031: A Comfortable Big Shot's Life

As Jiang Dali sat outside the courtyard in a broad, commanding posture.

Quite a few other bandits, along with the people from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, were also stirred into action.

The Dragon Gate Escort Agency people were furious but dared not speak, all of them glaring angrily at Jiang Dali.

The players, meanwhile, let their imaginations run wild. Like cats that had caught the scent of fish, they were practically itching to make a move.

"Those two people Second Boss welcomed in so respectfully just now must be incredibly formidable. And now even the Great Mountain Lord is standing guard outside. Do you think there's some major mission again?"

"We've struck it rich, struck it rich. I thought Black Wind Stronghold was just some sesame-seed-sized little faction, and joining it was only meant to be a stepping stone. But now it looks like Black Wind Stronghold is far from simple—it definitely has some huge backer."

"Maybe there's even a hidden major faction behind it. If we perform well, we might get recommended into that hidden faction."

"I knew our Black Wind Stronghold wasn't simple long ago. Our Great Mountain Lord's knowledge is anything but ordinary. Have any of you ever seen a bandit who could talk about martial arts manuals from major sects like Shaolin, and act so calm about it? That Great Vajra Palm—I only found out about it after looking through ancient records just now."

"Instead of standing around here like stakes, why not be clever and go probe around? See if there are any missions we can take."

Unable to hold himself back, Hua Kai Jian Hong muttered this and, under the astonished, nervous gazes of the other players, took the initiative to approach Jiang Dali and test whether he could trigger a mission.

"Great Mountain Lord, is there anything this lowly one can do for you?"

The surrounding players all had their hearts leap into their throats.

Holy shit, was this brother an iron-headed fool or just insanely bold?

He actually dared to step up and ask for a mission. Did he think the Great Mountain Lord's build was just for show?

"Hmm?"

Jiang Dali coldly swept his gaze over Hua Kai Jian Hong, who had approached him on his own.

Black Wind Stronghold Great Mountain Lord Jiang Dali is highly displeased with your attitude!

A prompt appeared. Hua Kai Jian Hong's hairs stood on end, cold sweat instantly beading across his forehead as he hurriedly forced out a smile.

"Uh! G-G-Great Mountain Lord, I meant... it really is rather hot today. Perhaps you need me to fan you."

Jiang Dali had originally intended to rebuke this player and teach him a lesson about the rules.

But on second thought, if he did not find something for these fellows, brimming with enthusiasm every day, to do, they would probably be quite unhappy and fail to feel the warm concern of Black Wind Stronghold's Great Mountain Lord.

"Just so happens, this stronghold master has just gone through a great battle. My body needs a massage to loosen up as well. You can massage this stronghold master."

"A massage!?" Hua Kai Jian Hong's eyes went wide and narrow as a prompt suddenly sounded.

Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali has issued the mission "Serve the Great Mountain Lord"

Mission Type: Personal Mission;

Mission Requirements: Earnestly massage Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali;

Mission Reward: If the massage makes Black Wind Stronghold Master Jiang Dali feel comfortable, there is a chance of receiving 1–50 Favorability points. Note: When your favorability with an NPC reaches a certain level, you will receive unexpected benefits.

Accept mission? Refusing may result in a reprimand from Stronghold Master Jiang Dali and a decrease in favorability.

"Holy shit!?"

Hua Kai Jian Hong jolted, wild with delight.

Awesome.

It was actually a rare mission that rewarded NPC favorability.

As a veteran professional player, Hua Kai Jian Hong naturally knew perfectly well how scarce and precious missions that rewarded favorability were.

The overwhelming majority of missions merely rewarded Cultivation Points and Potential Points—those were the most common rewards. NPC favorability, on the other hand, was extremely difficult to obtain, especially the favorability of an NPC like Jiang Dali, who had both status and strength.

In an instant, Hua Kai Jian Hong was overjoyed, his mind spinning rapidly.

Thinking of how raising his favorability might give him a chance to learn genuine martial arts from Jiang Dali, he immediately agreed in delight.

