Surviving the Ancient Angst Novel [Transmigration] - Chapter 12

【Novice Mission: Collect Qideng Fruit from designated locations within the Hunting Ground. For each fruit consumed, receive one reward chest of your choice (no limit on the number of rewards).】

I clicked on the chest rewards to expand the list:

1. Invincible Fluffy Punch (Note: A heavy blow that can make the opponent’s face swell—assuming you can actually land it. Category: External Martial Arts. Grade: Consumable.)
2. Internal Power Attribute Point +1
3. Grass-Skimming Flight (Category: Level 2 Movement Technique. Grade: Consumable.)

‘What does “Consumable” mean?’

System: 【It can only be used once. After one use, it expires, and you’ll need to continue collecting rewards, Yinchen.】

I understood. I looked at my personal martial arts attributes on the system panel.

• External Power: 10 points (1,000 points to reach Level 2.)
• Internal Power: 0 points (1,000 points to reach Level 2.)
• Movement (Qinggong): 1 point (1,000 points to reach Level 2.)

The first reward was a consumable and required me to actually hit the target; people aren’t exactly going to stand still and let me punch them. Discarded.

The second reward only added 1 point to Internal Power. I’d probably have to pick fruit until my hands cramped just to level up once, which didn’t suit this urgent situation. Discarded.

The third reward offered the best value one fruit for one use of a Level 2 movement skill. It was enough to save my life in an emergency.

【But it’s a consumable, mind you. Your personal Movement stat won’t change. Adding to the second reward, Internal Power, is a permanent increase~】 The system tried to entice me: 【Honestly, Yinchen, are you sure you won’t consider the “Struggle for Supremacy” mode? Completing the novice mission there grants a whopping 100 Internal Power points! And there’s no limit on the number of rewards~】

I shook my head and refused flatly: ‘No.’ High returns are usually linked to high risks. The “Struggle for Supremacy” missions definitely wouldn’t be simple; I’d stick to my “Casual Retirement” mode.

Regarding internal power, I remembered the Jin Yong martial arts dramas I watched as a kid. Linghu Chong used the “Nine Swords of Dugu” an external technique to defeat eight masters of the Songshan Sect even when he had zero internal power. While that’s a bit of a plot hole, it shows that even if internal power is important, it’s not a necessity for everyone.

Besides, I’m just a background extra, not one of those martial arts protagonists who spends every day fighting. Why would I need high internal power? Focusing on movement techniques to have an escape skill would be a much better way to survive.

While I was occupied with the system panel, the group ahead had already moved far away. I quickly closed the interface and followed them while activating “Auspicious Vision” to search for the mission-red Qideng Fruit.

I soon found the first one. I picked it and looked at the other fruits on the tree; under the Vision, they appeared dull gray. Even though they were all Qideng Fruits, why was this one special?

I looked at the one in my hand and turned off the Vision; it was a strange shade of blue. Looking back at the tree, all the fruits were blue, round, and about the size of a cherry. I tried a bite; it was very sweet, juicy, and pitless. It tasted wonderful.

‘Is this fruit poisonous?’ I asked the system.

【It’s poisonous.】

My heart skipped a beat. ‘Poisonous?!’

Crap. I had already swallowed half of it. Was it too late to shove my fingers down my throat and vomit?

The system added: 【It’s not poisonous for you. Don’t worry.】

I pressed my hand to my forehead, feeling helpless. ‘…Don’t pause like that when you speak.’

With one fruit down, a [Grass-Skimming Flight] button appeared on the system interface—a square icon with the number “1” in the bottom right corner, indicating the number of uses. With this skill, I finally felt like I had a safety net.

To avoid being seen eating the fruit, I purposely lagged at the very back of the group, maintaining a distance. The journey so far had been surprisingly smooth, aside from the fatigue of climbing; I had collected a total of three uses of the skill.

【Yinchen, you can collect them faster if you leave the group~】

I gave a non-committal smile. ‘System, in horror movies, the person who leaves the group to explore is always the first to die.’

The system countered: 【According to horror movie tropes, you won’t stay safe and huddled together forever; you’ll eventually be split up.】

‘Say less. Don’t jinx it.’ I activated the Vision and continued my search. The system went back into standby.

“We’re almost at the summit!” someone shouted. The group grew restless, and their pace quickened.

I squinted ahead. The end of the path was framed by a clear, azure sky, dotted only by a few passing black birds. It was indeed near the top. Perhaps the prolonged peace had caused the boys to lower their guard; they were chatting and laughing as they climbed.

To the right, deep within a slope, I saw a flash of red among several trees. Thinking it was a fruit, I walked over. However, when I got closer, I realized it was a silk scarf wrapped around someone’s neck.

The person wore heavy bronze armor and a hideous black iron mask that revealed only a pair of rough, blackened lips. He held a large, rusted machete and stood motionless under a tree. He appeared in gray tones, looking like a terracotta warrior.

