Trafford's Trading Club

601: Chapter 14: The Moth Does Not Fly Into the Flame 601: Chapter 14: The Moth Does Not Fly Into the Flame Lost track of how many times I’ve been disappointed…

Memories of these sudden impulses, heart racing scenarios have happened many times before, despite the outcome always being disappointment.

After ‘suicide’, the character automatically returns to the revival point in the city.

The loss from such a death is meaningless to her.

She chose to log off at the original location.

Staring blankly at the screen for a while, she suddenly lay her head on the table…

Eventually, still laying there, she reached out to open the drawer.

The arm and hand trembled slowly, inside it lay objects that could temporarily detach her from this disappointment and pain.

It was a delicate small knife.

She gripped the knife in her right hand, then gently pulled back her left arm’s sleeve, pressing the cold blade against her skin — nearly flawless, if not for the long and thin scars that marred it.

Always this way…

Ever since that person left, one night she discovered that this split pain could barely ease the suffering.

Her gaze gradually became unfocused, as the sharp edge dragged horizontally across the pale skin, opening a small cut from which blood quickly spread along both sides of the blade.

But she couldn’t continue, the pleasure abruptly disappeared because of a sudden knocking at the door.

She heard another man – a man she hated yet couldn’t leave. “Xiao Rou, the servant said you haven’t eaten again, is that right?

Xiao Rou!

Did you hear me talking!

Answer me!”

Silently watching the door, she subconsciously walked over to it. “Xiao Rou?

Speak!” “You really don’t want to see me, do you?

Do you not know if the door is locked?”…

Xiao Rou covered up the wound on her arm for a second, and swiftly pulled down the sleeve. “I’ll tell the servant to warm up some food for you, remember to eat.” After a moment’s silence, the man spoke calmly.

Just as the man was about to turn away, the door suddenly opened, and Xiao Rou behind him yelled angrily: “Lan Kai!

Do you really hate seeing me that much?”

Her voice echoed through the floor, and the servant cleaning downstairs heard it, quickly scrambled, opened the patio doors, and walked outside to the garden.

Lan Kai stopped here, slowly turned around, pupils slightly constricted.

Xiao Rou sneered coldly, as she gently swept aside her hair, revealing a scar from the corner of her eye down to her jaw like a hideous centipede, crawling on once delicate features, “Do you dare to look?”

Lan Kai took a deep breath, then exhaled deeply, his gaze shifted sideways, indifferently said: “If you want, these scars can be fixed anytime; the techniques are excellent now, soon it’ll be as if none ever existed.”

Xiao Rou looked at Lan Kai, shaking her head coldly as she retreated back into the room like a ghost, pallid expression made even colder by the scar’s backdrop. “I won’t let it disappear, I want you to always remember how you treated me… always, forever!”

Only when the door was closed completely, did Lan Kai appear as if all strength had drained from his body, hand pressed against the forehead, gasping for breath, leaning against the wall.

After a long while, Lan Kai seemed to have regained some strength, slowly walked down the stairs as the servant outside the yard quietly peeked in, hurriedly opening the door to enter, “Sir…”

The servant hesitated.

Lan Kai shook his head, waved his hand, “Bring up something to eat, whether she eats it or not, just leave it there.” “I understand.” The servant sighed, silently headed to the kitchen.

Lan Kai grabbed a bottle of red wine, took it to the study…

Sometimes, he truly wished not to return to this cold place. … …

Qianxiu silently watched Xiaobao for a moment as the revival point lights flashed a few times, some hurriedly leaving, others logging off.

Just as Qianxiu planned to speak, Xiaobao suddenly said: “Forget it, if you don’t want to talk, then don’t.

Are you doing the mission or not, pal?

If not, I’m logging off!

Been working for days without going home, wanna return tonight.”

Qianxiu silently nodded, then softly replied, “Alright.”

Before logging off, Xiaobao said, “Meeting isn’t as good as not meeting, but what if you can’t forget?”

Qianxiu paused, Xiaobao already vanished.

He looked up at the sky more real than reality, in the twilight hue the mainland was quietly orange-red, finally realizing why he wanted to be here.

Because it can’t be forgotten, yet there’s no meeting…

Can’t meet.

