Le City County Princess Ying Ru Shi

##DONE## # Chapter 8 Le City County Princess Ying Ru Shi

They know 'Yan San' has changed jobs?

Yan Qing was slightly stunned, but immediately reacted. Not to mention 'Yan San' instantly recovering full health and healing injuries, just the 'Vitality +4' is very eye-catching—an ordinary person at level 1 has only 1 Vitality, and most people, even if they level up to level 10, have about 7 Vitality. Even for a monster like 'Yan San' with an initial 11 Vitality, 'Vitality +4' is equivalent to one-third of his body's strength. It would be strange if others didn't notice the difference.

What might not be clear on the screen is that in the real world, 'Yan San's' muscles are probably swelling so much that they're about to burst his armor.

"That's right, I've changed jobs to become The Herald."

Yan Qing answered while picking up Zheng Shan's drops. The surrounding Hundred Guard Cavalry were in an uproar. It seems that even among elite soldiers, becoming a Sword Dance Herald is quite rare.

Wu Huan Battalion Leader stared at him. Even through the mask, Yan Qing could feel his shock. Although it might feel a bit abrupt, Yan Qing chose to immediately walk to Zheng Shan's side to pick up the drops, to avoid any complications.

"You picked up Spirit Jade ×800"

"You picked up Blood Replenishment Pill ×2"

"You picked up 'Token White Iron Straight Blade'"

"You picked up 'Basic Footwork Mastery Manual'"

Yan Qing was stunned when he saw the last item, then his eyes widened. He opened his personal warehouse as quickly as possible and transferred the 'Basic Footwork Mastery Manual' to the public warehouse!

It was just a few steps, but Yan Qing's hands were sweating, and he was as nervous as if he had pressed a bomb switch. The reason he was so nervous was that this thing might directly reverse his current situation!

"Basic Footwork Mastery Manual"

"Source: Any elite humanoid enemy proficient in Basic Footwork"

"Usage conditions: None"

"Effect: Allows you to immediately master max-level Basic Footwork"

"Note: This manual records very detailed evasion and retreat techniques, which can be of great help whether you are killing and setting fires or acting chivalrously."

Clicking on the 'Basic Footwork Mastery Manual' in the public warehouse, three options popped up:

"Use"

"Transfer to another character's personal warehouse"

"Discard"

Yan Qing swallowed and chose "Use" → "Use by Yan Qing".

Thump thump!

His heart beat extremely powerfully, the Vitality in his limbs and bones surged through his blood vessels, and his legs were as hot as if they were on fire! But the anomaly came and went quickly. After Yan Qing slowly took a deep breath, his body returned to normal.

He put down the game console and walked to the open space, looking at the distance between the walls and ceiling of the room. Without any thought, he could jump up with one foot, first stepping on the wall to jump onto the ceiling, and then kicking off the ceiling in the opposite direction to jump onto the other wall. He repeated the trick, and in just three seconds, he circled the room without touching the ground, and without his heart beating or panting, as easily as stepping on grids on flat ground.

His knees felt like they had springs, so light that it felt like he could fly with a jump.

It really works!

Although there was no game system prompt, Yan Qing knew that his Basic Footwork was already at level 10, and his character level had increased by about five or six levels, and his Vitality and skills had increased by two or three points. Otherwise, his physical fitness could not be so good—in Yan Qing's estimation, his original fragile body, honed by ordering takeout and working at the company, probably had a Vitality level of '1', and the Vitality increased by leveling up five or six levels was equivalent to several times his physical fitness.

Yan Qing took a long breath. The inexplicable time-travel, the approaching Thieves' Den operation, the unfamiliar world, and his weak self—all the unease brought about by these things disappeared at this moment.

He had finally found a way to become stronger!

The Herald is recommended for veteran players to start new accounts, and veteran players definitely don't want to level up. 'Mastery Manuals' were created to solve this pain point: they can not only be used to quickly increase the level of new accounts, but if veteran players want to customize their character's profession, they can also skip the tedious leveling process by collecting corresponding skill manuals.

Taking the 'Sword Dance Herald' that Yan Qing knew as an example, the Sword Dance Herald is an extremely popular first-class profession, and almost only veteran players can change jobs to it when starting a new account, because the Sword Dance Herald requires basic swordsmanship and basic dance. Swordsmanship has a small attack range and low attack power in the early stage, and dance improves slowly. If you rely on practicing skills yourself, it is simply torture.

