Chapter 88: The Threefold Deception

This plan had only been conceived half an hour earlier, specifically, when Su Yingning stood alone on the single-plank bridge, holding off an entire horde and causing their defeat.

I took a moment to contact Black Mirror Healer and quickly finalized three plans with them.

Plan One: Initiate Conflict.

The conflict between Su Yingning and Sword Sweeping the World was already irreconcilable.

Knowing it would be nearly impossible to recruit Su Yingning into their guild, the members of Sword Sweeping the World had first approached me to establish a cooperative intent.

They agreed to my conditions—that my identity would not be publicly disclosed, and that I wouldn’t be required to formally join their guild.

Consequently, I was assigned to an underground organization that operated without the structure of a regular guild.

Sword Sweeping the World understood perfectly that ‘Pursuit II’ was far more than a mere online game.

More accurately, it was a second world, governed by the rules of an online game, where people, bound by these regulations, sought new rights and interests.

New national-level interest groups had formed, vying for the world’s finite resources, and striving to dominate this secondary realm.

For this very reason, any major interest group possessed its own intelligence network, underground factions, or, more precisely—a spy organization.

I was currently embedded within Sword Sweeping the World’s spy organization.

My appearance served as the perfect disguise.

Jiangu, for his part, considered me a born spy.

It had to be said, his intuition was remarkably accurate.

So, Plan One entailed leveraging this conflict to publicly declare my ostensible stance, making everyone with an agenda believe I sided with Su Yingning.

This would involve severely damaging Sword Sweeping the World’s branch guild, escalating the conflict with Sword Sweeping the World to an intense degree.

However, I had only informed Black Mirror Healer that I would make my stance known in my own way, asking him to rush over and save the day…

He had never anticipated that Su Yingning and I, despite being vastly outnumbered, would slaughter over a hundred members of their branch guild.

This loss gave him a considerable headache.

Yet, it also lent greater authenticity to the situation, making the plan even more flawless…

Thus, they had to swallow this bitter pill (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘yaba kui,’ referring to suffering a loss that cannot be voiced), treating it as an investment they were forced to endure.

Next came Plan Two: to further escalate the conflict and lure the snake out of its hole.

“Therefore, I formally invite both of you to join Sword Sweeping the World.”

A dawning realization spread among the onlookers: ‘So that’s it. They suddenly ceased fighting because they recognized our value?’

No wonder Sword Sweeping the World had spared their lives.

Su Yingning let out a bitter sigh, then sent me a private message:

[Xiaoya, I’ll stall for time. Reply quickly; another fierce battle awaits us.]

I nodded, understanding Su Yingning’s intentions.

Su Yingning was quick-witted.

She instantly grasped that the opponent’s cessation of hostilities was merely temporary…

Since they had stopped fighting because they recognized our worth, should we refuse their olive branch, they would immediately turn hostile, and exert every effort to wipe us out.

But Su Yingning would certainly refuse.

“Please allow us some time to consider.”

Su Yingning replied to Black Mirror Healer, feigning contemplation.

“Consider? By all means, consider.

Once you’re done considering, we’ll settle the score for the Red Water Dragon and today’s matters, all at once…”

Black Mirror Healer watched Su Yingning with a smile, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“I know you’re stalling for time, but it doesn’t matter.

Did you truly believe that in a moment, you’d still only be facing a paltry five hundred people?

Everyone, stop hiding, come out and bask in the sun!”

No sooner had he spoken than a large contingent of people, glowing with brilliant blue light, emerged from behind Black Mirror Healer.

Among them were even several familiar faces.

They lined up, and with imposing momentum, crossed the single-plank bridge.

Upon revealing their levels, they were uniformly in their thirties.

These were not comparable to the ‘salted fish’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term, ‘xianyu,’ referring to weak or inactive players) from before.

The combined combat power of just these few dozen individuals far surpassed that of the previous five hundred!

Black Mirror Healer had truly gone all out this time!

Su Yingning gazed at the elite players, and a chill instantly settled in her heart.

These individuals had completely extinguished any hope of escape.

Su Yingning wasn’t surprised that they had guessed she was the one who claimed the Red Water Dragon.

After all, her strength had increased so drastically in such a short time, and we had appeared so abruptly on the battlefield then, spouting numerous lies.

Now, being enemies with Sword Sweeping the World, it would be utterly foolish if they still hadn’t suspected her.

