Chapter 19: The Ascent of Trust

“The towering mountains are treacherous, with monstrous threats looming ahead and relentless pursuers closing in from behind. Regardless of whether that girl falls first, her pet accompanying her back to the resurrection point, or if the pet is eliminated before her, the tide will inevitably turn back in our favor… Guild Leader, victory is now assured!”

A soft ‘Hmm’ escaped Yujian Lin’s lips as he gave a slight nod, his bare torso and baggy shorts a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. His subordinate had articulated the very strategy he intended to execute.

From the moment Yingning, with her quick eyes and nimble hands, snatched away his entire fortune, he had known that the conflict between them had escalated to an irreconcilable, life-or-death struggle. Unless he could devise a means to compel her to relinquish that coveted green equipment set and the pet, he, as the architect of this entire predicament, would undoubtedly be forced to shoulder every loss and every ounce of blame.

The ramifications were stark and immediate. His guild members would become alienated, and the guild itself would face dissolution.

It was a universal truth that sagacious birds chose the finest branches to perch upon. No one would willingly subjugate themselves to such a selfish and self-serving guild leader, nor would they opt to squander their time in a guild utterly devoid of prospects.

****

At last, Yingning was forced to set me down. The incline was simply too severe, the mountain face impossibly sheer. Clutching me with one hand drastically impeded her ascent, rendering her vulnerable to the swift pursuit of the players hot on our heels.

To our astonishment, the path ahead proved unexpectedly unhindered. We encountered none of the fabled, ferocious high-level monsters that supposedly roamed these peaks. An eerie silence enveloped the entire mountain, so profound that not even a single bird stirred within the dense forest.

A surge of intense vigilance instantly gripped both Yingning and me. Such an unnatural calm invariably heralded unforeseen perils.

Yingning faltered, her gaze fixed on me with a palpable worry. She seemed to be wrestling with the decision of whether to press on with the climb, for even if we managed to reach the mountain’s peak, there would be no escape route. We would quickly find ourselves trapped on the precipice, hemmed in by the players relentlessly ascending from the base.

Yet, we had no luxury to dwell on such concerns. Our only recourse was to exert every ounce of effort to ascend. To halt our progress meant instantaneous death at the hands of our pursuers, whereas continuing the climb offered the meager solace of postponing our demise by a few precious minutes.

“Xiaoya…” Yingning gasped, her voice strained as she made a difficult leap to the next precarious foothold. She called out, her words punctuated by ragged breaths, even as she continued her arduous climb.

It took me a long, bewildered moment to realize that the name ‘Xiaoya’ was directed at me.

“Xiaoya… what is your AI level?”

“A-rank.” I found myself compelled to reply, the words escaping me before I could even process them.

“An A-rank? Truly befitting a super high-quality pet… Most pets are merely C-rank, capable only of following basic commands and instinctual responses, but an A-rank pet already possesses self-awareness…” A heavy sigh then escaped Yingning’s lips. “Do you comprehend hatred? If you were to perish here… would you resent me for it?”

“No, I could never harbor hatred for my master.” For once, my response aligned perfectly with the system’s programmed reply.

I could direct my hatred at anyone, but never at Yingning. Such was the profound weight carried by the word ‘family’!

Yingning’s eyes traced the silver-gray collar that wound around my neck like a silken ribbon, her expression inscrutable as she murmured, “Yes… you genuinely do not comprehend hatred…”

Abruptly, her jaw tightened, her features contorting with a blend of sorrow and fierce resolve. “Forgive me, Xiaoya! We cannot outrun them… Rather than prolong this futile escape, we should turn back and confront them! At the very least, we’ll make them pay a price in blood!”

Yingning whirled around, her sword flashing as she unsheathed it. Her gaze, filled with unyielding determination, swept over the relentless pursuers behind them. In that instant, she appeared not merely as a female player, but as a true warrior forged in battle.

‘Could this truly be the same Yingning I knew in reality—the soft-spoken, tender girl brimming with countless girlish dreams, who would burst into tears at the slightest provocation?’

‘Had I not possessed prior knowledge, I would never have connected this resolute, responsible warrior with the Yingning I knew!’

“Master, do you place your trust in me?” I sprang onto the large rock where she stood, rising on my tiny tiptoes to whisper conspiratorially into her ear. “Master, do warriors possess skills that can launch foes into the air or repel them over a great distance?”

“I haven’t mastered such a skill yet, but this weapon I wield does possess an innate long-distance knock-up ability…” Yingning’s eyes widened in astonishment, a thought blossoming in her mind: ‘Could a high-quality pet truly be capable of strategizing for its master?’

However, as she considered my true identity, the notion suddenly seemed far from impossible. Nine-tailed foxes are, after all, the very embodiment of wisdom, creatures that stand proudly at the apex of the food chain. Indeed, it would be utterly illogical for the game designers not to have granted such a species some distinct advantages!

“Very well, then I shall ask once more… Master, do you truly believe in me?” I fixed my gaze on Yingning, my eyes wide and attempting to convey the utmost seriousness. Yet, to her perception, my earnest expression transformed into that of a fox-eared girl gazing at her master with glistening, pleading eyes, brimming with fervent desire…

Whether swayed by a tender heart or simply left with no viable alternative, Yingning slowly, hesitantly, nodded her assent.

“Then, I implore you: continue your ascent! Climb all the way to the mountain’s peak!”

True to her word, Yingning bestowed upon me her absolute, albeit temporary, trust. This time, not a flicker of hesitation crossed her face as we immediately resumed our perilous journey!

In truth, she harbored little faith in the strategic prowess of a mere pet. Yet, women are often swayed by emotion. As the thought surfaced that this might well be my final plea in this world, her heart ached with a profound tenderness, rendering her utterly incapable of rejecting my proposition.

Even though I was nothing more than an artificial intelligence, we had, at the very least, shared both sweet and bitter moments, enduring hardships side by side.

This was the first such instance, and perhaps, tragically, it would also be the last.

Suppressing the bitter pang within her heart, the young girl ascended towards the summit with unwavering resolve!