C7 Night Watch!

"Why are you asking about this? I didn't think you'd be interested in who I am," Lee Kai said as he grabbed Lee Chao's legs and started dragging him outside.

Zhu Ying quickly came over to help, taking hold of one of Lee Chao's legs, and together they pulled him outside. "I'm curious about you. You clearly recognize me, but when I first arrived in this world, I sensed some hostility from you. It's puzzling, so may I ask why?"

By the time he finished speaking, they had dragged the body to the doorway. Lee Kai cleared away the furniture blocking the entrance and continued, "Zhu Ying, you shot to fame at nine years old as the young female lead in the sci-fi film 'Xi Tia.' Within two years, you became one of the hottest child stars. Your career skyrocketed from there. Your life story is almost entirely searchable online, but I suspect that's only the part you want the public to see. After all, since you turned eighteen, your career has been incredibly successful, yet not a single paparazzo has dared to publish any gossip about you in three years. That's quite abnormal."

"Hmm? You've looked into me? Are you a paparazzo? Is that why you instinctively wanted to keep your distance?" Zhu Ying inquired.

"No, I'm not a paparazzo," he replied, turning back to continue dragging the body.

"Wait, I think I recognize you now. I've seen your profile before. What was your name?" Zhu Ying crouched to lift the other leg, glancing at Lee Kai as she racked her brain.

"We've collaborated before, although we've never met in person. It was only after the editing that I got to know you," Lee Kai explained. After they had finally dragged Lee Chao's body out and left it beside a car, Lee Kai glanced at the spot he had been sitting, a speculative glint in his eye.

"Now that you mention it, I think I remember. You're that ace player from the 'War of the Saints' game, right? What's your name again?" Zhu Ying followed Lee Kai back into the room, her memory searching for details about him.

"My name is Lee Kai, and in the game, I'm a Summoner."

"Ah! Right! You're that unconventional Summoner. It's coming back to me now. You fight like a warrior, always charging ahead, which made you quite notorious. When the game company hired me to be a spokesperson, I remember you stood me up. It was the first time anyone had ever done that to me," Zhu Ying said, as it dawned on her.

"None of that matters. Why were you ignoring me back then?"

"Well, for one thing, dealing with you girls can be a real hassle, just like you're being now. Also, I wasn't sure if I could make it on my own, so I didn't want any dead weight," he replied before heading back to the bedroom. Watching him walk away, Zhu Ying couldn't help but admire his audacity for snubbing her.

She entered the bedroom, retrieved Lee Chao's head, and tossed it outside. Then, she grabbed the pistol she had brought from the bedroom, checked its attributes, and handed it to Zhu Ying.

"I'm not great with words, so please don't take offense. After seeing how resolutely you dealt with that lecher, I believe we can now pull together," Lee Kai said quietly, gesturing outside.

Zhu Ying looked at Lee Kai for a moment before nodding. "I accept your apology," she said, accepting the revolver. Lee Kai couldn't help but feel that her luck was considerably better than his own.

Luo Wei's Revolver

Category: Weapon, Pistol

Rarity: Common

Attack: 3-8

Durability: 30/30

Load Capacity: 5/6

Gear Requirements: Strength 1

GearScore: 7 (Achieving full mark grants a special attribute)

Description: The first gift Luo Wei received from his lover, treasured and well-kept, yet it couldn't save his life.

Value: 150 War Coins

Can be taken out of the world: Yes

This revolver was a decent piece of equipment. The mere fact that it could be taken out of this world was a testament to its superiority over the shotgun he had slung over his back. While it was natural to feel envious, it didn't tempt him into greed.

Once again, they stacked the furniture near the door. While moving them, Zhu Ying asked, "Who do you think sent us into this platform?"

"I'm not sure, and I don't intend to dig into it," Lee Kai replied as he finished arranging the items. "Whoever it is, they're out of our league. Right now, the most important thing is figuring out how to survive. Let's not concern ourselves with things we're not meant to know." Lee Kai then walked back to the bar, leaned his arms on it, and looked at Zhu Ying. "Since we've established a basic level of trust, I suggest we both rest here tonight. Which do you prefer, taking the first or second half of the night watch?"

Zhu Ying nodded. "I'll take the first half. Are you going to rest now?"

"Yes, and be careful. Wake me up if anything happens," he cautioned.

"Got it. Do you really trust me that much?" Zhu Ying curiously asked Lee Kai, who had already rested his head on his arms.

"Zhu Ying, the renowned Divine Spear Master from the game, not the top but certainly first-rate. Your gaming handle is 'Thorny Body.' Do I need to list all the basic information I know about you? I'm not overly confident, but we don't have much choice. The main task on the platform can change based on our actions, so I can't guarantee we'll be able to leave in 24 hours. Given the circumstances, we need to conserve our strength and energy. In our situation, without any significant skills, cooperation is all we have. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sought you out after dealing with those two zombies."

"Right, that aligns with my thoughts. But now I'm really curious, can you share everything you know about me? Mainly from the game, since I guess that's all you know about me in reality."

"Let's drop it for today. I'd rather not discuss it any further," Lee Kai said, then settled in to sleep. Zhu Ying watched him, a flicker of light in her eyes. She thought to herself, "You'd better not have any ulterior motives, or you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

Standing watch at night can be incredibly dull, but Zhu Ying managed to tolerate it. Having been a sniper, she found such challenges trivial.

The rest stop grew silent as the sun set, with only the whispering wind breaking the stillness. Zhu Ying became even more vigilant as time ticked away. Suddenly, a faint noise drifted in from outside. Instinctively, she thought to nudge Lee Kai.

"Flap... Flap... Flap..."

"Is that the sound of wings? Zombies don't have wings, so could it be a bird? Are birds still alive at this time?" After pondering for a moment, she withdrew her hand from Lee Kai. Despite her mind signaling for rest, Zhu Ying remained steadfast and alert.

...

Lee Kai opened his eyes, lifted his head, and rubbed his bleary eyes. After clearing the sleep from his eyes, he tapped the bar counter lightly to catch Zhu Ying's attention. "How long has it been?"

"I'm not sure."

"Okay then, you get some rest. I'll keep watch," Lee Kai said softly.

"Alright," Zhu Ying agreed without hesitation. She pulled a chair over to the edge of the bar, sat down, and then leaned forward onto the counter, mirroring Lee Kai's earlier position.

"Where did you find that dagger?"

"In the car outside."

"Oh, right. I remember searching with that dead creep for ages, but I couldn't recall seeing it there." He stopped talking and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

As Lee Kai's breathing deepened, he knew Zhu Ying had fallen asleep. He tiptoed toward the door and sat down quietly, reaching out to feel the floor before beginning to etch a basic summoning circle. Upon completion, a figure glowing faintly appeared beside him in the darkness. He looked into its eyes and extended his hand toward the creature he had summoned.

The finger lightly grazed by the tongue experienced a tingling sensation. In his mind, he instinctively commanded, 'Don't make a sound.' Watching the silent, swift creature snuggle into his embrace, Lee Kai felt a surge of excitement. "It seems my hunch was right. Do I need to draw with my blood?" He recalled the dried blood he had seen on the car seat when he had gone to check it earlier.

"It doesn't matter if it's fresh or not. No, I need to be more precise." He pressed his finger deeper into the spot he had just marked. This time, however, no animals appeared.

"Can a person's blood only summon once, or is there another reason?" Lee Chao stood up and cautiously made his way to the bedroom, then crouched down. This was where Lee Chao had died, the place where the most blood had been left behind.

The basic summoning circle was successful, and yet another cat materialized.