Chapter 38: The Pure Love Warrior’s Code of Conduct: I Only Do What’s Necessary, Never Cross the Line

Bai Jingchuan emerged from the shower, water droplets sliding down his cheeks. Dressed in a bathrobe and shirt, he stepped onto the balcony to catch some fresh air. As he stood there, something white caught his eye—a lace bra lying on the ground. Bai Jingchuan had seen many women dressed provocatively in Mowu City, their figures either athletic or slim, all exuding bold personalities. He picked it up gently, using his towel to wipe off the dust. Moments later, Jiang Huan appeared on the balcony, clearly about to take a shower. Seeing Bai Jingchuan holding her intimate garment, her face flushed crimson: “It’s windy out here, thank you…”

If mind-reading were possible, this moment would surely be fascinating. The dice chimed in with a laugh: “As much as I hate to say it, I just saw Jiang Huan’s size. You didn’t have a chance to look earlier, right? Want me to tell you…?”

His shirt was still unbuttoned, revealing half his chest. He handed the bra back to her without a word. The softness of the white lace and the cotton lining reminded him of the texture of his pillow. His expression remained calm, devoid of any teasing thoughts. Water droplets continued to roll down his hair, like an unspoken invitation to intimacy. The dice couldn’t resist commenting: “Li Bode, you really are a pure love warrior. Isn’t this the perfect moment to tease her? Are you really not interested in this Eden before you? Not even tempted to taste the forbidden fruit?”

“This kind of behavior is sleazy. That’s not who I am.”

“Li Bode, you’re truly the perfect male lead. That scene just now could easily make it into the top three purest moments among abandoned characters in Ten Thousand Gods’ Realm. You silently cleaned and folded the lingerie without saying a word—such restraint, such purity. If someone else were in your shoes, they might already be in Jiang Huan’s bedroom by now… Don’t worry, if such an opportunity arises, I won’t interfere. Your romance is none of my business.”

“Men and women are like two magnets. If attraction is based solely on physical appearance, the magnetism fades quickly. If I’m to cultivate her, what she needs isn’t dependence or seduction but the ability to think independently and surpass me, treating me as a rival.” Bai Jingchuan walked back into the bedroom and turned off the lights: “I’ve always looked forward to worthy opponents. Even someone I care for—if she surpasses me, I’ll gladly admit defeat.”

Right now, he wanted to focus on more important tasks using his newly upgraded abilities.

「You have the opportunity to return to Mowu City. Each trip will consume existing items in exchange for time. The cost is high, so proceed with caution.」

Three hundred item boxes for three hours—it was fortunate he’d pulled enough SSRs.

Mowu City felt both familiar and strange. If living here before felt like adhering to strict routines, striving for a 4.90 rating, returning now felt like exploring an RPG game. The real world was bright and dazzling—he no longer belonged to this place devoid of human warmth.

He came for that hidden gray low-rise building. Passing through the rusty iron gate into the underground city, navigating through bars and billiard zones, a green door greeted him with someone whistling at him. The Executor wasn’t intimidated by such places; his stamina had recovered halfway, ensuring a safe exit. With a commanding presence, he exchanged a few words with the man inside, put on glasses, and operated briefly. A 4.8-rated ID card was handed over. Bai Jingchuan shook his head, prompting the man to search for another suitable identity. The dice asked, “Li Bode, are you heading to that gray building?”

“Yes. I suspect there are other worlds beyond Mowu City, forming a new map. The true purpose of Ten Thousand Gods’ Realm isn’t just about collecting emotions—it’s deeper than that. The secrets tied to Mowu City lie within that gray building. Since I’ve gained permission to return, I must investigate.”

Li Bode, a standout at 4.9, had never encountered this gray building while living in Mowu City. At 4.8, one might not even get close. The man waved dismissively: “High-rated individuals rarely die. I can’t forge another identity for you unless you know someone whose identity I can replicate.”

After some thought, Bai Jingchuan approached the black market. “Search for ‘Demon’ or ‘Dimon.’ Any matches?”

The young man in the black market adjusted his glasses: “Take a look yourself. Which one?”

“The highest-rated one.”

A 4.98-rated man—Dan Dimon.

He guessed correctly. This was a score that allowed free rein in Mowu City, where no one reached 5.0. Right now, he should be grateful that Mowu City was a cyberpunk haven with no rigid rules, prioritizing profit above all else. Finding the black market wasn’t hard—the challenge lay in accessing a more comprehensive information network. Li Bode, at 4.90, was resourceful enough to navigate all connections and effortlessly obtain a new identity.

With the card in hand, he donned a hat, wiped the fingerprints off his leather gloves, and calmly swiped open a side entrance to the gray building. Familiar with Mowu City’s protocols, he knew the main entrance was reserved for dignitaries and nobles. IDs like these belonged to researchers or data manipulators, unlikely to appear in public. Inside, the building was dimly lit, seemingly rarely visited. The spiral staircase led to floors resembling libraries—no computers, no way to search. Time was running out, so Bai Jingchuan entered a random floor. The folders contained various names. Pulling one out, he found manga drafts and storyboards—chaotic but not entirely incomprehensible. Flipping through a few more, most depicted fragmented stories, rough sketches filled with spirit.

