Chapter 177: Forever in Love
Aside from the quiet bar, there was another kind of bar—one of debauchery and chaos, men and women indulging recklessly in their primal instincts.
Just hearing the noise from the entrance, Xu Huazhang pulled Mu Lantu away firmly.
Mu Lantu let himself be dragged along faster and faster, amused. Did he even look like he wanted to go in? If he’d known it was that messy, he wouldn’t have gone near it in the first place.
Xu Huazhang shifted his attention. “Baby, let’s go for a drive.”
“Okay.”
They spent 200 gold to rent a convertible and sped along a wide, empty coastal highway. On the left, towering green mountains; on the right, the vast blue ocean. Upbeat music thumped with rhythm, sea breeze whipped cool and fresh, and the scenery on both sides passed by like a dream. It was pure exhilaration.
The two of them spent the whole day in the Entertainment Space, venting all the frustration they’d bottled up.
Once the Entertainment Space was unlocked, gold coins became even more crucial. On Sunday, Mu Lantu officially launched his money-making plan.
He went to their old dorm to find Song Bochao. To avoid disturbing students who slept late, he deliberately waited until 10 a.m. before heading out.
Xu Huazhang wasn’t worried about his safety on campus, so he stayed behind, working on drafts for his lecture.
On the way past the courts, Mu Lantu saw many students playing basketball and tennis. Crowds of spectators had gathered around. Aside from the library, the courts were their only real relaxation spot.
Speaking of the library, students had already gone in—it was just an ordinary library.
“Nice shot!”
“It’s in!”
Cheers erupted by the basketball court.
From the soccer field, a stray ball rolled over. Mu Lantu trapped it underfoot, then kicked it hard. The ball soared, like an arrow, straight into the goal net.
Passersby stopped to watch the scene.
Seconds later, the ball went in!
Applause broke out.
“Awesome!”
Hands in his pockets, Mu Lantu walked away, leaving no name behind.
He and Song Bochao met in an empty classroom, with two hot coffees bought from the supermarket.
“I’m planning to start a publishing house, and I’d like you to be the president. Interested?”
Song Bochao had a hunch his time was coming. His heart raced. “Tell me the details.”
Mu Lantu explained steadily, “The first book I want to publish will be tentatively titled Encyclopedia of Infinite University Dungeons (Vol. 1). It’ll include all dungeon introductions collected so far, plus the full transcript of Huazhang’s first lecture. Classic dungeons will also feature detailed ‘expert’ analyses. I believe players with average skills or low confidence will need this book.”
Song Bochao’s face filled with admiration. “That actually sounds promising.”
“As for sales, I have a tentative idea,” Mu Lantu continued. “So far, it’s not certain if players entering the same dungeon always come from the same campus. If not, we can sell books to players from other campuses as well.”
Song Bochao caught on quickly. “You mean, let players from our campus sell books to other campuses during dungeon runs?”
Mu Lantu nodded. “That’s my suggestion. The specifics are up to you—I’ll just provide funding. As for your pay, I’ll give you a share: 30% of net profits.”
The other 70%: 10% was Huazhang’s royalty, the rest Mu Lantu would keep.
Grinning from ear to ear, Song Bochao stood up and offered his hand. “Boss, looking forward to working together!”
“Looking forward to it.” Mu Lantu smiled faintly, spinning the dream further. “If our first book sells well, we can release Encyclopedia of Infinite University Dungeons (Vol. 2), Xu Huazhang’s Premium Lectures, Step-by-Step Guide to Dungeon Clears. We could even publish a novel—call it My Dungeon-Grinding Life at Infinite University…”
Song Bochao’s face flushed with excitement. He decided to hold off on entering dungeons once classes resumed, to focus on this project. Once it took off, he’d have more resources and gear, and dungeon runs would be easier.
“Boss, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to the dorm now and write a detailed plan for you!”
“Good. I’ll wait for your good news.”
After sending off the energized Song Bochao, Mu Lantu strolled back, mulling things over.
“Hmm… My Dungeon-Grinding Life at Infinite University still doesn’t sound flashy enough. I’ll think of something better…”
By then, Xu Huazhang had finished his draft and bought lunch.
“Baby, how did the talk go?”
“Very smoothly.” Mu Lantu dug into his food. “This afternoon, I need to write too.”
“What are you writing? Want me to help?” Xu Huazhang peeled shrimp for him.
“I’m going to start a novel, tentatively titled My Love Story at Infinite University.” Mu Lantu said casually.
Xu Huazhang blinked in surprise, then grew eager. “Good! When you finish, I’ll be your first reader.”
Mu Lantu’s face warmed. Ah, how embarrassing.
“Do you think My Love Story at Infinite University sounds better, or Showing Off My Love at Infinite University?”
