DSMC Chapter 69.2

There were so many instances waiting. If he couldn’t even clear a Easy-level instance, he didn’t need to know anything about Intermediate or Hard ones. Knowing ahead of time would only add stress. And although Intermediate and Hard instances were now open to him, he still couldn’t enter.

He had only cleared three instances, he’s just a newcomer based on the number of instances cleared. Trying to run before learning to walk was too arrogant.

What he should care about was choosing the next instance, not reaching too high. And currently, he couldn’t enter Intermediate or Hard levels anyway.

He asked: ‘Easy-level instances won’t force me to choose Challenging Mode again, right? No restriction against selecting Introductory Mode?’

The young man: “The selection system for Easy instances differs from that of the Newcomer instances.” 

Yan Jiyun: ‘How is it different?’

The young man: “Easy-level instances are not divided into Introductory or Challenging Mode. All instances available to players may be selected. The difficulty is revealed only after entering.”

Yan Jiyun: ‘You mean all instances are effectively Challenging Mode?’

The young man: “You may understand it that way. It also depends on the player’s luck.”

Yan Jiyun: ‘The instances still don’t display attributes? Like search-type or PvP-type?’

The young man: “No hints. The uncertainty increases entertainment value, improving the player experience. Our game values player experience highly.”

Yan Jiyun: “…”

So the game just wants players to keep getting screwed over so it can satisfy its twisted sense of fun.

Since he still couldn’t choose, he temporarily stopped stressing about it.

Yan Jiyun: ‘How long until I enter my first Easy-level instance?’

The young man: “The first instance after advancing from Newcomer to Easy level grants ten days of rest. After that, the interval between instances is one week. The higher the stage, the longer the breaks, giving players more rest and preparation time.”

He understood.

Newcomer instances had five-day breaks. The first Easy instance had ten. Afterward, it returned to seven.

Everything he knew so far was just surface-level. There must be more detailed rules. The system never volunteered information. It only answered truthfully when the player noticed something and asked. So annoying.

He needed to go outside and gather intel on Easy level instances.

Without Introductory vs. Challenging Mode distinctions, all players were on the same level. Only luck would differ, good or bad.

Then he suddenly remembered Qi Feng hadn’t entered an instance for a long time. He normally entered one every ten days or half a month. Why had he been absent for so long this time?

Whether from some special master–pet telepathy or pure coincidence, Qi Feng suddenly said to Yan Jiyun, “Caramel, I’ll be entering an instance in three days. Before that, I think I need to give you some basic training.”

Yan Jiyun lifted his eyelids. ‘What are you talking about? Train what? Practice what?’

Hard-earned rest time must not be used for training!

Qi Feng didn’t see any resistance in his eyes and continued, “Once I enter the instance, I’ll have Qiu Xi take care of you. Your next instance is a Challenging one. He just came out of a Challenging Mode instance, and he’s capable. I think he’s suitable to bring you into your next new instance.”

Yan Jiyun really wanted to tell him he’d already been forcibly moved into the Easy level. He had no chance of returning to the Newcomer instances at all.

After Qi Feng finished communicating with his system, his personal space expanded outward.

Then, Yan Jiyun saw a training field the size of a basketball court, filled with all kinds of bizarre training equipment.

There was even a ring of fire.

Was he hoping his pet would survive future instances by performing circus tricks for food?

He wondered if he could still escape.

Too late.

Although the pooper scooper spoiled his cat dearly, he wasn’t the type to overindulge a child. He even had a bit of the “tiger parent” mindset.

Qi Feng: “Caramel, let’s go. The next three days will be military training. The goal is that no matter what happens in the future, you’ll be able to react instantly. Run as fast as you can.”

Yan Jiyun looked at the sea of training equipment before him, utterly resistant. ‘Thank you so much…! 🙂 ’

Whether he liked it or not, Qi Feng still brought him into the newly arranged training field inside the personal space.

But it wasn’t that Qi Feng trained Yan Jiyun. Qi Feng ran through all the obstacles with him, which made it somewhat tolerable.

The training mainly included physical fitness, reaction time, obstacle courses, and combat-response drills.

Yan Jiyun could tell that these items were structured and systematic. He was certain that these weren’t something the shit shoveling officer came up with on a whim. They were clearly well thought out.

Still, there were too many items. It was exhausting, okay?

Compared to the running and exercise he did with Qi Feng at home, everything before felt like child’s play. This was real training.

He also finally understood how his master got those enviably handsome muscles.

But just looking at the training list tired him out. He had ten days of rest, there was no rush at all!

Yan Jiyun might not be worried, but Qi Feng was. He was about to enter an instance soon, and he was anxious for his cat.

This time, Caramel had to enter the instance alone. Qi Feng could only entrust him to someone reliable. But he didn’t fully trust others. Caramel needed to grow stronger himself.

He had considered letting Caramel stay in his personal space after he entered the instance. He asked the system. Yes, after the main account entered an instance, the sub-account could continue staying in the main account’s space, supplied with food and water. But the downside was that Caramel would then be assigned to a random instance type afterwards.

If they wanted someone reliable, the only option was Qiu Xi. Only Qiu Xi had seen Caramel inside the game. Caramel could continue cooperating with him.

Fewer people knowing about Caramel being inside the game was better. One was enough.

