Chapter 64: The Era of Pets

Blood-Soaked Battlefield dared not relax, hastening to respond, “Master, rest assured, when we return I’ll be sure to give him a good lesson! You’re magnanimous, please don’t stoop to his level…”

Lu Kuan burst out laughing, thinking to himself that this fellow was far more worldly than his cousin.

Since the other had already lowered himself so much, and Lu Kuan was not one to press his advantage, he smiled and replied, “You’re overthinking it. It’s not a big deal.”

Behind them, Blood-Soaked Battlefield’s subordinates and the university friends who had come with the dwarf warrior couldn’t hear the conversation, but they saw Blood-Soaked Battlefield’s expression and posture as clear as day. The shock in their hearts was indescribable.

“What’s going on here? From what I just heard, these two actually know Heaven’s Eternal Dark?”

“Definitely. Didn’t you see how cautious he was acting?”

“Looks like he’s really messed with the wrong person this time.”

The dwarf warrior heard every whispered discussion, his face flushing red and then turning pale, and he simply stood there with his head lowered, silent.

Turning back, Blood-Soaked Battlefield caught sight of his cousin’s uneasy demeanor and couldn’t hide his disappointment.

“Forget it, I’d better have a word with the family. If there’s a chance, let him get more real-world experience. Acting this way, he’ll not only offend others but drag me down with him,” Blood-Soaked Battlefield thought, exasperated.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Lu Kuan, Blood-Soaked Battlefield wisely took the dwarf warrior and left, the rest scattering like startled birds.

“What a waste of time, utterly pointless,” Dai Guang complained, his face sour as he said to Lu Kuan, “We should’ve just taught that brat a lesson right away. People like him are insufferable even in the game.”

Lu Kuan simply smiled, unperturbed. “No matter what, Heaven’s Eternal Dark deserves some respect. There’s no need to make enemies over such trivial matters, especially given the power of Dark Paradise.”

Dai Guang understood Lu Kuan’s reasoning, but putting himself in Lu Kuan’s place, he wasn’t sure he could have handled it so generously. Even if it was just for show, he’d at least have to look the part.

After that commotion, neither felt like grilling fish anymore, so they took a moment to tally their haul.

Besides the regular catch, they’d also fished up quite a bit of gray trash and some amusing but mostly useless trinkets. All in all, it would fetch them several dozen silver coins.

“Ha! Fishing is really something else—I’m starting to get addicted,” Dai Guang exclaimed as he reeled in a rough-cut emerald. He glanced at his character’s status panel and sighed, “But why did they have to add fishing stamina? I’m not ready to stop…”

Fishing stamina was a special mechanic for the fishing skill, capped at 100 points per day. Once exhausted, the odds of catching anything dropped dramatically.

After more than an hour, both Lu Kuan and Dai Guang had nearly depleted their stamina.

“It’s fine, as your fishing skill improves, your stamina will increase too. Just be patient,” Lu Kuan said, clapping Dai Guang on the shoulder with a smile.

With fishing over, it was time for cooking.

They gathered some firewood, lit a campfire, and Lu Kuan quickly cleaned the slippery crabs before placing them over the flames. He activated the “Charcoal-Grilled Slippery Crab” recipe, and the crabs skewered on sticks began to rotate automatically over the fire.

Dai Guang lay on his back in the grass, watching sunlight dapple through the leaves, breathing in the savory aroma of roasting crab. He couldn’t help but muse, “Lu Kuan, do you think it’s possible that one day we’ll make it big in this game? Earning mountains of gold coins and living this kind of leisurely life that’s impossible in reality…”

Lu Kuan was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled softly. “Anything is possible.”

“By the way, you mentioned earlier that you’re joining the Black Desert expedition? Is it confirmed?” Dai Guang suddenly remembered and asked eagerly.

Lu Kuan nodded. “Yes, probably tomorrow or the day after.”

Dai Guang grinned, his round face inching closer. “Since you’re so close with Heaven’s Eternal Dark, can you ask if I can tag along? I don’t even need loot—I just want to see the world!”

“I’d advise you not to get your hopes up for now. Focus on upgrading your gear and leveling up first, or you’ll just be a burden,” Lu Kuan replied, his tone earnest. “Make the most of your time to get stronger. In a while, I have an important plan and I’ll definitely want you on board.”

Dai Guang’s initial disappointment quickly gave way to excitement. “Oh? What is it? Tell me!”

Lu Kuan outlined his idea for a travel adventure, then added, “There might be a few pretty girls joining too. Once your gear and level are up, it’ll be even more impressive. And just so you know, all of them score at least a seven out of ten.”

“Really?”

Dai Guang’s eyes lit up instantly. He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and patted his chest. “Don’t worry, as soon as we’re back in town, I’ll find a party and clear the Lava Fortress Prison, and get familiar with my new skills too.”

“Good,” Lu Kuan replied with a smile.

As dusk approached, it was no longer safe to linger outside. The two packed their things and hurried back to Lava Fortress.

As usual, Dai Guang logged off once night fell in the game, while Lu Kuan headed to the tavern to bring Chef Aaron a pouch of fish.

Currently, Aaron needed Firefin Carps, Spotted Loaches, and White-Striped Catfish, along with several rare species that were extremely hard to find. After fishing most of the day, Lu Kuan and Dai Guang hadn’t encountered a single one.

“System message: You have lost Firefin Eel (quantity: 2); reputation with Chef Aaron increased by 4.”

“You have lost Spotted Loach (quantity: 5); reputation increased by 5.”

…

After handing over all the useful fish, he’d gained just over twenty points of reputation. For the immense amount required, it was barely a drop in the ocean, but Lu Kuan had never intended to grind reputation through fishing alone.

Having cleared out his inventory, Lu Kuan left the tavern and headed straight for the Adventurers’ Hall.

At dusk, players from the wilds flocked back to town, making this the busiest time of day. Lu Kuan noticed that people were already starting to walk their pets—some cute, some fierce, all adding a flair of style.

Many girls had captured ordinary small animals, especially fawns and magical rabbits. Whether or not they were strong, their adorable and silly appearance had already won over countless hearts.

Male players, on the other hand, preferred forest wolves and hunting dogs. Some lucky ones had even tamed a juvenile black panther deep in the Scarlet Mist Forest. Its sleek, jet-black fur gleamed over a lithe and powerful frame, moving with an effortless grace that was truly striking.

Players leading black panthers strode with heads held high, basking in the envious stares of others, unable to hide their pride.