Chapter 16

Faced with Xie Yaoyao's words, the expression on the statue's face became even more vigilant, but it still stood there silently without moving.

Once he confirmed that the statue was indestructible but unable to attack him, Xie Yaoyao became increasingly bold.

"Where did that smugness of yours go?"

"Weren't you very arrogant just a moment ago?"

"Speak up!"

"Why are you chickening out?"

"Hmm! I still admire your cocky look from before; why don't you go back to that?"

"Look at how uncomfortable you look, holding it all in—you aren't constipated, are you? Haha!"

"Constipation is an illness too, and if it's an illness, it must be treated. Holding it in for too long is bad for your health."

"Hey! I happen to know a nice old lady who is a pharmacist; should I introduce you to her?"

Watching the expression on the statue's face become increasingly uncomfortable, Xie Yaoyao burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha, it's really uncomfortable holding it in, isn't it!"

"Curse me! Curse me out loud!"

Suddenly, Xie Yaoyao looked at the statue in shock and asked.

"You... you aren't a mute, are you?"

This remark from Xie Yaoyao completely broke the guard statue's composure.

"You guy, you're the mute! Your whole family is mute!"

"And listen here, I'm not sick. I'm a statue; how could a statue get sick, you idiot!"

"You, the guy who can't even break my defense, only deserve to whine here."

The guard statue said a long string of words in one breath, looking as refreshed as if it had been relieved of years of constipation.

But this sense of relief didn't last long.

A look of uncontrollable fear suddenly appeared on the guard statue's face.

"You... how did you know..."

Xie Yaoyao pinched his nose and said with a grin.

"Ah! You mean how I knew that making you speak would break your magic?"

"Hehe, how could someone with 【Language Mastery】 not have a mouth!"

"Combined with your invulnerable body, such an incongruous thing is easy to figure out if you just think about it!"

Looking at his bitten finger, Xie Yaoyao continued: "By the way, you're much stronger than those two scarecrows; at least you made me bleed!"

"Alright, the chat ends here; I still have a mission to complete!"

As soon as Xie Yaoyao finished speaking, he reversed the axe in his hand and smashed the blunt side hard against the statue's head.

"Boom—"

This time there were no sparks flying; the stone statue seemed to be made of plaster, and under Xie Yaoyao's heavy blow, it crumbled into a pile of rubble.

Nodding, Xie Yaoyao collected the entries dropped by the statue.

"Ding! Detected mergeable entries 【Animal Affinity】, 【Language Mastery】. Merge them?"

"Ding! Detected mergeable entries 【Observer】 *2. Merge them?"

My luck is truly exploding—merge!

"Congratulations to the Traveler for obtaining the green entry 【Animal Companion】 and the blue entry 【Insight】!"

【Animal Companion】: Significantly increases the affinity animals have for you and allows you to communicate with animals.

【Insight】: Keen insight allows you to notice details others overlook and discover information others try to hide.

Haha, obtaining two entries at once, and one green and one blue—I've made a fortune!

Killing the guard statue didn't let Xie Yaoyao advance to the third tier, so for now, he could still only equip two entries.

Although 【Animal Companion】 was a green entry, Xie Yaoyao thought about it and decided to equip the two blue entries, 【Intermediate Poison】 and 【Insight】.

One for investigation and one for attack—it was exactly what he needed to deal with the currently unclear situation.

Besides, 【Animal Companion】 was a functional entry; he could always equip it temporarily when needed.

After equipping the new entries, Xie Yaoyao happily returned to the woodcutter's hut.

Seeing the three people in the room looking at him with surprised expressions, Xie Yaoyao understood that they all knew he had killed the stone statue.

Miller, the woodcutter with the bushy beard, was the first to lose his patience.

"You... in such a short time, how did you do it?"

Xie Yaoyao pointed to his head triumphantly and said with a grin.

"When you get used to using wisdom to solve problems, then every problem will be easily solved!"

After speaking, he looked at the hunting rifle in Owen's hand with anticipation.

The hunter didn't act coy and handed the hunting rifle to Xie Yaoyao.

"I hope you can use it well!"

"Of course!" Xie Yaoyao took the hunting rifle 【Roarer】 with joy and stroked it, unable to put it down.

The Roarer was an old-fashioned short-barreled hunting rifle; the complex vine patterns made the entire gun body look exceptionally gorgeous, as if it were a work of art rather than a lethal weapon.

To be honest, this gun really didn't look like something an ordinary hunter should own.

Ignoring Xie Yaoyao, who was admiring his newly acquired weapon on the side, the three people in the room began further discussion.

"So, Owen, there's only one key point left to maintain the magic."

"Yes, and it's also the most powerful monitor."

The woodcutter on the side added bitterly.

"It's a pity we can't go out; otherwise, Owen and I could easily take care of a mere monster."

Kathleen, the old pharmacist, glanced at the woodcutter with disdain.

"If you're so powerful, how did you get injured?"

Upon hearing this, Miller's face immediately flushed red, and he kept saying.

"An ambush! That beast used a shameless ambush, otherwise..."

The hunter immediately interrupted the woodcutter's self-justification.

"Alright, why talk about that now! The current problem is how to deal with the monster in the final stage!"

The pharmacist turned to look at Xie Yaoyao, who was still stroking the hunting rifle, and added.

"Didn't you already give the 'Roarer' to this kid!"

Xie Yaoyao felt the gazes of the three and immediately looked up.

"What? Is there another mission? That sounds great, tell me about it."

The hunter's expression was complex.

"Traveler, I must remind you that although we really need your help, I still don't want you to make any unnecessary sacrifices."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yaoyao chuckled and mimicked the pharmacist's tone.

"Owen, didn't you already give the 'Roarer' to me?"

The hunter hadn't expected Xie Yaoyao to say that, and for a moment, his expression was a bit awkward.

That's right, hadn't he already...

Taking a deep breath, the hunter's expression became solemn again.

"I must apologize to you, my friend! So, are you willing to help me again?"

"Hehe, tell me about it!"

"In the third stage, on the west side of the village, there is the last monitor, or rather, a guard, left behind by the witch."

"Because of the magic, we cannot leave the village. If you can lure that last guard into the village, then Miller and I will strike together to kill him."

"But that is a cunning and powerful demon; it might not fall for it, so it will be very dangerous if you face it alone."

"Therefore, if you accept this final mission, I cannot guarantee your life!"

Xie Yaoyao tilted his head as he listened to the hunter, then grinned.

"Then, please excuse me for withdrawing!"