Thinking about parting from his cat in three days made Qi Feng even stricter.

After leaping over an obstacle and resting for a moment, Yan Jiyun was immediately approached by Qi Feng with a snack. He let him rest three minutes, then became even stricter. “Caramel, up you go. No slacking. Only by training properly can you run for your life in the instance.”

Because a cat couldn’t talk, Qi Feng couldn’t get sub-account authorization and couldn’t see Caramel’s stats or instance records. He could only hope that Caramel would clear a few more instances quickly so that he could take Caramel into high-level ones later.

Why did the game have to make things so hard for a cat?

Training continued.

Yan Jiyun collapsed flat on the ground, completely limp. No matter how Qi Feng pushed him, he didn’t move. He just lay there on the grass.

Training couldn’t be rushed. He’d just come out of an instance, he needed proper rest!

Qi Feng had no solution. Food didn’t work, nothing worked. Caramel stayed limp and motionless, even pretending to be dead.

Pretending to be dead… guess that counted as a survival skill in instances too?

Qi Feng checked the time. Two hours had passed. Caramel really was exhausted.

He crossed off the tasks Caramel completed today and praised him. “Caramel was great today. You completed the obstacle jumps, muscle training, endurance training, and reaction drills. We’ll stop here. We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Yan Jiyun sat in front of him, large green eyes staring, and he protested with a sharp: “Mrrr!”

Why did being a cat involve military training? He should escape tonight. He didn’t want another day of torture tomorrow.

Qi Feng very rarely heard Caramel meow at him. He crouched down and scratched Caramel’s chin. A soft, indulgent smile appeared on his usually stern face.

He said earnestly, “Okay. I’ll fry you little dried fish tonight, how about that? But we really can’t skip these trainings. You’re in an extremely dangerous death game. One wrong move and we’ll lose our lives. I want to protect you always, but right now the best way is to help you become stronger yourself. Caramel, you’re very smart. I can’t see your stats and don’t know whether your first three instances were Introductory or Challenging, but I know you’re impressive. I hope you can become even stronger.”

Qi Feng extended his hand toward him. Yan Jiyun was moved. There would never be another person who cared for him this much. After hesitating, he placed his paw on Qi Feng’s hand, then leaned his head against it too. He really was tired.

Qi Feng chuckled softly, his low voice like a cello. Yan Jiyun actually liked hearing him laugh.

“Alright then, we’ll stop. Let’s go back and fry your fish.”

He picked up the heavier, recently weight-gained Caramel and walked back.

Hard-level players truly were different. Their personal space could expand infinitely, with limitless equipment.

Yan Jiyun wasn’t jealous. Qi Feng had probably exchanged points to build all of this, and points were not easy to earn. He simply felt that his pooper scooper was very extravagant.

Yan Jiyun rolled around on the system-provided premium turf without getting dirty.

Qi Feng wiped his paws and fur clean so the bath he’d given him wouldn’t go to waste. He still smelled nice.

For the sake of his skin, Yan Jiyun couldn’t bathe daily like humans. Scheduled cleaning was fine.

In-game environments had the same seasons as reality. If winter came, his fur would at least be useful.

That night, Yan Jiyun slept soundly again. Qi Feng hadn’t pushed him past his limits. No one understood his condition better than his pooper scooper. 

He slept on the bed that night, sprawled on his back with all four paws out once he was fully asleep.

Qi Feng wanted to record him, but the game didn’t allow phones.

The system sensed his thoughts and prompted: “Players can purchase a camera~”

Qi Feng didn’t want to give in to the system, but he couldn’t help buying one anyway.

Click. Click. The camera captured Caramel’s sleeping posture.

Every time he waited to enter an instance, he used to curl up alone inside the cold, empty space with only the system. Now it didn’t feel so lonely.

The next morning, after breakfast, Yan Jiyun noticed Qi Feng’s expression was even more serious than yesterday.

He remembered. Today was the second day of the instance-entry countdown.

He would be entering the instance after tomorrow.

Qi Feng had thought about it overnight. Rushing wouldn’t help. He adjusted Caramel’s training schedule to 2 PM and let him rest in the morning.

He decided to take Caramel outside the personal space for a walk. Caramel was smart, it would remember places he visited. Once he returned from his next instance, he’d know where their meeting point and their “base camp” was.

“Caramel, I’m taking you out this morning so you’ll know where home is.”

He bought another backpack.

Yan Jiyun obediently jumped in. If the shit shoveling officer was taking him out to see the world, why refuse?

Let’s go!

Qi Feng had spent an entire day inside his personal space. When he came out, besides Lan Mo, two unfamiliar people were also in the tavern.

The two sat on high stools, speaking with Lan Mo, and all three looked upset.

Seeing Qi Feng come out, they immediately called to him, though the anger on their faces hadn’t faded.

According to Yan Jiyun’s guess, these three were probably Qi Feng’s teammates.

Qi Feng asked, “What happened?”

Lan Mo said, “The Oxygen Guild found out which instance we’re entering. They plan to enter with us in two days to ambush us. Feng-ge, they said this time they’ll definitely take your head.”

Qi Feng nodded calmly and said, “It’s fine. Go prepare your instance supplies. I’m heading out for a bit.”

The furious three: “…”

Yan Jiyun’s dark little brows scrunched up.

A guild wanted to ambush his shit shoveling officer?