Veteran players only need to choose a popular weapon and reach level ten or twenty to drop various skill manuals. At this time, it is much more comfortable to go back and start a new account to become a Sword Dance Herald.

Yan Qing can completely replicate the operation of 'old account carrying a new account'. The only difference is that he himself is the new account, and the characters created by 'Yan San' and others are the old accounts. The old accounts venture out to scavenge resources, and Yan Qing coordinates the overall situation in the Thieves' Den, waiting for the old accounts to become strong first and then lead him to become strong!

When Yan Qing went back to pick up the game console, he found that the other Hundred Guard Cavalry were leaving one after another, and only Wu Huan Battalion Leader and 'Yan San' were left in the underground hall. Wu Huan Battalion Leader saw 'Yan San' moving and suddenly said, "You can take some treasure before you leave. This is an unspoken rule, and no one will pursue it."

After saying that, he turned and left. As if to verify his words, he casually picked up a few strings of pearl necklaces from the gold and silver treasures next to him as he left.

Treasure? Yan Qing looked at the treasure all over the ground and tried to click on it, but 'Yan San' didn't move at all—in the game system, these treasures are just backgrounds and cannot be touched at all, and gold and silver treasures have no meaning in the game. The Herald's basic currency is only Spirit Jade.

Just as he was about to leave, Yan Qing suddenly noticed a large treasure chest placed in front of Zheng Shan's big bed. He looked around, Wu Huan Battalion Leader and the other Hundred Guard Cavalry had already left, so he went over and opened the treasure chest.

A list of pickable items popped up on the right side of the treasure chest:

"Spirit Jade ×1500"

"Blood Replenishment Pill ×10"

"Steel Ingot ×10"

"Leather ×10"

"Swift Thunder Saber Technique Beginner Manual ×1"

Huh!? Yan Qing's eyes lit up when he saw the last drop.

"Swift Thunder Saber Technique Beginner Manual"

"Source: Any Swift Saber Herald may drop it"

"Usage conditions: Basic Saber Technique Level 5"

"Effect: Allows you to immediately master Level 1 Swift Thunder Saber Technique. After learning it, it will change your saber technique attack mode."

"Swift Thunder Saber Technique: Increases the release speed of saber-type herald items by 5% per level, up to level 10."

"Note: Eight out of ten Swift Saber Heralds will name their mediocre martial arts 'Swift Thunder Saber Technique', but in fact, the vast majority of the content in these eight 'Swift Thunder Saber Technique' manuals can be summarized in one word: Fast."

Yan Qing naturally couldn't learn it, he didn't even have Level 1 Basic Saber Technique.

But 'Yan San' can learn it!

Seeing this saber technique, Yan Qing remembered that 'Yan San' seemed to have picked up the straight blade herald item dropped by Zheng Shan just now. It's just that Yan Qing's attention was completely taken away by the Mastery Manual, and he forgot about it.

In the personal warehouse, a sharp straight blade exuded a biting chill. The highlighted white name code represented that it was not an ordinary item, but a herald item that could contain powerful power.

"White Iron Straight Blade"

"Rank: First Class Ordinary"

"Durability: 50/50"

"Equipment conditions: 5 Vitality, 5 Soul"

"Basic Attack Power: 3~15 points"

"Effect · Moon Ring Slash: After a brief charge, unleash a circular slash centered on yourself, dealing 40 points of area damage. Requires 5 points of Spirit Energy to activate, with an initial attack radius of two meters. Each additional 3 points of Spirit Energy extends the blade aura by one meter, up to a maximum of ten meters."

"Effect · Armor Break: After using Moon Ring Slash, the blade aura of the Moon Ring will adhere to the blade, increasing the damage of the next Moon Ring Slash by 40 points. The blade aura dissipates after three seconds, but the effect can be stacked, and each stack refreshes the duration."

"Evaluation: 'Think you can avoid my blade by staying far away? A blade is not such an inconvenient thing.'"

Without a doubt, the Swift Thunder Saber Technique and the White Iron Straight Blade are fixed drops in this dungeon. The combination allows a newly transferred player to immediately become a professional swordsman. If the player likes the swordsman style, they will continue playing until level twenty and transfer to a related class.

So, should he take it?

Uwan Ryu had said that they knew all about the treasure chest drops in this dungeon. Taking this beginner manual would definitely be discovered. This isn't a game world where you can just log off with your loot and be done with it. If they find out he's stealing...

