Giving himself a hard pinch, Han Lei grimaced in pain . He wasn’t dreaming .
“You really remind me of an old friend of mine back in middle school . His name was Han Lei . I only came over here to ask,” Nie Yan said . He swept his eyes over Han Lei’s face . The overall impression this fellow gave was still the same . A big burly guy in Mage robes really did look a bit funny .
“Y-you’re right . My name is Han Lei . And you are…?” Han Lei asked with a stunned face . Did he really know Nirvana Flame?
“I’m Nie Yan . ” Nie Yan chuckled .
“I know you’re Nirvana Fla-” Han Lei’s face flashed with a sudden realization . “W-wait, Nie Yan!?”
Nie Yan nodded with a smile .
Han Lei shot up to his feet with an overjoyed look and firmly patted Nie Yan’s shoulders . The more he looked, the more familiar he appeared . “Damn . What a small world! Nirvana Flame, huh…? You really made a name for yourself . You’re basically the overlord of the entire Viridian Empire! I can’t believe it’s you! My head is spinning! Back then, you . . . ”
Han Lei compared their heights . He recalled Nie Yan was just a short, scrawny kid back then . Nothing like this tall and muscular man standing in front of him . Every little action he made carried the air of a peak master .
Or perhaps the reputation of Nirvana Flame was just too glorious, and it was influencing his perception . Han Lei couldn’t help but feel like he was gazing up at a towering mountain . However, the two of them were close childhood friends . This sort of bond transcended everything and melted away any feelings of awkwardness .
“What about Tang Yao? How’s that fella doing?” Han Lei asked .
“Tang Yao? He’s doing good . Ever heard of the name Young Sparrow Hawk?” Nie Yan replied .
“W-what!? Tang Yao is Young Sparrow Hawk?” Han Lei’s eyes widened in shock . “I always thought we were about the same when it came to skill . To think he’s actually the Young Sparrow Hawk who dominated the leaderboards for over half a year! Seriously, what is up with this world!?”
Young Sparrow Hawk was also an extremely famous player in the Viridian Empire .
His two best childhood friends, Tang Yao and Nie Yan, had become such awesome figures in the few years since he last saw them . Han Lei felt like his brain stopped working .
Nie Yan chuckled . Han Lei’s way of speaking was still the same .
“Say, how did you recognize me?” Han Lei asked . He still had a hard time wrapping his head around this situation .
“I don’t know… If I had to say, it would be one part gut feeling, one part the unique way you speak, and one part your appearance,” Nie Yan teased .
Han Lei ruminated for a while . Nie Yan’s explanation did seem plausible . He no longer thought about it .
“Interested in joining Asskickers United?”
“R-really? You mean it? I’d love to join! Man, is this what it’s like to have a childhood friend become famous?” Han Lei laughed . He gladly accepted Nie Yan’s invite .
“You’ll still have to pass the entrance test like everyone else, but I can provide you with some equipment,” Nie Yan said . He would start feeling uncomfortable if Han Lei was reserved with him .
“As long as I have some good gear, the test will be a breeze,” Han Lei said, beating his chest confidently . “Oh, right . I also have a group of close friends . ”
“The more, the merrier . They’re invited to join as well,” Nie Yan said . The faces of those old teammates still remained fresh in his mind . Fatty, Hottie, and Doctor, he wondered how those guys were doing .
In the previous timeline, they had gone through thick and thin together as a team before going their separate ways . Nie Yan was left with many regrets . Finally in this life, he could make it up to them . Back when he was being hunted down by Victorious Return, he had ended up implicating the team and exposed them to danger . Even to this day, he was still wracked with guilt over this matter .
“You’ll really do that for me!? Awesome!” Han Lei said happily . With this, he had nothing to worry about .
While the two of them were chatting, five players walked over . They didn’t pay any attention to Nie Yan . A Priest in white robes approached Han Lei and greeted, “Lively, how’s it going? Did you sell those items yet?”
“Huh, don’t tell me you didn't sell a single thing?” a fiery lass in crimson leather armour tutted while shaking her head .
“I told you setting up a stall won’t work . Just throw them up on the auction house . Even if the commission fee is a tad expensive, you’ll have a lot more eyes seeing them, not to mention you won’t have to haggle over the price . ” The Priest happened to turn his head at this moment . His expression froze as he pointed his finger at Nie Yan . “W-wait…!? A-aren’t y- a-aren’t you Nirvana Flame!?” He stumbled over his words . Suddenly, his eyes fell on his finger . Realizing how rude he was being, he didn’t know half how fast he had to withdraw his hand .
The fiery lass was just about to say something to Han Lei . However, sensing something off with Doctor, she shot a glance at Nie Yan . Her eyes immediately went round in shock .
“A-asskickers United’s, Nirvana Flame…?” the lass muttered in disbelief .
The several other players in the group also turned their attention to Nie Yan . When they saw his face, their faces paled as if they had seen a ghost .
Seeing the reactions of his teammates, Han Lei’s lips curved into a faint smirk . Their reactions were even more extreme than his . Hehe… shocking, right?
“Alright, settle down guys . You’re embarrassing even me,” Han Lei said, feigning indifference .
