Chapter 4:

Little Ye jerked back and revealed a terribly shocked expression, 'Fuck! This guy knows Third Ye!?' Luckily his slip of expression gone unnoticed as Sun Xiang is more focused to stare at Fifth Ye.

Different from Little Ye, Fifth Ye is very calm. He does not show even a crack of his expressionless mask, "What are you talking about?" Fifth Ye asked with a relucant and confused tone.

Sun Xiang blinked back and instantly snapped out of his trace after he heard Fifth Ye's voice. The voice... It's not quite the same. Sun Xiang once again examined Fifth Ye's face and slowly loosen up his grip. Too young... The one in front of him is too young to be that banished Battle God. Although, Ye Qiu was shorter than Sun Xiang, this guy in front of him is slightly shorter than Ye Xiu.

"S-sorry, I thought you were someone else..." Sun Xiang finally got back to his right mind and quickly apologized. He might be arrogant, but his action just now could warant him a visit to a nearby police office if the one in front of him wants to report it.

"It's fine, got that alot," Fifth Ye shrugged him off calmly, acting casual as he readjusted the grocery bags hanging on his wrists. He looked down on his tragic hamburger on the ground and crouched down to pick it up again under Sun Xiang's bewildered gaze.

"What... are you doing?" Sun Xiang asked.

Fifth Ye simply tore off the part of burger that touch the ground before blew the dust off, "Five minutes rule," Fifth Ye mumbled and was about to walk away with Little Ye, opening his mouth to take a bite before suddenly Sun Xiang pulled on his wrist again.

"That's dirty," Sun Xiang said pointedly to the blemished hamburger.

"What's your problem?" Fifth Ye demanded as Little Ye hugged his waist tightly trying to pull him away. But it's useless.

"Drop that, I'll buy you a new one," Sun Xiang of course couldn't bear to let someone eat from the ground. Especially it's his fault in the first place. In any case money is not really a problem.

Little Ye gasped, his mind is still very fresh of Su Muqiu's lessons about perverts and suspicious people, 'This is... A patented gentleman trick to pick up a girl!?' Little Ye thought in horror and despise.

"No!" Little Ye quickly cried out.

Sun Xiang flicked a glance toward the pipsqueak who was hugging the guy's waist tightly, "What 'No'? I'm not asking you," One had to say, Sun Xiang is indeed a child at heart. A guy his age doesn't supposedly to respond like that to a kid.

Little Ye gritted his teeth, "Let go of my gege, pervert!" He hissed.

A tick appeared on Sun Xiang's temple, "What did you call me!?"

"Pervert! Let's go, gege!"

"Little Ye, he promised a free food," But Fifth Ye is in a different page. He was from a timeline where he was at the most desperate moment and he could fend for himself if there's a pervert.

"You! Don't be fooled!" Little Ye stomped his feet. "Look at him! Shady way of dressing, cool glasses in a dark gloomy day of winter, surgical mask, baseball cap, and he's blonde! He got piercings too! A delinquent!" Little Ye warned as he furiously tugged on Fifth Ye's sleeve.

"Wha-" Sun Xiang's eyes twitched furiously, but he couldn't say anything... Little Ye is right, he dressed like a shady person. But that doesn't mean he'll endure Fifth Ye's judging gaze. "I'm not shady! I'm also not a delinquent!"

It only make him more suspicious okay? "Uhh, We should be going. Our family would be worried," Fifth Ye calmly handed Sun Xiang his burger and Sun Xiang dumbly accepted it.

Fifth Ye smoothly freed his wrist from Sun Xiang's grip and gently patted the back of Sun Xiang's hand. "You can have the burger," Fifth Ye said albeit relucantly.

"Huh?" Sun Xiang blinked at the half eaten burger in his hand.

"Run! Little Ye!" Taking chance from Sun Xiang's dumbfounded-ness, Fifth Ye quickly ushered Little Ye on and the two boys run for the hills.

"Wha-?! Hey!" Was he really look like a shady person!? He's a good guy with clean record alright?! "And what the fuck I need this burger for?!" Sun Xiang cursed as he tossed the half-eaten burger to the ground grudgingly.

