Chapter 71: Taking Action

Chen Shicheng isn't the sort who, when he's hungry, is called a farmer uncle, when he's fed is called a migrant worker, and when he's full is called a back‑stabbing country wolf.

After enjoying a wonderful peaceful life, he also wants to serve the motherland, but not now; after all, there are still bad people among the masses, and he must have the power to say "no".

"Thanks, brothers."

While Chen Shicheng was pondering, the young player already took out a treasured healing Elixir and swallowed it, stabilizing his injuries.

But the sunken chest hadn't fully recovered; he could only weakly raise his hand and barely say thank you.

"Thanks for what? Don't be so formal."

Chen Shicheng walked up to the young player, crouched, pointed at his chest and asked, "What about this wound—need any help?"

The youth was very measured; he'd just deliberately given him a head start, giving Chen Shicheng a very good first impression, so lending a hand wouldn't be a problem.

"Forget it, healing medicines are expensive; better not waste the money," the youth said with a wry smile.

"I don't have healing medicine, but I have something else that can treat wounds. Want to try it?"

Chen Shicheng wasn't planning to simply summon a rain of blessings; instead he produced a handful of Immortal Bone Dust, intending to test its effect on the little white mouse before him.

"Probably better not to use it."

The youth stared at the black, coconut‑shell‑charcoal‑like powder with a face full of resistance.

But Chen Shicheng took his hesitation as mere shyness, and without a word he pinched the youth's jaw and shoved a handful of bone ash into him.

The effect was immediate.

Although the young player choked and rolled his eyes, the wound on his chest healed bit by bit, the oozing blood dwindled, and one could hear the faint "click‑click" of bones being reset.

"Hmm?"

Realizing his injury was slowly yet steadily healing, the youth froze, then began gulping down the bone ash in large mouthfuls, making Chen Shicheng grin.

By the time he forced down the fourth handful of bone ash, the sunken chest gradually returned to normal; aside from a faint phantom pain, the young player was fully restored.

"Brother, I'm the one who spent the money; I have nothing to thank you for, I'll take care of this insect's corpse for you."

After hopping in place a few times, the youth rushed straight at the carrion insect's corpse, using a remaining broken sword blade to slice the toughest part of its head‑skin, coating himself in green slime.

Soon he returned holding a pot‑lid‑sized milky‑yellow piece of head‑skin, handed it to Chen Shicheng, "Brother, this is the most valuable material from the insect; keep it for now, you can later sell it to a sect or an individual for some cash."

"The remaining outer skin will take some work; wait a bit—it's disgusting, I'll handle it myself."

Chen Shicheng glanced at the head‑skin, tossed it into the storage slot, "You discovered this monster first, keep the rest yourself."

The whole carrion insect's most valuable part is its tough head‑skin; the rest is just scraps. The youth's understanding of etiquette raised Chen Shicheng's impression of him.

"You keep them all, brother. If it weren't for you, I'd probably have already returned to the city by now," the youth insisted on giving all the materials to Chen Shicheng.

"Blood‑brothers settle accounts clearly; you contributed, so the share of loot is no problem. Without your holding them off, I'd have struggled to fight," Chen Shicheng shook his head.

"Alright then, I won't decline," the youth paused, noting that they said it was hard work, not that they couldn't fight, and he still had plenty of healing items.

Obviously this was a big‑shot, far stronger than him, so he didn't bother being polite, swiftly squeezing all the carrion insect's innards out of the wound, and amid the "splatter‑splatter" of liquid, rolled the outer skin into a ball and shoved it into the storage slot.

Seeing the youth finish tidying the scraps, Chen Shicheng finally asked, "Where did you come in from? Do you know the specifics of the underground palace? I just entered—can you tell me about it?"

"Don't bring it up; outside is already a mess, and many players slipped in amid the chaos."

The youth shook his head gloomily, pointing to a huge puddle of entrails on the ground, and said, "The underground palace isn't what we expected; it's too ancient—good stuff has turned to ash. Only these insect‑type monsters and some Spiritual Medicine remain, at best you can level up, don't even think about equipment."

After speaking, he seemed to recall something, his eyes brightening, "Brother, I'm called Luotuo, and there's nothing valuable to find now. How about we team up and grind some experience?"

"This…"

Chen Shicheng declined the proposal; even though the gear had turned to ash, there were still Spiritual Medicine.

Such exploratory activity is better done alone; if Spiritual Medicine truly appears, even with a good impression of this player named Luotuo, he wouldn't risk testing human nature.

"Don't move forward, who let you in!"

Just as Chen Shicheng was about to refuse, a loud shout rang out.

Instinctively, the two turned their heads and saw, in the adjacent passage, two men in identical gear rushing toward them.

"What bad luck, they found us so quickly—people from the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department."

Luotuo muttered a disgruntled curse; clearly the clamor from the carrion insect battle had attracted the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department.

"What happens if they catch us—fine or detention?" Chen Shicheng asked curiously.

"Not that severe, but we'll definitely be kicked out; probably can't grind experience here, wasting this high‑level monster hotspot," Luotuo sighed.

The Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department may arrogantly claim exclusive rights, but it's a state agency; even if you force entry, the repercussions of being caught aren't severe.

However, after finally finding a prime spot teeming with high‑level monsters, he doesn't want to be shooed away in disgrace.

Seeing the two approaching rapidly, Chen Shicheng took an Illusion Body Talisman from the storage slot, stuck it on himself, and silently vanished from the room.

"Where did you come in from? Didn't you know this place is booked by the Cultural Tourism Bureau Logistics Department?" one of the men asked sternly after bursting in.

"I was just passing by, looking for a spectacle, found a hole and came in to check it out—who knew it was an underground palace," Luotuo replied casually.

"Now that you know it's an underground palace, you should leave immediately; this place trains the Cultural Tourism Bureau's reserve forces for C City, and only when they mature can they protect the region. You rogue players are just causing trouble!"

"Oh, got it, we'll leave right away."

Luotuo saw the two launch a big move, could only helplessly call Chen Shicheng to leave, "Brother, looks like we can't grind experience today; let's get out first and find a good spot later. Huh? Where's everyone?"

When he turned back, he realized there was no one behind him; Chen Shicheng had already vanished.

(End of Chapter)