“H-hah . . . !?” A pudgy-looking Warrior turned to Han Lei with a look of shock . “B-boss, you guys know each other?”
“Of course I do, he’s a close friend of mine,” Han Lei explained . He closely observed the expressions of his comrades .
“Nirvana Flame… Nirvana Flame is a close friend of the boss…?” Fatty felt his head spin . He glanced back at Hottie and Doctor . All of them shared the same look of disbelief .
When Hottie and Doctor looked at Han Lei, their eyes were sparkling with stars . Their original impression of Han Lei was that he was a thick skinned fellow but a loyal friend . Sometimes you really wanted to give him a beating, especially when he started showing off about the smallest of things . But this time, their view of him was completely turned on its head . He was friends with the Nirvana Flame, yet he never once boasted about it . Rather, he never even mentioned it . They were genuinely impressed .
“Boss, I have to admit . I misjudged you,” Hottie said . Her appearance was pretty good . Her collar slightly exposed her impressive cleavage . She was the type of alluring beauty that got your blood pumping . Her leather armour was cut short, exposing her flat stomach . However, if you treated her as just a pretty face, you would be in for a rude awakening . She was a tomboy through and through and was even crazier in battle than most men . She was like a little chilli pepper .
“Hehe… You praise me too much . ” Han Lei chuckled . Standing by his side, Nie Yan couldn’t help but feel his face redden from embarrassment .
Nie Yan formed a wry smile on his face . He knew exactly what kind of personality Han Lei had . However, he was a loyal friend . This was one of the things Nie Yan appreciated most about him . So, he didn’t expose him .
Nie Yan inspected all six of them with Transcendent Insight . Their average level was over 110, but most of the equipment on their bodies was only Level 90, with only a few pieces of Level 100+ equipment . This was fairly normal, though . More and more players were reaching Level 100 . However, the drop rate of Level 100+ equipment was fairly low . So, most Level 100+ players were still stuck wearing Level 90 equipment .
In the previous timeline, when Nie Yan reached Level 100, he didn’t have a single piece of Level 100 equipment . Han Lei, Hottie, Fatty, and Doctor had pooled together all their funds, even going into debt for him, to help him obtain some . Though the others had also helped, it was only a shallow gesture . So, Nie Yan felt a lot of attachment to these four especially .
“Better start preparing . In a few days, we’ll be taking the entrance test to join Asskickers United . Don’t embarrass me when you’re taking the test . ” Han Lei laughed .
“I don’t think any of us are lacking in the skills department, but we don’t have any decent equipment . Even a clever housewife can’t cook without rice,” Fatty said in a pinch . The six of them weren’t even enough to form a team . So, they had no way of running dungeons . Simply farming mobs couldn’t net you any good equipment . As for the pieces of equipment on sale in the auction house, they were far too expensive .
“Don’t worry about it . I’ll have someone come deliver some equipment to you guys,” Nie Yan said . Han Lei’s group would probably be more than satisfied with any of the equipment in the treasury .
“T-this… is that really alright?” Fatty didn’t feel too good about accepting Nie Yan’s offer .
Hottie and Doctor shared the same thoughts as Fatty . After all, they weren't too close with Nie Yan . Receiving so much from him was a little . . .
This was the difference between strangers and friends . If it were the previous timeline, these three wouldn’t hesitate for a second and gladly accept it .
Thinking to this point, Nie Yan couldn’t help but sigh . That aspect of their relationship where they could freely crack jokes at each other and share in joy and sorrow was likely gone forever .
“Han Lei is my brother, a close childhood friend . We pretty much grew up together in diapers . No need to be courteous with me . If you really can’t accept it, just consider it me loaning you this equipment . You’ll still need to return it to me . Besides, when you join Asskickers United, you’ll also be considered one of us,” Nie Yan said .
Han Lei was deeply touched . Despite so many years passing and the differences in their position, Nie Yan still cherished their friendship . He inwardly vowed to himself that Nie Yan would be his brother for life .
Hottie, Doctor, Fatty, and the others glanced at each other, then sank into silence .
“Since you say it like that, I guess we have no choice but to take you up on your offer . If you need anything from us in the future, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask . ”
“Alright . ” Nie Yan nodded . Having the same relationship with Hottie, Fatty, and the others as in his past life wasn’t possible for the time being . So, he could only drop the subject .
Before long, an Asskickers United player came over . They brought a large pile of Level 100+ Dark Gold-grade equipment . These items were nothing in Nie Yan’s eyes . The guild treasury was filled with them . But to Han Lei, Hottie, Doctor, Fatty, and the others, it was everything .
After changing into this new equipment, their levelling speed would increase by at least fivefold . Their damage, defense, and other stats would far surpass their peers . They could even attract players to join them in dungeon runs . If they wanted to join a team, they would be more than welcome given their equipment . No one in their right mind would turn them away .
Seeing this equipment, Hottie, Doctor, Fatty, and the others were incredibly excited . One had to know, these were items that before today they could only dream about .
Han Lei placed his hand on Nie Yan’s shoulder with a deeply moved look . “Brother, thank you . ”
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login