Fifth Ye and Little Ye kept running before they bumped onto Ye Xiu. "What is wrong with you two?" Ye Xiu puffed a cloud of smoke in confusion at the two.

"Third Ye! Some creep tried to take liberty with Fifth Ye!" Little Ye tattled as he transfered all grocery bags he had to Ye Xiu.

"Are you okay?" Ye Xiu quickly turned to examine Fifth Ye in concern. Don't kidd around, this is the problem of chastity of his younger body!

"I'm fine, I just need to sacrifice my food," Fifth Ye smiled.

"As long as it's not you who got eaten," Ye Xiu nodded in satisfaction. "How did the offender looked like?"

"Baseball cap," Little Ye gestured

"Cool glasses," Fifth Ye added

"Surgical mask,"

"Blonde,"

"Got piercings on his ears," Fifth Ye added.

"Tall,"

"Acted like a brat!"

"He wore a feathery jacket... Boa?"

"Damn, he sounded so shady. Be careful next time, come on I'll escort you guys to home," Ye Xiu clicked his tongue.

"Yeah, These days are full of creeps. Brother expert, you should take care of your little brothers," Seven Field and the others expressed their concern for Ye Xiu.

"Yeah, creeps keep appearing out of nowhere harassing us, I don't understand how state of law worked again," Ye Xiu sighed out his woe when suddenly Plantago Seeds come out of nowhere and attacked them without any greeting.

"(Let's exchange some notes)" Plantago Seeds let out a speechbubble and attacked again.

"A creep appeared out of nowhere!" Seven Field and Sleeping Moon exclaimed incredulously as they scrambled out of the way.

"A creep! Taste my brick!" Steamed Bun screamed.

Behind the screen playing Plantago Seeds, Wang Jiexi blinked. Why does he suddenly got marked as a creep?

"Third Ye, please... I'm falling behind this way. I can't find a decent teammate! If I'm not a flipping Cleric, I might could carry them no matter how noobish- but I can't!" Fifth Ye begged as his Cleric, Cloudy Autumn Sky, neared them.

"Autumn Sky, a pleasant surprise to see you here," Ye Xiu teased a bit.

"A pleasant hmph! Yeah, I'm five levels behind! So what?" Fifth Ye glared at Lord Grim.

"What do you want?" Ye Xiu indulged.

"Let me borrow One-Inch Love for a day, you could go on alone right?" Fifth Ye proposed.

"Does Little One-Inch Love agree?" Lord Grim turned to see One-Inch Love.

"I don't mind, He had asked me before this,"

"Alright then, go along" Ye Xiu told them. He had placed a pity on Fifth Ye too, a brilliant tactical ability is nothing with pig-like teammates. Ye Xiu could only pull it because he also a fighter but Cleric is just...

"Umn... Eh, Second Ye said because Wang Jiexi had visited, his kids might appear next," Fifth Ye said.

"I see, all the more reason for you guys to quickly go away. I don't want you guys to be accidentally scouted" by creeps. There's a reason why he told Little Ye to stand back when Wang Jiexi attacked. Creep.

"Alright, call us anytime if you need us. We'll be there to back you up," Fifth Ye kindly said.

"We don't need a cleric," Ye Xiu blurted out.

"Fxck You!"

After the whole fiasco and dramatic beautiful chasing game with the whole Tiny Herb. See? They're indeed bunch of creeps. Stalkering and all...

Ye Xiu succeeded in extorting them for many materials he needed. As well, having so many willing players to beat down Tang Rou into submission, two birds with one stone. There's a reason why Ye Xiu is unceremoniously crowned as the Master Tactician with the blackest heart.

Not to mention, he had succeeded scouting a player with Ghostblade potential, right under the 'discerning' Wang Jiexi's nose. On the other hand, his 'little brothers' are safe from the Magician's thorough investigation and research.

The little Assassin guy, named Qiao Yifan, had just contact him to ask for his guidance. Which is perfect, as they're short on people anyways because Ye Xiu doesn't want to call Little Ye back to the party with large possiblity they're still watched by Wang Jiexi.

