Chapter 91: No, How Did This Boss Also Get Red‑Hot?

"Family, tap the red hearts and follow, this time Qiangge I'll definitely succeed, woof."

Standing among the crowd, Qiangzi spat horizontally at a small camera hovering in the air.

"I'm telling you, the big trap formation failed last night, it's not my fault; the timing was too rushed, we weren't prepared!"

"I logged on early this afternoon on purpose, just to finish setting the traps in advance; this time, brothers, no more crashes, woof!"

Qiangzi's words sounded confident, but the bullet comments were full of mockery.

【Happy, the streamer is being stubborn again】

【Mischievous, why is Xiao Qiang joking again】

Especially the last one, it even had a sarcastic tone reminiscent of *Empresses in the Palace*.

【I'm saying, Qiangge, why don't you share with the newly joined family members in the stream how you just showed off your power?】

"I f—..."

Qiangzi immediately got angry, cursed, and jabbed two fingers at the camera, torturing it.

"I only love Xiao Yi~ I won't… you're all talk, just keep spouting that b…!"

【Huh, why did the streamer suddenly turn red‑hot?】

【The streamer's moves are unprofessional, should have shown off his biceps first】

【Sigh, looks like we have to do a science‑pop again】

"Shut up, shut up!"

Qiangzi shouted loudly, but the viewers were quick, shaking away his embarrassing evening incident completely.

Just a few hours earlier, while rambling nonsense in the stream, he ran into the live‑streaming Qiangbing Buqi.

"Get up, you even deserve to be called Qiangge, woof. Dare you compare moves with me?"

Wiping the blood off his long spear, Qiangge grinned.

"Fellow countryman? Spar? Sure, why not."

Then, feeling indignant, Qiangzi was knocked down by three spears in full view and couldn't get up.

If that were all, it would be tolerable, but his forced online PK was crushed by the opponent.

His proud Qiang family army turned out to be helpless, suffered a crushing defeat, and he was so angry he almost announced quitting the net on the spot.

So embarrassing! To save face, he can only trap a newbie‑village boss…

【Streamer, who's behind you? The mask is pretty cool】

"Huh?"

He turned around and saw a masked figure had appeared behind him.

Eh, this looks somewhat familiar.

A black‑backed white‑patterned sheet, and a mask with a big white question mark.

Is this…

A dimly lit hand shovel slowly descended; when he opened his eyes again, he was already inside a glass jar.

"I…"

He stammered, still wondering how to explain, when he saw the bullet comments.

【Yo, what happened?】

【No, why did the bros finish their meals while the streamer is still squatting in a urinal?】

【Sigh, looks like we have to do a science‑pop again, version 2.0!】

"Ugh—ahhh!"

Ji Ming, unaware of Qiangzi's broken defense, dealt with the trap maker, and teleported some soil to fill the deep pit.

He snapped his fingers, and a stall brimming with goods appeared before him.

Not every player likes bad luck; soon someone came to inspect the goods, but after a glance shook their head and left.

These are things no one at the current stage can afford; a regular player would need to grind for several days at least.

Even when Qiangbing Buqi approached, he fondly touched the long spear on the ground, but could only stand up helplessly in the end.

"The spear is a good spear, but it's just too pricey."

Nonsense, to boost the Mysterious Merchant's reputation, this steel spear was specially ordered from blacksmith Mo Dun!

From the shaft to the tip it's all premium material; even the shabby spears he bulk‑bought from the market while his face was masked turn into scrap in an instant—who wouldn't be bewildered?

But even for fishing, you have to cast a net first…

Zhao Jun sighed, about to return to the armory to grind some more, when a light cough was heard.

"You're the Pioneer who caused a ruckus in the armory yesterday, right?"

This NPC can actually talk?

Listening to the low, hoarse voice, he hesitated before speaking.

"Yes, yesterday I…"

"Haha, don't be nervous."

The Mysterious Merchant let out a light laugh.

"I may not be a servant of the Soul‑Spirit Throne, but I'm still half a friend to you."

"Qiangbing, I think you have great potential; I can give you this spear at a friendly price."

Zhao Jun opened the trade window in surprise, seeing that the spear which previously required a '2' prefix now only costs a dozen exchange points!

Understand that grinding goblins only yields small rewards; the various quests in the newbie village are the big ones.

If I take the most expensive escort convoy task on the bulletin board, add my current savings, I'll have enough money tonight!

It's an unexpected burst of joy; if he weren't so calm from years of training, he'd be laughing out loud right now.

But even so, his face was still full of smiles.

"Thanks, senior!"

However, following that line of thought, he recalled something very important.

The beginner's guide didn't mention it, and the Throne's Four Guardians were nowhere to be seen.

The players asked the village dogs, and they surprisingly said that to become a professional—whether a warrior or an archer—you have to grind your body for several years.

Come on, the closed beta is only fourteen days; it can't be that this profession system is still just a pipe dream, right?

No, I have to seize the chance and ask.

So he tidied up his wording.

"Senior, actually I also want to ask about the Pioneers' class transfer—what does the Throne have to say about it?"

The Mysterious Merchant remained silent this time, as if he hadn't heard at all.

It wasn't until the spearman was about to leave in disappointment that a light, floating sentence came.

"Tomorrow evening, you can come again."

Tomorrow?

The reply was vague, but it seemed planned; just wait patiently.

The spearman bowed, expressed thanks, and hurried off to take another commission.

"Spearman brother, what's going on..."

Seeing players crowding around, he thought for a moment and posted the earlier chat on the public screen.

【Isn't it that if you play the game well you can get discounts?】

【High‑level spenders have privileges everywhere; not giving you a full dedicated support staff is already generous.】

【So by that logic, the class transfer will open tomorrow?】

【How do we transfer? Do we just parachute in a few class mentors?】

【Ha, it won't be the classic bearded brute warrior, the pretty archer sister, or the white‑bearded old mage again.】

【I think, given this game's nature, uhh…】

As the public screen kept refreshing, the number of onlookers visibly dwindled.

After all, whatever the class transfer relies on, level and exchange points are definitely required.

—Time to grind.

But beyond ordinary players, there are still those trying to game the system.

Those who use chat as a pretext for ambushes, those who feint east to steal west, and those who think sheer numbers let them do whatever they want.

Even a female player tinkered out a custom skill and unleashed a wave of charm magic.

Unfortunately, the Mysterious Merchant didn't indulge their bad habits, striking each with a heavy punch.

Short‑handled shovels, long‑handled shovels, hand axes, hidden stabs, curved blades, daggers, saws, hammers…

He even casually tossed an iron ball, killing a fleeing youngster over twenty meters away with a single strike.

Beneath the black robe seemed a bag of wonders; each time a player died they felt something new.

If the corpses didn't vanish together with the blood, the Mysterious Merchant could open a fresh‑meat shop for beasts.

【Wait, wasn't that girl just trying to touch the mask below? Why did the Mysterious Merchant slash her on the spot?】

【To be fair, I feel this boss is getting a bit hot‑tempered.】

【But Seek Death, Death God, Death God, speak up already!】

But Seek Death: 【The boss's methods are extremely cruel, take a break!】