Chapter 191 – My Lady Heroine in the Holographic Online Game – The Little Healer Is the True Big Shot (05)
Bai Luo and Bai Tang had only been enjoying their carefree time in the game for a few days when they suddenly received a notice from school requiring them to return early. Bai Luo let out a miserable wail, “No—!”
But it was no use. They still had to go back. Now, only Bai Tang was left to play the game. Well, not quite—there were still the two systems. Using their respective systems, they joined Bai Tang in the game.
Online relationships had become very common in this era. Thanks to the rules of the full-dive VR game, all user information was recorded, making it pretty difficult to deceive anyone.
Bai Tang no longer revolved around Hong Qingge. With his good looks and Bai Luo no longer online to act as his bodyguard, quite a few people were trying to flirt with him.
Sure enough, Bai Tang had just turned someone down again.
“Sorry, I’m not interested in finding an in-game romance,” Bai Tang said politely to the person.
Then he received a private message.
[Hello, our team is short one healer. Would you be willing to join us for some quests?]
It was from someone named [Xiao Feidao].
Since Bai Tang had nothing else to do—and it wasn’t every day he got to experience the thrill of being a hero in a full-immersion game—he agreed.
When he arrived at the meeting point, he was surprised to find that Qi Hongyi and Jiang Yiran were there too.
Jiang Yiran’s eyes widened, and she immediately stepped forward to block Qi Hongyi. “Qingge already turned you down last time! Why are you here again?”
Bai Tang glanced at her with disdain. “I didn’t come here for you.”
He turned to Xiao Feidao, who was standing nearby, and extended his hand. “Hi, I’m [Yi Zhi Haitang]. What quest are we going on?”
The boy had a sweet, charming face. He smiled at Xiao Feidao, his eyes curving like crescent moons—absolutely adorable. The sight instantly struck a chord in Xiao Feidao’s teenage heart.
“Let me introduce our team first,” he said. “This is our leader, [Hong Qingge]. This is [Yiran Youyou], and this one is [Qingshan Bugai].”
“Hello, I’m [Yi Zhi Haitang],” Bai Tang said with a smile, not sparing a single glance for the male or female leads. He greeted Qingshan Bugai directly.
“Hello, hello!” Qingshan Bugai quickly returned the greeting, then turned to Qi Hongyi and asked, “Boss, where did you meet this little cutie?”
Qi Hongyi, seeing Bai Tang looking his way, grew so nervous that his palms began to sweat. “A friend—he just happens to be from the Medicine Immortal Valley sect.”
Bai Tang originally intended to turn around and leave, but Qiu’er and Xiao A both urged him, “If you walk away now, won’t that just let the female lead win? No way—you have to stay and annoy her!”
Bai Tang discreetly glanced at Jiang Yiran and noticed a flicker of discomfort in her eyes. He immediately felt that Qiu’er and Xiao A had a point. So, he didn’t reject the invitation to join Qi Hongyi’s team.
Seeing Bai Tang stay, Qi Hongyi felt a glimmer of hope.
While the others went into town to buy potions and other supplies, Qi Hongyi snuck a look at Bai Tang, who was sitting off to the side. He pulled out a packet of candied chestnuts he’d just bought from a street vendor and handed them to him.
“Tang Tang, you must be hungry. Once Xiao Feidao and the others finish shopping, we’ll go eat.”
The male lead’s love for Tang Tang had seeped into his very soul. Even without memories, the moment he encountered him, that long-buried affection awakened.
Bai Tang noticed the nervous look on Qi Hongyi’s face—and also caught the flash of jealousy in Jiang Yiran’s eyes.
He accepted the chestnuts graciously. “Thank you.”
Qi Hongyi was overjoyed and seized the opportunity to move closer, peeling the chestnuts for the boy.
“They’re sweet. Delicious~” Bai Tang beamed at him with a bright, unreserved smile. Qi Hongyi’s face lit up with delight as he eagerly peeled more chestnuts for him.
With Xiao Feidao and Qingshan Bugai off shopping, Jiang Yiran had stuck close to Qi Hongyi, intending to keep Bai Tang from getting near him. But now that Qi Hongyi was the one sticking to Bai Tang, she had no excuse to say anything—and was left choking on a mouthful of dog food (PDA), her heart full of bitterness.