After thinking it over, Yan Qing felt that it wasn't worth it for just a Swift Thunder Saber Technique. He had already obtained nearly 2000 Spirit Jade in this dungeon, not to mention the White Iron Straight Blade and other tokens. Moreover, judging by Uwan Ryu and the others' skilled dungeon-clearing process, they would frequently run this dungeon. This meant that as long as 'Yan San' stayed, he could steadily level up and pick up drops in this dungeon.

A full meal or meals every day? He could tell the difference.

On the way out of the dungeon, Yan Qing discovered that they were actually dismantling the Zheng Family's home outside. The auxiliary soldiers who had been waiting at the dungeon entrance were now dismantling the 'Zheng Family' in a highly efficient manner, breaking it down into bricks and timber, which were transported out in batches. The food and treasures in the mansion were naturally not spared. There were even people at the dungeon entrance recording and counting. The Hundred Guard Cavalry knew exactly how many pigs, quilts, and chairs the Zheng Family had, leaving nothing out.

No wonder they came so early in the morning. This kind of digging three feet into the ground and raising it three feet into the sky dismantling method would indeed take a whole day.

Yan Qing suddenly thought of the Hundred Guard Cavalry's abundant food, perfect infrastructure, and luxurious one-room-per-person barracks, and he suddenly understood—no wonder the Hundred Guard Cavalry was so wealthy, they were essentially ransacking the Zheng Family every time they ran a dungeon!

Although they couldn't pick up drops like players, it was precisely because they weren't players that they could so thoroughly squeeze out the dungeon's value.

Yan Qing clicked his tongue in amazement, feeling that the people of this world had formed a special ecological chain with the dungeons. When he walked out of the dungeon, it was already bright outside. The people of the Hundred Guard Cavalry were all waiting outside, looking at 'Yan San' with rather complex expressions.

"Distribute the rewards after counting the Secret Realm's wealth." Uwan Ryu said, "As usual, the participating team will have a break this afternoon and return to camp the day after tomorrow. If anyone doesn't return to camp on time, don't blame my whip."

Hearing this, the tired and injured Hundred Guard Cavalry immediately cheered. Yan Qing didn't expect to have two days off, but after thinking about it, running a dungeon was indeed a life-and-death battle for them. Even the archers in the back row had to shoot arrows non-stop, so taking two days off was only natural.

But Yan Qing wanted to quickly gather 9000 Spirit Jade to pay the fine, and running the dungeon more times might yield other skill manuals. He couldn't wait to run it every day, continuously. As he was thinking about how to propose his idea of continuously running the dungeon, a quartermaster came out of the dungeon and whispered a few words to Uwan Ryu.

Uwan Ryu nodded and raised his hand, making a few gestures. Yan Qing naturally didn't understand, but the other waiting Hundred Guard Cavalry all had drastic changes in expression when they saw this scene, immediately putting down their weapons and squatting on the ground.

Thump, thump, thump!

Dense footsteps sounded on the fortress, and the guards' dozens of ballistae turned their direction, aiming at the crowd at the dungeon entrance!

"After counting, a Swift Thunder Saber Technique manual is missing from the demon king's room's big treasure chest." Uwan Ryu said coldly, "I was the second to last to come out just now. Before I came out, no one touched the big treasure chest."

"The last person to leave the room was you, Yan San! I have repeatedly stated that taking spoils privately is a capital crime. You actually dared to break the law knowing it. If you take out the Swift Thunder Saber Technique manual now, I can spare you from death!"

"You transferred to become a Herald at a young age. I originally wanted to recommend you to be a Hundred Guard Cavalry. Don't ruin your future because of temporary greed."

Looking at the dozens of ballistae aiming at him on the fortress, Yan Qing completely understood.

Of course, he wouldn't be stupid enough to say something like 'I didn't take the Swift Thunder Saber Technique' to prove his innocence—Uwan Ryu also knew that he didn't take it, which is why he was framing him like this. If he really wanted to give Yan Qing a chance to return the manual, he should have asked privately, instead of setting up an execution ground like this, just waiting for Yan Qing to be unable to hand over the item and shooting him directly.

The person who wronged you knows your innocence better than anyone.

Uwan Ryu's framing with the Swift Thunder Saber Technique manual was also extremely clever. If Yan Qing guessed correctly, the manual would also disappear after they used it, just like in the game, leaving no trace.

