Summary:
Autumn Moonlight is the new Guild Master of Happy.
Notes:
A side story for our Qiu-di.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
GLORY tenth server. A name akin to a ghost in the various guild leaders’ friend’s list lit up. Lord Grim? No. They would even be happy if it’s only Lord Grim. At least that guy had only visited the tenth server once after he ascended to the Heavenly Domain. But this one? It was their regular dose of nausea.
When Lord Grim left for Heavenly Domain, the club guilds heaved a sigh of relief. But not long after, they realized that they were being too complacent and ignorant.
Soft Mist? Steamed Bun Invasion? Those were like tigers without teeth when Lord Grim was not around to lead them. But it turned out that someone else in Guild Happy could also stir up trouble!
Autumn Moonlight. The new guild leader of Happy.
He wasn’t a threat, at least that’s what they thought before. The guy had a regular online time of four hours per day. In those four hours, all he did was to lead a bunch of noobs to dungeon.
Initially, Concealed Light and the others were really just a bunch of noobs. But with this guy’s lead, Guild Happy started to recruit and breed elites. And that’s when they knew they f*ucked up.
All-time high clear record started to appear again, one after the other. And it wasn’t because of Lord Grim, but the result of the leadership of a guy they called ‘king’.
Kings have their own trusted knights and so Autumn Moonlight. Happy, just like any other guilds was led by their elite teams that could contend, if not crushed the top guilds. They would lie if they said that they hadn’t tried pulling these experts in their own guild or putting a spy on the other’s rank.
However, no spies could enter the high ranking elites of Guild Happy! Why? Because when the guy recruited his helpers, he used his identity, the real identity!
Even if originally, there were spies among the new recruits, they eventually turned their loyalty to the guy who had the power to crush them and execute eight generations of their family, like an ancient monarch. He was strong, both in game and in real life. Men respect the strong and would follow their lead unconditionally.
Within the elite ranks of the guild, the identity of the man behind Autumn Moonlight was no secret, but the guy still treated them as fair guild members. The young master was naturally friendly and amicable and would joke around with them sometimes. His nickname Guówáng Qiu, King Autumn was also part of their passing jokes.
The nickname was overbearing and arrogant; howbeit damnable, was still wildly accepted. This was indeed intriguing and though it couldn’t change anything, the top guilds still wanted to know the story behind this. Little did they know that it was just a passing joke.
Only the elite team of Happy knew the absurd back story behind this. And up until today, their lips were still tightly sealed about this matter, afraid to truly anger the monarch.
Thankfully the tenth server think otherwise. The normal guild members didn’t know the root of this nickname, but since Autumn Moonlight indeed acted as a king they also followed along. Not because they thought that he was authoritative or oppressive or even a bully. It’s all because he had an elite team that was unconditionally following him like his royal knights and most of all, it was because his leadership that could throw the other guilds into chaos was superb!
“F*ck, the King is online!!!”
Numerous Guild leaders received this notification because they all had the ‘King’ as a friend. They were enemy guilds but the guy seemed like he wanted to show his mockery by adding them.
“Don’t tell me a BOSS respawned!” Plantago Seed roared.
Autumn Moonlight had a fixed login time for his dungeoning and him, going online outside his regular schedule only meant trouble for the other guilds. A wild BOSS! The Happy’s king was akin to a mushroom. He would suddenly pop up whenever a BOSS showed up. Other guilds even used him as their BOSS alarm.
Among the wild BOSSes that respawned this week, Happy amassed almost half of it, making the long established guilds want to vomit blood.
But this was strange. There was no news about a BOSS respawning and if there was one, they would’ve surely heard about it. So why was he here?
At this moment, every guild leader from the Club Guilds received a message: Players of Happy Guild set off towards the Western Wilderness, the King announced that they would be stealing a BOSS, Topaz Knight!
“Isn’t this an issue?” This information came too easy. It came straight from Happy’s guild chat. Only a blind spy would miss it. It made everyone feel a bit puzzled. Plantago Seed raised the issue to the discussion group for the tenth server guild leaders and then waited for everyone else to analyze.
“I’ve never heard of anyone starting an operation in the guild chat.” Hazy Mist said.
“It’s the first time he started a planned operation. We all know that he’s like an oriole.” Lonely Drink added to Hazy Mist’s comment, bitterness from the past encounter was clearly displayed from his tone. He still remembered how that guy stole a BOSS with a sliver of health from his guild.
“And there’s no way he doesn’t know we have spies in his guild, no?” Cold Night said.
“It must have been intentional!” Someone else agreed with this point.
