VRMMORPG: The Other World Online

Cheng Xiu's eyes widened at the bass of the voice. It was attractive and also familiar. "I am…SelaXiu."

"How are you now?"

"Fine," Cheng Xiu said, pursing her lips. "And thank you for your many bits of help."

"Many helps?"

"For saving my Spirit Pet and for saving me. Even though I am not as famous or influential, I would do anything in my power to repay this debt. Thank you."

A soft Chuckle was heard on the other side. "Saving your Qi Root was my duty. As for saving you…it was something any decent person why could do something would do."

"It is just an act of decency for you," Cheng Xiu said with a smile. "But your actions saved my life. So thank you."

"I do have some ulterior motives for helping you though," the man at the other side of the phone said.

Cheng Xiu's brows crinkled. "What is it?"

He laughed. "I was just teasing you. You should get better soon, right?"

Cheng Xiu frowned. "What is it? What is your motive for helping me then?"

The man sighed. "I have no particular motive…maybe just a small wish."

"What is it?"

San Zhe frowned as he saw the slightly suspicious look on her face.

"I want you to be the greatest player in The Other World as you can be," the man said.

Cheng Xiu head a the crinkling of papers, and the sound of moving fabric.

"Why? What is in it to you whether or not I reach my best?"

"I wanted to fight with you as well…the way that those Immortals did. I was a bit jealous of them, to be honest."

"So why didn't you?"

"Because, as I said, I want you to reach your best. There is nothing more addicting than the feeling you can get when you defeat someone when they are at their best."

Cheng Xiu frowned at those words. She felt like they were familiar. "That is a childish concept of fighting in the game."

The man chuckled. "An old friend said that to me when I told her that I wanted to fight her and she refused. I have always tried to play catchup."

Cheng Xiu shook her head. "Then I guess your friend is the childish one."

"Perhaps," the man said in a soft tone. "Are you alright though?"

Cheng Xiu smiled. "I am."

Her eyes fell on San Zhe.

San Zhe frowned at the glint in her eyes.

"Mr Yaksha-"

"Just say Yaksha."

Cheng Xiu nodded even though he could not see it. "Do you have a lover?"

There was silence at the other end for a few moments.

San Zhe stared at her in awe and horror.

"No."

Cheng Xiu smiled. "Are you interested in girls or boys?"

San Zhe hit his forehead in exasperation.

There was silence once again.

"What did you say?" the man at the other end asked her in confusion.

"Are you interested in boys or girls?" Cheng Xiu said with a sigh.

"…girls."

Cheng Xiu blinked. "Oh."

"You sound disappointed."

"I was hoping to be the reason why San Zhe has a love life. Oh Well."

San Zhe looked at Cheng Xiu like she was the cruellest person in the world.

Cheng Xiu felt guilt build up in her heart. "Um…it was nice meeting you then."

"Tell San Zhe to message me when you are back online. I would like to talk to you in the game."

Cheng Xiu nodded.

"Hello?"

Cheng Xiu blushed. "Sorry. Forgot you couldn't see me. Yeah. I guess I will see you online. Bye now."

The phone was cut off.

Cheng Xiu looked at San Zhe and then bowed her head. "Sorry. In my attempt to tease you and maybe try to hook you up, I did not ask your opinion. I am sorry."

San Zhe slouched and looked at Cheng Xiu for a moment. "Has anyone ever told you that your self checks a lot?"

"What?"

"You seemed to apologise a lot," San Zhe said to her.

"Only because I realised what I did was wrong," Cheng Xiu said. "And it is hard for me to see my wrongs easily."

San Zhe nodded and then took up his chopsticks again. "Shall we eat then?"

Cheng Xiu picked up her chopsticks. "Let's."

The two spent the evening with noodles and telling stories to each other.

* * *

In the spaceport of the US Country, a space shuttle landed softly.

A man with silver hair and blue eyes walked out of it in sure strides.

The women watching him nearly drooled.

Many of the employees of the space shuttle bowed to him.

A plum woman in official clothes stood waiting for him at the silver gate.

"Mrs Bai," the man said, removing his dark glasses. "is everything ready?"

"Yes, President Xiu," the woman said. "We have gathered all the Cheng Xius of the Country and the other department is collecting data at our Australian Depos. We will get a conclusive result by 9 in the evening."

The man nodded. "If my parents ask about my whereabouts, tell them you don't know. You only know that I am searching for a Cheng Xiu."

The woman nodded. "Understood sir."

"Let's leave for the hotel then."

"This way sir."

The woman and President Xiu walked away to the car waiting for them.

* * *

In another location, somewhere in the suburbs of London, three bodies were piled on top of each other.

A woman and two men.

A man in a white suit raised his arm and shot balls fire at the body pile, burning them to ashes.

A man grey suit came towards him with two glasses of wine.

He handed one over to the man in the white suit.

"That is a total of six people we have found in the last one week," the man in white said with distaste in his face and voice. "Joseph, they are evolving faster than we had anticipated."

Joseph sighed. "I have tried to find Maya's servers again, but it is no use. That AI is too cunning."

The man in white sighed. "I had thought that with the death of creator Qin, the project would be destroyed completely. Have you got a lead on how Maya went online again?"

Joseph pursed his lips. "Only a brief report. Something about a Player in the Beta stage accessing the Primordial Title, allowing Maya to access Phase 1 of her servers."

"And now she is at Phase 5," the man said with contempt. "Find me the player with the title. Perhaps we can access Maya's servers through that."

Joseph nodded.

"In the meantime, kill all the Qiless who have awakened that you find."

"Yes sir."