Chapter 158

The only good news was that at night, his peak strength could directly confront most Black Grade Initial Stage Gui Yi, significantly raising the team's upper limit of power.

Fang Yue had figured it out—An Shenyi was just a decorative pillow, possessing only realm and power but no actual combat ability, with escape skills being his only strength.

As for the Blood Hunters, 【Giant-Head Blood Dog】's combat power had never been shown, but since Blood Hunters couldn't handle Yang Xu Gui, 【Giant-Head Blood Dog】's strength must not be impressive either.

【Giant-Head Blood Dog】 might be stronger than the Deputy Captain or similar, but weaker than a Captain-level.

Of course, it's also possible the Blood Hunters were unwilling to risk 【Giant-Head Blood Dog】 getting hurt, so they refused to let it fight.

Checking the sky, Fang Yue hesitated several times, finally unable to hold back and pulled out the sheepskin parchment.

"I want to know if our team can safely reach Man Shui Cun."

Saying this, Fang Yue pulled out 1g of Black Ember and fed it to the sheepskin parchment.

The sheepskin parchment quickly displayed text.

【I am Fang Yue, I am escorting An Shenyi back to the village and encountered danger.】

【Fortunately, I have temporarily escaped the danger.】

【Watching the sky darken, I fear the Advent of night and the uncertainty ahead, seeking the aid of the great and noble Sheepskin Paper Lord.】

【I studied the information provided by the great and noble Sheepskin Paper, then quickly gathered it up.】

【When I turned back, I saw a blurred shadow materialize from illusion to reality beneath the setting sun—I saw the Xu Gui!】

【My team was caught up to by the Xu Gui; we united and fought back, defeating the Xu Gui.】

【I was happy, but I didn't know the real danger was just approaching!】

【One hour later, night fell, and the team faced true crisis—heavy casualties, nearly annihilated.】

【I looked at the corpses scattered everywhere, deeply regretting fighting the Xu Gui and wasting time—if only I had led the team to flee then… what would the outcome have been?】

Xu Gui?!

The Xu Gui caught up?!

What was the real danger?

The team was nearly wiped out?

Could it be… Heavy Pressure Gui?

This sheepskin parchment thing—better not to look, or it'll scare you to death!

Fang Yue stared at the sheepskin parchment, his expression shifting unpredictably.

He stopped walking, mounted his horse, turned back—and his pupils shrank instantly.

There, beneath the setting sun, at the edge of sight, was the Yang Xu Gui that had previously kicked Fang Yue and Niu Niu away.

Fang Yue's face changed several times; he was about to call the Blood Hunters over, then hesitated.

The distance was still far—we still had time!

He gritted his teeth and immediately fed another 1g of Black Ember.

"If I flee now with the escort team, what will happen?"

The sheepskin parchment greedily devoured the Black Ember.

【I am Fang Yue, I am a man without responsibility.】

【Whenever I encounter Gui, I think of fleeing—I have not a shred of courage! I faced criticism from An Shenyi and the Blood Hunters.】

【But in the end, I convinced them to flee with the team.】

【During the escape, those falling behind were repeatedly killed by the Xu Gui, and our numbers steadily dwindled.】

【I used a "cutting off the tail" strategy, splitting the team into separate groups.】

【I succeeded! The team escaped the Xu Gui's pursuit!】

【I was happy, but the survivors thought I made a wrong decision—the team split into factions, wasting time—they were so stupid!】

【So they died.】

【One hour later, the true danger arrived; nearly all remaining members of the team perished, nearly annihilated.】

【I lay dying, watching the corpses of An Shenyi and the Blood Hunters, and the slaughter of the entire escort team—I deeply regretted it.】

【If only I had chosen to fight head-on then, it wouldn't have ended like this!】

You're fucking playing a death loop on me?!

WDNMD! Have a little paper integrity already!

Fang Yue suppressed the urge to crumple the parchment and throw it away, snarling: "So I'm just here scamming free meals and drinks?"

The sheepskin parchment gave no reaction.

"Speak up! Both choices lead to this outcome—what good are you?"

The sheepskin parchment still gave no reaction.

Fang Yue had calmed slightly now, speaking coldly.

"Tell me now—how can I get the escort team safely to Man Shui Cun? I won't pursue the 2g of Black Ember you swallowed."

The sheepskin parchment finally reacted.

【This question is worth 10g of Black Ember—no bargaining allowed!】

Fang Yue:!!!

Fuck, it just raised the price!

Fang Yue grabbed his hair in rage—this thing would drive him insane eventually.

After thinking, he pulled out another 1g of Black Ember and asked:

"If I stay behind alone to fight the Xu Gui, letting the escort team flee without delay—can they reach Man Shui Cun safely?"

The sheepskin parchment swallowed the Black Ember and quickly displayed text.

【I am Fang Yue, a man of noble character!】

I told the escort team to leave without informing them of the Phantom Deception, and stayed behind alone to deal with it.

Ten minutes later, I died.

I died honorably, I died gloriously; I don't know if the team reached Man Shui Cun safely, but my soul was purified!

I lived humbly, I died gloriously!

(Applause!)

To hell with you!

"Spit it out! This question doesn't count! Spit out the Black Ember!"

Fang Yue shook the sheepskin parchment desperately, but it suddenly sprouted four large characters.

【No Refunds!!】

Damn it, you're a black-market merchant!

Fang Yue's face darkened as he glanced at the approaching Sheep Phantom Deception and pulled out another 1g of Black Ember.

"If I summon An Shenyi, Xue Xue, and Niu Niu to fight the Phantom Deception together, and order the rest of the escort team to keep moving faster, what will happen?"

Fang Yue had finally realized: now that the sheepskin parchment was cunning, it only answered questions with clear direction—otherwise, it raised the price.

For example, if I asked what I would do next, it would reveal what would happen next.

But if I asked how I could achieve something, the price changed.

The cheaper rate applied only when I clearly stated what I intended to do; if I didn't know what to do and needed its guidance, the price shot up.

If only Fang Yue could crush this vile black-market parchment with Black Ember!

【I, Fang Yue, am a hero!】

【Heroes have teams, they have underlings!】

【I summon my No. 1 underling An An, No. 2 underling Xue Xue, No. 3 underling Niu Niu, and charge at the Phantom Deception, while ordering the escort team to flee quickly.】

【Hero! Hero! Hero!】 The escort team screamed in their hearts, bidding him tearful farewell—my vanity was immensely satisfied; I really am a hypocritical person! I've decided: I WILL give it my all!

【I meant what I said—I led the charge.】

【Soon, with all my strength unleashed, the Phantom Deception pierced my chest with a single hoof, and I lay on the ground, barely alive.】

【My No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 underlings all became distracted by my injury and were defeated one after another—I'm such a useless waste.】

【But isn't everyone a little waste? Watching the Phantom Deception draw nearer, I made a great decision—and turned defeat into victory!】

【But what was this decision...? Please transfer payment.】

Fang Yue:!!!

Damn it!

I'm gonna have a heart attack from this thing in the game!

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

Fang Yue felt his temper was about to explode.

"Do you have any conscience?! One question costs 1g of Black Ember—I tolerated the price hikes, but now you're still raising the price?! Is your mother dead?!"

(End of Chapter)