The warm and wonderful version 1.2 finally came to an end. Although the version was somewhat controversial, thankfully, everyone made it through safely...
Oh, not everyone made it through safely. Wende, who had forcibly saved those who were not meant to survive, paid an "extremely tragic" price. From his perspective, it was probably a whole heap of trouble...
In any case, version 1.2 passed quietly amidst laughter and cheers, and version 1.3 arrived as scheduled!
Based on some of the official information revealed beforehand, the Aurum Alley event and the changes to the Trailblaze Power system were the most anticipated features. Of course, there was also the version 1.3 main story quest and the banners for Dan Heng and Fu Xuan. All of this filled people with excitement and anticipation!
I can't stand another day in version 1.2!
(Kafka: Are you sure about that?)
---o---
Right now, Sister Guoguo was waiting for the version 1.3 preview livestream that evening. She had just put together a new Kafka DoT team, a dual main DPS style featuring Kafka and five-star Wende, plus the Himeko she had just gotten to E6S1 from losing the 50/50, and Sampo to round it out. The team was complete!
"Sigh, how lonely it is to be invincible~"
Lacing her hands behind her head, a Nike-swoosh of a grin spread across Sister Guoguo's lips as she gazed at the team on her computer, which required no input from her at all.
What's a healer? Don't need one! What's a tank? Don't need one! Just fight!
As long as the moronic auto-battle AI didn't switch off her Wende's skill, she was invincible!
[Ah I'm so bored]
[Maybe it's because the 1.3 preview is about to start?]
[Finally, I can put together a team of brainless bimbos!]
[? Although you're not wrong, I feel like you're somewhat wrong, even if you're not wrong.]
[Open the gates! F*cking open the gates already! How long have I been waiting for 1.3?!]
---o---
"Sigh, it's version 1.3 already..."
Little Wende propped up his chin, looking boredly at the system panel in front of him. He didn't have to be a guest this time, which was nice. He had no desire to face those animals in the real world in this state... If things went as expected, then unexpected things would surely happen, right?
The thought of his image, both big and small, being scrutinized inside and out by this group of players made him shiver uncontrollably.
Truly terrifying!
"Sigh, how much longer is miHoYo going to keep us on the Xianzhou~"
Little Wende leaned back into the soft, springy chair, his eyes as dead as a fish's.
Ah... here we go again...
(Two days until little Wende returns to normal.)
The next morning, an exhausted little Wende was pulled up by Tingyun, who personally washed him up before feeding him a delicious meal she had cooked herself.
No matter how you looked at it, it seemed little Wende was on the verge of being pampered into a useless shut-in by Tingyun...
As for that Jingliu, she loved to bully him whenever she had nothing better to do. The moment he got angry, she would leave like a typical playgirl. It was said that Jing Yuan's disciple had received a lot of "pointers" from Jingliu during this time, but he was also close to developing Jingliu PTSD...
According to others, the training sessions were exceptionally brutal. Yanqing was basically never seen without an injury during this period. But who knows what kind of chicken soup for the soul Jingliu fed him, because that kid truly was an iron head...
Jing Yuan was naturally aware of the situation. However, after watching Jingliu temper Yanqing just once, he simply left with a nostalgic smile on his face, making no move to stop her "tutelage."
On this day, little Wende, after much consideration, came to a conclusion: he couldn't stand another day on the Xianzhou. So, he called March and asked her to pick him up and take him back to the Express.
And then...
"Ah... how could I forget about this?"
Little Wende wore a look of utter despair in Himeko's embrace.
"Oh? Little Wende looks so downcast the moment he gets back... Could it be that you're dissatisfied with your big sister?"
Seeing little Wende's numb expression, Himeko put on a "very hurt" look.
"Big Sis Himeko... is it possible that I miss you a lot, but I'm also an adult? My body just got smaller! I'll be back to normal in a couple of days!"
Little Wende protested indignantly to Himeko. Why was every single one of them like this?! Was he some kind of Cyber Succubus?! Hiss... no, mustn't make that connection, mustn't see the similarities! Or else I'll fall to depravity!
In short, after being thoroughly ravaged by Himeko like a pet, little Wende could only hug Pom-Pom for comfort.
"Er... Don't look like that! What's with that expression of yours! Pull yourself together, Pom!"
It was the ever-empathetic and adorable Conductor who comforted Wende, even offering him a glass of juice she had made herself. Only then was little Wende's on-the-verge-of-shattering Dao Heart salvaged.
And so, little Wende finally got a good night's sleep in his own room for the first time in a while.
And then...
"..."
"Are you two... permanently bound to me?"
Looking at Tingyun and Jingliu on his bed, little Wende asked a question that came from the depths of his soul.
"Oh? We're members of the Astral Express now, too. Isn't it normal for us to be able to move about freely on the train?"
Jingliu looked at little Wende's amusing expression, her willow-leaf brows raised slightly and the corners of her lips tilting upward, as if seeing him flustered brought her great joy.
"Sister Jingliu, stop teasing Benefactor."
Tingyun shot Jingliu a chiding look, then turned her gentle gaze to little Wende, her pink lips parting slightly.
"Benefactor, you don't want to remain in a child's form forever, do you?"
(Two days until little Wende returns to normal.)
---o---
Knock knock knock...
"Coming."
Natasha gently pushed open the clinic door but saw no one.
"Could it be that Hook is playing tricks again?"
Natasha muttered to herself. Just as she was about to close the door, she felt a touch on her leg.
Thud...
Looking down, she saw little Wende, whose large purple eyes were staring up resentfully at the Natasha who had ignored him.
Hiss...
---o---
"Here, this is milk tea. I added extra sugar. I hope you like it."
Natasha gently handed a cup of milk tea to little Wende. Looking at his flushed little face, she smiled.
"How is it that after just a few months, Doctor Wende has turned into this?" she asked, holding back a laugh as she watched him sip the hot tea.
"Sigh, it's a long story..."
Wende shook his head with great emotion. As expected, he could only feel at ease when he was with his colleague...
Inside the quiet little clinic, the two of them drank tea and spent a peaceful day together.
The situation in Belobog now was worlds better than before. After the Star Rail was opened, many people had flocked to do business with them, and the quality of life in all of Belobog had improved by more than just a little.