After everything Bai Tang and Qi Hongyi had been through across so many lifetimes and worlds, Bai Tang’s feelings for him were undeniably deep.
It was just that in this world, he’d been rejected with a broken engagement the moment he arrived, and that left a stubborn resentment in his chest. But now, seeing how carefully Qi Hongyi was trying to win him back, that resentment was melting away. He no longer resisted Qi Hongyi’s approach, which made the latter overjoyed.
“There’s candied hawthorn up ahead—Tang Tang, want some?” Qi Hongyi now looked like a walking wallet, ready to buy anything Bai Tang glanced at even twice.
Seeing Jiang Yiran following behind with a face like she’d swallowed a lemon, Bai Tang’s mood soared.
“I want candied strawberries~”
“Okay.”
The game was incredibly realistic. Although it couldn’t satisfy real-world hunger, players could still taste many delicious foods that were normally too expensive to afford. As a result, the game attracted many casual players who focused on sightseeing and cooking. The highly open-ended gameplay allowed for a wide range of leisurely activities.
“Eating too many snacks isn’t good for your health. Yi Zhi Haitang, you should cut back a little. We’re heading out for a quest soon, and if you’re too full, you might not be able to run properly.”
Jiang Yiran subtly tried to tarnish Bai Tang’s image in front of Qi Hongyi, implying he was a weak player who would drag the team down.
To her surprise, Qi Hongyi didn’t care at all. “The quest is inside a cave. Tang Tang, just stick close to me.”
“Okay~”
Bai Tang responded brightly, which made Jiang Yiran grit her teeth in frustration.
Xiao Feidao and Qingshan Bugai returned shortly after. The group filled up at an inn and then set off for their quest location—the Iceflame Cavern.
The Iceflame Cavern was named for its strange contrast: scorching hot like flames at the entrance, but freezing cold like a glacier within.
Bai Tang followed the group into the cave. The moment he stepped inside, the burning heat on his skin began to ease. But within seconds, their bodies started to tremble from the cold.
Xiao Feidao and the others quickly pulled out the cold-resistant clothing they had bought earlier. Bai Tang’s teeth chattered from the cold—until he suddenly felt a wave of warmth behind him. It was Qi Hongyi, wrapping him in a coat and pulling him into a hug from behind.
“Tang Tang, hurry and put this on.” Qi Hongyi held the boy tightly in his arms.
“Mmm~” It had been so long since he’d been this close to his lover. Bai Tang felt momentarily dazed.
When Qi Hongyi let go, Bai Tang actually felt a little disappointed.
“There’s a bed of ice ahead—rumor has it that the Iceflame Matron used it to cultivate her skills. Our mission this time is to defeat her and rescue the innocent villagers she’s imprisoned deep within the cave,” Xiao Feidao explained the quest in detail.
“Little Tang Tang, you’d better be careful. Your combat power is low, so stay behind us and look for a chance to poison her.”
“Got it, got it,” Bai Tang replied.
“Yiran’s archery is excellent. We’ll draw her attention, and you sneak in from the side for a surprise attack.”
“Sure, just watch me!” Jiang Yiran replied proudly.
Their roles were clearly defined. After quickly taking care of the minor monsters ahead, the team smoothly located the Iceflame Matron. The Matron was visibly surprised by their arrival, and after uttering a few scripted lines according to the game’s programming, the battle began.
Qi Qingge, as the team’s long-range Tang Sect specialist, controlled his fine threads with calm precision, subtly manipulating the Matron’s movements. Xiao Feidao and Qingshan Bugai engaged her in close combat.
Jiang Yiran noticed Bai Tang hiding behind a large boulder, watching the battle intently with complete focus.
She nocked an arrow, drew her bow, and let two arrows fly with a whoosh whoosh.
With Qi Hongyi restraining the Matron and Jiang Yiran launching sneak attacks, the Matron couldn’t concentrate.
Bai Tang seized the perfect moment—just as the Matron’s movements slowed, he rushed forward and scattered a cloud of poisonous powder.
