Beng Zeng had finally completed his quest—but the timer on his quest log was still counting down.
Did that mean he had to speak to the Paladin Trainerbefore it hit zero?
"Mu," Beng asked nervously, "I've got the Paladin's Spirit, but the timer's still running. If I don't talk to the trainer before it ends, will the quest fail?"
"It might," Mu Lan said. "How much time do you have left?"
"9 minutes and 48 seconds," Beng replied, panic creeping in. "It took us 40–45 minutes to get here! How are we supposed to get back in under ten?"
"Don't worry," Mu Lan said calmly. "We'll make it in five. Just follow me—don't think, don't react to anything. Keep your eyes on me and only me. And first—drop any heavy gear from your inventory. Every ounce slows you down."
"Got it," Beng said, quickly clearing his inventory. "Alright, Mu—I'm ready. What now?"
"Now we run—fast—through the Green Wolves' territory and straight to the city. We've got no armor, no backup. One mistake, and we're dead. So move like you mean it: step where I step, match my pace, and don't look back."
"Understood," Beng nodded. "Let's race to the city."
They had a plan: reach the Paladin Trainer in under nine minutes.
Could they pull it off?
They pushed all doubt aside. There was only one goal now: the city gates.
"On 'four,' we go," Mu Lan said.
"Ready."
"One…
Two…
Three…
Four!"
The moment Mu Lan hit "four," they exploded into motion—darting through the forest like twin arrows. The Green Wolves lunged, but their claws tore only air. The boys weaved between monsters like race cars on a high-speed circuit, cutting through chaos with impossible precision.
In less than a minute, they'd cleared the Emerald Forest. They didn't stop—they sprinted through every monster zone, carving a shortcut only someone with Mu Lan's past-life knowledge could navigate.
Five minutes later, they stood at the city gates.
Beng stared, breathless. "Mu… we… how…?"
He couldn't even form a full sentence. Making it back in five minutes felt like a miracle.
"Don't waste time marveling," Mu Lan said, already moving. "We've got four minutes left. Let's not get cocky now."
"Right! Let's go claim my reward!"
Two minutes later, they stood before the Paladin Trainer.
Two minutes remained on the timer.
The NPC smiled knowingly.
"Young Paladin… I always knew you'd succeed. No need for ceremony—here is your reward."
Ding!
[Soulshield]
Level: 0
Defense: +50
Movement Speed: –5%
This shield binds to the wearer upon equipping.
As the Paladin levels up, the Soulshield grows stronger alongside them.
"Mu, look at this!" Beng's eyes shone. "It's incredible! Thank you—I knew you wouldn't forget me. You just couldn't stand seeing all the cool gear on yourself while your best friend went bare-handed, could you? Be honest!"
Mu Lan grinned. "Exactly. Watching a Paladin as amazing as you fight without a proper shield was killing me. Now that you've got it, our defense is unstoppable. We'll level up faster than ever. And hey—soon, we'll get you proper armor too. That way, when you tank monsters, you won't die in one hit."
"Wait," Beng narrowed his eyes. "Are you seriously using me as monster bait?"
"Of course!" Mu Lan laughed. "That's what Paladins are for!"
"Unbelievable… All this just so I can be your meat shield?"
"Kidding, kidding!" Mu Lan clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm boosting your defense so we can level fast, so you survive group ambushes, and so you become unkillable. I want no one—no one—to ever break through your guard."
Beng sniffed, blinking fast. "Hah… you're gonna make me cry, you jerk. Why didn't you just say that from the start? I wouldn't have worried!"
"Anyway," Mu Lan said, smirking, "now that you've got the Soulshield—equip it. Let's see how it looks."
"On it."
Beng equipped the shield instantly. A soft, radiant glow emanated from its surface, casting a faint light over his armor. It didn't just look powerful—it made him look like a true Paladin.
"Whoa, Beng," Mu Lan said, impressed. "You're glowing."
"Right?" Beng beamed. "It's legendary—and it's bound, so it'll never drop. Thanks, Mu. You got me something truly amazing."
They stood in silence for a moment, savoring the victory.
Then Beng's expression shifted.
"Wait a second… Mu, what time is it? Did we forget something? School! Our training session! We can't skip real life just because we're leveling up in-game, right? We promised ourselves we'd stay disciplined."
Mu Lan checked the clock.
"You're absolutely right. Game or no game—we keep our routine."
"Exactly," Beng said, already heading for the exit. "Let's finish our morning workout and get to school."
And just like that, the two heroes stepped out of the digital world—and back into their own.