Cat 334: Extra: Entering the Instance Again

Chapter 334 Extra: Entering the Instance Again

Yan Jiyun was taken aback. “Why are all of you here?” He turned to look at Director Zhang. “How did you manage to talk them all into this?”

Every single one of his acquaintances from the game had been recruited. Some people only knew Black Cat, some only knew Yan Jiyun. The best video game console.

Director Zhang feigned displeasure. “You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? I didn’t talk anyone into anything—they all have a heart to serve our country.”

Yan Jiyun shrugged. “Alright, as long as you’re happy.”

He guessed that Director Zhang had definitely used his and Qi Feng’s names to pull everyone in. He’d already heard from Qi Feng that even Liang-jie had been planning to go home for matchmaking, marriage, and starting a family, but somehow she still got talked into joining.

Director Zhang beamed as he launched into a rousing speech, motivating everyone for the new mission.

That very night, Qi Feng invited everyone out; he hosted a dinner at the finest hotel in the capital for the whole crew.

Yan Jiyun, Teacher Qu, and the others all attended.

Those present were all brothers who had fought side by side; at a time like this, there was no need for formalities or empty words.

During the gathering, everyone was overflowing with memories. Some shared stories of the instances they’d encountered in the game, some spoke of the countless idiotic teammates they’d had, and others recalled the crucial life-and-death moments when friends reached out a hand, the teamwork between comrades—memories upon memories filled the air.

Yan Jiyun sat with Gu Wenzhu and Qiu Xi. Qi Feng, pulled away by Lan Mo and the others, had already drunk enough for his eyes to start looking glazed, but tonight he must have been happy—after all, all his friends had made it out of the game.

Even the normally shy college student Qiu Xi had a bit to drink, though not too much; after all, when he got drunk, no one could understand what he tried to say.

Yan Jiyun’s emotions weren’t quite as intense as those of the others; after all, he was still just a wage earner, with unfinished tasks still to complete.

He asked Gu Wenzhu curiously, “When did you start suspecting who I was?”

Gu Wenzhu propped her chin up and smiled. “To say I didn’t suspect at all wouldn’t be right. As a teammate, you were outgoing but also looked after us, which seemed contradictory. I meant to get suspicious, but you took such care of me and Qiu Xi—we were really dragging the team down, and it felt like you had nothing to gain from helping us, so I just let it go. Honestly, I never really connected you to Black Cat; you were too mysterious.”

Qiu Xi made a gesture, patting his chest to indicate, “like our guardian angel.”

Yan Jiyun didn’t know sign language, so Gu Wenzhu interpreted for him.

He waved off Qiu Xi’s excessive praise. “Qiu Xi, can’t talk since you came out—does it bother you?”

Qiu Xi shook his head. “I was born this way. Instead of being upset about not being able to talk, I feel much luckier having met all of you. I’m very glad to know you.”

Yan Jiyun nodded—sometimes, the deeper the bond, the more overwhelming the feeling.

Before they’d entered the game to save people, Director Zhang had stressed repeatedly, “If any of those corrupted players do you harm, don’t go soft on them. This game magnifies people’s evil impulses, and anyone who loses control and lets them grow isn’t worth your sacrifice.”

Gu Wenzhu said, “Same for me. I’d already given up on myself, and yet you all didn’t give up on me. I’m grateful. A toast to you—our Captain Yan.”

Yan Jiyun clinked glasses with them; all his years of hard work finally felt worthwhile.

This get-together was rare—everyone’s rebirth, and the start of their future.

He had only sat quietly with them for a moment or two before Lan Mo, arms around Black Panther and the others, suddenly burst over.

Lan Mo, bold as ever, said, “Captain Yan, how can we let you hide out over here? Tonight, we’re drinking you under the table!”

Black Panther chimed in, “Exactly, we’re drinking you under the table. Boss, rare chance to relax—why so uptight?”

