Heretics and Demons, Coveting the Bell Keeper

Inside a KFC.

Lin Yu continued scrolling through his phone, relentlessly searching for clues about his "online girlfriend."

He had just sent a proactive message: "Are you awake yet?"

No reply so far.

Back in 2014, WeChat still allowed registration with just a QQ account.

There weren’t as many strict real-name verification requirements.

Opening the transfer interface didn’t even reveal the last character of the recipient’s name.

Even if it did, "Dreaming in the Rain" was clearly a burner or alternate account.

In the apartment group chat Qi Meng had created, there was no one by that name.

Definitely a secondary account.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu had gone all-in with his main account—she absolutely knew it was him!

Scrolling through "Dreaming in the Rain’s" Moments revealed nothing useful.

Just some stock photos, scenic shots, and a few artsy, poetic captions.

Not even a glimpse of a hand—nothing to trace.

Thinking back to how he’d added her in the first place…

He’d been so emotionally stifled he was practically suffocating, so he’d gone on a "People Nearby" spree, adding random strangers.

At the time, he’d been the epitome of thoughtlessness.

Flirting without a burner account—just charging ahead with his one and only WeChat ID.

Unsurprisingly, very few girls accepted his requests.

Only two or three actually responded, and over time, "Dreaming in the Rain" became his online girlfriend.

After they "made it official," their chats occasionally skirted the edges of risqué, but never crossed into "let me see" territory.

Later, after Qi Meng passed away, Lin Yu gradually lost touch with "Dreaming in the Rain."

It was as if she were an AI girlfriend, existing solely in the digital world.

But now, thinking about it…

There was a girl in the apartment he saw every day, someone he interacted with constantly—yet they’d secretly exchanged flirty messages.

That was… kind of thrilling, wasn’t it?

He had to uncover her identity.

Since real-name verification and Moments stalking led nowhere, maybe the username held a clue.

From what Lin Yu remembered, "Dreaming in the Rain" had never changed her display name.

So, the "Rain" in her name definitely wasn’t a reference to his "Yu."

No need for delusional male confidence here.

But among the roommates, was there a girl whose real name included "Dream" or "Rain"?

Actually… yes.

There was one girl whose name had "Dream" in it.

Even more introverted and socially anxious than Lin Yu.

The absolute embodiment of social awkwardness.

If someone was secretly engaging in an "underground romance" while too shy to meet in person… she was the prime suspect.

With a lead in mind, he’d test it out when he got back.

"Lin Yu, can I have your cone if you’re not eating it?"

A soft voice snapped him back to reality.

Across the table, Chi Qingchi was staring longingly at the half-melted ice cream cone in his hand.

He’d been so focused on his investigation that he’d completely forgotten about her.

In what felt like mere minutes, she’d already polished off a sundae and a box of nuggets.

How did girls her age stay so slim while devouring sweets and snacks without gaining weight?

One cone wasn’t enough—she wanted seconds!

Well, he hadn’t come here for ice cream anyway.

Lin Yu generously handed it over.

Once again, he saw stars shimmering in her eyes.

[Ding!]

[Your generous act of sharing with a fellow sect member has brought her joy, showcasing your magnanimity and broad-mindedness!]

[Reward: 10 Spirit Stones.]

In just this short time, he’d earned over a thousand Spirit Stones from Chi Qingchi alone.

A half-price ice cream cone? Hardly something to fuss over.

After a few interactions like this, Chi Qingchi’s favorability rating in her info panel had risen to [36%].

Not far from the next intimacy level.

More importantly, just 50 more Sect Contribution points, and he’d get another lottery draw.

So, he had to make the most of this in-house "quest dispenser."

Chi Qingchi slurped away happily, mumbling between bites:

"Lin Yu, once my sister gets back, I’ll have money again. I’ll treat you to a big meal—you’re really nice."

Leaning on the table, Lin Yu watched the "gluttonous cat" with amusement. It was oddly pleasing to the eye.

"Nice? Not nice enough yet."

Chi Qingchi paused mid-slurp, her lips dusted with vanilla, and gave him a suspicious look before correcting herself:

"You’re really nice… but also kind of a perv."

Lin Yu chuckled. "Tsk, still slandering me?"

Chi Qingchi’s eyes darted playfully.

"Hmph, I’ve seen Let the Bullets Fly. I know what you’re implying."

"I’m a shut-in, not stupid. No lewdness between classmates!"

Lin Yu smirked but didn’t reply.

He’d underestimated this little otaku’s film knowledge.

"Speaking of which, did your sister really leave you with no money before going back home?"

Chi Qingchi avoided his gaze, nodding unconvincingly.

"Mm-hmm… yeah. She’s super stingy."

Yeah, right.

No way her sister would just abandon her without a cent while swanning off on vacation.

Lin Yu: "You blew it all on merch and clothes, didn’t you?"

Chi Qingchi: "How’d you know?!"

Exactly as he’d guessed.

She was painfully transparent.

A textbook case of an otaku girl—willing to starve for the sake of collectibles.

When her sister Chi Qingshui was around, Chi Qingchi probably restrained herself.

But with her gone? Total financial disaster.

No doubt she’d drained her savings on impulse buys.

[Ding!]

[Time-Limited Quest Issued: Crisis approaches! The Joyous Sect’s Bell Maiden’s presence in the mortal world has been detected. Outer Path demons have long coveted her. Protect your sect sister, retaliate, and assert dominance!]

