TTGOL CH75
by AriaChapter 75: The Sixth Movement
Obtaining the Twelve Movements and then clearing the instance was practically a matter of course. However, because Tang Cuo and Jin Cheng had already upgraded to Zone E but hadn’t rented an apartment there yet, they found themselves effectively homeless on the streets the moment they returned to Yong Ye City.
The players showed no particular reaction to their sudden materialization, but Jin Cheng instantly put on his mask, threw an arm over Tang Cuo’s shoulder, and quickly steered him away.
Tang Cuo felt slightly awkward. Looking away toward the street, he asked, “Where to?”
Jin Cheng smiled. “Don’t be nervous. We’re going straight to Lin Yandong. It’s not safe to keep the Sixth Movement in our hands for long.”
Hearing this, Tang Cuo immediately dropped all other thoughts. “You’ve figured out how to use it?”
“I have a general direction, but I need Lin Yandong’s advice. When it comes to the rules of Yong Ye City, he understands them more thoroughly than anyone else.”
They soon turned a corner, and Jin Cheng naturally let go of Tang Cuo as they headed straight for the Central District. Tang Cuo glanced at his own shoulder but said nothing.
Today, the Central District was still surging with undercurrents. As they walked, the scrutinizing gazes from the streets and corners had noticeably increased. It was like a quiet forest where the slightest rustle of grass would startle a flock of birds.
The news that the Sixth Movement had surfaced hadn’t spread yet. Once it did, this forest would burn.
However, Tang Cuo hadn’t expected the news to leak even faster than he imagined.
By the time they met up with Wen Xiaoming, who had been waiting in the Central District, and exchanged information, they headed straight to Lin Yandong’s book cafe. Wen Xiaoming went to fetch Lin Yandong while Tang Cuo and Jin Cheng waited inside.
While waiting, the two discussed their haul from the instance.
Because it was a Special Trigger Instance, and on Hard difficulty, the system generously rewarded them with 50 points. Tang Cuo had used the Big Red Flower at the very last moment, doubling the 50 to 100 points.
The other rewards were few, but excellent.
[Time Coordinate]
Category: Skill
Quality: Advanced
Description: Spend 50% of your maximum Health Points to set a rewindable time coordinate, valid for 24 hours (limited to use within instances).
[Terror Doll]
Category: Equipment
Quality: Advanced
Description: Throw the doll at an enemy to release a terrifying scream with a 15-meter radius, causing continuous mental shock for 5 seconds.
[Golden Scissors]
Category: Weapon
Quality: Common
Description: The golden scissors of the Miss of the Yu Residence. They can sever colorful silk threads, but cannot sever the continuation of tragedy.
Ignoring the scissors for now, both “Time Coordinate” and “Terror Doll” were highly practical skills meant to catch enemies off guard. Tang Cuo was quite satisfied.
About half an hour later, Lin Yandong appeared, bringing bad news.
“The news that the Twelve Movements was taken has already spread.”
“That fast? Was it Rong Yi?” Jin Cheng frowned.
Lin Yandong, however, maintained his gentle and elegant demeanor, as if nothing in the world could make him lose his composure. He waved for the waiter to bring a cup of clear tea before saying slowly, “After you took the Movement, the Special Trigger Instance closed. Someone happened to try and enter it but triggered a quick-clear combat instance instead. Once he came out, the news couldn’t be contained.”
So that was why.
Jin Cheng tapped his knuckles against the table. “Once the Movement takes effect, there will be a server-wide broadcast anyway. They would find out sooner or later; this little time difference doesn’t matter.”
Lin Yandong looked slightly surprised. “You’ve decided? You’re going to use it right now?”
“In Mr. Lin’s heart, do I really love stirring up trouble that much?”
“No, I prefer to call it—maximizing benefits.”
Jin Cheng liked that phrasing.
However, he had just caused a massive scene in Zone F. Doing it again in Zone E right away would be far too ostentatious. Moreover, the temptation of the Sixth Movement was geometrically higher than the Eleventh; one careless misstep, and they could capsize in a gutter.
“Do you have any suggestions, Mr. Lin?”
“My suggestion is: points.”
“Reduce the points required for upgrading to speed up the overall progression?”
“Yes and no. The difficulty of the instances in each zone remains unchanged. Allowing players to upgrade faster is good, but if their actual combat strength doesn’t keep up, it’s just forcing their growth and doing more harm than good.”
Jin Cheng pondered briefly. “Lowering prices?”
Lin Yandong: “The prices at the official pharmacies and training grounds can be reduced by at least half. The monthly points players must submit to Yong Ye City can also be cut by a third.”
“You’re snatching food right out of the tiger’s mouth.”
