Chapter 128: Waiting (3/10, Autumn Subscription!)

In the game.

Fang Yue opened his eyes; the afternoon sun was still scorching.

He asked the Guard Team members if anything had happened or if anyone had come looking for him at noon.

After confirming everything was normal, Fang Yue continued practicing the Water Sky Blade Technique.

There was no choice—he couldn't keep up with his stats during daylight hours, so he couldn't use the Starfire Blade Technique; otherwise, his stat growth rate certainly wouldn't be this slow.

As a Martial Dao-level Blade Technique, practicing the Starfire Blade Technique would grant higher stat gains than the Water Sky Blade Technique.

"Thus, Fu Hongxue drew his blade ten thousand times; now I, Fang Yue, draw mine ten million times! No more talk—Olé!"

Fang Yue continued practicing his blade; time passed quickly.

When the sun set, Fang Yue finally heard the beautiful system notification.

"System Notification: Congratulations, player, your practice of the Water Sky Blade Technique has slightly improved—Unblocking +0.1."

It went up… finally went up!

After practicing blades all afternoon, it was just one line of text—but in reality, it had nearly crushed Fang Yue; he couldn't fathom how those hard-training players managed to endure it.

No wonder so few other players on the forums joined the Guard Team to train—they just couldn't handle the suffering!

Think about it: in real life, most people lack the motivation even to work out; practicing Martial Dao is far more exhausting than working out, so naturally even fewer can stick with it.

Wait—that's not right: in the game, practicing Martial Dao actually increases stats; this tangible sense of power growth feels far more rewarding than working out. It's probably just too grueling, which is why so few people train.

In truth, Fang Yue himself would have quit long ago if not for the sheepskin parchment and the supernatural power he'd gained in real life; otherwise, he couldn't have endured such brutal blade training.

Open stats.

"Name: Yese Liming."

"Realm: Post-Heaven Third Rate."

"Status: Normal."

"HP: 200/200."

"Inner Energy: 50/50."

"Control: 7.2 【Base: 27.2】 【Status/Bonus: -20】."

"Unblocking: 6.9 【Base: 26.9】 【Status/Bonus: -20】."

"Talent: Night's Breath 【Human-Class Upper Rank】."

"Skills: Analysis Pupil 【Human-Class Lower Rank】, Starfire Blade Technique Level 1 【Post-Heaven Third Rate】, Starfire Heart Method Level 1 【Post-Heaven Third Rate】."

"Lifespan: 1 month 11 days."

After a full day of grueling blade training, both stats increased by only 0.1—yet previously, when he helped kill a Weird, both stats rose by 0.2 points. What to do was obvious.

Damn it!

If only I could find Weirdds whenever I wanted, I'd be out hunting them already—who'd stay in this village training?!

One option: high risk, high reward.

One option: no risk, low reward.

The latter is safe, but this turtle-like pace of power growth is torture.

He collected his two-day base lifespan reward for working the day shift.

"Lifespan: 1 month 13 days."

After working the night shift, he'd gain another two days.

So if you add it up, taking Lin Ling's shift doesn't seem so bad.

"Aba aba!"

As Fang Yue thought this, a cheerful voice from ahead suddenly rang out.

Fang Yue looked up and saw Niu Niu walking toward him, accompanied by several Guard Team members, laughing and joking with him.

No… wait! Do any of you even understand what this guy is saying?!

As Fang Yue puzzled over this, the group arrived before him.

"Aba aba!"

Niu Niu shouted at Fang Yue.

"... Speak human."

Niu Niu quickly sent a message.

"Ye Ge! My patrol's done! Today I caught three thieves, stopped two fights, and killed one player who was robbing—outstanding record!"

As he spoke, Niu Niu proudly lifted his head, mouth gaping, drooling like an idiot: "Wai bi wai bi!"

Huh?

This…

Fang Yue stared blankly at Niu Niu—this guy… really thought he was a cop?

Bro, wake up—you're a player who's supposed to kill Weirdds, not a village patrol officer…

"Deputy Captain Ye, Ahba is so strong! Today, thanks to him, our work was so much easier!"

"Yeah yeah! Deputy Captain Ye, you didn't see—when Ahba stopped that thief this afternoon, he just lifted him up with one hand! Like picking up a chicken!"

"Ahba! Ahba! Ahba!"

…Well, that's pretty impressive.

Calculating it, Niu Niu originally had 3.7 Control, and since then, for treatment, he hadn't trained further, so his base stat remained 3.7.

Now, after being dosed by Divine Doctor An, his physique changed—he gained 5 points to both stats, making his Control 8.7.

For Unblocking, Niu Niu said his innate strength didn't count, so his base was 1 point, plus the drug's 5 points, totaling 6 Unblocking.

8.7 Control, 6 Unblocking—his stats are nearly matching mine during the day; how could he not be strong?

Listening to the surrounding team members' flattery, Niu Niu seemed a bit elated.

"Aba aba!"

At that one meaningless cry, the Guard Team members beside Niu Niu immediately let out an excited roar along with him.

"Good! Aba-ge is full of spirit!"

"Aba-ge, are you coming on patrol tomorrow? Come to my district early, I'll treat you to something good!"

"Aba-ge, come to my place, I'll treat you to drinks!"

They were so warm toward Niu Niu that Fang Yue was stunned — how did this guy get into the inner circle of the rank and file?

"Aba!"

Niu Niu waved a hand, drooling with a foolish look on his face, then turned to Fang Yue: "Aba aba!"

"…Hand over the Bronze Life Order, I'll help you turn in the mission."

Hearing Fang Yue speak, the others were immediately shocked.

"Wow! Deputy Captain Ye actually knows what Aba-ge is saying? That's amazing!"

"Is this what they call hearts being connected? So envious, I want to communicate with Aba too…"

Envious of what — you're a player, you can do it too!

Rolling his eyes, Fang Yue sent them all away. Seeing this, Niu Niu immediately got anxious.

"Wabi wabi babu!"

That's enough! You're just picking up a Bronze Life Order reward and you still want an audience to flatter you!

Fang Yue couldn't be bothered with Niu Niu. He dispersed the crowd, claimed the Life Order Advent reward, tossed it to Niu Niu, and said: "What are your plans tonight?"

"Aba… aba…"

Although Niu Niu still wore that foolish look, his tone was clearly a bit deflated.

"Practicing? Then suit yourself. I'm on night shift, holler if you need anything."

"Aba aba."

Suddenly, Fang Yue thought of something: "Right, what martial art are you practicing? The Instructor should have only taught you the basics."

"Aba aba!"

…Fine then, use the Official Member benefits to learn a spear technique.

Looking at Niu Niu's build, he felt this guy learning a great saber would suit him better, though using a spear wasn't bad either.

Ignoring him, Fang Yue was about to head inside to rest and wait for nightfall, when Niu Niu suddenly blocked him.

"Ye Ge! I remember you still have a spear technique manual called 'Flowing Stab'…"

This time, Niu Niu actually didn't forget to send a message.

"Want it? Pay up."

"…Ye Ge, we've been through life and death together!"

"Exactly, that's why I'm willing to sell it to you."

"…How much?"

"Three taels, I'm short on cash right now."

"You might as well just rob me!!"

(End of chapter)