Surviving the Ancient Angst Novel [Transmigration] - Chapter 13

I gradually found two more Qideng Fruits before reaching the end of the white boundary line.

Outside the circle lay another mountain, where Qideng trees were also planted. Under my “Auspicious Vision,” I could see at least ten red-marked target fruits with the naked eye alone. They were densely packed and right within reach.

【That is a different hunting ground,】 the system reminded me.

I stared at those fruit trees, having no intention of leaving. To be honest, I was tempted. If I ran over there and spent just a few minutes, wouldn’t I be able to pick dozens of them? They say the timid starve while the bold feast. I have “Teleport” to back me up now, so what is there to fear? If I encounter danger, I’ll just teleport away.

No sooner said than done.

Without looking back, I stepped outside the white line and sprinted toward the other side. Once I reached that mountain, I found that the number of red-marked Qideng Fruits was indeed countless.

In a state of wild ecstasy, I began plucking them into my system slots. Qideng Fruits can be stacked many to a single slot, taking up almost no space; in just a few minutes, I had obtained over fifty. There were even more deeper in the mountains, but I wasn’t greedy. Before anyone noticed me, I turned to head back.

Just then, a white shadow flashed past it was so fast it was little more than a blur. I felt a heavy murderous intent instantly envelop me. Every cell in my body screamed at me to get away. I hadn’t had time to eat any of the new fruits yet, so I had zero “Grass-Skimming Flight” uses available.

In the nick of time, I pressed the golden “Teleport” skill.

The scenery before my eyes blurred. When it finally came into focus again, the image in my field of vision had changed from the boundary between the mountains to the deep forest.

A youth dressed in black stood motionless beside me. A black cloth was tied over his eyes, knotted at the back of his head, leaving only his fair skin and rosy lips visible.

Another sculpture?

I habitually glanced at his waist: a Green Jade tied with a white string was hanging there.

Good lord, I had actually ended up in the Green Jade hunting ground?! No wonder the hunter I just met had such incredible movement skills he was on a completely different level from our “ground-bound chicken” back at the first mountain.

【Ding! Special Mission triggered: Save the same person from utter helplessness and despair six times within one minute. Mission success will unlock the Legendary Skill: Teleport. Grade: Upgradable, Permanent Ownership.】

What? Did I hear that right?

Saving the same person six times in one minute, and they must be in a state of extreme fear and despair? This is a “Mission Impossible” buff stack if I ever saw one!

System: 【Oh, oh! Accepting the mission also gives you six Level 10 Teleports as a bonus.】

My expression softened slightly, but I still thought it would be difficult. ‘Can a person feel despair six times in a single minute? From calm to despair, six times do you think human adrenaline is a spring? You press it down once and it instantly spikes to the maximum? Unless…’

The system asked curiously: 【Unless?】

‘Unless I save him, and then immediately send him back to his death?’

System: 【…Yinchen, I advise you not to do that. This isn’t like when you played Justice Online and used NPCs to get burned by fire just to get a solo clear achievement. This is a living person!!! You’ll draw so much aggro doing that. Besides, if their psychological resilience is weak, you could literally scare them to death. Even if they don’t die, they’ll go mad.】

I gave a half-smile. ‘How do you even know I played Justice Online? Come on, keep talking, what else do you know?’

System: 【That, cough cough, is a story for another time. Anyway, consider this carefully.】 It paused, appearing worried, and emphasized again: 【Think it over very, very carefully.】

‘Of course I’m being careful~’ I sucked in a breath and touched my neck. ‘But I really do crave that Teleport skill. With it, wouldn’t I be able to walk sideways through the Eastern Wasteland?’

I thought about it more. ‘Actually, you have a point. Doing that might make someone hate me to death.’

System: 【So, your decision?】

I smiled. ‘Then I’ll just find a random extra. Even if they hate me, they won’t be able to cause much trouble.’

System: 【!!!】

It’s not like I’m actually going to let them die; the process will just be a bit… twisted. The ultimate ending will be a happy one. With that thought, I accepted the special mission without any psychological burden and received the six Level 10 Teleports.

【Please select a mission target — Countdown: 1:00:00】

So fast?

I opened my “Auspicious Vision” and looked at the youth who had been standing motionless beside me this whole time. Perfect gray tones. “Random Extra” acquired. √

‘Him, then.’