[Time Limit: 8 hours.]

[Rewards: 100 Sect Contribution, 200 Spirit Stones, 1 free system lottery draw.]

Lin Yu: "???"

So besides [Daily Quests] and [Emergency Quests], there were also [Time-Limited Quests]?

Outer Path demons?

Coveting Chi Qingchi?

For a long time?

Lin Yu quickly scanned the restaurant.

Not many customers, and none seemed suspicious.

So… how had they been spotted?

And who the hell was this demon? Couldn’t the system give a clearer hint?

Unlike the other quest types, this one disclosed the rewards upfront.

Sect Contribution, Spirit Stones, and a lottery draw—an irresistible combo.

But it also had a strict deadline.

Fail to complete it in eight hours, and the quest would vanish.

Just as he was puzzling over it, Chi Qingchi’s phone buzzed with a WeChat notification.

"Ding-dong."

She glanced at the screen and typed a quick reply.

Lin Yu probed: "Your sister?"

Chi Qingchi shook her head. "Nope, a classmate."

Lin Yu pressed further: "A guy from our class?"

Another headshake. "Someone from the club."

Well, well.

No need to search far.

The Outer Path demon had arrived on his own.

No idea how this "demon" had spotted them, but it didn’t matter.

Now, he just needed to figure out how to "protect his sect sister," "retaliate," and "assert dominance."

After some thought, Lin Yu realized he should actually be grateful.

Without this demon’s appearance, grinding Chi Qingchi’s other quests might’ve felt forced.

Now? Perfectly natural.

Having someone else handle it made things much easier.

Lin Yu spoke up again: "Qingchi, I remember you joined the anime club, right?"

Chi Qingchi replied proudly, "Yeah, one of the top three clubs at our school."

Lin Yu: "Perfect. Could you ask your club friends where in Spring Plaza I can buy a high-quality Zoro figurine? Price isn’t an issue."

Spring Plaza.

It was a bustling shopping mall in Pingchuan City, especially popular among young people.

The most famous part was the second floor, dubbed "Anime Domain."

Packed with all kinds of anime merchandise and otaku goods, it was practically a paradise for the city’s youth.

At the mention of Spring Plaza and figurines, Chi Qingchi’s eyes lit up brighter than a spotlight.

"Lin Yu, I had no idea you were into Zoro!"

"I’ll ask him—he’s our club’s vice president. He should know which shops have the best quality and prices."

"Never would’ve guessed you’d be into the three-sword style, hehe!"

Once they were on Chi Qingchi’s home turf, the floodgates of conversation burst open.

While texting, she launched into a discussion with Lin Yu—who she loved in One Piece, who she disliked, which arcs moved her the most, which character’s death she still couldn’t accept…

[Ding!]

[Crisis Alert! The host has drawn the attention of an Outer Path Evil Demon. It harbors deep hostility and has taken further action. Stay vigilant and continue protecting your sect allies while eradicating evil spirits!]

[Additional Stage Reward: 20 Spirit Stones.]

Lin Yu listened with a smile as Chi Qingchi rambled on.

Being reborn with a system really was something else.

No matter what he did, he always stayed one step ahead.

They chatted until the last sip of Coke in Chi Qingchi’s cup was gone, leaving only the hollow fizz of an empty can.

Lin Yu finally cut in:

"Thanks, Qingchi. I’ll head to Spring Plaza now to check out that shop your friend recommended."

"You should go home. Didn’t you say you were planning to binge some anime and dramas today?"

He barely held back a smirk as he watched Chi Qingchi’s reaction…

Her pout made a triumphant return.

She didn’t budge from her seat. Instead, she stayed planted in the chair, chewing on her straw and sneaking glances at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu feigned ignorance. "What’s wrong? Not going home?"

Chi Qingchi: "I can watch anime anytime. The break’s so long… Lin Yu, can I come with you?"

[Ding!]

[Masterful Move! A single shared outing into the mortal world has left the Joyous Sect’s Bell Bearer enchanted, prompting another request to accompany you!]

[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones.]

Lin Yu frowned, muttering,

"Hmm, I don’t know… Your hands might get sore."

Chi Qingchi shot up, swearing earnestly:

"They won’t! I promise!"

"I could massage you for an hour and they wouldn’t even ache!"

To visit her favorite place, Chi Qingchi was willing to go all out.

She even dared to offer an hour!

Lin Yu pretended to consider it. "An hour… I guess that’s acceptable. But what if they do get sore?"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted—unapologetically—toward the hem of Chi Qingchi’s lolita skirt.

She yanked her feet back instantly.

Like she’d said before: she was an otaku, not an idiot.

She understood exactly what Lin Yu meant.

If it were anyone else,

daring to be this blatantly pervy toward her,

she’d have noped out and gone home long ago.

But for some reason, Lin Yu’s shameless, written-all-over-his-face lechery didn’t repulse her.

Was it because he’d played the role of a shy, introverted guy so well that she’d let her guard down?

Or was it the free food, making her feel like she owed him?

Chi Qingchi couldn’t figure it out—and right now, she didn’t care.

The only thing on her mind was getting to Spring Plaza.

So she steeled herself and declared:

"If my hands do get sore… I’ll do whatever you say."

Lin Yu raised his palm. "Otaku’s honor."

Qingchi slapped hers against it. "No take-backs."

Smack!

Deal sealed.