“It was definitely intentional, but why?” Blue River asked.
“Perhaps he wants us to believe his goal is the Topaz Knight by sending a majority of his forces to the Western Wilderness, but his real goal might in fact be something else?”
“It’s certainly a possibility. Think about it, all of those setting for Western Wilderness were normal players, his operations were always with his knights!”
“True.” Cold Night expresses his agreement.
“So it’s a misdirection?” Plantago Seed said. At this time, he had received an intel. “I just received a bit of information from my side. His knights were not heading towards the Western Wilderness. I’ll have my people continue following them.”
“Okay, you have to watch them carefully!!!” Everyone cried excitedly as if they had discovered a new world.
The scouting went smoothly. Soon, all of the guild leaders present in the discussion group sent expressions of delight. They looked as if they had schemes prepared.
“Almarshan.” Cold Night said.
“Correct, the Setting Sun Hunter. So this is his target.” Lonely drink laughingly said.
“It looks like we can present him with a little surprise.” Plantago Seed smiled.
“Yes, not only do we need to steal away his boss, we’re going to have him experience a total wipeout!”
The guilds began their preparations in excitement. They didn’t dare be negligent of the King and his knights, so they dispatched all their elites. How many people was enough? They failed so many times that they could no longer make an estimate. It wasn’t like they could go wrong with having too many.
“If……... his true target really is only Topaz Knight, then what?” Seeing everyone’s appearances, Blue River couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“Hmm…. that’s true,” Cold Night agreed, “We’ll go elites against elites, a sea of people against a sea of people. We should also send some over to Western Wilderness. It’s only one guild, after all. They don’t have that many people, so if each of us send a few people, it’ll be enough.”
“Right, right. This way we will not have any holes.” Lonely Drink praised.
Almarshan, Level 55 leveling area. The awaited BOSS, Setting Sun Hunter indeed respawned. Amidst the encirclement of elites from different guilds was a blazing skeleton with his gigantic bow and arrow. A random made team was currently fighting it and it won’t be long before this team would collapse.
The top guilds were smiling from ear to ear as they waited for the right timing to act. Seeing that the King and his knights were here, made them proud that they could jump in joy and cry with delight. They believed that this time, they had outsmarted the guy.
On the east corner of the encirclement was a male exorcist standing majestically with his death scythe. In front of him was an impressive looking group of elites. Some names were even familiar: Soft Mist and Steamed Bun Invasion. Whilst beside him was a Summoner, Concealed light. If before, the top guilds could still laugh at this little secretary, nonetheless, they could only fear him now. The noob had drastically improved. He wasn’t like before who would just summon all of his pets with no concern if he had the ability to control them.
“This small citizen greets the King. I hope you liked the surprise that we prepared for you?” Lonely Drink said in a mocking tone, causing a big negative reaction from Guild Happy.
But the said King only smiled as he asked in a friendly tone, “Guild leader Lonely, good to see you. I wonder when you will be able to show me the surprise you were talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb.” Plantago Seed interjected.
“Ah, my apologies, guild leader Plantago, guild leader Lonely. I see that you brought more people, is that it?” he politely said and then asked in a tone that was showing his concern, “I’m afraid, more people means more casualty.”
Lonely Drink sniggered, “Then let’s see whose side would lose this time.”
Autumn Moonlight ignored his comment and instead talked to his guild mates, “How many BOSSes have they killed this week?”
“Half,” Soft Mist answered.
Ye Qiu jolted when he heard that a familiar female voice answered him instead of his trusted little secretary. The king was flustered for a second before he recovered and compassionately asked, “I understand. So we already got the half of the share? Should we let them win this time?”
Tang Rou was speechless, still amazed at how different this guy was acting compared when he was with his brother.
Ye Qiu was not doing this on purpose. He was trained to be like this, it was his normal self, polite yet full of trickery. It was just that his brother had really a magical power over his temper that could turn him from a king to a hooligan.
“Guild Master, we can’t do that. Didn’t you say that BOSS hunt depends on luck and skills. It’s clear that we are more skilled than them,” Steamed Bun jumped in front with a brick on his hand.
“That’s correct. It seemed like my teachings were not for naught.” Ye Qiu chuckled, satisfied and pleased with the noob’s acting. But he himself, didn’t know if the guy was really acting or just full of self-esteem.
The top guilds wanted to vomit blood as they listened on how this conversation was turning from compassion into mockery. Was this the classic example of the King acting so benevolent while the ministers were reminding him to be rational and practical?
“Too bad that my guild mates have their own principles. So we could only depend everything in fate, may the best guild win.”
