Chapter Fifty: There Are No Saints in the Game

Lucia was an unabashed gaming enthusiast. From grand adventure epics to intense gunfights, interstellar sci-fi, wilderness survival, and more, she dabbled in every genre, with a particular fondness for meticulously crafted AAA titles. Naturally, during her daily duties at work, she couldn’t possibly retreat to her private gaming room to immerse herself in those large-scale games.

Thus, mobile games became the perfect substitute—easy to pull out anytime, anywhere, allowing her to fit in a few rounds during spare moments. She had played nearly every popular mobile game on the market, including those gacha-style pay-to-win titles. Naturally, she was also an expert in “Final Showdown,” a mobile fighting game that had become a blockbuster sensation and a crown jewel in its genre.

Lucia settled on the sofa, quickly launched the game, added Bai Yujing as a friend, and immediately started matchmaking for a battle. The game offered four battle backgrounds: modern skyscrapers, ancient cities, deep forests, and tranquil lakes. Both of them coincidentally chose the modern skyscraper setting.

Next, each selected their preferred character from a roster of forty-six. When the game began, the two characters did not meet immediately. One reason for the game’s enduring popularity lay in its pursuit of realism. Players had to actively search the map for their opponents. However, the map was designed just right, so players wouldn’t waste excessive time searching.

Once they found each other, the ensuing fight could fully utilize various environmental elements. But Lucia scoffed at this. In her eyes, only the weak relied on the environment for advantage. True strength came from exquisite combo moves that decisively brought down the opponent.

“Where are you?” she called out. “Hehe, stop hiding, I see you~!” Lucia shouted on the sofa, though she hadn’t actually spotted Bai Yujing’s character. She was simply accustomed to using her voice to seize the initiative in games; even if the words were meaningless, shouting loudly and confidently could psychologically intimidate her opponent.

“Quit bluffing. I’m waiting for you on Main Street.”

“Hmph, you dare to challenge me first? Then let me show you my real power!”

Lucia responded excitedly, swiftly maneuvering her character toward Main Street. In their banter, any respect for the “Sage” title was long forgotten. In the world of fighting games, there were no lords and subjects—only enemies to be defeated with full force.

Elsewhere, Nangong Lin, sitting in a single armchair, lifted her gaze slightly. She saw Lucia’s beautiful face brimming with excitement, her sparkling eyes glued to the screen like a little dog spotting prey. Then she glanced at Bai Yujing, who wore a calm expression, as if truly engaged in a challenging battle.

Nangong Lin couldn’t understand what was so fun about such a virtual game. She didn’t continue reading her book but instead watched Bai Yujing’s phone screen with mild curiosity. On the screen, a male and female character clashed fiercely on Main Street, their moves dazzling with brilliant light effects.

But to Nangong Lin, it was nothing special. In reality, she could effortlessly cast spells far more magnificent and awe-inspiring than those flashy moves. After a brief glance, she withdrew her eyes and refocused on her book. Compared to the knowledge contained within, these games seemed dull and boring, utterly lacking any appeal.

Especially listening to Lucia’s loud shouting while playing—it baffled her even more.

“Weak! So weak! Witness my Heavenly King’s Rebuttal!”

“Oh? You actually blocked that? Good, I’ll get serious now!”

The noise was quite disruptive. Yet strangely, it didn’t disturb Nangong Lin’s reading. Back in Daqian, when she read in the study, the atmosphere was always serene. Guards wouldn’t even stand outside the door to ensure not a single breath of disturbance interfered.

But now, hearing Lucia’s energetic shouts, she looked at her book as if nothing had changed. Her thoughts drifted away from the pages, pondering why that was. After careful consideration, she concluded it was passion. Lucia’s voice carried a pure, fiery passion—not annoying, but strangely infectious.

Realizing this, Nangong Lin’s mind settled once more, and she focused intently on her book.

Moments later, Lucia shouted excitedly, tossing her phone onto the sofa. “Haha! I won~!” She raised both hands high and jumped in place. As she landed, her ample chest heaved fiercely, the python pattern on her black shirt seeming to strain against her scarlet jacket.

Bai Yujing intended to suggest another round but noticed his character still had seven health points left after Lucia’s combo. “You’re celebrating too soon.”

“What?!” Lucia spun around, shocked to see Bai Yujing hadn’t lost yet. She immediately lunged forward, quickly grabbing her phone to continue playing. However, Bai Yujing gave her no chance—a seamless combo struck in an instant.

“No! Nooo—!”

Lucia stomped anxiously in place, shouting in disbelief, but her character was inevitably defeated. The huge word “K.O.” flashed in the center of the screen.

“Ahh—!” She slumped back on the sofa, filled with regret. “I shouldn’t have popped champagne mid-match!”

But she quickly rallied, rekindling her fighting spirit. “Sage, let’s go again!”

“No problem,” Bai Yujing smiled in response.

…

Winning all the time in a fighting game could become boring; losing repeatedly would only provoke frustration. Only a contest with alternating victories truly ignited competitive spirit and made one unable to stop.

Their battle lasted from afternoon into dusk, until the gentle moonlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows like liquid mercury, yet the fierce duel inside showed no sign of stopping. Until the doorbell rang sharply.

Gao Jinzhong’s respectful voice came from outside: “Sage, an urgent matter requires your report.”

Hearing this, Bai Yujing immediately spoke: “Lucia, pause for a moment. Nangong, open the door.”

“Mm.” Without looking up, Nangong Lin moved her spiritual awareness and pressed the green button on the desk. The heavy wooden door of the imperial study silently slid open.

Gao Jinzhong hurried in, bowed, and spoke gravely: “Sage, the Imperial Capital Police Department has sent urgent news. Prime Minister’s wife, Yang Xiuhua, has been killed by the Necessary Evil.”

Lucia’s heart jumped, then she realized that if the Prime Minister’s wife had died inside the Sage’s residence, the news would have come from the Imperial Guards, not the Imperial Police Department. She had no reason to worry about negligence from the Guards.

Bai Yujing furrowed his brow. The “Necessary Evil” was the anti-empire superpowered armed organization he had personally designated. Yet this group always operated under the banner of “acting on heaven’s will,” and those they killed were almost always proven criminals.

He spoke solemnly, “What did Yang Xiuhua do?”

Gao Jinzhong answered cautiously, “The Prime Minister’s wife is suspected of accepting bribes from a real estate tycoon. At the scene, expensive handbags, antiques, and jewelry were found.”

Bai Yujing immediately grasped the gravity of the situation and ordered, “Summon the Prime Minister here at once.”