Sometimes he himself felt as if he was the protagonist of a novel; his body carried the attention, admiration, speculation, and fantasy of too many people, and in order not to let those expectations fall through, he lived so tired and so unreal...

Real people are ordinary, complex, and contradictory; even if they achieve great achievements, there will always be a dark and humble side to their hearts.

Sadly, but also admirably... Feng Bujue, is not such a person, never will be.

"Although we don't understand each other very well, you are my benefactor after all. As an elder who cares about you, I will advise you a few words..." Lin Yan saw that Jue-ge didn't argue this time, so she continued, "There is no way to live that will satisfy everyone in this world. Even if you can make most people satisfied, you will be exhausted. So... sometimes, people might as well live a little selfishly; making yourself happy is more important than anything else."

"Heh..." After listening to Lin Yan's words, Jue-ge smiled wryly, "My ancestor... you have attained enlightenment for many years, and as a result, you have figured out such a 'letting things go' kind of life philosophy... is that really okay?"

"Whether it's okay or not... you have to try it to find out." Lin Yan replied with a smile.

Feng Bujue was silent for a moment, also thinking for a moment, and then he spoke again: "You also didn't answer my previous question." He seemed to intend to end the current topic, so he paused slightly for half a second and asked, "What is the real reason you appeared in Linlu Town today... in the end?"

Lin Yan took a deep look at him, then sighed softly and replied, "One day ten years ago, a girl named Lu came to me and said that you would appear in Linlu Town today ten years later, and... you might need my help."

Before she finished speaking, Jue-ge's expression changed slightly, and when she finished speaking, Feng Bujue immediately asked, "Lute?"

"Yes, it's Lute." As Lin Yan spoke, she suddenly stopped, and activated a space ability similar to "player's inventory", taking out an item from a subspace that even Jue-ge couldn't see with his data vision, "She asked me to tell you - 'The things you lost, the Kongtong Seal can help you find them back'."