That Big-Eye even tried to invite Tang Rou into his team. Tang Rou is full of potential... But his younger selves are even more so. Prove is that Fourth Ye is currently dealing with many offers to join a camp along with Second Ye.

Ye Xiu smiled leisurely, in any case he didn't mind another help. That's right what's the avatar's name again?

"One-Inch... What?" Ye Xiu stared blankly.

"One-Inch Ash?" Ye Xiu brows shooted up in surprise as he sees the name of his new protege (that he had robbed from under Wang Jiexi's nose), Qiao Yifan. "You have such a poetic naming-skill, Little Qiao," Ye Xiu commented ruefully.

"How surprising," Tang Rou also pursed her lips as she smiled in amusement.

"A-ah, thank you. It wasn't that much," Qiao Yifan become embrassed and quickly reasoned.

"Woah-! Boss his name is-" Steamed Bun Invasion almost blurted out

"Ssh!" Tang Rou shuts him up at the right time,

"Enough, you want to learn from me right?" Ye Xiu asked.

"Yes!" Qiao Yifan answered. "I had learnt about Ghostblades from various match record of Team Void but..." He needs someone to directly teach him... Like Gao Yingjie who have the luxury to learn under The Magician, Wang Jiexi. Remembering his good friend, Qiao Yifan's gaze casted down a bit as his grip on his mouse tightened.

"I see, have you studied the dungeon?" Ye Xiu asked.

"Yes! Thank you so much for having me!" Qiao Yifan actually nodded politely toward Lord Grim in his screen.

"It's fine, we're short on person anyway. The other one is still can't come," Lord Grim motioned to the others to follow him.

"Can't... Come? You guys have a fixed party?" Qiao Yifan asked nervously. If the guy from the fixed original line-up come back, will he got thrown aside?

"Hmm, you can say it that way. He's also from swordman class, A Blademaster." Ye Xiu explained.

"Oh..." Qiao Yifan is really a replacement now right? He couldn't help but to feel a bit bitter and regretful that he couldn't learn long under God Ye Qiu's tutelage.

"You don't have to worry, you can always come. Moreover, the kid is still away doing charity fight for a poor isolated Cleric," Ye Xiu said assuringly.

"Yes..."

...

Meanwhile, Fifth Ye and Little Ye are currently in a dillema. Because it's impossible for Cleric to be alone in the first place, Fifth Ye had decided to join a guild... And that guild is Blue Brook Guild.

The thing is, when Cloudy Autumn Sky brought One-Inch Love to search for a party members in the guild. Fifth Ye truly forgot how famous his 'little brother' was, and as a result he's currently being casted to the side.

"One-Inch Love, are you here to join Blue Brook finally?!"

"Little brother! Glad to see you have been enlightened!"

"Quick, quick! Call Guild Leader Blue River!"

"Um, he's here with me," Fifth Ye's sweatdropped as things escalated this much.

"Good job, brother! You'll surely be rewarded!"

"Actually-"

"Now you could go, we'll report this good news ourselves,"

"What?" Fifth Ye blinked.

"Yeah, you could go and join the others' party. Some of them lacked Cleric, don't worry just tell them I sent you and they wouldn't refuse despite your low level," A particularly snobbish player said.

"But, One-Inch Love is with me. I'm here just to search for others," to fill in the quota.

"We'll have to talk with Guild leader first. Beside if One-Inch Love is gonna be partied up, it will be with high level cleric. Brother, don't be a bother, come back when you have enough level."

"Yeah, noob clerics couldn't keep up with high-leveled player,"

"Noob...?" Fifth Ye's eyes twitched. Who was he? He was the Battle God! The owner of One Autumn Leaf who had wreak havoc in the first server! So what if he's currently a cleric?!