“It just so happens that our guild leader ordered us to clear the Hard Mode Spider’s Lair today, aiming for the first clear of Hard Mode…

So, all of the main guild’s core forces have arrived, and even the main guild’s elite team is on their way.

If even they can’t defeat you, then this time, including the matter of the Red Water Dragon, Sword Sweeping the World will admit defeat!”

Excellent.

They’ve fallen into the trap.

Witnessing the hatred in Black Mirror Healer’s gaze as he looked at Su Yingning, I felt a surge of satisfaction.

The members of Sword Sweeping the World must have been utterly perplexed as to why I would betray Su Yingning and actively seek cooperation with them, even volunteering to be a spy.

Everything had happened too suddenly, making it difficult for them to fully trust me.

However, once they connected the dots and realized Su Yingning was the one who had slain the Red Water Dragon, and that the world announcement had only named a single slayer, I wouldn’t need to explain anything.

They would devise a perfectly satisfactory explanation for themselves.

With only one slayer announced, it would imply that I harbored resentment because Su Yingning had ‘eaten alone’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘chi dushi,’ meaning to hog all the benefits or take all the credit).

This would allow them to rationalize my sudden defection, bolstering their trust in me, and channeling all their fury onto Su Yingning.

“I’ve got it! We can just pretend to surrender first, and then make our escape!”

I suddenly exclaimed, as if struck by a brilliant revelation.

Su Yingning’s face was etched with exasperation (TL Note: A Chinese expression, ‘mantou heixian,’ literally ‘forehead full of black lines,’ indicating exasperation or speechless frustration).

“You just blurted it out! How are we supposed to pretend now, you idiot Xiaoya?!”

“Oh?! That makes sense!”

I nodded, leaving Su Yingning utterly speechless and resigned.

Encircled by Sword Sweeping the World’s high-tier combatants, we remained silent.

The members of Sword Sweeping the World made no move, seemingly waiting patiently for our reply.

Only Black Mirror Healer and I knew that we weren’t truly the ones they were waiting for.

The wind rustled Su Yingning’s cloak, carrying with it the stench of the swamp.

The atmosphere grew thick with tension.

Just then, a deep, resonant male voice drifted in from outside the encirclement:

“Sword Sweeping the World? Heh… how truly impressive!”

They’ve finally arrived!

They’ve taken the bait!

****

Plan Two was complete.

Plan Three was now initiated!

As the first high-reward, high-difficulty dungeon on the continent of Ardell, the Spider’s Lair had drawn elites from across the entire server, all striving to conquer it.

Yet, the elites here weren’t solely from Sword Sweeping the World; many other guilds were present, including Sword Sweeping the World’s rivals.

At this very moment and place, innumerable high-ranking core members from major guilds were closely observing the unfolding situation.

After Su Yingning and I had displayed such astonishing power, it wasn’t just Sword Sweeping the World that coveted us.

Given that our conflict with Sword Sweeping the World had escalated to an almost irreconcilable, life-or-death struggle, the surrounding major guilds perceived a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

There’s a saying that goes: —’The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’

Sword Sweeping the World’s enemies, were naturally the friends of Sword Sweeping the World’s rival guilds.

It’s important to remember that Sword Sweeping the World wasn’t the only super-large guild on Ardell Continent.

As fellow super-large guilds, all vying for limited game resources, they would exhaust every possible method.

They would never let slip even the slightest chance to strengthen themselves and weaken their rivals!

Now, Su Yingning and I appeared to be in a predicament.

Only two choices lay before us: either join Sword Sweeping the World, or face Sword Sweeping the World’s relentless pursuit!

Given this situation, as fellow enemies of Sword Sweeping the World, why wouldn’t they extend a helping hand at this crucial moment, and offer us a third option?

From their perspective, we, who were currently in such dire straits, would undoubtedly be overflowing with gratitude for such timely assistance (TL Note: A Chinese idiom, ‘xuezhong songtan,’ literally ‘sending charcoal in snowy weather,’ meaning to provide timely help), and would pledge unwavering loyalty to them!

There was no better time to win us over than now!

Plan Three: to seize this opportunity and infiltrate Sword Sweeping the World’s rival factions.

I would officially become involved in Ardell Continent’s grand power struggles, among those national-level behemoths, operating as a spy code-named Oleander.

This game was truly becoming more and more enjoyable.