Chapter Summaries

After transmigrating into a fantasy world as a poor farm boy, Xia Nan discovered he could view an Attribute Panel for a battered longsword and assessed his inexperienced adventuring companions. The party camped on the way to investigate a Goblin sighting, with their arrival expected the next morning.

• Xia Nan recalled his former life and considered whether the longsword’s Attribute Panel was his Golden Finger.
• Xia Nan judged Elki, Ga Gu, and Hunter Maji to be an ill-equipped party without anyone who had earned a Profession Level.
• Maji reported that half a day remained before they reached the Goblin sighting location, and expected them to arrive the following morning.
• Elki excitedly talked about facing a group of Goblins, while Ga Gu mocked him and Elki fired back.

Xia Nan reflected on how he had learned Whirlwind Slash and joined the Stinky Fish Rotten Shrimp party before setting out on his first adventure in Thin Mist Forest. The party’s camp was ambushed when an unseen attacker struck Elki in the head.

• Xia Nan recalled how years of practicing with a Wooden Sword had taught him Whirlwind Slash and how family disputes had driven him to join the Stinky Fish Rotten Shrimp party.
• Xia Nan worried about his first adventure as Maji reassured him that a few Goblins were no threat.
• Elki boasted to Xia Nan about a distant cousin who had served an Archanist and graduated from Hawthorne Royal Academy.
• An attacker emerged from the mist behind Elki and smashed a spiked wooden club into his head.
• Xia Nan shouted that the party was under attack.

After Goblins killed Elki and ambushed the Stinky Fish Rotten Shrimp squad, Xia Nan overcame his shock and killed two attackers with a single sword technique. Hunter Maji was left astonished by the supposed rookie's skill.

• A Goblin killed Elki with a blow to the head, prompting Ga Gu to enter a combat state and Maji to climb into a tree with his Longbow.
• Two Goblins crept up behind Xia Nan, but Maji shot one through the foot and warned Xia Nan with an arrow that flew past him.
• Xia Nan recovered from his shock and used Whirlwind Slash to cleave both Goblins in half.
• Maji stared at the Goblins' mangled bodies and questioned whether Xia Nan was really a rookie.

Xia Nan used [Whirlwind Slash] to kill Goblins during an ambush, proving to Maji and Ga Gu that he was a capable fighter. The party defeated the attackers, and Ga Gu accepted Xia Nan as one of their own.

• Maji remembered doubting Xia Nan’s claim that he had mastered a combat skill, then saw Xia Nan unleash [Whirlwind Slash] and began considering him for the team.
• After Elki’s death, Xia Nan overcame his fear and hurried to help Ga Gu fight the Goblins.
• The party defeated all sixteen Goblins in less than ten minutes, with Xia Nan and Ga Gu each killing five and Maji killing six.
• Xia Nan collected Goblin ears for the bounty, and Ga Gu gave him the ear of an enemy they had both struck.
• Ga Gu praised Xia Nan, offered to buy him a drink, and accepted him as a member of the team.

After burying Elki and the Goblins, Xia Nan joined Maji and Ga Gu in planning to search the Goblin nest for treasure. While keeping watch at camp that night, he confirmed he could view his own attributes through a reflection.

• Xia Nan and the others buried the Goblins and Elki, while Maji took Elki’s equipment and supplies.
• Ga Gu complained that the mission had yielded little money, but Maji pointed out that Goblins hoarded loot in their nests.
• Maji and Ga Gu decided to rest overnight and search for the Goblin nest at daybreak, and Xia Nan agreed to go with them.
• During his watch, Xia Nan focused on his reflection in his sword and saw his attributes and Whirlwind Slash skill displayed before him.

Xia Nan followed the Stinky Fish Rotten Shrimp squad through the Thin Mist Forest to a Goblin cave, growing suspicious of the cave’s entrance and his companions’ motives. Inside, the group encountered a Bear Goblin, and Maji screamed a warning.

• Xia Nan checked his Attribute Panel and saw that Whirlwind Slash was one experience point from Level 5.
• Maji, Ga Gu, and Xia Nan traveled through the Thin Mist Forest and found a cave with signs of activity.
• Maji assigned Ga Gu to lead, Xia Nan to walk in the middle, and himself to bring up the rear as they entered the cave.
• Xia Nan questioned the unusually large entrance, but Ga Gu urged the group onward and they continued inside.
• Ga Gu charged toward a sound deeper in the cave, then fell silent when he saw what was there.
• Xia Nan saw a burly figure in the shadows, and Maji cried, "Bear Goblin!!!"

Xia Nan fought four Goblins while Ga Gu and Maji confronted a Bear Goblin in the cave. After killing the Goblins, Xia Nan turned to check on his companions, whose battle was still underway.

• Maji ordered Ga Gu to hold back the Bear Goblin and told Xia Nan to deal with the four Goblins beside it.
• Ga Gu charged the Bear Goblin as Xia Nan rushed the four Goblins with his Longsword.
• Xia Nan killed the first Goblin with Whirlwind Slash, then overturned a hot iron pot to split the remaining Goblins apart.
• Xia Nan killed three more Goblins, including one that tried to flee, but exhausted much of his stamina.
• Xia Nan turned toward Ga Gu and Maji’s fight and exclaimed, “Fuck!”

