Chapter 204 - 203: Passing Encounter with Yanqing (Part 1)

Words : 1287 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

The cheerful Cloud Knight, though untrained in dance, carefully studied Pei Guang's motions. Years of battle experience enabled him to mimic the moves, albeit clumsily, as he joined in. Meanwhile, the other Knights paused their "treatment" as one turned to his companion, puzzled. "What's wrong?" The other Knight looked down at his fists, bewildered. "I think... I've gotten stronger." Another soldier: "Now that you mention it... I feel stronger too! Could his technique actually work?" Cloud Knight: "If it works, we use it. In times like these, any bit of strength is valuable. Let's test how much stronger we've become!" For a moment, Liangmu thought the punishment had ended as the beatings stopped. But as he instinctively tried to get up, one of the Cloud Knights turned to him and said, "Hold on, kid. Be patient—it's all part of the treatment!" Bailu chimed in, "Exactly! Don't hold back. As long as he doesn't die, just keep going. His condition is severe and requires extreme measures!" Cloud Knight: "Understood!" Recognizing Bailu's horn and tail, the Cloud Knights quickly deduced her identity as someone important. With her explicit approval, they felt even more justified in their actions. Helping to "treat" someone, testing the mysterious technique introduced by their benefactors, and receiving recognition from an esteemed figure—it was a win-win all around. Meanwhile, Stelle and March 7th had been watching Pei Guang dance. After observing a few rounds and picking up the rhythm, they began to follow along, swaying to the beat. The port was now filled with a cacophony of music, dancing, sounds of blows landing, and Liangmu's howls of protest. It was an odd, lively atmosphere, unlike anything the area had experienced before. But this was just the beginning. As Cloud Knights rotated shifts and some came by to rest, they noticed the scene with puzzled expressions. One of the knights participating in the dance called out to the newcomers, "Join us! Dancing boosts our combat power! Haven't you felt the surge in strength?" Encouraged, more knights joined. Within minutes, the small group of three Cloud Knights expanded into thirty, creating a production line of rhythmically coordinated "treatment." Dancers felt their strength increase while Liangmu, now at the center of this makeshift "medical intervention," became the perfect test subject. According to Bailu, so long as they didn't kill him, they were free to unleash their full power. Some knights recognized Bailu's identity as the Healer Lady. If she supported this method, it had to be legitimate! Thus, a production line of dancing, singing, and "treatment" was formed. Meanwhile, knights skilled in calculations estimated that the dance increased attributes by approximately 10% during the performance. This included speed, strength, reflexes, and even mental clarity. The realization spurred them on to perfect the routine, ensuring they didn't miss a beat. March 7th, exhausted from dancing, looked at Pei Guang. "Wow, Ah Guang, what kind of mysterious power did you unlock this time? I feel like I've genuinely gotten stronger just from dancing!" Pei Guang, checking his system interface, explained, "It's an aura ability. While I'm dancing, friendly units within a 20-meter radius gain a 10% boost to all attributes. After I stop, the effect lingers for as long as I danced. For non-player allies, the radius is halved, and there's no lingering effect, but the boost still applies during the performance." Reflecting on his abilities, Pei Guang couldn't shake the feeling that his player attributes were somehow... patched together. How else could he so easily stumble upon and unlock such skills? Still, he wasn't impressed. A mere 10%? For a seasoned gamer like him, buffs usually started at 20% or 25%. This felt lackluster. While Pei Guang frowned at the modest numbers, the Cloud Knights were awestruck. The straightforward, game-like explanation made them curious, but practical results mattered more. They weren't scientists, after all. All they knew was that being near Pei Guang while dancing made them stronger. March 7th suddenly recalled something, "Oh! Now I remember—you once said that those who can't fight should sing and dance to buff their allies. So, it really works! Should we hire someone to sing and dance for us in the future?" Pei Guang shook his head, "Not necessary. As a player, I can dance to apply the buff. The longer I dance, the longer it lasts after I stop. Before big fights, I'll just dance a little longer." Stelle chimed in, "What if I dance? Would our buffs stack?" Pei Guang shook his head again, "No, this is my skill. While you can use it, it won't stack. Don't worry. Whenever we're prepping for a boss or a dangerous zone, you can focus on the plot while I dance for the buffs. In downtime, I'll just keep dancing to keep it stacked." As a veteran gamer, Pei Guang had the persistence typical of his kind. Hardcore gamers were known for their unyielding determination—whether it was grinding for rare items, endlessly mining in sandbox games, or leveling up skills for hours on end. With such an easy and beneficial skill, it felt like a waste not to use it. Besides, he had already tested the mechanics. It didn't require specific moves—anything resembling a dance worked. At that moment, Pei Guang's gaze sharpened. Meanwhile, Stelle observed the "production line" of Cloud Knights beating Liangmu and couldn't help but comment, "That guy's really pitiful." March 7th retorted, "Pitiful? I don't think so! It's just a bit of physical pain. Without teaching him a lesson, who knows how many naive girls he'd manipulate in the future? Still, I'm not satisfied yet!!!" Stelle added, "You're not suggesting we kill him, are you?" Pei Guang thought for a moment, then replied, "Killing him would be far too merciful. But don't worry, I have a plan that'll make him regret this for the rest of his life." March 7th: "Do tell~" Pei Guang: "No rush, you'll see soon enough. By the way, want something to eat or drink?" March 7th: "Sure~" Stelle, ever resourceful, pulled out two signature beverages from Belobog—Blue Lovers—and drank both herself. However, something felt off. Usually, Pei Guang also drank two beverages at a time, but this time, he and March 7th were sharing a single drink. "Wait... I was gone for just a few hours, and why does something feel off?" While Pei Guang's group enjoyed a brief respite, a starskiff docked at the port, and a brown-haired youth stepped off. This was Yanqing, who had slipped out of the Seat of Divine Foresight while Jing Yuan was distracted, intending to prove his worth by capturing Blade. Following his intelligence, Yanqing had come to Cloudford, but he was stopped in his tracks shortly after arrival by the bizarre scene before him. Rubbing his eyes to ensure he wasn't hallucinating, he saw a group of Cloud Knights in an open space, wielding their weapons and dancing to a strong rhythmic beat. Occasionally, one knight who seemed to have mastered the moves would step aside to join a queue under Bailu's direction. In pairs, the knights took turns attacking a completely defenseless man. Meanwhile, off to the side, a man and two women sipped drinks and chatted leisurely. "What kind of madness is this? Have their minds been corrupted by the Abundance's spawn?" Yanqing muttered. Sensing something was amiss, he drew his sword and approached the group, demanding, "What are you doing? And what exactly is happening to that defenseless man?"

Chapter 204 - 203: Passing Encounter with Yanqing (Part 1)

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