"This lowly one will massage you right away, Great Mountain Lord. I'll definitely make you comfortable."

Hua Kai Jian Hong respectfully and happily rolled up his sleeves. Under the dumbfounded gazes of the other players nearby, he began pounding Jiang Dali's legs.

The other players were no fools either; every one of them was shrewd as a thief. Seeing this, they immediately caught on, realizing Hua Kai Jian Hong had likely triggered a mission—and that the mission was simple, merely giving the stronghold master a massage.

At once, a crowd of players surged forward, all looking at Jiang Dali with hopeful, fawning expressions. Each of them asked to massage Jiang Dali, while only two remained where they stood, somewhat hesitant.

The two exchanged glances. Player A asked, "Why aren't you going?"

Player B snorted softly. "I can do anything else, but serving someone else? That's far too beneath me. Even if it's an NPC, no chance."

Player A laughed. "A kindred spirit indeed, truly a kindred spirit. Same here. I never flatter people. So what if he's the stronghold master? Don't even think about making me cross my own bottom line."

""

"Central Plains Eyeing Cracks requests to massage you!"

"Guse Yiren requests to massage you!"

""

Jiang Dali looked at the message prompts popping up one after another and casually waved at the players gathering around him. "All of you, get to it. Massage me properly, and if I'm in a good mood, I might teach you little brats a move or two."

Having said that, he glanced at the two players opposite him, whose expressions had abruptly changed.

Just you two wait—let's see if you can really hold out.

The two hesitant players were immediately tempted when they heard that martial arts might be taught, their expressions tangled with conflict.

A massage could give them a chance to learn martial arts.

If they did not join in, and the other players all learned martial arts while the two of them learned nothing, would they not be left behind in an instant?

Player A asked, "Are you sure you're not going? I think I'd better go. If I can learn martial arts, losing a little face is nothing."

Player B gave a dry laugh. "Actually, while I'm not one to grovel, this thing called a bottom line can occasionally be crossed. After all, we're massaging the legs of a great figure like the Grass-Head Emperor. That isn't shameful. It's worth breaking my bottom line for."

The two exchanged a look, then immediately stepped forward and squeezed into the crowd. After fighting until they were red in the face and thick in the neck, they finally seized a spot by his backside and began giving Jiang Dali a proper massage.

As they massaged him, the players also let out exaggerated cries of praise.

"So strong, so huge! Chief, your biceps are enormous!"

"Ah! My hand! My hand got bounced right back when I pressed down! Chief, your chest muscles are incredible!"

"Chief, even your toenails are so perfect! Waaah, I'm going to cry—they're so beautiful I'm crying!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Jiang Dali's face.

These players were truly teachable.

They were all prime leeks—prime talent.

At that moment, pop-up prompts continuously emerged in Jiang Dali's mind.

"Your right arm has received kneading and massage, achieving effective relaxation. Your mood has improved. Cultivation Points +1!"

"Your head has received an effective massage. Your mind feels more relaxed and comfortable, and your spirit is sharper. Cultivation Points +1!"

"Your abdomen has received a comfortable massage. Your circulation is smoother, your entire body feels at ease, and you cannot help but fart!"

"Pfft—"

"Ahhh!~" Jiang Dali turned over and lay on his stomach, enjoying the massages of more than a dozen players as he sighed in comfort.

At that moment, he truly felt the allure of power—the sheer exhilaration of being a big shot.

Lying there as these players, who were bound to become famous figures in the martial world someday, waited upon him, while also gaining Cultivation Points at the same time.

He was practically cultivating and growing stronger without even getting out of bed!

No wonder that old monster Ding Chunqiu loved having his disciples carry him around and wait on him every day. It felt this good.

Perhaps the only thing that felt less than ideal was that the dozen or so players he had recruited were all men. Their hands were certainly strong, but something seemed to be missing. Next time he recruited people, he needed to pay attention to balancing yin and yang...

The book's performance has been fairly good so far. Thank you to all the readers who have tipped!