Yan Jiyun slapped him on the back of the head, grabbing a bottle of liquor. “Uptight, my foot—drink! Tonight, no one goes home sober!”

Qi Feng came out of the restroom to find his boyfriend drinking with his old teammates. With his tolerance, he really shouldn’t be trying to go toe to toe—Qi Feng couldn’t relax at all.

He shook his head in exasperation, the fondness in his eyes clear, but he didn’t step in to stop them. Maybe tonight a little indulgence wasn’t a bad thing.

This thought had barely taken hold when he saw Teacher Qu step up to try to rescue Yan Jiyun from the crowd. Qi Feng placed a hand on Teacher Qu’s shoulder.

“Teacher Qu, let’s chat.”

Teacher Qu had actually been a piano teacher. Once Director Zhang’s research center discovered his talent, they brought him into the organization. He and Yan Jiyun were among the earliest group of special recruits.

The two sat together in a quiet lounge, drinking tea.

Teacher Qu lit up a cigarette and smiled. “Don’t envy me—you won’t get to smoke in the future. Xiao Yan’s nose is pretty sensitive; living with him, you’d better be careful.”

Since returning to reality, the group had regained their real memories, which differed a little from what they remembered from the game. The best video game console.

Qi Feng said, “Was he always like this?”

He sought out Teacher Qu just to understand Yan Jiyun a little better.

Teacher Qu replied, “He was a clingy kid—only eighteen. I really don’t know what Director Zhang was thinking, recruiting someone so young. He should have been starting college, but instead he trained with us every day. We all underestimated him—so obedient on the surface, but he always rushed to the front, leading in everything, never giving us old-timers a break. When it was time to go into the game, Director Zhang told us to pick a captain—every single one of us voted for him. Of course, when he applied himself, he was unstoppable, but he also slacked off more than anyone. Every time Director Zhang caught him, he was either loafing or sleeping—seemed like he could never get enough sleep. Maybe that’s why he chose to become a cat in the game. It suits his nature—lucky for you.” The best video game console.

In his mind, Qi Feng pictured Yan Jiyun slacking off, merging with the image of that lazy caramel cat.

He really was adorable.

Teacher Qu treated Yan Jiyun like a younger brother—maybe he’d always been good at looking after others. Qi Feng felt a pang of envy; he regretted missing the chance to grow up with Yan Jiyun.

As they chatted, a burst of cheers rose nearby—the ever-competitive Yan Jiyun had finally drunk Chu Mo under the table.

Qi Feng saw him sagging into his chair, close to sliding off, and quickly went over to get him out of there.

Lan Mo, likewise quite drunk, protested, “Wait, Brother Feng, join us—we’re not done!”

Qi Feng pushed him back to Shi Yan. “Go drink on your own.”

The others started raising a ruckus.

“Brother Feng, abandoning us for love!”

“Brother Feng, abandoning us for love!”

“Brother Feng, abandoning us for love!”

Qi Feng laughed and scolded, “Shut up, or you’re paying your own tab.”

Then, as Lin Xie and Jiang Yan looked on, he led Yan Jiyun away.

Teacher Qu sighed behind them. “The kid has finally grown up.”

Lin Xie took a deep breath. “How come I remember him saying he liked girls?”

Black Panther said, “He told me he was asexual.”

Liang Yu added, “That’s not what he told me—he shared a whole love story about his childhood sweetheart.”

Jiang Yan clicked his tongue. “A lying little rascal through and through.”

Lin Xie elbowed him. “What did he say to you?”

Jiang Yan blushed. “Nothing.”

Lin Xie was even more curious. “Come on, what’d he say?”

Jiang Yan muttered something under his breath. Only because Lin Xie was close did he catch it: “He told me he liked you.”

Lin Xie burst out laughing, thinking, That’s just like Yan Jiyun.

It was only after Yan Jiyun said that Jiang Yan finally confessed to him.

