The Great Thief

After returning from the lower-class areas, Buggy and his group came and visited Lu Li. There was a tradition in Jiangnan where they would bring gifts for the elders.

Truthfully, Lu Li had not expected any returns in loyalty when he first started to help them. However, Buggy and his group of people instantly saw Lu Li as a great benefactor and a big brother to them. Therefore, they decided to help Lu Li out by becoming a hidden strength and weapon for Ruling Sword. After all, Square Root also had the idea of having a presence like alongside them.

Lu Li’s first impression of Buggy’s group was not a positive one; he thought that they were just wannabe gangsters and were not motivated to do anything. However, they had now changed drastically from their old ways.

As of now, Buggy’s group were doing well in Dawn. They had managed to exchange some game currency to real life-dollars, allowing them to rent a fairly large warehouse for work uses in the civilian district. Similar to Lu Li and his sister, they had also escaped the life of poverty.

They had brought back merchandise that was sold for Chinese New Year to their homes in previous years as well. Who knew that the ones who were looked down upon back then could succeed and do things like this?

“Brother Lu Li, there are new bullies and gangsters in our old areas. How about you come with us and return there?”

Lu Li was curious and asked, “Return? What for?”

“If you’re there with us, they would not dare to do anything reckless like bullying innocent people.”

There would always be people like Buggy, who after succeeding in life, would want to help their old homes become better places.

“Sorry, I’m not that interested,” Lu Li apologized shook his head.

After all, he wasn’t the leader of the gangsters. He may have grown up there, and a lot of people feared him, but he was not one of them.

“Argh…we’ll do what we want then,” Buggy pleaded in frustration.

“Anyone else can go but you, Buggy,” Lu Li said assertively as he shot him a cold look.

When Lu Li was still young, everyone in the neighbourhood had supported him and his sister. However, the main benefactor was Buggy’s family.

“I won’t go.” Buggy had no words to say after Lu Li said that.

“If you want to go back and be a gangster, then go ahead. However, be a good one with upright morals. If you don’t want to go back and be a gangster, then work hard in Dawn. As for the people in our old homes, help them out in the game,” Lu Li began to say.

The other people began to listen in silence.

Without Lu Li’s words, these people were not able to make decisions for themselves.

This was because it was Lu Li who had helped them to escape that place of poverty. Now that they wanted to return, they felt the need to seek his permission.

Lu Li had become an unshakeable influence in their lives. Having said all this, he meant that they could now make their own decisions.

Truthfully, Lu Li did not want to manage these people.

“Oh right, I plan to build a school in my old area. For the people heading back there, you can help me out there.”

Lu Li thought of this idea in the afternoon. He did not feel compelled to help everyone there, because he had already repaid his benefactors.

However, he had done this for his sister.

He felt that building a school was the best way for paving a way to success.

During his times in poverty, Lu Xin had to walk a long way to her school, which was extremely dangerous. As such, Lu Li decided to follow her every day to ensure her safety.

Now that he had decided to build a school near his old area, many would benefit from it.

“Brother Lu Li, rest easy on this matter.”

The few who wished to return slapped their chest and promised, “Our wish is always your command, Brother Lu Li. Feel free to send people to let us know if you want us to do anything. We’re always one of your people.”

“Ha,” Lu Li chuckled a little and did not think much of it.

Wow, the boring brotherhood mentality!

After settling the matters with his sister, Lu Li then returned to his usual lifestyle of constant grinding in Dawn.

Chinese New Year was the most important festival in the whole of China. Therefore, all the gaming competitions were postponed for at least half a month. All the big organisations had given their members a long holiday.

During times like these, the largest organisations’ strengths were at an all-time low.

The biggest impact of this change was the competition regarding Wild Bosses as everyone had gone home to celebrate Chinese New Year. The ones who were still online were also the ones with discipline and organisational mindsets.

Ruling Sword also pursued the Wild Bosses during this period. However, Lu Li had only brought a small group each time, so they could not relax.

During the night before Chinese New Year, Lu Xin sat on the couch and gazed in the night sky, while Lu Li wore the game helmet and was in game.

This was an odd situation, but not unexpected.

Lu Li was killing the Heartrazor in the area of the Thousand Needles. Heartrazor was a Wyvern with a large, copper-greyish body. It was known for its brutal Critical strikes and its tremendous AoE skills. It dropped a rare material called Bristly Whisker upon its death. This material was used in many areas of craftsmanship, so it was in high-demand among the organisations.

“Second squad, use the hit-and-run tactic. Flee from the people from Blood Red War Flag,” Lu Li instructed. He stood upon a smooth and solid rock so that he could command the squads while maintaining a maximum field of view.

“Boss, the aggro’s not with me – the Boss was taunted away. It’s one of the people from Glorious Paladins!” World’s Best Friend yelled.

“How’d you lose aggro so easily? Thief Squad, go and kill their MT.”

Lu Li did not want to investigate further. After all, he could use the Thief Squad to disrupt the other team’s MT, while the enemy could do the same.

“Alright!”

After his instructions were received, the Thief Squad instantly jumped on the Glorious Paladin’s MT.

“Boss! Be careful!” someone yelled.

Lu Li felt that he was in danger. Without hesitating, he activated Gale Steps. While he was still struck by Arrow Barrage, he received no damage.

He looked back and saw a group of Hunters with their bows raised at him.

“Capture Lu Li alive!” one of the Hunters yelled. Although the Hunters were closely bonded as brothers, they had second-guessed themselves. After all, it was Lu Li.

“You’ve just done yourselves in.”

Lu Li jumped down from the rock and entered Stealth as soon as he landed. Some rocks were placed too high above the ground, while some were too low. He was in a position where he was an easy target. Lu Li was the only level 50 player on the rankings. Naturally, there were more people out for his blood than people who wanted to kill Bosses.