Yan Qing held down the teapot and poured out the first brew, then discarded it. He poured the second brew and took a sip. It was slightly bitter at first, but the aftertaste lingered sweetly for a long time. It was somewhat like Tieguanyin.
His life had improved as well. He even had a complete tea set now. There had been banquets every day these past two days, with plenty of meat and fish at every meal. He had no choice but to drink some tea to cut the grease and avoid constipation.
By rights, he should count as a game character too. After all, his name had been added to the character roster. But why did all the other game characters not need to defecate, while he still had such an outdated function?
Or had Night Four and Jiang Shi secretly taken dumps whenever I wasn't playing?
Yan Qing indulged in wild thoughts as he watched "Jiang Shi" return to the Qian Family carriage.
Qian Gongyu had just finished bathing. Her hair was still steaming with moisture, and she wore a thin silk nightgown. When she saw "Jiang Shi," she pinched her nose. "You're covered in sweat. Hurry up and take a bath. The water's still hot."
When "Jiang Shi" went to bathe, steam immediately obscured the entire screen. Yan Qing could only see her head, shoulders, arms, and a few other parts. Just then, Qian Gongyu walked in as well and asked beside the tub, "Jiang Shi, are you planning to go to the Jie Family or the Shang Family? It should be the Jie Family, right? After all, their conditions are better."
"You heard?"
"You were talking right outside the door. I heard a little."
After the banquet ended, Shang Xin Lei and Jie Yuanshao had tacitly come to recruit "Jiang Shi" one after the other. Shang Xin Lei's offer was undoubtedly the worst. Jiang Shi would have to serve the Shang Family for five years before being granted three artifacts. Jie Yuanshao's offer was much better: four years of service for four artifacts. Moreover, those four artifacts could be chosen freely from the Jie Family's treasury.
However, both of them had said that this was only the minimum offer. Once they contacted their families, they would certainly be able to provide much better conditions. Neither required "Jiang Shi" to agree immediately. After the three-day secret realm in the Wandering Star Forest ended, they were both certain that their families would attach even greater importance to "Jiang Shi."
Their recruitment was mainly meant to show that they valued "Jiang Shi" just as much as Qun Yushu did.
Yan Qing did not mind working for the noble families. As a player who had been tormented by canned single-player games, he had long grown used to helping NPCs unclog toilets everywhere for the tiniest benefits. As long as the price was right, whose toilet he unclogged made no difference.
As long as the other party cooperated honestly, Yan Qing was happy to exchange labor for payment.
But these people were all too stingy. Each of them hoarded their artifacts and refused to let them go, insisting that he work for a certain number of years before receiving any. Yet Yan Qing needed artifacts right now to increase his combat power!
As for receiving an artifact only after working for a year...
In the game Messenger, even the most clumsy, casual, and irresponsible player would inevitably reach the Fourth Turn in less than half a year as long as they persisted in playing for three hours every day. Even if advancing to the Fourth Turn in this world was somewhat more difficult and took twice as long, one year would still be enough for Yan Qing to reach the Fourth Turn.
I'm already at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Turn. Why would I need these ordinary blank artifacts that can only be sold in shops?
That was also why Yan Qing had immediately appraised the Guardian Jade Pendant Qun Yushu had handed over. Of course he knew how precious the game's basic function, Discern All Artifact Information, was in this world. It was equivalent to becoming the only educated person among a group of illiterates. Forget becoming a public intellectual—even becoming a prophet would be well within reach.
He also knew that "Jiang Shi," after revealing this ability, would attract even more covetous attention.
But as long as he got the benefits, that was enough.
Shang Xin Lei had complained that "Jiang Shi" should not have displayed her appraisal ability. Jie Yuanshao had been even more direct, saying that "Jiang Shi" was too shortsighted to be so unyielding and so eager to show her edge.
They could not understand why "Jiang Shi" was so desperate for artifacts, or why she did not conceal her abilities and plan for long-term gains.
After all, for the overwhelming majority of people, hiding one's talents and accumulating strength before making a move was undoubtedly the right choice. One only had a single life, so people should look farther ahead.
It was just that their idea of looking far ahead was far too shallow for Yan Qing.