At this moment, Lonely Drink and others even wished that it was Lord Grim that they were facing. Lord Grim was just straight-forward and shameless. But this guy was tricky and calculative. He also had an amicable yet authoritative tone akin to an ancient monarch that would push you to the endless abyss of self-mockery.
“Tsk! Don’t blame the fate for your misfortune. Just accept that you are outnumbered now.” Plantago Seed scoffed.
“Being outnumbered is something to be proud of, indeed,” Autumn Moonlight chuckled.
“You!” Unable to hold back, the Herb Garden’s guild leader finally lost his temper.
“Whenever we face each other, guild leader Plantago could only say you, you, and you. This gentleman has a name,” the King said with a tone of self-pity.
“Who cares about your name?” Plantago Seed yelled.
“If you knew my name, I’m afraid that you would be shocked that you won’t be able to sleep.” He seriously retorted.
The guild leaders indeed wanted to know who was the person behind this infuriating Exorcist. But if they asked, wouldn’t that mean that they were giving in to the guy’s vanity?
“Mind telling me?” Blue River suddenly asked, throwing his pride away for the information that everyone wanted to have. It wasn’t his first time conversing with Autumn Moonlight. In fact, the guy knew who he was.
“Oh? Little Peerless wanted to know my identity?” Autumn Moonlight said playfully. Blue River coughed up blood and immediately whispered him before he could utter a word that would ruin his reputation. “Ah, my apologies. I’ve mistaken you for someone else. However, if this esteemed Blade Master really wanted to know then I’ll answer.”
“F*ck! Just say it,” Blue River shouted. What’s the point of speaking so formally? Is he some kind of noble man?
“Alright!” he laughed. It’s a common knowledge that prying someone’s real identity was hard and almost taboo in the game but this guy seemed so much willing, making them think that he was toying them. Sure enough, when they heard his answer, the top guilds couldn’t help but curse. “My name is………Ye Qiu.”
“What?” All of the players present in the hunt dropped their jaws on the ground. He wasn’t saying that he’s God Ye Qiu right?
The guild leaders, vice leaders and the others who knew the truth, on the other hand were disgusted. Wasn’t Lord Grim the real Ye Qiu? Their Gods already confirmed it for them! Is this guy trying to trick them like a kid?
“I said I’m Ye Qiu.”
The Happy elite team could only laugh at the side. This young master was playing everyone with his words. Of course, he’s Ye Qiu, but not the gaming God Ye Qiu. If others knew who he really was, then they would really be shocked that they won’t be able to sleep.
“If you’re Ye Qiu then who is Lord Grim?” They once thought that Autumn Moonlight was only Lord Grim’s alt. But there were many times that both of them were creating chaos at the same time, so they long before threw the idea away.
However, this Autumn Moonlight was confirming that he’s Ye Qiu and seriously at that. There was really something in the guy’s tone of voice that would make you believe in him. And the guild members that wasn’t informed about Lord Grim’s identity were now wavering.
“Who said that he is Ye Qiu? No one confirmed it, right?”
This guy had a point. Heavenly Sword said that Ye Qiu won’t be joining them but Lord Grim was already part of the Heavenly Justice. Everybody thought that Ye Qiu and Lord Grim were one person and that Heavenly Sword saying it that way only meant that Ye Qiu or Lord Grim won’t be joining them now, but after his one-year retirement penalty. But it could also mean that Lord Grim and Ye Qiu were two different people!
“Can you prove it?” Lonely Drink mockingly said. Ye Qiu as Lord Grim was a common secret between the clubs.
“How could I prove it? Why would I need to prove it? My humble self was only saying my name, it’s up for you to believe in me. But if you’re really interested, this gentleman could invite you to come into my house and see my proof of identity.”
Proof of identity. No one could lie about this. So he’s saying the truth?
At this moment, Cold Night who was preserving his silence suddenly said, “I don’t know what’s your agenda but I believe in my captain so stop bluffing and just fight!”
Everyone was awoken. Their Gods already said that Lord Grim couldn’t be played by anyone but Ye Qiu. So why were they listening to this guy? And almost believing in him at that!
“Okay, this gentleman won’t force anything to your narrow minds.” As Ye Qiu said this, a message on the world chat appeared.
Autumn Moonlight: Ge, I told them I’m Ye Qiu and they didn’t believe me.
Everyone saw this message and they almost fell from their seats? What is he? A kid complaining to his elder brother? Where’s the immaculate king that could throw their guilds into chaos?
But not long after, they could only eat their insults back as they noticed a name from their friend’s list that was grey a while ago and now mocking them with its light.
