When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 284: Grandpa Is The Best

Chapter 284: Grandpa Is The Best

The man’s question sounded absurd to begin with, for how could anyone fail to recognize him when his name had consistently graced the top 3 players on the leaderboard for years?

As the commotion grew, a few heads from other carriages peered in their direction, and some even began to make their way closer, having confirmed that their action would not trigger any death condition. No one did not know who ’Grandpa Is The Best’ was, and the fact that a legendary player was here with them offered an immense sense of security. It was simply a human’s instinct to gravitate towards the strong under perilous times.

"Grandpa Is The Best?"

"That man is ’Grandpa Is The Best’? One of the three legendary players?"

"Oh my, things are getting rowdy," the man remarked as he threw a quick glance over his shoulder. His smile seemed harmless, yet for some reason players who met his eyes dared not take a step further. He entered the carriage and closed the door behind him, effectively shutting off the hushed discussion happening on the other side.

"Oh my God, I’m so sorry!" Gu Luoxin quickly apologized upon realizing that their voices might have caused trouble for the legendary player. He bowed his head low in remorse. "I– I didn’t mean to reveal your identity like that. Please pardon my mistakes!" This was the first time Gu Luoxin had ever met such a high-ranked player and he couldn’t help but tread cautiously. His eyes were full of stars, his cheeks flushed, and he looked as if he was on the verge of rushing forward to ask the man for an autograph.

Legendary player ah! This was a famous and rare legendary player! In the normal world, he would be akin to an international celebrity – no, even more rare than that!

In contrast, Jin Jiuchi’s interest quickly waned upon knowing the man’s identity. After all, he had even met the number one player on the leaderboard, so encountering another one was no longer anything special. Instead, he began to chat as though they were long lost besties, "Nice nickname, by the way! Tsk, I should have named myself ’JJ Is The Best’ or ’JJ is Nian’er’s Number One’ or something like that." He lamented his past choice, "Plain JJ is sooo boring! I shouldn’t have tried to act all mysterious and spy-like!"

Shen Nianzu shot him a glare. He would strangle this damned husky first if he dared to input such an embarrassing nickname!

"JJ? You are JJ?" Grandpa looked at him in interest. He then shifted his gaze to the trio as realization dawned upon him. "Wait, the three of you are... JJ, Nian, and Xinxin? From SJG?"

Gu Luoxin gasped, his hand flying to cover his mouth in disbelief. "Y–You know my nickname? Oh my God, is this a dream?!"

Shen Nianzu stepped forward to give the man a firm handshake, his demeanor exuding professionalism. "Nice to meet you. I am Nian, the leader of SJG."

"So you’re Nian!" Grandpa’s smile became even more radiant. From out of nowhere, he took out a red envelope and pressed it into Shen Nianzu’s hand, then rubbed his head like how an elder would. His booming laughter resonated throughout the carriage. "Here, take this as a gift for our first meeting. What a charming young man you are, just like my grandson!"

Shen Nianzu had never received such a warm treatment from an elder before, and he couldn’t help but feel a little dazed as he stared at the red envelope in his hand. It took him a while to snap back to his senses, and he immediately began to protest. "No, I can’t possibly—"

Jin Jiuchi and Gu Luoxin exchanged a meaningful look, and then as if they had come to an unilateral decision, they immediately rushed forward and positioned themselves before the man, effectively interrupting Shen Nianzu’s words mid-sentence. As if it was not chaotic enough, they even shoved and pushed each other.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, I am JJ!"

"I–I am Xinxin. I am a huge fan of yours!"

Their eyes were practically shimmering in anticipation as they gazed at the man, their intention as clear as daylight. What about me? Where is my red envelope?!

It was a gift from a legendary player! Who would be so foolish as to miss out on this golden opportunity?! Even if it proved to be of no value, it could still serve as a good luck charm!

Shen Nianzu: "..."

Shen Nianzu palmed his forehead with an exasperated look, feeling somewhat unwilling to acknowledge that these two uncouth bear children were his own cub. Had he not fed them enough? Had he not clothed them well? So why were they running after another parent? Because that man was richer and more resourceful?!

He was about to apologize to Grandpa for his teammates’ unruly behavior, but before he could do so, Grandpa let out another hearty laugh and handed each of them a red envelope. He looked more than happy to do so.

Perhaps... there was no harm in being a bit shameless every now and then, after all?

With that thought in mind, Shen Nianzu cleared his throat and discreetly pocketed the red envelope. But then when he raised his head, he noticed that other players were peering at them through the glass partition, trying to see what they were up to with a legendary player.

Shen Nianzu was instantly alarmed. Not good! As if attracting unwarranted attention was not enough, they would also invite jealousy if those players were to discover the red envelope. In the Cycle, mere jealousy could transform into blinded hatred and mindless violence, and Shen Nianzu knew better than to allow it to happen. Thus he sternly chided his two teammates, "Put your envelope away at once. Have you said your thanks to Grandpa?"

Jin Jiuchi and Gu Luoxin chirped happily, "Thank you, Grandpa!"

"Aiyah, you three really remind me of my son and his family!" Grandpa laughed until his eyes turned into crescents from the amusement.

Black lines formed on Shen Nianzu’s forehead, but in the end he chose not to dwell on those words. Instead, he shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. "May I ask where are you going?"

"Oh, look at me!" Grandpa slapped his own forehead and started to make his way to the opposite carriage, intending to pass through. "I was planning to head to the control station and find the train conductor. Don’t you find it odd how there’s no bus officer this time? I reckon they might have switched it with a conductor."

Now that Grandpa explained it, everything suddenly made sense. Shen Nianzu pondered for a while before asking, "Can we join you?"

"Of course," Grandpa agreed readily with a smile.

The trio tagged along with Grandpa as they passed through the carriages, approaching the front where the control station lay. Outside the window, darkness enveloped the landscape, rendering them unable to discern any details of the track they were currently on. Not to mention, the destination had clearly been censored on purpose when the announcement was made. It seemed like seeking out the train conductor was the best option at this point.

If Grandpa could think of this method, of course other players could do so as well.

As they proceeded, they couldn’t help but notice that other players were discreetly trailing them at a distance, though they paid them no need and pressed on with their mission. However when they drew near to their destination, they found that another party had acted quicker than them.

Grandpa slid open the connecting door and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "It’s you?"

Standing before the control room door was a young woman in her late twenties dressed in black overalls, paired with a leather jacket, fingerless gloves and boots. She held a compound bow with a quiver full of arrows strapped to her waist, exuding a cold and sharp aura as she scrutinized the trio who had arrived alongside Grandpa. In the end, she simply nodded in acknowledgement.

The trio was caught off guard by surprise. Not by the woman’s appearance, but the fact that she was not alone. Another person was also there with her, and it was even someone they were all too familiar with.

"Yo!" Jin Jiuchi raised his hand to wave at him, grinning. "Nian’er is right, we really meet again!"

Noir blinked and offered them a curt greeting, "Hello." His flat demeanor looked more like he was encountering distant acquaintances whose name he was barely aware of, rather than comrades with whom he had shared life-and-death experiences.

Recalling something, Jin Jiuchi and Shen Nianzu simultaneously snapped their heads to Gu Luoxin and found that the young man had turned into a frozen statue, staring at Noir as if he had just seen a ghost.

Uh-oh.

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Mini theater

Xinxin: Is it too late for me to jump down from the train? QAQ