「10 minutes until departure from Mowu City.」

He ran upstairs, searching for a computer or advanced screen unique to Mowu City—but found none. It was like an old library transplanted from a small real-world city, storing forgotten materials, neglected yet discreet. Unable to make sense of it, Bai Jingchuan checked each floor as thoroughly as possible. On the top floor, he discovered a dimly lit room that appeared lived-in—a simple bed, a cluttered desk, maps and symbols stuck to the walls. Bai Jingchuan couldn’t decipher them.

「3 minutes until departure from Mowu City.」

Time was almost up. Still searching the room, Bai Jingchuan found a locked box. Beneath it lay a photo, half of which seemed to be… Jiang Huan. A “Do Not Touch” label warned him, but curiosity got the better of him. Moving the warning aside, he revealed a photo of Jiang Huan and Dan Dimon together. In the dim light, Bai Jingchuan used his flashlight to illuminate it. They were dressed casually in hoodies and sweaters, hugging cheek-to-cheek, posing playfully for the camera. Jiang Huan’s freshly dyed hair winked at the lens, while Dan Dimon’s silver-streaked hair appeared darker, making him look younger. His face radiated genuine satisfaction and happiness.

This must have been a candid shot from a gathering; faint traces of “Happy Birthday” graffiti and cream smeared on their faces hinted that Dan Dimon’s feelings for Jiang Huan went beyond mere friendship.

「Time’s up. Exiting Mowu City. Due to accidental contact, you’ve acquired a ‘Misfortune’ card, which will impact your real-world life. Proceed with caution.」

Back in his bedroom, Bai Jingchuan stood on the floor, the photo vanishing from his fingertips. His expression darkened, causing the dice to retreat nervously: “Don’t be angry—it’s just a photo. We can investigate further. Jiang Huan likes you too; her favorability has increased. Who knows what more we’ll discover?”

“I won’t deliberately do things to please others. Favorability comes from charm, not compromise. What is this ‘Misfortune’ thing?”

“I checked. It appears in many games. Triggering a misfortune mechanism leads to unlucky scenarios—everything goes wrong, like choking on water. There’s a Japanese soul game where accidentally touching a talisman in a well causes even roadside donkeys to kick you.”

“…”

“Li Bode, let me remind you again—not to touch anything marked ‘Absolutely Forbidden.’”

Returning to the 14th floor, a group of girls waved enthusiastically at him, especially Jiang Huan. From afar, Bai Jingchuan heard their mischievous thoughts.

「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +50.」

Gaining favorability immediately upon returning—did she miss him?

“Teacher Bai! Our Xuan Xuan gained immense popularity in VR last time, and we’re now making a promotional video for him. We… um…” The young copywriter blushed: “We want to model some slightly sensual poses for the male lead, but our references are too generic. Could Teacher Bai help us out?”

Without needing to vocalize it, Bai Jingchuan’s mind-reading picked up everything. He dismissed the request disdainfully: “No need. You’ll find a way to reference it yourselves.”

“Aren’t you good at this?”

Bai Jingchuan frowned: “Impossible.”

“You wore a fitted suit while wielding a sniper rifle in a shooting game, sported gold-rimmed glasses at a comic con, and wore leather gloves during a party game—” Jiang Huan stared at him incredulously: “All the tricks to captivate girls, and you claim you can’t?”

“The fitted suit prevents loose fabric from betraying my position, the sniper rifle is for long-range shooting, the glasses complement the character, and the gloves prevent fingerprints.” Bai Jingchuan explained earnestly: “Every move serves a purpose. To interpret it as deliberate design is a misunderstanding.”

Jiang Huan pressed on: “You did this pose during shooting practice—it was devastatingly handsome. Just do it again!”

The image showed Bai Jingchuan kneeling to reload, his back view accentuating his waist and hips. Comments online read: “Teacher, if you’ve gone this far, why not go all the way?” “Congratulations, Teacher, for straying off the righteous path.” Bai Jingchuan glanced coldly: “Professional motion-capture actors are far more suited than me. I won’t mimic aimlessly.”

「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +100.」

“He’s sick today and needs to reschedule, but we’re in a rush,” Jiang Huan pleaded with a “Please” expression, her eyes turning desperate: “Fine, I’ll ask Dan Dimon to help. I’ll have him mimic a lightsaber transformation.”

Fifteen minutes after those words, Bai Jingchuan removed his suit, knelt in the motion-capture room, and said in a low voice as he glanced back: “This is a one-time exception.”

In her heart, Jiang Huan thought: What an angle, crafted like a protractor. Keep pretending.

Though fully clothed, his back view… stole the show. Light cascaded down from his shoulders, accentuating the tight waistline and firm yet supple curves beneath his vest. Even the male motion-capture technician sighed: “Why bother capturing? Let’s just put the producer directly into the game. What’s the point of painstakingly modeling when reality surpasses fiction?”