Escaping into this mainland, then there’s no need to suppress this unending madness of longing — for separated across two different worlds, he knows the reunion is impossible ever again.

Needs to find something to do, the more trivial the trouble the better because when so busy there’s no room for thoughts…

Qianxiu recalled the plan to forge a new weapon.

Previously, due to discovering others also entered the game, left with only scarce materials still not collected, he returned quickly.

Since then, he’s fallen into a depressive state — fearing he might’ve killed a living person, due to an underlying dread.

Later accidentally met Xiaobao, spending all this time together neglecting weapon forging. …

On the way to Novice Village for materials, Qianxiu felt something missing — missing a chatterbox, yet one never disliked.

But only few materials were left from last time.

Returning now and just under an hour spent, he has already successfully collected them all.

Qianxiu suddenly weary of daily battling monsters…

Such intense killing day-to-day keeps excitement high, yet when stopping an unprecedented fatigue quickly leads to extreme exhaustion.

At the moment he wants nothing more than lying down, if sleep happens even better — but clearly it’s impossible in the wild.

He’s died once before; two more times and Qianxiu will disappear from this mainland.

He’s asked himself why live on, maybe ending swiftly is best.

He has attempted but never overcome the fear of impending death, akin to waking sharply from a nightmare, freezing cold, gasping for air, heart racing, trembling all over… ultimately lacking courage to take that final step. “Knight over there, could you step aside?

You might be squashing the spot where the Golden Earthworm is hiding.”

Qianxiu paused, turning to inspect the person speaking… very low level, level four, a weak Mage.

Wearing the most basic entry-level Mage robe… after so much time since the server opened, there are still such low-level accounts?

Entry level guys usually choose new servers, why intentionally come to such long-standing service zones… someone’s alt?

LQ… the Mage’s ID.

This Mage called LQ squatted there with a small shovel, a basket beside, crouched on wet muddy ground, unbothered by filth… indeed searching earthworms.

Qianxiu subconsciously surveyed the surrounding environment…

Before he knew it, he had reached the edge of the lake.

He had just intended to find a deserted spot to stay for a while.

This quiet environment feels nice.

Perhaps it’s because this character is only level four; to Qianxiu, it’s like a low-level monster.

Even if it attacks dozens of times, it couldn’t possibly break his equipment’s defenses.

Qianxiu suddenly asked, “What are you doing with the earthworms?”

LQ replied, “Fishing, of course.

Fishing requires bait, doesn’t it?”

Qianxiu was taken aback.

Such a response was quite normal, yet he suddenly felt as if he had asked an extremely unnecessary question, “Are you planning to practice a life profession?”

LQ stood up, “I’m not planning to for now.

I’m just doing it for a task.

I heard it requires these Golden Earthworms.

Each time I play, I don’t have much time, so I haven’t completed a single task.

Besides, I don’t know how long I’ll be playing this game.”

Qianxiu furrowed his brows, “You wouldn’t be trying to catch the Golden Carp King, would you?” “Yeah, is there a problem?”

Qianxiu helplessly said, “You’re such a lucky guy.

Many people want to take on this task but can’t find it, yet you, someone who hardly plays, come across it.

The task for the Golden Carp King was mentioned in the official announcement, saying it randomly appears as a unique event across all service zones, and the reward is also uniquely limited.

It won’t appear in the reward pool again afterward… don’t you think you’re lucky?”

LQ said, “Oh, that’s why it’s so hard to do.

It seems a bit wasted on me that I’ve run into it.”

Qianxiu shook his head, “More than just wasted, it’s a squandering of resources.”

System: Player LQ has sent you a temporary team invitation and shared the task ‘Golden Carp King’.

Do you accept?

Qianxiu exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

LQ said, “I’ve said I might not play for long.

Since such a task is with me, it’ll just be wasted.

You said many players want to encounter it, including yourself, right?

I just want to simply enjoy the fun of the task to pass the time.

The reward doesn’t matter to me…

How about this?

You help me catch earthworms, and we complete it together, and you keep the reward?”

Qianxiu instinctively resisted this kind offer…

He couldn’t believe such a good opportunity would present itself.

He shook his head, “No need.

It’s your task; the reward should be yours too.

I won’t take it.”

LQ didn’t insist, just nodded, then canceled the temporary invitation…

His quick, agreeable attitude left Qianxiu with an odd sense.