Xu Huazhang thought a moment. “How about Me and My Husband Flaunt Our Love All Over Infinite University?”
Mu Lantu’s cheeks burned. He shot him what he thought was a fierce glare, but the shimmering waves in his eyes betrayed his shyness. Sweetness curled his lips upward despite himself.
“Eat properly!”
Xu Huazhang leaned across the table, cupped Mu Lantu’s chin in one beautiful hand, and kissed him deeply, eyes warm and tender.
Baby, you are my eternal love.
Silent gentleness was the most lethal—Mu Lantu swallowed hard, Adam’s apple trembling. He put down his chopsticks, wrapped his arms around Xu Huazhang’s neck, and returned the affection with equal warmth.
By dusk, Xu Huazhang woke him from a nap, teasing him in bed. Mu Lantu could hardly face himself.
Weren’t they supposed to be writing this afternoon?
A chuckle at his back made his heart tingle.
“Baby, get up for dinner.”
“You ruined my important work—compensate me.”
“Alright, I’ll keep you company a little longer.”
Hearing him actually move to climb back in, Mu Lantu scrambled up.
“No need! I’m up! And by the way—bad puns cost you money!”
Xu Huazhang watched him run to the bathroom like a gust of cheerful wind, then stood disappointed for a while before heading out.
After dinner, Mu Lantu sat down in the study, laptop open with grave seriousness.
Xu Huazhang didn’t bother him, quietly working on LEGO nearby.
One minute later, the Word doc was blank.
Two minutes later, still blank.
Ten minutes later… still blank.
A silent smile curled Xu Huazhang’s lips.
Without looking back, Mu Lantu could sense him smiling. He laughed at himself a little, then said, “What are you laughing at? A good opening is the soul of a novel. Once I write the start, the rest will flow.”
Xu Huazhang smiled wider. “Baby’s right.”
“If you laugh again, I’ll make the two protagonists stay apart for a hundred chapters before getting together.” Mu Lantu threatened sweetly.
Xu Huazhang’s face turned blank in an instant. “Baby, look—I’m not laughing.”
Mu Lantu smirked. Scared now, huh?
Finally, after another ten minutes of thought, his fingers flew across the keyboard. Characters began filling the page rapidly.
Xu Huazhang continued with his LEGO.
By 9:30, he stopped Mu Lantu, and the two of them washed up for bed, making sure they had enough rest.
On the way to the track field the next day, Xu Huazhang instantly sensed malicious gazes on them.
Mu Lantu glanced back but saw nothing.
They exchanged a look.
A holographic message popped up on their watches:
Congratulations, player, you have been sent into a Forced Dungeon. Entry cost: 1000 gold coins. Cannot be refused.
Mission: Escape from Holy Light Mountain.
Time limit: 3 hours.
Success reward: 2 credits, 200 gold coins + 1000 bonus gold coins.
Failure penalty: Death.
—
The mountain range was jagged, peaks rising endlessly. Thousands of climbers swarmed shoulder to shoulder.
Mu Lantu was swept along, forced up layer after layer of stone steps. It reminded him of the suffocating crowds at tourist hotspots during holidays.
Xu Huazhang followed close behind, already plotting a way out.
The staircase was less than ten meters wide, cliffs dropping away on either side. To leave Holy Light Mountain, there seemed to be only two options: keep climbing and figure it out at the summit, or turn back the way they came.
“Everyone, push harder! Tickets to Holy Light Mountain are hard to get. Since we finally have them, we must climb to the top, bathe in the Holy Light, and the next year will be full of fortune!” A bespectacled middle-aged man shouted, eyes gleaming with fanaticism.
Behind him, voices echoed in unison, hoarse but unyielding.
“Go! Go!”
“Go! Go!”
The uniform chants rolled down the mountain like a relay, more terrifying than any pyramid scheme.
One climber clutched his stomach. “My stomach hurts—I need to go down, let me through!”
A player.
Everyone around him turned their heads, staring at him with unblinking, unnatural eyes.
“Don’t you want to bathe in the Holy Light?”
“I don’t! My stomach really hurts—I need to go down!”
Suddenly, four climbers grabbed him and, without a word, hurled him over the railing.
“Ahhh—”
He plummeted into the abyss, smashing against jagged rock, body mangled.
The other players in the crowd went pale.
Another shouted, “I’m a fugitive! Let me through—I need to go down to the police station and turn myself in!”
“In that case, let me enforce justice on behalf of Heaven!” A pot-bellied man cackled, pulling out a dagger and stabbing mercilessly.
Two more climbers wordlessly hauled the corpse and tossed it into the gorge.
The rest of the players trembled, turning their heads back, not daring to mention descending again.
The human tide surged endlessly. The players were like dead leaves on the water’s surface, carried helplessly by the current.
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