Little Ye immadiately feels uneasy sitting by Fifth Ye's side. "I'm sorry, I'm actually here for-"

They didn't listen and their Guild leader came. "Little Brother One-Inch Love? Are you here to join?" Blue River smiled amicably. Changing Spring had told him severely to keep an eye out for One-Inch Love because it looked like the Sword Saint, Huang Shaotian is interested in the kid. As a big fan of Huang Shaotian, how could Blue River disappoints his idol? Naturally he paid extra attention for him.

If the kid joins Blue Brook, it would be better.

"Aah, Blue River-ge. I'm actually here just searching for more people to fill in a party quota. I already have your guild's cleric, so just three more," Little Ye said awkwardly as he could feels his 'big brother's displeasure.

"Oh you want a help? Three more people?" Blue River asked in pleasant surprise. He wondered what happened with his cooperation with Lord Grim but refrained himself for asking.

"Guild Leader, the cleric he found is too low in level, no doubt a noob," Someone said to Blue River and walked around Cloudy Autumn Sky to prove his point as well showing Blue River.

"This..." Blue River looked at Cloudy Autumn Sky's level and truly... Although it's pretty average- it's really low compared to the high-level players.

Fifth Ye is truly too sad, after he changed class completely to become a cleric it had been a struggle for him. In the first place, they truly don't have anything and Ye Xiu couldn't be careless about equiments as long as it's good. But Cloudy Autumn Sky could only wear at most blue equips that didn't even for his current level.

Players with high level naturally want a good cleric, and they see the quality from the cover like 'Level' and 'Equipments'. So Cloudy Autumn Sky automatically stuck with... It's not wrong to call them noobs. And levelling up with noobs is suck.

"No, Sky-gege is enough," Little Ye defended. He trusts Fifth Ye's capability, even though the avatar's level is low, Little Ye dares to bet there's no better cleric in this server except for Fifth Ye.

"One-Inch Love, since you came to ask for help naturally the best have to be given. There are other high leveled clerics in the Blue Brook guild," Blue River coaxed. "Brother Sky, thank you for your sincerity we'll reward you with points later. You may leave now," Blue River gently said to the Cleric who was silent since the start. He must felt very awkward, Blue River took a pity on him.

Little Ye gulped as the dark aura is getting stronger from the older guy beside him.

"Woah! It's really dark here even with the light," Fourth Ye exclaimed from across the room where he's trying to upgrade his Myriad Manifestations Umbrella, "Tune down the intensity will you, Fifth?"

"Yeah, we're in the crucial part right now," Second Ye bit his cigarette and grunted carelessly.

'Stop talking you guys!' Little Ye cried out in his heart. Fifth Ye is smiling now! He's smiling so dazzlingly! So dazzling that it's blinding!

"I see," Fifth Ye said gently much to Little Ye's horror. "I'll leave then," Fifth Ye said simply as if he was just commenting on the weather.

[Player Cloudy Autumn Sky has left the Guild]

Blue River stared blankly at the Guild's annoucement, his mouth gaped slightly. This brother's pride is so big! Told to leave and he actualy leave the guild instead! Wait, is he prideful or simply dumb?

"I'm leaving," Cloudy Autumn Sky handsomely turned around and run off ellegantly.

"Fi- Cloudy Autumn Sky-ge! Wait!" One-Inch Love panicked and called out toward his big brother.

"What's wrong?" Blue River asked in astonishment.

"Sigh... I'm here in the Blue Brook is for sole reason to help Cloudy Autumn Sky to level up. Why did you guys kept trying to shove me other useless cleric?" Little Ye scolded and took off running after the Cleric.

"What?! Why no one tell me this?!" Blue River cried out and demanded to the guys around.

"We also don't know! We just know that cleric brought him here, we thought..." Enough to be said.

"Fool! How many people had tried to coax One-Inch Love before?! If they were not friends in real life, One-Inch Love wouldn't want to come without his own will!" Blue River wanted to bang his head to the wall. How could this people be so short-sighted!? But in a sense, Blue River is also in the wrong for not listening One-Inch Love's subtle insistance.

"We track them down and tried to drag this Cloudy Autumn Sky back to our Guild!" Blue River decided and also took off running after the duo that had just left.

And so the dramatic chase initiated by a pissed handsome cleric started.