But Jiang Huan retorted: “Impossible. Why shouldn’t 2D characters surpass 3D ones?”

“Think about it, Teacher Jiang,” the technician pointed to the screen: “You live next door to Teacher Bai and often collaborate on stories—you’re used to him. We adjust expressions and capture movements daily. Even with three million pixels, realism pales compared to the real thing. It’s not that we fail to surpass reality—it’s that Teacher Bai is genuinely admirable. As a man, I assure you, this holds weight.”

These words left Jiang Huan momentarily stunned. After reluctantly completing the poses, Bai Jingchuan walked into the office, his arms draped with his suit. Just a glance from his eyes sent a shiver through Jiang Huan’s heart—his gaze and every movement were captivating. Bai Jingchuan smiled faintly: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

The motion-capture technician chuckled, watching the monitor: “She says she wants to create a more perfect character to surpass you. How is that possible?”

“Of course it’s possible. Using me as a reference is meaningless. Prove your skills, rise to my level with talent.”

He provocatively glanced at Jiang Huan.

By quitting time, misfortune struck as expected.

「Please pack up your belongings and move to a downtown flat.」

Bai Jingchuan hadn’t been home long, preparing to head to the training arena, when he heard this. Thinking he’d misheard: “Didn’t I just move next to her recently?”

「The ‘Misfortune’ triggered during exploration remains active. The fully open system of Ten Thousand Gods’ Realm provides ample freedom for strategy while guiding your life’s trajectory. ‘Misfortune’ adds twists to your journey, enriching emotional data collection.」

Bai Jingchuan nearly exploded with rage but managed to suppress it. Seeing the spacious downtown apartment awaiting him, he clenched his jaw in silence. The dice wanted to laugh but dared not: “Bai Jingchuan, this isn’t misfortune—it’s a blessing. Previously, it took ten missions to unlock. You’ve gained something valuable.”

“Can I refuse?”

「No. Attempting to stay will result in this unit disappearing. All memories of being neighbors with Jiang Huan will be erased.」

Bai Jingchuan searched his inventory for something to override the system—nothing. Completely nothing. Growing frustrated, he muttered: “Isn’t this apartment supposed to take ten missions to unlock?”

The system remained silent, as did the dice. Wasn’t misfortune supposed to bring bad luck?

Packing wasn’t difficult. He could manipulate the air to gather everything into his suitcase. But he carefully packed each item, especially the white silk blanket. He wasn’t prone to sleep, but wrapped in the cotton bedding, he’d drift off instantly upon contact. Bai Jingchuan understood: distancing himself from Jiang Huan, unable to see her as often as before, was his misfortune.

Dragging his suitcase out, Jiang Huan returned with candied haws: “Going on a business trip?”

“Moving.”

Jiang Huan froze, taking a few seconds to process: “So concise—pack and leave just like that?”

“Quick and decisive.” The Executor’s temperament demanded efficiency. Lingering in the corridor for even a second risked losing control of his emotions—not his intention, but he couldn’t explain.

“Wait!” Jiang Huan rushed into her room and handed him an unopened potted plant: “A housewarming gift.”

“Won’t you miss me?”

“Nope.” Jiang Huan smiled: “How could a producer stay in such a small loft forever? I knew you were only temporarily staying here—I noticed you had no furniture.”

For a moment, he felt competitive, almost forgetting how independent Jiang Huan was. Dan Dimon was closer to her than he was. Accepting the plant with a smile, he said: “Circumstances dictate. Call me when you need me—I’ll come immediately.”

Still holding the candied haws, Jiang Huan bit into one hastily: “Too sour.”

Her eyes glistened.

「Jiang Huan’s Favorability +2000.」

As the elevator doors closed, Bai Jingchuan stared at the display—2000 was unprecedented favorability.

Perhaps this was what urban relationships called “push and pull.” Leaving wasn’t entirely bad; the favorability reminded him that his departure hadn’t left Jiang Huan untouched. But he hadn’t decorated this place yet—only Jiang Huan’s soft pillows and blankets remained. The oven held toiletries, and a single suitcase sufficed to leave. This apartment had great lighting; on the balcony, he’d occasionally bumped into Jiang Huan while hanging laundry, heard her humming songs, shared homemade cakes, split coffee cups, and remembered the glass of water by his bedside during chickenpox. Now, these fragments formed cherished memories. In Mowu City’s house, everything was there, but leaving hadn’t stirred much attachment.

At least one thing was clear: never touch forbidden objects recklessly. He wasn’t particularly lucky to begin with, and triggering “Misfortune” meant enduring its effects indefinitely.

But in the real world, “attraction” was eternal. For every tender approach, there was detachment and hardness. Pure kindness couldn’t win hearts. Charm lured, distance tantalized, and sincerity secured devotion. Villains had their own allure.

He didn’t know if Jiang Huan was sad. As he stepped into the elevator, his heart shattered.

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PS: Xiao Zhang here! Sorry for the one-day delay—I’ll make it up soon. Feel free to add this story to your bookshelf and vote for recommendations! I’ll be waiting for everyone to chat today!