Chapter 75: Taking Someone

After all, sect members come and go at will; if you truly want to join a sect, under normal circumstances you must first go to Qingsi County to have any chance of contact.

Players, with their initial one-day lifespan and inability to survive in the wild, don't even need to talk about talent—just getting to the county-level area is already a problem.

So while the sects are great, they're far away and hard to reach; you can only dream about it, though of course there's always a chance some lucky soul might make it… then you'd just have to sour-lemon.

Fang Yue then asked about a few other villages' information before saying, "I want to exchange my lifespan for a Mortal Martial Arts manual."

"Do as you like."

Lin Ling didn't refuse; she told Fang Yue to pick whatever he wanted in the Library Room, then return to register his choice.

Fang Yue went to the Library Room and found the collection was indeed sparse.

He casually picked up a manual…

"Name: Hualizhang."

"Level: Mortal Martial Arts."

"Requirement: 5 points of Deflection."

"Description: A palm technique focused on defense."

"Effect: When performing the technique, increases Deflection by 0.5 points."

"Note: What trash?"

"Price 1: 【10 days of lifespan】 + 【1g Black Ember】."

Fang Yue: …

Blinding!

Leaving aside the learning condition, the technique's effect… is this seriously not a joke?

Fang Yue flipped through a few more manuals.

"Name: Great Strength Fist."

"Level: Mortal Martial Arts."

"Requirement: 7 points of Control."

"Description: Great strength creates miracles."

"Effect: When performing the technique, increases Control by 0.5 points."

"Note: Dry trash."

"Price: 【10 days of lifespan】 + 【1g Black Ember】."

…

"Name: Slow Rain Blade Technique."

"Level: Mortal Martial Arts."

"Requirement: 5 points of Control, 5 points of Deflection."

"Description: Slow controls fast; a rear-hand sword technique."

"Effect: When performing the technique, increases Control by 0.3 points and Deflection by 0.3 points."

"Note: Wet trash."

"Price: 【10 days of lifespan】 + 【1g Black Ember】."

…

"Name: Common Thrust Spear Technique."

"Level: Mortal Martial Arts."

"Requirement: 3 points of Control, 3 points of Deflection."

"Description: A common thrusting spear technique."

"Effect: When performing the technique, increases Control by 0.2 points and Deflection by 0.2 points."

"Note: Public trash."

"Price: 【8 days of lifespan】."

…

Looking at these martial arts, Fang Yue felt his head starting to ache.

How dare you accuse other caravans of being heartless—your Library Room's manual prices are insane!

These trash martial arts demand ten or eight days of lifespan, and you must also throw in Black Ember to get them.

Only even worse martial arts can be exchanged for lifespan alone.

Just becoming a Moon-Level powerhouse had made Fang Yue feel a bit giddy.

Now, seeing these manuals, he felt like he'd been kicked in the gut.

Fang Yue thought carefully: he wanted to learn Mortal Martial Arts only to handle unexpected situations during the day.

He had Leng Yue Blade, a good weapon, so he just needed a decent Blade Technique to hold him over.

Once he could use Starfire Heart Method and Starfire Blade Technique during the day, he could naturally phase out Mortal Martial Arts.

He went to the Blade Technique shelf, flipped through a while, and finally settled on one manual.

"Name: Water Sky Blade Technique."

"Level: Mortal Martial Arts."

"Requirement: 6 points of Control, 6 points of Deflection."

"Description: Water has its counterflow; the blade holds the will to break heaven."

"Effect: When performing the technique, increases Control by 0.6 points and Deflection by 0.6 points."

"Note: The fighter jet among trash—still trash!"

"Price: 【15 days of lifespan】 + 【5g Black Ember】."

This was already the best Blade Technique among the Mortal Martial Arts Fang Yue could currently learn.

Fang Yue picked up the Secret Manual of Water Sky Blade Technique, opened the first page… blank.

The second page… blank.

The third page… blank.

Perfect, a scripture with no characters.

Fang Yue had even been thinking he might find a loophole.

He took the manual outside, paid the fee.

"Remaining Lifespan: 1 month 17 days."

"Black Ember: 1g."

Good, good—he was still a Moon-Rank Lifespan cultivator, not yet fallen to a Heaven-Rank Lifespan weakling.

But having so much Lifespan drained at once still hurt Fang Yue deeply.

After paying, Lin Ling stamped the manual, and characters and patterns rapidly surfaced on its pages.

"Alright, keep the manual and study it slowly. Now come with me on patrol—I'll teach you what a Captain's duties are, and some important notes."

Lord Han's orders, Lin Ling always carried out meticulously.

But when he handed the manual to Fang Yue, he saw Fang Yue immediately begin flipping through it rapidly on the spot.

Lin Ling frowned slightly: "Useless—even for Mortal Martial Arts, it takes months…"

Hum.

A flash of white light—the manual vanished.

Lin Ling's expression froze; the rest of his words died in his throat.

Did he just… learn it?!

What kind of Comprehension is this? Too terrifying!

Even for Mortal Martial Arts, understanding and mastering a manual until it turns to white light takes at least months—some fools take years and still fail!

Yet with Fang Yue… less than ten seconds?

Flipped through it at a glance and finished?

"What did you just say?"

Seeing Fang Yue's puzzled expression as he looked up, Lin Ling's lips twitched.

"…Nothing."

Comparing people drives you mad!

This guy's talent is monstrous—yesterday he mastered Chen Mu's Starfire Heart Method and Starfire Blade Technique in one day, and now, right before my eyes, he instantly learned Mortal Martial Arts!

As if sulking, Lin Ling turned and walked out, silently quickening his pace.

Fang Yue didn't care—he thought about the Water Sky Blade Technique he'd just learned, occasionally pulling out the Cold Moon Blade to practice.

"Stop thinking—fastest way to improve Blade Technique is real combat between life and death. Practicing like this, you'll never amount to anything in ten lifetimes."

Hearing Lin Ling's sarcasm without turning around, Fang Yue smirked.

I never expected this crappy Blade Technique to be useful—practicing during the day just boosts my stats.

The two walked, one behind the other, through the streets and alleys of Gu Yue Cun.

Those who saw them generally greeted them warmly—the events of last night were still fresh in their minds.

But Fang Yue merely assumed his reputation in Gu Yue Cun had risen, and paid little attention to the villagers.

Only when Lin Ling grew farther and faster, and the surroundings began to feel familiar, did Fang Yue suddenly realize something.

"Wait! Lin Captain, isn't this the direction of the village entrance?"

"Yes."

Lin Ling spoke briefly, not slowing his steps.

"We're patrolling outside the village."

What?!

Outside the village?!

Fang Yue's heart dropped.

Outside the village means the wilds!

He could handle staying in the wilds for a while at night—he might even be brave.

But leaving the village during the day? That's suicide!

Immediately, Fang Yue stopped walking and shook his head like a rattle drum.

"I'm not leaving the village!"

"You have no choice—that's the Deputy Captain's duty!"

Damn it!

Of course—when you take someone's hand, you're bound by their words; when you eat their food, you're obligated. This Deputy Captain perk was too sweet—it wasn't free; you had to pay with your life.

Everyone, please vote for more recommendations… please please please…

(End of Chapter)