Chapter Fifty-Two: Cloudfall and Moonset (Part Two)

"Alert: Possible abnormal energy conflict detected. Should the guards be dispatched to suppress it?" The system's warning sounded in Li Ren's ear.

This was a special alert program he had set up—if any player was engaged in combat or using any skill not related to daily life activities, it would trigger this alert. From his experience, whenever the alert went off, it meant players were engaged in unauthorized PvP, which also meant income for him.

Li Ren had just finished arranging the latest development plans for Falling Cloud City and was about to head out to level up when he received this message.

Ever since the first large-scale chaos caused by player PvP was ruthlessly suppressed by the skeleton guards, few dared to act so recklessly again.

Since it would only take a little of his time, he figured he might as well watch—consider it a bit of entertainment.

But what he saw brought trouble.

At first glance, the two sides were already fighting. At second glance—hmm, both were beautiful women. At third glance—damn it! Who dares bully my Luoyue and Roushui! Are they tired of living?

"Skeleton Guards! Go! Hack that damned bastard to pieces!"

Li Ren roared. The nearby skeleton guards tore through the crowd like madmen, charging straight toward Luoyue and Roushui's location.

He no longer cared about anything else, slipped on the Ring of Deceit, and teleported out of the city lord’s castle, hurrying in their direction. Luckily, it wasn't far.

Although the system had placed considerable restrictions on interactions between male and female players in the game world, there was no way to completely curb the disgusting hobbies of certain individuals.

These degenerates would be satisfied just by taking a little advantage, indulging their perverse desires, and the system wouldn't actually prevent contact between male and female players.

Otherwise, combat wouldn't even be possible.

The guy facing off against Luoyue and Roushui was, without a doubt, a pervert.

Players like him didn't care about in-game levels; their greatest pleasure was harassing female players.

Luoyue and Roushui hadn't noticed at first. Normally, cities had safe zones, with strict limits on how close players could get to one another—no matter how crowded, physical contact was impossible.

This naturally cut off the harassment from creeps.

But there was no such thing in Falling Cloud City—Li Ren had never thought to add these features.

Fortunately, as an elite guild leader, Luoyue had quick reflexes. Just as the pervert's wandering hand was about to grab Roushui, she yanked Roushui aside and, without thinking, slashed at the offender with a Holy Light Strike.

What started as an instinctive reaction quickly escalated into a real fight.

A crowd of players gathered to watch the spectacle, some glancing around, clearly waiting for the skeleton guards to arrive.

Luoyue was unaware of this, and the pervert didn't care—he was just furious that his "Dragon Claw Grab" had missed!

The beauty of his targets, far beyond anything he could hope to touch in real life, only fueled his desire.

Roushui, caught off guard, flushed with rage and embarrassment, especially with so many players watching as if it were a show.

Some fools even egged things on, nearly moving Roushui to tears.

Possessing city lord privileges, Li Ren raced over, using Blink repeatedly, and arrived before the skeleton guards could.

No one knew how Li Ren had suddenly appeared on the scene.

His final Blink landed him right in front of Luoyue.

Seeing the man who had suddenly appeared, both Luoyue and Roushui were startled at first, but in the next moment, Roushui threw herself into Li Ren’s arms.

Li Ren, unable to utter a word, found himself frozen on the spot.

"Um... er, um... hello," Li Ren managed to stammer out after a long, awkward pause.

"Hmph!" Luoyue ignored him. Roushui realized what she had done, but with so many eyes on her, she dared not lift her head, blushing furiously as she clung to that posture.

"Hey, where did you come from, punk? Damn it, you already have one—how about giving the other to me?" The pervert, still not knowing his place, continued to pester them.

Luoyue, despite her anger, didn't respond. She'd seen plenty like him—and if you bothered with every one, you'd go mad. In fact, such people only grew bolder the more you scolded them—truly pathetic.

There were still plenty of players jeering in the crowd. Though Li Ren had a beauty in his arms, he was seething with fury.

He immediately ordered the skeleton guards, now close by, to clear out the jeering players. The careless onlookers were cut down in an instant, the skeleton guards showing no mercy—none who had joined the uproar were spared.

Soon, the area was much quieter.

As for the oblivious pervert, Li Ren didn't even look at him—one sword stroke ended him on the spot. He then led Luoyue and Roushui away. That pervert, upon respawning at the teleportation circle, was met with the pitiless bone blades of the skeleton guards.

Only then did Roushui, face still flushed, slip out of Li Ren's embrace, hiding behind Luoyue, her head bowed as if she wished she could disappear into her clothes.

"So, what brings you two to Falling Cloud City?" Li Ren felt the silence as they walked was unbearably awkward, so he forced himself to ask.

"Nothing much, just passing through, taking a look," Luoyue replied coolly. Li Ren sighed inwardly: As expected, Luoyue's tone has changed. What am I supposed to do now?

"Oh, well, how about I show you around?" he ventured cautiously.

"No need. We've seen enough."

Li Ren broke out in a cold sweat: You clearly just arrived! Who are you trying to fool with that?

"Heh, well... how about a drink then?"

"Hmph!"

But the little Roushui, trailing alongside, didn't agree.

She tugged Luoyue's sleeve and said sweetly, "Sister Luoyue, don't be so hard on Brother Bones."

Luoyue couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Now you're speaking up for him—what am I supposed to say?"

Li Ren forced a laugh, but didn't know how to handle the situation.

"Seems like you're doing pretty well here," Luoyue said, pretending indifference.

But what else could Li Ren do besides grin and nod?

In the city lord's castle, Shadow watched Li Ren's predicament and couldn't help sighing. "Ah, the master is always like this. Isn't it just a woman... cough, cough..." He quickly coughed to cover his words, since Her Majesty Landis was now standing beside him, watching Li Ren's performance as well.

Her Majesty shot Shadow a fierce glare before vanishing in a flash of white light. Shadow shivered under her gaze but realized she had already left the castle, heading quickly in their master's direction.

"Heh," Shadow chuckled, wisely choosing not to inform Li Ren, deciding to stay quiet and simply keep watching—as if waiting for an even bigger scene to unfold.