Jiang Yiran’s gaze lingered on Bai Tang’s figure. Suddenly, an impulse surged within her: If my arrow just misses its mark a little—just slightly—Bai Tang won’t be able to stay with the team anymore…
The moment the wicked thought sprouted, it took root and grew rapidly in her mind.
If Bai Tang’s gone, Qingge’s attention will return to his teammates. Then I’ll have a chance…
Jiang Yiran drew another arrow, aimed—not at the enemy, but at her own teammate.
After locking onto Bai Tang’s silhouette, she loosened her right hand. The arrow shot forward with a sharp whistling sound.
“Tang Tang—!”
Bai Tang heard the shout, but his body couldn’t react fast enough.
Qi Hongyi threw a Thunder Pearl just in time. It collided midair with the arrow, exploding right in front of Bai Tang.
Boom—!
The cave couldn’t withstand such an explosion—if it could, the quest wouldn’t be so difficult.
Following the blast, a section of the cave collapsed.
Startled, the combatants’ focus broke for a moment. The Iceflame Matron seized the opportunity and struck Xiao Feidao and Qingshan Bugai, sending them flying. Her attention immediately shifted to the nearest target—Bai Tang.
As a disciple of the Medicine Immortal Valley, Bai Tang had no real combat strength. Combined with the cave’s low temperature, his movements were sluggish. He couldn’t dodge in time. All he could do was stare helplessly as the Matron’s long, clawed fingers reached for him.
“Tang Tang…”
Qi Hongyi pulled Bai Tang aside just in time, shielding him. But he took the full brunt of the Matron’s deadly attack himself. Blood gushed from his mouth, splattering Bai Tang’s face.
“Are you okay?” Bai Tang’s heart surged with a panic he couldn’t explain. In that moment, he completely forgot this was just a game.
Frantically, he tried to wipe the blood off Qi Hongyi. “Don’t die—please…”
“Tang Tang, you’re worried about me, aren’t you?”
Qi Hongyi gave a faint smile. Tang Tang still cares about me…
“It’s my fault. I was a bastard… Actually, I like you…”
“I know, don’t talk. I’ll heal you.”
A soft green light began to glow from Bai Tang’s hands as he activated his healing ability.
“Tang Tang, this is just a game—the male lead can’t actually die in real life,” Qiu’er said, covering her face as she watched Bai Tang panic the moment Qi Hongyi was in danger.
As it turns out, healing abilities are useful no matter the world or dimension.
Qi Hongyi instantly felt a lot better, his body much lighter.
While things were going smoothly for them, Jiang Yiran was having a hard time.
Since Qi Hongyi and Bai Tang had moved out of the Iceflame Matron’s attack range, the Matron redirected her attention toward the female lead.
Luckily, Jiang Yiran was skilled at the game and had decent movement. She managed to hold her own against the Matron for dozens of moves.
After getting back on their feet, Xiao Feidao and Qingshan Bugai quickly rejoined the battle. They shouted toward Qi Hongyi,
“Boss! The Iceflame Matron is enraged—come quick! We can’t hold her off much longer!”
No one had ever completed this quest before, mainly because of the many restrictions. Explosives weren’t allowed, and the Matron grew stronger in response to stronger opponents—she would always be slightly more powerful than the top fighter in the team.
Bai Tang felt bad for his old partner—already injured, yet still forced to act as the main damage dealer.
So, he made the plant seeds buried in the cave soil sprout and grow. Vines covered in thorns sprang up, wrapping tightly around the Matron—first binding her hands, then her feet.
With a thud, the Iceflame Matron collapsed to the ground.
Bai Tang controlled the vines to deliver a final blow. One thorned vine pierced her heart.
The final boss was dead—completely and thoroughly.
Xiao Feidao and Qingshan Bugai, who had just been about to unleash their ultimate skills: !!!
They looked at Bai Tang with admiration:
No wonder the big boss brought the little healer—turns out the little healer is the real boss!
Author’s Note:
Happy New Year, my darlings! The last update was last year—I know you’ve all been waiting eagerly, but here’s the new chapter at last!
By the way, Tang Tang is actually the strongest one in the group. Truly worthy of the title “big boss!”