【Mission target locked — Xiao Si. The countdown begins from the moment of the first successful rescue. Good luck.】

Xiao Si.

For some reason, the moment I heard that name, the person who came to mind was the legendary beauty who captivated the world at thirteen, rejected Michael Jackson’s proposal, and had the Emperor of Japan obsessed with her, Brooke Shields (known as Xiao Si in Chinese). But here, the name was most likely just a placeholder code written by the author on a whim. A background character, an extra, a bit of cannon fodder a code so common it couldn’t be more ordinary. Like “Xiao Ming” or “Xiao Hong.” Lost among a sea of flashy protagonist and supporting character names, it was a name so mediocre one would forget it instantly, let alone mention it over tea.

“Little brother?” I tentatively greeted my special mission target.

The youth in black: “…”

Ears deaf to the outside world, heart set on being a statue.

No, he did move… the tips of his hair behind him were drifting gently in the wind. His hair was like a waterfall of black silk; clearly, he had a good hair care routine. I figured even a doll in ancient times couldn’t be made with such detail. This was most likely a living person. He just didn’t like to speak.

Just as I was about to reach out and check if he was still breathing, the system spoke.

【Living person. He’s just had his pressure points struck.】

So that’s it. ‘System, do you have a way to unblock them?’

System: 【No… someone’s coming!】

I immediately ducked into a nearby thicket, crouching down and stuffing a few Qideng Fruits into my mouth, swallowing them after a messy chewing.

A white shadow swept over at high speed. When it got closer, I saw he was wearing a silver mask and had a Green Jade tied with a black string at his waist. The Silver Hunter held a scimitar with wet blood on the tip. Large splashes of blood stained his clothes, shoes, and hands—it was a jarring sight.

Seeing the black-clad youth standing bolt upright, the Silver Hunter parted his thin lips and let out a few silent laughs. He craned his neck, sniffing deeply at the youth’s neck like a large predator about to enjoy a fine meal, before commenting hoarsely: “Passable.”

A total pervert. I made a mental note of my evaluation while not daring to look away for a second. The Silver Hunter extended a finger and struck Xiao Si’s shoulder several times with great force.

Once the restriction on his body was lifted, Xiao Si immediately scrambled back several large steps. He ripped the black cloth from his face, revealing a youthful countenance so plain and ordinary that no one would give it a second look. I raised an eyebrow in surprise; I had thought he was blind, but his eyes were as black as ink and shone brilliantly in the sunlight. His vision was likely at least 20/15.

The Silver Hunter moved forward a few steps with excitement. Xiao Si continued to retreat clumsily until his foot hit a stone; he slipped forward but fell backward onto the ground. His head hit a tree with a loud thud, I knew it had to hurt just from the sound but he didn’t make a peep, only a few tears welled in his eyes.

Fearing that “Grass-Skimming Flight” would be too mediocre to save him in time, I used the skill to leap out first.

The Silver Hunter raised his scimitar and slowly turned his head to look at me. I stuffed another Qideng Fruit into my mouth and squatted down with a smile, adopting the posture of a leisurely spectator. “Go on. Finish him first, then come for me.”

After watching me finish five Qideng Fruits in a row, the Silver Hunter suddenly used his blade to gesture at the terrified, motionless Xiao Si, asking me with interest: “Where should I cut first?”

I pointed with my chin toward the boy’s legs. “The knees. Cut along the joints; there’s less blood that way.”

The boy’s face turned deathly pale.

【Adrenaline: 50!】

“Fine.” The Silver Hunter raised his blade, preparing to strike.

“Stop.”

Silver Hunter: “?”

I walked quickly over to the boy and grabbed his shoulder. “I’ll hold him down. Make sure your cut is accurate.” I still didn’t trust the flight skill completely; I felt safer holding onto the person.

The Silver Hunter let out a laugh of genuine interest. He raised his scimitar and swung it down with a fierce blow.

Xiao Si’s dark pupils dilated instantly. His helpless hands could only scratch desperately at the dirt on the ground.

【Adrenaline: 100! Maximum value!】

I immediately used a Level 10 Teleport. Just as the scimitar was about to sever the boy’s lower legs, I took him and vanished.

Silver Hunter: ???