Qianxiu felt that this guy was very distant from himself… even more distant than the screen and this mainland.

LQ started walking towards Qianxiu at this time.

Except for Xiaobao, Qianxiu instinctively rejected others’ proactive approach.

He quickly retreated two steps, maintaining a certain distance.

But this fishing mage character didn’t say anything, just squatted down where Qianxiu was standing and continued to dig the soil with a shovel, seemingly very happy. “Hmm, there is indeed one here.”

A Golden Earthworm emitting a faint golden glow emerged from the dug-up soil and was placed into the basket.

LQ shook the basket with his hands and then walked towards the small wooden plank bridge extending into the lake.

He took out a fishing rod, grabbed a Golden Earthworm from the basket, hooked it on, cast the line, and quietly sat at the end of the bridge.

Qianxiu only noticed something was off at this point…

This mage character’s many actions seemed very natural, naturally without any extra restrictions.

Even though he didn’t show much expression, there were at least some subtle bodily movements—similar to Xiaobao and others, who wouldn’t show such vivid bodily movements in front of him.

Is this level four mage character also…

Qianxiu instinctively placed his hand on his sword hilt, gripping it tightly, but quickly relaxed.

The last time, it was just that guy’s behavior completely crossing his moral line that made him act in anger… but this mage was just fishing, doing nothing wrong.

He found himself with no stance to attack, even if the other was like him.

Besides—the place did not allow any PK; it was a completely safe zone. —I might not play this game for very long.

Recalling what the other had said, Qianxiu thought: Maybe it’s also due to some death restriction, that after surpassing, they’ll disappear?

If he had such concerns, could this guy also have silently considered the same issue…

After all, if he truly were like Qianxiu, he should have noticed those bodily gestures.

Qianxiu furrowed his brows, in fact, besides the last guy he killed, he hadn’t encountered a similar case—of course, it had a lot to do with his efforts to evade and conceal himself.

Qianxiu approached the small bridge, stood beside this mage, and looked out over the small lake, feeling a sudden stillness here.

Mist gathered at the lake’s center, appearing hazy.

Qianxiu instinctively exhaled a breath, then took out a bottle of wine, sitting down where he was.

The float in the water dipped slightly, creating ripples.

The mage lifted the fishing rod, and the bait on the hook was already gone.

A fish bit down, but it was evidently not the Golden Carp King he needed to catch.

Qianxiu just watched, noting that this mage simply smiled without showing any sign of disappointment.

He then reset the bait and cast again.

Qianxiu abruptly spoke, “Jiang Taigong fishing, only the willing will bite.

Does coming here mean I’m the one biting?”

LQ turned back, “I’m not fishing for people; I’m fishing for fish.”

Qianxiu shook his head, “You won’t catch anything because they aren’t willing; they won’t bite.”

LQ said, “Isn’t it said that the Carp King likes these earthworms?

If it likes them, it’ll naturally bite.”

Qianxiu shook his head again, “But it’s quite smart.

Knowing there’s danger, its caution’s enough to suppress this impulse to eat.

Besides, underwater, it has plenty of other choices.

There’s no need to risk itself for temptation.”

LQ chuckled, continuing to look at the still lake surface, “It’s worth trying, as this is the latest intelligence I’ve found.”

Qianxiu took a sip of wine, lay down, gazing at the sky, “No one willingly flies into the flame.”

LQ said, “Then how did the saying come about?”

Qianxiu turned over, using his arm as a pillow, closed his eyes, and calmly said, “Who knows…

Or maybe no one’s actually tried it, so they just imagined it.”

LQ said, “Hmm… but I still want to try, or the effort of catching earthworms would be wasted.”

Qianxiu calmly said, “Suit yourself.

In the end, only you’ll be disappointed, nothing to do with me.”

Soon it became quiet, and Qianxiu felt a bit sleepy, seemingly forgetting everything.

LQ finished using the last of the bait without catching the Golden Carp King and smiled, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”

After glancing at Qianxiu, who appeared to be asleep, this mage picked up the basket and left slowly. …

Perhaps a bit chilly, even in his sleep, Qianxiu instinctively wrapped himself tighter.

He had a dream where he turned into a moth, circling around a flame, but not rushing into it.