Lord Grim: Let them be, I believe in you.
Simultaneously, the guild leaders all received a news. Topaz Knight respawned, Lord Grim was leading Guild Happy to steal it!
“That’s why I’m asking you, where’s the surprise. Surprise is when we take both of the BOSS.” Ye Qiu said as he turned and smirked at the guy playing beside him.
Inside the newly renovated training room were four GLORY experts, operating with their infamous characters. And what’s new? Of course, they were wreaking havoc, as usual.
“Is there really a need to announce it to the world chat?” Ye Xiu laughed at his brother.
“Did you really not know the reason?” Ye Qiu disdainfully said.
“Our Guówáng Qiu only wanted to lessen your burden, just thank him.” Li Chunhua laughed as she controlled her Flowing Spring Water, helping Lord Grim toy the normal players of the top guilds. Who told them to send all their elites at Almarshan?
Ye Qiu was calculative. He wouldn’t just announce his identity just because he wanted to. The top authorities might not believe him, but the normal players were a different issue. This small spark could break apart the relationship between God Ye Qiu and Lord Grim, especially if there’s a power adding fuel to the fire.
Ye Xiu just laughed and asked Tang Rou, “What’s the situation on your side?”
Ye Qiu wanted to ask his brother why he’s asking Tang Rou instead of him, the commander. But looking at their side and seeing the girl, he could only avert his gaze.
“We’re on a deadlock.” Tang Rou concisely answered. “It’s up to the guild leader if we’re going to attack first,” she added.
“Qiu-ge, Xiao Tang is asking you if you’re going to attack first,” Li Chunhua chuckled.
Ye Qiu didn’t took their bait. At this moment, he typed a command on his elite team’s party chat: “Let’s play oriole.”
The knights understood him as they retreated. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, their guild master’s favorite playstyle.
“F*ck, what is this sh*t. After a round-about, he’s still going to operate with his regular tactic?” One of the guild leaders shouted. Guild Happy suddenly turned tail and ran. The top guilds weren’t able to react on time and could only let them escape.
“It’s different now….” Cold Night said, exasperatedly. They had been played.
“He uses himself as a bait so Lord Grim’s team can have a 100 percent possibility of taking Topaz Knight, whilst he, as usual, would still have a chance to stole the Setting Sun Hunter from us,” Blue River explained.
“All along, it was both of the BOSS they were targeting,” Lonely Drink bitterly said.
“Splitting our forces should have been a better option,” Plantago Seed lamented.
At the end, they couldn’t do anything about it. It was too late to send half of their forces to the Western Wilderness. Autumn Moonlight’s team had already retreated whilst their guilds couldn’t just stand there staring at each other for the entire week. The deadlock couldn’t last forever.
At the Almarshan, the small scale conflicts gradually began to spread out. Soon afterwards, even those who wished to join the fray until all others were exhausted first were wrapped into chaos. Killing a BOSS entailed killing each other. One moment, two sides might be attacking and defending together. The next moment, the two sides might be at each other’s throat. The worst part was they all knew that the King and his knights still have the possibility of playing oriole and taking advantage of their chaos.
At this moment, a system announcement suddenly popped out, frustrating everyone in the Almarshan.
[System Announcement: Congratulations to Guild Happy for defeating Topaz Knight!]
“F*ck! That fast?” the top guilds could only roar while fighting against each other.
The Topaz Knight struggled….
The Topaz Knight went berserk……
The Topaz Knight fell……
Everything happened extremely quickly. The spies could only give this description in their reports to the guild leaders.
Contrary to what’s happening on the fight against the Setting Sun Hunter.
“Hurry up! What if Lord Grim also decided to join the fray!” someone said from the guild who was currently holding the BOSS’ aggro and the one that would most likely kill the BOSS.
Another expert from his guild chide the player, “Stupid, Lord Grim won’t be able to come in time. Why do you think we didn’t split our group to reinforce those in the Western Wilderness? At worst, the king would come back!”
And as if he had the ability to summon the devil, with the guilds fighting among each other and the BOSS on its sliver of health, Autumn Moonlight and co. came back.
Everyone had a bad premonition. They all had a deep impression of Autumn Moonlight’s oriole tactic. He was like a grim reaper with his death scythe, standing at the corner, waiting to receive the BOSS.
This happened so many times that they could even see the next scene playing in front of their eyes. Sure enough, the top guilds could only cry as they failed to prevent the King from KSing the BOSS before he vanished into thin air, leaving them with broken hearts. They didn’t even have the chance to lament over their misfortune from the Western Wilderness BOSS and a new announcement already popped out.
