Player Reload
Chapter 400 - 369 Graphics Card

Chapter 400: Chapter 369 Graphics Card

At noon, the Tu Family’s residence was bustling, as rare delicacies were brought to the banquet as if they cost nothing.

Glasses clinked, hosts and guests enjoyed themselves, while a young servant standing at the door shouted the congratulatory message, "Sea merchant Zheng Qianli, presents nine large pearls from Hormuz, wishing the old lady of the Tu Family everlasting youth and eternal spring—a lifetime of fortune and happiness."

Li Cheng, or rather Gray Rain disguised as Li Cheng, sat in the corner of the birthday banquet, feeling uninterested in feasting, only placing a simple serving of bear paw, bird’s nest, shark fin, and abalone in her bowl,

especially a dish of pale pink fish sashimi, which melted in the mouth with a sweet aftertaste.

Unafraid of parasites, Gray Rain devoured two large servings, while using the eavesdropping device and Bluetooth earphones hidden beneath the table to discreetly gather information, watching in six directions and listening in all eight.

"Tonight, the Tu Family is likely to divide. Tu Dongcong from the third branch could very well take over sea trade on the Luzon side, relationships must be built early,"

In the corner of the banquet, an old sect leader who looked like an immortal was conversing in low tones with his disciple.

The division of the Tu Family was like splitting a big company into smaller subsidiaries. For the family members, it meant becoming masters of their own affairs. For outsiders, it meant opportunities sought.

Now, the Great Ming’s sea trade is flourishing, commerce is thriving, from street vendors to scholars and even martial artists of the worldly society, everyone is talking about stocks, futures, and corporate systems—new trendy terms.

Even more so, border army officers, rather than fighting wars or suppressing frontier rebellions, read newspaper stock reports daily, interpreting market fluctuations, wanting nothing more than to dive into money.

"And what about that Daoist from Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhang?"

Sitting across the table, the Hua Mountain swordsman Wu Ge grabbed one of the servants and asked in confusion, "Why isn’t he here?"

The servant explained, "Daoist Zhang has been invited inside to preach."

An excuse.

Gray Rain knew very well that last night, the Tu Family searched Zhang Fulu’s guest room and came up with a façade to prevent others from suspecting.

Meanwhile, the Jinyi Guard, missing one person, also fabricated an excuse: "Sikong Lan is unwell due to acclimation issues and returned to the ship" for rest, fooling the Tu Family.

Each side harbored its own agenda, Gray Rain was anxious and distressed, Li Cheng instructed her to attend the banquet as usual and act as necessary.

But the Tu Family rules were strict, even at such a banquet, female relatives remained in the inner chambers. Moreover, the courtyard walls were high, and the yard where the elderly lady resided had guards every five steps and patrols every ten steps, making it impossible to find a way over.

’Wait another half hour; if there’s still no movement from that scale after half an hour, then initiate Plan B.’

Gray Rain pondered as the guests around her stood up—seeing that the old lady of the Tu Family was being carried out on a chair.

She was wrapped in a golden Shu brocade blanket, hair white as snow, eyelids drooping, and the Tu Family drew red blush on her face to make her appear lively, but her aged appearance was undeniable.

"May the pines and cypress forever thrive, celebrating longevity as sun and moon shine together, wishing the old lady of the Tu Family health year after year!"

Cao Meng from the Fanhe Gang loudly congratulated,

but the old lady of the Tu Family remained unresponsive, until she slowly opened her mouth and coughed violently, expelling dark green phlegm onto the Shu brocade, spilling over the blanket’s edge.

The Tu Family immediately helped her back inside, leaving Cao Meng awkwardly standing, unable to sit nor stand, visibly embarrassed.

A good opportunity!

Seizing the moment, Gray Rain reached under the table, pulling out a button-shaped eavesdropping device with double-sided tape and tossed it like skipping stones.

The eavesdropping device flew across the lawn, precisely sticking to the leg of the chair under the Tu Family’s grandmother’s seat.

"Phew..."

Letting out a quiet breath, Gray Rain activated the Bluetooth earphone, listening to the sounds from the eavesdropping device.

Tap, tap, tap. Footsteps. The Tu Family carried the old grandmother back to the inner courtyard.

"Cough, cough!"

Racking coughs, vomiting, moaning, the Tu Family grandmother appeared to be in immense pain.

"...it’s time to return home." A deep male voice, from Tu Wangmo of the fourth branch of the Tu Family.

"Now?" A stunned young male voice, from Tu Qiouru of the second branch, "Fourth uncle, you said the year after..."

"My prophecy ability is limited, and predictions aren’t always accurate."

Tu Wangmo spoke in a low voice, "Quickly go and inform the others!"

The wooden chair legs collapsed under a heavy load, accompanying terrified screams and muddled breath, the eavesdropping device was thoroughly crushed, emitting fingernail-on-blackboard piercing noise through the Bluetooth earphones.

Gray Rain disregarded the curious glances around her, slammed the Bluetooth earphone onto the table with a "snap," then dashed towards the backyard of the Tu Family residence.

The next moment...

"Roar——"

A piercing roar echoed throughout the residence, Gray Rain crossed the threshold only to feel sound waves crashing like walls upon her.

At that moment, disguised as Li Cheng, her liquid metal representation constituted only three-fifths, leaving her interior hollow. The remaining two-fifths of her weight served as a duplicate playing her true self.

Under the impact of the airwaves, Gray Rain’s hollow steps faltered, quickly planting another leg into the ground to stabilize herself.

"Roar!"

Another screeching roar, walls collapsed, trees snapped, Gray Rain’s foot carved a long trail along the ground.

"Hold my hand."

A familiar voice sounded conveniently, Gray Rain turned to see Li Cheng smiling, "Eh, how did you suddenly appear?"

"Don’t forget, today we’re getting married."

Li Cheng in a suit, flowers in one hand, a ring in the other, spoke with an unprecedented gentle tone, "You’ve worked hard, mom of my child."

Mom... of his child?

Gray Rain’s expression faltered, in a daze, as silver tinkling laughter surrounded her, two adorable little ones possessing human bodies with liquid metal hair pulled on her hand calling her mother, the calendar on the wall clearly showing the year 2030.

Yes, indeed, it’s already 2030 now.

Li Cheng is currently a top Level 40 player, herself now a [Star-casting Anvil] maintenance mistress, the business booming, counting money till hand cramps during the day, coming home in the evening without need to prepare meals, simply hiring top chefs to cook at home. After dining, she handing the kids over to Li Cheng, and indulging in gaming using the latest 5090 graphics card...

Wait a minute!

It’s already 2030, how’s the latest graphics card still RTX5090, is Huang in yellow just idling?

Gray Rain’s gaze sharpened suddenly, realizing she’d fallen victim to an illusion, she swiveled around, seeing the banquet turned into a bloodbath.

All the Tu Family servants and some guests at the banquet, their clothing torn, sprouted various marine biological organs from their bodies, suction cups of seven-gilled lampreys, crab claws, octopus eyes...

These people had already lost their divine wisdom, swinging mutated limbs, slaughtering the guests who hadn’t undergone body mutation, mentally dazed, unable to resist.

At the whole banquet scene, only the table where Gray Rain originally sat and a small group of individuals remained lucid, and were fiercely fighting the abnormal creatures advancing.