The Bear Goblin brutally killed Ga Gu, then deflected Maji’s supposedly decisive arrow with a brown-red force field. It closed in on Maji, leaving his fate uncertain.

• The Bear Goblin smashed Ga Gu’s head with its spiked mace and tossed his headless corpse aside.
• Maji used [Precise Strike] to fire his poisoned iron arrow at the Bear Goblin’s head.
• A brown-red force field appeared and deflected Maji’s arrow into the cave wall.
• The Bear Goblin called Maji’s attack “magic” and lunged at him.

Xia Nan wounded the Bear Goblin Heng Ke with a surprise attack, but his strength was nearly spent and Heng Ke remained dangerous. After dodging Heng Ke’s counterattack, Xia Nan rose and swung his sword at its neck again.

• Maji’s failed Precise Strike left him rigid and helpless as Heng Ke prepared to smash him with its mace.
• Xia Nan struck Heng Ke’s neck with Whirlwind Slash, making it dodge and hit Maji’s right leg instead, shattering it.
• Heng Ke roared in fury and charged Xia Nan, who evaded its mace as it cracked the ground.
• Xia Nan stood and swung his sword toward Heng Ke’s neck again.

Xia Nan and the injured Hunter Maji fought the Bear Goblin Heng Ke in a desperate battle, but Xia Nan’s sword broke as Heng Ke prepared to kill them. At the last moment, Xia Nan reached the maximum level of [Whirlwind Slash], gained a new feat and stronger attributes, then seized Ga Gu’s Hand Axe and beheaded Heng Ke.

• Heng Ke struck Xia Nan and advanced on him, while Xia Nan noticed Hunter Maji preparing to fire another arrow.
• Xia Nan distracted Heng Ke with talk of seasoning and cooking as Maji shot an arrow into its right eye, wounding it with paralyzing poison.
• Xia Nan used [Whirlwind Slash], but his One-handed Sword broke against Heng Ke’s bones, and the enraged Bear Goblin tore out the arrow and charged again.
• Xia Nan’s [Whirlwind Slash] reached Level 5, granting him Strength and Agility increases and unlocking [Slicing Master].
• Xia Nan took Ga Gu’s Hand Axe and used [Whirlwind Slash] to cut off Heng Ke’s head.

After killing the Bear Goblin, Xia Nan recovered and used Maji’s health potion to stabilize the badly injured Hunter. Xia Nan searched the Goblin Nest for spoils, and Maji hinted that he had overlooked something important on the Bear Goblin’s corpse.

• Xia Nan survived the fight with the Bear Goblin but found himself exhausted and bruised.
• Maji asked Xia Nan for the red potion in his waist pouch, and Xia Nan gave him the entire bottle, which stopped his bleeding but did not heal his shattered leg.
• Maji told Xia Nan to clear the battlefield and keep the Goblin Nest’s spoils.
• Xia Nan collected Goblin ears, three pale green gemstones, a Wooden Small Shield, and a bag of coins.
• Maji finished bandaging his leg and pointed out that Xia Nan had missed the most important thing on the Bear Goblin’s corpse.

Xia Nan and Maji found a magic ring on the Bear Goblin Heng Ke and made their way toward the forest’s edge. As Maji left to check traps, Xia Nan watched him suspiciously, remembering his reluctance to give up the ring.

• Xia Nan discovered the [Dead Line] ring on Heng Ke’s body, and Maji identified it as a powerful Magic Item.
• While examining the ring, Maji’s excitement faded as he glanced at his injured leg, but he returned the ring to Xia Nan.
• Xia Nan and the badly injured Maji traveled for a day and a half and reached the outskirts of Thin Mist Forest.
• At camp, Maji invited Xia Nan to join his squad, and Xia Nan said they could discuss it after returning to the city.
• Maji went to check the traps and take the first watch while Xia Nan watched him leave with narrowed eyes.

Maji tried to kill Xia Nan while they camped in Thin Mist Forest, but Xia Nan evaded his arrow and killed him. Xia Nan gathered the camp’s supplies and left as morning broke, while Maji died holding his broken White Oak bow.

• Maji reflected on the White Oak longbow his father had made for him and decided to kill the sleeping Xia Nan.
• Maji fired at Xia Nan, but Xia Nan evaded the arrow, kicked over the campfire, and killed Maji with his daggers.
• Xia Nan confirmed Maji was dead and recalled how he had stayed wary of his teammate since noticing Maji’s changed demeanor.
• Xia Nan collected the supplies, extinguished the fire, and left the camp as the sky brightened.
• Maji died beneath a tree with his broken White Oak bow in his arms.

Xia Nan returned from Thin Mist Forest with his loot and reconsidered his assumptions about adventuring and the value of Magic Items. After an awkward encounter with two children and their wary mother, he continued toward town, unaware that two men were watching him and weighing whether to rob him.