Just as I was about to retreat, a ding sounded. 【Triggered Encounter Mission: Obtain 1/1 Hunter’s Scarf. Reward: Mysterious Reward (Hidden).】

‘A mysterious reward?’

System: 【Encounter rewards are usually quite good. Once missed, they’re gone forever~】

I stopped. I couldn’t deny being drawn to that mysterious reward. I turned off the Vision; the man was filthy all over, but a clean white jade hung from his waist, tied with a black string. The eye-holes of his mask were dark pits; I couldn’t tell if his eyes were open or closed.

While I was calculating the odds of using one “Grass-Skimming Flight” to jump over, grab the scarf, and run, the “terracotta warrior” finally moved. He let out a strange roar, baring his dark lips, and lunged at me with his blade.

Terrified, I frantically tapped the [Grass-Skimming Flight] button.

I was launched into the air. It was a bizarre experience, like a giant gust of wind had swept me toward the sky. I froze, not daring to move an inch, until my feet found purchase. Looking down, I realized I was standing on the branch of a green tree. It wasn’t a tall tree, which meant I hadn’t jumped very high. The skill was somewhat mediocre if I ran into someone who actually knew martial arts, I’d be finished.

I kept a close watch on the hunter. He stared straight up at me through those dark pits. He ran to the base of my tree and stood still. I checked the system interface; the skill had a ten-second cooldown. Luckily, I hadn’t wasted my uses during my frantic tapping; I had two left.

Suddenly, the hunter began hacking at the tree. The trunk wasn’t thick and couldn’t withstand the blows; it shuddered with every strike, threatening to fall.

Crack, crack—

The hunter was working hard. I quickly opened the Vision to look for a red-marked fruit. Instead, I accidentally saw a line of text appear beside the hunter: Weakness: Ridicule. (Only visible in Hunting Mode).

I had a sudden brainwave and called out to him mockingly: “That scarf around your neck is hideous. It looks like an old lady’s foot-binding cloth. Then again, it suits you perfectly.”

The hunter’s hacking stopped. He reached up, tore the scarf off, and threw it on the ground, stomping on it for a full two minutes in a fit of rage. I seized the opportunity and used another flight skill. Having learned from the first time, I leapt into a large, leafy old tree.

Once his tantrum was over, the hunter roared and swung his blade at the first tree. The trunk snapped. I crouched, peering through the leaves, and watched him spin around in a confused frenzy next to the fallen tree. He appeared to be nothing more than a “ground-bound chicken” with nothing but brute strength.

Amused, I leaned comfortably against the trunk and waited for him to leave. Seeing no sign of me, the hunter let out a roar toward the sky and slashed at the nearby trees, including the one I was in. Since he had been busy stomping the scarf, he hadn’t seen exactly where I had jumped; he was just searching blindly. Naturally, it was a futile effort.

Just then, a newcomer walked over, probably looking for a spot to relieve himself. His belt was half-undone when he saw the axe-wielding hunter; he froze in place. The hunter spotted him too, let out a roar, and charged at the boy. The boy screamed, and without even bothering to fix his belt, he went stumbling back the way he came.

“A hunter! It’s a hunter!!”

The voice faded into the distance. It sounded chaotic over there, with the occasional scream and roar. I jumped down from the tree, picked up the filthy red scarf, and patted it. It had been easier than expected.

【Congratulations! You have successfully collected 1/1 Hunter’s Scarf. It has been placed in the system storage.】

My hands were suddenly empty. A “Bag” function appeared on the system panel; I opened it to see eighty slots, one of which was occupied by the scarf.

【Ding! The mysterious reward has been delivered. Would you like to open it?】

‘Open.’

A flash of golden light crossed my vision, and a golden skill button appeared on the system interface—【Teleport】.

【Congratulations, Host! You have unlocked a Legendary Skill: Teleport. Grade: Consumable. Uses: 1.】

‘Teleport?!!’ Is it the kind of teleportation I’m thinking of?

【Yes, Yinchen! Your luck is incredible! Out of all the hosts I’ve managed, you’re the first to get Teleport from a mysterious reward.】

I raised an eyebrow: ‘If only it were a permanent skill.’

【You can unlock it by completing a special mission. However, it will start as a Level 1 “blank” skill; you’ll have to feed it movement attribute points to level it up.】

‘How many levels are there?’

【100 levels~】

Excellent. My life finally had something to look forward to. I checked the current skill; it was Level 20. The mysterious reward was quite generous.

‘What’s the special mission?’ I was eager to get my hands on the permanent version.

System: 【It will be triggered once you use the skill once~】

I see… No rush, then. Since I didn’t know if a Level 1 version would be useless, I wasn’t in a hurry to use this Level 20 one. For now, the priority was still collecting fruit for more flight skills.

I opened the Vision and continued my carpet search. Along the way, my foot hit a severed arm. I didn’t know whose it was, but it was still bleeding. A trail of blood droplets led toward the west. My skin crawled at the sight. Not wanting to stay there, I stepped over the arm and headed in the opposite direction, toward the east.