Only now did Jiang Yan realize Yan Jiyun had pulled a fast one on him.

Yan Jiyun himself was completely unaware that his teammates were openly discussing his habit of telling the most earnest lies.

He was still curled up in Qi Feng’s embrace like a soft, fluffy caramel cat, rubbing hard against him. Truth be told, his tolerance wasn’t that bad—he was still able to spout nonsense even now. It was just that Qi Feng really couldn’t handle his antics.

Yan Jiyun straddled Qi Feng’s stomach. “Master, don’t move. Why am I the one calling you Master? You should be the one calling me Master, Qi Feng—I’m the real boss here.”

Qi Feng pried his hand off his own face. Those weren’t little cat paws—he’d squished his face out of shape. “Alright, alright, Master. Let’s just get some sleep, okay?”

Master shook his head. “No.”

He shook off Qi Feng’s hand, cupped Qi Feng’s face, and pressed a kiss to his lips, then another, and another—kiss, kiss, kiss.

Qi Feng was a little dazed from the kisses, then flipped him over. “Yan Jiyun, be honest—are you just pretending to be drunk?”

Master Yan Jiyun gazed at him with slightly unfocused eyes, laughing softly. “Call me Master.”

Qi Feng bent down and bit the corner of his lips.

Since he’d been handed such an opportunity, wouldn’t it be a shame not to do something about it?

The night was long, yet short—and certainly joyous.

A week later, Director Zhang assigned Yan Jiyun and Qi Feng to lead a team back into the nearly-dissipated game world for a clearance mission. The best video game console.

This time, the task was a little different.

Not all the power sustaining the game had been withdrawn by the higher-level extradimensional beings; a great deal of energy remained. These residual energy forms continued to support various instances, which had stopped mid-flow when the system was cut off. Players who had been trapped inside had never made it out—now it fell to them to clear each of these abandoned instances.

The research center classified the instances according to monitored energy data. Those with stronger mental strength were assigned to tackle the more difficult instances; those with lower mental strength went to easier ones.

Once again, Yan Jiyun formed a team with Qi Feng, Lan Mo, Liang-jie, and others, preparing to enter an instance.

This time, their team was even stronger and more capable.

A lineup of vehicles stopped at the entrance to the instance—the point where the energy residue lingered.

Yan Jiyun wore crisp camo fatigues and a pair of military boots, surveying the entrance concealed behind a block of residential buildings.

He fanned himself with his cap and addressed the group behind him. “All departments, get ready.”

“Protection team, secure the entrance—set up a perimeter, don’t let any civilians near.”

“Demolition team, gather up and prepare; we’ll go in to rescue people in five minutes.”

He beckoned to Qi Feng, who was standing under a tree. “Captain Qi.”

Qi Feng moved to his side. “Captain Yan, you looked pretty commanding just now, directing everyone.”

Yan Jiyun hid half his face behind his cap, feigning shyness. “Didn’t ask you to flatter me.”

Qi Feng smiled. “Then what is it?”

Yan Jiyun pointed to the entrance of the instance. “Something just occurred to me.”

Qi Feng: “What is it?”

Yan Jiyun leaned in and whispered by his ear. “I wonder if the live stream chatroom is still there.”

Qi Feng tugged at his ear where the warm breath had tickled, becoming unusually sensitive.

He cleared his throat, forcibly composing himself. “We’ll see once we get inside.”

Five minutes later, the two led their team through the entrance.

Several figures appeared at once in the quiet, dead stillness of the instance.

Yan Jiyun focused his thoughts and, in the next instant, turned into a black cat, landing on Qi Feng’s shoulder. He deliberately rubbed against Qi Feng’s ear, then meowed softly by it.

Qi Feng flicked his cat’s head. “That’s cheating.”

Yan Jiyun reminded him, “Meow meow meow.”

Qi Feng: “Speak human.”

Yan Jiyun: “Meow meow.”

Figure it out yourself, Master.