Days later after dramatic chase across city and other maps, which ended in sad ending because the bride- ehem! The cleric refused to come back and bring away the talented Blademaster off under Blue River's persuasion trials- that's failed anyway.

Little Ye went online to find himself got jumped at and ganged up. Luckily Cloudy Autumn Sky went offline beside him so when the first wave of attacks come they cleaned it out nicely.

But then the second ad third and so on waves come and they're forced to runaway. Little Ye is speechless and so was Fifth Ye, where are all these busybodies come from? Had they offended anyone recently?

"It feels like that chase across the maps, but with killing intent. Fifth brother, maybe you should have just accepted the invitation to re-join Blue Brook, ah," Little Ye sweated.

"Don't be ridiculous! You'd think just because of me, a measly cleric, they would go this far?"

"Then why are we being chased?!" Little Ye grumbled in annoyance as One-Inch Love shielded Cloudy Autumn Sky from an attack and got healed in return.

"Jump! A ghost boundary!"

"Where did this clown come from?"

"Why are you guys so noisy there?" Fourth Ye asked blandly as he slayed yet another higher level avatar. "Second Ye is talking with Big Ye, so tune down a little,"

That got them to shut up immadiately. Not long after, Second Ye entered the room while holding a phone. "Big Ye asked if you guys want a souvenir?"

"If he answer what he's doing first," Fourth Ye said blankly.

"No then," Second Ye nodded. "Don't kill anyone, if you did please don't come back," Second Ye ended the call and peered curiously at the youngest duo.

"Why were you guys being so noisy just now?"

"Some people chase us and want to kill us. We don't know why," Fifth Ye answered.

Second Ye blinked and laughed, "Ask your third brother, he might know,"

Fifth Ye and Little Ye looked at each other before sighing.

"Alright, everyone is here?!" Lord Grim called out after Cleansing Mist and One-Inch Ash appeared. "We're going to break through them and-"

"Where's One-Inch Love, I didn't see him." Flowing Tree popped up and asked from Lord Grim's side.

"Cleansing Mist will-"

"Don't ignore me old Ye! Where's that pipsqueak?! Is that... Wait, not that's One-Inch Ash. Is that him? He changed class? Why? He's suited to be a blademaster! Who told him to change? Was it you? Old Ye, trust me that guy have potential don't just shove him into another class. If you dislike him, Blue Rain would gladly take him!" Huang Shaotian immadiately jumped and suggested.

"Sigh, No. That wasn't him," Ye Xiu gave up and simply give he command via party's chat.

"Oh, then where's him?"

"Can you not making it so obvious that you want to snitch him?"

"Since you already know, why should I hide it?" Huang Shaotian shrugged shamelessly.

"He's not here. Help us a bit," Ye Xiu requested and Huang Shaotian helped to assist them out of the formation trap and run.

"Fuck! Why am I helping you?! I'm here to PK! PKPKPKPKPKPK! Come on do you dare? Do you not?"

"Heh..." Lord Grim turned to the rest, "Arena or Dungeon?"

"Dungeon,"

"Dungeon,"

"Wherever you want,"

"Let's get on TV!"

"Fuck you Ye Qiu!" Huang Shaotian cursed. "Why was I helped you just now?! This trip is useless!" He thought at the very least he could meet One-Inch Love again and see if he becomes better in this few weeks but One-Inch Love is not even here! Though... Huang Shaotian has a sneaking suspicion that the Ghostblade is One-Inch Love in different account.

"You want to come along? Our party is full though, you should level up first," Ye Xiu said sincerely. No, whenever he used that tone he's anything but sincere.

"Why should I? Motherfucker! I don't want to join your lousy party! I want a PK!" Huang Shaotian proceed to produce speechbubbles with "PK PK PK PK!"

"Let's go everyone," Lord Grim turned around to let the others away.

"Hold! You Ghostblade over there!" Flowing Tree quickly jumped and arrived before One-Inch Love.