• Xia Nan reflected on Maji's role in killing the Bear Goblin and realized he had underestimated the value of Magic Items and misunderstood adventuring customs.
• Xia Nan reached a rural settlement near the Adventurers Association and gave half a piece of jerky to two children, Moxi and Fey.
• The children's mother hurried over, pulled them away from Xia Nan, and apologized nervously, leaving him with no desire to talk.
• A Wooden Man urged the Crewcut Man to rob Xia Nan, but the Crewcut Man judged him too dangerous and decided to wait for another target before leaving town.

Xia Nan arrived in River Valley Town and visited the Adventurers Association to turn in a quest for Maji’s team, Bow of Mountains. The clerk verified his team badge and quickly put a money pouch on the counter.

• Xia Nan walked through River Valley Town, whose adventurer trade had grown around Thin Mist Forest.
• He entered the Adventurers Association’s River Valley Town Branch and approached the counter.
• Xia Nan presented a sack of Goblin and Bear Goblin ears as quest proof.
• The clerk asked for a Team Badge, and Xia Nan handed over the Black Iron Plate for Bow of Mountains.
• The clerk checked the team’s quest and tossed a money pouch onto the counter.

After collecting his rewards, Xia Nan dissolved his old team and visited the Alchemists Association to learn about healing supplies and the Adventurers Association. He bought an Adventurer’s Manual and left with a better sense of the resources available to a new adventurer.

• Xia Nan collected 47 Gold Coins and 4 Silver Coins, then canceled the Stinky Fish Rotten Shrimp team badge to avoid the annual fee.
• Xia Nan asked where to buy healing potions and found the Alchemists Association shop inside the hall.
• The bald shop owner recommended a 5-gold Medical Tool Kit over the 50-gold Healing Potion and explained that higher-level adventurers accepted quests upstairs.
• The shop owner suggested that Xia Nan buy a manual from the stalls by the Association entrance.
• Xia Nan bought a 3-Silver Adventurer’s Manual, a River Valley Town Branch Special Edition revised in Arcane Calendar 1019.

Xia Nan sold most of his spoils and counted his earnings before visiting the White Tit Tavern to rest and eat. He entered the lively tavern and headed toward its owner.

• Xia Nan sold three malachite stones to Falilo for ten Gold Coins each.
• Xia Nan sold his remaining spoils at the Hickory Furnace, keeping the [Dead Line] ring and Elki's two daggers.
• Xia Nan counted his total assets at 131 Gold Coins, 5 Silver Coins, and 9 Copper Coins, and reflected on how little that could buy in adventurer supplies.
• Xia Nan followed the manual's recommendation to visit the White Tit Tavern for food and rest.
• Xia Nan entered the bustling tavern, took in its lively atmosphere, and walked toward the owner.

Xia Nan settled into the White Tit Tavern in River Valley Town, where he noticed a guarded group that included a Half-Elf. The Half-Elf, Hai An, and his guard Wood discussed exploring the outskirts of the Misty Forest and agreed they needed more people for their party.

• Xia Nan asked the tavern owner about room prices and considered finding a property of his own in town.
• Xia Nan ordered an expensive set meal and enjoyed the hot food after his journey through the forest.
• Xia Nan noticed Hai An's group, including a blonde woman, a gaudily dressed man, the Half-Elf, and the inconspicuous guard Wood.
• Wood warned Hai An that the Misty Forest was dangerous, but Hai An insisted their target was only the forest's outskirts.
• Wood proposed adding people to their party, and Hai An agreed.

After recovering from a poor night’s sleep, Xia Nan headed to the Adventurers Association to take simple quests, while Hai An’s party negotiated with a new member for a search in Thin Mist Forest. The party settled on a fee and planned to leave that day.

• Xia Nan sensed the strength and warning in Wood’s gaze at the tavern, then wondered how adventurers obtained Profession Levels.
• Xia Nan slept until noon, ate lunch at the White Tit Tavern, and went to the Adventurers Association to seek simple quests.
• Wood noticed Xia Nan at the association entrance again and wondered whether his suspicions about the novice were justified.
• Hai An explained the search area in Thin Mist Forest to a lean, dark-skinned man, but Larry interrupted to argue over the mission’s terms.
• Doris urged Larry to hurry home, and Hai An offered the prospective member fifty Gold Coins for the search.
• The man accepted the fee, and Hai An said the party would leave that day.

Xia Nan chose a gathering quest for Firefly Garlic Vine after rejecting more dangerous investigations, then spent the afternoon preparing for his first solo expedition. He left the Adventurers Association ready to head for Thin Mist Forest.

• Xia Nan examined the Adventurers Association's bounty and investigation quests, then decided he needed an experienced party before taking on uncertain dangers.
• Xia Nan found a gathering quest offering one gold per bush of Firefly Garlic Vine and remembered seeing a large patch near Thin Mist Forest.
• Xia Nan prepared food, water, medical supplies, rope, and other wilderness essentials, spending much of his savings on equipment.
• Xia Nan crossed off the penultimate item on his list and checked the final entry: weapons and equipment.