Guild Happy’s name appeared on TV! Not only once but twice! This made every single member of Happy feel extremely proud. However, the players behind the feat were now having their own battle of insults.
“Too long,” Ye Xiu insulted his younger brother.
“Let me remind you that all the elites were fighting against us!” Ye Qiu roared.
“Ah right. My good little brother is really awesome! Thanks to my awesome brother that I got my Aquamarine!” Ye Xiu complimented him as if he was appeasing a child.
Suprisingly, it seemed to be effective, and the child only scoffed but didn’t continue making a fuss over the matter.
“I already collected your needed materials, come and trade,” he said in a serious business tone.
“Ah, good brother, good brother, now I can update my umbrella to Level 50,” Ye Xiu laughed and patted his brother’s head. Ye Qiu's ears reddened with the sudden skinship and immediately pushed his Gege away.
“How ke-ai! Right Xiao Tang?” Li Chunhua nudged the girl beside her.
“Mmn.” Tang Rou nodded, not giving so much thinking about the question. Ye Qiu who was the subject of this degrading complement couldn't help but feel ashamed. Who would want to be called cute when you're clearly a big man?
“Did you hear it? Wánghòu Han agreed that Guówáng Qiu is cute!” she whispered to Ye Xiu who was sitting on her left side.
The tumbler on Tang Rou’s hand almost fell, her hands shaking in disbelief. It was a whisper but with her good hearing, it was loud and clear.
Wánghòu Han? She once heard it from an elite team she was occasionally dungeoning with, but didn’t give so much attention about the matter. She was not a gossipy type and all she cared about was leveling and passing the Heavenly Challenge. Not until Li Chunhua used it that way that she understood. Wánghòu Han, Han Yan Rou? She was that Queen Han they were talking about with their suspicious hushed voices?
Did this mean that not only Ye Qiu, but she also got a nickname for herself? What's wrong with Guild Happy? Why were they giving away nicknames with no clear reasons?
She stilled as a sudden understanding hit her, after all, she wasn't as dense as this couple in front of her. Were they shipping her with the manipulative guy?
No way. She couldn't help but laugh at this absurb pairing. How could they believe that she and this guy matches with each other?
She...she couldn't see herself having a romantic relationship with him. Yes, he's quite interesting, a two faced businessman with hidden crankiness that would only show up whenever he's with his brother. But pairing them up, wasn't that a little over the top?
She looked at the man that was now totally different from his usual self. At this moment, he was more like a kid being defeated by a pair of cold-hearted bullies. Really, not a single chance. Even when that incident happened, still not a single chance. Tang Rou sighed and left the room to refill her tumbler with water that she absolutely needed right now. She wasn't that shallow to make this trivial matter big. A gulp of water would be enough for her.
"I have a reliable source saying that you already finished your Heavenly Challenge!" Li Chunhua probed.
Ye Xiu then added, "Oh? Then why is he not entering the Heavenly Domain? I thought that I'm the reason that he started playing GLORY?"
"A'Xiu, you are the reason he started, but someone else is now the reason for his progress." Li Chunhua chuckled.
"You both shut up! I'm doing this to collect the materials you need for that umbrella of yours!" the selfless didi roared.
Ye Xiu laughed, "Oh? So you're indeed finished with the challenge?"
Ye Qiu could no longer deny it so he change his focus to the pest that leaked his secret, "Who's that d*mn dead person that told you? I'm going to kill him!"
"Aww, don't. You can't afford losing an efficient secretary," the elder brother warned him.
"Luo Ji? I'm going to kill that nerd!" Who else could it be other than Luo Ji, that guy was always by his side and knew everything that he was doing. The others even called him as his eunuch.
"Ah, no. A'Xiu never said that it was Concealed Light. Don't be hasty, will you?" Li Chunhua stopped the hand of Ye Qiu that was holding the mouse, afraid that the short tempered guy would suddenly kick the poor nerd from the guild.
"Let go! I'm going to enter that d*mn place right now!"
Ye Xiu just laughed at him, "Educated kids really are poor with curses."
____________________________________________
( Sina Weibo)
唐柔TangRou:
Which is your true self?
Notes:
As I was saying, this is a sidestory and something that wasn't part of my original draft. Waking up this morning and thinking if I should write something about how our qiu-di was behaving inside the game, I wrote this on a whim. Please bear with this half-baked chapter
For faster update please do follow the story on AO3. A kudos and comment will be much appreciated.
[Spring Bloom by XieJianRou - Multifandom https://archiveofourown.org/works/23230501]