"* has joined your team."**
The system prompt echoed as Wang Xian swung his mace through the last of the green-scaled snakes.
He cracked a small smile.
'***' wasn't the girl's name. It was just how the system displayed names when someone hadn't shared theirs.
On Digitized Bluestar, names were fluid.
If someone introduced themselves as "X," then that's what appeared above their head—for you. To someone else, they might be "Y" or "Z," depending on what they shared.
Except for people who already knew you in real life—family, close friends. To them, you were who you'd always been. Your name didn't change unless their belief in your identity did.
There was also the Explore skill, which could reveal a player's nickname or identity… but only if you were within 10 levels of them.
And of course, names could be hidden completely.
It's like player tags in online games... but messier.
The green scale snakes were weak. Level 5 trash mobs. Against Wang Xian's level 9 stats, they dropped like grass under a sickle.
The motorcycle girl, now partied with him, rode the wave of experience up to level 4.
But as soon as the last snake hissed its final breath, Wang Xian opened the party menu and—
**[Kick Member: *]
Confirm?Yes.
Done.
"Uncle! You're so strong… so cruel!"
The girl blinked in disbelief, her excitement turning instantly into dramatic pouting.
Wang Xian raised an eyebrow.
Uncle? Again?
He sighed, resisting the urge to explain—again—that he was only twenty-four.
She wasn't deterred. Even after being kicked from the party, she plopped down nearby and watched as he began gutting one of the larger snakes for meat.
Wild monster corpses are edible.
If not harvested or looted within 30 minutes, their bodies vanished. Good meat wasted.
Wang Xian set up a fire and began roasting the snake meat over the flames, ignoring her entirely.
"Uncle," the girl piped up again. "You're really something. Seriously. Can you take me with you? I'm scared. The monsters around here are wild—even at level 4, I can't handle it alone."
Wang Xian glanced sideways.
She had finally taken off her helmet, revealing short, shoulder-length hair dyed a faded purple-red. Her makeup was bold—blue eyeshadow, colorful lipstick, and a tiny mole beneath her right eye. She wore some kind of decorative studs beneath it that looked like mini LEGO bricks.
He squinted.
I don't even know what that's supposed to be...
"Uncle~~"
The girl suddenly whined, dragging the syllable out like she was casting a charm spell.
Wang Xian's skin crawled.
He raised a hand mid-roast. "Stop. Just... stop."
Her eyes sparkled. "Does that mean you'll take me to level?"
"No."
She pouted again. "But—"
"Stop."
She froze.
Wang Xian took a deep breath and said, "I'll consider it. But only if you answer one question."
The girl brightened instantly. "Uncle, ask me anything! A hundred questions if you want!"
"…Why do you keep calling me uncle? Do I look like someone's uncle?"
The girl tilted her head. "You kinda do."
"What does that even mean?"
Instead of answering, she pulled out her phone from her jacket, snapped a quick pic of him, then flipped it around to show the screen.
The image showed a scruffy, dirt-smeared man with disheveled hair and a week's worth of stubble.
Wang Xian blinked.
...Okay. Fair.
He had been in the forest for days without grooming or rest. He looked like a hermit in his late 30s.
Still.
"I'm only twenty-four," he said, tossing the phone back.
The girl's face twisted into wide-eyed shock. "You're twenty-four?!"
Then… sympathy.
"Uncle, I'm so sorry. You're really going through it, huh?"
Wang Xian nearly tripped over the fire.
Going through what?!
"You look like life gave you a side quest and then canceled it halfway through," she added softly.
He stood abruptly. "I'm going to the lake. To wash. Do not follow me."
"Wait—no—I didn't mean it like that!" She chased after him. "Uncle, you're super attractive! The most handsome man I've ever seen! Probably!"
Wang Xian paused mid-stride. He looked over his shoulder and smirked.
"Trying to peek, are you?"
"What? No!"
He grinned. "Greedy for uncle's body?"
Her face turned crimson. "BAH! UNCLE, YOU'RE GROSS!"
She spun on her heel and fled back to the fire.
That'll shut her up for a while.
After a quick wash, he returned and resumed cooking. The snake meat sizzled, but it wasn't easy to get right.
She sat cross-legged nearby, pretending not to watch him.
"…You don't look old anymore," she mumbled.
Wang Xian glanced at her. "If I don't look old, stop calling me uncle."
She shrugged. "I don't know your name. What else am I supposed to call you? 'Hey you'?"
"Fair point."
There was a pause.
"…So?" she asked, "What's your name?"
Wang Xian considered for a moment.
Then, straight-faced, he said:"Ergouzi."
The girl froze.
"…Huh?"
"Ergouzi," he repeated. "That's my name. Remember it."
She stared at him, eyes wide.
Then burst out laughing.