What Yan Qing pursued was not some mere Foundation Establishment Fourth Turn. He was after the highest levels in the current version: the Seventh Turn, the Eighth Turn, and even the Ninth Turn. As long as he could scrounge up enough equipment to survive the newbie phase, he did not mind offending every Great Noble Family here. Although these Great Noble Families monopolized resources, and looting their gold was an act of justice sanctioned by heaven, Yan Qing had no intention of dressing his actions in a righteous cloak. He was simply willing to use any means necessary.
That was how single-player gamers were. As long as the game mechanics allowed it, they would use whichever worked best—deception, theft, or robbery. The game NPCs might call such behavior a crime, but players called it efficiency.
"Their conditions aren't very good. I'll wait until the Wandering Star Forest ends and see if they offer better terms."
"Those conditions aren't good?" Qian Gongyu clicked her tongue. "But that's fine too... You'll still stay with me these next two days, right?"
"Young Miss, of course."
"Hehe."
"Young Miss, let's use our artifacts to spar tomorrow."
"Huh? Ah, um... all right."
Qian Gongyu suddenly remembered something. She ran out barefoot, then returned barefoot a moment later with a box in her hands. "This is the spirit jade Xin Lei gave me. Since Jiang Shi, you've changed class to Messenger, let's split it between us!"
"She gave it to you, not me. Besides, I don't lack spirit jade."
"You don't?" Qian Gongyu looked left and right, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, you hid your spirit jade in your Storage Token."
She lowered her head to look at the box, her voice dropping. "That's true. You have a blade artifact and a Storage Token too. Anyone can tell you're the descendant of a noble family with an exalted bloodline. How could you be short of spirit jade like me..."
"Still, I may as well take it if it's being offered."
"Jiang Shi" reached over and took half the spirit jade from the box. "Consider it payment for the Young Miss hiring me as her guard."
Qian Gongyu froze, then laughed helplessly. "Isn't that fee too high? Three thousand spirit jade after only a few days."
"But I'm worth it."
Qian Gongyu blinked. Leaning against the side of the tub, she looked at "Jiang Shi," her eyes rippling with light as she smiled faintly. "That's true."
The next morning, the open ground before the entrance to the Wandering Star Forest was divided into three groups.
The largest group naturally consisted of the scions of prestigious clans. The Wandering Star Forest was a three-day secret realm, and missing even one day was tantamount to forfeiting automatically. They therefore had to enter the forest again today.
They glanced at "Jiang Shi" and the other three from time to time, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. They envied the four of them for not having to suffer in the forest, were jealous that "Jiang Shi" could influence the Wandering Star Forest, and hated her even more for refusing to share this secret method with everyone. A mere commoner with a black belt had actually climbed above them because of it. How could they not hate her?
The second group consisted of Jie Zilong, Chen Lincuan, and Qun Yushu. They would enter the Wandering Star Forest together. If they were lucky, they would form a team; if they were unlucky, they would each be assigned to separate teams. To this day, no one had figured out the rules governing how the Wandering Star Forest assigned teams.
The last group consisted of "Jiang Shi" and the other three.
"Let's go," Jie Zilong said. "They've already formed their teams. Even if they enter with us, we won't be assigned to the same team."
"Then I'll leave it to you two seniors," Qun Yushu said with a smile.
Chen Lincuan took a large spear from an attendant and strode into the dense fog of the forest at the head of the group. The other two followed closely behind. After they entered, "Jiang Shi" and the others set off as well. Even if they did not enter together, they would still reach the same shelter.
But Qian Gongyu seemed unaware of this. She clung tightly to "Jiang Shi's" arm. Seeing this, Shang Xin Lei linked arms with "Jiang Shi" on the other side. When Jie Yuanshao noticed, she hesitated for a moment before reaching out and grabbing the sleeve of Shang Xin Lei's clothes.
After passing through the brief stretch of fog, the shelter appeared before them once more.
The shelter remained just as they had left it: the Blade Warrior Statue, the Stone House, the ruined wooden crossbow, and the broken walls. For some reason, after arriving at this dangerous place, Qian Gongyu relaxed completely, as though it were safer here than outside.
At the same time, new information popped up in the game:
"You have entered the Wandering Star Forest." "Based on your level, you can currently obtain the following milestone information." "Bronze Hunter: You have cleared the fifth stage of the Wandering Star Forest." "Silver Hunter: You have cleared the tenth stage of the Wandering Star Forest." "Gold Hunter: You have cleared the twentieth stage of the Wandering Star Forest." "Forest Lord: You have cleared the ninety-ninth stage of the Wandering Star Forest."
Before you continue