“The system itself doesn’t run on points, does it?”
“What else?” Jin Cheng smiled. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the sofa, his posture relaxed and his tone casual. He didn’t look like he was here to negotiate, but rather like a boss listening to Lin Yandong’s report.
Miao Qi, who had been standing faithfully by Lin Yandong’s side, couldn’t help but glare at him. Lin Yandong, however, didn’t mind. “Perfect the red-name system you established last time, and redefine the rules of imprisonment.”
“You want to flip the targets of imprisonment?”
“No. Send them to prison together.”
“Ruthless enough.”
“In Yong Ye City, survival is a lesson. When weak players are killed, sending them to prison teaches them a lesson. When indiscriminate killers disregard the law, they also need a lesson. Yong Ye City has no laws, so we shall establish one for it.”
Hearing this, Tang Cuo remembered what Jin Cheng had said before. He had said that in Yong Ye City, the hardest thing was establishing order. None of the measures Lin Yandong suggested were as sensational as Jin Cheng sending a massive batch of elites to prison last time, but they were altering Yong Ye City’s rules piece by piece.
To use an analogy, this was like building infrastructure. These rules wouldn’t significantly impact the elites, but they would genuinely benefit the ordinary players, even if the effects took time to show.
At the end of the conversation, Jin Cheng asked, “Same question as back then. Can Yong Ye City be shut down?”
The first time Jin Cheng asked this question was a year after he entered Yong Ye City. Lin Yandong had only smiled and hadn’t answered him.
Today, Lin Yandong smiled again and replied, “To know the answer to that question, you must understand the true composition of this world. Do gods really exist?”
It was another answer that wasn’t an answer.
Jin Cheng raised an eyebrow and didn’t press further. He picked up his coffee, took a sip, and resumed his relaxed posture. “Do you mind if I summon my dear Mr. Crow right here?”
Lin Yandong: “Please.”
There were no other customers in the book cafe anyway.
Jin Cheng exchanged a look with Tang Cuo again. He didn’t ask Tang Cuo’s opinion aloud because he knew Tang Cuo was always straightforward; if he had an issue, he would naturally speak up.
Tang Cuo nodded, and Jin Cheng understood his meaning.
In the next second, he pulled out the Sixth Movement without hesitation. Since there were no other players here to obstruct him, he didn’t write the edict down beforehand. He simply spoke the command word out loud—
“Edict.”
His voice was calm and decisive.
The ethereal, eerie song drifted down once again, rapidly enveloping the entire Central District with the book cafe at its core, before spreading outward to every zone. Countless players looked up simultaneously—especially those who had just heard the news that the Sixth Movement was taken, their faces filled with shock.
Gods, lambs, and crows,
Playing happily on the cliff.
They sing and they dance,
Fresh flowers bloom from the stones.
The god says, look here,
This is my flower.
A lamb ate it up,
Hurry up and go die…
Mr. Crow materialized amidst the singing, landing on the book cafe’s plant stand. He held his head arrogantly high. Seeing that it was Jin Cheng holding the Movement again, his tone was mischievous and full of interest. “Player G79081, you truly never disappoint me. What do you want to do this time? The great Mr. Crow is very much looking forward to it.”
Jin Cheng smiled in greeting. “May I announce my edicts now?”
Mr. Crow flapped a wing. “Of course.”
Jin Cheng: “Edict: The monthly points submitted by players in all zones shall be reduced by one-third. Prices at official pharmacies, training grounds, and all service-related venues shall be halved.”
Hearing this, Mr. Crow didn’t jump in anger, but he shot him a highly dissatisfied glance, seemingly finding this incredibly boring. However, since Jin Cheng’s request didn’t violate the usage rules of the Twelve Movements, he answered nonchalantly, “Approved.”
Jin Cheng: “Edict: Anyone who commits murder within Yong Ye City shall be sent to prison alongside the person they killed.”
Mr. Crow tilted his head. Hearing about prison finally sparked a bit of interest, and he answered crisply, “Approved.”
The first two edicts were Lin Yandong’s suggestions, and Jin Cheng had accepted them entirely without any hesitation. What came next, however, made Lin Yandong slightly curious.
Tang Cuo and Miao Qi were also looking at him. Outside the book cafe, many players were already searching for the source of the music. It wouldn’t be long before this place became the focal point of the entire Yong Ye City.
Jin Cheng: “Edict: Abolish the suicide penalty mode. All players who commit suicide shall directly enter the karma-clearing process.”
Mr. Crow’s expression instantly changed. “No! That is impossible! G79081, you are challenging the supreme authority of Yong Ye City!”