"Eh? Me?" Qiao Yifan is speechless. Of course Qiao Yifan knows the low-level Blademaster before him is The Alliance's Sword Saint, Huang Shaotian, after all only few could be so skilled in the class and could produce many speechbubbles whilst fighting, not to mention he interacted really smoothly with God Ye. What does the Sword Saint wants with him? Qiao Yifan is used to be invisible, now he's suddenly have to interract with another God, it's just too much.

"Yeah," Huang Shaotian scrutinized. The voice is slightly different though... "Are you One-Inch -?"

"Third Brother!" Speak of the devil and he'll come. Everyone turned to look at the approaching avatars, a handsome Blademaster and a long haired blonde male cleric behind him.

"What happened? We suddenly got chased and almost got assassinated several times, and someone said it's your fault." Cloudy Autumn Sky looked at Lord Grim's party state of health and prompting to heal the one that needed it the most.

"You guys too?" Ye Xiu is a bit surprised but not too much. He forgot that One-Inch Love was his regular partner until a few days ago.

"... It's really you?" Fifth Ye asked unimpressedly.

"It could be said that way." Ye Xiu answered. "How many times did you guys died?" Ye Xiu asked teasingly.

"You think I'm a useless cleric?" Fifth Ye scoffed disdainfully.

"True. With Cloudy Autumn Sky I could kill everyone that try to stop us," Little Ye agreed.

"Really? How many?" Huang Shaotian ditched One-Inch Ash once he knew Ye Xiu is not lying about One-Inch Love.

"Thirteen or something? Oh wait, you're that Sword Saint right?" Little Ye asked relucantly.

"How do you- Old Ye told you? How many time I have to tell you about secret privacy?" Huang Shaotian glared at the screen and continues, "Yeah, I'm him. Do you got something to say to me?" Huang Shaotian eagerly asked.

"No... It's just Lord Grim told me to be careful and to not talk with you," Little Ye blankly answered.

"Wha- OLD YE, WHAT THE FUCK?!" Huang Shaotian furiously turned Flowing Tree to see Lord Grim. Demanding an answer.

"No cursing, this is why you shouldn't be around children!" Su Mucheng piped up with a tone of displeasure and disapproval as Cleansing Mist directed her launcher towards Flowing Tree.

"Oops?"

"Anyway, why are there so many people here?" Fifth Ye asked.

"True, a part shouldn't be this many right?" Little Ye also looked at the group before stopping at a certain avatar. "Hey!"

Qiao Yifan blinked as the Blademaster neared him. Wait... A blademaster? "Hello," Qiao Yifan lamely greeted. This Blademaster must be the fixed original member of Lord Grim's party that was needed for... Charity fight? Qiao Yifan felt a bit bitter, is he coming back?

"Hello, your name is One-Inch Ash! It's from the same verse as my name," He said and Qiao Yifan looked up to read the blademaster's name, One-Inch Love... Qiao Yifan gaped.

"We're like couples!" Little Ye said in amusement. He had originally want to let the name 'One-Inch Ash' to be his alt or something. Who will expect someone else would already thought it up?

Qiao Yifan gasped when he read the name above the blademaster's head again, One-Inch Love... Qiao Yifan immadiately blushed, "One... One-Inch Love?" He stuttered. How embrassing! Not only he was replacing him, he also have an almost identical name as the original fixed party member! Is he taking up the role of 'Replacement' that serious?! Stupid!

"Neat right? We could be brothers, we also used swords. Let's be friends," After saying this, Little Ye sent a friend request to One-Inch Ash who was immadiately overwhelmed by the 'favor'.

"Okay," Qiao Yifan accepted. "N- Nice to meet you?"

Little Ye chuckled leisurely, "Nice to meet you too, can I call you Little Ash?"

"He's older than you though," Ye Xiu piped in.

"Oh? Then, Brother Ash?" Little Ye suggested again.

"Yes, of course. Then I'll call you..." Qiao Yifan is suddenly at lost for words.

"You can't call him Little Love," Ye Xiu piped in again and Fifth Ye as well the others snickered merrily.

And that's the start of a beautiful friendship.

Special not-thanks to MTKiseki and JouissanceTKA. Screw you guys :')