But other Spirit Jade and pills would leave evidence even if used. Therefore, as long as Yan Qing said that he didn't take it, Uwan Ryu would say that he had already used the manual. At that time, it would be reasonable to kill him and not find any evidence. And if he framed him for other things, everyone would know that he was framing him if 'Yan San' died and no evidence was found on his body.

As long as 'Yan San' died, this matter would naturally come to an end. And that 'stolen' Swift Thunder Saber Technique manual would naturally go into his pocket.

Yan Qing didn't know why Uwan Ryu wanted to set up a trap, perhaps he originally wanted to find an opportunity to steal the Swift Thunder Saber Technique, and 'Yan San' was just a scapegoat he happened to find; perhaps he thought that his relationship with 'Yan San' was not good before, and now that 'Yan San' had transferred to become a Herald, he felt that this person must not be left alive and strangled 'Yan San' in the cradle; or perhaps he was simply jealous of 'Yan San's' potential... Any reason was possible, but none of them were important.

More importantly, Uwan Ryu could choose to let Yan San die here,

But Yan Qing can choose how Yan San meets death!

Yan Qing looked at the item bar in the lower right corner, where the first item was prominently the Spirit Jade.

In the game "The Herald," Spirit Jade is not only currency but also the source of power for all Heralds—the primary way for Heralds to replenish their Spirit Energy is by using Spirit Jade to recharge.

Furthermore, if Heralds haven't learned special skills, their Spirit Energy won't even replenish automatically.

It might seem strange at first glance that Heralds have Spirit Energy Value but can't replenish it automatically. However, if you think of Heralds as cars, Spirit Jade as gasoline, and Relics as engines, it's easier to understand: ordinary people becoming Heralds is like a pile of steel turning into a car. Heralds can hold Spirit Energy like cars can hold gasoline. Both Heralds and cars are merely carriers for the reaction between Spirit Energy (gasoline) and Relics (engines), but a car is still just a pile of iron, and a Herald is still essentially a person.

So, don't be fooled by the hundreds or thousands of Spirit Jade that can be spent in an instant; they disappear like a waterfall when you start using them. With a press from Yan Qing, twenty Spirit Jade were quickly consumed, and Yan San's Spirit Energy reached its maximum value of 20.

Then, equip the Relic White Iron Straight Blade.

In the first skill slot, the available skill Moon Ring Slash appeared!

Yan San brushed his right hand across his belt, and an unremarkable blade appeared at his waist. Some might have noticed this, but they would only assume that Yan San had hidden the blade earlier—petty theft is common among the Hundred Guard Cavalry in the Secret Realm, and everyone turns a blind eye as long as they don't touch the treasure chests.

"Yan San! Hand over the item now!" Wu Huan Battalion Leader roared, the patterns on his Evil Spirit Mask seeming to ignite as he stared intently at Yan San's every move.

"Alright."

Yan Qing took the initiative to step forward, closing the distance with Wu Huan Battalion Leader. The initial attack range of Moon Ring Slash is two meters, requiring 5 Spirit Energy to activate, with an additional 3 Spirit Energy to extend it by one meter. This means that 20 Spirit Energy can unleash four slashes within two meters or two slashes within three meters.

Six meters, five meters, four meters...

"What's all this commotion?!"

At the gate of the fortress, a black-haired girl wrapped in fox fur walked towards Yan Qing and the others, surrounded by Evil Spirit Guards. She raised her hand and shouted at the crossbowmen on the fortress, "The Great Qi crossbows are not meant to be aimed at our own people! Lower them!"

Everyone around the fortress knelt down, including Wu Huan Battalion Leader: "Greetings, Le City County Princess!"

Yan San naturally didn't kneel, but instead took the opportunity to move two steps closer, now less than three meters away from Wu Huan Battalion Leader.

"What's all this commotion?"

"Reporting to the County Princess, this commoner entered the Secret Realm with us for the first time and stole a manual from the Secret Realm's treasure chest. I advised him to hand over the manual to avoid punishment, but he has been reluctant, likely because he has already secretly used it," Wu Huan Battalion Leader said immediately. "Please, County Princess, make a ruling!"

The black-haired girl remained noncommittal. She looked at Yan San, who was still standing to the side, and said:

"I am Ying Ru Shi. Do you admit to the Wu Huan Battalion Leader's accusations? If there is anything amiss, I can ensure justice."

At the same time, her name appeared above the black-haired girl's head:

"Le City County Princess · Ying Ru Shi."

I fell asleep this afternoon and forgot to set the timer, sorry sorry.