“Is it really impossible?” Jin Cheng’s expression didn’t shift. He even looked straight into Mr. Crow’s eyes and challenged, “This is the Sixth Movement. Are you certain it lacks such authority?”
“You!” Mr. Crow was left speechless.
Mr. Crow disliked weak cowards who committed suicide; he absolutely hated them. And this obnoxious G79081 just loved doing exactly what he found distasteful!
He was so angry he hopped from foot to foot!
In truth, Jin Cheng wasn’t entirely certain either. Although the Sixth Movement possessed immense authority, all his edicts this time targeted the entirety of Yong Ye City, covering a massive scope. By contrast, the Eleventh Movement last time had basically only affected East Cross Street.
Fortunately, after throwing a tantrum for a while, Mr. Crow reluctantly nodded his head.
“Approved, approved, approved!” He looked like he wanted to peck Jin Cheng.
Who knew Jin Cheng had more to say. “Edict—”
Mr. Crow hurriedly interrupted: “There’s more?! Shut your mouth, you’ve already exceeded the limit!”
Jin Cheng smiled. “Have I really exceeded it?”
Mr. Crow: “Whatever the great Mr. Crow says goes! You treacherous, shameless player, to actually doubt my authority!”
Jin Cheng was unmoved. “I want two of your feathers.”
Mr. Crow: “In your dreams!”
Jin Cheng immediately turned to Tang Cuo to tattle. “He won’t give them to me.”
Tang Cuo: “Then he has violated the rules of Yong Ye City.”
Jin Cheng: “You’re right.”
Tang Cuo: “Mm.”
Jin Cheng: “If he doesn’t give them to me, Yong Ye City will definitely pluck all his feathers as punishment.”
Mr. Crow hopped furiously. “You two damn, insatiable, shameless players! The great Mr. Crow will never go bald! You two are the bald ones! You’ll be bald for all your lifetimes!”
The Crow was furious. Furious enough to lose his feathers.
But Mr. Crow had no other choice. Jin Cheng’s demand hadn’t exceeded the authority of the Sixth Movement. He had tried to scare him off, but Jin Cheng didn’t buy it and wasn’t afraid of him in the slightest.
If he refused to give them, Mr. Crow himself would be the one breaking the rules, and that would be terrible—even worse than going bald.
“Hmph!” Mr. Crow let out a heavy breath, but ultimately used his beak to pluck two feathers and threw them at Jin Cheng. The moment Jin Cheng caught them, Mr. Crow vanished instantly, giving him zero opportunity to make another demand, leaving only a harsh parting threat—
“Just you wait!”
Lin Yandong watched the exchange with a smile. At that exact moment, a swarming crowd of players had appeared outside the book cafe. Luckily, he had ordered Miao Qi to lock the doors in advance, so the crowd could only jam outside, peering through the large glass windows to see what was happening inside, yet too intimidated by Jin Cheng’s reputation to get too close.
The clamor, like boiling water, filled the entire space.
“Jin Cheng! It’s Jin Cheng again!”
“I knew it was him!”
“Why did he use it right now? There was no warning at all!”
“And… and Lin Yandong is there too. Have they formed an alliance?”
“Holy shit, this is huge…”
The glass couldn’t block out all the noise. Lin Yandong knew perfectly well why Jin Cheng had chosen this location, but he had merely gone with the flow and waded into this muddy water.
Jin Cheng wouldn’t allow him to hide behind the scenes forever. This younger generation player was a ruthless character who refused to take a loss.
“Ding!”
“Sixth Movement detected. Holder: G79081.”
“The Edicts fall within the prescribed authority limits. Verification passed. Effective immediately.”
“Commencing server-wide broadcast.”
The system’s announcement temporarily suppressed the uproar outside. As players listened to the contents of the Edicts, scenes of shock, uproar, and excitement played out in every corner of Yong Ye City.
Inside the book cafe, Jin Cheng raised his coffee cup as if holding a glass of premium red wine, smiling and acknowledging the players outside the window. He still wore the arrogant demeanor of an untouchable boss, elegant yet tinged with a roguish edge.
Tang Cuo sat by the window.
When he looked up, he saw Jin Cheng’s smiling profile, the scar on his cheek exuding a silent wildness. Suddenly feeling a bit thirsty, Tang Cuo picked up his own cup and took a sip, his expression perfectly calm.
Jin Cheng leaned in very close to him. Their undisguised intimacy made Lin Yandong, sitting across from them, fall into thought.
But Lin Yandong wasn’t the type to ruin the mood. He naturally shifted his gaze away from Tang Cuo and said to Jin Cheng, “I didn’t expect that final edict.”
Jin Cheng: “Escaping is also a way to solve problems, isn’t it? Between survival and death, I choose freedom.”
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